thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Virus cases prompt 3 schools to suspend in-person learning

ANCHORAGE , Alaska - The largest school district in Alaska to open for in-person classes has shifted to online learning only for three schools after five new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed .
The new infections emerged among three schools in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District , Alaska Public Media reported .
Colony middle and high schools plan distance learning until next Tuesday , while the district said an update is pending on how long Pioneer Peak Elementary will be closed to in-person classes .
The schools will be cleaned , and public health officials will notify any families with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who tested positive for COVID-19 .
Another school , Wasilla ’ s Machetanz Elementary , has resumed in-person learning after a student tested positive .
District spokeswoman Jillian Morrissey said 36 people , including staff and students , were identified as close contacts in that case and are under quarantine .
She said the contact tracing investigation found another positive case , but it wasn ’ t immediately clear if that involved a student or staff member .
Meanwhile , a second resident of a state-supported elder-living centre in Anchorage who tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Alaska health department .
The department announced in early August that three residents of the Anchorage Pioneer Home and one staff member had tested positive for COVID-19 .
By Monday , five staffers and 14 residents had tested positive .
Three staffers have been released from isolation , while 10 residents have recovered , the department said in a news release .
Two residents with COVID-19 have died , including one announced Monday that health officials say happened recently .
They did not provide further details .
Testing at the facility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on whether there have been recent positive test results , the department said .
Staff and residents in areas of the facility with recent positive cases are tested every three to four days , while those in areas with two weeks of negative results will have weekly testing , the department said .
When the first cases at the facility were announced , the department said residents who tested positive were placed into isolation and would have dedicated staffing as much as possible .
It said the home has been closed to visitors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness and death .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Virus crisis easing across Sun Belt but could heat up again

The torrid coronavirus summer across the Sun Belt is easing after two disastrous months that brought more than 35,000 deaths .
Whether the outbreak will heat up again after Labor Day and the resumption of school and football remains to be seen .
Seven of the nine states along the nation ’ s Southern and Western rim are experiencing drops in three important gauges — new deaths , new cases and the percentage of tests coming back positive for the virus .
Alabama is the only state in the region where all three numbers rising ; Mississippi ’ s deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases are dropping .
In Florida , where reported deaths from COVID-19 are running at about 114 a day on average , down from a peak of 185 in early August , Gov .
Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday that he is easing the state ’ s 5-month-old ban on visitors to nursing homes .
“ Part of having a healthy society is understanding that human beings seek affection , ” DeSantis said , his voice cracking at times as he wondered aloud whether his actions had contributed to the suffering by separating the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paused for about 20 seconds to collect himself .
The governor also said the number of people in Florida hospitals with COVID-19 is down nearly 60 % from its peak in July and that newly confirmed cases on Monday dropped below 2,000 , the lowest daily total since mid-June .
The U.S. leads the world in coronavirus deaths and confirmed infections after a spring outbreak centred around New York , followed by the summer flareup across the Sun Belt .
As of Tuesday , there were more than 25.3 million confirmed cases and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tally by Johns Hopkins University , with the U.S. accounting for more than 6 million infections and 183,000 of the dead .
About 68,000 of the U.S. deaths have come since the start of summer , with the number of infections among Americans nearly tripling during the same period .
“ It ’ s been a summer of fire , not ice , ” said Dr. William Schaffner , an infectious-disease expert at Vanderbilt University in Nashville .
“ If anything , we ’ ve learned that this virus is even nastier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spring.
” Texas alone amassed more than 10,000 virus deaths in July and August , Florida added over 7,600 , and California recorded nearly 7,000 .
The Sun Belt also includes Arizona , New Mexico , Louisiana , Mississippi , Alabama and Georgia .
States across the region began to make progress against the virus after suspending or rolling back business reopenings and taking a harder line on mask-wearing and social distancing .
Americans are now heading into the Labor Day holiday weekend , the unofficial end of summer , knowing the threat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a return to school , college and sports .
“ Although more people are wearing masks and they ’ ve closed a couple bars , that in itself has not brought down the level of transmission to the point where you can safely open up schools , where you can safely open up colleges , where you can hold sporting events , ” said Dr. Peter Hotez , a Baylor University infectious disease expert .
Health experts pinned some of the blame for the summertime surge on Memorial Day and Fourth of July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day will contribute to the virus ’ s spread .
Mississippi Gov .
Tate Reeves and the state ’ s epidemiologist , Dr. Paul Byers , held a news conference Monday in which they implored people to avoid big Labor Day parties .
“ I think all we are is just a moment away from us all forgetting and getting tired of doing the things that have gotten us this far , ” Byers said .
Elsewhere around the South , Alabama recorded more than 1,200 deaths in July and August .
Deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but are trending upward again , running at an average of about 23 a day .
Dr. Donald Williamson , president of the Alabama Hospital Association , said the state is seeing several warning signs since the return of students to schools and colleges and the resumption of high school football .
He said the question is whether the state can avoid a spike that fills intensive care beds in hospitals .
“ If we were to see the same effect from Labor Day , we would be in worse shape than we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Williamson .
“ It ’ s a higher baseline.
” Diego Lozano , 28 , of Phoenix , is among those who had his summer travel plans changed by the outbreak .
Each year , he joins his parents and grandfather in visiting relatives in the Mexican state of Morelos .
But for his grandfather , 75-year-old Lorenzo Lomas Perez , it was his final journey .
Perez died in late July at a Phoenix hospital of complications from COVID-19 , and his family brought his remains with them to Mexico .
Because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditional open casket ceremony inside a church and the rites were held outside in the cemetery .
Only relatives were allowed to attend , when normally the entire village would be expected .
“ We put him in an urn and then we buried the urn , ” Lozano said .
— New York City , with 1.1 million public school students , delayed the start of in-person instruction for a week and a half until Sept. 21 to give teachers more time to prepare , under a deal with the union .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond returned to school .
In France and the Balkan countries , mask rules are in place for many children , while other nations have taken a more relaxed stance .
Some classrooms have plastic shields around desks and warning signs everywhere .
— In India , many states relaxed lockdown restrictions to allow more businesses to reopen and ease economic pain , though the country ’ s daily count of new infections is the highest in the world .
— Public tours of the White House , halted nearly six months ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Associated Press writers Terry Tang , Emily Wagster Pettus , Jay Reeves , Pat Eaton-Robb and Nicky Forster contributed to this report .

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thetorontostar--2020-09-01--The Latest: Australian hot spot extends state of emergency

MELBOURNE , Australia — Australia ’ s hot spot Victoria state on Wednesday extended its state of emergency for another six months as its weekly average of new COVID-10 infections dipped to 95 .
The Victorian Parliament ’ s upper chamber passed legislation by a 20-19 vote to extend the state of emergency , which enhances the government ’ s powers to impose pandemic restrictions .
The state health department reported 90 new infections and six deaths in the latest 24-hour period .
There were only 70 new infections on Tuesday .
But the latest seven-day average has dropped into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The previous week ’ s average was 175 infections a day .
HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK — US federal officials to ship rapid coronavirus tests for schools — NYC delays start of school for more prep time for virus safety measures — Virus or not , it ’ s time for class again across Europe — Apple and Google want more U.S. states to adopt their phone-based approach for tracing and curbing the spread of the coronavirus , building more of the necessary technology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ten Conference , already in court and under pressure from players and parents over its decision to cancel fall football , and its new commissioner are now hearing from President Donald Trump .
— Hungry and bored at home ?
A San Francisco nightclub will bring the food , booze and a drag show to you during the coronavirus pandemic .
HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : HARRISONBURG , Va. — James Madison University in Virginia ’ s Shenandoah Valley will transition at least temporarily to primarily online instruction after experiencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 among students , the school ’ s president announced Tuesday night .
“ As a result of a rapid increase in the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in our student population in a short period of time , the university is concerned about capacity in the number of isolation and quarantine spaces we can provide , ” JMU President Jonathan Alger wrote in a letter posted on the school ’ s website Tuesday night .
The letter said in-person classes will shift online no later than Monday , by which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return home unless they seek an exemption to stay .
University officials will notify the campus community by Sept. 25 about whether in-person instruction will resume on or after Oct. 5 , according to the letter .
JMU , a public university , has about 20,000 undergraduate students .
With Tuesday ’ s announcement , it joined a growing number of colleges around the U.S. that have reversed course or altered plans for in-person instruction due to the coronavirus pandemic .
___ BILLINGS , Mont .
__ The Trump administration is seeking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major energy and infrastructure projects during the COVID-19 pandemic , including oil and gas drilling , hazardous fuel pipelines , wind farms and highway projects in multiple states , according to documents provided to The Associated Press .
The plan to speed up project approvals comes after President Donald Trump in June ordered the Interior Department and other agencies to scale back environmental reviews under special powers he has during the coronavirus emergency .
More than 60 projects targeted for expedited environmental reviews were detailed in an attachment to a July 15 letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow .
The letter , obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity through a freedom of information lawsuit , does not specify how the review process would be hastened .
It says the specified energy , environmental and natural resource projects “ are within the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to perform or advance.
” Included on Interior ’ s list are oil and gas industry proposals such as the 5,000-well Converse gas field in Wyoming , the Jordan Cove liquified natural gas terminal in Oregon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pipeline in Virginia .
COLORADO SPRINGS , Colo. -- A private liberal arts college in Colorado says it is moving to online classes after hundreds of students went into quarantine just days into the semester .
At least 10 students at Colorado College have tested positive for the coronavirus .
And more than 500 entered self-isolation on campus since dormitories opened to freshmen on Aug. 24 .
The Gazette reports that all students are being urged to leave the Colorado Springs campus by Sept. 20 , with some exceptions such as international students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ university towns across the country consider renewed shutdowns because of too many COVID-19 infections among students .
JUNEAU , Alaska -- The Alaska health department says a second resident of a state-supported elder-living centre in Anchorage who tested positive for COVID-19 has died .
The department , in early August , announced that three residents of the Anchorage Pioneer Home and one staff member had tested positive for COVID-19 .
As of Monday , the department said three of the five staff members who had to that point tested positive had been released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the 14 residents who had tested positive had recovered .
The department says a second resident who had tested positive recently died but did not provide further details .
UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council will hold a high-level summit during the annual meeting of world leaders at the General Assembly later this month to discuss “ adjustments ” to the current international system after the COVID-19 pandemic ends .
Niger ’ s U.N .
Ambassador Abdou Abarry , who took over the rotating council presidency on Tuesday , told a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting on Sept. 24 “ on post-COVID-19 global governance in relation to the maintenance of international peace and security ” will address traditional security threats such as conflicts but also crime and pandemics .
He said Niger ’ s President Mahamadou Issoufou , who will chair the meeting , is sending invitations to the leaders of the 14 other countries on the Security Council .
Some countries , which he didn ’ t name , have already indicated their heads of state will attend , he said .
Abarry said a key issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Are we going to be able to structure a more resilient , a more just , a more fair world with less destruction of the environment among others , and that can enable and facilitate humanity to live in harmony , and with nature ?
” CHARLESTON , W.Va. — The number of deaths from the coronavirus continues to surge in West Virginia while confirmed cases hit a new daily record during the pandemic .
Health officials announced eight more virus-related deaths Tuesday , pushing the state ’ s total to at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % since Aug. 1 .
Despite an indoor mask mandate for public places issued July 6 by Gov .
Jim Justice , daily positive cases have skyrocketed since then .
Officials have blamed the increase in part on out-of-state travel .
According to the Department of Health and Human Resources ’ website , the state reported 225 confirmed cases Sunday , topping the one-day record of 180 set on July 30 .
The state ’ s daily positive rate of 6.85 % on Monday was its highest since reaching 6.95 % on May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 10,320 confirmed cases .
WASHINGTON -- A group of medical experts advising the National Institutes of Health says there is not enough evidence to recommend for or against the use of plasma therapy for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 .
The non-endorsement by government advisers comes a week after the Food and Drug Administration granted emergency authorization to the treatment .
That decision followed threats from President Donald Trump about the slow pace of FDA ’ s review , raising concerns that the agency felt pressure to greenlight the therapy .
So-called convalescent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovered from the coronavirus and is rich in disease-fighting antibodies .
But its use against COVID-19 has not been studied in rigorous patient trials .
The NIH panel says the plasma shouldn ’ t be considered “ standard of care ” treatment , due to the lack of data confirming its safety and effectiveness .
The FDA granted its emergency use based on preliminary results gathered from tens of thousands of patients tracked by the Mayo Clinic .
The decision merely means that the treatment ’ s potential benefits outweigh its risks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the type of controls needed to draw conclusions about clinical benefits , including overall survival .
FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn was forced to backtrack last week after he overstated the potential life-saving effect suggested by the data .
NIH ’ s experts urged doctors and patients to enrol in proper studies of the plasma .
NEW YORK — A handful of the dozens of experimental coronavirus vaccines in human testing have reached the last and biggest hurdle -- looking for the needed proof they really work .
A U.S. advisory panel suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited doses once a vaccine wins approval .
AstraZeneca announced Monday its vaccine candidate has entered the final testing stage in the U.S .
The Cambridge , England-based company said the study will involve up to 30,000 adults from various racial , ethnic and geographic groups .
Two other vaccine candidates began final testing this summer in tens of thousands of people in the U.S. One was created by the National Institutes of Health and manufactured by Moderna Inc. , and the other developed by Pfizer Inc. and Germany ’ s BioNTech .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ is supporting several vaccine trials since more than one may be needed.
” There ’ s no guarantee that any of the leading candidates will pan out — and the bar is higher than for COVID-19 treatments , because these vaccines will be given to healthy people .
Final testing , experts stress , must be in large numbers of people to know if they ’ re safe enough for mass vaccinations .
“ The first vaccines that come out are probably not going to be the best vaccines , ” Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planning under the Obama administration , said at a University of Minnesota vaccine symposium .
WASHINGTON — A new member of the White House coronavirus task force says claims that he ’ s pushing herd immunity as a response to the pandemic are an “ overt lie.
” Dr. Scott Atlas says in an interview on SiriusXM ’ s “ The Michael Smerconish Program ” that he has never advocated a herd immunity strategy to President Donald Trump or anyone in the administration or task force .
The Washington Post reported Monday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the task force -- has been urging Trump ’ s top medical advisers to adopt herd immunity as a strategy for fighting the virus .
Herd immunity would involve allowing most Americans to become infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 so people can build up their immunity to it .
TALLAHASSEE , Fla. — Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis says he ’ ll lift the state ban on visiting nursing homes that ’ s prevented seniors from seeing family since mid-March because of the coronavirus .
DeSantis says he ’ s following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s met in recent weeks .
The task force recommends the nursing homes allow family members to visit no more than two at a time and wear protective gear that includes masks .
Facilities would need to go 14 days without any new cases of coronavirus among staff or residents to allow the visits .
LONDON — Scotland ’ s leader has announced new lockdown restrictions for the country ’ s most populous city , Glasgow , following a spike in coronavirus infections .
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of West Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire , shouldn ’ t host people from other households for two weeks .
She says the Scottish government could go farther if people don ’ t abide by the new limitations .
The number of people affected is estimated at 250,000 .
Sturgeon says in the three targeted areas , the infections have largely increased from household gatherings .
She adds the new measures were “ proportionate ” with the impact on schools , jobs and the economy .
WASHINGTON — Federal officials will begin shipping tens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state governors this month for use in reopening schools .
The Trump administration ’ s top testing official , Admiral Brett Giroir , laid out plans Tuesday to distribute some of the 150 million tests ordered from test maker Abbott Laboratories .
The federal purchase was first announced last week .
Abbott ’ s rapid test , the size of a credit card , is the first that doesn ’ t require specialty computer equipment to develop .
The test delivers results in about 15 minutes and is priced at $ 5 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giroir says the “ great majority ” would go to U.S. governors for use in screening children at K-12 schools .
The tests could be used to test first responders and other high-risk populations .
Tests will be shipped to 20,000 assisted living facilities .
Unlike nursing homes , assisted living facilities are not overseen by Medicare .
Because assisted living facilities also house a vulnerable population , they face some of the same risks as nursing homes .
Since the start of the pandemic , the U.S. testing has mainly relied on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ processing .
But supply shortages led to testing backlogs , delaying results and hindering efforts to track cases .
Health experts view rapid tests run outside the laboratory as key to expanding the number of tests ahead of the flu season .
However , Abbott ’ s new test still requires a nasal swab by a health worker .
In general , rapid tests like Abbott ’ s are less accurate than lab-developed tests .
The FDA has said in some cases , negative results with Abbott ’ s test may need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LAWRENCE , Kan. — The University of Kansas is requiring no fans at athletic events and Kansas State University is battling four new coronavirus outbreaks .
Kansas Department of Health and Environment is reporting 19 clusters tied to colleges and five tied to schools with younger students .
At the University of Kansas , entrance testing uncovered 474 positive cases .
Infections were particularly prevalent among sorority and fraternity members , with 270 positives among 2,698 members tested , for a rate of 10 % .
In the Manhattan , Kansas , health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 positive cases among the Kansas State football team .
There are several cases tied to a fraternity and sorority .
ROME — Italy registered fewer than 1,000 new coronavirus cases , even as the number of swab tests soared .
The Health Ministry says 978 coronavirus cases were confirmed in the last 24 hours , when some 81,000 tests were conducted .
That is 22,500 more tests than the previous day when nearly the same number of cases were detected .
Health experts are encouraging Italy to boost testing and tracing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools opening on Sept. 14 .
Italy has 270,189 confirmed cases , adding eight deaths to increase the known toll to nearly 35,500 .
NEW YORK — New York City is delaying the start of its school year until Sept. 16 to give teachers more time to prepare for the return of students amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the deal struck with unions representing teachers , staff and administrators .
Instruction was supposed to begin on Sept. 10 .
All students will spend the first few days learning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for some students on Sept. 21 .
The city ’ s plan to restart schools includes mask-wearing , staggered schedules to reduce the number of students in rooms , supplying every school building with a nurse and asking all staffers to get tested shortly before school starts .
A medical monitoring program will includes random virus testing for a sampling of students and staff each month .
The city used ventilation experts to check air flow in classrooms , and officials say they ’ ll would work to make parks and streets available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew says the union ’ s independent medical experts signed off on the reopening plan .
Delegates of the UFT were poised to vote on whether to authorize a strike .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Tropical Storm Omar forms as Nana approaches Central America

MIAMI - Tropical Storm Omar formed off the U.S. East Coast on Tuesday as Tropical Storm Nana approached the coast of Central America , the U.S. National Hurricane Center reported .
Forecasters predict Nana will strengthen to a hurricane by the time it makes landfall Thursday and said people in Honduras , Guatemala , Belize and Mexico ’ s Yucatan Peninsula should closely monitor the storm ’ s progress .
Strong winds , a dangerous storm surge and very heavy rainfall causing flash flooding are likely .
An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft crew flew into Nana as it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maximum sustained winds of 50 mph ( 85 kph ) with higher gusts .
Nana was moving west at 18 mph ( 30 kph ) on a path that could damage Central America on Wednesday and Thursday .
The National Hurricane Center later said the entire coast of Belize had been placed under a tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch .
At 8 p.m. EDT , Nana ’ s centre was located about 535 miles ( 865 kilometres ) east of Belize City and about 370 miles ( 600 kilometres ) east-northeast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Omar are the earliest 14th and 15th named storms on record , beating the 2005 arrivals of Nate on Sept. 6 and Ophelia on Sept. 7 , according to Colorado State University professor Phil Klotzbach .
The National Hurricane Center expects Tropical Storm Omar to be short-lived .
The storm had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph ( 65 km/h ) Tuesday evening , with little change expected overnight .
Omar was 225 miles ( 365 kilometres ) east of Cape Hatteras , North Carolina , and moving east-northeast at 15 mph ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will weaken Wednesday night .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Report: Algorithm question complicates TikTok sale

NEW YORK - Sale talks for TikTok ’ s U.S. operations have been complicated by the key question of whether the app ’ s core algorithms can be included as part of a deal , according to a report in The Wall Street Journal that cited unidentified people familiar with the matter .
Those algorithms decide what videos users see without first requiring them to follow other users or specify their preferences .
The Journal report stated the algorithms were considered part of the deal negotiations up until Friday .
That ’ s when the Chinese government introduced export restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cover content-recommendation algorithms such as the one powering TikTok .
The move followed President Donald Trump ’ s effort to force a sale of TikTok ’ s U.S. operations by Sept. 20 .
Those export restrictions mean that TikTok ’ s Chinese owner , ByteDance Ltd. , would have to obtain a license to export any restricted technologies to a foreign company .
The question is whether its algorithms would need Chinese government approval for transfer , and if so , whether Beijing would sign off .
The Journal report said both the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , are trying to figure that out .
Prospective buyers for U.S. TikTok assets include a Microsoft-Walmart team-up and , reportedly , Oracle .
Representatives for TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday .
Microsoft , Oracle and Walmart declined to comment .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Trump administration plans expanded use of personal data

WASHINGTON - The Trump administration announced plans Tuesday to expand the collection of personal “ biometric ” information by the agency in charge of immigration enforcement , raising concerns about civil liberties and data protection .
In a statement , the Department of Homeland Security said it would soon issue a formal proposal for a new regulation for expanding “ the authorities and methods ” for collecting biometrics , which are physical characteristics such as fingerprints used to identify individuals .
U.S. Customs and Border Protection , a component of DHS , already collects biometric data , including iris scans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country without legal authority .
DHS said in a written statement that the new rule would authorize new techniques , including voice and facial recognition to verify people ’ s identity .
The agency did not release the proposed regulation or provide details .
BuzzFeed News , which obtained a draft of the policy , reported earlier Tuesday that it included a provision for U.S .
Citizenship and Immigration Services , which is also a component of DHS , to collect biometric data from non-citizens legally working and living in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would also require U.S. citizens sponsoring relatives to come to the country to provide biometric data , including in some cases their DNA , if it was needed to verify someone ’ s identity .
“ This is a remarkable expansion of surveillance , especially the idea that immigrants could be called in at any point to give these biometrics , ” said Sarah Pierce , an analyst with the Migration Policy Institute .
It typically takes several months for a new regulation to take effect after a public comment period .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as have most immigration measures introduced under President Donald Trump .
Acting Deputy DHS Secretary Ken Cuccinelli characterized the new regulation in a written statement as a way to improve the verification of people ’ s identities and modernize operations .
“ Leveraging readily available technology to verify the identity of an individual we are screening is responsible governing , ” Cuccinelli said .
“ The collection of biometric information also guards against identity theft and thwarts fraudsters who are not who they claim to be.
” DHS is charged with enforcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a hallmark of the Trump administration .
But the agency is also in charge Citizenship and Immigration Services , which is responsible for enabling people to legally live and work in the United States .
A lawyer with the Electronic Frontier Foundation , a privacy rights watchdog , said there ’ s no justification for expanding biometric data collection , and no clear rules for how long the information can be retained , how it can be used , and whether it can be shared with foreign governments or other agencies .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be any indication that this will help with combating fraud or anything like that , ” said EFF staff attorney Saira Hussain .
“ Rather , it ’ s about making it so the government can engage in dragnet surveillance of immigrant communities by being able to access some of their most unique and sensitive biometric information.
” There are also concerns about protecting the data .
CBP said last year that photos of travellers and their license plates at a border crossing were compromised in a cyber attack on a government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collect and the more sensitive it is the more that opens up the government to potential data breaches , “ Hussain said .
Andrea Flores , deputy director of policy for the American Civil Liberties Union , said the new policy would be an invasion of privacy rights and is a part of a broader administration effort to curtail all immigration .
“ They really are trying to shut down legal immigration by creating new barriers , in this case asking people to turn over their most personal information and discouraging people from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pathways.
” said Flores , a policy analyst at DHS in the Obama administration .
“ It ’ s saying that immigrants are suspect and not welcome here , and if you ’ re related to an immigrant we ’ re also concerned about your presence.
” Associated Press writer David Koenig in Dallas contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--2 pythons weighing 100 pounds collapse ceiling in Australia

CANBERRA , Australia - An Australian returned home and was surprised to discover that his kitchen ceiling had collapsed under the weight of two large pythons apparently fighting over a mate .
David Tait entered his home in Laceys Creek in Queensland state on Monday and found a large chunk of his ceiling lying on his kitchen table .
“ I knew we hadn ’ t had rain , so I looked around to find what had caused it , ” Tait told Nine Network television on Tuesday .
He soon found two culprits — non-venomous carpet pythons 2.8 metres @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 2.5 metres ( 8 foot , 2 inches ) long — that had slithered into a a bedroom and living room .
The snakes have an estimated combined weight of 45 kilograms ( 100 pounds ) .
Snake catcher Steven Brown was called to remove the two snakes .
“ I would assume that it was two males fighting over a female that was nearby in the roof , ” Brown said .
He suspected the female could still be in the ceiling or nearby .
The males were returned to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hasn ’ t been found .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Police help defeat California bill on removing problem cops

SACRAMENTO , Calif. - Police unions and other law enforcement organizations went into overdrive to thwart a measure that would have added California to the majority of states that can end the careers of officers with troubled histories .
It failed as lawmakers scrambled to wrap up their work , and while the nation ’ s most populous state still has no way to permanently remove problematic officers , a number of other police reforms passed .
With lobbyists and lawmakers mostly isolated by the coronavirus pandemic , it became a battle of phone calls , colorful graphics and Instagram @ @ @ @ @ @ @ celebrity tweets pushing lawmakers to rein in police brutality after the death of George Floyd last May in Minneapolis and the shooting of Jacob Blake last week in Kenosha , Wisconsin .
“ We ended up , for lack of a better term , playing a game of whack-a-mole , ” Tom Saggau , a spokesman for police unions in Los Angeles and San Francisco , said of law enforcement efforts to counter support for what he called a deeply flawed proposal .
Even intervention from Democratic Gov .
Gavin Newsom wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died without a vote before the legislative session ended early Tuesday .
It failed hours after Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s deputies fatally shot Dijon Kizzee after the Black man dropped a a bundle that included a gun .
The legislation would have created a way to permanently strip badges from officers who commit serious misconduct .
Law enforcement groups successfully argued that the proposed system would be biased and lack basic due process protections .
Proposals to reveal more police misconduct records , require officers to intervene if they witness excessive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of rubber bullets and tear gas against peaceful protesters also died without final votes .
Lawmakers , however , sent Newsom measures to ban choke holds and other neck restraints , require the state attorney general to investigate fatal police shootings of unarmed civilians , and increase oversight of county sheriffs , among other changes .
“ To ignore the thousands of voices calling for meaningful police reform is insulting , ” Democratic Sen. Steven Bradford , who is Black , said after his legislation on removing officers failed .
“ Today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by those who were meant to represent them.
” Five states have no way of decertifying police officers who commit misconduct — California , Hawaii , New Jersey , Massachusetts and Rhode Island .
Removing California from that list was a top priority of the California Legislative Black Caucus and had support from hundreds of entertainers , including Rihanna , Mariah Carey and Robert De Niro .
Kim Kardashian West caused a stir with a late tweet backing the measure Monday .
Law enforcement organizations and unions insist they also want a way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t simply move from one department to another .
The California Police Chiefs Association and a separate coalition of eight Black police chiefs in June called for stripping officers ’ training certifications following due process proceedings if they break the law or have a history of egregious misconduct .
The Los Angeles Police Protective League and San Francisco Police Officers Association , which together represent 12,000 officers , on Tuesday reiterated their willingness to negotiate “ a fair , reasonable and workable decertification process.
” Their main complaint with Bradford ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposed nine-member disciplinary panel to consider if officers ’ conduct is enough to end their careers .
Six of the nine members would be required to have backgrounds opposing police misconduct , while the remaining three would represent law enforcement .
The opponents said that would make the board inherently biased against officers , while Bradford said the mix was needed to restore community trust in police and the disciplinary process .
Law enforcement organizations offered alternative wording , and Newsom ’ s office weighed in with proposed amendments that Saggau , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have made it more palatable , more reasonable.
” Bradford rejected those but accepted 40 other changes by Saggau ’ s count .
“ Rejecting some compromise language from the governor , but accepting 40 amendments that drove a wedge further with law enforcement , we think that ’ s what derailed the measure , ” he said .
Bradford declined an interview request Tuesday , but Saggau and Brian Marvel , president of the rank-and-file Peace Officers Research Association of California , said Bradford hurt his bill ’ s chances by refusing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ When you ’ re changing a profession , and you don ’ t talk to the people it ’ s actually affecting , I think good leaders stand up and say that ’ s probably not a fair process , “ Marvel said .
The lobbying was so intense that Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon set up a special voicemail on his office phone to field comments .
“ l think there were a lot of concerns , even with some of our allies , ” said Rendon , who supported the legislation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police lobby in the past , but the measure also ran into opposition from organized labour .
Bradford said he intends to try again next year , and Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins said more work is to be done on several of the policing measures that failed this year .
“ Clearly some colleagues felt like there needed to be more conversation , more discussion , ” she said , adding that “ I think it is our job to make sure we keep the momentum and the conversation happening.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ronayne contributed to this story .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Artists want Mississippi flag with wide appeal, not division

JACKSON , Miss .
- It ’ s been two months since Mississippi legislators acted under pressure to retire the last state flag that included the Confederate battle emblem that ’ s widely seen as racist .
On Wednesday , a commission is expected to recommend a new state flag design — one that will be put before state voters to approve or reject in November .
Creators of the final two designs say their work reflects a love for Mississippi and a desire for a banner that a wide range of people can fly with pride .
By law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Confederate battle flag , and it must have the phrase , “ In God We Trust.
” The public submitted nearly 3,000 designs .
One of the final designs has a red-and-white shield on a dark blue background , with wavy lines representing water .
The other has a magnolia on a dark blue background with red bars on either end .
The state flower is encircled by stars representing Mississippi as the 20th state .
Each finalist has a single star made of diamond shapes representing the Native American people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The magnolia flag is a combination of elements submitted by five people .
Four live in Mississippi , and one is a Mississippi native living in San Francisco .
The flag with the shield , nicknamed the “ Great River Flag , “ is by graphic designer Micah Whitson , who grew up in Alabama , graduated from the University of Mississippi and now lives in Boston .
Whitson has been creating art that he calls “ love letters ” to the South , where his wife also grew up .
Whitson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mississippi sought designs for a new flag , “ I was like , ‘ Come on , this was the moment I was made for.
’ “ He said the shield is inspired the Mississippi Territory seal , issued in 1798 .
Whitson found a simple typeface that was available in 1816 , a year before Mississippi became a state .
Graphic designer Rocky Vaughan of Ackerman , Mississippi , created the overall design of the magnolia flag , which was altered with work from others .
He said Tuesday that he started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mississippi residents were bickering about the flag with the Confederate image .
“ What I wanted to do was show every Mississippian that there ’ s a compromise out there , and we are the magnolia state , ” said Vaughan , 43 .
“ If it ’ s appealing to the eyes , it will be accepted.
” The magnolia on that flag came from Sue Anna Joe , a Greenwood native living in San Francisco .
Her parents were born in China , and they moved to the United States in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Tuesday that as a person of Chinese background growing up in Mississippi , she felt “ disassociated ” with the flag the state had used since 1894 .
She heard white people say the Confederate symbol represented their ancestors and African Americans say it represented slavery .
“ I felt like I was part of a broken family , ” she said .
Joe said she watched online as Mississippi legislators voted to retire the old flag .
Because she has worked in design , she felt it was her civic duty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a magnolia because she believes the flower is an easily recognizable symbol of Mississippi .
“ I still very much love my home state , “ she said .
Kara Giles of Oxford also worked on the magnolia flag .
She ’ s a graphic designer and executive assistant to Oxford Mayor Robyn Tannehill , who is one of the nine flag commissioners .
Giles tweaked the design to strengthen some elements of it .
The commission had five designs manufactured into flags , and those were run up a flagpole last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the final two were chosen .
While Giles knew she was working on a project that could become a part of state history , “ it didn ’ t really sink in until it started to go up the pole.
” Mississippi ditched its Confederate-themed flag amid the backdrop of widespread protests over racial injustice .
The flag had been divisive for decades in a state with a 38 % Black population .
The final push for change came from business , education , religious and sports groups — including , notably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Southeastern Conference .
If voters reject the flag that the commission recommends , the design process will begin again with the same requiremnts .

Emily Wagster Pettus - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Serbia denies meddling in tense Montenegro election

BELGRADE , Serbia - Serbian officials have denied that Serbia and its president have interfered in Montenegro ’ s parliamentary election that was narrowly won by pro-Belgrade and pro-Russian political groupings .
Though Montenegro ’ s long-ruling Democratic Party of Socialists garnered the most votes in Sunday ’ s election , a coalition of three opposition parties together won 41 seats in the 81-seat national parliament , enough for them to try form the next government .
Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic , who heads the ruling DPS party , has accused Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and his powerful state propaganda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was held after months of protests by supporters of the Serbian Orthodox Church over its property rights in Montenegro .
Djukanovic said that since the protests led by the influential church started in December , Belgrade had launched “ a strong media and political aggression ” against Montenegro .
“ President Vucic and the current state politics in Serbia have shown two very problematic intentions , ” Djukanovic told Nova.rs television late Tuesday .
“ The first is the desire to interfere in the internal political life of other countries , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies of the greater Serbian nationalism.
” Some 150,000 people died and millions were left homeless during the bloody breakup of the former Yugoslavia in clashes that started in Slovenia and then spread to Croatia and Bosnia and later to Kosovo .
Former Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic is generally blamed for stoking the bloodshed through a desire to create a Greater Serbia via the capture of nearby lands where Serbs lived .
Vucic , who once served as information minister in Milosevic ’ s government , has repeatedly denied meddling in Montenegro ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political allies on Wednesday joined him in the denials .
“ There is no way that Montenegro is in any form threatened by Serbia , ” Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said .
She added that such claims could be seen as threats on Vucic ’ s life as they were “ drawing a target on his forehead.
” Tensions have soared in Montenegro since Monday , when thousands of Serb opposition party supporters staged boisterous victory celebrations throughout the small country .
Participants waved Serbian flags and chanting derogatory slogans against Djukanovic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party leaders to refrain from provocations .
Several incidents were reported since then .
Windows of Muslim community offices in the town of Pljevlja , were broken and leaflets thrown in with messages that Muslims should leave Montenegro or they could end up like the 8,000 Muslim men and boys who were massacred in 1995 by Serb troops in the Bosnian town of Srebrenica .
Djukanovic , who has ruled Montenegro for 30 years either as president or prime minister , has been a key Western ally in pushing the volatile Balkans toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia in 2017 to lead his country into NATO after gaining independence from much larger Serbia in 2006 .
There have been fears that an opposition-led government would mean a change in Montenegro ’ s stance and turn it away from NATO toward traditional allies Serbia and Russia .
The opposition leaders have sought to alleviate those fears .
They have said they want to unify the divided nation by forming a government that would respect all international agreements and continue the reforms necessary for joining the European Union .


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Health officials worry nation not ready for COVID-19 vaccine

Millions of Americans are counting on a COVID-19 vaccine to curb the global pandemic and return life to normal .
While one or more options could be available toward the end of this year or early next , the path to delivering vaccines to 330 million people remains unclear for the local health officials expected to carry out the work .
“ We haven ’ t gotten a lot of information about how this is going to roll out , ” said Dr. Umair Shah , executive director of Texas ’ Harris County Public Health department , which includes Houston @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told health departments across the country to draft vaccination plans by Oct. 1 “ to coincide with the earliest possible release of COVID-19 vaccine.
” But health departments that have been underfunded for decades say they currently lack the staff , money and tools to educate people about vaccines and then to distribute , administer and track hundreds of millions of doses .
Nor do they know when , or if , they ’ ll get federal aid to do that .
Dozens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Kaiser Health News and The Associated Press expressed concern about the country ’ s readiness to conduct mass vaccinations , as well as frustration with months of inconsistent information from the federal government .
The gaps include figuring out how officials will keep track of who has gotten which doses and how they ’ ll keep the workers who give the shots safe , with enough protective gear and syringes to do their jobs .
With only about half of Americans saying they would get vaccinated , according to a poll from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it also will be crucial to educate people about the benefits of vaccination , said Molly Howell , who manages the North Dakota Department of Health ’ s immunization program .
The unprecedented pace of vaccine development has left many Americans skeptical about the safety of COVID-19 immunizations ; others simply don ’ t trust the federal government .
“ We ’ re in a very deep-red state , ” said Ann Lewis , CEO of CareSouth Carolina , a group of community health centres that serve mostly low-income people in five rural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message that is coming out is not a message of trust and confidence in medical or scientific evidence.
” The U.S. has committed more than $ 10 billion to develop new coronavirus vaccines but hasn ’ t allocated money specifically for distributing and administering vaccines .
And while states , territories and 154 large cities and counties received billions in congressional emergency funding , that money can be used for a variety of purposes , including testing and overtime pay .
An ongoing investigation by KHN and the AP has detailed how state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. have been starved for decades , leaving them underfunded and without adequate resources to confront the coronavirus pandemic .
The investigation further found that federal coronavirus funds have been slow to reach public health departments , forcing some communities to cancel non-coronavirus vaccine clinics and other essential services .
States are allowed to use some of the federal money they ’ ve already received to prepare for immunizations .
But AP and KHN found that many health departments are so overwhelmed with the current costs of the pandemic — such as for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t reserve money for the vaccine work to come .
Health departments will need to hire people to administer the vaccines and systems to track them , and pay for supplies such as protective medical masks , gowns and gloves , as well as warehouses and refrigerator space .
CareSouth Carolina is collaborating with the state health department on testing and the pandemic response .
It used federal funding to purchase $ 140,000 retrofitted vans for mobile testing , which it plans to continue to use to keep vaccines cold and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes , said Lewis .
But most vaccine costs will be new .
Pima County , Arizona , for example , is already at least $ 30 million short of what health officials need to fight the pandemic , let alone plan for vaccines , said Dr. Francisco Garcia , deputy county administrator and chief medical officer .
Some federal funds will expire soon .
The $ 150 billion that states and local governments received from a fund in the CARES Act , for example , covers only expenses made through the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , health commissioner in Minneapolis .
That ’ s a problem , given vaccine distribution may not have even begun .
Although public health officials say they need more money , Congress left Washington for its summer recess without passing a new pandemic relief bill that would include additional funding for vaccine distribution .
“ States are anxious to receive those funds as soon as possible , so they can do what they need to be prepared , ” said Dr. Kelly Moore , associate director of immunization education at the Immunization Action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advocacy organization based in St. Paul , Minnesota .
“ We can ’ t assume they can take existing funding and attempt the largest vaccination campaign in history.
” Then there ’ s the basic question of scale .
The federally funded Vaccines for Children program immunizes 40 million children each year .
In 2009 and 2010 , the CDC scaled up to vaccinate 81 million people against pandemic H1N1 influenza .
And last winter , the country distributed 175 million vaccines for seasonal influenza vaccine , according to the CDC .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the coronavirus , most experts say , the nation would likely need to vaccinate roughly 70 % of Americans , which translates to 200 million people and — because the first vaccines will require two doses to be effective — 400 million shots .
Although the CDC has overseen immunization campaigns in the past , the Trump administration created a new program , called Operation Warp Speed , to facilitate vaccine development and distribution .
In August , the administration announced that McKesson Corp. , which distributed H1N1 vaccines during that pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors ’ offices and clinics .
“ With few exceptions , our commercial distribution partners will be responsible for handling all the vaccines , ” Operation Warp Speed ’ s Paul Mango said in an email .
“ We ’ re not going to have 300 million doses all at once , ” said Mango , deputy chief of staff for policy at the Health and Human Services Department , despite earlier government pledges to have many doses ready by the new year .
“ We believe we are maximizing our probability of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doses of vaccines by January 2021 , which is our goal.
” Amesh Adalja , a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security , said it will take time for the vaccines to be widespread enough for life to return to what ’ s considered normal .
“ We have to be prepared to deal with this virus in the absence of significant vaccine-induced immunity for a period of maybe a year or longer , ” Adalja said in August .
In preliminary guidance for state vaccine managers , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of charge from a central location .
Health departments ’ local vaccination plans may be reviewed by both the CDC and Operation Warp Speed .
The CDC has vetted state and federal vaccination plans in five locations : North Dakota , Florida , California , Minnesota and Philadelphia .
No actual vaccines were distributed during the planning sessions , which focused on how to get vaccines to people in places as different as urban Philadelphia , where pharmacies abound , and rural North Dakota , which has few chain drugstores but many clinics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Kris Ehresmann , who directs infectious disease control at the Minnesota Department of Health .
Those planning sessions have made Ehresmann feel more confident about who ’ s in charge of distributing vaccines .
“ We are getting more specific guidance from CDC on planning now , ” she said .
“ We feel better about the process , though there are still a lot of unknowns.
” Still , many public health departments will struggle to adequately track who has been vaccinated and when , because a lack of funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the technological dark ages , said Dr. Marcus Plescia , chief medical officer at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials .
In Mississippi , for example , health officials still rely on faxes , said the state ’ s health officer , Dr. Thomas Dobbs .
“ You can ’ t manually handle 1,200 faxes a day and expect anything efficient to happen , ?
he said .
When COVID-19 vaccines become available , health providers will need to track where and when patients receive their vaccines , said Moore , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunization plan during the H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009 and 2010 .
And with many different shots in the works , they will need to know exactly which one each patient got , she said .
People will need to receive their second COVID-19 dose 21 or 28 days after the first , so health providers will need to remind patients to receive their second shot , Moore said , and ensure that the second dose is the same brand as the first .
The CDC will require vaccinators to provide “ dose-level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so that the agency knows where every dose of COVID-19 vaccine is “ at any point in time , ” Moore said .
Although “ the sophistication of these systems has improved dramatically ” in the past decade , she said , “ many states will still face major challenges meeting data tracking and reporting expectations.
” The CDC is developing an app called the Vaccine Administration Monitoring System for health departments whose data systems don ’ t meet standards for COVID-19 response , said Claire Hannan , executive director of the Association @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Rockville , Maryland .
“ Those standards haven ’ t been released , ” Hannan said , “ so health departments are waiting to invest in necessary IT enhancements.
?
The CDC needs to release standards and data expectations as quickly as possible , she added .
Meanwhile , health departments are dealing with what Minnesota ’ s Ehresmann described as “ legacy ” vaccine registries , sometimes dating to the late 1980s .
Overwhelmed public health teams are already working long hours to test patients and trace their contacts , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even after vaccines become available .
When vaccines are ready , health departments will need more staffers to identify people at high risk for COVID-19 , who should get the vaccine first , Moore said .
Public health staff also will be needed to educate the public about the importance of vaccines and to administer shots , she said , as well as monitor patients and report serious side effects .
At an August meeting about vaccine distribution , Dr. Ngozi Ezike , director of Illinois ’ health department , said her state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to administer the shots , including nursing students , medical students , dentists , dental hygienists and even veterinarians .
Such vaccinators will need medical-grade masks , gowns and gloves to keep themselves safe as they handle needles .
Many health officials say they feel burned by the country ’ s struggle to provide hospitals with ventilators last spring , when states found themselves bidding against one another for a limited supply .
Those concerns are amplified by the continuing difficulties providing enough testing kits ; supplying health workers with personal protective equipment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and recruiting contact tracers — who track down everyone with whom people diagnosed with COVID-19 have been in contact .
Although Ehresmann said she ’ s concerned Minnesota could run out of syringes , she said the CDC has assured her it will provide them .
Given that vaccines are far more complex than personal protective equipment and other medical supplies — one vaccine candidate must be stored at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit — Plescia said people should be prepared for shortages , delays and mix-ups .
“ It ’ s probably going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with testing and PPE , ” Plescia said .
Szabo is a writer for Kaiser Health News .
Associated Press writer Michelle R. Smith and KHN Midwest correspondent Lauren Weber contributed to this report .
This story is a collaboration between The Associated Press and KHN , which is a non-profit news service covering health issues .
It is an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation .
KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente .


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--2 held in Romania in connection with slain German ex-pastor

BERLIN - Two men have been arrested in Romania in connection with the July slaying of a former pastor in Berlin , German police said Wednesday .
Romanian authorities took the two men , aged 20 and 24 , into custody on a German warrant on Aug. 21 , police said in a statement .
It was not clear where the men were arrested , nor whether they have already been extradited , and Berlin police did not answer calls for further information .
The two are wanted over the killing of Reinhold Zuber , who was found dead in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Neighbours called police to report that they had not seen Zuber for several days and when authorities opened his apartment , they found the 77-year-old dead inside .
An autopsy showed he was likely killed on June 30 or July 1 .
Police issued a photo of the victim , asking for anyone with any information to come forward .
The suspects , whose names weren ’ t given , had a connection to the pastor but police did not elaborate nor say how they had been located .
The Berliner Stadtmission , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement that Zuber had worked for a now-closed community mission in the city ’ s Schoeneberg district from 1973 to 1983 .
It said Zuber ’ s employment was terminated there after he was convicted of drug possession and trafficking , and over “ official differences .
”


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Zimbabwe investigating deaths of 22 elephants, more expected

HARARE , Zimbabwe - The number of elephants dying in western Zimbabwe from a suspected bacterial infection , possibly from eating poisonous plants , has risen to 22 , and “ more deaths are expected , ” a spokesman for the country ’ s parks agency said Wednesday .
Most of the elephants dying in the Pandamasue Forest , located between the vast Hwange National Park and Victoria Falls , were young or weak , said Tinashe Farawo , spokesman for the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority .
With food scarce , younger elephants that can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eating everything and some of the vegetation that they eat might be poisonous , ” Farawo told The Associated Press .
He said the problem could persist through the dry season .
Zimbabwe has been facing successive climate-induced droughts in recent years , leaving animals with less water and vegetation for food , he said .
Apart from possible bacterial infection , some of the animals could be dying due to the stress of walking long distances for food and water , said Farawo .
Farawo said overpopulation had become “ the biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the southern African country ’ s parks .
The “ animals are becoming a threat to themselves , ” he said .
The dead young elephants were found with their tusks still on their bodies , ruling out poaching .
In recent years poachers in Zimbabwe have poisoned dozens of elephants with cyanide and then have taken their ivory tusks to sell them to illegal traders .
Investigations will also try to establish if there is a link between the deaths and those reported in neighbouring Botswana .
Farawo , the parks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is no evidence to link the Botswana incident and what is happening in Zimbabwe.
” Scientists are investigating the deaths last month of more than 275 elephants in Botswana ’ s Okavango Delta area .
Poaching , poisoning and anthrax have also been ruled out in those deaths .
Animal welfare groups such as the African Wildlife Foundation , have expressed “ concern ” at the mysterious deaths of elephants in Botswana and Zimbabwe .
Parks rangers should urgently remove and destroy the carcasses of the elephants that are in close proximity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transfer of pathogens as a precautionary measure , ” said African Wildlife Foundation Vice-President of Species Conservation and Science Philip Muruthi , who is based in Nairobi , Kenya .
Botswana has the world ’ s largest elephant population , estimated at 156,000 and Zimbabwe has the second largest , estimated at 85,000 .
Last year about 200 elephants in Zimbabwe died of starvation as a result of the country ’ s drought .
Zimbabwe argues that it should be allowed to sell some of its elephants to foreign zoos to ease congestion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially with COVID-19 induced lockdowns preventing visits of tourists from rich countries .
The congestion of wildlife in Zimbabwe ’ s parks has also resulted in increased conflict between animals and humans living close to the national parks or forests .
More than 50 people have been killed in such conflicts countrywide so far this year , the deadliest in a decade , said the parks spokesman .


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Russian charged over Berlin slaying to go on trial Oct. 7

BERLIN - A Russian man charged with the brazen daylight murder in Berlin last year of a Georgian , which prosecutors say was ordered by the Russian state , will go on trial in the German capital next month .
The Berlin district court said Wednesday the trial will open Oct. 7 .
It has scheduled 25 court dates , the last of them on Jan. 27. , 2021 The case prompted Germany last December to expel two Russian diplomats , citing a lack of co-operation with the investigation of the Aug. 23 , 2019 killing .
Federal prosecutors in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violation of weapons laws against a Russian citizen they identified as Vadim K. , alias Vadim S. The 55-year-old ’ s last name was withheld in line with German privacy laws but has been widely reported as Vadim Krasikov , using the alias Vadim Sokolov .
The victim , Tornike K. , who also has widely been identified in reports as Zelimkhan “ Tornike ” Khangoshvili , was a Georgian citizen of Chechen ethnicity who fought against Russian troops in Chechnya .
He had previously survived multiple assassination attempts and continued to receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Prosecutors say the killer approached Tornike K. from behind on a bike in the small Kleiner Tiergarten park and shot him in the torso with a Glock handgun equipped with a silencer .
The victim fell , and the assailant then fatally shot him twice in the head .
The suspect was arrested near the scene shortly afterward .
The murder case and alleged Russian involvement in the 2015 hacking of the German parliament have weighed on relations between the two countries for months .
In recent weeks , the suspected poisoning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added to tensions .
Navalny fell ill on a flight back to Moscow from Siberia on Aug 20 .
He was later transferred to Berlin ’ s Charité hospital , where doctors found indications that he had been poisoned .


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Rites surrounding death change as coronavirus ravages Peru

LIMA , Peru - Every day Joselyn García lights two red candles before a marble urn that holds her mother ’ s ashes in the living room of her wooden home in the north of Peru ’ s capital .
She tells her mother how much everyone misses her , and recounts the latest goings-on in the family — the state of García ’ s online clothing business and how people are handling the lockdown .
“ It ’ s such a relief , ’ ’ says García , 25 , the only daughter of María Cochachín , who worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ministry before she contracted the novel coronavirus .
Burial was a tradition for both Peru ’ s indigenous Inca culture and the Spanish who colonized the country .
And millions of Peruvians would visit their loved ones ’ graves at least once a year , many more frequently , to eat and drink and pay tribute to the deceased on the Day of the Dead every November .
With the arrival of the pandemic , that tradition has taken a blow .
To prevent infection and save space in the capital ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cremate the dead , fundamentally changing the rites and traditions that surround death in the country .
“ It ’ s unprecedented , ’ ’ said Christopher Heaney , a history professor and expert on Inca funeral rites at Penn State University .
The Day of the Dead tradition is replicating itself , in tiny ways across Lima , in the shrines people are building inside their homes , said Adam Warren , an expert on medicine in Peru at the University of Washington .
At least 4,686 coronavirus victims were cremated in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Health Ministry officials .
That ’ s nearly 20 % of the 25,000 confirmed coronavirus deaths in the country .
In March , Peru ordered the cremation of all coronavirus victims , one of the strictest rules in the region , in order to prevent people from being infected by contact with bodies .
Other countries including Brazil , Mexico , Colombia , Chile and Ecuador allowed burials , and at the end of April , Peru softened the rule somewhat , allowing funerals , but with no more than five mourners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals were insisting on cremation anyway .
When Cochachín died May 24 , García said , hospital officials said cremation was mandatory to avoid infection of the living .
Her mother ’ s ashes were delivered several weeks later .
García remains convinced that she could have buried her mother as she wanted , in a white coffin .
She said she dreams regularly of her mother bemoaning her cremation .
Along with cremations , burials have continued , with nearly 200 deaths daily due to a rate of infection that continues to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many families must hunt down spots in economical and far-flung cemeteries on the outskirts of Lima .
Rolando Yarlequé has put the urn holding the ashes of his wife , María Carmen , 68 , next to his bed in the tiny room the two rented together in the City of God neighbourhood in southeast Lima .
Yarlequé , a 62-year-old evangelical Christian , says he is saving up the $ 200 he will need to bury her ashes someday because he believes it will be necessary for her resurrection .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dead , ’ ’ he says , ‘ ’ And the Bible doesn ’ t talk about cremation.
“


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Belarusian journalists face charges for covering protests

KYIV , Ukraine - Dozens of journalists gathered Wednesday outside a police station in the capital of Belarus to protest the detention of colleagues covering a demonstration against the nation ’ s authoritarian president and an election the opposition sees as rigged .
Police detained several journalists from Belarusian news outlets Tuesday on charges of taking part in an unsanctioned demonstration .
They could receive fines or jail sentences of up to 15 days , if charged and convicted .
“ We are witnessing the lawless action of law enforcement agencies , which are muzzling journalists without bothering about methods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Belarus ’ popular online news outlet tut.by .
As it tries to quell weeks of anti-government protests prompted by official results that gave President Alexander Lukashenko a sixth term with 80 % of the vote , his government also has revoked the accreditation of many Belarusian journalists and deported some foreign journalists .
Two Moscow-based Associated Press journalists who were covering the protests were deported to Russia on Saturday .
In addition , the AP ’ s Belarusian journalists were told by the government that their press credentials had been revoked .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ condemned the targeting of media in Belarus .
During Tuesday ’ s protest , hundreds of students marched across the city , chanting for Lukashenko to “ Go away !
” as they continued a fourth straight week of mass post-election protests .
The Interior Ministry said 128 people were detained across the country Tuesday for taking part in unsanctioned demonstrations , including 95 in the capital , Minsk .
It said Wednesday that 39 of the detainees remained in custody pending court hearings .
More than 100 students of the Minsk State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protest Tuesday ’ s detentions of students and professors .
Viasna human rights centre said police detained at least eight participants in Wednesday ’ s protest .
Lukashenko , who has run the ex-Soviet nation of 9.5 million with an iron fist for 26 years , has dismissed protesters as Western puppets .
During the first few days of post-election protests , police detained nearly 7,000 people and beat hundreds , drawing international outrage .
The government has since avoided large-scale violence and sought to end the protests with threats , selective detention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The United States and the European Union have criticized the Aug. 9 presidential election as neither free nor fair and urged Belarusian authorities to engage in a dialogue with the opposition , the demand he rejected .
Belarusian prosecutors have opened a criminal probe of the opposition ’ s Coordination Council set up after the election to try to negotiate a transition of power .
Last week , two of its members were given 10-day jail sentences on charges of staging unsanctioned protests , and several others were summoned for questioning .
Pavel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ambassador to France who joined the council , travelled to Poland Tuesday after facing threats and being questioned .
His departure came a day after the Belarusian president warned that Latushko had crossed a “ red line ” and would face prosecution .
Latushko told The Associated Press that he plans to return to Belarus later this month after attending a conference in Poland and also visiting Lithuania .
“ I haven ’ t violated the law , ” he said in a telephone interview from Poland .
“ The problem is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work in Belarus .
It ’ s strange to hear the president make charges that can only be made in court.
” Facing Western pressure , Lukashenko has vowed to cement ties with Russia , which has a union treaty with Belarus envisaging close political , economic and military ties .
Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week he stands ready to send police to Belarus at Lukashenko ’ s request if the demonstrations turn violent , but added that there was no need for that yet .
During a visit to Moscow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Makei thanked Russia for supporting the Belarusian government in the face of what he described as protests orchestrated from abroad .
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized what he described as “ destructive ” Western criticism of the Belarusian authorities .
Asked if Moscow plans to have contacts with the Belarusian opposition , Lavrov said that would not happen until the Coordination Council formulates a platform that conforms with Belarusian law .
He also noted that some council members have spoken against close ties with Russia .
Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coverage of the political crisis in Belarus at https : //apnews.com/Belarus


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Saudi Arabia says flights to, from UAE can fly over kingdom

DUBAI , United Arab Emirates - Saudi Arabia announced Wednesday that flights to and from the United Arab Emirates “ from all countries ” will now be able to use its airspace — a statement apparently allowing flyovers by Israel following a deal to normalize UAE-Israel relations .
The vaguely worded statement avoided naming Israel directly .
However , the announcement came just days after the kingdom allowed the first direct Israeli commercial passenger flight to use its airspace to reach the UAE .
Any direct flight between the two nations would need to use Saudi airspace to be commercially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the kingdom ’ s rival , Iran , nor Qatar , which Saudi Arabia is currently boycotting .
Flights between those countries to the UAE would , in theory , not need to use the kingdom ’ s airspace .
The official Saudi Press Agency said the move comes in response to a “ request by the UAE ” to open routes to and from the country .
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan wrote on Twitter that the kingdom ’ s “ firm and established position toward the Palestinian cause and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even he did not directly name Israel in his tweet .
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the announcement in an online video , signalling it directly involved his country .
“ For years , I have been working to open the skies between Israel and the East , ” he said , hailing the “ tremendous breakthrough ” that Israeli planes can now fly cheaply and quickly from Israel to the Emirati capital of Abu Dhabi and skyscraper-studded city of Dubai .
Avoiding Saudi airspace would mean a more than seven hour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kushner , the U.S. president ’ s son-in-law and senior adviser , flew with a high-level Israeli delegation to the UAE on the first direct commercial passenger flight between the two countries , a Star of David emblazoned on the jet ’ s tail .
The flight traversed Saudi airspace , signalling at least acquiescence for the breakthrough U.S.-brokered agreement by the United Arab Emirates to normalize relations with Israel .
The Saudi announcement comes as Kushner is travelling the Middle East to build on the momentum of the UAE deal and press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Israel , even before it settles the conflict with the Palestinians — long considered a requirement for normalization .
After leaving Abu Dhabi , he headed to Saudi Arabia to discuss “ prospects for peace ” in the region with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman , who has expressed willingness for the kingdom to engage with Israel .
The kingdom is close to the UAE , and , along with other pro-Western Arab governments , sees Iran as a major threat .
Although shared enmity of Iran has largely overtaken traditional Arab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unpopular in much of the Arab world .
The UAE has promoted the deal as a tool to force Israel into halting its contentious plan to annex parts of the West Bank sought by the Palestinians for their future state .
Saudi Arabia welcomed the UAE ’ s move but was careful to stress it would only open ties with Israel on the condition that peace is reached with the Palestinians .
The Palestinians have fiercely opposed the normalization as peeling away one of their few advantages in moribund peace talks with Israel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of two other Arab states to have full diplomatic ties with Israel , reiterated his country ’ s support for the UAE-Israel agreement .
In a phone call with Netanyahu , el-Sissi said Egypt supports “ any steps ” that allow may help establish an independent Palestinian state and “ provide security to Israel , ” according to the Egyptian leader ’ s office .
Associated Press writers Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem and Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report .

Isabel Debre And Jon Gambrell - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Survey: US companies added just 428,000 jobs last month

WASHINGTON - U.S. companies added jobs at a modest pace last month , a private survey found , a sign @ @ @ @ @ it is only soaking up a relatively small proportion of the unemployed .
Payroll processor @ @ @ @ @ added 428,000 jobs in August , a figure that before the pandemic would have represented @ @ @ @ @ the increase represents a small slice of the 12 million jobs that have been lost @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
ADP said the bulk of the gains were at large companies , which @ @ @ @ @ businesses with less than 50 employees gained just 52,000 positions , while medium-sized firms — @ @ @ @ @ employees — added 79,000 jobs .
ADP ’ s figures do not include government workers @ @ @ @ @ Labor Department ’ s official jobs report , to be released Friday .
ADP revised @ @ @ @ @ to 212,000 , but that is still far below the 1.4 million additional jobs that @ @ @ @ @ government .

Christopher Rugaber - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Egyptian police: 7 suspected criminals killed in firefights

CAIRO - Egyptian police killed at least seven suspected criminals in separate firefights in the southern province of Aswan , @ @ @ @ @ .
The ministry , which oversees the police , said the shootouts took place in @ @ @ @ @ the west bank of the Nile River .
The suspects opened fire on police forces @ @ @ @ @ arrest them .
A police officer was wounded , it said , without elaborating when @ @ @ @ @ Four of the suspects , who were killed in one of the firefights , were @ @ @ @ @ charges that include attempted killing , drug trafficking and illegal possession of arms , the @ @ @ @ @ three suspects were killed in a second shootout as police raided their hideout allegedly used @ @ @ @ @ said .


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--The Latest: Judge drops suit vs MN governor’s virus orders

ST. PAUL -- A Ramsey County judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging Gov .
Tim Walz ’ s executive orders during the coronavirus pandemic .
Thirteen Republican legislators and a group of businesses contended the Democratic governor abused his power and interfered with the legislative process when he closed schools , issued a mask mandate and limited businesses ’ operations .
District Court Judge Thomas Gilligan upheld the governor ’ s actions Tuesday .
A group called Free Minnesota Small Business Coalition argued the governor is usurping the powers of the Legislature .
The Walz administration and DFL legislators have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deal with the pandemic .
HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK — U.S. government cancelling some orders for ventilators , after rushing to sign emergency contracts in spring — The Sun Belt ’ s coronavirus summer is easing after 35,000 deaths , but next question is impact of school and other events returning — Antibodies against virus last longer than earlier reports suggested , according to a scientific finding raising vaccine hopes HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : MIAMI — Officials say a cyberattack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s largest school district during the first two days of its virtual start to the school year .
Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho says the district suffered a distributed denial of service attack Monday morning as a software glitch blocked access to the district ’ s servers .
The Miami Herald reports the glitch and attack rendered multiple online school district features useless and teaching nearly impossible .
Carvalho says the FBI and Secret Service have been called in and subpoenaed the school district ’ s internet provider .
He adds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t penetrate the district ’ s servers .
It wasn ’ t known who initiated the attack , but Carvalho says he wants those responsible prosecuted .
MADRID — Thousands of Spanish teachers and auxiliary staff are standing in long lines in the street in Madrid after being told to take a coronavirus test just days before the start of classes .
Labour groups say some 100,000 teachers were informed less than 24 hours beforehand about five locations in the city where they had to take the coronavirus tests .
The tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests are taking place between Wednesday and next Monday .
School re-openings are staggered , with preschool starting Thursday .
Older children go back next week .
The Madrid region is a coronavirus hot spot , with almost 32,000 new cases officially recorded in the past two weeks .
HONG KONG — Hong Kong will further relax social distancing measures from Friday , allowing gyms and massage parlours to reopen and extending dining-in hours at restaurants as new daily coronavirus infections dwindle to single digits .
Tough restrictions had been imposed in July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hong Kong , temporarily shuttering such businesses and limiting public gatherings to two people .
Daily infections have since steadily decreased from a peak of more than 100 in July to eight on Wednesday , the lowest number in two months .
Officials started easing measures last week , allowing cinemas and beauty salons to re-open with social distancing measures in place .
While gyms can operate from Friday , gym-goers must wear masks while exercising , and gym classes will only be restricted to four people , government officials said Wednesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ imposing a 14-day quarantine on the Moria migrant camp on the island of Lesbos after one man who had been living outside the official camp tested positive for the coronavirus .
The overcrowded Moria camp houses 12,714 people , well over its capacity of 2,757 .
The Migration Ministry said Wednesday that 40-year-old Somali man had been granted refugee status and a residence permit to live in Greece , and had left the camp on July 17 .
However , he had returned in recent days and had been living in a tent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently hospitalized in isolation on the island .
The migration ministry said no entry or exit from the camp would be allowed until Sept. 15 , while police presence will be increased around the camp to ensure the lockdown is not breached .
Health authorities said the man ’ s contacts were being traced and all would be quarantined , while extensive coronavirus tests were being conducted on the camp ’ s residents .
Moria , by far the largest of the camps , had been free of confirmed COVID-19 cases until now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out hundreds of criminal complaints against a leader of one of Germany ’ s governing parties over her use of the word “ covidiots ” to describe protesters who demonstrated against coronavirus restrictions without masks or social distancing .
Saskia Esken , a co-leader of the centre-left Social Democrats , used the term in a tweet on Aug. 1 as around 20,000 people demonstrated in Berlin .
Police ultimately ended the rally because organizers failed to get participants to keep their distance or wear masks .
Berlin prosecutors on Wednesday said they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several hundred criminal complaints alleging slander .
They said Esken ’ s use of the expression was covered by constitutionally protected freedom of expression .
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has held his first public general audience after a pause of nearly six months due to the coronavirus outbreak .
Francis used Wednesday ’ s audience to call for solidarity as the way to exit the crisis .
Francis said : “ The current pandemic has highlighted our interdependence : We are all linked to each other , for better or for worse.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of this crisis better than before , we have to do so together , all of us , in solidarity.
” About 500 faithful attended the audience in the Vatican ’ s San Damaso courtyard .
Under strict safety rules , faithful kept social distances as they sat in the courtyard and were all required to wear masks .
The Pope didn ’ t wear one as he met the crowd , but kept a safety distance from the faithful , who were cheering and waving at him .
DUBAI , United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several schools across the country will switch to remote learning in response to suspected coronavirus outbreaks oamong employees , just days after schools reopened for in-person instruction .
The country ’ s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority made the announcement Wednesday as the UAE reported 541 new coronavirus infections , its biggest one-day jump in almost two months .
Virus cases in the Gulf country have been steadily rising in recent weeks , with 70,231 infections , including 384 deaths , reported by health authorities since the pandemic began .
Schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday with conditions , including mandatory masks , social distancing and temperature checks .
LONDON — Some families of those who died in the pandemic are accusing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson of being “ heartless ” for refusing to meet with them .
Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice , which represents more than 1,400 families , wants a public inquiry into the government ’ s handling of the pandemic .
Organizers say Johnson previously agreed to meet with them , but on Wednesday they shared a letter in which the prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ co-founder Jo Goodman , who lost her father to the virus , says Johnson dodged five letters requesting a meeting and now he is “ telling us he ’ s too busy .
It ’ s heartless.
” NEW DELHI — India registered 78,357 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours , raising its total over 3.7 million as the government eases pandemic restrictions nationwide to help the battered economy .
India , a nation of 1.4 billion people , is fast becoming the world ’ s coronavirus epicenter .
It has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new cases for more than three weeks , and at its current rate is likely to soon pass Brazil and ultimately the United States in total reported cases .
The Health Ministry on Wednesday also reported 1,045 deaths in the past 24 hours , taking total fatalities up to 66,333 .
It now has the third-most deaths after recently passing Mexico ’ s toll , according to a Johns Hopkins University tally .
Infections have been spreading fast from people in India ’ s big cities to smaller towns and rural areas .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ day has been increasing but experts say it is not enough .
On Wednesday , the Indian Council of Medical Research , India ’ s top medical research body , said the country had conducted nearly 44 million tests for the virus since the pandemic began .
SEOUL , South Korea — South Korea has recorded 267 additional cases of the coronavirus , marking a triple-digit daily jump for the 20th straight day that has forced local authorities to impose tough social distancing rules .
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country ’ s tally to 20,449 that includes 326 deaths .
The agency says 253 of the new cases were locally infected patients , 187 of them in the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area .
South Korea has seen a spike in infections since early last month , many associated with churches , restaurants , schools and a public rally .
Authorities have recently restricted dining at restaurants and ordered the shutdowns of churches , fitness centres and night establishments in the Seoul area as it struggles to track many of the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downward in recent days , but health officials have urged the public to keep following strengthened social distancing guidelines .
MELBOURNE , Australia — Australia ’ s hot spot Victoria state on Wednesday extended its state of emergency for another six months as its weekly average of new COVID-10 infections dipped to 95 .
The Victorian Parliament ’ s upper chamber passed legislation by a 20-19 vote to extend the state of emergency , which enhances the government ’ s powers to impose pandemic restrictions .
The state health department reported 90 new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24-hour period .
There were only 70 new infections on Tuesday .
But the latest seven-day average has dropped into double-digits for the first time in weeks .
The previous week ’ s average was 175 infections a day .


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Pope prays for Lebanon during 1st public audience in months

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis described solidarity as the way out of the coronavirus pandemic crisis as he held his first public audience in nearly six months Wednesday after a pause brought on by Italy ’ s outbreak .
“ The current pandemic has highlighted our interdependence .
We are all linked to each other , for better or for worse , ” Francis said , after greeting about 500 Roman Catholic faithful who attended the audience in the Vatican ’ s San Damaso courtyard .
“ To come out of this crisis better than before , we have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in solidarity , ” he added .
Under strict safety rules , participants maintained social distance as they sat in the courtyard and were all required to wear masks .
The Pope didn ’ t wear one as he met the crowd , but kept a safety distance from the faithful , who were cheering and waving at him .
“ If the pope were a thaumaturge , I would ask him to end the pandemic , but unfortunately he doesn ’ t have this power , ” Inigo Sanchez , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So I just ask for closeness.
” Before the event , Francis greeted a priest from Lebanon , kissing a Lebanese flag the priest had brought with him to Vatican City .
The pope also prayed for a few moments for the country , which is struggling to cope with political and economic instability .
During the audience , Francis also called for a day of prayer and fasting for Lebanon on Sept. 4 , a month after the devastating explosion in Beirut that killed at least 190 people , injured more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One month after the tragedy that struck the city of Beirut , my thoughts are still with dear Lebanon and its particularly troubled population , ” the pope said .
The general audience was the fist public one for Francis since the coronavirus hit Italy hard in early March .
Amid a nationwide lockdown , the Vatican suspended all public events and audiences to comply with health and safety requirements .
Since then , Pope Francis had live-streamed his weekly events from the Vatican ’ s apostolic palace , making only brief appearances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Square on Sundays .
The San Damaso courtyard , where the Vatican typically hosts heads of state during official visits , was chosen for Wednesday ’ s audience to keep the crowds smaller .


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Wheel-y mysterious: Hamster DNA find baffles German police

BERLIN - German police said Wednesday they are losing hope of finding out who left on a train a box @ @ @ @ @ , which caused alarm in the southwestern town of Heidelberg last week .
Federal police @ @ @ @ @ investigate after a train driver found the styrofoam box with three vials of liquid on @ @ @ @ @ Forensic specialists later determined that the liquid contained genetic material from rodents .
Officers had @ @ @ @ @ by publicizing the unusual find , but despite intense media interest the owner has remained @ @ @ @ @ Jan Doering , a federal police spokesman .
Doering said police had already disposed of @ @ @ @ @ chain had been broken .
Heidelberg is home to several research centres , including the @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Shinzo Abe’s assistant and spokesman seen as favourite successor

TOKYO - Japan ’ s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga , a longtime loyal assistant and the public face of outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in daily media briefings , has emerged as a favourite to succeed him in an upcoming internal party vote .
Suga formally announced his candidacy Wednesday , pledging “ to succeed policies that Prime Minister Abe has devoted his body and soul and to push them forward.
” Suga said that he , as a politician who worked with Abe , decided to run to take over the prime minister ’ s unfinished work .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ since he was a teenager , last week announced he would resign after setting a record of 2,799 consecutive days in office .
A member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party who doesn ’ t belong to any faction , Suga has been approached by leaders of other party wings as someone who can ensure the continuation of Abe ’ s policies , including strengthening Japan ’ s security alliance with the U.S. , dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and shoring up the economy .
Suga confirmed that balancing coronavirus prevention measures with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priority .
He also promised to further the Japan-U.S. alliance , developed through a friendship between Abe and President Donald Trump , within the limitations of Japan ’ s pacifist constitution while also staying the course on Abe ’ s economic and diplomatic policies .
Party executives decided to hold an internal vote on Sept. 14 to choose a new leader , who will then become the prime minister after winning parliamentary approval two days later with the ruling coalition ’ s majority .
By Wednesday , five of seven faction leaders in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taro Aso , another Abe confidante , had expressed support for Suga , increasing his chances of winning , according to media reports .
The son of a strawberry grower in the northern prefecture of Akita , Suga is a self-made politician , a rarity in Japan ’ s largely hereditary business of politics .
He earned his own tuition while working several part-time jobs to graduate from a university in Tokyo .
He entered politics as secretary to a lawmaker for 11 years and served as a city assemblyman for nearly nine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1994 .
As Japan ’ s longest-serving chief Cabinet secretary , Suga is a policy co-ordinator and adviser to Abe — the point man behind the centralized power of the Prime Minister ’ s Office that influences bureaucrats to implement policies .
Suga is also known to have helped smooth out differences by keeping close ties with both LDP heavyweight Toshihiro Nikai and a centrist coalition partner , Komeito .
He has earned a reputation for his matter-of-fact twice-daily televised media briefings .
He ’ s become known as “ Uncle Reiwa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new imperial era name for Emperor Naruhito last year .
Despite his soft-spoken and low-key image , Suga , who is also in charge of Okinawa , has offended local leaders with his heavy-handed approach to push the central government ’ s policy in a dispute over the relocation of a U.S. Marine air station to another spot on the southern island .
Suga also invited protests last year over his hostile responses to a newspaper reporter asking tough questions criticizing Abe policies .
Suga has been a loyal supporter of Abe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2006-2007 , which ended abruptly because of Abe ’ s health problems , and helped him return to power in 2012 after six years of annual leadership changes .
Except his support for Abe ’ s policies , Suga ’ s own political vision is unclear and his leadership may not last very long , possibly restarting an era of short-lived leadership , said Koichi Nakano , an international politics professor at Sophia University in Tokyo .
The next prime minister will finish the rest of Abe ’ s term , until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contenders .
Abe ’ s successor will also have to grapple with the Tokyo Olympics that has been postponed to next summer , setting Japan ’ s security policy in the face of an increasingly assertive China , and the outcome of the presidential election in the U.S. , Japan ’ s key ally .
Two younger contenders , former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and former Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba , on Tuesday expressed their intention to run for the post .
They said that Abe ’ s policies tended to ignore the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intent to address the economic and social divisions that had widened under Abe .
Neither man has proposed any major changes in Japan ’ s security and diplomatic policies .