thetorontostar--2020-08-01--Crane collapses in Indian shipyard, killing 11 workers

HYDERABAD , India - A huge crane collapsed during load testing at a government-run shipyard in southern India on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ workers , a district administrator said .
Television footage showed the new crane hitting the @ @ @ @ @ breaking into pieces at the Hindustan Shipyard in Vishakhapatnam , a port city in Andhra @ @ @ @ @ , a district government administrator , said most of the victims were contract labourers .
@ @ @ @ @ injuries , he said , adding that the crane collapsed on workers who were working @ @ @ @ @ The cause of the accident is being investigated , Chand said .
Vishakhapatnam is 620 @ @ @ @ @ east of Hyderabad , the state capital .
In another accident in the port city @ @ @ @ @ leak in a South Korean-owned chemical factory killed 12 people and sickened more than 1,000 @


thetorontostar--2020-08-01--Joe Biden nears final decision on running mate

WASHINGTON—As Joe Biden nears the announcement of his vice-presidential choice , the top contenders and their advocates are making final appeals .
The campaign hasn ’ t finalized a date for naming a running mate , but three people who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the plans said a public announcement likely wouldn ’ t happen before the week of Aug. 10 .
That ’ s one week before Democrats will hold their convention to officially nominate Biden as their presidential nominee .
Biden said in May that he hoped to name his pick around Aug. 1 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ have a choice in the first week of August.
” He notably stopped short of saying when he would announce that choice .
Running mates are often announced on the eve of a convention .
As he prepares to make his choice , a committee established to vet possible running mates has provided Biden with briefing materials .
Biden will likely soon begin one-on-one conversations with those under consideration , which could be the most consequential part of the process for a presidential candidate who values personal connections .
The leading contenders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Karen Bass and Obama national security adviser Susan Rice .
The deliberations remain fluid , however , and the campaign has reviewed nearly a dozen possible running mates .
“ For Joe Biden , this is crunch time .
After all the vetting , all the investigations into the prospective nominees , it ’ s now up to Joe .
It ’ s personal , ” said former New Mexico Gov .
Bill Richardson , who was vetted for vice-president in 2008 .
“ It ’ s now about his gut feeling.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for this story .
The selection amounts to the most significant choice Biden has confronted in his nearly five-decade political career .
He has pledged to select a woman and is facing calls to choose the first Black woman to compete on a presidential ticket .
Given the historic significance of the moment , some are urging Biden not to let the announcement linger too long .
“ My sense is that the VP himself , having been through this process , is aware of and mindful of not letting people hang out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategist Karen Finney .
“ There certainly seems to be a bit of a media frenzy , and I think we have to be aware that at a point , it becomes unfair to the candidates being considered.
“ As a decision looms , the camps are jockeying for position .
Harris ’ allies mobilized this week after Politico reported that the co-chair of the vetting committee , former Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd , was concerned about Harris ’ s tough debate stage performance and that she hasn ’ t expressed regret .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ initiated a call with the vetting team to emphasize that Harris has strong support among labour and political leaders in her home state .
The call was organized by Lt. Gov .
Eleni Kounalakis and included the mayors of Oakland , Long Beach and Stockton and former Gov .
Gray Davis .
“ A group of us really felt we needed to organize and speak out and correct the record because she has tremendous support , ” Kounalakis said .
Beyond emphasizing their strong relationships with Harris , they also pushed back against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a loyal partner .
Harris , while not directly addressing her vice-presidential prospects , told a group of young Black women Friday that it ’ s common for Black women to face resistance when they exercise their power .
“ There will be a resistance to your ambition .
There will be people who say to you : ‘ You are out of your lane , ’ ” she said during the digital summit .
“ They are burdened by only having the capacity to see what has always been instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had that experience my entire career.
” Biden has sought feedback on his pick from former president Barack Obama , who has provided advice but has insisted the choice is his to make , according to a person who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private conversations .
Biden allies say his wife , Jill , and sister , Valerie Biden Owens , are likely to play a key role in the decision , as they have with many of Biden ’ s biggest political decisions throughout his career .
Jill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with virtually all the potential contenders in recent weeks , as has Biden himself , effectively offering the contenders a try-out opportunity with the presumptive Democratic nominee .
On Thursday night , Bass joined Biden for a virtual fundraiser that raked in $ 2.2 million ( U.S. ) .
She has also taken steps to build her national profile , including providing interviews to multiple outlets over the past week .
On Friday night , Biden held a virtual fundraiser with Elizabeth Warren , who has also been considered as a running mate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than $ 1.7 million from over 50,000 grassroots donors .
That ’ s about a quarter of the $ 6 million the Massachusetts senator brought in during her first online fundraiser for the former vice-president last month that appealed to higher-dollar donors .
“ We ’ ve known each other a long time .
Her fearless work for a just America has transformed lives and inspired millions , including me , ” Biden said .
” She is something else .
You all know her.
” Warren said , “ This is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I wake up every single day with a heart full of hope and here is why : Vice-President Biden is meeting the moment , ” she added .
The two talked for nearly an hour but did not mention the vice-presidential selection process .
Some Biden donors have already begun to plan prospective fundraising events ahead of the formal announcement .
Biden ’ s team expects his running mate to contribute immediately to his fundraising operation .
Of the finalists , Harris is thought to be the most formidable traditional fundraiser , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donations from the party ’ s progressive base is also viewed as a major asset .
Associated Press writers Julie Pace and Will Weissert in Washington , Steve Peoples and Jonathan Lemire in New York , Bill Barrow in Atlanta and Kathleen Ronayne in Sacramento , Calif. , contributed to this report .

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thetorontostar--2020-08-01--Florida teen arrested as mastermind of Twitter hack

MIAMI—A Florida teen was identified Friday as the mastermind of a scheme earlier this month that commandeered Twitter accounts of prominent politicians , celebrities and technology moguls and scammed people around the globe out of more than $ 100,000 in Bitcoin .
Two other men were also charged in the case .
Graham Ivan Clark , 17 , was arrested Friday in Tampa , where the Hillsborough State Attorney ’ s Office will prosecute him as an adult .
He faces 30 felony charges , according to a news release .
Two men accused of benefiting from the hack — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Regis , U.K. , and Nima Fazeli , 22 , of Orlando — were charged separately in California federal court .
In one of the most high-profile security breaches in recent years , bogus tweets were sent out on July 15 from the accounts of Barack Obama , Joe Biden , Mike Bloomberg and a number of tech billionaires including Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos , Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Tesla CEO Elon Musk .
Celebrities Kanye West and his wife , Kim Kardashian West , were also hacked .
The tweets offered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,000 sent to an anonymous Bitcoin address .
The hack alarmed security experts because of the grave potential of such an intrusion for creating geopolitical mayhem with disinformation .
Court papers in the California cases say Fazeli and Sheppard brokered the sale of Twitter accounts stolen by a hacker who identified himself as “ Kirk ” and said he could “ reset , swap and control any Twitter account at will ” in exchange for cybercurrency payments , claiming to be a Twitter employee .
The documents do not specify Kirk ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teen being prosecuted in the Tampa area .
Twitter has said the hacker gained access to a company dashboard that manages accounts by using social engineering and spear-phishing smartphones to obtain credentials from “ a small number ” of Twitter employees “ to gain access to our internal systems.
” Spear-phishing uses email or other messaging to deceive people into sharing access credentials .
“ There is a false belief within the criminal hacker community that attacks like the Twitter hack can be perpetrated anonymously and without consequence , ” U.S. Attorney David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California said in a news release .
The evidence suggests , however , that those responsible did a poor job indeed of covering their tracks .
The court documents released Friday show how federal agents tracked down the hackers through Bitcoin transactions and by obtaining records of their online chats .
Although the case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice , Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren said his office is prosecuting Clark in state court because Florida law allows minors to be charged as adults in financial fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the leader of the hacking scam .
“ This defendant lives here in Tampa , he committed the crime here , and he ’ ll be prosecuted here , ” Warren said .
Security experts were not surprised that the alleged mastermind is a 17-year-old , given the relatively amateurish nature of both the operation and how participants discussed it with New York Times reporters afterward .
“ This is a great case study showing how technology democratizes the ability to commit serious criminal acts , ” said Jake Williams , founder of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There wasn ’ t a ton of development that went into this attack.
” Williams said the hackers were “ extremely sloppy ” in how they moved the Bitcoin around .
It did not appear they used any services that make cryptocurrency difficult to trace by “ tumbling ” transactions of multiple users , a technique akin to money laundering , he said .
He also said he was conflicted about whether Clark should be charged as an adult .
“ He definitely deserves to pay ( for jumping on the opportunity ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t seem like justice in this case , ” Williams said .
The hack targeted 130 accounts with tweets being sent from 45 accounts , obtained access to the direct message inboxes of 36 , and downloaded Twitter data from seven .
Dutch anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders has said his inbox was among those accessed .
Court papers suggest Fazeli and Sheppard got involved in the scheme after Clark dangled the possibility of obtaining so-called OG Twitter handles , short account names that due to their brevity are highly prized and considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They said Sheppard purchased @ anxious and Faceli wanted @ foreign .
Internal Revenue Service investigators in Washington , D.C. , identified two of the defendants by analyzing Bitcoin transactions on the blockchain — the universal ledger that records Bitcoin transactions — that they had sought to make anonymous , federal prosecutors said .
Marcus Hutchins , the 26-year-old British cybersecurity expert credited with helping stop the WannaCry computer virus in 2017 , said the skillset involved in the actual hack was nothing special .
“ I think people underestimate the level of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of hacks .
They may sound extremely sophisticated , but the techniques can be replicated by teens , ” added Hutchins , who pleaded guilty last year to creating malware designed to steal banking information and just completed a year ’ s supervised release .
British cybersecurity analyst Graham Cluley said his guess was that the targeted Twitter employees got a message to call what they thought was an authorized help desk and were persuaded by the hacker to provide their credentials .
It ’ s also possible the hackers got a call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line by spoofing the number , he said .
Fazeli ’ s father said Friday he hasn ’ t been able to talk to his son since Thursday .
“ I ’ m 100 per cent sure my son is innocent , ” Mohamad Fazeli said .
“ He ’ s a very good person , very honest , very smart and loyal.
” “ We are as shocked as everybody else , ” he said by phone .
“ I ’ m sure this is a mix-up.
” Attempts to reach relatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately successful .
Hillsborough County court records didn ’ t list an attorney for Clark , and federal court records didn ’ t list attorneys for Sheppard or Fazeli .
This story has been corrected to show that participants in the operation , not the hacker identified as `` Kirk , '' discussed it with The New York Times .
Bajak reported from Boston .
Associated Press Writers Kelvin Chan in London , Matt O ’ Brien in Providence , Rhode Island , contributed to this report .

David Fischer And Frank Bajak - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-01--‘Rebuilding Paradise’ looks at emotional toll of deadly fire

SAN FRANCISCO - Almost two years since a wildfire swept through his mountain town and virtually wiped it out , Steve “ Woody ” Culleton got to put the final touches on his new home .
Two redwood trees were planted in the ground , a new lawn and stone patio transformed the once barren yard into a green refuge .
The landscaping marked the final chapter of a long ordeal that was captured in “ Rebuilding Paradise , ” a new documentary directed by Ron Howard about the aftermath of the most destructive wildfire in California ’ s history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , the documentary focuses on the colossal cleanup and rebuilding efforts after the Nov. 8 , 2018 , inferno that killed 85 people and destroyed some 19,000 buildings .
It follows several wildfire survivors as they piece their lives back together and offers signs of the town ’ s resilience despite many uncertainties about its future .
Howard said he had his doubts when he went to Paradise to witness the devastation .
He knew the town , having visited a couple of times when his mother-in-law lived there , and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I just thought , ‘ Well , how are they going to come back on this ?
’ I mean , here ’ s a region that is just getting thrown so many body blows , death blows , ” he said .
“ How do you respond and recover ?
And the idea of rebuilding Paradise became the question .
Can it even rebuild ?
” While it touches upon the failings of Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. , the utility whose equipment sparked the wildfire , and changing climate conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extreme rates , the documentary mainly focuses on the emotional toll of rebuilding .
Howard ’ s team became close to displaced families going through the trauma of losing their homes , a police officer whose marriage fell apart under the strain of the crisis and school workers who fought to keep classrooms together .
Put through what he called a cruel test , Howard said their struggles became a case study for “ what survival looks like , and the possibilities for real healing and also the inevitability of deep wounds and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoided in every circumstance.
” Michelle John , the schools superintendent in Paradise , was under immediate pressure to shut the school district and enrol students elsewhere in the area after the fire .
She worked with other school districts to find space for Paradise students to stick together , and by the end of the school year she pulled off a high school graduation ceremony many thought was impossible six months before .
“ The kids lost everything : their homes , their sports teams , their stuffed animals , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away their teachers and their friends ?
” A few days after the graduation , John ’ s husband died of a heart attack .
She attributed his death to the trauma of the fire .
“ There ’ s no doubt in my mind that the stress of the fire and his overall sadness about what happened contributed , ” she said .
“ His heart was just broken.
” Now retired and living in Reno , Nevada , she said she still talks frequently with her former colleagues to guide them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help students amid the coronavirus pandemic .
She bought a new property in Paradise and plans to live there at least part time .
“ It ’ s difficult being away because I want to be there to support people , ” she said .
“ We have a shared bond because we went through this tragedy ; the ties can not be broken.
” Culleton , the town ’ s former mayor and councilman , was one of the first people in town to rebuild and moved into his new home last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rebuild several days after his house burned down and threw himself into the work to make it happen .
There was little time to reflect on the things he lost in the fire .
“ Why sit down and think about it ?
” he said .
“ To me , it ’ s painful and triggers all kinds of stuff .
I want to move forward.
” More than 260 homes have been rebuilt and the town has received some 1,200 building permit applications .
Paradise is slowly repopulating , a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Culleton believes the community ’ s heart and soul “ is still alive and well.
” People came back for Paradise High School ’ s football games , he said , and traditions such as Johnny Appleseed Days and Gold Nuggets Day have been kept alive .
Still , his neighbours are gone and Culleton acknowledges he may not live to see the town make a full comeback .
He said he hopes people who watch the documentary come away with a better appreciation of how precious and fragile life is .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8th is that we all thought we were going to die , ” he said .
“ You can lose everything with a blink of an eye .
So I ’ m trying to live to the fullest.
” National Geographic is releasing “ Rebuilding Paradise ” in select theatres and on-demand through Laemmle ’ s and ShowcaseNOW ’ s streaming services .

Daisy Nguyen And Amanda Myers - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-01--Search stretches on for 8 missing after Marine craft sinks

SAN DIEGO - Helicopters and boats ranging from inflatables to a Navy destroyer were headed into a Saturday search for eight people missing after their Marine landing craft went down in hundreds of feet of water off the Southern California coast .
“ Literally every asset we have available “ was searching for seven Marines and a Navy corpsman , Lt. Gen. Joseph Osterman , commander of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force , said Friday .
They were aboard an amphibious assault vehicle that was heading back to a Navy ship Thursday evening after a routine training exercise when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 0.8 kilometres ) from Navy-owned San Clemente Island , off of San Diego .
Other assault vehicles quickly responded but couldn ’ t stop the 26-ton , tank-like vehicle from quickly sinking , Osterman said .
“ The assumption is that it went completely to the bottom ” several hundred feet below , Osterman said .
That was too deep for divers to reach and the Navy and Coast Guard were discussing ways to reach the sunken vehicle to get a view inside it , Osterman said .
Eight Marines were rescued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and two remained in stable condition at a hospital , authorities said .
All the Marines were attached to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit , based at nearby Camp Pendleton .
They ranged in age from 19 to early 30s and all were wearing combat gear , including body armour , and flotation vests , Osterman said .
The vehicle , known as an AAV but nicknamed an “ amtrac , “ for “ amphibious tractor ” is used to take Marines and their gear from Navy ships to land .
The sunken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the exercise , was designed to be naturally buoyant and had three water-tight hatches and two large troop hatches , Osterman said .
The vehicles have been used since 1972 , and continually refurbished .
Marine Corps officials said Friday they did not know the age or other details of the one that sank .
The Marine Corps commandant , Gen. David Berger , suspended waterborne operations of more than 800 amphibious assault vehicles across the branch until the cause of the accident is determined .
He said the move was out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accident marks the third time in recent years that Camp Pendleton Marines have been injured or died in amphibious assault vehicles during training exercises .
In 2017 , 14 Marines and one Navy sailor were hospitalized after their vehicle hit a natural gas line , igniting a fire that engulfed the landing craft at Camp Pendleton .
In 2011 , a Marine died when an amphibious assault vehicle in a training exercise sank offshore of the camp .


thetorontostar--2020-08-01--Nebraska carnival company struggles to survive

And think about how Mike Lynch should be spending this carnival season .
If this were a normal year — like the first five years he owned D.C. Lynch Shows , or the 39 years his parents owned it before him , or the 18 years his grandparents ran it before that — he wouldn ’ t be frying food in a mall parking lot .
Instead , his caravan would have rolled out of Chapman in late April .
The eight semis carrying the Zipper , Cliffhanger , Ferris wheel , Tilt-A-Whirl and another dozen rides .
The trucks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that serve snow cones , funnel cakes and deep-fried Oreos .
The campers that provide quarters for a dozen family members and more than twice as many employees .
The traditional first stop for this parade of nearly 40 trucks and trailers ?
Grand Island , just 10 miles west down U.S. 30 .
The last , in September ?
Humboldt ’ s Richardson County Fair .
And in between ?
Thirty more small towns and cities in Nebraska and South Dakota .
Pull in , set up , work hard , tear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Week after week after week .
“ When we leave home , we shut our houses down , ” Lynch told the Lincoln Journal Star .
“ We ’ re going all summer.
” They ’ ve found a rhythm in their routine , returning to some of the same fairgrounds for decades .
In Spalding , they ’ re a reason people circle their calendars .
The Greeley County Fair Board president starts getting quizzed a year in advance for the dates of the next fair because so many former residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board can ’ t afford popular performers , said Dan McManaman , so D.C. Lynch is always the star of the show .
“ The carnival is what we rely on to bring people in .
It makes our fair .
If we didn ’ t have that carnival , we wouldn ’ t have that much going on.
” But the caravan provides more than the entertainment .
The company buys fuel for its trucks and for the generators that keep the rides rolling .
Its employees stock up at grocery stores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ They get a lot of revenue from us when we come to town , ” Lynch said .
“ We try to buy everything local.
” And it serves steady summer work to seasonal employees who prefer life on the road .
Like Wes Iiams , who as a young man tried working at the Buick and Olds dealership in Columbus , and then on the factory floor at Behlen .
“ But I didn ’ t get along well with regular work , I guess , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they put him to work setting up and tearing down the merry-go-round , and driving a truck carrying kiddie rides .
He worked his way up to head mechanic , and now he ’ s responsible for the generators and wiring .
The life isn ’ t for everyone , he said .
He learned to like working outside , finding himself in a new town , surrounded by new people , every few days .
“ You ’ ve got to have a feeling for it .
And I guess I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home last week , and the weeks and months before that , laid off from the carnival after 45 years .
He decided not to look for another job .
“ I haven ’ t been home for a summer since 1975 , ” he said .
“ There ’ s a few things I need to catch up on around here.
” Lynch had tried to salvage the season as the coronavirus spread , but directed health measures effectively put them out of business as usual .
“ Up to June , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We finally made the call we weren ’ t going to do it the first week of July .
We weren ’ t going to do anything.
” He ’ d already had all of the rides — including the new Crazy Dance from the Czech Republic , which cost hundreds of thousands — unpacked , assembled and inspected , ready to go on the road .
“ But we had to tear it all down and put it away.
” This was a first for his family .
His grandparents , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company in 1957 with a merry-go-round and a few homemade rides .
They ’ d joined up with another carnival company before branching out on their own .
“ Back then , it was a little different , ” Lynch said .
“ Everybody did what they could to get started .
It doesn ’ t work that way now ; everything has to be tested and engineered.
” His father and mother , Dennis and JoAnne , took over in 1975 , and Mike Lynch — who ’ d grown up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smells of frying food , the soundtrack of screams and generators — became the owner in 2014 .
“ It ’ s the only thing I ’ ve known my whole life , ” he said .
This year was different .
They didn ’ t rehire the 20 to 30 employees they normally needed , but his family did what it ’ s always done — it hit the road .
They call it Carnival Eats , and they ’ re trying to hit the fairs and festivals they ’ d already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legs , corn dogs , cotton candy , caramel apples and cold drinks .
“ We ’ ve been taking our little food trailers around , trying to get a little bit of money to pay off expenses , ” he said .
They parked four food trucks in the Kearney mall parking lot this weekend , and they ’ ll take them to Spalding in early August , as they have been for more than a half-century .
McManaman , of the Greeley County Fair Board , will be happy to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I didn ’ t want to break the tradition .
It ’ s been a long run and I said , ‘ I don ’ t want to break that run.
’ ” D.C. Lynch is established enough that it can weather a mostly idle year , Lynch said .
But he worries about newer , debt-laden companies .
“ It ’ s going to put a lot of carnivals out of business , ” he said .
“ There will be a lot less carnivals around the nation next year.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Association hadn ’ t yet heard of any carnivals calling it quits , but Greg Chiecko has heard of plenty struggling to survive .
Carnivals in warm-weather states were busy in January and February , he said , but the industry has essentially shut down for the season nationwide .
Some companies , like D.C. Lynch , are taking their food trucks to the people , and others are drawing the people to their food trucks by hosting drive-in movies .
“ They ’ re doing anything and everything they can to try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
This year ’ s food truck tour has been hit and miss , Lynch said .
They ’ ve had some good days .
But he ’ s banking on a turnaround next season .
He wants to finally unveil the Crazy Dance to the public , put people like Iiams back to work , return to the familiar rhythm of his summers .
“ I hope to have a banner year , ” he said .
“ I hope everybody ’ s going to be ready to hit the carnival @ @


thetorontostar--2020-08-01--Rentals remain available for last-minute Sturgis rally-goers

RAPID CITY , S.D .
- The COVID-19 pandemic apparently is not discouraging as many visitors as previously expected , but home rentals , campground spaces and hotel rooms remain available for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally that starts Aug. 7 .
“ It ’ s the 80th rally , so people are coming , ” said Kimberly Roberts , owner of Kickstands Campground and Venue outside Sturgis .
Roberts said some primitive tent camping and self-contained RV spaces are still open because of cancellations , but full-service RV spots are full .
“ This is our fourth rally .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is people are trickling in .
People are showing up , ” she told the Rapid City Journal .
Gina Huiet , manager of Sturgis RV Park in Sturgis , said that park is usually fully booked by October for the following summer ’ s rally .
The park rents sites for five or 10 days at a time .
As of Friday , July 24 , the park had some openings because Canadian travellers were forced to cancel due to COVID-19 border closures .
“ Yes , I have had some people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those spots , we ’ ve booked them , ” Huiet said .
“ People are coming anyway.
” “ We do have an overflow camping lot .
We do allow one- and two-night stays for motorcycles and tents .
We ’ ve never filled it up before but it could happen this year , ” she said .
“ All those people that waited until the last minute , the only good thing about COVID-19 is it opened a rally spot for you.
” As of Friday , July 24 , sturgis.com @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout the Black Hills .
Options ranged from high-end luxury homes to rustic cabins and campsites .
Meanwhile this week , Airbnb.com shows its rentals throughout the Black Hills are 81 % booked during the rally .
Several entire houses for rent during the rally have not yet been reserved .
Julie Schmitz Jensen , executive director of Visit Rapid City , said she ’ s optimistic about visitor numbers this summer .
“ Nothing about this year is normal , but I think there are some that had already made reservations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Jensen said .
“ We all know things could change overnight ; we ’ re keeping our fingers crossed.
” By mid-July , she said Rapid City area hotels , motels and campgrounds were reporting between 65 % and 85 % reservation rates during the rally , with the two weekends being more booked than midweek .
“ There have been some cancellations recently because some states are implementing stay-at-home rules .
… I ’ m not seeing that as a huge trend yet , ” Jensen said .
“ Canadians have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rally market so ( with the border closure ) Canadian numbers are either nonexistent or way down .
“ We ’ re all dipping our toes into regional marketing .
We ’ re not telling the world to come visit this summer .
We are telling ( those who are within driving distance ) we are open , we are safe , we are following all the Centers for Disease Control regulations , ” Jensen said .
“ We are coming back up .
We ’ re aren ’ t out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting back .
… We ’ re getting a lot of interest.
” Meanwhile , at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip , last-minute guests are always invited .
“ We always have room at the Chip for more people and this year is no different , ” said Buffalo Chip founder and President Rod Woodruff .
“ We ’ d welcome anybody that makes up their mind at the last minute .
We always have a lot of people who make up their minds at the last minute.
” The Buffalo Chip has RV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cabins there are fully booked .
The Buffalo Chip also rents campers and if it runs out will work with a camper company to bring in more from out of state .
The Buffalo Chip also has added a new garage and will have mechanics on site to help visitors whose motorcycles break down .
“ We always have room for another million , ” Woodruff said .
“ We ’ re conscious of COVID-19 so we ’ re changing the amphitheatres ( for the concerts ) to accommodate for COVID , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reservations have been increasing for the past couple of months , he said .
“ South Dakota has fresh air , lots of space , beautiful roads , nice little mountains and wide open prairies ” that visitors love , Woodruff said .
“ People are wanting to get back to living a normal life and we ’ re sitting pretty well out here .
… It ’ s good to see people getting out and goofing off.
” Woodruff said he ’ ll encourage people to “ goof off responsibly ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chip everyone ’ s going to focus on fun .
“ We call it partying like it ’ s 1982 .
The folks that are worried about COVID-19 aren ’ t going to come .
The people that are coming are coming to have a good time , see other people and socialize , ” he said .


thetorontostar--2020-08-01--Revenue at biggest Trump properties held steady last year

NEW YORK - Revenue at President Donald Trump ’ s Washington , D.C. , hotel and several of his biggest clubs and resorts mostly held steady last year before the coronavirus forced many to shut their doors and lay off workers , according to a financial disclosure report released Friday .
Trump ’ s D.C. hotel and his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach , Florida , both took in slightly less revenue in 2019 for the third year in a row .
Revenue at the president ’ s golf club near Miami and at his Bedminster , New Jersey , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the disclosure report released by the Office of Government Ethics appears to provide little evidence that Trump ’ s role as president has provided a big boost to his business , as his critics had feared .
Trump ’ s vast properties and businesses — golf courses and hotels , office buildings and residential towers , and licenses to use his name among others services — generated revenue of more than $ 440 million , little changed from 2018 .
The value assigned to Trump ’ s assets was estimated at more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the previous year .
Trump International Hotel in Washington , a magnet for lobbyists and diplomats hoping to curry favour with the administration , took in $ 40.5 million before its lobby was closed due to the coronavirus and other operations cut back .
That is down from $ 40.8 million in 2018 .
Mar-a-Lago took in $ 21.4 million , down from $ 22.7 million .
One of the biggest revenue generators among Trump ’ s properties last year , the Trump National Doral Golf Club near Miami , took in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 76 million in 2018 , its third year of climbing .
The Doral and Mar-a-Lago clubs were among many of Trump ’ s properties in several states and abroad that closed earlier this year due to the coronavirus .
The company has asked for relief from tax authorities in Palm Beach County , where it operates two golf courses , and reportedly from its biggest lender , Deutsche Bank .
In March and April , it laid off or furloughed at least 1,300 of its workers .
Eric Trump , who is running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Don Jr. , said in a statement “ 2019 was a fantastic year for our country and one of the best years in the history of The Trump Organization.
” For all the detail in Trump ’ s latest disclosure report , it gives only a partial picture of how his business has fared .
It lists only revenues , not profits , for instance , and many figures are given in ranges .
Trump ’ s tax returns would give a better picture , but he has refused to disclose them , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He also broke with presidential tradition by deciding not to sell off his holdings to avoid the potential conflicts with his decisions over regulations , taxes and laws that could benefit his business .
The Trump Organization , an umbrella group for his holdings , has struggled with boycotts and business blowback from Trump ’ s divisive comments and policies for years .
Several buildings have stripped the Trump name from their façades , including hotels in Manhattan and Toronto , and the company had to halt the rollout of two new hotel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sign up business partners .
The total for Trump ’ s personal liabilities was unchanged between 2019 and 2020 , showing he continues to owe debts amounting to at least $ 315 million to eight banks and commercial lenders .
Trump ’ s major creditors include German-based Deutsche Bank , owed at least $ 130 million , and New York-headquartered commercial lender Ladder Capital , owed at least $ 110 million .
The only shift in Trump ’ s debt was a new lender , the Bryn Mawr Trust Company , a suburban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Royal Bank America , which had held a Trump debt worth between $ 5 million and $ 25 million for Seven Springs , a New York estate owned by the Trump Organization .
The debt was due in 2019 , but the new creditor extended Trump ’ s due date to 2029 .
Trump ’ s disclosure also says he does not believe former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani ’ s work for him as his personal lawyer in 2018 and 2019 constituted a gift because he was working for free — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Giuliani is not able to estimate the value of that pro bona publico counsel ; therefore , the value is unascertainable , ” says a footnote on Trump ’ s form .
Along with Trump ’ s 78-page filing , his two closest advisors , daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband , Jared Kushner , also released separate personal financial disclosures reporting at least $ 36 million in revenue for 2019 .
At least $ 3.9 million of that came from revenues Ivanka Trump reported under her investment stake in Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump Organization has dangled for a possible sale .
The couple both also reported new liabilities amounting to between $ 5 million and $ 25 million as part of their investments in a real estate group called Times Square Associates LLC .

Bernard Condon And Stephen Braun - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-01--Mexico 3rd in global pandemic deaths, Vietnam struggles anew

PARIS - Mexico now has the third most COVID-19 deaths in the world , behind the United States and Brazil , while former success story Vietnam is struggling to control an outbreak spreading in its most famous beach resort .
China reported a more than 50 % drop in newly confirmed cases in a possible sign that its latest major outbreak in the northwestern region of Xinjiang may have run its course .
However , in Hong Kong , infections continue to surge , with more than 100 new cases reported as of Saturday among the population of 7.5 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask requirements .
South Korean prosecutors arrested the elderly leader of a secretive religious sect linked to more than 5,200 of the country ’ s 14,336 confirmed cases .
He has denied charges of hiding members and underreporting gatherings to avoid broader quarantines .
Mexican health officials on Friday reported 688 new deaths , pushing the country ’ s total to 46,688 .
That put Mexico just ahead of the United Kingdom , which has 46,119 , according to the tally by Johns Hopkins University .
In Vietnam , a third person died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a day after it recorded its first-ever death as it struggles with a renewed outbreak after 99 days with no local cases .
All three died in a hospital in Da Nang , a hot spot with more than 100 cases in the past week .
Thousands of visitors had been in the city for summer vacation and are now being tested in Hanoi and elsewhere .
Twelve additional cases were confirmed on Saturday , all linked to Da Nang Hospital .
The city has tightened security and set up more checkpoints @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city , which has been in lockdown since Tuesday .
A makeshift hospital was set up in a sports auditorium and doctors have been mobilized from other cities to help .
“ I want to be tested so I can stop worrying if I have the virus or not , ” said Pham Thuy Hoa , a banking official who returned to the capital from Da Nang .
“ We must be responsible for the entire community.
” India recorded its steepest spike of 57,118 new cases in the past 24 hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.7 million , with July alone accounting for nearly 1.1 million infections .
The country ’ s Civil Aviation Ministry delayed resumption of international flights by another month until Aug. 31 .
But it will continue to allow several international carriers from the United States , Europe and the Middle East to operate special flights to evacuate stranded nationals .
The global pandemic has impacted nearly every aspect of this year ’ s Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca , with as few as 1,000 pilgrims already residing in Saudi Arabia taking part , down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought on by the pandemic is making it harder for many to join in the four-day Eid al-Adha , or “ Feast of Sacrifice , ” in which Muslims slaughter livestock and distribute the meat to the poor .
“ I could hardly buy food for my family , ” Somali civil servant Abdishakur Dahir said .
“ We are just surviving for now .
Life is getting tougher by the day.
” The Saudi Health Ministry said there have been no cases of COVID-19 among this year ’ s pilgrims .
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electronic wristbands and required to be quarantined before and after .
In the U.S. , Hurricane Isaias ’ imminent arrival forced the closure of some outdoor testing sites even as Florida reached a new daily high in deaths .
“ We had to put safety first , ” Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said at an online news conference Friday .
In Utah , the Salt Lake City School District Board of Education announced that its schools will start the year with all online-only classes in response to an increasing number of confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after public schools around Indiana reopened their doors , at least one student and one school staff member in districts around Indianapolis have tested positive for the virus .
The debate over school openings came as Dr. Anthony Fauci dismissed a tweet by President Donald Trump claiming the U.S. global lead in coronavirus cases is because of increased testing .
Fauci said the scale of the U.S. outbreak is the result of multiple factors , including some states opening up too quickly and disregarding federal guidelines .
On Friday , the head of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the pandemic will be felt for “ decades to come.
” “ Most of the world ’ s people remain susceptible to this virus , even in areas that have experienced severe outbreaks , ” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in London .
“ Although vaccine development is happening at record speed , we must learn to live with this virus and we must fight it with the tools that we have.
“ Leicester reported from Le Pecq , France and McGuirk from Canberra , Australia .
AP journalists around the world contributed @ @ @ @

John Leicester, Rod McGuirk And Arno Pedram - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-01--Trump says he’ll act to ban TikTok in US as soon as Saturday

NEW YORK - President Donald Trump said he will take action as soon as Saturday to ban TikTok , a popular Chinese-owned video app that has been a source of national security and censorship concerns .
Trump ’ s comments came after published reports that the administration is planning to order China ’ s ByteDance to sell TikTok .
There were also reports Friday that software giant Microsoft is in talks to buy the app .
“ As far as TikTok is concerned , we ’ re banning them from the United States , ” Trump told reporters Friday on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida .
Trump said he could use emergency economic powers or an executive order to enforce the action , insisting , “ I have that authority.
” He added , “ It ’ s going to be signed tomorrow.
” Reports by Bloomberg News and the Wall Street Journal citing anonymous sources said the administration could soon announce a decision ordering ByteDance to divest its ownership in TikTok .
There have been reports of U.S. tech giants and financial firms being interested in buying or investing in TikTok as the Trump administration sets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York Times and Fox Business , citing an unidentified source , reported Friday that Microsoft is in talks to buy TikTok .
Microsoft declined to comment .
TikTok issued a statement Friday saying that , “ While we do not comment on rumours or speculation , we are confident in the long-term success of TikTok.
” ByteDance launched TikTok in 2017 , then bought Musical.ly , a video service popular with teens in the U.S. and Europe , and combined the two .
A twin service , Douyin , is available for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , goofy videos and ease of use has made it immensely popular , and U.S. tech giants like Facebook and Snapchat see it as a competitive threat .
It has said it has tens of millions of U.S. users and hundreds of millions globally .
But its Chinese ownership has raised concerns about the censorship of videos , including those critical of the Chinese government , and the potential for sharing user data with Chinese officials .
TikTok maintains it doesn ’ t censor videos based on topics sensitive to China and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to U.S. user data even if asked .
The company has hired a U.S. CEO , a former top Disney executive , in an attempt to distance itself from its Chinese ownership .
U.S. national-security officials have been reviewing the Musical.ly acquisition in recent months , while U.S. armed forces have banned their employees from installing TikTok on government-issued phones .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said earlier this month that the U.S. was considering banning TikTok .
These national-security worries parallel a broader U.S. security crackdown on Chinese companies , including telecom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration has ordered that the U.S. stop funding equipment from those providers in U.S. networks .
It has also tried to steer allies away from Huawei because of worries about the Chinese government ’ s access to data , which the company has denied it has .
The Trump administration has stepped in before to block or dissolve deals on national-security concerns , including stopping Singapore ’ s Broadcom from its $ 117 billion bid for U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm in 2018 in an effort to help retain U.S. leadership in the telecom space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beijing Kunlun Tech Co. to sell off its 2016 purchase of gay dating app Grindr .
Other countries are also taking action against TikTok .
India this month banned dozens of Chinese apps , including TikTok , citing privacy concerns , amid tensions between the countries .
Associated Press writers Kevin Freking aboard Air Force One and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-08-01--Boy, 9, fatally shot while playing at Chicago parking lot

CHICAGO - A 9-year-old boy was killed Friday night when a gunman fired several shots toward the Chicago parking lot @ @ @ @ @ police said .
Nobody else was injured in the shooting around 6 p.m. near the @ @ @ @ @ the city ’ s Near North Side .
The boy was pronounced dead about an @ @ @ @ @ the hospital with a gunshot wound to the chest , police said .
Deputy Chief @ @ @ @ @ who spoke to the media from the hospital , said the boy was the “ @ @ @ @ @ attack of “ senseless violence.
” Several bystanders were nearby .
The suspect remained at @ @ @ @ @ said he didn ’ t have a detailed description of the shooter or know who @ @ @ @ @ Any time a child is a victim of gun violence in the city of Chicago @ @ @ @ @ affects us all , ” McDermott said .


thetorontostar--2020-08-01--‘Class Action Park’ created by Shreveport filmmakers

SHREVEPORT , La .
- Add to the watchlist a whirlwind tale about the tragic and almost unbelievable adventures at a place touted as “ The World ’ s Most Dangerous Amusement Park.
” “ Class Action Park , ” a feature-length documentary about the now-defunct Action Park in New Jersey , will premiere in August on the new streaming platform , HBO Max .
“ Class Action Park ” was directed and produced by Chris Charles Scott ( “ The Shape of Shreveport ” ) and Seth Porges .
The film examines how a popular destination for entertainment operated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injuries and deaths of guests .
“ This is a fascinating story that involves government corruption , shady capitalism , poor parenting techniques , and just kids being kids , ” Scott said .
“ It ’ s a dark comedy because it is truly fascinating how this thing was allowed to last so long .
It ’ s a humorous tale.
” The epic is told using investigative journalism , real-life accounts , and unearthed documents and recordings .
Action Park survivors provide first-hand insight about how Action Park became a beloved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This waterpark routinely maimed and hurt and sometimes killed their patrons .
This was not a deterrent to the park .
It was almost a calling card , ” Scott said .
Action Park opened in the 1970s but had its heyday in the 1980s and ’ 90s .
The wrongdoings spanned from the park ’ s experimental and dangerously designed and constructed rides to the negligent owner , employees , and parents who allowed their children to visit , he said .
One of the attractions questioned for its safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water slide built with a complete loop .
Over the years , the amusement and water park company began to suffer financially as a result of lawsuits .
In 1996 , Action Park closed , however , it hasn ’ t erased the good and bad memories of those who visited making the park legendary and almost mythical .
“ ‘ Class Action Park ’ brings feelings of nostalgia even if you didn ’ t grow up going to this infamous New Jersey amusement park , ” said Sarah Aubrey , head of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The insane stories of lawlessness and injury are an unbelievably wild ride.
” Porges , a journalist , was enthralled with the park ’ s scandalous past and began investigating .
He produced a short film about Action Park that ’ s credited as inspiring a Johnny Knoxville movie “ Action Point ” and other media .
Last year , Porges recruited fellow documentarian Scott to expand the viral short into a full-length feature film .
Film credits include co-producers and co-editors Chris M. Johnston and Chris Lyon with the director of photography @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The original animation was created by Richard Langberg .
The Holladay Brothers wrote , composed , and recorded an original musical score for “ Class Action Park.
” “ The film is made with personal love by Seth Porges and Chris Scott , ” Senska said .
“ Seth is obsessed with the topic and he ’ s a fantastic writer .
Chris knows how to pull stories out of people .
The movie is somehow hilarious and sad , which is exactly what life is like .
People should watch it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what was allowed to happen , then entertained by the first-hand stories and joy that was had.
” Lyon describes the film as a “ true crime story of a businessman who threw all caution to the wind and opened up an amusement park where he kind of put the park ’ s attendees in the driver ’ s seat often to disastrous effect.
” Hundreds were hurt , and people died , he said .
Despite the devastation , many have fond memories of attending Action Park .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulations—not having some common sense safety measures in place , ” Lyon said .
“ People did get hurt and people did die and , by today ’ s standards , it would be considered needlessly unsafe .
But it was innovative , and it was fun , and people have romanticized memories of this park.
” The New Jersey story is a testament to Shreveport ’ s film industry .
“ Beyond the story itself , ‘ Class Action Park ’ is a story with deep Shreveport roots , ” Lyon said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Shreveport but it ’ s a Shreveport production in a lot of ways.
” Scott enlisted Lyon and Senska for “ Class Action Park ” having worked with them on previous projects , beginning with “ The Shape of Shreveport ” documentary series .
From 2015 to 2017 , Scott , a native of New Chapel Hill , Texas , lived in Shreveport and directed the production through which he met Lyon and Senska .
Their work together would lead to the trio collaborating for several subsequent productions .
In 2016 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Documentary of the Year award from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities .
Since then , Scott has built a career travelling to and living in cities with a mission to shine a light on their historic events and notable people through film , often with Lyon and Senska .
“ Class Action Park ” is their first feature documentary together and the latest production on their growing list of shared credits .
“ Any major production that I have I go straight to these guys , ” Scott said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Shreveport and it was launched because I met people as talented as Rob Senska and Chris Lyon .
This project exists because there ’ s talent in Shreveport that exists.
” Scott directed “ What About Waco ?
” —a four-part series about the history of Waco , Texas .
Currently , he lives in Nevada where he directed a soon-to-release five-part documentary series penned , “ The Life of Las Vegas.
” Also , “ One October , ” a documentary about the U.S. deadliest shooting which occurred in Las Vegas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five years ago , I got my start as a filmmaker in Shreveport , Louisiana , ” Scott said .
“ Shreveport was my launchpad .
I could trace everything good about my career back to Shreveport and ‘ The Shape of Shreveport ’ series… This documentary was a graduation of sorts.
” Senska and his creative partner-wife Mindy Bledsoe lived in Shreveport from 2008 to 2015 .
After several years working in the local film community , Senska ’ s career led him to destinations around the world to work on major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as Netflix ’ s “ Fastest Car , ” CBS ’ s “ Amazing Race , ” and NBC ’ s “ Who Do You Think You Are ?
” “ I met him ( Scott ) at CoHab to discuss ‘ Shape of Shreveport , ’ and we ’ ve made docs all over the country since then .
He ’ s a person that respects his crew and sees how the pieces fit together , ” Senska said .
Lyon remains a Shreveport resident and continues to work in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from feature films to music videos .
His documentary credits include the “ Rational Middle of Immigration , ” “ Haynesville : A Nation ’ s Hunt for an Energy Future , ” and “ Unexpected Modernism : The Architecture of the Wiener Brothers , ” premiering in Shreveport this year .
He is the associate director for the Louisiana Film Prize .
“ It ’ s a big deal .
A lot of people think of the Shreveport film industry as being dead and gone but there ’ s still some work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still reaching—in this case , it ’ s reaching an international audience through one of the most prestigious and long-running original content platforms in the world , ” Lyon said .
“ Class Action Park ” is evidence of how a small crew can produce high-quality feature-length , Scott said .
Also , that creative skill can originate in Shreveport .
“ There ’ s still talent and big things coming out of Shreveport and the city still has this potential to produce great filmmakers , ” Scott said .
“ There ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there and I ’ m going to continue producing all of my films from Shreveport , Louisiana .
”

Tiana Kennell, The Shreveport Times - AP Member


thetorontostar--2020-08-01--Fact check: Don’t fall for that video. Hydroxychloroquine is not a COVID-19 cure

Millions of people , including the president of the United States , have seen or shared a video in which a doctor falsely claims there is a cure for the coronavirus , and it ’ s a medley starring hydroxychloroquine .
The video shows several doctors in white coats giving a news conference outside the Supreme Court in Washington , D.C .
It persists on social media despite bans from Facebook , Twitter and YouTube , and it was published by Breitbart , a conservative news site .
The July 27 event was organized by Tea Party Patriots , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and attended by U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman .
In the video , members of a new group called America ’ s Frontline Doctors touch on several unproven conspiracy theories about the coronavirus pandemic .
One of the most inaccurate claims comes from Dr. Stella Immanuel , a Houston primary care physician and minister with a track record of making bizarre medical claims , such as that DNA from space aliens is being used in medical treatments .
“ This virus has a cure .
It is called hydroxychloroquine , zinc and Zithromax , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you people want to talk about a mask .
Hello ?
You don ’ t need ( a ) mask .
There is a cure.
” As of July 27 , nearly 150,000 Americans had died because of the coronavirus .
Could those deaths have been prevented by a drug that ’ s used to treat lupus and arthritis ?
No .
Immanuel ’ s statement is wrong on several points .
There is no known cure for COVID-19 .
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , there is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supportive care , such as rest , fluids and fever relievers , can assuage symptoms .
“ There is currently no licensed medication to cure COVID-19 , ” according to the World Health Organization .
THE CURE IS ‘ HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE , ZINC AND ZITHROMAX ’ In spite of Immanuel ’ s anecdotal evidence , hydroxychloroquine alone or in combination with other drugs is not a proven treatment ( or cure ) for COVID-19 .
The Food and Drug Administration has not approved hydroxychloroquine for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 .
In mid-June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the use of hydroxychloroquine and the related drug chloroquine in treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients .
“ It is no longer reasonable to believe that oral formulations of HCQ and CQ may be effective in treating COVID-19 , nor is it reasonable to believe that the known and potential benefits of these products outweigh their known and potential risks , ” FDA Chief Scientist Denise M. Hinton wrote .
The WHO and the National Institutes of Health have also stopped their hydroxychloroquine studies .
Among the safety issues associated with treating COVID-19 patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kidney injuries and liver problems .
While some studies have found that the drug could help alleviate symptoms associated with COVID-19 , the research is not conclusive .
Few studies have been accepted into peer-reviewed journals .
And large , randomized trials — the gold standard for clinical trials — are still needed to confirm the findings of studies conducted since the pandemic began .
In the video , Immanuel cited a 2005 study that found chloroquine — not hydroxychloroquine — was “ effective in inhibiting the infection and spread of SARS CoV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acute respiratory syndrome .
But the drug was not tested on humans , the authors wrote that more research was needed to make any conclusions , and SARS is different from COVID-19 .
Health officials advise everyone to wear a mask in public .
The reason has to do with how the coronavirus spreads .
When an infected person coughs or sneezes , they expel respiratory droplets containing the virus .
Those droplets can then land in the mouths or noses of people nearby .
Since some people infected with the coronavirus may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say everyone should cover their face in public — even if they don ’ t feel sick .
“ The spread of COVID-19 can be reduced when cloth face coverings are used along with other preventive measures , including social distancing , frequent handwashing , and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces , ” according to the CDC .
In a viral video , Immanuel said there is a cure for COVID-19 , hydroxychloroquine can treat it , and people don ’ t need to wear masks to prevent the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inaccurate .
There is no known cure for COVID-19 , hydroxychloroquine is not a proven treatment , and public health officials advise everyone to wear a face mask in public .


thetorontostar--2020-08-01--California wildfire destroys 1 home, prompts new evacuations

BEAUMONT , Calif. - A wildfire northwest of Palm Springs flared up Saturday , with evacuation orders for thousands of people as firefighters fought the blaze in triple-degree heat .
An unspecified number of homes were in the path of the flames but were not in imminent danger , CalFire captain Fernando Herrera told the Riverside Press-Enterprise .
The blaze , which began as two adjacent fires , was reported shortly before 5 p.m. Friday in Cherry Valley , an unincorporated area near the city of Beaumont in Riverside County .
Flames leapt along brushy ridge tops and came close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it from the ground and air , authorities said .
The blaze , dubbed the Apple Fire , doubled in size overnight and is over 6 square miles .
About 7,800 people have been told to evacuate over 2,500 homes , according to fire officials .
Hundreds of people in foothill neighbourhoods north of Beaumont fell under mandatory evacuation orders .
One home has been destroyed .
Herrera said firefighters were having difficulty assessing the damage because the charred ground was too hot to walk on .
The National Weather Service issued an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself in the midst of a heat wave .
The mercury hit 105 degrees ( 41 Celsius ) in Palm Springs by Saturday afternoon .
The weather service said “ dangerously hot conditions ” were expected to continue into evening because of high pressure over the region .


thetorontostar--2020-08-01--Indian police make arrests after tainted alcohol kills 69

NEW DELHI - Indian police said they arrested more than two dozen people on suspicion of selling tainted alcohol that killed at least 69 villagers and others in northern Punjab state .
Six police officers and seven other officials have been suspended for failure to prevent the sale of tainted liquor as a magistrate began an investigation into the deaths in three districts .
Police Officer Roshan Lal said Saturday that 69 people died , though local media reports put the number at 86 .
The police chief for Punjab state , Dinkar Gupta , said the first five deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ villages in Amritsar district .
Over the past three days another 48 deaths were reported Amritsar and two others districts , Tarn Taran and Batala .
Lal told The Associated Press .
Gupta said the 25 suspects supplied the tainted alcohol to roadside eateries from where it was sold to travellers and the villagers .
The government statement said the deaths were due to “ spurious ” liquor and a crackdown on illegal alcohol manufacturing in the state was ordered .
Deaths from illegally brewed alcohol are common in India , where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government-run shops .
Illicit liquor is cheap and often spiked with methanol to increase potency .
In 2019 , at least 133 people died after drinking tainted liquor in two separate incidents in India ’ s northeast Assam state .
The victims were mostly tea plantation workers .
That same year , another 80 people died from tainted liquor in northern Uttar Pradesh state .


thetorontostar--2020-08-01--Mexico coronavirus chief sidesteps calls to resign

MEXICO CITY - The head of Mexico ’ s efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic has sidestepped calls to resign after Mexico posted a record case increase and the country ’ s death count rose to overtake the United Kingdom as the third-highest in the world .
Assistant Health Secretary Hugo López-Gatell said late Friday that “ I express my respect ” to the nine of Mexico ’ s 32 state governors who called for his resignation , adding “ I hope we can continue to work together.
” On Saturday , Mexico reported yet another new daily high for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mexico ’ s total cases so far to almost 425,000 .
The country also posted 784 more confirmed COVID-19 deaths , raising its accumulated total to 47,472 .
A letter calling for López-Gatell ’ s “ immediate ” resignation bore the names of 10 state governors , all from opposition parties , was made public Friday , but later one of those governors said he had not approved the letter and distanced himself from it .
The letter blamed the administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador for “ an erratic handling of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response “ that simultaneously boosted Mexico ’ s death toll to the third-highest in the world while suffering an 18.9 % drop in economic activity in the second quarter compared to the same period last year .
Mexico has imposed a very lax and partial lockdown of economic activity that has not stopped high levels of contagion , but has strangled the economy .
Rather than testing or contact tracing , the government has focused on expanding hospital facilities .
The federal government has given confusing and mixed messages about whether to wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never wears one , and said Friday “ I will use a face mask when there is no more corruption , ” a reference to his administration ’ s anti-graft crusade , which he views as the country ’ s main priority .
Many governors have been stung by the federal government ’ s four-colour “ stoplight ” scheme indicating whether a state is allowed to reopen businesses gradually .
Criteria like the rate of infection or hospital occupation levels are used to determine the colours , ranging from red for the shutdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ green for near-normality .
But many have disputed the way those criteria are determined .


thetorontostar--2020-08-01--Homeland Security reassigns official whose office compiled intelligence on journalists

WASHINGTON—The head of the Department of Homeland Security ’ s intelligence branch was removed from his position after his office compiled reports about protesters and journalists covering the Trump administration ’ s response to unrest in Portland , Oregon , last month .
Brian Murphy , the acting undersecretary for intelligence and analysis , was reassigned to a new position in the department after his office disseminated to the law enforcement community “ open-source intelligence reports ” containing Twitter posts of journalists , noting they had published leaked unclassified documents , according to an administration official familiar with the matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s new position would be .
Chad Wolf , the acting secretary for the Department of Homeland Security , made the decision Friday after ordering the office to halt the intelligence examination , the administration official said .
Wolf has also asked the Homeland Security ’ s Office of Inspector General to investigate any efforts by the intelligence branch to collect information about protesters or journalists .
The ouster came after The Washington Post reported that Murphy ’ s office compiled reports that in part targeted The New York Times ’ publishing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Homeland Security Department had little understanding of the situation in Portland when it deployed teams of tactical agents in camouflage to face crowds of protesters .
In addition to summarizing the tweets of a Times reporter , the intelligence reports also included a tweet by Benjamin Wittes , the editor-in-chief of Lawfare , a blog about law and national security , who had shared an internal memo that warned Homeland Security officers not to leak to the press .
The reports also included a tweet from Wittes that showed an email from Murphy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals attacking the federal courthouse in Portland as “ VIOLENT ANTIFA ANARCHISTS.
” Murphy ’ s conclusion about the motivations of the individuals in Portland came just days after intelligence officers issued the memo reported by The Times that said the agency had “ low confidence ” that the attacks against the federal courthouse reflected a broader threat .
The issue prompted the Senate Intelligence Committee to send a letter to Murphy questioning the intelligence-gathering effort of journalists and protesters .
Separately , Rep. Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , the chairman of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement Saturday that his committee had been “ conducting rigorous oversight of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis , including actions by Acting Undersecretary Murphy prior to his abrupt and apparent reassignment .
“ In light of recent public reports , we are concerned that Murphy may have provided incomplete and potentially misleading information to Committee staff during our recent oversight engagement , ” Schiff continued , adding that the committee would “ be expanding our oversight even further in the coming days.
” The Department of Homeland Security has already faced widespread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tactical teams in Portland , as well as investigations by the inspectors general for the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice .
Murphy , formerly with the FBI , led an office with the Homeland Security Department charged with sharing information about potential national security threats with federal , state and local law enforcement agencies .
Such a co-ordinating effort was one of the motivations in creating the department after the Sept. 11 , 2001 , attacks .
In 2015 , Murphy joined FBI headquarters to work on an effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CVE , after serving as an assistant special agent in charge of counterterrorism in Chicago .
Murphy was known as an ambitious investigator who was once profiled in a self-aggrandizing article about a terrorism case he had worked on .
But some former agents and Justice Department officials familiar with Murphy ’ s work at the time , who requested anonymity to discuss internal discussions at the agencies , expressed concern about some CVE proposals , his tendency to ignore the rules and failure to co-ordinate his activities .
One agent at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prepare materials for Chicago public schools without disclosing the FBI ’ s participation , according to an internal bureau document provided to The New York Times .
That would have violated FBI policy requiring such outreach to be public or overt .
Other former officials said that Murphy wanted to tap coaches , therapists , social workers and religious leaders in several cities to help steer people under the sway of Islamic extremism away from a potentially violent future .
That was not a bad idea , the former officials said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community leaders sign memorandums of understanding with the FBI .
By doing so , Murphy would then have been able to track whether those people in the program were headed down the wrong path again .
That would have essentially deputized community leaders to be arms of the bureau , former FBI and Justice Department officials said , a move that would have only stoked existing concerns in the Muslim community that the bureau was using outreach to spy on people .
Officials eventually scrapped Murphy ’ s plan , calling it ill-conceived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that Murphy “ didn ’ t have a good sense of what the blowback would be .
”

Zolan Kanno-Youngs - The New York Times,Adam Goldman


thetorontostar--2020-08-01--GOP: Renomination of Trump to be held in private

WASHINGTON - The vote to renominate President Donald Trump is set to be conducted in private later this month , without members of the press present , a spokeswoman for the Republican National Convention , citing the coronavirus .
While Trump called off the public components of the convention in Florida last month , citing spiking cases of the virus across the country , 336 delegates are scheduled to gather in Charlotte , North Carolina , on Aug. 24 to formally vote to make Trump the GOP standard-bearer once more .
Nominating conventions are traditionally meant to be media bonanzas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the attention the events draw to spread their message to as many voters as possible .
If the GOP decision stands , it will mark the first party nominating convention in modern history to be closed to reporters .
“ Given the health restrictions and limitations in place within the state of North Carolina , we are planning for the Charlotte activities to be closed press Friday , August 21 – Monday , August 24 , ” a convention spokeswoman said .
“ We are happy to let you know if this changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parameters set before us by state and local guidelines regarding the number of people who can attend events.
“ Privately some GOP delegations have raised logistical issues with travelling to either city , citing the increasing number of jurisdictions imposing mandatory quarantine orders on travellers returning from states experiencing surges in the virus .
The subset of delegates in Charlotte will be casting proxy votes on behalf of the more than 2,500 official delegates to the convention .
Alternate delegates and guests have already been prohibited .


thetorontostar--2020-08-01--Isaias weakens; may strengthen on path to virus-hit Florida

ST. PETERSBURG , Fla. - Isaias snapped trees and knocked out power as it blew through the Bahamas on Saturday and churned toward the Florida coast , threatening to complicate efforts to contain the coronavirus in places were cases are surging .
Isaias weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm Saturday afternoon , but was expected to regain hurricane strength overnight as it barrels toward Florida .
“ We ’ ll start seeing impacts tonight , “ Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis warned at a news conference .
” Don ’ t be fooled by the downgrade.
” Isaias @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard-hit by previous storms and the pandemic .
Florida authorities closed beaches , parks and virus testing sites , lashing signs to palm trees so they wouldn ’ t blow away .
The governor warned residents to expect power outages and asked to have a week ’ s supply of water and food on hand .
Officials wrestled with how to prepare shelters for people to seek refuge , if need be , while safely social distancing because of the virus .
Authorities in North Carolina ordered the evacuation of Ocracoke Island , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dorian .
Meanwhile , officials in the Bahamas opened shelters for people in Abaco island to help those who have been living in temporary structures since Dorian devastated the area , killing at least 70 people .
Isaias ’ maximum sustained winds dipped steadily Saturday and were near 70 mph ( 110 kph ) around 8 p.m. , hours after the U.S. National Hurricane Center downgraded its status .
It said Isaias would regain hurricane strengthen by early Sunday .
By Saturday evening , the storm was about 100 miles ( 160 kilometres @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was moving northwest at 9 mph ( 15 kph ) and expected to be near Florida ’ s southeast coast early Sunday , then tack near or along the state ’ s Atlantic coast during the day .
Isaias is expected to remain a hurricane through Monday , then slow weaken on its climb up the Atlantic seaboard .
It ’ s expected to move offshore of the coast of Georgia en route toward the mid-Atlantic states .
Heavy rain , flooding and high winds could batter much of the East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approaching storm , NASA says the return of two astronauts aboard a SpaceX capsule is still on track for Sunday afternoon .
Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken are preparing to make the first splashdown return in 45 years , after two months docked at the International Space Station .
They are aiming for the Gulf of Mexico just off the Florida Panhandle , and flight controllers are keeping close watch on the storm .
Isaias — pronounced ees-ah-EE-ahs — has already been destructive in the Caribbean : On Thursday , before it became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destroyed crops and homes and caused widespread flooding and small landslides in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico .
One man died in the Dominican Republic .
In Puerto Rico , the National Guard rescued at least 35 people from floodwaters that swept away one woman , whose body was recovered Saturday .
Concerns about the coronavirus and the vulnerability of people who are still recovering from Dorian were adding to storm worries .
Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis relaxed a coronavirus lockdown because of the storm , but imposed a 10 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supermarkets , pharmacies , gas stations and hardware stores would be open as long as weather permitted .
The Bahamas has reported more than 570 confirmed COVID-19 cases and at least 14 deaths .
It recently barred travellers from the U.S. following a surge in cases after it reopened to international tourism .
As the storm moves now toward Florida , a hurricane warning is in effect from Boca Raton to the Volusia-Flagler county line , which lies about 150 miles ( 240 kilometres ) north .
A storm surge watch is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beach .
Coronavirus cases have surged in Florida in recent weeks , and the added menace of a storm ratcheted up the anxiety .
State-run virus testing sites are closing in areas where the storm might hit because the sites are outdoor tents , which could topple in high winds .
Natalie Betancur , stocking up at a grocery in Palm Beach Gardens , said that the storm itself doesn ’ t cause her great concern .
But , she added , “ I feel that the public is really panicking because it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re in the middle of a pandemic.
“ DeSantis , the governor , said Saturday that 16 counties have declared states of emergency , although no immediate evacuation orders were given .
The Republican also said hospitals are not being evacuated of coronavirus or other patients .
Still , the pandemic forced officials handling disaster response to wrestle with social-distancing rules .
At one of four shelters in Palm Beach County on Saturday afternoon , people had their temperatures checked before entering .
Public buses transporting residents to the shelter were sanitized by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the owner of Causeway Mowers in Indian Harbour Beach , Florida , said his store has been packed for two days with folks streaming in to buy generators , chain saws and other provisions .
On Saturday morning , Shelton and his wife served at least 25 customers an hour , double their normal weekend business .
“ We ’ ve been in the area almost 50 years .
We keep an eye on every storm , “ he said .
” It could shift in this direction at any moment.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Associated Press writers Tamara Lush in Indian Harbour Beach , Florida , and Cody Jackson in Palm Beach County , Florida , contributed .
This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Hallandale Beach .
It also corrects when an evacuation began on North Carolina ’ s Ocracoke Island .
Visitors were told to leave Friday and residents and property owners starting Saturday morning .

DáNica Coto And Tamara Lush - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-01--NASA astronauts aim for Florida coast to end SpaceX flight

CAPE CANAVERAL , Fla. - The first astronauts launched by Elon Musk ’ s SpaceX company departed the International Space Station on Saturday night for the final and most important part of their test flight : returning to Earth with a rare splashdown .
NASA ’ s Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken bid farewell to the three men left behind as their SpaceX Dragon capsule undocked and headed toward a Sunday afternoon descent by parachute into the Gulf of Mexico .
Despite Tropical Storm Isaias ’ surge toward Florida ’ s Atlantic shore , NASA said the weather looked favourable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extreme opposite side of the state .
It will be the first splashdown for astronauts in 45 years .
The last time was following the joint U.S.-Soviet mission in 1975 known as Apollo-Soyuz .
Space station commander Chris Cassidy rang the ship ’ s bell as Dragon pulled away , 267 miles ( 430 kilometres ) above Johannesburg , South Africa .
Within a few minutes , all that could be seen of the capsule was a pair of flashing lights against the black void of space .
“ It ’ s been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appreciate all you ’ ve done as a crew to help us prove out Dragon on its maiden flight , ” Hurley radioed to the space station .
The astronauts ’ homecoming will cap a mission that ended a prolonged launch drought in the U.S. , which has relied on Russian rockets to ferry astronauts to the space station since the end of the shuttle era .
In launching Hurley and Behnken from NASA ’ s Kennedy Space Center on May 30 , SpaceX became the first private company to send people into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ verge of becoming the first company to bring people back from orbit .
“ The hardest part was getting us launched , but the most important is bringing us home , ” Behnken said several hours before strapping into the Dragon .
At a farewell ceremony earlier in the day , Cassidy , who will remain on board with two Russians until October , presented Hurley with the small U.S. flag left behind by the previous astronauts to launch to the space station from U.S. soil .
Hurley was the pilot of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The flag — which also flew on the first shuttle flight in 1981 — became a prize for the company that launched astronauts first .
SpaceX easily beat Boeing , which isn ’ t expected to launch its first crew until next year and will land in the U.S. Southwest .
The flag has one more flight after this one : to the moon on NASA ’ s Artemis program in the next few years .
“ We ’ re a little sad to see them go , “ Cassidy said , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to our international space program to add this capability ” of commercial crew capsules .
The next SpaceX crew flight is targeted for the end of September .
Hurley and Behnken also are bringing back a sparkly blue and purple dinosaur named Tremor .
Their young sons chose the toy to accompany their fathers on the historic mission .


thetorontostar--2020-08-01--U.S.-Canadian couples ask Canada to consider their plan to open border so they can reunite

DETROIT—Lauren Hughes , 23 , lives in Windsor , Ontario , and her fiancé Addie Rivett , 24 , lives in Farmington Hills .
Despite being in different countries , door-to-door their homes are a mere 20-minute drive across the Detroit River .
But they might as well be oceans apart .
Like so many unmarried , but committed couples where one person resides in Canada and the other in the states , they can ’ t visit each other because of Canada ’ s international border restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Earlier this month , Canada extended its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another 30 days to Aug. 21 as cases of coronavirus continue to surge stateside .
The international non-U.S. travel restriction was set to expire Friday , but the government of Canada extended it to Aug. 31 , to the dismay of some because of a lack of clear guidance on family reunification , which is a preferred option to open borders .
“ So now we wait , ” said Hughes .
“ Wait to be included as family , wait for a vaccine , wait for U.S. embassies and consulates around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miracle that U.S. case numbers go down , or that this virus miraculously goes away .
Just a lot of waiting.
” This is not the first time Canada has extended its border restrictions .
But this time the group Advocacy for Family Reunification at the Canadian Border , of which Hughes and Rivett are members , is demanding action .
It is ready to take Canada to court charging discrimination based on family status .
But first , the group hopes that a collaborative approach will succeed .
Canada ’ s restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , from entering Canada by land , air or sea for any discretionary travel including checking on a seasonal home , visiting friends or partners with the exception of spouses or common-law relationships .
It defines common law as couples who have lived together uninterrupted for at least a full year .
Earlier this month , the advocacy group , which has about 4,400 members , presented a four-point proposal to the Canadian government suggesting ways to safely allow for exemptions beyond marriage and common law .
To abate concerns that family reunification @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the group proposed the following : —An Affidavit of Personal Responsibility : The Canadian will sign a legally and financially binding attestation that the foreign national family member will follow public health guidelines .
This can be enforced by fines or incarceration .
—Safe Coverage Provision : The Canadian will be responsible for the foreign national family member ’ s health care costs in Canada , or there will be proof of insurance covering COVID-19 .
—Border Point of Care Testing Provision : The foreign national will take and pay for any COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in follow up .
This is how Canadian health care workers and how international NHL players are able to operate in Canada .
—Family Quarantine Provision : The Canadian family member ( s ) will quarantine for 14 days upon reuniting with the foreign national .
The asymptomatic foreign national will quarantine their entire stay in Canada , up to 14 days .
The group has launched Faces of Advocacy , a social media campaign showing all the separated Canadian families .
“ I am aware of the seriousness of this virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and keeping the border closed for the time being , ” Hughes said .
“ However , we are just asking for an exemption with strict guidelines .
We hope to get a yes or no on this proposal.
” A spokeswoman for Bill Blair , Canada ’ s minister of public safety and emergency preparedness , did provide a response on the government ’ s position on the four-point proposal or the possibility of court action .
But , in an email , Blair ’ s spokeswoman Mary-Liz Power said : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ borders to flatten the curve and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Canada .
These decisions have not been taken lightly , but we know that they are necessary to keep Canadians safe.
” Canadians have made significant sacrifices amidst the pandemic , and the government has been looking at ways to keep families together and reunite others who were separated , Power said .
“ We have brought forward measures that will permit a limited exemption to this restriction for asymptomatic , immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ The decision on when to reopen our border will be made in Canada , in the best interest of Canadians .
We will continue to do what is necessary to keep Canadians safe and will base our decisions on the best public health evidence available.
” Meanwhile U.S. legislators have been applying pressure on both governments to ease restrictions .
But U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell , D-Michigan , said it would “ not surprise ” her if the border restrictions remain in place at least through year-end .
Dingell said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan that would allow for nonmarried committed couples and property owners to have some exceptions .
She said people in both governments are discussing the issue .
“ I don ’ t know where this will end , but I ’ ve had discussions with the ambassador and counsel general and they recognize there are people in the United State with property issues in Canada , ” Dingell told the Free Press .
“ They ’ re trying to ensure that Canadians stay safe , but they do recognize there are special situations.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Family Reunification at the Canadian Border wants the Canadian government to at least consider its proposal and work collaboratively to resolve the matter .
In an open letter written Friday , the group ’ s co-founder David Poon wrote : “ I plead with the Government of Canada to consider our Policy Proposal with Family Reunification Quarantine Plan .
In it , we detail the legal argument that the current travel restrictions are in violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms , and are discriminatory based on family status .
We WANT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and have not been given that opportunity .
We know you have heard us .
Now will you talk to us ?
We are not asking for open borders .
We are just asking to be together.
” For now , Hughes and Rivett can not pick a wedding date or venue .
Hughes has applied for a K-1 visa that would allow her , as a fiancée , to move to the United States .
It ’ s a long and expensive process that the couple has already spent thousands on .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ our case approved .
The normal wait time is eight months , but it ’ ll probably be 17 months now , ” Hughes said .
“ A lot of people are waiting for Montreal to open up to do the face-to-face visa interviews.
” Beyond wanting to share a life , the two already share a dog , a Border-collie/Labrador retriever mix .
The pup has been living with Hughes , so Rivett won ’ t see her pet until the border opens by land because they do not want to fly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , will be flying .
She has a flight booked in September to the U.S. , noting , “ It ’ s a four-hour drive for me to Toronto and a 40-minute flight and US $ 500 even though it ’ s a 20-minute drive from my house.
” Plus , she said driving is safer and offers far less potential exposure to infected people .
Hughes plans to stay a month stateside with Rivett , “ if all goes well ” at the U.S. border .
After that , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see each other again .
“ I ’ m expecting it to be closed until at least the new year , ” Hughes said .
“ And without a vaccine , it could be longer .
I don ’ t see the border opening up any time soon .
”


thetorontostar--2020-08-01--Thousands demonstrate as anti-Netanyahu protests gain steam

JERUSALEM - Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the official residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday and thronged the streets of central Jerusalem , as weeks of protests against the Israeli leader appeared to be gaining steam .
The demonstration in central Jerusalem , along with smaller gatherings in Tel Aviv , near Netanyahu ’ s beach house in central Israel and at dozens of busy intersections nationwide , was one of the largest turnouts in weeks of protests .
Throughout the summer , thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets , calling for Netanyahu to resign , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s coronavirus crisis and saying he should not remain in office while on trial for corruption charges .
Though Netanyahu has tried to play down the protests , the twice-a-week gatherings show no signs of slowing .
Israeli media estimated at least 10,000 people demonstrated near the official residence in central Jerusalem .
Late Saturday , thousands marched through the streets in a noisy but orderly rally .
Demonstrators hoisted Israeli flags and blew loud horns as they marched .
Many held posters that said “ Crime Minister “ and “ Bibi Go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of touch with the public .
Hundreds of people remained in the area well after midnight , ignoring calls by police to leave .
Anti-riot forces moved into the area and began clearing out people .
As of 2 a.m. , most of the remaining people appeared to be leaving peacefully , but police were seen dragging some activists away .
The rallies against Netanyahu are the largest Israel has seen since 2011 protests over the country ’ s high cost of living .
Netanyahu has dimissed the demonstrators as “ leftists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday , his Likud Party issued a statement that accused Israel ’ s two private TV stations of giving “ free and endless publicity ” to the protesters and exaggerating the importance of the gatherings .
While the demonstrations have largely been peaceful , there have been signs of violence in recent days .
Some protesters have clashed with police , accusing them of using excessive force , while small gangs of Netanyahu supporters affiliated with a far-right group have assaulted demonstrators .
Netanyahu has claimed demonstrators are inciting violence against him .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ activists in recent days and police said they were on high alert for violence at the demonstrations .
Several arrests of Netanyahu supporters were reported Saturday , including a man who got out of his car in the northern city of Haifa and threw a stone toward a crowd of protesters .
Police said a 63-year-old woman was slightly hurt .
The demonstrations are organized by a loose-knit network of activist groups .
Some object to Netanyahu remaining in office while he is on trial .
He has been charged with fraud , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a series of scandals .
Many carry black flags , the name of the grassroots movement .
Many of the demonstrators , including many young unemployed Israelis , accuse Netanyau of mishandling the coronavirus crisis and the economic damage it has caused .
After moving quickly to contain the virus last spring , many believe Israel reopened its economy too quickly , leading to a surge in cases .
The country is now coping with record levels of coronavirus , while unemployment has surged to over 20 % .


thetorontostar--2020-08-01--Fires in Brazil’s Amazon up 28 per cent in July, worrying experts

BRASILIA , Brazil - Fires in the Brazilian Amazon increased 28 % in July from a year ago , a state agency reported Saturday .
The National Institute for Space Research , which is responsible for monitoring Brazil , said it recorded 6,803 fires in the Amazon rainforest last month , compared to 5,318 in the same month of 2019 .
Environmentalists expressed concern at the rise because August traditionally marks the beginning of the fire season in the region .
They fear Brazil could repeat the surge seen in fires last August , when 30,900 fires were recorded by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fires comes amid domestic and international concern over President Jair Bolsonaro ’ s calls to clear land in Brazil ’ s Amazon to drive economic development .
Addressing those concerns , on July 16 , the government banned burning in the Pantanal wetlands and the Amazon forest for four months .
Bolsonaro also issued an order in May for the military to co-ordinate environmental actions in the Amazon .
But experts said the fire numbers indicate the government ’ s response is not being effective and also point to the possibility that this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even more prone to fires than last year .
Carlos Nobre , a researcher at the Advanced Studies Institute in the State University of Sao Paulo , said the deforestation index also has remained high this year until July , compared to the last couple of years .
“ We can conclude , with data until the end of July , that the effectiveness of government actions to reduce fires and deforestation is low , ” he said .
Carlos Rittl , senior fellow at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies in Germany @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trends in the Amazon are worrisome .
“ The tendency is that this will be a more dry year than 2019 and this makes it easier for the fire to spread , ” he said .


thetorontostar--2020-08-01--Search continues for eight missing after Marine craft sinks

SAN DIEGO - The search continued Saturday for eight U.S. service members missing after their landing craft went down in hundreds of feet of water off the Southern California coast following a deadly accident .
Helicopters and boats ranging from inflatables to a Navy destroyer were searching a roughly 200-square-mile area for seven Marines and a Navy corpsman .
They were aboard an amphibious assault vehicle that had just completed a training exercise when it began taking on water about a half-mile ( 0.8 kilometres ) from Navy-owned San Clemente Island , off of San Diego .
The 26-ton , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feet of water — too deep for divers — making it difficult to reach .
One of eight Marines rescued from the water later died .
All of the Marines aboard were attached to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit , based at nearby Camp Pendleton , north of San Diego .
They ranged in age from 19 to early 30s and all were wearing combat gear , including body armour and flotation vests , Lt. Gen. Joseph Osterman , commanding general of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force , said earlier this week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ assault vehicles that participated in the routine exercise and was heading back to a Navy ship when the accident happened .
Troops on board two other amphibious assault vehicles responded quickly but couldn ’ t stop the sinking , Osterman said .
The vehicle , nicknamed an “ amtrac ” -- short for “ amphibious tractor ” -- was designed to be buoyant and had three water-tight hatches and two large troop hatches .
The Marines use the vehicles to transport troops and their equipment from Navy ships to land .
The vehicles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continually refurbished .
On Friday , the Marine Corps commandant , Gen. David Berger , suspended waterborne operations of all of its more than 800 amphibious assault vehicles across the branch until the cause of the accident is determined .
He said the move was out of “ an abundance of caution.
” It was the deadliest of several accidents involving amtracs that have occurred during Camp Pendleton exercises in recent years .
In 2017 , 14 Marines and one Navy sailor were hospitalized after their vehicle hit a natural gas line at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engulfed the landing craft .
And in 2011 , a Marine died when an amphibious assault vehicle in a training exercise sank offshore of the camp .


thetorontostar--2020-08-01--Man arrested in connection with pro poker player’s death

WHITE LAKE TOWNSHIP , Mich. - A 60-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death of a professional poker player whose burned body was found in a recreational area in southeastern Michigan , police said .
The man was taken into custody about 9 a.m. Friday after his vehicle was stopped near an area freeway , according to White Lake Township police .
The man lives in Pontiac , northwest of Detroit .
No charges have been filed and no other details were released .
Susie Zhao ’ s body was discovered July 13 at the Pontiac Lake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 64 kilometres ) northwest of Detroit .
Known to other players as Susie Q , the 33-year-old Zhao had returned from Los Angeles to live with family in Michigan ’ s Oakland County .
She had winnings of at least $ 187,441 , according to the World Series of Poker website , including $ 73,805 at an event in 2012 .
White Lake Township police Detective Lt. Chris Hild has noted that her death could be related to her travels on the poker circuit .
“ We have to determine whether or not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be some sort of retaliatory incident because of her profession , ” Hild said last week .