thetorontostar--2020-09-24--Quarantine ordered for 2,500 students at elite Swiss school

LAUSANNE , Switzerland - Swiss authorities ordered 2,500 students at an elite hospitality management school to quarantine themselves due to a coronavirus outbreak allegedly linked to off-campus partying , the latest back-to-school sign of higher education ’ s place in the pandemic .
Authorities in Switzerland ’ s Vaud canton , or region , said all undergraduates at the Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne , or the Lausanne Hospitality Management University in English , were told to quarantine at home both on and off campus because the virus already had spread too widely for a more limited order .
“ Significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels of training , making impossible a more targeted closure than that involving 2,500 students , ” the Vaud regional office said in a statement .
“ Until Sept. 28 , the students must stay home.
“ The statement said an early investigation indicated that “ one or more parties was at the origin of these many outbreaks.
“ The local authorities reiterated a call for party-goers to demonstrate a ” responsible attitude ” by wearing masks , practicing social distancing , tracing their contacts and watching for COVID-19 symptoms .
Ines Blal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said administrators had warned students against holding start-of-term parties , even ff-campus and outside the school ’ s authority — and said a “ disciplinary investigation ” was underway .
She said the school had already been bracing for “ worst-case scenarios ” in recent months by putting courses online and rolling out distance-learning programs .
University spokesman Sherif Mamdouh said 11 students had tested positive for the coronavirus in connection with the outbreak so far and none required hospitalization .
Mamdouh said only 67 of the undergraduates affected by the quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rest live off-campus .
The university , which has been heralded as one of the world ’ s top schools in the field , has a total student body of about 3,500 , including people pursuing advanced degrees .
Mamdouh said the quarantine runs only through Monday because Swiss authorities factored in a possible 14-day virus incubation period since this month ’ s start-of-term parties .
He could not explain why faculty members or graduate students were not included in the quarantine order , but said it was a decision made by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available for comment .
Switzerland is not alone in facing a back-to-school virus surge among students .
The World Health Organization , national health authorities and others have cautioned that young people have been a key driver for the continued spread of the coronavirus in several countries in recent weeks .
The University of Glasgow in Scotland said Thursday that over 600 of its students had to self-isolate after 124 reported cases emerged in “ two significant clusters ” at separate residence halls .
The university said it believed the outbreak was largely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during “ Freshers ’ Week , ” when new students arrive and socialize .
The university said none of its infected students had to receive hospital treatment .
It stressed that anyone who breaks coronavirus restrictions could be kicked out of student housing or suspended .
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the BBC that the outbreak was worrying , saying : “ The more young people get it the more they spread it to old people.
” The latest government figures in France show that 22 % of the country ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and universities .
The United States has also seen clusters linked to college students .
Denmark ’ s education minister has urged parents and schools to cancel all social events , including camps and birthday parties .
World Health Organization spokeswoman Margaret Harris said that while it is “ unfair to just put it on the young people , ” it ’ s also unsurprising that teenagers and young adults might assume they don ’ t need to worry about succumbing to the virus .
“ Perceptions do indicate that they don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older groups ” Harris said , particularly in the wake of data showing younger people typically have less-severe cases of COVID-19 .
“ The message they have heard is : ‘ You are out of jail , go out and play , ’ “ she said .
“ We don ’ t want to be the fun police , but we want people to have fun safely.
” Keaten reported from Geneva .
Sylvia Hui in London and Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen , Denmark , contributed to this report .

Nadine Achoui-Lesage And Jamey Keaten - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-24--Vietnamese police to investigate condom recycling factory

HANOI , Vietnam - Vietnamese police said they will investigate a factory that was found recycling about 320,000 used condoms @ @ @ @ @ reported Thursday .
Following a tip from a local resident , Binh Duong provincial market @ @ @ @ @ a factory near Ho Chi Minh City where they found used condoms being repacked for @ @ @ @ @ the state-owned Tuoi Tre newspaper reported .
A market inspector said the owner of the @ @ @ @ @ , confessed that they bought the used condoms from a man in the province .
@ @ @ @ @ reshaped and packed into plastic packages , the newspaper said .
It said police announced @ @ @ @ @ down others involved in the operation .
A call to police for comment was not @ @ @ @ @ quoted a health official as saying the recycled condoms posed an extreme health risk to @ @

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thetorontostar--2020-09-24--Turkey hikes rates to support currency, fight inflation

ANKARA , Turkey - Turkey ’ s Central Bank raised its benchmark interest rate by 2 percentage points on Thursday , its first hike in two years to fight inflation and support its falling currency .
In a surprise move that helped boost the Turkish currency , the Monetary Policy Committee said it had decided to increase the policy rate from 8.25 % to 10.25 % “ to restore the disinflation process and support price stability.
” The Turkish lira has been plummeting to record lows , dipping to 7.7 against the dollar this week , as the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lira has lost some 20 % of its value this year .
The Central Bank had long resisted pressure to raise the key interest rate due to pressure from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to keep rates low .
Lower interest rates tend to weaken a currency but boost economic growth and inflation .
The Central Bank had gradually reduced the benchmark rate to 8.25 % from as high 24 % and had since kept the rates unchanged .
On Thursday , the lira was about 1 % higher , trading at 7.6 @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-09-24--Extremist violence causes food shortages in north Mozambique

JOHANNESBURG - The escalating extremist insurgency in northern Mozambique has displaced 310,000 people , creating an urgent humanitarian crisis , the World Food Program said Tuesday .
The rebels have recently stepped up attacks in Mozambique ’ s northern Cabo Delgado province , seizing the strategic port of Mocimboa da Praia , which they have held for six weeks .
Clashes between the extremist fighters , aligned with the Islamic State group , and government forces have caused massive numbers of local residents to flee their homes and fields .
The conflict has killed more than 1,500 people since it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year has caused widespread upheaval across the area .
“ We are deeply concerned about the unfolding humanitarian situation in Cabo Delgado where conflict and violence have left people without access to food and livelihoods , ” Antonella D ’ Aprile , the World Food Program ’ s representative for Mozambique , said Tuesday .
“ The growing insecurity and poor infrastructure have meant that reaching out to people in need has become harder and now with COVID-19 the crisis becomes even more complex , ” she said .
The threat of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ north as entire communities have lost access to food and income , warns WFP .
Crisis levels of food insecurity are expected to continue into next year , according to the region ’ s Famine Early Warning Network .
Cabo Delgado province already had Mozambique ’ s second-highest rate of chronic malnutrition with more than half of children under 5 chronically malnourished and any additional shocks could rapidly worsen the situation , especially for women and children , said WFP .
“ The situation is extremely volatile and dangerous , but we managed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and distribute food to about 200,000 people last month .
We hope to reach close to 300,000 people this month , ” Lola Castro , WFP ’ s director for southern Africa told The Associated Press .
“ Families have lost everything and need food urgently.
“ Many communities have fled to small islands along Mozambique ’ s Indian Ocean coast and others have gone to remote inland areas .
WFP is working with Mozambique ’ s government and other aid agencies to get food and supplies the displaced using boats and trucks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helicopters will be available , said Castro .
Such a large-scale emergency operation was not in the budget and WFP is appealing to its donors for funds to keep delivering food to the hungry .
“ We need $ 4.7 million per month to feed the most vulnerable , ” said Castro .
“ We need the funds to purchase food for distribution.
” Access and communication have been cut off to the area surrounding the rebel-held port of Mocimboa da Praia and surrounding towns , including Palma , she said .
United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact with Mozambique ’ s rebels , she said .
Atrocities have been committed by both the rebels and government forces , according to human rights groups , but WFP ’ s workers and operations have not been targeted .
Amnesty International has released videos in the past month that appear to show government troops torturing and killing several people in northern Mozambique .
One video showed troops shooting a woman in the back more than 30 times and another showed a uniformed man killing a civilian by cutting his throat .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amnesty insisted that its analysis of the videos shows that government troops carried out the violent abuses .
Although hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes , there are not massive camps of displaced people .
Instead , many of the displaced have been taken in by local residents in safer areas , said Castro .
“ We are seeing poor families opening their homes and their meagre resources to help the displaced , ” said Castro .
“ It is quite remarkable how these people , who have so little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everybody is sharing what little food they have .
When we see such generosity , it is a responsibility for us to help them all.
” This story was first published on Sept. 22 .
It was updated on Sept. 24 to make clear that U.N. security teams have not had any contact with Mozambique ’ s rebels .


thetorontostar--2020-09-24--The Latest: Russia reports highest daily cases since July

MOSCOW — Russian health officials have reported 6,595 new coronavirus cases , the highest daily surge since July .
In Moscow , more than 1,000 new cases were recorded Thursday for the first time since June .
The number of daily new cases started to grow in late August in Russia , which has the fourth largest caseload in the world at 1.12 million infections .
There have been nearly 20,000 confirmed deaths .
Officials have repeatedly dismissed speculation of a second lockdown , saying the increase was expected and Russia ’ s health care infrastructure was prepared for it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world to approve a vaccine against the virus last month .
The move elicited criticism from experts worldwide because the shots were tested on a few dozen people .
More studies are needed to establish the vaccine ’ s safety and effectiveness .
HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK — Is it the flu ?
With cold weather coming to the Northern Hemisphere , people want to know how to distinguish symptoms — Many at U.N. summit plead for a COVID-19 vaccine to be available and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are likely in vain — Beijing auto show , the year ’ s biggest sales event for a struggling global industry , is forging ahead with virus controls in place HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : JOHANNESBURG — Health experts are criticizing the early modeling in the coronavirus pandemic that assumed people in Africa would die in droves .
Uganda hospital official Sam Agatre Okuonzi told a World Health Organization briefing it was predicted by September there would be 600,000 cases of COVID-19 and 30,000 deaths .
However , Uganda has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths .
All of Africa has confirmed more than 1.4 million cases and 34,000 deaths .
Okuonzi says the models were informed by “ well-entrenched biases about Africa.
” WHO Africa chief Matshidiso Moeti says Africa ’ s youthful population has made a difference , with just 3 % of the population over age 65 .
She says several countries imposed early lockdowns and there ’ s less travel from other regions .
Some health experts are looking into whether exposure to previous coronaviruses has helped immune systems to better respond to this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the continent ’ s experiences with previous outbreaks is likely helpful among the 54 countries and 1.3 billion people .
TOKYO — At least 70 employees from a food processing factory in eastern Tokyo have tested positive for the coronavirus two weeks after a first case was found at the plant .
The Takara-Butz company said Thursday that the first case surfaced on Sept. 9 at its Kasai sandwich factory .
The company said in a statement that had the plant disinfected and took other prevention measures under the supervision of local health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspected of having close contacts with the first infected person patient were told to self-quarantine , and 30 eventually tested positive .
By Thursday , the rest of the plant ’ s 300 workers were tested and 39 were found to have the virus , bringing the total confirmed cases to 70 .
Takara-Butz said none of the workers had serious cases and all would return to work after they are confirmed to be free of the virus .
As of Thursday , Japan had reported a total of 80,041 confirmed cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths in the pandemic .
JERUSALEM — Israel has moved to further tighten its second countrywide lockdown as coronavirus cases continue to soar .
The Cabinet voted early Thursday to close all nonessential businesses , including open-air markets .
It agreed that prayers and political demonstrations should be limited to open spaces and no more than 20 people , and that participants would not be able to travel more than a kilometre ( 0.6 miles ) from home to attend either .
The measures are set to go into force on Friday afternoon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weekly Sabbath .
The restrictions on demonstrations are subject to approval by the Knesset , Israel ’ s parliament , and the limits on both prayers and protests could spark a backlash .
Israel is currently reporting nearly 7,000 new cases daily , making the outbreak in the country of 9 million people among the worst in the world on a per capita basis .
LONDON — Top officials of two firms developing COVID-19 vaccines say pharmaceutical companies are working together to see how much information they can release to the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and public health officials try to boost confidence that any vaccine approved by regulators will be safe to use .
AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot and Paul Stoffels , chief scientific officer of Johnson & Johnson , said spoke Thursday during a panel discussion sponsored by the World Economic Forum .
The two said they recognize the coronavirus emergency demands increased transparency from vaccine developers to ensure the public has faith in the end product .
But they stressed that there are limits because companies and scientists must protect patient confidentiality and the integrity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public ultimately will have to trust regulators around the world and the independent experts that oversee drug trials .
“ At the end of the day , you ’ ve got to trust that the experts whose job it is to monitor these trials and these developments are doing a good job , “ he said .
” Medicine should not be practiced for the media , it should be practiced by experts.
” BRUSSELS — Belgium ’ s health minister said Thursday that a COVID-19 vaccine should be available in the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March .
Speaking to La Premiere radio , Health Minister Maggie De Block said the vaccine will be provided by French pharmaceutical company Sanofi .
The EU ’ s executive commission announced a deal last week with Sanofi and GSK that allows its 27 members to buy up to 300 million doses of a potential COVID-19 vaccine .
“ Normally , the first vaccine will be Sanofi ’ s and will arrive in March , ” De Block said , adding that the shots will be delivered in monthly batches .
She says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people considered vulnerable to COVID-19 be given priority for vaccinations .
Belgium , which has a population of 11.5 million , has reported more than 100,000 confirmed virus cases and almost 10,000 deaths .
LONDON — Britain ’ s top treasury official is preparing to announce new plans to help workers hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic .
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to unveil an income support program Thursday under which the government would subsidize the wages of workers whose hours have been cut due to the pandemic .
He is scheduled to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House of Commons at around 11:45 a.m. BST ( 10:45 GMT ) .
The plan would replace a furlough program which is due to expire next month .
Under that program , the government pays 80 % of the wages of workers who were placed on leave .
The Times of London reports that the new wage subsidy program will be part of larger package of measures to support the U.K. economy , including a cut in the value-added tax and increased loans for businesses hurt by the pandemic .
COPENHAGEN , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is urging parents and schools to cancel “ all social events , ” including camps but also private gatherings like birthday parties to which classmates are invited .
Education Minister Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil said in a letter on Wednesday the children ’ s social activities should be suspended because “ an active effort is needed to ensure that we can keep up schools open.
” Rosenkrantz-Theil said that of the increasing number of coronavirus cases Denmark is seeing , a large proportion of them are in children and young people aged 10-29 .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can slow down the infection again , ” the minister said .
“ We did it in the spring .
Now is the time for us to roll up our sleeves again.
” Denmark has reported a total of 24,357 confirmed virus cases , including 558 new ones from the previous day , and 643 deaths in the pandemic .
NEW DELHI — India reported another 86,508 new coronavirus cases , but Prime Minister Narendra Modi sees little merit in imposing even short local lockdowns .
India now has confirmed more than 5.7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world .
The Health Ministry also said Thursday that 1,129 more people have died , for a total of 91,149 .
India ’ s junior Railways Minister Suresh Angadi died on Wednesday , nearly two weeks after he was admitted to a New Delhi hospital with COVID-19 .
He was the first federal minister and the fourth Indian lawmaker to die from the disease .
Modi on Wednesday decried short , local lockdowns imposed in some places and said the country needs to not only keep fighting the virus , but also move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He asked states to focus on testing , tracing , treatment and surveillance .
He said lockdown restrictions hit smooth movement of goods and services , including medical supplies .
SACRAMENTO , Calif. — Gov .
Gavin Newsom is allowing health officials to hide their addresses under a California program designed to protect people from harassment or violence .
Newsom signed an executive order Wednesday permitting the secretary of state to make the Safe at Home program available to local health officers and other public health officials .
The program provides substitute mailing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victims , among others .
The governor ’ s office says making public health officials eligible can protect those on the front lines of fighting the virus .
BEIJING — Foreigners holding certain types of visas and residence permits will be permitted to return to China starting next week as the threat of coronavirus continues to recede .
The new regulation lifts a months-long blanket suspension covering most foreigners apart from diplomats and those in special circumstances .
Beginning Monday , foreign nationals holding valid Chinese visas and residence permits for work , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permitted to enter China without needing to apply for new visas , according to the regulation .
Those whose permits have expired can reapply .
Returnees must undergo two weeks of quarantine .
The announcement was made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Immigration Administration on Wednesday .
China has confirmed 85,314 cases of COVID-19 since the virus was detected in Wuhan late last year .
The seven new cases reported Thursday were all imported , marking 39 days since the country has reported a case of domestic transmission .

ATLANTA (AP) — Putting 19 people on trial at the same time is a difficult assignment for any prosecutor — whether or not one of those defendan…


thetorontostar--2020-09-24--EU tries to sell migrant pact amid claims the hardliners won

BRUSSELS - The European Union ’ s top migration officials struggled Thursday to sell their new plan to overhaul the bloc ’ s failed asylum system amid concern they have sold out to anti-migrant governments .
Critics say the proposal focuses on rapidly deporting people who don ’ t qualify as refugees and persuading African countries to stop them from coming .
The program , dubbed the “ New Pact on Migration and Asylum , ” is aimed at ending years of chaos at Europe ’ s borders and a political crisis that has seen some EU countries turn their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Spain , where most people seeking better lives enter .
It has already received a cautious welcome from Austria , the Czech Republic and Hungary , whose anti-migrant governments , along with those of Poland and Slovakia , refuse to bow to pressure to take in refugees and ease the load on their Mediterranean coastal partners .
The leaders of the Czech Republic , Hungary and Poland affirmed their hardline stance at EU headquarters on Thursday .
Germany , France , Greece and Italy also see the pact as a good basis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which must be endorsed by all 27 EU countries and the European Parliament , will prove a hard sell , particularly as the top migration officials want to see it approved by the end of the year .
“ We have a system that makes sense .
I am not asking you to like it .
I am asking you to understand it , ” European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas said as he was grilled by EU lawmakers .
Under the proposals , migrants arriving at Europe ’ s outside borders without permission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They would then enter an asylum procedure or be deported , both within 12 weeks .
Migrants could be held in detention throughout , and these people would enter a legal limbo on arrival because they wouldn ’ t be deemed to have entered EU territory .
EU member countries would then face two choices : take in some of the refugees or provide other material and logistical support ; or for those not willing , take charge of deporting people whose applications are refused .
Mandatory refugee quotas have been abandoned .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive 10,000 euros ( $ 11,650 ) per person in assistance from the EU ’ s coffers .
Those dubbed the “ bouncers of Europe ” by one migration expert would have eight months to deport people not allowed in or be forced to accept them .
“ The refuseniks have won .
Blocking has been rewarded , ” Dutch liberal lawmaker Sophie in ’ t Veld said .
She complained that EU member countries had “ effectively allowed anti-migration forces to write our migration policies.
” She said that parts of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of us , ” but that the only other choice is an ugly status quo where people languish at sea in dangerous boats or in squalid camps in the Greek islands .
“ There is no better alternative on the table , “ she added .
Migrant arrivals have dropped significantly since 2015 when well over 1 million people entered Europe , most of them Syrians fleeing conflict , and the decrease in numbers is largely because of a deal the EU struck with Turkey , paying billions of euros to persuade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new EU plan aims to build on aspects of that deal , establishing “ partnerships ” with the countries of northern Africa , where most people transit or leave in search of sanctuary or better lives in Europe .
“ We need to move towards a comprehensive set of agreements and commitments with these countries that would be good for their people but good also for their ability to manage their borders and their migration systems , ” Schinas said .
He said “ tailor made ” agreements would be sought with them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up their border management capabilities , building reception centres and improving the way that people are “ returned ” from Europe .
EU officials reject claims that they might pressure these countries , but the commission will draw up a report on how co-operative they are in accepting their nationals back .
If they ’ re not , they could be removed from Europe ’ s visa-free list .
The reaction among aid groups has been mixed .
Some welcome the new attempt to end the disagreements that have endangered people ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it is simply focused on preventing people from trying to get to Europe .
“ It ’ s good that the European Commission is trying to bring EU countries together to achieve meaningful change .
However , in its attempt to reach consensus , the commission has bowed to pressure from EU governments whose only objective is to decrease the number of people granted protection in Europe , ” said Marissa Ryan , head of Oxfam ’ s EU office .


thetorontostar--2020-09-24--Jobless claims at 870,000 as fraud and backlogs cloud data

WASHINGTON - The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment aid rose slightly last week to 870,000 , a historically high figure that shows that the viral pandemic is still squeezing restaurants , airlines , hotels and many other businesses six months after it first erupted .
The figure coincides with evidence that some newly laid-off Americans are facing delays in receiving unemployment benefits as state agencies intensify efforts to combat fraudulent applications and clear their pipelines of a backlog of jobless claims .
California has said it will stop processing new applications for two weeks as it seeks to reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has found that up to 10,000 inmates are improperly receiving aid .
The Labor Department said Thursday that the number of people who are continuing to receive unemployment benefits declined to 12.6 million .
The steady decline in that figure over the past several months reflects that some of the unemployed are being re-hired .
Yet it also indicates that others have exhausted their regular jobless aid , which last six months in most states .
In addition to those receiving aid on state programs , about 105,000 others were added to an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks of aid .
This program , established in the economic relief package that Congress passed earlier this year , is now paying benefits to 1.6 million people .
Applications for jobless aid soared in the spring after the viral outbreak suddenly shut down businesses across the country , slashed tens of millions of jobs and triggered a deep recession .
Since then , as states have slowly reopened their economies , about half the jobs that were initially lost have been recovered .
Yet job growth has been slowing .
In most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reluctant to hire new workers in the face of deep uncertainty about the course of the virus .
The growing concerns about fraudulent applications for unemployment benefits have focused mainly on a new program , Pandemic Unemployment Assistance .
This program made self-employed people , gig workers and contractors eligible for jobless aid for the first time .
Though roughly 14 million people are classified as receiving aid under that program , economists increasingly regard that figure as unreliable and likely inflated by both fraudulent applications and inaccurate counts .
The number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is probably overstated by several million , economists say .
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE .
AP ’ s earlier story is below : The U.S. government will provide its latest snapshot Thursday of the pace of layoffs , which have remained elevated but have been declining as some sectors of the economy have rebounded in the six months since the viral pandemic erupted .
The number of people seeking unemployment benefits each week is still high , and the economy has recovered only about half the 22 million jobs that were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially small retailers , hotels , restaurants , airlines and entertainment venues , are struggling .
And millions of Americans are facing unemployment with vastly diminished aid since the expiration of a $ 600-a-week federal benefit this summer .
At the same time , some newly laid-off people are facing delays in receiving unemployment benefits as some state agencies intensify efforts to combat fraudulent applications and clear their pipelines of backlogged claims .
California , the largest state , has said it will stop processing new applications for two weeks as it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud .

Christopher Rugaber - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-24--Q&A: What were the results of Breonna Taylor investigation?

LOUISVILLE , Ky. - Six months after Breonna Taylor was fatally shot by police in her Kentucky apartment , a grand jury delivered a long-awaited answer about whether the officers would be punished .
The jury on Wednesday did charge one of the officers , Brett Hankison , with three counts of wanton endangerment for firing shots that went into another home with people inside .
But jurors didn ’ t indict any of the officers on charges directly related to Taylor ’ s death .
The jury relied on evidence presented to it by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were justified in firing their weapons because Taylor ’ s boyfriend , Kenneth Walker , had fired one shot at them .
Along with the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota , Taylor ’ s case became a major touchstone for the nationwide protests that have gripped the nation since May , drawing attention to entrenched racism and demanding police reform .
Some questions and answers about Cameron ’ s findings in the Breonna Taylor case : Taylor was a 26-year-old emergency medical technician who lived with her sister in an apartment in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kenneth Walker , had settled in to watch a movie in her bedroom on the night of March 13 when police came to her door with a narcotics warrant that was one of five issued that night in a wide-ranging sting .
Minutes later , Taylor was fatally shot .
Her death sparked months of protests in Louisville , and celebrities including LeBron James , Beyonce and Oprah Winfrey have called on authorities to criminally charge the police officers who were involved in the raid .
HOW MANY TIMES WAS BREONNA TAYLOR SHOT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six times on the night of her death , but only one of the gunshots was fatal .
Sgt .
John Mattingly had entered the home after the door was broken down , and he was shot once in the leg by Walker , Taylor ’ s boyfriend .
Walker has said he didn ’ t know the police were at the door , and he fired a “ warning shot , “ thinking it was an intruder .
After Walker fired , Mattingly , Hankison and a third officer , Myles Cosgrove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 32 gunshots fired by police .
WHY WAS NO ONE CHARGED WITH SHOOTING BREONNA TAYLOR ?
Cameron said the fatal bullet was fired by Cosgrove , but added that Cosgrove and Mattingly were justified in the use of force because they were shot at first .
Cameron said state law “ bars us from seeking charges in Breonna Taylor ’ s death.
” Cameron also said there was no conclusive evidence that any of Hankison ’ s 10 gunshots hit Taylor inside her home .
But Hankison was charged with three counts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went into another home with people inside .
WHY WAS OFFICER BRETT HANKISON GIVEN A $ 15,000 BOND ?
Hankison , who was fired from the Louisville department in June , was the only officer charged by the grand jury .
The first-degree wanton endangerment charges are Class D , the lowest level felonies in Kentucky , which have a sentencing range of one to five years in prison upon conviction .
When Hankison was fired , interim Police Chief Robert Schroeder said that Hankison showed “ extreme indifference to the value of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blindly ” into Taylor ’ s home .
WILL THERE BE ANY OTHER CHARGES ?
Cameron said it is unlikely there will be any further criminal charges coming from his investigation from the night of the shooting .
Lawyers for Taylor ’ s family had called for a minimum of manslaughter charges .
Cameron said his team “ walked the grand jury through every homicide offence and then the grand jury was the one that made the ultimate decision.
” Federal officials are continuing to investigate whether the officers committed any civil rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigating a fourth officer , Joshua Jaynes , who sought the warrant for Taylor ’ s home .
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer also said Louisville police are conducting a professional standards investigation to look into if any officers involved in the raid that night need further training or discipline .


thetorontostar--2020-09-24--Ginsburg’s empathy born of Jewish history and discrimination

In the Jewish tradition , burials usually take place within 24 hours of death .
But Ruth Bader Ginsburg , who died Sept. 18 , was lying in state nearly a week later Thursday at the Supreme Court where she served as justice for 27 years , and Friday at the U.S. Capitol .
“ Even though it generally goes against Jewish tradition , the fact that Americans will have a chance to pause in front and say thank you to her ” shows the depth of her legacy , said Rabbi Abraham Cooper , associate dean of the Simon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over replacing Ginsburg on the court , others are reflecting on how she advocated for women ’ s rights and how she tried to reach just decisions as a jurist , all informed by her Jewish upbringing .
The Torah , the Jewish holy scripture , stresses the pursuit of justice where the outcome and the means to it are just , Cooper said , and those beliefs were part of Ginsburg ’ s “ Jewish spiritual DNA.
” “ She lived and upheld the highest standards for a public servant , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for an American , and we can say here also , with pride , for someone who is Jewish.
” Ginsburg , born in 1933 , spoke publicly about her religious foundations growing up during the Holocaust and before bat mitzvahs — coming-of-age ceremonies for girls comparable to bar mitzvahs for boys — were commonplace .
A formative moment came at age 17 when her mother died and women could not be part of the minyan , the quorum of 10 Jewish adults for the prayer service for the dead .
Ginsburg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a time when there were few women at the institution and Jews faced discrimination .
She later transferred to Columbia and graduated at the top of her class .
During a 2017 Rosh Hashana visit to a historic synagogue in Washington , Ginsburg told worshippers she believed being Jewish helped her empathize with other minority groups .
She noted that she and other Jewish justices who have served on the court have held some similar views , something she linked to their shared heritage .
“ The Jewish religion is an ethical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taught to do right , to love mercy , do justice , not because there ’ s gon na be any reward in heaven or punishment in hell , “ Ginsburg told the audience .
” We live righteously because that ’ s how people should live and not anticipating any award in the hereafter.
” During the visit she also recounted what she called the “ Great Yom Kippur controversy ” of 1995 , when then-Chief Justice William Rehnquist scheduled arguments on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar .
Ginsburg and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so forced Jewish lawyers to decide between their court appearances and their religion , and Rehnquist cancelled the arguments .
While visiting Israel in 2018 to receive a lifetime achievement award from the Genesis Prize Foundation , a prominent Jewish organization , Ginsburg said she was driven by the Jewish values of pursuing justice and the concept of “ tikkun olam , ” or repairing the world .
“ I am a judge , born , raised and proud of being a Jew .
The demand for justice , for peace , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history and Jewish tradition , ” she said at the award ceremony .
“ I hope , in all the years I have the good fortune to continue serving on the bench of the Supreme Court of the United States , I will have the strength and courage to remain steadfast in the service of that demand.
“ Ginsburg understood what it meant for people to be excluded and “ othered ” and fought against that , said Sheila Katz , CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women .
“ It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the equal protection of the law and that ideas that seemed radical are common sense because of her , ” Katz said .
“ I believe that her Jewish identity played a critical role in her values and in the way she went about being a judge .
... She has said that.
” But Ginsburg ’ s focus extended beyond Jewish women , Katz noted : “ She operated on the bench to make things better for everyone , and that ’ s what her legacy is.
” Farhana Khera , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Muslim Advocates , said in a statement that Ginsburg was “ a tireless defender of our nation ’ s promise of freedom , justice and equality for all — truly all .
So much of what I do as a civil rights advocate , an attorney , a woman , a Muslim and as an American is possible because of what she accomplished.
” Speaking at Ginsburg ’ s memorial service Wednesday , Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt , of the Adas Israel Congregation in Washington , D.C. , said , “ the Torah is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we never forget those who live in the shadows.
” She said that concept is written into the U.S. Constitution and Ginsburg insisted the document deliver on that promise .
Ginsburg , Hotzblatt said , “ carried out that work in every chapter of her life.
” Rabbi Sam Levine of the East Midwood Jewish Center in Brooklyn , New York , Ginsburg ’ s childhood congregation , said there is a clear link between Jewish teachings and how Ginsburg lived .
“ There really is a direct correlation between what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what we study as a community and the life that she lived , ” he said .
“ Justice , compassion , fairness ... .
these are things that we talk about literally on a weekly basis in our synagogue , ” he said .
“ She lived those values and she brought the force of her convictions to bear on the entire nation , and I just don ’ t think that can be underestimated and understated.
” Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for this content .

Gary Fields And Sally Stapleton - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-24--Sweden: Bones of dog found at Stone Age burial site

STOCKHOLM - Archaeologists on Thursday reported finding the remains of a dog from more than 8,400 years ago at a human burial site in southern Sweden .
“ The dog is well preserved , and the fact that it is buried in the middle of the Stone Age settlement is unique , ” osteologist Ola Magnell of the Blekinge Museum said of the discovery near the town of Solvesborg .
Museum project manager Carl Persson said “ a sudden and violent increase of the sea level ” flooded the area with mud that had helped preserve the burial site .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ layers of sand and mud .
The Swedish archaeologists said the dog was buried with a person , noting that survivors often leave valuable or sentimental objects with the dead .
Such findings “ makes you feel even closer to the people who lived here , ” Persson said in a statement .
“ A buried dog somehow shows how similar we are over the millennia when it comes to the feelings like grief and loss.
” The dog bones have not been removed from the ground yet but the archaeologists plan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for study .
The area where the dog was found is part of a vast site where local authorities and archaeologists are currently carrying out one of the largest archaeological digs ever undertaken in the region..
The area is believed to have been inhabited by hunters during the Stone Age .
A residential community is expected to be built on the burial site once the archaeologists are done .


thetorontostar--2020-09-24--Facebook oversight board to start operating in October

LONDON - Facebook ’ s long-awaited oversight board that will act as a referee on whether specific content is allowed on the tech giant ’ s platforms is set to launch in October .
CEO Mark Zuckerberg said two years ago that he was setting up the quasi-independent board , following intense criticism that the company wasn ’ t moving fast enough to remove misinformation , hate speech and malign influence campaigns .
The board is intended to rule on thorny content issues , such as when Facebook or Instagram posts constitute hate speech .
“ We are currently testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow users to appeal and the Board to review cases , “ it said in a statement Thursday .
If those tests go to plan , the board said it would start accepting and reviewing appeals from users in mid to late October .
The board was initially expected to start operating in early 2020 but the launch was delayed .
“ Building a process that is thorough , principled and globally effective takes time and our members have been working aggressively to launch as soon as possible , ” the board said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are a multinational group that includes legal scholars , human rights experts and journalists .
It will start by hearing appeals from users whose content has been taken down by Facebook before expanding to appeals from users who want the company to remove content .
Facebook can also refer cases to the board on its own .
Its decisions and the company ’ s responses will be public .
Rulings will be binding in individual cases , but broader policy findings will be advisory .


thetorontostar--2020-09-24--UK announces new plan to help workers hit by pandemic

LONDON - Britain ’ s treasury chief on Thursday announced a new income support program for workers hurt by the coronavirus pandemic as the government races to prevent widespread layoffs when earlier employer subsidies end next month .
Chancellor Rishi Sunak , in a speech to lawmakers , unveiled his plan to subsidize the wages of workers whose hours are cut due to the pandemic as part of a wider package of measures to help businesses and bolster the economy .
The plan comes in response to pressure from businesses and labour unions to step in with more direct support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The new economic plan would replace a furloughed worker program which is due to expire next month .
Under that program , the government pays 80 % of the wages of workers who are placed on leave .
“ The primary goal of our economic policy remains unchanged - to support people ’ s jobs - but the way we achieve that must evolve , ’ ’ Sunak said , adding that the government wants to support viable jobs , not preserve those that are no longer needed .
To underscore that his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside his office before delivering his speech , holding a copy of the plan and flanked by representatives of the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress .
The announcement comes as COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the U.K. , blunting the country ’ s economic recovery from a nationwide lockdown imposed in March .
The government reported 6,178 new confirmed cases Wednesday , a 25 % increase from the previous day and the U.K. ’ s highest daily total since May 1 .
To control the spike in COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ introduced new restrictions , including a 10 p.m. curfew for bars and restaurants that goes into effect Thursday .
Sunak said he was worried the furlough program allowed employers to preserve some jobs that would no longer be needed as the economy adapts to a post-pandemic world .
While this was appropriate to shield the economy from the shock of the lockdown , the government now wants to move the economy in a different direction .
To ensure that the government is supporting the retention of viable jobs , employers who participate in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to assign workers at least one-third of their previous hours .
The government will then pay two-thirds of the remainder , meaning employees will receive about 80 % of their pre-pandemic wages .
“ The government will directly support the wages of people in work , giving businesses who face depressed demand the option of keeping employees in a job on shorter hours rather than making them redundant , ” Sunak said .
The government will offer similar support for the self-employed .
In addition to the wage support program , Sunak said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loan repayment deadlines and loan guarantees provided earlier this year .
These included 38 billion pounds ( $ 43.8 billion ) of loans to 1 million small businesses that will now be eligible to “ pay as you grow.
’ ’ “ Businesses who are struggling can now choose to make interest-only payments and anyone in real trouble can apply to suspend repayments all together for up to six months , ’ ’ he said .
Sunak also said that he will extend until March 31 the temporary reduction of the valued-added tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic .
The cut to 5 % from 20 % had been scheduled to end in January .


thetorontostar--2020-09-24--Pac-12 to kick off 7-game football season in early November

The Pac-12 is set to kickoff a seven-game football season Nov. 6 after it followed the Big Ten in overturning an August decision to punt on playing in the fall because of concerns about COVID-19 .
With the conference having secured daily COVID-19 testing for its athletes and been given the green light from state and local health officials , the Pac-12 CEO Group voted unanimously Thursday to lift a Jan. 1 moratorium on athletic competition .
“ The discussion among the presidents and chancellors was largely about the benefits as well as the cons of starting in the fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Oregon President Michael Schill said .
“ The consensus opinion was the benefits of starting in the fall were much greater than the benefits of starting in the .. winter .
“ Things changed from the first time we addressed this issue.
” The Pac-12 ’ s men ’ s and women ’ s basketball seasons can start Nov. 25 , in line with the NCAA ’ s recently announced opening date .
The football championship game is set for Dec. 18 , putting the conference in play for College Football Playoff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selection — and the multimillion dollar payouts that come with them .
A major college football season that six weeks ago seemed to be in peril , slowly crumbling away , is reforming and has a chance to be almost whole by November .
The Big Ten reversed course last week , with kickoff scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 24 .
The Mountain West presidents were meeting Thursday night to discuss a possible late October start to the football season .
The Mid-American Conference , the first FBS league to postpone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Southeastern Conference begins play this weekend , joining the Big 12 , Atlantic Coast Conference and three others that have been up and running since Labor Day weekend .
The season is ongoing but it has been anything but normal .
There have been 21 games postponed or cancelled since Aug. 26 because of teams battling various levels of COVID-19-related issues .
This week , four games scheduled to be played Saturday have been called off , including Notre Dame at Wake Forest because of a virus outbreak among Fighting Irish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return of sports in the Pac-12 came Sept. 3 when it entered an agreement with diagnostic testing company Quidel that will give each school the capacity to conduct daily antigen tests on their athletes .
Still , it took three weeks for the conference to reverse course on fall football , leaving it starting later and scheduled to play fewer games than the other Power Five conferences .
“ I don ’ t think we ’ re behind , ” Schill said .
“ I think that we are acting deliberately .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We waited until we were able to if not ensure , protect their health and safety.
” Schill said state and local restrictions in California and Oregon to stem the spread of the virus made it impossible for six Pac-12 teams in those states to practice football and slowed the conference ’ s return to play decision “ Those barriers came down once the daily antigen test was available , ” Schill said .
When the Pac-12 postponed Aug. 11 , its medical advisors had recommended daily testing for athletes because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus in most of the counties where schools were located .
Those rates have improved in most Pac-12 counties , but not all .
“ If this is not sustainable , we will stop playing , ” Schill .
Daily testing should also decrease the number of athletes who end up in quarantine after coming into what would be considered a high-risk contact with someone who has tested positive .
“ Our goal is to not have a bunch of our student athletes get covid , ” said Dr. Doug Aukerman of Oregon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be done for Pac-12 schools to get the approvals of local officials in Northern California and now in Colorado .
Due to a recent spike in COVID-19 cases , Boulder County officials Thursday halted gatherings for college-aged residents for two weeks and has said that includes athletic events .
“ We ’ ll continue to work with our public health officials to comply with the public health order and be a part of the community solution , ” Colorado athletic director Rick George said .
The one thing I ’ ve learned in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get too high and don ’ t get too low.
“ No fans will be permitted at Pac-12 sporting events taking place on campus , the conference said .
The loss of ticket revenue and decreased number of games will cost Pac-12 schools tens of millions of dollars , but it could have been even worse with no football at all .
“ This has nothing to do with money , ” Schill said .
“ It was never once mentioned as a consideration .
The losses that are schools are encountering , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ huge .
The amount of money that will be saved as a result of going back to play is tiny in comparison with the losses.
” Follow Ralph D. Russo at https : //twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http : //www.westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/


thetorontostar--2020-09-24--Australian think-tank  finds 380 detention camps in Xinjiang

CANBERRA , Australia - China appeared to be expanding its network of secret detention centres in Xinjiang , where Muslim minorities are targeted in a forced assimilation campaign , and more of the facilities resemble prisons , an Australian think-tank found .
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute used satellite images and official construction tender documents to map more than 380 suspected detention facilities in the remote Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region , highlighting reeducation camps , detention centres and prisons that have been newly build or expanded since 2017 .
The report builds on evidence that China has made a policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minorities in makeshift public buildings to constructing permanent mass detention facilities .
This is despite Chinese state news agency Xinhua reporting late last year that “ trainees ” attending “ vocational education and training centres “ meant to deradicalize them had “ all graduated.
” Regional government chairman Shohrat Zakir was quoted as saying foreign media reports of 1 million or 2 million people attending these centres were fabricated .
Predominantly Muslim minorities in the remote Xinjiang region have been locked in camps as part of a government assimilation campaign launched in response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese rule .
Some have been subjected to forced sterilization and abortion , and in recent months , ordered to drink traditional Chinese medicines to combat the coronavirus .
Australian Strategic Policy Institute researcher Nathan Ruser wrote in a report released late Thursday : “ Available evidence suggests that many extrajudicial detainees in Xinjiang ’ s vast ‘ re-education ’ network are now being formally charged and locked up in higher security facilities , including newly built or expanded prisons , or sent to walled factory compounds for coerced labour assignments.
” At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ construction and expansion work in a year to July 2020 , the report said .
These included at least 14 facilities still under construction this year .
“ Of these , about 50 % are higher security facilities , which may suggest a shift in usage from the lower-security , ‘ re-education centres ’ toward higher-security prison-style facilities , ” Ruser wrote .
At least 70 facilities appeared to have lesser security by the removal of internal fencing or perimeter walls , the report said .
These included eight camps that showed signs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed .
Of the camps stripped of security infrastructure , 90 % were lower security facilities , the report said .


thetorontostar--2020-09-24--Iditarod preps for any scenario as 2021 race plans proceed

ANCHORAGE , Alaska - The world ’ s most famous sled dog race will go forward in 2021 , and amid the ongoing pandemic , officials now are preparing for every possible contingency for what the race and the world might look like in March when the Iditarod starts .
It ’ s not the mushers who worry Iditarod CEO Rob Urbach ; they ’ re used to social distancing along the 1,000-mile trail .
The headaches start with what to do with the 1,800 volunteers and staff needed to stage the race , some scattered in 21 villages that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anchorage and Nome , and how to protect them and the village residents from the coronavirus .
The goal is zero community transmission .
“ We ’ re really trying to plan for the worst and hope for the best , ” Urbach said .
“ The mushers getting from checkpoint to checkpoint is the easiest piece.
” The Iditarod got some on-the-fly training last March .
When the race started March 8 , people were still shaking hands and not wearing masks .
By the time the race ended in mid-March , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities .
Most public buildings in Nome , where the race ends , were closed .
The Iditarod was the only major sports event not to cancel last spring .
Officials plan to combine what they learned with best practices from other professional leagues , like the NFL , to incorporate into a plan for the 2021 race .
They also expect on-the-ground help from an epidemiologist .
Urbach said they are developing criteria for testing protocols and will adhere to whatever standard is determined by Alaska state health officials at the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing masks or requiring volunteers and mushers to be vaccinated if there is a vaccine by then and it ’ s recommended .
The Iditarod is also investigating getting its own rapid test lab that can travel on the trail .
Other changes may include support staff being reduced to the bare minimum and travelling pods of four to maintain a bubble .
It may mean volunteers sleeping outside in warmed tents instead of stacking 12 people cheek-to-jowl in a small cabin in a village checkpoint .
The look of the ceremonial start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of fans , might be smaller as people may have to social distance .
It may mean few or no spectators at the Nome finish .
It also might mean bypassing villages altogether .
“ Our course may be adapted to navigate around any civilization , and that will be a heck of a race , “ Urbach said .
Besides being in contact with public health officials in Alaska , the Iditarod also is leaning on Dr. Jodie Guest to help its formulate its plan .
She is an infectious disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been an Iditarod race volunteer for years , often spending time in small villages .
Guest has been working on how to craft the best prevention messages based on culturally competent messaging and how to get testing into communities that have a distrust of the medical system .
“ I ’ ve really tried to do with my team is have us be a group that is that both nimble and can do testing pretty efficiently and quickly , no matter where you put us , but also a group that really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are not getting a lot of attention , ” Guest said .
“ So that does translate very well to potential risk for villages and concerns the villages might have , and so I ’ m very hopeful that the work I ’ ve been doing will translate well for us in Alaska , ” she said .
The worst-case scenario is that there is no Iditarod in 2021 .
“ That ’ s what we hope won ’ t happen , but it needs to be something we consider for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the race also has components that are “ perhaps safer than a lot of other things for COVID-19 .
And that ’ s what we ’ re going to try to do , is figure out how to take all the parts of the Iditarod that are super safe by comparison and change all the parts that aren ’ t to make them so that they are , “ Guest said .
Urbach is confident there will be a race .
“ If the Iditarod doesn ’ t run , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
There are 12 international mushers in the field of 62 teams that will start the race north of Anchorage on March 7 , including defending champion Thomas Waerner of Norway .
Race officials are investigating travel waivers and other means , such as hiring a cargo plane , to get international mushers and their teams of 16 dogs each to Alaska if travel restrictions or quarantines are in place , Urbach said .
Waerner was stuck in Alaska for months after winning in March until he could get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he says he is trying to find his own travel back to Alaska .
“ I am working to find a way to go , ” he said in an email to The Associated Press .
“ Right now it is not possible , ” but he says there is a long time before he wants to arrive by mid-February .
Urbach said race officials continue to anticipate what the race could look like six months from now .
“ The worst case is , we put a lot of time , work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanitation supplies and disinfectant , then so be it , ” Urbach said .
“ We want to be overly prepared .
”


thetorontostar--2020-09-24--Feds put first Black inmate to death since execution restart

TERRE HAUTE , Ind .
- A man who killed a religious couple visiting Texas from Iowa was executed Thursday , the first Black inmate put to death as part of the Trump administration ’ s resumption of federal executions after a nearly 20-year pause .
Christopher Vialva , 40 , was pronounced dead shortly before 7 p.m. EDT after receiving a lethal injection at the federal prison in Terre Haute , Indiana .
In a last statement , Vialva asked God to comfort the families of the couple he had killed in 1999 , saying , “ Father … @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” After robbing and locking Todd and Stacie Bagley in the trunk of their car , the then-19-year-old Viavla shot them in the head and burned their bodies in the car .
Vialva turned toward his mother behind a glass window in a witness room as the lethal injections began .
“ He was looking at me when he died , ” his mother , Lisa Brown , told the the Associated Press in a text message , confirming she attended the execution .
The execution comes during demonstrations , disappointment , violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a grand jury did not charge the officers who shot Breonna Taylor with her death , rather filing lower level felonies for shooting into neighbouring homes .
Questions about racial bias in the criminal justice system have been front and centre since May — following the death of George Floyd after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on the handcuffed Black man ’ s neck for several minutes .
A report this month by the Washington , D.C.-based Death Penalty Information Center said Black people remain overrepresented on death rows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are far more likely to be sentenced to death than white people who kill Black people .
Of the 56 inmates currently on federal death row , 26 — or nearly 50 % — are Black , according to centre data updated Wednesday ; 22 , or nearly 40 % , are white and seven , around 12 % were Latino .
There is one Asian on federal death row .
Black people make up only about 13 % of the population .
Wearing black glasses with especially thick lenses , Viala @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administering the fatal dose of pentobarbital .
He scanned the ceiling lights in the pale green room , furrowed his brows , yawned and then turned his head toward a witness room where his mother was .
Within minutes , he no longer moved at all , his head fixed in a tilt toward the witness room , his mouth agape .
White blotches emerged on Vialva ’ s hands , as his arms , lips and nose turned a purple hue then whitened .
After 20 minutes , an official walked into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s chest with a stethoscope and walked out .
Seconds later , a voice over an intercom declared Vialva dead at “ 6:42 p.m. ” Later , officials corrected the time to 6:46 p.m. No explanation was given .
Vialva ’ s lawyer , Susan Otto , has said race played a role in landing her client on death row for killing the white couple .
Vialva was the seventh federal execution since July and the second this week .
Five of the first six were white , a move critics argue was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The sixth was Navajo .
Seconds before Vialva shot the Bagleys , Stacie Bagley said to him : “ Jesus loves you , “ according to court filings .
“ I believe when someone deliberately takes the life of another , they suffer the consequences for their actions , “ Todd Bagley ’ s mother , Georgia , wrote in a statement released after the execution .
“ Christopher ’ s mother had the opportunity to visit him for the past 21 years , ” she wrote .
“ We have had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closure .
We can not be with our children for visits or to see them on holidays , ” Bagley ’ s mother wrote .
In a video statement released by his lawyers earlier , Vialva expressed regret for what he ’ d done .
“ I committed a grave wrong when I was a lost kid and took two precious lives from this world , ” he said .
“ Every day , I wish I could right this wrong.
” Vialva ’ s mother also spoke at an anti-death penalty rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her son was later put to death .
“ This is the first venue I ’ ve had in which I could say to Todd and Stacie ’ s family , ‘ I am so sorry for your loss , ’ ” she said .
She also said her son converted to what she described as Messianic Judaism while behind bars .
His spiritual adviser was inside the death chamber during the execution .
Federal authorities executed just three prisoners in the previous 56 years .
Death penalty foes accuse President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim as the law-and-order candidate .
Otto said one Black juror and 11 white jurors recommended the death sentence in 2000 after prosecutors told them Vialva led a Black gang faction in Killeen , Texas , and killed to boost his gang status .
That claim , Otto said , was false and only served to conjure up menacing stereotypes .
“ It played right into the narrative that he was a dangerous Black thug who killed these lovely white people .
And they were lovely , ” Otto said in a recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Bagleys were on their way home from a Sunday worship service during a visit to Texas when Vialva and his teenage accomplices asked them for a lift after they stopped at a convenience store — planning all along to rob the couple .
After the Bagleys agreed and began driving away , Vialva pulled out a gun and told the couple : “ Plans have changed.
” After stealing their money , jewelry and ATM card , the teens locked the Bagleys in the trunk of their car as they drove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from ATMs and seeking to pawn Stacie Bagley ’ s wedding ring .
The Bagleys , who worked as youth ministers , pleaded for their lives from the trunk and urged their kidnappers to accept Jesus .
The teens eventually pulled to the side of the road and poured lighter fluid inside the car .
As they did , the Bagleys sang “ Jesus loves us ” in the trunk .
Vialva , the oldest of the group , donned a ski mask , opened the trunk and shot the Bagleys in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at trial , was still alive as flames engulfed the car .
Otto said Vialva ’ s lawyers during the trial , the sentencing phase and in an initial appeal didn ’ t appear to raise objections about the racial composition of the jury or the characterization of Vialva as a Black gang leader .
That effectively barred subsequent lawyers from raising the issue of racial bias in higher court appeals .


thetorontostar--2020-09-24--Evel Knievel’s son suing Disney over ‘Toy Story 4’ character

LAS VEGAS - Evel Knievel ’ s son is on a collision course with the Walt Disney Co. and Pixar over a movie daredevil character named Duke Caboom .
A federal trademark infringement lawsuit filed in Las Vegas accuses the movie company of improperly basing the new character in last year ’ s “ Toy Story 4 ” on Knievel , whose famous stunts included motorcycle jumps over the Caesars Palace fountain in Las Vegas and a row of buses at Wembley Stadium in London , and a rocket shot into Snake River Canyon in Idaho .
Las Vegas-based K @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intentionally modeling the Caboom character , voiced by Keanu Reeves in the movie , after Knievel — although Knievel ’ s name is never mentioned .
Son Kelly Knievel , head of K and K , has had publicity rights to Evel Knievel ’ s name since 1998 , according to the Tuesday court filing in U.S. District Court .
He said Thursday the moviemakers never sought permission to use his father ’ s likeness .
The Walt Disney Co. , in a statement from corporate spokesman Jeffrey R. Epstein , said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called Knievel ’ s meritless claims .
Knievel is seeking unspecified damages totalling more than $ 300,000 on allegations that also include false endorsement and unjust enrichment .
The Caboom character is described by Disney Pixar as a 1970s motorcycle-riding toy based on “ Canada ’ s greatest stuntman , ” according to the lawsuit .
Photos in the court filing put Caboom side-by-side with Knievel , who became an American icon after his near-fatal 1967 Caesars Palace crash .
An Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle toy released in 1973 featured a Knievel action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jumpsuit with red , white and blue embellishments on a motorcycle that could be propelled with a wind-up device .
In vivid descriptions of the movie , the lawsuit notes the Caboom character is a 1970s-era daredevil clad in a white jumpsuit and helmet with Canadian insignia and a “ Duke Caboom Stunt Cycle.
” A propelled toy was marketed in conjunction with the movie , Knievel ’ s attorneys note , and the Caboom character became part of a McDonald ’ s fast-food “ Happy Meal ” promotion .
Consumers and film @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connection , ” the lawsuit observed , while the movie company and Reeves avoided making any public association , connection or comparison “ even if directly asked.
” “ Evel Knievel did not thrill millions around the world , break his bones and spill his blood just so Disney could make a bunch of money , ” Kelly Knievel said in a statement announcing the lawsuit .
Knievel was seriously injured many times during more than 75 motorcycle jumps .
He died in 2007 at 69 in Florida of lung disease , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Keanu has been corrected in this story .


thetorontostar--2020-09-24--Progressives pledge to keep pushing Biden to expand court

WASHINGTON - Since Joe Biden ran away with the Democratic presidential nomination in March , leading progressives have accepted him — sometimes grudgingly — as their party ’ s leader .
But , in the final weeks of the campaign , the Supreme Court vacancy is threatening to inflame old divides .
Some activists on the left are pressing Biden to endorse expanding the number of high court justices should he win the White House and Democrats take control of the Senate .
But Biden , who ran a relatively centrist primary campaign , hasn ’ t embraced those calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s partisan split .
There ’ s little indication that large swaths of progressives will abandon Biden or back third-party candidates , moves that wounded Democrat Hillary Clinton ’ s 2016 bid .
But activists insist they will keep pressure on Biden to pursue dramatic reforms to the Supreme Court if Republicans move forward with a plan to quickly approve President Donald Trump ’ s pick to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
“ The majority of Berniecrats will most likely vote for Vice-President Joe Biden , ” said Nina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and top adviser to progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders ’ 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns .
“ That doesn ’ t mean that they are not going to raise hell all the way.
” “ Biden should make it clear that he will fight back by expanding the court if he wins , ” said Turner , who is founding a firm to advance progressive causes , Amare Public Affairs .
The Constitution doesn ’ t mandate the number of Supreme Court justices , which has changed over time .
In 1937 , President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pack the court ” by expanding its number of justices , an effort that stalled once the justices began to rule in his favour on policies tied to the New Deal .
Since then , the makeup of the court hasn ’ t been a prominent issue in national politics .
That began to change after Justice Brett Kavanaugh ’ s contentious 2018 nomination fight .
Calls to add justices grew much louder this week in response to the GOP ’ s rush to fill Ginsburg ’ s seat before the election , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservatives and three liberals .
“ The politics of this are moving very , very fast , ” said Aaron Belkin , director of Take Back the Court , which advocates for increasing the number of justices .
“ And under a Biden administration , when the court has the administration handcuffed on Day One , I think the politics are going to be changing even more quickly.
” That puts Biden in a tough spot .
As someone who spent 36 years in the Senate , he built a career revering Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary , he pointedly declined to join rivals such as Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren or California Sen. Kamala Harris , who is now his running mate , in being open to court expansion .
During his first extended comments Sunday about Ginsburg ’ s death , Biden appealed to the few remaining moderate Senate Republicans to buck their party ’ s leadership , rather than to progressives looking for him to support a larger court .
Since then , Biden has largely sought to avoid the issue as he ’ s campaigned in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Trump ’ s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and high unemployment .
He ducked a question about changes to the court during an interview with a Wisconsin television station , saying a response would “ shift all the focus.
” Biden has also said Democrats should concentrate on making it clear for voters why the GOP push to quickly fill Ginsburg ’ s seat is a “ gigantic mistake and abuse of power.
” Some progressives said Ginsburg ’ s death laid bare why they ’ re backing Biden .
“ Voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you agree with him .
It ’ s a vote to let our democracy live another day , “ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on Instagram last week .
The New York congresswoman spent months expressing skepticism toward Biden but also was co-leader of a task force on climate change that top Biden supporters and advisers formed with their counterparts from Sanders ’ unsuccessful presidential campaign to try to better reach consensus on top issues .
Those groups made policy recommendations that helped shape the Democratic Party platform , which was adopted at its national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid the ideological clashes that Clinton endured four years ago .
Sanders , who opposes Supreme Court expansion , and Warren , who has suggested she ’ d be willing to support it , have similarly used Ginsburg ’ s death as a rallying cry for Biden .
“ Democracy as we know it is in danger , ” Warren said at a virtual event with Virginia leaders , calling Republican court efforts “ the last gasp of a desperate party that is overrepresented in the hall of power.
“ During a speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ openly suggesting that he ’ ll brand as illegitimate any election he loses .
He cited “ the danger that this country faces from a president who is a pathological liar , who has strong authoritarian tendencies , who neither understands nor respects our Constitution and who is prepared to undermine American democracy in order to stay in power.
” The voting results may be disputed and trigger a legal fight , Sanders said , noting that Trump “ is attempting to push through a Supreme Court justice who may very well cast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determine the outcome of this election.
” Rather than mentioning expanding the Supreme Court , Sanders said the way to counter that is to have the largest voter turnout in U.S. history .
“ This is not just an election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden , “ Sanders said .
” This is an election between Donald Trump and democracy — and democracy must win.
” Just getting Biden elected might not be enough for everyone , though .
Adam Green , co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee , called the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance to offer a “ first big show of force as leader of the Democratic Party.
” “ He can quickly unify Democrats in saying no confirmation until after inauguration , “ Green said .
“ And promising to expand the court if Republicans do an end run around democracy.
” AP ’ s Advance Voting guide brings you the facts about voting early , by mail or absentee from each state : https : //interactives.ap.org/advance-voting-2020/

Will Weissert And Cheyanne Mumphrey - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-24--Argentine lawmaker suspended for conduct in virtual session

BUENOS AIRES , Argentina - An Argentine lawmaker was suspended Thursday for inappropriate conduct with a woman during a virtual session of congress , when he appeared on camera touching his wife as she sat on his lap .
During the broadcast of the virtual session of Argentina ’ s Lower House , the images of legislators participating appeared in boxes in rows on the screen .
As other legislators debated bills , deputy Juan Emilio Ameri of the ruling Peronist party could be seen pulling down the shirt of his wife and kissing one of her breasts .
House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report “ a serious offence by a deputy.
“ “ There was a situation that has nothing to do with the normal decorum and operation of this house , ” he said and called for the immediate suspension of Ameri and the creation of a five-member commission to expedite his expulsion .
The proposals were endorsed .
Ameri , from Salta province , said he did not realize he was still connected .
“ It ’ s not that I was having sex with my wife .
It was a 10-second circumstance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of the bathroom and I saw her .
I told her let ’ s see how it is because she ’ d had an implant put in a few days ago.
” He said he was convinced he didn ’ t have an internet connection but was reconnected automatically .
“ We are going to listen to the explanations of the deputy , but we can not admit that this type of behaviour occurs in a body of representatives in a democracy , “ Massa said .


thetorontostar--2020-09-24--Virus delays Rio’s Carnival for first time in a century

Rio de Janeiro delayed its annual Carnival parade , saying Thursday night that the global spectacle can not go ahead in February because of Brazil ’ s continued vulnerability to the pandemic .
Rio ’ s League of Samba Schools , LIESA , announced that the spread of the coronavirus has made it impossible to safely hold the traditional parades that are a cultural mainstay and , for many , a source of livelihood .
“ Carnival is a party upon which many humble workers depend .
The samba schools are community institutions , and the parades are just one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Luiz Antonio Simas , a historian who specializes in Rio ’ s Carnival .
“ An entire cultural and productive chain was disrupted by COVID.
” Rio ’ s city hall has yet to announce a decision about the Carnival street parties that also take place across the city .
But its tourism promotion agency said in a statement to The Associated Press on Sept. 17 that without a coronavirus vaccine , it is uncertain when large public events can resume .
Brazil ’ s first confirmed coronavirus case was Feb. 26 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carnival ended .
As the number of infections grew , the samba schools that participate in the glitzy annual parade halted preparations for the 2021 event .
Thursday ’ s announcement removed the cloud of uncertainty that has hung over the city — one of worst hit by the pandemic in Brazil .
Nearly all of Rio ’ s samba schools are closely linked to working class communities .
Their processions include elaborate floats accompanied by tireless drummers and costumed dancers who sing at the top of their lungs to impress a panel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spectators pack the bleachers of the arena , known as the Sambadrome , while tens of millions watch on television .
Before the schools began competing in the 1930s , Carnival was celebrated in dance halls and haphazardly on the streets , Simas said .
The parades entered the Sambadrome in the 1980s , and have become Rio ’ s quintessential Carnival display .
The immense labour required for each show was already stymied by restrictions on gatherings that Rio ’ s governor imposed in March .
Even with those measures , Rio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 million people , so far has recorded more than 15,000 deaths from COVID-19 .
Beneath the Sambadrome ’ s bleachers , the city created a homeless shelter for the vulnerable population during the pandemic .
Samba schools suspended float construction , costume sewing , dance rehearsals , and also social projects .
The Mangueira school ’ s program in the favela near downtown Rio that teaches music to children — keeping them away from crime , and cultivating the school ’ s future drummers — hasn ’ t held classes since March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities like Nilopolis , whose population of 160,000 cheers the Beija-Flor samba school , has faded , Simas said .
Some performers resorted to odd jobs and gigs .
Diogo Jesús , the lead dancer referred to as “ master of ceremonies ” in the Mocidade school , couldn ’ t make rent without his income from private events .
He started driving for Uber and sewing face masks to sell at a fair .
“ It was a blow .
We live Carnival all year round , and many people when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick or depressed , ” Jesus said in an interview inside his house in Madureira , a neighbourhood in northern Rio .
“ Carnival is our life.
” The last year Rio ’ s Carnival was suspended was 1912 , following the death of the foreign relations minister .
The mayor of Rio , at the time Brazil ’ s capital , postponed by two months all licenses for the popular dance associations ’ Carnival parties , according to Luís Cláudio Villafañe , a diplomat and author of the book “ The Day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voiced opposition to unregulated celebrations , but many Rio residents partied in the streets anyway .
Revelers were undeterred during the Second World War .
And they poured into the street every year during more than two decades of military dictatorship , until 1985 , with government censors reviewing costumes , floats and song lyrics .
“ We must await the coming months for definition about if there will be a vaccine or not , and when there will be immunization , ” LIESA ’ s Castanheira told reporters in Rio on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the safety conditions to set a date.
” The 2020 coronavirus already forced Rio ’ s City Hall to scrap traditional plans for its second-biggest party , New Year ’ s Eve , which draws millions of people to Copacabana beach for dazzling fireworks .
Earlier this month , the city ’ s tourism promotion agency Riotur announced that main tourist spots will instead display light and music shows to be broadcast over the internet .
Delay of the Carnival parade will deprive Rio state of much needed tourism revenue .
In 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generated four billion reais ( $ 725 million U.S. ) in economic activity , according to Riotur .
A statement from the agency Thursday provided no further clarity on the fate of the Carnival street parties .
Some parties are small — for example one including a few dozen dog owners exhibiting their pets wearing wigs or funny hats .
But most feature amps blasting music to throngs of thousands who dance , kiss and swill booze in a crush of celebration .
The biggest one boasts more than two million partygoers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ da Sebastiana , said her association already cancelled its 11 street parties that together draw 1.5 million revelers .
Most others groups will follow , she said .
“ We can not be irresponsible and bring the multitudes to the street , ” she said , pointing to Europe ’ s second wave of contagion .
After several weeks of declining daily infections , Rio authorities have begun expressing concern about an uptick .
Public spaces such as beaches have been crowded in violation of pandemic restrictions .
A drummer in Mangueira ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said the children he instructed before the pandemic are listless , and he knows there is no way to put on Carnival without being able to safely gather .
“ Carnival will only really happen when the whole world can travel .
It ’ s a spectacle the world watches , brings income and movement here , ” he said .
“ I have no hope for 2021 .
”


thetorontostar--2020-09-24--Chinese company says coronavirus vaccine ready by early 2021

BEIJING - A Chinese pharmaceutical company said Thursday the coronavirus vaccine it is developing should be ready by early 2021 for distribution worldwide , including the United States .
Yin Weidong , the CEO of SinoVac , vowed to apply to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to sell CoronaVac in the United States if it passes its third and final round of testing in humans .
Yin said he personally has been given the experimental vaccine .
“ At the very beginning , our strategy was designed for China and for Wuhan .
Soon after that in June and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to face the world , ” Yin said , referring to the Chinese city were the virus first emerged .
“ Our goal is to provide the vaccine to the world including the U.S. , EU and others , ” Yin said .
Stringent regulations in the U.S. , European Union , Japan and Australia have historically blocked the sale of Chinese vaccines .
But Yin said that could change .
SinoVac is developing one of China ’ s top four vaccine candidates along with state-owned SinoPharm , which has two in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
More than 24,000 people are participating in clinical trials of CoronaVac in Brazil , Turkey , and Indonesia , with additional trials scheduled for Bangladesh and possibly Chile , Yin said .
SinoVac chose those countries because they all had serious outbreaks , large populations and limited research and development capacity , he said .
He spoke to reporters during a tour of a SinoVac plant south of Beijing .
Built in a few months from scratch , the plant is designed to enable SinoVac to produce half a million vaccine doses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already busy on Thursday filling tiny bottles with the vaccine and boxing them .
The company projects it will be able to produce a few hundred million doses of the vaccine by February or March of next year .
SinoVac is also starting to test small doses of CoronaVac on children and the elderly in China after noticing rising numbers of cases globally among those two groups .
Yin said the company would prioritize distribution of the vaccine to countries hosting human trials of CoronaVac .
While the vaccine has not yet passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ globally accepted standard , SinoVac has already injected thousands of people in China under an emergency use provision .
Yin said he was one of the first to receive the experimental vaccine months ago along with researchers after phase one and two of human trials showed no serious adverse effects .
He said that self-injecting showed his support for CoronaVac .
“ This is kind of a tradition of our company , ” Yin said , adding that he had done the same with a hepatitis vaccine under development .
Earlier this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of vaccine candidates for at-risk populations like border personnel and medical workers if companies could show “ good safety and good antibodies ” from tests of about 1,000 people , Yin said .
SinoVac received that approval in June along with SinoPharm and CanSino , and was able to provide tens of thousands of doses of CoronaVac to Beijing ’ s municipal government , Yin said .
SinoVac employees qualified for emergency use of the vaccine because an outbreak inside the company would cripple its ability to develop a vaccine , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s staff have received it .
“ We are confident that our research of the COVI-19 vaccines can meet the standards of the U.S. and EU countries , ” Yin said .
___ Associated Press video producer Olivia Zhang contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-09-24--China auto show forging ahead under anti-virus controls

BEIJING - The first event for the CEO of Swedish electric car brand Polestar at this month ’ s Beijing auto show : A two-week quarantine in a hotel .
The auto show , the first major in-person sales event for any industry since the coronavirus pandemic began , opens Saturday in a sign the ruling Communist Party is confident China has contained the disease .
Still , automakers face intensive anti-virus controls including quarantines for visitors from abroad and curbs on crowd sizes at an event that usually is packed shoulder-to-shoulder with spectators .
“ The car show will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show , ” said Thomas Ingenlath of Polestar , owned by China ’ s Geely Holding , by phone from his hotel room in Tianjin , east of Beijing .
The automakers ’ willingness to tackle the show ’ s logistical challenges highlights the importance of China , their biggest market .
Chinese sales have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels while U.S. and European demand is weak and the industry struggles to reverse multibillion-dollar losses .
“ China is the only hope for many global car makers , ” said John Zeng of LMC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counting on China to help their bottom line.
” Ford Motor Co. , General Motors Co. , BMW AG and other brands are going ahead with global and China debuts of electric SUVs , luxury coupes and futuristic concept cars .
Some are broadcasting events online to reach wider audiences .
CEO Makoto Uchida of Nissan Motor Co. and other executives plan to appear by video from their home countries .
Most brands are relying on Chinese employees or foreign managers who work in the country full-time to operate their displays while keeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China ’ s auto industry has largely recovered since the ruling party declared victory over the disease in March and allowed factories and dealerships to reopen .
In August , sales rose 6 % over a year earlier .
Meanwhile , purchases in the United States were down 9.5 % from pre-pandemic levels .
Sales in Europe plunged 17.6 % .
Automakers are responding by slashing workforces and shrinking operations .
Nissan is closing factories in Spain and Indonesia and cutting global production by 20 % after reporting a $ 6.2 billion loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Groupe Renault SA is cutting 15,000 jobs worldwide and in April pulled out of its China joint venture with state-owned Dongfeng Motor Co. To cut costs , Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV and PSA Peugeot Citroen want to merge and create the world ’ s fourth-biggest automaker .
But they face an investigation by European regulators into whether that will improperly reduce competition .
In China , the pandemic accelerated the consolidation of a fragmented industry with dozens of competitors by forcing a string of smaller local brands out of the market and bigger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ That will change the industry landscape in the long run , ” he said .
China ’ s major auto shows , held in Beijing and Shanghai in alternate years , are the industry ’ s biggest events , attracting every global automaker and dozens of new but ambitious Chinese brands .
The last Beijing auto show in 2018 had 1,200 exhibitors from 14 countries and 820,000 visitors , according to organizers .
This month ’ s event , postponed from March , follows a smaller auto show in July in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was a trial run for anti-virus measures .
The Beijing city government has told automakers to limit the number of guests they invite but has yet to say how many people will be allowed into the 200,000-square-meter ( 2.2 million-square-foot ) exhibition centre .
Rules issued by the city say everyone at the show should remain at least 1 metre ( three feet ) from each other .
Zeng , the industry analyst , said he was skipping the auto show because if leaves his home in Shanghai , his children would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Polestar ’ s Ingenlath was tested for the coronavirus before being allowed to board a plane in Stockholm .
He had a second test after landing Sept. 5 in Tianjin , one of several cities where visitors from abroad undergo quarantine before they are allowed to travel to Beijing , the Chinese capital .
“ Really , to get emotion and the passion about the brand across , you can ’ t do that even with all the modern media we have , ” Ingenlath said .
“ So I decided to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spun off from Sweden ’ s Volvo Cars in 2017 as a standalone brand , is one of dozens of producers that plan to display electric vehicles .
They range from established global giants to independent Chinese competitors including BYD Auto Co. and NIO .
The Communist Party wants to make China a leader in the technology and has used subsidies and other support to transform it into the biggest EV market , accounting for about half of global sales .
To spur competition , Beijing ended restrictions on foreign ownership of electric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he brought books but has had little time to read in between working online and dealing with coworkers by phone , email and online video .
“ I have been going through pretty hard normal work routine , ” he said .
Ingenlath ’ s 13-year-old daughter interviewed him for a classroom presentation about his quarantine .
Barred from leaving his room , he set aside two hours a day to lift weights and do calisthenics “ just to be able not to go crazy .
”


thetorontostar--2020-09-24--Despite Trump attacks, both parties vow orderly election

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump ’ s refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses drew swift blowback Thursday from both parties in Congress , and lawmakers turned to unprecedented steps to ensure he can ’ t ignore the vote of the people .
Amid the uproar , Trump said anew he ’ s not sure the election will be “ honest.
“ Congressional leaders , including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , rejected Trump ’ s assertion that he ’ ll “ see what happens ” before agreeing to any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including from Trump ’ s own Republican Party -- vowed to make sure voters ’ wishes are followed ahead of Inauguration Day in January .
And some Democrats were taking action , including formally asking Trump ’ s defence secretary , homeland security adviser and attorney general to declare they ’ ll support the Nov. 3 results , whoever wins .
Asked as he departed the White House for a campaign rally if the election is only legitimate if he is the winner , Trump said , “ We ’ ll see.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sure the election is honest , and I ’ m not sure that it can be.
” Trump ’ s attacks on the upcoming vote -- almost without modern precedent in the U.S. -- are hitting amid the tumult of the campaign , as partisan tensions rage and more Americans than ever are planning to vote by mail because of the coronavirus pandemic .
It ’ s not the first time he has sowed doubts about the voting process .
But his increased questioning before any result is setting off alarms ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even without signs of illegality , results could be delayed because of the pandemic , leaving the nation exposed to groups or foreign countries seeking to provoke discord .
McConnell , the GOP Senate leader , said in a tweet , “ The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th.
” He said , “ There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792.
” “ You are in the United States of America .
It is a democracy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not North Korea , Russia or other countries with strongman leaders he admires .
“ So why don ’ t you just try for a moment to honour our oath of office to the Constitution of the United States.
” Trump is fanning the uncertainty as he floats theories the election may be “ rigged ” if he loses , echoing warnings he made ahead of the 2016 voting — even though past elections have not shown substantial evidence of fraud from mail-in voting .
During a Wednesday news conference , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have to see what happens , ” responding to a question about committing to the results .
“ You know that I ’ ve been complaining very strongly about the ballots , and the ballots are a disaster.
” Reaction to his comment was strong from Capitol Hill — from both parties .
Lindsey Graham , a Trump ally and the GOP chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee , told “ Fox & Friends ” on Thursday : “ If Republicans lose we will accept the result .
If the Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I will accept that result .
Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming , a member of the House GOP leadership , tweeted : “ The peaceful transfer of power is enshrined in our Constitution and fundamental to the survival of our Republic .
America ’ s leaders swear an oath to the Constitution .
We will uphold that oath.
” Joe Biden , the Democratic presidential nominee , was incredulous , “ What country are we in ?
” he said late Wednesday of Trump ’ s comment .
“ Look , he says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t know what to say about it .
But it doesn ’ t surprise me.
” On Capitol Hill , Trump ’ s possible refusal to accept the election results has been discussed privately for weeks as lawmakers consider options .
One senator said recently it was the biggest topic of private discussions .
Two House Democrats , Reps. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan — both members of the Armed Services Committee — are formally asking members of Trump ’ s Cabinet to go on record and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transition .
Gen. Mark Milley , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , responded in a letter to the lawmakers last month that he sees “ no role ” for the military to intervene in a disputed election .
But Defence Secretary Mark Esper declined to respond to the lawmakers ’ questions .
Similar queries have been sent to Attorney General William Barr and acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf .
They have yet to respond .
“ The president can ’ t successfully refuse to accept the results of the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aiding him , ” said Slotkin , a former CIA analyst .
Sherill , a former Navy pilot , said peaceful transition “ really relies a lot on the Cabinet officers turning over their departments to the next administration.
” She told The Associated Press recently she wants to hear from “ all of them.
” Meanwhile , Republicans are rushing to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court created by Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ s death , partly to ensure a Trump-friendly court majority to resolve any post-election lawsuits by their party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cruz is among leading Republicans pushing the importance of the court ’ s role .
And Graham suggested on Fox that the Supreme Court could end up all but declaring the winner .
“ He wants to be named president for life ?
” Sen. Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass.
, exclaimed at the Capitol .
That ’ s how a “ dictator ” operates , she said .
“ That ’ s not how a democracy works.
” Earlier Thursday , the White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany sought to clarify Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accept the results of a free and fair election.
” But the press secretary added that Trump wants to “ get rid of mass , mail-out voting.
“ The president , who uses mail-in voting himself , has tried to distinguish between states that automatically send ballots to all registered voters and those , like Florida , that send only to voters who request them .
Five states that routinely send mail ballots to all voters have seen no significant fraud .
Of the nine states with universal ballots this year , only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pivotal only in a total national presidential deadlock .
Before the 2016 election , much as now , Trump refused to commit to accepting the results during the summer .
“ I have to see , ” Trump said two months ago on “ Fox News Sunday.
” “ No , I ’ m not going to just say yes .
I ’ m not going to say no , and I didn ’ t last time either.
” Madhani reported from Chicago .
Associated Press writers Andrew Taylor and Laurie Kellman in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Del .
and Jonathan Lemire in New York contributed to this report .

Lisa Mascaro, Aamer Madhani And Kevin Freking - The Associated Press