thetorontostar--2020-10-26--Thai Parliament holds special session as protests continue

BANGKOK - Thailand ’ s Parliament began a special session Monday that was called to address political tensions amid near daily pro-democracy protests demanding the prime minister ’ s resignation , constitutional changes and reforms to the monarchy .
Even as lawmakers debated , the student-led rallies were set to continue with an evening march through central Bangkok to the German Embassy , apparently to bring attention to the time King Maha Vajiralongkorn spends in Germany .
The scrutiny and public criticism of the monarchy that has been displayed by some of the protesters is unprecedented in a country where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It has also led royalists to stage their own counter rallies and to denounce the protesters for raising the issue , increasing the risk of confrontation .
Speaker of the House Chuan Leekpai cautioned at the special Parliament session that it was not to discuss the monarchy ’ s role .
In his opening speech , Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said he and his government are aware that this is an era of change , pushed by technology .
“ But we have to admit that in Thailand , millions , tens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see change through chaos , ” he said , referring to different points of view over the protesters and their demands .
“ Everyone has their own beliefs.
” He called for Parliament to “ creatively find a balance ” between competing views .
Prayuth , who led a coup in 2014 as the army chief , is disliked by the protesters , as they say he was returned to power unfairly in last year ’ s election because laws had been changed to favour a pro-military party .
The protesters also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under military rule , is undemocratic .
But instead of confronting lawmakers and counter-protesters at Parliament , the student-led protesters decided to march to the German Embassy .
As they gathered in the late afternoon , police served notice that if they did not disperse , they would be violating the law on illegal assembly by not getting permission beforehand to march .
The crowd failed to disperse , and as dusk fell , began marching toward the embassy , chanting , singing and cheering .
It was hard to estimate the size @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Associated Press journalist at the scene estimated it to be between 5,000 and 10,000 .
Vajiralongkorn has for years spent significant time in Germany , but it only became an issue after the death of his father , King Bhumibol Adulyadej , in 2016 .
Bhumibol was king for seven decades , and though he travelled extensively on state visits in the early years of his reign — including being welcomed with a ticker tape parade in New York City — he left the country only once after the 1960s , and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Vajiralongkorn ’ s ability to spend time abroad has been made easier by changes his office sought and received to the current constitution that no longer require him to appoint a regent when away from the kingdom .
The German government has spoken out on the issue , initially when Foreign Minister Heiko Maas , responding to a question in Parliament by a member of the Green Party , expressed concern over any political activities the king might be conducting on the country ’ s soil .
On Monday in Berlin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was following developments in Thailand and was aware of the demonstrations and “ people taking to the streets for their rights.
” He added that he also was watching the king ’ s activities in Germany .
“ We have been examining this not only in recent weeks , but we are continuing to examine it in the long term , and if there are things we feel to be unlawful , then that will have immediate consequences , ” Maas said .
The king in recent weeks has been in Thailand with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A small group of royalist demonstrators gathered outside the German Embassy earlier Monday ahead of the anti-government protesters .
They submitted a letter for the German ambassador .
The letter accused pro-democracy protest organizers of seeking to poison the minds of students in order to destroy Thai society , and asked the envoy to carefully consider information from all sources to prevent “ fake information ” from causing damage .
A small number of police officers were stationed at the embassy for their demonstration , but several busloads arrived later , with helmets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead of the arrival of pro-democracy protesters , whose numbers were expected to be much greater .
They also set up small barriers and barbed wire in front of the gate .
In the special session of Parliament , opposition leader Sompong Amornvivat of the Pheu Thai party criticized Prayuth for his handling of the crisis .
He called on the government to listen to all the protesters ’ demands , to amend the constitution , and to ease tensions by measures such as releasing arrested students and backing off from threats to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remarks with a call for Prayuth ’ s resignation , charging that he was part of the problem .
The non-voting session of Parliament is expected to last two days .
The protesters have little confidence in the parliamentary path , declaring the government ’ s efforts insincere .
They noted that the points of discussion submitted by Prayuth ’ s government for debate dealt not with the protesters ’ concerns but were thinly disguised criticisms of the protests themselves .
They concern instead the risk of the coronavirus spreading at rallies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a small crowd earlier this month , and illegal gatherings and the destruction of images of the royal family .
Prayuth in his opening remarks referred to these as the reasons for holding the session .
This story has been edited to correct the prime minister as saying ” ... people do not want to see change through chaos , “ instead of ” ... change though chaos .
”

Tassanee Vejpongsa - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--Japan rejects nuclear ban treaty; survivors to keep pushing

TOKYO - Japan said Monday it will not sign a U.N. treaty that bans nuclear weapons and does not welcome its entry into force next year , rejecting the wishes of atomic bomb survivors in Japan who are urging the government to join and work for a nuclear-free world .
The United Nations confirmed Saturday that 50 countries have ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons , paving the way for its entry into force in 90 days .
The announcement was hailed by anti-nuclear activists , but the treaty has been strongly opposed by the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said Japan shares the goal of achieving a nuclear-free world , but does not think the treaty is the way to go .
“ Japan ’ s approach is different from that of the treaty , and there is no change to our position not to sign it , as we have said , ” Kato told reporters Monday .
“ We doubt if support is growing even among non-nuclear weapons states , let alone nuclear weapons states.
“ Japan has said that it is not realistic to pursue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weapons states sharply divided over it .
Kato said Japan has chosen instead to serve as a bridge to narrow the gap between the two sides .
Asked if Japan at least welcomes the treaty taking effect next year , Kato only repeated Japan ’ s position .
Japan has decided not to sign the treaty even though it is the world ’ s only country to have suffered nuclear attacks and has renounced its own possession , production or hosting of nuclear weapons .
That is because Japan hosts 50,000 American troops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ umbrella .
Its post-World War II security pact with the U.S. also complicates efforts to get Japan to sign the treaty as it beefs up its own military to deal with perceived threats from North Korea and China .
“ We need to appropriately respond to the current security threats , by maintaining or strengthening our deterrence .
We have to be realistic about promoting nuclear disarmament , “ Kato said .
Atomic bomb survivors , who have long worked to achieve the treaty , renewed their call for Japan to become a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Aug. 9 , 1945 , Nagasaki bombing who has long campaigned for a nuclear weapons ban , said he has not given up hope .
“ It is the Japanese government that will be embarrassed when the treaty enters into effect , ” Tanaka told reporters Monday .
“ We will keep working to get the government to change its policy.
” The U.S. had written to treaty signatories urging them to rescind their ratification , saying four other nuclear powers — Russia , China , Britain and France — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unified in our opposition to the potential repercussions ” of the treaty .
There are over 14,000 nuclear bombs in the world , many of them tens of times more powerful than the weapons dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that killed more than 210,000 people in the closing days of World War II .
The treaty was approved by the 193-member U.N. General Assembly in July , 2017 , by a vote of 122 in favour .
The five nuclear powers and four other countries known or believed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , North Korea and Israel — boycotted negotiations and the vote on the treaty , along with many of their allies , including Japan .

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thetorontostar--2020-10-26--Airstrike in northwestern Syria kills over 50 rebel fighters

BEIRUT - An airstrike on a rebel training camp in northwestern Syria on Monday killed more than 50 Turkish-backed fighters and wounded nearly as many , a Syrian opposition spokesman and a war monitor said .
The airstrike in the northwestern part of Idlib province , the last rebel enclave in Syria , targeted a military training camp for Failaq al-Sham , one of the largest Turkish-backed opposition groups in Syria , said Youssef Hammoud , a spokesman for the groups .
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights , which monitors the war in Syria , gave a higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly 90 wounded .
Rescue missions were still underway , the Observatory said .
It said it also suspected the airstrike was carried out by Russia , which is a close ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad in the country ’ s civil war .
Leaders of the camp were among those killed in airstrike in Jabal al-Dweila , according to Hammoud .
The camp is close to the borders with Turkey .
“ The factions of the National Front for Liberation we will respond to these violations , ” said Naji al-Mustafa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , threatening to target government and Russian posts .
He called it a “ crime ” by Russia .
Turkey and Russia had brokered a truce in Idlib earlier this year to halt a government offensive that displaced hundreds of thousands .
But the truce remained shaky .
Turkey has long supported Syrian rebel forces in Syria .
Russia has negotiated with Ankara to deploy observation teams in the rebel enclave to monitor the truce .
Last week , Turkish troops evacuated one of their largest military bases in the area , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months .
Syrian opposition fighters said it was part of Turkey ’ s redeployment of its forces in the shrinking enclave .


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--Lithuania swings to the centre-right as opposition wins vote

VILNIUS , Lithuania - A centre-right coalition in Lithuania , led by the conservative Homeland Union , is headed back to power after eight years in the opposition after winning the most votes in a weekend parliamentary runoff .
Key challenges looming for the new three-party coalition will be tackling a budget deficit , a growing health crisis and high unemployment caused by the coronavirus pandemic .
Lithuania , a nation of 2.8 million , has seen its economy hit hard by the pandemic .
Unemployment rose from 9 % in February to over 14 % in September .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 4-billion euro ( $ 4.7 billion ) deficit .
“ These were rather typical European elections as disappointed voters turned to the opposition in hopes of more effective management and better results , ” said Mazvydas Jastramskis , a political analyst at Vilnius University .
On Monday , party leaders agreed to form a centre-right coalition that will have a majority in the 141-seat parliament , the Seimas .
Former presidential candidate Ingrida Simonyte of the Homeland Union is likely to become the Baltic country ’ s next prime minister , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After two rounds of voting , the Homeland Union party had won 50 seats , and its partners , the Liberal Movement and a political newcomer , the Freedom Party , got 13 and 11 seats each , respectively .
Together they secured a majority with 74 seats , clearing the minimum of 71 seats to be able to form a government .
The outgoing senior ruling party , the Farmers and Greens , won only 32 seats while their supporters — the Social Democrats and the populist Labour party — got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday ’ s elections , 68 seats were up for grabs while the remaining seats had been allotted after the first round .
“ They will immediately find themselves under rather strong pressure to cope with the virus and that may force the Homeland Union to be more flexible in negotiations with coalition partners , ” said Kestutis Girnius , political analyst at Vilnius University .
On Sunday , the southernmost Baltic country reported a record high number of new coronavirus cases , 603 .
The worsening of the outbreak is seen as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which was just under 40 % , lower than the more than 47 % in the first round .
Overall , Lithuania has had more than 10,000 cases and 134 deaths .
Authorities set up special drive-in polling stations where people were required to wear masks and bring their own pens .
These drew more than 7 % of Lithuania ’ s 2.5 million registered voters .
Critics have condemned the outgoing government for its handling of the COVID-19 outbreak .
After weeks of hesitation , it imposed a lockdown in 12 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lithuania , a member of the European Union and NATO , has kept strong democratic traditions and sustainable economic growth since declaring independence from the Soviet Union in 1990 .
It has also played a major diplomatic role as protests in Belarus , its southern neighbour , have unfolded against that nation ’ s authoritarian leader .
This story has corrected to show that two parties have gotten 13 and 11 seats each , not the other way around .


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--Halloween goes on at the White House with a few twists

WASHINGTON - With a bit of rejiggering , President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump played host Sunday to hundreds of superheroes , unicorns , skeletons and even a miniature version of themselves as part of a Halloween celebration at the White House .
In years past , the president and first lady personally handed out candy to the costume-clad kids .
This year , the treats were provided separately as participants walked along a path on the South Lawn .
The kids still briefly met the president and first lady , who waved and offered words of encouragement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they liked the costumes .
Trump and the first lady have both recently recovered from COVID-19 .
Trump was particularly pleased with a young boy with a distinctly Trump head of hair and a partner who did her best Mrs. Trump impersonation .
The president motioned for them to turn and pose for the cameras , and they happily agreed .
Another tot , a true princess it appeared , was so smitten with the cameras that she kept waving at them as she walked along , never noticing the VIPs behind her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bit as a result of the coronavirus pandemic .
Guests older than 2 were required to wear face coverings and practice social distancing .
The same went for all White House personnel working the event , while any staff giving out candy also wore gloves .
The South Portico of the White House was decorated with bright-colored leaves in various shades of autumn , chrysanthemums and pumpkins , while a military band set the mood by playing songs such as Michael Jackson ’ s “ Thriller .
”


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--Biden, Trump focus on battleground states in 11th-hour pitch

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump plans to intensify an already breakneck travel schedule in the final full week of the presidential campaign , overlooking a surge of coronavirus cases in the U.S. and a fresh outbreak in his own White House .
Trump is expected to hit nearly a dozen states in his last-ditch effort to recover ground from Democrat Joe Biden , including Sunday ’ s trip to Maine and Tuesday ’ s to Nebraska .
Both states award electoral votes by congressional district and could be crucial in a tight election .
He will hold 11 rallies in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , too , plans to pick up his travel schedule , aiming to hit the six battleground states the campaign sees as key to his chances , some with socially distanced in-person events and others with virtual events .
On Tuesday the former vice-president is travelling to Georgia , a state that hasn ’ t voted for a Democratic presidential candidate in more than a quarter-century but where polls show a tight race .
The final week of the campaign is colliding with deepening concerns about a public health crisis in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on almost anything else , worried that he will lose if the election becomes a referendum on his handling of the pandemic .
Biden is working to ensure the race is just that , hitting Trump on the virus and presenting himself as a safer , more stable alternative .
The stakes were clear this weekend as the White House became the locus for a second outbreak of the virus in a month .
Several close aides to Vice-President Mike Pence tested positive for the virus , including his chief of staff , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was insistent on maintaining his aggressive political calendar , even though he was deemed a “ close contact ” of his adviser , claiming the privileges of being an “ essential employee.
” The latest outbreak has served as a potent metaphor for the divergent approaches the Trump and Biden campaigns have taken to the virus .
On Sunday , White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said that “ we ’ re not going to control the pandemic ” and the focus should be on containment and treatment .
Trump aims to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face coverings , across some of the upper Midwestern states bearing the brunt of the surge .
“ We want normal life to resume , ” Trump said Sunday .
“ We just want normal life.
” Meadows , pressed to explain why the pandemic can not be reined in , said , “ Because it is a contagious virus just like the flu.
” He told CNN ’ s ” State of the Union ” that the government was focused on getting effective therapeutics and vaccines to market .
Biden , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued with the Trump administration waving “ the white flag of defeat ” in the face of the virus .
Biden ’ s team argues the coronavirus is likely to blot out any other issues that might come up in the final days of the campaign — including Biden ’ s recent debate-stage comment in which he affirmed he ’ d transition away from oil , later walked back as a transition away from federal subsidies .
That strategy appeared to pay off as the outbreak in Pence ’ s staff refocused the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump and his team , meanwhile , have struggled to settle on a closing message , with the undisciplined candidate increasingly trusting his gut over his advisers .
He ’ s grasped for dirt on his Democratic rival and used apocalyptic terms to describe a Biden presidency , but Biden has thus far proven more resilient to such attacks than Trump ’ s 2016 rival .
“ You can certainly expect that ( Biden ) will focus on COVID as it continues to , unfortunately , rise all across the country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in an interview .
“ It ’ s it is disrupting people ’ s lives and people are looking for a leader to put in place plans to get it under control.
” With more than a third of the expected ballots in the election already cast , it may become increasingly challenging for Trump and Biden to reshape the contours of the race .
Biden is leading Trump in most national polls and has an advantage , though narrower , in many key battlegrounds .
Biden is also sitting on more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to use , blanketing airwaves with a nearly 2-to-1 advantage over the final two weeks .
The incessant campaign ads from Biden feature a mix of his aspirational message with stinging critiques of Trump ’ s handling of the pandemic .
It ’ s part of what Josh Schwerin , the senior strategist for Democratic super PAC Priorities USA , says has helped Biden gain an advantage .
“ Those dual messages — continuing to draw a contrast with Trump , but also offering that positive aspirational message , giving people a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just against Trump — continues to be the best way forward .
And we ’ re seeing it work , ” he said .
Indeed , Biden has seen his favourability ratings steadily rise over the course of the campaign , despite a barrage of attacks from Republicans , while Trump remains underwater in such polls .
Democrats have been heartened , too , by their lead in the record numbers of early votes that have been cast across a number of battleground states — though they caution that Republicans are more likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain to make up ground .
Still , multiple Democrats described the “ 2016 PTSD ” that ’ s keeping them up at night a week out from Election Day .
In 2016 , Hillary Clinton also enjoyed a lead in national and some state polls , and Democrats say their complacency then doomed their candidate .
Now , with the pandemic and record numbers of mail and absentee ballots injecting a greater level of uncertainty into the election , Democrats are reluctant to let their guard down .
Biden ’ s campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turning out what they ’ ve dubbed the “ Biden coalition ” — Black and Latino voters , as well as suburban , college-educated whites , women and older voters disaffected by Trump .
“ What we see consistently is there aren ’ t a whole lot of undecided voters left , and at this stage of the race it ’ s really about turnout .
It ’ s about educating voters to make sure they know how to vote , and it ’ s about making sure that that they turn out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s campaign has emphasized the need for Democrats to stay engaged even as the polls seem to favour their candidate .
In a recent memo , Biden campaign manager Jen O ’ Malley Dillon said that “ in a number of critical states we are functionally tied , ” and warned supporters that “ every indication we have shows that this thing is going to come down to the wire.
” Bedingfield says that ’ s a message the campaign will continue to push through Nov. 3 .
“ One thing that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we do believe the race is tighter than a lot of the public polling would suggest , ” she said .
“ We are constantly working to ensure that that people understand that there is an urgency here , and that we can ’ t get complacent.
” Jaffe reported from Wilmington , Delaware .
Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Jonathan Lemire in Washington contributed to this report .

Zeke Miller And Alexandra Jaffe - The Associated Press

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--2020-10-26--Turkish lira drops to record low over US sanction threat

ANKARA , Turkey - The Turkish currency slid further Monday to an all-time low against the U.S. dollar after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan challenged the United States to slap sanctions over his government ’ s decision to test its Russian-made air defence system .
The lira dropped another 1.3 % to 8.06 against the dollar , a day after Erdogan dared Washington to impose sanctions after the NATO-member country tested the S-400 air defence system it purchased from Russia .
The purchase has already seen Turkey kicked off the U.S. F-35 stealth fighter program .
NATO has said that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military alliance and particularly endangers the technical secrets of the F-35 .
For months , the U.S. warned Ankara that it risked sanctions under the Countering America ’ s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act if the S-400 system was activated .
President Donald Trump , however , has held back on implementing the sanctions amid hopes Erdogan will not go ahead with activating the missiles .
The lira has lost around 25 % of its value this year as the coronavirus pandemic continues to batter the economy and amid concerns over Turkey ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several European nations .


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--El Paso imposes curfew as virus cases overwhelm hospitals

EL PASO , Texas - Residents in the Texas border city of El Paso have been urged to stay home for two weeks as a spike in coronavirus cases overwhelms hospitals , prompting the state to dedicate part of the city ’ s civic centre as a makeshift care centre for the ill. El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego on Sunday night issued a stay home order with a daily curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m .
Violators could be fined $ 500 under the order .
“ We are in a crisis stage , ” said Samaniego , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Earlier Sunday , Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott said 50 hospital beds will be set up in the convention centre and another 50 beds could be added if needed .
Abbott ordered the alternate care site to expand hospital capacity in the El Paso area in response to the coronavirus surge , he said .
The site , scheduled to open this week , will provide additional medical equipment and medical personnel .
The surge in El Paso cases comes as President Donald Trump downplayed the virus ’ effect on Texas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate : “ There was a very big spike in Texas , it ’ s now gone.
“ The state has already provided over 900 medical personnel to El Paso , some of whom will be staffing the convention centre site .
“ The alternate care site and auxiliary medical units will reduce the strain on hospitals in El Paso as we contain the spread of COVID-19 in the region , ” Abbott said .
El Paso County health officials reported 772 new coronavirus cases Sunday , a day after a record 1,216 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 20 % of the 3,793 new cases reported statewide .
That brought the total cases since the pandemic first hit Texas to 862,375 .
An estimated 91,885 active cases was the most since Aug. 30 , and the 5,206 COVID-19 hospitalizations reported statewide Sunday was the most since Aug. 22 .


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--Crew safe, 7 detained after UK special forces raid tanker

LONDON - All crew members of an oil tanker that was stormed by British naval special forces after a group of stowaways threatened violence are “ safe and well , ” the ship ‘ s operator confirmed Monday .
Seven people were detained in the raid , which unfolded in the English Channel after darkness fell on Sunday .
Special Boat Service commandos were lowered by rope from helicopters onto the Nave Andromeda , whose crew had locked themselves in a secure part of the ship known as the citadel .
Within minutes , the stowaways were in custody .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ maritime counter-terrorism unit of the Royal Navy .
Navios Tanker Management , which operates the Liberian-registered vessel , said the ship ’ s master became “ concerned for the safety of the crew due to the increasingly hostile behaviour of the stowaways.
” It said in a statement that all crew members were “ safe and well.
” Maritime tracking websites showed the ship reached port in Southampton , on England ’ s south coast , early Monday .
The ship had left Lagos , Nigeria on Oct. 6 and had been due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The raid followed a 10-hour standoff as the tanker circled an area a few miles southeast of the Isle of Wight , south of Southampton .
The coast guard scrambled helicopters to the scene , and authorities imposed a three-mile exclusion zone around the vessel .
Suspecting a hijacking , Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Home Secretary Priti Patel authorized military action , the U.K. government said .
“ I commend the hard work of the armed forces and police to protect lives and secure the ship , ?
Wallace said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we should all be grateful for our brave personnel .
?


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--Trump eyes hosting election night party at his DC hotel

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump has his eye on hosting an election night party at his own hotel in the nation ’ s capital .
Over the past several days , the campaign has pushed out fundraising emails in the president ’ s name offering donors the chance to enter a drawing “ to join Team Trump at the Election Night Party in my favourite hotel , ” in Washington , suggesting he will use his luxury hotel as the backdrop for reacting to election results .
The campaign has also spotlighted plans for the party in fundraising blasts from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Jr. “ November 3rd will go down in history as the night we won FOUR MORE YEARS .
It will be absolutely EPIC , and the only thing that could make it better is having YOU there , ” Trump said in a fundraising solicitation .
For Trump , an election night party at his own hotel is symbolic for a businessman who leveraged his celebrity as a reality star and New York real estate magnate to win the nation ’ s highest office .
Critics see it as one more reminder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office to personally profit as foreign leaders , conservative supporters and administration officials use the lobby of Washington ’ s Trump International Hotel as an unofficial clubhouse for the Trump presidency .
Since 2017 , the president and Republican National Committee have held several fundraisers at the president ’ s Washington hotel in the historic Old Post Office building , which the president ’ s company leases from the federal government .
Over the course of his presidency , the Trump campaign , the RNC and their joint-fundraising committees have spent over $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington hotel , which is blocks from the White House , has been sold out for weeks for Election Day as well as the days before and after Nov. 3 .
A basic room then is going for $ 1,200 a night , nearly triple the $ 476 room rate on Monday .
“ Donald Trump has spent his entire presidency funneling taxpayer , campaign , special interest and foreign government money into the business that he still owns , ” said Donald Sherman , deputy director of the non-profit government watchdog group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ In some ways , election night is going to be the pinnacle of his self dealing.
” The White House referred questions on the president ’ s election night plans to the Trump campaign , which did not respond to requests for comment .
It ’ s unclear how big Trump ’ s election night party will be .
The District of Columbia , under coronavirus protocols , has capped mass gatherings at 50 people .
The president has sidestepped the district ’ s rules , which hold no weight on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The president hosted hundreds of people on the White House grounds for an Independence Day weekend celebration , for his Republican National Convention speech in August and again at last month ’ s Rose Garden announcement of the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court .
Several attendees , including Trump , tested positive for the coronavirus in the days following Barrett ’ s event .
Few guests wore masks .
District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser told reporters on Monday that she had heard of plans for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We will be in touch with our licensee , which is the hotel.
“ Bowser also more broadly questioned Trump ’ s wisdom in holding large gatherings at a moment when cases are spiking in the U.S .
Shortly after Barrett won Senate confirmation , Trump hosted a ceremony Monday evening on the South Lawn of the White House during which Barrett took the oath of office .
“ You can believe that you can go to the White House and get COVID and that nothing ’ s going to happen to you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Or you can die from it.
” Trump held his 2016 election party in his then-hometown of New York .
But he booked his victory party at New York ’ s Hilton in Midtown Manhattan because his own nearby Trump International Hotel & Tower didn ’ t have a big enough room .
It ’ s unclear how much of a presence Trump himself will be in the election night festivities this time .
With a significant portion of the electorate opting to mail in their ballots , that could delay tabulation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whenever he leaves office , will have a Secret Service detail for the rest of his life like other past presidents .
With every Trump trip to one of his properties , taxpayers will cover the tab of agents protecting the 45th president .
“ I have a high level of confidence that Donald Trump will find a way to have government or special interest money go to his hotels regardless of the outcome of next week ’ s election , ” Sherman said .
Associated Press writer Brian Slodysko contributed to @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--Salt Lake Tribune to stop printing daily after 149 years

SALT LAKE CITY - The Salt Lake Tribune announced Monday it will stop printing a daily newspaper at the end of the year after nearly 150 years and move to a weekly print edition .
The change won ’ t result in cuts to the newsroom staff of about 65 people , though some would be “ redeployed , ” the newspaper reported .
Reporters and editors will continue to file breaking news online as it happens .
The new publication will be delivered by mail .
Nearly 160 press operators , carriers and other employees will lose their jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ownership changes : The paper was purchased in 2016 by Paul Huntsman , son of the late billionaire industrialist Jon Huntsman Sr. and brother to former U.S-Russia Ambassador Jon Huntsman Jr. Last year , Paul Huntsman shepherded the Tribune into becoming a non-profit in hopes of ensuring its long-term viability amid declining newspaper revenues nationwide .
He cited continued declines and economic upheaval related to the coronavirus pandemic Monday as he announced the decision to newsroom staffers , calling it a painful but necessary concession .
“ This is a historic moment in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reality of today ’ s news consumption , ” Huntsman , who remains chair of the non-profit board , said in a statement .
The new weekly publication is expected to be profitable , showcasing the reporters ’ best enterprise work and in-depth stories , as well as obituaries and expanded editorial content .
“ While we mourn the loss of our daily print edition , we eagerly embrace the opportunity of bringing an exciting new weekly product to our readers ’ homes , ” interim Editor David Noyce said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the other major daily in Salt Lake City , the Deseret News .
It is owned by the state ’ s predominant faith , The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .
The agreement , once common when many cities had two newspapers , had the two publications co-operating on printing , delivery and advertising but not stories .
The Deseret News has not announced its future plans for print , but did say in a story on its website it was laying off six journalists and giving severance packages to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ departments .
The change marks the end of an era that began in 1871 , when daily press runs began for the publication then called “ The Tribune & Utah Mining Gazette.
” The newspaper once carried hundreds of pages a day , thick with print advertising .
It had a daily circulation of nearly 200,000 subscribers in its heyday but has since plummeted to 36,000 .
Newspapers scaling back printing days is an emerging trend in the industry that faces declines in advertising and circulation revenue , said Rick Edmonds , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Tampa Bay Times and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette are among other newspapers to have moved away from daily printed papers as the traditional business model gets pinched , he said .
The trend is disappointing for longtime newspaper people like Edmonds even if it ’ s understandable from a business perspective .
“ Something is lost when you don ’ t print every day , ” he said .


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--The Latest: Changed White House scene as Barrett takes oath

WASHINGTON - The Latest on the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court ( all times local ) : The scene at an outdoor White House ceremony for Amy Coney Barrett looked very different from the previous White House event where President Donald Trump introduced her as his nominee .
Monday ’ s event was held on the South Lawn instead of the smaller Rose Garden .
Scores of guests were spaced out as opposed to being seated close together , as they were in the garden at the event on Sept. 26 .
Most guests wore masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event , where few people wore face coverings to protect themselves from the coronavirus .
Several people who attended the Sept. 26 event later contracted the virus , including Trump and first lady Melania Trump .
Amy Coney Barrett has taken the first of two oaths she needs to officially join the Supreme Court .
The Senate confirmed Barrett ’ s nomination on a largely party line 52-48 vote shortly before Justice Clarence Thomas administered the constitutional Oath to Barrett at an outdoor White House ceremony .
Barrett is the first Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a presidential election .
A conservative , Barrett fills the vacancy created by the September death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg , who led the court ’ s liberal voting bloc .
Chief Justice John Roberts is set to administer a second oath -- known as the judicial oath -- to the former federal appeals court judge at a private ceremony at the court on Tuesday .
The 48-year-old Louisiana native will then be able to take part in the high court ’ s work .
Her addition likely will solidify a 6-3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highest court .


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--High court won’t extend Wisconsin’s absentee ballot deadline

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court is siding with Republicans to prevent Wisconsin from counting mailed ballots that are received after Election Day .
In a 5-3 order , the justices on Monday refused to reinstate a lower court order that called for mailed ballots to be counted if they are received up to six days after the Nov. 3 election .
A federal appeals court had already put that order on hold .
The three liberal justices dissented from the order that the court issued just before the Senate started voting on Amy Coney Barrett ’ s Supreme Court nomination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joined the liberals to preserve a Pennsylvania state court order extending the absentee ballot deadline but voted the other way in the Wisconsin case , which has moved through federal courts .
“ Different bodies of law and different precedents govern these two situations and require , in these particular circumstances , that we allow the modification of election rules in Pennsylvania but not Wisconsin , “ Roberts wrote .
Democrats argued that the flood of absentee ballots and other challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic makes it necessary to extend the period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wisconsin is one of the nation ’ s hot spots for COVID-19 , with hospitals treating a record high number of patients with the disease .
Republicans opposed the extension , saying that voters have plenty of opportunities to cast their ballots by the close of polls on Election Day and that the rules should not be changed so close to the election .
Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Ben Wikler responded to the ruling by pledging Democrats would be “ dialing up a huge voter education campaign ” to prod roughly 360,000 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots to hand-deliver them by 8 p.m. on Election Day , or to vote in person .
“ Absentee voting in Wisconsin is extremely easy and hundreds of thousands of people have done it already — last-minute attempts to change election laws only cause more voter confusion and erode the integrity of our elections , ” he said in a statement .
The justices often say nothing , or very little , about the reasons for their votes in these emergency cases , but on Monday , four justices wrote opinions totalling 35 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ As the COVID pandemic rages , the Court has failed to adequately protect the Nation ’ s voters , ” Justice Elena Kagan wrote in a dissent that noted the state allowed the six-day extension for primary voting in April and that roughly 80,000 ballots were received after the day of the primary election .
Justice Neil Gorsuch acknowledged the complications the pandemic adds to voting , but defended the court ’ s action .
“ No one doubts that conducting a national election amid a pandemic poses serious challenges .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ may improvise with their own election rules in place of those the people ’ s representatives have adopted , ” Gorsuch wrote .
Justice Brett Kavanaugh also wrote an opinion concurring in the order .


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--Longtime federal appeals court Judge Juan Torruella dies

BOSTON - Judge Juan Torruella , the first Puerto Rican to sit on a U.S. federal appeals court , died Monday at the age of 87 , the Boston-based 1st U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals said .
Toruella served nearly four decades on 1st Circuit and took part in such high-profile rulings as the tossing of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ’ s death sentence this year .
First Circuit Chief Judge Jeffrey Howard called him “ a wise decision-maker , a brilliant scholar , and a passionate participant in the pursuit of justice.
” “ As a judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Circuit and Puerto Rico will remain unsurpassed , ” Howard said in a statement .
He was appointed to the court in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan .
A decade later , he replaced Judge Stephen Breyer as chief judge of the 1st Circuit when Breyer was elevated to the Supreme Court .
Torruella served as chief until 2001 .
Torruella was part of a three-judge panel that unanimously overturned Tsarnaev ’ s death sentence in July and ordered a new trial to decide whether he should be put to death for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 260 others .
The court said the judge who oversaw Tsarnaev ’ s trial did not adequately screen jurors for potential biases .
Federal prosecutors have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case .
In 2015 , Torruella dissented as part of a different three-judge panel that ruled that Tsarnaev ’ s case could stay in Massachusetts .
In a concurring opinion with the decision vacating Tsarnaev ’ s death sentence , Torruella again argued that Tsarnaev ’ s trial should never have been held in Boston , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a change of venue , none would .
“ The physical and emotional wake of the Boston Marathon bombings , and the events of the following week , flooded the residents of the Eastern Division with sorrow , fear , and anger , ” he wrote .
“ Few crimes have been as offensive and devastating to an entire community than those committed by the Tsarnaev brothers .
But for even the most heinous of offences , our system of justice demands vigorous protection — both in appearance and fact — of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial and sentencing.
” Torruella was also on a three-judge panel that last month heard arguments in a case brought by a group that accuses Harvard University of intentional discrimination against Asian American students who apply to the Ivy League school .
Students for Fair Admissions is asking the appeals court to overturn a trial-level judge ’ s 2019 decision finding that Harvard does not discriminate against Asian Americans .
Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling described Torruella as “ a strong advocate for the rights of Puerto Ricans ” who “ spent his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. citizens.
” “ His insight and passion for the law will be missed , ” Lelling said in an emailed statement .

Alanna Durkin Richer - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--Ex-police chief not co-operating with probe of Prude’s death

ROCHESTER , N.Y. - Rochester ’ s former police chief is refusing to co-operate with a City Council probe of the response to Daniel Prude ’ s death , the lawyer leading the investigation said Monday .
La ’ Ron Singletary was subpoenaed by the council earlier this month to provide documents and testimony related to the death of Prude , a Black man who died after police restrained him on the ground in March .
Information about Prude ’ s death wasn ’ t disclosed publicly until early September , when Prude ’ s family released police body-worn camera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ired by Mayor Lovely Warren amid protests over handling of the case by police and City Hall , claims he ’ s not bound by a subpoena since he ’ s no longer a city employee , attorney and lead investigator Andrew Celli Jr. Celli said .
Singletary ’ s lawyer , Michael Tallon , said in a letter to Celli last week that records sought from Singletary will be preserved .
He questioned the integrity of the investigation and said he will wait until other city officials , including the mayor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best to co-operate .
“ Chief Singletary ’ s refusal to co-operate in the investigation , while very unfortunate , will not materially impede our progress , ” Celli said in a statement Monday .


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--UN investigator says Belarus must stop repressing its people

TANZANIA , Tanzania - The U.N. human rights investigator for Belarus demanded Monday that the government “ stop repressing its own people , ” saying at least 20,000 were detained in August and September and hundreds reported beaten , intimidated , tortured or ill-treated in custody .
Anais Marin quoted sources in the Interior Ministry and non-governmental groups for those figures and said most detainees have ended up facing administrative or criminal charges , citing over 400 criminal cases against protesters since disputed elections Aug. 9 .
That appeal was echoed in a statement to the committee later from 52 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They also called for an end to violence against peaceful demonstrators , abuses against those in the pro-democracy movement , and intimidation of opposition leaders , journalists , human rights defenders and protesters .
Belarus has been rocked by big demonstrations against authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko ’ s re-election to a sixth term in the Aug. 9 vote that the opposition argues was rigged .
Lukashenko , who has ruled the ex-Soviet nation with an iron fist for more than 26 years , has accused the United States and its allies of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally in the capital Minsk was one of the largest in weeks and drew nearly 200,000 people .
On Monday , factory workers , students and business owners began a strike to demand that Lukashenko resign in response to a call by opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya , but most state-run enterprises continued to operate .
Marin urged Belarus ’ authorities to release all those still detained “ for exercising their right to peaceful assembly and expression , and to allow all those forced to exile to safely return ” so a dialogue with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held “ to jointly overcome the current political crisis.
” Dave Elseroad , head of advocacy at the Oslo-based Human Rights House Foundation , said , “ Autocrats all over the region are watching to see if it ’ s possible to get away with violating human rights to stay in power.
” In a report written before the election , Marin was highly critical of Belarus ’ judicial system , which gives Lukashenko power over the appointment , tenure and removal of judges and prosecutors .
She said licensing and activities of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the executive.
” “ The threat of being disbarred is used to arbitrarily pressure those lawyers who are perceived as being critical of the government because of the type of clients they defend , ” Marin said .
“ This often leaves human rights defenders without a lawyer to defend them in court.
” She cited the example of Aliaksandr Pylchenka , a lawyer who was defending detained opposition leaders Viktar Babaryka and Marya Kalensnikava and had his license withdrawn Oct. 15 .
“ Establishing an independent judicial system should top the agenda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The United States and the EU have rejected the August election as neither free nor fair and introduced sanctions against top Belarusian officials accused of vote manipulation and a crackdown on peaceful protesters .
The EU has warned it is ready to sanction Lukashenko himself if he fails to enter talks with the opposition .
The president has ignored demands to negotiate and relied instead on political and economic support from Russia , his main ally and sponsor .
The statement from the 52 countries and EU supported “ the democratic aspirations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own path through free and fair elections ” and strongly condemned the “ crackdown carried out by Belarusian authorities against peaceful protesters.
” The statement , read by Estonia ’ s U.N. ambassador , Sven Jurgenson , expressed alarm at reports of “ more than 500 cases of torture and other severe abuses including sexual violence in the post-election period ” and at a number of arrested or detained people who remain unaccounted for .
The signatories -- also including the U.S. , Canada , Japan , Liberia , South Korea , Brazil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — urged Belarusian authorities to open a dialogue with opposition leaders and civil society .
“ The Belarusian people have spoken and we support them in their calls for unrestricted dialogue , free and fair elections , accountability for human rights violations and buses and the release of all those arbitrarily detained , ” the statement said .


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--Winds and rain whip Yucatan resorts as Hurricane Zeta nears

CANCUN , Mexico - Hurricane Zeta began lashing Mexico ’ s Caribbean coast resorts of Playa del Carmen and Cozumel with high winds and rain Monday evening as it headed toward the Yucatan Peninsula and then a possible landfall on the central U.S. Gulf Coast at midweek .
Zeta — the earliest ever 27th named storm of the Atlantic season — was centred about 45 miles ( 70 kilometres ) south-southeast of Cozumel island , the U.S. National Hurricane Center said .
It had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph ( 130 kph ) .
The centre was expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Quintana Roo state Gov .
Carlos Joaquín said “ nobody should be on the streets ... you shouldn ’ t go out anymore ” until the hurricane passes .
In Playa del Carmen , south of Cancun , Mexican tourist Elsa Márquez held up her beach towel to show how the force of the wind blew it out straight in the air , rattling with the strong gusts .
“ This is our first experience ( in a hurricane ) and the truth is we are a little afraid because we don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but here we are , ” said Márquez , who was visiting the resort from the north-central state of Queretaro .
The hurricane was moving northwest at around 12 mph ( 19 kph ) after being nearly stationary over the weekend .
Forecasters said Zeta was expected to move over the Yucatan Peninsula during the night before heading into the Gulf of Mexico and then approach the U.S. Gulf Coast by Wednesday , though it could weaken by then .
A hurricane watch was posted from Morgan City , Louisiana , to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hurricane Delta barely three weeks earlier still littered parts of Cancun , stacked along roadsides and in parks .
There was concern they could become projectiles when Zeta scraped across the peninsula .
A number of stoplights around the vacation destination remained unrepaired since Delta .
Local authorities were taking the storm seriously , but with a distinctly less alarmed tone than when Delta strengthened to a Category 4 storm off the coast .
Quintana Roo state suspended alcohol sales and Gov .
Carlos Joaquín González said everyone should be off the streets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boats from the water , but the sort of panic buying seen in the run-up to Delta was not evident .
State officials reported nearly 60,000 tourists in the state as of midweek .
The state government said 71 shelters were readied for tourists or residents who might need them .
Joaquín said he hoped it would not be necessary in most cases to move guests out of their hotels .
The forecast track would have Zeta hitting Cozumel and striking the mainland just south of Playa del Carmen .
Delta made landfall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cancun with top winds of 110 mph ( 175 kph ) .
The hurricane centre said Zeta could bring 4 to 8 inches ( 10 to 20 centimetres ) of rain to Mexico , the Cayman Islands and parts of Cuba , before drenching the central U.S. Gulf Coast .
The storm could make landfall anywhere from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle , forecasters said .
Zeta broke the record for the previous earliest 27th Atlantic named storm that formed Nov. 29 , 2005 .
It ’ s also the 11th hurricane of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six hurricanes and 12 named storms .
This year ’ s season has so many storms that the hurricane centre has turned to the Greek alphabet after running out of assigned names .
Zeta is the furthest into the Greek alphabet the Atlantic season has gone .
There was also a Tropical Storm Zeta in 2005 , but that year had 28 storms because meteorologists later went back and found they missed one , which then became an “ unnamed named storm.
“ AP Science Writer Seth Borenstein in Kensington , Maryland , @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--Authorities: 2 girls in truck led police on 30-mile chase

ARGO , Ala. - Two young girls in a pickup truck led police on a chase of at least 30 @ @ @ @ @ Alabama authorities said .
News outlets reported the Jefferson County Sheriff ’ s Office received @ @ @ @ @ use of a vehicle .
Bessemer police spotted the vehicle Sunday afternoon with an 11-year-old @ @ @ @ @ to be 11 or 12 inside .
A chase that reached speeds of 80 mph @ @ @ @ @ ended when the truck wound up in a ditch .
Justin O ’ Neal , @ @ @ @ @ state troopers , said no one was injured .
Both girls were in custody awaiting @ @ @ @ @ Human Resources .


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--Georgia officer shoots man thought to have fled traffic stop

SYLVESTER , Ga. - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking into why a south Georgia police officer shot and @ @ @ @ @ have fled a traffic stop hours before .
An unnamed Sylvester police officer shot and @ @ @ @ @ 19 , of Ty Ty before dawn Saturday .
A Sylvester officer tried to make @ @ @ @ @ 2:30 a.m. Saturday , but the driver sped away and then abandoned the vehicle and @ @ @ @ @ Nelly Miles said .
About three hours later , police received multiple calls regarding a @ @ @ @ @ who fled , Miles said .
A Sylvester officer found Jackson in the parking lot @ @ @ @ @ and shot him .
Authorities haven ’ t said why .
Jackson was pronounced dead @ @ @ @ @ GBI plans an autopsy on Jackson ’ s body .
No officers were injured .
@ @ @ @ @ the officer who shot him were not immediately known .
It ’ s the 81st @ @ @ @ @ GBI has investigated so far this year .


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--Under Trump, U.S. no longer leads world on refugee protections

Refugees from places like the Congo and Iraq have seen their protections in the U.S. fade over the last four years as the Trump administration chips away at policies once designed to protect some of the world ’ s most vulnerable people .
Ahead of an election that will determine who could influence the outcome of their cases , those given humanitarian protections still struggle to resettle in America , bring their families or remain in the country .
President Donald Trump has pushed to reduce both illegal and legal immigration , while Democrat Joe Biden favors more generous refugee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world in humanitarian policies by creating a sanctuary for the oppressed , admitting more refugees annually than all other countries combined .
That reputation eroded during Donald Trump ’ s presidency as he cut the number of refugees allowed in by more than 80 per cent , and Canada replaced the U.S. as No .
1 for resettling people fleeing war and persecution .
Trump has arguably changed the immigration system more than any U.S. president , thrilling supporters with an “ America first ” message and infuriating critics who call his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even racist .
Before November ’ s election , The Associated Press is examining some of Trump ’ s biggest immigration policy changes , from halting asylum to stepping back from America ’ s humanitarian role .
The pain from a dismantling of the 40-year-old refugee program reverberates worldwide , coming as a record 80 million people have been displaced by war and famine .
They include an Iraqi woman who can ’ t get to America even though her father helped the U.S. military and a woman in Uganda who hasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near Seattle despite a court settlement requiring cases like hers to be expedited .
“ My kids here cry every night , my wife cries in Uganda every night , ” said Congolese refugee Sophonie Bizimana , a permanent U.S. resident who doesn ’ t know why his wife isn ’ t with their family .
“ I need her , the kids need her.
” Trump has lowered the cap for refugee admissions each year of his presidency , dropping them to a record low of 15,000 for 2021 .
The State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs during the coronavirus pandemic .
Stephen Miller , a senior adviser to Trump , said the administration has sought to have refugees settle closer to their home countries and work on solving the crises that caused them to flee .
“ You can not solve this problem through American domestic resettlement .
The solution has to be one of foreign policy , ” Miller told the AP .
The administration also narrowed eligibility this year , restricting which refugees are selected for resettlement to certain categories , including people persecuted because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. put them in danger .
Democratic lawmakers denounced the lower cap and said the categories are shutting out many of the most needy .
Democrat Joe Biden promises to raise the annual refugee cap to 125,000 if he wins Nov. 3 .
As many as 1,000 refugees who were ready to travel now may not be eligible because they don ’ t fit into one of the categories , said Mark Hetfield , president of HIAS , a refugee resettlement group .
For example , many Syrians may no longer qualify because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said .
Even those who qualify are seeing their cases stalled because already-extensive vetting measures have become extreme .
For instance , refugees now must provide addresses dating back 10 years , a near impossible task for people living in exile , according to the International Refugee Assistance Project .
The Trump administration also has rolled back other humanitarian protections , like Temporary Protected Status for 400,000 immigrants fleeing natural disasters or violence .
Those from countries like Honduras , Nicaragua , Haiti , Nepal and Syria now face deportation under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January .
Among them is Lili Montalvan , who arrived from El Salvador alone at 16 a quarter-century ago .
Living in Miami , she has a 6-year-old daughter and 18-year-old son who are American citizens .
She can ’ t fathom raising her youngest in El Salvador .
Their father was deported back to Peru last year .
“ We have children , we have homes , we are part of this country , ” said Montalvan , who cleans houses and sells baked goods .
The administration ’ s efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has triggered a slew of lawsuits .
Bizimana , the Congolese refugee , was a plaintiff in one settled Feb. 10 by a federal court in Seattle , which required the government to expedite the cases of some 300 families .
But more than eight months after the legal victory , he ’ s still waiting for his wife to join him , and no one can tell him why .
Since arriving in 2014 , Bizimana has hit hurdles every step of the way in his quest to reunite his family .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the door slammed shut for everyone else in October 2017 , when the Trump administration suspended refugee admissions for four months and then required more vetting of spouses and children on the verge of joining their families in the U.S. After a federal judge limited those restrictions in December 2017 , seven of his children were admitted , but not their mother .
The International Rescue Committee , the resettlement agency that helped Bizimana , said the reasons for the delay are unclear .
He ’ s not the only one without answers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman whose father helped the U.S. military does not know why her case stalled .
She spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear her family could still be in danger .
Her father worked closely with the U.S. Army as an Iraqi government official .
Because of the relationship , American military doctors agreed to treat her two rare disorders , including one causing her immune system to attack her organs .
But her frequent visits to U.S. bases led to death threats from militias in her Baghdad neighborhood , and she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 .
The 51-year-old mother has waited ever since to get to the United States , where she has a brother in Syracuse , New York .
Her family has been interviewed by U.S. officials and finished their background checks .
The New York-based International Refugee Assistance Project was helping her but closed the case in 2019 because there was nothing more it could do , caseworker Ra ’ ed Almasri said .
“ I ’ ve been working for three years with these people , and they still have not gotten a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case with someone who has medical issues , her family helped the U.S. military and has been through so much , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t see why it hasn ’ t moved forward.
” The woman still texts Almasri every few weeks asking for news .
Her family first lived off savings , then help from her parents until that dried up when her father died .
She sold some of her gold jewelry to pay rent on their modest apartment .
So much time has passed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commission on Refugees has expired , which means she can no longer prove a legal right to be in Jordan .
She fears deportation to Iraq .
“ This is our fifth year in Jordan , we are running out of money , we hope to receive the good news very soon , ” the woman said .
Life has grown tougher for the more than 750,000 refugees in Jordan amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Many can not work or even leave their neighborhoods in Amman , where official checkpoints sealed off areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the caseworker , said the desperation has become so acute some have attempted suicide .
“ People feel stuck , ” Almasri said .
“ They already are in a tough situation , and now they only see things getting worse .
”

Anita Snow and Julie Watson - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--Iran’s Zarif urges UN to unite against US unilateral actions

TANZANIA , Tanzania - Iran ’ s foreign minister used his speech for the 75th anniversary of the United Nations to accuse the United States of initiating or joining eight wars since 200 that displaced 37 million people and resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of innocent lives and “ unprecedented extremism.
” Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a virtual speech to the U.N. General Assembly that it was time for the 193-member world body “ to recommit itself to stand up -- united -- against unilateralism and war ” promoted by the United States .
Zarif ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Sept. 21 when world leaders commemorated the U.N. ’ s 75th anniversary .
But there were so many speakers that the speeches of 58 leaders and ministers were carried over and only shown Monday , two days after U.N. Day , which commemorates the entry into force of the U.N. Charter that officially established the United Nations on Oct. 24 , 1945 .
Zarif quoted a study released last month by Brown University ’ s Costs of War project that estimated the United States ’ wars since the 9-11 terrorist attacks in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to flee their homes in the eight most violent conflicts -- Afghanistan , Pakistan , Iraq , Libya , Syria , Yemen , Somalia and the Philippines .
“ How can we counter the unilateralism and disdain for international law by a bully that only knows wielding a big stick and speaking arrogantly ?
” Zarif asked , also citing U.S. with battles American Indian tribes , the Civil War that ended slavery , and what he called “ economic wars ” resulting from U.S. sanctions .
“ In fact , no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Iranian minister said .
“ It ’ s time to change tack -- saving American blood and treasure and sparing the world from further misery.
” Zarif ’ s speech was shown on a screen in the General Assembly Hall as the Security Council was holding a virtual meeting on the Middle East at which Israel ’ s new U.N. ambassador , Gilad Erdan , said “ Iran and its terrorist proxies remain the biggest threats to peace and security in the region.
” Ironically , he said , “ Iran ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought moderate forces in the Middle East closer together , leading to Israel ’ s recent peace agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain and new ties with Sudan .
“ It ’ s surprising , but I actually want to thank Iran ” for the role it played in those agreements , he said .
Erdan called on the Security Council to prevent Iran from continuing to develop its nuclear capabilities , obtaining advanced weapons and violating human rights .
He called Iran “ one of the biggest human rights violators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executions during President Hassan Rouhani ’ s tenure , including minors , women , gays , journalists and anti-government protesters .
Iran was also the agenda of the General Assembly ’ s human rights committee Monday where the U.N. independent investigator on the country ’ s human rights , Javaid Rehman , said the Iranian government must conduct an independent and transparent investigation into the crackdown on protests in November 2019 and January 2020 and bring violators to justice .
Rehman , a professor of human rights and Islamic law at London ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed to conduct an investigation meeting international standards “ despite clear evidence that Iranian security forces used excessive and lethal force , which caused the deaths of over 300 people , including women and children.
” “ The government and judiciary appear to be implementing death sentences against protesters to prevent peaceful dissent and restrict civic space , ” he said .
“ The recent arbitrary execution of Navid Afkari for his participation in August 2018 protests is emblematic of this concern .
”


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--Malaysian PM faces calls to resign after emergency rebuffed

KUALA LUMPUR , Malaysia - Malaysia ’ s prime minister faced calls to resign from both sides of the political aisle Monday after the king rebuffed his proposal for a coronavirus emergency that critics saw as an undemocratic attempt to hold onto power .
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin ’ s proposal for the king to declare a state of emergency over a new COVID-19 outbreak would have suspended Parliament and let him dodge an imminent test of his support .
Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah “ is of the opinion that there is currently no need for His Majesty to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country or any part of Malaysia , “ the palace said Sunday .
Malaysia ’ s coronavirus cases doubled to more than 26,000 in just three weeks following a new outbreak , mainly in Sabah state on Borneo island .
Politicians from both sides of the divide as well as legal and medical experts have said an emergency declaration is unnecessary and there are sufficient laws to curb public movement and impose penalties to curb the virus .
Some have warned that declaring an emergency could ruin the economy and plunge Malaysia into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invoked nationally in 1969 during deadly racial riots .
In the statement from the palace , the king said the government has handled the pandemic well and he believed Muhyiddin was capable of coping with the crisis , though he also called for a halt to “ all politicking ” that could disrupt the government ’ s stability .
Hours later , Muhyiddin said the Cabinet noted the king ’ s decision and will further discuss the decree .
Local media said the Cabinet is expected to meet later Monday .
His aide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment .
“ The priority of the Cabinet and the government at this time is to protect citizens from the COVID-19 disease , “ he said in a brief statement .
He also welcomed the king ’ s advice to ensure his government ’ s stability .
Muhyiddin took power in March but holds only a two-seat majority in Parliament .
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim says he has majority support but needs the monarch ’ s approval to form a new government , and the biggest party in the ruling coalition is angry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government .
A key test comes in early November when his government is due to seek approval for its 2021 budget in Parliament .
If he is unable to pass the bill , pressure will build for him to resign or call new elections .
A state of emergency could allow him to approve the budget without a vote and consolidate support , and he could govern through ordinances that could not be challenged in court .
“ In whatever way you look at it , indications are that the PM has realized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ said Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid , political science professor at Malaysia ’ s University of Science .
Calls for Muhyiddin to resign were being made on both sides .
Puad Zarkashi , a senior official in the biggest Malay party in his ruling coalition , said the king thankfully wasn ’ t influenced by the political game that could plunge the country into a deeper crisis .
He wrote on Facebook that “ Muhyiddin should step down.
” Opposition lawmaker Wong Chen called for the premier to resign or fire ministers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ king ’ s rejection of the call for a state of emergency , his endorsement of Muhyiddin ’ s government could offer a reprieve and help the premier get the budget bill passed .


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--Putin offers NATO site inspections to avoid missile buildup

MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed Monday that NATO and Russia should conduct mutual inspections of each other ’ s military bases to secure a moratorium on the deployment of new missiles in Europe following last year ’ s demise of a U.S.-Russian nuclear arms pact .
The United States and Russia both pulled out of the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty last year , blaming each other for violations .
Nevertheless , Putin has pledged not to deploy the weapons that were outlawed by the treaty , for as long as the U.S. doesn ’ t deploy such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Putin ’ s statements , charging that Russia already has deployed missiles that violate the INF treaty ’ s provisions — a claim Moscow has rejected .
On Monday , Putin followed up on his earlier statements by offering to allow the U.S. and its NATO allies to conduct on-site inspections to make sure that the weapons previously banned by the INF aren ’ t deployed to Europe .
The U.S. pulling out of the INF Treaty “ was a serious mistake that exacerbated the risks of a missile weapons race , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into uncontrolled escalation , ” Putin said in a statement .
“ In a situation like this , vigorous efforts are needed to ease the shortage of trust , to strengthen regional and global stability , and to reduce the risks stemming from misunderstandings and disagreements in the field of missile weapons , ” the Russian president added .
He said that as part of mutual inspections , Russian experts could visit the U.S. missile defence facilities in Europe to make sure they can ’ t be adapted for launching surface-to-surface missiles instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been concerned about .
In its turn , Russia would offer NATO access to inspect Russian units in the nation ’ s westernmost Kaliningrad exclave , to make sure they aren ’ t equipped with 9M729 ground-launched cruise missiles .
The U.S. has accused Russia of violating the INF treaty by deploying these missiles , a claim Russia has denied .
Putin on Monday reiterated that Russia had not breached the pact by fielding the missiles , but said Russia could refrain from deploying them in the western part of the country “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for as long as NATO doesn ’ t station weapons previously banned by the INF in Europe .
Putin ’ s move comes amid uncertainty surrounding the New START arms control treaty that expires in February .
Moscow and Washington have inched toward agreement to extend the pact , their last remaining arms control agreement , but differences have remained .
New START dates from 2010 , limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers , and envisages sweeping on-site inspections to verify compliance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed by U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev , banned the production , testing and deployment of land-based cruise and ballistic missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometres ( 310 to 3,410 miles ) .
Such weapons were seen as particularly destabilizing because of the shorter time they take to reach targets compared to intercontinental ballistic missiles , raising the likelihood of a nuclear conflict over a false launch alert .

Vladimir Isachenkov - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--China retaliates against news media in latest feud with US

BEIJING - China has ordered six U.S.-based news media to file detailed information about their operations in China the latest volley in a monthslong battle with the Trump administration .
A foreign ministry statement issued late Monday demanded that the bureaus of ABC , The Los Angeles Times , Minnesota Public Radio , the Bureau of National Affairs , Newsweek and Feature Story News declare information about their staff , finances , operations and real estate in China within seven days .
The announcement came five days after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said six Chinese media would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requires them to file similar information with the U.S. government .
The six were the third group of Chinese media required to do so this year .
Each time , China has responded by forcing a similar number of U.S. media to file about their operations .
The ministry statement said China was compelled to take the step “ in response to the unreasonable oppression the Chinese media organizations experience in the United States.
” Pompeo , in making his announcement , said the targeted Chinese media are state-owned or controlled , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ consumers of information can differentiate between news written by a free press and propaganda distributed by the Chinese Communist Party.
” The media is one of several areas of growing tension between the two countries as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on China over trade , technology , defence and human rights .
The U.S. ordered the closing of the Chinese consulate in Houston earlier this year , and China responded by shuttering the U.S. consulate in the southwestern city of Chengdu .


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--Low expectations in Mexico as US election approaches

MEXICO CITY - A week before U.S. elections , expectations and attention are unusually low in a foreign country that may have more at stake than any other .
Many Mexicans would be glad to see a more neighbourly president who hasn ’ t called Mexicans rapists or threatened to build a wall against them , but the relationship has survived a Donald Trump presidency , so there ’ s a feeling it can handle any outcome .
In the streets , few can name Democratic candidate Joe Biden , but there ’ s a general sense that Mexicans are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other than Trump .
“ No Mexican , no human being likes to be called a rapist , a thief , told that you ’ re not liked , ” said Ana Vanessa Cárdenas Zanatta , a political science professor at Monterrey Technological and Anahuac universities in Mexico City .
“ The least that any human being , and the Mexicans in this bilateral relationship , can hope for is respect.
” Respect can be especially important when roughly three-quarters of a country ’ s exports go to the United States and hundreds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in both directions yearly for work , shopping , family visits or vacations .
In a Trump administration marked by unpredictability that has left allies reeling , Mexico has been one country that has been able to carve out a fairly predictable , if sometimes pressured , relationship with Trump .
For example , when Mexico was on the brink of defaulting on treaty obligations governing water-sharing this month , the Trump administration provided a graceful exit .
Trump so far hasn ’ t targeted Mexico in his campaign like he did the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economic crisis it sparked have overtaken all other issues — on both sides of the border .
Mexico has lost at least 1 million formal jobs during the pandemic , the economy is forecast to shrink 10 % this year , violence remains beyond the government ’ s control and COVID-19 infections are climbing again .
Regardless of whether Trump or Biden wins , immigration , security and trade are expected to dominate the historically unbalanced relationship .
On immigration , there is skepticism that much would change .
Trump made Mexico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and some say effectively pushed the U.S. frontier south for immigrants .
Thousands of asylum seekers were forced to wait out their cases in Mexican border cities before the pandemic allowed the U.S. to effectively suspend its asylum system at the border .
Through the threat of tariffs on Mexican imports , Trump got the Mexican government to act more aggressively toward migrants crossing its territory .
Early this year , Mexico ’ s National Guard and immigration agents broke up a migrant caravan near the Guatemala border before it gathered any steam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I believe there will continue to be great pressure to stop the migrant caravans , ” Cárdenas said .
“ But I think the nuance , the tone in which its done will be different.
” That might even complicate things for Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador , depriving him of a bully to blame for an immigration policy tougher than the one he promised .
Mexico ’ s violence continues to confound López Obrador ’ s administration .
The pace of murders has stabilized , but the toll remains high .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ force that he promised would help turn the tide , was initially diverted in part to deal with migrants and has been unable to significantly reduce violence between battling drug cartels .
The persistent violence is a concern to U.S. authorities , both for its ties to drug trafficking and as a potential driver of immigration .
Mexico might expect greater recognition of shared responsibility from a Biden administration , but Mexico ’ s own security strategy has been difficult to decipher .
“ It ’ s putting Mexico at a more vulnerable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) actually taken more of a concerted , organized line about security in Mexico , ” said Gladys McCormick , a history professor at Syracuse University specializing in the U.S.-Mexico relationship .
In his first campaign , Trump said the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada was a bad deal and promised to get a new one .
He did , signing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement this year .
López Obrador ’ s hopes of dragging Mexico out of recession depend in large part on a quick recovery by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he made the first foreign trip of his presidency to Washington , visiting Trump in July .
The deal was already signed , so there was little reason to travel during the pandemic other than to bolster the unexpectedly friendly relationship between the two populist leaders from opposite ends of the ideological spectrum .
The trip did rankle Democratic lawmakers however , because Mexico declined invitations to meet with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats who had helped get the trade deal through Congress .
“ We saw it as very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reach out to the speaker of the House , ” especially since Democrats had been defending Mexico against Trump ’ s attacks , said Texas Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar , who reminded Mexican officials then that the Democrats could soon be back in the White House .
López Obrador has seemed to work so hard to build rapport with Trump that some Mexicans speculate he may secretly hope for Trump ’ s re-election .
López Obrador , however , has been careful to stay out of the U.S. race .
When the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , analysts predicted fireworks between the two strong personalities .
But that never happened .
Mariana Aparicio Ramirez , co-ordinator of the Binational Mexico-United States Relationship Observatory at Mexico ’ s National Autonomous University , suggested a more concrete reason López Obrador might be uncomfortable with a Democratic administration : “ The issue of environmental policy is something that could absolutely be questioned.
” López Obrador has invested in propping up Mexico ’ s heavily indebted state-owned oil company and his administration has shown disdain for renewable energy projects .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many experts question .
But a Biden administration could offer more welcome positions on some of Mexico ’ s top priorities .
Mexico ’ s Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard says he wants U.S. authorities to take the illegal guns smuggled into Mexico as seriously as the U.S. wants Mexico to handle drugs flowing north .
Biden has proposed investing more in technology at border crossings that could detect drugs , guns and people .
Mexico is also concerned about more than 4 million of its citizens living in the United States without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focused on deporting undocumented immigrants and narrowing the path to legal entry .
Biden has said he would continue to let immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children stay and has talked about opening a path to citizenship for others .
“ It ’ s all very complicated , ” said 38-year-old Mexican businessman Eder Nicia .
“ It doesn ’ t depend on one person ...
It ’ s not like X candidate is going to come in and everything will be fixed.
” AP writer Mark Stevenson in @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Christopher Sherman - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--Panama’s 2nd biggest Indigenous group votes to ban masks

PANAMA CITY - A cultural body for the Guna Yala people in Panama voted Monday to ban the wearing of face masks used to combat coronavirus infections , arguing “ it is not a custom of our people.
” The measure would drop a requirement for masks in schools and forbid government officials visiting the territories of the Guna Yala from wearing them .
About 34,000 Guna Yala people , the second-largest of seven Indigenous groups in Panama , live mainly on the Caribbean coast .
Although Indigenous territories in Panama have significant autonomy , the possible effects of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guna Yala Culture were unclear .
Panama ’ s government said that the cultural assembly does not have the authority to decide public health matters and that such a move would be up to the Indigenous territory ’ s official law-making congress .
Ausencio Palacio , Panama ’ s assistant minister of indigenous affairs , said that only the Health Ministry has the power to set public policy on such issues , and called the vote “ a mistake.
” He said the communities two congresses might have to consult with each other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a member of the Ngabe Buglé group , Panama ’ s largest Indigenous community , said that up to now , Indigenous peoples had been observing lockdown and social distancing measures .
Palacio , who was himself hospitalized for a month with COVID-19 , suggested the vote may have been in part motivated by anger in Indigenous communities that authorities have not recognized traditional , plant-based treatments for COVID-19 .
In general , the country ’ s indigenous groups have been hit hard by the novel coronavirus .
Wagayoguna Díaz , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said the region has seen 967 coronavirus cases and 36 deaths so far .
Díaz said 35 new cases were reported in the territory Monday .
The contagion was believed to have been brought by tourists visiting the area ’ s beaches and islands .


thetorontostar--2020-10-26--AP FACT CHECK: Trump and his familiar falsehoods

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump says Mexico is paying for the wall ( it isn ’ t ) , health care choice for veterans came from him ( it didn ’ t ) and his tax cut stands as the biggest in American history ( nowhere close ) .
These are among his touchstones — the falsehoods that span his presidency — and he ’ s giving them another go in the final days of his relentless campaigning .
He ’ s got fresher false material , too , claiming “ incredible ” numbers in the pandemic response despite record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from his chief of staff Sunday that the government can not bring the coronavirus under control .
He warned darkly of voting fraud in the Nov. 3 election without offering evidence that malfeasance is in play .
In weekend rallies , Trump also portrayed Democratic rival Joe Biden as the helmsman of a Marxist party who lined his own pockets with $ 3.5 million via Moscow .
This didn ’ t happen .
A look at rhetoric from the weekend : TRUMP : “ Even without vaccines , we ’ re rounding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be over.
” — on C-SPAN , Sunday .
TRUMP : “ We ’ re rounding the turn .
It ’ s going to be over.
” — New Hampshire rally Sunday .
TRUMP : “ We ’ re rounding the turn , we ’ re doing great .
Our numbers are incredible.
” — North Carolina rally Saturday .
THE FACTS : The numbers have turned harrowing , not “ incredible.
” The U.S. set a daily record Friday for new confirmed coronavirus infections and nearly matched it Saturday with 83,178 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Close to 8.6 million Americans have contracted the coronavirus since the pandemic began , and about 225,000 have died ; both totals are the world ’ s highest .
About half the states have seen their highest daily infection numbers so far at some point in October .
“ We ’ re not going to control the pandemic , “ Mark Meadows , Trump ’ s chief of staff , said on CNN .
“ We are going to control the fact that we get vaccines , therapeutics and other mitigation areas.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ view that the pandemic is turning a corner or that it will , absent a vaccine .
TRUMP on how long he may be immune to reinfection from the coronavirus : “ With me it was for four months .
If it was anybody else they ’ d say for life.
” — Ohio rally .
TRUMP : “ Now it used to be that if you had it , you were immune for life , right ?
For life .
With me , they say I ’ m immune for four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I got it , the immunity went down from life to four months .
I don ’ t know .
They don ’ t know , either.
” — North Carolina .
THE FACTS : The only truth in these statements is that “ they don ’ t know.
” Trump is suggesting here that experts are saying he is only immune from reinfection for four months because they don ’ t like him .
But the science of immunity is not about him and the uncertainty is not a conspiracy against him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final answers on how long or well people who had COVID-19 are protected from it again .
While there ’ s evidence that reinfection is unlikely for at least three months even for those with a mild case of COVID-19 , very few diseases leave people completely immune for life .
Antibodies are only one piece of the body ’ s defences , and they naturally wane over time .
TRUMP : “ And by the way , Mexico is paying for the wall.
” — New Hampshire rally .
TRUMP : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Totally.
“ — North Carolina rally .
TRUMP : “ We got it financed .
Mexico will be paying for it because we ’ re going to charge a fee.
” THE FACTS : The U.S. is paying for it .
Mexico isn ’ t .
The Mexican government flatly refused to contribute to extending or reinforcing barriers on U.S. soil — “ Not now , not ever , ” Enrique Peña Nieto , then Mexico ’ s president , tweeted in May 2018 .
Since the start , Trump has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he was keeping his promise to make Mexico pay for the project at the core of his 2016 campaign .
But the money is coming from today ’ s U.S. taxpayers and the future ones who will inherit the federal debt .
TRUMP : “ The last administration failed our veterans .
I reformed the VA , passed VA Choice.
“ — North Carolina rally .
THE FACTS : He did not get the Choice program passed .
President Barack Obama did .
Trump expanded it .
The program allows veterans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system under certain conditions .
TRUMP on Biden when he was vice-president : “ So Russia , the mayor of Moscow ’ s wife , who ’ s a very wealthy man , she ’ s a very wealthy woman , retired , gave him three and a half million dollars.
” — North Carolina rally .
THE FACTS : No she didn ’ t .
A Republican congressional report that investigated the Moscow business dealings of Biden ’ s son , Hunter , pointed to a $ 3.5 million investment made there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden .
The money didn ’ t go to Joe Biden at all .
Nor is there evidence that Hunter Biden pocketed the sum .
The GOP report said the money went to the investment firm .
And Hunter Biden ’ s lawyer has said in a statement that his client had no interest in that firm .
TRUMP : “ I banned people from China , where it was heavily infected , from coming into a country .
Biden was totally against that .
He called me xenophobic .
And now he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done it sooner .
Well he didn ’ t want to do it at all.
” — North Carolina rally .
THE FACTS : That ’ s false .
Trump never banned travel from China ; he restricted it .
Biden did not call the travel restrictions xenophobic ; he used the term in regard to Trump ’ s other rhetoric about foreigners .
And he did not oppose the restrictions , but rather took no clear position for many weeks , before supporting them .
TRUMP : “ You said it in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
THE FACTS : Trump is correct ; Biden said it on tape , telling a Democratic primary debate , “ No new fracking.
” Trump has been playing Biden ’ s remark at his own rallies .
A fracking ban wasn ’ t and still isn ’ t Biden ’ s policy , though .
Biden ’ s campaign corrected his remark after the primary debate .
Biden would ban new oil and gas permits on federal land only ; most oil and gas does not come from those properties .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fracking .
Still , Trump called him out for shaping his stance to suit a more liberal primary audience and argued at his Ohio rally Saturday that Biden in office would be beholden to Democrats who want to ban fossil fuels , people he hyperbolically called “ the communists , the Marxists and the left wing extremists.
” TRUMP : “ In Nevada , they want to have a thing where you don ’ t have to have any verification of the signature.
” -- New Hampshire rally .
THE FACTS : Not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the contrary .
The state ’ s existing law requires signature checks on mail ballots .
A new law also spells out a process by which election officials are to check a signature against the one in government records .
In Nevada ’ s June primary , nearly 7,000 ballots were thrown out due to mismatched or missing signatures .
TRUMP : “ I say the biggest risk we have are the fake ballots.
” — New Hampshire rally .
TRUMP : “ If we don ’ t know the result on Nov. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has always been where you generally find out the election that night or soon — we could be going on forever with this .
It ’ s the craziest thing ... and we shouldn ’ t let it happen.
” -- New Hampshire rally .
THE FACTS : His statements are overblown .
It ’ s true that many states are expecting a surge in mail-in voting because of the coronavirus pandemic , which may lead to longer times in vote counting .
The U.S. Supreme Court , for instance , will allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to three days after the election .
But there is no evidence to indicate that massive fraud is afoot .
Any delay in declaring a winner of the presidential race after Nov. 3 would not in itself be illegal .
Broadly speaking , voter fraud has proved exceedingly rare .
The Brennan Center for Justice in 2017 ranked the risk of ballot fraud at 0.00004 % to 0.0009 % , based on studies of past elections .
In the five states that regularly send ballots to all voters who have registered , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or difficulty counting the votes .
Even if the election is messy and contested in court , the country will have a president in January — and not have vote counting going on “ forever ” as he asserts — because the Constitution and federal law ensure it .
TRUMP : “ We brought in tremendous numbers of companies ...
I said to Prime Minister Abe , a great , great gentleman who retired ... ’ Shinzo , you got to open some factories in Michigan ... You ’ re selling too many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make them in the U.S. ’ He ’ d say ’ Well , I don ’ t do that ... this is done by the private sector ... ’ I said , ‘ You have to do it.
’ The next day , they announced five companies were opening up factories.
” — New Hampshire rally .
No Japanese automaker assembly plants have been announced or built in Michigan , let alone in one day , and there are no plans to add any .
There is one manufacturing facility , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , south of Detroit .
It ’ s the $ 85 million expansion of an existing facility to make hydrogen fuel cells with about 100 new jobs , according to the Center for Automotive Research , an industry think-tank in Ann Arbor , Michigan .
Subaru has a new research centre with about 100 new jobs , and Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi and Toyota have announced expansions of research facilities .
These are not new “ car plants ” run by Japanese automakers and these initiatives did not all materialize in one day .
TRUMP : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal , right ?
The Iran nuclear deal , where Obama gave them $ 150 billion for the privilege.
“ — North Carolina rally .
THE FACTS : No , Obama did not give the Iranians $ 150 billion for signing the multinational deal to constrain their nuclear development .
The deal let Iran have access to $ 150 billion of its own assets that were frozen abroad until Tehran agreed to the terms .
The U.S. made a separate payout to Iran of about $ 1.8 billion .
That was to settle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran paid for but never received .
TRUMP : “ You know , you got the biggest tax cut in the history of our country .
I got it for you.
“ — North Carolina rally .
THE FACTS : His tax cuts are not close to the biggest in U.S. history .
It ’ s a $ 1.5 trillion tax cut over 10 years .
As a share of the total economy , a tax cut of that size ranks 12th , according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the biggest , followed by the 1945 rollback of taxes that financed World War II .
Post-Reagan tax cuts also stand among the historically significant : President George W. Bush ’ s cuts in the early 2000s and Obama ’ s renewal of them a decade later .
EDITOR ’ S NOTE — A look at the veracity of claims by political figures .

Calvin Woodward And Hope Yen - The Associated Press