thetorontostar--2020-08-22--AP FACT CHECK: What the Dems didn’t say, and what Trump did

WASHINGTON - Joe Biden and fellow Democrats spun an assortment of facts to their benefit in their national convention , omitting inconvenient truths such as Barack Obama ’ s record of aggressive deportations and swift action by a Republican president to save the auto industry more than a decade ago .
Meantime President Donald Trump flooded the zone with falsehoods , some so apparent that anyone with access to the internet could see the folly of them at a glance .
Witness his reference to New Zealand ’ s “ massive breakout ” of COVID-19 , which does not exist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Convention was unique in history but conventional in this sense : The nominee and his supporters at times exaggerated the good , played down the bad and glossed over important context .
But overall the discipline was discernible , as it usually was for the biggest speeches of Republican and Democratic leaders alike before the rise of Trump .
Even Biden , a gaffe machine in the old days , displayed that control .
The off notes came largely from what Democrats didn ’ t say .
A sampling from the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Convention prepares to affirm Trump as the 2020 nominee in coming days : BARACK OBAMA : “ We are born of immigrants .
That is who we are .
Immigration is our origin story.
” — convention video Wednesday celebrating immigration , showing historical scenes and one that appeared to be of Trump ’ s border wall .
BARACK OBAMA : “ I understand why a new immigrant might look around this country and wonder whether there ’ s still a place for him here.
” — convention speech Wednesday .
THE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in dispute .
But an omission stands out : Obama aggressively enforced border controls and deported nearly 3 million people .
He evolved , acting without Congress in 2012 to let people who came to the U.S. illegally as children stay and work legally in the country .
Still , that year was Obama ’ s high mark for deportations , more than 400,000 , far outpacing Trump ’ s deportations in each of his first three years .
“ This whole immigration video was like putting salt on the wound , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RAICES , an immigration legal services group in Texas .
“ Narrated by Obama ?
Come on.
” She said : “ I am angry because it was his administration who almost deported my mother and then Trump came to try to deport her again.
” Immigration activist Julissa Natzely Arce Raya , author of “ My ( Underground ) American Dream , “ saw hypocrisy at work , after the video of Estela Juarez , the 11-year-old girl whose mother was deported to Mexico .
“ Obama did a lot of things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t get that right , ” she tweeted .
“ I promise you , tonight there is a Estela whose mom was deported by Obama.
” MICHELLE OBAMA , on Americans : “ They watch in horror as children are torn from their families and thrown into cages.
” — Democratic convention Monday .
THE FACTS : The reference to cages is misleading and a matter that Democrats have persistently distorted .
Trump used facilities that were built during the Obama-Biden administration to house children at the border .
They are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were temporarily housed , separated by sex and age .
At the height of the controversy over Trump ’ s zero-tolerance policy at the border , photos that circulated online of children in the enclosures generated great anger .
But those photos , by The Associated Press , were taken in 2014 and depicted some of the thousands of unaccompanied children held by Obama .
When that fact came to light , some Democrats and activists who had tweeted the photos deleted their tweets .
But prominent Democrats have continued to cite cages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
The former first lady was correct , however , in addressing the removal of children from parents at the border .
The Obama administration separated migrant children from families under certain limited circumstances , like when the child ’ s safety appeared at risk or when the parent had a serious criminal history .
Family separations as a matter of routine came about because of Trump ’ s “ zero tolerance ” enforcement policy , which he eventually suspended because of the uproar .
Obama had no such policy .
TRUMP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abolish immigration enforcement.
” — rally Tuesday in Yuma , Arizona .
THE FACTS : No he hasn ’ t .
Biden has been notably outspoken in arguing that crossing the U.S. border illegally is a crime and should remain punished as such in federal court .
He did not endorse immigration plans supported by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and other former presidential candidates that sought to decriminalize illegal border crossings and make doing so only a civil offence .
In addition to misrepresenting Biden ’ s agenda , Trump ignored the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , drawing fierce criticism from some advocates for immigrants .
TRUMP : “ They want to take the wall down , they don ’ t want to have borders.
” — Arizona rally .
THE FACTS : No , Biden is not pushing to take down the wall or erase borders .
Biden ’ s immigration plan does not include money for new border fencing , and he isn ’ t calling for any new walls .
But he hasn ’ t proposed taking down what ’ s there .
TRUMP on New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a massive breakout yesterday.
” — remarks Thursday in Old Forge , Pennsylvania .
TRUMP : False .
New Zealand has had nothing resembling a massive outbreak or , as he also put it during the week , even a “ big surge ” or a “ big outbreak.
” New Zealand reported five to 13 new cases each day in the past week , as of Friday .
The U.S. reported an average of some 46,000 per day during the week .
Trump is unhappy that New Zealand ’ s success @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tight and early rules on distancing and closures , has been used for unfavourable comparisons with his pandemic response .
New Zealand went for several months without any new , confirmed cases of locally spread COVID-19 before infection started showing up again in small numbers .
The infection has killed 22 people in New Zealand and 174,000 in the U.S. That ’ s a rate of 4.5 deaths per million in New Zealand and 532 per million in the U.S. BIDEN : “ Nearly one in six small businesses have closed this year.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ FACTS : That appears to be in the ballpark but is misleading .
What he didn ’ t say is that most of those businesses planned to reopen or already have .
In a MetLife and U.S. Chamber of Commerce survey at the end of July , 86 % of small businesses reported that they were fully or partially open .
Among those that remained shut , most planned to reopen when they could .
Overall , small businesses expressed guarded optimism while worrying what would happen if another wave of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ In 2009 , the Obama-Biden administration inherited the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression .
The auto industry — on the brink of collapse .
A million jobs at stake .
But President Obama and Vice-President Biden didn ’ t waste time blaming anybody .
...
They brought together union members , companies and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle , and they saved the auto industry.
” — Democratic National Convention on Monday .
THE FACTS : She ’ s assigning too much credit to the Obama administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama did was an expansion of the initial , pivotal steps taken by Obama ’ s predecessor , George W. Bush .
In December 2008 , General Motors and Chrysler were on the brink of financial collapse .
The U.S. was in a deep recession and U.S. auto sales were falling sharply , in part because the 2008-2009 financial crisis made it harder for would-be auto buyers to get a car loan .
GM , Chrysler and Ford requested government aid , but Congress voted it down .
With barely a month left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion in loans to GM and Chrysler from the $ 700 billion bailout fund that was initially intended to save the largest U.S. banks .
Ford decided against taking any money .
After Obama was inaugurated , he appointed a task force to oversee GM and Chrysler , both of which eventually declared bankruptcy , took an additional roughly $ 55 billion in loans , and were forced to close many factories and overhaul their operations .
All three companies recovered and eventually started adding jobs again .
TRUMP : “ This deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran — $ 150 billion , to be exact — plus $ 1.8 billion in cash .
...
He ( Obama ) gave $ 1.8 billion in cash.
” — news briefing Wednesday .
THE FACTS : This is a familiar and hyper-distorted tale .
There was no $ 150 billion payout from the U.S. treasury or other countries .
When Iran signed the multinational deal to restrain its nuclear development in return for being freed from sanctions , it regained access to its own assets , which had been frozen abroad .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ money back .
The deal was signed in 2015 ; Trump has taken the U.S. out of it .
The $ 1.8 billion is a separate matter .
A payout of roughly that amount did come from the U.S. treasury .
It was to pay an old IOU .
In the 1970s , Iran paid the U.S. $ 400 million for military equipment that was never delivered because the government was overthrown and diplomatic relations ruptured .
After the nuclear deal , the U.S. and Iran announced they had settled the matter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 400 million principal along with about $ 1.3 billion in interest .
The $ 400 million was paid in cash with the interest to be paid later .
TRUMP : “ And we got nothing , except a short-term , little deal .
A short-term , expiring.
” — news briefing Wednesday .
THE FACTS : Trump ’ s wrong to suggest the deal had no impact before he withdrew the U.S. from the agreement in 2018 .
Iran was thought to be only months away from a bomb when the deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15-year life of most provisions of the accord , Iran ’ s capabilities are limited to a level where it can not produce a bomb .
The deal also includes a pledge by Iran never to seek a nuclear weapon .
The International Atomic Energy Agency and his administration itself had confirmed Iran was complying with the terms before Trump pulled out of the deal .
The pact does gradually lift some restrictions , including limits on centrifuges that were due to expire in 2025 .
After the 15 years are up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centrifuges ready to work , the limits on its stockpile would be gone and , in theory , it could then throw itself fully into producing highly enriched uranium .
But nothing in the deal prevented the West from trying to rein Iran in again with sanctions .
JOHN KERRY , former secretary of state : “ We eliminated the threat of an Iran with a nuclear weapon.
” — Democratic convention on Tuesday .
THE FACTS : That ’ s taking it too far .
The threat was deferred , not eliminated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal negotiated when Kerry was Obama ’ s secretary of state .
The accord limited Iran ’ s capabilities to a level where it could not produce a bomb , but most provisions were to expire after 15 years .
TRUMP : “ One of the things the Post Office loses so much money on is the delivering packages for Amazon and these others .
Every time they deliver a package , they probably lose three or four dollars .
That ’ s not good.
” — remarks Monday to reporters .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money for 13 years , package delivery is not the reason .
Boosted by e-commerce , the Postal Service has enjoyed double-digit increases in revenue from delivering packages , but that hasn ’ t been enough to offset pension and health care costs as well as declines in first-class letters and marketing mail .
Together , letters and marketing mail in recent years have comprised up to two-thirds of postal revenue .
In arguing that the Postal Service is losing money on delivering packages for Amazon , Trump appears to be citing some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service ’ s formula for calculating its costs is outdated .
A 2017 analysis by Citigroup did conclude that the service was charging below market rates as a whole on parcels .
Still , federal regulators have reviewed the Amazon contract with the Postal Service each year and found it profitable .
To become financially stable , the Postal Service has urged Congress for years to give it relief from the mandate to prefund retiree health benefits .
Legislation in 2006 required the Postal Service to fund 75 years ’ worth of retiree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of $ 5 billion per year , something that the government and private companies don ’ t have to do .
In the most recent quarter , for instance , package delivery rose 53 % at the Postal Service as homebound people during the pandemic shifted online for their shopping .
But the gain in deliveries was offset by the continued declines in first-class mail as well as costs for personal protective equipment and to replace workers who got sick during the pandemic .
The biggest factor was the prepayment of retiree health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress can take away .
As a quasi-government agency , the Postal Service also is required under law to provide mail delivery to millions of U.S. residences at affordable and uniform rates .
It does not use taxpayer money for its operations and supports operations with the sales of stamps and other mail products .
TRUMP : “ We want to make sure that the Post Office runs properly and it hasn ’ t run properly for many years , for probably 50 years .
It ’ s run very badly .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post Office runs properly and doesn ’ t lose billions of dollars.
” — remarks Monday to reporters .
THE FACTS : Trump offered no evidence of broad mismanagement at the Postal Service that dates back 50 years .
The Postal Service started losing “ billions , ” as Trump put it , after the 2006 law mandating health prefunding took effect .
Those billion-dollar payments , which coincided with the 2007-2008 Great Recession and a wider shift toward online bill payments , pushed the Postal Service into the red .
Excluding those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year with revenue surpluses for most of the past decade .
HILDA SOLIS , former labour secretary , on Biden : “ He and President Obama made it easier for home-care workers to organize .
They extended overtime pay to more than 4 million workers.
” — Democratic convention Wednesday .
THE FACTS : No , Obama and Biden tried to extend overtime pay to an estimated 4 million workers , but it never happened .
The Obama administration completed such a rule in May 2016 , but it was ultimately blocked by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Labor Department .
In 2019 , the Trump administration extended overtime for an estimated 1.3 million workers in home health care , retail , fast food and certain other low-wage jobs .
BERNIE SANDERS , Vermont senator : “ Joe supports raising the minimum wage to $ 15 an hour .
This will give 40 million workers a pay raise and push the wage scale up for everyone else.
” — Democratic convention Monday .
THE FACTS : Not likely .
He ’ s taking an optimistic projection as a certainty .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ study by the Economic Policy Institute , a left-leaning think-tank that estimated $ 15 an hour by 2025 would directly raise wages for 28 million and indirectly for 11 million .
Even that study doesn ’ t say wage scales would go up for “ everyone.
“ A July 2019 report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found a much less significant impact , and some likely costs , from a $ 15 federal minimum .
The office said 1.3 million workers could be priced out of the market and lose their job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federally mandated .
It also projected far fewer workers — roughly 27 million total — would see a pay increase as a result .
TRUMP , on unrest in Minnesota after George Floyd died in the custody of Minneapolis police : “ When I sent in the National Guard , that ’ s when it all stopped.
” — speech Monday in Mankato , Minnesota .
THE FACTS : False .
Gov .
Tim Walz , a Democrat , deployed the Minnesota National Guard , not Trump .
The president didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He repeatedly claims that he did .
In the speech , Trump went on to say he urged Minnesota officials to deploy the Guard and “ they should have done it a lot sooner , ” thereby acknowledging , if indirectly , that the order wasn ’ t his .
But Walz said he mobilized the Guard at the request of city officials , not because Trump wanted him to .
TRUMP , on China ’ s adherence to the trade deal his administration negotiated with Beijing : “ They are living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... up to it .
... Because they know I ’ m very angry at them.
” — “ Fox & Friends ” interview Monday .
THE FACTS : That ’ s not true .
China is falling well short of its commitments under the trade deal .
The Peterson Institute for International Economics , which has been tracking China ’ s purchases , found this month that U.S. exports of goods to China should have totalled $ 71.3 billion from January through June to be on track to reach this year ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Instead , they topped out at $ 33.1 billion , only 46 % of what they should be .
The shortfall in promised Chinese purchases of U.S. farm products is even bigger .
Those purchases totalled $ 6.5 billion , only 39 % of purchases that should have reached $ 16.7 billion through June .
The gap is perhaps not surprising , given that world trade has been badly disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic .
But Trump did not negotiate provisions giving China leeway in any downturn .
It ’ s conceivable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will pick up in the second half of the year enough to make up for the shortfall .
But in no sense is China more than living up to the deal now .
Associated Press writers Paul Wiseman and Matthew Daly in Washington and Amanda Seitz in Chicago contributed to this report .
EDITOR ’ S NOTE — A look at the veracity of claims by political figures .

Calvin Woodward, Hope Yen And Christopher Rugaber - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--WWII memory wall defaced in massacred French village

PARIS - Vandals have scrawled graffiti denying the Holocaust on a wall in the village that was the site of the France ’ s biggest massacre of civilians by the Nazis during World War II .
France ’ s justice minister vowed on Saturday that those responsible would be brought to justice .
Officials in Oradour-Sur-Glane , near Limoges in central France , threw up a tarp to cover the graffiti discovered Friday on the wall at the entrance to the Center for Remembrance .
The word “ Lie ” was scrawled on the wall , along with other graffiti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Populaire du Centre .
The inscription “ Martyr Village ” was crossed out .
“ Shame on those who did this , ” Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti tweeted .
“ All will be done to find and judge those who committed these sacrilegious acts.
” Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin denounced the “ abject filth ” in a Friday night tweet .
Prime Minister Jean Castex said the graffiti “ dirties the memory of our martyrs.
” Troops from the fanatical SS “ Das Reich ’ ’ division were responsible for killing 642 villagers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them into barns and a church and setting the town on fire .
While a new village has been built , the ruins of the old town have been left untouched as a testimony to Nazi horrors .
The massacre occurred four days after the Allied D-Day landings in Normandy .
The killings were believed to have been ordered in retaliation for the kidnapping of a German soldier by the French Resistance .

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Postal Code


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--UN atomic watchdog chief heading to Iran; seeks more access

BERLIN - The head of the U.N. ’ s atomic watchdog agency will head to Tehran next week to press Iranian authorities for access to sites where the country is thought to have stored or used undeclared nuclear material , the organization said Saturday .
It will be the first visit to Iran of International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi since he took office last December , and comes amid intense international pressure on the country over its nuclear program .
The focus will be on access to sites thought to be from the early 2000s , before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world powers .
Iran maintains the IAEA inspectors have no legal basis to inspect the sites .
“ My objective is that my meetings in Tehran will lead to concrete progress in addressing the outstanding questions that the agency has related to safeguards in Iran and , in particular , to resolve the issue of access , ” Grossi said in a statement .
“ I also hope to establish a fruitful and co-operative channel of direct dialogue with the Iranian government which will be valuable now and in the future.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted that “ we hope this visit will lead to reinforced mutual co-operation.
” Since President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled the U.S. out of the nuclear deal with Iran in 2018 , the other countries involved — France , Britain , Germany , Russia and China — have been struggling to keep it alive .
The deal , known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action , or JCPOA , promises Iran economic incentives in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program .
But with the reinstatement of some American sanctions , Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Tehran has begun violating provisions of the agreement to try to pressure the other countries to do more to offset those sanctions .
At the same time , Iran has continued to provide IAEA inspectors woth access to its nuclear facilities — one of the major reasons the countries still party to the agreement stress it ’ s important to keep it alive .
Last week , the U.S. ratcheted up the pressure , officially informing the United Nations it was demanding the restoration of all U.N. sanctions on Iran , arguing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a provision of the nuclear deal to “ snap back ” even more sanctions .
Russia , China , Britain , France and Germany , who often disagree , all declared the U.S. action illegal , arguing it is impossible to withdraw from a deal and then use the resolution that endorsed it to re-impose sanctions .
Iran has also rejected the move , but the U.S. has stuck to its guns , declaring that a 30-day countdown for the snapback of penalties eased after the 2015 deal was signed had begun .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to meet in Vienna on Sept. 1 .


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--Miami ICU nurse: I have never in my life seen so many deaths

FORT LAUDERDALE , Fla. - Their final breaths are tormented .
Rublas Ruiz has seen too many of them -- the last gasps of 17 men and women who died of the coronavirus .
A 41-year-old ICU nurse in Miami ’ s Kendall Regional Medical Center , Ruiz has witnessed the desperate , pleading , wide-eyed , barely there gasps .
“ The fear in their eyes when they can ’ t get enough air .
They are so scared , ” he says , quietly .
“ Their eyes are big , desperate to get the oxygen and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on their bed , grasps their hand , strokes their cheek and prays .
Anything to soothe them .
“ I know you can not talk , but I ’ m going to talk to you , ” he tell them .
“ You have to be positive , you have to have faith that God is going to get you out of this.
” Often , he ducks away to sob in the bathroom .
It is a rare moment alone , when he can cast off the brave countenance .
Then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returns to the floor that has been his work home since March .
While other nurses rotate in and out of the COVID-19 ICU unit to limit their exposure to the deadly virus , he ’ s asked to stay permanently .
“ I ’ m here for them .
This is what I was meant to do , ” says Ruiz .
“ Many nurses have left .
They don ’ t want to deal with it , they ’ re afraid , they ’ re scared , they see other people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the epicenter of the state ’ s outbreak with about 2,000 deaths since March -- more than 20 per cent of the state ’ s total .
As Florida cases skyrocketed this summer , Miami hospitals were especially overloaded in the second half of July .
For Ruiz , his routine is the same every day .
He prays in the car on the way to the hospital : “ Dear God , this is your day , put me in your hands and help me do what you want me to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me help you out.
” Then , he says , “ I take a deep breath when I get out of the car and go to battle.
” As many as 10 patients have died in his ward in a single week .
At one point , he started counting , “ and then I stopped doing that because there were so many.
” Right now , he can ’ t stop thinking about the 45-year-old father who has been intubated for more than two weeks , “ seeing this young guy almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than me ... ” His voice trails off .
“ We know he ’ s not going to make it.
” The hardest part is watching them die alone .
Playing the role of family has become almost more important than his nursing responsibilities .
He tried to distract an elderly patient from searching for virus treatments on the Internet by asking him questions about his work as an inspector for the Department of Motor Vehicles .
Ruiz could sense the retired man ’ s fear : “ He was looking really , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me cry that day.
” His condition deteriorated in less than a week , and he died .
He tries to connect patients with loved ones as much as possible through video chats .
But ultimately , he ’ s the one bearing witness to their final breaths .
“ I have never seen in my life so many deaths , in a week or a month , ” he says .
“ The room gets empty and another patient comes in.
” On the way home , he can ’ t stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Will he see them tomorrow ?
He steps into a makeshift changing room in the garage , removes his hospital scrubs and heads straight to the shower , praying he doesn ’ t infect his wife and 10-year-old daughter .
He tries not to think about that .
It ’ s too much to bear .
The tween is dejected , isolated from friends , missing school and deeply disappointed the over the cancellation of an Ariana Grande concert that would have been the highlight of her year .
Ruiz tries hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s home , but it seeps in .
He relies heavily on the positive energy of his wife of six years , Yaneth .
“ He has been quite depressed , ” she says .
“ We have good communication .
I try to listen to him .
I know he ’ s stressed.
” His wife lost her job as a hairdresser so Rublas takes extra shifts to make up for their lost income .
The family has taken up fishing as a hobby , casting their reels off a bridge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of being outside and together .
Back in April , Yaneth prepared a special birthday dinner for him at home .
But when he sat at the table , the thought of losing so many patients overwhelmed him .
And he broke down in tears .


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--Pakistan sanctions Taliban to avoid global finance blacklist, officials say

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan issued sweeping financial sanctions against Afghanistan ’ s Taliban , just as the militant group is in the midst of U.S.-led peace process in the neighbouring country .
The orders , which were made public late on Friday , identified dozens of individuals , including the Taliban ’ s chief peace negotiator Abdul Ghani Baradar and several members of the Haqqani family , including Sirajuddin , the current head of the Haqqani network and deputy head of the Taliban .
The list of sanctioned groups included others besides the Taliban and were in keeping with a five-year-old United Nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their assets .
The orders were issued as part of Pakistan ’ s efforts to avoid being blacklisted by the Financial Action Task Force ( FATF ) , which monitors money laundering and tracks terrorist groups ’ activities , according to security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media .
Last year the Paris-based group put Islamabad on a grey list .
Until now only Iran and North Korea are blacklisted , which severely restricts a country ’ s international borrowing capabilities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ grey list , said the officials .
There was no immediate response from the Taliban , but many of the group ’ s leaders are known to own businesses and property in Pakistan .
Many of Taliban leaders , including those heading the much-feared Haqqani network , have lived in Pakistan since the 1980s , when they were part of the Afghan mujahedeen and allies of the United States to end the 10-year invasion of Afghanistan by the former Soviet Union .
It ended in February 1989 .
Pakistan has denied giving sanctuary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2001 by the U.S.-led coalition but both Washington and Kabul routinely accused Islamabad of giving them a safe haven .
Still it was Pakistan ’ s relationship with the Taliban that Washington eventually sought to exploit to move its peace negotiations with the insurgent movement forward .
America signed a peace deal with the Taliban on Feb. 29 .
The deal is intended to end Washington ’ s nearly 20 years of military engagement in Afghanistan , and has been touted as Afghanistan ’ s best hope for a peace after more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Washington has already begun withdrawing its soldiers , efforts to get talks started between Kabul ’ s political leadership and the Taliban have been stymied by delays in a prisoner release program .
The two sides are to release prisoners — 5,000 by the government and 1,000 by the Taliban — as a goodwill gesture ahead of talks .
Both sides blame the other for the delays .
The timing of Pakistan ’ s decision to issue the orders implementing the restrictive sanctions could also be seen as a move to pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the intra-Afghan negotiations .
Kabul has defied a traditional jirga or council ’ s order to release the last Taliban it is holding , saying it wants 22 Afghan commandos being held by the Taliban freed first .
As well as the Taliban , the orders also target al-Qaida and the Islamic State affiliate that has carried out deadly attacks in both Pakistan and Afghanistan .
They also take aim at outlawed Pakistani groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan ( TTP ) , thousands of whom are believed by the UN to be hiding in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has declared war on Pakistan , carrying out one of the worst terrorist attacks in the country in 2014 killing 145 children and their teachers at an army public school in northwest Pakistan .
The orders also take aim at outlawed anti-Indian groups considered allied with the country ’ s security services .
Associated Press Writer Asim Tanvir from Multan , Pakistan , contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--South Korea, China reaffirm plans for leaders’ summit

SEOUL , Korea , Republic Of - Senior South Korean and Chinese officials on Saturday reaffirmed plans to arrange a summit between their leaders “ at an early date ” once coronavirus concerns subside , Seoul ’ s presidential office said .
At a meeting in the South Korean port city of Busan , top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi and South Korea ’ s national security adviser , Suh Hoon , also discussed the international standoff over North Korea ’ s nuclear weapons program and rising tensions between Washington and Beijing , the Blue House said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jae-in has been eager to improve bilateral relations that have been strained since South Korea deployed a U.S. anti-missile system on its soil in 2017 over Chinese objections .
Moon had hoped to host Chinese President Xi Jinping in Seoul during the earlier half of the year , but the spread of COVID-19 prevented the visit .
Yang , a Politburo member of the Chinese Communist Party ’ s powerful Central Committee , promised “ constant communication and co-operation ” with South Korea while supporting efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and stabilize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which didn ’ t provide further details .
Moon ’ s government is eager to resume engagement with North Korea , which has virtually cut off all inter-Korean co-operation amid nuclear negotiations with the Trump administration that have stalled over disagreements in exchanging sanctions relief for nuclear disarmament .
China , North Korea ’ s major ally and economic lifeline , had endorsed the easing of U.S.-led sanctions and pressure to induce denuclearization steps from the North .
During the Busan meeting , Yang also briefed Suh on China ’ s position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration that has expanded from trade issues and now includes Hong Kong , Chinese Muslims , spying accusations and control of the South China Sea .
Suh said “ co-prosperity and friendly co-operation ” between Washington and Beijing are critical for the interests of Northeast Asia and the world , the Blue House said .
Rising U.S.-Chinese tensions have rattled South Korea , which worries about being squeezed between its main military ally and biggest trading partner .


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--Smoke fills air as Portland police clear riot at precinct

PORTLAND , Ore. - Smoke filled the air outside a police precinct in Portland , Oregon , as authorities worked to clear a crowd accused of damaging patrol vehicles , throwing projectiles and pointing lasers at officers .
Police declared a riot early Saturday outside the department ’ s north precinct .
Smoke was deployed and officers physically forced protesters away from the area , news outlets reported .
Windows were broken on patrol vehicles , police said , and items such as glass bottles were thrown and lasers were aimed at officers .
Videos posted online showed several people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it wasn ’ t immediately clear how many arrests may have been made .
On Friday , protesters clashed with federal agents outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building .
People in a group of about 100 late Thursday and before dawn Friday sprayed the building with graffiti , hurled rocks and bottles at agents and shined laser lights at them , Portland police said .
The agents set off smoke or tear gas and used crowd control munitions to try to disperse the crowd .
Three people were arrested .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ buildings across the city were closed as the FBI investigated a car bomb threat .
Violent demonstrations have happened in Oregon ’ s largest city for more than two months following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody .


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--Trump struggles to use power of presidency to counter Biden

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump spent the week of the Democratic National Convention forsaking what has historically been an incumbent ’ s greatest advantage : He ’ s in the job his challenger wants .
Traditionally , an incumbent would devote the week of his rival ’ s convention to bolstering his own credentials as a leader .
But rather than focusing on his command of the job or using its power , Trump hit the campaign trail , where he flouted his own administration ’ s pandemic safety guidance and expressed gratitude for support from adherents to an extremist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a consequence of Trump ’ s unwillingness to share the limelight , but also a necessary attempt to shift the November campaign from a referendum on his job performance to a choice between himself and Joe Biden .
Ten weeks out from Election Day , as the coronavirus pandemic has ravaged Trump ’ s reelection chances , aides have recognized that a vote on his presidency is not one he is likely to win .
Acting “ presidential ” — holding briefings and leading negotiations — won ’ t suit him , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his presidency is what is holding him back .
Trump is not hoping to win over converts .
Instead his reelection strategy hinges on his ability to animate his most loyal supporters with fears of a Democratic administration , motivating them to show up at the polls and attempting to turn away moderates who might be leaning toward voting for Joe Biden .
“ Where is it written that you have to stay home and let your opponent attack you for a week ?
” said Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ one who fights back , and that ’ s what he was doing.
” The dynamic will be on display next week as Trump prepares for his own convention .
While he is set to rely on the trappings of the office – including the unprecedented use of the South Lawn as the backdrop for his acceptance speech – the crux of his message is expected to be sounding the alarm over the consequences of a Biden victory .
“ No one will be safe in our country , and no one will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sensing vulnerability , Democrats spent their convention hammering Trump ’ s fitness for the job he currently occupies , with former President Barack Obama declaring that Trump has “ no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves.
” “ Donald Trump hasn ’ t grown into the job because he can ’ t , ” Obama said bluntly .
In appearances this week , Trump at times seemed to be trying to prove their point .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love our country , ” Trump said Wednesday of supporters of QAnon , the baseless theory that centres on an alleged anonymous , high-ranking government official known as “ Q ” who shares information about an anti-Trump “ deep state ” often tied to satanism and child sex trafficking .
Trump , who has retweeted QAnon-promoting accounts , insisted he hadn ’ t heard much about the movement — the subject of an FBI extremist warning — “ other than I understand they like me very much ” and “ it is gaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ definition of walking into a punch , ” said Democratic strategist and former Biden aide Scott Mulhauser .
“ Trump has the job already , and rather than rising above the fray to embrace a Rose Garden strategy touting his leadership , he ’ s campaigning and flailing away at every convention punch Democrats throw.
“ But to Trump aides and allies , the aggressive approach was tried and true , an attempt at repeating his scorched earth campaign from 2016 , just at a new target .
As Biden laid out an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an “ ally of the light , not the darkness , ” Trump delivered his sharpest broadsides yet at Biden , casting him as a “ radical ” and “ socialist ” whose victory would bring about “ left-wing fascism.
” Focusing on his rival ’ s economic and immigration agenda , Trump repeatedly exaggerated Biden ’ s positions for greatest effect .
“ Every election is a binary choice , and this one is no different , ” Murtaugh said .
Terry Sullivan , the campaign manager for the 2016 presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found himself on the receiving end of similar attacks , said Trump “ only knows one way to campaign.
” “ He floods the zone with his message via events and Twitter attacking his opponents , “ he said .
” It ’ s worked for him in the past so , in his mind , there is no reason it won ’ t work again.
” Trump has torn up other norms in politics , so abandoning the traditional calendar is hardly a surprise — and could help him as he tries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The Trump team wisely chose to take an aggressive approach to the Dems ’ big week and dominated local news by travelling to secondary markets in key battleground states , ” said Scott Reed , the U.S. Chamber of Commerce ’ s political strategist .
“ Now that we are within 100 days , every day is a battle to win the day , the small sliver of undecided voters .
Time is the one thing you can not buy in national politics .
”


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--Tough choices for GOP over a Postal Service Trump belittles

WASHINGTON - Congressional Republicans in tight reelections are in a precarious position over the embattled Postal Service as its bosses impose cost-cutting measures on one of the government ’ s few beloved agencies .
And as often happens , President Donald Trump has made the political fallout for Republicans ever more ticklish .
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy , a major Trump donor , insists he ’ s trying to economize at an agency that ’ s long bled billions annually .
Meanwhile , Trump has railed almost daily about the Postal Service , which he considers wasteful , and has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it handle expected record levels of mail-in ballots this fall , driven by the coronavirus pandemic .
Fed by Trump ’ s unfounded insistence that mail-in voting is riddled with fraud , Democrats and other critics say he ’ s trying to undermine this fall ’ s presidential and congressional elections by preventing the Postal Service from delivering ballots in time to be counted .
DeJoy on Friday told a Senate committee that the Postal Service is committed to delivering election mail “ securely and on-time , “ but he said he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other agency cuts made since he took over in June .
Republicans say Democrats are exaggerating long-running Postal Service problems to rev up their own voters .
Illustrating the political advantage they perceive , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , said in a fundraising letter Friday that she ’ s “ disgusted right alongside you watching President Trump and his Republicans undermine and sabotage our Post Office.
” The issue has left GOP lawmakers in an uncomfortable spot .
Embracing Trump ’ s hard line makes them critics of an agency that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nonpartisan Pew Research Center poll this year .
But with mail delays already widespread , many face public pressure to back a House bill providing $ 25 billion for the agency in an unusual Saturday vote .
Several Republicans said the Postal Service issue will prove minor for most voters .
Others have grumbled , mostly in private , that they ’ re better off highlighting efforts to restore the economy , reopen schools and address the virus than enduring daily Trump barrages against mail-in voting and the struggling agency .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because mail-in voting is less secure than in-person voting , said Sen. Roy Blunt , R-Mo.
, a member of the Senate GOP leadership who doesn ’ t face reelection this year .
“ But to talk about it is also not totally helpful.
” Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones , seeking an open GOP House seat in west Texas , talks about delayed mail delivery of prescription drugs to veterans .
Former Colorado Gov .
John Hickenlooper , the Democrat challenging GOP Sen. Cory Gardner for his seat , says Gardner has chosen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump over the Postal Service .
Many Republicans have resorted to broad assurances that everything will be fine .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , said Thursday that the Postal Service “ is not in trouble “ and that lawmakers would ensure “ they are able to deliver our ballots on time.
” One of the few Republicans to openly break with Trump has been Rep. John Katko of a Democratic-tilting district in central New York .
He ’ s said he supports reversing DeJoy ’ s changes , adding , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We must not allow the Postal Service to falter at our community ’ s time of greatest need.
” Democrats are also positioning themselves as defenders of an agency that ’ s especially coveted in rural areas mostly represented by Republicans .
In one digital spot , the Senate Majority PAC , aligned with Senate Democratic leaders , hits Maine GOP Sen. Susan Collins for helping write a 2006 law it says pushed the Postal Service “ to the brink ” by requiring it to finance billions in future retirement benefits in advance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service during a pandemic , says the announcer , who asks , “ Susan Collins , how could you let this happen ?
” Collins faces a tight reelection race .
Last month , she and Sen. Dianne Feinstein , D-Calif. , introduced legislation providing up to $ 25 billion and telling the agency to produce a plan for fixing its long-term finances .
House GOP leaders are lobbying Republicans to oppose the bill being voted on Saturday which would provide $ 25 billion to the Postal Service .
It would also require @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other changes to practices that existed on Jan. 1 and require the agency to prioritize delivery of official election mailings .
In materials sent rank-and-file GOP lawmakers , No .
2 House Republican leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana called the bill the “ USPS Conspiracy Theory Act.
“ He wrote that the Postal Service has all the resources it needs and accused Democrats of “ pushing an attempt to fabricate a postal crisis for political purposes.
” One Republican saying he ’ s still considering his vote is Rep. Rodney Davis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less than 1 percentage point in 2018 and is targeted again by Democrats this year .
Davis said Democrats have exaggerated the Postal Service ’ s problems but added in an interview , “ There ’ s a lot of us who think the Postal Service deserves some funds right now.
” Former Rep. Tom Davis , R-Va. , accused Democrats of stoking fear to energize voters .
But the former head of the House Republican political organization said GOP lawmakers should back extra funding if it fits their districts ’ needs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you want to make it easier to vote , you don ’ t want to be seen as suppressing voters , ” he said .
“ No politician wants to be seen as that.
” AP reporters Hannah Fingerhut in Washington and Bruce Schreiner in Frankfort , Kentucky , contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--House holding rare Saturday vote on postal changes, funds

WASHINGTON - The House is convening for a rare Saturday session to address mail delivery disruptions , poised to pass legislation that would reverse recent changes in U.S .
Postal Service operations and send $ 25 billion in emergency funds to shore up the agency ahead of the November election .
Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the Postal Service will be “ election central ” as she recalled lawmakers to Washington in a highly unusual election year as millions of Americans are expected to opt for mail-in ballots to avoid polling places during the coronavirus pandemic .
The Postal Service is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carolyn Maloney , D-N.Y. , the chair of the Oversight Committee and the bill ’ s author , in the Democrats ’ weekly address .
The daylong Saturday session comes as an uproar over mail interference puts the Postal Service at the centre of the nation ’ s tumultuous election year , with Americans rallying around one of the nation ’ s oldest and more popular institutions .
New Postmaster General Louis DeJoy testified Friday in the Senate that his “ No .
1 priority ” is to ensure election mail arrives on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an ally of President Donald Trump ’ s , said he would not restore the cuts to mailboxes and sorting equipment that have already been made .
He could not provide senators with a plan for handling the ballot crush for the election .
Democrats remain skeptical and are pushing ahead with legislation to be sure .
Their bill would reverse the cuts and provide funds to the agency .
With the majority , they are expected to easily pass the legislation .
But Republicans are unlikely to sign on , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the GOP-held Senate .
In a memo to House Republicans , leaders derided the legislation as a postal “ conspiracy theory ” act .
Republicans say the reports of mail delivery problems are blown out of proportion and the Postal Service has enough money this year .
At the White House , Trump has said he wants to block agency emergency funding that would help the service handle a great increase in mail-in ballots .
Nevertheless , Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell is eyeing a $ 10 billion postal rescue as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House has said it would be open to more postal funding as part of a broader bill .
The Postal Service has been struggling financially under a decline in mail volume , COVID-19-related costs and a rare and cumbersome congressional requirement to fund in advance its retiree health care benefits .
For many , the Postal Service provides a lifeline , delivering not just cards and letters but also prescription drugs , financial statements and other items that are especially needed by mail during the pandemic .
The postal board of governors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take the job as postmaster general .
A GOP donor , he previously owned a logistics business that was a longtime Postal Service contractor .
He maintains significant financial stakes in companies that do business or compete with the agency , raising conflict of interest questions .
In a statement , the Postal Service said DeJoy has made all required financial disclosures , but he might have to divest some holdings if conflicts arise .
Republicans have long sought postal reforms to run the agency more like a private company , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be charging Amazon and other companies higher rates for package deliveries .
The founder of Amazon , Jeff Bezos , also owns The Washington Post , a publication that Trump frequently derides as “ fake news ” over critical stories of him .
Others say the Postal Service is not expected to be solely a money-making enterprise , often delivering to far-flung places where it is not efficient to operate .
Associated Press writer Bruce Schreiner in Frankfort , Ky. , contributed to this report .
The Associated Press produced this coverage with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York .

Lisa Mascaro, Anthony Izaguirre And Christina A. Cassidy - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--Police shoot, kill Black man outside store in Louisiana

LAFAYETTE , La .
- The mother of a man fatally shot by Louisiana police said her son was intelligent , shy and had sought therapy for social anxiety .
Her lawyers said they plan to sue over the death of Trayford Pellerin , who police said had a knife and was trying to enter a convenience store .
The shooting Friday night was captured on video , and the state ACLU condemned what it described as a “ horrific and deadly incident of police violence against a Black person.
” Both the ACLU and the Southern Poverty Law Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s death prompted a crowd of protesters to gather Saturday and demonstrate against the latest fatal police shooting .
Officers in riot gear fired what appeared to be tear gas on Saturday night after ordering the crowd to disperse .
On Friday night , Lafayette officers followed Pellerin , 31 , on foot as he left a convenience store where he had created a disturbance with a knife , Louisiana State Police said .
Stun guns failed to stop him , and the officers shot Pellerin as he tried to enter another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to a news release .
Pellerin became anxious in groups and may have been frightened by the officers , Michelle Pellerin told The Advocate .
He had sought professional help earlier this year , she said .
“ Instead of giving him a helping hand they gave him bullets , ” national civil rights attorney Ben Crump told the newspaper .
He and Baton Rouge attorney Ronald Haley said they have begun their own investigation by interviewing witnesses .
Some said Pellerin was not armed , Haley said .
The family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mental health crisis , Crump said .
Lafayette police asked state police to investigate — standard procedure in the state for shootings by local officers .
“ Lafayette police shot Mr. Pellerin several times as he walked away from them , ” Margaret Huang , president and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center , said in an emailed statement .
“ His killing demands an analysis of the excessive use of force by law enforcement .
We fully support movement leaders ’ calls for a swift and transparent investigation into Mr. Pellerin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director Alanah Odoms Hebert said , “ Once again , video footage has captured a horrific and deadly incident of police violence against a Black person who was brutally killed in front of our eyes.
” Captured on video , the May 25 death of George Floyd under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer sparked a global reckoning over police tactics and racial injustice .
“ Trayford Pellerin should be alive today .
Instead , a family is mourning and a community is grieving , “ her statement said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police can murder people with impunity or when routine encounters escalate into deadly shooting sprees.
” Rikasha Montgomery , who took a video of the shooting , told The Advertiser that a man holding what looked like a knife kept walking down the highway while some officers fired stun guns at him .
Officers holding guns shouted at him to get onto the ground , said Montgomery , 18 .
She said they fired when the man reached the door of a Shell gas station .
“ When I heard the gunshots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone like I was first filming , ” she said .
“ I feel kind of scared about it .
I ’ m traumatized .
You ’ re so used to hearing about this , but I never thought I would experience it.
” Crump , representing Pellerin ’ s family , called the shooting reckless and his death tragic .
“ The officers involved should be fired immediately for their abhorrent and fatal actions , ” Crump said in a statement Saturday .
The incident was the third shooting by Lafayette police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man was critically wounded last month after being shot during an altercation with police .
Another man was in stable condition after being shot during a burglary investigation earlier this month .
Haley told The Advocate that he and Crump will be seeking reform and policy changes in the police department as well as damages .
“ We want policy changes as well , so that Ben and I are not in the living room with another family in Lafayette dealing with this , ” Haley said .


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--The Latest: South Korea sees steady rise in virus cases

SEOUL , South Korea — South Korea has added 397 new coronavirus cases , counting its tenth straight day of triple-digit increases as the speed of viral spread nears the levels the country saw during the worst of its outbreak in spring .
The resurgence , which began in the densely populated capital area before spreading to practically every major city and provincial town over the past week , is a major setback for the country that had been eager to tout its hard-won gains against the virus .
After avoiding stringent social distancing measures because of concerns over a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large gatherings , closed nightspots , beaches and churches and removed fans from professional sports in a desperate effort to stem transmissions .
Sunday ’ s daily jump in infections marked the third-consecutive day of over 300 and the highest since the 483 cases reported on March 7 , when the country was dealing with a spike of transmissions in its southeastern region .
The KCDC linked 297 of the new cases to the Seoul metropolitan area , home to half of the country ’ s 51 million population , where health workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ various sources , including churches , schools , restaurants and workplaces .
Cases were also reported in other major cities such as Busan .
Gwangju , Daejeon and Daegu , the epicenter of the country ’ s previous major outbreak in late February and March .
HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK : — How does coronavirus spread at a concert ?
Germans do a test of negative volunteers , collecting data in a “ real life ” simulation of a pop concert with strict health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are tormented .
Miami ICU nurse Rublas Ruiz has seen too many of them , the last gasps of 17 men and women who died of the coronavirus .
— Fifteen Minnesota residents have contracted the coronavirus after being exposed during the 10-day Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota .
Minnesota health officials expect the number to grow .
HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : TUSCALOOSA , Ala. — The University of Alabama has issued a temporary prohibition on student events , including off-campus parties and fraternity and sorority gatherings .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ moratorium on all in-person student events outside of classroom instruction .
Social gatherings are prohibited both on and off campus and the common areas of dormitories and fraternity and sorority houses are closed , according to the new guidelines .
The announcement came less than a week after city and school officials raised the alarm about large crowds waiting outside bars .
Alabama has confirmed nearly 2,000 deaths in the state , according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University .
BOSTON — More cases of coronavirus have been traced to a recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say 53 cases have been linked to the Aug. 7 reception in Millinocket .
A hospital says one person associated with the outbreak has died .
The reception at the Big Moose Inn exceeded the state ’ s indoor gathering limit , among other violations of state rules .
About 65 people attended the event .
The limit was 50 .
Thirty-two new cases and one additional death was announced Saturday by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention .
Maine has reached nearly 4,320 cases and 131 deaths .
MIDDLETON , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost its lease after violating Dane County ’ s mask mandate .
The Wisconsin State Journal reports that Helbachs Coffee Roasters and Kitchen will close on Aug. 31 .
The shop says in an Instagram post Thursday its landlord has refused to renew its lease and the decision to close comes on the heels of “ enforcement action , negative public statements and continued vindictive and hostile behaviour ” by county health officials toward the shop .
Public Health Madison and Dane County issued the shop three citations for violating the order .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ food and drink license because of its refusal to abide by the order .
The shop responded with a lawsuit , declaring itself “ a mask-free zone.
” TALLAHASSEE , Fla — Florida recorded 4,300 new cases and 106 coronavirus deaths on Saturday .
The state is registering an average of 156 coronavirus deaths per day this month , which likely makes COVID-19 the state ’ s No .
1 killer during that period .
Cancer and heart disease each average about 125 deaths per day , according to the Florida Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continues a downward trend from more than 10,000 cases per day a month ago .
During the past week , the state ’ s positivity rate on tests has been 10.8 % .
Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have been declining .
On Saturday , 4,773 patients were treated for the disease in Florida hospitals compared to Friday ’ s 4,909 and Thursday ’ s 5,340 .
That number has fallen from a peak above 9,500 on July 23 .
Overall , the state has nearly 600,000 confirmed cases since March 1 and 10,410 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Health Services reported 996 new cases and 68 confirmed coronavirus deaths on Saturday .
That increased the state ’ s totals to 197,895 cases and 4,756 deaths , as reports of infections and deaths continued to slow .
The coronavirus hospitalization numbers from the health department showed a downward trend , posting levels from late May and early June before Arizona became a national hot spot .
New case and death reports have dropped since mid-July .
The seven-day rolling average of new daily cases dropped from 1,578 on Aug. 7 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average of deaths per day dropped from 55 to 38 .
ROME — Vacationers returning to the Italian mainland from Sardinia helped push Italy ’ s daily new coronavirus caseload far past 1,000 on Saturday , reaching the high for the first time since early May .
Confirmed cases increased from 947 on Friday to 1,071 on Saturday , with many infections confirmed in travellers who were tested as they disembarked from airplanes or ferries .
Authorities in Lazio , the south-central region including Rome , say 45 per cent of its 215 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Sardinia , where several clusters have been linked to discos or private parties on the posh Emerald Coast resort area .
While the average age of infection early in the outbreak hovered near 70 , it ’ s now 30 .
Italy has more than 258,000 confirmed cases .
With three more deaths , the known total has reached 35,400 .
NEW YORK — The world hit a grim coronavirus milestone Saturday with 800,000 confirmed deaths and close to 23 million confirmed cases .
That ’ s according to a tally kept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been attempting to balance public health with economic health .
Officials believe the true numbers are far higher because of a lack of testing and reporting .
In the U.S. , the nation with the most infections , health officials believe there may be 10 times more cases than the confirmed 5.6 million .
The U.S. also leads the world in deaths , with more than 175,000 .
The news comes as South Korea , once considered a coronavirus success story , banned large gatherings , shut nightspots and churches and banned fans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resurgence .
Germany , which also initially slowed the virus , reported a four-month high of more than 2,000 cases on Saturday .
Schools there reopened two weeks ago , and at least 41 schools this week reported students or teachers were infected .
In the U.S. , schools have begun to reopen , with coronavirus outbreaks triggering sudden closings , quarantines and anxiety among parents .
BERLIN — Germany ’ s disease control reported 2,034 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday , the first time the daily national increase has topped 2,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Robert Koch Institute calls the coronavirus outbreaks “ very concerning.
” They are reported in various settings , including nursing homes and hospitals , schools , and “ especially among travellers and in the context of religious or family events.
” Germany ’ s 16 states are resuming in-class schooling .
There are concerns about the risks of virus clusters at schools spreading to families and others .
In Berlin , at least 41 schools this week reported students or teachers had become infected .
The country was widely applauded for its quick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of the pandemic , which peaked at more than 6,000 daily cases near the end of March and early April .
But the figures have been increasing in recent weeks .
Overall , Germany has more than 232,000 confirmed cases and 9,200 deaths .
BREMERTON , Wash. — Washington state health officials say more than 30 coronavirus cases have been reported in an outbreak at a Bremerton hospital .
The Washington State Department of Health says the outbreak has affected multiple units at St. Michael Medical Center , which is part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outbreak involves hospital staff and employees .
The Kitsap Public Health District and state health officials say they are working with the hospital to contain the outbreak after the first case was reported late last week .
Officials say patients discharged from the impacted units have been notified and new admissions and visitation at the hospital is currently limited .
NEW YORK — New York state will apply for a federal program for unemployment money now that the state won ’ t have to add funds .
President Donald Trump had signed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available from a FEMA fund after a new pandemic relief bill wasn ’ t reached .
The $ 400-per-week benefit put the onus on the states to pay $ 100 a week of that amount .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo called the idea “ laughable ” because state budgets are cash-strapped from the coronavirus .
The U.S. Department of Labor issued guidance last week saying states would not have to contribute .
New York budget director Robert Mujica says , “ the federal government has blinked and will no longer make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” PRAGUE — The Czech Republic has recorded its biggest single-day increase in coronavirus cases .
The Health Ministry says there were 506 new cases in the latest 24-hour period .
The previous high was 377 cases registered on March 27 .
The announcement Saturday comes a day after neighbouring Slovakia also reported a record daily increase of infected people .
The Czech Republic has 21,551 confirmed cases and 411 deaths .
NEW DELHI — India recorded nearly 70,000 new coronavirus infections as the disease spreads across the country ’ s southern states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial centre of Mumbai .
India ’ s Health Ministry reported 69,878 new cases on Saturday , bringing the total to 2,975,701 .
Globally India has been reporting the biggest daily rise in cases for 18 consecutive days .
Some 2.2 million people have recovered from the disease in India since the first case was diagnosed in late January .
India has the third-highest caseload behind the United States and Brazil .
Its 55,794 deaths is the fourth-highest death toll in the world .
SEOUL , South Korea — South Korea is banning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and removing fans from professional sports nationwide in an attempt to slow a resurgence of coronavirus infections .
Health Minister Park Neung-hoo announced the measures Saturday after officials reported 332 newly confirmed cases , marking the ninth straight day of triple-digit increases .
Most of the new cases were in the Seoul metropolitan area , which has been at the centre of the viral surge of recent weeks .
But infections were also reported in nearly every major city and in towns across the country .
The government had already imposed the tighter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a move they resisted for months out of economic concerns .
Park says it has become inevitable to expand the same measures nationwide with the virus spreading more broadly .
BEIJING — Health officials in China say in their report on the coronavirus that the country had no locally transmitted infections in the latest 24-hour period , though 22 cases were confirmed in Chinese arriving from abroad .
While the local spread of the virus appears to have been contained in mainland China , the semi-autonomous southern city of Hong Kong is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic began .
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says free coronavirus tests will be offered to residents during the first two weeks of September , in hopes of restarting the heavily services-dependent local economy .
A new surge in infections that started in July has more than tripled the number of cases in Hong Kong to 4,632 and 75 deaths .
WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden says he would do whatever was needed to keep the country safe amid the coronavirus pandemic even if that meant shutting down the country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with ABC .
The interview airs Sunday night , but clips were provided Friday .
Biden says , “ I will be prepared to do whatever it takes to save lives because we can not get the country moving until we control the virus.
” He adds that if scientists recommended shutting down the country , “ I would shut it down.
” President Donald Trump is encouraging schools to reopen and people to get back to work .
The U.S. has had more than 5.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases , with more @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--Trump’s vision of American greatness at centre of convention

WASHINGTON - Republicans will aim to recast the story of Donald Trump ’ s presidency when they hold their national convention , featuring speakers drawn from everyday life as well as cable news and the White House while drawing a stark contrast with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
Trump is looking to shift his campaign away from being a referendum on a presidency ravaged by a pandemic and economic collapse and toward a choice between vastly different visions of America ’ s future .
Reshaping the national conversation around the race has taken on greater urgency for Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the coronavirus continues to ravage the nation ’ s economy and his reelection chances .
The four-day event is themed “ Honouring the Great American Story , ” according to four Trump campaign officials involved with the planning process but not authorized to discuss it by name .
The convention will feature prominently a number of well-known Trump supporters , including members of the Trump family , but also those whom the GOP say are members of the “ silent majority ” of Americans who have been aided by Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” by a “ cancel culture ” pushed by Democrats , the campaign officials said .
Where Democrats highlighted Republicans who crossed party lines to back Biden as an indictment of Trump ’ s leadership , the GOP lineup will primarily feature figures on the conservative media circuit with the hope that they can deliver red meat for the president ’ s loyal supporters — though planners say they will feature some people who did not vote for Trump in 2016 .
Planners insist they will put forward a more “ positive ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Yet the president also appears intent on trying to seize on the nation ’ s cultural divides , particularly around issues of racial injustice and policing , drawing on grievances to motivate his base .
The officials outlined the campaign plans to The Associates Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss the emerging schedule .
The opening night Monday will highlight the “ Land of Promise , “ aiming to show how Trump helped renew the American dream .
Featured speakers include South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott , who will deliver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prime-time block ; former Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley ; presidential son Donald Trump , Jr. ; staunch congressional defenders Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida and Jim Jordan of Ohio ; and Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel .
Tanya Weinreis , a Montana coffee shop owner who received federal loans to pay her employees during the coronavirus , will also speak , as will Andrew Pollack , whose daughter Meadow was among those killed in the 2018 school shooting in Parkland , Florida .
Tuesday ’ s theme is “ Land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cast Biden ’ s plans as “ socialist ” and “ radical left.
” Speakers will highlight Trump ’ s actions on trade , abortion and the nation ’ s opioid crisis .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will address Trump ’ s foreign policy record , an unusual foray into domestic politics by the nation ’ s top diplomat , and Trump children Eric and Tiffany Trump will also speak .
Another speaker will be Nicholas Sandmann , who as a student at a Catholic high school in Kentucky gained national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Native American man during demonstrations in Washington .
Media commentary in the aftermath of the viral video from the interaction depicted the students as racially insensitive .
Sandmann and the Native American man , Nathan Phillips , later said they were both trying to defuse tensions among conflicting groups that converted at the Lincoln Memorial .
First lady Melania Trump will deliver the marquee address of the night from a newly renovated White House Rose Garden .
Wednesday , themed “ Land of Heroes , ” will feature a raft of conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Noem , White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway , former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell , Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York and presidential daughter-in-law Lara Trump .
Clarence Henderson , a civil rights figure from the 1960s , is also on deck to address the “ true meaning of peaceful protest , “ planners said , as Trump plans to highlight police officers amid a nationwide call for policing reform after the May death of George Floyd in police custody .
Vice-President Mike Pence will deliver the keynote Wednesday from Baltimore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The Star-Spangled Banner ” in 1814 , to highlight Trump ’ s opposition to professional athletes who protest racial injustice by kneeling during the national anthem .
Speakers on the final night , themed “ Land of Greatness , will include Alice Johnson , the criminal justice advocate whose sentence on drug crimes was commuted by Trump at the urging of celebrity Kim Kardashian ; Carl and Marsha Mueller , the parents of human rights activist Kayla Mueller , who died while being held by the Islamic State group in Syria ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s personal attorney , former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani , whose attempts to dig up dirt in Ukraine on Biden ’ s family were at the centre of the president ’ s impeachment last year , will also address the final night of the convention .
Republican congressional leaders Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California and Democrat turned Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey are to deliver remarks , as will Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White .
Trump will close out the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House South Lawn .
He and Ivanka Trump , his daughter and senior adviser who is set to introduce him , will speak from an elaborate stage in front of the Executive Mansion .
The move has drawn criticism from Democrats and ethics groups , who argue that Trump is violating the spirit , if not the letter , of federal law by using the White House grounds to stage his convention .
While the president is not covered by the Hatch Act , his aides can not appear at the convention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extremely limited in what they may do to help pull off the convention .
Planners insist they are following all ethics rules .
Plans for the GOP event have rapidly come together over the last six weeks , since it became apparent to the party that Trump could not hold an in-person convention at his backup site of Jacksonville , Florida .
Trump was forced to move most of the convention out of Charlotte , North Carolina , the original host city , because of restrictive state coronavirus precautions .
Republicans — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Democratic convention for cues on what worked and what didn ’ t in the virtual format , hoping that will provide an advantage in putting together their week of events .
One major difference , Republicans said , will be the emphasis on live rather than taped events — and holding events with crowds to the greatest extent practicable .
Trump repeatedly criticized Democrats ’ reliance on pre-taped videos , rather than live addresses , saying Tuesday , “ Live , by the way , is always much more exciting.
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s speech in the Rose Garden , with a larger cohort watching in person when Pence speaks Wednesday from Fort McHenry .
More than 1,000 guests are anticipated on the South Lawn when Trump delivers his acceptance speech Thursday night .
The RNC has requested approval to launch fireworks from the National Mall after Trump ’ s speech .
Unlike Democrats , Republicans are not expected to feature a roll call of states to formally renominate the president — traditionally one of the most dramatic moments of a convention .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truncated format Monday morning in Charlotte with a condensed recap expected to air later during the evening .


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--Pakistan issues orders enforcing UN sanctions on Taliban

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has issued sweeping orders enforcing financial sanctions against Afghanistan ’ s Taliban , just as the militant group is in the midst of a U.S.-led peace process in the neighbouring country .
Pakistan ’ s foreign ministry in a statement late on Saturday said the sanctions are not new but rather are laid out in a 2015 U.N. regulations .
The orders , which were issued on Tuesday , enforce the U.N. regulations and are issued routinely , the statement said .
A similar order was issued in 2019 .
The U.N.-imposed penalties target dozens of individuals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Baradar and several members of the Haqqani family , including Sirajuddin , the current head of the Haqqani network and deputy head of the Taliban .
Many Taliban leaders , including those heading the much-feared Haqqani network , have lived in Pakistan since the 1980s .
In those years they were part of the Afghan mujahedeen and allies of the U.S. to end the 10-year invasion by the former Soviet Union .
It ended in February , 1989 .
Many of the group ’ s leaders are known to own businesses and property @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups included others besides the Taliban and is in keeping with a 5-year-old United Nations resolution sanctioning the Afghan group , freezing their assets and restricting their travel .
The foreign ministry statement said the new orders reflect the U.N. sanctions .
The timing of Pakistan ’ s decision to issue the orders again could be seen as a move to pressure the Taliban into a quick start to intra-Afghan negotiations , the next step in a peace deal signed in late February .
Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen said Saturday the financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
But he said any tightening of a ban on travel could hurt peace negotiations .
While the first round will be held in Doha , Qatar , subsequent talks will be held elsewhere .
Several countries , including Germany , have offered to host .
“ It will hamper the peace process if there is a travel ban on all members , ” Shaheen said in an interview .
“ There is a need for a relaxation of such curbs and embargoes because we are entering into another phase of ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Afghan issue.
” The orders were issued as part of Pakistan ’ s efforts to avoid being blacklisted by the Financial Action Task Force , which monitors money laundering and tracks terrorist groups ’ activities , according to security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media .
Last year , the Paris-based group put Pakistan on a grey list of countries with a high risk of money laundering and terrorism financing but which have formally committed to working with the task force to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and North Korea are blacklisted , which severely restricts a country ’ s international borrowing capabilities .
Pakistan is trying to get off the grey list , said the officials .
Pakistan has denied giving sanctuary to Taliban members following their ouster in 2001 by the U.S.-led coalition but both Washington and Kabul routinely accuse Islamabad of giving them a safe haven .
Still , it was Pakistan ’ s relationship with the Taliban that Washington eventually sought to exploit to move its peace negotiations with the insurgent movement forward .
The U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Feb. 29 .
The deal is intended to end Washington ’ s nearly 20 years of military engagement in Afghanistan , and has been touted as Afghanistan ’ s best hope for peace after more than four decades of war .
But even as the U.S. has already begun withdrawing its soldiers , efforts to get talks started between Kabul ’ s political leadership and the Taliban have been stymied by delays in a prisoner release program .
The two sides are to release prisoners — 5,000 by the government and 1,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will gesture ahead of talks .
Both sides blame the other for the delays .
Kabul has defied an order by a traditional loya jirga , or council , to release the last Taliban members it is holding , saying it wants 22 Afghan commandos being held by the Taliban freed first .
Besides the Taliban , the sanctions orders target al-Qaida and the Islamic State affiliate , which has carried out deadly attacks in both Pakistan and Afghanistan .
They also take aim at outlawed Pakistani groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan , thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be hiding in remote regions of Afghanistan .
The TTP has declared war on Pakistan , carrying out one of the worst terrorist attacks in the country in 2014 killing 145 children and their teachers at an army public school in northwest Pakistan .
The sanctions orders also take aim at outlawed anti-Indian groups considered allied with the country ’ s security services .
Associated Press writer Asim Tanvir in Multan , Pakistan , contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--‘He has no principles. None,’ Trump’s sister, a retired federal judge, tells niece in recorded inter

‘He has no principles. None,’ Trump’s sister, a retired federal judge, tells niece in recorded interview

Take it from President Donald Trump ’ s older sister : He lies , he ’ s cruel , he doesn ’ t read , he cheated his way into college , he only cares about his base .
In conversations recorded by her niece in 2018 and 2019 , Marianne Trump Barry — a now-retired federal judge — comes across as aghast at her brother ’ s behavior in the Oval Office .
“ He has no principles .
None .
None , ” she said in excerpts of her conversations with Mary Trump published Saturday night in The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was appalled at “ what they ’ re doing with kids at the border ” with Mexico .
As a federal appeal judge , Barry once rebuked an immigration judge for “ bullying ” an asylum seeker in his courtroom .
“ All he wants to do is appeal to his base ... .
And his base , I mean my God , if you were a religious person , you want to help people .
Not do this , ” Barry said in a conversation the Post said was secretly recorded .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Barry said of her brother : “ It ’ s the phoniness of it all .
It ’ s the phoniness and this cruelty .
Donald is cruel.
” Barry suggests in the conversations her brother , 74 , was a poor student .
“ I did his homework for him , ” she said .
Also , she said , “ I drove him around New York City to try to get him into college.
” “ He went to Fordham for one year ( Trump actually was at Fordham University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got into University of Pennsylvania because he had somebody take the exams.
” Barry was also appalled at how her brother conducts his presidency .
“ His goddamned tweet and lying , oh my God , ” she said .
“ I ’ m talking too freely , but you know .
The change of stories .
The lack of preparation .
The lying .
Holy s — t. ” There was no immediate comment from the White House about the conversations .
The recordings with Barry are not mentioned in Mary Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ Too Much and Never Enough.
” Mary Trump has vowed to support Joe Biden ’ s presidential campaign .


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--Portland protest turns violent, federal police clear plaza

PORTLAND , Ore. - Federal authorities on Saturday forced demonstrators away from a plaza near a federal building as dueling demonstrations in Portland by right-wing and left-wing protesters turned violent .
The area includes county and federal buildings and has been the site of numerous recent protests .
Department of Homeland Security officers moved through the plaza across from an 18-story federal building .
A federal courthouse is also near that area .
Violent demonstrations have gripped Portland for months , following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody .
The demonstration began at about noon near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s biggest city , local media outlets reported .
Demonstrators hurled rocks and other items at each other and got into fights .
Streets were blocked amid the mayhem .
Images showed what appeared to be hundreds of people involved , many of them wearing helmets and carrying makeshift shields .
Some demonstrators appeared to use pepper spray during clashes , and at least one person appeared to pull a gun .
No arrests were reported .
The Justice Center in recent weeks has been the target of left-wing protesters mostly operating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into clashes with police .
Saturday afternoon ’ s demonstrations spread to other areas as crowds marched .
Right-wing groups had announced a rally near the Justice Center Saturday afternoon that quickly drew counter demonstrators .
The building houses a police precinct , police headquarters , a county jail and courtrooms and is next door to a federal courthouse that was targeted for weeks last month by left-wing protesters who clashed with federal agents dispatched to Portland to protect it .
The protesters at Saturday ’ s demonstration included the Proud Boys right-wing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of America and Popular Mobilization , The Oregonian/OregonLive reported .
Portland police issued a warning about two hours after the demonstrations began , warning that officers were prepared to start using crowd control weapons if the violence did not end .
By late afternoon , the crowds had dwindled .
In a statement , Portland Police said there had been questions about why the gathering wasn ’ t declared a riot and why city police officers didn ’ t intervene .
Incident commanders have to determine whether police action will make things more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In this case there were hundreds of individuals and many weapons within the groups and an extremely limited amount of police resources actually available to address such a crowd , “ police said.. “ Additionally , ( Portland police officers ) have been the focus of over 80 days of violent actions directed at the police , which is a major consideration for determining if police resources are necessary to interject between two groups with individuals who appear to be willingly engaging in physical confrontations for short durations.
” The Saturday afternoon clashes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 200 left-wing protesters outside a different police precinct .
President Donald Trump on Saturday morning tweeted : “ Another bad night of Rioting in Portland , Oregon , “ Demonstrators hurled bottles and rocks at officers and pointed lasers at them , damaging police cars and causing minor injuries for several officers , Portland police said in a statement .
One protester was given medical treatment at the scene after he threw rocks at officers and was shot with what police described as a “ sponge-tipped less-lethal round , “ the statement said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Three were charged with assault on a police officer .


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--Survivors will face New Zealand mosque gunman at sentencing

WELLINGTON , New Zealand - When Aya Al-Umari faces her brother ’ s killer in the dock , she intends to tell him that his hatred stole away her best friend , her guardian , her hero .
That she still wants to pick up the phone and tell her brother all about her day , because he ’ s the only one who would understand .
Al-Umari is one of more than 60 survivors and family members who this week in court will confront the white supremacist who committed the worst atrocity in New Zealand ’ s modern history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two Christchurch mosques in March 2019 .
The gunman , 29-year-old Australian Brenton Harrison Tarrant , pleaded guilty in March to 51 counts of murder , 40 counts of attempted murder and one count of terrorism — the first terrorism conviction in the nation ’ s history .
Tarrant has dismissed his lawyers and intends to represent himself during the four-day sentencing starting Monday , raising fears he could try to use the occasion as a platform to promote his racist views .
He can choose to speak once the victims have spoken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down any attempts he makes to grandstand .
Tarrant could become the first person in New Zealand to be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole .
New Zealand abolished the death penalty for murder in 1961 , and the longest sentence imposed since then has been life imprisonment with a minimum 30-year non-parole period .
The attacks targeting people praying at the Al Noor and Linwood mosques shocked the nation and prompted new laws banning the deadliest types of semi-automatic weapons .
They also prompted global changes to social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Facebook , where it was viewed by hundreds of thousands of people .
Some victims have travelled from abroad to attend the court hearing and have completed a mandatory 14-day quarantine imposed because of the coronavirus .
Virus distancing requirements mean the number of survivors in the main courtroom will be limited to 35 at any one time .
But the hearing will also be streamed to seven adjacent courtrooms , which can hold another 200 or so people .
Judge Cameron Mander said he realized the court process had been “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the victims .
“ Finality and closure is considered by some as the best means of bringing relief to the Muslim community , ” he wrote in a court memo .
Mander is not allowing live reporting from the sentencing and has reserved the right to ban some things that are said in court from being broadcast or published .
The victims also can choose to remain anonymous .
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern , who was praised around the world for her empathy and leadership after the attacks , said she would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sentencing would be hard for the victims .
“ I don ’ t think there is much that I can say that is going to ease just how traumatic that period ’ s going to be , “ she said .
Andrew Geddis , a law professor at the University of Otago , said the case was unprecedented in New Zealand , both in the magnitude of the crime and the number of victims involved in the sentencing .
He said it was likely the judge would impose the first all-of-life sentence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tarrant ’ s guilty plea and his young age .
Geddis said if Tarrant shows any remorse during the hearing , it may factor in his favour , while any attempt he makes to promote his racist agenda will likely count against him .
Tarrant moved to New Zealand in 2017 and kept a low profile in the university city of Dunedin .
He frequented a gym , practiced shooting at a rifle club range and built up an arsenal of weapons .
He didn ’ t appear to be employed , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d inherited a significant amount of money when his father died .
Tarrant appeared to have a fascination with religious conflicts in Europe and the Balkans , and visited a number of sites in Eastern Europe in the years before he committed the massacre .
After his attack at the second mosque , Tarrant was driving , possibly to carry out a shooting at a third mosque , when two police officers rammed his car off the road , dragged him out and arrested him .
Al-Umari ’ s 35-year-old brother Hussein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Noor mosque .
In her victim impact statement , which she shared with The Associated Press ahead of the sentencing , she says that she mourns not only the loss of her brother , but also the loss of his hopes and goals , and that she will never have any nieces or nephews .
“ There are no words that do justice to explain what it is like to go from having lunch with your brother on one day to burying him on another , ” she writes .


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--California ‘dream house,’ decades in the making, is in ashes

VACAVILLE , Calif. - When he closes his eyes at night , Hank Hanson hears sirens in his dreams -- a byproduct of living nearly 30 years in the wildfire-prone wilderness of Northern California between San Francisco and Sacramento .
But about 1 a.m. Wednesday , Hanson knew he wasn ’ t dreaming when he looked to the hills above his home .
The ridge line , where he and his wife in daylight tracked the sun ’ s shifting seasonal paths , was lit up as if someone had strung lights across it and plugged it in .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waterfall , ” Hanson , 81 , said .
The fire was one of the more than 500 wildfires ignited across California this week from what state firefighting officials are calling a “ lightning siege ” — summer thunderstorms that produce little or no rain but have prompted nearly 12,000 lightening strikes across sun-scorched terrain .
More than 13,700 firefighters are battling the blazes , the most severe of which are focused in Northern California west of the state capital in Sacramento and east of the San Francisco Bay .
The extraordinary reach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the point “ we have not seen in recent history , ” said Shana Jones , chief of the Sonoma-Lake-Napa unit of the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection .
With firefighting crews stretched thin , there was no evacuation warning for Hanson and his neighbours .
Luckily , Hanson was awake because his electricity was out and the stifling 95-degree ( 35C ) temperature prevented him from sleeping .
He quickly woke up his wife , and the two raced in their diesel truck down the road .
The air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried to wake up their neighbours .
Hanson and his wife made it to a hotel room in the nearby community of Fairfield , grateful they were alive .
They found out later that their house was destroyed by the fire .
The house was really two houses .
The first was a small redwood home originally built in Vacaville in the 1930s but later moved to the property .
Hanson , who owned a business that made patio enclosures , bought the property in 1974 .
He spent weekends there for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peach , fig and eucalyptus trees .
In 1991 , he completed a 3,000 square-foot ( 279-square-meter ) addition to that house .
It had a wine cellar , indoor and outdoor pools plus three fireplaces .
The fires this week have grown quickly and , collectively , have destroyed nearly 700 homes and other structures across the state .
Most of the homes that were levelled were burned by the fire that took Hanson ’ s home , the so-called LNU Lightning Complex fire .
It ’ s the second-largest wildfire in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 490 square miles ( 1,270 square kilometres ) .
Hanson said he is treating the fire as “ an adventure “ and talks excitedly when describing his harrowing escape .
But his voice catches when he talks about the house , especially when he says he won ’ t rebuild .
“ I worked on it for 30 years .
It was pretty nice , ” he said .
“ I wouldn ’ t want to do it on a lesser scale , and I don ’ t got time to top the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to turn the lot into a park and a campground for himself and his friends for the next few years .
But first , he had some shopping to do .
His tomatoes , surprisingly , did not burn .
He bought some hoses and plans to return to the ranch in an attempt to water them , assuming the deer haven ’ t eaten them first .
“ They escaped the whole deal , ” he said .
“ About the only thing I have left in the world is tomatoes .
@

Adam Beam And Noah Berger - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--House passes bill to reverse changes blamed for mail delays

WASHINGTON - With heated debate over mail delays , the House approved legislation in a rare Saturday session that would reverse recent changes in U.S .
Postal Service operations and send $ 25 billion to shore up the agency ahead of the November election .
Speaker Nancy Pelosi recalled lawmakers to Washington over objections from Republicans dismissing the action as a stunt .
President Donald Trump urged a no vote , including in a Saturday tweet , railing against mail-in ballots expected to surge in the COVID-19 crisis .
He has said he wants to block extra funds to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay any attention to what the president is saying , because it is all designed to suppress the vote , ” Pelosi said at the Capitol .
Pelosi called the Postal Service the nation ’ s “ beautiful thread ” connecting Americans and said voters should “ ignore ” the president ’ s threats .
The daylong session came as an uproar over mail disruptions puts the Postal Service at the centre of the nation ’ s tumultuous election year , with Americans rallying around one of the nation ’ s oldest and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are expected to opt for mail-in ballots to avoid polling places during the coronavirus pandemic .
Ahead of voting the president tweeted , “ This is all another HOAX.
” More than two dozen Republicans broke with the president and backed the bill , which passed 257-150 .
Democrats led approval , but the legislation is certain to stall in the GOP-held Senate .
The White House said the president would veto it .
Facing a backlash over operational changes , new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy testified Friday in the Senate that his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure election mail arrives on time .
But the new postal leader , a Trump ally , said he would not restore the cuts to mailboxes and sorting equipment that have already been made .
He could not provide senators with a plan for handling the ballot crush for the election .
DeJoy is set to return Monday to testify before the House Oversight Committee .
“ The American people don ’ t want anyone messing with the post office , “ said Rep. Carolyn Maloney , D-N.Y. , the chair of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill .
“ They just want their mail.
” But Republicans countered that complaints about mail delivery disruptions are overblown , and no emergency funding is needed right now .
Despite the postmaster general ’ s vow election mail will arrive on time , Democrats remain skeptical .
Maloney ’ s committee on Saturday released internal Postal Service documents warning about steep declines and delays in a range of mail services since early July , shortly after DeJoy took the helm .
He acknowledged at the Senate hearing there has been a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports of widespread problems .
The Board of Governors of the Postal Service announced a bipartisan committee to oversee mail voting .
The bill would reverse the cuts by prohibiting any changes made after January , and provide funds to the agency .
In a memo to House Republicans , leaders derided the legislation as a postal “ conspiracy theory ” act .
Many GOP lawmakers echoed such sentiments during a lively floor debate .
“ I like the post office , I really do , ” said Rep. Glenn Grothman , R-Wis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have no crisis here.
” Nevertheless , Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell is eyeing a $ 10 billion postal rescue as part of the next COVID-19 relief package .
While Trump has said he wants to block emergency funding for the agency , the White House has said it would be open to more postal funding as part of a broader bill .
Hundreds of lawmakers returned to Washington for the weekend session , but dozens cast votes by proxy under House rules that allow them to stay away during the COVID-19 crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , R-Pa. , announced Saturday he had tested positive for the virus .
Trump ’ s chief of staff , Mark Meadows , was on Capitol Hill meeting Saturday with GOP House leader Kevin McCarthy and other lawmakers , according to a Republican aide granted anonymity to discuss the private sessions .
The Postal Service has been struggling financially under a decline in mail volume , COVID-19-related costs and a rare and cumbersome congressional requirement to fund in advance its retiree health care benefits .
For many , the Postal Service provides a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letters but also prescription drugs , financial statements and other items that are especially needed by mail during the pandemic .
The postal board of governors , appointed by Trump , selected DeJoy to take the job as postmaster general .
A GOP donor , he previously owned a logistics business that was a longtime Postal Service contractor .
He maintains significant financial stakes in companies that do business or compete with the agency , raising conflict of interest questions .
In a statement , the Postal Service said DeJoy has made all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to divest some holdings if conflicts arise .
Republicans have long sought changes to have the agency run more like a private company , and Trump often complains the Postal Service should be charging Amazon and other companies higher rates for package deliveries .
The founder of Amazon , Jeff Bezos , also owns The Washington Post , a publication that Trump frequently derides as “ fake news ” over critical stories of him .
Others say the Postal Service is not expected to be solely a money-making enterprise , often delivering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efficient to operate .
Associated Press writers Anthony Izaguirre in Charleston , W.Va. , and Christina A. Cassidy in Atlanta contributed to this report .
The Associated Press produced this coverage with support from the Carnegie Corp. of New York .

Lisa Mascaro And Matthew Daly - The Associated Press