thetorontostar--2020-09-30--Sheikh Nawaf sworn in as Kuwait’s new ruling emir

DUBAI , United Arab Emirates - Kuwait ’ s Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah was sworn in Wednesday as the ruling emir of the tiny oil-rich country , propelled to power by the death of his half-brother after a long career in the security services .
At age 83 , Sheikh Nawaf is not expected to deviate from the diplomatic path charted by his predecessor , the late Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah .
But his accession touched off speculation about who will become the next crown prince in the country known for its lively elected parliament and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arab monarchies .
The late Sheikh Sabah , 91 , made his final journey to Kuwait later on Wednesday , his remains flying back to Kuwait City from Rochester , Minnesota , home of the flagship campus of the Mayo Clinic where he had been receiving medical treatment after surgery .
State television broadcast live as the ruler ’ s body , draped in a Kuwaiti flag , arrived at the airport .
A host of Kuwaiti officials and close relatives held the body aloft and placed it into an ambulance , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well-known mosque for burial , trailed by dozens of motorcycles and SUVs .
Both Emirati and Qatari government aircraft could be seen on the tarmac , indicating that senior Gulf state officials had travelled for the occasion .
Although his funeral would typically draw tens of thousands of Kuwaiti mourners and scores of foreign leaders and dignitaries , because of the coronavirus pandemic the burial was restricted to relatives , said Kuwait ’ s state-run news agency , KUNA .
Yet Qatar ’ s emir , Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an Emirati official , underscoring the late ruler ’ s deft navigation of the region ’ s stark political divides .
Inside the spacious mosque , the late emir ’ s adviser , with tears in his eyes and a trembling voice , led family members in traditional prayer .
As mourners knelt in unison , Sheikh Nawaf performed the prayers , head bowed and eyes closed , from a chair , permissible in Islam for those unable to stand up or suffering from health issues .
The breadth and depth of emotion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known for his diplomacy and peacemaking , was reflected in condolence messages that streamed in from countries on opposite ends of regional feuds , from Saudi Arabia to Iran and Qatar .
Kuwait entered a solemn 40-day period of mourning on Wednesday to commemorate the leader ’ s life and death .
Sheikh Nawaf took office as the new ruler of Kuwait in the parliament building before rows of applauding lawmakers , clad in their traditional white robes and surgical masks because of the pandemic .
He bowed slightly , touching his hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respect .
With a low voice , he delivered a short address offering tribute to his late half-brother and promising to “ preserve the security of Kuwait.
” “ Kuwait throughout its history has seen serious and tough challenges , which we have succeeded in overcoming through co-operating together , ” said Sheikh Nawaf , reading from prepared remarks .
“ Today , our dear country also faces risky circumstances and difficulties that there is no way to bypass except through unity.
” The challenges are manifold .
Gridlock in parliament has blocked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed to raise $ 65 billion and mitigate the country ’ s looming liquidity crisis .
A major credit agency last week downgraded Kuwait for the first time in its history , citing the government ’ s ineffective economic management and swelling budget deficit .
Plunging oil prices amid the coronavirus pandemic have robbed the wealthy country of cash .
The economy still feeds on petrodollars and has been slow to diversify .
After the ceremony , Sheikh Nawaf , in his flowing robe , strode into a black Mercedes as groups of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nawaf ’ s ascent to the throne bookended a political career that spanned from interior minister to defence minister , dating back to 1991 when U.S. troops and their allies invaded Kuwait .
Sheikh Nawaf briefly served as social affairs and labour minister after the war , then as the deputy chief of Kuwait ’ s National Guard and again as interior minister .
He became the crown prince under Sheikh Sabah in February 2006 , but was not known for making any major political decisions while serving as crown prince .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is married with four sons and one daughter .
While his taking the reins was prescribed by Kuwait ’ s constitution , the succession plan remains uncertain .
The late Sheikh Sabah came to power in 2006 by jumping a traditional order of alternating rule between two branches of the royal family , when parliament voted to oust his predecessor , the ailing Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Al Sabah , just nine days into his rule .
Now Sheikh Nawaf has inherited the task of appointing a new crown prince .
Kuwait stands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its parliament , which retains the right to reject the emir ’ s first choice .
Kuwait ’ s chances for economic reform and reputation for neutrality in a turbulent region hang in the balance , said private intelligence agency Stratfor .
Even under pressure from heavyweights Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates , Sheikh Sabah long charted a path of diplomacy through the bitter dispute that pits Qatar against an alliance of Gulf states , as well as through other ruinous Mideast conflicts over the years , such as in @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-09-30--Armenia, Azerbaijan fight for 4th day over separatist region

YEREVAN , Armenia - Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday , in the biggest escalation of a decades-old conflict in years that has killed dozens and left scores of others wounded .
Azerbaijan ’ s Defence Ministry said Armenian forces started shelling the town of Tartar on Wednesday morning , damaging “ civilian infrastructure ” and wounding people , while Armenian military officials reported that Azerbaijani forces were bombing positions of the Nagorno-Karabakh army in the north of the war-torn region .
Armenia has repeatedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conflict .
On Wednesday , Armenian officials said Turkish drones and Turkish F-16 fighter jets were being used in Nagorno-Karabakh .
Armenia ’ s Foreign Ministry demanded “ immediate withdrawal of the Turkish armed forces , including the air force , from the conflict zone.
” Turkey has previously denied supplying arms to Azerbaijan , and the ex-Soviet republic said Ankara wasn ’ t involved in the conflict .
The fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh erupted Sunday and has continued despite mounting calls for a cease-fire from around the globe .
Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ethnic Armenian forces backed by the Armenian government since 1994 at the end of a separatist war following the breakup of the Soviet Union three years earlier .
The region in the Caucasus Mountains of about 4,400 square kilometres ( 1,700 square miles ) , or about the size of the U.S. state of Delaware , is 50 kilometres ( 30 miles ) from the Armenian border .
Soldiers backed by Armenia also occupy some Azerbaijani territory outside the region .
The conflict escalated on Tuesday , with Armenia alleging Turkish involvement and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot down an SU-25 from its air force in Armenian airspace , killing the pilot .
Turkey , which has been vocal about siding with Azerbaijan in the dispute , denied those claims , and so did Azerbaijan .
Hikmet Hajiyev , an aide to Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliyev , told reporters via teleconference on Wednesday that the incident involved two Armenian SU-25 planes that reportedly crashed into a mountain , rather than an F-16 downing a SU-25 .
“ We have identified that two SU-25s took off from the territory of Armenia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They hit themselves on the mountains and they destroyed themselves , ” Hajiyev said , accusing Armenia of hiding it from the public .
Meanwhile , Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Wednesday that if Azerbaijan requests assistance , Ankara will provide it .
“ We have said that if Azerbaijan wants to solve this on the field , we will stand by Azerbaijan .
If Azerbaijan makes a request , we would do the necessary .
But we see that Azerbaijan has sufficient capacity , “ Cavusoglu told the Anadolu news agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bring the opposing sides to the negotiating table .
French President Emmanuel Macron , speaking on Wednesday at a news conference in Riga , Latvia , called for talks between France , Russia and the United States — the three countries co-chair the Minsk group , set up in 1992 by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to resolve the conflict — to mediate .
“ I will speak to President ( Vladimir ) Putin tonight and , I think , President ( Donald ) Trump tomorrow to discuss and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis , Marcon said .
The French president also condemned recent comments from Turkey as “ reckless and dangerous “ and said he was ” extremely preoccupied by the belligerent messages from Turkey in the past hours.
” Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias has called for an emergency meeting of the OSCE that would include Azerbaijan and Armenia to try and achieve a swift end to hostilities over Nagorno-Karabakh and a resumption of negotiations .
“ The escalation of tension in Nagorno-Karabakh has a serious impact on regional stability , ” Dendias said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his counterpart from Armenia and is planning a visit to Yerevan soon .
Dendias also called on regional rival Turkey to end actions that would further escalate the conflict .
Daria Litvinova in Moscow , Suzan Fraser in Ankara , Turkey , and Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed to this report .

State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada
Postal Code


thetorontostar--2020-09-30--Analysis: Trump leans on tone that turns off voters he needs

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump needed to make the first general election debate about his rival , Democrat Joe Biden .
Instead , as he so often does , Trump made it about himself .
The president set the tone from the start for one of the ugliest general election debates in recent memory , badgering Biden and repeatedly interrupting him .
Biden alternated between ignoring the president and growing visibly irritated .
Moderator Chris Wallace admonished and pleaded with Trump to allow his rival to speak .
Trump ’ s aggressive posture may have appealed to his most passionate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brashness he has brought to the Oval Office .
But by the end of the 90-minute contest , it was unclear whether Trump succeeded in making up any ground in trying to expand his coalition or win over persuadable voters , particularly white , educated women and independents who have been turned off in part by the same tone and tenor the president displayed on the debate stage .
“ Trump brought the chaotic nature of his presidency to the debate stage , ” said Alex Conant , a Republican strategist .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game , but he may have just reminded independent voters why they ’ ve turned against him.
” Indeed , if there were ever a debate that turned voters away from politics altogether , this was it .
Despite an array of complex and substantive issues on the debate agenda — a Supreme Court vacancy , the government ’ s response to the coronavirus pandemic , the nation ’ s reckoning over race and police brutality — the candidates ’ dramatically different visions for the country were frequently overshadowed by their obvious disdain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through likely were not the moments Trump was seeking .
The most striking exchange of the night came when he failed to condemn white supremacist groups .
And when prodded by Biden to address the Proud Boys , a male-only group of neo-fascists who describe themselves as “ western chauvinists ” and have been known to incite street violence , the president offered a puzzling response .
There were also glaring gaps in Trump ’ s outlines for addressing the future of health care coverage in America and controlling the pandemic , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. this year .
He also refused to embrace the science of climate change , even as record wildfires rage in the West .
Among Trump ’ s political challenges throughout this tumultuous year has been levelling a sustained and consistent attack against Biden .
Some Republicans believe he has squandered many of the advantages of incumbency : the money and the months a sitting presidents can spend defining an eventual rival in the eyes of voters .
The result : With five weeks until Election Day and voting already underway in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trailed Biden in national polls .
Biden also holds a lead in some of the battleground states , although others appear to be significantly closer .
With time running out to change the trajectory of the race , Trump did arrive at the debate armed with an array of attacks on his opponent .
He challenged Biden ’ s effectiveness during his nearly five decades in Washington and tried to link his more moderate rival to the far-left flank of the Democratic Party .
He launched a barrage of unsubstantiated corruption charges against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did in Ukraine , as well as his addiction struggles , and he challenged Biden ’ s intelligence .
“ Don ’ t ever use the word smart with me , “ Trump said to the former vice-president .
“ There ’ s nothing smart about you.
” Biden slapped back at the president ’ s attacks over and over using his own searing rhetoric , calling Trump “ a clown , ” “ a racist ” and “ a liar.
” At one point when Trump kept interrupting , Biden charged , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” To be sure , the lowbrow debate could hold risks for Biden , too .
His campaign needs strong turnout from young people , Black voters and Latinos — groups with lower turnout rates and in some cases , less enthusiasm for Biden — to turn his solid standing in polling into a victory in November .
There were few chances for Biden to make a cohesive case for why his agenda would have a transformative impact on their lives , in part because of Trump ’ s repeated interruptions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ aware of the need to look past Trump and speak to those Americans when the opportunity arose .
He laboured at times to ignore Trump ’ s onslaught , instead speaking directly to the camera and the millions of voters watching at home .
He offered an olive branch to a deeply divided nation , vowing to be a president for those who support him and those who don ’ t — a contrast to Trump , who has drawn a distinction between coronavirus deaths in blue states and red states .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges against Biden ’ s son , the former vice-president said the issue wasn ’ t his family or Trump ’ s .
Turning to the camera once again , he declared , “ It ’ s about your family.
” The president made no real attempts to speak to all Americans , particularly those who have vigorously opposed his presidency and see the prospect of a second term as a threat to the nation ’ s democratic systems .
Nor did Trump spend any time reflecting on the Americans who have died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only that the tally would have been much higher if Biden had been president .
The end result appeared to leave few cheering , including some Trump allies , who privately suggested the president was too aggressive .
Publicly , however , some of his ardent supporters insisted Americans got what they wanted from the president .
“ Trump proved again why he is the best counterpuncher in American politics , “ said evangelical leader Ralph Reed .
” It ’ s not always pretty , but it ’ s effective , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tonight.
“ Editor ’ s Note : Steve Peoples has covered presidential politics for the AP since 2011 .
Follow him at http : //twitter.com/sppeoples Julie Pace has covered the White House and politics for the AP since 2007 .
Follow her at http : //twitter.com/jpaceDC

Steve Peoples And Julie Pace - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-30--Chaotic first debate: Taunts overpower Trump, Biden visions

CLEVELAND - The first debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden deteriorated into bitter taunts and near chaos Tuesday night as Trump repeatedly interrupted his opponent with angry — and personal — jabs that sometimes overshadowed the sharply different visions each man has for a nation facing historic crises .
In the most tumultuous presidential debate in recent memory , Trump refused to condemn white supremacists who have supported him , telling one such group known as Proud Boys to “ stand back , stand by.
” There were also heated clashes over the president ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the election results , deeply personal attacks about Biden ’ s family and how the Supreme Court will shape the future of the nation ’ s health care .
But it was the belligerent tone that was persistent , somehow fitting for what has been an extraordinarily ugly campaign .
The two men frequently talked over each other with Trump interrupting , nearly shouting , so often that Biden eventually snapped at him , “ Will you shut up , man ?
” “ The fact is that everything he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Biden said .
“ I ’ m not here to call out his lies .
Everybody knows he ’ s a liar.
” The presidential race has been remarkably stable for weeks , despite the historic crises that have battered the country this year , including a pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 Americans and a reckoning over race and police brutality .
With just five weeks until Election Day and voting already underway in some key states , Biden has maintained a lead in national polls and in many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the debate will do much to change those dynamics .
Over and over , Trump tried to control the conversation , interrupting Biden and repeatedly talking over the moderator , Chris Wallace of Fox News .
The president tried to deflect tough lines of questioning — whether on his taxes or the pandemic — to deliver broadsides against Biden .
The president drew a lecture from Wallace , who pleaded with both men to stop talking over each other .
Biden tried to push back against Trump , sometimes looking right at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president and snapping , “ It ’ s hard to get a word in with this clown.
” Again refusing to commit to honouring the results of the election , Trump spread falsehoods about mail voting .
Without evidence , he suggested that the process — surging in popularity during the pandemic — was ripe for fraud and incorrectly claimed impropriety at a Pennsylvania voting site .
But despite his efforts to dominate the discussion , Trump was frequently put on the defensive and tried to sidestep when he was asked if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and paramilitary groups .
“ What do you want to call them ?
Give me a name .
Give me a name , ” Trump said , before Biden mentioned the far right , violent group known as the Proud Boys .
Trump then pointedly did not condemn the group , instead saying : “ Proud Boys , stand back , stand by .
But I ’ ll tell you what , somebody ’ s got to do something about antifa and the left because this is not a right-wing problem .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s handling of the pandemic , saying that the president “ waited and waited “ to act when the virus reached America ’ s shores and “ still doesn ’ t have a plan.
” Biden told Trump to “ get out of your bunker and get out of the sand trap ” and go in his golf cart to the Oval Office to come up with a bipartisan plan to save people .
Trump snarled a response , declaring : “ I ’ ll tell you Joe , you could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did .
You don ’ t have it in your blood.
“ “ I know how to do the job , ” was the solemn response from Biden , who served eight years as Barack Obama ’ s vice-president .
The pandemic ’ s effects were in plain sight , with the candidates ’ lecterns spaced far apart , all the guests in the small crowd tested and the traditional opening handshake scrapped .
While neither candidate wore a mask to take the stage , their families did sport face coverings .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Affordable Care Act on health care in the debate ’ s early moments and defended his nomination of Amy Coney Barrett , declaring , “ I was not elected for three years , I ’ m elected for four years.
” “ We won the election .
Elections have consequences .
We have the Senate .
We have the White House and we have a phenomenal nominee , respected by all.
” Trump criticized Biden over the former vice-president ’ s refusal to comment on whether he would try to expand the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
That idea has gained momentum on the party ’ s left flank , but Biden tried to put distance between himself and the liberal wing , declining to endorse the Green New Deal and rejecting the assertion that he was under the control of radicals by declaring “ I am the Democratic Party now.
” The scattershot debate bounced from topic to topic , with Trump again refusing to embrace the science of climate change while Biden accused Trump of walking away from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and making a race-based appeal .
“ This is a president who has used everything as a dog whistle to try to generate racist hatred , racist division , ” Biden said .
Recent months have seen major protests after the deaths of Black people at the hands of police .
Biden said the country faces a problem with systemic racism and that while the vast majority of police officers are “ decent , honourable men and women ” there are “ bad apples ” and people have to be held accountable .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s work on a federal crime bill treated the African American population “ about as bad as anybody in this country.
” The president pivoted to his hardline focus on those protesting racial injustice and accused Biden of being afraid to use the words “ law and order , ” out of fear of alienating the left .
“ Violence in response is never appropriate , “ Biden said .
“ Never appropriate .
Peaceful protest is.
” The attacks turned deeply personal when Trump returned to a campaign attack line by declaring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , had inappropriately benefitted from his father ’ s connections while working in Ukraine .
Biden rarely looked at Trump during the night but turned to face the president when he defended his sons , including Beau , an Army veteran who died of cancer in 2015 , after the commander in chief ’ s reported insults of those who served in the military .
A new report from two Republican-led Senate committees alleged that Hunter Biden ’ s work in Ukraine at the same time his father was vice-president raised conflict-of-interest concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report did not link Joe Biden to any wrongdoing or misconduct .
Trump was impeached for pushing Kyiv to investigate the Biden family .
The debate was arguably Trump ’ s best chance to try to reframe the campaign as a choice between candidates and not a referendum over his handling of the virus that has killed more people in America than any other nation .
Americans , according to polling , have soured on his leadership in the crisis , and the president has struggled to land consistent attacks on Biden .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden released his 2019 tax returns just days after the blockbuster revelations about Trump ’ s long-hidden tax history , including that he paid only $ 750 a year in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017 and nothing in many other years .
The Bidens paid nearly $ 300,000 in taxes in 2019 .
Trump , in the debate , insisted he paid millions in taxes — but refused to say how much he paid in federal income taxes — and insisted he had taken advantage of legal tax incentives , another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Trump was the “ worst president ” the nation has ever had .
Lemire reported from New York .
Price reported from Las Vegas .
Additional reporting by Associated Press writers Jill Colvin in Cleveland and Zeke Miller in Washington .

Jonathan Lemire, Darlene Superville, Will Weissert And Michelle L. Price - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-30--Trump facing devastating debt load? Experts say not so fast

NEW YORK - President Donald Trump reportedly must pay back more than $ 300 million in loans over the next four years , raising the possibility his lenders could face an unprecedented situation should he win a second term and not be able to raise the money : foreclosing on the leader of the free world .
But financial experts say the notion of Trump going broke anytime soon is farfetched .
Even with a total debt load across his entire business empire estimated at more than $ 1 billion , they note he still has plenty of assets he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ portfolio that includes office and condo towers , golf courses and branding deals that have been valued at $ 2.5 billion .
Based on Forbes magazine estimates of the value of his buildings , for instance , selling his partial interests in just two properties— an office complex in San Francisco and a Las Vegas tower that houses a hotel and condos — could bring in $ 500 million alone .
And even if he doesn ’ t sell , that kind of valuation backing up the loans could make them easier for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going to be able to roll these loans over .
They have collateral backing them up .
They ’ re not that risky to the lenders , ” said Phillip Braun , a finance professor at Northwestern University ’ s Kellogg School of Business .
Trump ’ s true financial picture has gotten renewed scrutiny in the wake of a New York Times report this week that he declared hundreds of millions in losses in recent years , allowing him to pay just $ 750 in taxes the year he won the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 years before that .
But the Times report was quick to note that tax filings alone can ’ t help determine someone ’ s net worth .
And several experts told The Associated Press that , while the true state of Trump ’ s financial situation is unclear because of a lack of public information , he is probably not scrambling for money .
At issue is the often wide difference between what businesses report as profits and losses to the IRS and what they actually receive in profits they put in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investors report big losses under tax accounting rules and pay little in federal taxes .
That is because the tax code allows them to reduce their tax bills with myriad legal loopholes and breaks , including sometimes generous depreciation charges that reflect expected wear and tear on buildings .
Northwestern ’ s Braun said Trump ’ s minuscule tax payments don ’ t surprise him , nor do the losses claimed .
“ His accountants work really to make sure he doesn ’ t pay any taxes , ” he said .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Braun said , comes from Trump ’ s operating profits .
Forbes , which has been valuing Trump properties for decades for its annual billionaire issue , says Trump ’ s 40 Wall Street office tower generated $ 18 million in operating profits in 2019 , Trump Tower $ 13 million , and Trump ’ s share in San Francisco ’ s 555 California Street tower $ 26 million .
According to Forbes ’ latest valuation , even pandemic-reduced prices leave Trump with $ 2.5 billion worth of properties and other assets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 1.2 billion in debt .
The Times said Trump ’ s real estate company has $ 421 million in loans he has personally guaranteed , with $ 300 million of that coming due over four years .
The Trump Organization did not immediately respond to an email and phone call requesting comment .
Trump dismissed the Times story Monday as “ fake news ” and said he is “ extremely underleveraged.
” “ I have very little debt compared to the value of assets , ” he wrote .
Among his lenders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York-based commercial lender Ladder Capital , which is owed at least $ 110 million , and Bryn Mawr Trust Co. a suburban Philadelphia bank , which held Trump debt worth between $ 5 million and $ 25 million for Seven Springs , a New York estate owned by the Trump Organization .
Trump ’ s biggest lender on his disclosure is Deutsche Bank , his chief financier stretching back two decades .
It helped him buy and fix up several buildings in New York and Chicago and his Doral golf club in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 125 million , with loans coming due in 2023 and 2024 .
One option for Trump is to get his lenders to refinance his debt or to take out a new loan .
Deutsche Bank is an obvious candidate to help him with either because it has been so forgiving to him over the years .
Trump defaulted on bonds that the bank helped sell to investors to finance his casinos in Atlantic City , New Jersey , and a bank loan for his Chicago hotel and condo tower , and yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
Mike Offit , a former executive at Deutsche Bank who lent to Trump in the late ’ 90s , said that if a property backing a loan was still throwing off good cash , and all else was well , the easiest solution for a bank with a Trump loan not likely to be paid back would be to just push out the due date .
“ If I was sitting at my old job and a Trump loan was coming due next year and he ’ s the president , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extend the maturity , “ he said .
But several other real estate experts aren ’ t so sure Deutsche Bank may be willing to help Trump much any more .
The bank has been subject to money laundering and tax evasion investigations in Germany and the U.S. , and last year settled with the U.S. stock market regulators for allegedly violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by hiring relatives of government officials in Asia and Russia to drum up business for its investment banking division .
In addition , its U.S. division @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests ” administered by the Federal Reserve in recent years , hampering its ability to lend for a while .
Another problem : Not all Trump ’ s lenders are banks and other institutions that he can negotiate with across a table .
Nancy Wallace , a real estate professor at the University of California , Berkeley ’ s Haas School of Business , said that hundreds of millions of Trump ’ s bank loans have been packaged into bonds and sold to investors , and the banks are no longer in charge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is in trouble , there could be less room to cut it a break .
Office buildings and hotels have also been hit especially hard by the lockdowns and travel restrictions .
So lenders may not be eager to lend to Trump now , and selling off parts of his sprawling empire to raise cash won ’ t be so easy either , and is not likely to get him full value , Still , “ the real estate lending market is difficult at the moment , but for buildings throwing off cash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem , ” said Bernard Kent , chairman at Schechter Investment Advisors in Detroit .
“ For something like Trump Tower , the future cash flow wouldn ’ t be tremendously affected by COVID-19 or people moving out of New York .
Top-flight properties there tend to hold value.
” If all is lost , and Trump is really in trouble , some experts say there is another way he could raise money to pay off his lender : copy rocker David Bowie , who sold bonds that allow investors to make money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bonds ” would enable investors to share in his future earnings from selling his name to , say , condo builders or purveyors of steaks or colognes or neckties .
“ Trump has a brand that has value , ” Kent said .


thetorontostar--2020-09-30--UN atomic watchdog inspects disputed Iranian nuclear site

BERLIN - The United Nations ’ atomic watchdog agency said Wednesday its inspectors have been able to visit the second of two disputed sites where Iran is suspected of having stored or used undeclared nuclear material in the past .
Rafael Grossi , director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency , in late August secured an agreement with Iran to inspect the two sites in the country , thought to date from the early 2000s .
One site was inspected shortly afterward and the Vienna-based IAEA said the second site was visited this week by inspectors who took environmental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by labs that are part of the IAEA ’ s network , including its own facility in Seibersdorf , Austria .
No results have been announced .
World powers had been calling for IAEA access to the sites since the agency in March identified them as places where Iran possibly stored or used undeclared nuclear material , or undertook nuclear-related activities without declaring them to international observers .
Iran had been permitting IAEA inspectors in to current nuclear sites agreed upon in the landmark 2015 nuclear deal with world powers , but had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the deal so there was no reason to grant access there .


thetorontostar--2020-09-30--AP FACT CHECK: False claims flood Trump-Biden debate

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump unleashed a torrent of fabrications and fear-mongering in a belligerent debate with Joe Biden , at one point claiming the U.S. death toll would have been 10 times higher under the Democrat because he wanted open borders in the pandemic .
Biden preached no such thing .
Trump barrelled into the debate Tuesday night as unconstrained by the facts as at his rallies , but this time having his campaign opponent and frequently the Fox News moderator , Chris Wallace , calling him out in real time , or trying .
Biden stumbled on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flew from both men on the Cleveland stage .
A look at how some of their statements from Cleveland stack up with the facts in the first of three scheduled presidential debates for the Nov. 3 election : TRUMP , addressing Biden on U.S. deaths from COVID-19 : “ If you were here , it wouldn ’ t be 200,000 people , it would be 2 million people .
You didn ’ t want me to ban China , which was heavily infected .
...
If we would have listened to you , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open.
” THE FACTS : The audacious claim that Biden as president would have seen 2 million deaths rests on a false accusation .
Biden never came out against Trump ’ s decision to restrict travel from China .
Biden was slow in staking a position on the matter but when he did , he supported the restrictions .
Biden never counselled leaving the country “ wide open ” in the face of the pandemic .
Trump repeatedly , and falsely , claims to have banned travel from China .
He restricted it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Feb. 2 continued to allow travel to the U.S. from the Chinese territories of Hong Kong and Macao .
The Associated Press reported that more than 8,000 Chinese and foreign nationals based in the two locales entered the U.S. in the first three months after the travel restrictions were imposed .
Additionally , more than 27,000 Americans returned from mainland China in the first month after the restrictions took effect .
U.S. officials lost track of more than 1,600 of them who were supposed to be monitored for virus exposure .
Dozens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from hot spots before or around the same time the U.S. did .
TRUMP : “ The ( Portland , Oregon ) sheriff just came out today and he said I support President Trump.
” THE FACTS : That is false .
The sheriff of Multnomah County , Oregon — where Portland is located — said he does not support Trump .
The sheriff , Mike Reese , tweeted , “ As the Multnomah County Sheriff I have never supported Donald Trump and will never support him.
” Portland has been a flashpoint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the U.S. Police and federal agents have repeatedly clashed with demonstrators gathered outside the downtown federal courthouse and police buildings .
Some protesters have thrown bricks , rocks and other projectiles at officers .
Police and federal agents responded by firing tear gas , rubber bullets and other non-lethal ammunition to disperse the crowds .
BIDEN : “ There was a peaceful protest in front of the White House .
What did he do ?
He came out of his bunker , had the military do tear gas.
” THE FACTS : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military , that used chemical irritants to forcefully remove peaceful protesters from Lafayette Square outside the White House on June 1 .
And there is no evidence Trump was inside a bunker in the White House as that happened .
Secret Service agents had rushed Trump to a White House bunker days earlier as hundreds of protesters gathered outside the executive mansion , some of them throwing rocks and tugging at police barricades .
TRUMP : “ Drug prices will be coming down 80 or 90 % .
” THE FACTS : That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reality , and it ’ s a big stretch .
Trump has been unable to get legislation to lower drug prices through Congress .
Major regulatory actions from his administration are still in the works , and are likely to be challenged in court .
There ’ s no plan on the horizon that would lower drug prices as dramatically as Trump claims .
Prescription drug price inflation has been low and slow during the Trump years , but it hasn ’ t made a U-turn and sped off in the other direction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
Looking back at the totality of Trump ’ s term , from January 2017 , when he was inaugurated , to the latest data from August 2020 , drug prices went up 3.6 % , according to an analysis by economist Paul Hughes-Cromwick of Altarum , a non-profit research and consulting organization .
Hughes-Cromwick looked at figures from the government ’ s Bureau of Labor Statistics , which measures prices for a set of prescription medicines , including generics and branded drugs .
When comparing prices in 2019 with a year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Prices dropped by 0.2 % in 2019 , a turnabout not seen since the 1970s .
But that ’ s nowhere near close to 80 % or 90 % .
From August of last year to this August , prices rose by 1.4 % .
TRUMP : Dr. Anthony Fauci “ said very strongly , ‘ masks are not good.
’ Then he changed his mind , he said , ‘ masks , good.
’ ” THE FACTS : He is skirting crucial context .
Trump is telling the story in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the coronavirus pandemic unfolded , raising doubts about the credibility of public health advice .
Early on in the outbreak , a number of public health officials urged everyday people not to use masks , fearing a run on already short supplies of personal protective equipment needed by doctors and nurses in hospitals .
But that changed as the highly contagious nature of the coronavirus became clear , as well as the fact that it can be spread by tiny droplets breathed into the air by people who may not display any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Health , along with Dr. Robert Redfield of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Dr. Stephen Hahn of the Food and Drug Administration and Dr. Deborah Birx of the White House coronavirus task force , all agree on the importance of wearing masks and practicing social distancing .
Redfield has repeatedly said it could be as effective as a vaccine if people took that advice to heart .
TRUMP , on coronavirus and his campaign rallies : “ So far we have had no problem whatsoever .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difference according to the experts .
We have tremendous crowds.
” Trump held an indoor rally in Tulsa in late June , drawing both thousands of participants and large protests .
The Tulsa City-County Health Department director said the rally “ likely contributed ” to a dramatic surge in new coronavirus cases there .
By the first week of July , Tulsa County was confirming more than 200 new daily cases , setting record highs .
That ’ s more than twice the number the week before the rally .
TRUMP , addressing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do very well on the swine flu .
H1N1 .
You were a disaster.
” THE FACTS : Trump frequently distorts what happened in the pandemic of 2009 , which killed far fewer people in the United States than the coronavirus is killing now .
For starters , Biden as vice-president wasn ’ t running the federal response .
And that response was faster out of the gate than when COVID-19 came to the U.S. Then , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s flu surveillance network sounded the alarm after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people diagnosed with the new flu strain in this country .
About two weeks later , the Obama administration declared a public health emergency against H1N1 , also known as the swine flu , and the CDC began releasing anti-flu drugs from the national stockpile to help hospitals get ready .
In contrast , Trump declared a state of emergency in early March , seven weeks after the first U.S. case of COVID-19 was announced , and the country ’ s health system struggled for months with shortages of critical supplies and testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from COVID-19 in the U.S .
The CDC puts the U.S. death toll from the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic at about 12,500 .
BIDEN : Trump will be the “ first ( president ) in American history ” to lose jobs during his presidency .
THE FACTS : No , if Trump loses reelection , he would not be the first president in U.S. history to have lost jobs .
That happened under Herbert Hoover , the president who lost the 1932 election to Franklin Roosevelt as the Great Depression caused massive job losses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 1939 and , in that period , no president has ended his term with fewer jobs than when he began .
Trump appears to be on track to have lost jobs during his first term , which would make him the first to do so since Hoover .
TRUMP , on the prospect of mass fraud in the vote-by-mail process : “ It ’ s a rigged election.
” THE FACTS : He is exaggerating threats .
Trump ’ s claim is part of a months-long effort to sow doubt about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s even arrived and to preemptively call into question the results .
Experts have repeatedly said there are no signs of widespread fraud in mail balloting , as have the five states that relied exclusively on that system for voting even before the coronavirus pandemic .
Trump ’ s own FBI director , Chris Wray , said at a congressional hearing just last week that the bureau has not historically seen “ any kind of co-ordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election , whether it ’ s by mail or otherwise.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the local level “ from time to time , ” but even there , Trump appeared to paint an overly dire portrait of the reality and he misstated the facts of one particular case that received substantial attention last week following an unusual Justice Department announcement .
Trump said nine military ballots found discarded in a wastebasket in Luzerne County , Pennsylvania , were all marked for him .
Though that ’ s consistent with an initial statement the Justice Department made , officials later revised it to say seven of the nine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TRUMP : “ I ’ m the one who brought back football .
By the way , I brought back Big Ten football .
It was me and I ’ m very happy to do it.
” THE FACTS : Better check the tape .
While Trump had called for the Big Ten conference to hold its 2020 football season , he wasn ’ t the only one .
Fans , students , athletes and college towns had also urged the conference to resume play .
When the Big Ten announced earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cancel the season because of COVID-19 , Trump tweeted his thanks : “ It is my great honour to have helped !
!
!
” The conference includes several large universities in states that could prove pivotal in the election , including Pennsylvania , Iowa , Michigan , Minnesota , Ohio and Wisconsin .
BIDEN , on Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett : “ She thinks that the Affordable Care Act is not constitutional.
” THE FACTS : That ’ s not right .
Biden is talking about Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bader Ginsburg .
Barrett has been critical of the Obama-era law and the court decisions that have upheld it , but she has never said it ’ s not constitutional .
The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case Nov. 10 , and the Trump administration is asking the high court to rule the law unconstitutional .
TRUMP : “ You said you went to Delaware State , but you forgot the name of your college .
You didn ’ t go to Delaware State .
...
There ’ s nothing smart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Trump is quoting Biden out of context .
The former vice-president , a graduate of the University of Delaware , did not say he attended Delaware State University but was making a broader point about his longstanding ties to the Black community .
Trump is referring to remarks Biden often says on the campaign , typically when speaking to Black audiences , that he “ goes way back with HBCUs , ” or historically Black universities and colleges .
Biden has spoken many times over the years at Delaware State , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the school says that ’ s where he first announced his bid for the Senate – his political start .
“ I got started out of an HBCU , Delaware State — now , I don ’ t want to hear anything negative about Delaware State , ” Biden told a town hall in Florence , South Carolina , in October 2019 .
“ They ’ re my folks.
” Biden often touts his deep political ties to the Black community , occasionally saying he “ grew up politically ” or “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ church .
In front of some audiences , he ’ s omitted the word “ politically , ” but still with a clear context about his larger point .
The statements are all part of a standard section of his stump speech noting that Delaware has “ the eighth largest Black population by percentage.
” A spokesman for Delaware State University , Carlos Holmes , has said it took Biden ’ s comments to refer to his political start , saying Biden announced his bid for the U.S. Senate on the DSU campus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point is pushback on the idea that he ’ s a Johnny-come-lately with the Black community or that his political connections there are owed only to being Barack Obama ’ s vice-president .
BIDEN : “ The fact of the matter is violent crime went down 17 % , 15 % , in our administration.
” Overall , the number of violent crimes fell roughly 10 % from 2008 , the year before Biden took office as vice-president , to 2016 , his last full year in the office , according to data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reporting program .
But the number of violent crimes was spiking again during Obama and Biden ’ s final two years in office , increasing by 8 % from 2014 to 2016 .
More people were slain across the U.S. in 2016 , for example , than at any other point under the Obama administration .
TRUMP : “ If you look at what ’ s going on in Chicago , where 53 people were shot and eight died .
If you look at New York where it ’ s going up like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the numbers are going up 100 , 150 , 200 % , crime , it ’ s crazy what ’ s going on.
” THE FACTS : Not quite .
The statistics in Chicago are true , but those numbers are only a small snapshot of crime in the city and the United States , and his strategy is highlighting how data can be easily moulded to suit the moment .
As for New York , Trump may have been talking about shootings .
They are up in New York by about 93 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overall crime is down about 1.5 % .
Murders are up 38 % , but there were 327 killings compared with 236 , still low compared with years past .
For example , compared with a decade ago , crime is down 10 % .
An FBI report released Monday for 2019 crime data found that violent crime has decreased over the past three years .
Associated Press writers Josh Boak , Colleen Long , Ellen Knickmeyer , Mark Sherman , Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar , Bill Barrow , David Klepper , Amanda Seitz , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this report .
EDITOR ’ S NOTE — A look at the veracity of claims by political figures .

Calvin Woodward And Hope Yen - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-30--Takeaways from the Trump-Biden U.S. presidential debate: An acrid tone from the opening minute

WASHINGTON - After more than a year of circling each other , Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden met on the debate stage Tuesday night in Ohio .
The 74-year-old president and the 77-year-old former vice-president are similar in age , and they share a mutual dislike .
But they differ starkly in style and substance .
All of that was evident from the outset on the Cleveland stage .
Here are key takeaways from the first of three scheduled presidential debates before Election Day on Nov. 3 .
AND IN THIS CORNER Trump is no stranger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pugilistic approach on stage left his Democratic opponent fighting to complete a sentence .
Trailing in public and private polling , Trump advisers have pushed him to reframe the election away from a referendum on his presidency to a choice between him and Biden .
Trump , instead , commandeered the debate , trying to trip up Biden by interrupting and insulting him .
In the process , Trump made the debate more about himself .
“ There ’ s nothing smart about you , ” Trump said of Biden .
“ 47 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While Trump played into his reputation as a bully , it may have been effective at breaking up the worst of Biden ’ s attacks — simply by talking over them .
Trump aides believed before the debate that Biden would be unable to withstand the withering offensive on style and substance from Trump , but Biden came with a few retorts of his own , calling Trump a “ clown ” and mocking Trump ’ s style by asking , “ Will you shut up , man ?
” Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frontal assault .
Whether undecided voters , who watched the debate to try to learn about the two candidates , were impressed is another matter .
Moderator Chris Wallace was none too amused , delivering a pointed reproach to Trump for his interruptions .
“ Frankly , you ’ ve been doing more interrupting , ” Wallace said , appealing to Trump to let his opponent speak .
Trump is fond of superlatives , but in the case of the debate there is little doubt that it was the most acrimonious of since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has wanted the election to be about anything but the coronavirus pandemic , but he couldn ’ t outrun reality on the debate stage .
“ It is what it is because you are who you are , ” Biden told the president , referring to Trump ’ s months of downplaying COVID-19 while he said privately he understood how deadly it is .
But Trump didn ’ t take it quietly .
He proceeded to blitz Biden with a mix of self-defence and counter-offensives .
200,000 dead ?
Biden ’ s death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Trump said .
A rocky economy ?
Biden would ’ ve been worse .
Biden wouldn ’ t have manufactured enough masks or ventilators .
The kicker : “ There will be a vaccine very soon.
” Biden fell back on his bottom line : “ A lot of people died , and a lot more are going to unless he gets a lot smarter.
” For voters still undecided about who ’ d better handle the pandemic , the exchange may not have offered anything new .
Trump said Biden was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Americans in prison with the 1994 crime law .
Biden called Trump “ the racist ” in the Oval Office .
For a nation confronting a summer of racial unrest — and centuries of injustice — the debate was the latest cultural flashpoint .
Biden was quiet as Trump blitzed him as a tool of the “ radical left ” and a weak figure who opposes “ law and order.
” He pressed Biden repeatedly to name any police union that ’ s endorsed him .
He falsely accused Biden of wanting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t capitalize when Trump refused to condemn armed militias and insisted , against the guidance of his own FBI director : “ This is not a right-wing problem .
This is a left-wing problem.
” “ Proud Boys , stand back and stand by , ” Trump said when prompted on the far-right group .
“ But I ’ ll tell you what , somebody ’ s got to do something about antifa and the left.
” The former vice-president tried to push back , but not until after Trump had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden regained some footing mocking the president ’ s warnings about suburbs , saying , “ He wouldn ’ t know a suburb unless he took a wrong turn.
” And perhaps revealing the thinking about allowing Trump the rhetorical upper hand , Biden said , “ All these dog whistles and racism doesn ’ t work anymore.
” Trump defended his decision to nominate Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court just weeks before Election Day , saying “ elections have consequences.
” Biden said he was “ not opposed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ American people have a right to have a say in who the Supreme Court nominee is.
” But rather than litigate Republicans ’ 2016 blocking of Merrick Garland to the high court , Biden quickly pivoted to the issues that will potentially come before the court : healthcare and abortion .
It ’ s an effort by the Democrat to refocus the all-but-certain confirmation fight for Trump ’ s third justice to the Supreme Court into an assault on Trump and his record .
Biden said Barrett , who would be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be appointed by a Republican , would endanger the Affordable Care Act and tens of millions of Americans with preexisting conditions , and would imperil legalized abortion .
It was a reframing of the political debate to terms far more favourable to the Democrat , and one Trump played into .
Trump said of the conservative Barrett , “ You don ’ t know her view on Roe vs. Wade ” and he defended his efforts to try to chip away at the popular Obama-era health law .
Biden has tried to press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a rallying cry against Trump , and the debate discussion largely played out on his turf .
Debate moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News tried mightily to hold his ground Tuesday after saying beforehand that it was not his job to fact-check the candidates , especially Trump , in real time .
But Wallace struggled to stop Trump from interrupting and at times seemed to lose control of the debate .
“ Mr .
President , as the moderator , we are going to talk about COVID in the next segment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I ’ m the moderator , and I ’ d like you to let me ask my question.
” Minutes later : “ I have to give you roughly equal time .
Please let the vice-president talk.
” And when Wallace noted that Trump hasn ’ t come up with his health care plan in nearly four years , Trump turned the question back on Wallace .
“ First of all , I ’ m debating you and not him .
That ’ s okay .
I ’ m not surprised.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invisible.
” Well , that was impossible .
As expected , Trump found a way to bring up Hunter Biden , the former vice-president ’ s son , and recycle allegations about the younger Biden ’ s international business practices .
Biden called Trump ’ s litany “ discredited ” and fired back , “ I mean , his family we can talk about all night.
” But Biden sidestepped any of the specifics of Trump ’ s international business dealings and instead turned straight to the camera .
“ This is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Biden said as Trump tried to talk over him .
“ This is about your family.
” In a later exchange , Trump interrupted Biden when he was talking about his late son , Beau Biden , who died of cancer in 2015 after having served in Iraq .
“ I don ’ t know Beau , I know Hunter , “ Trump said .

Bill Barrow And Zeke Miller - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-30--Foreign observers wary of ‘chaos,’ ‘rancor’ in US debate

GENEVA - “ Chaos , interruptions , personal attacks and insults , “ one Chinese newspaper editor said of the U.S. presidential debate .
An Australian counterpart said the debate was “ swamped ” by the “ rancor engulfing America.
“ Denmark ’ s prime minister bemoaned the quarrelling and interruptions on display .
The first debate pitting Republican President Donald Trump against Democratic challenger Joe Biden was not a highlight of political oratory in the eyes of many overseas .
Yet interest ran high for its potential impact on what may be the most consequential U.S. election in years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Observers from Asia and Australia to Europe and Africa looked for possible impact on financial markets and currencies , although the reaction was muted overall .
Share prices slipped further in Japan and the dollar weakened against the Japanese yen and the euro , while U.S. futures were lower , auguring a weak opening on Wall Street .
European bourses showed few initial tremors .
The debate itself went as expected , said Jeffrey Halley , a senior market analyst at Oanda .
“ Markets have remained calm , as no policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ The debate will not move the needle on the Democrat lead in the national polls.
” The greater worry is over how tight the race might be and whether a delay in election results might prove disruptive , said Stephen Innes of AxiCorp .
“ A highly polarized and possibly legally contested U.S. election is just around the corner , ” Innes said .
“ With mail-in votes likely to be too high ( and potentially questioned ) , there is a chance that we still will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with constitutional chaos ensuing.
” In Europe and Africa woke up to reports about the cacophonous showdown overnight .
“ The comments I ’ ve seen from various European press is basically : ‘ I ’ m happy I ’ m not an American voter this year.
’ It ’ s just a mess , ” said Jussi Hanhimaki , a Finnish-Swiss professor of International History at the Graduate Institute in Geneva .
“ That ’ s all extremely disturbing for many Europeans , who generally would think the United States would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s been the oldest democracy in the world — that has this long , long tradition of , yes , very acrimonious debate , but there ’ s always been a winner and a peaceful transfer of power , ” he said .
Quipped Kenyan commentator Patrick Gathara on Twitter : “ This debate would be sheer comedy if it wasn ’ t such a pitiful and tragic advertisement for U.S. dysfunction.
” On Facebook , Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen wrote , “ An election debate in the States last night , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fill up way too much .
Fortunately , this is not the case in Denmark .
And I never hope it will be like that .
The harsh words polarize and split.
” Walter Veltroni , a columnist for Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera and a former centre-left mayor of Rome , said he had seen all the U.S. TV debates since Kennedy vs. Nixon in 1960 , but “ I have never witnessed a spectacle similar to the one last night.
“ He said the debate showed how there are two Americas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that of a country in stalemate , paralyzed by politics and tones that are foreign to its tradition , ” Veltroni said .
Hu Xijin , editor of China ’ s nationalistic Communist Party tabloid Global Times , wrote in the paper ’ s microblog that the “ chaos , interruptions , personal attacks and insults “ on display were a reflection of America ’ s “ overarching division , anxiety and the accelerating erosion of the system ’ s original advantages.
” “ I used to admire this kind of televised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have much more mixed feelings when watch it again now , “ wrote Hu , who personally and through his paper routinely attacks American policies .
The editor-at-large of The Australian newspaper , Paul Kelly , described the debate as a “ spiteful , chaotic , abusive , often out-of-control brawling encounter with both candidates revealing their contempt for each other.
“ While Trump surely energized his base , he “ never landed a political knock-out blow , “ and Biden occasionally faltered but “ showed he could fight , ” he wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous several weeks.
“ A columnist for the newspaper , Peter Hoysted , called the debate a “ shout-athon “ and a “ verbal shambles ” that reflected American political life and the “ yawning gap between the left and right.
“ Tim Wilson , a lawmaker in Australia ’ s conservative government , was frustrated by the debate ’ s lack of policy focus .
“ It was pretty unedifying in terms of a discussion , not just about the future of America , but ultimately because of the might of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world as well , ” Wilson told Australian Broadcasting Corp. Amanda Wishworth , a lawmaker in Australia ’ s centre-left Labor Party , said , “ A lot of people would be scratching their heads , especially here from Australia , where , believe it or not , our politics is a little bit more gentle than the U.S. of A.
” Foreign policy issues were largely absent from the debate , although Trump slung accusations that China had paid Biden ’ s son Hunter for consulting work and Biden attacked Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failing to deliver benefits .
Trump also repeatedly blamed China for the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 1 million people globally and laid waste to economies around the world .
In the Mideast , the largely domestic debate drew raised eyebrows when Biden at one point said “ inshallah ” as Trump hedged on saying when he would release his tax returns .
“ Inshallah ” in Arabic means “ God willing.
” It also can be used in a way to suggest something won ’ t ever happen .
Al-Arabiya @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dubai , and The National , a state-linked newspaper in Abu Dhabi , both published articles noting Biden ’ s use of the word .
A Emirati political scientist , Abdulkhaleq Abdulla , wrote on Twitter that he saw the debate as a “ tumultuous verbal battle.
” “ How did America reach this level of political decline ?
” he wrote .
McGuirk reported from Sydney , Australia .
Cara Anna in Johannesburg ; Karl Ritter in Rome ; Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen , Denmark ; and Jon Gambrell in Dubai @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this report .

Jamey Keaten And Rod McGuirk - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-30--Spain confiscates 35 tons of hashish smuggled in yachts

MADRID - Spanish authorities said Wednesday that they have confiscated 35 tons of hashish that was being smuggled aboard luxury @ @ @ @ @ the country ’ s largest bust at sea involving the drug .
Spain ’ s @ @ @ @ @ was found when agents boarded four sailboats belonging to an alleged smuggling ring .
Police @ @ @ @ @ on the yachts in addition to 5 tons previously seized elsewhere .
Police said they @ @ @ @ @ Russian and confiscated six yachts worth an estimated 5 million euros ( $ 5.9 million @ @ @ @ @ out from Sept. 24-28 .
The ministry said the operation is a “ huge blow @ @ @ @ @ largest criminal organization dedicated to smuggling hashish via sea ( into Spain ) .
“ @ @ @ @ @ during the investigation from Europol , the international Maritime Analysis and Operation Centre , and @ @ @ @ @ Kingdom , the Netherlands , Bulgaria , Greece and Italy .


thetorontostar--2020-09-30--Ex-FBI Director Comey to appear for Russia probe hearing

WASHINGTON - Former FBI Director James Comey faces questioning Wednesday from the Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee about his role in leading the bureau ’ s investigation into ties between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia .
Comey is the latest high-profile former official from the FBI or Justice Department to testify in an investigation led by the committee chairman , Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina .
The questioning of Comey , conducted with the 2020 election just weeks away and as the committee prepares for confirmation hearings for President Donald Trump ’ s Supreme Court nominee , underscores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s investigation four years ago into potential co-ordination between Trump ’ s campaign and Russia remains front-and-centre in the minds of Republican lawmakers , who see an opening to rally support for the president and cast him as the victim of biased law enforcement .
A Justice Department inspector general report did not find evidence of partisan bias and concluded that the investigation was opened for a legitimate reason , but it did reveal significant problems in how the FBI set out to eavesdrop on a former national security adviser to the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those errors to cast broader doubt on the Russia investigation , and have released a series of declassified documents that they say supports the conclusion of a flawed probe .
That includes information that national intelligence director John Ratcliffe , a former Texas congressman and Trump loyalist , said he has declassified even though he said he does not know if it is true .
In a letter to Graham , Ratcliffe said that in late July 2016 , U.S. intelligence agencies obtained “ insight ” into Russian spycraft alleging that Hillary Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ approved a campaign plan to stir up a scandal against ” Trump .
But Ratcliffe added that American intelligence agencies do “ not know the accuracy of this allegation or the extent to which the Russian intelligence analysis may reflect exaggeration or fabrication.
” The Senate panel has already heard from Rod Rosenstein and Sally Yates , both former deputy attorneys general , and has scheduled testimony from ex-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe .

Eric Tucker And Mary Clare Jalonick - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-30--Judge order leaves many US visa lottery winners out of luck

SAN DIEGO - A federal judge on Wednesday ordered the Trump administration to save more than 9,000 U.S. slots for visa lottery winners affected by the government ’ s freeze on green cards earlier this year .
But tens of thousands of other visa lottery winners will be out of luck .
U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta acknowledged that his order will mean only about half of the so-called diversity visas issued normally each year will be used .
He said in his ruling that he gave the State Department leniency due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Mehta rejected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slots be saved for people who won the lottery but hadn ’ t yet been vetted .
With about 15,400 visas issued so far in the 2020 fiscal year that ended Wednesday , the additional 30,000 sought by advocates for the lottery winners would have brought the total close to the annual average of 47,404 over the previous 18 years .
The judge said that the impact of COVID-19 on the State Department ’ s processing capacity needed to be taken into account , bringing him to order a total of 9,095 slots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Plaintiffs ’ proposed number is that it asks the court to treat FY 2020 as if it were an ‘ average ’ year .
But , to state the obvious , it has been anything but average , “ Mehta wrote in his ruling .
“ The COVID-19 pandemic has caused worldwide operational disruptions of the State Department ’ s consular and visa processing operations.
” The United States makes available up to 55,000 visas a year for immigrants whose nationalities are underrepresented in the U.S. population .
The winners are randomly chosen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applicants to be given green cards that would let them live permanently in the United States .
But the winners must be vetted and have the visas in hand by Sept. 30 of the year they were chosen or they lose out .
This year , the State Department had issued little more than 12,000 visas for the 2020 lottery when President Donald Trump in April extended a freeze on many green cards issued outside the United States to the end of the year , including the lottery ’ s visas .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department to resume issuing the visas ahead of the Sept. 30 deadline , partially reversing the freeze .
On Wednesday , the judge ordered the State Department to put on hold 9,095 winning visa lottery numbers past the deadline so they can be processed pending a final judgement .
Rafael Urena , who is representing more than 1,000 visa lottery winners , said the order sends a lifeline to the group .
“ The Diversity Visa program has been the United States ’ beacon of hope to the world for 30 years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it unlawfully dismantled by the Trump administration was a tragedy .
Today ’ s order gives hope to many of the plaintiffs that the American dream continues.
” U.S. Department of Justice lawyer Thomas York did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press requesting comment about Wednesday ’ s order .
The administration said it halted the issuance of green cards to free up jobs in the coronavirus-wrecked economy — a reason the president has used to achieve many of the cuts to legal immigration that eluded him before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people seeking temporary work visas at high-tech companies , summer camps and multinational corporations .
Trump has long sought to scrap the diversity visa lottery , saying it brings “ the worst of the worst.
” Mehta , who was appointed by President Barack Obama , made clear in his Sept. 4 ruling that he disagreed with Trump ’ s characterizations .
“ Diversity visa lottery winners are people who have come to this nation , like millions before , to seek a better life for themselves and their families , and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote .
“ They do not deserve to be caricatured as common criminals , or to be used as a political wedge issue.
” The U.S. government runs the program , and citizens of qualifying countries are the ones who decide to bid for the visas .
Foreign governments do not choose who applies or ultimately receives a visa .
Applicants must have graduated from high school or have two years of experience in a selection of fields identified by the U.S. Labor Department .
The winners can not have a criminal record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sponsor willing and able to support them until they get established .
More than 80,000 applicants were named winners , so they had to race against each other to get the visas made available .
Associated Press reporter Elliot Spagat contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-09-30--Parscale steps back from Trump team after hospitalization

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump ’ s former campaign manager is stepping away from the reelection campaign days after he was hospitalized after Florida law enforcement officials said threatened to harm himself .
Brad Parscale , one of Trump ’ s closest political aides , served as the campaign manager for the reelection effort until July , when he was demoted by Trump .
He remained a senior adviser .
Parscale ’ s break with the Trump campaign was first reported by Politico and was confirmed Wednesday by a campaign official .
On Sunday , police officers talked Parscale out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife called police to say that he had multiple firearms and was threatening to hurt himself .
He was hospitalized Sunday under the state ’ s Baker Act , which allows anyone deemed to be a threat to themselves or others to be detained for 72 hours for psychiatric evaluation .
Parscale ’ s firm developed websites for Trump ’ s personal businesses before working on his 2016 presidential campaign , where he was credited with overseeing the campaign ’ s largely unnoticed — but influential — social media efforts that helped promote @ @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-09-30--Trump-Biden debate chaos leaves Canadians in U.S. unimpressed — but unsurprised

Before Tuesday ’ s presidential debate got underway , Erin Buckley Burnett and her husband made sure their two kids were safely tucked in bed .
The family knew they could expect some form of PG-rated content when Joe Biden and Donald Trump took to the stage .
“ I would never let my own toddlers behave the way that the two presidential candidates conducted themselves , ” Buckley Burnett , a resident of Santa Monica who was born and raised in Ontario , said the next day .
Her kids are aged four and two — perhaps a little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ televised clash that she characterized as “ vicious , chaotic and offensive to the American people ’ s own intelligence.
” Buckley Burnett is among thousands of Canadians , at home and abroad , who tuned in to watch the first debate between the incumbent Trump and Biden as they vie to occupy the White House for the next four years .
Once the spectacle was underway , many people took to social media to express disappointment in the lack of civility from politicians looking to occupy arguably the most powerful job in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened Tuesday should have come as a surprise , said Buckley Burnett .
“ As a policy wonk myself , policy matters and ( the debate ) lacked any educational component on any key issues and only highlighted their character , ” she said .
“ My hope that it still encourages people to want to vote rather than disengage and tune out of the process.
” Buckley Burnett is the co-president of the L.A.-based expat organization Canadians Abroad , one of the largest for Canadians anywhere .
She said Canadians in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than usual — tensions are extremely high due to ongoing protests against racial inequality , and the COVID-19 pandemic has made people more fearful of their health and job security .
Some of her friends who used to live in the U.S. have returned back to Canada , while others are waiting to see what happens on Nov. 3 — everything , she said , is on the line during this election .
One of the shocking things she has observed within American politics is how politicians in the U.S. don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s families into the mud — like how Trump attacked Biden ’ s son Hunter , saying he had been dishonourably discharged from the military and had not held a job until Biden became vice-president , something that Biden vehemently rejected .
“ I don ’ t think Americans are desensitized to lies and this level of abrasiveness , I think it ’ s making them more angry and my only hope is this can translate to the desire to get out and vote , ” she said .
David Ivkovic , another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said his biggest takeaway from the debate was the contrast between the two candidates .
Biden , he said , tried to answer questions with his policies and showed empathy to people with regards to the pandemic , while Trump did what Trump usually does : bully , cut his rival off , ramble and insult , without talking about any of his policies .
And he did not address the people even once .
“ I understand Biden is just another old white guy , and it would have been nice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again .
But at least Biden brings with him the diversity and inclusive ideas that are missing right now , ” he said .
Ivkovic saw the early years of the Obama administration when the country was trying to recover from the recession , and it wasn ’ t until 2016 during the Trump and Hillary Clinton campaigns that he started to see social tensions rise .
At that time , Americans who didn ’ t like Obama wanted a change , while others worried a Trump era would bring chaos and anarchy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more evident now , he said .
“ I feel we as a society have gotten to a point where we pick our side and nothing the other says will sway them , ” he said .
“ Some Trump supporters genuinely believe everything he says is the truth .
Even when presented with facts to the contrary , they just write off the evidence as fake .
Or they know he is lying , but are in so deep with him , their egos can ’ t handle admitting they were wrong.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s concerned the level of hateful divisiveness in America could spill over to Canada .
Back in April , when a gunman went on a shooting rampage in Nova Scotia , he was surprised to see so many Canadians , especially on social media , getting upset that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was advocating for stricter gun control .
“ It seemed like these were NRA members arguing about something in the States .
It was odd to see that type of rhetoric coming from Canadians , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ t leave office if he lost , Ivkovic said he has to believe that the president ’ s party would convince him to obey the rules of democracy .
“ But so much of what he does is irrational , he stokes his base to not believe verifiable facts .
Someone who is so brainwashed by these ideas is unpredictable , so we ’ ll just have to see , ” he said .


thetorontostar--2020-09-30--World leaders, virtual meeting 1.0: Was anybody listening?

In the space of a few minutes , on a prerecorded video filmed thousands of miles from where it was shown , the tech-savvy president of El Salvador captured the two strikingly different sides of this year ’ s unprecedented — and virtual — “ gathering ” of world leaders “ at ” the U.N. General Assembly in 2020 .
On one hand , Nayib Bukele said , humanity holds in its smartphone-clutching hands a 21st-century miracle : “ In a world which is almost completely connected , I can say a few words here and be heard in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the same speech Tuesday , he raised this ever-present doubt : When the people who govern the world were delivering sequestered addresses to the United Nations this past week , was anybody actually listening ?
“ If you don ’ t believe me , ” he said , “ ask the first person you see.
” So goes the planet .
And so too , it seems , goes the United Nations .
The same dissonance that technology hands us in our daily lives — closer but farther apart , more intimate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-era world over the past week that even the people who collectively govern all of us can ’ t necessarily transcend the pixels and bits of data that have become foundational to the way human civilization operates .
“ It is obvious that technology is the future , ” said the president of Ghana , Nana Akufo-Addo .
“ How else would we all have maintained a semblance of keeping in touch in the past six months , but for technology ?
” He ’ s not wrong .
And yet .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a Really Boring Meeting , kind of like preparing dinner by opening a can of steak .
Sure , all the right ingredients were in there — the world ’ s leaders , a deeply urgent slate of problems , a global forum to hash them out .
But it didn ’ t taste right , and that wasn ’ t just because it was virtual .
Even an American online classroom , circa Fall 2020 , is livelier .
What if , say , the world ’ s leaders had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliver their speeches live via satellite hookup ?
What if other leaders had been listening in real time ?
What if they could have responded ?
Riskier , yes , and potentially glitchier , but also more real .
Something that had just happened might have been discussed .
A loose , albeit very electronic , relationship between speaker and audience might have been possible .
As the prerecorded speeches droned on , even the most interesting of leaders appeared kind of two-dimensional .
The biggest signs of life came in the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nations that don ’ t like each other very much — Armenia and Azerbaijan , Iran and the United Arab Emirates , India and Pakistan — sent up lower-level diplomats to deliver often overheated responses in real time .
Overheated isn ’ t always productive ; Tuesday night ’ s U.S. presidential debate showed that .
But the distance of technology created something new even for the United Nations , an organization known for its procedural , bureaucratic nature : a meeting almost entirely free of the natural energy generated when human beings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together to talk .
Not that the promise of technology wasn ’ t front and centre ; talk of it dominated the week .
A “ Roadmap for Digital Cooperation ” summit was held , and dozens of world leaders rhapsodized about how the magic of electronic networks — connections unthinkable when some of them were children — is helping offset the pandemic ’ s cleaving effects for both those who run governments and those who are governed .
Afghanistan ’ s president , Ashraf Ghani , said his nation was “ experimenting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ digital revolution can be wielded as a source of economic opportunity ” for younger people and a way to develop governance and law .
He said 2020 ’ s blend of tech and circumstance was challenging Afghanistan to “ adapt the ways we consume , the ways we work , and the ways we govern.
” Kersti Kaljulaid , the president of Estonia , calls her nation “ the world ’ s first digitally transformed state “ — a place where all public services run online .
Because of that , she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw less scramble than any other country to move everything online which previously ran on paper.
” “ We want the same for the rest of the world , ” Kaljulaid said .
But she also issued a warning — that technology without structure can make things worse .
“ Leaders globally must understand that digital services do not , by themselves , rid any country from fat bureaucracy , corruption or inefficiency , ” she said .
“ By digitalizing these problems , we can only make things worse , unless we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ processes.
” Through that lens , it becomes increasingly clear that the “ information superhighway , ” as it was called in the 1990s , has , in the coronavirus era , become more choked with traffic than ever .
“ COVID has created an inflection point .
Countries are starting to rethink how they connect with each other .
It ’ s hard to imagine everything that has occurred over the last six months occurring five years ago , “ says William Muck , a political science professor and co-ordinator of global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Illinois .
“ Tech is one way they see that they can solve problems and avoid political pitfalls , “ Muck says .
Perhaps .
Speaker after speaker said it was time for the United Nations to be different , that the pandemic had handed it an opportunity to evolve .
But this meeting suggested that for such an intricate bureaucracy , even adapting in an emergency may not be enough to jump-start genuine , irreversible innovation .
Despite that , hope peeks through .
Thanks to technology , the people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , steer humanity ’ s destiny are still finding ways to talk — even if “ talk , “ complete with air quotes , isn ’ t quite what it used to be .
That ’ s what Volkan Bozkir thinks , at any rate .
“ The fact that so many world leaders chose to address this assembly is a testament to the power and relevance of the United Nations , “ the president of the General Assembly said Tuesday evening as he pronounced the gathering closed .
“ No other organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” And with that , he thanked U.N. tech support for all its help with the prerecorded speeches and was on his way .
Ted Anthony , director of digital innovation for The Associated Press , has covered global affairs since 1995 and oversees the news organization ’ s coverage of the pandemic ’ s ripple effect on society .
Follow him on Twitter at http : //twitter.com/anthonyted


thetorontostar--2020-09-30--California governor signs corporate boardroom diversity law

SACRAMENTO , Calif. - Hundreds of California-based corporations must have directors from racial or sexual minorities on their boards under a first-in-the-nation bill signed Wednesday by Gov .
Gavin Newsom .
The diversity legislation is similar to a 2018 measure that required boardrooms to have at least one female director by 2019 .
Like that measure , it could face court challenges from conservative groups who view it as a discriminatory quota .
Supporters evoked both the coronavirus pandemic that is disproportionately affecting minorities and weeks of unrest and calls for inclusion that followed the slaying of George Floyd in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After Floyd ’ s death , many corporations issued statements of support for diversity , but many haven ’ t followed through , said Assemblyman Chris Holden ( D-Pasadena ) , who co-authored the bill .
“ The new law represents a big step forward for racial equity , ” Holden said .
“ While some corporations were already leading the way to combat implicit bias , now , all of California ’ s corporate boards will better reflect the diversity of our state .
This is a win-win as ethnically diverse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack diversity.
” By the end of 2021 , the more than 660 public corporations with California headquarters must have at least one board director from an “ underrepresented community , “ according to the measure .
Those who qualify would self-identify as Black , Latino , Asian , Pacific Islander , Native American , Native Hawaiian or Alaska Native , or as gay , lesbian , bisexual or transgender .
The measure requires at least two such directors by the end of 2022 on boards with four to nine directors .
Three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or more directors .
Firms that don ’ t comply would face fines of $ 100,00 for first violations and $ 300,000 for repeated violations .
At an online signing ceremony , Newsom said it was important for minorities to have a voice on the boards of powerful corporations .
“ When we talk about racial justice , we talk about empowerment , we talk about power , and we need to talk about seats at the table , ” Newsom said .
The legislation was part of a package of racial justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadline .
Others bar the use of peremptory challenges to remove potential jurors based on racial , religious or gender identity ; allow judges to alter sentences that are believed to involve racial or ethnic discrimination ; and set up a state task force to study the idea of reparations to African Americans for slavery .
The text of the corporate diversity bill cited the Latino Corporate Directors Association , which said 233 of 662 publicly traded companies headquartered in California had all-white boards as of this year .
Nearly 90 % didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although Latinos make up 39 % of the state ’ s population .
Only 16 % had an African American board member .
The only official opponent in a legislative analysis was former California commissioner of corporations Keith Bishop .
He objected that that bill , coupled with the existing diversity law , would make it more desirable for corporations to pick women who also are members of the underrepresented communities to simultaneously meet both sets of quotas , to the detriment of men or women who do not meet the qualifications in @ @ @ @

Don Thompson And Robert Jablon - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-30--12 Democratic governors vow that all votes will be counted

LANSING , Mich. - Twelve Democratic governors issued a joint statement on Wednesday defending American democracy , vowing that every valid ballot will be counted in the election after President Donald Trump sowed distrust during the first presidential debate .
Trump claimed without evidence Tuesday night that mail voting — surging in popularity during the coronavirus pandemic — is ripe for fraud , and he refused to say whether he would accept the results .
He also called on his backers to scrutinize voting procedures at the polls , which critics said could cross into voter intimidation .
Without mentioning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his refusal last week to commit to a peaceful transition of power .
“ Any efforts to throw out ballots or refuse a peaceful transfer of power are nothing less than an assault on democracy , ” they wrote .
“ There is absolutely no excuse for promoting the intimidation or harassment of voters .
These are all blatant attempts to deny our constituents the right to have their voices heard , as guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution , and to know the will of the people will be carried out.
” Signing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Gavin Newsom of California , J.B. Pritzker of Illinois , Phil Murphy of New Jersey , Ralph Northam of Virginia , Jay Inslee of Washington , Tony Evers of Wisconsin , Tim Walz of Minnesota , Kate Brown of Oregon , Steve Sisolak of Nevada , Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico and John Carney of Delaware .
The governors said all valid ballots cast in accordance with state and local laws must be counted and if Trump loses , “ he must leave office — period.
” They wrote that elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power ” and that disenfranchising voters “ strikes at the very heart ” of democracy .
“ We call on elected leaders at all levels , from both parties , to speak out loudly against such efforts in the weeks ahead , “ they said .
Trump campaign spokesperson Thea McDonald accused Democrats of “ working to shred election integrity rules across the country to stack the deck for their lacklustre candidate.
“ Republicans , she said , “ are aiming for an election with results all Americans can trust .
”


thetorontostar--2020-09-30--Prosecutor: 2 officers brutally beat Black man in Alabama

SELMA , Ala. - A prosecutor said two on-duty white Alabama officers brutally beat a Black man five months ago after the victim got into a road-rage incident with the wife of one of the officers .
Dallas County District Attorney Michael Jackson announced felony assault charges against former Selma police officer Matthew Blaine Till and former Dallas County sheriff ’ s Deputy John Nicholas Taccone at a news conference Wednesday , news outlets reported .
According to court documents , Till ’ s wife got into the dispute with the victim on April 30 in Selma and called her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident with a “ black guy in a red Charger.
” Both officers then arrived at the scene and eventually pursued the driver of that car .
When the man pulled over , court documents said the officers approached him and got into a physical struggle with him , striking his head and face .
Till had tried to put handcuffs on the man before the struggle ensued , AL.com reported .
During the 90-second encounter , Jackson said Till also pulled out a gun and told the victim that “ he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They Tased him multiple times , threw him to the ground and were punching and kicking him , ” Jackson said .
“ It was a brutal beating.
” All this was happening while the victim was repeatedly asking the officers “ What did I do ?
” Jackson said .
The unidentified Black man eventually got into his car and fled , but crashed his vehicle a short time later .
He was then transported to a holding cell at the city ’ s police department where federal agents interviewed him about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , court documents said .
“ These officers escalated a personal matter that should have been a traffic stop at worse into a Rocky Horror beating , “ Jackson said .
Till was fired , and Taccone is no longer employed with the sheriff ’ s office , according to the prosecutor .
It was not immediately clear if either of the two men had an attorney who could comment .
“ Public officials are held to a higher standard , ” Jackson said , according to the Selma Times-Journal .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a symbol of integrity and protection.
” Till pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in federal court last week for telling Taconne not to speak with anyone about the call he received from his wife before the incident .
A federal judge has set his sentencing date to Dec. 28 .
Both men were then charged Tuesday with felony second-degree assault , unlawful imprisonment and obstructing governmental operations .


thetorontostar--2020-09-30--At least 25 COVID-19 cases connected to Salish Lodge & Spa

SNOQUALMIE , Wash. - At least 25 COVID-19 cases have been reported at the Salish Lodge & Spa in Snoqualmie , public health officials said Wednesday .
The outbreak involves 23 staff and two guests , according to a news release sent by Public Health - Seattle & King County spokeswoman Sharon Bogan .
Anyone who visited the popular lodge east of Seattle next to Snoqualmie Falls overnight or during the day from Sept. 16-30 should get tested for COVID-19 and monitor for symptoms , the news release said .
Salish Lodge & Spa is fully co-operating with Public Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for staff and is currently closed , according to health officials .
The Salish Lodge & Spa restaurants will be closed the week of Sept. 28 , says a message on its website .
“ We have done everything possible to protect our guests and team members since the beginning of the pandemic , including elevating our health , hygiene , safety and sanitation protocols and following health agency guidance , “ Alan Stephens , General Manager of Salish Lodge & Spa said in the news release .
Stephens also said the entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials on Wednesday reported 480 additional COVID-19 cases in Washington as of Tuesday night , and two more deaths , The Seattle Times reported .
The update brings the state ’ s totals to 87,522 cases and 2,126 deaths , according to the state Department of Health .


thetorontostar--2020-09-30--Debate commission says it will make changes to format

NEW YORK - The presidential debate commission says it will soon adopt changes to its format to avoid a repeat of the disjointed first meeting between President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden .
The commission said Wednesday that the debate “ made clear that additional structure should be added to the format of the remaining debates to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues.
” One possibility being discussed is to give the moderator the ability to cut off the microphone of one of the debate participants while his opponent is talking , according to a person familiar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity .
The next presidential debate is a town hall format scheduled for Oct. 15 in Miami .
Meanwhile , the Nielsen company said that 73.1 million people watched the debate on television , where it was shown on 16 networks .
That ’ s more than any other television event since the Super Bowl , even if it fell short of the 84 million who watched the first debate between Trump and Hillary Clinton in 2016 .
That was the most-watched presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to gain control of Tuesday ’ s debate in Cleveland because of frequent interruptions , primarily by Trump .
The candidates interrupted Wallace or their opponent 90 times in the 90-minute debate , 71 of them by Trump , according to an analysis by The Washington Post .
Wallace , of Fox News , pleaded for a more orderly debate , at one point looking at Trump and saying , “ the country would be better served if we allowed both people to speak with fewer interruptions .
I ’ m appealing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ Well , frankly , you ’ ve been doing more interrupting than he has , ” Wallace said .
Biden on Wednesday called the debate “ a national embarrassment.
” But despite some suggestions that the final two presidential encounters be cancelled , both campaigns said they expected their candidate to attend .
Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said the commission was “ only doing this because their guy got pummeled last night .
President Trump was the dominant force and now Joe Biden is trying to work the refs.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ who moderated one of the three Trump-Clinton debates in 2016 , said Wallace was put in nearly an impossible situation .
Faced with the same behaviour , she said she might have called a full stop to the debate for a moment to recalibrate .
She never had the option , technically , to cut off the microphone of a candidate four years ago , she said .
It also wasn ’ t in the rules that were agreed to in advance by the candidates and commission .
“ To say , ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rules so we aren ’ t , either ’ — it ’ s an unprecedented situation , ” Raddatz said .
“ That was so out of control.
” Wallace told The New York Times on Wednesday that he “ never dreamt that it would go off the tracks the way it did.
“ He conceded he didn ’ t grasp quickly enough that Trump would keep interrupting .
“ I guess I didn ’ t realize — and there was no way you could , hindsight being 20/20 — that this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s strategy , not just for the beginning of the debate but the entire debate , “ said the host of “ Fox News Sunday.
” Twitter was ablaze with criticism for Wallace early in the debate for losing control of the proceedings .
That was illustrated by MSNBC ’ s Joe Scarborough , who tweeted , “ What is Chris Wallace doing ?
He has no control over the debate .
He asks a question and let ’ s Trump continue yelling .
This is a disgrace.
” By the time he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next morning , Scarborough had cooled off .
He called on the debate commission to act .
“ While it was extraordinarily frustrating , I think all of us need to walk a mile in his shoes before saying the morning after , ‘ He could have done this , he could have done that , ’ ” Scarborough said .
Some of the president ’ s supporters felt that Wallace was too hard on their candidate .
Trump himself suggested he was also debating Wallace , “ but that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticism from opinion personalities on his own network .
“ Trump is debating the moderator and Biden , ” primetime host Laura Ingraham tweeted during the debate .
“ The guy signed up to moderate a debate and he ended up trying to referee a knife fight , ” he said .
Wallace told the Times that he was reluctant to interject more frequently but that he grew alarmed when it was clear Trump wouldn ’ t stop interrupting .
“ If I didn ’ t try to seize control of the debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I ever really did — then it was going to just go completely off the tracks , “ he said .
But Wallace wasn ’ t in favour of the power to shut off a candidate ’ s microphone , saying it may not have stopped Trump and those comments still could have been picked up by Biden ’ s mic .
There is some skepticism about what the commission can do that is really meaningful .
“ I ’ m not sure that there ’ s a format change that can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pat Toomey , Republican , of battleground state Pennsylvania .
Wallace is the only presidential debate moderator this cycle with prior experience , after receiving praise for handling the final Clinton-Trump debate in 2016 .
The other two moderators are Steve Scully of C-SPAN and Kristen Welker of NBC News .
Scully moderates the Miami debate , a town hall format where citizens get to ask questions , which may make interruptions more difficult .
“ Having prepared for these , the town hall is a completely different event in the debate Olympics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adviser to former President Barack Obama .
“ If Trump brings the same nastiness to Florida , it will be doubly painful to watch but it will be doubly painful for him politically.
” Associated Press writers Bill Barrow , Laurie Kellman and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report .