thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Teacher on leave after Nazi accusation; family denies ties

COLUMBIA , S.C. - A South Carolina middle school teacher was placed on leave after a social media post accused him of being a Nazi who helped make travel arrangements for white supremacists attending a 2017 rally in Charlottesville , Virginia , that ended in violence .
Lexington County School District One spokeswoman Mary Beth Hill said they were investigating racism allegations against a social studies teacher at Pleasant Hill Middle School , The Post and Courier reported Thursday .
The district didn ’ t name the teacher or elaborate on the accusations .
Tim Manning Jr. was the teacher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manning family lawyer Elizabeth Millender confirmed in a statement .
The thread accused Manning of having a Twitter account labeling himself a Nazi and said he made travel and lodging plans for white nationalist rally participants .
Millender said Manning had nothing to do with the “ repugnant Twitter account ” referenced by the thread .
She also said the family doesn ’ t “ sympathize in any way with , fringe or otherwise prejudicial groups or associations.
” Manning ’ s wife , Melissa , also denied the allegations Thursday , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Mannings are responsible for the subject social media account is tantamount to false light and will be dealt with appropriately in a legal manner , “ Millender said .
” The Mannings are good , hardworking public servants.
” Hill said the district was taking the incident seriously .
The 2017 “ Unite the Right ” rally drew hundreds of white nationalists to protest the planned removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee .
Neo-Nazi James Alex Fields Jr. was sentenced to life for plowing his car into a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer and injuring dozens .


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Dentists carefully reopen in France after 2-month lockdown

PARIS - Anyone who suffered through France ’ s two-month lockdown with a toothache or other oral affliction of a non-emergency nature has a hope of licking the pain .
Dental practices around the country are cautiously reopening and accepting appointments after the French government eased restrictions on some businesses , services and public activity .
Yet getting back to work in the age of coronavirus requires caution , especially for over 40,000 dentists in France who are among the health professionals at highest risk of becoming infected .
Because respiratory droplets are a way the virus spreads among people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practitioners .
That means not only disinfecting tools and surfaces , but layer upon layer of extra screens , wraps , gloves and masks .
The World Health Organization has recommended specialized face masks for health care providers performing medical procedures such as ventilation and intubation that produce fine , airborne particles , which might transmit the coronavirus .
Drilling teeth for fillings is also known to generate aerosolized viral particles .
Paris dentist Sabrine Jendoubi said the trade-off for safety is the discomfort of additional head and body wear .
“ A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the operating theatre .
Today , we wear it for everything.
“ Jendoubi said .
Of the various filtering face masks certified to protect against viruses in the air , she finds the FFP2-rated model ” the most complicated , as it ’ s really tight.
” “ It filters out every virus and bacteria , so it ’ s quite heavy to wear but it protects us and the patients , ” Jendoubi said .
The additional precautions are also an added expense .
An operator of medical clinics and offices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AP it is costing 50,000 euros ( $ 54,000 ) to supply each of the company ’ s centres with the hygiene and protective equipment recommended by the French government .
“ We will communicate to the government these difficult adjustments in terms of profitability , but for now we ’ re focused on this public health issue , ” Carine Benharrous , director of dental operations at Doctocare , said .
The limited distance between the faces of dentists and their patients also is a potential concern , as some experts have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infectious dose of the coronavirus may become more seriously ill with COVID-19 .
In Britain , all routine dental care has been suspended except for telephone consultations and prescriptions .
While dentists in Denmark are returning to their offices , they are wearing protective suits and plastic face shields while tending to patients lying with their mouths wide open .
Cleaning teeth to remove plaque is being done by hand instead of with ultrasonic devices that would increase the risk of producing spit .
Yet in some European countries , dental practices never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Italy , one of the nations hit hardest by infections and virus-related deaths , reduced their services to take only urgent cases in person , managing other patients by telephone .
Proof that a pandemic wasn ’ t an excuse to avoid an Italian dentist chair was an April 23 photo on Twitter of U.S .
Ambassador to the Holy See Callista Gingrich wearing a protective hairnet and paper drape .
“ A trip to the dentist in Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic , ” Gingrich tweeted with emoji of an Italian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adamson reported from Leeds , England .
Jan Olsen in Copenhagen , Nicole Winfield in Rome and Maria Cheng in London contributed .

Thomas Adamson And Nicolas Garriga - The Associated Press

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thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Activists call out US officials over virtual public meetings

ALBUQUERQUE , N.M. - It was supposed to be a virtual public meeting focused on a review of a proposed plan that will govern oil and gas drilling and other development across a vast corner of northwestern New Mexico that is home to a national park and spots important to Native American tribes .
Instead , Thursday ’ s meeting hosted by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Indian Affairs quickly shifted to a steady stream of criticism from tribal members and environmentalists who took issue with the virtual platform .
They argued that those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aren ’ t able to comment because they live in rural areas without adequate broadband and poor cellphone service .
They also pointed to the significant effects the coronavirus pandemic has had on the Navajo Nation and some New Mexico pueblos .
Marissa Naranjo , a policy director with the All Pueblo Council of Governors , warned federal officials that the group ’ s leadership would not be able to attend Thursday ’ s meeting or any of the others planned in the coming days because their attention is focused on the outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have limited tribal operations , she said reviewing the federal government ’ s documents in time to submit meaningful comments before the May 28 deadline will be nearly impossible .
The pueblo governors , the New Mexico congressional delegation and others have asked repeatedly over recent weeks for the comment period to be extended .
“ The situation on the ground has only grown more dire since our first request , ” Naranjo said , pointing to the surge of cases on the Navajo Nation and in McKinley and San Juan counties .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ who offered comments Thursday reiterated the need for more time .
Rebecca Sobel with the group WildEarth Guardians said the virtual meetings fall short of the federal government ’ s trust and treaty obligations to tribes .
“ This process has systemically marginalized tribal and public input and it threatens to cement a legacy of industrialized fracking across this sacred landscape , ” she said .
The Bureau of Land Management has not responded to the requests .
In a statement to The Associated Press , the agency said it was taking the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this time the 90-day comment period was scheduled to close May 28 .
At the start of the virtual meeting , federal officials acknowledged the challenges presented by the pandemic and said the use of technology was aimed at keeping workers and the public safe while moving ahead with important projects such as amending the resource management plan for parts of the San Juan Basin .
The fight over drilling here has been ongoing for years .
Environmentalists are concerned about contamination , while archaeologists and tribes worry about the effects of unchecked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the boundaries of the protected Chaco Culture National Historical Park .
A World Heritage site , Chaco includes stacked stone remnants of what historians say was once a hub of indigenous civilizational .
Some of the structures are aligned with the seasonal movements of the sun and moon .
The Bureau of Land Management has been deferring interest by the oil and gas industry in parcels within a 10-mile ( 16-kilometre ) radius of Chaco to address the concerns .
Federal legislation aims to codify that practice , essentially establishing a buffer around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as part of amending the management plan cover thousands of square miles of federal land , property belonging to the Navajo Nation and allotments owned by individual Navajos .
The preferred option calls for balancing community .
interests .
Development would likely still result in more than 1,800 new wells on federal land in the planning area over the next 20 years but there would be more stipulations for how that development happens .
The number of new wells under the cultural preservation option would be less .
Some of those who commented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent meltdown of the oil market due to a price war and economic fallout from the pandemic .
“ This area is a bust up here , “ said Mike Eisenfeld with the San Juan Citizens Alliance .
” It ’ s time to start thinking about a post-oil and gas world .
”

Susan Montoya Bryan - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Truck drivers test positive for virus at Costa Rica border

SAN JOSE , Costa Rica - In the week since Costa Rica began testing truck drivers entering the country from Nicaragua and Panama , 23 who were asymptomatic have tested positive for the new coronavirus and others who showed symptoms were turned away without tests , officials said Thursday .
The results are another sign that the spread of the virus in Nicaragua could be greater than its government has acknowledged .
Nicaragua has reported only 25 confirmed cases and eight deaths .
Its government has not imposed social distancing measures and continues to promote mass gatherings .
On Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after fainting at the Costa Rican border and later tested positive for the coronavirus .
Costa Rican authorities confirmed two other positive tests at a crossing from Nicaragua on the first day of testing last week , but did not immediately respond to a request for a breakdown of drivers ’ nationalities .
They conducted 230 tests that first day .
Officials have not said how many drivers have been denied entry into Costa Rica for displaying possible symptoms of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
The virus results in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it can cause more severe illness or death for some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems .
Marvin Altamirano , president of the Nicaraguan Truck Drivers ’ Association , said that so far it had confirmation of five infected drivers .
“ Yesterday we had 600 trucks held up and today we have 800 stopped in a line 23 kilometres ( 14 miles ) long , ” Altamirano said .
“ The losses are $ 100 per day per stopped truck.
” He said the association had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ propose that truck drivers be tested once a month in Managua .
On Thursday , the U.S. Embassy warned U.S. citizens in Nicaragua via Twitter about the coronavirus .
“ Independent health monitors report the actual number of cases is likely much higher , ” the embassy said .
“ Independent reporting also suggests the spread of COVID may be impacting the ability of the medical system in areas outside of Managua to effectively respond.
” The test results in Costa Rica also suggest that infected truck drivers could be a point of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ borders open to commerce .
Costa Rica is the only country in Central America known to have mandatory on-site testing of truck drivers at its border crossings .
El Salvador , which has imposed the strictest measures in the region aimed at slowing the virus ’ spread , only takes drivers ’ temperature at its borders .
Costan Rican health officials take samples from truck drivers at the border crossings and then the drivers have to wait there for the results , which have been coming in less than 24 hours .
Costa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Salas , explained previously that when infected drivers are confirmed positive , authorities notify the government of the country they entered from and their home government .
Costa Rica has reported 830 confirmed coronavirus cases in the country and eight deaths .
International pressure is growing on the Nicaraguan government to take more measures to slow the virus ’ spread and provide a more transparent accounting of cases .
Despite the official numbers , reports are increasing of overwhelmed hospitals and “ express burials ” of suspected coronavirus victims .
On Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,800 prisoners to house arrest as reports spread of suspected COVID-19 cases in the country ’ s prisons .
The government said it was a gesture for the upcoming Mother ’ s Day celebration .
Associated Press writer Gabriela Selser in Managua , Nicaragua , contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--After arrest, gym owner defies California again to reopen

OCEANSIDE , Calif. - About a dozen weightlifters wearing face coverings did sets Thursday in front of mirrors at a Southern California gym that was reopened by the owner despite his arrest last weekend for violating local coronavirus health orders that closed gyms .
Lou Uridel — wearing a red , white and blue mask with a stars-and-stripes pattern and the words “ justice for all ” emblazoned across it — vowed to keep the doors open at Metroflex Gym in the coastal city of Oceanside , north of San Diego .
But he warned his customers they might be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday .
“ There ’ s some members who kind of shy away from that and there ’ s some members who say , you know what , if they ’ re going to take me away in handcuffs for working out , then they can go ahead and do it , “ Uridel said .
Uridel may be the first business owner arrested in California for violating health orders by reopening , although a growing number are doing that .
Tesla CEO Elon Musk reopened his plant in defiance of Alameda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was prepared to be arrested .
He wasn ’ t and won praise from President Donald Trump .
Musk and local officials eventually reached an agreement to allow vehicle production to resume next week .
Authorities wary of a public backlash have preferred to use warnings to get local businesses to comply .
Forcing one to shut its doors and citing the owner is rare , and arrests are considered a last resort .
Last week in neighbouring Riverside County , Sheriff Chad Bianco told supervisors he wouldn ’ t enforce local health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law-abiding business owners and other residents who violate the restrictions .
The state is allowing some counties with a low infection rate to give the greenlight to certain businesses to reopen more quickly than others .
But gyms are not being allowed to reopen anywhere because they are considered a high-risk business due to people being indoors , sharing equipment and breathing hard as they exercise .
Coughing , sneezing and even talking are ways the virus is spread through tiny water droplets .
Bonnie Stauffer , spokeswoman for the Oceanside Police Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every day the gym is open .
Police were working with the San Diego County district attorney ’ s office to review their options , she said .
“ I don ’ t know what other enforcement can be done at this point , ” she said .
The maximum fine for breaking a public health law in California is $ 1,000 or up to 90 days in jail for each day a violation occurs .
Uridel was held by police for only about an hour Sunday before being released .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arraigned in 90 days , though the arrest is under review , said Tanya Sierra , spokeswoman for the San Diego County district attorney ’ s office .
With the support of at least one city councilman , Uridel said he hopes prosecutors will drop the case .
The Texas Supreme Court earlier this month ordered the release of Dallas hair salon owner Shelly Luther , who was jailed after she continued to operate her business despite shutdown orders .
Uridel said he had no choice about reopening the gym .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took us a year and a half to get , ” Uridel said .
“ If we waited , with the bills mounting , we weren ’ t going to be able to recover.
” Uridel said he has taken every precaution so his customers feel safe .
Large handwritten signs warn people no one is allowed in if they are coughing or show other symptoms , and that everyone must sign a waiver declaring they are not ill .
It says all rules will be enforced , including no gym bags or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must wear masks and shirts at all times .
Everyone must maintain 6 feet ( 1.8 metres ) of space between each other , wipe down equipment after each use , and wash their hands before entering the gym and before leaving it .
Uridel said he also closes the gym every 90 minutes for cleaning and sanitizing .
Uridel first opened last Friday and then after his arrest was closed until Wednesday .
He said he has had about 120 people come in daily , staggered over a 12-hour period .
Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masked men spaced 6 feet apart were lifting weights in the gym , situated at the back of a strip mall cordoned off by police tape to signal that businesses were supposed to be closed .
The officers spoke to Uridel about his safety measures and then left .
He was not cited .
Joseph Noland , 40 , said he returned to the gym as soon as he got word it had reopened .
The stay-at-home dad said it ’ s been vital to relieve stress , especially during the virus outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gym .
“ When you walk into the gym , everyone is washing their hands , which is something you never see at the grocery store , “ Noland said .
“ This place is constantly being cleaned .
”


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Pelosi, GOP exchange barbs over new economic relief package

WASHINGTON - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi lashed out Thursday at Trump administration officials and congressional Republicans seeking to slow work on a fresh round of coronavirus relief .
The White House responded minutes later with a threat that President Donald Trump would veto the $ 3 trillion economic package Democrats have proposed .
The bill already had zero chance of passing the GOP-controlled Senate and reaching Trump , making the veto threat a symbolic gesture .
Along with caustic criticism by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , the exchange underscored the deep election-year gulch over what Congress ’ next response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi ’ s proposal served as an opening move and is likely to eventually produce negotiations among congressional leaders and the White House .
At a Capitol news conference , Pelosi , D-Calif. , lambasted Republicans who ’ ve said they want to hold off for now on more relief spending .
“ It ’ s amazing to me how much patience and how much tolerance someone can have for the pain of others , ” she said .
Pelosi told reporters she believed both parties “ and even down Pennsylvania Avenue ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — understand “ the hardships Americans are feeling.
” She called the Democratic proposal “ our offer ” and said while she ’ s had no recent negotiations with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , the administration ’ s chief bargainer , “ I ’ m sure that they ’ ll come with something.
” White House officials quickly released a statement of their own .
It said the legislation Pelosi unveiled Tuesday is “ more concerned with delivering on longstanding partisan and ideological wishlists than with enhancing the ability of our Nation to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenges we face.
” McConnell said later Thursday on Fox News that there was a “ high likelihood ” Congress would do another bill and said it would include GOP-sought language limiting legal liability for companies reopening for business .
He added , “ But it ’ s not going to be a $ 3 trillion left-wing wish.
” The Democratic bill would provide nearly $ 1 trillion to help financially struggling state and local governments , e xtend special unemployment benefits and direct payments to individuals , and bolster spending for health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House on Friday plans to approve the measure , which would be Congress ’ fifth and largest bill aimed at nursing the teetering economy through the coronavirus crisis .
The measure is likely to pass on a near-party line vote and eventually lead to negotiations .
Objections listed by the White House and McConnell included provisions rolling back GOP-passed tax increases on residents of states with high taxes and making it easier for people to vote by mail and for immigrants in the U.S. illegally to receive some federal assistance .
The White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the struggling Postal Service , a favourite Trump target .
McConnell singled out what he called “ the cherry on top ” — provisions helping legal marijuana businesses .
Congress has approved nearly $ 3 trillion in recent weeks to address the country ’ s twin economic and health crises , including money for coronavirus testing .
Republicans have expressed worries about burgeoning budget deficits and said lawmakers should evaluate how the initial dollars are being spent before moving fresh legislation .
They also want to see whether the economy begins to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have kept many businesses shuttered .
Friday ’ s House vote will come as 36 million Americans have applied for unemployment benefits since the virus hit the U.S..
In addition , 1.4 million people in the U.S. have confirmed cases of the virus and more than 85,000 have died .
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has said a painful , prolonged recession could take hold unless Congress provides fresh aid to bolster the all-but-dormant economy .
Trump ’ s views on what to do next have been unclear .
He ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s gained little support in Congress .
Trump has also cautioned GOP lawmakers not to box themselves in by opposing aid for state and local governments , according to a top GOP congressional aide who described Trump ’ s view on condition of anonymity .
Many state and local officials of both parties have sought more federal aid as they face eroding revenue and growing costs for unemployment and health programs .


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Traditional cyclists, e-bikers clash over new trail rules

DENVER - After a couple days of hard hiking last fall , Tim Brass thought it was time to track down a motor .
He was bowhunting in a trophy unit near Creede , and plenty of other hunters were using a motorized trail for swift access .
His friend offered an e-bike .
Brass got his elk .
“ Best hunting experience of my life .
And that tool made it a lot easier to get the elk out of there , I ’ ll tell you that .
It made it bearable , for sure , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Backcountry Hunters and Anglers group .
But that pedal-assisted hunt wasn ’ t enough to flip Brass into a wholehearted embrace of e-bikes .
He points to wildlife surveys showing animals increasingly bothered by all types of explorers adventuring deeper into Colorado ’ s wildest lands .
“ Do we want people to be able to ride a bike twice as far in a day ?
Do we want to allow them where motorcycles can ’ t go ?
What if we know the impacts to wildlife will be greater ?
” Brass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these things have a motor that lets people go deeper and further much easier than ever before .
It can be a bit of a slippery slope when it comes to allowing motorized use on non-motorized routes.
” Allowing e-bikes on non-motorized trails , as ordered by the secretary of the Interior Department last fall , is pitting traditional pedalers versus e-bikers as federal land agencies craft rules to implement the new order .
Cyclists fear the embrace of electric-assisted pedalers could get all bikes banned from trails .
Trail builders worry about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 50 mph .
E-bikers fret their opportunities to explore public lands could be relegated to motorized thoroughfares .
Thousands of public land users are flooding the public comment portals in what is emerging as one of the most controversial rules in years for the Bureau of Land Management .
For Jake Roach , the CEO and co-founder of QuietKat , the Eagle-based maker of off-road e-bikes , the conflict boils down to “ outdoor elitists ” who are able to power themselves into the backcountry .
“ I think what you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access , it ’ s basically set up to really benefit the individual who has a lot of time and is in really good shape , ” said Roach , whose QuietKat has seen explosive growth in recent years .
“ That is not necessarily the demographic of the typical American taxpayer.
” Roach is helping to mobilize the growing swell of e-bikers to sway federal land managers to allow the electrified rides .
He hopes to spread the idea that e-bikes might not only open public lands to a wider range of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public lands .
“ The first mile is crowded , but once you get past that first mile , it can get lonely , ” Roach said .
“ Spreading out the public on public land can only add value .
There ’ s a perception that outdoor elitists want to keep public lands for themselves and that ’ s not a fair assessment of how public lands should be used.
” The Bureau of Land Management , the National Park Service and the U.S .
Fish and Wildlife Service all last month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to electric-powered mountain bikes .
Each agency is asking for public comment on the plan .
The rule comes from a controversial order issued in August by Interior Secretary David Bernhardt directing the agencies ’ managers to develop rules allowing e-bikes on all bike trails .
Bernhardt ’ s Secretarial Order 3376 described how electric motors on bikes “ expanded access to recreational opportunities.
” Bernhardt shifted the definition and regulation of e-bikes from motorized vehicles to bikes and gave land managers 14 days to craft rules that allow electric bikes everywhere bicycles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and U.S .
Fish and Wildlife lands .
It ’ s taken a bit longer than two weeks , and the proposed rules — all published in early April — stop short of Bernhardt ’ s call for immediate opening of all non-motorized trails to e-bikes .
The BLM ’ s proposed rule for e-bikes , for example , directs local land managers to “ generally allow ” e-bikes on bike trails “ where appropriate ” using decisions made in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act .
The agencies are collecting public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Park Service and Fish and Wildlife plans are not proving too controversial , with a total of about 500 comments on the agency ’ s online portals .
( Each of those agencies largely prohibit bikes on backcountry trails , so the rules add e-bikes to largely motorized routes where bikes already are allowed . )
But for the BLM , which manages nearly 500,000 miles of roads and trails , the comments are piling up thousands deep as human-powered advocates and e-bike users square off .
BLM spokeswoman Maribeth Pecotte @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on non-motorized trails using analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act and its community-surveying processes for developing travel management plans that determine where certain types of vehicles are allowed .
Pecotte said the agency expects the public-comment process will identify areas where e-bikes “ are totally appropriate ” and meet community goals and objectives set in regional resource management plans .
“ And there will be places where they might not be appropriate , ” she said .
The agency is closely examining areas where BLM trails connect with county or Forest Service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ e-bikes to make sure there is consistency for trails that traverse different management areas .
Pecotte said the agency wants to conduct site-specific planning for e-bikes , measuring their impact as well as the perspectives of local trail users .
She suspects more people are growing accustomed to e-bikes and the end result of the BLM ’ s review will expedite that acceptance by opening more trails to the electrified rides .
“ The more people are exposed to e-bikes , the more they accept them as time goes by and I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as they become more prevalent , ” she said .
E-bikes are grouped into three categories .
Class 1 e-bikes have a motor that kicks in when the rider is pedaling and tops out at 20 mph .
Class 2 e-bikes have a motor that doesn ’ t require pedaling and also tops out at 20 mph .
Class 3 e-bikes have motors that deliver power only when the rider is pedaling and go faster , up to 28 mph .
Those classes are getting blurred though as e-bike technology grows .
Southern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example , is making an 82-pound mountain bike with an electric motor that can hit 55 mph .
It ’ s that blurring that troubles Scott Winans , the longtime head of the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association .
For more than a decade , he has guided his team of volunteer mountain bikers in building and maintaining hundreds of miles of rolling single track across the Western Slope .
Since 1989 , the group has built trails for non-motorized use , with banked berms and tight turns made for pedalers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s trail work is largely on BLM land , making the Colorado Plateau a national testing ground for new e-bike access rules .
COPMOBA is supporting Class 1 e-bike access on some , but not all non-motorized trails it maintains around five communities in Western Colorado .
They oppose Class 2 or Class 3 e-bike access on any non-motorized trails .
But most importantly , the association wants land managers to follow the same public processes it followed for more than 30 years of trail-advocacy work .
Winans and his association have issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He hopes this current round of public comment is just the first of many more rounds of public review allowing local BLM land managers to craft trail-specific management plans for e-bikes .
That ’ s the process Western Slope mountain bikers have been following for decades as they work to develop new trails on BLM land , Winans said .
And it ’ s part of the process any time there ’ s a change to the agency ’ s local travel management and resource management plans .
“ This is tough because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has come together to address trails from a local perspective and a bunch of stakeholders have worked together for many years to build a great plan and the feds , in essence , throw that out the window , ” Winans said .
There ’ s a similar sentiment on the Uncompahgre Plateau , where farmers , hunters and water-users in the North Fork Valley spent decades crafting a plan that would limit oil and gas development in the valley only to have that plan dismissed earlier this year under the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agenda .
The system of public land management is not built for sudden shifts through presidential agendas or secretarial orders .
Highlighting recreation in land management processes is arduous , and it ’ s taken decades for the outdoor recreation industry to win a seat at the land-management table alongside energy and agricultural interests .
It takes years of work to win approval for a new trail before shovels hit dirt , as evidenced by the 12 years of planning behind the Grand Valley ’ s new Palisade Plunge trail off the Grand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shown the value of the trail to sway public support , land agencies have to work together and plans must follow environmental laws , Winans said .
“ Getting a project from idea to implementation is just a huge , huge process , ” he said .
“ Just because a secretarial order flows into the community and makes a statement that this change is very straightforward , well , just saying that does not make it true.
” Winans says e-bike advocates should be wary of celebrating a top-down order that suddenly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ All these long processes and tools , they are really important to keep in the toolbox for the future , ” Winans said .
“ The ship that runs slowly moderates extremism .
Sometimes you may hate that it ’ s so slow to turn , but sometimes it saves your bacon and prevents bad decisions from flowing into the system on a moment ’ s notice.
” The Boulder-based International Mountain Bike Association — or IMBA — is crafting its lengthy analysis of the proposed e-bike rule .
The association ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said this public comment period will lay the foundation for trail-by-trail identification of e-bike access in future planning by the BLM .
He hopes the BLM requires environmental study for every trail network that shifts non-motorized use regulations to allow e-bikes .
IMBA , the umbrella organization for more than 200 local mountain bike associations , does not support Class 2 or Class 3 bikes on non-motorized trials .
The group ’ s primary concern is that expanding access to e-bikes could lead to human-powered bikes losing access .
That worst-case scenario looks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is now regulated like a bike , maybe instead of fighting e-bikes it ’ s easier to change a trail designation to prevent all bikes .
“ We ’ re well-positioned to be balanced in our assessments and consider any implications that could impact mountain biking at-large , in order to always protect access for traditional , non-motorized mountain bikes , ” Wiens said .
Roach has seen his QuietKat company grow from a start-up in 2012 to a national leader in the e-bike industry .
He considers QuietKat as part of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well-equipped vehicles to venture beyond defined paths .
While his QuiteKat bikes work well on roads , he ’ s focused on off-road and not necessarily competing against urban bikes .
His bikes are sold in 126 Bass Pro shops and about 150 independent retailers , and soon QuietKat will launch a branded bike with Jeep .
A demo of the Jeep-branded QuietKat appeared discreetly in the carmaker ’ s Super Bowl commercial .
“ Look , this is not about if e-bikes happen on public land , ” Roach said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worries the BLM ’ s comment period may be used to identify areas where e-bikes should be banned .
His concern is that locally approved plans may restrict e-bikes from bike trails and keep them contained to areas where motorized use is allowed .
Which is not the expansion of e-bike access pushed by the Bernhardt order , he said .
“ My thinking is that this process should help the BLM make the rules easier to follow and not make it more confusing for a wider array of locations , ” Roach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very antiquated and really needs a revamp .
Our systems and our economies move so much faster now than they did in the 1960s , when most of these rules were made .
And so do our bikes .
”


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Don’t rush to judgment in Arbery shooting, defence lawyers say

DECATUR , Ga.—Lawyers for two white men accused of pursuing and killing a Black man in Georgia said Thursday their clients have been vilified and cautioned against a rush to judgment in a case that has drawn attention across the U.S. Gregory and Travis McMichael , a father and son , are charged with aggravated assault and felony murder in the Feb. 23 death of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery .
The case stirred outrage after a video of Arbery ’ s final moments surfaced online last week .
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called in to take over the seemingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less than 48 hours later .
The lawyers for 34-year-old Travis McMichael — Bob Rubin and Jason Sheffield — said at a news conference Thursday afternoon that while the shooting itself was captured on video , much remains unknown about events leading up to the killing .
Sheffield called Arbery ’ s death “ a tragedy.
” “ Right now , we are starting at the end , ” Sheffield said outside their metro Atlanta law office .
“ We know the ending .
What we don ’ t know is the beginning.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of you ... don ’ t rush to judgment.
” Rubin and Sheffield didn ’ t respond when asked who was paying them .
Defence lawyers for both McMichaels said they plan to ask a judge to set bond so they can be released from jail pending trial .
Sheffield said he expects that hearings will be held virtually because of concerns about the coronavirus .
Laura and Frank Hogue , a husband and wife criminal defence team based in Macon , said they have been hired to represent 64-year-old Gregory McMichael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accepts a narrative driven by an incomplete set of facts , one that vilifies a good person , based on a rush to judgment , which has happened in this case , ” Laura Hogue said in a statement Thursday .
“ We agree with the attorneys for Travis McMichael that the justice system affords all citizens the presumption of innocence and that there shouldn ’ t be a rush to judgment or stereotyping , ” lawyers for Arbery ’ s parents said in an emailed statement .
“ We only wish that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided that same presumption of innocence to Ahmaud Arbery before chasing and killing him.
” Less than two weeks before Arbery was shot , Travis McMichael called 911 the night of Feb. 11 to report a possible trespasser inside a house under construction in his subdivision .
“ We ’ ve had a string of burglaries , ” Travis McMichael says on the 911 recording .
“ I was leaving the neighbourhood and I just caught a guy running into a house being built two houses down from me.
” Asked for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a Black male , red shirt and white shorts.
” Calling from inside his truck , he sounds out of breath .
The 911 operator asks : “ Are you OK ?
” “ Yeah , it just startled me , ” Travis McMichael replied .
“ When I turned around and saw him and backed up , he reached into his pocket and ran into the house .
So I don ’ t know if he ’ s armed or not .
But he looked like , he was acting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that.
” He said he had never seen the person in the neighbourhood before .
“ But we ’ ve been having a lot of burglaries and break-ins around here , ” Travis McMichael added .
“ I had a pistol stolen Jan. 1 , actually.
” A lawyer for the homeowner , Larry English , released security-camera video showing a man walking briefly through the open-framed structure .
It ’ s unknown if that man is Arbery .
Lawyers for Arbery ’ s family have said a man shown on security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arbery — and that the footage shows him committing no crimes .
Arbery was killed a short time later .
That more than two months passed before the McMichaels were arrested , shortly after video of the shooting became public , caused many to draw parallels to other shootings of Black men by white men in recent years .
“ While the death of Ahmaud Arbery is a tragedy , causing deep grief to his family — a tragedy that at first appears to many to fit into a terrible pattern in American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that pattern , ” Gregory McMichael ’ s defence lawyer Frank Hogue said in a statement .
According to an incident report by Glynn County police , Gregory McMichael said he and his son armed themselves and chased Arbery in a pickup truck after seeing him run down their street .
Gregory McMichael told police he suspected Arbery was a burglar , and said he attacked Travis McMichael before he was shot in a struggle over the gun .
Arbery ’ s mother told The Associated Press on Wednesday that she has confidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bureau of Investigation has taken it over and a new independent prosecutor has been appointed .
She said she would like prosecutors to seek the death penalty .


thetorontostar--2020-05-15--Typhoon leaves 1 dead, extensive damage in Philippine towns

MANILA , Philippines - Strong winds and rain from Typhoon Vongfong left at least one person dead and damaged hundreds of homes and coronavirus isolation facilities along with rice and corn fields in five hard-hit eastern towns , a governor said Friday .
Gov .
Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar province , where the typhoon slammed ashore , said distraught residents wept after their houses were destroyed or blown away in the towns he inspected .
One villager who lost his home slashed his wrist but was treated in time , he said .
A man bled to death after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a school building he was trying to open to take shelter in , Evardone said .
“ The damage I saw was very extensive .
The roof of one church was ripped off completely , its iron bars twisted badly by the typhoon , ” Evardone said by telephone .
Videos and pictures of the devastation sent by Evardone showed several low-slung buildings and sports centres either destroyed or badly damaged with their roofs peeled off or deformed and their iron trusses bent .
Villagers outside damaged houses yelled “ help ” in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a group of military , police and local authorities failed to reach two towns hit by the typhoon , Jipapad and Maslog , due to fallen trees on the road .
Cellphone and two-way radio communications to the far-flung areas were down and Evardone appealed to the military to deploy a helicopter to inspect them and deliver food if troops are unable to reach the area by Saturday .
In the outlying region of Bicol , northwest of Eastern Samar , more than 145,000 people were riding out the weakening typhoon in emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was complicated and slowed by the coronavirus .
Vongfong weakened into a severe tropical storm after hitting land and was blowing northwest toward the populous main northern island of Luzon , government forecasters said .
Its maximum sustained wind speed dropped to 110 kilometres ( 68 miles ) per hour with gusts of 150 kph ( 93 mph ) but it remained dangerous , especially in coastal and low-lying villages , forecasters said .
Vongfong was expected to blow out of the country ’ s north on Sunday .
Office of Civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took time because workers needed to wear masks and protective suits and could not transport villagers to shelters in large numbers as a safeguard against the virus .
“ Our ease of movement has been limited by COVID , ” Yucot said by telephone from Albay province in the Bicol region , which has had dozens of coronavirus infections , including four deaths , and remains under quarantine .
“ In the evacuation centres , there are more challenges.
” In an evacuation room which normally could shelter up to 40 families , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The occupants should know each other and are required to report any infected person , Yucot said .
The coast guard said more than 600 cargo truck drivers and workers were stranded by the travel suspension .
All were required to wear masks and prohibited from mingling .
The typhoon hit as the Philippines struggles to deal with coronavirus outbreaks , largely with a lockdown in Luzon that is to be eased this weekend , except in metropolitan Manila and two other high-risk areas .
The rest of the country will be placed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses will partially reopen starting next week .
The Philippines has reported more than 12,000 cases , including 806 deaths , among the highest in Southeast Asia .


thetorontostar--2020-05-15--Lebanon central bank official probed over currency crash

BEIRUT - Lebanon ’ s financial prosecutor questioned a top central bank manager Friday over the country ’ s financial crisis , which has included a free fall in the value of the country ’ s currency , a judicial official said .
Mazen Hamdan , the head of cash operations at the bank , is the most senior official to be interrogated in an ongoing probe into possible financial wrongdoing .
The prosecutor ordered him to appear for questioning about what Lebanon ’ s official news agency called “ the manipulation of the dollar exchange rate.
” The judicial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ formally charged .
He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief reporters on the ongoing investigation .
Central bank officials had no immediate comment .
Lebanon is experiencing an unprecedented economic and financial crisis .
This week , the government began talks with the International Monetary Fund to negotiate a bailout amid the currency crash , a liquidity crunch , negative economic growth and soaring inflation .
The government has said a controlled float of the currency is inevitable .
In recent days , authorities have cracked down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pound , pegged to the dollar for more than 20 years , lost 60 % of its value in weeks .
A number of money dealers and the head of their union were arrested and officials closed down some bureaus for operating without licenses .
They accused others of violating orders from the central bank to trade at a new controlled rate .
The measures to contain the currency free fall , including a cap on external transfers and adjusted exchange rates for dollar withdrawals from banks and money transfer bureaus , have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sowed panic among the public .
The interrogation of Hamdan comes amid an unprecedented public spat between the head of the government and the governor of the central bank .
Prime Minister Hassan Diab has held Riad Salameh responsible for the downward spiral of the national currency , accusing him of pursuing “ opaque ” policies that sent the pound crashing .
Salameh defended himself , saying he is taking all necessary measures to contain the crisis and blamed politicians for misspending bank finances to pay down massive state debt .


thetorontostar--2020-05-15--System off Florida could become season’s first named storm

FORT LAUDERDALE , Fla. - A trough of low pressure moving through the Florida Straits could organize over the northwestern Bahamas later Friday or Saturday and become the first named storm of the 2020 hurricane season , the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said .
Tropical storm force wind gusts are possible in the Florida Keys , southeast Florida and the Bahamas on Friday and Saturday , forecasters said .
Gale warnings have also been issued for the region .
Hurricane season starts June 1 , but forecasters at the hurricane centre said the system , which was already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida on Friday morning , has a 70 % chance of developing into a subtropical or tropical storm .
If it develops , the storm would be named Arthur .
Subtropical storms are not as defined as tropical storms , with its strongest winds located some distance from it ’ s loosely formed centre .
They are also not a strong as tropical storms .
It ’ s not uncommon to have a named storm before the official start of hurricane season .
Later in the weekend and early next week the system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the western Atlantic .
The forecast led Florida emergency management officials to close 14 state-run COVID-19 test sites on Friday .
The sites in Miami-Dade , Broward , Palm Beach and Brevard counties will reopen on Monday .
Helen Aguirre Ferré , the communications director for Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis , said on Twitter that it ’ s the right move .
“ With possible wind gusts of 40 mph , it is best for public safety to reopen on Monday .
It ’ s also common sense , “ she tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida is currently testing 16,000 to 24,000 people a day for the coronavirus .
Closing the testing sites for the entire weekend will give officials time to break down and set up tables , tents and other equipment at each location , Jason Mahon , communications director for the Florida Division of Emergency Management , told the Miami Herald .
Even though the anticipated weather is expected to move through the area by later in the weekend , Mahon noted that the sites would remain closed Sunday “ to allow staff to set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed .
”


thetorontostar--2020-05-15--USGS reports magnitude-6.4 earthquake in western Nevada

TONOPAH , Nev. - The U.S. Geological Service is reporting that a magnitude-6.4 earthquake struck in remote western Nevada early @ @ @ @ @ reported at 4:03 a.m. about 35 miles outside Tonopah , just east of the Sierra @ @ @ @ @ quake struck about 4.7 miles ( 7.6 kilometres ) deep , the USGS said , @ @ @ @ @ aftershocks were recorded shortly thereafter , including two with estimated magnitudes of 5.4 .
People @ @ @ @ @ Utah , to California ’ s Central Valley tweeted that they felt the quake .


thetorontostar--2020-05-15--Main opposition candidate leaves Poland’s presidential race

WARSAW , Poland - The main opposition candidate in Poland ’ s trouble-ridden presidential election said Friday she was quitting the race after her support dropped dramatically .
Centre-liberal candidate Malgorzata Kidawa-Blonska of the Civic Platform party was at one point seen as a strong contender , but lost almost all support after she called for a boycott of the election held amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Scheduled for last Sunday , the election has been postponed to a date yet to be announced .
On Friday , Kidawa-Blonska encouraged Poles to take part in the vote , saying “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free and democratic election.
” Civic Platform is expected Friday to name a new candidate to run against the frontrunner , incumbent President Andrzej Duda , and a few other candidates .
Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski and former foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski have been mentioned as potential new picks .
The new candidate will need to gather at least 100,000 signatures of support in a short time .
Sikorski , a member of the European Parliament , said on Twitter he was “ ready to take part in the democratic rivalry.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was due to take place amid coronavirus restrictions and political infighting over how and when to hold the vote .
The ruling coalition had pushed for an all-postal vote , but the necessary legislation was not ready on time .
The new date should fall before late July .
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has said he would like it to be in June .
Duda , whose term expires Aug. 6 , is seeking reelection with the support of the ruling , right-wing Law and Justice party .


thetorontostar--2020-05-15--Global shares waver amid mixed economic data in Asia, Europe

TOKYO - Global shares wavered between gains and losses Friday as investors weighed an improvement in data about China ’ s economy against new figures showing Germany has fallen into recession .
Factory output rose in April as China ’ s virus-battered economy reopened but job losses depressed consumer spending , a key driver of growth , challenging the ruling Communist Party ’ s push to revive normal activity .
Investment in factories and other fixed assets also improved as businesses reopened after China ’ s deepest economic slump since at least the 1960s , official data showed Friday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s largest economy fell into recession in the first quarter , like France and Italy , with a 2.2 % quarter-on-quarter decline in GDP .
The data fills in detail on earlier released GDP figures that had shown a 3.8 % contraction in the 19-country eurozone .
European indexes lost some of their early gains , with France ’ s CAC 40 flat at 4,273 and Germany ’ s DAX up 0.9 % at 10,425 .
Britain ’ s FTSE 100 gained 0.6 % to 5,773 .
U.S. shares appeared set to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and S & P 500 futures both down 0.7 % .
China , where the pandemic began in December , was the first economy to shut down to fight the virus and the first to start reopening in March .
Automakers and some other manufacturers say production is back to normal , but retailing and other industries are struggling .
The signs of progress in getting growth back on track in the world ’ s second biggest economy remain overshadowed , however , by worries over possible future waves of coronavirus outbreaks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a risk of another flare up in trade tensions between the U.S. and China .
“ Bright spots in the markets and the economy should not breed complacency about being out of the woods , ” Riki Ogawa of Mizuho Bank said .
“ Fact is , even as economies prepare to emerge from varying degrees of lockdown , restoration of ‘ normalcy ’ is a much longer road.
” Japan ’ s benchmark Nikkei 225 recouped earlier losses to finish at 20,037.47 , up 0.6 % .
South Korea ’ s Kospi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s S & P/ASX 200 added 1.4 % to 5,404.80 .
Hong Kong ’ s Hang Seng lost 0.1 % to 23,799.42 , while the Shanghai Composite inched down less than 0.1 % to 2,868.46 .
Japan on Friday ended its state of emergency for many regions less affected by COVID-19 outbreaks .
It is gradually easing requests for people to stay home and for some businesses to stay closed despite rising numbers of cases overall .
The Keidanren , which represents more than 1,000 Japanese companies and regional economic groups , released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on having office workers coming into the office just three days each week to minimize commutes , and adapting workplaces for social distancing .
Recently , worries about renewed U.S.-China tensions have also weighed on markets .
A bruising trade war between the two had dragged on the global economy before the pandemic hit .
“ I have a very good relationship , ” with China ’ s leader , Xi Jinping , Trump said in an interview with Fox Business Network , “ but I just — right now , I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I don ’ t want to speak with him.
” In other trading , U.S. benchmark crude picked up 46 cents to $ 28.02 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange .
It gained $ 2.20 to $ 27.88 a barrel on Thursday .
The dollar fell to 107.00 Japanese yen from 107.25 yen .
The euro inched down to $ 1.0803 , from $ 1.0805 .
Joe McDonald in Beijing contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-05-15--Europe relaxing virus restrictions but cases flare elsewhere

BERLIN - Germany and several other European countries where the coronavirus spread has slowed were moving ahead Friday with relaxing border restrictions , while flare-ups in Mexico and elsewhere served as a reminder the pandemic is far from over .
Slovenia , which has been gradually easing strict lockdown measures , declared that the spread of the virus is now under control and that European Union residents could now enter from Austria , Italy and Hungary .
Germany , meantime , was preparing to open its border entirely with Luxembourg at midnight , and increase the number of crossings open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Travelers will still need to demonstrate a “ valid reason ” to enter Germany and there will be spot checks , but the goal is to restore free travel by June 15 .
Germany ’ s states have also agreed to drop a mandatory 14-day quarantine for travellers entering from the European Union and several other European countries , including Britain , said Armin Laschet , the governor of the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia .
“ Germany will only overcome the corona crisis if European freedom of movement for people , goods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Laschet said .
Germany has seen more than 170,000 COVID-19 infections and nearly 8,000 deaths , but more than 150,000 people have recovered and the country has been seeing fewer than 1,000 new cases per day .
In northern Europe , Estonia , Latvia and Lithuania removed travel restrictions between the Baltic nations , which Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas called “ another step toward normal life.
” Austria and Switzerland were also moving ahead with easing some border restrictions , and Austria reopened all cafes and restaurants .
“ I have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 years , ” said Helmut Gollner , a former literature professor who was one of the first guests Friday morning at Vienna ’ s Cafe Sperl .
“ My wife always made great breakfast but it ’ s a different atmosphere here with the newspapers and so on.
” Restaurants were reopening in more German states Friday as well , and the country was to resume professional soccer on Saturday after a two-month hiatus .
The Bundesliga plans five games with no fans present and other precautions , including the Ruhr derby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sydney , many cafes and restaurants opened again Friday as New South Wales , Australia ’ s most populous state , granted permission for them , as well as places of worship , to reopen with up to 10 people so long as distancing rules are in place .
Many Catholic churches across the state opened for private prayer , confession and small-scale Masses .
“ The celebration of Mass is the highest form of Catholic worship and to not be able to physically gather these past two months has been very difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fisher said in a statement .
In Japan , some schools , restaurants and other businesses started to reopen after the country lifted its national coronavirus emergency , while keeping in place restrictions in limited urban areas like Tokyo where risks remain .
As countries move ahead with relaxing restrictions , the head of the World Health Organization ’ s Europe office , Dr. Hans Kluge , warned that distancing guidance and other protective measures were more important than ever .
“ It ’ s very important to remind everyone that as long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment , there is no return to normal , “ he said on French radio Europe-1 .
“ This virus won ’ t simply disappear , so the personal behaviour of each of us will determine the behaviour of the virus .
Governments have done a lot , and now the responsibility is on the people.
” Worldwide , there have been more than 4.4 million coronavirus infections reported and 300,000 deaths , while nearly 1.6 million people have recovered according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University .
A first case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Myanmar living in dire , overcrowded conditions in southern Bangladesh .
Another , a local person living in the Cox ’ s Bazaar district , also tested positive , refugee commissioner Mahbub Alam Takukder said .
Aid workers have been warning of the potential for a serious outbreak if the virus reaches the camps , and teams were activated to treat patients and trace , quarantine and test people they may have encountered .
Somalia ’ s official death toll hit 53 , but aid groups and authorities say that figure could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with one of the world ’ s weakest health systems , after three decades of civil war .
Ahead of Mexico ’ s plan to partially reopen key industries such as mining , construction and auto plants on May 18 , authorities sounded a note of concern as the country reported its largest one-day rise in coronavirus case numbers .
There were 2,409 new COVID-19 test confirmations Thursday , the first time that number has exceeded 2,000 in one day .
“ We are at the moment of the fastest growth in new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hugo López-Gatell .
“ This is the most difficult moment.
” Deaths have neared 4,500 and there were signs that hospital capacity was nearing its limit in Mexico City , the hardest-hit area .
The Health Department reported that 73 % per cent of the city ’ s general-care hospital beds were full ; the percentage was lower for intensive-care beds , but that was partly because of the expansion of improvised ICU units at hospitals and other venues .
In Brazil , news website G1 reported that 900 people in Rio de @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in one of the state ’ s overwhelmed units .
President Jair Bolsonaro warned of looming “ chaos ” as he once again lambasted governors and mayors who introduced lockdowns in cities to limit spread of the new virus .
“ I ’ m sorry , many will die , but even more will if the economy continues to be destroyed by these measures , ” Bolsonaro told journalists in Brasilia on Thursday .
“ These lockdowns , closing everything , is the path to failure .
It will break Brazil.
” Colombian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Amazonas Department , near the border with Brazil , to stay inside except to buy food or get medical care .
Local hospitals are being overwhelmed as cases rise in a vulnerable part of the Amazon , home to many indigenous groups .
In the U.S. , the Grand Canyon National Park was reopening Friday to allow visitors in for day trips but not overnight .
As a number of regions in New York were to reopen , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo urged local governments to keep a close eye on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses were complying with distancing rules .
Amid those and other reopenings , protests and debate persisted over how quickly to end shutdowns .
With more than 1.4 million infections and more than 85,000 deaths , the U.S. has the largest outbreak in the world by far .
Kurtenbach reported from Beijing ; Biller from Rio de Janeiro .
Associated Press journalists from around the world contributed to this report .

David Rising, Elaine Kurtenbach And David Biller - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-15--US retail sales likely tumbled in April as virus took hold

BALTIMORE - U.S. retail sales likely plummeted last month as the coronavirus paralyzed the economy , kept away millions of @ @ @ @ @ of stores across the country .
The Commerce Department is expected to report Friday that @ @ @ @ @ from March to April , according to economists surveyed by the data provider FactSet .
@ @ @ @ @ month-to-month fall since the government began keeping such records in 1992 .
And it would @ @ @ @ @ 8.4 % drop in March .
For a retail sector already reeling from the migration @ @ @ @ @ and to app-based delivery services , a back-to-back free-fall in spending poses a grave risk @ @ @ @ @ Marcus and J.Crew have filed for bankruptcy protection .
Hotels , restaurants and auto dealerships @ @ @ @ @ April analysis by a group of academic economists found that a one-month closure could wipe @ @ @ @ @ retailers .
A four-month closure could force 65 % to close .


thetorontostar--2020-05-15--US pilot jailed in Singapore for breaking quarantine order

SINGAPORE - An American cargo pilot who admitted to “ poor judgment ” in breaking a quarantine order to buy medical supplies became the first foreigner imprisoned in Singapore for breaching its restrictions meant to curb the coronavirus , his lawyer said Friday .
FedEx pilot Brian Dugan Yeargan , 44 , of Alaska , was sentenced to four weeks Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to leaving his hotel room for three hours to buy masks and a thermometer , defence lawyer Ronnie Tan said .
Singapore has one of the largest outbreaks in Asia , with 26,000 cases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are foreign workers living in crowded dormitories , while the government recently began easing restrictions for the local population .
The tiny city-state has strict penalties for those who breach quarantine rules , don ’ t wear masks in public or fail to adhere to social distancing measures .
Quarantine violators face up to six months in jail , a fine of up to 10,000 Singapore dollars ( $ 7,000 ) or both .
Tan said Yeargan and his two co-pilots were taken to an airport hotel to serve 14-day quarantines upon arriving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was required because they stated in their health declarations they had visited China , Hong Kong , Macau , Japan and the United States in the two-week period before their arrival , Tan said .
Health officials checking on Yeargan found him missing from his room on April 5 .
Yeargan told the court he took the metro downtown to buy a thermometer and a few boxes of masks before he was to fly home on April 6 .
Tan said Yeargan needed the items because they were in short supply back home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s wife had breathing difficulties but tested negative for the coronavirus in March , he said .
Tan said Yeargan lost his daughter in a tragic incident four years ago and the possibility of another death frightened him .
Yeargan told the court his two co-pilots had flown out on April 6 as scheduled but he had been held back in his room .
He also said he had to give up an assignment to fly a humanitarian aid mission to COVID-19-hit countries for the U.S. Air Force due to his blunder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in court , Yeargan said he was sorry , he made a poor judgment and that he shouldn ’ t have gone out , “ Tan said .
The American also said he has “ the highest regard for the Singapore people and its laws , ” Tan added .
The court said in its ruling that Yeargan should have asked someone to obtain the items for him .
Tan said Yeargan was relieved because prosecutors had sought a sentence of up to eight weeks .
He said he will apply for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see the American being released in three weeks .
The Anchorage Daily News reported Yeargan is from the Eagle River community and serves with the Alaska Air National Guard .
It said he last spoke to his parents on Mother ’ s Day .
“ He ’ s taking care of himself , ” Jim Yeargan was quoted as saying .
FedEx spokeswoman Davina Cole told the newspaper the company adhered to all regulations from government authorities related to containing the virus .
Yeargan was the first foreigner sentenced for violating quarantine orders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for between five and six weeks for leaving their homes .
Singapore imposed a partial lockdown on April 7 and loosened restrictions Tuesday , with food manufacturers , barbers and laundry shops opening doors three weeks before the lockdown ends June 1 .


thetorontostar--2020-05-15--Hong Kong police watchdog upholds actions against protesters

HONG KONG - A long-awaited report from an official Hong Kong police watchdog group issued Friday said officers used force only in response to threats to their safety during months of anti-government protests last year .
Police fired live rounds on 12 occasions when they “ had reasonable suspicion of lethal force ” being used or prepared against them , the Independent Police Complaints Council said in the lengthy report .
Its conclusions are unlikely to convince critics who say officers unnecessarily fired bullets , tear gas , rubber bullets and pepper spray to suppress the sometimes violent protests .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is appointed by Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam , leading critics to say it ultimately serves the interests of the pro-Beijing administration rather than civil society .
It has no investigative powers of its own .
The report assessed six days between June and August last year near the beginning of the protest movement , which was sparked by the Hong Kong government ’ s attempt to pass a bill that would have allowed suspects to be extradited from the semi-autonomous territory to face trial in mainland China .
The legislation was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several complaints , including a demand that police be held accountable for their heavy-handed response .
The protests began peacefully but at times descended into violence , with clashes between police and protesters leading to accusations that the police abused their power and even colluded with organized crime figures , who on one occasion attacked protesters and escaped mostly without being arrested .
The report found “ room for improvement ” in the police ’ s handling of clashes with protesters , making recommendations such as a review of the police operational command @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of force and officer training .
“ Hong Kong has been adopting many internationally adopted guidelines on use of force .
Of course , it ’ s not perfect , and we could improve on that , ” Anthony Neoh , chairman of the council , said at a news conference .
“ We also want the report to serve a broader purpose and objective , so that the public will have a better understanding of what has happened in Hong Kong , ” he said .
A panel of international experts appointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it lacked the power and independent investigative capacity to conduct a meaningful probe , but the council continued its work .
The human rights group Amnesty International said in March that the council lacked impartiality and echoed protesters ’ demands that the government establish a truly independent inquiry into police conduct .
The council ’ s report said the protest movement , which was initially peaceful , had degenerated into violent protests with participants attacking police and destroying property .
It said police seized assault rifles , hand guns , ammunition and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrating that “ our community is being dragged into an era of terrorism.
” Large-scale protests have ended , but the report said their economic damage had been compounded by the coronavirus pandemic .
Hong Kong is a former British colony that was returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with a guarantee it could retain its own legal and other institutions for 50 years .
Critics say China has been gradually eroding that semi-autonomous status , fueling the opposition movement .


thetorontostar--2020-05-15--Turkey detains pro-Kurdish mayors, removes them from office

ANKARA , Turkey - Turkish authorities on Friday detained four more elected mayors from Turkey ’ s mainly Kurdish populated east and southeast regions , as the government pressed ahead with its crackdown on a pro-Kurdish party it accuses of links to Kurdish militants .
The mayors from the People ’ s Democratic Party , or HDP , were detained at their homes , removed from office and replaced with government-appointed trustees , the state-run Anadolu Agency reported .
A fifth mayor was also fired but has not been detained .
The government accuses the party of links to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PKK .
The HDP denies the accusation .
The HDP denounced the crackdown on the elected mayors as a government “ coup.
” “ This amounts to the rejection of democracy , this amounts to the non-recognition of the will of the people , ” said party co-chairman Mithat Sancar .
The Kurdish people would not yield to pressure and would fight for their democratic rights , Sancar said at a news conference .
The four mayors were elected to office in local elections last year in the cities of Igdir and Siirt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ districts of Baykan and Kurtalan and the district of Altinova in Mus province .
HDP says the government has appointed caretaker mayors to 45 out of a total of 65 municipalities that the party won in local elections in March 2019 .
At least 21 mayors have been imprisoned on terror-related charges .
Seven former HDP lawmakers , including former chairman Selahattin Demirtas , are also in prison .
The New York-based Human Rights Watch has criticized Turkey ’ s crackdown against the mayors , saying it amounts to a violation of voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a terror organization by Turkey , the United States and the European Union .
Meanwhile , authorities detained 38 people for questioning over an attack Thursday that killed two workers who were distributing aid to people in a district in eastern Turkey .
The district has been placed under quarantine due to the new coronavirus outbreak .
Turkish officials have blamed the attack on the PKK .


thetorontostar--2020-05-15--Trump eyes older voters in Florida for any sign of faltering

SUN CITY CENTER , Fla. - President Donald Trump ’ s path to reelection runs through places like Sun City Center , a former cow pasture south of Tampa , Florida , that ’ s now home to a booming retirement community .
But some residents in this conservative swath of America ’ s premier battleground are growing restless .
Irvin Hilts is among them .
The 72-year-old retiree voted for Trump in 2016 but has grown frustrated with the tumult surrounding his administration .
His support for Trump collapsed entirely amid the coronavirus pandemic , which Hilts blames the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t think Donald Trump is doing a very good job at all , “ Hilts said .
” Changes his mind too often , leaving too much up to the states when the federal government should be handling more of it.
” Such sentiment could damage Trump ’ s bid to keep the White House .
Trump has virtually no path to victory without winning Florida , and older voters are key to that effort .
Older voters make up an outsize share of the voting population in the state , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just over 1 percentage point in 2016 .
Nationally , Trump carried voters 65 and older in the state by 9 percentage points , according to a Pew Research Center analysis .
Some Republicans warn that could be tough for Trump to repeat as the public health and economic fallout of the pandemic deepens .
“ They were willing to look past his tweets and consider their 401 ( k ) s , ” said Alex Conant , a Republican strategist who advised Florida Sen. Marco Rubio ’ s 2016 presidential campaign .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ caused the market crash.
” Any erosion of support among seniors could doom Trump if this November ’ s election is as close as four years ago .
A trio of Midwestern battlegrounds — Pennsylvania , Michigan and Wisconsin — feature sizable aging populations .
Arizona , another state that Democrats hope to flip in 2020 , is home to a growing number of retirees .
But as is often the case during close elections , it could all come down to Florida .
As she sat in a Sun City Center cafe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was hyperaware that many of the other diners who were seated a respectful distance away were Trump supporters .
She made clear she was not one of them .
“ I do not support him , ” the 67-year-old retired nurse said .
“ But it has nothing to do with the pandemic .
At this point in time , he may be doing the best he can .
But he could be doing everything perfectly , and I still wouldn ’ t vote for him.
” But others said they haven ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all ; in fact , they ’ ve increased it .
“ I wasn ’ t a Trump supporter until this , ” said 83-year-old Jim Baldwin , referring to the pandemic .
He said he voted for Clinton in 2016 .
Now he ’ s voting for Trump .
“ I think he ’ s doing all that can be done.
” Still , Trump ’ s team is closely following any sign of faltering support among seniors and other core constituencies .
In a series of recent meetings , top advisers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ losing the race to Democrat Joe Biden and urged him to discontinue his daily task force briefings , according to five administration and current and former campaign officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren ’ t authorized to speak publicly about private discussions .
Trump protested , citing high TV ratings , but aides said that seniors , the largest viewing group , were being increasingly unsettled by the president ’ s erratic behaviour , false theories and fights with reporters .
Trump quit the briefings after suggesting injecting disinfectant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news conference Monday abruptly ended after another flash of anger at reporters .
Trump once held massive rallies largely attended by baby boomers and seniors , who treated them like rock concerts .
With those events scuttled because of the pandemic , the campaign has largely turned to online events , which have limited reach to seniors .
The campaign has discussed trying to target digital events for older Americans , while the White House has begun highlighting the president ’ s accomplishments for seniors .
Standing in the ornate East Room earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health officials as he signed a proclamation declaring May to be “ Older Americans Month.
” “ The virus poses the greatest risk to older Americans , ” said Trump , vowing to protect them .
He has also reiterated his pledge not to touch social safety net programs while the administration has launched efforts to safeguard nursing homes , which have been disproportionately affected by the virus .
“ President Trump and his administration remain focused on protecting our most vulnerable citizens , including our nation ’ s senior citizens , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seniors want the peace of mind knowing that their government is doing everything in its capacity to care for them and the Trump administration has taken countless measures to ensure the safety and well-being of seniors during this critical time.
” But in Biden , the 73-year-old Trump is facing a rival who has also shown strength among seniors .
The presumptive Democratic nominee , who is 77 , won the support of 55 % of Democratic voters age 65 and older , according to AP VoteCast surveys conducted in 17 states during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other Democrat earned more than 14 % support from this group .
Trump ’ s campaign is focusing on driving Biden ’ s negatives up and plans to release a new ad campaign this week .
But there are questions about whether such efforts will be as effective this year as they were in 2016 against Clinton .
“ One of the reasons Trump did well with seniors in 2016 was because a lot of seniors really disliked Clinton , ” Conant said .
“ He needs to make Biden as disliked.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have those doubts about Biden .
As he waited outside a barber shop to get his hair cut for the first time in weeks , Hilts shook his head .
While he ’ s not voting for Trump , he ’ s not sure he ’ ll vote for Biden , either .
It will depend on who he picks as vice-president .
“ I might just sit it out , based on the lesser of two evils , ” he said .
Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ground Game .
”

Tamara Lush And Jonathan Lemire - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-15--House to vote Friday on more virus aid, despite GOP skeptics

WASHINGTON - The Democratic-controlled House is pressing ahead Friday with votes on another massive rescue bill that would pump almost $ 1 trillion to state and local governments , renew $ 1,200 cash payments for individuals , and extend a $ 600 weekly supplemental federal unemployment benefit .
The first four coronavirus response bills were bipartisan measures that passed by sweeping votes , but Friday ’ s measure — with a $ 3 trillion-plus price tag that exceeds the prior bills combined — promises to pass largely along party lines .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has loaded the 1,815-page measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including funding to cover rent payments and utility bills , “ hazard pay “ for essential workers , and grants to thousands of municipal governments grappling with sagging revenues .
But it ’ s earned a White House veto threat and a scathing assessment from top Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , who called it “ a totally unserious effort.
“ Few Republicans are expected to vote for the bill tomorrow despite popular provisions like help for the Postal Service and local schools , $ 1,200 payments to most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help homeowners and renters stay in their homes .
The legislation comes as the country continues to struggle with the health and economic crisis caused by the highly contagious virus , which has claimed more than 85,000 lives in the U.S. and caused at least 36 million people to lose their jobs .
Just Thursday , the government reported that almost 3 million people filed jobless claims last week .
The response has been an unprecedented wave of deficit-financed federal aid aimed at propping up businesses , supporting household balance sheets , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Wednesday , Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell urged lawmakers to act further , warning that the economic shock is “ significantly worse ” than any downturn since the Great Depression .
The government ’ s budget was supposed to be $ 4.6 trillion even before the pandemic hit .
The response so far has added almost $ 3 trillion to that , but hasn ’ t arrested the economy ’ s drop .
That ’ s made GOP defence hawks uneasy about the prospect of more aid .
And polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generally doing enough .
Republicans are now calling for a “ pause ” before considering more aid , reflecting disunity between conservatives who feel enough has been done and more pragmatic lawmakers who favour steps like rescuing the Postal Service from looming insolvency , while delivering cash to revenue-starved state and local governments .
Underscoring the stakes , it ’ s also becoming clear that the next coronavirus response bill will probably be the last .
“ I think the bill we pass in June will likely be the last major bill , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ There may be some effort to pass a bill in September or October but it will get increasingly difficult.
” The House Democrat ’ s bill ignores Trump ’ s demand for a cut in the Social Security payroll tax , It also does not replenish the Payroll Protection Program that ’ s been a favourite of Republicans and their business allies .
The measure is likely to pass Friday along party lines , though Rep. Kendra Horn , D-Okla. , announced her opposition on Thursday , while New York Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The earlier bills , debated as the magnitude of the crisis was becoming clear , featured sweeping votes and debates notable for their bipartisanship and sense of common purpose .
Now , disagreements about re-opening the economy , which appear to cleave along party lines , have crept into the debate .
At a Capitol news conference , Pelosi , D-Calif. , lambasted Republicans who ’ ve said they want to hold off for now on more relief spending .
“ It ’ s amazing to me how much patience and how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pain of others , ” she said .
Pelosi told reporters she believed both parties “ and even down Pennsylvania Avenue ” — a reference to the White House — understand “ the hardships Americans are feeling.
” She called the Democratic proposal “ our offer ” and said while she ’ s had no recent negotiations with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , the administration ’ s chief bargainer , “ I ’ m sure that they ’ ll come with something.
” White House officials quickly released a statement of their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday is “ more concerned with delivering on longstanding partisan and ideological wishlists than with enhancing the ability of our Nation to deal with the public health and economic challenges we face.
” McConnell said later Thursday on Fox News that there was a “ high likelihood ” Congress would do another bill and said it would include GOP-sought language limiting legal liability for companies reopening for business .
But he added , “ it ’ s not going to be a $ 3 trillion left-wing wish .
”

Andrew Taylor And Alan Fram - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-15--US blames brutal attack on Afghan maternity hospital on IS

KABUL - A U.S. official said Friday the Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan carried out this week ’ s horrific attack on a maternity hospital in a majority Shiite Muslim neighbourhood in Kabul , killing 24 people including newborn babies and mothers .
Peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said the U.S. government believes the Islamic State affiliate carried out Tuesday ’ s attack on the hospital and an assault earlier the same day in a different province targeting the funeral of a pro-government warlord killing 34 people .
IS “ has demonstrated a pattern for favouring these types of heinous attacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Afghan people and to the world , ” Khalilzad tweeted .
IS has not claimed responsibility for the maternity hospital attack .
Also on Friday , Paris-based charity Doctors without Borders ( Medecins Sans Frontieres ) , which operates the hospital , called the attack “ pure hell.
” It said the gunmen moved directly to the maternity wards , ignoring other medical units closer to the entrance of the medical complex .
They were searching out the newborns and the mothers , the group said in a statement Friday .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maternity , shooting women in their beds .
It was methodical .
Walls sprayed with bullets , blood on the floors in the rooms , vehicles burnt out and windows shot through , “ said Frederic Bonnot , MSF ’ s head of programs in Afghanistan .
“ They came to kill the mothers.
” The IS affiliate in Afghanistan , known as Islamic State Khorazan Province , is headquartered in the country ’ s east and has carried out several devastating attacks , mostly targeting the country ’ s minority Shiite Muslims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of young students taking university entrance exams in the same Dasht-e-Barchi neighbourhood of Kabul .
They have issued warnings to Shiites that they would kill them in their mosques , schools and homes .
The IS took responsibility for the attack on the funeral in eastern Nangarhar province .
The Taliban denied involvement in either attack , calling the maternity hospital assault a “ vile , inhumane and an un-Islamic act.
“ In a statement Friday , the insurgent movement slammed Afghan President Ashraf Ghani for blaming the Taliban in a speech following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to scuttle a U.S.-Taliban peace deal aimed at ending nearly 20 years of war .
Khalilzad , the architect of the deal signed Feb. 29 , warned in a series of tweets early Friday that the Islamic Sate affiliate opposes peace between the Taliban and Afghanistan ’ s leadership in Kabul and “ seeks to encourage sectarian war as in Iraq and Syria.
” The peace deal provides for the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops from Afghanistan but was also touted at its signing as the country ’ s best chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But relentless political turmoil in Kabul has dogged the start of the second , critical phase of the deal , which calls for Afghans on both sides of the conflict to negotiate a framework for a post-war Afghanistan .
Both Ghani and his rival in last September ’ s presidential polls , Abdullah Abdullah , have declared themselves winners and have both been sworn in as president .
They have been unable to come up with a power sharing deal even as Washington has said it will reduce $ 1 billion in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their squabbling .
Washington ’ s efforts to get the Taliban to reduce their violence have also been unsuccessful , though their attacks have been against military installations and have not targeted U.S. and NATO troops .
The withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops began after the deal was signed and will continue until all troops are gone by the end of next year — if the Taliban keep their promise to fight against militant groups , most notably the Islamic State .
MSF has suspended its operations in Dasht-e-Barchi , the charity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a necessary but difficult decision knowing that women and children in Kabul are now deprived of a fundamental health care service they need , in a context where access to essential care is already limited , ” said Filipe Ribeiro , MSF ’ s country representative .
The group said it will review its operations following an investigation into the attack .

Kathy Gannon And Tameem Akhgar - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-15--1st COVID-19 case detected in Rohingya camps in Bangladesh

DHAKA , Bangladesh - The first coronavirus case has been confirmed in the crowded camps for Rohingya refugees in southern Bangladesh , where more than 1 million are taking shelter .
The infected Rohingya and a local Bangladeshi who lives in the Cox ’ s Bazar district who also tested positive have been isolated , Mahbub Alam Talukder , the country ’ s refugee commissioner , said Thursday .
Teams have been activated to treat the patients as well as trace people they may have encountered , Louise Donovan , a spokeswoman for the U.N. refugee agency , told The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed 18,863 cases , including 283 fatalities .
But the toll is thought to be higher since adequate testing facilities are lacking in the South Asian nation of 160 million people .
Aid workers have been warning of the potential for a serious outbreak if the virus spread into the densely populated camps .
Donovan said Thursday that 108 Rohingya refugees in Cox ’ s Bazar have been tested for the coronavirus since the beginning of April .
With about 40,000 people per square kilometre ( 103,600 per square mile ) living in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 34 camps have more than 40 times Bangladesh ’ s average population density .
Each shack is barely 10 square meters ( 107 square feet ) and many are packed with up to 12 residents .
Some refugees remained worried , saying they lacked access to clean water and protective equipment .
“ Here in the camps it ’ s difficult to protect our health from the virus because there are so many people in a small place , “ said Ro Sawyeddollah , a camp resident and executive director of the Rohingya @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government said about 1,200 beds for isolating and treating COVID-19 patients were being readied just outside the camps at Ukhiya and Teknaf in Cox ’ s Bazar , and more were planned .
Aid agencies and rights groups have been demanding Bangladesh ’ s government withdraw restrictions on using mobile phones and internet in the camps .
Authorities had suspended internet use for security reasons , and recent reports said armed groups among the refugees were allegedly involved in kidnappings and smuggling of drugs .
“ Because of COVID-19 , people can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s impossible to share any messages or information without the internet , ” said Ro Sawyeddollah .
Daniel P. Sullivan , a human rights advocate for aid group Refugees International , said the lack of accurate information is fueling misinformation , and “ rumours abound in the camps that COVID-19 is always fatal or that the faithful will be safe.
” Most of the Rohingya have fled Myanmar since August 2017 , when Myanmar ’ s military launched counterinsurgency operations in response to rebel attacks .
Security forces have been accused of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of homes .
Authorities in Myanmar have long considered the Muslim Rohingya to be migrants from Bangladesh , even though their families have lived in the Buddhist-majority country for centuries .
Nearly all have been denied citizenship since 1982 , effectively rendering them stateless .
They are also denied freedom of movement and other basic rights including education .
Associated Press writer Victoria Milko in Jakarta , Indonesia , contributes to the report .


thetorontostar--2020-05-15--Biden says he would not pardon Trump or block investigations

ATLANTA - Democratic candidate Joe Biden said that if he wins the presidency he would not use his power to pardon Donald Trump or stop any investigations of Trump and his associates .
“ It is not something the president is entitled to do , to direct a prosecution or decide to drop a case , ” Biden said Thursday on MSNBC .
“ It ’ s a dereliction of duty.
” The former vice-president made his statement in response to a voter who asked him on Lawrence O ’ Donnell ’ s show , “ The Last Word , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not pulling a Gerald Ford in giving Donald Trump a pardon under the pretense of healing the nation.
” Biden responded , “ I commit , ” before offering a more lengthy explanation of his view that the president must allow the Justice Department to operate without interference .
Ford became president in 1974 when Richard Nixon resigned under the threat of impeachment .
Ford later pardoned his predecessor before any criminal charges related to the Watergate burglary could be filed .
Ford went on to lose the 1976 presidential election .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related to his effort to withhold congressionally appropriated funds from Ukraine in exchange for officials there assisting Trump in sullying Biden .
The Senate acquitted him in February on a nearly party line vote .
Biden also said on O ’ Donnell ’ s show that voters who believe the former Senate staffer who has accused him of sexually assaulting her in the early 1990s probably shouldn ’ t cast their ballots for him in November .
“ I think they should vote their heart , and if they believe Tara Reade they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Biden told O ’ Donnell .
“ I wouldn ’ t vote for me if I believed Tara Reade.
” Biden repeated his firm denial of Reade ’ s assertion that he assaulted her in a Senate hallway 27 years ago .
Biden , who served in the Senate 36 years before two terms as vice-president , said he does not recall Reade at all .
He said any woman who makes a claim of harassment or assault “ should be taken seriously ” but the account should be “ thoroughly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ changes ” in Reade ’ s account over time .
In 2019 , Reade was among several women who accused Biden of touching them in ways that made them uncomfortable , but none of those accounts at the time including accusations of assault .
Reade came forward anew in March with more explicit accusations against the former vice-president .
“ This is just totally , thoroughly , completely out of character , and the idea that in a public place , in a hallway I would assault a woman , I mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never happened , ” Biden said .
The accusation has not derailed Biden ’ s path as the presumptive Democratic nominee , but it ’ s an uncomfortable circumstance for the 77-year-old , who has pledged to name a woman as his running mate and often recounted his work as lead sponsor of the Violence Against Women Act .
Many Republicans have tried to amplify Reade ’ s story and hammered Biden and other Democrats as hypocrites because of their use of the mantra “ Believe Women ” during the # MeToo era @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were teens .
Trump , however , has not gone after Biden as eagerly as he typically savages opponents .
More than a dozen women have accused Trump of varying levels of harassment and assault , charges he denies .
During the final segments of the MSNBC show Thursday night , Biden appeared split-screen alongside Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams , one of the women he ’ s believed to be considering for the vice presidency .
Abrams is among the most high-profile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even though she lost the 2018 Georgia governor ’ s race .
Abrams and Biden praised each other as they discussed voting rights and ballot access amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast , “ Ground Game .
”


thetorontostar--2020-05-15--EU weighs stance amid concern over Israeli annexation plans

BRUSSELS - European Union foreign ministers will weigh later Friday what action the bloc could take should Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu push ahead with plans to annex the West Bank in coming months .
The ministers had planned to welcome the formation of a new government and offer EU co-operation , but Netanyahu and his rival-turned-partner , Benny Gantz , have postponed the swearing-in of their controversial new cabinet as the Israeli leader tries to quell infighting within his Likud party .
The ceremony , originally scheduled for Thursday , is now planned for Sunday to give Netanyahu more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to members of his party .
Their coalition agreement allows him to present an annexation proposal as soon as July 1 , and the EU ministers want to thrash out a common position should the move go ahead .
The 27-nation bloc has routinely condemned Israeli settlement expansion and warned against the annexation plans , but the member countries appear too divided to seriously weigh any actions , such as sanctions , particularly during informal talks via video-conference .
“ This is a very divisive issue inside the council ” of ministers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday .
“ Everything in foreign policy requires unanimity , especially sanctions .
So we are , for the time being , far away from discussing about sanctioning.
” Borrell said the talks are nevertheless important , to understand all 27 countries ’ stances on “ the respect of international law , and how can we judge this announced annexation in order to clarify the position of the European Union.
” In February , he affirmed the bloc ’ s commitment to a two-state solution in the Middle East , based along the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mutually agreed land-swaps , made up of the state of Israel and “ an independent , democratic , contiguous , sovereign and viable state of Palestine.
” Jordan has been lobbying the EU to take “ practical steps ” to make sure annexation doesn ’ t happen .
In a statement , Foreign Minister Ayman Al-Safadi “ stressed the need for the international community and the European Union in particular to take practical steps that reflect the rejection of any Israeli decision to annex.
” Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report @