thetorontostar--2020-01-12--Aboard Bloomberg bus: Droll wit, swag, Texas-size ambition

DALLAS - Mike Bloomberg isn ’ t going to be the loudest campaigner in the Democratic primary contest , and he ’ s not planning to spend time talking about his rivals .
With the first votes just weeks away , he acts more like he ’ s running in a general election than a primary .
While the top Democratic candidates campaigned in Iowa and Nevada this weekend , Bloomberg was on a five-stop bus tour Saturday of reliably Republican Texas , which doesn ’ t vote until March 3 .
The only rival he spoke about was President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas as a battleground in November rather than a soon-to-be-voting primary state .
The Texas tour was an early touch-the-flesh foray for Bloomberg , who is trying to reach voters with hundreds of millions of dollars in television and digital advertising as he tries to rewrite the playbook of running for president .
While other candidates have sought to prove themselves in the quaint retail politics of traditional starting states , Bloomberg ’ s approach is decidedly wholesale , with a focus on large states with far more delegates at stake .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he welcomes any criticism they want to throw his way .
He didn ’ t mention anyone by name , but Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren in particular have hit him for being a billionaire — he has an estimated worth of more than $ 50 billion — who can self-fund his campaign with essentially an unlimited budget .
“ Why are they giving me free publicity ?
” Bloomberg said in an Associated Press interview on his campaign bus .
“ They ’ re making the public think that I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re really worried about it and I ’ m a real threat .
And the public says , ‘ Oh , if he ’ s that good , maybe we should think about him , too.
’ Thank you very much.
“ That droll demeanour is not the stuff of the Iowa State Fair soapbox , but few things about Bloomberg ’ s campaign are typical .
He entered the race in late November , months after saying he wouldn ’ t run .
He figured it was too late to mount serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Iowa , New Hampshire , Nevada and South Carolina — so he ’ s skipping them entirely to focus on the 14 states that vote on Super Tuesday , including delegate-rich Texas and California , when about a third of Democratic delegates will be awarded .
The former mayor of New York , whose fortune flows from his financial data and media company , is not accepting campaign contributions , which means he can ’ t participate in the Democratic debates .
He is not holding town-hall style events where voters can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with thousands of adoring fans , as some of his rivals have been doing for months .
“ I ’ m not Bernie Sanders ... or Elizabeth Warren and yelling and screaming with 25,000 people in front of me .
I ’ m just not comfortable doing that , that ’ s not my strength , “ Bloomberg told the AP , adding that he would do so as the campaign goes on .
“ Today was a decent-sized crowd .
I can look , and I can see the people , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I connect with them ?
Well , that ’ s what you ’ re going to find out when the primary hits.
” Bloomberg and his campaign bus drew plenty of buzz and voters eager to take selfies mobbed him .
At his first stop of the day , a Mexican restaurant in San Antonio , he appeared almost on auto-pilot , moving through the crowd quickly .
But as the day went on , he appeared to grow more comfortable , engaging more with voters , who were several hundred in number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were committed Democrats .
A group of women in their 70s at the Dallas event said they had seen Bloomberg ’ s ads on television and wanted to learn more about him .
In San Antonio , Kyle Gish , 60 , who said he leans “ centre-right , ” said Bloomberg is the only candidate he ’ s considering in the Democratic field .
Gemma Kleinsmith , a 55-year-old technical writer who was with Gish , said she leans Democratic but is conservative on fiscal issues .
She thinks Bloomberg would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ He ’ s super smart , he ’ s a proven businessman , he ’ s moderate in my eyes , ” she said .
“ He ’ s everything that Trump is not.
” While Bloomberg isn ’ t offering specific criticism of other Democrats , he ’ s said he entered the race because he didn ’ t believe anyone had the ability to beat Trump , a fellow New Yorker .
Judy Sheindlin , TV ’ s “ Judge Judy , ” who has endorsed Bloomberg , offered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she joined Bloomberg in Texas .
“ America needs a little tweaking , but America does not need a revolution , ” she said .
Bloomberg ’ s blitz through Texas — aboard the “ Get It Done Express ” — went from San Antonio to Dallas , along the Interstate 35 corridor where Democrats have been making gains .
He stopped in between in San Marcos , Austin and Waco .
His speeches were short on personal details , and instead focused on his record as mayor of New York and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate change and expanding gun control , two key issues for Democratic voters .
The campaign ’ s ample resources were also on display .
Aides handed out T-shirts and tote bags reading “ I like Mike.
” The bags also had an unofficial Bloomberg campaign slogan : “ In God we trust , everyone else bring data.
” Bloomberg peppered his speech with statistics meant to show his record : How much New York ’ s crime rates fell during his tenure , and how much high school graduation rates went up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands in San Antonio , one voter was able to hold his attention for more than 30 seconds , gripping his arm and telling him that his slogan mirrored Dwight Eisenhower ’ s “ I Like Ike ” campaign of the 1950s .
“ We ’ re probably the only two that remember , ” Bloomberg said .
In Dallas , at the last event of the day , he approached voter Dennis Tenley after noticing his Johns Hopkins University sweatshirt , Bloomberg ’ s alma mater .
Tenley told Bloomberg they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefly discussed a shared professor .
In San Marcos , Bloomberg and Sheindlin ordered lunch at a local barbecue joint — about a pound of brisket , coleslaw and baked beans .
Bloomberg pulled two $ 20 bills out of his wallet to pay the cashier .
Bloomberg takes the criticism of his wealth head-on in his speeches , telling voters he ’ s not beholden to any special interests .
It ’ s a message that resonated with several people .
“ He ’ s not running for the money .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CJ Zhao , an Austin voter who works for a non-profit that helps Asian and Pacific Islander candidates participate in politics .
The Texas blitz was the kick-off of a nationwide organizing day in 27 states meant to flex his campaign ’ s strength .
Bloomberg has said he plans to keep campaign offices open in several key battleground states all the way through November to help defeat Trump even if Bloomberg doesn ’ t become the Democratic nominee .
The day after the Get It Done Express came to Dallas , voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning offered mixed opinions of the former mayor .
Among a group of four in their 20s , only one had even heard of Bloomberg .
Across the park , 27-year-old Aaron Krage said he knew of Bloomberg ’ s background as a businessman and mayor and that he wasn ’ t taking campaign donations .
Krage , who plans to vote for Pete Buttigieg , said he doesn ’ t think Bloomberg is effectively communicating his message through his TV ads in Texas .
But Danny Jerina and Staci Lee , both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bloomberg is exactly the type of candidate appeals to fiscally conservative and socially liberal voters like them and their friends .
“ He ’ s got kind of a nice mix of business experience as well as political experience , ” Jerina said .
“ If we ’ re lucky it might be able to persuade some of the Republicans on the fence.
” This story has been updated to correctly spell a last name as Kleinsmith , not Kleinsworth .


thetorontostar--2020-01-12--Monument to honour US-Mexican dual citizens slain in Mexico

LA MORA , Mexico - President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Sunday that a monument will be put up to memorialize nine U.S.-Mexican dual citizens ambushed and slain last year by suspected drug gang assassins along a remote road in the northern border region near New Mexico .
In remarks to members of the small town of La Mora , which was shattered by the Nov. 4 killings of three women and six children from the extended Langford , LeBarón and Miller families , López Obrador said the first goal is to bring those responsible to justice .
Speaking after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president said an agreement had been reached with municipal and Sonora state officials to establish a monument of some sort “ here where these lamentable and painful events took place , ” and also for special recognition of those who risked their lives to rush to the aid of victims and survivors .
“ So that we exalt this , the true solidarity : He who is willing to give his life for another , ” López Obrador said .
He promised to meet with family members in two months to give them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to return in four to six months to present a plan on regional development including road improvements .
The mostly bilingual American-Mexicans have lived in northern Mexico for decades and consider themselves Mormons , though they are not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .
The community ’ s origins in Mexico date to the official end of polygamy over a century ago by the LDS church , which prompted many families that continued the practice to establish colonies elsewhere .
Many of those in northern Mexico have by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polygamy as well .
La Mora is a hamlet of about 300 people in Sonora state while Colonia LeBaron is a larger town of over 2,000 on the other side of the mountains in Chihuahua ; the two are linked by a bone-jarring and treacherous dirt road where the attack occurred as the women and children were travelling to visit relatives .
The areas lie in the territory of rival drug gangs with the Sinaloa cartel of convicted kingpin Joaquín “ El Chapo ” Guzmán holding sway in Sonora and the Juarez cartel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grief and fear in the tightly knit communities , and dozens fled La Mora for the United States in the subsequent days out of concerns for their safety .
What was once a tranquil and even idyllic life in a fertile river valley surrounded by mountains and desert scrub had grown increasingly tenuous as criminal gangs exerted their influence and fought each other , some said .
“ Broken hearts , defeated , and through the fault of crime .
I personally do not understand how so many people continue to die in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people and with such richness , ” community member Margaret Langford said at Saturday ’ s ceremony .
“ I was born in Chihuahua but I have been living for 20 years here in La Mora , a place that was so tranquil and neighbours we treasure so much.
“ “ I love this country and it pains me to my soul to think of not being able to live here , ” Langford said .
“ This massacre has left us lost and destroyed .
I ask God that it not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been posting homicide totals in recent years at all-time highs since comparable records began to be kept in the 1990s .
López Obrador repeated Saturday that his security strategy aims to address root causes of violence such as poverty , inequality and lack of opportunity , particularly for young people , rather than the military offensive launched in 2006 by then-President Felipe Calderón and continued under López Obrador ’ s predecessor , Enrique Peña Nieto .
“ Deprive the fish of water , ” the president said “ so there are no longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killers.
” Victims ’ relatives said Thursday that U.S. authorities told them they had detained two suspects in the killings , and Mexican prosecutors said earlier in the week that more than 40 suspects had been identified .
Previously , Mexican prosecutors said three men were arrested and charged with organized crime for drug offences , though none apparently yet faced homicide charges in the case .
Four other suspects were said to be under a form of house arrest , and the name of one suspect partially matched the police chief of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near the eastern terminus of the connecting dirt road .
Local media reported the chief had been on the payroll of La Linea drug gang , which is allied with the Juarez cartel .
“ I know there are things that do not take away the pain , that the pain remains in our hearts , but without doubt , justice , Mr. president , ... will relieve a little bit the pain of these families , ” Sonora Gov .
Claudia Pavlovich Arellano said Saturday .

Christian Torres And Peter Orsi - The Associated Press

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thetorontostar--2020-01-12--Haitians remember victims of massive earthquake 10 years on

PORT-AU-PRINCE , Haiti - Haitians on Sunday remembered the victims of the massive earthquake that killed more than 100,000 people a decade ago , although the ceremony was marked by a protest against political mismanagement now and then .
President Jovenel Moise laid flowers at a memorial to the victims at a cemetery outside Port-au-Prince , joined by clergy , officials from his government and foreign ambassadors .
“ The earthquake of January 12 , 2010 left deep and indelible scars in the memory of an entire people , ” he said .
The 7.0 magnitude quake that hit Haiti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before 5 p.m. left a death toll ranging from around 100,000 to more than 300,000 people .
Thousands still don ’ t have adequate shelter a decade later , and the long-term quake response is widely seen as a failure by both the Haitian government and foreign governments and aid groups .
Marie-Andre Michelle 42 , said her children , aged 15 and 18 , had died in the quake and even though she didn ’ t know if they were buried at St. Christophe cemetery , she had saved to buy flowers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honour .
“ ’ I am not sure if my kids are on this site .
Bodies were picked up from the hospital like animals , ” she said .
“ ’ God only knows where they are now.
” A small group of protesters led by well-known Haitian comedian Mathias Dandor were pushed back from the ceremony by police , but reached the memorial afterwards and destroyed the wreath of white flowers left by Moise , leaving their own in its place .
They said they were protesting years of government mismanagement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take on corruption or improve the economy or security .
“ The negligence of the state has cost thousands of people their lives , ” Dandor said .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-12--Second day of record warmth bathes parts of New England

Bostonians ditched their parkas , mittens and thermal underwear for a second day as record-breaking warm temperatures again bathed the region in springlike temperatures .
That not only smashed the record of 61 degrees for the day set in 1913 , 1975 , and 2017 , according to the National Weather Service , it was also only the fourth time since records began being kept in 1872 that Boston saw any January day reach 70 or above .
Saturday was the third day to reach that mark with temperature topping out at 70 degrees in the city .
The warmth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In Connecticut , the Hartford Courant reported the record for Sunday was broken at 4:51 a.m. , when temperatures reached 62 degrees .
The previous record of 60 degrees was set in 2018 .
A bit south on Sunday , New York City reached a record high of 68 degrees in Central Park , according to the National Weather Service .
This weekend ’ s weird weather delighted golfers who were able to hit the links at a time of year when many golf courses are covered in snow .
The weather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which were either melting or closed .
Despite the balmy weather , few New Englanders were lulled into thinking they will escape winter ’ s wrath completely .
Temperatures are expected to dip back into the 30s and 40s for much of the week .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-12--Slain Gdansk mayor honoured during yearly fundraising finale

WARSAW , Poland - Late Gdansk Mayor Pawel Adamowicz was remembered on Sunday evening during the finale of a yearly Polish fundraiser — the same event during which he was fatally stabbed on stage last year .
Adamowicz was stabbed in the heart on Jan. 13 , 2019 , during an event dubbed “ Light to Heaven ” in Gdansk , by a psychologically unstable ex-convict and died the next day at age 53 .
In Gdansk , a chorus performed an mournful rendition of “ Sound of Silence , ” a song that was played last year as Gdansk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Images of the beloved mayor appeared on a video screen and a beam of light pointed to the sky .
His widow Magdalena Adamowicz told those gathered that she feels her husband remains with her and the people of Gdansk .
“ Pawel is with me , he is with me all the time , his wedding ring hangs from my neck , ” his widow said .
“ He is with all of us.
” His brother Piotr also thanked them on behalf of himself and their parents .
After the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killer grabbed a microphone and told the crowd that it was his revenge against an opposition political party that Adamowicz had once belonged to .
The political undercurrent sparked soul-searching in Poland about rising hate speech .
Adamowicz himself had been vilified by public media , which is controlled by the conservative government , for his acceptance of refugees and gays .
“ Remember that good wins , that evil can not win , that we will not be intimidated , ” his widow said .
Elsewhere across the country , people gathered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 28th annual Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity , which raises funds to buy life-saving equipment for children for children ’ s hospitals .
By last Sunday the charity had gathered 77 million zlotys ( $ 20 million ) .
The charity ’ s founder , Jerzy Owsiak , also expressed solidarity with Australia , which has been devastated by raging deadly wildfires .


thetorontostar--2020-01-12--Trump, Pelosi square off ahead of impeachment trial

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump and Speaker Nancy Pelosi faced off Sunday ahead of his impeachment trial , as she said senators will “ pay a price ” for blocking new witnesses and he quickly retorted that she and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff should both testify .
The House plans to vote this week to transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate for the historic trial on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress over Trump ’ s actions toward Ukraine .
It will be only the third presidential impeachment trial in American history and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi , the two most powerful party leaders in the nation , communicated as often happens in this presidency — with the president responding on Twitter to a television interview .
“ It ’ s about a fair trial , ” Pelosi told ABC ’ s “ This Week.
“ “ We ’ ve done our job .
We have defended the Constitution of the United States .
We would hope the Senate would do that as well.
” She warned , “ Now the ball is in their court to either do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted right before and after Pelosi ’ s appearance , in both instances using derisive nicknames .
He said both she and Schiff should appear in the Senate for testimony .
“ He must be a Witness , and so should she !
” Trump tweeted .
The president rebutted Pelosi ’ s suggestion that no matter what the Senate does , he will always be impeached .
Pelosi said the House vote last month means Trump will be “ impeached forever ” and “ for life.
” “ Why should I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name when I did NOTHING wrong ?
” Trump tweeted , calling the House action a “ totally partisan Hoax.
’ ” Voters are divided over impeachment much the way they are split along partisan lines and as the Senate prepares for the landmark trial both parties are trying to set the terms of the debate over high crimes and misdemeanours .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , is seeking a speedy trial to acquit the president and is reluctant to seek more witnesses .
The GOP leader has proposed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial of Bill Clinton in 1999 that would start the proceedings and then vote later on hearing new testimony .
One leading Republican , Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina , has already predicted that the trial would end ” in a matter of days.
’ ’ In a Fox News Channel interview Saturday , Graham dismissed Pelosi ’ s tactics , saying the delay would have no effect on calling new witnesses or the expected outcome — acquittal by the GOP-controlled Senate .
“ The Senate should not reward this behaviour by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee .
” The Senate should end this trial as quickly as possible .
That ’ s what I intend to do .
He will be acquitted .
I hope and pray every Republican will reject what Nancy Pelosi did , and we ’ ll pick up a few Democrats.
’ ’ Trump was charged with abuse of power for pressuring the president of Ukraine to investigate Democrats , specifically Trump political rival Joe Biden .
Trump was also charged with obstruction of Congress for trying to block @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly $ 400 million in aide as Ukraine battles Russia on its border while he pushed the country ’ s new president to investigate .
Trump follows a conspiracy theory pushed by his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani about Biden and his son , Hunter Biden , who served on the board of a gas company there while his father was vice-president .
Neither is accused formally of any wrongdoing .
Some Republicans want to turn the impeachment trial away from the Democrats ’ case against Trump and toward Giuliani ’ s theory about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida said Sunday he wants to hear from the Bidens ‘ ’ and find out — get to the bottom of that.
“ McConnell is reluctant to pursue any more witnesses at all , wary of dragging out the Senate trial .
He and joined some Republicans in backing a proposal for votes to dismiss the charges against Trump .
But at least one Republican up for reelection , Sen. Susan Collins of Maine , said last week she was in talks with GOP colleagues on a process that would allow them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Democratic-run House is set to vote this week to send over the articles of impeachment after Pelosi ended a more than three-week delay .
Once the Republican-led Senate receives the charges , the trial is expected to begin swiftly .
The date is not yet certain and Pelosi will meet behind closed doors with House Democrats to decide next steps on Tuesday morning ahead of the party ’ s presidential primary debate that evening , the last before the Iowa caucus Feb. 3 .
While some Democrats have grumbled about the delay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the strategy , saying it produced new potential evidence and turned public attention on the upcoming trial .
“ One of the things that holding on to the articles has succeeded doing is fleshing out McConnell and the president ’ s desire to make this a cover up , ” Schiff said on CBS ’ “ Face the Nation.
” “ If McConnell succeeds in making this trial a trial without witnesses ... .
That ’ s not a fair trial .
That ’ s a sham , ” he said .
Pelosi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including former national security adviser John Bolton , who has said he would be willing to testify if he receives a subpoena .
Trump is blocking White House officials from appearing and reiterated last week he does not want his former top security adviser to testify before the Senate .
Bolton is a brash figure and his outspoken comments could cut different ways in testimony .
House Democrats , who did not issue a subpoena for Bolton last year , did not rule out doing so now .
“ Ït ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Schiff said .
Pelosi also left open the door to filing more articles of impeachment against Trump .
“ It ’ s Sunday morning — let ’ s be optimistic about the future ... a future that will not have Donald Trump in the White House , one way or another , 10 months from now we will have an election , if we don ’ t have him removed sooner , ” she said .
Right before Pelosi was set to appear for the Sunday interview , Trump tweeted against Pelosi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Crazy Nancy.
’ ’ Asked about Trump ’ s tweet , Pelosi said , “ Every knock from him is a boost .
”


thetorontostar--2020-01-12--‘No signs of life’ in crash of small airplane in Montana

BILLINGS , Mont .
- A small airplane crashed near Billings , and there were “ no signs of life ” in the wreckage , Yellowstone County officials said Sunday .
The Cessna 182 crashed around 6 p.m. Saturday , according to the Federal Aviation Administration .
The wreckage was found Sunday morning between Billings and Roundup , Sheriff Mike Linder told The Billings Gazette .
Linder said his office was still trying to determine how many people were on board .
The FAA said the airplane had four occupants .
A Cessna 182 is a single-engine airplane , usually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airplane hit a guy-wire on a 200-foot ( 61-meter ) antenna tower on a mountain , went off the edge and tumbled down the side of the mountain , Linder said .
A Montana Highway Patrol drone was going to be used to document part of the crash site .
Coroner Cliff Mahoney , Deputy Coroner Rich Hoffman and state medical examiner Dr. Robert Kurtzman also responded to the crash site , the newspaper reported .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-12--Israel’s education minister condemned for anti-gay comments — again

JERUSALEM—Schools across Israel held pop-up classes against bigotry Sunday in protest of statements over the weekend by the country ’ s inflammatory education minister .
The minister , Rafi Peretz , told an interviewer that he thanked God that his children were not gay because they were raised in a “ natural and healthy way.
” Peretz previously ignited controversy by claiming he had successfully carried out “ gay conversion therapy ” as an orthodox rabbi .
In an interview with Israel ’ s largest newspaper Friday , he was asked how he would have reacted to having a gay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids grew up in a natural and healthy way , ” Peretz , head of a right-wing party that is part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’ s coalition caretaker government , told the Yediot Aharonot newspaper .
“ They are building their households based on Jewish values.
” Peretz also described the “ normal ” Israeli family as one with “ a man and a woman , ” called for the annexation of the West Bank without granting voting rights to the Palestinians who live there and favoured keeping out African asylum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain mentality and their place is in their own country .
We are the state of the Jews.
” Reaction was swift .
Mayors and opposition leaders condemned Peretz ; several called for his resignation .
Gay members of the Knesset , Israel ’ s parliament , taunted Peretz with pictures of their own children .
“ Look , Rabbi Rafi , this is what a ‘ natural and healthy ’ family looks like in a country in disarray that has let you be its education minister , ” tweeted Labor-Gesher Knesset Member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aretz .
Netanyahu has yet to comment .
The backlash was particularly fierce from teachers and families within the national educational system under the minister ’ s control .
Parents of LGBTQ students called for a strike Sunday , the first morning back to school after the Israeli weekend .
Some fashioned black arm bands for students .
Schools in more than a dozen cities and regional councils opted to devote the day ’ s first class period to discussions of equality and tolerance , according to media reports .
In the Tel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lesson plan about gay families written by a local city council member , Itai Pinkas , who accused Peretz of pandering to conservative voters in the run-up to the general election in March .
“ The education minister crossed every line and he needs to be fired , ” Pinkas told Yedioth Ahronoth on Sunday .
“ LGBTQs won ’ t be a punching bag for extremists in an election period or in any other period.
” Peretz ’ s comments come as Israeli political parties are jockeying for position in the weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third in less than a year .
Last-minute alliances are forming and falling apart as factions seek advantage before they register their final lists with the Central Elections Committee Wednesday .
This third round of campaigning , after the previous two votes ended in stalemates , is unfolding under the shadow of corruption indictments against Netanyahu .
The prime minister has dismissed the investigation as a political “ witch hunt ” and requested parliamentary immunity from prosecution .
On Sunday , the official legal adviser to the Knesset ruled that Speaker Yuli Edelstein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Likud party , may not block the formation of a committee to consider the immunity request .
Many predict that if held now , Netanyahu would lose a committee vote , which would allow the prosecution to begin .
He has sought to stall the procedure .
It was during the run-up to the country ’ s second inconclusive election in September that Peretz endorsed the concept of changing a person ’ s sexual orientation through counselling and therapy .
Gay conversion therapy is widely discredited by psychologists as ineffective and potentially harmful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rabbinical student who told him he was gay .
“ I think it is possible , ” Peretz said in a televised interview a month after Netanyahu appointed him education minister .
“ I can tell you I have a very deep familiarity with this kind of education , and I have also done this.
” The backlash then , too , was immediate ; one critic called Peretz the “ minister of darkness.
” Netanyahu distanced himself at the time : “ The education minister ’ s remarks regarding the gay community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not reflect the position of the government under my leadership .
”


thetorontostar--2020-01-12--U.S. defence secretary says he's seen no hard evidence that embassies were threatened before Soleima

U.S. defence secretary says he's seen no hard evidence that embassies were threatened before Soleimani killing

WASHINGTON - Defence Secretary Mark Esper explicitly said Sunday that he had seen no hard evidence that four American embassies had been under possible threat when President Donald Trump authorized the targeting of Iran ’ s top commander , raising questions about the scale of the threat described by Trump last week .
As the administration struggled with its justification for the drone strike that killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani , Esper and other officials tried to refocus attention on voices of dissent in Iran .
Esper said street protests in Tehran show the Iranian people are hungry for a more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ admitted shooting down a Ukrainian passenger plane .
The plane was downed shortly after Iran launches strikes against US bases in Iraq in retaliation for Soleimani ’ s killing .
“ You can see the Iranian people are standing up and asserting their rights , their aspirations for a better government — a different regime , ” Esper said .
He appeared on two Sunday news shows while national security adviser , Robert O ’ Brien , was interviewed on three others — pressing the White House ’ s campaign to bring “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its behaviour .
O ’ Brien suggested the United States sees this moment as an opportunity to further intensify pressure on Iran ’ s leaders , with whom the U.S. has been at odds for four decades .
Iran ’ s leaders already are under enormous strain from economic sanctions that have virtually strangled Iran ’ s main source of income — oil exports .
Trump himself is under great pressure as he faces an expected impeachment trial in the Senate .
Many in Congress also are upset over his handling of Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consult them in advance of the Jan. 3 strike that killed Iran ’ s most powerful general , nor adequately brief members afterward .
Trump complicated the debate by asserting on Fox News that he had to strike quickly because intelligence showed Iran could have attacked four American embassies .
Both Esper and O ’ Brien said they agreed that Iran might have hit more than just the U.S. Embassy in the Iraqi capital .
But Esper , when asked whether there was a specific piece of evidence , replied : “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to four embassies.
’ ’ And in response to a question about whether Trump was “ embellishing ’ ’ the threat , Esper said , ” I don ’ t believe so.
” After the U.S. killed Soleimani in Baghdad , it appeared the backlash in Iran and elsewhere had helped Tehran by shifting the focus away from its internal problems .
The strike also seemed to divert attention away from domestic unrest in Iraq over government corruption , and it intensified efforts by Iraqi politicians to expel American and other foreign forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plane on the night of the Soleimani strike , killing all 176 people aboard , opened a new avenue of pressure for the Trump administration .
“ ` I think the regime is having a very bad week , ” O ’ Brien said .
“ This was a regime that ’ s reeling from maximum pressure , they ’ re reeling from their incompetence in this situation and the people of Iran are just fed up with it , ” he said , adding that regime change is not U.S. policy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hopefully have the ability at some point to elect their own government and to be governed by the leaders they choose , ” O ’ Brien said .
In Tehran , Iran ’ s security forces deployed in large numbers on Sunday .
Demonstrators defied the heavy police presence to protest their country ’ s days of denials that it shot down the Ukrainian plane .
Videos posted online showed protesters shouting anti-government slogans and moving through subway stations and sidewalks .
Earlier Sunday , Trump tweeted his support for the Iranian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran - DO NOT KILL YOUR PROTESTERS , ” Trump wrote on Twitter Sunday morning .
“ Thousands have already been killed or imprisoned by you , and the World is watching .
More importantly , the USA is watching .
Turn your internet back on and let reporters roam free !
Stop the killing of your great Iranian people !
Esper said Iran deserves credit for taking responsibility for the shootdown .
“ My hunch is it was an accident , ” he said , adding that although Iranian government officials initially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did the right thing by admitting it.
” He said they need to allow a full investigation .
The Ukrainian plane crash early Wednesday killed all 176 people on board , mostly Iranians and Iranian-Canadians .
After initially pointing to a technical failure and insisting the armed forces were not to blame , Iranian authorities on Saturday admitted to accidentally shooting it down with its air defences .
That acknowledgement came in the face of mounting accusations by Western leaders .
Iran downed the Ukrainian flight as Tehran braced for retaliation after firing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing U.S. forces .
The ballistic missile attack , which caused no casualties , was a response to the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani , Iran ’ s top general , in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad .
Iranians have expressed anger over the downing of the Ukrainian flight and the misleading explanations from senior officials in the immediate aftermath .
Later the government took the blame for the shootdown , saying it was caused by human error .
Reviewing the dramatic sequence of events that preceded the downing of the Ukrainian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing of Soleimani as an act of self defence , and he said the U.S. foresees no more Iranian military attacks in retaliation for that .
Even so , the leader of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah , which is closely aligned with Iran , said Sunday that Iran ’ s missile attacks on two bases in Iraq housing U.S. forces last week were only the start of the retaliation .
Hassan Nasrallah described Iran ’ s military response , which caused no casualties , as a “ slap ” at the U.S @ @ @ @ @ @ @ step down a long path ” that will ensure U.S. troops withdraw from the region .
Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware , a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , said he was concerned that “ Iran has lots of ways that they can take action against us , both overt and covert , and I don ’ t think they ’ re done trying to seek revenge.
’ ’ Esper spoke hopefully of getting the NATO alliance more involved in Iraq to help train Iraqi security forces .
He said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of American troops in Iraq , currently numbering more than 5,200 , but he did not say any reduction was in the works yet .
Esper also said the administration ’ s offer to negotiate a new nuclear deal with Iran without precondition “ still stands.
” Trump ’ s decision to pull the United States out of an international nuclear deal with Iran in 2018 is cited by his critics as the trigger for escalating tensions that led to the killing of Soleimani .
Esper said Iran ’ s paramilitary Quds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mideast , but the specific attacks he said were being planned by Soleimani , have been “ disrupted.
” Esper was pressed to comment on Trump ’ s statement in a Fox News interview that the president believed Soleimani had been plotting to attack four U.S. embassies .
Esper said he shared the belief that Soleimani was planning attacks on multiple U.S. facilities , but Esper did not say these included four embassies .
While seeking to defend Trump ’ s remarks as representing the president ’ s personal belief , not an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence that four embassies had been targeted , Esper indicated there was no such piece of evidence .
“ I didn ’ t see one with regard to four embassies , ” Esper said .
“ What I ’ m saying is I share the president ’ s view that probably — my expectation was they were going to go after our embassies .
The embassies are the most prominent display of American presence in a country.
” O ’ Brien seemed to agree with Trump on that point .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence that we have to know exactly what the targets are , but it ’ s certainly consistent with the intelligence to assume that they would have hit embassies in at least four countries , ” O ’ Brien said .
Esper appeared on CBS ’ “ Face the Nation ’ ’ and CNN ’ s ) State of the Union.
’ ’ O ’ Brien appeared on ABC ’ s ” This Week , ’ ’ “ Fox News Sunday ” and NBC ’ s “ Meet the Press.
” Coon was @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-01-12--12 shot, five dead, in single day of shootings in Baltimore

BALTIMORE - Authorities say 12 people were shot , five of them fatally , in eight separate weekend shootings in Baltimore .
The first of Saturday ’ s shootings was reported at about 2:30 a.m. and involved three female victims , all found with apparent gunshot wounds in a car in a northeastern section of the city .
One victim , a 28-year-old woman , died shortly after arriving at a hospital .
A few hours later , police responding to a shooting in southeast Baltimore found a 46-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the leg .
Then , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man , walked into a hospital seeking treatment for a gunshot wound to his leg .
Shortly after 2:30 p.m. Saturday , police found a man fatally shot in southeast Baltimore .
That was followed less than half an hour later by a shooting in central Baltimore that left a 37-year-old man wounded .
A 38-year-old man was found with a gunshot wound around 7 p.m. Saturday in northeast Baltimore .
A shooting in southwest Baltimore about an hour later left one man wounded and another dead .
More gunfire a few minutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man fatally wounded .
Saturday ’ s violence ended shortly before 11 p.m. , when officers found a 24-year-old man fatally wounded in northwest Baltimore .
The city recorded 348 homicides last year , its fifth consecutive year with more than 300 murders and the most violent year ever on a per-capita basis .
“ A day that should have been met with pride and community was once again flooded with violence and loss , ” Scott wrote , an apparent reference to an NFL divisional playoff game hosted by the Baltimore Ravens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is heartbreaking and must stop now , ” added Scott , who said he plans to question Baltimore ’ s police commissioner and other agency heads about what they were doing in the affected communities before and after the shootings .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-12--Amazon resale package had dirty diapers in it, family says

JERSEY CITY , N.J. - A New Jersey family says they received used diapers from Amazon ’ s delivery service .
Nassly Sales said she was shocked to see diapers covered in what appeared to be fecal matter when she opened her Amazon package , WPIX-TV reported on Friday .
Sales said she purchases diapers for her two daughters each month from the online retail giant ’ s Amazon Warehouse section , which sells returned items at a discounted rate .
Amazon inspects and certifies all open-box products before reselling them , according to Amazon ’ s website .
Sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down her daughter with rubbing alcohol .
The Jersey City woman said she feared for her daughter ’ s health since she was born 26 weeks premature and has a compromised immune system .
The family said the substance on the diapers appears to be fecal matter , but they have not had it officially tested .
An Amazon spokesperson said the company worked with the family to resolve the issue .
“ We work hard to provide customers with a great experience and deeply regret that this situation did not live up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesperson said .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-13--US troops clear rubble from Iraq base days after Iran strike

AIN AL-ASAD BASE , Iraq - U.S. troops were clearing rubble and debris on Monday from a military base housing American soldiers in western Iraq on Monday , days after it was struck by Iranian ballistic missiles .
The Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq ’ s western Anbar province is a sprawling complex about 180 kilometres ( 110 miles ) west of Baghdad and houses about 1,500 members of the U.S. military and the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State militant group .
It was struck by a barrage of Iranian missiles on Wednesday , in retaliation for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iranian commander , Gen. Qassem Soleimani , whose killing raised fears of a wider war in the Middle East .
An Associated Press crew touring the Ain al-Asad base Monday saw large craters in the ground and damaged military trailers as well as forklifts lifting rubble and loading it onto trucks from a large area the size of a football stadium .
The U.S. said no American soldiers were killed or wounded in the Iranian attack .
Ain al-Asad air base was first used by American forces after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw American troops stationed there amid the fight against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria .
Trump visited the sprawling Ain al-Asad air base in December 2018 , making his first presidential visit to troops in the region .
Vice-President Mike Pence also has visited the base .
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Qassim Abdul-Zahra - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-13--India’s ruling party lawmaker threatens to shoot protesters

NEW DELHI - The head of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’ s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party in the state of West Bengal has threatened to shoot and jail people who protest a new citizenship law that has triggered a month of nationwide demonstrations .
Dilip Ghosh , a member of India ’ s Parliament and the president of the BJP in West Bengal , made the comments to party members on Sunday in a district of the state that borders Bangladesh .
Cabinet Union Minister Babul Supriyo distanced the BJP from Ghosh ’ s comments , calling them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday .
The citizenship law provides a path to naturalization for people from Bangladesh , Afghanistan and Pakistan , unless they ’ re Muslim .
Many Indians worry the law will be used in conjunction with a National Register of Citizens that could require all Indians to produce documents proving their origins , a challenge in a country where many people lack official records including birth certificates .
Ghosh called out West Bengal ’ s chief minister , Mamata Banerjee of the opposition All India Trinamool Congress party , comparing her government ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in other Indian states .
Banerjee , one of several state chief ministers from opposition parties who have pledged not to comply with the citizenship law , has led massive street marches to protest it .
“ Look at Assam , Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka , our government has shot these demons like dogs , “ Ghosh said .
“ You will come here , eat our food , stay here and then damage property ?
We will beat you with ( batons ) , shoot you and put you in jail , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in West Bengal .
Twenty-three people have been killed nationwide since the citizenship law was passed Dec. 11 .
Massive protests erupted across the country , with Uttar Pradesh , Karnataka and Assam states the hardest hit .
Police in Assam have acknowledged fatally shooting five people , and Karnataka authorities offered compensation to the families of two men killed by police during protests .
Sixteen Muslims were killed in Uttar Pradesh on a single day after the BJP chief minister , Yogi Adityanath , promised to take “ revenge ” against protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsibility for the deaths .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-13--US Air Force investigating death of 2 airmen at Germany base

BERLIN - The U.S. Air Force said Monday it is investigating the cause of death of two servicemen who died at a base in Germany last week .
Airman 1st Class Xavier Leaphart and Airman 1st Class Aziess Whitehurst , both aged 20 , were found unresponsive in a dormitory room at at Spangdahlem Air Base in western Germany on Thursday evening and pronounced dead shortly afterward .
“ The cause of the death is still under investigation , “ said Valerie Seeley , an Air Force spokeswoman .
” More information will be released as it becomes available.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the dormitory room and neither airman had room mates .
The Air Force said Leaphart , who was from Georgia , is survived by his father , Malik Muhammad , and mother , Pamela Leaphart .
It said Whitehurst , from Arizona , is survived by his father and mother , Davin and Maria Whitehurst .
In a statement Sunday , base commander Col. David Epperson expressed his condolences to “ the friends and families that have been affected by this tragedy.
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thetorontostar--2020-01-13--Israel to speed up extradition of woman in sex-abuse case

JERUSALEM - Israeli officials are seeking to expedite an extradition hearing for a woman facing dozens of sexual-abuse charges in Australia after a psychiatric panel concluded she had lied about suffering from mental illness , the Justice Ministry announced Monday .
The panel ’ s decision last week that found Malka Leifer fit to stand trial marked a major breakthrough in a years-old case that has strained relations between Israel and Australia and antagonized members of Australia ’ s Jewish community .
In its announcement , the Justice Ministry said the psychiatric panel had “ unanimously and unequivocally ” concluded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to avoid extradition .
“ The prosecution believes that the psychiatric panel ’ s definitive conclusions have removed the obstacles that stood in the way of any significant progress in this case , ” the ministry said .
“ The psychiatric panel ’ s findings lead to the inevitable conclusion that over the past five years , the court and the mental health system have fallen victim to a fraud perpetrated by Leifer and her supporters.
” Leifer faces 74 counts of sexual assault related to accusations brought forward by three sisters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a teacher and principal at the ultra-Orthodox religious school they attended in Melbourne .
In 2008 , as the allegations surfaced , the Israeli-born Leifer left the school in Australia and returned to Israel .
After Australia filed an extradition request , Leifer was put under house arrest in 2014 and underwent the beginnings of an extradition process .
But that ended in 2016 when a mental health evaluation determined she wasn ’ t fit to stand trial .
Leifer was again arrested in early 2018 after police found evidence that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court asked for another psychological review , whose findings were announced last week .
In a statement , Leifer ’ s lawyers accused the government of rushing forward with a decision before the legal process runs its course and said her human rights are being trampled because of “ diplomatic considerations.
” The repeated delays in the case have strained relations with Australia , one of Israel ’ s closest allies .
Leaders of Australia ’ s pro-Israel Jewish community have also expressed frustration .
Those frustrations have been amplified by the alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s ultra-Orthodox health minister , Yaacov Litzman .
Israeli police have recommended charges of fraud and breach of trust against him for suspicions that he pressure ministry employees to skew Leifer ’ s psychiatric evaluations in her favour .
Litzman denies wrongdoing .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-13--3 reported killed in crash of trainer plane in China

BEIJING - A pilot and two students were killed Monday when their trainer aircraft crashed in the central Chinese province of Hubei , state media reported .
The brief report did not give the type of aircraft but said the apparent accident occurred shortly after noon outside the Hubei city of Yichang , about 1,100 kilometres ( 680 miles ) southwest of Beijing .
The cause of the crash was not immediately known .
Yichang lies on the edge of the North China Plain and generally enjoys moderate winter temperatures .
The aviation school , Yichang Aviation Academy , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which has lately expanded from running Hainan Airlines into managing hotels and a range of other leisure outlets both within and without China .
China ’ s rapidly expanding aviation sector has created an enormous demand for new pilots , most of whom are recruited from the private sector .
Overall , Chinese civil aviation has an excellent safety record resting on solid training and strict maintenance of aircraft , mostly from Boeing and Airbus .
China has also been emerging as manufacturer in the civil aviation sector , first with turboprops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopes to sell to domestic carriers and discount airlines in the region .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-13--While shuttered at home, China exploits social media abroad

BEIJING - China says its diplomats and government officials will fully exploit foreign social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter that are blocked off to its own citizens .
Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang on Monday likened the government to “ diplomatic agencies and diplomats of other countries “ in embracing such platforms to provide “ better communication with the people outside and to better introduce China ’ s situation and policies.
” Facebook , Twitter and other social media platforms have tried for years without success to be allowed into the lucrative Chinese market , where Beijing has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Weichat and Weibo .
Their content is carefully monitored by the companies and by government censors .
Despite that , Geng said China is “ willing to strengthen communication with the outside world through social media such as Twitter to enhance mutual understanding.
“ He also insisted that the Chinese internet remained open and said the country has the largest number of users of any nation , adding , “ we have always managed the internet in accordance with laws and regulations.
” The canny use of social media by pro-democracy protesters in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s concern over the use of such platforms , prompting further crackdowns on the mainland , including on the use of virtual private networks .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-13--Extensive collection of JFK memorabilia hits auction block

BOSTON - One of the most comprehensive private collections of John F. Kennedy memorabilia , one that chronicles his life from childhood to the White House , is for sale .
Hundreds of items associated with the former Democratic president are being offered as a single lot by Boston ’ s RR Auction for a minimum of $ 1.5 million , although RR Executive Vice-President Robert Livingston said it could get much more .
“ This collection as a whole tells his life story , ” Livingston said , pointing out that Kennedy ’ s diary from the summer of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 719,000 in 2017 .
“ It ’ s like a curated museum exhibit in one auction .
The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
“ The collection includes a handwritten draft of Kennedy ’ s 1960 speech announcing his intention to run for president ; hundreds of unpublished photos and negatives of Kennedy and his family ; watercolours he painted ; personal items including a necktie , back brace and golf balls ; and even JFK and Jackie Kennedy Halloween masks .
The collection shows Kennedy ’ s intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Ronnie Paloger , a retired garment industry sales rep who spent years accumulating the collection .
Paloger was 13 when Kennedy was assassinated , and he said the president ’ s death resonated profoundly in his life .
“ I ran out of money , “ said the Marina del Rey , California , resident who also once owned a massive trove of Muhammad Ali memorabilia .
“ This is my retirement fund.
” After he sold his Ali collection in 1997 and retired in 2005 , he dedicated himself to finding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years full time to track down all this stuff at auctions , “ he said .
The most historically significant pieces of the collection , Paloger believes , are the letter in which Kennedy announces his candidacy for president and the correspondence he exchanged with the mother of Harold Marney , his PT 109 crew mate who died when the boat was rammed and sunk by the Japanese in 1943 .
But Paloger ’ s favourite piece is the brief , handwritten , coffee-stained note Kennedy wrote to his brother-in-law , actor Peter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s mischievous sense of humour .
Kennedy had invited Lawford to the White House to discuss the script for the movie “ PT 109 , ” about Kennedy ’ s service in World War II .
When Kennedy told Lawford that MGM Studios was behind the project , the actor became upset because he was feuding with studio head Louis B. Mayer , and wanted nothing to do with MGM .
The next day , Lawford got up for breakfast and found the script and a note — written on White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Read and be prepared for revisions at 8:30 a.m. ” Kennedy signed it Louis B. Mayer , causing Lawford to spring up and spill his coffee .
Online bids are being accepted from Jan. 17 until Jan. 23 .
Only if no one bites on the collection as a whole will it be sold piecemeal .
But Paloger said he thinks that would be a shame .
“ It would be a travesty if this is broken apart , “ he said .


thetorontostar--2020-01-13--Multi-nation African force kills top militant near Lake Chad

MAIDUGURI , Nigeria - A multinational African military force says it has killed a commander of the extremist group , Islamic State West African Province , in an airstrike .
Amir Khalifa Umar , an influential leader of the group was “ eliminated ” in an attack on one of the insurgents ’ hideouts near Lake Chad known as Tunbums Sabon , said Col. Timothy Antigha , chief of public information for the Multinational Joint Task Force .
Umar , the third-ranked leader of the group , was killed in “ ongoing offensive operations against the Islamic State West Africa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instability in the Lake Chad Basin , ” said Antigha .
Three other extremists were killed in a separate airstrike , said Antigha .
The multinational African military force includes soldiers from Benin , Cameroon , Chad , Niger , and Nigeria and works to end to the exremist Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria and the surrounding Lake Chad region .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-13--Israeli who crossed into  Jordan sentenced to 4 months

AMMAN , Jordan - A Jordanian court sentenced an Israeli man on Monday to four months in prison and fined him $ 1,450 for illegally crossing into the country and possessing drugs , the state-run Petra news agency reported .
Konstantin Kotov , 35 , crossed into Jordanian territory on Oct. 29 .
He pleaded guilty to crossing the border into Jordan illegally but pleaded not guilty to the drug possession charge , saying it was meant for personal use .
Kotov did not say why he travelled to Jordan and wrongly claimed that having a small amount of marijuana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t allow any possession of marijuana , though amounts smaller than 15 grams are considered to be for personal use and carry a lesser charge .
The Jordanian state security judge rejected Kotov ’ s argument , saying he had violated Jordanian law .
Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty 25 years ago , but relations have cooled in recent years over the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process and Israeli policies in annexed east Jerusalem , where Jordan has custodianship over Muslim holy sites .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-13--Nepal’s main airport cuts the heat amid worries over power

KATHMANDU , Nepal - Nepal ’ s aviation authority on Monday asked everyone in the Himalayan nation ’ s only international airport to cut down on heating this winter to save power so that key equipment can run without disruption .
“ There has been increased demand for electricity use due to the cold weather which is directly effecting the communication , navigation aids and surveillance equipment , ” the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal said in a notice .
It said it was asking “ airlines offices , immigration , customs and shops inside the airport ” to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman for Kathmandu ’ s Tribhuwan International Airport , Deo Chandra Lal Karna , said the power situation was under control and the request from the aviation authority was a precautionary measure .
Power outages are common in Nepal , though the situation has improved over the past two years as the government has made a priority of supplying electricity .
Were there to be disruptions at the international airport it could affect what the government has dubbed Visit Nepal Year 2020 in anticipation of welcoming 2 million tourists .
All the power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on its fast-flowing mountain rivers .
Though Nepal has the potential to generate much more power than needed from these rivers , the lack of funds , frequent changes in government , political instability , corruption and a communist insurgency that lasted a decade have slowed down building of these power plants .
About a third of Nepal ’ s power is imported from neighbouring India to make up for the shortfall .
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Binaj Gurubacharya - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-13--Severe weather in Afghanistan, Pakistan leaves 48 dead

KABUL - Severe winter weather has struck parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan , with heavy snowfall , rains and flash floods that left at least 48 people dead , officials said Monday as authorities struggled to clear and reopen highways and evacuate people to safer places .
In Pakistan , where 30 people were reported killed , much of the damage struck southwestern Baluchistan province .
Imran Zarkon , chief of provincial disaster management , said 14 died there in the past 24 hours , mainly when roofs collapsed amid heavy snowfall .
Heavy snowfall had forced closures of many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were under six inches of snow .
Eleven people were killed in eastern Punjab province , battered by heavy rains , and five others died in the Pakistani-administered part of Kashmir , officials with the state-run emergency service said .
The divided Himalayan region has witnessed heavy snow fall in recent days and power cuts have been reported .
Emergency services said they were struggling to provide food and other items to snow-hit areas .
In Afghanistan , at least 18 people , including women and children , died on account of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hasibullah Shaikhani , a press officer with the state ministry for disaster management , said most of the highways in Afghanistan were closed due to heavy snowfall and fears of avalanches .
Of the Afghan casualties , eight people were killed in southern Kandahar province , said Bahir Ahamdi , spokesman for the provincial governor .
In western Herat province , seven people died , including five members of the same family , said Abdul Ahad Walizada , spokesman for the provincial police chief .
Three people were killed in southern Helmand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the provincial governor .
Residents of the Afghan capital , Kabul , where temperatures dropped to -15 degrees Celsius ( 5 degrees Fahrenheit ) , abandoned driving and struggled to get to work on snow-covered roads .
Sattar reported from Quetta , Pakistan .
Associated Press writers Roshan Mughal and Asim Tanveer in Muzaffarabad and Multan , Pakistan , contributed to this report Get more of the Star in your inbox Never miss the latest news from the Star .
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Tameem Akhgar And Abdul Sattar - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-13--Trial delayed for French priest accused of abusing 75 boys

LYON , France - A former French priest accused of sexually abusing around 75 Boy Scouts went on trial Monday , but the proceedings were delayed for a day because of a strike by lawyers .
The case is France ’ s worst clergy abuse drama to reach court so far , and its repercussions reached all the way to the Vatican .
Bernard Preynat admitted in the 1990s to abusing boys , but was only removed from the priesthood last year .
The church defrocked him in July , after French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin was convicted of covering up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other church officials were also accused of failing to alert police or prosecutors of his actions , including a senior Vatican official , Cardinal Luis Ladaria .
The Vatican shielded Ladaria from trial , invoking his immunity as an official of a sovereign state .
Preynat , now 74 , appeared in court Monday in Lyon on charges of sexual assault of 10 minors between 1986 and 1991 .
He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted .
He ’ s also accused of abusing dozens of others in the 1970s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened too long ago to prosecute .
The judge delayed the hearing until Tuesday because of a strike by lawyers angry over President Emmanuel Macron ’ s planned overhaul of the French pension system .
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Nicolas Vaux-Montagny - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-13--Ahead of impeachment trial, Trump suggests not having it

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump says the Senate should simply dismiss the impeachment case against him , an extraordinary suggestion as the House prepares to transmit the charges to the chamber for the historic trial .
The Republican president is giving mixed messages ahead of the House ’ s landmark vote that will launch the Senate proceedings in a matter of days , only the third presidential impeachment trial in American history .
Trump faces charges that he abused power by pushing Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden and then obstructed Congress .
First Trump was suggesting his own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said almost the opposite Sunday by tweeting that the trial shouldn ’ t happen at all .
“ Many believe that by the Senate giving credence to a trial ” over charges he calls a hoax , Trump tweeted , “ rather than an outright dismissal , it gives the partisan Democrat Witch Hunt credibility that it otherwise does not have .
I agree !
” The idea of dismissing the charges against Trump is as unusual as it is unlikely .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signed on to an outlier proposal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but he does not have enough support in the Republican-held chamber to actually do it .
It would require a rare rules change similar to the approach McConnell used for Supreme Court confirmations .
Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned Sunday that senators will “ pay a price ” if they block new witness testimony with a trial that Americans perceive as a “ coverup ” for Trump ’ s actions .
“ It ’ s about a fair trial , “ Pelosi told ABC ’ s “ This Week.
” “ The senators who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or not , they will have to be accountable.
” She said , “ Now the ball is in their court to either do that or pay a price.
” Voters are divided over impeachment largely along the nation ’ s deeply partisan lines and the trial is becoming a high-stakes undertaking at the start of a presidential election year .
A House vote to transmit the articles to the Senate will bring to a close a standoff between Pelosi and McConnell over the rules for the trial .
The House voted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one showdown merely starts another across the Capitol as the parties try to set the terms of debate over high crimes and misdemeanours .
Democrats want new testimony , particularly from former White House national security adviser John Bolton , who has indicated he will defy Trump ’ s orders and appear if subpoenaed .
Trump doesn ’ t want his brash former aide to testify .
Republican allies led by McConnell , R-Ky. , are ready to deliver swift acquittal without new testimony .
Trump first said Sunday it ’ s Pelosi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who should both testify , which would be unlikely .
The president said he shouldn ’ t have to carry the “ stigma “ of impeachment because he ’ s done nothing wrong .
Pelosi said the House vote last month means Trump will be “ impeached forever ” and “ for life.
” McConnell is reluctant to enter a divisive Senate debate over witnesses that could split his party and prolong a trial that is already expected to consume weeks of floor time .
He is seeking a speedy acquittal and has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment trial of Bill Clinton in 1999 , which would start the proceedings and then vote later on hearing new testimony .
One leading Republican , Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina , has already predicted that the trial would end ” in a matter of days.
?
Graham and Sen. Josh Hawley , R-Mo .
are leading the effort to dismiss the charges against Trump .
Trump delayed nearly $ 400 million in aide as Ukraine battled Russia on its border while he pushed the country ’ s new president to investigate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close attention to a conspiracy theory pushed by his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani about Biden and his son Hunter Biden , who served on the board of a gas company in Ukraine while his father was vice-president .
No evidence of wrongdoing by the Bidens has emerged .
Some GOP senators want to turn the impeachment trial away from the Democrats ’ case and toward the theories being pursued by Giuliani .
GOP Sen. Rick Scott of Florida said Sunday he wants to hear from the Bidens “ and find out — get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least one Republican up for reelection , Sen. Susan Collins of Maine , said last week she was in talks with GOP colleagues on a process that would allow them to hear more testimony as Democrats want .
The Democratic-run House has not yet set the timing for this week ’ s vote to transmit the impeachment articles to the Senate .
Pelosi will meet behind closed doors with House Democrats to decide next steps on Tuesday morning ahead of the party ’ s presidential primary debate that evening , the last before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republican-led Senate receives the charges , the trial is expected to begin swiftly .
While some Democrats have grumbled about the delay , Pelosi and other party leaders defended the strategy , saying it produced new potential evidence and turned public attention on the upcoming trial .
“ One of the things that holding on to the articles has succeeded doing is fleshing out McConnell and the president ’ s desire to make this a cover up , ” Schiff , D-Calif. , said on CBS ’ “ Face the Nation.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recalled by witnesses in the House investigation , could cut different ways in testimony .
He was said to have compared the Ukraine actions to a “ drug deal ” he wanted no part of and warned that Giuliani was a “ hand grenade ” about to go off .
House Democrats , who did not issue a subpoena for Bolton last year , did not rule out doing so now .
Pelosi also left open the door to filing more articles of impeachment against Trump .
“ Let ’ s be optimistic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not have Donald Trump in the White House , one way or another .
Ten months from now we will have an election , if we don ’ t have him removed sooner , ” she said .


thetorontostar--2020-01-13--Officer hurt in crash with woman accused of drunk driving

MEMPHIS , Tenn. - A Tennessee officer suffered critical injuries from being hit while inside his cruiser by a woman accused of drinking and driving with young children in her car .
Cadarius Davis , 32 , crashed into the police car , trapping the Memphis officer inside early Sunday morning , news outlets reported .
The officer suffered a concussion , fractured pelvis and fractured tailbone , according to news outlets .
He had been doing traffic control while crews repaired damage from storms .
Officers said Davis appeared intoxicated , news outlets reported citing an affidavit .
Officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the passenger seat .
Davis wasn ’ t injured in the crash .
A 2-year-old and 3-year-old in the back seat of her car were taken to a hospital to be checked out .
Davis was charged with driving under the influence , non-violent child abuse , vehicular assault and other charges .
She is scheduled for a court appearance Monday .
It ’ s unclear whether she had an attorney who could comment on her behalf .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-13--Indonesia sentences American man to 9 1/3 years for drugs

DENPASAR , Indonesia - An Indonesian court sentenced an American man to 9 1/3 years in prison on Monday after finding him guilty of selling cocaine and marijuana on the resort island of Bali .
Police said Ian Andrew Hernandez of California was arrested last May with 10 small plastic packs containing 6.6 grams of cocaine and a pack with 23.7 grams of marijuana at his rented house on the island .
The raid on the house followed a tip from a member of the community .
Police also seized electric scales , cigarette papers and a cellphone allegedly used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through text messages .
The indictment said Hernandez confessed that the devices and drugs were his .
Hernandez , 31 , sat silently as a panel of three judges at Denpasar District Court handed down the punishment .
They also ordered him to pay a fine of 1 billion rupiah ( $ 72,885 ) or serve two more months behind bars .
“ The defendant did commit a crime that has tarnished Bali as a tourist destination , ” said Presiding Judge Koni Hartanto .
“ What he has done is contrary to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hernandez declined to speak to reporters on his way back to prison .
Prosecutors had sought a 14-year sentence , but the judges said they reduced the penalty because Hernandez regretted his acts and promised to reform .
Hernandez ’ s lawyer , Made Suardika Adnyana , told the court that his client accepted the verdict .
Indonesia has strict drug laws and convicted traffickers are sometimes executed by firing squad .
More than 150 people are on death row , mostly for drug crimes .
About a third are foreigners .
Eighteen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executed under the current administration of President Joko “ Jokowi ” Widodo .
Last year , a Frenchman was sentenced to death on Lombok , an island next to Bali , for smuggling 3 kilograms ( 6.6 pounds ) of ecstasy , before a higher court commuted his sentence to 19 years in prison .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-13--2020 Watch: Will the debate provide any clarity?

NEW YORK - Presidential politics move fast .
What we ’ re watching heading into a new week on the 2020 campaign : This week features the final debate before voting begins in Iowa , making Tuesday night the most important night of the 2020 primary season so far .
It comes as the political world grapples with the fallout of the Trump administration ’ s military clash with Iran , the looming Senate impeachment trial and deep uncertainty about the direction of the Democratic primary .
At this point , any one of the four top-tier candidates — Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or Elizabeth Warren — has a legitimate chance to win the Iowa caucus .
Will the debate provide any clarity ?
Six Democrats will share the stage in the final prime-time clash before primary voting begins .
Four of them are clustered near the top , while even the often-overlooked billionaire Tom Steyer flashed in the polls recently and Mike Bloomberg looms as a Super Tuesday force .
The tremendous uncertainty means that any one of the candidates on stage Tuesday has the opportunity to change the direction of the race .
Is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) ?
In case you missed it , a certain 78-year-old white-haired democratic socialist was listed as the leading candidate in The Des Moines Register/CNN Iowa poll released late last week .
That should be a wake-up call for anybody who doesn ’ t think Sanders can win the Democratic nomination — and we know you ’ re out there .
Remember this : Every Democrat in history who has won both Iowa and New Hampshire has eventually become the nominee .
And if the Vermont senator wins Iowa , he opens New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won the state easily four years ago .
A lot can happen in the next month , but don ’ t sleep on Sanders .
Can Biden exorcise the ghosts of Iraq ?
It ’ s hard to believe , but almost two decades later Biden is still struggling to explain his vote to authorize the use of military force against Iraq .
And last week ’ s military clash with Iran is only making it harder .
Sanders , the only candidate in the field who was in Congress for the 2002 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the issue over the weekend .
Buttigieg , who was a 20-year-old college student during the congressional vote in question , has also hit Biden on Iraq in recent weeks .
Foreign policy should be an asset for Biden , a former chairman of the Senate Foreign Policy Relations Committee and a two-term vice-president , but it will likely hurt as much as it helps unless he can figure out how to move past criticism from both major political parties on the sensitive issue .
The debate moderators , and his Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off easy Tuesday night .
Will Democrats pay a price for their first all-white debate ?
The debate will also be the first that features an all-white slate of candidates .
Asian-American Andrew Yang was the only minority to qualify for the last meeting with all the black and Latino candidates having already been pushed out for failing to meet the Democratic National Committee ’ s fundraising and polling thresholds .
The all-white debate comes less than a week before Martin Luther King Jr. ’ s birthday in an election cycle in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — not a good look for the party .
Are things about to get nasty on the left ?
Left-wing favourites Sanders and Warren have played nice with each other for virtually the entire 2020 campaign .
Until now .
Warren over the weekend said she was disappointed after news emerged that Sanders ’ campaign volunteers were encouraged to question Warren ’ s ability to expand the party ’ s coalition beyond highly educated voters .
Warren suggested that the Sanders campaign was trying to “ trash ” her .
While Sanders downplayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first time that all is not well on the party ’ s far-left flank .
Given that only one of the two New England senators may get a ticket out of New Hampshire , this is a dynamic to keep a close eye on .
Will the other billionaire in this race be a factor ?
Here at 2020 Watch we don ’ t put too much stock in single polls , but it was hard to ignore Steyer ’ s recent surge in South Carolina and Iowa .
Sure , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massive advertising campaign , but that doesn ’ t make them insignificant .
The political world has treated Steyer as an afterthought since the much wealthier Bloomberg entered the race , but Steyer is the only one of the two who will appear on the debate stage this week .
If there ’ s one thing we all learned in the Trump era it ’ s this : Don ’ t count out the billionaires .
President Donald Trump is keeping his eye on the prize .
As Democrats gather in Iowa , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rallying supporters in what may be the nation ’ s most important general election battleground : Wisconsin .
He opens the year with no serious primary challenge and more than $ 100 million in his campaign account .
As their primary fight intensifies , remember that the real work has barely begun for Democrats in 2020 .
2020 Watch runs every Monday and provides a look at the week ahead in the 2020 election .
Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast , “ Ground @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-01-13--Alaska man rescued weeks after remote cabin burned down

ANCHORAGE , Alaska - Weeks after an Alaska man ’ s remote cabin burned down , he was rescued by Alaska State Troopers who found him by a makeshift shelter with an SOS signal stamped in the snow .
Tyson Steele , 30 , was picked up Thursday in what appeared to be good health at his remote homestead 20 miles ( 32 kilometres ) outside of Skwentna , troopers said in a dispatch .
A mid-December fire had killed his dog and left Steele with no means of communication , Steele told troopers .
After his family members and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for several weeks , they requested a welfare check .
The trooper helicopter crew reached the homestead at about 11 a.m. and saw Steele waving his arms near the makeshift shelter .
Skwentna , with a population of 35 , is 70 miles ( 113 kilometres ) northwest of Anchorage .
This story has been corrected to show Steele was rescued on Thursday , not Friday .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-13--Video: Iran police shoot at those protesting plane shootdown

DUBAI , United Arab Emirates - Iranian security forces fired both live ammunition and tear gas to disperse demonstrators protesting against the Islamic Republic ’ s initial denial that it shot down a Ukrainian jetliner , online videos purported to show Monday .
Videos sent to the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran and later verified by The Associated Press show a crowd of demonstrators near Azadi , or Freedom , Square fleeing as a tear gas canister landed among them .
People cough and sputter while trying to escape the fumes , with one woman calling out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gas at people !
Azadi Square .
Death to the dictator !
” Another video shows a woman being carried away in the aftermath as a blood trail can be seen on the ground .
Those around her cry out that she has been shot by live ammunition in the leg .
“ Oh my God , she ’ s bleeding nonstop !
” one person shouts .
Another shouts : “ Bandage it !
” Photos and video after the incident show pools of blood on the sidewalk .
Tehran ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later denied his officers opened fire though the semiofficial Fars news agency said police “ shot tear gas in some areas.
” “ Police treated people who had gathered with patience and tolerance , ” Iranian media quoted Rahimi as saying .
“ Police did not shoot in the gatherings since broad-mindedness and restraint has been agenda of the police forces of the capital.
” However , uniformed police officers were just one arm of Iran ’ s security forces who were out in force for the demonstrations .
Riot police in black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vali-e Asr Square , at Tehran University and other landmarks .
Revolutionary Guard members patrolled the city on motorbikes , and plainclothes security men were also out in force .
People looked down as they walked briskly past police , apparently trying not to draw attention to themselves .
The Guard previously has been accused of opening fire on demonstrators during protests over government-set gasoline prices rising in November , violence that reportedly saw over 300 people killed .
Other videos from Fars showed demonstrators chanting : “ We are children of war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight back.
” Ebrahim Raisi , the head of Iran ’ s judiciary , warned protesters and alleged , without providing evidence , that “ the agents of America and agents of foreign countries ” wanted to use anger over the plane shootdown to “ compromise ” Iran ’ s security .
Anti-riot police officers and other security forces could be seen on the streets of Tehran on Monday as well .
The crash of the Ukraine International Airline early on Wednesday killed all 176 people on board , mostly Iranians and Iranian-Canadians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and insisting for three days that the Iranian armed forces were not to blame , authorities on Saturday admitted accidentally shooting it down in the face of mounting evidence and accusations by Western leaders .
Iran downed the flight as it braced for possible American retaliation after firing ballistic missiles at two bases in Iraq housing U.S. forces earlier on Wednesday .
The missile attack , which caused no casualties , was a response to the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani , Iran ’ s top general , in a U.S. airstrike in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iranians have expressed anger over the downing of the plane and the misleading explanations from senior officials in the wake of the tragedy .
They are also mourning the dead , which included many young people who were studying abroad .
At earlier protests Saturday , students in Tehran shouted : “ They are lying that our enemy is America !
Our enemy is right here !
” Another Fars video showed demonstrators on Sunday night tearing down a poster of Soleimani in Tehran .
Ali Rabiei , a government spokesman , insisted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday that the Guard shot down the plane .
“ The point is that we did not lie , ” Rabiei said .
He went onto blame the U.S. for “ spreading the shadow of war over Iran.
” Javad Kashi , a professor of politics at Tehran Allameh University , wrote online that people should be allowed to express their anger in public protests .
“ Buckled under the pressure of humiliation and being ignored , people poured into the streets with so much anger , “ he wrote .
” Let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” There ’ s also been a cultural outpouring of grief and anger from Iran ’ s creative community .
Some Iranian artists , including famed director Masoud Kimiai , withdrew from an upcoming international film festival .
Two state TV hosts resigned in protest over the false reporting about the cause of the plane crash .
Taraneh Alidoosti , one of Iran ’ s most-famous actresses , posted a picture of a black square on Instagram with the caption : “ We are not citizens .
We are hostages .
Millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Iran ’ s national volleyball team , also wrote on Instagram : “ I wish I could be hopeful that this was the last scene of the show of deceit and lack of wisdom of these incompetents but I still know it is not.
” He said that despite the qualification of Iran ’ s national team for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after years of efforts , “ there is no energy left in our sad and desperate souls to celebrate.
” Meanwhile , another video making the rounds showed the national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sword in the shape of a water lily flying through what appeared to be a 1980s-style video game like “ Galaga.
“ Music chimes when it touches oil as it fires on symbols representing people , knowledge and ultimately an airplane .
“ To be continued , ” the caption at the end of the clip reads .


thetorontostar--2020-01-13--Lava gushes from volcano near Manila; tens of thousands flee

TAGAYTAY , Philippines - Red-hot lava gushed out of a volcano near the Philippine capital on Monday , as tens of thousands of people fled the area through heavy ash and frightening tremors .
Experts warned that the eruption could get worse and plans were being made to evacuate hundreds of thousands more .
Clouds of ash blew more than 100 kilometres ( 62 miles ) north of the Taal volcano on Sunday , reaching Manila , the bustling capital , and forcing the shutdown of the country ’ s main airport , with more than 500 flights cancelled .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ashfall eased .
There have been no reports of casualties or major damage so far .
A truck , however , skidded out of control and fell on its side on an ash-blanketed road , killing the driver and injuring three companions in southern Laguna province in an accident police said may be linked to the slippery road conditions .
The government ’ s disaster-response agency and other officials reported more than 30,000 villagers have fled their homes in the hard-hit province of Batangas and nearby Cavite province , but officials expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands more moving out of harm ’ s way .
Some residents could not move out of ash-blanketed villages immediately due to a lack of transport and poor visibility .
Others refused to leave their homes and farms .
“ We have a problem — our people are panicking due to the volcano because they want to save their livelihood , their pigs and herds of cows , ” Mayor Wilson Maralit of Balete town told DZMM radio .
“ We ’ re trying to stop them from returning and warning that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them.
” Maralit , whose town lies along the shoreline of Taal Lake surrounding the erupting volcano , appealed for troops and more policemen to stop distraught residents from sneaking back to their high-risk villages .
After a cleanup and ash-laden winds shifted away from Manila , officials partially reopened the main airport and allowed stranded planes to take off Monday .
Airport manager Ed Monreal told a news conference that incoming flights can be accommodated once parking bays are freed up , but warned that the airport may be closed again if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s aircraft was able to land in Manila on Monday from his southern Davao city hometown , his spokesman said , adding he saw the extent of the volcanic devastation from the plane .
Taal had been restive for months until it suddenly rumbled back to life Sunday , blasting steam , ash and pebbles up to 10 to 15 kilometres ( 6 to 9 miles ) into the sky , according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology .
The ash and steam column reached a height of only 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with lava fountains spurting less than half of that height before falling into lake waters surrounding the main crater .
Lava also spurted from another vent north of the main crater , Renato Solidum , who heads the institute , told reporters .
Frequent tremors and inflation of the 1,020-foot ( 311-meter ) volcano , one of the world ’ s smallest , however , indicate a major and much more dangerous eruption could still happen , he said .
The government volcano-monitoring agency raised the danger level around Taal three notches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indicating “ a hazardous eruption within hours to days was possible.
” Level 5 , the highest , means such an eruption is underway and could affect a larger area with high-risk zones that would need to be cleared of people , Solidum said .
It ’ s difficult to say when Taal ’ s restiveness will ease , Solidum said , adding that the volcano ’ s last disastrous explosion occurred in 1965 , when more than 200 people were killed .
Large numbers of displaced villagers worried about the homes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the uncertain future they face .
Irene de Claro , a mother of four , worried about her father , who stayed in their village in Agoncillo town in Batangas while the rest of the family fled in panic .
“ My father is missing .
We don ’ t know too what happened to our house because the ash was up to our knees , it was very dark and the ground was constantly shaking when we left , ” de Castro told The Associated Press in a school in Lemery town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s nothing for us to return to .
We ’ re back to zero.
” She later paused as the ground shook again .
A small island where the volcano lies has long been declared a “ permanent danger zone , ” although fishing villages have existed there for years .
Those residents have all been evacuated safely , volcanology officials said , adding that there should be a “ total evacuation ” too of lakeshore communities “ at high risk to pyroclastic density currents and volcanic tsunami within a 14-kilometre ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government work and classes in schools in a wide swath of towns and cities were suspended Monday , including in Manila , to avoid health risks posed by the ashfall .
At least four Batangas towns reported power outages .
Taal is regarded as the second-most restive of about two dozen active volcanoes in the Philippines , which lies along the so-called Pacific “ Ring of Fire , ” a seismically active region that is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions .
A long-dormant volcano , Mount Pinatubo , erupted north of Manila @ @ @ @ @ @ @ volcanic eruptions of the 20th century , killing hundreds of people .
About 20 typhoons and other major storms each year also batter the Philippines , which lies between the Pacific and the South China Sea , making it one of the world ’ s most disaster-prone countries .
Gomez reported from Manila .
Associated Press journalists Kiko Rosario in Manila and Aaron Favila in Tagaytay contributed to this report .

Joeal Calupitan And Jim Gomez - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-13--Conservative philosopher Roger Scruton dies at 75

LONDON - Philosopher Roger Scruton , one of Britain ’ s most prominent conservative thinkers , has died aged 75 .
Scruton ’ s family said in a statement that he died Sunday after a six-month battle with cancer .
A graduate of Cambridge University and long-time lecturer at the University of London ’ s Birkbeck College , Scruton carved out a role as a public intellectual — a relatively rare thing in Britain — with more than 50 books on morality , politics , culture and esthetics and regular television appearances .
He was widely respected in eastern Europe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule .
He received honours from the late Czech President Vaclav Havel and Hungary ’ s right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban .
His views were sometimes contentious .
In 1999 the Pet Shop Boys won a libel suit against him after he alleged in a book on pop culture that their songs were mostly the work of sound engineers .
In 2018 he was hired by Britain ’ s Conservative government as an adviser on improving modern architecture .
He was fired several months later after the left-of-centre New Statesman magazine published an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were “ creating robots of their own people , ” disparaged billionaire philanthropist George Soros and called Islamophobia “ a word invented to stop discussion of a major issue “ .
The magazine later apologized for the way it had promoted the interview on social media , acknowledging that “ the views of Professor Scruton were not accurately represented in the tweets.
“ Scruton was reappointed to the government post .
He said the incident showed there was a “ witch hunt ” against those on the political right and an “ attempt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though his voice was long prominent in public discussions .
Scruton was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2016 for services to philosophy , teaching and public education .
Looking back on his life in December , Scruton wrote in the Spectator magazine that “ coming close to death you begin to know what life means , and what it means is gratitude.
“ U.K. Treasury chief Sajid Javid tweeted that he was “ sad to hear of Sir Roger Scruton ’ s passing .
From his support for freedom fighters in Eastern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservatism in the West , he made a unique contribution to public life.
” Historian Timothy Garton Ash said Scruton was “ a man of extraordinary intellect , learning and humour , a great supporter of central European dissidents , and the kind of provocative — sometimes outrageous — conservative thinker that a truly liberal society should be glad to have challenging it ” .
Scruton is survived by his wife , Sophie , and children Sam and Lucy .


thetorontostar--2020-01-14--Sudan official says armed protest by security forces halted

CAIRO - A Sudanese official said Tuesday that security forces have contained an armed protest from within the security apparatus , amid reports of unrest .
Sudan ’ s minister of information , Faisal Mohamed Salah , called on “ rebellious forces ” to hand over their weapons .
In a televised statement , he said the unrest started earlier Tuesday in the capital , Khartoum , as well as the western city of Obeid , when intelligence officers went into the streets and began firing live bullets into the air .
There were no reports of casualties among security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sudan ’ s intelligence service released a statement on Twitter attributing the mutiny to officers ’ complaints over unfair compensation amid the country ’ s transitional phase .
Sudan is in a transition period after an uprising last year deposed longtime autocratic ruler Omar al-Bashir .
Since then , the country has been led by a joint military-civilian government .
It ’ s led by a technocrat prime minister , Abdallah Hamdok , and a military council .
Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok sought to reassure the country , posting on Twitter that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control.
“ He promised that the short-lived unrest “ will not cause us to retreat from the goals of the revolution , ” and said the government trusted the armed forces to restore order .
Earlier Tuesday , workers told travellers at Khartoum ’ s international airport that the facility was closed temporarily .
Video posted on social media showed the heavy deployment of security forces in some areas of Khartoum .
There were unconfirmed reports of gunfire in one area near a building belonging to the country ’ s intelligence body .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization behind the protest movement that ousted al-Bashir , urged people to stay indoors until the disturbance was settled .
It said it rejected “ any attempt to foment chaos , intimidate citizens and deploy weapons , ” and demanded immediate state intervention .
The group also reported a sudden blackout of state-run media .
It called on all Sudanese and foreigners to steer clear of all military zones “ in anticipation of armed clashes that may occur , due to high tensions.
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