thetorontostar--2020-05-05--Northeastern Brazil city is nation’s first to enter lockdown

SAO PAULO - The capital of tropical Maranhão state ground largely to a halt Tuesday , becoming the first major Brazilian city to enter a lockdown in the hopes of preventing the coronavirus pandemic from overwhelming the health care system of one of the country ’ s poorest states .
Some 1.5 million people in São Luís and three neighbouring cities have been confined to their homes , except for a handful of essential tasks , like buying groceries and visiting pharmacies .
The vast majority of businesses have been shuttered , as have schools and public transport .
Parks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go out to exercise .
Hours after the order went into effect , Maranhão state ’ s health secretary said the capital city looked like a “ ghost town.
” Almost no one was on the main streets , according to Carlos Eduardo Lula .
Police manned roadblocks on the main avenues , and those wishing to pass through had to prove that they held essential jobs or had a receipt from a supermarket or pharmacy run .
The decree from Gov .
Flávio Dino will last 10 days to begin with and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population .
The order comes despite President Jair Bolsonaro ’ s insistence that only the elderly and other high-risk populations should stay home .
The president and his followers have repeatedly criticized local leaders who imposed more stringent restrictions in the face of surging coronavirus cases .
For most people , the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms .
For some , especially older adults and people with health problems , it can cause more severe illness and lead to death .
Though not as restrictive as some orders seen in parts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meant to keep most people indoors as much as possible .
Last week , fears of the coming closure prompted panic buying even though supermarkets and pharmacies will remain open .
“ We didn ’ t go for total shutdown , we have kept the basic level of activities , and we will be watching , ” Dino said in a video call with The Associated Press on Tuesday .
With a population of 7.1 million , the state has confirmed 4,530 cases , the vast majority in and around São Luís .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ say insufficient testing in Brazil means official figures are undercounts .
The lockdown order came just as those cases were overwhelming the city ’ s hospitals , according to Lula , the state health secretary , who told the AP that the local health system had been headed toward collapse .
He defined that as having no vacancy whatsoever — a fate he hopes to avoid by increasing bed capacity and , now , by keeping people indoors .
“ Collapse happens if we let everyone get sick at the same time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have to try to push that date back.
” When the pandemic hit , Maranhão had only 232 intensive care beds for COVID-19 patients , concentrated in just three cities .
After hustling to build out capacity , it has 761 ICU beds and offers some level of intensive care in 11 cities , according to state authorities .
Two field hospitals are being built and will bring the number of ICU beds to 910 , Dino said .
The order that went into effect Tuesday stems from an April 30 ruling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responding to concerns about the health system .
The request for a lockdown came from private hospitals whose beds were nearing full and public prosecutors ’ warnings about the public hospital system .
In March , most Brazilian governors recommended people stay home , but overwhelmingly didn ’ t establish penalties for failure to comply .
Plus , too many essential services were allowed to continued operating , Martins said in an interview , citing auto part shops , construction material stores , and civil construction projects .
The new decree for São @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 360 for those in violation .
“ I don ’ t suffer the pressure that elections submit governors to , ” the judge told the AP .
“ With this ruling perhaps we will have given the freedom that governors need nationally , not just in Maranhão.
” Other states are taking note .
Neighbouring Pará ’ s Gov .
Hélder Barbalho on Tuesday evening announced a lockdown of the state ’ s 10 most-infected municipalities , including capital Belém at the mouth of the Amazon river , for 10 days starting May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wilson Witzel is considering lockdowns in hot spots , O Globo newspaper reported .
In contrast , Santa Catarina Gov .
Carlos Moisés , an ally of Bolsonaro ’ s , began relaxing restrictions , and then images of people swarming into a reopened shopping mall on April 22 in the city of Blumenau circulated widely .
Health authorities have recently noted a spike in COVID-19 cases in the city and state .
“ We have a national challenge , but the federal government keeps sabotaging efforts to confront it , ” Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our work harder.
” Like elsewhere , the debate over virus response has turned political .
Bolsonaro has criticized governors for going too far with restrictions ; as he has pushed to have them lifted , he has repeatedly tussled with the courts — part of the growing strain between Brazil ’ s institutions .
Judge Martins said he has even received death threats on social media over his ruling , but residents of Maranhão appear to be complying .
“ The pandemic precipitated these things .
Now we will see how we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not just the judiciary , “ said Martins .
” We ’ ll see how they all behave at this crossroads .
”

Mauricio Savarese And David Biller - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-05--Federal judge orders more execution details from Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY - A federal judge in Oklahoma on Tuesday gave the state one month to provide more details on how it plans to train prison workers to carry out lethal injections .
Federal Judge Stephen Friot issued the ruling in a case in which Oklahoma death row inmates are challenging the state ’ s lethal injection protocols .
Friot gave the state until June 5 to provide information and documents on how it ’ s training members of the execution team .
“ It is no secret that inadequate training is the significant factor as to why there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ said Dale Baich , one of the attorneys representing death row prisoners .
Although Oklahoma had considered executing inmates using nitrogen gas , Attorney General Mike Hunter announced in February the state had secured a supply of lethal injection drugs and was ready to resume executions after a five-year delay .
Oklahoma once had one of the busiest death chambers in the nation , but executions were put on hold following a botched lethal injection in 2014 that left an inmate writhing on the gurney and drug mix-ups in 2015 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One inmate was executed with an unapproved drug and a second inmate was just moments away from being led to the death chamber before prison officials realized the same wrong drug had been delivered for his execution .

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


thetorontostar--2020-05-05--Another 1,700 virus deaths reported in NY nursing homes

ALBANY , N.Y. - New York state reported more than 1,700 previously undisclosed deaths at nursing homes and adult care facilities in a tally that included for the first time people believed to have been killed by the coronavirus before their diagnoses could be confirmed .
The tally , released late Monday , emerged as state officials faced scrutiny over how they have protected vulnerable residents from the coronavirus .
At least 4,813 people have died from COVID-19 in the state ’ s nursing homes since March 1 , according to the new totals .
Exactly how many nursing home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disclosure .
The list released by Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ’ s administration did not include nursing home residents who were transferred to hospitals before dying .
With the inclusion of the additional deaths , the state now lists 22 nursing homes as having at least 40 deaths .
Most of the facilities are in New York City and on Long Island .
Sixty-two nursing homes reported between 20 and 39 deaths .
Parker Jewish Institute in Queens and the Isabella Geriatric Center in Manhattan are listed as having the most deaths : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those numbers are likely an undercount .
Isabella Geriatric Center officials have said publicly that 98 residents are believed to have died , including those sent to hospitals .
Audrey Waters , a spokeswoman for Isabella Geriatric Center , said in an email last week , that the home , like others in the city , initially had limited access to tests to quickly diagnose residents and staff .
“ This hampered our ability to identify those who were infected and asymptomatic , despite our efforts to swiftly separate anyone who presented symptoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases , the state ’ s new figures reveal many more deaths at individual facilities .
For example , Ozanam Hall , a facility in Queens , now reports a total of 53 deaths , up from just 10 .
The disclosure comes as fewer patients are entering hospitals , but several hundred continue to die each day in nursing homes and hospitals .
The steadily rising statewide death toll of over 19,000 does not include thousands of probable COVID-19 deaths in New York City alone .
Meanwhile , some nursing homes say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dropping , including the Long Island State Veterans Home , which has reported 53 deaths — 48 confirmed and five presumed COVID-19 deaths .
The state — which is now investigating nursing homes ’ COVID-19 response — recently found the veterans home in compliance with state standards , according to Ken Kaushansky , senior vice-president of health sciences at Stony Brook University Hospital and dean of the university ’ s medical school .
Back on March 2 , when only a handful of coronavirus cases had been reported in New York , Cuomo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” for nursing homes and congregate homes housing senior citizens .
Several days later , on March 6 , the state directed nursing homes to screen visitors and consider modifying visiting hours .
A week after that , officials suspended visits to nursing homes statewide and required temperature checks of staff .
The governor now faces questions over whether more could be done to help New York ’ s state-regulated nursing homes amass enough personal protective gear , get access to tests and ensure adequate staffing .
Cuomo said he believed nursing homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The nursing homes we said from day one are the most vulnerable place , “ he said .
Families of residents at several of the affected facilities have expressed frustration with getting updates on outbreaks and the number of fatalities .
Adam Jankowitz said he has resorted to calling members of Congress after several failed attempts to get information about the Isabella Geriatric Center , where his mother , Joanne , lives .
He believed the facility had only a handful of deaths until it reported last week that nearly 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ re trying to get a clearer idea of the risk to her in staying where she is .
We ’ re also trying to arrange another living place for her until it is safe to be in her building , and to organize details of moving her and her cat to a safer place , ” Jankowitz wrote in an email .
Amid worries over future COVID-19 outbreaks at nursing homes , Cuomo has revised some policies after critics argued they were endangering the vulnerable and keeping loved ones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state only recommended that nursing homes alert residents and family members of COVID-19 cases .
Cuomo later issued an executive order requiring such alerts for virus cases and deaths .
The following day , after initially expressing concern about violating residents ’ privacy , Cuomo began disclosing reported deaths at some individual nursing homes .
In late March , New York prevented nursing homes from refusing to admit or re-admit confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients .
But officials clarified on April 7 that nursing homes can not accept symptomatic patients if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jersey and Michigan issued similar orders , and federal guidance says nursing homes that follow infection protocol can accept COVID-19 residents .
Cuomo ’ s administration said last week that certain nursing home workers who test positive for COVID-19 can return to work after 14 days .
That ’ s up from seven days under previous federal and state guidance .
While the federal government has yet to release numbers on how the coronavirus has ravaged the industry , The Associated Press maintains its own tally based on state health departments and media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes and long-term care facilities nationwide .
Associated Press writers Jim Mustian and Karen Matthews and investigative researcher Randy Herschaft contributed to this report from New York .

Marina Villeneuve - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-05--Trump tours, touts mask factory  -  but no mask for him

PHOENIX - Making himself Exhibit A for reopening the country , President Donald Trump visited an Arizona face mask factory Tuesday , using the trip to demonstrate his determination to see an easing of stay-at-home orders even as the coronavirus remains a dire threat .
Trump did not wear a mask despite guidelines saying they should be worn inside the factory at all times .
“ The people of our country should think of themselves as warriors .
We have to open , ” Trump declared as he left Washington on a trip that was more about the journey than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acknowledged the human cost of returning to normalcy .
“ I ’ m not saying anything is perfect , and yes , will some people be affected ?
Yes .
Will some people be affected badly ?
Yes .
But we have to get our country open and we have to get it open soon , “ he said .
Trump had said he would don a face mask if the factory was “ a mask environment , ” but in the end he wore only safety goggles during a tour of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and members of the press as well as some White House staff and Secret Service agents wore masks .
Senior White House staff and Honeywell executives did not .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks when they can ’ t socially distance , such as in supermarkets , especially in places with high transmission rates .
In the area where Trump spoke , a large video monitor listed safety guidelines , one of which said , “ Please wear your mask at all times.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently when photos showed him maskless in a visit to the Mayo Clinic surrounded by hospital officials and doctors all wearing masks .
He said that he hadn ’ t known it was a requirement and that he is tested for the virus frequently .
He wore a mask at an event a few days later .
Trump ’ s visit came as the White House said it hopes to wind down its coronavirus task force in the coming month as the president shifts his focus from battling an “ invisible enemy ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent about three hours in Phoenix , touring the Honeywell factory and holding a roundtable on Native American issues .
Aides said the trip would be worth the nearly eight hours of flight time as a symbolic show that the nation is taking steps back to normalcy .
The trip was also expected to be a marker of Trump ’ s return to a regular travel schedule , as he hopes the nation , too , will begin to emerge from seven weeks of virus-imposed isolation .
After weeks cooped up in Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus has been affecting Americans ’ day-to-day lives , Trump got a first-hand view of one big impact .
At the airport , Air Force One parked next to dozens of grounded commercial airliners with covered engines and taped-over probes and vents .
Trump ’ s first stop was a meeting with Native American leaders during which he distributed 1,000 Abbott quick virus tests .
“ Native Americans have been hit hard by the terrible pandemic , ” Trump said .
“ Hopefully , that will be helpful to you.
” Trump sees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as his allies have noted an erosion in support for the president in recent weeks .
Republicans believe Trump ’ s path to a second term depends on the public ’ s perception of how quickly the economy rebounds from shutdowns meant to slow the spread of the virus .
That includes in Arizona , a key swing state , which Trump carried by less than 4 percentage points in 2016 .
“ I love Arizona .
I have a lot of friends in Arizona .
I ’ ve had great success over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boasted as he left .
But even as many Americans have adhered to strict social distancing guidelines , the numbers of new infections and deaths from the virus have not decreased as quickly as hoped .
Indeed , when the New York metropolitan area ’ s progress against the virus is taken out of the equation , numbers for the rest of the U.S. are moving in the wrong direction .
The infection rate is rising even as states move to lift their lockdowns , an Associated Press analysis found Tuesday .
Nonetheless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about winding down its coronavirus task force , which has already been meeting less frequently , Pence said .
Its members have become fixtures on television sets across the nation , with Americans hungry for information and marooned at home .
“ I think we ’ re having conversations about that and about what the proper time is for the task force to complete its work and for the ongoing efforts to take place on an agency by agency level , “ Pence said at the White House .
He said the group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June .
“ We ’ re now looking at a little bit of a different form , and that form is safety and opening , ” Trump said in Arizona , “ and we ’ ll have a different group , probably , set up for that.
” Asked about his statements in February playing down the threat of the virus , Trump told ABC in an interview that medical experts also had underestimated the risk and added : “ I want to be optimistic .
I don ’ t want to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a very bad subject .
I ’ m not looking to tell the American people when nobody really knows what is happening yet , ‘ Oh this is going to be so tragic.
’ ” Trump is seeking to pivot his focus away from the virus ’ s spread and toward more familiar — and , aides hope , politically safer — ground : talking up the economy .
As more states have begun to ease closure orders , despite warnings that that could lead to spikes in new cases , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s work in helping businesses and employees rebound .
To that point , aides said the president would hold more frequent roundtables with CEOs , business owners and beneficiaries of the trillions of dollars in federal aid already approved by Congress , and begin to outline what he hopes to see in a future “ phase four ” recovery package .
Pence told reporters at a White House briefing Tuesday that the U.S. could be “ in a very different place ” come late May and early June “ as we continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in safe and responsible reopening plans.
” The administration is beginning to eye that window as the appropriate time for federal agencies to begin managing the pandemic response “ in a more traditional way , ” he said .
Dr. Deborah Birx , the task force co-ordinator , said the federal government would still keep a close eye on the data if the task force disbands .
“ It took us a while to build that capacity and we ’ ll make sure that we ’ re watching that at a federal level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his White House team have been operating in a virus-safe bubble , thanks to the rapid coronavirus tests provided to senior staff and anyone who meets with the president .
Trump has been repeatedly talking up the administration ’ s response to the virus , despite persistent criticism that he dragged his feet and failed to adequately increase production of personal protective equipment and testing supplies .
“ We did everything right .
Now it ’ s time to get back to work , “ he said .
He added that the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with more than 7 million now completed , even as some experts say millions more people must be tested every week for the country to safely reopen .

Zeke Miller, Jill Colvin And Darlene Superville - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-05--Judge restores NY Democratic presidential primary on June 23

NEW YORK - The New York Democratic presidential primary must take place June 23 because cancelling it would be unconstitutional @ @ @ @ @ .
U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres ruled after hearing arguments a day earlier as lawyers @ @ @ @ @ Sanders and Andrew Yang argued that it was wrong to cancel the primary .
The @ @ @ @ @ time before the primary occurs to figure out how to carry it out safely .
@ @ @ @ @ State ’ s Board of Elections voted to cancel the primary even though New York @ @ @ @ @ its congressional and state-level primaries June 23 .
They cited the coronavirus as a reason @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden is now unopposed .


thetorontostar--2020-05-05--Brazil’s Bolsonaro accused of meddling in Rio federal police

SAO PAULO - President Jair Bolsonaro was in a stir again Tuesday after Brazil ’ s former justice minister reportedly accused him of trying to personally pick the head of federal police operations in Rio de Janeiro , where the far-right leader has a home and two of his sons are politicians .
TV Globo and mainstream Brazilian newspapers reported that former Justice Minister Sérgio Moro told investigators that Bolsonaro pressured him in March to accept a political appointee to head the country ’ s federal police office in Rio .
The president ’ s sons , Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are under investigation by Rio state prosecutors and police .
The president said Tuesday that neither he nor those two sons are subjects of federal police investigations .
Moro , who shot to fame as the judge who oversaw the mammoth Car Wash corruption investigation that convicted dozens of politicians and business executives , is seen as a hero by many Brazilians and was publicly granted free rein to operate in the Bolsonaro administration .
He resigned April 24 after Bolsonaro fired the head of the federal police without consulting him .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head of federal police operations in Rio was leaving that post , but said the officer was being promoted .
“ I have nothing against the superintendent of Rio de Janeiro , and I don ’ t interfere in the federal police , and he ’ s being invited to be an executive director , ” Bolsonaro told reporters in the capital , Brasilia .
The embattled Brazilian leader also accused Moro of violating national security law by allegedly giving journalists the content of their conversations .
According to the leaked summary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city of Curitiba , the former minister said Bolsonaro sent him “ more or less ” the following message in a text message : “ You have 27 superintendencies ( of the federal police ) .
I just want one , the one in Rio de Janeiro.
” The reports did not show printed images of that exchange .
Bolsonaro ’ s prosecutor-general requested an investigation into the allegations of presidential interference that Moro made when he resigned , which a Supreme Court justice granted .
Another justice nullified Bolsonaro ’ s first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports of a longstanding close relationship .
Brazil ’ s top court has authorized federal police and prosecutors to interview Cabinet ministers in the Bolsonaro administration about Moro ’ s accusations .


thetorontostar--2020-05-05--Boston fine arts museum agrees to start $500K diversity fund

BOSTON - The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston has agreed to create a $ 500,000 fund devoted to promoting diversity , the Massachusetts Attorney General ’ s office announced Tuesday .
The action comes after the world-class museum was accused of racism last year after black middle school students said they were harangued and mistreated on a class trip by other museum patrons and a staff member who allegedly told the children : “ No food , no drink and no watermelon.
” The museum ’ s director Michael Teitelbaum has already publicly apologized , banned two visitors and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also created a new position , senior director of inclusion , in an effort to become a more deliberately diverse organization .
On Tuesday , as part of the agreement with the state , the museum also agreed to create the new fund and take other steps , including providing unconscious bias training for all employees , according to Democratic Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey .
Healey said the agreement also includes what she called a reconciliation process between the museum and the class trip participants from the Helen Y. Davis Leadership Academy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press release that the agreement gives the museum an “ opportunity to create a new model of inclusion and diversity to serve Boston .
”


thetorontostar--2020-05-05--Whistleblower: US failed to prepare, sought quick virus fix

WASHINGTON - The Trump administration failed to prepare for the onslaught of the coronavirus , then sought a quick fix by trying to rush an unproven drug to patients , a senior government scientist alleged in a whistleblower complaint Tuesday .
Dr. Rick Bright , former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority , alleges he was reassigned to a lesser role because he resisted political pressure to allow widespread use of hydroxychloroquine , a malaria drug pushed by President Donald Trump .
He said the Trump administration wanted to “ flood ” hot spots in New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I witnessed government leadership rushing blindly into a potentially dangerous situation by bringing in a non-FDA approved chloroquine from Pakistan and India , from facilities that had never been approved by the FDA , ” Bright said Tuesday on a call with reporters .
“ Their eagerness to push blindly forward without sufficient data to put this drug into the hands of Americans was alarming to me and my fellow scientists.
” Bright filed the complaint with the Office of Special Counsel , a government agency that investigates retaliation against federal employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job back and a full investigation .
The Department of Health and Human Services issued a terse statement saying that Bright was transferred to the National Institutes of Health to work on coronavirus testing , a crucial assignment .
“ We are deeply disappointed that he has not shown up to work on behalf of the American people and lead on this critical endeavour , ” HHS spokeswoman Caitlin Oakley said .
According HHS , Bright has not reported to his new post .
But his spokeswoman said that Bright is on sick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders , and that HHS has provided him no details on his new role .
Bright ’ s complaint comes as the Trump administration faces criticism over its response to the pandemic , including testing and supplies of ventilators , masks and other equipment to stem the spread .
There have been nearly 1.2 million confirmed cases in the United States and more than 70,000 deaths .
Bright said his superiors repeatedly rejected his warnings that the virus would spread in the U.S. , missing an early opportunity to stock up on protective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he “ acted with urgency ” to address the growing spread of COVID-19 — the disease the virus causes — after the World Health Organization issued a warning in January .
Rep. Anna Eshoo , D-Calif. , chair of the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on health , said she plans to hold a hearing into his complaint next week , and Bright ’ s lawyers said he would testify .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , appearing on MSNBC , called the complaint “ very damaging.
” In his complaint , Bright said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including Secretary ( Alex ) Azar , who appeared intent on downplaying this catastrophic event.
” During a Feb. 23 meeting , Azar , as well as Bright ’ s boss , Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Robert Kadlec , “ responded with surprise at ( Bright ’ s ) dire predictions and urgency , and asserted that the United States would be able to contain the virus and keep it out , ” the whistleblower complaint said .
Bright said White House trade adviser Peter Navarro was a rare exception @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the potential consequences of an outbreak .
He described working with Navarro to break a bureaucratic logjam and set up military transport from Italy for swabs needed in the U.S. Navarro was the author of several urgent memos within the White House .
Bright said Navarro asked for his help , saying the trade adviser told him the memos were needed to “ save lives.
” Navarro ’ s memos to top officials raised alarms even as Trump was publicly assuring Americans that the outbreak was under control .
Bright ’ s allegation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to widespread use of the malaria drug was already public , but his whistleblower complaint added details from emails and internal communications while bringing to light his early attempts to acquire N95 respirator masks , which he said were ignored by superiors .
In late January , Bright said he was contacted by an official of a leading mask manufacturer about ramping up production .
It was estimated that as many as 3.5 billion would be needed , while the national stockpile had about 300 million .
The complaint said that when Bright @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with superiors at HHS , he was ignored or rebuffed .
“ HHS publicly represented not only that COVID-19 was not an imminent threat , but also that HHS already had all the masks it would need , ” the complaint said .
As the epidemic spread in the U.S. and engulfed the New York metropolitan area , Bright alleges that political appointees at HHS tried to promote hydroxychloroquine “ as a panacea.
” The officials also “ demanded that New York and New Jersey be ‘ flooded ’ with these drugs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and India that had not been inspected by the FDA , ” the complaint says .
Last month , the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned doctors against prescribing the drug except in hospitals and research studies .
In an alert , regulators flagged reports of sometimes fatal heart side effects among coronavirus patients taking hydroxychloroquine or the related drug chloroquine .
Bright felt officials had “ refused to listen or take appropriate action to accurately inform the public ” and spoke to a reporter about the drug .
He said he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of science backing up its use , despite the drug being pushed by the president at press briefings .
“ As the death toll mounted exponentially each day , Dr .
Bright concluded that he had a moral obligation to the American public , including those vulnerable as a result of illness from COVID-19 , to protect it from drugs which he believed constituted a substantial and specific danger to public health and safety , ” the complaint says .
On Jan. 20 , according to the complaint , the WHO held an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HHS officials , and WHO officials advised that “ the outbreak is a big problem.
” Trump has accused the U.N. agency of mismanaging and covering up the spread of the virus after it emerged in China .
He has also said he wants to cut the WHO ’ s funding .
Bright ’ s agency works to guard against pandemics and emergent infectious diseases and is working to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus .
Top officials also pressured him to steer contracts to a client of a lobbyist , he reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressured to ignore or dismiss expert scientific recommendations and instead to award lucrative contracts based on political connections , ” Bright said in the call with reporters .
“ In other words , I was pressured to let politics and cronyism drive decisions over the opinions of the best scientists we have in government.
” Zachary Kurz , a spokesman for the agency where Bright filed his complaint , said the office couldn ’ t comment or confirm the status of open investigations .

Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Michael Balsamo And Colleen Long - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-05--The Latest: Mandan nursing home reports 9 new COVID-19 cases

MANDAN , N.D. - The Latest on the coronavirus outbreak in North Dakota ( all times local ) : A @ @ @ @ @ new cases of the coronavirus after a resident tested positive in mid-March .
Sunset Drive @ @ @ @ @ Tribune the nine additional cases include five residents and four staff members .
Results from @ @ @ @ @ pending .
In a statement , the nursing home says it is “ working closely @ @ @ @ @ of Health to help ensure our response plan meets the needs of the rapidly changing @ @ @ @ @ Community says it continues to employ “ proactive measures , ” including visitor restrictions , @ @ @ @ @ masking .


thetorontostar--2020-05-05--Trump denies ties to Venezuelan attack with 2 US men jailed

CARACAS , Venezuela - President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States had nothing to do with an alleged incursion into Venezuela that landed two U.S. citizens behind bars in the crisis-stricken South American nation .
Trump said he had just learned of the detention of the pair , accused by Venezuela of being mercenaries .
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said they were part of an operation to kill him that was backed by neighbouring Colombia and the United States .
“ Whatever it is , we ’ ll let you know , ” Trump told reporters in Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arizona .
“ But it has nothing to do with our government.
” Authorities in Venezuela identified the two men as Luke Denman and Airan Berry , both former U.S. special forces soldiers associated with the Florida-based private security firm Silvercorp USA .
Military records show both decorated soldiers served in Iraq .
A third U.S. ex-Green Beret and Silvercorp founder , Jordan Goudreau , claimed responsibility for leading “ Operation Gideon , ” which was launched with an attempted beach landing before dawn on Sunday .
Officials said Tuesday that six suspected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figure from the eight previously reported .
The State Department reiterated Trump ’ s comments that the U.S. wasn ’ t involved , accusing Maduro of launching a “ disinformation campaign ” to distract the world from recent events , citing a prison riot that left more than 40 dead and dozens badly injured .
“ Nothing should be taken at face value when we see the distorting of facts , ” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement .
“ What is clear is that the former regime is using the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repression.
” U.S. officials said they are trying to learn more about the events , including the activities of two U.S. citizens as well as Goudreau .
Answers will only come out when Maduro ’ s “ regime ” has ended , the statement said .
The two ex-U.S. soldiers were detained Monday dozens of miles ( kilometres ) from the first attempted beach landing in the fishing village of Chuao .
Authorities say they ’ ve confiscated equipment .
Goudreau has previously said the operation was designed to capture — but not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it out on a “ shoestring budget ” after signing an agreement with U.S.-backed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó , who Goudreau accuses of failing to pay him .
Goudreau , 43 , did not respond on Tuesday to requests for comment from The Associated Press .
On Tuesday , Guaidó again said he had nothing to do with Goudreau , and that he had no relationship with Silvercorp , “ for obvious and evident reasons , but we have to make that clear.
” Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez presented more details of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Hollywood script ” fueled by the “ white supremacist ” ideas of its alleged American organizers .
“ They thought that because we ’ re black , because we ’ re Indians , that they were going to easily control us , ” said Rodriguez , showing images of what he said were boats and training camps inside Colombia from where the insurrection was organized .
He presented video testimony from a Venezuelan military deserter , Capt .
Victor Pimenta , one of 13 captured participants .
Pimenta said that a group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sundown on Friday May 1 in two boats aiming to reach La Guaira along the coast near Venezuela ’ s capital of Caracas .
The second vessel carrying the commander of the operation , Capt .
Antonio Sequea , and the two Americans experienced motor problems and had to abort the mission , he said .
Initially the stranded group tried to reach the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire , Pimenta said , but as the vessel was running out of fuel it dropped off a group of combatants along the Caribbean coastline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces caught up with them .
Venezuela is gripped by a deepening social and economic crisis under Maduro ’ s rule that has led nearly 5 million residents to flee crumbling social services , such as unreliable water , electricity and broken hospitals .
The U.S. is among nearly 60 nations that back Guaidó as Venezuela ’ s legitimate leader , saying Maduro clings to power despite a sham election in 2018 that banned the most popular opposition candidates from running .
Venezuela and the U.S. broke diplomatic last year , so there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s capital of Caracas that can offer the two detained men assistance .
“ It shocks me how insane they were , ” said Mike Vigil , the former head of international operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration .
“ They walked right into a coiled rattlesnake without even having minimally studied the capacity of the Venezuelan armed forces .
There ’ s no way the U.S. government would ’ ve supported an operation like this.
” Investigative researcher Randy Herschaft in New York contributed to this report .

Scott Smith And Joshua Goodman - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-06--More than 20 million jobs vanish in April

BALTIMORE - U.S. businesses cut an unprecedented 20.2 million jobs in April , an epic collapse as the coronavirus outbreak @ @ @ @ @ , schools , construction sites and stores that propel the U.S. economy .
The Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ showed the tragic depth and scale of job losses that left no part of the @ @ @ @ @ unscathed .
The leisure and hospitality sector shed 8.6 million workers last month .
Trade @ @ @ @ @ 3.4 million people go .
Construction firms cut nearly 2.5 million jobs , while manufacturers @ @ @ @ @ million employees .
This private industry report comes two days ahead of the official monthly @ @ @ @ @ Department .
Economists expect that report will show 21 million job losses , according to @ @ @ @ @ .


thetorontostar--2020-05-06--NYC mayor: Other states may be reopening too quickly

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday that rising coronavirus infection rates outside of the New York metropolitan area should serve as a warning to other states not to reopen their economies too quickly .
Also on Wednesday , the city ’ s normally 24-hour subway system shut down for cleaning in the early morning hours , part of a new routine as the city aims to curb the spread of the virus .
NEW YORK MAYOR : LEARN FROM OUR EXAMPLE .
De Blasio said on CNN ’ s “ New Day ” that new data showing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the New York metropolitan area but ising in other parts of the country suggest that other states may be moving too quickly to open up businesses and loosen restrictions on gatherings .
“ This desire to restart and open up without necessarily referencing the actual facts of what ’ s going on is dangerous , ” de Blasio said .
The mayor said New Yorkers have succeeded in lowering virus infection rates by largely following social distancing orders and by covering their faces in public .
“ My message to the rest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort , how much discipline it took to finally bring these numbers down and follow the same path until you ’ re sure that it ’ s being beaten back or else if this thing boomerangs you ’ re putting off any kind of restart or recovery a hell of a lot longer , ” he said .
New York state recorded 230 COVID-19 deaths on Monday , far lower than the peak of 799 on April 8 .
New York City ’ s subway system went silent in the early morning hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan for the normally round-the-clock system to shut down for train cleaning .
The trains , which had been running on a reduced schedule since late March , are now going to be stopped from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. each day .
Police officers escorted people out of Brooklyn ’ s Coney Island station , the end of the line for several trains , and told them they would have to board buses to get to their destinations .
Cleaners carrying bottles of bleach then boarded the trains .
Fewer trains had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the shutdown allows for daily cleanings and for city workers to move homeless people who have been more visible in subway cars during the coronavirus .
The New York Police Department has assigned more than 1,000 officers to secure many of the system ’ s 472 stations , as fewer than 200 can be physically locked up .
Outreach teams made up of officers and nurses are being sent to 29 end-of-line stations to roust homeless people from trains that are headed out of service for cleaning , Chief of Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people at the Coney Island station early Wednesday appeared to be homeless , though one man insisted he was not and asked officers how he was going to get to his home in the Bronx .
New York City normally has the country ’ s busiest public transit system , with a weekday ridership of more than 5 million .
But the impact of the coronavirus and people staying at home has been severe , with overall mass transit use dropping more than 90 % in the past several weeks .

Marina Villeneuve And Michael Hill - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-06--Indian trains carry thousands of stranded workers home

PRAYAGRAJ , India - Thousands of jobless Indian migrant workers arrived by train in their home state on Wednesday after the government eased a lockdown imposed on March 25 to fight the coronavirus pandemic .
Two trains arrived in the northern town of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh state from Surat , a diamond manufacturing hub in western Gujarat state .
Two more trains were to follow later in the day .
“ I am very happy today that I have been able to come back home .
My mother is here and she is very sick , ’ ’ said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shalu Upadhyay , an embroiderer , said the special train service was a huge relief for the stranded workers .
The stranded workers lost their jobs under the lockdown and were living in shelters and relief camps organized by the state government and charities .
After more than 50 days , the government began running special trains after workers clashed with police in Mumbai , India ’ s financial capital , and Surat over the past two weeks .
India ’ s Labor Ministry said it still doesn ’ t know the total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , although it ordered a count early last month , the Press Trust of India news agency reported .
The data was sought by an activist from the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative who said a large number of migrant workers were affected by the lockdown , causing immense economic hardship .

Rajesh Kumar Singh - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-06--Virus could set back tuberculosis fight by several years

JOHANNESBURG - The fight against tuberculosis could be set back by more than five years due to the coronavirus pandemic , risking an additional 1.4 million TB deaths and 6.3 million infections by 2025 , a new report says .
The Stop TB Partnership is a Geneva-based international body leading the global fight against the respiratory illness that infects more than 10 million people annually .
Data from three countries with high TB prevalence , Kenya , India and Ukraine , was used for the new report .
Kenya is among the countries with the highest TB burden in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every 100,000 infected .
The study says coronavirus lockdowns affecting poor people who can not practice social distancing in their homes mean higher risk of TB transmission while restricted movements disrupt treatment .
The repurposing of TB hospitals and services for coronavirus testing and treatment also is taking a toll .
In extreme cases where lockdowns last up to three months , the study estimates that it might take up to 10 months for restore TB services to normal levels .
Addressing the disease will take far longer .
“ In fact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TB burden to come back to pre-lockdown levels .
The more severe the lockdown , the more severe the long-term impact , ” Nimalan Arinaminpathy , an associate professor in mathematical epidemiology at Imperial College London , told reporters .
Other unintended effects of the COVID-19 outbreak include the stigma that TB patients might face , said Cheri Vincent , chief of the TB division at USAID .
“ Here you have people who have similar symptoms to those of the coronavirus , and some would be even afraid of approaching health facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being identified as having COVID-19 , “ she said .
She also expressed concern that COVID-19 could have a devastating effect on TB patients as both diseases attack the respiratory system .
Researchers behind the study also lamented the sudden capacity given to research and development for a COVID-19 vaccine compared to that for TB over the years .
“ We are looking with amazement at how COVID-19 has been around some 128 days but already has about 100 candidate vaccines , “ said Stop TB executive director Lucica Ditiu .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
Nobody is talking about vaccines for HIV , malaria or TB .
”


thetorontostar--2020-05-06--‘It’s gone haywire’: When COVID-19 arrived in rural America

DAWSON , Ga. - The reverend approached the makeshift pulpit and asked the Lord to help him make sense of the scene before him : two caskets , side by side , in a small-town cemetery busier now than ever before .
Rev .
Willard O. Weston had already eulogized other neighbours lost to COVID-19 , and he would do more .
But this one stood as a symbol to him of all they had lost .
The matching caskets , one powder blue , one white and gold , contained a couple married 30 years who died two days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s fate .
As the world ’ s attention was fixated on the horrors in Italy and New York City , the per capita death rates in counties in the impoverished southwest corner of Georgia quietly climbed to among the worst in the county .
The devastation here is a cautionary tale of what happens when the virus seeps into communities on the losing end of the nation ’ s most intractable inequalities : these counties are rural , mostly African American and poor .
This story was produced with the support of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More than a quarter of people in Terrell County live in poverty , the local hospital shuttered decades ago , and businesses have been closing for years , sending many young and able fleeing for cities .
Those left behind are sicker and more vulnerable , with more of the underlying health conditions that make coronavirus so deadly .
At least 21 people have died in this county , and dozens more in the neighbouring rural communities .
Of the 10 counties with the highest death rate per capita in America , half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly every measure , coronavirus patients are faring worse in rural Georgia than almost anywhere else in America , according to researchers at Emory University in Atlanta .
Rural people and African Americans are more likely to work in jobs not conducive to social distancing and have historically less access to health care .
Georgia has lost seven rural hospitals in the last decade .
Nine counties don ’ t have a doctor , according to the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals .
The same places have higher rates of chronic diseases : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16 per cent have diabetes , twice as high as Atlanta .
At first , Benjamin Tolbert just felt a malaise ; he had no appetite .
Within a couple days , he could barely stand .
His son , Desmond , took him to the hospital .
Benjamin ’ s wife , Nellie Mae , who everyone called Pollye Ann , got sick the next day .
Everyone in town knew Benjamin , 58 , as a hard worker .
He had worked for 28 years at a Tyson Foods plant .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 years .
He was mild-mannered , but she found a joke in everything .
She was a minister , sang gospel and danced , wildly , joyfully .
Benjamin would hang back , but Pollye Ann would pull him up and he ’ d dance along with her , said their niece Latasha Taylor .
Both were diabetic , Pollye Ann had had heart valve surgery , Benjamin had been on dialysis .
Pollye Ann ’ s sister , Katherine Taylor Peters , often got dialysis treatments with him .
They were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blocks away .
Shortly after the Tolberts got sick , Peters did too .
They soon sedated her and put her on a ventilator .
Much of the rest is a blur for Desmond and Latasha : calls from doctors and nurses , begging to see their parents but being told it was too dangerous .
“ I couldn ’ t see them , I couldn ’ t talk to them , ” said Desmond , 29 .
Desmond was on the phone with a nurse as his mother took her last breath @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came from his father ’ s caregivers .
They were apart , far from home , without their son at their sides .
All around them , neighbours were getting sick and dying .
“ At this pace , you don ’ t get a chance to really take a deep breath from the previous death , and then you ’ re getting a call about another , ” said Weston , the pastor who has eulogized a half-dozen neighbours .
An hour before the Tolberts ’ service he learned his own cousin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brother , had died .
“ I ’ ve had some moments over the last two or three weeks , and I ’ ve questioned the good Lord : What is this ?
How can we continue ?
” In normal times , the Tolbert family ’ s funeral would have drawn a packed house .
Pollye Ann was a minister at Weston ’ s church .
She could deliver testimony like no one he ’ d ever seen : she was like a freight train , he recalled , slow at first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People were drawn to her .
Instead it was just him and a handful of mourners in the cemetery staring at two caskets .
He read from scripture and told their son that he ’ d never walk alone .
He worried his instinct to comfort would overtake his knowledge that he couldn ’ t , so he walked away .
He felt guilty .
He prayed for God to take that guilt away .
There was good news , too : Pollye Ann Tolbert ’ s sister survived weeks on a ventilator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she woke was how her sister and brother-in-law were doing .
“ I had to tell her that while she was sleeping , her sister and brother-in-law left us forever , ” Latasha said .
Peters told her daughter that the last thing she remembered was a doctor on the phone , telling her that her sister wasn ’ t going to make it .
She had hoped it was all a bad dream .
Then she woke up .


thetorontostar--2020-05-06--Indian troops kill top Kashmir rebel leader

SRINAGAR , India - Government forces killed a top rebel commander and his aide in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Wednesday and shut down cellphone and mobile internet services during subsequent anti-India protests , officials and residents said .
The dead commander , Riyaz Naikoo , was the chief of operations of the disputed region ’ s largest indigenous rebel group , Hizbul Mujahideen , which has spearheaded an armed rebellion against Indian rule .
Naikoo was the group ’ s top commander for almost eight years and was responsible for recruiting dozens of Kashmiris to fight against India , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 2016 public uprising following the killing of the group ’ s charismatic leader , Burhan Wani .
Police and army soldiers launched an operation in the Awantipora area in southern Kashmir late Tuesday based on a tip that some militant commanders were sheltering there .
They used earth movers to dig up several patches of land , including a school playground , looking for possible underground hideouts , residents said .
On Wednesday , as the government forces began house-to-house searches in the area , they came under heavy gunfire from rebels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firefight , two militants were killed , a police official said on condition of anonymity , keeping with government policy .
He identified one of the slain rebels as Naikoo .
Before joining the group , Naikoo was a mathematics teacher .
Some anti-India protests and clashes between protesters and government forces were also reported in the area where the gunfight occurred .
Authorities first blocked mobile internet service , a common Indian tactic in the region when such fighting erupts .
As the fighting continued and word spread that Naikoo was trapped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Authorities say it is necessary to halt cellphone and internet service to prevent anti-India protesters from assembling .
In 2019 , the government imposed a monthslong total communication blackout during an unprecedented military crackdown in the strife-torn region .
India has stepped up its counterinsurgency operations across Kashmir in recent months during a coronavirus lockdown .
Militants have also continued their attacks on government forces and alleged informants .
More than two dozen militants and about a dozen Indian troops were killed in April , the most in any month since August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s semi-autonomous status and statehood and imposed direct federal rule .
There also has been almost daily fighting over the last several months along the rugged and mountainous frontier that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan .
India and Pakistan both claim the territory in its entirety .
Most Kashmiris support the rebel goal of uniting the territory , either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country , while also participating in civilian street protests against Indian control .
India accuses Pakistan of arming and training the anti-India rebels .
Pakistan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moral and diplomatic support to the militants and to Kashmiris who oppose Indian rule .
Rebels have been fighting Indian rule since 1989 .
About 70,000 people have been killed in the uprising and the ensuing Indian military crackdown .


thetorontostar--2020-05-06--Supreme Court set to hear ‘Obamacare’ case argued by phone

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court is hearing a dispute Wednesday over Trump administration rules that would allow more employers who cite a religious or moral objection to opt out of providing no-cost birth control to women .
The dispute stems from the Obama health care law , under which most employers must cover birth control as a preventive service , at no charge to women in their health insurance plans .
Because of the coronavirus pandemic the high court has been hearing arguments by phone , with audio of arguments available live to the public for the first time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ruth Bader Ginsburg plans to participate from a Maryland hospital .
The court said Tuesday evening that Ginsburg was hospitalized with an infection caused by a gallstone and expects to be in the hospital for a day or two .
Under the Affordable Care Act , the Obama administration exempted houses of worship , such as churches , synagogues and mosques , from the requirement .
And it created a method by which religiously affiliated organizations including hospitals , universities and charities could opt out of paying for contraception but women on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control .
Some groups complained , however , that the opt-out process continued to violate their religious beliefs .
Trump administration officials in 2017 announced a rule change that allows many companies and organization with religious or moral objections to opt out of covering birth control without providing an alternate avenue for coverage .
The rules were finalized in 2018 .
The government has estimated that the change would impact approximately 70,500 women who would lose contraception coverage in one year as a result .
New Jersey and Pennsylvania challenged the rules in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from going into effect .
The judge found the administration did not follow proper procedures for issuing the rules .
An appeals court agreed , and the Trump administration appealed to the Supreme Court to step in as did the Little Sisters of the Poor , an order of Roman Catholic nuns that had been instrumental in challenging the Obama administration rules .
Even though the Trump rules remain blocked , a ruling by a federal judge in Texas in June already allows most people who object to covering contraception to avoid doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a free speech case involving a 1991 law aimed at protecting consumers from unwanted telemarketing calls .
Political organizations that want to use automated calling to do things like make calls to encourage people to vote challenged the law as a violation of the First Amendment .
On Monday the court heard a case about Booking.com ’ s ability to trademark its name , and on Tuesday the case was about federal money to fight AIDS around the world .
Follow AP ’ s Supreme Court Twitter feed at https : //twitter.com/AP_Courtside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at https : //twitter.com/shermancourt and Jessica Gresko at https : //twitter.com/jessicagresko .

Jessica Gresko And Mark Sherman - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-06--Dallas salon owner jailed for defying virus shutdown order

DALLAS - A hair salon owner in Texas was ordered to spend a week in jail after she continued to operate her business despite restrictions put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Shelley Luther was booked in the Dallas County jail on Tuesday afternoon following a video hearing , during which she was found in contempt of court .
The hearing occurred as Gov .
Greg Abbott relaxed more restrictions statewide , allowing barbershops and hair salons to reopen Friday .
Last month , Luther was issued a citation for keeping open her Dallas salon despite state and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In Tuesday ’ s hearing , Luther said she kept the salon open because she needed the money .
“ I couldn ’ t feed my family , and my stylists couldn ’ t feed their families , ” Luther testified , saying she had applied for a federal loan but didn ’ t receive it until Sunday .
Dallas County Judge Eric Moye said during Tuesday ’ s hearing that he would consider levying a fine instead of jail time if Luther would apologize and not reopen until she was allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Feeding my kids is not selfish , ” she told Moye .
“ If you think the law is more important than kids getting fed , then please go ahead with your decision , but I am not going to shut the salon.
” Moye wrote in his judgment of contempt : “ The defiance of the court ’ s order was open , flagrant and intentional.
” He noted that despite being given the opportunity to apologize Luther has “ expressed no contrition , remorse or regret ” for her actions @


thetorontostar--2020-05-06--Stung by virus, long-haul carrier Qatar Airways cuts jobs

DUBAI , United Arab Emirates - Long-haul carrier Qatar Airways said on Wednesday that it will lay off staff as the coronavirus pandemic largely has grounded the global aviation industry .
The Doha-based carrier offered no figures for the number of employees who will be laid off by the carrier , one of the three major airlines in the Persian Gulf region created to capitalize on East-West travel .
However , an emailed memo from the airline ’ s CEO that leaked online said the number would be “ substantial “ and include members of its cabin crew .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grim and many airlines are closing or significantly reducing operations , ” Akbar Al Baker wrote in the memo , dated Sunday .
“ Now , we have to face a new reality , where many borders are closed , rendering many of our destinations closed and aircraft grounded as a result , with no foreseeable outlook for immediate , positive change.
” Qatar Airways sent a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday confirming the layoffs .
“ The unparalleled impact on our industry has caused significant challenges for all airlines and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future of our business , ” the statement said .
Both Qatar Airways and Al Baker said the airline hoped to rehire staff quickly once global aviation emerges from the pandemic .
Later Wednesday , the airline said it hoped to grow around 30 routes still flying to over 50 by the end of May and 80 by the end of June .
Before the pandemic , the airline said it flew to over 160 destinations a day .
Qatar Airways , which began flying in 1994 , has a fleet of over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Doha ’ s recently built Hamad International Airport .
It competes with Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways and Dubai-based Emirates , two other state-owned airlines now facing the dire economic situation brought on by the coronavirus and the COVID-19 illness it causes .
Since the pandemic , Qatar Airways like other Gulf airlines has flown repatriation flights , as well as stepped up its cargo operations .
But the pandemic has chewed away the aviation industry to the point that Emirates President Tim Clark warned in a recent conference call that “ 85 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two or three months ” without government assistance .
Qatar Airways already faced challenges before the pandemic .
In 2017 , a group of four Arab countries , including the United Arab Emirates , began a boycott Doha over a political dispute that continues today , affecting the airline ’ s ability to reach vital markets and fly over those nations .
Qatar is a small , energy-rich nation on the Arabian Peninsula that juts out like a thumb into the Persian Gulf .
The country is also home to the vast Al-Udeid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troops and the forward headquarters of the U.S. military ’ s Central Command .


thetorontostar--2020-05-06--Atlanta’s new archbishop to be installed -- at a distance

Atlanta ’ s new archbishop will be installed Wednesday in a socially-distant Mass , adapting some Catholic traditions in response to the coronavirus pandemic .
Inside the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta , a small number of priests will look on from a choir loft , while a handful of others in attendance will be seated strategically in the church ’ s main nave , well away from the altar , Deacon Dennis Dorner said .
And instead of hugs , priests will applaud as Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer becomes the new leader of the Catholic Church in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was just keeping the tradition but figuring out how to do that without having all the people there who are typically there , “ said Maureen Smith , a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Atlanta .
Typically , the cathedral would be packed for such an occasion .
Guests would include Pope Francis ’ representative , the papal nuncio , who would present Hartmayer with the papal bull , a document inscribed in Latin appointing Hartmayer to his post .
Rather than travelling to Atlanta , the nuncio will appear by video for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We would typically have a full cathedral , a couple of hundred priests , “ who would come up to the altar to greet the new archbishop .
In the midst of a pandemic , “ that ’ s just not going to happen , ” Dorner said .
However , the Mass will be live-streamed for the faithful , and aired on the Catholic cable networks EWTN and The Catholic Television Network starting at 12:30 p.m. “ The end result will still be the same and wonderful , “ Dorner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have a full crowd in the cathedral , we ’ ll have a lot of people obviously watching the live-stream , ” he said .
Pope Francis named Hartmayer , the bishop of Savannah , Georgia , since 2011 , to the lead the Atlanta diocese in March .
As a Conventual Franciscan , Hartmayer , 68 , pledged to serve his vows of chastity , poverty and obedience in service to society .
The Buffalo , New York , native worked as a guidance counsellor , school director and teacher in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Florida .
He replaces Archbishop Wilton Gregory , who took over in Washington , D.C. , amid leadership changes in response to the global church ’ s sex abuse and coverup scandals .
Hartmayer has held video calls with some of the priests and others he will be working with , and he ’ s been able to have some one-on-one , personal meetings .
“ Fortunately he has a large conference room with a very long table , and they can separate from one another , “ Dorner said .


thetorontostar--2020-05-06--Iraqi military says 3 rockets strike near Baghdad airport

BAGHDAD - Three Katyusha rockets struck near the military sector of the Baghdad airport early on Wednesday but caused no casualties , the Iraqi military said .
The attack came hours ahead of an extraordinary parliament session that will vote on the proposed government of the latest prime minister-designate , Mustafa al-Kadhimi .
The session is the first to be held since Iraq imposed a nationwide curfew to stem the spread of the coronavirus .
Ahead of the Wednesday evening session , parliament seats were arranged according to social distancing rules , to create more space between lawmakers .
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks and gloves and will be briefly checked before entering the chamber .
After weeks of negotiations and changes to his ministerial lineup in an effort to appease political blocs , al-Kadhimi ’ s Cabinet is believed to have a chance at passing .
He is the third premier candidate to be chosen since Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi resigned in December .
Shortly after the Katyusha attack , Iraqi security forces later discovered the launching pad for the rockets in the al-Barkiya area , west of Baghdad .
No group immediately claimed responsibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on condition of anonymity in line with regulations , said one of the rockets struck close to Iraqi forces at the military airport , another near Camp Cropper , once a U.S. detention facility , and the last near to where U.S. forces are stationed at the base .
Sadaam Hussein was held in Camp Cropper prison prior to his execution .
The U.S. has accused Iran-backed militias of carrying out such attacks in the past .
Several attacks targeted U.S. interests early in March , including three military bases known to house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withdrawn from several bases across Iraq in a planned drawdown .
The attack is the first following a brief lull since March 26 , when rockets struck near to the Baghdad Operations Command , a centre that co-ordinates Iraq ’ s police and military forces .
The command is a few hundred meters ( yards ) from the U.S. Embassy , which has also been a frequent target of rocket attacks .

Qassim Abdul-Zahra - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-06--Virus outbreak in India market could cause cases to snowball

NEW DELHI - Health officials are rushing to contain a coronavirus outbreak in one of Asia ’ s largest fruit and vegetable markets in the southern Indian city of Chennai .
So far , the market has been linked to more than 500 cases in several districts of Tamil Nadu state and adjacent Kerala state .
Over 7,000 people with connections to the Koyambedu market are being traced and quarantined , said J. Radhakrishnan , the leader of Chennai ’ s response to the coronavirus .
The market , which had remained open during India ’ s six-week virus lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s food supply chain .
The challenge for public health officials is to track the many traders , workers and shoppers who visited the market .
Experts said the virus cluster has exposed India ’ s poor surveillance during the pandemic .
They said the country ’ s long denial of how prevalent the virus was resulted in people not taking precautions , and warned that the market cluster could result in cases in India snowballing .
Crucially , public health experts fear that many who visited the market will not inform authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that some workers weren ’ t registered .
Radhakrishnan said the state government is aggressively testing in response and has conducted over 170,000 tests so far .
Dr. T. Sundararaman , a community medicine expert , said such large gatherings are exactly where virus clusters are likely to emerge .
“ If you don ’ t look until it ’ s too late ... it is a reasonable thing to suspect that clusters will emerge , ” he said .
With 2,008 cases , including 545 detected in the past two days , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nadu ’ s total of 4,058 cases .
Of these , over a thousand were detected in the past 48 hours and many were linked to the market , the state government said .
India had a total of almost 50,000 cases on Wednesday , with almost 3,000 new cases reported in the past day .
The neighbourhood of Nerkandrum , where many residents work in the market complex , has been sealed .
More than 100 people have tested positive in the area , which is about 3 kilometres ( 1.8 miles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April 24 , after a spike in cases in the state , the government announced a four-day ‘ intensified ’ lockdown aimed at stricter social distancing .
But this backfired as thousands rushed to the market to stock up on supplies .
On April 27 , the first case was detected in the market .
It wasn ’ t until Monday — one week later — that the market was eventually closed .
Authorities had feared that a sudden closure of the market would have led to food shortages in the state and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some of the shops in the market will now be relocated to the city ’ s suburbs so that the food supply chain isn ’ t entirely severed , said officials .
Retired virologist and pediatrician Dr. T. Jacob John said the crowding in the market showed the lockdown “ was leaky.
” He pointed to neighbouring Kerala state ’ s initiative of delivering groceries to people ’ s homes , saying , “ People have to live ... they have to buy food .
The government should have anticipated the people ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of face masks , hand sanitizers and social distancing hadn ’ t been implemented in the market .
John said part of the blame lies with India ’ s continuing denial that the virus is spreading freely through communities .
“ If you admitted that community transmission was happening , then this would not have happened .
Everybody would have taken precautions , ” he said .
Sundararaman warned that the country is still not testing sufficiently and not casting a wide enough net in its surveillance .
India is testing around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criteria outside of known hot spots remains restricted , with those with minor symptoms like a runny nose or cough not being tested .
Associated Press writer Emily Schmall contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-05-06--Philippine TV network’s shutdown amid pandemic sparks uproar

MANILA , Philippines - Alarm over a Philippine government agency ’ s shutdown of the country ’ s largest TV and radio network heightened Wednesday with a top official warning that taking a major provider of news on the coronavirus pandemic off the air could cost lives .
International watchdogs also condemned the closure of ABS-CBN Corp. , which President Rodrigo Duterte has targeted in the past for its critical coverage , as a major blow to press freedom in an Asian bastion of democracy .
The National Telecommunications Commission ordered the media giant to stop operating after its 25-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement to Congress that it would issue a temporary permit while legislators assess a franchise renewal .
Only the House of Representatives can grant or revoke such a franchise but its hearings have been delayed , in part by the country ’ s ongoing coronavirus lockdown .
Reflecting the extent of unease over the shutdown of the network , which went off the air Tuesday night , both the opposition and key Duterte allies questioned the commission ’ s action .
Concerns were also raised by a diverse range of groups , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Catholic church officials .
Vice-President Leni Robredo , who leads the opposition , said the timely dissemination of accurate information saves lives in a crisis and helps shape an efficient response and find people who need to be helped .
“ This free flow of information literally saves lives .
Closing down ABS-CBN costs lives , ” Robredo said .
Rep. Franz Alvarez , who belongs to a pro-Duterte coalition and heads the House Committee on Legislative Franchises , said the telecommunications commission ’ s order “ is a clear encroachment on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told ABS-CBN ’ s DZMM radio station that commission officials told lawmakers in a hearing in March that they would issue a temporary operating permit to ABS-CBN while its franchise renewal was pending based on guidance from the Department of Justice .
“ We ’ re really surprised why they backtracked so they have to explain , ” Alvarez told DZMM before it too went off air late Tuesday .
ABS-CBN has more than 11,000 news and production personnel nationwide .
Aside from reporting on the coronavirus , which has infected more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Philippines , it has also provided truckloads of food and medical aid to more than 2 million people , company officials said .
Founded in 1953 , the network was last shuttered under the rule of dictator Ferdinand Marcos and reopened after his 1986 ouster by an army-backed “ people power ” revolt .
Media watchdogs accused Duterte and his government of muzzling independent media like ABS-CBN that have reported critically on issues including his anti-drug crackdown , which has left thousands of mostly poor drug suspects dead .
The brash-speaking leader has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid campaign ad and favouring a rival candidate in the 2016 elections , allegations the company denied .
Phil Robertson , deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch said ABS-CBN ’ s shutdown was a “ huge blow for press freedom in the Philippines ” and deprived Filipinos of information about the epidemic from a major network .
Closing the network “ in the middle of the epidemic is the height of irresponsibility , ” Robertson told The Associated Press .
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said ABS-CBN was free to seek legal solutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company if the president had the power to grant franchises .
But ahead of the franchise expiration , the government ’ s solicitor-general , Jose Calida , asked the Supreme Court in February to revoke the operating franchises of ABS-CBN and a subsidiary in a separate attempt to shut down the company for allegedly abusing its franchises and violating a constitutional prohibition on foreign investment in Philippine media .
ABS-CBN denied the allegations .
Associated Press journalist Kiko Rosario in Bangkok contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-05-06--Hearing set for Georgia man guilty in hot car death of son

MARIETTA , Ga. - A Georgia man who was convicted of murder after his toddler son died inside a hot @ @ @ @ @ hearing to appeal his case .
Cobb County Superior Court Judge Mary Staley Clark will @ @ @ @ @ appeal in December , nearly four years after he was convicted for murder , news @ @ @ @ @ sentenced to life in prison in November 2016 after a jury found him guilty in @ @ @ @ @ son , Cooper Harris .
The toddler died after sitting for about seven hours in @ @ @ @ @ father ’ s car outside the office where Harris worked in suburban Atlanta .
Prosecutors @ @ @ @ @ wanted the child dead so that he would be free to pursue sexual relationships outside @ @ @ @ @ attorneys and his ex-wife , Leanna Taylor , said during the trial that Cooper ’ @ @ @ @ @ .
If Judge Clark rules against a new trial in December , Harris is able @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Supreme Court , the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported .


thetorontostar--2020-05-06--Pelosi pushes ahead on massive virus bill, but GOP wary

WASHINGTON - Even in absentia , House Democrats are seeking to drive the debate on the fifth coronavirus response bill , promising to produce a mega-package stuffed with Democratic priorities even as a chorus of GOP leaders voices hesitation about more spending .
Speaker Nancy Pelosi promises that the Democratic-controlled House will deliver legislation to help state and local governments through the COVID-19 crisis , along with additional money for direct payments to individuals , unemployment insurance and a third installment of aid to small businesses .
The amount of funding is to be determined .
The California Democrat is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sweeping package that is expected to be unveiled soon even as the House stays closed while the Senate is open in the pandemic .
The contours of the next package are taking shape despite Republican resistance to more spending and a deepening debate over how best to confront the pandemic and its economic devastation .
Some Republicans such as Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah and a group of GOP governors want to be more generous to states confronting furloughs and cuts to services as revenues plummet and unemployment insurance and other costs spike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday it ’ s time to push “ pause ” on more aid legislation — even as he repeated a “ red line ” demand that any new aid package include liability protections for hospitals , health care providers and businesses operating and reopening .
McConnell and other Republicans , however , ducked the chance to endorse President Donald Trump ’ s demand for a cut to Social Security payroll taxes as a salve for the economy .
Many lawmakers think the payroll tax cut is a bad idea because it only boosts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thrown out of a job .
“ I ’ ve never thought that really would be very effective , ” Sen. Susan Collins , R-Maine .
She said she ’ s working with a bipartisan , bicameral group on a state and local aid package .
Trump is encouraging states to reopen and Republicans hope the gradual comeback will kick-start the economy , reducing the pressure for more pricey aid .
Trump took to Twitter on Tuesday with a repackaged set of demands .
“ Well run States should not be bailing out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the excuse !
The elimination of Sanctuary Cities , Payroll Taxes , and perhaps Capital Gains Taxes , must be put on the table , “ Trump tweeted .
Having reconvened this week , Senate Republicans are trying to set the terms of debate , frustrated by a negotiating dynamic on previous bills that empowered Democrats and sent costs spiraling .
But they ’ re divided among themselves and reluctant to unleash federal funds beyond the nearly $ 3 trillion Congress has already approved for virus relief .
“ I just don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quite urgently , ” Sen. John Cornyn , R-Texas , told reporters at the Capitol .
But Cornyn , who is up for reelection this year , and other rank-and-file Republicans promise there will be further coronavirus legislation .
“ I think all of us are going to get our papers graded in November based on how we responded .
This is going to be the dominant issue in every election in the country , “ Cornyn said .
A freshman Republican senator , Missouri ’ s Josh Hawley , said : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depression , the concerns we have about deficit spending now are going to look like a walk in the park.
“ One idea gaining traction among Republicans is to allow greater flexibility on $ 150 billion in aid that ’ s already been delivered to states and larger cities .
That money is supposed to be used to pay for COVID-19 response , but governors in some states won ’ t be able to use it all for that purpose and want to use it to make up for revenues lost as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writers Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-05-06--Trump’s top spy pick vows he won’t politicize intelligence

WASHINGTON - Rep. John Ratcliffe , President Donald Trump ’ s pick to be the nation ’ s top intelligence official , was nothing if not consistent as he told lawmakers a dozen or so times that he wouldn ’ t allow politics to colour information he took to the president .
The senators kept asking anyway as Trump ’ s firing or forcing out of at least seven top U.S. intelligence officials since last summer overshadowed the Texas Republican ’ s confirmation hearing Tuesday .
The forced departures have left the Office of the Director of National Intelligence , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spy agencies , without a single Senate-confirmed leader as the nation faces the COVID-19 pandemic , threats from Iran and North Korea , Russian disinformation campaigns to interfere in the U.S. elections and rising competition from China .
The turmoil has deepened speculation that the president is trying to place loyalists in charge of the nation ’ s intelligence apparatus .
The senators ’ questions reflected that skepticism : Would you communicate intelligence to Trump even if you knew the president strongly disagreed with it ?
Even if it put your job in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s views on what they want the want intelligence to be will never impact the intelligence that I deliver .
Never.
“ Variations of the question kept coming , but Ratcliffe offered the same answer : “ No.
” “ I will be entirely apolitical as the director of national intelligence , ” he said , adding that he had an apolitical job as a U.S. attorney and “ kept both parties out of everything that I did.
” Ratcliffe ’ s critics aren ’ t convinced and worry he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his ardent defence of the president during the Russia investigations and Trump ’ s impeachment and argue that he doesn ’ t have enough intelligence experience for the job .
Before being elected to Congress in 2014 , Ratcliffe was mayor of Heath , Texas , and a U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Texas .
“ Jesus .
He is going to be the DNI , ” tweeted Mike Hayden , a former director of the CIA and the National Security Agency who served in both Republican and Democratic administrations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nine months ago , but Ratcliffe withdrew after doubts about his experience were raised .
Trump unexpectedly nominated him again in February and his chances at securing the job appear better , although confirmation is not assured .
“ His knowledge of cybersecurity is particularly important given the challenges our country faces , ” said Sen. Susan Collins , R-Maine , who joined fellow Republicans as well as Democrats in pressing Ratcliffe to deliver objective intelligence to the president regardless of Trump ’ s views .
He has the backing of former Attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including Texas Rep. Will Hurd , a former undercover officer for the CIA , who said Ratcliffe has more than 15 years of experience dealing with national security-related issues .
Liberal-leaning lawmakers expressed concern that Trump nominated Ratcliffe to gain an upper hand on the typically nonpartisan intelligence network .
“ I find it very disturbing , ” Sen. Angus King , I-Maine , said in an interview last week .
“ It appears that the president wants to shape the intelligence community .
My concern is that this is a politicizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a huge mistake for the president himself .
“ You want intelligence to be truthful and unvarnished and as straightforward as possible — not what you want to hear , not what supports your policy positions , ” he said .
“ Because if you don ’ t get that kind of information , you ’ re liable to make catastrophic mistakes .
... Our foreign policy disasters of the last 50 years often have been preceded by cooked intelligence.
” Sen. Mark Warner , the Virginia Democrat who is vice chairman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused Trump of not wanting to hear any intelligence that does not comport with his views .
The White House has disputed that allegation in the past .
“ Unfortunately , what we have seen from the president , ever since he came into office , is an unrelenting and undeserved political attack upon the professional women and men of our intelligence agencies , ” Warner said .
“ This is not because our intelligence community is deserving of these attacks .
Nor are they at the heart of some ‘ deep state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Warner listed intelligence officials who have been sidelined : former national intelligence director Dan Coats and his deputy , Sue Gordon ; former acting director of the National Counterterrorism Center Russ Travers and his deputy , Peter Hall ; former acting national intelligence director Joseph Maguire and his deputy , Andrew Hallman ; and Michael Atkinson , the former watchdog of the intelligence community who first revealed a whistleblower complaint last fall that led to Trump ’ s impeachment .
The ODNI currently is led by an acting director , Richard Grenell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has a background in communications and is seen as a loyalist to Trump .
As acting director , Grenell has made additional personnel moves and ordered a review of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that Trump critics fear is a house-cleaning and something that an “ acting ” official shouldn ’ t be allowed to undertake .
Some intelligence professionals disagree that Grenell is trying to purge the agencies of qualified individuals , saying that in most cases the replacements named for those ousted have been experienced national security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at ODNI , said Grenell and his staff are addressing reforms recommended by previous national intelligence directors .
Even so , Warner and Sen. Richard Burr , R-N.C. , the chairman of the intelligence committee , asked Grenell in a recent letter to consult with the committee before making any more personnel changes and perhaps stop making them altogether until someone is officially confirmed for the job .
Warner expressed concern that Shelby Pearson , who leads a unit focused on Russian and other nations ’ meddling in U.S. elections , might be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months away , Warner asked Ratcliffe to promise not to dismantle that unit or oust its leaders .
“ I have no intention of making changes in that regard , ” Ratcliffe said .


thetorontostar--2020-05-06--Iran’s president says an end to UN arms embargo is a ‘right’

TEHRAN , Iran - The Iranian president said Wednesday that lifting a U.N. arms embargo on Tehran would be an “ obvious right “ and added a veiled warning of unspecified steps Iran could take if the embargo is extended , as the United States wants .
Hassan Rouhani ’ s remarks were in response to a push by the U.S. , which last month circulated a draft U.N. resolution that would indefinitely extend the embargo set to expire in October .
Such a move is almost certain to spark opposition from Russia , which has made no secret of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Tehran .
“ Iran considers the lifting of the arms embargo an obvious right , ” Rouhani said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast live on state TV .
A U.N. Security Council resolution that endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers envisages an end to the embargo five years after the deal .
President Donald Trump pulled America out of the deal in 2018 and imposed harsher sanctions on Iran .
The arms embargo was not a part of the 2015 accord , but Iran has long sought its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the council resolution as a reward for Iranian compliance with the agreement ’ s nuclear restrictions .
Since Iran is admittedly no longer complying with several elements of the nuclear deal , according to the International Atomic Energy Agency , the U.S. administration believes it has a case to make that the embargo should not be lifted , .
“ Iran will not accept violation of the ... .
( U.N. ) resolution under any circumstances , ” Rouhani said .
He said extending the embargo would lead to “ serious consequence and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If the embargo is extended , Rouhani said Iran ’ s response would mirror the steps it took after the U.S. pullout from nuclear deal — including going beyond the deal ’ s enrichment and stockpile limitations and injecting uranium gas into over a thousand centrifuges at a fortified nuclear facility built inside a mountain .
Rouhani did not elaborate but insisted that Iran ’ s arms program has always been a “ defensive ” one .
Before the embargo , Iran had said it was exporting arms to dozens of countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not independently verifiable , Iran has been seeking a military self-sufficiency program since 1992 , producing an array of weapons , including missiles , torpedoes , submarines and jetfighters .
Despite the coronavirus pandemic that has gripped both the U.S. and Iran , which has the worst outbreak in the Middle East , tensions have escalated between Tehran and Washington in recent months .
In April , the U.S. Navy said that 11 gunboats belonging to Iran ’ s powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard forces carried out “ dangerous and harassing approaches ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Persian Gulf .
The Americans said they used a variety of nonlethal means to warn off the Iranian boats , which eventually left .
Iran , meanwhile , accused the U.S. of sparking the incident .


thetorontostar--2020-05-06--Trump tours, touts mask factory  -  but no mask for him

PHOENIX - Making himself Exhibit A for reopening the country , President Donald Trump visited an Arizona face mask factory , using the trip to demonstrate his determination to see an easing of stay-at-home orders even as the coronavirus remains a dire threat .
Trump did not wear a mask despite guidelines saying they should be worn inside the factory at all times .
“ The people of our country should think of themselves as warriors .
We have to open , ” Trump declared Tuesday as he left Washington on a trip that was more about the journey than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acknowledged the human cost of returning to normalcy .
“ I ’ m not saying anything is perfect , and yes , will some people be affected ?
Yes .
Will some people be affected badly ?
Yes .
But we have to get our country open and we have to get it open soon , “ he said .
Trump had said he would don a face mask if the factory was “ a mask environment , ” but in the end he wore only safety goggles during a tour of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and members of the press as well as some White House staff and Secret Service agents wore masks .
Senior White House staff and Honeywell executives did not .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks when they can ’ t socially distance , such as in supermarkets , especially in places with high transmission rates .
In the area where Trump spoke , a large video monitor listed safety guidelines , one of which said , “ Please wear your mask at all times.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently when photos showed him maskless in a visit to the Mayo Clinic surrounded by hospital officials and doctors all wearing masks .
He said that he hadn ’ t known it was a requirement and that he is tested for the virus frequently .
He wore a mask at an event a few days later .
Trump ’ s visit came as the White House said it hopes to wind down its coronavirus task force in the coming month as the president shifts his focus from battling an “ invisible enemy ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent about three hours in Phoenix , touring the Honeywell factory and holding a roundtable on Native American issues .
Aides said the trip would be worth the nearly eight hours of flight time as a symbolic show that the nation is taking steps back to normalcy .
The trip was also expected to be a marker of Trump ’ s return to a regular travel schedule , as he hopes the nation , too , will begin to emerge from seven weeks of virus-imposed isolation .
After weeks cooped up in Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus has been affecting Americans ’ day-to-day lives , Trump got a first-hand view of one big impact .
At the airport , Air Force One parked next to dozens of grounded commercial airliners with covered engines and taped-over probes and vents .
Trump ’ s first stop was a meeting with Native American leaders during which he distributed 1,000 Abbott quick virus tests .
“ Native Americans have been hit hard by the terrible pandemic , ” Trump said .
“ Hopefully , that will be helpful to you.
” Trump sees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as his allies have noted an erosion in support for the president in recent weeks .
Republicans believe Trump ’ s path to a second term depends on the public ’ s perception of how quickly the economy rebounds from shutdowns meant to slow the spread of the virus .
That includes in Arizona , a key swing state , which Trump carried by less than 4 percentage points in 2016 .
“ I love Arizona .
I have a lot of friends in Arizona .
I ’ ve had great success over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boasted as he left .
But even as many Americans have adhered to strict social distancing guidelines , the numbers of new infections and deaths from the virus have not decreased as quickly as hoped .
Indeed , when the New York metropolitan area ’ s progress against the virus is taken out of the equation , numbers for the rest of the U.S. are moving in the wrong direction .
The infection rate is rising even as states move to lift their lockdowns , an Associated Press analysis found Tuesday .
Nonetheless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about winding down its coronavirus task force , which has already been meeting less frequently , Pence said .
Its members have become fixtures on television sets across the nation , with Americans hungry for information and marooned at home .
“ I think we ’ re having conversations about that and about what the proper time is for the task force to complete its work and for the ongoing efforts to take place on an agency by agency level , “ Pence said at the White House .
He said the group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June .
“ We ’ re now looking at a little bit of a different form , and that form is safety and opening , ” Trump said in Arizona , “ and we ’ ll have a different group , probably , set up for that.
” Asked about his statements in February playing down the threat of the virus , Trump told ABC in an interview that medical experts also had underestimated the risk and added : “ I want to be optimistic .
I don ’ t want to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a very bad subject .
I ’ m not looking to tell the American people when nobody really knows what is happening yet , ‘ Oh this is going to be so tragic.
’ ” Trump is seeking to pivot his focus away from the virus ’ s spread and toward more familiar — and , aides hope , politically safer — ground : talking up the economy .
As more states have begun to ease closure orders , despite warnings that that could lead to spikes in new cases , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s work in helping businesses and employees rebound .
To that point , aides said the president would hold more frequent roundtables with CEOs , business owners and beneficiaries of the trillions of dollars in federal aid already approved by Congress , and begin to outline what he hopes to see in a future “ phase four ” recovery package .
Pence told reporters at a White House briefing Tuesday that the U.S. could be “ in a very different place ” come late May and early June “ as we continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in safe and responsible reopening plans.
” The administration is beginning to eye that window as the appropriate time for federal agencies to begin managing the pandemic response “ in a more traditional way , ” he said .
Dr. Deborah Birx , the task force co-ordinator , said the federal government would still keep a close eye on the data if the task force disbands .
“ It took us a while to build that capacity and we ’ ll make sure that we ’ re watching that at a federal level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his White House team have been operating in a virus-safe bubble , thanks to the rapid coronavirus tests provided to senior staff and anyone who meets with the president .
Trump has been repeatedly talking up the administration ’ s response to the virus , despite persistent criticism that he dragged his feet and failed to adequately increase production of personal protective equipment and testing supplies .
“ We did everything right .
Now it ’ s time to get back to work , “ he said .
He added that the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with more than 7 million now completed , even as some experts say millions more people must be tested every week for the country to safely reopen .


thetorontostar--2020-05-06--EU forecasts ‘recession of historic proportions’ this year

BRUSSELS - The European Union predicted Wednesday “ a recession of historic proportions this year ” due to the impact of the coronavirus with a drop in output of more than 7 % , as it released its first official forecast of the damage the pandemic is inflicting on the bloc ’ s economy .
The 27-nation EU economy is predicted to contract by 7.5 % this year , before growing by about 6 % in 2021 .
The group of 19 nations using the euro as their currency will see a record decline of 7.75 % this year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the European Commission said in its Spring economic forecast .
“ Europe is experiencing an economic shock without precedent since the Great Depression , ” EU Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said in a statement .
More than 1.1 million people have contracted the virus across Europe and over 137,000 have died , according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control .
Unclear outbreak data , low testing rates and the strain on health care systems mean the true scale of the pandemic is much greater .
With the spread slowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cautiously venturing out from confinement and gradually returning to work , but strict health measures remain in place amid concern of a second wave of outbreaks and any return to something like normal life is at least months away .
The pandemic has hurt consumer spending , industrial output , investment , trade , capital flows and supply chains .
It has also hit jobs .
The unemployment rate across the 27-nation EU is forecast to rise from 6.7 % in 2019 to 9 % in 2020 but then fall to around 8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While the virus hit every member country , the extent of the damage it ultimately inflicts will depend on the evolution of the disease in each of them , the resilience of their economies and what policies they put in place to respond .
Gentiloni said that the depth of the recession and the strength of recovery will be uneven across the world ’ s biggest trading bloc .
Much will depend , he said , on “ the speed at which lockdowns can be lifted , the importance of services like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country ’ s financial resources .
Such divergence poses a threat to the single market and the euro area - yet it can be mitigated through decisive , joint European action.
” How quickly things can change .
On Feb. 13 , the commission had predicted “ a path of steady , moderate growth ” this year and next of 1.2 % .
At that time , uncertainty over U.S. trade policy and a Brexit trade deal plus tensions in Latin America and the Middle East were the main threats .
The coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time as “ a new downside risk ” but the commission ’ s assumption less than three months ago was “ that the outbreak peaks in the first quarter , with relatively limited global spillovers .
”