thetorontostar--2020-01-23--Michelle Carter, of texting suicide case, freed from jail

BOSTON - A woman convicted of manslaughter for urging her suicidal boyfriend to kill himself in text messages that included , “ Just do it , babe , ” was released from jail Thursday .
Michelle Carter was released more than three months early from a county jail in Massachusetts , where she had been serving a 15-month sentence .
The 23-year-old Plainville native accrued enough credits for good behaviour and attending jail programs , according to officials .
She now has to serve five years of probation .
Carter , wearing a white blazer and dark slacks , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by her parents Thursday morning .
Her release comes after the U.S. Supreme Court declined last week to hear her lawyers ’ appeal of her involuntary manslaughter conviction in the 2014 death of her boyfriend , Conrad Roy III .
Carter ’ s case garnered national attention as it raised thorny legal questions about free speech and provided a disturbing look at teenage relationships and depression .
It also sparked legislative proposals in Massachusetts to criminalize suicide coercion .
A Massachusetts judge determined Carter , who was 17 at the time , caused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she ordered him in a phone call to get back into his parked truck , which he ’ d rigged to fill up with deadly carbon monoxide .
The phone call wasn ’ t recorded , but the judge relied on a text Carter sent her friend in which she said she told Roy to get back in .
In text messages sent in the days leading up to Roy ’ s death , Carter also encouraged him to follow through with his suicide plan and chastised him when he didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an unusual legal strategy that meant a judge decided her fate rather than a jury .
She also didn ’ t testify in her defence at the trial .
The state ’ s highest court upheld Carter ’ s conviction last February and she was ordered to begin serving her jail sentence .
She was denied parole in September .
“ After she convinced him to get back into the carbon monoxide filled truck , she did absolutely nothing to help him : she did not call for help or tell him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she listened to him choke and die , ” Justice Scott Kafker wrote in the state Supreme Judicial Court ’ s decision .
Carter and Roy both lived in Massachusetts but met in Florida in 2012 while both were on vacation with their families .
Their relationship consisted mainly of texting and other electronic communications .
Both teens struggled with depression , and Roy had made earlier suicide attempts .
Carter ’ s lawyers argued in their Supreme Court appeal that the conviction should be thrown out because it was an “ unprecedented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First Amendment rights that suggested “ words alone ” are enough to hold someone responsible for another person ’ s suicide .
The lawyers also argued there was simply not enough evidence to prove Carter urged Roy to get back in his truck to die , or that he would have lived if she had called for help or taken other actions to try and save his life .
A case strongly echoing Carter ’ s , meanwhile , is playing out in a Boston court .
Prosecutors say former Boston College student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to kill himself in a toxic relationship that included thousands of abusive text messages .
The 21-year-old has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter .


thetorontostar--2020-01-23--China shuts down more cities in bid to contain deadly virus

BEIJING - Chinese authorities Thursday moved to lock down three cities that are home to more than 18 million people in an unprecedented effort to contain the deadly new virus that has sickened hundreds and spread to other parts of the world during the busy Lunar New Year travel period .
Police , SWAT teams and paramilitary troops guarded Wuhan ’ s train station , where metal barriers blocked the entrances at 10 a.m. Only travellers holding tickets for the last trains out were allowed to enter .
Normally bustling streets , shopping malls , restaurants and other public spaces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were eerily quiet .
In addition to shutting down the train station , authorities closed the airport and halted ferry , subway and bus service .
Police checked all vehicles entering the city but did not close off the roads .
Authorities announced similar measures would take effect Friday in the nearby cities of Huanggang and Ezhou .
In Huanggang , theatres , internet cafes and other entertainment centres were also ordered closed .
Seventeen people have died in the outbreak , all of them in and around Wuhan , with the oldest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Close to 600 people have been infected , the vast majority of them in Wuhan , and countries around the world have begun monitoring incoming airline passengers for symptoms of the virus , which an cause fever , coughing , trouble breathing and pneumonia .
The lockdowns are unprecedented in size , embracing more people than the population of New York City , Los Angeles and Chicago combined .
In the capital , Beijing , authorities cancelled “ major events “ indefinitely , including traditional temple fairs that are a staple of holiday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ epidemic prevention and control.
” “ To my knowledge , trying to contain a city of 11 million people is new to science , “ Gauden Galea , the World Health Organization ’ s representative in China , said in an interview .
“ It has not been tried before as a public health measure .
We can not at this stage say it will or it will not work.
” Jonathan Ball , a professor of virology at molecular virology at the University of Nottingham in Britain , said the unprecedented lockdowns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Until there ’ s a better understanding of what the situation is , I think it ’ s not an unreasonable thing to do , ” he said .
“ Anything that limits people ’ s travels during an outbreak would obviously work.
” But Ball cautioned that any such quarantine should be strictly time-limited .
He added : “ You don ’ t want to antagonize communities , so you have to make sure you communicate effectively about why this is being done .
Otherwise you will lose the goodwill of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ebola outbreak in 2014 , Sierra Leone imposed a national three-day quarantine as health teams went door-to-door searching for hidden cases .
Frustrated residents complained of food shortages amid deserted streets .
Burial teams collecting Ebola corpses and people transporting the sick to Ebola centres were the only ones allowed to move freely .
In China , the illnesses from the newly identified coronavirus first appeared last month in Wuhan , an industrial and transportation hub in central China ’ s Hubei province .
Other cases have been reported in the U.S. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Singapore , Vietnam and Hong Kong reported their first cases Thursday .
Most of the illnesses outside China involve people who were from Wuhan or had recently travelled there .
Images from Wuhan showed long lines and empty shelves at supermarkets , as residents stocked up for what could be weeks of isolation .
That appeared to be an over-reaction , since no restrictions were placed on trucks carrying supplies into the city , although many Chinese have strong memories of shortages in the years before the country ’ s recent economic boom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China ’ s authoritarian communist government , though the effectiveness of a lockdown against the outbreak remains uncertain .
Local authorities in Wuhan demanded all residents wear masks in public places and urged government staff to wear them at work and shopkeepers to post signs for their visitors , Xinhua news agency reported .
Xinhua quoted the city ’ s anti-virus task force as saying the measures were taken in an attempt to “ effectively cut off the virus spread , resolutely curb the outbreak and guarantee the people ’ s health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday after visiting her boyfriend there .
She said everything was normal then , before human-to-human transmission of the virus was confirmed .
But things had changed rapidly .
Her boyfriend “ didn ’ t sleep much yesterday .
He disinfected his house and stocked up on instant noodles , ” Liu said .
“ He ’ s not really going out .
If he does , he wears a mask.
“ The sharp rise in illnesses comes as millions of Chinese travel for the Lunar New Year , one of the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Chinese are expected to take an estimated 3 billion trips during the 40-day spike in travel .
Analysts predicted cases will continue to multiply , although the jump in numbers is also attributable in part to increased surveillance .
“ Even if ( cases ) are in the thousands , this would not surprise us , “ the WHO ’ s Galea said , adding , however , that the number of those infected is not an indicator of the outbreak ’ s severity , so long as the mortality rate remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ common cold as well as viruses that cause more serious illnesses , such as the SARS outbreak that spread from China to more than a dozen countries in 2002-03 and killed about 800 people , and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome , or MERS , which is thought to have originated from camels .
China is keen to avoid repeating mistakes with its handling of SARS .
For months , even after the illness had spread around the world , China parked patients in hotels and drove them around in ambulances to conceal the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts .
In the current outbreak , China has been credited with sharing information rapidly , and President Xi Jinping has emphasized that as a priority .
“ Party committees , governments and relevant departments at all levels must put people ’ s lives and health first , ” Xi said Monday .
“ It is necessary to release epidemic information in a timely manner and deepen international co-operation.
” Health authorities were taking extraordinary measures to prevent additional person-to-person transmissions , placing those believed infected in plastic tubes and wheeled boxes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first cases in the Wuhan outbreak were connected to people who worked at or visited a seafood market , which has since been closed for an investigation .
Experts suspect that the virus was first transmitted from wild animals but that it may also be mutating .
Mutations can make it deadlier or more contagious .
WHO convened its emergency committee of independent experts on Thursday to consider whether the outbreak should be declared a global health emergency , after the group failed to come to a consensus on Wednesday .
The U.N. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an “ extraordinary event ” that constitutes a risk to other countries and requires a co-ordinated international response .
A declaration of a global emergency typically brings greater money and resources , but may also prompt nervous governments to restrict travel and trade to affected countries .
The announcement also imposes more disease-reporting requirements on countries .
But declaring an international emergency can also be politically fraught .
Countries typically resist the notion that they have a crisis within their borders and may argue strenuously for other control measures .
Many countries are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially those arriving from Wuhan .
North Korea has banned foreign tourists , a step it also took during the SARS outbreak and in recent years because of Ebola .
Most foreigners going to North Korea are Chinese or travel there through neighbouring China .
Associated Press journalists Shanshan Wang in Shanghai , Maria Cheng in London and Krista Larson in Dakar contributed to this report .

Ken Moritsugu And Yanan Wang - The Associated Press

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thetorontostar--2020-01-23--UK Brexit bill becomes law after receiving royal assent

LONDON - Britain ’ s delayed and disputed Brexit bill has become law , removing the last U.K. obstacle to the country leaving the European Union in just over a week .
House of Commons Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans announced Thursday that the Withdrawal Agreement Act had received royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II , the final formality in the measure ’ s legislative journey .
The queen ’ s assent came hours after the bill completed its passage through Parliament by getting approval from the House of Lords .
“ At times it felt like we would never cross @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve done it , ” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said after that milestone late Wednesday .
The European Union ’ s parliament also must approve the Brexit divorce deal before Jan. 31 if Britain is to leave on time .
Lawmakers in Brussels are due to vote on it next week .
The U.K. is finally leaving the EU more than 3 1/2 years after voters narrowly opted for Brexit in a June 2016 referendum - and after many rounds of political wrangling .
After years of negotiations between the British government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defeated attempts by both Johnson and predecessor Theresa May to finalize the departure terms with the other 27 nations of the bloc .
That changed when Johnson ’ s Conservatives won the Dec. 12 election , giving the government the ability to override the objections of opposition parties .
Despite Johnson ’ s repeated promise to “ get Brexit done ” on Jan. 31 , the day of departure only marks the start of the first stage of the country ’ s EU exit .
Britain and the EU are to then launch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racing to strike new relationships for trade , security and a host of other areas by the end of 2020 .
Johnson insists he won ’ t agree to any delay beyond the end of the year .
The U.K. is also keen to begin talks on a free trade deal with the United States , and intends to negotiate simultaneously with the EU and the U.S .
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos , U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said a deal with Britain was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we expect to complete that within this year.
“ U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said a trade deal between the two countries shouldn ’ t be too difficult because their economies are similar .
“ Both are very heavily services oriented and within services , such as financial services there ’ s already a pretty high degree of integration and co-ordination so it should be much easier mechanically , ” he said in Davos .
But British opposition politicians are already raising concerns about issues ranging from food-safety standards - especially the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ germs - to drug prices .
Ross sought to dampen concerns that a trade deal wouldl mean higher drug prices as U.S. pharmaceutical companies look to gain concessions from Britain ’ s state-run National Health Service .
“ What we think is that drugs should have similar prices wherever they are but I don ’ t believe we are in any position to tell the U.K. what they should pay for drugs , “ he said .
Associated Press Writer Pan Pylas in Davos , Switzerland contributed to this story .
Follow AP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ British politics at https : //www.apnews.com/Brexit


thetorontostar--2020-01-23--‘Magic’ gloves let acclaimed Brazilian pianist play again

SAO PAULO - A few days before Christmas , renowned pianist João Carlos Martins summoned his friends to a Sao Paulo bar so he could show off the best gift he ’ d received in years : a new pair of bionic gloves that are letting the 79-year-old play with both hands for the first time in more than two decades .
Considered one of the great interpreters of Johann Sebastian Bach ’ s music , the Brazilian classical pianist and conductor had retired last March after 24 surgeries trying to stop pains from a degenerative disease and a series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him to work mostly as a conductor since the early 2000s .
But since the closing days of 2019 , friends have been returning to Martins ’ downtown penthouse to hear him bring Frédéric Chopin , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his favourite Bach back to life at his Petrof piano .
Before the gloves , which were especially developed for him , the pianist could only play songs slowly with his thumbs and , sometimes , his index fingers .
“ After I lost my tools , my hands , and couldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if there was a corpse inside my chest , ” Martins told The Associated Press .
Martins ’ health problems date back to 1965 .
He famously rebounded after every setback — nerve damage in his arm inflicted during a soccer match in New York , a mugger hitting him over the head with a metal pipe while he toured in Bulgaria , and more .
But even friends expected the latest surgery , on his left hand , to mark the end of his days on the piano bench .
That might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not for a designer who believed the pianist ’ s retirement had come too early .
Ubiratã Bizarro Costa created neoprene-covered bionic gloves that bump Martins ’ fingers upward after they depress the keys , and which are held together by a carbon fiber board .
“ I did the first models based on images of his hands , but those were far from ideal , ” Costa said .
“ I approached the maestro at the end of a concert in my city of Sumaré , in the Sao Paulo countryside .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ work , but then he invited me to his house to develop the project.
” Costa and Martins spent the subsequent months testing several prototypes .
The perfect match came in December , and cost only about 500 Brazilians reals ( $ 125 ) to build .
Now Martins never takes off his new gloves , even when going to bed .
“ I might not recover the speed of the past .
I don ’ t know what result I will get .
I ’ m starting over as though I were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , joined by his poodle Sebastian .
His dog ’ s name , of course , is a tribute to Bach .
The pianist ’ s return was first reported by the Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo .
Reporter Ricardo Kotscho said Martins hurried to the bar near his home before Christmas “ like a boy who got a new toy.
” Martins said he has received more than 100 gadgets in the last 50 years as miraculous solutions to his hand problems .
None worked well or long enough .
“ But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tune them accordingly , ” he said , showing how he can rearrange the glove ’ s internal pads to play at a faster or slower tempo .
“ That doesn ’ t mean it ’ s all sorted .
The muscle atrophy plays a role .
Sometimes I try to play a speedy one and get depressed because it just doesn ’ t happen yet.
” The “ extender gloves , ” as their inventor calls them , gave Martins a goal : Play the piano again at New York ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is scheduled to conduct a concert celebrating the 60th anniversary of his first appearance there .
Martins , meantime , is practicing early in the morning and late at night , to the delight of his neighbours , until he can interpret an entire Bach concert perfectly .
“ It could take one , two years .
I will keep pushing until that happens , “ he said .
” I won ’ t give up .
”

Mauricio Savarese - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-23--Julian Assange extradition case to be drawn out for months

LONDON - The complex extradition case designed to determine whether WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will be sent to the U.S. to face espionage charges will take longer than expected .
District Judge Vanessa Baraitser agreed on Thursday to add a three-week session in May in addition to the five-day hearing already set for Feb. 24 .
The judge said she was “ unlikely to look favourably ” on any further requests for delays in the long-awaited confrontation between Assange and U.S. officials .
Assange is being held at Belmarsh Prison in east London while he waits for the hearing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ related to WikiLeaks ’ hacking of hundreds of thousands of confidential government documents .
Assange , 48 , did not attend the court session in person but briefly confirmed his name and date of birth via videolink .
He claims he is a journalist whose publishing activities have First Amendment protection .
Both sides agreed the extra session in May was necessary because of the many legal issues .
Clair Dobbin , representing the U.S. government , said she needed more time to respond to evidence recently submitted by the WikiLeaks team .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said his team has had trouble getting adequate access to Assange at the high security prison .
“ We simply can not get in as we require to see Mr. Assange and to take his instruction , ” he said .
Assange ’ s supporters gathered inside and outside Westminster Magistrates Court to lobby for his release .
His cause has been embraced by many press freedom groups .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-23--The Latest: Vietnam sees 1st coronavirus cases from Wuhan

LONDON - The Latest on the outbreak of the new coronavirus in China ( all times local ) : Vietnam ’ s Health Ministry says a Chinese father and son , who were hospitalized on Wednesday with fevers , have tested positive with the new coronavirus .
It said this marks the first such cases in Vietnam .
The ministry on Thursday said Li Ding , 66 , from Wuhan , China arrived in Hanoi on Jan. 13 then travelled south to meet up with his 28-year-old son Li Zichao , who works in Vietnam .
The two then went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ father got a fever on Jan. 17 and the son got the same symptoms three days later , according to Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Sang , head of tropical diseases at Cho Ray hospital in Ho Chi Minh city .
“ The son has contracted the virus from his father , ” the doctor was quoted as saying .
China , meanwhile , has decided to lock down three cities including Wuhan that are home to more than 18 million people in an unprecedented effort to try to contain the deadly new viral illness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Ministry of Health says the country has confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus , a 66-year-old Chinese national from Wuhan .
The ministry said late Thursday the man arrived in Singapore with his family on Jan. 20 .
It said the man is now in isolation in a hospital in the Southeast Asian city-state .
The statement said health officials are also investigating another suspected case , after a preliminary test for the virus was positive .
That person is a 53-year-old woman from Wuhan .
China , meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Wuhan that are home to more than 18 million people in an unprecedented effort to try to contain the deadly new viral illness that has sickened hundreds .
China has decided to lock down three cities that are home to more than 18 million people in an unprecedented effort to try to contain a deadly new viral illness that has sickened hundreds and spread to other cities and countries in the Lunar New Year travel rush .
Police , SWAT teams and paramilitary troops guarded Wuhan ’ s train station , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. sharp .
Only travellers holding tickets for the last trains were allowed to enter , with those booked for later trains being turned away .
Normally bustling streets , shopping malls , restaurants and other public spaces in the city of 11 million people were eerily quiet .
In addition to the train station , airport , ferry , subway and bus services were also halted .
Similar measures will take effect from Friday in the nearby cities of Huanggang and Ezhou .
In the capital Beijing , authorities cancelled “ major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fairs that are a staple of Lunar New Year holiday celebrations ,


thetorontostar--2020-01-23--Wild shootout in downtown Seattle leaves 1 dead, 7 injured

SEATTLE - Three people including a 9-year-old boy remained hospitalized Thursday morning , after police say several people opened fire in the busiest part of downtown Seattle during the Wednesday evening commute .
One person was killed and seven wounded .
Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins said authorities began receiving calls of multiple gunshot victims at about 5 p.m .
The person who died was a woman approximately 40 to 50 years old , fire officials told the Seattle Times .
Hospital spokeswoman Susan Gregg and fire officials said later Wednesday that a total of seven people were treated at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them were still in the hospital Thursday morning , according to a statement from Gregg .
A 55-year-old woman was upgraded to serious condition .
A 32-year-old man and a 9-year-old boy were listed in satisfactory condition .
Police Chief Carmen Best said based on video from the scene , several people fired weapons after a dispute outside a McDonald ’ s .
Police including homicide and gang units were investigating , she said .
No arrests were immediately reported .
Samantha Cook said she was refilling her transit card in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I was on the first set of escalators , ” Cook told the newspaper .
“ There were a lot of gunshots that started going off — maybe 10 or 11 .
It was just rapid fire.
” Tyler Parsons told the Times he was was working nearby when he saw people drop to the ground .
People took cover behind the register where he worked .
“ Terrifying it ’ s so close , ” ’ he said .
It was the third downtown Seattle shooting in two days .
Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a mall stairwell Tuesday , and he later died at a hospital .
Police shot a person in another area of downtown earlier on Wednesday .
Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee said in a statement that he was “ horrified and dismayed to hear about the shooting ” Get more of the Star in your inbox Never miss the latest news from the Star .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-23--The Latest: Merkel says climate may become survival matter

DAVOS , Switzerland - German Chancellor Angela Merkel says that climate protection may become a matter of survival for Europe @ @ @ @ @ She said in a speech at the World Economic Forum that “ The question of @ @ @ @ @ goals of the Paris Agreement could become a question of survival.
“ The chancellor said @ @ @ @ @ together , but at the same time each country has to contribute to help make @ @ @ @ @ ” by 2050 .
She said that “ These are obviously transformations of a gigantic @ @ @ @ @ youth movements against climate change , Merkel said the “ impatience of the youth ” @ @ @ @ @ positively and constructively.
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thetorontostar--2020-01-23--Migrant caravan crosses into Mexico, walks along highway

CIUDAD HIDALGO , Mexico - Hundreds of Central American migrants crossed the river into Mexico from Guatemala Thursday after a dayslong standoff with security forces .
Carrying U.S. and Honduran flags at the head of the procession , they walked along a highway toward a waiting contingent of dozens of national guardsmen with riot shields and body armour and vans from the National Immigration Institute .
Jose Luis Morales , a Salvadoran leader of the caravan , said the migrants want to negotiate to be allowed to pass peacefully .
But Mexico has cracked down on the large caravans seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
Thursday ’ s movement was a resurgence of a migrant caravan that had been diminishing since its last concerted attempt to cross the border Monday was turned back by Mexican National Guardsmen posted along Suchiate river , which forms the border here .
The migrants awoke with a plan Thursday .
By 4:30 a.m. they had all packed their belongings and were just awaiting the call to move .
They would not cross where Mexican authorities were posted across the river .
They prayed for about an hour before leaving and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the dark to near another bridge that handles commercial traffic between the two countries .
There were no Mexican authorities on the opposite bank .
There the water was deeper , coming to the waist of a grown man , so a number of young men entered the river first and formed a human chain to keep the women and children who followed from being pulled by the current .
When the first migrants crossed at 6 a.m. , it was still pitch black .
The national guardsmen awaited the caravan outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ciudad Hidalgo where the migrants crossed the Suchiate river at dawn .
Mexico began flying and busing members of the caravan back to Honduras on Tuesday .
Seven more buses left Mexico for Honduras on Wednesday , carrying 240 migrants back home , and two flights left with an additional 220 Hondurans , Mexico ’ s National Immigration Institute said .
By Wednesday , the number of people outside the Casa del Migrante in Tecun Uman was perhaps half of what it was at its peak Sunday night .
In previous caravans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for awhile , seemingly to tire them out , and then closed their path .


thetorontostar--2020-01-23--World airports taking precautions after China virus ourbreak

DUBAI , United Arab Emirates - Airports around the world have begun taking precautions to deal with an anticipated influx of Chinese tourists taking Lunar New Year holidays , just as the outbreak of a pneumonia-like virus in China has prompted officials there to take drastic measures to prevent its spread .
Dubai International Airport , the world ’ s busiest for international travel , announced on Thursday that , following government guidance , all passengers arriving on direct flights from China will receive thermal screening at the gate upon arrival and be provided with informational brochures .
The screening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gates by teams from the Dubai Health Authority and the Airport Medical Center , Dubai Airports said in a statement provided to The Associated Press .
The airport authority would not say whether it expected a drop in passengers from China for the Lunar New Year holiday , which begins Friday , following China ’ s decision to close off Wuhan , a city of 11 million people , where a newly identified coronavirus first appeared last month .
Chinese are expected to take an estimated 3 billion trips during the 40-day spike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stations , the airport , subways , ferries and long-distance shuttle buses in the city , and local authorities have demanded all residents wear masks in public places .
At dawn on Thursday , Italian Red Cross officials were on hand at Rome ’ s Fiumicino airport to meet the last flight from Wuhan before the Chinese city ’ s airport was shut down .
The 202 passengers were taken to a special sterile area for a screening of their body temperature by health workers wearing sanitary suits , goggles and masks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the virus , Dr. Michele Bonizzi said .
“ The passengers passed through this structure where , if there had been — and that was not the case today — a need to do further tests our ambulance was there ” to take them to a hospital , she said .
Before flights from Wuhan were grounded , passengers arriving in the U.S. from flights originating in the city were directed to Kennedy Airport in New York , Los Angeles International , San Francisco International , O ’ Hare Airport in Chicago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where facilities were set up for screening .
British authorities said passengers arriving from China to Heathrow Airport in London , Europe ’ s busiest , and other airports were not being screened but that they were being given information leaflets on what to do if they fall ill. Germany ’ s Fraport , the operator of Frankfurt Airport , said it had not yet received any government guidance advising screening take place so there are currently no travel restrictions .
In China , measures similar to the lockdown in Wuhan were being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with public transport suspended and theatres , internet cafes and other entertainment centres closed beginning Friday , according to state media reports .
The coronavirus family includes the common cold as well as viruses that cause more serious illnesses , such as the SARS outbreak that spread from China to more than a dozen countries in 2002-2003 and killed about 800 people , and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome , which developed from camels .
So far , most of China ’ s 571 cases have been in Wuhan and a total of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them in and around the city .
The Lunar New Year is one of the world ’ s largest annual movement of people , and previously Dubai Airports said it was “ preparing to welcome thousands of Chinese travellers ” ahead of the weekend .
Associated Press writers David Koenig in Dallas , Jill Lawless in London , and Tricia Thomas in Rome contributed to this story .


thetorontostar--2020-01-23--New Lebanese minister says he won’t permit attacks on police

BEIRUT - Lebanon ’ s new interior minister said Thursday he won ’ t permit attacks on security forces amid angry rioting that has gripped the country ’ s capital amid a deepening economic crisis .
Mohammed Fahmi spoke during a handover ceremony from the outgoing minister , two days after an emergency government was formed .
That ended a three-month political vacuum on the heels of nationwide protests against the country ’ s long serving political class .
“ I will not allow the attack on security forces who are carrying out their duties ” to protect the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Meanwhile , Amnesty International called on the new government to “ immediately rein in ” security forces , which it said unlawfully used rubber bullets at close range against the protesters , injuring hundreds over the weekend before Fahmi took office .
On Wednesday , the security forces did not use rubber bullets .
The new government is made up of appointees nominated by the Shiite militant group Hezbollah and its allies , raising questions about the Cabinet ’ s ability to drum up the international support needed to avoid economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new government , although it is expected to approve the new Cabinet .
Many protesters have rejected the new government , saying it is still backed by the same traditional political powers they accuse of corruption .
Fahmi said he would guarantee that security forces won ’ t attack protesters and will protect their rights to freely express their opinion .
He vowed to investigate any security forces violations “ if they happen.
” Over the weekend , Beirut saw some of the most violent clashes between protesters and security forces yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over 100 security forces , were injured in clashes outside the parliament building .
Protesters hurled stones , firecrackers and flares at security forces who responded with rubber bullets , tear gas and water cannon .
Several protesters were hit in their eyes .
On Wednesday , hours after the emergency government held its first meeting , hundreds of protesters gathered again outside parliament , attempting to break through security barriers and hurling stones .
Clashes lasted late into the night , as security forces chased protesters down the streets .
Amnesty said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next weeks , Lebanon ’ s newly formed government must “ as a matter of urgency ” prioritize reining in security forces and investigate the unlawful and excessive use of force .
It said security forces “ shoot-to-harm , ” causing serious injuries in the head , face , chin and mouth .
At least three protesters were hit directly in the eye with rubber bullets .
Amnesty said police also threatened two female protesters with rape .
Red Cross said at least 409 protesters were injured in clashes over the weekend .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately rein in the ( Internal Security Forces ) and order them to comply with international standards and respect the right to assembly , ” Heba Morayef , Middle East and North Africa regional director at Amnesty said .
“ Acts of violence by a minority of protesters does not justify a violent dispersal but should have been dealt with in a targeted manner.
” Morayef called for an investigation to provide “ redress for the victims and send a strong signal that violence will not be tolerated .
”


thetorontostar--2020-01-23--Top UN official says Myanmar must follow order on Rohingya

DHAKA , Bangladesh - A top United Nations official who deals with human rights in Myanmar said Thursday that the international community must continue to put pressure on the Southeast Asian nation to follow any decision by the International Court of Justice regarding its treatment of minority Rohingya Muslims .
U.N. Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee spoke in Bangladesh ’ s capital , Dhaka , ahead of the court ’ s verdict in The Hague , Netherlands .
The court read its verdict later Thursday , ordering Myanmar take all measures in its power to prevent genocide against the Rohingya .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ added that its order for so-called provisional measures intended to protect the Rohingya is binding “ and creates international legal obligations ” on Myanmar .
Lee , speaking to reporters ahead of her six-year assignment ’ s end in March , said Myanmar failed to respect human rights and she would recommend formation of an international adhoc tribunal to try those involved in crimes against the Rohingya .
“ I hope the Myanmar government will follow through on the decisions and the recommendations that the court may make ; and the international community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brings this issue front in mind so that Myanmar will not evade its own responsibilities , “ she said .
She criticized Myanmar for not allowing her to visit the country in recent years .
Lee also had tough words for Russia , China and the U.N. Security Council for their failure to refer the case of the Rohingya to the International Criminal Court .
“ It ’ s shameful for those states to not do anything in the face of all evidence we have , ” she said .
She said urged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see the situation in Cox ’ s Bazar , the Bangladesh city near the camps that house the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya who fled Bangladesh .
“ That ’ s not fabricated news ; that ’ s not fake news , ” she said .
Focusing on China , she said the country can not be a global leader without respecting human rights , “ I ’ m hoping that especially China , with its attempt to become one of the top global leaders ... you can not become a global leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by respecting human rights , you have to seek justice and accountability for all human rights violations , ” she said .
Buddhist-majority Myanmar has long considered the Rohingya to be “ Bengalis ” from Bangladesh even though their families have lived in the country for generations .
Nearly all have been denied citizenship since 1982 , effectively rendering them stateless , and they are also denied freedom of movement and other basic rights .
The long-simmering crisis exploded in August 2017 when Myanmar ’ s military launched what it called a clearance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an attack by a Rohingya insurgent group .
The campaign forced more than 700,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh and led to accusations that security forces committed mass rapes , killings and burned thousands of homes .


thetorontostar--2020-01-23--Children’s aunt says she was home when they were suffocated

PHOENIX - A Phoenix woman accused of suffocating her three young children never appeared to be a danger to them , according to an aunt who was in the house at the time of the killings .
Pearl Rebolledo Velazco , the children ’ s great-aunt , spoke at length at a candlelight vigil Wednesday night outside the home where police say Rachel Henry killed her children .
Velazco said she and the youngest child ’ s father were in the house when Henry , 22 , allegedly killed them Monday night .
“ I know it ’ s hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout ( the house ) as she killed our kids , ” Velazco said .
“ We had no reason to think otherwise that she was putting them down for naps.
” Velazco said she was completely unaware of what was going on in the next room .
“ I can ’ t change it now .
I can ’ t change it now .
And that ’ s killing me.
“ she said .
Velazco described how she tried to administer CPR to 7-month-old Catalaya Rios while urging Henry to call 911 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me , staring at her phone , ” Velazco said .
Velazco ended up calling authorities .
Henry remains jailed on $ 3 million bond on suspicion of three counts of first-degree murder .
It was not known Thursday whether she had been appointed an attorney who could comment on her behalf .
Police also have not said whether anyone else will be charged .
Investigators said Miraya Henry , who would have turned 2 this month , was the first to be killed , followed by her 3-year-old brother Zane Henry , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s father , Pedro Rios , was at the vigil but did not speak .
It was not clear if he was also the father of the other two children .
A makeshift memorial for the three children continues to grow outside the family ’ s home with a steady flow of people coming by to drop off stuffed animals , candles and balloons .
There appeared to be several hundred items at the site by Thursday afternoon .
According to Velazco , she was caring for all three children temporarily .
Henry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be closer to them .
“ She missed them .
She was on the street , and she wanted to straighten up and everything .
She could ’ ve walked away at anytime , ” Velazco said .
The Arizona Department of Child Safety said it didn ’ t have any earlier contacts or abuse reports involving the family .
Prosecutors say Henry acknowledged having a history of methamphetamine addiction and that her children had previously been removed from their home by child-welfare authorities in Oklahoma because of issues related to her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Human Services , which provides child protective services , declined to say whether it had a method for informing other states about parents who had run into trouble with child-welfare authorities .
The agency said it ’ s co-operating with investigators in Arizona and is reviewing any contacts Henry or her children had with child-welfare authorities there .
But the agency said state law prohibits the public release of the results of that inquiry .


thetorontostar--2020-01-23--California bill would make utilities pay some blackout costs

SACRAMENTO , Calif. - Californians left in the dark by electric companies that shut off their power to prevent wildfires could get paid for things such as lost wages or spoiled food under a bill that advanced Thursday in the Legislature .
In the state plagued by catastrophic blazes started by strong winds knocking down power lines , large investor-owned utilities have been aggressively shutting off power for millions of customers ahead of windstorms .
Utility companies cite public safety for the practice but also do it to protect their bottom line .
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed for bankruptcy last year after facing an estimated $ 50 billion in damages from several Northern California wildfires that were linked to its equipment .
including one blaze in 2018 that killed 85 people and destroyed 19,000 buildings .
PG & E shut off power for more than 2 million customers in October .
The blackouts caused major disruptions throughout the region , closing schools and businesses and making it more difficult for people who rely on medical devices powered by electricity .
State Sen. Scott Wiener , a Democrat from San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a financial incentive for electric companies to err on the side of large blackouts covering more people for longer periods of time .
Wiener said he designed his bill to act as an incentive for utility companies to have smaller , more targeted blackouts .
The bill would require investor-owned utilities to reimburse customers and local governments for some costs associated with blackouts .
It would require an electric company ’ s shareholders — not its customers — to put money into a fund to reimburse customers within two weeks of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies from raising rates to cover losses from a blackout .
The California Public Utilities Commission would oversee the fund and decide how big it should be .
The measure would also let the commission fine power companies up to $ 250,000 an hour for every 50,000 customers impacted by a power shutoff if regulators determine the utility “ failed to act in a reasonable and prudent manner.
” If the penalties had been in effect last fall , PG & E could have faced fines of more than $ 1 billion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposal .
“ It ’ s about giving utilities an incentive to use planned blackouts as a scalpel and not as a sledgehammer , ” Wiener said .
Others worry the bill would spook electric companies into being too cautious with blackouts , thus increasing the risk of deadly wildfires .
“ I believe it gives perverse incentives that could harm people , ” said state Sen. Bill Dodd , a Democrat from Napa .
The bill passed the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday , clearing the way for a vote in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must pass the Senate by Jan. 31 to have a chance at becoming law this year .
In a letter to committee members on Wednesday , PG & E Chief of State Government Relations DaVina Flemings said the company proactively turns off power “ for one reason only and that is keeping customers and communities safe.
” However , Flemings said the bill “ would put customers and communities in a very dangerous position by penalizing the utilities for deploying a public safety power shutoff.
” Wiener said the bill would not ban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ save lives and property.
” Instead , he said it is to “ incentivize the right behaviour.
” “ Those costs are real , ” Wiener said .
“ For a lot of people , if you lose your refrigerator contents , that ’ s your food for the month .
”


thetorontostar--2020-01-23--Plea change set in African American church fire case

NEW ORLEANS - A suspect set for trial next month in a series of fires at African American churches in Louisiana is now scheduled for a change-of-plea hearing .
Holden Matthews has pleaded not guilty to federal charges arising from the arson fires at south Louisiana churches .
However , a court filing Thursday says a plea-change hearing now is set for Feb. 10 in Lafayette .
Court records show that plea negotiations have been going on in the case .
Attorneys in the case did not immediately return calls seeking more information .
Three historic African American churches were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , beginning in late March , in and around the city of Opelousas , about 140 miles ( 225 kilometres ) west of New Orleans in St. Landry Parish .
Matthews ’ father is a parish sheriff ’ s deputy .
The indictment charges Matthews with three counts of “ intentional damage to religious property , ” which the Department of Justice said is a hate crime under the U.S. Church Arson Prevention Act .
He ’ s also charged with three counts of “ using fire to commit a felony.
” Matthews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congregations .
The indictment , however , does not mention race .
It says the fires were set “ because of the religious character ” of the properties .
Investigators said Matthews had shown interest in “ black metal , ” an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music .
The music has been linked , in some instances , to fires at Christian churches in Norway in the 1990s .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-23--Spain-Venezuela encounter by tarmac unleashes speculation

MADRID - A secretive meeting this week by the tarmac of Madrid ’ s international airport between two prominent officials from Spain and Venezuela triggered a political storm on Thursday , with conservative parties pressing Spain ’ s left-wing government for full disclosure .
Venezuelan Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez , the powerful right hand of President Nicolás Maduro , is on a European Union sanction list barred from entering the territory of any of the bloc ’ s members .
Despite that , she held talks in the early hours of Monday with José Luis Ábalos , Spain ’ s Transportation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s ruling Socialist party , the Spanish news website Vozpopuli revealed Thursday .
A police source with knowledge of the matter told The Associated Press that Rodríguez had indeed arrived in the early hours of Monday on a flight from Caracas .
But the official , who asked not to be quoted because he wasn ’ t authorized to discuss the matter , said Rodríguez wasn ’ t actually allowed to step into Spanish — or European — territory .
Flight records seen by AP showed how a private Falcon-type aircraft covered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Madrid .
The same plane then took off in the early afternoon from the Spanish capital and arrived less than four hours later in Istanbul .
Vozpopuli said the meeting between Ábalos and Rodríguez took place inside the jet and lasted 1.5 hours .
The Venezuelan vice-president and her team then spent time at the airport ’ s VIP guest terminal , the website reported .
Rodríguez was in Turkey on Wednesday to discuss with top officials preparations for the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Venezuela , the vice-president showed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public engagement had been back home and over the weekend , when she met with her Cuban counterpart .
Rodríguez wasn ’ t immediately reachable and the Venezuelan Embassy in Madrid declined to comment .
Ábalos ’ press team didn ’ t immediately answer to written questions but the minister told El País newspaper that he had been to the airport on a “ private visit ” and only to welcome Venezuelan Tourism Minister Félix Plasencia , who is attending a global tourism fair in Madrid .
A Spanish foreign ministry official said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Earlier this week , the ministry had told AP that it had no knowledge of Rodríguez ’ s arrival in Madrid .
Rodríguez , a former foreign minister who has been No .
2 in Maduro ’ s government since mid-2018 , is one of 25 Venezuelan officials barred from entering the EU .
She has also been subjected to U.S. sanctions .
Three Spanish parties covering the ideological centre to far right reacted by demanding the transportation and foreign ministers to appear in parliament to deliver a full account of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sanctioned official .
Ábalos is a key figure in the centre-left coalition led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez .
The coalition , a first in Spain ’ s four decades of democratic rule , includes five members of the far-left United We Can party , whose leaders have in the past showed sympathy for Maduro ’ s government .
The timing of the trip also coincides with an international tour that has brought Juan Guaidó , the man designated by Venezuela ’ s opposition as the interim leader until free elections can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe .
The U.S.-backed Guaidó , who is heading to Paris on Friday and Madrid on Saturday , has been recognized by nearly 60 countries including Spain and most European nations .
AP writer Joshua Goodman contributed to this story from Miami .


thetorontostar--2020-01-23--Veteran accuses bank of discrimination for not taking checks

LIVONIA , Mich. - A Detroit-area bank that suspected fraud and refused to cash $ 99,000 in checks from a black Air Force veteran said Thursday that it mishandled the incident and should not have called police .
Sauntore Thomas attempted to deposit checks from the settlement of a discrimination lawsuit against a former employer .
He said he felt humiliated Tuesday when staff at a TCF Bank in Livonia became suspicious and summoned police .
“ They did not want to assist me because I was African American , ” Thomas , 44 , told The Associated Press .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ assist me because they assumed that I had a fraudulent check , which was far from the truth .
“ This was no mistake , ” Thomas said .
“ This was not just , ‘ Well , we made an error .
I ’ m sorry.
’ I didn ’ t get an ‘ I ’ m sorry.
’ I didn ’ t get no cup of coffee , and I didn ’ t get no doughnuts .
The only thing I got from them was a hard time.
” TCF spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t appear to be legitimate when bank staff scanned them , and that Thomas ’ account had only a 52-cent balance and no recent activity .
Wennerberg denied racial bias but said the bank in hindsight should have accepted the checks and told Thomas there might be an “ extended hold ” until they could be validated .
Instead , four officers arrived after bank officials called police , though no action was taken against Thomas .
Thomas ’ lawyer , Deborah Gordon , provided documents to show that her client had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it didn ’ t allay TCF ’ s concerns .
“ We apologize for the experience Mr. Thomas had at our banker centre .
Local police should not have been involved , “ TCF said in a written statement Thursday , hours after the Detroit Free Press first reported the dispute .
“ We strongly condemn racism and discrimination of any kind , ” the bank said .
“ We take extra precautions involving large deposits and requests for cash , and in this case , we were unable to validate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we could not meet his needs.
” Thomas said he controlled his emotions during the bank visit .
“ I didn ’ t start cussing and hollering .
I didn ’ t say anything .
I was very composed , even though it was a very stressful situation to be in , especially in today ’ s racial times , ” Thomas said .
“ With being African American , sometimes you don ’ t have to do nothing to be in trouble .
And that ’ s what I felt like.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bank , where they cleared in a new account .
Gordon , a prominent Detroit-area labour law attorney , said she filed a lawsuit against TCF , alleging racial discrimination .
“ Those checks couldn ’ t have been more solid , ” she said .
“ I mean , it ’ s a ridiculous joke that some nationwide company is going to be handing out fraudulent checks to me , that I ’ m going them pass on to my client .
So obviously , they didn ’ t believe my client @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Mike Householder And Ed White - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-23--Chief justice’s admonishment followed a note from Collins

WASHINGTON - Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts ’ admonishment of House impeachment prosecutors and President Donald Trump ’ s defence team followed a handwritten note by Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine .
Collins penned a note after House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler ’ s comment about a “ coverup ” by Senate Republicans for Trump , her spokeswoman confirmed .
Senate rules ban senators from impugning each other .
Collins told WCSH-TV in Maine that the partisan debate had become “ too personal ” and went beyond simply arguing the facts .
“ I had heard both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and also cast aspersions on the Senate , ” she said .
“ That is just not appropriate.
” After receiving the note , Roberts admonished both sides around 1 a.m. Wednesday .
“ I think it is appropriate at this point for me to admonish both the House managers and the president ’ s counsel , in equal terms , to remember that they are addressing the world ’ s greatest deliberative body , “ Roberts said .
He asked them to “ avoid speaking in a manner and using language that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Collins indicated afterward that she ’ ll make her decision on impeachment on the facts that are presented , and said Nadler ’ s comments won ’ t affect her decision .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-23--Coalition of states sue over rules governing 3D-printed guns

WASHINGTON - Attorneys general in 20 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging a federal regulation that could allow blueprints for making guns on 3D printers to be posted on the internet .
New York Attorney General Tish James , who helped lead the coalition of state attorneys general , argues posting the blueprints would allow anyone to go online and use the downloadable files to create unregistered and untraceable assault-style weapons that could be difficult to detect .
The lawsuit , filed in federal court in Washington state , is likely to reignite a fierce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is the latest in a series of attempts by state law enforcement officials to block the Trump administration from easing the accessibility of the blueprints .
Proponents have argued there is a constitutional right to publish the material , but critics counter that making the blueprints readily accessible online could lead to an increase in gun violence and put weapons in the hands of criminals who are legally prohibited from owning them .
For years , law enforcement officials have been trying to draw attention to the dangers posed by the so-called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers that could be used to trace them .
A federal judge in November blocked an earlier attempt by the Trump administration to allow the files to be released online , arguing that the government had violated the law on procedural grounds .
But the administration published formal rules on Thursday that transfer the regulation of 3D-printed guns from the State Department to the Commerce Department , which could open the door to making the blueprints available online .
The state attorneys general argue the government is breaking the law and say such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for individuals ineligible to possess firearms under state or federal law to obtain a deadly weapon without undergoing a background check , ” according to the lawsuit .
They also argue that the Commerce Department lacks the power to properly regulate 3D-printed guns .
“ Ghost Guns endanger every single one of us , ” James said in a statement .
“ While the president and his Administration know these homemade weapons pose an imminent threat , he continues to cater to the gun lobby — risking the lives of millions of Americans.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his company Defence Distributed sued the federal government after it told him to remove online blueprints of a 3D-printed gun .
The State Department reached a settlement with the company in 2018 and removed the 3D gun-making plans from a list of weapons or technical data that are not allowed to be exported .
But a coalition of state attorneys general filed a lawsuit to stop the manoeuvr , arguing that undetectable plastic guns pose a national security risk .
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-01-23--‘Bogus’ Ukraine theory led to Trump’s abuse, Dems tell trial

WASHINGTON - Democratic House prosecutors argued in President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial Thursday that he was swept up by a “ completely bogus ” Ukraine theory pushed by attorney Rudy Giuliani that led to his abuse of presidential power and then impeachment .
As the Democrats pressed their case for a second day before skeptical Republican Senate jurors , they displayed video images of the nation ’ s top FBI and Homeland S ecurity officials warning the public off the theory that it was Ukraine , not Russia , that interfered in the 2016 election .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the prosecutors argued , that Trump abused power for his own personal political benefit ahead of the 2020 election — the first article of impeachment against him .
“ That ’ s what Donald Trump wanted investigated or announced — this completely bogus Kremlin-pushed conspiracy theory , ” said Rep. Adam Schiff , the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee who is leading the prosecution .
Trump is accused of seeking the investigation — and probes of political foe Joe Biden and Biden ’ s son — while holding back congressionally approved military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ You can imagine what a danger that presents to this country.
“ Trump is facing trial in the Senate after the House impeached him last month , accusing him of abusing his office by asking Ukraine for the investigations while withholding the aid from a U.S. ally at war with bordering Russia .
The second article of impeachment accuses him of obstructing Congress by refusing to turn over documents or allow officials to testify in the House probe .
Republicans , growing tired of the long hours of proceedings , have defended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cast the process as a politically motivated effort to weaken him in the midst of his reelection campaign .
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate , and acquittal is considered likely .
The Democrats ’ challenge is clear as they try to convince not just fidgety senators but an American public divided over the Republican president in an election year .
With Chief Justice John Roberts presiding , Democrats argued on Thursday that Trump ’ s motives were apparent .
“ No president has ever used his office to compel a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our elections , ” Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York , the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee , told the senators .
He said the nation ’ s founders would be shocked .
“ The president ’ s conduct is wrong .
It is illegal .
It is dangerous.
” They scoffed at Trump ’ s claim he had good reasons for pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political foes .
It was Trump who engaged in a shocking abuse of power , not former Vice-President Biden or other Trump foes , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is “ no evidence , nothing , nada ” ’ to suggest that Biden did anything improper in dealings with Ukraine , said the former judge .
Trump , with Giuliani , pursued investigations of Biden and his son , Hunter , who served on a Ukrainian gas company ’ s board , and sought the probe of debunked theories of what nation was guilty of interference in the 2016 U.S. election .
On dual tracks , Democrats prosecuted their case while answering in advance the arguments expected from the president ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one point , they showed video of a younger Lindsey Graham , then a South Carolina congressman and now a GOP senator allied with Trump , arguing during Bill Clinton ’ s 1999 impeachment that no crime was needed for impeaching a president .
Trump ’ s defence team is now arguing that the impeachment articles against the president are invalid because they do not allege he committed a specific crime .
The president ’ s defenders waited their turn , which may come on Saturday .
“ We will be putting on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ r ebutting what they said , ” and the Constitution , said attorney Jay Sekulow .
Ahead of the day ’ s proceedings , Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri said the Democrats were putting forward “ admirable presentations.
” But he said , “ They ’ ve basically got about one hour of presentation , and they gave it six times on Tuesday and eight times yesterday .
There ’ s just not much new here.
“ The top Senate Democrat , Chuck Schumer , acknowledged that many senators “ really don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schumer said Schiff has been outlining a compelling case that many Republicans are hearing it for only the first time .
He contended they can ’ t help but be “ glued ” to his testimony .
Once reluctant to take on impeachment during an election year , Democrats are now marching toward a decision by the Senate that the American public also will judge .
Trump blasted the proceedings in a Thursday morning tweet , declaring them the “ Most unfair & corrupt hearing in Congressional history !
” Each side has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case .
After the House prosecutors finish , likely Friday , the president ’ s lawyers will have as long as 24 hours .
It ’ s unclear how much time they will actually take , but Trump ’ s team is not expected to finish Saturday , according to a person unauthorized to discuss the planning and granted anonymity .
The Senate is expected to take only Sunday off and push into next week .
After that senators will face the question of whether they do , or do not , want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were permitted Thursday to review supplemental testimony submitted by an aide to Vice-President Mike Pence , Jennifer Williams , who testified in the House impeachment inquiry , an was among those who had concerns about Trump ’ s actions .
Democrats said the supplemental testimony , which is classified , bolsters their impeachment case .
A lawyer for Williams declined to comment .
Holding the room ’ s attention has been difficult for the Democrats , but senators seemed to pay closer mind to Schiff ’ s testimony that grew dramatic .
Most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their desks throughout the afternoon session , as the rules stipulate , and not as many of them were yawning or standing up to stretch as during the previous long nigh ts .
To help senators pass the time , the Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee , Richard Burr of North Carolina , passed out lunch favours of fidget spinners , stress balls and other toys .
Democrats took a gracious tack , thanking the senators for their time and patience , acknowledging the repetition of some of their presentations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ backdrop of the 2020 election .
Four senators who are Democratic presidential candidates are off the campaign trail , seated as jurors .
A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed the public slightly more likely to say the Senate should convict and remove Trump from office than to say it should not , 45 % to 40 % .
But a sizable percentage , 14 % , said they didn ’ t know enough to have an opinion .
One issue with wide agreement : Trump should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the trial .
About 7 in 10 said so , including majorities of Republicans and Democrats , according to the poll .
The strategy of more witnesses , though , seemed all but settled .
Republicans rejected Democratic efforts to get Trump aides including former national security adviser John Bolton , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney , to testify in back-to-back votes earlier this week .
Senators were likely to repeat that rejection next week , shutting out any chance of new testimony before they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writers Mary Clare Jalonick , Alan Fram , Andrew Taylor , Laurie Kellman , Matthew Daly and Padmananda Rama in Washington and Bill Barrow in Osage , Iowa , contributed to this report .

Lisa Mascaro, Eric Tucker And Zeke Miller - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-23--`Sopranos’ actress says Weinstein raped her in the mid-1990s

NEW YORK - “ Sopranos ” actress Annabella Sciorra confronted Harvey Weinstein from the witness stand Thursday , testifying that the former Hollywood studio boss overpowered and raped her and made other crude overtures that included sending her X-rated chocolates and showing up uninvited in his underwear with a bottle of baby oil in one hand and a video in the other .
In a quivering voice , Sciorra told the jury that the burly Weinstein barged into her apartment in the mid-1990s , threw her on a bed and forced himself on her as she tried to fight him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She said that roughly a month later , she ran into him and confronted him about what happened , and he replied : “ That ’ s what all the nice Catholic girls say.
“ Then , she told the jury , Weinstein leaned toward her and added menacingly : “ This remains between you and I.
” “ I thought he was going to hit me right there , ” Sciorra testified .
The 59-year-old actress became the first of Weinstein ’ s accusers to testify at his trial , where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the # MeToo movement is charged with forcibly performing oral sex on former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in his New York apartment in 2006 and raping an aspiring actress in a hotel room in 2013 .
Weinstein ’ s lawyers sought to sow doubts about Sciorra ’ s story , raising questions about her actions after the alleged rape and asking whether she had once described the encounter as “ awkward sex , ” which she denied .
Weinstein is not charged with attacking Sciorra , whose accusations date too far back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as one of four additional accusers prosecutors intend to put on the stand to show that the powerful Hollywood producer had a habit of preying on women .
Generally , prosecutors can not bring up alleged crimes beyond the charges at a trial , but such evidence can be allowed if it shows a certain pattern of behaviour .
Five additional accusers were allowed to testify against Bill Cosby at the Pennsylvania trial that led to his 2018 conviction for sexually assaulting a woman .
Weinstein , 67 , could get life in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such Oscar-winning movies as “ Pulp Fiction ” and “ Shakespeare in Love “ has insisted any sexual encounters were consensual .
Recounting an accusation she said she kept largely secret for decades , Sciorra testified that after raping her , Weinstein went on to try to perform oral sex on her , saying , “ This is for you , “ as her body “ shut down.
” “ It was just so disgusting , ” she said .
She said she started to shake : “ I didn ’ t even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a seizure or something.
” At other points in the 1990s , she said , Weinstein sent her packages with Valium and a box of chocolate penises and turned up early one morning at her Cannes Film Festival hotel room in his underwear with the body oil and the videotape .
She said he left after she frantically pushed buttons on the room phone to summon help .
The jury of seven men and five women listened keenly and took notes on her testimony .
Weinstein was mostly expressionless , sometimes appearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mints .
During cross-examination , Weinstein lawyer Donna Rotunno noted that Sciorra never went to police or a doctor about the alleged rape .
“ At the time , I didn ’ t understand that that was rape , “ Sciorra said .
She testified earlier that she once thought rape was a crime of strangers .
“ I thought he was an OK guy .
I felt confused .
I felt like I wished I never opened the door , ” she said .
Rotunno also suggested that Sciorra ’ s judgment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the actress replied that she remembered having only a glass of wine with dinner — and played a 1997 clip of Sciorra playfully telling late-night host David Letterman that she sometimes had fun with the media by making up stories such as her father raising iguanas for circuses .
Sciorra said she would never lie about something as serious as sexual assault .
The defence also highlighted an August 2017 text message in which Sciorra told a friend she was broke and was “ hoping Harvey has a job for me.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” to try to find out through the friend whether Weinstein knew that a reporter had gotten wind of her accusations .
They were first published in The New Yorker two months later .
The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they have been victims of sexual assault , unless they come forward publicly .
Sciorra drew acclaim for her part in Spike Lee ’ s 1991 movie “ Jungle Fever ” and her role as a pregnant woman molested by her doctor in 1992 ’ s “ The Hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeared in a few episodes of “ The Sopranos.
“ She said she met Weinstein at an industry event in Los Angeles in 1990 or 1991 .
By 1993 , she had starred in one of his company ’ s movies , the romantic comedy “ The Night We Never Met.
” She said the rape happened in late 1993 or early 1994 , after Weinstein dropped her off from a movie-business dinner and then appeared , uninvited , at her door minutes later .
Sciorra later acted in another Weinstein-produced picture , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” though she said she didn ’ t realize when auditioning that his studio was involved .
She told no one at first about the alleged rape , not even her brothers , she said .
“ I wanted to pretend it never happened , “ she said .
” I wanted to get back to my life.
“ Follow Michael Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak and Tom Hays at twitter.com/aptomhays

Michael R. Sisak, Tom Hays And Jennifer Peltz - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-23--Trump ups mileage proposal slightly over Obama standard

WASHINGTON - The Trump administration is making a concession on its proposed minimum fuel economy requirement for new vehicles , but environmental groups and a key Democratic senator complain it does not go far enough , and still falls well below the requirements set under the Obama administration .
Fuel economy standards would increase 1.5 % per year from 2021 through 2026 under the new proposal .
That ’ s a reversal from the Trump administration ’ s proposal in 2018 , which sought to freeze the standards at 2020 levels .
Environmentalists and Delaware Sen. Tom Carper hardly cheered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come close to the 5 % annual increase that the Obama administration had mandated .
Carper , senior Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee , released some details of the latest fuel-standards proposal in a letter Wednesday urging the administration to scrap its new mileage proposal as ineffective and costly .
“ My office ’ s review of the draft final rule indicates that it utterly fails to provide any demonstrable safety , environmental or economic benefit to consumers or the country , ” Carper wrote in a letter to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office reviews proposed regulations before they are finalized and printed in the Federal Register .
The administration hasn ’ t released the numbers , but they are detailed in Carper ’ s letter to Paul Ray , a management and budget administrator .
The Trump administration has billed its mileage standards as safer and less costly to motorists , but there ’ s a growing chorus of critics disputing that , including the Trump EPA ’ s own scientific advisory board .
The mileage rollback has become one of the most fiercely contested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal battles with California and other states and splitting loyalties of top automakers .
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration , which develops fuel economy rules , wouldn ’ t comment Thursday .
It reissued a statement saying the rule will improve fuel economy , cut pollution and make vehicles more affordable .
When the Trump administration released its proposed “ Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Rule “ in 2018 , it calculated that the rule would save 12,700 lives in car crashes through model year 2029 .
The logic was that relaxed fuel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vehicles , making them more affordable and increasing sales .
Since new vehicles are safer , lives would be saved .
The proposal pegged the cost of meeting Obama-era requirements at $ 2,700 per vehicle and said buyers would save that much per car by 2025 .
But Carper wrote that the administration ’ s final proposal claims total savings of 474 lives through 2029 .
That number doesn ’ t include deaths associated with increased air pollution from less-efficient vehicles , Carper wrote .
“ Those 470 prevented traffic fatalities are nowhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related to the 80 billion gallons of additional gasoline consumption in the administration ’ s proposal , ” Dave Cooke , senior vehicles analyst for the Union of Concerned Scientists , said in a separate statement .
Under calculations in the proposal , the purchase price would drop by $ 1,083 per vehicle under the revised standards , Carper wrote .
But that would be erased by the cost of operating vehicles with lower fuel economy , which adds $ 1,423 to the cost , Carper wrote .
“ Adding hundreds of dollars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem to be the opposite of the more ‘ affordable ’ vehicles the SAFE rule promised , ” his letter said .
Last year , the administration ’ s proposed fuel economy freeze touched off a huge legal fight with California , which has authority under the Clean Air Act to set its own greenhouse gas emissions , and by extension , gas mileage standards .
Trump revoked California ’ s authority , and the state challenged the decision in court .
Later , the auto industry split on the matter with four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Honda , siding with California .
Most other automakers went with Trump .
Many automakers have been lobbying for a rollback from the Obama standards , but say they ’ re willing to support a smaller increase .
They contend that buyers have shifted so quickly to trucks and SUVs that they are having trouble meeting the current standards .

Tom Krisher And Ellen Knickmeyer - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-23--Face of impeachment: Schiff sets tone with appeals to Senate

WASHINGTON - In the otherwise scripted impeachment trial , it was a rare spontaneous moment : Sen. Lindsey Graham , one of President Donald Trump ’ s chief defenders , stopped Rep. Adam Schiff , the lead prosecutor , to shake his hand and compliment him on his arguments for Trump ’ s removal .
Though Graham has ridiculed the case against the president , and heaped scorn on Democrats like Schiff , he said he believes the California Democrat is “ well spoken ” and “ did a good job of creating a tapestry , taking bits and pieces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rhetorical flourish ... sometimes effectively , sometimes a little over the top.
” Schiff is the face of the House ’ s impeachment case against Trump , which has made him the principal target of Trump ’ s ire .
Though he has six managers by his side , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed Schiff , her confidante , as the lead impeachment manager .
He is setting the tone of the prosecution ’ s case , working methodically to convince even his most ardent detractors that Trump deserves to be removed from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do feel like I ’ m introducing myself to a number of the senators , ” Schiff said in an interview with The Associated Press before arguments resumed on Thursday .
He said many of them are familiar only with conservative criticism of him , and they are “ finding I ’ m not the demon that I ’ m portrayed as on Fox.
“ Schiff said he wishes that the Graham exchange wasn ’ t caught on camera , “ because it was nice to have a private moment .
And I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of thing .
But I very much appreciated his comments.
” A former federal prosecutor who represents parts of Hollywood , Schiff has been a frequent target of conservatives since the then GOP-led House Intelligence Committee started investigating Trump ’ s ties to Russia in the 2016 election .
He was frequently on television questioning Trump ’ s actions .
The criticism intensified , though , when Democrats took the House majority in early 2019 and he became chairman of the intelligence panel .
And it reached a full-on roar as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s dealings with Ukraine last fall .
Trump has trained his ire on the congressman on Twitter and elsewhere , alternatively calling him “ shifty , ” “ sleazy , ” and “ liddle.
” He has also turned his name into a vulgarity , occasionally calling him “ Schitt ” on Twitter , and dubbed him “ pencil neck ” at a campaign rally .
Trump tweeted about Schiff only a handful of times in 2017 and 2018 , but hundreds of times since Democrats gained the House majority .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not the only Republican to give Schiff respect — albeit grudgingly — since the trial has begun .
Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt said the Democrats had “ admirable presentations , ” even though he found them repetitive and said he didn ’ t learn much new .
Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst says she ’ s “ not a fan ” because she believes Schiff “ has it out ” for Trump .
Still , she says , he has been presenting a “ calm , level case ” against the president .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the fact that he has handled this in a very calm manner compared to some of the other House managers , ” Ernst says .
Schiff has tried to set a non-combative tone on the Senate floor , with conciliatory words to the Senate .
He said at the start of his arguments on Wednesday that he was “ deeply grateful ” for their attention and understands that it ’ s hard to sit and listen four hours on end .
His appeals came hours after Chief Justice John Roberts , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ managers and Trump ’ s defence team for using language “ that is not conducive to civil discourse.
” “ I think it is appropriate at this point for me to admonish both the House managers and the president ’ s counsel , in equal terms , to remember that they are addressing the world ’ s greatest deliberative body , “ Roberts said .
Roberts ’ comments came around 1 a.m. Wednesday after another impeachment manager , House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler , charged that the White House lawyers were lying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain witnesses in the trial , as many GOP senators had just voted to do , was a “ treacherous vote ” against the United States .
Trump ’ s defence team responded that Nadler should apologize to the president and the American people .
The next morning , before the trial resumed , the impeachment managers gathered for a news conference .
When asked about Roberts ’ comments , Schiff was the only one who spoke .
“ You ’ re going to have tempers flare ” when trials go into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that happens in every courtroom in America .
“ But we are going to try to keep focused on the facts , ” Schiff said .
“ The president ’ s team would like nothing more than to provoke a bitter conflict.
” Schiff told The AP on Thursday that when talking on the Senate floor , he is trying not to make the case personal and he wants to “ show respect for the senators and for the chief justice , present the evidence , make the appeals to have a fair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best I can do.
” While complimenting Schiff , Graham also predicted that the White House team will unravel many of his points .
“ I thought they did a good job of taking bits and pieces of the evidence and creating a quilt out of it , ” Graham said .
“ So what I will tell my colleagues , the other side gets to talk , and see if they can pull a thread here and pull thread there and see if it holds up.
” “ I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they ’ re doing a good job , ” said North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows , one of several Republican House members who are consulting with the White House lawyers .
“ I ’ ve had to look in the cabinet for a bottle of No-Doz .
When you look at Adam Schiff ’ s performance , I think what we all have come to understand is , that ’ s exactly what it is , it ’ s a performance.
” Senate Democrats , on the other hand , have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that “ just about every Republican ’ s eyes were glued on Mr. Schiff ... it was a powerful rendition.
” Associated Press writers Alan Fram and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report .

Mary Clare Jalonick - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-23--FBI says monitoring of ex-Trump aide should’ve ended sooner

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department has concluded that it should have ended its surveillance of a former Trump campaign adviser earlier than it did because it lacked “ insufficient predication “ to continue eavesdropping , according to an order made public Thursday by a secretive intelligence court .
The FBI obtained a warrant in 2016 to eavesdrop on former Trump national security aide Carter Page on suspicions that he was secretly a Russian agent .
The Justice Department renewed the warrant three times , including during the early months of the Trump administration .
But the Justice Department ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s handing of those applications to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court .
It says the FBI omitted from the court key details that undercut their original premise about Page , who has denied any wrongdoing and was never charged as part of the investigation into ties between Russia and the Trump campaign .
In an order made public Thursday , the court ’ s chief judge , James Boasberg , says the Justice Department informed the court last month that two of the four applications were invalid because “ there was insufficient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ( Carter ) Page was acting as an agent of a foreign power.
“ After the inspector general report , the surveillance court issued a rare and extraordinary public order saying the FBI had submitted “ unsupported “ information when it applied to eavesdrop on Page .
The court directed the FBI to report back by this month on what steps it was taking to fix the problems .
FBI Director Chris Wray has announced a series of changes designed to improve the thoroughness and accuracy of applications submitted to the surveillance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the FBI when they can show probable cause that the target of their eavesdropping is an agent of a foreign power , such as a suspected spy or terrorist .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-23--Mayor: Mummers Parade ‘in jeopardy’ for repeated blackface

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney warned residents he will end the city ’ s annual Mummers Parade if organizers don ’ t curtail participants ’ inappropriate behaviour , including blackface .
The mayor sent a letter to the organizers of the four Mummers divisions and requested they meet with officials following another blackface controversy at this year ’ s event , Kenney spokesperson Lauren Cox said Thursday .
“ The future of the parade is in jeopardy if Mummers leadership does not make immediate changes to better control the parade , ” Kenney wrote in the letters .
The New Year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history of racially and socially offensive displays .
The parade features ornate costumes and musical performances and attracts thousands of spectators each year .
City staffers monitoring the parade route this year saw at least one marcher wearing blackface , officials said .
When they reported it , parade officials disqualified the group from competition .
The mayor criticized two men at this year ’ s parade for wearing blackface , calling their actions “ abhorrent and unacceptable.
” “ This selfish , hateful behaviour has no place in the Mummers , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better than this , “ the mayor tweeted shortly after this year ’ s event .
The men , Kevin Kinkel and Mike Tomaszewski , defended their decision and said it wasn ’ t racist .
They said the group was paying homage to Gritty , the hairy , googly-eyed mascot of the Philadelphia Flyers that is orange all over , face included .
Many of the brigade ’ s marchers wore variations of face paint in the Flyers ’ colours of black , orange and white .
But the two men cited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked the parade ’ s organizers to put mechanisms in place for accountability if participants violate Mummers ’ rules next year .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-23--Russian pleads guilty in Virginia to large-scale card fraud

ALEXANDRIA , Va. - A Russian national pleaded guilty Thursday to running a website that helped people commit more than $ 20 million in credit-card fraud .
Aleksei Burkov , 29 , of St. Petersburg , Russia , entered the plea to charges including fraud and money laundering in a federal court in Alexandria .
He was extradited to the U.S. from Israel in November over the objection of Russian officials .
An indictment accused Burkov of running a website called Cardplanet that let people buy stolen credit-card numbers for anywhere from $ 3 to $ 60 .
People used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 million in fraudulent purchases .
Prosecutors say Burkov even offered a money-back guarantee if a stolen card number no longer worked .
In court Thursday , Burkov admitted to running a second website on an invite-only basis that allowed cybercriminals to sell stolen data .
Israeli officials have suggested Russia sought Burkov ’ s release by offering an exchange for Naama Issachar , a 26-year-old Israeli woman who received a seven-year prison sentence in Moscow on marijuana charges .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-23--Trump v. Bloomberg: Fortunes collide in pricey knife fight

NEW YORK - They are circling each other like wary boxers , with taunts on Twitter , snarky asides and belittling depictions of one another .
They rose to prominence in Manhattan on parallel tracks , amassed wealth real and perceived and displayed a penchant for putting their names on things .
That ’ s where the similarities end .
President Donald Trump and Mike Bloomberg could hardly be more different as people , but now they both want the same job : Trump ’ s .
Bloomberg is making the case that he is many things that Trump is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data and media company that employs 20,000 people , a billionaire whose worth Forbes estimates at $ 60 billion , a problem-solver with a steady temperament who was elected three times as mayor of the nation ’ s largest city and is among the world ’ s leading philanthropists .
“ Bloomberg is someone Trump would have liked to have been : to have invented something everyone uses , to have real wealth , to be seen as a creative person .
Trump had to create an image for himself , “ said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former New York Mayor Ed Koch .
Arzt knows both men professionally and personally .
He said Bloomberg is someone who likes to solve problems , who likes to be hands-on , even including the design of new Department of Sanitation trucks , while Trump is “ basically a showman.
” Arzt added that Trump always sought the limelight while Bloomberg shied away from it until he ran for mayor .
Trump , who said he once considered Bloomberg a friend , had a brutal assessment of his newest rival during a CNBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s spending a fortune .
He ’ s making a lot of broadcasters wealthy .
And he ’ s getting nowhere.
” Howard Wolfson , Bloomberg ’ s senior adviser , jabs right back : “ Mike hired Donald Trump to run a golf course in the Bronx but would not hire him for any other job .
And the president knows that.
” Bloomberg is running for the Democratic nomination for president on a path no serious candidate in the party has ever taken , forgoing early primary states and debates while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ads in larger Super Tuesday states , almost all of which take a hard shot at Trump .
He doesn ’ t accept any campaign donations .
Trump has responded by calling Bloomberg “ Mini Mike ” on Twitter , trying to ridicule his 5-foot-8-inch stature compared with the 6-foot-3 inch president .
Bloomberg has hit Trump in another way that might hurt more .
In Texas , when asked whether the country wanted a race between two New York billionaires , he replied , “ Who ’ s the other one ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he fails to win the Democratic nomination , he is prepared to spend hundreds of millions of dollars , perhaps more , to deny Trump reelection .
On Thursday , he started running a new nationwide ad that condemns Trump ’ s treatment of decorated military leaders , and his campaign manager , Kevin Sheekey , went on Fox News to highlight it .
Their fight will be a test of the power of television and digital ads versus the impact of Twitter and the megaphone of the presidency .
A key question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump will do damage to an incumbent who does not have a serious primary challenger .
The president and his campaign team have been warily watching Bloomberg ’ s spending spree since the former mayor ’ s late entry into the presidential race .
Trump ’ s campaign manager , Brad Parscale , recently told staffers he would not worry about Bloomberg until he cracked double digits ( Bloomberg had 9 % support in a Monmouth poll this week ) while mocking the amount of money the former mayor was spending , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations .
But others in the president ’ s orbit have not been so sanguine about Bloomberg — including Trump himself .
Trump , who has been fixated on the Democratic race even in the face of an impeachment trial , was initially irked by Bloomberg ’ s entry into the race and has noted to confidants in recent weeks that the mayor has steadily picked up support .
Trump has also complained that Bloomberg has benefited from a disproportionate amount of positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the counsel from aides , including senior adviser Jared Kushner , to ignore Bloomberg and thus avoid elevating him in a Democratic field that remains unsettled .
But Trump has been unable to do so , delivering several public Twitter broadsides while obsessing in private over Bloomberg ’ s wealth .
Bloomberg has spent money at a rate of about $ 100 million a month and has trained his focus not on those with whom he is competing for his adopted party ’ s nomination , but on the president as if in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign advisers have acknowledged that the impact of Bloomberg ’ s spending is impossible to model and are paying close attention to the president ’ s approval numbers in the swing states Bloomberg is blanketing with ads .
And while the Trump campaign ’ s own formidable war chest could be overwhelmed by Bloomberg ’ s , the president ’ s team has tried to fight fire with fire , buying their own $ 10 million Super Bowl ad just after Bloomberg did likewise .
Bloomberg ’ s fortune dwarfs Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of insecurities Trump has long held about the former mayor , according to two presidential confidants .
Not only is Bloomberg vastly richer than Trump , he had easy entry into the most elite Manhattan social circles , the same ones that looked down upon Trump as a tabloid creation and reality TV star .
The two men , for a time , enjoyed friendly relations , though they never were close .
By the time Bloomberg became mayor in 2002 , Trump had largely transitioned from real estate development to licensing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ butt heads at City Hall in the way Trump did with some of Bloomberg ’ s predecessors .
The two occasionally would rub shoulders at golf tournaments and charity events and both attended one of Rudy Giuliani ’ s weddings , with Trump as a guest and Bloomberg officiating .
They also crossed paths at Yankees games and when Bloomberg hosted the International Olympic Committee at his Upper East Side townhouse .
They would even sometimes praise one another : At a 2007 charity golf club event , Trump said it was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man that I think is one of the great mayors and will go down as one of the great mayors , if not the greatest , in New York City.
” Meanwhile , Bloomberg appeared on an episode of “ The Apprentice ” in 2004 .
At the same ribbon-cutting ceremony three years later , he said , “ If there is anybody who has changed this city , it is Donald Trump.
” Bloomberg campaign advisers talk about a two-track operation that ’ s focused both on winning the nomination and defeating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already pledged to pay for operations in key states through the general election even if he ’ s not the Democratic nominee .
In addition to the ad Bloomberg released Thursday , he is running ads in 27 states calling for the Senate to convict and remove Trump in the impeachment trial .
A digital ad blasts Trump for failing to repair the nation ’ s infrastructure .
Before this cycle , both men had talked about running for president .
But their differences were also clear .
In 2011 , when Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then-Mayor Bloomberg called Trump a friend but said Republicans were “ making a terrible mistake ” in making an issue of whether President Barack Obama was born in the U.S. As for Trump running , Bloomberg said , “ Anybody can run for president if you ’ re 35 and an American citizen.
” The last time the two men spoke , according to Wolfson , was when Bloomberg called Trump after the 2016 election to congratulate him and urge him to surround himself with great people .
Says Wolfson , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that advice.
” AP writers Zeke Miller in Washington and Kathleen Ronayne in Sacramento , California , contributed reporting .