thetorontostar--2020-05-13--Judge appoints outsider to take on U.S. Justice Department in Flynn case

WASHINGTON—The federal judge overseeing the criminal case of Michael Flynn , U.S. President Donald Trump ’ s former national security adviser , appointed a hard-charging former prosecutor and judge on Wednesday to argue against the Justice Department in its effort to drop the case and investigate whether Flynn committed perjury , an extraordinary move in a case with acute political overtones .
Judge Emmet Sullivan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia said in a brief order that he had appointed John Gleeson , a retired judge , “ to present arguments in opposition to ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge against Flynn , who had pleaded guilty to lying to investigators as part of a larger inquiry into Russia ’ s interference in the 2016 election before fighting the charge .
Sullivan also asked Gleeson to address whether the court should explore the possibility that Flynn opened himself up to perjury charges by pleading guilty under oath .
Flynn entered guilty pleas twice in front of two judges .
The judge ’ s order was an astonishing move in the latest high-profile criminal case to prompt accusations from current and former law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has politicized the Justice Department to protect Trump ’ s allies .
The Justice Department declined to comment .
Gleeson did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Sullivan had said a night earlier that he would consider briefs from outsiders known as amicus curiae , or “ friend of the court , ” who opposed the government ’ s request to dismiss the case against Flynn .
After a long campaign by Trump and his supporters , the department abruptly moved to the drop the charge against Flynn last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ admitted to were immaterial to the matter under investigation and that agents ’ questioning of him was unjustified .
While judges do sometimes appoint such third parties to represent an interest they feel is not being heard in the case , the move by Sullivan is highly unusual , said Samuel Buell , a former federal prosecutor who now teaches criminal law at Duke University : he is essentially bringing in an outsider to represent the point of view of the original prosecutors in the case , who believed Flynn had committed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them with a prosecutor willing to say he had not .
“ This is extraordinary for the judge to appoint somebody to argue against a prosecutors ’ motion to dismiss a criminal case , ” Buell said .
“ But it ’ s extraordinary for a prosecutor to move to dismiss this sort of criminal case .
“ What the Justice Department did in the first case is , as far as any of us can figure out , unprecedented , ” he added .
“ So the fact that this is pretty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surprising.
” It was not immediately clear what Sullivan was focused on with his request for input on whether to essentially accuse Flynn of criminal perjury .
Buell said he doubted it would qualify as perjury for Flynn to embrace the Justice Department ’ s claim that he committed no crime because his admitted lies were purportedly immaterial to a proper investigation — whether or not that legal theory is true .
But , Buell said , there could be a legitimate issue if Flynn were to claim that he did not lie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department ’ s filing also hinted at — despite previously telling judges that he had .
Flynn ’ s lawyers objected to Sullivan ’ s order suggesting he would accept input from third parties and said that outside opinions were best left to op-ed sections .
“ This court is not a forum for their alleged special interest , ” Flynn ’ s lawyers wrote in court papers .
Gleeson , who served on the federal bench in Brooklyn and had run the criminal division in the federal prosecutor ’ s office there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the motion to dismiss the Flynn case .
He co-wrote an op-ed article this week in the Washington Post encouraging Sullivan to scrutinize the motion .
“ Prosecutors deserve a ‘ presumption of regularity ’ — the benefit of the doubt that they are acting honestly and following the rules , ” he wrote along with two other former federal law enforcement officials in New York .
“ But when the facts suggest they have abused their power , that presumption fades.
” The department had made conflicting statements to the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had the “ authority , the tools and the obligation ” to decide whether the department ’ s motion to withdraw was credible .
“ There has been nothing regular about the department ’ s effort to dismiss the Flynn case , ” they wrote .
“ The record reeks of improper political influence.
” The son of Irish immigrants , Gleeson has said in interviews that he took a job as a prosecutor in Brooklyn after he was rejected from a post in the Manhattan federal prosecutor ’ s office , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecutor in Brooklyn , Gleeson rose to legal stardom when he successfully prosecuted the notorious mobster John Gotti .


thetorontostar--2020-05-13--Wisconsin high court tosses out governor’s stay-home order

MADISON , Wis. - The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down Gov .
Tony Evers ’ coronavirus stay-at-home order Wednesday , ruling that his administration overstepped its authority when it extended the mandate for another month without consulting legislators .
The 4-3 ruling essentially reopens the state , lifting caps on the size of gatherings , allowing people to travel as they please and allowing shuttered businesses to reopen , including bars and restaurants .
The Tavern League of Wisconsin swiftly posted the news on its website , telling members , “ You can OPEN IMMEDIATELY !
” The decision let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , and local governments can still impose their own health restrictions .
In Dane County , home to the capital of Madison , officials quickly imposed a mandate incorporating most of the statewide order .
Evers told reporters during a conference call Wednesday night that the state was doing well in the fight against the coronavirus , but the court ruling will lead more counties to adopt their own restrictions .
He said the state will descend into a confusing patchwork of ordinances that will allow infection to spread .
“ Today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state Supreme Court to throw the state into chaos , ” Evers said .
“ They have provided no plan .
There ’ s no question among anybody that people are going to get sick .
Republicans own that chaos.
” Chief Justice Patience Roggensack wrote for the majority that health secretary Andrea Palm ’ s order amounted to an emergency rule that she doesn ’ t have the power to create on her own , and also imposes criminal penalties beyond her powers .
“ Rule-making exists precisely to ensure that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by one unelected official , Palm , is not imposed in Wisconsin , ” Roggensack , part of the court ’ s 5-2 conservative majority , wrote .
Rebecca Dallet , one of the court ’ s liberal justices , dissented .
She wrote that the court ’ s decision will “ undoubtedly go down as one of the most blatant examples of judicial activism in this court ’ s history .
And it will be Wisconsinites who pay the price.
” Dallet also took aim at the potential delay set up by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A review of the tedious multi-step process required to enact an emergency rule illustrates why the Legislature authorized DHS to issue statewide orders to control contagion.
” Before the court ruled Wednesday , Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said he thought it unlikely the economy would immediately reopen if the court ruled in the GOP ’ s favour , citing the need to negotiate with Evers .
He said he preferred a statewide reopening , but said he also would consider a more regional reopening based on the impact of the virus in different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Assembly Republican Majority Leader Jim Steineke tweeted after the ruling was released that businesses can reopen but should follow safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
“ Show the Gov that there doesn ’ t need to be business closures to ensure safety , b/c biz will take precautions on their own , “ Steineke said .
Evers first issued a stay-at-home order in March that closed schools and nonessential businesses .
The closures battered the state economy , but Evers argued they were necessary to slow the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supposed to lift April 24 , but Palm , an Evers appointee , extended it to May 26 .
Republicans asked the Supreme Court to block the extension , arguing that Palm exceeded her authority because the extension amounted to an administrative rule , requiring legislative approval .
Evers ’ administration countered that state law clearly gives the executive branch broad authority to quickly enact emergency measures to control communicable diseases .
Attorney General Josh Kaul also noted that Evers ’ order was similar to that in at least 42 other states and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 10 Wisconsin residents back Evers ’ “ safer at home ” order , based on a Marquette University Law School poll released Tuesday , though that support was down from 86 % in March .
Evers ’ administration faced an uphill battle in convincing the conservative court to keep the order in place .
Three of the conservatives joined Roggensack ; the remaining conservative , Brian Hagedorn , joined Dallet and fellow liberal justice Ann Walsh Bradley in dissent .
The Republican legislators had asked the court to let the rule remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them time to work with Evers ’ administration on an alternative plan .
The court refused to grant the stay , saying the two sides have had weeks to come up with something .
The GOP so far has not offered any alternative plans .
The state ’ s chamber of commerce has suggested allowing all businesses to open at once while compelling higher-risk establishments and operations to take increasingly strict mitigation measures such as requiring employees to use protective gear .
Evers said there ’ s no avenue to appeal the decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an emergency rule addressing the virus , he said , but the process is so complex that it could be at least two weeks before state health officials can start drafting it .
And once it ’ s finished the administration will have to submit it to legislators , who could block it .
“ In the meantime , we ’ re going to have 72 counties doing their own thing , ” Evers said .
“ I can ’ t believe there ’ s a state in the nation with this type @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Evers mirrors actions taken by Republican-controlled legislatures in other states , most notably against the Democratic governors in nearby “ blue wall ” states Michigan and Pennsylvania .
All three are critical presidential battlegrounds in November .
The GOP has been working to weaken Evers ’ powers since he ousted incumbent Republican Gov .
Scott Walker in 2018 .
During Walker ’ s final weeks in office , Republicans adopted a set of laws that prohibited Evers from ordering the attorney general to withdraw from lawsuits , a move designed to prevent the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multistate lawsuit challenging the Affordable Care Act .
The state Supreme Court has upheld those laws .
The high court also backed Republicans over Evers in the GOP ’ s insistence on holding in-person voting for April ’ s presidential primary despite the health risks of the coronavirus .

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thetorontostar--2020-05-13--Fourth region of upstate New York cleared to slowly reopen

NEW YORK - A fourth region in upstate New York might start reopening for business .
New York City launched an informational campaign about a rare syndrome afflicting children .
And the city ’ s police commissioner rebutted complaints of racism in his department ’ s handling of social distancing violations .
Among the developments Wednesday in New York on the coronavirus pandemic : New York ’ s North Country , a sprawling , rural swath that includes the Adirondack Mountains , has been added to the regions of the state poised to restart some economic activity in the days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social restrictions , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said .
The region , which draws hikers , boaters and campers up from New York City and beyond during warmer months , met all seven benchmarks the state requires before selected businesses can be approved for reopening , according to the administration .
It joins New York ’ s Southern Tier , along the Pennsylvania border , the Mohawk Valley and the Finger Lakes regions in preparing to reopen in phases as early as Friday .
None of those parts of the state have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but all are within a few hours drive of still locked-down metropolitan areas where the virus has killed thousands of people .
New York ’ s 10 regions can start reopening once they demonstrate that COVID-19-related deaths and hospitalizations are down ; that there are enough hospital beds to meet any new surge in cases ; and that there is sufficient local testing and contact-tracing efforts .
The economic reopenings will proceed in phases , starting with construction , manufacturing , retail with curbside pickup , agriculture , forestry and fishing .
New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus Tuesday , bringing the total since March to more than 22,000 .
That tally does not include the more than 5,100 additional deaths in New York City that were attributed to the virus on death certificates but weren ’ t confirmed by a lab test .
Though hospitalizations are down , New York still averages more than 400 COVID-19 admissions a day .
New York City is launching an ad campaign to educate parents about a rare syndrome that is thought to be linked to COVID-19 and has been diagnosed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mayor Bill de Blasio said .
Digital ads alerting parents to the symptoms of the inflammatory condition in children are starting Wednesday , de Blasio said , and ads on radio and TV , on bus shelters , and in community newspapers will follow .
“ We have to rapidly inform families all over the city , ” the mayor said .
The condition , being called pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome , affects blood vessels and organs and has symptoms including prolonged fever , abdominal pain and vomiting .
Two young boys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ syndrome have died in New York state , including one in New York City .
Health officials are investigating 102 cases statewide , Cuomo said .
Sixty per cent of the children displaying symptoms tested positive for the COVID-19 virus , and 40 % tested positive for its antibodies .
New York City ’ s police commissioner passionately defended his department against complaints of racism after videos surfaced showing officers violently arresting people of colour for violating orders to maintain social distance in public .
“ I will push back strongly on any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the NYPD , or that this is ‘ racist policing , ’ ” Commissioner Dermot Shea said Wednesday at de Blasio ’ s news conference .
“ I think this could not be anything further from the truth.
” Some of the videos were “ incredibly disheartening ” and “ frankly disturbing , “ Shea conceded .
At least one confrontation is being investigated internally .
One video showed an officer pulling a stun gun on a black man and violently taking him to the ground .
Another showed an officer punching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lay pinned to a sidewalk .
And Shea also acknowledged recently released police department data showing that more than 80 % of people accused of social distancing violations by police have been black or Hispanic .
But he said that police officers and their families had received death threats “ over 10-second videos “ where officers were dealing with habitually violent people .
“ They fight with their significant others .
They fight when they go to court .
They have open gun cases .
They are gang members , and we expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can .
That is exactly what they are doing , “ Shea said .
The state attorney general on Wednesday called on the NYPD to publicly release its policies on social distancing enforcement and any detailed demographic data on related arrests or summonses .
The New York City Council voted Wednesday to cap fees charged by delivery apps like Grubhub and DoorDash at 20 % during the coronavirus outbreak because restaurants are relying on delivery orders to stay in business .
Mayor Bill de Blasio has said he will sign the bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third-party delivery platforms ’ fees of as much as 30 % per order are eating into struggling restaurants ’ narrow profit margin .
“ These apps are killing them with these exorbitant fees , ” said Councilman Francisco Moya , a Queens Democrat .
Grubhub said in a statement that the cap on fees “ represents an overstep by local officials and will not withstand a legal challenge.
” David London , East Coast policy head for DoorDash , said , “ We continue to have concerns about an arbitrary permanent cap that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for local restaurants that may not be able to stay open without it and provide economic opportunity to workers who may not have any other source of income.
” Other cities including San Francisco and Washington , D.C. have already acted to cap delivery fees during the pandemic .
Villeneuve and Hill reported from Albany , N.Y. Associated Press writer Karen Matthews contributed from New York .

Marina Villeneuve, Michael R. Sisak And Michael Hill - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-13--Transgender woman in hospice while awaiting court ruling

GARDEN CITY , Mich. - A Detroit-area woman at the centre of a U.S. Supreme Court case about transgender rights is in hospice care while awaiting a decision .
Aimee Stephens has kidney disease and was in a wheelchair when the court heard arguments in October , The Detroit News reported Monday .
“ Aimee is now in hospice care at home .
It is truly heartbreaking , ” said Dana Chicklas , spokeswoman at the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan .
Stephens worked as an embalmer and funeral home director at R.G .
and G.R .
Harris Funeral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fired in 2013 when she told her boss that she wanted to be known as Aimee and would report to work wearing a conservative skirt suit or dress .
Thomas Rost said Stephens ’ dress would be a distraction for grieving families .
The issue for the Supreme Court is whether federal civil rights law , which bars job discrimination on the basis of sex , protects transgender people .
A decision is expected by late June .
A GoFundMe page was set up to help Stephens and her wife , Donna , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an inspiration , ” Donna said .
“ She has given so many hope for the future of equality for LGBTQ people in our country , and she has rewritten history .
The outpouring of love and support is our strength and inspiration now .
”


thetorontostar--2020-05-13--Michigan woman at centre of transgender rights case dies

DETROIT - A Detroit-area woman who was fired by a funeral home after she no longer wanted to be recognized as a man died Tuesday before the U.S. Supreme Court could rule on whether federal civil rights law protects transgender people .
Aimee Stephens ’ death was announced by the American Civil Liberties Union , which represented her in a lawsuit against R.G .
and G.R .
Harris Funeral Home .
Stephens , 59 , had kidney disease and was in hospice care .
She was in a wheelchair when the court heard arguments last fall .
“ Aimee did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a trailblazer but she is one , and our country owes her a debt of gratitude for her commitment to justice for all people and her dedication to our transgender community , “ said Chase Strangio , a member of Stephens ’ legal team .
Her wife , Donna , thanked the public for “ keeping my best friend and soulmate in your thoughts and prayers.
” Stephens , a native of North Carolina , worked as an embalmer and funeral home director at Harris funeral home in Garden City .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her boss that she wanted to be known as Aimee and would report to work wearing a conservative skirt suit or dress .
Thomas Rost said Stephens ’ appearance would be a distraction for grieving families .
“ I felt what they did to me wasn ’ t right .
In fact , it was downright wrong , ” Stephens told The Associated Press last year .
“ But I also realized it wasn ’ t just me , that there were others in the world facing the same tune.
” The issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civil rights law , which bars job discrimination on the basis of sex , protects transgender people .
Some courts have read the language to include bias against LGBT people as a subset of sex discrimination .
A decision is expected by late June .
More than half the states do not prohibit discrimination in employment because of gender identity or sexual orientation , despite the Supreme Court ’ s 2015 ruling that made same-sex marriage legal across the United States .
Rost expressed condolences to Stephens ’ family in a statement from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that God ’ s love and presence will comfort them in this difficult time , ” Bursch said .


thetorontostar--2020-05-13--Wildfires shut stretch of Interstate 75 in southwest Florida

NAPLES , Fla. - Four brush fires burning a total of about 400 acres ( 162 hectares ) shut down @ @ @ @ @ in southwest Florida on Wednesday , officials said .
One of the fires threatened about @ @ @ @ @ County area of Golden Gate Estates , according to the Florida Forestry Service .
A @ @ @ @ @ as Alligator Alley was shut down for about 20 miles ( 32 kilometres ) , @ @ @ @ @ .
The Collier County Sheriff ’ s Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation @ @ @ @ @ in the areas near the fires , the Naples Daily News reported .
The Greater @ @ @ @ @ efforts to fight the blazes , while two Lee County strike teams and one Sarasota @ @ @ @ @ Naples Fire Chief Kingman Schuldt said .


thetorontostar--2020-05-13--Missouri moving ahead with execution plans

O ’ FALLON , Mo .
- Missouri is moving ahead with plans to execute a man next week , despite new concerns about key evidence that led to his conviction , and despite concerns about the coronavirus that prompted other states to postpone lethal injections .
Walter Barton , 64 , is scheduled to die by injection Tuesday for killing 81-year-old trailer park operator Gladys Kuehler in 1991 .
She was beaten , sexually assaulted and stabbed more than 50 times in the town of Ozark , near Springfield .
The execution would be the first in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Barton ’ s 2006 trial now express misgivings , based on new blood spatter evidence , Barton ’ s attorney , Fred Duchardt Jr. , said Wednesday .
The NAACP and Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty submitted more than 5,000 petition signatures Wednesday to Republican Gov .
Mike Parson , urging him to grant clemency .
Parson ’ s spokeswoman Kelli Jones said the governor ’ s office anticipates that that the execution will go on as scheduled .
She declined further comment .
Duchardt also has an appeal pending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s conviction was blood that was found on his clothing .
Duchardt said the blood got there after Barton and others found Kuehler dead .
A blood spatter expert retained by Barton ’ s defence team concluded that the assailant would have had far more blood on his clothing .
Duchardt said three jurors recently signed affidavits calling the new evidence “ compelling ” and saying it would have affected their deliberations .
The jury foreman said , based on the evidence , he would have been “ uncomfortable ” recommending the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to reach the other surviving jurors , but the coronavirus shutdown has slowed that effort and created other logistical issues .
For example , with public buildings closed , members of Barton ’ s defence team interviewed two jurors in a parking lot , he said .
“ They ’ re having to shout over a wind storm by social distancing distance to try and talk about any of this stuff , ” Duchardt said .
Other states , including Texas , Ohio and Tennessee , have postponed executions due to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had prevented them from safely conducting thorough investigations for clemency petitions and last-minute appeals .
They said they have been unable to secure records or conduct interviews due to closures .
They also expressed concerns about interacting with individuals and possibly being exposed to the virus .
The Missouri execution will be at the prison in Bonne Terre , about 60 miles ( 97 kilometres ) south of St. Louis .
No confirmed coronavirus cases have been reported there .
Missouri Department of Corrections spokeswoman Karen Pojmann said everyone entering the prison will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offered face coverings .
No witnesses for the victim plan to attend , Pojmann said , but Duchardt said several will be there to support Barton .
Eight witnesses for the state , including reporters , have been invited .
An Associated Press reporter plans to be among the witnesses .
Pojmann said the witnesses will be divided into three rooms .
Parson allowed nonessential businesses and institutions to reopen on May 4 with limits on crowd sizes and social distancing requirements .
St. Louis city and county are delaying reopening until next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been tied up in court for years due to mistrials , appeals and two overturned convictions .
He has maintained his innocence throughout .
Barton often spent time at the mobile home park that Kuehler operated .
He was with her granddaughter and a neighbour on the evening of Oct. 9 , 1991 , when they found her dead in her bedroom .
Police noticed what appeared to be blood stains on Barton ’ s clothing , and DNA tests confirmed it was Kuehler ’ s .
Barton said the stains must have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ granddaughter away from the body .
The granddaughter first confirmed that account , but testified that Barton never came into the bedroom .
A blood spatter expert at Barton ’ s trial said the three small stains likely resulted from the “ impact ” of the knife .
In new court filings , Duchardt cited the findings of Lawrence Renner , who examined Barton ’ s clothing and boots .
Renner concluded the killer would have had far more bloodstains .
In April , the Missouri Supreme Court denied Barton ’ s request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argues that Barton is incompetent to be executed because he suffered a brain injury as a teenager .


thetorontostar--2020-05-13--Court: Suit against LSU in frat pledge’s death can continue

BATON ROUGE , La .
- A federal appeals court said the parents of a Louisiana State University freshman who died during a hazing ritual can pursue a lawsuit that accuses the university of committing sexual discrimination when disciplining sororities and fraternities .
Stephen and Rae Ann Gruver filed a lawsuit in 2018 on behalf of their son Maxwell Gruver , who died from alcohol poisoning after a Phi Delta Theta fraternity party .
The university claimed sovereign immunity seeking to nullify the suit but on Tuesday the 5th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waives immunity from lawsuits claiming sexual discrimination , The Advocate reported .
The lawsuit , which seeks $ 25 million , alleges that LSU responded with “ deliberate indifference ” to allegations of hazing at fraternities .
It also said Phi Delta has “ a long history of dangerous misconduct at universities across the country.
” The suit said LSU committed discriminatory disciplinary actions by policing sorority hazing incidents stricter than fraternity hazing .
It said the university committed intentional discrimination that forces males to seek benefits of Greek life with greater risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LSU did not immediately respond to requests for comment .
Max Gruver , from the Atlanta suburb of Roswell , Georgia , had been at LSU for a month when he died of alcohol poisoning in 2017 .
Matthew Naquin , 21 , of Fair Oaks Ranch , Texas was convicted of negligent homicide and sentenced in November 2019 to five years in prison , but a judge suspended all but 2 1/2 years .
Witnesses said Naquin didn ’ t like Gruver and singled him out during a hazing ritual at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordered Gruver to chug a bottle of 190-proof liquor in September 2017 .
Gruver died the following morning .
His blood-alcohol level was 0.495 % , which is more than six times the legal limit to drive in Louisiana .
Phi Delta Theta is banned from the LSU campus until at least 2033 as a result of the events leading to Gruver ’ s death .


thetorontostar--2020-05-13--Nicaragua releases more than 2,800 inmates amid pandemic

MANAGUA , Nicaragua - Nicaragua released more than 2,800 prisoners Wednesday , one day after the death of an inmate who reportedly had suffered from respiratory problems and while the government maintained there was no local spread of the coronavirus in the country .
Loyda Valle , a friend of inmate Silvio Pérez ’ s family , said his relatives were still awaiting his death certificate .
The government said in a statement that it was releasing the prisoners to house arrest as a gesture for upcoming Mother ’ s Day , but also mentioned that the release included elderly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It made no reference to COVID-19 , which has emerged in prison populations around the world and poses a greater risk to people in those categories .
Valle , a member of an opposition coalition , said relatives had spoken to the 60-year-old Pérez a day before his death and he had told them he was starting to feel better .
The government has not confirmed the death of Pérez , who was serving a sentence for drug trafficking .
Yonarqui Martínez , a lawyer who did not represent Pérez but closely monitors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly buried Tuesday .
He died in a Managua hospital that has become Nicaragua ’ s primary care centre for suspected COVID-19 cases .
Martinez said at least 26 political prisoners have been reported to be suffering from symptoms of COVID-19 .
“ They have fever and severe respiratory problems , but they haven ’ t taken them to the hospital or tested them for the coronavirus , ” she said .
Relatives of political prisoner Uriel José Pérez reported to the Permanent Commission on Human Rights , a nongovernmental group , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same prison in Tipitapa and hospitalized with severe pneumonia .
They said he was in intensive care and on a ventilator .
Martínez had requested release or change of detention conditions for 15 prisoners with chronic health conditions , but said 12 were rejected and three had not been answered .
Nearly half of the prisoners released Wednesday came from the Modelo prison in Tipitapa , where Martínez said most of the ill political prisoners are held .
None of the approximately 90 political prisoners detained and still held following anti-government protests that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been included in the release .
The Nicaraguan government has only reported 25 confirmed COVID-19 cases and eight deaths , far lower than other countries in the region .
Reports have emerged of “ express burials ” carried out by public hospitals without families being present and growing numbers of deaths classified as atypical pneumonia .


thetorontostar--2020-05-13--Merkel ‘outraged’ by Russian hack but struggling to respond

BERLIN—German Chancellor Angela Merkel used strong words Wednesday condemning an “ outrageous ” cyberattack by Russia ’ s foreign intelligence service on the German Parliament , her personal email account included .
Russia , she said , was pursuing “ a strategy of hybrid warfare.
” But asked how Berlin intended to deal with recent revelations implicating the Russians , Merkel was less forthcoming .
“ We always reserve the right to take measures , ” she said in Parliament , then immediately added , “ Nevertheless , I will continue to strive for a good relationship with Russia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason to always continue these diplomatic efforts.
” Germany and Merkel may be furious about what they see as the increasingly bold activities by Russian spies on German territory , which have ranged from toxic disinformation campaigns to cyberattacks and the daylight murder of a former Chechen commander in a Berlin park .
But even as patience with Russian President Vladimir Putin is running thin , officials are struggling to figure out a good way to respond .
It is another chapter in a German-Russian relationship that is close but complicated and contradictory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tougher leaders in Europe when it comes to Russia , demanding a strong line on maintaining economic sanctions against Moscow after the 2014 invasion of Ukraine despite some pushback in other capitals and at home .
But she has also worked hard to keep the lines to Moscow open .
The two countries have many economic links , not least in the energy market , and a sizable faction in German politics believes Russia should be a primary partner .
The cyberattack on Germany ’ s Bundestag , the lower house of Parliament @ @ @ @ @ @ @ siphoning off an estimated 16 gigabytes of data and paralyzing the entire network for several days .
Intelligence officials had long suspected Russian operatives were behind the attack , but they took five years to collect the evidence , which was presented in a report given to Merkel ’ s office just last week .
On Wednesday , Merkel said Russia was waging war on multiple levels , including disinformation campaigns , “ which we have to take into account and which we can not simply ignore.
” Following the latest news on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some form of response is growing , officials said .
But for now it remains unclear when and how Berlin will act .


thetorontostar--2020-05-13--Senate narrowly rejects new limits on internet surveillance

WASHINGTON - The Senate came one vote short Wednesday of approving a proposal to prevent federal law enforcement from obtaining internet browsing information or search history without seeking a warrant .
The bipartisan amendment won a solid majority of the Senate but just shy of the 60 votes needed for adoption .
The 59-37 vote to allow such warrantless searches split both parties , with Republicans and Democrats voting for and against .
The amendment ’ s authors , Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Republican Sen. Steve Daines of Montana , have long opposed the expansion and renewal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to track and fight terrorists .
They say the laws can infringe on people ’ s rights .
“ Should law-abiding Americans have to worry about their government looking over their shoulders from the moment they wake up in the morning and turn on their computers to when they go to bed at night ?
” Wyden asked .
“ I believe the answer is no .
But that ’ s exactly what the government has the power to do without our amendment.
” The amendment vote came as the Senate considered renewal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March before Congress left due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The legislation is a bipartisan , House-passed compromise that has the backing of President Donald Trump , Attorney General William Barr and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif .
It would renew the authorities and impose new restrictions to try and appease civil liberties advocates .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , encouraged senators to vote against Wyden and Daines ’ amendment , saying the legislation was already a “ delicate balance.
” He warned changing it could mean the underlying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We can not let the perfect become the enemy of the good when key authorities are currently sitting expired and unusable , ” McConnell said on the Senate floor before the vote .
The House passed the compromise legislation shortly before the chamber left town two months ago .
But McConnell couldn ’ t find enough support to approve the measure in the Senate , and instead passed a simple extension of the surveillance laws .
Pelosi never took that legislation up , and McConnell is trying again to pass the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general and members of Congress have worked together to craft a compromise solution that will implement needed reforms while preserving the core national security tools , ” McConnell said .
“ These intense discussions have produced a strong bill that balances the need for accountability with our solemn obligation to protect our citizens and defend our homeland.
” It ’ s unclear if McConnell will be able to get the votes for final passage on Thursday .
The close outcome on the Wyden and Daines amendment indicates that a majority of the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed to better protect civil liberties .
An aide to Sen. Patty Murray , D-Wash. , said after the vote that she would have supported the amendment if she had been present — meaning it would have passed .
Murray was in her home state and will be present for Thursday ’ s vote , said the aide , who declined to be identified and was granted anonymity to share the senator ’ s thinking .
Julian Sanchez , a senior fellow at the Cato Institute , a think-tank , said it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one vote and said the vote total would have been “ inconceivable ” five years ago .
“ It suggests a sea change in attitudes ” following revelations in problems with how the FBI has used its secret surveillance powers , Sanchez said .
“ It goes to the sort of collapse in trust in the intelligence community to deploy these authorities in a restrained way.
” The Senate did adopt a amendment by Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah and Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont that would boost third-party oversight to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If the Senate passes the legislation with that amendment intact , the bill would then have to go back to the House for approval instead of to the president ’ s desk for signature .
A third amendment by Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul , a Republican who is a longtime skeptic of surveillance programs , is expected to be considered Thursday before a final vote .
Paul ’ s amendment would require the government to go to a traditional federal court , instead of the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court , to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The expired provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allow the FBI to get a court order for business records in national security investigations , to conduct surveillance on a subject without establishing that they ’ re acting on behalf of an international terrorism organization and to more easily continue eavesdropping on a subject who has switched cellphone providers to thwart detection .
The congressional debate coincides with internal efforts by the FBI and Justice Department to overhaul its surveillance procedures after a harshly critical inspector general report documented a series of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign .
The report identified significant errors and omissions in applications that were submitted in 2016 and 2017 to monitor the communications of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page .
The Justice Department inspector general has since said that it has identified additional problems in applications .
The FBI has announced steps designed to ensure that the application process is more accurate and thorough , and that information that cuts against the premise of the requested surveillance is disclosed to the court .
With encouragement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has said he will support the House-passed legislation .
But Paul has made it clear that he will try and lobby the president to veto it , if it passes the Senate .
“ You are the president of the US , and you ’ re allowing your intelligence community to spy on your political opponents ?
” Paul tweeted at Trump on Tuesday .
“ I ’ d be surprised if President Obama didn ’ t know about the abuses that occurred against @ realDonaldTrump !
We need to fix FISA now @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Mary Clare Jalonick And Eric Tucker - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-13--Trump, GOP launch broad attack on Russia probe foundations

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump and Republicans are launching a broad election-year attack on the foundation of the Russia investigation , including declassifying intelligence information to try to place senior Obama administration officials under scrutiny for routine actions .
The effort has been aided by a Justice Department decision to dismiss its prosecution of former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn , an action that rewrites the narrative of the 3-year-old case in a way that former federal law enforcement officials say downplays the legitimate national security concerns they believe Flynn ’ s actions raised and the consequences of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The DOJ decision comes as Trump and his Republican allies push to reframe the Russia investigation as a “ deep state ” plot to sabotage his administration , setting the stage for a fresh onslaught of attacks on past and present Democratic officials and law enforcement leaders .
“ His goal is that by the end of this , you ’ re just not really sure what happened and at some gut level enough Americans say , ‘ It ’ s kind of messy , ’ ” said Princeton University historian Julian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came Wednesday when two Republican critics of the Russia investigation , Sens .
Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin , disclosed a list of names of Obama administration officials who they say may have received Flynn ’ s identity from intelligence reports in 2016 and 2017 .
Among the names is Trump ’ s Democratic opponent , Joe Biden , who was vice-president when the Russia probe began .
Names of Americans are routinely hidden , or minimized , in intelligence reports describing surveillance of foreigners , so U.S. officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they want to know the person ’ s identity , or “ unmask ” them .
Biden and the other officials had full authority to seek the name of a unidentified person who had interacted with the Russian ambassador — it turned out to be Flynn .
They did so through proper channels , according to Trump administration documents .
Rather than reveal any actual wrongdoing , the release of the information by the president ’ s allies seems designed to create suspicion around Biden and other senior Democrats as the November election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the list with Biden ’ s name as a “ massive thing.
” But the Biden campaign dismissed the revelation , with spokesman Andrew Bates saying it simply indicates “ the breadth and depth of concern across the American government ” at the time about Flynn ’ s conversations with foreign representatives .
In 2016 the FBI and other agencies were scrutinizing Russian interference on Trump ’ s behalf and trying to understand whether Trump associates were involved in that effort .
None of the officials could have known the unidentified person was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been politically charged since early 2017 , when details emerged about Flynn ’ s conversations during the presidential transition period with Russia ’ s then-U.S. ambassador .
As part of special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s Russia investigation , Flynn pleased guilty to lying to the FBI about having discussed sanctions with the diplomat .
U.S. intelligence agencies who conduct surveillance of foreigners hide or “ mask ” as a matter of course the names of Americans to whom foreigners speak or speak about in intelligence reports that are disseminated across government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Security Agency to disclose — or unmask — the names of Americans referenced in intelligence reports if they believe the identity is essential in understanding the intelligence , and they do so thousands of times a year .
In fact , unmasking requests increased in the first years of the Trump administration from 2015-2016 totals during the latter years of the Obama administration , according to a government transparency report issued last month .
The list declassified by Richard Grenell , a Trump loyalist and acting national intelligence director , shows a broad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nov. 8 , 2016 , and Jan. 31 , 2017 , to unmask the identity of the American who was revealed to be Flynn , according to a cover letter from NSA Director Paul Nakasone .
It is unclear if they actually viewed the unmasked information .
Flynn ’ s call with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak occurred in late December 2016 .
Many of the requests to unmask his identity took place before then .
The content of the intelligence reports was not disclosed .
The highly unusual disclosure comes as Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been eager to shift the focus elsewhere .
He has repeatedly pronounced Flynn “ exonerated ” and pushed a loosely defined “ Obamagate ” allegation that the previous administration tried to undermine him during the presidential transition .
Trump has tried to rally his supporters around the claim to revive enthusiasm among voters disappointed by his handling of the pandemic .
He used the first 20 minutes of a recent Fox News interview to attack the Obama administration rather than offer updates on the pandemic .
He has increasingly lashed out in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which while identifying substantial contacts between his associates and Russia did not accuse him of a crime or allege a criminal conspiracy between his campaign and the Kremlin .
Revelations since then have exposed problems in the early days of the FBI ’ s probe , including errors and omissions in applications to surveil an ex-Trump campaign adviser .
Attorney General William Barr has said dropping the case against Flynn , who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about having discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador during the presidential transition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The department says the FBI had insufficient grounds for interviewing Flynn about his “ entirely appropriate ” calls and that any imperfect statements he made weren ’ t material to the broader counterintelligence investigation into the Trump campaign .
But the decision stunned former law enforcement officials involved in the case , including some who say the Justice Department is rewriting history and omitting key context .
Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe said the FBI was obligated to interview Flynn about his conversations with the Russian ambassador , and said Flynn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns .
And because White House officials were inaccurately asserting that Flynn had never discussed sanctions with Kislyak , U.S. officials were concerned Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail since Russia also knew what was discussed .
“ Mr .
Flynn was set to become the national security adviser , and it was untenable that Russia — which the intelligence community had just assessed had sought to interfere in the U.S. presidential election — might have leverage over him , ” Mary McCord , the Justice Department ’ s top national security official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York Times opinion piece in which she accused Barr of misrepresenting her viewpoints .
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan has yet to rule on the Justice Department ’ s dismissal request and has indicated that he is not inclined to do so swiftly .
Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report .

Eric Tucker And Jonathan Lemire - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-13--Q&A: What does ‘unmasking’ someone in an intel report mean?

WASHINGTON - In 2016 , Obama administration officials received intelligence reports that were concerning , but incomplete .
Surveillance of Russia ’ s ambassador to the U.S. revealed he had interacted with an unnamed American who may have been undercutting efforts to pressure Vladimir Putin ’ s government .
Using a common process known as “ unmasking , ” they asked intelligence agencies to reveal the American ’ s name .
It was Michael Flynn , an adviser to President-elect Donald Trump .
The unmasking of Flynn has become Exhibit A in Trump ’ s unsubstantiated claim that he and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scandalous Obama administration “ witch hunt.
” The top intelligence official , Richard Grenell , now has stepped into the unmasking issue , declassifying the names of the Obama administration officials who may have requested the unmasking .
Those names , disclosed Wednesday by two Republican senators , included Trump ’ s Democratic presidential rival Joe Biden .
There is nothing illegal about unmasking and the declassified document states that proper procedures were followed .
While Trump casts unmasking as sinister , his administration has used the process more frequently than Obama ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unmasking ” Americans ’ names in intelligence briefs : During routine , legal surveillance of foreign targets , names of Americans occasionally come up in conversations .
Foreigners could be talking about a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident by name , or a foreigner could be speaking directly to an American .
When an American ’ s name is swept up in surveillance of foreigners , it is called “ incidental collection.
” In these cases , the name of the American is masked before the intelligence is distributed to administration officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ privacy .
Unless there is a clear intelligence value to knowing the American ’ s name , it is not revealed in the reports .
The intelligence report would refer to the person only as “ U.S .
Person 1 ” or U.S .
Person 2.
“ If U.S. officials with proper clearance to review the report want to know the identity , they can ask the agency that collected the information — perhaps the FBI , CIA or National Security Agency — to “ unmask ” the name .
Unmasking requests are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former CIA deputy director and host of “ Intelligence Matters ” podcast .
“ Literally hundreds of times a year across multiple administrations .
In general , senior officials make the requests when necessary to understand the underlying intelligence .
I myself did it several times a month and NSA adjudicates the request .
You can ’ t do your job without it , “ he said .
Morell emphasized that unmasking is not the same as declassification .
“ When a name is unmasked , the underlying intelligence to include the name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a crime.
” WHEN WOULD AN INTELLIGENCE AGENCY UNMASK A NAME ?
The request is not automatically granted .
The person asking has to have a good reason .
Typically , the reason is that not knowing the name makes it impossible to fully understand the intelligence provided .
The name is released only if the official requesting it has a need to know and the “ identity is necessary to understand foreign intelligence information or assess its importance , ” according to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unmasking .
“ Additional approval by a designated NSA official is also required.
” Former NSA Director Mike Rogers has said that only 20 of his employees could approve an unmasking .
The names are shared only with the specific official who asked .
They are not released publicly .
Leaking a name , or any classified information , is illegal .
HOW OFTEN ARE NAMES UNMASKED ?
The number of unmasking requests began being released to the public in response to recommendations in 2014 from the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 12-month period between September 2015 and August 2016 , the first period in which numbers are publicly available .
The period was during the latter years of the Obama administration .
The number rose during the Trump administration .
The 9,529 requests in 2017 grew to 16,721 in 2018 and 10,012 last year .
WHY WOULD OBAMA OFFICIALS BE LOOKING AT THE AMBASSADOR ’ S CONVERSATIONS ?
It ’ s not unusual for the U.S. government to use intelligence collected from foreigners to get a sense of how other countries view the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Obama administration , the FBI and the NSA were looking into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election .
One aim of the probe was to find out whether any Trump associates had colluded with Russia to help Trump get elected .
Because of that review , intelligence agencies were generating more reports that were shared with senior Obama officials .
WHY IS THIS ISSUE BEING DISCUSSED IN THE NEWS NOW ?
Trump and his supporters have made the unmasking of Flynn one of their major talking points and discussions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media .
They claim it proves that Obama administration unfairly — and maybe illegally — targeted Flynn and other Trump associates .
But there ’ s no evidence the unmasking of Flynn was illegal .
The memo released by the Republican senators notes that it was approved through the NSA ’ s “ standard process.
” Democrats see the unmasking issue as aimed at energizing Trump ’ s base at a time when the president ’ s response to COVID-19 has been called into question and he faces the prospect of running for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Great Depression .
The role of Grenell , the acting director of national intelligence and a Trump loyalist , in declassifying the names of Obama officials who had unmasked Flynn , will likely add to criticism that Trump has bent nonpartisan national security agencies to serve him politically .
The decision follows the Justice Department ’ s move to drop charges against Flynn , who had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contact with the Russian ambassador .


thetorontostar--2020-05-13--Some Hawaii hotels concerned about quarantine enforcement

HONOLULU - Some Hawaii hotels say they need more guidance about how to enforce a 14-day quarantine on travellers , including what to do if guests refuse to comply or how to participate if they still use physical keys instead of cards .
The Hawaii Tourism and Lodging Association recently asked hotels to give out room key-cards that are only good for checking in , so that if a guest leaves the room , they need a new one to re-enter — signalling to hotel staff that a guest defied the quarantine .
Gov .
David Ige mandated the traveller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempt to curb the spread of coronavirus .
As of Wednesday , the state reported 638 coronavirus cases and 17 deaths .
Some visitors who allegedly violated the quarantine have been arrested .
According to the tourism authority , 264 visitors arrived in Hawaii Tuesday .
During the same time last year , about 30,000 passengers would arrive in the tourism-dependent state daily .
When travellers arrive , officials verify their accommodation arrangements by contacting hotels directly and giving them a heads-up that a visitor has arrived .
Call centre workers from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hawaii Tourism Authority follow-up numerous times to verify travellers are in quarantine .
When call centre workers can ’ t contact someone , they alert law enforcement .
Most of the hotels across the islands that are still open are complying with the policy , according to a Hawaii Tourism Authority report presented to state Senate Special Committee on COVID-19 .
Of 91 hotels contacted last week , 63 are complying with the room key program , according to the survey .
Four were listed as “ declined ” and 24 as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 89 hotels complying , Mufi Hannemann , president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism and Lodging Association , said Wednesday .
Two properties were inadvertently contacted the first time around , he said , and one was still listed as “ pending.
” The Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo is one of two hotels that told tourism officials they declined to participate in the room key protocol .
“ They support the overall initiative , however , they are not getting the calls from the airport promptly , ” the survey said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hotel staff and the tourism and lodging association .
A hotel official told the association that in many cases , they aren ’ t notified about an arriving guest until after the guest has already checked in .
The hotel official also noted that law enforcement is only giving a warning and that enforcement falls back on the hotel .
Three people at the hotel were recently arrested for allegedly violating the quarantine .
“ The hotel is currently short-staffed and can not be policing everyone that comes in , ” the survey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know who is under the mandatory quarantine.
” Hotel officials didn ’ t immediately respond to requests to elaborate why the hotel declined to participate in the room key protocol .
In response to the hotel ’ s concern about law enforcement , Alan Richmond , a spokesman for the Hawaii Police Department , said in a statement that the Hawaii Tourism Authority routes issues about visitors not responding to verification calls to Hawaii County Civil Defence .
“ Police are notified and provided with the request for assistance from Civil Defence and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physical follow up checks , ” he said .
“ Likewise if hotel staff have concerns that guests are not abiding by the quarantine requirements they can contact HPD directly and an officer will be assigned to conduct a documented check ( and take necessary action if a violations is determined ) .
” Hannemann noted one hotel — the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort — began limiting room key access on their own when the quarantine began .
Some hotels said they need more guidance , including what to do if guests refuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t participate because they have traditional , physical keys .
One hotel reported it uses a code .
Guests are let into the room but not given the code .

Jennifer Sinco Kelleher - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-13--Nothing stolen before Ahmaud Arbery was shot and killed, homeowner says

SAVANNAH , Ga. - Days before Ahmaud Arbery was pursued by two white men and fatally shot after being spotted inside a home under construction , neighbours — including one of the suspects — reported an earlier encounter with a person wandering through the open-framed structure .
Owner Larry English found nothing stolen from the site where he ’ s building a home in the Satilla Shores subdivision where 25-year-old Arbery was slain Feb. 23 , English ’ s attorney said Wednesday .
But she said there had been “ four or five ” instances in which unauthorized people entered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Nothing was ever taken from the English property , ” attorney J. Elizabeth Graddy said in a statement Wednesday .
She added that “ Mr .
English is deeply distressed by Mr. Arbery ’ s death.
” Graddy also shared security camera video from the home site taken Feb. 11 , less than two weeks before the shooting , that briefly shows a man walking inside the structure .
She said English has been unable to find security video from the prior instances .
Attorneys for Arbery ’ s family have said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ English ’ s home immediately before the shooting Feb. 23 was Arbery and the footage shows he committed no crime .
It ’ s unknown whether it ’ s also Arbery in the newly released video taken 11 days earlier .
Travis McMichael , one of the two men charged in Arbery ’ s death , called 911 on Feb. 11 to report what he considered to be a suspicious man at the construction site , according to audio obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution .
“ I was leaving the neighbourhood and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house being built , ” McMichael said during the 911 call , according to the newspaper .
“ When I turned around , he took off running into the house.
” “ We ’ ve been having a lot of burglaries and break-ins around here lately , ” McMichael told the operator .
English lives far from where the home is being built just outside the port city of Brunswick , 70 miles ( 110 kilometres ) south of Savannah .
Graddy said the night of Feb. 11 he received an alert when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security camera .
English sent a text message to a neighbour , Diego Perez , asking him to check on the house .
According to Graddy , the neighbour soon sent English a text : “ The police showed up and we all searched for a good while .
I think he got spooked and ran after Travis confronted him .
Travis says the guy ran into the house .
Let me know if he shows up or if they find him.
” Travis McMichael lives near the home English is building .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ aggravated assault , accused of firing the three shotgun blasts that struck Arbery at close range .
His father , former police officer and district attorney ’ s investigator Gregory McMichael , also has been jailed on the same charges .
As of Wednesday afternoon , no attorneys had filed notice with Glynn County Magistrate Court that they were representing the McMichaels .
English declined to comment to The AP when reached by phone Wednesday , instead referring a reporter to his attorney .
Arbery ’ s mother , Wanda Cooper-Jones , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the subdivision at the time .
He lived with his mother roughly 2 miles ( 3.2 kilometres ) from the subdivision where he was shot .
More than two months passed before the McMichaels were charged in the case .
They were arrested last week soon after the Georgia Bureau of Investigation began looking into the case and cellphone video of Arbery ’ s killing leaked online , causing a national outcry .
According to an incident report by Glynn County police , Gregory McMichael , 64 , said he and his son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pickup truck after seeing him run down their street .
Gregory McMichael told police he suspected Arbery was a burglar , and said he attacked McMichael ’ s 34-year-old son before the younger McMichael shot him .
“ Even if something had have got stolen from my property and it had been Ahmaud , I wouldn ’ t have wanted him to have lost his life for it , ” English told CBS This Morning .

Russ Bynum And Kate Brumback - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-13--Ex-judge asked to evaluate whether to hold Flynn in contempt

WASHINGTON - The judge presiding over Michael Flynn ’ s criminal case appointed a retired jurist on Wednesday to evaluate whether the former Trump administration national security adviser should be held in criminal contempt .
The judge ’ s order is the second signal in as many days registering his resistance to swiftly accepting the Justice Department ’ s motion to dismiss all charges against Flynn .
In his order , U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan appointed former federal judge John Gleeson as an amicus curiae — or friend-of-the-court — and asked him to explore whether Sullivan should hold Flynn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flynn pleaded guilty , as part of special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s Russia investigation , to lying to the FBI about conversations with the then-Russian ambassador to the United States during the presidential transition period .
As part of the plea , he had to admit in court , under oath , that he lied to the FBI and violated federal law .
It is a crime to lie under oath in court .
In January , Flynn filed court papers to withdraw his guilty plea , saying federal prosecutors had acted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their end of the bargain when they sought prison time for him .
Initially , prosecutors said Flynn was entitled to avoid prison time because he had co-operated extensively with the government , but the relationship with the retired Army lieutenant general grew increasingly contentious in the months before he withdrew his plea , particularly after he hired a new set of lawyers who raised misconduct allegations against the government .
But the Justice Department filed a motion last week to dismiss the case , saying that the FBI had insufficient basis to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that statements he made during the interview were not material to the broader counterintelligence investigation into ties between Russia and the Trump campaign .
Officials have said they sought to dismiss the case in the interest of justice , upon the recommendation of a U.S. attorney who had been appointed by Attorney General William Barr to review the handling of the Flynn investigation .
But Sullivan , who has to approve the motion , made clear Tuesday that he wouldn ’ t immediately rule on the request and would let outside individuals and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court documents .
Gleeson was a federal judge in New York for more than two decades .
Before becoming a judge , he had been a federal prosecutor handling numerous high-profile cases , including the case against late Gambino crime family boss John Gotti .
He ’ s been in private practice since 2016 .
Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-05-13--US report indicates broad risk of COVID-19 at wildfire camps

BOISE , Idaho - Outbreaks of the coronavirus could sweep through large camps where crews typically stay as they fight wildfires across the U.S. , according to a federal document obtained by The Associated Press , and the problem is likely to get worse the longer the fire season lasts .
The U.S. Forest Service ’ s draft risk assessment suggests that even in a best-case scenario — with social distancing followed and plenty of tests and protective equipment available — nearly two dozen firefighters could be infected with COVID-19 at a camp with hundreds of people who come in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months .
The worst-case scenario ?
More than 1,000 infections .
“ The Forest Service is diligently working with partners to assess the risk that COVID-19 presents for the 2020 fire season , ” the agency said in a statement Wednesday .
“ It is important to understand that the figures in this report are not predictions , but rather , model possible scenarios.
” The Forest Service said the document was outdated and being redone , and the newest version wasn ’ t yet ready to share .
The AP obtained the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to it and didn ’ t want to be named .
One of the authors of the risk assessment said Tuesday that in the new version , the infection rates remain the same .
But while the draft originally said the death rate among infected firefighters could reach as high as 6 % , that is being revised sharply downward , to less than 2 % , to reflect newer data , said Jude Bayham , an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at Colorado State University .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on data from early in the pandemic , when testing was far more limited .
Based on new data , firefighters — who are largely healthy and young — will likely fare far better if they contract COVID-19 than the general population , he said .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , especially people who are older or have health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week reimagine how to combat wildfires to reduce the risk of firefighters getting the virus .
The guidelines urge fire managers to use small crews that can have the close contact that firefighting and travel often require , while staying away from other groups .
The guidelines recommend avoiding the traditional large camps and relying on military-issue ready-to-eat or bagged meals instead of catered buffet-style meals at campsites .
Some fire managers also are told to take temperatures with their own touchless thermometers if possible .
The guidelines say everyone should wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those outside their immediate crew .
Good cleaning and sanitation is recommended , as is isolating firefighters and potentially entire crews if COVID-19 is detected .
A review of incident reports from wildfires so far this year show the guidelines are difficult , and sometimes impossible , to follow and could actually increase some risks to firefighters .
“ We have developed pinch-points that cause operational lapses in guidance that may very well get confused with policy and doctrine .
This situation could result in injury — or even unwanted death — of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a fire management officer with the Idaho Panhandle National Forests , wrote in a report from a small wildfire last month .
Social distancing was difficult , and firefighters found it unrealistic to meet sanitation standards for truck radios , hand tools and other gear used in the initial attack on the Idaho wildfire , Juvan said .
Social distancing guidelines call for more vehicles to transport crews , but that led to congestion on the narrow roads leading to the fire .
The guidelines could raise one of the greatest risks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Juvan said .
Even something as basic as sanitizing vehicles proved problematic , with cleaning supplies difficult to find , the report said .
In New Mexico , several agencies responded to a small wildfire last month , with some not practicing social distancing and other virus policies appearing to vary greatly , George Allalunis , a Carson National Forest engine captain , wrote in a report .
For the Forest Service ’ s draft risk assessment , researchers created scenarios using three actual fires from 2017 and applied disease modeling .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work reduced the coronavirus risk most significantly for short , high-intensity wildfires , said Bayham , the professor .
But for longer , drawn-out firefights , initial testing was less important than keeping firefighters spread out in small campsites .
The models showed that even with strict pre-work testing and social distancing , about 21 COVID-19 infections could be expected in a large camp like that used for a 2017 fire in Montana .
In the worst-case scenario , more than 1,000 firefighters would be infected .
The problem could compound as fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the monthslong fire season , which has largely begun .
The risk assessment will be updated throughout the season , the Forest Service said .
The American West could see higher-than-normal levels of wildfire this year because of drought .


thetorontostar--2020-05-13--Texas AG asks court to block mail-in voting over virus fears

DALLAS - Texas ’ Republican attorney general on Wednesday asked the state ’ s high court to order local election officials to reject vote-by-mail applications that cite concerns about catching the coronavirus .
Attorney General Ken Paxton petitioned the state Supreme Court after officials in some predominantly Democratic areas approved measures that would allow voters to claim a disability and request mail-in ballots if they are worried about getting sick at polling places .
County officials and Texas Democrats cast the move as an effort to disrupt the election and an ongoing voting case .
It comes as the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting , with President Donald Trump claiming it is ripe for fraud and Democrats embracing the practice as the safest way to vote during the pandemic .
The attorney general ’ s request contends officials in counties that include Dallas , Houston , Austin , El Paso and the border community of Brownsville have broadened eligibility to vote by mail beyond what the Legislature intended .
“ Each misapplication of Texas election law damages the integrity of our elections and increases the risk of voter fraud , ” Paxton said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court lifted restrictions on mail-in voting after Democrats sued to at least temporarily expand access .
Voting by mail in Texas is generally limited to those 65 or older or those with a “ sickness or physical condition ” that prevents them from casting a ballot in person .
The state is appealing that decision .
Douglas Ray , an attorney who handles election law for Harris County , said the county ’ s approach complies fully with the lower court ’ s ruling and that the counties will vigorously oppose Paxton ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pending appeal .
“ He ’ s attempting to circumvent the process , ” Ray said .
A lawyer for the Texas Democratic Party on Wednesday said “ thousands ” of people under 65 have already requested mail-in ballots , and accused Paxton of trying to “ upset the election process.
” “ Whether the state courts or the federal courts resolve the matter , a citizen ’ s right to vote will be protected , ” said attorney Chad Dunn .


thetorontostar--2020-05-13--Up to 40 die in Mexico following two more mass bad-alcohol poisonings

MEXICO CITY—Authorities said as many as 40 people died after drinking methanol in two states in central Mexico , the latest in a series of mass bad-alcohol poisonings registered since coronavirus lockdowns began and many towns banned legitimate liquor sales .
In the township of Chiconcuautla in Puebla state , Mayor Artemio Hernández said Wednesday that at least 18 people had died of presumed methanol poisoning , but the city ’ s Facebook page put the number at 25 .
The state government said it had closed the stores where the suspect liquor was sold , and seized about 200 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspect liquor was a little-known brand called “ Refino , ” which translates roughly as “ very fine.
” Puebla state Interior Secretary David Méndez said the victims may have drunk the contaminated liquor at a funeral over the weekend where as many as 80 people gathered .
Such large-scale funerals have supposedly been prohibited under social-distancing measures aimed at fighting the pandemic .
And in Morelos state , south of Mexico City , inspectors seized four 20-litre jugs of unlabelled alcohol that was believed to be the cause of 15 poisoning deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearby town .
The dead were 14 men and one woman .
The two incidents were just the latest mass poisonings .
In late April , 25 people died in the state of Jalisco after drinking a cheap brand of cane alcohol known as “ El Chorrito.
” And local media reported another seven people died of methanol poisoning recently in the Yucatan village of Acanceh , but authorities did not immediately respond to requests for information to confirm that incident .
It is unclear if the poisonings are related to the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether people drank the adulterated booze because legitimate liquor was unavailable or whether the economic effects of the lockdown have forced people to turn to cheaper bootleg versions .
Methanol is a poisonous cousin of the ethanol alcohol present in normal liquors and can not be smelled or tasted in drinks .
It causes delayed organ and brain damage , and its symptoms include chest pain , nausea , hyperventilation , blindness and even coma .


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Young priest loses mentor, then his father -- both to virus

NEW YORK - The Rev .
Joseph Dutan recalls how he lifted the chalice in the empty church and felt a flood of emotions : grief , the pain of isolation , even doubt .
But also , the promise of hope that is the gift of every Easter -- even in the midst of a pandemic that had already robbed him and his community of so much , and threatened to take so much more .
He prayed for the soul of the Rev .
Jorge Ortiz , his mentor and the first Catholic priest in the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He prayed that he could console a community that could not gather to mourn Ortiz ’ passing .
And he offered a more personal prayer : for his own father , struggling with COVID-19 .
“ God , ” he prayed , “ I ’ ll follow my vocation , but please take care of my dad.
” It was not the first time Dutan had faced death .
He has officiated at funerals .
And before he followed his calling , he was treated successfully for leukemia at the same hospital where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fighting for his life .
But for this 32-year-old priest , the weeks of the pandemic have been a unique struggle .
He has been overcome with emotions for his family and St. Brigid parishioners .
“ Hearing their pain , you could relate , ” he said .
The harm caused by the virus is all around him : The funeral home across from St. Brigid , always busy .
The blaring sirens of ambulances speeding near the church in this area straddling Brooklyn and Queens , which have some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City .
Dutan estimated that dozens of St. Brigid ’ s parishioners have been infected and said that at least three have died from COVID-19 complications since Ortiz ’ s death .
Parishioners are unemployed .
Others are undocumented -- “ They come from Ecuador , Mexico , the Dominican Republic , Panama , from all over the world ” -- and many of them live in cramped apartments that don ’ t allow for social distancing , rendering them vulnerable .
“ You start to see how the community is being affected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis , he has advised the church youth group on Zoom , celebrated Mass in English and Spanish on Facebook via livestream , and taken calls from worried parishioners .
“ Father Joseph was one of the first people that we called .
I flat out told him : ‘ We ’ re scared.
’ I don ’ t know what to do , not just about losing Father Jorge , but my parents are sick , ” said Tiffany Velez , 27 , whose parents contracted the coronavirus .
“ The minute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , cool and collected .
He shared his personal story.
” Ortiz was his close friend -- Batman to Dutan ’ s Robin , said Robert Velez , a parishioner who was married by Dutan .
They had lived together in the rectory .
Dutan brought Ortiz food when he fell ill , called the ambulance when his condition worsened .
On their last call , he implored his mentor to recover , so they could sing together at the Easter service .
Ortiz was 49 when he died on March 27 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ father , Manuel , was rushed to New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan .
When he took a turn for the worst on Good Friday , a hospital chaplain performed the last rites .
By the next day , his condition improved .
He admits he has faced doubts .
“ I sometimes feel unworthy .
I say , ’ Wow , the Lord chose somebody who is very unworthy to consecrate somebody unworthy to bring his body and blood to others , to comfort others , ’ ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
Dutan was born in Woodside , Queens , and grew up in a large , devoutly Catholic Ecuadorian family .
He said he first felt a calling to serve God when he was in fifth grade in the ’ 90s , but he ignored it because “ you know , you want to be the cool kid on the block.
” He attended Vaughn College in Queens , where he excelled at electronic engineering .
While there , he fell ill with a rare form of leukemia .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinking that his dreams of having a family of his own , of buying a car or owning a home , were all over at the age of 20 .
One day , a priest came to his hospital room .
He said : “ ` Joseph , who said you ’ re going to die ?
Only the Lord has the last word.
’ ...
I remember , just those words echoing every time , ” Dutan said .
“ That ’ s when I started seeing things in a different way.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the draw of the priesthood was strong .
He dropped out just one semester before graduation .
His father , a chef at a French restaurant , was furious and wouldn ’ t talk to him for a month .
He felt his son was throwing away his career .
With time , Manuel Dutan changed his tune .
He would often be seen at the church pews and would proudly introduce him to friends and strangers as “ my son , the priest.
” On April 30 , Dutan celebrated a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The church was empty , but the service was followed online by many who thanked him for his work and sent him greetings in real time .
He also received a live surprise : After weeks of isolation , his whole family waited for him outside of the rectory with balloons , banners and a birthday cake .
It was , he said , “ A moment of joy ... a moment of light after all these moments of darkness , you finally see a light there.
” But the light flickered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a call with my mother , ” he said , on a recent day .
“ My father is in a very bad state .
His heart is slowly , slowly stopping.
” On May 5 , Manuel Dutan died .
His son pressed on , in his empty church .
“ I feel at peace right now , ” he said .
“ I ’ m at a good point knowing that he ’ s not suffering anymore.
” Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible for this content .

Luis Andres Henao And Jessie Wardarski - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Lives Lost: Brothers who survived Holocaust die weeks apart

NEW YORK - The brothers didn ’ t have a chance to say goodbye .
As young Polish Jews , each came out of World War II with scars that forever shaped how they viewed the world , and each other .
One survived Auschwitz , a death march and starvation .
The other endured cold and hunger in a Siberian labour camp , then nearly died in a pogrom back in Poland .
Alexander and Joseph Feingold chose New York City as the place to start over .
It is where they became architects , lived blocks from each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was there that they died four weeks apart , each alone , as the coronavirus pandemic gripped the city .
Joe , 97 , died April 15 of complications of COVID-19 at the same hospital where Alex , 95 , succumbed to pneumonia on March 17 .
EDITOR ’ S NOTE : This is part of an ongoing series of stories remembering people who have died from coronavirus around the world .
Joseph Feingold never escaped the guilt of leaving his mother and two younger brothers to escape the Nazis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his stepdaughter from his assisted living facility and asked her to take him to his brother .
“ Joe was wanting to go sit with Alex , to say goodbye and I think , too , to make amends , ” Ame Gilbert recalled .
“ It broke me up having to say no , and having to explain to him that no one could visit because of the virus.
” The siblings were childhood rivals , separated in age by only 18 months .
As little boys playing in Warsaw , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe always got to be chief , he recalled in a memoir .
Their youth was shattered when Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939 and the Soviet Union seized Poland ’ s eastern half two weeks later .
World War II had started .
Joe was 16 and Alex not yet 15 .
By the time they were in their early 20s , both brothers had witnessed the horrors of war .
But only one bore a concentration camp tattoo on his arm .
Joe had been the luckier of the two .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ their father , Aron , who was threatened with arrest by the Gestapo , fled to the Soviet-occupied part of Poland .
They were eventually arrested and sent to separate labour camps in Siberia .
Conditions were harsh but improved later in the war and father and son were reunited .
Back in German-occupied Poland , Alex was forced into the Kielce ghetto with his mother , Ruchele , and youngest brother , Henryk .
One night , Nazi SS officers forced him and other male Jews into a field with shovels .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ grave .
Instead , wagons unloaded hundreds of bodies , and the Germans ordered the terrified group with the shovels to search the dead for valuables .
Alex used a bottle to knock gold fillings from teeth and buried bodies , going numb as the awful ritual repeated .
Ruchele and 13-year-old Henryk were deported to the Treblinka death camp .
Alex ended up at Auschwitz-Birkenau , where he saw corpses burned outside the gas chambers .
He helped dismantle Allied bombs at the Buna subcamp in exchange for tobacco and extra food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soviets moved west , Alex was evacuated in a death march to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp , where he was liberated on April 15 .
He was sick with dysentery and weighed just 88 pounds ( 40 kilos ) .
After the war , Joe and his father returned to Poland , where 90 per cent of the country ’ s 3.3 million Jews perished in the Holocaust .
Seeking information about the family ’ s fate , Joe returned to Kielce and was beaten unconscious and left for dead in the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Joseph Feingold was believed to be the last living survivor of that 1946 massacre , according to historian Joanna Tokarska-Bakir , author of “ Cursed : A Social Portrait of the Kielce Pogrom.
” Joe and his father finally saw Alex again at a displaced person ’ s camp in Germany 19 months after the war ended .
In an oral history with the USC Shoah Foundation , Alex recalled the reunion as a “ sad moment.
” “ I was so cold , unemotional — very , very cold and unemotional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breakdown , he couldn ’ t bring himself to speak about seeing his mother and Henryk for the last time — not then , not ever .
Even without hearing it from his brother , Joe knew the shape of the horror .
“ The feelings of guilt that I have , which I can not overcome , are still with me , ” he wrote in a memoir .
“ Alex never reproached me for being abandoned by his father , or by his older brother , or for anything else that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He didn ’ t reproach me , but he didn ’ t have to.
” Alex ’ s trauma , according to Mark Feingold , the second of his own three sons , caused indelible injury and “ made him less capable of being involved and recognized in society ” than Joe .
Joe gained public recognition with the donation of a violin to a girls ’ school in the Bronx , featured in an Oscar-nominated 2016 documentary , “ Joe ’ s Violin.
” In the key scene , the 12-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perez , plays Joseph a Yiddish song his mother loved .
His stepdaughter says that while warm and generous , Joe had his own reservoirs of unfathomable pain that revealed themselves as anger and impatience , and he was haunted by frequent nightmares .
When Mark Feingold took his father to Mt .
Sinai West Hospital in March , doctors assumed Alex had COVID-19 .
He tested negative , but the pandemic overshadowed his last days .
A visit from Joe might have brought some comfort .
Shortly before his own death , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chamber with his mother and Henryk , according to Gilbert , his stepdaughter .
“ When Alex died and he didn ’ t have a chance to make peace with him , I thought ‘ Oh , Joe ’ s going to die soon.
’ “ Joe ’ s eyes were closed as Gilbert said goodbye in a video call .
“ I am choosing to believe that he heard that I loved him .
I went through the list of all of those who loved him , ” Gilbert said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Follow Vanessa Gera at https : //twitter.com/VanessaGera and Randy Herschaft at https : //www.twitter.com/HerschaftAP

Vanessa Gera And Randy Herschaft - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Sergeant fired in school shooting response to get job back

FORT LAUDERDALE , Fla. - A Florida sheriff ’ s sergeant fired because he sat in a parked car during a 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School will get his job back along with back pay , according to a statement from the union that represents deputies .
The arbitrator dismissed the case against Brian Miller after finding that his due process rights were violated when Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony terminated him , the South Florida SunSentinel reported .
A former student gunned down 17 people and injured 17 others when he entered the Parkland , Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with an assault-style rifle .
He is currently awaiting trial in Broward County .
On the day of the shooting , the deputy assigned to the high school , Scot Peterson , took cover while the gunman was inside the building shooting students , an investigation found .
He was later fired and charged with multiple counts of child neglect .
The shooting exposed widespread failures at the sheriff ’ s office , and eventually led to the ouster of Sheriff Scott Israel .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis replaced Israel with Tony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stambaugh and Edward Eason .
Miller was the first supervisor on the scene of the shooting , arriving in time to hear three or four shots , records show .
A state commission assembled to investigate the shooting found that Miller took his time putting on a bulletproof vest and hid behind his car .
“ Miller failed to co-ordinate or direct deputies ’ actions and did not direct or co-ordinate an immediate response into the school , ” a report from the commission said .


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Typhoon hits Philippines as some places see pandemic relief

WARSAW , Poland - A typhoon that slammed into the Philippines on Thursday forced a risky evacuation for tens of thousands of people during the coronavirus pandemic , while New Zealand and Japan were among countries to relax restrictions as the virus is brought under control in some places Typhoon Vongfong added the threat of flooding and landslides to the further spread of COVID-19 as people in the eastern Philippines were evacuated into shelters .
Officials were seeking to open up more shelter space so people could create more physical distance from themselves , something that was a clear challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ region .
As the pandemic restrictions across the globe inflict damage on economies , several governments promised relief .
New Zealand ’ s government said it plans to borrow and spend vast amounts of money as it tries to keep unemployment below 10 % .
“ We face a global economic and health crisis not seen since the Great Depression , ” Finance Minister Grant Robertson said .
In Italy , one of the worst-hit countries , Premier Giuseppe Conte promised a massive package of tax cuts and other financial aid to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promised to legalize the status of foreigners , many of them illegal migrants who are crop-pickers , babysitters and caretakers .
The world ’ s public health measures continue to provoke conflict between officials and the public .
In Ethiopia , police said they arrested over 1,000 people for refusing to wear face masks in public , while in Greece a spat broke out over a government plan to install cameras in high school classrooms .
The idea is to provide live-streaming to allow for reduced classroom attendance when schools reopen next week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left-wing opposition party called cameras a serious privacy risk .
In many parts of the world , communities and individuals were finding inventive ways to cope with what many view as a “ new normal.
” Apartment dwellers in Rio de Janeiro were getting some much-needed entertainment from children ’ s movies projected onto screens set up outside their buildings , similar to a drive-in theatre .
Cesar Miranda Ribeiro , president of city-owned RioFilme company , said the effort , called “ Cinema in the Windows , ” is aimed at “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health of the people.
” Chinese people looking for some stay-at-home retail therapy have tuned into livestream shopping .
Others seeking spiritual support and human connections are worshipping remotely via online religious services , including from the Vatican to village churches .
“ People in general , I think , are looking for more meaning and spirituality in the midst of all this , ” said Omar Suleiman , an Islamic leader in Irving , Texas , whose Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research has been uploading YouTube videos .
“ So I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in religiosity and consumption of religious content.
” For most leaders , though , the focus was a far more worldly one : how to get back to business and revive economies reeling from record numbers of job losses and chilling uncertainty .
Japan ’ s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday announced the lifting of an ongoing state of emergency in most parts of the country ahead of schedule .
Abe lifted the measure for 39 of the country ’ s 47 prefectures , effective immediately , while keeping the measure in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Osaka , Kyoto and Hokkaido , where risks still remain high .
“ Today is the new beginning for our daily lives , a new normal , ” Abe said , but also warning of the risk of a resurgence of the disease .
In New Zealand , malls , retail stores and restaurants reopened Thursday and many people returned to their workplaces as the nation of 5 million people ended most of its coronavirus lockdown restrictions .
But most gatherings will be limited to 10 people and social distancing guidelines will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the largest coronavirus outbreak in the world by far : 1.39 million infections and over 84,000 deaths , according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University .
Worldwide , the virus has infected more than 4.3 million people and killed some 297,000 .
Experts say the actual numbers are likely far higher .
A top U.S. immunologist who says he lost his government job because he warned the Trump administration to prepare for the coronavirus pandemic said he was ready to tell Congress that America faces its “ darkest winter in modern history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rebound of the coronavirus .
Dr. Rick Bright ’ s testimony due Thursday follows this week ’ s warning by Dr. Anthony Fauci , the government ’ s top infectious disease expert , that rushing to lift store-closing and stay-at-home restrictions could “ turn back the clock , ” seeding more suffering and death and complicating efforts to get the economy rolling again .
But the pressure is on to staunch job losses after the U.S. unemployment rate soared to 14.7 % in April , the highest since the Great Depression .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ political tensions between nations .
In China , Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian , criticized the United States , saying authorities there have failed to effectively fight the global coronavirus pandemic and “ abused American people ’ s trust.
” Zhao appeared to be firing back against accusations from the Trump administration that China mishandled or deliberately delayed releasing information about the outbreak , first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year .
Zhao said the U.S. should “ focus more on fighting the epidemic and safeguarding the lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and stop playing such buck-passing game.
” Australia said it will push for an inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus even if it hurts trade relations with China .
Prime Minister Scott Morrison had been accused of playing “ deputy sheriff ” to the United States after calling for the inquiry .
Morrison brushed off the criticism , telling reporters : “ We have always been independent , we have always pursued our national interests , and we always will.
” Kurtenbach reported from Beijing .
Associated Press journalists around the world @ @ @ @ @

Elaine Kurtenbach And Vanessa Gera - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Montenegro: About 60 detained in clashes over priest arrests

PODGORICA , Montenegro - Montenegrin police said Thursday they have detained around 60 people following clashes at protests demanding the release of eight Serbian Orthodox Church priests jailed for leading a religious procession despite a ban on gatherings related to the new coronavirus outbreak .
Twenty-six officers were injured during the unrest late Wednesday in the towns of Niksic and Pljevlja , police said .
One of the injured policemen has been hospitalized , the statement said .
Police insisted they intervened with pepper spray and dispersed the protesters into smaller groups after they threw rocks , bottles and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ brutally attacked for no reason , “ the statement added .
An axe and a knife were found during a search in Niksic and police property was damaged , while protesters in Pljevlja stoned the police station in the town , the statement also said .
Some of the people were detained in other towns where they tried to organize gatherings , including the capital , Podgorica .
The protests followed the arrest of the Serbian Orthodox Church priests who had led a procession Tuesday that a few thousand people attended without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distance between one another .
The incidents add to tensions between the government and the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro which earlier this year organized months-long protests against a religious law they say would strip the church of its property .
Montenegrin authorities have denied this would happen .
A country of 620,000 people , Montenegro split from much larger Serbia in a referendum in 2006 .
Serbian nationalists both in Serbia and Montenegro have never fully recognized the separation of what they view as a historic Serbian territory .
In Serbia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ we fail to comprehend “ why Bishop Joanikije and other priests remain in detention .
He added that Serbia can not interfere in any way but “ will remain by our people and the church as much as we can.
” Large gatherings are still banned in Montenegro as part of efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus .
The detained priests are facing charges of violating health regulations during the virus outbreak by organizing the procession .