thetorontostar--2020-05-12--Ryanair gets ready to fly more often in July

LONDON - Budget airline Ryanair says it will begin operating nearly 1,000 daily flights starting in July , assuming government restrictions on flights within Europe are lifted after the shutdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak .
The carrier , which was Europe ’ s busiest airline before the pandemic , said Tuesday it will restore 90 % of its pre-COVID-19 route network , though with less frequency .
The airline has been operating with a skeleton schedule since mid-March , with some 30 flights daily between Ireland , the U.K. and Europe .
“ After four months , it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can reunite friends and families , allow people to return to work and restart Europe ’ s tourism industry , which provides so many millions of jobs , ” Ryanair Chief Executive Eddie Wilson said .
The strategy is not without risk .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned Tuesday that people were unlikely to be able to go on foreign holidays this summer .
Asked whether “ summer was cancelled , ” Mr Hancock told ITV : “ I think that ’ s likely to be the case.
” “ It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are going to be possible for this summer , ’ ’ he said .
“ I just think that ’ s a reality of life.
” Aviation has been among the hardest hit industries in the pandemic , with aircraft around the world grounded by travel restrictions .
Many have cut costs and staff to respond .
The latest example is Belgium ’ s Brussels Airlines , which on Tuesday unveiled a cost-cutting plan that will result in the reduction of 25 % of its workforce .
The Lufthansa subsidiary , which employs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a result of the pandemic .
The carrier , which also suffered amid the bankruptcy of travel operator Thomas Cook last year , plans to reduce its fleet from 54 to 38 aircraft .
Brussels Airlines says it is losing 1 million euros ( $ 1.1 million ) a day because of revenue losses , aircraft leasing and maintenance costs .
The company has asked the government for 290 million euros in aid .
Ryanair , warned , meanwhile , that flying would not be the same as it once was .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ toilets will be forbidden , though access to bathrooms can be made on request .
Crew members will wear masks and offer limited services .
Cash will no longer be accepted .
It did not specify if some seats would be left empty .
The airline also announced that passengers flying in July and August will be required at check-in to state the length of their planned visit and give an address for their destination .
The information will be given to governments in the event they want to monitor the passenger for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown said Ryanair ’ s announcement seems “ optimistic , ’ ’ though “ fortune favours the well prepared.
’ ’ “ Ryanair won ’ t be caught napping if flights are resumed this summer , ’ ’ he said in a statement .
“ While preparing to get planes back in the air will cost money , which will be wasted if restrictions aren ’ t lifted , management clearly feels this is a risk worth running .
”


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--Fire guts 400 shanties, shops in Bangladesh Rohingya camp

DHAKA , Bangladesh - A fire on Tuesday raced through a crowded camp housing Rohingya refugees in southern Bangladesh , destroying nearly 400 shanties and shops , a Bangladeshi official and the U.N. ’ s refugee agency said .
No casualties were immediately reported , the refugee agency said in a Facebook post .
The agency , known as the UNHCR , said the fire broke out at the Lambashia camp in Kutupalong in Cox ’ s Bazar district on Tuesday morning .
More than 1 million refugees live in the district bordering Myanmar , from where the refugees crossed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chowdhury , the area ’ s chief government official , said firefighters rushed to the scene and extinguished the blaze in an hour .
It was not immediately clear what caused the fire , but local media said it may have been caused by an explosion of a gas cylinder kept in a shop in the area .
The UNHCR said it mobilized emergency response teams to provide the refugees with food and other items .
Most of the refugees fled their homes in Myanmar after its military launched a harsh crackdown in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurgent group in 2017 .
Myanmar ’ s security forces have been accused of committing mass rapes , killings and burning thousands of homes in the crackdown .
The Muslim Rohingya are not recognized as citizens in Buddhist-majority Myanmar , rendering them stateless , and also face other forms of state-sanctioned discrimination

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thetorontostar--2020-05-12--Gun control group starts faith-driven push ahead of election

NEW YORK - A leading gun control advocacy group has enlisted more than a dozen religious leaders to boost voter turnout this fall in support of candidates who support measures to prevent gun violence .
Everytown for Gun Safety , which expects to spend $ 60 million on this year ’ s elections , is forging its interfaith effort amid ongoing concerns about shootings at houses of worship .
The group ’ s partners include representatives from Christian , Jewish , Muslim , Hindu and Sikh backgrounds , several of them well-known progressive activists .
Among those joining Everytown ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shared with The Associated Press ahead of its official announcement , are evangelical Shane Claiborne , president of the group Red Letter Christians , and Rev .
Traci Blackmon , a United Church of Christ executive minister and a central member of the Black Lives Matter movement .
Another is Rev .
Rob Schenck , a former evangelical anti-abortion activist who has since shifted to support the Roe v. Wade decision and sought to redefine a “ pro-life ” agenda as one that supports gun control .
Schenck described gun violence as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes it a supreme moral consideration.
” “ Churches , especially white evangelical churches , have largely ignored this question -- I think , much to their own detriment and to the detriment of the people they ’ re called to serve , ” said Schenck , president of the Washington-based non-profit Dietrich Bonhoeffer Institute .
In addition to reaching out to clergy on gun policy issues , Schenck said , the Everytown interfaith project would aim to educate rank-and-file faith voters about candidates ’ stances on gun matters .
“ You never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re unwilling to be the answer to , ” he added .
“ So if we pray for a reduction in gun violence , we have to be ready to act on that prayer.
” Everytown , co-founded by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg , counts 6 million supporters and already has endorsed former Vice-President Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee for president .
Biden released a proposal last month to boost security at houses of worship .
“ The faith community has seen firsthand the devastating effects of gun violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than ever that they have an urgent moral responsibility to stop the scourge of gun violence in America — and they ’ re doing so by mobilizing their networks around candidates who support broadly popular gun safety measures in 2020 , “ Angela Ferrell-Zabala , chief equity , outreach and partnerships officer at Everytown , said in a statement .
President Donald Trump is campaigning for reelection as a proponent of gun rights after previously weighing , then walking back , calls for Congress to strengthen gun laws .
Several members of Everytown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religious critics of Trump ’ s record , including Schenck , Blackmon and Michael McBride , a California-based pastor who ’ s active in helping communities of colour during the pandemic .
Whether gun control advocates can make new inroads with voters of faith remains an open question .
Michael Hammond , legislative counsel at the Gun Owners of America , recalled then-presidential candidate Barack Obama ’ s 2008 comment that some disaffected working-class voters “ cling to guns or religion ” to help identify a nexus between faith-driven and gun-rights voters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ milieu , a series of values that surround the sorts of people who value the Second Amendment .
Those values normally include a deep faith , a love of country — generally a conservative social issue outlook.
” Asked about the resonance of gun control with religious voters following attacks at houses of worship , Hammond pointed to the role of an armed churchgoer in acting quickly to end last year ’ s shooting at a Texas church service .
Congregations that “ voluntarily disarm themselves have ended up suffering a catastrophe , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Everytown ’ s project are planning to host at least 50 events designed to engage Americans of faith on gun issues and promote voter registration ahead of November ’ s elections .
The effort is particularly focused on a dozen-plus states that will prove battlegrounds in presidential and congressional contests , including Arizona , Florida , Georgia , Michigan , North Carolina , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin .
Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation .
The AP is solely responsible for this content .


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--US gives ‘up to 1,000’ ventilators to South Africa for virus

JOHANNESBURG - The U.S. government is donating “ up to 1,000 ” ventilators to South Africa to help the country respond to COVID-19 as the Trump administration addresses criticism that it hasn ’ t done enough for countries in need .
“ South Africa is the first country in the world to receive this state-of-the-art equipment ” from the National Security Council and USAID , the U.S. Embassy said in a tweet .
Last week , however , Mexico said it received a U.S. shipment of 211 ventilators as part of aid promised by President Donald Trump .
The U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the world , according to embassy officials .
South Africa has the most confirmed coronavirus cases in Africa with more than 11,300 , including more than 200 deaths .
Virus cases across the 54-nation continent are now above 66,000 .
For weeks , U.S. officials have indicated that the virus crisis at home has delayed the shipment of crucial medical equipment to other countries .
But in recent days the Trump administration has been making plans to ship some 8,000 of the breathing machines to foreign countries by the end of July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how many have been shipped , and it ’ s unclear if some nations would pay for the ventilators , which cost $ 5,000 to $ 30,000 , depending on the model .
Trump has spoken with the leaders of South Africa , Ethiopia , Nigeria and Kenya in recent days about the pandemic .
“ Nigeria just called .
We ’ re giving them 250 ventilators , ” Trump said last week .
In a tweet , he said Ethiopia also had asked for the machines .
Africa has some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and experts have warned they would be rapidly overwhelmed by the virus .
African countries have joined forces with each other and the private sector to compete with richer countries around the world for scarce medical equipment , including badly needed testing kits .
Some African nations also are turning to manufacturing needed equipment themselves , a development that could help speed up industrialization of a continent that has long imported much of its medicines and other health items from abroad .
The U.S.-produced ventilators donated to South Africa are valued at $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service plans and shipping the total donation is worth $ 20 million , the U.S. Embassy said in a statement Tuesday .
The donation brings the total U.S. government financial support to South Africa ’ s COVID-19 response to more than $ 41 million , according to the statement .


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--India resumes limited train service as it eases lockdown

NEW DELHI - India reopened parts of its huge rail network on Tuesday , running a limited number of trains as it looks at easing a nearly seven-week lockdown despite a continuing rise in coronavirus infections .
Special trains departed from several large cities , including New Delhi and Mumbai .
Passengers were allowed to enter the stations only if they were asymptomatic and cleared thermal screening .
They are required to maintain social distancing on board and are given hand sanitizers when they enter and leave .
Indian Railways also is requiring that passengers download a government-run contact tracing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Critics say the Aarogya Setu app endangers civil liberties in how it uses location services and centralizes data collection .
Thousands of passengers waited in long , serpentine queues outside New Delhi ’ s railway station , the hub of India ’ s rail network .
Police in riot gear tried to maintain social distancing and citizen volunteers offered water bottles to passengers who lugged heavy bags .
Station workers sanitized the area with disinfectants .
“ I don ’ t care about what happens next .
At least I will be with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kumar Singh , who works as an air conditioning mechanic in New Delhi but whose home is in eastern Bihar state .
“ If I stay here for long , I will die.
” Singh was among many who expressed relief over the resumption of train travel , which was suspended in late March along with road and air services as part of the nationwide lockdown .
Its strictness helped keep confirmed coronavirus infections relatively low .
But in recent days , as the lockdown has eased and some businesses have resumed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The decision to open select train lines was made Sunday as India considers easing the strict lockdown of its 1.3 billion people that has left millions stranded in cities .
The announcement led to a mad rush for online bookings on Monday as more than 45,000 people purchased train tickets within hours of the start of sales , according to the Press Trust of India news agency .
India has confirmed 70,756 cases of coronavirus , including 2,293 deaths , but experts believe its outbreak is far greater .
Almost a fifth of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the densely populated cities of Mumbai , New Delhi , Pune and Ahmedabad , which also are major centres of economic activity .
The train network , often described as India ’ s lifeline , totals 67,000 kilometres ( 42,000 miles ) and normally carries more than 20 million passengers daily .
The lockdown started in late March and emptied the usually teeming railway stations .
It also destroyed the livelihoods of millions of Indians who rely on daily wages , left migrant workers stranded in big cities and created a hunger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off guard by the large-scale displacement , Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’ s government is increasingly looking at relaxing the lockdown .
It recently ordered special trains to take migrant workers , students and others stranded by the lockdown to their home states after mounting pressure from the opposition .
On Monday , Modi told state leaders in a video call that they will get a greater say in determining the extent of restrictions and relaxations after May 17 .
“ We have a twofold challenge — to reduce the transmission rate of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activity gradually , ” Modi said .
He said the effort now should be to stop the spread of the virus in India ’ s vast rural areas and emphasized that social distancing remains the biggest weapon until a vaccine is developed .
“ Now the world will be pre-corona , post-corona just like the case of the world wars .
And this would entail significant changes in how we function , ” Modi said .

Sheikh Saaliq And Shonal Ganguly - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--China suspends penalties on more US goods in trade truce

BEIJING - China suspended punitive tariffs on more U.S. goods including radar equipment for aviation Tuesday amid pressure from President Donald Trump to buy more imports as part of a truce in their trade war .
The Ministry of Finance said tariff increases on 79 types of goods including radar sets , disinfectant and rare earths minerals would be suspended for one year starting May 19 .
Washington agreed in January to cancel additional tariff hikes and Beijing committed to buy more American farm exports .
U.S. officials said China agreed to address complaints about its technology policies .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if China fails to buy more American goods .
Trump said earlier that Beijing agreed to buy $ 200 billion of American farm goods and other exports .
China resumed purchases of American soybeans but has yet to confirm the size of its commitment .
Trump ’ s threat rekindled fears in financial markets of more U.S.-Chinese conflict and potential disruption of global trade at t a time when economies are reeling from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic .
The two sides have raised duties on tens of billions of dollars of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dispute over China ’ s technology ambitions and trade surplus .
Slumping economic activity due to the virus has prompted suggestions China might be unable to carry out commitments to boost imports .
Last week , U.S. and Chinese trade negotiators promised to create “ favourable conditions ” for carrying out the truce , China ’ s government announced .
The two sides gave no timeline for more talks .
Tuesday ’ s announcement was the third Chinese tariff cut since the January agreement .
Beijing announced on Feb. 6 it would reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goods .
It followed up by rolling back penalties on a list of goods that included medical and industrial machinery .


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--Does Atlantic City need a mayor? Voters to weigh in by mail

ATLANTIC CITY , N.J. - The legacy of political corruption and ineptitude in this seaside resort is so long and colorful that HBO based a long-running hit series on it .
But the city whose “ Boardwalk Empire ” entertained TV viewers could get a vastly different form of government through an election Tuesday to be conducted solely through the mail due to the coronavirus outbreak .
Results are not likely to be known for a few days ; ballots postmarked May 12 have until Thursday night to be received at a post office .
At issue is a fundamental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : whether to eliminate an elected mayor in favour of an appointed municipal manager .
The nine-member City Council would be shrunk to five , and voters would lose the right to seek changes through initiative and referendum campaigns .
Backers of the change cite Atlantic City ’ s long history of government corruption and mismanagement and say a city manager would bring much-needed professionalism to City Hall .
Opponents view it as yet another attempt by out-of-towners to seize power and money from a city led by minority officials .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayor Marty Small .
“ Atlantic City is not going to be pushed around by outsiders seeking special privileges .
We can run ourselves.
” Small , a Democrat , took office in October after his predecessor , Frank Gilliam Jr. , pleaded guilty to stealing $ 87,000 from a youth basketball team he founded .
Gilliam , also a Democrat , became the fifth Atlantic City mayor to be busted on corruption charges since the 1970s .
A group calling itself Atlantic City Residents for Good Government collected petition signatures seeking a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is led by Bob McDevitt , president of the city ’ s main casino workers ’ union ; Morris Bailey , owner of Resorts Casino , and a retired state Senator , Raymond Lesniak .
McDevitt has called the long line of city administrations “ a cartel of ignoramuses ” that needs to be ousted before the city can grow and prosper .
“ The outcome of this question will determine the direction Atlantic City goes in for the next couple decades , ” McDevitt said .
“ I have confidence the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve had terrible leadership on the municipal side for 35 , 40 years now.
” The change-of-government drive survived a court challenge ; a state judge allowed the election to go forward as planned , saying that voters should be given the greatest possible voice in their own affairs .
The stakes are considerably higher than they were when the petition drive began last fall : the coronavirus outbreak has shuttered all nine of Atlantic City ’ s casinos , devastating the local economy and blowing a huge hole in the city ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case with local and state governments around the country .
On Wednesday , state gambling regulators will release April revenue figures for the casinos , whose in-person premises were shut down for the entire month .
Only those with internet or sports betting operations will show any revenue at all for the month , which is sure to be the worst in the 42-year history of legalized gambling here .
If the change-of-government proposal fails , Atlantic City will then host a primary election on July 7 .


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--German court rejects Iraqi’s appeal over killing of teen

BERLIN - A German federal court said Tuesday it has thrown out a rejected Iraqi asylum-seeker ’ s appeal against his conviction for raping and murdering a 14-year-old local girl .
Ali Bashar was convicted by the Wiesbaden state court in July following a four-month trial in a case that fueled tensions over migration .
The court ruled there was a “ particular severity of guilt , ” meaning that he likely won ’ t be released after 15 years as is common in Germany .
Bashar , who was 21 at the time of the killing , was convicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wiesbaden in May 2018 .
Bashar and his family abruptly left a home for asylum applicants in Germany after the killing , and he was later arrested by Kurdish forces in Iraq , handed over to German police officers and flown back to Germany .
Bashar is believed to have arrived in Germany in October 2015 .
The Federal Court of Justice said it threw out Bashar ’ s appeal in an April 28 ruling .
Among other objections to his conviction , he had argued that his return from Iraq constituted a @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--2 Hispanic churches and too many tears: 100 COVID-19 deaths

NEW YORK - One is a Roman Catholic church in Queens ; the other , a Lutheran church in Manhattan .
But the COVID-19 pandemic has united the two Hispanic congregations in grief .
Between them , they have lost more than 100 members to the coronavirus , and because of lockdown rules , they lack even the ability to mourn together in person .
Many in their communities have vulnerabilities — jobs classified as essential during the pandemic , at workplaces ranging from hospitals to supermarkets , with pressure to keep working even at the risk of exposure .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to healthcare .
The death toll has neared 40 among the roughly 400 congregants who join Spanish-language services at Saint Peter ’ s Church , a Lutheran congregation , in midtown Manhattan .
The church serves Hispanic immigrants from across the city , and the dead come from across Latin America .
Congregation president Christopher Vergara says it ’ s been a challenge simply to relay word of the deaths back to their homelands .
The toll has been even higher at Saint Bartholomew Catholic Church in the Elmhurst neighbourhood of Queens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rick Beuther , says at least 63 parishioners have died from the virus , possibly dozens more .
“ The last eight , 10 weeks has been a real tsunami , a disaster for us here , between sickness , death , unemployment and just lack of services for the undocumented , ” Beuther said .
On a typical Sunday , before the pandemic , Beuther says about 5,500 people — mostly undocumented Latinos — would attend Masses at Saint Bartholomew .
Now , with in-person services cancelled , he tries to stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily and liaising with chaplains who visit those who are hospitalized .
In both congregations , many live in crowded apartments that heighten the risk of exposure and offer no option for isolation and self-quarantine .
“ It brought a lot of stress , ” Beuther said .
“ Anyone who was coughing or sneezing in an apartment , they ’ d be afraid that the rest of the group would ask them to leave.
” Both churches have launched extensive food assistance programs for needy parishioners , including an elaborate door-to-door delivery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across four of New York ’ s five boroughs .
Some members of Saint Peter ’ s have contributed to help grieving families pay for cremation or burial services .
With the Saint Peter ’ s church building closed during the pandemic , the Rev .
Fabián Arias has been conducting services online from his home in the Bronx -- taking time to read out the names of the recently deceased .
He also has conducted a few funerals in funeral homes that allow only a handful of mourners at a time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ first times during the pandemic , Arias performed funeral services in private homes — donning a surgical mask and gloves to join the mourning families .
On Monday , he was back at a funeral home , leading a service for Argentine-born musician Héctor Miguel Cabaña , who died from COVID-19 last week at the age of 74 .
He had played guitar and piano with several bands in venues around New York .
“ It ’ s very hard for our community , ” Arias said .
“ For all Latinos , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a blessing .
We say the last goodbye and pray together .
It ’ s very important for us.
” Saint Peter ’ s is among five Evangelical Lutheran Church in America congregations serving Hispanics in the New York area that have been hard hit by the coronavirus , according to the regional bishop , Paul Egensteiner .
He said the challenges are particularly severe at Saint Peter ’ s because of the large numbers of undocumented immigrants .
“ Many of them are reluctant to go to the hospital , wondering will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deported , ” he said .
The Hispanic congregation now based at Saint Peter ’ s dates back to 1950 , when it was formed in East Harlem to serve Lutherans in the growing Puerto Rican community .
The congregation steadily diversified to include Latin Americans of other backgrounds .
In 2012 , due to financial difficulties , it relocated from East Harlem to Saint Peter ’ s Church , which also serves offers English-language services .
Arias , 56 , a native of Argentina , has been the congregation ’ s pastor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sense of community is crucial .
“ In difficult moments , it ’ s important that we are together , ” he said .
“ Of course that doesn ’ t mean physically together , but we can be close on the phone , on the computer.
” Some congregation members , he said , want to reopen Saint Peter ’ s and resume in-person services .
But it is too soon , too dangerous .
“ It ’ s not what God would want , ” he said .
“ God wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minchillo and AP video journalist Emily Leshner contributed to this report .
Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation .
The AP is solely responsible for this content .

Luis Andres Henao And David Crary - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--Doctors and nurses suffered as Iran ignored virus concerns

CAIRO - They are regarded as heroes , their fallen colleagues as martyrs .
But for doctors and nurses still dealing with Iran ’ s growing number of coronavirus infections , such praise rings hollow .
While crippling sanctions imposed by the U.S. government left the country ill-equipped to deal with the fast-moving virus , some medical professionals say government and religious leaders bear the brunt of the blame for allowing the virus to spread -- and for hiding how much it had spread .
Those medical workers say they were defenceless to handle the contagion .
And as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been hard hit by the virus .
During the first 90 days of the virus outbreak alone , about one medical staffer died each day and dozens became infected .
“ We are heading fast toward a disaster , ” said a young Isfahan doctor who has been working tirelessly , checking dozens of suspected coronavirus patients before referring them to hospitals .
It is no secret that Iran has been hit hard by the coronavirus .
Official government figures show that around 100,000 people were infected by the virus and around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the research arm of Iran ’ s parliament said the number of cases could be eight to 10 times higher , making it among the hardest hit countries in the world .
The report said the number of deaths could be 80 % higher than officials numbers from the Health Ministry , about 11,700 .
The Iranian government is currently reporting a decline in the number of COVID-19 infections and deaths in many areas , even though local authorities are expanding cemeteries in places like Tehran where the municipal council said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its largest cemetery , Behesht e-Zahra .
Interviews with more than 30 medical professionals and a review of communications by doctors on messaging apps and other documents by an Associated Press reporter in Cairo revealed many previously unreported details .
The reporting paints a fuller picture of the roots and extent of the country ’ s disjointed response as the deadly virus spread throughout the population .
In the beginning , medical staffers faced the outbreak with very limited equipment .
Some washed their own gowns and masks or sterilized them in regular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plastic bags they bought at the supermarket .
The makeshift equipment didn ’ t help .
Further complicating the situation , the Health Ministry said millions of pieces of protective gear ordered by the agency were stolen and diverted to the black market .
The result : Dozens of medical professionals without adequate protection died along with their patients .
Iran ’ s leaders , several medical professionals said , delayed telling the public about the virus for weeks , even as hospitals were filling up with people suffering from symptoms linked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other experts were warning the Iranian president to take radical action , the government resisted , fearing the impact on elections , national anniversaries , and the economy .
“ They wanted to send people to the streets , ” said a Mazandaran-based nurse and activist .
One doctor interviewed by The Associated Press — who , like all medical workers interviewed for this story , spoke only on the condition that they not be named for fear of persecution — said he and his colleagues were even discouraged from using protective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing masks would cause panic .
The country ’ s supreme leader , Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , proclaimed on March 10 that the doctors , nurses , and medical staffers who died in the fight against the coronavirus in Iran were “ martyrs.
” Pictures of deceased doctors have been placed alongside those of soldiers who were killed in the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s , which claimed the lives of a million Iranians and Iraqis .
A list compiled by a group of Iranian doctors found that a total of 126 medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first reported , mostly in the provinces of Gilan and Tehran , while over 2,070 contracted the virus .
The AP verified 100 of the deaths by piecing together scattered news reports in local media outlets , statements from health institutions and social media messages of condolences .
Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour acknowledged the deadly toll of COVID-19 on the medical profession in Iran , telling the AP the total number of deaths is 107 .
Jahanpour said 470 had tested positive for the virus .
But he placed the blame on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country under sanctions , ” he said .
Iran has maintained throughout the crisis that its own industries made enough protective material to fight the virus .
Iran reported its first two cases on Feb. 19 in the city of Qom — 140 kilometres ( 88 miles ) south of Tehran and home of highly revered Shiite shrines .
It would become the epicenter of the outbreak .
The announcement apparently was made under some duress .
A doctor there named Mohammed Molei filmed himself next to his bedridden brother , insisting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That coincided with a visit by a Health Ministry delegation to the city .
But doctors interviewed by the AP say that before the official announcement , they started to see cases with the same symptoms as the novel coronavirus and warned the national Health Ministry that it needed to take action .
Some doctors shared with the AP letters sent to the ministry .
The doctors at first said they attributed the respiratory problems among patients and deaths to the H1N1 flu .
Days later , they started to call for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule them out ; the rate of infections and deaths seemed unusually high .
Through channels on the Telegram messaging service , they exchanged data .
They reached out to the Health Ministry and proposed a set of recommendations and actions .
At the top of the list : a quarantine and restricting travel and flights with China .
But it would be another two weeks before the government took action .
“ We gave a lot of information to the government through letters and communication channels , ” said a Mazandaran-based activist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other medical professionals were ignored by government officials .
Two days after announcing the first cases , Iran held its parliamentary elections where thousands lined up to vote .
That same day , doctors in Gilan — one of the worst hit areas in Iran — appealed to the governor for help , saying their hospitals were flooded with patients amid a shortage of masks and other protection equipment .
“ The health personnel of the province are exposed to a huge threat , ” a letter sent by the doctors read .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus , calling the physicians ’ plea for a quarantine “ medieval ” and floating unfounded conspiracy theories that the U.S. created the coronavirus to promote a fear-mongering campaign .
The feared paramilitary Revolutionary Guard kept health facilities under tight control and medical statistics were treated as top secret , the medical staffers said .
Death certificates were not recording the coronavirus as the cause of deaths — either because not all severe cases were tested or just for the sake of keeping the numbers down .
Thousands of unaccounted deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heart attack ” or “ respiratory distress.
” And a doctor in Tehran said the Health Ministry gave orders not to refer critical cases to hospitals to be tested for the virus — to keep the numbers low , she said .
“ We suppose they ( want to ) say they ’ re doing good , ” she said .
A Tehran-based radiologist said that he had access to medical files of patients at different Tehran hospitals .
The reports include CT scans and blood tests that pointed to the coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ These are 40 % of the cases , ” he said , “ It ’ s just difficult to prove.
” “ The number of real patients with COVID-19 in Iran , from the beginning ... until today is much more than what has been reported , ” he said , echoing similar sentiments by most medical workers interviewed by the AP .
He estimated that the numbers are three to four times higher than the figures released by the government .
“ The authorities believe they are doing great and they try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” a medical scholar said .
Clinics and hospitals became hubs of infection , even as parliamentary elections and national celebrations went on : — In Khorasan , the head of the medical science school which oversees hospitals receiving corona patients , Ali Asghar , told a local news agency that a total of 600 people died between Feb. 19 and April 4 .
The government number through March 22 was 42 .
— In Golestan , AbdolReza Fazel , a top health official , told local media that 230 had died though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just 10 cases .
— In Isfahan , Tahereh Changiz , the head of the medical school , told the IMNA news agency that the total number of deaths reached 400 ; the official figure was just 87 .
— According to one health official and two doctors , the total deaths in Gilan have surpassed 1,300 so far .
The last breakdown provided by the government on March 22 said the total did not exceed 200 .
“ Gilan wasn ’ t ready at all , ” said one physician there .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ another doctor : “ The first weeks , the system has collapsed , ” with patients sleeping in the corridors and doctors forced to make painful choices .
A nurse at Shafa Hospital in the provincial capital of Rasht said ventilators were removed from dying patients to let others live .
“ Death certificates were written before they died , ” the nurse said with a hoarse voice .
On the death certificates , the doctor scribbled , “ heart attack ” or “ respiratory distress ” as a cause of death .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ my life when they cut the oxygen .
After work , when I went back home , I could do nothing but crying , ” she said .
A psychologist in Tehran told the AP that many medical staffers were traumatized .
Images of the dying patients left them with a deep sense of guilt , suicide thoughts , and panic attacks , he said .
He recalled one nurse who had a recurring nightmare of burying her parents alone .
Another said she dreamed she was looking into a telescope , anticipating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctor Gol Rezayee appeared in a March 29 video that went viral on social media as he tried , but failed to revive a dying patient ’ s heart .
On Telegram , he wrote the last words he exchanged with the victim .
“ Doctor , if I die , tell my husband to take care of the kids , “ he recalled the woman saying .
” He is careless and naughty.
” Rezayee said he responded : “ It ’ s just like a cold .
You will live 120 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was dead .
Medical professionals also watched as their own colleagues succumbed to the virus .
As the outbreak in Rasht unfolded during the last week of February , patients packed the clinic of the city ’ s most popular physician , Mohammad Bakhshalizadeh , who often treated the poor for free , set up the first association for physicians in the province and volunteered during the war with Iraq .
As the virus spread , the 66-year-old doctor examined an average of 70 patients each day , largely without protective gear .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ first two official cases in Qom , Bakhshalizadeh developed a fever and had trouble breathing .
Initial tests for coronavirus were inconclusive .
Another test showed that his lungs were turning white .
He later drove himself to several hospitals until he found one with an empty bed .
Four days later , on March 7 , he died .


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--4 bodies recovered from sea, 5th missing in Dutch storm

THE HAGUE , Netherlands - Four people have drowned when they went out for water sports during stormy weather , @ @ @ @ @ was still looking for a fifth person Tuesday off the coast close to The Hague @ @ @ @ @ Dutch coast guard said they held out little hope of finding the remaining victim alive @ @ @ @ @ sports enthusiasts went out into the sea late Monday and likely couldn ’ t deal @ @ @ @ @ swells that hit the Dutch coast .
Authorities already recovered two bodies late Monday and @ @ @ @ @ the waters Tuesday .
The coast guard said a fifth victim was seen floating away @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--In flip, Georgia system nixes ex-leader of New York schools

ATLANTA - One of Georgia ’ s largest school districts won ’ t be hiring the former leader of school systems in New York City and Miami after board members were faced with complaints about his past record .
DeKalb County school board members on Monday voted 4-3 to reject a contract for Rudy Crew to lead the suburban Atlanta district .
The board of the 99,000-student district had voted in April to make Crew its sole finalist for the job .
School boards have to wait 14 days between naming finalists and voting to hire them in Georgia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board named only one finalist .
That wasn ’ t the case this time , though , with three board members who supported Crew becoming a finalist ultimately voting against him .
One of these three , Joyce Mosley , said she never had wanted to hire an outsider and still supports short-term Superintendent Ramona Tyson continuing in the position .
Tyson is retiring at the end of June .
Crew experienced success in improving student performance in New York and Florida , but was dogged by complaints about his leadership style and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in DeKalb , including the Georgia Federation of Teachers , the smallest of Georgia ’ s three main teacher groups .
Others had fought against his hiring , including some of the district ’ s most persistent critics .
The 69-year-old Crew led New York City schools from 1995 to 2000 .
He earlier led school systems in Sacramento , California , and Tacoma , Washington .
Those who supported Crew said none of the issues raised by critics in the past two weeks were surprises , and indeed that DeKalb board members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and had been satisfied before naming him a finalist .
“ Dr .
Crew received rave reviews .
We understood that as high-profile and longtime leader , he had a controversial past , “ said board member Allyson Gevertz .
” But the past was fully vetted through background searches , confidential interviews and pointed questions.
” Board Chair Marshall Orson said he had supported Crew because he had gotten results which “ speak for themselves.
” “ There was very little discussion that he was not good at the critical part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ educated and ensuring that they had opportunity , ” Orson said .
A statement from the board after the vote said members will now look for an interim leader to begin serving July 1 .
Crew was known as “ the other Rudy ” when he led the nation ’ s largest public school system under then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani .
The two clashed over school vouchers , which New York ’ s mayor advocated but Crew opposed .
Crew was credited with reforms that helped failing schools improve , but his tenure was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school administrators of delaying the report of a rape of a 14-year-old girl at a city high school .
Crew accused the independent investigator of producing exaggerated reports into alleged corruption and misconduct .
He led Miami-Dade County Public Schools in Florida from 2004 to 2008 , a time during which he helped more schools achieve A ratings under Florida ’ s system and built 29 new schools .
But Crew had a rough relationship with school board members and fought with a teachers union over frozen wages .
The gigantic district ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was forced out .
Crew served a year as Oregon ’ s chief education officer but was unable to persuade lawmakers to pay for his plans to overhaul instruction and teacher training and was criticized for huge travel bills .
He has been president of Medgar Evers College in New York since 2013 .
Tyson has been leading DeKalb County since Superintendent Steve Green announced he would not seek a contract extension .
The board later decided Green should leave immediately before the end of this year .


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--Cubicle comeback? Pandemic will reshape office life for good

LONDON - Office jobs are never going to be the same .
When workers around the world eventually return to their desks , they ’ ll find many changes due to the pandemic .
For a start , fewer people will go back to their offices as the coronavirus crisis makes working from home more accepted , health concerns linger and companies weigh up rent savings and productivity benefits .
For the rest , changes will begin with the commute as workers arrive in staggered shifts to avoid rush hour crowds .
Staff might take turns working alternate days in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ markings or digital sensors could remind people to stand apart and cubicles might even make a comeback .
“ This is going to be a catalyst for things that people were too scared to do before , ” said John Furneaux , CEO of Hive , a New York City-based workplace software startup .
The pandemic “ gives added impetus to allow us and others to make changes to century-old working practices.
” Hive plans to help employees avoid packed rush hour subway commutes by starting at different hours , said Furneaux , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Britain , the government is considering asking employers to do the same .
At bigger companies , senior executives are rethinking cramming downtown office towers with workers .
British bank Barclays is making a “ long-term adjustment in how we think about our location strategy , ” CEO Jes Staley said .
“ The notion of putting 7,000 people in a building may be a thing of the past.
” That is already happening in China , where lockdowns started easing in March .
Beijing municipal authorities limited the number of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 % of usual staffing levels , required office workers to wear face masks and sit at least 1 metre ( 3.3 feet ) apart .
At a minimum , the COVID-19 crisis could be the death knell for some recent polarizing office trends , such as the shared workspaces used by many tech startups to create a more casual and creative environment .
Cubicles and partitions are making a return as the virus speeds the move away from open plan office spaces , architects say .
Design firm Bergmeyer is reinstalling dividers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that had been removed over the years .
That “ will return a greater degree of privacy to the individual desks , in addition to the physical barrier which this health crisis now warrants , ” said Vice-President Rachel Zsembery .
There ’ s no rush to return .
At Google and Facebook , employees will be able to work remotely until the end of the year .
Other firms have realized they don ’ t even need an office .
Executives at San Francisco teamwork startup Range had given notice on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But when California ’ s shelter in place order was issued , they instead scrapped their search and decided to go all remote indefinitely , a move that would save six figures on rent .
“ We were looking at the writing on the wall , ” said co-founder Jennifer Dennard .
One upside of having an all-remote workforce is that the company can hire from a broader pool of candidates beyond San Francisco , where astronomical housing costs have priced out many .
But Dennard said the downside is that it eliminates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance encounters between staff members that can spark creativity , so the company is planning more online collaboration to let this happen .
Good Brothers Digital , a public relations firm in Wales , also ditched its office space in downtown Cardiff .
Director Martyn John said productivity is just as high as it was before the pandemic forced them to work from home , so he decided to give up the company ’ s office space to save on rent , one of his biggest expenses .
Why drag employees into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from home , he reasons .
“ People are just going to expect it now.
” The work from home trend will continue accelerating even after the pandemic ends , according to consultancy Gartner .
After the pandemic , 41 % of employees expect to work remotely at least some of the time , up from 30 % before the outbreak , according to 220 human resources executives it surveyed .
Not all companies can go fully remote , especially big corporations with thousands of staff .
Even so , they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the office and who can and should continue to work from home .
At Dell , more people are going to work from home but “ we ’ re still going to need offices , ” because some jobs are best done there , said Chief Digital Officer Jen Felch .
She cited customer support staff , who can access more resources at the office to diagnose equipment problems .
More than 90 % of Dell ’ s 165,000 full-time global staff are working remotely during the pandemic , compared with 30 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she estimates that number will be above 50 % .
The outbreak is also going to force companies to take hygiene much more seriously .
“ The amount of people cleaning and sanitizing an office is going to shoot through the roof , ” said Brian Kropp , Gartner ’ s chief of human resources research .
Extra attention will go to places like conference rooms , which will have to be cleaned between uses , bringing added disruption , he said .
Or companies could do away with in-person meetings altogether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of sanitizing everybody ’ s desk if you ’ re getting them all in the same room , ” said Hive ’ s Furneaux , who said he ’ s thinking carefully about how to hold events such as “ all-hands meetings ” for his 70 staff .
“ We might get the weird scenario of in-office conference calls.
” High tech solutions will play a role , such as sensors to remind people to maintain social distancing , said Joanna Daly , vice-president for corporate health and safety at IBM .
Existing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to offices , said Daly .
One possible example : “ We ’ d want our phones to buzz if we got closer than 2 metres while we were having a conversation , ” she said .


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--Nebraska holds 1st in-person election in weeks amid pandemic

OMAHA , Neb .
- Nebraska on Tuesday will hold the nation ’ s first in-person primary since a heavily criticized election in Wisconsin five weeks ago in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic .
Election officials have repeatedly urged voters to cast early , mail-in ballots , but Republican Gov .
Pete Ricketts and Secretary of State Bob Evnen both pledged to forge ahead with an in-person primary even though many other states have rescheduled theirs or switched to all-mail voting .
On Monday , Ricketts said members of the Nebraska National Guard will be on call help short-staffed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Omaha and Lincoln areas .
He said Guard members will be dressed in civilian clothes , not their normal uniforms .
“ They ’ ll be available to help out , “ he said .
A Guard spokesman said 135 members have gone through poll worker training but won ’ t be dispatched unless they ’ re requested .
The counties that might have Guard members as poll workers are some of Nebraska ’ s hardest-hit : Dakota , Dawson , Douglas Hall , Lancaster , Lincoln , Madison and Scottsbluff .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ state law that requires poll workers to live in the county where they serve , largely because of a poll worker shortage .
This year ’ s primary is fairly low-key but will include a high-profile race among Democrats who want to unseat Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska ’ s 2nd Congressional District .
The Omaha-area district is one of the few in Republican-led Nebraska where Democrats are competitive .
The Democratic field has three candidates : non-profit consultant Kara Eastman , Omaha lawyer Ann Ashford and Omaha business owner Gladys Harrison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progressive , while Ashford pitches herself as a moderate .
Harrison has touted herself as a unifying voice but hasn ’ t raised nearly as much money or gotten as much attention .


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--Yemeni separatists, government forces clash in the south

SANAA , Yemen - Fierce clashes have erupted in Yemen ’ s southern province of Abyan between Saudi-backed government troops and separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates , with at least six fighters from both sides killed in the past 24 hours , officials and residents said Tuesday .
The fighting between the two sides — allies in the Saudi-led coalition that for years has battled Yemen ’ s Iran-backed Houthi rebels based in the north — has added another layer to the complex civil war in the Arab world ’ s most impoverished country .
It comes amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Southern Transitional Council last month declared self-rule over the key port city of Aden to assert control over southern Yemen .
The fighting could further undermine a Saudi Arabia-brokered peace deal between the government side and the separatists .
The clashes broke out as government forces advanced toward Zinjibar , the Abyan provincial capital , and the separatists brought in reinforcements to defend the city , security officials said , speaking on condition of anonymity to talk to reporters .
Residents , who would not give their names , fearing reprisal , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Yemen ’ s Foreign Minister Mohammed Abdullah al-Hadrami accused the separatists of trying to “ destabilize security and stability ” in Yemen ’ s south through “ provocative military mobilization.
” He vowed the government forces would “ defend the homeland , protect its security , territorial integrity , and confront every armed rebellion.
“ On Monday , southern separatist leader Aydarous al-Zubaidi called on supporters to “ take up arms and defend dignity and independence ” of Yemen ’ s south .
The secessionist council , which is an umbrella group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ propped up by the UAE since 2015 , hopes to restore an independent southern Yemen , which existed from 1967-1990 .
Yemen ’ s conflict started with the Houthis capturing the capital , Sanaa , in 2014 .
The following year , the Saudi-led coalition intervened to battle the rebels and curb Iran ’ s influence in what turned into a stalemated regional proxy war .
Since then , more than 100,000 people — fighters and civilians — have been killed .
Airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition and Houthis ’ ground fighting has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left millions more on the bring of famine .

Ahmed Al-Haj And Samy Magdy - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--Asia Today: Singapore partly reopens despite rise in cases

BANGKOK - Singaporeans were able to get a haircut at the barber or pop in to their favourite bakery Tuesday as the government loosened restrictions three weeks before a partial lockdown ends .
Despite an upsurge in cases due to an outbreak among foreign workers staying in crowded dormitories , the government says transmission in the local community has dropped and plans a phased reopening of the economy .
Barbers and hairdressers , food manufacturers and outlets as well as laundry shops are among selected businesses that can open with strict health measures Tuesday after five weeks of shutdown .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ notices outside shops call for face masks before entry .
Officials reminded citizens not to rush out or loiter outside to keep the city safe .
“ It ’ s a bit messy because suddenly we received the notice in such a very short notice ... .
but we ’ re trying to make it work out with all the safety measures , ” said Chow Siew Yong , owner of a Chinese medicine hall .
Singapore has recorded 24,671 infections , the highest in Asia after China , India and Pakistan .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 21 deaths .
About 90 % of the cases are linked to foreign workers ’ dorms , which have all remained locked down as testing continues .
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region : — EASING PHILIPPINE LOCKDOWN : President Rodrigo Duterte said the lockdown that has restricted millions of Filipinos to their homes will be eased , but he warned that people who return to work must follow safeguards to avoid more illnesses and deaths .
More than 50 provinces and cities will no longer be under quarantine after May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest of the archipelago .
Metropolitan Manila and two other high-risk areas will remain under a lockdown to the end of May but selected factories can reopen with half of their workforce , officials said .
“ Don ’ t gamble with COVID , ” Duterte said .
The Philippines has confirmed about 11,000 infections , including 726 deaths .
— TRAINS RUN AGAIN : India is set to run limited train service as the country looks at easing its nearly seven-week lockdown .
Special trains are departing Tuesday from select cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing on board .
Indian Railways also mandated a government-run contact tracing app that has been criticized over civil liberties concerns .
India ’ s rail , road and air services were suspended in late March as part of a nationwide lockdown .
— CHINA HAS ONE NEW CASE : China reported just one new coronavirus case , as the government presses ahead with reopening measures .
Some students in Beijing have returned to their schools , and Shanghai Disneyland and the ancient Forbidden City have reopened to limited visitors with social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Health Commission said 115 people remain in treatment for the coronavirus .
Tuesday ’ s single new case follows double-digit increases over the previous two days that set off renewed warnings from officials for citizens not to become overconfident .
— TESTING SEOUL CLUB GOERS : South Korea has reported 27 new cases as health workers work to test thousands of people who visited nightspots in Seoul after detecting dozens of infections linked to club goers .
Figures released by South Korea ’ s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention brought national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Clubs in the capital region have been closed again after the outbreak , and the reopening of schools was pushed back to May 20 .
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said more than 7,200 people have been tested since the city requested recent visitors to the Itaewon entertainment district get COVID-19 tests .
— AUSTRALIAN DEFICIT : Australia ’ s treasurer said the country faces a “ sobering ” economic outlook and will have its largest-ever deficit when a revised budget is released in October .
The budget has been delayed so the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
New South Wales , Australia ’ s most populous state , recorded no new cases of coronavirus for the first time since health authorities began documenting them in February .
Australia ’ s restrictions are to be eased in the coming months with social distancing retained .
— NO NEW CASES IN NEW ZEALAND : New Zealand reported no new cases of the virus Tuesday , the third day since early last week it has not added cases , as it prepares to relax many of its restrictions .
Most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , restaurants and gyms , can reopen from Thursday and schools will reopen Monday .
Bars can start serving customers again from May 21 .
Social distancing rules will still apply and social gatherings will be limited to 10 people .


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--Australia faces ‘sobering’ future economy due to coronavirus

CANBERRA , Australia - Australia ’ s treasurer said Tuesday the country faces a “ sobering ” economic outlook due to the effects of the coronavirus and will have its largest-ever deficit when a revised budget is released in October .
The 2020-21 federal budget was due to be released Tuesday .
But the government was forced to delay it until it assesses the full economic cost of the coronavirus .
“ Overall , the economic data has been sobering , ” Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told Parliament on the first day of a scheduled three-day sitting this week .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GDP ) will fall more than 10 % in the June quarter , representing the biggest fall on record .
Frydenberg did not say what the government ’ s deficit will be .
The financial year in Australia ends on June 30 .
Frydenberg had a lengthy coughing spell during his speech to Parliament , forcing him to stop several times to takes sips of water .
He later said he was in isolation while he awaits the results of a test for the coronavirus .
“ Out of an abundance of caution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for COVID-19 , ” he said in a statement .
“ Following the receipt of his advice , I immediately left Parliament House to be tested and will await the result in isolation .
I expect the result of my test to be provided tomorrow.
“ Other lawmakers present during Frydenberg ’ s speech appeared to be observing social distancing .
The most prominent Australian lawmaker known to have had the virus is Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton , who has since recovered .
The federal government allocated more than 230 billion Australian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures to offset the virus impact , more than half of that aimed at helping eligible employers keep their businesses afloat .
“ Given the level of uncertainty , our economic measures provide more than financial relief , ” Fydenberg said .
“ They provide a psychological boost as well.
” Earlier , Frydenberg had forecast unemployment would double to 10 % .
Australia , with an economy about the size of Spain ’ s , is thought to have entered its first recession in three decades this year .
But Frydenberg said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the pandemic being sought by the opposition was unlikely to happen .
“ Australians know there is no money tree , ” Frydenberg said .
“ What we borrow today , we must repay in the future .
Temporary and targeted , the new spending measures were not designed to go forever but to build a bridge to the recovery phase.
” Frydenberg said the underlying cash deficit at the end of March was A $ 22.4 billion ( $ 14.4 billion ) , almost A $ 10 billion ( $ 6.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forecast in December ’ s midyear budget update .
When Frydenberg released the 2019-20 budget in April 2019 , he said Australia was “ back in the black , ” with a A $ 7.1 billion ( $ 4.6 billion ) surplus forecast this financial year .
But the government revised its surplus forecast to A $ 5 billion ( $ 3.2 billion ) in December -- before devastating wildfires and the coronavirus hit the Australian economy .


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--Biden, Sasse win easily in Nebraska’s in-person primary

OMAHA , Neb .
- Nebraska ’ s primary election was overwhelmingly quiet Tuesday as voters steered clear of polling sites while shattering the state record for absentee voting with nearly 400,000 mail-in ballots .
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden sailed to an easy victory in the election , the first in-person primary since a heavily criticized election in Wisconsin five weeks ago in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic .
So did Republican U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse , who faced a GOP primary challenge because of his previous criticism of President Donald Trump .
Officials had encouraged people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Pete Ricketts and Secretary of State Bob Evnen both pledged to forge ahead with an in-person primary even though many other states have rescheduled theirs or switched to all-mail voting .
Polling sites in the Omaha suburb of Papillion reported lower in-person turnout than normal Tuesday morning .
At First Lutheran Church , voters who walked into the basement polling station had plenty of space to cast their ballots .
Michael Rabe , 68 , of Papillion , said he wanted to vote in person because he doesn ’ t trust mail-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ duty to cast a ballot .
Rabe wore a mask into the polling site , only to realize he was the only voter there at the time .
The self-described “ hardcore Republican ” said he was most interested in voting for Matt Innis , a long-shot primary challenger to Sasse .
“ I didn ’ t like that when President Trump got into office , Sasse opposed him , ” Rabe said after voting .
“ I was not a Trump supporter when he was running , but now that he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse , who oversees polling sites in Omaha , said in-person turnout was unusually low .
He said he still expected strong turnout overall because of the huge number of mail-in ballots received , but “ there ’ s just nobody out there today ” and the election has gone smoothly .
“ Man , is it quiet out there , ” he said .
Ricketts ordered members of the Nebraska National Guard to provide on-call help at short-staffed polling sites in eight counties , including the Omaha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members would be dressed in civilian clothes , not their normal uniforms .
“ They ’ ll be available to help out , “ he said .
A Guard spokesman said 135 members have gone through poll worker training but won ’ t be dispatched unless they ’ re requested .
The counties that might have Guard members as poll workers are some of Nebraska ’ s hardest-hit : Dakota , Dawson , Douglas Hall , Lancaster , Lincoln , Madison and Scottsbluff .
Ricketts said he had also waived a state law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the county where they serve , largely because of a poll worker shortage .
This year ’ s primary is fairly low-key but includes a high-profile race among Democrats who want to unseat Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska ’ s 2nd Congressional District .
The Omaha-area district is one of the few in Republican-led Nebraska where Democrats are competitive .
Bacon easily won the GOP primary Tuesday in his re-election bid .
The Democratic field has three candidates : non-profit consultant Kara Eastman , Omaha lawyer Ann Ashford and Omaha business owner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a progressive , while Ashford pitches herself as a moderate .
Harrison has touted herself as a unifying voice but hasn ’ t raised nearly as much money or gotten as much attention .
Randall Crutcher , 45 , voted at Papillion Middle School Tuesday morning because he and his wife forgot to request early , mail-in ballots .
He wore a mask as he walked inside , only to find the polling site virtually empty except for poll workers .
Crutcher said he had been an independent for most of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending , but re-registered as a Democrat two years ago because of the GOP ’ s support of President Donald Trump .
He said he liked both Democratic candidates in the 2nd Congressional District race , but voted for Eastman because of her life story , including her struggles to care for her ailing mother .
On the campaign trail , Eastman often discusses her mother ’ s inability to afford prescription drugs to fight her cancer .
“ She has built-in empathy , ” Crutcher said .
“ That ’ s something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AP coverage of the pandemic at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--Family of Guatemalan woman shot dead by border agent sues

LAREDO , Texas - The family of a 20-year-old Guatemalan woman shot dead in 2018 by a U.S. Border Patrol agent filed a civil rights lawsuit Tuesday against the agent and the U.S. government .
The family of Claudia Gómez González is suing in federal court in Laredo , Texas for unspecified actual and punitive damages .
The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas filed the lawsuit one year after filing a $ 100 million federal claim on the family ’ s behalf .
The claim was filed one year after the May 23 , 2018 , shooting .
Gómez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other migrants when border agents confronted them in a vacant lot near Laredo .
One agent shot Gómez González in the head , and she took moments to die , according to the lawsuit .
The lawsuit only refers to one of the 21 defendant agents by name , referring to the others as “ Does 1-20.
” The lawsuit alleges that one of the agents , or a combination of them , were responsible for the woman ’ s death and that she was the victim of excessive violence and a civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named agent seeking comment was not answered immediately .


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--Judge puts off approving US request to dismiss Flynn case

WASHINGTON - A federal judge made clear Tuesday that he would not immediately rule on the Justice Department ’ s decision to dismiss its criminal case against former national security adviser Michael Flynn , saying he would instead let outside individuals and groups weigh in with their opinions .
The move suggests U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan is not inclined to automatically rubber-stamp the department ’ s dismissal of the Flynn prosecution .
Flynn pleaded guilty , as part of special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s Russia investigation , to lying to the FBI about conversations with the Russian ambassador @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transition period .
But the Justice Department said last week that the FBI had no basis to question Flynn in the first place and that statements he made during the FBI interview were not material to the broader counterintelligence investigation into ties between Russia and the Trump campaign .
It said dismissing the case was in the interests of justice .
But the decision must first go through Sullivan , who said in a written order Tuesday night that “ given the current posture of this case , ” he anticipated “ that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Court “ to file briefs expressing their opinions .
That is a likely reference to the considerable debate the Justice Department ’ s action has prompted over the last week .


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--Civic leader Fred L. Davis dies in Memphis; marched with MLK

MEMPHIS , Tenn. - Fred L. Davis , a businessman and civic leader who supported the 1968 sanitation workers ’ strike in Memphis , Tennessee , and marched with the Rev .
Martin Luther King Jr. , has died .
He was 86 .
Lynn Norment , a representative for the family , said Davis died Tuesday at his home in Memphis .
Davis had been ill for several months , Norment said .
Davis was elected to the Memphis City Council in 1967 along with two other African Americans , J.O .
Patterson and James Netters .
Davis later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chairman .
Davis sought a city resolution for the Memphis sanitation workers who went on strike in early 1968 to protest dangerous working conditions and low pay .
The strike drew King to Memphis , and Davis joined the civil rights leader on a march down Beale Street that turned violent on March 28 , 1968 .
Davis also was sitting on the stage when King made the renowned “ I ’ ve Been to the Mountaintop ” speech on April 3 , 1968 .
King was fatally shot the next day while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lorraine Motel in Memphis .
In 1967 , Davis started one of the first independent , black-owned insurance agencies in the South .
Davis and his wife also fought for civil rights and desegregation of Memphis City Schools .
“ There wasn ’ t a finer , nicer gentleman in politics and government during that period , ” U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen , a Memphis Democrat , said in a statement .
“ Mr .
Davis brought people together.
” Mayor Jim Strickland said on Twitter that Davis was a “ Memphis legend.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ name the Innovation Center at our Entrepreneurs Network Center for him , where his clarion call for building black-owned businesses will live on , ” Strickland said .


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--Disenfranchised: Ohio says 318 ballots delivered too late

CINCINNATI - Ohio elections officials say 318 voters in Butler County won ’ t have their ballots counted for the April 28 primary because of a U.S .
Postal Service delivery delay .
Although the ballots were postmarked by the April 27 deadline , they didn ’ t get to the Butler County elections board until this week , days after the May 8 deadline to be counted .
Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose has written to Postal Service headquarters calling for an investigation and steps to make sure the issue doesn ’ t happen this fall .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Ohio primary election , ” LaRose wrote .
A U.S .
Postal Service spokesperson said management is looking into the situation and will not be commenting until the investigation is complete .
“ The U.S. Mail serves as a secure , efficient and effective means for citizens and campaigns to participate in the electoral process , and the Postal Service is committed to delivering Election Mail in a timely manner , “ the spokesperson said .
The secretary ’ s spokeswoman , Maggie Sheehan , said Butler , in southwest Ohio , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late deliveries so far .
An email message was also sent Tuesday to Butler County ’ s elections director , seeking comment and asking whether voters will be informed their ballots arrived too late .
LaRose is asking the Ohio legislature to expand the absentee ballot request deadline before the November general election .
A three-day window between requesting a vote-by-mail ballot and election day is “ logistically impossible , ” he has said .
Ohio ’ s March 17 primary was extended after in-person voting that day was cancelled for public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vast majority of votes cast were by mail .


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--Armed man shot by deputies after fleeing traffic stop

DELTONA , Fla. - Florida deputies fatally shot an armed man Tuesday afternoon shortly after he fled a traffic stop , authorities said .
Four deputies opened fire on the 37-year-old man outside his Deltona home after he pointed a rifle at them , Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said during a news conference .
Deltona is located between Daytona Beach and Orlando .
The man had initially been pulled over in neighbouring DeLand by a patrol officer for a traffic violation , Chitwood said .
The man drove off after the officer discovered the man had a suspended license @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The sheriff ’ s office was called to help with the pursuit .
Deputies deployed stop sticks to flatten at least one of the truck ’ s tires , Chitwood said .
The man continued to drive , eventually arriving at his house with deputies right behind him .
Deputies surrounded the truck with their own vehicles , and at least 20 shots were fired by deputies , Chitwood said .
Investigators didn ’ t know whether the man fired his gun .
No deputies were injured , Chitwood said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be placed on administrative leave while state law enforcement officials investigate the case .
Officials haven ’ t released the names or races of the deputies or the man who was shot .
Daytona Beach police arrested the man on a weapons charge earlier this month , Chitwood said .
The man also matches the description of someone connected to an Orange City shooting last month , officials said .
The man was medically discharged from the Navy in 2012 .


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--Cuomo: Wear a mask to respect nurses who died to save us

New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo called face masks a sign of respect for others on a day the state reported 195 new deaths .
Other data released Tuesday shows that nine out of 10 people arrested for coronavirus-related offences in New York City have been black or Hispanic .
Here are the latest coronavirus-related developments in New York : Warning that the state isn ’ t out of danger yet , Cuomo on Tuesday urged New Yorkers to wear masks out of respect for the nurses and doctors who have died to protect people from the pandemic , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
During his daily briefing , Cuomo recounted a tense conversation about masks he had with a man while on a recent walk with his daughter .
He said people should be aware that masks , which are worn to reduce the wearer ’ s chance of infecting others , are a sign of respect to everyone they walk past , as well as to workers pulling society through the outbreak .
“ This mask says , ‘ I respect the nurses and doctors who killed themselves through this virus to save other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the doctors , so I ’ m not going to infect anyone or allow anyone else to be infected unnecessarily so I don ’ t cause more stress on the nurses and the doctors , ’ ” Cuomo said .
New York requires people to wear face coverings when in close proximity to others in public .
As people grow wearier of the extended lockdown , some complain that requirement infringes on individual liberty .
Cuomo instead stressed “ reciprocal responsibility ” as some upstate areas prepare to start phasing in economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recorded in New York are a jump from 161 the previous day , but still about a quarter of the highest daily tallies just over a month ago .
Hospitalization rates also continue to decline .
Nine out of 10 people arrested for coronavirus-related offences in New York City have been black or Hispanic , police department data released Tuesday shows .
Of 125 arrested between March 16 and Sunday , 83 were black , 30 were Hispanic , 9 were white and 3 were Asian .
The New York Police Department says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as hate crimes , domestic violence and resisting arrest .
They include fights that broke out over cutting supermarket lines and a bank robbery suspect who gave a note to a teller saying , “ this is a bank robbery , I have COVID.
” “ These are not social distancing arrests , ” the department said in a statement .
“ Many were responses to calls for service where there was a clear victim and police took necessary action.
” Data released Friday showed that of the 374 summonses issued through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 52 % were given to black people and 30 % to Hispanic people .
The Legal Aid Society , a public defender group , called on the NYPD to release a “ full and transparent accounting of all police encounters related to social distancing enforcement ” including locations of each encounter and demographic details for people stopped , given summonses or arrested .
The organization also wants the department to make public the guidance it ’ s providing officers on social distancing enforcement .
A federal judge has ordered Cuomo to include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ screen alongside him as he delivers his daily press briefings .
U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni issued the order Monday as she considers a lawsuit filed by a disability rights group that claims Cuomo is the only governor who has failed to do .
The governor has argued that the state has provided “ reasonable accommodations ” to deaf New Yorkers through a separate online ASL stream and closed captioning .
But the lawsuit filed May 7 by Disability Rights New York included several examples of deaf New Yorkers who lack internet access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ write in fluent English .
Four individuals named in the lawsuit said they could access Cuomo ’ s widely watched briefings on television if he offered an additional accommodation of including an interpreter in the frame of his main stream .
New York ’ s cities and counties saw a 24.4 % drop in local sales tax collections in April compared to April 2019 , according to state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli .
Local governments are grappling with shortfalls as plummeting sales tax collections have left them short about $ 327 million compared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York City saw a 23.1 % decline — or $ 141.8 million — in lost revenues in April .
“ The coronavirus has hurt household finances , and the April sales tax figures show how deep it is cutting into municipal finances , ” DiNapoli said .
-New York is now investigating about 100 cases of a syndrome in children that ’ s thought to be related to the coronavirus .
It affects blood vessels and organs and has symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease and toxic shock .
Three children in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Broadway has been extended again — until at least early September .
Although an exact date for performances to resume has yet to be determined , Broadway producers are now offering refunds and exchanges for tickets purchased for shows through Sept. 6 .
- Two New England hospital systems tried the latest twist in internet matchmaking : online swap meets .
As the coronavirus pandemic stretches on , online platforms have popped up to match hospitals that need masks , gowns , ventilators and even doctors with those that have extras .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting people back to work and reopening the economy , an Associated Press analysis shows thousands of people are getting sick from COVID-19 on the job .
- One is a Roman Catholic church in Queens ; the other , a Lutheran church in Manhattan .
But the COVID-19 pandemic has united the two Hispanic congregations in grief .
Between them , they have lost more than 100 members to the coronavirus , and because of lockdown rules , they lack even the ability to mourn together in person .
Hill and Villeneuve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sisak contributed from New York .

Karen Matthews, Marina Villeneuve And Michael Hill - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--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 , not Anthony , 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court is whether federal 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We pray that God ’ s love and presence will comfort them in this difficult time , ” Bursch said .


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--Brazil cities lurch to lockdowns amid virus crisis red flags

RIO DE JANEIRO - Faced with overwhelmed hospitals and surging coronavirus deaths , Brazilian state and city governments are lurching forward with mandatory lockdowns against the will of President Jair Bolsonaro , who says job losses are more damaging than COVID-19 .
The movements of Brazilians have been completely restricted in fewer than two dozen cities scattered across the vast nation of 211 million — even though Brazil ’ s death toll stands at more than 12,000 , Latin America ’ s highest .
While public health experts are demanding bolder action , most governors and mayors have not imposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes amid Bolsonaro ’ s relentless message for Brazilians to defy regional and local public health efforts to stop the virus ’ spread .
Stricter lockdowns are needed because Brazilian doctors are now being forced to choose who lives and dies and triage situations could generate social unrest if they increase , said Miguel Lago , executive director of Brazil ’ s non-profit Institute for Health Policy Studies , which advises public health officials .
“ We need to avoid a total disaster , “ he said .
Lago said mandatory lockdowns across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It is late in terms of avoiding hospital collapse , but certainly it isn ’ t too late to avoid a bigger catastrophe.
“ Brazil had more than 177,000 confirmed cases on Tuesday , with the actual figure believed to be much higher because of limited testing .
Many intensive care hospital units are full and cemeteries are increasingly overwhelmed with bodies .
Bolsonaro , who called the virus a “ little flu , ” has insisted for more than a month that governors are stoking economic carnage with voluntary quarantine recommendations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyday .
He reiterated criticism of governors Tuesday for ignoring his decree that gyms , barbershops and beauty salons should be treated as essential services .
Amid Bolsonaro ’ s rejection of coronavirus danger , most of the country ’ s 27 governors have criticized his stances but none have imposed mandatory statewide lockdown measures recommended by experts .
Instead , the governors have either applied selective lockdowns in cities or deferred to mayors to make those decisions .
Governors had been hoping the virus would not spread in Brazil ’ s warm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reflection of Brazil ’ s political landscape because the governors depend on mayors to endorse re-election campaigns .
Many worry that imposing mandatory lockdowns could hurt local leaders in this year ’ s municipal election , decreasing support for incumbent governors in their 2022 campaigns , said Thiago de Aragão , director of strategy of the Arko Advice political consultancy .
But as the death toll rose from less than 7,000 to more than 10,000 last week , local authorities began adopting stricter anti-virus measures .
The riverside community of Tefe in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with a lockdown decree specifying criminal charges for residents leaving home except for visits to hospitals , pharmacies and supermarkets .
The mayor imposed it because only about half of Tefe ’ s 60,000 residents complied with an earlier recommendation by the governor of Amazonas state to take virus precautions .
Those who did not comply “ think they ’ re immortal , that they won ’ t get it , ” Tefe Mayor Normando Bessa de Sá said on Facebook .
Over the next three days , the governors of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Para and Ceara decreed lockdowns for their capital cities as intensive-care units filled with COVID-19 patients .
Despite the new lockdowns , Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo still don ’ t have mandatory stay-at-home-orders at the state or city level — even though they are the hardest hit places in Brazil .
Lockdowns “ should have been imposed at least three weeks ago , when the epidemic was already increasing , but not at this speed that it is now , ” said Margareth Dalcolmo , a respiratory physician and researcher with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research group .
“ I gave that recommendation more than once , ” said Dalcolmo , among the experts on a COVID-19 panel that advises Rio ’ s governor .
Rio Gov .
Wilson Witzel has decreed non-binding quarantine recommendations and commerce restrictions through the end of May .
He pledged to make police available so the state ’ s 92 mayors can enact lockdowns , instead of imposing them himself .
In another example of Brazil ’ s scattershot local lockdowns , Rio de Janeiro Mayor Marcelo Crivella on Monday prohibited non-residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closure of all businesses except supermarkets and pharmacies in the teeming slums called favelas .
“ People still haven ’ t perceived the need to avoid gatherings , stay home , ” Crivella complained .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms including fever and cough .
The risk of death is greater for the elderly and people with other health problems .
The cities of Niteroi and Sao Goncalo near Rio on Monday authorized fines and criminal charges for violating stay-at-home orders .
Niteroi police took the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and put a man and his two dogs inside a police van after he allegedly refused to show documents to justify being out of his home .
In Sao Paulo state , Gov .
João Doria last month urged but did not require residents to self-quarantine while shutting down schools and most businesses .
Nearly 70 % of the state ’ s 44 million people initially complied , but that dropped below 50 % in recent weeks , according to cellphone carrier data provided by the state .
Doria , a presidential hopeful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenged Bolsonaro .
But police stopped enforcing his recommendations after Bolsonaro criticized the handcuffing and detention of a middle-aged woman exercising in a park who resisted removal .
With noncompliance rising , Doria said last week that “ if we need to step up to a lockdown , we will not hesitate.
” Sao Paulo ’ s mayor this week limited vehicles circulating in the city to 50 % of the normal flow .
Television images showed long lines of people entering crammed buses with standing room only in clear violation of social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Imperial College London , whose COVID-19 research has guided global policymakers , last week called Brazil ’ s anti-virus efforts “ partially successful.
” “ In the absence of the introduction of further control measures that will more strongly curb transmission , Brazil faces the prospect of an epidemic that will continue to grow exponentially , ” they wrote .

David Biller And Mauricio Savarese - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--‘Double Rainbow Guy’ Paul Vasquez mourned, online and off

Paul Vasquez , whose ecstasy at the sight of a double rainbow brought joy to tens of millions of viewers on YouTube , died Saturday in Mariposa County , Calif .
He was 57 .
His death , at a hospital , was confirmed by the Mariposa County coroner ’ s office to the Modesto Bee , a local news outlet .
Vasquez became an internet sensation in July 2010 after a video he had posted months earlier on YouTube — a three-and-a-half-minute clip in which he enthusiastically observed two concentric rainbows from his California home — was shared by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
Oh wow !
” Vasquez shouts in the video before breaking into tears at the double rainbow ’ s beauty .
“ It ’ s so bright and vivid .
It ’ s so beautiful.
” Within weeks , the video had garnered millions of views .
“ Paul was a catalyst , and he made us and the world at large aware of the power of the internet , ” his friend Robert Borchard , 76 , said in a phone interview Tuesday .
“ I never heard the term ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clip has been viewed nearly 48 million times .
After the video ’ s takeoff , Vasquez was featured on Comedy Central ’ s “ Tosh.0 ” and appeared as a guest on “ Jimmy Kimmel Live !
” Fans created remixed versions of his video , including one by the Gregory Brothers , who used Autotune to turn Vasquez ’ s spoken words into a song .
The song became available on iTunes , and the Gregory Brothers performed a version of it live in 2011 at VidCon , an online video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominated for viral-video star of the year at the People ’ s Choice Awards in 2011 .
Vasquez became so inundated with requests that he hired an agent .
He went on to appear in advertisements for Microsoft , Vodafone New Zealand and Smartwater , alongside Jennifer Aniston .
He also guest starred in an in-flight safety video for Delta Air Lines .
On Monday , people across the internet expressed grief at the news of his passing .
“ Rest in peace , Paul , ” YouTube star Tyler Oakley wrote in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took with Vasquez .
“ Paul L. Vazquez was truly a viral sensation who was so pure of heart & down for the wild & weird ride of the internet.
” YouTube ’ s head of culture and trends , Kevin Allocca , tweeted that Vasquez was “ one of the most unique people I ’ ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.
” “ 10 years ago , a friend sent me a @ YouTube video of a man who saw two rainbows in the sky , ” Kimmel tweeted Monday night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as did he .
Paul ‘ Bear ’ Vasquez , the Double Rainbow guy , passed away Saturday .
His enthusiasm for life was genuine & the world is gloomier without him.
” Vasquez was born in 1962 in East Los Angeles .
His father , he told CNN in 2015 , was a city bus driver , and as a child he explored the city using a free transit pass .
“ I ’ ve always been someone who ’ s fearless and immensely confident , ” he said in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angeles County Fire Department before moving to Yosemite , a park he had come to know well during his childhood , in 1985 .
There , he took on various park concessionaire jobs — security guard , emergency medical technician , firefighter — and eventually joined the National Park Service .
He also worked as a cage fighter and a truck driver .
For most of his adult life , Vasquez lived in a small mountainside home about 15 kilometres from Yosemite park and grew his own food .
But in a March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tree had fallen on his house in 2019 , forcing him to move into a small apartment in town .
He was a fixture in the community .
“ Everyone in Mariposa is connected to Paul in some way , ” Borchard said .
Vasquez ’ s marriage ended in divorce .
He is survived by a daughter , Irene , and a son , Paul .
Since releasing the “ double rainbow ” video , Vasquez had continued to post frequently on YouTube and share status updates on Facebook .
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was sick and being tested for COVID-19 .
“ I ’ ll get my results in two days , however at this point I ’ m fairly certain that I don ’ t have it , ” he wrote .
“ I didn ’ t have a fever .
Something else is going on with me.
” Days later , he died in the emergency room at John C. Fremont hospital in Mariposa , the Modesto Bee reported .
Vasquez is best known for his love of rainbows ( “ You can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and not think about me , ” he told CNN ) , but he used his platform to share his appreciation of nature at large .
He showed viewers how he grew his crops , caught and released rattlesnakes and grew wildflowers in his yard .
His fame didn ’ t make him rich — according to CNN , he was making only $ 6,000 ( U.S. ) a year in 2015 — but he said he was able to keep costs low by living off the land .
“ Helping our culture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s what his videos were about , ” Borchard said of his friend .
“ Our urban lifestyle is disconnecting us from nature .
Paul was trying to reconnect us .
That ’ s his legacy .
”


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--Rules for reopening hotels, gyms, attractions taking shape

CONCORD , N.H. - A panel tasked with reopening New Hampshire ’ s economy amid the easing threat from the coronavirus pandemic agreed Tuesday on proposals for seven sectors , among them lodging , outdoor attractions and gyms .
The recommendations won ’ t be final until public health officials and Gov .
Chris Sununu give their OK .
The task force unanimously recommended that hotels be limited to half their capacity , though the limit would not apply to motels with outdoor access to rooms or to inns and bed-and-breakfasts with 10 or fewer rooms .
Face masks would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for guests , who would be asked at check-in about any possible exposure to the coronavirus .
A reopening date of May 22 is recommended for lodging , but target dates for other sectors were not included .
On attractions , the guidance covers activities in “ recreational and natural settings , ” including biking , canoe and kayak rentals , mini-golf , driving ranges , shooting ranges , and racetracks .
Also included are small group tours such those offered at Lost River Gorge and the Polar Caves , but task force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and indoor attractions would be addressed later .
Outdoor attractions would be limited to half their capacity , or to the number social distancing guidelines can accommodate , whichever is less .
The requirement would be the same for gyms and fitness clubs , which also would be prohibited from enrolling out-of-state residents as new members .
The Republican governor ’ s stay-at-home order has been extended to May 31 , but some businesses were allowed to reopen this week , including retail stores , hair salons and golf courses .
Restaurants will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 18 .
Officials in a New Hampshire town near the border with Massachusetts are considering requiring face masks in indoor public spaces .
The proposal in Salem would require anyone over age 2 to wear some type of face covering , or face a fine as high as $ 200 .
The town board discussed the matter during a virtual meeting Monday but didn ’ t vote on it .
Jim Keller , the selectman who wrote the proposal , said the main concern is to protect residents from visitors from Massachusetts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WMUR-TV reported .
Some callers disagreed and believed the fine was too high .
In Massachusetts , residents must wear face coverings in public or face fines of as much as $ 300 .
As of Monday , 3,239 people in New Hampshire had tested positive for the virus , an increase of 81 from the previous day .
There have been at least 142 coronavirus-related deaths in the state .
For most people , the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough , that clear up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially older adults and the infirm , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , or death .
Associated Press writer Kathy McCormack contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-05-12--Flash flooding kills 2 sisters, ages 7 and 3, in Utah canyon

SALT LAKE CITY - Two sisters aged 7 and 3 died in flash flooding that sent torrents of water roaring into a narrow canyon in the Utah desert , authorities said Tuesday .
At least 21 others escaped the flooding Monday afternoon in Little Wildhorse Canyon , where the curving sandstone walls are so narrow at points that hikers must turn sideways to walk through .
The girls were hiking with their father and mother when the storm hit .
The father found his 7-year-old daughter ’ s body before authorities were called to the scene , according to Emery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Luke .
Their names were not immediately released .
The family from the Salt Lake City suburb of West Jordan was camping in the area for Mother ’ s Day , the Deseret News reported .
The 3-year-old sister was found Tuesday , after dozens of searchers combed the area for hours with the help of helicopters about 200 miles ( 320 kilometres ) south of Salt Lake City .
A piece of her clothing was found in a wash miles away .
The others who escaped were with different groups , Luke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thunderstorm storm crossed nearby Goblin Valley State Park , known for its otherworldly bulbous stone formations .
Little Wild Horse Canyon is considered a popular , family friendly trail that displays awe-inspiring colorful stone walls , but flash flooding is a risk in the narrow formations known as a slot canyons .
Desert rains can be dangerous because the hard earth doesn ’ t soak up much water .
Instead , the rain collects quickly , often filling narrow slot canyons like a bathtub .
The tall , undulating walls have few exits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hits , quickly turning a casual hike into a dangerous situation .
In 2015 , seven hikers died when a storm sent water rushing into a slot canyon in southern Utah ’ s Zion National Park .
Flood waters also killed a dozen people in a polygamous town on the Utah-Arizona border that year .

Colleen Slevin And Lindsay Whitehurst - The Associated Press