thetorontostar--2020-04-03--Kentucky governor vetoes voter ID bill

Kentucky governor vetoes voter ID bill

FRANKFORT , Ky. - Democratic Gov .
Andy Beshear on Friday vetoed a bill pushed by Republican lawmakers to require Kentucky residents to show a government-issued photo ID in order to vote .
In his veto message , the governor said the measure would create an obstacle to voting , resulting in fewer people casting ballots and “ undermining our democracy.
” Beshear , a former state attorney general , added that the bill seeks to “ resolve a problem that does not exist , “ pointing to the absence of voter impersonation cases in Kentucky .
Secretary of State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ veto .
The measure passed the Senate and House by wide enough margins to overcome a veto .
The GOP-led legislature is scheduled to reconvene April 13 .
“ I ask the legislators of both parties who believe in election integrity and passed this law to override this regrettable veto , and I hope the governor will eventually join me in governing from the centre , ” Adams said in a statement .
Adams , a Republican , campaigned on the issue en route to his election victory last year .
The bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Robby Mills .
The measure would require Kentucky residents to produce a photo ID when voting , with limited exceptions , starting with the November election .
People lacking their photo ID at the polls could vote by provisional ballot and later produce that ID to enable their ballot to be counted .
Or voters could cast their ballots if recognized by an election officer , who would have to sign a document affirming to knowing the voter .
The bill ’ s supporters have noted that a photo ID already is required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bank account , cashing a check or picking up sports tickets at will-call .
The bill ’ s opponents countered that the photo ID requirement would reduce turnout among minorities , the poor , the elderly and disabled voters .
They also objected to a “ rushed timeline ” to implement the photo ID requirement just months before a high-stakes general election .
In November , Kentuckians will vote for a president and decide one of the nation ’ s highest-profile campaigns : Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ’ s bid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also objected to the bill ’ s timing , coming in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic .
The offices where people could obtain a photo ID needed to vote are currently closed and it ’ s uncertain when they will reopen , the governor said .
“ The fact that someone would need something to vote that right now they absolutely can ’ t get because of the coronavirus , yes , I think is a wrong move , and it absolutely needed to be vetoed , ” Beshear said at his @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-04-03--‘Disaster’ feared if sick moved to California nursing homes

LOS ANGELES - A California directive that could open the way for some patients sickened with COVID-19 to be sent from overburdened hospitals to nursing homes is being criticized by industry officials who fear vulnerable , elderly residents would be placed at risk .
The California Association of Health Facilities , which represents most skilled nursing homes in the state , warned that many of the nursing homes lack sufficient gloves , masks and other protective supplies to limit the spread of coronavirus infections .
Instead , the group is urging government officials to create separate facilities to care for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be moved from hospitals .
“ Under California law , facilities are not required to admit any patient if they are unable to meet their needs , and right now we can ’ t meet patient needs , ” the group said .
Patricia McGinnis , executive director of California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform , called the plan a “ recipe for disaster.
” “ You have the most vulnerable population in California in nursing homes , ” McGinnis said .
“ Many facilities are understaffed ... .
They are not prepared.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected surge in COVID-19 patients , the Newsom administration notified nursing homes last month to prepare to receive patients with suspected or confirmed cases .
The Department of Public Health noted that some infections may be mild and not require hospital care , while in other cases patients might have recovered sufficiently to leave a hospital but still require assistance , which could be provided by a nursing home .
The state has over 1,000 nursing homes that provide long-term medical care , known as skilled nursing facilities .
A March 30 state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilities “ shall not refuse to admit or readmit a resident based on their status as a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case.
” However , there are restrictions : In an April 1 order , the state said patients should not be sent to nursing homes without consultation with local health officials , and the nursing home must have adequate supplies and be following federal guidelines for the care of patients with COVID-19 , the respiratory illness caused by coronavirus .
The Department of Public Health said in a statement that COVID-19 patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ that have been prepared ” to care for them , such as setting up portions of their facilities with separate staff and supplies .
The coronavirus crisis “ requires our whole health care delivery system to work together seamlessly for the health and safety of all Californians , ” the agency said .
Earlier this year , coronavirus outbreaks at nursing homes in Washington , Illinois , New Jersey and elsewhere highlighted the industry ’ s long-running struggle to control infections with often limited , poorly paid staff .
At the Life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kirkland , federal investigators believe a contributing factor in dozens of deaths was low-pay employees who came to work with the illness and potentially even spread it to other nearby facilities where they took shifts .
In California , Contra Costa Health Services said Friday that at least 27 people who live or work at a skilled nursing facility in Orinda , California , have tested positive for COVID-19 .
No deaths have been reported in connection with the outbreak .
In Yucaipa , in San Bernardino County east of Los Angeles , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a coronavirus outbreak that infected more than 50 people and killed two of them , officials said earlier this week .
Six staff members also tested positive for the virus .
Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer reported four new deaths at skilled nursing or assisted-living facilities .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom alluded to the dispute Friday , though he didn ’ t directly address any of the criticisms about potentially bringing the sick into nursing homes .
“ We continue to also focus with acuity on what ’ s happening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s happening with our senior centres and our adult care facilities throughout the state , “ he said .
“ We said at the beginning of this epidemic that homelessness and our seniors , those were our top priorities .
They remain so.
” Jan Emerson-Shea of the California Hospital Association said there is a need to get patients out of the hospital who no longer need a high level of care .
But at the same time hospitals “ don ’ t want to create a worse problem ” by moving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t ready to care for them , Emerson-Shea said .
“ It ’ s absolutely going to be on a case-by-case basis , ” she said .
Associated Press Writers Robert Jablon and John Antczak in Los Angeles and Kathleen Ronayne in Sacramento contributed .

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thetorontostar--2020-04-03--Donald Trump is blocking exports of medical equipment. He’s putting Canada’s trust in the U.S. to a

Donald Trump is blocking exports of medical equipment. He’s putting Canada’s trust in the U.S. to a potentially deadly test

WASHINGTON—Fox News aired a report on Thursday evening in which a Florida official accused 3M executives of deciding “ not to put America first ” in the COVID-19 pandemic by selling protective face masks to “ foreign countries ” ahead of the United States .
“ It ’ s criminal what ’ s happening , ” he said .
That night , avid Fox viewer Donald Trump invoked the wartime powers of the Defense Production Act to , as he tweeted , “ hit 3M hard ” on the issue of N95 respirator masks .
On Friday morning , 3M @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order would hit Canada hard , too .
“ The Administration also requested that 3M cease exporting respirators that we currently manufacture in the United States to the Canadian and Latin American markets , ” it said , noting that there would be “ significant humanitarian implications ” to complying with it .
Trump confirmed the request at a news conference Friday evening , saying the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency would be working “ to prevent the export of N95 respirators , surgical masks , gloves and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these items immediately for domestic use , ” Trump said .
“ We have to have ’ em.
” The implications extend beyond 3M : as a spokesperson for Public Service and Procurement Minister Anita Anand told the Star , the same kind of policy could apply “ to potentially all supplies.
” Think ventilators .
Think vaccines .
After more than three decades of integrating the Canadian economy with that of the U.S. , the risk has never been clearer .
If the mostly symbolic fuss over the U.S. briefly considering militarizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drill , this is a full-on emergency alarm indicating an impending inferno .
This isn ’ t a cautionary tale about the dangers of globalized trade — it ’ s the worst-case scenario , playing out in real time .
Sharing an integrated market with a much larger and more powerful bully of a country will always have downsides , especially when that country elects a leader with an “ America First ” agenda .
You might wake up one morning to tariffs on steel , for instance , and be suddenly forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Agreement .
Irritating ?
Sure .
Economically damaging ?
A bit .
But being cut off from life-saving supplies during the worst pandemic in living memory ?
That could be utterly catastrophic .
So can the U.S. just do that ?
“ The Defense Production Act arguably authorizes this behaviour , ” said Daniel Ujczo , a trade lawyer with years of experience on both sides of the border , “ And most of our trading agreements , including NAFTA , have exceptions for health , safety and national security.
” But targeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ makes this look less like an organized procurement effort and more like a response to whatever are the rumours of the day.
” What can Canada do ?
It can try , through complaints in public and diplomacy in private , to convince the U.S. government not to do it .
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was at it Friday , saying he thought it would be a “ mistake ” for the U.S. to pursue this course , one that would hurt both countries , and “ that is the point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American administration right now.
” He said he was “ confident ” it would work out .
Canadians — especially health-care professionals who are risking exposure to coronavirus while rationing face masks — might not feel entirely reassured by that .
But in the short term , they may not get much else .
Christopher Sands , head of the Canada Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington , D.C. , was reminded of Francis Fukuyama ’ s 1995 book “ Trust ” the title of which names the core quality that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends are easy to come by , ” Sands said , but when hard times hit , you see countries look to their own interests in the same way that some pandemic shoppers are fighting over toilet paper .
He said a similar dynamic has been playing out for some European Union countries , which were hobbled by great economic sacrifices made in the name of membership and then left to fend for themselves when the crisis came .
For humanitarian reasons — and for the sake of the long-term relationship between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. changes course quickly , as it did on the idea of placing troops at the Canadian border .
Trump ’ s comments at his news conference didn ’ t indicate he was ready to do that .
Canadian officials will continue to try to change his mind .
“ I don ’ t blame them .
They can push back if they want , ” Trump said when asked about the Canadian government and 3M objecting to the order .
He suggested case-by-case exceptions might be considered for long-standing orders to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as Italy or Spain , but notably did not mention any blanket exemption for Canada .
In many critical areas , supply chains straddle the Canada-U.S. border , and that integration is largely based on trust .
The American response to Canada ’ s appeals now stand to either strengthen or profoundly damage that trust .
And it ’ s not just trust in Canada ’ s biggest trading partner that hangs in the balance — it ’ s possibly the lives of thousands of Canadians .


thetorontostar--2020-04-03--Florida finally takes cruise passengers, some on stretchers

FORT LAUDERDALE , Fla. - Passengers from an ill-fated cruise were carefully freed from their cabins and allowed to touch dry land Friday for the first time in weeks , after the removal of 14 critically ill people who were wheeled off to Florida hospitals bracing for an onslaught of coronavirus patients .
The exodus from the Zaandam and sister ship the Rotterdam could extend into Saturday , officials said .
Floridians disembarked first , followed by other passengers .
Buses were taking asymptomatic passengers after being screened and cleared by third-party paramedics directly to the airport , escorted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gregory Tony dispatched more than 70 deputies to disembark and transport the passengers .
“ It ’ s a lot of manpower .
But it ’ s worth it .
We don ’ t want to have people dying on ships , ” Tony said , adding the vessels have been turned away enough .
It “ wasn ’ t some pirate ship .
...
These are our brothers and sisters on this planet.
“ As for those needing medical care , Broward Health officials said in a statement that some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in fair condition , without specifying the number .
Four others were taken to another local hospital .
Before disembarking , passengers received instructions to wear face masks at all times when travelling and go immediately into 14 days of self-quarantine when they arrived home .
Buses brought the first small groups to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Friday morning , where they boarded planes waiting on the tarmac .
Paramedics and airline workers were fully suited up and masked in protective gear .
The first planes left for Toronto , Atlanta and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brazier , 77 , and his wife disembarked Friday to get on a charter plane to San Francisco and then another flight to Portland , Oregon , and drive back to his Ocean Park , Washington , home .
His sister , Mary Beth Van Horn , was driving his car to leave it ready for him at the airport and said she was grateful the passengers were welcomed after days of negotiations .
“ It is great knowing that they are safe now , ” she said .
“ They are exhausted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be sleeping in their own bed by tomorrow , ” she said .
About 1,000 passengers remain isolated in their cabins on another Carnival Corp.-owned ship .
The Coral Princess has 12 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and is still at sea east of the Bahamas , Princess Cruises said in a statement .
Broward County Commissioner Michael Udine said on Twitter Friday evening that Princess had previously submitted an application for a Saturday arrival , but that ’ s won ’ t occur .
The company needs a new operations plan approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the ship can be authorized to enter the port , Udine said .
The U.S. Coast Guard has directed that hundreds of crew members should remain on the dozens of cruise ships that are either docked or waiting just off Florida ’ s shores , and that cruise lines should be prepared to treat all but the most serious cases of people who are ill on board to avoid adding more stress to Florida ’ s health care system .
Already , crew members are getting sicker .
One has died on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medically evacuated from the Oasis of the Seas , according to an email Friday from their company , the Miami-based Royal Caribbean cruise line .
The Infinity is waiting off Florida ’ s west coast , and the Oasis of the Seas is positioned off Fort Lauderdale .
Seemingly following these new directives , Holland America indicated in the plan for the Zaandam and Rotterdam that 26 passengers who were mildly ill would stay on board until they recovered , but all passengers ultimately needed to be cleared by paramedics .
Nine people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said William Burke , chief maritime officer for Carnival Corp. , which owns the ships .
Burke said earlier this week that two of the four passengers who died had COVID-19 .
The docking plan said the offices of the medical examiner and sheriff would remove the deceased from the Zaandam , and Holland America said it was helping the families with all arrangements .
The Rotterdam was sent last week to take in some of the 1,200 passengers of the Zaandam and provide assistance since it was denied permission to dock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firmly opposed to the ships ’ arrival , Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis said he had a change of heart after realizing many passengers were U.S. citizens and about 50 of them Floridians .
In an interview with Fox News , DeSantis said that allowing passengers to disembark and transferring critically ill patients to hospitals was “ the humanitarian thing to do.
” Associated Press writers Freida Frisaro in Fort Lauderdale , Florida ; and Adriana Gomez Licon in Miami , contributed to this report .
The spelling of the name of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .

Kelli Kennedy And Wilfredo Lee - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-04-03--New phone-only Quibi aims for bite of digital entertainment

LOS ANGELES - Want to see Chance the Rapper prank Hollywood stars ?
Catch a new action thriller starring Liam Hemsworth and Christoph Waltz ?
How about a six-minute edition of “ 60 Minutes ” ?
There ’ s an app for that , and more .
Quibi — a snappy amalgam of “ quick ” and “ bite ” — is a mobile phone-only platform that will release its snack-sized installments of movies and TV shows each weekday .
There will be seven-day-a-week dollops of news , sports and weather , gathered under the umbrella name Daily Essentials , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programs planned for this year .
It launches Monday in the U.S. and Canada with a 90-day free trial and 50 programs , all in segments no longer than 10 minutes .
They include “ Punk ’ d , ” with Chance the Rapper as host and executive producer ; the Hemsworth-Waltz movie “ Most Dangerous Game , ” and “ Chrissy ’ s Court , ” with Chrissy Teigen administering justice in small claims cases a la Judge Judy .
Others who have signed on to either produce or appear ( or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Witherspoon , Joe Jonas , Jennifer Lopez , Lena Waithe and Sophie Turner .
But the biggest names attached to the project are its executives : entertainment industry heavyweight Jeffrey Katzenberg and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman .
In the 1980s , Katzenberg revived the Walt Disney Co. ’ s movie studio and its animation division with hits including “ The Little Mermaid , ” and in 1994 co-founded DreamWorks SGK with Steven Spielberg and David Geffen .
Quibi is Katzenberg ’ s brainchild , and he picked Whitman , also a onetime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s CEO .
For Katzenberg , it ’ s the product that will make Quibi a winner .
“ In all my years , there is one rule that has never failed , ever , ” he said .
“ Which is , when I had my hands on great content , whether it was an animation and movies , ... .
whether it was TV shows , a Broadway show , a novel , anything that I had ever had in my orbit that was really good , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believers .
Quibi raised $ 1 billion in funding in 2018 from investors including Disney , NBCUniversal and Viacom , and announced another $ 750 million in a second fundraising round that closed earlier this month .
After the initial free window ( the company ’ s response to the coronavirus crisis ) Quibi will cost $ 4.99 a month with advertising or $ 7.99 for an ad-free version .
Because the company ramped up production in light of a possible writers strike last summer , Katzenberg said , it got ahead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ production .
Quibi is on track for new releases through October or November under current circumstances .
It enters a marketplace crowded with new and existing streamers also vying for consumer dollars , including the upcoming HBO Max .
And then , of course , there ’ s YouTube , awash with short-form programming minus a price tag and with a hold on the same young-adult audience that Quibi is after .
Quibi ’ s core business model “ faces some headwinds given its focus on short-form videos , with the Goliath YouTube @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities .
“ Betting against Katzenberg has not worked out well for skeptics over his career , ” he added , but he sees an uphill battle for the new platform to succeed .
Katzenberg pushes back at the idea that Quibi , with its A-list talent and the big screen-worthy quality of its movies , can be undercut by YouTube .
“ Please name me a single widely distributed , widely consumed product , that when somebody came along and offered a better version , a more convenient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a luxury version , that there wasn ’ t some group of people that went , ‘ Yeah , ’ ” he said .
It was the rise of YouTube and smartphone-streamed video that prompted Katzenberg ’ s interest in the creative and business opportunities they represented .
He also drew inspiration from contemporary novels with chapters as brief as a few pages so that , as one bestselling writer put it , readers with just a few minutes to spare would still enjoy a complete experience .
“ We ’ re doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ The Da Vinci Code , ’ ” Katzenberg said .
Quibi ’ s unique selling point is its Turnstyle technology , developed under Whitman ’ s direction , which allows users to switch between portrait and landscape viewing and always get a full-screen image minus the annoying black bar .
The patented Turnstyle ’ s payoff for creators is how it can enhance storytelling — for instance , viewers can be given the option to shift a movie scene to the character ’ s perspective by flipping from horizontal to a vertical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re going to give people something they ’ ve never seen before , “ Katzenberg said .
” They will decide if they ’ re going to value that enough to want to pay for it.
” Lynn Elber can be reached at lelber @ ap.org or on Twitter at http : //twitter.com/lynnelber .


thetorontostar--2020-04-03--Social distancing not slowing crime in Mexico

MEXICO CITY - Social distancing measures and calls for Mexicans to remain in their homes have not produced a drop in violent crime , President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Friday .
There had been hope that the measures implemented in late March to slow the spread of the new coronavirus would lead to a significant decrease in criminality , but the president said that has not been seen in the numbers .
López Obrador blamed the stubbornly high homicide rate on confrontations between gangs .
“ They continue disputing territory , clashing amongst themselves , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as some have suggested , higher incidence of domestic violence because people have been confined to their homes in a stressful situation .
One industry group — the National Association of Vehicle Tracking and Protection Companies — predicted highway freight hijackings could actually increase as much as 50 % during the pandemic , in part because of shortages of key goods .
While freight hijackings have declined in recent months , criminal groups frequently stage armed thefts of entire tractor trailers , in order to sell the merchandise in Mexico ’ s ubiquitous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that in coming months as the country ’ s economy takes a downturn , there will be an increased demand for basic goods at low prices , like processed foods , medicine , personal hygiene products , footwear and clothing , ” said the association ’ s president , Víctor Manuel Presichi .
“ That is precisely where the black market will step in , to sell stolen or fake merchandise.
” There have already been some instances of mass robberies , with thieves breaking into stores in large groups and carrying off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parts of Mexico , like the southern state of Guerrero , police have been stationed outside stores and the government has threatened to bring felony charges like criminal conspiracy against looters , with prison sentences of up to 16 years .
Alejandro Desfassiaux , president of the National Private Security Council , which represents private security firms , also predicted things will get worse as people ’ s money runs out .
“ We will see general looting of electrical appliances , money and jewelry ” in the initial stages of the outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trends would change in the worst days of the pandemic .
“ Sustained contagion combined with a lack of money in people ’ s pockets will be when we unfortunately start to see looting of products of necessity , such as food and medicine.
“ As of Friday , 50 people had died in Mexico of the COVID-19 disease caused by the coronavirus and more than 1,500 had tested positive for the virus .


thetorontostar--2020-04-03--Dog food delivered to western Alaska amid virus concerns

ANCHORAGE , Alaska - Hundreds of dogs living in largely Alaska Native villages in southwest Alaska won ’ t go hungry this spring after more than 8,000 pounds ( 3,629 kg ) of dog food were delivered , a humanitarian effort co-ordinated by two of the nation ’ s largest animal welfare groups in response to the coronavirus pandemic .
The 242 , 30-pound ( 13.6-kg ) bags arrived in Bethel , a southwest Alaska hub community , late Thursday on a cargo plane from Seattle .
The single employee of the Bethel Friends of Canines worked Friday to break @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to their building .
There , the food will be stored for eventual distribution to those in need , including dog owners from about 35 communities dotting southwest Alaska ’ s Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta .
“ Well , it ’ s definitely needed , and I think we are just very aware that the supply chain might be damaged in the near future , ” said Theresa Quiner , the Bethel shelter ’ s vice-president .
“ So it ’ s really comforting to know that we have this stash of dog food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to get dog food.
” The dog food drop from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Humane Society of the United States was necessary in roadless western Alaska because travel restrictions and dwindling supplies is making delivery of dog food to the region difficult during the coronavirus pandemic .
And it ’ s not just dog food .
Quiner said she tried to order flour off Amazon and was told it would take a month to arrive .
Many people order their dog food through Amazon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that these organizations thought of us and just immediately knew that the supply chain gets difficult for everybody all over the country , that the communities out here in the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta are more vulnerable than elsewhere , ” Quiner said .
The Bethel group has been a partner of the Humane Society ’ s Pets for Life program , which focuses on providing access to pet resources for people living in poverty or underserved communities .
The group has been providing services and supplies to Yukon Kuskokwim Delta villages , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Life .
“ When the COVID-19 crisis happened , it just made it even tougher for us to get supplies up to Alaska , ” Arrington said .
“ Even during a good time , it ’ s not easy logistically .
It ’ s definitely not cheap , and so food supplementation is something that is an ongoing need , and it ’ s even greater right now.
” The humane society ordered and purchased the food at cost from FristFruits Feed of Redmond , Washington .
Owner Tim Matts agreed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 3,629 kg ) of dog food at cost .
The dog food was delivered Wednesday , repacked on 800-pound ( 363-kg ) pallets and delivered to the Seattle airport for transport to Alaska .
“ We always believe that you should give the first 10 per cent of your profit to the community to help animals and to help people , because we recognize that animals are a very important role in people ’ s lives , ” Matts said .
“ We ’ re just grateful we could help.
“ Lou @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8,000 pounds ( 3,629 kg ) of food is an enormous amount .
“ Right now , we ’ re moving that amount of food daily in our other locations .
But to get to Alaska is certainly a challenge , and it ’ s great to know there are people there who can use it , ” she said .


thetorontostar--2020-04-03--Chicago’s new top cop guided by Dallas tenure, son’s death

CHICAGO - As daunting as the challenges that await him as the new chief of a Chicago Police Department under pressure to implement sweeping court-ordered reforms may seem , they pale compared to what David Brown Sr. had to overcome 10 years ago following an afternoon phone call on Father ’ s Day .
His son was dead , an officer told the then-Dallas police chief .
Police shot 27-year-old David Brown Jr. after he ’ d shot dead a stranger on a suburban sidewalk and then also killed a responding officer during an apparent mental breakdown .
“ My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if I ’ d been jolted with an electric shock , ” Brown recounted in a 2017 book .
“ I grieved just as deeply for the loved ones of those my son had taken.
” Brown , whose former partner and brother were also killed years earlier , said he returned to work with more empathy for victims and suspects alike , and a greater devotion to his job .
“ My sense of duty not only got me out of bed , ” he wrote .
“ It also began my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heightened level of commitment to succeed in Chicago , the nation ’ s third largest city , where he ’ ll oversee a force of some 13,000 officers .
Dallas had around 3,000 .
Brown ’ s No .
1 priority is to ensure Chicago ’ s department complies with the court-monitored overhaul plan , which includes requirements unpopular with many officers that they file paperwork each time they point a gun at someone , even if they don ’ t fire .
It ’ s not going to be easy .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the hardest jobs in the country , ” Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot told reporters Thursday in announcing Brown ’ s selection as police superintendent .
Brown will be an outsider in a city and police department that has favoured insiders .
So , he ’ ll have to win the trust of rank-and-file cops to ensure reforms stick .
He may have to drag some along kicking and screaming , especially older officers accustomed to the kinds of policing a damning 2017 Department of Justice report said contributed to racial bias and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The department ’ s grim history of abuses goes back decades .
It includes a white officer shooting black teenager Laquan McDonald 16 times in 2014 as he walked away from officers carrying a small knife .
At a news conference Thursday , an otherwise measured Brown struck a determined note when he addressed a question about the court-monitored reform plan , called a consent decree : “ I have read the 800 pages , ” he said .
“ We will be in compliance.
“ Brown , who gained a reputation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his subordinates , said he wants all his officers do what ’ s right “ when no one ’ s looking without being ordered by a court.
” Brown faces the additional challenge of coming in with a city largely shutdown by stay-at-home orders amid the coronavirus outbreak .
Officers have no choice but to go out and so are particularly vulnerable .
The first death of an officer from COVID-19 was announced Wednesday .
The federal judge overseeing the police reforms recently agreed to a city request to extend deadlines for meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently focused the public health crisis .
Brown is expected to officially assume his superintendent post in April .
Brown , who grew up in a largely segregated Dallas , addressed race in his book .
He recalls attending a mainly white school in which he and other blacks were often shunned by white students .
As chief in Chicago , race-related issues will inevitably arise .
It remains among the nation ’ s most segregated cities , and race nearly always plays a central role in discussions about police behaviour .
Brown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dallas , advocating for transparency .
He decided over objections of many officers to make use-of-force data public .
He also made community policing in Dallas a priority .
And he sought to change the culture among rank-and-file cops , demonstrating his seriousness by firing 70 officers during his tenure .
In 2015 , he touted a sharp drop in use-of-force complaints against Dallas , crediting reforms he spearheaded .
Law enforcement experts said the assertion was hard to prove .
At times , Brown did face criticism in Dallas from activists who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying he resisted initiatives to cede power to a civilian police review board .
Brown led the department through one of its painful chapters in Dallas history .
A peaceful demonstration in July 2016 against police brutality turned deadly when a sniper opened fire on a large group of police , killing four Dallas officers and one transit officer .
Brown defended his decision to deploy a robot to ignite explosives that killed the gunman , Micah Johnson , instead of continuing negotiations .
The gunman wasn ’ t in a clear line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , and he was taunting officers and vowing to kill more of them .
“ I approved it , ” Brown said .
“ And I ’ ll do it again if presented with the same circumstances.
” In the months that followed , the department sometimes struggled with low morale over concerns about the pension and other financial strains .
When Brown retired as chief later in 2016 , he said the decision had been a quick one .
“ Really , as a police chief , you want to quit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time .
“ The thing that gets you to come back is that serving so much outweighs anything negative that happens.
” Associated Press Writer Jake Bleiberg in Dallas contributed to this story .


thetorontostar--2020-04-03--Maine governor places quarantine restrictions on travellers

AUGUSTA , Maine - Maine ’ s governor issued an executive order on Friday requiring travellers to the state to self quarantine for 14 days to lessen the chance of transmitting coronavirus .
Gov .
Janet Mills , a Democrat , said the order applies to all travellers to Maine regardless of their state of residency .
The order also calls on visitors not to come to the state if they are experiencing symptoms of the virus .
The order suspends lodging operations such as hotels and motels starting on Sunday at noon .
The order also states that lodging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as people who are at risk of domestic violence , Mills ’ s office said .
The order lasts until at least April 30 .
“ We are facing one of the greatest public health crises of the world in more than a century .
But if we pull together , we can and will defeat this virus , ” Mills said .
The virus has spread to 15 of the 16 counties in the state , Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention director Nirav Shah said Friday .
All told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 400 people have tested positive for the virus in Maine , officials said .
For most people , it causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , or death .
Maine ’ s major political parties had been scheduled to hold conventions in May , but party representatives said Friday that neither will happen .
The Maine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party ’ s convention , scheduled for May 29 and 30 in Bangor , is cancelled .
It will be replaced by remote voting for delegates to the Democratic National Convention , and decisions about other convention activities will be determined later , the party said .
Maine GOP executive director Jason Savage said it ’ s “ safe to say we ’ re not holding our convention in May.
” The Republicans had been scheduled to hold a convention in Augusta on May 1 and 2 .
The party ’ s executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ formal vote to change the rules , Savage said .
Both parties said they were holding off on conventions to prioritize safety during the coronavirus outbreak .
Maine Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Marra said “ our duty to protect one another outweighs any other considerations .
Navy shipbuilder Bath Iron Works is continuing manufacturing operations after a second worker tested positive for the new coronavirus .
The defence contractor announced that the latest worker to test positive was last in the shipyard on Tuesday , prompting Gov .
Janet Mills and Maine ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Pentagon to take action to protect the health of shipyard employees .
“ This new case only deepens our long-standing concern and hastens the need for the Department of Defence to provide much-needed flexibility so these shipyards can better safeguard the health and safety of their workforce , ” the governor and lawmakers said in a statement .
The Trump administration has deemed the shipyard to be essential to the national defence , so it can not close .
The shipyard builds Navy destroyers .
The shipyard ’ s medical team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into contact with the worker , who is quarantined , and the company is sanitizing the areas where the infected person had worked , officials said .
Meanwhile , the first worker to test positive for COVID-19 at the shipyard has recovered and has been cleared to return to work .


thetorontostar--2020-04-03--Judge demands FBI provide new details about its surveillance

WASHINGTON - The chief judge of a secretive national security court demanded Friday that the FBI provide him with details about some of its investigations after the Justice Department inspector general identified problems with more than two dozen wiretap applications .
The order from Judge James Boasberg signals growing concerns from the court that authorizes FBI surveillance about whether the bureau is providing inaccurate information when it applies to eavesdrop on suspected spies and terrorists .
Those problems were highlighted in an earlier inspector general report about the FBI ’ s Russia investigation , then amplified by a new audit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems in the bureau ’ s use of its surveillance powers .
The scrutiny from the court , which relies on truthful information from the Justice Department in issuing warrants , could prompt additional changes in how the FBI conducts surveillance and also fuel concerns from lawmakers who last month permitted certain tools to at least temporarily expire .
The latest review found problems in 29 surveillance applications , from October 2014 to September 2019 , that Inspector General Michael Horowitz ’ s office reviewed .
Those problems included factual statements in applications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documentation .
In a four-page order Friday , Boasberg directed the FBI to provide him with the names of the targets for each of the 29 applications .
He also asked the FBI to evaluate whether the applications contained “ material misstatements or omissions “ and whether those misstatements make any of the applications that were granted by the court invalid .
“ The OIG Memorandum provides further reason for systemic concern , ” Boasberg wrote in his order .
“ It thereby reinforce s the need for the Court to monitor the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure that , going forward , FBI applications present accurate and complete facts.
“ He said that when problems are identified in particular cases , the court “ must evaluate what remedial measures may be necessary.
“ The FBI responded with a statement Friday that said it would continue working with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to ensure that its powers are used correctly .
It also noted that the applications the inspector general reviewed were filed before FBI Director Chris Wray announced dozens of corrective steps after the conclusion of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trust and confidence of the Court is paramount to the FBI and we are continuing to implement the 40-plus corrective actions ordered by Director Wray in December 2019 , ” the statement said .
“ Although the applications reviewed by the IG in this audit predate the announcement of these corrective actions , the FBI understands the Court ’ s desire to obtain information related to the applications , “ it added .
The inspector general last year found that the FBI made serious errors and omissions in surveillance applications targeting former Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months of the investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia .
Though President Donald Trump has said those problems reveal law enforcement bias against him , additional revelations from the inspector general suggest the problems are more systemic and not isolated to a single investigation .


thetorontostar--2020-04-03--Officials brace for surge in virus cases, hospitalizations

DOVER , Del .
- Delaware officials are warning of an impending spike in coronavirus cases over the next two weeks and urging residents and businesses to heed restrictions on travel and gatherings .
The number of deaths has more than doubled in the past week to 14 as of Friday .
The number of cases also has more than doubled and stood at 450 as of Friday afternoon , with more than 60 people hospitalized .
Eight of the deaths are related to long-term care facilities .
“ The situation in Delaware is getting worse , and we expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carney said , adding that officials are particularly concerned about an expected surge in hospitalizations .
Emergency management director A.J .
Schall said hospitals are preparing for the surge and that officials are monitoring the integrity of the supply chain .
CEO Wayne Smith of the Delaware Healthcare Association , a trade group representing the state ’ s hospitals , said he believes they will have adequate resources and staffing when the surge hits .
Smith said supplies of protective gear and testing equipment are flowing in greater numbers , and that hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather than having to rely on state facilities or private labs .
“ Private labs are a problem .
The response time is still way too long , ” Smith said , adding that the average wait time is more than seven days .
Meanwhile , public health director Dr. Karyl Rattay expressed concerns about the upcoming religious holidays , a time when many people gather with fellow congregants and family members .
“ We are imploring everyone , faith-based leaders and families , to begin thinking now bout how you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .


thetorontostar--2020-04-03--AP Sources: Shipping tycoon helps Venezuela in quest for gas

CARACAS , Venezuela - With gas lines across Venezuela growing , a controversial shipping magnate has stepped in to prevent the country from running out of fuel amid the coronavirus pandemic , The Associated Press has learned .
The fuel shortage , in the nation that sits atop the world largest crude reserves , is the latest threat to Nicolas Maduro ’ s rule at a time he is under intense U.S. pressure to resign .
Wilmer Ruperti ’ s Maroil Trading Inc. billed state-owned oil monopoly PDVSA 12 million euros last month for the purchase of up to 250,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a copy of the invoice obtained by AP .
The gasoline was purchased from an undisclosed Middle Eastern country , said two people familiar with the transaction .
They agreed to discuss the sensitive dealings only on condition of anonymity .
The single gas shipment isn ’ t going to resolve Venezuela ’ s supply problems .
But with the economy paralyzed , any amount of fuel is welcome relief , analysts said .
Ruperti , a former oil tanker captain , has a history coming to the rescue of Venezuela ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that endeared him to the late President Hugo Chávez .
But his latest gambit , which could help stave off a deepening humanitarian crisis , is bound to irritate the Trump administration , which this week doubled down on its campaign of support for opposition leader Juan Guaidó by sending Navy ships to the Caribbean on a counternarcotics mission following Maduro ’ s indictment in the U.S , on narcoterrorist charges .
Venezuela ’ s oil fields and refineries have crumbled from years of mismanagement .
More recently , fuel imports have dried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , targeting two trading houses owned by Russia ’ s Rosneft for providing a lifeline to Maduro .
Then came the coronavirus , which sent crude prices crashing and paralyzed what little was left of domestic production .
“ In Venezuela , the only thing spreading faster than the coronavirus are the gasoline shortages , ” said Russ Dallen , head of Caracas Capital Markets .
In recent days , gas lines have popped up across Caracas , which is typically immune from days ’ long waits common in the rest of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplies ran out .
At one of the few gas stations still open in the capital Thursday , hundreds of cars , taxis and trucks hugged the shoulder of a highway as heavily armed soldiers stared down motorists , some of whom had been waiting three days to fill up .
Among those in the 3-kilometre long line was Javier Serrano , who relies on a beat-up blue 1968 Ford Falcon to eke out a meagre living as a taxi driver .
“ There ’ s a curfew at night and no public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One of my relatives could die at home because they don ’ t have a vehicle.
“ The government blames the gas shortages on U.S. aggression .
On Friday , it said it was formulating a “ special fuel supply plan ” to restore stockpiles in the “ shortest possible time , ” allowing the nation to combat the coronavirus .
“ We deplore the position of extremist sectors of the Venezuelan opposition that collude with foreign governments to plan and execute these actions against the Venezuelan people , ” said Industry Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mercilessly judge these traitors.
” Enter Ruperti to help again .
In 2002 , he chartered a fleet of Russian tankers to import gasoline amid a months ’ long strike at PDVSA seeking to remove Chavez .
More recently , he funded the defence of first lady Cilia Flores ’ two nephews in a politically charged U.S. narcotics trial as well as that of American Joshua Holt , who was held for two years in a Caracas jail on what were seen as trumped-up weapons charges .
Ruperti was decorated by Chavez with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw his business as a prized PDVSA contractor boom .
Ruperti showed his gratitude by giving the leftist leader two pistols used by independence hero Simon Bolivar , which reportedly cost him $ 1.6 million .
Later , however , he was sued by a unit of the Russian shipping company for allegedly paying millions in bribes .
While U.S. sanctions have driven away from Venezuela many established shipping companies and commodity traders , Ruperti appears to be little fazed .
One of the documents obtained by AP shows his Swiss-based Maroil Trading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and rubles at Moscow-based Derzhava Bank in November .
One person said the gas that Maroil billed to PDVSA should arrive to Venezuela in the coming days.Dallen estimates it ’ s enough to supply current demand for about a week .
There have been only five deaths in Venezuela so far due to the coronavirus and most Venezuelans are closely observing a government-mandated lock-down , but concerns are rising that the already collapsed health care system will be overwhelmed if more people are infected .
Protests have started to emerge among farmers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can ’ t transport it to urban centres .
“ An acute gasoline shortage at this juncture would bring about a serious worsening of the country ’ s humanitarian crisis , putting Venezuelans ’ lives at even greater risk , ” said Francisco Rodriguez , a Venezuelan economist who launched Oil For Venezuela , a U.S.-based group lobbying for sanctions relief .

Joshua Goodman And Scott Smith - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-04-03--Leaders back Navy firing of ship captain; sailors cheer him

WASHINGTON - U.S. defence leaders are backing the Navy ’ s decision to fire the ship captain who sought help for his cornonavirus-stricken aircraft carrier , even as videos showed sailors cheering him as he walked off the vessel .
Videos went viral on social media Friday , showing hundreds of sailors gathered on the ship chanting and applauding Navy Capt .
Brett Crozier as he walked down the ramp , turned , saluted , waved and got into a waiting car .
Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly abruptly fired Crozier on Thursday , saying the commander created a panic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escalating virus outbreak on his ship and pleading his leadership for help .
Modly said Crozier “ demonstrated extremely poor judgment ” in the middle of a crisis .
The ship is docked in Guam , and so far 137 of the nearly 5,000 sailors on board have tested positive for the virus .
The Navy has said as many as 3,000 will be taken off the ship and quarantined by Friday evening to stem the spread of the virus .
Crew members are needed to remain on the shop to maintain critical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday , Jonathan Hoffman , the chief Pentagon spokesman , said Defence Secretary Mark Esper supported Modly ’ s decision to fire Crozier from his command job .
He said Modly told Esper he had lost confidence in the captain .
And Army Gen. Mark Milley , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told FoxNews that he trusted Modly ’ s judgement .
He said it was a difficult decision , and that Modly is accountable to the American people for it .
Crozier , in his memo , warned of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ship and asked for permission to isolate the bulk of his crew members on shore , an extraordinary move to take a carrier out of duty in an effort to save lives .
And he said that if commanders didn ’ t act quickly , they would be “ failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset , our sailors.
” Videos posted online showed sailors chanting Crozier ’ s name and applauding him as he left the ship .
A number of lawmakers have questioned the firing as too hasty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per cent of the sailors on the ship have been tested , and results are still coming in .
He said no sailors are hospitalized .


thetorontostar--2020-04-03--Ohio mayor pleads for church to stop in-person services

LEBANON , Ohio - An Ohio mayor pleaded with a local church to “ reconsider “ holding in-person services amid concerns of the rapid spread of the coronavirus .
Monroe Mayor Jason Frentzel sent a letter Thursday to Solid Rock Church asking church officials to halt service , the Cincinnati Enquirer reported .
“ While I understand that you have the right to assemble , I also understand the community ’ s concerns with having such a large gathering coming together in this current environment , ” Frentzel wrote .
The church , which is known for its large statue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Interstate 75 , has continued to leave its doors open and hold in-person services despite calls from Gov .
Mike DeWine and advocacy groups to stop .
“ We believe that the doors of Solid Rock Church should remain open .
It is in these times of crisis that the church should play a critical role as a place of refuge .
A place where anyone can come to pray , to worship , and to find healing and hope , “ the church said in a statement on its website .
Church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of their congregation practice social distancing inside the church and are disinfecting their facilities before and after services .
The letter from Frentzel comes days after Florida megachurch pastor Rodney Howard-Browne was arrested and charged with unlawful assembly and violating public health rules after hosting two packed Sunday services .
DeWine has not banned churches from holding in-person services but noted this week it is a “ huge mistake ” for those large gatherings to occur .
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thetorontostar--2020-04-04--Knifeman in southern France kills 2 in attack on passers by

PARIS - A man wielding a knife attacked residents venturing out to shop in a town under lockdown south of the French city of Lyon Saturday , killing two people and wounding others , prosecutors said .
The anti-terrorism prosecutor ’ s office told The Associated Press the attack took place at 11 a.m. in a commercial street in Romans-sur-Isere .
The alleged attacker was arrested by police nearby .
Prosecutors did not identify him .
They said he had no documents but claimed to be Sudanese and to have been born in 1987 .
Prosecutors said that other people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirm French media reports that there were seven other casualties , of whom one is in critical condition .
The office said it is evaluating whether the attack was motivated by terrorism , but that it has not launched any formal proceedings to treat it as such .
Like the rest of France , the town ’ s residents are on coronavirus-linked lockdown .
The victims were likely carrying out their weekend food shopping on the street that has bakeries and grocers .
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thetorontostar--2020-04-04--Deaths of doctors, nurses highlight virus risks they run

ROME - Air raid sirens sounded across China and flags flew at half staff in a tribute Saturday to victims of the coronavirus pandemic including the health care “ martyrs ” who have died while fighting to save others .
Elsewhere , 15 medics in Egypt ’ s main cancer hospital tested positive for the virus , underlining the risks faced by those on the front lines of the outbreak .
As the number of people infected has grown to more than 1.1 million worldwide , health care systems are straining under the surge of patients and a paucity of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protective masks and gloves , giving rise to growing concerns about the exposure of hospital personnel .
Italy and Spain , the two worst-hit countries in Europe with combined deaths of more than 25,000 and nearly a quarter-million infections , have reported a high percentage of infections among their health care workers .
Carlo Palermo , head of Italy ’ s hospital doctors ’ union , fought tears as he told reporters in Rome of the physical risks and psychological trauma the outbreak is causing , noting reports that two nurses had committed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who look death in the eye every day , who are on the front lines , who work with someone who maybe is infected , then a few days later you see him in the ICU or die , “ he said .
” It ’ s a indescribable condition of stress .
Unbearable.
” U.S. President Donald Trump announced late Friday he would prevent the export of N95 protective masks and surgical gloves in a move he said was necessary to ensure they are available in the U.S. — but the prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counterproductive , noting cross-border aid goes well beyond supplies .
“ I think of the thousands of nurses who cross the bridge in Windsor to work in the Detroit medical system every day , ” Justin Trudeau said .
“ These are things Americans rely on.
” The number of people infected in the U.S. has now exceeded a quarter-million , with the death toll climbing past 7,000 .
New York state alone accounts for more than 2,900 dead , an increase of over 560 in just one day .
Most of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where hospitals are swamped with patients .
Eleven Russian military planes carrying disinfection experts and their gear landed in Serbia on Saturday , which Serbian Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin said shows “ that we are not alone.
” The transport follows last month ’ s deployment of a similar Russian coronavirus task force to Italy and the delivery of medical supplies to the United States .
Russian officials have angrily rejected claims that the Kremlin is seeking political gain by providing medical aid to other countries .
Russia has reported a relatively few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its southern neighbour Georgia said Saturday it has registered its first death from the virus , among 156 confirmed cases of infection .
In China , where the novel coronavirus was first detected in December , the country has cautiously lifted restrictions amid dropping numbers of infections .
On Saturday it reported just one new confirmed case in the epicenter of Wuhan and 18 others among people arriving from abroad .
There were four new deaths for an official total of 3,326 .
In the nationwide tribute to the victims , the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care workers who contracted COVID-19 and the 14 reported to have died from the disease .
Among them was doctor Li Wenliang , who was threatened with punishment by police after publicizing news of the outbreak but has since been listed among the national “ martyrs.
” As the outbreak spreads in Egypt , the Arab world ’ s most populous country , the news that three doctors and 12 nurses tested positive for the virus at the National Cancer Institute raised fears of what the virus might do to the country ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eye on what has happened elsewhere .
In Italy , more than 11,000 medical personnel have been infected — just under 10 % of the official total — and some 73 doctors have died , according to the National Institutes of Health and the association of doctors , which has kept a running tally of the dead .
Significantly , not all the doctors were working in hospitals .
Many were general practitioners .
Other non-hospital practitioners were dentists , who were believed to have been exposed given the transmission of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors ’ union head , said a key reason for the high contagion rate among general practitioners was that the common flu was raging at the same time in the early part of the year .
“ The epidemic was superimposed on top of the normal course of influenza , which didn ’ t allow us to discriminate between the two , ” he said Saturday .
“ A patient with a fever or cough or unspecific symptoms would go to his doctor , who would see him at home or in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the contagion happened .
That ’ s why there are so many family doctors who are infected.
” Spain ’ s health workers have been contracting the COVID-19 virus at a faster rate than any other country , with around 15 % of its almost 125,000 total cases being doctors , nurses and other medical staff .
Its health workers have been exposed to contagion due to a shortage of medical supplies , with nurses and doctors being forced in some cases to patch together makeshift protection suits using plastics such as garbage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ break down , the government has started to fly in medical products from suppliers in China on military cargo planes .
Meanwhile , local industry is shifting to produce masks , suits , and breathing machines for its crammed intensive care units .
As the country completes its third week in a state of emergency , there are signs the number of new infections is slowing , but are still high with 7,026 new cases reported overnight Saturday and 809 deaths .
Worldwide , confirmed infections rose past 1.1 million and deaths approached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johns Hopkins University .
Experts say both numbers are seriously undercounted because of the lack of testing , mild cases that were missed and governments that are underplaying the crisis .
At the same time , more than 220,000 people have recovered from the virus , which causes mild to moderate symptoms in most patients , who recover within a few weeks .
The shortage of supplies has led to fierce competition among buyers from Europe , the U.S. and elsewhere and aggressive measures such as New York state Gov .
Andrew Cuomo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aren ’ t being used .
Cuomo says New York , the nation ’ s worst hot spot , could run out of ventilators next week .
“ If they want to sue me for borrowing their excess ventilators to save lives , let them sue me , ” Cuomo said .
He promised to eventually return the equipment or compensate the owners .
Rising reported from Berlin .
Associated Press writers around the world contributed to this report .
Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at http : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and @ @ @

Nicole Winfield And David Rising - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-04-04--4 soldiers, 63 jihadists killed in clash in Niger

NIAMEY , Niger - Four soldiers and 63 jihadists have been killed in fighting between Niger ’ s army and @ @ @ @ @ nation ’ s west , the government said Friday .
Extremists on motorcycles fought the @ @ @ @ @ region near the border with Mali before being forced to flee , according to a @ @ @ @ @ army was able to recover dozens of weapons and motorcycles , it said .
Since @ @ @ @ @ soldiers have been killed in Niger in several attacks .
At least two were claimed @ @ @ @ @ Islamic State group .
Extremism has grown in West Africa ’ s Sahel region south @ @ @ @ @ with attacks increasing near the borders of Burkina Faso , Mali and Niger , where @ @ @ @ @ or IS operate .
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thetorontostar--2020-04-04--Keir Starmer picked to lead UK Labour amid virus crisis

LONDON - Lawyer and lawmaker Keir Starmer was elected leader of Britain ’ s main opposition Labour Party on Saturday by a decisive margin , after a contest thrown into turmoil by the coronavirus outbreak .
A special conference to announce the winner was scrapped when the nation went into lockdown , and the news came in a press release accompanied by a pre-recorded acceptance speech .
Starmer , 57 , comes from Labour ’ s centre-left wing , and his election marks a shift from the more strongly socialist course set by his predecessor , Jeremy Corbyn .
Starmer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opposition “ at a moment like none other in our lifetime ” and promised to “ engage constructively “ with the Conservative government to fight the coronavirus pandemic .
The party said Starmer won on the first round of voting with 56.2 % of all the votes cast , well ahead of rivals Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy .
Angela Rayner was chosen as deputy leader in a vote of Labour ’ s half a million members .
A former U.K. chief prosecutor named after Labour Party co-founder Keir Hardie , Starmer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deeply divided over the policies and legacy of Corbyn , The outgoing leader was elected party chief in 2015 on a wave of grassroots enthusiasm , and took Labour sharply to the left , proposing the nationalization of major industries and a huge increase in public spending .
Corbyn also faced allegations that he had allowed anti-Semitism to fester in the party .
He is a longtime supporter of the Palestinians and critic of Israel .
Starmer said “ anti-Semitism has been a stain on our party.
“ “ On behalf of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I will tear out this poison by its roots , ” he said .
Corbyn drew thousands of new activists to the party , but lost two successive elections in 2017 and 2019 .
In December ’ s election , Labour suffered its worst result since 1935 , as the Conservatives won in working-class areas that had voted Labour for decades .
Labour has now been out of office for a decade that has brought the country three Conservative prime ministers — David Cameron , Theresa May and Boris Johnson .
Starmer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to climb ” before it could return to government .
His election was welcomed by Labour moderates such as London Mayor Sadiq Khan , who said he was “ delighted.
” But the Corbyn-supporting grassroots group Momentum said it would hold Starmer to account .
It said “ his mandate is to build on Jeremy ’ s transformative vision.
” Starmer has been the party ’ s spokesman on Brexit , the issue that has consumed British politics for four years .
But the country ’ s departure from the European Union , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been pushed into the background by the pandemic sweeping the globe .
Like many other countries , Britain is in effective lockdown , with schools , bars , restaurants and many businesses shut to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus .
A Dec. 31 deadline set by the government to forge a new relationship with the EU on trade and a host of other issues looks increasingly hard to meet .
The rules of politics have been upended .
Many policies that Conservatives dismissed as socialist follies have been introduced , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s government in an effort to keep people and businesses afloat until the pandemic is over .
The government is handing out cash to small businesses and made many more people eligible for welfare benefits .
Meanwhile , Parliament is currently on an extended recess , and it is unclear when lawmakers will return .
Starmer faces a delicate challenge : How to hold the government to account during a national emergency while also supporting the fight against the virus .
Johnson announced Saturday that he was inviting leaders of opposition parties to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s top medical and scientific advisers on the fight against COVID-19 .
“ As party leaders , we have a duty to work together at this time of national emergency , ” Johnson wrote .
Starmer said he would not engage in “ opposition for opposition ’ s sake ” but would criticize the government when necessary .
“ We will shine a torch on critical issues and where we see mistakes or faltering government or things not happening as quickly as they should we ’ ll challenge that and call that @ @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-04-04--Medics at Egypt’s main cancer centre test positive for virus

CAIRO - At least 17 medics in Egypt ’ s main cancer hospital have been quarantined after testing positive for the coronavirus , officials said Saturday , raising fears the pandemic could prey on health facilities in the Arab world ’ s most populous country .
Egypt has reported around 1,000 confirmed cases and 66 fatalities from the global pandemic .
Authorities have closed schools and mosques , banned public gatherings and imposed a nighttime curfew to prevent the virus from spreading among the population of 100 million , a fifth of whom live in the densely-populated capital , Cairo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of the National Cancer Institute , said three doctors and 12 nurses tested positive for the virus .
He said all other health workers at the facility , which is affiliated with Cairo University and treats hundreds of cancer patients every day , would be tested .
The university later said a total of 17 health workers tested positive .
The institute will be partly closed for three days to be sterilized , with only the emergency ward remaining open .
Several doctors took to social media to criticize the institute ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier .
Maggie Mousa , an anesthesiologist at the institute , tweeted that one of her close friends was infected .
She accused top officials of mismanagement and negligence for not imposing restrictions after the first case was detected more than a week ago .
“ They refused to take any measures to protect her and isolate the institute , ” she said .
Cairo University said it has established a fact-finding mission to investigate the measures taken by the institute to prevent the virus from spreading .
The virus causes mild to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recover within a few weeks .
But it is highly contagious and can cause severe illness or death , particularly in older patients or those with underlying health problems , including cancer patients .
More than a million people have been infected worldwide and more than 50,000 have died from the COVID-19 illness caused by the virus .
More than 200,000 have recovered , according to data gathered by Johns Hopkins University .
Egypt ’ s Health Ministry reported a spike in cases on Friday , with 120 new infections and eight fatalities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first case was reported in February .
The government has not yet imposed the kind of total lockdown seen in other countries in the region , but officials have said there are plans for stricter measures if needed .
The worst coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East is in Iran , where the Health Ministry on Saturday reported another 158 deaths .
That brings the overall number of fatalities there to 3,452 , amid 55,743 confirmed cases .
Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said more than 4,000 patients are in serious condition .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Iran , contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-04-04--African elite who once sought treatment abroad are grounded

JOHANNESBURG - The coronavirus pandemic could narrow one gaping inequality in Africa , where some heads of state and other elite jet off to Europe or Asia for health care unavailable in their nations .
As countries including their own impose dramatic travel restrictions , they might have to take their chances at home .
For years , leaders from Benin to Zimbabwe have received medical care abroad while their own poorly funded health systems limp from crisis to crisis .
Several presidents , including ones from Nigeria , Malawi and Zambia , have died overseas .
The practice is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister , Aaron Motsoaledi , a few years ago scolded , “ We are the only continent that has its leaders seeking medical services outside the continent , outside our territory .
We must be ashamed.
” Now a wave of global travel restrictions threatens to block that option for a cadre of aging African leaders .
More than 30 of Africa ’ s 57 international airports have closed or severely limited flights , the U.S. State Department says .
At times , flight trackers have shown the continent ’ s skies nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity for our leaders to reexamine their priorities , ” said Livingstone Sewanyana of the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative , which has long urged African countries to increase health care spending .
But that plea has not led to action , even as the continent wrestles with major crises including deadly outbreaks of Ebola and the scourges of malaria and HIV .
Spending on health care in Africa is roughly 5 % of gross domestic product , about half the global average .
That ’ s despite a pledge by African Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Money is sometimes diverted to security or simply pilfered , and shortages are common .
Ethiopia had just three hospital beds per 10,000 people in 2015 , according to World Health Organization data , compared to two dozen or more in the U.S. and Europe .
Central African Republic has just three ventilators in the entire country .
In Zimbabwe , doctors have reported doing bare-handed surgeries for lack of gloves .
Health experts warn that many countries will be overwhelmed if the coronavirus spreads , and it is already uncomfortably close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been infected , as has a top aide to Nigeria ’ s president .
An aide to Congo ’ s leader died .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness and lead to death .
“ If you test positive in a country , you should seek care in that country , ” the head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Dr. John Nkengasong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not a death sentence.
” In Nigeria , some worried their president might be among the victims .
Long skittish about President Muhammadu Buhari ’ s absences from public view , including weeks in London for treatment for unspecified health problems , they took to Twitter to ask why he hadn ’ t addressed the nation as virus cases rose .
Buhari ’ s office dismissed speculation about his whereabouts as unfounded rumour .
When he did emerge Sunday night , he announced that all private jet flights were suspended .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ While the travel restrictions have grounded the merely wealthy , political analyst Alex Rusero said a determined African leader probably could still find a way to go abroad for care .
“ They are scared of death so much they will do everything within their disposal , even if it ’ s a private jet to a private hospital in a foreign land , ” said Rusero , who is based in Zimbabwe , whose late President Robert Mugabe often sought treatment in Asia .
Perhaps nowhere is the situation bleaker than in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collapsed .
Even before the pandemic , patients ’ families were often asked to provide essentials like gloves and clean water .
Doctors last year reported using bread bags to collect patients ’ urine .
Zimbabwe ’ s vice-president , Constantino Chiwenga , departed last month for unrelated medical treatment in China , as the outbreak eased in that country .
Zimbabwe closed its borders days later after its first virus death .
Chiwenga has since returned — to lead the country ’ s coronavirus task force .
But some in a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to show sensitivity to virus-prevention measures .
The president of Botswana , Mokgweetsi Masisi , initially defied his country ’ s restrictions on travel by government employees to visit neighbouring Namibia for its leader ’ s inauguration .
But he entered self-quarantine and now reminds others to stay home , calling it “ literally a matter of life and death.
” South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced he had tested negative , just ahead of a three-week lockdown in Africa ’ s most developed country .
Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina has as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Roch Marc Christian Kabore and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed , have tweeted images of themselves working via videoconference as countries encourage people to keep their distance .
While African leaders are more tied to home than ever , their access to medical care is still far better than most of their citizens ’ .
In Burkina Faso ’ s capital , Ouagadougou , medical student Franck Bienvenu Zida was self-isolating and worried after having contact with someone who tested positive .
The 26-year-old feared infecting people where he lives , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nowhere .
In three days of calling an emergency number to request a test , he could not get through .
Associated Press writers Sam Mednick in Ouagadougou , Burkina Faso , and Rodney Muhumuza in Kampala , Uganda , contributed to this report .
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


thetorontostar--2020-04-04--China honours virus victims with three minutes of reflection

WUHAN , China - With air raid sirens wailing and flags at half-staff , China held a three-minute nationwide moment of reflection on Saturday to honour those who have died in the coronavirus outbreak , especially “ martyrs ” who fell while fighting what has become a global pandemic .
Commemorations took place at 10 a.m. in all major cities , but were particularly poignant in Wuhan , the industrial city where the virus was first detected in December .
Wuhan was placed under complete lockdown on Jan. 23 in an effort to stem the spread of the virus and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city ” by the nation ’ s communist leadership for the sacrifices made by its 11 million citizens .
People have gradually been allowed to travel in and out of Wuhan under strict conditions .
The quarantine in the city is to be formally lifted on Wednesday .
In Beijing , President Xi Jinping led other top officials , all dressed in black suits with white carnations , as they bowed before a flag at half-staff in the leadership compound of Zhongnanhai .
On Saturday , China reported one new confirmed case in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abroad , along with four new deaths , all in Wuhan .
China now has recorded a total of 81,639 cases and 3,326 deaths , although those figures are generally considered to be understated because of a lack of testing and a reluctance to report the scale of the original outbreak .
China ’ s slow , cautious emergence from the global pandemic comes as the U.S. is struggling to deal with an outbreak that has taken more than 1,860 lives in New York City alone .
Hard-hit European nations Italy , Spain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cases and deaths , although strict social distancing measures such as those adopted by China appear to be having an effect .
The State Council , China ’ s Cabinet , ordered that national flags be flown at half-staff around the country and at Chinese embassies and consulates abroad , and the suspension of all public recreational activities .
The horns of automobiles , trains and ships joined in what China ’ s official Xinhua News Agency called a “ wail in grief ” for three minutes .
China has held such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often to mark World War II-era atrocities by Japan , but rarely on a national scale .
The commemoration also comes on the traditional Qingming festival , when Chinese visit the graves of their ancestors .
Officials have banned such observances this year to avoid large gatherings that might contribute to a feared second wave of infections .
More than 3,000 health care workers contracted COVID-19 and the government says 14 died of the disease .
Among them was Dr. Li Wenliang , who was threatened with punishment by police after publicizing news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ listed among the national “ martyrs.
” This story has been corrected to show that Saturday was the day of the Qingming festival .


thetorontostar--2020-04-04--Tony Burman: What might a desperate Donald Trump do to win after ghastly COVID-19 death toll and its

Tony Burman: What might a desperate Donald Trump do to win after ghastly COVID-19 death toll and its aftermath?

This month — April 2020 — is certain to have its own dark chapter dedicated to it in modern American history .
It may very well be remembered in the same painful way that the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 , the disastrous Vietnam War and the al-Qaeda attacks on September 11 , 2001 , are remembered — both by the number of Americans killed and their devastating impact on America ’ s fragile psyche .
With the peak of deaths beginning in a matter of days , between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans are expected to die from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official U.S. government estimates this week — and that is only if “ we do things almost perfectly.
” Since nothing about this crisis has been done “ almost perfectly , ” the actual number could be much more .
That would be far more than the number of Americans killed in Pearl Harbor , in Vietnam , on 9/11 and in the Korean War — combined .
Americans are only beginning to absorb this astonishing prospect .
Many of them are still scarred by the 2,977 people killed on Sept. 11 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already died from COVID-19 .
In ways that we can now only imagine , this will be a dangerous time bomb ticking deeply inside the heart of the U.S. political system .
Americans don ’ t grieve silently , and they don ’ t forget .
No one will be untouched when this bomb explodes .
Donald Trump — above all — will know that his political survival is imperiled .
So , given this , it is time to ask this once unthinkable question : Faced with what will likely look like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump do to steal the presidential election ?
Let me count the ways — but before that , there are three related questions that should be asked : There will likely be a 9/11-style independent commission to examine why the United States , more than other countries , was so ill-prepared to handle the pandemic , but it is already clear that its indictment of Trump and his administration will be withering .
Not only did Trump consistently downplay the threat , he ignored countless warnings in January and February that only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ catastrophe to come .
There is potential for a quarter of a million Americans dead in the next few months , many of them needlessly and each of them with an individual story and a family .
Americans don ’ t yet know what is about to hit them .
There has been media chatter in the U.S. about how much airtime Trump is getting each day to repeat his lies and distortions about his performance .
But Trump ’ s viewing figures are actually far less than the enormous ratings the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s on these news programs each evening that Americans are seeing their exhausted doctors and nurses , in tears and at the breaking point , as they comfort grandparents and parents who are dying without their relatives able to be there .
Imagine having to watch your loved one die , on FaceTime .
You would never forget this .
The cumulative effect of this grief , night after night , will be raw and enduring .
No one who is thought to be responsible , least of all Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may take some weeks to emerge .
Americans traditionally support their president in times of crisis , and Trump ’ s approval ratings have increased slightly in some polls .
But there are already signs in the most recent polling this week that this Trump ‘ bounce ’ has fizzled as more Americans , now alert to the scale of the crisis , express anger at how it has been handled .
So , if confronted with the virtual certainty that he would lose November ’ s presidential election , what might Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would suggest that Americans would be fools if they didn ’ t believe that he would try — and certainly if there were signs of social collapse as a result of the ( Trump-created ) health and economic crisis .
It is noteworthy that one of Trump ’ s closest friends and allies in Europe is Hungary ’ s president , Viktor Orban — who , Trump once said , “ has done a tremendous job in so many ways.
” Last Monday , Hungary ’ s parliament passed an emergency bill that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off future elections .
A U.S. president could not , according to the constitution , outright cancel a presidential election — but he could manipulate it .
With the support of a majority of Republican-controlled states , the way a president is elected could be altered to favour Trump .
If the November election is held with the COVID-19 pandemic still a factor , voting rules could be changed to favour Republicans at the expense of Democrats .
As recently as this week , Trump admitted on Fox News that making it easier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he opposed a Democratic-led push for reforms such as vote-by-mail and early voting : “ The things they had in there were crazy … If you ’ d ever agreed to it , you ’ d never have a Republican election in this country again.
” In whatever way this crisis will unfold , it will cause unprecedented pressure on America ’ s democracy .
But it is a democracy that has survived many crises , and that is consoling .
But never before has its health-care system — or its economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under such strain .
And certainly , never before at the same time .
Since Trump was elected , the world has stumbled through an ugly and inept presidency , but it has survived .
However , there have been many warnings that this day might one day come .
Well , it has .


thetorontostar--2020-04-04--Cadaver dogs offer clues to wagon trains on old Idaho trails

Cadaver dogs will be out combing and sniffing Idaho ’ s sagebrush land at the City of Rocks National Preserve for the scent of decomposing humans .
They aren ’ t employed to solve a recent crime , the Post Register reports , but to add clues to part of Idaho ’ s tragic past when emigrants passed through the area in wagon trains and succumbed to a number of ever-present woes : bad water , hostile attacks , sickness , starvation or accidents .
Emigrants had two main destinations in mind when they passed through Idaho in the mid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oregon territory or gold in California .
Self-professed diary reader and president of the Idaho chapter of the Oregon-California Trails Association , Jerry Eichhorst , said members of his group will join the assistant City of Rocks manager Tara McClure-Cannon in May to investigate suspected graves along the California Trail where it heads south into Nevada .
“ We will be doing some cadaver dog work on some suspected graves that we found last year working with the park archaeologist , ” Eichhorst said .
“ Then we ’ ll do a little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas on the California Trail.
“ The two German shepherd dogs he ’ ll be working with are owned by Debra Hurlbert of Driggs , an expert in cadaver dogs training .
Hurlbert was recently in Texas training other dogs and their owners at a cemetery plot .
“ These dogs are amazing , ” she said .
“ They can detect human remains from hundreds of years ago.
” McClure-Cannon said some potential graves have been identified near Camp Rock at the preserve .
“ ( The association ) was out in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they found some rocks that were in the alignment that you would expect ( with graves ) .
” Eichhorst said it ’ s fun watching the dogs and their owners go to work .
“ They like working with us because there ’ s no pressure , ” he said .
“ It ’ s not like they ’ re looking to solve a crime .
These bodies aren ’ t going anywhere and there are no families waiting for the results .
The dogs can pick up the scent .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to 1,300 AD .
They can easily find the scent .
We ’ ll go out and show them an area where we think there is a suspected grave , and she ’ ll tell the dogs to go search , and they ’ ll run around , if they spot the grave they give their indication , sit down or lay down.
” Eichhorst has been investigating Idaho ’ s historic trails for more than two decades .
Besides hiking around the routes , one favourite tool is reading diaries of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a diary researcher , ” he said .
“ I have 2,400 accounts of people who crossed Idaho .
I compile these diaries by location .
I get some of the best stories by location .
I ’ ve also been able to find the correct route of the North Alternate Trail based upon the diaries .
The original identified route was actually incorrect.
” The North Alternate Trail departed from the main Oregon Trail near Hagerman and roughly paralleled the northern side of the Snake River before rejoining the main trail east @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadliest section of the trail in Idaho with dozens of bodies , some buried in mass graves , located along the route .
“ The point where ( emigrants ) reached Clover Creek was about 60 miles to the west were references of 10 to 14 deaths and burials and graves at each of the camping sites , ” Eichhorst said .
“ Idaho didn ’ t have those kind of deaths anywhere else .
That was from bad water .
They drank the water of Clover Creek .
By July , August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a slow meandering stream with a lot of beaver dams on it .
It would be really grungy with algae and E. coli and giardia and everything going in it .
So the people would drink it , get sick , get diarrhea , dehydrate and die .
I ( found ) what appears to be a mass grave area with about 45 graves in it .
I have a diary reference at that point that talks about a massacre in that point in 1858.
“ Eichhorst has also worked with archaeologists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the area with ground-penetrating radar and a magnatronmetre .
Checking for human remains on the North Alternate Route proved eye-opening .
“ We confirmed a mass grave that we ’ ve known about a half a mile away , ” Eichhorst said .
“ We confirmed 7 bodies .
In that mass grave , you can see the white orbs on the ( ground penetrating radar ) .
Next to it about 30 feet away there ’ s another mass grave with another 7 bodies that we really weren ’ t sure about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Park Service and commissioned by Congress to catalogue and include other historic route segments into the park ’ s system has proved frustrating for members of the Oregon-California Trail Association , particularly in Idaho .
Additional trails such as the North Alternate Route and Goodale ’ s Cutoff are not recognized because of their dates of use .
The park service ’ s findings were turned into Congress in January .
According to Eichhorst , the study ’ s findings were flawed from the beginning .
Congress defined the Oregon Trail through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 % of the emigrants arrived in Oregon after that date .
“ Congress said , no you can ’ t expand the dates from 1848 to 1860 because we initially set it up that the Oregon Trail was to 1848 and the California Trail was from 1849 to 1860 , “ he said .
“ ( The North Alternate Route and Goodale ’ s Cutoff ) , even though they met all the criteria , they were after that 1848 cutoff date that Congress has designated in the original act back 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arbitrary.
” Eichhorst said he hopes to reach out to Idaho ’ s Congressional representatives and see if the dates can ’ t be changed “ because those are two of the most significant routes of the Oregon Trail across Idaho.
” The National Park Service has recommended adding a segment in Idaho to the Historic Trail system called the Lander Cut-off trail found in eastern Idaho .
The route enters Idaho north of Thayne , Wyo.
, heads east to just south of Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge , then south to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the main route .
“ There were a lot of people who were disappointed when it was announced last week at the ( Oregon-California Trails Association ) board of directors meeting about all the things that weren ’ t passed , ” Eichhorst said recently .
“ There were a lot fewer additions to the National Historic Trails than what was expected .
”


thetorontostar--2020-04-04--Trump fires watchdog who handled Ukraine complaint

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Friday abruptly fired the inspector general of the intelligence community , sidelining an independent watchdog who played a pivotal role in his impeachment even as his White House struggled with the deepening coronavirus pandemic .
Trump informed the Senate intelligence committee late Friday of his decision to fire Michael Atkinson , according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press .
Atkinson handled the whistleblower complaint that triggered Trump ’ s impeachment last year .
Atkinson ’ s firing , which is part of a shakeup of the intelligence community under Trump , thrusts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spotlight as his administration deals with the deadly spread of coronavirus .
As Trump was removing Atkinson , the number of U.S. deaths due to the virus topped 7,000 .
Trump said in the letter that it is “ vital ” that he has confidence in the appointees serving as inspectors general , and “ that is no longer the case with regard to this inspector general.
” He did not elaborate , except to say that “ it is extremely important that we promote the economy , efficiency and effectiveness of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that inspectors general are critical to those goals .
Atkinson was the first to inform Congress about an anonymous whistleblower complaint last year that described Trump ’ s pressure on Ukraine to investigate Democrat Joe Biden and his son .
That complaint prompted a House investigation that ultimately resulted in Trump ’ s impeachment .
In letters to lawmakers in August and September , Atkinson said he believed the complaint was “ urgent ” and “ credible.
” But the acting Director of National Intelligence at the time , Joseph Maguire , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ definition of “ urgent , ” and tried to withhold the complaint from Congress .
The complaint was eventually released after a firestorm , and it revealed that Trump had asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a July call to investigate Democrats .
The House launched an inquiry in September , and three months later voted to impeach Trump .
The Republican-led Senate acquitted Trump in February .
Trump said in the letter to the Senate that Atkinson would be removed from office in 30 days , the required amount of time he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote that he would nominate an individual “ who has my full confidence ” at a later date .
According to two congressional officials , Atkinson has been placed on administrative leave , meaning he will not serve out the 30 days .
One of the officials said Atkinson was only informed of his removal on Friday night .
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because Atkinson ’ s administrative leave has not been announced .
Democrats reacted swiftly to Atkinson ’ s removal .
The top Democrat on the Senate intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it was “ unconscionable ” that Trump would fire Atkinson in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic .
“ We should all be deeply disturbed by ongoing attempts to politicize the nation ’ s intelligence agencies , ” Warner said .
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , who led the House impeachment inquiry , said “ the president ’ s dead of night decision puts our country and national security at even greater risk.
” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , said the firing “ threatens to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speak truth to power.
” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , said Trump “ fires people for telling the truth.
” Michael Horowitz , Chair of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency and the inspector general at the Department of Justice , criticized the removal of Atkinson and defended his handling of the Ukraine case .
“ Inspector General Atkinson is known throughout the Inspector General community for his integrity , professionalism , and commitment to the rule of law and independent oversight , “ Horowitz said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professional , will become the acting inspector general for the intelligence community , according to an intelligence official who was not authorized to discuss personnel changes and spoke only on condition of anonymity .
Monheim is currently the general counsel of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency .
Atkinson ’ s firing is part of a larger shakeup in the intelligence community .
Maguire , the former acting Director of National Intelligence , was also removed by Trump and replaced by a Trump loyalist , Richard Grenell .
The intelligence community , which Trump has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in turmoil amid the constant turnover .
Atkinson is at least the seventh intelligence official to be fired , ousted or moved aside since last summer .
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence , which was created to improve co-ordination of the nation ’ s 17 intelligence agencies after 9-11 , has been in upheaval since former director Dan Coats , who had a fraught relationship with Trump , announced in July 2019 that he was stepping down .
Trump nominated Rep. John Ratcliffe , R-Texas , to replace Coats , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats and a lukewarm response from some Republicans because of his lack of experience .
Trump withdrew Ratcliffe ’ s name from consideration shortly after he was nominated , but then re-nominated him again in February .
The Senate has yet to move on the nomination .
Under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act , Grenell could only serve in his post until March 11 unless the president formally nominated someone else for the job .
So by selecting Ratcliffe again , Grenell can stay for up to 210 days while Ratcliffe weaves his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and for another 210 days if senators reject Ratcliffe ’ s nomination .

Mary Clare Jalonick And Deb Riechmann - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-04-04--UN to decide in a month on holding world leaders’ meeting

TANZANIA , Tanzania - The president of the U.N. General Assembly says the 193-member world body will take a decision in the coming month on whether to delay the annual gathering of world leaders in New York in late September because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Tijjani Muhammad-Bande said in an interview with The Associated Press that “ this is not something that has so far been an issue of serious consultation , ” and for now the calendar of events remains .
It calls for the General Debate — the official name of the high-level meeting — to open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event for world leaders the previous day to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations .
The former Nigerian ambassador said “ in the coming month we ’ ll take a decision through the normal means , ” which means consulting all U.N. member states .
The United Nations has cancelled or postponed numerous upcoming events including the five-year review of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty that had been scheduled to start in late April , and two major events in Mexico City in May and Paris in July to commemorate the 25th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference , which adopted a 150-page roadmap to achieve gender equality .
Muhammad-Bande announced the postponement Friday of several meetings of the General Assembly scheduled in the next two months including the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II on May 6 .
“ The current situation might have pushed us to postpone events celebrating the 75th anniversary ( of World War II ) but it illustrates , maybe more than anything else , the absolute need for the U.N. to guide the global efforts and provide much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ The U.N. , since its creation , has given a sense of hope to many people in very difficult situations , ” Muhammad-Bande said .
“ The very existence of this organization has the same effect now during a time in which a lot of people go through fear and anxiety.
” He said “ everything is secondary to COVID right now.
” But Muhammad-Bande stressed that other issues are still being discussed in the assembly ’ s committees , which are meeting by video conference .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , he said , “ is greater realization of how interconnected we all are ... and also in my view I can see better relations among nations.
” Muhammad-Bande pointed to the authority of the U.N. World Health Organization , saying people everywhere want to hear what it has to say about COVID-19 .
He said it must be “ a moral imperative ” to help poorer countries tackle the virus , and urged governments to give generously to the U.N. appeal .
“ We certainly need to do much more , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll get what is needed while looking at better ways of guaranteeing social nets , ” the General Assembly president said .