thetorontostar--2020-04-24--Boy Scouts suit filed as Hawaii shuts abuse claims window

HONOLULU - Eight men were sexually abused when they were Boy Scouts in Hawaii in the 1960s and 1970s , they alleged in a lawsuit filed Friday as the state ’ s window closed on allowing child sex abuse claims that would have been barred under a statute of limitations .
Various states and Washington , D.C. , extended or suspended statute of limitations to allow child sex abuse claims stretching back decades .
In Hawaii , a window for filing old claims was first opened in 2012 .
It was reopened in 2018 and closed Friday .
The lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hawaii , California , Oregon and Washington state also comes while attorneys urge potential victims to come forward as Boy Scouts of America works on its bankruptcy plan .
The Boy Scouts filed for bankruptcy protection in February in an effort to halt hundreds of individual lawsuits and create a huge compensation fund for men who were molested as youngsters decades ago by scoutmasters or other leaders .
The Scouts resorted to Chapter 11 in hopes of surviving a barrage of lawsuits , many of them made possible by changes in state laws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual abuse .
Named as a defendant in the Hawaii lawsuit is the Boy Scouts ’ Aloha Council .
While the bankruptcy proceedings have halted lawsuits against Boy Scouts of America , the windows allow for filing claims against local councils and other sponsoring organizations , said Stewart Eisenberg , one of the attorneys representing the eight men .
“ Hawaii is one of the first to close their windows , ” he said .
States that have active windows include California , Arizona , New York , New Jersey and Montana .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will likely be put on hold and its unclear whether it will be transferred to bankruptcy court , Eisenberg said .
“ It ’ s important because the councils , we believe , need to be held to account , because in many instances they were the ones that were directly responsible for hiring the perpetrator , putting him in a position where he could gain access to kids in their programs , at their scout camps and so on and so forth , ” said Tim Kosnoff , another attorney representing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of AbusedinScouting , a consortium of law firms representing victims .
Aloha Council representatives couldn ’ t immediately be reached for comment after the lawsuit was filed Friday afternoon .
Among the allegations , a California man says he was about 10 when an assistant scoutmaster abused him during camping trips on Oahu .
The assistant scoutmaster “ would tell ghost stories , and many of the scouts would become very scared , ” and the assistant scoutmaster would use that fear to visit scouts in their tents and abuse them , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was about 14 around 1976 when a cook “ held a knife to his throat in the shower while forcing him to comply with his sexual demands ” during a five-week Boy Scouts camping trip on the Big Island , according to the lawsuit .
A deadline for bringing claims in the bankruptcy proceedings is expected in the fall , Kosnoff said .
Attorneys are trying to “ get out the word so people know that they need to come forward and participate in the bankruptcy proceedings , whether or not they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ window , “ Eisenberg said .
“ So we have to make it ... as clear as possible to those that are out there who have been abused and are either afraid to come forward or reticent or hesitant , that now is the time .
”

Jennifer Sinco Kelleher - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-04-25--ACLU sues California to block ICE transfers, reduce prison population amid coronavirus outbreak

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a pair of lawsuits late Friday calling for a dramatic reduction in California ’ s incarcerated population and a halt to all transfers of inmates to federal immigration detention centres amid increasing signs throughout the U.S. that jails and prisons are hot zones for the spread of the coronavirus .
The suits filed with the California Supreme Court name Gov .
Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Xavier Becerra and come as the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego and Lompoc penitentiary in Santa Barbara County have become home to some of the worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the lawsuits , the ACLU argued that outbreaks behind bars pose threats not only to the incarcerated , but also the families of jail and prison employees .
“ It is not just those confined to jails , detention centres and youth facilities who are in danger , ” Peter Eliasberg , chief counsel of the ACLU in Southern California , said in a statement .
“ Once the virus gets inside , the regular movement of staff and visitors in and out means that walls and razor wire can neither slow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at large.
” The suits argue that social distancing is almost impossible in immigration detention centres and California jails and prisons , where many house inmates in close proximity , with showers and meal areas that are communal .
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the agency does not comment on pending litigation .
The California Attorney General ’ s office referred questions to Newsom .
“ This administration has been clear on our stance against abuses in immigration detention centres , ” said Newsom ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We call on the Department of Homeland Security to use the administrative discretion it has under federal law to work with public-health authorities to implement appropriate actions to protect individuals in its custody , staff and local communities.
” Waters did not immediately respond to questions about conditions in state prisons and jails .
ICE has reported 317 coronavirus infections among detainees countrywide , including 57 detainees at the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego , according to its website .
In immigration facilities like Otay Mesa , the ACLU alleged guards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unless they signed waivers releasing the facility from liability .
Detainees at Otay Mesa have also staged hunger strikes to protest conditions .
At the Adelanto facility north of Los Angeles , the ACLU contend staff have been reluctant to provide medical assistance to detainees and alleged one woman fell so ill from symptoms associated with the coronavirus that she lost consciousness before receiving aid .
A federal judge has already ordered the population of the Adelanto facility to be reduced after a separate legal challenge by the ACLU .
Transfers from California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary source of ICE ’ s new bookings ” in the state , according to the suit , which argues that federal and state law do not obligate transfers to ICE .
California ’ s sanctuary-state law severely limits the number of detainees who can be turned over to ICE from California jails and prisons .
“ In other words , it is the actions of the State of California , more than actions of ICE at this unique moment , that are keeping a flow of new people into ICE detention facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the significant number of coronavirus cases reported at New York City ’ s Rikers Island and the Cook County jail in Chicago as signs of how fast the illness could spread among California ’ s incarcerated population , the suit also called for a “ drastic ” reduction in the number of people held in state prisons and county jails .
“ While the California Judicial Council has made some progress to reduce jail populations , these steps simply have not been large enough or fast enough to reduce the looming threat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s jails , juvenile facilities and surrounding communities , ” the suit read .
“ Leading public-health officials have warned that without swift and large judicial intervention , the “ epicentre of the pandemic will be jails and prisons.
” The Judicial Council ordered bail be set at zero for a wide array of misdemeanours and non-violent crimes earlier this month , aiming to cut back on the number of new additions made to the state jail population .
Newsom also sought the release of at least 3,500 state prison inmates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their sentence , and thousands of people have been released from Los Angeles County ’ s sprawling jail system .
Data show the state ’ s average daily incarcerated population fell from about 72,400 in late February to nearly 54,500 in early April , while bookings statewide have also plummeted .
The number of juveniles in custody in California has also dropped by about 1,000 youths in that time frame , records show .
But the ACLU argued that reduction is not enough to allow for social distancing in most facilities , highlighting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who say their kids are still sleeping in close proximity and not being given access to masks or sanitizer .
A number of juvenile-justice advocates have separately called on the California Supreme Court to intervene on behalf of youths in custody in L.A. County , where a number of judges have blocked petitions for early release that even had the support of local probation officers .
“ A sizable enough reduction in the overall number of individuals in detention facilities allows social distancing for all inside , and facilitates both proper screening to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ introduced into the jails and proper isolation and monitoring of individuals who may be infected , ” the suit read .

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thetorontostar--2020-04-25--Global death toll tops 200,000 as some virus lockdowns eased

ATLANTA - As the global death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 200,000 on Saturday , countries took cautious steps toward easing lockdowns imposed amid the pandemic , but fears of a surge in infections made even some outbreak-wounded businesses reluctant to reopen .
The states of Georgia , Oklahoma and Alaska started loosening restrictions on businesses despite warnings from experts that such steps might be premature .
Shawn Gingrich , CEO and founder of Lion ’ s Den Fitness , decided after the Georgia governor ’ s announcement that his Atlanta gym would remain closed for now .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Gingrich said .
“ I feel like if we do this too soon , we ’ ll see a spike in cases and we ’ re back to square one.
” Others were eager to get back to business , with precautions .
Russ Anderson , who owns four tattoo studios in south Georgia , said he “ couldn ’ t get up out of my chair quick enough ” when restrictions were lifted .
His main shop served 50 or 60 customers Friday when it reopened , with customers and tattoo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The worldwide death toll was over 202,000 , according to a count by John Hopkins University from government figures .
The actual death toll is believed to be far higher .
India reopened neighbourhood stores that many of the country ’ s 1.3 billion people rely on for everything from beverages to mobile phone data cards .
But the loosening didn ’ t apply to hundreds of quarantined towns and other places hit hardest by the outbreak that has killed at least 775 people in the country where many poor live in slums @ @ @ @ @ @ @ malls also stayed closed nationwide .
Still , for owners of small stores , being allowed to open again brought relief .
“ This is a good decision , ” said Amit Sharma , an architect .
“ We have to open a few things and let the economy start moving .
The poor people should have some source of income .
This virus is going to be a long-term problem.
” India also allowed manufacturing and farming to resume in rural areas last week to ease the economic plight of millions left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The restrictions have allowed people out of their homes only to buy food , medicine or other essentials .
Elsewhere in Asia , authorities reported no new deaths Saturday for the 10th straight day in China , where the virus originated .
South Korea reported just 10 fresh cases , the eighth day in a row its daily increase was under 20 .
There were no new deaths for the second straight day .
Underscoring the unknowns about the virus , the World Health Organization said “ there is currently no evidence ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not fall sick again .
Some countries extended or tightened restrictions , confirming a pattern of caution .
Sri Lanka had partially lifted a monthlong daytime curfew in more than two thirds of the country .
But it reimposed a 24-hour lockdown countrywide until Monday after a surge of 46 new infections , its highest daily increase .
Norway extended until at least Sept. 1 its ban on events with more than 500 participants .
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Spaniards will be allowed to leave their homes for short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven weeks of strict home confinement , though he said “ maximum caution will be our guideline.
” “ We must be very prudent because there is no manual , no roadmap to follow , ” he said .
Kids in Spain will get their first fresh air in weeks when a ban on letting them outside is relaxed starting Sunday .
After 44 days indoors , they ’ ll be allowed out for adult-supervised one-hour excursions but not permitted to play with others .
“ I really want to get outside , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Madrid resident Eva Novilo said of her 7-year-old daughter .
But Novilo predicted “ difficult situations ” if they see her friends and have to stay apart .
“ I don ’ t know if we will be able to maintain control.
” In Italy , where restrictions will be eased May 4 , authorities warned against abandoning social distancing practices when millions return to work .
Free masks will be distributed to nursing homes , police , public officials and transportation workers .
Workers painted blue circles on Rome ’ s subway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distance .
The country continues to have Europe ’ s highest death toll , with 26,384 .
The 415 deaths registered in the 24-hour period that ended Saturday evening was the lowest toll since Italy registered 345 on March 17 , but only five fewer than Friday .
Italians celebrated the 75th anniversary of their liberation from occupation forces in World War II by emerging on balconies or rooftops at the same time to sing a folk song linked to resistance fighters .
Britain held off on changes to its lockdown as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The figure doesn ’ t include nursing home deaths , likely to be in the thousands .
France prepared to ease one of Europe ’ s strictest lockdowns from May 11 .
The health minister detailed plans to scale up testing to help contain any new flare-ups .
Testing shortages are a problem in Brazil , Latin America ’ s largest nation , which is veering closer to becoming a pandemic hot spot .
Officials in Rio de Janeiro and four other major cities warned that their hospital systems are on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Manaus , the biggest city in the Amazon , officials said they have been forced to dig mass graves in a cemetery .
Workers have been burying 100 corpses a day — triple the pre-virus average .
Along with Georgia , Oklahoma allowed salons , spas and barbershops to reopen , while Alaska cleared the way for restaurants to resume dine-in service and retail shops and other businesses to open their doors , all with limitations .
Some Alaska municipalities chose to keep stricter rules .
Though limited in scope , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marked a symbolic milestone in the debate raging in the United States and beyond about how quickly to ease economically devastating lockdowns .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , infectious diseases chief at the National Institutes of Health , on Saturday stressed a step-wise approach , with restrictions gradually lifted as areas reach certain milestones .
“ Any attempt to leapfrog over these almost certainly will result in a rebound , and then we can set ourselves back , ” Fauci told an online meeting of the National Academy of Sciences .
President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus response and later tweeted that the near-daily briefings were “ not worth the time & effort ” because of what he claimed was negative and erroneous media coverage .
Trump lashed out at the media two days after using a briefing to muse about the injection of chemical disinfectants , which drew warnings from manufacturers and the nation ’ s top medical professionals .
A survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found Americans overwhelmingly support stay-at-home measures and other efforts to prevent the spread of the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sell items for curbside pickup , Allison Scott said most customers of her women ’ s clothing store in a Dallas shopping mall seem to feel more comfortable having their purchases shipped .
“ I want to be open more than anything but I don ’ t think that society is ready to come out either , ” she said .
This story has been corrected to show that Russ Anderson owns four tattoo studios in south Georgia , not one .
Burnett reported from Chicago .
Associated Press journalists around the @ @ @

Sara Burnett And Kate Brumback - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-04-25--Yemen’s southern separatists claim sole control of Aden

SANAA , Yemen - Yemen ’ s southern separatists on Sunday broke a peace deal with the country ’ s internationally recognized government and claimed sole control of the regional capital of Aden , threatening to resume fighting between the two ostensible allies .
In a statement , the separatist ’ Southern Transitional Council , which is backed by the United Arab Emirates , declared a state of emergency and said it would “ self-govern ” the key southern port city and other southern provinces .
The separatists accused Yemen ’ s government , which is supported by Saudi Arabia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was no immediate response from the internationally recognized government to the separatists ’ announcement .
The division between the two supposed allies is another facet of the country ’ s complicated civil war .
On one side are the separatists and on the other are forces loyal to former President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi .
Both have fought together in the Saudi-led coalition ’ s war against Yemen ’ s Shiite Houthi rebels .
The Houthis in 2014 overran major parts of northern Yemen , including the capital , Sanaa , pushing out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a war that has killed tens of thousands of people .
Hadi fled first to Aden and then to Saudi Arabia .
The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the conflict in 2015 and has since waged war against the Houthis in an effort to restore Hadi ’ s government to power .
The fighting in the Arab world ’ s poorest country has also left millions suffering from food and medical care shortages and pushed the country to the brink of famine .
In August , heavy fighting broke out between Hadi ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latter took Aden , the temporary seat of Hadi ’ s government , and key southern provinces .
The fighting stopped when the two groups reached a deal in November .
Sunday ’ s announcement by the separatists raises concerns that Yemen could slide further into chaos amid the worldwide coronavirus pandemic .
Yemen so far has only one confirmed case , in the southern province of Hadramawt , but experts and health workers have warned that the disease could wreak havoc there due to the dilapidated health system and damaged infrastructure .


thetorontostar--2020-04-25--Nervous Republicans see Trump sinking, and taking Senate with him

WASHINGTON—U.S .
President Donald Trump ’ s erratic handling of the coronavirus outbreak , the worsening economy and a cascade of ominous public and private polling have Republicans increasingly nervous that they are at risk of losing the presidency and the Senate if Trump does not put the country on a radically improved course .
The scale of the GOP ’ s challenge has crystallized in the last week .
With 26 million Americans now having filed for unemployment benefits , Trump ’ s standing in states that he carried in 2016 looks increasingly wobbly : new surveys show him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Pennsylvania , and he is even narrowly behind in must-win Florida .
Democrats raised substantially more money than Republicans did in the first quarter in the most pivotal congressional races , according to recent campaign finance reports .
And while Trump is well ahead in money compared with the presumptive Democratic nominee , Joe Biden , Democratic donors are only beginning to focus on the general election , and several super political action committees plan to spend heavily on behalf of him and the party .
Perhaps most significantly , Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — his access to the bully pulpit — has effectively become a platform for self-sabotage .
His daily news briefings on the coronavirus outbreak are inflicting grave damage on his political standing , Republicans believe , and his recent remarks about combating the virus with sunlight and disinfectant were a breaking point for a number of senior party officials .
On Friday evening , Trump conducted only a short briefing and took no questions , a format that a senior administration official said was being discussed as the best option for the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longtime Republican pollster , said the landscape for his party had become far grimmer compared with the pre-virus plan to run almost singularly around the country ’ s prosperity .
“ With the economy in free-fall , Republicans face a very challenging environment , and it ’ s a total shift from where we were a few months ago , ” Bolger said .
“ Democrats are angry , and now we have the foundation of the campaign yanked out from underneath us.
” Trump ’ s advisers and allies have often blamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as his repeated outbursts during the two-year investigation into his campaign ’ s dealings with Russia .
Now there is no such explanation — and , so far , there have been exceedingly few successful interventions regarding Trump ’ s behaviour at the podium .
Rep. Tom Cole said the president had to change his tone and offer more than a campaign of grievance .
“ You got to have some hope to sell people , ” Cole said .
“ But Trump usually sells anger , division and ‘ we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are still more than six months until the election , and many Republicans are hoping that the dynamics of the race will shift once Biden is thrust back into the campaign spotlight .
At that point , they believe , the race will not simply be the up-or-down referendum on the president it is now , and Trump will be able to more effectively sell himself as the person to rebuild the economy .
“ We built the greatest economy in the world ; I ’ ll do it a second time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ road-testing a theme he will deploy in the coming weeks .
Still , a recent wave of polling has fuelled Republican anxieties , as Biden leads in virtually every competitive state .
The surveys also showed Republican senators in Arizona , Colorado , North Carolina and Maine trailing or locked in a dead heat with potential Democratic rivals — in part because their fate is linked to Trump ’ s job performance .
If incumbents in those states lose and Republicans pick up only the Senate seat in Alabama , Democrats would take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the presidency .
“ He ’ s got to run very close for us to keep the Senate , ” Charles Black , a veteran Republican consultant , said of Trump .
“ I ’ ve always thought we were favoured to , but I can ’ t say that now with all these cards up in the air.
” Republicans were taken aback this past week by the results of a 17-state survey commissioned by the Republican National Committee .
It found the president struggling in the Electoral College battlegrounds and likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rebound this fall , according to a party strategist outside the RNC who is familiar with the poll ’ s results .
The Trump campaign ’ s own surveys have also shown an erosion of support , according to four people familiar with the data , as the coronavirus remains the No .
1 issue worrying voters .
Polling this early is , of course , not determinative : in 2016 , Hillary Clinton also enjoyed a wide advantage in many states well before November .
Yet , Trump ’ s best hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 , Minnesota , also seems increasingly challenging .
A Democratic survey taken by Sen. Tina Smith showed the president trailing by 10 percentage points there , according to a Democratic strategist who viewed the poll .
The private data of the two parties is largely mirrored by public surveys .
Just last week , three Pennsylvania polls and two Michigan surveys were released showing Trump losing outside the margin of error .
And a pair of Florida polls were released that showed Biden enjoying a slim advantage in a state that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the presidency .
To some in the party , this feels all too similar to the last time they held the White House .
In 2006 , anger at former president George W. Bush and unease with the Iraq War propelled Democrats to reclaim Congress ; two years later they captured the presidency thanks to the same anti-incumbent themes and an unexpected crisis that accelerated their advantage : the economic collapse of 2008 .
The two elections were effectively a single continuous rejection of Republican rule — as some in the GOP fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worst-case scenario .
“ It already feels very similar to the 2008 cycle , ” said Billy Piper , a Republican lobbyist and former chief of staff to Sen. Mitch McConnell .
Significant questions remain that could tilt the outcome of this election : whether Americans experience a second wave of the virus in the fall , the condition of the economy and how well Biden performs after he emerges from his Wilmington , Del.
, basement , which many in his party are privately happy to keep him in so long as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a crisis .
But if Republicans are comforted by the uncertainties that remain , they are alarmed by one element of this election that is already abundantly clear : the small-dollar fundraising energy Democrats enjoyed in the midterms has not abated .
Most of the incumbent House Democrats facing competitive races enjoy a vast financial advantage over Republican challengers , who are struggling to garner attention as the virus overwhelms news coverage .
Still , few officials in either party believed the House was in play this year .
There was also similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus struck , and fundraising reports covering the first three months of this year were released in mid-April .
Republican senators facing difficult races were not only all outraised by Democrats , they were also overwhelmed .
In Maine , for example , Sen. Susan Collins brought in $ 2.4 million ( U.S. ) , while her little-known rival , House Speaker Sara Gideon , raised more than $ 7 million .
Even more concerning to Republicans is lesser-known Thom Tillis of North Carolina .
Republican officials are especially irritated at Tillis because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only $ 2.1 million , which was more than doubled by his Democratic opponent .
“ These Senate first-quarter fundraising numbers are a serious wake-up call for the GOP , ” said Scott Reed , the top political strategist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce .
The Republican Senate woes come as anger toward Trump is rising from some of the party ’ s most influential figures on Capitol Hill .
After working closely with Senate Republicans at the start of the year , some of the party ’ s top congressional strategists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retains have communicated little with them since the health crisis began .
In a campaign steered by Trump , whose rallies drove fundraising and data harvesting , the centre of gravity has of late shifted to the White House .
His campaign headquarters will remain closed for another few weeks , and West Wing officials say the president ’ s campaign manager , Brad Parscale , hasn ’ t been to the White House since last month , though he is in touch by phone .
Then there is the president ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he has undercut the efforts of his campaign and his allies to attack Biden on China ; suddenly proposed a halt on immigration ; and said governors should not move too soon to reopen their economies — a week after calling on protesters to “ liberate ” their states .
And that was all before his digression into the potential healing powers of disinfectants .
Republican lawmakers have gone from watching his lengthy daily briefings with a tight-lipped grimace to looking upon them with horror .
“ Any of us can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Greg Walden of Oregon , noting that “ there ’ s a burnout factor no matter who you are ; you ’ ve got to think about that.
” Privately , other party leaders are less restrained about the political damage they believe Trump is doing to himself and Republican candidates .
One prominent GOP senator said the nightly sessions were so painful he could not bear watching any longer .
“ I would urge the president to focus on the positive , all that has been done and how we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic in the fall , ” said Rep. Peter King .
Asked about concerns over Trump ’ s briefings , the White House press secretary , Kayleigh McEnany , said , “ Millions and millions of Americans tune in each day to hear directly from President Trump and appreciate his leadership , unprecedented coronavirus response , and confident outlook for America ’ s future.
” Trump ’ s thrashing about partly reflects his frustration with the virus and his inability to slow Biden ’ s rise in the polls .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to shift the public conversation to another topic , something he has almost always been able to do when confronted with negative storylines ranging from impeachment proceedings to payouts to adult film stars .
Trump is also restless .
Administration officials said they were looking to resume his travel in as soon as a week , although campaign rallies remain distant for now .
As they look for ways to regain the advantage , some Republicans believe the party must mount an immediate ad campaign blitzing Biden , identifying him to their advantage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choice .
“ If Trump is the issue , he probably loses , ” said Black , the consultant .
“ If he makes it about Biden and the economy is getting better , he has a chance .
”

Jonathan Martin - The New York Times,Maggie Haberman


thetorontostar--2020-04-25--Man gets 18 months in prison for threatening to kill Trump

DALLAS - A 36-year-old Texas man has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for threatening to assassinate President @ @ @ @ @ .
Mickael Gedlu was sentenced Friday , according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Erin @ @ @ @ @ in Dallas .
He pleaded guilty in December to making threats against Trump .
According @ @ @ @ @ admitted he threatened Trump ’ s life on social media , stating on YouTube : @ @ @ @ @ Trump to visit Dallas before I attempt to assassinate him.
” During court proceedings , @ @ @ @ @ 31 , 2018 , Gedlu was observed across the street from Dallas ’ Adolphus Hotel @ @ @ @ @ arrived there for a fundraiser .
Dallas police officers noticed Gedlu holding a “ Kill @ @ @ @ @ him as he screamed “ kill the president.
” Prosecutors said the U.S. Secret Service @ @ @ @ @ assistance of Dallas police .


thetorontostar--2020-04-25--Hospital ship offloads few remaining patients before NY exit

NEW YORK - A Navy hospital ship is offloading patients as it gets ready to set sail from New York City , the state is starting to test health care workers and first responders for coronavirus antibodies and data shows hospitalizations for the disease fell to their lowest level in three weeks .
Details on developments in the coronavirus outbreak in New York : The Navy hospital ship sent to relieve stress on New York City hospitals at the height the pandemic is discharging or transferring its last 12 patients this weekend as it nears the end of its mission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provides operational assistance to the vessel .
The USNS Comfort , docked at a Manhattan pier since March 30 , will soon leave for its homeport in Norfolk , Virginia , where it will restock and be readied for another possible assignment , Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said .
He did not provide a date for the ship ’ s departure .
As of Saturday , the 1,000-bed hospital ship had treated just 182 patients .
There was just one patient left on the ship late Saturday evening .
Originally deployed to care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ switched gears and started accepting them as the city ’ s hospitals became overrun with people suffering from the disease .
Hoffman said the Comfort ’ s impending departure “ is a sure sign of modest progress in mitigating the virus in the nation ’ s hardest hit city and is a welcome sign.
” A temporary hospital set up at a Manhattan convention centre has also seen lower than projected patient volume .
As of Saturday , the facility had treated a total of about 1,100 patients , with 125 still receiving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ field hospital for people without the disease , the Javits Center was soon converted to a coronavirus-only hospital , but only ever topped out at about 500 beds .
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Saturday that there is no official date for the closure of the facility .
“ We are encouraged by the data which suggest the curve is flattening in New York and we are working with the city and state to begin the strategic drawdown of resources , ” the agency said .
The state is starting to test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will do the same next week with transit and law enforcement workers as the state eases away from the worst days of the pandemic , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said Saturday .
Doctors , nurses and other employees at four New York City hospitals that have handled high volumes of coronavirus patients will be the first tested under the new program , Cuomo said .
Antibody testing is a way of determining if a person has been infected by the coronavirus even if they hadn ’ t shown symptoms .
Making such testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reopening society , but the World Health Organization on Saturday warned there is currently no evidence that people who have antibodies are protected from coronavirus .
After weeks of reserving conventional coronavirus testing to people with symptoms to conserve supplies , the state is expanding eligibility to include first responders , health care workers and a long list of essential employees , such as bus drivers , dry cleaners , undertakers and grocery store workers .
“ Why ?
Because these people have been carrying the load and they have been subjected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and because they ’ re public facing , ” Cuomo said .
“ These are the people you interact with.
” Cuomo said he is signing an executive order to allow pharmacies to serve as collection points for testing samples .
Cuomo ’ s testing announcements came as new data showed hospitalizations for coronavirus in the state falling to their lowest level in three weeks .
A little more than 13,000 people were being hospitalized for the disease on Friday , about the same level the state was at on April 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tally peaked at 18,825 on April 12 and has fallen every day since .
New hospitalizations for the disease are also continuing to drop .
A rolling three-day average showed about 1,200 new hospitalizations for coronavirus on Friday , Cuomo said , the fewest since March 25 .
“ All of the numbers are basically saying the same , that we are in fact on the downside of the mountain , ” Cuomo said .
The number of people dying in the state from the disease is also trending lower , though Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up slightly over Thursday ’ s tally .
The state peaked with 799 deaths in one day on April 9 .


thetorontostar--2020-04-25--Despite risks, auto workers step up to make medical gear

DETROIT - Cindy Parkhurst could have stayed home collecting most of her pay while the Ford plant where she normally works remains closed due to coronavirus fears .
Instead , she along with hundreds of workers at Ford , General Motors , Toyota and other companies has gone back to work to make face shields , surgical masks and ventilators in a wartime-like effort to stem shortages of protective gear and equipment .
“ I didn ’ t give it a second thought , ” said Parkhurst , 55 , a tow motor driver who is now helping Ford and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s a neat thing to do for the community , for the first responders who definitely need this kind of protective gear.
” All over the country , blue-collar and salaried workers have raised their hands to make medical equipment as companies repurpose factories to answer calls for help from beleaguered nurses , doctors and paramedics who are treating patients with the highly contagious virus .
Workers also are making soap and hand sanitizer , which early in the crisis were in short supply .
At Ford , over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Detroit-area sites .
General Motors , which President Donald Trump had alternately criticized and praised for its work , has about 400 at a now-closed transmission plant in suburban Detroit and an electronics factory in Kokomo , Indiana , working on shields and ventilators .
About 60 Toyota workers , both salaried and blue-collar , are making protective equipment in Kentucky , Texas , Michigan and Alabama .
Most automakers in the U.S. temporarily stopped making vehicles about a month ago after workers complained about the risks of infection at the factories .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ work remotely but members of the United Auto Workers who don ’ t have that option are still collecting pay and unemployment benefits that equal about 95 % of regular take-home wages .
Those workers making medical gear will get their full base pay , but that ’ s not what ’ s motivating them to keep coming to the factories .
Many simply want to help .
Jody Barrowman has been making face masks at a repurposed former General Motors transmission factory near Detroit since early April .
“ Instead of being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ d be productive here , “ she said .
She jumped at the chance to work because GM is donating the masks to hospitals and first responders “ which is where it needs to go , ” she said .
Barrowman said that the operation has been so efficient that workers have been allowed to take masks home for family members .
“ I dropped some off at my grandparents .
My parents took a full packet of masks at my house .
So , it ’ s not just helping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helping me and my family feel safe , ” she said .
Inside a building on Toyota ’ s giant factory complex in Georgetown , Kentucky , mechanical engineer Kirk Barber helps to ship thousands of face shields that workers are making while plants are shut down .
Sometimes he personally delivers boxes to hospitals or the state government , which is distributing them .
All of the workers , he said , had to undergo a cultural change to make sure they stay more than 6 feet apart to protect themselves from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hard habit to break when you ’ re typically up and talking to someone , pointing to a document , ” Barber said .
“ People are very quick to point out ‘ hey , you guys need to keep your distance.
’ ” Twenty-four UAW members have already died from COVID-19 but it ’ s unclear when or where they contracted the disease .
Ford , GM and Toyota said they aren ’ t aware of any infections among workers who returned to make medical gear .
Still , there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher at the factories than in the safety of one ’ s home .
Joseph Holt , associate professor at Notre Dame ’ s business school who specializes in ethics and leadership , said the workers and their companies are examples of business doing its best to quickly fill a critical unmet need .
“ Courage is doing what you think is right even when it might cost you , ” Holt said .
“ Those workers being willing to go in to work to produce the medical equipment and personal protective gear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is moral courage in action.
” The Detroit automakers are trying to restart production on their vehicles , perhaps as soon as early May , but both Ford and GM say medical gear production will continue .
Ford says it has enough workers to do both while GM says it won ’ t need all factory workers right away because it plans a gradual restart .
Back at the Ford complex in Flat Rock , Michigan , where Parkhurst works , she ’ s hoping the respirators she ’ s helping to ship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearby Dearborn , where nurses treated her mother with compassion before she died of a stroke about a year ago .
She knows they must be “ going through hell ” now because the Detroit area one of the national hotspots for the virus .
“ When I compared that to taking maybe a small risk and going in and making respirators , I feel all right , ” she said .
AP Video Journalist Mike Householder contributed to this report from Warren , Michigan .
This story has been corrected to show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about one year ago , not 15 years ago .


thetorontostar--2020-04-25--Naval destroyer USS Kidd reports rise in virus cases to 33

WASHINGTON - The Navy reports that the number of sailors aboard the USS Kidd confirmed to be infected with the novel coronavirus has nearly doubled , rising from 18 on Friday to 33 .
The destroyer with its crew of 350 are off the Pacific coast of South America .
Its current mission is related to U.S. counter-drug activities .
In a statement issued Saturday , the Navy said an embarked medical team continues testing of the Kidd ’ s crew .
Two sailors have been medically evacuated to the United States .
Meanwhile , officials say those aboard the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal protective equipment .
The Navy says the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island is en route to rendezvous with Kidd in case medical support is required at sea .
Officials say the Makin Island has a fleet surgical team , intensive care capacity and ventilators as well as additional testing capability .
The Kidd is the second Navy ship at sea to report an outbreak of the coronavirus .
Officials say the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt has reported more than 850 cases of infection among its nearly 5,000 crew members .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ashore to quarantine on Guam .


thetorontostar--2020-04-25--Alaska gallery owner charged with trafficking walrus ivory

ANCHORAGE , Alaska - The owner of a downtown Anchorage gallery was accused of illegally purchasing and selling walrus tusk ivory and tax evasion stemming from 2017 , federal prosecutors said .
Walter Earl , 75 , faces up to five years in prison and multiple $ 250,000 fines after he was charged Thursday with four felonies in federal court , including three Lacey Act violations , Anchorage Daily News reported .
The Lacey Act was passed in 1990 and prohibits the sale of wildlife or wildlife products taken or possessed in violation of state or foreign law .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but only by Alaska Natives for subsistence and can only be sold to other Natives .
Earl owns The Antique Gallery , which has sold military antiques , estate jewelry , rare firearms , Alaska Native art and other historical curiosities for the last 30 years .
Prosecutors have accused Earl of illegally purchasing more than 50 walrus ivory tusks and selling walrus head mounts , which include the skull with ivory tusks , on three different occasions .
The U.S .
Fish and Wildlife Service removed what appeared to be massive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in November 2017 where the gallery is located , wildlife officials said .
At the time , Assistant U.S. Attorney Aunnie Steward confirmed a federal investigation was underway , but did not release any further details or information about the case .
Steward is now prosecuting the case against Earl .
Earl declined to comment on the charges against him when reached by phone .


thetorontostar--2020-04-25--Virginia Beach adjusts plans for mass shooting remembrance

VIRGINIA BEACH , Va. - With the coronavirus pandemic keeping residents at home , the city of Virginia Beach is @ @ @ @ @ and honouring victims and survivors of last year ’ s mass shooting by a city @ @ @ @ @ Thomas Leahy told city employees in an email that the pandemic ruled out the original @ @ @ @ @ and other activities designed to bring people together around the anniversary of the May 31 @ @ @ @ @ the remembrance is called “ Lighting the Path : Together We Remember , “ The @ @ @ @ @ is encouraging people to wear blue on May 29 and decorate homes and buildings with @ @ @ @ @ A virtual ceremony is planned for May 31 .
Leahy said the plans are “ @ @ @ @ @ with more details expected to be announced next month .
The city employee who killed @ @ @ @ @ he was treated unfairly after receiving an unfavourable performance review .
He died in a @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-04-25--Thousands demonstrate against Israeli coalition deal

TEL AVIV , Israel—Several thousand Israelis rallied Saturday to demonstrate against a unity government deal reached last week that leaves Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in power as he prepares to go on trial for corruption charges .
The protesters oppose having Netanyahu as prime minister as long as he is a criminal suspect .
The protesters say the unity government agreement , which gives Netanyahu influence over the appointment of judges and legal officials , “ crushes democracy ” and is meant to rescue Netanyahu from his legal troubles .
Netanyahu is scheduled to face trial next month on charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accepting bribes .
He denies the charges .
The protest filled central Tel Aviv ’ s Rabin Square , although demonstrators maintained distance from each other in line with health regulations in place for weeks meant to halt the spread of the coronavirus .
Protesters , wearing face masks , waved Israeli flags and signs , calling out Netanyahu for corruption .
Netanyahu and former military chief Benny Gantz , leader of the Blue and White party , signed the power-sharing agreement after weeks of negotiations for what they termed a “ national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country through the coronavirus outbreak .
The agreement delivered Netanyahu a significant boost as he fought to hold on to power while fending off the corruption charges .
His party will gain influence over judicial appointments , which could help Netanyahu if his case reaches the Supreme Court .
The deal requires the approval of both parties on key appointments , including the attorney general and the state prosecutor , granting Netanyahu veto power over the officials who hold sway over his legal fate .


thetorontostar--2020-04-25--FBI investigates fire that damaged Missouri Islamic centre

CAPE GIRARDEAU , Mo .
- The FBI is offering a $ 5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone connected to a fire that badly damaged an Islamic centre in southeastern Missouri and that coincided with the start of a holy month for Muslims .
Richard Quinn , the special agent in charge of the St. Louis Division , announced the award Friday , hours after the fire broke out early that morning at the Islamic Center of Cape Girardeau .
Twelve to 15 people were evacuated and escaped injury .
Fire Chief Travis Hollis said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Missouri chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations , a Muslim advocacy group , said the fire began at the front door of the building .
CAIR noted the timing of the blaze — Thursday night was the beginning of Ramadan , a holy month during which Muslims fast and pray .
“ Because the fire was deemed ‘ suspicious , ’ and because it occurred at a house of worship on a significant religious date , we urge law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive for the blaze , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ibrahim Hooper , said in a statement .
The federal Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco and Firearms and the state fire marshal also are investigating the fire .
Cape Girardeau is about 115 miles south of St. Louis .


thetorontostar--2020-04-25--Florida authorities warn of road rage among mating gators

BRADENTON , Fla. - Around this time of year , Floridians don ’ t just have to worry about aggressive @ @ @ @ @ they should be on the lookout for aggressive alligators , too , according to officials @ @ @ @ @ remove a 9-foot ( 2.8-meter ) gator from a county road .
The Manatee County @ @ @ @ @ motorists that it ’ s that time of year when alligators , um , fall @ @ @ @ @ always be so affectionate .
“ It ’ s gator mating season .
This means @ @ @ @ @ and aggressive than usual , ” the sheriff ’ s office wrote in a Facebook @ @ @ @ @ measuring 9 feet , 2 inches ( 2.8 metres ) had to be removed from @ @ @ @ @ spotted “ being aggressive with traffic.
” Sheriff ’ s deputies captured the reptile and @ @ @ @ @ farm .
Wildlife officials say mating season in Florida begins in early April and could @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-04-25--Attackers lob explosive at Lebanon bank amid currency crisis

BEIRUT - Unknown assailants lobbed an explosive device at a private bank branch in southern Lebanon on Saturday , damaging its facade and roof , the country ’ s state news agency reported .
The assault on a branch of Fransabank in the southern city of Sidon came at a time of rising public anger against banks in the small country facing its worst economic and financial crisis in decades .
There was no immediate comment from bank officials .
The attack took place while bank branch was closed .
The National News Agency said a police investigation was underway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the area showed two people outside the bank at the time of the explosion .
It didn ’ t elaborate .
The value of Lebanon ’ s local currency has been in free fall , losing over 60 % of its value against the dollar in recent weeks .
The downward spiral was accelerated by the central bank ’ s decision to halt the withdrawal of dollars from foreign currency accounts or transfer bureaus .
The central bank requires private banks to convert withdrawals into the local currency at a market rate set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the streets of Lebanon earlier this week , as demonstrators criticized the central bank governor and private banks and accused them of sequestering their savings in foreign currency .
In a sign of the deepening crisis , Lebanon ’ s prime minister accused the longtime central bank governor of orchestrating the local currency ’ s crash on Friday , and criticized what he called his “ opaque ” policies that he said covered up major banking sector losses and capital flight .
Lebanon is one of the world ’ s most indebted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liquidity crunch , an economic recession and rising unemployment .
The country has a large diaspora that sends foreign currency home — an income that was already dwindling since last year — and relies on transfers to Lebanese students studying abroad .
Many Lebanese keep their savings in foreign currency .


thetorontostar--2020-04-25--Turkey: Virus deaths up to 2,706, positive test rate down

ISTANBUL - Turkey ’ s Health Ministry has reported 2,861 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus and 106 more @ @ @ @ @ of positive tests for the virus is decreasing .
The daily figures Health Minister Fahrettin @ @ @ @ @ the total number of virus-related deaths recorded by the Turkish government to 2,706 .
Turkey @ @ @ @ @ for confirmed infections , surpassing China and Iran , according to a Johns Hopkins University @ @ @ @ @ a total of 107,773 cases as of Saturday .
But experts believe many more people @ @ @ @ @ during the pandemic than the ones included in the Johns Hopkins University project due to @ @ @ @ @ , the difficulty of counting the dead during the crisis and other factors .
Nearly @ @ @ @ @ been tested in Turkey , which has a population of about 82 million .
In @ @ @ @ @ continued precautions while the rate of positive tests is going down .
Health Ministry data @ @ @ @ @ for COVID-19 were released from hospitals in the past 24 hours .


thetorontostar--2020-04-25--Earliest recorded tropical cyclone forms in eastern Pacific

MEXICO CITY - The earliest tropical cyclone on record formed Saturday in the eastern North Pacific , far off the @ @ @ @ @ U.S. National Hurricane Center said Tropical Depression One-E had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph @ @ @ @ @ and while it was not forecast to strengthen into a named tropical storm before weakening @ @ @ @ @ be ruled out.
” The storm was expected to fade to a remnant low by @ @ @ @ @ was centred about 730 miles ( 1,175 kilometres ) southwest of the southern tip of @ @ @ @ @ posed no threat to land .
The Hurricane Center said it is the earliest formation @ @ @ @ @ eastern North Pacific since the satellite era began in 1966 .
The basin ’ s @ @ @ @ @ , while the Atlantic hurricane season kicks in on June 1 .


thetorontostar--2020-04-25--Police: Bandit skates off after Dunkin’ Donuts stickup

HICKSVILLE , N.Y. - A robber wearing in-line skates skated off into the night after sticking up a Dunkin ’ @ @ @ @ @ police said .
Nassau County police said the suspect glided into the Hicksville shop around @ @ @ @ @ a cup of coffee and then demanded cash while making it seem like he had @ @ @ @ @ .
The man got away with an undetermined amount of money and was last seen @ @ @ @ @ a Long Island Rail Road station a few blocks away , police said .
The @ @ @ @ @ ’ t hurt .
Along with the skates , the suspect was described as wearing @ @ @ @ @ blue sweatpants , red beanie cap and — in light of the coronavirus crisis — @ @ @ @ @ gloves , police said .
No arrests have been made .


thetorontostar--2020-04-25--Belarus holds day of civic labour despite rising virus cases

MINSK , Belarus - More than 2 million Belarusians , including doctors and nurses , took part in a government-decreed national day of civic labour Saturday despite worries about the country ’ s sharply rising coronavirus infections .
The work , including painting , tree-planting and general clean-ups , was ordered by President Alexander Lukashenko , who has dismissed concerns about the virus even though Belarus has recorded more cases than neighbouring Ukraine , a county with four times as many people .
Lukashenko , a former collective farm manager , has retained many Soviet-era practices during his quarter-century in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labour — known as a “ subbotnik ” from the Russian word for Saturday .
“ Subbotnik is the good that we took from the Soviet period , that ’ s the whole ideology , ” Lukashenko said as he helped plant trees in southern Belarus .
The Belarusian government has not imposed social-distancing requirements or restricted public activities in response to the coronavirus pandemic .
Of the hundreds of people working along with the president , none were seen wearing masks .
The government said late Saturday that a total of 2.3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarter of the country ’ s population .
The subbotnik order called for participation by all state employees — state enterprises and services account for about 55 % of Belarus ’ workforce — although doctors and nurses were given the option of forfeiting some of their wages , a loss of about $ 3 for a doctor .
“ No one protests , although everyone understands the absurdity of this situation , ” Yegorova said while she and her colleagues painted buildings at a hospital near Minsk , Belarus ’ capital .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Easter , we got an outbreak of the virus .
Now there will be another wave , although there are already not enough beds in the hospital , ” she said .
Belarus reported 817 new virus cases Saturday , the country ’ s highest single-day increase .
It has reported a total of 9,590 confirmed infections and 67 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University tally .
Andrei Kravchuk , a 27-year-old local official , saw nothing to fear as he planted a bush .
“ I ’ m not afraid of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fresh air helps strengthen immunity and defeat the disease , ” he said .
Independent trade unions called for a boycott of the subbotnik and complained to the International Labor Organization about the use of forced labour .
“ The government neglects the health and life of its citizens , satisfies its own ambitions and forces hundreds of thousands of people to go on a cleanup during a pandemic , ” said Alexander Yaroshuk , head of the Belarusian Congress of Independent Trade Unions .
Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


thetorontostar--2020-04-25--Economist’s warnings on inequality draw attention with virus

BALTIMORE - Against all odds , Thomas Piketty pocketed a small fortune from the publication of a weighty book about the perils of economic inequality and the necessity of wealth taxes .
The money he earned from his 2014 international bestseller , “ Capital in the Twenty-First Century , ” he says , only reinforced the French economist ’ s discomfort with the concentration of wealth among a privileged few .
Piketty said he paid a 60 % tax on his book earnings and spent only a fraction of it to upgrade his lifestyle .
The rest he parked in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says , for a political transformation that would lead France to impose a 90 % wealth tax on highly affluent people like himself .
“ I am already incredibly lucky , ” he said in a recent video-conference interview from his elegantly white-walled Parisian apartment .
“ I have enough.
” Piketty ’ s research has helped define a debate about the consequences of concentrating so much money and property among so few .
His warnings have arrived at a coincidental moment : The coronavirus has suddenly exposed , in real time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data and charts his research produced .
Now , Piketty is out with a new book , a manifesto for political change called “ Capital and Ideology ” that was published last month in the United States .
Tipping the scales at over 1,100 pages , it argues that any nation ’ s degree of inequality derives directly from political decisions — decisions that can be reversed if governments have the will to do so .
It precedes a virtual theatrical release coming Friday , on the Kino Marquee platform , of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s previous book .
With stunning speed , the viral outbreak has inflicted disproportionate suffering on poorer communities .
Even in affluent nations , a majority of households have become suddenly vulnerable as layoffs mount and savings are drained .
All of that is intensifying political pressures as the disease increasingly exposes the scope of inequality from the United States to Italy to West Africa .
Delivery workers on bicycles around Paris , he notes , are risking their lives because they need money .
Millions of migrant workers in India have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s businesses have shuttered .
A central question for Piketty is whether the crisis will prove to be a catalyst that drives policy changes — from paid sick leave to government-provided health care to a reordering of the tax code — that might narrow the wealth gap .
Or not .
Economists , including those recently surveyed by the University of Chicago , warn that the outbreak will worsen already high levels of inequality in the United States .
Even accounting for $ 2 trillion-plus in government aid , 84 % of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffer a bigger hit to their incomes than more affluent people would .
Separately , 91 % said the pandemic would widen the gaps in the quality of education between poor and affluent households .
And 95 % said that deaths would disproportionately occur among disadvantaged groups such as the working poor and African-Americans .
“ This difference would have been less pronounced if the U.S. had universal health care , ” said Jose Scheinkman , an economist at Columbia University .
The Trump administration has opposed the use of tax increases on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the poor and middle class .
The administration has championed tax cuts as a solution to inequality , on the premise that lower taxes will inevitably drive faster growth .
Larry Kudlow , President Donald Trump ’ s top economic adviser , defended the existing structure of the U.S. economy in an interview with FOX Business Network .
“ Why do we have to raise taxes ?
Kudlow said .
“ Let ’ s let people keep their own money , get them a job , have a strong business , let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the polar opposite view , Piketty puts faith not only in a wealth tax but in adjusting property taxes based on home equity .
When he talks about “ participatory socialism , ” the French economist is not embracing the idea of public ownership but rather “ private property for all.
” The goal , he says , is to dilute the concentration of real estate in the hands of so few people .
These ideas would upend notions of economic growth that are predicated on low tax rates for capital gains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much of the economic growth enjoyed in the United States arose from its commitment to education that improved the skills of its people , rather than from its tax policies .
It is far from clear that the viral outbreak will forces the kinds of political changes in the United States and Europe that Piketty envisions .
Many working class voters have sided with the Trump administration , favouring an end to low-tariff trade and curbing immigration .
And a shift among working class voters to a more nationalist vision of government has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Germany , Piketty noted .
Democratic voters in this year ’ s presidential primaries bypassed Sens .
Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders , both of whom forcefully advocated for wealth taxes .
They chose instead former Vice-President Joe Biden , whose economic views are more centrist .
Piketty suggested that his survey of history indicates that voters could either shift toward his ideas in the aftermath of a crisis — or reject them entirely and embrace nationalism more fully .
“ In these times of crises like the one we have today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be taken , ” Piketty said .
“ It could really go both ways .
”


thetorontostar--2020-04-25--Virus lockdowns an extra ordeal for special-needs children

PARIS - Weeks into France ’ s strict coronavirus lockdown , Mohammed , a 14-year-old with autism , took a pickax and started hitting the wall of his family ’ s house .
His explanation : “ Too long at home , too hard to wait.
“ The disruptions in daily life caused by the virus pandemic are a particularly trying ordeal for children with disabilities and the people who love and are caring for them confined at home while special-needs schools and support programs remain closed .
Mohammed hasn ’ t picked up the axe again since the incident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , says with relief .
But the boy still gets frustrated being stuck inside and says , “ I want to break the house down.
” The family , like others who spoke to The Associated Press about what their experiences , spoke on the condition of being identified by first name only out of concern for the privacy of their children .
Making matters worse , Mohammed ’ s mother , who works in a nursing home , has been on sick leave after testing positive for COVID-19 .
She had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ floor of their house in the Paris suburb of Mantes-la-Jolie .
Her health has since improved .
The physical distance from her family was particularly hard for Mohammed , who has a close relationship with his mother .
“ We kept telling him that there ’ s the disease .
He took note .
Then he tried again to go up and see her , ” Salah said .
Violent outbursts , incomprehension , disputes , panic attacks : Life under lockdown has been a shock to many children with special needs who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off from friends and teachers .
And France ’ s virus lockdown measures — now in their second month and set to run until at least May 11 — are among Europe ’ s strictest .
At home , Mohammed requires constant attention so he won ’ t injure or endanger himself .
“ That ’ s tough on him .
We reprimand him , saying no .
... We need to repeat and repeat , ” Salah said .
The father admits to his own fatigue , working at home as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his two brothers , ages 12 and 8 .
Salah knows how to detect signs on Mohammed ’ s face when he is under too much pressure and may get angry : “ I don ’ t let things get heated.
” Mohammed normally attends the Bel-Air Institute near Versailles , which provides specialized educational and therapeutic services for dozens of children with different types of disabilities .
His teacher .
Corentin Sainte Fare Garnot , is doing his best to help .
“ If you remove crutches from someone who needs them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it gets very complicated , ” he said .
“ The feeling of loneliness and lack of activity can be very deep ” for people with autism , the teacher said .
Mohammed calls him several times a day .
Aurelie Collet , a manager at the Bel-Air Institute , said some teenagers at first didn ’ t understand the lockdown rules keeping them stuck at home and kept going out .
Others who had been well-integrated in their classes turned inward , isolating themselves in their bedrooms .
The staff developed creative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the children , including through social networks , she said .
Thomas , 17 , and Pierre , 14 , brothers with intellectual disabilities who also go to the Bel-Air , are similarly destabilized by lockdown restrictions .
“ I feel worried about how long the lockdown will last , what ’ s going to happen next ” , Thomas said .
The teenager has lots of questions about “ how many people will get the virus , when the epidemic will stop ?
” Another big concern for Thomas is his future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this summer is likely to be postponed .
Pierre says he ’ s having more nightmares than usual , adding that the lockdown is also prompting more family quarrels .
At first , their parents recalled , the boys acted as if they were on vacation , playing all day and calling their friends .
The parents organized activities to give Pierre and Thomas more structure amid the public health crisis .
Pierre especially misses the gardening he used to do at the Bel-Air , so he planted seeds in pots to grow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French can only leave home for essential services , like buying food or going to the doctor , and must stay close to home .
Physical activity in public is strictly limited to one hour and within a nearby radius .
Police routinely fine violators .
Recognizing the burden the regulations place on people with autism , French President Emmanuel Macron announced announced an exception that allows them to go out to customary places without having to observe time or distance limits .
The new challenges the pandemic presents to children with special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the world .
Across the U.S. , teachers are exploring new ways to deliver customized lessons from afar , and parents of children with disabilities are not only home-schooling but also adding therapy , hands-on lessons and behavioural management to their responsibilities .
Salah has started taking Mohammed out again for bike riding , an activity his eldest son enjoyed before the pandemic .
“ This is like a safety valve to him .
He needs it .
... We ’ re having a hard time following him , he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Salah said with a smile in his voice .
Sainte Fare Garnot is helping the family to find concrete solutions .
Because playing soccer with his brothers in the garden has proven difficult for Mohammed because the rules of team games are too complex for him , he suggested that the three boys instead take shots at goal in turn .
France is still playing catch-up with some developing-country peers in terms of educational opportunities for children with autism spectrum disorders , and teachers fear that some will also have to spend months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lockdown period .
The president has announced that schools will be “ progressively ” reopened starting from May 11 , but authorities have not provided details yet about special-needs children .
France counts more than 350,000 school students with disabilities , including 70,000 in the special education system that includes the Bel-Air .
The uncertainty is specially hard for young people like Mohammed .
“ I know he will ask me again , “ his teacher said .
” ’ When is it ending ?
’ ”


thetorontostar--2020-04-26--Recuperating nursing home residents get their own buildings

HARTFORD , Conn. - A few states may have found a way to help slow the spread of the coronavirus in nursing homes by converting some of them into “ recovery centres ” set aside mostly for residents who have left the hospital but still might be contagious or lack immunity .
Critics worry about harming frail , elderly residents by transferring them to make room in repurposed nursing homes .
But some public health experts and advocates see potential in combating further infection and freeing up hospital space , and many relatives embrace the concept as a way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agonizes over whether to bring her 87-year-old wife home if a coronavirus case appears in her nursing home , which currently isn ’ t reporting any .
Ellis lives in Meriden , Connecticut , a state where three of nine planned nursing homes set aside for recuperating COVID-19 patients opened this month .
“ It ’ s terrible , the anxiety , you almost feel like they ’ re sitting ducks , ” Ellis said .
While nursing homes routinely isolate residents who have an infectious illness , such as the flu , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ setting aside an entire facility as necessary , given how easily and fast the coronavirus can spread .
“ You can ’ t stop it .
Once it gets in , then it ’ s going to run its way through the facility , ” said Charlene Harrington , a professor emeritus of nursing at the University of California , San Francisco , and an expert in the risks of transferring elderly COVID-19 patients .
“ So that ’ s why we want the COVID-only facilities set up and have the hospitals test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , send them to the COVID-only facility , ” said Harrington , who would like to see California set up such homes .
The idea has been introduced in some other states , including Massachusetts and Utah , but not on as large a scale as in Connecticut .
It ’ s too soon for statistics to show whether keeping hospital-discharged patients in a separate home to recuperate until they test negative will change the infection rate within nursing homes , but Connecticut officials say it has helped open hospital beds .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 100 patients had been discharged to recovery homes .
The nine homes are expected to free up about 800 beds .
The longer plan is to contract with more nursing home operators and have 1,175 beds in COVID-19 recovery homes , state health officials said .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , and the vast majority recover .
For some others , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , or death .
Over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreaks in nursing homes and other long-term care centres nationwide .
In Connecticut , 43 % of the more than 1,700 people who have died of COVID-19 were from nursing homes .
Of about 215 nursing homes in the state , 135 have at least one case , the state reported Friday .
Initially , Connecticut officials intended simply to move residents sick with COVID-19 , who were already being kept away from others within their nursing homes , to a few homes designated for them .
But then it emerged that people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exhibiting symptoms — so moving people to a different home could actually abet the spread .
The state then tweaked the concept , designating the specialized homes primarily for residents who have the disease but improved enough to leave the hospital — freeing up hospital beds for COVID-19 patients of all stripes by letting nursing home residents complete their recovery elsewhere , but with medical supervision .
Additionally , all residents whose nursing homes are being turned into recovery centres will be temporarily quarantined in their new spaces in case they aren ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But that requires uprooting people who might be fragile , even without having the virus , and plopping them into an unfamiliar setting .
“ We all know that a lot of seniors , whether they have end-stage dementia or not , they can get confused very often , ” said Lisa Warzecha , of Middletown , Connecticut , whose 89-year-old grandmother lives in a nursing home in Cromwell that hasn ’ t had a COVID-19 case .
“ And if they ’ re sick , in particular , they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and they ’ re going to wake up and have all these machines on them possibly , and new nursing staff.
” Warzecha said she can see benefits on both sides , but Brent Colley , an elected official in Sharon , Connecticut , where the 88-bed Sharon Health Care Center was converted into the state ’ s first COVID-19 recovery centre , objected outright .
“ Moving residents out of their home/care facility is wrong and places these individuals at risk ; it disrupts their care ; places them in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it also affects their care-givers in similar , although different ways , ” he wrote on social media .
Sharon ’ s owner , Athena Health Care Systems , has agreed to transform another home in Bridgeport , as well as two empty ones , providing about 500 beds .
All patient transfers have been voluntary , said Athena spokesperson Timothy Brown .
They have been quarantined in their temporary homes and promised they will return to their original site , he said .
To entice companies , the state is doubling the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to $ 600 a day per resident .
Typical pay for staff at the Athena homes will nearly double to $ 35 an hour for a certified nurse ’ s aide , $ 50 an hour for a licensed practical nurse and $ 70 an hour for a registered nurse , Brown said .
Elsewhere , a 34-bed home in Salt Lake City is being transformed into a recovery centre .
The decision came after six residents and two workers tested positive and one resident died .
In Worcester , Massachusetts , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month became a recovery centre .
Plans to transfer healthy residents were temporarily disrupted as some began testing positive for the fast-spreading virus .
The long-term care ombudsman for Connecticut has heard both compliments and complaints .
“ It ’ s very important to ask that individual rights are protected in people ’ s homes , and so I think our state is going very slow because of that , “ said Mairead Painter , the ombudsman .
” We don ’ t want to go so slow that we don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t want to rush and neglect the fact that this is somebody ’ s home .
”


thetorontostar--2020-04-26--Israel’s once-mighty Labor party weighs unity with Netanyahu

JERUSALEM - Israel ’ s Labor party is voting Sunday on proposal to join a government headed by arch-rival Benjamin Netanyahu despite repeated campaign promises to never sit with a prime minister facing criminal indictments .
The once-mighty left-wing party dominated Israeli politics for the country ’ s first three decades , but has since fallen to a historic low of six seats in the 120-member parliament .
Netanyahu ’ s right-wing Likud is the largest faction , with 36 .
Around 3,800 members of Labor ’ s central committee will vote electronically on party leader Amir Peretz ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Netanyahu and his main political adversary , Benny Gantz of the centrist Blue and White party .
After three deadlocked national elections in just over a year , Gantz and Netanyahu agreed earlier this month to form a unity government to address the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic crisis .
Unemployment has shot up to over 25 % since the beginning of March as Israel has forced most non-essential businesses to close to prevent the virus ’ spread .
The Health Ministry has reported over 15,000 cases and nearly 200 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms in most patients , who recover within a few weeks , but it can cause severe illness or death , particularly in older patients or those with underlying health problems .
As part of their unity deal , Netanyahu and Gantz agreed to share the premiership , with Netanyahu serving as prime minister the first 18 months and Gantz serving the next 18 months .
Netanyahu is scheduled to face trial next month on charges of fraud , breach of trust and accepting bribes .
He denies the charges .
Peretz wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Netanyahu-Gantz government would put the six-seat party “ back in political centre stage.
” “ We are joining an equal unity government with a rotation in the role of prime minister , not a right-wing government , ” he said .
But allying with Netanyahu runs against repeated campaign promises by Peretz , who shaved his decades-old signature moustache on video last year .
“ Now everybody can read my lips , ” he said .
He then pledged never to join a Netanyahu-led government .
The Netanyahu-Gantz agreement also includes a clause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the occupied West Bank , including Israeli settlements , starting on July 1 .
Peretz has said he would oppose such a move from within the government .
But some Labor supporters believe that by joining Netanyahu ’ s government , the party will be accessory to dismantling the Oslo Accords with the Palestinians spearheaded by Labor prime minister Yitzhak Rabin , who was assassinated by a right-wing extremist in 1995 .
Labour lawmaker Merav Michaeli appealed to party members to reject joining the government .
“ Voters will retaliate against us for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party of Ben Gurion and Rabin will simply be erased , ” she said in a video Sunday , referring to Israel ’ s founding father and first prime minister , David Ben Gurion .


thetorontostar--2020-04-26--Hey Toronto, here’s something America could teach you about weathering COVID-19

WASHINGTON—Our house here in the suburbs of D.C. backs onto a ravine valley , and in it there is a very busy road — a parkway that is one of the main traffic arteries for navigating our part of town .
This past weekend , Rebecca and I and our three kids went out to stroll on it , wander down the middle of street , and explore the stream banked with boulders and crossed by fallen trees beside it .
There were other people out there , wandering and biking and jogging and playing in the roadway .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ familiar places usually reserved for cars — as Torontonians know from street festivals like Taste of the Danforth .
Here , unlike on the nearby cycling paths and park trails , it wasn ’ t crowded — the normally busy street offered lots of room for keeping a distance .
For years we lived on Keele Street , on one of the busiest stretches of road in the southwest end of central Toronto .
We used to joke about getting the city to implement pedestrian Sundays there like they did in Kensington Market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it would never , ever happen in Toronto , because city hall would never limit car traffic on any street where you ’ d actually notice car traffic in the first place .
I would have thought the same would be true of the express road behind our new house , but thanks to a pandemic , and the improvisation of local officials struggling with the challenge of needing recreational space that won ’ t be overwhelmed by people , we got our pedestrian Sundays .
And Saturdays , and Fridays .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of course , is grappling with a similar problem right now : I ’ ve been following the news about the decision to close down High Park during cherry blossom season , the posts about people ’ s insistence on visiting the beach boardwalks , the fierce debates about closing roads because sidewalks are overwhelmed .
There aren ’ t too many things related to coronavirus response in which I ’ d say people in Canada should take a lesson from the American response , but here ’ s one .
In D.C. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a time to close some major parkways to car traffic on weekends , opening them up as recreational space for residents .
The metropolitan area has a bunch of these roads — “ scenic bypasses ” along valleys and rivers that function like the urban expressway systems in many North American cities .
They aren ’ t quite highways — most are only a few lanes wide .
But imagine a city where neighbourhoods are knitted together by a bunch of Rosedale Valley Roads .
What a wonderful difference it makes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Valley , roads like Beach Road in Northwest Washington and Little Falls Road in Bethesda are surrounded by nature .
Without a constant stream of cars , they ’ re basically masses of discovered parkland .
The city needed it .
Washington has a cherry blossom season , too — it happens mostly in March , and while it was on during the coronavirus outbreak , enough people were crowding around them near the monuments beside the Potomac River that the government needed to shut local parking lots to limit visitors .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cyclist and pedestrian expressway in an old rail corridor — runs through many neighbourhoods rich in cherry trees , and the kids and I had to stop using it for our family bike rides because it was attracting so many people that distancing was becoming impossible .
Even with the cherry trees gone to leaf , the local parks and usual green spaces are thick with pedestrians , desperate for fresh air and exercise .
Perhaps Toronto ought to find some inspiration in the example .
Toronto doesn ’ t have a similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s fun to imagine the Don Valley Parkway temporarily converted into a massive , pandemic-friendly central park , and maybe the downtown condo crowd could enjoy the view of the lake from a pedestrianized Gardiner Expressway .
Allen Road has a huge concentration of people living just west of it who could probably use a place to walk .
More realistically , the example the city ought to be taking is examining which assets already exist near where people live that can be converted to walking and exercise space to provide room for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from each other at the same time .
Perhaps that could mean closing roads or lanes of traffic to relieve overburdened sidewalks .
Perhaps it could mean opening up or directing people to spaces like golf courses or school grounds or even retail parking lots .
Premier Doug Ford just announced the lockdown will likely go at least until around Victoria Day — this thing could drag on for while .
People can ’ t just stay inside for months , and they can ’ t all fit safely in the obvious usual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city would be concerned enough that folks would crowd into High Park to take action .
It ’ s just that the action could include providing some alternatives .


thetorontostar--2020-04-26--Pakistan says 2 soldiers killed in shootout with militants

ISLAMABAD - Two Pakistani soldiers were killed in a shootout during a raid on a militant hideout in a rugged @ @ @ @ @ Afghanistan , the military said Sunday .
It said another five soldiers were wounded and @ @ @ @ @ in the raid , which took place late Saturday .
It did not identify the @ @ @ @ @ groups operate in mountainous areas along the border , including the Pakistani Taliban , which @ @ @ @ @ attacks over the years against security forces and civilians .


thetorontostar--2020-04-26--Asia Today: India’s Modi warns against complacency vs virus

BANGKOK - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cautioned the country ’ s 1.3 billion people against any complacency in the fight against the coronavirus .
On a Sunday radio talk show , Modi said that people will have to change their habits by sticking to social distancing , wearing masks and not spitting in public .
“ There should be no negligence at any local level due to overconfidence , “ he said .
“ We have to be very careful about this for a long time to come.
” He also said that a traditional system of Indian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strongly recommends yoga exercises and drinking hot water , can be extremely helpful in building immunity .
Modi put India under a strict lockdown on March 25 .
The restrictions , which run until May 3 , have been eased somewhat by allowing shops to reopen and manufacturing and farming activities to resume in rural areas to help millions of poor daily wage earners .
India has confirmed 25,671 cases of the coronavirus , including 824 deaths .
— CHINA SEES NO DEATHS AGAIN : China on Sunday reported no new deaths from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It also confirmed 11 more cases , raising its total to 82,827 .
Five of the new cases were in Heilongjiang province , a northeastern border area with Russia that has seen a surge in infections .
Another was in Guangdong province , a manufacturing and tech region bordering Hong Kong in the south .
The other five were imported from overseas .
China has identified 1,634 imported cases in all .
— 931 NEW CASES IN SINGAPORE : Singapore reported 931 new cases to raise its total to 13,624 .
Most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers ’ dormitories , which have been locked down as the government struggles to curb the outbreak .
— HONG KONG HELPS STRANDED CITIZENS : Hong Kong is trying to help more than 5,000 residents return home from India and Pakistan after those countries banned all international flights to combat the coronavirus .
The Hong Kong Immigration Department has reached about 3,200 residents in India and 2,000 in Pakistan , scattered around both countries , according to a government news release .
The government plans to fly back residents in phases , starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Islamabad for those in and around those two cities , as well as the sick , pregnant woman , children and the elderly .
Passengers will have to pay for their flights .
— BANGLADESH PASSES 5,000 CASES : Bangladesh reported 418 new cases of the coronavirus on Sunday , raising its confirmed total to 5,416 , including 145 deaths .
The South Asian country of 160 million people has only 25 facilities to test suspected cases , meaning the actual number of infections could be much higher .
Health experts say the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of May , raising concerns in the country , which has a fragile health care system .
— SOUTH KOREA HAS 10 MORE CASES : South Korea on Sunday confirmed 10 more cases of the coronavirus over the past 24 hours , a continuation of a slowing caseload in the country .
The additional infections mark the ninth day in a row that South Korea ’ s daily increase was below 20 .
The state-run Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the caseload stood at 10,728 , including 242 deaths .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ WORKERS ’ STAY : Sri Lanka has asked Kuwait to allow thousands of overstaying workers to remain in the country until May 30 because Sri Lanka is under a 24-hour coronavirus curfew .
Kuwait has granted an amnesty from April 1-30 to all undocumented foreigners to leave at Kuwait ’ s expense without paying fines .
More than 15,000 Sri Lankans are currently overstaying in Kuwait .
They had been given until Saturday to leave .
Sri Lanka ’ s international airport has been closed since last month due to the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 460 cases , including seven deaths .
Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at http : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .


thetorontostar--2020-04-26--Yemen provinces reject separatists’ claim to self-rule

SANAA , Yemen - Authorities in five southern provinces in Yemen on Sunday rejected a separatist group ’ s claim to self rule , further heightening tensions among ostensive allies in the Saudi-led coalition battling Iran-aligned rebels elsewhere in the country .
The separatists ’ Southern Transitional Council , which is backed by the United Arab Emirates , scrapped a peace deal with the Saudi-backed government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and declared a state of emergency overnight .
The separatists said they would “ self-govern ” the key southern port city of Aden and other southern provinces , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The government said local and security authorities in the provinces of Hadramawt , Abyan , Shabwa , al-Mahra and the remote island of Socotra dismissed the move as a “ clear and definite coup.
“ Some of the provinces issued their own statements condemning it .
The separatists overran Aden , the temporary seat of Hadi ’ s government , and key southern provinces in August .
The STC seeks the return of the independent state that existed in the south until 1990 .
In November , the two sides reached a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and unify ranks against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels .
But the agreement has yet to be implemented .
Yemen ’ s civil war began in 2014 when the Houthis took control of the country ’ s north , including the capital , Sanaa .
A Saudi-led military coalition intervened against the rebels on the side of the government the following year .
The conflict has killed over 100,000 people and created the world ’ s worst humanitarian crisis , leaving millions suffering from food and medical shortages .


thetorontostar--2020-04-26--US calls on Afghans to set aside disputes, focus on virus

ISLAMABAD - The U.S. peace envoy to Afghanistan on Sunday called on the country ’ s feuding leaders to set their differences aside to combat the coronavirus pandemic and advance a stalled peace agreement signed with the Taliban earlier this year .
“ The well-being of the Afghan people and the country itself depend on all parties devoting their full energies to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic , the shared enemy of all , ” Zalmay Khalilzad tweeted early Sunday .
He said Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah , who each declared himself the victor in September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the interest of the country ahead of their own “ during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan , which began last week .
He urged the government and the Taliban to carry out a prisoner exchange that was part of the U.S.-Taliban peace agreement signed in February .
The agreement had called for the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners and 1,000 government personnel held by the insurgents .
To date , Ghani has released 550 detainees based on age , vulnerability to the virus and time served .
The Taliban have not said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to in the agreement .
The Taliban have freed 60 prisoners .
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed said in a statement Sunday that the insurgent group was living up to its side of the agreement , and that it was willing to negotiate a countrywide cease-fire in intra-Afghan talks .
Those negotiations were supposed to have begun within 10 days of the Feb. 29 deal but are still on hold because of the political bickering in Kabul .
The Taliban are continuing to attack security outposts , even as the U.S. and NATO proceed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set to be completed next year .
The Taliban have carried out 2,804 attacks since the agreement was signed , Jawed Faisal , spokesman for the National Security Adviser ’ s office , said Saturday .
However , the Taliban have not attacked U.S. or NATO troops , who say they will continue to aid Afghan forces .
Afghanistan has meanwhile reported 1,463 infections and 47 deaths from the new coronavirus .
The virus causes mild to moderate symptoms in most patients , who recover within a few weeks .
But it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or death , particularly in older patients or those with underlying health problems .
Afghanistan ’ s health care system has been heavily degraded by decades of war and would be ill-equipped to contain a major outbreak .
Testing has been sporadic , in part because of local stigma surrounding the disease .
Shar Mohammad Ahmadi , 30 , contracted the virus from a nephew who worked as a nurse at a hospital in the southern Kandahar province .
When he went to the hospital to be tested , “ people were laughing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Everyone covered their faces and were making fun of us .
It was very painful.
” Associated Press writers Rahim Faiez and Tameem Asghar in Kabul , Afghanistan , contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-04-26--Lightning kills at least 10 in India amid heavy rain

PATNA , India - Lightning killed at least 10 villagers during thunderstorms and heavy rain in eastern India on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ .
Pratay Amrit , a Bihar state disaster management official , said nine others suffered @ @ @ @ @ in Khalpura , a village in Bihar state ’ s Saran district .
They were @ @ @ @ @ about 60 kilometres ( 35 miles ) north of Patna , the state capital .
@ @ @ @ @ on the spot and one later died in a hospital .
In July last year @ @ @ @ @ in Bihar state during the monsoon season .


thetorontostar--2020-04-26--Some nations inch toward reopening as virus deaths rise

BEIJING - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to return to work after recovering from the coronavirus , his office said Sunday , as U.S. states and nations around the world took divergent paths on when to reopen their economies and communities .
The 55-year-old U.K. leader , who was hospitalized for a week , will return to the office Monday .
Opposition politicians are calling for more clarity on when the government will ease a nationwide lockdown that runs at least through May 7 .
The number of deaths officially attributed to the new coronavirus has topped 200,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understate the actual total .
A second U.S. Navy ship , a destroyer off the coast of South America , reported an outbreak on board .
While some U.S. states eased restrictions , Hawaii extended its stay-at-home order until the end of May , and California police closed a park because it got too crowded .
Even as aides develop plans to shift President Donald Trump ’ s public emphasis from the virus to addressing the economic crisis it has caused , Dr. Anthony Fauci at the U.S. National Institutes of Health warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hear a lot about the need and the desire to get back to normal .
That ’ s understandable , ” he said .
“ If we don ’ t get control of it we will never get back to normal .
I know we will , but we ’ ve got to do it correctly.
” Societies are navigating an uncertain path between preventing a resurgence of the virus and providing economic and psychological relief for people cooped up at home .
Millions have lost jobs , with migrant workers and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Protests have broken out from Berlin to Texas over the restrictions .
India allowed neighbourhood stores to reopen this weekend , though not in the places that have been hit hardest .
Neighbouring Sri Lanka reimposed a nationwide lockdown until Monday after partially lifting it .
The Chinese city of of Wuhan , where the pandemic began , said that all major construction projects have resumed in a push to restart factory production and other economic activity after a 2 1/2 month lockdown .
The outbreak has largely subsided in China , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and no additional deaths .
South Korea , which recently relaxed some of its social distancing rules , saw a ninth straight day with fewer than 20 new cases .
The small city-state of Singapore , though , reported 931 new cases as it battles an outbreak among foreign workers living in dormitories .
In Europe , Spain has joined Italy and France in preparing to loosen restrictions in early May , but the United Kingdom is holding off .
Britain ’ s death toll has topped 20,000 , not including nursing home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the thousands .
Hawaii Gov .
David Ige extended both the stay-at-home order and a mandatory quarantine for visitors through May 31 .
He warned of undoing progress if public places open up too early .
“ This was not an easy decision .
I know this has been difficult for everyone .
Businesses need to reopen .
People want to end this self-isolation and we want to return to normal , ” he said in a statement .
A spring heat wave drove an uptick of people to California beaches , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pacific Grove , about 85 miles ( 135 kilometres ) south of San Francisco , said they had to close the picturesque Lovers Point Park and Beach because of a lack of social distancing .
Officers on horseback patrolled closed Los Angeles beaches , trails and playgrounds to enforce distancing rules .
Georgia and Oklahoma allowed salons , spas and barbershops to reopen , while Alaska cleared the way for restaurants to resume dine-in service and retail shops and other businesses to open their doors , all with limitations .
Some Alaska municipalities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anderson , who owns four tattoo studios in south Georgia , said he “ couldn ’ t get up out of my chair quick enough ” when restrictions were lifted .
His main shop served 50 or 60 customers Friday when it reopened , with customers and tattoo artists wearing masks , he said .
But Shawn Gingrich , CEO and founder of Lion ’ s Den Fitness , decided his Atlanta gym would remain closed for now .
“ We ’ ve sacrificed so much already , ” he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too soon , we ’ ll see a spike in cases and we ’ re back to square one.
” In Texas , Allison Scott said most customers of her women ’ s clothing store in a Dallas shopping mall seem to feel more comfortable having their purchases shipped .
“ I want to be open more than anything but I don ’ t think that society is ready to come out either , ” she said .
A survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found Americans overwhelmingly support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of the virus .
Burnett reported from Chicago .
Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report .

Ken Moritsugu And Sara Burnett - The Associated Press