thetorontostar--2020-03-05--Judge cites Barr’s ‘misleading’ statements in ordering review of Mueller report redactions

WASHINGTON—A federal judge in the District of Columbia sharply criticized U.S. Attorney General William Barr on Thursday for a “ lack of candour , ” questioning the truthfulness of the country ’ s top law enforcement official in his handling of the report by special counsel Robert Mueller III .
District Court Judge Reggie Walton , overseeing a lawsuit brought by EPIC , a watchdog group , and BuzzFeed News , said he saw serious discrepancies between Barr ’ s public statements last year about Mueller ’ s findings and the public , partially redacted version of that report .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the judge would review by himself an unredacted version of the Mueller report to see if the Justice Department ’ s redactions were appropriate .
“ In the court ’ s view , Attorney General Barr ’ s representation that the Mueller report would be ‘ subject only to those redactions required by law or by compelling law enforcement , national security or personal privacy interests ’ can not be credited without the court ’ s independent verification in light of Attorney General Barr ’ s conduct and misleading public statements about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Walton wrote .
Mueller ’ s lengthy , two-part report detailed the findings of his investigation into whether anyone on the Trump campaign conspired with Russia to interfere in the 2016 election , and whether President Donald Trump tried to obstruct that investigation .
A spokeswoman for Barr declined to comment on the judge ’ s ruling .
Walton ’ s decision is another indication of the growing concern among federal judges in Washington about politicization at the Justice Department .
Last month , another federal judge in the same courthouse , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s longtime friend Roger Stone to more than three years in prison , following an internal fight between Barr , his deputies and career prosecutors over what sentence to recommend in that case .
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Spencer S. Hsu - The Washington Post,Devlin Barrett


thetorontostar--2020-03-05--Michigan lawmaker disciplined after sexual harassment probe

LANSING , Mich. - A Michigan lawmaker was stripped of a committee chairmanship and ordered to undergo training Thursday after the state Senate concluded allegations of sexual harassment lodged by several women , including a legislator , were credible .
Republican Sen. Peter Lucido of Macomb County ’ s Shelby Township lost his position leading the Senate Advice and Consent Committee .
He will continue to chair another panel and co-chair a joint Senate-House committee .
The Senate had opened an investigation in January after a young reporter , Allison Donahue of Michigan Advance , complained that Lucido made a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of high school boys .
Sen. Mallory McMorrow then accused him of sexually harassing her at a Capitol orientation .
Melissa Osborn , who works for the Michigan Credit Union League , made similar allegations .
“ We take accusations of inappropriate behaviour in the workplace seriously , ” said Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey , a Clarklake Republican .
“ It is my sincere hope that this experience will serve as motivation for us all to do better and be better in our personal interactions and our public discourse.
” The Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probe that was conducted by two outside lawyers and the Senate ’ s human resources manager , who also is the nonpartisan legal counsel .
They interviewed 25 people and reviewed evidence such as text messages , video footage , diagrams and audio recordings .
The investigators ’ report and findings were kept confidential .
The summary said while they could not “ unequivocally ” substantiate the publicized complaints , they found all of the accusers “ credible “ and concluded it was “ more likely than not ” that each incident occurred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ demonstrates an unfortunate pattern of behaviour ” that requires “ little to no interpretation to be understood as inappropriate workplace behaviour , ” the summary said .
McMorrow , a Royal Oak Democrat , said she appreciated that investigators were thorough and took the investigation seriously .
“ It was validating to learn that the report found Allison , myself and Melissa all credible , ” she said .
“ I think that matters because my biggest hope was that by coming forward would encourage others to do so , especially those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of protection that I do as a member.
” Shirkey said a bipartisan workgroup will be formed to review the Senate ’ s sexual harassment policies .
Asked if she felt the punishment was appropriate , McMorrow said it depends on whether Lucido — who she said has not apologized — changes his behaviour .

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thetorontostar--2020-03-05--Latest: Families decry incompetence of nursing home staff

BANGKOK - The Latest on the virus outbreak ( all times local ) : Families of residents at the suburban Seattle nursing home where nine people have died from the new coronavirus are angry about conflicting information concerning their loved ones .
The families held a news conference Thursday in front of the Life Care Center in Kirkland , Washington .
Kevin Connolly , a spokesman for the group , says one woman was told her mother had died , but later received a call from another staff member saying her mother was doing well .
This caused her distress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , died .
The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has sent inspectors to Life Care along with experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to figure out how the coronavirus outbreak happened there and to determine whether the nursing home followed guidelines for preventing infections .
Washington state has reported 70 confirmed COVID-19 cases , almost all in the Seattle area .
The announcement of a case of the new coronavirus in Las Vegas came as no surprise to at least one public health care expert , who says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessarily stay in the tourism hub .
Brian Labus is an assistant professor of public health at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas and a former senior epidemiologist at the Southern Nevada Health District .
Labus says , “ People bring things here all the time and take things home as well.
” He predicts that it won ’ t be long before more infections are uncovered in the city .
Especially among the gamblers playing with cards and dice .
Labus says , “ You don ’ t know what ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before you did.
“ The European Parliament ’ s plenary session initially scheduled next week in Strasbourg , France , will instead take place in Brussels because of the novel coronavirus .
Parliament president David Sassoli said Thursday that according to the legislative body ’ s medical services “ the health risks are considered to be significantly higher ” if lawmakers gather in Strasbourg .
Sassoli says the necessary security conditions are not in place for the usual transfer of the European Parliament to Strasbourg .
As of Thursday , there are 50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compared to 377 in France .
The city of Strasbourg is the official seat of the European Parliament , with plenary sessions also organized in Brussels on a regular basis .
California authorities say they have confirmed a third case of novel coronavirus from a passenger who travelled on the Grand Princess cruise ship last month from San Francisco to Mexico .
Authorities said Wednesday that a passenger on the Feb 11-21 cruise has died and another is infected .
Sonoma County health officials said Thursday that a third passenger has tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person as a resident of Sonoma County who is being treated at a hospital with the other infected passenger , who was also a Sonoma County resident .
A Coast Guard helicopter on Thursday delivered test kits to the cruise ship off the coast of California .
Officials say the ship began another voyage to Hawaii after last month ’ s cruise to Mexico and now has passengers on board with flu-like symptoms .
Separately , San Francisco announced the first two cases of the virus in the city itself on Thursday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay home to contain the spread of the new coronavirus and are instead stepping in as last-minute babysitters after schools were closed nationwide .
With 148 virus deaths , Italy is the epicenter of the outbreak in Europe .
It also has the world ’ s oldest population after Japan .
And the elderly are particularly vulnerable to the new virus .
Schools nationwide were closed Wednesday , leaving 8.4 million students with no place to go for the next two weeks .
So , despite a government decree that aims to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most vulnerable , Roman playgrounds indicate the measures had the unintended boomerang effect of sending the elderly out on duty at the nation ’ s sandboxes , swings and jungle gyms .
One grandfather , Lorenzo Romano , says he is happy to look after his grandchildren , regardless of the risk to his health , because he wants them around him more .
The notoriously congested freeways of Seattle have become much easier to navigate since authorities urged commuters to stay home when possible during the coronavirus outbreak .
Major Seattle-area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told workers to not go into work .
Between them , the tech giants employ more than 100,000 people in the region .
Washington ’ s Gov .
Jay Inslee and local leaders have implored workers to telecommute if they can .
The Washington State Department of Transportation says travel times during the Thursday morning commute dropped significantly .
Transportation officials say the 24-mile drive from suburban Federal Way north to Seattle averaged 36 minutes as opposed to the usual 56 minutes .
Ten people have died in Washington state from COVID-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the state , up from 39 the day before .
The Vatican says it is working with Italian authorities to co-ordinate measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the tiny city state , where Pope Francis is recovering from a cold .
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni declined to elaborate on possible measures .
It seems likely that the Vatican will suspend Francis ’ weekly general audiences , given the Italian ban on large public gatherings and recommendations that people stay separated by 1 metre .
Several upcoming Vatican conferences have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been placed under protective quarantine in France after a priest from the French church in Rome tested positive for the virus when he arrived there .
The official , who isn ’ t sick , lives in the same church .
Bruni says the 83-year-old pope continues his “ positive recovery ” from the cold that forced him to cancel several official audiences and miss a weeklong spiritual retreat .
Colombian President Iván Duque has been tested for the new coronavirus after participating in a conference in Washington attended by several people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illness .
Colombia ’ s Ministry of Health announced Thursday that Duque ’ s coronavirus test came back negative .
Officials say they considered the president ’ s potential exposure to the virus at the recent American Israel Public Affairs Committee event “ low risk , ” but decided to test him as a precaution .
According to AIPAC , a group of conference attendees from New York may have had contact with someone diagnosed with the coronavirus before attending and are now on a “ self-quarantine list.
” The organization states that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Colombia currently has no confirmed cases of the coronavirus .
The number of confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus in New York state has doubled overnight , from 11 to 22 .
Gov .
Andrew Cuomo gave the figures Thursday .
The newly diagnosed cases include two hospitalized patients in New York City and a hospitalized man in Long Island ’ s Nassau County .
The other positive tests were in people with mild symptoms — or none at all — in Westchester County , where a cluster of cases emerged earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously diagnosed patients from Westchester County has been hospitalized .
Overall , the U.S. has 11 deaths among the over 3,300 people worldwide who have died from the new coronavirus .
A patient with an underlying health condition in southeast England has died after testing positive for the new coronavirus , the first person in the UK to succumb to the disease .
The person , who was not identified , is among the 115 people in the U.K. who have tested positive for the new virus .
Switzerland also reported its first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by far the highest number of dead in Europe at 148 people .
France has reported six deaths .
England ’ s chief medical officer said Thursday that U.K. authorities have largely shifted from efforts to contain the new coronavirus to now attempting to delay its spread .
Chris Whitty said there ’ s evidence the virus is being passed from person to person in the U.K .
He said Britain ’ s official response had gone from “ mainly contain with some delay ” to “ mainly delay.
” The head of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not stop their battle against the coronavirus that is sweeping across the globe .
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , speaking in Geneva on Thursday , told reporters : “ This is not a drill .
This is not the time for giving up .
This is not a time of for excuses .
This is a time for pulling out all the stops.
” He added that “ countries have been planning for scenarios like this for decades .
Now is the time to act on those plans.
” He said “ the worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or even to any individual is giving up .
So WHO is saying don ’ t give up .
Don ’ t surrender.
” U.S. health officials , meanwhile , said Thursday said they expect a far lower death rate for the virus than WHO ’ s current estimate of 3.4 % -- saying that it does not account for mild cases that go uncounted .
Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Brett Giroir , citing a model that included mild cases , said the U.S. could expect a death rate somewhere between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 1 % .
A U.S. envoy says the United States has offered humanitarian assistance to Iran to help them deal with their coronavirus outbreak but “ the regime rejected the offer.
” U.S. special representative for Iran , Brian Hook , spoke Thursday at a news conference in Paris .
Iran has reported 107 virus deaths , same as Italy , the two hardest-hit nations outside of China .
In an interview later , Hook says “ we asked the regime to identify what their needs are ” but Iran did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand .
Hook also said the U.S. has asked Iran to release all Americans from its prisons “ on medical furloughs ” over fears the coronavirus may be infesting the country ’ s prisons .
He said five Americans are being held in Iran .
He added that Washington was working through Switzerland on this and could not provide more details .
Hook attributed the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Iran to “ the government ’ s mismanagement.
” A school district north of Seattle with 22,000 students will close for up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All 26 schools in the Northshore School District will be closed for up to two weeks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and protect vulnerable staff members , the district ’ s superintendent said in a letter to parents .
The district is largely in Bothell , Washington , 20 miles north of Seattle .
There have been at least 39 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Seattle area .
Ten people have died .
Northshore School District superintendent Michelle Reid said school officials will consult with health authorities on further recommendations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school for two days last week over concerns about coronavirus exposure .
Reid said about 20 % of students had been absent recently as parents decided to self-quarantine students at home .
South Africa has announced its first confirmed case of the new coronavirus .
Health Minister Zwele Mkhize said a 38-year-old man had returned this week from Italy with his wife and other travellers .
He fell ill at his home in the KwaZulu-Natal province Tuesday and was tested .
A health team is now getting in touch with all the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Cyril Ramaphosa will speak to the nation later Thursday about the health challenge posed by the virus .
South Africa is the first country in southern Africa and the third in sub-Saharan Africa to register a case of the new coronavirus .
To date , seven countries in Africa have recorded cases : Algeria , Senegal , Egypt , Nigeria , Morocco , Tunisia and South Africa .
Italy has placed temporary restrictions on visiting relatives in nursing homes and is urging the elderly not to go outside unless absolutely necessary .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationwide to try to contain the coronavirus , has opened a campaign to urge ordinary Italians to do their part to limit infections given that Italy ’ s elderly population risks overwhelming the public health system with virus cases .
Italy , the epicenter of the outbreak in Europe , has the world ’ s oldest population after Japan .
The elderly are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 virus .
The 107 people who have died so far in Italy are all elderly , sick with other complications or both .
In a decree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is limiting access to the elderly in nursing homes to prevent possible contagion .
Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte justified the extraordinary measure of closing schools and universities nationwide until March 15 by warning that there might not be enough intensive care units to treat patients if the virus continues its “ exponential ” spread .
Facebook says it ’ s temporarily closing an office in Seattle after a worker was diagnosed with the new virus .
“ A contractor based in our Stadium East office has been diagnosed with the COVID-19 , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve notified our employees and are following the advice of public health officials to prioritize everyone ’ s health and safety.
” Facebook said the last time the worker came to the office was on Feb. 21 , so it will shut the office until March 9 , when the incubation period ends .
The company is following guidance from local authorities and encouraging Seattle staff to work from home until March 31 .
An Amazon employee at the e-commerce giant ’ s Seattle office also reportedly tested positive for the virus this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says Japan will impose a 14-day quarantine on all visitors from China and South Korea before they are allowed an entry permit .
They will be sent to a government facility for the quarantine and will not be allowed to use public transportation , Abe said Thursday as officials stepped up their efforts against the spread of the virus .
Japan has more than 1,050 confirmed cases , including 706 from a quarantined cruise ship , as transmission inside Japan has accelerated .
Abe said the current week or two is a crucial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under control as his government faces pressure to contain the virus ahead of the Tokyo Olympics .
Authorities in Switzerland say a 74-year-old woman infected with the new virus has died , the first confirmed death in the country .
The Federal Office of Public Health said Thursday that the death was reported by authorities in the western canton of Vaud .
The woman had been hospitalized since Tuesday .
As of Wednesday afternoon , 58 infections had been confirmed in Switzerland .
Sri Lankan health authorities say they have decided to quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , South Korea and Iran for 14 days .
They will be quarantined at a centre to be set up at a state-run hospital formerly used to treat leprosy patients on the outskirts of the capital , Colombo .
Soldiers are now converting the hospital into a quarantine centre .
Sri Lanka officially eliminated leprosy in 1995 and the facility was used for the country ’ s 16 remaining patients , who will now be transferred to another hospital .
More than 104,000 Sri Lankans reside in Italy , with more than 60 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been hit hard by the virus .
More than 20,000 Sri Lankans reside in South Korea .
The virus outbreak couldn ’ t have come at a worse time for millions of Hindus who are preparing to celebrate Holi , the festival in which people smear each others ’ faces with colorful powder .
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Hindu nationalist leaders said they won ’ t attend any celebrations on March 10 because of the coronavirus outbreak and are advising people to exercise restraint .
Modi tweeted that he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that mass gatherings should be reduced .
Community leaders are cancelling street celebrations as well as large gatherings of people in condominiums .
Across India and Nepal and in countries with Indian migrants , Hindus celebrate Holi , the joyous festival of colour , smearing one another with red and yellow powders and spraying each other with squirt guns .
Water-filled balloons are also used to colour each other .
China says a visit by its president , Xi Jinping , to Japan has been called off because both countries are focusing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman Zhao Lijian says the two sides will be in close communication about a new time for the visit .
“ The two countries both agree that President Xi Jinping ’ s state visit to Japan must take place under the most appropriate timing , environment and atmosphere , and must be a complete success , ” Zhao said at a daily news briefing on Thursday .
The visit had been expected in April .
China has striven to improve ties with Japan as both come under U.S. tariffs meant to punish them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mutual suspicion runs high on both sides , driven in China primarily by memories of Japan ’ s brutal occupation of parts of the country last century and China ’ s claim to islands in the East China Sea controlled by Japan .


thetorontostar--2020-03-05--Senate OKs bill to educate Floridians about 1920 race riots

TALLAHASSEE , Fla. - A 100-year-old Election Day massacre of African Americans in a small central Florida town could become part of school lessons and Museum of Florida History exhibits under a bill the Senate passed unanimously Thursday .
The bill would require the Department of Education ’ s African American History Task Force to examine ways the Ocoee Election Day Riots could be incorporate in the state ’ s black history curriculum .
It also directs the Department of State to find ways to promote the massacre in the state ’ s history museum and other museums across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s disturbing , but it ’ s our history , ” Democratic Sen. Randolph Bracy said in an interview after the vote .
It ’ s just a compelling story.
” The gist of the story is this : Two prominent African Americans from Ocoee , July Perry and Moses Norman , were leading an effort to register black voters for the presidential election , but after black voters were turned away at the polls , a white mob formed .
Norman fled the town , but Perry was arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from his jail cell and lynched him .
The mob then set fire to all black homes in the town , as well as two churches and a meeting hall .
An estimated 60 African Americans were killed and the remaining fled the town , abandoning their property .
“ It ’ s not a story that ’ s isolated , ” Bracy said , adding that after he filed the bill , people approached him about other horrific acts of violence against African Americans in that era of Florida history .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there , but as I started to research it , Florida ’ s history regarding racial violence is terrible.
” Bracy said a common theme in much of the violence and lynchings was an effort to steal property from black landowners .
And he believes that was also the case in Ocoee , where Perry was a wealthy man with a lot of land .
“ The real impetus was land theft .
A mass redistribution of wealth is what was really at the centre of racial violence here , “ Bracy said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout the South , throughout Florida , there ’ s a common theme .
You had black people who owned wealth , who owned land , a massacre happens or a lynching happens , and then the family is forced to give up the property.
” In addition to teaching the history in Florida schools and museums , the Department of State would be directed to try to seek inclusion of the Ocoee riots in the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington .
The state Department of Environmental Protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an appropriate state park or state park facility that could be named for victims of the riots .
A similar House bill hasn ’ t received a committee hearing and the legislative session is scheduled to end March 13 .
But Bracy said he plans to speak with House Speaker Jose Oliva to figure out a way the House can still pass the legislation .
“ There ’ s still an opportunity for him to bring it up .
The speaker can do whatever he wants , ” Bracy said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of days left .
”

Brendan Farrington - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-05--Conventions hurt by coronavirus fears but not theme parks

ORLANDO , Fla. - Three convention groups have cancelled their conferences in Orlando , Florida , the most visited U.S. destination , but individual leisure travel appears to be unaffected by fears about the new coronavirus , local officials said Thursday .
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said at a news conference that the cancellations of the three conventions represented a local economic impact of $ 154 million .
No case of the new coronavirus has been detected in the county .
The nearest case in Florida was at least 65 miles ( 100 kilometres ) away in the Tampa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cancellation of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society ’ s meeting next week since it was expected to draw 43,000 attendees , Demings said .
Earlier in the week , several large exhibitors had said they wouldn ’ t attend the conference .
President Donald Trump and several administration health officials had been expected to speak at the convention .
“ Based on evaluation of evolving circumstances and co-ordination with an external advisory panel of medical professionals to support evidence-based decision making , it is clear that it would be an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people together in Orlando next week , “ said Half Wolf , the society ’ s president and CEO .
Earlier this week , Ellucian Live said on its website that it would no longer hold its April meeting at the Orange County Convention Center because of growing concerns over the coronavirus .
It was supposed to attract 8,500 visitors .
Officials said the technology conference for higher education officials instead would be conducted virtually .
Demings said a Minecraft conference involving 15,000 video game enthusiasts also was cancelled .
Leisure travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Demings said .
Orange County is home to Walt Disney World , Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando .
It attracts some 75 million visitors a year , making it the most visited destination in the U.S. “ Our leisure travellers continue to come to Orange County to enjoy our theme parks , and all that we have to offer , “ Demings said .
“ We want to emphasize that we in Orange County are open for business .
”


thetorontostar--2020-03-05--Man pleads guilty to selling guns stolen from ATF facility

JOHNSTOWN , Pa. - A Pennsylvania man awaits sentencing after pleading guilty Thursday to charges that he bought and sold guns and gun parts that had been stolen from a federal disposal facility .
Richard Adam Schreiber , 38 , of Everett , pleaded guilty to five federal counts related to the thefts by a contract security guard at the National Firearms and Ammunition Destruction Branch in Martinsburg , West Virginia .
His attorney , Dan Kiss , said in an email that Schreiber “ has accepted responsibility for his actions in this matter by his plea today.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is serving a lengthy federal sentence .
Yates told investigators he would arrive at work early and take guns , gun parts and ammunition that had been seized during criminal investigations or were retired by federal agencies , authorities said .
The investigation began when a firearm was seized in Philadelphia with conflicting serial numbers , including one linked to the federal firearms destruction facility .
Prosecutors said agents with the federal Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives seized 101 firearms , 1,352 slides and 123,000 rounds of ammunition from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including three machine-guns , from people who bought them from Schreiber .
Schreiber remains free on bond and will be sentenced in August in federal court in Johnstown .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-05--Milwaukee man faces Minnesota charge in death of daughter, 2

MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee man already charged with fatally shooting his girlfriend last year was charged Thursday with killing the couple ’ s 2-year-old daughter .
Dariaz Higgins , 35 , was charged in Minnesota with unintentional second-degree murder in the death of Noelani Robinson .
The girl ’ s body was found last March in a blanket in a highway ditch in southern Minnesota .
Charging documents in Mower County say she died of multiple blunt force injuries to the head .
After dumping the girl ’ s body , Higgins allegedly returned to Milwaukee to meet her mother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he brought Robinson to an apartment where he claimed the girl was and then he fatally shot her .
The girl ’ s body was found days later .
A message The Associated Press left with Higgins ’ attorney in Milwaukee wasn ’ t immediately returned .
According to a criminal complaint , Higgins and the toddler stayed at a hotel in Austin from Feb. 6 to about March 10 .
Higgins told investigators the girl fell off a toilet in the hotel and died , and he wrapped her in blankets and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couple of days while he went to Milwaukee to get a vehicle , the Star Tribune reported .
Higgins returned to Austin on March 10 , put the girl ’ s body in the vehicle and drove toward Minneapolis in blizzard conditions .
Higgins , who was with a female passenger , said he put Noelani ’ s body in a ditch because he knew she was dead and “ could not travel with her , ” the complaint said .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-05--Florida mothers united in tragedy push lawmakers to act

TALLAHASSEE , Fla. - For months , Laurie Giordano had been telling the story of her son to anyone who would listen — of how her Zach , a strapping 16-year-old football player , should never had collapsed in the sweltering Florida heat nearly three years ago .
He died days later .
For weeks , Giordano has been driving six hours each way to meet with lawmakers in the state capitol to push them to act , to understand the unbearable grief of a parent trying to bring meaning to a child ’ s death .
At the Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday with Lori Alhadeff , who lost her 14-year-old daughter Alyssa in the Parkland school shooting .
Both spoke about how tragedy and loss is motivating them to lobby for legislation meant to save other children and other parents from suffering .
Giordano and Alhadeff are linked over their grief of losing children and working to get lawmakers to make schools safer , albeit in different ways .
Alhadeff was back to urge lawmakers to require panic buttons at schools to more quickly summon for help .
That was one of many school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Feb. 14 , 2018 , at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that killed 17 .
The bill , known as “ Alyssa ’ s Law , ” requires each public elementary , middle , and high school campus , including charter schools , to put in place a mobile system to alert authorities of emergencies .
And Giordano was again at the Capitol to take a seat at the public gallery overlooking the Senate floor , where lawmakers unanimously approved a bill renamed the “ Zachary Martin Act.
” The legislation would require @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prevent heat-related injuries and deaths .
For a few minutes , they spoke about their children and their shared mission .
Giordano admired the pendant hanging from Alhadeff ’ s neck that bears Alyssa ’ s smiling face .
“ I don ’ t know how everything went down in your tragedy , but I just kept thinking that help was on the way , “ Alhadeff told Giordano about that fateful day in February 2018 .
“ And help was not on the way , ” Giordano interrupted , finishing Alhadeff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffering a loss , Denise Williams , roamed the Capitol Thursday to begin lobbying for a new law in the name of her daughter Terissa Gautney , who died on a school bus in 2018 .
Since losing their daughter , Williams and her husband have been pushing school boards and seeking the help of lawmakers to require life-saving training for school bus drivers and better communications equipment on school buses .
She drove 250 miles ( 400 kilometres ) from her home in Clearwater to the Capitol , describing the trip as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate and House conducting business , and she took in whatever she could to plan out her next steps to bring about change .
“ I came here to see what I could do , ” Williams said .
Williams would later crossed paths with Aldaheff at the Capitol .
She said she wanted to learn from Alhadeff , who is now a member of the Broward County School Board .
“ Our children were lost in a traumatic situation , and my heart breaks for any other mother .
And I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ Alhadeff said of Williams and Giordano .
” Even if it was different kinds of tragedies , it ’ s still the pain of losing a child.
” Giordano ’ s son died in the summer of 2017 after collapsing in the Florida heat during practice .
After her son ’ s death , Giordano founded the Zach Martin Memorial Foundation , which has worked to raise awareness about the dangers of heat-related stresses .
As part of its work , the foundation has donated 40 cooling tubs to schools across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , would still be alive if life-saving equipment were at the sidelines during practice — perhaps a water-filled tub — to immediately cool down his body .
“ I ’ m exhausted , but it ’ s OK. Once this is over , I ’ m going to collapse for a week , “ Giordano said while waiting for lawmakers to take action on her bill .
“ A six-hour drive is a long time to be alone with your thoughts , “ she said , ” that ’ s when the emotions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the tears flow.
“ If passed by Legislature and signed by Gov .
Ron DeSantis , public schools would be required to have a tub or other large container filled with cold water at the sidelines during all games and practices .
Schools also would be required to have defibrillators to resuscitate stricken athletes .
The proposed law would also require schools to train personnel on how to recognize signs of heat-related ailments , including potentially deadly heat strokes , and to take life-saving actions .
But even at the brink of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comfort .
“ I still cry every day , ” she said .
“ There is no consoling .
No , it doesn ’ t get better .
”

Bobby Caina Calvan - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-05--Death penalty sought in 2019 California synagogue shooting

SAN DIEGO - Prosecutors in California plan to seek the death penalty against a former college student accused of carrying out a 2019 attack on a San Diego-area synagogue that left one woman dead and three others wounded .
The San Diego County prosecutors said during a court hearing Thursday that they will ask for the death sentence against John T. Earnest in the April 27 , 2019 , attack on the Chabad of Poway synagogue .
That ’ s despite Gov .
Gavin Newsom signing an executive order last year placing a moratorium on executions .
Even before that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2006 .
Prosecutors say Earnest , a 20-year-old nursing student , opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle during the last day of Passover services .
The attack killed 60-year-old Lori Gilbert-Kaye and wounded three others , including an 8-year-old girl and the rabbi , who lost a finger .
Earnest then reportedly called 911 to say he had shot up a synagogue because Jews were trying to “ destroy all white people.
” He is scheduled to go to trial June 2 after pleading not guilty to hate-crime-related murder , attempted murder and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried on an arson charge for a fire at a nearby mosque that happened weeks before the synagogue shooting .
Nobody was hurt during the fire .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-05--Esper says new virus won’t prevent military operations

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military and its warfighting command centres in the Pentagon are prepared to continue operations even if there is a local outbreak of the new coronavirus , Defence Secretary Mark Esper said Thursday , as the department began finalizing its response plans .
Although only one soldier and a handful of family members and Defence Department civilians have so far tested positive for the virus , tens of thousands of troops are in countries and regions that have been hardest hit , including South Korea and portions of Europe .
The nation ’ s more than 2.1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces are spread all around the globe .
And they are one of the nation ’ s last lines of defence against any outside threats or disasters during an outbreak , as well as a force that could be used as a last-resort to maintain order or enforce quarantines within the U.S. in the case of a pandemic .
“ Our national military command centre has the capability to go for weeks at a time if they have to be locked down inside the building if we have some type of outbreak , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press conference .
He said the Pentagon is finalizing plans to prevent the spread of the virus across the force and military installations and also mitigate it in the event of any outbreak .
Already on Thursday , workers were wiping down doorknobs at the Mark Center , a major Defence Department complex in northern Virginia , and the Joint Chiefs of Staff had set up a 24-hour operations centre inside the Pentagon to track the virus and any impact on the military .
Esper said that U.S .
Forces Korea , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive , has set up a good model for other military commands to follow .
Army Gen. Robert Abrams , top commander of U.S. forces in Korea , has implemented restrictions on off-base travel — to include non-essential social events and “ eat-in seated dining “ — and allowed non-essential civilian workers and contractors to stay home .
Abrams has also kept up a constant barrage of information to the troops , ranging from simple hygiene procedures to updates and even photos on Twitter of his visits with personnel affected by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IKILLthevirus mantra , has also done his own inspection of the local commissary to make sure the shelves were stocked and workers were wiping down displays and adhering to hygiene procedures .
Esper said the Pentagon is reviewing a number of measures to prevent the spread of the virus , including travel restrictions .
He said he will get recommendations next week and hopes to begin putting some measures into effect by the end of next week .
He did not provide details .
Already a number of military exercises have been curtailed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in some regions of Asia and Europe and some Navy ships in Europe have instituted a two-week quarantine period between port visits .
On Thursday , medical research professionals from the Army provided new details about their efforts to help develop better , more rapid testing as well as a longer-term vaccine for the virus , which has killed 12 people and infected more than 200 in the U.S .
Working with other federal agencies and private health companies , they said Walter Reed Army Institute of Research is looking at how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. experts who ’ ve said a vaccine for the public is 12 to 18 months away .
A quick-response field test for the virus will also not be available any time soon , they said .
Army researchers said they got a sample of the virus from of the the patients who tested positive in Washington .
They are using that to develop a vaccine as well as other countermeasures , such as drugs to boost immunity .
Already , they said , they are doing some vaccine testing on mice .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to provide a variety of details , including how many service members have been tested for the virus and how many test kits are available , amid lingering questions about whether military commands and bases currently have enough of those kits .

By Lolita C. Baldor - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-05--Trump to take questions at 1st TV town hall of 2020 campaign

SCRANTON , Pa. - President Donald Trump will field questions at his first TV town hall of the 2020 election cycle Thursday in the city that helped to shape a would-be rival , former Vice-President Joe Biden .
Trump ’ s favourite network , Fox News , is hosting the live event in Scranton , Pennsylvania , a rare instance where the president will take questions from the public .
It will be Trump ’ s first visit this year to Pennsylvania , a battleground state he won by about 44,000 votes in 2016 .
He did particularly well in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have long anchored a strong Democratic presence .
That ’ s home turf to Biden , who spent his first 10 years in Scranton before his family moved to Wilmington , Delaware .
An electric billboard reminded Trump of that as his motorcade sped into the city .
“ Scranton is Joe Biden country , ” the board said .
Biden ’ s prospects of winning the Democratic nomination have surged in the past week since he won South Carolina and then 10 of 14 states on Super Tuesday .
Even Trump sounded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying Wednesday , “ It was a great comeback for Joe Biden , incredible comeback , when you think about it.
“ The town hall was scheduled before Biden ’ s resurgence .
Tickets were distributed through the Eventbrite website and Fox confirmed questions were selected from people who submitted them via the website .
Trump chose the city for the town hall .
Democrats weren ’ t content to cede the stage .
A political action committee that supports Democratic candidates planned to run a new ad on Fox News just before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pennsylvania markets and in Washington featuring a Pennsylvania veteran who voted for Trump in 2016 but no longer supports him .
It ’ s part of American Bridge PAC ’ s latest $ 10 million wave of ads in key swing states aimed at cutting into Trump ’ s margins with white , working-class voters .
Trump regularly watches Fox News but has been critical of its polling from late February that showed him losing to the five leading Democratic candidates at that point .
“ Worst Polls , just like in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mark , are the @ FoxNews Polls , ” Trump tweeted .
Trump did an interview Wednesday with Fox ’ s Sean Hannity .
At one point the president described the network as “ our Fox News “ before complaining , “ They put people on that I think are inappropriate and say very , very false things and people don ’ t challenge them.
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thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Report: Explosion near US Embassy in Tunisia wounds 5 police

TUNIS , Tunisia - Tunisian media are reporting that two people on a motorcycle set off a blast near the @ @ @ @ @ capital , Tunis .
The private Radio Mosaique said it was a suicide attack and @ @ @ @ @ were wounded in the explosion Friday .
That report could not be immediately confirmed .
@ @ @ @ @ usually reliable , said the two approached the police patrol as if to seek information @ @ @ @ @ device .
Police taped off the area around the blast site , which was littered @ @ @ @ @ of the United States could be seen fluttering in the background .
Islamic extremists have @ @ @ @ @ , killing scores of people .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Gunmen kill at least 27 at memorial for Afghan Shiite leader

KABUL - Gunmen killed at least 27 people and wounded at least 55 others in Afghanistan ’ s capital on Friday at a remembrance ceremony for a minority Shiite leader , officials said .
Heath Ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar said the injured had been taken to hospitals in Kabul .
All of the casualties were civilians , said Interior Ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi .
Several prominent political leaders escaped the ceremony unhurt , including Abdullah Abdullah , the country ’ s chief executive and a top contender in last year ’ s presidential election .
Afghan security forces were still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a half-finished apartment building , Rahimi said .
Dozens of Afghan security forces had cordoned off area .
The Taliban have denied they were behind the attack , and while no one has claimed responsibility for carrying it out , Afghanistan ’ s upstart Islamic State affiliate has declared war on the country ’ s minority Shiites .
Most of the people attending the memorial service were Shiite .
The attack came just days after the United States and the Taliban signed an ambitious peace deal that lays out a conditions-based path to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Any U.S. troop pullout would be tied in part to promises by the Taliban to fight terrorism and IS .
Friday ’ s ceremony was held in the mostly Shiite Dasht-e-Barchi neighbourhood of the capital , Kabul .
The memorial marked 25 years since the death of Abdul Ali Mazari , the leader of Afghanistan ’ s minority ethnic Hazaras , who are mostly Shiite Muslims .
He was killed in 1995 by the Taliban as they moved to take control of Kabul , which had been destroyed by a brutal civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Iran warns it could use ‘force’ to halt travel amid virus

TEHRAN , Iran - Iran said Friday the new coronavirus has killed 124 people amid 4,747 confirmed cases in the Islamic Republic as authorities warned they may use “ force ” to limit travel between cities .
Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour offered the figures at a televised news conference .
He did not elaborate on the threat to use force , though he acknowledged the virus now was in all of Iran ’ s 31 provinces .
The threat may be to stop people from using the closed schools and universities as an excuse to go to the Caspian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Semiofficial news agencies in Iran posted images of long lines of traffic of people trying to reach the Caspian coast from Tehran on Friday despite authorities earlier telling people to remain in their cities .
Iran on Thursday announced it would put checkpoints in place to limit travel between major cities , hoping to stem the spread of the virus .
Iran cancelled Friday prayers across its major cities .
Elsewhere in the region , Iraq cancelled Friday prayers in Karbala , where a weekly sermon is delivered on behalf of the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United Arab Emirates meanwhile limited prayers to two verses of the Qur ’ an so they lasted no longer than 10 minutes , over concerns about the virus .
More than 4,990 cases of the virus , which causes the illness COVID-19 , have been confirmed across the Middle East .
Iran and Italy have the world ’ s highest death tolls outside of China .
In Tehran , firefighters sprayed disinfectant on an 18-kilometre ( 11-mile ) length of Tehran ’ s famous Valiasr Avenue , some from firetrucks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ATMs and storefronts .
“ It would be great if they did it every day , ” grocery store owner Reza Razaienejad said after the firefighters sprayed outside his shop .
“ It should not be just a one-time thing and should be done frequently , especially in places like here where movement and traffic happens a lot.
” But Iran offered some hope as well .
Authorities reported a woman infected with the virus gave birth to a girl late Thursday night in Qom , the Shiite holy city particularly hard-hit by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Great Barrier Reef enters crucial period in coral bleaching

CANBERRA , Australia - The Great Barrier Reef is facing a critical period of heat stress over the coming weeks following the most widespread coral bleaching the natural wonder has ever endured , scientists said Friday .
David Wachenfeld , chief scientist at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority , the government agency that manages the coral expanse off northeast Australia , said ocean temperatures over the next month will be crucial to how the reef recovers from heat-induced bleaching .
“ The forecasts ... indicate that we can expect ongoing levels of thermal stress for at least the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four weeks , ” Wachenfeld said in a weekly update on the reef ’ s health on Thursday .
“ So this still is a critical time for the reef and it is the weather conditions over the next two to four weeks that will determine the final outcome , ” he said .
Ocean temperatures across most of the reef were 0.5 to 1.5 degrees Celsius ( 0.9 to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit ) above the March average .
In parts of the marine park in the south close to shore which avoided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temperatures were 2 to 3 degrees Celsius ( 3.6 to 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit ) above average .
The authority has received 250 reports of sightings of bleached coral due to elevated ocean temperatures during an unusually hot February .
The 345,400-square kilometre ( 133,360-square mile ) World Heritage-listed colorful coral network has been devastated by four coral bleaching events since 1998 .
The most deadly were the most recent , in consecutive summers in 2016 and 2017 .
Scientists fear the latest coral death rate could match those events .
“ At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most extensive bleaching event we ’ ve ever had , ” U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Coral Reef Watch scientist William Skirving said Friday .
“ It ’ s certainly an end-to-end bleaching event with severe bits at each end and it ’ s not looking good for the southern end , but it really depends on the weather in the next two weeks , ” he said .
Ove Hoegh-Guldberg , a scientist from the Australian Research Council Center for Excellence in Coral Reef Studies , said how much of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would die would not be known for weeks .
“ I ’ m very worried about the situation given how warm the temperatures are on the Great Barrier Reef and what the projections are , ” Hoegh-Guldberg said .
“ If it cools down a bit , they ’ ll recover or , if not , we may head off into something not too different from 2016 and 2017 .
We ’ re right at the fork in the road , ” he added .
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ condition from “ poor ” to “ very poor ” due to warming oceans .
Its latest report , which is updated every five years , found the greatest threat to the reef remained climate change .
The other threats are associated with coastal development , land-based water runoff and human activity such as illegal fishing .


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Oil price slides on concern over OPEC-Russia deal on output

VIENNA - The price of oil is slumping amid doubts that OPEC will succeed in agreeing with ally Russia on cutting production to support prices as the virus outbreak disrupts the global economy .
The cartel is trying to convince Russia and other non-member producers to join in deep production cuts to prevent weak oil prices from falling even further .
Russia ’ s energy minister , Alexander Novak , entered the OPEC headquarters without answering journalist ’ s questions as officials prepared to take up the cartel ’ s proposal to cut output by 1.5 million barrels a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
OPEC countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran say they need non-member allies to take 500,000 barrels of that cut on themselves .
Analysts say OPEC may struggle to keep oil prices from falling further as it remains unclear how much the turmoil in the global economy will affect the need for energy .
“ There is still too much uncertainty regarding the amount of demand destruction , ” analysts at research firm Petromatrix said in a note to investors .
The international benchmark for crude oil fell more than 4 % to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been trading over $ 50 in recent days , down from $ 69 in January before the outbreak .
The spread of the coronavirus has sharply reduced air travel and thus the demand for fuel , while industry in China , the world ’ s second largest economy , has been severely disrupted through shutdowns and travel restrictions .
Some economists think the global economy may shrink in the first quarter for the first time since the financial crisis , sapping demand for energy .
Oil production in the U.S. , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not co-operate in its output decisions , has ramped up in recent years , flooding the market and keeping prices down .

Kiyoko Metzler And David McHugh - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Trump set to sign $8.3B bill to fight coronavirus outbreak

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is expected to sign an $ 8.3 billion measure to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak .
The legislation would provide federal public health agencies money for vaccines , tests and potential treatments , and help state and local governments prepare for and respond to the threat .
The Senate passed the measure Thursday to help tackle the outbreak in hopes of reassuring a fearful public and accelerating the government ’ s response to the virus .
Its rapid spread is threatening to upend everyday life in the U.S. and across the globe .
The money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a virus that is spreading more widely every day , sending financial markets spiraling again Thursday , disrupting travel and potentially threatening the U.S. economy ’ s decade-long expansion .
Thursday ’ s sweeping 96-1 vote sends the bill to the White House for President Donald Trump ’ s signature .
Sen. Rand Paul , R-Ky. , cast the sole “ no ” vote .
The House passed the bill Wednesday by a 415-2 vote .
The plan would more than triple the $ 2.5 billion amount outlined by the White House 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately discarded by members of Congress from both parties .
Instead , the bipartisan leadership of the House and Senate Appropriations committees negotiated the increased figure and other provisions of the legislation in a burst of bipartisan co-operation that ’ s common on the panel but increasingly rare elsewhere in Washington .
“ In situations like this , I believe no expense should be spared to protect the American people , and in crafting this package none was , ” said Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby , R-Ala. “ It ’ s an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has received an overwhelming positive reaction.
” Trump was sure to sign the measure , which has almost universal support .
It is intended to project confidence and calm as anxiety builds over the impact of the virus , which has claimed 12 lives in the U.S. “ The American people are looking for leadership and want assurance that their government is up to the task of protecting their health and safety , “ said Sen. Patrick Leahy , D-Vt .
The impact of the outbreak continues to mount .
The British government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in hope of limiting the spread of the virus in the United Kingdom .
The legislation would provide federal public health agencies money for vaccines , tests and potential treatments , including $ 300 million to deliver such drugs to those who need it .
More than $ 2 billion would go to help federal , state and local governments prepare for and respond to the coronavirus threat .
An additional $ 1.3 billion would be used to help fight the virus overseas .
There ’ s also funding to subsidize $ 7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dollars would be directed to help local officials prepare for the potential worsening of the outbreak and subsidize treatment by community health centres .
Medicare rules would be loosened to enable remote “ telehealth ” consultations whereby sick people could to get treatment without visiting a doctor .
Sen. Maria Cantwell , D-Wash. , whose state is at the centre of the crisis , praised the bill because it “ will increase access for public lab testing , help pay for isolation and quarantine , help pay for sanitizing in public areas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might come into contact with it , help labs who are trying to identify hot spots , and limit exposure.
“ The legislation contains a hard-won compromise that aims to protect against potential price gouging by drug manufacturers for vaccines and other medicines developed with taxpayer funds .
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar would have the power to make sure commercial prices are reasonable .
Azar is a former drug industry lobbyist .
Democrats said other steps may be needed if the outbreak continues to worsen .
“ This may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that relate to unemployment insurance for people who are put out of work.
” Pelosi said as she signed the bill to send it to Trump .
“ We have only about 27 % of people in this country who have paid sick days .
So if they have to go home what is going to happen to them and their families ?
” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro , D-Conn. DeLauro said Pence responded that he would raise the issue with the president .
The bill seeks to restore $ 136 million that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cut from other accounts such as heating subsidies for the poor to battle the virus .
The legislation comes as carping over the administration ’ s response to the outbreak is quieting down .
Lawmakers in both parties had faulted a shortage of tests for the virus and contrasting messages from Trump and his subordinates .
In an interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News on Wednesday , Trump downplayed the lethality of the virus , saying the World Health Organization ’ s updated estimate of a 3.4 % death rate in coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Now you ’ re starting to see rapid deployment of tests , which makes me feel better , quite honestly , “ said Rep. Raul Ruiz , D-Calif. , a doctor .
“ I think their communications are a little better .
As long as the president doesn ’ t contradict the experts and the scientists who know what they ’ re doing , things will get better .
”


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--A tense Russia-Turkey truce in Syria halts bombing campaign

BEIRUT - Idlib ’ s skies were completely free of Russian and Syrian government warplanes for the first time in weeks Friday , and residents reported a relative but tense calm as a cease-fire deal brokered by Turkey and Russia took hold in Syria ’ s northwestern province .
The truce halted a terrifying campaign of bombing from above that killed hundreds and sent a million people fleeing toward the Turkish border during the Russian-backed assault by Syrian government forces on the country ’ s last rebel stronghold .
The agreement , announced Thursday after a six-hour meeting between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essentially froze the conflict lines .
The deal did not force Syrian President Bashar Assad ’ s forces to roll back military gains made in the past three months , which had been a key Turkish demand .
That effectively rules out the possibility of hundreds of thousands of displaced people returning to their homes .
The deal also lacked specifics or a known mechanism to enforce the truce .
It is the latest of many cease-fire agreements for Idlib over the past few years .
All have ended up unraveling after few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ captured more territory from the opposition .
Government forces now control much of Syria after evicting rebels from other parts of country .
“ This is nothing more than a time for fighters to rest , ” Salwa Abdul-Rahman , a citizen journalist , told The Associated Press by phone from Idlib ’ s provincial capital , which bears the same name .
“ Warplanes that used to terrorize children at night and commit massacres are not flying overhead now , ” she said .
Although warplanes no longer launched sorties , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some areas after the truce went into effect at midnight Thursday .
Russia ’ s Vladimir Putin and Turkey ’ s Recep Tayyip Erdogan each back rival sides in the Syrian conflict and have become the main power brokers in the war-torn country .
The situation in Idlib worsened in recent weeks after Turkey sent thousands of troops there .
Clashes with Syrian government forces have killed 60 Turkish soldiers and scores of Syrian troops since the beginning of February .
Abdul-Rahman said Idlib residents , mostly those who were displaced over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because they were hoping to return to their homes ” that are now under government control .
Abdul-Rahman added that people who “ are now living in tents discovered they can not return.
” “ This matter concerns us , Syrians , but it seems we don ’ t have a say in this .
They are playing chess with us , “ she said about the Russia-Turkey agreement .
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights , an opposition war monitor , said Syrian and Russian warplanes were not in the air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it reported minor violations in the first three hours of the truce .
Idlib-based opposition activist Taher al-Omar reported clashes shortly after midnight on the southern edge of Idlib .
The Observatory later reported a clash between Syrian troops and jihadi fighters in the Jabal al-Zawiya region in Idlib .
The Observatory said 15 combatants were killed , six from the government side and nine from the Turkistan Islamic Party , which is largely made up of Chinese jihadis .
The Russia-Turkey agreement appears to achieve Moscow ’ s key goal of allowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the south-north highway known as the M5 .
Syrian forces captured the highway ’ s last segments in the latest offensive .
The deal also would set up a security corridor along the M4 , a key east-west highway in Idlib .
According to the cease-fire deal published in Syrian pro-government media , Russian and Turkish troops are supposed to begin joint patrols on the M4 on March 15 .
The reopening of the M4 , which has been closed by insurgents since 2012 , will be a test for the new Russia-Turkey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the summer of 2018 , the two highways were supposed to be opened before the end of that year .
But rejection of the deal by al-Qaida-linked militants in Idlib kept the two vital roads closed .
The European Union ’ s top diplomats gathered Friday in Croatia for an emergency meeting to discuss what to do about Syria .
Upon arrival , EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell described the cease-fire as “ good news.
” “ Let ’ s see how it works , that is the precondition in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Idlib , ” Borrell said .
Asked if the EU should reach out to Putin , he said , “ We need to improve relations with Turkey and with Russia , we have many many issues we have to improve.
” He said the foreign ministers will discuss more funds for Turkey but wouldn ’ t go into details or say how many countries support the idea and how many oppose .
Idlib is home to thousands of al-Qaida-linked militants , many of whom reject a political solution for Syria ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 400,000 people dead .
The province of also home to about 3 million people , many of them displaced from other parts of Syria .
Several cease-fire deals have collapsed in the past and Assad has vowed to regain control of all parts of the country that are outside his government ’ s control .


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--UK explosives team investigating ‘suspicous’ device in car

LONDON - British explosives experts are investigating a “ suspicious device ” found in a car in Luton , around @ @ @ @ @ ) north of London .
Bedfordshire Police said Friday that two men have been arrested @ @ @ @ @ team is attending to the situation .
Police said one man was arrested at the @ @ @ @ @ was arrested shortly afterward .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Asylum-seekers, coronavirus collide with complicated results

BUDAPEST , Hungary - No entry , says Hungary .
Not all at once , says Greece .
Watch out , says Croatia : They might have the coronavirus .
This week , thousands of asylum-seekers sit at the intersection of a pair of fast-moving news stories — a spike in migration in Europe and uncertainty about the global spread of the new and sometimes deadly virus .
They have found themselves trapped between two worlds , at the mercy of political machinations and governments that are telling them in no uncertain terms : We don ’ t want you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has commanded the attention of rights advocates across Europe and anti-immigration extremists on the ground in at least one nation , is a product of something that happens ever more frequently in today ’ s globalized world : a collision of high-profile global events that places the powerless in a situation far beyond their control .
“ The current wave of migrants is not a threat only with the direct risk of terrorism .
Most of the illegal migrants are arriving from territories like Iran , which is also a focal point of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the communications director of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ’ s Fidesz party .
“ We can not put at risk the security of the Hungarian people , so we continue to say ‘ no ’ to immigration and we protect the Hungarian borders , “ Hollik said in a video posted Wednesday on Facebook .
Worries about the potential spread of the new virus by migrants and refugees have also been mentioned as a risk factor by officials in Greece and Croatia .
In varying degrees , they have identified migrants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ varying degrees — linked them directly to coronavirus fears .
Hungary has also suspended admitting asylum-seekers into a pair of transit zones on the Serbian border , where they file their asylum claims , because of the concerns about the spread of the coronavirus .
Officials said the indefinite suspension was done to protect Hungary and the 321 asylum-seekers already in the transit zones .
Four cases of the new virus have been identified in Hungary thus far — including a pair of Iranian students who recently visited their homeland .
Rights advocates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the approach .
They say the government decision to bar asylum-seekers from the border transit zones was part of a “ hate campaign demonizing refugees.
” “ From the point of view of the epidemic risk , this is only an act to keep up appearances , ” the Hungarian Helsinki Committee said in a statement .
It noted that people applying for asylum at the transit zones have to wait in Serbia for extended periods , even years , before being allowed into the transit zones .
“ No coronavirus testing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the border crossing a few hundreds yards from the transit zone at Roszke , ” the group said .
As of midday Friday , Serbia had a single confirmed case of the new virus , a 43-year-old man who made several recent trips to Budapest .
Since asylum applications in Hungary can only be made in the transit zones , preventing migrants from entering the complexes built from shipping containers amounts to “ the total denial of access to the asylum procedure , ” the group said .
The World Health Organization ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reply to emailed questions about possible links between migrants and the spread of coronavirus infections .
In Greece last week , before a migrant crisis on the border with Turkey began , Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he planned to step up border security in light of the new virus .
He told a cabinet meeting that his approach was informed by the presence of migrants from Afghanistan and particularly Iran , where many cases have been reported .
He also outlined plans to build new migrant detention centres on Greece ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are overcrowded and squalid .
“ Our islands , which already face public health problems , must be doubly protected , “ Mitsotakis said .
” To put it simply , we must do whatever we can to prevent the coronavirus appearing — especially ( on the islands ) .
” Iranians make up less than 3 % of migrant arrivals in Greece , with Afghans accounting for one in two .
In Croatia , Health Minister Vili Beros said the migrants represent a “ potential ” risk of spreading the coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a solution for the problem .
So far , Croatia has recorded 10 confirmed cases .
And in Serbia , there ’ s also growing anti-migrant sentiment amid the coronavirus spread and the potential of another wave of migrants coming north from Greece .
Extremists have organized evening foot patrols in the capital city , Belgrade , threatening migrants , telling them how to behave , where to go and “ not to touch ” Serbian women .
Serbia ’ s populist president , Aleksandar Vucic , has pledged that he will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transit area for the migrants attempting to reach the EU , to become “ a parking lot ” for migrants .
Far-right parties have even suggested that some 6,000 migrants currently in the Balkan country be kicked out .
The government of ethnically divided Cyprus last week shut four of nine crossing points along a U.N. controlled buffer zone , saying it wanted to better check for potential carriers of the coronavirus traversing from the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north to the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot south .
Cyprus is beset by its own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no longer cope with a stream of migrants who enter the island mainly from the north to seek asylum in the south .
The Cypriot government accuses Turkey of channeling migrants to the south to purposely alter the country ’ s demographic character .
Cypriot government officials insist the crossing point closings have nothing to do either with the migration issue or the complex politics of the island nation ’ s ethnic divide .
The 120 mile-long buffer zone is notoriously porous and many migrants cross southward from unguarded areas .
They said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solely to protect from the possible spread of the virus .
Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades dismissed criticism of the closures as unjustified , saying the government is obligated to protect all Cypriot citizens .
Hungarian officials have also noted the rising number of migrants caught at their borders in recent months .
The government ’ s stringent anti-immigration policies led to the construction in 2015 of fences protected with razor wire on the southern border with Serbia .
In 2015 , over 400,000 migrants passed through Hungary before the fences were erected .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ early 2015 .
His 2018 re-election campaign — which saw his Fidesz party win its third consecutive two-thirds majority in parliament — was based on his opposition to immigration , especially by Muslims , whose arrival in large numbers he said would end Europe ’ s Christian culture .
Since the 2015 migrant crisis , Hungary has taken repeated measures to reduce the number of asylum-seekers received in the country .
Speaking last month in Rome , Orban noted that “ there is not a single Muslim migrant in Hungary.
” Nicholas Paphitis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Nicosia , Cyprus , and Dusan Stojanovic in Belgrade , Serbia , contributed to this report .
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .
For more coverage , please visit : https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Washington, DC, gets its first coronavirus pop-up shop

WASHINGTON - The nation ’ s capital has pop-up shops for food and drink , even marijuana .
And now , coronavirus prevention supplies .
As local stores sell out of masks and hand sanitizer , Adilisha Patrom , owner of a co-working and event space next to Gallaudet University , saw an opportunity and jumped on it .
Inside , her storefront , different models of face masks and hand sanitizer bottles in various sizes are displayed along a stack of information sheets from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
On Thursday , one man stopped by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then left .
A Florida native who came to Washington to attend Howard University , Patrom , 29 , sells her masks for between $ 5 and $ 20 , depending on the model .
She also puts together prevention kits with masks , surgical gloves and sanitizer , which sell for $ 20 to $ 30 .
The high-end N95 masks are priced at about twice what they sell for on Amazon .
But Patrom says her goal isn ’ t to get rich .
Rather , she sees the shop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says discounts are available to those in need and to senior citizens , who are most vulnerable to the virus .
“ I just feel so blessed to HAVE , just to have the ability , “ to stock up on supplies , she said .
The idea started with a health crisis in her own family : Patrom ’ s father was diagnosed with a blood cancer in November .
With her father ’ s immune system weakened by ongoing chemotherapy treatments , Patrom bought boxes of N95 facemasks , which are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Both she and her father wear the masks routinely when going to the grocery store or elsewhere around town .
As the global coronavirus death toll increased and the virus began making inroads in the U.S. , Patrom decided to stock up on hand sanitizers and open her shop .
So far , business has been slow .
Patrom said she has only made three sales since opening early this week .
The majority of her visitors , she says , are just seeking basic information and walking away with a CDC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ haven ’ t started freaking out yet , ” she said .
“ A lot of people are just waiting for that first ( local case ) .
” Asked what she thought would happen the day after the first coronavirus case is identified in the nation ’ s capital , Patrom shuddered and said , “ There will be a line down the block.
” The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Migrants, police clash again on Greek-Turkish border

KASTANIES , Greece - Clashes erupted anew on the Greek-Turkish border Friday as migrants attempted to push through into Greece , while the European Union ’ s foreign ministers held an emergency meeting to discuss the situation on the border and in Syria , where Turkish troops are fighting .
Greek riot-control police used tear gas and a water cannon to drive back people trying to cross the land border from Turkey in the morning .
Turkish police fired volleys of tear gas back toward Greece .
Thousands of refugees and other migrants have been trying to get into Greece @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and sea borders in the past week , after Turkey declared its previously guarded borders with Europe were open .
Turkey ’ s interior minister said Thursday that the government planned to deploy 1,000 special operations police on its side of the border to prevent Greek authorities from forcing back migrants who managed to cross .
Many asylum-seekers have been camping out on the Turkish side despite Greek insistence that its border is closed .
Reporters were kept away from the border area on the Turkish side , but saw at least one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday morning .
It was unclear where the bus was headed .
After months of threats , Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said his country will no longer be the gatekeeper for Europe .
He has demanded Europe shoulder more of the burden of caring for refugees , although the European Union insists it is abiding by a deal in which it disbursed billions of euros in refugee aide in return for Turkey keeping Europe=bound migrants and refugees on its soil .
His decision and its aftermath have alarmed EU countries , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mass migration that started five years ago .
Erdogan ’ s move came amid a Syrian government offensive in Syria ’ s northwestern Idlib province , where Turkish troops are fighting .
The Russia-backed offensive has killed dozens of Turkish troops and sent nearly a million Syrian civilians toward Turkey ’ s sealed border .
Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin brokered a cease-fire for Idlib that tooo effect at midnight .
It was not clear whether the agreement would also affect the situation on the Turkish-Greek border .
Greek officials have repeatedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not refugees from Idlib , and mostly not Syrian .
EU foreign ministers met in in Zagreb , Croatia to discuss for an emergency meeting on Syria and the immigration pressure at the Greek border .
“ Let ’ s see how it works , that is the precondition in order to increase humanitarian help for the people in Idlib , ” he said .
Borrell said the EU needs to improve relations with Turkey and Russia , adding the ministers will discuss more funds for Turkey .
He wouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support or oppose the idea .
“ Turkey is having a big burden , 4 million people , we have to understand that , “ Borrell said .
” But at the same time we can not accept migrants being used as a source of pressure.
” Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok , however , said he opposed more aid for Turkey , criticizing the “ cynical way ” Erdogan was using refugees .
“ We should not react to the pressure that Turkey is exerting on us by agreeing to more money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz accused Turkey of carrying out an “ organized attack on Greece.
” In an interview with Germany ’ s Funke media group published Friday , Kurz said : “ A week ago we didn ’ t have a humanitarian crisis in Greece , no crisis on the Turkish-Greek border and also none in Turkey .
This is a planned and targeted attack , directed and organized by the state .
Europe must not give in to this pressure.
” Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said the situation on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting .
“ We are facing a mass movement of migrants towards the borders of Greece and Europe , ” he said .
“ Migrants who have been living in Turkey for years .
We have clear proof that this population movement has been created and orchestrated by Turkey.
“ Greek authorities have said Turkish authorities have deliberately fired tear gas at the Greek frontier to disperse border guards and so allow migrants to enter .
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said the EU should rally around Greece .
“ The European Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not allow one member state or two member states to carry an unfair burden , ” he said as he arrived for the Zagreb meeting .
However , he said it was unacceptable for Greek police to fire rubber bullets at migrants .
“ We ’ ve got to treat people as human beings , “ he said .
While I accept there are pressures on security forces and police officers on the border there because there has been panic ...
I think we have to act with restraint.
” On the Greek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using locals with better knowledge of the terrain to apprehend those who manage to cross , either by cutting holes in the border fence or by crossing the Evros river — Meric in Turkish — that runs along most of the border .
“ We were born here , we live here , we work here , we know the crossings better than anyone , ” said Panayiotis Ageladarakis , head of the community of the border village of Amorio .
Hundreds of people have also headed to Greek islands from the nearby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week when the dinghy he was in capsized off the island of Lesbos .
After a one-day surge in arrivals early in the week , bad weather hampered more sea crossings .
The Greek coast guard said Friday that 59 people arrived to the islands the previous day , 17 of them rescued off the island of Kos and 42 reaching Lesbos .
Elena Becatoros in Athens , Greece , Angela Charlton in Paris and Suzan Fraser in Ankara , Turkey contributed .


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Coronavirus: EU ministers tackle risks of shortages

BRUSSELS - Fearing a possible shortage in protective equipment , health ministers from the European Union are holding an emergency meeting to try to improve their collective response to the novel coronavirus outbreak .
While Italy is the hardest-hit country in Europe , more than 4,000 confirmed cases have been recorded across the 27-nation bloc .
The epidemic has been spreading at a quicker pace over the past two weeks , leading the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ( ECDC ) to raise the risk of coronavirus infection from moderate to high .
The last time EU health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no death had been reported in Europe .
According to the latest figures released by the ECDC , 112 people have now died from the virus on the continent .
“ Today is about solidarity , preparedness , and about co-ordination , “ said Stella Kyriakides , the European Commissioner for health .
Europe largely relies on China and India for drugs and protective equipment .
Many European countries agree that the European Commission , the bloc ’ s executive arm , should speed up the joint procurement process it launched two weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urgent medical supplies for its members .
As contagion fears have led to shortages of face masks and sanitising hand gels , French President Emmanuel Macron said this week the government is requisitioning all current and future stocks of protective masks .
“ We don ’ t have enough protective masks , “ said Czech health minister Adam Vojtech as he joined the meeting .
“ The problem is that the demand is much higher than the supply .
A third of the world ’ s production of drugs is located in China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far as I know also has stopped exports of drugs recently.
” Croatian Health Minister Vili Beros said the meeting should also help member states to better co-ordinate measures taken at national level that differ from one country to the other .
Italy , for instance , has closed all schools and universities and barred fans from all sporting events for the next few weeks .
In neighbouring France , the Paris-Nice bike race will go ahead as planned this weekend , while soccer games continue to be played in Belgium .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between member states and toward the public , “ Beros said .
“ That can help us fight the disease.
” Asked about the bloc ’ s dependence on medical chains in China and India , Danish health minister Magnus Heunicke said the EU should consider building a new strategy in the long term .
But “ right now , we are focusing on making sure we have the medicine we need.
“ The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible for all content .


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Indian depositors scramble for money from stressed bank

NEW DELHI - India ’ s finance minister assured panicky depositors Friday that their money is safe after the central bank took control of cash-strapped private Yes Bank while working on a rescue plan .
Thousands of depositors rushed to withdraw money from Yes Bank , India ’ s fifth largest private sector lender , as the Reserve Bank of India capped such withdrawals at 50,000 rupees ( $ 695 ) per account per month .
Some additional withdrawals will be allowed for emergencies , it said .
Yes Bank ’ s shares came under massive selling pressure and plunged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Depositors faced a similar situation at Mumbai-based Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank in September , when the federal bank placed curbs on its transactions for six months .
India ’ s economy has slowed , with annual growth dropping to below 5 % after years of much better performance .
That has added to strains on the financial sector .
The RBI said Thursday it took over the bank ’ s board for 30 days and imposed limits on withdrawals due to the parlous state of its finances .
The central bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has promised a quick resolution of the crisis , said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman .
“ I want to assure every depositor that their money shall be safe .
Their monies are safe , ” she told reporters .
India ’ s largest lender , the state-run State Bank of India , gave an “ in-principle ” approval to invest in capital-starved Yes Bank .
Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram , an opposition Congress party leader , hit out at the government , saying the situation shows it is failing to govern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more of the Star in your inbox Never miss the latest news from the Star .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-06--As virus cases near 100,000, fear of ‘devastation’ for poor

BANGKOK - The number of people infected with the new virus charged toward 100,000 Friday , with the global scare upending routines , threatening livelihoods and prompting quarantines in its spread .
Asian and European shares were down following a rough day on Wall Street and the consequences of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the virus , were becoming clear to people around the world .
Halted travel and a broader economic downturn linked to the outbreak threatened to hit already-struggling communities for months to come .
“ Who is going to feed their families ?
” asked Elias @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owners ’ union in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank , where tourists have been banned and the storied Church of the Nativity shuttered .
The head of the U.N. ’ s food agency , the World Food Program , warned of the potential of “ absolute devastation ” as the outbreak ’ s effects ripple through Africa and the Middle East .
Across the West , there was a sense of déjà vu as the virus ’ spread prompted scenes that already played out in Asia , with workers foregoing offices , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on household basics .
Even the spectacle of a cruise ship ordered to stay at sea off the California coast over virus fears replicated ones weeks ago on the other side of the globe .
“ The Western world is now following some of China ’ s playbook , ” said Chris Beauchamp , a market analyst at the financial firm IG .
Signs of the virus ’ shift away from its origins in China were becoming clearer each day .
China reported 143 new cases Friday , the same as a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was seeing a week ago .
Just a month ago , China was reporting several thousand new cases a day , outnumbering infections elsewhere in the world about 120 to 1 .
The problem has now flipped , with the outbreak moving to Europe — where Italy , Germany and France had the most cases — and beyond .
The second hardest-hit country , South Korea , was also registering a notable decline in new infections and the World Health Organization ’ s leader said he was seeing “ encouraging signs ” there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday , down from a high of 851 on Tuesday .
The country has touted its “ remarkable diagnostic and treatment abilities ” but its vice health minister , Kim Gang-lip , said , “ It ’ s not easy to make predictions about how the situation ... would play out.
” Cases were increasing in Germany and France , but Italy remained the centre of Europe ’ s outbreak , particularly in its north .
The country has had 148 fatalities , making it the deadliest site for the virus outside China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursing homes and assisted living facilities to protect older people who have been more vulnerable to succumbing to COVID-19 .
But with schools closed nationwide , many grandparents were called to duty as last-minute babysitters anyway .
Even Vatican City was hit by the virus , with the tiny city-state confirming its first case Friday but not saying who was infected .
The Vatican has insisted Pope Francis , who has been sick , only has a cold .
The Vatican said it is working with Italian authorities to keep the coronavirus from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francis ’ weekly audiences seen likely .
Iran ’ s government planned to set up checkpoints to limit travel and urged people to stop using paper money as the country has counted more than 3,500 cases and at least 107 deaths .
And in the United States , more than 230 cases were stirring anxiety around the country , nowhere more than its northwestern corner in Washington state , where officials are so concerned about having space to care for the sick they were expected to close a $ 4 million deal Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The plan to turn the 84-room EconoLodge into a quarantine facility was not sitting well with everyone , including the police chief in the town where it ’ s located , who called it “ ill-advised and dangerous ” and warned security would be needed to keep people from leaving the hotel and infecting others .
To the south , on the Pacific coast , California National Guard paratroopers were hoisted down from a military helicopter to deliver virus test kits to the bow of the Grand Princess cruise ship .
The vessel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay at sea after a traveller from its previous voyage died of the coronavirus and at least four others were infected .
The cruise line said samples were collected from 45 passengers and crew members and results were expected later Friday .
The Grand Princess is operated by the same line as the Diamond Princess , which was quarantined at a Japanese port last month .
More than 700 people on board were infected .
The 100,000 figure of infections — likely to be passed on Friday — is largely symbolic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreaks in recent decades , including SARS and MERS , affected far fewer people but had a higher mortality rate .
The new virus has spread to around 90 countries , with the Netherlands and Cameroon each reporting their first cases Friday .
Contributing to this report were Kim Tong-Hyung and Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul , South Korea ; Aya Batrawy and Jon Gambrell in Dubai , United Arab Emirates ; Nicole Winfield in Rome ; Colleen Barry in Milan , Italy ; Gene Johnson in Seattle ; Olga Rodriguez in San Francisco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West Bank .
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Critics of India’s Modi government face sedition charges

NEW DELHI - Sharjeel Imam was a little-known research scholar and a student activist until Indian police launched a manhunt across five states to nab him for a protest speech he gave calling for a month-long road blockade in the county ’ s northeast .
“ Create debris on the railway tracks and roads , ” Imam told the crowd , exhorting them to cut off the northeastern state of Assam from the rest of the country .
Massive protests had broken out in Assam and elsewhere in India in December after a law was passed that fast-tracks naturalization for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some neighbouring countries but excludes Muslims .
In the wake of his speech , some leaders of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’ s Bharatiya Janata Party labeled Imam a “ secessionist.
“ A lawmaker from Modi ’ s party said that people like him “ should be shot dead publicly.
” In January , the 31-year-old was arrested and charged as an enemy of India under a British colonial-era sedition law .
Modi ’ s government has increasingly brandished the law to silence critics , intellectuals , human rights activists , filmmakers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that words or actions of dissent make them a threat to national security .
Official data reveal as many as 332 people were arrested under the sedition law between 2016 and 2018 , though only seven were convicted , suggesting that police have struggled to gather evidence against the accused .
Nevertheless , India ’ s notoriously slow criminal justice system ensures that the movement and speech of the accused are severely hamstrung as long as cases remain pending .
While charged , people can ’ t obtain passports or government jobs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required .
“ The real punishment is in the trial where a person has to spend days , sometimes even months , to try and prove innocence , ” said Chitranshul Sinha , an Indian lawyer who has written a book on the history of the sedition law .
“ This is enough to harass or silence people , ” he said , calling it an “ oppressive , black law.
” In the case of Imam , India ’ s burgeoning pro-government news channels were quick to paint him as a raging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
“ The law is used to label dissenting citizens as disloyal toward their country through media trials instead of legal processes , ” said Ayesha Pattnaik , a researcher who has analyzed India ’ s sedition law , brought in and used by the British to repress India ’ s freedom fighters before its independence in 1947 .
The government only began collecting data on the number of sedition cases in 2015 , but researchers and other experts say there has been an increase in its use under the Modi government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law minister , Ravi Shankar Prasad , was asked if India was becoming less tolerant of the free expression of dissent , he told reporters that use of the sedition law to silence dissent would be an “ abuse of power.
” Prasad said people have the right to criticize Modi , his party and the government but the law was needed because there were “ forces in the country out to weaken India.
” Government spokesman Kuldeep Dhatwalia declined to comment on accusations that the law is being used to target critics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like its equivalent in other former British-ruled countries , offers a legal framework to categorize a citizen as a threat to the state .
Globally , it is increasingly viewed as a draconian law and was revoked in the United Kingdom in 2010 .
Its use to silence critics in India isn ’ t new .
During previous governments , people were charged with sedition for liking a Facebook post critical of the administration , criticizing a yoga guru , cheering a rival cricket team , drawing political cartoons , and not standing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national anthem , which is often played before films .
But under Modi , critics say , India is growing notoriously intolerant , its crackdown on critics unprecedented in scale .
Last year , Indian police filed a case of sedition against 49 people , including well-known movie stars , for writing an open letter to Modi expressing concerns over hate crimes targeting minority communities .
After pubic outcry , the charges were dropped .
More recently , police investigated those involved in a school play that voiced opposition to the citizenship law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mother of a student for sedition .
The students , aged 9 and 10 , were interrogated by police over several days for participating in the play .
The charges were later dropped .
Leaders of Modi ’ s party routinely label critics as “ anti-national.
” The government has rejected demands from civil society and opposition to repeal the law , which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison .
Last summer , New Delhi police filed a sedition case against political activist Shehla Rashid for tweets that alleged the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days after India revoked the region ’ s semi-autonomy and put the Muslim-majority region under lockdown .
Shehla alleged that Indian soldiers tortured four Kashmiri men while placing a microphone next to them “ so that the entire area could hear them scream , and be terrorized.
” The Indian army refuted the allegations .
A criminal complaint followed seeking Shehla ’ s arrest on the grounds that she had spread fake information against the government and the army .
Shehla said the allegations of torture were proved true after reports of army @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including The Associated Press .
Still , for months , she has been legally tackling the case that left her with “ considerable financial implications ” and had , what she calls , “ chilling effects on her freedom of speech.
“ “ The cost of speaking up in this country is a lot , ” said Shehla .
“ You are effectively criminalized the moment you speak up against the government.
“