thetorontostar--2020-07-15--Judge halts execution amid claims inmate isn’t mentally fit

TERRE HAUTE , Ind .
- A judge on Wednesday halted the execution of a man said to be suffering from dementia , who had been set to die by lethal injection in the federal government ’ s second execution after a 17-year hiatus .
Wesley Ira Purkey , convicted of a gruesome 1998 kidnapping and killing , was scheduled for execution Wednesday at the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute , Indiana , where Daniel Lewis Lee was put to death Tuesday after his eleventh-hour legal bids failed .
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington , D.C. , imposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bureau of Prisons from moving forward with Purkey ’ s execution .
The Justice Department immediately appealed in both cases .
A separate temporary stay was already in place from the 7th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals .
The early morning legal wrangling suggests a volley of litigation will continue in the hours ahead of Purkey ’ s scheduled execution , similar to what happened when the government executed Lee , following a ruling from the Supreme Court .
Lee , convicted of killing an Arkansas family in a 1990s plot to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first of four condemned men scheduled to die in July and August despite the coronavirus pandemic raging inside and outside prisons .
Purkey , 68 , of Lansing , Kansas , would be the second , but his lawyers were still expected to press for a ruling from the Supreme Court on his competency .
“ This competency issue is a very strong issue on paper , ” said Robert Dunham , executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center .
“ The Supreme Court has halted executions on this issue in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question of whether Purkey dies is going to go down to the last minute.
” Chutkan didn ’ t rule on whether Purkey is competent but said the court needs to evaluate the claim .
She said that while the government may disagree with Purkey ’ s lawyers about his competency , there ’ s no question he ’ d suffer “ irreparable harm ” if he ’ s put to death before his claims can be evaluated .
Lee ’ s execution went forward a day late .
It was scheduled for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only gave the green light in a narrow 5-4 ruling early Tuesday .
The issue of Purkey ’ s mental health arose in the runup to his 2003 trial and when , after the verdict , jurors had to decide whether he should be put to death in the killing of 16-year-old Jennifer Long in Kansas City , Missouri .
Prosecutors said he raped and stabbed her , dismembered her with a chainsaw , burned her and dumped her ashes 200 miles ( 320 kilometres ) away in a septic pond in Kansas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to life in the beating death of 80-year-old Mary Ruth Bales , of Kansas City , Kansas .
But the legal questions of whether he was mentally fit to stand trial or to be sentenced to die are different from the question of whether he ’ s mentally fit enough now to be put to death .
Purkey ’ s lawyers argue he clearly isn ’ t , saying in recent filings he suffers from advancing Alzheimer ’ s disease .
“ He has long accepted responsibility for the crime that put him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this lawyers , Rebecca Woodman , said .
“ But as his dementia has progressed , he no longer has a rational understanding of why the government plans to execute him.
” Purkey believes his planned execution is part of a conspiracy involving his attorneys , Woodman said .
In other filings , they describe delusions that people were spraying poison into his room and that drug dealers implanted a device in his chest meant to kill him .
While various legal issues in Purkey ’ s case have been hashed , rehashed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades , the issue of mental fitness for execution can only be addressed once a date is set , according to Dunham , who teaches law school courses on capital punishment .
A date was set only last year .
“ Competency is something that is always in flux , ” so judges can only assess it in the weeks or days before a firm execution date , he said .
In a landmark 1986 decision , the Supreme Court ruled the Constitution prohibits executing someone who lacks a reasonable understanding of why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved the case of Alvin Ford , who was convicted of murder but whose mental health deteriorated behind bars to the point , according to his lawyer , he believed he was pope .
Legal standards as to whether someone has a rational understanding of why an execution is taking place can be complex , Dunham explained .
“ I could say I was Napoleon , ” he said .
“ But if I say I understand that Napoleon was sentenced to death for a crime and is being executed for it — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead.
” Purkey ’ s mental issues go beyond Alzheimer ’ s , his lawyers have said .
They say he was subject to sexual and mental abuse as a child and , at 14 , was diagnosed with schizophrenia , bipolar disorder , major depression and psychosis .
Last week , three mental health organizations urged U.S. Attorney William Barr to stop Purkey ’ s execution and commute his sentence to life in prison without possibility of parole .
The National Alliance on Mental Illness , Mental Health America and the Treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Purkey “ constitutes cruel and unusual punishment and does not comport with ‘ evolving standards of decency.
’ ” The mother of the slain teenager , Glenda Lamont , told the Kansas City Star last year she planned to attend Purkey ’ s execution .
“ I don ’ t want to say that I ’ m happy , ” Lamont said .
“ At the same time , he is a crazy mad man that doesn ’ t deserve , in my opinion , to be breathing anymore.
” The runup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot can still happen before Purkey ’ s scheduled one .
On Monday , hours before Lee was set to be put to death , a U.S. District Court judge put the execution on hold over concerns from death row inmates on how executions were to be carried out , and an appeals court upheld it , before the Supreme Court overturned it early Tuesday .
Associated Press writers Roxana Hegeman in Wichita , Kansas , and Mark Sherman and Colleen Long in Washington contributed to this report .

Michael Balsamo And Michael Tarm - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-07-15--Death toll in Indonesia flash flood rises to 21; 2 missing

JAKARTA , Indonesia - The death toll from a flash flood in Indonesia ’ s South Sulawesi province rose to @ @ @ @ @ people still missing , an official said .
National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Raditya Jati @ @ @ @ @ were hampered by thick mud covering roads and houses , and rain was continuing to @ @ @ @ @ were injured in the flooding , which affected six subdistricts in the province , he @ @ @ @ @ evening , 2,650 people had been evacuated .
North Luwu district official Indah Putri Indriani @ @ @ @ @ evening and was triggered by heavy rains that caused three rivers to overflow .
Heavy @ @ @ @ @ flash floods in Indonesia , where millions of people live in mountainous areas or near @ @ @

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thetorontostar--2020-07-15--Russian prankster gets through by phone to Polish president

WARSAW , Poland - A Russian prankster posing as the U.N. secretary-general , managed to get through to Poland ’ s reelected president , Andrzej Duda , on the telephone , rendering him speechless following questions about Ukraine , Russia and the outcome of Sunday ’ s election .
The prankster , Vladimir Kuznetsov , known as Vovan , posted a recording of the 11-minute call on YouTube and Duda ’ s office confirmed Wednesday it is authentic .
At various points in the conversation , conducted in English , Duda sounds surprised at the line of questioning but still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Your Excellency.
” The conversation was held Monday afternoon while Duda was awaiting official confirmation of his reelection .
State security is investigating how the prankster got through to the president , and whether Russia ’ s secret services were involved .
The Internal Security Agency said in a statement the call had been authorized by a Polish mission official at the U.N. , and that his actions are under investigation .
Poland ’ s relations with Russia are tense , especially over Poland ’ s support for Ukraine ’ s drive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The caller congratulates Duda on his reelection but takes him to task on his hostile campaign comments about the LGBT community , drawing Duda ’ s assurance that he has “ huge respect for every human being.
” Duda also rejected any suggestion that Poland would seek to claim back the Ukrainain city of Lviv , that was part of Poland before World War II .
Kuznetsov , and the Russian prankster Alexei Stolyarov , who is known as Lexus , have previously embarrassed European politicians including French President Emmanuel Macron and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as Elton John and Prince Harry with similar hoax calls .


thetorontostar--2020-07-15--John Hickenlooper reports $5.2 million haul in Senate bid

DENVER - Former Colorado Gov .
John Hickenlooper ’ s Senate campaign reports a $ 5.2 million fundraising haul over the past three months , calling it a record for any Senate candidate in state history .
Hickenlooper ’ s haul is significant , though it comes as his fellow Democratic hopefuls have been shattering Senate fundraising records nationally .
Hickenlooper in November will be facing Sen. Cory Gardner , who is considered the most vulnerable Republican senator up for reelection .
Hickenlooper , a former presidential candidate , outraised Gardner in the first three months of the year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the $ 5.2 million between April 1 and June 30 .
It said donations came from all of Colorado ’ s 58 counties .
The period includes the weeks running up to Colorado ’ s June 30 Democratic primary , which Hickenlooper won handily despite a series of gaffes .
Gardner and other Republicans began a multimillion-dollar ad campaign against Hickenlooper before the primary concluded , and Hickenlooper ’ s allies have hit back .
Democrats would need to net three seats and win the presidency to gain control of the Senate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast , “ Ground Game .
”


thetorontostar--2020-07-15--Turkey marks fourth anniversary of failed coup attempt

ISTANBUL - Turkey is marking the fourth anniversary of the July 15 failed coup attempt against the government , with ceremonies and events remembering its victims .
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday , accompanied by civilian “ veterans ” who fought against the coup , laid a wreath at a memorial in the presidential complex in Ankara and prayed .
Erdogan was kicking off a series of events to commemorate the crushing of the coup , including one at parliament .
Attendees were wearing masks as the event took place amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
On July 15 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tanks , warplanes and helicopters to try to overthrow Erdogan ’ s government .
A total of 251 people were killed and around 2,200 others were wounded as the coup plotters fired on people or bombed parliament and other government buildings .
Around 35 alleged coup plotters were also killed .
Turkey has blamed U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen , a former Erdogan ally , for the coup attempt .
Gulen rejects the accusation .
The government declared a state of emergency after the coup attempt to crackdown on Gulen ’ s network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terror group .
Under emergency powers that were in place for two years , tens of thousands of people were arrested for alleged links to the coup and to Gulen and the trials continue .
More than 130,000 people were fired from public service through emergency decrees , among them teachers and police officers .
Critics say the arrests and dismissals went too far , targeting all opposition to the government under Turkey ’ s wide terror laws .


thetorontostar--2020-07-15--Young activists, localists top Hong Kong pro-democracy polls

HONG KONG - Young activists and localist candidates dominated Hong Kong ’ s unofficial pro-democracy primaries over the weekend , with hundreds of thousands of people voting despite warnings the election could violate the territory ’ s new security law imposed by Beijing .
Candidates who topped the polls were in their 40s or younger in every constituency and included prominent pro-democracy activists Joshua Wong and Jimmy Sham , who helped organize many of last year ’ s anti-government protests that had alarmed the central government in Beijing .
Incumbent lawmakers such as Ted Hui and Eddie Chu , known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislative meetings , also took top spots .
The polls were held to whittle the pro-democracy camp ’ s candidates to field a unified slate in a legislative election in September in hopes of achieving a “ 35-plus ” majority in the 70-seat legislature .
The pro-democracy camp has pledged to vote down the budget if they attain majority .
Under Hong Kong ’ s mini-constitution , known as the Basic Law , the city ’ s leader — currently Carrie Lam — must resign if an important bill such as the budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of movement activists in the primary implies the continuation of the spirit of our resistance against China ’ s growing curbs over the city ’ s freedoms , ” Wong wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday .
“ In the eyes of voters , candidates ’ spirit of resistance overrides other traditional elements like policy platforms , academic and professional backgrounds , ” he said .
Wong also said at the pro-democracy camp ’ s news conference on Wednesday that President Donald Trump ’ s signing of the Hong Kong Autonomy Act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be imposed on Chinese officials in retaliation for the national security law — has shown that Beijing ’ s actions will backfire on them .
“ Eroding the freedom of Hong Kong should not be the way out , otherwise more and more action might be taken by world leaders in the future , ” he said .
Lam on Monday warned organizers and candidates of the primary that the event could be considered subversive under the city ’ s tough new national security law if the objective is to resist every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sweeping law Beijing enacted on June 30 in response to last year ’ s often violent protests calling for greater democracy and police accountability outlaws secessionist , subversive and terrorist activities , as well as collusion with foreign forces to intervene in the city ’ s affairs .
The maximum punishment for serious offenders is life imprisonment .
“ I am not saying it has breached it , but I have to put forward a warning that if that ’ s going to be proven to be the case , then it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Lam said .
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo congratulated the pro-democracy camp on their “ successful ” primary election , saying that the over 600,000 Hong Kongers who voted have “ demonstrated their desire to make their voices heard.
” He also said that the U.S. will monitor developments closely as the legislative elections in September draw near .
“ We note with grave concern Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam ’ s threat that this primary may have violated Beijing ’ s new ‘ national security ’ law for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese Communist Party ’ s fear of democracy and its own people ’ s free thinking , ” he said .
Beijing ’ s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office said the primary “ blatantly challenges ” the Basic Law .
It also said it violated the national security law , singling out the organizer Benny Tai and accusing him of subversive activities and advocating for the independence of Hong Kong .
Beijing ’ s liaison office in Hong Kong also accused the organizers of planning the event “ with the support of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the primaries collected a large amount of personal information from the people and may violate privacy regulations .
On Wednesday , one of the organizers , former lawmaker Au Nok-hin , ended his association with the primary election and said in a statement posted on Facebook that he is withdrawing “ due to the accusation from the Liaison Office and Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office recently.
” He said that even though the pro-democracy camp had emphasized repeatedly that the primary election was legal , there have been accusations otherwise , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety.
” “ It is a hard decision ...
I hope everyone could understand my limitations , ” he said , apologizing for his withdrawal .


thetorontostar--2020-07-15--Thai man forced to psychiatric hospital over T-shirt motto

BANGKOK - A man who posted a photo online showing himself wearing a shirt with a motto questioning the traditional reverence for Thailand ’ s monarchy has been admitted against his will to a psychiatric hospital , drawing concern from human rights activists .
The legal basis for putting 45-year-old Tiwakorn Vithiton into the Khon Kaen Rajanagarindra Psychiatric Hospital in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen is not clear .
Tiwakorn caused a stir by posting pictures on his Facebook page of him wearing a T-shirt with the motto “ I have lost all faith in the institution of monarchy.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is both socially taboo and legally risky .
Cases where people are suspected of defaming the monarchy have traditionally been prosecuted under a lese majeste law that carries a punishment of 3 to 15 years in prison .
The law has long been abused for political purposes to silence dissidents , but in recent years the number of cases has declined as the government instead has employed laws covering computer crimes and sedition .
In June this year , King Maha Vajiarlongkorn told the government it should not prosecute lese majeste cases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Musikul told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Tiwakorn has not been charged with any crime and was hospitalized for medical reasons .
Hospital director Dr. Nathakorn Jampathong said Tiwakorn has been undergoing psychiatric evaluation since being admitted on July 9 .
“ All I can tell you is that he is fine .
And the evaluation is still going on , ” Nathakorn said in a phone call .
Yingcheep Atchanont was one of a small group of human rights defenders who visited Tiwakorn on Monday at the hospital .
“ He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t sure in what legal capacity he is being held , ” said Yingcheep , who works with iLaw , an independent justice watchdog group .
He said Tiwakorn ’ s family told him hospital staff and police had to force him when he resisted going to the hospital , following an earlier visit to their home by doctors who questioned him .
Yingcheep said there has been a surge of public interest this year in expressing opinions on Thai politics and society , and people had found workarounds to speak out without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who is not a public figure and not known to be the member of any organized group , as “ clever ” in how he expressed his opinion .
The authorities have responded to the outpouring of free speech with measures outside the law , such as putting pressure on their targets of concern by visiting their families ’ homes and talking to their teachers .
He said there are 13 lese majeste cases out of 89 that iLaw has monitored where the accused have ended up confined in mental hospitals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ first in which the authorities had someone committed someone straight to the psychiatric facility without having gone through filing charges and legal detention first , ” said Yingcheep .
Treated dissidents as mentally ill is not a novel practice in authoritarian states .
The former Soviet Union was especially notorious for having critics declared mentally ill so they could be put away without going through legal processes that could help validate their claims to be political prisoners .
Associated Press videojournalist Tassanee Vejpongsa contributed to this report .

Busaba Sivasomboon - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-07-15--UAE Mars mission from Japan delayed again by weather

TOKYO - The launch of a United Arab Emirates Mars orbiter , already delayed two days , has been postponed further due to bad weather at the Japanese launch site .
The orbiter named Amal , or Hope , is the Arab world ’ s first interplanetary mission .
The launch , initially scheduled for Wednesday from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan , had already been postponed until Friday .
It was delayed further on Wednesday to an unspecified date , said Mitsubishi Heavy Industries , the provider of the H-IIA rocket .
The UAE mission team said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later in July .
Mitsubishi said it usually announces launches at least two days before the scheduled date .
Mitsubishi launch official Keiji Suzuki said earlier this week that a postponement was possible because intermittent lightning and rain were forecast over the next few days .
Heavy rain has fallen for more than a week in large areas of Japan , triggering deadly mudslides and floods on the southern main island of Kyushu .
Hope is to reach Mars in February 2021 , the year the UAE celebrates 50 years since its formation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a major step for the oil-dependent economy seeking a future in space .
Hope carries three instruments to study the upper atmosphere and monitor climate change and is scheduled to circle the red planet for at least two years .
UAE says it will provide a complete view of the Martian atmosphere during different seasons for the first time .
Two other Mars missions are planned in coming days by the U.S. and China .
Japan has its own Martian moon mission planned in 2024 .


thetorontostar--2020-07-15--Stabbings in southern Norway leave woman dead, two injured

HELSINKI - Norwegian police say three women were stabbed , one of them fatally , in a city in the south of the country late Tuesday .
Police said Wednesday that the stabbings took place in various spots in Sarpsborg , some 80 kilometres ( 50 miles ) south of Oslo .
“ The incident last night had a tragic outcome where one woman in her 50s died , another was seriously injured and a third injured but with less serious injuries , ” police inspector Agnes Beate Hemioe said in a statement .
Police said one of the women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the assailant — a 31-year-old Norwegian citizen of foreign origin — was later detained in his apartment in central Sarpsborg .
He has been arrested and will be charged with murder and attempted murder , police said .
The motive behind the attacks remains unclear .
and Hemioe said police have no information linking the perpetrator to the deceased .
However , police said there appeared to be a relationship between the man and the two other women .
There are currently no signs of other attackers being involved .
Local newspaper Sarpsborg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history of violence .
Police said the man had previously been charged — but not convicted — with violent behaviour .


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--Oklahoma AG reaches jurisdiction agreement with five tribes

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma ’ s attorney general and five major Native American tribes in Oklahoma on Thursday announced an agreement on proposed federal legislation regarding civil and criminal jurisdiction following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision .
Republican Attorney General Mike Hunter announced the deal with leaders of the Cherokee , Chickasaw , Choctaw , Muscogee ( Creek ) and Seminole nations after the high court ruled last week that much of eastern Oklahoma remains an Indian reservation .
Both sides agree any proposed legislation should recognize tribal sovereignty and the respective tribal boundaries outlined in their treaties with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the state would have criminal jurisdiction over non-Native American offenders throughout the treaty territories , with some exceptions , while the tribes would have overlapping jurisdiction over most offenders who are tribal citizens .
Federal prosecutors would still have jurisdiction under the Major Crimes Act over certain serious crimes committed by Native Americans .
The agreement clarifies that civil jurisdiction would remain largely unchanged .
“ Although there are many more details to be ironed out in the near future , we believe this agreement regarding civil and criminal jurisdiction is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and promoting continued economic growth in Oklahoma , ” Hunter said .
Muscogee ( Creek ) Nation Principal Chief David Hill said that while the court ruling leaves some unanswered questions , he expressed confidence in the tribes ’ ability to work with state and federal agencies .
“ Tribal nations have successfully collaborated with law enforcement for years in the communities we share , and this ruling only strengthens our ability to work together for the betterment of public safety for all Oklahomans , “ he said in a statement .


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--Tourists facing restrictions amid fears of new virus spikes

MADRID - From the palm-fringed beaches of southern India to the bar-lined streets of a Spanish island and the rolling hills of Ireland , restaurants , pubs and clubs are emerging as front lines in efforts to prevent the re-emergence of the coronavirus .
With Europe ’ s summer vacation season kicking into high gear for millions weary of months of lockdown , scenes of drunken British and German tourists on Spain ’ s Mallorca island ignoring social distancing rules and reports of American visitors flouting quarantine measures in Ireland raised fears of a resurgence of infections in countries that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 curve .
Germany ’ s foreign minister condemned the rowdy tourists for imperiling hard-won gains in efforts to contain the virus .
“ We just recently managed to open the borders again in Europe .
We can not risk this by reckless behaviour , ” Heiko Maas told Funke Media Group .
“ Otherwise , new measures will be inevitable.
” In a move designed to stop the spread of the coronavirus and shake off the region ’ s reputation as a party hub , regional authorities in the Balearic Islands ordered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along Mallorca ’ s “ Beer St. ” and “ Ham St. , ” as the popular party areas near the beach of Palma de Mallorca are known , and on another boulevard in nearby Magaluf .
Bar owners reacted angrily to the new restrictions on the islands that have seen , like most regions in Spain , recent spikes in infections , none of which were traced to visiting tourists or party hot spots .
Bars and nightclubs employ some 20,000 people in the region .
“ They are undertaking drastic measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closing entire streets and curtailing the free exercise of private initiative , ” Jesús Sánchez , who leads a local business association told The Associated Press .
He blamed “ clandestine parties ” for some of the images of tourists ignoring virus containment measures .
Meanwhile , in the United States , Florida reached another ominous record with 156 virus deaths reported Thursday as the state continued to experience a swift rise in cases .
The state Department of Health reported 13,965 new coronavirus cases , bringing the total to nearly 316,000 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ America announced it was postponing next year ’ s National Jamboree in West Virginia , citing concerns about the coronavirus pandemic .
The increasing number of cases and the pandemic ’ s persistence and unpredictability made it impossible for the Boy Scouts to comply with its “ Be Prepared ” motto , according to an announcement on the organization ’ s website .
And Brazil , which hit at least 75,000 confirmed deaths Wednesday was poised to report 2 million confirmed cases Thursday evening .
The country has recorded more than 1,000 daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has yet to tilt downward .
At a solemn commemoration service in Madrid , relatives of about 100 COVID-19 victims sat socially distanced with representatives of health workers and other vital professions and with Spain ’ s king and queen to pay tribute to the dead and those fighting the pandemic .
In an emotional speech , Hernando Calleja said he was sharing the pain of the loss of his brother José María , a well-known journalist and writer in Madrid , with other victims ’ relatives .
“ Let ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continues to be a cold , cruel and wrecking executioner , ” Calleja said at the ceremony at Madrid ’ s Royal Palace .
Another European tourism hot spot , Greece , lifted a ban on flights from Britain on July 15 and on Thursday welcomed the first arrivals with random testing at Athens airport .
Alexandros Maziotis , a Greek who lives in the UK , said he wasn ’ t tested .
” I ’ m planning to be a bit careful , especially the first week , so I make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to my parents , ” he said .
In France , which has been seeing new outbreaks , Prime Minister Jean Castex said masks would be mandatory in closed public places as of next week — sooner than Aug. 1 as previously announced .
One of the Catholic Church ’ s holiest sites , Lourdes , held its first-ever online pilgrimage , to mark the anniversary of claims by 19th-century girl Bernadette Soubirous that the Virgin Mary appeared to her there .
While stringent lockdown measures have slowed the spread of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing signs of second waves of infections , and the pandemic is still gathering pace elsewhere .
Finland is one of the countries to have eased lockdown measures .
On Wednesday night , dozens of people queued shoulder-to-shoulder waiting to get into a Helsinki night club .
More than than 13.5 million people have been infected worldwide and over 580,000 have died , according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University .
The true numbers are thought to be far higher for a number of reasons , including limited testing .
India ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases pushed its total close to 1 million and led authorities to reimpose a three-day lockdown and night curfew in the popular western beach state of Goa , two weeks after it was reopened to tourists .
The state ’ s top elected official , Pramod Sawant , said people there were flouting social distancing rules and not wearing face masks .
Nearly 40,000 people have been fined in the past two weeks for not wearing masks .
Israel also registered a new daily record of confirmed coronavirus cases , and a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Health Ministry director general , told Army Radio that he would be pushing at a meeting Thursday for more stringent movement restrictions , including a possible nationwide lockdown on weekends .
Americans heading overseas were causing consternation in Ireland , amid fears that some were ignoring the government ’ s requirement that they self-isolate for 14 days after arrival .
The Irish Post cited restaurant owners who complained that they had no way of knowing if American visitors had completed the two-week quarantine .
Showing that there can be a way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to resume economic growth since the pandemic began in its central city of Wuhan .
It reported an unexpectedly strong 3.2 % expansion in the latest quarter after lockdowns were lifted and factories and stores reopened .
The 6.8 % contraction in January-March was the country ’ s worst downturn since at least the mid-1960s .
The economic news elsewhere was grimmer , however .
More than 1 million Americans sought unemployment benefits last week , indicating that companies are cutting more jobs amid virus surges in the Sunbelt and some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Layoffs in Florida , Georgia and California rose by tens of thousands , the Labor Department said Thursday in its weekly report .
In Britain , the national statistics office said clear signals were emerging that job losses will skyrocket over coming months to levels not seen since the 1980s .
Corder reported from The Hague , Netherlands , and Kurtenbach from Bangkok .
Associated Press reporters around the world contributed to this report .
Follow all of AP ’ s pandemic coverage at http : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

Aritz Parra, Mike Corder And Elaine Kurtenbach - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--US, Canada and Mexico borders to stay closed for travellers

WASHINGTON - The U.S. , Canada and Mexico have agreed to keep their shared borders closed to non-essential traffic until @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 .
Acting U.S. Department of Homeland Security Chad Wolf said Thursday in announcing @ @ @ @ @ cross-border traffic that have been in place since March have helped slow the spread of @ @ @ @ @ said in recent days that another 30-day extension was likely before the expiration of the @ @ @ @ @ partial closure restricts crossing to commercial traffic , people returning to their home country and @ @ @ @ @ It prohibits people from travelling between the countries for tourism or shopping , which is @ @ @ @ @ .
The extension agreed to by the three countries would keep the border closed until @ @ @ @ @ as COVID-19 continues to surge in many parts of the U.S. and in Mexico .
@ @ @ @ @ to maintain the commercial cargo traffic that is vital to the economies of all three @ @


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--Search continues for remains from Tulsa massacre; none found

TULSA , Okla. - The search for remains of victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre continued for a fourth day on Thursday with no remains found during an excavation of a cemetery .
“ We continue to be optimistic , ” that remains of victims will be found in Tulsa ’ s Oaklawn Cemetery , said state Archaeologist Kary Stackelbeck .
“ We have only tested a portion of this area overall , so we have more to investigate and more to look for .
I continue to be optimistic that we are in the right place , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday has been expanded .
Searchers have added an augur probe to drill further into the soil and collect samples that could indicate the presence of human remains that could include clothing , caskets or personal items buried with a body .
On May 31 and June 1 in 1921 , white residents looted and burned Tulsa ’ s black Greenwood District , killing as many as 300 people .
Items discovered thus far include broken bottles , animal bones , unidentified pieces of metal and a shell casing that is not believed @ @ @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--Michigan department announces child care reforms after death

LANSING , Mich. - Michigan officials announced a series of emergency rules Thursday after a 16-year-old boy was restrained at a youth facility and died two days later of cardiac arrest .
Lakeside Academy in Kalamazoo has since lost its contract with the state to care for youth in the state ’ s foster care and juvenile justice systems and had its license to operate suspended .
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced emergency rules that prohibit state-licensed child-caring institutions from using dangerous restraints that involve placing children face-down while they are being restrained or any other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state must be be given timely notification when a restraint is used .
Cornelius Fredericks was pushed to the floor on April 29 and held down by at least seven male staff members because he threw a sandwich in the cafeteria at Lakeside Academy .
Surveillance video shows that the men sat or laid on the teen ’ s chest for about 12 minutes .
A lawsuit filed by the Fredericks estate in June alleges that he screamed “ I can ’ t breathe ” before going into cardiac arrest and dying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruled a homicide and the doctor who performed the autopsy said Fredericks died of asphyxia .
Three former Lakeside Academy staff members face charges of involuntary manslaughter and second-degree child abuse in Fredericks ’ death .
Change is more than just addressing bad actors , MDHHS Director Robert Gordon said at a news conference announcing the emergency rules .
He said the entire system has to transform to afford children who are in the state ’ s care the same health and happiness everyone wants for their own children .
“ We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of restraints in institutional settings , ” Gordon said .
“ Restraints are too often used as an easy way to control youth , in place of the harder , but unnecessary work of evidence-based practices that help young people address mental health challenges and heal and overcome trauma.
” Gordon said Fredericks ’ death has forced the state to face its institutional racism , much like George Floyd ’ s death in Minneapolis police custody led to a national reckoning about racial injustice .
Fredericks , who was Black , did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
“ In our child welfare system , we have an acute responsibility to do all we can to keep families , particularly Black families safely intact , ” Gordon said .
“ When a child does come into care , we need to make that care as family-like as possible .
That is what Cornelius Fredericks deserved and did not get it , and what other young people deserve and must get.
” Data collected from facilities on the use of restraints will be compiled and include information on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including a designation for indigenous children .
Lakeside Academy had a series of violations of previous restraint rules , MDHHS Children ’ s Services Agency Executive Director JooYeun Chang said .
The facility would commonly respond by firing staffers who violated the rules , but there needs to be a better statewide effort to train facilities on trauma-informed deescalation .
Chang said following Fredericks ’ death , the department did a review of every licensed child care facility and looked to see how many in the past two years had even one serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 76 facilities marked and given new guidance and assistance .
Anna Liz Nichols is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a non-profit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues .


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--Wall Street retreats with global markets as rally fades

NEW YORK - Wall Street is retreating Thursday after mixed reports on the economy highlighted its uncertain path , including one showing that layoffs continue at a stubbornly steady pace .
The S & P 500 was 0.7 % lower in late trading , following up on declines across Europe and Asia , as a worldwide rally for markets fades .
Stocks in China dropped particularly sharply after a report showed shoppers there are slow to spend even though its economy returned to growth .
Treasury yields also fell in a sign of increased caution .
The Dow Jones Industrial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 % , at 26,614 , as of 3 p.m. Eastern time .
The Nasdaq composite was down 1 % .
Travel-related stocks were leading the S & P 500 toward its first loss in three days as cruise-ship operators , airlines and hotels gave up chunks of their big gains from a day earlier .
Drops for Microsoft and other tech titans also weighed particularly heavily because they ’ re the largest stocks in the index .
They ’ re the latest ebbs for markets , which have been churning up and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month .
Pushing markets higher have been signs of strengthening in the economy as lockdowns have eased , along with massive aid from the Federal Reserve and Congress .
Hopes for a potential COVID-19 vaccine also helped the S & P 500 erase most of an earlier 34 % drop from its record , down to less than 5 % by Wednesday .
But pulling markets lower has been the relentless rise of coronavirus counts across much of the United States , which threatens to undo all the improvements .
California has already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses to close due to a surge in cases , and the worry is other states will have to follow suit .
Reports on Thursday showed that layoffs across the country remain stubbornly high , with 1.3 million workers filing for unemployment benefits last week .
That ’ s down slightly from the prior week , but only by 10,000 .
The improvement was also weaker than economists expected .
Worries are already high about joblessness , as $ 600 in weekly unemployment benefits provided by the federal government is set to expire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collided with a separate report showing retail sales grew more strongly last month than economists expected , particularly for clothing .
“ With coronavirus cases ticking up , the market could be in limbo until we get a clear sign on unemployment aid and some meaningful news on the vaccine front , ” said Mike Loewengart , managing director of investment strategy at E-Trade Financial .
The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 0.61 % from 0.63 % late Wednesday .
It tends to move with investors ’ expectations for the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the market ’ s hardest hit , a turnaround from their remarkably resilient run through much of the pandemic .
Microsoft fell 2.1 % , and Apple lost 1.4 % .
It ’ s a rare step back for the giants , which are both still up roughly 30 % for 2020 on expectations that they can keep growing almost regardless of the pandemic .
On the winning side were several financial stocks , whose profit reports this week have helped kick off earnings season for the market .
Morgan Stanley rose 1.4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the latest quarter than analysts expected .
The Hartford Financial Services Group jumped 3.9 % after it said it expects to report second-quarter results above what Wall Street had been forecasting .
Bank of America also turned in a better profit report than expected , but it fell 3.5 % after it set aside $ 4 billion to cover loans potentially going bad amid the recession .
That helped keep financial stocks overall in the S & P 500 down 0.7 % , after losing an earlier gain .
In Asia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their worst day since February .
It ’ s the third straight drop for them as some froth blows out of the market following a 15 % surge in less than two weeks .
Tokyo ’ s Nikkei 225 lost 0.8 % , the Hang Seng in Hong Kong fell 2 % and Seoul ’ s Kospi shed 0.8 % .
In Europe , Germany ’ s DAX lost 0.4 % , and France ’ s CAC 40 was down 0.5 % .
The FTSE 100 in London dropped 0.7 % .
Benchmark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ settle at $ 40.75 per barrel .
Brent crude , the international standard , fell 42 cents to $ 43.37 a barrel .


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--Exposed by son, man fights COVID-19 in Florida hospital

MIAMI - For weeks , Michelle Zymet pleaded with her stepson to avoid going out with friends and to always wear a mask .
“ It ’ s just not the time , ” the Florida woman says she told him , begging him to think about his dad , who is at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness because he is overweight and diabetic .
One evening in early June , the young man went out against her wishes , gathered with friends and removed his mask while eating and drinking .
Days later , he felt cold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told him she had tested positive for the new coronavirus .
By then , it already had taken hold in the young man ’ s household .
The man ’ s father , John Place , 42 , is now fighting the virus at a hospital ’ s intensive care unit .
The illness ’ s spread among members of the Plantation , Florida , family highlights the outcome dreaded by authorities who feared the recent surge of cases hitting younger Floridians would spread to older , more vulnerable people .
“ They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be peer pressure , “ said Zymet , 42 .
” Maybe they think , ‘ None of us are sick .
We are fine.
’ They don ’ t understand many of us are asymptomatic and are positive carriers of the virus.
” The young man , who did not want to talk to the media , had told his father and stepmother that he initially thought he had a common cold and took over-the-counter medication .
When he heard about his friend testing positive for the new coronavirus , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
But members of the family started to fall ill one by one , starting with his 14-year-old brother , who is also overweight and was wheezing , coughing and lethargic .
The 6-year-old sister had only a runny nose .
The stepmother was achy , with a fever and chills .
They all tested positive , but only Place , the father , required hospitalization after four days of fever and nonstop coughing .
He has now been in the hospital for nearly three weeks .
With Place unable to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s friends are raising funds for the family as they brace to handle hefty medical bills .
Zymet said she has been called an “ awful mother , ” and an “ evil witch ” for placing the blame on the stepson , but she said she thought it was important to share her family ’ s story amid a surge of infections first detected among young people .
South Florida mayors gathered earlier this week with Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis and told him that gatherings of young people were a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that emerged in June in their region .
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said younger people were celebrating the end of school or college , in some cases joining street protests and otherwise just getting together at house parties , underground venues and restaurants that converted themselves into bars late at night in violation of the rules .
With so many close-knit , multigenerational families in the community , spread to older members of families seemed inevitable , he said .
“ Since the young kids started infecting each other , now we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are now going into the hospital , ” Gimenez said Tuesday .
“ Exactly what we feared — that they were going to take it to their parents , that they were going to take it to their grandparents.
” On Wednesday , Florida passed the 300,000 mark of confirmed coronavirus cases and has been averaging about 96 deaths per day — more than triple the rate it was about a month ago .
Zymet and her family have been isolating at home , and Place was on a ventilator for more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been helping taking care of the younger children and researching the disease while she juggles work in between calls to the hospital , nurses and doctors .
She said the younger generation “ won ’ t know until it hits home.
” “ This has definitely brought us together , ” she added .
“ We could have eventually gotten this disease somewhere else .
But it is the unfortunate truth that he did bring it home.
” Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak @

Adriana Gomez Licon - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--Coronavirus grounds Thunderbirds ahead of Wyoming show

CHEYENNE , Wyo .
- Coronavirus among U.S. Air Force personnel has grounded the Thunderbirds .
The fighter jet demonstration team was scheduled to perform in Cheyenne next Wednesday but cancelled because “ a few of our team members ” tested positive for the virus , Nellis Air Force Base said in a statement .
The base near Las Vegas is headquarters for the Thunderbirds .
The Thunderbirds and U.S. Navy ’ s Blue Angels have overflown several U.S. cities in recent months in a show of national unity amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Federal regulations prohibit the Air Force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus and their conditions , but none of them is a pilot , Thunderbirds spokeswoman Capt .
Remoshay Nelson said Thursday .
Those testing positive will self-isolate for 14 days , and the team plans to resume flying next week .
Contact tracing by public health officials was underway to determine if anyone else had the virus , Nelson said .
“ Our primary focus is ensuring the health and welfare of our personnel so we can safeguard our mission readiness and capabilities , ” Nelson said by email .
Most of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancelled amid public health orders banning large crowds .
The Cheyenne event was originally scheduled as part of the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo festival held each year over the last two weeks of July .
Frontier Days is cancelled for the first time in the event ’ s 124-year history because of the coronavirus .
Several other military aircraft remain scheduled to participate in an air show in Cheyenne on Wednesday .
The Thunderbrids ’ next scheduled event is an Ocean City , Maryland , air show Aug. 15-16 .


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--North Macedonia: Complex coalition talks to follow election

SKOPJE , Macedonia - North Macedonia ’ s pro-Western Social Democrats said Thursday they were ready to start complicated power-sharing negotiations after winning a narrow election victory in a poll held up for months by the COVID-19 pandemic .
Former Prime Minister Zoran Zaev ’ s Social Democrats declared victory after receiving 36 % of the vote , according to official results .
But main conservative rivals VMRO-DPMNE were less than two percentage points behind and insisted they could ultimately prevail in coalition negotiations and form a government .
According to final results announced late Thursday , Zaev ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 120-member parliament , well short of the 61 needed to govern alone .
The conservatives got 44 seats .
Coalition talks will involve parties representing the ethnic Albanian minority , which makes up nearly a quarter of the country ’ s 2.1 million population .
The main minority party , the DUI , which won 15 seats in parliament , says it wants an ethnic Albanian politician as prime minister as a condition for coalition talks — a demand that both main parties have flatly rejected .
Another ethnic Albanian coalition of two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observers , announcing the preliminary findings of their monitoring mission , described the election as being “ well-managed.
” The election involved two days of advance voting due to the pandemic and follows a spike in cases .
Authorities Thursday announced 94 new infections and eight deaths , raising the confirmed death toll to 401 .
Zaev , 45 , led the country ’ s effort to end a decades-long name dispute with neighbouring Greece , clearing the way for the former Yugoslav republic to join NATO earlier this year .
Political analyst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negotiations , which are expected to last several weeks , are likely to be complicated .
“ We ’ ll have to wait for the final results because even a small difference between political parties could make essential changes to the upcoming negotiations , ?
he said .
Surrounded by party officials wearing protective masks , Zaev told supporters at a post-election gathering : “ You are winners , be proud .
Progress has won.
” He promised to continue the country ’ s push to join the European Union .
The Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , along with Greece ’ s former left-wing prime minister , Alexis Tsipras , who negotiated the landmark 2018 agreement that eased years of animosity between the two neighbours .

Konstantin Testorides - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--Trump’s grand GOP convention plans shrink as virus surges

The Republican National Committee announced Thursday that it is sharply restricting attendance on three of the four nights of its convention in Jacksonville , Florida , next month .
As the GOP looks for ways to move forward while coronavirus cases are spiking in the state , party leader Ronna McDaniel said in a letter to RNC members that only the roughly 2,500 regular delegates to the convention would be permitted to attend the first three nights .
Delegates , their guests and alternate delegates would be allowed for the final night , Aug. 27 , when Trump is set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOP had already moved most of the convention from Charlotte , North Carolina , after local officials ruled out a full-capacity crowd during the pandemic .
“ When we made these changes , we had hoped to be able to plan a traditional convention celebration to which we are all accustomed , “ McDaniel said .
“ However , adjustments must be made to comply with state and local health guidelines.
” In recent weeks , Florida has seen significant increases in confirmed cases .
Jacksonville has instituted a face covering mandate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 % of a venue ’ s capacity .
The convention notice comes as Trump aides and allies have increasingly questioned whether the event is worth the trouble ; some advocate scrapping it .
Conventions are meant to lay out a candidate ’ s vision for the coming four years , not spark months of intrigue over the health and safety of attendees , they have argued .
In the end , the decision about whether and how to move forward will be Trump ’ s .
Thursday ’ s announcement was expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even regular delegates — who make the trip to Jacksonville , in most cases spending thousands of dollars of their own money to attend a convention that will lack many of the traditional festivities .
Already some had been having second thoughts about going , given that some states have imposed 14-day quarantine orders on people returning from virus hot spots such as Florida .
“ People coming from out of state , my guess is the guest list will be very small , “ said Florida Republican Party Chair Joe Gruters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ programming lineup for the event .
McDaniel said the convention was planning to use indoor and outdoor spaces .
GOP officials said the marquee evening program , including Trump ’ s speech , was expected to take place outdoors to accommodate the largest crowd possible .
Clustered near an indoor 15,000-capacity arena in downtown Jacksonville are a 5,550-capacity music amphitheatre , a minor league baseball stadium and the Jacksonville Jaguars football stadium .
The GOP will be providing on-site temperature checks and face coverings and will have COVID-19 testing available for attendees .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a top-notch event that celebrates the incredible accomplishments of President Trump ’ s administration and his re-nomination for a second term — while also doing so in a safe and responsible manner , ” McDaniel wrote .
Gruters said he was informed that the RNC would provide daily rapid tests for every attendee .
The formal business of renominating Trump will still take place in Charlotte , but with a far smaller group of delegates casting proxy votes .
Democrats will hold an almost entirely virtual convention Aug. 17-20 in Milwaukee using live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party officials .
Joe Biden plans to accept the presidential nomination in person , but it remains to be seen whether there will be a significant in-person audience there to see it .
Associated Press writer Brendan Farrington in Tallahassee contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--Experts say Twitter breach troubling, undermines trust

HONG KONG - A breach in Twitter ’ s security that allowed hackers to break into the accounts of leaders and technology moguls is one of the worst attacks in recent years and may shake trust in a platform politicians and CEOs use to communicate with the public , experts said Thursday .
The FBI is investigating the hack , according to a person familiar with the probe who was not authorized to discuss an ongoing probe and spoke on the condition of anonymity Thursday .
The ruse discovered Wednesday included bogus tweets from Barack Obama , Joe Biden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billionaires including Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos , Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Tesla CEO Elon Musk .
Celebrities Kanye West and his wife , Kim Kardashian West , were also hacked .
Hackers used social engineering to target some of Twitter ’ s employees and then gained access to the high-profile accounts .
The attackers sent out tweets from the accounts of the public figures , offering to send $ 2,000 for every $ 1,000 sent to an anonymous Bitcoin address .
Cybersecurity experts say such a breach could have dire consequences since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ globally influential accounts with millions of followers .
“ If you receive a tweet from a verified account , belonging to a well-known and therefore trusted person , you can no longer assume it ’ s really from them , ” said Michael Gazeley , managing director of cybersecurity firm Network Box .
Reacting to the breach , Twitter swiftly deleted the tweets and locked down the accounts to investigate .
In the process it prevented verified users from sending out tweets for several hours .
The company said Thursday it has taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internal systems and tools.
” Many celebrities , politicians and business leaders often use Twitter as a public platform to make statements .
U.S. President Donald Trump , for example , regularly uses Twitter to post about national and geopolitical matters , and his account is closely followed by media , analysts and governments around the world .
Twitter faces an uphill battle in regaining people ’ s confidence , Gazeley said .
For a start , it needs to figure out exactly the accounts were hacked and show the vulnerabilities have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key employees at Twitter were tricked , that ’ s actually a serious cybersecurity problem in itself , ” he said .
“ How can one of the world ’ s most used social media platforms have such weak security , from a human perspective ?
” Rachel Tobac , CEO of Socialproof Security , said that the breach appeared to be largely financially motivated .
But such an attack could cause more serious consequences .
“ Can you imagine if they had taken over a world leader ’ s account , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another country ’ s leader ?
” asked Tobac , a social engineering hacker who specializes in providing training for companies to protect themselves from such breaches .
Social engineering attacks typically target human weaknesses to exploit networks and online platforms .
Companies can guard themselves against such attacks by beefing up multi-factor authentication -– where users have to present multiple pieces of evidence as authentication before being allowed to log into a system , Tobac said .
Such a process could include having a physical token that an employee must have with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , before they can log into a corporate or other private system .
Other methods include installing technical tools to monitor for suspicious insider activities and reducing the number of people who have access to an administrative panel , Tobac said .
Several U.S. lawmakers called on Twitter to co-operate with authorities including the Department of Justice and the FBI to secure the site .
“ I am concerned that this event may represent not merely a co-ordinated set of separate hacking incidents but rather a successful attack on the security of Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Missouri Republican .
He added that millions of users relied on Twitter not just to send tweets but also communicate privately via direct messaging .
Twitter hasn ’ t said if hackers were able to access the private messages of their high-profile targets .
Oregon Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden said Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey told him in a private conversation in 2018 that the company was working on protecting direct messages , known as DMs , with end-to-end encryption .
But that promise never materialized , Wyden said Thursday , leaving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to employees who abuse their internal access to the company ’ s systems , and hackers who gain unauthorized access.
“ “ This is a vulnerability that has lasted for far too long , and one that is not present in other , competing platforms , “ Wyden said in an emailed statement .
“ If hackers gained access to users ’ DMs , this breach could have a breathtaking impact , for years to come.
” AP reporters Matt O ’ Brien in Providence , Rhode Island , and Eric Tucker in @ @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--Maine keeping restrictions on visitors from MA, RI

PORTLAND , Maine - Maine plans to maintain travel restrictions on residents of Massachusetts and Rhode Island despite impatience from some hotel operators in the state .
Maine requires visitors from Massachusetts and Rhode Island to self-quarantine for 14 days or provide documentation of a negative test for coronavirus .
The state has eased restrictions on residents of Vermont , New Hampshire , New York , Connecticut and New Jersey .
Work With ME , a group that represents hotels , said Thursday the restriction is “ embarrassing ” and it ’ s time to lift it .
Dana Connors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Commerce , said Massachusetts is Maine ’ s top feeder of tourism dollars and “ its exclusion will continue to have a negative impact on our summer tourism-based businesses.
” A spokeswoman for Democratic Gov .
Janet Mills said the positivity rate for Massachusetts and Rhode Island remain the highest in New England and the administration ’ s position has not changed .
“ Residents of Massachusetts and Rhode Island are not prohibited from travelling to Maine , and Maine welcomes them , which is why the state is providing the testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the spokeswoman , Lindsay Crete .
In other news related to the pandemic in Maine : Maine health officials reported 20 new coronavirus cases on Thursday , bringing the total number of cases to 3,598 .
State officials have also reported 114 deaths from the virus .
For most people , the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms .
For some , especially older adults and the infirm , it can cause more severe illness and can lead to death .
The number of Maine residents filing new unemployment claims went up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downward .
About 8,000 initial claims , including claims for both state and federal benefits , were filed last week , up from 5,100 claims the previous week , the Portland Press Herald reported .
The Maine Department of Labor said Thursday an uptick in unemployment claims in July is expected because of temporary mill closures .
However , the department said it ’ s analyzing the increase in claims because of concerns about fraud attacks on unemployment insurance around the country .
The department said it has also extended the date when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from their employer must start searching for work to Aug. 9 .
Unemployment has spiked in Maine and around the country because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic .
The labour department said it paid out more than $ 1 billion in state and federal unemployment benefits between March 15 and July 11 .
It paid less than $ 74 million in all of 2019 .


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--Ex-oil company director returning to face charges in Mexico

MEXICO CITY - A plane carrying the former head of Mexico ’ s state-run oil company took off from Spain and was expected to land late Thursday in Mexico , where the former executive faces charges equivalent to money laundering , bribery and conspiracy .
Prosecutors claim Emilio Lozoya took corruption to such lengths during his tenure as head of the state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos that he diverted bribe money intended for the former ruling party to buy a $ 1.9 million house for his family .
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has made rooting out corruption his main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has offered to turn testify about bribery and corrupt contracts .
“ He agreed voluntarily and made a commitment to talk about what happened in these alleged frauds he is accused of , and I think he will talk about Odebrecht and other types of crimes , ” López Obrador said Thursday .
That was a reference to millions of dollars in bribes he allegedly received from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht .
Prosecutors also say Lozoya was involved in the 2015 purchase of a fertilizer plant by the oil company known as Pemex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ price .
Prosecutors ’ allegations against Emilio Lozoya were released Monday after Spain approved his extradition .
Spanish police arrested Lozoya in the southern city of Malaga in February .
Lozoya has denied wrongdoing .
Many in Mexico had expected Lozoya might implicate others in the former ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party , perhaps including former president Enrique Peña Nieto , who governed Mexico from 2012 to 2018 .
There had been speculation that Lozoya , who helped run Peña Nieto ’ s 2012 campaign , used bribe money to get his boss elected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released Monday , Lozoya asked Oderbrecht for $ 4 million for the PRI campaign in 2012 — and then spent half of it on a property in his wife ’ s name .
“ In exchange for his help ... in March 2012 , the defendant asked for a payment to help support the PRI political campaign , ” according to Spain ’ s Audiencia Nacional .
Between April , June and November — the elections were in July — the company deposited $ 4 million into accounts controlled by Lozoya ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money was used on August 23 , 2013 , by his wife Marielle Helen Eckers to buy a property for $ 1.9 million in the state of Guerrero in Mexico.
” That appears to be a reference to a property in the Pacific coast resort of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo that was briefly seized by Mexican authorities .
The year 2013 appears to have been lucrative for Lozoya .
The court documents say Oderbrecht allegedly offered him $ 6 million in bribes to get a contract for renovating an old oil refinery .
The Brazilian firm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million .
A Mexican firm , which later sold an overpriced old fertilizer plant to Pemex when Lozoya was director , allegedly paid him $ 3.4 million in 2012 .
Lozoya allegedly used $ 2.58 million of the money to buy a property in an upscale Mexico City neighbourhood .
Lozoya , who directed Pemex from 2012 to 2016 during the Peña Nieto administration , has always denied wrongdoing , but fled Mexico and led authorities on a monthslong overseas manhunt .
Spanish police arrested Lozoya in the southern city of Malaga in @ @


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--Governor: NYC not ready to open malls, museums yet

New York City won ’ t open malls and museums Monday even if the city is allowed to move into the next phase of reopening , as Gov .
Andrew Cuomo promises more crackdowns on bars and restaurants .
Cuomo said New York City is on track to move to the fourth phase of his gradual reopening plan , but said his administration will review the latest infection data and decide by 4 p.m. Friday .
The rest of the state is in Phase 4 , which typically permits opening malls and certain arts and entertainment centres and restarting professional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said no “ additional indoor activity ” will open in New York in the fourth phase because of concerns about the spread of the coronavirus indoors .
Cuomo hasn ’ t allowed New York City to open up indoor dining , unlike the rest of the state .
“ You see the inside , interior spaces , air conditioned spaces , where the virus is tending to spread , “ Cuomo said in a Thursday conference call with reporters .
” So we ’ re going to take that precaution in New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Museum of Art had announced plans Wednesday to open August 29 .
“ I think they can plan to reopen .
And then we ’ ll see what the facts say , ” Cuomo said .
About 1 % of 72,000 COVID-19 tests conducted Wednesday were positive in New York , according to Cuomo ’ s office .
Meanwhile , 14 people died in hospitals and nursing homes .
Cuomo announced Thursday a new “ three strikes ” policy that will require bars and restaurants to close after they receive three citations for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and keeping people 6 feet ( 2 metres ) apart .
Cuomo said the state ’ s fielding thousands of complaints on top of “ significant evidence of failure to comply ” among restaurants and businesses , particularly downstate .
He said “ egregious violations ” can still result in the immediate loss of a liquor license , and warned that the state would post names of restaurants and bars in violation .
“ The state itself has looked at over 5,000 establishments in downstate New York and found many cases of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
” It ’ s wrong , it ’ s dangerous , it ’ s selfish , it ’ s unacceptable , it ’ s also illegal.
” And restaurants and bars across New York can no longer allow walk-up bar service , or serve alcohol to people who aren ’ t buying food , he added .
He called on local governments to better enforce safety guidelines .
“ I ’ ll tell you what ’ s less politically popular — if we have to close down a region because compliance wasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
New York is also launching a national advertising campaign encouraging people to wear masks , said Cuomo , who has expressed concern about rising infections out-of-state .
He announced a $ 2,000 fine for airport travellers from states with high infection rates who don ’ t fill out a form to help New York track compliance with a 14-day quarantine requirement .
Cuomo will decide in early August whether schools in parts of the state in the fourth phase can open their doors to students and teachers this fall .
New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents by providing 100,000 child care slots for youngsters who will only be in their physical schoolrooms two or three days a week under the city ’ s hybrid back-to-school plan , Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday .
De Blasio said that for parents who need to report to their workplaces , “ the child care will make all the difference in the world .
And here ’ s where the can-do spirit of this city comes in.
” The Democratic mayor announced earlier this month that under coronavirus-safety protocols , most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public school students will be in their physical classrooms only part of the week when school starts in September .
Students will learn remotely the rest of the time under the plan , which is subject to approval by Gov .
Andrew Cuomo .
The plan offers a contrast to districts like Los Angeles and San Diego that have announced that no students will be in classrooms when school starts .
De Blasio said City Hall staffers are looking at sites like libraries and community centres to house the new child care programs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after-school care under contract to the city will be asked if they can expand their services .
Details , including the program ’ s cost to the city , were not provided .

Marina Villeneuve And Karen Matthews - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--Report: Chicago’s ex-top cop drove impaired, lied to public

CHICAGO - An inspector general ’ s report concluded Thursday that former Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson drove a city vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and lied about the incident that led to his December firing .
Johnson was found asleep behind the wheel of his police car in October after consuming “ several large servings of rum ” at a downtown restaurant with a member of his security detail , according to the Chicago Office of the Inspector General .
According to the report , Johnson made false statements to the public and Mayor Lori Lightfoot , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with friends and that he had ordered an internal investigation of the incident .
Johnson initially blamed the incident on his failure to take his blood pressure medication and didn ’ t mention alcohol .
That omission resulted “ in a materially inaccurate portrayal of the incident in remarks he made while in uniform and speaking in an official capacity , ” according to the report .
He later acknowledged he had drinks with dinner .
Johnson , who was named superintendent in 2016 and announced his retirement in November , was fired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lapses.
“ He later admitted a “ lapse of judgment , ” but said he would let his reputation for integrity earned during more than 30 years as a police officer speak for itself .
Johnson ’ s spokesman didn ’ t return a message Thursday .
The report said Johnson drove the security officer from the restaurant to police headquarters where the officer got into a city vehicle and drove off .
Johnson also left headquarters and parked illegally in a neighbourhood with the car running .
A witness called 911 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Several police officers and a fire official checked on Johnson , but no field sobriety test was administered .
Johnson was allowed to leave the scene and drove erratically , including blowing a stop sign and turning into the wrong lane .
The report cited footage from private security cameras and police dash and body cameras .
Further investigations into the actions of the security staff and officers responding to the scene are pending .


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--African nation blasts ‘inequality crisis’ in virus testing

JOHANNESBURG - Central African Republic ’ s health minister is blasting the “ big inequality crisis ” in coronavirus testing as he sees rich countries like Britain conduct scores of thousands of tests daily while his own struggles to obtain supplies for a couple hundred at most .
Pierre Somse told a World Health Organization briefing Thursday that “ we are in a scarcity , a misery of tests “ — a blunt assessment of the scrambling by African nations and rising fears as the pandemic ’ s first wave hits the continent of 1.3 billion people .
The minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million people is still waiting for testing supplies ordered via the WHO .
“ I believe this is due to global competition , this is well known , ” he said .
He recalled listening to radio reports of thousands , even millions of tests carried out in richer countries in short stretches of time .
The United States has conducted more than 700,000 tests a day in the past few days .
And weeks ago the Chinese city of Wuhan , where the virus was first detected late last year , tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Central African Republic has more than 4,300 confirmed virus cases — a small fraction of the more than 645,000 across Africa — but the true number is unknown .
“ It ’ s hiding a major health problem because we can not have the real situation , ” the health minister said .
Without donations of testing materials from the Chinese , “ we could not have done nothing , nothing at all.
“ He called for more than just talk about global solidarity in the pandemic , especially for “ small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own is being “ completely overlooked ” in the global race for testing and medical supplies .
Confirmed virus cases across Africa have jumped by 23 % in the past week , and South Africa makes up more than half of them .
South Africa on Thursday night surpassed Mexico and Chile with 324,221 cases and now has the world ’ s sixth highest reported caseload , according to the health ministry and data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
Even South Africa , the continent ’ s most developed country , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the backlog of tests at one point reached nearly 100,000 and the average wait for some results reached 12 days .
There ’ s no doubt about the lack of testing materials , especially for low-income countries that rely on international support for procurement , said the WHO Africa chief , Matshidiso Moeti .
That especially hurts in Africa ’ s most fragile countries .
In a sampling of just seven nations more than 1,800 virus cases have been confirmed among refugees , migrants and displaced people or in areas of humanitarian crises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s likely an underestimate because of limited testing .
In some African countries the more you test the more cases you find , Moeti said , but not always .
She noted that had not occurred in Senegal when the country produced its own test kits and significantly expanded testing .
“ There is some underestimation ” of cases in Africa , Moeti acknowledged , but she repeated they don ’ t believe there are thousands of people infected and dying undetected .
Access in Africa to any successful COVID-19 vaccine is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vaccine will be snapped up by richer countries and Africa will be last in line , an echo of the time when it took years for affordable HIV drugs to become available on the continent and many people died .
“ It ’ s going to be difficult , I think , let ’ s acknowledge it , ” Moeti said of a COVID-19 vaccine .
That ’ s when “ we ’ ll really need global solidarity in action.
” In a separate briefing Thursday , the head of the Africa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the intellectual property from any effective vaccine should be made available for local manufacturing and swifter distribution on the continent .
John Nkengasong also told reporters that people across Africa have “ all kinds of differences in genetic makeup , so we want to be sure that we are participating fully ” in vaccine trials .
The continent has more than 80 potential clinical trial sites with the ability to enrol participants and monitor them carefully , he said .
Nkengasong also warned that as Africa ’ s cases continue to climb sharply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , long journey .
”


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--Arkansas to require face masks to combat coronavirus surge

LITTLE ROCK , Ark .
- Arkansas Gov .
Asa Hutchinson issued an order Thursday requiring people to wear face masks in public throughout the state , which has had a surge in coronavirus cases over the past several weeks .
The Republican governor had resisted a statewide mask mandate and opposed issuing a stay-at-home order earlier in the pandemic , but he signed the order requiring masks when social distancing isn ’ t possible in the hopes of slowing the disease ’ s rapid spread in the state .
The order takes effect Monday .
Hutchinson ’ s decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from business and health leaders and a day after Bentonville-based Walmart said it would require customers to wear masks in all of its U.S. stores .
The state ’ s largest newspaper , the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette , also called for a statewide requirement on Thursday .
Hutchinson previously encouraged people to wear masks and allowed cities to pass ordinances requiring their use , but he stopped short of requiring them statewide .
He ’ s the latest Republican governor to relent on the mask issue in the face of a surge in COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a similar mask mandate on Wednesday .
Arkansas ’ coronavirus cases have dramatically risen since May , when the state began allowing businesses that had closed because of the pandemic to reopen despite warnings from national health officials about the risks of doing so too soon .
Arkansas was one of a handful of states that did not issue a broader stay-at-home order that kept most businesses closed .
Hutchinson previously questioned how a mask mandate could be enforced in a rural state such as Arkansas , but this week he left open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The chancellor of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences called for a statewide requirement last weekend .
Hutchinson ’ s order was expected to face criticism from some conservatives in the state .
Hours before he issued the order , a Republican legislator urged people to call Hutchinson to oppose any mask directive .
Follow all of AP ’ s coronavirus coverage at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--Axe-wielding man attacks Greek tax office staff, 3 badly hurt

THESSALONIKI , Greece - A man wielding an axe and shouting “ this is what you deserve ” attacked employees at a tax office in northern Greece on Thursday , leaving three people seriously injured .
Authorities said the attack occurred during business hours in the northern town of Kozani , about 450 kilometres ( 280 miles ) northwest of Athens .
All of the injured were tax office employees , three of whom were hospitalized in serious condition .
A fourth person suffered light injuries while trying to flee the scene and was not kept in hospital .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police said , after being restrained and disarmed by people inside the building .
Witnesses and tax office employees said the attacker was scanned for a fever at the entrance of the tax office , as part of pandemic precautions , and pulled a short axe out of a backpack after reaching the revenue department .
As he struck at members of staff the man was heard shouting “ Did you enjoy that ?
” and “ This is what you deserve , ” according to witnesses , who added that at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restraining the attacker .
The alleged attacker , who was not named by police in accordance with Greek law , was wearing jeans and a plain black T-shirt as he was led away in handcuffs for questioning by two police officers .
“ We don ’ t know what the motive was for this attack , ” said Ilias Zoumboulis , head of the region ’ s tax officers ’ association .
“ But we have been asking for better protection of our staff and been raising this issue for the past two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff members were being transferred to the northern city of Thessaloniki to receive more specialized treatment .
“ Two are in critical condition with multiple head wounds and very deep cuts , the third patient is in serious condition , ” Stergios Ganatsios , director of the state-run General Hospital of Kozani , told the AP .
In a statement , the Finance Ministry said it “ unequivocally condemns the heinous and violent attack against employees of the tax office.
” The ministry promised to “ take all necessary measures to ensure similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--Hawley seeks civil rights probe in case of St. Louis couple

O ’ FALLON , Mo .
- U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley on Thursday urged Attorney General William Barr to launch a federal civil rights investigation of St. Louis ’ elected prosecutor , accusing her of abuse of power in her investigation of a white couple who wielded guns while defending their home during a protest .
Mark and Patricia McCloskey are under Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner ’ s scrutiny for the June 28 confrontation when several hundred protesters marched by their $ 1.15 million mansion .
The couple accused protesters of knocking down an iron gate marked with “ No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signs .
The McCloskeys , both in their 60s , emerged with weapons — him with a long-barrelled gun , her with a small handgun .
Their actions , captured on video and viewed by millions , drew praise from some who said they were legally defending their home , but scorn from others who said they risked bloodshed by displaying the weapons .
Photos emerged as memes on both sides of the gun debate .
Gardner ’ s office was still investigating , but no charges have been filed .
Hawley , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter to Barr that Gardner abused her power in seizing the couple ’ s guns , investigating them and pursuing a possible indictment .
He called her actions “ an unacceptable abuse of power and threat to the Second Amendment.
” “ There is no question under Missouri law that the McCloskeys had the right to own and use their firearms to protect themselves from threatened violence , and that any criminal prosecution for these actions is legally unsound , ” Hawley wrote .
“ The only possible motivation for the investigation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to punish this family for exercising their Second Amendment rights.
” Gardner , in a statement , said , “ I am deeply disappointed that a U.S .
Senator would intervene in a local matter that is under investigation.
” Hawley isn ’ t the only high-level Republican to express concerns about Gardner ’ s investigation .
The case caught the attention of President Donald Trump , who spoke about it in a phone conversation with Gov .
Mike Parson on Tuesday .
When he was in the Legislature , Parson co-authored Missouri @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that justifies deadly force for those who are defending their homes from intruders .
He said the McCloskeys “ had every right to protect their property.
” Several Black leaders in St. Louis have expressed support for Gardner .
The Rev .
Darryl Gray , who has led several protests , said her critics are creating a volatile situation .
“ Kim has received death threats from all across this country and in the climate that this president has created , Mike Parson and Josh Hawley are simply piling on , and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of hatred and discord in this country , ” Gray said .
Gardner , St. Louis ’ first Black circuit attorney , has been at odds with some in the St. Louis establishment since her election in 2016 .
Most notably , her office charged then-Gov .
Eric Greitens with felony invasion of privacy in 2018 for allegedly taking a compromising photo of a woman during an extra-marital affair .
The charge was eventually dropped but Greitens resigned in June 2018 .
Gardner hired a private investigator , former FBI agent William Tisaby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Attorneys for Greitens accused Tisaby of lying during a deposition , and a judge indicted Tisaby for perjury in June 2019 .
Tisaby denied wrongdoing and his case is pending .
Gardner also has often butted heads with police leaders , especially after she developed an “ exclusion list ” of more than two dozen police officers who were barred from serving as primary witnesses in criminal cases over what Gardner called credibility concerns .
The move angered Police Chief John Hayden , who also is Black .
In January , Gardner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the local police union and others of a co-ordinated and racist conspiracy aimed at forcing her out of office .
The lawsuit also accused “ entrenched interests ” of intentionally impeding her efforts to reform racist practices that have led to a loss of trust in the criminal justice system .
The McCloskeys are personal injury attorneys .
Their home was initially incidental to the June 28 protest — it was simply on the route demonstrators were taking to the home of Mayor Lyda Krewson .
The Democratic mayor drew the ire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the names and addresses of some who had called for defunding police .
St. Louis , like many cities across the country , has faced numerous demonstrations in the weeks since George Floyd ’ s death in Minneapolis , and some demonstrators have pushed for the reallocation of police funding , including a few who want the department to be completely abolished .
The McCloskeys ’ attorney , Albert Watkins , said they are longtime civil rights advocates and support the message of the Black Lives Matter movement .
He said they grabbed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — who were white — violently threatened the couple , their property and that of their neighbours .
A letter released July 1 by more than three dozen of the McCloskeys ’ neighbours condemned “ the behaviour of anyone who uses threats of violence , especially through the brandishing of firearms , to disrupt peaceful protest , whether it be in this neighbourhood or anywhere in the United States .
”


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--South Africa’s virus epicenter shifts away from Cape Town

CAPE TOWN , South Africa - Health officials in South Africa decided Thursday to reduce the capacity of a COVID-19 field hospital in Cape Town , a sign that the situation may be improving in the city that was Africa ’ s first coronavirus epicenter .
Declining numbers of patients prompted the decision to reduce the size of Khayelitsha field hospital from 60 to 30 beds , indicating cautious optimism among health workers .
The field hospital will send 30 of its life-saving oxygen concentrating machines to other parts of the country where they are desperately needed , an aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Where they will go is still to be decided .
There have been calls for the machines from “ all over ” South Africa , he said .
They take room air and boost its oxygen content before delivering it to a patient through a mask or nasal tube and have proved to be critical in helping save the lives of some COVID-19 patients .
Virus hospitalizations are surging across other parts of South Africa , especially in Gauteng province , which includes the country ’ s biggest city , Johannesburg , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also growing significantly in the more rural Eastern Cape province .
The Khayelitsha field hospital was constructed in a sports hall in one of Cape Town ’ s poorest and most densely populated areas as a partnership between Doctors Without Borders , also known by its French acronym MSF , and the local Western Cape province ’ s health department .
The field hospital will be reduced to 50 % of its capacity as soon as possible , MSF spokesman Christie told The Associated Press .
He said some of the MSF team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town in the Eastern Cape province , where health services are reportedly struggling .
Gauteng province this month overtook the Western Cape in total confirmed COVID-19 cases .
In just a week , Gauteng ’ s cases have increased by more than 37,000 to 112,714 , according to the health ministry .
In the same time period , Cape Town ’ s confirmed cases increased by just over 8,000 to 81,556 .
South Africa has more than 324,221 cases , according to the country ’ s health ministry and data compiled by Johns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the sixth-biggest caseload in the world , above Mexico , Chile , Britain , Spain and Italy .
South Africa has had relatively few deaths , at 4,669 .
There are fears the death rate may spike if hospitals elsewhere in South Africa aren ’ t able to handle the surge in cases .
Gauteng , currently the province under the most pressure with 117,000 confirmed cases , is South Africa ’ s most populated with more than 12 million people .
“ The storm of the virus is expected to hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Africa ’ s people , many in densely populated areas , ” Bandile Masuku , the province ’ s top health official , said Thursday .
“ We expect the pandemic to grow here in Gauteng , increasing pressure and stress on our health system , from the end of July , perhaps reaching a peak from mid-August to September , ” he said on a webinar by a local news site , the Daily Maverick .
The emergency could “ expose the gaps ” in Gauteng ’ s health care system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ province is racing to build field hospitals , supply beds with oxygen and hire doctors and nurses .

Gerald Imray And Andrew Meldrum - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--Prosecutor: No time for evidence against arrested reporter

DES MOINES , Iowa - A prosecutor who is pursuing charges against an Iowa newspaper reporter who was arrested while covering a protest in May told a judge Thursday that his office shouldn ’ t have to give body-camera footage and other evidence to the journalist ’ s lawyer because his office was too busy .
Brad Kinkade , an assistant Polk County attorney , told Judge Christopher Kemp that because Des Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri had only been charged with misdemeanours , the case was considered a low-priority and wasn ’ t worth the time needed to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s a turn-and-burn docket , “ Kinkade said .
“ They ’ re supposed to be handled with no delay and little cost.
” According to the Des Moines Register , Sahouri was covering a protest near a shopping mall on May 31 , less than a week after George Floyd died in Minneapolis , sparking hundreds of demonstrations nationwide .
Floyd , who was black , died after a white Minneapolis police officer used his knee to pin down Floyd ’ s neck while he gasped for air .
Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to disperse after some people were destroying property and stealing items from stores .
Despite identifying herself as a reporter and leaving the area , Sahouri said officers pepper-sprayed and then arrested her .
Her boyfriend , Spenser Robnett , who had accompanied her due to safety concerns , also was apprehended .
Both were charged with interference with official acts and failure to disperse .
They have pleaded not guilty .
The prosecution of Sahouri prompted the Iowa Freedom of Information Council to send a letter to County Attorney John Sarcone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case .
The letter was signed by 150 individuals , organizations and news outlets , including The Associated Press .
“ Ms .
Sahouri was in a place where she had every right to be , doing a job that she has a constitutional right to do .
She complied with police orders to disperse , and officers pepper-sprayed her while she did so , “ the letter states .
“ Even after she clearly established her status as a reporter who was on assignment , she was held in custody.
” Sahouri @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Klinefeldt , who is asking the judge to order prosecutors to provide police reports , body camera recordings and police policy and training information .
If authorities plan to prosecute Sahouri and Robnett and giving them criminal records , Klinefeldt argued they should provide evidence of the alleged crimes .
The judge will consider the arguments and hold a hearing in August to set a trial date .


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--Judge: Californians can buy foie gras from out of state

LOS ANGELES - A federal judge has ruled that California residents can again legally buy foie gras , provided the product and transaction are made out of state , but they still can ’ t get the delicacy in restaurants .
California ’ s ban on foie gras , the fattened liver of a duck or goose , was challenged in court by out-of-state producers who said they lost nearly one-third of their sales after the prohibition took effect .
U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson ruled Tuesday the sale of foie gras doesn ’ t violate the law if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the product is given to a third-party delivery service and brought into the state .
“ There is no principled way to distinguish between foie gras purchased out of state and transported into California by the purchaser and that which is delivered by a third party , ” the judge wrote .
The ruling only applies to people who buy foie gras for individual consumption .
Restaurants and retailers are still prohibited from selling it or giving it away for free , said Kelsey Eberly , an attorney with the Animal Legal Defence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Selling foie gras is still illegal .
Nobody can sell it , restaurants can ’ t serve it , ” Eberly said Thursday .

Christopher Weber - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--NASA’s Hubble successor delayed again by virus, other issues

CAPE CANAVERAL , Fla. - The launch of NASA ’ s successor to the Hubble Space Telescope faces seven more months of delay , this time because of the pandemic and technical issues .
Officials announced Thursday that the James Webb Space Telescope — the space agency ’ s top science priority — is now scheduled to launch on Oct. 31 , 2021 .
The previous target date was March 2021 .
This next-generation observatory — designed to peer farther into space and further back into time than any other spacecraft — originally was supposed to fly more than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , announced in 2018 , was due to worker error and hardware problems .
Until COVID-19 struck , everything was finally going well , officials said .
“ Mission success is critical , but team safety is our highest priority , ” said NASA Associate Administrator Steve Jurczyk .
NASA stressed that the costs stemming from the latest postponement will not exceed the $ 8.8 billion spending cap for development set by Congress .
Budget reserves set aside two years ago during the last major assessment will cover any additional expenses , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s science mission chief .
Nearly half the delay , about three months , is attributed to COVID-19 .
The outbreak has slowed work on the telescope by prime contractor Northrop Grumman in Southern California .
Another four months of padding was needed in the schedule to meet the new launch date , officials said , and lessons learned in spacecraft testing made clear just how much more time was needed .
A critical acoustic and vibration test , for instance , is planned on the fully assembled telescope next month .
Technicians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s massive sun shield — the size of a tennis court — once more .
The sun shield is needed to keep the infrared telescope cold once in space .
NASA plans to ship Webb next summer to its European launch site in French Guiana — Europe ’ s contribution to the mission .
“ Of course , it ’ s hard to predict a year plus from now how things will be here and there , “ said program director Gregory Robinson .
Set to soar on an European Ariane rocket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 million miles ( 1.6 million kilometres ) from Earth , well beyond astronauts ’ reach .
The orbiting Hubble , by contrast , was repeatedly serviced by shuttle astronauts following its 1990 launch .
It ’ s expected to continue working into the 2030s , officials said Thursday .
NASA wants an overlap in operations between Hubble and Webb .
The new telescope , once launched , will look at many of the same things Hubble has — and will .
“ For me , it will be seeing old friends with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientist Eric Smith .
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .


thetorontostar--2020-07-16--Crowded meeting with few masks ‘foolish,’ Utah governor says

SALT LAKE CITY - People crowding into a public meeting in Utah to push for an exception to mask requirements in schools was “ foolish “ and suggested an “ almost mob mentality ” on the issue , Republican Gov .
Gary Herbert said Thursday .
Herbert spoke the day after local officials in Utah County abruptly cancelled the meeting because the crowd did not follow social-distancing guidelines meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Utah , like many states , has been experiencing a surge of coronavirus cases in recent months .
The three-member county commissioners had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a partial exemption from Herbert ’ s statewide mask mandate for schools .
Attendees at the board meeting in Provo booed after the commissioners opted to push the vote to a later date because of health concerns .
Video footage showed the meeting was packed with people who opposed the mandate , few of whom were wearing masks .
“ I think the experts will tell us that ’ s kind of a foolish action , ” Herbert said .
“ People get caught up in almost a mob mentality ... there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with leadership.
” Health experts say masks can prevent the spread of the disease by catching respiratory droplets that contain the virus when people exhale or cough .
The face coverings are promoted as a key tool in allowing the resumption of economic activity and students ’ return to schools .
The proposal from Utah County Commissioner Bill Lee would have the county health director ask state officials for a “ compassionate exemption ” from the mask mandate issued last week by Herbert .
Commissioners Tanner Ainge and Nathan Ivie voted in favour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against it .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , but for some — especially older adults and people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia and death .