thetorontostar--2020-03-10--College campuses empty as virus scare pushes learning online

CAMBRIDGE , Mass .
- College seniors began making tearful goodbyes , not knowing if they ’ d return to see friends on campus .
Some were heading to homes without internet , leaving them to wonder if they could keep up with online classes .
And some worried about finding a way to afford a flight on only a few days ’ notice .
As dozens of universities cancel in-person classes and move instruction online amid fears over the new coronavirus , thousands of students are left scrambling to find their way home while their professors puzzle over how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internet .
Schools nationwide announced plans to cancel in-person classes through spring break or beyond amid fears about the virus ’ spread .
Some are pausing campus classes for a few days or weeks , including Columbia , Princeton and Indiana University , while others are cancelling classes through the end of the term , including Stanford and Harvard .
On Tuesday , Harvard undergraduates were told to leave campus by Sunday and stay home until the end of the semester .
The abrupt order drew outrage from students who are also juggling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classes .
Harvard student Silvana Gomez didn ’ t know how she would afford to return on such short notice to her family ’ s home in West New York , New Jersey .
Gomez , a junior studying psychology , also worries about the risk she could pose to her father , who is 66 and has a health condition that could make him more vulnerable to the virus .
“ It ’ s terrifying .
I ’ m definitely very scared right now about what the next couple days , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
“ I have to stay on campus and if Harvard doesn ’ t allow me to stay on campus , then I really don ’ t know what ’ s going to happen.
” Harvard senior Nick Wyville doesn ’ t know how he ’ ll take online courses at his family ’ s home near Anniston , Alabama .
It ’ s a rural area , he said , and the closest internet access is at the county ’ s only Starbucks , miles from his home .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a lot of students have anxiety , ” he said .
“ A lot of us woke up this morning to a very ominous email that ’ s essentially evicting us from campus.
” Stores were selling out of boxes near Harvard , one of several schools including Amherst College and St. John ’ s University that asked students to move out of student housing and finish their courses for the year from home .
Others , like Princeton University , are temporarily moving to online learning , even for students who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prepare for tight restrictions on social activities .
With more campuses cancelling classes by the day , the potential impact looms large into the spring for final exams , new student tours and graduation ceremonies .
For most people , the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia .
The vast majority of people recover from the new virus .
Dan King , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Administrators , predicted “ many , many more ” colleges will move learning online as campuses work to contain the virus and the anxiety around it .
At Amherst College , senior Tommy Mobley said news that classes were moving online for the rest of the semester was met with disappointment and panic as students scrambled to move off campus while wondering whether they would ever return .
“ There were just hundreds of students on their phones , there were students crying .
You know , a lot of students seemed panicked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the news because , frankly , it ’ s very shocking .
And it ’ s a major change , ” said Mobley , 23 , from Newton , Massachusetts .
As professors scramble to prepare online lessons , they have a long list of concerns .
Without personal contact , some wonder how they ’ ll know if students are falling behind .
Some worry students won ’ t participate in online discussions .
And there are concerns about how to offer fair exams in an online setting .
At Columbia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his virology class through live video lectures that students can also watch later on YouTube .
But he ’ ll miss being able to walk around the lecture hall and look students in the eye to gauge if they ’ re following along .
“ The best part of lecturing is the contact , ” said Racaniello , a professor of microbiology and immunology .
“ I really do enjoy going and talking to the students .
Afterward , they come down to ask questions .
We walk to the subway together .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ educational experience , and that is hard to lose.
” He expects the virus to continue spreading among students anyway .
“ Students are still going to be moving around the world , they ’ re going to be moving around New York City , they ’ re going to get infected , ” he said .
“ I think it has minimal benefit in the long run and is more disruptive than it ’ s worth.
” At Fordham University , Rory Varrato said his philosophy classes , which rely heavily on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like lectures as he moves to a video conference .
He said he expects he ’ ll take it easier on students when it comes to grading this term , given the unusual circumstances caused by the virus .
“ My hunch is that I will be more flexible , just recognizing it ’ s likely that some students will become ill or have an increased stress level in general , ” he said .
“ I ’ ll definitely take all of that into consideration.
” At New York University , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday , sophomore Mareda Michael , 19 , wondered whether she would get her tuition ’ s worth .
“ We ’ re paying so much to go to this school , to not have the school experience is a waste of money , ” said Michael , who was weighing whether to go home to Los Angeles , California .
At Harvard , students were told only a number of exceptions would be made for the orders to leave campus , primarily for international students who come from countries that have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were encouraged to raise any issues with housing officials or their faculty deans , said Harvard spokeswoman Rachael Dane .
“ We are working individually with them to meet their needs and ensure they are supported in this transition , ” Dane said in a statement .
Sophomore Lucy Wickings is requesting to stay on campus during the closure but doesn ’ t know if she will qualify .
Wickings , 19 , is homeless and has been saving income from three campus jobs to stay afloat over the summer .
Now she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her savings during the closure to cover meals and for travel to stay with a classmate ’ s family .
“ College for me is the place where I ’ m supposed to be getting stable housing and food , ” said Wickings , who is originally from Port Huron , Michigan .
“ I ’ m not really sure what to do .
I figure I ’ ll start packing today just in case.
” Thompson reported from Buffalo , N.Y. Associated Press writer Theo Wayt in New York contributed to this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .

Collin Binkley And Carolyn Thompson - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-10--People over coral?: Florida could ban sunscreen bans

TALLAHASSEE , Fla. - Key West wants to protect the coral reefs that are vital to the southernmost city ’ s economy .
The Florida Legislature is saying not so fast .
A year after Key West voted to ban the sale of sunscreens that contain chemicals researchers say harm coral reefs , the House voted 68-47 Tuesday to prohibit sunscreen bans .
The bill now goes to Republican Gov .
Ron DeSantis .
Bill supporters say the research that says sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinoxate harm coral isn ’ t solid , while the sun ’ s ability to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ If we don ’ t have evidence that ’ s good , that ’ s actually verified , we can not allow these communities to ban sunscreens .
We have plenty of empirical evidence that sunscreens are very , very important to our society , that they save lives .
By banning them , we ’ ll be threatening lives , ” said Republican Rep. Ralph Massullo , who is a dermatologist .
Key West , where fishermen , snorkelers and scuba divers are drawn to the reefs , is the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ban sunscreens containing the chemicals in question .
The ordinance is set to go into place next year unless DeSantis signs the bill .
Miami Beach and Surfside in Miami-Dade County considered bans , but ultimately took no action .
Bill opponents argued that local governments should have the right to protect resources that are important to them .
They also said the research is valid and that consumers have other products available to protect themselves .
“ The science on this matter is not junk science , ” said Democratic Rep. Javier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of sunscreen chemicals wash up on coral reefs across the planet each year .
“ How can anyone characterize the action of the city of Key West as anything other than reasonable and prudent ?
... What the leadership of the city of Key West did makes absolute sense.
” Key West isn ’ t the only place to pass a sunscreen ban .
Hawaii , the U.S. Virgin Islands , the Caribbean island of Bonaire and the archipelago nation of Palau in the western Pacific have all enacted sunscreen bans that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next two years .
Drug store chain CVS announced in August that it will remove the chemicals from 60 of its store brand sunscreen products , and it and other companies are now marketing mineral-based “ reef safe ” sunscreen .
“ The market has already responded by introducing a host of new , affordable , and most importantly , effective options , ” Fernandez said .
Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani noted that even the state Department of Environmental Protection is promoting reef-safe sunscreen .
The department has a 30-second YouTube video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including not using plastic straws and other single-use plastics , not standing on or touching reefs and using reef-safe products .
Last year DeSantis vetoed a bill that would prevent local governments from banning plastic straws .
Key West City Commissioner Jimmy Weekley now hopes DeSantis will do the same with this bill and expressed frustration that the Legislature is meddling in local affairs .
“ We all are fighting issues that the state Legislatures feels that local communities should not have any control over , ” Weekley said .
“ Whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of plastic bags and Styrofoam , they ’ ve basically taken away a lot of our home rule rights.
” Massullo said he recommends zinc-based sunscreen for his patients .
But he said consumers tend to use it on their faces and not on their entire bodies .
“ Those sunscreens are very , very difficult to use , ” Massullo said .
“ Zinc is very , very thick and also stains , and most people don ’ t like to use it.
” Associated Press reporter David Fischer in Miami @ @ @ @ @

Brendan Farrington - The Associated Press

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thetorontostar--2020-03-10--Sanders, Biden cancel Ohio rallies over coronavirus concerns

WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden abruptly cancelled election-night rallies Tuesday night in Cleveland amid concerns over the spread of the new coronavirus — as public health fears began transforming the 2020 race .
Their decision to cancel events in Ohio , which votes next week and awards 136 delegates , suggests the coronavirus could upend the Democratic primary at a pivotal time in the race for both candidates .
Sanders is trying to regain some momentum in the latest round of voting Tuesday night , while the former vice-president is looking to further pad his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to speak at a convention centre in Cleveland as results from six voting states began rolling in .
But he pulled the plug about three hours before the event was scheduled to start , and his campaign announced that decisions on future events would be made on a case-by-case basis .
“ Out of concern for public health and safety , we are cancelling tonight ’ s rally in Cleveland .
We are heeding the public warnings from Ohio state officials , who have communicated concern about holding large , indoor events during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign spokesman , Mike Casca , said in a statement .
“ All future Bernie 2020 events will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
” A Biden spokesman initially suggested the former vice-president ’ s own event in Cleveland would go on as scheduled , but his campaign subsequently released a statement saying that the event was off and that they would consult with public health officials about future events .
Publicly , President Donald Trump ’ s campaign says coronavirus concerns have not yet affected their plans , and on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Murtaugh said , “ The campaign is proceeding as normal.
” But at a White House press briefing Tuesday , Vice-President Mike Pence said that they ’ d evaluate future rallies “ on a day to day basis.
” “ I am very confident that the campaign will take the very best information and make the very best decision going forward , ” he said .
The campaign hasn ’ t announced another rally to follow the president ’ s last one in North Carolina on March 2 .
Until now , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pace of rallies this year .
Trump is still scheduled to travel to Las Vegas and Denver this week for fundraisers and a speech to the Republican Jewish Coalition .
For both Democratic candidates , rallies have been a key opportunity to show off endorsements and build enthusiasm around their candidacy .
But Democratic strategist Andrew Feldman suggested that forgoing future rallies could be particularly problematic for Sanders , whose events draw thousands of supporters in major cities .
“ It is a detriment to Bernie Sanders , who is fueled by his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come and are part of his revolution , ” he said .
Feldman said both candidates would have to focus more on online organizing and outreach , using tools like streamed and tele-town halls .
But he also argued that , even as the crisis is bad news for Americans , Trump ’ s handling of the issue — and the careening stock market — “ is the biggest gift for Democrats.
” “ This is giving us an argument that the economy Donald Trump is going to be running on is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he noted .
He said Biden could use the opportunity to make the case for his experience dealing with crises as vice-president , while Sanders could use it to make a more emotional and direct case for “ Medicare for All , ” as reports come in of individuals facing steep medical bills simply for getting tested for the virus .
And he also questioned whether the coronavirus could affect turnout — particularly among the elderly , who lean toward Biden .
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said Tuesday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of nursing homes for the state ’ s March 17 primary .
Some Democrats worry the coronavirus could complicate not just rallies but also every aspect of the election , from turnout to fundraising and organizing .
Kelly Dietrich , CEO of the National Democratic Training Committee , a group that trains Democrats who want to run for office or work on a campaign , said they ’ re already seeing a decline in people who have registered to participate in their training over fear of showing up to large gatherings .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus hot spots , ” he said .
“ That fear is a prime motivator .
It ’ s going to affect your campaign .
It needs to be taken into account , ” Dietrich added .
He also said it ’ s causing the group to rethink how to organize more broadly .
“ When we talk about door-knocking , generally you smile , you shake hands with the voter , you make a connection — all kinds of things that are now maybe taboo , ” Dietrich said .
“ What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t answering their doors anymore ?
How do you pivot to social or digital organizing ?
” Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency after three individuals from Cuyahoga County , which includes Cleveland , tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 .
He has “ strongly ” recommended that spectators be prohibited from attending indoor sports games — and said the same should be true for any large indoor event including concerts .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia .
The vast majority of people recover from the virus .
According to the World Health Organization , people with mild illness recover in about two weeks , while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to do so .
Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s leading infectious disease expert , has stopped short of calling on candidates to put a pause on political rallies .
But he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chooses to do so , saying that what “ they ’ re probably acting on is what they would consider for their citizens , an abundance of caution.
” “ I wouldn ’ t criticize them for that .
They ’ re using their own individual judgment , “ Fauci said .
“ And to me , I think that that would be proven.
” But he also added : “ This is a something in motion .
This is an evolving thing “ so “ if you ’ re talking about a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is no community spread , I think the judgment to have it might be a good judgment.
” Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast , “ Ground Game.
” The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .

Alexandra Jaffe And Will Weissert - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-10--Stocks rebound from big losses on hope for US economic aid

NEW YORK - Stocks on Tuesday recouped most of their historic losses from the prior day as hopes rose , faded and then bloomed again on Wall Street that the U.S. government will try to cushion the economic pain from the coronavirus .
The day ’ s moves were a microcosm of the severe swings that have dominated recent weeks , and market watchers say they are likely to continue until the number of infections stops accelerating .
In the meantime , investors want to see a big , co-ordinated response from governments and central banks to shore up the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 500 surged as much as 3.7 % in the morning , only to see the gains evaporate by midday .
The index then bounced up and down before turning decisively higher after President Donald Trump pitched his ideas for a break on payroll taxes and other economic relief to Senate Republicans .
By the end of trading , the S & P 500 was up 4.9 % .
It erased three-fifths of Monday ’ s loss , which was the sharpest since 2008 , when global authorities banded together to rescue the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reflected the mood of a market just as preoccupied with the virus as the rest of the world .
Since U.S. stocks set their record high just a few weeks ago , traders have crossed over from dismissing the economic pain created by COVID-19 — thinking it ’ s similar to the flu and could stay mostly contained in China — to being in thrall to it — worrying that it may cause a worldwide recession .
While they won ’ t cure illnesses or get quarantined workers back into factories , spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hands of households and businesses while health experts try to corral the virus .
That could stave off or at least moderate a possible recession .
Investors saw glimmers of a co-ordinated response , which led to Tuesday ’ s optimism .
At a White House press briefing Monday night , Trump said his administration would be asking Congress to cut payroll taxes and pass other quick measures aimed at easing the impact of the coronavirus on workers .
In Japan , a task force set up by the prime minister approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion ) package Tuesday with support for small to medium-sized businesses .
But as markets waited on Tuesday for details about Trump ’ s plan , prices oscillated sharply .
After a meeting with major health insurers , Trump said the government is working with the cruise line industry , one of the hardest hit by the virus .
That helped lift the market , which had earlier flipped to losses amid doubts that the government would announce anything soon .
The S & P 500 shuffled along with modest gains until rocketing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trading after Trump made his pitch for economic aid on Capitol Hill .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , whose support would be needed for any deal in a deeply divided Congress .
Mnuchin called the meeting productive .
“ I would expect the authorities to pull out all the stops to reduce uncertainty , “ said Alec Young , managing director of global markets research at FTSE Russell .
“ This may be their one opportunity to do that.
” Perhaps the most notable move in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher .
The bond market rang warning bells about the virus long before the stock market , and a rise in yields is a sign that fear has receded a bit .
The 10-year Treasury yield rose to 0.79 % from 0.49 % late Monday .
A week ago , it had never been below 1 % .
The S & P 500 rose 135.67 points , or 4.9 % , to 2,882.23 .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1,167.14 points , or 4.9 % , to 25,018.16 , and the Nasdaq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to 8,344.25 .
The recovery is pulling the stock market a bit further from the edge of a bear market , signified by a drop of 20 % from a record .
The S & P 500 is down 14.9 % from its high .
If it can rally back to that point , it would extend the longest-ever bull market , which began its climb after the market hit bottom on March 9 , 2009 .
Brent crude , the international standard , rose $ 2.86 , or 8.3 % , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while benchmark U.S. crude rose $ 3.23 , or 10.4 % , to $ 34.36 a barrel .
Oil prices plunged 25 % on Monday amid a price war between producers , who are pulling more oil out of the ground even though demand is falling due to the virus .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recover from the new virus .
According to the World Health Organization , people with mild illness recover in about two weeks , while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover .
In mainland China , where the virus first exploded , more than 80,000 people have been diagnosed and more than 58,000 have so far recovered .
But because the virus is new , experts can ’ t say for sure how far it will ultimately spread .
That has investors worried about the worst-case scenario @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where factories and supply chains are shut around the world due to quarantines and people stay huddled at home instead of working or spending .
Investors expect central banks around the world , which have done some of the heaviest lifting to prop up markets the last decade , to do more to cushion the blow .
Traders expect the Fed to cut rates again at its meeting next week .
They ’ re also expecting some kind of action from the European Central Bank , which meets on Thursday .
But central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have already cut rates blow zero .
That adds pressure on governments to do what they can as well .
For strategists at BlackRock Investment Institute , that could include generous sick-pay programs or even direct payments to households .
For businesses , governments could suspend collecting tax revenue to give them some temporary relief and hold on to cash as the world waits for the outbreak to be contained .
“ That would prevent these temporary disruptions from turning into a full-blown global recession , ” strategists at BlackRock Investment Institute wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many investors have had a “ sell-first , ask questions later ” reaction to the uncertainty , said Greg McBride , chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com .
Still , he urges investors to avoid changing their long-term investment strategies , which can play out over years or decades , because of short-term volatility .
“ Markets fall quickly , but they can rebound rapidly , ” McBride said .
“ Investing is a marathon , not a sprint.
” The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .

Stan Choe And Alex Veiga - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-10--Virus lockdown tests Italians’ commitment to the common good

ROME - Over the weekend , the Fiorentino butcher in downtown Rome was so packed with shoppers you could no longer smell the tangy scent of raw meat .
By Tuesday , customers stood in an orderly queue a meter ( yard ) apart out the door and into the Campo dei ’ Fiori piazza , politely directing newcomers to the back of the line .
Italians are known as notorious tax cheats and rule breakers with a long history of distrusting government institutions that have often failed them .
Now , the country is at the epicenter of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections has meant asking Italians to place their individual interests at the service of the common good .
Faced with a nationwide health crisis , many Italians appeared to have fallen in line , finally sensitized — and scared to death — into respecting draconian measures aimed at limiting its spread .
No , this is no China-style lockdown .
Italy is a Western democracy and scofflaws will be scofflaws .
At most , Italians risk a fine if they violate the new regulations and it ’ s likely that if they drag @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some train service was cut , and police were out in force checking documents Tuesday and enforcing a strict 6 p.m. closure of restaurants and cafes — evidence that the government was getting very serious .
The new regulations essentially require Italians to stay home except for work , health reasons or other “ necessities ” such as grocery shopping .
The measures extended a lockdown imposed in the virus-hit north over the weekend to the rest of the peninsula .
They became necessary after Italy ’ s infection rate continued its exponential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite the quarantine of a dozen towns in Lombardy and Veneto where the first cases were registered on Feb. 21 .
On Day 1 of the national lockdown , shopper Marinella Faccioli , a communications specialist standing in line to buy veal cutlets , said the gravity of the moment hit her with the government ’ s back-to-back lockdown orders over 48 hours .
She suggested their confused and chaotic late-night roll-outs actually lent credibility to the urgency of the moment .
“ That changed life completely , ” she said , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the line .
Polls back her up .
The SWG polling firm found Tuesday that nearly 55 % of Italians were “ very concerned “ about the virus , compared to 37 % a week ago .
Sociologists suggested that Italians will follow the rules when they understand that it ’ s in their own interest to do so .
“ What is prevailing is the collective interest , the idea that respecting rules is good for me , that taking care of everyone is taking care of me , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Rome ’ s Luiss university .
“ “ They realize that respecting the rules is good for them.
” An obvious parallel to draw is Italy ’ s 2005 ban on smoking indoors in public places .
At the time , the Health Ministry estimated that 26 % of Italians lit up .
Almost overnight with nary a protest , the air cleared in restaurants , bars and trains — hardly the expected outcome for a people often portrayed in popular culture as law-flouting mafiosi or cheats .
Yet Premier Giuseppe Conte @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appealed to Italians to avoid “ furbizie , ” or being clever , in thinking they could skirt the government ’ s measures .
There was some truth to his admonition , since the limited lockdowns in the north failed to contain the virus , even if infection rates were beginning to slow in the initial “ red zone ” around Lodi , in hard-hit Lombardy province .
Plenty of Italians in the rest of the peninsula had brushed off his appeals to refrain from congregating , and the shopping scene this weekend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowds weren ’ t considered dangerous sources for infection .
Some families went skiing after school was cancelled nationwide .
Students took advantage of not having to go to class by partying more .
But by Tuesday , sobriety had set in , along with the economic reality that commerce , retail and even pizza making were grinding to a halt in a country on the verge of recession , and would continue to suffer as long as the virus spread .
“ Out of respect , out of seriousness , out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Montecarlo Pizzeria announced it was closing for two weeks in a sign hung on its door Tuesday .
Massimiliano Panarari , a communications consultant and columnist for La Stampa daily , said he believed Italians would comply with the measures , citing the smoking ban as evidence that even notoriously individualistic Italians can adopt a “ collective psychology ” and enact radical change in their behaviour overnight .
“ People can adapt because it ’ s the tendency of human nature to adapt to difficult conditions when the survival instinct becomes the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone interview .
He said the key would be for the government to communicate efficiently and quickly provide economic relief to soften the blow to businesses forced to close and workers forced to take unwanted , unpaid vacation .
“ This isn ’ t China , and the imposition can only last up to a certain point and must be justified by questions of public order and public health , ” he said .
And yet for Chinese nationals living in Italy , the government measures failed to impress .
“ You call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general sense of the WeChat social media group that Susan Gao belongs to along with other Chinese women living in Italy .
“ Our husbands continue to go to work and they refuse to wear masks , ” lamented Gao , a Beijing native who lives in Milan and is married to an Italian and has an 8-year-old daughter .
“ China didn ’ t allow anyone ( to go to work ) , ” she said .
“ Everyone had to stay home .
You had to ground yourself at home to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus.
” She marveled that Milanese were still going skiing on the weekends — until the government abruptly closed all lifts this week — saying she has friends in Wuhan who still can ’ t leave their compound .
“ Everybody wonders how they ( Italians ) can be so relaxed , ” she said .
“ In our minds we think they are crazy .
”


thetorontostar--2020-03-10--Hillary Clinton: Any Afghan peace talks must include women

TANZANIA , Tanzania - Hillary Clinton urged Afghanistan ’ s supporters on Tuesday to ensure that women are included in negotiations to end the country ’ s long war — and to never again allow the Taliban to impose “ a reign of terror against women and girls.
” The former U.S. first lady , senator and secretary of state said Afghan women today are rightly afraid that the gains they have made since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001 “ will be washed away in a rush to achieve a peace that will not hold anyway.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this is dangerous , dangerous to every country represented here , ” she told a crowded U.N. meeting of the Group of Friends of Women in Afghanistan , co-sponsored by Afghanistan and the United Kingdom .
Clinton , who lost the 2016 elections to Donald Trump , spoke following the U.S.-Taliban deal signed Feb. 29 which was touted as Washington ’ s effort to end 18 years of war in Afghanistan and bring American troops home .
The next crucial step was to be talks in which all Afghan factions including the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their country ’ s future .
But Afghanistan ’ s rival leaders — President Ashraf Ghani and former unity government partner Abdullah Abdullah — were each sworn in as the country ’ s new president in separate ceremonies on Monday , throwing plans for negotiations into chaos .
Clinton said this is “ a critical moment for Afghan women , “ with peace negotiations on the horizon .
As first lady , she recalled speaking out against “ the horrors the Taliban perpetrated against Afghan women and girls when they were in power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to school , refusing to let women work and barring them from leaving their homes without a male guardian .
Clinton noted that from the beginning of U.S.-Taliban talks , the Taliban said they would not talk to the Afghan government .
It ’ s difficult to have an agreement when the government that ’ s expected to uphold it is left out , she said , “ and it ’ s difficult to sustain an agreement if you leave out half the population in forging it.
“ Since the Taliban ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said , “ Women of Afghanistan have come too far to be excluded from the negotiating table while their rights are being stripped away.
” Clinton said Afghanistan ’ s supporters must press for the government to be brought into discussions , for inclusive intra-Afghan talks , for U.S. troop withdrawals to be conditioned on the Taliban keeping their word , and for women being included in any peace negotiation and their rights respected .
“ If women are sidelined , the prospects for sustainable peace are slim , ” Clinton warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and women pushed to the margins , it is more likely that terrorists will find a haven.
“ “ There can be no sustainable peace without women ’ s participation and rights , ” she stressed .


thetorontostar--2020-03-10--AP VoteCast: Michigan voters say health care is top issue

WASHINGTON - Voters in Michigan ’ s Democratic primary ranked health care as the most important issue facing the country , well above climate change , the economy , race relations , foreign policy and many other social issues .
About 4 in 10 named health care , an issue that has intensely divided the field of Democratic candidates .
Roughly 2 in 10 each had climate change and the economy on their minds , according to a wide-ranging AP VoteCast survey of the Democratic primary electorate in Michigan .
Here ’ s a snapshot of Democratic voters in Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to them — based on preliminary results from AP VoteCast , a survey of 2,364 voters , conducted for The Associated Press by NORC at the University of Chicago .
DO THEY WANT A BIG CHANGE ?
Voters in Michigan ’ s Democratic primary were closely divided over whether they wanted a candidate who would bring fundamental change to Washington or one who would restore the political system to how it was before Donald Trump was elected in 2016 .
WHAT ELSE VOTERS WANT Close to 9 in 10 said it was very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
About 8 in 10 considered it highly important that the candidate is a strong leader and cares about people like them .
Roughly 7 in 10 said a nominee should have the best policy ideas and “ the right experience.
” Being willing to work across the aisle was considered very significant for a Democratic nominee by about 6 in 10 voters .
A wide majority say they will definitely vote for the Democratic candidate against Trump in the general election .
Still , about 2 in 10 say their decision will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot in November .
Voters are mostly confident that the Democratic Party ’ s nomination process is fair .
Still , just about a quarter say they are very confident that the process for selecting a presidential nominee is fair .
Roughly 3 in 10 have little to no confidence , while about half say they are somewhat confident .
The campaign has featured a contentious debate among candidates over the best way to tackle health care , an issue seen as the most important facing the country by roughly 4 in 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a government-run health care system for all Americans , with about two-thirds of voters saying they are in favour .
Roughly 4 in 10 are opposed .
But support for a public option , where every American could buy into a government-run insurance plan if they wanted to , is even higher .
Close to 9 in 10 are in favour .
More than half of the voters are in favour of either proposal , while about 3 in 10 say they favour a public option but oppose a single-payer system .
CLIMATE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roughly 2 in 10 voters said climate change is the most important issue facing the nation .
A wide majority — about 7 in 10 — expressed support for a tax on the use of carbon-based fuels , such as coal , oil and natural gas .
About another 2 in 10 called the economy the top issue .
A significant majority described the economic system in this country as unfair .
That includes about a third who said it ’ s very unfair .
Small shares of voters considered race relations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important .
AP VoteCast is a survey of the American electorate conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago for The Associated Press and Fox News .
The survey of 2,364 voters in Michigan was conducted for seven days , concluding as polls closed .
Interviews were conducted in English or Spanish .
The survey combines a random sample of registered voters drawn from the state voter file and self-identified registered voters selected from nonprobability online panels .
The margin of sampling error for voters is estimated to be plus or minus 3.4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast , “ Ground Game .
”

Hope Yen And Hannah Fingerhut - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-10--Alabama to exhibit artifacts from last US slave ship

BIRMINGHAM , Ala. - The state of Alabama will provide artifacts from the last slave ship to dock in the United States for a special public exhibition later this year , officials said Tuesday .
The Alabama Historical Commission , in a statement , said an exhibit named for the slave ship Clotilda is set to open this fall in Mobile , where the schooner arrived with African captives in 1860 .
The artifacts include pieces of wood and metal taken from a muddy river bottom where the ship was discovered , said Jim Delgado , a maritime archaeologist who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Museum of Mobile will add pieces from its own collection to help tell the story of the port ’ s maritime history , the commission said .
The city is working on plans for a new facility to house the exhibition .
“ Through this exhibit and collaborative effort , everyone will have the opportunity to experience the moving story of the Clotilda and its survivors , ” said Lisa Demetropoulos Jones , executive director of the state agency .
To settle a bet between wealthy white men on whether slaves could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a federal ban , the wooden ship illegally transported 110 people from west Africa to Alabama , where they became slaves .
The freed people later settled in a community called Africatown , which still exists and will be the site of the exhibition .
The United States banned the importation of slaves in 1808 , but smugglers kept travelling the Atlantic with wooden ships full of people in chains .
Southern plantation owners demanded workers for their cotton fields .
Remains of the twin-masted Clotilda were discovered in late 2018 near an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been scuttled and burned north of downtown Mobile shortly after unloading the captives .
Only a few artifacts were removed from the wreck , and a judge awarded custody of the items to the Alabama Historical Commission .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-12--U.S. strikes Iran-backed group that hit Iraq base, officials say

WASHINGTON—The U.S. launched airstrikes Thursday in Iraq , American officials said , targeting the Iranian-backed Shia militia members believed responsible for the rocket attack that killed and wounded American and British troops at a base north of Baghdad .
One U.S. official said multiple strikes targeted Kataib Hezbollah weapons facilities inside Iraq .
The strikes were a partnered operation with the British , that official said .
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because operations were still going on .
The strikes marked a rapid escalation in tensions with Tehran and its proxy groups in Iraq , just two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballistic missile attack against American troops at a base in Iraq .
They came just hours after top U.S. defence leaders threatened retaliation for the Wednesday rocket attack , making clear that they knew who did it and that the attackers would be held accountable .
Defence Secretary Mark Esper told reporters at the Pentagon earlier Thursday that President Donald Trump had given him the authority to take whatever action he deemed necessary .
“ We ’ re going to take this one step at a time , but we ’ ve got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Esper said .
“ You don ’ t get to shoot at our bases and kill and wound Americans and get away with it.
” At the White House , Trump had also hinted that a U.S. counterpunch could be coming , telling reporters , “ We ’ ll see what the response is.
” And Army Gen. Mark Milley , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , told Pentagon reporters the U.S. knows ” with a high degree of certainty ” who launched the attack .
On Capitol Hill earlier in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the top U.S. commander for the Middle East , told senators the deaths of U.S. and coalition troops created a “ red line ” for the U.S. , but said he didn ’ t think Iran has “ a good understanding of where our red line is.
” Asked if any counterattack could include a strike inside Iran , Esper said , “ We are focused on the group that we believe perpetrated this in Iraq.
” Two U.S. troops and one British service member were killed and 14 other personnel were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday .
The U.S. military said the 107 mm Katyusha rockets were fired from a truck launcher that was found by Iraqi security forces near the base after the attack .
U.S. officials have not publicly said what group they believe launched the rocket attack , but Kataib Hezbollah , an Iranian-backed Shia militia group , was the likely perpetrator .
And the U.S. strikes , which came in the middle of the night in Iraq , targeted that group .
Kataib Hezbollah was responsible for a late December rocket attack on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. contractor , prompting American military strikes in response .
That in turn led to protests at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad .
They were followed Jan. 3 by a U.S. airstrike that killed Iran ’ s most powerful military officer , Gen. Qassem Soleimani , and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis , a leader of the Iran-backed militias in Iraq , of which Kataib Hezbollah is a member .
In response to the Soleimani killing , Iran launched a massive ballistic missile attack on Jan. 8 , at al-Asad air base in Iraq , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 100 American troops .
McKenzie told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday morning that the killing of Soleimani and the increase in U.S. troops and assets in the region has made clear to Iran that the U.S. will defend its interests there .
He said the U.S. has re-established a level of deterrence for state-on-state attacks by Iran .
However , he said : “ What has not been changed is their continuing desire to operate through their proxies indirectly again us .
That is a far more difficult area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Milley said they spoke with their British counterparts about the attack , but declined to provide details .
Asked why none of the rockets was intercepted , Milley said there are no systems on the base capable of defending against that type of attack .
He also said the 14 injured personnel were a mix of U.S. and allied troops as well as contractors , and they will also be monitored for possible traumatic brain injury in the wake of the blasts .


thetorontostar--2020-03-12--Kansas has 3 new COVID-19 cases; colleges put classes online

TOPEKA , Kan. - Kansas announced Thursday that three more residents in the Kansas City area have the new coronavirus , bringing the state ’ s confirmed tally of COVID-19 cases to four , as several universities and colleges announced plans to shift classes online .
The three infected men , ages 35 to 65 , all attended a conference in Florida in late February , but didn ’ t show symptoms until they returned to Kansas , said Mary Beverly , interim director of the Johnson County Health Department .
The Johnson County residents have not been hospitalized and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The state ’ s first case — a woman under 50 — also was reported in Johnson County earlier this month .
Johnson County is the state ’ s most populous county , home to sprawling and affluent suburbs and engine of the state ’ s economy .
All four confirmed cases involve someone who became infected while travelling out of state .
The woman had travelled to the Northeast .
“ We ’ ve had no statewide , no local , transmission , “ Norman said .
With professional and collegiate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether they should take their annual spring break early .
Norman said they should remain in session through April 3 as planned , but some lawmakers had doubts , given the regular flow of visitors to the Statehouse .
The break is set to last until April 27 .
House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr. , an Olathe Republican , said legislative leaders are monitoring developments .
As he spoke with two reporters , he put dollops of hand sanitizer gel on the reporters ’ hands .
“ We ’ re like a big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leader Tom Sawyer , a Wichita Democrat .
“ You know , it would take one person to get sick and you could spread it all over the place.
” State Sen. Tom Holland , a Baldwin City Democrat , cancelled four town hall meetings with constituents scheduled for the last two weekends in March .
Public school officials also began to contemplate what might happen if health officials directed them to close a school .
Department of Education officials told local school districts Thursday that most of them would have a hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that their other options were to make up missed days in late May or ask the department to waive requirements that schools be in session 186 days .
Education Commissioner Randy Watson said the department has cancelled all non-essential travel outside Kansas through April and urged school districts to have students who travelled out of state during spring break to report to the health department .
Watson called for “ incredible hygiene ” in school buildings and vigilance but added , “ Panic is running too rampant across the United States , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” For most people , the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia .
The vast majority of people recover from the new virus .
According to the World Health Organization , people with mild illness recover in about two weeks , while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover .
The announcement of the latest coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kansas , Kansas State University , Emporia State University and Wichita State University joined colleges across the country in shifting classes online to mitigate the spread of the new coronavirus .
Kansas , Kansas State and Emporia State are on spring break this week .
The University of Kansas announced Wednesday and Kansas State and Emporia State said on Thursday that they would delay the start of classes that usually meet in-person until March 23 , when the classes will be taught remotely .
Kansas State and Emporia State said the remote classes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The University of Kansas said its online classes may continue for several weeks , but its Dole Institute of Politics cancelled its spring programs .
Wichita State , where spring break was scheduled to begin March 23 , said Thursday it was cancelling in-person classes next week and moving classes online after spring break .
Kansas State urged students to remain at home , away from the regular campus , unless they can ’ t return home due to travel restrictions .
Washburn University of Topeka announced it was shifting in-person classes through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that date will be conducted online , urging students not to return to campus .
Johnson County Community College announced that its campus would be closed to all but essential personnel through March 29 , and that all classes would be moved online after that .
The Kansas Board of Regents , which governs the state ’ s public universities , voted Wednesday night to allow each school to make its own decision .
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solely responsible for all content .

John Hanna And Heather Hollingsworth - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-12--Contract talks resume for striking St. Paul teachers

ST. PAUL , Minn. - The St. Paul school district and its teachers union are resuming contract talks while striking educators continue to walk picket lines and classes are cancelled for a third straight day Thursday .
The union announced Wednesday night that talks would resume Thursday morning .
District spokesman Kevin Burns said the talks did resume and were continuing late Thursday afternoon .
The district has cancelled classes Friday for a fourth consecutive day .
“ We are ready to start negotiating to get a contract that won ’ t leave any student or educator behind , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ St. Paul Federation of Educators .
“ St .
Paul educators miss their students and want to get back to school.
” The St. Paul Federation of Educators is striking over demands for additional mental health , multilingual and special education support staff .
The walkout was the first for the district since 1946 .
Superintendent Joe Gothard said the $ 50 million in demands are cost prohibitive .
Burns said school officials have prepared a new proposal for mediation , but did not disclose details .
Union leaders said they ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders to respond to a scaled-down proposal that reduces and stretches out increased staffing over multiple years to give the district flexibility in budgeting .
The union expected thousands of members to resume picketing outside public schools across the city Thursday .
Negotiations began last May between the union and the district .
The two sides broke off talks about 3 a.m. Tuesday after six days of mediation .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-12--Gannett, Fox News take steps to empty offices

NEW YORK - The head of Gannett , the nation ’ s largest newspaper chain , on Thursday urged employees able to telecommute to “ refrain from coming into the office unless absolutely necessary ” because of the coronavirus outbreak .
Gannett and Fox News were the latest media companies to issue directives to workers designed to minimize transmission of the disease , both focusing on reducing the number of people in offices .
Paul Bascobert , president and CEO of Gannett , said in a memo to staff that no guests should be allowed in company offices .
With @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Gannett now owns some 260 daily newspapers , including USA Today , the Arizona Republic and Providence Journal , and hundreds of weekly newspapers .
“ For those working in the office , we would ask that you try to create space from co-workers , avoid direct contact whenever possible and continue with the previously advised hand washing and sanitizing regimens , ” Bascobert wrote .
For most people , coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough , but older adults and those with existing health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The vast majority of people recover in about two weeks .
In a separate memo to her staff , Maribel Perez Wadsworth , news president and publisher of USA Today , said remote work should be the default for all employees who can do so from March 16 through April 5 .
In addition to allowing any staff members able to telecommute to do so starting on Monday , Fox said it was encouraging its shows to book guest appearances via Skype or remote locations .
Staff members were told to avoid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conduct business by phone or video conferencing .
Earlier in the week , Fox banned all non-essential travel , according to a memo sent by Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott and Jay Wallace , president and executive editor of Fox News Media .
Two Fox News shows that sometimes featured live audiences , “ Fox & Friends ” and “ The Greg Gutfeld Show , ” will no longer do so , the news leaders said .
“ Our goal is to limit personal interaction , reduce the chance of exposure wherever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those employees who are unable to telecommute , ” Scott and Wallace said .
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .


thetorontostar--2020-03-12--Biden, Sanders try to show they would be better in a crisis

WILMINGTON , Del .
- Joe Biden blasted President Donald Trump ’ s response to the coronavirus outbreak on Thursday and outlined how he would combat the threat differently by relying more heavily on global alliances and listening more closely to the recommendations of scientists .
“ This administration has left us woefully unprepared for the exact crisis we now face , ” Biden said in an 18-minute speech from his hometown of Wilmington , Delaware .
The coronavirus has upended the presidential campaign at a crucial moment .
Just as Biden is beginning to pull away with the delegates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in-person campaign activities are virtually ground to a halt .
And many Americans who would otherwise be tuned into politics are instead preparing for what might happen if they become infected or asked to remain home for weeks at a time .
As financial markets spiraled , Biden sought to look past the turbulent Democratic primary and portray himself as a soothing counter to the chaos of the Trump era .
Standing before a bank of American flags , he mixed indictments of Trump with his own policy proposals and the kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as critical aspects of the presidency .
“ No president can promise to prevent future outbreaks , but I can promise you this : When I ’ m president we will be better prepared , respond better and recover better , ” Biden declared .
“ We will lead with science , listen to the experts , will heed their advice .
We ’ ll build American leadership and rebuild it to rally the world to meet the global threats that we are likely to face again.
” Biden touted “ the ingenuity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our people , ” and he hailed the nation ’ s “ decency ” and “ spirit.
” But he coldly exempted Trump from such praise : “ I ’ ll always tell you the truth , ” Biden said .
“ This is the responsibility of a president .
That ’ s what is owed the American people.
“ But Biden faced limits in presenting himself as Trump ’ s alternative .
The former vice-president hasn ’ t yet won the Democratic nomination .
After Biden ’ s plans were announced , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Bernie Sanders , also scheduled remarks .
“ If there ever was a time in the modern history of our country when we were all in this together this is the moment , ” Sanders said in Burlington , Vermont , where he said the current White House was characterized by “ incompetence and recklessness ” that threatens “ the lives of many , many people.
“ Sanders led voting in the first three nominating contests , only to watch Biden score a blowout in South Carolina that has carried over to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Both Democratic candidates used their remarks to recommend specific policies .
Sanders , nodding to his signature demand for universal healthcare , pressed the need for all affected Americans to have access to the care they need , and he called for Trump to declare a national emergency .
Biden paired his speech with the release of a litany of proposals and promises , including a call for Congress enact paid medical leave that are a staple of labour law in other major western economies .
Yet it was the former vice-president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shadow president , willingly assuming the unofficial mantle of Democratic Party leader as he not-so-subtly emphasized on of his fundamental arguments : that he ’ d be ready on Inauguration Day for whatever challenges make their way to the Oval Office .
Tim Miller , a Republican consultant who ’ s part of a movement to defeat Trump , said that ’ s exactly the tack Biden should take .
“ He needs to be out there reinforcing his main message of stability and trust , ” said Miller , who worked for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ He ’ s got to have a presence and use this as a leadership opportunity.
” In some ways , the dynamics recall the financial crisis that mushroomed late in the summer of 2008 .
The meltdown further damaged outgoing President George W. Bush and his Republican Party , dealing GOP nominee John McCain a new setback and granting a wider opening for Democratic nominee Barack Obama and his running mate , Biden .
But that unfolded weeks before the election — Biden must keep making his case for nearly eight months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden is making other tactical moves toward a general election .
He and Sanders have cancelled upcoming rallies amid the coronavirus outbreak , but Biden has launched plans for virtual town halls that could become a staple of his campaign going forward .
He announced on Thursday a leadership shuffle atop his campaign , hiring longtime Democratic operative Jen O ’ Malley Dillon as campaign manager .
The former campaign aide to President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton quietly joined the campaign as an adviser ahead of the critical Nevada caucuses , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders , even though distant , was the first step of his resurgence .
O ’ Malley Dillon and other top brass at Biden ’ s Philadelphia headquarters have been busy interviewing former staffers to Biden ’ s vanquished primary rivals as they build out a campaign staff befitting a would-be nominee – something they ’ d been unable to do because of Biden ’ s lacklustre fundraising throughout the first ten months of his campaign .
And on Thursday , Biden ’ s campaign formally requested Secret Service protection , a decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symbolic step for serious contenders .
Yet amid the clear pivot , Biden and his aides have signalled their awareness of a potential roadblock in a general election campaign : Sanders ’ supporters .
The Vermont senator has said in many forums , and again after Biden ’ s wins on Tuesday , that he ’ ll back the nominee and work to defeat Trump regardless of his own fortunes .
But four years ago , after another bitter primary fight against the Democratic establishment , many of Sanders ’ supporters did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden , in his post-primary remarks on Tuesday , praised Sanders and touted his own agenda as “ progressive ” and “ bold ” in a seeming plea to his party ’ s left flank .
On Thursday , with a broadened audience , he steered clear of those primary dynamics altogether .
The Republican president , meanwhile , after having spent a heady few weeks gearing up to face Sanders , appeared ready Thursday to accept a challenge from Biden .
“ One of the reasons I ran for president was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did , ” Trump said at the White House , referring to Biden ’ s time as Obama ’ s vice-president .
“ It ’ s maybe the way it should be.
” Barrow reported from Atlanta .
Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Will Weissert in Washington contributed to this report .

Bill Barrow And Randall Chase - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-12--Judge orders Chelsea Manning released from jail

FALLS CHURCH , Va. - A federal judge on Thursday ordered the release of former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning , who has been incarcerated since May for refusing to testify to a grand jury .
U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga ordered Manning ’ s release from jail after prosecutors reported that the grand jury that subpoenaed her has disbanded .
The judge left in place more than $ 256,000 in fines he imposed for her refusal to testify to the grand jury , which is investigating WikiLeaks .
The fines had been accumulating at a rate of $ 1,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case that had been scheduled for Friday has now been cancelled .
Manning had argued that she had shown through her prolonged stay at the Alexandria jail that she proved she could not be coerced into testifying and therefore should be released .
On Wednesday , her lawyers said she attempted suicide while at the jail .
Manning was held since May for refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating Wikileaks .
She spent an additional two months in jail earlier in 2019 for refusing to testify to a separate grand jury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more months of jail time if the grand jury had continued its work .
The civil contempt citation was designed to coerce her testimony .
Federal prosecutors had maintained that Manning can easily effect her own release by complying with the grand jury subpoena .
They said she had the same duty to provide testimony that all citizens face .
Under federal law , a recalcitrant witness can only be jailed for civil contempt if there is a reasonable belief that incarceration will coerce the witness into testifying .
If the jail time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ punitive , the recalcitrant witness is supposed to be released .
Manning has said she believes grand juries in general are an abuse of power and that she would rather starve to death than testify .
Judge Trenga , in sending Manning to jail , said there was no dishonour in testifying to grand juries , which are referenced specifically in the U.S. Constitution , and that he hoped time in jail would allow Manning to reflect on that .
Manning had previously spent seven years in a military prison for delivering a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Julian Assange , who is under indictment at the Alexandria courthouse and is fighting extradition to the U.S.. Manning ’ s 35-year sentence was then commuted by then-President Barack Obama .
It is possible that prosecutors could convene another grand jury and again subpoena Manning and she could again be jailed for refusing to testify .
But there is no clear indication from prosecutors that they would do so .


thetorontostar--2020-03-12--McLaren out; Hamilton has doubts ahead of opening F1 race

MELBOURNE , Australia - McLaren withdrew from the Australian Grand Prix on the eve of the first official practice sessions after a team member tested positive for the coronavirus , throwing the Formula One season-opener into doubt hours after six-time champion Lewis Hamilton questioned the wisdom of racing this weekend .
“ I am really very , very surprised we ’ re here ... it ’ s shocking we ’ re all sitting in this room , ” Hamilton said at the first official news conference Thursday ahead of Sunday ’ s Grand Prix .
“ It seems that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a little bit late ... yet Formula One continues.
” The BBC reported that the race had been postponed , citing two unidentified sources .
However , Australian Grand Prix Corporation Chairman Paul Little told Australia ’ s Channel 9 on Friday that the event would go ahead .
Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews said if the race goes ahead , it will proceed without fans .
“ On public health grounds , there will be no spectators at the Grand Prix this weekend - if a race actually happens at all , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmation from FIA , the governing body for motorsports , or F1 .
There were long queues of people waiting to get into Albert Park early Friday but the gates did not open as scheduled and the and a demonstration race featuring historic cars did not start .
Hamilton was speaking in the wake of the NBA suspending its season in the United States , and President Donald Trump announcing travel bans for people from Europe .
More than 300,000 fans regularly attend the Australian GP at the Albert Park circuit over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This year was expected to be no different , despite the cancellation of some other large-scale public gatherings .
Asked why he thought organizers were persisting with the race , Hamilton said “ cash is king.
” McLaren Racing issued a statement late Thursday saying the team member was tested after a period of self-imposed isolation , and was now going into quarantine .
In a statement from chief executive Zak Brown and team principal Andreas Seidl , McLaren said : “ The decision has been taken based on a duty of care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partners , but also to the team ’ s competitors , Formula 1 fans and wider F1 stakeholders.
” Members of the U.S.-backed Haas team had also been in isolation but they were cleared after tests , with Australian GP organizers saying state health authorities had confirmed only one positive case in eight F1-related tests conducted so far .
“ Seven individuals have returned a negative result confirming that they do not have the COVID-19 virus , ” organizers said in a statement , adding that they were in discussions with F1 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the broader implications of this test result.
” A key point of concern for organizers has been the presence of Italian team Ferrari and the newly rebranded AlphaTauri team , as well as tire supplier Pirelli .
Members of all three organizations had their temperatures taken upon arrival in Melbourne and F1 officials have said a race for championship points would not go ahead without them .
In a statement , FIA acknowledged the McLaren decision and said it was ” co-ordinating with all the relevant authorities on the next steps .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fans , the teams and all personnel at the race.
” All F1 drivers are taking precautions to try to avoid the spread of the virus .
They ’ re not shaking hands with fans , or taking selfies as they usually do in Australia .
They ’ re also paying extra attention to hygiene .
Hamilton was comfortable enough to sit in close proximity to fellow racers Sebastian Vettel , Daniel Ricciardo and Nicholas Latifi on a couch at a news conference , five meters ( 15 feet ) in front of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns .
Ricciardo , who is Australian and drives for Renault , said he had to trust FIA to stage the race in safe circumstances .
Vettel , a three-time champion in Melbourne who drives for Ferrari , agreed — at least now that the F1 show is already in town .
Two practice sessions are scheduled for Friday , with qualifying on Saturday .
There have been more than 126,300 cases and 4,600 deaths globally since the virus outbreak started in China late last year .
Most people quickly recover from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms , such as fever and cough .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia .
According to the World Health Organization , people with mild illness recover in about two weeks .
Italy is in lockdown as the country attempts to limit the spread of the virus .
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced travel restrictions on Wednesday that would have precluded members of teams based in Italy from taking part in the Australian GP , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Chinese Grand Prix has already been postponed , and the Bahrain GP is expected to go ahead at a circuit without fans .
Hamilton said he usually loves starting the season in Australia , where he he has won twice and placed second to Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas last year , but added that he couldn ’ t “ shy away ” from his opinion about the safety risks for fans .
He was worried particularly for older people attending the race — and said seeing a famous former world champion crystallized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stewart this morning looking fit and healthy in the lift , and as I walked into the paddock some elderly people , so I think it ’ s concern for the people here , “ Hamilton said .
” It ’ s quite a big circus that ’ s come here , it ’ s definitely concerning for me .
“ But the fact is , we are here .
I just urge everyone to be as careful as you can be , “ he said .
” I just hope all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we get through this weekend and we don ’ t see any fatalities.
“


thetorontostar--2020-03-12--Hawaii travel industry upheaval forecast as virus spreads

HONOLULU - A University of Hawaii economist on Thursday predicted only about half of Hawaii ’ s hotel rooms will be filled with travellers over the next few months “ if we ’ re lucky ” as the new coronavirus depresses tourism .
Carl Bonham told members of an advisory committee to the House of Representatives that he expects tourism industry workers will soon start losing jobs and having their hours cut .
Normally , Hawaii hotels experience an average of about 80 % occupancy .
But Bonham said this figure will likely drop by 30 to 40 percentage points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the committee that airlines will likely continue reducing their flights in the weeks ahead as people avoid travel because of the virus .
Bonham predicted COVID-19 will pitch Hawaii and the United States into recession .
“ The short-term economic effects will overwhelm the state ’ ’ s ability to counteract them .
We don ’ t have that capability , ” Bonham said .
But the state could soften the blow through steps such as extending and increasing unemployment benefits , he said .
He also stressed the importance of investing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ One of the worst possible scenarios is that we have widespread outbreak in Hawaii , ” Bonham said .
The visitor industry accounts for 17 per cent of Hawaii ’ s economy and 19 per cent of the state ’ s jobs .
House Speaker Scott Saiki formed the committee to help avoid the kind of problems Hawaii experienced when plummeting tax revenue forced lawmakers to slash spending during the recession a decade ago .
At the time , budget cuts led to a four-day week at public schools and sharp reductions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homelessness .
“ We are still feeling the effects of those cuts , ” Saiki said at the beginning of the meeting .


thetorontostar--2020-03-12--The mighty bull (market) falls victim to a tiny virus

NEW YORK - In the end , the mighty bull was slayed by a tiny virus .
The longest bull market in U.S. history can now be said to have lasted almost 11 years and rewarded investors with a return of 529 % based on the performance of the S & P 500 , including dividends .
The bull officially ran from March 9 , 2009 , until Feb. 19 , 2020 , when it began the 26.7 % dive that as of Thursday has taken it into bear market territory .
The record run for stocks appeared fairly smooth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bull survived a downgrade to the U.S. credit rating and the European debt crisis in 2011 , two slowdowns in China ( 2015 , 2016 ) and a market freakout over higher interest rates in late 2018 , after investors had been spoiled by ultra-low rates for a decade .
But the coronavirus scare flooded the market with too much uncertainty .
Investors hate uncertainty more than anything , as the Wall Street saying goes , and the first reaction for many to it is to sell .
And this new virus has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected around 128,000 people worldwide and killed over 4,700 .
The death toll in the U.S. climbed to 39 , with over 1,300 infections .
For most people , the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illnesses , including pneumonia .
The vast majority of people recover from the virus in a matter of weeks.. Corporate profits are the lifeblood of the stock market , and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On one side , the virus has snarled supply chains around the world , with factories shut due to workers out on quarantine .
That gives companies less things to sell .
On the other side , the virus is causing the cancellation of events from professional basketball games to concerts .
Two presidential candidates will hold a debate this weekend without a live audience .
And worried consumers are staying away from stores , public gathering spaces and flights , wiping away demand .
On Thursday , the S & P 500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to 2,480 .
It was the index ’ s biggest percentage drop since Black Monday in 1987 .
Still , the market is nowhere near the depths it was at in March 2009 when the market finally hit a bottom of 17 months of selling that knocked 55 % off the value of the S & P 500 .
The amazing rally for stocks that ensued altered the make-up of the market , elevating technology stocks to a dominating position and lessening the weight of industrial and energy companies .
Back in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ familiar names with long histories in traditional industries like oil ( Exxon Mobil ) and makers of detergent and other household products ( Procter & Gamble ) .
There is , however , one company that ’ s among the most valuable today that was also among the Big Five back then : Microsoft .
These days , technology companies dominate the top five , as they do the market overall .
After Microsoft , there ’ s Apple , Amazon , Google ’ s parent company Alphabet , and Facebook .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apple ’ s iPhone was just two years old and Google had just released its Android operating system for smartphones .


thetorontostar--2020-03-12--Madoff seeks to make ‘dying, personal plea’ for release

NEW YORK - Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff wants to make a “ dying , personal plea ” by telephone to a judge to request early release from his 150-year prison sentence , his lawyer said Thursday .
Attorney Brandon Sample told Judge Denny Chin that Madoff , 81 , and confined to a wheelchair , should be allowed to contest claims by prosecutors that he has failed to show remorse for his decades-long scheme to cheat thousands of investors out of billions of dollars .
Prosecutors filed papers last month in Manhattan federal court opposing the request by Madoff for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victims opposed early release for a man suffering from kidney disease .
Only 20 letters were written by victims in support of release , prosecutors said .
The federal Bureau of Prisons has agreed that Madoff has less than 18 months to live but has denied early release on the grounds that it would minimize the severity of his crime .
Chin , who still presides over the Madoff case even though he is now a federal appeals court judge , sentenced Madoff in 2009 after the once highly respected financier admitted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by investors worldwide .
A trustee has recovered nearly $ 14 billion for investors .
Sample said the judge would benefit from “ hearing directly from Mr. Madoff about his acceptance of responsibility.
” “ Allowing Mr. Madoff to give what is , in effect , a final dying , personal plea is imminently reasonable , ” Sample wrote .
“ Mr .
Madoff ’ s live , personal statement could also help the Court in reaching its weighty decision on whether to grant Mr. Madoff compassionate release.
” Madoff has been serving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Butner , North Carolina .
Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Skinner said in a one-paragraph letter to Chin Thursday that he took no position on Madoff ’ s request to address the judge .
But he said any acceptance of responsibility by Madoff would be “ self-serving and of limited , if any , evidentiary value .
”


thetorontostar--2020-03-12--US surveillance powers set to temporarily expire

WASHINGTON - Three surveillance powers available to the U.S. government are set to temporarily expire Sunday after a trio of senators opposed a bipartisan House bill that would renew the authorities and impose new restrictions .
The Senate will consider the House bill next week but it is unclear if President Donald Trump , a skeptic of the nation ’ s intelligence community , would sign it .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had hoped to pass the legislation Thursday , but he was forced to delay consideration past the expiration date after Sens .
Rand Paul , R-Ky. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , D-Oregon , said they would object .
The three senators , longtime critics of government surveillance , said the House bill would still give the government too much power to surveil Americans .
The House legislation , negotiated by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican leader Kevin McCarthy , would renew several provisions the FBI sees as vital to fighting terrorism but also aim to ensure stricter oversight of how the bureau conducts surveillance .
Lee proposed a deal on the Senate floor Thursday — extension of the current authorities if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House bill that would further limit them .
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr , speaking on the floor for McConnell , objected to that deal , saying the Senate should instead pass the House bill .
Lee spoke at length about the legislation , and his speech was ongoing Thursday afternoon .
It was unclear how long he would talk .
“ We ’ re not a rubberstamp for the House of Representatives , “ Lee said .
” We ’ re certainly not a rubber stamp for the Deep State.
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI to obtain court orders to collect business records on subjects in national security investigations .
Another , known as the “ roving wiretap ” provision , permits surveillance on subjects even after they ’ ve changed phones .
The third allows agents to monitor subjects who don ’ t have ties to international terrorism organizations .
The House legislation , passed Wednesday , is a compromise that reflects angst in both parties about the way the surveillance powers have been used , but also a reluctance to strip those powers from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats in the House broadly agreed that they did not want civil liberties sacrificed in efforts to thwart terrorism and other crimes .
In addition , Republicans had been aggressively seeking changes to the law since the Justice Department ’ s investigation into Trump ’ s campaign and Russia , while many Democrats already had concerns about government surveillance .
At the behest of those Republicans , the House compromise takes aim at some of the missteps the Justice Department has acknowledged making during the Russia investigation .
Applications under the Foreign Intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump campaign aide were riddled with omissions and missteps , according to an inspector general report .
The measure would require that officers responsible for FISA applications certify that the department has been advised of any information that could undercut or contradict the premise of the surveillance .
In the Russia investigation , some of the information the FBI omitted from its applications cut against the idea that former Trump adviser Carter Page was a Russian agent , the watchdog found .
Page has denied that and was never charged with wrongdoing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other sanctions for making false statements to the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court , which issues warrants to the FBI to eavesdrop on people it has probable cause to believe are agents of a foreign power .
It would require the attorney general to approve in writing of an investigation if the target of the surveillance is a federal candidate or official .
The legislation updates the three expiring surveillance provisions , including one that permits the FBI to obtain court orders to collect business records on subjects in national security investigations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roving wiretap ” provision , permits surveillance on subjects even after they ’ ve changed phones .
The third allows agents to monitor subjects who don ’ t have ties to international terrorism organizations .
Attorney General William Barr was involved in the negotiations with the White House and Congress , and he said Wednesday that he supports the bill .
“ It is of the utmost important that the Department ’ s attorneys and investigators always work in a manner consistent with the highest professional standards , and this overall package will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process and protect against future abuses going forward , “ Barr said .
But Barr ’ s support does not guarantee that Trump is on board .
The president kept Congress guessing with a Thursday tweet that did not indicate how he would act .
“ Many Republican Senators want me to Veto the FISA Bill until we find out what led to , and happened with , the illegal attempted “ coup ” of the duly elected President of the United States , and others !
, ” Trump tweeted , referring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Mary Clare Jalonick And Eric Tucker - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-12--Sister of executed man to governor: ‘You killed my brother’

MONTGOMERY , Ala. - The sister of an executed inmate , whose case drew national scrutiny because he was not the gunman , confronted Alabama ’ s governor on Thursday for not stopping the lethal injection .
The sister of Nathaniel Woods approached Alabama Gov .
Kay Ivey as she spoke with reporters about the U.S. Census , WSFA reported .
Woods was put to death March 5 by lethal injection after the U.S. Supreme Court and the governor both declined to intervene .
“ You killed my brother .
Governor Ivey , you killed my brother , “ Pamela @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a news conference at the Alabama Capitol .
The governor was then quickly escorted away by her security officer .
Woods was convicted of capital murder in the 2004 slayings of three Birmingham police officers .
Authorities acknowledged he was not the triggerman in the slayings , but prosecutors maintained he was a culpable accomplice .
Alabama ’ s first execution of the year came after a last-minute bid to stop it .
That included support from the son of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. , and others who argued it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t pull the trigger in the slaying and whose trial was riddled with problems .
The U.S. Supreme Court turned down an 11th-hour request to stay the execution .
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall had also publicly urged to let the execution proceed .
Kerry Spencer , who confessed to pulling the trigger , also drew a death sentence and remains on Alabama ’ s death row .
Woods told reporters Thursday that her brother had received bad legal counsel .
Testimony showed the officers approached a small house where Woods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drugs ; at least two other people were also inside .
State lawyers wrote in court filings that Woods said he was surrendering to officers and soon after Spencer opened fire with a high-powered rifle .
At Woods ’ 2005 trial , a prosecutor told jurors that Woods was the “ bait ” and lured officers into the apartment .
Ivey denied clemency in the case ahead of the execution .
Ivey ’ s general counsel sent Woods ’ attorneys a letter before the execution saying the governor ’ s review of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a statement after the execution , Ivey said , “ there is no evidence , and no argument has been made , that Nathaniel Woods tried to stop the gunman from committing these heinous crimes.
“ “ In fact , he later bragged about his participation in these horrific murders .
As such , the jury did not view Woods ’ acts as those of an innocent bystander ; they believed that he was a fully engaged participant , “ the statement said .
Supporters had waged a last-minute appeal to block @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attention .
“ ’ He is actually innocent , ” Pamela Woods told reporters outside the prison before her brother ’ s execution .
“ Kerry Spencer the actual shooter has stated many times that he did it on his own with no help from anyone.
“ Spencer told The Appeal in an article about the case that Woods was “ 100 % innocent.
” No execution date has been set for Spencer .


thetorontostar--2020-03-12--As central banks intervene to calm markets, few see solution

WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank moved Thursday to try to calm financial markets and restore some degree of confidence .
It didn ’ t quite work .
The central banks are facing a crisis only partly responsive to the medicine they can provide .
The Fed sought to ensure that the U.S. Treasury bond market — the world ’ s largest — can operate smoothly as demand for bonds spikes with investors desperately seek safe assets amid the carnage in stocks .
The ECB sought to stimulate the European economy , which the coronavirus outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recession .
Decidedly unimpressed , traders sent the stock market into its worst plunge Thursday in more than three decades .
The primary tools of central banks — lower interest rates and easier access to credit — aren ’ t well-suited to address a crisis caused by a pandemic that has frightened consumers away from travelling , shopping or gathering in group settings .
Economists are increasingly calling for governments to take the lead , through targeted loans to businesses , greater help for cash-strapped workers — particularly Americans without access to sick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other health measures .
On Thursday , the Fed unveiled a massive short-term lending program to try to help smooth trading in U.S. Treasurys .
Through the Federal Reserve Bank of New York , it will provide at least $ 1.5 trillion on Thursday and Friday for banks that are willing to swap short-term Treasury securities for cash .
An additional $ 500 billion will be made available Monday .
The program will continue at about $ 1 trillion per week after that .
The lending won ’ t all be cumulative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after one and three months .
And not all the money will necessarily be lent .
It depends how much banks decide to borrow against the available funds .
The Fed also said it will broaden its $ 60 billion Treasury purchase program , launched last fall , from just short-term bills to all maturities , including 30-year bonds .
Both moves were a response to signs that the bond market was buckling under the strain of skyrocketing demand for Treasuries , which are widely considered the safest assets in the world .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ outpacing supply .
That pressure boosted the yield on the 10-year Treasury to 0.79 % by Thursday afternoon , up from 0.68 % two days earlier .
Normally when stock markets plunge , bond yields also fall as investors buy more of them .
Yields move in the opposite direction of prices .
The market for the 10-year bond affects the broader economy because it influences borrowing rates for homes , credit cards , and other interest rates in the U.S. and overseas .
Because investors are confident the U.S. government would never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issued by the government are used to price every other asset .
The U.S. government debt market is the largest single pool of investment assets in the world .
“ When that has some disruptions , watch out , that ’ s really worrisome , “ said Kathy Bostjancic , chief U.S. financial economist at Oxford Economics .
Given the scope of the Fed ’ s action Thursday , many economists now expect the Fed to slash its benchmark interest rate by a full percentage point , to nearly zero , at its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even launch a large bond-buying program intended to further lower interest rates .
This would be similar to programs the Fed undertook during and after the financial crisis that were dubbed “ quantitative easing.
” Still , the reaction in the markets suggested little faith that the Fed ’ s moves would do much to restore the confidence of investors and consumers in the face of travel disruptions , event cancellations and business closures .
Some analysts said that governments in the U.S. and Europe needed to do more through tax and spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today is not enough — it needs a partner , ” said Diane Swonk , chief economist at Grant Thornton .
“ The Fed can not do this alone.
” Earlier in the day , the ECB deployed targeted new stimulus measures to cushion the shock to the economy from the virus outbreak .
But Christine Lagarde , the ECB ’ s president , said that monetary policy couldn ’ t do it alone and called for a “ decisive and determined ” response from governments .
Lagarde said the economy was facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the central bank measures unveiled Thursday were “ almost surgically ” aimed only at areas where monetary policy might help .
More than a decade ago , central banks around the world slashed rates and began pumping trillions of dollars into banks to combat a global financial crisis .
The coronavirus is presenting them with a very different challenge .
The central banks in the U.S. , the eurozone , Canada and Britain have all deployed stimulus .
The Bank of Japan is signalling it is ready to act and monetary authorities in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates .
Authorities are putting major economies , businesses and travel on lock down around the world , dimming prospects for the global economy .
Consumers are starting to cut back on their spending in the U.S. and around the world .
Europe ’ s top monetary authority didn ’ t cut rates as investors had hoped — evidence that monetary policy is running low on ammunition with rates already very low .
The ECB ’ s key policy rate on bank deposits is already at a record-low minus 0.6 % .
AP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Germany , and Ken Sweet in New York contributed to this report .

Christopher Rugaber - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-12--Thunderstorms bring widespread flooding to Egypt, killing 5

CAIRO - Thunderstorms packing heavy rains and lightning caused widespread flooding across Egypt on Thursday , killing at least five people and injuring five others , officials said as authorities shuttered schools , government offices and an airport .
A child died and five people were injured when floods demolished their houses in a rural area in the southern province of Qena , where lightning ignited several fires .
Also in Qena , a motorist was killed when winds blew his car into a canal .
Photos and video footage circulated on social media showed flooded roads , damaged bus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In western New Valley province , a technician was electrocuted while trying to fix a lighting column that went off due to the rain , local officials said .
In southern Sohag province , a 35-year-old bystander died under the rubble of a wall that was knocked down by wind .
A 60-year-old man was electrocuted as he walked down the street in his village in the Delta province of Menoufeya .
Authorities shut down Luxor International Airport , a key hub for tourists , and three seaports — the Mediterranean port @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada .
Nile River cruises between the southern cities of Luxor and Aswan , which harbour most of ancient Egypt ’ s monuments , were suspended and several key highways were closed .
The country ’ s railway authorities suspended train service nationwide , citing the bad weather .
The announcement came shortly after two Cairo-bound trains collided near their final destination , injuring 13 people , according to health officials .
Railroad officials later said in a statement the collision was due to a signal system error caused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the week announced that schools would be closed and suspended work in businesses and government offices after forecasters warned of heavy rains and flooding across much of the country through Saturday .
The prime minister ’ s office on Wednesday advised Egyptians to stay home , prompting hundreds of people to line up outside grocery stores to stock up on supplies for the weekend .
Chaos always accompanies bad weather in Egypt , raising questions about the country ’ s poor infrastructure and dilapidated sewage and drainage systems .
Late Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had suspended water service to the entire megacity because heavy rain had overwhelmed the vast sewage system .
Water would return when the weather improved , it said , without offering an exact time .
In October , rain that slammed Cairo and other parts of the country flooded key roads and left at least eight people dead , including four children .


thetorontostar--2020-03-12--Broadway shuts its doors over ongoing coronavirus concerns

New York ’ s governor ordered all Broadway theatres to shut their doors in the face of ongoing coronavirus concerns , plunging into darkness one of the city ’ s most popular tourist attractions and causing turmoil in the run-up to the Tony Awards .
Gov .
Andrew Cuomo on Thursday banned gatherings of 500 or more in the city , effectively forcing the hand of Broadway producers who had previously said that Broadway would be “ open for business ” unless advised not to by the government .
Shows will resume the week of April 13 , only 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Tony Awards .
Cuomo said venues of under 500 can only be filled to half their capacity .
On Broadway , would-be theatre attendees were turned away , some shaking their heads in disbelief .
“ I had been hoping to catch one but it ’ s all cancelled , ” said Quinn Heath , 24 , who was visiting from Boston .
Closing all Broadway theatres for a month is unprecedented , said Laurence Maslon , an arts professor at New York University ’ s Tisch School of the Arts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amount of time ever.
” The move comes a day after Broadway ’ s two largest theatre chains revealed that a part-time usher and security guard who worked at two theatres in recent days tested positive for COVID-19 and was under quarantine .
Actors ’ Equity Association , which represents more than 51,000 actors and stage managers nationwide , called the governor ’ s decision “ important ” and urged lawmakers to come to the aid of workers in the arts .
“ Today ’ s decision means tremendous uncertainty for thousands who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prospect of lost income , health insurance and retirement savings , ” the group said in a statement .
“ For every middle-class actor you see onstage , there are dozens of other workers behind the scenes and in an administrative capacity.
” The pressure on Broadway to go dark steadily increased as other entertainment hubs shuttered , including Carnegie Hall , the Metropolitan Opera , the NBA , NHL , CinemaCon , Coachella and Major League Soccer .
Actors took to Twitter to share their sadness .
“ My heart is with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote Tony Award-nominee Judy Kuhn .
“ This is really bad for everyone who depends on the theatre for their livelihoods.
“ Kerry Butler , a Tony-nominated star of “ Beetlejuice , ” said the shuttering ” is the right move to keep everyone safe.
” For most people , the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia .
The vast majority of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to the World Health Organization , people with mild illness recover in about two weeks , while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover .
Other theatres far from Broadway have closed their doors , including the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in California , which cancelled or postponed all productions and programs through March 31 .
The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle closed its doors , citing the state ’ s mandated cancellation of public gatherings .
The 1,600 seat Curran Theater in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
” Broadway producers were cautious until now , with a wait-and-see approach for an industry that grossed $ 1.8 billion last season .
The Broadway League , a trade organization representing producers and theatre owners , recommended that actors refrain from greeting fans at the stage door .
The league said it had increased the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting all public and backstage areas .
It also added alcohol-based sanitizer dispensers for public use in the lobby of every theatre .
Producers have been historically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an average paid admission last week of over $ 100 .
The last time they did so was in 2016 , when a ban on travel in New York and the suspension of public transportation due to snow forced theatre owners to cancel one day ’ s shows .
Superstorm Sandy in 2012 darkened Broadway for four days and cost more than $ 8.5 million in lost revenue .
Broadway theatres stayed open during the 1918 influenza epidemic .
Jon Bremner , a technician on Broadway who had planned to surprise a friend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beetlejuice , ” said the most aggravating part about the shuttering of Broadway was the lack of notice .
“ This is unquestionably going to be a huge hit to the industry , ” he said .
“ If we lose a night of tickets , those aren ’ t coming back from a producer ’ s standpoint.
” Broadway is particularly vulnerable to the new coronavirus because its audience skews older , thousands of people are packed into small seats for every show and the industry is dependent on tourism .
Of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season , 65 % were made by tourists — 46 % from Americans outside New York and 19 % from other countries .
The shuttering of all 41 Broadway theatres will cause chaos to the spring theatrical calendar , which culminates in the Tony Awards on May 19 .
Several shows — including “ Company , ” “ Caroline , Or Change , ” “ Diana ” and “ Mrs .
Doubtfire ” — had scheduled to open during the time when theatres are closed .
Maslon noted that many of the spring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open and he saw no reason why the Broadway League wouldn ’ t adjust its eligibility date .
“ I think they have to extend the season , ” he said .
Established shows will likely weather the storm better than one ’ s waiting to open .
“ If it ’ s ‘ Lion King , ’ they ’ ll just pick up where they left off .
But for shows like ‘ Diana ’ or ‘ Hangman ’ or ‘ Company , ’ which are still in previews and still trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going to be very complicated.
“ Last week , attendance was actually higher than the previous week , but many believed that Broadway would not be able to avoid the effects of the outbreak forever , especially if school groups and tourists decided to skip New York in big numbers .
Associated Press reporter Jim Mustian contributed to this report .
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