thetorontostar--2020-01-29--Israeli Cabinet postpones vote on West Bank annexation

JERUSALEM - A senior Israeli minister said on Wednesday that a Cabinet vote to endorse annexation of parts of the West Bank will not take place early next week , despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’ s pledge a day earlier to act quickly after the U.S. released a plan to end the conflict that was rejected by the Palestinians .
Netanyahu said he would ask the Cabinet to advance the extension of Israeli sovereignty over most Jewish settlements and the strategic Jordan Valley , a move that would likely spark international outrage and complicate the White House ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Tourism Minister Yariv Levin told Israel Radio that a Cabinet vote on annexing territories on Sunday was not technically feasible because of various preparations , including “ bringing the proposal before the attorney general and letting him consider the matter.
” The Palestinians angrily rejected the Trump plan , which largely adopts the Israeli position on all the thorniest issues of the decades-old conflict , from borders and the status of Jerusalem to security measures and the fate of Palestinian refugees .
Levin , a senior member of Netanyahu ’ s Likud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Trump plan is “ roughly the same Palestinian Authority that exists today , with authority to manage civil affairs , ” but lacking “ substantive powers ” like border control or a military .
The Trump administration had hoped to rally Arab countries around the plan , but so far reactions have been mixed .
Saudi Arabia and Egypt , key U.S. allies , welcomed the effort and encouraged negotiations without commenting on the plan itself .
Jordan , which has a peace treaty with Israel , has warned against any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ reaffirming its commitment to an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza with east Jerusalem as its capital .
The head of the Arab League said Wednesday that an initial study of the 50-page plan showed that it “ ignored legitimate Palestinian rights in the territories.
” Ahmed Aboul-Gheit said the Palestinian response would be key in shaping a “ collective Arab position ” on the plan .
“ Achieving a just and sustainable peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians depends on the will of both sides , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced by the U.S. president reflected a non-binding U.S. vision.
” The Palestinians seek the West Bank and annexed east Jerusalem , which Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war , as part of a future independent state .
Most of the international community considers Israel ’ s West Bank settlements illegal under international law .
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Jerusalem is “ sacred ” for Muslims and that any plan that would give “ Jerusalem to Israel will never be acceptable.
” Erdogan told reporters the measures announced by Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s occupation ” of Palestinian territories .
“ The plan that was announced will not serve peace or a solution , ” the state-run Anadolu Agency quoted Erdogan as saying .
Hard-line Israeli nationalists have meanwhile called for the immediate annexation of West Bank settlements ahead of the country ’ s third parliamentary elections in under a year , scheduled for March 2 .
They have eagerly embraced the part of President Donald Trump ’ s peace plan that would allow Israel to annex territory but have rejected its call for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West Bank .
Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett tweeted Wednesday that “ that which is postponed to after the elections will never happen.
” “ If we postpone or reduce the extension of sovereignty ( in the West Bank ) , then the opportunity of the century will turn into the loss of the century , ” said Bennett , a hawkish Netanyahu ally with the New Right party .
Nahum Barnea , a veteran Israeli columnist , stridently criticized the Trump plan in Wednesday ’ s Hebrew daily Yedioth Ahronoth , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more meagre than Andorra , more fractured than the Virgin Islands.
“ He cautioned that annexation would lead to “ a reality of two legal systems for two populations in the same territory — one ruling , the second occupied .
In other words , an Apartheid state.
” Associated Press writers Samy Magdy in Cairo and Suzan Fraser in Ankara , Turkey contributed .


thetorontostar--2020-01-29--Airlines suspend China flights, cut service on virus fears

BANGKOK - British Airways and Asian budget carriers Lion Air and Seoul Air are suspending flights to China as fears spread about the outbreak of a new virus that has killed more than 130 people .
Several other airlines including Finnair , Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific and Singapore-based Jetstar Asia are reducing the number of flights to the country as demand for travel drops because of the outbreak .
British Airways said Wednesday it is immediately suspending all flights to and from mainland China after the U.K. government warned against unnecessary travel to the country amid a virus outbreak .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Heathrow Airport to Shanghai and Beijing .
It took the measure a day after Britain ’ s Foreign Office updated its travel advice on China , warning against “ all but essential travel ” to the mainland , not including Hong Kong and Macao .
Air Seoul , a budget airline , became the first South Korean airline to suspend its fights to mainland Chinese destinations that wasn ’ t Wuhan , stopping its flights to the cities of Zhangjiajie and Linyi .
Lion Air said it has cancelled more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The flights are from five international airports in Denpasar , Manado , Surabaya , Jakarta and Batam to 15 airports in China .
Lion Group spokesman Danang Mandala Prihantor said the suspension would be phased in gradually and would continue until further notice .
China has cut off access to Wuhan and 16 other cities to prevent people from leaving and spreading the virus further .
The outbreak has infected more than 6,000 on the mainland and abroad .
Hong Kong airlines are cutting the number of their flights to the mainland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March in response to government virus-control efforts .
Cathay Pacific Group said flights to 24 mainland destinations would be reduced to 240 weekly .
The company owns Cathay Pacific Airways , Hong Kong Airlines , Cathay Dragon and Hong Kong Express .
Helsinki , Finland-based Finnair , which has actively promoted its position linking Asian and Western destinations , said it was cancelling three weekly flights to Beijing Daxing International Airport through late March , as well as its twice-weekly flights to Nanjing .
It will continue operating flights to four other mainland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Jetstar Asia said it will temporarily suspend flights to the Chinese cities of Hefei , Guiyang and Xuzhou starting Thursday through the end of March due to a drop in demand .
South Korea ’ s second-largest carrier , Asiana Airlines , said it will temporarily suspend flights to the Chinese cities of Guilin , Changsha and Haikou starting next month .
Korean Air , South Korea ’ s biggest airline , said it is also considering grounding some of its flights to mainland China as passenger demand drops .
Korean Air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Chinese city of Wuhan , the epicenter of the outbreak , before suspending them on Jan. 23 .
Taiwan ’ s Eva Air announced a partial cancellation of flights to and from mainland China for two weeks starting Feb. 2 .
In addition , the airline also has stopped providing towels , magazines , table clothes , and is limiting blanket and pillow in flight .

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thetorontostar--2020-01-29--Japanese evacuation flight brings back workers from Wuhan

TOKYO - The first group of Japanese evacuees from a virus-hit Chinese city arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday , a dozen of them with cough and fever including two who were later diagnosed with pneumonia .
Five of the 206 evacuees were taken to designated Tokyo hospitals specializing in treating infectious diseases , Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a parliamentary session , adding that they were still checking if any passengers were ill with the virus .
Two who had pneumonia were not yet linked to the new coronavirus , Tokyo city officials said .
All five patients , being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stable , hospital officials said .
Later Wednesday , seven other evacuees who cleared an earlier screening on board were also found to have cough and fever in a secondary screening and were hospitalized , the Ministry of Health , Labor and Welfare said in a statement .
Japan ’ s government sent a chartered flight to pick up the evacuees , most of whom resided close to the Wuhan seafood market linked to the first cases of the new virus that has infected thousands .
“ We were feeling increasingly uneasy as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were still in the city , ” Takeo Aoyama , an employee at Nippon Steel Corp. ’ s subsidiary in Wuhan , told reporters at Tokyo ’ s Haneda airport while he waited for a bus to take him to a hospital for another health check .
“ My uneasiness peaked when the number of patients started to spike , ” he said , wearing a mask that muffled his voice .
“ I fell asleep as soon as I sat down on my seat ( on the plane ) , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also seemed relieved but tired .
Japan has seven cases including what could be the first human-to-human infection in the country , a man in his 60s who worked as a tour bus driver and served two groups of Chinese tourists from Wuhan from Jan. 8-16 .
The man , a resident of Nara in western Japan , developed cough , joint ache and chills on Jan. 14 , the Health Ministry said .
Three days after developing initial symptoms , he visited a hospital but was tested negative for the new coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday with signs of pneumonia .
Officials said about 650 Japanese citizens and their families in Wuhan and elsewhere in Hebei province had sought to return home .
Aoyama said there are more than 400 others still in Wuhan , including those working for a Japanese supermarket chain that has stayed open to serve customers who need food and other necessities and supplies .
He said it was important to step up preventive measures in Japan , but “ I hope we can also provide support for the Chinese people , while we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there.
” Another evacuee , Takayuki Kato , said that all those wishing to leave Wuhan had submitted their health inquiry form and had their temperature taken before departure .
While on board , a doctor came to each passenger to take temperature again and check their condition , he said .
Kato said he did not panic as he was able to monitor news online and via local media , but “ I was shocked when all transportation systems were suspended .
That ’ s when the situation drastically changed.
” Aoyama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the evacuees who were not showing immediate signs of infection , were expected to be taken to the National Center for Global Health and Medicine for further checks and a virus test .
Health officials said that evacuees will be sent home on chartered buses to keep them from using public transportation and stay home for about two weeks until their virus test results are out , though it ’ s not legally binding .
Others who need to travel long distance home are asked to stay at designated hotels .
Abe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an infectious disease Tuesday , allowing hospitalization and treatment of the patients compulsory , but the measure is taking effect Feb. 7 because of the required 10-day notification period , causing concerns that it may be too late .
Former Defence Minister Gen Nakatani told a ruling party meeting that “ if you abide by law and people die , it ’ s useless , “ Kyodo News quoted him as saying .
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told the parliamentary session Wednesday that the government would have to send two more flights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wishing to return home .
Japan ’ s government said it will send another chartered flight to evacuate the others later Wednesday .
Associated Press journalist Haruka Nuga contributed to this report .

Kaori Hitomi And Mari Yamaguchi - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-29--Villages on Beijing’s outskirts isolate selves amid outbreak

BEIJING - With barricades and wary guardians , villages on the outskirts of Beijing are closing themselves off to outsiders to ward against infection from a new type of virus .
Roads are being blocked by piles of earth or anything else capable of stopping traffic , red banners are tied overhead and serious-looking villagers wearing masks and red armbands stand guard to prevent outsiders and their vehicles from entering .
Those wishing to visit have to prove their presence is necessary and testify that they have not travelled to Wuhan , the epicenter of the virus , or other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in one ( infected ) person , the whole village would be ruined , ” said Chen Shuyi , a member of the village committee in Zhuangke in Hebei province , which borders Beijing .
At the entrance to another village , Donggouhe , an electric screen displays a message from the local governing committee : “ No gathering , no visiting , prevent infection.
“ “ We ’ ve made it very clear that people and cars from outside can not get into the village , ” said committee head Wang Huijin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people and also this can help the country.
” Li Shulin , committee head of Datun village , said every similar-sized community in the region is employing the same tactics , and that this year ’ s Lunar New Year , which began last week , has a very different feel from previous years .
“ People stopped paying new year visits .
Most of them stayed at home , ” he said .
The new type of coronavirus has killed 132 people and infected more than 6,000 on the mainland and abroad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 hours and add 26 to the number of deaths , 25 of which were in the central province of Hubei and its capital , Wuhan .
The 5,974 cases on the mainland marked a rise of 1,459 from the previous day , although that rise is a smaller increase than the 1,771 new cases reported on Monday .
Dozens of infections have been confirmed abroad as well .
The village closures echo tactics employed during the outbreak of SARS , or severe acute respiratory syndrome , in 2002-2003 .
SARS , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 800 people , hit Beijing especially hard .
They ’ re also an extension of the strict travel bans and quarantines that the government is relying on to contain the virus .


thetorontostar--2020-01-29--Dutch court throws out case against Israeli military chiefs

THE HAGUE , Netherlands - A Dutch court threw out a civil case Wednesday brought by a Dutch-Palestinian man seeking damages from two former Israeli military commanders for their roles in a 2014 airstrike on a Gaza house that killed six members of his family .
The Hague District Court ruled that the case filed by Ismail Zeyada can ’ t proceed because the commanders , including high profile former military chief Benny Gantz , have immunity .
Zeyada was attempting to sue Gantz , who is now a prominent Israeli politician , and former Israeli air force commander Amir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in court for the decision .
Zeyada , who lives in the Netherlands , brought the case in The Hague because he argued he can ’ t successfully hold Israeli military leaders accountable in Israeli courts .
But presiding judge Larisa Alwin said the court can ’ t hear the case because the commanders “ enjoy functional immunity from jurisdiction ” as their actions were part of a state-sanctioned military operation .
Zeyada said he and his lawyers would study the ruling with a view to appealing .
“ I owe it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to suffer the same fate , to continue this struggle to achieve what is denied to them : Access to independent justice and accountability for the unspeakable crimes committed against them , ” he told reporters outside the courtroom .
The court agreed with the arguments of Dutch lawyers representing the men who said last year they should reject the case for lack of jurisdiction because the commanders have immunity because their actions in the 2014 Gaza conflict were part of an Israeli military operation and that Zeyada was free to sue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , Zeyada rejected the idea that he has access to justice in Israel as “ farcical as well as vicious.
” Israel ’ s Justice Ministry had asked the court to dismiss the allegations , saying that an internal Israeli military investigation determined the airstrike had killed four militants hiding in the house .
It said the attack was permissible under international law , and argued the Dutch court doesn ’ t have jurisdiction .
Gaza ’ s Hamas rulers themselves have said that two militants were in the building .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his loss to the judges .
“ My mother , Muftia Zeyada , who was 70 years old at the time of her death .
My eldest brother Jamil and his precious wife Bayan .
Their 12-year-old son Shaban .
My two other brothers , Youssef and Omar , ” he told judges .
Zeyada said Wednesday he felt “ deep sorrow and disappointment , because effectively this decision denies me access to justice .
I have no access to justice .
I ’ m a Dutch citizen who I ’ ve been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here a Dutch court tells me no access to justice .
”


thetorontostar--2020-01-29--Alabama gov breaks shoulder after being tripped by her dog

MONTGOMERY , Ala. - Alabama Gov .
Kay Ivey fractured her shoulder after being tripped by the state ’ s “ first dog , “ her office said Wednesday .
Ivey spokeswoman Gina Maiola said the governor is in an arm sling after being tripped by her mixed-breed dog named Missy .
The rescue pooch unintentionally tripped the governor at home Tuesday night , Ivey ’ s office said .
The 75-year-old Republican governor issued a statement about the injury , saying , “ You ’ ll see me in a sling but this won ’ t slow me down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep you posted on the recovery , but most importantly , Missy is also doing just fine.
” Ivey said .
Ivey is scheduled to deliver Alabama ’ s annual State of the State address Tuesday night to mark the opening of the legislative session .
Last year , the governor announced that she had been diagnosed with early stage lung cancer and was being treated with radiation .
Her office said in January that medical scans showed a good response to treatment and that her doctor considered her cured .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-29--Florida authorities: Man’s body found, baby still missing

MIAMI - Police have found the body of a man who matches the description of a father sought by police in a newborn baby ’ s disappearance , authorities in Florida said Wednesday .
The 1-week-old boy is still missing .
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued an Amber Alert for the father and son after three women were found shot dead Tuesday in a rural area in south Miami-Dade County .
The Pasco County Sheriff ’ s Office announced Wednesday in a Facebook post that the van described in the Amber Alert was found in rural Blanton , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miles ( 483 kilometres ) from where the women ’ s bodies were discovered .
Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said later during a news conference that K-9 units searched a wooded area near the van and found a dead man with what appeared to be a single , self-inflicted gunshot wound from a rifle .
Miami-Dade officers had been searching for Ernesto Caballeiro , 49 .
He is related to at least one of the women found killed , but had not been named as a suspect .
Pasco County investigators didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near the van , Nocco said .
Deputies were continuing to search the area between Blanton and nearby Interstate 75 , while detectives followed up on other leads .
“ All we care about right now is that we get that baby back , ” Nocco said .
Investigators were trying to piece together the path Caballeiro had travelled , asking for help from members of the public who might have spotted the van in the past day .
The white van had decals saying “ Nesty School Services ” and “ Caution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re hoping Caballeiro handed the child off to someone else .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-29--Trump defenders: Ukraine trade no grounds for impeachment

WASHINGTON - In a striking shift from President Donald Trump ’ s claims of “ perfect ” dealings with Ukraine , his defenders asserted Wednesday at his Senate trial that a trade of U.S. military aid for political favours — even if proven — could not be grounds for his impeachment .
Trump ’ s defence spotlighted retired professor Alan Dershowitz , a member of their team who said that every politician conflates his own interest with the public interest .
Therefore , he declared , “ it can not be impeachable.
” The Republicans are still hoping to wind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acquittal .
Democrats are pressing hard for the Senate to call additional witnesses , especially Trump ’ s former national security adviser John Bolton .
Bolton ’ s forthcoming book contends he personally heard Trump say he wanted military aid withheld from Ukraine until it agreed to investigate Joe Biden and his son , Hunter Biden — the abuse of power charge that is the first article of impeachment .
As Chief Justice John Roberts fielded queries in an unusual question-and-answer session , Texas Republican Ted Cruz asked , Does it matter if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Simply , no , declared Dershowitz , who said that many politicians equate their reelection with the public good .
“ That ’ s why it ’ s so dangerous to try to psychoanalyze a president , ” he said .
“ All quid pro quos are not the same , “ he retorted .
Some might be acceptable some not .
“ And you don ’ t need to be a mind reader to figure out which is which .
For one thing , you can ask John Bolton.
” With voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , amid the backdrop of protesters swarming the Capitol , are making a last-ditch push to sway Republicans to call Bolton and other witnesses to appear for testimony and ensure a “ fair trial.
“ Trump faces charges from the House that he abused his power like no other president , jeopardizing Ukraine and U.S.-Ukraine relations by using the military aid as leverage while the vulnerable ally battled Russia .
The second article of impeachment says Trump then obstructed the House probe in a way that threatened the nation ’ s three-branch system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days set aside for questions , Wednesday and Thursday , are are allowing each side to grill the House Democrats prosecuting the case and the Republican president ’ s defence team .
Dozens of questions were asked and answered in rapid-fire fashion on Wednesday , with senators under orders to sit silently without comment , submitting their questions in writing .
Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer asked whether the Senate could really render a fair verdict without hearing form Bolton or acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney , both potential eye witnesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Don ’ t wait for the book .
Don ’ t wait ’ til March 17 , when it is in black and white to find out the answer to your question , ” Schiff told the Senate .
That publication date is now in doubt .
The White House on Wednesday released a letter to Bolton ’ s attorney objecting to “ significant amounts of classified information “ in the manuscript , including at the top secret level .
Bolton and his attorney have insisted that the book does not contain any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could delay the book ’ s publication if Bolton , who resigned last September — Trump says he was fired — is forced to revise his draft .
GOP senators have been sternly warned by party leaders that calling Bolton as a witness could entangle the trial in lengthy legal battles and delay Trump ’ s expected acquittal .
White House attorney Pat Philibin made exactly that case in his response to the Democrats ’ first question : “ This institution will effectively be paralyzed for months on end , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ privately with senators for a third consecutive day , acknowledging he didn ’ t yet have the votes to brush back Democratic demands for witnesses now that revelations from Bolton have roiled the trial .
Republican ideas for dealing with Bolton and his book were fizzling almost as soon as they arose — among them , a witness “ swap ” with Democrats or issuing a subpoena for Bolton ’ s manuscript .
Bolton writes in a forthcoming book that Trump told him he wanted to withhold military aid from Ukraine until it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden .
That assertion , if true , would undercut a key defence argument and go to the heart of one of the two articles of impeachment against the president .
“ I think Bolton probably has something to offer us , “ said Sen. Lisa Murkowski , R-Alaska .
She met privately Wednesday with McConnell .
Trump disagreed in a tweet Wednesday in which he complained that Bolton , after he left the White House , “ goes out and IMMEDIATELY writes a nasty & untrue book .
All Classified National Security.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ before crucial votes on the issue .
In a Senate split 53-47 in favour of Republicans , at least four GOP senators must join all Democrats to reach the 51 votes required to call witnesses , decide whom to call or do nearly anything else in the trial .
Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Main tried to give fresh momentum to a one-for-one witness deal saying it ’ s “ very important that there be fairness , that each side be able to select a witness or two.
” But Democrats dismissed those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ draw Joe Biden ’ s son , Hunter , deeper into the proceedings .
Collins , Murkowski and Utah Sen. Mitt Romney signalled an interest in calling Bolton or other witnesses and questions and answers at times appeared directed directly at them .
Schiff ’ s response to Dershowitz focused on one particular senator : He asked his audience to imagine what would have happened if then-President Barack Obama asked the Russians to dig up dirt on then-candidate Romney , the GOP ’ s 2012 presidential nominee ?
He warned them to consider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask for an investigation of you.
” Far from voiding the last election , Schiff said , impeachment is protecting the next one , in 2020 , from any future Trump efforts to ask foreign governments to intervene .
One person watching from the sidelines Wednesday was Lev Parnas , the indicted associate of Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani , who arrived at the Capitol saying , “ I want to testify.
“ Parnas , who has turned over evidence for the proceedings , can not enter the Senate with his court-ordered electronic-tracking device @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to call Bolton and most Democrats would rather avoid dragging the Bidens further into the impeachment proceedings .
The Bidens were a focus of defence arguments though no evidence of wrongdoing has emerged .
Associated Press writers Alan Fram , Andrew Taylor , Matthew Daly , Laurie Kellman and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report .

Lisa Mascaro, Eric Tucker And Zeke Miller - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-29--Damages sought for Oklahoma inmate’s death despite pleas

OKLAHOMA CITY - A federal negligence and wrongful death lawsuit against a northeastern Oklahoma county , its sheriff , former sheriff , jailers , nurse and others alleges an inmate was allowed to die despite repeated pleas for help that were captured on jail videotape .
The lawsuit filed in 2017 by the estate of Terral Ellis Jr. and Ellis ’ parents alleges the Ottawa County jail ’ s nurse and staff ignored or disregarded Ellis ’ pleas for days until finding him unconscious on Oct. 22 , 2015 , when he was taken to a hospital where he died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” a voice identified as Ellis ’ is heard repeating numerous times on the video .
“ Somebody help.
“ Other voices , including those of former jailer Charles Shoemaker and former nurse Theresa Horn , were identified through depositions with them , Smolen said .
“ We ’ re not calling the ER , ” Shoemaker said at one point .
“ We did that the other day.
” Ellis is later heard telling Horn that his back was broken .
“ Listen to me and shut up , ” Horn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over and check you out and there ain ’ t a damn thing , nothing wrong with you , you understand me ?
“ Attorneys for Horn and Shoemaker did not immediately return phone calls to The Associated Press on Wednesday .
Each defendant , including current Sheriff Jeremy Floyd and former Sheriff Terry Durborow , in the lawsuit filed a motion to dismiss the case .
Durborow and one jailer have been dismissed from the lawsuit .
Smolen said he agreed to the dismissal so as not to delay the lawsuit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not return a phone call for comment , but said in an email to the online news outlet The Frontier that the current sheriff is not responsible for what happened .
“ While Mr. Ellis ’ death is of course sad and unfortunate , it was not caused by any action or inaction of the Sheriff in his official capacity , ” Gooch wrote .
Ellis had surrendered at the jail in Miami , about 80 miles ( 129 kilometres ) northeast of Tulsa , 12 days prior to his death and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a past driving under the influence charge , Smolen said .
“ He was healthy , ” suffering only asthma .
“ He had no complicated medical history , ” according to Smolen .
“ This was a situation that Mr. Ellis became ill at the jail , ” although it is not known where or when he developed pneumonia according to Smolen .
Sep s is is a condition in which the body ’ s response to an infection can damage the organs , according to the Mayo Clinic .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him , they just mocked him and refused to do it , ” Smolen said .
The lawsuit seeks punitive and compensatory damages in excess of $ 75,000 for each , in addition to attorney fees .


thetorontostar--2020-01-29--Ball State students seek retirement of cop calling professor

MUNCIE , Ind .
- Hundreds of Ball State University students gathered for a rally to demand the early retirement of a white professor who called police on a black student who refused to change seats last week during a class .
A crowd of 200 to 300 students , some carrying protest signs , converged Tuesday outside the Whitinger Business Building , The Star Press reported .
It ’ s where Sultan “ Mufasa ” Benson , a senior business-administration major , left marketing professor Shaheen Borna ’ s class after the tenured faculty member called police on him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , recounted how he felt when Borna asked him to move to the front row from the back of the class .
“ Why am I being moved ?
” Benson said he asked the Iranian-born professor .
“ No answer .
‘ You can move or we can call the police.
’ ” On stage , Benson then articulated his feelings about having authorities called over a seat : “ You gon na call the police ?
On a young black man not doing nothing but in class learning ?
... “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police go with young African-American men , correct ?
” Though Benson said he feels like “ another statistic ” that Ball State is using to advertise its black student enrolment , he thanked school President Geoffrey S. Mearns for attending the rally and listening to them .
Last week , Mearns said Borna had committed a “ gross error ” and had an “ unwarranted overreaction ” to Benson ’ s refusal to change seats .
Mearns also unveiled an action plan that included meetings with Benson and other student leaders .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the rest of the class .
More than 100 faculty members have signed a letter denouncing Borna ’ s “ rapid escalation of the situation and involvement of the police , ” reflecting “ either an ignorance of or disregard for a national context where the over-policing of black communities and the criminalization of black children has been extended into every aspect of black life , ” the letter reads .
Student Lauren Reynolds , a co-organizer of the protest , said students demand that all faculty receive mandatory diversity and conflict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to respond to future incidents .
Ball State has until Feb. 4 to respond to the demands , organizers noted .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-29--Facebook reports 4Q profit, user growth despite challenges

SAN FRANCISCO - Facebook had a strong fourth quarter as it made more money on advertising and added more users despite challenges around regulation , privacy and efforts to fight election interference .
Facebook said that about 2.89 billion people use at least one of its services — Facebook , WhatsApp , Instagram or Messenger — each month .
About 2.26 billion people use at least one every day .
The Menlo Park , California , company said its main service had 2.5 billion monthly users at the end of the year , up 8 % from a year earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has shown that it can withstand ongoing criticism of its practices and yet still pull out gains in both revenue and users , ” said eMarketer analyst Debra Aho Williamson .
Facebook is under growing regulatory scrutiny around the world .
In the U.S. , it faces several government investigations for alleged anti-competitive behaviour .
Last August , it was fined $ 5 billion by the Federal Trade Commission for privacy violations , the largest FTC fine ever for a tech company .
Amid ongoing criticism about how Facebook handles the private data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has announced that the company was shifting course for a more “ privacy-focused ” future .
This includes emphasizing small-group and private communication , though details are still scant .
It ’ s not clear if this privacy focus will mean anything for how ads on Facebook are targeted , which has always been among the chief concerns for privacy advocates .
And Facebook continues to face challenges over election interference .
After Russian actors used social media platforms like Facebook to interfere in the 2016 U.S. elections , the companies have tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misinformation and other forms of misuse .
This Election Day will be a test of whether they ’ ve done enough .
In reporting fourth-quarter results Wednesday , Facebook said it earned $ 7.35 billion , or $ 2.56 per share , up 7 % from $ 6.88 billion , or $ 2.38 per share , a year earlier .
Revenue rose 25 % to $ 21.1 billion from $ 16.9 billion , the bulk of that from ads .
Analysts were expecting earnings of $ 2.52 per share and revenue of $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook ’ s stock dropped more than 6 % in after-hours trading after the results came out .
Some investors may be concerned about the company ’ s growing expenses , while others could simply be cashing out following a record high for the stock earlier in the day .


thetorontostar--2020-01-29--Energy company: Broken rod in Great Lakes poses no risk

MACKINAW CITY , Mich. - An energy company sees no reason to remove a narrow 270-foot ( 82.3 metre ) rod from the Straits of Mackinac in northern Michigan , telling regulators that it poses no risk to the Great Lakes while embedded in the lake bottom .
Enbridge Inc. also used the letter to try to clear up any confusion about the length of the rod .
The rod became stuck in September when it was used to fill a hole with grout .
A contractor then broke the rod , which left a 45 foot ( 13.7 metre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the remainder in the hole .
The shorter piece was recovered in December .
Enbridge sent a letter Monday to the Michigan Department of Environment , Great Lakes and Energy , days after Joseph Haas , a supervisor in the department ’ s Gaylord office , expressed surprise to the Detroit Free Press about the size of the remaining rod .
“ At no point did Enbridge believe that the length of rod remaining in the borehole was only 40 feet nor did anyone at Enbridge intend to report as much , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specialist .
Nonetheless , he added , “ we are sorry for any role we may have had in any confusion related to this issue.
” The rod was part of a project last summer .
Enbridge was performing geotechnical work as part of a plan to eventually replace its Line 5 pipeline with one protected by a tunnel .
“ At this time there is no segment of the rod that protrudes above the lakebed , ” Turner wrote .
“ Further , we believe that the presence of the rod in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any environmental or other risk , either short-term or long-term .
The borehole has effectively been plugged by the sediment around the hole.
” Messages seeking comment Wednesday were sent to the state environment department , known as EGLE .
Line 5 carries crude oil and natural gas liquids used to make propane .
The underground line runs between Superior , Wisconsin , and Sarnia , Ontario .
The Straits of Mackinac segment is divided into two adjacent pipes .
The Straits connect lakes Michigan and Huron .
Critics fear a spill and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down .


thetorontostar--2020-01-29--Trump celebrates major rewrite of North American trade rules

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed into law a major rewrite of the rules of trade with Canada and Mexico , celebrating the fulfilment of one of his top campaign promises while declining to share the moment with Democratic lawmakers whose support was essential to getting it over the finish line .
Trump said renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement was “ probably the No .
1 reason that I decided to lead this crazy life that I ’ m leading right now.
“ “ Today , we ’ re finally ending the NAFTA nightmare , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Lawn .
The event featured hundreds of business and farm leaders from around the country and scores of Republican officials .
No Democratic members of Congress were on the White House guest list .
Trade experts say the impact of the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement will be modest .
Canada and Mexico already represent the top two export markets for U.S. goods .
The independent U.S. International Trade Commission last year calculated that the deal would add 0.35 % , or $ 68 billion , to economic growth and generate 176,000 jobs over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much of a change for a $ 22 trillion economy with 152 million nonfarm jobs .
“ It ’ s a blip , ’ ’ said Syracuse University economist Mary Lovely , who studies trade .
“ The main thing is what it isn ’ t : It isn ’ t a continuation of uncertainty , and it isn ’ t a major disruption ’ ’ to business .
The new pact , along with the signing of a “ phase one ” agreement with China , dials down trade tensions that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It also gave the president a chance to at least briefly shift the focus in Washington , where Trump ’ s impeachment trial has occupied centre stage for weeks .
“ I keep my promises , and I ’ m fighting for the American worker , “ Trump said .
Still , Trump couldn ’ t resist making a few indirect references to impeachment in his remarks .
He noted , for example , that Sen. Ted Cruz , R-Texas , was headed back to the Capitol to ask questions at the trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beauties , I ’ ll bet , ” Trump said .
The leaders of the U.S. , Canada and Mexico signed the deal in late 2018 .
But it still faced a long road to ratification .
Legislation implementing it received overwhelming , bipartisan support in Congress after several months of behind-the-scenes negotiations between Democratic lawmakers and the Trump administration .
Trump made a point of praising Republican legislators for their work in passing the deal .
He singled out one Republican lawmaker after another during the ceremony , those from farm states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reelection races and , of course , GOP leadership .
Trump did not mention the role of Democrats , but they said that even if they weren ’ t at the signing ceremony , their influence was being felt .
“ What the president will be signing is quite different from what the president sent us , ” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. “ We were able to make vast improvements .
If we weren ’ t , we would not have been able to pass the bill.
” Rep. Earl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ panel , said inviting Democratic lawmakers to the ceremony would have underscored the inadequacies of the president ’ s initial agreement and the fact that Democrats made the agreement possible .
“ It ’ s a clear illustration of how Trump operates — with division , hyperpartisanship and childishness , “ said Blumenauer , D-Ore. White House spokesman Judd Deere said Democrats were invited but chose not to attend .
He would not say how many or identify them .
NAFTA , which took effect in 1994 under President Bill Clinton , tore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American countries , and commerce among them surged .
But Trump and other critics said NAFTA encouraged factories to leave the United States and relocate south of the border to take advantage of low-wage Mexican labour .
Trump threatened to leave NAFTA if he couldn ’ t get a better deal , creating uncertainty over regional trade .
His trade negotiator , Robert Lighthizer , pressed for a revamped pact designed to bring factory jobs back to the United States .
The new agreement , for example , requires automakers to get 75 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 62.5 % in NAFTA ) from within North America to qualify for the pact ’ s duty-free benefits .
That means more auto content would have to come from North America , not imported more cheaply from China and elsewhere .
At least 40 % of vehicles would also have to originate in places where workers earn at least $ 16 an hour .
That would benefit the United States and Canada — not Mexico , where auto assembly workers are paid a fraction of that amount .
Lighthizer worked behind the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up being endorsed by the AFL-CIO and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce .
Democrats successfully pushed to strike language allowing countries or companies to avoid sanctions simply by refusing to participate in dispute-settlement panels .
They also insisted on ensuring enforcement of provisions intended to protect workers from intimidation and violence , and they pressed for a committee that will monitor Mexico ’ s labour reforms .
The Democrats also won a significant concession from the administration on drug prices .
Gone is what Democrats considered a giveaway to the pharmaceutical industry : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which are made from living cells , 10 years of protection from cheaper knockoff competition .
Lighthizer noted that trade agreements since NAFTA generally have passed with increasingly narrow majorities and often along party lines .
He thanked “ Republicans and Democrats , who worked so hard on this agreement.
“ The House voted 385-41 for the bill , with 193 Democrats among those supporting it .
The margin in the Senate was 89-10 .
Critics include environmental groups concerned that the agreement does not address global warming .
Some conservatives say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products more expensive for consumers .
The president won ’ t waste any time highlighting the deal in battleground states that will determine who wins this year ’ s presidential election .
On Thursday , he planned to be in Michigan , where some of the state ’ s auto workers should benefit from a deal that encourages more manufacturing in the United States .
Associated Press writers Andrew Taylor and Deb Riechmann contributed to this report .

Kevin Freking And Paul Wiseman - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-29--Fed chair sees China virus as possible risk to world economy

WASHINGTON - Just as the outlook for the global economy had been brightening in recent months , a new threat has suddenly emerged in the form of the viral outbreak in China .
That was the cautionary message that Chairman Jerome Powell delivered Wednesday after the Federal Reserve held interest rates low after its latest policy meeting .
Speaking at a news conference , Powell said the signing of a preliminary U.S.-China trade deal earlier this month , the resolution of Brexit and continuing low interest rates in the United States and abroad had suggested that the world economy would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held back by trade conflicts .
That scenario is now complicated by the emergence of the virus .
Still , Powell noted that the extent of the economic damage that the virus may ultimately inflict , in China or around the world , remains unknown .
“ There is likely to be some disruption to activity in China and globally , ” Powell said .
“ It ’ s very uncertain how far it will spread and what the ( economic ) effects will be in China , for its trading partners , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are very carefully monitoring the situation.
” Even so , Powell said he thinks there are “ there are signs and reasons to expect ” a global economic rebound .
And he said the initial U.S.-China trade agreement and a new trade pact among the U.S. , Canada and Mexico that President Donald Trump signed into law Wednesday could potentially boost the U.S. economy .
Powell spoke after the Fed had announced that it has kept its key interest rate unchanged in a low range of 1.5 % to 1.75 % , far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expansions .
The chairman and other Fed officials have indicated that they see that range as low enough to support faster growth and hiring .
Investors , however , are increasingly betting that the Fed will feel compelled to cut rates later this year , likely out of concern that the U.S. will feel the impact of a global slowdown stemming from the coronavirus .
The chances of a cut by September ’ s Fed meeting have risen above 70 % , according to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange ’ s FedWatch tool , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month ago .
Still , Paul Ashworth , chief U.S. economist at Capital Economics , said he saw nothing in the Fed ’ s statement or at Powell ’ s news conference to make him change his belief that the central bank will keep its benchmark rate unchanged for the foreseeable future .
“ Unless the U.S. experiences its own epidemic , we doubt that the indirect effects from the disruptions in China would be enough to warrant a U.S. rate cut , ” Ashworth said .
The coronavirus has in effect shut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure to slow the Chinese economy — the world ’ s second-largest — which had already been decelerating .
The virus has now infected more people in China than were sickened in the country by the SARS outbreak in 2002-2003 .
Major companies across the world have responded to the virus by suspending some operations in China .
Starbucks said it plans to close half its stores in China , its second-largest market .
British Airways has halted all flights to China , and American Airlines suspended Los Angeles flights to and from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , casinos and cruise operators are among the industries that have suffered the most immediate repercussions .
Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company ’ s suppliers in China have been forced to delay the re-opening of factories that have closed for the Chinese New Year holiday until Feb. 10 .
Stock prices slipped after the Fed issued its statement and Powell concluded his news conference .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed barely higher after having posted stronger gains in earlier trading .
Bond yields declined slightly .
The Fed ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10-0 , was nearly identical to the one it issued in December , though this time it described consumer spending as rising at only a “ moderate ” rather than at a “ strong ” pace .
That change likely reflects relatively modest spending by Americans over the holiday shopping season .
The statement also signalled that the Fed wants inflation to move higher .
The Fed ’ s preferred measure showed inflation rose just 1.5 % in November from a year earlier , below its 2 % target .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ below ” the Fed ’ s objective , Powell said .
The Fed seeks inflation at that level as a cushion against deflation , a destabilizing drop in prices and wages .
Last year , the Fed cut its benchmark rate three times after having raised it four times in 2018 .
Powell and other Fed officials credit those rate cuts with revitalizing the housing market , which had stumbled early last year , and offsetting some of the drag from President Donald Trump ’ s trade war with China .
On another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue its purchases of six-month Treasury bills to ensure that short-term lending markets operate smoothly .
The Fed began buying $ 60 billion of the bills each month in October to expand cash reserves that are available for overnight lending , after a shortage of reserves caused overnight rates to spike .
The lending squeeze also pushed the Fed ’ s benchmark rate out of its target range .
The Fed plans to continue its purchases until the second quarter , Powell said , while it slowly draws down some temporary lending it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ markets .
Powell said the overall economy , not just Wall Street , has benefited from the Fed ’ s bond-buying because it ’ s enabled the Fed ’ s low-rate policy to reduce mortgage rates and other consumer borrowing costs .
“ That really is important for the public , ” Powell said .
The Fed ’ s decision came a day after Trump , in a tweet , again pressed Powell to cut rates , arguing that this would make U.S. interest rates “ competitive with other Countries.
” Yet the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negative interest rates that exist in much of Europe and in Japan , which they — and most analysts — see as evidence of weak economies .

Christopher Rugaber - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-29--Prosecutor: Michael Avenatti saw dollar signs in Nike fraud

NEW YORK - A deep-in-debt Michael Avenatti threatened to deploy his big social media and television presence like a “ modern weapon ” to try to extort up to $ 25 million from Nike , a prosecutor claimed Wednesday while a lawyer for the California attorney told jurors at a trial ’ s opening not to criminalize his client ’ s “ aggressive , tenacious , demanding behaviour.
” “ He ’ s outrageous and sometimes he might even be offensive , ” attorney Howard Srebnick said of Avenatti , who turned his body and his gaze toward his lawyer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three fraud trials he faces on two coasts launched .
But what Avenatti said and how he said it in his representation of an amateur California basketball coach who was mad at Nike , “ that ’ s not extortion , ” Srebnick insisted .
Prosecutors said Avenatti , 48 , tried to extort $ 15 million to $ 25 million from Oregon-based Nike last March by threatening to go public with evidence that the shoemaker had paid off the families of highly ranked high school basketball prospects .
The trial was expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Avenatti whose enthusiastic representation of porn star Stormy Daniels in lawsuits against President Donald Trump made him a favourite of cable television program hosts has lost none of his energy and intensity in his conversion to a courthouse defendant in a suit and blue tie .
His eyes canvas a courtroom as large as a basketball gymnasium , settling on jurors , journalists , lawyers and spectators .
Sometimes , he passes notes to his attorneys .
When the first witness — attorney Scott Wilson — was asked to identify Avenatti in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feet before Wilson could point him out .
Wilson testified he was representing Nike when Avenatti in March 2019 threatened to stage a news conference and go public with allegations Nike was corrupting college basketball unless “ we paid him millions of dollars.
” Earlier , Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Sobelman pointed a finger at Avenatti and said he “ sold out his client and threatened to harm a major company , all to line his pockets.
” The prosecutor said Avenatti used “ a weapon , a modern weapon ” to try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to $ 25 million .
That weapon , Sobelman said , was Avenatti ’ s large social media following and access to cable television programs .
“ When he looked at the coach , he did not see a client to help , “ the prosecutor said .
“ He saw dollar signs for himself.
” Srebnick told jurors that Avenatti ’ s negotiations with Nike were “ not extortion ” but were the enthusiastic representation of a coach whose league of 40 teams in California was being sabotaged by Nike withdrawing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the coach , liking Avenatti ’ s “ bravado , ” chose his representation to gain his ability to get the attention of Nike because he had the platform to do that .
Srebnick , aware that some correspondence to be shown to jurors includes profanity , warned them that Avenatti can be “ tenacious , bullish.
” But he added : “ It ’ s not extortion because you use harsh language in negotiating for a client.
” He urged them to reject the notion that Avenatti ’ s “ aggressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime.
” Avenatti also faces an April trial in New York on charges that he cheated Daniels , whose real name is Stephanie Clifford , of proceeds of a book deal and a May trial in Los Angeles on charges that he ripped off clients and others for millions of dollars .
He has denied all charges and maintained he was targeted by the Trump administration after clashing with the president on social media .
Prosecutors had asked U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe to prevent defence lawyers from mentioning Daniels and Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be impossible because it would otherwise seem “ Avenatti suddenly became this incredibly public lawyer magically.
” Avenatti grew so famous in the past two years that he considered a run for president after making over 100 appearances on cable television programs and elsewhere to talk about lawsuits Daniels brought against Trump over an affair she claimed occurred before he became president .
Avenatti has been held without bail since he was arrested in Los Angeles this month after prosecutors there said he violated the conditions of his $ 300,000 bail by moving @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-01-29--Democrats’ early 2020 blitz to strike in Texas flops

AUSTIN , Texas - If Texas is going to be competitive in 2020 , the first race wasn ’ t .
Democrats went all-in on a legislative runoff in the booming Houston suburbs , drumming up endorsements from Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren and putting $ 1 million on the ground .
Still , a Republican real estate developer who had lost seven previous tries for office cruised to a double-digit victory .
It was a high-profile defeat for Democrats who supercharged a sleepy statehouse special election in a bid to make an early 2020 strike on the GOP ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans called it a lesson .
“ They made a big mistake by nationalizing , “ said Republican strategist Karl Rove , the former adviser to President George W. Bush .
In final unofficial results , Republican Gary Gates polled 58 % of the vote to 42 % for Democrat Eliz Markowitz .
But despite the unusual attention on the race , the outcome is no surefire predictor of what ’ s in store for Texas .
Turnout for the race was more than 30,000 — far better than typical statehouse runoffs in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many are expected to vote in fast-growing Fort Bend County come November .
And Democrats , who need to flip nine legislative seats to claim a majority in the Texas House for the fist time since 2001 , have more favourable targets than state House District 28 .
But before Tuesday ’ s blowout , Democrats said there was reason to believe .
President Donald Trump carried the district by 10 points in 2016 , but two years later , Beto O ’ Rourke got within 3 points in his failed U.S. Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the race drew support from Biden , who said it could “ set the tone for the entire general election in 2020.
“ Democrats sought to downplay the loss , and outside groups that amplified the race said it wouldn ’ t cause them to retreat in Texas .
“ That really isn ’ t going to change , “ said Ross Morales Rocketto , co-founder of Run for Something , which recruits Democratic candidates nationwide .
“ But I think one thing a lot of Democratic and progressive donors need to really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be required to invest in the state of Texas , in order for us to get the outcomes that we want ?
” Texas ’ fast-growing suburbs that carried the GOP for a generation are quickly changing , and Democrats are counting on voters there turning away from Trump to make gains .
Last summer , Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen , a Republican , was caught confiding to a conservative activist in a secretly recorded meeting that Trump was “ killing us ” in urban and suburban districts .
Dave Carney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Greg Abbott , who helped Gates ’ campaign , said Trump wasn ’ t a factor .
“ The president really wasn ’ t an issue other than the motivation for these national Democrats to come down here and talk , “ Carney said .


thetorontostar--2020-01-29--Court: Walmart doesn’t owe 3rd party’s online sales taxes

NEW ORLEANS - Walmart isn ’ t responsible for paying sales taxes for items sold through its online “ marketplace ” for third-party sellers under Louisiana law , the state ’ s Supreme Court ruled Wednesday .
Wednesday ’ s 4-3 decision comes in a case involving the New Orleans suburb of Jefferson Parish .
It doesn ’ t set a legal precedent in other states for online facilitators of third-party sales , like Walmart or Amazon , said Bill Backstrom , an attorney for the Jones Walker law firm who filed a brief in support of Walmart .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been watching the case closely .
“ Other states that have laws similar to Louisiana ’ s have been watching this case to determine whether or not it could be used , or the same arguments could be used , in other states , ” he said .
He added that online merchandise sellers weren ’ t the only ones watching .
The case had implications who for anyone who facilitates a sale by someone else , such as a credit car company .
Justice John Weimer , writing for the four-member majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Walmart ’ s agreements with third-party dealers obligate it to pay taxes on the third-party sales .
“ Clearly , third party retailers are not prohibited from collecting sales tax directly from their purchasers , ” Weimer noted .
He said the state Legislature would have to address the issue of whether online facilitators are obligated to collect taxes on third-party sales .
Walmart issued and emailed statement saying it was pleased with the ruling and would support legislative efforts to address the issue .
Among the dissenters was Chief Justice Bernette @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to in some court documents as Wal-Mart , fits the definition under state law of a “ dealer ” required to collect and remit local sales taxes , she said .
“ It is also troubling to me that the Marketplace Retailer Agreement — created by Wal-Mart.com — operates to promote and facilitate avoidance of tax payments by consumers , all to the detriment of Jefferson Parish , ” she wrote .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-29--Kentucky man sentenced in phoney school immigration scheme

DETROIT - A Louisville , Kentucky , man will spend six months in federal prison for his role in recruiting dozens of foreign-born students to attend a phoney school in suburban Detroit so they could remain in the U.S. Phanideep Karnati , 36 , was sentenced Wednesday in federal court , according to The Detroit News .
Seven other people have pleaded guilty and sentenced in the immigration fraud scheme .
Karnati recruited 74 people to enrol in The University of Farmington , authorities said .
The school was created by the Department of Homeland Security .
Its offices were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Detroit , but there were no classes or teachers .
Recruiters were paid to help foreigners maintain their status as “ students ” and get work permits .
Karnati is a native of India .
He is in the U.S. on a work visa .
Authorities said he was paid at least $ 25,000 .
About 250 “ students ” have been forced to leave the country , the newspaper reported .
“ These weren ’ t students .
They were fraudsters , ” U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider said .
“ They knew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were lying to the government.
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thetorontostar--2020-01-29--Americans from China virus zone evaluated at military base

RIVERSIDE , Calif. - The 195 Americans evacuated from the Chinese city at the centre of the new virus outbreak are undergoing three days of testing and monitoring at a California military base to ensure they do not show signs of the illness , officials said Wednesday .
The people flown out of China on a plane chartered by the U.S. government have not been quarantined , Dr. Chris Braden of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told reporters after the plane landed at March Air Reserve Base .
Authorities said those evacuated , including U.S. consular employees based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families with children , are technically not required to stay on the base .
But all 195 passengers have agreed to stay for up to three days while they are evaluated for the illness that ’ s infected thousands and killed more than 100 , the CDC ’ s Dr. Nancy Messonnier said .
Officials initially said there were 201 passengers , but the CDC said later that number included the six members of the plane ’ s crew .
If any passengers decide they want to leave the base 60 miles ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before full medical evaluations are completed , U.S. officials would discuss their request , said Dr. Nancy Knight of the CDC .
“ They are sitting in the middle of a military base , “ Knight said .
” Any discussion around departure would be just that : it would be a discussion.
” Braden described people as being “ very happy to be here , “ where they ’ re getting housing , medical attention and testing for the virus .
“ They wanted to know their status , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evacuated on a case-by-case basis if officials determine they need to do so , Braden said .
It can take up to 14 days for someone who is infected to develop symptoms , health officials believe .
If passengers from the chartered flight show no signs of the virus and leave the base , they will continue to be monitored by public health officials at their destinations for the remainder of a period lasting 14 days , he said .
Symptoms of the virus include fever , cough and in more severe cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ None of the passengers showed signs of having the virus when they were screened before leaving Wuhan , the epicenter of the virus , or when they were screened again during a refuelling stop in Anchorage , Alaska .
The jet landed at the California base shortly after 8 a.m. A ground crew dressed in white approached the aircraft , and three charter-style buses parked near the plane .
About 40 minutes after landing , people could be seen walking from the plane to the first bus , which then departed .
Another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s baggage compartment .
All the passengers already underwent two health screenings in China and the CDC screened them twice more in Anchorage .
One passenger received medical attention for a minor injury that happened before boarding the airplane in China , Dr. Anne Zink , Alaska ’ s chief medical officer , told reporters after the plane left .
Some of those expected on the flight from Wuhan were not allowed to board because they did not have documents they needed to enter the U.S. , Braden said .
One person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said .
Wuhan is the epicenter of a new virus , which has largely sickened people in China and where all the deaths have been .
China has cut off access to Wuhan and 16 other cities in Hubei province to prevent people from spreading the virus farther .
In addition to the United States , countries including France , Britain , Canada , Australia and New Zealand have planned evacuations of their citizens from Wuhan .

Amy Taxin And Mark Thiessen - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-29--‘I thought I was going to die.’ Tenants flee high-rise fire

LOS ANGELES - Firefighters made a dramatic ladder rescue of a man about to jump from a burning Los Angeles apartment building on Wednesday and helicopters plucked people from the roof of the 25-story high-rise as other terrified residents fled through smoke-choked stairwells to safety .
Six people were hospitalized , including a 3-month-old .
Two were in critical condition , including the would-be jumper , in the fire that occurred in a building where a similar blaze broke out seven years ago , authorities said .
Residents described a frightening flight to safety , as they tried to move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn back and go to the roof .
Firefighters were coming up the stairs as people with children , pets and the some elderly tenants moved slowly downward .
A panicked Cecilee Mathieson tried to push past in her rush from her penthouse .
When she reached the floor on fire , she could see the orange glow under the door .
“ I really thought I was going to die today , ” Mathieson said hours later .
Firefighters had been at an office building fire two blocks away when the blaze @ @ @ @ @ @ @ edge of the tony Brentwood section of the city , allowing a rapid response .
Gavyn Straus was swimming in the pool in the courtyard when he saw black smoke waft by .
As the smoke grew rapidly , Straus knew it was no kitchen fire and he ran into the building dripping wet to alert staff .
A woman at the front desk was calling police , so he hopped on an elevator with a maintenance man to alert residents on the 8th floor , where they thought the fire was coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sleeping answered the first door they pounded on and they realized they were above the blaze and ran for the stairs .
They were overwhelmed with smoke when they opened the door to the burning floor below .
“ It was a black wall , ” Straus said hours later as he stood barefoot on the sidewalk , still wearing his surf trunks with only a towel draped over his shoulders and goggles around his neck .
“ Someone ran out from that side and they were completely covered in black char and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said their friend was still inside , but Straus said he couldn ’ t help because he couldn ’ t see anything and it was too hot .
Instead , he ran to the 21st floor , where he lives , to alert friends and other tenants he knew .
No alarm had yet been sounded and he was surprised to hear laughter coming through the doors as people ate breakfast unaware of the danger below .
“ Get out , there ’ s fire .
Get out , ” he yelled .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ who works in the building next door , was arriving at his office when he saw flames shooting from the building .
His office manager called 911 and Grogan , who had seen the building burn in 2013 , watched as firefighters struggled to get water to the fire on the 6th floor .
A resident of the building with burns on his arms was hanging from a window as if he was going to jump .
Firefighters inflated an airbag below but managed to get a ladder to him to save him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Grogan said .
More than 330 firefighters responded and it took about 90 minutes to knock down the blaze , Deputy Fire Chief Armando Hogan said .
Arson investigators are looking into whether it was deliberately set .
“ It is suspicious right now , “ Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas said .
Two 30-year-old men who were in the apartment where the fire began were in critical condition , and one was described as grave .
Fire crews had to crawl on their bellies using bottled oxygen to reach the apartment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were treated at the scene .
The fire left windows blown out and heavy black smoke or burn marks on three sides of building .
Residents who fled in whatever they wearing or could quickly get into — some in pyjamas and exercise clothes — gathered on nearby street corners and looked up as helicopters hovered and hoisted rooftop evacuees and small white dog to safety .
A fire at the Barrington Plaza high-rise in 2013 injured several people and displaced more than 100 .
The complex has 240 units that range in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per month , according to Zillow .
Fire officials said the building was not equipped with sprinklers .
It was built in 1961 before regulations required fire-suppression systems in buildings taller than 75 feet ( 22.8 metres ) feet .
The building owners did not immediately return messages seeking comment .
Associated Press writers John Antczak , John Rogers and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles contributed to this report .
This story has been corrected to show building was built in 1961 .

Brian Melley And Stefanie Dazio - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-29--Alabama to shutter aging, dilapidated prison

MONTGOMERY , Ala. - A state prison in Alabama will be largely shut down because of infrastructure problems , the state corrections commissioner announced Wednesday in the latest upheaval of a troubled system that has struggled with crowding , low staffing and violence .
The main building of Holman Correctional Facility , a close-security prison in Atmore , will be closed and 617 inmates will be sent to other state prisons , Alabama Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn said .
The decision was made because maintenance crews were struggling daily to maintain sewer and electrical systems housed in a tunnel running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 51-year-old prison , Dunn said .
Some inmates , including death row inmates , will remain at Holman in units that run on separate systems , he said .
“ This is a real and serious issue that can not be understated and , after learning the extent of the risks associated with continued maintenance attempts at Holman Correctional Facility , moving quickly on our plans to decommission was the right and only decision , ” Dunn said .
There has been a national spotlight on troubled prison systems in Alabama and Mississippi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mississippi ’ s governor this week announced the state will take steps to close part of a state prison that has been rocked by deadly violence and beset by longstanding problems such as broken toilets and mouldy showers .
The Department of Justice last year issued a report condemning Alabama prisons for excessive levels of violence and inmate deaths and a critical staffing shortage .
The Justice Department threatened to file a lawsuit against the state unless the problems were addressed .
Groups representing inmates said the closure will add inmates to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and staffing .
“ To be clear , this choice will exacerbate already unacceptable levels of overcrowding and understaffing in ADOC – a system with 40 per cent of required staff and 169 per cent overcrowding .
It will almost certainly lead to more violence and death , “ Alabamians for Fair Justice , a collection of organizations and individuals , wrote in a letter to Dunn and state lawmakers .
CJ Sandley , a senior staff attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Center , said in a statement that “ rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Corrections and Governor Ivey must focus their efforts on addressing overcrowding and understaffing.
“ Dunn told reporters that the transfer will place additional stress on the rest of the system , but added that they are working to mitigate that impact .
U.S. Attorney Jay Town , who has been leading the negotiations between the state and the Justice Department , said he was “ disappointed that we were not privy to the decision to close Holman at the time such a decision was being considered.
“ Town added that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our good faith negotiations.
” Alabama will continue to house death row inmates at Holman but the inmates will be moved to a restrictive housing unit that has separate infrastructure systems .
The state on Tuesday night moved 21 death row inmates from Donaldson Correctional Facility to Holman .
The execution chamber at Holman will still be used for carrying out executions and the state is consulting on how to maintain the chamber , Dunn said .
The state will also maintain a free-standing dorm that will house 150 low-risk inmates serving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will work in the prison industry shops that make license plates and clothing The state did not give a time frame for the transfer of inmates , citing security reasons .
The decision to shutter Holman was purely for infrastructure problems , and not because of the violence that has plagued it and other prisons , Dunn said .
The Southern Poverty Law Center said there have been at least four deaths at Holman since early December .
The department announced in December that it was investigating the death of Willie Leon Scott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t give specifics , but said his injuries were the result of a Dec. 4 incident at Holman .
Moses Robinson , 38 , died Dec. 31 from injuries sustained in an attack at Holman , according to the department .
In 2016 , the Holman warden and a correctional officer were stabbed during a riot at the prison .
Inmates started a fire and posted pictures of the uprising on social media .
A corrections officer at the prison was killed in 2016 after being stabbed by a prisoner .
The closure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ivey weighs a proposal to close most state prisons and replace them with three new mega-prisons .
The prison system has highlighted the infrastructure problems as they take reporters and lawmakers on tours of existing prisons .
Dunn said the decision to close the prison was not related to the construction proposal , but Holman illustrates the problems in the system .
“ Our facilities are decaying .
They are dilapidated , “ he said .


thetorontostar--2020-01-29--Justice Dept. won’t oppose probation for ex-Trump aide Flynn

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department said Wednesday that it would not oppose probation for former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn — a more lenient stance than prosecutors took earlier this month , when they said he deserved prison time .
The latest sentencing filing still seeks a sentence of up six months , but unlike before , prosecutors explicitly state that probation would be a “ reasonable “ punishment and that they would not oppose it .
It was not clear why the Justice Department appeared to soften its position , though prosecutors did suggest Flynn deserves credit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There is no dispute that the defendant has an unusually strong record of public service , “ prosecutors wrote .
As part of special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s Russia investigation , Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to the FBI about his conversations with the then-Russian ambassador to the United States during the presidential transition period .
He co-operated extensively , leading prosecutors to initially support a sentence of probation .
He was to have been sentenced the following year , but after he was sharply rebuked by the judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked that it be postponed so that he could continue co-operating with the government in hopes of getting additional credit for his behaviour and avoiding any prison time .
Since then , though , he has fired his lawyers and replaced them with new ones who have taken a sharply adversarial approach toward the prosecution .
They have raised allegations of government misconduct that a judge has rejected .
Earlier this month , they asked to withdraw his guilty plea — a request that is still pending .
Prosecutors say Flynn did provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judge may consider that in fashioning a sentence .
But they say any claims of acceptance of responsibility are hard to reconcile with his request to withdraw his guilty plea .
They also opted not to call him in the trial last year of a business associate after they said he had changed his account .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-29--Illinois discloses fresh problems with voter registration

CHICAGO - Illinois elections officials disclosed fresh problems Wednesday with the state ’ s automatic voter registration program , including at least one eligible voter who said she registered to vote but ended up on an opt-out list .
The program is already under fire for mistakenly registering over 500 people who indicated they weren ’ t U.S. citizens , of which 15 people voted in 2018 and 2019 elections .
Election officials said at least eight of the people have long voting histories and were likely U.S. citizens , leaving seven voters in question .
The individuals involved were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary of state ’ s offices .
Details were scarce on the new issues , disclosed at a State Board of Elections meeting .
Brenda Glahn , an attorney with the secretary of state , said registrations of eligible voters who appeared to decline to be registered were still sent to election officials .
The problems stem from those applying for a REAL ID , which requires proof of citizenship .
Kyle Thomas with the State Board of Elections said the information of 297 people who appeared to have opted out of automatic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials and 286 were registered .
The problem was discovered in August of last year .
Election officials said they addressed the issue in October , and they no longer receive the data of people who opt out .
One voter told election officials she had wanted to to be registered and had a secretary of state receipt saying she had done so , but she wasn ’ t in the system when she checked with her county clerk .
The issue , disclosed at the board meeting , prompted further questions that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigating .
“ Do the people really want to opt out or do they want to register to vote ?
” Glahn said .
“ We are researching what is causing that issue.
” Automatic voter registration was signed into law in Illinois in 2017 with bipartisan support .
But implementation has lagged behind schedule for the complex program that involves different processes depending on the type of identification a person applies for .
Republicans have called to suspend the program , but Democrats who run the state have no plans to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups have also expressed concerns about voter integrity and unintended consequences for immigrants .
It is illegal for noncitizens to vote in U.S. elections .
The consequence can be deportation .
Six good government groups — who were concerned about the early delays in the program — sent a legal letter to Secretary of State Jesse White this week demanding answers about the changes .
“ Our coalition ’ s attempts to engage the Secretary of State ’ s office in a process of accountability and transparency have been stonewalled time and again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Common Cause Illinois , said in a statement .
” ’ They ’ ve given us no way to verify the few claims they ’ ve made about fixing AVR.
” Secretary of State legal adviser Nathan Maddox said a programming error involving coding led to the mistaken registrations .
“ I have no excuse , ” he said at the meeting “ It is a serious mistake and we deeply regret it.
’ ’ The registrations were for people who visited secretary of state offices between July 2018 and December 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office , a key player in automatic voter registration , discovered the error last month and contacted election officials .
The office publicly acknowledged the error earlier this month .
Elections officials speculated that many of the people mistaken checked a “ no ’ ’ box on an electronic key pad asking if they were citizens when they meant to exit the system .
Secretary of state officials said they ’ re looking into adding an “ exit ” button .
Elections officials have cancelled 371 of the 545 mistaken voter registrations in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the damage , there have been disagreements over the numbers .
Earlier this week , state election officials said there were three outstanding voters in Chicago , while city election officials said it was two .
Neither could explain the discrepancy .
Election officials confirmed Thursday that there are two voters in question in the city .
A legislative hearing on the topic planned for Thursday in Springfield was rescheduled to next week .


thetorontostar--2020-01-29--US hits Russian railroad with sanctions over Crimea

WASHINGTON - The Trump administration on Wednesday imposed sanctions on a Moscow-based private railway company that last month opened passenger service between Russia and Crimea , a Ukrainian peninsula that Russia annexed in 2014 .
The sanctions target Grand Service Express , its CEO and seven people who were slapped with European Union sanctions earlier in the week for their role in organizing Russian local elections on Crimea in September .
The EU and the U.S. imposed economic sanctions on Russia after the annexation and refuse to recognize Moscow ’ s authority over the region .
The Treasury Department handed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is due in Kyiv to meet with the Ukrainian president and other officials .
They may be intended to send a message of support from the Trump administration during the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump over his dealings with Ukraine .
“ Treasury ’ s action , taken in close co-ordination with our international allies and partners , reiterates our unwavering support for restoring free and fair democratic processes in Crimea , ” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement .
The sanctions may also serve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s recent disparaging comment about Ukraine .
Following an interview last week with NPR reporter Mary Louise Kelly , she said he shouted obscenities at her for asking about Ukraine and asked whether she thought Americans really cared about the country .
The railway connection to Crimea was inaugurated in late December by Russian President Vladimir Putin , who rode a train across the 12-mile ( 19-kilometre ) bridge .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-30--Ebenezer pastor Raphael Warnock enters US Senate race

ATLANTA - The Rev .
Raphael Warnock , pastor of the Atlanta church where the Rev .
Martin Luther King Jr. preached , announced his campaign for the U.S. Senate on Thursday , challenging recently appointed Republican Kelly Loeffler .
With his well-known pulpit at the Ebenezer Baptist Church , Warnock immediately brings some Democratic star power to the race — the kind that seemed to evaporate after former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams declined to enter it last year .
Warnock announced via video on his campaign website .
Loeffler was recently appointed by Gov .
Brian Kemp to replace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stepped down in December because of faltering health .
The wealthy businesswoman and political novice will have to defend the seat in a November special election for the remaining two years of Isakson ’ s term .
Warnock is the third Democrat to announce his campaign for the seat .
Ed Tarver , a former federal prosecutor who served as U.S. attorney for Georgia ’ s Southern District under President Barack Obama , confirmed earlier this year that he ’ s running .
Matt Lieberman , the son of former senator and vice-presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in October .
Kemp chose Loeffler despite a preference by President Donald Trump and his conservative allies for Rep. Doug Collins , a Trump loyalist and top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee who announced on Wednesday that he will run against her this year .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-30--China counts 170 virus deaths, new countries find infections

BEIJING - China counted 170 deaths from a new virus Thursday and more countries reported infections , including some spread locally , as foreign evacuees from China ’ s worst-hit region returned home to medical observation and even isolation .
India and the Philippines reported their first cases , in a traveller and a student who had both been in Wuhan , the central Chinese city where the new type of coronavirus first surfaced in December .
South Korea confirmed a case that was locally spread , in a man who had contact with a patient diagnosed earlier .
Locally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worrying concern among global health officials , as potential signs of the virus spreading more easily and the difficulty of containing it .
The World Health Organization is reconvening experts on Thursday to assess whether the outbreak should be declared a global emergency .
The new virus has now infected more people in China than were sickened there during the 2002-2003 outbreak of SARS , another type of coronavirus .
Thursday ’ s figures for mainland China cover the previous 24 hours and represent an increase of 38 deaths and 1,737 cases for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new deaths , 37 were in Hubei province , of which Wuhan is the capital , and one was in the southwestern province of Sichuan .
Three of Japan ’ s confirmed cases were among a group of evacuees who returned on a government-chartered flight from Wuhan on Wednesday .
Japan ’ s foreign ministry said a second flight carrying 210 Japanese evacuees landed Thursday at Tokyo ’ s Haneda airport .
Reports said nine of those aboard the flight showed signs of cough and fever .
India ’ s health ministry said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been studying in Wuhan was confirmed to have the virus after returning home during the Lunar New Year break .
Philippine health officials say a woman who travelled to the country from Wuhan via Hong Kong had tested positive .
A flight arranged between the European Union and China departed Portugal en route to China to bring back 350 Europeans from the affected area .
The U.S. said additional flights were being planned for around Monday , after it evacuated 195 Americans from Wuhan on Wednesday .
They are being tested and monitored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Zealand , Australia , India , Singapore and other countries are also trying to get out their citizens .
Taiwan , the self-governing republic China considers its own territory , has also asked to be able to repatriate its passport holders from Wuhan , but it and the United Kingdom said they were awaiting approval from Beijing .
Israel ’ s El Al , Spain ’ s Iberia and Korean Air joined the growing list of airlines suspending or reducing service to China .
In South Korea , residents in two cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eggs and water bottles at government officials to protest plans to isolate in their neighbourhoods 700 South Koreans the government plans to evacuate from China .
Amid reports of shortages in food and daily necessities in hot-spot areas , Chinese authorities are “ stepping up efforts to ensure continuous supply and stable prices , “ the official Xinhua News Agency reported .
It cited Ministry of Commerce data showing current reserves in Wuhan can ensure a secure supply of rice and cooking oil for more than 15 days , pork and eggs for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about five days .
China ’ s highly developed online shopping and home delivery businesses were important in ensuring those confined to home by choice or by order could get food and other essentials .
“ I ’ d just like to ask that folks don ’ t order anything other than the daily necessities , ” Hou Yanbo , deputy director of market supervision from the National Post Administration , told reporters at a daily briefing .
China extended its Lunar New Year holiday to Sunday to try to contain the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could potentially cause the virus to spread further .
Transport ministry spokesman Wu Chungeng outlined a series of rigorous temperature checks and other “ severe measures “ to detect possibly infectious passengers .
Transport restrictions such as those isolating Wuhan and suspending inter-provincial bus services would remain in place , Wu said .
“ It ’ s definitely very challenging , but we ’ re confident we can exert effective control , “ Wu told reporters at the briefing .
School openings in Hong Kong , Beijing and other regions have been extended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WHO emergencies chief , Michael Ryan , spoke in Geneva after returning from Beijing .
He said China was taking “ extraordinary measures in the face of an extraordinary challenge “ posed by the outbreak .
To date , about 99 % of the cases are in China .
Ryan estimated the death rate of the new virus at 2 % , but said the figure was very preliminary .
With fluctuating numbers of cases and deaths , scientists are only able to produce a rough estimate of the fatality rate and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus are being missed .
In comparison , the SARS virus killed about 10 % of people who caught it .
The new virus is from the coronavirus family , which includes those that can cause the common cold as well as more serious illnesses such as SARS and MERS .
Scientists say there are many questions to be answered about the new virus , including just how easily it spreads and how severe it is .
Chinese authorities have demanded anyone who travelled from or through Wuhan report to health authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the maximum incubation period during which patients can be infectious even if they don ’ t show symptoms .
China has been largely praised for a swift and effective response to the outbreak , although questions have been raised about the police suppression of what were early on considered mere rumours — a reflection of the one-party Communist state ’ s determination to maintain a monopoly on information in spite of smart phones and social media .
That stands in stark contrast to the initial response to SARS , when medical reports were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response was blamed for allowing the disease to spread worldwide , killing around 800 people .
This time , in addition to working with WHO , China ’ s health minister Ma Xiaowei has been in touch with foreign colleagues , including U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar .
Associated Press writers Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul , South Korea , contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-01-30--Japan’s former Emperor Akihito better day after fainting

TOKYO - Japan ’ s 86-year-old former Emperor Akihito fainted at his residence though he regained strength after a good night ’ s sleep , the palace said Thursday .
Akihito underwent an MRI of his brain that showed no clinical condition that could cause a fall , but doctors recommended close monitoring of his health for a while , according to the Imperial Household Agency .
Akihito abdicated last April and now holds the title of Emperor Emeritus .
His wife Michiko was at his side when Akihito fainted Wednesday at the Imperial Palace and she called the palace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors found Akihito still unconscious and sounding as if he was snoring .
He regained consciousness and went to bed but woke up normally Thursday morning , officials said .
The popular former emperor had symptoms of cerebral anemia , or low red blood cell count , last July , when he briefly had difficulty standing , officials said .
Akihito reigned for 30 years and gained widespread respect and sympathy as a politically neutral symbol of the nation and for his dedication to pacifism .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-30--Parents charged after Chicago boy shot in struggle over gun

CHICAGO - Charges have been filed against the parents of a 1-year-old boy who was shot in the head as his parents struggled over a gun inside a Chicago home , police said .
Travis McCoy , 26 , was charged with felony false alarm to 911 and misdemeanour child endangerment , police announced Wednesday .
Adriana Smith , 28 , was charged with felony obstruction of justice and misdemeanour child endangerment .
It wasn ’ t immediately known whether they had legal representation .
A court hearing was scheduled for Thursday .
McCoy was arrested Monday after bringing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The father told authorities that a gunman had shot the boy on a street nearby .
However , police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said investigators couldn ’ t find a crime scene .
Detectives later determined no shooting occurred at the location McCoy pointed out to police and that the boy was wounded in a struggle in a home a half-block away .
Guglielmi said the bullet didn ’ t penetrate the boy ’ s skull .
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