thetorontostar--2020-04-01--Experts say virus could kill up to 240,000 Americans

NEW YORK - As the number of coronavirus deaths continues to surge in the U.S. , officials are warning the disease could kill between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans , even if people continue to stay home and limit their contact with others .
Experts made the prediction at a Tuesday media briefing with President Donald Trump .
But they said they hope the figure won ’ t soar that high if everyone does their part to prevent the virus from spreading .
“ I want every American to be prepared for the hard days that lie ahead , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines until April 30 .
“ We ’ re going to go through a very tough two weeks.
” The U.S. recorded a big daily jump of 26,000 new cases , bringing the total to more than 189,000 .
The death toll leaped to over 4,000 , including more than 1,000 in New York City .
In Italy , where more than 12,000 people have died from the virus , the most of any nation , officials reported that the infection rate appears to be levelling off and new cases could start declining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from over .
Spain , meanwhile , was struggling to fend off the collapse of its hospital system .
China , where the outbreak began , on Wednesday reported just 36 new COVID-19 cases .
In Cuba , authorities cancelled the island ’ s iconic May Day parade , which often draws hundreds of thousands of people to the Plaza of the Revolution in Havana .
The country also tightened travel restrictions that already bar tourists .
Worldwide , more than 850,000 people have been infected and over 42,000 have died , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University .
Italy and Spain accounted for half of all the deaths .
Some people have chosen to ignore social distancing guidelines .
In Louisiana , buses and cars filled a church parking lot on Tuesday evening as worshippers flocked to hear a pastor who is facing misdemeanour charges for holding services despite a ban on gatherings .
A few protesters also gathered at the Life Tabernacle Church , including one who held up a sign that read : “ God don ’ t like stupid.
“ The projections presented at the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no social distancing measures had been put in place across the country , between 1.5 million and 2.2 million people would have died .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , who is helping to lead the U.S. effort , said , “ As sobering a number as that is , we should be prepared for it.
” New York was the nation ’ s deadliest hot spot , with about 1,550 deaths statewide .
Most of those were in New York City , which braced for things to get much worse in the coming weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the streets to collect the dead .
A 1,000-bed emergency hospital set up at the mammoth Javits Convention Center began taking non-coronavirus patients to help relieve the city ’ s overwhelmed health system .
And a Navy hospital ship with 1,000 beds was expected to accept patients soon .
The indoor tennis centre that is the site of the U.S. Open tournament is being turned into a hospital as well .
“ I ’ ve practiced emergency medicine for a long time , and I ’ m seeing things that I never could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this virus can do to all ages , including people who were previously healthy , ” said Dr. Eric Wei of the city ’ s hospital agency .
Meanwhile , two ships carrying passengers and crew from an ill-fated South American cruise are urging Florida officials to let them dock .
Dozens aboard have reported flu-like symptoms , and four people have died .
Two of the deaths have been blamed on COVID-19 , and nine people have tested positive .
Gov .
Ron DeSantis says Florida ’ s health care resources are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would speak with DeSantis and “ do what ’ s right.
“ In Italy , there was a glimmer of hope .
Dr. Silvio Brusaferro , the head of Italy ’ s institutes of health , said that three weeks into a nationwide lockdown , the country was seeing the rate of new infections level off .
“ The curve suggests we are at the plateau , “ he said .
But ” arriving at the plateau doesn ’ t mean we have conquered the peak and we ’ re done .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ see the decline if we continue to place maximum attention on what we do every day.
” With the country ’ s health care system buckling under the pressure , a field hospital , built in just 10 days , was unveiled at the Milan fairgrounds .
“ We made a promise and we kept it , ” said the head of the project , former civil protection chief Guido Bertolaso , who ended up catching the virus while on the job and had to work from his hospital bed .
In Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison sentences of several years , for violating quarantine rules and spreading misinformation .
The chief doctor at Moscow ’ s top hospital for coronavirus patients said he tested positive , a week after shaking hands with Putin .
Spain reported more than 840 new deaths , pushing the toll above 8,000 and forcing Madrid to open a second temporary morgue after an ice rink pressed into service last week became overwhelmed .
Dozens of hotels across Spain have been turned into recovery rooms , and authorities are building field hospitals in sports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Israel , the Defence Ministry said it has converted a missile-production facility into an assembly line for ventilators .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
But for others , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause severe symptoms like pneumonia .
Perry reported from Wellington , New Zealand .
Associated Press writers around the world contributed to this report .
Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https @ @

Nick Perry And Karen Matthews - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-04-01--Dryness, sudden winds factors in deadly China forest fire

BEIJING - Chinese officials say dry conditions , high temperatures and a sudden change in wind direction all contributed to the deaths of 19 people in a forest fire in mountainous southwestern China .
The official Xinhua News Agency said late Tuesday that thousands of firefighters were still battling the blaze near the city of Xichng in Sichuan province .
Another three people were in stable condition after going missing early Monday with the 18 firefighters and their guide whose bodies were later found .
Li Jun , Xichang ’ s top official , was quoted as saying by Xinhua @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days without rain , with temperatures of 31 degrees Celsius ( 88 Fahrenheit ) on Monday and winds blowing at 20 metres ( 65 feet ) per second .
“ All the factors contributed to the rapid development of the fire , “ the report said .
Along with fighting the flames and evacuating residents , reinforcements have also been deployed to protect key industrial infrastructure including a liquefied petroleum gas storage and distribution station , two gas stations , four schools , two cultural heritage sites and Xichang ’ s largest warehouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in three nearby towns have been moved to safety , it said .
Almost exactly a year ago in the same area , a similar blaze killed 27 firefighters and three helpers .
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thetorontostar--2020-04-01--Census Day arrives with US almost paralyzed by coronavirus

ORLANDO , Fla. - Census Day — the date used to reference where a person lives for the once-a-decade count — arrived Wednesday with a nation almost paralyzed by the spread of the novel coronavirus .
But census officials vowed the job would be completed by its year-end deadline .
The virus ’ s spread has forced the U.S. Census Bureau to suspend field operations for a month , from mid-March to mid-April , when the hiring process would be ramping up for up to 500,000 temporary census takers .
The bureau also has delayed the start of counts for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarters like college dorms and nursing homes , and has pushed back the deadline for wrapping up the head count from the end of July to mid-August .
The Census Bureau is required by federal statute to send the president the counts that will be used to carve up congressional districts — a process known as apportionment — and draw state legislative districts by Dec. 31 .
Some groups are suggesting that the deadline be pushed back , though it ’ s currently mandated by federal law .
“ We are laser-focused on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for apportionment counts and population counts .
We will continue to assess all of our operations to see if there are any changes that need to be made , “ Michael Cook , chief of the Public Information Office at the U.S. Census Bureau , said Tuesday .
The head count started in late January in rural , native villages in Alaska , but the rest of the country wasn ’ t able to start answering the questionnaire until the second week of March when the Census Bureau ’ s self-response website went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail that they could start answering the questions .
But that was only a week before many governors and mayors started issuing stay-at-home orders to slow the virus ’ s spread , greatly hindering in-person rallies , meetings and door-knocking by activists to raise awareness about the 2020 census .
Experts say connecting with trusted community leaders in person is the best way to reach people in hard-to-count groups that may be wary of the federal government .
“ There is the issue of attention .
Certainly when folks are anxious about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away from school , and they ’ re being away from work , it ’ s a concern that the census isn ’ t on top of people ’ s mind as you would want it to be , “ said Thomas Saenz , president of the Mexican American Legal Defence and Educational Fund .
The U.S. Census Bureau is spending $ 500 million on outreach efforts , including advertising , and it ’ s relying on more than 300,000 nonprofits , businesses , local governments and civic groups to encourage participation in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hamstrung by the nationwide shutdown .
Two surveys by the Pew Research Center suggest the messaging was reaching an audience — at least before the coronavirus outbreak .
Pew conducted two surveys , one in early January and another in late February and early March .
During that time , those who had seen or heard something about the census grew from half to two-thirds of respondents , the centre survey found .
Most of the census takers won ’ t be sent out until late May to knock on the doors of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answered the questions online , by telephone or by mailing back a paper questionnaire .
Until then , the Census Bureau is pushing people to answer the questions so they won ’ t have anyone knocking on their doors in late spring and summer .
As of Monday , more than 36 % of households had already answered the questions , and the Census Bureau reported this week that 40,300 temporary workers were on the payroll as of mid-March .
The 2020 census will help determine how many congressional seats and Electoral College @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the distribution of some $ 1.5 trillion in federal spending .
Researchers at the Urban Institute worry that changed accommodations made in response to the coronavirus may present a distorted picture of where people are living on Census Day .
Some people have left their usual residences to move back in with parents or elderly relatives , escaped to vacation homes or had to move because they couldn ’ t pay rent due to lost jobs during the pandemic , they said .
Urban Institute researchers said the Census Bureau needs more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offer additional guidelines about how people should respond when the traditional recommendation to answer where you are living on April 1 is no longer clear for some .
They ’ re asking that the Dec. 31 deadline be postponed , which would require an act of Congress .
“ There ’ s no way reliable counts are going to be generated by the end of December , “ said Robert Santos , vice-president and chief methodologist at the Urban Institute .
“ It ’ s implausible .
”


thetorontostar--2020-04-01--BP announces North Slope worker tests positive for COVID-19

The state has reported 133 total cases of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the new coronavirus , including 14 new cases announced Tuesday .
Dr. Anne Zink , the state ’ s chief medical officer , said cases are reported according to where someone lives .
Zink initially said the North Slope case was not reflected in Alaska ’ s numbers , adding it was her understanding the worker lives out of state .
But state health Commissioner Adam Crum in a statement late Tuesday said the worker is an Alaska resident who previously travelled out of state .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman , said the North Slope worker is counted in the 133 total cases .
BP confirmed a worker at Prudhoe Bay had tested positive , company spokeswoman Megan Baldino said by email .
In a statement , she said the company is following procedures to minimize the risk of COVID-19 and eliminating nonessential activity on the North Slope .
Crum , in his statement , said the person travelled to the North Slope last week and displayed symptoms within two days of arriving .
“ He was tested and put in quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were immediately notified , Crum said .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia and death .
Meanwhile , Anne Weske , director of the state division that determines eligibility for Alaska Permanent Fund dividends , said applications submitted before midnight on April 30 will be considered timely for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is linked to legislation recently passed by lawmakers , she confirmed by email .
The filing deadline had been Tuesday .
But a bill passed by the Legislature , extending Gov .
Mike Dunleavy ’ s public health disaster emergency declaration over the coronavirus to Nov. 15 , included a provision extending the application period for this year ’ s dividend to April 30 .
The bill is a rewrite of a measure initially proposed by the governor ’ s office and awaits Dunleavy ’ s review .
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thetorontostar--2020-04-01--Early divisions as Congress weighs next help for economy

WASHINGTON - The bipartisan partnership that propelled a $ 2.2 trillion economic rescue package through Congress just days ago is already showing signs of strain , raising questions about how quickly calls for massive followup legislation may bear fruit .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , and fellow Democrats are collecting ideas for the next stab at stabilizing an economy knocked into free fall by the coronavirus outbreak .
Their proposals include money for extended unemployment benefits , state and local governments , hospitals and a job-creating infrastructure program , plus expanded job protections and benefits for workers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ Pelosi told reporters this week , “ because I think our country is united in wanting to not only address the immediate needs of the emergency and mitigation for the assault on our lives and livelihood , but also how we recover in a very positive way.
” Congress ’ top Republicans say not so fast .
They want lawmakers to gauge how well the huge , newly minted bailout programs are working and how the economy is behaving .
And they ’ re accusing Pelosi of planning to use the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environmental requirements and moving the country toward ballot by mail elections .
“ Let ’ s see how things are going and respond accordingly , ” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , said Tuesday on Hugh Hewitt ’ s talk radio show .
He said that could take weeks and added , “ I would think any kind of bill coming out of the House I would look at like Reagan suggested we look at the Russians — trust , but verify.
“ “ I ’ m not sure we need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leader Kevin McCarthy , R-Calif. , said on Fox News ’ “ Sunday Morning Futures.
” Throwing another wild card into the mix , President Donald Trump on Tuesday blindsided congressional Republicans and embraced using the next round for a massive infrastructure package .
Many in both parties have supported such a program before , but some Republicans have opposed it as too costly and there have long been crippling disagreements over how to pay for it .
“ It should be VERY BIG & BOLD , Two Trillion Dollars , and be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once great infrastructure of our Country !
Phase 4 , ” Trump tweeted .
Trump later told reporters that the Federal Reserve cutting its benchmark interest rate earlier in March made it an ideal time to pursue an infrastructure deal .
“ Our interest payments would be almost zero , and we can borrow long term , ” Trump said .
“ People want to be in the United States , they want to be invested in the United States.
“ There seems little doubt that if the economy remains near its current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers will be what the next bill should look like , not whether to have one .
Growing numbers of business close by the day , consumer spending is plummeting and millions are losing jobs as much of the country shelters at home , a devil ’ s brew that could be lethal for politicians to ignore before November ’ s presidential and congressional elections .
“ I think there ’ s a deal to be had this time “ on infrastructure , said Rep. Greg Walden of Oregon , top Republican on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Still , he said reaching agreement on another expensive package could be harder after last week ’ s enormous $ 2.2 trillion bill .
“ We ’ ve already broken apart our grandkids ’ piggy bank .
We ’ re now getting into the great-grandkids ’ piggy banks , so let ’ s be thoughtful on this , ” he said .
Stephen Moore , a former Trump senior adviser now with the conservative pro-business Committee to Unleash Prosperity , said he envisioned major problems for Congress in reaching an agreement .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another large cash infusion to recover , Democrats pushing more spending will clash with Republicans eager to use tax cuts instead , such as suspending employers ’ payroll tax like Trump has proposed .
“ This will be World War 4 , ” he said .
Clearly the size , contents and timing of the next bill are in play .
And the Trump administration , lawmakers , lobbying and ideological groups are all pushing ideas .
Discussions within the White House have been limited .
Trump has publicly suggested he ’ d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments and for some type of hazard pay for front-line medical workers .
Former Vice-President Joe Biden , Trump ’ s likely Democratic presidential opponent , has said he wants additional direct payments to people beyond the one-time $ 1,200 amounts many adults will get .
He also wants increased Social Security benefits and some student loan forgiveness .
Pelosi ’ s proposals include easing limits on federal deductions for state and local taxes , a curb the GOP-controlled Congress enacted in 2017 that ’ s hit high-income , Democratic-leaning states the hardest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from both parties .
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone , D-N.J. , said he ’ d like to create a federal office for overseeing national supply chains disrupted by the crisis .
Rep. Robert Scott , D-Va. , who chairs the Education and Labor Committee , said he ’ d like to expand safety regulations to cover airborne pathogens like the coronavirus and to cover essential workers like grocery store employees .
Others suggesting ideas include Sen. Lisa Murkowski , R-Alaska , who said she ’ d like to address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confinement of people at home are putting on mental health .
“ We see domestic violence .
We see substance abuse , ” she told reporters .
“ We see levels of addiction that we wish were not present with us .
And so it ’ s something that I don ’ t think we have fully factored yet.
” Kevin Kuhlman , chief lobbyist for the National Federation of Independent Business , the nation ’ s largest small business trade group , said his group is monitoring how the new bill ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loans is being administered .
For the next measure , he said his group is watching whether additional money is needed and if changes are needed in how the money is distributed .
Michael Strain , director of economic studies at the conservative American Enterprise Institute , said the next bill could be used to revisit the $ 2.2 trillion measure if some programs have problems .
He said there could be a need for spending another $ 500 billion or more , or for significantly less support .
“ There are all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will look like in June , ” Strain said .
Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-03-31--‘I heard the roar’: 6.5 earthquake hits Idaho

BOISE , Idaho - An earthquake struck north of Boise Tuesday evening , with people across a large area reporting shaking .
The U.S. Geological Survey reports the magnitude 6.5 temblor struck just before 6 p.m .
It was centred 73 miles ( 118 kilometres ) northeast of Meridian , near the rural mountain town of Stanley .
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries .
More than 2 million live in the region that could feel the Idaho quake , according to the USGS , with reports of shaking coming in from as far away as Helena @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Utah .
Marcus Smith , an emergency room health unit co-ordinator at St. Luke ’ s Wood River Medical Center , said the hospital , about 65 miles ( 104 kilometres ) south of the epicenter , shook but the quake didn ’ t interfere with the treatment of any patients .
The hospital in Blaine County is on the front line of Idaho ’ s coronavirus outbreak , in a region with the nation ’ s highest per-capita rates of known COVID-19 cases outside of New York City and its surrounding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wave going through the ground , so I knew right away what it was .
It just felt like waves going through the ground , ” he said .
The earthquake added stress during an already tense time for the region , but Smith said everything seemed fine , for now .
“ Until the next one , I guess , ” Smith said .
“ I mean , that ’ s what we do .
We ’ re all good.
” Brett Woolley , the owner of Bridge Street Grill in Stanley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before he felt it .
“ I heard the roar , and at first it sounded like the wind but then the roar was tremendous , ” Woolley said about 10 minutes after the earthquake .
“ The whole house was rattling , and I started to panic .
I ’ m sitting here perfectly still and the water next to me is still vibrating.
” Dr. Lucy Jones , a seismologist at Caltech and the founder of the Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Seismology , said the Idaho region has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 or 40 years .
The most recent one , a magnitude 7.0 earthquake near Borah Peak in 1983 , killed two children in Challis and caused an estimated $ 12.5 million in property damage across Challis and Mackay .
That quake was along what scientists call a “ normal fault , ” with the quake causing vertical movement , she said .
Tuesday ’ s quake appeared to be on an unmapped “ strike-slip fault , “ causing mostly horizontal movement along the fault line .
“ This is one that wasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before now , ” Jones said .
Unmapped faults of this size are rarer in highly populated areas like California , she said , but in sparsely populated and remote regions like central Idaho they ’ re less likely to cause damage and less likely to be a focus of geologists and seismologists .
Residents in the region will likely continue to feel aftershocks , she said .
The area had already recorded five aftershocks within the first hours after the 6.5 earthquake .
“ An aftershock is just an earthquake , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t surprise us , ” she said .
“ They do every bit as much damage.
” People in an earthquake should drop to the floor and cover their heads with their arms , she said .
“ Get to the floor before the earthquake throws you there , and if you have a table nearby , get under it and hold onto it , “ Jones said .
“ Running in an earthquake is incredibly dangerous — people die from running in an earthquake .
Just get down and try to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to show the temblor struck just before 6 p.m. Associated Press writer Lisa Baumann in Seattle contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-03-31--Watchdog finds new problems with FBI wiretap applications

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department inspector general has found additional failures in the FBI ’ s handling of a secretive surveillance program that came under scrutiny after the Russia investigation , identifying problems with dozens of applications for wiretaps in national security investigations .
The audit results , announced Tuesday by Inspector General Michael Horowitz , suggest that FBI errors while eavesdropping on suspected spies and terrorists extend far beyond those made during the investigation into ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign .
They come as the FBI has scrambled to repair public confidence in how it uses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about potential abuses have allowed certain of its tools to at least temporarily expire .
The new findings are on top of problems identified last year by the watchdog office , which concluded that the FBI had made significant errors and omissions in applications to eavesdrop on former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page during the early months of the Russia investigation .
Those mistakes prompted internal changes within the FBI and spurred a congressional debate over whether the bureau ’ s surveillance tools should be reined in .
After the Russia report was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broader audit of the FBI ’ s spy powers and the accuracy of its applications before the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court .
The watchdog office selected for review a subset of applications in both counterterrorism and counterintelligence investigations covering the period from October 2014 to September 2019 .
It found problems in each of the more than two dozen applications it reviewed , including “ apparent errors or inadequately supported facts.
“ The audit examined how well the FBI was complying with internal rules that require agents to maintain a file of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make in an application .
Those rules , or “ Woods Procedures , “ were developed in 2001 with a goal of minimizing errors in the surveillance applications , known by the acronym FISA .
Horowitz said in a letter to FBI Director Chris Wray that in four of the 29 FISA applications his office selected for review , the FBI could not locate any of the supporting documentation that was supposed to have been produced at the time the application was submitted .
Each of the 25 other applications it reviewed contained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ the inspector general said .
In those instances , the facts stated in the applications were either not backed up by any documentation or were inconsistent with the documentation .
The watchdog office said it found an average of about 20 issues per application , including one application with about 65 issues .
As a result , Horowitz wrote , “ we do not have confidence that the FBI has executed its Woods Procedures in compliance with FBI policy , or that the process is working as it was intended to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standard for FISA applications.
“ The inspector general ’ s office did not make a judgment as to whether the mistakes it identified were “ material ” to the investigation or to the court ’ s decision to authorize the wiretaps .
The office recommended that the FBI “ perform a physical inventory “ to ensure supporting documentation exists for every application in all pending investigations .
It also recommended that the FBI examine the results of “ past and future accuracy reviews ” so that it can identify trends and patterns and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI and Justice Department say they have begun making significant changes , including additional training and other safeguards meant to ensure the accuracy of surveillance applications .
In a response letter , FBI Associate Deputy Director Paul Abbate said the FBI agreed with the office ’ s recommendations , and that the errors identified by the inspector general will be addressed by the more than 40 corrective actions that Wray ordered last year after the Russia probe report .
“ As Director Wray has stressed , FISA is an indispensable tool to guard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must ensure that these authorities are carefully exercised and that FISA applications are scrupulously accurate , “ Abbate wrote .
The Justice Department said in a statement that it welcomes the audit , and that it has “ been hard at work “ implementing the changes demanded by Wray .
Attorney General William Barr has also instituted his own changes , including in the handling of politically sensitive investigations .
“ The Department is committed to putting the Inspector General ’ s recommendations into practice and to implementing reforms that will ensure that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the statement said .
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court was established in 1978 to receive applications from the FBI to eavesdrop on people it suspects of being agents of a foreign power , such as potential spies or terrorists .
Critics have long complained about the opaque , one-sided nature of the application process , and longstanding calls to overhaul the system received a bipartisan push because of the errors identified during the FBI ’ s investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia .
The congressional debate tripped up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that expired this month , with lawmakers adjourning last week without agreeing on legislation that would renew the tools .
The Justice Department urged Congress on Tuesday to revive the provisions as it continues working toward broader reforms .
“ No one was more appalled than the Attorney General at the way the FISA process was abused .
This abuse resulted in one of the greatest political travesties in American history and should never happen again , “ Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said in a statement .
“ However , “ she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tool to ensuring the safety and security of the American people , particularly when it comes to fighting terrorism.
” Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham , the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee , said he would ask Horowitz to appear before the panel to explain his findings .


thetorontostar--2020-04-01--Mexico allows 46 British passengers to leave cruise ship

MEXICO CITY - Mexico allowed 46 British citizens to disembark from a cruise ship off its Caribbean coast and fly home , and in exchange the cruise line paid for 141 Mexicans stuck in England by coronavirus travel restrictions to fly home , the Mexican government said Wednesday .
On Tuesday , the Mexican navy removed a passenger in critical condition from the Marella Explorer 2 for emergency treatment ashore .
The ship was anchored off the Yucatan state port of Puerto Progreso .
The passengers taken off the ship Tuesday were transported to the Yucatan capital of Merida and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Health precautions were taken , the Mexican government said .
The British Embassy in Mexico said “ some of the passengers had experienced cold symptoms similar to COVID-19.
” The Mexican and British governments co-ordinated both operations with the cruise ship operator , Marella Cruises , part of British company TUI Travel .
Many of the ship ’ s passengers were apparently disembarked and returned to their home countries last week .
It was unclear how many were still aboard .
The Mexican government has allowed cruise ships to dock in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humanitarian reasons .
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thetorontostar--2020-04-01--Feds: Man intentionally derailed LA train near hospital ship

LOS ANGELES - A train engineer intentionally drove a speeding locomotive off a track at the Port of Los Angeles because he was suspicious about the presence of a Navy hospital ship docked there amid the coronovirus crisis , federal prosecutors said Wednesday .
The locomotive crashed through a series of barriers and fences before coming to rest more than 250 yards ( 230 metres ) from the U.S. Navy Hospital Ship Mercy on Tuesday , the U.S. Department of Justice said in a release .
Eduardo Moreno , 44 , was charged with one count of train wrecking , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately known if he has an attorney .
Moreno acknowledged in two separate interviews with law enforcement that he intentionally derailed and crashed the train near the Mercy , according to the criminal complaint .
“ You only get this chance once .
The whole world is watching .
I had to , “ Moreno told investigators , according to the complaint .
” People don ’ t know what ’ s going on here .
Now they will.
” Moreno said he was suspicious of the Mercy and believed it had an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government takeover , an affidavit states .
Moreno stated that he acted alone and had not pre-planned the attempted attack .
In an interview with FBI agents , Moreno stated that “ he did it out of the desire to ‘ wake people up , ’ ” according to an affidavit .
“ Moreno stated that he thought that the USNS Mercy was suspicious and did not believe ‘ the ship is what they say it ’ s for , ’ “ the complaint said .
Phillip Sanfield , spokesman for the Port @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never came close to the Mercy .
“ It would have had to have gone several hundred yards through a parking lot and cross a water channel to reach the ship , ” Sanfield said .
“ The tracks are nowhere near the Mercy.
” The engineer wasn ’ t a port employee but apparently was working for Pacific Harbor Line Inc. , a train company that handles cargo in the port and connects to major railroad lines , Sanfield said .
The company didn ’ t immediately return a phone call seeking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly controlled and port operations weren ’ t seriously affected , Sanfield said .
Moreno was arrested by a California Highway Patrol officer who witnessed the crash and captured him as he fled the scene .
The FBI ’ s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Port of Los Angeles Police are now leading the investigation .
The CHP officer reported seeing “ the train smash into a concrete barrier at the end of the track , smash into a steel barrier , smash into a chain-link fence , slide through a parking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with gravel , and smash into a second chain-link fence , ” according to an affadavit .
The Mercy arrived in port this week to provide a thousand hospital beds to take the load of regional medical centres expecting a surge of COVID-19 patients .
Associated Press writer Robert Jablon in Los Angeles contributed to this report .

Christopher Weber - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-04-01--Trump: US to deploy anti-drug Navy ships near Venezuela

MIAMI - President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Navy ships are being moved toward Venezuela as his administration beefs up counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean following a U.S. drug indictment against Nicolás Maduro .
The president ’ s announcement was a break from the daily White House press briefing to discuss the coronavirus pandemic , which has left much of the country in lock-down and which the government warns could cause 100,000 to 240,000 deaths .
“ The Venezuelan people continue to suffer tremendously due to Maduro and his criminal control over the country , and drug traffickers are seizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mark Esper said after the president ’ s announcement .
The mission involves sending additional Navy warships , surveillance aircraft and special forces teams to nearly double the U.S. counter-narcotics capacity in the Western Hemisphere , with forces operating both in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific .
Esper said the mission would be supported by 22 partner nations .
“ As governments and nations focus on the coronavirus there is a growing threat that cartels , criminals , terrorists and other malign actors will try to exploit the situation for their own gain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must not let that happen.
” The enhanced mission has been months in the making but has taken on greater urgency following last week ’ s indictment of Maduro , Venezuela ’ s embattled socialist leader , and members of his inner circle and military .
They are accused of leading a narcoterrorist conspiracy responsible for smuggling up to 250 metric tons of cocaine a year into the U.S. , about half of it by sea .
“ If I was just indicted for drug trafficking by the United States , with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , having the U.S. Navy conducting anti-drug operations off my coast would be something I would worry about , “ said Sen. Marco Rubio , a Florida Republican who has been among those calling for a tougher stance against Maduro .
It also comes as Maduro steps up attacks on his U.S.-backed rival , Juan Guaidó .
Maduro ’ s chief prosecutor ordered Guaidó to provide testimony Thursday as part of an investigation into an alleged coup attempt .
Guaidó , the head of Venezuela ’ s congress who is recognized as his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. and almost 60 other nations , is unlikely to show up , raising the possibility he could be arrested .
The U.S. has long insisted it will not tolerate any harm against Guaido .
“ No matter where you sit ideologically , any move to try to bring democracy back to Venezuela requires first recognizing the criminal nature of the Maduro regime , and making moves that scare the regime into negotiating , “ said Raul Gallegos , a Bogota , Colombia-based director in the Andean region for Control Risks , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump administration ’ s offer of a $ 15 million reward for his arrest , calling it the work of a “ racist cowboy ” aimed at getting U.S. hands on Venezuela ’ s vast oil reserves , the world ’ s largest .
He also points out that the vast majority of cocaine leaves South America from Colombia , a staunch U.S. ally .
Others have faulted a U.S. plan , unveiled Tuesday by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , to create a five-member council without Maduro or Guaidó to govern the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a year .
While its the first attempt in months by the U.S. to seek a negotiated solution to Venezuela ’ s stalemate , coming on the heels of the indictments many say it has little hope of succeeding and likely to drive Maduro farther away from the path of dialogue .
The Trump administration has long insisted that all options are on the table for removing Maduro , including military ones .
Still , there ’ s no indication then , or now , that any sort of U.S. invasion is being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ships fits into a longstanding call by the U.S. Southern Command for additional assets to combat growing antinarcotics and other security threats in the hemisphere .
In January , another Navy vessel , the USS Detroit , conducted a freedom of navigation operation off the coast of Venezuela in a show of pressure against Maduro .
“ That presence sends a big statement about U.S. commitment , it sends a big statement to our friends , it reassures them , and then to our adversaries that those are capable performers , ” Adm. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. military ’ s Southern Command , said in congressional testimony last month .
The report of the planned deployment comes two days after one of Venezuela ’ s naval patrol boats sank after colliding with a Portuguese-flagged cruise ship near the Venezuelan-controlled island of La Tortuga .
Maduro accused the ship of acting aggressively and said it was possibly carrying “ mercenaries ” seeking his ouster .
“ You have to be very naive to see this as an isolated incident , ” Maduro said Tuesday night on state TV .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cruise ship , said the patrol boat fired gunshots and than purposely rammed into the liner at speed .
There were no passengers on board and none of its 32 crew members were injured , the company said .


thetorontostar--2020-04-01--British man charged with smuggling phoney coronavirus cure

LOS ANGELES - A British man accused of smuggling a phoney coronavirus cure into the United States was charged Wednesday with a federal crime , prosecutors said .
Frank Richard Ludlow , 59 , of West Sussex was charged in Los Angeles federal court with introducing misbranded drugs into interstate commerce and could face up to three years in federal prison if convicted , according to the U.S. attorney ’ s office .
He was arrested last week on drug charges in the United Kingdom and remains in custody there , authorities said .
It wasn ’ t immediately clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleged that Ludlow , who isn ’ t a doctor , had been selling people in California and Utah via mail a concoction called “ Trinity Remedy “ that he touted as a “ miracle cure ” for various ailments , according to a court affidavit .
“ This cure ’ – later rebranded as ‘ Trinity Mind , Body & Soul ’ – allegedly contained vitamin C , an enzyme mix , potassium thiocyanate , and hydrogen peroxide .
Consumers were instructed to add 18 ounces of water , say a prayer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take a probiotic along with bee pollen , and then ingest the remainder of the solution , “ the U.S. attorney ’ s office statement said .
Authorities say Ludlow sold between 300 and 400 of the treatment kits but in February or March of this year , as the coronavirus pandemic worsened , he began selling the kits under a new name : “ Trinity COVID-19 SARS Antipathogenic Treatment.
” The treatments haven ’ t been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for any medical use .
“ Every major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19 and no vaccine to prevent coronavirus infection , “ according to the U.S. attorney ’ s office .
“ Hucksters who hawk ‘ treatments ’ for this deadly disease put consumers ’ lives at risk by peddling unapproved drugs , ” U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna said .
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thetorontostar--2020-04-01--Federal inmates to be locked in cells for 14 days amid virus

WASHINGTON - The federal Bureau of Prisons is locking all its 146,000 inmates in their cells for the next two weeks in an unparalleled effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus , as the focus shifts to a Louisiana compound , where two inmates have died and nearly 20 others remain hospitalized .
The compound , known as FCC Oakdale , has emerged as ground zero in the federal prison system ’ s struggle to contain coronavirus behind bars .
The situation there is so dire that the local health department told the federal government there was no need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , officials said .
Those showing symptoms should be presumed to have it .
On Wednesday , the agency confirmed that a second inmate at Oakdale , 43-year-old Nicholas Rodriquez , had died .
Just days earlier , another man , serving a 27-year drug sentence , died at a hospital from the coronavirus .
Officials said both men had serious , long-term , underlying health conditions .
They are the only deaths so far in federal prisons , but state and local lockups have seen deaths .
So far , 11 Oakdale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are in the hospital and suspected of having the disease , 32 are in isolation with symptoms and 82 have been quarantined because of possible exposure , according to local union president Ronald Morris .
In addition , 13 staff members have tested positive , one is hospitalized in an intensive care unit at a hospital in Alexandria , about 50 minutes away , and about 16 others are out of work awaiting test results .
The Bureau of Prisons said the uptick is “ consistent with the surge of positive cases in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many cases at the prison , local health officials have recommended not testing anyone else who shows COVID-19 symptoms and instead presume they are positive .
But Kevin Litten , a spokesman for the Louisiana Department of Health , said officials did not tell the prison to stop testing prisoners .
He said state officials advised the prison , in the absence of testing , to isolate prisoners with symptoms .
Louisiana has emerged as a hot spot for the virus , with the death toll at 273 .
The number of confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6,400 , according to the latest figures .
About 23 % are hospitalized .
Nationwide , there are more than 200,000 cases .
“ What ’ s happening in Oakdale is a tragic and avoidable example of what happens when officials fail to heed the advice of public health experts who have warned from the beginning that prisons and jails would become dangerous breeding grounds for this disease , ” said Katie Schwartzmann , legal director of the Louisiana American Civil Liberties Union .
“ This should be a wakeup call to state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imminent threat to public health that must be addressed immediately.
” The situation at Oakdale is fueling fear among inmates and staff members in the rest of the Bureau of Prisons system that the virus could spread just as rapidly at any of the other 121 correctional facilities , though the rate of infection compared with outside prison is low .
Health officials have been warning for more than a decade about the dangers of epidemics in jails and prisons , which are ideal environments for virus outbreaks .
For most people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as fever and cough , that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .
On Wednesday , the Bureau of Prisons moved into a new phase of its coronavirus response plan : a nationwide lockdown .
In an effort to slow the virus ’ spread , officers will lock all inmates in their cells for 14 days .
The agency said in a statement that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should still have access to services like mental health treatment and education programs .
Even as officials shift their focus to trying to combat a potential coronavirus epidemic , officers are continuing to face challenges of managing inmates and struggling with severe staffing shortages .
Earlier this week , an inmate walked away from a minimum-security federal prison camp in Three Rivers , Texas .
He ’ s now wanted by the U.S .
Marshals Service .
At Oakdale , some staff members are working 32 hours straight to fill the gaps , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stretched even thinner because some officers have to be at the hospital to guard inmates under treatment .
The Bureau of Prisons said wardens could notify officials in Washington if they need additional staff members but the agency wouldn ’ t say whether that ’ s happened at Oakdale .
Correction officers , inmates and advocates at different prisons around the U.S. have raised alarms about what they say is an inadequate supply of personal protective equipment and basic pandemic needs , like soap and hand sanitizer .
In a statement to The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prisons Director Michael Carvajal insisted that the agency had inventoried its cleaning , sanitation and medical supplies and there were “ ample supplies on hand and ready to be distributed or moved to any facility as deemed necessary.
” The agency had also ordered additional supplies , he said .
But Morris and others say there ’ s a clear disconnect between Carvajal ’ s insistence that the agency has enough personal protective gear in stock and the situation at the Louisiana prison complex .
Morris said poor planning left Oakdale with short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gowns and face shields .
Only after staffers kept pestering supervisors for gear did the prison order 10,000 N95 masks that are supposed to be delivered this week , he said .
The prison is also running low on hand sanitizer , with management telling staff it ’ s having trouble finding some to purchase , he said .
At a prison camp in Pensacola , Florida , staff members went out and obtained their own masks to wear this week .
But they were stopped and told by the warden that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could incite panic among inmates and fellow staff members , a person familiar with the matter told the AP .
The person was not permitted to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity .
The agency said whether officers could wear masks depends on several factors , including whether an institution has an active case and each employee ’ s job description .
Sisak reported from New York .
Associated Press writer Jim Mustian in New York contributed to this report .
Follow Balsamo and Sisak on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : //twitter.com/MikeSisak .

Michael Balsamo And Michael R. Sisak - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-04-01--Feds: Glider in crash was ‘overloaded,’ lacking equipment

MORRISTOWN , Vt. - A glider that crashed in a heavily wooded section of Vermont ’ s Sterling Mountain in 2018 , killing three passengers aboard , was overloaded and underequipped , according to federal investigators .
The plane that crashed in August 2018 showed no signs of mechanical failure in other parts of the aircraft , according to a report released this week by the National Transportation Safety Board .
Investigators note in the report that the glider weighed around 50 pounds over the planes allowable maximum , the Burlington Free Press reported Wednesday .
The plane apparently stalled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was supposed to be a 30-minute sightseeing tour .
The report says that an increase in a glider ’ s weight measurably increases a tendency to stall .
The glider was being flown by Donald Post of Stowe , a long-time pilot for Stowe Soaring .
Post , 70 , was killed in the crash along with the passengers , Frank Moroz III , 58 , and his wife Suzanne Moroz , of Hamden , Connecticut .
Inspectors had notified Post prior to the crash that shoulder harnesses for passengers are standard equipment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but he had not installed them , the report states .
Instead , the straps had been replaced with simple lap belts .
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thetorontostar--2020-04-01--Coast Guard: Cruise ships must stay at sea with sick onboard

FORT LAUDERDALE , Fla. - The U.S. Coast Guard has directed cruise ships to prepare to treat any sick passengers and crew on board while being sequestered “ indefinitely “ offshore during the coronavirus pandemic .
The new rules outlined in a memo are required for ships in the district that covers Florida , Georgia , South Carolina and Puerto Rico .
They also come with a stiff warning : Any foreign-flagged vessels “ that loiter beyond U.S. territorial seas “ should try first to medically evacuate the very sick to those countries instead .
Many South Florida cruise ships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital capacity is limited and people are still recovering from last year ’ s devastating Hurricane Dorian .
The rules , which apply to vessels carrying more than 50 people , were issued in a March 29 safety bulletin signed by Coast Guard Rear Admiral E.C .
Jones , head of the seventh district .
All ships destined for U.S. ports were already required to provide daily updates on their coronavirus caseload or face civil penalties or criminal prosecution .
Dozens of cruise ships are either lined up at Port Miami and Port @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic .
Most have only crew aboard , but Carnival Corp. , which owns nine cruise lines with a total of 105 ships , notified the SEC on Tuesday that it has more than 6,000 passengers still at sea .
Federal , state and local officials have been negotiating over whether Carnival ’ s Holland America cruise ships , the Zaandam and Rotterdam , would be allowed to dock at Port Everglades this week .
But the company ’ s Coral Princess is coming , too , with what that ship ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people with flu-like symptoms .
Carnival said three of the 40 ships that were at sea when it paused its cruises last month are expected to arrive at port by week ’ s end .
In addition to the ships arriving in Fort Lauderdale , other ships are approaching Civitavecchia , Italy , and Southampton , England , spokesman Roger Frizzell said .
Two of four deaths on the Zaandam were blamed on COVID-19 and nine people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus , Carnival ’ s maritime chief officer William @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday meeting .
The company said more than 200 have reported symptoms .
More than 300 Americans , with about 50 Floridians , are on Zaandam and Rotterdam .
Four children under 12 are on board .
Gov .
Ron DeSantis said he expected a resolution Wednesday after speaking with President Donald Trump , but port authorities later said discussions between the company and officials over the terms of docking were ongoing and they did not expect to update Broward County commissioners on Wednesday as foreseen at the Tuesday meeting .
DeSantis maintained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stretched too thin to take on the ships ’ coronavirus caseload , but he said he would accept the Florida residents on board .
“ My concern is simply that we have worked so hard to make sure we have adequate hospital beds , ” he said .
Trump had expressed sympathy toward the passengers on Tuesday .
“ They ’ re dying on the ship , ” Trump said .
“ I ’ m going to do what ’ s right .
Not only for us , but for humanity.
” Passengers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday .
Andrea Anderson and her husband Rob coughed their way through a video chat from the Zandaam .
Asked what she would say to Florida ’ s governor , Anderson said , “ How would he feel if his mother was on this ship ?
Would he still be saying , ‘ No they can ’ t dock ?
’ ” Mary Beth Van Horn said she ’ s “ terrified ” for her brother Tom Brazier , 77 , of Ocean Park , Washington , who went on the South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was supposed to begin a new bone cancer treatment in April .
They weren ’ t allowed to transfer to the Rotterdam with other apparently healthy people because they have portable CPAP machines and other mobility problems .
“ He is afraid .
Last time , he told me ‘ I just don ’ t see how this could end well , ’ “ she said .
For most people , the virus causes a fever and cough that can clear up in two to three weeks without hospitalization .
Older adults and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to suffer severe illness and require oxygen to stay alive .
Under normal conditions , a ship can call on the Coast Guard to medically evacuate people too sick to be cared for on board .
Now a Coast Guard flight surgeon in the seventh district will decide if a transfer is absolutely necessary , but the cruise companies then would be responsible for arranging on-shore transportation and hospital beds .
“ This is necessary as shore-side medical facilities may reach full capacity and lose the ability to accept and effectively treat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
___ Associated Press contributors include Kelli Kennedy in Fort Lauderdale and Julie Walker in New York City ; Gomez Licon reported from Miami .
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .

Freida Frisaro And Adriana Gomez Licon - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-04-01--Anchorage man accused of price gouging for respirator sales

JUNEAU , Alaska - The state on Wednesday accused an Anchorage man of buying respirators and selling them at “ unconscionable prices ” online in an effort to profit off concerns with the coronavirus .
The complaint against Juan Lyle Aune alleges violations of a law barring unfair trade and commerce practices .
It seeks financial penalties .
Court records did not list an attorney for Aune , and a phone listing tried by The Associated Press did not work .
The complaint alleges Aune generally bought 20-packs of respirators for between $ 17- $ 23 from local stores .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he sold respirators on Amazon at an average price of $ 89.25 , the complaint states and alleges he made other sales on eBay .
Buying respirators from local stores and selling them online for “ unconscionable prices during a time of increased necessity and high demand for such respirators offends public policy ” and is unethical , the complaint states .
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thetorontostar--2020-04-01--Call for virus volunteers yields army of health care workers

NEW YORK - The work is exhausting and dangerous , the situation bleak .
But an army of health care workers heeded New York ’ s call for help reinforcing hospitals overwhelmed by the coronavirus pandemic .
So far , at least 82,000 people have volunteered for the state ’ s reserve force of medical workers — a group that includes recent retirees returning to work , health care professionals who can take a break from their regular jobs and people between gigs , according to health officials .
Few have made it into the field yet as hospitals and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deploy them .
But Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that ’ s about to change .
By Thursday , hospitals expect to hire about 1,500 volunteers to rescue a medical workforce that needs relief , particularly in New York City .
Health care workers who have hit the ground already , many brought in by staffing agencies , discovered a hospital system in danger of being overwhelmed .
“ I have never seen so many human beings in an ER at one time in my entire life , ” said Liz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Minnesota , who had her first shift Tuesday at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan .
“ Shoulder to shoulder .
It is a sight I never thought I would see .
Patients are dying every day .
Every single day.
” Similar recruiting efforts are underway in other states preparing for waves of patients , including California , Washington , Pennsylvania , Illinois , Louisiana , Massachusetts , Oregon , Virginia , New Jersey , North Dakota and Washington D.C. And recruitment is happening at the federal level too , where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have reached out .
The death toll from the virus climbed to nearly 2,000 Wednesday across New York state , with most of the fatalities coming in New York City in just the past week .
Several of the dead have been health care workers , including Kious Kelly , an assistant nurse manager in the emergency room at Mount Sinai West Hospital , who died March 24 after becoming infected with the virus .
Many other medical workers have become seriously ill .
Protective masks , gowns and gloves remain rationed at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Despite those risks , many have volunteered to join the fight .
“ Whatever it is that they need , I ’ m willing to do , ” said Jerry Kops , a licensed nurse on Long Island who was on tour as a musician in the Blue Man Group before its North American tour was interrupted by the coronavirus shutdown a few weeks ago .
“ I keep thinking about my old co-workers and friends that are still in nursing .
And to me , it ’ s like if they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there too , ” he said .
“ If it means being at a testing site , cool .
If it means being relief staff for RNs that are overworked right now in hospitals , cool.
“ Hospital volunteers in New York will be paid .
But that is not always the case in other parts of the country that are seeking medical volunteers .
In Washington state , for instance , volunteer retirees who staff free clinics are not routinely paid for their work .
But those who volunteer at hospitals will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of state recruits are more workers being brought in by staffing agencies .
Nurses are being offered up to $ 100 per hour plus food and lodging to fill over 5,000 openings in hospital intensive care units and emergency rooms , said Michael Fazio , whose company , Prime Staffing , has recruited over 250 workers to New York hospitals in recent weeks .
“ It shocks me more and more the calls I ’ m getting .
West Coast nurses are calling me , wanting to help , ” Fazio said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , wanting to help .
They don ’ t have the fear of COVID-19 .
Their driving force is saying : ‘ I ’ m coming to help fight this , help New York City.
’ ” One of those nurses , Katherine Ramos , of Cape Coral , Florida , described her work at New York Presbyterian Hospital as exhausting .
“ It ’ s hard when you lose patients .
It ’ s hard when you have to tell the family members : ‘ I ’ m sorry , but we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
“ It ’ s even harder when we really don ’ t have the time to mourn , the time to talk about this.
” She has been staying in an apartment with her husband and two children — carefully removing her shoes and clothing outside on a deck after each shift to reduce the likelihood of bringing the virus home .
But she plans on moving soon to a hotel so if she catches the virus , she won ’ t infect her family .
“ I want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more , ” she said .
New York officials say the state will need tens of thousands of additional medical workers to deploy quickly ahead of an expected surge in patients in the next three weeks .
Temporary hospitals are hastily being constructed in convention centres , athletic complexes , college campuses and other locations , but workers will be needed to make them functional .
In Pennsylvania , Dr. John Gallagher volunteered to work at hospitals near his home at the Ohio border a few months after retiring at age 65 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus himself and spreading it to loved ones left him “ terrified.
” “ But , ” he added , “ it ’ s one of those things .
If it ’ s needed , than we ’ ve got to play our part .
We can ’ t leave people hanging out there.
” Laura Benson , 60 , a semi-retired nurse in Westchester County north of New York City , said she ’ s also ready for front-line hospital work , and was itching to get in action sooner .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I wasn ’ t hearing back , ” she said .
Westchester County summoned her last week to screen people at a childcare centre for healthcare workers in nearby White Plains , but she ’ s ready for more .
“ There ’ s no reason I couldn ’ t put in a full shift somewhere .
And it may come to that .
I would absolutely be willing to do that .
But this is the need that they have right now , ” she said .
Associated Press Writer Sophia Eppolito @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Larry Neumeister And Marina Villeneuve - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-04-01--New York state’s virus deaths jump to more than 1,900

NEW YORK - Coronavirus deaths soared .
New York City playgrounds were targeted for shutdown to help slow an outbreak projected to grow worse for another month .
Overtaxed hospitals began transferring patients north of the city .
And residents near one struggling hospital have become all too used to ambulance sirens .
“ It ’ s very eerie .
I think everyone ’ s just doing what they can , but at the same time it bothers you .
Especially if you ’ re around Elmhurst because you can hear all the ambulances , “ said Emma Sorza , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest coronavirus developments in New York : New York ’ s COVID-19 death count more than doubled in 72 hours to 1,941 .
One month after New York discovered its first infection — a health care worker returning from Iran — the state tallied more than 83,000 positive cases .
The 1,941 deaths were up from 965 Sunday morning .
New York logged its first virus-related death March 13 , an 82-year-old woman with emphysema .
With more than 12,000 people hospitalized , New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said the latest outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ What we ’ re looking at now is the apex — the top of the curve — roughly at the end of April , which means another month of this , ” Cuomo told a state capitol news briefing .
One model cited by Cuomo projected 16,000 deaths in New York once the outbreak runs its course in the coming months .
Though the governor stressed it ’ s unclear how the pandemic will end .
“ Nobody knows what ’ s going to happen .
And I understand the need for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ he said .
” We ’ re at a place we ’ ve never been before.
” Upset that people were still packing into New York City playgrounds despite social-distancing rules , Cuomo said he is working with city officials to have them closed .
Green spaces would be kept open .
“ So use the open space in a park .
Walk around , get some sun , great , ” Cuomo said .
“ No density .
No basketball games .
No close contact .
No violation of social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patrolling the city ’ s parks , playgrounds and other public spaces , cautioning people to stay six feet apart and breaking up groups violating the rules .
Police have even sent marked patrol cars through big city parks blaring recorded reminders about the importance of social distancing .
Mayor Bill de Blasio has said the rules were being followed at most playgrounds , but had closed a handful where violations were rampant .
The mayor said Wednesday he respects that Cuomo is approaching the issue with “ an abundance of caution ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical advisory council is telling paramedics in New York City they shouldn ’ t take fatal heart victims to hospitals to have them pronounced dead .
The temporary protocol issued this week by the Regional Emergency Medical Service is meant to ease the burden on city hospitals , some of which have begun transferring patients more than 100 miles ( 160 kilometres ) north to the Albany area .
Albany Med said it accepted 14 transfer patients late Tuesday who have either confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 .
The hospital said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flushing in Queens .
Data released by the city shows that the disease is having a disproportionate effect in certain neighbourhoods , mainly in Brooklyn and Queens .
“ I ’ m terrified to go outside and also to walk along this strip , because everyone that ’ s headed to the hospital , which we can see from here , is going through here , ” said Nicholas Corsini , near Elmhurst Hospital .
An emergency field hospital with 68 beds opened Wednesday in Central Park near The Mount Sinai Hospital .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Javits Convention Center and a Navy hospital ship docked off Manhattan were also taking patients .
De Blasio said the city is engaged in the “ epic process ” of increasing hospital capacity from 20,000 beds to 65,000 beds by the end of April .
He said the city needs over 5 million masks , 100,000 gowns and 400 more ventilators by Sunday just to be prepared for next week .
He said the city will need up to 3,000 more ventilators during the next week .
The virus , which causes the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the globe .
It causes mild symptoms in many of those infected , but it can cause severe symptoms or death for some , including older adults and those with underlying medical conditions such as respiratory ailments .
New York City is enlisting its recently retired police commissioner as a coronavirus supply czar , making sure hospitals on the front lines of the fight have sufficient supplies and equipment .
James O ’ Neill , who left the NYPD in November , is taking the role on a voluntary basis and will remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at credit card giant Visa Inc. O ’ Neill was with the police department for 36 years , the last three as commissioner .
At least 82,000 people have volunteered f or New York ’ s reserve force of medical workers — a group that includes recent retirees returning to work , health care professionals who can take a break from their regular jobs and people between gigs , according to health officials .
Marina Villeneuve and Michael Hill contributed from Albany , N.Y. Tom Hays and Jennifer Peltz and Michael R. Sisak @ @ @ @ @

Robert Bumsted, Marina Villeneuve And Michael Hill - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-04-01--`A battlefield behind your home’: Deaths mount in New York

New York authorities rushed to bring in an army of medical volunteers Wednesday as the statewide death toll from the coronavirus doubled in 72 hours to more than 1,900 and the wail of ambulances in the otherwise eerily quiet streets of the city became the heartbreaking soundtrack of the crisis .
As hot spots flared around the U.S. in places like New Orleans and Southern California , the nation ’ s biggest city was the hardest hit of them all , with bodies loaded onto refrigerated morgue trucks by gurney and forklift outside overwhelmed hospitals , in full view of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a battlefield behind your home , “ said 33-year-old Emma Sorza , who could hear the sirens from severely swamped Elmhurst Hospital in Queens .
And the worst is yet to come .
“ How does it end ?
And people want answers , “ New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said .
” I want answers .
The answer is nobody knows for sure.
” President Donald Trump acknowledged that the federal stockpile is nearly depleted of personal protective equipment used by doctors and nurses .
“ Difficult days are ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ re going to have a couple of weeks , starting pretty much now , but especially a few days from now that are going to be horrific.
” Scientists offered more evidence Wednesday that the coronavirus is spread by seemingly healthy people who show no clear symptoms , leading the U.S. government to issue new guidance warning that anyone exposed to the disease can be considered a carrier .
Stocks tumbled on Wall Street and markets around the world , with 100,000 to 240,000 deaths projected in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dow Jones Industrial Average lost more than 970 points , or over 4 % .
A new report Wednesday from the United Nations said the global economy could shrink by almost 1 % this year instead of growing at a projected 2.5 % .
Under growing pressure , Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis belatedly joined his counterparts in more than 30 states in issuing a statewide stay-home order , taking action after conferring with fellow Republican Trump .
The governors of Pennsylvania and Nevada , both Democrats , and Mississippi ’ s GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his administration has agreed to ship out 1,000 ventilators — breathing machines that are vital for treating people with severe cases of COVID-19 .
He said that the U.S. government has a stockpile of nearly 10,000 but has kept close hold on them so they can be deployed quickly to states that need them .
Meanwhile , European nations facing extraordinary demand for intensive-care beds are putting up makeshift hospitals , unsure whether they will find enough healthy medical staff to run them .
London is days away from unveiling a 4,000-bed temporary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In a remarkable turnabout , rich economies where virus cases have exploded are welcoming help from less wealthy ones .
Russia sent medical equipment and masks to the United States .
Cuba supplied doctors to France .
Turkey dispatched protective gear and disinfectant to Italy and Spain .
Worldwide , more than 900,000 people have been infected and over 45,000 have died , according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University , though the real figures are believed to be much higher because of testing shortages , differences in counting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have gone unreported .
The U.S. recorded about 210,000 infections and about 4,600 deaths , with New York City accounting for about 1 out of 4 dead .
More than 80,000 people have volunteered as medical reinforcements in New York , including recent retirees , health care professionals taking a break from their regular jobs and people between gigs .
Few have made it into the field yet , as authorities vet and figure out how to use them , but hospitals are expected to begin bringing them in later this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already , many brought in by staffing agencies , found a hospital system being driven to the breaking point .
“ It ’ s hard when you lose patients .
It ’ s hard when you have to tell the family members : ‘ I ’ m sorry , but we did everything that we could , ’ ” said nurse Katherine Ramos , of Cape Coral , Florida , who has been working at New York Presbyterian Hospital .
“ It ’ s even harder when we really don ’ t have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to talk about this.
” To ease the crushing caseload , the city ’ s paramedics have been told they shouldn ’ t take fatal heart attack victims to hospitals to have them pronounced dead .
Patients have been transferred to the Albany area .
A Navy hospital ship has docked in New York , the mammoth Javits Convention Center has been turned into a hospital , and the tennis centre that hosts the U.S. Open is being converted to one , too .
With New York on near-lockdown , the normally bustling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are empty , and sirens are no longer easily ignored as just urban background noise .
“ After 9-11 , I remember we actually wanted to hear the sound of ambulances on our quiet streets because that meant there were survivors , but we didn ’ t hear those sounds , and it was heartbreaking .
Today , I hear an ambulance on my strangely quiet street and my heart breaks , too , ” said 61-year-old Meg Gifford , a former Wall Streeter who lives on Manhattan ’ s Upper East Side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s playgrounds because of too much crowding , but people can still use wide-open green spaces as long as they stay 6 feet apart .
Police went around in patrol cars , blaring warnings to obey the rules .
Nearly 6,200 New York City police officers , or one-sixth of the department , were out sick Wednesday , including about 4,800 who reported flu-like systems , though it was not clear how many had the virus .
Cuomo said projections suggest the crisis in New York will peak at the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continuing through July .
“ Let ’ s co-operate to address that in New York because it ’ s going to be in your town tomorrow , “ he warned .
” If we learn how to do it right here — or learn how to do it the best we can , because there is no right , it ’ s only the best we can — then we can work co-operatively all across this country.
” Elsewhere around the country , the number of dead in Louisiana was put at more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials reported that at least 51 residents and six staff members at a nursing home east of Los Angeles have been infected and two have died .
Florida ’ s DeSantis was locked in a standoff over whether two cruise ships with sick and dead passengers may dock in his state .
More than 300 U.S. citizens were on board .
Two deaths were blamed on the virus , and nine people tested positive , Holland America cruise line said .
Even as the virus appears to have slowed its growth in overwhelmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first emerged , hospitals on the Continent are buckling under the load .
“ It feels like we are in a Third World country .
We don ’ t have enough masks , enough protective equipment , and by the end of the week we might be in need of more medication too , ” said Paris emergency worker Christophe Prudhomme .
Spain reported a record 864 deaths in one day , for a total of more than 9,000 , while France registered an unprecedented 509 and more than 4,000 in all .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the most of any country , morgues overflowed with bodies , caskets piled up in churches and doctors were forced to decide which desperately ill patients would get breathing machines .
England ’ s Wimbledon tennis tournament was cancelled for the first time since World War II .
India ’ s highest court ordered news media and social media sites to carry the government ’ s “ official version ” of developments , echoing actions taken in other countries to curb independent reporting .
The strain facing some of the world ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aggravated by hospital budget cuts over the past decade in Italy , Spain , France and Britain .
They have called in medical students , retired doctors and even laid-off flight attendants with first aid training .
The staffing shortage has been worsened by the high numbers of infected personnel .
In Italy alone , nearly 10,000 medical workers have contracted the virus and more than 60 doctors have died .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
But for others , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems , it can cause severe symptoms like pneumonia .
Charlton reported from Paris .
Sherman reported from Washington .
Associated Press writers around the world contributed , including Joseph Wilson in Barcelona ; Danica Kirka and Jill Lawless in London ; Frank Jordans in Berlin ; Karen Matthews in New York ; and Nick Perry in Wellington , New Zealand .
Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

Robert Bumsted, Angela Charlton And Mark Sherman - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-04-01--Trump resists national shutdown, leaving it up to states

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is resisting calls to issue a national stay-at-home order to stem the spread of the new coronavirus despite his administration ’ s projections that tens of thousands of Americans are likely to be killed by the disease .
One by one , though , states are increasingly pushing shutdown orders of their own .
Trump said Wednesday he wants to give governors ’ “ flexibility ” on whether a stay-at-home policy is the best option for their constituents , but acknowledged that he ’ s looking at limiting air and rail travel between hot spots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains hesitant to press a unified policy even after the White House released “ sobering ” new projections on Tuesday that 100,000 to 240,000 Americans will likely succumb to the coronavirus even if current social distancing guidelines are maintained .
Surgeon General Jerome Adams said Wednesday the nation ’ s federalist system leaves much of the authority on how to properly respond to catastrophes to individual state governors and local officials .
“ We trust the governors and the mayors to understand their people and understand whether or not they feel like they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make the right decisions , ” Adams said on ABC ’ s “ Good Morning America.
” On Wednesday alone , five more states — Florida , Georgia , Mississippi , Nevada and Pennsylvania — added or expanded their stay-at-home orders .
But the invocation of federalism in the midst of a crisis that threatens a nationwide body count on par with some of the deadliest American wars suggests that Trump and his advisers are cognizant of the political ramifications of their response .
Republican governors in states like Florida , Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applying strong social distancing rules to rural or exurban areas that haven ’ t reported much evidence of the virus so far .
The lack of a unified , 50-state response also collides with evidence emerging that coronavirus infections are being spread by people who have no clear symptoms , complicating efforts to gain control of the pandemic .
A study conducted by researchers in Singapore and published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday is the latest to estimate that around 10 % of new coronavirus infections may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the virus but not experiencing symptoms .
Even while deferring to governors .
the Trump administration has issued guidelines that have urged Americans to work from home if possible , cancel on-site instruction at schools , and avoid large gatherings .
The resistance to a more robust response comes even as Vice-President Mike Pence said White House models for the coronavirus toll show the country on a trajectory akin to hard-hit Italy .
Speaking to CNN , Pence said , “ We think Italy may be the most comparable area to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which has already recorded more than 13,000 deaths , has issued a nationwide quarantine , shutting down almost all industrial production and offices and largely prohibiting residents from leaving their homes .
The White House ’ s best-case projection for loss of life assumes statewide stay-at-home orders , according to a senior administration official familiar with Trump ’ s thinking .
Trump , the official said , is a believer in federalism and that it is up to individual governors to set restrictions for their states .
The official spoke on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
More than 285 million people live in the 40 states where governors have declared statewide shelter-in-place orders or have recommended that residents stay home .
In other states — places like Iowa and Nebraska , among others — governors have resisted state-level decisions , but some localities have declared residents should stay at home .
According to a poll published Wednesday by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research , 78 % of U.S. adults , including 84 % of Democrats and 76 % of Republicans , favour requiring Americans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ errands .
Americans in states that already had stay-at-home orders in place when the survey began are more likely than those in states that did not to approve of their state ’ s response , 63 % to 51 % .
Still , Trump — who has conducted long , near-daily briefings on his administration ’ s response to the virus outbreak over the last three weeks — has been reluctant so far to use his bully pulpit to urge governors to issue orders that would help effectively create a national quarantine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ different , ” Trump told reporters Wednesday .
“ There are some states that don ’ t have much of a problem.
” But there are signs that Trump administration officials are pushing behind the scenes for holdout governors to issue statewide quarantines .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis had resisted issuing a statewide order but reversed course and issued one Wednesday as federal and local pressure mounted for him to abandon the county-by-county approach he had implemented .
DeSantis , a Republican , told reporters that he decided to issue the order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advisers .
Rep. Donna Shalala , a Florida Democrat , said earlier Wednesday that Trump should be pressing governors for a unified approach to help stem the spread of the disease , calling his response so far “ fragmented , weak and uneven.
” “ He hasn ’ t made a national plea to say we ’ re all in this together , and he hasn ’ t even talked to the governors about all doing the same thing , ” Shalala , who was secretary of health and human services under President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Authority to order quarantines inside states rests almost entirely with states under provisions in the U.S. Constitution ceding power not explicitly delegated to the federal government to states , courts have ruled consistently for years .
While the federal government itself can ’ t order nationwide quarantines or impose quarantines on states , courts have said it has clear power under constitutional clauses regulating commerce to quarantine international travellers or those travelling state to state who might be carriers of deadly diseases .
A few legal scholars have argued that the Constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with powers to impose a multiple state or national lockdown with or without states ’ approval , though any such move under that minority interpretation would almost certainly be challenged immediately as unconstitutional .
Pence told CNN that leaders and residents of states that haven ’ t been hard hit are already taking action to slow the virus ’ spread .
In Nebraska , Republican Gov .
Pete Ricketts has said he ’ s basing his decisions on the advice he gets from public health experts at the University of Nebraska Medical Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and served as a quarantine space for Ebola patients .
In Iowa , Republican Gov .
Kim Reynolds has resisted a mandatory shelter-in- place order , saying the data she looks at doesn ’ t yet justify it in her state .
South Dakota Gov .
Kristi Noem , another Republican , said her voluntary guidance had helped slow the infection rate .
“ The calls to apply a one-size-fits-all approach is herd mentality , it ’ s not leadership , ” she said .
Ricketts , a vocal Trump supporter , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a stay-at-home order in Nebraska but has ordered restaurants either to close their dining areas or allow no more than 10 people inside at once , depending on their location in the state .
In Texas , Republican Gov .
Greg Abbott has ordered schools to stay closed through at least May and imposed restrictions that doctors and even his critics say are tantamount to a stay-at-home order for the state .
Still , Abbott refused to call it that .
“ This is not a stay-at-home strategy .
A stay-at-home strategy would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ Abbott said .
“ This is a standard based upon essential services and essential activities.
” Madhani reported from Chicago .
Associated Press writers Meghan Hoyer , Colleen Long and Dino Hazell in Washington , Paul J. Weber in Austin , Texas , Grant Schulte in Lincoln , Nebraska , Brendan Farrington in Tallahassee , Florida , David Pitt in Des Moines , Iowa , and Stephen Groves in Sioux Falls , South Dakota , contributed reporting .

Aamer Madhani, Zeke Miller And Alan Fram - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-04-01--Grand Canyon National Park closes to visitors amid pandemic

FLAGSTAFF , Ariz. - The Grand Canyon closed indefinitely to visitors Wednesday , joining other national parks seeking to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
Staff at the Grand Canyon had been shutting down visitors services piecemeal as the federal government initially rebuffed its request to shutter completely .
On Tuesday , visitors still had access to restrooms , a grocery store and bank at Grand Canyon Village .
Interior Secretary David Bernhardt said he finally approved the park ’ s request at the recommendation of a local health official who said keeping the park open puts employees , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ park reported earlier this week that a resident who worked at a lodge run by a concessionaire tested positive for COVID-19 and spent time in isolation .
“ It is a relief to a lot of the people in the park and community members , ” Grand Canyon spokeswoman Joelle Baird said .
“ We ’ ve heard from a lot of people being angry and frustrated and uncertain of the direction the Park Service was going.
” The closure includes a state highway that runs through the park ’ s South Rim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Navajo reservation .
The road will be open to local traffic only .
Federal , county , local and tribal officials had joined Grand Canyon residents in calling on the Park Service and Interior Department to close the park .
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thetorontostar--2020-04-01--UN climate summit postponed until 2021 because of COVID-19

LONDON - This year ’ s United Nations global climate summit is being postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic , host country Britain said Wednesday , The U.K. government said the meeting , due to take place in Glasgow , Scotland , in November , will now be held next year at a date still to be determined .
The government said in a statement that “ in light of the ongoing , worldwide effects of COVID-19 , holding an ambitious , inclusive COP26 in November 2020 is no longer possible.
” The meeting is formally known as the 26th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was made by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change , Britain and Italy , which had been due to host some preparatory events .
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted that it was a “ disappointing decision , but absolutely the right one as we all focus on the fight against # coronavirus.
” Glasgow ’ s SEC Arena , which had been due to host the event , has been named as the site of a temporary hospital for COVID-19 patients .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has made tackling climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s tenure at the helm of the conference got off to a bumpy start even before the coronavirus pandemic .
In January , Johnson fired Claire O ’ Neill , a former British government minister appointed last year to head the event , and replaced her with Business Secretary Alok Sharma .
“ We will continue working tirelessly with our partners to deliver the ambition needed to tackle the climate crisis and I look forward to agreeing a new date for the conference , ” Sharma said Wednesday .
Patricia Espinosa , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new coronavirus “ is the most urgent threat facing humanity today , but we can not forget that climate change is the biggest threat facing humanity over the long term.
” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stresses that safeguarding lives “ is our foremost priority “ but countries must step up action on climate change especially as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic , U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said .
“ Countries must work to protect the health of people , and the planet has never been more at risk , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Solidarity and greater ambition is needed now more than ever to transition to a sustainable , resilient low carbon economy that limits global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius ( 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit ) .
” The meeting in Glasgow would have been held five years after the 2015 Paris climate accord was agreed .
Countries that signed the landmark agreement are still expected to provide an update on their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions driving global warming .
In the Paris Agreement , countries agreed to limit global warming to 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and do their best to keep it below 1.5 degrees C ( 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit ) by the end of the century , compared with pre-industrial times .
President Donald Trump has triggered the United States ’ s withdrawal from the Paris accord , a move that formally comes into force in November .
His Democratic rivals have said they would rejoin if elected .
Environmental campaigners said postponing this year ’ s U.N. talks was the right move .
“ It doesn ’ t make sense to bring people from every country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ said Mohamed Adow , a longtime participant at U.N. climate meetings who heads the think-tank Power Shift Africa .
Adow said postponing the conference mustn ’ t stop countries from taking action to curb global warming , though , and suggested plans to revive economies after the pandemic ends should avoid propping up the kinds of industries that contribute to climate change .
“ Economies in the rich north must not be kick-started with dirty investment that will lead to climate suffering in the global south , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower-level meeting online at the end of April .
Associated Press writer Jill Lawless reported this story in London and AP writer Frank Jordans reported from Berlin .

Jill Lawless And Frank Jordans - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-04-01--Georgia Sen. Loeffler gets renewed scrutiny over stock moves

WASHINGTON - The husband of Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler recently acquired as much as $ 415,000 in stock in DuPont de Nemours , a chemical company that manufactures protective equipment in exceedingly high demand because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The transaction , detailed in a mandatory disclosure the Republican filed late Tuesday , comes as senators in both parties have faced questions about the stock transactions they made in the weeks before the coronavirus upended the U.S. economy , wiping out jobs and personal wealth .
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr , R-N.C. , whose sales of as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have come under the most scrutiny , requested an ethics review of his actions in the days before markets dropped in February .
The FBI has also contacted him about the sale .
He has denied trading on inside information .
Like Burr , Loeffler came under fire last month after she and her husband dumped substantial portions of their portfolio .
The transactions came after a series of private congressional briefings on the then-burgeoning pandemic .
The new purchases disclosed by Loeffler include the purchase of DuPont stock , a company that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of protective equipment as hospitals search for desperately needed supply .
Loeffler says she had no involvement in the trades .
“ Her stock portfolio is managed independently by third-party advisors , “ said spokeswoman Kerry Rom .
“ Sen .
Loeffler continues to operate with integrity and transparency –- following both the spirit and the letter of the law.
” Their latest financial moves are likely to give more ammunition to critics of the newly appointed senator , who is on the ballot this year .
Her top Republican primary rival , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of “ profiting ” while “ people are losing their jobs , their businesses , their retirements.
” The mandatory disclosures senators must make do not detail specific amounts of stock sales or purchases .
Instead , they give a range in dollars of the value of each transaction .
Tuesday ’ s filing shows Loeffler ’ s husband purchased anywhere between about $ 166,000 and $ 415,000 in DuPont , spread across four transactions in late February and early March .
The company ’ s website says “ thousands of DuPont employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parts of the world to increase capacity of protective garments during this time of high demand.
“ The purchase represented just a portion of their recent financial activity .
They also bought as much as $ 250,000 in Chevron , as much as $ 50,000 in Amazon and as much as $ 350,000 in CME Group , the new disclosure shows .
At the same time , they sold between about $ 100,000 and $ 250,000 in DocuSign stock , sold as much as $ 150,000 in Facebook stock and unloaded holdings in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Lululemon .
Loeffler ’ s husband , Jeffrey Sprecher , is chairman of the New York Stock Exchange .
A separate disclosure made Tuesday reveals he recently sold between about $ 6 million and $ 30 million of stock in its parent company , Intercontinental Exchange .
Loeffler , who also worked for Intercontinental Exchange , sold between $ 5 million and $ 25 million in stock from the company while exercising an option that gave her as much as $ 25 million more .
Stock options are one of the primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company .
The couple ’ s new investment in DuPont drew notice from government watchdog groups , particularly because they also recently invested in a tech company that offers telecommuting software that could also benefit from the pandemic .
“ I think it deserves an extra amount of scrutiny because when she did the first round of sales after she got nonpublic information , she also bought a stock in a telecommuting company , ” said Jordan Libowitz , a spokesman for the group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Burr last month .
“ This would follow that pattern , which is why it does raise an eyebrow , and it ’ s one of those things that even if it doesn ’ t go to the level of breaking the law or any rules , it looks bad .
”

Brian Slodysko And Mary Clare Jalonick - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-04-01--Trump warns Iran against attacking US troops in Iraq

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Tehran should expect a bold U.S. response if Iran or Iranian-backed groups attack American forces or assets in Iraq .
U.S.-Iran tensions soared following the Jan. 3 Washington-directed strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassim Soleimani outside Baghdad airport .
Trump said at an evening White House briefing that his administration has received intelligence that Iran is planning a strike , but did not provide additional details .
Iran has been blamed for an uptick in rocket attacks targeting Iraqi military bases hosting U.S. troops .
Three separate attacks in the span of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bases , killed three coalition servicemen , including two Americans , and injured scores of others .
Earlier in the day , Trump tweeted : “ Upon information and belief , Iran or its proxies are planning a sneak attack on U.S. troops and/or assets in Iraq .
If this happens , Iran will pay a very heavy price , indeed !
” Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and has steadily reimposed U.S. sanctions on Iran that had been eased or lifted under the terms of the deal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanctions on 20 Iranian people and companies for supporting Shia militia in Iraq held responsible for attacks on bases where U.S. forces are located .
Currently , there are about 7,500 coalition troops in Iraq assisting and providing training to their Iraqi security counterparts to fight the Islamic State group .
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