thetorontostar--2020-05-09--Johnson to unveil new COVID-19 alert system in U.K. in public address

Boris Johnson will unveil a new virus alert system , similar to how the government currently communicates terror threat levels , in Sunday ’ s address to Britain that will set out some of the conditions for removing restrictions on the economy .
The five-level alerts range from one ( green ) , which would enable life to return to normal , to five ( red ) .
England is on the verge of improving from level four to three , which indicates that the COVID-19 infection rate isn ’ t increasing significantly , Johnson is expected to say .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ make its debut : “ Stay alert , control the virus and save lives.
” “ We will take the decisions that continue to save lives and protect the NHS , proceeding with maximum caution and maximum conditionality , ” Johnson will say , according to a government official .
Johnson will urge workers and businesses to stay alert by following social-distancing rules , potentially angering some backbenchers in his Conservative Party who want a swift end to the lockdown that has scarred the economy .
A person familiar with the matter earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until June , when small shops may be allowed to reopen .
The government will also announce long-awaited measures to deal with people flying or sailing into the country .
Travellers , including Britons returning from abroad , will be told to self-isolate for 14 days as part of the government ’ s plans to try to avoid a second peak of the coronavirus .
The new rules , set to kick in next month , will force travellers to declare where they plan to stay while they ’ re in isolation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fine of as much as 1,000 pounds ( $ 1,740 ) or possible deportation .
The measures are likely to heighten criticism that the government was slow to react to contain the pandemic , which has now killed more than 31,000 people in the U.K. — the highest toll in Europe .
Even in late March , an influential group of cross-party lawmakers asked the government why it hadn ’ t set out plans to better monitor people arriving at the country ’ s airports and ports .
For the world ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travellers yet another reason to think twice before taking to the skies and will probably end Britons ’ plans of holidaying abroad this summer .
British Airways , which has London ’ s Heathrow Airport — Europe ’ s busiest with some 80.9 million passengers a year — as its home , is cutting 12,000 jobs , and Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. is seeking to stave off collapse .


thetorontostar--2020-05-09--Visitors flock to Smoky Mountains park on reopening day

GATLINBURG , Tenn. - The reopening of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was a little too tempting of a draw Saturday as scores of nature lovers from dozens of states crowded trails and trekked into blocked-off areas , a spokeswoman said .
Even with some of the most popular trails closed , parking lots were packed and lines of cars snaked down tree-lined streets , in one case for about a mile leading up to a waterfall path , according to park spokeswoman Dana Soehn .
Many people did not wear masks .
“ It seemed like people were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowded areas , ” said Soehn , adding that she counted license plates from 24 different states in one visitor centre parking lot .
Visitors also walked past heavy barricades on one of the park ’ s most trafficked trails , Laurel Falls , which was closed off to heed federal social distancing guidelines , she said .
On the Tennessee-North Carolina border , the Great Smoky Mountains is the county ’ s most visited national park .
It was closed March 24 after officials said it was becoming too congested during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after park officials said they made sure the park was aligned with federal , state and local authorities and that employees had enough personal protective gear .
Authorities have stressed that visitors must also practice social distancing .
At the Smokies , officials have said rangers will monitor roads and emergency situations , but won ’ t be specifically policing people .
Instead , Soehn has said she hopes people will visit the park in a way that keeps staffers safe .
“ We ’ ll continue to push out our messaging that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Soehn said .
“ We would encourage them to make choices to keep themselves safe.
” President Donald Trump has prioritized reopening national parks as a sign of “ significant progress against the invisible enemy ” of the pandemic , even as cases rise in an outbreak that has devastated the U.S. economy .
Park officials said the first phase of restrictions will last at least two weeks .
Management will then decide whether to reopen secondary roads and campgrounds , and later , lift all restrictions .
Many national parks remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canyon and Zion National Park in Utah and the Everglades National Park in Florida have also announced phased reopenings .
Federal authorities have yet to publicly announce timelines for other closed parks to reopen .

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thetorontostar--2020-05-09--Obama warns dropped charges against Flynn put ‘rule of law’ at risk

WASHINGTON—Former U.S. president Barack Obama launched a far-ranging attack on the Trump administration in an address to former aides Friday , warning that the “ rule of law ” was endangered by the Justice Department ’ s decision to drop charges against former national security adviser Michael Flynn and criticizing the White House response to the coronavirus pandemic as “ chaotic.
” “ There is no precedent that anybody can find for somebody who has been charged with perjury just getting off scot-free , ” Obama told hundreds of members of the Obama Alumni Association during an online discussion moderated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adviser Valerie Jarrett .
Obama ’ s comments were first reported by Yahoo News and confirmed by several people who heard his speech , including one who described the former president as being in “ quite the mood.
” Obama , who last month endorsed Joe Biden — his former vice-president and the Democratic Party ’ s presumptive nominee — has signalled to people around him that he is eager to engage more directly and pointedly with U.S. President Donald Trump in an attempt to rally Democrats around the cause of his friend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has set out to dismantle his legacy .
The news of Attorney-General William Barr ’ s decision to drop the criminal case against Flynn , who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI , has been “ somewhat downplayed ” in the media , Obama said , during his talk with Jarrett .
Obama said that such action only added to the urgency of electing Biden .
Flynn admitted that he had lied in a January 2017 interview with the FBI about his contacts with Russia ’ s ambassador to Washington during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether members of Trump ’ s campaign might have colluded with the Kremlin to influence the 2016 presidential election .
Career prosecutors and criminal law specialists were stunned by the Justice Department ’ s decision to drop the case , calling it highly unusual and questioned its legal grounding .
The move was recommended to Barr by a U.S. attorney in Missouri who had been tasked with reviewing Flynn ’ s case , after years of Trump and his allies arguing that Flynn had been treated unfairly .
Trump has called the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an FBI-led “ coup ” to remove him from the presidency .
After being consumed for months by the coronavirus , Trump returned with a vengeance this past week to his grievances over the Russia investigation , saying it was an act of treason engineered by “ human scum.
” Obama has publicly adopted a studied posture of muted disapproval during his post-presidency , but privately has been caustic in his assessment of Trump ’ s overall performance .
That was especially clear during his discussion of the administration ’ s response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excerpt posted online by Yahoo , Obama said the challenge was greater than Trump .
“ This election that ’ s coming up on every level is so important because what we ’ re going to be battling is not just a particular individual or a political party , ” Obama said .
“ What we ’ re fighting against is these long-term trends where being selfish , being tribal , being divided and seeing others as an enemy .
That has become a stronger impulse in American life .
And by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internationally as well.
” “ It ’ s part of the reason why the response to this global crisis has been so anemic and spotty , ” Obama continued .
“ It would have been bad even with the best of governments .
It has been an absolute chaotic disaster when that mindset — of ‘ what ’ s in it for me ’ and ‘ to heck with everybody else ’ — when that mindset is operationalized in our government.
” Obama , who campaigned vigorously for Democratic candidates in 2018 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has told friends he is deeply concerned that Trump , despite his recent stumbles , will be able to successfully leverage the bully pulpit of the presidency at a time when Biden is confined to campaigning from his basement in Delaware .

Glenn Thrush - The New York Times,Michael Crowley


thetorontostar--2020-05-09--Obama lashes out at Trump in call with supporters

WASHINGTON - Former President Barack Obama harshly criticized President Donald Trump ’ s handling of the coronavirus pandemic as an “ absolute chaotic disaster ” during a conversation with ex-members of his administration , according to a recording obtained by Yahoo News .
Obama also reacted to the Justice Department dropping its criminal case against Trump ’ s first national security adviser , Michael Flynn , saying he worried that the “ basic understanding of rule of law is at risk.
” More than 78,400 people with COVID-19 have died in the United States and more than 1.3 million people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest estimates from the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University .
Obama ’ s comments came during a Friday call with 3,000 members of the Obama Alumni Association , people who served in his administration .
Obama urged his supporters to back his former vice-president , Joe Biden , who is trying to unseat Trump in the Nov. 3 election .
“ What we ’ re fighting against is these long-term trends in which being selfish , being tribal , being divided , and seeing others as an enemy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in American life .
And by the way , we ’ re seeing that internationally as well .
It ’ s part of the reason why the response to this global crisis has been so anemic and spotty , ” Obama said , according to Yahoo News .
“ It would have been bad even with the best of governments .
It has been an absolute chaotic disaster when that mindset — of ‘ what ’ s in it for me ’ and ‘ to heck with everybody else ’ — when that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ he said .
Trump has consistently defended and boasted of his response to the virus , saying that travel restrictions from China and Europe as well as social distancing guidelines have prevented far greater damage .
“ I think we saved millions of lives , ” he said earlier this week .
Trump has criticized the Obama administration in relation to his own administration ’ s response to the outbreak .
Yet Trump ’ s contention that his administration inherited “ a broken system and a broken test ” from Obama ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not exist until late last year .
In fact , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention struggled to develop its own test in January and then discovered problems in its kits in February .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany did not mention Obama directly in her response to his remarks .
“ President Trump ’ s coronavirus response has been unprecedented and saved American lives , “ she said .
“ While Democrats were pursuing a sham witch hunt against President Trump , President Trump was shutting down travel from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats encouraged mass gatherings , President Trump was deploying PPE , ventilators , and testing across the country.
“ Obama has generally kept a low profile on current political events , even when Trump would disparage him or his administration on Twitter .
But Friday ’ s call indicates that he ’ ll be playing an active role in the coming election .
He told supporters that he would be “ spending as much time as necessary and campaigning as hard as I can for Joe Biden.
“


thetorontostar--2020-05-09--Police: Man in law office killed after firing at officers

GREENVILLE , S.C. - Police in South Carolina fatally shot a 25-year-old man who fired at them early Saturday , @ @ @ @ @ McClain III was one of two people police found in an office parking lot after @ @ @ @ @ reports of gunfire early Saturday , news outlets reported .
McClain ran into the building @ @ @ @ @ from inside , Lt. Alia Paramore said in a statement .
One officer shot back @ @ @ @ @ body was found by a robot .
Paramore said the second person was detained .
@ @ @ @ @ attorney W. Benjamin McClain Jr. , the Greenville News reported .
A man and woman @ @ @ @ @ afternoon declined to comment and told the newspaper ’ s reporter to leave the parking @ @ @ @ @ Enforcement Division is investigating under standard protocol for shootings involving law enforcement officers .


thetorontostar--2020-05-09--Sister fights to free Uighur businessman held in china after U.S. trip

WASHINGTON—When Ekpar Asat saw his older sister for the last time one winter night in Manhattan , he promised her he would return to the United States in a few months with their parents to watch her graduate with a master ’ s degree from Harvard Law School — the first ethnic Uighur to do so .
But three weeks after returning to China from that trip in 2016 , when he was attending a prestigious State Department leadership training program , he disappeared into the shadows of a vast detention system in the country ’ s northwest .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , heard that he had been sentenced to 15 years in prison on suspicion of inciting ethnic hatred .
“ It ’ s so upsetting , ” she said .
“ After he came to the U.S. , he had an elevated profile , and then he was labelled an enemy of the state.
” Rayhan Asat , a lawyer and permanent American resident in Washington , described her 34-year-old brother as a model citizen — an entrepreneur who founded a social media app for Uighurs and took part in state-organized events .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party .
The mother retired as a chemistry professor and the father as a civil servant in water-resources administration .
But Asat said the State Department project , the International Visitor Leadership Program , which for 80 years has trained many prominent foreign citizens , appears to have tainted her brother in the eyes of Chinese security officers .
Though department officials have raised Ekpar Asat ’ s case with Chinese counterparts , his sister is now calling for the agency to escalate its efforts — especially because he appears to have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his association with the program , she said .
She stressed , though , that the weeks he had spent in the United States had been a positive experience .
“ I told the State Department this was the very reason that he was in danger , ” Rayhan Asat , 36 , said .
“ When the United States organizes these programs and brings over these people , we have to protect them after the fact so these programs can be successful.
” Morgan Ortagus , a State Department spokeswoman , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s case with the Chinese government .
The State Department mentioned Asat in its 2019 human-rights report on China , which said he apparently had been detained in 2016 “ after participating in a program in the United States ” and then was sentenced to 15 years in prison .
The report , which identifies Asat by his official Chinese name , Aikebaier Aisaiti , also described the “ mass arbitrary detention ” of Muslims in Xinjiang .
The Uighurs are a Turkic-speaking Muslim group that calls Xinjiang their homeland .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down on separatism and religious extremism in the region , but most Uighurs suffering from the hard-line anti-Muslim policies are innocent citizens .
John Kamm , a human-rights advocate in California who has advised Rayhan Asat , said the State Department should make public cases of persecution that might be linked to its programs .
“ I think it ’ s simply prudent , ” he said .
“ I ’ m not calling for cancelling the program.
” The Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing said it had no information on Ekpar Asat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not answer submitted questions .
Asat was detained around the time that officials in Xinjiang were building up an internment-camp system that has held at least one million Muslims over four years .
Since 2018 , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has denounced the camps .
The fact that Asat ran a social media app with about 100,000 users might also have made Chinese officials suspicious , since they are wary of online mass communications .
But Rayhan Asat said her brother was careful to abide by censorship rules .
She said she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in January .
The Chinese Embassy in Washington sent an email to the office of Sen. Chris Coons telling them about Ekpar Asat ’ s 15-year sentence .
That was in response to a bipartisan letter that the senator and six other lawmakers , including Sen. Todd Young , sent to Ambassador Cui Tiankai in December urging China to release Asat .
Coons said in a statement that he was “ deeply concerned ” about the repression in Xinjiang .
“ China must be held accountable for this gross abuse of human rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he added .
Sen. Mitch McConnell , the majority leader , said that the Senate would move soon to pass a bipartisan bill , the Uighur Human Rights Policy Act , that would compel President Donald Trump to take tough measures against China on Xinjiang , including imposing sanctions on some officials .
Tensions between Washington and Beijing have risen sharply during the pandemic , which began in central China .
Rayhan Asat said the accusation of ethnic hatred was absurd .
She pointed to state-run news reports that featured her brother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government-sponsored events .
“ They always said he was a bridge builder between the ethnic minorities and the majority Han , ” she said .
In 2014 , Ekpar Asat was among a small group of businesspeople selected to meet with Max Baucus , then the American ambassador to China , who had travelled to Xinjiang .
The U.S. Embassy in Beijing then encouraged Ekpar Asat to apply for the State Department ’ s leadership program , his sister said .
After being accepted , he flew to the United States in February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program for journalists that introduced him to institutions and figures across Washington and five states .
There were eight other participants .
Asat was effusive about the program .
While in Washington , he wrote on WeChat , the Chinese social media app : “ It ’ s an incredible honour to participate in the IVLP .
I hope to gain profound insight into American culture and media !
” He posted photographs of his travels .
He posed with Americans to whom he had given traditional Uighur hats and scarves .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Florida , attended an NBA game in Indiana and posed next to the CNN logo at the network ’ s headquarters in Georgia .
After Asat returned to their home city of Urumqi , nothing seemed unusual at first .
He helped sponsor an international boxing tournament that was covered by China Central Television , the state-run network .
He stood in the ring next to a famous Uighur boxer holding up a trophy .
Then Rayhan Asat stopped hearing from him .
No new messages appeared on his WeChat account after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they would not attend her graduation .
During what should have been a high point in her life — graduating from Harvard — she was distraught and in tears .
She soon began working in the Washington office of a Wall Street law firm and talking to American officials .
She noticed her brother ’ s employees were still posting news items to his app , Bagdax , as were public users of the app , until April 2017 , which suggests its existence was not the reason for his detention .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detentions in Xinjiang , she has tried quietly to get the State Department , the National Security Council and congressional offices to press harder for her brother ’ s freedom .
She said she was aware her family might suffer reprisals as a result of her speaking out .
That has happened to other Uighurs abroad .
But she said her brother ’ s ordeal had made her realize that no matter what she and her family do to conform as model citizens , the Chinese government sees Uighurs “ forever as outsiders.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ China , you ’ re not supposed to engage in politics , ” she said .
“ But China is pushing me to become political .
”


thetorontostar--2020-05-09--Three youths in New York die from mysterious syndrome possibly linked to COVID-19

ALBANY , N.Y. - Two young children and a teenager have now died in New York state from a possible complication from the coronavirus involving swollen blood vessels and heart problems , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said Saturday .
At least 73 children in New York have been diagnosed with symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease — a rare inflammatory condition in children — and toxic shock syndrome .
Most of them are toddlers and elementary-age children .
Cuomo announced two more deaths a day after discussing the death of a 5-year-old boy Thursday at a New York City hospital .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a teenager in Suffolk County on Long Island also died .
There is no proof that the virus causes the mysterious syndrome .
Cuomo said children had tested positive for COVID-19 or the antibodies but did not show the common symptoms of the virus when they were hospitalized .
“ This is the last thing that we need at this time , with all that is going on , with all the anxiety we have , now for parents to have to worry about whether or not their youngster was infected , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York is helping develop national criteria for identifying and responding to the syndrome at the request of the Centers for Disease Control , Cuomo said .
Children elsewhere in the U.S. have also been hospitalized with the condition , which was also seen in Europe .
Doctors still believe that most children with COVID-19 develop only mild illness .
At least 3,000 U.S. children are diagnosed with Kawasaki disease each year .
It is most common in children younger than 6 and in boys .
Other coronavirus developments in New York .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s stay-at-home restrictions to June 7 — despite a claim by a spokesman that he did , according to a top aide to the governor .
Melissa DeRosa , secretary to the governor , released a prepared statement Saturday evening saying the May 15 expiration date for the restrictions still stands “ until further notice.
” Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi had said earlier in the day that Cuomo in an executive order extended the stay-at-home restrictions into early June , though regions of the state would be able to phase in reopenings sooner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He later said he misinterpreted the order , which extended the expiration date of other emergency actions .
Cuomo plans to allow regions to gradually begin restarting economic activity after May 15 if they demonstrate progress in taming and tracking the outbreak .
DeRosa said new guidance will be issued for regions of the state at that time based on those metrics .
Some upstate areas hope to begin reopening later this month , though none of the state ’ s 10 regions had met all seven required benchmarks earlier this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activity must show that COVID-19-related deaths and hospitalizations are trending down and that there are enough hospital beds to meet a surge .
Counties will have to increase testing and tracing and businesses will need to adapt to protect workers .
Businesses will reopen in four phases , starting with construction , manufacturing and retail with curb-side pickup .
New York reported 226 new deaths , up by 10 from the previous day but in line with daily tolls from the rest of the week .
More than 21,200 people in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total doesn ’ t include more than 5,300 deaths in New York City that were attributed to the virus on death certificates but weren ’ t confirmed by a lab test .
Pressures on hospitals continue to ease .
Total hospitalizations dipped to 7,776 , well under half the number at the peak of the outbreak .
New COVID-19 admissions are averaging 572 a day , compared to more than 3,000 a day in early April .
New York City transit officials said they ’ re providing buses for homeless people to shelter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newly instituted overnight subway closures .
The subway system has been shutting down from 1 to 5 a.m. since Wednesday as part of an outbreak-related plan for daily train disinfecting .
City outreach workers have been persuading homeless people to leave the system for shelters during the shutdowns .
With temperatures around the freezing mark and a traces of snow reported in Manhattan ’ s Central Park , transit officials said they also would provide a limited number of buses at end-of-line stations Saturday and Sunday .
The buses are not for transportation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place for individuals to escape the elements in the short term , ” according to a prepared statement from New York City Transit President Sarah Feinberg and Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Tony Utano .
“ We are providing these buses only during this cold snap and expect the city to continue to step up and take responsibility for providing safe shelter for those individuals experiencing homelessness , ” according to the statement .
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority did not immediately respond to an email Saturday morning asking how many buses were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shelter in them .
This story has been corrected to show that a top aide to New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said the governor did not extend New York ’ s stay-at home-restriction to June 7 , despite a claim by another spokesman that he did .
This story has been corrected to show the number of rose by 10 from the previous day in New York , not 2 .


thetorontostar--2020-05-09--Libyan officials: Shelling at Tripoli’s only working airport

CAIRO - Fighting between forces loyal to rival governments over Libya ’ s capital intensified Saturday with heavy artillery shelling hitting the sole functioning airport in Tripoli , setting jet fuel tanks ablaze and damaging passenger planes , authorities in west Libya and the U.N. said .
The Tripoli-based Transportation Ministry said one of the damaged aircraft had been scheduled to leave Tripoli to bring back Libyans stranded in Spain by the coronavirus lockdown .
It blamed east-based forces fighting to take the capital for over a year for the attack .
Libya has been in turmoil since 2011 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moammar Gadhafi , who was later killed .
The country has since split between rival administrations in the east and the west , each backed by armed groups and foreign countries .
Brega Petroleum Marketing Company said the shelling at Mitiga airport set its jet fuel tanks on fire .
The company , which is part of Libya ’ s National Oil Corporation , shared footage of apparent damaged tanks while firefighters try to distinguish the fire .
Authorities had halted civilian flights at Mitiga , which is part of a military base @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before announcing the suspension of air travel as part of its measures to fight the coronavirus pandemic .
Last year , eastern-based forces under military commander Khalifa Hifter launched an offensive onTripoli , clashing with an array of militias loosely allied with the U.N.-supported but weak government in the capital .
The Tripoli authorities are backed by Turkey and Qatar , while the eastern Libya forces are supported by United Arab Emirates and Egypt .
The U.N. support mission in Libya blamed Hifter ’ s forces for the Mitiga attack .
“ Today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a series of indiscriminate attacks ... killing more than 15 and injuring 50 civilians since May 1 , ” it said .
The mission said most of these attacks were attributable to Hifter ’ s self-styled Libyan Arab Armed Forces .
There was no immediate comment from the LAAF , which has repeatedly claimed that Turkey has used the airport to launch drone attacks on its forces .
Tripoli authorities have denied the allegations .
Elsewhere in the capital , the U.N.-supported administration , known as the Government of National Accord , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ artillery shells on Tripoli ’ s residential neighbourhoods .
The health authorities said at least three people were killed and a dozen were wounded in the shelling .
The claims could not independently be verified .
The fighting over Tripoli has threatened to push Libya into a major conflagration on the scale of the 2011 uprising that toppled and later killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi .


thetorontostar--2020-05-10--Virus outbreak hits members of White House Task Force

WASHINGTON - Three members of the White House coronavirus task force , including Dr. Anthony Fauci , placed themselves in quarantine after contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 , another stark reminder that not even one of the nation ’ s most secure buildings is immune from the virus .
Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a leading member of the task force , has become nationally known for his simple and direct explanations to the public about the coronavirus and COVID-19 , the disease it causes .
Also quarantining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , and the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration , Stephen Hahn .
Fauci ’ s institute said that he has tested negative for COVID-19 and will continue to be tested regularly .
It added that he is considered at “ relatively low risk ” based on the degree of his exposure , and that he would be “ taking appropriate precautions “ to mitigate the risk to personal contacts while still carrying out his duties .
While he will stay at home and telework @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House if called and take every precaution , the institute said .
Redfield will be “ teleworking for the next two weeks “ after it was determined he had a “ low risk exposure ” to a person at the White House , the CDC said in a statement Saturday evening .
The statement said he felt fine and has no symptoms .
Just a few hours earlier , the Food and Drug Administration confirmed that Hahn had come in contact with someone who tested positive and was in self-quarantine for the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
All three men are scheduled to testify before a Senate committee on Tuesday .
Sen. Lamar Alexander , R-Tenn. , the chairman of the panel , said the White House will allow Redfield and Hahn to testify by videoconference , a one-time exception to the administration ’ s policies on hearing testimony .
The statement was issued before Fauci ’ s quarantine was announced .
Vice-President Mike Pence ’ s press secretary tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday , making her the second person who works at the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus this week .
White House officials had confirmed Thursday that a member of the military serving as one of Trump ’ s valets had tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday .
President Donald Trump , who publicly identified the affected Pence aide as spokeswoman Katie Miller , said he was “ not worried ” about the virus spreading in the White House .
Nonetheless , officials said they were stepping up safety protocols for the complex .
Miller had been in recent contact with Pence but not with the president and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She is married to Stephen Miller , a top Trump adviser .
The White House had no immediate comment on whether Stephen Miller had been tested or if he was still working in the White House .
The CDC and FDA would not disclose the identity of the person who had tested positive and with whom the agency leaders had come in contact .
Redfield sought to use the exposure as a teachable moment .
The CDC statement said if he must go to the White House to fulfil any responsibilities as part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will follow CDC practices for critical infrastructure workers .
Those guidelines call for Redfield and anyone working on the task force to have their temperature taken and screened for symptoms each day , wear a face covering , and distance themselves from others .
Trump has resisted wearing a mask , and in a meeting with the nation ’ s top military leaders Saturday evening , he did not wear a mask during the brief portion that reporters were allowed to view .
The generals around Trump also did not wear a mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feet away from each other .
FDA spokeswoman Stephanie Caccomo said Hahn tested negative for the virus after he learned of the contact .
He wrote a note to staff on Friday to alert them .
Six people who had been in contact with Miller were scheduled to fly with Pence on Friday to Des Moines , Iowa , on Air Force Two .
They were removed from the flight just before it took off , according to a senior administration official .
None of those people was exhibiting symptoms , but all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be tested “ out of an abundance of caution , ” a senior administration official told reporters travelling with Pence .
All six later tested negative , the White House said .
The official said staff in the West Wing are tested regularly but much of Pence ’ s staff — which works next door in the Executive Office Building — are tested less frequently .
Katie Miller was not on the plane and had not been scheduled to be on the trip .
Pence , who is tested on a regular basis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was “ doing well ” and looked forward to getting back to work .
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said the administration was stepping up mitigation efforts already recommended by public health experts and taking other unspecified precautions to ensure the safety of the president .
He said the White House was “ probably the safest place that you can come , ” but the he was reviewing further steps to keep Trump and Pence safe .
The White House requires daily temperature checks of anyone who enters the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among those working in the building .
The administration has also directed regular deep cleaning of all work spaces .
Anyone who comes in close proximity to the president and vice-president is tested daily for COVID-19 .
Trump ’ s valet ’ s case marked the first known instance where a person who has come in close proximity to the president has tested positive since several people present at his private Florida club were diagnosed with COVID-19 in early March .
Associated Press writers Zeke Miller , Darlene Superville and Lauran Neergaard in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-05-10--Taliban say they don’t have missing US contractor

ISLAMABAD - Taliban leaders searched their ranks , including the much-feared Haqqani network , and on Sunday told The Associated Press they are not holding Mark R. Frerichs , a Navy veteran turned contractor who was disappeared in Afghanistan in late January .
“ We don ’ t have any information about the missing American , ” Sohail Shaheen , Taliban ’ s political spokesman , told the AP in a message on Sunday .
A second Taliban official familiar with the talks with the United States said “ formally and informally ” the Taliban have notified U.S. officials they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media .
Washington ’ s peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad , who negotiated a peace deal with the Taliban signed in February to allow America and NATO countries to withdraw their troops and end decades of war , asked for Frierchs ’ release during his meetings this week in the Middle Eastern State of Qatar where the Taliban maintain a political office .
In a statement late Saturday by the U.S. Embassy in Kabul , Khalilzad also sought Pakistan ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Islamabad on Friday from Doha before heading next door to India in his pursuit of a lasting peace in Afghanistan .
Pakistan , where Taliban leaders have found a safe haven since their overthrow in 2001 by the U.S.-led coalition , has worked with the U.S. to get a peace deal with the Taliban .
While it still has influence with the insurgents , a deep mistrust between the militant movement and Taliban exists .
Pakistan kept the Taliban ’ s chief negotiator Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in jail for eight years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operation in 2010 , apparently because he had opened peace talks with Afghanistan ’ s President Hamid Karzai but without Pakistan or Washington ’ s involvement .
Since his release in late 2018 to push the U.S.-Taliban peace process forward , he has returned only once to Pakistan and has quietly been relocating his family to the Middle East .
Earlier this week , the FBI took the unusual step of putting out a poster with Frerichs ’ picture on it seeking information into his disappearance and whereabouts , something they have not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have taken hostages .
Previous talks have been held quietly , intelligence gathered and often many months later hostages ’ fate is known , having either found their freedom or died .
Khalilzad ’ s latest trip to the region , according to a U.S. State Department announcement , includes Doha , Islamabad and New Delhi but not Kabul , where political turmoil has stymied progress on the deal ’ s next and critical phase of intra-Afghan talks .
Afghanistan ’ s political leaders are still disputing last year ’ s presidential polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Pompeo in March cut $ 1 billion in aid to Afghanistan after a surprise visit to the Afghan capital failed to bring about an agreement between the two leaders — President Ashraf Ghani and his rival , Abdullah Abdullah .
Khalilzad however has been pressing forward pushing the Taliban to agree to a reduction in violence in an effort to move Afghanistan toward a lasting peace .
The U.S. and NATO however have started their troop withdrawal , which will be completed by next year if the Taliban keep to their promise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , particularly the Islamic State and guarantee Afghan territory is not used again to attack the United States or its allies .


thetorontostar--2020-05-10--Virus case rise in China, South Korea, Obama bashes Trump

ROME - Both China and South Korea reported new spikes in coronavirus cases on Sunday , setting off fresh concerns in countries where local outbreaks had been in dramatic decline .
Former President Barack Obama , meanwhile , harshly criticized President Donald Trump ’ s handling of the coronavirus pandemic as an “ absolute chaotic disaster , ” while U.S. states began gradually reopening , even as health officials are anxiously watching for a second wave of infections .
China reported 14 new cases on Sunday , its first double-digit rise in 10 days .
Eleven of 12 domestic infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and one in Hubei , whose capital Wuhan was the epicenter of the global pandemic .
The Jilin cases prompted authorities to raise the threat level in one of its counties , Shulan , to high risk , just days after downgrading all regions in the country to low risk .
Jilin shares a border with North Korea , where the virus situation is unclear but whose vastly inadequate health system has been offered help by China in dealing with any outbreak .
South Korea on Sunday reported 34 additional cases as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country ’ s hard-won gains in its fight against the virus .
South Korean media reported it was the first time that South Korea ’ s daily jump has marked above 30 in about a month .
On Sunday , President Moon Jae-in said citizens must neither panic nor let down their guard , but warned that “ the damage to our economy is indeed colossal as well.
” Around the world , the U.S. and other hard-hit countries are wrestling with how to ease curbs on business and public activity without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
During a conversation with ex-members of his administration , Obama said combating the virus would have been bad even for the best of governments , but it ’ s been “ an absolute chaotic disaster ” when the mindset of “ what ’ s in it for me ” infiltrates government , according to a recording obtained by Yahoo News .
The United States has suffered nearly 80,000 deaths from COVID-19 , the most of any nation .
In Australia , Health Minister Greg Hunt said the government supports a European Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ origins of COVID-19 in China , a proposal stiffly resisted by Beijing , Australia ’ s No .
1 trading partner .
“ We support the EU motion which includes an independent investigation , regulatory work on wet markets and also the potential for independent inspection powers , ” Hunt told Sky News on Sunday .
Ursula von der Leyen , the head of the EU ’ s executive arm , said last week she would like to see China work together with her organization , and others , to determine how the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believed to have originated in Wuhan , most scientists say it was most likely transmitted from bats to humans via an intermediary animal such as the armadillo-like pangolin .
That has placed the focus on a wet market in the city where wildlife was sold for food .
However , Trump and allies have expressed confidence in an unsubstantiated theory linking the origin of the outbreak to a possible accident at a Chinese virology laboratory in Wuhan , something Chinese officials and state media have called an attempt to divert attention from U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
China says its too early to launch an investigation into the virus ’ origin and angrily rejects accusations that it covered up the initial outbreak and didn ’ t do enough to prevent the global pandemic .
In New York , the deadliest hot spot in the U.S. , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said three children died from a possible complication of the coronavirus involving swollen blood vessels and heart problems .
Three members of the White House coronavirus task force , including Dr. Anthony Fauci , placed themselves in quarantine after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
Worldwide , 4 million people have been confirmed infected by the virus , and more than 279,000 have died , including over 78,000 in the U.S. , according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University .
Spain , France , Italy and Britain have reported around 26,000 to 32,000 deaths each .
Businesses in the U.S. continue to struggle as more employers reluctantly conclude that their laid-off employees might not return to work anytime soon .
Some malls have opened up in Georgia and Texas , while Nevada restaurants , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have limited reopenings Saturday or once again allow customers inside after nearly two months of restrictions .
About 1,500 opponents of Washington ’ s stay-at-home order to slow the coronavirus rallied again Saturday at the state capitol , while some residents who reported stay-at-home violators said they ’ ve received threats after far-right groups posted their personal information on Facebook .
Such protests have drawn relatively small crowds in several states despite encouragement from the White House , which is anxious to see the economy reopen .
The federal government said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first drug shown to speed recovery for COVID-19 patients , to six more states , after seven others were sent cases of the medicine earlier this week .
In the U.S. Southwest , some small Native American villages are embracing extraordinary isolation measures such as guarded roadblocks to turn away outsiders as the virus ravages tight-knit communities .
Italy saw people return to the streets and revel in fine weather and Rome ’ s Campo dei Fiori flower and vegetable market was also bustling in Rome .
But confusion created frustrations for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , owner of TabaCafe , an Argentine empanada bar that was selling cocktails to a few customers , said that since reopening this week , police had threatened to fine him over crowds outside .
“ Am I supposed to send them home ?
They need a guard here to do that , ” he said .
“ The laws aren ’ t clear , the decree isn ’ t clear .
You don ’ t know what you can do.
” Elsewhere , Pakistan allowed shops , factories , construction sites and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 1,600 new cases and 24 deaths were reported .
In Spain , certain regions can scale back lockdowns starting Monday , with limited seating at bars , restaurants and other public places .
But Madrid and Barcelona , the country ’ s largest cities , will remain shut down .
Gera reported from Warsaw , Poland , and Forliti reported from Minneapolis .
Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report .

Nicole Winfield, Vanessa Gera And Amy Forliti - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-09--Three members of White House virus task force, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, now in quarantine

WASHINGTON—Three members of the White House coronavirus task force , including Dr. Anthony Fauci , have placed themselves in quarantine after contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 , another stark reminder not even one of the most secure buildings in the United States is immune from the virus .
Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a leading member of the task force , has become nationally known for his simple and direct explanations to the public about the coronavirus and COVID-19 , the disease it causes .
Also quarantining are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , and Stephen Hahn , commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration Fauci ’ s institute said he has tested negative for COVID-19 and will continue to be tested regularly .
It added he is considered at “ relatively low risk ” based on the degree of his exposure , and he would be “ taking appropriate precautions ” to mitigate the risk to personal contacts while still carrying out his duties .
While he will stay at home and telework , Fauci will go to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precaution , the institute said .
Redfield will be “ teleworking for the next two weeks ” after it was determined he had a “ low-risk exposure ” to a person at the White House , the CDC said in a statement Saturday evening .
The statement said he felt fine and has no symptoms .
Just a few hours earlier , the Food and Drug Administration confirmed Hahn had come in contact with someone who tested positive and was in self-quarantine for the next two weeks .
He tested negative for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to testify before a Senate committee on Tuesday .
Sen. Lamar Alexander , chairman of the panel , said the White House will allow Redfield and Hahn to testify by video conference , a one-time exception to the administration ’ s policies on hearing testimony .
The statement was issued before Fauci ’ s quarantine was announced .
U.S .
Vice-President Mike Pence ’ s press secretary tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday , making her the second person who works at the White House complex known to test positive for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had confirmed Thursday that a member of the military serving as one of U.S. President Donald Trump ’ s valets had tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday .
Trump , who publicly identified the affected Pence aide as spokeswoman Katie Miller , said he was “ not worried ” about the virus spreading in the White House .
Nonetheless , officials said they were stepping up safety protocols for the complex .
Miller had been in recent contact with Pence , but not with the president , and had tested negative a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miller , a top Trump adviser .
The White House had no immediate comment on whether Stephen Miller had been tested or if he was still working in the White House .
The CDC and FDA would not disclose the identity of the person who had tested positive and with whom the agency leaders had come in contact .
Redfield sought to use the exposure as a teachable moment .
The CDC statement said if he must go to the White House to fulfil any responsibilities as part of the coronavirus task force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical infrastructure workers .
Those guidelines call for Redfield and anyone working on the task force to have their temperature taken and screened for symptoms each day , wear a face covering and distance themselves from others .
Trump has resisted wearing a mask , and in a meeting with the nation ’ s top military leaders Saturday evening , he did not wear a mask during the brief portion that reporters were allowed to view .
The generals around Trump also did not wear a mask , but participants did sit away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Caccomo said Hahn tested negative for the virus after he learned of the contact .
He wrote a note to staff on Friday to alert them .
Six people who had been in contact with Miller were scheduled to fly with Pence on Friday to Des Moines , Iowa , on Air Force Two .
They were removed from the flight just before it took off , according to a senior administration official .
None of those people was exhibiting symptoms , but all were asked to deplane so they could be tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” a senior administration official told reporters travelling with Pence .
All six later tested negative , the White House said .
The official said staff in the West Wing are tested regularly , but much of Pence ’ s staff — which works next door in the Executive Office Building — are tested less frequently .
Katie Miller was not on the plane and had not been scheduled to be on the trip .
Pence , who is tested on a regular basis , was tested Friday .
Miller tweeted she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward to getting back to work .
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said the administration was stepping up mitigation efforts already recommended by public-health experts and taking other unspecified precautions to ensure the safety of the president .
He said the White House was “ probably the safest place that you can come , ” but that he was reviewing further steps to keep Trump and Pence safe .
The White House requires daily temperature checks of anyone who enters the White House complex and has encouraged social distancing among those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has also directed regular deep cleaning of all work spaces .
Anyone who comes in close proximity to the president and vice-president is tested daily for COVID-19 .
Trump ’ s valet ’ s case marked the first known instance where a person who has come in close proximity to the president has tested positive since several people present at his private Florida club were diagnosed with COVID-19 in early March .


thetorontostar--2020-05-09--President Trump congratulates UFC for restarting sports

JACKSONVILLE , Fla. - President Trump congratulated UFC for restarting the sports world Saturday night after a nearly two-month hiatus .
Trump ’ s taped message was played during ESPN ’ s broadcast of the UFC 249 undercard from a fan-free arena in Jacksonville .
“ I want to congratulate ( UFC President ) Dana White and the UFC , ” Trump said .
“ They ’ re going to have a big match .
We love it .
We think it ’ s important .
Get the sports leagues back .
Let ’ s play .
Do the social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do .
We need sports .
We want our sports back .
Congratulations to Dana White and UFC.
” UFC 249 served as the first major sporting event to take place since the global pandemic shut down much of the country nearly eight weeks ago .
It was originally scheduled for April 18 in New York , but was postponed in hopes of helping slow the spread of COVID-19 .
The mixed martial arts behemoth is holding three shows in eight days in Jacksonville , where state officials deemed professional sports with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as long as “ the location is closed to the general public.
” The UFC came up with a 25-page document to address health and safety protocols , procedures that led to Jacaré Souza testing positive for COVID-19 on Friday .
His middleweight bout against Uriah Hall was cancelled late Friday .
Souza ’ s two cornermen also tested as positive , the UFC said in a statement .
“ All three men have left the host hotel and will be self-isolating off premises , where UFC ’ s medical team will monitor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with any necessary treatment , ” the UFC said .
The positive results surely increased the focus on the event .
Every other sport is watching closely to see how it plays out .
White previously said Trump wants the event to serve as a blueprint for the return of live sports .
White didn ’ t want to postpone any fights .
He tried to host the event on tribal land in California and still hopes to create a “ Fight Island ” for future cards .
He settled for Jacksonville for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fans and social-distancing rules in place .
Judges and broadcasters were separated .
Fighters , trainers , referees , judges , UFC staff and even outside media had to undergo COVID-19 testing to get inside Veterans Memorial Arena .
But not everyone followed the rules .
White mingled and bumped fists with nearly every fighter during official weigh-ins held inside a hotel ballroom Friday .
Souza arrived wearing gloves and a mask while he awaited his test results .
But he had alerted UFC officials that a family member in Orlando , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive for the coronavirus .
His opponent , Hall , wore a mask and kept his distance .
White stood between them without a mask .
Many of those in attendance Saturday wore masks and gloves , although several were seemingly exempt from the mandate .
Referees , ring announcer Bruce Buffer , other officials inside the octagon and the ring girl were unmasked .
The cage floor was disinfected between bouts , and the padded parts of the octagon were wiped down between rounds .
Without fans , sounds that usually would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the empty arena .
Every kick , punch , grunt and step inside the octagon echoed .
Commentators and camera clicks could be heard across the way .
Coaching tips and exchanges were prevalent , often R-rated and even comical at times .
“ I don ’ t like people anyway , ” said Ryan “ Superman ” Spann , who got a victory in the opening bout .
“ It ’ s fine .
It was nothing .
The world is my audience.
” Also on the undercard : —Anthony “ Showtime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Cowboy ” Cerrone ( 36-15 ) in a wild welterweight fight that included a flurry of exchanges , even one kick after the final bell .
Pettis and Cerrone last fought in 2013 .
Pettis won that one as well .
Cerrone has dropped four in a row , including losses to Conor McGregor , Gaethje and Ferguson .
—Aleksei “ The Boa Constrictor ” Oleinik ( 59-13-1 ) beat Fabricio Werdum ( 23-9-1 ) in a heavyweight bout featuring a pair of 42-year-olds .
It was a split decision that included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ —Carla Esparza ( 16-6 ) edged Michelle “ Karate Hottie ” Waterson ( 17-8 ) in a split decision .
It was Esparza ’ s third straight victory in the straw-weight division .
—Vicente Luque ( 18-7-1 ) won for the seventh time in eight fights when he beat Niko Price ( 14-4 ) in a bloodbath .
The fight was ruled a TKO in the third round after Price developed a nasty cut above his right eye .
Luque was ahead on all three cards when it was called .
—Spann ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight by beating veteran Sam Alvey ( 33-14 ) in a split decision .


thetorontostar--2020-05-09--In Japan, pandemic brings outbreaks of bullying, ostracism

TOKYO - The coronavirus in Japan has brought not just an epidemic of infections , but also an onslaught of bullying and discrimination against the sick , their families and health workers .
A government campaign to raise awareness seems to be helping , at least for medical workers .
But it ’ s made only limited headway in countering the harassment and shunning that may be discouraging people from seeking testing and care and hindering the battle against the pandemic .
When Arisa Kadono tested positive and was hospitalized in early April , she was only identified as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Soon , friends let her know that groundless rumours were circulating : that the family-run bar she helps with was a hotbed of virus ; that she had dined with a popular baseball player who was infected earlier but she has never met ; that she was sneaking out of the hospital and spreading the virus .
“ It was as if I was a criminal , ” Kadono said in an interview from her home in Himeji , western Japan , after ending her three-week hospitalization .
Apart from a fever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of smell , Kadono had no major symptoms though she repeatedly tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 .
Her mother developed pneumonia and was briefly in intensive care at another hospital .
“ There are many other people who also have faced discrimination and prejudice , ( asterisk ) said Kadono , who decided to speak out on her own behalf and that of other COVID-19 survivors and their families .
“ I really want to change people ’ s tendency to blame those who get infected .
( asterisk ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say the prejudice against those even indirectly associated with the illness also stems from deeply rooted ideas about purity and cleanliness in a culture that rejects anything deemed to be alien , unclean or troublesome .
Medical workers risking their lives to care for patients are a main target , but people working at grocery stores , delivering parcels and carrying out other essential jobs also are facing harassment .
So are their family members .
“ I can imagine people fear the virus , but we are working hard at the front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nurse in her 30s , speaking on condition of anonymity out of fear she might be targeted if identified .
“ We also have our own families we care about .
Discrimination against us just because we are medical workers is discouraging and demoralizing.
” Another nurse was approached by a few mothers and asked to leave a Tokyo park she was visiting with her children .
Some nurses are unwelcome at restaurants they usually eat at .
Some are rejected by taxi drivers .
The Health Ministry issued a directive to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children of doctors and nurses .
A veteran nurse in the northern island of Hokkaido said the mother of one of her coworkers was suspended from work .
The husband of another was told at a job interview he wouldn ’ t be hired because of his wife ’ s job .
The nurses , both assigned to COVID-19 patients , were staying at hotels to protect their families while working under severe conditions without adequate protective equipment and testing .
“ We understand people ’ s fears , but medical workers are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals .
We seek your support , ” said Toshiko Fukui , head of the Japanese Nursing Association .
“ We are not asking for anything special .
... Just a word of thanks is a huge reward that boosts our motivation , ” Fukui said .
The backlash against coronavirus patients may lead some who fall sick to avoid seeking medical care , raising the risks of infection spreading further , clinical psychologist Reo Morimitsu at the Suwa Red Cross Hospital said in an interview with NHK public television .
Reports said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dozen people dead at home alone or collapsed on the streets who later tested positive for the virus .
“ The virus not only infects our body but also our minds and behaviour , harming us and dividing our society , ” Morimitsu said .
Prejudice against those not viewed as mainstream or “ pure “ is a legacy of feudal times , when some Japanese engaged in professions such as leather tanning and butchering were deemed unclean .
Their descendants still face discrimination .
People suffering from ailments such as Hansen ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likewise forced to live in isolation decades after a cure was found .
Victims of the 1945 U.S. atomic bomb attacks on Japan , known as “ hibakusha , “ and others injured in industrial accidents such as mercury poisoning have faced similar treatment .
More recently , some who fled the 2011 nuclear meltdowns in Fukushima have suffered bullying and harassment .
“ Underlying the ( coronavirus ) discrimination is a sense that the patients are impure , ” Naoki Sato , an expert on criminology and Japanese culture at the Kyushu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent article in the Gendai Business online magazine .
“ Growing anxiety and fear of infection are adding to discrimination against the infected.
” Random acts of hatred have been reported from across the country : — Arson threats were made against Kyoto Sangyo University after some of its students were infected .
— An Osaka city assemblyman compared a young patient to “ a murderer ” of elderly people .
— In Mie , central Japan , people threw stones at a patient ’ s house and vandalized property .
— In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-quarantine after his future neighbours sought to bar him from moving into a retirement home and the local government office refused to register him .
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other officials have denounced such behaviour .
Some places in Japan have begun following the examples set in Europe and elsewhere of sending messages of appreciation and praising medical workers and others in essential jobs .
Some offices have started collecting donations and other support for hospitals .
The belated campaign to raise awareness and combat corona discrimination is only a first step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said the nurse from Hokkaido .
“ People started to cheer us , “ she said .
“ Neighborhood stores sometimes bring us treats like pancakes , fried noodles and milk .
”


thetorontostar--2020-05-09--Gerber selects first adopted spokesbaby in its 92-year history

After featuring nearly a dozen tiny brand ambassadors as the face of its baby food and other early childhood products , Gerber announced Friday it had selected the first adopted “ spokesbaby ” in its 92-year history .
The baby , Magnolia Earl of Ross , Calif. , was selected from among more than 327,000 entries submitted to the Gerber website , where families uploaded photos and videos and shared stories for the company ’ s annual Photo Search contest .
Magnolia , who turned one year old on Saturday , “ captured the hearts of the judging panel with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warm , engaging gaze , ” the company said in a statement .
She will be featured in social media and marketing campaigns throughout the year .
The Earl family was awarded $ 25,000 ( U.S. ) and other prizes , including baby clothes and phones with one year of unlimited service .
“ Magnolia has brought so much joy to everyone she meets , ” Courtney Earl , Magnolia ’ s mother , said in the statement .
“ Her personality is beyond happy and joyful.
” Earl recalled the moment last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about a mother in labour who wanted to talk .
“ We pulled off the highway , got a chance to connect with her amazing birth parents and a few hours later , this sweet baby girl was born , ” she said .
“ Adoption is incredibly special to our family ’ s story .
Winning Photo Search is an opportunity to tell Magnolia ’ s story and shed light on all the beautiful and different ways families are made.
” Magnolia has two older sisters , Whitney , 12 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Started in 2010 , the contest is inspired by the photos Gerber has received over the years from people who say they see their babies in the brand ’ s famous original logo .
The contest celebrates babies from all backgrounds , the company said , proving that “ every baby is a Gerber baby.
” In 2018 , Lucas Warren of Georgia became the first Gerber baby with Down syndrome .
Last year , Kairi Yang of North Carolina became the first Gerber baby of Hmong descent .
Kimberly A. Taylor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ logistics at Florida International University , said the photo contest had helped the brand grow and stay relevant .
“ This has allowed them not only to enhance consumer involvement and build closer ties within the Gerber brand community , but has also allowed them to showcase greater diversity within this iconic brand , ” Taylor said Saturday .
“ The Gerber baby is one of the most recognizable and long-lasting brand images , ” she added .
“ Baby faces almost universally produce warm , loving feelings in anyone who sees them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and brings out a feeling of caring.
” In 1928 , shortly after Gerber was founded in Fremont , Mich. , the company put out a call looking for a baby to feature in its ads .
A Connecticut artist named Dorothy Hope Smith submitted a charcoal sketch of her neighbour ’ s four-month-old baby , according to the company .
The sketch of the cherubic baby with big , round eyes and an open mouth endeared judges , who picked the infant as the winner .
In 1978 , Ann Turner Cook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was revealed to be the subject of the sketch .
The image , which became the company ’ s official trademark in 1931 , continues to be associated with the brand .
In November , the company celebrated Cook ’ s 93rd birthday on social media .
“ Happy Birthday to the original Gerber baby !
” the company said .


thetorontostar--2020-05-09--Whistleblower exposes infighting and animus in Trump’s coronavirus response

WASHINGTON—The call in early February from the White House Situation Room came as a surprise to Rick Bright : Peter Navarro , U.S. President Donald Trump ’ s trade adviser , wanted him to come present his ideas for fighting the coronavirus , alone .
Bright , whose tiny federal research agency was pursuing a coronavirus vaccine , had long been at odds with his boss at the Department of Health and Human Services , Robert Kadlec .
His White House visits , twice in a single weekend , only exacerbated those tensions .
“ Weekend at Peter ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line of an email that expressed his displeasure .
The hostility between these two key officials in the government ’ s response to a pandemic that has claimed more than 75,000 American lives burst into public view Tuesday when Bright — who was abruptly dismissed last month as head of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority ( BARDA ) — filed a formal whistleblower complaint .
The document accuses Kadlec and other top administration officials of “ cronyism ” and putting politics ahead of science .
Whether or not the charges are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along with other documents and interviews , expose troubling infighting at the Health and Human Services Department ( HHS ) , the sprawling agency that includes BARDA , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , National Institutes of Health , the Food and Drug Administration and other arms of government , as officials there struggled to combat the worst public-health crisis in a century .
“ BARDA is the front edge of the global response , in terms of organizing the financing , laying down the bets on what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on vaccines and therapies , ” said J. Stephen Morrison , a global health expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies , adding that the infighting had consequences .
“ They need to move with incredible skill and judgment and speed.
” The internal clashes extend beyond Bright and Kadlec .
Fierce battles have erupted between Alex Azar , the health and human services secretary , and Seema Verma , the Medicare and Medicaid administrator .
Azar has also clashed with a senior White House policy-maker , Joe Grogan .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought to life by Bright ’ s complaint .
Email messages show that , as early as January , when Trump was saying the outbreak was “ totally under control , ” Bright was pressing for the government to stock up on masks and drugs and to commence a “ Manhattan Project ” effort to develop a vaccine .
But Bright was largely sidelined by personal disputes with Kadlec and his aides , some of which long predated the coronavirus , the documents suggest .
By the time the pandemic arrived in force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toxic , with Bright increasingly left out of key decisions .
His ideas about battling the threat “ were met with skepticism , ” the complaint says , “ and were clearly not welcome.
” On Friday , lawyers for Bright said the federal watchdog agency handling his complaint , the Office of Special Counsel , had notified them that it had found “ reasonable grounds ” to believe he was retaliated against and was seeking his reinstatement for 45 days while it investigated .
On Thursday , he is scheduled to testify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now decide whether to reinstate Bright .
An HHS spokeswoman , Caitlin Oakley , declined to comment on a “ personnel matter.
” But , she said , the agency “ strongly disagrees with the allegations and characterizations in the complaint from Bright.
” With a $ 1.6-billion ( U.S. ) annual budget , BARDA was created in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks to partner with industry to develop drugs , vaccines and other “ medical countermeasures ” that could be stockpiled to combat a bioterror attack or pandemic threat .
Bright @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a year when Kadlec was confirmed by the Senate as assistant secretary for preparedness and response in 2017 .
The two men came from different worlds .
Kadlec spent 20 years in the air force and helped write the legislation that created BARDA .
He advised then-president George W. Bush on biodefence .
Bright , who grew up in small-town Kansas , began his career at the CDC .
An influenza expert , he considered a pandemic to be the nation ’ s biggest threat .
Bright ’ s allies say he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an “ Obama holdover.
” One of his earliest clashes with Kadlec centred on a long-running contract BARDA had with a small biotechnology company and a consultant who , Bright said , invoked Jared Kushner , Trump ’ s son-in-law and senior adviser , in an apparent effort to salvage that contract .
The company , Aeolus Pharmaceuticals , was developing a drug to treat the effects of radiation from a potential nuclear attack when BARDA employees decided not to extend the contract in early 2017 .
John McManus , the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an interview that the decision was based on a flawed process , and appealed it directly to Bright .
In August 2017 , Bright ’ s complaint says , John Clerici , a consultant and Aeolus board member who is close to Kadlec , pleaded the company ’ s case to Bright over coffee and emphasized that McManus was “ friends with Jared ” and “ has Hollywood connections.
” McManus said he did not know Kushner or anyone in his family , and he disputed nearly all of Bright ’ s claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversation never happened.
” A review of corporate , political and non-profit records shows only a distant and indirect connection between Aeolus and the Kushner family .
Some of Kushner ’ s relatives have donated to National Jewish Health , a hospital that co-owned several patents licensed by Aeolus , and Kushner ’ s father and sister sit on the hospital ’ s council of national trustees .
Bright , though , said “ the political pressure ” from Kadlec and his underlings “ became undeniable , ” and “ had no place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on scientific merit.
” In the end , he stood by BARDA ’ s decision to not extend the contact with Aeolus .
The company folded within months .
McManus lost his job .
In the fall of 2019 , with Aeolus bankrupt , McManus landed at Partner Therapeutics , a Massachusetts-based company represented by Clerici that also appears in Bright ’ s complaint .
Bright said that in September 2019 , before McManus arrived , Kadlec handed out a $ 55-million , no-bid contract to the company to prevent it from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with 200 employees , produces and sells a single drug , Leukine , that can be used to treat excessive exposure to radiation .
In 2018 , the federal government decided to buy more anti-radiation drugs for the Strategic National Stockpile .
Bright ’ s division , following the recommendation of a panel of experts , had chosen California pharmaceutical giant Amgen , which produces two similar drugs .
As Clerici pressed Partner Therapeutics ’ case , Bright , alarmed by the consultant ’ s contacts with a former BARDA employee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internal “ procurement integrity investigation.
” He asked investigators to examine Clerici ’ s and Kadlec ’ s phone records , the complaint said , and even called for an inspector-general to investigate .
After that , he says , he was cut out of meetings about the procurement inquiry .
There is no evidence that an inspector-general investigation was ever conducted .
Allies of Kadlec say he did make some changes that Bright had wanted , including supporting a directive by Congress to put the contracting team under BARDA ’ s jurisdiction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added to the bitterness between them .
Eventually , Kadlec overruled him , Bright says , and awarded the sole-source contract to Partner Therapeutics , “ on the basis of industrial mobilization ” — the interest of the federal government to keep more than one supplier of an important type of drug in business .
Nicole Lurie , who held Kadlec ’ s job when Barack Obama was president and chose Bright to lead BARDA the day after Trump was elected , zeroed in on his description of political appointees overriding the decisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find most troublesome is the description of repeated attempts to subvert scientific assessments — the disregard for scientific judgments and the dismantling of the checks and balances that keep you from spending money either illegally or wrongly , ” Lurie said .

Sheryl Gay Stolberg Sharon LaFraniere - The New York Times,Michael D. Shear,Ben Protess


thetorontostar--2020-05-10--A big-city orchestra salvages a student’s cancelled recital

Devastated after her graduate recital was cancelled due to coronavirus concerns , Brooke Mead nearly gave up .
Faced with recording the concert alone , at home , the 23-year-old viola student stopped practicing altogether .
But then , the music took an amazing turn .
After seeking out advice in an online question-and-answer session with the Philadelphia Orchestra , she was invited to perform her recital on the renowned body ’ s live webcast as the lead-in to a rebroadcast of one of its performances .
That allowed her to reach hundreds of classical music fans around the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hear her play , had her performance gone on as originally planned at Temple University ’ s Philadelphia campus .
“ It ’ s been a bit of a roller coaster emotionally , just thinking about going from a packed hall to no hall , to having possibly to record yourself , to then having this virtual audience , ” Mead said .
In the online session , Mead asked the orchestra ’ s assistant principal cellist , Yumi Kendall , how she should deal with her disappointment .
Mead had done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to March , and Kendall recognized her name .
“ Instinctively I just raised my hand , ” Kendall said .
“ I was like , ’ Oh , OK.
I ’ ll be there .
You have an audience of at least one and I ’ ll definitely be there.
” People watching the discussion chimed in : They wanted to be a part of Mead ’ s audience , too .
The orchestra ’ s president and CEO , Matias Tarnopolsky , decided then and there to incorporate Mead ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platform .
Mead felt re-energized .
Her apartment became her stage .
Her in-person audience was limited to just roommates and a dog ( the cats were too noisy to let into the room where she performed ) .
Mead and Kendall , who served as master of ceremonies for the online recital , ran through the program ahead of time to work out logistical kinks .
The live show — pieces by German composers Johann Sebastian Bach and Jean Paul Hindemith , and American folk musician Jay Ungar ’ s “ Ashokan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hitch .
When the university cancelled gatherings in mid-March , spurred by widespread social distancing measures , Mead didn ’ t really think she was entitled to be disappointed .
Coronavirus was killing people , among them her boyfriend ’ s percussion instructor , longtime Philadelphia Orchestra musician Alan Abel , who died the day after her performance at age 91 .
Doctors and nurses were risking their health to save others .
And here she was , mourning the loss of a concert .
But music has been Mead ’ s life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around age 2 , when her college professor mother took her to children ’ s music classes on her campus in Lancaster , Pennsylvania .
She started playing the viola in third grade .
Now , as she looks to a career as an orchestra performer or administrator , she has a memento to inspire her : a printout to remind her of all the wonderful feedback she received during her recital , virtual cheers and scores of emojis — clapping hands , smiling faces and lots of fire .
“ I get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ performance for the rest of my life , ” Mead said .


thetorontostar--2020-05-10--Democrats’ vote-by-mail effort won in Wisconsin. Will it work elsewhere?

It was a shocking margin of victory in what was expected to be a close race : An 11-point blowout by a liberal judge over a conservative incumbent for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court .
Now Wisconsin Democrats are working to export their template for success — intense digital outreach and a well-co-ordinated vote-by-mail operation — to other states in the hope that it will improve the party ’ s chances in local and statewide elections and in the quest to unseat President Donald Trump in November .
Their top officials have gone on a virtual nationwide tour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign efforts in hopes Democrats and liberal activists elsewhere can replicate their victory , when Jill Karofsky , a liberal judge , ousted state Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly .
The first chance comes Tuesday in a special election for a Republican-heavy House district that covers the northern third of the state .
It is the nation ’ s first partisan contest since Wisconsin ’ s April 7 election , and it will provide more evidence as to whether Democratic vote-by-mail success in that race is repeatable .
State party officials have spoken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addressed a national virtual gathering of union activists and wrote a public memo with Stacey Abrams ’ Fair Fight organization detailing lessons learned that can be applied elsewhere .
“ You do get to learn from these things , ” said Ramsey Reid , the battleground states director for the Democratic National Committee , who has facilitated calls between Wisconsin officials and their counterparts in other states .
“ You get to train more volunteers , you get to build habits around voters and apply lessons learned to states that have challenges.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like video calls with voters who need hand-holding to navigate often-cumbersome absentee ballot request forms , they ’ ve been more circumspect about efforts they ’ ve employed in the event of a narrow defeat .
In Wisconsin , Georgia , Pennsylvania and other states with upcoming June primary elections , state parties , along with Abrams ’ organization , are collecting hundreds of legal affidavits from Democratic voters who have trouble acquiring and casting a ballot .
The documents are intended to be used for court battles before the November general election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been employed to challenge the results of the Supreme Court race had the conservative candidate prevailed .
Like in Wisconsin , Democrats in other battleground states with virtually no history of mail voting have for now shifted overnight to an all-mail get-out-the-vote effort .
Trump , on the other hand , has repeatedly attacked mail voting , and Republicans have said they would push ahead with plans to limit its expansion in Michigan , Minnesota and other key states .
Trump has frequently attacked the Postal Service , usually in his long-running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had one of his top financial backers installed as postmaster general .
Democrats and voting rights advocates have expressed concern the USPS could become politicized before November ’ s general election .
In Georgia , more than 1.2 million people have requested absentee ballots for the state ’ s June 9 primary — compared to just 36,200 requests for the 2016 presidential primary .
Nearly as many Georgians have applied to vote by mail in the Democratic primary as cast ballots in the party ’ s 2016 contest , when there were still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
New Hampshire has no history of significant numbers of voting by mail .
The state has no online portal to request an absentee ballot — some municipal clerks accept requests via email while others do not .
Democratic Party officials have been warned by their Wisconsin counterparts that , if hundreds of thousands of voters seek to vote by mail , local clerks will quickly become overwhelmed by the volume .
“ The New Hampshire Democratic Party has always run a voter protection hotline on Election Day and the few days before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have that running for a much longer period of time , ” said Liz Wester , director of the New Hampshire Democrats ’ co-ordinated campaign , who has spoken extensively with officials in Wisconsin since April 7 .
“ It will be for months.
” And Pennsylvania Democrats have found themselves struggling to convince wary voters that sending ballots through the mail is safe .
“ There is something about voting on Election Day , ” said Sinceré Harris , executive director of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re comfortable doing it , especially in the African American community , you can count on it .
There ’ s a little hesitancy when it comes to the mail system.
” Last month in Wisconsin , a New York Times analysis found that Karofsky , the liberal candidate in the state ’ s non-partisan Supreme Court race , performed about 10 percentage points better in mail voting than she did at the polls , suggesting Democratic voters were more likely than Republicans to request and return absentee ballots .
Republicans who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow all-mail elections , despite the pandemic .
Health officials in Milwaukee said this week that 26 voters may have contracted the coronavirus while voting in April , though the study said it was unclear precisely how they became infected .
The first test of whether Wisconsin Democrats ’ April 7 methods can be repeated comes Tuesday , in the special House election that pits Democrat Tricia Zunker , a school board president from Wausau who is an associate justice on the Ho-Chunk Nation Supreme Court , against Tom Tiffany , a two-term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a supporter of Trump .
Officials say the contest is less about which candidate will hold the seat for eight months — the two candidates are expected to face off again in November for a full two-year term — than it is an exercise in training volunteers and voters in how to vote by mail .
Each of the 110,000 voters who requested an absentee ballot for the Tuesday election had the chance to opt in to receive a mail ballot for the November general election .
It ’ s not known how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for November , a spokesman for the Wisconsin Elections Commission said .
In the three weeks since an April 19 rally in Marathon County calling for an end to the state ’ s safer-at-home ordinances , there have been seven new positive tests for coronavirus in the county , and no significant increase in positive tests in surrounding counties .
Marathon County , the district ’ s largest by population , has seen 24 positive coronavirus cases and one death since the pandemic began , according to data from the Wisconsin Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had four cases of COVID-19 and I think they are recovered by now , ” said Jim Kurz , the Democratic Party chairman in Rusk County .
“ Most other counties in this district also had few cases , so I don ’ t think fear of disease will keep voter turnout down.
” Neither party considers the Wisconsin congressional election to be one Democrats have much chance of winning — both Democratic and Republican internal polling shows Tiffany with a double-digit advantage — but the margin between the two candidates could serve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two parties ’ enthusiasm .
In 2016 , Trump carried the district by 20 percentage points .
But in last month ’ s Supreme Court race , the conservative candidate won the district by just 6 points while losing statewide by 11 , according to an analysis by the University of Virginia ’ s Center for Politics .
Like the April 7 election , Tuesday ’ s special election will take place with polling places open across the district ’ s 700 municipalities in 26 counties .
The Wisconsin National Guard will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities staff poll sites .
Tiffany , who works as a dam tender on the Willow Flowage in northern Wisconsin , served as a poll worker during the April 7 election and said voters across the congressional district are less afraid of contracting and spreading the coronavirus than their counterparts in the state ’ s urban centres to the south .
“ People in the cities and suburban areas tend to vote more absentee , ” he said .
“ With this being a more rural district , you ’ ll probably see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April 7 election.
” Zunker had put thousands of miles on her car driving across the 26-county district before travel and public gatherings were restricted .
Her campaign manager only moved to Wausau three days before Gov .
Tony Evers of Wisconsin implemented the state ’ s safer-at-home ordinance that effectively ended all in-person campaigning .
She painted her race Tuesday as the first step toward former Vice President Joe Biden carrying Wisconsin in November .
“ When we put this seat back to blue , the state is blue again .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on May 12 , ” Zunker said in an interview last week .
Anything less than a double-digit victory for Tiffany will be seen as yet another indicator of Democratic momentum in what is certain to be among the most contested states on the presidential map .
“ The district is loaded with people who became tired of being looked down upon by urban people and so that has been exploitable by the Republican candidates in the past three elections or so , ” said David R. Obey , a Democrat who represented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before retiring after the 2010 election .
“ Trump , he turns the dial a little bit , and I just don ’ t know how much .
”


thetorontostar--2020-05-10--Militants attack Syrian troops on edge of rebel stronghold

BEIRUT—Al-Qaida-linked fighters attacked Syrian government positions Sunday on the edge of the country ’ s last rebel stronghold , triggering intense clashes that killed nearly three dozen combatants across both sides , opposition activists said .
The fighting was among the worst since early March , when an agreement between Turkey and Russia halted the Syrian government ’ s three-month air and ground campaign into rebel-held northwestern Idlib province .
Sunday ’ s clashes took place in neighbouring Hama province , parts of which are still under rebel control .
Russia is a main backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to remove him from power .
Russia and Turkey have become the main power brokers in war-torn Syria in recent years .
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said members of the al-Qaida-linked group known as Horas al-Din attacked government forces in the Ghab plain area .
It said the fighting left 21 troops and 13 Horas al-Din members dead .
The Observatory and an Idlib-based activist , Taher al-Omar , said insurgents also took control of the village of Tanjara , and that Syrian government forces were heavily shelling the area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There was no word from Syrian state media on the fighting .
Horas al-Din are hardcore al-Qaida elements who broke away from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham , the strongest insurgent group in the Idlib enclave .
Horas al-Din , Arabic for “ Guardians of Religion , ” reject any ceasefire with the government .
Syrian troops now control much of the country , with the help of Assad ’ s main backers Russia and Iran .
The conflict , which began in March 2011 , has killed more than 400,000 people .


thetorontostar--2020-05-10--Chuck Schumer calls on U.S. department to explain use of unproven drug on veterans

WASHINGTON—The United States Senate ’ s top Democrat on Sunday called on the Department of Veterans Affairs to explain why it allowed the use of an unproven drug on veterans for the coronavirus , saying patients may have been put at unnecessary risk .
Sen. Charles Schumer of New York said the VA needs to provide Congress more information about a recent bulk order for $ 208,000 ( U.S. ) worth of hydroxychloroquine .
U.S. President Donald Trump has heavily promoted the malaria drug , without evidence , as a treatment for COVID-19 .
Schumer ’ s request comes after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by former Health and Human Services official Rick Bright alleged that the Trump administration , eager for a quick fix to the onslaught of the coronavirus , wanted to “ flood ” hot spots in New York and New Jersey with the drug .
Major veterans organizations have urged VA to explain under what circumstances VA doctors initiate discussion of hydroxychloroquine with veterans as a treatment option .
“ There are concerns that they are using this drug when the medical evidence says it doesn ’ t help and could hurt , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Associated Press .
He said given the fact the malaria drug , despite being untested , had been repeatedly pushed publicly by Trump , VA Secretary Robert Wilkie must address whether anyone at the department was pressured by the White House or the administration to use hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 .
Schumer said Wilkie also should answer questions about a recent analysis of VA hospital data that showed there were more deaths among patients given hydroxychloroquine versus standard care , including how much patients knew about the drug ’ s risks before taking it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that veterans were used as test subjects for the drug and that it was instead administered at government-run VA hospitals only when medically appropriate , with mutual consent between doctor and patient .
Still , Wilkie has repeatedly declined to say how widely the drug was being used for COVID-19 and whether the department had issued broad guidance to doctors and patients on the use of the drug .
In a weekly call with veterans ’ groups this past week , Wilkie continued to defend VA ’ s use of hydroxychloroquine .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data showing no benefits to patients , suggesting the poor outcomes were because the cases involved older , very sick veterans .
He has not said whether the department will continue to use the drug .
“ Use of this medication for treatment of COVID-19 is considered ‘ off label ’ — perfectly legal and not rare , ” he wrote in an April 29 letter to veterans ’ groups .
The analysis of hospital data , done by independent researchers at two universities with VA approval , was not a rigorous experiment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older male veterans hospitalized with confirmed coronavirus infection at VA medical centres who died or were discharged by April 11 .
About 28 per cent of veterans who were given hydroxychloroquine plus usual care died , versus 11 per cent of those getting routine care alone .
The VA recently said most of its recent bulk order for hydroxychloroquine was being used for approved uses , such as treating lupus and rheumatoid arthritis , but it didn ’ t provide breakdowns .
Wilkie in recent weeks took advocacy of the drug even further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has been effective for young and middle-aged veterans in particular .
In fact , there is no published evidence showing that .
Veterans are “ very concerned that we still do not have clarity on the VA ’ s past and present use of hydroxychloroquine in treating veterans with COVID-19 , ” Jeremy Butler , chief executive officer of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America , told the AP .
“ Now that the federal government issued an emergency use authorization for remdesivir to treat COVID-19 , we need answers to these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s plans for administering , or not administering , remdesivir , ” he said .
In a tweet Sunday , former VA secretary David Shulkin urged the department to immediately curtail use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 .
“ With studies showing no benefit , VA should restrict use exclusively to clinical trials , ” he wrote .
Shulkin was fired by Trump in March 2018 , and Wilkie replaced him .
Schumer said his main concern is determining whether the VA had conducted any “ clandestine studies to determine whether hydroxychloroquine was effective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s also concern that the department won ’ t address specifically where the drug was sent or how it ’ s being used .
“ These are people who risked their lives for us , ” Schumer said .
“ They should be treated only with the utmost dignity , respect and high standards of care.
” The drug has long been used to treat malaria and other ailments .
A few , very small preliminary studies suggested it might help prevent the coronavirus from entering cells and possibly help patients clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Drug Administration last month warned doctors against prescribing the drug for COVID-19 outside hospitals because of the risks of serious side effects and death .

Hope Yen - The Associated Press,Michael Balsamo


thetorontostar--2020-05-10--New Iraq prime minister releases anti-government protesters, promotes respected general

BAGHDAD—Iraq ’ s judiciary ordered courts on Sunday to release anti-government protesters , carrying out one of the first decisions of the recently inaugurated prime minister just as dozens of demonstrators burned tires in renewed protests against the new leadership .
Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi also promoted a well-respected Iraqi general , who played a key role in the military campaign against the Islamic State militant group , to lead counterterrorism operations .
Lt.-Gen. Abdul Wahab al-Saadi was mysteriously demoted last year by former prime minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi , prompting outrage and sparking popular protests in northern Iraq and Baghdad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement that it had ordered the release of protesters detained since those demonstrations erupted , in line with the new prime minister ’ s call .
The council released detainees based on Article 38 of the constitution which guarantees the right to protest , “ provided that it is not accompanied by an act contrary to the law , ” the statement said .
In a press briefing Saturday night following his first cabinet meeting as premier , al-Kadhimi said demonstrators should be protected and that all protesters should be released , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ erupted in Baghdad and across the country ’ s south on Oct. 1 , when frustrated Iraqis took to the streets to decry rampant government corruption , unemployment and poor services .
Human rights groups say at least 600 people died in the following three months at the hands of Iraqi security forces who used live fire and tear gas to disperse the crowds .
The demonstrations petered out with the rise of the coronavirus pandemic , though dozens of protesters are still camped out in Baghdad ’ s Tahrir Square determined not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also said he was promoting al-Saadi to become head of Iraq ’ s elite Counter-Terrorism Service , just as the country was experiencing an uptick in attacks by the Islamic State group in the north .
Previously , the general was a force commander in the service before Abdul-Mahdi demoted him in September to a post in the Defence Ministry .
The Iraqi public considered his sudden demotion a sign of corrupt government practices and took to the streets in outrage .
Al-Saadi , 56 , was one of the leading commanders in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to retake Mosul , taking the lead in many operations .
In a recent briefing with reporters , American Lt.-Gen. Pat White , head of the Combined Joint Task Force responsible for fighting IS , said the group was failing “ miserably ” in a renewed campaign to launch more attacks .
“ IS leadership has stated what their intent is , and they do this every year .
They put out what is generally described as a military campaign , ” he said .
“ To date , they have failed miserably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plumes of acrid smoke choked the air Sunday as protesters , unpersuaded by al-Kadhimi ’ s decisions , returned to the streets and burned tires on a key bridge leading to the heavily fortified Green Zone , the seat of Iraq ’ s government .
Protesters said they rejected al-Kadhimi and any candidate chosen by the political establishment and gathered by the dozens near Jumhuriya Bridge , closed off since late last year in a standoff with riot police .


thetorontostar--2020-05-10--Hong Kong police grapple with pro-democracy protesters

HONG KONG—Riot police in Hong Kong grappled with pro-democracy protesters who gathered in shopping malls on Sunday to sing , chant slogans and flash hand signs after permission for a Mother ’ s Day march was denied .
The incident indicated a desire on the part of some in the pro-democracy camp to revive the protests against Hong Kong ’ s Beijing-backed government that paralyzed parts of the semi-autonomous Chinese territory for months last year .
With the coronavirus outbreak subsiding , more people in Hong Kong have responded to online calls for action , although in far smaller numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year against proposed legislation that could have seen dissidents or criminal suspects extradited to mainland China to face unfair trials and possible torture .
The legislation was eventually withdrawn , but the protests continued , growing increasingly violent as both police and demonstrators adopted hard-line tactics .
Thousands , mainly young people , were arrested in the demonstrations for crimes including rioting and possessing weapons .
Local media reports said at least one person was detained in Sunday ’ s action , which attracted numerous journalists wearing high-visibility vests .
The incident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Legislative Council as lawmakers from opposing camps competed to preside over a meeting to determine who has authority over a key committee that scrutinizes bills .
Hong Kong ’ s pro-Beijing and pro-democracy lawmakers have been caught in an impasse over the delayed election of a chairperson of the Legislative Council ’ s House Committee , which reads bills and determines when they can be put to a final vote .
Among the bills under consideration is one that would criminalize disrespect of China ’ s national anthem .
The former British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1997 under a “ one country , two systems ” framework in which Hong Kong was given freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland and promised a high degree of autonomy in its affairs for 50 years .
Pro-democracy supporters say those rights are being eroded by Beijing as it tightens its grip on the territory through tough policing and increasingly restrictive legislation .