thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Some Alaska GOP lawmakers want end to ‘binding’ caucuses

JUNEAU , Alaska - In Alaska politics , House and Senate majorities drive the legislative agenda and confer upon their members key committee positions with an agreement they will all vote together on the budget and often procedural matters .
But some Republican lawmakers , including at least two in the GOP-led Senate majority , say that system is flawed — even “ un-American , ” as Palmer Sen. Shelley Hughes described it — and should be scrapped .
They say it forces support of legislation before it ’ s drafted .
But Senate leaders say without so-called binding caucuses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They say lawmakers voluntarily agree to be part of a majority , and can leave the caucus any time they want .
“ It ’ s not the Hotel California , ” Senate Finance Committee Co-chair Natasha von Imhof , an Anchorage Republican , said .
Binding caucuses aren ’ t new in Alaska , and legislators have gotten kicked out of majorities for running afoul of the rules , or , in some cases , exiled themselves to vote as they wished .
There are other states with different systems : Colorado @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bars anyone in a party caucus from requiring a yes or no vote on any bill , appointment , veto or other measure in the Legislature .
In Ohio , committee chairs serve at the will of the House speaker or Senate president or minority leader , and have lost their positions for actions the respective leader might see as insubordination .
In the interest of passing a budget , current Alaska Senate majority members agree to participate in crafting a spending plan and voting for it , Senate President Cathy Giessel has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perks , such as committee chairmanships or additional staff .
Three senators whose actions last July Giessel said were at odds with the caucus agreement — Hughes and Sens .
Mike Shower of Wasilla and Lora Reinbold of Eagle River — lost key positions in a committee shakeup last month .
Reinbold had voted against a bill aimed at largely restoring vetoes made by Gov .
Mike Dunleavy .
The bill also included funding for an Alaska Permanent Fund dividend check of about $ 1,600 for residents .
Shower and Hughes were shown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All three supported a larger dividend in line with a long-standing formula many legislators see as unsustainable .
Shower , who introduced a bill and proposed constitutional amendment seeking to bar binding caucuses , said Thursday he had voted for versions of the operating and capital budgets and protested the July vote .
He said he and Hughes figured they ’ d be called in and forced to vote but instead were excused .
He said this isn ’ t about Senate leadership .
“ It is about the process , the structure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re trying to make better , ” Shower said .
“ Why does somebody have to promise more , if they ’ re in a Republican majority , than just agreeing to the principals and then we work together as a team to find solutions ?
” said Shower , who didn ’ t initially join a caucus after being appointed to the Senate in 2018 .
He said if he leaves the caucus , other Republicans could leave , too , and Republicans could join with Democrats to form a new majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to cause that to happen , ” he said .
He said his decision on a budget will be faced on facts and whether he thinks it is a good one .
Sen. John Coghill , a North Pole Republican , said caucus members give their word that they ’ re willing to work with a team .
He said last month he didn ’ t see the committee changes as punishment but “ a consequence of you not being able to hold up what you thought you would be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Denver and Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus , Ohio , contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Man sued over Iowa sexual arousal study ran Kansas facility

TOPEKA , Kan. - A child psychologist facing a federal lawsuit in Iowa stemming from sexual arousal experiments he oversaw on residents at a state care centre for people with intellectual disabilities conducted similar research in Kansas while running one of its state hospitals .
The Kansas agency that oversees the state ’ s hospitals says its initial investigation of sexual arousal research involving Jerry Rea in Kansas suggests that ethics guidelines and proper protocols were followed .
Rea was superintendent of the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center for people with intellectual disabilities in southeastern Kansas from October 2004 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ superintendent of the Glenwood Resource Center in southwestern Iowa but was fired at the end of last year amid a federal investigation of the facility .
Six former employees filed the federal lawsuit Monday , alleging that they were fired or forced to resign because they questioned Rea ’ s activities .
Cara Sloan Ramos , spokeswoman for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services , said once the Kansas agency learned of the allegations from news reports in early December , “ we proactively and immediately began an internal review ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history of research conducted on sexual arousal.
” She said the Parsons hospital “ is not currently engaged in research related to sexual arousal and no sexual arousal data has been collected ” there since Rea ’ s departure .
“ Providing a safe , healthy environment for residents to succeed and applying the highest standards of patient care have always been the foundational focus and mission of the hospital , ” she said in an email .
The Iowa lawsuit alleges that Rea used “ highly vulnerable ” patients with intellectual disabilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from their guardians .
It alleges he and others directed that patients ’ medications be changed in their research preparations and generally reduced patient protections .
The lawsuit also said that when Glenwood officials were notified last year of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation , they scrambled to get guardians ’ consent to the experiments they had already started .
Rea , who has not been charged with committing any crimes , has not publicly addressed the lawsuit ’ s accusations , and it wasn ’ t clear from court records Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone listing for him in Iowa could not be found and a listing for him in Kansas had been disconnected .
Kansas Gov .
Laura Kelly said Thursday that she was aware of the lawsuit and its allegations because of news coverage .
“ I get concerned whenever there is mistreatment of patients , no matter where it is , “ she said following an event in Wichita .
Rea has been involved in research into sexual deviancy and sexual arousal among offenders since at least 1996 , when he wrote a doctoral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Kansas .
Two years later , records show , he and another researcher obtained a patent for a device to measure sexual arousal in men outside the laboratory , with the Parsons hospital listed as owner .
Rea worked at the hospital for more than two decades before becoming superintendent .
Rea also was an assistant research professor with the University of Kansas from 1999 through January 2015 at its Life Span Institute centre in Parsons , and contracts and external grants funded his position , according to university spokeswoman Erinn Barcomb-Peterson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ health .
Barcomb-Peterson said Rea became an uncompensated university “ affiliate ” when his contracts ended , but that he lost that status in January 2019 “ in light of his move to Iowa.
“ The university and the Department for Aging and Disability Services did not provide further details about Rea ’ s research in Kansas .
But the department said its review suggested the research complied with two universities ’ guidelines on research with human subjects and obtaining proper consent .
From 1998 to 2017 , Rea was coauthor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with either sexual arousal , measuring arousal or sex offenders , or some combination of those subjects .
A 1998 paper involved a study of using a portable device to measure sexual arousal in four male state hospital patients who also had committed sex offences .
Their arousal was monitored in the laboratory and “ the natural environment.
” A 2013 paper examined the “ relapse prevention skills “ of 10 men living at a “ state facility for sex offenders diagnosed with intellectual disability.
” A 2016 paper sought to assess the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sex drive in offenders , studying a 24-year-old with an intellectual disability .
The Parsons hospital , about 110 miles ( 180 kilometres ) southwest of Kansas City , has about 160 intellectually disabled patients and another 12 residents of a state program that confines offenders identified as sexual predators for treatment after their prison sentences .
The Iowa lawsuit says meeting records from the Glenwood centre revealed a “ collaborative effort “ with individuals at the Parsons hospital and the University of Kansas “ to conduct sexual arousal research and to publish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as subjects .
The lawsuit also says records reflect that a research proposal to the University of Kansas was rejected in late 2018 and that they reported that “ KU ’ s sexual arousal research would be conducted with male college students.
” Barcomb-Peterson did not immediately reply to an email seeking a response to the lawsuit ’ s claims .
The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services stood by its statement that no data was collected at the Parsons hospital after Rea left .
Also contributing to this report were Associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and AP writers Ryan Foley in Iowa City , Iowa ; David Pitt in Des Moines , Iowa ; and Roxana Hegeman in Wichita , Kansas .

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thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Fiery train derailment in Kentucky spills ethanol into river

LOUISVILLE , Ky. - A large rock slide caused a fiery train derailment Thursday morning in eastern Kentucky that briefly trapped two crew members and caused a chemical leak into a river , authorities said .
Two crew members of the CSX train were initially trapped in a flaming locomotive along the river ’ s edge before climbing out and waiting for firefighters to rescue them by boat .
They were taken to the hospital with minor injuries , officials said .
There weren ’ t any other reports of injuries .
CSX said in a statement that the train @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 a.m. due to a rock slide over the tracks .
The derailment happened in the small Pike County community of Draffin , about 160 miles ( 255 kilometres ) southeast of Lexington , Kentucky .
Video showed a wooded area ablaze behind some homes shortly after the derailment occurred .
CSX said the train had 96 cars carrying ethanol and two cars loaded with rocks .
Five rail cars derailed , including four ethanol tanks and one sand car , CSX said later on Twitter .
One locomotive and other cars caught @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly four hours later .
Kentucky State Police spokesman William Petry said authorities were not sure whether diesel fuel or ethanol was fueling the blaze , but authorities decided to let the fire burn itself out since it did not pose a public safety threat .
“ Luckily the train wasn ’ t going very fast , so it saved them from a major disaster , ” Petry said .
The Mountain Water District intake on the Russell Fork of the Big Sandy River was closed until the intake water can be tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ As we monitor this situation , our top priority is the health of families who rely on the Mountain Water District , and I appreciate the Emergency Response Team ’ s swift action , ” Kentucky Gov .
Andy Beshear said .
No homes were damaged in the sparsely populated area and residents who were briefly evacuated were allowed to return .
CSX said it had mobilized its emergency teams and were working with local authorities .
Petry said the slide that caused the derailment was large .
Heavy rains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the region since last week .
Pike County got 3-4 inches of rain last week and probably another inch over the last 48 hours , said Dustin Jordan , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service .
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending team of six to investigate the derailment .
The public is being asked to avoid the area if possible , police said .

Rebecca Reynolds Yonker - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--EU, others work on refugee job development in Latin America

MEXICO CITY - The European Union says it is donating 4 million euros ( $ 4.3 million ) to help refugees in Mexico , Costa Rica and Honduras find living-wage jobs and better integrate into society .
The announcement in Mexico City on Thursday came as the number of asylum seekers in Mexico in particular has skyrocketed .
Just over 70,300 people sought asylum in Mexico last year , and this year is already outpacing last .
Nearly 6,000 people applied for asylum in January , a 50 % increase over the same time last year .
Several organizations will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initiative , which aims to create more job opportunities and protections for asylum seekers .
In Mexico , the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has been working with government officials to place people in central and northern Mexico cities , where there are more jobs .
Migrants who have been granted asylum and therefore can legally work contributed 40.6 million pesos ( $ 2.1 million ) to the Mexican economy last year , according to the EU .
Extreme violence , poverty , political conflict and food and medicine scarcity have driven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their home countries in Latin America and elsewhere around the world .
In Costa Rica , a nation of about 5 million people , nearly 60,000 migrants sought asylum last year .
Most are Nicaraguans who are highly educated and in professional fields .
Hundreds of Nicaraguans were killed and thousands were injured during anti-government protests in 2018 in what human rights advocates say has been an egregious crackdown on dissent .
In addition to instability in Latin America , the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump have made it extremely difficult for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States , forcing many to stay in Mexico .
People who are granted asylum in the Mexico get permanent residency in the country , meaning they can work and eventually become citizens .
But many aren ’ t equipped to find steady work .
Gerardina González Marroquín , director of the International Labor Organization for Mexico and Cuba , said the agreement signed Thursday will fortify relationships between non-governmental groups that help migrants .
“ We are absolutely convinced that working is the best form of social integration , that work dignifies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that work generates growth , ” González Marroquín said .
“ But not just any type of job , ” she said , adding that refugees need to find dignified work that pays a living wage and offers worker protections .


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Sites in Tennessee, Kentucky, added to Civil Rights Trail

MEMPHIS , Tenn. - Two sites in Kentucky and two in Tennessee have been added to the U.S. Civil Rights Trail , officials said Thursday .
The Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville and the SEEK Museum in Russellville are the two new sites in Kentucky .
In Memphis , Tennessee , the Beale Street Historic District and the WDIA radio station were also added to the trail , which was launched in 2018 to promote civil rights tourism .
The sites were announced at B.B .
King ’ s restaurant on Beale Street on Thursday .
“ Today is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ light on the brave men and women who stood up for equal rights , ” Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee said in a statement .
“ I am proud that with the addition of these two sites , travellers from around the world will have the opportunity to learn more about Memphis ’ deep civil rights history.
” The Civil Rights Trail includes about 120 churches , courthouses , schools , museums and other landmarks primarily between Topeka , Kansas , and Washington , D.C. , that were important to the civil rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials said .
The four new locations are being added during Black History Month , officials noted .
Established in 1841 in Memphis , Beale Street featured black-owned businesses and became a place where African Americans could work and enjoy themselves during segregation .
It remains a popular tourist attraction today .
The street , located in Memphis ’ downtown , was the site of a march led by The Rev .
Martin Luther King Jr. that turned violent in March 1968 .
The civil rights leader was killed in Memphis on April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lead a second march in support of striking sanitation workers .
WDIA was the first radio station in the country programmed entirely for the black community , officials said .
The station launched in 1947 , from studios on Union Avenue in downtown Memphis .
The station ’ s broadcasts were heard from Missouri to the Gulf Coast .
Located on Museum Row in downtown Louisville , the Muhammad Ali Center features exhibits centred on the champion boxer ’ s influential life and career .
Formerly known as Cassius Clay , Ali @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in June 2016 at age 74 .
The SEEK Museum in Russellville recognizes the work of journalist Alice Allison Dunnigan with a life-size bronze statue and an exhibit about her achievements .
Dunnigan was the first African American woman admitted to the press corps for the White House , Congress and the Supreme Court .
Russellville is located about 140 miles ( 225 kilometres ) south of Louisville and about 55 miles ( 88 kilometres ) north of Nashville , Tennessee .
Other sites located on the Civil Rights Trail include King ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pettus Bridge in Selma , Alabama , and Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas .


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Smollett case could jeopardize career of top prosecutor

CHICAGO - The decision by a grand jury to restore charges against Jussie Smollett could jeopardize the career of the first black woman to hold Chicago ’ s top law enforcement job .
The indictment drew a stinging public response from Kim Foxx , who quickly raised the spectre of a conspiracy against her .
Foxx ’ s statement was also an acknowledgement that the renewed case accusing Smollett of staging a racist , anti-gay attack on himself could undermine her bid for a second term as Cook County state ’ s attorney .
The indictment issued Tuesday was ushered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the decision by Foxx ’ s office 11 months ago to abruptly drop the initial charges against Smollett .
That decision was unjustified , he said , in part because the evidence against Smollett seemed overwhelming and because he was not required to admit that the attack was a hoax .
Questions still linger about whether Foxx , 47 , acted improperly by speaking to a Smollett relative and a onetime aide of former First Lady Michelle Obama before the charges were dropped , or by weighing in on the case after recusing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planned to submit a report on whether there was wrongdoing by prosecutors in coming months .
Foxx ’ s campaign released a statement Tuesday that referred to then-FBI Director James Comey ’ s decision in 2016 to briefly reopen an investigation of Hillary Clinton ’ s emails shortly before the presidential election that Donald Trump won .
“ What ’ s questionable here is the James Comey-like timing of that charging decision ” five weeks before the Illinois primary , the statement said .
The charges “ can only be interpreted as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something voters in the era of Donald Trump should consider offensive.
” Smollett ’ s lawyer , Tina Glandian , struck a similar chord , saying the attempt to “ re-prosecute Mr. Smollett one year later on the eve of the Cook County State ’ s Attorney election is clearly all about politics not justice.
” It was not the first time a criminal case with racial dimensions shook up a state ’ s attorney ’ s campaign .
Foxx won in 2016 by joining in widespread criticism of incumbent Anita Alvarez for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a white police officer who shot black teenager Laquan McDonald 16 times .
The officer continued to shoot even after the teen crumpled to the ground and stopped moving .
Foxx ’ s three main challengers in next month ’ s Democratic primary had already identified Foxx ’ s handling of the Smollett case as a vulnerability .
With Tuesday ’ s indictment , they rushed to highlight the issue .
In overwhelmingly Democratic Chicago , the primary invariably determines who wins the general election .
“ What ’ s concerned me about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a connected , Hollywood celebrity got a sweetheart deal that residents of Cook County do not get , ” challenger Bill Conway tweeted later Tuesday .
Conway is a former Cook County assistant state ’ s attorney and son of billionaire William Elias Conway Jr. , a founder of the Carlyle Group investment firm .
Even before the new Smollett indictment , Conway ran a campaign ad featuring client Candace Clark , a big box-store employee charged , like Smollett , with felony disorderly conduct for filing a false police report .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I didn ’ t get special treatment from Kim Foxx , “ Clark says to the camera in the ad .
” Bill Conway isn ’ t going to just look out for rich and famous people.
“ As part of a deferred prosecution deal , Cook County prosecutors last year demanded that Clark submit to court oversight and do community service .
They also asked for $ 2,500 in restitution .
Clark ’ s judge , Marc Martin , balked at an April hearing , noting that there were no such formal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a month earlier .
“ It ’ s a disorderly conduct case … a lot less egregious than Mr. Smollett ’ s , “ Martin said .
The restitution amount was later lowered to $ 1,200 , and Clark accepted the deal .
Foxx told Chicago radio station WBBM earlier this month Conway ’ s ad is misleading , in part because it does not explain that charges against Clark were , in fact , dropped .
“ We have increased the use of diversion in alternative prosecution by 25 % and there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have not been in the court system because we have used those alternatives , ” including Smollett and Clark , she said .
The timing of the new Smollett charges , which Foxx ’ s campaign criticized , was up to the special prosecutor , Dan Webb , a consummate Chicago insider .
The former U.S. attorney is a top-dollar criminal lawyer who has been a favourite of judges seeking special prosecutors to assume control of politically sensitive cases .
Webb has never harboured ill-will towards Foxx , at least not publicly .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and wrote her campaign a $ 1,000 check during her successful run for state ’ s attorney .
The judge who appointed him to Smollett ’ s case briefly mulled replacing Webb for possible bias in Foxx ’ s favour after revelations about the contributions .
He later ruled he saw no evidence of actual bias .
While Webb delayed addressing questions about possible wrongdoing by Foxx and her staff , his statement announcing the indictment stuck a critical note .
When asked to provide details about prosecutors ’ assertion that Smollett ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other , similar cases , Webb said Foxx ’ s office “ was unable to provide this documentary evidence ” supporting that claim .
Foxx does not appear as vulnerable now as her predecessor was four years ago .
She ’ s secured endorsements from nearly all of Illinois ’ top Democrats .
Most recently , presidential candidate Bernie Sanders offered his , Politico reported Wednesday .
Reform advocates have hailed reforms Foxx pushed through — often over the angry objections of Chicago ’ s police union and chiefs of police across Cook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , like shoplifting , as lower priorities .
Support for Foxx in minority communities seems to have increased amid the criticism from her primary opponents .
Rev .
Marshall Hatch , a prominent minister on Chicago ’ s West Side , said the timing of the new charges is widely seen as suspect .
“ Most people , and I agree , see it for what it is .
It ’ s a smokescreen and a distraction in order to kind of muddy Kim Foxx up.
” Associated Press Writer Don Babwin contributed @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Syria says defences engaged ‘hostile targets’ over capital

DAMASCUS , Syria - Syria ’ s air defences engaged “ hostile targets ” over the capital of Damascus , state-run media said late Thursday .
Residents reported loud explosions that rocked the city shortly before midnight .
State news agency SANA quoted reports saying Syrian air defences intercepted a number of missiles .
It said the missiles approached from the southwest over the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights No further details were immediately available nor was it clear what was hit .
A video carried by SANA showed what appeared to be Syrian air defences firing over Damascus .
The Britain-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monitors the war , said suspected Israeli missiles targeted posts for Iranian-backed militias in the area between the Damascus international airport and the Sayeda Zeinab neighbourhood , south of the capital .
The Observatory said some of the missiles hit their targets .
It didn ’ t say whether there were any casualties .
Israel does not usually comment on reports concerning its airstrikes in neighbouring Syria , though it has frequently attacked what it says are Iranian targets there .
Iranian-backed fighters , including those of Lebanon ’ s militant Hezbollah group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and are fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar Assad ’ s government forces .
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thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Trump attacks his former chief of staff for defending key impeachment witness

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Thursday lashed out against former White House chief of staff John Kelly for being disloyal after he came to the defence of a former national security aide who offered key testimony in the impeachment inquiry .
The president ’ s comments came after Kelly defended Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman , who was among the administration officials who raised concerns about Trump ’ s July phone call with Ukraine ’ s president .
That call spurred the president ’ s impeachment trial , which ended in acquittal last week .
“ Like so many X @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & just can ’ t keep his mouth shut , which he actually has a military and legal obligation to do , “ Trump tweeted about Kelly .
“ His incredible wife , Karen , who I have a lot of respect for , once pulled me aside & said strongly that ‘ John respects you greatly .
When we are no longer here , he will only speak well of you.
’ Wrong !
” Kelly , speaking at a public forum on Wednesday in Morristown , New Jersey , said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in raising concerns to his superiors after hearing “ questionable ” comments from Trump , according to a report by The Atlantic magazine .
Vindman was ousted last week from his position as a Ukraine specialist detailed to the White House National Security Council .
“ He did exactly what we teach them to do from cradle to grave , ” said Kelly , a retired Marine general who served as Trump ’ s chief of staff from the summer of 2017 until early last year .
“ He went and told his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a key witness in Democrats ’ impeachment inquiry of Trump .
The Army officer was ousted from his NSC job last Friday , just two days after the Senate acquitted Trump on abuse of power and obstruction of Congress charges .
He is to be reassigned by the Pentagon .
His twin brother , Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman , who worked as an ethics lawyer at the NSC , also was ousted from his job and was re-assigned to the Army General Counsel ’ s Office .
Kelly came to Vindman ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Pentagon should review Vindman ’ s conduct in the Ukraine episode and potentially consider disciplinary action against him .
Trump has insisted that his call to Zelenskiy was “ perfect.
” During the conversation , Trump asked Zelenskiy to do him “ a favour ” and look into former Vice-President Joe Biden and his son ’ s business dealings in Ukraine .
Vindman testified that he raised his concerns inside the White House after concluding that Trump was inappropriately conditioning nearly $ 400 million in military aid to Ukraine on getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political rival .
Kelly said at the forum that Vindman ’ s decision to raise his concerns was valid .
“ Through the Obama administration up until that phone call , the policy of the U.S. was militarily to support Ukraine in their defensive fight against … the Russians , ” Kelly said .
“ And so , when the president said that continued support would be based on X , that essentially changed .
And that ’ s what that guy ( Vindman ) was most interested in.
” Trump initially tapped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as his secretary of homeland security , before asking him to become his chief of staff .
Kelly suggested at the forum he had some hesitation about joining the administration but ultimately decided to at the urging of his wife .
“ I frankly think he needs you and people like you , ” Kelly recalled his wife telling him .
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said Thursday she was “ disappointed ” by Kelly ’ s comments .
She compared him to former national security adviser John Bolton , another top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s efforts to pressure Zelenskiy .
“ I thought it was a little disingenuous , ” Grisham said in an interview on Fox New Channel ’ s “ Fox & Friends ” “ It ’ s interesting that he ’ s starting to poke his head out a little bit more , just like John Bolton , as we ’ re getting close to an election.
” Bolton , according to excerpts of a manuscript leaked to the media during the Senate impeachment trial , says Trump told him he was conditioning the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether its government would help investigate the Bidens .
While they had vocal , sometimes heated , disagreements , Bolton defended Kelly in a tweet Thursday , calling him an “ honourable man.
” “ John and I have disagreed at times , as is commonplace at senior government levels , but he has always served his country faithfully , ” Bolton said .
“ Conservatives especially have a responsibility to reject baseless attacks upon him.
” Kelly did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday .


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Ex-Missouri governor’s campaign fined $178K in ethics review

COLUMBIA , Mo .
- An ethics investigation found “ probable cause ” Thursday that disgraced former Missouri Gov .
Eric Greitens ’ campaign broke the law by not reporting that it co-operated with a political action committee during his successful 2016 bid for the state ’ s top office .
The Missouri Ethics Commission found that ads paid for by LG PAC “ were express advocacy or its functional equivalent , ” and that they were done “ in co-operation ” with Greitens ’ gubernatorial campaign .
The commission said there was probable cause that Greitens ’ campaign violated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a gift .
The commission also concluded that Greitens ’ campaign likely violated financial reporting rules by not disclosing a poll given to the campaign that was paid for by A New Missouri .
A New Missouri is a non-profit that supported Greitens ’ agenda .
The commission ordered Greitens ’ campaign to pay a roughly $ 178,000 fine , but he only has to pay $ 38,000 within 45 days and the rest will be stayed .
The campaign would only have to pay the rest of the money if he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the next two years .
Charlie Spies , Greitens ’ attorney , told reporters that the campaign will pay the fine , though it denies doing anything wrong .
“ The cost of settling with a $ 38,000 penalty is much more efficient than litigating this and winning in the court system , ” Spies said .
Greitens , a Republican , resigned in 2018 amid allegations of sexual misconduct and campaign violations as he battled mounting legal bills and the pressures of defending against possible impeachment and a criminal trial .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ t find any evidence that Greitens personally knew about the campaign finance issues .
“ However , candidates are ultimately responsible for all reporting requirements , ” the commission wrote in its report .
Greitens issued a statement saying that the report exonerates him .
“ I ’ m grateful that the truth has won out , but this was never really about me — they launched this attack because we were fighting for the people of Missouri , ” Greitens said .
According to the commission , Greitens ’ campaign finance director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign in 2015 compiled a list of people who might be willing to donate to a PAC but who did not want to give directly to the campaign .
The fundraising consultant and finance director were instructed to give the list to a worker with the non-profit Freedom Frontier .
Over the course of two months in 2016 , Freedom Frontier gave $ 4,370,000 to LG PAC .
The commission found that the contributions “ appear to correlate ” to ad buys by LG PAC that either praised Greitens or slammed his opponents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also says that after Greitens ’ campaign manager raised concerns about the Springfield , Missouri , media market with an outside political consultant in July 2016 , LG PAC spent more than $ 98,000 on ads there .
The campaign manager in an email to a vendor said “ well at least he listened when I told him we were worried about Brunner in Springfield.
” John Brunner was among several candidates competing against Greitens for the Republican nomination in 2016 .
Greitens , a former Navy SEAL officer , now works again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 638,00 in his still-active campaign account and can use that money to pay the fine .
The commission ’ s review stemmed from a complaint filed in July 2018 by Republican Rep. Jay Barnes , who chaired the House committee that investigated the former governor .

Summer Ballentine And Jim Salter - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Limbaugh draws bipartisan criticism for Buttigieg remarks

WASHINGTON - Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh drew bipartisan criticism Thursday for saying the country won ’ t elect Pete Buttigieg president because he ’ s been “ kissing his husband “ on stage after debates .
Limbaugh ’ s comments came eight days after President Donald Trump awarded him the nation ’ s top civilian honour during the State of the Union address .
Trump said Limbaugh inspires millions of people daily and thanked him for “ decades of tireless devotion to our country.
“ Limbaugh , a staunch Trump ally who recently announced he has advanced lung @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationally syndicated radio show .
Buttigieg has finished in the top two in Democrats ’ first two presidential contests in Iowa and New Hampshire .
“ They ’ re saying , ‘ OK , how ’ s this going to look ?
’ “ Limbaugh said Wednesday , imagining Democrats ’ thinking .
“ Thirty-seven-year-old gay guy kissing his husband on stage , next to Mr. Man , Donald Trump.
’ ” Limbaugh ’ s remarks were the latest tendentious turn in a career in which he ’ s won an adoring audience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condemnation from others for comments considered racist , sexist and offensive .
Buttigieg , 38 , is the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , and has been married to his husband , Chasten , since 2018 .
Buttigieg was a U.S. Navy intelligence officer in Afghanistan , is a Harvard graduate and was a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University in England .
Limbaugh said he envisioned Democrats concluding that “ despite all the great wokeness and despite all the great ground that ’ s been covered , that America ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guy kissing his husband on the debate stage president.
“ Former Vice-President Joe Biden , who is challenging Buttigieg for the Democratic presidential nomination , assailed Limbaugh on ABC ’ s “ The View.
“ “ I mean , my God , ” said Biden , who called it “ part of the depravity of this administration.
” He added , “ Pete and I are competitors , but this guy has honour , he has courage , he is smart as hell.
“ Some Capitol Hill Republicans said they disagreed with Limbaugh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I ’ m just going to leave all that alone , ” said conservative Sen. Marsha Blackburn , R-Tenn. , who said she ’ d not heard the comment .
Sen. Joni Ernst , R-Iowa , facing reelection this fall , also declined to comment .
“ It ’ s a miscalculation as to where the country is at , “ Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , a strong Trump supporter , told The Associated Press about Limbaugh ’ s words .
” I think the country is not going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Asked if Limbaugh should retain the Presidential Medal of Freedom , which Trump bestowed last week during his State of the Union address , Graham said , “ Well , my God .
Free speech still exists.
“ Sen .
Rob Portman , R-Ohio , said of Limbaugh , “ He may disagree , as I do , with their policy positions , but the question is what their qualifications are , not other issues.
” Portman announced his support for gay marriage in 2013 as he revealed that his son Will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ R-Tenn. , a moderate who is retiring in January , initially said he wasn ’ t familiar with Limbaugh ’ s remarks and declined to comment .
His spokesman later emailed an Alexander statement that said : “ There may be reasons not to vote for Mayor Buttigieg , but that ’ s not one of them .
This is a tolerant country.
” But the candidate has addressed criticism over his sexuality before .
During a Des Moines , Iowa , rally in 2019 , an audience member asked what he should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t ready for a gay president .
Buttigieg replied , “ Tell your friends I said ‘ hi.
’ ” The former mayor has also framed his sexuality in religious terms .
“ If me being gay was a choice , it was a choice that was made far , far above my pay grade , ” Buttigieg said .
“ If you ’ ve got a problem with who I am , your problem is not with me .
Your quarrel , sir , is with my creator.
” According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Freedom is for “ an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States , world peace , cultural or other significant public or private endeavours.
” Past winners have included Mother Teresa , the Rev .
Martin Luther King Jr. and Frank Sinatra .
Under Trump , the award ’ s recipients have included golfer Tiger Woods , supply side economist Arthur Laffer and Edwin Meese III , who was a top aide to President Ronald Reagan .
The 69-year-old Limbaugh also said some Democrats may believe they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his husband on stage , ram it down Trump ’ s throat and beat him in the general election .
Really ?
Having fun envisioning that.
” Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast , “ Ground Game .
”


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Nevada Democrats unveil new caucus plan after Iowa chaos

LAS VEGAS - Nevada Democrats have released a revamped plan for the Feb. 22 caucuses , adding measures intended to avoid a repeat of problems that ensnared Iowa ’ s vote .
But they will still rely on a complex process involving internet-connected iPads that is being rolled out to caucus organizers a little more than a week before voting .
In a memo released Thursday , Nevada Democrats said there will be a two-step process for reporting results consisting of submissions made by phone and electronically .
Caucus organizers will be relying on off-the-shelf Google data-management software to calculate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ app and iPads are trusted commercial tech tools — a contrast to the newly developed app used in Iowa .
“ In choosing the best path forward our guiding principles have been security , efficiency and simplicity , ” the party ’ s executive director , Alana Mounce , said in the memo .
Election experts have warned that deploying new technology and making last-minute changes to the process without sufficient training and field testing increase confusion and the possibility of problems .
They have also raised concerns about a lack of transparency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the technology being used , which prevents scrutiny of their qualifications and security experience .
“ Very much like Iowa , this sounds like a tremendous amount of information coming relatively late in the game for fallible human beings in a complex environment , ” said Eddie Perez , an election technology expert with the OSET Institute , a non-profit that promotes reliable voting solutions .
“ And that creates risk for another process breakdown.
” The stakes are high for Democrats after the meltdown of the Iowa caucuses and amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s interference in the 2016 presidential contest .
As in Iowa , Nevada ’ s caucuses are run by the state party and not state and local election officials .
Nevada Republicans do not have caucuses this year .
The state party had to scramble to rework its process after jettisoning software made by the same developer whose mobile reporting app failed in Iowa .
State party officials said they have been consulting with the Democratic National Committee , the Department of Homeland Security and technical experts .
Party officials emphasized that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the process relies on “ off the shelf technology from Google ” connected with forms and spreadsheets for convenience .
They also said they alerted Google that they planned to use its programs .
In recent days , volunteers who will be leading the Nevada caucuses had raised concerns that key information about the process had yet to be released and that there had been no hands-on training with the iPads they will be expected to use .
In addition , they said there had been no opportunities to practice using what was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for calculating results .
It now appears the “ tool ” will be a preprogrammed Google form incorporated with information on early votes cast for each respective precinct , so they can be added to the in-person caucus .
A paper backup of those early votes will also be provided to the caucus organizer for each precinct .
The caucus organizer will use the Google form to enter information about how many people were caucusing at each precinct and candidate tallies for each round of voting and then to submit the final delegate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ form fails , the state party will rely on a paper worksheet that every caucus organizer will be required to complete .
In addition , the state party plans to have multiple hotlines available , including ones that will not be released publicly to ensure those dedicated to caucus organizers are not overwhelmed like the ones in Iowa on the night of the caucuses .
The state party emphasized that they were “ actively testing ” the reporting process and will continue training volunteers .
Early voting , a complicated step that Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nevada ’ s challenges .
There ’ s uncertainty about how early voters would be included in later stages of the caucus process .
That was not addressed in Thursday ’ s memo .
To send results electronically , the party-owned iPads must be connected to the internet -- whether through cellular network or local WiFi .
This presents a security concern that someone could access the iPads and interfere or manipulate data transfers .
The state party did not detail what security measures are in place to protect these data transmissions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authentication and encryption .
They said that WiFi available at all the caucus sites had been tested and that the iPads were 4G-enabled in the event WiFi failed .
It was also not clear what security measures were in place to physically protect the devices themselves .
Seth Morrison , who will be leading a caucus site at a high school in the metro Las Vegas area , said he was told site leaders would be picking up the iPads being used at their locations a few days before caucus day and would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The site leaders would also be responsible for showing precinct chairs how to use the iPads when they get them on caucus day , he said .
Morrison said Thursday that he was pleased that more details were being released , but remained concerned about the last-minute push .
“ I am very concerned how we are going to train so many volunteers in a short window , especially those volunteers less comfortable with technology , ” Morrison said .
Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

Christina A. Cassidy And Michelle L. Price - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Trump bringing back trusted aide Hope Hicks to White House

WASHINGTON - Hope Hicks , one of President Donald Trump ’ s most trusted and longest-serving aides , is returning to the White House as the president works to surround himself with loyalists as his reelection campaign moves into high gear .
Hicks , a former White House communications director who was one of Trump ’ s original 2016 campaign staffers , is expected to serve as counsellor to the president , working with presidential son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner , according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity before the announcement had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House in 2018 and moved to California to work as a top executive at the Fox Corporation , though she and Trump remained in touch .
Hicks ’ s move comes just one week after Trump was acquitted by the Senate on impeachment charges .
Since then , he ’ s been on a tear to clear his administration of those he sees as insufficiently loyal , including ousting staffers at the national security council and state department and pulling the nomination of a top treasury department pick who had overseen cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Attorney .
More departures are expected in the coming days , including at the shrinking foreign policy arm of the White House , where Trump ’ s national security adviser has been pushing for months to cull staff .
At the same time , Trump has been working to surround himself with longtime aides he believes he can trust as he heads into what is expected to be a bruising general election campaign to remain in the White House .
In addition to Hicks , Trump recently brought back John McEntee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 campaign as an intern and rose to become one of Trump ’ s closest staffers , with an office adjacent to the Oval Office .
McEntee had served as Trump ’ s personal aide until he was forced out of the White House in 2018 on the orders of former chief of staff John Kelly over issues with his security clearance .
McEntee has now been tapped to lead the White House Presidential Personnel Office , an influential posting that co-ordinates the screening and hiring of thousands of federal government workers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is expected to work to ensure that only those who believe in Trump ’ s mission are offered jobs .
“ This is bringing back Ringo and John and Paul and George , “ said Jason Miller , senior communications adviser to Trump ’ s 2016 campaign , referring to the members of the super group “ The Beatles.
” “ This is putting the band back together for what is probably going to be the most consequential and important concert of their lives , “ he said , noting that the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are people that understand Trump as a person , who understand President Trump ’ s priorities , who he likes personally ” and who ” re going to spend every waking moment of their lives trying to help him.
” In her new role , Hicks will not be part of the White House communications department , but will work closely with Kushner and White House political director Brian Jack “ in a number of strategic areas , ” according to a White House official .
She is expected to start early next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked out Thursday .
Known for her loyalty and low public profile , Hicks was part of the small inner circle that travelled the country with Trump aboard his private jet as he waged his unlikely campaign for the Republican nomination and then the presidency in 2015 and 2016 .
She was often described as someone who was especially deft at reading the president ’ s moods and helping others navigate his instincts .
Trump never wanted Hicks to leave the White House , which she chose to do as she was called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counsel ’ s office during the Russia investigation .
And she and the president remained in regular touch while she was at Fox , with the president trying to convince her to return to the White House since nearly the day she left , according to one of the people .
The president ’ s sales pitch , the person said , intensified in recent months amid impeachment .
The news of her decision was praised publicly by top administration officials , including Stephanie Grisham , the White House press secretary who also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director .
“ I have worked with Hope for almost six years and can say without hesitation she is one of the most talented and savvy individuals I have come across , “ Grisham said in a statement .
“ She has always impressed me with her quiet confidence , loyalty and expertise , and I am beyond thrilled to welcome Hope back to the White House.
” “ There is no one more devoted to implementing President Trump ’ s agenda than Hope Hicks , “ Kushner added .
“ We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team.
” Even before Trump ’ s acquittal , his national security adviser Robert O ’ Brien had been working to shrink the ranks at the National Security Council , where Alexander Vindman , the director for European Affairs , had worked before he was escorted out of the White House last week .
O ’ Brien said the streamlining will be completed by the of the week , with about 70 fewer staffers than the 115 to 120 staffers when he started the job in September .
Meanwhile , the conservative Newsmax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first press secretary , Sean Spicer , will be hosting a political talk show that will air weeknights at 6 p.m. from Washington .
“ Spicer & Co. ” will debut on March 3 .
Associated Press writers Jonathan Lemire and Deb Riechmann contributed to this report .
Follow Miller and Colvin on Twitter at https : //twitter.com/ZekeJMiller and https : //twitter.com/colvinj .

Jill Colvin And Zeke Miller - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--High salaries for Travel Oregon execs called out in audit

SALEM , Ore. - Pay for the director and other managers of Oregon ’ s travel bureau is among the highest of any state agency , even though Travel Oregon has a much smaller staff and budget , according to a state audit released Thursday .
Since 2012 , managers ’ salaries ballooned by 76 % , The Oregonian/OregonLive reported .
As of June , the state paid CEO Todd Davidson $ 381,624 including a car and cellphone allowance , up 129 % from approximately $ 167,000 a decade ago .
The Oregon Tourism Commission has since given Davidson a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ By comparison , Department of Human Services Director Fariborz Pakseresht , who leads Oregon ’ s largest state agency with roughly 8,600 employees , was paid $ 200,388 as of June .
Travel Oregon employs 60 people .
Davidson agreed with all of the auditors ’ recommendations .
“ The agency is committed to continuous improvement and we are grateful for the constructive conversations that took place with Audits Division staff during the audit process , ” Davidson wrote .
“ We are proud of our contributions to supporting local communities and growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a way that is consistent with Oregon values.
” The audit findings will likely raise questions for already skeptical lawmakers whom Gov .
Kate Brown has asked to approve an increase in the statewide tourism tax that largely funds Travel Oregon .
It ’ s part of Brown ’ s plan to secure an additional $ 20 million for the 2021 World Athletics Championships in Eugene , for a total of $ 40 million in state funding .
As The Oregonian/OregonLive reported last week , Travel Oregon ’ s budget has surged more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annually and its payroll has also grown since lawmakers nearly doubled the statewide tourism lodging tax that largely funds the funds the agency in 2016 .
The only state government employee with a salary higher than Davidson ’ s in June was the chief investment officer , who oversees an approximately $ 81 billion investment portfolio .
Travel Oregon managers told auditors that they based the salaries on an analysis of comparable salaries commissioned in 2016 .
But Travel Oregon managers were unable to supply details and could not locate evidence of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ auditors recommended that Travel Oregon do a better job of maintaining the records it uses to justify employee compensation decisions and sharing information about their pay with the Legislature .
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thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Panama recaptures man convicted in murder of students

PANAMA CITY - Panamanian police on Thursday recaptured a Dominican man convicted of kidnapping and murdering five young people of Chinese descent , two weeks after he escaped prison for a second time .
National Police Director Jorge Miranda told local media that Gilberto Ventura Ceballos was found in the province of Chiriquí bordering Costa Rica .
Authorities had announced Feb. 4 that Ventura Ceballos had escaped .
The latest escape prompted the resignation of the country ’ s security minister and the firing of the interior minister .
Ventura Ceballos was sentenced along with a fellow Dominican accomplice to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abduction and killing of the five university students about a decade ago .
He acknowledged murdering them and burying them beneath the floor of a home in the town of La Chorrera west of Panama City , authorities say .
Investigators said at least two were buried alive .
The Dominicans ran a cellphone sales business and had collected nearly a quarter-million dollars in ransom payments from relatives .
Ventura Ceballos escaped the first time in December 2016 .
He was recaptured the following September in Costa Rica where he had died his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name , working at an auto shop .
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thetorontostar--2020-02-14--2020 Democrats step up attacks to blunt Bloomberg’s rise

WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidates hoping to revive their flagging campaigns increasingly took aim at Mike Bloomber , blasting their billionaire rival for trying to buy his way into the White House and raising questions about his commitment to racial equality .
Struggling to recover from poor showings in the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary , Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden took the lead in attacking Bloomberg .
Biden , the former vice-president , said on ABC ’ s “ The View ” that “ I don ’ t think you can buy an election , “ while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2008 comments that ending redlining , a discriminatory housing practice , helped trigger the economic meltdown .
Biden and billionaire Tom Steyer also joined forces in slamming Bernie Sanders after the Vermont senator and self-described democratic socialist won New Hampshire and essentially tied for the lead in Iowa with Pete Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana .
Biden said Sanders hadn ’ t done enough to explain how he ’ d pay for his “ Medicare for All ” proposal to replace private insurance with a government-run program .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ us how he will pay for his plan adds unnecessary financial risk to achieving health care as a right for every person.
” Voters , Steyer said , “ should have all the facts.
“ The sniping reflects the remarkably fluid state of the Democratic race even after two states that typically winnow presidential fields have already voted .
The White House hopefuls are trying to blunt Bloomberg , who gained attention by flooding the national airwaves with hundreds of millions of dollars in advertisements and is on the verge of being admitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And the lagging candidates are trying to prove that they still have the mettle to stay in the race , even if their path is becoming increasingly difficult .
Warren told The Associated Press on Thursday that she has raised $ 6 million since the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses , a haul that could silence questions about whether she will soon leave the campaign because of her disappointing showings so far .
She called the race “ wide open.
“ “ There ’ s a lot of froth , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a long process.
“ That ’ s especially true as moderates are struggling to coalesce around a candidate .
Biden has long argued that he ’ s the most electable , in part because his centrist approach has broad appeal and could make it easier for Democrats to defeat President Donald Trump in the fall .
That ’ s at risk of being undermined by his middling finish in Iowa and New Hampshire .
He ’ s now staking his campaign on success in the Feb. 29 South Carolina primary , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a significant black population .
But before then , candidates will face voters in Nevada , which holds its Democratic caucuses on Feb. 22 .
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar , whose moderate presidential campaign surpassed expectations in New Hampshire this week , raced to Nevada after a Senate vote Thursday to try to keep momentum going .
“ The political landscape is littered with people who raised more money than Amy Klobuchar , ” said Tom Nides , a former deputy secretary of state and Democratic donor who served as an intern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were in college .
“ Her whole campaign strategy has been based on the fact that she ’ s scrappy .
She just grinds it out.
” Klobuchar ’ s rise is inviting new scrutiny , especially from Buttigieg , hoping to keep her from eating into his support among moderate Democrats .
Buttigieg , a target of Klobuchar ’ s for weeks over what she has characterized as light experience , Thursday turned his criticism of Washington politics toward the Minnesota senator .
During the LULAC forum , he took aim in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 vote in the Senate to confirm Customs and Border Protection commissioner Kevin McAleenan , who he criticized for “ the horrifying conditions that children were kept in.
” “ I ’ ve heard some people say that , you know , my experience is not relevant because you have to have Washington experience in order to become a president .
But some of those same voices are among those who voted to confirm Kevin McAleenan as the CBP head , ” Buttigieg said .
Biden received more bad news when Nevada ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ casino workers ’ Culinary Union , said it wouldn ’ t endorse any of the candidates before the state ’ s caucuses .
The former vice-president warned his supporters on Wednesday that an endorsement was unlikely , but the confirmation of that was still a blow .
“ We ’ ve known Vice-President Biden for many years .
We know he ’ s been our friend , “ Geoconda Argüello-Kline , the secretary-treasurer for the Culinary Union , said at a Thursday afternoon news conference .
“ We know all of these candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them.
” Buttigieg , who placed second in New Hampshire , is also expected to make a big play for Nevada .
But the state could pose a challenge for him as it ’ s the first place he ’ ll have to win over voters of colour , something polls have suggested would be difficult .
The result is a muddled middle lane in the primary as Sanders is poised to keep squeaking out victories .
On Capitol Hill , Sanders said he thinks “ we ’ re on a path to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to defeating Trump is to have the largest voter turnout in American history , “ he said .
“ And I think we have the campaign — for a variety of reasons — to do that.
” Backers of more moderate candidates , meanwhile , are beginning to worry .
Sen. Dianne Feinstein , D-Calif. , expressed concerns that multiple centrist Democrats in the race might stretch out the primary season .
“ We have so many in the primary , “ said Feinstein , who has backed Biden .
“ That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It has to sort itself out.
” Biden said Bloomberg will have to defend his record on the debate stage , and he said he doubted there would be a contested convention .
“ The advantage I have is I ’ ve been vetted and vetted and vetted and vetted again , ” he said at a New York fundraiser on Thursday .
“ They ’ re just starting on Mike.
” Warren opened her speech before a raucous crowd of more than 4,000 at a high school in Arlington , Virginia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Of the financial meltdown , she said : “ That crisis would not have been averted if the banks had been even bigger racists , and anyone who thinks that should not be the leader of our party , ” drawing huge cheers and boos for Bloomberg .
As the candidates fight , Bloomberg has tried to appear above the fray , mostly maintaining his focus on the delegate-rich swath of states that vote on March 3 .
He spent part of Thursday campaigning in North Carolina , where he didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ attacks .
“ We know the Trump strategy — he makes plans look unaffordable and unreasonable and undoable .
Well , that ’ s not going to work against me , ” Bloomberg told hundreds in Raleigh .
Campaigning with Bloomberg , Steve Benjamin , the mayor of Columbia , South Carolina , said the candidate is “ rapidly ascending ” in polls and , “ as a result , he ’ s going to take a whole lot of incoming fire and arrows.
“ Bloomberg did opt to hit back at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former mayor in a series of tweets .
Bloomberg tweeted in response : “ We know many of the same people in NY .
Behind your back they laugh at you & call you a carnival barking clown .
They know you inherited a fortune & squandered it with stupid deals and incompetence .
I have the record & the resources to defeat you .
And I will.
” Associated Press writers Kathleen Ronayne in Raleigh , N.C. , Michelle L. Price in Las Vegas , Alexandra Jaffe in New York and Meg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to this report .
Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast , “ Ground Game .
”

Will Weissert And Alan Fram - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-02-14--EU officials push for bloc to enforce Libya arms embargo

BERLIN - European Union officials are seeking support from member states to have naval ships enforce the U.N. arms embargo against Libya , according to a document obtained by The Associated Press on Friday .
The confidential proposal from the EU ’ s diplomatic service suggests the bloc ’ s dormant anti-migrant smuggling mission , known as Operation Sophia , should be renamed “ Operation EU Active Surveillance.
” The proposal , circulated ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers next Monday , urges member states to agree on whether gathering information on and upholding the U.N. embargo should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ core task , ” while monitoring people smuggling would become a “ supporting task ” carried out from the air .
It goes beyond the agreement by EU countries last month to refocus the mission on the arms embargo by stressing the need to “ deploy naval assets in the relevant zone “ of its area of operations .
Currently , the EU naval mission Operation Sophia isn ’ t deploying ships amid disagreement among member states over how to treat migrants picked up from unseaworthy ships .
World powers agreed at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the arms embargo against Libya , but in practice , weapons have continued to flow to the two warring factions in the country .
Since the 2011 ouster and subsequent death of dictator Moammar Gadhafi , Libya has sunk further into chaos and turmoil .
It is currently divided between a U.N.-supported government , based in the capital , Tripoli , headed by Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj and supported by an array of militias , and an administration based in the country ’ s east , supported by Gen. Khalifa Hifter .
Hifter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waging an offensive to capture Tripoli since last April .
On Thursday , Hifter ’ s forces indiscriminately shelled residential neighbourhoods around Tripoli , killing one woman and wounding at least four civilians .
The renewed clashes came just hours after the United Nations Security Council endorsed a 55-point road map for ending the war that demanded foreign backers of Libya ’ s warring sides uphold a widely flouted arms embargo .
Turkey , Italy and Qatar back the Tripoli administration while the United Arab Emirates and Egypt , as well as France @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side in the conflict Get more of the Star in your inbox Never miss the latest news from the Star .
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thetorontostar--2020-02-14--Outrage as Macron loses his mayoral candidate in Paris

PARIS - Rivals from across France ’ s political spectrum joined in a chorus of alarm and dismay Friday and warned that French democracy is in danger after an online leak of sexual images led an associate of French leader Emmanuel Macron to pull out of the race to become mayor of Paris .
Rapid expressions of support for Benjamin Griveaux , even from political rivals , were a striking reminder of the longstanding and widely held view in France that public servants ’ private lives are largely off limits .
A Russian performance artist claimed responsibility for posting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to end his bid for Paris City Hall .
Politicians warned that people will no longer want to stand for elected office if they run the risk of their private affairs becoming public , and that the leaking of sexually explicit material to take Griveaux out of the municipal elections was a threat to France ’ s proud democratic traditions .
“ We ’ re not trying to elect saints , “ said Sebastien Chenu , a spokesman for the far-right National Rally party , normally an unforgiving political opponent of Griveaux ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on BFM-TV .
On the far-left , former presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon also expressed support , saying Griveaux was the victim of score-settling and that French public life must not become prey to voyeurism .
“ The publication of intimate images to destroy an adversary is odious , ” Melenchon tweeted .
Lawmaker Cedric Villani , who split from Griveaux ’ s party to stand against him in Paris , warned in a tweet that his rival was the victim of an attack that posed “ a serious threat for our democracy.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Macron ’ s government .
His sudden withdrawal from the mayoral race left Macron ’ s centrist party without a candidate in the French capital for the municipal elections next month .
A grim-faced Griveaux announced the withdrawal himself on Friday morning , saying he ’ d been targeted by “ vile attacks ” on the internet and social media .
The newspaper Liberation said Pyotr Pavlensky called the daily on Thursday night and said he obtained the video from an unnamed source who had a relationship with Griveaux .
Liberation quoted Pavlensky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Griveaux ’ s “ hypocrisy.
” “ He is someone who is always playing up family values , who says he wants to be the mayor of families and always cites as examples his wife and children .
But he does the opposite , ” Liberation quoted Pavlensky as saying .
Paris is the most coveted of France ’ s municipalities and a political fiefdom that has been used in the past , notably by former French President Jacques Chirac , as a springboard for higher office .


thetorontostar--2020-02-14--Post-impeachment, House Democrats sharpen focus on Barr

WASHINGTON - House Democrats frustrated over the Senate ’ s acquittal of President Donald Trump are pushing their oversight efforts toward the Justice Department and what they call Attorney General William Barr ’ s efforts to politicize federal law enforcement .
Democrats have demanded more information about Barr ’ s intervention in the case of Roger Stone , a longtime Trump confidant who was convicted in November of lying to Congress and other charges .
Barr this week overruled prosecutors who had recommended that Stone be sentenced to 7 to 9 years in prison .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Trump ’ s “ henchmen.
” “ The attorney general has stooped to such levels , ” Pelosi said .
“ What a sad disappointment .
The American people deserve better.
” The sharpened look at Barr ’ s activities comes at a time when many Democrats appear wary of prolonging the Ukraine inquiry that led to Trump ’ s impeachment .
Pelosi and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff have put off — but not ruled out — a subpoena for former National Security Adviser John Bolton , who refused to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later said he would testify in the Senate trial .
Bolton is writing a book .
Issuing a subpoena for Bolton could bring dramatic testimony about Trump ’ s conduct , but also risk a court fight that could take months to resolve .
Many Democrats privately say they want to look forward , not backward , and conduct oversight of the Republican president ’ s actions in real time .
First up will be examining whether Barr inappropriately intervened in the Stone case .
Stone was convicted of lying to Congress , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into whether the Trump campaign co-ordinated with Russia to tip the 2016 election .
Trump congratulated the attorney general afterward on Twitter .
Meanwhile , the four prosecutors on the case immediately withdrew .
The turmoil within the Justice Department has given Democrats a new way forward for their investigations after the sting of the Senate ’ s impeachment acquittal .
While there is little interest in pursuing another impeachment case , Democrats want to leverage the power of their majority to conduct oversight as they try to defeat Trump at the polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defection of these prosecutors is a huge alarm bell going off in our system , ” said Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland , one of the most vocal Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee who pushed for impeachment .
“ So , that is the immediate emergency.
” House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler announced Wednesday that Barr will testify before the committee March 31 and that lawmakers will ask him about his involvement in the Stone case .
People familiar with the committee ’ s plans said there could be other Judiciary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politicization of the department .
The people requested anonymity because the plans aren ’ t yet set .
Barr appeared to try and deflect some of the rising criticism Thursday , saying in an interview with ABC News that Trump ’ s tweets about Justice Department prosecutors and cases “ make it impossible for me to do my job.
” But he also said the decision to undo the sentencing recommendation was made before Trump tweeted about it , and he said the president had not asked him to intervene in any cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough for Democrats , who also want to ask Barr about his decision to take information from Trump ’ s personal lawyer , Rudy Giuliani , about Joe Biden and his son .
Those same efforts by Giuliani in Ukraine were at the heart of Trump ’ s impeachment .
“ In the past week alone , you have taken steps that raise grave questions about your leadership , ” the Democrats wrote in a letter to Barr .
The GOP-led Senate has shown less interest in grilling the attorney general .
Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduce Stone ’ s sentence and said they didn ’ t expect to request Barr ’ s testimony .
“ President Trump , in selecting Bill Barr to be attorney general , has done a great service to the people serving in the Department of Justice and our nation as a whole , ” Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , said in a statement Thursday .
Graham added that Barr has his “ complete confidence.
” Associated Press writer Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report .

Mary Clare Jalonick - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-02-14--Prosecutors get final word at Harvey Weinstein’s rape trial

NEW YORK - By the time prosecutors at Harvey Weinstein ’ s rape trial give their closing argument on Friday , it will have been more than a week since jurors heard one of his accusers recount what prosecutors describe as a vile sexual encounter with the disgraced Hollywood mogul .
In the days since , Weinstein ’ s lawyers have called witnesses who raised doubts about the accusers ’ testimony , brought in an expert who spoke about memories getting fuzzy over time and offered an epic , hourslong closing argument painting the prosecution ’ s case as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as “ regret renamed as rape.
” Now , prosecutors look to focus the jury ’ s attention back on the accusers who testified and their harrowing accounts alleging rapes , forced oral sex , groping , masturbation , lewd propositions and casting couch experiences .
Several women testified that Weinstein ignored pleas of “ no , no , no ” as he assaulted them .
The woman Weinstein is charged with raping said he would turn violent when he couldn ’ t get his way and that , “ If he heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was like a trigger for him.
“ Another woman recalled Weinstein sneering , “ You ’ ll never make it in this business , this is how this industry works , ” when she laughed off his advances .
Having the last word before jurors hear instructions and start deliberating Tuesday , prosecutors must also answer some of the defence ’ s knocks on their case .
Chief among them : that the two women Weinstein is charged with attacking were opportunists who willingly latched on to the once-powerful producer and acquiesced to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would help their careers .
Weinstein , 67 , is charged with raping a woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on a different woman , Mimi Haleyi , in 2006 .
Other accusers testified as part of a prosecution effort to show he used the same tactics to victimize many women over the years .
The Associated Press has a policy of not publishing the names of people who allege sexual assault without their consent .
It is withholding name of the rape accuser because it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be identified publicly .
The prosecution ’ s task has been complicated because the women he ’ s charged with assaulting didn ’ t abandon Weinstein after the alleged encounters .
A psychologist who testified for the prosecution said most sexual assault victims continue to have contact with their attacker .
Nevertheless , the defence seized on the continued contact and confronted some accusers with warm emails and other communications with Weinstein that continued for months — or even years — after the alleged attacks .
In her closing argument Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creating an alternate universe that “ strips adult women of common sense , autonomy , and responsibility.
” “ In their universe , they are not even responsible for sitting at their computers sending emails to someone across the country , “ Rotunno said in remarks that went on for more than 4 1/2 hours .
“ In this script the powerful man is the villain and he ’ s so unattractive and large , that no woman would ever want to sleep with him voluntarily .
Regret does not exist in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi-Orbon is expected to deliver Friday ’ s closing argument for the prosecution .
She is a longtime prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorney ’ s office and a veteran of high-profile cases and big moments .
In 2017 , she won a conviction in the notorious decadesold case of Etan Patz , a child pictured on milk cartons after he disappeared in 1979 .
She also led the office ’ s 2011 sex assault case against former International Monetary Fund leader Dominique Strauss-Kahn , which was ultimately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hear from Illuzzi in Friday ’ s closing argument is a reminder that Weinstein didn ’ t always look as feeble as he has during the trial .
On Tuesday , after the defence rested and the jury left for the day , Weinstein ’ s lawyers sparred with Illuzzi over her plan to mention how his physical appearance has changed significantly since the time of the alleged assaults .
Weinstein has hobbled into court each day with a walker , parking the device behind the defence table .
His lawyers say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back surgery , but Illuzzi said it seemed more like a prop put there to sway jurors ’ sympathies .
“ I ’ m not going to argue Mr. Weinstein does not have physical ailments right now , ” Illuzzi told Judge James Burke .
“ But I can argue that is not the man these witnesses saw.
“ On Twitter , follow Michael Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak and Tom Hays at twitter.com/aptomhays For more coverage of Harvey Weinstein ’ s trial visit : apnews.com/HarveyWeinstein

Michael R. Sisak And Tom Hays - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-02-14--German economy stagnates in sign of Europe’s difficulties

FRANKFURT - Growth ground to a halt at the end of the year in Germany , Europe ’ s largest economy , as manufacturing remained in a slump and exports fell , official figures showed Friday .
The flat reading underlines the challenge facing the broader eurozone economy as it struggles against headwinds from the U.S-China trade dispute and Britain ’ s departure from the European Union .
Both the German and eurozone figures were the weakest since 2013 , when the region was suffering from a debt crisis thatnearly spelled he end of the euro currency .
.
Germany @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was zero growth in the fourth quarter and a mediocre 0.6 % increase for the whole year .
The figures did not change the disappointing reading for the entire eurozone of 0.1 % growth during the fourth quarter .
Germany ’ s troubles are a central problem for the 19-country eurozone economy and the European Central Bank , which is trying to stimulate flagging growth and inflation with negative interest rates and bond purchases with newly printed money .
Germany has been a manufacturing and export champion in recent years but those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and services businesses have held up better and kept the country out of recession .
Slowing global trade and the uncertainty caused by the U.S.-China conflict over trade have been one headwind , as businesses wonder if new tariffs , or import taxes , will disrupt their supply chains of raw materials and parts .
Another is structural change in industry , particularly the auto business , where companies must sink billions into developing electric cars and new services based on smartphone apps , both to meet regulatory pressure for lower greenhouse gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new entrants from the tech industry .
Germany and the eurozone also face the possibility of disrupted trade with Britain , which left the EU on Jan. 31 .
Negotiators must work out a trade deal by the end of the year to avoid new tariffs and barriers to products , and time is short to reach agreement on the complex issues involved .
And on top of all that come worries about the spread of the coronavirus which causes the COVID-19 illness .
“ The effect of coronavirus on global supply chains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growth subdued in the short term , “ said Rosie Colthorpe , European economist at Oxford Economics .
The three biggest economies in Europe all stagnated or shrank in the last three months of the year — number 2 France saw output contract , albeit by a modest 0.1 % while heavily indebted Italy shrank 0.3 % .
Carsten Brzeski , chief economist at ING Germany , said recent hopes for a modest upswing were looking a little premature at this point .
“ In general , the German economy remains stuck between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sector , ” he said in a note .


thetorontostar--2020-02-14--Renzi challenge threatens stability of Italian government

MILAN - Italy ’ s government is facing a challenge from within after former Premier Matteo Renzi instructed lawmakers from his small party to vote against a judicial reform and told ministers to boycott a Cabinet meeting .
Renzi ’ s actions threatened to plunge into crisis the five-month-old coalition government , which comprises the 5-Star Movement , the Democratic Party and Renzi ’ s small Italia Viva party .
Renzi formed the party last year after breaking with the Democratic Party , which he headed during his nearly three-year stint as premier .
As tensions increased throughout the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of being a “ rude opposition , ” while Renzi said he was ready to break with the government .
“ You can not say we are a rude opposition , because if we are the opposition , then you don ’ t have a majority , ” Renzi said in a Facebook video .
“ If you want to create another government , we won ’ t get in your way .
We will never be the ones who hold on to Cabinet positions and give up our dignity.
” Conte told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cabinet approved judicial reforms aimed at shortening Italy ’ s notoriously lengthy judicial process that he was taken aback by Renzi ’ s decision to withdraw support for the measure .
A Democratic Party senator , Valeria Fedeli , said Renzi ’ s decision to keep his ministers away from the Cabinet meeting , instead of seeking to negotiate any changes , was a clear sign of an “ institutional tear.
” ‘ ’ If you abandon the table , that means there are no longer the conditions to continue , ’ ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes as Italy faces another spate of bad economic news .
Italy ’ s statistics agency this week reported that industrial production in December dropped 4.3 % from a year earlier .
The current government was formed in September after the previous one collapsed when former Interior Minister Matteo Salvini , in a failed bid to take power , yanked his right-wing League ’ s support for a coalition with the 5-Star Movement .
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thetorontostar--2020-02-14--Baby born in migrant boat rescued near Canary Islands

MADRID - Spanish authorities said Friday that they have rescued a group of 86 migrants that included a baby who @ @ @ @ @ journey in the open sea to reach Europe .
Emergency services for the Canary Islands @ @ @ @ @ taken to a hospital along with its mother and three other pregnant women on arrival @ @ @ @ @ rest of the migrants who were aboard three small vessels reached by Spain ’ s @ @ @ @ @ were in good health .
In January , a newborn baby was found dead on @ @ @ @ @ had left the west coast of Africa to reach the Canary Islands .
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thetorontostar--2020-02-14--Gold panning in northern Mali may be benefiting extremists

KIDAL , Mali - A gold rush is underway in an area of northern Mali where al-Qaida-linked fighters are active , raising concerns that profits from artisanal mining could benefit not only the local economy but also Islamic extremists .
A coalition of armed Tuareg rebels known as the CMA controls the Kidal region and its leaders oversee the gold-panning activities .
Some CMA members are believed to have close ties to the local al-Qaida affiliate known as JNIM .
It is considered the most active of the extremist groups in the West African nation where deadly attacks against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It can not be excluded that individuals belonging to terrorist groups — in this case the JNIM — in the area play a role not only in securing the sites but in the collection of taxes , too , ” said Ibrahim Maiga , a researcher with the Institute for Security Studies in Mali ’ s capital , Bamako .
CMA officials declined to talk about the presence of al-Qaida-linked fighters in their ranks .
Residents were fearful of discussing it , saying the extremist group has intelligence agents everywhere in town .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in August found that the CMA was receiving income from checkpoints and taxation related to the gold rush but that several mining operators had “ yet to comply with regulations.
” It said the gold rush began “ initially in almost complete anarchy.
” The report said experts had been gathering “ evidence of collusion between individual members of compliant armed groups and terrorist armed groups.
” The CMA is considered a compliant group because it signed a peace accord with Mali ’ s government in 2015 .
Many difficulties have faced the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuareg rebels and Islamic extremists are complex and evolving .
The rebels have long sought to create an independent state known as Azawad , and some signed on to the agreement with the government .
Others including former Tuareg rebel leader Iyad Ag Ghaly have gone the way of extremism , starting a group known as Ansar Dine and later joining forces with others to form JNIM .
The gold panning began in Kidal in 2016 , not long after the CMA signed the peace accord .
About 1,000 people are currently panning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Battaye , who leads a local non-governmental organization .
In addition to Malians , there are also believed to be workers from Niger , Chad , Sudan and Algeria .
The gold can go for up to 1,300 CFA ( $ 2.19 ) a karat in Bamako , providing an economic lifeline for a region whose economy has been decimated by conflict dating back to 2011 — before a coup that allowed the extremists to seize control .
While concerns remain about oversight , local leaders insist that the gold rush has brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of gold in the Kidal region , there was so much banditry that thieves even entered the courtyard of private houses , of NGOs .
There were robberies all the time , ” said Attouyoub Ag Intalla , who leads another civil society organization .
“ Since the discovery of gold , young people have been busy with gold panning .
”


thetorontostar--2020-02-14--Marine Corps Museum commemorates Iwo Jima anniversary

TRIANGLE , Va. - The National Museum of the Marine Corps in northern Virginia is marking the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima .
The museum along Interstate 95 in Triangle is hosting a series of events and displays the weekend of Feb. 22 .
Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “ Woody “ Williams will share his memories of Iwo Jima during a presentaion on Feb. 22 .
The next day will feature an Iwo Jima-themed Family Day , and a concert by the Marine Band .
The 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima is best known for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rosenthal showing six Marines raising the U.S. flag over Mount Suribachi .
The flag captured in Rosenthal ’ s image is on display at the museum .
During the commemoration of the anniversary , the museum is displaying an additional flag that was raised over Iwo Jima before Rosenthal took his photo .
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thetorontostar--2020-02-14--Bodies of 12 troops in Indonesia chopper crash found

JAYAPURA , Indonesia - Search teams in Indonesia on Friday found the bodies of a dozen soldiers killed when their helicopter crashed eight months ago in the country ’ s easternmost province of Papua where separatist rebels are active , officials said .
The cause of the crash remains under investigation .
Teams from the army ’ s elite troops found the wreckage of the Russian-made Mi-17 on a steep slope at an elevation of about 3,800 metres ( 12,500 feet ) .
They were able to reach the remote and difficult terrain the following day , Papua military spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bodies had been identified by their uniforms .
Local military commander Binsar Sianipar , who led the mission , said bad weather hindered the retrieval of the bodies using ropes and it will resume early Saturday .
The helicopter lost contact five minutes after takeoff from Oksibil , the capital of the district of Bintang Mountain on June 28 .
It was travelling to the provincial capital , Jayapura .
The army helicopter was taking troops and supplies to a border post in Okbibab near Papua New Guinea and had refuelled at Oksibil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control tower , the military said .
The search had resumed after residents of the village of Oksop told authorities last week that they had seen the wreckage in an area considered sacred , about 12 kilometres ( 7 miles ) from Oksibil .
Flying is the only practical way of accessing many areas in the mountain and jungle-clad easternmost provinces of Papua and West Papua where military helicopters recently have become a target of separatist rebels .
Papua , a former Dutch colony in the western part of New Guinea , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.N.-sponsored ballot that was widely seen as a sham .
A small , poorly armed separatist group has been battling for independence since then .
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thetorontostar--2020-02-14--AP Explains: Why Syria’s M5 is Assad’s highway to victory

BEIRUT - It is arguably one of the most coveted prizes in Syria ’ s civil war , and after eight years of fighting , Syrian President Bashar Assad has got it back .
The Damascus-Aleppo highway , or the M5 , is known to Syrians simply as the “ International Road.
” Cutting through all of Syria ’ s major cities , the motorway is key to who controls the country .
Assad gradually lost control over the motorway from 2012 , when various rebel groups fighting to topple him began seizing parts of the country .
Protests against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the year before amid a wave of uprisings in the Arab world .
This soon turned into a civil war , following a brutal government crackdown on dissent and the intervention of foreign powers in the growing conflict .
Historically a bustling trade route , one Syrian analyst , Taleb Ibrahim , called the M5 “ the most basic and strategic highway in the Middle East.
” For the Turkey-backed rebels fighting Assad , the motorway was a cornerstone in holding together their territory and keeping government forces at bay .
Its loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose hold on their last patches of ground in northwestern Syria is looking more and more precarious .
Here ’ s a look at the M5 , and its place in Syria ’ s nearly nine-year-long civil war : WHAT IS IT ?
The M5 is a strategic highway that starts in southern Syria , near the border with Jordan , and runs all the way north to the city of Aleppo near the Turkish border .
The 450-kilometre ( 280-mile ) highway links the country ’ s four largest cities and population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Aleppo , cutting through Idlib province .
Before the war , the M5 motorway served as an economic artery for Syria — mainly feeding the country ’ s industrial hub of Aleppo .
Experts estimate the road carried business worth $ 25 million a day at the height of Syria ’ s trade boom before the war .
The highway was a passageway for the crossing of wheat and cotton from the Syrian east and north to the rest of the country .
It was also a road used for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Jordan , Saudi Arabia and other Arab states , as well as Turkey .
Regaining control over the highway has been a top priority of the Assad government since the early days of the war .
Its slow and tortuous recovery , in many ways , traces the arc of the Syrian war , which has killed nearly half a million people and uprooted half the country ’ s pre-war population .
The Syrian government began winning back segments of the highway , starting in 2014 .
That ’ s when Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assad , and essentially tipped it in his favour .
Towns and cities located along parts of the highway , including in the Ghouta region and in the suburbs of Damascus , now lie in ruins after long sieges and incessant bombardment forced them into submission .
The Russian-backed recapture of Aleppo in December 2016 was another major game-changer .
Under a September 2018 agreement between Russia and Turkey , the M5 and M4 highways were supposed to be open for traffic , linking the government ’ s stronghold on the coast with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That never happened , as insurgents refused to move away and allow joint Russian-Turkish patrols to protect the traffic there .
That eventually led to the latest government offensive in Idlib , the last rebel-held bastion in the country .
Government troops backed by Russia carried out several major advances in Idlib , retaking towns and villages on both sides of the motorway .
The capture of Khan Sheikhoun was the first major breakthrough , followed by Maaret al-Numan and Saraqeb , located on the intersection between the M4 and M5 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ last rebel-controlled section of the highway around Khan al-Assal .
That brought the road under the full control of Assad ’ s forces for the first time since 2012 .
The victory statement came not from the Syrian government , but from Russia ’ s defence ministry .
It said in a statement Wednesday that “ Syria ’ s most important transport artery ” had been “ freed ” from rebel control .
The highway ’ s capture is possibly the most significant victory for Assad , whose forces have been making solid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the help of Russian airstrikes and Iran-backed fighters .
Ibrahim , the political analyst , said the highway is so vital because it links the country ’ s two powerhouses — the capital of Damascus with the trading hub of Aleppo .
“ In other words it links Syria ’ s political capital with its economic capital , ” he said .
It also links up with the M4 highway at the Saraqeb knot , opening up traffic to the government ’ s coastal stronghold of Latakia and the port .
Fighting continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much of Idlib province remains in rebel hands .
But the M5 ’ s seizure goes a long way to re-connect government-controlled areas , after they had been severed from each other for years .
Associated Press writer Albert Aji in Damascus , Syria , contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-02-14--German police raid homes of suspected far-right extremists

BERLIN - German authorities are searching sites linked to five people on suspicion that they formed a “ right-wing terrorist @ @ @ @ @ carry out attacks against politicians and minorities .
Federal prosecutors say the raids took place @ @ @ @ @ six states .
No arrests were made .
Prosecutors said the five suspects are alleged @ @ @ @ @ in September 2019 with the aim of overthrowing the state and social order in Germany @ @ @ @ @ suspects wanted to achieve their goal “ with as yet unspecified attacks against politicians , @ @ @ @ @ a civil war-like situation.
” Eight further people are being investigated on suspicion of pledging @ @ @ @ @ , procure weapons or participate in future attacks .
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thetorontostar--2020-02-14--Ex-deputy indicted in fatal shooting of Georgia grad student

ATHENS , Ga. - A since-fired sheriff ’ s deputy who police in Georgia said killed a graduate student he believed was having an affair with his wife was indicted on seven felony charges .
Athens-Clarke County police said Winford “ Trey ” Terrell Adams , 32 , fatally shot University of Georgia graduate student Benjamin Lloyd Cloer , 26 , during a domestic dispute in November 2019 .
Adams , who worked for the Madison County Sheriff ’ s Office , was off-duty at the time of the shooting and was later fired .
A grand jury indicted Adams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ murder , felony murder , first-degree home invasion , two counts of aggravated assault and two firearm possession charges , the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Thursday .
In the 911 call Adams made after the shooting , which was obtained by news outlets , he said he shot a man because his wife was cheating on him .
“ My wife was cheating on me , and I couldn ’ t take it , ” Adams is heard saying on the recording .
“ I didn ’ t shoot her , I shot the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ myself.
” He was being held in the Athens-Clarke County Jail without bond , the newspaper reported .
His next court appearance was scheduled for March 10 .
It ’ s unclear whether he had a lawyer to comment on his behalf .
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thetorontostar--2020-02-14--New Zealand teams find British hiker’s body in national park

WELLINGTON , New Zealand - Searchers found the body of British hiker Stephanie Simpson on Friday almost a week after she went hiking in a New Zealand national park .
Her body was found in the Pyke Creek area of Mount Aspiring National Park near where her backpack and boots were retrieved earlier , police Sgt .
Mark Kirkwood said .
He said in a statement the search had been extremely challenging because of the rugged terrain .
Kirkwood did not indicate there was anything suspicious about the death , which he said would be referred to a coroner .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the park last weekend and was reported missing on Monday .
Her family had been desperate for any information .
Brother-in-law Sam Hazelton had earlier told the New Zealand Herald that Simpson was an experienced hiker and very fit , having competed in triathlons and running races .
Police earlier on Friday had narrowed the search to the Pyke Creek area and were using two dog teams as well as cliff and canyon rescue teams .
Mount Aspiring National Park on New Zealand ’ s South Island is known for its rugged remoteness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ valleys .
It is popular with both hikers and mountain climbers .
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