thetorontostar--2020-03-17--Uncertainty surrounds Democratic primary as Ohio scraps vote

WASHINGTON - The Democratic presidential primary is consumed with uncertainty after leaders in Ohio called off Tuesday ’ s election just hours before polls were set to open , citing the need to combat the new coronavirus .
Officials in Florida , Arizona and Illinois said they would move forward with the vote .
Not since New York City postponed its mayoral primary on the day of the Sept. 11 , 2001 , attacks has an election been pushed off in such a high-profile , far-reaching way .
Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine initially asked a court to delay the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do so the state ’ s health director declared a health emergency that would prevent the polls from opening .
The decision was a reminder that the most elemental act of American democracy — voting — will be severely tested Tuesday as several states hold presidential primaries while also confronting the impact of a global pandemic .
The contests are playing out as the virus ’ impact is becoming more tangible with schools closing across the country , workers staying home and restaurants and bars shuttering .
The U.S. stock market on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than three decades .
The rapidly shifting developments amounted to a kind of chaos rarely seen in an election season .
And it may not end soon as some states that have presidential contests in the coming weeks have already moved to postpone them and others were being pressed to follow .
“ These are unusual restrictions , ” Susan Lerner , executive director of Common Cause New York , said of recommended federal limits to try and control the spread of the virus .
Her group is urging the delay of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from April 28 to June 23 , when congressional and legislative primaries are already scheduled .
“ Normally , we do not support postponing elections , but these are extraordinary circumstances , “ Lerner said .
Campaigns spent Monday sifting through data and talking to contacts on the ground to assess the impact of the coronavirus on turnout in places that will hold elections Tuesday .
Former Vice-President Joe Biden is moving closer to securing the Democratic presidential nomination but could face a setback if the older voters who tend to support him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Bernie Sanders , meanwhile , can ’ t afford to lose support from young voters who have been his most loyal supporters .
The tumult has left the campaign in a state of suspended animation .
In-person rallies have been replaced with sometimes-awkward virtual events .
Sanders , the last Democrat standing between Biden and the nomination , isn ’ t planning to drop out .
His campaign looked to have nowhere to go after a big loss last week in Michigan , and another blow landed Monday night when Biden was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington state , giving him victories in five out of six states that voted March 10 .
Yet Sanders ’ top advisers see no downside to staying in the race as they assess how the coming days and weeks unfold .
Sanders staged a virtual rally Monday night featuring himself , rocker Neil Young and activist actress Daryl Hannah .
He also released a video criticizing Biden for suggesting as a senator that he ’ d be willing to cut Social Security benefits — a line of attack he employed frequently during Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have to tell anybody that we are living in a very unprecedented and strange moment in the history of our country , ” Sanders said , urging supporters that it may be time to “ rethink our value system , rethink many of the systems we operate under.
” Sanders ’ team had expected Biden to do well in all four states set to vote on Tuesday .
But the Vermont senator has also cast some doubt about the entire process , saying no one should risk being infected while voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ to make sure that everybody who wants to vote has the right to vote , and that may not be the case now.
” Still , Sanders faces an increasingly tough path to the nomination .
About half of the delegates in the Democratic primary have already been awarded and , if Biden has another big night Tuesday , he will pad an already large and perhaps insurmountable lead .
Sanders trails Biden by more than 150 delegates nationally , meaning he ’ d need to win more than 57 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic nomination .
Biden ’ s campaign is trying not to look presumptuous about its prospects at this sensitive moment .
Still , the former vice-president is making moves to rally more voters to his campaign , including his announcement during the debate that he would choose a woman as a running mate .
Rep. Cedric Richmond of Louisiana , one of Biden ’ s campaign co-chairs , said the former vice-president has “ started the process of looking at people seriously.
” Biden appeared to keep his focus Monday on winning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a telephone town hall to participate in Tuesday primaries but to do so safely .
Joining him was former Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy , who served during President Barack Obama ’ s second term .
Murthy encouraged voters at high risk of contracting coronavirus to vote by mail or use curbside voting , if available , but he also explained precautions elections officials are planning in the Tuesday primary states .
The call came three days after Biden ’ s initial effort at remote campaigning was marred by technical difficulties , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what amounts to a national shut-in with the demands of a presidential campaign .
“ I appreciate everyone bearing with us as we figure out all the logistics of campaigning in a new way here , ” Biden said Monday night .
The coming weeks will present additional uncertainties .
After Tuesday , the campaign had been set to shift to Georgia next week , but officials there have already postponed their Democratic primary until May 19 .
That means voting isn ’ t scheduled again anywhere until March 29 in Puerto Rico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a delay .
The first week in April , meanwhile , would have featured Louisiana , but its decision to delay the primary until June 20 leaves only primaries in far-flung Alaska and Hawaii and caucuses in Wyoming through April 4 .
That could leave the campaign in further limbo , perhaps prolonging a primary race that might otherwise have been wrapped up .
This story has been corrected to show that Louisiana moved its primary to June 20 , not May .
Voting rights groups have advocated for upcoming elections to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as scheduled to adopt more lenient vote-by-mail and absentee ballot rules so that people don ’ t have to choose between showing up at a polling place and putting their health at risk .
But Mustafa Tameez , a Democratic strategist with ties to many of the party ’ s top donors , noted that Americans voted during World War I and World War II .
“ There should be no circumstance in which we say , because of a crisis — regardless of the crisis — that we stop our electoral government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writers Bill Barrow in Atlanta , Seth Borenstein in Washington and Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix contributed to this report .
Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast , “ Ground Game.
” The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .


thetorontostar--2020-03-17--The Latest: Florida polls open in presidential primary

WASHINGTON - The Latest on the Democratic presidential primaries ( all times local ) : The polls are open in most of Florida for the presidential primary .
Precincts are open in all parts of Florida except the Panhandle , which opens later .
Election officials in areas across the state Tuesday were managing losses of poll workers and changes to polling places because of the coronavirus .
If not enough poll workers show up , it ’ s possible some polling places might not be able to open .
Republican Gov .
Ron DeSantis says he believes the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of progressive groups is suing Florida in an attempt to extend mail-in balloting into next week because of the coronavirus .
Dream Defenders , New Florida Majority and Organize Florida want a federal judge to order Florida to allow voters to request mail-in ballots through March 24 and postpone the count until March 27 .
In Ohio , health officials postponed the state ’ s scheduled election .
Officials in Arizona and Illinois say they ’ re moving forward with the vote .
Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ground Game.
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thetorontostar--2020-03-17--Iranian state TV warns ‘millions’ could die from coronavirus

DUBAI , United Arab Emirates - Iran ’ s state television has issued its most drastic warning so far about the new coronavirus , saying the outbreak could kill “ millions ” in the Islamic Republic if the public keeps travelling and ignoring health guidance .
The warning came in a bulletin broadcast on Tuesday afternoon .
Roughly nine out of 10 of the over 18,000 cases of the new virus confirmed across the Middle East come from Iran , where authorities denied for days the risk the outbreak posed .
Officials have now implemented new checks for people trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Persian New Year , on Friday , but have hesitated to quarantine the areas .
That ’ s even as the death toll in Iran saw another 13 % increase Tuesday .
Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said the virus had killed 135 more people to raise the total to 988 amid over 16,000 cases .
THIS IS A MAJOR NEWS UPDATE .
AP ’ s earlier story is below : Hard-line Shiite faithful in Iran pushed their way into the courtyards of two major shrines just closed over fears of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported Tuesday , as the Islamic Republic pressed on with its struggle to control the Mideast ’ s worst outbreak .
Roughly nine out of 10 of the over 18,000 cases of the new virus confirmed across the Middle East come from Iran , where authorities denied for days the risk the outbreak posed .
Officials have now implemented new checks for people trying to leave major cities ahead of Nowruz , the Persian New Year , on Friday , but have hesitated to quarantine the areas .
That ’ s even as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 % increase Tuesday .
Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said the virus had killed 135 more people to raise the total to 988 amid over 16,000 cases .
Jordan meanwhile prepared for a shutdown of its own over the virus , banning gatherings drawing more than 10 people .
Late on Monday night , angry crowds stormed into the courtyards of Mashhad ’ s Imam Reza shrine and Qom ’ s Fatima Masumeh shrine .
Crowds typically pray there 24 hours a day , seven days a week , touching and kissing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health officials , who for weeks ordered Iran ’ s Shiite clergy to close them .
Earlier on Monday , the state TV had announced the shrines ’ closure , sparking the demonstrations .
“ We are here to say that Tehran is damn wrong to do that !
” one Shiite cleric shouted at the shrine in Mashhad , according to online video .
Others joined him in chanting : “ The health minister is damn wrong to do that , the president is damn wrong to do that !
” Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported .
Religious authorities and a prominent Qom seminary called the demonstration an “ insult ” to the shrine in a statement , urging the faithful to rely on “ wisdom and patience ” amid the closure .
Iran ’ s shrines draw Shiites from all over the Mideast for pilgrimages , likely contributing to the spread of the virus across the region .
Saudi Arabia earlier closed off Islam ’ s holiest sites over fear of the virus spreading .
President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday said despite the closures , “ our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than at any time.
” State TV reported that Iran had deployed teams to screen travellers leaving major cities in 13 provinces , including the capital , Tehran .
But Iran has 31 provinces and authorities haven ’ t taken the step to lock down the country like in the allied nations of Iraq and Lebanon .
The teams check travellers ’ temperatures and will send those with fevers to quarantine centres .
Iran has been urging people to stay home , but many have ignored the call .
Apparently in efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran has released 85,000 prisoners on temporary leave , judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said Tuesday .
He said that included half of all “ security-related ” prisoners , without elaborating .
Western nations have called on Iran to release dual nationals and others held allegedly as bargaining chips in negotiations .
Among those released is Mohammad Hossein Karroubi , the son of opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi , who was in jail for nearly two months .
Most people infected by the new coronavirus experience only mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the virus is highly contagious and can be spread by people with no visible symptoms .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia .
The kingdom of Jordan deployed troops outside of major cities to block travel on Tuesday .
It also ordered newspapers to cease publishing , banned gatherings of more than 10 people and established a quarantine zone at Dead Sea hotels .
It halted all private sector work and public transportation as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone coming from abroad would be subject to quarantine .
It also lifted restrictions on voice-over-IP internet calling services , which are common across Gulf Arab nations .
Meanwhile in Israel , the Defence Ministry was to roll out its plan to use near-empty hotel facilities , ravaged by the crash in tourism , as recovery centres for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 , the illness caused by the virus .
Two hotels are to begin receiving patients on Tuesday with others likely to follow .
The facilities are to be overseen by medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and food and other amenities delivered to the rooms by protected hotel staff .
Israel ’ s Defence Minister Naftali Bennett issued orders Tuesday to allow into Israel only those Palestinian workers and merchants whose work is deemed essential in health , agriculture , nursing and construction .
Workers allowed in will stay in Israel for between one and two months .
Also , following an overnight Cabinet approval , Israel ’ s internal Shin Bet security service said it will begin deploying its phone-tracking technology to combat the spread of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be limited only to help “ save lives ” and warn those who have been exposed .
Amid secrecy concerns , it said the technology won ’ t be used to enforce quarantines and the data will only be stored temporarily and available to just a select group of agents .
The emergency ordinance will be effective for 30 days .
Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi in Tehran , Iran , and Aron Heller in Jerusalem contributed to this report .
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .


thetorontostar--2020-03-17--As virus shuts down cities in Europe, pollution drops

BERLIN - The European Union ’ s space agency ’ s earth-observation satellites have detected a significant reduction in the pollutant nitrogen dioxide , a byproduct of the use of diesel motors and other human activities , in northern Italy as the advance of the COVID-19 has led to drastic measures curtailing ordinary life .
The agency ’ s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service reported Tuesday that with the “ abrupt changes in activity levels ” in northern Italy , it has tracked a “ reduction trend ” of nitrogen dioxide , or NO2 , for the last four to five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been the hardest hit country in Europe by the new coronavirus , and the government has implemented a wide lockdown , encouraging its 62 million people to stay home unless it ’ s absolutely necessary to go out .
Similar drops in pollutants were detected in China after the government there implemented widespread shutdowns to try and slow the spread of COVID-19 .
NO2 is a short-lived pollutant , staying in the atmosphere generally less than a day before being deposited or reacting with other gases , meaning it remains fairly close to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Most emissions are generated by human activities such as traffic , energy production , residential heating and industry .
“ It is quite remarkable that a signal of decreasing activity levels could be detected , ” said Vincent-Henri Peuch , the director of the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service .
“ This shows the extent of the measures taken by Italy.
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thetorontostar--2020-03-17--Niger says army kills 50 Boko Haram extremists after attack

NIAMEY , Niger - Niger says its army has killed at least 50 Boko Haram extremists after an attack on @ @ @ @ @ West African nation says the heavily armed Boko Haram fighters attacked the eastern Toumour post @ @ @ @ @ government says the army used air and ground forces to fight back , killing at @ @ @ @ @ a large number of vehicles .
One soldier was injured .
Boko Haram is based @ @ @ @ @ decade-long insurgency has focused on attacks inside that country , but the extremists also have @ @ @ @ @ Cameroon .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-17--Iraq ex-governor named PM-designate as Baghdad awaits curfew

BAGHDAD - Iraq ’ s president on Tuesday named a former governor of the city of Najaf as prime minister-designate , following weeks of political infighting , as Baghdad residents rushed to stock up on supplies hours before a days-long curfew was set to take hold amid a global pandemic .
Adnan al-Zurfi was appointed premier-designate by President Barham Saleh after tense meetings between rival political blocs that for weeks had struggled to reach a consensus over a candidate to replace outgoing Premier Adil Abdul-Mahdi .
The development came after an earlier premier-designate , Mohammed Allawi , withdrew his candidacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lineup .
Al-Zurfi , 54 , was appointed by Iraq ’ s U.S. administrator Paul Bremer as governor of Najaf in 2004 , and later served in the same post for two terms between 2009 and 2015 .
His second term was cut short following his dismissal by the provincial council .
In the May 2018 election he ran under former Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi ’ s list .
According to Iraq ’ s constitution , al-Zurfi has 30 days to propose a lineup of ministers and form a new government .
President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his new tasks to work for early and fair elections and to achieve the aspirations of the Iraqis , ” according to a statement from his office .
Early elections have been a key demand of anti-government protesters camped out in the capital ’ s Tahrir Square since last October , when thousands took to the streets to decry government corruption , poor services and unemployment .
Abdul-Mahdi resigned under pressure from the demonstrations .
Subsequently , Allawi ’ s efforts to form a government were plagued with delays and dysfunction as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Cabinet of independents , which alienated Iraqi Kurdish and Sunni lawmakers .
Al-Zurfi ’ s naming came hours before a curfew imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic was to take hold in Baghdad as Iraq struggles to contain the spread of the virus .
Residents of the Iraqi capital rushed Tuesday to stock up on last-minute supplies ahead of the start of the 11 p.m. curfew .
Many were concerned it could be extended beyond a week ’ s time that was announced by the government .
Long lines formed at gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside supermarkets to take temperatures of shoppers coming in .
Gloves were handed out .
The effective lockdown coincides with the annual Shiite Muslim commemoration of the death of revered Imam Mousa al-Kazim .
Thousands of Iraqis typically make the journey on foot to the shrine of the imam in the Khadimiya area outside Baghdad .
Pilgrims in the past few days have been stopped from carrying out the trek by security forces over the fears of the virus , which has infected more than 182,000 people and killed more than 7,100 globally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement has also come into question amid the strict protocols prohibiting large public gatherings over the new virus .
The number of demonstrators camped out in central Baghdad squares had been dwindling before the outbreak .
Some said they would stay to keep the protests alive , but others expressed fears of a surge in the viral outbreak .
Iraq has had 11 deaths from among 154 confirmed cases of the virus , which causes the COVID-19 illness .
Most people experience only mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus is highly contagious and can be spread by people with no visible symptoms .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia .
Associated Press writer Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-03-17--Abe could be big loser if Tokyo Olympics cancelled, postponed

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe might be the biggest loser if the Tokyo Olympics don ’ t go off as planned in just over four months .
Abe has attached himself to the success of the Olympics since pushing hard for Tokyo ’ s selection at an IOC meeting in 2013 in Buenos Aires , Argentina .
Tokyo was picked over Istanbul by billing itself as a “ safe pair of hands.
“ It was also Abe who charmed the closing ceremony of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics , parading before a 70,000 sellout as Nintendo game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use the Tokyo Olympics as the capstone of his career as Japan ’ s longest-serving prime minister .
But the games are in doubt , even though Japanese organizers and the International Olympic Committee have repeatedly said they are going ahead on July 24 — as planned .
But the possibility of the first Olympic cancellation outside of wartime — or a postponement — is real in the face of the fast-spreading virus that the World Health Organization has declared a pandemic .
The virus , of course , has clobbered the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ He ( Abe ) must certainly be worried that he might not be in charge if the Olympics were delayed for a year , ” David Leheny , a political scientist at Tokyo ’ s Waseda University , said in an interview with The Associated Press .
“ He really has invested a lot in the idea of showing Japan to the world in the best possible light , and he ’ s extraordinarily reluctant to give that up.
” Leheny speculated that Abe ’ s tenure would be unlikely to survive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been embroiled in corruption scandals and blamed for his slow reaction to the virus outbreak .
Although , his popularity increased about 8 percentage points to 49.7 % in a telephone poll released this week by Japanese news agency Kyodo .
In the same poll , 69.9 % of respondents said “ no ” when asked if Tokyo “ can hold the Olympics as planned .
Almost one-quarter of respondents thought the games could be staged as planned .
“ I think he ’ s still clinging to the hope that the epidemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it came on , “ Leheny said .
There are signs it may not , and more questions about the safety of bringing hundreds of thousands of athletes and fans together in Tokyo .
“ Who would want to be prime minister during the Olympics that nobody attends because of a global pandemic , ” Leheny added .
The IOC this week asked its staff at headquarters in Lausanne , Switzerland , to work from home until further notice .
It also closed the Olympic Museum .
In addition , the staff for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being asked to work from home .
The IOC said staff members have not reported any coronavirus cases .
An Irish bookmaker is offering odds of 1-4 that the games will not open on July 24 .
A small reception is planned Friday when the Olympic flame arrives from Greece at an airbase in northern Japan .
The torch relay will start officially in Fukushima prefecture as planned on March 26 with severe limits on crowd size .
“ The IOC has repeatedly faced serious challenges in the final road map into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IOC ’ s marketing director for 20 years , told AP .
“ Experience has also reinforced in the IOC that you don ’ t jump the gun , no matter the media or political pressure.
” Payne said there was no reason to decide now with the Olympics still four months away .
“ As serious as it is , the final decision is only going to get taken much , much closer to the games because the situation then may be very different from what it is today , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IOC .
The IOC holds most of the leverage over any decision to cancel or postpone , which is spelled out in the Host City Contract signed in 2013 with the city of Tokyo and the Japanese Olympic Committee .
At stake are billions in broadcast and sponsorship deals .
Tokyo organizers additionally say they ’ re officially spending $ 12.6 billion to hold the Olympics , although a national audit board says it ’ s twice that much .
John Coates , the IOC member who heads the inspection team for Tokyo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more concern back in 1980 about a boycott of the Moscow Olympics .
“ There is less uncertainty than we had in 1980 , I can tell you that , ” Coates told the newspaper .
In an exclusive interview last month with AP , former IOC vice-president Dick Pound speculated the Olympic governing body would have to announce a decision by the end of May .
Pound suggested cancellation was the most realistic option .
Others have suggested postponement as a likely option if the IOC can reach a financial deal with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ athletes , and 200 national Olympic committees .
Most have long-term relationships with the IOC and an incentive to go along .
Holding an Olympics in empty venues has also been suggested .
“ Postponing the games is , I fear , the only option if the government , under advice from the WHO and others , comes to the conclusion that the risk of hosting with spectators is too great , ” high-profile sports marketing expert Patrick Nally told AP .
Nally and Payne were key figures in driving IOC sponsorships .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the event would lack “ atmosphere.
” A no-fans option would also cost local organizers about $ 1 billion in ticket sales , and many would have been tickets sold to sponsors who pass them on to customers — a valuable perk .
“ Participants will find the event hollow and quality performances will be severely impacted , ” Nally said .
“ My view , therefore , is a games without public is an impossible and unrealistic proposal .
”

Stephen Wade And Mari Yamaguchi - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-17--Senate votes to extend, not tweak, 3 surveillance powers

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate has voted to extend , rather than tweak , three surveillance powers that federal law enforcement officials use to fight terrorists , passing the bill back to an absent House and throwing the future of the authorities in doubt .
The 75-day extension pushes off the debate over the surveillance tools as Congress attempts to deal with the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic .
It is unclear whether the House will accept the temporary extension of the surveillance powers , which lapsed on Sunday .
The House last week passed a compromise bill negotiated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican leader Kevin McCarthy that would renew the authorities and impose new restrictions .
President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell endorsed the measure , but longtime skeptics of the surveillance tools in the Senate blocked a quick passage .
The House legislation would update the three expiring surveillance provisions , including one that permits the FBI to obtain court orders to collect business records on subjects in national security investigations .
Another , known as the “ roving wiretap ” provision , permits surveillance on subjects even after they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agents to monitor subjects who don ’ t have ties to international terrorism organizations .
The legislation would scale back some current authorities , such as the government ’ s access to certain records .
It would also attempt to put stronger checks on some surveillance measures and make the process more transparent .
The compromise reflects angst in both major political parties about the way the surveillance powers have been used , but also a reluctance to strip those powers from the government ’ s arsenal .
Republicans and Democrats in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want civil liberties sacrificed in efforts to thwart terrorism and other crimes .
It is unclear whether the House will vote on the Senate extension , which would make no changes to the authorities during the 75 days .
A Democratic aide said that House leadership was discussing how to move forward , as the House is on recess and has no set date for returning .
The Senate passed the extension by voice vote Monday after days of negotiations between McConnell and Sens .
Mike Lee , R-Utah , Rand Paul , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The chamber had originally been scheduled to take a procedural vote to move forward on the House legislation , a step that would have set up final passage for later in the week .
It ’ s not clear whether McConnell had enough votes for the House bill to pass .
McConnell said Monday evening that the Senate would eventually consider the House bill and several amendments , conceding to the demands from the three senators .
The amendments would impose restrictions beyond the House bill on the government ’ s ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr , R-N.C. , speaking on the floor for McConnell , objected to that same deal last week , saying the Senate should pass the House bill .
But there appeared to be more urgency to put off the surveillance issue Monday as coronavirus cases spiked in the United States and the economic damage mounted .

Mary Clare Jalonick - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-17--‘Virus at Iran’s gates’: How Tehran failed to stop outbreak

DUBAI , United Arab Emirates - Appearing before the cameras coughing and sweating profusely , the man leading Iran ’ s response to the new coronavirus outbreak promised it was of no danger to his country .
A day later , he himself would be in quarantine from the virus .
Harirchi ’ s story is a microcosm of what has happened in Iran amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Roughly nine out of 10 cases in the Middle East come from the Islamic Republic , which has reported over 16,000 people infected and at least 988 deaths amid fears that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most people who are infected recover , the virus spreads rapidly and can kill the elderly and those with breathing problems or other underlying illnesses .
Days of denials gave the virus time to spread in Iran as the country marked the 41st anniversary of its 1979 Islamic Revolution with mass demonstrations and then held a parliamentary election in which authorities desperately sought to boost turnout .
Although Iran has one of the Mideast ’ s best medical services , its hospitals appear to be overwhelmed and authorities have asked for 172 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked the International Monetary Fund for $ 5 billion , the first such loan for Iran since 1962 .
The Islamic Republic has an opportunity to limit the virus as the Persian New Year , Nowruz , approaches .
But authorities appear unable or unwilling to stop travel between major cities as local towns affected by the virus threaten to set up their own checkpoints to turn away or even attack outsiders .
That ’ s in sharp contrast to Iraq and Lebanon , Iranian allies that have restricted movement while facing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happens next will not only affect Iran ’ s civilian government and Shiite theocracy , whose officials already have fallen ill , but also the wider world .
“ Judging by the fact that Iran has now asked for a $ 5 billion loan from the IMF , this speaks to how dire the situation is getting and them realizing that it ’ s spun out of control , ” said Dr. Amir A. Afkhami , an associate professor at George Washington University who studies Iran .
In a country like Iran , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalists face restrictions , many things about the outbreak remain unknown .
Chief among them is who was “ patient zero ” — the person who was first infected with the coronavirus in the nation , and where .
Public comments point to the city of Qom , 125 kilometres ( 80 miles ) southwest of Tehran , on the country ’ s windswept central desert plateau .
How the virus arrived there remains in question .
Authorities suggested that perhaps an Iranian businessman returned from China with the virus .
Qom is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese students .
It also is along a $ 2.7 billion high-speed train route that a Chinese company is building , a sign of China ’ s outreach to Tehran amid crushing U.S. sanctions .
China is also constructing a solar power plant there .
From late January , worries could be seen on the front page of the pro-reform newspaper Aftab-e Yazd .
“ Mysterious virus at Iran ’ s gates , ” its banner headline warned as China began a lockdown to control the outbreak .
Yet travel between China and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases were reported Feb. 19 , with the announcement that both died in Qom .
Since it can take up to two weeks to show symptoms , they could have gotten it in early February .
Iranian authorities haven ’ t offered any details .
Iran analysts suggest it might be because the country marked the 41st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution during that period .
Iran also held parliamentary elections Feb. 21 .
The government desperately wanted a large turnout to boost its legitimacy after shooting down a Ukrainian passenger jet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Days earlier , a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad killed top Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani , further shaking its credibility .
Iranian authorities already had disqualified thousands of candidates from running , ultimately tilting the election to conservatives .
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei even later accused foreign enemies of trying to influence turnout with the outbreak .
“ The pretext of an illness and virus was used , and their media did not miss the slightest opportunity to discourage people from voting , ” he said .
The election saw Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with some voters wearing the masks that everyone soon would want .
But people already were dying and fear was spreading .
Qom long has been the stronghold of Iran ’ s Shiite clergy .
A focal point of devotion is the golden-domed shrine of Fatima Masumeh , a Shiite saint .
Crowds pray there 24 hours a day , seven days a week , touching and kissing the shrine .
That raises the risks for visitors .
In Saudi Arabia , authorities have closed off access to the holiest sites in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Churches , mosques , temples and shrines around the world have been closed or subject to stringent disinfecting campaigns .
But in Qom and elsewhere in Iran , the shrines stayed open despite civilian health authorities demanding they close .
Mohammad Saidi , who oversees the Fatima Masumeh shrine , insinuated that closing shrines was part of a plot against Shiites by President Donald Trump .
“ Defeating Qom is the dream of treacherous Trump and his domestic mercenaries , but this dream will not be realized even in their grave , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision likely gave the virus time to spread .
Police later arrested those who posted online video of themselves licking and kissing shrines .
“ The city ’ s religious epithet — ‘ the nest of the Prophet and his family ’ — was intended to reassure believers worldwide that it was insulated against epidemics and other disasters , ” wrote Mehdi Khalaji , a Qom-trained Shiite theologian who is an analyst at the Washington Institute for Near-East Policy .
“ If early reports about the spread of the coronavirus prove correct , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capital of the Islamic Revolution helped make it the pathogen ’ s transmitting centre to the rest of Iran and at least seven other countries.
” Since then , hazmat-suited workers have fogged disinfectant and cleaned the shrines .
Some mosques even hand out alcohol as a disinfectant to the poor despite Islam forbidding its consumption .
By Monday night , the Fatima Masumeh shrine and another one in Mashhad had closed , only to see online videos purport to show hard-line faithful storming the shrines ’ courtyard , demanding they open .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ had spread , reaching the highest levels of Iran ’ s theocracy .
‘ THE SITUATION IS TERRIBLE HERE AND I HOPE GOD HELPS US ’ Like blood from a beating heart , the infections in Qom coursed out across Iran in maps later shared by the Health Ministry .
In Tehran , the virus began moving through the government and the Shiite theocracy .
Among those first infected was Harirchi , the deputy health minister who tested positive only a day after he downplayed the virus in a televised news conference .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mirmohammadi , described as a close confidant of Khamenei .
Hadi Khosroshahi , Iran ’ s former ambassador to the Vatican , and Ahmad Tuyserkani , an adviser to Iran ’ s judiciary chief , also died along with several lawmakers and a member of the country ’ s Assembly of Experts .
The sick included Vice-President Masoumeh Ebtekar , better known as “ Sister Mary , ” the English-speaking spokeswoman for the students who seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 in the 444-day hostage crisis .
The virus also infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cabinet members , along with Revolutionary Guard members and doctors .
Soon , even 80-year-old Khamenei was seen wearing disposable gloves at a tree-planting ceremony .
President Hassan Rouhani , 71 , was pictured at a teleconference with the nearest official a few meters ( several feet ) away .
The numbers soared .
Iran ’ s death rate from the virus now is higher than in other hard-hit nations .
That could be from the initial lack of testing kits and facilities .
It also could be from what outside experts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleged from the start : Iran was hiding the true number of infections and deaths .
Authorities initially denied that , especially after the BBC ’ s Persian service said deaths far exceeded those reported at the beginning of the crisis .
But that denial appeared to weaken over time .
“ We found out a little late that the coronavirus had entered Iran because we mistook it for the flu , ” Reza Malekzadeh , a deputy health minister , later said .
A man in Qom filmed rows of bodies in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days in a trench lined with lime .
He alleged all had tested positive for the coronavirus , although officials later said the bodies had been held pending test results .
“ The situation is terrible here and I hope God helps us , ” he said while walking through the mortuary .
Diseases have influenced Iranian history .
Cholera outbreaks plagued its Qajar dynasty , long indebted to British and Russian powers .
The chaos and debt set the stage for Iran ’ s 1906 constitutional Revolution and the creation of parliament @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders lash out at the West .
Now , Iranian leaders , such as the head of its Revolutionary Guard and Khamenei himself , traffic in the baseless conspiracy theory that the coronavirus is a biological weapon created by the U.S. , something echoed by Chinese officials as well .
“ The psychology of the leadership in Iran has sort of an almost self-destructive need to double down on a lie just to sort of portray itself as competent , ” Afkhami said .
That ’ s contrasted with the response to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pandemic through the 1960s .
Iran produced millions of vaccine doses and inoculated its people , controlling its spread .
It even gave broad-range antibiotics from the U.S. to pilgrims visiting Shiite shrines , Afkhami said .
“ This rapid mobilization and this rapid response allowed the country to control the epidemic , “ he said .
That was under Iran ’ s shah , toppled in the 1979 revolution .
But even after , Iran fought off other outbreaks , and its hospitals , doctors and nurses are known as some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ East , with a network of clinics from villages to big cities .
However , the system appears to be stretching at the seams , with online videos purporting to show field hospitals going up .
Meanwhile , Iran ’ s 80 million people , whose sense of high risk has been dulled by years of international isolation , crowd into grocery stores and butcher shops , suspicious of anything in the state media .
Nowruz , the Persian New Year , looms on Friday , a holiday when millions travel .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any major travel restrictions .
It hasn ’ t explained why , but there could be worry about further angering its people or slowing down its anemic , sanctions-hurt economy .
Online videos show Iranians ignoring government demands to stay home and moving instead toward the coast of the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf .
Residents of hard-hit Rasht , on Iran ’ s coast , have threatened to attack out-of-towners .
“ We expect that , God willing , we can contain the rising trend of the disease , not the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ said Harirchi , the health official who is recovering from COVID-19 .
” But I say this very frankly : if the great people don ’ t co-operate , the disease will continue to be there until late May or even in June , and turn into a huge crisis.
” And the man who once called quarantines a thing of the past added : “ I beg the people to minimize their trips and contacts , and isolate the infected people from others completely.
” The Associated Press receives support for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .


thetorontostar--2020-03-17--India’s stringent virus testing criteria may mask toll

NEW DELHI - A British citizen appeared at a public hospital in India ’ s capital with a fever , difficulty breathing and a private clinic ’ s referral for a coronavirus test .
She was turned away .
Indian authorities said Tuesday that they are not expanding testing for the virus , as most affected nations are doing , amid mounting criticism from some experts that the limited tests could mask the true toll of the disease in the world ’ s second most populous country .
The World Health Organization has urged countries to test as many people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but India has taken a different approach , limiting testing to those who have travelled from affected countries or come in contact with a confirmed case and show symptoms after two weeks of quarantine .
The British patient denied a test last week fulfilled neither criteria .
The woman , who requested anonymity fearing business consequences for her employer , said she told hospital officials that she may have had contact with a coronavirus patient in her job in a hotel , but couldn ’ t be sure .
After trying and failing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she left India this week for France , where her family lives , and which President Emmanuel Macron said Monday was “ at war ” with the virus , announcing extreme measures to curb the disease .
Indian authorities have justified their strict testing criteria as a way to keep a deluge of people from demanding tests that would cost the government money it needs to combat other diseases such as tuberculosis , malnutrition and HIV/AIDs .
As a result of the stringent criteria , sick people with potential exposure to the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some experts fear that India ’ s caseload could be much higher than government statistics indicate .
Authorities have confirmed 126 cases , all of which have been “ imported ” — linked to foreign travel or direct contact with someone who caught the disease abroad .
There is so far no documented evidence of spread within communities .
But India is conducting only about 100 tests per day , despite having the capacity for as many as 6,000 , according to the Indian Council of Medical Research , India ’ s top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so-far undetected communal spread are growing .
“ Given the pattern of disease in other places , and given our low level of testing , then I do think that community transmission is happening , “ said Dr. Gagandeep Kang , the director of the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute .
In India , where more than 400 million people live in crowded cities , including many without regular access to clean water , local transmission is all but inevitable , experts say .
“ Community spread is very likely .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is through more expansive testing , ” said Dr. Anant Bhan , a global health researcher in Bhopal , India .
ICMR chief Balaram Bharghava has said that India has a month-long window of opportunity to try to stop the virus in its tracks , judging from its path in other countries .
If India does determine the disease is spreading communally , it could prove difficult to contain .
The virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough , for most people , but severe illness is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with existing health problems .
India has a lower proportion of elderly than other countries , but its health care facilities are limited and already can ’ t accommodate the large number of patients with other diseases .
“ This along with our high population density can be our great challenge , ” said public health researcher Oommen Kurian .
India has been reluctant to expand testing , not wanting to trigger panic and overwhelm hospitals , but also because of the cost : While the tests are free for patients , each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( $ 67 ) .
In an already stretched and underfunded public health care system , money spent on the coronavirus leaves less for other public health problems .
The coronavirus may also be spreading in India because health officials have struggled to maintain quarantines , with people fleeing from isolation wards , complaining of filthy conditions .
In the central state of Maharashtra , five people , one of whom had tested negative and the rest who were awaiting test results , walked out of an isolation ward last Saturday .
India @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that empowers public officials to enforce more rigorous containment measures and impose penalties and punishments for escapes .
Lav Agarwal , a health ministry official , rued that authorities “ often don ’ t get enough support from people.
” Similarly , in neighbouring Sri Lanka , the government has ordered about 170 passengers who evaded airport screening after returning from several affected countries to report to police or face financial penalties and possible imprisonment .
Aditya Bhatnagar , an Indian university student who was studying in Spain , described unsanitary conditions at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others passengers on a Barcelona flight have been kept since landing in New Delhi on Monday .
Bhatnagar said the rooms , shared by around eight people each , lacked basic hygiene features such as clean bed sheets and bathrooms .
He said the group , awaiting their COVID-19 test results , was not provided with masks or sanitizer .
“ I don ’ t think these measures would be enough to contain the pandemic , ” Bhatnagar said , adding that some passengers had opted to move from the wards and into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 55 ) a night to self-isolate for at least 14 days .
Associated Press writers Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi and Bharatha Mallawarachi in Colombo , Sri Lanka , contributed to this report .
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

Emily Schmall And Aniruddha Ghosal - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-17--Thailand enacts shutdowns to curb spread of coronavirus

BANGKOK - Thailand ’ s government has enacted a raft of measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus , including postponing the country ’ s biggest annual holiday and shutting down schools .
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha ’ s Cabinet approved the measures at a meeting where all attendees practiced social distancing by wearing face masks and sitting 1 metre apart , as recommended by health experts .
The plan to postpone Songkran — an annual three-day holiday in mid-April marking the traditional Thai New Year — is one of a series of measures aimed at discouraging the gathering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Millions of Thais normally travel from Bangkok and other cities where they work to their hometowns to celebrate Songkran .
The holiday will be rescheduled at a later date to be decided .
Government-run educational institutions through university level will be closed for two weeks starting Wednesday , initially in Bangkok and adjoining suburban provinces .
Gathering places such as bars , karaoke parlours , movie theatres , gymnasiums , boxing stadiums and other sports venues will be subject to closures as ordered by provincial governors .
Such venues in Bangkok will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beginning Wednesday .
The closing of restaurants and malls in Bangkok will be at the discretion of its governor .
Meanwhile , restaurants are required to implement strict disinfection procedures and health safety measures .
Several in Bangkok have voluntarily cut out table service and will only do takeout and delivery .
The governors of two provinces , Buriram in the northeast and Uthai Thani in the north , have already used their authority to regulate travellers with health checks and ban gatherings of more than 50 people .
While the new coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elderly and people with other health problems , for most people it causes only mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
Some feel no symptoms at all and the vast majority of people recover .
Speaking at a news conference after the weekly Cabinet meeting , Prime Minister Prayuth said Thailand remains opens to foreign visitors , although strict conditions are attached .
All arriving foreigners must have health certificates issued no more than three days before boarding along with health insurance , and must download tracking applications developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them and their health once they arrive in Thailand .
All people arriving from China , Hong Kong , Macao , South Korea , Iran and Italy are required to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival .
Several commercial sectors in Thailand are suffering from the COVID-19 outbreak , with the huge tourism sector taking a major blow .
The tourism industry in Thailand accounted for 15.5 % of total employment — 5,834,000 jobs — in 2017 , according to a report issued last year by Bangkok Bank .
Among the measures launched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to people and businesses suffering financially is a 3 % reduction in the price of public utilities including water and electricity .
The government also announced plans to create temporary six-month jobs , but gave no details .
“ Under the current circumstances , prevention and protection measures against COVID-19 are the first priority of Thailand , ” Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said Monday when he announced many of the measures proposed to fight the outbreak .
“ The effects on the economy , tourism , exports and trade come second , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t know yet how serious this battle will be ; we are putting in everything to deal with it and then later we will come up with an economic rehabilitation plan.
” Thailand , the first country outside China to confirm a case of the coronavirus , reported 30 new cases on Tuesday , bringing the country ’ s total to 177 .
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus outbreak at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

Busaba Sivasomboon - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-17--Spying on the virus: Israel secret service to track patients

JERUSALEM - The head of Israel ’ s shadowy Shin Bet internal security service said Tuesday that his agency received Cabinet approval overnight to start deploying its counter-terrorism tech measures to help curb the spread of the new coronavirus in Israel .
While Nadav Argaman acknowledged that using the agency ’ s capabilities on sick Israeli citizens deviates from Shin Bet ’ s typical operations against Palestinian militants , he said the goal was still in line with its overall mission of “ saving lives.
” He vowed there would be stringent oversight to maintain individual privacy and that operatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those that may be exposed to the virus — rather than enforcing any government-mandated quarantine .
“ The other state bodies don ’ t have the necessary technological means to aid this effort , ” Argaman said in a statement .
“ I am well aware of the sensitivity of this matter and therefore have instructed that only a very limited number of agents will be handling this and the information will not be saved in the Shin Bet database.
” The move was announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outbreak and immediately raised concerns from civil-liberties advocates that the practice would raise serious privacy issues .
The final go-ahead also came the day a new Israeli legislature was sworn in following the country ’ s third election in less than a year — meaning it bypassed the typically required oversight of a special parliamentary subcommittee that had already begun reviewing the measures .
Gabi Ashkenazi , a retired military chief who headed the subcommittee in the outgoing parliament , called the government approval a “ heist in the dead of night.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief and fellow retired military chief , Benny Gantz , also criticized the move .
“ These are exceptional times that , unfortunately , call for exceptional measures in order to save lives .
That said , we can not surrender transparency and oversight , “ said Gantz , Netanyahu ’ s chief rival in the elections .
” A functional parliament , even and especially in states of emergency , is a hallmark of democracy and we will be steadfast in preserving it.
” Netanyahu rejected the comments , saying that delaying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead to the deaths of a great many Israelis.
” The new coronavirus has spread to more than 100 countries , infected more than 182,000 people worldwide and killed more than 7,100 .
For most people , it causes only mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia .
The vast majority of people recover from the new virus .
More than 300 people have been diagnosed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , triggering fears that fatalities could soon follow as experts predict many more difficult weeks ahead .
Netanyahu acknowledged the technology had never been used before on civilians and would involve a certain degree of violation of privacy .
But he said the unprecedented health threat posed by the virus justified its use .
“ These means will help us greatly in locating the ill and thus stopping the spread of the virus , ” he said in a televised announcement late Monday .
“ We will approve these digital tools for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a democracy and we have to balance individual rights with the greater needs of all.
” Among various other measures , Israeli health officials have put out public advisories ordering tens of thousands of people into protective home quarantine .
The new plan looked to use mobile-phone geolocation tracking technology and a review of credit card data to give a far more precise history of an infected person ’ s movements before they were diagnosed and identify people who might have been exposed .
Those in jeopardy would then be notified by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other place believed to have used similar technology to fight the coronavirus pandemic is Taiwan , where the government used mobile phones to make sure infected people do not leave their quarantine .
Netanyahu ’ s office insisted the Shin Bet would not be involved in enforcing quarantine orders against sick patients and that all its actions would be shared with health authorities and overseen by legal experts .
Still , the proposal sparked a heated debate over the use of sensitive security technology .
The lead editorial on Tuesday in the liberal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new virus in Israel was threatening individual rights .
“ The state should not determine the locations of law-abiding citizens , whose only crime is to be infected by the coronavirus , ” it wrote .
“ In emergency situations , governments have an even greater responsibility than usual not to violate the checks and balances that are the foundation of the democratic system.
” The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-03-17--Health chief halts Ohio primary; 3 other states forge ahead

COLUMBUS , Ohio - Ohio called off its presidential primary just hours before polls were set to open there and in three other states , an 11th-hour decision the governor said was necessary to prevent further fueling the coronavirus pandemic that has paralyzed the nation .
Health Director Amy Acton declared a health emergency that would prevent the polls from opening out of fear of exposing voters and volunteer poll workers — many of them elderly — to the virus .
Arizona , Florida and Illinois were proceeding with their presidential primaries .
Gov .
Mike DeWine had failed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday evening , even though the governor contended the election results wouldn ’ t be viewed as legitimate in light of the pandemic .
“ To conduct an election tomorrow would would force poll workers and voters to place themselves at a unacceptable health risk of contracting coronavirus , ” he said .
It wasn ’ t clear what would happen , but DeWine said officials were considering how to give voters an opportunity to cast their ballots .
DeWine and Secretary of State Frank LaRose had supported a lawsuit by voters seeking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 , in the hope that the outbreak subsides by then .
Ohio Judge Richard Frye ruled against the motion Monday night , saying it was not his place and would set a terrible precedent .
LaRose , late Monday , directed all 88 Ohio county boards of elections to comply with Acton ’ s order to close polls , culminating in an in-person election June 2 .
Officials in Arizona , Florida and Illinois felt they had done enough to ensure the safety of voters , even as concerns mounted that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some precincts and voters will be confused after polling places in nursing homes were moved to other locations .
Elsewhere , Georgia , Kentucky and Louisiana have postponed their scheduled primaries .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis said late Monday the state believes the election can proceed safely .
Arizona ’ s governor and secretary of state also said Monday they did not want to postpone the election .
In Illinois , elections board spokesman Matt Dietrich said in a statement that the state ’ s primary will move forward .
He said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the power to order the date moved and does not intend to ask a court to do so .
“ We believe that by following guidance from our state and federal health professionals , voters can vote safely , ” Dietrich said .
That assurance did not appear to satisfy volunteer poll workers , many of whom are senior citizens and have decided to bail out on staffing their precincts .
Chicago election officials on Monday said they had received a “ tsumani ” of cancellations from planned poll workers , particularly those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher risk of facing serious health consequences if they contract the virus .
They begged healthy people to volunteer to work at polling sites .
Marisel Hernandez , chair of the city ’ s election commission , said people can be sworn in to act as election judges at polling locations on Tuesday .
She also asked people to be patient at the polls , warning that it ’ s possible for locations to open late or still be setting up as voters arrive early Tuesday morning .
“ Please , please heed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ Help us.
” Pressed on whether they have asked the governor to delay the state ’ s primary , Chicago elections commission spokesman Jim Allen said election officials statewide were in an impossible position .
“ We are under orders to conduct an election , end of story , period , ” Allen said .
“ If we say anything now to raise doubts , we stand accused of violating the law , undermining turnout and discouraging voters .
“ This is the biggest test that any election jurisdiction has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period , ” Allen said .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia .
The vast majority of people recover .
According to the World Health Organization , people with mild illness recover in about two weeks , while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover .
In Arizona , Secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she will not make an effort to delay the election .
She said she came to the decision in consultation with county election officials , health authorities and the Democratic Party .
“ What it all comes down to is that we have no guarantee that there will be a safer time to hold this election in the future , ” Hobbs said during a news conference in Phoenix alongside Republican Gov .
Doug Ducey and other state officials .
Turnout at polling places is already expected to be light Tuesday as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary , and that is down to two contenders : Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders .
Add that the states were pushing early voting and vote-by-mail even before the coronavirus outbreak , and fewer voters are expected to appear Tuesday at their neighbourhood precinct .
Meanwhile , the states have been taking steps to limit voter and poll worker exposure to the coronavirus .
In Florida and Arizona , the states moved polling places located in nursing homes and assisted living facilities to avoid exposing the residents to outsiders .
For some counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Arizona — by far that state ’ s largest — that became a benefit .
The counties combined those polling places with others nearby , meaning they needed fewer workers .
DeSantis said he is allowing the Florida election to proceed unabated because “ there is no need to panic ” and can be done safely .
He said most voters will only be in the polling place for a few minutes with only the presidential race on the ballot in most Florida cities .
“ We can do it in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Broward County , Florida , is stocking its 421 polling locations with extra supplies , including 4,000 rolls of paper towels , gloves and more than 400 bars of soap .
The states have also been pushing early voting and voting by mail as a way to curtail any crowds at the polls .
Chicago election officials say the effort paid off with 118,000 voters casting ballots in the mail in the city , which is an all-time record , according to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners .
The Associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak Associated Press writers Kelli Kennedy in Fort Lauderdale , Sophia Tareen in Chicago , John O ’ Connor in Springfield , Illinois , Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix and Christina A. Cassidy in Atlanta contributed to this report .

Julie Carr Smyth And Terry Spencer - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-17--Bombing of government office in southern Thailand injures 20

BANGKOK - Bombers attacked a major government office in Thailand ’ s insurgency-plagued far south as hundreds of local officials and Muslim clerics met Tuesday to discuss fighting COVID-19 .
At least 20 people were hurt , none seriously .
The Southern Border Provinces Administration Center in the capital of Yala province co-ordinates government policy in the region where a Muslim separatist insurgency since 2004 has led to the deaths of about 7,000 civilians , soldiers , government workers and rebels .
Thailand ’ s three southernmost provinces of Pattani , Narathiwat and Yala are the only ones with Muslim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hospital reported 20 people were hurt in the attack .
None was badly injured , said Col. Pramote Prom-in , a spokesman for the centre .
Surveillance video showed the bomber parking a pickup truck in front of the centre and then placing another explosive device in the middle of the road before fleeing on a waiting motorcycle , said police Col. Naravee Binwae-arong of the Yala police station .
The explosion of the device on the road drew the attention of those in the meeting room , causing participants to come out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bomb in the pickup truck exploded .
Pramote said guards at the centre spotted the pickup truck and told everyone who had run outside after the first blast not to come close to the vehicle .
Luring security personnel and first responders with an initial blast and then detonating a second device is a common insurgent tactic .
No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack .
In November , co-ordinated attacks in Yala killed 15 security personnel , mostly lightly armed village defence volunteers , in the highest single-day death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurgency began .
The Thai government has been holding on-again , off-again talks with insurgents brokered by neighbouring Malaysia .
They appeared to have made headway in January , when officials from Thailand held their first formal meeting in recent years with Muslim separatists from southern Thailand belonging to the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu Patani , or BRN , the major rebel group operating in the area .
Despite two meetings so far , however , the government and the BRN seem not to have progressed much beyond agreement on a framework and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Don Pathan , a security analyst who closely follows the conflict in the south , speculated that Tuesday ’ s attack was carried out by BRN insurgents .
“ In spite of the fact that the BRN leadership has permitted members of its political wing to engage in dialogue with the Thai government , it would be a mistake to assume that all forms of violence on the ground would come to an end , ” he said .


thetorontostar--2020-03-17--Global shares bounce after Wall St dive, recession warning

BANGKOK - Shares rebounded in Europe and Asia on Tuesday after a brutal sell-off that gave the U.S. stock market its worst loss in over 30 years , with many economies grinding to a standstill in hopes of containing the spread of the coronavirus .
Paris , London , Hong Kong and Sydney logged solid gains while Tokyo ’ s benchmark was flat .
“ Market experts actually originally predicted at least a 1,000 point crash for the Hang Seng index .
But surprise , surprise , there was bottom fishing .
Investors went bargaining hunting , ” said Francis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kong .
Australia ’ s benchmark led the gains , jumping 5.8 % after a 7 % plunge on Monday as investors snapped up miners and banks .
Tokyo ’ s Nikkei 225 climbed 0.8 % at one point but barely eked out a gain , adding less than 10 points to 17,011.53 .
In early European trading , the CAC 40 in Paris rose 3.4 % to 4,012.99 after the government announced $ 50 billion in aid for individuals and businesses .
Germany ’ s DAX gained 3 % to 9,004.71 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from early gains , shedding 0.2 % to 5,143.06 .
U.S. futures pointed to gains : the contract for the S & P 500 climbed 3.8 % while the future for the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 3.2 % .
The rebound in Asia followed news that the Trump administration plans strong support for airlines stricken by the outbreak and is pushing the Senate to enact a massive stimulus package to alleviate losses for businesses and individuals affected by the outbreak , which has infected more than 182,000 people worldwide , 4,661 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hong Kong were too attractive to pass up , said Lun .
“ It ’ s a see-saw battle between the bulls and the bears , “ he said .
“ I think right now the bulls are winning the upper hand .
The key is that Hong Kong is dirt cheap.
” The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo rose to 17,011.53 , while Hong Kong ’ s benchmark jumped 0.9 % to 23,263.73 .
Sydney ’ s S & P/ASX 200 jumped to 5,293.40 , while the Shanghai Composite index sank 0.3 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rose 0.2 % to 31,434.96 .
The Kospi in South Korea dropped 2.5 % to 1,672.44 .
Shares also fell in Southeast Asia .
The Philippine stock market was closed as of Tuesday after the government imposed restrictions on movement in the capital .
Oil prices also rose Tuesday , with U.S. benchmark crude up 3.8 % , or $ 1.90 to $ 29.79 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange .
It plunged $ 3.03 to $ 28.70 on Monday .
Brent crude , the international standard , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to $ 30.68 per barrel .
Analysts said bargain hunters appeared to be buying to help fill government oil reserves , anticipating China ’ s economy will get a boost from massive stimulus yet to be announced .
But investors also are betting governments will step up their response to the outbreak .
“ Details as yet are sparse .
Investors are pinning their hopes on governments flooding people and businesses with enough cash to survive months of a coronavirus-induced lockdown , “ Jasper Lawler of LCG said in a commentary .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ move to counter the inevitable contractions .
“ America needs to go big here for any hope to return to markets .
If we are talking hundreds of billions , we think markets can find a base , “ Lawler said .
Recent losses in global markets have been the worst since the 2008 financial crisis .
Monday ’ s 12 % drop for the S & P 500 , its worst day in more than three decades , came as voices from Wall Street to the White House said the coronavirus may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The S & P 500 has shed nearly 30 % since setting a record less than a month ago , and it ’ s at its lowest point since the end of 2018 .
Monday ’ s precipitous losses accelerated in the last half hour of trading after President Donald Trump said the economy may be headed for a recession and asked Americans to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people .
The plunge came even though the Federal Reserve rushed to announce a new round of emergency actions before markets opened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are aimed at propping up the economy and getting financial markets running smoothly again , but they may have raised fears even further .
Investors are also waiting for the White House and Congress to offer more aid to an economy that ’ s increasingly shutting down by the hour .
Declines last week ended the longest-ever bull market on Wall Street , nearly 11 years following the financial crisis .
There ’ s seemingly no escape from the uncertainty : From parked airplanes to empty restaurants , nobody knows when economies might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to get the spread of the virus under control .
Closing businesses can help slow the spread of the virus , but it also takes cash out of the pockets of companies and workers .
The best-case scenario for many investors is that the economic shock will be steep but short , with growth recovering later this year after businesses reopen .
Pessimists are preparing for a longer haul .
For most people , the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough , and those with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But severe illness including pneumonia can occur , especially in the elderly and people with existing health problems , and recovery could take six weeks in such cases .
The Federal Reserve has been trying to do what it can to help the economy , and over the weekend it slashed short-term interest rates back to their record low of nearly zero .
It also said it also will buy at least $ 500 billion of Treasury securities and $ 200 billion of mortgage-backed securities to help calm the Treasury market , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s financial system and influences stock and bond prices around the world .
Trading in the market was starting to snarl last week , with traders spotting disconcertingly large gaps in prices offered by buyers and sellers .
The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 0.81 % from 0.73 % late Monday .
In currency trading , the dollar rose to 106.75 Japanese yen from 105.90 yen .
The euro weakened to $ 1.1124 from $ 1.1184 .
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

Elaine Kurtenbach - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-17--Iraqi military: 2 rockets hit training base south of Baghdad

BAGHDAD - Two rockets struck a training base south of Baghdad where U.S.-led coalition troops and NATO trainers are present , Iraq ’ s military said Tuesday , the third such attack in the span of a week .
The rockets hit the Basmaya base near the Iraqi capital on Monday evening , the army statement said .
The projectiles landed in an area that includes agricultural land and a factory , according to the statement .
No more details were provided .
A Spanish contingent of the coalition and NATO trainers are present at the Basmaya site .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the coalition and no militant group claimed responsibility for the assault .
Last Wednesday , a barrage of over two dozen rockets struck Camp Taji , north of Baghdad , killing three coalition servicemen , including two Americans .
A British serviceman was also killed .
It was the deadliest to target U.S. troops in Iraq since a late December rocket attack on an Iraqi base , which killed a U.S. contractor and set in motion a series of attacks that brought Iraq to the brink of war .
Wednesday ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Saturday at the same site , which wounded five soldiers — three coalition members and two Iraqi soldiers .
The first attack prompted American airstrikes Friday against what U.S. officials said were mainly weapons facilities belonging to Kataib Hezbollah , the Iran-backed militia group believed to be responsible for the attack .
However , Iraq ’ s military said those airstrikes killed five security force members and a civilian , while wounding five fighters from the Popular Mobilization Forces , an umbrella organization including an array of militias , including some Iran-backed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to exact revenge , signalling another cycle of tit-for-tat violence between Washington and Tehran that could play out in Iraq .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-17--EU battles to forge common front as virus eats at unity

BRUSSELS - European Union leaders are set to hold their second summit in two weeks on Tuesday , a fresh attempt to forge a joint response to the novel coronavirus as Europe takes over from China as the front-line in the fight against a disease claiming thousands of lives .
The virus case count in Europe has climbed to over 50,000 and more than 2,000 people have died .
The inexorable spread of the disease has roiled markets and sown public fear , but nervous governments have introduced quick-fix measures - partial border closures or quarantine - with little consultation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe ’ s battle with COVID-19 , Spain and now France have imposed lock-downs , confining citizens to their homes except for urgent business like buying food or heading to any hospital that might still have the capacity to treat them .
Seven countries have informed the European Commission , the EU ’ s executive body , that they ’ ve reintroduced ID checks inside Europe ’ s passport-free Schengen Area .
Among them are Austria , Hungary , the Czech Republic and Poland , which all took unilateral action to halt the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is a similar challenge that leaders are grappling with as they confront the coronavirus — how to ensure that the fraying solidarity among partners in the same European club does not completely unravel as the crisis deepens .
Asked Monday whether Europe can ever return to real ID-check free travel after this , German Chancellor Angela Merkel said : “ I hope so .
But it ’ s been shown that co-ordination didn ’ t work well everywhere the way one would have hoped.
” The main problem confronting the leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online video-conference from their offices in the bloc ’ s 27 capitals , is to halt the arrival of more virus cases , co-ordinate any border closures and guarantee that vital medical equipment and food can reach those in need .
They are expected to endorse a 30-day travel ban on people wanting to come to Europe for tourism or non-essential business .
Long-term EU residents , diplomats and members of European families would be exempt .
Health care and transport workers could escape the ban too .
Separately , so-called “ green @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the internal borders of the 26 Schengen countries , allowing fast-track access for trucks ferrying essential supplies to defy the traffic jams that have begun forming at some crossing points .
The aim , according to EU Council President Charles Michel , who will chair the summit , is “ to reduce unnecessary movement but at the same time to ensure the movement of merchandise , of goods , so that we can guarantee as much as possible the integrity of the single market , guarantee the deliveries that are needed.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s powers in this crisis are limited .
While it may be a Union , the world ’ s biggest trading bloc remains an accumulation of 27 individual countries , some with populist and far-right governments that reject orders from Brussels .
“ In recent days , European countries failed to co-ordinate their approach , ” Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said Saturday as he announced the closure of retail businesses in his country .
“ We didn ’ t need to wait for Brussels to give us any advice.
” When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are at war ” with an invisible enemy , every French citizen from Marseille to Metz understands .
The democratic legitimacy conferred on him at the polls gives Macron the freedom to mobilize resources , money and quick policy fixes with public backing .
In times of crisis , Europe ’ s machinery is painfully slow .
Like a super-butler dealing with an unpredictable 27-headed master , the EU ’ s massive bureaucracy offers ideas , proposes plans and occasionally cajoles but often it must wait for approval .
And what ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might not suit those in Poland ; what seems logical to people in wealthy Germany , could feel poisonous to the long-suffering citizens of Greece , who ’ ve barely emerged from an economic crisis and still require help to manage migrant tensions with Turkey .
When nations are under pressure and their citizens are nervous , Europe is an easy target .
Blame routinely focuses on the “ unelected officials ” said to be earning lucrative salaries .
But in these times of the coronavirus , only individual nations can police public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brussels , Frank Jordans in Berlin and Karel Janicek in Prague contributed to this report .
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .


thetorontostar--2020-03-17--With borders and businesses closing, world hunkers down

BANGKOK - With borders slamming shut , schools and businesses closing and increasingly drastic restrictions on movement in place , tens of millions of people were hunkered down Tuesday , heeding government calls to isolate themselves and slow the spread of the new coronavirus .
From Southeast Asia to Europe to the Americas , people found their lives upended by lockdowns and social distancing .
Shoppers in Malaysia stood in long lines to stock up at picked-over supermarkets .
Commuters in the Philippines waited in huge traffic jams at checkpoints set up to take their temperatures before entering the capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bay Area counties issued a sweeping shelter-in-place mandate , ordering millions of residents to stay at home and go outside only for food , medicine and outings that are absolutely essential .
The cancellations of treasured holidays and community events continued to build , with Thailand saying it was calling off its water festival in April and the organizers of the so-called “ most exciting two minutes in sports ” — the Kentucky Derby — reportedly prepared to announce the delay the horse race for the first time since World War II .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ even as Wuhan , the central Chinese city where the virus was first detected late last year and which has been under lockdown for weeks , reported just one new case on Tuesday .
The fronts in the battle have clearly shifted outside China , with its caseload now outnumbered by those outside its borders .
And Spain is now the fourth-most infected country , surpassing South Korea , where new cases have been subsiding .
With the number of cases worldwide topping 181,000 , a surge of patients in Madrid ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lies ahead .
Pleas went out to funnel masks and ventilators to places struggling with soaring caseloads .
“ There is no easy or quick way out of this extremely difficult situation , ” Mark Rutte , the prime minister of the Netherlands , said in the first televised speech by a Dutch premier since 1973 .
The virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough , for most people , but severe illness is more likely in the elderly and people with existing health problems .
More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illness .
Nevertheless a growing sense of crisis has roiled financial markets .
Shares reversed early losses in Asia on Tuesday after the U.S. stock market plunged to its worst day in more than three decades and huge swaths of many economies came to a standstill as businesses and travel shut down due to the outbreak .
Only China , Italy and Iran have more infections than Spain , where the number increased by roughly 20 % , to 9,191 and fatalities rose to 309 , according to the Spanish Health Ministry .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so the actual number may be higher .
A sombre Rutte told viewers “ a large part ” of the Netherlands ’ 17 million people are likely to contract the virus .
So far , 1,413 people have tested positive and 24 have died .
The government closed schools , restaurants and bars and banned gatherings of more than 100 people .
Countries from Canada to Switzerland , Russia and Malaysia announced sharp new restrictions on the movement of people across their borders .
“ We have a window of time at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , ” said Ulrike Demmer , a spokeswoman for Germany ’ s government , which reversed its earlier insistence that border controls would not work .
It imposed new limits on crossings with France , Austria , Switzerland , Denmark and Luxembourg , after German infections increased by more than 1,000 over 24 hours .
Malaysia banned foreign travel and is allowing only essential services to stay open .
France allowed people to leave home only to buy food , go to work , or do other essential tasks , restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people hadn ’ t complied with earlier guidelines and “ we are at war.
” India shut down the Taj Mahal to visitors .
Most schools and entertainment facilities were already closed across India , the world ’ s second-most populous country with 1.3 billion people .
The first confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported in Somalia , which has one of Africa ’ s weakest health systems after nearly three decades of conflict .
As the pandemic expanded its reach , China and South Korea were trying to hold their hard-fought gains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who in recent days have accounted for an increasing number of cases , and South Korea starting Thursday will increase screenings of all overseas arrivals .
Infections have continued to slow in South Korea ’ s worst-hit city of Daegu .
But there ’ s concern over a steady rise of infections in the Seoul metropolitan area , where new clusters have emerged .
Italy reported another jump in infections , up more than 3,000 to 27,980 .
With 2,158 deaths — including 349 more in just the last 24 hours — Italy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the global death toll .
Cases , however , slowed in Lombardy , the hardest-hit region .
In the United States , officials urged older Americans and those with chronic health conditions to stay home , and recommended all group gatherings be capped at 50 people .
Americans returning from abroad encountered chaotic airport health screenings that clearly broke all virus-fighting rules against having packed crowds close together .
School closings in 56 countries kept more than 516 million students home , the United Nations said .
New York City joined those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 1.1 million students .
Still , some countries have resisted more stringent measures to contain the virus .
In Britain , bars and restaurants remained open and there was no ban on large events .
The prime minister ’ s spokesman said closing schools hadn ’ t been ruled out , but “ the scientific and medical advice is that that ’ s not a step which we should be taking at this point in time.
” A senior official from South Korea ’ s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus seriously and follow recommended precautions .
“ In a similar way to how the Sept. 11 attacks completely changed people ’ s perception about security , quarantine authorities like us believe the daily lives of all the people around the world will be changed because of COVID-19 , ” Kwon told a briefing Tuesday .
“ From now on , if you are sick , you should voluntarily rest to prevent a spread to others.
” Associated Press journalists Aritz Parra in Madrid , Adam Geller in New York , Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belgrade , Frank Jordans in Berlin , Jill Lawless in London , Colleen Barry in Milan , Italy , Ken Moritsugu in Beijing , Kim Tong-hyung and Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul , South Korea , Eileen Ng in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia , and Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi contributed to this report .
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


thetorontostar--2020-03-17--Suspect named in fatal parking lot shooting at Atlanta mall

Atlanta police have identified the man accused of pulling the trigger in a fatal shooting outside an upscale mall after an argument over a parking space .
Authorities said Monday that arrest warrants have been obtained for Ricky James Lafargue in the deadly fight March 8 at Lenox Square , news outlets reported .
Lafargue , 19 , has not been arrested but police said he ’ s charged with felony murder .
Police said two groups in separate vehicles got into an argument over the parking space .
The groups went inside the mall , but the argument escalated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thuan Nguyen , 31 , of Antioch , Tennessee , was shot in the head , police said .
One suspect who attempted to flee the scene after the shooting was captured , but that person was later released after investigators determined he was not the shooter .
“ Atlanta homicide investigators confirmed that Mr. Lafargue is the only person wanted in connection with this crime and detectives are actively working to take him in to custody , ” Atlanta officer Steve Avery told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday .
The shooting was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mall , news outlets reported .
The other shootings weren ’ t fatal .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-17--Sex workers face ruin amid virus fears, brothel closures

BERLIN - It ’ s 7 p.m. on a Friday night , a time when Aurel Johannes Marx ’ s three-room brothel on the edge of Berlin would normally be preparing for its first customers .
Sex for sale has long been a staple part of the German capital ’ s freewheeling nightlife .
But amid concerns over the new coronavirus , even the world ’ s supposedly oldest profession is suffering a sudden slump .
At the “ Lankwitzer 7 ” brothel , with its soft red light and bawdy paintings on the wall , disinfectant dispensers have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say he ’ s ordered staff to hot-wash all towels and sheets , and open the windows more often to let the warm , sticky air escape .
“ Over the past week business has gone down by 50 % , ” Marx said , blaming the decline on the general drop in nightlife that ’ s occurred since the virus arrived in Berlin .
The city has registered 332 confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far .
Several dozens infections have been traced to bars and clubs .
Susanne Bleier Wilp , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Association of Erotic and Sexual Services Providers , or BESD , said the virus has caused fear and uncertainty among the estimated 100,000 to 200,000 sex workers in Germany , where prostitution was largely legalized almost 20 years ago .
“ There are those who are withdrawing from the business entirely at the moment for safety reasons , ” Bleier Wilp told The Associated Press .
Others are requiring that customers disinfect themselves , she added — a measure that medical experts say is unlikely to effectively stop the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most people the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
But for some , especially older adults and those with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia .
The vast majority of those who are infected recover from the new virus .
According to the World Health Organization , people with mild illness recover in about two weeks , while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover .
One worry is that many sex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too concerned about infection , while some clients are over 50 , putting them at greater risk of complications .
Reconstructing chains of infection — as authorities are trying to do when a case is confirmed — could also be tricky .
“ In the business it ’ s normal to interact anonymously and to use aliases , ” said Bleier Wilp .
“ It ’ s a problem.
” Another problem is that prostitution is financially precarious .
Unlike regular employees , most sex workers won ’ t benefit directly from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is making available to companies facing ruin because of the coronavirus outbreak .
“ Sex workers are usually self-employed , not employees , ” said Bleier Wilp .
“ That means , they bear all the risks themselves ” Some sex workers may be able to rely on savings for several weeks , she said .
“ But it becomes more difficult if the crisis lasts for longer .
Then many , particularly those who do it full time , may have to seek help.
” Bleier Wilp said a provision in Germany @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow self-employed sex workers to apply for compensation due to loss of earnings .
The clause has never been tested before , however , and those who have worked on the legal fringes may be disinclined to seek official help : by some estimates , more than two-thirds of sex workers aren ’ t registered .
By Saturday , authorities in Berlin had ordered the temporary closure of all entertainment venues , including brothels .
Whether all sex workers will heed that order , or risk their and their client ’ s health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the Netherlands , Amsterdam ’ s famed Red Light District was similarly hard hit after the government on Sunday night ordered the closure of schools , bars and restaurants for three weeks and made a point of mentioning that sex clubs also were affected .
By Sunday night , the normally packed canal-side streets and narrow , cobbled alleys that are normally a tourist magnet were largely deserted .
On Monday , the windows where scantily clad sex workers pose to attract customers were largely empty .
Some had signs taped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office is closed ” due to the coronavirus restrictions .
Greece ’ s closures also affected brothels , while in Poland , where brothels are officially illegal , “ massage ” parlours were affected by the shutdown .
Geneva , where the U.N. ’ s European headquarters is located , closed all non-essential stores and services as of Monday evening , including barbers and “ prostitution activities.
” Before the closure , Berlin brothel owner Marx acknowledged that the women working at his establishment were hurting financially .
“ Everybody wants more money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s the situation at the moment , it ’ s developing rapidly , “ he said .
” I can ’ t do anything to change that .
“ At some point it will be over , and when it ’ s over things will work out again , ” he added .
Mike Corder and Peter Dejong in Amsterdam , Elena Becatoros in Athens , Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Monika Scislowska in Warsaw contributed to this report .
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .