thetorontostar--2020-02-12--South Dakota tribes speak against ‘riot-boosting’ penalties

PIERRE , S.D .
- Native American groups opposed to the Keystone XL oil pipeline told South Dakota lawmakers Wednesday that Gov .
Kristi Noem ’ s plan to restore criminal penalties for urging riots would result in peaceful protesters being silenced .
The Republican governor proposed updates to the so-called “ riot-boosting ” laws after a judge struck down efforts last year to allow the state and counties to prosecute disruptive demonstrations against the pipeline .
Several Indian tribes in the state opposed the bill , putting a strain on the governor ’ s relationship with the tribes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ committee on Wednesday , as Native American groups testified , prayed and protested at the Capitol .
The bill would update definitions of rioting and “ incitement to riot ” that are on the books and allow government entities to seek civil fines against people who “ urge , instigate , incite , or direct ” groups of three or more to using force or violence .
The state agreed not to enforce parts of those laws in October as part of a settlement with the American Civil Liberties Union .
The Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designed to protect people ’ s rights to protest peacefully and even includes language to make that clear .
She has said the civil penalties would keep taxpayers from having to pay for damage caused by riots .
Lester Thompson , the chairman of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe , said the First Amendment already protects a person ’ s to protest .
He said the law would put protesters in a defensive position , vulnerable to laws that do not make it clear what constitutes violence during a riot .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ said Derrick Marks , a committee member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe .
“ Is that considered riot boosting ?
Is that considered violence ?
” Katie Hruska , a lawyer with the governor ’ s office , told the committee , “ There is nothing in this bill that targets protests or criminalize protests in any way.
” One of the reasons the judge found parts of a “ riot boosting ” law passed last year to be unconstitutional was because it was created in response to potential demonstrations against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s office has said that this is not the case this year .
Republicans on the House State Affairs committee almost all agreed that the law was necessary .
Two Democrats and one Republican voted against the bill .
It will next be considered by the Republican-dominated House .
Speaker Steven Haugaard , a Sioux Falls Republican , broke with his party to oppose the bill .
He called last year ’ s riot boosting laws “ a significant mess.
” The bills were passed by the Legislature last year three days after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to pay $ 145,000 in legal fees to the ACLU as part of its legal settlement .
Haugaard said the proposal also puts “ unnecessary strain ” on the relationship between the state and Native Americans who feel targeted by the bill .
Candi Brings Plenty , a lobbyist for the ACLU and a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe , said the bill “ perpetuates the oppression ” against Native American people and attempts to silence their protests .
She pointed to the history of government actions that have abused Native @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and demonstration on the grounds of the Capitol before the committee meeting .
Spencer Gosch , a Republican from Glenham , said , “ I don ’ t want to make this a race thing .
This is not what this is.
” Noem has attempted to repair her relationship with tribes in the state after they opposed last year ’ s riot boosting laws .
She held a meeting with representatives from some of the tribes just before the session began to discuss pending legislation .
She also opened drafts of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to comment from the tribes .
Five tribes — the Rosebud Sioux , Crow Creek Sioux , Yankton Sioux , Cheyenne River Sioux , and Oglala Sioux — responded to say they oppose the bill .
Noem has said she thinks the tribes are opposed to the riot boosting bill because they would not support anything to do with Keystone XL .
She has tried to build bridges in other areas , and scheduled a press conference shortly after the riot boosting committee meeting to announce the creation of a new student art @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American art in the state .


thetorontostar--2020-02-12--Blues’ Bouwmeester remains hospitalized after bench collapse

ANAHEIM , Calif. - St. Louis Blues defenceman Jay Bouwmeester remained hospitalized and was undergoing tests Wednesday one day after suffering a cardiac episode and collapsing on the bench during a game in Anaheim .
General manager Doug Armstrong said the 36-year old Bouwmeester was unresponsive after collapsing on the bench Tuesday night .
A defibrillator was used and he regained consciousness immediately before being taken to an Anaheim hospital .
“ He is doing very well and is currently undergoing a battery of tests .
Things are looking very positive , ” Armstrong said during a news conference in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alex Pietrangelo immediately called for help after Bouwmeester slumped over with 7:50 left in the first period .
Emergency medical personnel rushed to the Blues bench .
After a couple of minutes , Bouwmeester was taken out on a stretcher through a tunnel under the stands as players stood in shocked silence on the ice .
The game was postponed .
Pieternagleo said he visited Bouwmeester in the hospital Tuesday night and the rest of team got to see him via FaceTime .
The team stayed overnight in Southern California before taking a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they will play the Golden Knights on Thursday .
“ It was important for us to see him .
It made everyone feel a lot better that he was in good spirits , ” Pietrangelo said .
The last player to collapse on an NHL bench before Bouwmeester was Dallas forward Rich Peverley in 2014 .
Peverley had an irregular heartbeat , and the quick response of emergency officials made sure he was OK. Detroit ’ s Jiri Fischer had a similar episode in 2005 .
The NHL has had standards in place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems for several seasons .
They include having a team physician within 50 feet of the bench .
An orthopedic surgeon and two other doctors are also nearby .
Defibrillators must also be in close range .
The home team has one on its bench and the away team must have theirs no further away than their locker room .
Each medical team regularly rehearses the evacuation of a severely injured player before the season and all players are screened for serious cardiac conditions .
“ The Peverley and Fischer incidents and now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to have team doctors close to players ’ benches and defibrillators easily accessible in short notice , ” said Edmonton Oilers general manger Ken Holland , who was with Detroit in 2005 when Fischer collapsed on the bench .
“ It has probably saved all their lives .
Incredible job by league and team medical people.
“ Bouwmeester is in his 17th NHL season and his fitness and conditioning has always been a source of pride .
He helped the Blues win the Stanley Cup last season and won an Olympic gold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was skating in his 57th game this season and the 1,241st of his NHL career .
He had skated 1:20 in his last shift before collapsing and logged 5:34 of ice time as the game got going .
“ His training and the way he takes care of himself , it crystallizes how things can quickly change .
It is a testament to the NHL and teams to have everyone positioned when something like this takes place , ” Armstrong said .
Bouwmeester ’ s father was at the game as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and accompanied his son to the hospital .
The Blues and Ducks are talking with the league about making up the game Armstrong said a full 60 minutes will be played and it will resume with the game tied at 1 .

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thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Spanish tech show assessing cost of cancellation over virus

BARCELONA , Spain - Organizers of the world ’ s biggest mobile technology fair say the cost of cancelling the annual Mobile World Congress ( MWC ) is not yet known and that the motivation behind the decision was purely related to health and safety concerns over the virus outbreak from China .
Mats Granryd , director general of the GSMA organizing body said Thursday they could not discuss the costs , as it was “ early days yet.
” “ It ’ s not about money , ” Granryd told reporters in Barcelona .
The decision to scrap the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday after dozens of tech companies and wireless carriers dropped out over what has recently been dubbed COVID-19 , including major companies like Ericsson , Nokia , Sony , Amazon , Intel and LG .
The companies cited concerns for the safety of staff and visitors .
John Hoffman , chief executive of GSMA , said they had considered a scaled-down event but “ all of our buyers have indicated they would not attend.
” He said they looked at the data Wednesday and concluded that the “ vast majority of those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be there.
” He said postponing it was discarded as it was “ impossible to predict when this situation is going to conclude.
” Describing it as “ a very dark day , ” Hoffman said that the group nevertheless looked forward to hosting the event again in Barcelona in 2021 .
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thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Powerful quake hits off northern Japan; no tsunami danger

TOKYO - A powerful earthquake hit off Japan ’ s northern coast on Thursday , but there were no reports @ @ @ @ @ and no danger of a tsunami , officials said .
Japan ’ s meteorological agency @ @ @ @ @ preliminary magnitude of 7 and was located far off the northeastern coast of Japan ’ @ @ @ @ @ Hokkaido .
It was centred 60 kilometres ( 100 miles ) below the ocean ’ @ @ @ @ @ Etorofu island , a Russian-held island that is also claimed by Japan .
NHK public @ @ @ @ @ shelves shaking at its office in Kushiro on the southeastern coast of Hokkaido .
Hokkaido @ @ @ @ @ received no reports of damage or injuries .
Officials said the quake was unlikely to @ @ @ @ @ depth and distance from the coast .
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thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Sudanese gov’t reaches settlement deal with USS Cole victims

CAIRO - Sudan ’ s transitional government said Thursday it has reached a settlement with families of the victims of the 2000 attack on USS Cole in Yemen , in a bid to have the African country taken off the U.S. terrorism list and improve relations with the West .
The settlement is the latest step from Khartoum to end its international pariah status .
Earlier this week , Sudan ’ s provisional rulers said they had agreed to hand over longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court to face trial on charges of war crimes and genocide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ region .
Also , Sudan ’ s interim leader , Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan , earlier this month met in Uganda with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , who announced that Israel and Sudan would normalize relations after decades of enmity .
Observers and Sudanese officials have said that the settlement with the USS Cole victims was among the last hurdles faced by Sudan on its path to being removed from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terror .
At the time of the Oct. 12 , 2000 attack in the Yemeni port @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wounded more than three dozen others , Sudan was accused of providing support to al-Qaida , which claimed responsibility for the attack .
Today , Sudan ’ s interim authorities are desperate to have its listing by the U.S. as a state sponsor of terror lifted , in order to receive an injection of badly needed funds from international lending institutions .
Sudan ’ s justice ministry said that the agreement was signed with the victims ’ families last Friday but its statement gave no details of the settlement .
There was no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s information minister and interim government spokesman , Faisal Saleh , told The Associated Press over the phone that Justice Minister Nasr-Eddin Abdul-Bari had travelled last week to Washington to sign the deal , which included compensations for both those wounded and the families of those killed in the attack .
He said the figures could not be disclosed because the Sudanese government is still in negotiations to reach a similar settlements with families of victims of the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania .
More than 200 people were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,000 were wounded .
Saleh said , however , that the American side is free to disclose the amount if it wishes to do so .
The initial figures on the table had been in the billions , he said , but Sudan ’ s interim government had “ inherited an empty treasury.
“ He said he hoped the international community would be sympathetic to the country ’ s situation .
“ We expect the United States and the world to understand and to be supportive instead of imposing more obstacles , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removed from the U.S. terror list will end the country ’ s economic isolation and allow it to attract much-need loans from international financial institutions in order to rebuild the economy after the popular uprising last year that toppled al-Bashir and installed the joint civilian-military sovereign council .
The new Sudanese rulers say they were not responsible for the attack on USS Cole and that they had negotiated the deal out of their desire “ to resolve old terror claims inherited from the ousted regime ” of al-Bashir .
In the USS Cole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detonated explosives alongside the U.S. destroyer as it was refuelling in Aden .
The victims ’ families , along with the wounded sailors , had sued the Sudanese government in U.S. courts demanding compensations .
In 2012 , a federal judge issued a judgment of nearly $ 315 million against Sudan but last March , the U.S. Supreme Court overturned that ruling on the grounds that Sudan had not been properly notified of the lawsuit .
Andrew C. Hall , a lawyer who represents survivors of the attack , said at the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ruling , would continue the case , along with a second related case filed by family members of the 17 sailors who died in the attack .
It wasn ’ t clear when the 76-year-old al-Bashir could be handed over to the international court in the Netherlands .
He faces three counts of genocide , five counts of crimes against humanity and two counts of war crimes for his alleged role in leading the deadly onslaught on civilians in response to a rebel insurgency in Darfur .
The indictments were issued in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time the global court had charged a suspect with genocide .
Saleh also told the AP that the U.S. administration has set the overhaul of the country ’ s security apparatus as another condition to remove Sudan from the terror list .
“ The Americans believe the Sudan ’ s support for terror was carried out through its security apparatus , ” Saleh , said .
“ So they want to be assured that there has been a radical change “ in the way it operates .


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Thai mall reopens after honouring victims of mass shooting

NAKHON RATCHASIMA , Thailand - The shopping mall that was the site of Thailand ’ s worst-ever mass shooting reopened Thursday , four days after security forces killed a gunman who was holed up inside , ending the bloody rampage .
A total of 29 people were killed by the soldier , who kept police at bay at the Terminal 21 Korat mall in northeastern Thailand for about 16 hours over the weekend before being killed .
More than 200 Buddhist monks presided over a ceremony attended by business owners and shoppers at the centre of the mall in Nakhon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which included prayers and alms offerings to make merit for the dead .
Stores and food centres opened for business shortly afterward .
Police stood outside the supermarket area where the gunman was finally cornered and shot Sunday morning .
“ I wanted to come here to take part in the merit-making ceremony to help boost Korat people ’ s morale , ” said 24-year-old Tatsarat Lasewaraks .
“ And I also wanted to convey my condolences to the brave people who sacrificed their lives.
” However , fear was uppermost in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still scared .
Now , when I go out , I want to finish whatever I am doing quickly and head home , ” said Nichawat Suthewa , 21 .
“ I am still afraid that a shooting incident could happen again.
” The gunman , a sergeant major in the army , launched his attack after fatally shooting his commander , whom be believed was involved in a real estate deal that had cheated him out of money .
He then stole high-powered weapons from his army base before killing people on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the mall .
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thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Iran candidates start campaigns for parliamentary elections

TEHRAN , Iran - Thousands of Iranian candidates approved to run in parliamentary elections kicked off their campaigns Thursday ahead of next week ’ s vote , even after authorities barred thousands of others from running , mainly reformists and moderates .
The Feb. 21 parliamentary elections come amid some of the highest tensions between Tehran and Washington in the past four decades .
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has slammed the disqualifications but earlier this week , he urged the crowds in Tehran marking the anniversary of the country ’ s 1979 Islamic Revolution to turn out at the polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen as a test of the popularity of the relatively moderate and pro-reform bloc led by Rouhani , who has struggled to deliver on campaign promises to improve people ’ s lives as Iran ’ s economy buckles under the weight of U.S. economic sanctions .
Also , a high turnout in the polls will be seen as a vote of confidence in the country ’ s Shiite theocracy , something Iran has tried to showcase amid the crisis with Washington .
Tensions with the United States could strengthen hard-liners by reinforcing long-held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escalated further after a U.S. airstrike in January that killed Iran ’ s top general , Qassem Soleimani , and led to a tense confrontation in which Iranian forces accidentally shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane after it took off from Tehran , killing all 176 people on board .
The shootdown , and attempts by officials to initially conceal the cause of the crash , sparked public anger and protests in Iran .
The current 290-member parliament , elected in 2016 , has more than 100 reformists and moderates , while the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independents and hard-liners .
The powerful Guardian Council , the country ’ s constitutional watchdog which vets prospective candidates , had barred more than 7,000 people from out of over 14,000 who had applied in December to enter the race .
That left over 7,000 candidates running in the Feb. 21 elections for the 290-seat parliament .
The council , which consists of senior clerics and legal experts , also rules out individuals if it considers their views or behaviour incompatible with the theocratic system .
Half its members are appointed by Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those rejected were reformist and moderate candidates but there were also some hard-liners among those barred and 90 current lawmakers .
The hopefuls now have a week for campaigning , which is to end next Wednesday .
In Tehran , which accounts for 30 seats in the chamber , there are only several relatively well-known moderates and reformists on the list , with the rest not known to average citizens .
The hard-liners running for seats in the next parliament are headed by former Tehran mayor Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf .
Their list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In May , Khamenei met with a group of university students and urged for “ preparing the ground ” for the formation of a “ young and Hezbollahi ” administration .
Hezbollahi is usually a reference to commitment to hard-line causes .
The next presidential election is expected in mid-2021 .
The moderates and reformists have championed improved ties with the West and expanded social freedoms , but they suffered major setbacks since President Donald Trump ’ s election .
Trump pulled the U.S. out of Tehran ’ s 2015 nuclear deal with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was championed by Rouhani — hurtling toward collapse , and reimposed new and tougher sanctions on Iran , which sent its economy into free fall .


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Cruise ship turned away in other ports docks in Cambodia

SIHANOUKVILLE , Cambodia - A cruise ship which had been stranded at sea for about two weeks after being refused entry by four Asian governments because of virus fears has finally docked in Cambodia .
Cambodia agreed to let the MS Westerdam dock at the port of Sihanoukville after Thailand barred it on Wednesday , following similar actions by Japan , Taiwan and the Philippines .
They kept the ship away over concerns that it would expose them to the new virus from China .
Cambodian authorities had earlier said the docking would have to be postponed a day because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ URGENT UPDATE .
AP ’ S EARLIER STORY FOLLOWS : A cruise ship turned away by other Asian and Pacific governments due to virus fears anchored Thursday off Cambodia , which is checking the health of its 2,200 passengers and crew .
The Westerdam was unwelcome elsewhere even though operator Holland America Line said no cases of the COVID-19 viral illness have been confirmed among the 1,455 passengers and 802 crew members on board .
The ship is anchored a kilometre ( 0.6 miles ) from the main Sihanoukville port in the Gulf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials will conduct checks and determine the disembarkation process , Preah Sihanouk province Gov .
Kouch Chamrouen told The Associated Press .
After half a day offshore , however , there was some disappointing news for the passengers .
The initial plans for the ship to dock and some 500 passengers to disembark Thursday were postponed , said Kouch Chamrouen , because flights to immediately take them to the capital Phnom Penh for onward journeys home could not be arranged in time .
The governor said the new plan is for the ship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for passengers then to be transported to Phnom Penh on two morning flights and one in the afternoon .
About 30 buses had been waiting at the port to take passengers to Sihanoukville airport .
Some 20 passengers have reported stomachaches or fever , Cambodian health officials said .
The ship ’ s health staff considered them to be normal illnesses , but the ill passengers were being isolated from others , Health Ministry spokeswoman Or Vandine said .
A military helicopter is being used to carry samples from passengers to the Pasteur @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She said if tests show any passengers have the disease , they ’ ll be allowed to get treatment in the country .
Kuoch Chamrouen said that once the health officials onboard are done checking the passengers , the Westerdam will be allowed to dock at the main port .
About 30 buses were waiting at the port to transport the passengers .
U.S .
Ambassador W. Patrick Murphy said he sent an embassy team to work with the ship ’ s representatives and Cambodian officials to help Americans disembark and transfer to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also co-ordinated with foreign embassies of other nationalities , ” he wrote on Twitter .
Thailand refused to allow the Westerdam to dock this week after it had already been turned away by the Philippines , Taiwan , Japan and Guam .
Cambodia agreed Wednesday to allow the ship in .
“ All approvals have been received and we are extremely grateful to the Cambodian authorities for their support , ” cruise operator Holland America Line said on its website .
The ship ’ s request to remain in Cambodia was approved through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cruise in Singapore last month and its last stop before it was refused further landings was in Hong Kong , where 50 cases of the viral disease have been confirmed .
COVID-19 has sickened tens of thousands of people in China since December , and more than 170 cases have been confirmed on another cruise ship , the Diamond Princess , which made stops in Hong Kong and other ports before arriving in Japan last week .
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said earlier he was pleased Cambodia had agreed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an example of the international solidarity advocated by the U.N. health agency .
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is a strong ally of China and has played down any threat from the new disease in his country .
He had declined to ban direct flights to China , a step taken by other governments and airlines .
Cambodia has confirmed just one case of the virus , in a Chinese visitor .
A passenger on the Westerdam expressed relief at the news the ship would be docking in Cambodia .
“ Homeward bound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cambodia , ” Christina Kerby wrote on Twitter .
“ We ’ re told by the captain that it may take a few days to get everyone on chartered flights to Phnom Penh and then home .
Elated at the prospect of touching land tomorrow .
Until then , I ’ ll work on my towel animals .
”

Sopheng Cheang And Grant Peck - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--UK’s Boris Johnson shakes up Cabinet with hirings, firings

LONDON - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson shook up his government on Thursday , firing and appointing ministers to key Cabinet posts .
Johnson was aiming to tighten his grip on government after winning a big parliamentary majority in December ’ s election .
That victory allowed Johnson to take Britain out of the European Union last month , delivering on his key election promise .
Now his Conservative administration faces the even bigger challenge of negotiating a new relationship with the 27-nation EU by the end of this year .
The two sides are aiming to have a deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in place by the time a post-Brexit transition period ends on Dec. 31 .
So far , the two sides are far apart in their demands .
And even with a deal , the U.K. faces a huge adjustment when decades of seamless trade and travel with the EU end at the start of 2021 .
Several high-profile women in Johnson ’ s government , including Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom , Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers and Housing Minister Esther McVey , all said they had been fired on Thursday morning .
Johnson also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a surprise move .
Smith had been widely praised for helping to end political deadlock that left Northern Ireland without a regional government and assembly for three years .
After pressure from the British and Irish governments , the main Irish nationalist and British unionist power-sharing parties returned to work last month .
As well as reworking his Cabinet , Johnson needs to appoint a new leader for the U.N. climate change conference that Britain is due to host later this year .
The summit , known as the 26th Conference of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be held in Glasgow in November .
Planning has got off to a rocky start , with Johnson last week firing Claire O ’ Neill , a former British government minister appointed last year to head up the event .
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thetorontostar--2020-02-13--UK regulators probe Barclays CEO’s link to Jeffrey Epstein

LONDON - Barclays chief executive Jes Staley said Thursday that he deeply regrets his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein , as the bank revealed that British financial regulators are investigating whether Staley had disclosed the full truth about his ties to the convicted sex offender .
In a statement to the London Stock Exchange , Barclays said that “ as has been widely reported , earlier in his career Mr. Staley developed a professional relationship with Mr. Epstein.
” The bank said the two men were acquainted when Staley ran the private banking division of JP Morgan , but that Staley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joining Barclays in December 2015 .
Barclays said the Financial Conduct Authority had asked last year about the relationship , and the company had responded .
But it said the FCA and U.K. banking regulator the Prudential Regulation Authority were now investigating “ Mr .
Staley ’ s characterization to the company of his relationship with Mr. Epstein and the subsequent description of that relationship in the company ’ s response to the FCA.
“ Epstein died in a New York jail in August while he was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suicide .
Since Epstein ’ s death , his high-powered associates , including U.S. President Donald Trump , former President Bill Clinton and Britain ’ s Prince Andrew , have been under pressure to disclose what they knew about the hedge fund manager ’ s interactions with teenage girls , and whether they turned a blind eye to potentially illegal conduct .
Staley said Thursday that he first met Epstein in 2000 , when he became head of JP Morgan ’ s private bank .
He said Epstein was an existing client of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintained during my time at JP Morgan but as I left JP Morgan the relationship tapered off quite significantly , ” Staley said .
He said his last contact with Epstein was in the summer and autumn of 2015 , seven years after Epstein was convicted in Florida of solicitation of prostitution involving a minor and a prostitution charge .
He served 13 months in a work-release program for those offences .
“ Obviously I thought I knew him well and I didn ’ t , ” Staley told journalists Thursday .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we know now , I deeply regret having any relationship with Jeffrey.
” The board of Barclays said Thursday that it retained confidence in Staley and would recommend him for re-election at the bank ’ s shareholders ’ meeting in May .
Barclays shares were down 2.5 % at 1.75 pounds ( $ 2.27 ) on the London Stock Exchange .


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--In South, Bloomberg aims to move past stop-and-frisk remarks

CHATTANOOGA , Tenn. - Michael Bloomberg sought to move past newly resurfaced years-old comments in which he defended the controversial “ stop-and-frisk “ policing tactic that has been found to disproportionately affect minorities .
The billionaire former New York City mayor , who is now seeking the Democratic presidential nomination , launched a two-day tour of the South intended to build relationships with African Americans , who are a crucial voting bloc for the party .
During a stop in Chattanooga on Wednesday , he told reporters : “ We ’ re going to do very well in the African @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good economy , they need better schools , they need more health care , they need jobs and those are the kinds of things that I can bring to the table , “ he said .
His trip began the same day that a trio of endorsements was announced from members of the Congressional Black Caucus , including Georgia Rep. Lucy McBath , a prominent gun control activist .
Bloomberg is testing how voters will respond to his unconventional approach to clinching the Democratic nomination to take on President Donald Trump .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early voting states , Bloomberg has taken his campaign — and his sizable financial resources — into places like Tennessee that vote on Super Tuesday .
And although the Democratic contest has barely begun , he ’ s campaigning with the air of a front-runner , announcing plans on Wednesday to open an office in New Hampshire to keep the state in the Democratic column this fall .
Democrats in the states that vote on March 3 said they ’ re awed by the breadth of Bloomberg ’ s operation and warned that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Not only has he spent an enormous amount of money to get on air — more than I ’ ve ever seen a Democrat spend in Texas , and not just on TV , but on Facebook , social media , ” said Texas Democratic Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa , “ but what he ’ s done is hired a big chunk of the Latino and African American leadership to work for him and bring communities of colour together behind his campaign.
” The question facing Bloomberg is whether that strategy will work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The controversy over his 2015 “ stop-and-frisk “ remarks demonstrated that while Bloomberg has successfully generated attention for his campaign by skipping the early voting states , flooding the airwaves with ads and travelling to multiple states a day , he hasn ’ t faced the traditional scrutiny that comes with being a presidential candidate .
Bloomberg hasn ’ t participated in any of the debates so far , and as he gains traction , rival campaigns are devouring his past work and comments to seize on anything that could hobble him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Bloomberg ’ s rivals will have a long record to sift through to try to highlight unflattering moments of his career .
“ There ’ s so much content to be unearthed , ” she said .
“ He was the mayor of New York City for 12 years .
That ’ s a lot of talking.
“ Indeed , the comments that resurfaced Tuesday came from a 2015 appearance Bloomberg made at the Aspen Institute .
He advocated for putting “ a lot of cops where the crime is , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the former Philadelphia mayor and Bloomberg ’ s national political chair , decried the former mayor ’ s 2015 remarks -- but insisted they didn ’ t match the man he knows today .
“ The language on that tape right there at the end was just insensitive , it was inappropriate and lacking in the kind of empathy and understanding of the human condition that I know Mike Bloomberg has within him , ” he said .
But during that same event , Bloomberg weighed in on inequality in remarks that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today ’ s Democratic Party , declaring that he ’ d “ love to get more billionaires coming to New York .
Does that give you more inequality ?
Yes , it does.
” He also likened Russia ’ s invasion of Ukraine to the United States ’ expansion through history , and while he ’ s backed marijuana legalization since launching his presidential bid , Bloomberg said in the Aspen Institute recording that legalization was “ one of the stupider things that ’ s happened across our country.
” And that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time as mayor , Bloomberg also faced controversy after The Associated Press uncovered a widespread New York Police Department surveillance program targeting Muslims , a program he continued to defend after it became public .
He ’ s been a longtime proponent of the expansion of charter schools and a fierce critic of teachers and other public service unions ; oversaw an exponential rise in inequality in New York City ; and has become known for enacting “ nanny-state ” policies aimed at regulating public health , like banning large , sugary sodas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more scrutiny over his record as mayor , but framed it as a byproduct of his strong record of getting things done .
“ Executives often have much more of a record that can be analyzed , delved into and critiqued , versus a legislator , “ he said .
But Bloomberg ’ s opponents seized on the 2015 stop-and-frisk comments as one of their first real opportunities to go after the businessman .
Billionaire activist Tom Steyer , who is working to attract black voters in South Carolina ahead of that state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the comments “ extremely disturbing “ and said all the candidates should disavow such ” racist stereotypes.
“ And Nina Turner , a national co-chair for Bernie Sanders ’ campaign , said the comments reveal ” the true nature “ of Bloomberg and called on him to drop out because of them .
Bloomberg has apologized for his oversight of the stop-and-frisk program .
But in Tennessee , he refused to directly apologize for the 2015 comments .
In response to repeated questions , he said , “ I don ’ t think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most diverse city in the nation.
” “ I apologized for the practice and the pain that it caused , “ he said Wednesday .
“ It was five years ago .
And , you know , it ’ s just not the way that I think , and it doesn ’ t reflect what I do every day.
” There wasn ’ t an immediate sense that the 2015 remarks would hurt his campaign .
Introducing Bloomberg in Chattanooga , Dr. Elenora Woods , president of the city ’ s NAACP chapter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fighter for economic justice for black Americans .
“ Look , I know what racism looks like .
I know what it looks like , and that ’ s not Mike Bloomberg , ” she said .
Several African Americans who attended the event said the remarks didn ’ t disqualify Bloomberg from consideration .
“ That ’ s not going to stop me from voting for him , ” said Jenny Gaines , a 58-year-old who owns a tech company , adding that no candidate is perfect .
“ I know he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she added .
Bloomberg has started running a TV ad with Obama speaking favourably of him .
Tracy Arnold , a 61-year-old former police office , said he ’ s willing to cut Bloomberg a break on his past record because he believes that people can change their opinions as they learn more about the black experience .
“ Perhaps at that time , ( Bloomberg ) thought stop and frisk would work , and he maybe had good intentions at the time , but like a lot of things , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority-minority , “ Arnold said .
“ I need to know a little bit more of what that meant and what his plan was.
” Jaffe reported from Washington .
Associated Press writer Bill Barrow contributed to this story from Atlanta .
Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast , “ Ground Game .
”

Alexandra Jaffe And Kathleen Ronayne - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Weinstein jury set to hear closing from #MeToo skeptic

NEW YORK - Closing arguments at the Harvey Weinsten rape trial are set to begin Thursday , with the jury hearing first from a Chicago attorney who ’ s taken # MeToo movement heat for representing the disgraced Hollywood mogul and making provocative mid-trial comments about his case outside of court .
Donna Rotunno faces the tricky task of convincing a Manhattan jury that there are too many inconsistencies and contradictions in the testimony of six Weinstein accusers who took the witness stand to convict her client — all without her breaking a promise made in defence opening statements that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victim shaming.
” In a podcast interview that aired last week , Rotunno said Weinstein is “ well aware of the fact that his life is on the line here ” and that he “ deserves to have a voice out there.
” Weinstein , 67 , is charged with raping a woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on a different woman in 2006 .
Other accusers testified as part of a prosecution effort to show he has used the same tactics to victimize many women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawyers informed the court on Tuesday that he wouldn ’ t testify , has maintained any sexual encounters were consensual .
The jury of seven men and five woman is scheduled to hear the prosecution closings on Friday before getting instructions on the law from Judge James Burke next week and starting deliberations .
In often emotional testimony stretching over three weeks , Weinstein ’ s accusers described in lurid detail how he lured them to hotels in New York and Los Angeles on the pretense of promoting their acting careers before sexually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cross-examination by confronting some with warm emails and other communications with Weinstein that continued for months or even years after the alleged attacks .
The jury has already heard about emails — certain to be a focus of Rotunno ’ s closing — in which the victim of the alleged rape wrote to Weinstein afterward to accept party invitations from him , give him new phone numbers and even express gratitude .
One read : “ I feel so fabulous and beautiful , thank you for everything.
“ The lawyer is also likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and former roommate of the same accuser who said she never heard the woman say anything bad about the defendant .
Instead , the woman once called Weinstein her “ spiritual soulmate , ” the witness said .
Rotunno ’ s closing argument will come less than a week after she came under fire on social media for a podcast interview in which she blamed victims for getting sexually assaulted .
Rotunno told The New York Times ’ “ The Daily ” she ’ d never been attacked “ because I would never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court , prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon questioned the timing of the interview and rebuked Rotunno for calling the prosecution ’ s witnesses “ liars.
” “ That was taped a long time ago , ” Rotunno interrupted , claiming that she hadn ’ t talked to anyone in the media since the case began .
She was later contradicted by a Times spokeswoman , who told reporters the interview was recorded on Jan. 28 — five days after opening statements and the start of testimony .
On Twitter , follow Tom Hays at twitter.com/aptomhays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coverage of Harvey Weinstein ’ s trial visit : apnews.com/HarveyWeinstein

Tom Hays And Michael R. Sisak - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Danish court ups fines for publishing banned spy memoirs

COPENHAGEN - A Danish appeals court on Thursday increased the fines given to a major newspaper group and its chief editor for publishing a book based on interviews with Denmark ’ s former domestic intelligence agency chief that the spy service had claimed could contain secrets .
The Eastern High Court said the Politiken media group and the daily ’ s boss Christian Jensen violated a ban by publishing the book , which is based on Jakob Scharf ’ s seven years as head of the Denmark ’ s Security and Intelligence Service , known as PET .
The court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( $ 36,000 ) and Jensen 100,000 ( $ 15,000 ) .
In 2016 , the lower Copenhagen City Court sentenced them to pay fines of respectively 100,000 kroner and 50,000 kroner .
On Oct. 6 , 2016 , PET issued court injunctions against 40 bookstores and Politiken ’ s media group , JP/Politiken , which also includes the Jyllands-Posten and Ekstra Bladet newspapers .
While stores didn ’ t sell the book , Politiken published it as a supplement to its subscribers on Oct. 9 , citing freedom of the press .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ injunction , with Ekstra Bladet chief editor Poul Madsen saying it was “ completely ludicrous ” that PET “ dictates what the free press should print.
” Scharf , PET chief from 2007-2013 , was in charge when the agency foiled terror attacks , mainly linked to the 2005 publication in a newspaper of 12 cartoons by various artists depicting the Prophet Muhammad .
There was no immediate reaction from the Politiken daily .
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thetorontostar--2020-02-13--2020 hopefuls eye Super Tuesday even as 2 other states loom

WASHINGTON - Nevada votes next and then South Carolina .
But top Democrats vying for their party ’ s presidential nomination are already looking ahead to the biggest prize on the primary calendar : Super Tuesday , the slate of contests when more than a dozen states go to the polls .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren is holding a town hall on Thursday night in the Washington suburb of Arlington , Virginia , a day before Sen. Bernie Sanders makes two North Carolina stops , then hits Texas .
Pete Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Francisco and Silicon Valley .
All four states vote March 3 , along with a crush of others , from Alabama to Colorado and from Maine to Utah , as well as Warren ’ s home state of Massachusetts and Sanders ’ native Vermont .
More than 1,300 delegates to the Democratic National Convention are at stake , about a third of the total .
The focus on Super Tuesday comes at a pivotal point in the campaign .
For Sanders and Buttigieg , who have emerged in strong positions after contests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the travel gives them an opportunity to show their national appeal and woo larger concentrations of nonwhite voters .
For struggling candidates like Warren , it ’ s a signal that they are still in the fight .
And for everyone , it ’ s a chance to prove they won ’ t cede this swath of delegate-rich states to Michael Bloomberg , the billionaire former New York mayor who has spent months building his campaign around Super Tuesday .
He campaigned in Tennessee on Wednesday and will be in Texas and North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are off this cycle , ” said Texas Democratic strategist Colin Strother , who is bullish on Bloomberg ’ s chances of resonating in his state and beyond .
So far , there ’ s no sign that candidates are completely bypassing Nevada or South Carolina .
Every leading contender will be in Nevada this weekend as early voting begins .
Democrats will caucus there on Feb. 22 .
But some are shifting their resources as they begin an awkward balancing act of paying attention to the remaining early states while stockpiling enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the bevy of contests unfolding next month .
Warren , for instance , will be in South Carolina on Friday but is pulling television advertising from the state after this weekend .
Some of that money will instead go to the Super Tuesday state of Maine .
Bloomberg , who is self-funding his campaign , doesn ’ t have to make such considerations .
He ’ s skipped the first four states to deploy a political shock-and-awe campaign after that , spending heavily on television ads while already hiring more than 2,100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including all voting on Super Tuesday .
Past candidates have tried to forgo the early states in favour of larger ones voting later , with little success -- including another former New York mayor , Rudy Giuliani , in 2008 .
But Bloomberg is making a larger bet on doing so than anyone has .
He ’ s worth an estimated $ 60 billion and has already spent more than $ 200 million to hastily build a campaign infrastructure -- with promises of plenty more where that came from .
The candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , are a study in contrasts .
Warren has deep campaign infrastructure in around 30 states but little momentum .
Former Vice-President Joe Biden left New Hampshire for South Carolina before the polls even closed on Tuesday , has important connections there and is counting on that to carry him in other southern Super Tuesday states .
But he , so far , has fared worse than Warren .
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar placed a strong third in New Hampshire but hasn ’ t yet built a national campaign , while Buttigieg is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his appeal beyond the early majority-white states .
Fresh off his New Hampshire win , Sanders has already predicted victory in Nevada and California , pointing in part to his campaign ’ s outreach to Hispanic voters .
But he ’ s also bet on record turnout that never materialized in Iowa , despite his efforts to grow the electorate .
Warren and Sanders have been sharply critical of Bloomberg , accusing him of trying to buy the election .
In a memo coming out of New Hampshire , Warren ’ s team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find its political footing on Super Tuesday , arguing the senator should win the minimum support required to claim delegates -- at least 15 % -- in 108 of the 150 districts voting , or two-thirds of the Super Tuesday map .
“ Warren is poised to finish in the top two in eight of 14 Super Tuesday states and “ in the top three in all of them , ” Warren ’ s campaign manager , Roger Lau , wrote .
States like Texas and California are so large that on-the-ground retail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there .
But Super Tuesday state residents have already seen weeks of Bloomberg ads , Strother said , and that could potentially already be swaying those participating in early voting , which is underway in places like Minnesota .
“ It ’ s unprecedented what he ’ s doing and the money he ’ s spending , “ Strother said .
“ He ’ s running a national campaign , which is what all these other candidates wish they could do.
” Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Game .
”


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Ethiopia approves controversial law curbing hate speech

ADDIS ABABA , Ethiopia - Ethiopian lawmakers on Thursday approved a controversial law aimed at curbing hate speech and disinformation , especially online , just months ahead of a major election .
The law ’ s approval , with 23 lawmakers opposing and two abstaining , came amid concerns over widespread online false information and hate speech that some observers blame for ethnic tensions in the East African nation .
Others worry the new law will restrict freedom of expression in a country that once jailed thousands of people , including journalists , over political views .
The new law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will discourage free expression and may eventually target people who make innocent mistakes , ” Befekadu Hailu , director of the Center for the Advancement of Rights and Democracy , told The Associated Press .
“ But most importantly , legal actions are usually used by the state to stifle dissent in the country .
To say something positive … it may have a deterrence effect for irresponsible social media users.
” Ethiopia has been experiencing sometimes deadly ethnic violence since June 2018 , shortly after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced sweeping political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Nobel Peace Prize .
The loosening of restrictions on political space also led some in the country of more than 80 ethnic groups to air long-held grievances .
Some government officials and observers have called for the need to regulate hate speech and disinformation online , citing the ethnic unrest .
Lawmakers said the law is needed because existing legal provisions didn ’ t properly address hate speech and disinformation and said it will not affect citizens ’ rights beyond protecting them .
According to the new law , content with hate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ printed or disseminated on social media platforms with more than 5,000 followers is punishable with up to three years in prison and a fine of up to 100,000 birr ( $ 3,000 ) .
The law , however , says “ dissemination ” doesn ’ t include liking or tagging such content on social media .
Human Rights Watch said the law could “ significantly curtail freedom of expression.
” “ The Ethiopian government is under increasing pressure to respond to rising communal violence that has at times been exacerbated by speeches and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , senior Africa researcher with the rights group , said in December .
“ But an ill-construed law that opens the door for law enforcement officials to violate rights to free expression is no solution .
”


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--With impeachment over, critics see Trump ‘retribution tour’

WASHINGTON - In the week since his acquittal on impeachment charges , a fully emboldened President Donald Trump is demonstrating his determination to assert an iron grip on government , pushing his Justice Department to ease up on a longtime friend while using the levers of presidential powers to exact payback on real and perceived foes .
Trump has told confidants in recent days that he felt both vindicated and strengthened by his acquittal in the Senate , believing Republicans have rallied around him in unprecedented fashion while voters were turned off by the political process , according to four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the West Wing who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about private conversations .
Since then , Trump and his aides have moved with haste to clear his administration of those he sees as insufficiently loyal , reaching all the way back to the time of former special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election .
Democrats and outside analysts are raising red flags that Trump is exhibiting a post-impeachment thirst for vengeance that ’ s gone beyond bending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to institutions .
Some Republican senators , including Tennessee ’ s Lamar Alexander , Maine ’ s Susan Collins and Alaska ’ s Lisa Murkowski , said they found Trump ’ s effort to pressure Ukraine ’ s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy inappropriate .
But they also expressed hope following his acquittal that Trump had learned a lesson from the episode .
Murkowski acknowledged Wednesday that “ there haven ’ t been very strong indicators this week that he has.
” After Trump vented on Twitter this week about federal prosecutors recommending up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confidant Roger Stone , the Justice Department abruptly announced that it would reevaluate the recommended sentence .
Justice officials insisted the timing was coincidental ; they ’ d already been planning to pull the recommendation .
Stone was convicted in November of tampering with a witness and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign co-ordinated with Russia to tip the 2016 election .
The Justice Department move to back away from the sentencing recommendation prompted the four attorneys who prosecuted Stone to quit the case .
One left the Justice Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House has yanked a senior Treasury Department nomination away from a former Justice Department official who supervised the prosecutions of several of Trump advisers .
The administration also fired an EPA official who claims he was ousted because he was deemed too friendly with Democrats .
Trump even suggested this week that the Pentagon investigate and potentially discipline former White House aide Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman , who provided damaging testimony about the president in the impeachment inquiry .
That came after White House officials last week told Vindman and his twin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been detailed to the White House National Security Council , that their services were no longer needed and that they would be reassigned to new duties by the Pentagon .
Security then escorted the brothers off White House grounds .
“ We are witnessing a crisis in the rule of law in America — unlike one we have ever seen before , ” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a speech on the Senate floor Wednesday .
Schumer called for the Justice Department ’ s independent inspector general to probe the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case .
Later , House lawmakers announced Attorney General William Barr would come before them next month to answer questions .
Former Justice Department officials struggled to recall a precedent , describing it as norm-shattering turmoil that raises troubling questions about the apparent politicization of an agency meant to function independent of White House sway .
“ I ’ ve never seen anything like it , ” said Michael Bromwich , a former federal prosecutor and Justice Department inspector general who has been representing former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe in a criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s office .
Trump turned testy during an Oval Office appearance when reporters asked him about interfering in the Stone case and whether he learned anything from his impeachment ordeal .
He slammed the four prosecutors who recommended the stiff sentence for Stone and asserted they “ ought to apologize for a lot of the people whose lives they ’ ve ruined.
” He described the lesson he gleaned from being just the third president to endure an impeachment trial : “ Democrats are crooked .
...
They ’ re vicious , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that my poll numbers are 10 points higher because of fake news.
” Trump said he did not order Justice Department officials to change Stone ’ s recommended sentence , though he claimed he would have had the “ absolute right to do it ” if he had wanted to .
He used Twitter early Wednesday to congratulate Barr “ for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not even been brought.
” As Democrats called for an investigation , several Republican lawmakers strained to defend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president is entitled his opinion , and there would have been nothing wrong with the president picking up the phone , as I understand it , and talking to Justice , ” said Sen. John Kennedy , a Louisiana Republican .
“ But I think this is a situation where the tweet was very problematic.
“ Sen. Lindsey Graham , a South Carolina Republican and Trump confidant , said he agreed the sentencing recommendation was excessive , but didn ’ t think the president should have tweeted about an ongoing case .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he doesn ’ t like to wait for anything , let alone the end of a criminal case .
But at moments , he has been willing to show restraint .
Early in his presidency , aides say , it took Trump an extraordinary measure of restraint to hold back on firing Attorney General Jeff Sessions in the months after he recused himself from the Russia investigation .
The president reluctantly heeded the advice of his advisers and Republican allies not to dismiss the former Alabama senator until after the 2018 midterm elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election , as Republicans held onto the Senate but lost the House , Trump turned to those at a campaign party and said , simply , “ I ’ m doing it now.
” Sessions was asked to resign the next day .
Similarly , Trump knew that the likely outcome of his impeachment trial would be acquittal at the hands of the GOP-controlled Senate .
Reluctantly , he acquiesced to the advice of his aides and agreed to wait to retaliate for the probe , which he deemed a conspiracy conjured up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , until the official verdict was reached .
Now , though , Trump is once again unleashed .
Some of his targets are far out of the public eye .
Trump this week withdrew the nomination of Jessie Liu , a former U.S. attorney who oversaw federal prosecutions in the District of Columbia , for a senior Treasury Department post .
Liu had supervised the prosecution of several cases inherited from Mueller ’ s probe into Russian interference into the 2016 election .
Among those prosecuted under Liu ’ s watch were Stone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and former national security adviser Michael Flynn .
Last week , a spokeswoman for former national security adviser John Bolton charged that the White House was “ suppressing ” the publication of Bolton ’ s memoir about his time in the Trump administration with invalid claims that the manuscript includes classified material .
Bolton , according to excerpts of the manuscript leaked to the media during the Senate impeachment trial , says Trump told him he was conditioning the release of military aid to Ukraine on whether its government would help investigate Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brown , an Ohio Democrat , accused Trump of being on a “ retribution tour ” and suggested that Senate Republicans — with the exception of Utah ’ s Mitt Romney , who voted with Democrats to convict Trump on the abuse of power count — encouraged the president by turning a blind eye to his conduct .
“ It ’ s pretty clear the president of the United States did learn a lesson : the lesson he can do whatever he wants , whenever he wants , he can abuse his office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held accountable by this Senate , ” Brown said .
“ Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro , Deb Riechmann , Mike Balsamo , Eric Tucker and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report .

Aamer Madhani, Jonathan Lemire And Mary Clare Jalonick - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Japan says 44 more people have tested positive for coronavirus on quarantined ship

TOKYO - Japan ’ s health ministry said Thursday 44 more people on a cruise ship quarantined near Tokyo have tested positive for the virus that causes the new disease known as COVID-19 .
The Diamond Princess , which is still carrying about 3,500 passengers and crew members , now has 218 people infected with the virus out of 713 people tested since it entered Yokohama Port on Feb. 3 , the largest cluster of infections outside China .
In all , Japan has 247 confirmed cases of the new disease that apparently started in Wuhan , a city in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Katsunobu Kato said five of the patients sent to hospitals earlier have severe symptoms and are on artificial respirators or under intensive care .
Kato also said the government has decided to allow passengers older than 80 to get off the ship after testing negative for the virus .
He said results of tests on about 200 eligible passengers are underway , and those with chronic health problems or in cabins without operable windows will be given priority .
Kato said the measure is to reduce health risks for passengers stuck in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are released will be asked to stay at a designated facility through the end of the quarantine period .
“ We are doing our utmost for the health of crew members and passengers who remain on the ship , ” Kato told a news conference .
Some experts have questioned Japan ’ s strategy of isolating the passengers and crew in a potentially virus-affected environment on the ship while the disease is already slowly making its way into the country .
“ On the ship , infections are getting very dense , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevention expert and former regional director for the World Health Organization .
“ It ’ s like we are seeing a very condensed version of what could happen in a local community.
” Omi , who currently heads the Japan Community Health Care Organization , said those people who have tested positive for the virus are “ only a fraction ” of what could already be spreading outside of the ship .
“ We should assume that the virus has already been spreading in Japan , ” he said .


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Scandal-hit Nissan sinks into losses as sales plummet

TOKYO - Nissan , reeling from a scandal over its former superstar executive Carlos Ghosn , sank into red ink in the latest quarter as its vehicle sales fell around the world , and the Japanese automaker slashed its profit forecast for the year .
Nissan Motor Co. reported Thursday a loss of 26 billion yen ( $ 237 million ) for October-December , a reversal from the 70 billion yen profit recorded a year earlier .
Quarterly sales slipped nearly 18 % to 2.5 trillion yen ( $ 23 billion ) , as Nissan ’ s vehicle sales fell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and China .
Chief Executive Makoto Uchida told reporters at Nissan ’ s Yokohama headquarters that a turnaround plan was in place , with details to be released in May .
“ The situation has worsened , but there is no moment to waste as we must keep investing in future products , ” he said .
“ We are headed in the right direction , but it will take time.
” He acknowledged Thursday ’ s results didn ’ t take into account possible damage from production halts in China caused by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downward revisions may be coming .
Nissan ’ s plants in China have halted , although preparations are underway to resume production later in the month .
But whether such restarts can happen remains uncertain , not just for Nissan but also other manufacturers in China .
Some production was being scaled back at Nissan ’ s Japan plants , although that was to be made up when the supply chain recovers , possibly next month , according to Nissan .
Nissan slashed its profit forecast for the fiscal year through March 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 592 million ) , falling far short of its earlier forecast for a 110 billion yen ( $ 1 billion ) profit .
It now expects to sell 5.05 million vehicles globally for the fiscal year , a decrease of 4 % from the previous forecast .
Shareholders will get zero yen in dividends for the latest quarter .
Nissan ’ s brand has been badly tarnished by Ghosn ’ s arrest in late 2018 on charges of under-reporting future compensation and of breach of trust in diverting company money for personal gain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he is innocent , skipped bail late last year and is now in Lebanon .
He held a news conference and accused Nissan officials of a conspiracy against him .
He has said Nissan and some Japanese government officials sought to block his attempts to realize a fuller merger with alliance partner Renault SA of France .
Nissan has sought to distance itself from the allegations against Ghosn .
It filed a civil suit this week against him seeking damages .
His lawyers have not yet commented on the suit .
In it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using Nissan money for such things as overseas homes , use of corporate jets and consulting fees paid to Ghosn ’ s sister .
Nissan as a company must also stand trial in the criminal case in Japan .
Japan does not have an extradition treaty with Lebanon and so Ghosn ’ s trial likely won ’ t go forward here .
Greg Kelly , an American former executive at Nissan who was implicated in the charges against Ghosn , will stand trial .
A date for the trial has not been set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he could not get a fair trial .
The conviction rate in Japan is higher than 99 % .
Uchida took over the helm of the manufacturer of the Leaf electric car , Infiniti luxury models and the X-Trail SUV in December , replacing Ghosn ’ s successor , Hiroto Saikawa .
Saikawa tendered his resignation last year after acknowledging dubious income , although he said he did not know about the pay until later .


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--AP Exclusive: Pro-Trump effort raises over $60M in January

WASHINGTON - Pro-Trump groups raised more than $ 60 million in January and have more than $ 200 million on hand for this year ’ s general election , shattering fundraising records on the path toward a goal of raising $ 1 billion this cycle .
The Republican National Committee and President Donald Trump ’ s campaign have raised more than $ 525 million since the start of 2019 together with two joint-fundraising committees .
The RNC and the Trump campaign provided the figures to The Associated Press .
The January haul coincided with most of the Senate ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican president ’ s acquittal earlier this month .
RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said , “ We already have 500,000 volunteers trained and activated , and this record-breaking support is helping us grow our grassroots army even more.
” Trump ’ s 2020 campaign manager , Brad Parscale , said Democrats ’ “ shameful impeachment hoax and dumpster fire primary process ” have contributed to the “ record-breaking financial support ” for Trump ’ s reelection .
“ With President Trump ’ s accomplishments , our massive data and ground operations and our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” this campaign is going to be unstoppable in 2020.
” The pro-Trump effort said it has gained more than 1 million new digital and direct mail donors since Democrats launched their push to impeach Trump in September 2019 .
The investigations proved to be a fundraising boon for Trump ’ s campaign , even as the president was personally frustrated by the scar it will leave on his legacy .
The Trump team ’ s haul and cash on hand were twice that of former President Barack Obama ’ s campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same point ahead of his 2012 reelection .
Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast , “ Ground Game.
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thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Former Florida prosecutor accused of offering help for sex

MIAMI - A former Florida prosecutor pressured a woman into having sex with him in exchange for help with her criminal case , authorities said .
Juan Mercado , 29 , was arrested Wednesday in Miami-Dade County and charged with bribery , according to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement news release .
Mercado served as assistant state attorney with the 20th Judicial Circuit from May 2017 to February 2019 .
The circuit covers Charlotte , Collier , Glades , Hendry and Lee counties .
The FDLE investigation showed that the woman was being prosecuted for domestic battery in Collier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make her case go away ” in exchange for sex .
Mercado was not the assigned prosecutor on the case but accessed records and provided information and advice to the woman .
?
After leaving the State Attorney ’ s Office , Mercado opened up a private practice in Miami .
To avoid a potential conflict of interest , Mercado ’ s case is being handled in the 12th Judicial Circuit , which includes DeSoto , Manatee and Sarasota counties .
Miami-Dade ’ s jail records show that Mercado has posted bond , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It wasn ’ t clear if he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf .
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thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Far right looms as Germany commemorates Dresden bombing

DRESDEN , Germany - Germany ’ s president is leading commemorations Thursday marking the 75th anniversary of Dresden ’ s bombing by allied forces at the end of the World War II , an event that has become a test for the way the country handles its Nazi past .
Historians say up to 25,000 people perished during the three-day bombardment by American and British planes — comparable to the death toll in other large German cities .
But the man-made firestorm , vividly captured by American author Kurt Vonnegut in his book “ Slaughterhouse Five , “ and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city have become a rallying point for those seeking to portray Germans as victims in the war .
The myth that as many as half a million civilians were killed in the bombing has been eagerly promoted by far-right activists .
Most recently their case has been taken up by members of the Alternative for Germany party , which has become a significant political force on the right since its founding seven years ago .
The party ’ s co-chairman , Tino Chrupalla , recently stated that the bombing cost “ about 100,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by experts and condemned as revisionism by mainstream parties , they reflect Alternative for Germany ’ s tactic of gaining attention by breaking taboos .
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the Duke of Kent , a cousin of Britain ’ s Queen Elizabeth II , will join thousands of Dresdeners late Thursday to form a human chain commemorating the victims of the bombing and the Nazi atrocities .
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thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Barr swipes at Trump: Tweets make it ‘impossible’ to do job

WASHINGTON - Attorney General William Barr publicly swiped at President Donald Trump on Thursday , declaring the president ’ s tweets about Justice Department prosecutors and open cases “ make it impossible for me to do my job.
” Barr made the comment during an interview with ABC News just days after his Justice Department overruled its own prosecutors — who had recommended in a court filing that Trump ’ s longtime ally and confidant Roger Stone be sentenced to 7 to 9 years in prison — and took the extraordinary step of lowering the amount of prison time it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t offer an amended number .
Barr himself has been under fire for the reversal .
Still , it was a highly unusual move for a member of the Cabinet to criticize the president — especially a Trump loyalist who shares the the president ’ s views on expansive executive powers .
Thursday ’ s comment served as a defence of his own integrity — an effort to salvage his own reputation and that of the Department of Justice by publicly rebuking the president he ’ s propped up from Day One of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so quickly after the decision to back away from the sentencing , suggested Barr was aware the reversal had chipped away at the department ’ s historic reputation for independence from political sway .
But he stopped short of acknowledging wrongdoing by anyone .
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said Trump “ wasn ’ t bothered by the comments at all and he has the right , just like any American citizen , to publicly offer his opinions.
” She added , “ The President has full faith and confidence in Attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uphold the law.
” But Trump has a low tolerance for criticism , especially public criticism , from his allies and often fires back in kind .
And the tempered White House response raised questions of whether Barr ’ s comments were co-ordinated with the White House .
Barr said Trump ’ s tweets created perception problems for the department that called into question its independence , but he denied there was any order from Trump and said Trump ’ s tweets did not factor into the decision .
Barr joined a roster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticized Trump , thought the rest left the job first .
Former National Security Adviser John Bolton is to publish a book next month detailing his time in the White House including criticism of Trump actions such as his decision to withhold military assistance while seeking a political favour from Ukraine .
Former Chief of Staff John Kelly , who has largely kept a low profile since leaving the White House , has grown more open about his unflattering assessments of the president .
Earlier this week , Trump applauded Barr on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommendation , writing : “ Congratulations to Attorney General Bill Barr for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought.
” The department insisted the decision to undo the sentencing recommendation was made Monday night — before Trump blasted the recommendation on Twitter as “ very horrible and unfair ” — and prosecutors had not spoken to the White House about it .
The about-face prompted the four attorneys who prosecuted Stone to quit the case .
One left the Justice Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say that , in fact , the president has never asked me to do anything in a criminal case , ” Barr said in the ABC interview .
“ However , to have public statements and tweets made about the department , about our people in the department , our men and women here , about cases pending in the department , and about judges before whom we have cases , make it impossible for me to do my job and to assure the courts and the prosecutors in the department that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ integrity.
” Stone was convicted in November of tampering with a witness and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign co-ordinated with Russia to tip the 2016 election .
He ’ s scheduled to be sentenced next week .
Barr said he was “ of course ” prepared to deal with any ramifications from the president for his comments .
Administration officials said senior White House aides were not informed of the contents of Barr ’ s interview before it aired .
“ As I said during my confirmation , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I am responsible for everything that happens in the department , but the thing I have most responsibility for are the issues that are brought to me for decision , ” Barr said in the interview .
It is extremely rare for Justice Department leaders to reverse the decision of prosecutors on a sentencing recommendation , particularly after that recommendation has been submitted to the court .
The actual sentencing is up to the judge .
Meanwhile , the Chief Judge of the D.C. District Court , Beryl A. Howell , also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement Thursday on the firestorm around the sentencing .
“ The Judges of this court base their sentencing decisions on careful consideration of the actual record in the case before them ; the applicable sentencing guidelines and statutory factors ; the submissions of the parties , the probation office and victims ; and their own judgment and experience , “ she wrote .
” Public criticism or pressure is not a factor.
” “ What they did to Roger Stone was a disgrace , ” Trump said Thursday during an interview with Geraldo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the prosecutors who resigned in protest : “ I don ’ t think they quit the case .
...
I don ’ t think they quit for moral reasons .
I think they got caught in the act by me.
“ “ Now what am I going to do , sit back and let a man go to jail maybe for nine years when murderers aren ’ t going to jail ?
You have some of the most serious horrible rapists and everything else .
They don ’ t go to jail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsay Graham said in a statement that Barr “ has my complete confidence ” and “ is the right man at the right time to reform the department and stand up for the Rule of Law.
” Earlier this week , Graham said , and Barr later confirmed , that Justice was accepting information that Trump ’ s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani is gathering in Ukraine about Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden and his son .
In the ABC interview , Barr said of the president , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somebody because — and you sense it ’ s because they ’ re a political opponent — then the attorney general shouldn ’ t carry that out , wouldn ’ t carry that out.
” Democrats decried the Justice Department ’ s reversal on Stone and called for immediate investigations .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for the Justice Department ’ s inspector general to step in .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that Barr had “ stooped to such levels ” and that “ the American people deserve better.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president ’ s since he returned to the top post at the Justice Department last year .
He cleared the president of obstruction of justice even when special counsel Robert Mueller had pointedly declined to do so .
He declared that the FBI ’ s Russia investigation , which resulted in charges against Stone , had been based on a “ bogus narrative.
” Barr also appointed U.S. Attorney John Durham to lead a criminal inquiry into the origins of the Russia investigation , including examining what led the U.S. to open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the roles that various countries played .
Associated Press writers Eric Tucker , Deb Riechmann and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report .

Michael Balsamo And Zeke Miller - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Cuomo meets with Trump to offer deal on travellers program

WASHINGTON - New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo visited the White House on Thursday in the hope he could persuade President Donald Trump to reverse a decision to boot New Yorkers from programs that allow travellers to avoid long lines at the U.S. border .
The Democratic governor and Republican president met Thursday to discuss their dispute over New York ’ s new “ Green Light ” law , which lets unauthorized immigrants obtain state driver ’ s licenses and also bars federal immigration agents from accessing state motor vehicle records .
The Trump administration said that cutoff from state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by blocking New Yorkers from enrolling in Global Entry and other “ trusted traveller ” programs .
New York then sued over its expulsion .
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said the leaders held a “ productive meeting.
“ He called the relationship between the state of New York and the federal government an important one but said it “ has been made difficult by the unilateral actions of New York State regarding the sharing of critical security information with DHS.
” He said in a tweet that discussions would continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s communications director Dani Lever said Trump said he wants to work on the issue and will follow up with Cuomo next week .
In a tweet before the meeting , Trump said Cuomo “ must understand that National Security far exceeds politics.
“ “ New York must stop all of its unnecessary lawsuits & harrassment , start cleaning itself up , and lowering taxes .
Build relationships , but don ’ t bring Fredo !
” Trump said , tacking on a insult referring to Cuomo ’ s brother , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s willing to restore federal access to driving records on a limited basis .
But in a midday news conference , he pledged not to let federal immigration agents see lists of people who had applied for a new type of license that doesn ’ t require applicants to prove they are in the U.S. legally .
“ If they think they ’ re going to extort New York into giving them a database of undocumented people , they ’ re wrong .
I will never do that , “ Cuomo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would only propose giving federal officials access to the state driving records of applicants to traveller programs , who already must submit to an in-person interview and a background check .
“ There is no undocumented person who ’ s going for an in-person interview before the federal government , ” Cuomo said on the MSNBC show “ Morning Joe.
” Department of Homeland Security Secretary officials say New York ’ s decision to cut off federal access to driving records was part of a pattern of the state hindering the work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They said the lack of access to driving records would make it harder to catch fugitives or to quickly confirm someone ’ s identity .
Trump and Cuomo have a long history that has turned decidedly nasty over the years .
Last year , Trump lashed out on Twitter , accusing New York officials of harassing his New York businesses in search of “ anything at all they can find to make me look as bad as possible.
” He complained that his family was spending a fortune on lawyers .
Four months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become his permanent residence after he leaves the White House , not New York , saying he had been “ treated very badly by the political leaders of both the city and state.
” Cuomo replied : “ Good riddance ” and “ He ’ s all yours , Florida.
” The two have clashed on Trump ’ s income tax cuts , which imposed a $ 10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions , hiking federal taxes for many homeowners in New York , and on New York ’ s ban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York is missing out on a “ goldmine ” of energy revenue .

Marina Villeneuve And Kevin Freking - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Torrential rains leave swollen rivers, downed trees in South

HUNTSVILLE , Ala. - Days of torrential rain across the Southeast left residents to deal with rising rivers , falling trees , weakened dams and mudslides Thursday as storms finally subsided .
Multiple vehicles plowed into trees that fell across a highway in Mississippi , and officials in the capital of Jackson warned some residents to evacuate in preparation for expected flooding .
A soggy hillside collapsed near a casino in Vicksburg next to the Mississippi River , while a flooded pumping station in Alabama forced officials to close schools and ask residents to conserve water .
Mississippi emergency management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Jackson and its suburbs in coming days when the Pearl River overflows its banks after weeks of heavy rainfall .
They said residents would need to stay away from their homes for three to four days .
“ Once this occurs and the river rises , there won ’ t be any turning back , ” said Jackson City Engineer Charles Williams .
The rains were expected to create the worst flooding in Jackson since 1983 .
That ’ s the second-highest crest on record , below an epic flood in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Since that time , development in the Pearl River floodplain in suburban Rankin County has grown rapidly .
Officials in Starkville , Mississippi , were worried that around-the-clock pumping wasn ’ t doing enough to relieve pressure on the rain-swollen Oktibbeha County Lake , where part of the dam collapsed in a mudslide last month .
Water in the reservoir was rising , and tarps and sandbags used to stabilize the dam had moved because of erosion , requiring repairs , officials said .
“ We encourage residents to make preparations now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evacuate , ” county emergency management director Kristen Campanella said in a statement .
Along the Mississippi River in Vickburg , Mississippi , part of the parking lot at WaterView Casino and Hotel was covered with soil and grass after a soggy hillside collapsed , but no one was hurt and the gambling hall remained open .
Near Vicksburg , one person was taken to a hospital after seven 18-wheelers and a minivan collided with two trees that fell across Interstate 20 overnight , news outlets reported .
In north Alabama , Hartselle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a rising creek flooded a water pumping station , the Morgan County Sheriff ’ s Office said in a statement posted on Facebook .
Utility officials in the town of about 14,000 people asked residents to conserve water but lifted the request once the problem was fixed .
Alabama transportation officials shut down a major highway leading to Huntsville because of a crack that developed in the road after days of heavy rain .
Crews were repairing both sides of U.S. 231 near Lacey ’ s Springs , forcing commuters to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ north and west Alabama .
Workers had to clear roads in Lawrence County after strong winds overnight knocked down trees that toppled over in saturated soil .
Parts of central Alabama had received more than 6 inches ( 15 centimetres ) of rain since Tuesday , and rainfall totals in excess of 3 inches ( 8 centimetres ) were common .
A flood warning for the Tennessee River at Florence , located in northwest Alabama , is in effect until Feb. 20 .
Kentucky Gov .
Andy Beshear warned of additional rains for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flooding last week that officials said was the worst since the late 1970s .
There were about 100 search and rescue operations in 10 counties during the flooding , Beshear said .
Associated Press reporter Jeff Amy contributed to this story from Atlanta , Georgia .


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Calif. man free after DNA site leads to new arrest in murder

PLACERVILLE , Calif. - California authorities used recently developed DNA techniques to free one man and implicate another for only the second time in the United States , officials said Thursday .
A man who spent about 15 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted in the slaying of his housemate has been exonerated after authorities used extended DNA links developed through publicly available genealogical websites to build a family tree that led to the arrest of a new suspect .
El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson would not go into detail on the newly implicated suspect , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the slaying and by law must make at least his first appearances in juvenile court even though he is now in his 50s , but said he was one of three young men who had been with the victim ’ s teenage daughter on the night of the slaying .
A county judge on Thursday ordered Ricky Davis released from custody during an emotional court hearing in Placerville , about 45 miles ( 70 miles ) east of Sacramento .
He was to be released after paperwork is completed later Thursday .
Hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ El Dorado County jail surrounded by family and friends .
When asked by reporters to comment on his release he answered “ no comment , thank you , ” and held up a black sweatshirt embroidered with a yellow Innocence Project logo .
Davis , 54 , had always maintained his innocence .
Pierson said the developments are “ two of the most dramatic extremes that you can experience.
” “ On the one hand , we have the system working in the worst possible way .
On the other hand , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of genetic genealogy “ that led to Davis being freed and a new suspect arrested this week , he said .
” It is a surreal thing in a sense.
” The same DNA techniques in 2018 identified the suspected Golden State Killer , a former police officer now awaiting trial in 12 homicides and numerous rapes across California in the 1970s and 1980s .
It has since been used to find suspects in nearly 80 cases nationwide , said Anne Marie Schubert , the district attorney in neighbouring Sacramento County whose office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But it ’ s only the second time the new technique exonerated a suspect , the first being last year in Idaho when Christopher Tapp was cleared of the 1996 murder of Angie Dodge , she said .
“ It must be remembered that this is not a tool of conviction , it is a tool of justice , “ Schubert said .
Jane Hylton , a 54-year-old columnist for the Foothills Times , was found dead — stabbed 29 times and bitten on the shoulder — on July 7 , 1985 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She was staying there temporarily with her teenage daughter , Davis and Davis ’ then-girlfriend Connie Dahl .
The man arrested this week was one of three youths who were in a park that night with the then-13-year-old daughter of the victim .
One of the three boys is now dead and another is co-operating in the investigation , Pierson said .
That man is not believed to have participated in the slaying , but may have known about it afterward , he said .
The daughter is not a suspect and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Davis and Dahl told detectives they had gone to a party the night before and returned home at 3:30 a.m. where they found Hylton ’ s daughter waiting outside .
The teenager told them she had gone out with a group of boys that night and was afraid her mother would be upset with her for being out too late , according to an online synopsis of the case by the Innocence Project , which is part of the Santa Clara University School of Law .
“ The three entered the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hallway outside the master bedroom and found Hylton ’ s body on the bed .
Davis and Dahl immediately called 911 to report the crime .
All three maintained they were not involved in the murder and did not know who committed the crime , ” according to the project .
The case went unsolved until detectives reopened it in late 1999 .
Dahl changed her story under what Pierson said were the aggressive interrogation techniques in use at the time , implicating Davis as the killer and telling detectives that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said the two investigators have since retired .
More sophisticated recent DNA tests found unknown male DNA on the nightgown in the area of the bite mark and the same DNA profile under the victim ’ s fingernails .
Those tests excluded Davis , Dahl and Hylton ’ s daughter as the sources of the DNA .
That led to Davis ’ murder conviction being overturned in 2019 after project lawyers argued that “ had the original jury heard the DNA results , it would have likely reached a different outcome.
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ satisfied they had the real killer in custody .
Dahl , who received a one-year county jail sentence in the case , died in 2014 .
Innocence Project staff attorney Melissa O ’ Connell said she thought she had the evidence to free her client in 2014 , yet it took six more years before investigators were satisfied that they had found the real killer .
She said she was in tears and her client was emotional in court as he was ordered freed .
He planned to celebrate with pizza and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in state compensation because he was wrongfully convicted , $ 140 for each day he spent behind bars .
A prosecutor shook Davis ’ hand , she said , and “ he got to hug his mom for the first time in court today in a very , very long time.
” Associated Press writer Olga R. Rodriguez in San Francisco contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Virgin Galactic spaceship arrives at new home in New Mexico

LOS ANGELES - Virgin Galactic ’ s spaceship VSS Unity , tucked under the wing of its special carrier aircraft , took a long-awaited ferry flight Thursday from Southern California to its new home in the New Mexico desert , where it will undergo final testing in preparation for commercial operations that will carry tourists on hops into space .
The mothership , named Eve , took off from Mojave Air & Space Port and circled over the Mojave Desert before turning east toward Spaceport America in southern New Mexico .
The flight lasted more than three hours .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it made two test flights into space .
The move to New Mexico marks a significant milestone toward commercial flights , which the company has said it anticipates this year .
V irgin Galactic is the anchor tenant of the taxpayer-financed Spaceport America — the world ’ s first facility designed and built specifically for launching commercial passengers and payloads into suborbital space .
Virgin Galactic moved more than 130 employees from California to New Mexico and last year inaugurated a program to prepare its first customers for the experience .
The company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the spaceport last August .
The company also recently reported significant progress in the construction of another spaceship .
The winged rocket ships are designed to be carried to high altitude by the mothership and released .
A rocket motor will propel the spaceships into the lower fringes of space to give tourists the experience of weightlessness and a view of the Earth far below .
The landing is an unpowered glide to the runway .
More than 600 customers from 60 countries have put down deposits for flights with Virgin Galactic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 3,500 people have registered their desire to fly .
Virgin Galactic officials expect that interest will surpass the company ’ s capacity for flights at least through 2023 .
The company says its spaceships also will carry experiments that require several minutes of microgravity .
Founded by British billionaire Richard Branson , the company is now formally named Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc. and went public on the New York Stock Exchange in October .
The fleet is being manufactured by The Spaceship Company , a wholly owned subsidiary .

John Antczak And Susan Montoya Bryan - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-02-13--Florida probes domestic violence agency that paid CEO $750K

TALLAHASSEE , Fla. - Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis on Thursday ordered an investigation into a non-profit domestic abuse agency whose CEO had received $ 7.5 million in compensation over a three-year span .
The House also voted to subpoena the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence ’ s board of directors and former president as the state examines thousands of pages of documents detailing “ exorbitant ” executive pay .
DeSantis , a Republican , asked the state ’ s chief inspector general to investigate the non-profit and ordered the head of the state ’ s child welfare agency to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distributes state and federal money to organizations that help domestic violence victims .
Hours later , Republican state Rep. Tom Leek told his colleagues that former coalition CEO and President Tiffany Carr had received about $ 7.5 million in compensation over the three years before she resigned .
He said that included a salary that had ballooned to $ 750,000 a year and separate compensation for up to 210 days a year of paid time off .
In his letter to Chief Inspector General Melinda Miguel , DeSantis said the documents expose “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , misuse of state dollars , and breaches of public trust.
” “ My administration will not tolerate wasteful or fraudulent spending , particularly by an organization that purports to serve the vulnerable victims of domestic violence , ” DeSantis added .
The House on Thursday voted to subpoena Carr and the domestic violence coalition ’ s board of directors .
“ As to the measures that we ’ re taking , they ’ re extraordinary , I would say , but these are extraordinary circumstances , ” Republican House Speaker Jose Oliva @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Carr ’ s salary were first raised in 2018 by the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times .
Since then , the House has sought coalition documents for 20 months .
Leek , who chairs the House Public Integrity and Ethics Committee , said the agency stonewalled requests for information before providing 104,000 documents on Wednesday .
“ This is not a good morning , and I think today will prove to be a bad day in the history of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence , ” Leek told his committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Howell , the coalitions president of internal and external affairs , didn ’ t immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment .
During House floor debate , Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani said Carr ’ s salary was appalling .
“ When we work at our local domestic shelters , we know that every penny counts , and when you have a CEO being paid that much money as survivors need support , it should be something that appalls each one of us , ” she said .

Brendan Farrington - The Associated Press