mercurynews--2020-06-19--Police: Man fatally shot by California deputies held woman captive for 6 days

By STEFANIE DAZIO | The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — The half-brother of a black man recently found hanged in a Southern California park was fatally shot by police after opening fire on deputies about to arrest him on charges that he beat his girlfriend and held her captive for nearly a week , according to authorities and court documents .
The shootout occurred Wednesday afternoon as members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department ’ s Major Crimes Bureau tried to stop a blue sport utility vehicle driven by a woman police described as another former girlfriend of Terron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a passenger along with Boone .
The SUV came to a stop in a parking lot of an apartment complex in Rosamond , a Kern County desert community north of Los Angeles County , according to a statement from the Sheriff ’ s Department .
Deputies shouted “ hands up !
” and Boone opened the passenger door and began firing from a semiautomatic handgun , authorities said .
Boone fired at least six rounds , hitting the deputies ’ vehicles , said sheriff ’ s Lt. Robert Westphal of the homicide bureau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returned fire , hitting Boone several times in the upper body and killing him , sheriff ’ s officials said .
He died at the scene , where a handgun was found .
The girl and detectives were not injured .
The woman driving the SUV was struck by gunfire , treated at a hospital and released .
The Kern County coroner confirmed the man was Terron Jammal Boone , 31 , of Palmdale .
He was the half-brother of Robert Fuller , 24 , who was found hanging from a tree last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an attorney for the Fuller family , confirmed Boone ’ s relationship to Fuller but declined to comment further Thursday .
Fuller was found in a park near Palmdale City Hall early in the morning of June 10 .
A preliminary autopsy was conducted the next day .
The initial finding of suicide immediately prompted skepticism among the black community in an area of Los Angeles County with a racist history .
The coroner ’ s office said Fuller ’ s death appeared to be a suicide and homicide detectives said there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scene .
That outraged family members said authorities were too quick with that finding and failed to consider the possibility of foul play .
They are seeking an independent autopsy .
More than 1,000 people turned out for a protest and memorial Saturday around the tree where Fuller ’ s body was found .
His family and friends described him as a peacemaker who was street-smart , loved music and video games , and mostly stayed to himself .
Days before he died , he attended a Black Lives Matter protest , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and state attorney general ’ s office on Monday announced they are monitoring the LA Sheriff Department ’ s investigation of the death .
Fuller was the second black man to be found hanged in a public place in Southern California in recent weeks .
Malcolm Harsch , a 38-year-old homeless man , was found on May 31 in Victorville , a desert city in San Bernardino County east of Palmdale .
In Boone ’ s case , authorities allege he imprisoned his on-and-off girlfriend in her Palmdale home between June 9 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court documents show .
The girlfriend “ waited for an opportunity when he wasn ’ t looking and she was able to get out , run to a business and had them call 911 , ” Westphal said .
• Atlanta police continue to call out sick in protest • California cop fatally shot man who disregarded orders to drop his knife , body camera video shows Prosecutors filed 13 counts against Boone on Tuesday , and a warrant was issued for his arrest .
The next day , a surveillance team of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rosamond , about 20 miles ( 32 kilometers ) north of Palmdale .
Boone got in the vehicle and left with the woman and child .
Deputies later moved in to arrest him , and the shooting erupted .
Westphal said Boone ’ s motive for the kidnapping and assault remain under investigation , as is any potential link between the woman and Fuller .
Boone ’ s criminal record includes convictions on charges of burglary , robbery , corporal punishment or injury to a child , according to the California Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in November .

By STEFANIE DAZIO | The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — The half-brother of a black man recently found hanged in a Southern California park was fatally shot by police after opening fire on deputies about to arrest him on charges that he beat his girlfriend and held her captive for nearly a week, according to authorities and court documents.
The shootout occurred Wednesday afternoon as members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department’s Major Crimes Bureau tried to stop a blue sport utility vehicle driven by a woman police described as another former girlfriend of Terron J. Boone. A 7-year-old girl was a passenger along with Boone.
The SUV came to a stop in a parking lot of an apartment complex in Rosamond, a Kern County desert community north of Los Angeles County, according to a statement from the Sheriff’s Department.
Deputies shouted “hands up!” and Boone opened the passenger door and began firing from a semiautomatic handgun, authorities said. Boone fired at least six rounds, hitting the deputies’ vehicles, said sheriff’s Lt. Robert Westphal of the homicide bureau.
Three detectives and their field supervisors returned fire, hitting Boone several times in the upper body and killing him, sheriff’s officials said. He died at the scene, where a handgun was found.
The girl and detectives were not injured. The woman driving the SUV was struck by gunfire, treated at a hospital and released.
The Kern County coroner confirmed the man was Terron Jammal Boone, 31, of Palmdale.
He was the half-brother of Robert Fuller, 24, who was found hanging from a tree last week in Palmdale. Jamon Hicks, an attorney for the Fuller family, confirmed Boone’s relationship to Fuller but declined to comment further Thursday.
Fuller was found in a park near Palmdale City Hall early in the morning of June 10. A preliminary autopsy was conducted the next day. The initial finding of suicide immediately prompted skepticism among the black community in an area of Los Angeles County with a racist history.
The coroner’s office said Fuller’s death appeared to be a suicide and homicide detectives said there was no evidence to the contrary at the scene. That outraged family members said authorities were too quick with that finding and failed to consider the possibility of foul play. They are seeking an independent autopsy.
More than 1,000 people turned out for a protest and memorial Saturday around the tree where Fuller’s body was found. His family and friends described him as a peacemaker who was street-smart, loved music and video games, and mostly stayed to himself. Days before he died, he attended a Black Lives Matter protest, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The FBI and state attorney general’s office on Monday announced they are monitoring the LA Sheriff Department’s investigation of the death.
Fuller was the second black man to be found hanged in a public place in Southern California in recent weeks. Malcolm Harsch, a 38-year-old homeless man, was found on May 31 in Victorville, a desert city in San Bernardino County east of Palmdale.
In Boone’s case, authorities allege he imprisoned his on-and-off girlfriend in her Palmdale home between June 9 and Monday, threatening and pistol-whipping her, court documents show. The girlfriend “waited for an opportunity when he wasn’t looking and she was able to get out, run to a business and had them call 911,” Westphal said.
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Boone got in the vehicle and left with the woman and child. Deputies later moved in to arrest him, and the shooting erupted.
Westphal said Boone’s motive for the kidnapping and assault remain under investigation, as is any potential link between the woman and Fuller.
Boone’s criminal record includes convictions on charges of burglary, robbery, corporal punishment or injury to a child, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. His parole ended in November.


mercurynews--2020-06-19--Young mountain lion caught near Oracle Park in San Francisco

By OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ | The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO — A young mountain lion that had been spotted sleeping in a planter box along a normally busy street and looking at his reflection in the glass of an office tower in downtown San Francisco was safely captured Thursday and released into the wild , officials said .
The disoriented cougar roamed the streets for two days until he was spotted by a police officer near Oracle Park , home of the San Francisco Giants , said Officer Adam Lobsinger , a police spokesman .
Officers set up a perimeter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrive .
They safely captured the 50-pound cat in an apartment building ’ s green area with lots of shrubbery without the use of sedatives , Animal Care and Control spokeswoman Deb Campbell said .
“ In 24 hours , it only moved a few blocks .
The poor guy really needed some help , ” she said .
Campbell said officials get reports of cougars in San Francisco about once a year .
The animals come up along the Pacific Coast from the hills south of the city but eventually find their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We never had a mountain lion right in the middle of downtown San Francisco , ” Campbell said .
Officials had been eyeing his movements since Tuesday , when a motorist first reported seeing it in Russian Hill , a neighborhood known for the famously crooked Lombard Street .
Hours later , surveillance cameras recorded it crossing the parking lot of a television station in the Embarcadero .
Soon after , it was spotted again in an area of gleaming office towers .
Officials worried the animal wouldn ’ t find its way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to send in any photos or video of the cat so they could monitor its movements .
Photo and video images show it crossing streets and walking among apartment building and office towers .
“ It was looking in windows , looking at his reflection or something .
Maybe he thought it was his mom or brother or sister , ” Campbell said .
Police sent out a tweet urging people to stay vigilant .
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“ It is likely the mountain lion is confused and lost , and will soon find its way south and out of the city , ” police officials said in a tweet Wednesday .
“ If approached by the mountain lion , make yourself appear big and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after they are 2 years old .
But this lion is under that age , and it ’ s unclear what led him to leave its family , Campbell said .
The big cat was examined at the Oakland Zoo before California Fish and Wildlife officials released it at a wilderness preserve .

By OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ | The Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO — A young mountain lion that had been spotted sleeping in a planter box along a normally busy street and looking at his reflection in the glass of an office tower in downtown San Francisco was safely captured Thursday and released into the wild, officials said.
The disoriented cougar roamed the streets for two days until he was spotted by a police officer near Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, said Officer Adam Lobsinger, a police spokesman.
Officers set up a perimeter and waited for animal control officials to arrive. They safely captured the 50-pound cat in an apartment building’s green area with lots of shrubbery without the use of sedatives, Animal Care and Control spokeswoman Deb Campbell said.
“In 24 hours, it only moved a few blocks. The poor guy really needed some help,” she said.
Campbell said officials get reports of cougars in San Francisco about once a year. The animals come up along the Pacific Coast from the hills south of the city but eventually find their way back to the wilderness.
“We never had a mountain lion right in the middle of downtown San Francisco,” Campbell said.
Officials had been eyeing his movements since Tuesday, when a motorist first reported seeing it in Russian Hill, a neighborhood known for the famously crooked Lombard Street.
Hours later, surveillance cameras recorded it crossing the parking lot of a television station in the Embarcadero. Soon after, it was spotted again in an area of gleaming office towers.
Officials worried the animal wouldn’t find its way south and asked residents in the area to send in any photos or video of the cat so they could monitor its movements.
Photo and video images show it crossing streets and walking among apartment building and office towers.
“It was looking in windows, looking at his reflection or something. Maybe he thought it was his mom or brother or sister,” Campbell said.
Police sent out a tweet urging people to stay vigilant.
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Mountain lions leave their families after they are 2 years old. But this lion is under that age, and it’s unclear what led him to leave its family, Campbell said.
The big cat was examined at the Oakland Zoo before California Fish and Wildlife officials released it at a wilderness preserve.


mercurynews--2020-06-19--A California deputy saved a baby from choking during a Black Lives Matter protest

A video surveillance camera recorded a Los Angeles sheriff ’ s deputy save an unresponsive baby from choking during a Black Lives Matter protest in May .
The 11-month-old boy ’ s mother and another woman were attending the protest on May 31 in Palmdale , California , when the baby became ill , lost consciousness and stopped breathing , according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department .
The women ran across a supermarket parking lot to a group of sheriff ’ s deputies who were monitoring the protest from across the street .
In the video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women when he realized they were in distress .
The mother handed the limp child to Kinsey and after assessing the baby , the sheriff ’ s department said he “ administered a mouth sweep with his finger and dislodged vomit.
” The baby began to breathe again to the relief of everyone there .
• White man rescued by Black Lives Matter protester is former police officer • Juneteenth : New Bay Area play shines light on Black theater campaign “ None of that other stuff matters , ” Kinsey said about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Just the baby.
” Paramedics arrived and took the child to a nearby hospital where it was determined the boy had swallowed a coin , which had lodged in his throat and blocked his airway .
Kinsey ’ s finger sweep turned the coin sideways so the child was able to breathe again , the department said .

A video surveillance camera recorded a Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy save an unresponsive baby from choking during a Black Lives Matter protest in May.
The 11-month-old boy’s mother and another woman were attending the protest on May 31 in Palmdale, California, when the baby became ill, lost consciousness and stopped breathing, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The women ran across a supermarket parking lot to a group of sheriff’s deputies who were monitoring the protest from across the street.
In the video, Deputy Cameron Kinsey runs toward the women when he realized they were in distress. The mother handed the limp child to Kinsey and after assessing the baby, the sheriff’s department said he “administered a mouth sweep with his finger and dislodged vomit.”
The baby began to breathe again to the relief of everyone there.
“None of that other stuff matters,” Kinsey said about everything taking place at the time. “Just the baby.”
Paramedics arrived and took the child to a nearby hospital where it was determined the boy had swallowed a coin, which had lodged in his throat and blocked his airway. Kinsey’s finger sweep turned the coin sideways so the child was able to breathe again, the department said.
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mercurynews--2020-06-19--Letter: Guatemalan or not, the US flies asylum-seekers there

Re : “ At least 138 deported from US to El Salvador were killed , according to report ” ( Eastbaytime.com , Feb. 6 ) : In July 2019 , Guatemala and the United States signed an Asylum Cooperative Agreement ( ACA ) , also known as a “ safe third country agreement.
” The agreement allows for the U.S. to deport asylum-seekers to Guatemala , even if they are not from there .
The United States also signed similar agreements with Honduras and El Salvador .
The U.S. signed the ACAs with these countries despite the fact that Guatemala @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to respond to the needs of their own citizens , let alone those of the thousands of asylum-seekers for whom the U.S. may be legally responsible .
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Due to COVID-19 , the ACAs have been suspended , but they could be reinstated at any time .
Meredith Wilkinson Staff with the Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala Oakland Submit your letter to the editor via this form Read more Letters to the Editor

Re: “At least 138 deported from US to El Salvador were killed, according to report” (Eastbaytime.com, Feb. 6):
In July 2019, Guatemala and the United States signed an Asylum Cooperative Agreement (ACA), also known as a “safe third country agreement.” The agreement allows for the U.S. to deport asylum-seekers to Guatemala, even if they are not from there.
The United States also signed similar agreements with Honduras and El Salvador. The U.S. signed the ACAs with these countries despite the fact that Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras are unable to respond to the needs of their own citizens, let alone those of the thousands of asylum-seekers for whom the U.S. may be legally responsible.
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Meredith Wilkinson
Staff with the Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala
Oakland
Submit your letter to the editor via this form
Read more Letters to the Editor


mercurynews--2020-06-19--All California voters to receive a mail-in ballot for November

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD | The Associated Press Los Angeles — Gov .
Gavin Newsom signed a bill Thursday to require county officials to mail a ballot to every registered voter for the November election , cementing into law the Democratic governor ’ s earlier order to mail out ballots statewide in response to the coronavirus outbreak .
Newsom , citing health risks from large groups gathering at polling places , announced in early May that the state will send every voter a mail-in ballot for the fall contest , but his plan has been challenged in court .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state Assembly , gives the governor ’ s order the force of law and provides clarity for election officials , said Assemblyman Marc Berman , a Menlo Park Democrat who sponsored the bill .
“ No one should have to risk their health and possibly their life to exercise their constitutional right to vote , ” Berman said in a statement .
“ In the midst of a deadly health pandemic , giving all California voters the opportunity to vote from the safety of their own home is the responsible thing to do.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for those who might need them .
The spread of mail-in voting as a reaction to potential health risks from the virus has become a point of conflict between Democrats and Republicans nationwide .
President Donald Trump has been among the skeptics and has said that “ a lot of people cheat with mail-in voting , ” without providing evidence .
The bill was passed 68-5 by the Assembly , with six members not voting .
The opponents were all Republicans .
Republicans who backed the bill noted that ballots will not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have not participated in recent elections .
Another change : Under current law , mail ballots that have been postmarked by election day can arrive up to three days after the election and still be counted .
For the November election , the bill would extend that window to 17 days , two weeks later from the current three days .
The change is supported by Secretary of State Alex Padilla , the state ’ s chief elections officer .
“ Expanding vote-by-mail statewide is a necessity to protect our right to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement .
“ Voting by mail has worked safely and securely in California for decades .
Mailing every voter a ballot for this election is simply common sense.
” But Republican National Committee member Harmeet Dhillon called the extension to 17 days “ bizarre ” and predicted it would raise integrity issues with the vote count , lead to more challenges over the authenticity of ballot signatures and extend the date for determining the outcome in some races to December .
With the 17-day delay , “ there is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dhillon said .
“ There is a tremendous amount of uncertainty.
” Historically , there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud through mail-in voting .
In the state ’ s March primary , more than 75 % of California voters received a vote-by-mail ballot .
• Election fraud case : Mail carrier says he was playing a joke on Democrats With the move to statewide mail-in ballots , California hopes to avoid the problems that plagued presidential primaries in Wisconsin and Georgia , where thousands of voters , some without protective face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours in long lines .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .
The vast majority of people recover .

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD | The Associated Press
Los Angeles — Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Thursday to require county officials to mail a ballot to every registered voter for the November election, cementing into law the Democratic governor’s earlier order to mail out ballots statewide in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Newsom, citing health risks from large groups gathering at polling places, announced in early May that the state will send every voter a mail-in ballot for the fall contest, but his plan has been challenged in court. The bill, approved earlier Thursday by the state Assembly, gives the governor’s order the force of law and provides clarity for election officials, said Assemblyman Marc Berman, a Menlo Park Democrat who sponsored the bill.
“No one should have to risk their health and possibly their life to exercise their constitutional right to vote,” Berman said in a statement. “In the midst of a deadly health pandemic, giving all California voters the opportunity to vote from the safety of their own home is the responsible thing to do.”
In-person voting places will remain available for those who might need them.
The spread of mail-in voting as a reaction to potential health risks from the virus has become a point of conflict between Democrats and Republicans nationwide. President Donald Trump has been among the skeptics and has said that “a lot of people cheat with mail-in voting,” without providing evidence.
The bill was passed 68-5 by the Assembly, with six members not voting. The opponents were all Republicans. Republicans who backed the bill noted that ballots will not be mailed to so-called inactive voters, who have not participated in recent elections.
Another change: Under current law, mail ballots that have been postmarked by election day can arrive up to three days after the election and still be counted. For the November election, the bill would extend that window to 17 days, two weeks later from the current three days.
The change is supported by Secretary of State Alex Padilla, the state’s chief elections officer.
“Expanding vote-by-mail statewide is a necessity to protect our right to vote and our public health,” Padilla said in a statement. “Voting by mail has worked safely and securely in California for decades. Mailing every voter a ballot for this election is simply common sense.”
But Republican National Committee member Harmeet Dhillon called the extension to 17 days “bizarre” and predicted it would raise integrity issues with the vote count, lead to more challenges over the authenticity of ballot signatures and extend the date for determining the outcome in some races to December.
With the 17-day delay, “there is a lot of opportunity for mischief,” Dhillon said. “There is a tremendous amount of uncertainty.”
Historically, there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud through mail-in voting. In the state’s March primary, more than 75% of California voters received a vote-by-mail ballot.
With the move to statewide mail-in ballots, California hopes to avoid the problems that plagued presidential primaries in Wisconsin and Georgia, where thousands of voters, some without protective face masks, were forced to wait for hours in long lines.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death. The vast majority of people recover.


mercurynews--2020-06-19--Disneyland rolls out new coronavirus health and safety guidelines

Disneyland plans to take a multi-pronged approach to reopening following a four-month coronavirus closure with a new set of COVID-19 health and safety protocols designed to make it safer to visit Disney ’ s Anaheim theme parks .
Disney parks chief medical officer Pamela Hymel rolled out the new guidelines as Disneyland and Disney California Adventure prepare to reopen on July 17 pending government approval .
A newly formed Guest Experience Team will be trained to share information about Disney ’ s health and safety policies with theme park visitors .
“ They will be available to explain our new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and encourage everyone to follow these measures so we can all have a safer visit to the parks , ” Hymel said in a statement .
The new Disneyland COVID-19 health and safety protocols for visitors include : • Required face coverings for visitors 2 years old and older • Temperature checks for visitors prior to entering the parks • Increased cleaning and disinfecting , especially in high-traffic areas Health and safety guidelines for Disney employees will include : • California developing guidelines for reopening Disneyland and other theme parks • Disneyland reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to coronavirus To help spread the message , Disney launched a new campaign starring The Incredibles that encourages visitors to follow the COVID-19 health and safety guidelines .
Disney worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , local and state governmental authorities and health agencies , theme park industry groups and research universities to develop the new set of best practices .

Disneyland plans to take a multi-pronged approach to reopening following a four-month coronavirus closure with a new set of COVID-19 health and safety protocols designed to make it safer to visit Disney’s Anaheim theme parks.
Disney parks chief medical officer Pamela Hymel rolled out the new guidelines as Disneyland and Disney California Adventure prepare to reopen on July 17 pending government approval.
A newly formed Guest Experience Team will be trained to share information about Disney’s health and safety policies with theme park visitors.
“They will be available to explain our new procedures, answer questions guests may have and encourage everyone to follow these measures so we can all have a safer visit to the parks,” Hymel said in a statement.
The new Disneyland COVID-19 health and safety protocols for visitors include:
Reduced capacity in the parks
Required face coverings for visitors 2 years old and older
Temperature checks for visitors prior to entering the parks
Physical distancing throughout the parks
Increased cleaning and disinfecting, especially in high-traffic areas
Additional handwashing and hand sanitizer locations
Contactless payments at shops and restaurants
Health and safety guidelines for Disney employees will include:
Required face coverings and temperature checks
Adjusting work practices to promote physical distancing
Increased cleaning in work areas
Encouraged to stay home when ill
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mercurynews--2020-06-20--In Lima, Peru’s virus-hit barrios, a barber offers free cuts

LIMA , Peru — Once a week , barber Josué Yacahuanca makes his way up the dusty hills of Peru ’ s capital , heading into its poorest neighborhoods carrying a treasured golden briefcase that holds his life ’ s passion — five clipper blades , 20 combs , four scissors and a bottle with alcohol .
Yacahuanca seeks out clients devastated by a coronavirus lockdown that has gone on for nearly 100 days in an attempt to stem the wave of new infections .
He does it for free .
“ I want them to look in the mirror @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Yacahuanca , who though just 21 years old is a veteran barber , having started cutting hair at age 13 .
With ease , he moves between clients who want a clean , classic cut to those who ask for modern styles .
Most recently he set up shop at the “ December 24 ” neighborhood , where almost everybody has lost their jobs because of the pandemic , forcing many to work as street vendors .
Yacahuanca had a rocky start in life himself .
Abandoned by his mother , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gloria Alvarez .
Despite obstacles , he discovered a business savvy at a young age .
He hustled at odd jobs , selling sweets , cleaning houses , working in outdoor markets and at a bus station .
“ My life was hard , ” he said , working under a shade tree with a bird ’ s eye view of the neighborhood populated by single mothers and their children who wear torn cloths and lack running water at home .
“ I look at them and I see myself , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Latin America ’ s hardest hit by recession brought on by the virus outbreak .
Its gross domestic product has already shrunk 12 % this year , a rate outpacing the United States , Brazil , Mexico and Argentina , according to the World Bank .
Every day , the toll mounts in Peru , where officials reported Thursday a total of 7,400 deaths and more than 244,000 people falling ill. Like thousands of businesses across Peru , Yacahuanca ’ s barbershop — called D Barrio Shop — closed its doors March 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he watched his personal finances be pulverized .
But he brushed it off , deciding to help others with the skills he has .
Greeting each client , Yacahuanca drapes them with a white cape emblazoned with a giant portrait of his favorite salsa singer , Héctor Lavoe , bringing it memories of the music he always had playing in his shop .
“ I ’ m a fan of his music , ” Yacahuanca said .
“ He sings about the realities of life — sadness and joy.
” Peru has roughly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few others are offering their services to those most in need at no charge .
Setting out on foot or hailing a motorcycle taxi once a week , he ventures into neighborhoods in need , including some where hunger has started to take hold among some residents .
On each trip , he follows a routine , setting out an old wooden chair as his makeshift barber chair and offering up his services .
Most people ask twice when they don ’ t believe the cut is free .
“ I tell them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s from my heart .
”

By Franklin Briceno | Associated Press
LIMA, Peru — Once a week, barber Josué Yacahuanca makes his way up the dusty hills of Peru’s capital, heading into its poorest neighborhoods carrying a treasured golden briefcase that holds his life’s passion — five clipper blades, 20 combs, four scissors and a bottle with alcohol.
Yacahuanca seeks out clients devastated by a coronavirus lockdown that has gone on for nearly 100 days in an attempt to stem the wave of new infections. He does it for free.
“I want them to look in the mirror and see a bit of hope,” said Yacahuanca, who though just 21 years old is a veteran barber, having started cutting hair at age 13.
With ease, he moves between clients who want a clean, classic cut to those who ask for modern styles. Most recently he set up shop at the “December 24” neighborhood, where almost everybody has lost their jobs because of the pandemic, forcing many to work as street vendors.
Yacahuanca had a rocky start in life himself. Abandoned by his mother, he was raised by his godmother, Gloria Alvarez. Despite obstacles, he discovered a business savvy at a young age. He hustled at odd jobs, selling sweets, cleaning houses, working in outdoor markets and at a bus station.
“My life was hard,” he said, working under a shade tree with a bird’s eye view of the neighborhood populated by single mothers and their children who wear torn cloths and lack running water at home.
“I look at them and I see myself,” he said.
Peru has been one of Latin America’s hardest hit by recession brought on by the virus outbreak. Its gross domestic product has already shrunk 12% this year, a rate outpacing the United States, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina, according to the World Bank.
Every day, the toll mounts in Peru, where officials reported Thursday a total of 7,400 deaths and more than 244,000 people falling ill.
Like thousands of businesses across Peru, Yacahuanca’s barbershop — called D Barrio Shop — closed its doors March 16 under lockdown orders. Since then, he watched his personal finances be pulverized. But he brushed it off, deciding to help others with the skills he has.
Greeting each client, Yacahuanca drapes them with a white cape emblazoned with a giant portrait of his favorite salsa singer, Héctor Lavoe, bringing it memories of the music he always had playing in his shop.
“I’m a fan of his music,” Yacahuanca said. “He sings about the realities of life — sadness and joy.”
Peru has roughly 150,000 barbers, and Yacahuanca and a few others are offering their services to those most in need at no charge.
Setting out on foot or hailing a motorcycle taxi once a week, he ventures into neighborhoods in need, including some where hunger has started to take hold among some residents.
On each trip, he follows a routine, setting out an old wooden chair as his makeshift barber chair and offering up his services. Most people ask twice when they don’t believe the cut is free.
“I tell them, sure,” he said. “It’s from my heart.”


mercurynews--2020-06-20--Photos: Juneteenth a celebration filled with purpose in the Bay Area

Click here if you are having trouble viewing the gallery on your mobile device .
The Juneteenth celebration began with the longshoremen ’ s union , which the shut down the Port of Oakland for speeches by civil rights activist Angela Davis and actor Danny Glover .
The demonstrations continued throughout the East Bay and beyond as more rallies were held in Oakland , San Jose and Santa Clara .
The crowds were diverse but the message was singular as the rallies continued three weeks of action against racism and police violence .
In the South Bay , demonstrators gathered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Santa Clara County building .
Meanwhile , a crowd of 500 people marched from Santa Clara University to San Jose State .
Aside from the port , demonstrators gathered in Oakland in Frank H. Ogawa Plaza to hear speakers who discussed Juneteenth becoming a national holiday and the safety of workers at Amazon warehouses .
The talks even drew activist , rapper and director Boots Riley , who said he sees parallels between the Black Lives Matter protests and the civil rights movement in the 1960s .
Around the Bay Area , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had the purpose with the call for an end to police violence and a greater emphasis on racial understanding .
The photo gallery above shows signs of that .
For more images , follow our Instagram account .

Gieson Cacho is a Bay Area News Group engagement editor and video game columnist for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. He has a journalism degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia and has previously worked as a copyeditor, designer and video editor. He was on the East Bay Times staff that won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News. He lives in Berkeley, roasts his own coffee and drinks craft beer.


mercurynews--2020-06-20--Coronavirus fear forces San Francisco Giants to close spring training facility in Arizona

The San Francisco Giants reportedly have closed their spring training facility Friday in Scottsdale , Arizona , after someone who @ @ @ @ @ mild coronavirus symptoms , according to reports in The Athletic and USA Today .
President @ @ @ @ @ told The Athletic the individual and a family member have exhibited symptoms of the virus @ @ @ @ @ results .
Several other individuals who have been using the facility were subsequently tested for @ @ @ @ @ awaiting results .
It is unclear whether the visitor was a player or staff member @ @ @ @ @ facility to players for informal workouts last month .
Elsewhere in the MLB , the @ @ @ @ @ , Florida , facility after five players and three staff members were confirmed to have @ @ @ @ @ Blue Jays also shut down their Dunedin , Florida , facility after a pitcher exhibited @ @

The San Francisco Giants reportedlyclosed their spring training facility Friday in Scottsdale, Arizona, after someone who visited the complex recently developed mild coronavirus symptoms, according to reports in The Athletic and USA Today.
President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi told The Athletic the individual and a family member have exhibited symptoms of the virus and are awaiting test results. Several other individuals who have been using the facility were subsequently tested for the virus and are also awaiting results. It is unclear whether the visitor was a player or a staff member.
The Giants reopened the facility to players for informal workouts last month.
Elsewhere in the MLB, the Philadelphia Phillies closed their Clearwater, Florida, facility after five players and three staff members were confirmed to have COVID-19 on Friday. The Toronto Blue Jays also shut down their Dunedin, Florida, facility after a pitcher exhibited symptoms.


mercurynews--2020-06-19--Twitter suspends account of British columnist Hopkins

Twitter has permanently suspended the account of extreme right-wing British columnist Katie Hopkins for violating its hateful conduct policy .
A spokesperson for Twitter would not elaborate on the exact tweets or content that had violated their policy , simply saying : “ Keeping Twitter safe is a top priority for us – abuse and hateful conduct have no place on our service and we will continue to take action when our Rules are broken .
In this case , the account has been permanently suspended for violations of our Hateful Conduct policy.
” Hopkins is well known for her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter for a week in January .
She initially found fame in 2007 as a contestant on the UK ’ s “ The Apprentice ” TV show , a game show modeled on the US program of the same name that starred Donald Trump .
Hopkins subsequently became a conservative commentator , and her controversial views on immigration and Islam have regularly made headlines across the UK .
In 2015 , she compared refugees to cockroaches in an article she wrote for British tabloid The Sun , prompting a petition with more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fired .
The article even drew condemnation from the United Nations Human Rights Chief .
In 2017 , she was fired from a radio show when she called for a “ final solution ” to Muslims in the UK following a terror attack in Manchester .
Last July , Hopkins made global headlines after President Trump came under fire for retweeting one of her tweets ( something he also did during the 2016 campaign . )
Twitter ’ s policy defines “ hateful conduct ” as anything that promotes violence against or directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basis of race , ethnicity , national origin , caste , sexual orientation , gender , gender identity , religious affiliation , age , disability , or serious disease .
“ We also do not allow accounts whose primary purpose is inciting harm towards others on the basis of these categories.
” Twitter has been taking a stricter approach to posts on its platform recently , even flagging some of President Trump ’ s tweets for either being hateful or supposedly spreading misinformation .
The labels Twitter puts on flagged tweets are relatively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President and his supporters and prompted Trump to sign an executive order targeting social media companies .

By Melissa Mahtani | CNN
Twitter has permanently suspended the account of extreme right-wing British columnist Katie Hopkins for violating its hateful conduct policy.
A spokesperson for Twitter would not elaborate on the exact tweets or content that had violated their policy, simply saying:
“Keeping Twitter safe is a top priority for us – abuse and hateful conduct have no place on our service and we will continue to take action when our Rules are broken. In this case, the account has been permanently suspended for violations of our Hateful Conduct policy.”
Hopkins is well known for her anti-immigrant views and was previously suspended from Twitter for a week in January.
She initially found fame in 2007 as a contestant on the UK’s “The Apprentice” TV show, a game show modeled on the US program of the same name that starred Donald Trump. Hopkins subsequently became a conservative commentator, and her controversial views on immigration and Islam have regularly made headlines across the UK.
In 2015, she compared refugees to cockroaches in an article she wrote for British tabloid The Sun, prompting a petition with more than 300,000 signatures calling for her to be fired. The article even drew condemnation from the United Nations Human Rights Chief.
In 2017, she was fired from a radio show when she called for a “final solution” to Muslims in the UK following a terror attack in Manchester.
Last July, Hopkins made global headlines after President Trump came under fire for retweeting one of her tweets (something he also did during the 2016 campaign.)
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Elon Musk promises to fund legal fights of discriminated X users National News | Elon Musk, self-described ‘free speech absolutist,’ sues nonprofit over its speech Twitter’s policy defines “hateful conduct” as anything that promotes violence against or directly attacks or threatens other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, caste, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or serious disease. “We also do not allow accounts whose primary purpose is inciting harm towards others on the basis of these categories.”
Twitter has been taking a stricter approach to posts on its platform recently, even flagging some of President Trump’s tweets for either being hateful or supposedly spreading misinformation. The labels Twitter puts on flagged tweets are relatively unobtrusive, but they have enraged the President and his supporters and prompted Trump to sign an executive order targeting social media companies.


mercurynews--2020-06-19--Death penalty case: Jury finds San Jose man not guilty in 2016 child killing

SAN JOSE — A man who has spent more than four years in jail fighting allegations he raped and killed his girlfriend ’ s 2-year-old son is literally home free after a jury found him not guilty Friday , closing a death-penalty case in which his attorneys challenged the DNA evidence used to implicate him in the child ’ s death .
Manuel Anthony Lopez , 26 , heard the verdict in a San Jose courtroom Friday , after five days of juror deliberations for a murder trial that was halted for two months when state courts went largely dormant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18 , it became the first trial in the state to resume proceedings .
Hours after the verdict , Lopez was out of the Santa Clara County jail and at home with his family .
One of Lopez ’ s lead attorneys , Santa Clara County deputy public defender Michael Ogul , said he postponed his retirement to bring Lopez justice .
“ I knew with every ounce of my body , soul and existence , that he was innocent .
I put off my retirement two years to see his case through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was announced .
“ The jury not only could see that , they could feel that.
” The defense centered on casting doubt on the quality of DNA samples authorities collected from the home Lopez shared with his then-girlfriend , the mother of 2-year-old Apollo Torres .
Ogul and deputy public defender Kelley Kulick , aided by expert testimony , argued that Lopez ’ s DNA found in the house was often in small quantities and mixed with other people ’ s DNA .
They also contend that none of the genetic evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s injuries , and that it was analyzed using outdated interpretive methods .
“ Literally every single sample that was obtained in this case was a low-level complex mixture .
You can ’ t really conclude anything from it , ” Kulick said .
“ After using probabilistic genotyping , it pointed away from guilt in this case.
” The process Kulick referred to , probabilistic genotyping , relies on computer analysis to examine DNA even when it is present in low amounts that previously would not meet examination thresholds .
Because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smaller amounts , Kulick said , “ it provides a bigger picture ” of a crime scene .
“ This was just a really dirty house , and DNA accumulates , ” Kulick said .
District Attorney Jeff Rosen said Friday he stands by his office ’ s case against Lopez .
“ We are deeply disappointed that we could not find justice for Baby Apollo .
It was not for lack of evidence or months and months of our best effort .
The jury has now spoken and we must respect their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
“ Apollo ’ s short life was let down by those who were supposed to care for him .
But he leaves a legacy .
We at the DA ’ s Office will carry his memory close to us as we continue to fight every day against those who hurt children.
” Lopez was arrested in January 2016 in connection with the death of Apollo , who died Jan. 14 that year and was determined to have been the victim of severe physical injuries including head trauma .
Injuries to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sexual-assault charges being added to a murder charge against Lopez .
“ There is no question Apollo suffered from extreme abuse .
Every human should be aghast and repulsed at what happened to him , ” Ogul said .
“ But as soon as they found abuse to certain parts of his body , ( authorities ) jumped to a conclusion , and it was wrong.
” Both Ogul and Kulick contend that the implication of sexual abuse prompted investigators to rule out women and others as potential culprits .
The child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being an accessory to murder and child neglect — for allegedly putting her child in danger — and a perjury charge related to testimony she gave during the preliminary examination for the case .
“ They did not have any evidence that showed Manuel Lopez ever did anything .
The only thing they had was that his DNA was in a lot of places in the house , ” Ogul said .
Kulick is known for exonerating a homeless man by proving his DNA was transferred to a Monte Sereno murder scene in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier in the night , in what is believed to be the first instance in California in which DNA evidence falsely placed an innocent person at the scene of a crime .
She said Lopez ’ s case should raise healthy skepticism of criminal forensics .
“ What this case exemplified is that bad science is dangerous , ” Kulick said .
“ If we ’ re going to move forward with jury verdicts where someone could get condemned to death , we want to rely on good science.
” Apollo ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county pediatricians were fired on the grounds they failed to report possible child abuse when the child was treated about six months before with arm fractures .
One of the fired physicians sued the county and her superiors in federal court , contending she was scapegoated and that her career was ruined .
A federal judge dismissed part of the case in 2018 , and it was re-filed in the county court , where records show mediation failed and a trial setting hearing is scheduled in July .
Ellen Kreitzberg , a Santa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , noted Lopez ’ s acquittal is the latest instance of a South Bay death-penalty defendant who did not end up on Death Row .
She cited how Sierra LaMar ’ s murderer Antolin Garcia Torres was spared that fate by a jury in 2017 , and how the D.A .
dropped its death-penalty pursuit of another child-murder defendant , Alejandro Benitez , last year .
For Kreitzberg , the unrest over racial injustice and the fact death-penalty defendants in California are predominantly people of color should prompt Rosen and other county prosecutors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D.A .
and his office need to think long and hard before they ’ re filing for death in cases that are costing citizens in this county for millions , ” she said .
In a similar nod , Ogul and Kulick added that their success in Lopez ’ s case was a function of resources .
“ We work in an office that provided us with funding and the support we needed to approach a level playing field ( with prosecutors ) , ” Ogul said .
“ Not every defendant has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

A correction has been made to this story and appended to the end of the article.
SAN JOSE — A man who has spent more than four years in jail fighting allegations he raped and killed his girlfriend’s 2-year-old son is literally home free after a jury found him not guilty Friday, closing a death-penalty case in which his attorneys challenged the DNA evidence used to implicate him in the child’s death.
Manuel Anthony Lopez, 26, heard the verdict in a San Jose courtroom Friday, after five days of juror deliberations for a murder trial that was halted for two months when state courts went largely dormant amid COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders. On May 18, it became the first trial in the state to resume proceedings. Hours after the verdict, Lopez was out of the Santa Clara County jail and at home with his family.
One of Lopez’s lead attorneys, Santa Clara County deputy public defender Michael Ogul, said he postponed his retirement to bring Lopez justice.
“I knew with every ounce of my body, soul and existence, that he was innocent. I put off my retirement two years to see his case through,” Ogul said after the verdict was announced. “The jury not only could see that, they could feel that.”
The defense centered on casting doubt on the quality of DNA samples authorities collected from the home Lopez shared with his then-girlfriend, the mother of 2-year-old Apollo Torres. Ogul and deputy public defender Kelley Kulick, aided by expert testimony, argued that Lopez’s DNA found in the house was often in small quantities and mixed with other people’s DNA.
They also contend that none of the genetic evidence directly linked to Lopez to the boy’s injuries, and that it was analyzed using outdated interpretive methods.
“Literally every single sample that was obtained in this case was a low-level complex mixture. You can’t really conclude anything from it,” Kulick said. “After using probabilistic genotyping, it pointed away from guilt in this case.”
The process Kulick referred to, probabilistic genotyping, relies on computer analysis to examine DNA even when it is present in low amounts that previously would not meet examination thresholds. Because this system does not parse out these smaller amounts, Kulick said, “it provides a bigger picture” of a crime scene.
“This was just a really dirty house, and DNA accumulates,” Kulick said.
District Attorney Jeff Rosen said Friday he stands by his office’s case against Lopez.
“We are deeply disappointed that we could not find justice for Baby Apollo. It was not for lack of evidence or months and months of our best effort. The jury has now spoken and we must respect their decision,” Rosen said in a statement. “Apollo’s short life was let down by those who were supposed to care for him. But he leaves a legacy. We at the DA’s Office will carry his memory close to us as we continue to fight every day against those who hurt children.”
Lopez was arrested in January 2016 in connection with the death of Apollo, who died Jan. 16 that year and was determined to have been the victim of severe physical injuries including head trauma. Injuries to the child’s rectum and genitals, and investigators’ initial finding that a swab of the boy’s rectum tested “presumptively positive for the presence of semen,” led to a sexual-assault allegation being added to a murder charge against Lopez.
“There is no question Apollo suffered from extreme abuse. Every human should be aghast and repulsed at what happened to him,” Ogul said. “But as soon as they found abuse to certain parts of his body, (authorities) jumped to a conclusion, and it was wrong.”
Both Ogul and Kulick contend that the implication of sexual abuse prompted investigators to rule out women and others as potential culprits. The child’s mother has pending charges of being an accessory to murder and child neglect — for allegedly putting her child in danger — and a perjury charge related to testimony she gave during the preliminary examination for the case.
“They did not have any evidence that showed Manuel Lopez ever did anything. The only thing they had was that his DNA was in a lot of places in the house,” Ogul said.
Kulick is known for exonerating a homeless man by proving his DNA was transferred to a Monte Sereno murder scene in 2012 by a paramedic who treated him earlier in the night, in what is believed to be the first instance in California in which DNA evidence falsely placed an innocent person at the scene of a crime. She said Lopez’s case should raise healthy skepticism of criminal forensics.
“What this case exemplified is that bad science is dangerous,” Kulick said. “If we’re going to move forward with jury verdicts where someone could get condemned to death, we want to rely on good science.”
Apollo’s death gained more notoriety after two renowned county pediatricians were fired on the grounds they failed to report possible child abuse when the child was treated about six months before with arm fractures. One of the fired physicians sued the county and her superiors in federal court, contending she was scapegoated and that her career was ruined. A federal judge dismissed part of the case in 2018, and it was re-filed in the county court, where records show mediation failed and a trial setting hearing is scheduled in July.
Ellen Kreitzberg, a Santa Clara University law professor and death-penalty expert, noted Lopez’s acquittal is the latest instance of a South Bay death-penalty defendant who did not end up on Death Row. She cited how Sierra LaMar’s murderer Antolin Garcia Torres was spared that fate by a jury in 2017, and how the D.A. dropped its death-penalty pursuit of another child-murder defendant, Alejandro Benitez, last year.
For Kreitzberg, the unrest over racial injustice and the fact death-penalty defendants in California are predominantly people of color should prompt Rosen and other county prosecutors to shelve capital punishment.
“The D.A. and his office need to think long and hard before they’re filing for death in cases that are costing citizens in this county for millions,” she said.
In a similar nod, Ogul and Kulick added that their success in Lopez’s case was a function of resources.
“We work in an office that provided us with funding and the support we needed to approach a level playing field (with prosecutors),” Ogul said. “Not every defendant has the benefit of having those resources.”


mercurynews--2020-06-19--Photos: Nationwide Juneteenth celebrations, protests and demonstrations

Click here if you are having trouble viewing the slideshow on a mobile device .
A traditional day of celebration turned into one of protest Friday , as Americans marked Juneteenth , a holiday that long commemorated the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans but that burst into the national conversation this year after widespread demonstrations against police brutality and racism .
In addition to the traditional cookouts and readings of the Emancipation Proclamation — the Civil War-era order that declared all slaves free in Confederate territory — Americans were marching , holding sit-ins or car caravan protests to demand racial justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lincoln first issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Sept. 22 , 1862 , and it became effective the following Jan. 1 .
But it wasn ’ t enforced in many places until after the end of the Civil War in April 1865 .
Word didn ’ t reach the last enslaved black people until June 19 of that year , when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to Galveston , Texas .
Most states and the District of Columbia now recognize Juneteenth , which is a blend of the words June and 19th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of recognition , like Flag Day .
But in the wake of protests of Floyd ’ s killing this year , many more Americans — especially white Americans — are becoming familiar with the holiday and commemorating it .
Events were expected to be held in every major American city on Friday .
Numerous events were planned in and around Boston , including a rally organized by Black Lives Matter to call for an end to “ mass incarceration and over-policing ” of communities of color , and a labor union-organized automobile caravan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice campaign , which seeks changes in policing and other measures .

Click here if you are having trouble viewing the slideshow on a mobile device.
Associated Press
A traditional day of celebration turned into one of protest Friday, as Americans marked Juneteenth, a holiday that long commemorated the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans but that burst into the national conversation this year after widespread demonstrations against police brutality and racism.
In addition to the traditional cookouts and readings of the Emancipation Proclamation — the Civil War-era order that declared all slaves free in Confederate territory — Americans were marching, holding sit-ins or car caravan protests to demand racial justice and police reform.
Former President Abraham Lincoln first issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Sept. 22, 1862, and it became effective the following Jan. 1. But it wasn’t enforced in many places until after the end of the Civil War in April 1865. Word didn’t reach the last enslaved black people until June 19 of that year, when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to Galveston, Texas.
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Events were expected to be held in every major American city on Friday. Numerous events were planned in and around Boston, including a rally organized by Black Lives Matter to call for an end to “mass incarceration and over-policing” of communities of color, and a labor union-organized automobile caravan as part of the nationwide Drive to Justice campaign, which seeks changes in policing and other measures.


mercurynews--2020-06-19--Brazil’s coronavirus caseload climbs sharply, tops 1M

Brazil has now reported more than 1 million confirmed cases of coronavirus and 48,954 deaths , marking a grim milestone for the South American country .
The health ministry on Friday reported 54,771 new cases , a record daily spike that brought the nationwide total to 1,032,913 .
The Covid-19 pandemic is quickly spreading with no sign of slowing down , as major cities lift social distancing measures and begin reopening restaurants , shops and other nonessential businesses .
Many experts believe the number of cases could surpass the United States and that Brazil may soon become the country worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , President Jair Bolsonaro continues to downplay the threat by questioning global medical authorities and accusing opponents of trying to discredit his leadership .
At first , Brazil seemed impervious to the virus as it spread through countries such as China , Italy and the United States .
Bolsonaro only grudgingly agreed to repatriate Brazilian citizens from the then-epicenter , Hubei province , reportedly worrying that they would put the rest of the country at risk .
The first case was confirmed on February 26 , when it was believed to be an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back from Italy to Sao Paulo with the virus .
A month later , coronavirus cases in Brazil had already risen to close to 3,000 and the death toll was at 77 .
It was around this time when Bolsonaro first compared the virus to a “ little flu ” and falsely implied that Brazilians were immune to the virus .
“ Brazilians don ’ t catch anything … they already have the antibodies to keep it from spreading , ” the President said .
He said again that Brazilians are likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 26 press conference outside the Alvorada presidential residence in Brasilia .
“ Brazilians should be studied , we don ’ t catch anything .
You see people jumping in sewage , diving in it and nothing happens to them , ” Bolsonaro said .
During the same press conference , Bolsonaro said he believed many Brazilians had already been infected but that those people already had “ the antibodies that would help [ coronavirus ] not spread.
” Cases began to quickly spread across the country and it became clear that Brazil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the virus .
By April 8 , Brazil had confirmed more than 15,000 cases and 800 deaths .
Despite warnings from health experts , images of Bolsonaro hugging supporters at a local bakery in Brasilia and posing without a mask emerged the following day .
Bolsonaro believed the social distancing and quarantine measures imposed by officials in major cities , such as Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo , would cause more harm than the virus itself and lead Brazil to a crippling recession .
“ The issue of unemployment , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We can ’ t let the side-effect of the fight against the virus be more harmful than the disease itself , ” Bolsonaro said .
Bolsonaro frequently butted heads with mayors and governors of some of the hardest hit places by Covid-19 and ultimately fired Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta on April 16 after he expressed his support for shutting down businesses and schools .
The following weekend , Bolsonaro attended an anti-lockdown rally in Brasilia without a mask where he coughed several times and shook hands with supporters .
Opposition leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after signs were seen calling for dissolving the Congress and Supreme Court and for the return of the dictatorship .
Health Minister Mandetta ’ s successor , Nelson Teich , lasted less than a month in office before resigning .
One of his major disagreements with Bolsonaro was over authorizing the use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19 patients .
Eduardo Pazuello , an army general with no health experience , was named as the interim Health Minister following Teich ’ s resignation .
A few days after he assumed the role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ministry with other military brass .
At least nine people were named within the first few weeks that he took office , to positions within the ministry dealing with planning , budget and public health issues .
Pazuello also issued new guidance authorizing the use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine , for all patients displaying Covid-19 symptoms .
“ After two Health Ministers refused to do so and chose to resign instead of signing the document , it was up to General Eduardo Pazuello , who has assumed the ministry on an interim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chloroquine for all Covid-19 patients , ” Pazuello wrote on his personal Twitter account last month .
The US Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) revoked permissions this week for the use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19 patients .
That same day , Brazil ’ s Health Ministry expanded its guidance on the use of the drugs to include pregnant women and children .
The Health Ministry said the studies referenced by the FDA can not be used as an example for the rest of the world because the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and claimed cases of Covid-19 were going down in areas where the drugs were being used , without presenting any proof .
The recommendation to use the drugs to treat children came despite guidance from the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics , saying there isn ’ t enough data to prove the drugs ’ effectiveness in minors and that it should only be prescribed during clinical trials and with parental consent .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) said on Monday that it is still reviewing the use of hydroxychloroquine in its Solidarity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 treatment options .
The organization had temporarily paused the trial in May due to concerns surrounding the drug ’ s safety and in order to review its own data but resumed the program earlier this month .
Bolsonaro threatens to withdraw from WHO Earlier this month , WHO called on nations to encourage the public to wear fabric masks in public .
“ WHO advises that governments should encourage the general public to wear masks where there is widespread transmission and physical distancing is difficult , such as on public transport , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowded environments , ” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a media briefing on June 5 .
WHO ’ s updated guidance recommends masks be used as part of a “ comprehensive package ” to help curb the spread of Covid-19 , which includes physical distancing , frequent hand washing , people who are sick self-isolating at home , suspected cases getting tested , and their contacts being traced .
Bolsonaro accused threatened to pull Brazil from the WHO that same evening and accused the organization of “ ideological bias.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are considering that that also .
Either the organization works without ideological bias , or we leave it too , ” Bolsonaro told reporters .
“ We don ’ t need foreign people having a say in our health here.
” Bolsonaro doubled-down on his attacks on the organization recently , after he accused it of trying to drive Brazil towards an economic recession .
“ The so-called World Health Organization , wants us to follow them blindly .
First , they say that asymptomatic people can not transmit the virus then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It seems like there is something more serious behind all that , they want our countries to go broke , ” Bolsonaro said during a press conference outside the Alvorada residence last Wednesday , referencing a WHO admission that asymptomatic transmission was a “ major unknown.
” “ The amount of economic problems this is going to cause will be huge , to the point of leaving Brazil broke , ” he said , repeating his oft-mentioned worry that the economic impact of the virus will be worse than the death toll .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his health minister General Pazuello has advocated for setting up more health triage centers across the country .
There is no such thing as “ 100 % isolation , ” he recently told CNN Brasil .
Cities across Brazil began gradually reopening last week .
In major metropolitan areas , like Sao Paulo , malls and outdoor bazaars reopened for the first time in three months .
Large crowds and traffic were reported in the bustling city center over the weekend by local media outlets .
Officials insist the decision is based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intensive care beds and a flattening infection curve in some places .
But experts say the conditions to reopen are far from ideal and worry the rush could lead to more transmissions and postpone a real recovery .
“ You need to tackle the transportation issue .
If everyone continues to take crowded buses and metro , which is what is happening , it won ’ t work , ” said Paulo Lotufo , an epidemiologist at the University of São Paulo .
Shortly after Sao Paulo began reopening , Mayor Bruno Covas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covas , who is currently undergoing cancer treatment for lymphoma , displayed no symptoms , according to a statement from the mayor ’ s office .
The statement also said Covas will be working from home and remain under observation .
Recent studies conducted by the non-profit Institute for Health Policy Studies found that the country could run out of health professionals and intensive care unit ( ICU ) beds soon .
More than 60 % of Brazil ’ s population depends on the country ’ s public health care system and at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas where there are no ICU beds available , according to the Institute .
“ The response to the pandemic could not have been any worse , ” Miguel Lago , a lecturer at Columbia University and executive director of Brazil ’ s Institute for Health Policy Studies , told CNN .
“ This was not Sierra Leone before the Ebola crisis , Brazil had a solid public health care system that could have been put to better use at the beginning of the pandemic.
” A CNN team recently visited hospitals in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ de Janeiro and Manaus where health professionals shared horror stories of overcrowded ICU units and doctors and nurses treating patients at high risk of exposure and death .
“ It ’ s not a flu .
It ’ s the worst thing we have ever faced in our professional lives , ” Dr. Jacques Sztajnbok from Sao Paulo ’ s Emilio Ribas Infectious Disease Institute told CNN .
Yet , Bolsonaro continues to question the claims that more is needed and that ICUs and hospitals are overcrowded , recently encouraging his supporters to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video proof .
“ There are field hospitals and public hospitals near you , find a way to get in and film in there , ” Bolsonaro said last Thursday during a Facebook live event .
“ We need more people to go in there and show if these beds are actually full .
That helps us and all that material gathered from social media will then be sent to the Federal Police.
” Several instances of pro-Bolsonaro lawmakers and supporters trying to gain access to coronavirus treatment wards have recently been registered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Espirito Santo and the Federal District , where the capital Brasilia is located .
“ This type of behavior is unacceptable at a time when the state of Espirito Santo , the country and the world face this serious crisis , ” the state health secretariat said in a written statement .
“ What ’ s worse is that this behavior was encouraged by an irresponsible statement from the leader of this nation.
” Brazil ’ s Attorney General Augusto Aras said he will call on state prosecutors offices to investigate the incidents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatened and assaulted , according to a statement released by his office Monday .
“ This behavior endangers the physical integrity of the brave professionals who dedicate themselves to reversing a health crisis unprecedented in the country ’ s history , ” Aras said in the press release .
Brazil could overtake the US and become the country with the highest number of coronavirus deaths as early as August 1 , according to a tracking model by the University of Washington .
The model also predicts deaths will more than double to 100,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think we will pass the United States I think we will be the major victim of Covid-19 and this is directly linked to the fact that we don ’ t have a national plan , ” Lago told CNN .
Brazil ’ s cases have been increasing by roughly 30,000 cases a day and deaths around 1,200 per day .
Earlier this month , an official Covid-19 tracker from the Brazilian Health Ministry began showing only data on new cases and deaths recorded in the past 24 hours , eliminating running cumulative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had previously appeared on the same page .
Bolsonaro tweeted at the time that “ cumulative data , in addition to not showing that the large part [ of patients ] no longer has the illness , does not depict the moment of the country .
Other actions are in the works to improve case notifications and diagnostic confirmations.
” The move led to immediate backlash over lack of transparency .
The Supreme Court later ruled the ministry must provide comprehensive data .
During a recent interview with CNN affiliate CNN Brasil , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the numbers because it was changing the way Brazil tallied its coronavirus data .
“ The first thing we need to understand is that whatever methodology we use to tally the cases will not alter the number of obits , ” Pazuello said .
“ There is no way to manipulate the data , because they are all registered .
It would be absurd for us in the Health Ministry to have registered data and to then say it doesn ’ t exist.
” Brazil ’ s previous health ministers predicted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through July .
Under the current leadership , there is no sense of when the peak will be or when it will plateau .
Several tests and vaccine trials are being conducted in Brazil .
Two thousand Brazilians participated in tests of a vaccine against Covid-19 this month developed by Oxford University in partnership with AstraZeneca pharmaceutical , the Federal University of Sao Paulo ( Unifesp ) said in a statement .
The country is the first site of these vaccination tests outside the United Kingdom .
The Brazilian Butantan Institute , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research centers , announced an agreement with Chinese laboratory Sinovac Biotech to conduct Phase III of a clinical coronavirus vaccine trial on approximately 9,000 volunteers in Brazil in the first week of July .
• University of California campuses plan to offer most classes online this fall The vaccine went through the first two phases of testing in China , where it was tested on 744 volunteers .
The Chinese lab started human clinical trials with the experimental vaccine on April 17 .
However , the real test will be whether or not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this crisis as he faces a pandemic , crippling recession , political upheaval and a probe into allegations he interfered with police investigations .
Back in April , when Brazil ’ s death toll reached 5,000 , Bolsonaro ’ s answer to the pandemic was a simple one .
“ So what ?
I ’ m sorry , but what do you want me to do ?
” Bolsonaro said on April 29 , outside the presidential residence in Brasilia .
“ I ’ m sorry for the situation we are currently living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ express our solidarity to those who have lost loved ones , many of whom were elderly .
But that ’ s life , it could be me tomorrow .
”

By Flora Charner | CNN
Brazil has now reported more than 1 million confirmed cases of coronavirus and 48,954 deaths, marking a grim milestone for the South American country.
The health ministry on Friday reported 54,771 new cases, a record daily spike that brought the nationwide total to 1,032,913.
The Covid-19 pandemic is quickly spreading with no sign of slowing down, as major cities lift social distancing measures and begin reopening restaurants, shops and other nonessential businesses.
Many experts believe the number of cases could surpass the United States and that Brazil may soon become the country worst hit by the virus.
Despite this, President Jair Bolsonaro continues to downplay the threat by questioning global medical authorities and accusing opponents of trying to discredit his leadership.
Bolsonaro’s false sense of immunity
At first, Brazil seemed impervious to the virus as it spread through countries such as China, Italy and the United States. Bolsonaro only grudgingly agreed to repatriate Brazilian citizens from the then-epicenter, Hubei province, reportedly worrying that they would put the rest of the country at risk.
The first case was confirmed on February 26, when it was believed to be an isolated case of a man who flew back from Italy to Sao Paulo with the virus. A month later, coronavirus cases in Brazil had already risen to close to 3,000 and the death toll was at 77.
It was around this time when Bolsonaro first compared the virus to a “little flu” and falsely implied that Brazilians were immune to the virus.
“Brazilians don’t catch anything … they already have the antibodies to keep it from spreading,” the President said.
He said again that Brazilians are likely to be immune to the coronavirus during a March 26 press conference outside the Alvorada presidential residence in Brasilia.
“Brazilians should be studied, we don’t catch anything. You see people jumping in sewage, diving in it and nothing happens to them,” Bolsonaro said.
During the same press conference, Bolsonaro said he believed many Brazilians had already been infected but that those people already had “the antibodies that would help [coronavirus] not spread.”
Bolsonaro vs. Social Distancing
Cases began to quickly spread across the country and it became clear that Brazil would soon become a new hot spot for the virus.
By April 8, Brazil had confirmed more than 15,000 cases and 800 deaths. Despite warnings from health experts, images of Bolsonaro hugging supporters at a local bakery in Brasilia and posing without a mask emerged the following day.
Bolsonaro believed the social distancing and quarantine measures imposed by officials in major cities, such as Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, would cause more harm than the virus itself and lead Brazil to a crippling recession.
“The issue of unemployment, the issue of the economy no longer working. We can’t let the side-effect of the fight against the virus be more harmful than the disease itself,” Bolsonaro said.
Bolsonaro frequently butted heads with mayors and governors of some of the hardest hit places by Covid-19 and ultimately fired Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta on April 16 after he expressed his support for shutting down businesses and schools.
The following weekend, Bolsonaro attended an anti-lockdown rally in Brasilia without a mask where he coughed several times and shook hands with supporters. Opposition leaders considered the protests “anti-democratic,” after signs were seen calling for dissolving the Congress and Supreme Court and for the return of the dictatorship.
Military in the Health Ministry
Health Minister Mandetta’s successor, Nelson Teich, lasted less than a month in office before resigning. One of his major disagreements with Bolsonaro was over authorizing the use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19 patients.
Eduardo Pazuello, an army general with no health experience, was named as the interim Health Minister following Teich’s resignation. A few days after he assumed the role, he began replacing key positions within the ministry with other military brass. At least nine people were named within the first few weeks that he took office, to positions within the ministry dealing with planning, budget and public health issues.
Pazuello also issued new guidance authorizing the use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, for all patients displaying Covid-19 symptoms.
“After two Health Ministers refused to do so and chose to resign instead of signing the document, it was up to General Eduardo Pazuello, who has assumed the ministry on an interim basis, to authorize the use of chloroquine for all Covid-19 patients,” Pazuello wrote on his personal Twitter account last month.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revoked permissions this week for the use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19 patients. That same day, Brazil’s Health Ministry expanded its guidance on the use of the drugs to include pregnant women and children.
The Health Ministry said the studies referenced by the FDA cannot be used as an example for the rest of the world because the “quality of the methodology is terrible” and claimed cases of Covid-19 were going down in areas where the drugs were being used, without presenting any proof.
The recommendation to use the drugs to treat children came despite guidance from the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics, saying there isn’t enough data to prove the drugs’ effectiveness in minors and that it should only be prescribed during clinical trials and with parental consent.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday that it is still reviewing the use of hydroxychloroquine in its Solidarity Trial, a multi-country clinical study of Covid-19 treatment options. The organization had temporarily paused the trial in May due to concerns surrounding the drug’s safety and in order to review its own data but resumed the program earlier this month.
Bolsonaro threatens to withdraw from WHO
Earlier this month, WHO called on nations to encourage the public to wear fabric masks in public.
“WHO advises that governments should encourage the general public to wear masks where there is widespread transmission and physical distancing is difficult, such as on public transport, in shops or in other confined or crowded environments,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a media briefing on June 5.
WHO’s updated guidance recommends masks be used as part of a “comprehensive package” to help curb the spread of Covid-19, which includes physical distancing, frequent hand washing, people who are sick self-isolating at home, suspected cases getting tested, and their contacts being traced.
Bolsonaro accused threatened to pull Brazil from the WHO that same evening and accused the organization of “ideological bias.”
“The United States left the WHO. We are considering that that also. Either the organization works without ideological bias, or we leave it too,” Bolsonaro told reporters. “We don’t need foreign people having a say in our health here.”
Bolsonaro doubled-down on his attacks on the organization recently, after he accused it of trying to drive Brazil towards an economic recession.
“The so-called World Health Organization, wants us to follow them blindly. First, they say that asymptomatic people cannot transmit the virus then they go back on their comment. It seems like there is something more serious behind all that, they want our countries to go broke,” Bolsonaro said during a press conference outside the Alvorada residence last Wednesday, referencing a WHO admission that asymptomatic transmission was a “major unknown.”
“The amount of economic problems this is going to cause will be huge, to the point of leaving Brazil broke,” he said, repeating his oft-mentioned worry that the economic impact of the virus will be worse than the death toll.
Triage vs. shutdown
Instead of enforcing social distancing measures, his health minister General Pazuello has advocated for setting up more health triage centers across the country. There is no such thing as “100% isolation,” he recently told CNN Brasil.
Cities across Brazil began gradually reopening last week. In major metropolitan areas, like Sao Paulo, malls and outdoor bazaars reopened for the first time in three months. Large crowds and traffic were reported in the bustling city center over the weekend by local media outlets.
Officials insist the decision is based on improving conditions, like increasing availability of intensive care beds and a flattening infection curve in some places. But experts say the conditions to reopen are far from ideal and worry the rush could lead to more transmissions and postpone a real recovery.
“You need to tackle the transportation issue. If everyone continues to take crowded buses and metro, which is what is happening, it won’t work,” said Paulo Lotufo, an epidemiologist at the University of São Paulo.
Shortly after Sao Paulo began reopening, Mayor Bruno Covas was diagnosed with coronavirus last Saturday. Covas, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment for lymphoma, displayed no symptoms, according to a statement from the mayor’s office. The statement also said Covas will be working from home and remain under observation.
Invading hospitals and Covid-19 wars
Recent studies conducted by the non-profit Institute for Health Policy Studies found that the country could run out of health professionals and intensive care unit (ICU) beds soon. More than 60% of Brazil’s population depends on the country’s public health care system and at least 10% of Brazilians live in areas where there are no ICU beds available, according to the Institute.
“The response to the pandemic could not have been any worse,” Miguel Lago, a lecturer at Columbia University and executive director of Brazil’s Institute for Health Policy Studies, told CNN. “This was not Sierra Leone before the Ebola crisis, Brazil had a solid public health care system that could have been put to better use at the beginning of the pandemic.”
A CNN team recently visited hospitals in the cities of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Manaus where health professionals shared horror stories of overcrowded ICU units and doctors and nurses treating patients at high risk of exposure and death.
“It’s not a flu. It’s the worst thing we have ever faced in our professional lives,” Dr. Jacques Sztajnbok from Sao Paulo’s Emilio Ribas Infectious Disease Institute told CNN.
Yet, Bolsonaro continues to question the claims that more is needed and that ICUs and hospitals are overcrowded, recently encouraging his supporters to go into the facilities to gather some video proof.
“There are field hospitals and public hospitals near you, find a way to get in and film in there,” Bolsonaro said last Thursday during a Facebook live event. “We need more people to go in there and show if these beds are actually full. That helps us and all that material gathered from social media will then be sent to the Federal Police.”
Several instances of pro-Bolsonaro lawmakers and supporters trying to gain access to coronavirus treatment wards have recently been registered in the states of Sao Paulo, Espirito Santo and the Federal District, where the capital Brasilia is located.
“This type of behavior is unacceptable at a time when the state of Espirito Santo, the country and the world face this serious crisis,” the state health secretariat said in a written statement. “What’s worse is that this behavior was encouraged by an irresponsible statement from the leader of this nation.”
Brazil’s Attorney General Augusto Aras said he will call on state prosecutors offices to investigate the incidents, including claims of medical professionals being threatened and assaulted, according to a statement released by his office Monday.
“This behavior endangers the physical integrity of the brave professionals who dedicate themselves to reversing a health crisis unprecedented in the country’s history,” Aras said in the press release.
Brazil inches towards highest virus death toll
Brazil could overtake the US and become the country with the highest number of coronavirus deaths as early as August 1, according to a tracking model by the University of Washington. The model also predicts deaths will more than double to 100,000 in less than a month.
“I think we will pass the United States I think we will be the major victim of Covid-19 and this is directly linked to the fact that we don’t have a national plan,” Lago told CNN.
Brazil’s cases have been increasing by roughly 30,000 cases a day and deaths around 1,200 per day.
Earlier this month, an official Covid-19 tracker from the Brazilian Health Ministry began showing only data on new cases and deaths recorded in the past 24 hours, eliminating running cumulative totals of virus deaths and cases that had previously appeared on the same page.
Bolsonaro tweeted at the time that “cumulative data, in addition to not showing that the large part [of patients] no longer has the illness, does not depict the moment of the country. Other actions are in the works to improve case notifications and diagnostic confirmations.”
The move led to immediate backlash over lack of transparency. The Supreme Court later ruled the ministry must provide comprehensive data.
During a recent interview with CNN affiliate CNN Brasil, Pazuello said the Health Ministry had taken down the numbers because it was changing the way Brazil tallied its coronavirus data.
“The first thing we need to understand is that whatever methodology we use to tally the cases will not alter the number of obits,” Pazuello said. “There is no way to manipulate the data, because they are all registered. It would be absurd for us in the Health Ministry to have registered data and to then say it doesn’t exist.”
Brazil’s previous health ministers predicted the height of the pandemic would be May through July. Under the current leadership, there is no sense of when the peak will be or when it will plateau.
Several tests and vaccine trials are being conducted in Brazil. Two thousand Brazilians participated in tests of a vaccine against Covid-19 this month developed by Oxford University in partnership with AstraZeneca pharmaceutical, the Federal University of Sao Paulo (Unifesp) said in a statement.
The country is the first site of these vaccination tests outside the United Kingdom.
The Brazilian Butantan Institute, one of the country’s top biomedical research centers, announced an agreement with Chinese laboratory Sinovac Biotech to conduct Phase III of a clinical coronavirus vaccine trial on approximately 9,000 volunteers in Brazil in the first week of July.
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms National News | California COVID cases are rising. Here’s why and where health experts are masking The vaccine went through the first two phases of testing in China, where it was tested on 744 volunteers. The Chinese lab started human clinical trials with the experimental vaccine on April 17.
However, the real test will be whether or not Bolsonaro is able lead Brazil out of this crisis as he faces a pandemic, crippling recession, political upheaval and a probe into allegations he interfered with police investigations.
Back in April, when Brazil’s death toll reached 5,000, Bolsonaro’s answer to the pandemic was a simple one.
“So what? I’m sorry, but what do you want me to do?” Bolsonaro said on April 29, outside the presidential residence in Brasilia. “I’m sorry for the situation we are currently living with due to the virus. We express our solidarity to those who have lost loved ones, many of whom were elderly. But that’s life, it could be me tomorrow.”