washingtontimes--2020-04-30--Trump hawking of U.S. military hardware to global leaders now harder

Along with canceled political rallies and missed teetimes , the coronavirus crisis is threatening another favorite activity of President Trump — the touting of U.S. military hardware and the hard sell for global leaders who visit the Oval Office .
As the self-described dealmaker-in-chief , Mr. Trump routinely touts the lethality and overall excellence of U.S. military hardware — along with thousands of U.S. jobs and hundreds of billions of dollars their exports can generate .
In February , on his last overseas trip before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down economies and threatened defense budgets around the world , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arms deal with India .
“ We make the greatest weapons ever — airplanes , missiles , rockets , ships .
We make the best and we ’ re dealing , ” President Trump told a cheering New Delhi crowd standing alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi .
But in the past few weeks , it has become abundantly clear that governments and the defense industry are by no means immune to the effects of the global pandemic , said Rachel Stohl , an expert in the international arms trade at the Washington-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manufacturers and vendors have been forced to significantly curtail if not altogether suspend their operations .
In the U.S. alone , that figure included more than 100 businesses , although some have already resumed operations , Ms. Stohl said .
Other countries , including allies such as Indonesia , South Korea and Thailand , are already talking about significantly reduced military budgets in the coming year as their revenue base crumbles .
In Europe , NATO allies battered by the virus face new pressures not to meet Mr. Trump ’ s oft-stated demand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rescue their economies .
Oil-dependent states such as Saudi Arabia , long one of the biggest buyers in the global arms bazaar , could face a double whammy on military spending , as record low oil prices on top of the coronavirus panic play havoc with their original spending projections .
“ There are really challenges that will impact military expenditures and arms transfers for many years to come , ” Ms. Stohl said .
Before the novel coronavirus pandemic made its appearance on the world stage , global defense spending had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analysts forecast governments will almost certainly be forced to cut back on buying military hardware over COVID-19 concerns , cuts which would hit the U.S. industry hard as the largest arms exporter .
From 2015-2019 , the U.S. constituted 35 % of all the world ’ s arms exports , according to the Stockholm International Peace Register Institute ( SIPRI ) .
Last year , global defense spending reached $ 1.9 trillion .
“ Not many of us really know how much $ 1.9 trillion really is .
We ’ re talking about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Nan Tian , an analyst with SIPRI .
The coronavirus shock , analysts note , comes as a time when global defense spending may already have peaked and were on a downward track .
“ It was unlikely this year was ever going to look like last year anyway , which was a recent high of foreign military sales , ” said Mackenzie Eaglen , a defense specialist with the American Enterprise Institute .
“ Yes , there ’ s going to be the COVID effect but it was already going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , worldwide military spending in 2019 represented 2.2 % of global gross domestic product , which amounts to about $ 249 per person .
Global military expenditures were 7.2 % higher last year than it was in 2010 , indicating that military spending had accelerated in recent years .
“ What we can expect is that spending [ is ] really going to decrease , ” Nan Tian , a defense spending expert with the institute , said Tuesday during a Stimson Center webcast .
“ We ’ ve seen this historically following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis , where many countries in Europe really started to cut back on military spending.
” There is no avoiding the fact that the supply chain disruption in the U.S. defense industry is massive and will have effects downstream , Ms. Eaglen said .
“ Even with some companies that have been determined to be ‘ essential ’ or ‘ critical , ’ 30 % to 50 % of the employees are not showing up , ” she said .
“ This alone is going to cause issues with foreign partners or allies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own national industrial capacity.
” Maiya Clark , a researcher at the Heritage Foundation ’ s Center for National Defense , said the federal government is trying to ease some of the coronavirus-related disruptions for the defense industry , including easing regulations and time lines on licensing for foreign deals .
“ It ’ s just being extended a short amount of time to tide them over , ” she said .
Governments recognize the national security imperative of keeping their defense firms solvent .
“ It ’ s much harder to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than it is to maintain it as much as they can during this rocky time , ” Ms. Clark said .
Just holding the line of defense spending and foreign sales would be preferable to a decrease , retired Air Force Gen. Hawk Carlisle , president of the National Defense Industrial Association , told the Defense One website .
“ This is going to be years to climb out of , ” Gen. Carlisle said .
The disruption in the industrial base and the economic slowdown brought on by the coronavirus may even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security strategy .
“ You ’ re going to see that trend from other governments , ” said Ms. Eaglen .
“ ‘ Why do we need these fighters ?
What is national security ?
’ ” she said .
“ I think we ’ re even going to see that here to some extent.
” Even with the coronavirus pandemic , there have been some bright spots in the arms industry , analysts point out .
This week , General Electric won a $ 707 million contract to supply F-16 engines to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Countries , including the United States , recognize the importance of national defense .
So governments that still have the ability to be shopping right now are still shopping for their defense needs , ” Ms. Clark said .
“ These countries are still trying to hold to their acquisition schedules.
” The Pentagon has done what it can to assist the defense industry during the coronavirus pandemic by modifying thousands of contracts with vendors and not penalizing them for delays .
Even so , Ms. Eaglen with AEI said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently ” bubbling up ” with U.S. defense officials at this point .
“ This just isn ’ t on their radar yet , ” she said .
“ But it will be once they get their heads above water .
”

Along with canceled political rallies and missed teetimes, the coronavirus crisis is threatening another favorite activity of President Trump — the touting of U.S. military hardware and the hard sell for global leaders who visit the Oval Office.
As the self-described dealmaker-in-chief, Mr. Trump routinely touts the lethality and overall excellence of U.S. military hardware — along with thousands of U.S. jobs and hundreds of billions of dollars their exports can generate. In February, on his last overseas trip before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down economies and threatened defense budgets around the world, the president was hailing a $3 billion arms deal with India.
“We make the greatest weapons ever — airplanes, missiles, rockets, ships. We make the best and we’re dealing,” President Trump told a cheering New Delhi crowd standing alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
But in the past few weeks, it has become abundantly clear that governments and the defense industry are by no means immune to the effects of the global pandemic, said Rachel Stohl, an expert in the international arms trade at the Washington-based Stimson Center.
A number of defense manufacturers and vendors have been forced to significantly curtail if not altogether suspend their operations. In the U.S. alone, that figure included more than 100 businesses, although some have already resumed operations, Ms. Stohl said.
Other countries, including allies such as Indonesia, South Korea and Thailand, are already talking about significantly reduced military budgets in the coming year as their revenue base crumbles. In Europe, NATO allies battered by the virus face new pressures not to meet Mr. Trump’s oft-stated demand for more military spending as they try to rescue their economies.
Oil-dependent states such as Saudi Arabia, long one of the biggest buyers in the global arms bazaar, could face a double whammy on military spending, as record low oil prices on top of the coronavirus panic play havoc with their original spending projections.
“There are really challenges that will impact military expenditures and arms transfers for many years to come,” Ms. Stohl said.
Before the novel coronavirus pandemic made its appearance on the world stage, global defense spending had been on a steady rise. Now analysts forecast governments will almost certainly be forced to cut back on buying military hardware over COVID-19 concerns, cuts which would hit the U.S. industry hard as the largest arms exporter.
From 2015-2019, the U.S. constituted 35% of all the world’s arms exports, according to the Stockholm International Peace Register Institute (SIPRI). Last year, global defense spending reached $1.9 trillion.
“Not many of us really know how much $1.9 trillion really is. We’re talking about a substantial amount of money,” said Nan Tian, an analyst with SIPRI.
Market peak?
The coronavirus shock, analysts note, comes as a time when global defense spending may already have peaked and were on a downward track.
“It was unlikely this year was ever going to look like last year anyway, which was a recent high of foreign military sales,” said Mackenzie Eaglen, a defense specialist with the American Enterprise Institute. “Yes, there’s going to be the COVID effect but it was already going to be” lower.
According to SIPRI, worldwide military spending in 2019 represented 2.2% of global gross domestic product, which amounts to about $249 per person. Global military expenditures were 7.2% higher last year than it was in 2010, indicating that military spending had accelerated in recent years.
“What we can expect is that spending [is] really going to decrease,” Nan Tian, a defense spending expert with the institute, said Tuesday during a Stimson Center webcast. “We’ve seen this historically following the [2008 and 2009 financial] crisis, where many countries in Europe really started to cut back on military spending.”
There is no avoiding the fact that the supply chain disruption in the U.S. defense industry is massive and will have effects downstream, Ms. Eaglen said.
“Even with some companies that have been determined to be ‘essential’ or ‘critical,’ 30% to 50% of the employees are not showing up,” she said. “This alone is going to cause issues with foreign partners or allies that are struggling to keep up their own national industrial capacity.”
Maiya Clark, a researcher at the Heritage Foundation’s Center for National Defense, said the federal government is trying to ease some of the coronavirus-related disruptions for the defense industry, including easing regulations and time lines on licensing for foreign deals.
“It’s just being extended a short amount of time to tide them over,” she said.
Governments recognize the national security imperative of keeping their defense firms solvent.
“It’s much harder to have it die off and bring it back than it is to maintain it as much as they can during this rocky time,” Ms. Clark said.
Just holding the line of defense spending and foreign sales would be preferable to a decrease, retired Air Force Gen. Hawk Carlisle, president of the National Defense Industrial Association, told the Defense One website.
“This is going to be years to climb out of,” Gen. Carlisle said.
The disruption in the industrial base and the economic slowdown brought on by the coronavirus may even cause some governments to rethink their national security strategy.
“You’re going to see that trend from other governments,” said Ms. Eaglen. “‘Why do we need these fighters? What is national security?’” she said. “I think we’re even going to see that here to some extent.”
Even with the coronavirus pandemic, there have been some bright spots in the arms industry, analysts point out. This week, General Electric won a $707 million contract to supply F-16 engines to Slovakia, Bulgaria, Taiwan and Qatar.
“Countries, including the United States, recognize the importance of national defense. So governments that still have the ability to be shopping right now are still shopping for their defense needs,” Ms. Clark said. “These countries are still trying to hold to their acquisition schedules.”
The Pentagon has done what it can to assist the defense industry during the coronavirus pandemic by modifying thousands of contracts with vendors and not penalizing them for delays. Even so, Ms. Eaglen with AEI said the foreign military sales issue isn’t currently”bubbling up” with U.S. defense officials at this point.
“This just isn’t on their radar yet,” she said. “But it will be once they get their heads above water.”
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-04-30--Man hit, killed by Amtrak train in Salem

SALEM , Ore. ( AP ) - A 35-year-old man was killed by an Amtrak train in Salem , authorities @ @ @ @ @ medics responded around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday to the train tracks at Blossom Drive NE and @ @ @ @ @ the Statesman Journal reported .
Witnesses told officers the man identified as Corey Grimes was @ @ @ @ @ ignored multiple warnings from the train horn before he was struck from behind .

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - A 35-year-old man was killed by an Amtrak train in Salem, authorities said.
Salem Police and medics responded around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday to the train tracks at Blossom Drive NE and Indian School Road NE, the Statesman Journal reported.
Witnesses told officers the man identified as Corey Grimes was walking on the tracks and ignored multiple warnings from the train horn before he was struck from behind.
Amtrak Police Department investigating the incident.


washingtontimes--2020-04-30--Lawmakers: Trump's funding freeze for WHO hits Venezuela

MIAMI ( AP ) - As much as $ 110 million in U.S. funding for disease prevention in Latin America as well as U.S. support for Venezuelan migrants has been thrown into doubt as part of President Donald Trump ’ s decision to halt funding to the World Health Organization over its response to the coronavirus pandemic .
Rep. Eliot Engel , the Democratic chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee , sent a letter Thursday to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo complaining that freezing funds for the Pan American Health Organization threatened to worsen the plight of Venezuelans suffering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We believe it is dangerous and shortsighted of the Trump Administration to pause U.S. funding for the life-saving work ” by PAHO in Venezuela , the New York Democrat wrote in the letter , which was also signed by Rep. Albio Sires , chairman of the subcommittee focused on Latin America .
PAHO said this week that the U.S. had suspended its contributions as an extension of Trump ’ s funding freeze for the WHO .
But two U.S. officials cautioned that no final decision had been made .
One said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until late May and an exclusion for PAHO is being discussed .
Both officials insisted on anonymity to discuss internal deliberations .
The Washington-based PAHO is unique in that it is both a regional office in the Americas for the WHO but also a separately run institution that predates by almost a half century the creation of the United Nations agency .
Only about a third of its funding comes from the WHO , with the rest provided by its 35 member states , of which the U.S. is by far its largest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its overall budget .
Currently the U.S. owes PAHO $ 110 million in assessed contributions for 2019 and 2020 .
The State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development would not comment .
Engel in his letter said he was dismayed to learn that $ 12 million in U.S. funding for PAHO to conduct diagnostics and tracing for the coronavirus in Venezuela and among Venezuelan migrants in Colombia was on hold .
He said U.S.-supported efforts inside Venezuela had saved lives and prevented the spread of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccination program supported by $ 3.4 million in USAID funding enabled 9 million Venezuelan children to get shots and paved the way for a 90 % decline in measles cases from 5,800 in 2018 to less than 600 in 2019 .
He cited studies indicating as many as 94 % of Venezuelans are living in poverty and 7 million need humanitarian assistance .
PAHO also declined to comment , pointing instead to comments by Dr. Carissa Etienne , who heads the organization , saying that Trump ’ s freeze in funding for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include U.S. funding for PAHO .
“ Over the years we have enjoyed a very firm collaboration and technical support from the U.S. government , ” Dr. Carissa Etienne said in remarks to journalists Tuesday .
“ This mutual collaboration between the U.S. and PAHO has stood the test of many , many years and it is our hope that we can continue to work in this vein to insure that health and well being come to the majority of people in the Americas.
” Trump two weeks ago halted funding to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mimicked Chinese assurances about the coronvairus ’ spread , wrongly opposed travel restrictions at the start of the outbreak and was slow to declare the outbreak a global pandemic .
Many philanthropists like Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg joined European and African leaders and health experts in criticizing the decision , calling it ill-timed .
PAHO is one of the few ways the U.S. is able to channel aid to Venezuela since it doesn ’ t recognize Maduro and has no functioning embassy in Caracas .
In the early days of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brokering contact between Venezuelan health officials and their counterparts in Colombia to discuss ways to stop the virus ’ spread among millions of poor Venezuelans who have fled the country in recent years and who are expected to overload Colombia ’ s already overburdened health system if the pandemic worsens .
Like the U.S. , Colombia doesn ’ t recognize Maduro .
Maduro has consistently rejected U.S. offers of humanitarian aid , calling them an underhanded attempt to destabilize his rule .
The opposition has been similarly reluctant to work with Maduro officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in from the International Committee of the Red Cross , the Roman Catholic Church and other sources , seeing it as a tool of coercion .
But over the past year , as efforts to unseat Maduro have stalled and social conditions have worsened , the opposition has quietly eased its objections to working through the socialist government in the belief that regular Venezuelans will benefit and to prepare for eventually assuming power itself one day .
One opposition official called the cooperation “ a necessary evil.
” Associated Press writer Matthew Lee @ @ @ @ @ @ @

MIAMI (AP) - As much as $110 million in U.S. funding for disease prevention in Latin America as well as U.S. support for Venezuelan migrants has been thrown into doubt as part of President Donald Trump’s decision to halt funding to the World Health Organization over its response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Rep. Eliot Engel, the Democratic chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, sent a letter Thursday to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo complaining that freezing funds for the Pan American Health Organization threatened to worsen the plight of Venezuelans suffering at the hands of Nicolás Maduro.
“We believe it is dangerous and shortsighted of the Trump Administration to pause U.S. funding for the life-saving work” by PAHO in Venezuela, the New York Democrat wrote in the letter, which was also signed by Rep. Albio Sires, chairman of the subcommittee focused on Latin America.
PAHO said this week that the U.S. had suspended its contributions as an extension of Trump’s funding freeze for the WHO.
But two U.S. officials cautioned that no final decision had been made. One said the next U.S. payment isn’t due until late May and an exclusion for PAHO is being discussed. Both officials insisted on anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.
The Washington-based PAHO is unique in that it is both a regional office in the Americas for the WHO but also a separately run institution that predates by almost a half century the creation of the United Nations agency. Only about a third of its funding comes from the WHO, with the rest provided by its 35 member states, of which the U.S. is by far its largest contributor, responsible for 60% of its overall budget. Currently the U.S. owes PAHO $110 million in assessed contributions for 2019 and 2020.
The State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development would not comment.
Engel in his letter said he was dismayed to learn that $12 million in U.S. funding for PAHO to conduct diagnostics and tracing for the coronavirus in Venezuela and among Venezuelan migrants in Colombia was on hold.
He said U.S.-supported efforts inside Venezuela had saved lives and prevented the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. He said a PAHO-backed measles vaccination program supported by $3.4 million in USAID funding enabled 9 million Venezuelan children to get shots and paved the way for a 90% decline in measles cases from 5,800 in 2018 to less than 600 in 2019. He cited studies indicating as many as 94% of Venezuelans are living in poverty and 7 million need humanitarian assistance.
PAHO also declined to comment, pointing instead to comments by Dr. Carissa Etienne, who heads the organization, saying that Trump’s freeze in funding for the WHO had been “extended” to include U.S. funding for PAHO.
“Over the years we have enjoyed a very firm collaboration and technical support from the U.S. government,” Dr. Carissa Etienne said in remarks to journalists Tuesday. “This mutual collaboration between the U.S. and PAHO has stood the test of many, many years and it is our hope that we can continue to work in this vein to insure that health and well being come to the majority of people in the Americas.”
Trump two weeks ago halted funding to the Geneva-based WHO, arguing that it had mimicked Chinese assurances about the coronvairus’ spread, wrongly opposed travel restrictions at the start of the outbreak and was slow to declare the outbreak a global pandemic.
Many philanthropists like Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg joined European and African leaders and health experts in criticizing the decision, calling it ill-timed.
PAHO is one of the few ways the U.S. is able to channel aid to Venezuela since it doesn’t recognize Maduro and has no functioning embassy in Caracas.
In the early days of the coronavirus outbreak, PAHO was also key in brokering contact between Venezuelan health officials and their counterparts in Colombia to discuss ways to stop the virus’ spread among millions of poor Venezuelans who have fled the country in recent years and who are expected to overload Colombia’s already overburdened health system if the pandemic worsens. Like the U.S., Colombia doesn’t recognize Maduro.
Maduro has consistently rejected U.S. offers of humanitarian aid, calling them an underhanded attempt to destabilize his rule. The opposition has been similarly reluctant to work with Maduro officials to distribute the aid that has trickled in from the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Roman Catholic Church and other sources, seeing it as a tool of coercion.
But over the past year, as efforts to unseat Maduro have stalled and social conditions have worsened, the opposition has quietly eased its objections to working through the socialist government in the belief that regular Venezuelans will benefit and to prepare for eventually assuming power itself one day. One opposition official called the cooperation “a necessary evil.”
___
Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-04-30--72-year-old Coon Rapids man survives small plane crash

HAM LAKE , Minn. ( AP ) - A 72-year-old Coon Rapids man suffered only minor injuries when the small @ @ @ @ @ in the city of Ham Lake on Thursday .
Anoka County sheriff ’ s authorities @ @ @ @ @ headed from Cambridge to the Blaine Airport when he decided to try a “ touch-and-go @ @ @ @ @ of Coon Lake .
Authorities say the plane ’ s landing gear was in the @ @ @ @ @ the surface , causing the Cessna 180 to crash upside down .
An onlooker who @ @ @ @ @ to shore .
Youngquist was treated at the scene .
He was the only person @ @ @ @ @ Star Tribune reports the Federal Aviation Administration will investigate .
Authorities are planning a salvage @ @ @ @ @

HAM LAKE, Minn. (AP) - A 72-year-old Coon Rapids man suffered only minor injuries when the small plane he was piloting crashed in the city of Ham Lake on Thursday.
Anoka County sheriff’s authorities say Paul Erwin Youngquist was headed from Cambridge to the Blaine Airport when he decided to try a “touch-and-go maneuver” on the water of Coon Lake.
Authorities say the plane’s landing gear was in the down position when Youngquist skimmed the surface, causing the Cessna 180 to crash upside down.
An onlooker who witnessed the crash brought Youngquist to shore. Youngquist was treated at the scene. He was the only person onboard the plane.
The Star Tribune reports the Federal Aviation Administration will investigate. Authorities are planning a salvage recovery of the plane.


washingtontimes--2020-04-30--Modoc County, California, defies Gavin Newsom, reopens

Sparsely populated Modoc County in California ’ s northeast corner plans to allow the reopening of its schools , hair salons , churches , restaurants and the county ’ s only movie theater Friday , becoming the first county in the state to ease out of stay-at-home orders and flout the governor ’ s mandate .
Ned Coe , a cattle rancher and county supervisor , said Thursday that the county across the border from Oregon has no confirmed COVID-19 cases .
After consulting with health officials , the Board of Supervisors voted to reopen Friday , he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ vital for our citizens , so is the mental health and the economic health of our citizens , ” Coe said .
The plan asks business owners in the county of about 9,000 people that spans 4,200 square miles ( 11,000 square kilometres ) to make sure customers remain 6 feet ( 1.8 meters ) apart .
It asks restaurants to cut their capacity by half and requires residents who are 65 or older or have underlying health conditions to continue to stay home .
Coe said county officials sent a letter to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago outlining their plan , which he said meets the guidelines outlined by the governor for stay-home orders to be eased out in phases , but they haven ’ t received a response .
He said he was not worried the state might take legal action against the county for violating Newsom ’ s order , which does not yet allow such businesses to reopen .
“ The governor himself has indicated that it is time to start opening in a staged and safe manner , and that will be different for different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Newsom ’ s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter , but when asked about Modoc County ’ s plans at his daily coronavirus briefing , Newsom did not say whether he would move to stop the reopening .
“ Nothing would please me more than pleasing those local officials … but we ’ re not out of the woods , ” he said .
“ No part of the state , no part of this country , few parts of the globe have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also reinforced that while local governments are free to adopt more stringent guidelines , they can not adopt looser ones .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness and lead to death , and nursing homes have been hit hard .
In the Modoc County seat of Alturas , population 3,000 , where restaurants serving Mexican , Italian , Chinese and other cuisines cater to travelers using Highway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tables or spacing them out to make sure they are ready to keep the required distance between customers .
Most parts of the county are so sparsely populated that people already keep their distance from each other , Coe said .
He said the hairstylist he frequents has only one chair at her salon and works alone .
“ Social distancing was the norm here before it became the popular thing in the state , ” Coe said .
The plan will be revisited after two weeks , and the stricter measures could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test positive for the coronavirus , according to the new guidelines .
At Brass Rail , a large Basque restaurant in Alturas , employees were getting the bar area ready to open Friday by spacing out tables , said owner Jodie Larranaga .
“ Everyone knows each other very well in this town and we can ’ t wait to see each other .
Most people here are pretty fed up and done and over it , ” she said of the shelter-in-place orders .
Larranaga said she will have signs throughout the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other guidelines but she has no plans to police her patrons .
“ My bar tables are already far apart but if people pull their stools together , I ’ m not going to stop them , ” Larranaga said .
“ As far as I ’ m concerned , right or wrong , that ’ s their choice .
They are adults , ” she added .
• Rodriguez reported from San Francisco .
Associated Press writer Kathleen Ronayne in Sacramento contributed to this report .

Sparsely populated Modoc County in California’s northeast corner plans to allow the reopening of its schools, hair salons, churches, restaurants and the county’s only movie theater Friday, becoming the first county in the state to ease out of stay-at-home orders and flout the governor’s mandate.
Ned Coe, a cattle rancher and county supervisor, said Thursday that the county across the border from Oregon has no confirmed COVID-19 cases. After consulting with health officials, the Board of Supervisors voted to reopen Friday, he said.
“Just as our physical health is vital for our citizens, so is the mental health and the economic health of our citizens,” Coe said.
The plan asks business owners in the county of about 9,000 people that spans 4,200 square miles (11,000 square kilometres) to make sure customers remain 6 feet (1.8 meters) apart. It asks restaurants to cut their capacity by half and requires residents who are 65 or older or have underlying health conditions to continue to stay home.
Coe said county officials sent a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom about a week ago outlining their plan, which he said meets the guidelines outlined by the governor for stay-home orders to be eased out in phases, but they haven’t received a response. He said he was not worried the state might take legal action against the county for violating Newsom’s order, which does not yet allow such businesses to reopen.
“The governor himself has indicated that it is time to start opening in a staged and safe manner, and that will be different for different areas of the state,” he said.
Newsom’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter, but when asked about Modoc County’s plans at his daily coronavirus briefing, Newsom did not say whether he would move to stop the reopening.
“Nothing would please me more than pleasing those local officials … but we’re not out of the woods,” he said. “No part of the state, no part of this country, few parts of the globe have been immune to this virus. “
He also reinforced that while local governments are free to adopt more stringent guidelines, they cannot adopt looser ones.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and lead to death, and nursing homes have been hit hard.
In the Modoc County seat of Alturas, population 3,000, where restaurants serving Mexican, Italian, Chinese and other cuisines cater to travelers using Highway 395, some restaurant managers were removing tables or spacing them out to make sure they are ready to keep the required distance between customers.
Most parts of the county are so sparsely populated that people already keep their distance from each other, Coe said. He said the hairstylist he frequents has only one chair at her salon and works alone.
“Social distancing was the norm here before it became the popular thing in the state,” Coe said.
The plan will be revisited after two weeks, and the stricter measures could be reinstated if at least two people test positive for the coronavirus, according to the new guidelines.
At Brass Rail, a large Basque restaurant in Alturas, employees were getting the bar area ready to open Friday by spacing out tables, said owner Jodie Larranaga.
“Everyone knows each other very well in this town and we can’t wait to see each other. Most people here are pretty fed up and done and over it,” she said of the shelter-in-place orders.
Larranaga said she will have signs throughout the bar reminding people about social distancing and other guidelines but she has no plans to police her patrons.
“My bar tables are already far apart but if people pull their stools together, I’m not going to stop them,” Larranaga said.
“As far as I’m concerned, right or wrong, that’s their choice. They are adults,” she added.
• Rodriguez reported from San Francisco. Associated Press writer Kathleen Ronayne in Sacramento contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-04-30--Mexican protest signer Oscar Chávez dies of COVID-19 at 85

MEXICO CITY ( AP ) - One of Mexico ’ s best-known protest singers , Oscar Chávez , has died at age 85 , apparently after being infected with the coronavirus .
Mexico ’ s culture secretary confirmed the singer ’ s death , but the Social Security Institute would not comment on local media reports saying he died Thursday of complications from COVID-19 .
A note on Chavez ’ s personal twitter account , signed by his staff , said he had been hospitalized Wednesday with symptoms of the disease caused by the coronavirus .
Chávez was best known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corrupt political elite .
One such song was “ La Casita ” ( “ The Little House ” ) , which described an imaginary politician ’ s mansion .
Culture Secretary Alejandra Frausto wrote in her Twitter account : “ Thank you , Oscar Chávez , your life was journey worthy of you !
My deepest sympathy to your relatives , friends and companions in struggle and song.
” Interior Secretary Olga Sánchez wrote : “ I have learned to my deep regret that a voice of the struggle has been silenced .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oscar Chávez.
” Chávez sang ballads since the 1960s and played in public as recently as 2019 .

MEXICO CITY (AP) - One of Mexico’s best-known protest singers, Oscar Chávez, died Thursday at age 85 after being infected with the coronavirus.
Mexico’s culture secretary confirmed the singer’s death, and the State Workers’ Social Security Institute said he died of complications from COVID-19 after he was hospitalized on Tuesday with symptoms.
The institute said Chávez had “evident respiratory difficulty” and had a chronic lung condition. It said he tested positive for the coronavirus and succumbed to COVID-19 related pneumonia.
Chávez was best known for folk-style songs lampooning Mexico’s corrupt political elite. One such song was “La Casita” (“The Little House”), which described an imaginary politician’s mansion.
Culture Secretary Alejandra Frausto wrote in her Twitter account: “Thank you, Oscar Chávez, your life was journey worthy of you! My deepest sympathy to your relatives, friends and companions in struggle and song.”
Interior Secretary Olga Sánchez wrote: “I have learned to my deep regret that a voice of the struggle has been silenced. My deepest sympathy to the family of Oscar Chávez.”
Chávez sang ballads since the 1960s and played in public as recently as 2019.
Mexico has reported 19,224 confirmed coronavirus cases and 1,859 deaths.
On Thursday, Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, a former interior secretary and current senator for the old ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, wrote in his Twitter account that he had tested positive for the coronavirus and would self-isolate at home.


washingtontimes--2020-05-01--FDA approves South Korean virus tests for use in Maryland

BALTIMORE ( AP ) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has formally approved the use of 500,000 coronavirus tests purchased by the state of Maryland from a South Korean company .
The FDA ’ s chief scientist gave the emergency approval to the South Korean firm LabGenomics Co in a letter Wednesday , The Baltimore Sun reported .
Gov .
Larry Hogan announced April 20 that the state made the $ 9 million purchase in an effort to boost its testing capacity .
Adequate testing is a building block on the road to recovery from the global pandemic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the nearly two weeks since Hogan ’ s announcement , some local officials , nursing homes and others looking for the tests have questioned when they will receive them , The Sun said .
The governor stated during a State House news conference that the tests also needed other in-demand supplies such as swabs and lab capacity .
Spokesman Mike Ricci said Thursday that Maryland was increasing its supply of such materials .
He said the state was set to receive about 34,000 swabs from a national stockpile and had an “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mixture used for chemical analysis in the testing .
He added that LabGenomics was given preliminary approval to use the tests last week and some have been since been deployed to “ high-priority hot spots ” including nursing homes , drive-thru sites and a testing site for poultry plant workers in Salisbury .
Hogan on Wednesday ordered universal testing for all residents and staff at nursing homes and assisted-living facilities .

BALTIMORE (AP) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has formally approved the use of 500,000 coronavirus tests purchased by the state of Maryland from a South Korean company.
The FDA’s chief scientist gave the emergency approval to the South Korean firm LabGenomics Co in a letter Wednesday, The Baltimore Sun reported.
Gov. Larry Hogan announced April 20 that the state made the $9 million purchase in an effort to boost its testing capacity. Adequate testing is a building block on the road to recovery from the global pandemic and reopening businesses, he said.
But in the nearly two weeks since Hogan’s announcement, some local officials, nursing homes and others looking for the tests have questioned when they will receive them, The Sun said. The governor stated during a State House news conference that the tests also needed other in-demand supplies such as swabs and lab capacity.
Spokesman Mike Ricci said Thursday that Maryland was increasing its supply of such materials. He said the state was set to receive about 34,000 swabs from a national stockpile and had an “adequate supply” of reagent, a mixture used for chemical analysis in the testing.
He added that LabGenomics was given preliminary approval to use the tests last week and some have been since been deployed to “high-priority hot spots” including nursing homes, drive-thru sites and a testing site for poultry plant workers in Salisbury.
Hogan on Wednesday ordered universal testing for all residents and staff at nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.


washingtontimes--2020-05-01--Exxon profits drop as most of world stays home, forgoes fuel

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Profits fell at Exxon Mobil during the first quarter as the global pandemic began @ @ @ @ @ The Irving , Texas oil giant lost $ 610 million in the first quarter , @ @ @ @ @ same time last year , the company said Friday .
Revenue was $ 56.16 billion @ @ @ @ @ the same time last year .
Fewer people are driving or flying as the world @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 , decreasing the need for fuel .
CEO Darren Woods says that demand @ @ @ @ @ markets and unprecedented pressure on prices and margins .
Even before the coronavirus hit , @ @ @ @ @ of a trade war between the U.S. and China which contributed to a global economic @ @ @ @ @ a barrel of U.S. benchmark fell nearly 70 % since the start of the year @

NEW YORK (AP) - Profits fell at Exxon Mobil and Chevron warned of tough times ahead as the global pandemic began to erode oil demand.
Exxon lost $610 million in the first quarter, down 126% from the same time last year, the Irving, Texas oil giant said Friday.
Revenue was $56.16 billion, down 12% from the same quarter in 2019.
Fewer people flew or drove as the world fought to contain the spread of COVID-19, decreasing the need for jet fuel and gasoline. That resulted in oversupplied markets and unprecedented pressure on prices and margins, said CEO Darren Woods.
Despite plummeting demand, Exxon produced 4 million barrels per day of oil, up 2% from the same time last year.
“While we manage through these challenging times, we are not losing sight of the long-term fundamentals that drive our business,” Woods said. “Economic activity will return, and populations and standards of living will increase, which will in turn drive demand for our products and a recovery of the industry.”
The oil industry was facing stark challenges even before the coronavirus hit, when prices were low because of a trade war between the U.S. and China which contributed to a global economic slowdown. As lockdowns began to spread around the world during the first quarter, oil use plummeted and prices fell. Then Saudi Arabia, in a power struggle with Russia, began flooding the market with oil, pushing prices down even further.
Exxon lost 14 cents per share, falling below the expectations of analysts polled by Factset.
It maintained a quarterly dividend of 87 cents per share, and Woods assured investors that the dividend is a priority for Exxon. “If you look at our shareholder base, about 70% of them are retail or long-term investors that look for our dividend and see that as an important source of stability in their income,” Woods said in a conference call with investors. “So we have a strong commitment to that.”
To take oil off the market, Exxon plans to shut in some wells that are currently producing oil, which would reduce the company’s output by about 100,000 barrels per day, Woods said.
Exxon announced in March that it would reduce capital expenditures for 2020 by 30%, reducing spending to $23 billion instead of $33 billion. Those canceled plans, which include drilling for new oil, will mostly impact next year, when the decline in drilling will reduce oil output by up to 150,000 barrels per day, Woods said. A lot of the work for this year’s oil production was already completed, so the reduced spending for exploration will only take about 15,000 barrels per day off the market this year, he said.
Exxon’s performance was weaker than its competitor Chevron, and although Exxon is “pulling the right levers to protect the dividend…we think headwinds remain rough,” said Stewart Glickman, energy equity analyst at CFRA, in a note to investors.
Chevron Corp. turned a profit in the first quarter, but the company warned Friday its financial picture is likely to be depressed in the future because of reduced demand caused by the coronavirus.
The San Ramon, California-based oil producer brought in $3.6 billion in profits, up 36% from the same time last year. Its growth was driven by margins in its refining business and increased production in the Permian Basin, CEO Michael Wirth said.
But the boost was also driven by the sale of upstream assets in the Philippines, favorable tax items and foreign currency effects which together totaled $1.2 billion. Chevron’s revenues were down 10% to $31.5 billion.
Chevron will pay a quarterly dividend of $1.29 per share. “We’re protecting the dividend because we’re set up to do so and we’ve made it a priority,” Wirth said in a conference call with investors.
Profits fell in Chevron’s upstream U.S. operations, which include crude oil production. Downstream, profits grew at its U.S. refineries.
Chevron said Friday it anticipates capital expenditures of $14 billion this year, reducing its previously announced plans by up to $2 billion.
The price of a barrel of U.S. benchmark crude fell nearly 70% since the start of the year. During that time Exxon’s shares fell more than 35% and Chevron’s fell around 25%.


washingtontimes--2020-05-01--Texas sees highest number of COVID-19 deaths one day before reopening

The state of Texas had its highest number of COVID-19 deaths Thursday , the day before restaurants , malls and @ @ @ @ @ reopen in the state .
The state had more than 50 coronavirus deaths in the @ @ @ @ @ most since Texas began reporting fatalities related to the pandemic in March .
More than @ @ @ @ @ Texas from the virus and the state has had more than 28,000 positive COVID-19 cases @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday , the state is slated to drop its stay at home order beginning @ @ @ @ @ be able to reopen with restrictions .
Restaurants , movie theaters , retailers , churches @ @ @ @ @ to open doors to customers , but only at a 25 percent capacity .

The state of Texas had its highest number of COVID-19 deaths Thursday, the day before restaurants, malls and movie theaters were slated to reopen in the state.
The state had more than 50 coronavirus deaths in the past 24- hours, the most since Texas began reporting fatalities related to the pandemic in March.
More than 780 people have died in Texas from the virus and the state has had more than 28,000 positive COVID-19 cases.
Despite the recorded deaths on Thursday, the state is slated to drop its stay at home order beginning Friday where some businesses will be able to reopen with restrictions.
Restaurants, movie theaters, retailers, churches, and malls are permitted to open doors to customers, but only at a 25 percent capacity.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-01--In a US now in puppy love, Labs still tops, but corgis rise

NEW YORK ( AP ) - America ’ s dogs are having their day as the coronavirus keeps many people at home more with their pets and spurs so much adoption and fostering that some shelters ’ kennels have emptied .
But while much is changing for people and pooches around the country , here ’ s something holding as steady as a dog with a favorite toy : Labrador retrievers remain the nation ’ s most popular purebreds for a record-extending 29th year , according to American Kennel Club rankings being released Friday .
The rest of the top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; French bulldogs ; bulldogs ; poodles ; beagles ; Rottweilers ; German shorthaired pointers - and , for the first time , Pembroke Welsh corgis .
Some highlights and lowdown on the canine charts : The rankings indicate the relative popularity of different breeds among the 589,868 purebred dogs , mostly puppies , that joined the nation ’ s oldest dog registry last year .
Registration is voluntary .
The list includes the 193 breeds that the AKC recognizes - no Labradoodles , puggles , Yorkipoos or other “ designer ” hybrids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sometimes get added over time .
The chart also doesn ’ t reflect the everyday mixed-breed dogs that make up a vast share of the estimated 77 million or more canines in U.S. homes .
Pembroke Welsh corgis ( not to be confused with somewhat larger , longer-tailed Cardigan Welsh corgis ) have a long history of herding cattle and sheep in their native Wales .
But Pembrokes have become best known as companions of their most famous fancier , the U.K. ’ s Queen Elizabeth II .
Another Pembroke was California ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a time during former Gov .
Jerry Brown ’ s administration in the 2010s .
The short-legged , long-bodied breed is known for being spunky and sociable .
“ They ’ re really darned cute … and they ’ re just fun to be with , ” said Bobbe Lord of Boonton , New Jersey , a longtime owner and breeder .
Lord surmises Pembrokes got a boost in recent years from some popular , corgi-focused social media accounts and the Netflix series “ The Crown , ” which chronicles Queen Elizabeth II @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest in her beloved breed but also worries about inexperienced people thinking they can make big money by breeding trendy puppies .
“ If you ’ re doing it right , that doesn ’ t happen , ” she said .
The English foxhound is the rarest breed in the new rankings .
The sizable , high-stamina and vocal hounds have a long history in the U.S. but aren ’ t often found as purely house pets .
Fans tend to deploy the dogs for their traditional , pack-hunting purpose .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just don ’ t think people see them enough to know about them , ” says AKC spokeswoman Brandi Hunter .
For years , animal-rights advocates and some humane groups have complained that the popularity of purebred dogs leads people to buy pedigreed puppies instead of adopting mixed-breed pets that need homes .
And for years , the AKC has countered that breeding helps pair dogs with owners who want to know what to expect in a canine , whether the priority is fugitive-tracking acumen or an activity level that matches the household @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all sides of the debate have something to cheer in common : The coronavirus crisis has prompted more people to seek out dogs , every which way .
The New York-based American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says it has gotten over 1,500 online applications to foster dogs and cats since March 15 , six times more than the same period last year .
Seventy percent more animals have actually gone into foster homes in recent weeks , compared to last year .
“ During this period of great uncertainty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incredibly compassionate response from people willing to open their homes to adopt and foster vulnerable shelter animals , ” CEO Matt Bershadker said .
The ASPCA doesn ’ t currently need foster homes right now but notes that could change as kitten season continues .
Dog breeders are also getting more inquiries : Lord says she ’ s been fielding five to seven a day lately , though she has no puppies available .
The AKC urges purebred-seekers to research breeds for the right fit and to plan ahead for pet care for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more normal routines .
“ We are in a very unique situation being at home all of the time , ” Hunter notes .
“ For many of us , that will not always be the case .
”

NEW YORK (AP) - America’s dogs are having their day as the coronavirus keeps many people at home more with their pets and spurs so much adoption and fostering that some shelters’ kennels have emptied.
But while much is changing for people and pooches around the country, here’s something holding as steady as a dog with a favorite toy: Labrador retrievers remain the nation’s most popular purebreds for a record-extending 29th year, according to American Kennel Club rankings being released Friday.
The rest of the top 10 includes German shepherds; golden retrievers; French bulldogs; bulldogs; poodles; beagles; Rottweilers; German shorthaired pointers - and, for the first time, Pembroke Welsh corgis.
Some highlights and lowdown on the canine charts:
RANKINGS EXPLAINED
The rankings indicate the relative popularity of different breeds among the 589,868 purebred dogs, mostly puppies, that joined the nation’s oldest dog registry last year. Registration is voluntary.
The list includes the 193 breeds that the AKC recognizes - no Labradoodles, puggles, Yorkipoos or other “designer” hybrids, at least for now. Breeds sometimes get added over time.
The chart also doesn’t reflect the everyday mixed-breed dogs that make up a vast share of the estimated 77 million or more canines in U.S. homes.
___
THE CORGI CHARM
Pembroke Welsh corgis (not to be confused with somewhat larger, longer-tailed Cardigan Welsh corgis) have a long history of herding cattle and sheep in their native Wales.
But Pembrokes have become best known as companions of their most famous fancier, the U.K.’s Queen Elizabeth II. Another Pembroke was California’s social-media-friendly “first dog” for a time during former Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration in the 2010s.
The short-legged, long-bodied breed is known for being spunky and sociable.
“They’re really darned cute … and they’re just fun to be with,” said Bobbe Lord of Boonton, New Jersey, a longtime owner and breeder.
Lord surmises Pembrokes got a boost in recent years from some popular, corgi-focused social media accounts and the Netflix series “The Crown,” which chronicles Queen Elizabeth II’s life.
Lord appreciates the interest in her beloved breed but also worries about inexperienced people thinking they can make big money by breeding trendy puppies.
“If you’re doing it right, that doesn’t happen,” she said.
___
THE SCARCEST BREED
The English foxhound is the rarest breed in the new rankings. The sizable, high-stamina and vocal hounds have a long history in the U.S. but aren’t often found as purely house pets. Fans tend to deploy the dogs for their traditional, pack-hunting purpose.
“It’s a beautiful breed. I just don’t think people see them enough to know about them,” says AKC spokeswoman Brandi Hunter.
___
PUREBREDS, MIXED-BREEDS AND NEW POPULARITY
For years, animal-rights advocates and some humane groups have complained that the popularity of purebred dogs leads people to buy pedigreed puppies instead of adopting mixed-breed pets that need homes.
And for years, the AKC has countered that breeding helps pair dogs with owners who want to know what to expect in a canine, whether the priority is fugitive-tracking acumen or an activity level that matches the household’s.
Now, those on all sides of the debate have something to cheer in common: The coronavirus crisis has prompted more people to seek out dogs, every which way.
The New York-based American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says it has gotten over 1,500 online applications to foster dogs and cats since March 15, six times more than the same period last year. Seventy percent more animals have actually gone into foster homes in recent weeks, compared to last year.
“During this period of great uncertainty, one bright spot has been the incredibly compassionate response from people willing to open their homes to adopt and foster vulnerable shelter animals,” CEO Matt Bershadker said. The ASPCA doesn’t currently need foster homes right now but notes that could change as kitten season continues.
Dog breeders are also getting more inquiries: Lord says she’s been fielding five to seven a day lately, though she has no puppies available.
The AKC urges purebred-seekers to research breeds for the right fit and to plan ahead for pet care for when - someday - people return to more normal routines.
“We are in a very unique situation being at home all of the time,” Hunter notes. “For many of us, that will not always be the case.”


washingtontimes--2020-05-01--Duchess of Sussex loses first round in privacy claim

LONDON ( AP ) - The Duchess of Sussex has lost an early round in her privacy case against the @ @ @ @ @ its publication of a letter to her estranged father .
Meghan is suing for invasion @ @ @ @ @ article that included portions of the letter she had written to Thomas Markle .
In @ @ @ @ @ Judge Mark Warby struck out parts of Meghan ’ s case , but said they @ @ @ @ @ later stage if they are put on a proper legal basis .
Thomas Markle was @ @ @ @ @ down the aisle at her wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018 , but pulled @ @ @ @ @ , citing heart problems .
The former television lighting director has given occasional interviews to @ @ @ @ @ December 2018 that he ’ d been “ ghosted ” by Meghan after the wedding @

LONDON (AP) - The Duchess of Sussex lost an early round in a London court Friday when a judge dismissed part of her lawsuit against the publisher of a British newspaper that put out excerpts of a letter to her estranged father.
Meghan sued Associated Newspapers for invasion of privacy and copyright infringement last year over a series of articles in the Mail on Sunday that reproduced parts of the letter she wrote in August 2018, several months after the former actress known as Meghan Markle married Britain’s Prince Harry.
In a ruling on Friday, Judge Mark Warby threw out some of the causes of action argued in her lawsuit, including the claim that the newspaper publisher acted “dishonestly” by quoting only certain passages of her letter.
Warby also struck the claim that Associated Newspapers deliberately “stirred up” a dispute between Meghan and her father, Thomas Markle, and had an agenda to publish intrusive or offensive stories about her.
The judge said the allegations should not be part of the case as it proceeds because he found them irrelevant to establishing if the publisher was guilty of the illegal acts cited in the duchess’ lawsuit: misuse of private information, copyright infringement and breach of the Data Protection Act.
However, Warby said the dismissed claims could be revived at a later stage of the case.
Associated Newspapers denies the allegations.
Meghan has previously said that if she won the case, she would donate any damages she might be awarded an anti-bullying charity.
Her lawyers argue that the hand-written letter in question was a “private and intimate” message from a daughter to her father, and accuse the newspaper of targeting Meghan with “distortive, manipulative, and dishonest tactics.”
“The duchess’ rights were violated; the legal boundaries around privacy were crossed,” her lawyers said in a statement Friday.
They expressed surprise that the judge’s ruling ”suggests that dishonest behavior is not relevant,” but added that “the core elements of this case do not change and will continue to move forward.”
Thomas Markle was scheduled to walk his daughter down the aisle at her and Prince Harry’s wedding ceremony in May 2018, but pulled out at the last minute, citing heart problems.
The former television lighting director has given occasional interviews to the media, complaining in December 2018 that he’d been “ghosted” by Meghan after the wedding.
The interviews and Markle’s relationship with his daughter complicated Meghan’s entry into the royal family.


washingtontimes--2020-05-01--Ryanair to cut up to 3,000 jobs, robots helping patients

The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed .
Following are developments Friday related to the global economy , the work place and the spread of the virus .
AIRLINES : The aviation industry is teetering on the edge as travel demand crawls to a near standstill but costs remain .
- Ryanair plans to cut as many as 3,000 jobs and close bases in Europe amid the collapse of travel due to the pandemic .
The budget airline announced a restructuring program Friday that includes plans for unpaid leave and pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It will operate less than 1 % of its flights from April to June .
TECHNOLOGY : With an overabundance of COVID-19 patients , the healthcare section is increasingly turning to technology to aid in the fight against the outbreak .
- Robot staff have debuted at a Tokyo hotel for mildly-sick coronavirus patients under a new plan to free up beds at hospitals overburdened with more severe cases .
Pepper , a semi-humanoid talking robot , greets new entrants at the lobby and reminds patients to check their daily temperature and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” a cleaner robot , will operate in areas where patients come to pick up meals and other daily necessities .
Guest patients can also access health management applications on computers and tablets to record their own body temperatures and symptoms .
The robots , both made by SoftBank Robotics , will also be deployed at other hotels rented by Tokyo ’ s metropolitan government for patients with no or mild symptoms .
CENTRAL GOVERNMENTS & BANKS : Countries are moving toward easing strict stay-at-home orders , but the economic fallout from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - Spain ’ s government expects that the eurozone ’ s fourth largest economy will shrink by 9.2 % this year and that unemployment will reach 19 % of the working-age population .
The announcement comes a day after Spain ’ s government said that the nation ’ s economy had shrunk by 5.2 % in the first quarter of 2020 , ending 25 consecutive quarters of positive economic activity dating back to 2013 .
- Malaysia will allow most economic sectors and business activities to reopen Monday , days before a two-month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fell sharply in recent weeks .
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin says there is a need to revive the economy , as the country has lost 63 billion ringgit ( $ 14.7 billion ) since a partial lockdown began March 18 .
- Shares dropped in Europe and Asia on Friday after the latest data drove home the extent of economic carnage from the coronavirus pandemic .

The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed. Following are developments Friday related to the global economy, the work place and the spread of the virus.
________________________
AIRLINES: The aviation industry is teetering on the edge as travel demand crawls to a near standstill but costs remain.
- Boeing says that because it raised $25 billion from a sale of bonds it doesn’t plan to ask the federal government for a loan. The company announced this week it will cut 10% of its 161,000-person work force through attrition, early-out offers and layoffs.
- The Transportation Security Administration screened 154,695 people at airports on Thursday, its busiest day since March 29. That was still down 94% from the same Thursday a year ago, however. Airline executives say they are seeing a very slight increase in bookings, mostly for flights at least 90 days from now.
- Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines said Friday they will soon require that passengers cover their faces during flights. With those announcements, all of the six largest U.S. airlines will begin recovering face masks or coverings, some starting on Monday. JetBlue Airways was the first to announce such a policy on Monday. Delta, American and United followed suit on Thursday.
- The incoming CEO of United Airlines, Scott Kirby, said that if air travel remains very low on Oct. 1, the company will have to lay off workers and further cut the hours of other employees. United got $5 billion in federal aid to help cover payroll costs through September. Analysts believe layoffs are likely in October unless the airlines get more help from the government. Kirby is United’s president and will succeed the retiring Oscar Munoz as CEO later this month.
- Ryanair plans to cut as many as 3,000 jobs and close bases in Europe amid the collapse of travel due to the pandemic. It will operate less than 1% of its flights from April to June.
- Domestic airlines in Thailand are resuming some regular flights, as half of the country’s provincial airports reopened. Department of Airports Director-General Tawee Kaysisam-ang told reporters that 14 of the 28 airports his agency oversees reopened Friday.
MAY DAY: Protests and rallies typically mark the international Labor Day, but this year’s events look markedly different due to COVID-19.
- Some Italian entrepreneurs looked to draw attention to their plight on the nation’s May Day holiday. Some cafes put dressed mannequins in poses as if they were buying products or sipping coffee at counters in their empty businesses.
- The capital in tech-savvy Finland replaced parades and speeches with virtual reality. Helsinki had been encouraging residents to mark the eve before May Day - one of the Nordic country’s main public festivities especially among youth - through attending a virtual concert by popular local rap duo JVG.
- A prominent workers’ union in Croatia held an online Labor Day protest as the lockdown against the new coronavirus prevented traditional gatherings and demonstrations.
TECHNOLOGY: With an overabundance of COVID-19 patients, the healthcare section is increasingly turning to technology to aid in the fight against the outbreak.
- Robot staff have debuted at a Tokyo hotel for mildly-sick coronavirus patients under a new plan to free up beds at hospitals overburdened with more severe cases.
Pepper, a semi-humanoid talking robot, greets new entrants at the lobby and reminds patients to check their daily temperature and encourages them to rest. “Whiz,” a cleaner robot, will operate in areas where patients come to pick up meals and other daily necessities.
CENTRAL GOVERNMENTS & BANKS: Countries are moving toward easing strict stay-at-home orders, but the economic fallout from the virus is becoming more clear.
- Spain’s government expects that the eurozone’s fourth largest economy will shrink by 9.2% this year and that unemployment will reach 19% of the working-age population.
- Malaysia will allow most economic sectors and business activities to reopen Monday, days before a two-month lockdown is due to end after infections fell sharply in recent weeks.
- Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela says non-essential shops will be allowed to re-open on Monday. Health services, not related to coronavirus infections and which had been suspended, will also resume.
MARKETS:
- Stocks retreated on Wall Street Friday after Amazon and other big companies laid out how the coronavirus pandemic is hitting their bottom lines.


washingtontimes--2020-05-01--Police investigate killing of 19-year-old Springfield man

SPRINGFIELD , Mo .
( AP ) - A 19-year-old man has been shot and killed in Springfield , police @ @ @ @ @ happened early Friday , just after midnight Thursday , in a home near Lafayette Park @ @ @ @ @ .
Police said the initial call to 911 reported a drive-by shooting .
But questioning @ @ @ @ @ roommates later revealed that the shooting was accidental , investigators said .
The victim was @ @ @ @ @ died on the way to the hospital , police said .
Officials have not released @ @ @ @ @ or detailed how the shooting is believed to have occurred .
Police continued to collect @ @ @ @ @ morning .

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) - A 19-year-old man has been shot and killed in Springfield, police there said.
The shooting happened early Friday, just after midnight Thursday, in a home near Lafayette Park, television station KYTV reported. Police said the initial call to 911 reported a drive-by shooting. But questioning of the victims’ three roommates later revealed that the shooting was accidental, investigators said.
The victim was shot in the stomach and died on the way to the hospital, police said.
Officials have not released the victim’s name or detailed how the shooting is believed to have occurred. Police continued to collect evidence at the scene Friday morning.


washingtontimes--2020-05-01--The Latest: Nurses at Children's Minnesota vote on furloughs

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) - The Latest on the coronavirus outbreak in Minnesota ( all times local ) : Minnesota @ @ @ @ @ has a plan to furlough the equivalent of 181 full-time nurses as it struggles financially @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
Members of the Minnesota Nurses Association will begin voting on a furlough agreement @ @ @ @ @ Friday .
The furloughs affect about 17 % of nurses at the hospital .
The @ @ @ @ @ s announced earlier this week that it would stop offering some medical and surgical services @ @ @ @ @ because of a decrease in patients .
A number of health care groups in Minnesota @ @ @ @ @ because elective surgeries have been canceled due to an expected surge of coronavirus patients .
@ @ @ @ @ Thursday said he ’ s looking to revise the ban on elective surgeries in the @ @ @

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) - The Latest on the coronavirus outbreak in Minnesota (all times local):
U.S. Steel has announced it will lay off 260 workers at its Minntac operation in Mountain Iron as the coronavirus pandemic has cut demand for steel.
The layoffs were announced Friday. The Star Tribune reported they will start May 10 and are expected to last from eight to 11 weeks.
“We all knew it was probably coming, unfortunately,” United Steelworkers Local 1938 President Steve Bonach said. “We could go back sooner, but there are so many unknowns with the virus.”
Minntac is the fourth Iron Range mine to lay off workers during the coronavirus pandemic. Hibtac, Keetac and Northshore Mining previously announced layoffs, meaning about 1,750 miners will be out of work over the next several months.
Minntac is the largest taconite operation in the state with a capacity of 16 million tons of iron ore annually.
___
6:45 a.m.
Minnesota’s largest pediatric hospital has a plan to furlough the equivalent of 181 full-time nurses as it struggles financially with fewer patients due to COVID-19.
Members of the Minnesota Nurses Association will begin voting on a furlough agreement with Children’s Minnesota Friday. The furloughs affect about 17% of nurses at the hospital.
The Star Tribune reports Children’s announced earlier this week that it would stop offering some medical and surgical services at its St. Paul campus because of a decrease in patients.
A number of health care groups in Minnesota are dealing with declining revenue because elective surgeries have been canceled due to an expected surge of coronavirus patients.
Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday said he’s looking to revise the ban on elective surgeries in the coming days.


washingtontimes--2020-05-01--Joe Biden denies Tara Reade's allegation of sexual assault: 'This never happened'

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden said Friday the allegation of sexual assault that former Senate staffer Tara Reade has leveled against him “ never happened.
” Mr. Biden planned to directly address the accusations publicly on MSNBC ’ s “ Morning Joe.
” “ They aren ’ t true , ” Mr. Biden said in a statement coinciding with his television appearance .
“ This never happened.
” Ms. Reade claims Mr. Biden in 1993 pinned her to a wall , dug under her skirt and violated her with his fingers .
Mr. Biden said Friday that if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time as she claims , then the only place it could be in the National Archives .
He requested the record of the complaint — if it exists — be released .
It marked the first time that Mr. Biden had directly addressed the allegation .
The Biden campaign had previously said the charge was absolutely false .
“ While the details of these allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault are complicated , two things are not complicated , ” Mr. Biden said .
“ One is that women deserve to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when they step forward they should be heard , not silenced , ” he said .
“ The second is that their stories should be subject to appropriate inquiry and scrutiny.
” Mr. Biden said it is up to the news media to investigate her claim and said there is a “ growing record of inconsistencies in her story , which has changed repeatedly in both small and big ways.
” Mr. Biden said Ms. Reade claims she filed a complaint in 1993 , but said she does not have any record of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms. Reade and others who have called on him to release the Senate papers that he donated to the University of Delaware .
“ The papers from my Senate years that I donated to the University of Delaware do not contain personnel files , ” Mr. Biden said .
“ It is the practice of Senators to establish a library of personal papers that document their public record : speeches , policy proposals , positions taken , and the writing of bills.
” Mr. Biden said that a record of the kind might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I am requesting that the Secretary of the Senate ask the Archives to identify any record of the complaint she alleges she filed and make available to the press any such document , ” he said .
“ If there was ever any such complaint , the record will be there .
”

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden said Friday the allegation of sexual assault that former Senate staffer Tara Reade has leveled against him “never happened.”
Mr. Biden issued a statement unequivocally denying the accusation and addressed the accusations during an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
“They aren’t true,” Mr. Biden said. “This never happened.”
Ms. Reade claims Mr. Biden in 1993 pinned her to a wall, dug under her skirt and violated her with his fingers.
Mr. Biden said Friday that if Ms. Reade filed a complaint at the time, as she claims, then the only place it could be is in the National Archives — not in the Senate papers that he donated to the University of Delaware.
Mr. Biden said the complaint should be released if it exists.
Ms. Reade last year said that Mr. Biden made her feel uncomfortable when she worked in his office in the 1990s and took things to another level in March when she accused him of sexually assaulting her in a basement hallway of the Capitol building.
The allegation has hung over Mr. Biden’s bid.
On MSNBC “Morning Joe,” Mr. Biden said he has not reached out to Ms. Reade. Mr. Biden said he doesn’t recall a complaint being filed against him and said he has never asked anyone working for him to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
“It was 27 years ago,” he said. “The fact is I don’t remember, I don’t remember any complaint ever being made.”
“This is an open book, there is nothing for me to hide,” Mr. Biden said.
It marked the first time that Mr. Biden had directly addressed the allegation. The Biden campaign had previously said the charge was absolutely false.
Mr. Biden and Democrats have been cast as a hypocrite for arguing during Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing in 2018 that a woman that levels allegations of sexual misconduct should be believed.
Mr. Biden said Friday when women make allegations of sexual misconduct that they should get “the benefit of the doubt” and said then “you have to look at the circumstances and facts.”
Mr. Biden said there is a “growing record of inconsistencies in her story, which has changed repeatedly in both small and big ways.”
Mr. Biden said Ms. Reade says she filed a personnel complaint against him in 1993, but said she does not have any record of it.
Mr. Biden also pushed back against Ms. Reade and others who have called on him to release the Senate papers in response to the allegation.
“The papers from my Senate years that I donated to the University of Delaware do not contain personnel files,” Mr. Biden said. “It is the practice of Senators to establish a library of personal papers that document their public record: speeches, policy proposals, positions taken, and the writing of bills.”
Mr. Biden said that a record of the kind might be found in the National Archives.
“I am requesting that the Secretary of the Senate ask the Archives to identify any record of the complaint she alleges she filed and make available to the press any such document,” he said. “If there was ever any such complaint, the record will be there.”
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-01--Police: Teen accused of shooting into building, hurting boy

RIVIERA BEACH , Fla. ( AP ) - A 17-year-old boy is accused of shooting into a building and critically injuring a nearly 2-year-old boy , police said Thursday night .
The April 23 shooting critically injured Tyrus Jones , who was shot in the head .
He remains in a medically-induced coma at a hospital , the Palm Beach Post reported .
The teen was arrested Thursday , Riviera Beach police Chief Nathan Osgood said .
He ’ s charged with attempted homicide , shooting into a building and aggravated assault of a child .
“ An individual like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a long time , ” Osgood said of Johnson .
“ To indiscriminately shoot in broad daylight and just spray around … that says a lot.
” The teen is currently facing juvenile charges , but those could be upgraded , police said .
The State Attorney ’ s Office will ultimately make that decision .
Osgood said the shooting stemmed from unresolved feuds between groups in Riviera Beach and nearby West Palm Beach .
He declined during a news conference to elaborated on which groups are involved or what other shootings may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last two weeks , there have been several unsolved shootings in Riviera Beach that have left three men dead and a 12-year-old boy injured , the newspaper reported .

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - A 17-year-old boy is accused of shooting into a building and critically injuring a nearly 2-year-old boy, police said Thursday night.
The April 23 shooting critically injured Tyrus Jones, who was shot in the head. He remains in a medically-induced coma at a hospital, the Palm Beach Post reported.
The teen was arrested Thursday, Riviera Beach police Chief Nathan Osgood said. He’s charged with attempted homicide, shooting into a building and aggravated assault of a child.
“An individual like this needs to be put away for a long time,” Osgood said of Johnson. “To indiscriminately shoot in broad daylight and just spray around … that says a lot.”
The teen is currently facing juvenile charges, but those could be upgraded, police said. The State Attorney’s Office will ultimately make that decision.
Osgood said the shooting stemmed from unresolved feuds between groups in Riviera Beach and nearby West Palm Beach. He declined during a news conference to elaborated on which groups are involved or what other shootings may be tied to their feud.
In the last two weeks, there have been several unsolved shootings in Riviera Beach that have left three men dead and a 12-year-old boy injured, the newspaper reported.


washingtontimes--2020-05-01--Chevron turns a profit but warns of pain ahead

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Chevron turned a profit in the first quarter .
But the company warned its @ @ @ @ @ be depressed in the future because of reduced demand caused by the coronavirus .
The @ @ @ @ @ producer brought in $ 3.6 billion in profits , up 36 % from the same @ @ @ @ @ Michael Wirth says the growth was driven by margins in its refining business and increased @ @ @ @ @ .
But the boost was also driven by the sale of upstream assets in the @ @ @ @ @ and foreign currency effects which together totaled $ 1.2 billion .
Revenues were down 10 @ @ @ @ @ .
The price of U.S. benchmark crude has fallen nearly 70 % since the start @ @ @ @ @ oil companies to reign in drilling plans .
Chevron reduced its capital expenditure budget to @ @ @ @ @ billion .

NEW YORK (AP) - Chevron turned a profit in the first quarter. But the company warned its financial picture is likely to be depressed in the future because of reduced demand caused by the coronavirus.
The San Ramon, California-based oil producer brought in $3.6 billion in profits, up 36% from the same time last year. CEO Michael Wirth says the growth was driven by margins in its refining business and increased production in the Permian Basin.
But the boost was also driven by the sale of upstream assets in the Philippines, favorable tax items and foreign currency effects which together totaled $1.2 billion.
Revenues were down 10% to $31.5 billion.
The price of U.S. benchmark crude has fallen nearly 70% since the start of the year, forcing oil companies to reign in drilling plans. Chevron reduced its capital expenditure budget to as low as $14 billion.


washingtontimes--2020-05-01--Police: Pedestrian hit, killed on I-170 in St. Louis County

OVERLAND , Mo .
( AP ) - A person walking along Interstate 170 in St. Louis County near Overland @ @ @ @ @ by a vehicle , police in suburban St. Louis said .
The crash happened around @ @ @ @ @ northbound lanes of the interstate , television station KMOV reported .
Police closed those lanes @ @ @ @ @ for several hours .
Police have not released the victim ’ s name or given @ @ @ @ @ fatal crash .

OVERLAND, Mo. (AP) - A person walking along Interstate 170 in St. Louis County near Overland has died after being hit by a vehicle, police in suburban St. Louis said.
The crash happened around 1 a.m. Friday in the northbound lanes of the interstate, television station KMOV reported. Police closed those lanes, and traffic was rerouted for several hours.
Police have not released the victim’s name or given any other details of the fatal crash.


washingtontimes--2020-05-01--Bail set at $1M for accused getaway driver in teen's slaying

CLEVELAND ( AP ) - Bail has been set at $ 1 million for a woman accused of being the @ @ @ @ @ deadly shooting of a 15-year-old boy in Cleveland earlier this year .
Tinisha Thomas , @ @ @ @ @ court appearance Thursday , two days after she was charged with aggravated murder in the @ @ @ @ @ Bradley .
He was shot while walking down a city street with another teenager .
@ @ @ @ @ the shooter to the area and dropping him off , according to court records .
@ @ @ @ @ fired several shots at Bradley and his 16-year-old friend , hitting Bradley in the chest @ @ @ @ @ ’ t hurt .
Thomas drove around the corner , picked up the shooter and @ @ @ @ @ court records .
The shooter has not been identified , and a possible motive has @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t known Friday if Thomas has retained an attorney .

CLEVELAND (AP) - Bail has been set at $1 million for a woman accused of being the getaway car driver in the deadly shooting of a 15-year-old boy in Cleveland earlier this year.
Tinisha Thomas, 44, made her initial court appearance Thursday, two days after she was charged with aggravated murder in the March 30 slaying of Amir Bradley. He was shot while walking down a city street with another teenager.
Surveillance video shows Thomas driving the shooter to the area and dropping him off, according to court records. The shooter got out and fired several shots at Bradley and his 16-year-old friend, hitting Bradley in the chest. The other teen wasn’t hurt.
Thomas drove around the corner, picked up the shooter and sped away, according to court records. The shooter has not been identified, and a possible motive has not been disclosed.
It wasn’t known Friday if Thomas has retained an attorney.


washingtontimes--2020-05-01--State AG won't pursue Sauk County misconduct allegations

MADISON , Wis. ( AP ) - The state attorney general doesn ’ t plan to investigate possible criminal charges @ @ @ @ @ by 11 Sauk County department heads , employees and officials .
A report by Sauk @ @ @ @ @ was forwarded to the attorney general by the Sauk County Sheriff ’ s Office , @ @ @ @ @ allegations citing a conflict of interest .
Olson ’ s report cited legal concerns such @ @ @ @ @ violating open meetings laws , misuse of public comment time by senior staff members and @ @ @ @ @ department head by a county board member , the State Journal reported .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ thoroughly reviewed the allegations in your letter , and based on that review , the @ @ @ @ @ a criminal investigation or prosecution at this time , ” Assistant Attorney General David Maas @ @ @ @ @ Olson .
The decision by the Attorney General ’ s Office sends the matter back @ @ @ @ @ .

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The state attorney general doesn’t plan to investigate possible criminal charges related to allegations of misconduct by 11 Sauk County department heads, employees and officials.
A report by Sauk County Corporation Counsel Daniel Olson was forwarded to the attorney general by the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office, which declined to investigate the allegations citing a conflict of interest.
Olson’s report cited legal concerns such as violating confidentiality requirements, violating open meetings laws, misuse of public comment time by senior staff members and an unauthorized investigation of a department head by a county board member, the State Journal reported.
“The Wisconsin Department of Justice has thoroughly reviewed the allegations in your letter, and based on that review, the Department will not be pursuing a criminal investigation or prosecution at this time,” Assistant Attorney General David Maas said in a letter to Olson.
The decision by the Attorney General’s Office sends the matter back to the Sauk County sheriff.


washingtontimes--2020-05-01--Turkish police detain gathered union leaders on May Day

ISTANBUL ( AP ) - Police in Istanbul detained at least 15 people Friday , including trade union leaders who tried to stage a May Day march in defiance of a coronavirus lockdown and a ban on demonstrations at a historic square .
The Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey , or DISK , tweeted that its head Arzu Cerkezoglu and several other union leaders were detained near Taksim Square , where they wanted to lay wreaths of carnations .
Images showed police and demonstrators wearing masks and face guards in tense , close contact .
The Istanbul governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later released .
The statement added that various trade unions had left wreaths in Taksim Square as permitted by the governor ’ s office but that DISK had insisted on collectively marching to the square , which was in breach of lockdown and social distancing rules .
Taksim Square holds a symbolic value for Turkey ’ s labor movement .
In 1977 , 34 people were killed there during a May Day event when shots were fired into the crowd from a nearby building .
Opposition lawmakers were later allowed to take DISK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Turkey has imposed partial lockdowns in 31 provinces every weekend and on national holidays .
Exemptions apply , including for many laborers who continue to work amid the pandemic .
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the country must continue production to ensure the economic “ wheels continue turning.
” The ban on May Day demonstrations in Taksim has been in effect for several years , due to security concerns .
Police closed all roads leading to Taksim Square with barricades and increased security presence Friday .
Trade unions began marking May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown and also urged people to celebrate from their balconies Friday night and participate on social media .
Turkey ranks seventh in the world for the number of confirmed infections with 120,204 cases , according to Johns Hopkins University , although experts believe the actual toll of the pandemic is higher than the tally .
The country ’ s official death toll stands at 3,174 .

ISTANBUL (AP) - Police in Istanbul detained at least 15 people Friday, including trade union leaders who tried to stage a May Day march in defiance of a coronavirus lockdown and a ban on demonstrations at a historic square.
The Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey, or DISK, tweeted that its head Arzu Cerkezoglu and several other union leaders were detained near Taksim Square, where they wanted to lay wreaths of carnations.
Images showed police and demonstrators wearing masks and face guards in tense, close contact.
The Istanbul governor’s office said the demonstrators were later released. The statement added that various trade unions had left wreaths in Taksim Square as permitted by the governor’s office but that DISK had insisted on collectively marching to the square, which was in breach of lockdown and social distancing rules.
Taksim Square holds a symbolic value for Turkey’s labor movement. In 1977, 34 people were killed there during a May Day event when shots were fired into the crowd from a nearby building.
Opposition lawmakers were later allowed to take DISK’s damaged wreath to the square.
Turkey has imposed partial lockdowns in 31 provinces every weekend and on national holidays. Exemptions apply, including for many laborers who continue to work amid the pandemic. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the country must continue production to ensure the economic “wheels continue turning.”
The ban on May Day demonstrations in Taksim has been in effect for several years, due to security concerns. Police closed all roads leading to Taksim Square with barricades and increased security presence Friday.
Trade unions began marking May Day on Thursday ahead of the COVID-19 lockdown and also urged people to celebrate from their balconies Friday night and participate on social media.
Turkey ranks seventh in the world for the number of confirmed infections with 120,204 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University, although experts believe the actual toll of the pandemic is higher than the tally. The country’s official death toll stands at 3,174.


washingtontimes--2020-05-01--As daily virus deaths spike, Texas reopens door for business

AUSTIN , Texas ( AP ) - Texas charged toward reopening Friday despite the grim milestone of the state ’ s deadliest single day since its first coronavirus case in March , raising new worries at a moment when Republican Gov .
Greg Abbott says the time has come to start moving forward .
For the first time since early April , every restaurant and retailer across the state of nearly 30 million people is allowed to open doors to customers , although more widely in some cities than others and still under social distancing requirements .
Hair salons , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the brink of what Abbott said will be a slow and careful reopening of Texas , the state Thursday confronted what was a single-day record high for COVID-19 fatalities with 50 .
It raised the death toll to 119 over the past three days , the deadliest stretch since Texas ’ first fatality in the pandemic was recorded March 17 .
Abbott ’ s office reacted to the numbers with calm .
Spokesman John Wittman said hospitalization rates have remained steady and the infection rate per test is down to about 7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few weeks ago .
Not all in Texas remain so confident .
In tiny Paris , Texas , which had just a handful of cases barely a week ago , a weekend outbreak at a nursing home now has some businesses near the Oklahoma border reconsidering , illustrating the balancing act states are taking as they begin relaxing public health restrictions .
Iowa , Utah and Oklahoma are among a handful of other states that are also easing restrictions and partially reopening Friday .
A Texas Restaurant Association survey this week of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only about half planned to open , according to group President Emily Williams Knight .
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

HOUSTON (AP) - Raising a margarita during lunch at one of her favorite Tex-Mex spots, Lulu Salcido wasted no time celebrating Texas’ reopening Friday. “We’re really happy. Cheers!,” she said.
But others in Texas, including big-city leaders reading off new coronavirus deaths through face coverings, found little to celebrate as the state of nearly 30 million lifted stay-at-home orders and let every retailer and restaurant welcome customers back inside for the first time since early April. The reboot comes as Texas flirts with what could be its deadliest week of the outbreak, including 34 new fatalities announced Friday.
Testing also remains short of the 30,000-a-day that Republican Gov. Greg Abbott says will keep tabs on making sure the virus stays in check, although the state announced a sharp single-day uptick in tests just as stores and beaches were reopening.
“It’s impossible to pull a date out of thin air and say to the virus, ‘We’re ready for you to go away now,’” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, a Democrat and the top county official in Houston. “That’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this work.”
Businesses were hardly bombarded on the fist day back.
In San Antonio, few people wandered through Ingram Park Mall, which includes several stores that are still choosing to remain shut. At CraftWay Kitchen near Dallas, co-owner Troy Cooper served a slow lunch crowd but said none of his employees balked at coming back over fears of getting infected.
A video posted to social media from Austin showed a park ranger getting shoved in a shallow part of a lake while instructing a crowd of mostly shirtless parkgoers to practice social distancing.
“I got you, man,” says someone in the video, which was shot Thursday, right before the ranger is pushed into the water. Laughter can be heard.
Austin police said a 25-year-old was arrested and charged with attempted assault on a public servant.
Like most governors, Abbott is taking a piecemeal approach to rolling back restrictions: Counties with fewer than five active cases of COVID-19 can reopen businesses at 50% capacity, but the majority of Texans live in places where capacity for now is limited to 25%. Abbott wants to further relax restrictions, including letting hair salons and gyms reopen, with a goal of mid-May, but health experts have expressed concerns over moving too fast.
Iowa, Utah and Oklahoma were among a handful of other states that are also easing restrictions and partially reopened Friday.
Texas is approaching nearly 30,000 cases and has reported more than 800 deaths linked to the disease, though the number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested. Studies suggest people can be infected without feeling sick.
More than 120 people have died over the past three days in Texas, the worst stretch since the state’s first coronavirus case in March. Abbott has said he is looking at other metrics, including steady hospitalization rates and infection rates that have gone down.
At El Tiempo Cantina in Houston, a sign instructed diners to keep six feet apart and that parties could not be any larger than six people. Every server wore masks and gloves, and instead of the usual Friday lunch rush, few trickled through the doors early.
“It’s very weird for us. It’s kind of strange,” said Roxanne Martinez, a manager at the restaurant. “At least we’re glad we’re actually, finally, starting to get back to normal.”
___
Mone reported from Houston. Associated Press writer Jamie Stengle in Dallas, journalist Tony Gutierrez in Plano, Texas, and journalist Eric Gay in San Antonio contributed to this report.
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Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-05-01--Oklahoma businesses set to reopen amid virus pandemic

OKLAHOMA CITY ( AP ) - Oklahoma shoppers can return to malls and other stores Friday as stay-at-home orders expire in the state ’ s biggest cities , putting local governments in line with Gov .
Kevin Stitt ’ s plans for reopening the state ’ s economy amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Social distancing rules will still apply , though it remains to be seen how many businesses will reopen and how many people will want to spend money as the steep economic downturn has led to staggering job loss .
Nationally , more than 30.3 million workers have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks .
The state health department on Thursday reported more than 3,600 confirmed coronavirus cases and at least 222 deaths in Oklahoma .
The number of COVID-19 infections is thought to be far higher because many people haven ’ t been tested .
Studies suggest people can be infected without feeling sick .
Barber shops , hair and nail salons and spas began reopening a week ago in many cities after Stitt allowed them to resume business if they keep customers a safe distance apart and follow sanitation guidelines .
Tulsa ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local stay-at-home order saying it would be futile to keep it in place when so many neighboring cities were rolling theirs back .

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahomans were allowed to return to restaurants, malls and other stores on Friday as stay-at-home orders expired in the state’s biggest cities, bringing local governments in line with Gov. Kevin Stitt’s plans for reopening the state’s economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Social distancing rules will still apply, though it remained to be seen how many businesses would reopen and how many people would want to spend money as the steep economic downturn has led to staggering job loss. Nationally, more than 30.3 million workers have filed for unemployment in the last six weeks.
Dozens of people waited in line outside the Penn Square Mall in Oklahoma City before it opened Friday morning. Few of them were wearing masks or practicing strict social distancing, despite recommendations from public health officials.
“Please recognize that the virus doesn’t care that it is May 1,” Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt said Friday. “We still have a deadly virus in our community that has no vaccine and no proven treatment.
“The activities returning today have the potential to create new opportunities for spreading the virus, but it doesn’t have to be that way.”
The state health department on Friday reported that Oklahoma has had more than 3,700 confirmed COVID-19 cases and at least 230 deaths from the disease. The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people haven’t been tested and studies suggest that people can be infected without showing symptoms.
The eight new deaths reported on Friday were all people who were over the age of 65. Nearly 40% of the reported COVID-19 deaths in Oklahoma - 91 in total - have been residents of nursing homes or long-term care facilities, according to health department statistics.
For most people, the 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.
At Sean Cummings’ Irish Restaurant in Oklahoma City, Cummings was busy Friday whipping up a 20-gallon batch of goulash. He said he’s managed to keep his entire kitchen staff and 90% of his servers employed by doing curbside and takeout food orders.
Cummings has moved to disposable dishes, silverware and condiments, and he said that when he reopened the restaurant on Friday, customers would order their food at a designated spot by the bar where they could pick it up and take it to their tables.
“That’s the way most restaurants in Europe do it,” Cummings said. “So it looks much more legitimately European, and it also enables my customers and employees to feel safe. That’s the No. 1 thing for me.
“This may be what the future looks like in the pub business.”
Barber shops, hair and nail salons, and spas began reopening a week ago in many cities after Stitt allowed them to resume business if they keep customers a safe distance apart and follow sanitation guidelines. Tulsa’s mayor G.T. Bynum reluctantly lifted his local stay-at-home order saying it would be futile to keep it in place when so many neighboring cities were rolling theirs back.
Also on Friday, Oklahoma State University announced plans to have in-person classes resume on its campus in the fall. The University of Oklahoma announced similar plans last week.
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Check out more of the AP’s coronavirus coverage at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak