thetorontostar--2020-06-09--Sen. Graham defeats 3 GOP challengers in quest for 4th term

COLUMBIA , S.C. - In the next step of a race already on pace to become the most expensive in South Carolina history , U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham has defeated three little-known GOP challengers , the last marker ahead of a general election face-off with Democrat Jaime Harrison .
Graham , 64 , bested fellow Republicans Duke Buckner , Michael Lapierre and Joe Reynolds in Tuesday ’ s primary election .
Harrison was unopposed in his primary , and two Libertarians and one Constitution Party candidate have also filed to seek the seat .
Graham ’ s popularity among Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along with his relationship to President Donald Trump , who is supporting his reelection bid and campaigned with him in the state in February .
A year ago , all of South Carolina ’ s statewide-elected officials endorsed Graham , as has Vice-President Mike Pence , who helped kick off Graham ’ s reelection campaign last year .
The 44-year-old Harrison , an associate chairman with the Democratic National Committee and former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party , has from the start aimed to draw national attention .
That has helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizing that is crucial to flipping a Senate seat in the deeply red state .
He received backing from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee last spring and has since gotten support from former Vice-President and presumed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , as well as former 2020 hopefuls U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker .
On Tuesday , Harrison congratulated Graham on his victory and expressed excitement for the general election campaign , saying in a news release that South Carolina voters are “ fed up with Lindsey taking this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demanding a senator who will put their needs ahead of his own.
“ State Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick said GOP stalwarts were “ ready and eager ” to work to defeat Harrison .
Both Graham and Harrison have posted record-setting fundraising hauls in recent quarters .
Over the course of the campaign , Harrison has raised nearly $ 15 million .
Graham has taken in a total of $ 21 million , according to Federal Election Commission records .
The COVID-19 outbreak created some questions as to how Tuesday ’ s elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their brief returns to the Statehouse , legislators passed a law allowing universal absentee voting because of the pandemic .
A federal judge also temporarily removed a policy requiring that a witness sign an absentee voter ’ s ballot .
A slow but steady trickle of voters cast ballots in person Tuesday at a church in Lexington , South Carolina , where supporters of some local candidates said there was no line inside .
Those wearing masks often took them off as soon as they left .
Ed Spratt , 63 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and left his mask in his car , though he acknowledged he should have worn it inside .
Spratt said of voting in-person during the pandemic : “ It wasn ’ t a concern in the forefront .
It ’ s always there , but it was not , ’ Oh god , I can ’ t go vote today.
” Tom Chandler , dean of the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina , arrived at midday at his polling place at a church near Lake Murray .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Though strips of blue tape outside guided voters to stand six feet apart , no line formed .
“ As a public health professional , yes , I ’ m concerned about it , ” Chandler said of voting in person during the pandemic .
“ But you know , my desire to exercise my right to vote far outweighs my concern for my personal safety from COVID.
” Chandler said his polling place did an excellent job with safety precautions , including providing voters with cotton swabs to use on the ballot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barnwell , a self-avowed Graham supporter , voted absentee for the senator ahead of Tuesday ’ s primary , in part because of the outbreak .
The 72-year-old retired nurse was recently released from the hospital , where he was treated for several weeks after contracting COVID-19 .
“ Lindsey Graham is an outstanding senator , military veteran , retired Army judge , Christian man and native South Carolinian who loves this state , ” Barnwell told The Associated Press on Thursday evening .
“ He is a powerful voice in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the unborn and older citizens.
” Meg Kinnard can be reached at http : //twitter.com/MegKinnardAP


thetorontostar--2020-06-09--Murder conviction voided in accused serial killer’s case

CLINTON , La .
- A Louisiana man had his first-degree murder conviction voided by a judge on Tuesday after his lawyer argued that the jury ’ s split verdict was unconstitutional .
A jury had found Ryan Sharpe guilty in December 2019 of killing 48-year-old Brad Defranceschi , a Boy Scouts employee , in an 11-1 verdict .
On Tuesday , Sharpe ’ s lawyer Tommy Damico argued that Sharpe ’ s conviction should be voided and a new trial held because of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in April that banned non-unanimous jury decisions .
A district judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial for Sharpe for December , news outlets reported .
“ He clearly was entitled to a new trial , ” Damico said .
Split verdicts were voted unconstitutional by Louisiana residents in 2018 .
But because the killings in Sharpe ’ s case were before 2019 and since prosecutors declined the death penalty , the jury was allowed to return a non-unanimous decision .
Defranceschi was the second person gunned down in a string of shootings authorities said they believe Sharpe committed .
The four shootings , which all happened in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 7-mile ( 11-kilometre ) radius of Sharpe ’ s home , left residents anxious for weeks during the summer and fall of 2017 .
Defranceschi was fatally shot in October 2017 while trimming weeds in front of his house on Boy Scouts camp property in Clinton , about 30 miles ( 50 kilometres ) northeast of Baton Rouge .
Sharpe ’ s accused of second-degree murder in the September 2017 death of former Baton Rouge Park and Recreation Commissioner Carroll Breeden Sr. , who was also killed in his front yard .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ He was charged with second-degree murder in the July 2017 shooting of 62-year-old Tommy Bass , who was killed in the carport of his home .
He was also charged with attempted first-degree murder in the September 2017 shooting of 47-year-old Buck Hornsby , who was wounded while exercising on his property .

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thetorontostar--2020-06-09--The Latest: Biden wins Georgia, W.Va. Democratic primaries

WASHINGTON - The Latest on the 2020 primary elections ( all times local ) : Joe Biden has won the Democratic presidential primaries in Georgia and West Virginia .
The former vice-president was declared the winner Tuesday , after a day of voting problems plagued Georgia .
Voters reported long lines , equipment not working and absentee ballots not received .
Polling places in at least nine counties extended voting hours because of the problems .
Biden had already amassed enough delegates to be Democrats ’ presumptive presidential nominee .
His status will be formalized at the party ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a potential battleground state in November ’ s election .
It hasn ’ t gone for a Democratic presidential contender since 1992 .
Polling places in at least nine Georgia counties will remain open later than expected because of voting problems .
Voters reported long lines Tuesday , voting equipment not working and absentee ballots not received , among other complaints .
The extensions span the northwest corner of the state to the southeast coastline .
In Bartow County , a heavily Republican county on the suburban fringe of Atlanta , county officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by half an hour , saying the polling place was unable to open on time because of “ unforeseen circumstances.
” A judge in DeKalb County signed an order approving extended voting hours for seven polling places .
The extensions , ranging from 15 minutes to three hours and 10 minutes , were the result of delays in voting because of “ technical and logistical issues.
“ Laurens County Probate Judge Helen Harper says hours were extended at one of the rural middle Georgia county ’ s 16 polling places by an hour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ computerized devices using for signing in voters to work on Tuesday morning .
Georgia ’ s House speaker is directing leaders of the House Governmental Affairs Committee to investigate the voting problems in Tuesday ’ s primaries .
Republican House Speaker David Ralston said in a statement that the move was prompted by anecdotes of “ unacceptable deficiencies ” from around the state : poll workers lacking proper training , voting equipment not working , absentee ballots not received , among other problems .
“ The legislative branch of government has an obligation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get to the truth and the real reasons underlying these frustrations and concerns , ” Ralston said .
Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger told The Associated Press in an interview that county election directors are responsible for the voting problems .
“ It falls back on the management team to make sure the poll workers are trained properly , ” he said .
“ The machines are operating fine when the operator knows what they are doing.
” But voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams , who lost the 2018 governor ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Raffensperger “ owns this disaster.
” “ He must stop finger-pointing and fix it , ” the Democrat wrote .
Georgia ’ s secretary of state is blaming county election directors for voting problems in Tuesday ’ s statewide primary elections .
Republican Brad Raffensperger said in an interview with The Associated Press that voting was running smoothly across much of the state , except for two metro Atlanta counties .
“ When these things arise , and it ’ s really specifically in one or two counties , in Fulton and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it leads us back to the failure of the management of the county election directors , ” Raffensperger said .
“ It has nothing to do with what we ’ re doing in the rest of Georgia.
” But the problems weren ’ t exclusive to Fulton and Dekalb counties .
Voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams ’ group Fair Fight Action said voters had reported that at least 21 polling locations in at least eight counties did not open as scheduled at 7 a.m .
In Chatham County , which includes Savannah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours because of problems and delays .
It was Georgia ’ s first time using its new voting system , which combined touchscreens with scanned paper ballots in races for president , U.S. Senate and dozens of other contests .
The Biden campaign is denouncing the voting problems in Georgia and calling on the state to make improvements before the November general election .
Rachana Desai Martin , the campaign ’ s national director for voter protection and senior counsel , said Tuesday that the long lines , undelivered absentee ballots and voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a threat to American values of free and fair elections .
“ We only have a few months left until voters around the nation head to the polls again , and efforts should begin immediately to ensure that every Georgian -- and every American -- is able to safely exercise their right to vote .
Our campaign will remain fully engaged in defending that right , ” she said .
It was Georgia ’ s first time using its new voting system , which combined touchscreens with scanned paper ballots in races @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of other contests .
The president of a group that advocates for fair elections is calling on Georgia to extends its voting hours following widespread reports of voting machine malfunctions and long lines in its twice-delayed primary election .
“ This election has been a catastrophe , ” said Kristen Clarke , president of the Lawyers ’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law .
“ If we view the primary election as a dry run for November , Georgia gets an F. ” Clarke said her group has filed notices with Cobb , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to extend voting hours Tuesday because of the widespread reports of problems .
People have reported waiting in line for up to five hours .
“ I place the indictment on the secretary of state and the governor for not doing all they can to ensure , in the middle of a pandemic , that counties would have the support , resources and training necessary to administer an election in which they were using new machines , ” Clarke said .
“ They could have anticipated every problem we are seeing across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican secretary of state , Brad Raffensperger , has opened an investigation of voting problems in Fulton and Dekalb counties and said “ every other county ” was significantly better prepared .
But voting delays haven ’ t been limited to those two counties .
Georgia ’ s secretary of state has opened an investigation into voting problems in two counties in metro Atlanta amid reports of voting machine malfunctions in its twice-delayed primary election .
Republican Brad Raffensperger on Tuesday announced investigations into Fulton and Dekalb counties ’ election process .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and said his office was investigating how to resolve the issues before the November general election .
It ’ s the first time Georgia is using its new voting system , which combined touchscreens with scanned paper ballots in races for president , U.S. Senate and dozens of other contests .
But Raffensperger said “ every other county ” was significantly better prepared .
However , voting delays weren ’ t limited to Atlanta .
In Savannah , Mayor Van Johnson said he was “ inundated ” with calls Tuesday morning from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems caused at least one polling place in the Augusta area to open more than 90 minutes late , Richmond County elections supervisor Lynn Bailey told WRDW-TV .
News outlets also reported problems with poll workers operating voting equipment in Macon and a long line stretching through the parking lot of polling site at a church in Columbus .


thetorontostar--2020-06-09--Trump pushes conspiracy theory about Buffalo protester

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump ignited fresh controversy over his hard-line “ law and order ” push Tuesday by peddling yet another unfounded conspiracy theory , this time trying to raise suspicions about a 75-year-old protester who was hospitalized after being shoved by police and falling .
Trump tweeted without evidence that the confrontation in Buffalo , New York , may have been a “ set up ” as he once again sided with police officers over protesters and demonstrated anew his willingness to spread and amplify bogus charges cooked up by far-right outlets .
The move comes as Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of law and order , ” has taken a tough line against the protesters who have been demonstrating across the nation following the killing of George Floyd , a black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis after a white police officer pressed a knee into his neck .
Aides have been urging Trump to strike a more unifying tone , worried that his divisive response to the protests is animating parts of the Democratic base and benefiting his rival , Democrat Joe Biden , months before November ’ s election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charged with second-degree assault after video captured protester Martin Gugino falling to the ground after being pushed by police .
He was seen bleeding from his head as officers walk away .
The officers , who could face prison sentences of up to seven years if convicted , have pleaded not guilty .
The video is one of several that have emerged in recent weeks showing police using seemingly excessive force against protesters as Trump has demanded that governors and mayors across the nation take control of their streets using all means necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to call up the national guard and threatened to deploy active-duty military to American cities if he deems local efforts insufficient .
“ Buffalo protester shoved by Police could be an ANTIFA provocateur , ” Trump wrote in his tweet .
“ 75 year old Martin Gugino was pushed away after appearing to scan police communications in order to black out the equipment .
@ OANN I watched , he fell harder than was pushed .
Was aiming scanner .
Could be a set up ?
” There is no evidence to suggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump was referencing a report on One America News Network , a far-right news channel that he often praises .
Trump ’ s tweet was criticized by both Republicans and Democrats .
“ It ’ s a serious accusation , which should only be made with facts and evidence .
And I haven ’ t seen any yet , ” said Sen. John Thune of South Dakota , the No .
2 Republican in the Senate .
Asked by reporters if the president should not be making it , Thune said : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a given.
” Sen. Lisa Murkowski , R-Alaska , who last week said she ’ s “ struggling with ” whether to support Trump in November , reacted to the tweet in the Capitol after a reporter handed her a printout .
“ Oh lord .
Ugh , ” she said .
“ Again , why would you fan the flames ?
That ’ s all I ’ m going to say.
” New York Democratic Gov .
Andrew Cuomo called on Trump to apologize for a “ wholly unacceptable ” tweet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , how mean , how crude .
I mean if there was ever a reprehensible , dumb comment , and from the president of the United States , ” Cuomo said at his daily press conference .
“ At this moment of anguish and anger , what does he do ?
Pour gasoline on the fire , ” he added .
“ Show some decency .
Show some humanity .
Show some fairness .
You ’ re the president of the United States.
” As for the substance of the tweet , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technically incomprehensible , I ’ m not even sure where to start , ” said Matt Blaze , a professor of computer science and law at Georgetown University .
It is possible to disrupt police radio —an illegal action often called “ jamming ” — but hackers can only do that by attacking receiving stations , not with handheld devices that target an individual police officer ’ s radio , Blaze said .
“ Any radio system is subject to interference , but it doesn ’ t work by pointing some sort of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
As he has tried to malign protesters as “ radical-left , bad people ” engaging in domestic terrorism , Trump has frequently invoked the label “ antifa , “ an umbrella term for leftist militants bound more by belief than organizational structure .
Trump has blamed antifa for the violence that has erupted during some of the protests .
But federal law enforcement officials have offered little evidence that antifa-aligned protesters are behind the efforts seen in hundreds of cities and towns in all 50 states since Floyd ’ s death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ads calling on Facebook users to applaud the president for saying he would declare antifa a terrorist organization .
Gugino , who is out of the intensive care unit but remains hospitalized , has been described by friends as a retiree and veteran peace activist driven by his faith and a desire for social justice .
He is involved with the Western New York Peace Center and Latin American Solidarity Committee , the centre ’ s executive director has said .
Gugino ’ s attorney , Kelly Zarcone , told The Associated Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ utterly baseless and ridiculous.
” Gugino , she said , “ has always been a peaceful protester because he cares about today ’ s society.
“ “ No one from law enforcement has even suggested anything otherwise , so we are at a loss to understand why the president of the United States would make such dark , dangerous , and untrue accusations about him , “ she said .
Erie County District Attorney John Flynn declined to comment Tuesday on the president ’ s tweet and said he would have no further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains under investigation .
Thompson reported from Buffalo .
Associated Press writer Amanda Seitz in Chicago contributed to this report .

Jill Colvin And Carolyn Thompson - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-06-09--Hong Kong businessman ends prison sentence in bribery scheme

NEW YORK - A prominent Hong Kong businessman has been freed after serving his three-year prison sentence for what prosecutors say were bribes paid to the presidents of two African countries .
Dr. Chi Ping Patrick Ho , 70 , was given leniency at sentencing last year by U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska , who cited acts of kindness that included playing violin for fellow inmates .
He served 16 months behind bars before sentencing .
Good behaviour shortened his incarceration time .
The judge said his charity also included tutoring inmates at the Metropolitan Correctional Center so they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the MCC in Manhattan on Monday and was deported to Hong Kong , according to the terms outlined at sentencing .
The Bureau of Prisons confirmed his release .
Ho was convicted in December 2018 of paying bribes to the presidents of Chad and Uganda in a scheme to secure oil rights for an energy conglomerate known as CEFC China Energy .
Defence lawyers insisted at trial that payments to the presidents were legitimate charitable donations .
The payments included $ 2 million in gift boxes delivered to Chad ’ s president in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentencing , even taking a full bow before the judge to show what he described as his “ gratitude and appreciation.
” At trial , prosecutors said Ho approached the presidents of Chad and Uganda on behalf of CEFC China Energy after growing accustomed to using money to entice foreign officials to help the company expand business .

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thetorontostar--2020-06-09--Federal appeals court axes Satanic Temple abortion lawsuit

COLUMBIA , Mo .
- The U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a lawsuit Tuesday filed by a member of the Satanic Temple against a Missouri abortion law .
At issue is a law requiring women , before they can get an abortion , to receive a pamphlet that states : “ The life of each human being begins at conception .
Abortion will terminate the life of a separate , unique , living human being.
” An anonymous woman , Judy Doe , sued , arguing the law violates her religious freedom as a Satanic Temple member .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a literal Satan but sees the biblical Satan as a metaphor for rebellion against tyranny .
A federal district judge last year ruled against Doe , and the appeals court agreed .
The court wrote that the case demonstrates why Missouri wasn ’ t wrong to promote viewpoints on life that Doe argued align with the Catholic religion .
“ Any theory of when life begins necessarily aligns with some religious beliefs and not others , “ the court wrote .
” So under Doe ’ s theory , Missouri ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this area altogether.
” The Satanic Temple didn ’ t immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment Tuesday .
Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt ’ s office didn ’ t immediately comment but has stated support for the law .


thetorontostar--2020-06-09--VA says it lacks adequate medical gear for 2nd virus wave

WASHINGTON - The Veterans Affairs Department on Tuesday defended itself against criticism of past shortages of masks and other medical gear to protect employees from the coronavirus but acknowledged its current supplies may not be enough to handle a second wave .
Dr. Richard Stone , the top health official at VA , said at the height of the pandemic its 170 medical centres were going through 250,000 N95 masks per day — a “ daunting amount.
” Now , the VA has about a 30-day supply of gear including masks and gowns but it really needs a 60-day supply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing demands as the VA moves to fully reopen its medical centres due to the easing of stay-at-home orders nationwide .
To handle a possible second wave of COVID-19 , it would need a six-month supply .
“ A future pandemic wave may test all of us in our preparation , ” Stone told the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee .
Noting that the VA is currently spending $ 100 million per month for personal protective equipment compared with $ 10 million per month before the pandemic , Stone said the U.S. manufacturing base @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the needs of every hospital system “ in the country and the world.
” Stone said the VA was adding medical staff — over 18,800 employees so far with more to come — and preparing four “ readiness centres ” to house personal protective equipment as it readies for a possible resurgence of the virus this fall .
Sen. Jerry Moran , R-Kansas , who chairs the committee , and Sen. Jon Tester of Montana , the panel ’ s top Democrat , urged President Donald Trump this week to include the VA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act Committee .
Democrats in particular point to a broken supply chain and say Trump should invoke the DPA to ensure that the VA , which has the nation ’ s largest hospital system , gets the medical supplies it needs .
The Associated Press previously reported that VA health care facilities struggled with shortages of workers and protective equipment , forcing employees to reuse masks for days or weeks , even as VA leaders denied that it lacked adequate supplies .
On Tuesday , Stone pointed to low infection rates at VA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never a point that a VA health care worker was put in danger treating COVID-19 patients.
” Still , he acknowledged that the VA had only tested about 50,000 or 17 % of its employees so far and still had a ways to go to provide on-demand testing for its workforce , due to shortages of swabs and other testing supplies .
As of Tuesday , VA had 1,665 staff cases of COVID-19 , including 133 that were considered “ active.
” At least 33 VA employees have died of the virus , @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-06-10--Confederate monument in Virginia covered with trash bags

PORTSMOUTH , Va. - Protesters in Portsmouth , Virginia , covered a Confederate monument in the city with trash bags and sheets Wednesday , several hours after the city ’ s council members had a meeting to figure out ways to relocate it .
A white sheet that read “ BLM ” covered the fence in front of the monument hours after the Portsmouth city council met Tuesday to discuss who owns the figure , WVEC-TV reported .
The question about who owns the monument has been the main roadblock in the city ’ s years-long quest to remove it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , Mayor John Rowe asked the city attorney if Portsmouth has the right to move the 127-year-old memorial .
In 2018 , a judge denied the city ’ s claim to own the monument because no one else had tried to claim it .
The local chapter of the NAACP and protesters have called for the 54-foot ( 16.5-meter ) monument to be taken down , but some council members oppose removing the statue without a city wide vote , WAVY reported .
“ Removing history is something I associate with bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Councilman Bill Moody said during the meeting .
He said the monuments and museums exist “ to remind us to never let this happen again.
” Vice Mayor Lisa Lucas-Burke suggested covering the statue until it ’ s relocated .
During the meeting , the mayor proposed $ 100,000 the city can use to relocate the figure .
A new law in Virginia that allows cities to move or alter Confederate monuments they own goes into effect July 1 .
Confederate monuments around the country have fallen in recent years amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monuments to Southern heritage or hated symbols of racism and past slavery .
The debate has escalated anew in the nationwide protests over police misconduct and racism after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Elsewhere in Virginia , a statue of Christopher Columbus in Richmond was torn down by protesters , set on fire and then thrown into a lake Tuesday .
The statue was toppled less than two hours after protesters gathered in the city ’ s Byrd Park were chanting for the statue to be taken down , news @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-06-10--German FM warns Israel against West Bank annexation plans

JERUSALEM - Germany ’ s foreign minister on Wednesday warned Israel that its plan to begin annexing parts of the West Bank would violate international law , but he declined to say how Germany or Europe would respond .
The visit to Jerusalem — Heiko Maas ’ first trip outside of Europe since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic — comes just weeks before Israel intends to extend its sovereignty over Jewish West Bank settlements , in line with President Donald Trump ’ s controversial Mideast plan .
The annexation plan has come under harsh criticism from some of Israel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who say that unilaterally redrawing the Mideast map would destroy any lingering hopes for establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel .
Speaking at a news conference , Maas said that Germany and the European Union were seeking clarity about the Israeli plan , but he made a point that Europe considers annexation incompatible with international law .
“ I didn ’ t set up any price tags .
We are also in agreement in the EU that we seek dialogue with all parties to this process .
I am here in Israel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new government , “ Maas said , standing alongside Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi .
“ We still believe the negotiated two-state solution is the right way , that annexation will not make this solution more probable.
” Germany , already a key European power broker , will be taking over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union and assuming the presidency of the U.N. Security Council on July 1 , the same day Israel says it may begin unfurling its plan .
The EU has also made clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considers it illegal under international law .
For now , though , diplomats are trying to engage Israeli officials and convey the message that unilateral annexation would have negative repercussions on relations .
Still , they have not indicated how the EU might respond .
“ I made clear that the German government and the colleagues in the EU are very worried that annexation can lead to the two-state solution no longer being viable and that we are on the wrong path , ” he added .
“ It ’ s the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a former military chief who recently assumed his post with the establishment of a new Israeli government , claimed the Trump plan has its upsides and presents an opportunity .
“ The plan will be pursued responsibly , ” he said .
“ We intend to do it in a dialogue with our neighbours , “ mentioning Jordan , among others .
Maas was also to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Benny Gantz .
Later in the day , he will travel to neighbouring Jordan to meet his counterpart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Palestinian leaders .
The U.S. plan envisions leaving about one third of the West Bank , which Israel captured in 1967 , under permanent Israeli control , while granting the Palestinians expanded autonomy in the remainder of the territory .
The Palestinians , who seek all of the West Bank as part of an independent state , have rejected the plan , saying it overwhelmingly favours Israel .
In response , they have cut off key security ties with Israel and say they are no longer bound to agreements signed .
The moves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence if annexation is carried out .
Israel ’ s defence minister has urged the military to hasten preparations for what could be fierce Palestinian protests .
The proposal also faces opposition within Israel , where many fear that annexation is a step that could lead to the creation of a single bi-national state with the Palestinians .
Even some hard-line settlers oppose the plan , saying it doesn ’ t go far enough .
But Netanyahu appears eager to press forth before the U.S. election in November , when Joe Biden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he opposes annexation , could replace Trump .
Netanyahu has lauded Trump ’ s nearly blanket support for his policies and hailed annexation as a historic opportunity to establish Israel ’ s permanent borders , and retain control of strategic frontiers without having to evacuate a single settler .
Previous peace plans have all included calls for far greater Israeli concessions .
Netanyahu made annexation a key campaign pledge before the country ’ s most recent third election in under a year , and conditioned his otherwise equally divided government with Gantz upon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


thetorontostar--2020-06-10--Slovakia’s ex-premier Pellegrini to form new political party

BRATISLAVA , Slovakia - Former Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini announced Wednesday a plan to leave his leftist party to establish a new centre-left political organization .
Pellegrini has been deputy chairman of the Smer-Social Democracy party , which had dominated Slovakia ’ s politics since 2006 before being ousted from power by a centre-right party in the February parliamentary election .
His move was expected .
He has clashed with the party chairman , former Premier Robert Fico , over the scandal-tainted party ’ s future following the disappointing loss in the election .
The result sent Smer to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government took over .
Pellegrini became the prime minister after Fico ’ s coalition government was forced to resign by the massive anti-government street protests in 2018 following the slayings of an investigative reporter and his fiancee .
Investigators linked Jan Kuciak ’ s death to his work probing possible widespread government corruption .
Pellegrini called on Fico , considered a populist leader , to resign from his party post .
He said Wednesday their future co-operation wasn ’ t possible anymore .
Pellegrini said he wants to form a new centre-left party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from scratch and expected other Smer lawmakers to join him .
He didn ’ t provide further details .
A recent poll suggested it might be as popular as the Ordinary People led by Prime Minister Igor Matovic , a centre-right group that won the the Feb. 29 election .


thetorontostar--2020-06-10--China says it’s working with India to reduce tensions

BEIJING - China said Wednesday that it is taking measures with India to reduce tensions along their disputed frontier high in the Himalayas following a recent flareup that prompted rock-throwing and fistfights .
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters that the sides had engaged in “ effective communication through diplomatic and military channels ” on how to deal with issues on the western section of their disputed border .
“ At present , the two sides are taking corresponding actions to ease the situation on the border in accordance with the relevant consensus , ” Hua said at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two countries have been facing off just a few hundred meters ( yards ) from each other for a month in the Indian-controlled Ladakh region .
Army officers have held a series of meetings to try to break the impasse .
Indian officials say Chinese soldiers entered Ladakh in early May at three different points , erecting tents and guard posts and ignoring verbal warnings to leave .
That triggered shouting matches , stone-throwing and fistfights , much of it replayed on television and social media .
China has objected to India @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the region to an airstrip , possibly sparking its move to assert control over territory along the border that is not clearly defined in places .
India and China fought a border war in 1962 and have been trying to settle their dispute since the early 1990s without success .
In all , China claims some 90,000 square kilometres ( 35,000 square miles ) of territory in India ’ s northeast , including the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh , with its traditionally Buddhist population .
India says China occupies 38,000 square kilometres @ @ @ @ @ @ @ territory in the Aksai Chin Plateau in the western Himalayas , including part of the Ladakh region .


thetorontostar--2020-06-10--For George Floyd, a complicated life and a notorious death

HOUSTON - Years before a bystander ’ s video of George Floyd ’ s last moments turned his name into a global cry for justice , Floyd trained a camera on himself .
“ I just want to speak to you all real quick , ” Floyd says in one video , addressing the young men in his neighbourhood who looked up to him .
His 6-foot-7 frame crowds the picture .
“ I ’ ve got my shortcomings and my flaws and I ain ’ t better than nobody else , ” he says .
“ But , man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on , I don ’ t care what ‘ hood you ’ re from , where you ’ re at , man .
I love you and God loves you .
Put them guns down.
” At the time , Floyd was respected as a man who spoke from hard , but hardly extraordinary , experience .
He had nothing remotely like the stature he has gained in death , embraced as a universal symbol of the need to overhaul policing and held up as a heroic everyman .
But the reality of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharp edges and setbacks Floyd himself acknowledged , was both much fuller and more complicated .
Once a star athlete with dreams of turning pro and enough talent to win a partial scholarship , Floyd returned home only to bounce between jobs before serving nearly five years in prison .
Intensely proud of his roots in Houston ’ s Third Ward and admired as a mentor in a public housing project beset by poverty , he decided the only way forward was to leave it behind .
“ He had made some mistakes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life , ” said Ronnie Lillard , a friend and rapper who performs under the name Reconcile .
“ And when he got out of that , I think the Lord greatly impacted his heart.
” Floyd was born in North Carolina .
But his mother , a single parent , moved the family to Houston when he was 2 , so she could search for work .
They settled in the Cuney Homes , a low-slung warren of more than 500 apartments south of downtown nicknamed “ The Bricks.
” The neighbourhood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s black community , has gentrified in recent years .
Texas Southern University , a historically black campus directly across the street from the projects , has long held itself out as launchpad for those willing to strive .
But many residents struggle , with incomes about half the city average and unemployment nearly four times higher , even before the recent economic collapse .
Yeura Hall , who grew up next door to Floyd , said even in the Third Ward other kids looked down on those who lived in public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he , Floyd and other boys made up a song about themselves : “ I don ’ t want to grow up , I ’ m a Cuney Homes kid .
They got so many rats and roaches I can play with.
” Larcenia Floyd invested her hopes in her son , who as a second-grader wrote that he dreamed of being a U.S. Supreme Court justice .
“ She thought that he would be the one that would bring them out of poverty and struggle , ” said Travis Cains , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tight end for the football team at Jack Yates High School , playing for the losing side in the 1992 state championship game at the Houston Astrodome .
He was an atypical football player .
“ We used to call him ‘ Big Friendly , ’ ” said Cervaanz Williams , a former teammate .
“ If you said something to him , his head would drop , ” said Maurice McGowan , his football coach .
“ He just wasn ’ t going to ball up and act like he wanted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Floyd ’ s height and strength won attention from George Walker , a former assistant coach at the University of Houston hired for the head job at what is now South Florida State College .
The school was a 17-hour drive away , in a small town , but high school administrators and Floyd ’ s mother urged him to go , Walker said .
“ They wanted George to really get out of the neighbourhood , to do something , be something , ” Walker said .
In Avon Park , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players from Houston stood out for their size , accents and city cool .
They lived in the Jacaranda Hotel , a historic lodge used as a dormitory , and were known as the “ Jac Boys.
” “ He was always telling me about the Third Ward of Houston , how rough it was , but how much he loved it , ” said Robert Caldwell , a friend and fellow student who frequently travelled with the basketball team .
“ He said people know how to grind , as hard as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love.
” After two years in Avon Park , Floyd spent a year at Texas A & M University in Kingsville before returning to Houston and his mother ’ s apartment to find jobs in construction and security .
Larcenia Floyd , known throughout the neighbourhood as Ms. Cissy , welcomed her son ’ s friends from childhood , offering their apartment as refuge when their lives grew stressful .
When a neighbour went to prison on drug charges , Ms. Cissy took in the woman ’ s pre-teen son , Cal Wayne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the next 2 1/2 years .
“ We would steal his jerseys and put his jerseys on and run around the house , go outside , jerseys all the way down to our ankles because he was so big and we were little , ” said Wayne , now a well-known rapper who credits Floyd with encouraging him to pursue music .
George Floyd , he said , “ was like a superhero.
” Floyd , too , dabbled in music , occasionally invited to rap with Robert Earl Davis Jr. -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mixtapes have since been recognized as influential in charting Houston ’ s place as a hotbed of hip-hop .
But then , the man known throughout Cuney as “ Big Floyd , ” started finding trouble .
Between 1997 and 2005 , Floyd was arrested several times on drug and theft charges , spending months in jail .
Around that time , Wayne ’ s mother , Sheila Masters , recalled running into Floyd in the street and learning he was homeless .
“ He ’ s so tall he ’ d pat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ‘ Mama you know it ’ s going to be all right , ’ ” Masters said .
In August 2007 , Floyd was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon .
Investigators said he and five other men barged into a woman ’ s apartment , and Floyd pushed a pistol into her abdomen before searching for items to steal .
Floyd pleaded guilty in 2009 and was sentenced to five years in prison .
By the time he was paroled , in January 2013 , he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his head on right , ” said friend Travis Cains .
At a Christian rap concert in the Third Ward , Floyd met Lillard and pastor Patrick “ PT ” Ngwolo , whose ministry was looking for ways to reach residents in Cuney Homes .
Floyd , who seemed to know everyone in the project , volunteered to be their guide .
Soon Floyd was setting up a washtub on the Cuney basketball courts for baptisms by Ngwolo ’ s newly formed Resurrection Houston congregation .
He joined three-on-three basketball tournaments and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He knocked on doors with Ngwolo , introducing residents as candidates for grocery deliveries or Bible study .
Another pastor , Christopher Johnson , recalled Floyd stopping by his office while Johnson ’ s mother was visiting .
Decades had passed since Johnson ’ s mother had been a teacher at Floyd ’ s high school .
It didn ’ t matter .
He wrapped her in a bear hug .
“ I don ’ t think he ever thought of himself as being big , ” Johnson said .
“ There ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but he was a gentleman and a diplomat and I ’ m not putting any sauce on it.
” On the streets of Cuney , Floyd was increasingly embraced as an O.G .
-- literally “ original gangster , ” but bestowed as a title of respect for a mentor who ’ d learned from life experience .
In Tiffany Cofield ’ s classroom at a neighbourhood charter school , some of her male students -- many of whom had already had brushes with the law -- told her to talk to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to understand .
Floyd would listen patiently as she voiced her frustrations with students ’ bad behaviour , she said .
And he would try to explain the life of a young man in the projects .
After school , Floyd often met up with her students outside a corner store .
“ How ’ s school going ?
” he ’ d ask .
“ Are you being respectful ?
How ’ s your mom ?
How ’ s your grandma ?
” In 2014 , Floyd began exploring the possibility of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of five children from several relationships , he had bills to pay .
And despite his stature in Cuney , everyday life could be trying .
More than once , Floyd ended up in handcuffs when police came through the projects and detained a large number of men , Cofield said .
“ He would show by example : ‘ Yes , officer .
No , officer.
’ Very respectful .
Very calm tone , ” she said .
A friend of Floyd ’ s had already moved to the Twin Cities as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offered men a route to self-sufficiency by changing their environment and helping them find jobs .
“ He was looking to start over fresh , a new beginning , ” said Christopher Harris , who preceded Floyd to Minneapolis .
Friends provided Floyd with money and clothing to ease the transition .
In Minneapolis , Floyd found a job as a security guard at the Salvation Army ’ s Harbor Light Center -- the city ’ s largest homeless shelter .
“ He would regularly walk a couple of female co-workers out ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to their cars safely and securely , ” said Brian Molohon , director of development for the Army ’ s Minnesota office .
“ Just a big strong guy , but with a very tender side.
” Floyd left after a little over a year , training to drive trucks while working as a bouncer at a club called Conga Latin Bistro .
“ He would dance badly to make people laugh , ” said the owner , Jovanni Thunstrom .
“ I tried to teach him how to dance because he loved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t because he was too tall for me.
” Floyd kept his connection to Houston , regularly returning to Cuney .
When Houston hosted the Super Bowl in 2017 , Floyd was back in town , hosting a party at the church with music and free AIDS testing .
He came back again for his mother ’ s funeral the next year .
And when Cains spoke with him last , a few weeks ago , Floyd was planning another trip for this summer .
By then , Floyd was out of work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Floyd ’ s job when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the club to close .
On the evening of Memorial Day , Floyd was with two others when convenience store employees accused him of paying for cigarettes with a counterfeit $ 20 bill , then called the police .
Less than an hour later , Floyd breathed his last .
Those who knew him search for meaning in his death .
“ I ’ ve come to the belief that he was chosen , ” said Cofield , the teacher .
“ Only this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who he was and the amount of love that he had for people , people had for him.
” It ’ s a small comfort , she admits .
But , then , in Big Floyd ’ s neighbourhood , people have long made do with less .
Merchant and Lozano reported from Houston , Henao from Hershey , Pennsylvania , and Geller from New York .
Associated Press writer Aaron Morrison in Minneapolis and videographer John Mone in Houston contributed to this report .

Luis Andres Henao, Nomaan Merchant, Juan Lozano And Adam Geller - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-06-10--Suspected Boko Haram fighters kill 69 in Nigeria’s northeast

MAIDUGURI , Nigeria - Suspected members of the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram have killed at least 69 people in Nigeria ’ s northeast , residents said Wednesday .
Tuesday ’ s attack in Foduma Kolomaiya village in the Gubio area of Borno state likely was in retaliation for resistance against an assault weeks ago , residents said .
“ They came on motorcycles and vehicles and killed people at will in an attack that lasted more than two hours , ” said Rabiu Isa , a member of a local defence force .
“ In all we counted 69 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher because some people are still missing.
” Many others were wounded .
A leader of the local defence group , Malam Bunu , said the fighters returned Wednesday morning to kill a herdsman who had escaped the massacre .
“ Then set the entire village ablaze before they left , ” Bunu said .
“ As I am talking to you now , the village is still smoking.
” Gubio lies nearly 100 kilometres ( 62 miles ) northwest of Maiduguri , the Borno state capital .
Residents are mostly herders who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
After the initial attack nearly 1,200 cattle were stolen , Bunu said .
An air force fighter jet fired shots at the fleeing fighters , he said .
Tuesday ’ s attack was likely in retaliation for the death of two Boko Haram members “ whom the villagers managed to kill when the insurgents attempted to attack them about two months ago , ” Bunu said .
Boko Haram members often force villagers to pay illegal taxes by taking their livestock , he said .
But over time , villagers began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a breakaway faction , the Islamic State West Africa Province , are both active in the region .
Boko Haram ’ s more than decade-long insurgency has left thousands dead and displaced tens of thousands .
Insurgents recently have been mounting roadblocks , screening travellers and kidnapping people in northern Borno state , said the president of the region ’ s civil society organizations , Ahmed Shehu .
Last week , five people were kidnapped including a regional chairman for the Borno State Regional Emergency Services , he said .
On Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but later released .
“ There is urgent need for the protection of vulnerable civilians and local aid workers , ” Shehu said .

Haruna Umar And Sam Olukoya - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-06-10--Primary over, Harrison challenges Sen. Graham to debates

COLUMBIA , S.C. - With his defeat of three little-known GOP challengers behind him , U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham is officially embarking on the next phase of his quest for a fourth term : a general election matchup with Democrat Jaime Harrison already on pace to become the most expensive in South Carolina history .
And , just hours after Graham ’ s victory in Tuesday ’ s GOP primary , Harrison laid down a challenge to the veteran lawmaker , asking him to participate in a series of four debates across South Carolina , including one at a historically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Carolinians deserve the opportunity to hear from their candidates for U.S. Senate , ” Harrison wrote in a letter to Graham .
Harrison faced no primary opposition on Tuesday .
Graham , 64 , bested fellow Republicans Duke Buckner , Michael Lapierre and Joe Reynolds in Tuesday ’ s primary election .
Two Libertarians and one Constitution Party candidate also filed to seek the seat .
Graham ’ s popularity among Republicans in his home state has recently fluctuated along with his relationship to President Donald Trump , who is supporting his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state in February .
A year ago , all of South Carolina ’ s statewide-elected officials endorsed Graham , as has Vice-President Mike Pence , who helped kick off Graham ’ s reelection campaign last year .
Following his victory , Graham , chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee , said he was “ just getting warmed up ” for the November election , which he said would “ provide voters with a stark choice between the Democrats ’ socialist agenda or security and prosperity through free enterprise and security.
” On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but said in a news release that South Carolina voters are “ fed up with Lindsey taking this seat for granted , and they are demanding a senator who will put their needs ahead of his own.
” Harrison , an associate chairman with the Democratic National Committee and former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party , has from the start aimed to draw national attention .
That has helped him to spur the fundraising and grassroots organizing that is crucial to flipping a Senate seat in the deeply red state .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Campaign Committee last spring and has since gotten support from former Vice-President and presumed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , as well as former 2020 hopefuls U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker .
Both Graham and Harrison have posted record-setting fundraising hauls in recent quarters .
Over the course of the campaign , Harrison has raised nearly $ 15 million , mounting aggressive email fundraising campaigns and holding virtual events during the coronavirus outbreak .
Graham has taken in a total of $ 21 million , according to Federal Election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during Trump ’ s impeachment trial and suspending two weeks of fundraising because of the pandemic , Graham ’ s campaign said he had the third-highest fundraising total among all Republican senators during this year ’ s first quarter .
U.S. Army veteran Bob Barnwell , a self-avowed Graham supporter , voted absentee for the senator ahead of Tuesday ’ s primary , in part because of the outbreak .
The 72-year-old retired nurse was recently released from the hospital , where he was treated for several weeks after contracting COVID-19 .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military veteran , retired Army judge , Christian man and native South Carolinian who loves this state , ” Barnwell told The Associated Press on Thursday evening .
“ He is a powerful voice in the U.S. Senate for the right to life for the unborn and older citizens.
” Meg Kinnard can be reached at http : //twitter.com/MegKinnardAP


thetorontostar--2020-06-10--Surviving in America’s Black Belt amid pandemic and job loss

SELMA , Ala. - Life can be tough even on a good day in the Black Belt , where some of the poorest people in America are , as usual , depending on each other to survive .
Their struggle has become even more difficult with unemployment intensifying and coronavirus infections raging .
Both the need and the relief have been on display in the historic civil rights city of Selma , where volunteers distributed free food to scores of people , many of whom shared rides from isolated communities just to get to the school where boxes of fruit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest of the country catches a cold , a place like the Black Belt catches the flu , ” said Lydia Chatmon , who works with the Selma Center for Non-Violence and helped co-ordinate with the Black Belt Community Foundation on last week ’ s donations .
Stretching from Louisiana to Virginia , the Black Belt is a crescent-shaped agricultural region first known for the colour of its soil and then for its mostly black population .
It provided for much of the antebellum South ’ s cotton economy , and remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With relatively little industry and a declining population , poverty remains a constant problem .
Now the virus that causes COVID-19 , which is killing U.S. blacks in disproportionately large numbers , has taken hold as well .
Black Belt counties have eight of the nine worst infection rates in Alabama , where more than 20,500 have tested positive for the virus , and more than 710 have died .
The area also took the hardest hit from unemployment during the economic shutdown , with eight Black Belt counties having jobless rates near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Alabama Gov .
Kay Ivey has allowed businesses and many entertainment venues to reopen in a bid to stimulate the economy , worrying public health officials , cases of COVID-19 and hospitalizations have held steady or increased in the state .
It ’ s not that government isn ’ t helping : The food at the giveaway was donated through a federal program .
And more than $ 4 million in pandemic assistance grants announced last week will go to agencies that serve Black Belt counties in Alabama .
The money will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Small-town coronavirus testing stations also have opened , so residents don ’ t have to travel to bigger cities to learn if they may be spreading the virus .
But the region also has mobilized to help itself .
Clementine Blythe-Ellis , a high school teacher who is off for the summer , put on a protective mask to guard against the new virus and a hat to ward off the sun before showing to distribute food .
The need , she said , never goes away .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
“ That ’ s why I am here.
” The Black Belt Community Foundation also is giving away 100,000 face masks , and people are using social media to share tips and resources , trying to reach residents who lack any internet at home .
While broadband access is spotty across much of rural Alabama , some entire counties lack service in the Black Belt .
Dorothy Hall , a retired hospital worker who lives with her husband on disability , said that along with causing illness and death , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased grocery prices and made it more difficult to do little things like get food and household supplies .
“ You ’ re sort of like locked in every which way you turn , ” said Hall , who arrived at the food distribution at Selma High School hours early to get the first spot in line .
The school is less than 2 miles ( 3.2 kilometres ) from the Edmund Pettus Bridge , where state troopers beat voting rights marchers 55 years ago .
Nearly 50 miles ( 80 kilometres ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Franks ’ Pine Grove Baptist Church is co-ordinating a weekly distribution of milk donated by Borden Dairy .
“ Not just during this time , but at all times we should be assisting , “ he said .
” We ’ re trying to help so it won ’ t get to that bad.
” At the West Alabama Food Bank , which distributes food in half of Alabama ’ s 10 poorest counties , director Jean Rykaczewski said workers have distributed 1.4 million pounds of food since mid-March , or about 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But in far-flung areas where around a third of families either lack a vehicle or share just one , simply getting food to people has been a problem , since normal distribution channels through churches and assistance groups broke down during the virus shutdown , she said .
People without transportation are having to pay as much as $ 20 for rides to the store or distribution sites , she said .
“ You can set up trucks in parks all day long , but if you don ’ t have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t help , “ she said .
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


thetorontostar--2020-06-10--Suspected tainted wine kills 4, sickens 10 in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH , Cambodia - Four people died and 10 others were hospitalized in Cambodia after drinking rice wine that police believe was adulterated with a toxic substance .
The people were stricken Tuesday and Wednesday in the northwestern province of Banteay Meanchey after drinking the bottled beverage , which consisted of wine mixed with traditional medicine , provincial police chief Gen. Ath Khem said .
Dangerous cheap but powerful alcoholic drinks are a perennial problem in Cambodia ’ s poor rural areas , and several accidental poisonings are reported each year .
Often the alcohol is not distilled properly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even in small amounts .
Rice wine is typically home-brewed and is popular at social gatherings , though police said in this case the wine was a brand that came from the capital , Phnom Penh , and has been sold in provincial markets for several years without incident .
Ath Khem said the authorities were seeking the wine company ’ s owner for questioning .
Ath Khem said a preliminary investigation suggested the wine was tainted with a toxic substance .
Samples were collected from the victims for testing in a laboratory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 14 villagers died and more than 200 others were sickened in the northeastern province of Kratie after drinking rice wine containing methanol .


thetorontostar--2020-06-10--Sri Lanka sets parliamentary election on Aug. 5

COLOMBO , Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka ’ s Election Commission set Aug. 5 as the new date for parliamentary elections after postponing it twice over the COVID-19 pandemic .
Commission member Ratnajeevan Hoole said the date will give the body sufficient time to prepare under health guidelines .
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa dissolved Parliament in March .
The first two election dates — April 25 and June 20 — had been postponed as the Election Commission sought assurances from health authorities that it is safe to hold the vote .
Sri Lanka is currently in a constitutional uncertainty because it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by law to operate without a sitting Parliament .
Last week the Supreme Court rejected petitions by opposition parties and civil activists seeking an annulment of Rajapaksa ’ s order dissolving Parliament .
Rajapaksa was elected last November and used his constitutional powers to dissolve Parliament six months ahead of schedule hoping to secure for his party a majority of lawmakers .
Although he is allowed to use his discretionary power to reconvene the dissolved Parliament in an emergency , he refused to do so when COVID-19 made elections uncertain .
Sri Lanka @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of the coronavirus with 1,859 confirmed cases and 11 deaths .


thetorontostar--2020-06-10--‘Chaos in Georgia’: Is messy primary a November harbinger?

ATLANTA - The long-standing wrangle over voting rights and election security came to a head in Georgia , where a messy primary and partisan finger-pointing offered an unsettling preview of a November contest when battleground states could face potentially record turnout .
Many Democrats blamed the Republican secretary of state for hourslong lines , voting machine malfunctions , provisional ballot shortages and absentee ballots failing to arrive in time for Tuesday ’ s elections .
Democrat Joe Biden ’ s presidential campaign called it “ completely unacceptable.
” Georgia Republicans deflected responsibility to metro Atlanta ’ s heavily minority and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s top campaign attorney decried “ the chaos in Georgia.
” It raised the spectre of a worst-case November scenario : a decisive state , like Florida and its “ hanging chads ” and “ butterfly ballots ” in 2000 , remaining in dispute long after polls close .
Meanwhile , Trump , Biden and their supporters could offer competing claims of victory or question the election ’ s legitimacy , inflaming an already boiling electorate .
Adia Josephson , a 38-year-old black voter in the Brookhaven area just outside Atlanta , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but wasn ’ t about to let the long lines stop her .
Problems with voting machines and long lines must be corrected before the next election , she said .
“ There ’ s no room for error , “ she said .
” There ’ s a lot to gain and a lot to lose.
” At Trump ’ s campaign headquarters , senior counsel Justin Clark blamed Georgia ’ s vote-by-mail push amid the COVID-19 pandemic , alluding to the president ’ s unfounded claims that absentee voting yields widespread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to know that the results of an election accurately reflect the will of the voters , ” Clark said .
“ The only way to make sure that the American people will have faith in the results is if people who can , show up and vote in person.
” Rachana Desai Martin , a Biden campaign attorney , called the scenes in Georgia a “ threat ” to democracy .
“ We only have a few months left until voters around the nation head to the polls again , and efforts should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and every American — is able to safely exercise their right to vote , ” she said .
Martin stopped short of assigning blame , but two Georgia Democrats on Biden ’ s list of potential running mates pointed at Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger , who led the selection of Georgia ’ s new voting machine system and invited every active voter to request an absentee ballot .
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms tweeted at Raffensperger about problems in pockets of metro Atlanta .
“ Is this happening across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the Democrat asked , referring to an area with a heavily black population .
Stacey Abrams , the 2018 Democratic nominee for governor and an Atlanta resident , tweeted that “ Georgians deserve better ” and that Raffensperger “ owns this disaster.
” Abrams established herself as a voting rights advocate after she refused to concede her 2018 race because of voting irregularities when her Republican opponent , now-Gov .
Brian Kemp , was secretary of state .
Voting rights groups , including Abrams ’ Fair Fight Action , said Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combat what they describe as a co-ordinated GOP push to restrict ballot access .
Fair Fight , Priorities USA and American Bridge this week announced a “ Voter Suppression Watch ” partnership .
“ Trump is already trying to extend this culture war by creating fear around vote-by-mail , ” said Aneesa McMillan of the Priorities political action committee .
She noted the Republican National Committee ’ s plans to recruit thousands of poll watchers now that the GOP is no longer under a court order banning the practice that Democrats equate to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learn our lessons , not just from Georgia , and protect the entire process , ” McMillan said .
In an interview with The Associated Press , Raffensperger laid blame elsewhere , noting state law charges counties with on-ground operation of elections .
“ It ’ s really specifically in one or two counties , in Fulton and DeKalb counties , that had these issues today , ” Raffensperger said .
“ It has nothing to do with what we ’ re doing in the rest of Georgia.
” Raffensperger , minimizing problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promised investigations of Fulton ’ s and DeKalb ’ s handling of the primary .
The Republican speaker of Georgia ’ s state legislature , meanwhile , called for an investigation of the entire primary process , singling out Fulton County as “ particularly ” troubling .
That kind of back-and-forth , with white Republicans and black Democrats from big cities trading barbs over voting issues , isn ’ t new .
And it ’ s one that could easily repeat in November in battleground states where Democrats and minorities figure prominently in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Broward County ( Fort Lauderdale ) , Florida ; Wayne County ( Detroit ) , Michigan ; Charlotte , North Carolina ; Philadelphia ; Milwaukee .
Fulton County , which includes most of Atlanta , has a history of slow vote tabulation .
Its local elections chief , Richard Barron , called Tuesday a “ learning experience “ while alluding to the state ’ s role in the primary process .
The finger-pointing goes beyond details of the law .
Raffensperger correctly noted that county officials train poll workers , including on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But Raffensperger is the state ’ s chief elections official who decides how many machines to send to each county , and his office provides training curriculum for local officials .
On absentee ballots , the Republican secretary of state pushed unprecedented no-fault absentee access , paying to send an application to every Georgian on the active voter rolls .
But , as Barron noted , neither the secretary of state nor the legislature provided additional money for local officials to hire staff to process the influx , which dwarfed the typical primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state officials , whether in Georgia or elsewhere , could find themselves in the national crosshairs if their election tallies leave the presidency in flux .
“ I know that in these hyperpartisan times , half the people will be happy , and the other half will be sad , ” Raffensperger said .
“ But we want to make sure that 100 % of people know ... the election was done fairly and we got the accurate count.
” Associated Press writers Christina A. Cassidy and Jeff Martin in Atlanta contributed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast , “ Ground Game .
”


thetorontostar--2020-06-10--US military now rethinking links to Confederate Army symbols

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military is rethinking its traditional connection to Confederate Army symbols , mindful of their divisiveness at a time the nation is wrestling with questions of race after the death of George Floyd in police hands .
Defence Secretary Mark Esper and Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy , both former Army officers , put out word through their spokesmen that they are “ open to a bipartisan discussion ” of renaming Army bases such as North Carolina ’ s Fort Bragg that honour Confederate officers who led the fight against the Union and directly or implicitly defended the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Navy ’ s top admiral announced Tuesday that he will follow the example of Gen. David Berger , the commandant of the Marine Corps , who last week directed Marine commanders to remove public displays of the Confederate battle flag carried during the Civil War .
The flag , which some embrace as a symbol of heritage , “ carries the power to inflame feelings of division “ and can weaken the unit cohesion that combat requires , Berger has said .
“ The Confederate battle flag has all too often been co-opted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ divisive beliefs have no place in our Corps , ” the Corps said in a separate statement last Friday .
“ Our history as a nation , and events like the violence in Charlottesville in 2017 , highlight the divisiveness the use of the Confederate battle flag has had on our society.
” Adm. Mike Gilday , the chief of naval operations , directed his staff to begin writing a similar order .
A Navy spokesman , Cmdr .
Nate Christensen , said the ban would apply aboard Navy ships , aircraft and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Air Force have not yet followed Berger ’ s lead , but a defence official said Tuesday that the issue of banning Confederate Army symbols is now under discussion at the highest levels of the Pentagon .
The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing internal deliberations .
For decades , these issues have arisen occasionally within the military only to return to obscurity with little lasting effect .
It may be too early to know whether this time will be different , but Esper ’ s willingness to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over these issues may suggest a chance for change .
Esper has not spoken publicly on the subject but indicated through spokesmen that he is open to the idea .
Other aspects of the military ’ s struggle with race relations have come to the fore in the aftermath of the Floyd killing .
Senior officers who are African American have spoken publicly about it , including Gen. Charles Q .
Brown Jr. , who was confirmed by the Senate on Tuesday as the Air Force ’ s first black chief of staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have noted that black people , who make up about 17 % of the active-duty armed forces , have long been underrepresented in the military ’ s most senior ranks .
The military prides itself on a record of taking the lead on social change , including in racial integration .
But it also has had incidents of racial hatred and , more subtly , a history of implicit bias in a predominantly white institution .
Ten major Army installations are named for Confederate Army officers , mostly senior generals , including Robert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fort Benning , the namesake of Confederate Army Gen. Henry L. Benning , who was a leader of Georgia ’ s secessionist movement and an advocate of preserving slavery .
Others are in Virginia , North Carolina , Alabama , Texas and Louisiana .
The naming was done mostly after World War I and in the 1940s , in some cases as gestures of conciliation to the South .
Few voices in the military are openly defending the link to Confederate symbols , but some of the bases named for Confederate officers are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bragg , for example , is home to some of the Army ’ s most elite forces .
Any decision to change the name at Bragg or other bases likely would involve consulting with officials from the affected states and localities .
Peter Mansoor , a retired Army colonel and veteran of the Iraq war , said in an email exchange that renaming these bases is long overdue .
“ Most serving soldiers know little about the history behind the Confederate leaders for whom these bases are named , or the political deals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this fashion , ” he said .
“ There might be some pushback from a small segment of soldiers from the South , but this is what we like to call a ‘ teachable moment.
’ Now is the time to finally bring about a change that will speak volumes as to what the U.S. Army stands for.
” David Petraeus , a retired four-star Army general , says the renaming move , which he supports , amounts to a “ war of memory , ” and that before deciding to rename bases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the 82nd Airborne Division , the Army must be ready to follow its own procedures for such change .
“ The irony of training at bases named for those who took up arms against the United States , and for the right to enslave others , is inescapable to anyone paying attention , “ Petraeus wrote in an essay published Tuesday by The Atlantic .
“ Now , belatedly , is the moment for us to pay such attention.
” Fort Bragg was named for Braxton Bragg , a native North Carolinian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bravery and mediocre leadership .
His forces were defeated at the Battle of Chattanooga in November 1863 .
Few in Congress have spoken out on these issues , although Sen. Tammy Duckworth , a former Army helicopter pilot , wrote Monday to the leaders of each of the military services urging them to follow Berger ’ s example in banning public displays of the Confederate battle flag .
“ Honouring the ‘ lost cause ’ of those who waged war against the United States of America , or defending the right of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own , sell and kill fellow Americans as property has no place in our nation , especially the U.S. armed forces which waged a deadly war to eliminate the barbaric practice of slavery , ” Duckworth , an Illinois Democrat , wrote .


thetorontostar--2020-06-10--George Floyd, whose death ‘awakened conscience of a nation,’ laid to rest in Texas; TV show ‘Cops’ c

George Floyd, whose death ‘awakened conscience of a nation,’ laid to rest in Texas; TV show ‘Cops’ cancelled amid protests; L.A. officer charged with assault

The latest news on the protests over the death of George Floyd Wednesday .
( This file will be updated throughout the day ) .
HOUSTON — George Floyd was fondly remembered Tuesday as “ Big Floyd ” — a father and brother , athlete and neighbourhood mentor , and now a catalyst for change — at a funeral for the Black man whose death has sparked a global reckoning over police brutality and racial prejudice .
More than 500 mourners wearing masks to combat the coronavirus packed a Houston church a little more than two weeks after Floyd was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minneapolis police officer who put a knee on his neck for what prosecutors said was 8 minutes , 46 seconds .
Cellphone video of the encounter , including Floyd ’ s pleas of “ I can ’ t breathe , ” ignited protests and scattered violence across the U.S. and around the world , turning the 46-year-old Floyd — a man who in life was little known beyond the public housing project where he was raised in Houston ’ s Third Ward — into a worldwide symbol of injustice .
The funeral capped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three cities : Raeford , North Carolina , near where he was born ; Houston , where he grew up ; and Minneapolis , where he died .
The memorials have drawn the families of other Black victims whose names have become familiar in the debate over race and justice — among them , Eric Garner , Michael Brown , Ahmaud Arbery and Trayvon Martin .
After the service , Floyd ’ s golden casket was taken by hearse to the cemetery in the Houston suburb of Pearland to be entombed next to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out as he lay dying .
A mile from the graveyard , the casket was transferred to a glass-sided carriage drawn by a pair of white horses .
A brass band played as his casket was taken inside the mausoleum .
Hundreds of people , some chanting , “ Say his name , George Floyd , ” gathered along the procession route and outside the cemetery entrance in the mid-90s heat .
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP , N.J. — A corrections officer who participated in a counterprotest to a Black Lives Matter demonstration in New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of George Floyd was suspended after the video was widely shared on social media .
In the video , protesters march along a street Monday in Franklin Township , Gloucester County , chanting “ George Floyd !
” and “ Black Lives Matter !
” The video shows they are being escorted by local police .
They pass a private property filled with firewood for sale .
Video filmed by someone marching shows a man kneeling on the neck of another man shouting unintelligibly back at protesters .
Protesters shout back .
Two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them is filming on a cellphone .
The group is standing on the roadside in front of a pickup truck outfitted with an American flag and a Trump banner .
Several others are nearby .
An “ All Lives Matter ” sign is also hanging .
Another truck shows the “ thin blue line ” flag , meant to show support for law enforcement workers .
WASHINGTON—The Trump administration appears to be backing away from its commitment to quickly remove most of a new fence from in front of the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the Park Police are “ in continuing discussions ” with the Secret Service about the tall new barricade .
Officials abruptly put up the fence last week to block demonstrators from Lafayette Square outside the White House .
The move barred the public from what has historically been one of the nation ’ s leading spots for advocating causes .
Liming ’ s statement Tuesday is a change from earlier in the week .
She had said officials would remove “ most ” of the fence at Lafayette Square on Wednesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on the south side of the White House , will be removed “ on or about ” Wednesday .
She did not immediately respond to a question about why the Park Service appears to be backing away from its commitment to remove most of the Lafayette Square fence Wednesday .
“ Cops ” is no longer .
The Paramount Network confirmed Tuesday that it had removed the reality show from its schedule , as protests across the U.S. call for police reform .
Late last month , the network had temporarily cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ Cops ’ is not on the Paramount Network , and we don ’ t have any current or future plans for it to return , ” a spokeswoman for the network said .
Spike TV , the predecessor to the Paramount Network , picked up “ Cops ” in 2013 after the show was cancelled by Fox , its network home for 25 years .
The show ’ s 33rd season was expected to premiere on Paramount on June 15 .
LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles police officer has been charged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspect more than a dozen times in an encounter caught on video by a bystander , prosecutors said Tuesday .
Officer Frank Hernandez was charged with assault under colour of authority .
Video from a bystander and cameras worn by officers shows Hernandez pummeling the man on April 27 as he stood with his hands behind his back , as if he was going to be handcuffed .


thetorontostar--2020-06-10--Facing electoral headwinds, Trump brings back his 2016 team

NEW YORK - As anyone who has ever heard him speak knows , President Donald Trump loves to relive 2016 .
He recycles old attack lines once aimed at Hillary Clinton .
He recounts the drama of election night , complete with impersonations of stunned news anchors putting state after state ( Pennsylvania !
Wisconsin ! )
in the Republican ’ s column .
And at other times , in private calls from the White House residence , he reminisces about the camaraderie of those days , turning nostalgic as he remembers being surrounded by a rag-tag team of campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one distant city to another .
Now , Trump is getting the band back together again .
The president in recent days has signed off on hiring a number of his 2016 veterans for his 2020 campaign , a reenlistment of loyalists that follows the return of other members of his original team to the West Wing .
A creature of habit who demands loyalty and trusts few , Trump has moved to recreate the magic of his original team five months before he faces voters again .
But 2020 is not 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasingly worried about the state of the campaign as the president faces multiple crises , from the health and economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic to the mass protests that have swept across the nation .
“ It ’ s fantastic to have the 2016 group back together , but the facts are the facts .
He barely won and he has done nothing at all to grow out his support , ” said Sam Nunberg , who advised Trump early in his first campaign .
“ He can ’ t win on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same race .
This is not going to be about slogans or themes , it ’ s going to be about what you did for me and why I should reelect you based on your record , ” said Nunberg , an informal adviser who will not be rejoining the campaign .
“ He can ’ t just fight the last war .
It ’ s time to adapt or die.
” The reinforcements are arriving as Trump comes to terms with the idea that he can ’ t run the type of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one that looked feasible as recently as January , according to three campaign and White House officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss private conversations .
Trump had expected to run on the back of a strong economy before the pandemic crippled it .
And he had hoped to revive a number of culture war and “ deep state ” accusations while facing a Democrat from the liberal wing of the party whom he could paint as socialist .
He wasn ’ t expecting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confident , Trump has privately told advisers he can not believe polls that show him trailing and he has angrily snapped at campaign manager Brad Parscale over the state of the race , according to the officials .
The campaign , which has far greater infrastructure and staffing than the slipshod operation of four years ago , played down the idea that the return of the 2016 veterans was influenced by the state of the race or reflected a lack of confidence in Parscale .
“ For over three years now , Brad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political campaign in history , ” said Tim Murtagh , the campaign ’ s communications director .
“ Our latest staff additions are making Team Trump even stronger and solidify Brad ’ s leadership.
” In the last week , the Trump campaign hired Jason Miller , communications director in 2016 , to focus on strategy and co-ordinate between the campaign and the White House .
Miller has co-hosted a pro-Trump podcast with the president ’ s former campaign chief executive , Steve Bannon .
Boris Epshteyn , who after 2016 became a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , came back to be a strategic adviser for coalitions .
Bill Stepien , a top adviser in 2016 , was recently promoted to deputy campaign manager .
And Justin Clark , another longtime aide , has led the Republican Party ’ s legal fight over voting rules .
“ Every president who has successfully run a first go-around looks to add on people who were in that effort to the reelect , “ said Miller , before touting the resources of the 2020 bid .
“ But this is the Starship Enterprise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we used in the first campaign.
” Familiar faces have also returned to the White House .
Hope Hicks was Trump ’ s original campaign spokeswoman before becoming one of his most trusted West Wing aides .
She left the White House in 2018 only to return two years later and was one of the driving forces behind the president ’ s controversial photo op with a Bible after he walked through Lafayette Square last week to a nearby church once the area was cleared of protesters .
Johnny McEntee , who served @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being fired by then-chief of staff John Kelly in 2018 , returned in January and has been focusing on staffing the administration with loyalists .
While Corey Lewandowski , Trump ’ s first campaign manager , and David Bossie , a trusted aide , have both remained officially outside the campaign , they have attended several recent strategy sessions and have been spotted on Air Force One and at the president ’ s golf clubs .
And some of Trump ’ s 2016 team never left : Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , are senior advisers .
Kellyanne Conway , the president ’ s final 2016 campaign manager , remains a senior White House counsellor .
Dan Scavino runs the president ’ s social media presence from inside the West Wing .
And the president ’ s two adult sons , Donald Jr. and Eric Trump , and Eric ’ s wife , Lara , remain popular campaign surrogates .
But a few of the old gang have not returned .
That includes Bannon , who remains supportive of Trump after a messy exit from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump ’ s longtime security man .
“ He will always default to a group of people he trusts and who will advocate for him until hell freezes over , ” said Timothy O ’ Brien , a Trump biographer who later worked for Michael Bloomberg ’ s presidential campaign .
“ But there ’ s a difference between trusting people and being a good judge of ability.
” “ He tends to hire people who agree with him , ” O ’ Brien said .
“ He lives in a bubble @ @


thetorontostar--2020-06-10--Richmond protesters topple Columbus statue, throw it in lake

RICHMOND , Va. - A statue of Christopher Columbus in Richmond was torn down by protesters , set on fire and then thrown into a lake .
The figure was toppled less than two hours after protesters gathered in the city ’ s Byrd Park were chanting for the statue to be taken down , news outlets reported .
After the figure was removed from its pedestal around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday by protesters using several ropes , a sign that reads , “ Columbus represents genocide ” was placed on the spray-painted foundation that once held the statue .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a lake in the park , NBC 12 reported .
There was no police presence in the park , but a police helicopter was seen circling the area after the city-owned figure was torn down , the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported .
The city ’ s parks department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the fallen statue from the Associated Press .
Earlier during the day , Activist Chelsea Higgs-Wise and other protesters spoke to a crowd gathered at Byrd Park about the struggles of indigenous people and African-Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start where it all began , ” Higgs-Wise said during her speech .
“ We have to start with the people who stood first on this land.
” The Columbus statue was dedicated in Richmond in December 1927 , and had been the first statue of Christopher Columbus erected in the South , the newspaper reported .
Its toppling comes amid national protests over the death of George Floyd and several days after a statue of Confederate Gen. Williams Carter Wickham was pulled from its pedestal in Monroe Park by demonstrators who also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Native American advocates have also long pressed states to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day over concerns that Columbus spurred centuries of genocide against indigenous populations in the Americas .
Vanessa Bolin , a member of the Richmond Indigenous Society , told the crowd she did not come “ to hijack ” the protests against police brutality , but to “ stand in solidarity ” with the people .
Another speaker , Joseph Rogers , declared the area “ Powhatan land , ” and talked about how white supremacy and institutionalized racism @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-06-10--Los Angeles officer charged with pummeling unarmed man

LOS ANGELES - A Los Angeles police officer has been charged with assault for punching an unarmed trespassing suspect more than a dozen times in an encounter caught on video by a bystander , prosecutors said Tuesday .
Officer Frank Hernandez was charged with assault under colour of authority .
Video from a bystander and cameras worn by officers shows Hernandez pummeling the man on April 27 as he stood with his hands behind his back , as if he was going to be handcuffed .
The charge comes less than a week after thousands of protesters galvanized by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called for the ouster of District Attorney Jackie Lacey for doing little to prosecute police officers for shootings and other violence on the job .
Black Lives Matter and other groups have criticized Lacey , who is black , for not bringing charges in hundreds of police shootings during her more than seven years running the largest local prosecutors office in the U.S. Lacey has said she has done the best she can but is up against laws that allow officers to use deadly force and make it difficult to bring charges .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 20 police officers for use of force and has the only pending case in the state for an officer-involved shooting .
Lacey is up for re-election in a campaign that has focused on prosecuting police brutality and criminal justice reforms .
Hernandez , 49 , could face up to three years in county jail if convicted of the felony .
The union representing Hernandez issued a rare statement condemning what was portrayed in the videos .
“ While we have a fiduciary responsibility to provide our members with assistance through the internal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on that video was unacceptable and is not what we are trained to do ” the Los Angeles Police Protective League Board of Directors said .
It was not immediately clear if Hernandez had a defence lawyer who could provide comment .
The incident occurred when police were called about a man trespassing in a vacant lot in the Boyle Heights neighbourhood .
Hernandez and a female partner arrived , crouched through a hole in a chain link fence and approached the suspect , telling him to leave , according to videos provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was wearing a Los Angeles Rams jersey , cursed at the officers but grabbed his bicycle and left the grassy plot .
The female officer told him to be on his way , but after walking down a sidewalk past a church , the suspect told the officers he lived there .
The suspect then asked what Hernandez was going to do and said he wasn ’ t afraid of him .
Hernandez approached the man and told him to turn around .
“ Ain ’ t nobody acting defiant , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curse at the officer .
“ Ain ’ t nobody getting crazy but you.
” After a brief scuffle when the man initially refused to put his hands behind his back , the suspect faced a fence and appeared to comply with the order .
Hernandez grabbed the man ’ s hands as if he was going to cuff him and then took a wild swing and punched the man in the right side of the head .
Hernandez then delivered a series of blows to the man ’ s head , neck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire time .
“ This is a disturbing case of the illegal use of force at the hands of a police officer , ” Lacey said in a statement .
“ In this case , we believe the force was neither legally necessary nor reasonable.
” Hernandez has been stripped of police powers and assigned to home , the police department said .
Associated Press journalist Stefanie Dazio contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-06-10--Death toll from Pakistan building collapse rises to 22

KARACHI , Pakistan - Pakistani rescuers recovered nine more bodies from beneath the rubble of a building that collapsed earlier this week in the southern port city of Karachi , bringing the death toll to 22 , officials said Wednesday .
There are fears there may be more bodies .
The building collapsed on Sunday and it was unclear how many people were inside at the time .
It had 40 apartments and most of them were empty because it was recently ordered vacated after it was declared unsafe in March , following cracks that had emerged on the roofs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ machinery and were still removing the rubble , searching for more victims , according to police and the Edhi Foundation , which owns and runs Pakistan ’ s largest private ambulance service .
The earlier reported death toll had stood at 13 .
Altaf Hussain , a senior police official , said the building collapsed after some of its residents went back inside to try and retrieve some of their belongings .
Building collapses are common in Pakistan as many are poorly constructed with cheap building materials and safety guidelines are ignored to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a multistory building that was undergoing additional constructions and expansion , collapsed in March , killing at least 11 people , including women and children .


thetorontostar--2020-06-10--Hundreds of thousands displaced in deadly China flooding

BEIJING - Flooding in south and central China has caused more than a dozen deaths and forced hundreds of thousands @ @ @ @ @ , the government said Wednesday .
About 228,000 people have had to seek emergency shelter @ @ @ @ @ 2 , the Ministry of Emergency Management said .
Initial damage was estimated at more @ @ @ @ @ including the destruction of more than 1,000 homes .
Flooding was particularly bad in the @ @ @ @ @ where six were listed as dead and one missing , and in Hunan province just @ @ @ @ @ seven were recorded as dead and one missing .
Seasonal flooding generally causes heavy damage @ @ @ @ @ regions of China ’ s major river systems , particularly those of the Yangtze and @ @ @ @ @ .
Authorities have sought to reduce the hardship through the use of dams , particularly @ @ @ @ @ on the Yangtze .
China ’ s worst floods in recent years were in 1998 @ @ @ @ @ people died and almost 3 million homes were destroyed .


thetorontostar--2020-06-10--Mammoth Cave reopens 1 self-guided tour

Mammoth Cave reopens 1 self-guided tour

CAVE CITY , Ky. - Mammoth Cave National Park has reopened one self-guided cave tour , officials said .
The @ @ @ @ @ s historic section is the only one currently accessible because of social distancing guidelines put @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic , park spokeswoman Molly Schroer told the Daily News .
Beginning last week @ @ @ @ @ to walk through more than a mile of passages in the cave ’ s larger @ @ @ @ @ “ We are only doing this one self-guided tour because it ’ s bigger passageways @ @ @ @ @ allows for social distancing .
Traditional tours had a guide that would take groups through @ @ @ @ @ answering questions but now rangers are stationed along different points in the cave to answer @ @ @ @ @ said .
The park has also reopened its visitor centre at a reduced capacity , @ @ @ @ @ , campgrounds and cabins .
Surface trails at the park remained open through the pandemic @


thetorontostar--2020-06-10--Amazon bans police use of its face recognition for a year

NEW YORK - Amazon on Wednesday banned police use of its face-recognition technology for a year , making it the latest tech giant to step back from law-enforcement use of systems that have faced criticism for incorrectly identifying people with darker skin .
The Seattle-based company did not say why it took action now .
Ongoing protests following the death of George Floyd have focused attention on racial injustice in the U.S. and how police use technology to track people .
Floyd died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into the handcuffed black man ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Floyd stopped moving and pleading for air .
Law enforcement agencies use facial recognition to identify suspects , but critics say it can be misused .
A number of U.S. cities have banned its use by police and other government agencies , led by San Francisco last year .
On Tuesday , IBM said it would get out of the facial recognition business , noting concerns about how the technology can be used for mass surveillance and racial profiling .
Civil rights groups and Amazon ’ s own employees have pushed the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rekognition , to government agencies , saying that it could be used to invade people ’ s privacy and target minorities .
In a blog post Wednesday , Amazon said that it hoped Congress would put in place stronger regulations for facial recognition .
“ Amazon ’ s decision is an important symbolic step , but this doesn ’ t really change the face recognition landscape in the United States since it ’ s not a major player , ” said Clare Garvie , a researcher at Georgetown University ’ s Center on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research found only two U.S. two agencies using or testing Rekognition .
The Washington County Sheriff ’ s Office in Oregon has been the most public about using it .
The Orlando police department tested it , but chose not to implement it , she said .
Studies led by MIT researcher Joy Buolamwini found racial and gender disparities in facial recognition software .
Those findings spurred Microsoft and IBM to improve their systems , but irked Amazon , which last year publicly attacked her research methods .
A group of artificial intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science ’ s top prize , last year launched a spirited defence of her work and called on Amazon to stop selling its facial recognition software to police .
A study last year by a U.S. agency affirmed the concerns about the technology ’ s flaws .
The National Institute of Standards and Technology tested leading facial recognition systems -- though not Amazon ’ s , which didn ’ t submit its algorithms -- and found that they often performed unevenly based on a person ’ s race , gender or age .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand , ” she wrote in an emailed statement .
“ More importantly our lawmakers need to step up ” to rein in harmful deployments of the technologies .
Microsoft has been vocal about the need to regulate facial recognition to prevent human rights abuses but hasn ’ t said it wouldn ’ t sell it to law enforcement .
The company didn ’ t respond to a request for comment Wednesday .
Amazon began attracting attention from the American Civil Liberties Union and privacy advocates after it introduced Rekognition in 2016 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But experts like Garvie say many U.S. agencies rely on facial recognition technology built by companies that are not as well known , such as Tokyo-based NEC , Chicago-based Motorola Solutions or the European companies Idemia , Gemalto and Cognitec .
Amazon isn ’ t abandoning facial recognition altogether .
The company said organizations , such as those that use Rekognition to help find missing children , will still have access to the technology .
This week ’ s announcements by Amazon and IBM follow a push by Democratic lawmakers to pass a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could include restrictions on the use of facial recognition , especially in police body cameras .
Though not commonly used in the U.S. , the possibility of cameras that could monitor crowds and identify people in real time have attracted bipartisan concern .
The tech industry has fought against outright bans of facial recognition , but some companies have called for federal laws that could set guidelines for responsible use of the technology .
“ It is becoming clear that the absence of consistent national rules will delay getting this valuable technology into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down investigations and making communities less safe , ” said Daniel Castro , vice-president of the industry-backed Information Technology and Innovation Foundation , which has advocated for facial recognition providers .
Ángel Díaz , an attorney at New York University ’ s Brennan Center for Justice , said he welcomed Amazon ’ s moratorium but it “ should have come sooner given numerous studies showing that the technology is racially biased.
” “ We agree that Congress needs to act , but local communities should also be empowered to voice their concerns and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technology deployed at all , ” he said .

Joseph Pisani And Matt O'Brien - The Associated Press