thetorontostar--2020-06-01--Third lawsuit filed in deaths at West Virginia VA hospital

CHARLESTON , W.Va. - A third lawsuit was filed Monday involving the deaths of patients over wrongful insulin injections at a West Virginia veterans hospital .
Charleston attorney Tony O ’ Dell filed the federal lawsuit in the death of John William Hallman .
The 87-year-old Navy veteran died at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg in June 2018 .
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Hallman ’ s son and daughter and seeks unspecified damages .
Five months after he died , Hallman ’ s death certificate was amended and his immediate cause of death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” or low blood sugar .
The lawsuit alleged an unidentified employee had given Hallman a shot of insulin despite no physician ’ s order being issued .
The lawsuit asserts that prior to Hallman ’ s death , the night shift on the same hospital floor “ experienced sudden severe unexplained patient decline leading to patient death on at least 9 occasions.
” O ’ Dell also filed a lawsuit in April on behalf of the widow of George Nelson Shaw Sr. , an 81-year-old retired member of the Air Force who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 .
That suit said an autopsy performed on Shaw found four insulin injection sites on both arms and one leg .
A similar lawsuit was filed in March by a woman whose father , former Army Sgt .
Felix Kirk McDermott , 82 , also died at the hospital in April 2018 .
Federal prosecutors are probing the deaths of up to 11 patients at the hospital .
Attorneys representing the families of men who died say the deaths of McDermott and Shaw have been ruled homicides .
Bill Powell , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has said the investigation is a “ top priority.
” But U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia told Attorney General William Barr in a letter last year that he had “ grave concerns over the pace of the investigation.
” The Democrat said VA officials had told him a “ person of interest ” was no longer in contact with any veterans at the facility .
The VA inspector general told Manchin ’ s office about the opening of a medical and criminal investigation of the hospital in July 2018 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department , responsible for nine million military veterans .


thetorontostar--2020-06-01--Medical examiner: Floyd’s heart stopped while restrained

MINNEAPOLIS - A medical examiner on Monday classified George Floyd ’ s death as a homicide , saying his heart stopped as police restrained him and compressed his neck , in a widely seen video that has sparked protests across the nation .
“ Decedent experienced a cardiopulmonary arrest while being restrained by law enforcement officer ( s ) , ” the Hennepin County Medical Examiner ’ s Office said in a news release .
Cause of death was listed as “ cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual , restraint and neck compression.
” Under “ other significant conditions ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hypertension , and listed fentanyl intoxication and recent methamphetamine use .
Those factors were not listed under cause of death .
A Minneapolis police officer was charged last week with third-degree murder in Floyd ’ s death , and three other officers were fired .
Bystander video showed the officer , Derek Chauvin , holding his knee on Floyd ’ s neck despite the man ’ s cries that he can ’ t breathe until he eventually stopped moving .
A separate autopsy commissioned for Floyd ’ s family also called his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he died of asphyxiation due to neck and back compression , said the family ’ s attorney , Ben Crump , who called for the charge against Chauvin to be upgraded to first-degree murder and for three other officers to be charged .
He didn ’ t say what the charges against the other officers should be .
That autopsy , by a forensic pathologist who also examined Eric Garner ’ s body , found the compression cut off blood to Floyd ’ s brain , and that the pressure of other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it impossible for him to breathe , Crump said .
Both the medical examiner and the family ’ s experts differed from the description in last week ’ s criminal complaint against the officer of how Floyd died .
The complaint , citing preliminary findings from the medical examiner , listed the effects of being restrained , along with underlying health issues and potential intoxicants in Floyd ’ s system .
But it also said nothing was found “ to support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia or strangulation.
” Neither side has released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The family ’ s autopsy found no evidence of heart disease and concluded he had been healthy .
Floyd , a black man who was in handcuffs at the time , died after Chauvin , who is white , ignored bystander shouts to get off Floyd and Floyd ’ s cries that he couldn ’ t breathe .
His death sparked days of protests in Minneapolis and around America .
The complaint provided no details about intoxicants .
In the 911 call that drew police , the caller described the man suspected of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drunk and he ’ s not in control of himself.
” Floyd ’ s family and attorneys , like the families of other black men killed by police , commissioned their own autopsy because they didn ’ t trust local authorities to produce an unbiased report .
The family ’ s autopsy was done by Michael Baden and Allecia Wilson .
Baden is the former chief medical examiner of New York City , and was hired to do an autopsy of Garner , a black man who died in 2014 after New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he pleaded that he could not breathe .
Baden also did an autopsy at the family ’ s request for Michael Brown , an 18-year-old shot by police in Ferguson , Missouri .
He said Brown didn ’ t reveal signs of a struggle , casting doubt on a claim by police that a struggle between Brown and the officer led to the shooting .
Dr. Judy Melinek , a forensic pathologist from the San Francisco Bay area who blogs about the subject and is not connected with the case , said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s conclusions and those of Baden and Walker are the official finding of “ significant ” conditions for Floyd , including heart disease and drugs in his system .
Baden and Wilson acknowledged on a conference call with reporters that they didn ’ t have access to the tissue samples that the medical examiner kept that might have given more information on his health .
Nor did they have their own toxicology results yet .
Melinek said it ’ s not unusual for different pathologists to reach different determinations , given that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they ’ ve had different experiences and training .
Under the law , a medical examiner determines the cause and manner of death , but it ’ s up to prosecutors to decide whether criminal charges are warranted .
The term homicide means only that a person ’ s death was caused by another person .
Chauvin , who was also charged with manslaughter , is being held in a state prison .
The other three officers on scene , like Chauvin , were fired the day after the incident but have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Minneapolis police union said in a letter to members that the officers were fired without due process and labour attorneys are fighting for their jobs .
Lt. Bob Kroll , the union president , also criticized city leadership , saying a lack of support is to blame for the days of sometimes violent protests .
When asked to respond , Mayor Jacob Frey said Kroll ’ s opposition to reform and lack of empathy for the community has undermined trust in the police .
Gov .
Tim Walz announced Sunday that Attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in any prosecutions in Floyd ’ s death .
Local civil rights activists have said Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman doesn ’ t have the trust of the black community .
They have protested outside his house , and pressed him to charge the other three officers .

Amy Forliti And Steve Karnowski - The Associated Press

State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada
Postal Code


thetorontostar--2020-06-01--New York City imposes 11 p.m. curfew amid Floyd protests

New York City imposed an 11 p.m. curfew Monday as the nation ’ s biggest city tried to prevent another night of destruction amid protests over George Floyd ’ s death .
With an 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew , New York is joining other cities around the country in imposing such measures after days of unrest .
The limit on a city of more than 8 million people comes after months of restrictions already imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said the outbreaks of violence — which left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gave them no choice , even as they insisted they stood with the throngs of peaceful demonstrators who have spoken out for several days against police brutality and racial injustice .
“ We can ’ t let violence undermine the message of this moment , ” de Blasio said in a statement .
Cuomo blamed “ people who are looking to distract and discredit ” the protests and said they couldn ’ t be allowed to undermine public safety .
The two leaders , both Democrats , also said many more police officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans came as more protests got under way .
Big crowds rallied in Times Square and Brooklyn on Monday afternoon and marched through the streets for several hours .
As in previous days , the demonstrations held in daylight hours were peaceful with officers mostly keeping their distance from marchers .
One Times Square demonstrator , Giselle Francisco , considered the curfew necessary .
“ There are people who have ulterior motives and they ’ re trying to hijack the message , ” the New Yorker said .
Police Commissioner Dermot Shea expressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be heeded .
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams , a retired police captain whose borough has been a focal point for demonstrations and some damage , also had doubts .
“ There are real deep , legitimate wounds , and if we ’ re not going to put the same level of energy into correcting those wounds as we ’ re going to put into telling people not to come out at 11 , then we ’ re going to fail , and this is going to prolong the problem , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York City Liberties Union said it was “ deeply problematic that our leaders are imposing a curfew and essentially silencing New Yorkers from expressing their outrage at the racism that permeates the nation.
“ After largely peaceful protests Sunday , groups of people poured down the sidewalks in Manhattan ’ s chic Soho neighbourhood and other areas overnight , breaking into Rolex , Kate Spade and Prada boutiques and electronics stores .
Hundreds of people were arrested .
“ People are doing this so next time , before they think about trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re going to be like , ’ Damn , we don ’ t want them out here doing this ... again , ’ ” New York City resident Sean Jones said as he watched the destruction .
A 21-year-old man was shot in chic SoHo around 12:30 a.m. and was taken to a hospital with injuries that weren ’ t life threatening , police said .
On Monday morning , police were visible on some of SoHo ’ s hardest-hit streets as stores boarded up .
“ It ’ s disturbing because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters and against police brutality and bad cops killing people of colour whenever they fricking want to , but this is a different story , ” said Ruby Packard , a teacher and longtime SoHo resident .
“ There are people using this as a reason to create chaos and be violent , ” she added .
Sunday was the third night in a row of mainly peaceful daytime demonstrations , chaotic nights , hot spots of violence and arrests , with the mayor ’ s daughter among those arrested over the weekend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refused to leave a Manhattan street officers were clearing Saturday because people were throwing things .
She was released with a court summons .
Her father said Monday she told him she ’ d behaved peacefully and believed she had followed police officers ’ instructions .
Thousands of people have taken to the streets around the nation to express outrage over Floyd ’ s May 25 death and other killings of black people , particularly by police .
Floyd , who was black , died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , some New York City police officers knelt with protesters .
But officers have also clashed with demonstrators .
Shea said the department is investigating officers ’ behaviour in about six incidents , including one in which two police vehicles plowed through a group of protesters Saturday in Brooklyn .
During Sunday night ’ s demonstration , video posted to social media showed a police officer pulling a gun and pointing it at demonstrators on a debris-littered Manhattan street moments after a protester used an object to deliver a crushing blow to another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away .
“ That officer should have his gun and badge taken away today , “ de Blasio said .
“ There will be an investigation immediately to determine the larger consequences.
” Cuomo said some officers had exacerbated tensions with some “ very disturbing ” actions .
Police union president Patrick Lynch said Cuomo was ” wrongly blaming the chaos on the cops.
“ Contributing were Associated Press writers Larry Neumeister , Brian Mahoney , Jake Seiner , Michael R. Sisak and Deepti Hajela and video journalist Robert Bumsted in New York @ @ @ @ @ @

Jennifer Peltz And Karen Matthews - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-06-01--Military: 2 dead after shooting at North Dakota air base

GRAND FORKS , N.D. - A shooting early Monday has left two airmen dead at the Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota , the military said .
The base ’ s emergency services members responded to the shooting , which occurred at 4:30 a.m. , a statement from the military said .
Officials said there is no risk to other personnel , and the shooting remains under investigation .
The air base ’ s commander , Col. Cameron S. Pringle , told reporters the two airmen died while in a dormitory , but he did not give details @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , KVRR-TV reported .
“ We deeply regret this loss , and certainly , our hearts and thoughts are with those families , “ Pringle said .
He said the base dormitories are safe .
The airmen are members of the 319th Reconnaissance Wing .
Officials plan to withhold their names and units until 24 hours after family members are notified .
Medical teams are providing disaster mental health services to help people who are affected , the base said .
Staff Sgt .
Elijaih Tiggs said the military alone is investigating .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in custody or was being sought in connection with the shooting .
The base specializes in unmanned aircraft operations and is located about 15 miles ( 24 kilometres ) west of Grand Forks .
The base is home to about 1,600 military members and 900 civilian employees , Tiggs said .


thetorontostar--2020-06-01--In Washington, the protesters say 'a change is coming soon.' So does Donald Trump

WASHINGTON—Hundreds of people had gathered late Monday afternoon near the north end of Lafayette Square , not far from the White House , in the hours before President Donald Trump announced that he was deploying the military to end nights of violence and vandalism .
The demonstrators had been chanting , “ Take a knee ” and “ I can ’ t breathe ” at police officers inside the park in the early evening sun , during another day of protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer .
The protest had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But when Trump finished speaking , he walked through Lafayette Park to visit a historic church that had suffered a basement fire Sunday night—and police tear gassed the protesters to clear a path for him , according to reporters at the scene .
“ People are tired .
We are tired as a community , ” Marchelle Hayes , an African-American woman from Maryland , had said earlier .
“ Everything that ’ s been built up is coming out .
We ’ ve been in a pandemic , locked up , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and time again — we ’ re tired as a community .
Tired of being walked on , as if we did not build this country .
We built this country , brick by brick.
” A few dozen metres away , protesters climbed atop a brick washroom building that had been burned in the confrontations of Sunday night ’ s protest—the charred structure accessible to protesters on the street side , guarded by riot police on the park side .
As has been the case the past few days in Washington and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are fairly relaxed and peaceful in the daytime ; they grow more tense and confrontational as the night wears on .
In the late afternoon , as the crowd grew after the workday ended , people sang on the sidewalk .
A cheer went up when one of the police officers inside responded to chants by briefly kneeling .
“ I feel a shift in this country , I feel a change is coming soon , ” said an African-American man from Washington named Diego .
“ Yesterday , I saw a 76-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civil rights movement walking the streets .
When I saw that , I decided to come out today .
I didn ’ t want to look back on history and say I was just in my house watching it unfold .
I want to be a part of that change.
” Earlier Monday , residents of the U.S. capital were cleaning up and preparing for another night of unrest after windows were broken , stores were broken into buildings were burned on Sunday night .
Many stores across the city were being boarded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area but also some far from the White House , such as in the upscale shopping district Friendship Heights that straddles the Maryland state line , where stores had been vandalized and looted on Sunday .
Late Monday morning , Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that a 7 p.m. curfew would be in place across the city for the following two days .
“ We applaud the American spirit of protest , and especially protest to their federal government , ” Bowser said .
“ However , we do not , and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our hometown by people who are coming here to protest or by D.C. residents.
” At the protest , a young woman named Elena said the scenes of vandalism were not her primary concern .
“ I think non-violent protesting has not worked for hundreds and hundreds of years , and if rioting is what it takes for them to hear us , then OK .
But I don ’ t think looting is right , ” she said .
“ I ’ m here because I think what the cops are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s important that white people come out and show support.
” The repeated nights of increasing civil unrest across the country — including many televised and tweeted instances of aggressive and violent behaviour by riot police towards seemingly peaceful protesters , as well as scenes of brick-throwing , looting and building-burning by some demonstrators — has led to widespread calls for leadership to guide the situation towards some kind of resolution .
Trump had remained publicly silent , but for a few tweets Sunday and most of the day Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House gathered steam , he made an unscheduled address on the south lawn just before 7 p.m .
Calling himself “ your president of law and order , ” Trump promised justice for the death of Floyd while labelling the looting , violence and vandalism in the streets as “ acts of domestic terror.
” He said he would deploy “ thousands and thousands ” of soldiers on the streets of Washington to end any rioting immediately , and strictly enforce the 7 p.m. curfew .
Trump said he ’ d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to similar effect across the country , to “ dominate ” any disorderly protesters , and that he would deploy the military himself in any states that refused to do so .
“ I want the organizers of this terror to be on notice that you will face severe criminal penalties , ” he said .
Joe Biden , the presumed Democratic nominee for the presidency , talked about the protests during a campaign event with Black community leaders at a Delaware church .
“ I think the public is getting to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before in understanding a lot of this , ” he said , “ but it ’ s going to take a whole hell of a lot of hard work .
A lot of hard work .
But I ’ m confident it can be done.
” Former president Barack Obama also attempted to provide leadership in an essay published Monday on Medium , in which he told activists they could use this moment to bring about “ real change.
” “ I saw an elderly black woman being interviewed today in tears because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been trashed , ” he wrote .
“ If history is any guide , that store may take years to come back .
So let ’ s not excuse violence , or rationalize it , or participate in it.
” While Democratic leaders addressed protesters directly and urged change in response to their demands , Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas added his voice to Trump ’ s confrontational rhetoric , urging the president to take a “ zero-tolerance ” approach to “ anarchy , rioting and looting ” and to deploy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ends tonight .
”

Country
United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe


thetorontostar--2020-06-01--Barr: Law enforcement must ‘dominate’ streets amid protests

WASHINGTON - U.S. officials vowed to “ maximize federal law enforcement presence ” in the nation ’ s capital Monday night after days of violent demonstrations led to fires across Washington and left scores of businesses with broken windows and dozens of police officers injured .
In a call with governors , President Donald Trump and Attorney General William Barr also encouraged more aggressive action against those who cause violence during protests across the country following the killing of George Floyd , a black man who died after a white Minneapolis policeman pressed his knee into his neck for several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pleading for air .
The demonstrations have turned violent in several cities , with fires ignited in Lafayette Park across from the White House .
The comments from Trump , Barr and other federal officials appeared aimed at avoiding similar scenes Monday night , when protesters were expected to gather again .
But there were also questions about whether using more aggressive law enforcement measures against demonstrators protesting police brutality would only increase tensions .
Barr told the state leaders that law enforcement officials must “ have adequate force ” and “ go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not going to work unless we dominate the streets , ” Barr said .
Trump said he was “ taking immediate presidential action to stop the violence and restore security and safety in America.
” The president urged governors to deploy the National Guard , which he credited with helping calm the situation Sunday night in Minneapolis , and demanded that similarly tough measures be taken in cities that also experienced spasms of violence , including New York , Philadelphia and Los Angeles .
“ Mayors and governors must establish an overwhelming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been quelled , ” Trump said .
“ If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents , then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them.
” Minutes before Trump spoke Monday evening in the Rose Garden of the White House , police and members of the National Guard took aggressive action , using tear gas and flash bangs , to move back peaceful protesters who were outside Lafayette Park , across from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the response to the coronavirus pandemic , the National Guard has been deployed at its highest level in recent history , surpassing the number of troops sent to the Gulf Coast during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 .
More than 66,700 soldiers and airman have been activated — 45,000 to assist with the pandemic and more than 17,000 to help with the protests .
Other law enforcement resources are also being mobilized .
Trump directed Barr to “ lead federal law enforcement efforts to assist in the restoration of order to the District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kerri Kupec said .
The Justice Department deployed the U.S .
Marshals Service and agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration to supplement National Guard troops in Washington on Sunday .
By midnight , Barr had ordered the FBI to deploy its Hostage Rescue Team , an elite tactical unit , to the streets of the nation ’ s capital , a senior Justice Department official said .
Barr has also directed the federal Bureau of Prisons to send teams of prison riot officers to patrol the streets in Miami and Washington , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity .
The U.S. Park Police and Secret Service have had dozens of officers out in riot gear in Washington for the last few nights , in addition to the Metropolitan Police Department .
U.S. Customs and Border Protection was also sending officers , agents and aircraft around the country to assist other law enforcement agencies “ confronting the lawless actions of rioters , ” the agency said .
The officers were being deployed in several states , though the official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security concerns .
Several major cities have enacted curfews , and District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser set a 7 p.m. curfew for Monday and Tuesday .
Violent demonstrators ignored the 11 p.m. curfew the night before as they set buildings and trash cans on fire and broke into stores to steal items from the shelves .
Most of the protesters have been peaceful and tried to discourage violence .
Trump , Barr and others have tried to blame some of the civil unrest on left-wing extremist groups , including antifa , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , antifa is an umbrella term for far-left-leaning militant groups that resist neo-Nazis and white supremacists at demonstrations .
The FBI is using its network of regional joint terrorism task forces to “ identify criminal organizers , ” and federal prosecutors across the country have been instructed to share information and utilize federal riot , arson or terror statutes against any “ violent radical agitators ” who attempt to hijack protests to cause destruction .
The Justice Department has vowed to treat the “ violence instigated and carried out by antifa & other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Although there isn ’ t a specific federal domestic terrorism statute , prosecutors could charge other offences and seek enhanced sentencing .
The FBI has already started questioning rioters who were arrested in several cities to determine whether they committed any federal crimes , the senior Justice Department official said .
It is a federal crime to cross state lines to participate in violent riots .
Between 600 and 800 National Guard members from five states — Delaware , New Jersey , New York , Ohio and Utah — are being sent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department officials said .
Those troops are either already on the ground or will arrive by midnight .
In addition , officials said there are already some active-duty forces in the area , but they are not in D.C .
They are prepared to respond , but the officials said they are hopeful those troops will not be needed .
If they are sent in , they are not expected to be conducting any law enforcement .
The officials declined to say how many active-duty troops are in the region now .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in D.C. will be armed and others will not .
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing military deployments .
Associated Press writers Lolita C. Baldor , Kevin Freking and Ben Fox in Washington , Alan Suderman in Richmond , Va. , James LaPorta in Delray Beach , Fla. , and Sarah Blake Morgan in West Jefferson , N.C. , in contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-06-01--Police: Trans man fatally shot by officer after pointing gun

TALLAHASSEE , Fla. - A transgender black man was fatally shot by an officer in Florida after fatally stabbing another man and pointing a gun at the officer , authorities said .
Tony McDade , 38 , was shot and killed by a Tallahassee police officer Wednesday after McDade fatally stabbed his next-door neighbour 21-year-old Malik Jackson , news outlets reported .
McDade went by male pronouns on Facebook and local LGBTQ organizations identified McDade as a transgender man .
Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said officers found Jackson suffering from fatal stab wounds in front of his mother ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was found 15 minutes later at a different apartment complex , Revell said .
McDade had a gun and pointed it at an officer , who then shot him , Revell said .
Police haven ’ t released the officer ’ s identity but witnesses said the officer was white , news outlets reported .
During a news conference , Revell said there was no indication that the shooting was racially motivated nor was there an indication that the shooting was unjustified .
McDade posted a video on Facebook before the stabbing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on several men who attacked him the previous day .
McDade also said he would have a standoff with police , adding “ I ’ m living suicidal right now.
” Another social media video shows a group of men attack a person believed to be McDade .
Police said they were working to authenticate the videos .
McDade was arrested on May 4 and accused of aggravated assault and pointing a gun at someone .
Police said McDade was carrying a BB gun and that he always carried a BB gun with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the killing of George Floyd , a Minneapolis man who died while being detained by police .
This story was first published on May 29 , 2020 .
It was updated on June 1 , 2020 , to correct the wrong pronoun used in one instance for a transgender black man who was fatally shot by police .
The second paragraph should have said Tony McDade fatally stabbed his next-door neighbour , not ‘ her ’ next-door neighbour .
Masculine pronouns were used for McDade elsewhere in the original story .


thetorontostar--2020-06-02--EU, UK leaders to meet as post-Brexit talks stall

BRUSSELS - The European Union ’ s top executive and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will meet this month for talks that could give new momentum to the stalled post-Brexit negotiations .
As a fourth round of talks between teams of negotiators resumed Tuesday with little hope for a breakthrough on a future trade deal , the bloc ’ s executive arm said a meeting is planned between EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Johnson by the end of June .
Daniel Ferrie , the commission spokesperson for EU-U.K. negotiations , said the date and the format of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The U.K. left the political institutions of the EU on Jan. 31 , but it remains inside the EU ’ s tariff-free single market and customs union until the end of the year .
That so-called transition period can be extended by two years although a deal to do so has to be made by July 1 , according to the legal documents accompanying Brexit .
Johnson has repeatedly said he will not extend the transition period beyond Dec. 31 .
Ahead of this week ’ s round of talks , Britain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier warned in an interview with the Sunday Times that there would not be an “ agreement at any cost.
” The three previous rounds of discussions have failed to produce much headway , notably around fishing rights .
The U.K. wants a fisheries deal to be a standalone agreement whereby the two sides negotiate access and quotas .
The EU , for its part , has sought to link fisheries to other trade issues .
Another major roadblock is the so-called level playing field .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on rules and regulations to gain a competitive advantage and wants to make sure that EU standards will be kept by London in return for a high degree of access to the single market .
“ The U.K. has been taking a step back – two steps back , three steps back – from the original commitments , ” Barnier said .
“ The U.K. negotiators need to be fully in line with what the Prime Minister signed up to with us .
Because 27 heads of state and government and the European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Despite the apparent stalemate , Johnson ’ s spokesman , James Slack , insisted progress could be made .
“ We hope this latest round is constructive and we hope that it will keep the process on track ahead of the high-level meeting later this month , “ he said .
Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report .
Follow AP ’ s full coverage of British politics and Brexit trade negotiations at https : //apnews.com/Brexit


thetorontostar--2020-06-02--Florida woman discovers alligators fighting by her home

FORT MYERS , Fla. - A woman in route to get her morning coffee was jolted awake with pounding on her front door she later discovered to be two alligators fighting in front of her home in Florida .
The video of the surprising encounter in Fort Myers was posted on Facebook last week by Susan Geshel .
When she first saw the reptiles before 7 a.m. , Geshel told The Fort Myers News-Press that one of the alligators had his snout pinned on her door while the other was stationed at a distance with its snout wide open .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ husband in surprise as one of the alligators clamped its jaws on the other ’ s body and pushed it to the wall as it moved away from the house .
“ They made a mess on the front door , ” Geshel , who has never seen alligators on her property in Fort Myers , said .
After about 20 minutes by her house , one of the alligators walked across the street to a neighbour ’ s home while the other disappeared from the area and could have gone to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Spokeswoman Melody Kilborn said the fighting alligators were reacting to being in a confined space .
The reptiles , who Kilborn said are most visible when the weather is warm , also tend to mate during May and June , according to the wildlife agency .


thetorontostar--2020-06-02--French virus tracing app goes live amid debate over privacy

PARIS - France is rolling out an official coronavirus contact-tracing app aimed at containing fresh outbreaks as lockdown restrictions gradually ease , becoming the first major European country to deploy the smartphone technology amid simmering debate over privacy fears .
The French will able to download the StopCovid app on their Google Android devices and Apple iPhones starting Tuesday , the same day they ’ ll once again be allowed to go to restaurants and cafes , parks and beaches and museums and monuments .
Neighbours including the U.K. , Germany , Italy , and Switzerland are developing their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different technical protocols , raising questions about compatibility across Europe ’ s borders .
Authorities hope the app can help manage virus flare-ups as they reopen the economy in France , which has been living under some of Europe ’ s tightest restrictions since it became one of countries hardest hit by the pandemic , with nearly 29,000 deaths .
Some Parisians were keen to adopt the technology to help bring life back to normal .
Cafe waiter Paul Hubert said he was ready to download the app because he sees “ more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it sounds like wearing a mask in a shop , ” said Hubert , 24 .
“ It ’ s easy and it can help protecting others.
” The various European apps use low-energy Bluetooth signals to anonymously log the nearby presence of other users .
Under the French system , data is uploaded to government-run centralized servers .
Users who test positive will be able to notify others who have been in close contact for at least 15 minutes so they can self-isolate and seek treatment .
France , like Britain , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracing apps jointly developed by U.S. tech giants Google and Apple , instead choosing to build its own .
The Google-Apple system uses a “ decentralized ” system backed by privacy experts because it keeps data on phones , but British and French officials say it doesn ’ t give them enough information to manage outbreaks .
Civil liberties groups worry that tracing apps are a gateway to government surveillance but Cedric O , France ’ s junior minister for the digital economy , dismissed those concerns .
“ The problem with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be confident and to trust your state but we ’ re in a democratic state , we have checks and balances , ” O told the AP .
The government says the app doesn ’ t track location and deletes user data after 14 days .
Some French lawmakers have raised doubts over the app ’ s effectiveness if few people install it amid privacy concerns and because of potential technical issues .
O said the app detects about 80 % of surrounding phones via Bluetooth .
Parisian Sami Mounir said he won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ privacy concerns .
“ We don ’ t know what they could do with the data or whether it could be hacked , “ Mounir , 31 , said .
“ Plus , it ’ s health data , it ’ s too sensitive.
” Officials and experts say tracing apps aren ’ t a magic bullet against the virus but can aid time-consuming manual contact tracing efforts .
Professor Arnaud Fontanet , epidemiologist at the Paris Pasteur Institute and a member of the scientific committee advising French President Emmanuel Macron , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a revolutionary one , but a useful tool.
” France and other countries have set up teams to interview people testing positive about their contacts .
But the tracers will likely miss strangers , so the app may prove useful especially “ in circumstances where you ’ re going to stand next to someone who is infected , without knowing , for quite a long period of time ” like in public transports and restaurants , Fontanet said .
Other countries around Europe have been scrambling to build their apps , often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the tech giants for a more private system is an ironic turn of events after the European Union called them out repeatedly in recent years for not protecting data privacy sufficiently .
Italy ’ s Immuni app , based on the Google-Apple system , was available to download starting Monday , and will undergo testing initially in parts of the country less affected by coronavirus next week before being rolled out nationwide .
Authorities say at least 60 % of Italy ’ s 60 million population will need to use it for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pilot test of its SwissCovid app last week , to last until mid-June , when the government is expected to introduce legislation covering the app .
Germany hired software company SAP and wireless carrier Deutsche Telekom to build its decentralized “ Corona-Warn-App .
“ Developers say the app ’ s “ data will be stored locally on each device preventing access and control over data by authorities or anyone else.
” Britain launched a massive countrywide “ track and trace ” program on Friday , including 25,000 human contact tracers , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested , isn ’ t ready and it ’ s unclear when it will be launched .
The European apps are voluntary to encourage people to use them .
If the app is mandatory , “ people will definitely not use it , ” said , Ingmars Pukis , a vice-president at Latvian wireless carrier LMT , which helped developed the country ’ s tracing app , released Friday and also based on the Google-Apple standard .
EPFL , the Swiss research institute that helped develop SwissCovid , said that with other European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decentralized protocol , it should enable different systems to work with each other when users travel .
But that leaves out the British and French systems .
The French government ’ s technology choice means the French app is not compatible with foreign ones .
O suggested that cross-border commuters and travellers will have to work around the problem by downloading their destination country ’ s app .
Chan reported from London .
Colleen Barry in Milan contributed to this report .

Sylvie Corbet And Kelvin Chan - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-06-02--Barr: Law enforcement must ‘dominate’ streets amid protests

WASHINGTON - U.S. officials vowed to “ maximize federal law enforcement presence ” in the nation ’ s capital after days of violent demonstrations led to fires across Washington and left scores of businesses with broken windows and dozens of police officers injured .
In a call with governors Monday , President Donald Trump and Attorney General William Barr also encouraged more aggressive action against those who cause violence during protests across the country following the killing of George Floyd , a black man who died after a white Minneapolis policeman pressed his knee into his neck for several minutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrations have turned violent in several cities , with fires ignited in Lafayette Park across from the White House .
But there were questions about whether using more aggressive law enforcement measures against demonstrators protesting police brutality would only increase tensions .
Barr told the state leaders that law enforcement officials must “ have adequate force ” and “ go after troublemakers.
” “ Law enforcement response is not going to work unless we dominate the streets , ” Barr said .
Trump said he was “ taking immediate presidential action to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in America.
” He urged governors to deploy the National Guard , which he credited with helping calm the situation Sunday night in Minneapolis , and demanded that similarly tough measures be taken in cities that also experienced spasms of violence , including New York , Philadelphia and Los Angeles .
“ If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents , then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them , ” Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evening in the Rose Garden , police and members of the National Guard took aggressive action , using tear gas and flash bangs , to move back peaceful protesters who were outside Lafayette Park , across from the White House .
Between the protests and the response to the coronavirus pandemic , the National Guard has been deployed at its highest level in recent history , surpassing the number of troops sent to the Gulf Coast during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 .
More than 66,700 soldiers and airman have been activated — 45,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 17,000 to help with the protests .
Other law enforcement resources are also being mobilized .
The Justice Department deployed the U.S .
Marshals Service and agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration to supplement National Guard troops in Washington on Sunday .
By midnight , Barr had ordered the FBI to deploy its Hostage Rescue Team , an elite tactical unit , to the streets of the nation ’ s capital , a senior Justice Department official said .
Barr has also directed the federal Bureau of Prisons to send teams of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Miami and Washington , the official added .
The federal prison system had also implemented a temporary measure to further curtail inmate movement at prisons across the U.S. “ to ensure the good order and security of our institutions , as well as ensure the safety of staff and inmates , “ the Bureau of Prisons said .
The U.S. Park Police and Secret Service have had dozens of officers out in riot gear in Washington for the last few nights , in addition to the Metropolitan Police Department .
U.S. Customs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , agents and aircraft around the country to assist other law enforcement agencies “ confronting the lawless actions of rioters , ” the agency said .
The officers were being deployed in several states , though the official declined to provide specific details , citing security concerns .
Several major cities have enacted curfews , and District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser set a 7 p.m. curfew for Monday and Tuesday .
Violent demonstrators ignored the 11 p.m. curfew the night before as they set buildings and trash cans on fire and broke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shelves .
Most of the protesters have been peaceful and tried to discourage violence .
Trump , Barr and others have tried to blame some of the civil unrest on left-wing extremist groups , including antifa , and other “ anarchists.
“ Short for “ anti-fascists , ” antifa is an umbrella term for far-left-leaning militant groups that resist neo-Nazis and white supremacists at demonstrations .
The FBI is using its network of regional joint terrorism task forces to “ identify criminal organizers , ” and federal prosecutors across the country have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ riot , arson or terror statutes against any “ violent radical agitators ” who attempt to hijack protests to cause destruction .
The Justice Department has vowed to treat the “ violence instigated and carried out by antifa & other similar groups ” as domestic terrorism .
Although there isn ’ t a specific federal domestic terrorism statute , prosecutors could charge other offences and seek enhanced sentencing .
The FBI has already started questioning rioters who were arrested in several cities to determine whether they committed any federal crimes , the senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a federal crime to cross state lines to participate in violent riots .
Between 600 and 800 National Guard members from five states — Delaware , New Jersey , New York , Ohio and Utah — are being sent to D.C. to provide assistance , senior Defence Department officials said .
Those troops are either already on the ground or will arrive by midnight .
In addition , officials said that soldiers from Fort Bragg , North Carolina , and Fort Drum , New York , were heading to D.C. and would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are needed .
They would be prepared to respond , but the officials said they are hopeful those troops will not be needed .
If they are sent in , they are not expected to be conducting any law enforcement .
The officials declined to say how many active-duty troops were en route .
Members of the Army ’ s 3rd Infantry Regiment , an active-duty unit known as the Old Guard and most visible as the unit that stands at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier , have been called up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Army post adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery .
Associated Press writers Lolita C. Baldor , Kevin Freking and Ben Fox in Washington ; Alan Suderman in Richmond , Va. ; James LaPorta in Delray Beach , Fla. ; and Sarah Blake Morgan in West Jefferson , N.C. , contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-06-02--UN report: Afghan Taliban still maintain ties with al-Qaida

ISLAMABAD - The Taliban in Afghanistan still maintain close ties with the al-Qaida terror network , despite signing a peace deal with the United States in which they committed to fight militant groups , a U.N. report released on Tuesday said .
The insurgents promptly slammed the report as “ baseless and bigoted.
” The U.S.-Taliban accord , signed in Qatar ’ s capital of Doha at the end of February , was meant to allow for American troops to gradually leave Afghanistan after 19 years of war and pave way for intra-Afghan negotiations that would shape the country ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Taliban pledged to combat other terror groups — including al-Qaida , which they once harboured — and prevent militants from using Afghan territory to stage attacks on America .
But the details of the Taliban counter-terrorism commitment were never publicized .
Zalmay Khalilzad , Washington ’ s peace envoy and the architect of the deal , says the secrecy is necessary to protect intelligence operations involved in enforcing it .
Khalilzad told reporters in Washington on Monday that the Taliban pledge was specific “ in terms of their presence , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recruiting , in terms of fundraising in the territory that they currently control.
” He insisted that “ progress has been made and our future steps in terms of force reduction and related commitments ” now depend on the Taliban delivering on their promise .
The U.N. committee behind the report said several significant al-Qaida figures were killed over the past months but a number of prominent leaders of the group , once led by Osama bin Laden , remain in Afghanistan .
The report said they maintain links with the feared Haqqani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and still play a significant role in Taliban operations .
Jihad , or holy war , and a shared history continue to bind the two militant groups .
Several top al-Qaida leaders , such as Ayman al-Zawahri who succeeded bin Laden as the terror network ’ s leader , trace their involvement in Afghanistan to the 1980s war against the invading Soviet Union , when the Afghan mujahedeen , or holy warriors , were also financed by the U.S. to oust Moscow ’ s troops .
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid issued an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Taliban , he said , “ in accordance with the Doha agreement , will not allow anyone to use the soil of Afghanistan against anyone else or maintain training camps or use our soil to fund raise against others.
” Critics of the U.S.-Taliban deal have expressed concern at its vagueness , warning it makes monitoring the insurgents ’ compliance difficult .
“ One of the many problems with a very flawed deal is that the demands of the Taliban on counter-terrorism are worded very vaguely , “ said Michael Kugelman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Washington-based Wilson Center .
He said the deal doesn ’ t even mention al-Qaida by name .
“ At the very least , Washington should be demanding that the Taliban cease all communication with senior al-Qaida figures , ” Kugelman said .
The U.N. report , however , did note the Taliban contribution in fighting the Islamic State group ’ s affiliate in Afghanistan .
The IS has become increasingly aggressive , carrying out horrific attacks in the capital , Kabul .
The group is also believed to have been behind a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month that killed 24 , mainly young mothers and also two newborn babies .
In his Monday telephone interview with reporters , Khalilzad also said the Taliban have been an important part in the battle by U.S. and Afghan forces against IS .
“ Daesh is working against peace ... and they have been responsible ... for some of the most dastardly attacks recently , ” he said , using the Arabic name for IS .
Still , Kugelman warned against underplaying the Taliban ties to al-Qaida .
“ If the U.S. simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ties to the very terror group that U.S. forces entered Afghanistan to eliminate nearly 19 years ago , then you ’ d have some really bad optics to say the least , ” he said .


thetorontostar--2020-06-02--Protesters in Sydney call for change in race relations

SYDNEY , Australia - Chanting “ Black lives matter , ” “ I can ’ t breathe ” and “ George Floyd , ” thousands of protesters held an impassioned but peaceful march through central Sydney on Tuesday demanding fundamental change in race relations .
Many said they were inspired by the ongoing protests in the U.S. following the death of Floyd , a black man who was pinned to the pavement by a white police officer , but had turned out also to call for change in Australia ’ s treatment of its indigenous population , particularly by police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but also some from the U.S. and elsewhere , marched for around half a mile under police escort .
“ I ’ m here for my people , and for our fallen brothers and sisters around the world , “ said Amanda Hill of Sydney , a 46-year-old indigenous woman who attended the rally with her daughter and two nieces .
“ What ’ s happening in America shines a light on the situation here , “ she said .
” It doesn ’ t matter if it ’ s about the treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or from another country — enough is enough.
” A total of 432 indigenous Australians have died in police detention since a 1991 Royal Commission , Australia ’ s highest level of official inquiry , into deaths of Aboriginals in custody , according to a running analysis by The Guardian newspaper .
Australia ’ s indigenous people have higher-than-average rates of infant mortality and poor health , as well as shorter life expectancy and lower levels of education and employment than white Australians .
“ Always was , always will be Aboriginal land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ray O ’ Shannassy , one of the rally ’ s organizers , said he hopes the protest — and a far larger one planned for Sydney on Saturday — will lead to long-term change .
“ We plan to build this into a solid movement , where it ’ s not just a matter of every time someone passes away we go out and march , “ he said .
” There ’ s other injustices occurring every day .
We want to build a long-term movement off of this , looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other issues.
” Sydney student Chelsea Caffrey , 18 , held a sign reading , “ We ’ re here because they aren ’ t. ” The sign included representations of Floyd — whose May 25 death in Minneapolis sparked the ongoing protests across the U.S. — and Australian David Dungay .
Dungay was an indigenous 26-year-old man who died in the hospital section of a Sydney jail in 2015 while being restrained by five guards .
Like Floyd , he had repeatedly called out “ I can ’ t breathe ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely ignorant to the injustices that happen here , but just because it isn ’ t filmed and put on TV doesn ’ t mean it doesn ’ t happen , ” Caffrey said .
An American protester , a 25-year-old woman who gave her name only as Merinda , held a sign reading , “ Sydney stands with Black Lives Matter.
“ “ I ’ m feeling the distance being so far away from home , but this is a great opportunity to use my voice and to show them that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .


thetorontostar--2020-06-02--Showdown: Law-and-order president versus protesters

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump vowed to deploy the military to “ dominate the streets ” of America and federal forces followed his lead , aggressively clearing a Washington park of protesters with tear gas so he could walk to a church and pose with a Bible .
Across the nation , cities were engulfed in more violence and destruction .
In New York City , nonviolent demonstrations were punctuated by people smashing storefront windows near Rockefeller Center and breaching the doors into the storied Macy ’ s store on 34th Street , littering parts of Manhattan with broken glass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of law enforcement officers at a demonstration in Buffalo , injuring at least two .
Demonstrations erupted from Philadelphia , where hundreds of protesters spilled onto a highway in the heart of the city , to Atlanta , where police fired tear gas at demonstrators , to Nashville , where more than 60 National Guard soldiers put down their riot shields at the request of peaceful protesters who had gathered in front of Tennessee ’ s state capitol to honour George Floyd .
Bystander Sean Jones , who watched as people ransacked luxury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighbourhood , explained the destruction this way : “ People are doing this so next time , before they think about trying to kill another black person , they ’ re going to be like , ’ Damn , we don ’ t want them out here doing this ... again.
’ ” The unrest in Minneapolis appeared to stabilize on the same day Floyd ’ s brother made an impassioned plea for peace at the location where a white police officer put his knee on the handcuffed black man ’ s neck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The death toll from the unrest began to mount , including two people killed in a Chicago suburb .
The police chief in Louisville was fired after a beloved restaurant owner was killed by police and National Guard enforcing a curfew .
An officer was shot shortly before midnight near the Circus Circus casino in Las Vegas .
Police had no immediate word on the officer ’ s condition .
Four officers were shot in St. Louis , Missouri , where police said they were expected to recover .
Trump , meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president , with police under federal command forcing back peaceful demonstrators with tear gas so he could pose with a Bible outside a damaged church .
Emerging after two days out of public view , he threatened from the White House Rose Garden to deploy “ thousands and thousands ” of U.S. troops .
Then he made a surprise walk across Lafayette Park to a house of worship known as “ The Church of the Presidents.
” The photo op was condemned by Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde .
“ The president just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ churches of my diocese as a backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus and everything that our church stands for , ” she said .
For nearly a week since Floyd ’ s death , largely peaceful protests by day have turned to chaos at night .
Many express frustration that after years of seeking reforms , minorities still suffer and die in police custody .
With so many aspects of society and the economy disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic , people are demanding fundamental changes , nationwide .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keg for some time and it has burst , ” Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said .
The president , seeking his second term in office , vowed to use more force to stop the violence .
If governors don ’ t deploy the National Guard in sufficient numbers to “ dominate the streets , ” Trump said , the U.S. military would step in to “ quickly solve the problem for them.
” “ We have the greatest country in the world , ” the president declared .
“ We ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump spoke , tear gas canisters could be heard exploding .
A military deployment by Trump to U.S. states would mark a stunning federal intervention rarely seen in modern American history .
It drew comparisons to 1968 , when Richard Nixon ran as the law-and-order candidate in the aftermath of riots following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Minutes before Trump began speaking , police and National Guard soldiers began aggressively removing hundreds of peaceful protesters from the Lafayette Park , across the street from the White House , where they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s death .
Five months before Election Day , the president made clear that he would stake his reelection efforts on convincing voters that his strong-arm approach was warranted to quell the most intense civil unrest since the 1960s .
He made little effort to address the grievances of black Americans and others outraged by Floyd ’ s death and the scourge of police brutality , undermining what his campaign had hoped would be increased appeal to African American voters .
The scene in and around the White House appeared to be carefully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grew , Attorney General William Barr arrived in Lafayette Park to look over at the demonstrations and the swarm of law enforcement .
Once his path was cleared , Trump , who rarely attends church , then walked through the park and held up a Bible , posing for photos with an all-white group of advisors .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said Trump “ used the military to push out a peaceful protest so he could have a photo op at a church.
” Federal law permits presidents to dispatch the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or if a state is defying federal law , legal experts said .
But officials in New York and other states asserted that the president does not have a unilateral right to send in troops against the will of local governments .
Earlier Monday , Trump told the nation ’ s governors in a video conference that they “ look like fools ” for not deploying even more National Guard troops .
“ Most of you are weak , ” he said .
“ You ’ ve got to arrest people , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to put them in jail for 10 years and you ’ ll never see this stuff again , ” Trump said .
Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee , a Democrat , dismissed Trump ’ s comments as the “ rantings of an insecure man trying to look strong after building his entire political career on racism.
” Former Vice-President Joe Biden , the Democratic presidential candidate , vowed to address institutional racism in his first 100 days in office .
He met in person with black leaders in Delaware and also held a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said hate emerges “ when you have somebody in power who breathes oxygen into the hate.
” More than 5,600 people nationwide have been arrested over the past week for such offences as stealing , blocking highways and breaking curfew , according to a count by The Associated Press .
Sullivan and Morrison reported from Minneapolis .
Associated Press journalists across the U.S. contributed to this report .

Darlene Superville, Tim Sullivan And Aaron Morrison - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-06-02--World outrage grows at Floyd’s death; EU ‘shocked, appalled’

BRUSSELS - World outrage at George Floyd ’ s death in the U.S. was growing Tuesday as the European Union ’ s top diplomat said the bloc was “ shocked and appalled ” by it and thousands marched in Australia ’ s largest city .
In France , protests were planned for the evening in Paris and across the country after calls from the family of a French black man who died shortly after he was arrested by police in 2016 .
A protest was also planned in The Hague , Netherlands .
Floyd died last week after he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police officer in Minneapolis who put his knee on the handcuffed black man ’ s neck until he stopped breathing .
His death set off protests that spread across America .
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell ’ s remarks in Brussels were the strongest so far to come out of the 27-nation bloc , saying Floyd ’ s death was a result of an abuse of power .
Borrell told reporters that “ like the people of the United States , we are shocked and appalled by the death of George Floyd.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right to peaceful protest , and also we condemn violence and racism of any kind , and for sure , we call for a de-escalation of tensions.
” Protesters around the world have expressed solidarity with Americans demonstrating against Floyd ’ s death .
Thousands marched through downtown Sydney on Tuesday .
The protesters in Australia ’ s largest city chanted , “ I can ’ t breathe ” — some of the final words of both Floyd and David Dungay , a 26-year-old Aboriginal man who died in a Sydney prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guards .
The demonstrators carried placards reading , “ Black Lives Matter , ” “ Aboriginal Lives Matter , ” “ White Silence is Violence ” and , referring to those protesting in cities across the U.S. , “ We See You , We Hear Your , We Stand With You.
” Other placards read , “ We ’ re here because they aren ’ t , ” with depictions of Floyd and Dungay .
The protesters , who appeared to number around 3,000 , marched from Hyde Park to the New South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to the U.S. Consulate .
“ It ’ s just gut-wrenching the climate of what ’ s happening in America , and it ’ s also happening here in Australia , though it ’ s subtle .
Racism is real for me , “ said one of the protesters , Aoatua Lee .
Around 2,000 demonstrators had gathered in Australia ’ s west coast city of Perth on Monday night to peacefully protest Floyd ’ s death , and rallies are planned for other Australian cities this week .
An indigenous Australian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s death as an opportunity to reduce deaths of indigenous people in custody .
Linda Burney , the opposition spokeswoman on indigenous Australians , said Tuesday that more than 430 indigenous people had died in Australian police custody since 1991 .
“ I think we should be using it as an opportunity , ” Burney told Australian Broadcasting Corp. , referring to Floyd ’ s death .
“ Whether we like it or not , it doesn ’ t take much for racism to come out of the underbelly of this country.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are lots of things that state and territory governments could do , and the federal government could do to lower the number of Aboriginal people in custody , ” she added .
While indigenous adults make up only 2 % of the Australian population , they account for 27 % of the prison population .
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese backed Burney ’ s call .
“ There are far too many indigenous Australians who are incarcerated today .
As a percentage of the population , this is a tragedy and it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an absolute national priority , ” Albanese told reporters .
Meanwhile , more African leaders are speaking up over the killing of Floyd .
“ It can not be right that , in the 21st century , the United States , this great bastion of democracy , continues to grapple with the problem of systemic racism , ” Ghana ’ s president , Nana Akufo-Addo , said in a statement , adding that black people the world over are shocked and distraught .
Kenyan opposition leader and former Prime Pinister Raila Odinga offered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that there be justice and freedom for all human beings who call America their country.
” Like some in Africa who have spoken out , Odinga also noted troubles at home , saying the judging of people by character instead of skin colour “ is a dream we in Africa , too , owe our citizens.
” And South Africa ’ s finance minister , Tito Mboweni , recalled leading a small protest outside the U.S. Embassy several years ago over the apparent systemic killings of blacks .
Mboweni said the U.S. ambassador @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ invited me to his office and said : ‘ What you see is nothing , it is much worse.
’ ” In Europe on Monday , thousands spilled across streets in Amsterdam to denounce police brutality , and those demonstrating in Paris urged the French government to take police violence more seriously and held up signs like “ Racism is suffocating us.
” Some government leaders have seen the U.S. unrest as a chance to highlight what they see as American hypocrisy on protest movements at home versus abroad .
Hong Kong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over an imminent national security law being imposed in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory .
“ They take their own country ’ s national security very seriously , but for the security of our country , especially the situation in Hong Kong , they are looking at it through tinted glasses , ” Lam said Tuesday .
Rick Rycroft reported from Sydney .
Associated Press writer Rod McGuirk in Canberra , Australia , contributed to this report .
Follow AP ’ s latest news about the protests at https : //apnews.com/GeorgeFloyd

Lorne Cook And Rick Rycroft - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-06-02--Indonesia cancels hajj pilgrimage due to coronavirus

JAKARTA , Indonesia - Indonesia ’ s government has decided not to participate in this year ’ s hajj pilgrimage because of the coronavirus outbreak , an official said Tuesday .
Indonesian Religious Affair Minister Fachrul Razi said Saudi Arabia has not announced it will open the July hajj pilgrimage to other countries , and it is too late to prepare if it does so now .
“ The government will not send the 2020 hajj pilgrimage , ” Razi said .
Indonesia , the world ’ s most populous Muslim nation , normally sends the largest contingent to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia .
It was expected to send 221,000 pilgrims this year .
Razi said pilgrimages held during past disease outbreaks resulted in tragedies in which tens of thousands of people became victims .
“ In 1814 for example , when the Thaun outbreak occurred , also in 1837 and 1858 there was an epidemic outbreak , cholera outbreak in 1892 and during the meningitis outbreak in 1987 , “ he said .
As of Tuesday , the government has confirmed 27,549 COVID-19 cases , including 1,663 deaths @


thetorontostar--2020-06-02--Cartoonists to thank frontline workers playfully this Sunday

NEW YORK - The funny papers this Sunday will have more than laughs .
More than 70 comic strips and panels — ranging from Garry Trudeau ’ s “ Doonesbury ” to Jim Toomey ’ s “ Sherman ’ s Lagoon ” and Jeff Keane ’ s “ Family Circus ” — will each have six symbols hidden in the artwork to honour workers on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic .
Look closely and you ’ ll find a mask for medical workers and caregivers , a steering wheel for delivery workers , a shopping cart for grocery workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fork for food service workers and a microscope for medical researchers .
In “ Sherman ’ s Lagoon , ” the six items are hidden in the ocean ’ s reef .
In “ Blondie , ” they appear on the computer screen of over-worked Dagwood Bumstead .
In “ Zits , ” they hide in Jeremy Duncan ’ s messy bedroom .
The initiative was thought up by “ Baby Blues ” co-cartoonist Rick Kirkman , who wanted to show his gratitude for the helpers .
He consulted his colleagues , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just kept growing .
“ Every time somebody finds or discovers one of those little symbols in the artwork , to me , I hope that evokes a little bit of gratitude that goes out into the universe , ” he said .
This Sunday would have marked the last day of the National Cartoonists Society ’ s annual convention , which was cancelled .
“ I just felt like that was a great day to do it because we ’ re missing that big communal feeling , but at least we get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The cartoonists involved represent an astonishing array of syndicated and non-syndicated strips , including “ Mallard Fillmore , ” “ Mutts , ” “ Pearls Before Swine , ” “ Tank McNamara , ” “ Baldo , ” “ Big Nate , ” “ Rose Is Rose , ” “ Zits ” and “ Stone Soup.
” All the participating comics , including additional art by webcomic creators and others , will be featured at ComicsKingdom.com and GoComics.com .
All the cartoonists offer links to local or national charities in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who draws the “ Ginger Meggs ” strip and is president of the National Cartoonist Society , said that while cartoonists have banded together for causes before , nothing of this scale has been attempted .
“ There ’ s nothing quite like sitting down and seeing all the comics together on one page and on a really special day where we ’ ve all co-ordinated to do something very special for a really good cause , ” he said .
Because some strips are written and submitted weeks ahead of publication , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into already approved works to add the symbols or swap in a new strip .
Kirkman credits the comic strip syndicates for rallying behind the effort and being flexible .
Kirkman left it up to the artists how to incorporate the six symbols : “ I said , ’ You can hide these things and just be really devious about it .
You can leave them in the open .
You can use them as props .
You can even build your gag around them .
I don ’ t care as long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For some strips , the task was pretty easy .
For others , it required a bit more work .
How exactly was “ Prince Valiant ” — set in the fifth century — supposed to add a microscope , which wasn ’ t invented until the late 16th century ?
One cartoonist , Wiley Miller , had to really scramble since his “ Non Sequitur ” panel set for Sunday takes place in the Pleistocene era .
“ I told him , ‘ Well , you know , you just hide stuff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
” And the next day he came back and he said , ‘ I did it !
’ ” Chatfield said some of his fellow artists came up with stylized versions of the items , like half-eaten apples or an apple pie .
“ Something that cartoonists love is a creative challenge , ” he said .
While many cartoonists hope to keep their work escapist and so have avoided dealing directly with the coronavirus , Kirkman and Chatfield have gradually incorporated elements of the pandemic into their daily strips .
Kirkman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scott had some characters wear face masks when coming from outside , and Chatfield ’ s sports-loving hero is now being schooled at home .
The cartoonists are looking forward to Sunday , when a community they say can be a little introverted and isolated offers its communal artistic gratitude — and a scavenger hunt for readers .
“ I ’ m going to be as pleasantly surprised , I think , as everybody else to see all of this , ” said Kirkman .
“ And I hope this news makes it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this gratitude .
”


thetorontostar--2020-06-02--Mudslides bury homes in northeast India; 20 dead, 7 injured

GAUHATI , India - Three mudslides triggered by overnight rains buried homes in northeastern India ’ s Assam state , @ @ @ @ @ at least seven others , authorities said Tuesday .
Seven of the victims were members @ @ @ @ @ said M.S .
Manivannan , head of the state disaster management authority .
He said @ @ @ @ @ Their medical condition was not immediately clear .
The mudslides occurred in the districts of @ @ @ @ @ , large parts of which share borders with Bangladesh .
“ Rescue operations are still @ @ @ @ @ more people are trapped under the debris , ” Manivannan said .
Pre-monsoon rains have @ @ @ @ @ large parts of Assam , with at least 10 deaths reported so far .
The @ @ @ @ @ , Brahmaputra , and its many tributaries flood heavily each year , forcing many to @ @ @ @ @ .
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal , the state ’ s highest elected official , @ @ @ @ @ to inspect relief and rescue operations in the last few days .


thetorontostar--2020-06-02--2 Las Vegas shootings, 1 officer shot amid Floyd protests

LAS VEGAS - An officer has been shot in Las Vegas and authorities are responding to another shooting as people @ @ @ @ @ Floyd in Minneapolis , authorities said .
The officer was shot in the area of @ @ @ @ @ an officer was involved in a shooting in the downtown area , the Las Vegas @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .
Protesters have been rallying for days across the country over the death of @ @ @ @ @ seen on video pleading that he couldn ’ t breathe with a white police officer @ @ @ @ @ neck for several minutes before he stopped moving .
Police in Las Vegas said Monday @ @ @ @ @ during three nights of protests .
Officers used tear gas and pepper balls to disperse @ @ @ @ @ Sunday on the Las Vegas Strip .
Police said suspects were jailed despite a local @ @ @ @ @ people accused of misdemeanour crimes to receive court summonses instead of time behind bars to @ @ @ @ @ the new coronavirus .


thetorontostar--2020-06-02--Depression forms in Gulf, heavy rain threat for south Mexico

MIAMI - A tropical depression that formed Monday in the Gulf of Mexico is forecast to become a tropical storm in coming hours , with heavy rains already causing deadly flash flooding in parts of southern Mexico and Central America .
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the depression was centred early Tuesday about 105 miles ( 169 kilometres ) west of Campeche , Mexico .
At 5 a.m. EDT , it had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph ( 55 kph ) and was crawling westward at 2 mph ( 4 kph ) .
Forecasters said it could reach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sometime Tuesday .
It ’ s expected to move northward across the Gulf of Mexico later this week , but it ’ s too early to say when and where it might strike the United States .
The government of Mexico has a tropical storm warning in effect from Campeche to the port of Veracruz on that country ’ s Gulf coast .
The warning means tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere in that warning area within 36 hours .
The Miami-based hurricane centre said deadly flooding has already been occurring in parts @ @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-06-02--Hong Kong leader criticizes ‘double standards’ over protests

Hong Kong ’ s leader on Tuesday criticized the “ double standards ” of foreign governments regarding national security , pointing to the current unrest in the United States as an example of how attitudes differ when protests hit home .
“ We have recently seen these kind of double standards most clearly with the riots in the United States , ” Chief Executive Carrie Lam said .
“ We can see how local authorities have reacted .
But then last year when we had similar riots in Hong Kong , what was their position ?
” The U.S. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticized police crackdowns on anti-government protests in Hong Kong last year .
Lam pointed to more recent criticism of an imminent national security law that many foreign politicians have characterized as Beijing eroding freedoms promised to Hong Kong .
“ They take their own country ’ s national security very seriously , but for the security of our country , especially the situation in Hong Kong , they are looking at it through tinted glasses , ” she said .
Lam will lead a delegation of senior Hong Kong officials to Beijing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planned national security laws to Chinese government officials , the Hong Kong government announced .
China ’ s ceremonial legislature last week approved a decision to create national security laws for Hong Kong , aimed at curbing subversive and secessionist activity after the monthslong pro-democracy movement last year that at times resulted in violent clashes between protesters and police .
In response to the proposed laws , U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday pledged to “ take action to revoke Hong Kong ’ s preferential treatment as a separate customs and travel territory.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanctions or made moves to affect trading relations , they would only be “ hurting their own interests.
” She went on to highlight the U.S. trade surplus with Hong Kong .
“ Foreign governments have been responding in a high-profile manner , some have threatened certain actions , and I can only say that they are adopting double standards , ” Lam said .
Lam also expressed concern over the latest coronavirus outbreak in the city , after a cluster of nine people in the same public housing building tested positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ending a streak of nearly two weeks without locally transmitted cases .
Hong Kong on Tuesday said it would implement a two-week extension of social distancing measures , including a ban on public gatherings of more than eight people , to June 18 .
The city ’ s entry restrictions will also remain in place until Sept. 18 for foreign non-residents , with the exception of those who have stayed in mainland China , Taiwan and Macau for 14 days prior to their arrival in Hong Kong .
Residents of those places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have not travelled elsewhere prior to their arrival .


thetorontostar--2020-06-02--Indian metropolis of Mumbai braces for rare cyclone

NEW DELHI - A cyclone in the Arabian Sea was barrelling toward India ’ s business capital Mumbai on Tuesday , threatening to deliver high winds and flooding to an area already struggling with the nation ’ s highest number of coronavirus infections and deaths .
Cyclone Nisarga was forecast to make landfall Wednesday afternoon on the country ’ s west coast near Mumbai , a coastal city home to 18.4 million people and known for the Bollywood film industry .
Mumbai hasn ’ t been hit by a cyclone in more than a century , raising concern about its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been sent to both Maharashtra state , home to Mumbai , and nearby Gujarat state and officials were urging people in at risk areas to evacuate .
Maharashtra ’ s top official , Uddhav Balasheb Thackeray , said on Twitter that residents in Mumbai ’ s expansive slums had been ordered to evacuate , though it was not immediately clear if shelters had been set up .
He also said some 150 coronavirus patients had been moved out of a hospital near the city ’ s beachfront .
India ’ s meteorological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day Tuesday into a severe cyclone , which is defined as a cyclone with wind speeds of 119 to 165 kilometres per hour ( 74 to 102 miles per hour ) and is the fourth most powerful category on the local scale .
Nisarga comes just two weeks after Cyclone Amphan tore through the Bay of Bengal on India ’ s east coast and battered West Bengal state , killing more than 100 people in India and neighbouring Bangladesh .
Although post-monsoon flooding is common in Mumbai in the fall , some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepared for the high winds and storm surges that come with a cyclone .
“ There ’ s been no test of how the city does in a cyclone , “ said Adam Sobel , a climate scientist at Columbia University who has studied the risk to Mumbai .
“ It just makes me nervous.
” The storm comes as the area grapples with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
Maharashtra and Gujarat states have reported about 44 % of India ’ s 198,000 COVID-19 cases nationwide , and 61 % of all virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an overwhelmed hospital system in Mumbai , with patients resting on hospital floors until beds become available and bodies left in wards .
Doctors associations have reported that a growing number of health care workers are catching the virus , putting an even greater strain on staffing .

Aniruddha Ghosal And Emily Schmall - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-06-02--Biden looks to clinch nomination as 7 states, DC vote

MONTCLAIR , N.J. - Joe Biden could seize the number of delegates needed to formally clinch the Democrats ’ presidential nomination on Tuesday as seven states and the District of Columbia push through a pandemic and exploding racial tensions to host the largest slate of primary elections in almost three months .
Voters will be asked to navigate curfews , health concerns and a sharp increase in mail balloting as elections take place from Maryland to Montana .
Four states were originally scheduled to vote in April but delayed their contests because of the coronavirus outbreak .
Pennsylvania offers the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and represents a high-profile test case for Republicans and Democrats working to strengthen their operations in one of the most important general election battlegrounds .
“ We think we ’ re prepared , ” said state Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy Patton Mills .
“ Thank goodness we have the opportunity of working this out in the primary because we don ’ t know where we ’ ll be with the pandemic in November.
” Biden needs to win 89 % of all delegates at stake on Tuesday to clinch the nomination , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear presidential nominee is not in danger should he fall short .
With a dominant showing on Super Tuesday in early March , the former vice-president pushed out all his major opponents .
He will almost certainly secure the needed delegates later in the month if necessary .
Still , Tuesday offers a historic opportunity for the 77-year-old Democrat , who is waging his third presidential campaign and who hopes to amass as many delegates as possible to show strength before going up against President Donald Trump .
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operation and endorsed Biden , but his name will appear on the ballots .
On the eve of Tuesday ’ s primaries , senior adviser Jeff Weaver encouraged progressives to vote for Sanders anyway .
“ People who support Bernie Sanders and his agenda , who want to maximize the influence of progressives at the convention , should cast their vote for Bernie Sanders , ” Weaver said , reminding voters that the Vermont senator is seeking leverage to shape the party ’ s platform and rules .
The comments serve as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic rivals remaining , but he must still win over skeptical activists from his party ’ s far-left flank who worry he ’ s too close to the political establishment .
Party unity will likely be an afterthought this week , however , as more immediate health and safety concerns dominate the national conversation .
The coronavirus death toll has surged past 100,000 nationwide , and thousands of new cases are reported each day .
At the same time , several major cities , including some voting Tuesday , are grappling with protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a handcuffed black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd ’ s neck for several minutes .
Washington , D.C. , Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a 7 p.m. curfew , though voting places will be open until 8 p.m. Voting has been deemed essential , and city officials say voters will not be subject to arrest if they cast ballots during the curfew .
It ’ s much the same in Philadelphia , where officials have promised that voters would not be arrested should their city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a fourth consecutive night .
“ We are in unique times and voting is a unique challenge for people , ” said Josh Schwerin , chief strategist for the pro-Democrat super PAC Priorities USA .
He said that his organization and others will be watching closely on Tuesday “ to see how well it works , where issues are , and where obstacles have been put in place.
” Political groups have had to adjust as some states move to a system that relies largely on voting by mail .
They include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vote entirely by mail .
Voting rights watchdogs in multiple states have expressed concerns about access to mail ballots , confusion about deadlines and a shortage of poll workers that could lead to long lines .
Those voting Tuesday include the District of Columbia , Indiana , Maryland , Montana , New Mexico , Pennsylvania , Rhode Island and South Dakota .
An eighth state holding primary elections , Iowa , chose its presidential nominee early in the year and focused on other offices .
Catch up on the 2020 election campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ podcast , “ Ground Game .
”


thetorontostar--2020-06-02--6 elephants killed by poachers in single day in Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA , Ethiopia - At least six elephants were killed in a single day by poachers in Ethiopia last week , wildlife officials said , the largest such slaughter in memory in the East African nation .
“ The elephants were killed while they ventured out of the Mago National Park to drink water , ” Ganabul Bulmi , the park ’ s chief warden , told The Associated Press .
“ The poachers then removed all the tusks from the elephants .
It was a mass killing .
We haven ’ t seen anything like this before.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same day , May 26 , the warden said , and an investigation continues .
“ It also has proved difficult to apprehend the perpetrators because the locals who live in the area are armed and were not willing to engage officials , “ Ganabul said .
According to wildlife officials , Ethiopia had more than 10,000 elephants in the 1970s but poaching and habitat degradation have reduced the number to about 2,500 to 3,000 in recent years .
“ We don ’ t think there is an organized poaching in Ethiopia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 elephant killings , ” said Daniel Pawlos , director for trafficking and control at the Wildlife Conservation Authority , a government entity .
“ But whenever there ’ s demand , that triggers illegal poaching .
What makes the latest poaching different is the high number of elephants killed within a day.
” Officials suspect that most elephant tusks and finished products are slipped out of the country to China and Southeast Asian countries .
In 2015 , Ethiopian officials burned 6.1 tons of illegal elephant tusks , ivory trinkets , carvings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poaching and the ivory trade .
Most elephants in Ethiopia live in Babile , Mago and Gambella national parks .


thetorontostar--2020-06-02--Presidents have leeway to use military for domestic purposes

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump ’ s warning that he would deploy the United States military to any state that refuses to take aggressive action against rioting rests on a longstanding presidential power that gives wide latitude to the White House , legal experts said .
But a decision to do so would be met with likely legal opposition and strong opposition from governors seeing it as an overreaction .
“ If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents , then I will deploy the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for them , ” Trump said during a Rose Garden address as cities across the country grappled with property destruction , looting and violent police clashes in the week since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Legal experts say the president does indeed have the authority under the Insurrection Act of 1807 to dispatch the military in states that are unable to put down an insurrection or are defying federal law .
In the last half-century , presidents have sent the military to Southern states to ensure desegregation of schools and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 1960s , and to Los Angeles after the California governor sought federal help during the 1992 riots .
Even so , the president ’ s comments set up an immediate conflict with officials in some states , who disputed that the president had unilateral authority to send in troops against their will .
“ The President of the United States is not a dictator , and President Trump does not and will not dominate New York state , “ New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement Monday , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to court if need be .
The American Civil Liberties Union said it would be unnecessary to invoke the Insurrection Act — and irresponsible and dangerous .
“ No level-headed governor is asking for an even more militarized response to civilian protests against police brutality and systemic racism — for good reason , ” said ACLU National Security Project Director Hina Shamsi .
Under the law , Trump would first have to proclaim that the insurgents disperse and retire peaceably within a certain amount of time .
He could activate federal troops during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request as long as specific conditions are met , such as if the violence is interfering with the execution of laws in that state .
Stephen Vladeck , a national security and constitutional law expert at the University of Texas at Austin , said on Twitter that the federal government does not necessarily need a state request before using troops for domestic law enforcement , and that the Insurrection Act is open-ended in letting the president decide when circumstances merited its use .
He said the Insurrection Act had not been used since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of using troops for domestic purposes .
“ And it ’ s hard to imagine courts second-guessing factual determinations by the President that circumstances warrant use of the military to restore order , ” Vladeck wrote .
“ Instead , the real constraint today might be responsibility ; if Trump invokes these statutes , he ’ d own all that follows.
” Not all experts are certain that the circumstances merit it .
Eugene Fidell , who teaches military justice at Yale Law School , said Monday that he does not believe Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without the governors ’ permission in these circumstances .
“ Absent a request from the legislature or the governor of a state , I think the only way the power can be lawfully exercised is if there were an impeding of federal authority , ” he said , pointing to the example of Little Rock , Arkansas , when troops were sent in because the state was not abiding by a federal court order .
Kent Greenfield , a constitutional law professor at Boston College , said that what seems to distinguish this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as school desegregation clashes — is that there ’ s no allegation that states are refusing to enforce federal law .
“ The president is not asserting the right to enforce federal law .
The president is asserting here the right to quell protests that are best left as a political matter and a prudential matter to the discretion of the states , ” Greenfield said .
He added , “ He has the power to enforce his law , but he is not saying that the laws aren ’ t being enforced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not being enforced the way he wants them to be enforced .
”

Eric Tucker And Lolita C. Baldor - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-06-02--Veterans Affairs to remove Nazi headstones in Texas, Utah

SAN ANTONIO - The process to remove grave headstones of German prisoners of war that display swastikas and markings related to the Nazi regime at cemeteries in Texas and Utah will begin later this month , Veterans Affairs announced .
The VA said Monday in a statement that it has decided to replace the headstones on gravesites of three German POWs .
Two are located at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio , Texas , and one is at Fort Douglas Post Cemetery in Salt Lake City , Utah .
“ Americans must always remember the horror of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans sacrificed so much to free the world from its reign of terror , ” VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said in a statement .
“ It is understandably upsetting to our veterans and their families to see Nazi inscriptions near those who gave their lives for this nation.
” Last week , members of the Texas congressional delegation condemned the markings on the headstones in a letter sent to Wilkie .
But he had initially expressed that he didn ’ t plan to disturb the gravesites .
In a House panel testimony last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the matter but not to expect a swift response , San Antonio Express-News reported .
But that took a turn Monday when the VA announced it will begin the required legal action to replace headstones that bear symbols and text referencing the Nazis that millions of Americans fought during World War II .
Wilkie didn ’ t explain the abrupt change in his decision but said he wanted to replace the headstones quickly .
It ’ s not clear how long that would take .
One of the headstones shows that a prisoner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ German military decoration for valour .
The other two show a modified Iron Cross , which depicts a swastika within a cross .
Also carved on two headstones is the inscription , “ He died far from his home for the Führer , people and fatherland.
” The VA said it doesn ’ t have unilateral authority to remove the headstones because they ’ re in cemeteries protected by the National Historic Preservation Act .
Later this month , the agency will follow that law to seek guidance from stakeholders on how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that don ’ t show the Nazi swastika and German text .
The VA plans to preserve the headstones in its National Cemetery Administration History Collection after they ’ re replaced .