thetorontostar--2020-06-28--World hits coronavirus milestones amid fears worse to come

ROME - The world surpassed two sobering coronavirus milestones Sunday -- 500,000 confirmed deaths , 10 million confirmed cases -- and hit another high mark for daily new infections as governments that attempted reopenings continued to backtrack and warn that worse news could be yet to come .
“ COVID-19 has taken a very swift and very dangerous turn in Texas over just the past few weeks , ” said Gov .
Greg Abbott , who allowed businesses to start reopening in early May but on Friday shut down bars and limited restaurant dining amid a spike in cases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopenings of bars in seven counties , including Los Angeles .
He ordered them to close immediately and urged eight other counties to issue local health orders mandating the same .
More Florida beaches will be closing again to avoid further spread of the new coronavirus as officials try to tamp down on large gatherings amid a spike in COVID-19 cases .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis said interactions among young people are driving the surge .
“ Caution was thrown to the wind and so we are where we are , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health minister warned that the country ’ s current surge of cases is expected to rapidly increase in the coming weeks and push hospitals to the limit .
Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize said the current rise in infections has come from people who “ moved back into the workplace .
New clusters of cases at a Swiss nightclub and in the central English city of Leicester showed that the virus was still circulating widely in Europe , though not with the rapidly growing infection rate seen in parts of the U.S. , Latin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , meanwhile , attempted a step toward normalcy as they held elections that had been delayed by the virus .
Wearing mandatory masks , social distancing in lines and carrying their own pens to sign voting registers , French voters cast ballots in a second round of municipal elections .
Poles also wore masks and used hand sanitizer , and some in virus-hit areas were told to mail in their ballots .
“ I didn ’ t go and vote the first time around because I am elderly and I got scared , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a Paris school .
In Texas , Abbott appeared with Vice-President Mike Pence , who cut campaign events from upcoming visits to Florida and Arizona because of rising virus cases in those states .
Pence praised Abbott for both his decision to reopen the state , and to roll back the reopening plans .
“ You flattened the curve here in Texas ... but about two weeks ago something changed , ” Pence said .
Pence urged people to wear masks when unable to practice social distancing .
He and Abbott wore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the room , taking them off while speaking to reporters .
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar , meanwhile , defended the fact that President Donald Trump has rarely worn a mask in public , saying he doesn ’ t have to follow his own administration ’ s guidance because as a leader of the free world he ’ s tested regularly and is in “ very different circumstances than the rest of us.
” Addressing spikes in reported coronavirus cases in some states , Azar said on NBC ’ s “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to take ownership ” of their own behaviours by social distancing and wearing masks if possible .
A reported tally Sunday from Johns Hopkins University researchers said the death toll from the coronavirus pandemic had topped 500,00 .
About 1 in 4 of those deaths – more than 125,000 – have been reported in the U.S .
The country with the next highest death toll is Brazil , with more than 57,000 , or about 1 in 9 .
The true death toll from the virus , which first emerged in China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be significantly higher .
Experts say that especially early on , many victims died of COVID-19 without being tested for it .
To date , more than 10 million confirmed cases have been reported globally .
About a quarter of them have been reported in the U.S .
The World Health Organization announced another daily record in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases across the world - topping over 189,000 in a single 24-hour period .
The tally eclipses the previous record a week earlier at over 183,000 cases , showing case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. still has far and away the most total cases .
At more than 2,450,000 - roughly twice that of Brazil .
The number of actual cases worldwide is much higher .
New York , once the nation ’ s pandemic epicenter , is now “ on the exact opposite end , ” Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said in an interview with “ Meet the Press.
” The state reported five new virus deaths Saturday , its lowest reported daily death toll since March 15 .
During the state ’ s peak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were dying every day .
New York still leads the nation in COVID-19 deaths with nearly 25,000 .
In the state of Washington , Gov .
Jay Inslee put a hold on plans to move counties to the fourth phase of his reopening plan as cases continue to increase .
But in Hawaii , the city of Honolulu announced that campgrounds will reopen for the first time in three months with limited permits to ensure social distancing .
Britain ’ s government , meanwhile , is considering whether a local lockdown is needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid reports about a spike in COVID-19 among its Asian community .
It would be Britain ’ s first local lockdown .
“ We have seen flare-ups across the country in recent weeks , ” Home Secretary Priti Patel told the BBC on Sunday .
Polish voters were casting ballots , in person and by mail , for a presidential election that was supposed to have taken place in May but was chaotically postponed amid the pandemic .
President Andrzej Duda , a 48-year-old conservative , is running against 10 other candidates as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iwona Goge , 79 , was encouraged to see so many people voting in Warsaw .
“ It ’ s bad .
Poland is terribly divided and people are getting discouraged , ” she said .
French voters were choosing mayors and municipal councillors in Paris and 5,000 towns and cities in a second round of municipal elections held under strict hygiene rules .
Italy was honouring its dead later Sunday with an evening Requiem concert in hard-hit Bergamo province .
The ceremony in the onetime epicenter of the European outbreak came a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tally of COVID-19 deaths in nearly four months : eight .
European leaders were taking no chances in tamping down new clusters .
German authorities renewed a lockdown in a western region of about 500,000 people after about 1,300 slaughterhouse workers tested positive .
Africa ’ s confirmed cases of COVID-19 continued to climb to a new high of more than 371,000 , including 9,484 deaths , according to figures released Sunday by the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
China on Monday reported a further decline in new confirmed cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including seven cases of domestic transmission in Beijing , where nearly 8.3 million people have now undergone testing in recent weeks .
No new deaths were reported Monday , leaving the total at 4,634 among 83,512 confirmed cases of COVID-19 .
Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report .
Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at http : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

Nicole Winfield And Ken Moritsugu - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-06-28--Look away, Dixie: Mississippi to lose rebel emblem from flag

JACKSON , Miss .
- Mississippi lawmakers voted Sunday to surrender the Confederate battle emblem from the state flag , more than a century after white supremacist legislators adopted the design a generation after the South lost the Civil War .
Spectators cheered and applauded after the historic votes in the House and Senate .
Each chamber had broad bipartisan support for the landmark decision .
Republican Gov .
Tate Reeves has said he will sign the bill , and the state flag will lose its official status as soon as he acts .
That could happen “ in coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Renae Eze .
Mississippi has a 38 % Black population — and the last state flag with the emblem that ’ s widely seen as racist .
The state faced mounting pressure to change its flag as weeks of international protests against racial injustice in the United States have led to the toppling or removal of Confederate statues and monuments .
After an emotional day Sunday , legislators hugged each other — even those on opposing sides .
Democratic Rep. Robert Johnson of Natchez choked back tears as he told reporters that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about how the Confederate symbol is painful to him and other African Americans .
“ They began to understand and feel the same thing that I ’ ve been feeling for 61 years of my life , ” Johnson said .
A commission will design a new flag that can not include the Confederate symbol and that must have the words “ In God We Trust.
” Voters will be asked to approve the new design in the Nov. 3 election .
If they reject it , the commission will set a different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that would be sent to voters later .
Republican House Speaker Philip Gunn , who is white , has pushed for five years to change the flag , saying the Confederate symbol is offensive .
The House passed the bill 91-23 Sunday afternoon .
Within hours , the Senate followed suit , 37-14 .
“ How sweet it is to celebrate this on the Lord ’ s day , ” Gunn said .
“ Many prayed to Him to bring us to this day .
He has answered.
” An increasing number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ universities have taken down the state flag in recent years .
But until now , efforts to redesign the flag sputtered in the Republican-dominated Legislature .
That dynamic shifted as an extraordinary and diverse coalition of political , business , religious groups and sports leaders pushed for change .
At a Black Lives Matter protest outside the Mississippi Governor ’ s Mansion in early June , thousands cheered as an organizer said the state needs to divorce itself from all Confederate symbols .
Religious groups — including the large and influential Mississippi Baptist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the state flag is a moral imperative .
Business groups said the banner hinders economic development in one of the poorest states in the nation .
In a sports-crazy culture , the biggest blow might have happened when college sports leagues said Mississippi could lose post-season events if it continued flying the Confederate-themed flag .
Nearly four dozen of Mississippi ’ s university athletic directors and coaches came to the Capitol to lobby for change .
Many people who wanted to keep the emblem on the Mississippi flag said they see it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put the Confederate emblem on the upper left corner of Mississippi flag in 1894 , as whites were squelching political power that African Americans had gained after the Civil War .
The battle emblem is a red field topped by a blue X with 13 white stars .
The Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups have waved the rebel flag for decades .
Georgia put the battle emblem prominently on its state flag in 1956 , during a backlash to the civil rights movement .
That state removed the symbol from its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court found in 2000 that when the state updated its laws in 1906 , portions dealing with the flag were not included .
That meant the banner lacked official status .
The Democratic governor in 2000 , Ronnie Musgrove , appointed a commission to decide the flag ’ s future .
It held hearings across the state that grew ugly as people shouted at each other about the flag .
Legislators then opted not to set a flag design themselves .
They put the issue on a 2001 statewide ballot , and people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mississippi Gov .
William Winter , who is now 97 , served on then-President Bill Clinton ’ s national advisory board on race in the 1990s and was chairman of the Mississippi flag commission in 2000 .
Winter said Sunday that removing the Confederate symbol from the banner is “ long overdue.
“ “ The battle for a better Mississippi does not end with the removal of the flag , and we should work in concert to make other positive changes in the interest of all of our people , ” said Winter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1980 until 1984 .
Democratic state Sen. Derrick Simmons of Greenville , who is African American , said the state deserves a flag to make all people proud .
“ Today is a history-making day in the state of Mississippi , ” Simmons told colleagues .
“ Let ’ s vote today for the Mississippi of tomorrow .
”

Emily Wagster Pettus - The Associated Press

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thetorontostar--2020-06-28--14 missing from fishing boat after Philippine sea collision

MANILA , Philippines - The Philippine coast guard was searching on Monday for 14 people missing since a fishing boat and cargo vessel collided in choppy waters two nights earlier .
It was not immediately clear if the fishing boat sank and the search for its occupants was being hampered by strong waves , officials said .
The Philippine coast guard said the cargo vessel MV Vienna Wood collided with the FV Liberty 5 for unclear reasons after midnight in the early morning hours of Sunday about 27 kilometres ( 17 miles ) off Mamburao town in Mindoro Occidental province @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A coast guard light plane and a helicopter joined the search Monday for the 12 fishermen and two passengers on board the Liberty 5 , coast guard spokesman Armando Balilo said .
The fishing boat had been heading for metropolitan Manila when the collision happened .
The Hong Kong-flagged cargo vessel , which first reported the collision , was being escorted by a Philippine coast guard vessel to nearby Batangas province , the coast guard said .
The vessel with 20 crew on board was not carrying any cargo at the time of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ route to Australia .


thetorontostar--2020-06-28--With flights banned, son sails solo across Atlantic to reach father, 90

BUENOS AIRES—Days after Argentina cancelled all international passenger flights to shield the country from the new coronavirus , Juan Manuel Ballestero began his journey home the only way possible : he stepped aboard his small sailboat for what turned out to be an 85-day odyssey across the Atlantic .
The 47-year-old sailor could have stayed put on the tiny Portuguese island of Porto Santo , to ride out the era of lockdowns and social distancing in a scenic place largely spared by the virus .
But the idea of spending what he thought could be “ the end of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially his father who was soon to turn 90 , was unbearable .
So he said he loaded his 29-foot sailboat with canned tuna , fruit and rice and set sail in mid-March .
“ I didn ’ t want to stay like a coward on an island where there were no cases , ” Ballestero said .
“ I wanted to do everything possible to return home .
The most important thing for me was to be with my family.
” The coronavirus pandemic has upended life in virtually every country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tension and halting most international travel .
A particularly painful aspect of this awful era has been the inability of an untold number of people to rush home to help ailing loved ones and attend funerals .
Friends tried to dissuade Ballestero from embarking on the perilous journey , and authorities in Portugal warned him he might not be allowed to re-enter if he ran into trouble and had to turn back .
But he was resolute .
“ I bought myself a one-way ticket , and there was no going back , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to Ballestero ’ s itinerant lifestyle , knew better than to try to talk him out of it .
“ The uncertainty of not knowing where he was for 50-some days was very rough , ” said his father , Carlos Alberto Ballestero .
“ But we had no doubt this was going to turn out well.
” Sailing across the Atlantic in a small boat is challenging in the best of circumstances .
The added difficulties of doing it during a pandemic became clear three weeks into the trip .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refused to allow him to dock at the island nation to restock his supply of food and fuel , Ballestero said .
Hoping he had enough food to carry him through , he turned his boat west .
With less fuel than he hoped for , he would be more at the mercy of the winds .
He was no stranger to spending long stretches of time at sea , but being alone on the open ocean is daunting to even the most experienced sailor .
Days into the journey , he became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he thought was trailing him and seemed to be approaching closer and closer .
“ I started going as fast as possible , ” Ballestero said .
“ I thought , ‘ If it gets very close , I ’ ll shoot.
’ ” From the time he was three , his father took him aboard the fishing vessels he captained .
When he turned 18 , he took a job on a fishing boat in southern Argentina .
Off the coast of Patagonia , one of the most experienced fishermen aboard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would become a way of life .
“ Go see the world , ” the fisherman said .
And so he did .
Ballestero has spent much of his life sailing , with stops in Venezuela , Sri Lanka , Bali , Hawaii , Costa Rica , Brazil , Alaska and Spain .
He has tagged sea turtles and whales for conservation organizations and spent summers working as a skipper aboard boats owned by wealthy Europeans .
He bought his sailboat , an Ohlson 29 named the Skua , in 2017 , hoping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world .
It proved up to the task of traversing an ocean on a planet plunged into crisis mode .
“ I wasn ’ t afraid , but I did have a lot of uncertainty , ” he said .
“ It was very strange to sail in the middle of a pandemic with humanity teetering around me.
” Sailing can be a lonely passion , and it was particularly so on this voyage for Ballestero , who each night tuned into the news on a radio for 30 minutes to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the globe .
“ I kept thinking about whether this would be my last trip , ” he said .
The expansiveness of the ocean notwithstanding , Ballestero felt he was in a quarantine of sorts , imprisoned by an unrelenting stream of foreboding thoughts about what the future held .
“ I was locked up in my own freedom , ” he recalled .
On a particularly trying day , he turned to a bottle of whiskey for solace .
But drinking only increased his anxiety .
With his nerves frayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and resetting his relationship with God .
“ Faith keeps you standing in these situations , ” he said .
“ I learned about myself ; this voyage gave me lots of humility.
” Several weeks into the trip , when his spirits were low , Ballestero said he was buoyed by wildlife sightings that felt like omens .
He found solace in a pod of dolphins that swam alongside his boat , on and off , for some 2,000 miles .
“ They would go and come back , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seemed to say goodbye.
” During a day when he had drunk heavily , he spotted a large bird cruising nearby .
It turned out to be a skua , the bird his boat is named after .
“ It was as if the bird was telling me not to give up , to keep going , ” he said .
One day , when he tired of canned food , Ballestero got a fishing rod and scanned a school of mahi-mahi .
But he had a sudden reluctance to cast out a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to kill one .
It felt like killing a person , ” he said .
“ I used to be a fisherman , but after that experience it ’ s hard for me to kill now.
” He went back to eating canned tuna .
When he was approaching the Americas , a brutal wave rattled the boat some 150 miles from Vitória , Brazil , he said .
That episode forced him to make an unplanned pit stop in Vitória , adding about 10 days to a trip he had expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop , Ballestero learned that his brother had told reporters in Argentina about the voyage , which enthralled people who were bored and cooped up at home .
At the urging of friends , he created an Instagram account to document the final leg of the trip .
When he made it to his native Mar del Plata , on June 17 , he was startled by the hero ’ s welcome he received .
“ Entering my port where my father had his sailboat , where he taught me so many things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and where all this originated , gave me the taste of a mission accomplished , ” he said .
A medical professional administered a test for COVID-19 on the dock .
Within 72 hours , after the test came back negative , he was allowed to set foot on Argentine soil .
While he did not get to celebrate his father ’ s 90th birthday in May , he did make it home in time for Father ’ s Day .
“ What I lived is a dream , ” Ballestero said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep on sailing .
”


thetorontostar--2020-06-28--Arrests made in killing of Mexican federal judge

MEXICO CITY - Authorities in Mexico have arrested two people in connection with the murder of a federal judge and his wife in mid-June , prosecutors said Sunday , while in Mexico City 17 of the 19 suspects detained in a failed attack on the capital ’ s police chief appeared before a judge .
Both attacks have been attributed to the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel and are seen as major challenges to Mexico ’ s government and the security strategy of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador .
A suspect in the judge ’ s killing was located and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the western state of Colima , thanks to intelligence work by Mexico ’ s marines and prosecutors , the Attorney General ’ s Office said in a statement .
The office said a second suspect was also arrested , but provided no more details .
Meanwhile , Mexico City prosecutor ’ s office said 17 people detained in Friday ’ s assassination attempt against Police Chief Omar García Harfuch appeared before a judge .
In the attack , more than two-dozen gunmen executed a co-ordinated plan to intercept his armoured vehicle at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a .50 calibre sniper rifle on the capital ’ s grand boulevard .
García survived with three bullet wounds and within hours blamed the Jalisco New Generation Cartel for the attempt that killed two of his bodyguards and a bystander .
It came less than two weeks after the federal judge and his wife were gunned down in their home in Colima state .
The Jalisco gang is also suspected in that attack .
Although analysts consider the attack on the judge and the attack on the police chief clear challenges by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ López Obrador said on Saturday that he was not going to declare war on anyone , that he would continue with his strategy focused on labour intelligence and in eradicating the causes of violence .


thetorontostar--2020-06-28--Trump, statehood, police funding fight up DC mayor’s profile

WASHINGTON - Muriel Bowser ’ s national profile had never been higher , thanks to a Twitter beef with President Donald Trump and a renewed push to turn the nation ’ s capital into the 51st state .
Now Washington ’ s mayor must pull off a public juggling act as the city budget becomes a battleground for the country ’ s debate on overhauling law enforcement .
An activist collective led by Black Lives Matter is trying to capitalize on shifting public opinion , and the demands include major cuts in funding for the Metropolitan Police Department .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would push for up to $ 15 million in cuts , but Bowser is defending her 2021 budget proposal , which includes a 3.3 % increase in police money .
With conservatives painting her as a radical riot-supporter , Bowser must thread this needle with both Black Lives Matter and the White House watching her every move .
It ’ s a similar dilemma to that faced by other urban mayors of protest hot spots who must balance competing pressures without alienating either the activists or the police .
In Los Angeles , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not going far enough on law enforcement changes while the police union has called him “ unstable.
” In Atlanta , Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is dealing with mass police no-shows over her handling of police violence cases .
Bowser is also finding herself one of the public faces of Washington ’ s quest to be a state .
The House of Representatives on Friday , voting largely along party lines , approved a bill to grant statehood .
It was the first time a chamber of Congress had approved such a measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the GOP-controlled Senate , where Sen. Tom Cotton , R-Ark.
, singled out Bowser out on Thursday as a reason that Washington can not be trusted with statehood .
He called her “ a left wing politician … who frequently takes the side of rioters against law enforcement.
” Cotton lumped Bowser in with the late Marion Barry , a former mayor who was caught on video smoking crack cocaine in a 1990 FBI sting .
Barry , who died in 2014 , remains a beloved figure in many parts of the district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serve additional terms as both a mayor and a councilman .
A statue of him was erected in front of the D.C. government administration building in 2018 .
“ Would you trust Mayor Bowser to keep Washington safe if she were given the powers of a governor ?
Would you trust Marion Barry , ” Cotton asked .
Granting the predominantly Democratic city statehood would likely increase the party ’ s numbers in Congress .
And that ’ s what led Trump to tell The New York Post last month that “ DC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ ll never happen unless we have some very , very stupid Republicans around that I don ’ t think you do , ” he said .
In the early days of the protests , Bowser publicly sided with the demonstrators as Trump usurped local authority and called in a massive federal security response .
Bowser responded by renaming the protest epicenter , within sight of the White House , as Black Lives Matter Plaza .
She also commissioned a mural with Black Lives Matter painted on 16th Street across from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be seen from space .
For Trump and his supporters , Bowser may as well have declared herself a dues-paying member of the movement ’ s local chapter .
But that chapter didn ’ t feel the same , immediately dismissing it as “ a performative distraction ” from true policy changes .
“ It ’ s a stunt .
It was always a stunt , ” said activist Joella Roberts .
“ We don ’ t need a street sign to tell us we matter .
We ’ re here in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter.
” April Goggans , a core organizer with Black Lives Matter DC , rejected Bowser ’ s moves as “ taking advantage of national attention , ” and added , “ She would never even say the words ‘ Black Lives Matter ’ until recently.
“ Bowser acknowledged that mistrust even as she ordered the changes .
“ Black Lives Matter is very critical of police .
They ’ re critical of me , ” Bowser said , not long after hanging the new street sign .
“ That doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them and support the things that will make our community safe.
” The street mural in particular became the subject of a cat-and-mouse game that underscores the complexities of Bowser ’ s position .
The original mural also bore a yellow outline of the D.C. flag — two horizontal lines topped by three stars .
Within days , activists had erased the stars to create the appearance of an equal sign and added their own message , turning the mural into “ Black Lives Matter=Defund The Police.
” Clearly not wanting to antagonize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government has allowed the “ Defund the Police ” addition to remain .
But city crews did repaint the stars on the D.C. flag image .
Now that struggle moves into the district ’ s decision-making corridors as Bowser finds herself caught between the D.C. Council , street pressure from a resurgent activist community and her own police department .
Relations between the City Council and the police are already fragile thanks to legislation that was quickly and unanimously passed on June 9 .
It prohibits police from using tear gas or riot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the use of choke-holds , strengthens disciplinary procedures and speeds up the release of body camera footage and names of officers involved in fatal shootings .
Both Bowser and the police chief , Peter Newsham , were critical of the move , saying lawmakers reacted rashly to public pressure and did not consider enough input before passing the measure .
A local TV station obtained a recording of Newsham telling fellow officers that the department felt “ completely abandoned ” by the D.C. Council .
A new showdown is looming over the 2021 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety , said the committee received 15,000 calls , messages and video testimonials before a budget hearing this month — an exponential increase in interest from previous years .
A draft report from the committee reportedly includes up to $ 15 million in proposed cuts to the police budget .
Bowser on Thursday said that she hadn ’ t read the police funding proposal yet and would wait until the Council formally submitted its proposed changes to her .
She insisted that her 3.3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ budget up to $ 533 million — was the correct assessment of what was needed to keep the city safe .
“ We sent them the budget that we need , ” she said .
Goggans , the local Black Lives Matter organizer , dismissed the budget dispute as a facade , saying that the proposed cuts amount to far less than they seem .
“ There ’ s not a compromise to made on our side .
That just can ’ t happen , ” Goggans said .
“ We ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amount of pressure and escalating our tactics and intensity .
”


thetorontostar--2020-06-28--Montana man arrested after toppling religious monument

MISSOULA , Mont .
- Police in northwestern Montana say a man was arrested on a felony criminal mischief charge @ @ @ @ @ Ten Commandments monument using a chain and pickup truck .
The 30-year-old Columbia Falls man @ @ @ @ @ the religious monument on the Flathead County courthouse grounds on Saturday .
He then attached @ @ @ @ @ and pulled the monument into the street , the Kalispell Police Department told NBC Montana @ @ @ @ @ removed the chain , got back into the truck and left the scene .
A @ @ @ @ @ police located the truck allegedly used in the act .
Police say they do not @ @ @ @ @ took down the monument .


thetorontostar--2020-06-28--Speedway owner loses staff, ‘all but 2’ sponsors after post

PINE HALL , N.C. - The owner of a North Carolina racetrack said he has faced death threats , lost employees and seen “ all but two ” of his sponsors evaporate amid the backlash over his social media post invoking the noose found in the garage stall of Black NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace Mike Fulp , who owns the half-mile , dirt track 311 Speedway in Stokes County , told the News & Record he knew his troubles from what he described as a joke were self-inflicted .
Fulp ’ s post advertised “ Bubba Rope ” for sale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI investigation determined the noose found at the Talladega Superspeedway garage had been there since at least October and was a coincidence , not a hate crime .
“ I ’ ve lost all but two of my sponsors , ” Fulp told the newspaper .
“ I ’ m responsible .
I ’ m responsible for trying to make some jokes.
” Fulp said he ’ s been getting death threats and received messages threatening his family .
“ My employees got harassed , ” he said .
“ I had seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fulp cancelled a “ Stand for America ” event planned for Saturday for safety reasons but plans to reopen 311 Speedway , perhaps as soon as next Saturday , and follow the state ’ s coronavirus guidelines .
He said he wants “ low-profile ” racing and he plans to stay off social media .
Fulp said he is not a racist in an interview in which the newspaper reported he broke down in tears and sobbed .


thetorontostar--2020-06-28--Exit poll: Polish presidential vote headed for runoff

WARSAW , Poland - Poland ’ s conservative president , Andrzej Duda , was the frontrunner in Sunday ’ s election , but fell short of the 50 % of votes needed to win in the first round , according to the projection of an exit poll .
The results , if confirmed , pave the way for what is building into a very tight race in July 12 runoff that will most likely pit the populist incumbent against the centrist Warsaw mayor , Rafal Trzaskowski , who was in second place .
Whether Duda ultimately wins a second five-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determine whether the ruling nationalist party that backs him , Law and Justice , keeps its near-monopoly on political power in Poland .
The party has been in conflict with the European Union over laws that have given it control over top courts and key judicial bodies , something the 27-nation bloc has denounced as an erosion of democratic European values .
Since the Polish president has the power to veto laws , Duda winning a second term is crucial to the party as it seeks to continue to reshape the nation ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worldview .
The pro-EU Trzaskowski has vowed to block any new laws that violate constitutional norms .
In a speech to cheering supporters late Sunday in the town of Lowicz , west of Warsaw , Duda noted that his result was better than in the first round five years ago .
“ I have this result after five years of being in politics , of being criticized in many ways , attacked , of taking difficult decisions , “ Duda said .
“ After these five years many more people voted for me.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ipsos polling firm , Duda won 41.8 % and Trzaskowski 30.4 % in Sunday ’ s vote .
The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points .
Poland ’ s state electoral commission has said it would release the final official results by Wednesday evening .
The candidate with the third most votes according to the exit poll was Szymon Holownia , a TV personality and journalist who had once studied to be a priest .
He was projected by the Ipsos poll to have 13.3 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and generated enthusiasm among some Poles tired of years of bickering between Law and Justice and Civic Platform , the country ’ s two main parties .
A far-right nationalist candidate , Krzysztof Bosak , was projected by the exit poll to win 7.4 % of the vote , and his voters would also be up for grabs in the runoff .
In his speech to supporters late Sunday , Duda lost no time in reaching out to supporters of other candidates , saying he shares some views with those on the left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Duda said there is “ very little that separates “ him from Bosak and that ” we are of a similar mind on very many issues.
” Trzaskowski told his supporters that it was good news the majority opposed Duda .
“ I want to say clearly to all these citizens - I will be your candidate .
I will be the candidate of change , ” he said .
A left-wing politician who was Poland ’ s first openly gay presidential candidate , Robert Biedron , was projected to win 2.9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wladyslaw Kosiak-Kamysz had 2.6 % in the exit poll .
All other candidates in a field of 11 polled even lower .
The vote had been scheduled for May 10 but was postponed in a chaotic political and legal battle as the ruling party pressed to hold it despite the pandemic .
Poland hasn ’ t been as badly hit by the pandemic as many countries in Western Europe , and most people voted in person , wearing masks and observing other hygiene rules .
There was also a mail-in voting option , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regions with higher virus infection numbers were required to vote by mail .
In April , Duda had very high support and was expected then to win in a single round .
He was helped by adulatory coverage in state media and the inability of other candidates to campaign .
But as restrictions eased , Trzaskowski replace an earlier candidate fielded by his Civic Platform party who had dismal poll numbers , adding a new dynamic and suspense into the race .
As of Sunday , Poland had nearly 34,000 confirmed cases of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with over 1,400 deaths .
Duda ’ s campaign focused on defending traditional values in the mostly Catholic nation while promising to keep raising living standards to Western European levels .
He took a position against same-sex marriage and adoption and denounced the LGBT rights movement as a dangerous “ ideology.
” That kind of rhetoric — along with the judicial overhaul and the party ’ s harnessing of public media to promote the government ’ s image — have raised concerns among some that Poland is following Hungary in eroding democratic norms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On the campaign trail , Trzaskowski promised to keep the ruling party ’ s popular social welfare spending programs while vowing to restore constitutional norms and Poland ’ s relationship with the EU .
Follow all of AP ’ s pandemic coverage at http : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

Vanessa Gera And Monika Scislowska - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-06-28--Suspect in killing at Louisville protest in custody

LOUISVILLE , Ky. - The suspect arrested in the shooting death of a man during a Louisville protest over the police killing of Breonna Taylor had taken part in demonstrations but was disruptive and had been asked by other protesters to leave , authorities and protesters said Sunday .
The man , identified by an arrest citation as Steven Nelson Lopez , was hospitalized and being interviewed by homicide investigators about the shooting that happened late Saturday , interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said at a news conference .
Lopez was wounded in the leg by gunfire from bystanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the arrest citation said .
He has been charged with murder and wanton endangerment .
Tyler Charles Gerth , 27 , of Louisville , died after being shot at Jefferson Square Park in downtown Louisville , authorities said .
The Courier Journal reported that Gerth was an avid photographer and a vocal supporter of the ongoing protests whose godfather is a columnist at the newspaper .
In a video of the shooting shown during the news conference , Lopez was surrounded by several people before shots were fired , and people scrambled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media later showed at least one person bleeding profusely on the ground .
Several other people fired gunshots after the suspect began firing , but no one else was hit , Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said .
“ Whether they were there at the time of the shooting or not , I know the sadness of those who have been organizing and participating in peaceful protests for racial justice .
This is absolutely not what they wanted or any of us wanted , ” Fischer said .
“ We can not let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that dream , that vision that we have as a city.
” For nearly a month , protesters have been calling for the officers involved in Breonna Taylor ’ s death to be charged .
Taylor , a 26-year-old Black woman , was killed in her Louisville home in March by police who were serving a no-knock warrant .
One of the officers was recently fired .
Saturday ’ s shooting was at least the second during the protests .
Seven people were wounded May 28 when gunfire erupted near City Hall , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement asking people to demand justice “ without hurting each other.
” Gerth ’ s family said he was ” incredibly kind , tenderhearted and generous , holding deep convictions and faith.
“ “ It was this sense of justice that drove Tyler to be part of the peaceful demonstrations advocating for the destruction of the systemic racism within our society ’ s systems , “ the family said in a statement to the Courier Journal .
Protesters at the park Sunday said Lopez was a familiar face around the protests but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was near the corner where the shooter fired , said Lopez was asked to leave earlier on Saturday .
Sullivan said she heard about eight gunshots that broke up an otherwise calm day of demonstrations .
She saw some nearby children and yelled for them to crawl toward her .
“ I ’ ve never been through anything like that , and I hope I never go through anything like that again , ” Sullivan said .
Schroeder said the man had been participating in the protests since they began and had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrest citation said Lopez was born in 1996 , but it lists no driver ’ s license number or home address , other than Louisville .
Lopez “ had been repeatedly asked by other members at the park to leave due to his disruptive behaviour , ” Schroeder said .
Protesters were allowed to continue gathering at the park Sunday , although police said overnight camping and cooking were banned .
They also removed tents and told protesters they could pick them up at a separate location .
John Kriner knelt for nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for peace .
He said it was his first visit .
“ I just want there to be peace and calm , ” Kriner said .

Dylan Lovan And John Raby - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-06-28--Gunman at Walmart distribution centre was former employee

RED BLUFF , Calif.—A man who drove into a Walmart distribution centre in Northern California and went on a shooting rampage that left him and another man dead , and four others wounded , was fired from his job at the centre last year , authorities said .
Louis Wesley Lane , 31 , was fired from the distribution centre near Red Bluff in February 2019 after failing to show up for work , Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston told a news conference early Sunday .
The violence started Saturday afternoon when a man with a semi-automatic rifle circled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the lobby of the building .
Lane began shooting randomly into the building and in the parking lot area , where he engaged with Red Bluff police officers who were first to get to the scene , the sheriff ’ s office said .
Johnston said they exchanged 20 to 30 rounds before he was shot by police .
The employee who died was Martin Haro-Lozano , 45 , of Orland , California .
He was taken to the hospital by a sheriff ’ s deputy due to the extent of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
His relationship to the shooter was not immediately known .
Haro-Lozano was a 12-year employee who had family and friends working in the same facility , according John Furner , president and CEO of Walmart U.S. “ We are shocked and heartbroken about the horrific event that occurred , “ he said in a statement .
The shooting victims were taken to St. Elizabeth Community Hospital and their injuries were not life-threatening , Johnston said .
Another victim was struck by the shooter ’ s car as he drove into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital , he said .
Investigators have not determined a motive in the shooting , other than his prior employment at the centre , Johnston said .
Some of the 200 workers inside the facility locked themselves in a room , employees told KHSL-TV .
Scott Thammakhanty , an employee at the facility ’ s receiving centre , told the Redding Record-Searchlight that he heard the shooter fire .
“ It went on and on — I don ’ t even know how many times he fired , ” Thammakhanty said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Thammakhanty and others started running for their lives , and he saw people lying on the ground as he ran , he said .
Fellow employee Franklin Lister told The New York Times he had just started work when a coworker ran down the hallway shouting : “ Active gunfire !
Active shooter !
” Vince Krick told the Record-Searchlight that his wife and son work at the facility and he was on his way to pick up his wife when he saw the flames .
Neither was hurt , but his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the front entrance , the newspaper reported .
“ It was real crazy , because , you know , you can ’ t do nothing , ” Krick said .
Dispatchers told the Record-Searchlight that at least one woman had been shot .
A man had also reported his leg being run over when the shooter rammed a vehicle into the building , but the man wasn ’ t sure if he had been shot , dispatchers said .


thetorontostar--2020-06-28--Shootings across Chicago kill three kids; activists seek change

CHICAGO—Activists and local leaders called for more state and federal support Sunday as weekend shootings across Chicago left three children dead , including a 10-year-old who was struck by a stray bullet that came through an apartment window .
The Saturday night death was among at least 10 shooting fatalities since Friday evening , which follow a deadly Father ’ s Day weekend and fresh concerns about a violent summer ahead .
A one-year-old and 17-year-old were also killed .
“ It ’ s out of control where even innocent children are losing their lives , ” said neighbourhood activist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday evening vigil on the city ’ s southwest side .
He called for federal intervention while a state legislator announced a new task force to addressing underlying issues .
“ Violence is a result of poverty , and must be addressed with human services and support , “ said state Rep. La Shawn Ford , a Chicago Democrat , in a statement .
The group called on federal , state and city leaders for support .
A recent spate of shootings in Chicago and other cities have had authorities on edge .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ track to top last year .
The news comes as the American public is dealing with the stress of the coronavirus pandemic and economic fallout , more awareness of racial injustice and policing , and deeper political divisions in a presidential election year .
“ The pain of losing a child never goes away , ” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Saturday on Twitter .
“ As a mother , I am tired of the funerals .
I am tired of burying our children.
” Her office said Sunday that the multi-faceted approach to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include a $ 7.5 million ( U.S. ) street outreach program where police partner with organizations and an operations centre launched last month .
Staff from the park district , schools and a transit agency will work to “ broaden the city ’ s footprint in places where shootings and homicides have recently occurred.
” The 10-year-old girl died at a hospital after the shooting in the Logan Square neighbourhood northwest of downtown around 9:40 p.m. , according to police spokesman Roberto Garduno .
Preliminary information showed the gunfire came from a group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each other on the block , he said .
No one was in custody Sunday .
Earlier Saturday in the Englewood neighbourhood on the city ’ s South Side , a 1-year-old boy who was riding in the back of a car driven by his mother was shot when someone opened fire from another car .
The mother suffered a graze wound to the head .
The boy was identified as Sincere A. Gaston .
Police said the motive for the shooting was unclear .
Superintendent David Brown pleaded with the public for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We ALL need to be outraged by the violence we are seeing in our city , ” he said in a statement .
“ This baby , and all of our residents , deserve better .
This is not just a problem that Englewood needs to solve .
This is not just a problem on the South Side or the West Side .
We can not compartmentalize the violence that is tearing families and communities apart.
” His office didn ’ t immediately have further comment Sunday .
The 17-year-old , identified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11:30 a.m. Saturday .
Police said he got into a fight and someone from a large crowd that was gathered in the Humboldt Park neighbourhood on the city ’ s West Side fired shots .
Over Father ’ s Day weekend , 14 people , including five children , were killed and more than 100 people were shot , marking the city ’ s highest number of shooting victims in a single weekend this year .


thetorontostar--2020-06-28--Minneapolis police chief, mayor launching policy changes

MINNEAPOLIS - The Minneapolis police chief and mayor on Sunday began their push for sweeping policy changes with a new rule that prevents officers involved in using deadly force from reviewing body camera footage before completing an initial police report .
The new standards come after a proposal by the Minneapolis City Council to dismantle the police force following the death of George Floyd , a handcuffed Black man who died after a white police officer pressed his knee on Floyd ’ s neck for nearly eight minutes .
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey , who is opposed to the abolishing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are designed to better capture officers ’ perceptions and factors believed to exist when an officer acted .
He and Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said the move is the first of what will be a series of new public safety policy reforms .
“ Requiring officers who may become suspects to complete a police report before reviewing body cam footage will help ensure that investigators , attorneys , and jurors receive a transparent account of how an officer remembers the incident — one that hasn ’ t been influenced by other evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Arradondo said the change would align with the rules for civilians , who are not allowed to watch body camera footage for an incident in which they may be potential suspects .
“ The policies also restrict consultation with certain representatives immediately following a critical incident and clarify time requirements for reporting , “ he said .
The framework of police departments across the country has been questioned after recent police killings .
Former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder , third-degree murder and manslaughter in Floyd ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter .
Police spokesman John Elder said he was told that all four officers had their body cameras on , which is department policy , but it ’ s not clear if any of them have seen the footage .
Lt. Bob Kroll , the head of the Minneapolis police union , said last week that he had not seen video from the incident .
Earl Gray , attorney for former officer Thomas Lane , said he has seen his client ’ s body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday unanimously advanced a proposal to change the city charter to allow the police department to be dismantled .
The proposed amendment would replace the police department with a new “ Department of Community Safety and Violence Prevention ” that has yet to be fully defined .


thetorontostar--2020-06-28--Trump tweets video with ‘white power’ chant, then deletes it

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Sunday tweeted approvingly of a video showing one of his supporters chanting “ white power , “ a racist slogan associated with white supremacists .
He later deleted the tweet and the White House said the president had not heard “ the one statement ” on the video .
The video appeared to have been taken at The Villages , a Florida retirement community , and showed dueling demonstrations between Trump supporters and opponents .
“ Thank you to the great people of The Villages , ” Trump tweeted .
Moments into the video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a golf cart displaying pro-Trump signs and flags shouts ‘ white power.
“ The video also shows anti-Trump protesters shouting “ Nazi , ” “ racist , “ and profanities at the Trump backers .
“ There ’ s no question ’ ’ that Trump should not have retweeted the video and “ he should just take it down , ” Sen. Tim Scott , R-S.C. , told CNN ’ s “ State of the Union.
” Scott is the only Black Republican in the Senate .
Shortly afterward , Trump deleted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement that “ President Trump is a big fan of The Villages .
He did not hear the one statement made on the video .
What he did see was tremendous enthusiasm from his many supporters.
” The White House did not respond when asked whether Trump condemned the supporter ’ s comment .
Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , condemned Trump .
“ We ’ re in a battle for the soul of the nation — and the President has picked a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s a battle we will win , ” the former vice-president tweeted .
Trump ’ s decision to highlight a video featuring a racist slogan comes amid a national reckoning over race following the deaths of George Floyd and other Black Americans .
Floyd , a Black Minneapolis man , died after a white police officer pressed his knee into his neck for several minutes .
Protests against police brutality and bias in law enforcement have occurred across the country following Floyd ’ s death .
There also has also been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rename military bases that honour figures who fought in the Civil War against the Union .
Trump has opposed these efforts .
Trump has been directing his reelection message at the same group of disaffected , largely white voters who backed him four years ago .
In doing so , he has stoked racial divisions in the country at a time when tensions are already high .
He also has played into anti-immigrant anxieties by falsely claiming that people who have settled in this country commit crimes at greater rates than those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s tenure in office has appeared to have emboldened white supremacist and nationalist groups , some of whom have embraced his presidency .
In 2017 , Trump responded to clashes in Charlottesville , Virginia , between white nationalists and counter-protesters by saying there were “ very fine people on both sides.
“ Sherrilyn Ifill , president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defence and Education Fund told CBS ’ “ Face the Nation ” that ” This really is not about the president taking it down .
This is about the judgment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ She added , “ It ’ s about what the president believes and it ’ s time for this country to really face that .
”


thetorontostar--2020-06-28--Sudan says over 120 arrested before going to fight in Libya

CAIRO - Sudan on Sunday said security forces arrested at least 122 people , including eight children , in the western Darfur region who intended to go and fight as mercenaries in neighbouring Libya ’ s civil war .
Brig .
Gen. Gamal Gomaa , a spokesman for the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces , said in a statement that 72 of the arrested people belonged to the Sudanese Awakening Revolutionary Council , an armed group led by the former Janjaweed militia leader Musa Hilal .
Hilal was an adviser to Sudan ’ s longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir before they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post in 2013 to establish his own armed group , and was sanctioned by the U.N. Security Council for his involvement in the Darfur conflict .
He was arrested in November 2017 and is imprisoned in the capital , Khartoum .
Sudan is currently undergoing a fragile democratic transition after massive protests last year forced the military to topple al-Bashir .
The Darfur region remains scarred by war after a rebellion in the early 2000s against al-Bashir was brutally suppressed .
Meanwhile , Libya in recent years has turned into a regional proxy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ east and the west , each backed by armed groups and foreign countries .
Gomaa did not say which warring side the arrested had intended to fight for .
Sudanese armed groups from the Darfur region have been fighting on both sides of Libya ’ s conflict , according to a report by U.N. experts .
Gomaa said the 72 arrested militia members face an array of accusations , including attacking a military camp , inciting against the state , recruiting children for fighting and looting .
The others would be handed over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
He said security forces in February arrested over 240 people for planning to join the fighting in Libya .
He said they were brought before justice , without elaborating .
Libya has been in turmoil since a civil war in 2011 toppled Moammar Gadhafi , who was later killed .
The east-based military commander Khalifa Hifter launched a surprise offensive last year to take the capital Tripoli , clashing with an array of militias loosely allied with the U.N.-supported but weak government there .
With heavy military support from Turkey , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand in recent weeks , retaking the capital ’ s non-functioning airport , all the city ’ s main entrances and a string of western towns .
The Tripoli-allied militias are backed by Turkey , Qatar and Italy , while Hifter receives backing from the United Arab Emirates and Egypt , as well as France and Russia .
Libya has the ninth-largest known oil reserves in the world , and many of these countries are apparently jockeying for influence in order to control Libya ’ s resources .


thetorontostar--2020-06-29--French ex-prime minister Fillon, wife found guilty of fraud

PARIS - Former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon was found guilty Monday in a fraud case of having used public funds to pay his wife and children more than 1 million euros ( $ 1.13 million ) since 1998 for work they never performed .
The couple ’ s lawyers immediately appealed Monday ’ s verdict from the Paris court .
Fillon , 66 , was sentenced to five years in prison , three of which were suspended , and a 375,000-euro ( more than $ 423,000 ) fine .
He is also banned from seeking elected office for 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His 64-year-old wife , Penelope Fillon , was found guilty as an accomplice .
She was given a three-year suspended sentence and fined the same amount .
In addition , the couple was requested to reimburse the National Assembly more than 1 million euros that correspond to the salaries and payroll charges that were paid .
The penalty is suspended pending appeal .
The scandal broke in the French media just three months before the country ’ s 2017 presidential election , as Fillon was the front-runner in the race .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to third place in the election , which was won by Emmanuel Macron .
The Paris court considered that Fillon “ elaborated and established an organization enabling to misappropriate money for his personal use.
” In a statement , the court said that “ nothing concrete has been proven in court regarding the work of Madam Fillon.
” “ She did not have any professional activity alongside her husband , “ the court added .
“ Nothing justifies the paid salaries.
” Fillon and his wife have denied any wrongdoing .
Fillon ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there will be a new trial ... We will be able to get a full and serene debate that will finally allow justice to be made.
” Penelope Fillon ’ s role alongside her husband drew all the attention during the February-March trial , which focused on determining whether her activities were in the traditional role of an elected official ’ s partner — or involved actual paid work .
Fillon was accused of misuse of public funds , receiving money from the misuse of public funds and the misappropriation of company assets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an accomplice .
During the trial , Penelope Fillon explained how she decided to support her husband ’ s career when he was first elected as a French lawmaker in 1981 in the small town of Sable-sur-Sarthe , in rural western France .
Over the years , she was offered different types of contracts as a parliamentary assistant , depending on her husband ’ s political career .
She described her work as mostly doing reports about local issues , opening the mail , meeting with residents and helping to prepare speeches for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way allowed her to have a flexible schedule and raise their five children in the Fillons ’ countryside manor .
Prosecutors pointed at the lack of actual evidence of her work , including the absence of declarations for any paid vacations or maternity leave , as her wages reached up to nine times France ’ s minimum salary .
Francois Fillon insisted his wife ’ s job was real and said that , according to the separation of powers , the justice system can ’ t interfere with how a lawmaker organizes work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Marc Joulaud , also went on trial in the case for misuse of public funds after he allegedly gave Penelope Fillon a fake job as an aide from 2002 to 2007 , while her husband was minister .
He was found guilty and sentenced to a three-year suspended prison sentence .
In addition , charges also cover a contract that allowed Penelope Fillon to earn 135,000 euros in 2012-2013 as a consultant for a literary magazine owned by a friend of her husband — also an alleged fake job .
The magazine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pleaded guilty and was given a suspended eight-month prison sentence and fined 375,000 euros in 2018 .
Fillon , once the youngest lawmaker at the National Assembly at the age of 27 , served as prime minister under President Nicolas Sarkozy from 2007 to 2012 .
He was also a minister under two previous presidents , Francois Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac .
He left French politics in 2017 and now works for an asset management company .

Sylvie Corbet And Nicolas Vaux-Montagny - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-06-29--Couple draw guns at crowd heading to St. Louis mayor’s home

ST. LOUIS - A white couple pointed guns at protesters in St. Louis as a group marched toward the mayor ’ s home to demand her resignation after she read the names and addresses of several residents who supported defunding the police department during an online briefing .
A social media video showed the armed couple standing outside of their large home Sunday evening in the upscale Central West End neighbourhood of the Missouri city .
In the video , the unidentified couple shouted at protesters , while people in the march moved the crowd forward , urging participants to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included Black and white protesters .
It wasn ’ t immediately clear whether St. Louis police were aware of the incident .
An email and phone call from The Associated Press to police weren ’ t immediately answered .
The group of at least 500 people was heading toward Mayor Lyda Krewson ’ s home , chanting , “ Resign Lyda , take the cops with you , ” news outlets reported .
Resignation demands come after a Facebook Live briefing on Friday where Krewson read the names and addresses of several residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she defund the police department .
The video was removed from Facebook and Krewson apologized Friday , stating she didn ’ t “ intend to cause distress.
” The names and letters are considered public records but Krewson ’ s actions received heavy backlash .
Protesters nationwide have been pushing to “ defund the police ” following the death of George Floyd and other Black people killed by law enforcement .
Floyd , who was in handcuffs , died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on Floyd ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Krewson , a white longtime alderwoman , was elected as St. Louis ’ first female mayor in April 2017 by pledging to work to reduce crime and improve impoverished neighbourhoods .
She and her two young children were in the car in front of their home in 1995 when her husband , Jeff , was slain during a random carjacking attempt .
Homicides have spiked in recent years in St. Louis , which annually ranks among the most violent cities in the nation based on FBI statistics .
An online petition calling for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 43,000 signatures as of early Monday .
“ As a leader , you don ’ t do stuff like that ... it ’ s only right that we visit her at her home , ” said state Rep. Rasheen Aldridge , D-St. Louis , speaking into a megaphone at the protest Sunday .


thetorontostar--2020-06-29--Asia Today: India’s virus cases jump with another daily high

NEW DELHI - India has reported a daily record of nearly 20,000 new infections as several Indian states reimpose partial or full lockdowns to stem the spread of the coronavirus .
India ’ s health ministry has recorded 548,318 COVID-19 total cases as of Monday , a jump of nearly 100,000 in a week in the world ’ s fourth-worst affected country after the United States , Brazil and Russia .
India ’ s death toll has reached 16,475 , while 321,723 patients have recovered from the disease .
The capital district of the northeastern state of Assam on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until July 12 following a spike in cases .
Another border state , West Bengal , has extended its lockdown until July 31 .
However , in India ’ s worst-affected states , Maharashtra , which includes India ’ s financial capital , Mumbai , and Delhi , home to the federal capital of New Delhi , most lockdown restrictions have been eased , with restaurants , shopping malls and parks reopened , and public buses and shared-ride services back on the roads .
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region : — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sports may be required to wear masks and will be discouraged from shouting or eating food when they possibly return to the stands in coming weeks .
Jung Eun-kyeong , director of South Korea ’ s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , said such measures are being discussed as health authorities and the sports ministry map out plans for spectators to return to sports .
The plans could be announced as early as this week .
Jeong said it will be crucial for the leagues to enforce distance between the fans .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country ’ s anti-virus efforts progress .
South Korea ’ s professional baseball and soccer leagues returned to action in May without spectators .
The discussions of fans ’ return come despite a resurgence of the virus in the Seoul area .
South Korea on Monday reported 42 new infections , and authorities are considering stronger social restrictions if if the epidemic continues to grow .
— Philippine officials say authorities in a central village may face criminal or administrative complaints for allowing a street parade and dance despite a strict coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city said officials of Basak village have been ordered to explain why the religious fiesta in honour of St. John the Baptist was held Saturday despite a prohibition against public gatherings .
Performers in native wear and face masks danced during the night procession , which drew a large crowd .
While the Philippines has eased quarantine restrictions in most regions , Cebu city is under a strict lockdown following a spike in infections .
The Philippines has more than 35,000 virus cases , including 1,244 deaths .
— Health authorities are using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus outbreak in Australia ’ s second-largest city .
The test appears to be less accurate than the nasal swab but is a more comfortable option .
Victoria state Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the situation in Melbourne is “ a genuine challenge now , ” in part because the better situation elsewhere in Australia makes it harder to tell people to stay vigilant .
Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said on Monday that 75 people had tested positive in the state in the latest 24 hours .
She said the saliva @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suburban hot spot on Sunday .
The saliva tests in research were only 87 % as accurate as the nasal swab because saliva contains less virus than the throat , said Sharon Lewin , director of the Doherty Institute in Melbourne , which developed the saliva test being used .
— China reported a further decline in new cases , with just 12 .
Seven of those were locally spread cases in Beijing , where nearly 8.3 million people have been tested in recent weeks .
The number of new cases in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day before , the National Health Commission reported .
Beijing temporarily shut a huge wholesale food market where the virus spread widely earlier this month , reclosed schools and locked down some neighbourhoods .
Anyone leaving Beijing is required to have a negative virus test during the previous seven days .
— Japan ’ s capital reported 58 new coronavirus cases on Monday , as the number remains near recent highs and a top government official said the trend doesn ’ t look good .
Sixty new cases were reported on Sunday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ twice the 31 five days ago .
About half of the recently confirmed cases were among staff or customers of Tokyo ’ s nightlife districts .
“ We are closely watching the latest development , ” Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said .
“ Frankly , this gives me a rather bad feeling.
” He said he plans to meet with Tokyo Gov .
Yuriko Koike to discuss the situation .
Nishimura said on Sunday that the uptrend was due in part to expanded testing of nightclub staff and there was no immediate plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The new cases bring Tokyo ’ s total infections to 6,172 with 325 deaths — about one third the national total .


thetorontostar--2020-06-29--2 Oklahoma police officers shot, in critical condition

TULSA , Okla. - Two police officers in Tulsa , Oklahoma , were shot and wounded on the city ’ @ @ @ @ @ and police were searching for a suspect who is described as armed and dangerous , @ @ @ @ @ can confirm that we have two officers shot and are in critical condition , ” @ @ @ @ @ an email to The Associated Press .
The police department later posted on its Facebook @ @ @ @ @ officers encountered a man identified as David Ware about 3:30 a.m. Monday and were shot @ @ @ @ @ with him .
Ware fled the scene on foot , police said , warning that @ @ @ @ @ anyone he encounters .
“ If he is willing to shoot at us , he @ @ @ @ @ at anyone , ” the posts state .
Police have not revealed why the officers @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-06-29--Polish president attacks LGBT rights as he heads to runoff

WARSAW , Poland - Poland ’ s conservative president , Andrzej Duda , promised Monday to protect traditional Polish values against LGBT rights after a first-round presidential election that gave him the most votes but forced him into a runoff .
Duda ’ s immediate return to a theme that he has raised frequently during his campaign was an indication that he is heading into a tight runoff with Warsaw ’ s centrist mayor by seeking to win the votes of those on the far right , not the political centre .
Nearly complete results from Sunday ’ s balloting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the populist ruling Law and Justice party , winning nearly 44 % of the votes .
In second place was Rafal Trzaskowski , the pro-European Union mayor , who won slightly over 30 % .
The two will face each other in a July 12 runoff that is shaping up as a suspenseful standoff between two 48-year-old politicians who represent the sides of a bitter cultural divide .
Whether or not Duda wins will determine whether Law and Justice will keep its near-monopoly on power .
Over the past five years the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s judicial system in a way that the EU has denounced as violating democratic values .
While Trzaskowski trailed Duda on Sunday , in a runoff he would likely gain many voters from the nine other candidates who have now been eliminated , including a progressive Catholic independent , Szymon Holownia , who won won nearly 14 % .
Up for grabs will also be the nearly 7 % of votes that went to a far-right candidate , Krzysztof Bosak .
On state radio Monday morning , Duda stressed how his values line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same-sex marriage “ alien ” and depicting Trzaskowski as “ left-wing.
” Earlier this month , Duda said the LGBT rights movement promotes a viewpoint more dangerous than communism .
Despite street protests in Poland and criticism from the EU and other foreign leaders , Duda appeared to be returning to that theme , though with slightly toned-down language .
He said “ ideological materials ” must be kept out of schools and said that any pro-LGBT materials in school would remind him of his childhood , when Poland was still under communist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for allowing same-sex civil partnerships but not marriage , and he has largely avoided the issue on the campaign trail .
He , too , has sought to win some of Bosak ’ s voters by stressing their shared free-market views .
Bosak is a lawmaker with the party Confederation , which is anti-American and anti-EU .
The party strong opposes paying any restitution to Polish Jews or their heirs for property seized by occupying German forces during World War II and then by Poland ’ s communist regime .
The party ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who oppose Law and Justice ’ s strong involvement in the economy .
Marek Migalski , a commentator and EU lawmaker , wrote on the right-wing Do Rzeczy news site that he expects Bosak ’ s voters to be “ neutralized ” in the runoff .
He argued some won ’ t vote , some will back Duda and some will “ tactically ” vote for Trzaskowski to weaken Law and Justice , which Confederation sees as a rival conservative and nationalist force .
Duda ’ s support reflects the popularity he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mix of social conservatism and generous welfare spending that he and Law and Justice have espoused .
“ I am sure that we can build here a land of milk and honey , ” Duda told voters in Strzelce , a village in central Poland , on Sunday night .
“ A country that will also be safe , free of terrorist threats , without all that is often the bane of Western Europe , a country based on tradition , on its tested values that have more often than not helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Poland ’ s state electoral commission announced the results of the election on Monday morning based on a count of 99.78 % of all votes .
Final results could differ slightly .


thetorontostar--2020-06-29--Spies and commandos warned months ago of Russian bounties on U.S. troops

WASHINGTON—U.S .
intelligence officers and Special Operations forces in Afghanistan alerted their superiors as early as January to a suspected Russian plot to pay bounties to the Taliban to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan , according to officials briefed on the matter .
They believed at least one U.S. troop death was the result of the bounties , two of the officials said .
The crucial information that led the spies and commandos to focus on the bounties included the recovery of a large amount of American cash from a raid on a Taliban outpost that prompted suspicions .
Interrogations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ central role in making the intelligence community confident in its assessment that the Russians had offered and paid bounties in 2019 , another official has said .
Armed with this information , military and intelligence officials have been reviewing U.S. and other coalition combat casualties over the past 18 months to determine whether any were victims of the plot .
Four Americans were killed in combat in early 2020 , but the Taliban have not attacked U.S. positions since a February agreement to end the long-running war in Afghanistan .
The details added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assessment , which The New York Times reported Friday has been under discussion inside the Trump administration since at least March , and emerged as the White House confronted a growing chorus of criticism Sunday over its apparent failure to authorize a response to Russia .
Trump defended himself by denying the Times report that he had been briefed on the intelligence , expanding on a similar White House rebuttal a day earlier .
But leading congressional Democrats and some Republicans demanded a response to Russia that , according to officials , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the ABC program “ This Week , ” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she had not been briefed on the intelligence assessment and had asked for an immediate report to Congress .
She accused Trump of wanting “ to ignore ” any charges against Russia .
“ Russia has never gotten over the humiliation they suffered in Afghanistan , and now they are taking it out on us , our troops , ” she said of the Soviet Union ’ s bloody war there in the 1980s .
“ This is totally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minute the president heard of it , he would want to know more instead of denying that he knew anything .
”

Eric Schmitt - Adam Goldman and Nicholas Fandos, The New York Times


thetorontostar--2020-06-29--Comfort levels vary for Michigan arts, culture customers

DETROIT - When will people in southeast Michigan be ready to head back to museums , concerts , galleries and other cultural attractions ?
Research commissioned by CultureSource , which represents 160 non-profit arts and culture groups in the region , has set out to track just that over the coming months , according to the Detroit Free Press .
The first round of data , gathered in May and recently made available , shows that many ticket buyers , arts patrons and subscribers were still wary — and had mixed levels of comfort when it came to various onsite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research and consulting firm that specializes in the arts sector , is conducting its Audience Monitor Outlook studies in 20 cities , regions and countries .
For the southeast Michigan project , the company is working with a host of local groups to poll their patrons on a monthly or bimonthly basis .
The May data — collected while Michigan was still largely under lockdown though coronavirus rates were dropping — drew responses from nearly 4,000 people canvassed by institutions such as the Henry Ford museum , Detroit Symphony Orchestra , Charles H. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Detroit Zoo .
“ It ’ s important because it gives the sector hard data to act on , ” said Omari Rush , executive director of CultureSource .
“ There are a variety of ( institutions ) feeling pressured to move because their peers are reopening or restarting , or their boards or finance committees are saying , ‘ You ’ ve got to get going.
’ It ’ s helpful to have data that shows , in an ongoing way , what the public is planning to do.
” It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the surveys have been active patrons in the past , part of the organizations ’ mailing lists , donor groups and such .
It ’ s not a random sample of the general population .
“ We ’ re in the trenches with arts groups figuring out how many people want to come back , and under which conditions , ” said Alan Brown , principal of WolfBrown .
A few takeaways from the May survey of 3,778 people , evaluating their comfort levels under reopening scenarios with social distancing and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be somewhat or very comfortable at a museum or gallery ( though only 20 % felt that way about hands-on interactive exhibits ) .
Museums were highest rated among the various facilities and events measured in the survey when it came to public comfort levels .
• Just 27 % would feel comfortable at a non-seated live music or comedy club , though that number rose to 62 % for outdoor festivals and concerts .
• 91 % of respondents were encouraged by noninvasive safety efforts such as daily disinfection of facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polarizing : For instance , among those who reported they were ready to attend events “ right away , ” about a quarter said they ’ d decline to go if required to wear a mask .
• 22 % said they would not return to cultural events or facilities until there is a vaccine or they have developed immunity .
• African American respondents were more wary about getting back quickly , presumably because of COVID-19 ’ s disproportionate impact on the Black community .
Just 7 % said they would return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of white respondents .
• Looking at the long term , 90 % all those surveyed said they would attend events and visit institutions at the same or greater frequency than they did pre-COVID-19 .
“ There ’ s a lot of pressure for arts groups to reopen now , but you can see there are lots and lots of people not ready to come back , ” said Brown .
Brown also sounded a note of caution for sites contemplating reopening plans : Be careful not to marginalize supporters who aren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may wind up feeling they ’ re missing out on a celebration or made to feel disabled .
That especially goes for at-risk demographics — including the older patrons who are often the most generous donors .
“ There ’ s a risk of alienating a lot of people , at a great cost , ” he said .


thetorontostar--2020-06-29--Rolling Stones threaten to sue Trump over using their songs

LONDON - The Rolling Stones are threatening President Donald Trump with legal action for using their songs at his rallies despite cease-and-desist directives .
The Stones said in a statement Sunday that their legal team is working with music rights organization BMI to stop use of their material in Trump ’ s reelection campaign .
“ The BMI have notified the Trump campaign on behalf of the Stones that the unauthorized use of their songs will constitute a breach of its licensing agreement , ’ ’ the Stones said .
“ If Donald Trump disregards the exclusion and persists , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breaking the embargo and playing music that has not been licensed.
’ ’ The Trump campaign team didn ’ t immediately respond to an email seeking comment .
The Stones had complained during Trump ’ s 2016 campaign about the use of their music to fire up his conservative base at rallies .
The Rolling Stones ’ 1969 classic “ You Can ’ t Always Get What You Want ” was a popular song for his events .
It was played again at the close of Trump ’ s recent rally in Tulsa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for its potential to spread the coronavirus .
The music rights organization BMI provides licenses for venues to play a broad array of music and has a catalogue of more than 15 million songs that can be played at political events .
Artists can opt out of having their music played at political events , and a BMI statement says the Stones have done that .
BMI has informed the Trump campaign that if it plays Stones music again at an event , it will be in breach of its licensing agreement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also complained about having their music associated with Trump ’ s events .
The family of the late rock musician Tom Petty said that it had issued a cease-and-desist order after Trump used the song “ I Won ’ t Back Down ’ ’ in Tulsa .
“ Trump was in no way authorized to use this song to further a campaign that leaves too many Americans and common sense behind , ’ ’ the statement said .
“ Both the late Tom Petty and his family firmly stand against racism and discrimination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never want a song of his to be used in a campaign of hate .
He liked to bring people together.
’ ’ Grammy Award-winning musician Neil Young lashed out at Trump in 2018 after hearing one of his songs played against his wishes during Trump ’ s pre-midterm campaign rallies .
The Canadian-born musician admonished Trump for using his 1990 single , “ Rockin ’ in the Free World , ” in spite of earlier warnings .


thetorontostar--2020-06-29--Beyoncé’s message, epic performances stand out at BET Awards

LOS ANGELES - Beyoncé used her platform Sunday while accepting the BET humanitarian award to relay a direct appeal to viewers : Go vote .
“ Your voices are being heard and you ’ re proving to our ancestors that their struggles were not in vain , ” said the superstar singer at the BET Awards , which celebrated its 20 years of highlighting excellence in Black-led entertainment .
But the ceremony , filmed virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic , kept much of its focus on topics such as systematic racism and equal rights .
Beyoncé was honoured for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 crisis .
She said voting in the upcoming election was the way to end a “ racist and unequal system ” in America .
“ I ’ m encouraging you to take action , ” she said following an introduction by former first lady Michelle Obama .
The singer dedicated her award to the Black Lives Matter movement , and encouraged activists to continue to push forward .
“ We have to vote like our lives depend on it , because it does , ” she said .
Here are some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on CBS , BET and BET Her : Rapper DaBaby lay on the pavement while an actor playing a police officer pressed his knee on the rapper ’ s neck .
The reenactment at the beginning of the multi-platinum rapper ’ s performance offered a glimpse into the last moments of the life of George Floyd , killed by Minneapolis police last month .
DaBaby rapped a verse from the Black Lives Matter remix of his hit song “ Rockstar ” with Roddy Ricch at the awards .
While holding a baseball bat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind a group of people who had their fists raised high while others held “ Black Lives Matter ” signs .
His performance also featured images from protests , a reflection of the current world in the wake of Floyd ’ s death and the deaths of others , including Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery .
On a virtual stage , Lil Wayne paid tribute to the Black Mamba .
The rapper honoured the late Kobe Bryant with a performance of his song “ Kobe Bryant , ” highlighting the NBA icon ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Bryant who died in a helicopter crash in January that killed eight others , including his 13-year-old daughter , Gianna .
Wayne weaved in new lyrics as Bryant ’ s No .
8 and 24 flashed behind him .
His performance showed video clips of the Los Angeles Lakers star dunking on Dwight Howard and Steve Nash , hitting game-winning shots and highlights from his 81-point game against the Toronto Raptors in 2006 .
“ I call him King Bryant , ” Wayne rapped .
“ Now let the crown show.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self into the flamboyant character of the late Little Richard .
Wearing a gold glittery tuxedo , Brady put on his best emulation during a tribute to Richard , who died of bone cancer in May .
He rolled around on the top of a piano as he sung a medley hits from Richard , considered one of the chief architects of rock ’ n ’ roll .
“ Shut up !
” Brady blurted out in the same manner as Richard .
Some of Richard ’ s hits Wayne performed included “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ Miss Molly ” and “ Tutti Frutti.
” Megan Thee Stallion took to the desert in a performance themed after the “ Mad Max ” films .
Sporting a feathered crop top , she danced and twerked alongside her dancers who wore masks and maintained social distance amid the coronavirus pandemic .
She performed her Beyoncé-assisted hit “ Savage Remix ” and “ Girls in the Hood , ” a revamp of Easy E ’ s 1987 song “ Boyz-N-The Hood.
” In the post-apocalyptic setting , she and her dancers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ATVs .
The rapper closed out her performance after jumping on a silver-spike vehicle .
Megan Thee Stallion ’ s performance came after she won best female hip-hop artist .
It didn ’ t take long for host Amanda Seales to touch on equal rights for African Americans .
In a stirring monologue , Seales said she was chosen to host the show because she ’ s been “ telling y ’ all everybody ’ s racist.
” She touched on several topics including the death of Breonna Taylor , racial equality and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who faced recent backlash for his “ Black supremacy ” comment .
Seales joked she would rather talk about issues other than race , but “ racism always beats me to it.
” Her monologue came after an all-star performance of Public Enemy ’ s 1989 anthem “ Fight the Power.
” The performance featured group members Chuck D and Flavor Flav along with Nas , Black Thought , Rapsody and YG — who added lyrics to the song and name-dropped Taylor .
During the performance , video clips were shown of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black people including Floyd , Arbery and Taylor .
The 12-year-old sensation Keedron Bryant also performed in a cappella “ I Just Wan na Live , ” a song about being a young black man that earned him a record deal .

Jonathan Landrum Jr. - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-06-29--Auction of contested African artifacts going ahead in Paris

PARIS - A Nigerian commission has called for the cancellation of Monday ’ s auction in Paris of sacred Nigerian statues that it alleges were stolen .
Christie ’ s auction house has defended the sale , saying the artworks were legitimately acquired and the sale will go ahead .
In recent years , French courts have consistently ruled in favour of auction houses whose sales of sacred objects , such as Hopi tribal masks , were contested by rights groups and representatives of the tribes .
A Princeton scholar , professor Chika Okeke-Agulu , alongside Nigeria ’ s National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alarm earlier this month that the objects were looted during the Biafran war in the late 1960s .
Christie ’ s wrote earlier this month to the Nigerian commission , saying the sale would go ahead .
Okeke-Agulu , who is a member of the Igbo tribe , said the objects were taken through “ an act of violence ” from his home state of Anambra and that they should not be sold .
An online petition with over 2,000 signatures is demanding that the auction be halted .
The petition said “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of systemic racial injustice and inequality , thanks to the # BlackLivesMatter movement , we must not forget that it is not just the Black body , but also Black culture , identity and especially art that is being misappropriated.
” It claims that between 1967 and 1970 , as Nigeria ’ s Biafran civil war raged and while more than 3 million civilians were dying , a renowned European treasure hunter was in Biafra “ on a hunting spree for our cultural heritage.
” In a statement to AP Monday , Christie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being lawfully sold having been publicly exhibited and previously sold over the last decades prior to Christie ’ s involvement.
” While the auction house said it recognized the “ nuanced and complex debates around cultural property , ” it said that public sales should go ahead of objects like these to stop the black market flourishing .
Paris has a long history of collecting and selling tribal artifacts , tied to its colonial past in Africa , and to Paris-based groups in the 1960s , such as the “ Indianist ” movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in tribal art in Paris was revived in the early 2000s following two high-profile — and highly lucrative — sales in Paris of tribal art owned by late collectors Andre Breton and Robert Lebel .
Controversy over sales can be a double-edged sword for an auction house .
In the past , such contested sales have served to raise the ultimate selling price of the objects going under the hammer because of media interest , but there has also been instances where buyers have been deterred from purchasing artifacts over fears of a @ @

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thetorontostar--2020-06-29--New Jersey’s indoor malls reopen from COVID-19 halt

TRENTON , N.J. - New Jersey ’ s indoor shopping malls reopened on Monday from their COVID-19 pause .
Democratic @ @ @ @ @ the date earlier this month after he shuttered many sectors of the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ .
Their reopening comes as the state progresses through Stage 2 , of three , @ @ @ @ @ , indoor retail has reopened , along with salons , barber shops and massage parlours @ @ @ @ @ 171,000 positive cases of coronavirus and 13,121 confirmed deaths , as well as 1,854 probable @ @ @ @ @ Later this week , casinos and indoor dining at restaurants are set to open Thursday @ @ @ @ @ according to Murphy .
Also opening Thursday are amusement and water parks , playgrounds , @ @ @ @ @ .
For most people , the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms .
Older adults @ @ @ @ @ problems are at higher risk of more severe illness or death .


thetorontostar--2020-06-29--UN rights chief says Israeli annexation plan ‘disastrous’

JERUSALEM - The U.N. ’ s human rights chief on Monday said that Israel ’ s plan to begin annexing parts of the occupied West Bank would have “ disastrous ” consequences for the region , issuing her dire warning as senior U.S. and Israeli officials were meeting in Jerusalem trying to finalize the move .
The warning by Michelle Bachelet , the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights , added to the growing chorus of international voices urging Israel not to carry out its plan .
The U.N. secretary-general , the European Union and key Arab countries have all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would violate international law and all but destroy any remaining hopes of establishing a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel .
“ The precise consequences of annexation can not be predicted , ” Bachelet said in a statement issued by her office in Geneva .
“ But they are likely to be disastrous for the Palestinians , for Israel itself , and for the wider region.
” President Donald Trump ’ s Mideast plan , unveiled last January , envisions leaving some 30 % of the West Bank under permanent Israeli control , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the area .
The Palestinians claim all of the West Bank , along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip , for a fully independent state .
Israel captured all three areas in the 1967 Mideast war , though it withdrew from Gaza in 2005 , clearing the way for Hamas militants to seize control two years later .
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , a strong supporter of Trump , has been unswayed by the international criticism .
He says the supportive Trump presidency has provided a rare opportunity to redraw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s scores of settlements , as well as the strategic Jordan Valley .
He has pledged to move forward as soon as July 1 , seeking to take action well before the U.S. presidential election in November .
In a speech to evangelical Christian supporters of Israel late Sunday , Netanyahu said Trump ’ s plan “ finally puts to rest the two-state illusion ” and would “ advance peace.
” “ President Trump ’ s plan doesn ’ t really change the reality on the ground .
It recognizes the reality on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Netanyahu ’ s coalition partner , Defence Minister and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz , however , has appeared to be more cautious .
Both Netanyahu and Gantz were meeting with White House envoy Avi Berkowitz and the U.S .
Ambassador to Israel David Friedman to work on a final map outlining which areas will be annexed .
The talks were continuing after a series of meetings in Washington last week ended inconclusively .
Gantz was quoted by Israeli media as saying that Netanyahu ’ s target date of this Wednesday is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come under surprising criticism from West Bank settler leaders , who believe it does not go far enough and say that any plan that envisions even a watered-down Palestinian state must be opposed .
Israeli media have reported that Netanyahu is considering scaling back his plans and is expected to annex just a small number of settlements in a largely symbolic move .
But in her statement , Bachelet warned that even a small annexation would create a “ highly combustible mix.
” She said deepening Israel ’ s control of West Bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement , turn Palestinian population centres into “ enclaves ” and clear the way for Israel to “ illegally ” expropriate Palestinian land .
“ The shockwaves of annexation will last for decades , and will be extremely damaging to Israel , as well as to the Palestinians , ” Bachelet warned .
“ However there is still time to reverse this decision .
”


thetorontostar--2020-06-29--Mississippi surrenders Confederate symbol from state flag

JACKSON , Miss .
- Mississippi will retire the last state flag in the U.S. with the Confederate battle emblem , more than a century after white supremacist legislators adopted the design a generation after the South lost the Civil War .
A broad coalition of lawmakers — Black and white , Democrat and Republican — voted Sunday for change as the state faced increasing pressure amid nationwide protests against racial injustice .
Mississippi has a 38 % Black population , and critics have said for generations that it ’ s wrong to have a flag that prominently features an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. David Jordan told his colleagues just before the vote that Mississippi needs a flag that unifies rather than divides .
“ Let ’ s do this because it ’ s the right thing to do , “ Jordan said .
The Senate voted 37-14 to retire the flag , hours after the House voted 91-23 .
Cheers rang out in the state capitol after the Senate vote .
Some spectators wept .
Legislators embraced each other , many hugging colleagues who were on the opposing side of an issue that has long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Tate Reeves is expected to sign the bill into law in the next few days .
Democratic Rep. Robert Johnson of Natchez choked back tears as he told reporters that he has seen white colleagues develop more empathy about how the Confederate symbol is painful to him and other African Americans .
“ They began to understand and feel the same thing that I ’ ve been feeling for 61 years of my life , ” Johnson said .
A commission will design a new flag that can not include the Confederate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ In God We Trust.
” Voters will be asked to approve the new design in the Nov. 3 election .
If they reject it , the commission will set a different design using the same guidelines , and that would be sent to voters later .
Republican House Speaker Philip Gunn , who is white , has pushed for five years to change the flag , saying the Confederate symbol is offensive .
“ How sweet it is to celebrate this on the Lord ’ s day , ” Gunn said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ upper left corner of Mississippi flag in 1894 , as white people were squelching political power that African Americans had gained after the Civil War .
In a 2001 statewide election , voters chose to keep the flag .
An increasing number of cities and all Mississippi ’ s public universities have taken down the state flag in recent years .
But until now , efforts to redesign the flag sputtered in the Republican-dominated Legislature .
That dynamic shifted as an extraordinary and diverse coalition of political , business , religious groups and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Black Lives Matter protest outside the Mississippi Governor ’ s Mansion in early June , thousands cheered as an organizer said the state needs to divorce itself from all Confederate symbols .
Religious groups said erasing the rebel emblem from the state flag is a moral imperative .
Notable among them was the state ’ s largest church group , the 500,000-member Mississippi Baptist Convention , which called for change last week after not pushing for it before the 2001 election .
Business groups said the banner hinders economic development in one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In a sports-crazy culture , the biggest blow might have happened when college sports leagues said Mississippi could lose post-season events if it continued flying the Confederate-themed flag .
Nearly four dozen of Mississippi ’ s university athletic directors and coaches came to the Capitol to lobby for change .
Many people who wanted to keep the emblem on the Mississippi flag said they see it as a symbol of heritage .
The battle emblem is a red field topped by a blue X with 13 white stars .
The Ku Klux @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rebel flag for decades .
The Mississippi Supreme Court found in 2000 that when the state updated its laws in 1906 , portions dealing with the flag were not included .
That meant the banner lacked official status .
The Democratic governor in 2000 , Ronnie Musgrove , appointed a commission to decide the flag ’ s future .
It held hearings across the state that grew ugly as people shouted at each other about the flag .
Legislators then opted not to set a flag design themselves , and put the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Former Mississippi Gov .
William Winter , who is now 97 , served on then-President Bill Clinton ’ s national advisory board on race in the 1990s and was chairman of the Mississippi flag commission in 2000 .
Winter said Sunday that removing the Confederate symbol from the banner is “ long overdue.
” “ The battle for a better Mississippi does not end with the removal of the flag , and we should work in concert to make other positive changes in the interest of all of our people , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 1980 until 1984 .
Democratic state Sen. Derrick Simmons of Greenville , who is African American , said the state deserves a flag to make all people proud .
“ Today is a history-making day in the state of Mississippi , ” Simmons told colleagues .
“ Let ’ s vote today for the Mississippi of tomorrow .
”