thetorontostar--2020-06-03--US Legislatures slow to pass laws limiting use of force

COLUMBUS , Ohio - A wave of police killings of young black men in 2014 prompted 24 states to quickly pass some type of law enforcement reform , but many declined to address the most glaring issue : police use of force .
Six years later , only about a third of states have passed laws on the question .
The issue is at the heart of nationwide protests set off by the May 25 death of George Floyd , a black man who died after a white police officer in Minneapolis pressed a knee into Floyd ’ s neck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air .
Now , some lawmakers and governors are hoping to harness the renewed wave of anger to push through changes on the use of force they couldn ’ t manage after 2014 , a year that included the deaths at the hands of police of Michael Brown in Ferguson , Missouri , Eric Garner in New York and 12-year-old Tamir Rice in Cleveland .
“ We ’ re absolutely at a point in time where we have to do more , ” said Maryland state Del .
Vanessa Atterbeary , a Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week that will take up use-of-force standards for that state .
Pushback from politically influential law enforcement unions prompted some states ’ use-of-force proposals to stall , while others have opted for voluntary programs to change policing practices .
In some states , lawmakers have even broadened the powers of police , such as increasing penalties for those who attack officers or , as in Tennessee and Utah , limiting the power of independent review boards that investigate police conduct .
As of August 2018 , at least 16 states had passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Conference of State Legislatures .
A handful of those directly restricted what police could do .
In Utah and Missouri , for example , force used by officers must be “ reasonable and necessary.
” Colorado has banned chokeholds , the manoeuvr used on Garner .
Other laws created task forces to set new standards , boosted training or improved tracking of officers ’ use of guns and deadly force .
In 2014 , Republican-led Wisconsin became the first state in the country to enact a law requiring outside investigations when people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supported by the state ’ s largest police union .
This week , Democratic Gov .
Tony Evers asked the Legislature to go further and pass a bill that would require law enforcement agencies to minimize the use of force and prioritize preserving life .
In New Jersey , Democratic Gov .
Phil Murphy and the attorney general said Tuesday they will update state guidelines governing police use of force for the first time in two decades .
Despite the sense in many places that this moment could produce real change , challenges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempts to restrict officers ’ use of deadly force and are politically potent in most states .
Paige Fernandez , a policing policy adviser at the ACLU , said many unions “ have convinced themselves that police are unable to protect themselves if they value the bodily integrity and personal lives of the the people they are supposed to be serving.
” The National Fraternal Order of Police issued a statement acknowledging there is “ no doubt ” Floyd ’ s death has diminished public trust in police .
“ Police officers need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respect and understanding and should be held to the very highest standards for their conduct , ” the organization said .
Since 2016 , groups representing police nationwide have contributed $ 1.3 million directly to candidates for governor and attorney general and given at least another $ 1 million for independent expenditures that advocate for or against candidates for all state-level offices , according to an Associated Press analysis of data collected by the National Institute on Money in Politics .
Much of that money has been spent in California , where unions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pair of laws last year .
One allows police to use lethal force only when necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious injury to officers or bystanders .
The second requires additional officer training .
The California debate was driven in part by the fatal 2018 shooting by Sacramento police of 22-year-old Stephon Clark , who was clutching a cellphone that officers said they mistook for a weapon .
The shooting in Ohio of Rice , whose toy Airsoft gun officers said they mistook for a real one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creating the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board .
In 2015 , the board adopted statewide standards limiting use of deadly force by police officers to defending themselves or others from serious injury or death .
The state ’ s Republican-led Legislature opted against turning those recommendations into law , leaving police agencies to comply voluntarily .
Karhlton Moore , who leads the Ohio Department of Public Safety division that oversees the standards , said roughly three-quarters of Ohio residents now live in areas covered by police agencies that are either certified or in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the standards .
But Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes , a Democrat who is black , criticized Republican lawmakers this week for failing to enact laws recommended by Kasich ’ s task force , saying their actions “ show us time and time again that black lives do not matter.
” Ohio Democrats want immediate reforms addressing racism and inequality .
In Pennsylvania , a package of bills seeking to limit the justifications for the use of deadly force by police has stalled in the state ’ s Republican-controlled Legislature .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Democratic Rep. Summer Lee , a chief sponsor of the bills who represents East Pittsburgh .
Police around the nation have condemned the way Floyd was restrained .
Inherent racism must be dealt with as well , said Lee , who is black .
She said some lawmakers were paying lip service to the necessity of fighting racism — but weren ’ t taking action .
“ We have bills — we have tangible things the Legislature can do today , ” Lee said .
Associated Press writers Scott Bauer in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trenton , New Jersey ; Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville , Tennessee ; Marc Levy in Harrisburg , Pennsylvania ; David Lieb in Jefferson City , Missouri ; Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill , New Jersey ; Don Thompson in Sacramento , Calif. ; Andrew Welsh-Huggins in Columbus ; Lindsay Whitehurst in Salt Lake City ; and Brian Witte in Annapolis , Maryland , contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--Cyclone lashes India’s business capital; 100,000 evacuated

MUMBAI , India - A cyclone made landfall Wednesday south of India ’ s financial capital of Mumbai , with a storm surge threatening to flood beaches and low-lying slums as city authorities struggled to contain the coronavirus pandemic .
Live TV coverage showed inky black clouds framing the sea on India ’ s western coastline .
Trees swayed wildly as rain pounded the coastal towns and villages of the central state of Maharashtra .
In the state capital , Mumbai — home to Bollywood , India ’ s largest stock exchange and more than 18 million residents — high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ houses near the beach .
Mumbai hadn ’ t been hit by a cyclone in more than a century , raising concerns about its readiness .
Some 10,000 city-dwellers were evacuated from their homes , municipal officials said .
With powerful storms a rarity , there were no preexisting cyclone shelters , and many of the city ’ s large and sturdy buildings had already been converted into COVID-19 isolation or treatment facilities , National Disaster Response Force spokesman Krishan Kumar said .
“ We moved people to other strong buildings where there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
In the hours before the storm hit India ’ s shores , drivers and peddlers deserted Mumbai ’ s iconic Marine Drive , fishermen yanked their nets out of the wavy Arabian Sea and police shooed people away from beaches .
Homes in city slums were boarded up and abandoned , and municipal officials patrolled the streets , using bullhorns to order people to stay inside .
Cyclone Nisarga was forecast to drop heavy rains and sustained winds of 100 to 110 kilometres ( 62 to 68 miles ) per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near the city of Alibag , about 98 kilometres ( 60 miles ) south of Mumbai , India ’ s Meteorological Department said .
At Alibag , visuals shared on Twitter by India ’ s disaster agency showed toppled carts , roads scattered with fallen trees and tin roofs ripped apart .
The state of Goa , south of Maharashtra , already had received 127 millimeters ( 5 inches ) of torrential rain — about a week ’ s average , the agency said .
Some 100,000 people were evacuated from low-lying areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Press Trust of India news agency .
Both states , already among the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic , activated disaster response teams , fearing extensive flooding could further impair overwhelmed health systems .
“ If hospitals and clinics are damaged by the cyclone , the city won ’ t be able to cope with the large number of COVID-19 cases , and social distancing measures will become virtually impossible to follow , ” Bidisha Pillai , chief executive of Save the Children in India , said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were moved from a field hospital built beneath a tent to another facility to avoid the risk of strong wind gusts , officials said .
S.N .
Pradhan , director of India ’ s National Disaster Response Force , said that evacuations were nearly complete and that social distancing norms were being followed in cyclone shelters .
“ Let us fight this danger like we are standing up to the corona pandemic and are on our way to defeat it .
Likewise , we will prevail over this situation too !
” Maharashtra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Uddhav Balasheb Thackeray , tweeted .
The cyclone also threatened to worsen prospects for an economic turnaround as a nine-week coronavirus lockdown began to ease this week .
India has reported more than 200,000 cases and 5,800 deaths due to the virus , and epidemiologists predict that the peak is still weeks away .
Maharashtra , which accounts for more than a third of India ’ s cases , has seen the rate of infection slow in recent days , below India ’ s national average .
Some special trains departing from Mumbai @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic migrants who lost their jobs in the lockdown were rescheduled , and newly restored domestic airline travel was postponed .
Nisarga comes just two weeks after Cyclone Amphan tore through the Bay of Bengal on India ’ s east coast and battered West Bengal state , killing more than 100 people in India and neighbouring Bangladesh .
Such storms are less common in the Arabian Sea than on India ’ s east coast , and usually form later in the year .
But Nisarga may represent the ways in which the warming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already altering lives , experts said .
The frequency of cyclones in the Arabian Sea is predicted to increase , said Adam Sobel , a climate scientist at Columbia University .
The temperature of the top layer of the sea , from which the cyclone draws its energy , is “ unusually high , ” said K.J .
Ramesh , former chief of India ’ s Meteorological Department .
Much more frequent and intense cyclones have been appearing over a shorter time in recent years due to climate change , he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
Schmall and Ghosal reported from New Delhi .
Associated Press writer Chonchui Ngashangva in New Delhi contributed to this report .

Rafiq Maqbool, Emily Schmall And Aniruddha Ghosal - The Associated Press

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thetorontostar--2020-06-03--Nation’s streets calmest in days, protests largely peaceful

WASHINGTON - Protests were largely peaceful and the nation ’ s streets were calmer than they have been in days since the killing of George Floyd set off sometimes violent demonstrations against police brutality and injustice against African Americans .
An earlier curfew and efforts by protesters to contain the violence prevented more widespread damage to businesses in New York City overnight .
As of Wednesday morning , arrests grew to more than 9,000 nationwide since the unrest began in response to Floyd ’ s death May 25 in Minneapolis .
There was a marked quiet compared with the unrest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included fires and shootings in some cities .
Many cities intensified their curfews , with authorities in Washington also ordering people off streets before sundown .
A block away from the White House , thousands of demonstrators massed following a crackdown a day earlier when officers on foot and horseback aggressively drove peaceful protesters away from Lafayette Park , clearing the way for President Donald Trump to do a photo op at nearby St. John ’ s Church .
Tuesday ’ s protesters faced law enforcement personnel who stood behind a black chain-link @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the park .
“ Last night pushed me way over the edge , ” said Jessica DeMaio , 40 , of Washington , who attended a Floyd protest Tuesday for the first time .
“ Being here is better than being at home feeling helpless.
” Pastors at the church prayed with demonstrators and handed out water bottles .
The crowd remained in place after the city ’ s 7 p.m. curfew passed , defying warnings that the response from law enforcement could be even more forceful .
But the people were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point , the crowd booed when a protester climbed a light post and took down a street sign .
A chant went up : “ Peaceful protest !
” Pope Francis called for national reconciliation and peace , saying he has ‘ ’ witnessed with great concern the disturbing social unrest ’ ’ in the United States in recent days .
“ My friends , we can not tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekly Wednesday audience , held in the presence of bishops due to coronavirus restrictions on gatherings .
Trump , meanwhile , amplified his hard-line calls from Monday , when he threatened to send in the military to restore order if governors didn ’ t do it .
“ NYC , CALL UP THE NATIONAL GUARD , ” he tweeted .
“ The lowlifes and losers are ripping you apart .
Act fast !
” Thousands of people remained in the streets of New York City Tuesday night , undeterred by an 8 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by early Wednesday .
Midtown Manhattan was pocked with battered storefronts after Monday ’ s protests .
Protests also passed across the U.S. , including in Los Angeles , Miami , St. Paul , Minnesota , Columbia , South Carolina and Houston , where the police chief talked to peaceful demonstrators , vowing reforms .
“ God as my witness , change is coming , ” Art Acevedo said .
“ And we ’ re going to do it the right way.
” More than 20,000 National Guard members have been called up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence .
Not in New York City , where Mayor Bill de Blasio has said he does not want the Guard , despite an offer from Gov .
Andrew Cuomo .
On Tuesday , Cuomo called what happened in the city Monday night “ a disgrace.
” “ The NYPD and the mayor did not do their job , ” Cuomo said at a briefing in Albany .
He said his fellow Democrat underestimated the problem , and the nation ’ s largest police force was not deployed in sufficient numbers , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usual police presence .
Tuesday marked the eighth straight night of protests that began after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee against Floyd ’ s neck while the handcuffed black man called out that he couldn ’ t breathe .
The officer , Derek Chauvin , has been fired and charged with murder .
The mother of George Floyd ’ s 6-year-old daughter , Gianna , said she wants the world to know that her little girl lost a good father .
“ I want everybody to know that this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington said during a Minneapolis news conference , her daughter at her side .
“ I want justice for him because he was good .
No matter what anybody thinks , he was good.
” Some protesters framed the burgeoning movement as a necessity after seemingly incessant killings by police .
“ It feels like it ’ s just been an endless cascade of hashtags of black people dying , and it feels like nothing ’ s really being done by our political leaders to actually enact real change , ” said Christine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peaceful protest at the Minnesota state capitol in St. Paul .
“ There ’ s always going to be a breaking point .
I think right now , we ’ re seeing the breaking point around the country.
” “ I live in this state .
It ’ s really painful to see what ’ s going on , but it ’ s also really important to understand that it ’ s connected to a system of racial violence , ” she said .
Meanwhile , governors and mayors , Republicans and Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to send in the military , with some saying troops would be unnecessary and others questioning whether the government has such authority and warning that such a step would be dangerous .
Such use of the military would mark a stunning federal intervention rarely seen in modern American history .
A senior White House official , speaking on condition of anonymity , said the president is not rushing to deploy the military and that his goal was to pressure governors to deploy more National Guard members .
Nine states and the District of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing the nation ’ s ability to run elections while balancing a pandemic and sweeping social unrest .
Joe Biden won hundreds more delegates , nearly enough to formally secure the Democratic presidential nomination .
Also Tuesday , Minnesota opened an investigation into whether the Minneapolis Police Department has a pattern of discrimination against minorities .
Sullivan reported from Minneapolis .
Associated Press journalists across the U.S. contributed to this report .

Zeke Miller And Tim Sullivan - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--Syria activists: After 3 months, Russian strikes hit Idlib

BEIRUT - Russian warplanes carried out early Wednesday the first airstrikes in three months on the last remaining rebel stronghold in northwestern Syria , opposition activists said .
There was no immediate word on any casualties .
The airstrikes , along with ground bombardment over the past few days , have forced hundreds of people to flee their homes to safer areas further north , the activists said .
The strikes on and near Idlib province were the first to be conducted by Russian planes since a truce brought relative calm to the volatile region in early March , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkey and Russia , halted a terrifying three-month air and ground campaign that had killed hundreds and sent 1 million people fleeing toward the Turkish border .
Russia is a main backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad ’ s forces while Turkey supports the opposition .
In recent years , Moscow and Ankara have become the main power-brokers in Syria , shattered by a civil war since 2011 .
Opposition activists said that in recent days , both Turkey and the government in Damascus have been sending reinforcements to northwestern Syria .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truce on the ground in recent weeks .
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights , an opposition war monitoring group , said Russian warplanes targeted rebel-held areas just south of Idlib province late Tuesday and Wednesday morning .
It had no immediate word on casualties in the four airstrikes .
Idlib-based activist Taher al-Omar said Russian warplanes fired missiles that caused wide destruction .
He also gave no word on casualties .
Another Idlib-based activist , Hadi Abdullah , said Wednesday ’ s strikes hit a mountain region in Latakia province on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power station on the northern edge of Hama province .
Idlib , home to some 3 million people , many of them internally displaced , is also a stronghold of the al-Qaida-linked militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham , or Levant Liberation Committee .
Turkey has thousands of troops deployed in Idlib .


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--Hong Kong leader accuses foreign critics of double standards

BEIJING - Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam accused foreign critics on Wednesday of displaying “ blatant double standards ” over moves by Beijing to strengthen control over the semi-autonomous territory .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced earlier that his country is ready to open the door to almost 3 million Hong Kong citizens if China enacts a national security law for the city .
Following talks with officials in Beijing , Lam said China has the same right as the U.S. and Britain to enact legislation protecting its national security and that foreign criticism and threats of sanctions could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China was compelled to take the step at the national level because opposition in Hong Kong ’ s own legislature and among government critics made it impossible to do so locally .
“ I can only say that the international community and some of the foreign governments have been adopting blatant double standards in dealing with this matter and commenting on this matter , “ Lam said .
“ It is within the legitimate jurisdiction of any country to enact laws to protect and safeguard national security .
U.S.A. is no exception .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ So why should they object , resist or even condemn and take their sanctions against Hong Kong and the People ’ s Republic of China for taking similar actions ?
” Johnson said in a column published online by the South China Morning Post , a Hong Kong newspaper , that the security law would curtail freedoms in Hong Kong and conflict with China ’ s obligations under its agreement with the United Kingdom when it took back the former British colony in 1997 .
“ Many people in Hong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which China pledged to uphold — is under threat , ” he wrote .
“ If China proceeds to justify their fears , then Britain could not in good conscience shrug our shoulders and walk away.
” China shocked many of Hong Kong ’ s 7.5 million people when it announced earlier this month that it will enact a national security law for the city , which was promised a high level of autonomy outside of foreign and defence affairs .
In Beijing , foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian reiterated China ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , known as the Sino-British Joint Declaration , was essentially null and void .
“ The U.K. has had no sovereignty , governance or supervision over Hong Kong since its return ( to Chinese rule ) , “ Zhao said at a daily briefing .
“ Therefore , the British side has no right to cite the Sino-British Joint Declaration to make irresponsible remarks on Hong Kong affairs and interfere in China ’ s internal affairs , “ Zhao said .
In her comments , Lam appeared to agree , saying she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Law , its mini-constitution , despite critics saying China ’ s legislature used highly dubious legal grounds to circumvent Hong Kong ’ s legislature in moving forward with the security legislation .
An earlier push to pass security legislation was shelved after massive Hong Kong street protests against it in 2003 .
However , Beijing appeared to lose all patience after months of sometimes violent anti-government protests in Hong Kong last year that China said was an attempt to split the territory off from the rest of China .
The standing committee of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress could enact the law later this month or at the end of August , analysts have said .
About 350,000 Hong Kong citizens hold British National Overseas passports , a legacy of the colonial era , and 2.5 million others are eligible to apply for them , Johnson said in his column .
Long lines have formed at DHL courier offices in the city since the announcement as people rush to apply for or renew their BNO passports .
Johnson , echoing earlier statements by Cabinet ministers , said that if China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would allow holders of the BNO passports to remain for 12 months on a renewable basis and would grant them the right to work , placing them on a possible path to U.K. citizenship .
“ This would amount to one of the biggest changes in our visa system in British history , ” Johnson wrote , adding , “ I hope it will not come to this.
“ BNO passport holders currently can stay in the U.K. for only up to six months .
The security legislation also met with stinging criticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last week that Hong Kong is no longer autonomous and will be stripped of its preferential trade and commercial status .
Separately on Wednesday , Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong called on leaders in Europe to oppose the national security law , saying it erodes the “ one country , two systems ” framework promised to the semi-autonomous Chinese territory .
Wong said that after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose sanctions on Hong Kong last week , the momentum should be kept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand with Hong Kong .
”


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--‘Not stopping’: Defiant NYC protesters march through curfew

NEW YORK - An 8 p.m. curfew didn ’ t stop thousands of defiant demonstrators from marching through the streets of New York City Tuesday night , though some of the rampant destruction seen over the past few nights was quelled .
The citywide curfew , in place through Sunday , was imposed to prevent the widespread vandalism and violence that took over city streets following largely peaceful dayside protests .
Mayor Bill de Blasio doubled down on the citywide curfew , but rejected urging from President Donald Trump and an offer from Gov .
Andrew Cuomo to bring in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time to go home so we can keep people safe , ” the mayor said on WINS-AM radio shortly after the curfew took effect .
But demonstrators continued winding through the streets , keeping up the nationwide protests sparked by the May 25 death of George Floyd , a black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee on his neck .
“ I ’ m surprised , ” said Risha Munoz , on Manhattan ’ s Upper West Side , where at points they were greeted with cheers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I didn ’ t think they were gon na let us go on , but we just kept on moving and we ’ re not stopping.
” “ Something has to break , and it ’ s not going to be us , ” said Evan Kutcher , one of hundreds of demonstrators who stood outside the Barclays Center chanting Floyd ’ s name Tuesday evening .
Police began making arrests around 9 p.m. and shut down parts of the West Side Highway in lower Manhattan , blocking it off to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department announced it would not allow vehicle traffic south of 96th Street in Manhattan after curfew , though residents , essential workers , buses and truck deliveries were exempt .
“ We ’ re going to have a tough few days .
We ’ re going to beat it back , ” de Blasio said .
Jane Rossi said she witnessed officers rip a man out of his car and arrest him in Chelsea around 10:45 p.m .
The car was behind a group of several hundred protesters that had roamed Manhattan peacefully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Tensions had risen moments earlier when some in the group began trying to damage a bike rental station and banged on the windows of a JCPenny ’ s .
The vast majority of the crowd moved to stop them .
Officers surrounded the car and arrested the driver moments later .
“ They were just driving behind the protesters making sure that we were safe , ” Rossi said .
“ They were part of the protest.
” NYPD officers forced two Associated Press journalists to stop covering the protests Tuesday night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cursing at them while yelling at them to go home .
This , despite an order allowing media to remain on city streets .
Portions of the incident were captured on camera by videojournalist Robert Bumsted , who was working with photographer Maye-E Wong to document the protests in Manhattan .
The video shows more than a half dozen officers confronting the journalists as they filmed and photographed police ordering protesters to go home shortly after the curfew took effect .
Just after midnight Wednesday , most of the city ’ s streets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially in hot-spot areas for demonstrations in Brooklyn and Manhattan .
There was a heavy police presence in the Brooklyn neighbourhood of Crown Heights , where authorities say police fatally shot a man after responding to reports of shots fired .
NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan said the officer-involved shooting was not connected to the protests .
Contributing were Associated Press writers Michael R. Sisak , Jim Mustian , Jennifer Peltz , Tom Hays and Karen Matthews in New York .
Michael Hill and Marina Villeneuve reported from Albany .

Jake Seiner And Deepti Hajela - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--European jobless rate up modestly, Germany mulls stimulus

BERLIN - Europe ’ s unemployment rate ticked up modestly last month , contained by use of labour programs that have kept millions of workers on payrolls and as some people stopped looking for work , official data showed Wednesday .
The jobless rate in the 19 countries that use the euro rose to 7.3 % in April , the first full month when pandemic lockdowns hit the continent , from 7.1 % in March , statistics agency Eurostat said Wednesday .
Europe ’ s rise in unemployment has been moderate by international standards because employers are making extensive use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to keep employees on the payroll while they await better times .
In Germany , Europe ’ s largest economy , the federal labour agency pays at least 60 % of the salary of employees who are on reduced or zero hours .
Some 10.66 million people were registered for that program in March and April , and 1.06 million followed in May , the labour agency said -- though it stressed that this doesn ’ t mean all of them were actually put on short-time work .
Germany has a population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States , which has fewer automatic furlough schemes than Europe , the jobless rate has rocketed to almost 15 % from 4 % before the crisis , and new figures due Friday are expected to show a further increase to nearly 20 % in May .
The European jobless figures , however , also appear flattered by the fact that some unemployed people likely stopped looking for work and stopped counting as jobseekers .
That seems to be the case in a country like Italy , where the jobless rate actually fell , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seasonally adjusted terms .
In Germany , the unemployment rate rose modestly to 6.3 % from 5.8 % according to its own labour agency measures .
On Wednesday , Chancellor Angela Merkel ’ s governing coalition was spending a second day hammering out a stimulus package meant to help kick-start the economy .
It ’ s expected to be worth as much as 80-100 billion euros ( $ 89-112 billion ) .
Germany already is offering a total of more than 1 trillion euros in aid via various packages , which include money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through virus-related closures and to pump capital into bigger companies where needed .
The crisis has derailed the government ’ s dedication to keeping its budget balanced , long a point of pride .
After six years in the black , it is borrowing 156 billion euros to finance the existing rescue packages and cover an expected shortfall in tax revenue .
Germany started loosening coronavirus restrictions on April 20 , about a month after they were introduced , and the easing has gathered pace since .
However , the economy went into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is expected to deepen in the current quarter .


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--Acquitted Iranian scientist, deported from US, returns home

TEHRAN , Iran - An Iranian scientist imprisoned in the U.S. and acquitted in a federal trade secrets case returned to his homeland on Wednesday morning , a semiofficial Iranian news agency reported .
The report by the ISNA news agency included an image of Sirous Asgari , wearing a face mask and being welcomed by relatives .
A professor at Iran ’ s Sharif University of Technology , Asgari was indicted in April 2016 , accused by U.S. federal prosecutors of trying to steal secret research from Case Western Reserve University .
The Cleveland school had been working on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Naval Research to create and produce anti-corrosive stainless steel .
Asgari was ultimately acquitted in November after U.S. District Judge James Gwin tossed out the case by the prosecutors .
Ken Cuccinelli , the acting deputy Homeland Security secretary , earlier told The Associated Press that the DHS had started to try to deport Asgari last December , following his acquittal .
However , he said , Iran refused to recognize him as legitimately Iranian and provide him with a valid passport until late February .
His return was then postponed due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international flights .
Additionally , Asgari contracted the virus but was later reported to have fully recovered .
Iranian officials had associated Asgari ’ s release with U.S. prisoners held in Iran potentially being freed , something Cuccinelli strongly disputed .
On Tuesday , Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif first said in an Instagram post that Asgari was on his way back to Iran .
The ministry spokesman , Abbas Mousavi , rejected speculation of a prisoner swap .


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--Police shove, make AP journalists stop covering protest

New York City police officers surrounded , shoved and yelled expletives at two Associated Press journalists covering protests Tuesday in the latest aggression against members of the media during a week of unrest around the country .
Portions of the incident were captured on video by videojournalist Robert Bumsted , who was working with photographer Maye-E Wong to document the protests in lower Manhattan over the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
The video shows more than a half-dozen officers confronting the journalists as they filmed and took photographs of police ordering protesters to leave the area near Fulton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curfew took effect .
An officer , using an expletive , orders them to go home .
Bumsted is heard on video explaining the press are considered “ essential workers “ and are allowed to be on the streets .
An officer responds “ I don ’ t give a s—-.
” Another tells Bumsted “ get the f—- out of here you piece of s—-.
” Bumsted and Wong said officers shoved them , separating them from each other and pushing them toward Bumsted ’ s car , which was parked nearby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was pinned against his car .
He is heard on video telling the officer that Wong has his keys and he needs them to leave the area .
Officers then allowed Wong to approach and the two got in the vehicle and left .
Both journalists were wearing AP identification and identified themselves as media .
“ They didn ’ t care , ” Wong said .
“ They were just shoving me.
” NYPD officials said they would “ review this as soon as possible.
” Journalists have faced aggressive police and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the killing of Floyd , a handcuffed black man who died after a white officer pressed his knee on Floyd ’ s neck .
Police in Louisville , Kentucky , apologized after an officer fired what appeared to be pepper bullets at a TV news crew , and a journalist in Minneapolis was shot by a rubber bullet .
Journalists have faced other risks while covering the unrest , in addition to dealing with aggression from police .
In South Carolina , a television news reporter was hit in the head by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Fox News reporter was chased and pummeled by protesters .
Someone grabbed the reporter ’ s microphone and threw it at his back , and a Fox News photographer ’ s camera was smashed .
In Atlanta , demonstrators who fought with police and set cars on fire also broke windows and scrawled obscene graffiti at CNN headquarters .
AP spokeswoman Lauren Easton criticized the officers ’ actions Tuesday , which occurred as thousands of people in New York were defying a curfew put in place following several nights of violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are exempt from the curfew .
“ The role of journalists is to report the news on behalf of the public , “ Easton said .
” It is unacceptable and deeply troubling when journalists are harassed simply for doing their job .
”


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--Widow: Retired police captain died protecting friend’s store

ST. LOUIS - A retired police captain who died during a night of violent protests was trying to protect his friend ’ s pawn shop , his widow said .
David Dorn ’ s last moments were caught on video and apparently posted on Facebook Live , though the video has since been taken down .
He was killed by people who had broken into Lee ’ s Pawn & Jewelry , and his body found on the sidewalk at about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday .
No arrests have been made .
His death came on a violent night in St. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , officers were pelted with rocks and fireworks , and 55 businesses were burglarized or damaged , including a convenience store that burned .
Police also shot and gravely injured a burglary suspect who they say shot at officers .
Cities across the U.S. have seen protests and violence since George Floyd died May 25 after a white Minneapolis officer pressed his knee into Floyd ’ s neck for several minutes even after the handcuffed black man stopped moving and pleading for air .
Dorn was a friend of the pawn shop ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business when alarms went off , his wife , St. Louis police Sgt .
Ann Marie Dorn , told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch .
David Dorn served 38 years on the St. Louis police force before retiring in October 2007 .
He then became chief of Moline Acres , a small town in St. Louis County .
Former St. Louis County police Chief Tim Fitch knew Dorn for 30 years and said they became close friends when Dorn and his wife were leading the St. Louis police department ’ s Explorers program for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while Fitch was leading the county ’ s program .
“ He was very dedicated to youth , especially disadvantaged youth , “ said Fitch , who led the St. Louis County Police Department from 2009 to 2014 .
“ He wanted to see them succeed .
He wanted to be a role model for those young men and women to go into law enforcement.
” Dorn ’ s personality was “ bigger than life , ” Fitch said .
“ He was a fun guy , a happy guy .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinking when somebody did something incredibly stupid like a crime because he would just say it as he saw it.
” When he took over as chief in Moline Acres , Dorn made it clear that his officers would be held to the strictest of standards , Fitch said .
“ He wanted them to do the right thing all the time , “ Fitch said .
The Ethical Society of Police , which represents black officers in St. Louis , said in a news release that Dorn was “ the type of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life to save them if he had to.
” “ Many of us , the other officers , looked up to him , ” Hayden said .
“ Was very well-liked , very pleasant .
And his wife still works here .
So a very sad time for our agency .
We will honour him .
”


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--New report finds anti-Semitism on the rise in Czech Republic

PRAGUE , Czech Republic - The number of anti-Semitic incidents in the Czech Republic doubled last year , the Jewish community said Wednesday .
In its annual report , the Federation of the Jewish Communities said there were 694 anti-Semitic attacks in 2019 compared with 347 in the previous year .
A majority of the attacks — 95 % — were registered on the internet , often on disinformation websites , far-right media and produced by activists involved in an international campaign to boycott Israel .
The Jewish community said there were three attacks on Jewish property last year and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harassment and verbal insults .
No physical attack was registered in 2019 .
In June 2019 , an unknown attacker damaged a monument in Prague ’ s main train station which children saved by Sir Nicholas Winton from Nazi death camps unveiled in 2017 to honour their parents .
The Briton arranged eight trains to carry 669 children , most of them Jewish , from Czechoslovakia through Germany to Britain at the outbreak of World War II in 1939 .
He died in 2015 at age 106 .
The children were sent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their parents died in the Holocaust .
The report , however , said the Czech Republic remains a safe country for Jews and anti-Semitism is at a relatively low level compared with other European countries .


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--Pandemic brings 1st Australian recession in 29 years

CANBERRA , Australia - The coronavirus pandemic pushed Australia ’ s economy into recession for the first time in 29 years in the first quarter of the year , and the situation is expected to get worse .
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Wednesday the current June quarter will be the second in a row in which the Australian economy has contracted .
A recession is defined as at least two straight quarters of contraction .
Data released on Wednesday showed the economy shrank 0.3 % in the January-March quarter due to destructive wildfires and the early stages of Australia ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a major factor behind the decline , as millions have lost their jobs .
“ The June quarter , the economic impact , will be severe .
Far more severe than what we have seen today , ” Frydenberg told reporters .
The Australian government has promised more than $ 220 billion in stimulus spending and the central bank has cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to a record low of 0.5 % to help cushion the shock from the pandemic .
Australia ’ s economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occasional negative quarter including during the global financial crisis in 2008 , when Chinese demand for iron ore and coal quickly reversed the decline .
The slowdown in China ’ s economy , on top of weakening global demand and the impact of the pandemic , has pushed many countries into their worst downturns in decades .


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--New York protesters march through curfew; Trump turns up pressure on governors to quell violence

The latest news on the protests over the death of George Floyd Wednesday .
This file will be updated throughout the day ) .
New York City police officers surrounded , shoved and yelled expletives at two Associated Press journalists covering protests Tuesday in the latest aggression against members of the media during a week of unrest around the country .
Portions of the incident were captured on video by videojournalist Robert Bumsted , who was working with photographer Maye-E Wong to document the protests in lower Manhattan over the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
The video shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalists as they filmed and took photographs of police ordering protesters to leave the area near Fulton and Broadway shortly after an 8 p.m. curfew took effect .
Bumsted and Wong said officers shoved them , separating them from each other and pushing them toward Bumsted 's car , which was parked nearby .
At one point Bumsted said he was pinned against his car .
He is heard on video telling the officer that Wong has his keys and he needs them to leave the area .
Officers then allowed Wong to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vehicle and left .
Both journalists were wearing AP identification and identified themselves as media .
“ They did n't care , ” Wong said .
“ They were just shoving me.
” NYPD officials said they would “ review this as soon as possible.
” NEW YORK — Thousands of demonstrators protesting the death of George Floyd remained on New York City streets on Tuesday after an 8 p.m. curfew put in place by officials struggling to stanch destruction and growing complaints that the nation ’ s biggest city was reeling out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bill de Blasio had doubled down on a citywide curfew , moving it up from 11 p.m. a night earlier , but rejected urging from President Donald Trump and an offer from Gov .
Andrew Cuomo to bring in the National Guard .
Protests had resumed Tuesday during the day over the death of Floyd , a black man who died on May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee on his neck even after he stopped moving and pleading for air .
People marched in groups of thousands in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ merchants boarded up their businesses .
As the the curfew time arrived , many were still in the streets and continued marching , with officers initially standing by and allowing them .
But officers started ordering people to move along , and began taking people into custody .
Demonstrators who had been on the West Side Highway in lower Manhattan were herded off , with parts of the roadway blocked off behind them .
“ Something has to break , and it ’ s not going to be us , ” said Evan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who stood outside the Barclays Center chanting Floyd ’ s name Tuesday evening .
“ We ’ re here because something needs to change .
LOS ANGELES — It was the kind of scene that , it seems , only this tumultuous year of 2020 could produce .
With the National Guard patrolling the streets of Los Angeles after several nights of looting , violence and fires , hundreds of people gathered downtown to protest the death of George Floyd and police brutality against so many other black people .
After weeks of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ongoing coronavirus pandemic , Mayor Eric Garcetti pulled down his blue Los Angeles Dodgers face mask , joined the crowd and took a knee .
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday turned up the pressure on governors to quell the violence set off by the death of George Floyd , demanding New York call up the National Guard to stop the “ lowlifes and losers.
” As more demonstrations began taking shape around the country , and cities including Washington girded for another round of scattered violence after dark , the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier , in which he threatened to send in the military to restore order if governors didn ’ t do it .
“ NYC , CALL UP THE NATIONAL GUARD , ” he tweeted .
“ The lowlifes and losers are ripping you apart .
Act fast !
Don ’ t make the same horrible and deadly mistake you made with the Nursing Homes !
!
!
” One day after a crackdown on peaceful protesters near the White House , thousands of demonstrators massed a block away from the presidential mansion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black chain-link fence .
The fence had been put up overnight to block access to Lafayette Park , just across the street from the White House .
Read more live analysis from Edward Keenan , the Star ’ s Washington bureau chief


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--Wuhan tests 10 million people, finds few virus infections

BEIJING - The Chinese city of Wuhan , where the coronavirus was first detected late last year , has tested nearly 10 million people in an unprecedented 19-day campaign to check an entire city .
It identified just 300 positive cases , all of whom had no symptoms .
The city found no infections among 1,174 close contacts of the people who tested positive , suggesting they were not spreading the virus easily to others .
That is a potentially encouraging development because of widespread concern that infected people without symptoms could be silent spreaders of the disease .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wuhan feel at ease , it also increases people ’ s confidence in all of China , ” Feng Zijian , vice director of China ’ s Center for Disease Control and Prevention , told state broadcaster CCTV .
There is no definitive answer yet on the level of risk posed by asymptomatic cases , with anecdotal evidence and studies to date producing conflicting answers .
Wuhan was by far the hardest hit city in China , accounting for more than 80 % of the country ’ s deaths , according to government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the city completed 9.9 million tests from May 14 to June 1 .
If those tested previously are included , virtually everyone above the age of 5 in the city of 11 million people has been tested , said Li Lanjuan , a member of a National Health Commission expert team .
“ The city of Wuhan is safe , ” she said at a news conference with city officials .
The campaign was launched after a small cluster of cases was found in a residential compound , sparking concern about a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emerged from a 2 1/2 month lockdown .
The industrial city on the Yangtze River in central China spent 900 million yuan ( about $ 125 million ) on the tests , the official Xinhua News Agency said .
It quoted Executive Deputy Mayor Hu Yabo as saying the cost was “ totally worthwhile ” to reassure residents , lifting a “ psychological lockdown.
” Clarence Tam , an assistant professor of public health at the National University of Singapore , called the results reassuring but said more information is needed about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the risk is already low .
He noted that the tests , while generally accurate , sometimes give a positive result for uninfected people , and the very low number in Wuhan was well within the range of expected error .
“ As more countries adopt mass screening strategies , a challenge will be to try and minimize the chances of detecting false positives , ” Tam said in an email response to The Associated Press .
“ This has some implications , because in Wuhan for example , those who tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contacts were quarantined.
” The rapid testing of so many people was made possible in part through batch testing , in which samples from up to five people are mixed together , Xinhua reported .
If the result is positive , then the people are individually tested .
National resources were also mobilized to help , said Wang Weihua , deputy director of the Wuhan Health Commission , according to Xinhua .
Together , these efforts raised Wuhan ’ s daily testing capacity from 300,000 to more than one million , she was @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--Obama steps out as nation confronts confluence of crises

WASHINGTON - Former President Barack Obama is taking on an increasingly public role as the nation confronts a confluence of historic crises that has exposed deep racial and socioeconomic inequalities in America and reshaped the November election .
In doing so , Obama is signalling a willingness to sharply critique his successor , President Donald Trump , and fill what many Democrats see as a national leadership void .
On Wednesday , he held a virtual town hall event with young people to discuss policing and the civil unrest that has followed the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d seen come up in “ a little bit of chatter on the internet “ about “ voting versus protests , politics and participation versus civil disobedience and direct action.
” “ This is not an either-or .
This is a both and to bring about real change , ” he said during the town hall hosted by his foundation ’ s My Brother ’ s Keeper Alliance , which supports young men of colour .
“ We both have to highlight a problem and make people in power uncomfortable , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practical solutions and laws that could be implemented and monitored and make sure we ’ re following up on.
” Obama called for turning the protests over Floyd ’ s death into policy change to ensure safer policing and increased trust between communities and law enforcement .
He urged “ every mayor in the country to review your use of force policies ” with their communities and “ commit to report on planned reforms ” before prioritizing their implementation .
“ We ’ re in a political season , but our country is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Valerie Jarrett , a longtime friend and adviser to Obama .
“ President Obama is not going to shy away from that dialogue simply because he ’ s not in office anymore.
“ During the roundtable , Obama drew parallels between the unrest sweeping America currently and protest movements of the 1960s .
But he said polls show a majority of Americans supporting today ’ s protesters and forming a “ broad coalition ” in a way much of the country didn ’ t back then — despite some of the recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions of a tiny minority that engaged in violence.
” Still , he warned , “ at some point , attention moves away ” and “ protests dwindle in size ” so “ it ’ s important to take that moment that ’ s been created as a society , as a country , and say let ’ s use this to finally have an impact.
” Obama was already beginning to emerge from political hibernation to endorse Joe Biden ’ s Democratic presidential bid when the coronavirus pandemic swept across the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the economy began to crater .
The crises scrambled the Biden campaign ’ s plans for how to begin deploying Obama as their chief surrogate ahead of the November election , but also gave the former president a clear opening to start publicly arguing what he has signalled to friends and associates privately for the past three years : that he does not believe Trump is up for the job .
Addressing graduates of historically black colleges and universities last month , Obama said the pandemic had “ fully , finally torn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so many of the folks in charge know what they ’ re doing.
” And in a nationally televised broadcast celebrating graduating high school seniors , Obama said many “ so-called grown-ups , including some with fancy titles and important jobs , ” do only what ’ s convenient and feels good .
Floyd ’ s death , however , has drawn a more visceral and personal reaction from the nation ’ s first black president .
Floyd , a black man , died after a white police officer pressed his knee into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even after he stopped moving and pleading for air .
In a lengthy written statement last week , Obama said that while he understood that millions of Americans were eager to “ just get back to normal ” when the pandemic abates , it shouldn ’ t be forgotten that normal life for people of colour in the U.S. involves being treated differently on account of their race .
“ This shouldn ’ t be ‘ normal ’ in 2020 America .
It can ’ t be ‘ normal , ’ “ Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escalated further in the days since the former president ’ s statement .
His town hall on Wednesday will mark his first in-person comments since law enforcement officers aggressively cleared peaceful protesters from a park outside the White House so Trump could walk across for a photo opportunity at a nearby church .
Trump has cheered harsh crackdowns on the protests , some of which have turned violent , and threatened to deploy active-duty military to the states if local officials could not get the demonstrations under control .
He appeared to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Defence Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday that he did not believe such action was warranted .
Biden ’ s campaign welcomed Obama stepping forward during this moment .
“ President Obama ’ s voice is a reminder that we used to have a president who sought to bridge our divides , and we can have one again if we elect Joe Biden , ” said TJ Ducklo , a campaign spokesman .
Obama grappled with police brutality against minorities as president , including in Ferguson , Missouri , where clashes broke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a black 18-year-old .
After Brown ’ s death , Obama ’ s Justice Department moved to enact broad policing reforms , though most were halted under the Trump administration .
Biden , who served as Obama ’ s vice-president , called this week for restoring some of the previous administration ’ s actions in the wake of Floyd ’ s death and the killing of other black Americans .
Biden also called for Congress to take immediate steps , including outlawing chokeholds .
Associated Press writers Will Weissert in Washington and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report .


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--Ex-defence chief Mattis rips Trump for dividing Americans

Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis criticized President Trump ’ s threat to deploy active-duty troops in response to civil unrest @ @ @ @ @ highest-level former cabinet official to speak out against the president .
“ Donald Trump is @ @ @ @ @ lifetime who does not try to unite the American people—does not even pretend to try @ @ @ @ @ in a statement Wednesday .
“ Instead he tries to divide us .
We are @ @ @ @ @ years of this deliberate effort .
We are witnessing the consequences of three years without @ @ @ @ @ unite without him , drawing on the strengths inherent in our civil society.
” During @ @ @ @ @ , Mr. Mattis deployed active-duty troops along the U.S. southern border to stop what Mr. @ @ @ @ @ invasion ” of migrants .
Mr. Mattis resigned from his post in December 2018 .


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--Rosenstein says he wouldn’t approve Russia warrant now

WASHINGTON - Former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein told lawmakers Wednesday that he would not have approved an FBI surveillance application for a former Trump campaign aide during the Russia investigation had he known at the time about the problems that have since been revealed .
Rosenstein ’ s comments amounted to a striking concession that law enforcement officials made mistakes as they scrutinized ties between Russia and Donald Trump ’ s 2016 presidential campaign .
But even as he acknowledged the legitimacy of anger from Trump and his allies , he defended his appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for the conclusion that Russia interfered in the election but did not criminally conspire with associates of the Trump campaign .
“ I do not consider the investigation to be corrupt , Senator , but I certainly understand the president ’ s frustration given the outcome , which was in fact that there was no evidence of conspiracy between Trump campaign advisers and Russians , “ Rosenstein said at a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee .
His appearance before the committee was the first in a series of hearings scrutinizing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement officials involved .
With subpoena authority expected to be approved this week , the hearing marked the opening salvo of the GOP ’ s election-year congressional investigation into what they say are damaging findings about the Russia probe from a Justice Department inspector general review .
The president ’ s allies have taken fresh aim at the Russia investigation over the last year , pointing to newly declassified information to allege that Trump and his associates were unfairly pursued .
They have claimed vindication from the Justice Department ’ s decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adviser Michael Flynn while at times advancing unsupported theories against Obama administration officials .
“ We ’ re going to look backward so we can move forward , “ committee chairman Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , said in explaining the hearings ’ purpose .
“ If you don ’ t like Trump , fine , but this is not about liking Trump or not liking Trump .
This is about us as a nation.
” Graham also questioned whether Mueller should have been appointed at all .
Rosenstein , who appointed Mueller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there had been a sufficient basis for the investigation and for the naming of a special counsel .
But when Graham asked if he would agree with the general statement that by August 2017 , there was “ no there there “ when it came to a criminal conspiracy between Russia and Trump , Rosenstein said yes .
Democrats lamented the hearing ’ s politically charged and retrospective nature , saying Republicans were attempting to refocus attention away from more urgent problems , including unrest in cities set off by the death of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This hearing wastes this committee ’ s time in a blatant effort to support the president ’ s conspiracy theories and to help the president ’ s reelection , ” said Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii .
The hearing delved into detail in two areas that Trump allies have recently seized on to challenge the conduct of law enforcement .
Rosenstein was pressed repeatedly about his decision to sign off on the fourth and final application for a warrant to eavesdrop on Trump campaign adviser Carter Page on suspicion that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denied wrongdoing and was never charged with a crime , and a Justice Department inspector general report identified significant errors and omissions in each of the applications submitted to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court .
The watchdog said the FBI relied in part for its applications on a dossier of information compiled by a former British spy whose research was funded by Democrats and the Hillary Clinton campaign .
The FBI used the dossier even though agents were aware of the possibility that it could have been colored by Russian disinformation , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an email related to the application process , according to the inspector general .
Asked by Graham if he would have signed the warrant application if he knew then what he knows now , Rosenstein replied , “ No , I would not.
“ Rosenstein said he was unaware of the problems when he approved the final application in June 2017 , echoing an inspector general finding that senior FBI officials were given incomplete information .
He said he actually considered the application he approved fairly persuasive but conceded he had not read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had already been approved multiple times before it reached him .
Although Rosenstein was a Trump appointee , he has often been regarded with suspicion by many supporters of the president , and Trump himself , for his role in the investigation .
Rosenstein ’ s fate was most dramatically in limbo in September 2018 after it was reported that he had floated the idea of wearing a wire inside the White House to record conversations with Trump .
Rosenstein was also pressed about his oversight of Flynn ’ s guilty plea with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the FBI about his conversations with the Russian ambassador during the presidential transition period regarding U.S. sanctions .
The Justice Department moved to dismiss the case last month , saying that Flynn ’ s contacts with the diplomat were appropriate and that the FBI had insufficient basis to interview him , especially since agents had been prepared weeks earlier to close their investigation into Flynn after finding no evidence he had broken the law .
Rosenstein said he had no recollection being told the FBI had planned to close the Flynn inquiry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact would have mattered to him .
The Judiciary Committee plans to vote Thursday on whether to authorize subpoenas for dozens of current and former officials involved in investigating Russian election interference , including former FBI Director James Comey and ex-CIA Director John Brennan .
Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--Mexico reports new one-day high of 1,092 coronavirus deaths

MEXICO CITY - The coronavirus toll in Mexico soared to a new daily high Wednesday , with the health department reporting 1,092 test-confirmed deaths — more than double the previous one-day record and in line with numbers in the United States and Brazil .
The announcement was an embarrassment for officials , who have consistently predicted that cases in Mexico were about to start levelling off .
The country began a gradual re-opening of industrial and business activity Monday .
Officials rushed to say that many of the new confirmed deaths had occurred days or even weeks ago and were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ processing tests or other reasons .
But such delays have presumably been a constant reflected in every previous daily tally .
Assistant Health Secretary Hugo López-Gatell did not cite any specific clearing of testing backlogs in previous days that would explain the Wednesday spike .
“ We have had a very substantial increase in mortality , ” López-Gatell said , ascribing the delay in reporting deaths to “ various reasons.
” Mexico has largely seen daily death tolls of 300 to 400 , after seeing the previous one-day high of 501 deaths May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases rose by 3,912 , pushing Mexico ’ s total for the pandemic into six figures , at 101,238 .
But Mexico has performed very little testing — about 250,000 tests in a country 125 million people — and officials acknowledge that the actual number of cases is probably many times higher .


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--Universities, archdiocese named in lawsuit over Katrina aid

NEW ORLEANS - Two New Orleans universities , the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans and a government contractor are defendants in a whistleblower lawsuit alleging fraud involving more than $ 100 million in Hurricane Katrina aid .
The 2016 federal lawsuit was unsealed Wednesday by the U.S. District Court in New Orleans .
Katrina struck in 2005 , causing extensive damage in Mississippi and Louisiana .
Federal court records show one defendant , Xavier University , has reached a settlement .
An attorney for the university confirmed that the settlement included a payment of $ 12 million .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of dollars for projects at Xavier and Dillard universities , and for an archdiocese school .
The lawsuit was filed by an employee of the contractor , AECOM .
The company denied wrongdoing and vowed to “ vigorously defend ” the work it did after the storm .
The U.S. Justice Department joined the suit last week .
“ It ’ s disappointing that 15 years after Hurricane Katrina , the Federal Government wants to claw back funds from educational institutions that endured so much damage from the impact of the storm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ AECOM deployed immediately to New Orleans after the hurricane in 2005 and worked side-by-side with its residents and institutions to help rebuild the city and get students back into school.
” The archdiocese , which has filed for bankruptcy reorganization amid numerous lawsuits involving sexual abuse by priests , also denied wrongdoing and noted that the suit was filed more than a decade after the storm .
“ Every dollar of FEMA funds received has gone back into the restoration of parish , school , and other properties to serve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community , ” a statement from the archdiocese said .
“ We deny the allegation that the Archdiocese of New Orleans knowingly conspired to submit false information .
We have co-operated with the Federal Government ’ s investigation and will continue to work with them as we resolve this claim.
” Among the lawsuit ’ s allegations is that Xavier received $ 6.6 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency “ based on the misrepresentation that Katrina had severely damaged the gymnasium ’ s concrete , floating slab foundation when , in fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Millions more went to other projects based on misrepresentations , the suit alleges .
Xavier ’ s attorney , James Garner , declined to comment on specifics in the lawsuit but stressed that the federal government relied heavily on AECOM to handle applications for aid .
Garner noted the strong record of Xavier , a historically black university , in sending African American students to medical schools .
“ Doing that is best served by resolving this and moving ahead with educating people , ” he said .
The suit alleges that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building damage .
Dillard , also a historically black university , noted in an emailed statement that the federal government , while intervening in the suit , is not pursuing claims against Dillard .
“ We will refrain from commenting further until we receive additional guidance from the court and DOJ regarding the conditions of the seal , ” the statement said .
Katrina struck the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29 , 2005 .
The storm has been blamed for as many as 1,800 deaths .
Levee breaches in New Orleans led to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city that are home to Xavier and Dillard .
There have been numerous disputes over government payouts for damages over the years .


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--Mayor: NYC takes ‘step forward’ in restoring order

NEW YORK - As protests continued in New York City on Wednesday , officials were hopeful that an earlier curfew and refined police tactics will bring the city closer to restoring order after days of unrest over the death of George Floyd .
“ Last night we took a step forward in moving out of this difficult period we ’ ve had the last few days and moving to a better time , “ Mayor Bill de Blasio said .
Demonstrators marched throughout the city in largely peaceful events , and like the previous night , were still on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrived .
At Gracie Mansion , the mayoral residence on Manhattan ’ s upper east side , demonstrators were kneeling in a moment of silence when alarms rang on cellphones , warning that the curfew time was coming .
Lisa Horton , 29 , said charges announced Wednesday against three other Minneapolis police officers in connection to Floyd ’ s death were a step , but she was protesting because she feels much more needs to change .
“ There ’ s been progress , but are we at a point where we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the New Yorker said , calling for “ radical change ” in the criminal justice system .
Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , who was critical of the police response on prior nights , said the city Tuesday “ was much , much better than the night before.
” “ It worked .
We got results , “ Cuomo said .
” Let ’ s just remember what we did last night and keep that going.
” De Blasio rejected President Donald Trump ’ s urging and Cuomo ’ s offer to send in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying the NYPD was best suited for the task and fearing out-of-town Guardsmen unfamiliar with city dynamics could spark confrontations .
Trump warned in a Fox News Radio interview that if city officials “ don ’ t get their act straightened out , I will solve it .
I ’ ll solve it fast , ” but didn ’ t say what action he might take .
Hundreds of protesters were in Manhattan ’ s Washington Square Park when the charges against the other officers were announced .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , contending all four officers should ’ ve been charged from the start .
” Right now , we ’ re still marching because it ’ s not enough that they got arrested .
There needs to be systematic change.
” The curfew , barring people from streets citywide and nonessential vehicles from part of Manhattan from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. , was imposed to prevent the nighttime chaos that followed peaceful protests for several days in a row .
Around Manhattan , even in parts of the city that hadn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , businesses had boarded up windows as precautions .
That was the case at Saks Fifth Avenue , where a line of tattooed men with well-mannered dogs guarded the boarded windows wrapped in chain-link and razor wire .
Vandalism and pilfering didn ’ t stop completely Tuesday .
Some shops had windows smashed and merchandise taken .
But it was a contrast from the previous two days , when several Manhattan shopping districts and one in the Bronx were overrun with people — some with crowbars and clubs — who ransacked numerous shops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 11 p.m. , where it had been Monday , as well as blocking vehicles from entering Manhattan , allowed police to take control of city streets and remove troublemakers , Chief of Department Terence Monahan said .
The nightly curfews will remain in effect at least through Sunday , with the city planning to lift it at the same time it enters the first phase of reopening after more than two months of shutdowns because of the coronavirus .
The marches were part of a wave of protests across the country since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee on Floyd ’ s neck for several minutes even after he stopped moving and pleading for air .
Police said they arrested about 280 people on Tuesday , compared with 700 the previous night .
In all , more than 2,000 people have been arrested , the NYPD said .
Wednesday , prosecutors also charged a man with shooting at an occupied police vehicle in Queens .
Neither officer in the vehicle was wounded .
No demonstration was underway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s motive in shooting at the vehicle was unclear .
City officials have said , without offering much evidence , that out-of-town agitators have been responsible for the majority of attacks on officers and thefts from stores .
They ’ re not protesters , but organized groups that used vehicles to scout locations and remove stolen property , they said .
In a tweet Wednesday , Shea claimed “ organized looters ” had positioned bricks in plastic tubs around the city to use in their crimes .
But City Councilman Mark Treyger noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were from a construction project far from where any protests or violence had occurred .
De Blasio condemned police for roughing up journalists covering the protests , including two from The Associated Press who were shoved , cursed at and told to go home by officers Tuesday night despite press being considered “ essential workers ” allowed to be on the streets .
“ There should be no condition under which any journalist is detained by the police of this city or any city in the United States of America , period , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an investigation .
Shea said officers were “ doing the best we can under difficult circumstances , ” adding that some people stopped by police lied about being journalists .
“ We ’ re not perfect , we do the best we can in a situation , “ he said .
Jennifer Peltz and Jim Mustian in New York City and Marina Villeneuve in Albany contributed to this report .
On Twitter : Follow Michael Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak and Jake Seiner at twitter.com/Jake_Seiner

Michael R. Sisak And Jake Seiner - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--Police: California man had hammer, not gun, when killed

SAN FRANCISCO - A man suspected of stealing from a pharmacy in the San Francisco Bay Area amid national protests was fatally shot by officers who thought he was carrying a firearm in his waistband but actually had a hammer , police said Wednesday .
Details of the shooting were revealed even as some California counties and cities planned to end curfews after days of largely peaceful protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Sean Monterrosa , 22 , of San Francisco was the first confirmed death at the hands of law enforcement in California related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s death .
Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams said officers were responding to calls involving a Walgreens early Tuesday when the shooting occurred .
The death prompted renewed calls against police brutality by critics at a brief news conference by Williams , saying it was exactly the kind of police action they were protesting .
“ The intent was to stop the looting and to arrest any perpetrators if necessary .
The officers reacted to a perceived threat , ” Williams said .
“ I would say that it ’ s always a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force .
My condolences to his family ; it is a difficult thing to happen I understand that.
” Williams said police saw about a dozen people suspected of stealing in the parking lot of the store .
One of the cars rammed into a police vehicle and prompted a wild chase , he said .
At the same time , officers spotted Monterrosa near the building , with what appeared to be a weapon , he said .
“ This individual appeared to be running toward the black sedan when suddenly he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and placing his hands above his waist , revealing what appeared to be the butt of a handgun , ” Williams said .
An officer fired five times through a police car windshield , hitting Monterrosa once , Williams said .
Monterrosa had a 15-inch hammer tucked into the pocket of his sweatshirt , the chief said .
John Burris , an attorney for the family , said he is appalled police would shoot at a person who was on his knees with his hands raised .
“ This young man was shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knees and appeared to be trying to surrender , ” Burris said , adding that he understands tensions have been high .
“ But one has to maintain control and you don ’ t get to arbitrarily shoot someone in a panic , just because the situation is excitable.
” .
The officer who shot Monterrosa is an 18-year veteran who has been placed on leave pending an investigation .


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--Virginia governor to announce removal of Lee statue

RICHMOND , Va. - Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam is expected to announce plans Thursday to remove one of the country ’ s most iconic monuments to the Confederacy , a statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee along Richmond ’ s prominent Monument Avenue , a senior administration official told The Associated Press .
The move would be an extraordinary victory for civil rights activists , whose calls for the removal of that monument and others in this former capital of the Confederacy have been resisted for years .
“ That is a symbol for so many people , black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by of hate and oppression and being made to feel less than , ” said Del .
Jay Jones , a black lawmaker from Norfolk .
He said he was “ overcome ” by emotion when he learned the statue was to come down .
The Democratic governor will direct the statue to be moved off its massive pedestal and put into storage while his administration seeks input on a new location , according to the official , who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s decision comes amid turmoil across the nation and around the world over the death of George Floyd , a black man who died after a Minneapolis officer pressed his knee into Floyd ’ s neck for several minutes , even after he stopped moving .
Floyd ’ s death has sparked outrage over issues of racism and police brutality and prompted a new wave of Confederate memorial removals in which even some of their longtime defenders have relented .
The Lee statue is one of five Confederate monuments along Monument Avenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Historic Landmark district .
Monuments along the avenue have been rallying points during protests in recent days over Floyd ’ s death , and they have been tagged with graffiti , including messages that say “ end police brutality ” and “ stop white supremacy.
” It was not immediately clear when the Lee statue would be removed .
Other tragedies in recent years have prompted similar nationwide soul searching over Confederate monuments , which some people regard as inappropriate tributes to the South ’ s slave-holding past .
Others compare monument removals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming down after a white supremacist killed nine black people at a Bible study in a church in South Carolina in 2015 and then again after a violent rally of white supremacists in Charlottesville in 2017 .
Also on Wednesday , Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney announced plans to seek the removal of the other Confederate monuments along Monument Avenue , which include statues of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Confederate Gens .
Stonewall Jackson and J.E.B .
Stuart .
Those statues sit on city land , unlike the Lee statue , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would introduce an ordinance July 1 to have the statues removed .
That ’ s when a new law goes into effect , which was signed earlier this year by Northam , that undoes an existing state law protecting Confederate monuments and instead lets local governments decide their fate .
“ I appreciate the recommendations of the Monument Avenue Commission – those were the appropriate recommendations at the time , “ Stoney said in a statement , referencing a panel he established that studied what should be done with the monuments and recommended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” But times have changed , and removing these statues will allow the healing process to begin for so many Black Richmonders and Virginians .
Richmond is no longer the Capital of the Confederacy – it is filled with diversity and love for all – and we need to demonstrate that.
” Bill Gallasch , president of the Monument Avenue Preservation Society , said he worried the statues ’ removal would change the “ soul ” of the street , hurt tourism in historic Richmond and stir up violence between far-right and far-left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticism from the Virginia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans .
And Republican state Sen. Amanda Chase , who is also running for governor , started a petition on her campaign website to save the statues .
“ The radical left will not be satisfied until all white people are purged from our history books , ” Chase ’ s website said .
But Joseph Rogers , a descendant of enslaved people and an organizer with the Virginia Defenders for Freedom , Justice & Equality , said he felt like the voices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rogers spoke from the vicinity of the Lee Monument , where another rally was taking place late Wednesday afternoon and where he described one wave of cheering after another .
“ I am proud to be black , proud to be Southern , proud to be here right now , ” he said .

Alan Suderman And Sarah Rankin - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--Deputy fired in Tennessee after ‘open fire’ comment

JONESBOROUGH , Tenn. - A Tennessee county sheriff ’ s deputy was fired from his job after he said authorities should have “ opened fire ” on anyone who acted violently during protests against the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis , officials said .
Washington County Sheriff ’ s Deputy Matt Casura was fired Monday after initially being suspended without pay , news outlets reported .
Chief Deputy Leighta Laitinen said Casura ’ s comment went against the values and standards of the department .
Laitinen said Casura and other deputies should be “ mindful of their conduct in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Sheriff ’ s Office and how it can damage the trust of the community.
” Casura made the comment over the weekend on Facebook in a post about violent behaviour by some people attending protests in Minnesota .
“ Open fire should have been issued on anyone participating , “ he said in the post , according to news reports .
By Saturday night , Casura had been suspended .
Laitinen said Casura was apologetic and understood his comment was made in “ poor taste.
” A phone listing for Casura @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--Portland, Oregon, city of protest, reels from nightly chaos

PORTLAND , Ore. - This liberal city is known — and prepared — for protests that can descend into chaos , but even it is reeling from the nightly unrest splintering off peaceful demonstrations over police killings of African Americans .
Portland ’ s visibly frustrated police chief on Wednesday pleaded for people to help stop those “ holding our city with violence.
” For five nights , these smaller groups have smashed windows , set fires , broken into a building housing police headquarters and spray-painted walls and sidewalks .
The mayhem is not unique to Portland during national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a handcuffed black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd ’ s neck .
But in Portland , where protests can get so large and explosive that a staffer for President George H.W .
Bush once famously nicknamed it “ Little Beirut , ” the sustained demonstrations have pushed police to the brink — unusual for a city well-versed in civil disobedience .
Police Chief Jami Resch appealed to residents for help navigating the tension between the massive peaceful demonstrations and the violence and chaos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people demonstrated peacefully in Portland — one of the largest U.S. protests Tuesday night — before violence broke out .
“ How do we come together to stop the violence and destruction in our city so we can move forward to identify solutions that can work ?
How long can we , as a city , endure the extreme disregard for human life and property demonstrated by a small group of individuals ?
” she said at an emotional news conference .
“ We have to collectively come together to stop those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... Every night , we are using all our resources and it is still not enough.
” Police say they have struggled to balance allowing thousands of peaceful protesters to march and confronting much smaller crowds that seem focused on clashing with officers at any cost .
At least one city leader has blamed white supremacists for infiltrating the crowds and stirring up trouble , while others have blamed far left anti-fascist activists — antifa — who have had a strong presence in Portland for years .
Resch said it ’ s too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any affiliation — are coming from out of town .
She said the smaller groups “ continued to focus on police , ” throwing ball bearings , bottles , bats and mortars at officers , setting fires and trying to rip down a fence set up around a building housing police headquarters and a sheriff ’ s jail .
Officers began tagging some cars with spray-paint Tuesday for later identification after noticing those inside were handing out weapons as the unrest unfolded , she added .
Critics , including at least two city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gas and concussion grenades against protesters .
Aerial video Tuesday night showed a speeding patrol car almost hitting several demonstrators and brought more questions .
Resch did not address those incidents directly when asked .
“ I am absolutely horrified by what I saw last night .
It is sadistic to be using tear gas in the middle of a public health crisis , ” City Commissioner Chloe Eudaly said at a public meeting Wednesday , referring to the coronavirus pandemic .
People in Portland have reliably turned out over the decades to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently to counterprotest right-wing and white supremacist groups that have turned the liberal city into a flashpoint over free speech .
Last year , thousands of protesters and counterprotesters clashed on multiple occasions in Portland , drawing international attention for demonstrations that routinely turned violent and ended in dozens of arrests .
Residents also show up regularly for peaceful rallies for causes that range from climate change to women ’ s rights .
Demonstrations are so common that some in the city joke about “ Free Speech Fridays , ” when downtown is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as likely to head to a protest as a bar as the workweek ends .
Those events , while sometimes just as volatile , have almost always wrapped up in a day .
Now , an understaffed police agency is relying on state troopers and officers from surrounding counties and cities as far away as Washington state to keep up .
National Guard soldiers , even in a support role , further unsettled protesters .
More than 100 people had been arrested and dozens more were taken into custody Tuesday .
Hours after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the violence was overshadowing the protesters ’ much-needed message for police reform and accountability .
“ There are many thousands of you who are not involved in violence and destruction , and I thank you .
I still hear your message , “ she said .
“ We do not condone violence in this city .
These actions are not welcome.
” The Pacific Northwest Youth Liberation Front , a group that says it ’ s “ dedicated to direct action towards total liberation “ has gained visibility on social media as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of another protest Wednesday night , the group advised people to form groups for protection , reposting an article calling the strategy “ the essential building block of an anarchist organization.
” The group did not reply to an email seeking comment Wednesday .
“ The Portland Police , like all police , are an occupying army on stolen land , and that is as clear tonight as it has ever been , ” a post on their Twitter account said late Tuesday .


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--Senate passes fix for small-business coronavirus relief

WASHINGTON - The Senate on Wednesday passed legislation to make it easier for businesses struggling during the coronavirus pandemic to take advantage of a payroll subsidy program that ’ s been a central part of Washington ’ s response to the corresponding economic crisis .
The Senate passed the bill by voice vote after a handful of GOP opponents gave way .
The measure now heads to President Donald Trump for his expected signature .
The legislation would give business owners more flexibility to use taxpayer subsidies for other costs and extend the lifespan of the program as the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a deep recession .
It passed the House overwhelmingly last week on a 417-1 vote , but was briefly held up this week as Republican leaders sought to placate opponents such as Wisconsin GOP Sen. Ron Johnson .
The legislation would lower an original requirement that at least 75 % of Paycheck Protection Program money be used on payroll costs , reducing that threshold to 60 % of the loan .
It would also lengthen the period in which PPP money must be used — and still permit businesses to have their loans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks .
Critics say the pending measure does nothing to ensure that businesses that don ’ t necessarily need PPP subsidies are ineligible , among other problems .
“ If we ’ re going to potentially authorize more spending , that program needs to be reformed , ” Johnson told reporters .
“ My main problem with what the House did — and this is what ’ s in dispute — it basically reauthorized the program through Dec. 31 , setting up a massive new infusion into the program without the reforms I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that people who don ’ t need it don ’ t keep getting it .
We don ’ t have an unlimited checkbook.
” But the bill had strong support among both Republicans and Democrats and the backing of powerful business groups , which strengthened the hand of supporters like top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer , who had failed earlier Wednesday in his own attempt to orchestrate passage .
At that time it became clear Johnson ’ s resolve to block the bill was fading and Schumer and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later .
“ The impact of this crisis is long lasting , and requires lenient terms .
We have all heard from small businesses in our states ... that ( PPP ) needed some changes to make it work for so many small businesses that had been left out or rejected , ” Schumer said .
All told , Congress has approved $ 660 billion for the program in two installments .
After an initial burst of loans emptied the program in just two weeks , demand for PPP funding has dwindled amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are too many restrictions in order to qualify to receive loan forgiveness .
Businesses receiving PPP must also certify that they need it to keep operating , a requirement that makes some business owners cautious about applying .
Johnson said Republicans are hoping to get top lawmakers to sign onto a nonbinding letter to the program ’ s overseers seeking to clarify some of the rules governing the program .
He did not explain exactly what he ’ s seeking but said Republican lawmakers are close to agreement on the language of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March , the Paycheck Protection Program required businesses to spend their loan money within an eight-week window to get the loans forgiven — and effectively turned into outright grants .
It also required that three-fourths of the money be spent on payroll as a means of keeping workers linked to their jobs .
But small businesses said the rules were too inflexible , especially as the eight-week window to use the taxpayer subsidies is beginning to close for many businesses , many of which are still struggling to fully reopen .
Restaurants in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were required to rehire their laid-off workers even though they were either closed or limited to takeout and delivery .
Many other business owners feared that they would use up their loan money before being allowed to reopen , and then have to lay off employees again because their business wouldn ’ t bring in enough revenue to keep paying everyone .
The new measure gives business owners 24 weeks to spend the federal aid — instead of eight as originally designed — and extends the program through the end of the year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and deferral period of the loans .
Republicans such as Small Business Committee Chairman Marco Rubio of Florida complained that the carefully negotiated bill contains a drafting error that could eliminate loan forgiveness entirely for companies who want to use less than 60 % of the money for payroll costs .
Under the original PPP legislation , passed in March as part of a massive , about $ 2 trillion CARES Act , loan forgiveness was prorated according to how badly businesses missed the goal of using 75 % to maintain payroll .


thetorontostar--2020-06-03--Obama and Trump offer competing visions of how to heal a deeply divided America

WASHINGTON— “ Michelle and I , and the nation , grieve with you , hold you in our prayers .
We ’ re committed to the fight of creating a more just nation in memory of your sons and daughters , ” said former president Barack Obama .
“ Right now , I think the nation needs law and order , ” said current President Trump said .
The two U.S. presidents addressed America on Wednesday evening in broadcasts less than an hour apart — Obama during in a roundtable sponsored by the Obama Foundation , Trump in an interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spicer — and the contrast between the two men could not have been clearer .
In demeanour and tone , of course , that ’ s always been the case , but on Wednesday it was also reflected in the core of the message that each delivered .
Those messages highlighted what has been missing from Trump ’ s approach , and what could offer hope of easing the rage and sorrow that have motivated days of protest and spurred a national crisis .
Obama expressed deep empathy , not just for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he named who have died from police violence in recent weeks .
He tied the ongoing problem of how police treat Black communities to the country ’ s “ original sin ” of racism , and then proposed ways to achieve “ real change ” through reforming policing practices .
Trump acknowledged the country might need “ healing , ” but only briefly , and only after highlighting what he called the “ very bad people ” who needed to be cracked down upon .
Asked about police reform , he pivoted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 44-year political career during which Trump said Biden did nothing to address the problem .
Trump also spent considerable time discussing the incidents of violence among protesters without mentioning the many incidents of violence against protesters by police — except where he approved of it .
He criticized the mayor of Minneapolis for crying while discussing the problem .
The focus of Obama ’ s message — like that of Biden ’ s in a speech delivered Tuesday — was on addressing the racial injustice in policing that is motivating protesters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the need to police those protesters , and harshly .
The addresses came on a day when protests continued from morning to evening in Washington — around the White House , at the Capitol building and at Trump ’ s hotel on the National Mall .
Several hundred people paraded through downtown in the 32 C heat of the early afternoon , chanting George Floyd ’ s name .
People in nearby apartments banged pots and pans in support as bystanders on the sidewalk — including security guards outside boarded-up businesses — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expanded the perimeter around the White House area from the edge of Lafayette Square , which had been the focus of recent days ’ protests , to one block north .
Throughout the afternoon on 16th Street , where protesters have a view of the White House , the new line was marked not by a fence as it had been at Lafayette Square , but by armed officers .
Many of them were wearing no immediately identifiable service uniforms beneath their bulletproof vests .
By early evening , it remained unclear if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the new location .
What was clear throughout the day to John Noakes , an expert on police-protester interaction from Acadia University , was that a heavily armed human barrier was a lot “ more volatile ” than an inanimate barrier , such as a fence — making conflict between protestors and police more likely rather than less .
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi visited the protests Wednesday afternoon , as Sen. Elizabeth Warren did Tuesday night , both of them highlighting what a different attitude the Democrats have toward to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the only ones .
A growing group of prominent people — many of them sometime-allies of the president — added their voices to a chorus of disapproval of his approach to the crisis , especially after Monday night ’ s speech promising to deploy the military to states over governor ’ s objections and his photo-op visit to St. John ’ s Church after a peaceful crowd had been forcefully cleared by police to make way for him .
Those critics included evangelist Pat Robertson ( “ You just don ’ t do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former defence secretary James Mattis ( “ angry and appalled ” ) and even , to a very mild degree , current Defense Secretary Mark Esper , who caused a fuss when he said the country was not in a situation that would justify deploying the military to cities under the Insurrection Act , as Trump had threatened to do .
Robertson and Mattis both advised the president to offer empathy to the protesters .
Mattis said their grievance is justified and needs to be addressed .
That is also the message of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the former president risks overshadowing by bringing his political wattage to bear on the question .
It ’ s possible that in that calculation , the people around them decided Obama ’ s voice could actually do some good in helping heal the nation amid the current crisis .
But it ’ s also possible that any problem of overshadowing Biden is offset by the former president ’ s message and charisma — and direct engagement with the problem the protesters want solved — which serves to highlight what may be Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reuters/Ipsos poll released this week showed almost two-thirds of Americans said they were sympathetic to the protesters .
Trump ’ s authoritarian approach appears calculated to project toughness .
His opponents are catering to a desire that protesters seem to share with the general public — to address police behaviour .