thetorontostar--2020-07-10--Turkey’s president formally makes Hagia Sophia a mosque

ANKARA , Turkey - The president of Turkey on Friday formally converted Istanbul ’ s sixth-century Hagia Sophia back into a mosque and declared it open for Muslim worship , hours after a high court annulled a 1934 decision that had made the religious landmark a museum .
The decision sparked deep dismay among Orthodox Christians .
Originally a cathedral , Hagia Sophia was turned into a mosque after Istanbul ’ s conquest by the Ottoman Empire but had been a museum for the last 86 years , drawing millions of tourists annually .
There was jubilation outside the terracotta-hued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minarets .
Dozens of people awaiting the court ’ s ruling chanted “ Allah is great !
” when the news broke .
A large crowd later prayed outside it .
In the capital of Ankara , legislators stood and applauded as the decision was read in Parliament .
Turkey ’ s high administrative court threw its weight behind a petition brought by a religious group and annulled the 1934 Cabinet decision that turned the site into a museum .
Within hours , President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree handing over Hagia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Presidency .
In a televised address to the nation , Erdogan said the first prayers inside Hagia Sofia would be held on July 24 , and he urged respect for the decision .
“ I underline that we will open Hagia Sophia to worship as a mosque by preserving its character of humanity ’ s common cultural heritage , “ he said , adding : “ It is Turkey ’ s sovereign right to decide for which purpose Hagia Sofia will be used.
” He rejected the idea that the decision ends Hagia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that brings faiths together .
“ Like all of our other mosques , the doors of Hagia Sophia will be open to all , locals or foreigners , Muslims and non-Muslims , ” Erdogan said .
Erdogan had spoken in favour of turning the hugely symbolic UNESCO World Heritage site back into a mosque despite widespread international criticism , including from U.S. and Orthodox Christian leaders , who had urged Turkey to keep its status as a museum symbolizing solidarity among faiths and cultures .
The move threatens to deepen tensions with neighbouring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mitsotakis , condemned the decision as an affront to Hagia Sophia ’ s ecumenical character .
“ It is a decision that offends all those who recognize Hagia Sophia as an indispensable part of world cultural heritage ” Mitsotakis said .
“ This decision clearly affects not only Turkey ’ s relations with Greece but also its relations with the European Union , UNESCO and the world community as a whole.
” In Greece ’ s second-largest city , Thessaloniki , protesters gathered outside a church that is modeled on Hagia Sophia and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ We ’ ll light candles in Hagia Sophia !
” and held Greek flags and Byzantine banners .
Cyprus “ strongly condemns Turkey ’ s actions on Hagia Sophia in its effort to distract domestic opinion and calls on Turkey to respect its international obligations , ” tweeted Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides .
Vladimir Dzhabarov , deputy head of the foreign affairs committee in the Russian upper house of parliament , called the action “ a mistake.
” “ Turning it into a mosque will not do anything for the Muslim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together , but on the contrary brings them into collision , “ he said .
The debate hits at the heart of Turkey ’ s religious-secular divide .
Nationalist and conservative groups in Turkey have long yearned to hold prayers at Hagia Sophia , which they regard as part of the Muslim Ottoman legacy .
Others believe it should remain a museum , as a symbol of Christian and Muslim solidarity .
“ It was a structure that brought together both Byzantine and Ottoman histories , ” said Zeynep Kizildag , a 27-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the conversion .
“ The decision to turn it into a mosque is like erasing 1,000 years of history , in my opinion.
” Garo Paylan , an ethnic Armenian member of Turkey ’ s Parliament tweeted that it was “ a sad day for Christians ( and ) for all who believe in a pluralist Turkey.
” “ The decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque will make life more difficult for Christians here and for Muslims in Europe , ” he wrote .
“ Hagia Sophia was a symbol of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big enough for all.
” The group that brought the case to court had contested the legality of the 1934 decision by the modern Turkish republic ’ s secular government ministers , arguing the building was the personal property of Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II , who conquered Istanbul in 1453 .
“ I was not surprised at all that the court weighed to sanction Erdogan ’ s moves because these days Erdogan gets from Turkish courts what Erdogan wants , ” said Soner Cagaptay , of the Washington Institute .
“ Erdogan wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a mosque to rally his right-wing base , ” said Cagaptay , the author of “ Erdogan ’ s Empire.
” “ But I don ’ t think this strategy will work .
I think that short of economic growth , nothing will restore Erdogan ’ s popularity.
” In Paris , the United Nations cultural body , UNESCO , said Hagia Sophia is part of the Historic Areas of Istanbul , a property inscribed on UNESCO ’ s World Heritage List as a museum .
“ States have an obligation to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ` outstanding universal value ’ of inscribed sites on their territories , ” Director-General Audrey Azoulay said .
The Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I , considered the spiritual leader of the world ’ s Orthodox Christians , warned last month that the building ’ s conversion into a mosque “ will turn millions of Christians across the world against Islam.
” On Friday , Archbishop Elpidophoros of America said the decision runs counter to the vision of secular Turkey ’ s founder , Mustafa Kemal Ataturk “ who understood that Hagia Sophia should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indeed the whole world.
” “ The days of conquest should remain a closed chapter of our collective histories , ” he told The Associated Press , adding that Turkey ’ s government “ can still choose wisely ” but letting Hagia Sophia remain a “ monument to all civilizations and universal values.
” Patriarch Kirill , the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church , called for “ prudence ” and the preservation of the “ current neutral status ” for the Hagia Sophia , which he said was one of Christianity ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last month that the landmark should remain a museum to serve as bridge between faiths and cultures .
His comments drew a rebuke from Turkey ’ s Foreign Ministry , which said Hagia Sophia was a domestic issue of Turkish national sovereignty .
Erdogan , a devout Muslim , has frequently used the Hagia Sophia issue to drum up support for his Islamic-rooted party .
Some Islamic prayers have been held in the museum in recent years .
In a major symbolic move , Erdogan recited the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there in 2018 .
Built under Byzantine Emperor Justinian , Hagia Sophia was the main seat of the Eastern Orthodox church for centuries , where emperors were crowned amid ornate marble and mosaic decorations .
The minarets were added later , and the building was turned into an imperial mosque following the 1453 Ottoman conquest of Constantinople — the city that is now called Istanbul .
The building opened its doors as a museum in 1935 , a year after the Council of Ministers ’ decision .
Mosaics depicting Jesus , Mary and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line with Islamic rules were uncovered through arduous restoration work for the museum .
Hagia Sophia was the most popular museum in Turkey last year , drawing more than 3.7 million visitors .
Associated Press writers Zeynep Bilginsoy and Ayse Wieting in Istanbul , Derek Gatopoulos in Athens , Menelaos Hadjicostis in Nicosia , Cyprus , and Jim Heintz in Moscow contributed .


thetorontostar--2020-07-10--Army: Independent probe coming after Fort Hood soldier death

AUSTIN , Texas - U.S. Army officials announced Friday they will begin an independent review of the command climate at Fort Hood following calls from members of Congress and community activists for a more thorough investigation into the killing of a soldier from the Texas base .
Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy said he was directing the review and that it will be conducted by an independent panel of congressional representatives selected in collaboration with League of United Latin American Citizens .
The panel will examine claims and historical data of discrimination , harassment and assault .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death of 20-year-old Spc .
Vanessa Guillen , who investigators say was bludgeoned to death at Fort Hood by a fellow soldier .
She was last seen in April and was listed as missing for six weeks before the Army released details .
The soldier suspected in Guillen ’ s slaying , Spc .
Aaron Robinson , died by suicide on July 1 as police were trying to take him into custody .
“ The Army is deeply saddened and troubled by the loss of one of our own , ” McCarthy said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a separate press conference Friday , U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia , D-Texas , said McCarthy had also agreed to back calls for a Department of Defence to conduct an inspector general ’ s investigation into the death of Guillen .
She said the independent review of Fort Hood ’ s climate showed military officials were listening .
The Texas congresswoman and others met with McCarthy after dozens of lawmakers joined a letter demanding a full accounting of the circumstances surrounding of Guillen ’ s death .
“ This is the military ‘ me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
President Donald Trump acknowledged Guillen ’ s death in an interview with Noticias Telemundo on Friday .
He said he had heard of the sexual harassment and assault allegations in the Army and was expecting a report by Monday , when he said he would say more .
“ I thought it was absolutely horrible , “ Trump said .
Guillen ’ s family has said Robinson , the soldier accused of killing her , sexually harassed Guillen at Fort Hood , but they have not given specifics of what they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an armoury room at Fort Hood on April 22 , when she was last seen walking to a parking lot , according to the Army .
On April 23 , the U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division learned of her disappearance and began investigating .
Investigators began interviewing people who had been in contact with Guillen on April 28 , according to a timeline provided by the Army .
That day , Robinson , of Calumet City , Illinois , was identified as a “ person of concern ” based on information that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Army officials said .
The Army was receiving 20 to 30 tips per day about Guillen ’ s whereabouts , officials said , and it took more than a month to get cellphone records requested for the investigation .
Phone records helped lead investigators to Cecily Aguilar , a civilian now charged with one federal count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence .
Investigators believe she helped Robinson hide Guillen ’ s body .
Aguilar , 22 , of Killeen , Texas , near Fort Hood , is currently in custody at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a contractor not involved with the investigation found human remains June 30 in the woods near the Leon River .
The remains were later identified as Guillen ’ s .
Later that day , Robinson , who had been confined at Fort Hood for reasons that were not related to the Guillen investigation , ran away unnoticed from the barracks , according to the Army .
After being confronted by police later that night , Robinson died July 1 by taking his own life .
The Army says the gun Robinson used was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s unclear where he got it .
Army officials said 52 agents from multiple military and civilian law enforcement agencies have conducted more than 300 interviews investigating Guillen ’ s killing .
That has lasted for more than 170 days , and Army officials say that has led to forensic examinations of more than 50 phones .
Acacia Coronado is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a non-profit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the world contributed to this report .

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


thetorontostar--2020-07-10--Protester: Man pulls gun on anniversary of flag’s removal

COLUMBIA , S.C. - Counterprotesters said a passing driver pointed a gun at them Friday and said “ All Lives Matter , ” as competing groups gathered in front of South Carolina ’ s capitol building to mark the five-year anniversary of the state ’ s removal of the Confederate battle flag from Statehouse grounds .
The driver stopped in the middle of the road and stuck his middle finger out at several demonstrators who were on a road median shortly before noon , protester Kamison Burgess told The State newspaper .
He then said “ All Lives Matter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Black Lives Matter movement — before pointing the gun and driving away , Burgess said .
A handful of members of the State House Honour Guard , supporters of the emblem , had gathered outside the state capitol in the morning .
A separate group , the Columbia Racial Justice Coalition , held an event in the afternoon .
The flag held by one of the Honour Guard members , clad in dress uniform , was not the battle emblem , with its red field topped by a blue X and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instead , the group unfurled the official state flag , with its iconic palmetto tree and white crescent .
A woman with the group did not answer questions about their choice of flag Friday .
She said they were not speaking with reporters .
The group ’ s decision not to unfurl the Confederate battle flag prompted one counterprotester , Tori Hyder , to call the Honour Guard members “ cowards.
” Two sets of barricades set up by law enforcement separated the Honour Guard from Hyder and about two dozen other counterprotesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that read “ Black Lives Matter ” and other slogans that have been associated with demonstrations nationwide against racial injustice and police brutality following the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd in May .
Counterprotesters interviewed said they were taking a stance against the Confederate flag , widely seen as a symbol of racism and hatred .
Some of the demonstrators said they had gathered at the statehouse daily since late May .
South Carolina pulled down the rebel banner from the Capitol grounds in 2015 , a month after a white supremacist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bible study at a Charleston church .
Since then , groups for and against the Confederate battle flag have regularly gathered on the anniversary of its removal from South Carolina ’ s Statehouse .
On Friday , the Honour Guard blasted music from its speakers , including “ The Star-Spangled Banner “ and songs from the Confederacy such as “ Join the Calvary !
” At one point , counterprotesters on the opposite side of Gervais St. blared heavy metal , each side attempting to drown the other out .
Both the State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Coalition attempted to reserve a permit for the grounds at the same time on Friday , news outlets reported .
State officials scheduled the Honour Guard ’ s gathering in the morning and the coalition ’ s event in the afternoon .
A third group , Flags across the South , aims to fly the Confederate flag from a temporary flagpole by a monument dedicated to confederate soldiers Saturday , The State newspaper reported .
Liu is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues .


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--COVID-19 cases at Swiss soccer club raise league doubts

ZURICH - Swiss top-tier soccer club Zurich said it had more cases of coronavirus Saturday among its players and staff who are now in home quarantine .
Zurich did not specify how many new cases were reported after the initial COVID-19 positive test of defender Mirlind Kryeziu was announced Friday .
Zurich ’ s Swiss Super League games on Saturday against Sion , and on Tuesday at Basel , have been postponed during the 10-day quarantine period through to next Friday .
Zurich has seven league games left and it is unclear how that program can be met ahead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complete domestic seasons .
Zurich still has to play both title-chasing teams , Young Boys and St. Gallen , and is in fifth place , two points behind Servette .
Fourth place earns entry to the Europa League qualifying rounds with the entry deadline on Aug. 3 .
The league said it was talking with clubs about the next steps to take .
Another Zurich club , second-tier Grasshopper , had its league game Friday postponed due to a player testing positive .
Switzerland ’ s public health office said Saturday there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day in the nation of around 8.6 million people .


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--Pandemic, racism compound worries about Black suicide rate

CHICAGO - Jasmin Pierre was 18 when she tried to end her life , overdosing on whatever pills she could find .
Diagnosed with depression and anxiety , she survived two more attempts at suicide , which felt like the only way to stop her pain .
Years of therapy brought progress , but the 31-year-old Black woman ’ s journey is now complicated by a combination of stressors hitting simultaneously : isolation during the pandemic , a shortage of mental health care providers and racial trauma inflicted by repeated police killings of Black people .
“ Black people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re even more triggered , ” said Pierre , who lives in New Orleans .
“ I don ’ t think my mental health issues have ever , ever been this bad before.
” Health experts have warned of a looming mental health crisis linked to the coronavirus outbreak , and the federal government rolled out a broad anti-suicide campaign .
But doctors and researchers say the issues reverberate deeper among Black people , who ’ ve seen rising youth suicide attempts and suffered disproportionately during the pandemic .
Mental health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attention on Black suicides , including research funding .
Counsellors focusing on Black trauma are offering free help .
And Black churches are finding new ways to address suicide as social distancing has eroded how people connect .
“ There has been a lot of complex grief and loss related to death , related to loss of jobs and loss of income , ” said Sean Joe , an expert on Black suicides at Washington University in St. Louis .
“ There ’ s a lot of hurt and pain in America going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are getting a sense of depth in the months ahead.
” Suicides overall have increased .
Roughly 48,000 people in the U.S. died by suicide in 2018 , with the rate increasing 35 % since 1999 , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death among all ages .
For ages 10 to 19 , it ’ s second after accidents .
The rates of suicides and suicide attempts for Black adults have trailed white and Native American adults .
But newer research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people trying to take their own lives .
Suicide attempts rose 73 % between 1991 and 2017 among Black high school students while suicidal thoughts and plans for suicide fell for all teens , according to a study published in November in the journal Pediatrics .
The findings , including troubling suicide trends among Black children , prompted the Congressional Black Caucus to issue a report in December deeming the situation a crisis .
Experts say the reasons are a complex mix requiring more study .
Suicide risk factors include a diagnosis like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who committed suicide .
Many factors are amplified for Black families , who often face higher poverty rates , disproportionate exposure to violence and less access to medical care .
The pandemic has heightened the disparities .
Black people are dying from COVID-19 at higher rates , leaving them to grieve more in isolation with restrictions on funerals and gatherings .
Added to the mix is a national reckoning with racism after George Floyd ’ s killing .
“ Dealing with racism and stereotypes and all the inequity that we have to face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Arielle Sheftall , an author of the Pediatrics study .
“ It feels like the bandage is ripped off and everybody is looking at it and staring at it , and we are bleeding profusely.
” Part of the problem is the study of suicide remains largely white , with little race research .
There ’ s also been a misconception of suicide as only a “ white problem.
” Michigan psychologist Alton Kirk was among the first to study Black suicides in the 1970s , outlined in his 2009 book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reality of America ’ s Deadliest Secret.
” “ When I first started , a lot of Black people were in denial about suicide , ” he said .
“ We had suffered enough .
We survived slavery and segregation and all this other stuff .
They almost saw it as being a weakness.
” While many attitudes have changed , obstacles to health care persist .
For one , there aren ’ t enough mental health professionals .
Also , treatment has traditionally been based on white experiences , potentially leaving some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a publicized episode of police brutality against Black people , calls to the Trevor Project ’ s suicide-prevention lines spike immediately .
The organization focuses on LGBTQ youth , including addressing racial disparities .
“ You ’ re already starting at a different point because you spent your life fighting back racism , ” said Tia Dole , the organization ’ s chief clinical operations officer .
“ People are walking around with a half-filled tank of emotional resources because of their identity.
“ For suicide attempt survivors , navigating the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who graduated from Pennsylvania ’ s Edinboro University this year , tried to end her life in 2018 as she felt pressure from school and working three jobs to help support family .
Since losing university health care , she meditates daily and focuses on her goal of becoming a doula .
“ You don ’ t really know what ’ s going on or what ’ s going to happen , ” she said .
“ You ’ re taking each day , just one at a time , to try and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Pierre , who uses her experiences to counsel others , doesn ’ t want people struggling alone .
She created The Safe Place , a free Black-oriented mental health app that ’ s seen more signups during the pandemic .
Others are also trying to fill care gaps .
Donna Barnes , who runs the National Organization For People of Color Against Suicide , plans a free online counselling course .
After losing her son to suicide in 1990 , she noticed a lack of resources for Black families and started the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years before I could smile again , ” Barnes said .
“ It wasn ’ t easy .
My friends and family didn ’ t know what to do with me.
” Trinity United Church of Christ , an influential Black church once attended by former President Barack Obama , has met increased need in Chicago with Zoom chats and calls .
The Rev .
Otis Moss III used a recent podcast to discuss his sister ’ s suicide , which occurred before his wedding in the 1990s .
He called it an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services cancelled .
Moss said it took years to talk openly share about his sister ’ s schizophrenia and to stop blaming himself .
“ It is an appropriate time to let people know there are many people who are walking the same road they are walking , ” he said .
“ I found how to punch holes in the darkness and witness light shine through.
” Sophia Tareen is a member of The Associated Press ’ Race and Ethnicity Team .
Follow her on Twitter : https : //twitter.com/sophiatareen .


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--Sessions vies for Senate comeback in race shadowed by Trump

MONTGOMERY , Ala. - Seeking a political comeback , former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is trying to beat out ex-college football coach Tommy Tuberville in Tuesday ’ s Republican primary runoff and reclaim the Alabama Senate seat he held for decades .
To do that , Sessions also has to go through President Donald Trump .
Trump has endorsed Tuberville , whose name recognition comes from his time on the sidelines at Auburn University , and turned decisively against his former Cabinet member , making direct appeals for Alabama voters to reject Sessions ’ s candidacy .
“ Do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted this spring .
“ He let our Country down.
” Sessions safely held the Senate seat for 20 years before resigning to lead Trump ’ s Justice Department .
Their relationship soured after Sessions withdrew from the investigation of Russia interference in the 2016 presidential election , a move that infuriates Trump to this day .
Sessions said he had no choice because he participated in Trump ’ s 2016 campaign and could have been a potential subject or witness .
He has asked voters to look past the feud .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Alabama and I ’ m saying this .
You know me .
You know I can be trusted , ” Sessions said during a campaign stop this past week .
“ I have stood with you .
I have advanced our values and I ’ m asking you now to stand with me and make sure that the seat from Alabama in the United States Senate is not a potted plant , not an empty suit and is somebody who knows the issues and will fight for them.
” The winner of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Democrat Doug Jones , in a race with major implications for Senate control .
Republicans are defending 25 of the 38 Senate seats in play this year .
Democrats must gain at least three to capture the majority .
It ’ s a difficult but achievable task as they also try to win back the White House .
But their path becomes significantly steeper if Republicans are able to take the Alabama seat , which Jones captured in a 2017 special election contest that was upended by sexual misconduct allegations against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weeks leading up to the runoff , Sessions has escalated his attacks on Tuberville , questioning both his involvement in a hedge fund in which Tuberville ’ s partner pleaded guilty to fraud and Tuberville ’ s handling of a case where a football player was accused of statutory rape .
Tuberville ’ s campaign told The New York Times that his involvement in the hedge fund was a mistake that he has paid for , and has defended Tuberville ’ s handling of the player ’ s case .
Sessions has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ because he was until recently registered to vote in Florida .
A political newcomer , Tuberville is armed both with Trump ’ s endorsement and the state-wide name recognition that comes from the Auburn job .
Believing he has a comfortable lead , Tuberville has turned to a familiar page in the football playbook , looking to run out the clock in the final days .
His campaign declined to make Tuberville available for an interview or disclose any of his appearances in the week leading up to the primary .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a debate , despite initially saying that he would participate .
“ Jeff Sessions was a disaster .
It ’ s time to send a message to Jeff Sessions that President Trump does not want him or his cronies in the swamp , ” Tuberville wrote on Twitter last month .
Jack Campbell , a political consultant and talk radio host who supports Tuberville , said Trump ’ s disavowal of Sessions has become the chief issue of the campaign .
“ It ’ s totally the Trump recusal issue , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s it in a nutshell.
” Sessions had been the first senator to endorse Trump , donning a red “ Make America Great Again ” hat and infusing the 2016 campaign with a dose of Washington credibility .
Their alliance solidified as Trump adopted the hard-line immigration proposals that Sessions had championed for years in the Senate .
But in a twist of political irony , the president who remade the Republican Party in Sessions ’ s image is now trying to push him out of it .
Trump planned to hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s closing weeks , but called it off due to concerns about the resurgence of coronavirus cases and the potential for a repeat of his embarrassingly low attended campaign event in Oklahoma .
Alabama-based political consultant David Mowery said Sessions ’ change of fortune is “ almost mind-boggling.
“ Sessions once held the Senate seat so securely he didn ’ t even draw a challenger .
“ He is fighting for his political life , basically against the president ’ s Twitter account , ” said Mowery .
He said it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Alabama .
Sixty-two per cent of statewide voters supported Trump in 2016 , and Mowery quipped that Trump is “ about 2 points behind Jesus “ in popularity among state Republicans .
Tuberville led Sessions by 2 percentage points in the crowded March primary but neither reached the threshold needed to avoid a runoff .
The third-place finisher , U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne , has not endorsed in the race .
The primary was in March , but the runoff as delayed until summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Mowery said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the question is , as always , who votes .
That question is totally different in a pandemic when people are being encouraged to vote absentee.
” Sessions is banking on his long history with voters .
David Mosley of Ozark greeted Sessions beside the bins of peanuts and watermelons after a campaign stop at Sweet Creek Farm Market .
Moseley said he plans to vote for Sessions .
He said Sessions visited with his units during both of his National Guard deployments , asking the deployed soldiers how he could help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me as someone who cares , ” Mosely said .
Associated Press writer Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--Trump threatens to pull tax exemption for schools, colleges

In his push to get schools and colleges to reopen this fall , President Donald Trump is again taking aim at their finances , this time threatening their tax-exempt status .
Trump said on Twitter on Friday he was ordering the Treasury Department to re-examine the tax-exempt status of schools that he says provide “ radical indoctrination ” instead of education .
“ Too many Universities and School Systems are about Radical Left Indoctrination , not Education , ” he tweeted .
“ Therefore , I am telling the Treasury Department to re-examine their Tax-Exempt Status and/or Funding , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or Act Against Public Policy continues .
Our children must be Educated , not Indoctrinated !
” The Republican president did not explain what prompted the remark or which schools would be reviewed .
But the threat is just one more that Trump has issued against schools as he ratchets up pressure to get them to open this fall .
Twice this week Trump threatened to cut federal funding for schools that don ’ t reopen , including in an earlier tweet on Friday .
It ’ s unclear , however , on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s tax-exempt status terminated .
It was also not clear what Trump meant by “ radical indoctrination ” or who would decide what type of activity that includes .
The White House and Treasury Department did not immediately comment on the president ’ s message .
Previous guidance from the Internal Revenue Service lays out six types of activities that can jeopardize a non-profit organization ’ s tax-exempt status , including political activity , lobbying and straying from the organization ’ s stated purpose .
But ideology is not on the IRS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , senior vice-president of the American Council on Education , which represents university presidents .
Any review of a school ’ s status would have to follow previously established guidelines , he said .
“ It ’ s always deeply troubling to have the president single out schools , colleges or universities in a tweet , ” Hartle said .
“ Having said that , I don ’ t think anything will come of this quickly.
” In his latest threat , Trump revived his oft-repeated claim that universities are bastions of liberalism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same argument last year when he issued an executive order telling colleges to ensure free speech on campuses or lose federal research funding .
His interest in colleges ’ finances appears to have been renewed as several schools sue the Trump administration over new restrictions on international students .
Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology sued to block the policy earlier this week , followed by Johns Hopkins University on Friday .
The University of California system has said it also plans to sue .
The universities are challenging new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying international students can not stay in the U.S. if they take all their classes online this fall .
The policy has been viewed as an attempt to force the nation ’ s universities to resume classroom instruction this fall .
Under the rules , international students must transfer schools or leave the country if their colleges plan to hold instruction entirely online .
Even if their schools offer a mix of online and in-person classes , foreign students would be forbidden from taking all their courses remotely .
The lawsuit from Harvard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a promise ICE made in March to suspend limits around online education “ for the duration of the emergency.
” Until Friday , Trump had mostly focused his efforts on reopening elementary and secondary schools as millions of parents wait to find out if their children will be in school this fall .
He has insisted that they can open safely , and in a Friday tweet argued that virtual learning has been “ terrible ” compared with in-person instruction .
“ Not even close !
Schools must be open in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would the Federal Government give Funding ?
It won ’ t !
!
!
” he wrote .
Trump issued a similar warning on Twitter on Wednesday , saying other nations had successfully opened schools and that a fall reopening is “ important for the children and families .
May cut off funding if not open !
” Trump has not said what funding he would withhold or under what authority .
But White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany has said the president wants to use future coronavirus relief funding as leverage .
McEnany @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up money for education ” in the next relief package , but only for schools that reopen .
“ He is looking at potentially redirecting that to make sure it goes to the student , ” McEnany said at a Wednesday press briefing .
She added that the funding would be “ tied to the student and not to a district where schools are closed.
” But Trump ’ s control over school funding is limited .
The vast majority of funding for public elementary and secondary schools comes from state and local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to rely on tuition or state aid than federal money .
His threats to withhold funding have been denounced by a growing array of education and health groups , including a medical association that the White House has repeatedly cited in its press to reopen schools .
In a joint statement with national education unions and a superintendents group , the American Academy of Pediatrics on Friday said decisions should be made by health experts and local leaders .
The groups argued that schools will need more money to reopen safely during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultimately harm students .
“ Public health agencies must make recommendations based on evidence , not politics , ” the groups wrote .
“ Withholding funding from schools that do not open in person full-time would be a misguided approach , putting already financially strapped schools in an impossible position that would threaten the health of students and teachers.
” The American Academy of Pediatrics has supported a fall reopening , saying in June guidelines that schools should strive to start the academic year with their students “ physically present in school.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeVos and McEnany have repeatedly , and as recently as Wednesday , cited the group in defence of Trump ’ s approach .
But Friday ’ s statement acknowledged that it may be best for some schools to stay online .
School leaders , health experts , teachers and parents should be at the centre of reopening decisions , the groups said , “ taking into account the spread of COVID-19 in their communities and the capacities of school districts to adapt safety protocols to make in-person learning safe and feasible.
” Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a partial reopening , with a mix of in-person and online instruction .
New York City ’ s public school district , the nation ’ s largest , said students will be in classrooms two or three times a week and learn remotely between .
DeVos has opposed that kind of approach , saying it fails students and taxpayers .


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--Dozens of US Marines in Japan’s Okinawa get coronavirus

TOKYO - Dozens of U.S. Marines at two bases on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa have been infected with the coronavirus in what is feared to be a massive outbreak , Okinawa ’ s governor said Saturday , demanding an adequate explanation from the U.S. military .
Gov .
Denny Tamaki said he could say only that a “ few dozen ” cases had been found recently because the U.S. military asked that the exact figure not be released .
The outbreaks occurred at Marine Corps .
Air Station Futenma , which is at the centre of a relocation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Local media , citing unnamed sources , said about 60 people had been infected .
“ Okinawans are shocked by what we were told ( by the U.S. military ) , ” Tamaki told a news conference .
“ We now have strong doubts that the U.S. military has taken adequate disease prevention measures.
” Tamaki demanded transparency in the latest development and said he planned to request talks between the U.S. military and Okinawan officials .
He said Okinawan officials also asked the Japanese government to demand that the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , seal off Futenma and Camp Hansen , and step up preventive measures on base .
Okinawan officials made similar requests to the U.S. military on Friday in order to address local residents ’ concerns , Tamaki said .
The Marines said in a statement Friday that the troops were taking additional protective measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus and were restricting off-base activities .
The statement said measures are “ to protect our forces , our families , and the local community , ” without providing details on the infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday to an Associated Press inquiry about the latest outbreak .
Okinawa is home to more than half of about 50,000 American troops based in Japan under a bilateral security pact , and the residents are sensitive to U.S. base-related problems .
Many Okinawans have long complained about pollution , noise and crime related to U.S. bases .
Okinawans also oppose a planned relocation of the Futenma air base from the current site in a densely populated area in the south to a less populated area on the east coast .
Local media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resolution Friday protesting the U.S. military ’ s lack of transparency about its outbreak on base .
Okinawa has about 150 cases of the coronavirus .
In all , Japan has about 21,000 cases and 1,000 deaths , with Tokyo reporting more than 200 new cases for a third straight day Saturday .


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--Building collapses in Lagos, Nigeria; 2 are reported dead

LAGOS , Nigeria - A building has collapsed in Lagos , Nigeria and scores of people have gathered at the @ @ @ @ @ two people are dead .
Associated Press live video shows emergency tape separating the mound @ @ @ @ @ .
Such collapses are alarmingly common in Africa ’ s largest city and elsewhere in @ @ @ @ @ hollows out building standards .


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--5 dead in hostage situation at troubled South Africa church

JOHANNESBURG - Five people are dead and more than 40 have been arrested after an early-morning hostage situation at a long-troubled church near Johannesburg , police in South Africa said Saturday .
A statement said police and military who responded to reports of a shooting at the International Pentecostal Holiness Church headquarters in Zuurbekom found four people “ shot and burned to death in a car ” and a security guard shot in another car .
Six other people were injured .
Police said they rescued men , women and children who had been held hostage and appeared to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not clear how many were rescued .
The attack by a group of armed people “ may have been motivated by a feud ” between church members , the police statement said .
The church is one of the largest — and reportedly richest — in South Africa .
Photos tweeted by the police showed more than a dozen men lying on the ground , subdued , along with rifles , pistols , a baseball bat and boxes of ammunition —including at least one marked “ law enforcement.
“ The response by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a more severe bloodbath , “ national police commissioner Khehla John Sitole said .
Among those arrested were members of the police , defence forces and correctional services .
The church ’ s Zuurbekom headquarters has been the scene of violence between factions more than once in recent years , with shots fired , rocks thrown and cars smashed , according to local news reports .
“ Trouble has been brewing at the church following the death of its leader‚ Glayton Modise‚ in February 2016 , ” The Sowetan newspaper reported in @ @


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--Bosnia marks 25th anniversary of Srebrenica massacre

SREBRENICA , BOSNIA—Bosnia is marking the 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre , the only crime in Europe since the Second World War that has been declared a genocide , with only a small number of survivors allowed to take part in commemoration events due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The brutal execution in July 1995 of more than 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys is being commemorated in a series of events and the reburial of recently identified remains of nine victims in a memorial cemetery and centre just outside the town in eastern Bosnia .
The Srebrenica massacre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s 1992-95 war to be defined as genocide , including by two UN courts .
After murdering thousands of Srebrenica ’ s Muslims , in an attempt to hide the crime , Serbs dumped their bodies in numerous mass graves scattered throughout eastern Bosnia .
Body parts are still being found in mass graves and are being put together and identified through DNA analysis .
Close to 7,000 of those killed have already been found and identified .
Newly identified victims are buried each year on July 11 — the anniversary of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the memorial cemetery just outside of Srebrenica .
Typically , thousands of visitors from various countries attend the commemoration service and funeral , but this year only a relatively small number of survivors will be allowed at the cemetery due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Dozens of world leaders , including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Spain ’ s Pedro Sanchez , U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Britain ’ s Prince Charles , are addressing the commemoration ceremony via pre-recorded video messages .


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--Asia Today: Australia’s Victoria state new cases drop to 216

MELBOURNE , Australia - The beleaguered Australian state of Victoria received some good news Saturday with health officials reporting 216 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours , down from the record 288 the previous day .
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said a man in his 90s died overnight while 49 remained hospitalized , including 15 in intensive care .
He warned of more difficult days ahead , saying , “ We will see more and more additional cases , that ’ s the nature of this.
” Victoria has recorded 3,560 confirmed cases , and Australia overall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths .
Victoria , Australia ’ s second-most populous state after neighbouring New South Wales , has been cut off with border closures by other states .
All states and territories except New South Wales had eradicated community transmission of the virus , but Victoria-linked infections are spreading .
Victoria hopes a second lockdown in Melbourne , Australia ’ s second-largest city with a population of 5 million , will curb the spread .
It was imposed Wednesday and will last six weeks .
“ As inconvenient and as challenging as it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the situation we face , and we can not pretend that doing anything other than following the rules will get us to the other side of this , ” Andrews said of the extended lockdown .
Meanwhile , Australia ’ s Therapeutic Goods Administration has given provisional approval to the drug remdesivir , an experimental medicine that has shown promise in the recovery time of the most seriously ill COVID-19 patients .
Authorities say remdesivir will be available only to patients who are severely ill , require oxygen or high-level support to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is the only drug licensed by both the U.S. and the European Union as a treatment for people with severe illness from the coronavirus .
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region : — India ’ s coronavirus cases have passed 800,000 with the biggest spike of 27,114 cases in the past 24 hours , causing nearly a dozen states to impose a partial lockdown in high-risk areas .
The new confirmed cases took the national total to 820,916 .
The Health Ministry on Saturday also reported another 519 deaths for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in infections saw the cases jumping from 600,000 to more than 800,000 in nine days .
The ministry said the recovery rate was continuing to improve at more than 62 % .
Eight of India ’ s 28 states , including the worst-hit Maharashtra , Tamil Nadu and New Delhi , account for nearly 90 % of all infections .
The most populous state of Uttar Pradesh , with nearly 230 million people , imposed a weekend lockdown while several others announced restrictions in districts reporting major spikes .
— New coronavirus cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities are turning their attention to concerns that the virus could spread through imported food .
Those worries have risen since a June outbreak in Beijing that was linked to the city ’ s largest wholesale market .
Testing has been stepped up on incoming food shipments , and on Friday customs officials said they are halting imports from three Ecuadorian shrimp producers after tests showed the virus present in recent shipments .
Authorities say the coronavirus was detected on the outer packaging of the shipments July 3 .
The inner packaging and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the three companies received after March 12 have been ordered to be returned or destroyed .
— South Korea has reported 35 new cases of the coronavirus , bringing its caseload to 13,373 infections and 288 deaths .
South Korea ’ s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Saturday that 13 of the new cases came from the densely populated Seoul area , which has been at the centre of a virus resurgence since late May .
Infections were also reported in other major cities such Daejeon and Gwangju , tied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temple , nursing homes and a sauna .
Fifteen of the new cases were linked to international arrivals .
Follow all of AP ’ s pandemic coverage at http : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--AP FACT CHECK: If he’s said it once, he’s said it 100 times

WASHINGTON - If saying things 100 times could make them true , President Donald Trump ’ s account of how the U.S. is doing with the coronavirus would be true .
COVID-19 testing would be the envy of the world , the economy would be on the cusp of roaring back , the threat would be receding in a pandemic that has sickened more than 3.1 million Americans and killed more than 133,000 .
But repetition doesn ’ t make for reality .
The U.S. is taking a disproportionate hit from the coronavirus globally and does not have it under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the past week compares with the facts on various fronts : TRUMP : “ For the 1/100th time , the reason we show so many Cases , compared to other countries that haven ’ t done nearly as well as we have , is that our TESTING is much bigger and better .
We have tested 40,000,000 people .
If we did 20,000,000 instead , Cases would be half , etc .
NOT REPORTED !
” — tweet Thursday .
THE FACTS : His notion that infections are high only because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His own top public health officials have shot down this line of thinking .
Infections are rising because people are infecting each other more than they were when most everyone was hunkered down .
It ’ s true that increased testing also contributes to the higher numbers .
When you look harder , you ’ re going to see more .
But the testing has uncovered a worrisome trend : The percentage of tests coming back positive for the virus is on the rise across nearly the entire country .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spreading and that the U.S. testing system is falling short .
“ A high rate of positive tests indicates a government is only testing the sickest patients who seek out medical attention and is not casting a wide enough net , ” says the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center , a primary source of updated information on the pandemic .
Americans are being confronted with long lines at testing sites , often disqualified if they are not showing symptoms and , if tested , forced to wait many days for results .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the lowest Mortality Rate in the World.
” – tweet Tuesday .
THE FACTS : This statement is wholly unsupported .
An accurate death rate is impossible to know .
Every country tests and counts people differently , and some are unreliable in reporting cases .
Without knowing the true number of people who become infected , it can not be determined what portion of them die .
Using a count kept by Johns Hopkins University , you can compare the number of recorded deaths with the number of reported cases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths as a percentage of cases than most other countries now being hit hard with the pandemic .
The statistics look better for the U.S. when the list is expanded to include European countries that were slammed early on by the virus but now appear to have it under control .
Even then , the U.S. is not shown to be among the best in avoiding death .
Such calculations , though , do not provide a reliable measurement of actual death rates , because of the variations in testing and reporting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meant to be such a measure .
The only way to tell how many cases have gone uncounted , and therefore what percentage of infected people have died from the disease , is to do another kind of test comprehensively , of people ’ s blood , to find how many people bear immune system antibodies to the virus .
Globally , that is only being done in select places .
TRUMP : “ Deaths in the U.S. are way down.
” — tweet Monday , one of at least a half dozen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
THE FACTS : It ’ s true that deaths dipped even as infections spiked in many parts of the country .
But deaths lag sickness and the spikes have not played out .
“ It ’ s a false narrative to take comfort in a lower rate of death , ” Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said Tuesday .
He advised Americans : “ Don ’ t get yourself into false complacency.
” THE FACTS : Yes , but only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ losses in history , by far .
The U.S. economy shed more than 22 million jobs in March and April , wiping out nearly a decade of job growth in just two months , as the viral outbreak intensified and nearly all states shut down nonessential businesses .
Since then , 7.5 million , or about one-third , of those jobs have been recovered as businesses reopened .
Even after those gains , the unemployment rate is 11.1 % , down from April and May but otherwise higher than at any point since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Jobs are growing MUCH faster than anyone ( except me ! )
expected.
” — tweet Wednesday .
THE FACTS : Not really .
It ’ s true that May ’ s gain of 2.7 million jobs was unexpected .
Economists had forecast another month of job losses .
But most economists projected hiring would sharply rebound by June or at the latest July , once businesses began to reopen .
The gains kicked in a month earlier than forecast .
Now , though , coronavirus cases are rising in most states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six states representing one-third of the economy — Arizona , California , Colorado , Florida , Michigan , and Texas — governors are reversing their reopening plans , and the restart is on pause in 15 other states .
Such reversals are keeping layoffs elevated and threatening to weaken hiring .
TRUMP campaign ad , playing out a scenario where a person needing help calls the police in a Biden presidency and gets a voice recording : “ You have reached the 911 police emergency line .
Due to defunding of the police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no one is here to take your call.
” The ad closes with the message : “ You won ’ t be safe in Joe Biden ’ s America.
” THE FACTS : Biden has not joined the call of protesters who demanded “ defund the police ” after Floyd ’ s killing .
He ’ s proposed more money for police , conditioned to improvements in their practices .
“ I don ’ t support defunding the police , “ Biden said last month in a CBS interview .
But he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police based on whether “ they meet certain basic standards of decency , honourableness and , in fact , are able to demonstrate they can protect the community , everybody in the community.
” Biden ’ s criminal justice agenda , released long before he became the Democrats ’ presumptive presidential nominee , proposes more federal money for “ training that is needed to avert tragic , unjustifiable deaths ” and hiring more officers to ensure that departments are racially and ethnically reflective of the populations they serve .
Specifically , he calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existing federal community policing grant programs .
That adds up to more money for police , not defunding law enforcement .
Biden also wants the federal government to spend more on education , social services and struggling areas of cities and rural America , to address root causes of crime .
Democrats , meanwhile , have pointed to Trump ’ s repeated proposals in the administration ’ s budget to cut community policing and mediation programs at the Justice Department .
Congressional Republicans say the program can be effectively merged with other divisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort .
The program has been used to help provide federal oversight of local police departments .
Despite proposed cuts , Attorney General William Barr last month said that the department would use the COPS program funding to hire over 2,700 police officers at nearly 600 departments across the country .
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE email : “ In the wake of rioting , looting , and tragic murders ripping apart communities across the country , Joe Biden said ‘ Yes , absolutely ’ he wants to defund the police.
” — email Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rapid response director .
THE FACTS : That ’ s misleading , a selective use of Biden ’ s words on the subject .
The email links to an excerpted video clip of Biden ’ s conversation with liberal activist Ady Barkan , who endorsed Biden on Wednesday after supporting Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders during the Democratic primaries .
A full recording of that conversation , provided by the Biden campaign to The Associated Press , shows he again declined to support defunding police , Barkan raises the issue of police reform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into social services , mental health counselling and affordable housing to help reduce civilian interactions with police .
Biden responds that he is calling for increased funding for mental health providers but “ that ’ s not the same as getting rid of or defunding all the police ” and that both approaches are needed , including more money for community police .
Asked again by Barkan , “ so we agree that we can redirect some of the funding , ” Biden then answers “ absolutely yes.
” Biden then gives the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ redirect ” federal money potentially but “ condition ” it on police improvements .
“ If they don ’ t eliminate choke holds , they don ’ t get ( federal ) grants , if they don ’ t do the following , they don ’ t get any help , ” Biden replied .
“ The vast majority of all police departments are funded by the locality , funded by the municipality , funded by the state , ” he added .
“ It ’ s only the federal government comes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it says you want help , you have to do the following reforms , .
” BIDEN : “ President Trump claimed to the American people that he was a wartime leader , but instead of taking responsibility , Trump has waved a white flag , revealing that he ordered the slowing of testing and having his administration tell Americans that they simply need to ‘ live with it.
’ ’ – statement Wednesday marking the rise in U.S. coronavirus infections to more than 3 million .
THE FACTS : To be clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the orders of the president .
Trump at first denied he was joking when he told a Tulsa , Oklahoma , rally on June 20 that he said “ to my people , ‘ Slow the testing down , please ’ “ because “ they test and they test.
” Days later he said he didn ’ t really mean it .
In any event , a succession of his public-health officials testified to Congress that the president never asked them to slow testing and that they were doing all they could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ markedly insufficient .
EDITOR ’ S NOTE — A look at the veracity of claims by political figures .

Calvin Woodward, Hope Yen And Christopher Rugaber - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--Virus cases up sharply in Africa, India as inequality stings

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa ’ s confirmed coronavirus cases have doubled in two weeks to a quarter-million , and India on Saturday saw its biggest daily spike as its total passed 800,000 .
Inequality concerns are growing as health workers seek better protection while some among the rich are hoarding equipment at home .
Globally more than 12 million people have been infected by the virus , according to data compiled by the Johns Hopkins University of Medicine .
More than a half-million have died .
Shortages of testing materials and poor data collection in some countries mean the true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worst-affected nations are among the world ’ s most unequal .
South Africa leads them all , with the pandemic exposing the gap in care .
In Johannesburg at South Africa ’ s epicenter , badly-needed oxygen concentrators , which help people with COVID-19 breathe , are hard to find as private businesses and individuals are buying them up , a public health specialist volunteering at a field hospital , Lynne Wilkinson , told The Associated Press .
Meanwhile South Africa ’ s struggling public hospitals are short on medical oxygen — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of deaths than in private ones , the National Institute for Communicable Diseases says .
South Africa now has more than 250,000 confirmed cases , including more than 3,800 deaths .
To complicate matters , the country ’ s struggling power utility has announced new electricity cuts in the dead of winter as a cold front brings freezing weather .
Many of the urban poor live in shacks of scrap metal and wood .
And in Kenya , some have been outraged by a local newspaper report citing sources as saying several governors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their homes .
The country lost its first doctor to COVID-19 this week .
“ The welfare , occupational safety & health of frontline workers is a non-negotiable minimum !
!
” the Kenya Medical Practitioners , Pharmacists and Dentists Union tweeted after her death .
On Saturday , the union and other medical groups called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to implement a promised compensation package to ease the “ anxiety and fear that has now gripped health care workers.
“ More than 8,000 health workers across Africa have been infected , half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continent of 1.3 billion has the world ’ s lowest levels of health staffing and more than 550,000 cases , and the pandemic is reaching “ full speed , “ the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says .
Many parts of the world are now struggling with trying to reopen their economies and facing a fresh wave of infections .
In India , which reported a new daily high of 27,114 cases Saturday , nearly a dozen states have imposed a partial lockdown in high-risk areas .
A surge in infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 800,000 in nine days .
The total is now 820,916 .
Infected people are packing India ’ s public hospitals as many are unable to afford private ones that generally uphold higher standards of care .
In Australia , the beleaguered state of Victoria received some good news with health officials reporting 216 new cases in the past 24 hours , down from the record 288 the previous day .
It hopes a new six-week lockdown in Melbourne , Australia ’ s second-largest city with a population of 5 million , will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America , where inequality is sharp and Brazil and Peru are among the world ’ s five most badly hit countries , the COVID-19 pandemic is sweeping through the continent ’ s leadership , with two more presidents and powerful officials testing positive in the past week .
Associated Press writers around the world contributed .


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--Teenage surfer killed by shark, 2nd in Australia in a week

SYDNEY , Australia - A 15-year-old surfer died Saturday when he was mauled by a shark , the second fatal attack in a week in Australia and already at least the fifth this year .
Police said the boy was surfing at Wooli Beach , near Grafton , about 600 kilometres ( 370 miles ) north of Sydney in New South Wales state just before 2:30 p.m. when he was attacked .
The shark attack left him with severe injuries to his legs .
Several surfers came to the aid of the boy and helped him to shore for medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him , he died at the scene .
Police initially said the victim was 17 , but later corrected his age to 15 .
Jim Simmons , mayor of Clarence Valley shire , said visitors had flocked to the region for the school holidays and there would likely have been many people in the water .
“ What ’ s happened there this afternoon would shake everybody , ” Simmons said .
“ It ’ s terribly shocking .
All of our sympathies , from people in the area , go out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s unusual for Australia to have five fatal shark attacks in the first six months of a year .
On average , three people die from shark attacks each year in the country , according to figures kept by the Australian Shark Attack File .
The last time there were five fatal attacks in an entire year was 2014 .
Last Saturday , a 20-year-old scuba diver who was spear fishing died after being attacked by a shark off the coast of Australia ’ s Queensland state .
The man was attacked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Fraser Island .
That attack happened not far from where 23-year-old Queensland wildlife ranger Zachary Robba was fatally mauled by a great white shark in April .
A 57-year-old diver was killed off Western Australia state in January , and a 60-year-old surfer was killed off Kingscliff in New South Wales state in June .


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--More COVID-19 cases in Syria’s overcrowded rebel enclave

BEIRUT - At least two doctors in Syria ’ s opposition-held northwest have been infected with the coronavirus , according to a monitoring group Saturday , raising the total number of cases in the overcrowded rebel enclave to three .
The Syrian opposition and militant groups control the Idlib area , which is home to more than 3 million people , most of them displaced by the war and living in tent camps and overcrowded facilities .
Local health facilities have been targeted in Syrian government attacks that have recently displaced nearly a further million people .
The Early Warning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the virus , said the two doctors had been in touch with patient zero , another doctor who works in a hospital in Idlib .
The first case was reported on Thursday and the hospital where the doctor works has since suspended its operations and quarantined patients and support staff to carry out testing .
The enclave is now under threat of losing crucial humanitarian aid access .
Moves by Russia , a major ally of the Syrian government , at the U.N. Security Council are threatening to shut down border crossing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A divided U.N. Security Council failed for a second time Friday to agree on extending humanitarian aid deliveries to the area from Turkey as the current U.N. mandate to do so ended .
Russia and China vetoed a U.N. resolution backed by the 13 other council members that would have maintained two crossing points from Turkey for six months .
A Russian-drafted resolution that would have authorized just one border crossing in the area for a year failed to receive the minimum nine “ yes ” votes in the 15-member council .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Belgium , who insist two crossings are critical especially with the first COVID-19 cases being reported in Syria ’ s northwest , circulated a new text that would extend the mandate through the Bab al-Hawa crossing into Idlib for a year and the mandate for the Bab al-Salam crossing — which Russia wants to eliminate — for three months to wind up its activities .
Russia , Syria ’ s closest ally , has argued that aid should be delivered from within Syria across conflict lines .
But the U.N. and humanitarian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in the northwest can ’ t get in that way .
Kevin Kennedy , the U.N. ’ s Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis , told The Associated Press that leaving only one crossing open would make aid delivery more time-consuming , more costly , and more dangerous in a territory that is controlled by different armed groups .
“ The pipeline to aid people should not be subject to these political considerations from any side in this conflict , ” Kennedy said late Friday .
A day after the detection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in northwest Syria announced they would be suspending non-emergency procedures and outpatient services for at least one week .
Schools were to shut down until further notice .


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--Italy police ID kids sharing child porn, dark web videos

ROME - Italian authorities said Saturday they have identified a group of 20 teenagers who shared child porn and dark @ @ @ @ @ mutilations on their cellphones .
Police said they were tipped off to the images by @ @ @ @ @ boy in the Tuscan city of Lucca who found them on her son ’ s @ @ @ @ @ discovered an “ exorbitant ” number of videos being exchanged via WhatsApp , Telegram and @ @ @ @ @ In addition to the porn , the postal police said in a statement that the @ @ @ @ @ from the dark web .
In Italy , the postal police investigate crimes committed via @ @ @ @ @ all , 20 minors aged 13-17 who shared the images were identified , and police @ @ @ @ @ other people involved .
The youths remain free pending charges of possessing and sharing child @ @ @ @ @ aggravated instigation to commit crimes .


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--Fay becomes post-tropical cyclone over eastern New York

MIAMI - A tropical storm that brought heavy rain to mid-Atlantic states and southern New England was downgraded twice Saturday morning as is moved over New York , forecasters said .
Post-tropical cyclone Fay was about 30 miles ( 48 kilometres ) south of Albany and had maximum sustained winds near 35 mph ( 55 kph ) , the National Hurricane Center in Miami said in its 5 a.m. advisory .
The forecasters said the advisory would be its last for the system that was expected to continue moving north Saturday .
Fay had closed beaches and flooded shore town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tropical storm Friday afternoon in New Jersey .
It weakened once it hit land and was expected to dissipate Sunday , forecasters said .
Forecasters again decreased expected rain totals from Fay .
The post-tropical low was expected to produce 1 to 2 inches ( 3 to 5 centimetres ) of rain , with flash flooding possible in some areas .
The forecast track put the system moving into western New England and then southeastern Canada later Saturday and into Sunday , forecasters said .
No coastal watches or warnings were in effect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earliest sixth-named storm on record , according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach .
The previous record was Franklin on July 22 , 2005 , Klotzbach tweeted .
Two named storms formed before the official June 1 start of the hurricane season .
None of this season ’ s previous five named storms strengthened into hurricanes .


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--Turkey amends laws to allow multiple lawyer associations

ISTANBUL - Turkey ’ s parliament passed controversial legislation amending laws governing attorneys and bar associations on Saturday , despite protests from critics who say the move could limit the independence of lawyers and reduce the professional associations ’ clout .
The new law , submitted by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ’ s party , was passed after days of heated debate and following scuffles between police and lawyers protesting the legislation .
The government has said the law would create a “ more democratic and pluralistic ” system .
But detractors say the measure aims to lessen the influence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outspoken critics of Erdogan ’ s government and have documented rights violations .
The change comes amid widespread criticism of the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law in Turkey .
The law allows multiple bar associations to be established if at least 2,000 lawyers apply in provinces with more than 5,000 lawyers .
It also scraps proportional representation of bars in the national umbrella organization , in effect decreasing the number of delegates from Turkey ’ s major cities , which could reduce their funding .
The law would affect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ankara and Izmir .
The main opposition Republican People ’ s Party , or CHP , has vowed to ask Turkey ’ s constitutional Court ’ s abolish it .
Ozgur Ozel , a top lawmaker from the party , said Friday the law was an “ unmatched level of malignancy “ aiming to “ prune ” lawyers ’ power for defence .
He slammed the government for excluding the lawyers from debate .
The legislation has sparked weeks of protests by the bar associations .
In June the heads of 80 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were met with police barricades .
Thousands of lawyers protested outside Istanbul ’ s main courthouse when the bill was presented to parliament .
Bar association leaders waited for days outside parliament to be allowed into committee meetings where the draft law was discussed .
Officials banned or dispersed other protests citing the COVID-19 pandemic .
Ruling party lawmakers pushing the bill said nearly 128,000 lawyers working in Turkey needed more bar associations to get support and training .
Officials say the amendment ensures “ justice in representation , ” requiring all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of delegates and an additional delegate for every 5,000 lawyers .
The ruling party introduced the bill after the Ankara Bar Association accused the head of the Religious Affairs Presidency of inciting hatred against homosexuals and called for his removal from office .
Erdogan , a devout Muslim , came to the official ’ s defence and slammed the Ankara lawyers .
Human Rights Watch called the law “ politically divisive “ in a report this week .
“ While the creation of rival bar associations in cities might at face value seem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which professional body to join , the government ’ s own statements about the plan and the timing and means by which it is being introduced demonstrate a political purpose unrelated to legitimate efforts to advance or strengthen standards in the legal profession , ” the rights group said .


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--Zimbabwe bird sanctuary has 400 species, not enough tourists

HARARE , Zimbabwe - A fish eagle swoops over the water to grab a fish in its talons and then flies to its nest .
Nearby are a martial eagle , a black eagle , an Egyptian vulture and hundreds of other birds .
With an estimated 400 species of birds on an idyllic spot on Zimbabwe ’ s Lake Chivero , about 40 kilometres ( 25 miles ) south of Harare , the Kuimba Shiri bird sanctuary has been drawing tourists for more than 15 years .
The southern African country ’ s only bird park has survived tumultuous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a devastating economic collapse but the outbreak of coronavirus is proving a stern test .
“ I thought I had survived the worst , but this coronavirus is something else , ” said owner Gary Strafford .
“ One-third of our visitors are from China .
They stopped coming in February ... and when we were shut down in March , that was just unbelievable.
” A life-long bird enthusiast , Strafford , 62 , established the centre for injured , orphaned and abandoned birds in 1992 and tourism has kept the park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rising to over 750 % , tourism establishments are battling a vicious economic downturn worsened by the new coronavirus travel restrictions .
Zimbabwe ’ s tourism was already facing problems .
The country recorded just over 2 million visitors in 2019 , an 11 % decline from the previous year , according to official figures .
However , tourism remained one of the country ’ s biggest foreign currency earners , along with minerals and tobacco .
Now tourism “ is dead because of coronavirus , ” said Tinashe Farawo , the spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency .
National parks and other animal sanctuaries such as Kuimba Shiri are battling to stay afloat , he said .
“ We are in trouble .
All along we have been relying on tourism to fund our conservation ... now what do we do ?
” he asked .
Kuimba Shiri , which means singing bird in Zimbabwe ’ s Shona language , was closed for more than three months .
It ’ s the longest time the bird sanctuary , located in one of the global sites protected under the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shut .
On a recent weekday , the only sound of life at the place usually teeming with children on school trips was that of singing birds perched on the edges of large enclosures .
Horses , zebras and sheep fed on grass and weeds on the lakeshore .
A parrot standing on a flower pot at the entrance repeatedly shouted “ Hello !
” “ He misses people , especially the children , ” said Strafford , who established Kuimba Shiri on the 30-acre spot on Chivero , the main reservoir for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many rare species including falcons , flamingos and vultures .
“ This place is a dream place for me , ” he said .
Things turned nightmarish however when then president , the late Robert Mugabe , launched an often-violent land redistribution program in which farms owned by whites were seized for redistribution to landless Blacks in 2000 .
Animal sanctuaries were not spared and Kuimba Shiri was targeted “ 30 to 40 times , ” said Strafford .
Eventually , the sanctuary was endorsed by Mugabe and returned to a measure of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s economy collapsed as hyperinflation reached 500 billion per cent , according to the International Monetary Fund .
The sanctuary struggled to make ends meet .
Many birds starved to death while those that could fend for themselves were released into the wild .
“ We sold our vehicles and a tractor to feed the birds .
When it really got desperate we had to kill our horses , ” he said .
Now , a decade later , Strafford is again being forced to sell some items as coronavirus and a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ land excavator , a boat , a truck , a tractor and sheep are among the items he hopes to urgently sell .
But there is some hope .
As Zimbabwe relaxes some of its restrictions , the sanctuary is now able to open to limited numbers of visitors .
On a recent weekend , Strafford displayed the talents of his trained falcons and other raptors to a small group for the first time since March .
Strafford enthusiastically described the various traits of the birds and supervised as a barn owl perched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand .
“ Everything got to start afresh , “ he said after the show .
“ I have started training the birds again .
We are beginning to fly again !
”


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--Indian forces kill 6 Naga rebels near Myanmar border

GAUHATI , India - India ’ s security forces killed six separatist Naga militants in an exchange of gunfire in a northeastern state bordering Myanmar , police said .
The fighting took place early Saturday as India ’ s paramilitary soldiers and police officers raided a militant hideout in a thick forest in Arunachal Pradesh state , said state police chief R.P .
Upadhayay .
One soldier was injured in the fighting , but his condition is stable , he said .
The security forces recovered six assault rifles , 500 bullets and two homemade bombs from the rebels , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ belonged to the National Socialist Council of Nagaland ( Isak-Muivah ) group , which demands an independent homeland in India ’ s northeast , where nearly 2 million Naga tribespeople live mainly in Nagaland , Manipur , Assam and Arunachal Pradesh state .
The insurgents use their hideouts in Myanmar through Arunachal Pradesh state .
The group is in peace talks with the Indian government since 1997 .
It signed a preliminary agreement in 2015 .
It observes a cease-fire in Nagaland state , but attacks government forces elsewhere in the region .


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--Disney World to reopen as coronavirus cases surge in Florida

ORLANDO , Fla. - “ The Most Magical Place on Earth ” is reopening after nearly four months with new rules in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 .
Walt Disney World ’ s Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are reopening Saturday , while Epcot and Disney ’ s Hollywood Studios will follow four days later .
The reopening comes as a huge surge of Floridians have tested positive for the new coronavirus in recent weeks .
Many cities and counties around the state have recently reinstated restrictions that had been lifted in May , when cases seemed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Orlando parks closed in mid-March in an effort to stop the virus ’ s spread .
Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando closed around the same time but reopened several weeks ago after instituting similar rules to protect employees and customers from the virus .
Disney ’ s new rules include mandatory masks and social distancing .
Visitors will need reservations to enter a park , and they won ’ t be allowed to hop between parks .
Both visitors and employees will receive temperature checks when they enter .
Fireworks shows and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too many people together .
Disney has been opening its parks back up around the globe for the past two months .
In May , the company opened Disney Springs , a complex of shops , restaurants and entertainment venues in Lake Buena Vista .


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--Foreign students weigh studying in person vs. losing visas

PHOENIX - International students worried about a new immigration policy that could potentially cost them their visas say they feel stuck between being unnecessarily exposed during the coronavirus pandemic and being able to finish their studies in America .
Students from countries as diverse as India , China and Brazil told The Associated Press they are scrambling to devise plans after federal immigration authorities notified colleges this week that international students must leave the U.S. or transfer to another college if their schools operate entirely online this fall .
Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology filed a lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and now California and Washington state are seeking injunctions against enforcing the new visa policy .
“ Shame on the Trump Administration for risking not only the education opportunities for students who earned the chance to go to college , but now their health and well-being as well , ” California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said Thursday .
Some said they may return home , or move to nearby Canada .
“ I ’ m generating research , I ’ m doing work in a great economy , ” said Batuhan Mekiker , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science at Montana State University in Bozeman .
He ’ s in the third year of a five-year program .
” If I go to Turkey , I would not have that , “ he said .
“ I would like to be somewhere where my talent is appreciated.
” Mathias , a Seattle-based student who spoke on condition his last name not be used for fear of losing his immigration status , said he is set to sell his car , break his lease , and get his cat Louis permission to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the next two weeks .
“ Everyone ’ s very worried , ” he said .
“ We have our whole lives here.
” Seven students from China and Germany who attend universities in California sued Friday to block enforcement , alleging potential threats to their health and “ financial calamity.
“ The policy “ treats them as pawns for the president ’ s politically motivated decision , “ Mark Rosenbaum of non-profit Public Counsel , which filed the suit , said in a statement .
Many American universities have come to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 million international students , who typically pay higher tuition .
President Donald Trump has insisted they return to in-person instruction as soon as possible , alleging that schools are being kept closed to harm the economy and make him look bad .
The guidance was released the same day Harvard announced it would keep all undergraduate classes online this fall .
Harvard said the new Trump directive would prevent many of its 5,000 international students from remaining in the U.S .
The University of Southern California sent a letter to students and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troubled ” and that the “ the policy could negatively impact countless international students.
“ Like other universities , USC said it was pushing back and working to ensure students ’ academic careers aren ’ t harmed , while exploring ways for students to safely study in person if they wish .
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said the directive could inflict “ significant harm ” on colleges , students , the business community and the economy .
A U.S. State Department press release said the policy “ provides greater flexibility for non-immigrant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States , while also allowing for proper social distancing on open and operating campuses.
” A day after Harvard sued , the university notified the court that immigration authorities appear to be already enforcing the policy .
A lawyer for Harvard urged the judge to suspend the rule , saying that a first-year student from Belarus was turned away from his flight at a Minsk airport .
There is another hearing Friday .
“ This is very dangerous and cruel , ” said Jessie Peng , a Chinese graduate student in analytics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We have nowhere to go , ” said Peng , 27 .
“ Either risk our lives and go to school or we risk our lives flying back to China.
” Jasdeep Mandia , a doctoral candidate from India studying economics at Arizona State University , said he has breathing problems that could worsen if he gets sick from COVID-19 .
Mandia , 35 , originally planned to conduct all his fall studies online .
He says the Trump directive puts the shaky standing of international students on display .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ field , “ he said .
“ But this makes it more apparent.
” At Indiana University , American scholar Dakota Murray wrote in the school newspaper about his uncertainty over how the guidance would affect him and his wife , a fellow doctoral candidate who is from South Korea .
Murray , 27 , said he and his wife had discussed going to live in South Korea or maybe Canada , where she has relatives .
He spoke on condition that his wife ’ s name not be used because she is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will let her work and reside in the U.S. after she finishes her studies .
Vanderbilt University student Safa Shahzad went home to Manchester , England , for a visit in March but got stuck there when the U.S. imposed travel restrictions to slow the spread of the virus .
Still in England , the 19-year-old , who is double majoring in politics and computer science , completed her freshman year from afar after the university transitioned online .
Although Vanderbilt has said courses will be a hybrid of online and in person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the U.S. until the Trump administration lifts the travel restrictions .
“ I ’ m just kind of waiting , “ she said .
Computer science student Vivian Degasperi , 23 , from Brazil , said the new guidelines “ are going to make my life harder ” at Erie Community College in Buffalo , New York .
Degasperi said the college has announced that almost all classes will be taught remotely , and is examining how to keep international students from losing their visa status .
Because she lives near the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would consider moving to Canada .
“ My family is worried , “ she said .
” Everyone is calling me all the time.
” Natalia Afonso , a Brooklyn College student , also from Brazil , said she hopes the school will adopt a hybrid model of remote and in-person classes — but she fears riding the subway to campus could increase her chances of catching the virus .
“ I don ’ t see myself moving back to Brazil at this point , ” said the 27-year-old , who is studying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s very unfair.
“ Naishadham reported from Atlanta and Powell from Washington .
AP writers Collin Binkley in Cambridge , Massachusetts , and Anita Snow in Phoenix contributed to this report .

Suman Naishadham, Cheyanne Mumphrey And Hilary Powell - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--2 officers killed in shootout in south Texas border town

MCALLEN , Texas - Two police officers were shot and killed Saturday in a South Texas border town after reportedly responding to a disturbance call , authorities said .
The McAllen police officers were shot on the south side of the city and transported to an area hospital , said Lt. Christopher Olivarez , spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety .
A suspect in the shooting was also shot , though that person ’ s condition was not immediately available .
“ We have lost two brave public servants who sought only to keep peace in our City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told The ( McAllen ) Monitor .
Olivarez said DPS sent troopers to secure the scene after the McAllen Police Department requested their assistance .
He said his agency received a call about the incident around 4:30 p.m. McAllen is located at the southern tip of Texas , about 70 miles ( 113 kilometres ) west of the Gulf of Mexico Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton tweeted that his office will provide the McAllen Police Department with any help needed .
“ Our prayers and full support are with the valiant men and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evening , ” the tweet read .
“ We are grateful for police in McAllen and around this great state.
” U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen said in a statement that receiving news of the two officers ’ deaths was “ devastating.
” “ This is devastating news to our community .
My heart breaks for these fallen officers and their families , ” Gonzalez said .
“ They served McAllen bravely and honourably and I will keep them in my prayers.
” An investigation is ongoing .
No further information was @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--US Navy welcomes 1st Black female Tactical Aircraft pilot

KINGSVILLE , Texas - The U.S. Navy has welcomed its first Black female Tactical Aircraft pilot .
“ MAKING HISTORY @ @ @ @ @ tweeted Thursday in response to a post that Lt. j.g .
Madeline Swegle had completed @ @ @ @ @ later this month receive the flight officer insignia known as the “ Wings of Gold.
@ @ @ @ @ Command tweeted that Swegle is the Navy ’ s “ first known Black female TACAIR @ @ @ @ @ and Stripes , Swegle is from Burke , Virginia , and graduated from the U.S @ @ @ @ @ .
Officials said she is assigned to the Redhawks of Training Squadron 21 in Kingsville @ @ @ @ @ s milestone comes more than 45 years after Rosemary Mariner in 1974 became the first @ @ @ @ @ fighter jet , according to news outlets .


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--Trump wears mask in public for first time during pandemic

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump wore a mask during a visit to a military hospital on Saturday , the first time the president has been seen in public with the type of facial covering recommended by health officials as a precaution against spreading or becoming infected by the novel coronavirus .
Trump flew by helicopter to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in suburban Washington to meet wounded servicemembers and health care providers caring for COVID-19 patients .
As he left the White House , he told reporters : “ When you ’ re in a hospital , especially ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing to wear a mask.
“ Trump was wearing a mask in Walter Reed ’ s hallway as he began his visit .
He was not wearing one when he stepped off the helicopter at the facility .
The president was a latecomer to wearing a mask during the pandemic , which has raged across the U.S. since March and infected more than 3.2 million and killed at least 134,000 .
Most prominent Republicans , including Vice-President Mike Pence , endorsed wearing masks as the coronavirus gained ground this summer .
Republican governors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the use of masks as the pandemic has grown more serious in some states in the South and West .
Trump , however , has declined to wear a mask at news conferences , coronavirus task force updates , rallies and other public events .
People close to him have told The Associated Press that the president feared a mask would make him look weak and was concerned that it shifted focus to the public health crisis rather than the economic recovery .
They spoke on condition of anonymity to describe private matters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has sent mixed signals about masks , acknowledging that they would be appropriate if worn in an indoor setting where people were close together .
But he has accused reporters of wearing them to be politically correct and has retweeted messages making fun of Democratic rival Joe Biden for wearing a mask and implying that Biden looks weak .
Questions remain whether Trump will wear a mask with any regularity .
The wearing of masks became another political dividing line , with Republicans more resistant to wearing them than Democrats .
Few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events in Tulsa , Oklahoma , Phoenix and South Dakota ’ s Mount Rushmore .
The only time Trump has been known to wear a mask was during a private part of a tour of a Ford plant in Michigan .
A spokesman for the Biden campaign cast the president ’ s action as too little , too late .
“ Donald Trump spent months ignoring the advice of medical experts and politicizing wearing a mask , one of the most important things we can do to prevent the spread of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
“ Rather than taking responsibility and leading , he wasted four months that Americans have been making sacrifices by stoking divisions and actively discouraging people from taking a very basic step to protect each other.
” On its website , Walter Reed carries this recommendation : “ Whenever you ’ re out in public , like at your local grocery store or pharmacy , where it ’ s difficult to maintain 6 feet of social distance , you should wear a cloth face covering.
” The facility also notes that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommends wearing cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
”


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--Donald Trump, Joe Biden win Louisiana’s presidential primary

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump and former Vice-President Joe Biden have won Louisiana ’ s twice-postponed presidential primary .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ the Republican nomination , but four other GOP contenders ran against him on Louisiana ’ @ @ @ @ @ faced 13 other Democrats on the ballot , though he already had locked up enough @ @ @ @ @ become the party ’ s nominee .
Louisiana had one of the nation ’ s @ @ @ @ @ was delayed twice from its original April 4 date because of the coronavirus pandemic and @ @ @ @ @ months that it became irrelevant to the selection the party nominees .
Voters had extra @ @ @ @ @ expanded mail-in balloting options because of the virus outbreak .


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--Texas patient in 30s dies after reportedly citing ‘mistake’ of attending ‘COVID party’

DALLAS—A 30-something patient has died from the coronavirus after reportedly attending a “ COVID party ” and ultimately telling their nurse they had acted in error , San Antonio ’ s WOAI-TV reported .
“ Just before the patient died , they looked at their nurse and said , ‘ I think I made a mistake , I thought this was a hoax , but it ’ s not , ’ ” Dr. Jane Appleby said in a video posted by the news station .
Appleby , chief medical officer of the city ’ s Methodist Hospital , said she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people aware that they are not immune .
“ It doesn ’ t discriminate , and none of us are invincible , ” she said .
“ This virus is very serious and can spread easily.
” “ COVID parties ” are get-togethers involving a person who has been diagnosed with the coronavirus , with attendees supposedly gathering as a dare .
Whether such parties actually exist has been questioned , but “ the thought is to see if the virus is real and to see if anyone gets infected , ” Appleby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , the patient became critically ill and uttered the tragic statement shortly before dying .


thetorontostar--2020-07-11--UN approves aid to Syria’s rebel area through 1 crossing

TANZANIA , Tanzania - Russia scored a victory for its ally Syria on Saturday by forcing the Security Council to limit humanitarian aid deliveries to the country ’ s mainly rebel-held northwest to just one crossing point from Turkey , a move that Western nations say will cut a lifeline for 1.3 million people .
Russia argues that aid should be delivered from within the country across conflict lines , and says only one crossing point is needed .
U.N. officials and humanitarian groups argued unsuccessfully — along with the vast majority of the U.N. Security Council — that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mandate expired Friday were essential for getting help to millions of needy people in Syria ’ s northwest , especially with the first case of COVID-19 recently reported in the region .
The Security Council vote approving a single crossing from Turkey was 12-0 , with Russia , China and the Dominican Republic abstaining .
The vote capped a week of high-stakes rivalry pitting Russia and China against the 13 other council members .
An overwhelming majority voted twice to maintain the two crossings from Turkey , but Russia and China vetoed both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Russia of a Syria resolution since the conflict began in 2011 and the ninth and 10th by China .
Germany and Belgium , which had sponsored the widely supported resolutions for two crossing points , finally had to back down to the threat of another Russian veto .
The resolution they put forward Saturday authorized only a single crossing point from Turkey for a year .
In January , Russia also scored a victory for Syria , using its veto threat to force the Security Council to adopt a resolution reducing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from four to two , from Turkey to the northwest .
It also cut in half the yearlong mandate that had been in place since cross-border deliveries began in 2014 to six months .
Before adopting the resolution Saturday , the council rejected two amendments proposed by Russia , including one suggesting that U.S. and European Union sanctions on Syria were impeding humanitarian aid .
That contention was vehemently rejected by the Trump administration and the EU , which noted their sanctions include exemptions for humanitarian deliveries .
It also rejected an amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.N. ambassador , Dmitry Polyansky , said after the vote that from the beginning Moscow had proposed one crossing — from Bab al-Hawa to Idlib — and that Saturday ’ s resolution could have been adopted weeks ago .
He said Russia abstained in the vote because negotiations over the resolution were marred by “ clumsiness , disrespect.
” Polyansky accused Western nations on the council of “ unprecedented heights ” of hypocrisy , saying they were ready to jeopardize cross-border aid over the references to unilateral sanctions .
He said cross-border aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t comply with international law because the U.N. has no presence in the region , which he described as being controlled “ by international terrorists and fighters ” that make it impossible to control and monitor who gets aid .
German Ambassador Christoph Heusgen retorted that while Russia talks about delivery of aid across conflict lines , “ in practice it doesn ’ t ” happen .
He said his side fought to maintain multiple crossing points for aid , including the Al-Yaroubiya crossing point from Iraq in the northeast that was closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is needed for efficient delivery of aid to millions in need — and he asked Polyansky “ this is clumsy ?
” “ This is what we tried to do over these past weeks , to get the optimum to the population , ” Heusgen said .
U.S .
Ambassador Kelly Craft told the council : “ Today ’ s outcome leaves us sickened and outraged at the loss of the Bab al-Salaam and Al Yarubiyah border crossings.
” “ Behind those locked gates are millions of women , children , and men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their pleas .
Their health and welfare are now at great risk , ” she said .
Still , Craft called the authorization of access through Bab al-Hawa for 12 months “ a victory ” in light of Russia and China ’ s “ willingness to use their veto to compel a dramatic reduction in humanitarian assistance.
” “ This solemn victory must not end our struggle to address the mounting human needs in Syria — that fight is far from over , ” Craft said .
Belgium and Germany said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including 800 000 displaced Syrians , live in the Aleppo area , including 500,000 children who received humanitarian aid through the Bab al-Salam crossing — and now have that aid cut off .
“ Today is yet another sad day .
It is a sad day for this council , but mostly , it is a sad day for the Syrian people of that region.
, ” they said .
“ Both Yarubiyah and Bab al-Salam were vital crossings to deliver , in the most efficient way possible , the humanitarian help , @ @ @ @ @