csmonitor--2020-07-13--Monday Sunrise Briefing: Where a resurgence stalls reopening

The rising tension at play in the U.S. - and around the globe - is illustrated by two weekend facts : 1 .
Disney ’ s Magic Kingdom opened Saturday in Florida ( at reduced capacity ) .
2 .
Florida hit a national record Sunday for the largest single-day increase in positive coronavirus cases .
And President Donald Trump wore a mask in public for the first time Saturday .
The president has reportedly said privately that a mask could make him look weak and focus attention on the COVID-19 crisis instead of economic recovery .
But a national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a 5 percent drop in the U.S. economy , according to a recent Goldman Sachs report .
A new wave of infections in Eastern Europe led to riots over possible renewed lockdowns in Serbia , mandatory face masks in Croatia , and travel bans or quarantines imposed by Hungary .
In South Africa , a ban on alcohol sales and a nightly curfew were enacted Sunday with the intent to reduce the number of hospital patients with non-COVID-19 related injuries .
2 .
Defending democracy .
High voter turnout in Poland and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially when democratic freedoms are threatened .
In Poland , the conservative , populist incumbent , President Andrzej Duda narrowly defeated a challenge by the liberal , pro-Europe mayor of Warsaw , Rafal Trzaskowski , officials said Monday .
In Hong Kong , hundreds of thousands participated in a symbolic protest vote against tough new national security laws imposed by Beijing .
The unofficial poll was to select the strongest pro-democracy candidates to contest Legislative Council elections in September .
But it was primarily intended to send a message .
`` A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signal to the international community that we Hong Kongers never give up , '' Sunny Cheung , told Reuters .
Adding that , despite the risk of prison under the new security law , “ we still support democracy and freedom . ''
Leadership summit .
Girl Up , a movement to advance girls ' skills , rights , and opportunities to be leaders , hosts a three-day virtual global summit to bring together those committed to gender equality .
The free online event begins today , including speakers such as Meghan Markle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mars .
The first of three Mars missions is scheduled to launch today when the United Arab Emirates ' ( UAE ) embarks on its first-ever interplanetary effort , the Hope Mars mission .
The Hope craft is designed to study the Red Planet 's atmosphere , weather , and climate from above .
China and NASA also have Mars missions planned to lift off this month .
Curb the cops ?
The Berkeley City Council plans to vote on a proposal to prohibit the city ’ s police officers from conducting traffic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ works officials .
The novel plan may be a first in the U.S .
Localized democracy .
Voters participate in congressional primaries in Maine , and primary runoffs in Alabama and Texas .
In Maine , three Democrats face off to see who runs against Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November .
In Alabama , the Republican Senate runoff is between former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and former football coach Tommy Tuberville .
Revolutionary ideas .
Bastille Day celebrates the populist seizure of power from French tyrannical rule in 1789 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ culture of civil disobedience .
Today , it ’ s typically celebrated with fireworks and parades .
A book from Donald Trump 's niece .
Licensed clinical psychologist , Mary Trump , has written her own Trump tell-all , `` Too Much and Never Enough . ''
It scheduled to be released today .
Different reopening paths .
President Donald Trump is due to visit Atlanta and may weigh in on a clash between Atlanta 's mayor and Georgia 's governor over the pace of reopening and the wearing of masks .
Another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launch Peacock , a streaming service with sitcoms such as `` The Office '' and `` Parks and Recreation , '' and `` Saved By The Bell . ''
There have also been promises of a `` Friends '' reunion .
It ’ s a sign of our times that a Texas neighborhood would throw a surprise party for the UPS driver .
We ’ ve put up heart signs and sung from balconies to honor health care workers .
We ’ ve left big tips for essential workers ranging from grocery shoppers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in that respect , it ’ s not that unusual that Roosevelt Petty Jr. , known to everyone as “ Rosie , ” should be thanked by customers .
But this was a little different .
Rosie didn ’ t just become indispensable since the pandemic .
This outpouring reflects the fact that he ’ s spent nearly 40 years of graciously delivering packages - and generous smiles .
On July 9 , families in the Waterton neighborhood in Whitehouse , Texas , gathered on their front lawns holding signs as a surprise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrived driving his regular route .
He was given a plaque for “ going above and beyond ” as well as some small gifts and heartfelt applause for his service .
“ You just want to break down and cry but then you look and you think about how easy this job has been made by the people here in Whitehouse , ” Mr .
Petty told KLTV-News in Tyler , Texas .
“ It really makes you feel good that people give back what you ’ ve tried to give to them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing but love and I ’ m receiving love today and I really appreciate the people here in Whitehouse.
” Start your week with a recent story that inspired Monitor readers : How one woman turned a small Vermont town into an arts destination In tonight ’ s Daily Edition , watch for our story about why the plans for reopening schools in North America are all over the map .
Finally , check out the Monitor ’ s selected stories from Friday 's subscription-only Daily Edition : • War in Libya ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ collision course .
• ‘ I can ’ t keep this up much longer ’ : Parents struggle with pandemic strain • People flocking to Cape Cod – but for a different kind of vacation Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
This is a beta test - an experiment with an early Monday news update .
Please give us your feedback via the link below and let us know what you think .
Thank you !

The rising tension at play in the U.S. - and around the globe - is illustrated by two weekend facts: 1. Disney’s Magic Kingdom opened Saturday in Florida (at reduced capacity). 2. Florida hit a national record Sunday for the largest single-day increase in positive coronavirus cases. And President Donald Trump wore a mask in public for the first time Saturday. The president has reportedly said privately that a mask could make him look weak and focus attention on the COVID-19 crisis instead of economic recovery. But a national mask mandate could prevent both new lockdowns and a 5 percent drop in the U.S. economy, according to a recent Goldman Sachs report. A new wave of infections in Eastern Europe led to riots over possible renewed lockdowns in Serbia, mandatory face masks in Croatia, and travel bans or quarantines imposed by Hungary. In South Africa, a ban on alcohol sales and a nightly curfew were enacted Sunday with the intent to reduce the number of hospital patients with non-COVID-19 related injuries.
2. Defending democracy. High voter turnout in Poland and Hong Kong Sunday suggest an engaged population, especially when democratic freedoms are threatened. In Poland, the conservative, populist incumbent, President Andrzej Duda narrowly defeated a challenge by the liberal, pro-Europe mayor of Warsaw, Rafal Trzaskowski, officials said Monday. In Hong Kong, hundreds of thousands participated in a symbolic protest vote against tough new national security laws imposed by Beijing. The unofficial poll was to select the strongest pro-democracy candidates to contest Legislative Council elections in September. But it was primarily intended to send a message. "A high turnout will send a very strong signal to the international community that we Hong Kongers never give up," Sunny Cheung, told Reuters. Adding that, despite the risk of prison under the new security law, “we still support democracy and freedom."
Anne Owens/U.S. Navy via AP View caption Hide caption Making history: Lt. j.g. Madeline Swegle is the U.S. Navy's first Black female Tactical Air Strike pilot and will receive her Wings of Gold on July 31. Shown here after completing naval flight school, July 7, 2020, in Kingsville, Texas.
Why We Wrote This Good morning! Welcome to your Monday, July 13, 2020, sunrise briefing. Here are two news events from this past weekend (while you may have been farmstand hopping, swimming, and enjoying an offline life). Also, what to look for in the news this week.
Look Ahead
Monday, July 13
Leadership summit. Girl Up, a movement to advance girls' skills, rights, and opportunities to be leaders, hosts a three-day virtual global summit to bring together those committed to gender equality. The free online event begins today, including speakers such as Meghan Markle and Michelle Obama.
Tuesday, July 14
A month of Mars. The first of three Mars missions is scheduled to launch today when the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) embarks on its first-ever interplanetary effort, the Hope Mars mission. The Hope craft is designed to study the Red Planet's atmosphere, weather, and climate from above. China and NASA also have Mars missions planned to lift off this month.
Curb the cops? The Berkeley City Council plans to vote on a proposal to prohibit the city’s police officers from conducting traffic stops and shift that responsibility to public works officials. The novel plan may be a first in the U.S.
Localized democracy. Voters participate in congressional primaries in Maine, and primary runoffs in Alabama and Texas. In Maine, three Democrats face off to see who runs against Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November. In Alabama, the Republican Senate runoff is between former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and former football coach Tommy Tuberville.
Revolutionary ideas. Bastille Day celebrates the populist seizure of power from French tyrannical rule in 1789. The uprising fostered the French Revolution and a culture of civil disobedience. Today, it’s typically celebrated with fireworks and parades.
A book from Donald Trump's niece. Licensed clinical psychologist, Mary Trump, has written her own Trump tell-all, "Too Much and Never Enough." It scheduled to be released today.
Wednesday, July 15
Different reopening paths. President Donald Trump is due to visit Atlanta and may weigh in on a clash between Atlanta's mayor and Georgia's governor over the pace of reopening and the wearing of masks.
Another streaming service. NBCUniversal is set to launch Peacock, a streaming service with sitcoms such as "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation," and "Saved By The Bell." There have also been promises of a "Friends" reunion.
Gratitude Watch
Courtesy of Shelly S. Petty View caption Hide caption UPS driver Roosevelt Petty Jr., (aka as Rosie) was honored on July 9, 2020 by his customers in Whitehouse, Texas, for "going above and beyond" with his delivery services.
It’s a sign of our times that a Texas neighborhood would throw a surprise party for the UPS driver.
We’ve put up heart signs and sung from balconies to honor health care workers. We’ve left big tips for essential workers ranging from grocery shoppers to fast food servers. So, in that respect, it’s not that unusual that Roosevelt Petty Jr., known to everyone as “Rosie,” should be thanked by customers. But this was a little different. Rosie didn’t just become indispensable since the pandemic. This outpouring reflects the fact that he’s spent nearly 40 years of graciously delivering packages - and generous smiles.
On July 9, families in the Waterton neighborhood in Whitehouse, Texas, gathered on their front lawns holding signs as a surprise event for Mr. Petty, who arrived driving his regular route. He was given a plaque for “going above and beyond” as well as some small gifts and heartfelt applause for his service. “You just want to break down and cry but then you look and you think about how easy this job has been made by the people here in Whitehouse,” Mr. Petty told KLTV-News in Tyler, Texas. “ It really makes you feel good that people give back what you’ve tried to give to them. I’ve tried to give nothing but love and I’m receiving love today and I really appreciate the people here in Whitehouse.”
Hidden gem
Start your week with a recent story that inspired Monitor readers:
How one woman turned a small Vermont town into an arts destination
Sneak preview
In tonight’s Daily Edition, watch for our story about why the plans for reopening schools in North America are all over the map.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Finally, check out the Monitor’s selected stories from Friday's subscription-only Daily Edition:
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
This is a beta test - an experiment with an early Monday news update. Please give us your feedback via the link below and let us know what you think. Thank you!


csmonitor--2020-07-13--Poland presidential election a victory for conservative values

Polish President Andrzej Duda has won five more years in power on a deeply conservative platform after a closely fought election that is likely to deepen the country 's isolation in the European Union .
Nearly final results from Sunday 's presidential election put him on more than 51 % , giving him an assailable lead over Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski , who won almost 49 % of the votes , the National Election Commission said .
Duda is allied with the ruling nationalist Law and Justice ( PiS ) party , and his victory will give the government a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judiciary and media which the executive European Commission says subvert democratic standards .
`` I do n't want to speak on behalf of the campaign staff , but I think that this difference is large enough that we have to accept the result , '' Grzegorz Schetyna , the former head of the opposition Civic Platform grouping that fielded Trzaskowski .
Backed by PiS , Duda ran an acrimonious campaign , laced with homophobic language , attacks on private media and accusations that Trzaskowski serve foreign interests instead of Poland 's .
Trzaskowski @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opens the way to new clashes between Poland and the European Commission as the EU tries to deal with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising nationalism across the 27-member bloc .
Before PiS and Duda came to power in 2015 , Poland had one of the most pro-European administrations in the bloc 's ex-communist east .
But it has become increasingly combative , with divisions focusing on climate change and migration , in addition to democratic norms .
Warsaw mayor since 2018 , Trzaskowski had said he would seek a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has criticized PiS ' rhetoric , vowing to abolish state news channel TVP Info , which critics say gave overt support to Duda in its programming .
But to many religious conservatives in Poland , a predominantly Catholic nation , he came to represent the threats facing traditional values when he pledged to introduce education about LGBT rights in the city 's schools .
`` It 's what populists do very effectively .
You name the enemy and you focus on combating him .
This is what was used in this campaign , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Materska-Sosnowska , a political scientist at the Warsaw University .
In the last week of campaigning , PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski accused Trzaskowski of being at the center of attempts to allow minorities to `` terrorize '' the rest of society .
Economic policy was also at the heart of the election , with Duda painting himself as a guardian of generous PiS welfare programs that have transformed life for many poorer Poles since the party came to power in 2015 .
PiS now faces the prospect of three years of uninterrupted rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2023 .
Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro suggested late on Sunday the party could push on quickly with its conservative agenda following the vote , and with its ambition to spur change in private media ownership towards outlets more favorable to its ambitions .
`` We need to take care of the issue of values more than before , '' he told state broadcaster TVP .
`` There is also the matter of an imbalance among the media . ''
Some observers say Trzaskowski 's strong showing could energize the opposition , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ narrative in the face of the PiS success in winning over many Poles with its economic and social agenda .
( Writing by Justyna Pawlak ; editing by Timothy Heritage )

Polish President Andrzej Duda has won five more years in power on a deeply conservative platform after a closely fought election that is likely to deepen the country's isolation in the European Union.
Nearly final results from Sunday's presidential election put him on more than 51%, giving him an assailable lead over Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, who won almost 49% of the votes, the National Election Commission said.
Mr. Duda is allied with the ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, and his victory will give the government a new mandate to pursue reforms of the judiciary and media which the executive European Commission says subvert democratic standards.
"I don't want to speak on behalf of the campaign staff, but I think that this difference is large enough that we have to accept the result," Grzegorz Schetyna, the former head of the opposition Civic Platform grouping that fielded Trzaskowski.
Backed by PiS, Mr. Duda ran an acrimonious campaign, laced with homophobic language, attacks on private media, and accusations that Mr. Trzaskowski serve foreign interests instead of Poland's. Trzaskowski dismissed the accusations.
Mr. Duda's victory opens the way to new clashes between Poland and the European Commission as the EU tries to deal with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising nationalism across the 27-member bloc.
Before PiS and Mr. Duda came to power in 2015, Poland had one of the most pro-European administrations in the bloc's ex-communist east. But it has become increasingly combative, with divisions focusing on climate change and migration, in addition to democratic norms.
Enemies
Warsaw mayor since 2018, Mr. Trzaskowski had said he would seek a more tolerant Poland if elected. He has criticized PiS' rhetoric, vowing to abolish state news channel TVP Info, which critics say gave overt support to Mr. Duda in its programming.
But to many religious conservatives in Poland, a predominantly Catholic nation, he came to represent the threats facing traditional values when he pledged to introduce education about LGBT rights in the city's schools.
"It's what populists do very effectively. You name the enemy and you focus on combating him. This is what was used in this campaign, the fear of others," Anna Materska-Sosnowska, a political scientist at the Warsaw University.
In the last week of campaigning, PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski accused Mr. Trzaskowski of being at the center of attempts to allow minorities to "terrorize" the rest of society.
Economic policy was also at the heart of the election, with Mr. Duda painting himself as a guardian of generous PiS welfare programs that have transformed life for many poorer Poles since the party came to power in 2015.
PiS now faces the prospect of three years of uninterrupted rule with the next parliamentary election scheduled for 2023.
Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro suggested late on Sunday the party could push on quickly with its conservative agenda following the vote, and with its ambition to spur change in private media ownership towards outlets more favorable to its ambitions.
"We need to take care of the issue of values more than before," he told state broadcaster TVP. "There is also the matter of an imbalance among the media."
Some observers say Mr. Trzaskowski's strong showing could energize the opposition, which has struggled until now to formulate a cohesive narrative in the face of the PiS success in winning over many Poles with its economic and social agenda.
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This story was reported by Reuters.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-07-12--Florida hits new virus record as calls for mask-wearing spread

With the United States grappling with the worst coronavirus outbreak in the world , Florida hit a grim milestone Sunday , shattering the national record for a state 's largest single-day increase in positive cases .
Deaths from the virus have also been rising in the U.S. , especially in the South and West , though still well below the heights hit in April , according to a recent Associated Press analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University .
“ I really do think we could control this , and it ’ s the human element that is so critical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our country .
We should be pulling together when we ’ re in a crisis , and we ’ re definitely not doing it , ” said University of Florida epidemiologist Dr. Cindy Prins .
Adm. Brett Giroir , a member of the White House coronavirus task force , called mask-wearing in public , which has been met with resistance in some U.S. states , “ absolutely essential.
” Giroir , the assistant secretary at the Health and Human Services Department , told ABC ’ s “ This Week ” on Sunday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , we will not get control of the virus.
’ ’ President Donald Trump wore a mask in public for the first time Saturday , something Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday showed he has “ crossed a bridge.
” Pelosi told CNN ’ s “ State of the Union ” that she hopes it means the president “ will change his attitude , which will be helpful in stopping the spread of the coronavirus.
” In hard-hit Houston , Texas , two top Democratic officials called for the nation ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as area hospitals strained to accommodate the onslaught of sick patients .
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo , both Democrats , said this weekend that a stay-at-home order is needed for the city to cope with the surge of COVID-19 cases .
In Florida , where the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom , two of four main areas at Walt Disney World reopened Saturday , 15,299 people tested positive , for a total of 269,811 cases , and 45 deaths were recorded , according to state Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the previous record of daily positive cases — 11,694 , set on Wednesday .
The numbers come at the end of a record-breaking week as Florida reported 514 fatalities — an average of 73 per day .
Three weeks ago , the state was averaging 30 deaths per day .
Researchers expect deaths to rise in the U.S. for at least some weeks , but some think the count probably will not go up as dramatically as it did in the spring because of several factors , including increased testing .
The World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record increase in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases over a 24-hour period , at over 230,000 .
The U.N. health agency said the United States again topped the list among countries , with more than 66,000 cases .
The figures don ’ t necessarily account for delays in reporting cases , and are believed to far underestimate actual totals .
Countries in Eastern Europe were among those facing rising waves of new infections , leading to riots in Serbia , mandatory face masks in Croatia and travel bans or quarantines imposed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about an increase in the number of cases in the neighboring countries , Europe and the whole world , ” said Gergely Gulyas , Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ’ s chief of staff .
“ Now , we have to protect our own security and prevent the virus from being brought in from abroad . ''
Hungarian authorities said Sunday they have sorted countries into three categories — red , yellow and green — based on their rates of new coronavirus infections , and will impose restrictions , including entry bans and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are arriving from .
Serbia , where health authorities are warning that hospitals are almost full due to the latest surge , reported 287 new infections on Sunday , although there have been increasing doubts about the accuracy of the figures .
Officially , the country has over 18,000 confirmed infections and 382 deaths since March .
Sunday ’ s report of 11 coronavirus deaths was the country 's second-highest daily death toll .
Serbian police clashed with anti-government protesters for four nights last week , demonstrations that forced the Serbian president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown .
Many of the increasing infections have been blamed on crowded soccer matches , tennis events and nightclubs .
In Bulgaria , authorities reintroduced restrictions lifted a few weeks ago because of a new surge in cases .
Albania also has seen a significant increase in infections since mid-May , when it eased lockdown measures .
The Balkan nation reported 93 new cases , over twice as many as the highest daily figures in March and April , and the health ministry called the situation at the main infectious disease hospital “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sea coast is a major tourist destination , is making wearing masks mandatory in stores beginning Monday .
Yet the numbers of infections in Eastern Europe pale in comparison to daily coronavirus reports from India , South Africa and Brazil , whose virus-denying president has tested positive .
India , which has the most cases after the United States and Brazil , saw a record surge of 28,637 cases reported in the past 24 hours .
Authorities also announced a weeklong lockdown beginning Tuesday in the key southern technology hub of Bangalore , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Microsoft , Apple and Amazon are located .
South Africa has reported over 10,000 new daily cases for several days in a row , including 13,497 new infections announced Saturday night .
Johannesburg ’ s densely populated Soweto township is one of the virus hot spots .
With over 264,000 cases and 3,971 deaths , South Africa accounts for over 40 % of all the reported coronavirus cases in Africa .
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Sunday the country would return to a ban of alcohol sales to reduce the volume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more beds to treat COVID-19 .
The country is also reinstating a night curfew to reduce traffic accidents and has made it mandatory for all residents to wear face masks in public .
Meanwhile , in Taiwan , which kept its coronavirus outbreak to a few hundred cases , an annual film festival wrapped up with an awards ceremony this weekend where actors and others lined up for photo shoots with no social distancing , and participants didn ’ t wear masks .
Gorondi reported from Budapest , Hungary .
Associated Press writers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

With the United States grappling with the worst coronavirus outbreak in the world, Florida hit a grim milestone Sunday, shattering the national record for a state's largest single-day increase in positive cases.
Deaths from the virus have also been rising in the U.S., especially in the South and West, though still well below the heights hit in April, according to a recent Associated Press analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University.
“I really do think we could control this, and it’s the human element that is so critical. It should be an effort of our country. We should be pulling together when we’re in a crisis, and we’re definitely not doing it,” said University of Florida epidemiologist Dr. Cindy Prins.
Adm. Brett Giroir, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, called mask-wearing in public, which has been met with resistance in some U.S. states, “absolutely essential.”
Mr. Giroir, the assistant secretary at the Health and Human Services Department, told ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday that “if we don’t have that, we will not get control of the virus.’’
President Donald Trump wore a mask in public for the first time Saturday, something Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday showed he has “crossed a bridge.”
Ms. Pelosi told CNN’s “State of the Union” that she hopes it means the president “will change his attitude, which will be helpful in stopping the spread of the coronavirus.”
In hard-hit Houston, Texas, two top Democratic officials called for the nation’s fourth-largest city to lock back down as area hospitals strained to accommodate the onslaught of sick patients. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, both Democrats, said this weekend that a stay-at-home order is needed for the city to cope with the surge of COVID-19 cases.
In Florida, where the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, two of four main areas at Walt Disney World reopened Saturday, 15,299 people tested positive, for a total of 269,811 cases, and 45 deaths were recorded, according to state Department of Health statistics reported Sunday.
California had the previous record of daily positive cases – 11,694, set on Wednesday.
The numbers come at the end of a record-breaking week as Florida reported 514 fatalities – an average of 73 per day. Three weeks ago, the state was averaging 30 deaths per day.
Researchers expect deaths to rise in the U.S. for at least some weeks, but some think the count probably will not go up as dramatically as it did in the spring because of several factors, including increased testing.
The World Health Organization, meanwhile, reported another record increase in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases over a 24-hour period, at over 230,000.
The U.N. health agency said the United States again topped the list among countries, with more than 66,000 cases. The figures don’t necessarily account for delays in reporting cases, and are believed to far underestimate actual totals.
NEW RESTRICTIONS IN EASTERN EUROPE
Countries in Eastern Europe were among those facing rising waves of new infections, leading to riots in Serbia, mandatory face masks in Croatia, and travel bans or quarantines imposed by Hungary.
“We see worrisome signs about an increase in the number of cases in the neighboring countries, Europe, and the whole world,” said Gergely Gulyas, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s chief of staff. “Now, we have to protect our own security and prevent the virus from being brought in from abroad."
Hungarian authorities said Sunday they have sorted countries into three categories – red, yellow, and green – based on their rates of new coronavirus infections, and will impose restrictions, including entry bans and mandatory quarantines, depending on which country people are arriving from.
Serbia, where health authorities are warning that hospitals are almost full due to the latest surge, reported 287 new infections on Sunday, although there have been increasing doubts about the accuracy of the figures. Officially, the country has over 18,000 confirmed infections and 382 deaths since March. Sunday’s report of 11 coronavirus deaths was the country's second-highest daily death toll.
Serbian police clashed with anti-government protesters for four nights last week, demonstrations that forced the Serbian president to withdraw plans to reintroduce a coronavirus lockdown. Many of the increasing infections have been blamed on crowded soccer matches, tennis events, and nightclubs.
In Bulgaria, authorities reintroduced restrictions lifted a few weeks ago because of a new surge in cases.
Albania also has seen a significant increase in infections since mid-May, when it eased lockdown measures. The Balkan nation reported 93 new cases, over twice as many as the highest daily figures in March and April, and the health ministry called the situation at the main infectious disease hospital “grave.”
Croatia, whose island-dotted Adriatic Sea coast is a major tourist destination, is making wearing masks mandatory in stores beginning Monday.
Yet the numbers of infections in Eastern Europe pale in comparison to daily coronavirus reports from India, South Africa, and Brazil, whose virus-denying president has tested positive.
India, which has the most cases after the United States and Brazil, saw a record surge of 28,637 cases reported in the past 24 hours. Authorities also announced a weeklong lockdown beginning Tuesday in the key southern technology hub of Bangalore, where the offices of top tech companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon are located.
South Africa has reported over 10,000 new daily cases for several days in a row, including 13,497 new infections announced Saturday night. Johannesburg’s densely populated Soweto township is one of the virus hot spots. With over 264,000 cases and 3,971 deaths, South Africa accounts for over 40% of all the reported coronavirus cases in Africa.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Sunday the country would return to a ban of alcohol sales to reduce the volume of trauma patients so that hospitals have more beds to treat COVID-19. The country is also reinstating a night curfew to reduce traffic accidents and has made it mandatory for all residents to wear face masks in public.
Meanwhile, in Taiwan, which kept its coronavirus outbreak to a few hundred cases, an annual film festival wrapped up with an awards ceremony this weekend where actors and others lined up for photo shoots with no social distancing, and participants didn’t wear masks.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press. Mr. Gorondi reported from Budapest, Hungary. AP writers around the world contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-07-12--Big Hong Kong voter turnout in defiance of Chinese security law

Hong Kong 's opposition camp said on Sunday that over 600,000 citizens in the Chinese-ruled city cast ballots over the weekend in primaries it cast as a symbolic protest vote against tough national security laws imposed by Beijing .
The unofficial poll will decide the strongest pro-democracy candidates to contest elections in September to Hong Kong 's Legislative Council .
Then , they aim to seize majority control for the first time from pro-Beijing rivals by riding a wave of anti-China sentiment stirred by the law , which critics say has gravely undermined Hong Kong 's freedoms .
While the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the level of participation is seen as a guide to popular opinion in the city of 7.5 million people , a major financial hub .
`` A high turnout will send a very strong signal to the international community , that we Hong Kongers never give up , '' said Sunny Cheung , 24 , one of a batch of aspiring young democrats out lobbying and giving stump speeches .
`` And that we still stand with the democratic camp , we still support democracy and freedom . ''
Defying warnings from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote might fall foul of the national security law , residents young and old flocked to over 250 polling stations across the city , manned by thousands of volunteers .
Long queues formed , with people voting via their mobile phones after having their identities verified .
Organizers said 592,000 people had voted online , and 21,000 had cast paper ballots at the end of two full days of polling , - more than expected , and representing around a third of voters who backed the democrats in an election last year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ national security law , there were still 600,000 people coming out , '' said an organizer , Au Nok-hin .
`` You can see the courage of the Hong Kong people in this ... Hong Kongers have created another miracle . ''
The new law punishes what China describes broadly as secession , subversion , terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison and allows mainland security agents to operate officially in Hong Kong for the first time .
Despite this tactical vote to maximize their chances , some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stop some candidates from running in September 's election .
`` They can arrest or disqualify any candidate they do n't like under the national security law without a proper reason , '' said Owen Chow , a young democratic `` localist '' candidate .
At a time when Hong Kong authorities have barred public marches and rallies for months on end amid coronavirus social restrictions , and arrested individuals for shouting slogans and holding up blank sheets of paper , the vote was seen as a crucial and rare window for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel that young people have n't given up yet , even though we are facing a very depressing future , '' said Prince Wong , 22 , a candidate in the New Territories West district .
`` It helps me become more determined to fight . ''
( Writing by James Pomfret ; Editing by Catherine Evans )

Hong Kong's opposition camp said on Sunday that over 600,000 citizens in the Chinese-ruled city cast ballots over the weekend in primaries it cast as a symbolic protest vote against tough national security laws imposed by Beijing.
The unofficial poll will decide the strongest pro-democracy candidates to contest elections in September to Hong Kong's Legislative Council. Then, they aim to seize majority control for the first time from pro-Beijing rivals by riding a wave of anti-China sentiment stirred by the law, which critics say has gravely undermined Hong Kong's freedoms.
While the primaries are only for the opposition camp, the level of participation is seen as a guide to popular opinion in the city of 7.5 million people, a major financial hub.
"A high turnout will send a very strong signal to the international community, that we Hong Kongers never give up," said Sunny Cheung, 24, one of a batch of aspiring young democrats out lobbying and giving stump speeches.
"And that we still stand with the democratic camp, we still support democracy and freedom."
Defying warnings from a senior Hong Kong official that the vote might fall foul of the national security law, residents young and old flocked to over 250 polling stations across the city, manned by thousands of volunteers.
Long queues formed, with people voting via their mobile phones after having their identities verified.
"See the courage"
Organizers said 592,000 people had voted online, and 21,000 had cast paper ballots at the end of two full days of polling – more than expected, and representing around a third of voters who backed the democrats in an election last year.
"Even under the shadow of the national security law, there were still 600,000 people coming out," said an organizer, Au Nok-hin. "You can see the courage of the Hong Kong people in this ... Hong Kongers have created another miracle."
The new law punishes what China describes broadly as secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison and allows mainland security agents to operate officially in Hong Kong for the first time.
Despite this tactical vote to maximize their chances, some pro-democracy activists fear authorities may yet try to stop some candidates from running in September's election.
"They can arrest or disqualify any candidate they don't like under the national security law without a proper reason," said Owen Chow, a young democratic "localist" candidate.
At a time when Hong Kong authorities have barred public marches and rallies for months on end amid coronavirus social restrictions, and arrested individuals for shouting slogans and holding up blank sheets of paper, the vote was seen as a crucial and rare window for populist expression.
"I can really feel that young people haven't given up yet, even though we are facing a very depressing future," said Prince Wong, a candidate in the New Territories West district.
"It helps me become more determined to fight."
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This story was reported by Reuters.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-07-12--Poland presidential vote: What's at stake in Sunday's election

A late exit poll in Poland ’ s presidential runoff Sunday showed the conservative , populist incumbent , Andrzej Duda , leading against the liberal , pro-Europe mayor of Warsaw , but with the race still too close to call .
It appeared to be the closest election in Poland ’ s history , reflecting the deep divisions in this European Union nation .
Although the country is struggling with the coronavirus pandemic and problems in its health and education systems , the campaign was dominated by issues of culture and saw strains of homophobia and anti-Semitism .
The late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Duda with 50.8 % of the vote and challenger Rafal Trzaskowski with 49.2 % .
An earlier exit poll had showed Duda with 50.4 % and Trzaskowski 49.6 % .
The polls had margins of error of plus-or-minus 1 percentage point and 2 points , respectively .
Official results are not expected until Monday or Tuesday .
The results would lead Poland down starkly different political paths , at least until 2023 , when the next parliamentary election is scheduled .
Duda , who is backed by the ruling right-wing Law and Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditional values and social spending in this mostly Catholic nation as he sought a second 5-year term .
As the race became tighter in recent weeks , Duda turned further to the right in search of votes .
He seized on gay rights as a key theme , denouncing the LGBT rights movement as an “ ideology ” worse than communism .
Duda 's campaign also cast Trzaskowski as someone who would sell out Polish families to Jewish interests , tapping into old anti-Semitic tropes in a country that was home to Europe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Germany in the Holocaust .
On Sunday night Duda said he didn ’ t regret anything he said in the campaign because “ I said what I believe.
” Trzaskowski , a former European Parliament lawmaker , jumped into the race relatively late to oppose Duda ’ s and Law and Justice 's erosion of democratic rights under the ruling party .
He represented the centrist opposition Civic Platform party , which was in power in from 2007 to 2015 .
Duda expressed confidence that the results would confirm his victory , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a beautiful testimony of our democracy.
” Duda said the turnout was around 70 % , which would be a record high for a presidential election in the 30 years since Poland threw off communism , embraced democracy and later gained membership in NATO and the EU .
Long lines outside some polling stations Sunday night forced them to stay open past their official closing time of 9 p.m. for what many considered to be one of the most crucial elections in these three decades of democracy .
Those supporting Trzaskowski saw the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ halt an erosion of the rule of law and discriminatory rhetoric under Duda and the ruling party , both in power since 2015 .
At an election night event , Trzaskowski said he still believed the numbers could turn in his favor .
Exit polls do not reflect the votes cast from abroad , and a majority of them were expected to go to Trzaskowski .
He said he was still dreaming of a Poland “ that knows how to rebuild a united society , that is proud of it ’ s tradition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that is just , European , tolerant , where no one divides us.
” If Duda is reelected , the populist Law and Justice party will keep a close ally in the president and maintain its hold on almost all key instruments of power in the nation of 38 million people .
A win for Trzaskowski would give him the power to veto laws passed by the ruling conservatives and give Poland a less contentious relationship with European Union officials .
Duda had the full mobilization of the government , public media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump , who welcomed him at the White House last month and said he was doing a “ terrific job.
” The ballot was supposed to be held in May but after much political wrangling was delayed by health concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Some 30 million voters were eligible to cast ballots .
In the first round with 11 candidates , Duda got 43.5 % support and Trzaskowski 30.5 % .
The ruling party and Duda have won popularity through a welfare program that improved the lives of many impoverished retirees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rural areas and small towns , and also through their attachment to Poland 's traditional Roman Catholic values .
But the ruling party has drawn criticism from EU leaders for taking steps to politically influence the justice system and the media in Poland .
It has also deepened social rifts with verbal attacks on urban liberals , Jews and the LGBT community .
Trzaskowski vowed to close the social rifts in Poland but keep the benefits payments coming .
Sunday 's exit polls showed his support strongest among younger people , in larger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Due to the pandemic , the voting was held under strict sanitary regulations .
Poland has registered over 37,000 infections and almost 1,600 virus-related deaths .
Voters had to wear masks and gloves , maintain a safe distance and use hand sanitizer .
They used their own pens to mark ballots .

A late exit poll in Poland’s presidential runoff Sunday showed the conservative, populist incumbent, Andrzej Duda, leading against the liberal, pro-Europe mayor of Warsaw, but with the race still too close to call.
It appeared to be the closest election in Poland’s history, reflecting the deep divisions in this European Union nation. Although the country is struggling with the coronavirus pandemic and problems in its health and education systems, the campaign was dominated by issues of culture and saw strains of homophobia and anti-Semitism.
The late exit poll by the Ipsos institute showed Mr. Duda with 50.8% of the vote and challenger Rafal Trzaskowski with 49.2%. An earlier exit poll had showed Mr. Duda with 50.4% and Mr. Trzaskowski 49.6%. The polls had margins of error of plus-or-minus 1 percentage point and 2 points, respectively.
Official results are not expected until Monday or Tuesday.
The results would lead Poland down starkly different political paths, at least until 2023, when the next parliamentary election is scheduled.
Mr. Duda, who is backed by the ruling right-wing Law and Justice party and the government, campaigned on traditional values and social spending in this mostly Catholic nation as he sought a second 5-year term.
As the race became tighter in recent weeks, Mr. Duda turned further to the right in search of votes. He seized on gay rights as a key theme, denouncing the LGBT rights movement as an “ideology” worse than communism.
Mr. Duda's campaign also cast Mr. Trzaskowski as someone who would sell out Polish families to Jewish interests, tapping into old anti-Semitic tropes in a country that was home to Europe's largest Jewish community before being decimated by Germany in the Holocaust.
On Sunday night Mr. Duda said he didn’t regret anything he said in the campaign because “I said what I believe.”
Mr. Trzaskowski, a former European Parliament lawmaker, jumped into the race relatively late to oppose Mr. Duda’s and Law and Justice's erosion of democratic rights under the ruling party. He represented the centrist opposition Civic Platform party, which was in power in from 2007 to 2015.
Mr. Duda expressed confidence that the results would confirm his victory, and he called the high turnout “a beautiful testimony of our democracy.”
Mr. Duda said the turnout was around 70%, which would be a record high for a presidential election in the 30 years since Poland threw off communism, embraced democracy and later gained membership in NATO and the EU.
Long lines outside some polling stations Sunday night forced them to stay open past their official closing time of 9 p.m. for what many considered to be one of the most crucial elections in these three decades of democracy.
Those supporting Mr. Trzaskowski saw the election as possibly a last chance to halt an erosion of the rule of law and discriminatory rhetoric under Mr. Duda and the ruling party, both in power since 2015.
At an election night event, Mr. Trzaskowski said he still believed the numbers could turn in his favor. Exit polls do not reflect the votes cast from abroad, and a majority of them were expected to go to Mr. Trzaskowski.
He said he was still dreaming of a Poland “that knows how to rebuild a united society, that is proud of it’s tradition, that is looking to the future, that is just, European, tolerant, where no one divides us.”
If Mr. Duda is reelected, the populist Law and Justice party will keep a close ally in the president and maintain its hold on almost all key instruments of power in the nation of 38 million people. A win for Mr. Trzaskowski would give him the power to veto laws passed by the ruling conservatives and give Poland a less contentious relationship with European Union officials.
Mr. Duda had the full mobilization of the government, public media, and the help of President Donald Trump, who welcomed him at the White House last month and said he was doing a “terrific job.”
The ballot was supposed to be held in May but after much political wrangling was delayed by health concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic. Some 30 million voters were eligible to cast ballots. In the first round with 11 candidates, Mr. Duda got 43.5% support and Mr. Trzaskowski 30.5%.
The ruling party and Mr. Duda have won popularity through a welfare program that improved the lives of many impoverished retirees and families with children, especially in rural areas and small towns, and also through their attachment to Poland's traditional Roman Catholic values.
But the ruling party has drawn criticism from EU leaders for taking steps to politically influence the justice system and the media in Poland. It has also deepened social rifts with verbal attacks on urban liberals, Jews, and the LGBT community.
Mr. Trzaskowski vowed to close the social rifts in Poland but keep the benefits payments coming. Sunday's exit polls showed his support strongest among younger people, in larger cities and among more highly educated people.
Due to the pandemic, the voting was held under strict sanitary regulations. Poland has registered over 37,000 infections and almost 1,600 virus-related deaths. Voters had to wear masks and gloves, maintain a safe distance and use hand sanitizer. They used their own pens to mark ballots.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-07-13--Trump’s Roger Stone commutation: Was it ‘corrupt’?

“ Unprecedented , historic corruption : an American president commutes the sentence of a person convicted by a jury of lying to shield that very president , ” said Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah , in a statement .
The commutation might also ensure that one of the great mysteries of special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s Russia investigation remains unsolved : whether Mr. Stone communicated with Russian cat's-paw WikiLeaks in advance of its release of information damaging to Hillary Clinton , and whether he apprised candidate Donald Trump of that at the time .
Yet it was still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ act finally occurred .
President Trump was not only relieving Mr. Stone of the threat of jail .
He might also have been removing a threat of future exposure of wrongdoing from someone else : himself .
It was entirely predictable in that anyone who ’ s paid much attention to the subject has seen it coming for months .
President Trump has long complained about what he perceives as the unfairness of Mr. Stone ’ s prosecution .
Mr. Stone , for his part , openly pleaded for his old friend to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s commutation of the prison sentence of longtime advisor Roger Stone last Friday night was entirely predictable , and shocking at the same time .
President Donald Trump ’ s commutation of the prison sentence of longtime adviser Roger Stone last Friday night was entirely predictable , and shocking at the same time .
It was entirely predictable in that anyone who ’ s paid much attention to the subject has seen it coming for months .
President Trump has long complained about what he perceives as the unfairness of Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for his part , openly pleaded for his old friend to save him from prison .
Yet it was still shocking to consider the consequences when the act finally occurred .
President Trump was not only relieving Mr. Stone of the threat of jail .
He might also have been removing a threat of future exposure of wrongdoing from someone else : himself .
The Stone commutation might also ensure that one of the great mysteries revealed by special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s Russia investigation remains unsolved : whether Roger Stone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its release of information damaging to Hillary Clinton , and whether he apprised candidate Donald Trump of that at the time .
That channel , if it existed , might , theoretically , have involved coordination or collusion , and certainly communication , between known Russian agents and members of the Trump team .
Of all the threads left dangling by special counsel Mueller , it ’ s perhaps the most intriguing .
“ Unprecedented historic corruption – an American president commutes the sentence of a person convicted by a jury of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Sen. Mitt Romney , Republican of Utah , in a statement on the Stone commutation .
In written answers to Mr. Mueller ’ s inquiries , President Trump said that he did not recall “ the specifics of any call ” he had with Mr. Stone during the 2016 campaign .
He did not recall any discussion of WikiLeaks and possible upcoming releases of any information damaging to the Clinton campaign , he said .
But at the least , redactions from the original Mueller report recently made public suggest the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his written responses to questions about his dealings with Mr. Stone .
Then-candidate Trump had direct knowledge of Mr. Stone ’ s outreach to WikiLeaks , according to multiple witnesses cited by Mr. Mueller .
The candidate pushed his staff , hard , to continue that outreach .
Campaign chairman Paul Manafort said Mr. Trump personally told him to follow up the Stone connection .
It ’ s possible President Trump simply forgot these details after several years had passed .
“ But the President ’ s conduct could also be viewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide evidence that would run counter to the President ’ s denials and would link the President to Stone ’ s efforts to reach out to WikiLeaks , ” the Mueller Report concludes .
The White House , for its part , has defended the commutation in part by flipping the table and saying that it was the Mueller investigation that was corrupt .
Mr. Stone ’ s prosecution and sentence , seen through that lens , could be regarded as illegitimate .
“ Roger Stone was treated very unfairly , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roger Stone was brought into this witch hunt , this whole political witch hunt , and the Mueller scam – it ’ s a scam , because it ’ s been proven false – and he was treated very unfairly.
” But that statement runs contrary to the stated opinion of Attorney General William Barr , who , although critical of the Mueller probe , has called Mr. Stone ’ s prosecution “ righteous.
” Mr. Mueller , breaking a long silence , published an Op-Ed in the Washington Post over the weekend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stone prosecution in particular .
He pointed out that Mr. Stone lied to Congress repeatedly , about everything from the identity of his intermediary with WikiLeaks to his communications with the Trump campaign .
Mr. Stone tampered with a witness as well , threatening among other things to do violence to the witness ’ s beloved dog .
“ When a subject lies to investigators , it strikes at the core of the government ’ s efforts to find the truth and hold wrongdoers accountable , ” Mr. Mueller wrote .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he added .

“Unprecedented, historic corruption: an American president commutes the sentence of a person convicted by a jury of lying to shield that very president,” said Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, in a statement .
The commutation might also ensure that one of the great mysteries of special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation remains unsolved: whether Mr. Stone communicated with Russian cat's-paw WikiLeaks in advance of its release of information damaging to Hillary Clinton, and whether he apprised candidate Donald Trump of that at the time.
Yet it was still shocking to consider the consequences when the act finally occurred. President Trump was not only relieving Mr. Stone of the threat of jail. He might also have been removing a threat of future exposure of wrongdoing from someone else: himself.
The commutation of Roger Stone's sentence may ensure that one of the central questions of the Mueller investigation – whether there was coordination or communication between Russian agents and members of the Trump team – will remain unknown.
It was entirely predictable in that anyone who’s paid much attention to the subject has seen it coming for months. President Trump has long complained about what he perceives as the unfairness of Mr. Stone’s prosecution. Mr. Stone, for his part, openly pleaded for his old friend to save him from prison.
President Donald Trump’s commutation of the prison sentence of longtime advisor Roger Stone last Friday night was entirely predictable, and shocking at the same time.
President Donald Trump’s commutation of the prison sentence of longtime adviser Roger Stone last Friday night was entirely predictable, and shocking at the same time.
It was entirely predictable in that anyone who’s paid much attention to the subject has seen it coming for months. President Trump has long complained about what he perceives as the unfairness of Mr. Stone’s prosecution. Mr. Stone, for his part, openly pleaded for his old friend to save him from prison.
Yet it was still shocking to consider the consequences when the act finally occurred. President Trump was not only relieving Mr. Stone of the threat of jail. He might also have been removing a threat of future exposure of wrongdoing from someone else: himself.
Why We Wrote This The commutation of Roger Stone's sentence may ensure that one of the central questions of the Mueller investigation – whether there was coordination or communication between Russian agents and members of the Trump team – will remain unknown.
The Stone commutation might also ensure that one of the great mysteries revealed by special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation remains unsolved: whether Roger Stone communicated with Russian cat's-paw WikiLeaks in advance of its release of information damaging to Hillary Clinton, and whether he apprised candidate Donald Trump of that at the time.
That channel, if it existed, might, theoretically, have involved coordination or collusion, and certainly communication, between known Russian agents and members of the Trump team. Of all the threads left dangling by special counsel Mueller, it’s perhaps the most intriguing.
“Unprecedented historic corruption – an American president commutes the sentence of a person convicted by a jury of lying to shield that very president,” said Sen. Mitt Romney, Republican of Utah, in a statement on the Stone commutation.
In written answers to Mr. Mueller’s inquiries, President Trump said that he did not recall “the specifics of any call” he had with Mr. Stone during the 2016 campaign. He did not recall any discussion of WikiLeaks and possible upcoming releases of any information damaging to the Clinton campaign, he said.
But at the least, redactions from the original Mueller report recently made public suggest the Mueller team strongly suspected the president lied in his written responses to questions about his dealings with Mr. Stone. Then-candidate Trump had direct knowledge of Mr. Stone’s outreach to WikiLeaks, according to multiple witnesses cited by Mr. Mueller. The candidate pushed his staff, hard, to continue that outreach. Campaign chairman Paul Manafort said Mr. Trump personally told him to follow up the Stone connection.
It’s possible President Trump simply forgot these details after several years had passed.
“But the President’s conduct could also be viewed as reflecting his awareness that Stone could provide evidence that would run counter to the President’s denials and would link the President to Stone’s efforts to reach out to WikiLeaks,” the Mueller Report concludes.
The White House, for its part, has defended the commutation in part by flipping the table and saying that it was the Mueller investigation that was corrupt. Mr. Stone’s prosecution and sentence, seen through that lens, could be regarded as illegitimate.
“Roger Stone was treated very unfairly,” said President Trump over the weekend. ”Roger Stone was brought into this witch hunt, this whole political witch hunt, and the Mueller scam – it’s a scam, because it’s been proven false – and he was treated very unfairly.”
But that statement runs contrary to the stated opinion of Attorney General William Barr, who, although critical of the Mueller probe, has called Mr. Stone’s prosecution “righteous.”
Mr. Mueller, breaking a long silence, published an Op-Ed in the Washington Post over the weekend defending his investigation in general and the Stone prosecution in particular. He pointed out that Mr. Stone lied to Congress repeatedly, about everything from the identity of his intermediary with WikiLeaks to his communications with the Trump campaign. Mr. Stone tampered with a witness as well, threatening among other things to do violence to the witness’s beloved dog.
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“When a subject lies to investigators, it strikes at the core of the government’s efforts to find the truth and hold wrongdoers accountable,” Mr. Mueller wrote.
“It may ultimately impede those efforts,” he added.


csmonitor--2020-07-13--‘Confess these sins’: white Evangelical churches reflect on racism

But one sermon can matter – at least Mr. Rutland ’ s did to Abby Maddox .
“ I just wanted to stand up and cheer , ” she says .
“ We ’ re called to mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice .
And we ’ ve got a whole group of people who are mourning right now.
” “ We have a history of this , ” says Taylor Rutland , a pastor at First Baptist , who first preached racism as a sin on June 7 .
“ And so we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and confess these sins and repent of them in order to move forward.
” Says historian Jemar Tisby , “ Christianity in the United States has been coded as white , which means that any attempt to identify whiteness and white supremacy in it is taken as an attack on the faith.
” In Dothan , Alabama , First Baptist Church , like many white , Evangelical churches nationwide , is now addressing issues related to race for the first time .
Motivated by the Black Lives Matter movement , faith groups from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States Conference of Catholic Bishops have acknowledged that systemic racism remains today , and that churches can ’ t ignore it .
Their challenge now , experts say , is that they ’ ve historically done just that .
By early June , Taylor Rutland was certain God wanted him to preach about racism .
What he didn ’ t know is how his congregation would react .
Mr. Rutland pastors First Baptist Church of Dothan , Alabama – a Bible belt town just above the Florida border .
Like many white Evangelical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost never discusses racism .
And like many such churches in the South , he says , First Baptist has racism in its past .
In 1961 , the church voted to stop funding Southern Baptist Theological Seminary after the Rev .
Martin Luther King Jr. visited campus .
So on June 7 , after delivering his first sermon on racism as sin , Mr. Rutland says he felt comforted to hear congregants tell him they wish he ’ d addressed it sooner .
“ We have a history of this , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve got to go before the Lord and confess these sins and repent of them in order to move forward.
” But moving forward may be a long , narrow road .
First Baptist , like many white , evangelical churches nationwide , is now addressing issues related to race for the first time .
Motivated by the Black Lives Matter movement , faith groups from the Southern Baptist Convention to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have acknowledged that systemic racism remains today , and that churches can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts say , is that they ’ ve historically done just that .
The church has long been one of the country ’ s most racially divisive institutions , historians say – so much so that denominations remain largely segregated .
( It has also been a frequent setting for racially motivated violence . )
As many white congregations now call for reform , many Black church leaders say real change demands much more than a sermon , statement , or conference .
“ Even as Christian leaders and institutions make statements and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future , very few are taking a critical look at their own history , ” says Jemar Tisby , a historian and president of The Witness , a Black Christian collective .
“ For us , racial justice is an ongoing pursuit .
It ’ s not seasonal according to events or headlines of the day.
” When the past is silence To build a lasting commitment to faith-based racial justice , white churches need to understand their past .
That past is one of silence , segregation , and complicity , says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism existed in the church just as it did in the rest of society , says Michael Emerson , head of sociology at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a leading expert on race and religion .
For a long time , white Americans debated whether Black Americans could even be Christian .
Even after the Civil War , says Professor Emerson , white churches still refused to integrate – entrenching a spiritual divide that remains today .
“ We ’ ve had 160-plus years of separate cultures forming , with different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bible , different music that ’ s listened to , and I think most fundamentally completely different lived realities.
” Such a long rupture has made it so that integration now requires more than mixing white and Black congregants , experts say ; it requires bridging institutions , whose differences saturate to their very theology .
“ Christianity in the United States has been coded as white , which means that any attempt to identify whiteness and white supremacy in it is taken as an attack on the faith , ” says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blend of white supremacy and Christianity , he says , has evolved with the times .
It existed when white churches used the Bible to defend slavery , when the Ku Klux Klan burned crosses during Jim Crow , when pastors remained silent during the civil rights era , and now , when many white churches avoid addressing racism today .
Mr. Rutland says he understands why many pastors – particularly those in the South – are so reluctant to preach on issues of racial justice .
No congregant wants to be called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no one wants sermons to get too political .
Yet the common evangelical refrain that politics should be kept from the pulpit can be rather hypocritical , given how active they are on other social issues , such as abortion and LGBTQ rights , says Russell Moore , president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission at the Southern Baptist Convention .
The question for Evangelicals – and white churches more broadly – is not whether they should be socially active , says Mr. Moore .
It ’ s whether they should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the subject is race , there ’ s a temptation for white Christians to suddenly become mute or very ambiguous , ” he says .
“ That was the case in 1963 .
That ’ s the case in many contexts in 2020.
” Meanwhile , promoting racial equity has long been one of the key roles of the Black church , which has historically connected social and spiritual liberation , says Anthea Butler , a professor of religious studies at the University of Pennsylvania .
To join that movement in earnest , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to dismantle systems of structural racism that disproportionately benefit them – some of which they helped create .
As always , change comes at a cost , says the Rev .
Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes III of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas .
But accepting that cost to uplift the most vulnerable in society , he says , is the gift of religion .
The church , in his opinion , needs the “ moral courage ” to promote a more equal future and the humility to admit failures in the past .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ grandfather were also ministers , is all too familiar with those failures .
In 1991 , he remembers the heartbreak of addressing his church after the beating of Rodney King .
It was a similar feeling , he says , when he spoke on the death of George Floyd this year .
Both times , he says , he took that pain and laid it before his congregation .
In his opinion , advocating racial justice is the responsibility of every church – including white evangelicals , who may at first need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve been quiet for 400-plus years and all of a sudden you say something for a week , I ’ m sorry , ” he says .
“ That ’ s not enough.
” Mr. Rutland agrees .
Still , even he admits that had this summer ’ s protests not come , he doesn ’ t know when he would have first preached on racism .
He plans his sermons in advance , he says , and the topic wasn ’ t on the docket .
“ We should have responded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we didn ’ t , ” he says .
“ We can ’ t just act like because I preached one sermon on racism we ’ ve arrived.
” But after decades of silence , one sermon can matter – at least Mr. Rutland ’ s did to Abby Maddox , a congregant at First Baptist for most of her life .
“ I just wanted to stand up and cheer , ” she says .
“ We ’ re called to mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a whole group of people who are mourning right now.
” Mourning , for her , has involved reflecting on racism in her community , and even her own life .
She ’ s been reading books on race theory , attending a discussion group with friends , and having hard conversations with her children and family .
People need to talk about the issue to make it better , she says , but making it better requires more than talking .
The change needs to last .
In the eyes of Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change doesn ’ t come from the many who join a movement when it ’ s easy .
It comes from the few who remain , who adopt social justice as a way of life .
The current level of activism around racial justice is unsustainable , he says .
So , when it wanes , who will be left ?
That ’ s a question the Rev .
Reginald Davis , of First Baptist Church in Williamsburg , Virginia , also has in mind .
Founded in 1776 by a group of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he says , First Baptist is one of the oldest Black churches in the nation .
Martin Luther King Jr. visited in the early ’ 60s , and the crowd was so large that many listened through open windows on the street .
“ Black Americans , we have fought about this .
We have preached about this .
We have marched about this .
We ’ ve been jailed about it .
We have written about it .
And we died for it , ” says Mr. Davis .
“ But it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans have not gotten involved.
” For the first time ever , he ’ s seen a large number of white Americans getting involved .
The question now , he says , is who will remain .
“ When the media walks away , the cameras are not on us , the interviews are gone , if we don ’ t engage the system to correct the systemic problems , ” he says , “ we ’ ll come right back to where we were before .
”

But one sermon can matter – at least Mr. Rutland’s did to Abby Maddox. “I just wanted to stand up and cheer,” she says. “We’re called to mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice. And we’ve got a whole group of people who are mourning right now.”
“We have a history of this,” says Taylor Rutland, a pastor at First Baptist, who first preached racism as a sin on June 7. “And so we’ve got to go before the Lord and confess these sins and repent of them in order to move forward.”
In this wave of awareness on racism in America, the discussion is moving into Evangelical churches. Black religious leaders call for a recognition of the past and sustained effort into the future.
Says historian Jemar Tisby, “Christianity in the United States has been coded as white, which means that any attempt to identify whiteness and white supremacy in it is taken as an attack on the faith.”
In Dothan, Alabama, First Baptist Church, like many white, Evangelical churches nationwide, is now addressing issues related to race for the first time. Motivated by the Black Lives Matter movement, faith groups from the Southern Baptist Convention to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have acknowledged that systemic racism remains today, and that churches can’t ignore it. Their challenge now, experts say, is that they’ve historically done just that.
By early June, Taylor Rutland was certain God wanted him to preach about racism. What he didn’t know is how his congregation would react.
Mr. Rutland pastors First Baptist Church of Dothan, Alabama – a Bible belt town just above the Florida border. Like many white Evangelical churches, he says, First Baptist almost never discusses racism. And like many such churches in the South, he says, First Baptist has racism in its past. In 1961, the church voted to stop funding Southern Baptist Theological Seminary after the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. visited campus.
So on June 7, after delivering his first sermon on racism as sin, Mr. Rutland says he felt comforted to hear congregants tell him they wish he’d addressed it sooner.
Why We Wrote This In this wave of awareness on racism in America, the discussion is moving into Evangelical churches. Black religious leaders call for a recognition of the past and sustained effort into the future.
“We have a history of this,” he says. “And so we’ve got to go before the Lord and confess these sins and repent of them in order to move forward.”
But moving forward may be a long, narrow road. First Baptist, like many white, evangelical churches nationwide, is now addressing issues related to race for the first time. Motivated by the Black Lives Matter movement, faith groups from the Southern Baptist Convention to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have acknowledged that systemic racism remains today, and that churches can’t ignore it. Their challenge now, experts say, is that they’ve historically done just that.
The church has long been one of the country’s most racially divisive institutions, historians say – so much so that denominations remain largely segregated. (It has also been a frequent setting for racially motivated violence.) As many white congregations now call for reform, many Black church leaders say real change demands much more than a sermon, statement, or conference.
“Even as Christian leaders and institutions make statements and make commitments to racial justice in the future, very few are taking a critical look at their own history,” says Jemar Tisby, a historian and president of The Witness, a Black Christian collective. “For us, racial justice is an ongoing pursuit. It’s not seasonal according to events or headlines of the day.”
When the past is silence
To build a lasting commitment to faith-based racial justice, white churches need to understand their past. That past is one of silence, segregation, and complicity, says Mr. Tisby.
In early America, racism existed in the church just as it did in the rest of society, says Michael Emerson, head of sociology at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a leading expert on race and religion. For a long time, white Americans debated whether Black Americans could even be Christian. Even after the Civil War, says Professor Emerson, white churches still refused to integrate – entrenching a spiritual divide that remains today.
“We’ve had 160-plus years of separate cultures forming, with different authors people read, different interpretations of the Bible, different music that’s listened to, and I think most fundamentally completely different lived realities.”
Courtesy of Neaz Arefin View caption Hide caption The Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III, lead pastor at Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, says it is critical to address systemic and structural racism. Otherwise, "it's almost as if you want to clean the attic of cobwebs, but you don't want to address the spider."
Such a long rupture has made it so that integration now requires more than mixing white and Black congregants, experts say; it requires bridging institutions, whose differences saturate to their very theology.
“Christianity in the United States has been coded as white, which means that any attempt to identify whiteness and white supremacy in it is taken as an attack on the faith,” says Mr. Tisby. America’s distinct blend of white supremacy and Christianity, he says, has evolved with the times. It existed when white churches used the Bible to defend slavery, when the Ku Klux Klan burned crosses during Jim Crow, when pastors remained silent during the civil rights era, and now, when many white churches avoid addressing racism today.
Consistency of activism
Mr. Rutland says he understands why many pastors – particularly those in the South – are so reluctant to preach on issues of racial justice. No congregant wants to be called a racist, he says, and no one wants sermons to get too political.
Yet the common evangelical refrain that politics should be kept from the pulpit can be rather hypocritical, given how active they are on other social issues, such as abortion and LGBTQ rights, says Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission at the Southern Baptist Convention.
The question for Evangelicals – and white churches more broadly – is not whether they should be socially active, says Mr. Moore. It’s whether they should be consistent in their activism.
“When the subject is race, there’s a temptation for white Christians to suddenly become mute or very ambiguous,” he says. “That was the case in 1963. That’s the case in many contexts in 2020.”
Meanwhile, promoting racial equity has long been one of the key roles of the Black church, which has historically connected social and spiritual liberation, says Anthea Butler, a professor of religious studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
To join that movement in earnest, she says, white churches will need to dismantle systems of structural racism that disproportionately benefit them – some of which they helped create.
As always, change comes at a cost, says the Rev. Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes III of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas. But accepting that cost to uplift the most vulnerable in society, he says, is the gift of religion.
The church, in his opinion, needs the “moral courage” to promote a more equal future and the humility to admit failures in the past. Rev. Haynes, whose father and grandfather were also ministers, is all too familiar with those failures.
Daryl Sullivan/The Daily Times/AP/File View caption Hide caption The Rev. Dr. Willa Estell (left), receives a standing ovation at the end of a rally Aug. 23, 2017, at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Alcoa, Tennessee, when she speaks about why it is important to say "Black Lives Matter." She is pastor of St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church in neighboring Maryville.
In 1991, he remembers the heartbreak of addressing his church after the beating of Rodney King. It was a similar feeling, he says, when he spoke on the death of George Floyd this year. Both times, he says, he took that pain and laid it before his congregation. In his opinion, advocating racial justice is the responsibility of every church – including white evangelicals, who may at first need to listen and learn.
“If you’ve been quiet for 400-plus years and all of a sudden you say something for a week, I’m sorry,” he says. “That’s not enough.”
After the spotlight
Mr. Rutland agrees. Still, even he admits that had this summer’s protests not come, he doesn’t know when he would have first preached on racism. He plans his sermons in advance, he says, and the topic wasn’t on the docket.
“We should have responded to this hundreds of years ago, and we didn’t,” he says. “We can’t just act like because I preached one sermon on racism we’ve arrived.”
But after decades of silence, one sermon can matter – at least Mr. Rutland’s did to Abby Maddox, a congregant at First Baptist for most of her life.
“I just wanted to stand up and cheer,” she says. “We’re called to mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice. And we’ve got a whole group of people who are mourning right now.”
Mourning, for her, has involved reflecting on racism in her community, and even her own life. She’s been reading books on race theory, attending a discussion group with friends, and having hard conversations with her children and family. People need to talk about the issue to make it better, she says, but making it better requires more than talking. The change needs to last.
In the eyes of Mr. Tisby, leader of The Witness, change doesn’t come from the many who join a movement when it’s easy. It comes from the few who remain, who adopt social justice as a way of life. The current level of activism around racial justice is unsustainable, he says. So, when it wanes, who will be left?
That’s a question the Rev. Reginald Davis, of First Baptist Church in Williamsburg, Virginia, also has in mind. Founded in 1776 by a group of slaves worshiping in a carriage house, he says, First Baptist is one of the oldest Black churches in the nation. Martin Luther King Jr. visited in the early ’60s, and the crowd was so large that many listened through open windows on the street.
“Black Americans, we have fought about this. We have preached about this. We have marched about this. We’ve been jailed about it. We have written about it. And we died for it,” says Mr. Davis. “But it has not been solved because enough white Americans have not gotten involved.”
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For the first time ever, he’s seen a large number of white Americans getting involved. The question now, he says, is who will remain.
“When the media walks away, the cameras are not on us, the interviews are gone, if we don’t engage the system to correct the systemic problems,” he says, “we’ll come right back to where we were before.”