washingtontimes--2020-05-24--Polk charity works to stave off hunger for migrant families

MULBERRY , Fla. ( AP ) - Their hands have spent countless hours plucking strawberries , squash and other fruits and vegetables that would eventually end up on the plates and in the stomachs of people they will never meet .
As they waited outside their meager homes Wednesday afternoon ( May 13 ) , the farmworkers used those hands to receive bags and boxes of food for their families , crucial deliveries that lessen their anxiety during a period of lost work and financial insecurity .
A black pickup truck crept along the single unpaved road that bisects a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trailers in the Willow Oak area outside Mulberry .
Families of migrant laborers , including plenty of young children , responded with smiles and waves as volunteers hauled packages of food from the truck ’ s cab and handed them to the residents .
When a pair of onions dropped from a heavy sack one of the volunteers had lifted , two young girls scampered into the road to retrieve them and shyly hand them back to the man .
The volunteers represent Called To Serve Farmworkers , an organization founded by Dani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a beloved presence among local farm laborers through her job as a migrant interventionist teacher for Polk County Public Schools and through her volunteer efforts of several years that she expects to soon gain official nonprofit status .
One of the volunteers is Juan Vazquez , himself a member of a migrant farmworker family .
Vazquez , now a political science student at Michigan State University , has been home in Mulberry since the school went to remote instruction weeks ago .
Vazquez , 20 , said he draws pleasure from seeing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the food deliveries .
“ It ’ s been pretty cool , ” he said .
“ I see kids , they run to us .
It ’ s a pretty good feeling .
They ’ re so excited to see us .
They know Ms. Dani already , so they know when Ms. Dani shows up something good will happen.
” Higgins ’ organization has been coordinating the relief program with the Redlands Christian Migrant Association , a nonprofit located about a mile from the trailer park .
The response to emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involves local churches , and Higgins has received financial support from United Way of Central Florida .
The Mulberry area and Wahneta in east Polk County have large concentrations of farm laborers .
The workers , almost all of them immigrants , pick fruit and vegetables in Florida in the fall through spring , and many travel to northern states in the summer , when crops there are ready to be harvested .
In her job with the school district , Higgins seeks to ensure that children of migrant workers receive educational support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ language deficits and poverty .
With Called To Serve Farmworkers , Higgins focuses on addressing basic needs that don ’ t fit the parameters of her job and continue beyond the school day and academic year .
Higgins has fostered a close partnership with Lourdes Villanueva , director of Redlands Christian Migrant Association .
The nonprofit , founded in South Florida in 1965 , operates 66 child-development centers in 21 counties .
At its 34-acre campus outside Mulberry , RCMA runs a Child Development Center offering a Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The program , which included about 160 children this school year , also offers health services through collaborations with state agencies and nonprofits .
Villanueva is a former migrant worker who dropped out of school in ninth grade .
She later earned a degree in social work through night classes , and she has served as a migrant worker advocate for about 40 years .
Farm laborers struggle financially even in normal circumstances , but Villanueva said the COVID-19 pandemic has created a sudden and unforeseen crisis .
Migrant families ’ work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agriculture system , and the shift to remote learning by schools has forced parents to stay home with children or pay for childcare during the day .
RCMA suspended its child-development services this spring as concerns about the spread of COVID-19 led to a staffing shortage , Villanueva said .
That , combined with the closing of schools , meant migrant families suddenly had to provide their own care for children ranging from infancy through high school .
“ It happened at a time where it was the peak of season and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pay their rent and just get on their feet to continue on for the summer or move up north or whatever it is that they needed to do , ” Villanueva said .
“ But with the schools closing , that immediately put them in a huge disadvantage in terms of even for two ( parent ) families , one had to deal with taking care of the kids.
” On top of that , Villanueva said farm work declined during the strawberry and blueberry seasons as closings of restaurants led some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make financial sense to have crops harvested .
At this point , local laborers must travel farther to farms that grow such late-spring crops as tomatoes and squash .
Many migrant families will soon head north to pick crops in North Carolina , Michigan and other states .
Villanueva said many local farmworkers ’ families have “ mixed ” status , including American citizens or legal residents along with those living in the country without permission .
She said such families are ineligible for relief money issued by the federal government , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Migrant workers are also coping with concerns about contracting the virus .
Villanueva and other advocates say some growers do not provide protective gear for those who pick crops .
Workers also must ride on buses to work sites , making it difficult or impossible to keep a safe distance from others .
Villanueva said she doesn ’ t know of any cases of COVID-19 among Mulberry ’ s migrant families .
She worries that if a case did arise , the infection might spread rapidly because of the community ’ s housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Higgins ’ group provides about 100 food bags for children to take home on the weekends .
With students away from local schools since March 13 , migrant children whose families lack transportation have missed out on free meals at schools .
Seeing what was happening , Higgins and others sprang to address the hunger issue .
Churches have donated money and food , and Called To Serve Farmworkers has drawn support from United Way of Central Florida through the George W. Jenkins End Hunger Initiative .
Higgins has formed connections with local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the collaborations began a few years ago when Jere Gault , a real-estate broker and a member of First United Methodist Church in Lakeland , took a keen interest in the plight of local farmworkers .
Higgins ’ organization now draws support from several other local churches , including First Assembly of Mulberry , known as FAM Church .
Pastor Brian Lane said he arrived at the church about five years ago and began seeking ways to fill community needs that were going unmet .
He said the church began collaborating with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years ago .
The church offers food each Monday for local residents to come and collect , and Lane began setting aside food boxes for distribution to farmworker families .
FAM Church buys food from Feeding Tampa Bay , a charity that supports food pantries in 10 counties .
During the pandemic , Lane said , the organization has been providing some food at no cost .
Reacting to the COVID-19 emergency , Lane and church members decided to prepare 300 hot meals for delivery to the migrant camp on Tuesday and Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yellow rice , chicken , corn and desserts provided by Mulberry United Methodist Church .
“ I can hack my way through some Spanish , but she ( Higgins ) hooks us up with a couple Spanish speakers and we go out and hand out the food , ” Lane said .
“ When we first started , you could see some reservation there .
But now when they see our church van pull in , they know what ’ s going on and they actually come out to meet us and talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would like to address the child-care needs of migrant families , but he said all of their applications for grant money have so far been denied .
Since the crisis began , Called To Serve Farmworkers has been collecting and delivering 125 bags of food to farmworker families one day a week .
On other days , the organization distributes items it receives from churches , and twice a month , volunteers hand out food provided by United Way of Central Florida .
Some of the volunteers are college students from migrant families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attending local schools .
The volunteer cadre also includes current farmworkers .
“ So these are people who work all day and they come and take food out to their neighbors and such , ” Higgins said .
One of the twice-monthly food drops from United Way occurred Wednesday afternoon .
Higgins and about a dozen volunteers gathered in front of a building on the RCMA campus , where they lined up boxes and bags of food on a row of tables and on the ground .
The bounty included boxes of raw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and sausages ; bags of potatoes , onions , tomatoes , oranges and mangos ; bags of Japanese-style fried rice ; gallon jugs of milk ; and containers of store-made dinner rolls , chocolate chip cookies and cheese puff pastries .
A long line of vehicles formed , and recipients waited for their chance to have food packages loaded into their trunks or truck beds .
United Way had advertised the giveaway , and the dozens of families that showed up included some who were not migrant workers , Higgins said .
Volunteers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they toiled in assembly-line fashion to deliver uniform packages to each of the vehicles .
Adriana Enriquez led a small group of volunteers who loaded food packages into the bed of her truck for a delivery to the migrant camp .
Enriquez , 30 , wore a green shirt with the words “ PHENOMENAL FARMWORKER ” on the front in orange letters .
Enriquez had spent the day picking zucchini at a field in Plant City before coming to help distribute food to fellow migrants , and she was joined by her daughter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mulberry High School .
Why engage in sweaty volunteer efforts and hours spent toiling in a zucchini field ?
“ Because I know it ’ s needed for the families and some of them don ’ t have cars to go and pick up the food , ” Enriquez said .
“ They get excited and happy on these days because it ’ s hard for them to buy food.
” Though the trailers appeared ancient , residents had painted some of them in buoyant hues ― strawberry red , turquoise and aquamarine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trailers were decorated with strings of small Christmas lights .
The truck ’ s arrival beckoned some families outside , where they stood quietly while waiting for the food .
At one trailer , a pair of preteen boys played with a Chihuahua puppy .
“ Gracias , ” the Spanish word for “ thank you , ” was heard often .
Higgins said she often receives messages of gratitude from the migrant families .
One woman , who wanted to be known only by her first name , Elva , sends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thank you very much Dani , ” the woman wrote in one recent message , translated from Spanish .
“ God will multiply blessings in infinite abundance .
You are an angel on earth and all those young people who walk carrying food .
”

MULBERRY, Fla. (AP) - Their hands have spent countless hours plucking strawberries, squash and other fruits and vegetables that would eventually end up on the plates and in the stomachs of people they will never meet.
As they waited outside their meager homes Wednesday afternoon (May 13), the farmworkers used those hands to receive bags and boxes of food for their families, crucial deliveries that lessen their anxiety during a period of lost work and financial insecurity.
A black pickup truck crept along the single unpaved road that bisects a collection of about 20 manufactured homes and trailers in the Willow Oak area outside Mulberry. Families of migrant laborers, including plenty of young children, responded with smiles and waves as volunteers hauled packages of food from the truck’s cab and handed them to the residents.
When a pair of onions dropped from a heavy sack one of the volunteers had lifted, two young girls scampered into the road to retrieve them and shyly hand them back to the man.
The volunteers represent Called To Serve Farmworkers, an organization founded by Dani Higgins of Lakeland. Higgins has become a beloved presence among local farm laborers through her job as a migrant interventionist teacher for Polk County Public Schools and through her volunteer efforts of several years that she expects to soon gain official nonprofit status.
One of the volunteers is Juan Vazquez, himself a member of a migrant farmworker family. Vazquez, now a political science student at Michigan State University, has been home in Mulberry since the school went to remote instruction weeks ago.
Vazquez, 20, said he draws pleasure from seeing the reactions of the camp residents who receive the food deliveries.
“It’s been pretty cool,” he said. “I see kids, they run to us. It’s a pretty good feeling. They’re so excited to see us. They know Ms. Dani already, so they know when Ms. Dani shows up something good will happen.”
Higgins’ organization has been coordinating the relief program with the Redlands Christian Migrant Association, a nonprofit located about a mile from the trailer park. The response to emergency needs created by the COVID-19 crisis also involves local churches, and Higgins has received financial support from United Way of Central Florida.
The Mulberry area and Wahneta in east Polk County have large concentrations of farm laborers. The workers, almost all of them immigrants, pick fruit and vegetables in Florida in the fall through spring, and many travel to northern states in the summer, when crops there are ready to be harvested.
In her job with the school district, Higgins seeks to ensure that children of migrant workers receive educational support as they face such disadvantages as English language deficits and poverty. With Called To Serve Farmworkers, Higgins focuses on addressing basic needs that don’t fit the parameters of her job and continue beyond the school day and academic year.
Higgins has fostered a close partnership with Lourdes Villanueva, director of Redlands Christian Migrant Association. The nonprofit, founded in South Florida in 1965, operates 66 child-development centers in 21 counties.
At its 34-acre campus outside Mulberry, RCMA runs a Child Development Center offering a Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program that serves children up to age 5. The program, which included about 160 children this school year, also offers health services through collaborations with state agencies and nonprofits.
Villanueva is a former migrant worker who dropped out of school in ninth grade. She later earned a degree in social work through night classes, and she has served as a migrant worker advocate for about 40 years.
Farm laborers struggle financially even in normal circumstances, but Villanueva said the COVID-19 pandemic has created a sudden and unforeseen crisis. Migrant families’ work opportunities have receded amid disruptions to the agriculture system, and the shift to remote learning by schools has forced parents to stay home with children or pay for childcare during the day.
RCMA suspended its child-development services this spring as concerns about the spread of COVID-19 led to a staffing shortage, Villanueva said. That, combined with the closing of schools, meant migrant families suddenly had to provide their own care for children ranging from infancy through high school.
“It happened at a time where it was the peak of season and the opportunity they had to make some money to pay their rent and just get on their feet to continue on for the summer or move up north or whatever it is that they needed to do,” Villanueva said. “But with the schools closing, that immediately put them in a huge disadvantage in terms of even for two (parent) families, one had to deal with taking care of the kids.”
On top of that, Villanueva said farm work declined during the strawberry and blueberry seasons as closings of restaurants led some growers to decide it didn’t make financial sense to have crops harvested. At this point, local laborers must travel farther to farms that grow such late-spring crops as tomatoes and squash.
Many migrant families will soon head north to pick crops in North Carolina, Michigan and other states.
Villanueva said many local farmworkers’ families have “mixed” status, including American citizens or legal residents along with those living in the country without permission. She said such families are ineligible for relief money issued by the federal government, even though all who work pay taxes.
Migrant workers are also coping with concerns about contracting the virus. Villanueva and other advocates say some growers do not provide protective gear for those who pick crops. Workers also must ride on buses to work sites, making it difficult or impossible to keep a safe distance from others.
Villanueva said she doesn’t know of any cases of COVID-19 among Mulberry’s migrant families. She worries that if a case did arise, the infection might spread rapidly because of the community’s housing conditions.
MAKING CONNECTIONS
During the school year, Higgins’ group provides about 100 food bags for children to take home on the weekends. With students away from local schools since March 13, migrant children whose families lack transportation have missed out on free meals at schools.
Seeing what was happening, Higgins and others sprang to address the hunger issue. Churches have donated money and food, and Called To Serve Farmworkers has drawn support from United Way of Central Florida through the George W. Jenkins End Hunger Initiative.
Higgins has formed connections with local churches since forming the organization. She said the collaborations began a few years ago when Jere Gault, a real-estate broker and a member of First United Methodist Church in Lakeland, took a keen interest in the plight of local farmworkers.
Higgins’ organization now draws support from several other local churches, including First Assembly of Mulberry, known as FAM Church. Pastor Brian Lane said he arrived at the church about five years ago and began seeking ways to fill community needs that were going unmet.
He said the church began collaborating with Higgins after he met her about two years ago. The church offers food each Monday for local residents to come and collect, and Lane began setting aside food boxes for distribution to farmworker families.
FAM Church buys food from Feeding Tampa Bay, a charity that supports food pantries in 10 counties. During the pandemic, Lane said, the organization has been providing some food at no cost.
Reacting to the COVID-19 emergency, Lane and church members decided to prepare 300 hot meals for delivery to the migrant camp on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. A typical meal might be yellow rice, chicken, corn and desserts provided by Mulberry United Methodist Church.
“I can hack my way through some Spanish, but she (Higgins) hooks us up with a couple Spanish speakers and we go out and hand out the food,” Lane said. “When we first started, you could see some reservation there. But now when they see our church van pull in, they know what’s going on and they actually come out to meet us and talk to us.”
Lane said his church would like to address the child-care needs of migrant families, but he said all of their applications for grant money have so far been denied.
HELPING THEIR OWN
Since the crisis began, Called To Serve Farmworkers has been collecting and delivering 125 bags of food to farmworker families one day a week. On other days, the organization distributes items it receives from churches, and twice a month, volunteers hand out food provided by United Way of Central Florida.
Some of the volunteers are college students from migrant families, students Higgins befriended when they were attending local schools. The volunteer cadre also includes current farmworkers.
“So these are people who work all day and they come and take food out to their neighbors and such,” Higgins said.
One of the twice-monthly food drops from United Way occurred Wednesday afternoon. Higgins and about a dozen volunteers gathered in front of a building on the RCMA campus, where they lined up boxes and bags of food on a row of tables and on the ground.
The bounty included boxes of raw, whole chickens; packages of ham and sausages; bags of potatoes, onions, tomatoes, oranges and mangos; bags of Japanese-style fried rice; gallon jugs of milk; and containers of store-made dinner rolls, chocolate chip cookies and cheese puff pastries.
A long line of vehicles formed, and recipients waited for their chance to have food packages loaded into their trunks or truck beds. United Way had advertised the giveaway, and the dozens of families that showed up included some who were not migrant workers, Higgins said.
Volunteers donned masks and some wore gloves as they toiled in assembly-line fashion to deliver uniform packages to each of the vehicles.
Adriana Enriquez led a small group of volunteers who loaded food packages into the bed of her truck for a delivery to the migrant camp. Enriquez, 30, wore a green shirt with the words “PHENOMENAL FARMWORKER” on the front in orange letters.
Enriquez had spent the day picking zucchini at a field in Plant City before coming to help distribute food to fellow migrants, and she was joined by her daughter, Jannet Garcia, a sophomore at Mulberry High School.
Why engage in sweaty volunteer efforts and hours spent toiling in a zucchini field?
“Because I know it’s needed for the families and some of them don’t have cars to go and pick up the food,” Enriquez said. “They get excited and happy on these days because it’s hard for them to buy food.”
Though the trailers appeared ancient, residents had painted some of them in buoyant hues ― strawberry red, turquoise and aquamarine with kelly green trim. Many of the trailers were decorated with strings of small Christmas lights.
The truck’s arrival beckoned some families outside, where they stood quietly while waiting for the food. At one trailer, a pair of preteen boys played with a Chihuahua puppy.
“Gracias,” the Spanish word for “thank you,” was heard often.
Higgins said she often receives messages of gratitude from the migrant families. One woman, who wanted to be known only by her first name, Elva, sends a text after each delivery.
“Thank you very much Dani,” the woman wrote in one recent message, translated from Spanish. “God will multiply blessings in infinite abundance. You are an angel on earth and all those young people who walk carrying food.”


washingtontimes--2020-05-24--Florida coach suspended, probed for practice during pandemic

MIAMI ( AP ) - A Florida high school football coach was suspended as administrators investigate whether he held practice @ @ @ @ @ during the coronavirus pandemic , officials said .
The Miami Herald reports that Miami Northwestern @ @ @ @ @ an investigation when it learned there had been unauthorized football training .
The football coach @ @ @ @ @ .
Daisy Gonzalez-Diego , a spokeswoman for the Miami-Dade County Public Schools , said the @ @ @ @ @ parents of students who may have practiced during the unauthorized training .
The Florida High @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s governing body for high school sports , canceled all high school athletic @ @ @ @ @ March 18 , nine days before the start of spring football practices .
Max Edwards @ @ @ @ @ coach for the Miami Northwestern since the 2015 season .
The team has won state @ @ @ @ @ .

MIAMI (AP) - A Florida high school football coach was suspended as administrators investigate whether he held practice against rules and stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus pandemic, officials said.
The Miami Herald reports that Miami Northwestern Senior High School has launched an investigation when it learned there had been unauthorized football training. The football coach Max Edwards was suspended indefinitely.
Daisy Gonzalez-Diego, a spokeswoman for the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, said the school was in communication with parents of students who may have practiced during the unauthorized training.
The Florida High School Athletic Association, the state’s governing body for high school sports, canceled all high school athletic events in the state on March 18, nine days before the start of spring football practices.
Max Edwards has been the head football coach for the Miami Northwestern since the 2015 season. The team has won state titles the past three years.


washingtontimes--2020-05-24--The Latest: Faithful return to St. Peter's Square

The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic .
The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness or death .
LONDON - Toilet experts say urinals may be consigned to history as part of measures to make public conveniences safe for the post-coronavirus world .
Raymond Martin , managing director of the British Toilet Association , says business and governments need to adapt public toilets to make them infection-resistant , adding technology such as foot-operated flushes and sensor-activated taps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also proposed replacing rows of urinals with cubicle-only washrooms for both men and women .
Martin told the Sunday Times that transforming toilets would be expensive , but “ we want to bring back life to this country , and toilets are a vital part of that.
” He said “ tourist offices all over the country should be telling visitors : ‘ Come see our castle , come see our beaches , come see our state-of-the-art toilets.
’ ” VATICAN CITY - Well-spaced faithful have gathered in St. Peter ’ s Square @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the traditional Sunday papal blessing .
They cast their gaze at the window where the pope normally addresses the faithful .
Pope Francis has been delivering the blessing from inside the Apostolic library during the epidemic .
Francis recalled his scheduled visit on Sunday to the Naples area to draw attention to environmental damage caused by toxic-waste dumping by the mob .
The visit - canceled during the pandemic - was timed to mark the fifth anniversary of his ecological manifesto , and the pope announced a year of reflection on his 2015 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ’ Francis came to the window and waved to the people in the piazza at the end of the blessing .
MOSCOW - Russia has reported its highest one-day coronavirus death toll but also the lowest number of new infections in three weeks .
The national coronavirus task force said Sunday that 3,541 people have died from the virus , an increase of 153 .
The previous high was 150 .
The number of new infection cases was 8,599 .
Daily infection tallies of more than 11,000 were reported for several days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recorded 344,481 infection cases .
Russia ’ s comparatively low mortality rate has raised eyebrows in the West , with some suggesting the country ’ s government may be under-reporting virus-related deaths and manipulating the statistics .
Russian officials deny the allegations and attribute the low numbers to the effectiveness of the measures taken to curb the spread of the outbreak .
PARIS - Some 2,000 Muslims gathered for Eid al-Fitr prayers Sunday at a sports complex in the Paris suburb of Levallois-Perret .
They were carefully spaced 1 meter apart and wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Volunteers spread the faithful out around a football field and a track field , and traditional embraces were not allowed .
France announced Friday night it would allow religious services to resume for the first time since March , but France ’ s leading Muslim organization CFCM advised mosques to stay closed for Sunday ’ s celebrations marking the end of Ramadan .
The CFCM said the government decree didn ’ t give mosques enough time to procure enough masks and hand gel to ensure that gatherings don ’ t turn into super-spreading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wang Yi says any lawsuits brought against China over the COVID-19 have “ zero factual basis in law or international precedence.
” Wang told reporters at a news conference on Sunday that China was a victim of the global pandemic alongside other countries and had reached out to assist other governments in need .
“ To our regret , in addition to the raging of the new coronavirus , a political virus is also spreading in the U.S. which is to take every chance to attack and discredit China , ” Wang said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of basic facts , have fabricated too many lies and plotted too many conspiracies , ” Wang said .
Raising such lawsuits “ tramples on the international rule of law and abandons the human conscience .
It ’ s untrue , unjustifiable and illegal , ” Wang said .
Those who would bring such litigation against China are “ living in a daydream and will humiliate themselves , ” Wang said .
MOSCOW - Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov has released a video calling for divine help in overcoming the pandemic after Russian media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 symptoms .
But the video , posted Saturday on the Telegram messaging app and marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan , does not show Kadyrov and uses only his voice , Russian news reports said .
However , state news agency Tass cited Akhmed Dudayev , the head of Chechnya ’ s broadcasting company , as saying Kadyrov took the video himself .
Russian news media last week cited unnamed medical sources as saying Kadyrov had been flown to Moscow for coronavirus treatment , but Chechen officials denied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Britain ’ s governing Conservative party are joining opposition calls for Prime Minister Boris Johnson ’ s top aide to quit for traveling 250 miles ( 400 kilometers ) to his parents ’ home during a nationwide lockdown while he was coming down with the coronavirus .
The government has defended Dominic Cummings after the revelation that he had driven from London to Durham , northeast England , with his wife and son at the end of March .
A lockdown that began March 23 stipulated that people should remain at their primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ errands and exercise .
The government said Cummings made the trip because he wanted to ensure his 4-year-old son was looked after while he and his wife were ill .
But critics of the government expressed outrage that Cummings had broken stringent rules saying people should “ Stay Home … Save Lives.
” Conservative lawmaker Steve Baker said Cummings must go for not “ abiding by the spirit , at least , of the slogans which he has enforced on the rest of the country.
” Another Tory legislator , Simon Hoare , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cummings is doing to the Government ’ s reputation he must consider his position.
” PARIS - France is relaxing its border restrictions as the virus gradually recedes , allowing migrant workers and family visitors from other European countries – but is requiring quarantine for people arriving from Britain and Spain .
Starting Monday , France is abandoning border checks installed in March and switching to spot checks in various places , according to a government statement .
It is also broadening the categories of people allowed from other countries in Europe ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers and people coming for family reasons .
However , since Britain and Spain are requiring quarantine for those arriving from elsewhere in Europe , France is doing the same .
It will be a voluntary 14-day quarantine , based on reciprocity for measures taken by Britain and Spain in an “ uncoordinated ” manner , the French government said .
Travelers from outside Europe are still banned until at least June 15 , except for French citizens .
Any traveler arriving in France must fill out a permission form justifying the trip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t have symptoms .
The government said France is working with other European countries on standard Europe-wide travel rules .
SEOUL , South Korea __ South Korea has reported 25 additional cases of the coronavirus over a 24-hour period , amid a continuation of small-scale outbreaks in the country .
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the additional figures released Sunday took the country ’ s total to 11,190 with 266 deaths .
The agency says 10,213 of them have recovered and been released from quarantine .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were locally infected while the rest eight came from overseas .
South Korea eased much of its strict social distancing rules in early May before it saw a sudden uptick in the number of cases associated with nightclubs in Seoul ’ s Itaewon entertainment district .
Health authorities say they ’ ve confirmed a total of 225 cases linked to Itaewon cubs as of Sunday noon .
HILO , Hawaii - Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim says the Big Island will allow places of worship , restaurants , hair salons , barber shops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen starting June 1 .
Kim says in his order that the establishments have to follow guidelines on sanitation and social distancing as outlined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Hawaii Health Department .
Restaurants can resume in-dining services as long as they follow the CDC ’ s Interim Guidance for Restaurants and Bars and National Restaurant Association Guidelines .
The other personal services that are allowed to reopen are tutoring , music lessons , massages , yoga and personal training .
HAMILTON , Mont .
- An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tied to an exclusive golf and country club developed by financial executive Charles Schwab .
Stock Farm Club General Manager Steve Buck says the eight people who tested positive for COVID-19 in Ravalli County are employees of the club near Hamilton .
One person had been hospitalized and seven others remained in isolation on Saturday .
The health department has said it was believed the first person who tested positive had contracted the respiratory virus outside the county .
Montana reported no new positive COVID-19 tests from samples run on Friday .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ANCHORAGE , Alaska — The Alaska Baseball League has canceled its summer season , as the future of sports worldwide remains uncertain during the coronavirus pandemic .
The summer league season was scheduled to begin on June 29 .
The league website says this season will be canceled to keep everyone safe from exposure to COVID-19 .
KTVA-TV reported that if competition resumed on time there would have been travel and housing challenges during the seven weeks of play .
The five-team league is made up of college players from mostly the Lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away as Taiwan .
SPOKANE , Wash. - A pasta company has announced there was a coronavirus outbreak at its Spokane factory as Washington state prepares to reopen parts of its economy .
The Spokesman-Review reported that Philadelphia Macaroni Company Inc. said in a statement Friday that 72 workers were tested for COVID-19 and 24 were positive .
Health officials say there was an increase in Spokane County with 31 new positive cases between Thursday and Friday .
Company officials say all of the factory employees have since been tested and the facility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Spokane Regional Health District to conduct contact tracing and determine further prevention measures .
BEIJING - China on Sunday reported three new confirmed cases of coronavirus .
Two of the cases were brought from outside the country and one locally transmitted in the northeastern province of Jilin that has experienced a minor outbreak now apparently largely contained .
No new deaths were reported and 79 people remain in treatment , with another 380 under isolation and monitoring for being suspected cases or having tested positive for COVID-19 without showing any symptoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4,634 COVID-19 deaths out of 82,974 cases .
CANBERRA , Australia - Government officials says six million Australians have downloaded a mobile telephone app that helps health authorities trace coronavirus infections Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the COVIDSafe app is playing a strong role in Australia ’ s response to the pandemic and several countries have expressed interest in learning from its positive impacts .
If a user is diagnosed , the app works to identify other users who have been in close proximity for 15 minutes or more in the previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 40 % of Australia ’ s 26 million people need to use the app for it to be effective .
There are approximately 17 million mobile phones in Australia .
The government and states have been easing restrictions on travel and increased use of restaurants and bars in the past few weeks .
Australia has recorded more than 7,100 cases of COVID-19 , with 102 deaths .
NEW YORK - The New York Times has devoted Sunday ’ s entire front page to a long list of names of people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The names and brief descriptions culled from obituaries from around the country fill six columns under the headline “ U.S .
Deaths Near 100,000 , an Incalculable Loss , ” with a subheadline reading : “ They Were Not Simply Names on a List .
They Were Us.
” The all-text list takes the place of the usual articles , photographs and graphics in an effort to convey the vastness and variety of lives lost , according to Simone Landon , assistant editor of the graphics desk .
A tally kept by Johns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have died of COVID-19 in the United States .
Tom Bodkin , chief creative officer of The Times , said he did not remember any front pages without images , though there have been pages with only graphics , during his 40 years at the newspaper .
Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.
TOP OF THE HOUR:
- Japan set to remove state of emergency from Tokyo, 4 other prefectures.
- South Koreans required to wear masks when using public transportation and taxis starting Tuesday.
- Fiji Airways laying off half its workforce in bid to outlast pandemic.
- White House announces a ban on travel to the U.S. from Brazil due to the spread of coronavirus.
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TOKYO -Experts on a special government panel have approved a plan to remove a coronavirus state of emergency from Tokyo and four other remaining prefectures, paving the way for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to declare entirely ending the measure to allow businesses to gradually resume.
Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told reporters that experts on a government-commissioned panel approved the plan to end the state of emergency that has lasted for more than a month and a half.
Abe is to officially declare the end of the state of emergency later Monday after endorsement from parliamentary committees.
Nishimura said lifting of the emergency does not mean the end of the pandemic. He said the goal is to minimize next possible recurrences of infections while balancing preventive measures and the economy.
Abe declared the state of emergency on April 7, first in parts of Japan including Tokyo, expanded it to the entire nation later in the month and extended it until the end of May. Unlike a European-style hard lockdown, Japan’s state of emergency is soft and largely a request for people to stay at home and for non-essential businesses to close or operate shorter hours, a strategy aiming at minimizing the economic damage.
Tokyo and its three neighboring prefectures are to reopen schools, public facilities and businesses in phases in coming weeks while watching any signs of a resurgence of infections.
Nishimura said recent data suggest that the infections have slowed enough and the medical systems are under less pressure and that it’s time to gradually resume social and economic activity. Tokyo and Hokkaido, where more than a dozen new cases have been reported Sunday, still need to remain extra-cautious, he said.
(asterisk)We cannot completely eliminate the coronavirus to zero,” Nishimura said. “Even after the state of emergency is lifted, we must firmly take preventive measures based on our new lifestyles.”
Japan has 16,580 confirmed cases and 830 deaths, according to the health ministry.
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SEOUL, South Korea — South Koreans will be required to wear masks when using public transportation and taxis beginning Tuesday, as health authorities look for more ways to slow coronavirus transmissions amid an increase in public activity.
Health Ministry official Yoon Taeho, during a virus briefing on Monday, said masks also will be enforced on all domestic and international flights starting Wednesday. Beginning in June, owners of “high-risk” facilities such as bars, clubs, gyms, karaoke rooms and concert halls will be required to use smartphone QR codes to register customers so that they could be tracked down more easily when infections occur.
South Korea was reporting 500 new cases per day in early March before it largely stabilized its outbreak with aggressive track and testing. But infections have been gradually rising again since early May, with more people going out amid warmer weathers and eased social distancing guidelines, causing concern in a country that has just started to reopen schools for children.
“Until treatments and vaccines are developed, we will never know when the COVID-19 crisis could end, and until then we will have to learn how to live with COVID-19,” Yoon said.
It will be up to bus drivers and subway station workers to enforce masks on public transportation, while taxi drivers will be allowed to refuse passengers who aren’t wearing masks. Customers who refuse downloading QR codes at entertainment venues will have to handwrite their personal information instead.
South Korea has so far reported 11,206 COVID-19 cases, including 267 fatalities. The recent increase in infections have centered around the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, where more than 200 cases were linked to nightclubs and other entertainment venues.
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WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Fiji’s national airline says it is laying off more than 750 staff, representing about half of its total workforce, as it struggles for survival.
Among those being laid off are eight executives and 79 pilots, the company announced Monday. Remaining employees will have their pay reduced by 20% and only get paid for the days they work.
CEO Andre Viljoen said the company was negotiating with lenders and aircraft lessors for payment deferrals. He said Fiji Airways expected to receive almost zero revenue over the coming months due to the coronavirus pandemic causing international flights to be cancelled. He said all other options had been explored before staff was let go.
“The sad reality of prolonged flight suspensions means that we simply do not have work for a large segment of our workforce now, and for the foreseeable future,” Viljoen said in a statement. He said the company had a responsibility to shareholders and to the people of Fiji to survive the crisis.
Fiji’s economy relies on international tourism, which has ground to a halt in the wake of the pandemic.
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WELLINGTON, New Zealand - New Zealand plans to further loosen its coronavirus restrictions by increasing the maximum size of gatherings from 10 people to 100.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Monday the new rules would take effect from midday Friday.
The timing is designed, in part, to allow religious services to proceed that day and over the weekend. New Zealand has reported just one new case of coronavirus over the past week and has gradually been loosening restrictions as new infections dwindle.
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CANBERRA, Australia - Millions of children in Australia have returned to schools in the states of New South Wales and Queensland as numbers of COVID-19 patients in hospitals across the country fall.
The two states on Monday joined the less populous Western Australia and South Australia states and the Northern Territory in resuming face-to-face learning, instead of studying from home online.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Monday students and teachers had to observe one key message: Stay home if sick.
“We’re not out of the woods yet. We have to take each day as it comes, each week as it comes and we keep our fingers crossed that Queenslanders will continue to flatten that curve,” Palaszczuk said.
The remaining jurisdictions — Victoria and Tasmania states and the Australian Capital Territory — plan to send students back to school in stages through early June.
While New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state, and Queensland, the third-most populous state, agree on reopening schools, they differ on reopening their common border.
New South Wales has recorded 50 of Australia’s 102 COVID-19 deaths and wants all state borders reopened. Queensland has recorded only six deaths and has no plans to open its borders.
South Australia and the Northern Territory also have no active cases and have closed borders. The Australian Capital Territory has not had a case in three weeks and has left its borders open like the worst-effected states, New South Wales and Victoria.
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WASHINGTON - The White House has announced a ban on travel to the U.S. from Brazil due to the spread of coronavirus in Latin America’s hardest-hit country.
Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany says in a statement Sunday evening that the ban applies to foreign nationals who have been in Brazil in the 14 days before they sought to travel to the United States.
McEnany cast it as a move by President Donald Trump “to protect our country.”
Trump has already banned travel from the United Kingdom, Europe and China, all of which have been hit hard by the virus. Trump had said last week that he was considering imposing similar restrictions on Brazil.
Brazil had reported more than 347,000 COVID-19 cases, second behind the U.S. in the number of infections, according to a Johns Hopkins University count.
Brazil also has recorded more than 22,000 deaths, fifth-most in the world. There have been more than 97,000 U.S. deaths.
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WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — On the Navajo Nation, which sprawls across Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, the number of coronavirus cases rose by 56 Sunday to 4,689, the Navajo Department of Health said.
The total number of deaths on the reservation as of Sunday was 156. The Navajo Nation’s current 57-hour weekend lockdown remains in effect. It includes the closure of all businesses to deter traveling and help prevent the further spread of the coronavirus.
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SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea reported 16 new cases of the coronavirus as official scramble to stem transmissions with 2 million more children returning to school this week.
The figures released by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday brought national totals to 11,206 cases and 267 deaths. Thirteen of the new cases came from the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area where more than 200 infections have been linked to nightclubs and other entertainment facilities that had seen increased crowds in early May before officials shut thousands of them over the past week.
The transmissions, which came amid relaxed attitudes on social distancing, have raised concern as officials proceed with a phased reopening of schools, which began with high-school seniors last week. This week it will be high school juniors, middle school seniors, elementary first- and second-graders and kindergartners. More reopenings are scheduled in early June.
“It’s important that every member of our nation cooperates so that local transmissions don’t reach schools, and infections of students don’t spread to local communities,” Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said in virus meeting on Monday.
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BEIJING - China reported 11 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, all brought from outside the country.
Ten of those infected arrived on a flight arriving in the vast Inner Mongolia region north of Beijing, according to the National Health Commission.
No additional deaths were reported, while 83 people remain in treatment and another 402 people remain in isolation and under monitoring for being suspected cases or for having tested positive for COVID-19 without showing any symptoms.
China has recorded a total of 4,634 deaths among 82,985 cases of the virus that was first detected in the central Chinese industrial city of Wuhan late last year.
The latest figures come as China holds the annual session of its ceremonial parliament, part of efforts to show the country is returning to normal and shaking off the devastating economic efforts of having locked down tens of millions of citizens in order to contain the pandemic.
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Hundreds of people gathered at a popular Florida beach boardwalk during Memorial Day weekend and were seen partying and dancing despite social distancing restrictions imposed by the state, authorities said Sunday.
Police responded, attempting to disperse the crowds along a beachside road in Daytona Beach that were there for an annual gathering not authorized by the local government this year.
Police said a shooting also was reported outside a nearby convenience store, with two people taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds and four injured by shrapnel. Officers were not involved.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office released helicopter images showing the large crowds surrounding a car outside a beachfront mall as a man stood on the sunroof and other men hung out the windows throwing money around and blocking traffic.
Officials said they were criticized for not making use of force against the crowds and declining to make arrests for social distancing violations.
Coronavirus social distancing rules in the state state that people must be in groups of 10 or fewer.
Beaches elsewhere in Florida also saw large Memorial Day weekend crowds.
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LOS ANGELES - As Californians ventured outdoors to take advantage of relaxed rules to control the spread of coronavirus, Memorial Day weekend crowds at beaches and parks have been manageable.
Officials say most people are wearing face coverings and practicing social distancing. Stay-at-home restrictions eased across much of the state, which has seen a decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations. Some 47 of 58 counties have received permission to reopen most stores - at least for curbside pickups - and many public spaces.
Many Southern California beaches were open only for swimming, running and other activities. Sunbathing and group activities such as volleyball were prohibited.
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TYBEE ISLAND, Georgia - The beach at Tybee island was filled with families, bicyclists, beach chairs, games, swimmers and more late Sunday afternoon, as visitors from within the state and beyond took advantage of the warm weather and sun on the holiday weekend.
The beach near the pier was crowded, with hammocks hanging in shaded areas and people moving their chairs close to the surf at day’s end. In a mile stretch, no beachgoers were seen with masks.
On a main drag, store fronts had doors open with signs encouraging visitors. Nearly all the bars and restaurants were open, both for dine-in and takeout. One had a sign advertising: “We have Corona (in a bottle.)”
People lined the sidewalk for Wet Willie’s, a chain bar that sells frozen cocktails. Most people stood close together - not nearly six feet apart - and none wore masks.
But at a grocery store about half a mile away, staff members handed customers gloves and a number to keep track of how many people were inside at a time. Shoppers had their own masks.
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PARIS - The number of people hospitalized with the virus in France rose slightly Sunday, the first daily increase since mid-April when France’s infections peaked.
The rise - from 17,178 people hospitalized Saturday to 17,185 Sunday - comes almost two weeks after France started gradually relaxing its confinement measures.
The number of people in intensive care with the virus dropped again Sunday for the 46th consecutive day to 1,655, down from more than 7,000 in mid-April.
The figures were released by the national health agency DGS, which did not release an updated death toll Sunday.
France is one of the hardest-hit nations by the virus, with some 28,000 deaths in hospitals and nursing homes.
Protests are planned Monday at nursing homes accused of mishandling the virus crisis.
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MILAN - The number of confirmed new infections in Italy rose by just 531 in the past 24 hours, with half in the populous northern region of Lombardy that has borne the brunt of Italy’s epidemic.
The civil protection agency on Sunday reported just 50 deaths but officials said that Lombardy had not updated its toll.
More than half of Italy’s regions reported new cases in the single digits - with the caveat that tests are being administered only to those who are hospitalized, have symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who is positive for the virus.
The number of people in intensive care dropped to 553.
Italy is in the first full week of loosened restrictions, with bars and restaurants open as well as beaches and parks.
Mayors in many cities have complained about nightlife spilling out into streets and piazzas with many showing a casual attitude toward physical distancing and lax mask habits.
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LONDON - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is standing by his top aide, who is accused of breaking lockdown rules by traveling 250 miles (400 km) to his parents’ house while coming down with COVID-19.
Johnson told a news conference that Dominic Cummings acted “responsibly, legally and with integrity.”
Cummings made the cross-country trip in late March, after the government imposed a lockdown to slow the spread of the coronavirus, telling people to stay home and not visit anyone outside their household. Cummings says he was seeking to ensure his 4-year-old son would be cared for if he and his wife both became ill.
Several lawmakers from Johnson’s Conservative Party have joined opposition politicians in calling for his resignation.
But Johnson defended the aide who masterminded both Brexit and the prime minister’s December election victory. He said Cummings “followed the instincts of every father and every parent and I do not mark him down for that.”
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MADRID - Spain is preparing to reopen some of its beaches for sunbathing on Monday, when restaurants and bars in Madrid and Barcelona will serve clients at outdoor seating as the country relaxes its virus lockdown.
On Monday, customers will be able to occupy 50% of the space assigned for outdoor seating at restaurants and bars in the Spanish capital and Barcelona.
The two cities are the hardest hit areas by the pandemic in Spain, accounting for more than 15,00 of the nation’s 28,752 confirmed deaths from COVID-19.
Travel between provinces will remained prohibited until late June and international tourists won’t be allowed to come until July.
Spain reported an eighth straight day with fewer than 100 confirmed deaths from the virus on Sunday, when health authorities said 70 people had died in the past 24 hours. At the height of the outbreak in early March more than 900 Spaniards died a day.
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CAIRO - Egypt’s health ministry Sunday reported 29 new deaths from COVID-19, taking the tally in the Arab world’s most populous country to 764 fatalities since the first confirmed case of coronavirus detected in February.
The ministry said in a statement that there were 752 new infections in the past 24 hours. It said the total infections climbed to 17,265. Similar to other countries in the world, officials and experts believe that the true number of infections is much higher than reported.
The ministry said a total of 4,807 patients were recovered and discharged from quarantine.
The Egyptian government has tightened restrictions during the Eid al-Fitry, which is marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, traditionally a time of gathering and family visits.
It said that during the week-long holiday, which started Sunday, a nighttime curfew will be in place from 5 p.m. until 6 a.m. All public and private transportation will be also be halted until May 29. Schools, mosques, churches, parks and beaches are also closed.
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ISTANBUL - Turkey’s health minister announced 32 new deaths from COVID-19, bringing the total to 4,340.
Fahrettin Koca also tweeted Sunday there were 1,141 new infections confirmed in the past 24 hours. The total number of infections has reached 156,827. Turkey ranks ninth in a global tally by Johns Hopkins University but experts believe the number of infections could be much higher than reported.
More than 118,000 people have recovered, according to the health ministry statistics.
The Muslim holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan was marked by a nationwide lockdown, the first of its kind in Turkey to combat the novel coronavirus. Previous weekend and holiday lockdowns affected a maximum of 31 out of 81 provinces.
Senior citizens above 65 were allowed out for a few hours for a third Sunday. People under 20 and above 65 have been under full lockdown but days and times outside have been allotted according to age groups as part of easing efforts.
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CHEYENNE, Wyo. - As Yellowstone and other national parks end a two-month shutdown because of the coronavirus, park officials want visitors to take precautions, such as washing their hands, keeping a safe distance from other people and wearing masks in public.
It’s unclear whether tourists who often disobey park rules will comply. If not, popular national parks known for drawing shoulder-to-shoulder summer crowds could become the next U.S. hot spots.
Park officials say the plan is to let folks guard themselves against COVID-19, just as they do for the usual national park dangers that range from altitude sickness to grizzly bears.
Other national parks that have reopened include Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina, where park officials urge visitors to arrive early at popular spots.
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VATICAN CITY - Well-spaced faithful have gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the first time in months for the traditional Sunday papal blessing.
They cast their gaze at the window where the pope normally addresses the faithful.
Pope Francis has been delivering the blessing from inside the Apostolic library during the epidemic.
Francis recalled his scheduled visit on Sunday to the Naples area to draw attention to environmental damage caused by toxic-waste dumping by the mob.
The visit - canceled during the pandemic - was timed to mark the fifth anniversary of his ecological manifesto, and the pope announced a year of reflection on his 2015 environmental encyclical, ‘’Praised Be.’’
Francis came to the window and waved to the people in the piazza at the end of the blessing.
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Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-05-24--Hong Kong police fire tear gas, water cannon at protesters

HONG KONG ( AP ) - Hong Kong police fired tear gas and a water cannon at protesters in a popular shopping district Sunday , as thousands took to the streets to march against China ’ s move to impose national security legislation on the city .
Pro-democracy supporters have sharply criticized a proposal , set to be approved by China ’ s rubber-stamp parliament this week , that would ban secessionist and subversive activity , as well as foreign interference , in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory .
The pro-democracy camp says the proposal goes against the “ one country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hong Kong freedoms not found in mainland China .
Crowds of demonstrators dressed in black gathered in the Causeway Bay district on Sunday , chanting slogans such as “ Stand with Hong Kong , ” “ Liberate Hong Kong ” and “ Revolution of our times.
” The protest was a continuation of a monthslong pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong that began last year and has at times descended into violence between police and protesters .
Police raised blue flags , warning protesters to disperse , before firing multiple rounds of tear gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the demonstrators .
At least 120 people were arrested , mostly on charges of unlawful assembly , police said in a Facebook post .
They said in a separate post that protesters threw bricks and splashed unidentified liquid at officers , injuring at least four members of the police media liaison team .
They warned that such behavior is against the law and that police would pursue the matter .
Earlier in the afternoon , prominent activist Tam Tak-chi was arrested during the protest for what police said was unauthorized assembly .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ health talk ” and was exempt from social-distancing measures that prohibit gatherings of more than eight people .
The bill that triggered Sunday ’ s rally was submitted at the opening of China ’ s national legislative session on Friday .
It would bypass Hong Kong ’ s legislature and could allow mainland agencies to be set up in the city , sparking concern that Chinese agents could arbitrarily arrest people for activities deemed to be pro-democracy .
Speaking at an annual news conference during the legislative session , Chinese Foreign Minister Wang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were an internal matter for China , and that “ no external interference will be tolerated.
” “ Excessive unlawful foreign meddling in Hong Kong affairs has placed China ’ s national security in serious jeopardy , ” Wang said , adding that the proposed legislation “ does not affect the high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong.
” “ It does not affect the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents .
And it does not affect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors in Hong Kong , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pompeo has called the proposal “ a death knell for the high degree of autonomy ” that Beijing promised the former British colony when it was returned to China in 1997 .
Chris Patten , the last British governor of Hong Kong prior to its handover to China , lamented what he called “ a new Chinese dictatorship.
” “ I think the Hong Kong people have been betrayed by China , which has proved once again that you can ’ t trust it further than you can throw it , ” Patten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of London .
Patten is leading a coalition of at least 204 international lawmakers and policymakers who are decrying the proposed legislation .
In a statement , the coalition called it a “ flagrant breach ” of the Sino-British Joint Declaration , a 1984 treaty that promised Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy even after the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997 .
Bernard Chan , a top-level Hong Kong politician and delegate to the National People ’ s Congress in Beijing , defended the national security legislation pushed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hong Kong ’ s Basic Law - the city ’ s mini-constitution - but never enacted .
Chan expressed concern that Hong Kong would inevitably face economic hardship given trade frictions between the U.S. and China .
“ I think we are definitely the collateral damage being dragged into this thing .
But then , I don ’ t think there ’ s any alternatives , ” he said .
“ But with or without this law , honestly , the U.S. and China are always going to be continuing this loggerhead for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chan said .
“ China will remain as a threat to the U.S. in terms of the … world economic dominance.
” Associated Press journalist Dake Kang in Beijing contributed to this report .

HONG KONG (AP) - Hong Kong police fired tear gas and a water cannon at protesters in a popular shopping district Sunday, as thousands took to the streets to march against China’s move to impose national security legislation on the city.
Pro-democracy supporters have sharply criticized a proposal, set to be approved by China’s rubber-stamp parliament this week, that would ban secessionist and subversive activity, as well as foreign interference, in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.
The pro-democracy camp says the proposal goes against the “one country, two systems” framework that promises Hong Kong freedoms not found in mainland China.
Crowds of demonstrators dressed in black gathered in the Causeway Bay district on Sunday, chanting slogans such as “Stand with Hong Kong,” “Liberate Hong Kong” and “Revolution of our times.”
The protest was a continuation of a monthslong pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong that began last year and has at times descended into violence between police and protesters.
Police raised blue flags, warning protesters to disperse, before firing multiple rounds of tear gas. They later fired a water cannon at the demonstrators.
At least 180 people were arrested, mostly on charges of unlawful assembly, police said.
They also said that some of the protesters threw bricks and splashed unidentified liquid at officers, injuring at least four members of the police media liaison team. They warned that such behavior is against the law and that police would pursue the matter.
Earlier in the afternoon, prominent activist Tam Tak-chi was arrested during the protest for what police said was unauthorized assembly. Tam said he was giving a “health talk” and was exempt from social-distancing measures that prohibit gatherings of more than eight people.
The bill that triggered Sunday’s rally was submitted at the opening of China’s national legislative session on Friday. It would bypass Hong Kong’s legislature and could allow mainland agencies to be set up in the city, sparking concern that Chinese agents could arbitrarily arrest people for activities deemed to be pro-democracy.
Speaking at an annual news conference during the legislative session, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Sunday that Hong Kong affairs were an internal matter for China, and that “no external interference will be tolerated.”
“Excessive unlawful foreign meddling in Hong Kong affairs has placed China’s national security in serious jeopardy,” Wang said, adding that the proposed legislation “does not affect the high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong.”
“It does not affect the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents. And it does not affect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors in Hong Kong,” he said.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has called the proposal “a death knell for the high degree of autonomy” that Beijing promised the former British colony when it was returned to China in 1997.
Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong prior to its handover to China, lamented what he called “a new Chinese dictatorship.”
“I think the Hong Kong people have been betrayed by China, which has proved once again that you can’t trust it further than you can throw it,” Patten said in an interview with The Times of London.
Patten is leading a coalition of at least 204 international lawmakers and policymakers who are decrying the proposed legislation. In a statement, the coalition called it a “flagrant breach” of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, a 1984 treaty that promised Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy even after the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997.
President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, Robert O’Brien, said it appeared that China was violating the 1984 treaty.
“And I can’t see how Hong Kong remains the Asian financial center if the Chinese Communist Party goes through and implements this national security law and takes over Hong Kong,” O’Brien said Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
“That would be a tragedy for the people of Hong Kong, but it will also be very bad for China,” he said.
Bernard Chan, a top-level Hong Kong politician and delegate to the National People’s Congress in Beijing, defended the national security legislation pushed by China, saying it was written into Hong Kong’s Basic Law - the city’s mini-constitution - but never enacted.
Chan expressed concern that Hong Kong would inevitably face economic hardship given trade frictions between the U.S. and China.
“I think we are definitely the collateral damage being dragged into this thing. But then, I don’t think there’s any alternatives,” he said.
“But with or without this law, honestly, the U.S. and China are always going to be continuing this loggerhead for quite some time to come,” Chan said. “China will remain as a threat to the U.S. in terms of the … world economic dominance.”
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Associated Press journalist Dake Kang in Beijing contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-05-24--Rally: Effigy of Kentucky governor displayed near Capitol

FRANKFORT , Ky. ( AP ) - An effigy of Kentucky Gov .
Andy Beshear was hung in a tree near the State Capitol on Sunday during what was billed as a protest rally in defense of constitutional rights , drawing sharp political rebukes , according to local news reports .
Video recordings and photographs show the effigy suspended from a tree in Frankfort with a sign reading “ Sic Semper Tyrannis , ” the Lexington Herald Leader reported .
Local media reports said dozens of people had gathering during a so-called Patriots Day rally for constitutional rights , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defense .
Among those present were some opposed to the governor ’ s restrictions meant to blunt the spread of the coronavirus , according to the local news accounts .
The reports said some toted guns and waved American flags and other flags with the words “ Don ’ t Tread on Me.
” Beshear ’ s office had no immediate public response to the display , which drew sharp criticism from politicians in both major parties .
“ This is a new low and it is disgusting and wrong , ” State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Louisville Democrat , said in a statement on social media .
Sen. Whitney Westerfield , R-Hopkinsville , chairman of the chamber ’ s judiciary committee , also spoke out against the effigy in his own online post .
“ This awfulness has no place in civil society , ” Westerfield wrote .
Recently , the governor has continued easing restrictions mean to combat the spread of the new coronavirus , including opening Kentucky restaurants as of Friday to in-person dining at 33 % capacity .
Outside dining is also allowed .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were again allowed recently .
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - An effigy of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear was hung in a tree near the State Capitol on Sunday during what was billed as a protest rally in defense of constitutional rights, drawing sharp political rebukes, according to local news reports.
Video recordings and photographs show the effigy suspended from a tree in Frankfort with a sign reading “Sic Semper Tyrannis,” the Lexington Herald Leader reported.
Local media reports said dozens of people had gathering during a so-called Patriots Day rally for constitutional rights, including the right to bear arms and self defense.
Among those present were some opposed to the governor’s restrictions meant to blunt the spread of the coronavirus, according to the local news accounts. The reports said some toted guns and waved American flags and other flags with the words “Don’t Tread on Me.”
Beshear’s office had no immediate public response to the display, which drew sharp criticism from politicians in both major parties.
“This is a new low and it is disgusting and wrong,” State Sen. Minority Leader Morgan McGarvey, a Louisville Democrat, said in a statement on social media.
Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Hopkinsville, chairman of the chamber’s judiciary committee, also spoke out against the effigy in his own online post.
“This awfulness has no place in civil society,” Westerfield wrote.
Recently, the governor has continued easing restrictions mean to combat the spread of the new coronavirus, including opening Kentucky restaurants as of Friday to in-person dining at 33% capacity. Outside dining is also allowed. And gatherings of 10 or fewer people also were again allowed recently.
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Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


washingtontimes--2020-05-24--CEO buys struggling New Zealand media company for $1

WELLINGTON , New Zealand ( AP ) - One of New Zealand ’ s largest media organizations will be sold for a single dollar to its chief executive , the owners announced Monday .
The organization Stuff prints many of the nation ’ s daily newspapers and runs a popular news website of the same name .
It employs about 900 staff , including 400 journalists .
Owned by Australia ’ s Nine Entertainment , Stuff faced financial challenges before the coronavirus pandemic struck and has since seen advertising revenues plunge .
In a statement to the Australian stock market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to CEO Sinead Boucher in a management buyout deal that will be completed by the end of the month .
“ We have always said that we believe it is important for Stuff to have local ownership and it is our firm view that this is the best outcome for competition and consumers in New Zealand , ” said Hugh Marks , the CEO of Nine .
Boucher said her plan is to transition the ownership by giving staff a direct stake as shareholders in the company .
“ Local ownership will bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customers and indeed to all kiwis , as we take advantage of opportunities to invest in and grow the business , ” Boucher said in a statement .
The deal brings to an end the efforts of rival media company NZME to buy Stuff .
Discussions between the two companies turned acrimonious and ended up in the hands of lawyers .
The High Court last week declined an interim injunction sought by NZME that could have delayed the sale to Boucher .
Nine said that as part of the deal , it will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wellington and lease it back to Stuff .
It will also get some of the profits from the recent sale of company offshoot Stuff Fibre , an internet provider .
Most New Zealand media companies have been struggling since the pandemic struck .
Stuff has temporarily cut employee ’ s pay while NZME has announced plans to cut 200 jobs .
Last month , German company Bauer Media closed its New Zealand operation and stopped publishing many of the country ’ s magazines .
And broadcaster MediaWorks on Monday told staff that 130 @ @ @ @ @

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - One of New Zealand’s largest media organizations is being sold for a single dollar to its chief executive, the owners announced Monday.
The organization Stuff prints many of the nation’s daily newspapers and runs a popular news website of the same name. It employs about 900 staff, including 400 journalists.
Owned by Australia’s Nine Entertainment, Stuff faced financial challenges before the coronavirus pandemic struck and has since seen advertising revenues plunge.
In a statement to the Australian stock market, Nine said Stuff would be sold to CEO Sinead Boucher in a management buyout deal that will be completed by the end of the month.
“We have always said that we believe it is important for Stuff to have local ownership and it is our firm view that this is the best outcome for competition and consumers in New Zealand,” said Hugh Marks, the CEO of Nine.
Boucher said she’s been “blown away” by the positive feedback she’s been receiving about the purchase.
“I feel really happy, relieved and proud. It’s been a really intense couple of weeks getting to the finish line,” she said.
Boucher, 49, began her career as a reporter for The Press newspaper in Christchurch and later helped lead some of the company’s digital innovations.
She said she has no immediate plans for any staff reductions or newspaper closures, although added the ownership change isn’t a silver bullet to cure the issues that Stuff and other media companies are facing.
Boucher said she would look to increase revenues from online readers. Stuff last month set up an option for readers to donate money.
Boucher said she is purchasing Stuff through a limited liability company and is working through the details of a plan to transition the ownership by giving staff a direct stake as shareholders in the company.
The deal brings to an end the efforts of rival media company NZME to buy Stuff.
Discussions between the two companies turned acrimonious and ended up in the hands of lawyers. The High Court last week declined an interim injunction sought by NZME that could have delayed the sale to Boucher.
Nine said that as part of the deal, it will retain ownership of a printing plant in Wellington and lease it back to Stuff. It will also get some of the profits from the recent sale of company offshoot Stuff Fibre, an internet provider.
Most New Zealand media companies have been struggling since the pandemic struck. Stuff has temporarily cut employee’s pay while NZME has announced plans to cut 200 jobs.
Last month, German company Bauer Media closed its New Zealand operation and stopped publishing many of the country’s magazines. And broadcaster MediaWorks on Monday told staff that 130 positions would be cut.


washingtontimes--2020-05-24--Gulf Coast beaches see Summer kickoff crowds with subdued mood

ORANGE BEACH , Ala. — Kylie Lynch steadily scooped shaved ice and brown bourbon butter truffle ice cream this weekend inside an Airstream travel trailer converted into a whimsical Frost Bites food truck .
Condensation from the air conditioner trickled down the gleaming polished aluminum storefront .
Summer had begun , after all , coronavirus and social distancing notwithstanding .
“ It ’ s almost like we didn ’ t have a shutdown , ” Ms. Lynch , co-owner of the shaved ice franchise , said happily .
But a shutdown they have had in Alabama and adjoining Florida .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ summer kickoff on the Gulf Coast than usual , with revelers largely mindful of COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines .
With much of the nation shaking off the economic slumber of imposed shutdowns , Ms. Lynch and others are hoping the worst is over , even as the number of reported COVID-19 cases in Alabama climbs while casinos , churches and beaches reopen .
Health officials say it ’ s impossible to determine whether the rise is linked to additional testing or an increase in illness .
Still , the Alabama condos and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beach police officer on buggy patrol along the Gulf side of Perdido Pass , though the holiday crowds were low-key .
“ This is supposed to be a busy weekend , but today hasn ’ t been anything like last weekend .
We were packed then , ” said Adam Gremillion , 21 , who sets up the umbrellas and chairs for Ike ’ s Beach Services at Perdido Pass and elsewhere .
“ We had umbrellas three rows deep .
I had to put some people all the way back by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even see the water from there.
” Taylor Freeman and his wife , Allison , weren ’ t sure whether they would have their annual summer launch in Orange Beach .
Along with a couple of dozen friends from the Birmingham area , the 28-year-old couple made a Memorial Day getaway a tradition .
The group kept a close eye on the spread of the coronavirus and the impact it had on business closings .
Members of the group were delighted to spread out on the Gulf ’ s impeccable white quartz sand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We weren ’ t thinking about it at all when we made our reservations in February , ” Mr. Freeman said .
“ But by late April things were trending in a really good direction , and I think for the most part all of us are really stoked that we ’ re able to be here and we were able to keep our tradition going.
” Such traditions are facing patchwork conditions along the nation ’ s beaches for the first Memorial Day since the coronavirus outbreak .
New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Coney Island and elsewhere , but the rest of New York as well as New Jersey and Connecticut have largely opened their shorelines with some restrictions .
In the rich enclaves of Long Island , where much of Manhattan ’ s upper class fled the coronavirus outbreak for their summer estates , many beaches are open for residents only .
In Southern California , beaches are open to what authorities dub “ active users , ” such as joggers , surfers and volleyball players .
Simple sunbathing is out at most California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Los Angeles County .
Face masks were rare at the beach along the Alabama-Florida border , though many retail spots posted signs asking patrons to use them .
That request was enforced sporadically .
At the big outlet malls that usually draw holiday crowds , some of the top international brand stores remained closed .
The Flora-Bama Lounge , the popular clapboard labyrinth of 20 bars and five stages that straddles the state line , was partially opened .
Just three live acts were playing simultaneously Friday afternoon , and only six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The mingling of people at the bars and around the stages was noticeably absent , although there was a steady line of customers waiting for tables .
“ This is the hardest thing : turning a five-star honky-tonk into a sit-down restaurant , ” one harried host said .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis , a Republican , mocked journalists last week who had predicted catastrophe for his state and others that have not imposed severe lockdowns , but business remained far from usual in Florida .
The beaches remained closed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s COVID-19 hot spots , and the state screened motorists entering from Louisiana , New York , New Jersey and Connecticut .
The Interstate 10 run from Santa Monica to Jacksonville came to a jarring stop at the Florida-Alabama border .
State troopers motioned every car into a maze of traffic cones .
At night , emergency lighting gave the scene the look of a natural disaster .
Drivers from Louisiana were pulled over and had to fill out a form listing their driver ’ s license , address and phone number , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any passenger in the car had shown any COVID-19 symptoms over the previous 14 days .
“ I ’ m upset because I feel like they are singling out my state , ” said Ebbi Kennedy , who was traveling with four family members from Lafayette , Louisiana .
“ That ’ s not fair , and it ’ s slowing us down.
” Ms. Kennedy ’ s group also pointed out that a motorist could simply lie and head into the state with the virus , or be infected and not know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , although they acknowledged that the COVID-19 outbreak was more acute in Louisiana than Florida .
Troopers and workers at the interstate stop , which was under the control of the Department of Health , declined to comment on the proceedings .
The snarled traffic at COVID-19 checkpoints was only on the federal interstate highways as the holiday traffic picked up Friday .
At the beach , a couple of Escambia County Sheriff ’ s Office units were stationed at the Flora-Bama , but cars puttered up and down Perdido Beach Boulevard regardless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like the season had opened .
At Frost Bites , Ms. Lynch handed out Blue Hawaiian and Tiger Blood snowballs to barefoot beachgoers who hopped up and down on the hot pavement .
On the beach , Mr. Gremillion carefully stacked his chairs and rolled umbrellas for an anticipated crush .
“ It ’ s been a busy season so far because I think people are just so tired of being cooped up they can ’ t wait , ” he said .

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — Kylie Lynch steadily scooped shaved ice and brown bourbon butter truffle ice cream this weekend inside an Airstream travel trailer converted into a whimsical Frost Bites food truck.
Condensation from the air conditioner trickled down the gleaming polished aluminum storefront. Summer had begun, after all, coronavirus and social distancing notwithstanding.
“It’s almost like we didn’t have a shutdown,” Ms. Lynch, co-owner of the shaved ice franchise, said happily.
But a shutdown they have had in Alabama and adjoining Florida. Memorial Day weekend provided a more subdued summer kickoff on the Gulf Coast than usual, with revelers largely mindful of COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines.
With much of the nation shaking off the economic slumber of imposed shutdowns, Ms. Lynch and others are hoping the worst is over, even as the number of reported COVID-19 cases in Alabama climbs while casinos, churches and beaches reopen.
Health officials say it’s impossible to determine whether the rise is linked to additional testing or an increase in illness.
Still, the Alabama condos and resorts were packed, said an Orange Beach police officer on buggy patrol along the Gulf side of Perdido Pass, though the holiday crowds were low-key.
“This is supposed to be a busy weekend, but today hasn’t been anything like last weekend. We were packed then,” said Adam Gremillion, 21, who sets up the umbrellas and chairs for Ike’s Beach Services at Perdido Pass and elsewhere. “We had umbrellas three rows deep. I had to put some people all the way back by the dumpster, and you can’t even see the water from there.”
Taylor Freeman and his wife, Allison, weren’t sure whether they would have their annual summer launch in Orange Beach. Along with a couple of dozen friends from the Birmingham area, the 28-year-old couple made a Memorial Day getaway a tradition. The group kept a close eye on the spread of the coronavirus and the impact it had on business closings.
Members of the group were delighted to spread out on the Gulf’s impeccable white quartz sand with cold beer under a blazing sun.
“We weren’t thinking about it at all when we made our reservations in February,” Mr. Freeman said. “But by late April things were trending in a really good direction, and I think for the most part all of us are really stoked that we’re able to be here and we were able to keep our tradition going.”
Such traditions are facing patchwork conditions along the nation’s beaches for the first Memorial Day since the coronavirus outbreak.
New York City has closed its beaches at Rockaway, Coney Island and elsewhere, but the rest of New York as well as New Jersey and Connecticut have largely opened their shorelines with some restrictions. In the rich enclaves of Long Island, where much of Manhattan’s upper class fled the coronavirus outbreak for their summer estates, many beaches are open for residents only.
In Southern California, beaches are open to what authorities dub “active users,” such as joggers, surfers and volleyball players. Simple sunbathing is out at most California beaches, and face masks are required in Los Angeles County.
Face masks were rare at the beach along the Alabama-Florida border, though many retail spots posted signs asking patrons to use them. That request was enforced sporadically.
At the big outlet malls that usually draw holiday crowds, some of the top international brand stores remained closed.
The Flora-Bama Lounge, the popular clapboard labyrinth of 20 bars and five stages that straddles the state line, was partially opened. Just three live acts were playing simultaneously Friday afternoon, and only six bars were serving drinks for seated customers. The mingling of people at the bars and around the stages was noticeably absent, although there was a steady line of customers waiting for tables.
“This is the hardest thing: turning a five-star honky-tonk into a sit-down restaurant,” one harried host said.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, mocked journalists last week who had predicted catastrophe for his state and others that have not imposed severe lockdowns, but business remained far from usual in Florida.
The beaches remained closed in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, Florida’s COVID-19 hot spots, and the state screened motorists entering from Louisiana, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
The Interstate 10 run from Santa Monica to Jacksonville came to a jarring stop at the Florida-Alabama border. State troopers motioned every car into a maze of traffic cones. At night, emergency lighting gave the scene the look of a natural disaster.
Drivers from Louisiana were pulled over and had to fill out a form listing their driver’s license, address and phone number, and attesting that neither the driver nor any passenger in the car had shown any COVID-19 symptoms over the previous 14 days.
“I’m upset because I feel like they are singling out my state,” said Ebbi Kennedy, who was traveling with four family members from Lafayette, Louisiana. “That’s not fair, and it’s slowing us down.”
Ms. Kennedy’s group also pointed out that a motorist could simply lie and head into the state with the virus, or be infected and not know it. Other Louisianans echoed her frustration, although they acknowledged that the COVID-19 outbreak was more acute in Louisiana than Florida.
Troopers and workers at the interstate stop, which was under the control of the Department of Health, declined to comment on the proceedings.
The snarled traffic at COVID-19 checkpoints was only on the federal interstate highways as the holiday traffic picked up Friday. At the beach, a couple of Escambia County Sheriff’s Office units were stationed at the Flora-Bama, but cars puttered up and down Perdido Beach Boulevard regardless of their license plates.
It looked like the season had opened.
At Frost Bites, Ms. Lynch handed out Blue Hawaiian and Tiger Blood snowballs to barefoot beachgoers who hopped up and down on the hot pavement.
On the beach, Mr. Gremillion carefully stacked his chairs and rolled umbrellas for an anticipated crush.
“It’s been a busy season so far because I think people are just so tired of being cooped up they can’t wait,” he said.
• James Varney can be reached at jvarney@washingtontimes.com.