washingtontimes--2020-06-05--3 men charged with killing boy, 11, in Mississippi apartment

JACKSON , Miss .
( AP ) - Nearly two months after the fatal shooting of an 11-year-old child inside an apartment in Mississippi , three men have been charged in connection with his death .
Jordan McCoy was killed when several gunshots were fired into his apartment while he was sleeping on April 6 , news outlets reported .
Now , Diallo Vaughn , Kemarshon Cassity and Kadarius Taylor are charged with murder for his death , the Jackson Police Department said in a Twitter post Thursday .
Most of the arrests come after the family ’ s attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chokwe Antar Lumumba exchanged heated words during a news conference about what Ross characterized as a lack of transparency in the shooting investigation .
Cassity , 20 , was taken into custody several days later in May by police and the U.S .
Marshals Service after a crime lab identified the three men as suspects , the Clarion Ledger reported .
Taylor , 25 , turned himself in earlier this week , and Vaugh , 24 , was charged while he was already in custody for another fatal shooting from February , police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other run-ins with the law this year , with Cassity facing charges for aggravated assault and Taylor for felony firearm possession .
Jackson police are also investigating the shooting death of 5-year-old Queenyanna Davis , who , according to police , was killed in April after gunshots fired from a car hit her .
It was not immediately clear if Cassity , Taylor or Vaughn had lawyers that could comment on their behalf .

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Nearly two months after the fatal shooting of an 11-year-old child inside an apartment in Mississippi, three men have been charged in connection with his death.
Jordan McCoy was killed when several gunshots were fired into his apartment while he was sleeping on April 6, news outlets reported. Now, Diallo Vaughn, Kemarshon Cassity and Kadarius Taylor are charged with murder for his death, the Jackson Police Department said in a Twitter post Thursday.
Most of the arrests come after the family’s attorney, Lisa Ross, and Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba exchanged heated words during a news conference about what Ross characterized as a lack of transparency in the shooting investigation.
Cassity, 20, was taken into custody several days later in May by police and the U.S. Marshals Service after a crime lab identified the three men as suspects, the Clarion Ledger reported.
Taylor, 25, turned himself in earlier this week, and Vaugh, 24, was charged while he was already in custody for another fatal shooting from February, police said. Taylor and Cassity also had other run-ins with the law this year, with Cassity facing charges for aggravated assault and Taylor for felony firearm possession.
Jackson police are also investigating the shooting death of 5-year-old Queenyanna Davis, who, according to police, was killed in April after gunshots fired from a car hit her.
It was not immediately clear if Cassity, Taylor or Vaughn had lawyers that could comment on their behalf.


washingtontimes--2020-06-05--Bangladeshi courts freeing child suspects due to virus risk

DHAKA , Bangladesh ( AP ) - Authorities in Bangladesh have been releasing hundreds of children suspected of committing mostly petty crimes as they try to keep the coronavirus from spreading in overcrowded detention centers , officials said Friday .
The orders for their release on bail came from virtual courts set up by the country ’ s Supreme Court with the help of UNICEF , officials said .
About 400 children have been granted bail in recent weeks and more than 300 of them have already been reunited with their families , said Natalie McCauley , chief of child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the decision came as public health experts said children living in the country ’ s detention centers face a higher risk of getting infected , mainly because of overcrowding and poor conditions .
Bangladesh has a protracted system of delivering justice , with some cases for petty crimes taking years to conclude .
According to UNICEF , some 23,000 cases involving children under 18 are currently pending with courts across the country .
Saifur Rahman , a special officer of the Supreme Court and additional district judge who is involved with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crucial as with inadequate staff and utilities in detention centers , it was extremely difficult to minimize the risk of infection from COVID-19 .
“ In all fairness , maintaining social and physical distancing is next to impossible in such a situation , ” he said .
Mohammed Rakib , 15 , was accused of beating a man in Dhaka nearly two months ago .
A judge from a regular court denied him bail and he was eventually sent to an overcrowded detention center just outside Dhaka that UNICEF says houses nearly 700 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for about 300 .
Late last month he was finally granted bail through the new virtual court .
“ It feels great to be freed and get united with my parents , ” Rakib told The Associated Press on Friday .
“ I am very happy .
I have suffered in the jail a lot .
That ’ s a bad place.
” The reunion was special for Rakib and his family as they were able to celebrate the end of Ramadan together .
“ His mother burst into tears after seeing our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mohammed Abdul Hakim .
“ It was a moment of joy .
We love him a lot.
” On Friday , the total number of COVID-19 infections in Bangladesh stood at 60,391 , with 811 deaths .
Public health experts say the actual number of the infected people is likely much higher .

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) - Authorities in Bangladesh have been releasing hundreds of children suspected of committing mostly petty crimes as they try to keep the coronavirus from spreading in overcrowded detention centers, officials said Friday.
The orders for their release on bail came from virtual courts set up by the country’s Supreme Court with the help of UNICEF, officials said.
About 400 children have been granted bail in recent weeks and more than 300 of them have already been reunited with their families, said Natalie McCauley, chief of child protection at UNICEF in Bangladesh.
She said the decision came as public health experts said children living in the country’s detention centers face a higher risk of getting infected, mainly because of overcrowding and poor conditions.
Bangladesh has a protracted system of delivering justice, with some cases for petty crimes taking years to conclude. According to UNICEF, some 23,000 cases involving children under 18 are currently pending with courts across the country.
Saifur Rahman, a special officer of the Supreme Court and additional district judge who is involved with the release program, said the program was crucial as with inadequate staff and utilities in detention centers, it was extremely difficult to minimize the risk of infection from COVID-19.
“In all fairness, maintaining social and physical distancing is next to impossible in such a situation,” he said.
Mohammed Rakib, 15, was accused of beating a man in Dhaka nearly two months ago. A judge from a regular court denied him bail and he was eventually sent to an overcrowded detention center just outside Dhaka that UNICEF says houses nearly 700 children even though it has the capacity for about 300.
Late last month he was finally granted bail through the new virtual court.
“It feels great to be freed and get united with my parents,” Rakib told The Associated Press on Friday. “I am very happy. I have suffered in the jail a lot. That’s a bad place.”
The reunion was special for Rakib and his family as they were able to celebrate the end of Ramadan together.
“His mother burst into tears after seeing our youngest son,” said his father Mohammed Abdul Hakim. “It was a moment of joy. We love him a lot.”
On Friday, the total number of COVID-19 infections in Bangladesh stood at 60,391, with 811 deaths. Public health experts say the actual number of the infected people is likely much higher.


washingtontimes--2020-06-05--3 teen girls among 4 killed in crash involving stolen car

TAMPA , Fla. ( AP ) - Three teenage girls were among four people killed in a crash during a police pursuit of a stolen car in Tampa , police said .
There were six people in the Nissan Altima when it crashed on Wednesday .
The girls were ages 15 , 16 , and 17 .
An 18-year-old male passenger also died in the crash , police spokesman Eddy Durkin told news outlets .
A 20-year-old male passenger was treated and released from the hospital , Durkin said .
The 19-year-old driver was critically injured and will likely face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Police have not yet released his name , or the names of the passengers in the vehicle .
Officers spotted the stolen Altima about 2:40 a.m. Wednesday and tried to conduct a traffic stop , the Tampa Bay Times reported .
The car sped away and crashed into a least one tree about two minutes later , police said .
Officers pulled two people from the wreckage and rendered aid until paramedics arrived .
The girls and one male passenger died at the scene .
A preliminary review of the incident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s pursuit policy , which is allowed when an officer “ reasonably believes that someone in the pursued vehicle has committed or attempted to commit ” any forcible felony or burglary of a structure or conveyance , Durkin told the newspaper .

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Three teenage girls were among four people killed in a crash during a police pursuit of a stolen car in Tampa, police said.
There were six people in the Nissan Altima when it crashed on Wednesday. The girls were ages 15, 16, and 17. An 18-year-old male passenger also died in the crash, police spokesman Eddy Durkin told news outlets.
A 20-year-old male passenger was treated and released from the hospital, Durkin said.
The 19-year-old driver was critically injured and will likely face criminal charges if he survives, Durkin said.
Police have not yet released his name, or the names of the passengers in the vehicle.
Officers spotted the stolen Altima about 2:40 a.m. Wednesday and tried to conduct a traffic stop, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
The car sped away and crashed into a least one tree about two minutes later, police said. Officers pulled two people from the wreckage and rendered aid until paramedics arrived.
The girls and one male passenger died at the scene.
A preliminary review of the incident found the officers complied with the agency’s pursuit policy, which is allowed when an officer “reasonably believes that someone in the pursued vehicle has committed or attempted to commit” any forcible felony or burglary of a structure or conveyance, Durkin told the newspaper.


washingtontimes--2020-06-05--EU, UK still at loggerheads in post-Brexit negotiations

BRUSSELS ( AP ) - With the deadline for a possible extension of the Brexit transition period looming , a fourth round of talks on a future trade deal between the European Union and the U.K. ended Friday without result .
Following four days of video discussions between officials from the two teams of negotiators , the sides remained at loggerheads on many topics , including on regulations for businesses .
Their positions on fisheries remain distant , with the U.K. opposed to EU demands for long-term access to British waters .
“ There was no significant progress this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barnier said during a press conference .
The U.K. left the political institutions of the EU on Jan. 31 but remains inside the EU ’ s tariff-free single market and customs union until the end of the year .
That so-called transition period can be extended by two years to allow more time for a satisfying compromise , yet a request to do so has to be made by July 1 .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly said he won ’ t be asking for a delay .
The best hope for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-level political meeting between Johnson and the EU ’ s top official , Ursula Von der Leyen , scheduled for later this month .
If they don ’ t reach an agreement by the end of the year , tariffs and quotas will return on trade between the two sides and the U.K. will be treated as Follow AP ’ s full coverage of Brexit and British politics at https : //www.apnews.com/Brexit

BRUSSELS (AP) - Another round of trade discussions between the European Union and the U.K. ended Friday - and once again there were no signs of progress ahead of a looming deadline on whether a transition arrangement can be extended.
Following four days of video discussions because of the coronavirus pandemic, the two sides remained at loggerheads on a number of issues, including on regulations for businesses. Their positions on fisheries also remain far apart, with the U.K. adamantly opposed to EU demands for long-term access to British waters.
“The truth is there was no significant progress this week,” the EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said during a press conference.
His counterpart on the U.K. side also failed to signal any meaningful breakthrough.
“Progress remains limited, but our talks have been positive in tone,” David Front, the U.K.’s chief negotiator, said.
The U.K. left the political institutions of the EU on Jan. 31 but remains inside the EU’s tariff-free economic zone until the end of the year. That so-called transition period can be extended by two years but a request to do so has to be made by July 1. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly said he won’t ask for an extension.
The most likely prospect for an imminent breakthrough in talks now rests on a high-level political meeting between Johnson and the EU’s top official, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen, scheduled for sometime later this month.
Though that looks set to be another video conference, the hope, particularly on the U.K. side, is that more face-to-face discussions can move things forward in the months ahead.
“We are close to reaching the limits of what we can achieve through the format of remote formal rounds,” Frost said.
If the two sides don’t reach an agreement by the end of the year, tariffs and quotas will be slapped on trade between the two sides. That would represent another economic shock - on top of the pandemic - that most economists think would affect Britain more. Cars exported from one side to the other, for example, would face a 10% levy.
Barnier lambasted the U.K. for trying to distance itself from commitments made in the political declaration that accompanied the Brexit agreement, which dealt with issues related to its departure from the bloc such as citizens’ rights and the value of historic liabilities.
In the political declaration, which is not a legal document in the way the Brexit withdrawal deal is, the two sides laid out their ambitions for the trade talks and the future relationship.
“In all areas, the U.K. continues to backtrack on the commitments it has taken in the political declaration,” he said. “We will not accept this backtracking.”
For its part, the U.K. says the British government and the EU have differing interpretations of the political declaration, notably on issues related to the “level playing field” for business regulations, and denies it is backing away from its commitments.
Fishing rights appear to be the most immediate difficulty as both sides had hoped to have an agreement wrapped up by the end of June.
Barnier criticized what he considered to be the U.K.’s intransigence on the issue.
“They continue to condition access to waters to an annual negotiation, which is not possible for us, not even technically possible,” he said.
The British government previously threatened to walk away from the talks if no progress had been made by the end of June, to give businesses time to get ready for a new “no deal’ outcome that would likely mean tariffs and other regulatory burdens on trade as well as new restrictions on the movement of labor and capital.
It seems that is no longer the case, though whether the U.K. will hang about until October, which appears to be the EU’s deadline for discussions so national parliaments give their approvals, is open to question.
“We need to conclude this negotiation in good time to enable people and businesses to have certainty about the trading terms that will follow the end of the transition period at the end of this year, and, if necessary, to allow ratification of any agreements reached,” Frost said.
___
Pylas reported from London.
___
Follow AP’s full coverage of Brexit and British politics at https://www.apnews.com/Brexit


washingtontimes--2020-06-05--Cops: Man left homemade explosive devices in downtown area

PITTSBURGH ( AP ) - A Pittsburgh man who authorities say left a backpack full of homemade explosive devices in @ @ @ @ @ complex in the city ’ s downtown area is now facing several charges .
Matthew @ @ @ @ @ seen on surveillance video placing the military-style backpack at PNC Plaza on Sunday , authorities @ @ @ @ @ about the backpack on Monday and found it contained makeshift explosives .
Authorities spoke with @ @ @ @ @ he had gone to the area to see the property damage that occurred during Saturday @ @ @ @ @ denied any knowledge of the backpack , telling police that he had only picked up @ @ @ @ @ of a bike rack and threw it into a trash can .
When officers showed @ @ @ @ @ the backpack in the bushes , authorities said he confirmed he was the person in @ @ @ @ @ having the backpack .
Michanowicz was charged with three counts each of arson and possessing @ @ @ @ @ It wasn ’ t known Friday if he has retained an attorney .

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A Pittsburgh man who authorities say left a backpack full of homemade explosive devices in a bush outside of a complex in the city’s downtown area is now facing several charges.
Matthew Michanowicz, 52, was seen on surveillance video placing the military-style backpack at PNC Plaza on Sunday, authorities said. Police were notified about the backpack on Monday and found it contained makeshift explosives.
Authorities spoke with Michanowicz, who told them he had gone to the area to see the property damage that occurred during Saturday’s protests. He denied any knowledge of the backpack, telling police that he had only picked up a paper bag in front of a bike rack and threw it into a trash can.
When officers showed Michanowicz photos of him placing the backpack in the bushes, authorities said he confirmed he was the person in the photos but still denied having the backpack.
Michanowicz was charged with three counts each of arson and possessing weapons of mass destruction. It wasn’t known Friday if he has retained an attorney.


washingtontimes--2020-06-05--Mobile, Alabama removes Confederate statue without warning

MOBILE , Ala. ( AP ) - The city of Mobile , Alabama removed a Confederate statue early Friday , without making any public announcements about it beforehand .
The bronze figure of Admiral Raphael Semmes had become a flashpoint for protest in the city .
AL.com reported that it was removed from its pedestal after being vandalized this week , and before demonstrations announced for Sunday calling for it to be taken down .
The removal of the 120-year-old figure follows days of protests in Alabama and across the nation over killings by police of African Americans .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the South .
The city of Birmingham removed a towering obelisk after another statue was toppled by protesters .
Virginia ’ s governor has decided to remove a huge statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee in Richmond , Virginia , after city authorities said they ’ ll remove other Confederate monuments from Monument Avenue .
Semmes was a Confederate commerce raider , sinking Union-allied ships during the Civil War .
According to the Encyclopedia of Alabama , he was jailed on treason charges in New York City before returning South after the war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from taking office as an elected judge in Mobile .
He later wrote his memoirs and became a “ Lost Cause ” hero to Southerners who lamented the end of the Confederacy .
Semmes , Alabama , a city of several thousand people outside Mobile , was incorporated in 2010 and named in his honor .

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - Alabama’s port city removed a statue of a Confederate naval officer early Friday after days of protests over the police killing of George Floyd, with the mayor saying the monument was a “potential distraction” to focusing on the city’s future.
The bronze likeness of Admiral Raphael Semmes, which stood in a middle of a downtown street near the Mobile waterfront for 120 years, had become a flash point for protest in the Gulf Coast city. Vandalized during a demonstration this week and then cleaned by the city, it was removed overnight without any public notice.
Mayor Sandy Stimpson, in a string of messages sent on Twitter, said he ordered the removal. The decision to take down the statue wasn’t about Semmes or the monument itself, “and it is not an attempt to rewrite history,” he wrote.
“Moving this statue will not change the past. It is about removing a potential distraction so we may focus clearly on the future of our city,” Stimpson said.
The city would not say where the statue had been taken or what would be done with it, and it didn’t rule out the possibility that it would be returned to its original location.
Other Confederate symbols have come down around the South as calls to get rid of rebel monuments intensified during protests over Floyd’s death, in which an Minneapolis police officer was charged with murder.
The city of Birmingham removed a towering obelisk after another statue was toppled by protesters. Virginia’s governor has decided to remove a huge statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee in Richmond, Virginia, after city authorities said they’ll remove other Confederate monuments from Monument Avenue.
Semmes was a Confederate commerce raider, sinking Union-allied ships during the Civil War. According to the Encyclopedia of Alabama, he was jailed on treason charges in New York City before returning South after the war, and was later prohibited by U.S. authorities from taking office as an elected judge in Mobile.
He devoted his later years to writing his memoirs and became a “Lost Cause” hero to Southerners who lamented the end of the Confederacy. The statue was dedicated in 1900, the year before Alabama ratified a Constitution that established white supremacy in the state by essentially disenfranchising blacks and poor whites.
Semmes, a city of several thousand people near Mobile, was incorporated in 2010 and named in his honor.


washingtontimes--2020-06-05--D.C. artists creating government-sanctioned 'Black Lives Matter' mural on popular protest location

D.C. artists on Friday are creating a “ Black Lives Matter ” mural stretching out over two city blocks leading @ @ @ @ @ after several days of large protests in the city and nationwide .
Several reports note @ @ @ @ @ of Public Works has sanctioned and is assisting with the project that is stretching out @ @ @ @ @ K and H streets .
Massive crowds have been gathering outside the White House during @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday night they sang “ Lean on Me ” by Bill Withers .
National unrest @ @ @ @ @ George Floyd , Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor have renewed the painful debate of racial @ @ @ @ @ the U.S .

D.C. artists on Friday created, with the approval of the city, a “Black Lives Matter” mural stretching over two city blocks leading up to the White House after several days of large protests in the city and nationwide.
D.C. Public Works Department sanctioned and assisted with the project that stretches out on 16th Street NW between K and H streets, an area officially renamed as Black Lives Matter Plaza.
Mayor Muriel Bowser shared a video of the completed mural with the Black Lives Matter hashtag.
The mayor, a Democrat, has requested that President Trump recall all “extraordinary federal law enforcement and military presence” from the District. Officers first arrived Monday as the president sought a “law and order” stance against protests, the majority of which have been peaceful but which have occasionally given way to looting, riots and property damage.
SEE ALSO: Donald Trump calls D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser ‘incompetent’ over National Guard dispute
Massive crowds have been gathering outside the White House during the protests daily, and on Wednesday night, they sang “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers.
National unrest sparked after the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor have renewed the painful debate of racial tensions and police brutality in the U.S.
Night has fallen in DC and the massive crowd gathered at I and 16th streets have turned away from the lines of federal and military police in riot gear to raise their phones, lights on, and sing Bill Withers’ Lean On Me. pic.twitter.com/BGeWqgKZbf — Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) June 4, 2020
The D.C. chapter of Black Lives Matter said the mural was an empty gesture without substantive change behind it.
“This is a performative distraction from real policy changes. Bowser has consistently been on the wrong side of BLMDC history. This is to appease white liberals while ignoring our demands,” the group tweeted. “Black Lives Matter means defund the police.”
• Adam Zielonka contributed to this report.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-05--UN says eastern Congo fighting has killed 1,300 civilians

DAKAR , Senegal ( AP ) - Various conflicts involving armed groups and government forces in Congo have killed more than 1,300 civilians in the past eight months and violence has surged in recent weeks in eastern provinces , the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said Friday .
Michelle Bachelet said some incidents may amount to crimes against humanity or war crimes , with armed groups committing massacres and security forces also responsible for grave human rights violations .
“ I am appalled by the increase in brutal attacks on innocent civilians by armed groups , and by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces who have also committed grave violations , including killings and sexual violence , ” she said .
“ These are not only reprehensible and criminal acts , but they also break the trust between people and the state representatives.
” The recent violence in Ituri province has also displaced more than 200,000 people , according to medical charity Doctors Without Borders .
Multiple armed groups have been present in Congo ’ s mineral-rich eastern provinces for decades , attacking civilians and fighting for control of the territory and its valuable resources .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ staging attacks in Ituri province is known as CODECO and is comprised mainly of fighters from the Lendu community .
Its main leader was killed in March .
“ The attacks and the nature of the violence committed by the armed groups have grown increasingly more gruesome , including sexual violence , beheadings and mutilation of corpses , ” according to a statement by the U.N. Joint Human Rights Office of Congo .
Since October more than 531 civilians have been killed by armed groups in Ituri province , the U.N. said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kivu province , the main armed group known as the Allied Democratic Forces has been staging retaliatory attacks since the military launched major operations against it in November .
ADF rebels have abducted children , attacked schools and hospitals and used machetes , axes and heavy weapons , according to the U.N. A local rights group , the Center for the Promotion of Peace , Democracy and Human Rights , called on Congo ’ s government to reassess its operations after attacks by ADF and an Islamic State-linked group on several villages last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to the rights group , more than 627 civilians have been killed since Oct. 30 .
The U.N. on Friday called on Congolese authorities to establish state authority in conflict regions by increasing the presence of security forces and ensuring civilian protection .
“ When the state leaves a vacuum , others tend to fill it , ” the statement said .
The U.N. said more than 110,000 civilians also have been displaced in South Kivu province , where 74 people have been killed since October and at least 36 women and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ethnic violence .
That conflict between the Banyamulenge and the Bafuliro , Babembe , and Banyindu communities has been “ fuelled by hate speech disseminated through the media , social media and in public discourse , ” according to the U.N .
Soldiers have also been responsible for rights violations there , it said .
Doctors Without Borders this week called on international and national organizations to step up assistance in Ituri province .
It said children have been killed in the attacks , including a 15-month-old who was shot while strapped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an attack in Drodro on May 17 .
Health centers are also being targeted , with at least four attacked in May .
This is a major concern as neighboring North Kivu province combats an Ebola outbreak and as COVID-19 spreads .
“ The violence is systematically targeting villages and health centers in order to prevent the people who fled from returning , ” said the organization ’ s field coordinator , Benjamin Courlet .
“ Some people are too terrified to go the health centers that are still functioning in the villages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay in the bush , so we have set up mobile clinics to reach them there .
”

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) - Various conflicts involving armed groups and government forces in Congo have killed more than 1,300 civilians in the past eight months and violence has surged in recent weeks in eastern provinces, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said Friday.
Michelle Bachelet said some incidents may amount to crimes against humanity or war crimes, with armed groups committing massacres and security forces also responsible for grave human rights violations.
“I am appalled by the increase in brutal attacks on innocent civilians by armed groups, and by the reaction of the military and security forces who have also committed grave violations, including killings and sexual violence,” she said. “These are not only reprehensible and criminal acts, but they also break the trust between people and the state representatives.”
The recent violence in Ituri province has also displaced more than 200,000 people, according to medical charity Doctors Without Borders.
Multiple armed groups have been present in Congo’s mineral-rich eastern provinces for decades, attacking civilians and fighting for control of the territory and its valuable resources.
The U.N. said the principal armed group staging attacks in Ituri province is known as CODECO and is comprised mainly of fighters from the Lendu community. Its main leader was killed in March.
“The attacks and the nature of the violence committed by the armed groups have grown increasingly more gruesome, including sexual violence, beheadings and mutilation of corpses,” according to a statement by the U.N. Joint Human Rights Office of Congo.
Since October more than 531 civilians have been killed by armed groups in Ituri province, the U.N. said, including 375 since March.
In North Kivu province, the main armed group known as the Allied Democratic Forces has been staging retaliatory attacks since the military launched major operations against it in November. ADF rebels have abducted children, attacked schools and hospitals and used machetes, axes and heavy weapons, according to the U.N.
A local rights group, the Center for the Promotion of Peace, Democracy and Human Rights, called on Congo’s government to reassess its operations after attacks by ADF and an Islamic State-linked group on several villages last month killed at least 40 people. According to the rights group, more than 627 civilians have been killed since Oct. 30.
The U.N. on Friday called on Congolese authorities to establish state authority in conflict regions by increasing the presence of security forces and ensuring civilian protection.
“When the state leaves a vacuum, others tend to fill it,” the statement said.
The U.N. said more than 110,000 civilians also have been displaced in South Kivu province, where 74 people have been killed since October and at least 36 women and children have been raped in a resurgence of ethnic violence. That conflict between the Banyamulenge and the Bafuliro, Babembe, and Banyindu communities has been “fuelled by hate speech disseminated through the media, social media and in public discourse,” according to the U.N. Soldiers have also been responsible for rights violations there, it said.
Doctors Without Borders this week called on international and national organizations to step up assistance in Ituri province. It said children have been killed in the attacks, including a 15-month-old who was shot while strapped to his mother’s back during an attack in Drodro on May 17.
Health centers are also being targeted, with at least four attacked in May. This is a major concern as neighboring North Kivu province combats an Ebola outbreak and as COVID-19 spreads.
“The violence is systematically targeting villages and health centers in order to prevent the people who fled from returning,” said the organization’s field coordinator, Benjamin Courlet. “Some people are too terrified to go the health centers that are still functioning in the villages or in the camps. Instead they stay in the bush, so we have set up mobile clinics to reach them there.”


washingtontimes--2020-06-05--Floyd case restokes anger over French custody death

PARIS ( AP ) - Churning U.S. protests over the death of George Floyd have revived anger in France over police violence , systemic racism and the complicated case of Adama Traore , a black Frenchman who died in police custody in July 2016 .
For Traore ’ s family , the Floyd protests have also revived their hopes for change .
“ During the coronavirus , people had a pause in their lives .
They filmed scenes of police violence and they realized they were living in a country where there is violence every day against people of color @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said .
Over 20,000 people flouted a police ban and protested vociferously Tuesday in Paris to call for justice for both Traore and Floyd , and similar protests are planned around France this weekend .
“ As long as police aren ’ t convicted , we will keep coming out in the streets , ” Traore ’ s sister told The Associated Press .
Traore ’ s family believe three police officers piled on top of him and pinned him to the ground on his stomach after his arrest , and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police were at fault , and it remains unclear exactly at what moment , or where , he died .
Unlike with Floyd , there is no video or recording , which has made judging the case harder .
Four years later , no one has been charged .
French researchers have documented how police disproportionately target minorities for ID checks , and Traore ’ s supporters are not the only ones to accuse police of overstepping their authority .
Three days after Floyd died , another black man writhed on the tarmac @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police officer pressed a knee to his neck during an arrest , this time captured on video .
Outrage is growing .
But while in Paris some demonstrators clashed with police , Traore ’ s sister focused on the peaceful majority .
She encouraged those who “ have the luck not to be victims of this violence ” to denounce it .
“ Don ’ t remain spectators.
” After four years of back-and-forth autopsies and grassroots activism for her brother ’ s cause , she described the pain and power of seeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He died after an officer pressed his knee into his neck for several minutes even after he stopped moving and pleading for air .
“ These images that chilled the planet give the world an image of what happened to my brother , ” she said .
Traore ’ s family says the same thing happened to him , and that he , too , repeated : “ I can ’ t breathe.
” On that hot July night in 2016 , Adama Traore , a 24-year-old construction worker of Malian origin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beaumont-sur-Oise , about 25 kilometers north of Paris , where their large family grew up .
They were approached by plainclothes police officers who had identified Bagui in relation to another case , according to news reports at the time citing classified investigation documents .
Adama tried to run because he had no ID on him .
He was later detained by the three gendarmes , put in a police car and taken to a police station .
Within three hours of his arrest he was dead , according to the reports .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The officers involved claimed they respected “ necessary use of force.
” Local authorities were accused of a coverup after claiming Traore suffered a heart attack linked to a pre-existing infection .
Local prosecuctor Yves Jannier was quoted by Le Monde at the time as saying that Traore “ fainted during the trip ” to the police station and emergency workers couldn ’ t revive him .
Jannier also said that Traore had a “ very serious ” infection that had “ impacted multiple organs.
” A second autopsy was completed shortly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his death was caused by asphyxiation .
Since then there have been multiple expert reports that disagree on the basic facts of the case .
Yet another expert report was released last week exonerating the police officers - but it was then quickly contradicted by another medical expert assessing the case on behalf of Traore ’ s family .
Last week ’ s medical report “ confirms that the death of Adama Traore is not linked with the conditions of his arrest , ” Rodolphe Bosselut , the gendarmes ’ lawyer , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confident that the three police officers “ have no responsibility ” in Traore ’ s death and that the causes were linked to pre-existing medical conditions , stress , hot weather and cannabis use .
Traore ’ s sister said three gendarmes weighing a total of 250 kilograms ( 550 pounds ) pressed on her brother , though there is no indication that police used the same technique as they did with Floyd .
She describes the official medical reports as obfuscation by a “ war machine ” of police , medical experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ descendants of France ’ s former colonial empire living in low-income neighborhoods on the periphery of French cities .
She has led the family ’ s fight for clarity and justice , and described going to schools and universities to raise awareness and donations and gradually learning from climate activists and other protest movements about how to make their voice heard .
This week , she said , she ’ s been in contact with Black Lives Matter activists in the U.S. and other countries .
“ The combat for Adama is for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Arab youth who are targeted by police , ” she said .
“ The police don ’ t have the right to decide if they live or die.
” Tuesday ’ s protest , she said , “ was just a foretaste ” of what ’ s to come .

PARIS (AP) - Churning U.S. protests over the death of George Floyd have revived anger in France over police violence, systemic racism and the complicated case of Adama Traore, a black Frenchman who died in police custody in July 2016.
For Traore’s family, the Floyd protests have also revived their hopes for change.
“During the coronavirus, people had a pause in their lives. They filmed scenes of police violence and they realized they were living in a country where there is violence every day against people of color,” his sister, Assa Traore, said.
Over 20,000 people flouted a police ban and protested vociferously Tuesday in Paris to call for justice for both Traore and Floyd, and similar protests are planned around France this weekend.
“As long as police aren’t convicted, we will keep coming out in the streets,” Traore’s sister told The Associated Press.
Traore’s family believe three police officers piled on top of him and pinned him to the ground on his stomach after his arrest, and he asphyxiated. Lawyers for the officers deny police were at fault, and it remains unclear exactly at what moment, or where, he died. Unlike with Floyd, there is no video or recording, which has made judging the case harder. Four years later, no one has been charged.
French researchers have documented how police disproportionately target minorities for ID checks, and Traore’s supporters are not the only ones to accuse police of overstepping their authority.
Three days after Floyd died, another black man writhed on the tarmac of a Paris street as a white police officer pressed a knee to his neck during an arrest, this time captured on video.
And Friday, the Paris prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into racist, sexist and anti-LGBT messages allegedly published by police in a private Facebook group. Some of the reported comments mocked young men of color who have died fleeing police officers.
Outrage is growing. But while in Paris some demonstrators clashed with police, Traore’s sister focused on the peaceful majority. She encouraged those who “have the luck not to be victims of this violence” to denounce it. “Don’t remain spectators.”
After four years of back-and-forth autopsies and grassroots activism for her brother’s cause, she described the pain and power of seeing video of police kneeling on Floyd. He died after an officer pressed his knee into his neck for several minutes even after he stopped moving and pleading for air.
“These images that chilled the planet give the world an image of what happened to my brother,” she said.
Traore’s family says the same thing happened to him, and that he, too, repeated: “I can’t breathe.”
On that hot July night in 2016, Adama Traore, a 24-year-old construction worker of Malian origin, was walking with his brother Bagui in Beaumont-sur-Oise, about 25 kilometers north of Paris, where their large family grew up.
They were approached by plainclothes police officers who had identified Bagui in relation to another case, according to news reports at the time citing classified investigation documents. Adama tried to run because he had no ID on him.
He was later detained by the three gendarmes, put in a police car and taken to a police station. Within three hours of his arrest he was dead, according to the reports. He was still handcuffed when paramedics arrived.
The officers involved claimed they respected “necessary use of force.”
Local authorities were accused of a coverup after claiming Traore suffered a heart attack linked to a pre-existing infection.
Local prosecuctor Yves Jannier was quoted by Le Monde at the time as saying that Traore “fainted during the trip” to the police station and emergency workers couldn’t revive him.
Jannier also said that Traore had a “very serious” infection that had “impacted multiple organs.”
A second autopsy was completed shortly afterward that contradicted the first and determined his death was caused by asphyxiation.
Since then there have been multiple expert reports that disagree on the basic facts of the case.
Yet another expert report was released last week exonerating the police officers - but it was then quickly contradicted by another medical expert assessing the case on behalf of Traore’s family.
Last week’s medical report “confirms that the death of Adama Traore is not linked with the conditions of his arrest,” Rodolphe Bosselut, the gendarmes’ lawyer, told the AP.
He said he is confident that the three police officers “have no responsibility” in Traore’s death and that the causes were linked to pre-existing medical conditions, stress, hot weather and cannabis use.
Traore’s sister said three gendarmes weighing a total of 250 kilograms (550 pounds) pressed on her brother, though there is no indication that police used the same technique as they did with Floyd.
She describes the official medical reports as obfuscation by a “war machine” of police, medical experts and a judicial system stacked up against descendants of France’s former colonial empire living in low-income neighborhoods on the periphery of French cities.
She has led the family’s fight for clarity and justice, and described going to schools and universities to raise awareness and donations and gradually learning from climate activists and other protest movements about how to make their voice heard.
This week, she said, she’s been in contact with Black Lives Matter activists in the U.S. and other countries.
“The combat for Adama is for all the Adamas, all the black and Arab youth who are targeted by police,” she said. “The police don’t have the right to decide if they live or die.”
Tuesday’s protest, she said, “was just a foretaste” of what’s to come.
___
Adamson reported from Leeds, England. Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed.


washingtontimes--2020-06-05--Libya official: Tripoli units take key town with Turks' help

CAIRO ( AP ) - Forces allied with the U.N.-supported government in Libya said Friday they retook another key western town from rival forces , another blow illustrating how Turkey ’ s support has reversed the tide of the war in the oil-rich country .
Mohamed Gnono , spokesman for the Tripoli-allied forces , said their Turkish-backed units entered the town of Tarhouna , 72 kilometers ( 45 miles ) southeast of Tripoli .
Tarhouna served as a main stronghold for commander Khalifa Hifter ’ s east-based forces in their campaign to capture Tripoli from the west-based Government of National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-styled Libyan Arab Armed Forces , launched his offensive in April last year .
The announcement of Tarhouna ’ s capture comes a day after the U.N.-supported but weak Tripoli government said it regained control of all of the capital ’ s entrance and exit points after taking back the airport , claiming the siege by rival troops trying to capture the city for over a year had effectively ended .
Turkey has boosted its support for the Tripoli militias in recent months , sending drones and other military hardware , along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them with links to militant groups .
Turkish support enabled the Tripoli militias to take back almost all the towns and territories Hifter had taken control of since the beginning of his campaign .
A LAAF official said they left the town “ without fighting ” as part of a “ relocation ” of their forces out of the capital to support U.N. efforts to put an end to the conflict .
He spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn ’ t authorized to brief the media .
The U.N. mission in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delegation Wednesday and said it soon planned to speak with the Tripoli-based government .
Hifter ’ s forces are supported by France , Russia , Jordan , the United Arab Emirates and other key Arab countries .
Along with Turkey , the government in Tripoli is backed by Italy and Qatar .
Libya has been in turmoil since 2011 when a civil war toppled long-time dictator Moammar Gadhafi , who was later killed .
The country has since split between rival administrations in the east and the west , each backed by armed @ @ @ @ @

CAIRO (AP) - Forces allied with the U.N.-supported government in Libya’s capital said Friday they have retaken another key western town from rivals behind a year-long offensive on Tripoli. The development is yet another illustration of how Turkey’s support for the Tripoli government has turned the tide of war in the oil-rich country.
According to Mohamed Gnono, the spokesman for the Tripoli-allied forces, the Turkey-backed units have entered the town of Tarhouna, 72 kilometers (45 miles) southeast of Tripoli.
Tarhouna served as a main stronghold for commander Khalifa Hifter’s east-based forces in their campaign to capture Tripoli from the west-based Government of National Accord. Hifter, who leads the self-styled Libyan Arab Armed Forces, launched his offensive in April last year.
A spokesman for Hifter’s forces, Ahmed al-Mosmari, said at a press conference late on Friday that their fighters withdrew from Tarhouna after facing intense Turkish bombardment. He framed the retreat as a strategic decision to keep heavy fighting outside the city’s populated civilian districts. He also would not declare the end of Hifter’s assault, vowing, “the battles are not finished, they will continue.”
The retaking of Tarhouna followed other front-line successes of the militias allied with the U.N.-supported but weak Tripoli government. On Thursday, they said they regained control of all of Tripoli’s entrance and exit points, and the day before, they said they took back the Tripoli airport.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Friday that the United Nations’ “concern remains with the impact of the continued violence on civilians as well as the knock-on impact in forcing further displacements of civilian population.”
“The mission calls on all the parties to deescalate, to curb incitement and the use of hate speech,” he said. “I think it’s important to remind the parties of their responsibilities to abide by international human rights law, international humanitarian law.”
Later Friday, the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to extend the arms embargo on Libya for a year.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly criticized violations of the embargo by foreign governments supporting the rival parties. The government in Tripoli is backed by Turkey, which deployed troops and mercenaries to help defend the capital in January, as well as by Italy and Qatar. Hifter’s offensive is supported by France, Russia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and other key Arab countries.
Turkey has boosted its support for the Tripoli-allied militias in recent months, sending drones and other military hardware, along with thousands of Syrian mercenaries, many of them with links to militant groups. This has enabled the Tripoli forces to take back almost all the towns and territories around the Libyan capital that Hifter’s side had taken previously.
Even if U.N.-brokered cease-fire talks get underway, it is the foreign players in the Libyan conflict that will determine its fate. Hifter’s forces are supported by France, Russia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and other key Arab countries. Along with Turkey, the government in Tripoli is backed by Italy and Qatar.
Libya has been in turmoil since 2011 when a civil war toppled long-time dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who was later killed. The country has since split between rival administrations in the east and the west, each backed by armed groups and foreign governments.
Amnesty International, meanwhile, said both sides may have committed war crimes in the latest surge of fighting around Tripoli.
The London-based rights group said it obtained new evidence indicating “that war crimes and other violations may have been committed” since mid-April, “including, looting, indiscriminate attacks, and the planting of anti-personnel landmines in civilian buildings.”
“Civilians in Libya are once again paying the price,” said Amnesty’s regional director, Diana Eltahawy, adding that all parties in the fighting are “showing utter disregard for the laws of war and lives of civilians.”
Amnesty cited eyewitnesses describing looting by armed groups of civilian houses and public buildings in an array of towns near Tripoli - Sabratha, Surman and al-Asabaa - after they had been retaken from Hifter’s forces earlier this year and in the case of al-Asabaa, earlier this month.
The group said Hifter’s fighters also committed “serious violations,” including indiscriminate attacks and planting bombs and booby traps in civilian areas before withdrawing.
___
Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-06-05--Protests continue in Wisconsin, no major conflicts

MILWAUKEE ( AP ) - Marchers and a caravan of cars moved slowly into a western Milwaukee suburb Thursday night , but stopped short of a major mall where police were waiting .
Several hundred people turned back from Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa and headed back into Milwaukee .
Few police were present along the route .
The Journal Sentinel reports it was the eight straight day of marches led by community activists Frank Nitty and Khalil Coleman .
Another group of people protesting the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and police brutality against blacks marched through the east @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday evening .
Several hundred people took over street intersections , but remained peaceful .
Protesters in Madison marched to the home of Madison Metropolitan School District ’ s president Gloria Reyes ’ house to asking her to reconsider the presence of police liaison officers in schools .
Gloria Reyes told protesters George Floyd ’ s death will force the school district to “ seriously consider the use of officers in our schools.
” An increasing number of cities are rethinking the presence of school resource officers as they respond to the concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them young people .
Urban districts from Minneapolis to Denver that are mulling the fate of such programs .

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Marchers and a caravan of cars moved slowly into a western Milwaukee suburb Thursday night, but stopped short of a major mall where police were waiting.
Several hundred people turned back from Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa and headed back into Milwaukee. Few police were present along the route.
The Journal Sentinel reports it was the eight straight day of marches led by community activists Frank Nitty and Khalil Coleman.
Another group of people protesting the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and police brutality against blacks marched through the east side of Milwaukee to downtown and back Thursday evening. Several hundred people took over street intersections, but remained peaceful.
Protesters in Madison marched to the home of Madison Metropolitan School District’s president Gloria Reyes’ house to asking her to reconsider the presence of police liaison officers in schools.
Gloria Reyes told protesters George Floyd’s death will force the school district to “seriously consider the use of officers in our schools.”
An increasing number of cities are rethinking the presence of school resource officers as they respond to the concerns of thousands of demonstrators, many of them young people. Urban districts from Minneapolis to Denver that are mulling the fate of such programs.


washingtontimes--2020-06-05--Officials: Police chief in Louisiana took $4k in seized cash

GRAYSON , La .
( AP ) - A police chief in Louisiana has been accused of taking thousands of dollars seized by officers as evidence in different cases .
“ I won ’ t debate the validity of the charge , ” Grayson Police Chief Mitch Bratton said as he announced his own arrest in a Facebook post on Thursday .
Bratton said he “ wanted to be in full disclosure ” about the arrest , which he said came after he contacted “ an outside agency ” a few weeks ago about concerns he had “ with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police department Bratton oversees started after a complaint was filed about the missing money , according to the Louisiana State Police .
State investigators now allege Bratton took about $ 4,000 in two different cases and say the money was never documented as evidence , news outlets reported .
Bratton was booked into jail on two counts of obstruction of justice and one count of malfeasance in office .
Bratton said he ’ s cooperating with state investigators and doesn ’ t believe the charges should affect his position as chief .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I always have while I let the criminal justice system work this issue out , ” he said .

GRAYSON, La. (AP) - A police chief in Louisiana has been accused of taking thousands of dollars seized by officers as evidence in different cases.
“I won’t debate the validity of the charge,” Grayson Police Chief Mitch Bratton said as he announced his own arrest in a Facebook post on Thursday.
Bratton said he “wanted to be in full disclosure” about the arrest, which he said came after he contacted “an outside agency” a few weeks ago about concerns he had “with a town employee.”
An investigation into the police department Bratton oversees started after a complaint was filed about the missing money, according to the Louisiana State Police. State investigators now allege Bratton took about $4,000 in two different cases and say the money was never documented as evidence, news outlets reported.
Bratton was booked into jail on two counts of obstruction of justice and one count of malfeasance in office. Bratton said he’s cooperating with state investigators and doesn’t believe the charges should affect his position as chief.
“I intend to be as accessible as I always have while I let the criminal justice system work this issue out,” he said.


washingtontimes--2020-06-05--The Latest: Liverpool could win title at home after all

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world : Liverpool could win the Premier League title at home after all .
Police originally indicated they wanted Liverpool ’ s second game after the restart against Crystal Palace to be staged at a neutral venue because of concerns that supporters could congregate outside Anfield .
But the league now says the game on June 24 is scheduled to be at Liverpool ’ s home stadium .
The Merseyside derby against Everton could still be played away from Goodison Park on June 21 .
The league @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed .
Liverpool leads Manchester City by two points and is two wins from ending its 30-year title drought .
But Liverpool could clinch the trophy in its first game back against Everton if City loses to Arsenal on June 17 .
Chelsea has been declared Women ’ s Super League champion after the season was stopped because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The English Football Association ’ s board decided to determine the final standings on a points-per-game basis .
Manchester City was a point ahead of Chelsea but had played an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March .
City will still qualify for the Champions League with Chelsea .
Liverpool has been relegated .

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:
___
The Los Angeles Angels are the latest team to confirm it will pay minor leaguers through at least the end of June.
The Angels’ $400 weekly stipends could go longer, possibly depending on whether minor league baseball is able to play a season.
At least 18 other teams have already agreed to keep paying their minor leaguers through June.
___
Ohio State says football players will be permitted to begin voluntary workouts in school facilities on Monday.
Other athletes will follow later this month, with basketball players among those who can start voluntary training on June 15. To be cleared to begin working out, Ohio State athletes will tested for COVID-19 and quarantined until test results are available.
The NCAA gave schools the go-ahead last month to allow athletes to return to campus and begin voluntary use of team facilities for conditioning and training workouts on June 1.
The Big Ten, unlike some conferences, has set no standard start date. Maryland, Penn State and Michigan State have previously announced voluntary workouts for athletes will be permitted starting June 15.
___
Italian top flight soccer clubs are asking for no title winner or relegations if the season is stopped again.
One of the ideas the Italian federation is planning in case of another stop is the use of an algorithm to decide the final classification.
The Lega Serie A held a meeting with the clubs on Friday and Italian media reported 16 of the 20 teams voted in favor of not relegating anyone and not assigning the league title unless it is mathematically certain.
A final decision is expected to be made during the next FIGC council meeting on Monday.
The Lega Serie A says: “The assembly has given indications to the representatives of the Lega Serie A to vote in favor of solutions which still safeguard the sporting merit if it is not possible to finish the Serie A season.”
An algorithm could be used to assign European places.
___
South Carolina coach Will Muschamp and football players have joined others in a protest march from the Governor’s Mansion on Friday.
The march of several hundred people went the nearly 2 miles from the governor’s residence to the State House.
South Carolina quarterback Jay Ulrich carried a sign, “Matter is the minimum. Black lives are worthy. Black lives are beloved. Black lives are needed.”
It is the seventh straight day of rallies in South Carolina following the death of George Floyd, killed on Memorial Day when a Minneapolis police officer kept his knee on Floyd’s neck until he couldn’t breathe.
___
The University of Maryland will begin allowing its football players to begin voluntary, individual workouts under the supervision of the sports medial staff on June 15.
Football players will be permitted to return to campus on June 8 for medical screenings. The athletes will be tested for symptoms of COVID-19 on a daily basis.
Athletic director Damon Evans says he’s “optimistic” about the return of fall sports. He called the voluntary workouts on campus “our cautious and considered road map to the resumption of athletic competition.”
Maryland is scheduled to open the season on Sept. 5 at home against Towson.
___
The Italian soccer federation says teams will be allowed up to five substitutions in matches.
Italian competitions will adopt the temporary law change when they resume next week.
There can still be only three pauses to send on substitutes. If matches go into extra time and teams haven’t used all five of their substitutes they can make a fourth interruption at the end of regular time or between the two halves of extra time
Serie A is set to resume on June 20 with the Italian Cup being completed in the previous week.
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Borussia Dortmund players Jadon Sancho and Manuel Akanji have been fined by the German soccer league for breaking coronavirus-related restrictions to get haircuts.
The league says Sancho and Akanji “apparently violated general hygiene and infection protection standards” to have a barber visit them at home. There were no facemasks visible in photos posted on social media.
There were similar photos of Dortmund teammates Dan-Axel Zagadou and Raphäel Guerreiro with Düsseldorf-based barber Winnie Nana Karkari but they were not mentioned in the league’s statement. The Bild tabloid reported that Karkari also visited Dortmund players Axel Witsel and Thorgan Hazard last Thursday.
The league says “it goes without question that professional soccer players also need their hair cut” but “this must be done in accordance with the medical-organizational concept at the moment.”
___
The Asian qualifying tournament for the World Cup is set to resume in October after the coronavirus pandemic forced games in March and June to be postponed.
The Asian Football Confederation says it agreed with FIFA to schedule two dates in October and two in November to complete the current groups.
The AFC says the planned schedule must comply with “government travel and medical restrictions” in the 40 countries taking part.
Twelve teams will advance to a further group stage next year.
Four Asian teams will advance directly to the World Cup in Qatar. A fifth team will enter an intercontinental playoff round.
___
Liverpool could win the Premier League title at home after all.
Police originally indicated they wanted Liverpool’s second game after the restart against Crystal Palace to be staged at a neutral venue because of concerns that supporters could congregate outside Anfield.
But the league now says the game on June 24 is scheduled to be at Liverpool’s home stadium.
The Merseyside derby against Everton could still be played away from Goodison Park on June 21. The league says the venue is still to be confirmed.
Liverpool leads Manchester City by two points and is two wins from ending its 30-year title drought. But Liverpool could clinch the trophy in its first game back against Everton if City loses to Arsenal on June 17.
___
Chelsea has been declared Women’s Super League champion after the season was stopped because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The English Football Association’s board decided to determine the final standings on a points-per-game basis. Manchester City was a point ahead of Chelsea but had played an extra game when the season was suspended in March.
Chelsea had seven games remaining.
City will still qualify for the Champions League with Chelsea. Liverpool has been relegated.
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More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-06-05--Twitter disables Trump campaign's George Floyd video tribute

Twitter has blocked a Trump campaign video tribute to George Floyd over a copyright claim , in a move that adds to tensions between the social media platform and the U.S. president , one of its most widely followed users .
The company put a label on a video posted by the @ TeamTrump account that said , “ This media has been disabled in response to a claim by the copyright owner.
” The video was still up on President Donald Trump ’ s YouTube channel and includes pictures of Floyd , whose death sparked widespread protests , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy , we respond to valid copyright complaints sent to us by a copyright owner or their authorized representatives , ” Twitter said in a statement .
It did not say who made the complaint .
The three minute and 45 second clip is a montage of photos and videos of peaceful marches and police officers hugging protesters interspersed with some scenes of burning buildings and vandalism , set to gentle piano music and Trump speaking .
Last month , Twitter placed fact-check warnings on two tweets from Trump ’ s own account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and predicted problems with the November U.S. elections .
Under the tweets , there is now a link reading “ Get the facts about mail-in ballots ” that guides users to a Twitter “ moments ” page with fact checks and news stories about Trump ’ s unsubstantiated claims .
It also demoted and placed a stronger warning on a third Trump tweet about Minneapolis protests that read , in part , that “ when the looting starts , the shooting starts.
” Twitter said that the tweet had violated the platform ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responded by threatening to retaliate against social media companies .
Last year , Twitter also removed a Trump tweet that featured a doctored Nickelback music video clip that took aim at former Vice President Joe Biden , after receiving copyright complaints .

Twitter has blocked a Trump campaign video tribute to George Floyd over a copyright claim, in a move that adds to tensions between the social media platform and the U.S. president, one of its most widely followed users.
The company put a label on a video posted by the @TeamTrump account that said, “This media has been disabled in response to a claim by the copyright owner.” The video was still up on President Donald Trump’s YouTube channel and includes pictures of Floyd, whose death sparked widespread protests, at the start.
“Per our copyright policy, we respond to valid copyright complaints sent to us by a copyright owner or their authorized representatives,” Twitter said in a statement. It did not say who made the complaint.
The Burbank, California lawyer who requested the takedown, Sam Koolaq, declined to identify his client or the copyright violation in the video. He said in an email that he also submitted takedown notices to YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.
Facebook, which owns Instagram, took the video down later on Friday. “We received a copyright complaint from the creator under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and have removed the post,” Facebook said in a statement. YouTube did not respond to a request for comment.
The three minute and 45 second clip is a montage of photos and videos of peaceful marches and police officers hugging protesters interspersed with some scenes of burning buildings and vandalism, set to gentle piano music and Trump speaking.
Last month, Twitter placed fact-check warnings on two tweets from Trump’s own account that called mail-in ballots “fraudulent” and predicted problems with the November U.S. elections. Under the tweets, there is now a link reading “Get the facts about mail-in ballots” that guides users to a Twitter “moments” page with fact checks and news stories about Trump’s unsubstantiated claims.
It also demoted and placed a stronger warning on a third Trump tweet about Minneapolis protests that read, in part, that “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.” Twitter said that the tweet had violated the platform’s rules by glorifying violence.
Trump responded by threatening to retaliate against social media companies.
Last year, Twitter also removed a Trump tweet that featured a doctored Nickelback music video clip that took aim at former Vice President Joe Biden, after receiving copyright complaints.


washingtontimes--2020-06-05--Kansas agrees to $2.55M settlement with ex-football coach

LAWRENCE , Kan. ( AP ) - The University of Kansas announced late Friday it had reached a settlement with @ @ @ @ @ , who had filed a lawsuit against the school alleging athletic department officials were trying @ @ @ @ @ contract .
The school agreed to pay $ 2.55 million to end all litigation and @ @ @ @ @ had been in a legal battle since shortly after Kansas fired Beaty near the end @ @ @ @ @ His contract called for a $ 3 million buyout , but the school refused to @ @ @ @ @ NCAA infractions during routine end-of-season interviews with Beaty ’ s coaching staff .
The school @ @ @ @ @ NCAA and was given a Level II violation .
Beaty , who won just six @ @ @ @ @ filed his lawsuit in March 2019 in an attempt to get the full sum of @ @ @ @ @ will be paid from the money placed in escrow the year after he was fired @

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - The University of Kansas announced late Friday it had reached a settlement with former football coach David Beaty, who had filed a lawsuit against the school alleging athletic department officials were trying to circumvent terms of his contract.
The school agreed to pay $2.55 million to end all litigation and disputes.
The two sides had been in a legal battle since shortly after Kansas fired Beaty near the end of the 2018 season. His contract called for a $3 million buyout, but the school refused to pay it after discovering potential NCAA infractions during routine end-of-season interviews with Beaty’s coaching staff.
The school reported the discoveries to the NCAA and was given a Level II violation.
Beaty, who won just six games in four seasons, filed his lawsuit in March 2019 in an attempt to get the full sum of his contract. The settlement will be paid from the money placed in escrow the year after he was fired.


washingtontimes--2020-06-05--Surfers 'paddle out,' circle up in memory of George Floyd

SANTA MONICA , Calif. ( AP ) - On a sliver of sand that before the Civil Rights era was derisively dubbed “ The Ink Well ” because of its popularity among black people , hundreds of surfers gathered Friday to honor the life of George Floyd and other African Americans killed by police .
The occasion was a paddle out , a Hawaiian tradition to celebrate a life and mourn its passing , organized by Black Girls Surf to share the pain they are feeling with devotees of a sport that has not always welcomed them .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you think about black girls surfing in the ocean , people are like , ” Ha , ha , you don ’ t surf , ’ ” Sayuri Blondt said .
“ But when you see everyone coming out to support us , it sends a message in a very unusual way and catches people ’ s attention.
” More than 200 surfers of all ages and races paddled through a set of crashing waves under cloudy skies to form a massive circle near the Santa Monica Pier , where they chanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mark the nearly nine minutes prosecutors say his neck was pinned to the ground under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer .
They also sang “ Happy Birthday ” in memory of Breonna Taylor , who was shot in March by Louisville , Kentucky , police officers and would have turned 27 Friday , Panpan Wang , who had “ Black Lives Matter ” written in marker on his back and Floyd and Taylor ’ s names across his chest , said it emotional floating in the water while thinking of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very aware of my body , feeling cold and trying to remember everybody and what their bodies went through , ” Wang said .
“ I just wanted to feel .
I ’ m trying to lean into the pain and suffering and not shy away from it.
” Giovanni Douresseau , who grew up in South LA and was nearly arrested his first time surfing after being mistaken as a criminal , told his fellow surfers that his heart broke at Floyd ’ s death .
Video of Floyd in handcuffs saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the way he had seen uncles and a brother treated by police .
“ We don ’ t just see George Floyd .
We see us , ” Douresseau told the crowd before they hit the water .
The event held at beaches around the world was organized by Rhonda Harper , who founded Black Girls Surf to help bring others like herself to the sport .
Surfing has not traditionally welcomed black people , and Harper , who dreamed of being a pro surfer at 15 , had no one to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often felt her white surfer friends don ’ t understand her anguish when she posts about police killings on social media .
“ There ’ s a lack of awareness and empathy in the surf community when things like this happen , ” Harper said .
“ I have a lot of white surf friends who don ’ t get it or are so privileged that they don ’ t have to mourn the loss of a black life .
They ’ re talking about waves being beautiful and there being too much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were held in Australia , Dakar , Senegal , and Galveston , Texas .
On a beach in Biarritz , France , surfers spelled the word unity with their surfboards .
At Huntington Beach , known as Surf City USA , south of LA , they grabbed daisies and sunflowers from buckets labeled unity , solidarity and peace to drop in the water .
A small group of kayakers in New Jersey held a moment of on the Hackensack River .
The Santa Monica event was held at a beach commemorated with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where African Americans could avoid racial harassment even after beaches were desegregated in 1927 .
It came less than a week after a protest over Floyd ’ s death a few blocks from the beach was overshadowed by damaging looting nearby .
“ We wanted to turn the tables on all that violence , ” Harper said .
“ It ’ s better than going into Patagonia and stealing surfboards .
It ’ s the opposite of what ’ s going on there .
”

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) - On a sliver of sand that before the Civil Rights era was derisively dubbed “The Ink Well” because of its popularity among black people, hundreds of surfers gathered Friday to honor the life of George Floyd and other African Americans killed by police.
The occasion was a paddle out, a Hawaiian tradition to celebrate a life and mourn its passing, organized by Black Girls Surf to share the pain they are feeling with devotees of a sport that has not always welcomed them.
“This speaks so much more to people because if you think about black girls surfing in the ocean, people are like, ‘Ha, ha, you don’t surf,’” Sayuri Blondt said. “But when you see everyone coming out to support us, it sends a message in a very unusual way and catches people’s attention.”
More than 200 surfers of all ages and races paddled through a set of crashing waves under cloudy skies to form a massive circle near the Santa Monica Pier, where they chanted Floyd’s name nine times to mark the nearly nine minutes prosecutors say his neck was pinned to the ground under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer.
They also sang “Happy Birthday” in memory of Breonna Taylor, who was shot in March by Louisville, Kentucky, police officers and would have turned 27 Friday.
Panpan Wang, who had “Black Lives Matter” written in marker on his back and Floyd and Taylor’s names across his chest, said he became emotional floating in the water while thinking of how they died.
“I was very aware of my body, feeling cold and trying to remember everybody and what their bodies went through,” Wang said. “I just wanted to feel. I’m trying to lean into the pain and suffering and not shy away from it.”
Giovanni Douresseau, who grew up in South LA and was nearly arrested his first time surfing after being mistaken as a criminal, told his fellow surfers that his heart broke at Floyd’s death. Video of Floyd in handcuffs saying he couldn’t breathe reminded him of the way he had seen uncles and a brother treated by police.
“We don’t just see George Floyd. We see us,” Douresseau told the crowd before they hit the water.
The event held at beaches around the world was organized by Rhonda Harper, who founded Black Girls Surf to help bring others like herself to the sport. Surfing has not traditionally welcomed black people, and Harper, who dreamed of being a pro surfer at 15, had no one to look to for inspiration.
She has often felt her white surfer friends don’t understand her anguish when she posts about police killings on social media.
“There’s a lack of awareness and empathy in the surf community when things like this happen,” Harper said. “I have a lot of white surf friends who don’t get it or are so privileged that they don’t have to mourn the loss of a black life. They’re talking about waves being beautiful and there being too much negativity in the world.”
Paddle outs were held in Dakar, Senegal, and Galveston, Texas, as well as Australia. On a beach in Biarritz, France, surfers spelled the word unity with their surfboards. At Huntington Beach, known as Surf City USA, south of LA, they grabbed daisies and sunflowers from buckets labeled unity, solidarity and peace to drop in the water. A small group of kayakers in New Jersey held a moment of silence on the Hackensack River.
The Santa Monica event was held at a beach commemorated with a plaque noting its importance as a place where African Americans could avoid racial harassment even after beaches were desegregated in 1927.
It came less than a week after Floyd’s death inspired a protest a few blocks from the beach that was overshadowed by damage, break-ins and thefts nearby.
“We wanted to turn the tables on all that violence,” Harper said. “It’s better than going into Patagonia and stealing surfboards. It’s the opposite of what’s going on there.”


washingtontimes--2020-06-05--Georgia woman arrested for profane sign criticizing sheriff

VALDOSTA , Ga. ( AP ) - A protester in south Georgia has been arrested because a sheriff said she was displaying an obscene sign .
Sydney Caitlin Smith , 31 , was arrested Thursday by Lowndes County sheriff ’ s deputies , local news outlets reported .
Smith was attending a protest sparked by the death of George Floyd .
Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk said Smith is charged with violating a state law that forbids displaying obscenity where children 14 or younger can see it .
Smith is free on bail .
Wednesday , video captured Paulk confronting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , confiscating the sign and grabbing a female protester who tries to snatch it back .
No one was arrested .
“ I got several calls of ‘ We don ’ t want to look at this , ’ ” Paulk told WCTV-TV .
“ I went back up there .
I approached the young man who had the sign in his hand.
” Witnesses tell WALB-TV that Smith ’ s sign criticized Paulk and President Donald Trump .
Others who saw the arrest said they felt it was unjust .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Freedom of speech , ’ so she should be able to express that however she would like to , ” protester Kenyon Brown said .
University of Georgia law professor Clare Norins , questioned Smith ’ s arrest , saying a 1971 U.S. Supreme Court case involving a California man found that profanity can ’ t be banned when it ’ s part of a political message .
“ The Supreme Court said that his conviction had to be reversed because he had the right to express his protest message using profanity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he intends to continue enforcing the anti-profanity law .

VALDOSTA, Ga. (AP) - A protester in south Georgia has been arrested because a sheriff said she was displaying an obscene sign.
Sydney Caitlin Smith, 31, was arrested Thursday by Lowndes County sheriff’s deputies, local news outlets reported. Smith was attending a protest sparked by the death of George Floyd.
Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk said Smith is charged with violating a state law that forbids displaying obscenity where children 14 or younger can see it. Smith is free on bail.
Wednesday, video captured Paulk confronting a man with a sign displaying profanity, confiscating the sign and grabbing a female protester who tries to snatch it back. No one was arrested.
“I got several calls of ‘We don’t want to look at this,’” Paulk told WCTV-TV. “I went back up there. I approached the young man who had the sign in his hand.”
Witnesses tell WALB-TV that Smith’s sign criticized Paulk and President Donald Trump. Others who saw the arrest said they felt it was unjust.
“I believe the First Amendment says, ‘Freedom of speech,’ so she should be able to express that however she would like to,” protester Kenyon Brown said.
University of Georgia law professor Clare Norins, questioned Smith’s arrest, saying a 1971 U.S. Supreme Court case involving a California man found that profanity can’t be banned when it’s part of a political message.
“The Supreme Court said that his conviction had to be reversed because he had the right to express his protest message using profanity,” she told WCTV-TV.
Paulk said he intends to continue enforcing the anti-profanity law.


washingtontimes--2020-06-05--Glendale couple arrested in roommate's death

GLENDALE , Ariz. ( AP ) - Police in Glendale have arrested a couple suspected of killing a 27-year-old woman @ @ @ @ @ say 29-year-old Stephanie Kimbell called police on May 13 to report that a woman had @ @ @ @ @ collapsed .
Kimbell and her husband , 28-year-old Brandon Kimbell , told officers that they @ @ @ @ @ woman .
After investigating , police say the learned the woman , Brittany Hand , @ @ @ @ @ s apartment and was involved in an abusive relationship with them .
Police say the @ @ @ @ @ .
Brandon Kimbell faces one count of first-degree murder , while his wife faces charges @ @ @ @ @ hindering an investigation .

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Police in Glendale have arrested a couple suspected of killing a 27-year-old woman back in May.
They say 29-year-old Stephanie Kimbell called police on May 13 to report that a woman had knocked on their door and collapsed.
Kimbell and her husband, 28-year-old Brandon Kimbell, told officers that they didn’t know the woman.
After investigating, police say the learned the woman, Brittany Hand, lived in the couple’s apartment and was involved in an abusive relationship with them.
Hand was 27 years old.
Police say the Kimbells were arrested on Friday. Brandon Kimbell faces one count of first-degree murder, while his wife faces charges of tampering with evidence and hindering an investigation.


washingtontimes--2020-06-05--Family of man killed by Arizona cop wants federal probe

PHOENIX ( AP ) - The family of an unarmed man shot and killed by an Arizona state trooper the same day George Floyd died said Friday they want a federal investigation .
“ Phoenix police officers aren ’ t willing to do anything on my behalf , ” Dion Johnson ’ s mother , Erma , told reporters .
“ They haven ’ t contacted me .
I haven ’ t heard nothing since the day that it happened.
” The Phoenix Police Department is overseeing the investigation into the May 25 shooting .
Family members expressed growing frustration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid administrative leave , has not been identified to them .
They also believe investigators have not interviewed other potential witnesses , attorney Jocquese Blackwell said .
Democratic state Rep. Reginald Bolding said he has sent a letter requesting the U.S. Justice Department review the case for possible civil rights violations .
“ We believe the actions of these troopers must be looked into .
There must be a true external investigation , ” Bolden said .
The family is particularly bothered that Johnson , 28 , was deprived of emergency medical aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cuffed .
The incident began around 5:30 a.m. on Memorial Day when the trooper , who was on motorcycle patrol , noticed a car stopped on a freeway on-ramp in north Phoenix .
He saw Johnson passed out in the driver ’ s seat .
Open beer cans and a gun were also inside .
The trooper took the gun out of the car and then tried to arrest Johnson for driving while intoxicated , Phoenix Police Sgt .
Maggie Cox said .
But the trooper told investigators that Johnson grabbed him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a struggle .
The trooper took out his gun and ordered Johnson to follow his commands .
Johnson did so until the trooper was putting his gun back into the holster , when Johnson grabbed for it and the trooper opened fire , Cox said .
A second trooper on a motorcycle arrived .
But the two officers , who have not been identified , did not have body cameras on them , and their motorcycles were not outfitted with dash-cam video .
Video recorded by AZFamily.com from a Department of Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the moments right after the shooting .
The nearly six-minute clip shows two motorcycle troopers from a distance standing behind a vehicle .
As Johnson lies on the ground handcuffed , one of the troopers then uses his foot to kick or nudge Johnson .
The camera pans back , revealing a Phoenix Fire Department ambulance stopped a short distance away .
Four minutes later , the video shows the vehicle head toward the spot where Johnson is on the ground .
Erma Johnson said her son was not someone who would try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why the trooper ’ s name hasn ’ t been released , DPS director Col. Heston Silbert , said due diligence must be maintained for the criminal and internal investigations going on .
He also had no answers for why paramedics were kept at bay for several minutes .
While the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer fueled protests nationwide , the death of Johnson , who was black , has also been a rallying point in Phoenix .
“ Why did Dion get shot and killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s a question that needs to be answered , ” Blackwell said .
“ And that ’ s all we want .
We want answers .
”

PHOENIX (AP) - The family of an unarmed man shot and killed by an Arizona state trooper the same day George Floyd died said Friday they want a federal investigation.
“Phoenix police officers aren’t willing to do anything on my behalf,” Dion Johnson’s mother, Erma, told reporters. “They haven’t contacted me. I haven’t heard nothing since the day that it happened.”
The Phoenix Police Department is overseeing the investigation into the May 25 shooting. Family members expressed growing frustration that the trooper, who is on paid administrative leave, has not been identified to them. They also believe investigators have not interviewed other potential witnesses, attorney Jocquese Blackwell said.
Democratic state Rep. Reginald Bolding said he has sent a letter requesting the U.S. Justice Department review the case for possible civil rights violations.
“We believe the actions of these troopers must be looked into. There must be a true external investigation,” Bolden said.
The family is particularly bothered that Johnson, 28, was deprived of emergency medical aid for several minutes after he was shot and cuffed.
The incident began around 5:30 a.m. on Memorial Day when the trooper, who was on motorcycle patrol, noticed a car stopped on a freeway on-ramp in north Phoenix. He saw Johnson passed out in the driver’s seat. Open beer cans and a gun were also inside.
The trooper took the gun out of the car and then tried to arrest Johnson for driving while intoxicated, Phoenix Police Sgt. Maggie Cox said.
But the trooper told investigators that Johnson grabbed him while the door was open, leading to a struggle. The trooper took out his gun and ordered Johnson to follow his commands. Johnson did so until the trooper was putting his gun back into the holster, when Johnson grabbed for it and the trooper opened fire, Cox said.
A second trooper on a motorcycle arrived. But the two officers, who have not been identified, did not have body cameras on them, and their motorcycles were not outfitted with dash-cam video.
Video recorded by AZFamily.com from a Department of Public Safety traffic camera, however, captured the moments right after the shooting. The nearly six-minute clip shows two motorcycle troopers from a distance standing behind a vehicle. As Johnson lies on the ground handcuffed, one of the troopers then uses his foot to kick or nudge Johnson.
The camera pans back, revealing a Phoenix Fire Department ambulance stopped a short distance away. Four minutes later, the video shows the vehicle head toward the spot where Johnson is on the ground.
Erma Johnson said her son was not someone who would try to confront police.
When asked Thursday why the trooper’s name hasn’t been released, DPS director Col. Heston Silbert, said due diligence must be maintained for the criminal and internal investigations going on. He also had no answers for why paramedics were kept at bay for several minutes.
While the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer fueled protests nationwide, the death of Johnson, who was black, has also been a rallying point in Phoenix.
“Why did Dion get shot and killed when he was passed out drunk? That’s a question that needs to be answered,” Blackwell said. “And that’s all we want. We want answers.”


washingtontimes--2020-06-05--Roger Goodell says NFL was wrong for not listening to players on protests, racism

NEW YORK — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says the league was wrong for not listening to players fighting for racial equality and encourages them to peacefully protest .
One day after 2018 NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes and several of his peers released a video demanding the league condemn racism , Goodell made his strongest statement on the issues many players passionately support .
George Floyd ’ s death has ignited nationwide protests over racial injustice and police brutality , issues former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began speaking out against in 2016 when he started taking a knee during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a difficult time for our country .
In particular , black people in our country , ” Goodell said in a video released Friday .
“ First , my condolences to the families of George Floyd , Breonna Taylor , Ahmaud Arbery and all the families who have endured police brutality .
We , the National Football League , condemn racism and the systematic oppression of black people .
We , the National Football League , admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Football League , believe Black Lives Matter .
I personally protest with you and want to be part of the much needed change in this country .
“ Without black players , there would be no National Football League .
And the protests around the country are emblematic of the centuries of silence , inequality and oppression of black players , coaches , fans and staff .
We are listening .
I am listening , and I will be reaching out to players who have raised their voices and others on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a better and more united NFL family .
”

NEW YORK — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says the league was wrong for not listening to players fighting for racial equality and encourages them to peacefully protest.
One day after 2018 NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes and several of his peers released a video demanding the league condemn racism, Goodell made his strongest statement on the issues many players passionately support.
George Floyd’s death has ignited nationwide protests over racial injustice and police brutality, issues former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began speaking out against in 2016 when he started taking a knee during the national anthem.
“It has been a difficult time for our country. In particular, black people in our country,” Goodell said in a video released Friday. “First, my condolences to the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and all the families who have endured police brutality. We, the National Football League, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of black people. We, the National Football League, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest. We, the National Football League, believe Black Lives Matter. I personally protest with you and want to be part of the much needed change in this country.
“Without black players, there would be no National Football League. And the protests around the country are emblematic of the centuries of silence, inequality and oppression of black players, coaches, fans and staff. We are listening. I am listening, and I will be reaching out to players who have raised their voices and others on how we can improve and go forward for a better and more united NFL family.”
We, the NFL, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of Black People. We, the NFL, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest. We, the NFL, believe Black Lives Matter. #InspireChange pic.twitter.com/ENWQP8A0sv — NFL (@NFL) June 5, 2020


washingtontimes--2020-06-05--AP PHOTOS:  Images of calm emerge after days of protests

Amid the anger , violence and grief evident in the massive protests shaking the country after the death of George Floyd , images of calm are beginning to emerge as the mood shifts to more peaceful calls for change .
The country ’ s most significant demonstrations in a half-century were initially marred by the setting of fires and smashing of windows , but Friday marked the third day of more subdued demonstrations .
In New York , a health care professional riding a bus leans out a window to greet protesters as they break curfew and march along 34th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters lie on their stomachs with their hands behind their backs , like Floyd in his last moments .
In Austin , Texas , two police officers hold up their hands in support during a Black Lives Matter rally .
And in Portland , Maine , demonstrators gather at a rally to peacefully protest and demand an end to institutional racism and police brutality , Floyd , who was black , died last week after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into his neck for several minutes even after Floyd stopped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The shocking scene was caught on video and seen around the world , sparking the protests and calls for change .

Amid the anger, violence and grief evident in the massive protests shaking the country after the death of George Floyd, images of calm are beginning to emerge as the mood shifts to more peaceful calls for change.
The country’s most significant demonstrations in a half-century were initially marred by the setting of fires and smashing of windows, but Friday marked the third day of more subdued demonstrations.
In New York, a health care professional riding a bus leans out a window to greet protesters as they break curfew and march along 34th Street. In San Antonio, some protesters lie on their stomachs with their hands behind their backs, like Floyd in his last moments. In Austin, Texas, two police officers hold up their hands in support during a Black Lives Matter rally. And in Portland, Maine, demonstrators gather at a rally to peacefully protest and demand an end to institutional racism and police brutality,
Floyd, who was black, died last week after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into his neck for several minutes even after Floyd stopped moving and saying he could not breathe. The shocking scene was caught on video and seen around the world, sparking the protests and calls for change.


washingtontimes--2020-06-05--Mom pleads guilty; son died after hours in hot car

MUNCIE , Ind .
( AP ) - A woman who said she was intoxicated and asleep when her 2-year-old @ @ @ @ @ pleaded guilty to a charge related to his death .
Britni Wihebrink , 30 , @ @ @ @ @ neglect of a dependent resulting in death .
She appeared Wednesday in Delaware County court @ @ @ @ @ .
Police said Jaxon Stults died while in a hot car outside Wihebrink ’ s @ @ @ @ @ .
The boy apparently had left the apartment and entered the car .
Wihebrink will @ @ @ @ @ 1 .

MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) - A woman who said she was intoxicated and asleep when her 2-year-old son climbed into a car pleaded guilty to a charge related to his death.
Britni Wihebrink, 30, of Daleville pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in death. She appeared Wednesday in Delaware County court, the Star Press reported.
Police said Jaxon Stults died while in a hot car outside Wihebrink’s apartment building in September 2018. The boy apparently had left the apartment and entered the car.
Wihebrink will get her sentence on July 1.