Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

As more churches lose their callings, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) pledges $40 million more for a total of $120 million over four years to restore these buildings that are part of the “history” of the province.

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“Despite the decline in attendance at places of worship, these buildings retain their local and regional importance. Their architectural size and their location, often in the center of the oldest neighborhoods or village cores, make them powerful symbols of our built heritage,” said the party, which hopes to return to power on October 3.

That additional $10 million a year will be used to protect and enhance Quebec’s cultural heritage thanks to two programs designed to restore churches and requalify them for new uses according to the needs of the population, the leader announced of the CAQ, François Legault, accompanied by the candidates in Portneuf and Champlain, Vincent Caron and Sonia LeBel.

“Even though Quebec is secular, our churches are part of our history. It’s a precious legacy. It’s part of the beauty of Quebec. And we have a duty to protect that legacy,” Mr. Legault said as he drove through Greater Quebec City.

LONDON (AP) – U.S. President Joe Biden paid his respects at Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin on Sunday as thousands of police officers, hundreds of British troops and an army of officials made final preparations for the Queen’s state funeral in a spectacular display of national mourning, which will also be the largest gathering of world leaders in years.

People across the UK observed a minute’s silence at 8pm in memory of the only monarch most have ever known. At Westminster Hall, where the Queen lies in state, the steady stream of mourners paused for 60 seconds as people watched the moment of reflection in deep silence.

In Windsor, where the Queen will be buried on Monday night after her funeral in Westminster Abbey, it began to rain as the crowd fell silent for a moment’s contemplation. Some have set up small camps and chairs outside Windsor Castle, with plans to spend the night there to reserve the best seats to view the Queen’s coffin when it arrives.

“Well, it’s just one night and one day of our lives. Elizabeth gave us – you know – 70 years. So the rest isn’t much to ask, is it?” said Fred Sweeney, 52, who decked out his seat with two Union flags on tall flagpoles.

Biden and First Lady Jill Biden were among thousands of mourners — from locals and tourists to royalty and world leaders — to pay their respects. The President made the Sign of the Cross and placed his hand on his heart as he stood silently by the coffin with his wife and US Ambassador Jane Hartley in the ornate 900-year-old hall.

Biden then signed the official book of condolence and attended a reception at Buckingham Palace on Sunday hosted by King Charles III. He is one of 500 world leaders and royals invited to the Queen’s state funeral on Monday, along with hundreds of dignitaries, politicians, military veterans and British charity workers.

Biden called Queen Elizabeth II “decent” and “honorable” and “everything about the service” when he signed the book of condolence and said his heart was with the royal family.

“Queen Elizabeth lived her life for the people,” Jill Biden wrote in a book for spouses and ambassadors. “She served with wisdom and grace. We will never forget their warmth, kindness and the conversations we had.”

One no-show will be Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose invitation was criticized by human rights groups over the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Saudi Arabia is expected to be represented by another king, Prince Turki bin Mohammed.

As the dignitaries poured in, hundreds, hoping to see the Queen’s coffin, prepared to spend the night outside in the longest line many have ever seen. Authorities closed the mile-long queue late Sunday to allow anyone in line to get past the coffin before Monday morning as it is taken to Westminster Abbey for the Queen’s funeral.

Family after family, thousands of people queued 24 hours a day, braving the cool night temperatures and waiting times of up to 17 hours in a queue that stretched 8 kilometers.

Lauren Wilson, 36, stood in the much shorter queue for people with mobility issues. She said she wanted to see the coffin laid out in person.

“The world is in such a strange place and then this happened. It feels more meaningful,” she said.

She worried that the pageantry surrounding Elizabeth’s death would rob the Queen’s relatives of the ability to cope with their loss.

“The family must not mourn. I find it quite heartbreaking,” she said.

The Queen’s eight grandsons, led by heir apparent Prince William, circled the coffin and stood with their heads bowed during a silent vigil on Saturday night.

Among the foreign leaders in London was New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who told the BBC she was honored to represent her nation at the funeral and to witness the national outpouring of sorrow and respect for the late Queen.

“What I will take away from this period is just the beauty of the public’s response, the kindness that you see from members of the public, the patience, the camaraderie. That for me was the most moving tribute of all, the public reaction from the British people,” she said.

Monday was declared a public holiday in honor of Elizabeth, who died on September 8 at the age of 96 after 70 years on the throne. Her funeral will be broadcast live to over 200 countries and territories worldwide and shown to crowds in parks and public spaces across the country.

Police officers from across the country will be on duty as part of the largest one-day police operation in London history.

Camilla, the Queen consort, paid tribute to her mother-in-law in a video message, saying the monarch has “created her own role” as a “lonely woman” on a male-dominated world stage.

“I will always remember her smile. That smile is unforgettable,” said Camilla, who is married to Charles.

Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska was among the mourners who paid their respects to the Queen’s coffin. British royal officials said Zelenska met Catherine, the Princess of Wales, at Buckingham Palace on Sunday afternoon. They did not disclose any further details. The British government has been one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters since Russia invaded in February.

Saturday night was mourning time for the grandchildren. William and Prince Harry, sons of Charles, were joined by Princess Anne’s children, Zara Tindall and Peter Philips; the daughters of Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie; and Prince Edward’s two children – Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.

William stood at the head of the coffin, head bowed, and Harry at the foot. Both princes, who are military veterans, wore uniforms. The crowd slowed to a halt, edging past in silence.

“You could see they were thinking deeply about their grandmother the Queen,” said Ian Mockett, a civil engineer from Oxford in southern England. “It was nice to see them all together as grandchildren considering what has happened over the past few years.”

The state of affairs continues until early Monday morning, when the Queen’s coffin is taken on a gun wagon pulled by 142 Royal Navy seamen to nearby Westminster Abbey for the funeral, the finale of 10 days of national mourning for Britain’s death longest reigning monarch.

After Monday’s service at the Abbey, the coffin of the late Queen will be transported through the historic heart of London on the State Gun Carriage. It will then be taken in a hearse to Windsor where the Queen will be buried alongside her late husband Prince Philip, who died aged 99 last year.

Sumita Tanda laid down bright red roses as a giant floral tribute bloomed near Windsor Castle.

“I feel so privileged to be a Windsor resident,” she said. “I just wanted to show my respect.”

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Associated Press journalists Danica Kirka and David Keyton contributed.

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Follow AP’s coverage of Queen Elizabeth II at https://apnews.com/hub/queen-elizabeth-ii

Washington is again showing Beijing the red line not to cross to help Moscow. US President Joe Biden said he had warned his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping of the danger that investors could flee if China violated sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

In an excerpt of an interview with CBS that will air on Sunday, Joe Biden said he had told Xi Jinping during a phone interview that violating the sanctions was “a gigantic mistake,” specifying that there was no sign of it yet admitted that China was actively supporting the Russian war effort by supplying them with arms.

Call “not to threaten at all”

“I called President Xi – not at all to threaten, but to tell him (…) that if you believe that the Americans and others will continue to invest in China while violating the sanctions imposed on Russia, I think you’re doing a gigantic mistake,” the White House tenant said. But “at the moment there is no indication that they (the Chinese) have offered weapons or anything else that Russia needs”.

Joe Biden also dismissed the idea that the China-Russia alliance implied the United States was waging a new breed of Cold War. “I don’t think this is a new or more complicated Cold War,” he said.