france24--2020-07-01--Hong Kong sees first arrests under new security law on handover anniversary

Riot police detain a woman as they clear protesters taking part in a rally against a new national security law in Hong Kong on July 1 , 2020 , on the 23rd anniversary of the city 's handover from Britain to China .
Hong Kong police made their first arrests under a new national security law imposed by China 's central government , detaining protesters on Wednesday for carrying flags and signs calling for Hong Kong 's independence .
More than 300 protesters were arrested in total , nine under the new security law , as protesters took to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation , which critics say is aimed at snuffing out dissent .
Beijing unveiled the details of the much-anticipated law late on Tuesday after weeks of uncertainty , pushing China 's freest city and one of the world 's most glittering financial hubs on to a more authoritarian path .
On Wednesday , the anniversary of the former British colony 's handover to China in 1997 , riot police used pepper spray and fired pellets as they made arrests after crowds spilled into the streets chanting `` resist till the end '' and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man who had a Hong Kong independence flag was arrested at a protest in the city ’ s Causeway Bay shopping district .
Police later arrested a woman for holding up a sign displaying the British flag and calling for Hong Kong 's independence .
The law makes secessionist , subversive , or terrorist activities illegal , as well as foreign intervention in the city 's internal affairs .
Any person taking part in secessionist activities , such as shouting slogans or holding up banners and flags urging for the city ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law regardless of whether violence is used .
The most serious offenders , such as those deemed to be masterminds behind the crimes , could receive a maximum punishment of life imprisonment .
Lesser offenders could receive jail terms of up to three years , short-term detention or restriction .
Hong Kong ’ s leader strongly endorsed the new law in her speech marking Wednesday 's 23rd anniversary of the territory 's handover from colonial Britain .
“ The enactment of the national law is regarded as the most significant development in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HKSAR ( Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ) since Hong Kong ’ s return to the motherland , ” chief executive Carrie Lam said in a speech , following a flag-raising ceremony and the playing of China ’ s national anthem .
“ It is also an essential and timely decision for restoring stability in Hong Kong , ” she said .
A pro-democracy political party , The League of Social Democrats , organised a protest march during the flag-raising ceremony .
About a dozen participants chanted slogans echoing demands from protesters last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into accusation of police abuse .
The law ’ s passage Tuesday further blurs the distinction between the legal systems of semi-autonomous Hong Kong , which maintained aspects of British law after the 1997 handover , and the mainland ’ s authoritarian Communist Party system .
Critics say the law effectively ends the “ one country , two systems ” framework under which Hong Kong was promised a high degree of autonomy .
The law directly targets some of the actions of anti-government protesters last year , which included attacks on government offices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stations , and the shutdown of the city ’ s international airport .
Acts of vandalism against government facilities or public transit can be prosecuted as subversion or terrorism , while anyone taking part in activities deemed as secessionist would also be in violation of the new law .
Pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo said in a news conference that the new law did not abide by rule of law and was a dire warning to the free press .
“ This would tell you that they want not just to get us , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a catatonic state , ” Mo said .
Hong Kong 's police force had said they would consider as illegal any flag or banner raised by protesters deemed to be promoting Hong Kong 's separation from China or expressing support for independence for Tibet , Xinjiang and the self-governing island democracy of Taiwan that China claims as its own .
Police will use a new purple flag to warn protesters if they display banners or shout slogans that may constitute a crime under the law and could be arrested and prosecuted for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised over the fate of key opposition figures , some of whom have already been charged for taking part in protests , as well as the disqualification of candidates for the Legislative Council elections scheduled for September .
In Beijing , the executive deputy director of the Cabinet ’ s Hong Kong affairs office Zhang Xiaoming said Hong Kong people were allowed to criticize the ruling Communist Party but could not turn those complaints “ into actions ” .
“ What happened recently in Hong Kong has shown a deviation from the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two systems ’ ( framework ) , ” Zhang told reporters Wednesday .
“ To some extent , we made this law in order to correct the deviation ... to pull it closer to ‘ One-Country.
’ ” Schools , social groups , media outlets , websites and others unspecified will be monitored and their national security awareness will be raised , according to the law 's text , while China ’ s central government will have authority over the activities of foreign non-governmental organisations and media outlets in Hong Kong .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will take over in “ complicated cases ” and when there is a serious threat to national security .
Local authorities are barred from interfering with central government bodies operating in Hong Kong while they are carrying out their duties , according to the text .
The new legislation has deepened concerns abroad about Hong Kong 's future .
Britain said it would stand by its word and offer all those in Hong Kong with British National Overseas status a `` bespoke '' immigration route .
The UK has said it could offer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million of Hong Kong ’ s 7.5 million people .
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab described Wednesday 's protests as heartbreaking and reprimanded HSBC and other banks for supporting the new law , saying the rights of Hong Kong should not be sacrificed for bankers ' bonuses .
Meanwhile , the US is moving to end special trade terms given to the territory .
The Trump administration has also said it will bar defence exports to Hong Kong and will soon require licenses for the sale of items that have both civilian and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to impose sanctions on people deemed connected to political repression in Hong Kong , including police officials .
China has said it will impose visa restrictions on Americans it sees as interfering over Hong Kong .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denounced the threat of a visa ban as a sign of “ how Beijing refuses to take responsibility for its own choices '' and said the law 's adoption “ destroys the territory ’ s autonomy and one of China ’ s greatest achievements '' .
Beijing ’ s “ paranoia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s aspirations have led it to eviscerate the very foundation of the territory ’ s success '' , Pompeo said in a statement .
Taiwan on Wednesday opened an office to facilitate migration from Hong Kong .
The establishment of the office is “ not only a statement on Taiwan ’ s support to Hong Kong ’ s democracy and freedom , but also highlights our determination to care for Hong Kong people ” , said Taiwan ’ s Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chen Ming-tong at a ribbon-cutting ceremony .

Hong Kong police made their first arrests under a new national security law imposed by Beijing, detaining protesters on Wednesday for carrying flags and signs calling for Hong Kong's independence, as Britain accused China of a "clear and serious" breach of their handover agreement.
Riot police detain a woman as they clear protesters taking part in a rally against a new national security law in Hong Kong on July 1, 2020, on the 23rd anniversary of the city's handover from Britain to China.
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More than 300 protesters were arrested in total, nine under the new security law, as protesters took to the streets in defiance of the sweeping security legislation, which critics say is aimed at snuffing out dissent.
Beijing unveiled the details of the much-anticipated law late on Tuesday after weeks of uncertainty, pushing China's freest area and one of the world's most glittering financial hubs on to a more authoritarian path.
On Wednesday, the anniversary of the former British colony's handover to China in 1997, riot police used pepper spray and fired pellets as they made arrests after crowds spilled into the streets chanting "resist till the end" and "Hong Kong independence".
A man who had a Hong Kong independence flag was arrested at a protest in the city’s Causeway Bay shopping district. Police later arrested a woman for holding up a sign displaying the British flag and calling for Hong Kong's independence.
The law makes secessionist, subversive or terrorist activities illegal, as well as foreign intervention in the city's internal affairs. Any person taking part in secessionist activities, such as shouting slogans or holding up banners and flags urging for the city’s independence, is in violation of the law regardless of whether violence is used.
00:55
The most serious offenders, such as those deemed to be masterminds behind the crimes, could receive a maximum punishment of life imprisonment. Lesser offenders could receive jail terms of up to three years, short-term detention or restriction.
Hong Kong’s leader strongly endorsed the new law in her speech marking Wednesday's 23rd anniversary of the territory's handover from colonial Britain.
“The enactment of the national law is regarded as the most significant development in the relationship between the central authorities and the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland,” chief executive Carrie Lam said in a speech, following a flag-raising ceremony and the playing of China’s national anthem.
“It is also an essential and timely decision for restoring stability in Hong Kong,” she said.
A pro-democracy political party, The League of Social Democrats, organised a protest march during the flag-raising ceremony. About a dozen participants chanted slogans echoing demands from protesters last year for political reform and an investigation into accusation of police abuse.
'One country, two systems'?
The law’s passage Tuesday further blurs the distinction between the legal systems of semi-autonomous Hong Kong, which maintained aspects of British law after the 1997 handover, and the mainland’s authoritarian Communist Party system. Critics say the law effectively ends the “one country, two systems” framework under which Hong Kong was promised a high degree of autonomy.
The law directly targets some of the actions of anti-government protesters last year, which included attacks on government offices and police stations, damage to subway stations and the shutdown of the city’s international airport. Acts of vandalism against government facilities or public transit can be prosecuted as subversion or terrorism, while anyone taking part in activities deemed as secessionist would also be in violation of the new law.
Pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo said in a news conference that the new law did not abide by rule of law and was a dire warning to the free press.
“This would tell you that they want not just to get us, but to intimidate us into inaction, into a catatonic state,” Mo said.
Hong Kong's police force had said they would consider as illegal any flag or banner raised by protesters deemed to be promoting Hong Kong's separation from China or expressing support for independence for Tibet, Xinjiang and the self-governing island democracy of Taiwan that China claims as its own.
Police will use a new purple flag to warn protesters if they display banners or shout slogans that may constitute a crime under the law and could be arrested and prosecuted for violating it.
Concerns have also been raised over the fate of key opposition figures, some of whom have already been charged for taking part in protests, as well as the disqualification of candidates for the Legislative Council elections scheduled for September.
In Beijing, the executive deputy director of the Cabinet’s Hong Kong affairs office Zhang Xiaoming said Hong Kong people were allowed to criticise the ruling Communist Party but could not turn those complaints “into actions”.
“What happened recently in Hong Kong has shown a deviation from the right track of the ‘one country, two systems’ (framework),” Zhang told reporters Wednesday.
“To some extent, we made this law in order to correct the deviation ... to pull it closer to ‘One-Country.’”
Schools, social groups, media outlets, websites and others unspecified will be monitored and their national security awareness will be raised, according to the law's text, while China’s central government will have authority over the activities of foreign non-governmental organisations and media outlets in Hong Kong.
It says central government bodies in Hong Kong will take over in “complicated cases” and when there is a serious threat to national security. Local authorities are barred from interfering with central government bodies operating in Hong Kong while they are carrying out their duties, according to the text.
UK promises 'bespoke' immigration route
The new legislation has deepened concerns abroad about Hong Kong's future.
"The enactment and imposition of this national security law constitute a clear and serious breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration," Prime Minister Boris Johnson told parliament on Wednesday.
Johnson said Britain would stand by its pledge to give British National Overseas (BNO) passport-holders in Hong Kong a "bespoke" path to British citizenship, allowing them to settle in the United Kingdom.
The UK has said it could offer residency and possible citizenship to about three million of Hong Kong’s 7.5 million people. There were 349,881 holders of the passports as of February.
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab described Wednesday's protests as heartbreaking and reprimanded HSBC and other banks for supporting the new law, saying the rights of Hong Kong should not be sacrificed for bankers' bonuses.
Meanwhile, the US is moving to end special trade terms given to the territory. The Trump administration has also said it will bar defence exports to Hong Kong and will soon require licences for the sale of items that have both civilian and military uses.
The US Congress has also moved to impose sanctions on people deemed connected to political repression in Hong Kong, including police officials.
China has said it will impose visa restrictions on Americans it sees as interfering over Hong Kong.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denounced the threat of a visa ban as a sign of “how Beijing refuses to take responsibility for its own choices" and said the law's adoption “destroys the territory’s autonomy and one of China’s greatest achievements".
Beijing’s “paranoia and fear of its own people’s aspirations have led it to eviscerate the very foundation of the territory’s success", Pompeo said in a statement.
Taiwan on Wednesday opened an office to facilitate migration from Hong Kong.
The establishment of the office is “not only a statement on Taiwan’s support to Hong Kong’s democracy and freedom, but also highlights our determination to care for Hong Kong people”, said Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chen Ming-tong at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and AP)
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france24--2020-07-01--Putin seeks ‘irrefutable proof’ of support as Russian constitutional reform vote nears end

A man casts his ballot in a nationwide vote on constitutional reforms at a polling station in the far eastern city of Vladivostok , Russia on July 1 , 2020 .
Russian President Vladimir Putin 's main political project of the year — a constitutional vote that would allow him to extend his rule until 2036 — drew closer to completion as Russia held a nationwide ballot on Wednesday .
The vote on the amendments that would reset the clock on Putin ’ s tenure and enable him to serve two more six-year terms has been going on for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For the first time in Russia , the polls were open days ahead of time to help reduce crowds on election day and to bolster turnout amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Putin is all but guaranteed to get the result he wants following a massive campaign to get Russia ’ s voters to say “ yes ” to the changes .
Ironically , however , the plebiscite intended to consolidate his hold on power could end up eroding his position because of the unconventional methods used to boost participation and the dubious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pavlovsky , a political analyst and former Kremlin political consultant , said Putin ’ s unrelenting push to hold the vote despite the fact that Russia is reporting thousands of new coronavirus infections each day reflected the Russian leader ’ s potential vulnerabilities .
“ Putin lacks confidence in his inner circle and he ’ s worried about the future , ” Pavlovsky said .
“ He wants an irrefutable proof of public support.
” The ballot completes a convoluted saga of concealment , deception and surprise that began in January , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a state-of-the-nation address .
He offered to broaden the powers of parliament and redistribute authority among the branches of the Russian government , stoking speculation he might continue calling the shots as parliamentary speaker or as chairman of the State Council when his presidential term ends in 2024 .
The amendments , which also emphasize the priority of Russian law over international norms , outlaw same-sex marriages and mention “ a belief in God ” as a core value , quickly sailed through the Kremlin-controlled parliament .
As speculation swirled about Putin ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poker-faced until March 10 .
That ’ s when legislator Valentina Tereshkova , a Soviet-era cosmonaut who was the first woman in space in 1963 , suddenly proposed a measure to let Putin run two more times .
In a carefully choreographed show , Putin then arrived in parliament just before the decisive vote to endorse Tereshkova ’ s proposal .
The maneuver stunned Russian political elites who were busy guessing about Putin ’ s future and possible successors .
Many saw the resetting of term limits as an attempt by Putin to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quell a power struggle in his inner circle .
The Russian president , who has been in power for more than two decades — longer than any other Kremlin leader since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin — said he would decide later whether to run again in 2024 .
He argued that resetting the term count was necessary to keep his lieutenants from “ darting their eyes in search for possible successors instead of normal , rhythmical work.
” While Putin used his KGB-honed skills of deception to delude both the public and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan by putting it to voters even though parliamentary approval was sufficient to make it law .
The move was intended to showcase his broad support and add a democratic veneer to the constitutional changes .
But it backfired weeks later when the coronavirus pandemic engulfed Russia , forcing Putin to postpone the plebiscite originally scheduled for April 22 .
The delay made Putin ’ s campaign blitz lose momentum and left his constitutional reform plan hanging as the damage from the virus mounted and public discontent grew .
Plummeting incomes and rising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dented his approval ratings , which sank to 59 % during Russia ’ s outbreak , the lowest level since his ascent to power , according to the Levada Center , Russia ’ s top independent pollster .
Amid the uncertainty , Putin rescheduled the vote immediately upon seeing the first signs of a slowdown in Russia ’ s infection rate even though the number of new confirmed cases reported daily remains high .
Moscow-based political analyst Ekaterina Schulmann said the Kremlin faced a difficult dilemma .
Holding the vote sooner would bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ends , while delaying it further raised the risk of defeat , she said .
“ A late vote could have been lost .
Holding it in the autumn would have been too risky , ” Schulmann said .
She noted that the vote comes shortly after the government ’ s lifting of coronavirus restrictions helped brighten the public mood .
Schulmann argued that the Kremlin ’ s focus isn ’ t so much on boosting overall turnout but rather on increasing attendance by the public sector workers who make up Putin ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sweeping effort to persuade teachers , doctors , workers at public sector enterprises and others who are paid by the state to cast ballots .
Reports surfaced from many corners of the vast country that managers were coercing people to vote .
The Kremlin also has used other tactics to increase turnout and support for the amendments .
Prizes ranging from gift certificates to cars and apartments were offered as an encouragement , giant billboards went up across Russia and celebrities posted ads for the “ yes ” vote on social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters — Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod — allowed electronic balloting .
At the same time , monitoring the vote became more challenging due to hygiene requirements and more arcane rules for election observers .
Kremlin critics argued that these would increase opportunities for vote fraud .
Russia ’ s weakened and fragmented opposition split into two camps over the amendments : those who called for a boycott of the vote , like the most visible Kremlin foe , Alexei Navalny , and those who advocated voting against the constitutional changes .
Most observers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , regardless of the opposition ’ s strategies .
“ People are angry at the government , but they still don ’ t have any alternative to Putin , ” Pavlovsky said .
He noted , however , that the unusual methods used by authorities to boost turnout and get the result Putin wants would undermine the legitimacy of the vote .
“ The procedure has been distorted and simplified to the point when it would be difficult to trust the figures , ” Pavlovsky said .
Schulmann also warned that the balloting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purpose of cementing Putin ’ s rule as the economic pain from the coronavirus deepens .
“ I think the vote will not be perceived as the legitimizing one , ” she said .

Russian President Vladimir Putin's main political project of the year — a constitutional vote that would allow him to extend his rule until 2036 — drew closer to completion as Russia held a nationwide ballot on Wednesday.
A man casts his ballot in a nationwide vote on constitutional reforms at a polling station in the far eastern city of Vladivostok, Russia on July 1, 2020.
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The vote on the amendments that would reset the clock on Putin’s tenure and enable him to serve two more six-year terms has been going on for a week but Wednesday was its final day. For the first time in Russia, the polls were open days ahead of time to help reduce crowds on election day and to bolster turnout amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Putin is all but guaranteed to get the result he wants following a massive campaign to get Russia’s voters to say “yes” to the changes. Ironically, however, the plebiscite intended to consolidate his hold on power could end up eroding his position because of the unconventional methods used to boost participation and the dubious legal basis for the ballot.
Gleb Pavlovsky, a political analyst and former Kremlin political consultant, said Putin’s unrelenting push to hold the vote despite the fact that Russia is reporting thousands of new coronavirus infections each day reflected the Russian leader’s potential vulnerabilities.
“Putin lacks confidence in his inner circle and he’s worried about the future,” Pavlovsky said. “He wants an irrefutable proof of public support.”
The ballot completes a convoluted saga of concealment, deception and surprise that began in January, when Putin first proposed the constitutional changes in a state-of-the-nation address. He offered to broaden the powers of parliament and redistribute authority among the branches of the Russian government, stoking speculation he might continue calling the shots as parliamentary speaker or as chairman of the State Council when his presidential term ends in 2024.
The amendments, which also emphasize the priority of Russian law over international norms, outlaw same-sex marriages and mention “a belief in God” as a core value, quickly sailed through the Kremlin-controlled parliament.
Choreographed show
As speculation swirled about Putin’s future, the 67-year-old leader remained poker-faced until March 10. That’s when legislator Valentina Tereshkova, a Soviet-era cosmonaut who was the first woman in space in 1963, suddenly proposed a measure to let Putin run two more times. In a carefully choreographed show, Putin then arrived in parliament just before the decisive vote to endorse Tereshkova’s proposal.
The maneuver stunned Russian political elites who were busy guessing about Putin’s future and possible successors. Many saw the resetting of term limits as an attempt by Putin to avoid becoming a lame duck and to quell a power struggle in his inner circle.
The Russian president, who has been in power for more than two decades — longer than any other Kremlin leader since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin — said he would decide later whether to run again in 2024. He argued that resetting the term count was necessary to keep his lieutenants from “darting their eyes in search for possible successors instead of normal, rhythmical work.”
While Putin used his KGB-honed skills of deception to delude both the public and his own entourage, he complicated his constitutional plan by putting it to voters even though parliamentary approval was sufficient to make it law.
The move was intended to showcase his broad support and add a democratic veneer to the constitutional changes. But it backfired weeks later when the coronavirus pandemic engulfed Russia, forcing Putin to postpone the plebiscite originally scheduled for April 22.
The delay made Putin’s campaign blitz lose momentum and left his constitutional reform plan hanging as the damage from the virus mounted and public discontent grew. Plummeting incomes and rising unemployment during Russia’s outbreak have dented his approval ratings, which sank to 59% during Russia’s outbreak, the lowest level since his ascent to power, according to the Levada Center, Russia’s top independent pollster.
Amid the uncertainty, Putin rescheduled the vote immediately upon seeing the first signs of a slowdown in Russia’s infection rate even though the number of new confirmed cases reported daily remains high.
Moscow-based political analyst Ekaterina Schulmann said the Kremlin faced a difficult dilemma. Holding the vote sooner would bring accusations of jeopardizing public health for political ends, while delaying it further raised the risk of defeat, she said.
“A late vote could have been lost. Holding it in the autumn would have been too risky,” Schulmann said.
She noted that the vote comes shortly after the government’s lifting of coronavirus restrictions helped brighten the public mood.
Schulmann argued that the Kremlin’s focus isn’t so much on boosting overall turnout but rather on increasing attendance by the public sector workers who make up Putin’s base.
The authorities have mounted a sweeping effort to persuade teachers, doctors, workers at public sector enterprises and others who are paid by the state to cast ballots. Reports surfaced from many corners of the vast country that managers were coercing people to vote.
Incentives to vote
The Kremlin also has used other tactics to increase turnout and support for the amendments.
Prizes ranging from gift certificates to cars and apartments were offered as an encouragement, giant billboards went up across Russia and celebrities posted ads for the “yes” vote on social media.
Two regions with large numbers of voters — Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod — allowed electronic balloting.
At the same time, monitoring the vote became more challenging due to hygiene requirements and more arcane rules for election observers. Kremlin critics argued that these would increase opportunities for vote fraud.
Russia’s weakened and fragmented opposition split into two camps over the amendments: those who called for a boycott of the vote, like the most visible Kremlin foe, Alexei Navalny, and those who advocated voting against the constitutional changes.
Most observers expect the Kremlin to get its way, regardless of the opposition’s strategies.
“People are angry at the government, but they still don’t have any alternative to Putin,” Pavlovsky said.
He noted, however, that the unusual methods used by authorities to boost turnout and get the result Putin wants would undermine the legitimacy of the vote.
“The procedure has been distorted and simplified to the point when it would be difficult to trust the figures,” Pavlovsky said.
Schulmann also warned that the balloting will likely fail to serve its designated purpose of cementing Putin’s rule as the economic pain from the coronavirus deepens.
“I think the vote will not be perceived as the legitimizing one,” she said.
(AP)
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france24--2020-07-01--Tensions flare as Italian town marks new Covid-19 outbreak and fresh lockdown

Tensions flare as Italian town marks new Covid-19 outbreak and fresh lockdown When a new outbreak of Covid-19 occurred in @ @ @ @ @ , violations of an ensuing two-week lockdown incensed some locals who blamed migrant workers .
@ @ @ @ @ Salvini came to town Monday , he was met by protesters , who said he @ @ @ @ @ situation for political gain .
FRANCE 24 ’ s Natalia Mendoza reports .

ON THE GROUND
Tensions flare as Italian town marks new Covid-19 outbreak and fresh lockdown
When a new outbreak of Covid-19 occurred in the Italian town of Mondragone, violations of an ensuing two-week lockdown incensed some locals who blamed migrant workers. But when far-right leader Matteo Salvini came to town Monday, he was met by protesters, who said he was seeking to exploit the situation for political gain. FRANCE 24’s Natalia Mendoza reports.
02:00 Protesters contended that Italian far-right leader Matteo Salvini was seeking to exploit a Covid-19 outbreak in Mondragone, Italy on June 29, 2020. © FRANCE 24 (screengrab)


france24--2020-07-01--Germany assumes EU presidency as Merkel pushes for massive bloc-wide recovery plan

German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron ( not pictured ) after a bilateral meeting at Meseberg Castle , the federal government 's guest house , in Meseberg , Germany on June 29 , 2020 .
Germany takes over the European Union 's six-month presidency Wednesday , with outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel staking her legacy on a massive economic recovery plan to help the bloc cope with the coronavirus fallout .
Merkel 's last major role on the international stage comes as the 27-member club faces its deepest recession since World War @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has killed more than 500,000 people globally .
The crisis has galvanised Europe 's most powerful leader who , with just over a year left in her final term , has ditched her usual wait-and-see approach to call for `` extraordinary measures '' to weather the storm .
`` Europe 's future is our future , '' Merkel said Monday as she stood beside French President Emmanuel Macron to push for a 750-billion-euro ( $ 843 billion ) coronavirus recovery fund .
The proposed fund would controversially be financed through shared EU borrowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after years of opposition to debt pooling .
The EU 's rotating presidency is Merkel 's `` last chance '' to make her mark as one of Europe 's great leaders , Der Spiegel weekly wrote , adding that it was time for Germany to shoulder more responsibility as the bloc 's biggest nation and top economy .
`` For years the chancellor put off dealing with the chronic problems of the EU and the euro .
Now , towards the end of her political career , she has the opportunity to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote .
There will be no shortage of challenges to tackle in the months ahead .
Post-Brexit negotiations , a more assertive China , rocky transatlantic ties , climate change and the conflicts in Libya and Syria will all be jostling for attention , even if the pandemic promises to dominate the agenda .
Germany kicked off its EU custodianship by projecting the words `` Together for Europe 's recovery '' onto Berlin 's iconic Brandenburg Gate late Tuesday .
After 15 years in office , Merkel is the bloc 's longest-serving leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in 2007 .
But the stakes are higher this time .
A first major test will come at a July 17-18 EU summit , where Merkel hopes leaders will reach an agreement on the 750-billion-euro rescue fund put forward by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen -- Merkel 's former defence minister .
The money is expected to come mainly in the form of grants for countries hardest hit by the pandemic , such as debt-laden Italy and Spain .
But so-called frugal nations including Austria and the Netherlands want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on loans rather than grants .
Merkel has urged holdout nations to `` engage in an extraordinary act of solidarity '' , warning that an uneven recovery could undermine the EU single market and end up harming stronger economies too .
`` We hope we can find a solution , even if the road is still long , '' Merkel said at the press conference alongside Macron .
The fund is based on an idea unveiled by the French-German duo in May , in which the European Commission would raise money on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post-pandemic recovery in poorer member states .
If accepted , the rescue fund would be a milestone for EU unity .
It would also be a big win for Berlin , and could ease some of the lingering resentment from the eurozone debt crisis a decade ago when Merkel 's government insisted on harsh austerity for struggling nations like Greece .
Another contentious issue that could define Germany 's EU presidency is Brexit .
After weeks of standstill , Britain and the EU have resumed negotiations about the country 's divorce deal with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a hard Brexit at the end of the year .
In an interview with several newspapers last week , Merkel warned that Britain would `` have to live with the consequences '' of having weaker economic ties with the EU .

Germany takes over the European Union's six-month presidency Wednesday, with outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel staking her legacy on a massive economic recovery plan to help the bloc cope with the coronavirus fallout.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron (not pictured) after a bilateral meeting at Meseberg Castle, the federal government's guest house, in Meseberg, Germany on June 29, 2020.
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Merkel's last major role on the international stage comes as the 27-member club faces its deepest recession since World War II, triggered by a pandemic that has killed more than 500,000 people globally.
The crisis has galvanised Europe's most powerful leader who, with just over a year left in her final term, has ditched her usual wait-and-see approach to call for "extraordinary measures" to weather the storm.
"Europe's future is our future," Merkel said Monday as she stood beside French President Emmanuel Macron to push for a 750-billion-euro ($843 billion) coronavirus recovery fund.
03:24
The proposed fund would controversially be financed through shared EU borrowing and marks a stunning U-turn for Germany after years of opposition to debt pooling.
The EU's rotating presidency is Merkel's "last chance" to make her mark as one of Europe's great leaders, Der Spiegel weekly wrote, adding that it was time for Germany to shoulder more responsibility as the bloc's biggest nation and top economy.
"For years the chancellor put off dealing with the chronic problems of the EU and the euro. Now, towards the end of her political career, she has the opportunity to make up for past mistakes," Spiegel wrote.
There will be no shortage of challenges to tackle in the months ahead.
Post-Brexit negotiations, a more assertive China, rocky transatlantic ties, climate change and the conflicts in Libya and Syria will all be jostling for attention, even if the pandemic promises to dominate the agenda.
'Extraordinary solidarity'
Germany kicked off its EU custodianship by projecting the words "Together for Europe's recovery" onto Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate late Tuesday.
After 15 years in office, Merkel is the bloc's longest-serving leader and held the EU presidency once before, in 2007.
But the stakes are higher this time.
A first major test will come at a July 17-18 EU summit, where Merkel hopes leaders will reach an agreement on the 750-billion-euro rescue fund put forward by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen -- Merkel's former defence minister.
The money is expected to come mainly in the form of grants for countries hardest hit by the pandemic, such as debt-laden Italy and Spain.
But so-called frugal nations including Austria and the Netherlands want to reign in the spending and are insisting on loans rather than grants.
Merkel has urged holdout nations to "engage in an extraordinary act of solidarity", warning that an uneven recovery could undermine the EU single market and end up harming stronger economies too.
"We hope we can find a solution, even if the road is still long," Merkel said at the press conference alongside Macron.
Brexit warning
The fund is based on an idea unveiled by the French-German duo in May, in which the European Commission would raise money on the financial markets to help pay for the post-pandemic recovery in poorer member states.
If accepted, the rescue fund would be a milestone for EU unity.
It would also be a big win for Berlin, and could ease some of the lingering resentment from the eurozone debt crisis a decade ago when Merkel's government insisted on harsh austerity for struggling nations like Greece.
Another contentious issue that could define Germany's EU presidency is Brexit.
After weeks of standstill, Britain and the EU have resumed negotiations about the country's divorce deal with the bloc -- which could still result in a hard Brexit at the end of the year.
In an interview with several newspapers last week, Merkel warned that Britain would "have to live with the consequences" of having weaker economic ties with the EU.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-01--Food insecurity hits middle class amid Lebanon’s economic crisis

Georges Jassous ( L ) and his family have cut back on food purchases as the value of Lebanon ’ s currency has fallen sharply .
Lebanon ’ s economic downturn has caused food insecurity for poor and middle class families , who are finding it difficult to afford staples such as bread , butter and cooking oil .
Local collectives are distributing free meals in Beirut , but the devaluation of Lebanon ’ s currency makes it hard to obtain vital ingredients like rice and lentils .
FRANCE 24 ’ s Leila-Molana Allen reports .
For several months , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to give up buying certain foods , as Lebanon experiences unprecedented inflation .
Jassous has earned nothing for months , but still has to provide daily meals for his 5 grandchildren , whose parents are unemployed .
`` A pat of butter costs 16,000 Lebanese pounds ( €9.4 ) , ” Jassous said .
“ We go without .
As for vegetable oil , we buy it as needed .
Cans are overpriced they went from 5,000 LL to 10 , then to 15 and to 20,000 ( €11.8 ) .
We now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buying small quantities.
” Now , Jassous and his family rely on local collectives that distribute free meals in the city , like one run by Cyril Badaoui , a lawyer , and a handful of volunteers .
After starting by distributing food to 40 people three months ago , Badaoui ’ s team now feeds 200 every day .
Some of these beneficiaries were middle class just a few months ago .
“ Unfortunately , the middle class has been disappearing for the past three to four years .
We are in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people and others who are poor or extremely poor , ” Badaoui said .
Click on the player to watch the full FRANCE 24 report .

ON THE GROUND
Lebanon’s economic downturn has caused food insecurity for poor and middle class families, who are finding it difficult to afford staples such as bread, butter and cooking oil. Local collectives are distributing free meals in Beirut, but the devaluation of Lebanon’s currency makes it hard to obtain vital ingredients like rice and lentils. FRANCE 24’s Leila-Molana Allen reports.
Georges Jassous (L) and his family have cut back on food purchases as the value of Lebanon’s currency has fallen sharply.
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For several months, Georges Jassous and his family have had to give up buying certain foods, as Lebanon experiences unprecedented inflation. Jassous has earned nothing for months, but still has to provide daily meals for his 5 grandchildren, whose parents are unemployed.
"A pat of butter costs 16,000 Lebanese pounds (€9.4),” Jassous said. “We go without. As for vegetable oil, we buy it as needed. Cans are overpriced they went from 5,000 LL to 10, then to 15 and to 20,000 (€11.8). We now also deprive ourselves of oil, only buying small quantities.”
>>Read: Lebanese pound plummets to record low, sparks mass protests
Now, Jassous and his family rely on local collectives that distribute free meals in the city, like one run by Cyril Badaoui, a lawyer, and a handful of volunteers. After starting by distributing food to 40 people three months ago, Badaoui’s team now feeds 200 every day. Some of these beneficiaries were middle class just a few months ago.
“Unfortunately, the middle class has been disappearing for the past three to four years. We are in a time when we have extremely wealthy people and others who are poor or extremely poor,” Badaoui said.
Click on the player to watch the full FRANCE 24 report.
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france24--2020-07-01--Family films moment Turkish air strike hits Iraq's Kurdish population

The image on the left is a screengrab of the video .
The image on the right is a photo posted on Instagram that was geolocalised in Kuna Masi .
The GPS coordinates in the metadata of the video correspond with the village of Kuna Masi .
The date and time ( June 25 at 5:30pm ) indicated on the video correspond with news reports on the airstrike as well as Baxtiar ’ s testimony .
The incident took place around 5:30pm on June 25 , when a Turkish air strike hit a car and a shop near a picnic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popular with tourists in the Kurdish province of Sulaymaniyah.The video was first posted online by Zharo Baxtiar , who appears with his wife and children in the video .
His brother reposted the video on Twitter , where it garnered more than 1.3 million views .
`` Come on , swim over there , it ’ s deeper !
” says one adult , coaxing one of the tiny children.
“ It ’ s ok , swim , swim !
” another says.The family is speaking Sorani , a Kurdish dialect .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tumble .
When a projectile suddenly lands near one of them , they start screaming again and again , “ Get out of here !
” Our team of journalists verified the video and determined that it was indeed filmed in this village , namely because of a unique , blue building .
Kurdish news channels also filmed the same spot a few hours after the air strike .
The family also sent our team the original video file , which includes metadata confirming the date and the location where it was @ @

IRAQ
Zharo Baxtiar and his family were playing in river in Kuna Masi when a missile hit a nearby store, causing debris to rain down on them. (Screengrabs: Zharo Baxtiar/Facebook)
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A video filmed on June 25 captures the horror of air strikes on Iraq’s Kurdish population. The footage shows a family with two toddlers playing in the river near a picnic area. They are all laughing and splashing when, all of a sudden, a piercing noise cuts through the air and a projectile lands in the water, just a few centimetres from one of the children. The family panics, rushing to get out of the water. None of the people shown in the video were physically injured in the attack.
The incident took place around 5:30pm on June 25, when a Turkish air strike hit a car and a shop near a picnic area in Kuna Masi, a village popular with tourists in the Kurdish province of Sulaymaniyah.
The video was first posted online by Zharo Baxtiar, who appears with his wife and children in the video. His brother reposted the video on Twitter, where it garnered more than 1.3 million views.
"Come on, swim over there, it’s deeper!” says one adult, coaxing one of the tiny children.
“It’s ok, swim, swim!” another says.
The family is speaking Sorani, a Kurdish dialect. They laugh as one of the children takes a tumble. When a projectile suddenly lands near one of them, they start screaming again and again, “Get out of here!”
Our team of journalists verified the video and determined that it was indeed filmed in this village, namely because of a unique, blue building.
The image on the left is a screengrab of the video. The image on the right is a photo posted on Instagram that was geolocalised in Kuna Masi.
Kurdish news channels also filmed the same spot a few hours after the air strike. The family also sent our team the original video file, which includes metadata confirming the date and the location where it was filmed.
The GPS coordinates in the metadata of the video correspond with the village of Kuna Masi. The date and time (June 25 at 5:30pm) indicated on the video correspond with news reports on the airstrike as well as Baxtiar’s testimony.
"A few seconds before the impact, we heard the shrill sound of a missile”
Zharo Baxtiar is the man wearing a black shirt in the video. He was visiting the river with his wife, son and sister-in-law, who is the one who filmed the video.
We decided to go to Kuna Masi because we wanted to show my three-year-old son the Kurdish countryside and get a bit of a break from the town of Sulaymaniyah. Kuna Masi is really popular for families. It’s not at all a place for fighters. On that day, I would say that there were between 70 and 100 people who came to relax on the river bank, like us. A few seconds before the impact, we heard the shrill sound of a missile. It wasn’t the missile that hit us, it was probably a piece of debris but we aren’t sure. At the moment of impact, it was as if it was raining rocks and pieces of glass. The hill was on fire and there was a lot of smoke. We saw several injured people, including the woman who ran the shop that was hit directly by the missile. She was covered with blood. We later saw on the news that her husband and three children were also injured in the blast. My family and I are safe and sound but we are traumatized. The sound of the explosion was so intense that whenever we hear a loud sound, we’re immediately transported back into the middle of the chaos. Our son keeps talking to us about it.
Kurdish authorities blame Turkey
The local mayor reported that six civilians were injured during the attack and one so-called “fighter”. PJAK (the Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan is the Iranian branch of the PKK) reported that one of its fighters had been killed during the attack and three others were wounded. PJAK added that the fighters were returning from a mission when they were targeted by "Turkish state’s fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft”.
The military leadership of Kurdistan, an autonomous region in Iraq, said Turkey was responsible for this attack on civilians.
"In the name of the hunting down members of the Kurdistan Workers Party [commonly known as the PKK, this is an armed autonomist group based in Turkey] they [the Turkish government] targeted civilians in the Kuna Masi resort,” said Babakir Faqe, the spokesperson for the ministry of the armed forces of Iraqi Kurdistan (Peshmerga).
Just a few days before this incident, Turkey launched joint operations known as Claw-Eagle and Claw-Tiger with Iran against the PKK in the mountainous region that saddles Turkey, Iraq and Iran. Claw-Eagle, the air offensive, was launched on June 15, while Claw-Tiger, the ground offensive, was launched two days later. The Iraqi government has reported that five civilians have died in the days since the start of this campaign.
The Turkish government says that this accusation is unfounded and “fed by the PKK’s terrorist propaganda”. The government further claimed that it “pays close attention to the safety of civilians while preparing and executing all operations”.


france24--2020-06-30--France and Sahel leaders tout progress in anti-jihad campaign

French President Emmanuel Macron is greeted by his Mauritanian counterpart Mohamed Ould Ghazouani at Nouakchott on June 30 , 2020 .
French President Emmanuel Macron joined leaders from five West African countries on Tuesday to take stock of a new strategy to intensify the fight against jihadist insurgents in the Sahel .
Meeting in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott , the presidents reviewed a campaign that they rebooted in January after a string of reversals .
Since then , the jihadists have continued to carry out almost daily attacks , but they are also under mounting pressure , losing a key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internally , according to security sources .
The allies have `` shifted the dynamic '' in the Sahel , Macron told reporters after the talks , adding that `` victory is possible thanks to the efforts supplied over the past six months '' .
Earlier , Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani said there had been `` significant progress '' in the fight against jihadists , though cautioning that the advances were `` insufficient in the face of mounting challenges '' .
He added : `` Violent extremisim in all its forms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is expanding in a worrying manner . ''
France hosted a summit in January to help secure a stronger public commitment from Burkina Faso , Chad , Mali , Mauritania and Niger at a time of deepening concern in France after it lost 13 troops in a helicopter crash .
The insurgency kicked off in northern Mali in 2012 , during a rebellion by Tuareg separatists that was overtaken by jihadists .
Despite thousands of UN and French troops , the conflict spread to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger , stirring feuds between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further south .
Thousands of soldiers and civilians have been killed , hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes and the economies of the three countries , already among the poorest in the world , have been grievously damaged .
Macron arrived for a one-day round trip from Europe for the summit , with representatives from the UN , African Union and European Union in attendance .
The leaders of Germany , Spain and Italy joined the talks by video link .
The meeting marked the first time that Sahel allies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus crisis .
One priority was to assess affairs in the `` three-border region '' , a hotspot of jihadism where the frontiers of Burkina , Niger and Mali converge .
France , which added 500 troops to its Sahel mission after the summit in the French town of Pau , is co-leading the campaign in this region , targeting an Islamic State-affiliated group led by Abou Walid al-Sahraoui .
Earlier this month , French forces in northern Mali , helped by a US drone , killed Abdelmalek Droukdel , the head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AQIM ) .
And in a new development , jihadists respectively linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State ( IS ) group have clashed several times since the start of the year in Mali and Burkina Faso , after long steering clear of one another , according to security experts .
Despite this , problems in the Sahel run deep .
Local armies are poorly equipped and underfunded , rights groups say troops are to blame for hundreds of killings and other abuses of civilians , and in some areas the presence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chad has yet to fulfil a promise to send troops to the three-border region , and a much-trumpeted initiative to create a joint 5,000-man G5 Sahel force is making poor progress .
In Mali , anger at insecurity has fuelled discontent over coronavirus restrictions and the outcome of elections , creating a political crisis for President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita .
Both Burkina and Niger are due to hold presidential elections by year 's end , fuelling concerns about the outcome .
Macron stressed the need `` to do more in terms of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` in Mali , in Burkina , in a context that we know is very complex '' .
In response to lobbying from France , a group of European special forces called Takuba , numbering 310 men , is mustering to help Malian troops .
And on Monday , the UN Security Council voted unanimously to extend the mandate of the 13,000-troop MINUSMA peacekeeping force in Mali for another year , to June 30 , 2021 .

French President Emmanuel Macron joined leaders from five West African countries on Tuesday to take stock of a new strategy to intensify the fight against jihadist insurgents in the Sahel.
French President Emmanuel Macron is greeted by his Mauritanian counterpart Mohamed Ould Ghazouani at Nouakchott on June 30, 2020.
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Meeting in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott, the presidents reviewed a campaign that they rebooted in January after a string of reversals.
Since then, the jihadists have continued to carry out almost daily attacks, but they are also under mounting pressure, losing a key leader to a French raid and fighting internally, according to security sources.
The allies have "shifted the dynamic" in the Sahel, Macron told reporters after the talks, adding that "victory is possible thanks to the efforts supplied over the past six months".
00:40
Earlier, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani said there had been "significant progress" in the fight against jihadists, though cautioning that the advances were "insufficient in the face of mounting challenges".
He added: "Violent extremisim in all its forms continues to hit several zones... and is expanding in a worrying manner."
France hosted a summit in January to help secure a stronger public commitment from Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger at a time of deepening concern in France after it lost 13 troops in a helicopter crash.
The insurgency kicked off in northern Mali in 2012, during a rebellion by Tuareg separatists that was overtaken by jihadists. Despite thousands of UN and French troops, the conflict spread to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger, stirring feuds between ethnic groups and triggering fears for states further south.
Thousands of soldiers and civilians have been killed, hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes and the economies of the three countries, already among the poorest in the world, have been grievously damaged.
Macron arrived for a one-day round trip from Europe for the summit, with representatives from the UN, African Union and European Union in attendance. The leaders of Germany, Spain and Italy joined the talks by video link.
The meeting marked the first time that Sahel allies have gathered physically since the start of the coronavirus crisis.
'Three-border region'
One priority was to assess affairs in the "three-border region", a hotspot of jihadism where the frontiers of Burkina, Niger and Mali converge.
France, which added 500 troops to its Sahel mission after the summit in the French town of Pau, is co-leading the campaign in this region, targeting an Islamic State-affiliated group led by Abou Walid al-Sahraoui.
Earlier this month, French forces in northern Mali, helped by a US drone, killed Abdelmalek Droukdel, the head of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
And in a new development, jihadists respectively linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) group have clashed several times since the start of the year in Mali and Burkina Faso, after long steering clear of one another, according to security experts.
Despite this, problems in the Sahel run deep.
Local armies are poorly equipped and underfunded, rights groups say troops are to blame for hundreds of killings and other abuses of civilians, and in some areas the presence of government has evaporated.
Staunch French ally Chad has yet to fulfil a promise to send troops to the three-border region, and a much-trumpeted initiative to create a joint 5,000-man G5 Sahel force is making poor progress.
In Mali, anger at insecurity has fuelled discontent over coronavirus restrictions and the outcome of elections, creating a political crisis for President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
Both Burkina and Niger are due to hold presidential elections by year's end, fuelling concerns about the outcome.
Macron stressed the need "to do more in terms of the return of the state", particularly "in Mali, in Burkina, in a context that we know is very complex".
In response to lobbying from France, a group of European special forces called Takuba, numbering 310 men, is mustering to help Malian troops.
And on Monday, the UN Security Council voted unanimously to extend the mandate of the 13,000-troop MINUSMA peacekeeping force in Mali for another year, to June 30, 2021.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-07-01--Biden says will not hold US presidential campaign rallies due to Covid-19

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden puts his protective face mask back on and adjusts it as he departs after speaking and answering questions from reporters during a campaign event in Wilmington , Delaware , U.S. , June 30 , 2020 .
US Democrat Joe Biden said Tuesday he will not hold presidential campaign rallies during the coronavirus pandemic , an unprecedented declaration that stands in stark contrast with Donald Trump who has already held large campaign gatherings .
Biden also ramped up his criticism of the president 's handling of the pandemic , saying Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and `` waved the white flag '' of surrender in the fight against the coronavirus .
`` This is the most unusual campaign I think in modern history , '' the former vice president said in Delaware at his first press conference since securing his party 's presidential nomination nearly four weeks ago .
`` I 'm going to follow the doc 's orders -- not just for me but for the country -- and that means that I am not going to be holding rallies , '' said Biden , adding he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden , 77 , was likely referring colloquially to government guidelines that urge Americans to not to attend large gatherings , rather than a personal physician 's advice .
He did not say whether his decision could change if conditions improve in the coming months .
If he avoid rallies altogether until election day on November 3 , it would be an extraordinary move for a modern American presidential candidate , as campaigns are often gauged by the strength of their public messaging and enthusiasm .
The announcement comes amid growing alarm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis which has already killed more than 127,000 people nationwide .
Top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci warned Congress Tuesday that daily infections could more than double to 100,000 without a sufficiently robust response .
Biden in his speech attacked Trump on multiple fronts , including his professed ignorance of an alleged Russian program to pay the Taliban bounties for killing US troops in Afghanistan .
The New York Times reported that the Russian threat was described in the president 's written intelligence daily brief in late February .
`` So the idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is n't being briefed , it is a dereliction of duty , '' Biden said .
`` And if he was briefed , and nothing was done about this , that 's a dereliction of duty . ''
Biden also accused Trump of peddling `` propaganda '' on the administration 's virus response instead of crafting a national battle plan .
`` Donald Trump failed us .
Month after month , as many of us urged him to step up and do his job , he failed us , '' Biden said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and defiantly held crowded indoor events this month in Oklahoma and Arizona where most supporters did not wear masks .
Trump has made clear he wants to return to campaigning , but on Tuesday his team said it had no new dates or locations to announce .
Biden said he would miss the personal connections that he makes out on the trail , something for which the veteran Democrat is well known .
The few events he has held have been small , with participants wearing masks and Biden 's physical interactions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` You know me : I 'd much rather be out there with people because that 's where I get the greatest feel , '' he said .
Instead , most of Biden 's campaign since March has been virtual , as he undergoes the challenging task of seeking to project engagement through remote interviews , online gatherings and television appearances from his Delaware home .
But he suggested that such a process has helped him connect with voters in an unprecedented way .
`` They tell me 200 million people have watched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the half dozen things we 've gone out and done , '' Biden said .
`` And so the irony is I think we 're probably communicating directly , in detail , with more people than we would have otherwise . ''
Biden is currently leading in polling nationally and in several swing states like Michigan , Wisconsin and Pennsylvania that voted for Trump in 2016 .
He said he was on track to announce his vice presidential pick in early August , a few weeks before the Democratic National Convention .
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the convention in Milwaukee , Wisconsin , although large parts of the event will be held online .

US Democrat Joe Biden said Tuesday he will not hold presidential campaign rallies during the coronavirus pandemic, an unprecedented declaration that stands in stark contrast with Donald Trump who has already held large campaign gatherings.
Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden puts his protective face mask back on and adjusts it as he departs after speaking and answering questions from reporters during a campaign event in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., June 30, 2020.
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Biden also ramped up his criticism of the president's handling of the pandemic, saying Trump had "failed" the American people and "waved the white flag" of surrender in the fight against the coronavirus.
"This is the most unusual campaign I think in modern history," the former vice president said in Delaware at his first press conference since securing his party's presidential nomination nearly four weeks ago.
"I'm going to follow the doc's orders -- not just for me but for the country -- and that means that I am not going to be holding rallies," said Biden, adding he has not yet been tested for COVID-19.
Biden, 77, was likely referring colloquially to government guidelines that urge Americans to not to attend large gatherings, rather than a personal physician's advice.
He did not say whether his decision could change if conditions improve in the coming months.
If he avoid rallies altogether until election day on November 3, it would be an extraordinary move for a modern American presidential candidate, as campaigns are often gauged by the strength of their public messaging and enthusiasm.
The announcement comes amid growing alarm about America's inability to contain a crisis which has already killed more than 127,000 people nationwide.
Top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci warned Congress Tuesday that daily infections could more than double to 100,000 without a sufficiently robust response.
'Dereliction of duty'
Biden in his speech attacked Trump on multiple fronts, including his professed ignorance of an alleged Russian program to pay the Taliban bounties for killing US troops in Afghanistan.
The New York Times reported that the Russian threat was described in the president's written intelligence daily brief in late February.
"So the idea that somehow he didn't know or isn't being briefed, it is a dereliction of duty," Biden said. "And if he was briefed, and nothing was done about this, that's a dereliction of duty."
Biden also accused Trump of peddling "propaganda" on the administration's virus response instead of crafting a national battle plan.
"Donald Trump failed us. Month after month, as many of us urged him to step up and do his job, he failed us," Biden said.
Trump has repeatedly downplayed the Covid-19 threat, and defiantly held crowded indoor events this month in Oklahoma and Arizona where most supporters did not wear masks.
Trump has made clear he wants to return to campaigning, but on Tuesday his team said it had no new dates or locations to announce.
Biden said he would miss the personal connections that he makes out on the trail, something for which the veteran Democrat is well known.
The few events he has held have been small, with participants wearing masks and Biden's physical interactions with voters kept to a minimum.
"You know me: I'd much rather be out there with people because that's where I get the greatest feel," he said.
Instead, most of Biden's campaign since March has been virtual, as he undergoes the challenging task of seeking to project engagement through remote interviews, online gatherings and television appearances from his Delaware home.
But he suggested that such a process has helped him connect with voters in an unprecedented way.
"They tell me 200 million people have watched what I have done from home and the half dozen things we've gone out and done," Biden said.
"And so the irony is I think we're probably communicating directly, in detail, with more people than we would have otherwise."
Biden is currently leading in polling nationally and in several swing states like Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania that voted for Trump in 2016.
He said he was on track to announce his vice presidential pick in early August, a few weeks before the Democratic National Convention.
Biden will formally accept his party's nomination at the convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, although large parts of the event will be held online.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-01--Mississippi governor signs historic bill removing Confederate symbol from flag

The Mississippi state flag , which incorporates the Confederate battle flag , hangs with other state flags in the subway system under the U.S. Capitol in Washington , U.S. June 30 , 2020 .
The governor of the southern US state of Mississippi signed a bill Tuesday removing the Confederate battle standard from the state flag , after nationwide protests drew renewed attention to symbols of the United States ' racist past .
`` This is not a political moment , it is a solemn occasion to come together as a Mississippi family , reconcile , and move forward together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook .
Mississippi is the only American state to incorporate the Confederate standard on its official flag , after nearby Georgia dropped it in 2003 .
Tate said a commission on the flag would `` begin the process of selecting a new one —- emblazoned with the words 'In God We Trust . '
'' The swift signing comes after state lawmakers voted Sunday to remove the emblem in a 91-23 majority vote in the House of Representatives and a 37-14 vote in the Senate .
Mississippians , nearly 40 percent of whom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the design in November .
If they reject the new design , Mississippi will go without a state flag until a new design is approved .
`` We can move on , and with God 's help , we will , '' Tate said at the Tuesday signing .
Tate had previously stated he would sign the bill into law , following weeks of mounting pressure .
Racial injustice has been the subject of a renewed and fiery national conversation in the United States since the death in May of George Floyd , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands of a white police officer .

The governor of the southern US state of Mississippi signed a bill Tuesday removing the Confederate battle standard from the state flag, after nationwide protests drew renewed attention to symbols of the United States' racist past.
The Mississippi state flag, which incorporates the Confederate battle flag, hangs with other state flags in the subway system under the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. June 30, 2020.
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"This is not a political moment, it is a solemn occasion to come together as a Mississippi family, reconcile, and move forward together," Governor Tate Reeves wrote on Facebook.
Mississippi is the only American state to incorporate the Confederate standard on its official flag, after nearby Georgia dropped it in 2003.
Tate said a commission on the flag would "begin the process of selecting a new one —- emblazoned with the words 'In God We Trust.'"
The swift signing comes after state lawmakers voted Sunday to remove the emblem in a 91-23 majority vote in the House of Representatives and a 37-14 vote in the Senate.
Mississippians, nearly 40 percent of whom are African American, will vote on the design in November. If they reject the new design, Mississippi will go without a state flag until a new design is approved.
"We can move on, and with God's help, we will," Tate said at the Tuesday signing.
Tate had previously stated he would sign the bill into law, following weeks of mounting pressure.
Racial injustice has been the subject of a renewed and fiery national conversation in the United States since the death in May of George Floyd, an unarmed African-American man, at the hands of a white police officer.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-01--Fauci says new US cases of Covid-19 could double to 100,000 per day

Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , attends a Senate Health , Education , Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on efforts to get back to work and school during the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) outbreak , in Washington , D.C. , U.S. June 30 , 2020 .
New US coronavirus cases could more than double to 100,000 per day if the current surge spirals further out of control , the government 's top infectious disease expert warned on Tuesday , although he was `` cautiously optimistic '' a vaccine would be available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Arizona have emerged as new epicentres of the pandemic , each reporting record increases in Covid-19 cases , adding to pressure on scores of potential vaccines being rushed into trials .
An additional 48,000 confirmed cases were reported on Tuesday , according to a Reuters tally based on official data , setting a new one-day record of infections .
`` Clearly we are not in total control right now , '' Dr. Anthony Fauci , head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , told a US Senate committee .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ could get very bad . ''
Fauci said the daily increase in new cases nationwide could reach 100,000 unless a full nationwide effort was undertaken to tamp down the resurgent virus .
`` We ca n't just focus on those areas that are having the surge .
It puts the entire country at risk , '' he said .
Fauci said there was no guarantee of having vaccine to prevent infection soon , but that early data had left scientists `` cautiously optimistic '' for 2021 .
`` Hopefully there will be doses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
Covid-19 cases more than doubled in June in at least 10 states , including Texas and Florida .
In parts of Texas and Arizona , hospital intensive care beds for Covid-19 patients are in short supply .
More than 126,000 Americans have died from Covid-19 and millions have lost their jobs , as states and major cities ordered residents to stay home and businesses closed .
The economy contracted sharply in the first quarter and is expected to crater in the second .
With the virus surging in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has excluded Americans from its `` safe list '' of countries from which the bloc will allow non-essential travel beginning on Wednesday .
The fresh rise in cases and hospitalisations has dimmed hopes that the worst of the human and economic pain had passed , leading to renewed criticism of US President Donald Trump 's handling of the crisis as he seeks re-election on Nov. 3 .
His rival , Democrat Joe Biden , on Tuesday launched a fresh attack on what he called Trump 's `` historic mismanagement '' of the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saved lives and spared damage to the economy .
`` It did n't have to be this way .
Donald Trump failed us , '' the 77-year-old former vice president said in a speech in Delaware , where he unveiled an updated plan to tackle the pandemic .
That plan includes more testing and the hiring of 100,000 contract tracers to locate anyone who may have been exposed to the virus .
In the past few days California , Texas and Florida have all moved to close recently reopened bars , which public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the larger contributors to the recent spikes .
On Tuesday , New York , New Jersey and Connecticut added California and seven other states to a list of those from which visitors must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival .
Texas and Florida were on the original list announced last week .
South Carolina also has emerged as a hot spot , reporting a record single-day increase of 1,755 cases on Tuesday .
In Texas , where the number of new cases jumped to a one-day record of 6,975 on Tuesday , Houston @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Covid-19 patients .
Dr. Marc Boom , Houston Methodist Hospital System 's chief executive , told CNN on Tuesday that his 2,400-bed system has seen a `` very significant '' increase in Covid-19 patients , although the death rate has lowered recently .
Boom said he was worried about July 4 Independence Day celebrations , when Americans traditionally flock to beaches and campgrounds to watch fireworks displays .
`` Frankly it scares me , '' he said .

New US coronavirus cases could more than double to 100,000 per day if the current surge spirals further out of control, the government's top infectious disease expert warned on Tuesday, although he was "cautiously optimistic" a vaccine would be available early next year.
Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, attends a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on efforts to get back to work and school during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Washington, D.C., U.S. June 30, 2020.
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California, Texas and Arizona have emerged as new epicentres of the pandemic, each reporting record increases in Covid-19 cases, adding to pressure on scores of potential vaccines being rushed into trials.
An additional 48,000 confirmed cases were reported on Tuesday, according to a Reuters tally based on official data, setting a new one-day record of infections.
"Clearly we are not in total control right now," Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told a US Senate committee. "I am very concerned because it could get very bad."
Fauci said the daily increase in new cases nationwide could reach 100,000 unless a full nationwide effort was undertaken to tamp down the resurgent virus.
"We can't just focus on those areas that are having the surge. It puts the entire country at risk," he said.
Fauci said there was no guarantee of having vaccine to prevent infection soon, but that early data had left scientists "cautiously optimistic" for 2021. "Hopefully there will be doses available by the beginning of next year," he said.
Covid-19 cases more than doubled in June in at least 10 states, including Texas and Florida. In parts of Texas and Arizona, hospital intensive care beds for Covid-19 patients are in short supply.
More than 126,000 Americans have died from Covid-19 and millions have lost their jobs, as states and major cities ordered residents to stay home and businesses closed. The economy contracted sharply in the first quarter and is expected to crater in the second.
EU bans travellers from US
With the virus surging in many US states, the European Union has excluded Americans from its "safe list" of countries from which the bloc will allow non-essential travel beginning on Wednesday.
The fresh rise in cases and hospitalisations has dimmed hopes that the worst of the human and economic pain had passed, leading to renewed criticism of US President Donald Trump's handling of the crisis as he seeks re-election on Nov. 3.
His rival, Democrat Joe Biden, on Tuesday launched a fresh attack on what he called Trump's "historic mismanagement" of the pandemic, arguing that the president could have saved lives and spared damage to the economy.
"It didn't have to be this way. Donald Trump failed us," the 77-year-old former vice president said in a speech in Delaware, where he unveiled an updated plan to tackle the pandemic. That plan includes more testing and the hiring of 100,000 contract tracers to locate anyone who may have been exposed to the virus.
In the past few days California, Texas and Florida have all moved to close recently reopened bars, which public health officials believe are likely one of the larger contributors to the recent spikes.
On Tuesday, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut added California and seven other states to a list of those from which visitors must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Texas and Florida were on the original list announced last week.
South Carolina also has emerged as a hot spot, reporting a record single-day increase of 1,755 cases on Tuesday.
In Texas, where the number of new cases jumped to a one-day record of 6,975 on Tuesday, Houston hospitals said beds were quickly filling up with Covid-19 patients.
Dr. Marc Boom, Houston Methodist Hospital System's chief executive, told CNN on Tuesday that his 2,400-bed system has seen a "very significant" increase in Covid-19 patients, although the death rate has lowered recently.
Boom said he was worried about July 4 Independence Day celebrations, when Americans traditionally flock to beaches and campgrounds to watch fireworks displays.
"Frankly it scares me," he said.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-06-30--US left out as European Union reopens borders to 15 countries

EU officials have given China preliminary approval , subject to Chinese authorities allowing in EU visitors too .
The European Union has excluded the United States from its initial `` safe list '' of countries from which the bloc will allow non-essential travel from Wednesday .
The 27-member bloc gave approval on Tuesday to leisure or business travel from 14 countries beyond its borders , the Council of the EU , which represents EU governments , said in a statement .
The countries are Algeria , Australia , Canada , Georgia , Japan , Montenegro , Morocco , New Zealand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Thailand , Tunisia and Uruguay .
China has also been provisionally approved , although travel would only open up if Chinese authorities also allowed in EU visitors .
Reciprocity is a condition of being on the list .
Russia , Brazil and Turkey , along with the United States , are among countries whose containment of the virus is considered worse than that of the EU average and so will have to wait at least two weeks .
The bloc will carry out fortnightly reviews .
The move is aimed at supporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , particularly countries in southern Europe hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic .
The list needed a `` qualified majority '' of EU countries to be passed , meaning 15 EU countries representing 65 % of the population .
It acts as a recommendation to EU members , meaning they could potentially set restrictions on those entering from the 14 nations and will almost certainly not allow access to travellers from other countries .
The EU 's efforts to reopen internal borders , particularly among the 26-nation Schengen area which normally has no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ various countries have restricted access for certain visitors .
Greece is mandating Covid-19 tests for arrivals from a range of EU countries , including France , Italy , the Netherlands and Spain , with self-isolation until results are known .
The Czech Republic is not allowing in tourists from Portugal and Sweden .
British residents can also travel to many EU countries , although non-essential travellers to Britain are required to self-isolate for 14 days .

The European Union has excluded the United States from its initial "safe list" of countries from which the bloc will allow non-essential travel from Wednesday.
EU officials have given China preliminary approval, subject to Chinese authorities allowing in EU visitors too.
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The 27-member bloc gave approval on Tuesday to leisure or business travel from 14 countries beyond its borders, the Council of the EU, which represents EU governments, said in a statement.
The countries are Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay.
China has also been provisionally approved, although travel would only open up if Chinese authorities also allowed in EU visitors. Reciprocity is a condition of being on the list.
.@EUCouncil agrees to start lifting travel restrictions for residents of some third countries
Find out more: https://t.co/m80mijpMxp — EU Council Press (@EUCouncilPress) June 30, 2020
Russia, Brazil and Turkey, along with the United States, are among countries whose containment of the virus is considered worse than that of the EU average and so will have to wait at least two weeks. The bloc will carry out fortnightly reviews.
The move is aimed at supporting the EU travel industry and tourist destinations, particularly countries in southern Europe hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The list needed a "qualified majority" of EU countries to be passed, meaning 15 EU countries representing 65% of the population.
It acts as a recommendation to EU members, meaning they could potentially set restrictions on those entering from the 14 nations and will almost certainly not allow access to travellers from other countries.
The EU's efforts to reopen internal borders, particularly among the 26-nation Schengen area which normally has no frontier checks, have been patchy as various countries have restricted access for certain visitors.
Greece is mandating Covid-19 tests for arrivals from a range of EU countries, including France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, with self-isolation until results are known.
The Czech Republic is not allowing in tourists from Portugal and Sweden.
British residents can also travel to many EU countries, although non-essential travellers to Britain are required to self-isolate for 14 days.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-06-30--Airbus to cut 15,000 jobs worldwide, a third of them in France

The Airbus logo pictured at the entrance of the company 's facility in Bouguenais , near Nantes , on June 30 , 2020 .
Airbus on Tuesday unveiled plans to shed around 15,000 jobs including 900 already earmarked in Germany , saying its future was at stake after the coronavirus pandemic rocked the air travel industry .
Europe 's biggest aerospace group said it would cut some 5,000 posts in France , 5,100 in Germany , 900 in Spain , 1,700 in the UK and 1,300 elsewhere for a core total of 14,000 .
Additionally , the company has already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Premium AEROTEC unit in Germany .
The move is subject to talks with unions which immediately renewed pledges to oppose compulsory redundancies .
Airbus has refused to rule them out as it seeks voluntary departures , early retirements and long-term partial employment schemes .
Airbus said it wanted a deal on the job cuts by 2021 .
`` It 's going to be a mighty battle to save jobs , '' said Francoise Vallin of the CFE-CGC union .
A french finance ministry official said the government expected Airbus to use instruments it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers .
On June 3 , Reuters reported that Airbus 's reduced production targets pointed on paper to cuts of 14,000 full-time posts .
Earlier on Tuesday , French union sources predicted a headline figure of 15,000 and pledged to fight compulsory cuts .
Airbus has a 135,000-strong workforce , heavily populated by veterans of its original A320 development .
About 37 % of staff are due to retire this decade .
The hardleft Force Ouvriere union and others said they would oppose any mandatory cuts .
Exceptional secrecy had surrounded the politically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France , Germany and Spain , the company 's key backers in a fierce contest with US rival Boeing for orders and industrial clout .
Airbus is expected to juggle its response to the industry 's worst crisis with pressure to keep cuts to a minimum after France and Germany announced plans to support aerospace .
Michel Pierre , representing the CFDT union at Airbus , said Airbus had refused direct state intervention in its capital , upholding corporate governance reforms in 2013 .
Compulsory sackings would therefore be `` totally unacceptable , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Airbus is basing the restructuring on a 40 % drop in underlying aircraft production for two years .
The company 's programmes chief , meanwhile , said it was slowing a push into high-margin services as a result of a slump in air travel but maintaining its diversification strategy .
Some industry sources say Airbus has all but abandoned a goal of more than doubling services revenue to $ 10 billion this decade and transferred some staff to other roles .

Airbus on Tuesday unveiled plans to shed around 15,000 jobs including 900 already earmarked in Germany, saying its future was at stake after the coronavirus pandemic rocked the air travel industry.
The Airbus logo pictured at the entrance of the company's facility in Bouguenais, near Nantes, on June 30, 2020.
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Europe's biggest aerospace group said it would cut some 5,000 posts in France, 5,100 in Germany, 900 in Spain, 1,700 in the UK and 1,300 elsewhere for a core total of 14,000.
Additionally, the company has already agreed to cut 900 jobs at its Premium AEROTEC unit in Germany.
The move is subject to talks with unions which immediately renewed pledges to oppose compulsory redundancies. Airbus has refused to rule them out as it seeks voluntary departures, early retirements and long-term partial employment schemes.
Airbus said it wanted a deal on the job cuts by 2021.
"It's going to be a mighty battle to save jobs," said Francoise Vallin of the CFE-CGC union.
A french finance ministry official said the government expected Airbus to use instruments it had made available to reduce job cut numbers.
On June 3, Reuters reported that Airbus's reduced production targets pointed on paper to cuts of 14,000 full-time posts.
Earlier on Tuesday, French union sources predicted a headline figure of 15,000 and pledged to fight compulsory cuts.
Airbus has a 135,000-strong workforce, heavily populated by veterans of its original A320 development. About 37% of staff are due to retire this decade.
The hardleft Force Ouvriere union and others said they would oppose any mandatory cuts.
Exceptional secrecy had surrounded the politically sensitive restructuring affecting jobs in Britain, France, Germany and Spain, the company's key backers in a fierce contest with US rival Boeing for orders and industrial clout.
Airbus is expected to juggle its response to the industry's worst crisis with pressure to keep cuts to a minimum after France and Germany announced plans to support aerospace.
Michel Pierre, representing the CFDT union at Airbus, said Airbus had refused direct state intervention in its capital, upholding corporate governance reforms in 2013. Compulsory sackings would therefore be "totally unacceptable," he said.
Industry sources say Airbus is basing the restructuring on a 40% drop in underlying aircraft production for two years.
The company's programmes chief, meanwhile, said it was slowing a push into high-margin services as a result of a slump in air travel but maintaining its diversification strategy.
Some industry sources say Airbus has all but abandoned a goal of more than doubling services revenue to $10 billion this decade and transferred some staff to other roles.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-06-30--Hospital workers rally across France in push for budget hike

Health workers hold a banner reading `` Public hospital in vital emergency '' as they rally in Marseille on June 30 , 2020 .
Doctors , nurses and other hospital staff staged protests across France on Tuesday to press for pay hikes and budget increases for a healthcare system that was pushed to the edge by the coronavirus pandemic .
The rallies came as the government prepares to wrap up on Friday weeks of talks with health workers on hospital overhauls in response to the crisis .
Employees have long complained about insufficient staff and low pay that prompts doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clinics instead .
That issue led to a series of strikes over the past year .
Health workers are now determined to turn the broad public sympathy enjoyed during the pandemic into tangible advances for hospital and nursing home employees – those President Emmanuel Macron has lauded as `` heroes in white coats '' .
> > ‘ Victory ’ at what cost ?
How Covid-19 exposed cracks in French healthcare Prime Minister Édouard Philippe promised `` significant '' pay increases when kicking off the talks last month , and officials have already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 billion ) on the table .
But that amount falls far short for many employees .
They say French healthcare workers are already among the lowest paid among the OECD group of developed economies , because of years of budget cuts .
`` They 've promised six billion euros but I 'm still waiting to see , '' said Louis Rios , a psychiatric nurse in the Essonne department south of Paris , during a march in the French capital .
`` We want a significant gesture , and now – not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The SUD-Sante union chief , Jean-Marc Devauchelle , has called on the government to boost take-home pay across the sector by €300 a month , a move that would cost some €14 billion .
`` We need acts that live up to the gratitude , '' Philippe Martinez of the CGT union said at the Paris demonstration – a reference to the nightly rounds of applause for hospital staff during the height of the coronavirus crisis .
Hospital workers also want assurances that there will be no more of the hospital closures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suburban France into so-called “ medical deserts ” .
Macron , who has made social justice a key theme for the final two years of his term , is expected to announce measures resulting from the talks as soon as next week .

Doctors, nurses and other hospital staff staged protests across France on Tuesday to press for pay hikes and budget increases for a healthcare system that was pushed to the edge by the coronavirus pandemic.
Health workers hold a banner reading "Public hospital in vital emergency" as they rally in Marseille on June 30, 2020.
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The rallies came as the government prepares to wrap up on Friday weeks of talks with health workers on hospital overhauls in response to the crisis.
Employees have long complained about insufficient staff and low pay that prompts doctors and nurses to take jobs at private clinics instead. That issue led to a series of strikes over the past year.
Health workers are now determined to turn the broad public sympathy enjoyed during the pandemic into tangible advances for hospital and nursing home employees – those President Emmanuel Macron has lauded as "heroes in white coats".
>> ‘Victory’ at what cost? How Covid-19 exposed cracks in French healthcare
Prime Minister Édouard Philippe promised "significant" pay increases when kicking off the talks last month, and officials have already put an additional €6.3 billion ($7 billion) on the table.
But that amount falls far short for many employees. They say French healthcare workers are already among the lowest paid among the OECD group of developed economies, because of years of budget cuts.
🩺👩⚕ Health workers are protesting again across #France🇫🇷 today to demand higher pay and better working conditions
Last week the French government promised €6 billion for non-medical workers and €300 million for the country’s doctors@cntrentF24 is on the ground in #Paris ⤵ pic.twitter.com/oz9Fy07Cqo — FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) June 30, 2020
"They've promised six billion euros but I'm still waiting to see," said Louis Rios, a psychiatric nurse in the Essonne department south of Paris, during a march in the French capital.
"We want a significant gesture, and now – not in three years," he said.
The SUD-Sante union chief, Jean-Marc Devauchelle, has called on the government to boost take-home pay across the sector by €300 a month, a move that would cost some €14 billion.
>> French health workers angry as reforms threaten famous 35-hour working week
"We need acts that live up to the gratitude," Philippe Martinez of the CGT union said at the Paris demonstration – a reference to the nightly rounds of applause for hospital staff during the height of the coronavirus crisis.
Hospital workers also want assurances that there will be no more of the hospital closures that have turned swaths of rural and suburban France into so-called “medical deserts”.
Macron, who has made social justice a key theme for the final two years of his term, is expected to announce measures resulting from the talks as soon as next week.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-06-30--Africa Cup of Nations postponed from January next year to 2022

Africa 's top football tournament had already been postponed once due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Next January 's Africa @ @ @ @ @ Cameroon have been postponed by one year and will now take place in 2022 , @ @ @ @ @ decided on Tuesday .
The Covid-19 health crisis has suspended football across most of the @ @ @ @ @ little time to complete the qualification competition .
The Cup of Nations was due to @ @ @ @ @ 6 next year but will now be scheduled for January 2022 .
Cameroon will get @ @ @ @ @ final of this year 's African Champions League which will be played at a single @ @ @ @ @ 's executive committee decided .

Next January's Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon have been postponed by one year and will now take place in 2022, the Confederation of African Football decided on Tuesday.
Africa's top football tournament had already been postponed once due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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The Covid-19 health crisis has suspended football across most of the continent since March and left little time to complete the qualification competition.
The Cup of Nations was due to be held from Jan. 9-Feb. 6 next year but will now be scheduled for January 2022.
Big decisions taken by @CAF_Online
⚠ 2021 Africa Cup of Nations postponed to 2022
⚠ 2020 CHAN postponed to 2021
⚠ 2020 Africa Women's Cup of Nations CANCELLED
⚠ One-legged Caf Champions League/Confed Cup semis
⚠ Launch of Caf Women's Champions League in 2021
Good calls? pic.twitter.com/VdZVRbUv3N — Ed Dove (@EddyDove) June 30, 2020
Cameroon will get to stage the semi-finals and final of this year's African Champions League which will be played at a single venue in Douala, CAF's executive committee decided.
(REUTERS)
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