france24--2020-06-19--English rugby to review ‘Swing low, Sweet chariot’ chant over slavery link

`` Swing low , Sweet chariot '' is a favourite of England fans at their home ground of Twickenham .
English rugby stars have broadly welcomed a decision by the sport ’ s ruling board to review the historical context of the popular anthem `` Swing low , Sweet chariot '' , though most have stopped short of calling for it to be banned over its link to slavery .
The anthem , believed to have been written by a slave in the mid-19th century , has been a mainstay with England fans since the 1980s , with its lyrics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with widespread protests against racial injustice following the death of George Floyd , an unarmed black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis last month , the Rugby Football Union ( RFU ) said it wanted to educate supporters about the song 's origins .
`` The RFU has stated we need to do more to achieve diversity and we are determined to accelerate change , '' an RFU spokesperson was quoted as saying by British media on Thursday .
`` The Swing Low , Sweet Chariot song has long been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is sung by many who have no awareness of its origins or sensitivities , ” the spokesman said .
`` We are reviewing its historical context and our role in educating fans to make informed decisions . ''
The decision prompted a flurry of reactions , including from Downing Street .
Weighing in on the issue on Friday , Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Sky News he did not think there should be `` any sort of prohibition '' on singing the song .
He added : `` Frankly I think what people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the symbols of discrimination ... all these issues that people are now raising to do with statues and songs and so on — I can see why they 're very emotive , I understand that .
`` But what I want to focus on is the substance of the issue . ''
England international Maro Itoje was among the first to discuss the song ’ s “ complicated ” background earlier this week .
`` Do n't get me wrong .
I do n't think anyone at Twickenham is singing it with malicious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mail .
`` But the background of that song is complicated . ''
Reportedly written by American slave Wallace Willis sometime in the mid-19th Century , 'Swing Low ' is first believed to have been sung at Twickenham when Martin 'Chariots ' Offiah ( his nickname derived from the Oscar-winning film 'Chariots of Fire ' ) was playing in the 1987 Middlesex Sevens tournament .
It became popular with England fans the following year when Chris Oti , another black player , scored a hat-trick against Ireland at Twickenham .
Offiah , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has welcomed the RFU review but said he did not want it banned either .
`` It 's definitely an emotional piece of music , very emotive , it stirs up feelings and that 's probably something to do with its history , '' Offiah told Radio 5 Live .
`` That history is probably not that well known by a lot of people in the UK .
I champion the RFU reviewing it , I would n't support the banning of such a song .
When you do try to ban things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more divisive , ” Offiah said .
He added : `` If this review leads to the RFU putting a positive spin on this song , engaging with ethnic communities , looking at the rooms where decisions are made in the RFU and addressing those issues , that 's what we actually want . ''
But former England hooker Brian Moore , who said he could remember Swing Low being sung in junior rugby clubs during the 1970s , insisted he would have no qualms about it being banned .
`` I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Telegraph .
`` It is not appropriate .
It has slave connotations and if the RFU makes that ruling I would be pleased , '' he added .
Maggie Alphonsi , who won 74 England caps between 2003 and 2014 , also admitted the song no longer “ sits easy ” with her .
“ I remember singing it a lot when I was young , throughout my England career , ” she told Sky Sports News .
“ It wasn ’ t until someone told me about the song and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alphonsi added : “ The song does not sit easy with me when I hear it , because I now know the connections with it .
But I also know that people singing it today are not singing it to offend .
”

English rugby stars have broadly welcomed a decision by the sport’s ruling board to review the historical context of the popular anthem "Swing low, Sweet chariot", though most have stopped short of calling for it to be banned over its link to slavery.
"Swing low, Sweet chariot" is a favourite of England fans at their home ground of Twickenham.
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The anthem, believed to have been written by a slave in the mid-19th century, has been a mainstay with England fans since the 1980s, with its lyrics displayed all around Twickenham Stadium.
However, with widespread protests against racial injustice following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis last month, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said it wanted to educate supporters about the song's origins.
"The RFU has stated we need to do more to achieve diversity and we are determined to accelerate change," an RFU spokesperson was quoted as saying by British media on Thursday.
"The Swing Low, Sweet Chariot song has long been part of the culture of rugby and is sung by many who have no awareness of its origins or sensitivities,” the spokesman said. "We are reviewing its historical context and our role in educating fans to make informed decisions."
Some facts about 'Swing Low Sweet Chariot':
Written by Wallace Willis after his emancipation. About the railroad which helped slaves escape to freedom.
The official song of Oklahoma State. It was performed at Woodstock in 1969. The Nazi party banned it for being "undesirable". — Tim Cocker (@cocker) June 19, 2020
The decision prompted a flurry of reactions, including from Downing Street.
Weighing in on the issue on Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Sky News he did not think there should be "any sort of prohibition" on singing the song.
He added: "Frankly I think what people need to do is focus less on the symbols of discrimination... all these issues that people are now raising to do with statues and songs and so on — I can see why they're very emotive, I understand that.
"But what I want to focus on is the substance of the issue."
‘Complicated’ history
England international Maro Itoje was among the first to discuss the song’s “complicated” background earlier this week.
"Don't get me wrong. I don't think anyone at Twickenham is singing it with malicious intent," he told the Daily Mail. "But the background of that song is complicated."
Reportedly written by American slave Wallace Willis sometime in the mid-19th Century, 'Swing Low' is first believed to have been sung at Twickenham when Martin 'Chariots' Offiah (his nickname derived from the Oscar-winning film 'Chariots of Fire') was playing in the 1987 Middlesex Sevens tournament.
Happy Juneteenth! It commemorates the declaration of the emancipation of slaves in Texas in 1865 and is now a holiday in 49 states, with a campaign to make it a national holiday. It is customary, by the way, at Juneteenth Jamborees for everyone to sing Swing Low Sweet Chariot. pic.twitter.com/tvlOVM5ywb — Richard Coles (@RevRichardColes) June 19, 2020
It became popular with England fans the following year when Chris Oti, another black player, scored a hat-trick against Ireland at Twickenham.
Offiah, a former rugby league and union wing, has welcomed the RFU review but said he did not want it banned either.
"It's definitely an emotional piece of music, very emotive, it stirs up feelings and that's probably something to do with its history," Offiah told Radio 5 Live.
"That history is probably not that well known by a lot of people in the UK. I champion the RFU reviewing it, I wouldn't support the banning of such a song. When you do try to ban things like that it just makes the song more divisive,” Offiah said.
He added: "If this review leads to the RFU putting a positive spin on this song, engaging with ethnic communities, looking at the rooms where decisions are made in the RFU and addressing those issues, that's what we actually want."
‘Always hated it’
But former England hooker Brian Moore, who said he could remember Swing Low being sung in junior rugby clubs during the 1970s, insisted he would have no qualms about it being banned.
"I have always hated it," Moore told the Telegraph.
"It is not appropriate. It has slave connotations and if the RFU makes that ruling I would be pleased," he added.
About Swing Low, Sweet Chariot -
1. This was sung in rugby clubs when I was still a colt and well before Martin Offiah and Chris Oti played senior rugby.
2. It was sung because of the rude gestures that went with it and without any thought of its origins. — Brian Moore (@brianmoore666) June 18, 2020
Maggie Alphonsi, who won 74 England caps between 2003 and 2014, also admitted the song no longer “sits easy” with her.
“I remember singing it a lot when I was young, throughout my England career,” she told Sky Sports News. “It wasn’t until someone told me about the song and its connections that I stopped singing it.”
Alphonsi added: “The song does not sit easy with me when I hear it, because I now know the connections with it. But I also know that people singing it today are not singing it to offend.”
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS, AFP)
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france24--2020-06-19--FRANCE 24 documentary 'Libya, the infernal trap' wins One World Media award

Millions of migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa have been caught up in Libya 's civil war .
The documentary `` Libya , the infernal trap '' , by FRANCE 24 reporters Julie Dungelhoeff , Catherine Norris-Trent and Abdallah Malkawi , won the award for best work on refugees at the One World Media Awards 2020 .
The FRANCE 24 documentary looks at refugees and migrants caught up in the civil war between the UN-backed Government of National Accord ( GNA ) and Marshall Khalifa Haftar 's Libyan National Army ( LNA ) .
Libya descended into chaos after the overthrow of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then , numerous international powers have taken sides in the country 's civil war , with Turkey the GNA 's main sponsor and Egypt , the UAE , Russia and ( tacitly ) France backing the LNA .
After Turkey ’ s support for the GNA turned the tide against him over recent months , Haftar is in a very weak position .
His international allies now favour a diplomatic solution , and there are signs that they are looking for an alternative partner in his stronghold of eastern Libya .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a million migrants , mainly from Sub-Sarahan Africa .
Many are locked in detention centres run by militias or human traffickers .
Even in the eight centres officially controlled by the GNA , they 're not protected from the conflict .
`` The jury were unanimous in their selection of this piece , '' One World Media said in a statement .
`` Through incredible access , the journalists were able to tell the captivating story of people making their way through Libya and navigating a protracted conflict .
The journalists left the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viewer a unique insight into the experience from every angle . ''

The documentary "Libya, the infernal trap", by FRANCE 24 reporters Julie Dungelhoeff, Catherine Norris-Trent and Abdallah Malkawi, won the award for best work on refugees at the One World Media Awards 2020.
Millions of migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa have been caught up in Libya's civil war.
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The FRANCE 24 documentary looks at refugees and migrants caught up in the civil war between the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) and Marshall Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA).
Libya descended into chaos after the overthrow of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Since then, numerous international powers have taken sides in the country's civil war, with Turkey the GNA's main sponsor and Egypt, the UAE, Russia and (tacitly) France backing the LNA.
>> Libya, the infernal trap
After Turkey’s support for the GNA turned the tide against him over recent months, Haftar is in a very weak position. His international allies now favour a diplomatic solution, and there are signs that they are looking for an alternative partner in his stronghold of eastern Libya.
In the midst of the conflilct are up to a million migrants, mainly from Sub-Sarahan Africa. Many are locked in detention centres run by militias or human traffickers. Even in the eight centres officially controlled by the GNA, they're not protected from the conflict.
"The jury were unanimous in their selection of this piece," One World Media said in a statement. "Through incredible access, the journalists were able to tell the captivating story of people making their way through Libya and navigating a protracted conflict. The journalists left the storytelling to their contributors, giving the viewer a unique insight into the experience from every angle."
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france24--2020-06-19--The taboo of menstruation in Madagascar, an obstacle to women's emancipation

For women in Madagascar , having their monthly period is more than just an inconvenience .
Having access to toilets , clean water or even disposable sanitary protection is a luxury out of reach to most of them .
Our reporters went to investigate on the island , where due to a lack of access to basic infrastructure and necessities – but also because of beliefs , taboos and humiliation – menstrual hygiene is a battle for millions of women , with serious consequences for their empowerment , education and health .
During this report , we criss-crossed the island @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have no access to water or sanitary protection worthy of the name .
For them , menstruation represents an immense obstacle to their emancipation .
During their monthly period , they work less than usual and have to worry about how to wash themselves several times a day , all the while being slowed down by period pain .
Unemployment is massive on the island and women are often financially dependent on their husbands , which further complicates their situation .
We also encountered young girls forced to borrow money to buy a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together so that the most vulnerable can buy themselves period protection .
Almost all the women we met use fabric as a sanitary towel , a sort of square bought from a second-hand clothes shop which is often very worn out .
Even exposing this fabric to the sun , in order to dry it , is a source of shame in rural areas .
Women prefer to hide it and do not discuss the subject , even amongst themselves .
Amarante Norolalao Ranerason , a women 's rights activist , explained to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of access to basic infrastructure and necessities , women are also held back by a lack of information on menstruation .
She told us the story of a young girl who was slapped by her father when she got her first period because he believed that she had had sexual intercourse and that was why she was bleeding .
The activist explained that for women in Madagascar , menstruation is – cycle after cycle – a moment that generates anxiety and social exclusion , fed by old taboos and misconceptions .
As a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doubly penalised .
> > The last taboo : Helping women and girls .
Period .

For women in Madagascar, having their monthly period is more than just an inconvenience. Having access to toilets, clean water or even disposable sanitary protection is a luxury out of reach to most of them. Our reporters went to investigate on the island, where due to a lack of access to basic infrastructure and necessities – but also because of beliefs, taboos and humiliation – menstrual hygiene is a battle for millions of women, with serious consequences for their empowerment, education and health.
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During this report, we criss-crossed the island of Madagascar to meet vulnerable women who have no access to water or sanitary protection worthy of the name. For them, menstruation represents an immense obstacle to their emancipation. During their monthly period, they work less than usual and have to worry about how to wash themselves several times a day, all the while being slowed down by period pain.
Unemployment is massive on the island and women are often financially dependent on their husbands, which further complicates their situation. We also encountered young girls forced to borrow money to buy a simple sanitary pad. Others pitch in together so that the most vulnerable can buy themselves period protection.
Lack of information
Almost all the women we met use fabric as a sanitary towel, a sort of square bought from a second-hand clothes shop which is often very worn out. Even exposing this fabric to the sun, in order to dry it, is a source of shame in rural areas. Women prefer to hide it and do not discuss the subject, even amongst themselves.
Amarante Norolalao Ranerason, a women's rights activist, explained to us that in addition to the lack of access to basic infrastructure and necessities, women are also held back by a lack of information on menstruation. She told us the story of a young girl who was slapped by her father when she got her first period because he believed that she had had sexual intercourse and that was why she was bleeding.
The activist explained that for women in Madagascar, menstruation is – cycle after cycle – a moment that generates anxiety and social exclusion, fed by old taboos and misconceptions. As a result, the island's women are doubly penalised.
>> The last taboo: Helping women and girls. Period.
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france24--2020-06-19--Thousands of Beijing residents queue for hours to get tested after new Covid-19 cases

“ Beijing Youan hospital .
People line up for screening .
The line has extended outside of the hospital .
The line is about 500 metres long .
I came here fairly early .
I got a number .
It takes about three minutes for them to screen one person .
My number is 700+ , so I ’ ll need to wait for four hours.
” Lots of people line up to get tested for Covid-19 in the Guanganmen stadium , located to the south of Beijing , on June 14. .
“ These are the people who went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man who filmed the line of people waiting to get tested in Xuanwu stadium in Beijing .
The video was posted on Twitter on June 14 .
The Xinfadi market is thought to be the origin of more than 158 Covid-19 cases identified in Beijing this week .
Some hospitals have set up a system where people can make appointments by phone so that they can avoid the crowd , but some many people have complained about the lack of social distancing in front of the hospital , like this Weibo user ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China ) , who came to this hospital in Beijing to be tested .
`` People are so close to each other !
`` , posted this Twitter user on Weibo on June 15 .
Two videos posted on YouTube and Twitter on June 14 show hundreds of people waiting in line in front of Youan Hospital , in the north of Beijing.The first video shows the long line formed outside the hospital.More than 350,000 people have been screened for Covid-19 in Beijing since June 13 , after new cases were reported in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population of 21 million.This video was filmed on June 16 in front of a hospital in the Dongdan , in eastern Beijing .
You can hear a woman say , in Chinese , how surprised she is by the number of people waiting to get tested.The government has also set up large-scale testing centres , including in the Guanganmen and Xuanwu stadiums south of Beijing .
People who visited the Xifandi market , where Covid-19 was detected , were called and asked to take a test .

CHINA
More than 300,000 people have gone to Covid-19 testing centres and hospitals in Beijing since June 13, when new cases of the coronavirus started popping up in the capital.
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Thousands of Beijing residents have been queuing for hours in front of the city’s hospitals in the hopes of getting tested for Covid-19, after new cases of the virus were first reported on June 12. In the past week, at least 158 new cases have been identified in the capital city. On June 18, the Chinese government said that they have the epidemic under control but many people are terrified of a second wave of the virus that killed more than 4,000 people the first time round.
Two videos posted on YouTube and Twitter on June 14 show hundreds of people waiting in line in front of Youan Hospital, in the north of Beijing.
The first video shows the long line formed outside the hospital.
“Beijing Youan hospital. People line up for screening. The line has extended outside of the hospital. The line is about 500 metres long. I came here fairly early. I got a number. It takes about three minutes for them to screen one person. My number is 700+, so I’ll need to wait for four hours.”
More than 350,000 people have been screened for Covid-19 in Beijing since June 13, after new cases were reported in the city, which has a total population of 21 million.
This video was filmed on June 16 in front of a hospital in the Dongdan, in eastern Beijing. You can hear a woman say, in Chinese, how surprised she is by the number of people waiting to get tested.
China is facing 2nd wave of corona. crowd outside a Beijing hospital pic.twitter.com/azibmCQx0p Sniper Elite???????? (@patriot1971) June 17, 2020
The government has also set up large-scale testing centres, including in the Guanganmen and Xuanwu stadiums south of Beijing. People who visited the Xifandi market, where Covid-19 was detected, were called and asked to take a test.
Residents live near Xinfadi markets had been ordered to queue up in Guanganmen sports centre for testing of #ccpvirus pic.twitter.com/Vt5nouOj4R 91 Ultraman (@wurutoraman) June 14, 2020
Lots of people line up to get tested for Covid-19 in the Guanganmen stadium, located to the south of Beijing, on June 14. .
Ppl queued up in Beijing Xuanwu stadium for testing of #CCPVirus pic.twitter.com/KvOduu4LtS 91 Ultraman (@wurutoraman) June 14, 2020
“These are the people who went to Xinfadi market,” says the man who filmed the line of people waiting to get tested in Xuanwu stadium in Beijing. The video was posted on Twitter on June 14. The Xinfadi market is thought to be the origin of more than 158 Covid-19 cases identified in Beijing this week.
Some hospitals have set up a system where people can make appointments by phone so that they can avoid the crowd, but some many people have complained about the lack of social distancing in front of the hospital, like this Weibo user (Weibo is the equivalent to Twitter in China), who came to this hospital in Beijing to be tested.
"People are so close to each other!", posted this Twitter user on Weibo on June 15.
"I got there at 9am and there were already more than 100 people waiting in line”
To avoid the spread of Covid-19, some of the more rural provinces have also been doubling down on testing. Xin Li travelled from Beijing to his home town in Henan, a province in central China in early June. After quarantining at home for 14 days, he went to a testing centre in the town of Huixan to be screened for the virus on June 16.
When I got there at 9am, there were already more than 100 people in line. There weren’t enough testing kits. I went back the next day and took the test. Because I was coming back from Beijing, which is a high risk zone, I have to take another test on June 24.
Just acquired from my friend. People lining up for #COVID19 tests in Beijing last night and this morning. #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/wKX8VrTk39 Vince (@vce7) June 17, 2020
Article by Marie Genries


france24--2020-06-19--Noisy French rooster Maurice, who was taken to court for crowing, dies aged six

IN THE PAPERS - Friday , June 19 : We look at the importance of Juneteenth , a day celebrating the end of slavery in the US and why it has special importance this year .
Also , ties between Germany and Russia are strained over the killing of a Georgian man of Chechen origin in Berlin last year that Germany says was a Russian state-organised assassination .
Finally , Maurice the noisy rooster , who became a symbol of the French countryside , has died .
This Friday marks Juneteenth , one of the oldest celebrations marking the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 155 years ago , more than 250,000 black slaves received news of their freedom in Texas .
This year , it takes on special meaning in light of recent protests against police brutality .
As this New York Times columnist notes , neither Abraham Lincoln nor the Republican Party were responsible for the end of slavery .
The slaves freed the slaves and for him , the day is also about remembering that America 's `` experiment in liberty '' owes as much to those who toiled in bondage as it does to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington Post , meanwhile , note that June 19 connotes a moment when America 's promise and dream of full equality seemed about to be realised , only to be postponed .
Now , at another watershed moment in US history , Americans have a chance to fulfill those dreams , the Post says .
We move on to a growing diplomatic spat between Germany and Russia over the death of a Georgian man of Chechen origin last year .
The man , who had fought against the Russians in Chechnya , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He 'd survived multiple assassination attempts and continued receiving threats after fleeing to Germany in 2016 .
German prosecutors filed murder charges against a Russian man yesterday , alleging that Russian state agencies tasked him with the assassination .
This and a 2015 hacking of German parliament have strained relations between the two countries .
Russia , for its part , has denied involvement and threatened to react if Germany takes action .
That 's in the Guardian this Friday .
Finally , Maurice , a beloved noisy French rooster , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maurice became an international symbol for the divides between city and countryside when he was taken to court for his early morning crowing .
Maurice won the case and was allowed to live out his life peacefully on the French island of Oléron .
His owners say they 've bought a new cockerel , also called Maurice , but that he will never replace the original bird !

IN THE PAPERS - Friday, June 19: We look at the importance of Juneteenth, a day celebrating the end of slavery in the US and why it has special importance this year. Also, ties between Germany and Russia are strained over the killing of a Georgian man of Chechen origin in Berlin last year that Germany says was a Russian state-organised assassination. Finally, Maurice the noisy rooster, who became a symbol of the French countryside, has died.
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This Friday marks Juneteenth, one of the oldest celebrations marking the end of slavery in the US. Some 155 years ago, more than 250,000 black slaves received news of their freedom in Texas. This year, it takes on special meaning in light of recent protests against police brutality. As this New York Times columnist notes, neither Abraham Lincoln nor the Republican Party were responsible for the end of slavery. The slaves freed the slaves and for him, the day is also about remembering that America's "experiment in liberty" owes as much to those who toiled in bondage as it does to anyone else.
The editors of the Washington Post, meanwhile, note that June 19 connotes a moment when America's promise and dream of full equality seemed about to be realised, only to be postponed. Now, at another watershed moment in US history, Americans have a chance to fulfill those dreams, the Post says.
We move on to a growing diplomatic spat between Germany and Russia over the death of a Georgian man of Chechen origin last year. The man, who had fought against the Russians in Chechnya, was shot in a Berlin park last year. He'd survived multiple assassination attempts and continued receiving threats after fleeing to Germany in 2016. German prosecutors filed murder charges against a Russian man yesterday, alleging that Russian state agencies tasked him with the assassination. This and a 2015 hacking of German parliament have strained relations between the two countries. Russia, for its part, has denied involvement and threatened to react if Germany takes action. That's in the Guardian this Friday.
Finally, Maurice, a beloved noisy French rooster, has died at the age of six. Maurice became an international symbol for the divides between city and countryside when he was taken to court for his early morning crowing. Maurice won the case and was allowed to live out his life peacefully on the French island of Oléron. His owners say they've bought a new cockerel, also called Maurice, but that he will never replace the original bird!
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france24--2020-06-19--‘Out with Bolsonaro’: Anger and joy as football returns to Brazil

Football fans protest the restart of matches in Brazil amid the Covid-19 pandemic on June 18 , 2020 .
Professional football resumed in Brazil on Thursday , June 18 , after a three-month hiatus amid the coronavirus pandemic with Flamengo beating Bangu 3-0 in an empty Maracana stadium .
However , the country continues to record hundreds of deaths from the virus a day and not all fans were happy to see the return of the national sport .
Outside the Maracana , which until recently was the site of an emergency field hospital for Covid-19 victims , a number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protest against football ’ s return and the policies of right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro who they accuse of prioritising the economy over lives .
`` Today , our movement criticises the reopening of the championship as one that is a fascist irresponsibility of the government , which is not committed to the people , to helping people , which is only concerned about the economy .
Exchanging lives for the economy , ” Flamengo fan Paulo Cesar Alevato told Reuters .
“ The people are against the reopening of the Rio championship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Bolsonaro . ''
Bolsonaro has been criticised for his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic , which has seen Brazil record a death toll of more than 47,000 including another 1,238 deaths reported on Thursday .
The return of football with the virus still raging has sparked controversy among both players and the public .
Two top Brazilian teams , Botafogo and Fluminense , have said they will refuse to play their matches this weekend .
Nevertheless , some fans were just happy to see their team back in action .
`` 3-0 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Bruno Henrique to kick-off the festivities , to start off the fun , ” one Flamnego fan told Reuters following the side ’ s victory .
“ This is Flamengo , here I 've got Flamengo ( tattooed ) on my skin .
It 's just the Libertadores Cup that is missing . ''

Professional football resumed in Brazil on Thursday, June 18, after a three-month hiatus amid the coronavirus pandemic with Flamengo beating Bangu 3-0 in an empty Maracana stadium. However, the country continues to record hundreds of deaths from the virus a day and not all fans were happy to see the return of the national sport.
Football fans protest the restart of matches in Brazil amid the Covid-19 pandemic on June 18, 2020.
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Outside the Maracana, which until recently was the site of an emergency field hospital for Covid-19 victims, a number of fans gathered ahead of the match to protest against football’s return and the policies of right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro who they accuse of prioritising the economy over lives.
"Today, our movement criticises the reopening of the championship as one that is a fascist irresponsibility of the government, which is not committed to the people, to helping people, which is only concerned about the economy. Exchanging lives for the economy,” Flamengo fan Paulo Cesar Alevato told Reuters.
“The people are against the reopening of the Rio championship and are in favour of getting rid of Bolsonaro."
Bolsonaro has been criticised for his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has seen Brazil record a death toll of more than 47,000 including another 1,238 deaths reported on Thursday. The return of football with the virus still raging has sparked controversy among both players and the public.
Two top Brazilian teams, Botafogo and Fluminense, have said they will refuse to play their matches this weekend.
Nevertheless, some fans were just happy to see their team back in action.
"3-0. Two goals from Gabigol and one from Bruno Henrique to kick-off the festivities, to start off the fun,” one Flamnego fan told Reuters following the side’s victory.
“This is Flamengo, here I've got Flamengo (tattooed) on my skin. It's just the Libertadores Cup that is missing."
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france24--2020-06-19--'Shadow of the Wind' author Carlos Ruiz Zafon dies at 55

Born in Barcelona , Carlos Ruiz Zafon published his first novel when he was nearly 30 .
Leading Spanish author Carlos Ruiz Zafon , who scored an international hit with his Barcelona-based mystery `` The Shadow of the Wind '' , died on Friday , his publishing house said .
He was 55 .
`` Today Carlos Ruiz Zafon has died , one of the best contemporary novelists .
We will remember you forever , Carlos ! ''
Planeta publishing house wrote on Twitter .
In a statement , Planeta said Zafon had died at his Los Angeles home after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on among us through his books , '' it added .
Written in 2001 , `` The Shadow of the Wind '' was his best-known work and one of the most successful Spanish novels of recent decades .
In the statement , Planeta quoted a line from the novel when protagonist Daniel Sempere is first shown the Cemetery of Forgotten Books , a labyrinthine , mystical secret library around which the story is woven .
`` Every book , every volume you see here , has a soul .
The soul of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who read it and lived and dreamed with it .
Every time a book changes hands , every time someone runs his eyes down its pages , its spirit grows and strengthens . ''
Thus begins an atmospheric story set in Ruiz-Zafon 's native Barcelona in the wake of the Spanish civil war ( 1936-1939 ) in which Sempere tries to unravel the mystery surrounding the author of a certain book .
`` Shadow of the Wind '' was an immediate hit and has since been translated into some 50 languages , selling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a quartet of novels in his `` Cemetery of Forgotten Books '' series .
The last book , `` The Labyrinth of Spirits '' , was published in 2016 , two years before he was diagnosed with cancer .
At the time , he explained why he had never let any of his works be adapted for cinema .
`` For me , these books are a homage to literature , to the written word .
For that reason , transforming them for the cinema or television would be a betrayal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1964 , Ruiz Zafon studied at a religious school then earned a degree in information sciences .
A lover of books since childhood , he did n't publish his first novel until he was nearly 30 after leaving a career in advertising .

Leading Spanish author Carlos Ruiz Zafon, who scored an international hit with his Barcelona-based mystery "The Shadow of the Wind", died on Friday, his publishing house said. He was 55.
Born in Barcelona, Carlos Ruiz Zafon published his first novel when he was nearly 30.
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"Today Carlos Ruiz Zafon has died, one of the best contemporary novelists. We will remember you forever, Carlos!" Planeta publishing house wrote on Twitter.
In a statement, Planeta said Zafon had died at his Los Angeles home after battling cancer.
"He will live on among us through his books," it added.
Written in 2001, "The Shadow of the Wind" was his best-known work and one of the most successful Spanish novels of recent decades.
In the statement, Planeta quoted a line from the novel when protagonist Daniel Sempere is first shown the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a labyrinthine, mystical secret library around which the story is woven.
"Every book, every volume you see here, has a soul. The soul of the person who wrote it and of those who read it and lived and dreamed with it. Every time a book changes hands, every time someone runs his eyes down its pages, its spirit grows and strengthens."
Thus begins an atmospheric story set in Ruiz-Zafon's native Barcelona in the wake of the Spanish civil war (1936-1939) in which Sempere tries to unravel the mystery surrounding the author of a certain book.
"Shadow of the Wind" was an immediate hit and has since been translated into some 50 languages, selling millions of copies and becoming the first of a quartet of novels in his "Cemetery of Forgotten Books" series.
The last book, "The Labyrinth of Spirits", was published in 2016, two years before he was diagnosed with cancer.
At the time, he explained why he had never let any of his works be adapted for cinema.
"For me, these books are a homage to literature, to the written word. For that reason, transforming them for the cinema or television would be a betrayal," he said.
Born in Barcelona in 1964, Ruiz Zafon studied at a religious school then earned a degree in information sciences.
A lover of books since childhood, he didn't publish his first novel until he was nearly 30 after leaving a career in advertising.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-06-19--Faith and feminism: Women and Christianity

Some 2.3 billion people identify as Christians across the globe and yet senior leadership positions in many churches are still @ @ @ @ @ this special edition , Annette Young meets Reverend Lucinda Laird , the Dean of the @ @ @ @ @ is a leading female priest in the Episcopal Church .
Our team in Rome also @ @ @ @ @ is facing growing pressure to boost the representation of women in the Catholic Church .

Faith and feminism: Women and Christianity
12:31 THE 51 PERCENT © FRANCE 24
Some 2.3 billion people identify as Christians across the globe and yet senior leadership positions in many churches are still prohibited to women. In this special edition, Annette Young meets Reverend Lucinda Laird, the Dean of the American Cathedral in Paris who is a leading female priest in the Episcopal Church. Our team in Rome also reports on how the Vatican is facing growing pressure to boost the representation of women in the Catholic Church.


france24--2020-06-20--Syrian refugees in Lebanon: ‘After corona, there’s no food anymore'

The situation for Syrian refugees in Lebanon has massively deteriorated on the back of the ailing Lebanese economy and the global coronavirus crisis .
Lebanon is currently the home to some 900,000 refugees who have fled Syria ’ s bloody civil war .
But after Lebanon ’ s economy crashed late last year and the country was hit by the coronavirus crisis , the refugees are struggling even more to put food on the table .
FRANCE 24 ’ s Leila Molana Allen reports ahead of World Refugee Day .
Eight years ago , Aisha , a Syrian refugee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children to escape the horrors of their homeland .
They built a small house in Bekaa Valley , and the family finally felt safe .
“ There was work for me , my husband , and my kids .
We were able to get vegetables for a low price , all the food was affordable , ” she says .
But after the Lebanese economy crashed , causing the lira to tumble , along with the coronavirus crisis a few months later , life has become extremely difficult for the family .
Lebanese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some cases even tripled .
“ After corona there ’ s no food anymore .
You go to get produce but you come back because you can ’ t afford it.
” Her cousin Basawi , who also lives in the camp , says the situation is so bad that “ some children have never seen meat aside from in the butcher ’ s window ” .
His wife works 13-hour-days in the nearby fields , making just 20 cents an hour .
She needs to work for four hours just to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To watch the full report , please click on the player above .

Special Report
Lebanon is currently the home to some 900,000 refugees who have fled Syria’s bloody civil war. But after Lebanon’s economy crashed late last year and the country was hit by the coronavirus crisis, the refugees are struggling even more to put food on the table. FRANCE 24’s Leila Molana Allen reports ahead of World Refugee Day.
The situation for Syrian refugees in Lebanon has massively deteriorated on the back of the ailing Lebanese economy and the global coronavirus crisis.
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Eight years ago, Aisha, a Syrian refugee, arrived in Lebanon with her husband and children to escape the horrors of their homeland. They built a small house in Bekaa Valley, and the family finally felt safe.
“There was work for me, my husband, and my kids. We were able to get vegetables for a low price, all the food was affordable,” she says.
But after the Lebanese economy crashed, causing the lira to tumble, along with the coronavirus crisis a few months later, life has become extremely difficult for the family. Lebanese food prices have doubled, and in some cases even tripled.
“After corona there’s no food anymore. You go to get produce but you come back because you can’t afford it.”
Her cousin Basawi, who also lives in the camp, says the situation is so bad that “some children have never seen meat aside from in the butcher’s window”.
His wife works 13-hour-days in the nearby fields, making just 20 cents an hour. She needs to work for four hours just to be able to afford a litre of milk.
To watch the full report, please click on the player above.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-06-20--'China does not want a Cold War with the US,' says Chinese ambassador to France

In an interview with FRANCE 24 , Lu Shaye , the Chinese ambassador to France , discussed the current tensions between Beijing and Washington .
He also talked about China charging two detained Canadians with spying , plus the situation in Hong Kong and the new outbreak of Covid-19 cases in Beijing .
`` According to the information I have received , every day there are still a few dozen confirmed cases [ of Covid-19 ] , but according to epidemiologists everything is under control , '' Lu said in response to questions about the new coronavirus outbreak in Beijing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience with this type of situation .
And the health and prevention system has been perfected now . ''
With regard to fraught relations with the US , Lu said : `` China does not want a Cold War with the US .
`` Even if the Trump administration has been pushing for cutting ties , this is not what we want .
We believe it is not even possible to cut ties with China , and if Americans should adopt this policy , this would be shooting themselves in the foot .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to watch the full interview .

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Lu Shaye, the Chinese ambassador to France, discussed the current tensions between Beijing and Washington. He also talked about China charging two detained Canadians with spying, plus the situation in Hong Kong and the new outbreak of Covid-19 cases in Beijing.
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"According to the information I have received, every day there are still a few dozen confirmed cases [of Covid-19], but according to epidemiologists everything is under control," Lu said in response to questions about the new coronavirus outbreak in Beijing. "China has a lot of experience with this type of situation. And the health and prevention system has been perfected now."
With regard to fraught relations with the US, Lu said: "China does not want a Cold War with the US.
"Even if the Trump administration has been pushing for cutting ties, this is not what we want. We believe it is not even possible to cut ties with China, and if Americans should adopt this policy, this would be shooting themselves in the foot."
Please click on the player above to watch the full interview.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-06-20--Brazil blows past one million Covid-19 cases, WHO warns of ‘dangerous phase' of pandemic

Gravediggers work during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease , Covid-19 , at Sao Francisco Xavier cemetery in Rio de Janeiro .
Brazil , April 11 , 2020 .
The World Health Organization warned Friday of a “ new and dangerous phase ” of the coronavirus pandemic , as infections continued to surge in the Americas , with Brazil registering more than one million cases .
Colombia and Mexico also passed bleak milestones , as their death tolls topped 2,000 and 20,000 , respectively , showing how the virus continues ravaging the Americas and parts of Asia even as Europe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The measures imposed to halt the spread of the disease have caused crippling economic damage , but the WHO warned against giving in to isolation fatigue .
“ The world is in a new and dangerous phase .
Many people are understandably fed up with being at home ... but the virus is still spreading fast , ” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual press conference .
The virus has now killed more than 458,000 people and infected 8.6 million worldwide .
A vaccine remains months off at best despite several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily discoveries about the virus , its symptoms and the extent to which it may have spread before being identified .
Brazil , which has the second-highest number of infections and deaths after the United States , reported a one-day record of nearly 55,000 new infections , becoming the second country to pass one million cases .
The health ministry said the jump was caused by “ instability ” in its reporting system , which delayed previous days ’ figures for some states .
Brazil ’ s death toll now stands at nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 1,000 each of the past four days—though its curve finally appears to be starting to flatten .
Authorities in Mexico City meanwhile pushed back a planned reopening of the economy from next week to the following , saying the rate of infection was still too high .
And Argentina , which is reeling from the economic impact of the health crisis , bought more time to negotiate its $ 66 billion debt restructuring with creditors , who agreed to extend the deadline once again , to July 24 .
In Europe , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence the virus was present there in December , months before its first confirmed cases and about the same time the disease was first reported in China .
Researchers discovered genetic traces of SARS-CoV-2 -- as the virus is officially known—in samples of waste water collected in Milan and Turin at the end of last year , and Bologna in January , the ISS institute said .
Italy ’ s first confirmed cases were not until February .
Italy was the first European country to be hit by the virus and the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown , in early March .
ISS , Italy ’ s top health agency , also urged caution after last week seeing “ warning signs ” of virus transmission following two outbreaks in Rome .
Many European countries followed Italy into lockdown , and most have only recently begun reopening .
Facing the biggest recession in EU history , leaders held a virtual summit on the European Commission ’ s proposal for a 750 billion euro ( $ 840 billion ) rescue fund .
However , they fell short of reaching a deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frugal four ” —Netherlands , Sweden , Denmark and Austria .
But Italy and Spain , hit first and hardest by the pandemic , are crippled by overstretched finances .
After largely bringing the virus under control and easing restrictions , China is now fighting a new cluster linked to a wholesale market in Beijing .
Authorities launched a nationwide campaign to inspect food imports , test tens of thousands of people and lock down affected neighborhoods .
Chinese officials said genome data suggested the new outbreak in Beijing “ came from Europe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strain currently spreading there .
Zhang Yong of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) raised the possibility the virus lurked in imported frozen food or in the wholesale market itself , resulting in similarities to older strains .
The United States has the highest death toll by far , at more than 119,000 , and the world ’ s largest economy is taking a beating in a year when President Donald Trump seeks re-election .
However , top US expert Anthony Fauci said in an interview with AFP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new lockdown .
He predicted it would instead focus on “ trying to better control those areas of the country that seem to be having a surge of cases.
” Fauci said he was hopeful for a vaccine , calling early trial results “ encouraging ” .
Still , Apple said it was closing some stores in US states experiencing a surge in infections .
Normality is returning to cultural and sporting events disrupted by the virus .
France said it would reopen cinemas from Monday and stadiums from July 11 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country of le grand amour , actors have also started kissing again on film shoots .
“ No , the kiss is not finished , ” French Culture Minister Franck Riester declared when asked if social distancing was in danger of killing off love scenes .
Actors must however be tested before they resume smooching .

The World Health Organization warned Friday of a “new and dangerous phase” of the coronavirus pandemic, as infections continued to surge in the Americas, with Brazil registering more than one million cases.
Gravediggers work during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, Covid-19, at Sao Francisco Xavier cemetery in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil, April 11, 2020.
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Colombia and Mexico also passed bleak milestones, as their death tolls topped 2,000 and 20,000, respectively, showing how the virus continues ravaging the Americas and parts of Asia even as Europe starts to ease out of lockdown.
The measures imposed to halt the spread of the disease have caused crippling economic damage, but the WHO warned against giving in to isolation fatigue.
“The world is in a new and dangerous phase. Many people are understandably fed up with being at home... but the virus is still spreading fast,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual press conference.
The virus has now killed more than 458,000 people and infected 8.6 million worldwide.
A vaccine remains months off at best despite several trials, and scientists are still making daily discoveries about the virus, its symptoms and the extent to which it may have spread before being identified.
New record in Brazil
Brazil, which has the second-highest number of infections and deaths after the United States, reported a one-day record of nearly 55,000 new infections, becoming the second country to pass one million cases.
02:02
The health ministry said the jump was caused by “instability” in its reporting system, which delayed previous days’ figures for some states.
Brazil’s death toll now stands at nearly 49,000, and has risen by more than 1,000 each of the past four days—though its curve finally appears to be starting to flatten.
Authorities in Mexico City meanwhile pushed back a planned reopening of the economy from next week to the following, saying the rate of infection was still too high.
And Argentina, which is reeling from the economic impact of the health crisis, bought more time to negotiate its $66 billion debt restructuring with creditors, who agreed to extend the deadline once again, to July 24.
Italian sewage
In Europe, researchers in Italy said they had found evidence the virus was present there in December, months before its first confirmed cases and about the same time the disease was first reported in China.
Researchers discovered genetic traces of SARS-CoV-2 -- as the virus is officially known—in samples of waste water collected in Milan and Turin at the end of last year, and Bologna in January, the ISS institute said.
Italy’s first confirmed cases were not until February.
Italy was the first European country to be hit by the virus and the first in the world to impose a nationwide lockdown, in early March.
ISS, Italy’s top health agency, also urged caution after last week seeing “warning signs” of virus transmission following two outbreaks in Rome.
Many European countries followed Italy into lockdown, and most have only recently begun reopening.
Facing the biggest recession in EU history, leaders held a virtual summit on the European Commission’s proposal for a 750 billion euro ($840 billion) rescue fund.
However, they fell short of reaching a deal.
Opposition is fierce from the “frugal four”—Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and Austria. But Italy and Spain, hit first and hardest by the pandemic, are crippled by overstretched finances.
China cluster
After largely bringing the virus under control and easing restrictions, China is now fighting a new cluster linked to a wholesale market in Beijing.
Authorities launched a nationwide campaign to inspect food imports, test tens of thousands of people and lock down affected neighborhoods.
Chinese officials said genome data suggested the new outbreak in Beijing “came from Europe”, but was older than the strain currently spreading there.
Zhang Yong of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raised the possibility the virus lurked in imported frozen food or in the wholesale market itself, resulting in similarities to older strains.
Fauci hopeful
The United States has the highest death toll by far, at more than 119,000, and the world’s largest economy is taking a beating in a year when President Donald Trump seeks re-election.
However, top US expert Anthony Fauci said in an interview with AFP he was optimistic America would not impose a new lockdown.
He predicted it would instead focus on “trying to better control those areas of the country that seem to be having a surge of cases.”
Fauci said he was hopeful for a vaccine, calling early trial results “encouraging”.
Still, Apple said it was closing some stores in US states experiencing a surge in infections.
French kissing
Normality is returning to cultural and sporting events disrupted by the virus.
France said it would reopen cinemas from Monday and stadiums from July 11, though with a 5,000-fan limit.
In the country of le grand amour, actors have also started kissing again on film shoots.
“No, the kiss is not finished,” French Culture Minister Franck Riester declared when asked if social distancing was in danger of killing off love scenes.
Actors must however be tested before they resume smooching.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-06-20--Protesters topple Washington DC’s only Confederate statue after Juneteenth rallies

Protesters topple a statue of Albert Pike during an event to mark Juneteenth , which commemorates the end of slavery in Texas , two years after the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves elsewhere in the United States , amid nationwide protests against racial inequality , in Washington , DC , U.S. , June 19 , 2020 .
Protesters in Washington toppled a statue of a Confederate general late Friday , after nationwide rallies to demand racial justice on a day heavy with symbolism—the Juneteenth holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States .
Demonstrations were held in Atlanta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York and Washington against a backdrop of weeks of protests fueled by the deaths of African Americans at the hands of police .
In a stark illustration of the tensions roiling the nation , President Donald Trump issued a solemn White House statement commemorating Juneteenth , while also threatening protesters on Twitter ahead of his controversial rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma on Saturday .
Juneteenth marks the day—June 19 , 1865 -- when a Union general arrived in Galveston , Texas and informed slaves that they were free—two months after the Civil War @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation .
The date is generally celebrated with prayer services and family gatherings , but comes this year amid a national soul-searching over America ’ s legacy of racial injustice .
The United States has been gripped by daily “ Black Lives Matter ” protests since the May 25 death of George Floyd , a 46-year-old black man killed by a white police officer in Minnesota .
Late on Friday a statue of Confederate general Albert Pike was torn down by demonstrators in the capital and set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ disgrace ” by Trump .
“ The D.C. police are not doing their job as they watch a statue be ripped down & burn .
These people should be immediately arrested , ” Trump tweeted .
Earlier , several thousand demonstrators marched across New York ’ s Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan , chanting the names of black men and women killed by police in recent years .
“ This year the entire country has had a reckoning , ” said protester Tabatha Bernard , 38 , voicing support for growing calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holiday .
“ It ’ s up to us to keep this going until we have change.
” Protesters in Atlanta , where a police officer was charged with murder this week for shooting a black man in the back , marched on the Georgia State Capitol .
More gathered in Washington outside the Lincoln Memorial and near the White House , while thousands marched in Chicago and danced at festive rallies in South Los Angeles .
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden , who has a solid lead over Trump in the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that our country is capable of the worst violence and injustice but it also has an incredible capacity to be reborn anew.
” In Tulsa—where Trump on Saturday is set to hold his first campaign rally since the coronavirus pandemic began—a Juneteenth celebration was attended by several thousand protesters .
“ We ’ ve seen more unity and more blacks and whites together in the last three weeks than we ’ ve ever seen in a Trump rally , ” civil rights activist Al Sharpton told a press conference .
Trump had originally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but was forced to change it amid a public outcry over his provocative choice of date and location .
The city ’ s Greenwood district was the site of one of the country ’ s worst racist massacres , in 1921 , when as many as 300 black Americans were killed .
” We just want the world to know what happened here , ” said Greenwood store owner Tony Williams , labelling Trump ’ s arrival ” disrespectful.
” About a mile away , dozens of Trump followers have camped out for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to get the best seats .
” This is a super important moment for all of us ... we ’ re out here supporting Trump , ” said Stephen Corley , 19 .
Trump , who is facing a tough re-election battle in November and has adopted a hardline ” law and order ” stance towards protestors , and First Lady Melania Trump issued a joint statement to mark Juneteenth .
” Juneteenth reminds us of both the unimaginable injustice of slavery and the incomparable joy that must have attended emancipation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , Trump issued a blunt warning to counter-protesters headed to Tulsa .
” Any protesters , anarchists , agitators , looters or lowlifes who are going to Oklahoma please understand , you will not be treated like you have been in New York , Seattle , or Minneapolis , ” he said .
” It will be a much different scene !
” Tulsa Mayor G.T .
Bynum declared a curfew in the city amid fears of violence but Trump later announced it had been lifted for ” our many supporters ” @ @ @ @

Protesters in Washington toppled a statue of a Confederate general late Friday, after nationwide rallies to demand racial justice on a day heavy with symbolism—the Juneteenth holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
Protesters topple a statue of Albert Pike during an event to mark Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in Texas, two years after the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves elsewhere in the United States, amid nationwide protests against racial inequality, in Washington, DC, U.S., June 19, 2020.
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Demonstrations were held in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Washington against a backdrop of weeks of protests fueled by the deaths of African Americans at the hands of police.
In a stark illustration of the tensions roiling the nation, President Donald Trump issued a solemn White House statement commemorating Juneteenth, while also threatening protesters on Twitter ahead of his controversial rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Saturday.
Juneteenth marks the day—June 19, 1865 -- when a Union general arrived in Galveston, Texas and informed slaves that they were free—two months after the Civil War had ended and two-and-a-half years after president Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
The date is generally celebrated with prayer services and family gatherings, but comes this year amid a national soul-searching over America’s legacy of racial injustice.
The United States has been gripped by daily “Black Lives Matter” protests since the May 25 death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man killed by a white police officer in Minnesota.
Late on Friday a statue of Confederate general Albert Pike was torn down by demonstrators in the capital and set on fire, in an act labeled a “disgrace” by Trump.
“The D.C. police are not doing their job as they watch a statue be ripped down & burn. These people should be immediately arrested,” Trump tweeted.
The D.C. Police are not doing their job as they watch a statue be ripped down & burn. These people should be immediately arrested. A disgrace to our Country! @MayorBowser — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 20, 2020
Earlier, several thousand demonstrators marched across New York’s Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan, chanting the names of black men and women killed by police in recent years.
“This year the entire country has had a reckoning,” said protester Tabatha Bernard, 38, voicing support for growing calls for Juneteenth to be declared a national holiday.
“It’s up to us to keep this going until we have change.”
Protesters in Atlanta, where a police officer was charged with murder this week for shooting a black man in the back, marched on the Georgia State Capitol.
More gathered in Washington outside the Lincoln Memorial and near the White House, while thousands marched in Chicago and danced at festive rallies in South Los Angeles.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, who has a solid lead over Trump in the latest polls, said Juneteenth reminded Americans “that our country is capable of the worst violence and injustice but it also has an incredible capacity to be reborn anew.”
01:13
‘More unity’
In Tulsa—where Trump on Saturday is set to hold his first campaign rally since the coronavirus pandemic began—a Juneteenth celebration was attended by several thousand protesters.
“We’ve seen more unity and more blacks and whites together in the last three weeks than we’ve ever seen in a Trump rally,” civil rights activist Al Sharpton told a press conference.
Trump had originally scheduled his Tulsa appearance for Juneteenth, but was forced to change it amid a public outcry over his provocative choice of date and location.
The city’s Greenwood district was the site of one of the country’s worst racist massacres, in 1921, when as many as 300 black Americans were killed.
”We just want the world to know what happened here,” said Greenwood store owner Tony Williams, labelling Trump’s arrival ”disrespectful.”
About a mile away, dozens of Trump followers have camped out for several nights ahead of the rally in order to get the best seats.
”This is a super important moment for all of us... we’re out here supporting Trump,” said Stephen Corley, 19.
’A much different scene!’
Trump, who is facing a tough re-election battle in November and has adopted a hardline ”law and order” stance towards protestors, and First Lady Melania Trump issued a joint statement to mark Juneteenth.
”Juneteenth reminds us of both the unimaginable injustice of slavery and the incomparable joy that must have attended emancipation,” it said.
At the same time, Trump issued a blunt warning to counter-protesters headed to Tulsa.
”Any protesters, anarchists, agitators, looters or lowlifes who are going to Oklahoma please understand, you will not be treated like you have been in New York, Seattle, or Minneapolis,” he said. ”It will be a much different scene!”
Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum declared a curfew in the city amid fears of violence but Trump later announced it had been lifted for ”our many supporters” attending the rally.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-06-20--US Justice Dept tries to oust attorney probing Trump allies, but lawyer refuses to leave

Geoffrey Berman insisted late June 19 , 2020 , he had no intention of quitting after the attorney general issued a press release announcing his resignation .
The Justice Department moved abruptly Friday night to oust Geoffrey S. Berman , the U.S. attorney in Manhattan overseeing key prosecutions of President Donald Trump ’ s allies and an investigation of his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani .
But Berman said he was refusing to leave his post and his ongoing investigations would continue .
“ I have not resigned , and have no intention of resigning my position , ” Berman said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General William Barr said Berman was stepping down from his position .
The standoff set off an extraordinary clash between the Justice Department and one of the nation ’ s top districts , which has tried major mob and terror cases over the years .
It is also likely to deepen tensions between the Justice Department and congressional Democrats who have pointedly accused Barr of politicizing the agency and acting more like Trump ’ s personal lawyer than the nation ’ s chief law enforcement officer .
The move to oust Berman also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump national security adviser John Bolton that the president sought to interfere in an Southern District of New York investigation into the state-owned Turkish bank in an effort to cut deals with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan .
Barr offered no explanation for why he was pushing out Berman in the statement he issued late Friday .
The White House quickly announced that Trump was nominating the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission to the job , a lawyer with virtually no experience as a federal prosecutor .
Hours later , Berman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learned that he was being pushed out through a press release .
He vowed to stay on the job until a Trump nominee is confirmed by the Senate , challenging Barr ’ s power to remove him from office because he was appointed to the job by federal judges , not by the president .
Under federal law , a U.S. attorney who is appointed by district court judges can serve “ until the vacancy is filled.
” A senior Justice Department official said the department was pressing forward with its plans and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney in New Jersey , take over the office temporarily , starting on July 3 .
The official wasn ’ t authorized to speak publicly about the issue and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity .
Democrats have repeatedly accused Trump ’ s Justice Department of political interference , and those concerns have also been pervasive among some rank and file officials in the agency .
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler said his committee was inviting Berman to testify next week .
Federal prosecutors in New York have overseen numerous prosecutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent years .
That includes an ongoing investigation into Giuliani ’ s business dealings , including whether he failed to register as a foreign agent , according to people familiar with the probe .
The people were not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity .
The office has also prosecuted a number of Trump associates , including Trump ’ s former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen , who served a prison sentence for lying to Congress and campaign finance crimes .
Berman has also overseen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman , who were associates of Giuliani and tied to the Ukraine impeachment investigation .
The men were charged in October with federal campaign finance violations , including hiding the origin of a $ 325,000 donation to a group supporting Trump ’ s reelection .
'Trump told Erdoğan he would take care of things' Attention refocused on the Southern District this week after news organizations , including The Associated Press , obtained copies of Bolton ’ s tell-all book .
Bolton alleges in the book that Trump sought to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in New York from investigating whether Halkbank violated U.S. sanctions against Iran in order to free an American pastor imprisoned in Turkey .
Six weeks after the pastor ’ s release , Bolton writes that on a call with the Turkish president , “ Trump then told Erdoğan he would take care of things , explaining that the Southern District prosecutors were not his people , but were Obama people , a problem that would be fixed when they were replaced by his people.
” The White House is seeking to block the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying it is being published without formal authorization that the manuscript was free of classified information .
The episode Bolton describes occurred months after Berman assumed the role of U.S. attorney .
A Republican who contributed to the president ’ s election campaign , Berman worked for the same law firm as Giuliani and was put in his job by the Trump administration .
But as U.S. attorney , he won over some skeptics after he went after Trump allies , and had a direct hand in other investigations that have angered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions in January 2018 , after Preet Bharara , then US attorney in New York , was fired .
Bharara had refused to resign along with dozens of other federal prosecutors appointed by President Barack Obama .
Months later , FBI agents raided Cohen ’ s offices , an act the president decried as a politically motivated witch hunt .
Berman recused himself from Cohen ’ s prosecution though it was never explained why .
The following April , in the absence of a formal nomination by Trump , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appoint Berman to the position permanently .
The White House never said why Trump didn ’ t formally nominate Berman .
Yet the links between the White House and some of Berman ’ s investigations were clear .
His office subpoenaed Trump ’ s inaugural committee for a wide range of documents as part of an investigation into various potential crimes , including possible illegal contributions from foreigners to inaugural events .
And weeks before the 2018 midterm election , Berman announced insider trading charges against an ardent Trump supporter , Republican Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ western New York , has since resigned .
Under Berman ’ s tenure , his office also brought charges against Michael Avenatti , the combative lawyer who gained fame by representing porn actress Stormy Daniels in lawsuits involving Trump .
Avenatti was convicted in February of trying to extort Nike after prosecutors said he threatened to use his media access to hurt Nike ’ s reputation and stock price unless the sportswear giant paid him up to $ 25 million .
The White House said in a statement Friday that Trump is nominating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Before taking the reins at the SEC , Clayton was a well-connected Wall Street lawyer who represented and advised a number of major companies , including Goldman Sachs , Barclays , Deutsche Bank and UBS .

US Attorney General William Barr said on Saturday that President Donald Trump had fired Geoffrey Berman, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan whose office is investigating Trump's attorney Rudolph Giuliani, after Berman publicly refused late on Friday to step down from his post.
Geoffrey Berman had insisted late on June 19, 2020 that he had no intention of quitting after US Attorney General William Barr issued a press release announcing his resignation.
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In a letter to Berman, Barr said he was "surprised and quite disappointed" by Berman's late-night public statement in which he refused to quit his job, saying Berman had made a "public spectacle over public service".
"I have asked the President to remove you as of today, and he has done so," Barr said, adding that the deputy US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Audrey Strauss, will become the acting US Attorney in that district until a permanent replacement is installed.
Berman's termination marks another remarkable development in an escalating crisis at the Justice Department that started on Friday night, when Barr unexpectedly announced that Berman was stepping down and would be replaced by the chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
Berman, however, issued a statement of his own, saying he had no intention of stepping down until the Senate confirms his successor.
Berman had investigated associates of the president, including overseeing the prosecution of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen and probing advisor Rudy Giuliani's efforts to discredit Trump's political opponents.
After the Justice Department moved abruptly Friday night to oust Berman, the US attorney in Manhattan said he was refusing to leave his post and his ongoing investigations would continue.
Tensions between Justice Department, House Democrats
Friday night's standoff set off an extraordinary clash between the Justice Department and one of the nation’s top districts, which has tried major mob and terror cases over the years. It will also likely deepen tensions between the Justice Department and congressional Democrats who have pointedly accused Barr of politicizing the agency and acting more like Trump’s personal lawyer than the nation’s chief law enforcement officer.
The move to oust Berman also came days after allegations surfaced from former Trump national security adviser John Bolton that the president sought to interfere in an Southern District of New York investigation into the state-owned Turkish bank in an effort to cut deals with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Barr offered no explanation for why he was pushing out Berman in the statement he issued late Friday.
In Berman's statement, he said he had learned that he was being pushed out through a press release. He vowed to stay on the job until a Trump nominee is confirmed by the Senate, challenging Barr’s power to remove him from office because he was appointed to the job by federal judges, not by the president. Under federal law, a US attorney who is appointed by district court judges can serve “until the vacancy is filled”.
Democrats have repeatedly accused Trump’s Justice Department of political interference, and those concerns have also been pervasive among some rank and file officials in the agency. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler said his committee was inviting Berman to testify next week.
Numerous prosecutions, investigations tied to Trump
Federal prosecutors in New York have overseen numerous prosecutions and investigations with ties to Trump in recent years. That includes an ongoing investigation into Giuliani’s business dealings, including whether he failed to register as a foreign agent, according to people familiar with the probe. The people were not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The office has also prosecuted a number of Trump associates, including Cohen, who served a prison sentence for lying to Congress and campaign finance crimes.
Berman has also overseen the prosecution of two Florida businessmen, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, who were associates of Giuliani and tied to the Ukraine impeachment investigation. The men were charged in October with federal campaign finance violations, including hiding the origin of a $325,000 donation to a group supporting Trump’s reelection.
'Trump told Erdogan he would take care of things'
Attention refocused on the Southern District this week after news organisations, including The Associated Press, obtained copies of Bolton’s tell-all book. Bolton alleges in the book that Trump sought to cut a deal to stop federal prosecutors in New York from investigating whether Halkbank violated US sanctions against Iran in order to free an American pastor imprisoned in Turkey.
Six weeks after the pastor’s release, Bolton writes that on a call with the Turkish president, “Trump then told Erdogan he would take care of things, explaining that the Southern District prosecutors were not his people, but were Obama people, a problem that would be fixed when they were replaced by his people.”
The White House is seeking to block the public release of Bolton’s book, saying it is being published without formal authorisation that the manuscript was free of classified information.
The episode Bolton describes occurred months after Berman assumed the role of US attorney.
Appointed by Trump's former Attorney General
A Republican who contributed to the president’s election campaign, Berman worked for the same law firm as Giuliani and was put in his job by the Trump administration. But as US attorney, he won over some skeptics after he went after Trump allies, and had a direct hand in other investigations that have angered the president.
Berman was appointed by then Attorney General Jeff Sessions in January 2018, after Preet Bharara, then US attorney in New York, was fired. Bharara had refused to resign along with dozens of other federal prosecutors appointed by President Barack Obama.
Months later, FBI agents raided Cohen’s offices, an act the president decried as a politically motivated witch hunt. Berman recused himself from Cohen’s prosecution though it was never explained why.
The following April, in the absence of a formal nomination by Trump, the judges in Manhattan federal court voted to appoint Berman to the position permanently. The White House never said why Trump didn’t formally nominate Berman.
Yet the links between the White House and some of Berman’s investigations were clear. His office subpoenaed Trump’s inaugural committee for a wide range of documents as part of an investigation into various potential crimes, including possible illegal contributions from foreigners to inaugural events.
And weeks before the 2018 midterm election, Berman announced insider trading charges against an ardent Trump supporter, House Republican Chris Collins. Collins, who represented western New York, has since resigned.
Under Berman’s tenure, his office also brought charges against Michael Avenatti, the combative lawyer who gained fame by representing pornography actress Stormy Daniels in lawsuits involving Trump. Avenatti was convicted in February of trying to extort Nike after prosecutors said he threatened to use his media access to hurt Nike’s reputation and stock price unless the sportswear giant paid him up to $25 million.
(FRANCE 24 with AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-06-20--France set to open cinemas, casinos as Covid-19 lockdown measures ease further

Employees remove movie posters outside The Max Linder Cinema Theatre in Paris on June 18 , 2020 , ahead of the re-opening of cinema halls and theatres , as France eases lockdown measures taken to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic ( novel coronavirus ) .
France will begin to shake off its coronavirus blues Sunday with cinemas opening on the stroke of midnight and thousands of people taking to the streets for its midsummer music festival .
The annual Festival of Music usually brings millions of people out in towns and cities across the country with a mix @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cafes and on street corners that go on long into the night .
But this year there are few big set-piece extravaganzas beyond what French electronic music legend Jean-Michel Jarre has billed as the world ’ s first live virtual “ avatar ” concert— “ like in the Matrix ” .
The veteran performer hopes to go one better than the lockdown gig performed by the US rapper Travis Scott inside the shooter game Fortnite in April , which was watched by more than 12 million players .
Social distancing means that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to welcome 2,000 fans—a tenth of its normal capacity—for a show featuring a stellar line-up of francophone talent .
While gatherings of more than 10 people are still banned in France , its culture ministry said police would be tolerant with outdoor jamming sessions on the night if people keep their distance .
Having rushed back to the terraces of their cafes and restaurants earlier this month , millions of French people are also waiting with bated breath for cinemas to reopen Monday .
Casinos will also welcome gamblers from Monday while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 , subject to a limit of 5,000 people , the government announced late Friday , due to progress in the fight against COVID-19 .
Some cinemas will start screenings on the stroke of midnight to celebrate the return of the big screen , with one close to the Champs Elysees in Paris hosting a red-carpet champagne preview screening of “ Les Parfums ” ( The Perfumes ) , starring Emmanuelle Devos and Sergi Lopez .
France is one of the most cinephile countries in the world .
A poll earlier this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the population—plan to go see a film in the next month .
“ I only have one word—finally !
” Emmanuel Delesse , one of the directors of cinema chain UGC , told AFP as he prepared to reopen the group ’ s near 400 theatres .
He said cinemagoers will have to wear masks as they queue for tickets and in the corridors .
The authorities also insisted that screening rooms can never be more than half full with a free seat either side of each filmgoer .
But with French @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back the release of some of their biggest films , there may be very little new fare to see .
Instead film fans will have to content themselves with movies like “ De Gaulle ” , a biopic of France ’ s wartime leader , whose release was interrupted by the lockdown .
However , a handful of likely Hollywood blockbusters are already looming on the horizon for July , led by Christopher Nolan ’ s thriller “ Tenet ” , about a spy who must stop World War III breaking out , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ epic , “ Mulan ” .

France will begin to shake off its coronavirus blues Sunday with cinemas opening on the stroke of midnight and thousands of people taking to the streets for its midsummer music festival.
Employees remove movie posters outside The Max Linder Cinema Theatre in Paris on June 18, 2020, ahead of the re-opening of cinema halls and theatres, as France eases lockdown measures taken to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic (novel coronavirus).
Advertising Read more
The annual Festival of Music usually brings millions of people out in towns and cities across the country with a mix of large-scale events and impromptu concerts in cafes and on street corners that go on long into the night.
But this year there are few big set-piece extravaganzas beyond what French electronic music legend Jean-Michel Jarre has billed as the world’s first live virtual “avatar” concert—“like in the Matrix”.
The veteran performer hopes to go one better than the lockdown gig performed by the US rapper Travis Scott inside the shooter game Fortnite in April, which was watched by more than 12 million players.
Social distancing means that the Accord Arena in Paris will only be able to welcome 2,000 fans—a tenth of its normal capacity—for a show featuring a stellar line-up of francophone talent.
While gatherings of more than 10 people are still banned in France, its culture ministry said police would be tolerant with outdoor jamming sessions on the night if people keep their distance.
Having rushed back to the terraces of their cafes and restaurants earlier this month, millions of French people are also waiting with bated breath for cinemas to reopen Monday.
Casinos will also welcome gamblers from Monday while stadiums and racetracks will reopen on July 11, subject to a limit of 5,000 people, the government announced late Friday, due to progress in the fight against COVID-19.
Red carpet and champagne
Some cinemas will start screenings on the stroke of midnight to celebrate the return of the big screen, with one close to the Champs Elysees in Paris hosting a red-carpet champagne preview screening of “Les Parfums” (The Perfumes), starring Emmanuelle Devos and Sergi Lopez.
France is one of the most cinephile countries in the world. A poll earlier this week claimed that 18.7 million people—almost a third of the population—plan to go see a film in the next month.
“I only have one word—finally!” Emmanuel Delesse, one of the directors of cinema chain UGC, told AFP as he prepared to reopen the group’s near 400 theatres.
He said cinemagoers will have to wear masks as they queue for tickets and in the corridors.
The authorities also insisted that screening rooms can never be more than half full with a free seat either side of each filmgoer.
But with French as well as Hollywood producers having put back the release of some of their biggest films, there may be very little new fare to see.
Instead film fans will have to content themselves with movies like “De Gaulle”, a biopic of France’s wartime leader, whose release was interrupted by the lockdown.
However, a handful of likely Hollywood blockbusters are already looming on the horizon for July, led by Christopher Nolan’s thriller “Tenet”, about a spy who must stop World War III breaking out, and Disney’s Chinese historical action epic, “Mulan”.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-06-20--Trump hopes to energize re-election campaign with large Oklahoma rally

Supporters of President Donald Trump gather to attend a campaign rally at the BOK Center in Tulsa , Oklahoma , US on June 20 , 2020 .
Pressing ahead in a pandemic , US President Donald Trump looked to reverse a decline in his political fortunes Saturday by returning to the format that has so often energized him and his loyal supporters : a raucous , no-holds-barred rally before tens of thousands of ardent fans , this time in Tulsa , Oklahoma .
The rally was shaping up to be one of the biggest indoor events in the US since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the coronavirus , and it was scheduled over the protests of local health officials and as Covid-19 cases spike in many states .
The event was expected to draw crowds of protesters to the area as well .
It ’ s been more than three months since the nation last saw a Trump rally .
The unemployment rate stood at about 3.5 percent that March 2 .
The number of coronavirus cases in the US was estimated at 91 .
“ Our country is stronger than ever before , ” Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stands at 13.3 percent , based on the most recent monthly report .
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases has soared to about 2.2 million .
The number of deaths reported in the US has surpassed 119,000 .
Outrage over the criminal justice system ’ s treatment of minorities following the death of George Floyd and other African Americans has spawned protests around the nation .
Only about a quarter of Americans say the country is headed in the right direction .
Trump understands the stakes and was determined to return to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that bringing together throngs for an indoor rally risked spreading the coronavirus as nothing more than politics .
“ Big crowds and lines already forming in Tulsa .
My campaign hasn ’ t started yet .
It starts on Saturday night in Oklahoma !
” Trump tweeted Friday .
Six campaign staff members test positive for Covid-19 On Saturday , however , Trump 's campaign said that six staff members helping set up for the rally tested positive for the coronavirus .
The campaign 's communications director , Tim Murtaugh , said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were immediately initiated and no staff member who tested positive would attend the event .
He said no one who had immediate contact with those staffers would attend , either .
Murtaugh said campaign staff members are tested for Covid-19 as part of the campaign 's safety protocols .
Campaign officials say everyone who is attending the rally will be given temperature checks before they pass through security .
They will also be given masks to wear , if they want , and hand sanitiser at the 19,000-seat BOK Center , the site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen cases of Covid-19 spike in the past week , and the local health department director asked that the rally be postponed .
But the Oklahoma Supreme Court on Friday denied a request that everyone attending the indoor rally wear a mask , and few in the crowd outside Saturday were wearing them .
Battleground-state voters will also be watching Trump ’ s visit has also raised fears of clashes between protesters and Trump supporters .
Officials were expecting a total crowd of 100,000 people or more in downtown Tulsa .
In addition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump will speak at an outdoor stage .
But his audience also will be voters in battleground states such as Pennsylvania , North Carolina and Florida .
Republican strategist Alex Conant said the rally gives the president a chance to reset his campaign after a couple of tough months .
“ The Tulsa rally is trying to ignite some momentum in a campaign that ’ s been going nowhere , ” Conant said .
“ When you look at the polls and then you look at the calendar , you realise he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election.
” The events in Tulsa will go a long way to determining how the campaign plays out in coming months .
A success lays the groundwork for Trump to take his show to states that will determine the presidential election .
A spike in coronavirus cases coming out of Tulsa would make his reception in those states more contentious .
The president ’ s campaign views his rallies as critical to his success .
They elevate the enthusiasm level of his supporters and often lead them to donate , knock on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president ’ s behalf .
Trump has generally held his campaign rallies in swing states or in Democratic-leaning states such as Colorado or New Mexico that he hopes to flip this November .
Oklahoma fits none of those categories : The last Democratic candidate to emerge victorious there in a presidential election was Lyndon Johnson in 1964 .
Trump won the state with more than 65 percent of the vote in the 2016 election .
The Republican stronghold gave Trump more assurance that he would face little resistance from top state officials to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s going to be safe , ” said Governor Kevin Stitt , a Republican .
“ We have to learn how to be safe and how to move on.
” Tulsa resident Sue Williams picked her place in line Thursday afternoon .
“ I ’ ve been praying , and I don ’ t believe I ’ m going to get the coronavirus , ” Williams , 72 , said , adding that she signed a waiver on her ticket application about the risks involved in going inside .
Mark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the threat of the virus as “ fear porn '' .
“ I think it ’ s all a hoax , to tell you the truth , '' Kelleher said .
The rally was originally scheduled for Friday , but it was moved back a day following an uproar that it otherwise would have happened on Juneteenth , and in a city where a 1921 massacre killed as many as 300 African Americans .
Campaign officials said that Trump would focus on what they call the “ great American comeback '' .
White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers for the US economy in the third and fourth quarters .
They want to give Americans a reason for optimism .
“ We are back and we will be booming , ” press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Friday .
But Conant said he anticipates a lot of the speech will focus on presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
“ Right now the election is a referendum on Trump , and he ’ s losing , ” Conant said .
“ I think he needs to make a very strong case for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

Pressing ahead in a pandemic, US President Donald Trump looked to reverse a decline in his political fortunes Saturday by returning to the format that has so often energized him and his loyal supporters: a raucous, no-holds-barred rally before tens of thousands of ardent fans, this time in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Supporters of President Donald Trump gather to attend a campaign rally at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, US on June 20, 2020.
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The rally was shaping up to be one of the biggest indoor events in the US since large gatherings were shut down in March because of the coronavirus, and it was scheduled over the protests of local health officials and as Covid-19 cases spike in many states. The event was expected to draw crowds of protesters to the area as well.
It’s been more than three months since the nation last saw a Trump rally. The unemployment rate stood at about 3.5 percent that March 2. The number of coronavirus cases in the US was estimated at 91. “Our country is stronger than ever before,” Trump declared.
Now, the unemployment rate stands at 13.3 percent, based on the most recent monthly report. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases has soared to about 2.2 million. The number of deaths reported in the US has surpassed 119,000. Outrage over the criminal justice system’s treatment of minorities following the death of George Floyd and other African Americans has spawned protests around the nation. Only about a quarter of Americans say the country is headed in the right direction.
01:29 © FRANCE 24 screen grab
Trump understands the stakes and was determined to return to his signature campaign events. He dismissed complaints that bringing together throngs for an indoor rally risked spreading the coronavirus as nothing more than politics.
“Big crowds and lines already forming in Tulsa. My campaign hasn’t started yet. It starts on Saturday night in Oklahoma!” Trump tweeted Friday.
Six campaign staff members test positive for Covid-19
On Saturday, however, Trump's campaign said that six staff members helping set up for the rally tested positive for the coronavirus.
The campaign's communications director, Tim Murtaugh, said in a statement that “quarantine procedures” were immediately initiated and no staff member who tested positive would attend the event. He said no one who had immediate contact with those staffers would attend, either.
Murtaugh said campaign staff members are tested for Covid-19 as part of the campaign's safety protocols.
Campaign officials say everyone who is attending the rally will be given temperature checks before they pass through security. They will also be given masks to wear, if they want, and hand sanitiser at the 19,000-seat BOK Center, the site of the indoor event.
Tulsa has seen cases of Covid-19 spike in the past week, and the local health department director asked that the rally be postponed. But the Oklahoma Supreme Court on Friday denied a request that everyone attending the indoor rally wear a mask, and few in the crowd outside Saturday were wearing them.
Battleground-state voters will also be watching
Trump’s visit has also raised fears of clashes between protesters and Trump supporters. Officials were expecting a total crowd of 100,000 people or more in downtown Tulsa. In addition to speaking inside the BOK Center, Trump will speak at an outdoor stage. But his audience also will be voters in battleground states such as Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida.
Republican strategist Alex Conant said the rally gives the president a chance to reset his campaign after a couple of tough months.
“The Tulsa rally is trying to ignite some momentum in a campaign that’s been going nowhere,” Conant said. “When you look at the polls and then you look at the calendar, you realise he has to do something to try to reframe the election.”
The events in Tulsa will go a long way to determining how the campaign plays out in coming months. A success lays the groundwork for Trump to take his show to states that will determine the presidential election. A spike in coronavirus cases coming out of Tulsa would make his reception in those states more contentious.
The president’s campaign views his rallies as critical to his success. They elevate the enthusiasm level of his supporters and often lead them to donate, knock on doors and make phone calls on the president’s behalf.
Trump has generally held his campaign rallies in swing states or in Democratic-leaning states such as Colorado or New Mexico that he hopes to flip this November. Oklahoma fits none of those categories: The last Democratic candidate to emerge victorious there in a presidential election was Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Trump won the state with more than 65 percent of the vote in the 2016 election. The Republican stronghold gave Trump more assurance that he would face little resistance from top state officials to holding a rally amid a pandemic.
“It’s going to be safe,” said Governor Kevin Stitt, a Republican. “We have to learn how to be safe and how to move on.”
'A referendum on Trump'
Tulsa resident Sue Williams picked her place in line Thursday afternoon. “I’ve been praying, and I don’t believe I’m going to get the coronavirus,” Williams, 72, said, adding that she signed a waiver on her ticket application about the risks involved in going inside.
Mark Kelleher, of Oklahoma City, dismissed the threat of the virus as “fear porn".
“I think it’s all a hoax, to tell you the truth," Kelleher said.
The rally was originally scheduled for Friday, but it was moved back a day following an uproar that it otherwise would have happened on Juneteenth, and in a city where a 1921 massacre killed as many as 300 African Americans.
01:48 © FRANCE 24 screen grab
Campaign officials said that Trump would focus on what they call the “great American comeback". White House officials continue to project strong growth numbers for the US economy in the third and fourth quarters. They want to give Americans a reason for optimism. “We are back and we will be booming,” press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Friday.
But Conant said he anticipates a lot of the speech will focus on presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
“Right now the election is a referendum on Trump, and he’s losing,” Conant said. “I think he needs to make a very strong case for why Biden would be a worse president.”
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
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