france24--2020-06-24--Protesters in southern Tunisia demand government-promised jobs, deplore police crackdown

Demonstrators in Tataouine , Tunisia want the country ’ s government to make good on a 2017 promise of oil @ @ @ @ @ of demonstrators who have been protesting the government ’ s failure to deliver promised energy @ @ @ @ @ of their spokesperson in Tataouine , a city in southern Tunisia , on Tuesday after @ @ @ @ @ security forces .
`` If we had work here , why would young people spend @ @ @ @ @ Europe ? ''
a protester told FRANCE 24 .
`` There 's no real work @ @ @ @ @ represent 40 percent of national production in gas and oil , but local authorities say @ @ @ @ @ from the sector .
Click on the player to watch the full report .

Hundreds of demonstrators who have been protesting the government’s failure to deliver promised energy sector jobs demanded the release of their spokesperson in Tataouine, a city in southern Tunisia, on Tuesday after two days of clashes with security forces.
Demonstrators in Tataouine, Tunisia want the country’s government to make good on a 2017 promise of oil and gas jobs.
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"If we had work here, why would young people spend their money on boats to Europe?" a protester told FRANCE 24. "There's no real work."
Tataouine's fields represent 40 percent of national production in gas and oil, but local authorities say the region does not benefit from the sector.
Click on the player to watch the full report.
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france24--2020-06-24--Obama raises $11 million for Biden’s presidential bid, underscores ‘urgency’

Former U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday made his first campaign appearance alongside Joe Biden since endorsing him for president in April , helping raise more than $ 11 million for his former No .
2 as he exhorted supporters to meet the `` urgency '' of the moment .
`` I appreciate all of you being on this call , '' Obama said at a virtual fundraiser .
`` But man , this is serious business .
Whatever you 've done so far is not enough . ''
The virtual fundraiser collected $ 7.6 million from 175,000 grassroots contributors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic presidential nominee , also hosted a private online portion for high-dollar donors , which was not open to reporters and brought in more than $ 3.4 million .
The haul was the most for any Biden campaign event , coming on the heels of the Democratic Party and Biden 's campaign out-raising Republican President Donald Trump in May for the first time .
Tuesday 's fundraiser showed the drawing power of Obama , who remains overwhelmingly popular among the Democratic base and who will be counted on as a key campaign figure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dramatic changes the coronavirus pandemic has wrought on traditional campaigning , with the two politicians sharing a split screen from their living rooms , while supporters tuned in via live-stream .
Early in the 2020 campaign , Biden 's weak fundraising numbers compared with some of his Democratic competitors were a source of concern .
But his fundraising from donors has picked up in recent weeks as his lead in national opinion polls grew and the country reacted to incidents of police brutality .
Trump , who has been campaigning for a second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more cash on hand ahead of the Nov. 3 presidential election .
His campaign noted in a statement that it raised more than $ 10 million last weekend , when the president appeared in Oklahoma for his first live campaign rally since the outbreak erupted .
`` There is no enthusiasm for Joe Biden , '' said Tim Murtaugh , a Trump campaign spokesman .
Obama , who has only occasionally criticized Trump since leaving office in 2017 , faulted his successor 's behavior several times on Tuesday , saying he `` exploits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach to governing `` mean-spirited . ''
`` There is no disconnect between the urgency of this election and the political moment and what has been happening on the streets , '' said Obama , referring to the civil rights protests that have swept across major cities since George Floyd , a Black man , died last month after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes .
Obama also criticized Trump for ignoring advice from public health experts on how to handle the coronavirus and for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the free press and advocating military force against protesters .
`` There 's a big contest , not just in this country but around the world , about who we are , '' Obama said .
Biden , who has an extensive foreign policy record both as a U.S. senator and as vice president , said he would pick up the phone on his first day in office with a simple message to allies around the world : `` America is back . ''
As the event ended , Obama said : `` @ @ @ @ @ @

Former U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday made his first campaign appearance alongside Joe Biden since endorsing him for president in April, helping raise more than $11 million for his former No. 2 as he exhorted supporters to meet the "urgency" of the moment.
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"I appreciate all of you being on this call," Obama said at a virtual fundraiser. "But man, this is serious business. Whatever you've done so far is not enough."
The virtual fundraiser collected $7.6 million from 175,000 grassroots contributors. Obama and Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, also hosted a private online portion for high-dollar donors, which was not open to reporters and brought in more than $3.4 million.
The haul was the most for any Biden campaign event, coming on the heels of the Democratic Party and Biden's campaign out-raising Republican President Donald Trump in May for the first time.
Tuesday's fundraiser showed the drawing power of Obama, who remains overwhelmingly popular among the Democratic base and who will be counted on as a key campaign figure this autumn.
It also highlighted the dramatic changes the coronavirus pandemic has wrought on traditional campaigning, with the two politicians sharing a split screen from their living rooms, while supporters tuned in via live-stream.
Early in the 2020 campaign, Biden's weak fundraising numbers compared with some of his Democratic competitors were a source of concern. But his fundraising from donors has picked up in recent weeks as his lead in national opinion polls grew and the country reacted to incidents of police brutality.
Trump, who has been campaigning for a second term since 2017, still has far more cash on hand ahead of the Nov. 3 presidential election.
His campaign noted in a statement that it raised more than $10 million last weekend, when the president appeared in Oklahoma for his first live campaign rally since the outbreak erupted.
"There is no enthusiasm for Joe Biden," said Tim Murtaugh, a Trump campaign spokesman.
'Mean-spirited'
Obama, who has only occasionally criticized Trump since leaving office in 2017, faulted his successor's behavior several times on Tuesday, saying he "exploits" divisions among Americans and calling his approach to governing "mean-spirited."
"There is no disconnect between the urgency of this election and the political moment and what has been happening on the streets," said Obama, referring to the civil rights protests that have swept across major cities since George Floyd, a Black man, died last month after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes.
Obama also criticized Trump for ignoring advice from public health experts on how to handle the coronavirus and for giving cover to authoritarian governments by attacking the free press and advocating military force against protesters.
"There's a big contest, not just in this country but around the world, about who we are," Obama said.
Biden, who has an extensive foreign policy record both as a U.S. senator and as vice president, said he would pick up the phone on his first day in office with a simple message to allies around the world: "America is back."
As the event ended, Obama said: "Love you, Joe."
"Love you too, pal," Biden responded.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-06-24--Rayshard Brooks, fatally shot by police officer, mourned at church where Martin Luther King preached

A woman holds an American flag and a Bible outside the funeral for Rayshard Brooks , the Black man shot dead by an Atlanta police officer , at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta , Georgia , US on June 23 , 2020 .
With tears , some laughter and memories of a generous young man who liked cowboy boots and cracking jokes , more than 200 friends and family members filled the pews of an historic Atlanta church on Tuesday for the funeral of Rayshard Brooks .
The death of Brooks , a Black man who was shot twice in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fast-food restaurant on June 12 , heightened tensions over police brutality and racism that have raged since the killing of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25 .
All wearing masks because of the novel coronavirus pandemic , mourners sat mostly together in the center of the cavernous Ebenezer Baptist Church , which limited attendance to allow for some measure of social distancing .
Dressed in white , Brooks ' widow , Tomika Miller , sat in the front pew with her daughter on her lap as the Martin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gospel anthem `` Perfect Peace . ''
Preachers and loved ones called for healing and change .
Ambrea Mikolajczyk , a colleague and friend , described Brooks as a loving family man who looked out for others in the community , and that she believed his death would help pave the way for police reforms .
`` There is a movement , a shift in the atmosphere .
For this will be his legacy , '' Mikolajczyk said .
`` You can never dim his light .
It will forever shine so very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funeral was a testament to the gravity of the moment .
Ebenezer Baptist was where Martin Luther King Jr. , the leader of the Black civil rights movement , once preached until his assassination in 1968 .
King 's daughter , Bernice King , implored demonstrators to keep marching `` until white supremacist policies and practices are no longer the order of the day '' , and called for the payment of reparations to African Americans to atone for slavery .
`` Rayshard Brooks ' death will not be in vain because justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a mighty stream , '' she said , invoking a line from her father 's `` I Have a Dream '' speech at the August 1963 March on Washington . '
I wanted to be here' A crowd of dozens outside the church watched the service on a Jumbotron in the June heat and occasional rain .
Alec Summerfield , 27 , a labor law attorney , from Baltimore , stood with a sign that read `` # Justice for Rayshard Brooks . ''
`` The family does n't know me and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but I wanted to be here , '' he said .
`` This is part of history , part of the struggle for justice . ''
While some police supporters have called the shooting justified , citing video appearing to show Brooks firing a Taser at an officer before being shot , Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard has pursued the case aggressively .
Howard has argued that Brooks was not a threat .
The Atlanta police officer who shot Brooks , Garrett Rolfe , 27 , was fired and charged with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without bond .
A second officer , Devin Brosnan , 26 , was placed on administrative duty and charged with aggravated assault .
The city 's police chief resigned .
At the funeral , Jymaco Brooks said he and his cousin had grown up poor but happy , with Rayshard showering those around him with love .
He reminisced fondly about how Rayshard could irritate his wife , but be able to defuse tough situations through laughter .
`` All he wanted to do was smile and crack jokes , dance a little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Throw away your grudges .
My cousin did n't live that way . ''

With tears, some laughter and memories of a generous young man who liked cowboy boots and cracking jokes, more than 200 friends and family members filled the pews of an historic Atlanta church on Tuesday for the funeral of Rayshard Brooks.
A woman holds an American flag and a Bible outside the funeral for Rayshard Brooks, the Black man shot dead by an Atlanta police officer, at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, US on June 23, 2020.
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The death of Brooks, a Black man who was shot twice in the back by Atlanta police outside of a fast-food restaurant on June 12, heightened tensions over police brutality and racism that have raged since the killing of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25.
All wearing masks because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, mourners sat mostly together in the center of the cavernous Ebenezer Baptist Church, which limited attendance to allow for some measure of social distancing.
Dressed in white, Brooks' widow, Tomika Miller, sat in the front pew with her daughter on her lap as the Martin Luther King, Sr. Choir performed the gospel anthem "Perfect Peace." Preachers and loved ones called for healing and change.
Ambrea Mikolajczyk, a colleague and friend, described Brooks as a loving family man who looked out for others in the community, and that she believed his death would help pave the way for police reforms.
"There is a movement, a shift in the atmosphere. For this will be his legacy," Mikolajczyk said. "You can never dim his light. It will forever shine so very bright."
The site of the funeral was a testament to the gravity of the moment. Ebenezer Baptist was where Martin Luther King Jr., the leader of the Black civil rights movement, once preached until his assassination in 1968.
King's daughter, Bernice King, implored demonstrators to keep marching "until white supremacist policies and practices are no longer the order of the day", and called for the payment of reparations to African Americans to atone for slavery.
"Rayshard Brooks' death will not be in vain because justice will roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream," she said, invoking a line from her father's "I Have a Dream" speech at the August 1963 March on Washington.
'I wanted to be here'
A crowd of dozens outside the church watched the service on a Jumbotron in the June heat and occasional rain.
Alec Summerfield, 27, a labor law attorney, from Baltimore, stood with a sign that read "#Justice for Rayshard Brooks."
"The family doesn't know me and they're never going to know me, but I wanted to be here," he said. "This is part of history, part of the struggle for justice."
While some police supporters have called the shooting justified, citing video appearing to show Brooks firing a Taser at an officer before being shot, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard has pursued the case aggressively. Howard has argued that Brooks was not a threat.
The Atlanta police officer who shot Brooks, Garrett Rolfe, 27, was fired and charged with murder, and he remains in jail without bond. A second officer, Devin Brosnan, 26, was placed on administrative duty and charged with aggravated assault. The city's police chief resigned.
At the funeral, Jymaco Brooks said he and his cousin had grown up poor but happy, with Rayshard showering those around him with love. He reminisced fondly about how Rayshard could irritate his wife, but be able to defuse tough situations through laughter.
"All he wanted to do was smile and crack jokes, dance a little bit," said Brooks. "Throw away your grudges. My cousin didn't live that way."
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-06-23--EU considering blocking US tourists due to high Covid-19 infection rate: US media

( File Photo ) The Roman Coliseum in Rome re-opened on June 1 , 2020 after three months of lockdown .
EU nations may close their borders to US travelers as they seek to reopen their economies to tourism because of how Washington has handled the pandemic , The New York Times reported Tuesday , citing unnamed European officials .
One official involved in talks among European Union members about who should be allowed to visit the bloc shared draft lists of acceptable travelers -- Americans were not on them .
A second official involved in the talks confirmed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public , and two others confirmed their content .
It was not clear if US officials were made aware in advance of the fact that Americans would be excluded when the EU progressively reopens to those outside the bloc from July 1 .
Both draft lists would allow travelers from China , where the virus emerged late last year , but exclude Americans , as well as Brazilians and Russians .
The officials interviewed by the Times said the United States could later be added to the list of acceptable travelers if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But those officials said it was `` highly unlikely '' that an exception would initially be made for the United States , the Times reported .
The report also makes clear that the composition of the lists is still in flux and could be changed before the deadline .
Concern about possible second wave in Europe The US is by far the nation hardest hit by the deadly novel coronavirus , with more than 2.3 million cases and more than 120,000 deaths confirmed .
EU countries have largely been closed to all non-bloc @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential travel , '' since mid-March .
Similarly , the United States closed its borders to most European nationals around the same time .
Spikes in infection rates in several US states have worried European officials about the possibility that travelers could spark a second wave of infections on the continent .
But barring US tourists could mean millions of dollars in lost tourism revenue for countries trying to get back on their feet economically after months of lockdowns .
Indeed , some EU countries have already opened their borders to non-EU visitors @

EU nations may close their borders to US travelers as they seek to reopen their economies to tourism because of how Washington has handled the pandemic, The New York Times reported Tuesday, citing unnamed European officials.
(File Photo) The Roman Coliseum in Rome re-opened on June 1, 2020 after three months of lockdown.
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One official involved in talks among European Union members about who should be allowed to visit the bloc shared draft lists of acceptable travelers -- Americans were not on them.
A second official involved in the talks confirmed the lists, which have not been made public, and two others confirmed their content.
It was not clear if US officials were made aware in advance of the fact that Americans would be excluded when the EU progressively reopens to those outside the bloc from July 1.
Both draft lists would allow travelers from China, where the virus emerged late last year, but exclude Americans, as well as Brazilians and Russians.
The officials interviewed by the Times said the United States could later be added to the list of acceptable travelers if the country's coronavirus case numbers drop.
But those officials said it was "highly unlikely" that an exception would initially be made for the United States, the Times reported.
The report also makes clear that the composition of the lists is still in flux and could be changed before the deadline.
Concern about possible second wave in Europe
The US is by far the nation hardest hit by the deadly novel coronavirus, with more than 2.3 million cases and more than 120,000 deaths confirmed.
EU countries have largely been closed to all non-bloc citizens, except in cases of "essential travel," since mid-March.
Similarly, the United States closed its borders to most European nationals around the same time.
Spikes in infection rates in several US states have worried European officials about the possibility that travelers could spark a second wave of infections on the continent.
But barring US tourists could mean millions of dollars in lost tourism revenue for countries trying to get back on their feet economically after months of lockdowns.
Indeed, some EU countries have already opened their borders to non-EU visitors.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-06-24--WHO says Covid-19 cases will soon hit 10 million mark

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus addresses a virtual health forum organised by Dubai on the novel coronavirus pandemic .
World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom said on Wednesday he expected the number of novel coronavirus cases around the world , now at about 9.3 million , to reach 10 million next week .
Tedros also told a news briefing he backed Saudi Arabia 's decision to ban pilgrims from abroad from attending the annual Haj pilgrimage to help limit the spread of the virus .
He said WHO was now supporting many countries in dealing with difficulties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the flow of oxygen to support the breathing of COVID-19 sufferers .
`` Demand is outstripping supply , '' he said .
Dr Mike Ryan , head of the WHO emergencies programme , said the pandemic for many countries in the Americas had not yet peaked , and that it was `` still intense '' , especially in Central and South America .
`` I would characterise the situation as still evolving , not having reached its peak yet , and likely to result in sustained numbers of cases and deaths in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many countries in the region have experienced 25-50 % increases in cases in the last week , he said .

World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom said on Wednesday he expected the number of novel coronavirus cases around the world, now at about 9.3 million, to reach 10 million next week.
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Tedros also told a news briefing he backed Saudi Arabia's decision to ban pilgrims from abroad from attending the annual Haj pilgrimage to help limit the spread of the virus.
He said WHO was now supporting many countries in dealing with difficulties obtaining oxygen concentrators, devices that boost the flow of oxygen to support the breathing of COVID-19 sufferers. "Demand is outstripping supply," he said.
Dr Mike Ryan, head of the WHO emergencies programme, said the pandemic for many countries in the Americas had not yet peaked, and that it was "still intense", especially in Central and South America.
"I would characterise the situation as still evolving, not having reached its peak yet, and likely to result in sustained numbers of cases and deaths in the coming weeks," Ryan said.
Many countries in the region have experienced 25-50% increases in cases in the last week, he said.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-06-24--‘I have to live in a cage’: The Thai city overrun by monkeys in wake of Covid-19

The ancient Thai city of Lopburi has become overrun by macaques in recent months .
With gangs of monkeys roaming the streets and residents barricading indoors , the ancient Thai city of Lopburi has become overrun by marauding macaques , with the Covid-19 pandemic partly to blame .
The monkeys have long been a draw for tourists who would frequently feed them bananas , but with tourism drying up amid the pandemic the animals have become increasingly aggressive in their search for food leading to street brawls between rival gangs along with theft and vandalism .
Some businesses have even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have sought desperate measures to keep the monkeys at bay .
“ I have this soft-toy crocodile in front of my shop to scare them away .
I ’ ve got a tiger ’ s head as well .
But you still have to shoo them away with a stick , ” shop owner Taweesak Srisaguan told AFP .
Another shop owner , Kuljira Taechawattanawanna , has built elaborate steel fencing around her property to keep the monkeys out .
“ I have to live in a cage , ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ without it because the monkeys would get in all the time.
” Now , the city is hoping to curtail the primates ’ numbers through a sterilisation programme .
The animals are lured into cages and taken to a clinic to be sterilised before being released again .
“ We have to make sure we organise who will catch the monkeys and keep an eye on them .
If you let your guard down , they will jump on you .
We need someone who will watch our backs , ” Narongporn Daudduem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told AFP .
Authorities plan to sterilise 500 of the monkeys by the end of the month .
But sterilisation may not be an effective long-term solution .
Since the last sterilisation programme three years ago the macaques ’ numbers have doubled .
Authorities are therefore also planning to build a sanctuary for the primates in the city in the hope of keeping them away from Lopburi ’ s human population .

With gangs of monkeys roaming the streets and residents barricading indoors, the ancient Thai city of Lopburi has become overrun by marauding macaques, with the Covid-19 pandemic partly to blame.
The ancient Thai city of Lopburi has become overrun by macaques in recent months.
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The monkeys have long been a draw for tourists who would frequently feed them bananas, but with tourism drying up amid the pandemic the animals have become increasingly aggressive in their search for food leading to street brawls between rival gangs along with theft and vandalism.
Some businesses have even been forced to close, while others have sought desperate measures to keep the monkeys at bay.
“I have this soft-toy crocodile in front of my shop to scare them away. I’ve got a tiger’s head as well. But you still have to shoo them away with a stick,” shop owner Taweesak Srisaguan told AFP.
Another shop owner, Kuljira Taechawattanawanna, has built elaborate steel fencing around her property to keep the monkeys out.
“I have to live in a cage,” she said. “It would be difficult to live without it because the monkeys would get in all the time.”
Now, the city is hoping to curtail the primates’ numbers through a sterilisation programme.
The animals are lured into cages and taken to a clinic to be sterilised before being released again.
“We have to make sure we organise who will catch the monkeys and keep an eye on them. If you let your guard down, they will jump on you. We need someone who will watch our backs,” Narongporn Daudduem, the regional director of national parks, told AFP.
Authorities plan to sterilise 500 of the monkeys by the end of the month.
But sterilisation may not be an effective long-term solution. Since the last sterilisation programme three years ago the macaques’ numbers have doubled.
Authorities are therefore also planning to build a sanctuary for the primates in the city in the hope of keeping them away from Lopburi’s human population.
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france24--2020-06-24--Bayer settles Roundup cancer lawsuits for up to $10.9 billion

The German drugs and pesticides maker has come to terms with about 75 % of the current Roundup plaintiffs .
@ @ @ @ @ U.S. lawsuits claiming that its widely-used weedkiller Roundup caused cancer for as much as $ @ @ @ @ @ a year of talks , resolving litigation that has hit the company 's share price @ @ @ @ @ pesticides maker has come to terms with about 75 % of the current Roundup plaintiffs @ @ @ @ @ and unfiled claims overall , it said in a statement on Wednesday .
The settled @ @ @ @ @ % of those currently set for trial , it added .
`` The Roundup settlement @ @ @ @ @ the right time for Bayer to bring a long period of uncertainty to an end @ @ @ @ @ Werner Baumann said .
The company added it will make a payment of $ 8.8- @ @ @ @ @ the current Roundup litigation - including an allowance expected to cover unresolved claims - and @ @ @ @ @ a separate class agreement to address potential future litigation .

Bayer AG agreed to settle U.S. lawsuits claiming that its widely-used weedkiller Roundup caused cancer for as much as $10.9 billion after more than a year of talks, resolving litigation that has hit the company's share price.
The German drugs and pesticides maker has come to terms with about 75% of the current Roundup plaintiffs.
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The German drugs and pesticides maker has come to terms with about 75% of the current Roundup plaintiffs, involving about 125,000 filed and unfiled claims overall, it said in a statement on Wednesday.
The settled cases account for about 95% of those currently set for trial, it added.
"The Roundup settlement is the right action at the right time for Bayer to bring a long period of uncertainty to an end," Bayer Chief Executive Werner Baumann said.
The company added it will make a payment of $8.8-$9.6 billion to resolve the current Roundup litigation - including an allowance expected to cover unresolved claims - and $1.25 billion to support a separate class agreement to address potential future litigation.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-06-24--Paris's Louvre museum to undergo major overhaul to shake off elite image

A security guard in front of the entrance to the Louvre museum , Paris , France .
The Louvre museum hopes to transform itself and shake off its intimidating image before the Paris Olympics in four years ' time , its director said Wednesday .
The Louvre , the world 's most visited museum , is working on a major overhaul of how its vast collections are presented and explained , Jean-Luc Martinez told reporters .
`` We need to be ready in 2023/2024 for the Olympic Games , with longer hours and more rooms open , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the museum will strive for a `` cultural democratisation '' to make its treasures more accessible with improved presentation , labelling and curating .
Martinez , who comes from a working-class background , said he wanted to build on the outreach success of the Louvre 's outpost museum in Lens , a poor former mining town in northern France .
He said sometimes the former royal palace in the heart of Paris can `` intimidate '' certain demographics and the museum needs to reassure people that its collections are also for them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ jumped tenfold , Martinez said , adding that the site `` will be completely overhauled next year ... with all collections going online '' .
There will be more storytelling and scene-setting in both French and English , Martinez added .
Visitors under age 26 already have free access to the Louvre , but Martinez is introducing a free 20-minute mini-visit this summer in an attempt to lure Parisians back inside .
The museum -- which reopens after the lockdown on July 6 -- wants to attract more French visitors after losing more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million ) at the box office since the coronavirus struck .
Three-quarters of the Louvre 's visitors are from abroad .
With tourism at a standstill , `` we are losing 80 percent of our public , '' Martinez said .
The next three years are likely to be less than spectacular , he predicted .
`` We are going to be at best 20 to 30 percent down on last summer -- between 4,000 and 10,000 visitors a day , '' he estimated .

The Louvre museum hopes to transform itself and shake off its intimidating image before the Paris Olympics in four years' time, its director said Wednesday.
A security guard in front of the entrance to the Louvre museum, Paris, France.
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The Louvre, the world's most visited museum, is working on a major overhaul of how its vast collections are presented and explained, Jean-Luc Martinez told reporters.
"We need to be ready in 2023/2024 for the Olympic Games, with longer hours and more rooms open," he said.
To counter its elitist image, the museum will strive for a "cultural democratisation" to make its treasures more accessible with improved presentation, labelling and curating.
Martinez, who comes from a working-class background, said he wanted to build on the outreach success of the Louvre's outpost museum in Lens, a poor former mining town in northern France.
He said sometimes the former royal palace in the heart of Paris can "intimidate" certain demographics and the museum needs to reassure people that its collections are also for them.
40 million euro losses
Traffic on the museum's website has jumped tenfold, Martinez said, adding that the site "will be completely overhauled next year... with all collections going online".
There will be more storytelling and scene-setting in both French and English, Martinez added.
Visitors under age 26 already have free access to the Louvre, but Martinez is introducing a free 20-minute mini-visit this summer in an attempt to lure Parisians back inside.
The museum -- which reopens after the lockdown on July 6 -- wants to attract more French visitors after losing more than 40 million euros ($45 million) at the box office since the coronavirus struck.
Three-quarters of the Louvre's visitors are from abroad. With tourism at a standstill, "we are losing 80 percent of our public," Martinez said.
The next three years are likely to be less than spectacular, he predicted.
"We are going to be at best 20 to 30 percent down on last summer -- between 4,000 and 10,000 visitors a day," he estimated.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-06-24--With the launch of its BeiDou satellite, Beijing's Space Silk Road is open for business

A model of the BeiDou navigation satellites system is seen at an exhibition to mark China 's Space Day 2019 on April 24 , in Changsha , Hunan province , China .
This week , China launched into orbit the final satellite needed to make its BeiDou navigation system a worldwide alternative to the American Global Positioning and the European Galileo systems .
For Beijing , this satellite programme is crucial in more than one respect .
For China , its 'New Silk Road ' will essentially also pass through space .
Beijing succeeded in launching the 35th and last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BeiDou , into orbit on June 23 .
This feat enables it to compete on a global level with the American GPS , the European Galileo and with Glonass , the solution developed by the Russians .
The launch marks the culmination of a long-term project that began in 1983 under the impetus of Chen Fangyun , an engineer nicknamed the `` father of Chinese satellites '' .
But it was n't until the early 2000s that BeiDou really took off with the setting up of a network of satellites capable of providing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Chinese understood that navigation systems were bringing about a technological revolution in the military field by observing the effectiveness of American air raids during the war in Iraq in 2003 , '' Keith Hayward , research director at the Royal Aeronautical Society in the United Kingdom , told FRANCE 24 .
Twelve years later , Beijing has succeeded in expanding the coverage of BeiDou to the entire Asian continent .
Initially a military-inspired project , the system has also become an economic tool .
`` These satellites are essential for China because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack of ground communications infrastructure , '' Isabelle Sourbès-Verger , a specialist in space policy at the French National Centre for Scientific Research and author of a book on China 's conquest of space , told FRANCE 24 .
With the 35th satellite in orbit , BeiDou is now operational all over the world .
This is a crucial step in terms of China 's ambitions to become a power at the cutting edge of innovation .
`` Most of the technologies that are a priority for Beijing – the Internet of Things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – require the use of a navigation system , '' said Sourbès-Verger .
The stakes are too high to depend on `` made in USA '' technology .
`` The development of BeiDou gives the Chinese an essential autonomy , ” said Hayward .
“ Whether from a military or civilian point of view , you do n't want to be dependent on a country which , in the event of a major crisis , can decide to cut off access to navigational data . ''
Proof that `` Beijing is not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a diplomatic asset , allowing China to signal `` that it is not a technological parasite and is capable of offering the world a tool that brings a plus , because Beidou seems to be slightly more powerful than the American GPS , '' Hayward noted .
Beijing playing that card .
BeiDou is , in fact , an important stone in the edifice of the famous New Silk Road , China ’ s vast international programme of infrastructure investment that mixes economic and diplomatic objectives .
`` In the documents relating to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the development of BeiDou , '' Sourbès-Verger said .
`` As soon as Beijing projects its economic power beyond its borders , it needs a clean navigation system for its trains , boats and everything mobile . ''
Indeed , some observers , including the US government , consider BeiDou to be the cornerstone of the Space Silk Road .
A vast network of satellites covering the entire planet appears to be an ideal complement to the many land and sea routes that Beijing has been putting in place for more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ golden eggs ?
But there still needs to be customers for BeiDou , which , like the American GPS , is offered free of charge .
`` About 70 countries participating in the New Silk Road are already declared partners or have applied to be , '' researcher Emmanuel Meneut wrote in a note on BeiDou 's cybersecurity challenges that was published in May 2020 by the Institute of International and Strategic Relations .
For the time being , these are mainly Asian countries .
Beijing can also use BeiDou as a bonus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Silk Road .
`` It 's not as appealing as China offering to build your 5G network , but if the Chinese authorities offer a more accurate version of BeiDou , it can help build a relationship of trust , '' Hayward said .
But China is n't just looking to make new friends with BeiDou .
It hopes that its navigation system will become a very profitable business .
`` It 's not the signal itself that 's financially important , but all the derivatives and services that can be generated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American GPS led the way in that area with , in particular , digital mapping solutions and geolocation services on smartphones .
Beijing has already started to do the same .
Services linked to BeiDou to better control port traffic or coordinate rescue operations in the event of natural disasters have already been exported to more than 100 countries , Chinese media reported in early June .
China hopes that with the global roll-out of its navigation system , the sector could bring in $ 57 billion ( €51bn ) as early as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is certain that competition in this field will increase , '' concluded Sourbès-Verger .
Moreover , the US Congress warned in a report published in November 2019 that China 's ambitions in space through its satellite programme posed a growing threat to the United States , both economically and in terms of influence .
That , of course , gave Donald Trump a new reason to be dissatisfied with Beijing .
This article has been translated from the original in French .

This week, China launched into orbit the final satellite needed to make its BeiDou navigation system a worldwide alternative to the American Global Positioning and the European Galileo systems. For Beijing, this satellite programme is crucial in more than one respect.
A model of the BeiDou navigation satellites system is seen at an exhibition to mark China's Space Day 2019 on April 24, in Changsha, Hunan province, China.
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For China, its 'New Silk Road' will essentially also pass through space. Beijing succeeded in launching the 35th and last satellite of its national navigation system, BeiDou, into orbit on June 23. This feat enables it to compete on a global level with the American GPS, the European Galileo and with Glonass, the solution developed by the Russians.
The launch marks the culmination of a long-term project that began in 1983 under the impetus of Chen Fangyun, an engineer nicknamed the "father of Chinese satellites". But it wasn't until the early 2000s that BeiDou really took off with the setting up of a network of satellites capable of providing geopositioning for the Chinese territory.
"The Chinese understood that navigation systems were bringing about a technological revolution in the military field by observing the effectiveness of American air raids during the war in Iraq in 2003," Keith Hayward, research director at the Royal Aeronautical Society in the United Kingdom, told FRANCE 24.
A guarantee of autonomy
Twelve years later, Beijing has succeeded in expanding the coverage of BeiDou to the entire Asian continent. Initially a military-inspired project, the system has also become an economic tool. "These satellites are essential for China because they enable it to compensate for the lack of ground communications infrastructure," Isabelle Sourbès-Verger, a specialist in space policy at the French National Centre for Scientific Research and author of a book on China's conquest of space, told FRANCE 24.
With the 35th satellite in orbit, BeiDou is now operational all over the world. This is a crucial step in terms of China's ambitions to become a power at the cutting edge of innovation. "Most of the technologies that are a priority for Beijing – the Internet of Things, 5G or autonomous cars for example – require the use of a navigation system," said Sourbès-Verger.
The stakes are too high to depend on "made in USA" technology. "The development of BeiDou gives the Chinese an essential autonomy,” said Hayward. “Whether from a military or civilian point of view, you don't want to be dependent on a country which, in the event of a major crisis, can decide to cut off access to navigational data."
Proof that "Beijing is not a technological parasite"
The system is also a diplomatic asset, allowing China to signal "that it is not a technological parasite and is capable of offering the world a tool that brings a plus, because Beidou seems to be slightly more powerful than the American GPS," Hayward noted.
Beijing playing that card. BeiDou is, in fact, an important stone in the edifice of the famous New Silk Road, China’s vast international programme of infrastructure investment that mixes economic and diplomatic objectives. "In the documents relating to this programme, there was one specific to the development of BeiDou," Sourbès-Verger said. "As soon as Beijing projects its economic power beyond its borders, it needs a clean navigation system for its trains, boats and everything mobile."
Indeed, some observers, including the US government, consider BeiDou to be the cornerstone of the Space Silk Road. A vast network of satellites covering the entire planet appears to be an ideal complement to the many land and sea routes that Beijing has been putting in place for more than a decade.
The GPS with the golden eggs?
But there still needs to be customers for BeiDou, which, like the American GPS, is offered free of charge. "About 70 countries participating in the New Silk Road are already declared partners or have applied to be," researcher Emmanuel Meneut wrote in a note on BeiDou's cybersecurity challenges that was published in May 2020 by the Institute of International and Strategic Relations. For the time being, these are mainly Asian countries.
Beijing can also use BeiDou as a bonus gift to convince countries to join the New Silk Road. "It's not as appealing as China offering to build your 5G network, but if the Chinese authorities offer a more accurate version of BeiDou, it can help build a relationship of trust," Hayward said.
But China isn't just looking to make new friends with BeiDou. It hopes that its navigation system will become a very profitable business. "It's not the signal itself that's financially important, but all the derivatives and services that can be generated from it," Hayward said. American GPS led the way in that area with, in particular, digital mapping solutions and geolocation services on smartphones.
Beijing has already started to do the same. Services linked to BeiDou to better control port traffic or coordinate rescue operations in the event of natural disasters have already been exported to more than 100 countries, Chinese media reported in early June. China hopes that with the global roll-out of its navigation system, the sector could bring in $57 billion (€51bn) as early as this year, Reuters reported.
"It is certain that competition in this field will increase," concluded Sourbès-Verger. Moreover, the US Congress warned in a report published in November 2019 that China's ambitions in space through its satellite programme posed a growing threat to the United States, both economically and in terms of influence. That, of course, gave Donald Trump a new reason to be dissatisfied with Beijing.
This article has been translated from the original in French.
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france24--2020-06-24--Covid-19 sparks global economic 'crisis like no other', IMF says

The global economy has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic .
The global coronavirus pandemic has sparked an economic `` crisis like no other , '' sending world GDP plunging 4.9 percent this year and wiping out $ 12 trillion over two years , the IMF said Wednesday .
Worldwide business shutdowns destroyed hundreds of millions of jobs , and major economies in Europe face double-digit collapses .
The prospects for recovery post-pandemic -- like the forecasts themselves -- are steeped in `` pervasive uncertainty '' given the unpredictable path of the virus , the IMF said in its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 pandemic has had a more negative impact on activity in the first half of 2020 than anticipated , and the recovery is projected to be more gradual than previously forecast , '' the fund warned .
While businesses are reopening in many countries and China has seen a bigger rebound in activity than expected , a second wave of viral infections threatens the outlook , the report said .
World GDP is expected to rebound by just 5.4 percent in 2021 , and only if all goes well , the IMF warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under current forecasts , the crisis will destroy $ 12 trillion over two years , and cautioned , `` we are not out of the woods . ''
`` Substantial joint support from fiscal and monetary policy must continue for now , '' Gopinath said in a blog post .
The downturn is particularly damaging for low-income countries and households , and threatens to endanger the progress made on reducing extreme poverty , the Washington-based crisis lender said in its report .
The fund made drastic downward revisions to most of the April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , and IMF economists fear the coronavirus will leave lasting scars on employment , businesses and trade .
Hanging over the predictions is the bill for massive government stimulus plans , which were fueled by extremely low interest rates and likely prevented the recession from turning into a depression even as they created huge and ever-increasing debt levels .
The damage is nonetheless stunning , and more widespread than any downturn in recent decades .
The recession in many major economies will be more than double that suffered during the global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as major developing economies like China , India and Brazil were booming .
China will eke out growth of one percent this year , the only positive figure on the long list of key economies the IMF tracks .
The United States will shrink eight percent and Germany slightly less , while France , Italy , Spain and Britain will suffer double-digit contractions .
Japan makes out a bit better with a drop of just 5.8 percent , according to the forecasts .
Mexico also will see a double-digit decline while Brazil just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is in the middle of a massive debt crunch on top of its health and economic crises after the country once again defaulted on its foreign obligations .
The IMF pointed to International Labour Organization data estimating more than 300 million jobs were lost in the second quarter of the year .
The `` sizeable '' flood of government funds to support workers and businesses `` have forestalled worse near-term losses , '' but the IMF urged countries to avoid a situation where aid is `` prematurely withdrawn or improperly targeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage .
`` A more prolonged decline in activity could lead to further scarring , including from wider firm closures , as surviving firms hesitate to hire jobseekers after extended unemployment , '' the fund warned .
With transport and manufacturing shut down for weeks , the IMF projects global trade volume will collapse by just under 12 percent -- and advanced economies will see an even more dramatic drop .
The IMF also warned of dangers posed by eroding relations between and within countries .
`` Beyond pandemic-related downside risks , escalating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on multiple fronts , frayed relationships among the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries ( OPEC+ ) coalition of oil producers and widespread social unrest pose additional challenges to the global economy , '' the report said .
Trade disruptions could undermine productivity as firms shift supply chains to try to protect themselves against future breakdowns , and companies also face higher costs as they adopt enhanced cleaning procedures and social distancing requirements .
Amid the uncertainty , there is a chance the recession could be less severe than forecast , the report @ @

The global coronavirus pandemic has sparked an economic "crisis like no other," sending world GDP plunging 4.9 percent this year and wiping out $12 trillion over two years, the IMF said Wednesday.
The global economy has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
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Worldwide business shutdowns destroyed hundreds of millions of jobs, and major economies in Europe face double-digit collapses.
The prospects for recovery post-pandemic -- like the forecasts themselves -- are steeped in "pervasive uncertainty" given the unpredictable path of the virus, the IMF said in its updated World Economic Outlook.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has had a more negative impact on activity in the first half of 2020 than anticipated, and the recovery is projected to be more gradual than previously forecast," the fund warned.
While businesses are reopening in many countries and China has seen a bigger rebound in activity than expected, a second wave of viral infections threatens the outlook, the report said.
The #COVID19 pandemic has had a more negative impact on activity in the first half of 2020 than anticipated. Global growth is now projected at –4.9% in 2020, 1.9 percentage points below our April 2020 #WEO. Read the latest report https://t.co/WpXSzg9YxA pic.twitter.com/G7vvQXiGBn — IMF (@IMFNews) June 24, 2020
World GDP is expected to rebound by just 5.4 percent in 2021, and only if all goes well, the IMF warned.
Poor most vulnerable
IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath said under current forecasts, the crisis will destroy $12 trillion over two years, and cautioned, "we are not out of the woods."
"Substantial joint support from fiscal and monetary policy must continue for now," Gopinath said in a blog post.
The downturn is particularly damaging for low-income countries and households, and threatens to endanger the progress made on reducing extreme poverty, the Washington-based crisis lender said in its report.
The fund made drastic downward revisions to most of the April forecasts made in the early days of the pandemic, and IMF economists fear the coronavirus will leave lasting scars on employment, businesses and trade.
Hanging over the predictions is the bill for massive government stimulus plans, which were fueled by extremely low interest rates and likely prevented the recession from turning into a depression even as they created huge and ever-increasing debt levels.
Drastic, downward revisions
The damage is nonetheless stunning, and more widespread than any downturn in recent decades. The recession in many major economies will be more than double that suffered during the global financial crisis in 2009, which came as major developing economies like China, India and Brazil were booming.
China will eke out growth of one percent this year, the only positive figure on the long list of key economies the IMF tracks.
The United States will shrink eight percent and Germany slightly less, while France, Italy, Spain and Britain will suffer double-digit contractions. Japan makes out a bit better with a drop of just 5.8 percent, according to the forecasts.
Mexico also will see a double-digit decline while Brazil just misses that mark, as does Argentina, which is in the middle of a massive debt crunch on top of its health and economic crises after the country once again defaulted on its foreign obligations.
The IMF pointed to International Labour Organization data estimating more than 300 million jobs were lost in the second quarter of the year.
The "sizeable" flood of government funds to support workers and businesses "have forestalled worse near-term losses," but the IMF urged countries to avoid a situation where aid is "prematurely withdrawn or improperly targeted" since that could worsen the economic damage.
"A more prolonged decline in activity could lead to further scarring, including from wider firm closures, as surviving firms hesitate to hire jobseekers after extended unemployment," the fund warned.
Trade hit, recovery weak
With transport and manufacturing shut down for weeks, the IMF projects global trade volume will collapse by just under 12 percent -- and advanced economies will see an even more dramatic drop.
The IMF also warned of dangers posed by eroding relations between and within countries.
"Beyond pandemic-related downside risks, escalating tensions between the United States and China on multiple fronts, frayed relationships among the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) coalition of oil producers and widespread social unrest pose additional challenges to the global economy," the report said.
Trade disruptions could undermine productivity as firms shift supply chains to try to protect themselves against future breakdowns, and companies also face higher costs as they adopt enhanced cleaning procedures and social distancing requirements.
Amid the uncertainty, there is a chance the recession could be less severe than forecast, the report said.
"Downside risks, however, remain significant," it warned.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-06-24--US appeals court orders dismissal of case against ex-Trump aid Michael Flynn

Former White House National Security Advisor General Michael Flynn originally pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in the Russia election meddling investigation , but now seeks to have his case thrown out .
A federal appeals court on Wednesday ordered the dismissal of the criminal case against President Donald Trump 's former national security adviser Michael Flynn .
The U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said in a 2-1 ruling that the Justice Department 's decision to abandon the case against Flynn settles the matter , even though Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia investigation .
It was a big win for the Justice Department as Democrats question whether it has become too politicized and Attorney General William Barr too quick to side with the president .
The House is holding a hearing Wednesday on the topic .
The decision also avoids a protracted court fight that would have delved deeper into the reasoning for the department 's extraordinary dismissal request .
Trump tweeted just moments after the ruling became public .
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan had declined to immediately dismiss the case , seeking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department ’ s request .
He appointed a retired federal judge to argue against the Justice Department 's position and to consider whether Flynn could be held in criminal contempt for perjury .
Flynn was the only White House official charged in Mueller ’ s investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia .
He pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI days after the president ’ s January 2017 inauguration about conversations he had had during the presidential transition period with the Russian ambassador .
The Justice Department moved to dismiss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a broader effort by Barr to scrutinize , and even undo , some of the decisions reached during the Russia investigation , which he has increasingly disparaged .
In its motion , the department argued that Flynn ’ s calls with the Russian ambassador — in which they discussed sanctions the Obama administration imposed on Russia for election interference — were appropriate and not material to the underlying counterintelligence investigation .
The department also noted that weeks before the interview , the FBI had prepared to close its investigation into Flynn after not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the retired judge appointed by Sullivan , John Gleeson , called the Justice Department ’ s request a “ gross abuse ” of prosecutorial power and accused the government of creating a pretext to benefit an ally of the president .
Wednesday 's 2-1 opinion was authored by Judge Neomi Rao , a Trump appointee , and joined by Karen LeCraft Henderson , who had asked skeptical questions of lawyers for Flynn and the Justice Department during arguments earlier this month .
In a dissent , Judge Robert Wilkins wrote , “ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finding the District Court to have exceeded its jurisdiction , this Court so grievously oversteps its own .
”

A federal appeals court on Wednesday ordered the dismissal of the criminal case against President Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Former White House National Security Advisor General Michael Flynn originally pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in the Russia election meddling investigation, but now seeks to have his case thrown out.
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The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said in a 2-1 ruling that the Justice Department's decision to abandon the case against Flynn settles the matter, even though Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to prosecutors in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.
It was a big win for the Justice Department as Democrats question whether it has become too politicized and Attorney General William Barr too quick to side with the president. The House is holding a hearing Wednesday on the topic. The decision also avoids a protracted court fight that would have delved deeper into the reasoning for the department's extraordinary dismissal request.
Trump tweeted just moments after the ruling became public.
“Great! Appeals Court Upholds Justice Departments Request to Drop Criminal Case Against General Michael Flynn.”
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan had declined to immediately dismiss the case, seeking instead to evaluate on his own the department’s request. He appointed a retired federal judge to argue against the Justice Department's position and to consider whether Flynn could be held in criminal contempt for perjury.
Flynn was the only White House official charged in Mueller’s investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. He pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI days after the president’s January 2017 inauguration about conversations he had had during the presidential transition period with the Russian ambassador.
The Justice Department moved to dismiss the case in May as part of a broader effort by Barr to scrutinize, and even undo, some of the decisions reached during the Russia investigation, which he has increasingly disparaged.
In its motion, the department argued that Flynn’s calls with the Russian ambassador — in which they discussed sanctions the Obama administration imposed on Russia for election interference — were appropriate and not material to the underlying counterintelligence investigation. The department also noted that weeks before the interview, the FBI had prepared to close its investigation into Flynn after not finding evidence of a crime.
But the retired judge appointed by Sullivan, John Gleeson, called the Justice Department’s request a “gross abuse” of prosecutorial power and accused the government of creating a pretext to benefit an ally of the president.
Wednesday's 2-1 opinion was authored by Judge Neomi Rao, a Trump appointee, and joined by Karen LeCraft Henderson, who had asked skeptical questions of lawyers for Flynn and the Justice Department during arguments earlier this month.
In a dissent, Judge Robert Wilkins wrote, “It is a great irony that, in finding the District Court to have exceeded its jurisdiction, this Court so grievously oversteps its own.”
(AP)
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france24--2020-06-24--UN chief appeals to Israel to abandon West Bank annexation plans

The United Nations and the Arab League made a joint appeal Wednesday for Israel to abandon its plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank .
The call was made during a UN Security Council video conference in which several government ministers participated .
It was the last international meeting before Israel goes ahead with the plans as early as July 1 .
`` I call on the Israeli government to abandon its annexation plans , '' said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo responded to the joint calls by the UN and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israel to make its own decisions on whether to annex parts of the occupied West Bank , as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to do .
With Netanyahu 's July 1 deadline approaching , aides to US President Donald Trump began discussions on Tuesday on whether to give Netanyahu the green light for annexation , which has drawn condemnation from the Palestinians and US Arab allies .
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said annexation `` will destroy any prospect for peace in the future '' .
Guterres , meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solution with an independent , contiguous , sovereign and viable Palestinian state , with Jerusalem as the capital of both states .

The United Nations and the Arab League made a joint appeal Wednesday for Israel to abandon its plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.
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The call was made during a UN Security Council video conference in which several government ministers participated.
It was the last international meeting before Israel goes ahead with the plans as early as July 1.
"I call on the Israeli government to abandon its annexation plans," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo responded to the joint calls by the UN and the Arab League saying it is up to Israel to make its own decisions on whether to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to do.
With Netanyahu's July 1 deadline approaching, aides to US President Donald Trump began discussions on Tuesday on whether to give Netanyahu the green light for annexation, which has drawn condemnation from the Palestinians and US Arab allies.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said annexation "will destroy any prospect for peace in the future".
Guterres, meanwhile, reiterated the longstanding goal of a two-state solution with an independent, contiguous, sovereign and viable Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, REUTERS)
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france24--2020-06-24--New York City 2020 Marathon cancelled due to Covid-19

Runners cross the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge during the 2019 TCS New York City Marathon in New York City on November 3 , 2019 .
The New York City Marathon originally scheduled to be held on Nov. 1 has been cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic , race organisers said on Thursday .
The New York Road Runners ( NYRR ) , in partnership with the mayor 's office , said the decision to cancel the world 's largest marathon was made due to novel coronavirus-related health and safety concerns for runners , spectators , volunteers and staff .
`` Canceling this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is incredibly disappointing for everyone involved , but it was clearly the course we needed to follow from a health and safety perspective , '' NYRR Chief Executive Michael Capiraso said in a statement .
The 26.2-mile race ( 42km ) , which traverses all five boroughs of the city and had 53,640 finishers in 2019 , is the second of the six World Marathon Majors to be cancelled this year due to the coronavirus outbreak .
The Boston Marathon , originally due to be held in April and then postponed until September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in its history .
The Tokyo Marathon went ahead on March 1 with elite runners only , London was postponed to Oct. 4 from April 26 and Berlin organisers said their race will not got ahead in September but did not say if it would be postponed or cancelled altogether .

The New York City Marathon originally scheduled to be held on Nov. 1 has been cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, race organisers said on Thursday.
Runners cross the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge during the 2019 TCS New York City Marathon in New York City on November 3, 2019.
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The New York Road Runners (NYRR), in partnership with the mayor's office, said the decision to cancel the world's largest marathon was made due to novel coronavirus-related health and safety concerns for runners, spectators, volunteers and staff.
"Canceling this year's TCS New York City Marathon is incredibly disappointing for everyone involved, but it was clearly the course we needed to follow from a health and safety perspective," NYRR Chief Executive Michael Capiraso said in a statement.
The 26.2-mile race (42km), which traverses all five boroughs of the city and had 53,640 finishers in 2019, is the second of the six World Marathon Majors to be cancelled this year due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Boston Marathon, originally due to be held in April and then postponed until September, was cancelled for the first time in its history.
The Tokyo Marathon went ahead on March 1 with elite runners only, London was postponed to Oct. 4 from April 26 and Berlin organisers said their race will not got ahead in September but did not say if it would be postponed or cancelled altogether.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-06-24--Kosovo President Hashim Thaci indicted for war crimes

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci ( pictured December 2018 ) said that one of the points of the talks with Belgrade is `` demarcation of the border between Kosovo and Servia '' , one of Europe 's most volatile territorial disputes Kosovo ’ s president and nine other former separatist fighters were indicted on a range of crimes against humanity and war crimes charges , including murder , by a court investigating crimes against ethnic Serbs , Albanians and Roma during and after Kosovo ’ s 1998-99 independence war with Serbia .
A statement from a prosecutor of the Kosovo Specialist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the others suspects “ are criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders ” of political opponents and Kosovar Albanian , Serb and Roma victims .
Other charges include enforced disappearance , persecution , and torture .
Thaci commanded fighters in the Kosovo Liberation Army , or KLA , during the war .
The president 's advisers did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press .
Before the indictment , Thaci planned to attend a White House meeting with Serbia ’ s leaders on Saturday aimed at securing a peace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already has left Kosovo , but it was n't clear what the charges may mean for his trip to Washington .
Thaci , 52 , was elected president in February 2016 and his term ends next year .
He previously served as prime minister , deputy prime minister and foreign minister .
The indicted individuals also include Kadri Veseli , former parliament speaker and leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo .
Thaci resigned as the party 's leader when he became president , leaving the post to Veseli .
The indictment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ special tribunal based in The Hague .
The court has been operating since 2015 and has questioned hundreds of witnesses .
Kosovo ’ s prime minister resigned last year before he was questioned .
Veseli also has been questioned , but not Thaci .
The indictment is being reviewed by a pretrial judge who will decide whether to confirm the charges , according to the statement .
The prosecutor filed the indictment following a lengthy investigation and it reflects his “ determination that it can prove all of the charges beyond a reasonable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The prosecutor also accused Thaci and Veseli of repeated efforts “ to obstruct and undermine the work '' of the tribunal .
“ Thaci and Veseli are believed to have carried out a secret campaign to overturn the law creating the Court and otherwise obstruct the work of the Court in an attempt to ensure that they do not face justice , ” the statement said .
“ By taking these actions , Mr. Thaci and Mr. Veseli have put their personal interests ahead of the victims of their crimes , the rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kosovo , ” it added .
Kosovo politicians resisted and resented the scrutiny of the war crimes court , repeatedly noting that Serb troops committed massacres and other atrocities during the war that went unpunished .
The 1998-1999 war left more than 10,000 dead and 1,641 are still unaccounted for .
It ended after a 78-day NATO air campaign .
Kosovo is a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008 , a move Serbia does not recognize .
Tensions between the two countries remain high .
European Union-facilitated negotiations to normalize their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ produced some 30 agreements , most of which were not observed .
The White House meeting was set to be the first talks between the two sides in 19 months .

Kosovo’s president and nine other former separatist fighters were indicted on a range of crimes against humanity and war crimes charges, including murder, by a court investigating crimes against ethnic Serbs, Albanians and Roma during and after Kosovo’s 1998-99 independence war with Serbia.
Kosovo President Hashim Thaci (pictured December 2018) said that one of the points of the talks with Belgrade is "demarcation of the border between Kosovo and Servia", one of Europe's most volatile territorial disputes
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A statement from a prosecutor of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers issued Wednesday said President Hashim Thaci and the others suspects “are criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders” of political opponents and Kosovar Albanian, Serb and Roma victims.
Other charges include enforced disappearance, persecution, and torture. Thaci commanded fighters in the Kosovo Liberation Army, or KLA, during the war.
The president's advisers did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press. Before the indictment, Thaci planned to attend a White House meeting with Serbia’s leaders on Saturday aimed at securing a peace agreement between Serbia and Kosovo.
He already has left Kosovo, but it wasn't clear what the charges may mean for his trip to Washington.
Thaci, 52, was elected president in February 2016 and his term ends next year. He previously served as prime minister, deputy prime minister and foreign minister.
The indicted individuals also include Kadri Veseli, former parliament speaker and leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo. Thaci resigned as the party's leader when he became president, leaving the post to Veseli.
The indictment issued Wednesday was the first by the special tribunal based in The Hague. The court has been operating since 2015 and has questioned hundreds of witnesses. Kosovo’s prime minister resigned last year before he was questioned. Veseli also has been questioned, but not Thaci.
The indictment is being reviewed by a pretrial judge who will decide whether to confirm the charges, according to the statement.
The prosecutor filed the indictment following a lengthy investigation and it reflects his “determination that it can prove all of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt," the statement said.
The prosecutor also accused Thaci and Veseli of repeated efforts “to obstruct and undermine the work" of the tribunal.
“Thaci and Veseli are believed to have carried out a secret campaign to overturn the law creating the Court and otherwise obstruct the work of the Court in an attempt to ensure that they do not face justice,” the statement said.
“By taking these actions, Mr. Thaci and Mr. Veseli have put their personal interests ahead of the victims of their crimes, the rule of law, and all people of Kosovo,” it added.
Kosovo politicians resisted and resented the scrutiny of the war crimes court, repeatedly noting that Serb troops committed massacres and other atrocities during the war that went unpunished.
The 1998-1999 war left more than 10,000 dead and 1,641 are still unaccounted for. It ended after a 78-day NATO air campaign.
Kosovo is a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008, a move Serbia does not recognize. Tensions between the two countries remain high. European Union-facilitated negotiations to normalize their relations started in March 2011 and has produced some 30 agreements, most of which were not observed.
The White House meeting was set to be the first talks between the two sides in 19 months.
(AP)
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france24--2020-06-24--Lawmakers vote to decriminalise homosexuality in Gabon

Gabon lawmakers are to vote on decriminalising homosexuality .
Other African nations like South Africa hold Gay Pride Parades annually like the Durban Pride Festival pictured here on June 29 , 2019 .
A bill to decriminalise homosexual activity is making headway in Gabon , where such contact has been banned for nearly a year .
The central African country 's National Assembly voted late Tuesday to adopt an amendment to criminal legislation to remove a paragraph which prohibits `` sexual relations between persons of the same sex '' , a source close to parliament confirmed to AFP on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate , the upper house , into a draft law in July 2019 .
It stipulated that having homosexual relations in Gabon was considered `` an offence against morality '' , punishable by up to six months in prison and a fine of five million CFA francs ( $ 8,600 , 7,600 euros ) .
On Tuesday , `` 48 deputies voted in favour of decriminalisation , 24 against and 25 abstained , '' the source told AFP .
For the bill to be passed , the text must still be adopted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The criminalisation of homosexuality had gone almost unnoticed in this country of less than two million inhabitants when it was adopted last year .
The amendment voted by the National Assembly on Tuesday , meanwhile , caused a stir in the local press and on social media networks on Wednesday .
Homosexuality is widely criminalised in sub-Saharan Africa , with more than half of its countries banning or repressing homosexual relations -- in a few places , with the threat of the death penalty .

A bill to decriminalise homosexual activity is making headway in Gabon, where such contact has been banned for nearly a year.
Gabon lawmakers are to vote on decriminalising homosexuality. Other African nations like South Africa hold Gay Pride Parades annually like the Durban Pride Festival pictured here on June 29, 2019.
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The central African country's National Assembly voted late Tuesday to adopt an amendment to criminal legislation to remove a paragraph which prohibits "sexual relations between persons of the same sex", a source close to parliament confirmed to AFP on Wednesday.
The text had been introduced by the Senate, the upper house, into a draft law in July 2019.
It stipulated that having homosexual relations in Gabon was considered "an offence against morality", punishable by up to six months in prison and a fine of five million CFA francs ($8,600, 7,600 euros).
On Tuesday, "48 deputies voted in favour of decriminalisation, 24 against and 25 abstained," the source told AFP.
For the bill to be passed, the text must still be adopted in the same terms by the Senate.
The criminalisation of homosexuality had gone almost unnoticed in this country of less than two million inhabitants when it was adopted last year.
The amendment voted by the National Assembly on Tuesday, meanwhile, caused a stir in the local press and on social media networks on Wednesday.
Homosexuality is widely criminalised in sub-Saharan Africa, with more than half of its countries banning or repressing homosexual relations -- in a few places, with the threat of the death penalty.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-06-24--Life after lockdown: Exploring the 'new normal' in France

Life after lockdown : Exploring the 'new normal ' in France As France eases out of lockdown , people are @ @ @ @ @ ways of life , but these feel so unfamiliar .
Though the places are the @ @ @ @ @ French are supposed to navigate life is just different , whether it 's wearing a @ @ @ @ @ to say hello .
What long-term impact are the coronavirus and the two-month lockdown going @ @ @ @ @ ?
In this episode of French Connections Plus , Genie Godula and Florence Villeminot take @ @ @ @ @ new normal '' in post-lockdown France .

Life after lockdown: Exploring the 'new normal' in France
11:41 FRENCH CONNECTIONS © FRANCE 24
As France eases out of lockdown, people are heading back to their old ways of life, but these feel so unfamiliar. Though the places are the same, the way the French are supposed to navigate life is just different, whether it's wearing a mask or avoiding a kiss to say hello. What long-term impact are the coronavirus and the two-month lockdown going to have on French society? In this episode of French Connections Plus, Genie Godula and Florence Villeminot take a look at the "new normal" in post-lockdown France.


france24--2020-06-24--Putin reviews Red Square military parade on eve of constitutional vote

Russian President Vladimir Putin observes a minute of silence during the Victory Day parade in Moscow 's iconic Red Square on June 24 , 2020 .
President Vladimir Putin reviewed a spectacular Red Square military parade on Wednesday , a patriotic display critics said was designed to lift his lower-than-usual ratings on the eve of a nationwide vote that could extend his rule until 2036 .
Putin watched as intercontinental ballistic missile launchers trundled past , nuclear-capable bombers flew overhead , and columns of tanks and over 14,000 troops , including some from allies like China , marched past under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mark the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Union 's World War Two victory over the Nazis , was postponed from May 9 because of the novel coronavirus outbreak , but critics said it was still irresponsible to go ahead with it .
The Kremlin dismissed that assertion , saying new daily infections , though still in the thousands , were on the wane , especially in the Russian capital , the original epicentre of the outbreak , and that all safety precautions were taken .
Volunteers gave masks and gloves to those watching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sit two seats apart .
Putin , flanked by veterans , did not wear a mask , but people around him had been tested for the coronavirus , including veterans quarantined at a resort outside Moscow beforehand .
Thousands of people thronged Moscow 's streets to watch tanks roll through the city on what was a public holiday .
Putin struck a conciliatory tone towards the West , despite complaining beforehand about what he called attempts by some European countries to rewrite history .
He said Moscow would never forget the contribution made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including their opening of a second front in 1944 .
Putin also made an indirect reference to his desire for the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to hold a summit to try to tackle the world 's problems .
`` We are open to dialogue and cooperation on the most current international questions , '' said Putin .
`` Among them is the creation of a reliable and general system of security , which the complex fast-changing modern world needs .
Only together can we defend it from new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Before the pandemic , Putin had hoped to host the leaders of France and China at the parade .
In the event , around 10 world leaders attended , most of them from ex-Soviet countries .
The president of Kyrgyzstan had to drop out at the last minute after two people who accompanied him to Moscow tested positive for Covid-19 on arrival .
The parade was held on the eve of a nationwide vote , from June 25 until July 1 , on constitutional changes , including an amendment that would allow Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re-elected .
Current constitutional limits bar him from seeking re-election when his mandate ends in 2024 .
Experts from state pollster VTsIOM have forecast that 67-71 % of voters will endorse the changes .
Kremlin critics say the vote is a sham they fear will be falsified .
Some analysts say the authorities , backed by state media , use the annual parade to boost patriotic feeling , something that could help lift Putin 's approval rating which is at 59 % , according to independent pollster Levada .
Though high by most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its lowest since 1999 .
Polls show people 's willingness to protest has risen as lower oil prices and a prolonged lockdown have battered the economy , unemployment has risen , and a Kremlin plan to reverse years of falling real wages has been knocked off course .
Sergei Aleksashenko , an economist who has been critical of Putin , told the Ekho Moskvy radio station on Tuesday that the Russian leader was determined to hold the parade despite the pandemic .
`` Vladimir Putin believes that the parade is a reaffirmation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country and of our historical memory , '' said Aleksashenko .

President Vladimir Putin reviewed a spectacular Red Square military parade on Wednesday, a patriotic display critics said was designed to lift his lower-than-usual ratings on the eve of a nationwide vote that could extend his rule until 2036.
Russian President Vladimir Putin observes a minute of silence during the Victory Day parade in Moscow's iconic Red Square on June 24, 2020.
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Putin watched as intercontinental ballistic missile launchers trundled past, nuclear-capable bombers flew overhead, and columns of tanks and over 14,000 troops, including some from allies like China, marched past under hot sunshine.
The parade, to mark the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Union's World War Two victory over the Nazis, was postponed from May 9 because of the novel coronavirus outbreak, but critics said it was still irresponsible to go ahead with it.
The Kremlin dismissed that assertion, saying new daily infections, though still in the thousands, were on the wane, especially in the Russian capital, the original epicentre of the outbreak, and that all safety precautions were taken.
Volunteers gave masks and gloves to those watching on Red Square and ordered them to sit two seats apart.
Putin, flanked by veterans, did not wear a mask, but people around him had been tested for the coronavirus, including veterans quarantined at a resort outside Moscow beforehand.
Thousands of people thronged Moscow's streets to watch tanks roll through the city on what was a public holiday.
Putin struck a conciliatory tone towards the West, despite complaining beforehand about what he called attempts by some European countries to rewrite history.
He said Moscow would never forget the contribution made by the Soviet Union's wartime allies, including their opening of a second front in 1944.
Putin also made an indirect reference to his desire for the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to hold a summit to try to tackle the world's problems.
"We are open to dialogue and cooperation on the most current international questions," said Putin.
"Among them is the creation of a reliable and general system of security, which the complex fast-changing modern world needs. Only together can we defend it from new dangerous threats," he said.
Before the pandemic, Putin had hoped to host the leaders of France and China at the parade.
Group photo! (of the foreign leaders who attended the Red Square Victory Day parade events today...). Putin had hoped to have alot more. pic.twitter.com/buTmjD4Vpg — Mike Eckel (@Mike_Eckel) June 24, 2020
In the event, around 10 world leaders attended, most of them from ex-Soviet countries. The president of Kyrgyzstan had to drop out at the last minute after two people who accompanied him to Moscow tested positive for Covid-19 on arrival.
Nationwide vote
The parade was held on the eve of a nationwide vote, from June 25 until July 1, on constitutional changes, including an amendment that would allow Putin two more six-year terms as president if re-elected.
Current constitutional limits bar him from seeking re-election when his mandate ends in 2024.
Experts from state pollster VTsIOM have forecast that 67-71% of voters will endorse the changes. Kremlin critics say the vote is a sham they fear will be falsified.
Some analysts say the authorities, backed by state media, use the annual parade to boost patriotic feeling, something that could help lift Putin's approval rating which is at 59%, according to independent pollster Levada.
Though high by most countries' standards, it is at its lowest since 1999.
Turkmenistan's contingent gets the prize for the coolest car at the Red Square Victory Day parade. pic.twitter.com/qArVqO2ZfL — Mike Eckel (@Mike_Eckel) June 24, 2020
Polls show people's willingness to protest has risen as lower oil prices and a prolonged lockdown have battered the economy, unemployment has risen, and a Kremlin plan to reverse years of falling real wages has been knocked off course.
Sergei Aleksashenko, an economist who has been critical of Putin, told the Ekho Moskvy radio station on Tuesday that the Russian leader was determined to hold the parade despite the pandemic.
"Vladimir Putin believes that the parade is a reaffirmation of his greatness, the greatness of the country and of our historical memory," said Aleksashenko.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-06-25--Eiffel Tower reopens to visitors with strict coronavirus restrictions

The Eiffel Tower welcomes visitors on June 25 , 2020 , after a three-month closure due to France 's coronavirus lockdown .
Tourists and Parisians are now once again able to admire the view of the French capital from the Eiffel Tower after a three-month closure due to the coronavirus – but only if they take the stairs .
The French capital 's most famous monument reopened Thursday , but visitors won ’ t be able to take the lifts until July 1 , to ensure a safe distance between people to limit infection risk .
The very top of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the public for now .
The approximately 10,100-tonne metal landmark emerges from its longest closure since World War Two in time for the summer season , but with limited visitor numbers at first , and mandatory face masks for all over the age of 11 , said the Eiffel Tower website .
The first visitors were allowed in on Thursday from 10:00am , a symbolic moment as France begins to tentatively open up to tourism after the virus shutdown .
Journalists from around the world were on hand as about 50 visitors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the steep climb .
Eager tourists have been able to grab their tickets since June 18 , when the online ticket office opened .
“ To ensure that ascending and descending visitors do not meet in the stairs , ascent will take place from the East pillar and descent by the West pillar , ” said the operator , with a limited number of visitors per floor at a time .
The top level will remain closed , “ since the lifts taking visitors from second to top floor are small .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operator said ground markings would be put in place to ensure people keep their distance from one another , with “ daily cleaning and disinfection of public spaces at the tower ” .
The monument , completed in 1889 , receives about seven million visitors every year , around three-quarters of them from abroad , according to the tower website .
France is one of the world ’ s most visited countries and its tourism industry has taken a hard hit from a lockdown to halt the Covid-19 pandemic , with hotels , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed for three months .
These included some of Paris ’ s most famous landmarks such as the Louvre museum , due to reopen on July 6 , and the nearby Palace of Versailles , which reopened earlier this month .
France lifted restrictions at European borders as of June 15 , and the tourism industry hopes that foreign visitors will start pouring in again as the summer season kicks off .

Tourists and Parisians are now once again able to admire the view of the French capital from the Eiffel Tower after a three-month closure due to the coronavirus – but only if they take the stairs.
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The French capital's most famous monument reopened Thursday, but visitors won’t be able to take the lifts until July 1, to ensure a safe distance between people to limit infection risk.
The very top of the iconic tower will remain off limits to the public for now.
The approximately 10,100-tonne metal landmark emerges from its longest closure since World War Two in time for the summer season, but with limited visitor numbers at first, and mandatory face masks for all over the age of 11, said the Eiffel Tower website.
01:59
The first visitors were allowed in on Thursday from 10:00am, a symbolic moment as France begins to tentatively open up to tourism after the virus shutdown. Journalists from around the world were on hand as about 50 visitors, mainly French, prepared to make the steep climb.
Eager tourists have been able to grab their tickets since June 18, when the online ticket office opened.
Paris-lovers can once again admire the view of #France's 🇫🇷 capital from the #EiffelTower after its three month #coronavirus closure – but only if they take the stairs
Visitors were welcomed back at @LaTourEiffel from 10am today to climb the 674 steps to the second floor pic.twitter.com/jXMbSzW00d — FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) June 25, 2020
“To ensure that ascending and descending visitors do not meet in the stairs, ascent will take place from the East pillar and descent by the West pillar,” said the operator, with a limited number of visitors per floor at a time.
The top level will remain closed, “since the lifts taking visitors from second to top floor are small. It might reopen during the summer.”
Gradual return of tourism
The operator said ground markings would be put in place to ensure people keep their distance from one another, with “daily cleaning and disinfection of public spaces at the tower”.
The monument, completed in 1889, receives about seven million visitors every year, around three-quarters of them from abroad, according to the tower website.
🇨🇵 C'est reparti, avec un accueil en fanfare pour mes premiers visiteurs ! 😀
🇬🇧 Here we go, I'm open and ready to welcome my first visitors with a fanfare! 😀#tourEiffel #EiffelTower pic.twitter.com/ugK5U9jcIY — La tour Eiffel (@LaTourEiffel) June 25, 2020
France is one of the world’s most visited countries and its tourism industry has taken a hard hit from a lockdown to halt the Covid-19 pandemic, with hotels, restaurants, museums, cinemas and theatres closed for three months.
These included some of Paris’s most famous landmarks such as the Louvre museum, due to reopen on July 6, and the nearby Palace of Versailles, which reopened earlier this month.
France lifted restrictions at European borders as of June 15, and the tourism industry hopes that foreign visitors will start pouring in again as the summer season kicks off.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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