france24--2020-08-06--Gunman surrenders after seizing hostages in a bank in French port city of Le Havre

An armed man who took six people hostage in a bank in Le Havre , northern France , surrendered to police on Thursday after releasing his captives , a Reuters witness and police union official said .
The union official said no weapons were used in the arrest of the man , who had released several of the hostages he was holding over the course of Thursday evening .
Bomb squad officers had arrived at the bank , a senior police union official said earlier .
The official , who was in regular contact with officers involved in the operation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ containing explosives at the scene .
A police representative said the hostage-taker was a 34-year-old man with a history of mental health problems .
The man 's weapon was a handgun , police said .
Two police union sources said the gunman was believed to have Islamist ties .
One union source said the hostage-taker was known to law enforcement authorities and was on a security service watch list .
`` We know that he has been radicalised and suffers a serious psychiatric illness , '' Yves Lefebvre , head of the SGP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highly-placed police source said the man holding the hostages had made statements in support of the Palestinian cause .
He had also asked for a motor scooter and access to social networks , the police source said .
Police cordoned off the area and had urged the public to stay clear of the bank on Boulevard de Strasbourg in the city centre , the local prefecture said .
Le Havre is a town of around 170,000 people on the English channel , about 200 km north-west of Paris .
The town 's new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Macron 's former prime minister who resigned in early July .

An armed man who took six people hostage in a bank in Le Havre, northern France, surrendered to police on Thursday after releasing his captives, a Reuters witness and police union official said.
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The union official said no weapons were used in the arrest of the man, who had released several of the hostages he was holding over the course of Thursday evening.
Bomb squad officers had arrived at the bank, a senior police union official said earlier.
The official, who was in regular contact with officers involved in the operation, said there was a bag possibly containing explosives at the scene.
A police representative said the hostage-taker was a 34-year-old man with a history of mental health problems. The man's weapon was a handgun, police said.
Two police union sources said the gunman was believed to have Islamist ties.
One union source said the hostage-taker was known to law enforcement authorities and was on a security service watch list.
"We know that he has been radicalised and suffers a serious psychiatric illness," Yves Lefebvre, head of the SGP Unite police union told Reuters.
A highly-placed police source said the man holding the hostages had made statements in support of the Palestinian cause. He had also asked for a motor scooter and access to social networks, the police source said.
Police cordoned off the area and had urged the public to stay clear of the bank on Boulevard de Strasbourg in the city centre, the local prefecture said.
Le Havre is a town of around 170,000 people on the English channel, about 200 km north-west of Paris. The town's new mayor is Edouard Philippe, President Emmanuel Macron's former prime minister who resigned in early July.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-06--‘Without reforms, Lebanon will continue to suffer,’ says Macron in Beirut

A Lebanese youth hugs French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to the Gemmayzeh neighborhood of Beirut , which has suffered extensive damage due to Tuesday ’ s massive explosion in the Lebanese capital , on August 6 , 2020 .
French President Emmanuel Macron visited shell-shocked Beirut Thursday , pledging support and urging change after a massive explosion devastated the Lebanese capital in a disaster that has has sparked grief and fury .
`` Lebanon is not alone , '' he tweeted on arrival before pledging Paris would coordinate international relief efforts after the colossal blast killed at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billions of dollars in damage .
But Macron also warned that Lebanon – already mired in a deep economic crisis , in desperate need of a bailout and torn by political turmoil – would `` continue to sink '' unless it implements urgent reforms .
Macron visited Beirut 's harbourside blast zone , now a wasteland of blackened ruins , rubble and charred debris where a 140 metre ( 460 feet ) wide crater has filled with sea water .
Later , as he toured one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods , an angry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political leaders , chanting “ Revolution ” and “ The people want to bring down the regime , '' slogans used during mass protests last year .
Macron said he was not there to endorse the “ regime ” and vowed that French aid would not fall into the “ hands of corruption '' .
`` I will talk to all political forces to ask them for a new pact .
I am here today to propose a new political pact to them , '' he said , after being greeted by crowds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state since blast Macron 's visit to the small Mediterranean country , France 's Middle East protege and former colonial-era protectorate , was the first by a foreign head of state since Tuesday 's unprecedented tragedy .
Two days on , Lebanon was still reeling from a blast so huge it was felt in neighbouring countries , its mushroom-shaped cloud drawing comparisons with the Hiroshima atom bomb .
`` Apocalypse '' , `` Armageddon '' – Lebanese were lost for words to describe the impact of the blast , which dwarfed anything the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The provisional death toll stood at 137 but , with dozens missing and 5,000 wounded , the number of victims was expected to rise as rescue workers continued to comb through the rubble .
Offering a glimmer of hope amid the carnage , a French rescuer said there was a `` good chance of finding ... people alive '' , especially a group believed to be trapped in a room under the rubble .
`` We are looking for seven or eight missing people , who could be stuck in a control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the colonel leading a rescue team told Macron as he surveyed the site .
France 'very popular ' here in Lebanon Macron will head to the presidential palace later on Thursday for meetings with “ all political actors ” , including Prime Minister Hassan Diab .
He will also meet with members of different political factions and civil society before giving a press conference .
Both sides are hoping Macron ’ s visit goes more smoothly than a trip last month by France 's top diplomat Jean-Yves Le Drian , who scolded Lebanon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passive '' in the face of an economic crisis compounded by the coronavirus pandemic .
In the aftermath of that visit , Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti resigned in protest at his government 's lack of crisis management .
“ France is very popular here in Lebanon .
There ’ s a longrunning history of a relationship between the two , ” said FRANCE 24 ’ s Leila Molana-Allen , reporting from Beirut .
`` Recently , the tensions have been over the fact that of course the French government is not coordinating with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politicians here want them to but the Lebanese people , many of them , are happy about that .
They feel that international money should not be going to this government .
`` Many people who have been protesting for the last nine months , they say that this government will not spend it on the things that people actually need , ” Molana-Allen added .
Paris prosecutor Rémy Heitz said Wednesday at least 21 French citizens were injured in the blast and prosecutors had opened a probe into `` negligent injury '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abroad .
Two French planes also arrived on Thursday with specialist rescue personnel and equipment

French President Emmanuel Macron visited shell-shocked Beirut Thursday, pledging support and urging change after a massive explosion devastated the Lebanese capital in a disaster that has has sparked grief and fury.
A Lebanese youth hugs French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to the Gemmayzeh neighborhood of Beirut, which has suffered extensive damage due to Tuesday’s massive explosion in the Lebanese capital, on August 6, 2020.
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"Lebanon is not alone," he tweeted on arrival before pledging Paris would coordinate international relief efforts after the colossal blast killed at least 137 people, wounded thousands and caused billions of dollars in damage.
But Macron also warned that Lebanon – already mired in a deep economic crisis, in desperate need of a bailout and torn by political turmoil – would "continue to sink" unless it implements urgent reforms.
Macron visited Beirut's harbourside blast zone, now a wasteland of blackened ruins, rubble and charred debris where a 140 metre (460 feet) wide crater has filled with sea water.
Later, as he toured one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods, an angry crowd vented its fury at Lebanon's political leaders, chanting “Revolution” and “The people want to bring down the regime," slogans used during mass protests last year.
Macron said he was not there to endorse the “regime” and vowed that French aid would not fall into the “hands of corruption".
"I will talk to all political forces to ask them for a new pact. I am here today to propose a new political pact to them," he said, after being greeted by crowds.
"Help us. Please help us. What are you doing to help us?" pic.twitter.com/44upgNq54o — Quentin Sommerville (@sommervilletv) August 6, 2020
First visit by foreign head of state since blast
Macron's visit to the small Mediterranean country, France's Middle East protege and former colonial-era protectorate, was the first by a foreign head of state since Tuesday's unprecedented tragedy.
Two days on, Lebanon was still reeling from a blast so huge it was felt in neighbouring countries, its mushroom-shaped cloud drawing comparisons with the Hiroshima atom bomb.
"Apocalypse", "Armageddon" – Lebanese were lost for words to describe the impact of the blast, which dwarfed anything the country had experienced in its violence-plagued history.
The provisional death toll stood at 137 but, with dozens missing and 5,000 wounded, the number of victims was expected to rise as rescue workers continued to comb through the rubble.
Offering a glimmer of hope amid the carnage, a French rescuer said there was a "good chance of finding... people alive", especially a group believed to be trapped in a room under the rubble.
"We are looking for seven or eight missing people, who could be stuck in a control room buried by the explosion," the colonel leading a rescue team told Macron as he surveyed the site.
France 'very popular' here in Lebanon
Macron will head to the presidential palace later on Thursday for meetings with “all political actors”, including Prime Minister Hassan Diab. He will also meet with members of different political factions and civil society before giving a press conference.
Both sides are hoping Macron’s visit goes more smoothly than a trip last month by France's top diplomat Jean-Yves Le Drian, who scolded Lebanon's political elite for being too "passive" in the face of an economic crisis compounded by the coronavirus pandemic.
In the aftermath of that visit, Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti resigned in protest at his government's lack of crisis management.
“France is very popular here in Lebanon. There’s a longrunning history of a relationship between the two,” said FRANCE 24’s Leila Molana-Allen, reporting from Beirut.
"Recently, the tensions have been over the fact that of course the French government is not coordinating with the Lebanese government in the way that politicians here want them to but the Lebanese people, many of them, are happy about that. They feel that international money should not be going to this government.
"Many people who have been protesting for the last nine months, they say that this government will not spend it on the things that people actually need,” Molana-Allen added.
Paris prosecutor Rémy Heitz said Wednesday at least 21 French citizens were injured in the blast and prosecutors had opened a probe into "negligent injury" using their jurisdiction to investigate acts committed abroad.
Two French planes also arrived on Thursday with specialist rescue personnel and equipment .
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-07--Rescuers comb through rubble of Beirut blast site as first arrests made

French rescue workers search through the rubble in the devastated Beirut port on August 7 , 2020 , three days after a massive blast there shook the Lebanese capital .
Rescuers combed through the rubble of Beirut port Friday in a search for survivors watched breathlessly by relatives of the missing , after an investigation into the huge blast made its first arrests .
Shock has turned to anger in Lebanon since Tuesday 's colossal explosion killed at least 154 people and devastated swathes of the capital , with security forces firing tear gas at demonstrators who gathered near parliament @ @ @ @ @ @ @ huge shipment of hazardous ammonium nitrate fertiliser had languished for years in a warehouse in the heart of the capital served as shocking proof to many Lebanese of the rot at the core of their political system .
What ignited the 2,750 tonnes of fertiliser is still unclear – officials have said work had recently begun on repairs to the warehouse , while fireworks were stored nearby .
Near the seat of the explosion , next to the carcass of the port 's giant grain silos , rescue teams from France , Germany @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I am waiting to hear that you have been rescued alive , my dear , '' tweeted Emilie Hasrouty , whose brother is among the missing .
`` There was n't a door I did n't knock on to know what happened to you , and now that the waiting is almost over , I am paralysed with fear . ''
Beirut has received a stream of international assistance since the blast , and on Thursday hosted French President Emmanuel Macron , who pressed Lebanese leaders for deep reform .
World leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lebanon and the diaspora demanding an international inquiry into the cause of the devastation .
The president of the European Council , which represents EU leaders , Charles Michel , announced he was heading to Beirut on Saturday .
`` Shocked and saddened , we stand with all those affected and will provide help , '' Michel tweeted , announcing meetings with President Michel Aoun , parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Hassan Diab .
The European Union announced Thursday that it had released 33 million euros to finance emergency aid for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an Italian hospital ship , to help relief efforts in Beirut .
Senior European officials will join a videoconference organised by France on Sunday as donors mobilise support for Lebanon , said an EU source .
Near the disembowelled silos at Beirut port , Russian rescuers were ankle-deep in corn , as excavators removed mangled shipping containers .
Civil defence teams anxiously watched a sniffer dog as he paced around a gap under a fallen crane .
An eerie sense of calm filled the once-bustling port , reduced to an enormous scrapyard .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ machinery cutting through forests of twisted iron rods and mountains of concrete rubble to clear a path for the rescuers .
French rescuers said they had recovered four bodies , but had found nobody alive so far .
Relatives of the missing have been flocking to the port for days hoping to know the fate of their loved ones .
Lebanon 's hospitals , already strained by a wave of coronavirus cases and a severe economic crisis , have been unable to cope with the number of casualties and the authorities have pressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical supplies .
Relief flights from Iran , Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were set to land in Lebanon on Friday , following others from France , Kuwait , Qatar and Russia .
Two days after the blast , Lebanese were flocking to a Russian field hospital newly established in the capital 's largest sport stadium .
Medics were still erecting nearly 20 medical tents when the first wave of patients started to arrive .
They included a 93-year-old man suffering back and chest pains after Tuesday 's blast and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shard of glass .
With destruction from the blast extending over half of the capital and the damage expected to cost more than $ 3 billion , world leaders have backed calls from ordinary Lebanese for those responsible to be held accountable .
In his snap visit on Thursday , Macron stressed the need for an international investigation after meeting Lebanese politicians , including representatives of the powerful Shiite Hezbollah movement , whose leader Hasan Nasrallah was scheduled to speak later on Friday .
Lebanese authorities had announced their own inquiry into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday said 16 people had been detained .
The central bank also ordered an asset freeze for seven port and customs officials , an official and a banking source told AFP .
The measures did not dampen the anger in Beirut 's streets , where dozens of demonstrators scuffled with security forces late Thursday drawing a volley of tear gas .
Lebanon 's leadership was already deeply unpopular , with a wave of mass protests that erupted in October last year only abating in the face of the coronavirus pandemic .

Rescuers combed through the rubble of Beirut port Friday in a search for survivors watched breathlessly by relatives of the missing, after an investigation into the huge blast made its first arrests.
French rescue workers search through the rubble in the devastated Beirut port on August 7, 2020, three days after a massive blast there shook the Lebanese capital.
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Shock has turned to anger in Lebanon since Tuesday's colossal explosion killed at least 154 people and devastated swathes of the capital, with security forces firing tear gas at demonstrators who gathered near parliament late Thursday.
The revelation that a huge shipment of hazardous ammonium nitrate fertiliser had languished for years in a warehouse in the heart of the capital served as shocking proof to many Lebanese of the rot at the core of their political system.
What ignited the 2,750 tonnes of fertiliser is still unclear – officials have said work had recently begun on repairs to the warehouse, while fireworks were stored nearby.
Near the seat of the explosion, next to the carcass of the port's giant grain silos, rescue teams from France, Germany and Italy coordinated their search efforts.
"I am waiting to hear that you have been rescued alive, my dear," tweeted Emilie Hasrouty, whose brother is among the missing.
"There wasn't a door I didn't knock on to know what happened to you, and now that the waiting is almost over, I am paralysed with fear."
Beirut has received a stream of international assistance since the blast, and on Thursday hosted French President Emmanuel Macron, who pressed Lebanese leaders for deep reform.
03:14
World leaders have joined the chorus of voices in Lebanon and the diaspora demanding an international inquiry into the cause of the devastation.
The president of the European Council, which represents EU leaders, Charles Michel, announced he was heading to Beirut on Saturday.
"Shocked and saddened, we stand with all those affected and will provide help," Michel tweeted, announcing meetings with President Michel Aoun, parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Hassan Diab.
The European Union announced Thursday that it had released 33 million euros to finance emergency aid for Lebanon and mobilised material resources, including an Italian hospital ship, to help relief efforts in Beirut.
Senior European officials will join a videoconference organised by France on Sunday as donors mobilise support for Lebanon, said an EU source.
Eerie calm
Near the disembowelled silos at Beirut port, Russian rescuers were ankle-deep in corn, as excavators removed mangled shipping containers.
Civil defence teams anxiously watched a sniffer dog as he paced around a gap under a fallen crane.
An eerie sense of calm filled the once-bustling port, reduced to an enormous scrapyard.
The only sounds are those of heavy machinery cutting through forests of twisted iron rods and mountains of concrete rubble to clear a path for the rescuers.
French rescuers said they had recovered four bodies, but had found nobody alive so far.
Relatives of the missing have been flocking to the port for days hoping to know the fate of their loved ones.
Lebanon's hospitals, already strained by a wave of coronavirus cases and a severe economic crisis, have been unable to cope with the number of casualties and the authorities have pressed international donors to send field hospitals and medical supplies.
Relief flights from Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were set to land in Lebanon on Friday, following others from France, Kuwait, Qatar and Russia.
Two days after the blast, Lebanese were flocking to a Russian field hospital newly established in the capital's largest sport stadium.
Medics were still erecting nearly 20 medical tents when the first wave of patients started to arrive.
They included a 93-year-old man suffering back and chest pains after Tuesday's blast and a Syrian three-year-old whose scalp was scarred by a shard of glass.
First arrests
With destruction from the blast extending over half of the capital and the damage expected to cost more than $3 billion, world leaders have backed calls from ordinary Lebanese for those responsible to be held accountable.
In his snap visit on Thursday, Macron stressed the need for an international investigation after meeting Lebanese politicians, including representatives of the powerful Shiite Hezbollah movement, whose leader Hasan Nasrallah was scheduled to speak later on Friday.
Lebanese authorities had announced their own inquiry into Tuesday's explosion and a military prosecutor on Thursday said 16 people had been detained.
They included the port's general manager, Hassan Koraytem, a judicial source told AFP.
The central bank also ordered an asset freeze for seven port and customs officials, an official and a banking source told AFP.
The measures did not dampen the anger in Beirut's streets, where dozens of demonstrators scuffled with security forces late Thursday drawing a volley of tear gas.
Lebanon's leadership was already deeply unpopular, with a wave of mass protests that erupted in October last year only abating in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-08-07--China accuses US of 'political manipulation' after ban on TikTok, WeChat

US President Trump has signed an executive order to ban Americans from transacting with TikTok , WeChat parent companies .
US President Donald Trump issued executive orders on Thursday banning any US transactions with ByteDance , the Chinese company that owns video-sharing app TikTok , and Tencent , owner of the WeChat app , starting in 45 days .
China responded by accusing the US of `` political manipulation '' .
The orders come as the Trump administration said this week it was stepping up efforts to purge “ untrusted ” Chinese apps from US digital networks and called the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WeChat `` significant threats '' .
The TikTok app may be used for disinformation campaigns that benefit the Chinese Communist Party , and the United States `` must take aggressive action against the owners of TikTok to protect our national security '' , Trump said in one order .
In the other , Trump said WeChat `` automatically captures vast swaths of information from its users .
This data collection threatens to allow the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans ' personal and proprietary information '' .
The order would effectively ban WeChat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by barring `` to the extent permitted under applicable law , any transaction that is related to WeChat by any person , or with respect to any property , subject to the jurisdiction of the United States , with Tencent Holdings Ltd '' .
China 's foreign ministry on Friday said that it firmly opposes the executive orders announced by Trump and accused the US of `` political manipulation '' .
China will defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese businesses , foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Trump 's executive order to ban the video-sharing app , and that it could go to US courts to ensure it was treated fairly .
`` We will pursue all remedies available to us in order to ensure that the rule of law is not discarded and that our company and our users are treated fairly – if not by the Administration , then by the US courts , '' TikTok said on its website .
Trump said this week he would support the sale of TikTok 's US operations to Microsoft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ substantial portion ” of the sales price but warned he will ban the service in the United States on Sept. 15 .

US President Donald Trump issued executive orders on Thursday banning any US transactions with ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns video-sharing app TikTok, and Tencent, owner of the WeChat app, starting in 45 days. China responded by accusing the US of "political manipulation".
US President Trump has signed an executive order to ban Americans from transacting with TikTok, WeChat parent companies.
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The orders come as the Trump administration said this week it was stepping up efforts to purge “untrusted” Chinese apps from US digital networks and called the Chinese-owned short-video app TikTok and messenger app WeChat "significant threats".
The TikTok app may be used for disinformation campaigns that benefit the Chinese Communist Party, and the United States "must take aggressive action against the owners of TikTok to protect our national security", Trump said in one order.
In the other, Trump said WeChat "automatically captures vast swaths of information from its users. This data collection threatens to allow the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans' personal and proprietary information".
The order would effectively ban WeChat in the United States in 45 days by barring "to the extent permitted under applicable law, any transaction that is related to WeChat by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, with Tencent Holdings Ltd".
China's foreign ministry on Friday said that it firmly opposes the executive orders announced by Trump and accused the US of "political manipulation".
China will defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese businesses, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing.
TikTok said it was "shocked" by Trump's executive order to ban the video-sharing app, and that it could go to US courts to ensure it was treated fairly.
"We will pursue all remedies available to us in order to ensure that the rule of law is not discarded and that our company and our users are treated fairly – if not by the Administration, then by the US courts," TikTok said on its website.
Trump said this week he would support the sale of TikTok's US operations to Microsoft Corp if the US government got a “substantial portion” of the sales price but warned he will ban the service in the United States on Sept. 15.
Tencent and ByteDance declined to comment.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-07--NY sues to break up powerful gun lobbying group National Rifle Association, alleging corruption

New York State Attorney General , Letitia James , speaks during a news conference , to announce a suit to dissolve the National Rifle Association , In New York , U.S. , August 6 , 2020 .
New York state 's attorney general sued to dissolve the National Rifle Association on Thursday , alleging senior leaders of the non-profit group diverted millions of dollars for personal use and to buy the silence and loyalty of former employees .
The lawsuit filed in a Manhattan court by Attorney General Letitia James alleges NRA leaders paid for family trips to the Bahamas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributed to a $ 64 million reduction in the NRA 's balance sheet in three years , turning a surplus into a deficit .
The NRA responded by suing James in federal court , saying she had violated the NRA 's right to free speech and seeking to block her investigation .
James alleged in a statement that NRA leaders `` used millions upon millions from NRA reserves for personal use , '' failing to comply with the NRA 's own internal policies in addition to state and federal law .
She told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a breeding ground for greed , abuse and brazen illegality , '' adding that `` no one is above the law . ''
The lawsuit names the NRA and four leaders including Wayne LaPierre , the executive vice-president who has been atop the leadership for nearly three decades .
The confrontation pits James , a Democrat , against the largest and most powerful gun organization in the United States , one closely aligned with President Donald Trump 's Republican Party .
The actions are certain to further polarize a country where the NRA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the U.S. Constitution and its Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms while at the same time it is vilified by liberals as an enabler of rampant gun violence .
Trump sought to make it an issue for his re-election on Nov. 3 against Democratic challenger Joe Biden .
`` Just like Radical Left New York is trying to destroy the NRA , if Biden becomes President your GREAT SECOND AMENDMENT does n't have a chance , '' Trump said on Twitter .
`` Your guns will be taken away , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , no guns ! ''
Biden has not called for confiscating guns .
He has said he would seek to ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines , let people who own assault weapons sell them back voluntarily , and expand background checks .
The NRA branded the lawsuit a `` baseless , premeditated attack '' and a `` power grab '' tied to the campaign .
`` We not only will not shrink from this fight – we will confront it and prevail , '' NRA President Carolyn Meadows said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the NRA fought back with the suit of its own in the Northern District of New York , saying James had been targeting the NRA politically ever since she ran for attorney general in 2018 , vowing to take on the NRA which she called a `` criminal enterprise . ''
The NRA is subject to New York law because it is registered there as a non-profit .
Its physical headquarters are in Fairfax , Virginia , near Washington , D.C. James ' suit coincided with another one filed against the NRA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Washington , D.C. , in the district 's Superior Court , alleging the misuse of charitable funds and wasteful spending .
Briefing reporters , James denied the New York suit was motivated by the NRA 's support for Trump .
Her written statement said the NRA 's power had gone unchecked for decades , `` which is why , today , we seek to dissolve the NRA . ''
Gun control groups such as Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action , both funded by billionaire and former New York City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We have been warning regulators and the public about this corruption for years , '' Everytown said on Twitter .
Moms Demand Action sarcastically offered that `` our thoughts and prayers are with Wayne LaPierre and his cronies at the NRA , '' mocking the common refrain used following mass shootings .

New York state's attorney general sued to dissolve the National Rifle Association on Thursday, alleging senior leaders of the non-profit group diverted millions of dollars for personal use and to buy the silence and loyalty of former employees.
New York State Attorney General, Letitia James, speaks during a news conference, to announce a suit to dissolve the National Rifle Association, In New York, U.S., August 6, 2020.
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The lawsuit filed in a Manhattan court by Attorney General Letitia James alleges NRA leaders paid for family trips to the Bahamas, private jets and expensive meals that contributed to a $64 million reduction in the NRA's balance sheet in three years, turning a surplus into a deficit.
The NRA responded by suing James in federal court, saying she had violated the NRA's right to free speech and seeking to block her investigation.
James alleged in a statement that NRA leaders "used millions upon millions from NRA reserves for personal use," failing to comply with the NRA's own internal policies in addition to state and federal law.
She told reporters the NRA "has operated as a breeding ground for greed, abuse and brazen illegality," adding that "no one is above the law."
The lawsuit names the NRA and four leaders including Wayne LaPierre, the executive vice-president who has been atop the leadership for nearly three decades.
The confrontation pits James, a Democrat, against the largest and most powerful gun organization in the United States, one closely aligned with President Donald Trump's Republican Party.
The actions are certain to further polarize a country where the NRA is revered by conservatives as a champion of the U.S. Constitution and its Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms while at the same time it is vilified by liberals as an enabler of rampant gun violence.
Trump sought to make it an issue for his re-election on Nov. 3 against Democratic challenger Joe Biden.
"Just like Radical Left New York is trying to destroy the NRA, if Biden becomes President your GREAT SECOND AMENDMENT doesn't have a chance," Trump said on Twitter. "Your guns will be taken away, immediately and without notice. No police, no guns!"
Just like Radical Left New York is trying to destroy the NRA, if Biden becomes President your GREAT SECOND AMENDMENT doesn’t have a chance. Your guns will be taken away, immediately and without notice. No police, no guns! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 6, 2020
Biden has not called for confiscating guns. He has said he would seek to ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines, let people who own assault weapons sell them back voluntarily, and expand background checks.
'Power grab'
The NRA branded the lawsuit a "baseless, premeditated attack" and a "power grab" tied to the campaign.
"We not only will not shrink from this fight – we will confront it and prevail," NRA President Carolyn Meadows said in a statement.
Apparently expecting James' suit, the NRA fought back with the suit of its own in the Northern District of New York, saying James had been targeting the NRA politically ever since she ran for attorney general in 2018, vowing to take on the NRA which she called a "criminal enterprise."
The NRA is subject to New York law because it is registered there as a non-profit. Its physical headquarters are in Fairfax, Virginia, near Washington, D.C.
James' suit coincided with another one filed against the NRA and its foundation by the attorney general for Washington, D.C., in the district's Superior Court, alleging the misuse of charitable funds and wasteful spending.
Briefing reporters, James denied the New York suit was motivated by the NRA's support for Trump. Her written statement said the NRA's power had gone unchecked for decades, "which is why, today, we seek to dissolve the NRA."
Gun control groups such as Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action, both funded by billionaire and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, praised the suit.
"We have been warning regulators and the public about this corruption for years," Everytown said on Twitter.
Moms Demand Action sarcastically offered that "our thoughts and prayers are with Wayne LaPierre and his cronies at the NRA," mocking the common refrain used following mass shootings.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-07--Africa surpasses 1 million Covid-19 cases, more than half in South Africa

The number of COVID-19 cases in Africa has risen to over one million , with more than half registered in @ @ @ @ @ an AFP count late Thursday .
The continent 's worst-hit nation has registered 538,184 infections @ @ @ @ @ cases on Thursday , and 9,604 deaths .
Egypt has recorded around 95,000 COVID-19 cases @ @ @ @ @ is 45,000 .
South Africa 's infection figures are the fifth-highest after the US , @ @ @ @ @ .
Nevertheless the African continent remains one of the least affected , according to the @ @ @ @ @ Oceania registering fewer COVID-19 cases .
But the official numbers are likely to be a @ @ @ @ @ of the virus ' spread throughout Africa where a number of countries have failing healthcare @ @ @ @ @ .
Worldwide there have been some 19 million recorded coronavirus cases resulting in over 709,000 @ @

The number of COVID-19 cases in Africa has risen to over one million, with more than half registered in South Africa, according to an AFP count late Thursday.
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The continent's worst-hit nation has registered 538,184 infections, including over 8,000 new cases on Thursday, and 9,604 deaths.
Egypt has recorded around 95,000 COVID-19 cases while the figure in Nigeria is 45,000.
South Africa's infection figures are the fifth-highest after the US, Brazil, India and Russia.
Nevertheless the African continent remains one of the least affected, according to the official figures, with only Oceania registering fewer COVID-19 cases.
But the official numbers are likely to be a fraction of the real extent of the virus' spread throughout Africa where a number of countries have failing healthcare systems and limited screening capacities.
Worldwide there have been some 19 million recorded coronavirus cases resulting in over 709,000 deaths.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-08-07--Rajapaksa brothers win Sri Lanka's election by landslide

Sri Lanka 's Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa ( L ) and his eldest son and parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa ( C ) on August 7 , 2020 , after Sri Lanka 's parliamentary election results .
Sri Lanka 's ruling Rajapaksa brothers secured a two-thirds majority in a parliamentary election that will allow them to rewrite the constitution and increase their power , final results showed Friday .
The United States , which had been highly critical of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa 's previous administration , immediately called on the new government to respect human rights and the rule of law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( SLPP ) won 145 seats in Wednesday 's election and can count on at least five allies in the new 225-member legislature , according to Election Commission results .
Officials said Rajapaksa , 74 , will be sworn in as premier by his 71-year-old brother Gotabaya , the island nation 's president , at a Buddhist temple near the capital on Sunday .
Gotabaya was elected president in November , setting up the latest return of the family who have dominated the island 's politics for the past two decades .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Asian Development Bank forecasting a 6.1 percent contraction of the economy this year .
The Rajapakas went into the polls seeking a super majority to carry out a promised roll-back of constitutional changes , including the scrapping of independent institutions running the judiciary , the public services , the police and elections .
Observers say the siblings -- renowned for their ruthless crushing of Tamil separatists to end a decades-old conflict in 2009 -- can now overturn the reforms made by a previous administration .
`` We hope the government will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic recovery , upholding human rights and the rule of law , '' the US embassy said in a statement .
The United States moved a resolution against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council in 2013 accusing the then Rajapaksa government of failing to investigate alleged war crimes while crushing the Tamil rebels in 2009 .
Despite the international concerns , the no-holds-barred military campaign made the Rajapaksas hugely popular among the country 's Sinhalese-Buddhist majority .
And Sri Lanka 's strategic position in the Indian Ocean has made it a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Mahinda to congratulate him even before the final results were announced .
Rajapaksa said in a tweet that he looked forward to working closely with Modi .
India watched anxiously when Mahinda leaned heavily on China for political and financial support when he was president from 2005 to 2015 .
The Rajapaksa brothers will unveil their new cabinet on Monday at a ceremony in front of the Temple of the Tooth , the country 's most sacred Buddhist shrine .
Much focus will be on Mahinda 's son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chamal , 77 , who were also elected along with two nephews to the new parliament , which will have its first session on August 20 .
Mahinda was president from 2005 to 2015 but was ousted after a revolt within his party and a public backlash against alleged nepotism , corruption and suppression of dissent .
Gotabaya -- a former army officer dubbed `` The Terminator '' by his own family -- won comfortably in November 's presidential election , running on a law-and-order ticket while capitalising on government infighting .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Since then , Sri Lankans have largely embraced their populist platform , with the brothers riding a nationalist wave that followed Easter 2019 suicide bombings by Muslim radicals in which 279 people died .
Wednesday 's vote was twice postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Turnout was still more than 75 percent of the 16 million electorate despite strict social distancing measures .
The election has left the splintered opposition decimated .
Former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe lost his constituency .
His party , which had 106 seats , was reduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Wickremesinghe 's party was a distant second with 54 seats .
The moderate Tamil National Alliance ( TNA ) saw its seats reduced from 16 to 10 .
Former cricket World Cup-winning skipper Arjuna Ranatunga , an opposition legislator , also lost .

Sri Lanka's ruling Rajapaksa brothers secured a two-thirds majority in a parliamentary election that will allow them to rewrite the constitution and increase their power, final results showed Friday.
Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa (L) and his eldest son and parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa (C) on August 7, 2020, after Sri Lanka's parliamentary election results.
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The United States, which had been highly critical of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's previous administration, immediately called on the new government to respect human rights and the rule of law.
Rajapaksa's Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP) won 145 seats in Wednesday's election and can count on at least five allies in the new 225-member legislature, according to Election Commission results.
Officials said Rajapaksa, 74, will be sworn in as premier by his 71-year-old brother Gotabaya, the island nation's president, at a Buddhist temple near the capital on Sunday.
Gotabaya was elected president in November, setting up the latest return of the family who have dominated the island's politics for the past two decades.
The new government faces huge economic challenges, with the Asian Development Bank forecasting a 6.1 percent contraction of the economy this year.
The Rajapakas went into the polls seeking a super majority to carry out a promised roll-back of constitutional changes, including the scrapping of independent institutions running the judiciary, the public services, the police and elections.
Observers say the siblings -- renowned for their ruthless crushing of Tamil separatists to end a decades-old conflict in 2009 -- can now overturn the reforms made by a previous administration.
"We hope the government will renew its commitments to building an inclusive economic recovery, upholding human rights and the rule of law," the US embassy said in a statement.
The United States moved a resolution against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council in 2013 accusing the then Rajapaksa government of failing to investigate alleged war crimes while crushing the Tamil rebels in 2009.
Despite the international concerns, the no-holds-barred military campaign made the Rajapaksas hugely popular among the country's Sinhalese-Buddhist majority.
And Sri Lanka's strategic position in the Indian Ocean has made it a target of renewed Indian overtures.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Mahinda to congratulate him even before the final results were announced. Rajapaksa said in a tweet that he looked forward to working closely with Modi.
India watched anxiously when Mahinda leaned heavily on China for political and financial support when he was president from 2005 to 2015.
Reforms roll-back
The Rajapaksa brothers will unveil their new cabinet on Monday at a ceremony in front of the Temple of the Tooth, the country's most sacred Buddhist shrine.
Much focus will be on Mahinda's son, Namal, and his elder brother Chamal, 77, who were also elected along with two nephews to the new parliament, which will have its first session on August 20.
Mahinda was president from 2005 to 2015 but was ousted after a revolt within his party and a public backlash against alleged nepotism, corruption and suppression of dissent.
Gotabaya -- a former army officer dubbed "The Terminator" by his own family -- won comfortably in November's presidential election, running on a law-and-order ticket while capitalising on government infighting.
He swiftly appointed Mahinda as his prime minister.
Since then, Sri Lankans have largely embraced their populist platform, with the brothers riding a nationalist wave that followed Easter 2019 suicide bombings by Muslim radicals in which 279 people died.
Decimated
Wednesday's vote was twice postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Turnout was still more than 75 percent of the 16 million electorate despite strict social distancing measures.
The election has left the splintered opposition decimated. Former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe lost his constituency. His party, which had 106 seats, was reduced to just one.
A breakaway faction from Wickremesinghe's party was a distant second with 54 seats.
The moderate Tamil National Alliance (TNA) saw its seats reduced from 16 to 10.
Former cricket World Cup-winning skipper Arjuna Ranatunga, an opposition legislator, also lost.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-08-07--Trump reimposes tariffs on raw Canadian aluminum, Ottawa vows retaliation

US President Donald Trump speaks at a Whirlpool Corporation washing machine factory in Clyde , Ohio , US on August 6 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump on Thursday moved to reimpose 10 % tariffs on some Canadian aluminum products to protect U.S. industry from a `` surge '' in imports , angering Ottawa and some U.S. business groups .
Canada pledged retaliation as tensions heightened between the close allies just weeks after a new continental trade deal between the United States , Mexico and Canada came into effect .
During a speech at a Whirlpool Corp washing machine factory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First '' trade agenda , Trump said he signed a proclamation reimposing the `` Section 232 '' national security tariffs .
The step was `` absolutely necessary to defend our aluminum industry , '' he said .
Ohio is a critical swing state that Trump won in 2016 .
Polling shows a tight race with Democrat Joe Biden in the state ahead of this year 's Nov. 3 presidential election .
Trump trails the former vice president in national polls and is competing with him for blue-collar working class voters .
The tariff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters he intends to fight for their jobs and upend trade policy further if he remains in office .
But some prominent business groups criticized the move as counterproductive and unhelpful to U.S. interests .
The U.S. Trade Representative 's office said the 10 % tariffs apply to raw , un-alloyed aluminum produced at smelters .
The tariffs do not apply to downstream aluminum products .
`` Several months ago , my administration agreed to lift those tariffs in return for a promise from the Canadian government that its aluminum industry would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all our aluminum jobs , which is exactly what they 've done , '' Trump said .
`` Canadian aluminum producers have broken their commitment . ''
Canada has a natural advantage in primary aluminum production because of its ample supply of hydroelectric power .
Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said the tariffs would hurt workers and regional economies already hit by the coronavirus pandemic and pledged Ottawa would retaliate as it had done in 2018 , when Trump first imposed punitive measures on Canadian steel and aluminum .
`` In response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to swiftly impose dollar-for-dollar countermeasures , '' Freeland said in a statement .
Freeland - in overall charge of relations with the United States - will formally respond to the tariffs at 11 am ( 1500 GMT ) on Friday , her office said in a statement .
Rio Tinto , Canada 's largest aluminum producer , said the tariffs are `` unfortunate '' as they only increase prices for U.S. consumers and undermine market confidence in secure supplies of aluminum in North America .
`` We are working with our U.S. customers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ integrated supply of aluminium in North America , '' a Rio Tinto spokesman said .
In 2018 , Canada slapped tariffs on C $ 16.6 billion ( $ 12.5 billion ) worth of American goods ranging from bourbon to ketchup .
Trump lifted the sanctions in 2019 .
Trump peppered his remarks with criticism of Biden and predicted `` depression time '' if the Democrat won , higher taxes and more regulations .
`` To be a strong nation , America must be a manufacturing nation and not be led by a bunch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national industrial base , '' Trump said .
Trump has sparred with close U.S. allies over trade throughout his presidency .
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce called the move `` a step in the wrong direction '' that would raise costs on companies and consumers .
The Aluminum Association , which says it represents companies that produce 70 % of the aluminum and aluminum products shipped in North America , said the move undermined the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement at a time when domestic demand was already down nearly 25 % year-to-date .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aluminum , one of the few remaining U.S. primary aluminum smelting companies and which lobbied for the tariffs , said the move `` helps to secure continued domestic production of this vital strategic material '' .

President Donald Trump on Thursday moved to reimpose 10% tariffs on some Canadian aluminum products to protect U.S. industry from a "surge" in imports, angering Ottawa and some U.S. business groups.
US President Donald Trump speaks at a Whirlpool Corporation washing machine factory in Clyde, Ohio, US on August 6, 2020.
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Canada pledged retaliation as tensions heightened between the close allies just weeks after a new continental trade deal between the United States, Mexico and Canada came into effect.
During a speech at a Whirlpool Corp washing machine factory in Ohio to tout his "America First" trade agenda, Trump said he signed a proclamation reimposing the "Section 232" national security tariffs. The step was "absolutely necessary to defend our aluminum industry," he said.
Ohio is a critical swing state that Trump won in 2016. Polling shows a tight race with Democrat Joe Biden in the state ahead of this year's Nov. 3 presidential election.
Trump trails the former vice president in national polls and is competing with him for blue-collar working class voters. The tariff announcement could be aimed at showing those voters he intends to fight for their jobs and upend trade policy further if he remains in office.
But some prominent business groups criticized the move as counterproductive and unhelpful to U.S. interests.
The U.S. Trade Representative's office said the 10% tariffs apply to raw, un-alloyed aluminum produced at smelters. The tariffs do not apply to downstream aluminum products.
"Several months ago, my administration agreed to lift those tariffs in return for a promise from the Canadian government that its aluminum industry would not flood our country with exports and kill all our aluminum jobs, which is exactly what they've done," Trump said. "Canadian aluminum producers have broken their commitment."
Canada has a natural advantage in primary aluminum production because of its ample supply of hydroelectric power.
Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said the tariffs would hurt workers and regional economies already hit by the coronavirus pandemic and pledged Ottawa would retaliate as it had done in 2018, when Trump first imposed punitive measures on Canadian steel and aluminum.
"In response to the American tariffs, Canada intends to swiftly impose dollar-for-dollar countermeasures," Freeland said in a statement.
Freeland - in overall charge of relations with the United States - will formally respond to the tariffs at 11 am (1500 GMT) on Friday, her office said in a statement.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce criticises Trump move
Rio Tinto, Canada's largest aluminum producer, said the tariffs are "unfortunate" as they only increase prices for U.S. consumers and undermine market confidence in secure supplies of aluminum in North America.
"We are working with our U.S. customers to minimize any negative impacts to the integrated supply of aluminium in North America," a Rio Tinto spokesman said.
In 2018, Canada slapped tariffs on C$16.6 billion ($12.5 billion) worth of American goods ranging from bourbon to ketchup. Trump lifted the sanctions in 2019.
Trump peppered his remarks with criticism of Biden and predicted "depression time" if the Democrat won, higher taxes and more regulations.
"To be a strong nation, America must be a manufacturing nation and not be led by a bunch of fools. That means protecting our national industrial base," Trump said.
Trump has sparred with close U.S. allies over trade throughout his presidency.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce called the move "a step in the wrong direction" that would raise costs on companies and consumers.
The Aluminum Association, which says it represents companies that produce 70% of the aluminum and aluminum products shipped in North America, said the move undermined the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement at a time when domestic demand was already down nearly 25% year-to-date.
Michael Bless, chief executive of Century Aluminum, one of the few remaining U.S. primary aluminum smelting companies and which lobbied for the tariffs, said the move "helps to secure continued domestic production of this vital strategic material".
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-07--India's Covid-19 cases top 2 million as country reports highest one-day tally

A health worker uses a swab to collect a sample from a child at a local health centre to conduct a test for the coronavirus in New Delhi , India on August 7 , 2020 .
India , the country hardest hit in Asia by the coronavirus pandemic , reported on Friday a record daily jump in infections , taking its total number of cases over two million .
It is the third nation to pass that unwanted milestone , lagging behind only the United States and Brazil .
With infections spreading further to smaller towns and rural areas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to be months away from hitting its peak , putting more strain on an already overburdened healthcare system .
And authorities are having to deal with multiple outbreaks across a nation of 1.3 billion people .
`` A country of India 's size and diversity has multiple epidemics in different phases , '' said Rajib Dasgupta , head of the Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi .
The health ministry said on Friday there were 62,538 new infections , taking the country 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been posting an average of around 50,000 new cases a day since mid-June , but experts say its testing rate at 16,035 per million people is far too low .
Still , the government has taken some solace from the relatively low death rate , at about 2 % , with 41,585 deaths so far , though that figure will be understated as only deaths of people who have been tested for the virus are counted .
Epidemiologists say the epidemic in India is likely to be months away from hitting its peak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healthcare system under more strain .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi imposed a strict lockdown on March 25 , during the initial stages of the outbreak , causing mass movement of migrant workers from cities back to their villages .
Several states including Bihar in the east , where many migrants returned , have witnessed a surge in cases in recent weeks as the lockdown has been eased to salvage a sagging economy .

India, the country hardest hit in Asia by the coronavirus pandemic, reported on Friday a record daily jump in infections, taking its total number of cases over two million.
A health worker uses a swab to collect a sample from a child at a local health centre to conduct a test for the coronavirus in New Delhi, India on August 7, 2020.
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It is the third nation to pass that unwanted milestone, lagging behind only the United States and Brazil.
With infections spreading further to smaller towns and rural areas, experts say the epidemic in India is likely to be months away from hitting its peak, putting more strain on an already overburdened healthcare system.
And authorities are having to deal with multiple outbreaks across a nation of 1.3 billion people.
"A country of India's size and diversity has multiple epidemics in different phases," said Rajib Dasgupta, head of the Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.
The health ministry said on Friday there were 62,538 new infections, taking the country's total to 2.03 million.
India has been posting an average of around 50,000 new cases a day since mid-June, but experts say its testing rate at 16,035 per million people is far too low.
Still, the government has taken some solace from the relatively low death rate, at about 2%, with 41,585 deaths so far, though that figure will be understated as only deaths of people who have been tested for the virus are counted.
Epidemiologists say the epidemic in India is likely to be months away from hitting its peak, which will put an already overburdened healthcare system under more strain.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi imposed a strict lockdown on March 25, during the initial stages of the outbreak, causing mass movement of migrant workers from cities back to their villages.
Several states including Bihar in the east, where many migrants returned, have witnessed a surge in cases in recent weeks as the lockdown has been eased to salvage a sagging economy.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-07--The strange history of the chemical cargo that caused the Beirut blast

Lebanese army soldiers stand guard in front of destroyed ships at the scene where an explosion hit on Tuesday the seaport of Beirut , Lebanon , Thursday , Aug. 6 , 2020 .
Thousands of tonnes of ammonium nitrate , believed to be responsible for the devastating explosion in Beirut on Tuesday , have been traced back by journalists to a Moldovan-flagged boat that was supposed to deliver the chemicals to Mozambique .
An impecunious crew living as “ hostages on a floating bomb ” and repeated requests to the Lebanese authorities to shift the cargo , which went unheeded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s devastating story .
The story that led to the tragic explosion in Beirut port on Tuesday began more than six years ago , 1,300 kilometres from the Lebanese capital .
The Moldovan-flagged vessel Rhosus left the port of Batumi , Georgia , with 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate on board .
It never reached its intended destination , Mozambique , where the cargo was supposed to be sold to a factory manufacturing explosives for civilian use .
Thus , the ammonium nitrate – which is now seen as the cause of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people and injured at least 5,000 – should never have ended up at Beirut port .
But a combination of mismanagement of the ship , technical problems and legal complications kept the cargo there .
The Lebanese authorities have not yet released the conclusions of the official investigation into the tragedy .
However , several publications – including The New York Times , CNN and Der Spiegel – were able to piece together a chronology of the facts .
The Rhosus belonged to Igor Grechushkin , a Russian businessman living in Cyprus who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transport ammonium nitrate to Mozambique , the ship ’ s captain Boris Prokoshev told The New York Times .
During a stopover in Greece , the boat ’ s Russian owner warned the crew that he lacked the funds to pay for salaries and maintenance costs on a journey through the Suez Canal .
So he asked them to make their way to Beirut , where he intended to receive more money to transport extra cargo , Der Spiegel reported .
> > ‘ Beirut is destroyed , my heart is broken ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was a difficult crossing through the eastern Mediterranean , explained Prokoshev , who is now retired .
The ship was in a bad condition , he said , with a hole in the hull forcing the crew to regularly throw water out .
Contrary to its owner ’ s plans , the ship stayed in Beirut .
During an inspection of the Rhosus , the Lebanese port authority said that its papers were not in order and that the boat was not in a good enough condition to sail , CNN noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radar .
The crew lacked the resources to pay for shipping costs .
Without the means to maintain the boat or even buy food , the crew were “ hostages on a floating bomb ” , to quote a prescient headline on maritime news website Fleetmon in July 2014 .
Lebanon allowed six people to leave the country , keeping just four people in place , including the captain .
Prokoshev said he contacted the Russian embassy .
“ Do you expect President Putin to send special forces to get you out ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In desperation , Prokoshev sold some of the ship ’ s fuel to provide lawyers to argue his case , he told radio station Echo Moscow on Wednesday .
Eleven months after arriving in Beirut , the sailors finally won the legal right to go home , Charbel Dagher , one of the lawyers representing the crew , told specialist website ShipArrested in 2015 .
The 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate were then transferred to warehouse 12 in the port of Beirut .
They never moved from there .
Port officials say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the danger of keeping a stock of highly explosive products in a single hangar so close to the centre of Beirut .
Between 2014 and 2017 , six unsuccessful applications were made to the Lebanese courts , asking for permission to dispose of the ammonium nitrate , The New York Times reported .
“ In view of the serious danger of keeping these goods in the hangar in unsuitable climatic conditions , we reaffirm our request to please request the marine agency to re-export these goods immediately to preserve the safety of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or to look into agreeing to sell this amount , ” read one such letter , obtained by Al-Jazeera .
There was no response .
The port authorities say they proposed the cargo be offered to the Lebanese army or that it be sold to an explosive manufacturer .
But to no avail .
“ We were told the cargo would be sold in an auction , ” Hassan Koraytem , the general manager of Beirut ’ s port , told The New York Times .
“ But the auction never happened and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago , a team of inspectors sounded the alarm once again that there was enough ammonium nitrate to cause a massive explosion in Beirut , according to an anonymous source cited by Reuters .
Lebanese authorities announced their own inquiry into Tuesday 's explosion and a military prosecutor on Thursday said 16 people had been detained , including Koraytem , a judicial source told Agence France-Presse .
As for the ship , the Rhosus , Prokoshev learned that it sank in 2015 or 2016 in the port of Beirut .
But unlike the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without causing one of the worst non-nuclear explosions in history .
This article was translated from the original in French .

Thousands of tonnes of ammonium nitrate, believed to be responsible for the devastating explosion in Beirut on Tuesday, have been traced back by journalists to a Moldovan-flagged boat that was supposed to deliver the chemicals to Mozambique. An impecunious crew living as “hostages on a floating bomb” and repeated requests to the Lebanese authorities to shift the cargo, which went unheeded, are part of the cargo ship’s devastating story.
Lebanese army soldiers stand guard in front of destroyed ships at the scene where an explosion hit on Tuesday the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020.
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The story that led to the tragic explosion in Beirut port on Tuesday began more than six years ago, 1,300 kilometres from the Lebanese capital. The Moldovan-flagged vessel Rhosus left the port of Batumi, Georgia, with 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate on board. It never reached its intended destination, Mozambique, where the cargo was supposed to be sold to a factory manufacturing explosives for civilian use.
Thus, the ammonium nitrate – which is now seen as the cause of the disaster that killed at least 154 people and injured at least 5,000 – should never have ended up at Beirut port. But a combination of mismanagement of the ship, technical problems and legal complications kept the cargo there.
The Lebanese authorities have not yet released the conclusions of the official investigation into the tragedy. However, several publications – including The New York Times, CNN and Der Spiegel – were able to piece together a chronology of the facts.
‘Do you expect Putin to send special forces?’
The Rhosus belonged to Igor Grechushkin, a Russian businessman living in Cyprus who had been paid a million dollars to transport ammonium nitrate to Mozambique, the ship’s captain Boris Prokoshev told The New York Times.
During a stopover in Greece, the boat’s Russian owner warned the crew that he lacked the funds to pay for salaries and maintenance costs on a journey through the Suez Canal. So he asked them to make their way to Beirut, where he intended to receive more money to transport extra cargo, Der Spiegel reported.
>> ‘Beirut is destroyed, my heart is broken’: Locals in despair over Lebanon blast
It was a difficult crossing through the eastern Mediterranean, explained Prokoshev, who is now retired. The ship was in a bad condition, he said, with a hole in the hull forcing the crew to regularly throw water out.
Contrary to its owner’s plans, the ship stayed in Beirut. During an inspection of the Rhosus, the Lebanese port authority said that its papers were not in order and that the boat was not in a good enough condition to sail, CNN noted. Meanwhile Igor Grechushkin dropped off the radar. The crew lacked the resources to pay for shipping costs.
Without the means to maintain the boat or even buy food, the crew were “hostages on a floating bomb”, to quote a prescient headline on maritime news website Fleetmon in July 2014.
Lebanon allowed six people to leave the country, keeping just four people in place, including the captain. Prokoshev said he contacted the Russian embassy. “Do you expect President Putin to send special forces to get you out?” one of his interlocutors reportedly said.
‘The judiciary never acted’
In desperation, Prokoshev sold some of the ship’s fuel to provide lawyers to argue his case, he told radio station Echo Moscow on Wednesday. Eleven months after arriving in Beirut, the sailors finally won the legal right to go home, Charbel Dagher, one of the lawyers representing the crew, told specialist website ShipArrested in 2015.
The 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate were then transferred to warehouse 12 in the port of Beirut. They never moved from there. Port officials say they repeatedly alerted the Lebanese authorities to the danger of keeping a stock of highly explosive products in a single hangar so close to the centre of Beirut.
Between 2014 and 2017, six unsuccessful applications were made to the Lebanese courts, asking for permission to dispose of the ammonium nitrate, The New York Times reported. “In view of the serious danger of keeping these goods in the hangar in unsuitable climatic conditions, we reaffirm our request to please request the marine agency to re-export these goods immediately to preserve the safety of the port and those working in it, or to look into agreeing to sell this amount,” read one such letter, obtained by Al-Jazeera. There was no response.
The port authorities say they proposed the cargo be offered to the Lebanese army or that it be sold to an explosive manufacturer. But to no avail. “We were told the cargo would be sold in an auction,” Hassan Koraytem, the general manager of Beirut’s port, told The New York Times. “But the auction never happened and the judiciary never acted.”
Six months ago, a team of inspectors sounded the alarm once again that there was enough ammonium nitrate to cause a massive explosion in Beirut, according to an anonymous source cited by Reuters.
Lebanese authorities announced their own inquiry into Tuesday's explosion and a military prosecutor on Thursday said 16 people had been detained, including Koraytem, a judicial source told Agence France-Presse.
As for the ship, the Rhosus, Prokoshev learned that it sank in 2015 or 2016 in the port of Beirut. But unlike the ammonium nitrate, it went quietly – without causing one of the worst non-nuclear explosions in history.
This article was translated from the original in French.
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france24--2020-08-07--The governor of Beirut Marwan Abboud: 'This is like a genocide against the Lebanese people'

The governor of Beirut Marwan Abboud : 'This is like a genocide against the Lebanese people' The governor of Beirut @ @ @ @ @ interviewed by FRANCE 24 Arabic journalist Mirna Jammal .
They talked about the destruction , @ @ @ @ @ ’ s visit and how to protect Lebanese cultural heritage .
Asked how the guilty @ @ @ @ @ former judge said `` harshly '' , because it is a “ Lebanese genocide ” @

The governor of Beirut Marwan Abboud: 'This is like a genocide against the Lebanese people'
12:41 The governor of Beirut Marwan Abboud, interviewed by FRANCE 24 Arabic journalist Mirna Jammal. © FRANCE 24
By: Mirna JAMMAL
The governor of Beirut, Marwan Abboud, was interviewed by FRANCE 24 Arabic journalist Mirna Jammal. They talked about the destruction, air pollution, President Macron’s visit and how to protect Lebanese cultural heritage. Asked how the guilty should be punished, the former judge said "harshly", because it is a “Lebanese genocide”.


france24--2020-08-07--Lebanon's Hezbollah leader 'categorically denies' storing arms at Beirut blast site

Nasrallah said the US envoy was meddling in Lebanon and trying to provoke tensions , August 7 , 2020 .
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah on Friday strongly denied that his powerful Shiite movement had stored arms at Beirut 's port , describing the cataclysmic explosion there as `` a major tragedy '' .
`` We have nothing in the port : not an arms depot , nor a missile depot nor missiles nor rifles nor bombs nor bullets nor ( ammonium ) nitrate , '' Nasrallah said in a televised speech three days after the blast in the Lebanese capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He called the explosion a `` major tragedy and humanitarian catastrophe , '' saying it required a kind of response that would match its `` exceptional '' scale .
The blast injured at least 5,000 people and devastated entire districts of the capital , leaving some 300,000 people temporarily homeless .
An investigation by authorities has so far led to 21 arrests , as well as travel bans and asset freezes .
Authorities had said a fire at the port had ignited tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored there for years , but President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been caused by an attack .
Aoun rejected calls for an international probe while Nasrallah urged `` the army to investigate and announce its findings '' .
He said the Lebanese military is in a prime position to do so because it is seen as a `` trusted '' institution by people and politicians across the spectrum .
The Hezbollah leader warned against delays in the probe , saying : `` If the Lebanese state and the political class ... do not reach a conclusion in the investigations this means ... there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' International assistance swiftly flooded into Lebanon after the blast and French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday made a snap , but influential , visit to Beirut , where he pressed leaders for change and announced an international aid conference in the coming days .
He met with several Lebanese leaders , including Hezbollah representatives on his one-day trip .
Nasrallah praised the international community for its outpouring of support in the wake of the blast , but singled out Macron 's visit as `` the most significant '' .
`` We look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of sympathy towards Lebanon , '' he said .
Hezbollah is the only group not to have disarmed after Lebanon 's 1975-1990 civil war , and it fought Israeli troops who occupied southern Lebanon until 2000 .
It commands a majority in government and parliament along with its political allies .
Hezbollah has also been a key ally of President Bashar al-Assad in neighbouring Syria , where it fights alongside regime forces .

Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah on Friday strongly denied that his powerful Shiite movement had stored arms at Beirut's port, describing the cataclysmic explosion there as "a major tragedy".
Nasrallah said the US envoy was meddling in Lebanon and trying to provoke tensions, August 7, 2020.
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"We have nothing in the port: not an arms depot, nor a missile depot nor missiles nor rifles nor bombs nor bullets nor (ammonium) nitrate," Nasrallah said in a televised speech three days after the blast in the Lebanese capital that killed more than 150 people.
He called the explosion a "major tragedy and humanitarian catastrophe," saying it required a kind of response that would match its "exceptional" scale.
The blast injured at least 5,000 people and devastated entire districts of the capital, leaving some 300,000 people temporarily homeless.
An investigation by authorities has so far led to 21 arrests, as well as travel bans and asset freezes.
Authorities had said a fire at the port had ignited tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored there for years, but President Michel Aoun said Friday it could have been caused by an attack.
04:23
Aoun rejected calls for an international probe while Nasrallah urged "the army to investigate and announce its findings".
He said the Lebanese military is in a prime position to do so because it is seen as a "trusted" institution by people and politicians across the spectrum.
The Hezbollah leader warned against delays in the probe, saying: "If the Lebanese state and the political class... do not reach a conclusion in the investigations this means... there is no hope to build a state."
International assistance
International assistance swiftly flooded into Lebanon after the blast and French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday made a snap, but influential, visit to Beirut, where he pressed leaders for change and announced an international aid conference in the coming days.
He met with several Lebanese leaders, including Hezbollah representatives on his one-day trip.
Nasrallah praised the international community for its outpouring of support in the wake of the blast, but singled out Macron's visit as "the most significant".
"We look positively at any assistance and any expression of sympathy towards Lebanon," he said.
Hezbollah is the only group not to have disarmed after Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, and it fought Israeli troops who occupied southern Lebanon until 2000.
It commands a majority in government and parliament along with its political allies.
Hezbollah has also been a key ally of President Bashar al-Assad in neighbouring Syria, where it fights alongside regime forces.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-08-07--Unidentified gunmen kill about 20 in attack on cattle market in eastern Burkina Faso

A Burkina Faso soldier on patrol during the country 's cycling tour , in Ouahigouya , October 29 , 2018 @ @ @ @ @ 20 people in an attack on a cattle market in eastern Burkina Faso on Friday @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
No one claimed responsibility for the attack in the village of Fada @ @ @ @ @ army is carrying out a search operation .
Armed jihadist groups with links to al @ @ @ @ @ killed hundreds of people in attacks over the last year in the West African country @ @ @ @ @ a million to flee , and eroded government control in most areas outside the capital @ @ @ @ @ in an attack on another cattle market in the eastern village of Kompienga in May @

Unidentified gunmen killed about 20 people in an attack on a cattle market in eastern Burkina Faso on Friday, the government said in a statement.
A Burkina Faso soldier on patrol during the country's cycling tour, in Ouahigouya, October 29, 2018.
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No one claimed responsibility for the attack in the village of Fada N'Gourma, around which the army is carrying out a search operation.
Armed jihadist groups with links to al Qaeda and Islamic State have killed hundreds of people in attacks over the last year in the West African country, forced more than half a million to flee, and eroded government control in most areas outside the capital.
Gumen killed 25 people in an attack on another cattle market in the eastern village of Kompienga in May.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-07--Forced evacuations as glacier the size of a football pitch threatens Italian valley

This image taken from a video shows an aerial view of part of the Planpincieux Glacier , which lies under a massif of Mont Blanc , located in the Alps , August 7 , 2020 .
Experts were closely monitoring a Mont Blanc glacier on Friday , a day after they evacuated 75 tourists and residents amid fears the glacier could soon break apart and crash into a popular Italian Alpine valley .
Valerio Segor , a glacier expert in Valle d ’ Aosta , a region in northwestern Italy , told reporters on Friday that the next 72 hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which lies under a massif on the Italian side of Mont Blanc , the highest mountain in the Alps .
Those forced to evacuate came from homes and holiday lodgings in the Ferret Valley in the shadow of the glacier .
Tourists on Friday were barred from entering the scenic valley .
The glacier ’ s size has been likened to that of a soccer field under a 80-meter ( 265-foot ) high mass of ice .
Abrupt shifts in temperature from hot to cold to hot again are being blamed for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Segor says has a stream of water running beneath it .
The glacier 's state has been monitored since 2013 .
Last year saw similar concerns , but the glacier held on to its grip on the mountain at 2,600-2,800 meters ( 8,500-9,200 feet ) of altitude .
Lately , Planpincieux has been creeping downward at the rate of about 80-100 centimeters ( 32-40 inches ) each day , Segor said .
The Corriere della Sera newspaper quoted glacier expert Fabrizio Troilo as saying there is “ the danger it could give way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alpine refuge was still open for climbers who come from the French side of Mont Blanc , which is known in Italy as Monte Blanco .

Experts were closely monitoring a Mont Blanc glacier on Friday, a day after they evacuated 75 tourists and residents amid fears the glacier could soon break apart and crash into a popular Italian Alpine valley.
This image taken from a video shows an aerial view of part of the Planpincieux Glacier, which lies under a massif of Mont Blanc, located in the Alps, August 7, 2020.
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Valerio Segor, a glacier expert in Valle d’Aosta, a region in northwestern Italy, told reporters on Friday that the next 72 hours were critical for the Planpincieux Glacier, which lies under a massif on the Italian side of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps.
Those forced to evacuate came from homes and holiday lodgings in the Ferret Valley in the shadow of the glacier. Tourists on Friday were barred from entering the scenic valley.
The glacier’s size has been likened to that of a soccer field under a 80-meter (265-foot) high mass of ice. Abrupt shifts in temperature from hot to cold to hot again are being blamed for the precarious state of the glacier, which Segor says has a stream of water running beneath it.
Italian homes evacuated over risk of Mont Blanc glacier collapse: 500,000 cubic metres of ice in danger of sliding off the Planpincieux glacier https://t.co/Yryoe0Ypr6 pic.twitter.com/diwy3bRl0B — The Ice Age ❄🌞 (@Jamie_Woodward_) August 6, 2020
The glacier's state has been monitored since 2013. Last year saw similar concerns, but the glacier held on to its grip on the mountain at 2,600-2,800 meters (8,500-9,200 feet) of altitude.
Lately, Planpincieux has been creeping downward at the rate of about 80-100 centimeters (32-40 inches) each day, Segor said.
The Corriere della Sera newspaper quoted glacier expert Fabrizio Troilo as saying there is “the danger it could give way in an instant.”
Corriere said an Alpine refuge was still open for climbers who come from the French side of Mont Blanc, which is known in Italy as Monte Blanco.
(AP)
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france24--2020-08-07--At least 17 killed as Air India Express plane skids off runway in India

The Air India Express jet skidded off the runway at Kozhikode airport in the southern state of Kerala , India .
( File photo ) At least 17 people were killed on Friday when a passenger jet ripped in two after it overshot and skidded off the runway upon landing in southern India , officials said .
Dozens of people were also injured , 15 of them seriously , after the Air India Express Boeing 737 from Dubai – a coronavirus evacuation flight – plunged down a slope in heavy rain on its second attempt to land in Kozhikode .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 190 passengers and crew were on board the plane , which left from Dubai and landed at Kozhikode airport in the southern state of Kerala .
Television pictures showed part of the fuselage of the jet ripped apart , although there was no sign of any fire .
`` I can confirm at least 14 deaths overall .
Another 15 passengers have critical injuries .
It is still a developing situation , '' senior local policeman Abdul Karim told AFP .
`` We have at least 89 people , many of them with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals .
The ambulances are still coming in , '' said Sujith Das , another senior police official .
`` We have been told that all those who have survived the crash also have some form of injuries . ''
One of those killed was one of the two pilots , a Kerala state deputy said .
Aviation regulator DGCA said the plane skidded off the end of the runway and `` fell down in the valley and broke down in two pieces '' .
An Air India Express spokesperson said the aircraft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One television channel reported there had been a problem with the jet 's landing gear .
'No fire at time of landing' Air India Express said in a statement that there was `` no fire reported at the time of landing '' .
It said there were 174 adult passengers , 10 infants , two pilots and five cabin crew on board the aircraft .
`` As per the initial reports , rescue operations are on and passengers are being taken to hospital for medical care , '' it said .
An emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anonymity , told AFP : `` Rescue operations are on but the rains are making it difficult . ''
Television pictures showed emergency services personnel working in the dark and spraying the wreckage with water .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences : `` My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones .
May the injured recover at the earliest ...
Authorities are at the spot , providing all assistance to the affected . ''
The last major plane crash in India was in 2010 when an Air India Express @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the runway and burst into flames .
The crash killed 158 people and left eight survivors .
Kerala has been battered by heavy rains in recent days .
At least 15 people were killed on Friday after a landslide triggered by heavy rains flattened a row of huts elsewhere in the state .
Around 50 other people were feared trapped in the debris .
The dead included two children .

The death toll has risen to 18 people killed when a passenger jet ripped in two after it overshot and skidded off the runway upon landing in southern India on Friday, a senior government official said Saturday.
The Air India Express jet skidded off the runway at Kozhikode airport in the southern state of Kerala, India. (File photo)
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Dozens of people were also injured, 15 of them seriously, after the Air India Express Boeing 737 from Dubai – a coronavirus evacuation flight – plunged down a slope in heavy rain on its second attempt to land in Kozhikode.
According to the airline, more than 190 passengers and crew were on board the plane, which left from Dubai and landed at Kozhikode airport in the southern state of Kerala.
Television pictures showed part of the fuselage of the jet ripped apart, although there was no sign of any fire.
"We have at least 89 people, many of them with serious injuries, admitted at different Kozhikode hospitals. The ambulances are still coming in," said Sujith Das, a senior police official.
"We have been told that all those who have survived the crash also have some form of injuries."
One of those killed was one of the two pilots, a Kerala state deputy said.
Aviation regulator DGCA said the plane skidded off the end of the runway and "fell down in the valley and broke down in two pieces".
An Air India Express spokesperson said the aircraft appeared to have overshot the runway.
One television channel reported there had been a problem with the jet's landing gear.
'No fire at time of landing'
Air India Express said in a statement that there was "no fire reported at the time of landing".
It said there were 174 adult passengers, 10 infants, two pilots and five cabin crew on board the aircraft.
"As per the initial reports, rescue operations are on and passengers are being taken to hospital for medical care," it said.
An emergency services official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP: "Rescue operations are on but the rains are making it difficult."
Television pictures showed emergency services personnel working in the dark and spraying the wreckage with water.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences: "My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest... Authorities are at the spot, providing all assistance to the affected."
Pained by the plane accident in Kozhikode. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. Spoke to Kerala CM @vijayanpinarayi Ji regarding the situation. Authorities are at the spot, providing all assistance to the affected. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 7, 2020
The last major plane crash in India was in 2010 when an Air India Express Boeing 737-800 from Dubai to Mangalore overshot the runway and burst into flames. The crash killed 158 people and left eight survivors.
Kerala has been battered by heavy rains in recent days.
At least 15 people were killed on Friday after a landslide triggered by heavy rains flattened a row of huts elsewhere in the state. Around 50 other people were feared trapped in the debris. The dead included two children.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-08-07--US imposes sanctions on Hong Kong leader Lam and other Chinese authorities

The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam , the territory 's current and former police chiefs and eight other officials for their role in curtailing political freedoms in the territory .
The sanctions were imposed under an executive order U.S. President Donald Trump signed last month to punish China for its moves against dissent in Hong Kong and are the latest action by his administration against Beijing in the run-up to his November re-election bid .
As well as Lam , the sanctions target Hong Kong Police commissioner Chris Tang and his predecessor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hong Kong 's secretary of security , and Teresa Cheng , the justice secretary , the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement .
It said Beijing 's imposition of draconian national security legislation had undermined Hong Kong 's autonomy and allowed mainland security services to operate with impunity , `` setting the groundwork for censorship of any individuals or outlets that are deemed unfriendly to China . ''
`` Carrie Lam is the chief executive directly responsible for implementing Beijing ’ s policies of suppression of freedom and democratic processes , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stands with the people of Hong Kong and we will use our tools and authorities to target those undermining their autonomy , ” Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin said in the statement .
The sanctions freeze any U.S. asset of the officials and generally bar Americans from doing business with them .
Tensions between the United States and China have been increasing daily .
China 's foreign ministry said on Friday it firmly opposes executive orders that Trump announced this week to ban U.S. transactions with the Chinese owners of the WeChat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carrie Lam postponed a Sept. 6 election to Hong Kong 's legislature by a year because of a rise in coronavirus cases , dealing a blow to the pro-democracy opposition that had hoped to make huge gains .
The United States condemned the action , saying it was the latest example of Beijing undermining democracy in the Chinese-ruled territory .
A source familiar with the matter said U.S. deliberations on the sanctions intensified after the election postponement .

The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, the territory's current and former police chiefs and eight other officials for their role in curtailing political freedoms in the territory.
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The sanctions were imposed under an executive order U.S. President Donald Trump signed last month to punish China for its moves against dissent in Hong Kong and are the latest action by his administration against Beijing in the run-up to his November re-election bid.
As well as Lam, the sanctions target Hong Kong Police commissioner Chris Tang and his predecessor Stephen Lo; John Lee Ka-chiu, Hong Kong's secretary of security, and Teresa Cheng, the justice secretary, the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement.
Breaking: US sanction list of Hong Kong and Chinese officials: Chief executive Carrie Lam, CE office head Eric Chan, Sec for Justice Teresa Cheng, Sec for Security John Lee, Police chief Chris Tang and ex-chief Stephen Lo, Constitutional Sec Erick Tsang /1https://t.co/b8e9T2DvDE pic.twitter.com/qNvw0upO5m — Kris Cheng (@krislc) August 7, 2020
It said Beijing's imposition of draconian national security legislation had undermined Hong Kong's autonomy and allowed mainland security services to operate with impunity, "setting the groundwork for censorship of any individuals or outlets that are deemed unfriendly to China."
"Carrie Lam is the chief executive directly responsible for implementing Beijing’s policies of suppression of freedom and democratic processes," it said.
“The United States stands with the people of Hong Kong and we will use our tools and authorities to target those undermining their autonomy,” Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin said in the statement.
Ban business with US
The sanctions freeze any U.S. asset of the officials and generally bar Americans from doing business with them.
Tensions between the United States and China have been increasing daily. China's foreign ministry said on Friday it firmly opposes executive orders that Trump announced this week to ban U.S. transactions with the Chinese owners of the WeChat and TikTok apps.
Last month, Carrie Lam postponed a Sept. 6 election to Hong Kong's legislature by a year because of a rise in coronavirus cases, dealing a blow to the pro-democracy opposition that had hoped to make huge gains.
The United States condemned the action, saying it was the latest example of Beijing undermining democracy in the Chinese-ruled territory.
A source familiar with the matter said U.S. deliberations on the sanctions intensified after the election postponement.
(REUTERS)
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