france24--2020-07-15--Tunisia’s Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh resigns

In this file photo , Tunisia 's Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh speaks during a handover ceremony in Tunis , Tunisia @ @ @ @ @ .
Tunisian Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh resigned on Wednesday , according to two official sources @ @ @ @ @ be named , after a row with the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party .
Fakhfakh , who @ @ @ @ @ of conflict of interest , has had strained relations with Ennahdha , the biggest party @ @ @ @ @ legislative elections .
Ennahdha had earlier Wednesday tabled a no-confidence motion against Fakhfakh , who @ @ @ @ @ winning approval from lawmakers following four months of deadlock .
Ennahdha came top in the @ @ @ @ @ short of a majority and eventually agreed to join a coalition government .
The party @ @ @ @ @ premier but he failed to win the support of parliament , leading President Kais Saied @ @ @ @ @ Fakhfakh for the post .
Fakhfakh is under investigation over alleged failure to hand over @ @ @ @ @ in private companies that have won public contracts .

Tunisian Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh resigned on Wednesday, according to two official sources who did not want to be named, after a row with the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party.
In this file photo, Tunisia's Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh speaks during a handover ceremony in Tunis, Tunisia on February 28, 2020.
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Fakhfakh, who is under investigation over allegations of conflict of interest, has had strained relations with Ennahdha, the biggest party in parliament, since October legislative elections.
Ennahdha had earlier Wednesday tabled a no-confidence motion against Fakhfakh, who took office in February after winning approval from lawmakers following four months of deadlock.
Ennahdha came top in the October polls but fell far short of a majority and eventually agreed to join a coalition government.
The party initially nominated an independent for premier but he failed to win the support of parliament, leading President Kais Saied to name former finance minister Fakhfakh for the post.
Fakhfakh is under investigation over alleged failure to hand over control of shares he owns in private companies that have won public contracts.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-16--John Bolton: ‘I am not going to vote for the Republican Party nominee for president’

John Bolton : ‘ I am not going to vote for the Republican Party nominee for president ’ In his @ @ @ @ @ It Happened '' , which the Trump administration tried to block from publication , John @ @ @ @ @ of the current occupant of the White House .
As Donald Trump 's national security @ @ @ @ @ Bolton was a first-hand witness to the decisions of the US president , whom he @ @ @ @ @ favours to dictators he liked '' .

John Bolton: ‘I am not going to vote for the Republican Party nominee for president’
13:09 Former US national security adviser John Bolton. © FRANCE 24
By: Mirna JAMMAL
In his book "The Room Where It Happened", which the Trump administration tried to block from publication, John Bolton paints an uncompromising picture of the current occupant of the White House. As Donald Trump's national security adviser for 17 months, Bolton was a first-hand witness to the decisions of the US president, whom he accuses of offering "personal favours to dictators he liked".


france24--2020-07-16--Nations scale back re-opening plans as Covid-19 numbers back on upswing

Coronavirus infections were surging across the globe on Wednesday , forcing several countries to put the brakes on reopening or impose new restrictions on their weary populations .
The number of Covid-19 cases worldwide topped 13.4 million and more than 581,000 deaths have been reported since the virus emerged late last year in China .
With the situation predicted to worsen in the United States , Walmart , the world 's largest retailer , said it would require customers to wear masks at all its stores to help stop the virus spreading .
Venezuela , four days after announcing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country to reimpose localized lockdown measures , including a `` radical quarantine '' in the capital Caracas ; while Bolivia 's La Paz department said it would undergo a four-day total quarantine .
Latin America topped 150,000 deaths Wednesday , becoming the world 's second hardest-hit region after Europe , where a total of 203,793 people have died .
Brazil accounted for roughly half of Latin America 's deaths , with more than 1,200 new fatalities recorded Wednesday bringing the total toll since the outbreak began there to 75,366 .
In Ireland , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the lockdown because of a surge in new cases , with restrictions to remain in place until August 10 and the government also mandating the wearing of masks in shops .
The United States meanwhile set a new record Wednesday with more than 67,000 cases registered in the previous 24 hours .
The country has the world 's highest death toll at more than 137,000 fatalities , and officials are scrambling to roll back reopenings that were meant to revive economies .
The latest research models show the number of US deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next month .
`` We 've got to almost reset this and say , 'Okay , let 's stop this nonsense , ' '' Anthony Fauci , the top US infectious disease expert , told The Atlantic .
In the US state of Oklahoma , the Republican governor , Kevin Stitt , who has often declined to wear a mask , said he had tested positive for Covid-19 .
The use of masks to slow the spread of the virus has become a political flashpoint in the US , where Trump had resisted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mocked the trend .
Stitt 's state recorded a single-day record of 1,075 new cases , while its neighbor to the south , Texas , reported 10,791 new cases and 110 new fatalities -- both `` new highs . ''
Cases and death tolls continue to mount across the United States , particularly in the south and west , with Florida and California also hard hit .
Walmart meanwhile said it will require shoppers at its more than 5,300 stores to wear masks starting on July 20 , joining a growing group of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We know this is a simple step everyone can take for their safety and the safety of others in our facilities , '' Walmart 's US chief operating officer Dacona Smith said .
Amid the grim forecasts , American biotech firm Moderna said it would start the final stage of human trials for its vaccine candidate on July 27 , after promising results from earlier testing .
Moderna is considered a leader in the global race to find a vaccine , and while its study should run until October 2022 , preliminary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the Asia-Pacific region , which had been somewhat successful in fighting the pandemic , there was fresh evidence of the deadly threat still posed by the virus .
Hong Kong 's bars , gyms , and beauty salons closed again Wednesday and a ban on gatherings of more than four people came into force as the city battled a fresh outbreak .
There was alarm in Japan too , where Tokyo 's governor warned that the capital was on its highest virus alert level after a spike in infections .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with a population of around 125 million , announced a 15-day virus lockdown starting Thursday .
Authorities in Australia , meanwhile , pleaded Wednesday with the public to heed social distancing guidelines , with roughly five million people in Melbourne in lockdown since last week in a bid to contain a new outbreak .
`` A particular concern for us is the ongoing parties and gatherings , '' said Rick Nugent , acting assistant commissioner of Victoria state .
`` Please stop . ''
Face masks will also become compulsory in England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in South Africa , where the number of cases topped 300,000 , a nationwide curfew was reimposed .
On Thursday Spain will honour its 28,400 victims at a state ceremony to be attended by top EU and World Health Organization figures .
The country is already seeing a surge in cases barely three weeks after coming out of lockdown .

Coronavirus infections were surging across the globe on Wednesday, forcing several countries to put the brakes on reopening or impose new restrictions on their weary populations.
Advertising Read more
The number of Covid-19 cases worldwide topped 13.4 million and more than 581,000 deaths have been reported since the virus emerged late last year in China.
With the situation predicted to worsen in the United States, Walmart, the world's largest retailer, said it would require customers to wear masks at all its stores to help stop the virus spreading.
Venezuela, four days after announcing a loosening of restrictions, became the latest country to reimpose localized lockdown measures, including a "radical quarantine" in the capital Caracas; while Bolivia's La Paz department said it would undergo a four-day total quarantine.
Latin America topped 150,000 deaths Wednesday, becoming the world's second hardest-hit region after Europe, where a total of 203,793 people have died.
Brazil accounted for roughly half of Latin America's deaths, with more than 1,200 new fatalities recorded Wednesday bringing the total toll since the outbreak began there to 75,366.
In Ireland, Prime Minister Micheal Martin delayed the end of the lockdown because of a surge in new cases, with restrictions to remain in place until August 10 and the government also mandating the wearing of masks in shops.
The United States meanwhile set a new record Wednesday with more than 67,000 cases registered in the previous 24 hours.
The country has the world's highest death toll at more than 137,000 fatalities, and officials are scrambling to roll back reopenings that were meant to revive economies.
'Let's stop this nonsense'
The latest research models show the number of US deaths projected to rise to over 150,000 by next month.
"We've got to almost reset this and say, 'Okay, let's stop this nonsense,'" Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious disease expert, told The Atlantic.
In the US state of Oklahoma, the Republican governor, Kevin Stitt, who has often declined to wear a mask, said he had tested positive for Covid-19.
The use of masks to slow the spread of the virus has become a political flashpoint in the US, where Trump had resisted wearing one until recently and at times mocked the trend.
Stitt's state recorded a single-day record of 1,075 new cases, while its neighbor to the south, Texas, reported 10,791 new cases and 110 new fatalities -- both "new highs."
Cases and death tolls continue to mount across the United States, particularly in the south and west, with Florida and California also hard hit.
Walmart meanwhile said it will require shoppers at its more than 5,300 stores to wear masks starting on July 20, joining a growing group of US businesses in mandating the protection.
"We know this is a simple step everyone can take for their safety and the safety of others in our facilities," Walmart's US chief operating officer Dacona Smith said.
Vaccine candidate trials
Amid the grim forecasts, American biotech firm Moderna said it would start the final stage of human trials for its vaccine candidate on July 27, after promising results from earlier testing.
Moderna is considered a leader in the global race to find a vaccine, and while its study should run until October 2022, preliminary results should be available long before then.
In the Asia-Pacific region, which had been somewhat successful in fighting the pandemic, there was fresh evidence of the deadly threat still posed by the virus.
Hong Kong's bars, gyms, and beauty salons closed again Wednesday and a ban on gatherings of more than four people came into force as the city battled a fresh outbreak.
There was alarm in Japan too, where Tokyo's governor warned that the capital was on its highest virus alert level after a spike in infections.
That came after the Indian state of Bihar, with a population of around 125 million, announced a 15-day virus lockdown starting Thursday.
'Please stop'
Authorities in Australia, meanwhile, pleaded Wednesday with the public to heed social distancing guidelines, with roughly five million people in Melbourne in lockdown since last week in a bid to contain a new outbreak.
"A particular concern for us is the ongoing parties and gatherings," said Rick Nugent, acting assistant commissioner of Victoria state. "Please stop."
Face masks will also become compulsory in England's shops from next week, while in South Africa, where the number of cases topped 300,000, a nationwide curfew was reimposed.
On Thursday Spain will honour its 28,400 victims at a state ceremony to be attended by top EU and World Health Organization figures. The country is already seeing a surge in cases barely three weeks after coming out of lockdown.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-16--Amid decline in poll numbers ahead of election, Trump replaces campaign manager

US President Donald Trump arrives to speak at an event at the UPS Airport Facility in Atlanta , Georgia , on July 15 , 2020 .
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst President Donald Trump shook up his campaign staff amid sinking poll numbers less than four months before the election , replacing campaign manager Brad Parscale with veteran GOP operative Bill Stepien .
“ I am pleased to announce that Bill Stepien has been promoted to the role of Trump Campaign Manager , ” Trump said Wednesday on Facebook .
“ Brad Parscale , who has been with me for a very long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and data strategies , will remain in that role , while being a Senior Advisor to the campaign.
” Trump and Parscale ’ s relationship had been increasingly strained , with the president annoyed by the publicity Parscale had garnered in the role .
But the final straw appeared to be a Tulsa , Oklahoma , rally last month that drew an unexpectedly low crowd of about 6,200 people after Parscale had bragged that more than a million people had requested tickets .
The president was furious .
The shakeup injected familiar turmoil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which had so far largely avoided the regular staff churn that dominated the president ’ s 2016 campaign and his White House .
It comes as Trump has been struggling in his reelection campaign against presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , with the nation facing health and economic crises during a pandemic that has killed more than 135,000 Americans .
The staff change was not expected to alter the day-to-day running of the campaign .
News of the shuffle was delivered to Parscale on Wednesday afternoon by White House adviser and Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political novice , ran Trump ’ s digital advertising in 2016 and was credited with helping bring about his surprise victory that year .
Stepien has been in politics for years , working for former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie and serving as Trump ’ s national field director in 2016 .
Parscale had been increasingly sidelined in the weeks since the Tulsa rally and as the president 's public and private poll numbers have taken a hit amid the pandemic .
Speculation had been rampant about who might be promoted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Trump strategist Steve Bannon floated .
Parscale is a close ally of Kushner , who wields ultimate control over the campaign .
A Florida resident , he had not been a regular presence of late in the campaign 's Arlington , Virginia , headquarters , sparking some resentments among staffers .
Rather than parting ways completely , Parscale was retained in part because of the difficulty the campaign would have faced in rebuilding its digital advertising operation so close to the Nov. 3 general election .
While the Republican National Committee owned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voter modeling and outreach tools , Parscale ran most of the microtargeted online advertising that Trump aides believed were key in 2016 .
Parscale ’ s digital advertising firm was among the campaign ’ s most significant vendors , and some in Trump ’ s orbit have alleged that the former campaign manager was profiting off the president ’ s reelection .
Parscale has repeatedly denied the claims .
Trump has been pressed by allies in recent months to expand his political circle and more forcefully define his run against Biden .
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stepien and returned former communications chief Jason Miller to his campaign , taking away some of Parscale 's clout and influence .
Biden also shuffled his campaign team , albeit much earlier in the cycle , amid a disastrous stretch in his primary run .
For Biden , the moves marked genuine shakeups that expanded and changed how his campaign operated .
Biden elevated Anita Dunn , effectively displacing his first campaign manager , Greg Schultz , after a fourth-place Iowa finish and as he was already headed for a second embarrassing finish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden at the outset of his campaign after having served President Barack Obama as a top communications adviser .
With Dunn ’ s urging , Biden hired his current campaign manager , Jen O ’ Malley Dillon , in March after Dunn and others helped resurrect Biden in Nevada and South Carolina and put him on the path to the nomination .
Schultz is now at the Democratic National Committee , helping lead the joint battleground strategy among the national party , the Biden campaign and state parties .

President Donald Trump shook up his campaign staff amid sinking poll numbers less than four months before the election, replacing campaign manager Brad Parscale with veteran GOP operative Bill Stepien.
US President Donald Trump arrives to speak at an event at the UPS Airport Facility in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 15, 2020. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
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“I am pleased to announce that Bill Stepien has been promoted to the role of Trump Campaign Manager,” Trump said Wednesday on Facebook. “Brad Parscale, who has been with me for a very long time and has led our tremendous digital and data strategies, will remain in that role, while being a Senior Advisor to the campaign.”
Trump and Parscale’s relationship had been increasingly strained, with the president annoyed by the publicity Parscale had garnered in the role. But the final straw appeared to be a Tulsa, Oklahoma, rally last month that drew an unexpectedly low crowd of about 6,200 people after Parscale had bragged that more than a million people had requested tickets. The president was furious.
The shakeup injected familiar turmoil to Trump’s 2020 campaign, which had so far largely avoided the regular staff churn that dominated the president’s 2016 campaign and his White House. It comes as Trump has been struggling in his reelection campaign against presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, with the nation facing health and economic crises during a pandemic that has killed more than 135,000 Americans.
The staff change was not expected to alter the day-to-day running of the campaign. News of the shuffle was delivered to Parscale on Wednesday afternoon by White House adviser and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Parscale, a political novice, ran Trump’s digital advertising in 2016 and was credited with helping bring about his surprise victory that year. Stepien has been in politics for years, working for former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and serving as Trump’s national field director in 2016.
Parscale had been increasingly sidelined in the weeks since the Tulsa rally and as the president's public and private poll numbers have taken a hit amid the pandemic. Speculation had been rampant about who might be promoted to lead the operation, with names like former Trump strategist Steve Bannon floated.
Parscale is a close ally of Kushner, who wields ultimate control over the campaign. A Florida resident, he had not been a regular presence of late in the campaign's Arlington, Virginia, headquarters, sparking some resentments among staffers.
Rather than parting ways completely, Parscale was retained in part because of the difficulty the campaign would have faced in rebuilding its digital advertising operation so close to the Nov. 3 general election. While the Republican National Committee owned most of the campaign's data, voter modeling and outreach tools, Parscale ran most of the microtargeted online advertising that Trump aides believed were key in 2016.
Parscale’s digital advertising firm was among the campaign’s most significant vendors, and some in Trump’s orbit have alleged that the former campaign manager was profiting off the president’s reelection. Parscale has repeatedly denied the claims.
Trump has been pressed by allies in recent months to expand his political circle and more forcefully define his run against Biden. Last month, Trump announced a promotion for Stepien and returned former communications chief Jason Miller to his campaign, taking away some of Parscale's clout and influence.
Biden also shuffled his campaign team, albeit much earlier in the cycle, amid a disastrous stretch in his primary run. For Biden, the moves marked genuine shakeups that expanded and changed how his campaign operated.
Biden elevated Anita Dunn, effectively displacing his first campaign manager, Greg Schultz, after a fourth-place Iowa finish and as he was already headed for a second embarrassing finish in New Hampshire. Dunn had joined Biden at the outset of his campaign after having served President Barack Obama as a top communications adviser.
With Dunn’s urging, Biden hired his current campaign manager, Jen O’Malley Dillon, in March after Dunn and others helped resurrect Biden in Nevada and South Carolina and put him on the path to the nomination. Schultz is now at the Democratic National Committee, helping lead the joint battleground strategy among the national party, the Biden campaign and state parties.
(AP)
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france24--2020-07-16--DR Congo bloggers launch campaign to teach positive masculinity

A campaign in the DR Congo is fighting sexist attitudes .
A collective of bloggers and web activists in DR @ @ @ @ @ to fight deeply rooted sexist attitudes in the country and to promote positive masculinity .
@ @ @ @ @ using online tools and real-life workshops in its # VraiMobali ( # RealMan ) campaign @ @ @ @ @ .
The organisers are challenging long-held views about gender roles and are trying to deconstruct @ @ @ @ @ instead , promote an understanding of positive masculinity .
“ Men don ’ t lose @ @ @ @ @ , they don ’ t lose their masculinity by promoting women , ” one organiser @ @ @ @ @ called on the ministry of education to include gender equality in the school curriculum .
@ @ @ @ @ watch the report .

A collective of bloggers and web activists in DR Congo has launched a campaign to fight deeply rooted sexist attitudes in the country and to promote positive masculinity.
A campaign in the DR Congo is fighting sexist attitudes.
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The Habari bloggers collective is using online tools and real-life workshops in its #VraiMobali (#RealMan) campaign to raise awareness about sexism.
The organisers are challenging long-held views about gender roles and are trying to deconstruct stereotypes about manhood and, instead, promote an understanding of positive masculinity.
“Men don’t lose their masculinity by helping women, they don’t lose their masculinity by promoting women,” one organiser said.
The group has called on the ministry of education to include gender equality in the school curriculum.
Click on player above to watch the report.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-07-16--Battle over Huawei sanctions intensifies tensions between US and China

The United States on Wednesday cleared the way for sanctions on employees of telecom giant Huawei , expanding its pressure campaign on China , which summoned the US ambassador .
Tensions have soared between the world 's two largest economies on a growing range of fronts including Beijing 's clampdown on Hong Kong , with President Donald Trump on Tuesday ending the financial hub 's special trading privileges .
China shows no sign of backing down on Hong Kong , but the Trump administration has rejoiced in growing success at isolating Huawei , with Britain announcing a ban on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Pompeo announced that the United States would restrict US visas for employees of Huawei and other Chinese firms if they are involved in human rights abuses .
`` Telecommunications companies around the world should consider themselves on notice : If they are doing business with Huawei , they are doing business with human rights abusers , '' Pompeo said .
The United States accuses Huawei of working on the behest of Beijing and says that global security and personal data will be at risk if the company dominates development of the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Huawei was already responsible for rights abuses by letting China snoop on dissidents and abetting Beijing 's sweeping surveillance in the western region of Xinjiang , where rights groups say more than one million Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims are incarcerated .
US campaign in Europe Offering affordable internet in the developing world and moving rapidly on 5G , Huawei has so far largely weathered US prohibitions and pressure -- and reported double-digit revenue growth for the first half of the year .
The European Union has resisted blanket restrictions on Huawei .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ government agreed Tuesday to a phased ban after US sanctions blocked Huawei 's access to US chips .
Pompeo announced that he would visit Britain as well as Denmark starting Monday and raise China .
Robert O'Brien , the US national security advisor , brought up Huawei in his own talks with European counterparts in Paris , warning that the company could both spy on government secrets and sweep up vast amounts of personal data .
`` Europe is awakening to the threat of China , '' O'Brien told reporters .
`` Imagine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with elections if they knew everything about every single person on earth , '' he said .
Canada in 2018 acted on a US request and arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou , who faces extradition on charges of violating US sanctions on Iran .
Huawei rejects the US campaign and has called on Washington to show more evidence to prove the risks purportedly posed by the company .
China on Wednesday summoned the US ambassador , Terry Branstad , after Trump signed a law that paved the way for sanctions over the situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gross interference in China 's internal affairs and seriously violates international law and basic norms of international relations , '' the foreign ministry said in a statement .
China also vowed retaliatory measures over Trump 's signing of the Hong Kong Autonomy Act , which paves the way for sanctions against banks that do business with anyone seen as infringing on the city 's autonomy .
US lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the law , hoping that all but provincial Chinese banks will think twice before risking punishment in the world 's largest economy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ instructed the US government to treat Hong Kong no differently than mainland China on trade .
Beijing has pushed forward a tough security law that has sent a chill through Hong Kong , which was promised separate freedoms before Britain handed back the territory in 1997 .
In other recent moves , Pompeo restricted visas for Chinese officials over human rights in Xinjiang and rejected Beijing 's sweeping claims in the dispute-rife South China Sea .
Trump has also loudly blamed China for Covid-19 , news of which was suppressed when cases first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Critics at home and abroad accuse Trump of seeking to divert attention in an election year from his response to the crisis in the United States , which has suffered the highest death toll of any country .

The United States on Wednesday cleared the way for sanctions on employees of telecom giant Huawei, expanding its pressure campaign on China, which summoned the US ambassador.
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Tensions have soared between the world's two largest economies on a growing range of fronts including Beijing's clampdown on Hong Kong, with President Donald Trump on Tuesday ending the financial hub's special trading privileges.
China shows no sign of backing down on Hong Kong, but the Trump administration has rejoiced in growing success at isolating Huawei, with Britain announcing a ban on the leading Chinese company.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the United States would restrict US visas for employees of Huawei and other Chinese firms if they are involved in human rights abuses.
"Telecommunications companies around the world should consider themselves on notice: If they are doing business with Huawei, they are doing business with human rights abusers," Pompeo said.
The United States accuses Huawei of working on the behest of Beijing and says that global security and personal data will be at risk if the company dominates development of the world's fifth-generation internet.
Pompeo said that Huawei was already responsible for rights abuses by letting China snoop on dissidents and abetting Beijing's sweeping surveillance in the western region of Xinjiang, where rights groups say more than one million Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims are incarcerated.
US campaign in Europe
Offering affordable internet in the developing world and moving rapidly on 5G, Huawei has so far largely weathered US prohibitions and pressure -- and reported double-digit revenue growth for the first half of the year.
The European Union has resisted blanket restrictions on Huawei. But British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government agreed Tuesday to a phased ban after US sanctions blocked Huawei's access to US chips.
Pompeo announced that he would visit Britain as well as Denmark starting Monday and raise China.
Robert O'Brien, the US national security advisor, brought up Huawei in his own talks with European counterparts in Paris, warning that the company could both spy on government secrets and sweep up vast amounts of personal data.
"Europe is awakening to the threat of China," O'Brien told reporters.
"Imagine how a country like China could interfere with elections if they knew everything about every single person on earth," he said.
Canada in 2018 acted on a US request and arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, who faces extradition on charges of violating US sanctions on Iran.
Huawei rejects the US campaign and has called on Washington to show more evidence to prove the risks purportedly posed by the company.
'Gross interference'
China on Wednesday summoned the US ambassador, Terry Branstad, after Trump signed a law that paved the way for sanctions over the situation in Hong Kong.
"This is gross interference in China's internal affairs and seriously violates international law and basic norms of international relations," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
China also vowed retaliatory measures over Trump's signing of the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, which paves the way for sanctions against banks that do business with anyone seen as infringing on the city's autonomy.
US lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the law, hoping that all but provincial Chinese banks will think twice before risking punishment in the world's largest economy.
Trump also signed an executive order that instructed the US government to treat Hong Kong no differently than mainland China on trade.
Beijing has pushed forward a tough security law that has sent a chill through Hong Kong, which was promised separate freedoms before Britain handed back the territory in 1997.
In other recent moves, Pompeo restricted visas for Chinese officials over human rights in Xinjiang and rejected Beijing's sweeping claims in the dispute-rife South China Sea.
Trump has also loudly blamed China for Covid-19, news of which was suppressed when cases first emerged in Wuhan late last year.
Critics at home and abroad accuse Trump of seeking to divert attention in an election year from his response to the crisis in the United States, which has suffered the highest death toll of any country.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-16--Russian police detain over 140 anti-Putin protesters in Moscow

Police officers detain a man during a protest in Moscow , Russia , on July 15 , 2020 , against amendments to Russia 's Constitution and the results of a nationwide vote on constitutional reforms .
Russian police detained over 140 people including a high-profile Moscow deputy after Kremlin critics protested Wednesday against changes to the constitution , the OVD-Info monitor said .
The group , which tracks arrests at political protests , said 142 people were detained Wednesday evening .
Many people including journalists were put in police vehicles , AFP correspondents said from the scene .
An AFP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Galyamina , a prominent Moscow city councillor who has spearheaded a campaign against President Vladimir Putin 's controversial changes to the constitution , was among those detained together with her daughter , she said on Facebook .
The constitutional changes could see President Vladimir Putin stay in power for another 16 years .
Earlier Wednesday Galyamina and her allies gathered in Moscow 's central Pushkin Square despite rainy weather to collect signatures from hundreds of supporters against this month 's constitutional reforms , to contest them in court .
`` We are lodging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andrei Pivovarov told AFP as he gathered the signatures on the steps of a statue of national poet Alexander Pushkin dominating the square .
`` We are collecting signatures from across the country , '' he said .
Writing later on Twitter , Galyamina said they had gathered 5,000 signatures .
`` This is an excellent result , '' she said .
At one point the campaigners had to pause because they quickly ran out of paper , they said .
Some protesters brandished placards , while others chanted `` Russia without Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Activist Maria Alyokhina of Pussy Riot fame also turned up , calling the amendments a `` constitutional coup . ''
Earlier this month Putin , 67 , oversaw a deeply controversial seven-day vote that amended the constitution and now allows him to serve two more six-year terms after his mandate expires in 2024 .
The amendments also included populist measures such as an effective ban on gay marriage .
Leading opposition politician Alexei Navalny has said the poll had set `` a record in faking votes '' and the result had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ views '' .
Many in Pushkin Square said they had turned up to protest the changes championed by Putin who can now potentially stay in the Kremlin until 2036 .
`` I voted against , '' Inna Golovina , a 46-year-old accountant , told AFP .
`` People say the results were rigged . ''
Pavel Tarasov , a young Moscow city councillor representing the Communist Party , said he would like to leave his signature but the crowd was too big .
`` The results of the vote do not suit anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group of mostly young activists later split off and marched along central Moscow streets before many were roughly detained .
Galyamina was detained in Pushkin Square after the signature-collecting event was over .
Up to a thousand people gathered for a similar event in the second city of Saint Petersburg , an AFP correspondent said .
`` The authorities do whatever they want , people 's opinion does not interest anybody , '' lamented Andrei Stepanov , 50 .
`` We need to show in some way that we are against this .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Russian president to a `` pharaoh who is completely detached from reality '' .
`` This can all end badly for the country , '' he added .
Earlier Wednesday parliament 's lower house approved , at a key second reading , controversial legislation that allows elections to be held over three days , in a move the opposition said was aimed at further hollowing out democratic polls .
The amendments allow elections to be held outside polling stations and enable voters to cast ballots in various public spaces .
During the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stations were set up at unlikely locations including buses , tents and street benches .
The voting process , which was not monitored by proper election observers , was ridiculed on social media .

Russian police detained over 140 people including a high-profile Moscow deputy after Kremlin critics protested Wednesday against changes to the constitution, the OVD-Info monitor said.
Police officers detain a man during a protest in Moscow, Russia, on July 15, 2020, against amendments to Russia's Constitution and the results of a nationwide vote on constitutional reforms.
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The group, which tracks arrests at political protests, said 142 people were detained Wednesday evening. Many people including journalists were put in police vehicles, AFP correspondents said from the scene.
An AFP journalist was also briefly detained.
Yulia Galyamina, a prominent Moscow city councillor who has spearheaded a campaign against President Vladimir Putin's controversial changes to the constitution, was among those detained together with her daughter, she said on Facebook.
The constitutional changes could see President Vladimir Putin stay in power for another 16 years.
Earlier Wednesday Galyamina and her allies gathered in Moscow's central Pushkin Square despite rainy weather to collect signatures from hundreds of supporters against this month's constitutional reforms, to contest them in court.
"We are lodging a class action lawsuit," activist Andrei Pivovarov told AFP as he gathered the signatures on the steps of a statue of national poet Alexander Pushkin dominating the square.
"We are collecting signatures from across the country," he said.
'Russia without Putin'
Writing later on Twitter, Galyamina said they had gathered 5,000 signatures. "This is an excellent result," she said.
At one point the campaigners had to pause because they quickly ran out of paper, they said.
Some protesters brandished placards, while others chanted "Russia without Putin" and "Russia will be free."
Activist Maria Alyokhina of Pussy Riot fame also turned up, calling the amendments a "constitutional coup."
Earlier this month Putin, 67, oversaw a deeply controversial seven-day vote that amended the constitution and now allows him to serve two more six-year terms after his mandate expires in 2024.
The amendments also included populist measures such as an effective ban on gay marriage.
Leading opposition politician Alexei Navalny has said the poll had set "a record in faking votes" and the result had "nothing in common with people's views".
Many in Pushkin Square said they had turned up to protest the changes championed by Putin who can now potentially stay in the Kremlin until 2036.
"I voted against," Inna Golovina, a 46-year-old accountant, told AFP. "People say the results were rigged."
Pavel Tarasov, a young Moscow city councillor representing the Communist Party, said he would like to leave his signature but the crowd was too big.
"The results of the vote do not suit anyone," he said.
A large group of mostly young activists later split off and marched along central Moscow streets before many were roughly detained.
Galyamina was detained in Pushkin Square after the signature-collecting event was over.
'Putin like pharaoh'
Up to a thousand people gathered for a similar event in the second city of Saint Petersburg, an AFP correspondent said.
"The authorities do whatever they want, people's opinion does not interest anybody," lamented Andrei Stepanov, 50.
"We need to show in some way that we are against this."
Anatoly Naidyonov, 38, compared the Russian president to a "pharaoh who is completely detached from reality".
"This can all end badly for the country," he added.
Earlier Wednesday parliament's lower house approved,at a key second reading, controversial legislation that allows elections to be held over three days, in a move the opposition said was aimed at further hollowing out democratic polls.
The amendments allow elections to be held outside polling stations and enable voters to cast ballots in various public spaces.
During the June 25-July 1 plebiscite, makeshift polling stations were set up at unlikely locations including buses, tents and street benches.
The voting process, which was not monitored by proper election observers, was ridiculed on social media.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-16--Brazil Covid-19 cases surpass 2 million

Brazil Covid-19 cases surpass 2 million

Gravediggers work during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease , Covid-19 , at Sao Francisco Xavier cemetery in Rio de Janeiro .
Brazil , April 11 , 2020 .
Brazil topped two million coronavirus cases on Thursday , according to official data that put the number of deaths at more than 76,000 .
Figures published by the health ministry showed there were more than 45,000 new cases over the last 24 hours , and an extra 1,300 deaths .
Brazil is the second worst affected country in the world by the coronavirus after the United States .
And these figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scientific community who point to a lack of testing .
Over the last two months , Brazil has recorded more than 30,000 new cases in 24 hours 26 times , and on 11 of those occasions there were more than 40,000 infections .
`` Two million is a symbolic number because we do n't have wide scale testing , '' infectious disease expert from the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo , Jean Gorinchteyn told AFP .
`` There are probably four or five times more .
The most pessimistic projections signal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The average number of daily deaths has been over 1,000 for almost a month .

Brazil topped two million coronavirus cases on Thursday, according to official data that put the number of deaths at more than 76,000.
Gravediggers work during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, Covid-19, at Sao Francisco Xavier cemetery in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil, April 11, 2020.
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Figures published by the health ministry showed there were more than 45,000 new cases over the last 24 hours, and an extra 1,300 deaths.
Brazil is the second worst affected country in the world by the coronavirus after the United States.
And these figures are considered largely under-reported by many in the scientific community who point to a lack of testing.
Over the last two months, Brazil has recorded more than 30,000 new cases in 24 hours 26 times, and on 11 of those occasions there were more than 40,000 infections.
"Two million is a symbolic number because we don't have wide scale testing," infectious disease expert from the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo, Jean Gorinchteyn told AFP.
"There are probably four or five times more. The most pessimistic projections signal up to 10 times more."
The average number of daily deaths has been over 1,000 for almost a month.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-16--Gabon appoints its first woman prime minister

Cars drive down a highway beneath the skyline of Libreville , Gabon 's capital , on January 16 , 2017 .
The president of Gabon , Ali Bongo Ondimba , on Thursday appointed the country 's first woman prime minister , Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda .
The 56-year-old has been promoted from the defence ministry and takes over from Julien Nkoghe Bekale , who was appointed premier in January 2019 .
In a statement , the president 's office said her mission will include `` ensuring ( Gabon 's ) economic relaunch and necessary social support in the light of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Heavily dependent on income from oil , the central African state has been badly hit by the slump in the price of crude as well as the impact of the new coronavirus on trade .
Oussouka Raponda is an economist by training who graduated from the Gabonese Institute of Economy and Finance , specialising in public finance .
She became budget minister in 2012 and then the first female mayor of the capital Libreville in 2014 , as a candidate for Bongo 's Gabonese Democratic Party ( PDG ) .
Her new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and civil society leaders are once more openly questioning Bongo 's fitness to govern after he suffered a stroke in October 2018 .
He spent months abroad for treatment , and during this time the country was rocked by an attempted coup , in January 2019 .
The putsch bid lasted only a matter of hours , but was followed by a reshuffle that installed Nkoghe Bekale as prime minister and Ossouka Raponda as defence minister .
Several months later , the authorities launched a vast anti-corruption drive that led to the incarceration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alihanga and 20 associates , including four former ministers .
Bongo was elected in 2009 after the death of his father Omar who led the country for 42 years .
The president reappeared in the media on Monday after several weeks of absence , pictured at a meeting of heads of the various branches of the armed forces and police .

The president of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba, on Thursday appointed the country's first woman prime minister, Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda.
(FILES) In this file photo taken on October 06, 2018 Mayor of Libreville and Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) candidate for the local elections, Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, casts her vote at a polling station in Libreville, during the first round of the country's legislative and municipal elections.
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The 56-year-old has been promoted from the defence ministry and takes over from Julien Nkoghe Bekale, who was appointed premier in January 2019.
In a statement, the president's office said her mission will include "ensuring (Gabon's) economic relaunch and necessary social support in the light of the world crisis linked to COVID-19".
Heavily dependent on income from oil, the central African state has been badly hit by the slump in the price of crude as well as the impact of the new coronavirus on trade.
Oussouka Raponda is an economist by training who graduated from the Gabonese Institute of Economy and Finance, specialising in public finance.
She became budget minister in 2012 and then the first female mayor of the capital Libreville in 2014, as a candidate for Bongo's Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG).
Her new appointment comes at a time when opposition and civil society leaders are once more openly questioning Bongo's fitness to govern after he suffered a stroke in October 2018.
He spent months abroad for treatment, and during this time the country was rocked by an attempted coup, in January 2019.
The putsch bid lasted only a matter of hours, but was followed by a reshuffle that installed Nkoghe Bekale as prime minister and Ossouka Raponda as defence minister.
Several months later, the authorities launched a vast anti-corruption drive that led to the incarceration of Bongo's right-hand man Brice Laccruche Alihanga and 20 associates, including four former ministers.
Bongo was elected in 2009 after the death of his father Omar who led the country for 42 years.
The president reappeared in the media on Monday after several weeks of absence, pictured at a meeting of heads of the various branches of the armed forces and police.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-16--French minister accused of rape says he is victim of a 'manhunt'

France 's new Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin on Thursday said he was the victim of a `` manhunt '' as a controversy over his appointment despite a rape accusation showed no signs of abating .
President Emmanuel Macron this week promoted Darmanin , a former budget minister and rising star of the right , to the key post in a cabinet reshuffle .
But the appointment was shadowed by an ongoing investigation into a claim Darmanin raped a woman in 2009 , and infuriated feminists .
Macron , for some , added fuel to the fire on Tuesday by saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussion on the issue with Darmanin .
`` I am the target of a slander .
I do not wish anyone to be wrongly accused and I would not even wish my worst enemy to be the victim of the manhunt to which I am today subjected , '' Darmanin told Europe 1 radio .
He argued that criticism of his appointment was politically motivated and aimed at weakening the government .
The plaintiff , Sophie Patterson-Spatz , says Darmanin raped her in 2009 after she sought his help in having a criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official with France 's main right-wing party .
Darmanin acknowledges there was a sexual relationship , but insists it was consensual .
The accusations against Darmanin were dismissed in 2018 , but earlier this year appeals judges in Paris ordered the investigation be reopened .
Thousands protested across France last week with slogans denouncing `` the culture of rape on the move '' , a reference to Macron 's Republic on the Move party .
In a open letter published in Le Monde on Wednesday , 91 French feminists and activists said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shift '' in France .
Macron on Tuesday said Darmanin deserved the presumption of innocence , saying nobody should be judged `` by the street '' or through social media .
`` There is a relationship of confidence -- man-to-man -- between the president of the republic and the minister who has been named , on the reality of these events and the consequences , '' Macron added .
That comment enraged feminists with the NousToutes ( All of Us ) collective issuing a message to the president : `` We are leaving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no idea what else to do . ''

France's new Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin on Thursday said he was the victim of a "manhunt" as a controversy over his appointment despite a rape accusation showed no signs of abating.
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President Emmanuel Macron this week promoted Darmanin, a former budget minister and rising star of the right, to the key post in a cabinet reshuffle.
But the appointment was shadowed by an ongoing investigation into a claim Darmanin raped a woman in 2009, and infuriated feminists.
Macron, for some, added fuel to the fire on Tuesday by saying he had had a "man-to-man" discussion on the issue with Darmanin.
"I am the target of a slander. I do not wish anyone to be wrongly accused and I would not even wish my worst enemy to be the victim of the manhunt to which I am today subjected," Darmanin told Europe 1 radio.
He argued that criticism of his appointment was politically motivated and aimed at weakening the government.
The plaintiff, Sophie Patterson-Spatz, says Darmanin raped her in 2009 after she sought his help in having a criminal record expunged while he was a legal official with France's main right-wing party.
Darmanin acknowledges there was a sexual relationship, but insists it was consensual.
'Anti-feminist political shift' in France
The accusations against Darmanin were dismissed in 2018, but earlier this year appeals judges in Paris ordered the investigation be reopened.
Thousands protested across France last week with slogans denouncing "the culture of rape on the move", a reference to Macron's Republic on the Move party.
In a open letter published in Le Monde on Wednesday, 91 French feminists and activists said the cabinet reshuffle represented an "anti-feminist political shift" in France.
Macron on Tuesday said Darmanin deserved the presumption of innocence, saying nobody should be judged "by the street" or through social media.
"There is a relationship of confidence -- man-to-man -- between the president of the republic and the minister who has been named, on the reality of these events and the consequences," Macron added.
That comment enraged feminists with the NousToutes (All of Us) collective issuing a message to the president: "We are leaving you as, frankly, we have no idea what else to do."
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-16--Fresh Covid-19 outbreaks lead to local lockdowns worldwide

Fresh outbreaks of the coronavirus have led to renewed , more localised , lockdowns -- affecting millions notably in India and California , while several European states have tightened restrictions.Here is an overview of recent developments .
Spain : Residents in three districts in Barcelona suburb L'Hospitalet de Llobregat must stay indoors amid a resurgence , Catalan regional officials said Thursday .
Wednesday had seen residents told to stay home in an area in and around the northeastern city of Lerida , a measure affecting around 160,000 people .
They are allowed to leave to go to work , buy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Moves to reconfine the local population had triggered a legal standoff on July 13 when a local court blocked the new order , prompting the regional government to enact legislative changes .
Portugal : Lockdown at home has been in place since July 1 for 700,000 inhabitants in the Lisbon region , for a period of at least two weeks .
Britain : On June 30 the city of Leicester began a localised two-week lockdown with non-essential shops shutting .
Facemasks -- already compulsory in Scotland -- will also become so in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 24 .
Ireland : Having planned to open bars fully from July 13 that decision is now pushed back to August 10 after a resurgence of cases .
Gatherings are limited to 50 people indoors and 200 outdoors while wearing masks in shops will be compulsory .
France : Wearing masks in all indoor establishments open to the public will be obligatory from next week .
Belgium : Wearing a mask -- already required on public transport -- was made compulsory from July 11 for all aged 12 and above in enclosed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ libraries and places of worship as cases rise slightly .
Germany : Despite the country being less affected by the pandemic than many of its neighbours , Germany ' a federal and regional governments have agreed on tougher , more targeted lockdown measures to contain local outbreaks and ward off the threat of a second coronavirus wave , including a ban on travel `` in and out of the affected areas . ''
Hungary : Hungary 's government on Sunday said it was barring travel from South America , Africa , most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European countries after worldwide spikes in coronavirus cases .
India : The northern Indian state of Bihar , with a population of around 125 million people , is under a a 15-day lockdown from July 16 to July 31 .
The southern city and IT hub Bangalore , home to more than 13 million people , also began a week-long confinement on July 14 .
New restrictions have also been introduced in the western city of Pune and other states including Uttar Pradesh , home to 200 million people , badly hit Tamil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The 250,000 inhabitants of Navotas , a district in Manila , will go back into lockdown for two weeks in the coming days , an official said on July 13 .
Azerbaijan : A strict lockdown was reinstated from June 22 to August 1 .
Uzbekistan : The central Asian nation imposed a new lockdown on July 10 .
Restaurants , sports centres , swimming pools and non-food shops are closed until August 1 .
United States : California on July 13 drastically rolled back its reopening plans and ordered all indoor restaurants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Churches , gyms , shopping malls , hair salons and non-essential offices must shut indoor operations in half of state 's worst-hit and most densely populated counties , including Los Angeles .
Argentina : A toughening of lockdown measures in Buenos Aires and its surrounding area has been imposed from July 1 to 17 .
Colombia : Bogota on July 13 enforced a strict zonal lockdown , affecting 2.5 million people , to restrict movement for the next two weeks .
Morocco : The city of Tangiers and its population of around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again since July 13 .
Madagascar : The capital Antananarivo has gone under a fresh lockdown to last until July 20 .
South Africa : A curfew from 9:00 pm to 4:00 am came back into effect on July 13 .
West Bank : The Palestinian Authority on July 12 extended a lockdown of the occupied West Bank decided on July 3 , also imposing a curfew .
Israel : New restrictions came into force on July 7 , including the closure of bars and sports centres and a limit on the number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ towns and neighbourhoods across the country , considered pandemic hotspots , are living under even stricter restrictions .
Australia : Five million people have been obliged to stay at home since July 9 for six weeks in Australia 's second biggest city Melbourne .
The state of Victoria , where Melbourne is located , has closed all its borders to protect the rest of the country .

Fresh outbreaks of the coronavirus have led to renewed, more localised, lockdowns -- affecting millions notably in India and California, while several European states have tightened restrictions.Here is an overview of recent developments.
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EUROPE
Spain: Residents in three districts in Barcelona suburb L'Hospitalet de Llobregat must stay indoors amid a resurgence, Catalan regional officials said Thursday. Wednesday had seen residents told to stay home in an area in and around the northeastern city of Lerida, a measure affecting around 160,000 people. They are allowed to leave to go to work, buy food or medication, or to exercise.
Moves to reconfine the local population had triggered a legal standoff on July 13 when a local court blocked the new order, prompting the regional government to enact legislative changes.
Portugal: Lockdown at home has been in place since July 1 for 700,000 inhabitants in the Lisbon region, for a period of at least two weeks.
Britain: On June 30 the city of Leicester began a localised two-week lockdown with non-essential shops shutting. Facemasks -- already compulsory in Scotland -- will also become so in all shops and supermarkets in England from July 24.
Ireland: Having planned to open bars fully from July 13 that decision is now pushed back to August 10 after a resurgence of cases. Gatherings are limited to 50 people indoors and 200 outdoors while wearing masks in shops will be compulsory.
France: Wearing masks in all indoor establishments open to the public will be obligatory from next week.
04:55
Belgium: Wearing a mask -- already required on public transport -- was made compulsory from July 11 for all aged 12 and above in enclosed public spaces including shops, cinemas, libraries and places of worship as cases rise slightly.
Germany: Despite the country being less affected by the pandemic than many of its neighbours, Germany'a federal and regional governments have agreed on tougher, more targeted lockdown measures to contain local outbreaks and ward off the threat of a second coronavirus wave, including a ban on travel "in and out of the affected areas."
Hungary: Hungary's government on Sunday said it was barring travel from South America, Africa, most of Asia, and restricting entry from several European countries after worldwide spikes in coronavirus cases.
ASIA
India: The northern Indian state of Bihar, with a population of around 125 million people, is under a a 15-day lockdown from July 16 to July 31. The southern city and IT hub Bangalore, home to more than 13 million people, also began a week-long confinement on July 14.
New restrictions have also been introduced in the western city of Pune and other states including Uttar Pradesh, home to 200 million people, badly hit Tamil Nadu and Assam.
The Philippines: The 250,000 inhabitants of Navotas, a district in Manila, will go back into lockdown for two weeks in the coming days, an official said on July 13.
Azerbaijan: A strict lockdown was reinstated from June 22 to August 1.
Uzbekistan: The central Asian nation imposed a new lockdown on July 10. Restaurants, sports centres, swimming pools and non-food shops are closed until August 1.
AMERICAS
United States: California on July 13 drastically rolled back its reopening plans and ordered all indoor restaurants, bars and cinemas to close again. Churches, gyms, shopping malls, hair salons and non-essential offices must shut indoor operations in half of state's worst-hit and most densely populated counties, including Los Angeles.
Argentina: A toughening of lockdown measures in Buenos Aires and its surrounding area has been imposed from July 1 to 17.
Colombia: Bogota on July 13 enforced a strict zonal lockdown, affecting 2.5 million people, to restrict movement for the next two weeks.
AFRICA
Morocco: The city of Tangiers and its population of around one million, has been locked down again since July 13.
Madagascar: The capital Antananarivo has gone under a fresh lockdown to last until July 20.
South Africa: A curfew from 9:00 pm to 4:00 am came back into effect on July 13.
MIDDLE EAST
West Bank: The Palestinian Authority on July 12 extended a lockdown of the occupied West Bank decided on July 3, also imposing a curfew.
Israel: New restrictions came into force on July 7, including the closure of bars and sports centres and a limit on the number of people in public places. Some towns and neighbourhoods across the country, considered pandemic hotspots, are living under even stricter restrictions.
OCEANIA
Australia: Five million people have been obliged to stay at home since July 9 for six weeks in Australia's second biggest city Melbourne. The state of Victoria, where Melbourne is located, has closed all its borders to protect the rest of the country.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-17--European leaders face tough negotiations on recovery deal

Germany 's Chancellor Angela Merkel ( L ) , France 's President Emmanuel Macron and President of the European Council Charles Michel talks prior the European Union Council in Brussels on July 17 , 2020 , as the leaders of the European Union hold their first face-to-face summit over a post-virus economic rescue plan .
European Union leaders acknowledged Friday they are about as far apart from reaching a deal on an unprecedented 1.85 trillion euro ( $ 2.1 trillion ) EU budget and virus recovery fund as the seating distance imposed upon them for health reasons at their summit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very , very big and so I can ’ t predict whether we will achieve a result this time , ” said German Chancellor Angela Merkel upon arriving at the Europa summit site .
“ So I expect very , very difficult negotiations.
” The challenges facing the 27 EU leaders — some of whom arrived masked , some unmasked — are formidable .
Their bloc is suffering through the worst recession in its history and member states are fighting over who should pay the most to help other countries and which nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their battered economies .
French President Emmanuel Macron led the early negotiations , arriving Thursday and using the pre-summit hours to meet with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte , a stringent budget hardliner and considered one of the biggest obstacles to reaching a deal at the two-day meeting .
“ I am not optimistic , but you never know .
Nobody wants another meeting , ” said Rutte .
Macron underscored the importance of the challenge .
“ The coming hours will be absolutely decisive , ” he said .
“ It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” What is slated as a two-day summit could go even longer , if necessary , to bridge the differences between leaders .
“ We want a result and we will continue working until we get that result , ” if need be until Sunday , said Latvian Prime Minister Arturs Karins upon arrival .
No early breakthroughs in pre-summit talks were reported .
“ The crisis brought about by this pandemic , with all of its economic and social consequences , is the most severe we have had to face since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President and summit host Charles Michel said late Thursday .
The urgency is such that the leaders have ended a string of coronavirus-enforced videoconference summits and are meeting in person for the first time since the pandemic began its devastating sweep around the globe .
The usual summit venue , an intimate room high up in the urn-shaped Europa center , was deemed too snug to be safe and instead the leaders have been sent down to meeting room EBS-5 , whose 850 square meters ( 9,150 square feet ) normally fits 330 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a minimum , leaving leaders more dependent on their own knowledge of complicated dossiers .
It should put a smile on the face of German Chancellor Angela Merkel , who has been in office for 15 years and seen countless leaders come and go .
Since the pandemic struck , she is seen as a safe pair of hands to lead her country through the crisis and now that Germany holds the rotating six-month EU presidency her stature will be even greater at the summit .
And throw in that she is celebrating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be cake but it will hardly be a cakewalk for Merkel .
The members were already fighting bitterly over the seven-year , 1-trillion-euro EU budget when COVID-19 was still a local story in Wuhan , China , late last year .
Then the virus hit the EU head-on and estimates are now that the economy of the 19 countries that use the euro currency will contract by 8.7 % this year .
It sent the EU into a panic as it was at a loss on how to coordinate policies of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the EU ’ s executive is proposing a 750-billion-euro recovery fund , partly based on common borrowing , to be sent as loans and grants to the most needy countries .
Merkel , who is in her last term and has her political legacy at stake , already got Germany to agree to join in a common debt program to alleviate the economic suffering in mostly southern and eastern member states .
And she has agreed to include grants and not just loans in the recovery package to avoid overburdening member states with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t like that and Dutch officials said they would stick to their tough line going into the summit , raising the specter that a further summit might be needed .
There are also plans to link budget funds to respect for basic democratic rights that the European Parliament says are under threat in nations like Hungary and Poland .
Some eastern European nations will be objecting to having that as part of the deal .
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was clear upon departure that he would fight any such strings attached to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is clear : Hungarians should decide about Hungarians ’ money , ” he said .

European Union leaders acknowledged Friday they are about as far apart from reaching a deal on an unprecedented 1.85 trillion euro ($2.1 trillion) EU budget and virus recovery fund as the seating distance imposed upon them for health reasons at their summit center.
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel (L), France's President Emmanuel Macron and President of the European Council Charles Michel talks prior the European Union Council in Brussels on July 17, 2020, as the leaders of the European Union hold their first face-to-face summit over a post-virus economic rescue plan.
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“The differences are still very, very big and so I can’t predict whether we will achieve a result this time,” said German Chancellor Angela Merkel upon arriving at the Europa summit site. “So I expect very, very difficult negotiations.”
The challenges facing the 27 EU leaders — some of whom arrived masked, some unmasked — are formidable. Their bloc is suffering through the worst recession in its history and member states are fighting over who should pay the most to help other countries and which nations should get the most to turn around their battered economies.
French President Emmanuel Macron led the early negotiations, arriving Thursday and using the pre-summit hours to meet with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, a stringent budget hardliner and considered one of the biggest obstacles to reaching a deal at the two-day meeting.
“I am not optimistic, but you never know. Nobody wants another meeting,” said Rutte.
Macron underscored the importance of the challenge. “The coming hours will be absolutely decisive,” he said. “It is our project Europe that is at stake.”
What is slated as a two-day summit could go even longer, if necessary, to bridge the differences between leaders.
“We want a result and we will continue working until we get that result,” if need be until Sunday, said Latvian Prime Minister Arturs Karins upon arrival. No early breakthroughs in pre-summit talks were reported.
02:26
“The crisis brought about by this pandemic, with all of its economic and social consequences, is the most severe we have had to face since the Second World War,” European Council President and summit host Charles Michel said late Thursday.
The urgency is such that the leaders have ended a string of coronavirus-enforced videoconference summits and are meeting in person for the first time since the pandemic began its devastating sweep around the globe.
The usual summit venue, an intimate room high up in the urn-shaped Europa center, was deemed too snug to be safe and instead the leaders have been sent down to meeting room EBS-5, whose 850 square meters (9,150 square feet) normally fits 330 people.
Delegations will be cut to a minimum, leaving leaders more dependent on their own knowledge of complicated dossiers. It should put a smile on the face of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has been in office for 15 years and seen countless leaders come and go.
Since the pandemic struck, she is seen as a safe pair of hands to lead her country through the crisis and now that Germany holds the rotating six-month EU presidency her stature will be even greater at the summit. And throw in that she is celebrating her 66th birthday on Friday.
There may be cake but it will hardly be a cakewalk for Merkel.
The members were already fighting bitterly over the seven-year, 1-trillion-euro EU budget when COVID-19 was still a local story in Wuhan, China, late last year. Then the virus hit the EU head-on and estimates are now that the economy of the 19 countries that use the euro currency will contract by 8.7% this year.
It sent the EU into a panic as it was at a loss on how to coordinate policies of its member states early on. Now, the EU’s executive is proposing a 750-billion-euro recovery fund, partly based on common borrowing, to be sent as loans and grants to the most needy countries.
Merkel, who is in her last term and has her political legacy at stake, already got Germany to agree to join in a common debt program to alleviate the economic suffering in mostly southern and eastern member states.
And she has agreed to include grants and not just loans in the recovery package to avoid overburdening member states with high debt already.
Rutte doesn’t like that and Dutch officials said they would stick to their tough line going into the summit, raising the specter that a further summit might be needed.
There are also plans to link budget funds to respect for basic democratic rights that the European Parliament says are under threat in nations like Hungary and Poland. Some eastern European nations will be objecting to having that as part of the deal.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was clear upon departure that he would fight any such strings attached to the plan.
“The Hungarian position is clear: Hungarians should decide about Hungarians’ money,” he said.
(AP)
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france24--2020-07-17--India exceeds 1 million coronavirus cases, behind only the US and Brazil

A health worker takes a swab sample from a resident getting tested for the COVID-19 coronavirus near residential buildings in Mumbai on July 16 , 2020 .
India crossed 1 million coronavirus cases on Friday , third only to the United States and Brazil , prompting concerns about its readiness to confront an inevitable surge that could overwhelm hospitals and test the country ’ s feeble health care system .
A surge of 34.956 new cases in the past 24 hours took the national total to 1,003,832 .
The Health Ministry also reported a record number of 687 deaths for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 635,757 people have recovered and the recovery rate was continuing to improve at 63 % .
The grim milestone comes at a time when several Indian states are imposing focused lockdowns to stem the outbreak amid frantic efforts by local governments to protect the economy .
So far , three states — Maharashtra , Delhi and Tamil Nadu — have accounted for more than half of total cases .
But in India ’ s vast countryside , which is much less prepared and with weaker health care , the pandemic is clearly growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the main challenge for India in the coming days , ” said Dr. Ashish Jha , director of the Harvard Global Health Institute , adding that a vast majority of cases were still being missed .
The continuing surge has forced authorities to reinstate lockdowns in some cities and states .
In Bangalore , a city that prides itself as the center of of Indian technology innovation , the government ordered a weeklong lockdown that began Tuesday evening after the cases surged exponentially .
In Bihar , an eastern state with a population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system , a two-week lockdown was announced Thursday .
In Uttar Pradesh , the most populous state with more than 200 million people , authorities have started placing residents under strict weekend curfews , which will remain in place until the end of the month .
Other local governments are increasingly focusing on smaller lockdowns that shield the economy .
Nearly a dozen states have imposed restrictions on “ containment zones ” — areas that can be as small as a few houses or a street .
Dr. Anant Bhan , a global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to see “ a series of peaks , ” as the infection spread in rural areas .
He pointed out that the capital of New Delhi and the financial capital , Mumbai , had already seen surges , while infections have now shifted to smaller cities .
India ’ s response to the virus was initially sluggish and then it bought time by locking down its entire population of 1.4 billion people when Prime Minister Narendra Modi imposed a nationwide lockdown for three weeks on March 24 .
“ If ( the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21 days , the country and your family could go back 21 years , ” Modi said then in a televised address to Indians , many of whom were still unaware of the scale of the crisis in the country .
The nationwide lockdown , then extended for five more weeks , came at an enormous economic cost amid an unprecedented humanitarian crisis when millions of impoverished migrant workers were forced to return to the countryside due to job losses and hunger .
Aimed at increasing the capacity of the health care system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it wasn ’ t enough .
Cases kept increasing while testing still remained abysmally low and the virus rocketed through India ’ s vast landscape — from high up in the Himalayan Kashmir to the sprawling beaches of Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu .
“ Slowdown isn ’ t eradication , ” said Jayaprakash Muliyil , an epidemiologist at the Christian Medical College in Vellore .
Muliyil said that India had to try and slow down the virus because it didn ’ t have enough beds but was only partly successful since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ India ’ s public health care system is one of the most chronically underfunded in the world and access to hospitals in rural areas is very low .
Experts say the challenge for India will be to tightrope the opening up of the economy while trying to restrict the increase in cases to manageable levels that don ’ t overwhelm hospitals .
“ India ’ s strategy going forward will revolve around containment zones , ” said Rajesh Bhushan of India ’ s federal Health Ministry .
Once more zones are mapped out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house to house and test those with symptoms , he said .
Dr. Ujjwal Parakh , a senior consultant at the department of respiratory medicine at Ganga Ram Hospital , New Delhi , said authorities could have been more transparent about testing guidelines .
Initially , India had some of the world ’ s most stringent testing criteria and used only about a third of its testing capacity .
After months of sluggishness , it has now ramped up testing , from a single lab in January to over 1,200 .
Over 300,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In some cities , it has also allowed tests without a doctor ’ s prescription .
“ The battle plan is to do all the things we know work .
Open the economy , as much as it is safe .
Track things very closely , ” said Jha .
`` But don ’ t let the virus get a foothold . ''

India crossed 1 million coronavirus cases on Friday, third only to the United States and Brazil, prompting concerns about its readiness to confront an inevitable surge that could overwhelm hospitals and test the country’s feeble health care system.
A health worker takes a swab sample from a resident getting tested for the COVID-19 coronavirus near residential buildings in Mumbai on July 16, 2020.
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A surge of 34.956 new cases in the past 24 hours took the national total to 1,003,832.
The Health Ministry also reported a record number of 687 deaths for a total of 25,602. It said 635,757 people have recovered and the recovery rate was continuing to improve at 63%.
The grim milestone comes at a time when several Indian states are imposing focused lockdowns to stem the outbreak amid frantic efforts by local governments to protect the economy.
So far, three states — Maharashtra, Delhi and Tamil Nadu — have accounted for more than half of total cases. But in India’s vast countryside, which is much less prepared and with weaker health care, the pandemic is clearly growing.
“The acceleration in cases remains the main challenge for India in the coming days,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, adding that a vast majority of cases were still being missed.
The continuing surge has forced authorities to reinstate lockdowns in some cities and states.
In Bangalore, a city that prides itself as the center of of Indian technology innovation, the government ordered a weeklong lockdown that began Tuesday evening after the cases surged exponentially.
In Bihar, an eastern state with a population of 128 million and a fragile health system, a two-week lockdown was announced Thursday.
In Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state with more than 200 million people, authorities have started placing residents under strict weekend curfews, which will remain in place until the end of the month.
Other local governments are increasingly focusing on smaller lockdowns that shield the economy. Nearly a dozen states have imposed restrictions on “containment zones” — areas that can be as small as a few houses or a street.
Dr. Anant Bhan, a global health researcher, said that India was likely to see “a series of peaks,” as the infection spread in rural areas. He pointed out that the capital of New Delhi and the financial capital, Mumbai, had already seen surges, while infections have now shifted to smaller cities.
India’s response to the virus was initially sluggish and then it bought time by locking down its entire population of 1.4 billion people when Prime Minister Narendra Modi imposed a nationwide lockdown for three weeks on March 24.
“If (the) situation is not handled in these 21 days, the country and your family could go back 21 years,” Modi said then in a televised address to Indians, many of whom were still unaware of the scale of the crisis in the country.
The nationwide lockdown, then extended for five more weeks, came at an enormous economic cost amid an unprecedented humanitarian crisis when millions of impoverished migrant workers were forced to return to the countryside due to job losses and hunger.
Aimed at increasing the capacity of the health care system, the lockdown slowed down the virus, but it wasn’t enough. Cases kept increasing while testing still remained abysmally low and the virus rocketed through India’s vast landscape — from high up in the Himalayan Kashmir to the sprawling beaches of Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu.
“Slowdown isn’t eradication,” said Jayaprakash Muliyil, an epidemiologist at the Christian Medical College in Vellore.
Muliyil said that India had to try and slow down the virus because it didn’t have enough beds but was only partly successful since the “requirement was quite large.”
India’s public health care system is one of the most chronically underfunded in the world and access to hospitals in rural areas is very low. Experts say the challenge for India will be to tightrope the opening up of the economy while trying to restrict the increase in cases to manageable levels that don’t overwhelm hospitals.
“India’s strategy going forward will revolve around containment zones,” said Rajesh Bhushan of India’s federal Health Ministry. Once more zones are mapped out, health care workers will go from house to house and test those with symptoms, he said.
Experts say low testing remains a concern.
Dr. Ujjwal Parakh, a senior consultant at the department of respiratory medicine at Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, said authorities could have been more transparent about testing guidelines.
Initially, India had some of the world’s most stringent testing criteria and used only about a third of its testing capacity. After months of sluggishness, it has now ramped up testing, from a single lab in January to over 1,200. Over 300,000 samples are being tested every day. In some cities, it has also allowed tests without a doctor’s prescription. “The battle plan is to do all the things we know work. Open the economy, as much as it is safe. Track things very closely,” said Jha. "But don’t let the virus get a foothold."
(AP)
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france24--2020-07-17--Polish opposition challenges outcome of presidential election

Poland ’ s main opposition coalition on Thursday challenged the result of an election that returned to power President Andrzej Duda with backing from the populist right-wing Law and Justice ( PiS ) party .
The Civic Platform ( PO ) party , whose candidate Rafal Trzaskowski narrowly lost the July 12 runoff vote , said an appeal had been lodged with the Supreme Court alleging irregularities and accusing TVP public television of bias .
“ We have asked for the election to be declared invalid , ” PO leader Borys Budka told reporters .
“ This election was neither @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Budka said , adding that “ the whole apparatus of the state broke the law ” by supporting Duda .
Duda won 51 percent of the vote against Trzaskowski ’ s 49 percent .
The appeal includes complaints about irregularities from 2,000 people , including problems with voter registration , ballot papers not being sent out in time and issues with voting abroad .
Left-wing lawmaker Barbara Nowacka , a member of the Civic Coalition opposition grouping that lodged the appeal , said the vote was “ not fair ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m submitting this electoral protest today is so that those in power know that citizens are keeping an eye on them .
Because if we were to let this go today , then they would tighten the screws even more during the next election , ” she said .
Elzbieta Witek , head of the Sejm , or lower house of parliament , and a member of the governing PiS party , said : “ Anyone can appeal .
“ These appeals will be examined but I do not think that any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the vote.
” Under the constitution , the Supreme Court has until August 3 to rule whether or not the election was valid .
Observers from the OSCE ’ s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights on Monday said the vote was “ tarnished ” by biased coverage on public television .
“ The incumbent ’ s campaign and coverage by the public broadcaster were marked by homophobic , xenophobic and anti-Semitic rhetoric , ” it said in a statement .
During the campaign , Duda railed against “ LGBT ideology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rival of failing to rule out Jewish wartime compensation claims which the government says should be addressed to Germany .
Many observers said TVP ’ s coverage was heavily skewed in favour of Duda and the two candidates refused to debate each other—a first for elections in post-communist Poland .
“ The political polarisation as well as the lack of impartiality in the public media coverage detracted from a well-run election , ” said Thomas Boserup , head of ODIHR ’ s Special Election Assessment Mission .
“ Following a campaign that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important to emphasise that democracies are based on respect for diversity and the rights of all , not just the majority , ” he said .

Poland’s main opposition coalition on Thursday challenged the result of an election that returned to power President Andrzej Duda with backing from the populist right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party.
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The Civic Platform (PO) party, whose candidate Rafal Trzaskowski narrowly lost the July 12 runoff vote, said an appeal had been lodged with the Supreme Court alleging irregularities and accusing TVP public television of bias.
“We have asked for the election to be declared invalid,” PO leader Borys Budka told reporters.
“This election was neither equal nor universal. It was dishonest,” Budka said, adding that “the whole apparatus of the state broke the law” by supporting Duda.
Duda won 51 percent of the vote against Trzaskowski’s 49 percent.
The appeal includes complaints about irregularities from 2,000 people, including problems with voter registration, ballot papers not being sent out in time and issues with voting abroad.
‘Anyone can appeal’
Left-wing lawmaker Barbara Nowacka, a member of the Civic Coalition opposition grouping that lodged the appeal, said the vote was “not fair”.
“One of the reasons why I’m submitting this electoral protest today is so that those in power know that citizens are keeping an eye on them. Because if we were to let this go today, then they would tighten the screws even more during the next election,” she said.
Elzbieta Witek, head of the Sejm, or lower house of parliament, and a member of the governing PiS party, said: “Anyone can appeal.
“These appeals will be examined but I do not think that any kind of appeal can impact the result of the vote.”
Under the constitution, the Supreme Court has until August 3 to rule whether or not the election was valid.
Observers from the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights on Monday said the vote was “tarnished” by biased coverage on public television.
“The incumbent’s campaign and coverage by the public broadcaster were marked by homophobic, xenophobic and anti-Semitic rhetoric,” it said in a statement.
During the campaign, Duda railed against “LGBT ideology” and same-sex adoptions and accused his rival of failing to rule out Jewish wartime compensation claims which the government says should be addressed to Germany.
Many observers said TVP’s coverage was heavily skewed in favour of Duda and the two candidates refused to debate each other—a first for elections in post-communist Poland.
“The political polarisation as well as the lack of impartiality in the public media coverage detracted from a well-run election,” said Thomas Boserup, head of ODIHR’s Special Election Assessment Mission.
“Following a campaign that was lacking in dialogue, it is especially important to emphasise that democracies are based on respect for diversity and the rights of all, not just the majority,” he said.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-17--Zidane's Real Madrid clinches victory in Spanish league

Real Madrid 's players celebrate winning the Liga title after the Spanish League football match between Real Madrid CF and Villarreal CF at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Valdebebas , on the outskirts of Madrid , on July 16 , 2020 .
There was Zinedine Zidane again , being thrown into the air by his Real Madrid players in another title celebration .
With the Frenchman back in charge , Madrid is back to collecting major trophies .
Madrid clinched its 34th Spanish league title — and first since 2017 — after extending its perfect run following the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday , opening a seven-point gap to second-place Barcelona with one round to go .
Barcelona lost to 10-man Osasuna at the Camp Nou Stadium .
Karim Benzema scored twice to give Madrid its 10th consecutive league victory .
It was the only team with a perfect record after the coronavirus-enforced break , having trailed Barcelona by two points before the league was halted .
“ This is one of the best days in my life professionally , ” said Zidane , who also won the Champions League and World Cup as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another league title , after the confinement and everything else that happened .
I wish we could celebrate with the fans , but I ’ m sure they are very happy at home seeing their team win the league again.
” Zidane quit as Madrid coach in 2018 after leading the team to three straight Champions League titles , then returned less than a year later with the team floundering .
In his first full season back in charge , Madrid wrested the league title away from Barcelona for the first time in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s first league title since Cristiano Ronaldo left to join Juventus two seasons ago .
The title celebrations were subdued as the triumph came with Madrid playing at its training center because the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium remains undergoing renovation work .
Fans have not been allowed into games since the pandemic , and Madrid had warned supporters not to gather at the team ’ s traditional celebration spots in the Spanish capital .
Most of the early celebrations came from fans honking their car horns across the city ’ s streets .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the empty Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium as confetti went into the air behind him and his teammates .
Players later threw Zidane into the air a few times , then they all posed for photos in front of one of the goals .
“ It has been a strange season after everything that has happened , ” said Ramos , who won his fifth Spanish league title .
“ After the confinement we knew that we had to win every match to clinch the title .
There was no margin for error.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ titles but stuttered after the break , drawing three times and losing once after the league resumed .
Benzema — one of Madrid ’ s key players this season — opened the scoring with a shot from inside the area in the 29th minute and added to the lead by converting a penalty in the 77th , reaching 21 league goals and moving within two of scoring leader Lionel Messi , who netted for Barcelona against Osasuna .
Benzema ’ s goal from the penalty spot came after Ramos ’ initial attempt was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ball sideways to Benzema to score .
The French striker had entered the area too soon and the penalty had to be taken again .
Luka Modric set up Benzema ’ s first goal after a breakaway that started near midfield .
Fifth-place Villarreal pulled one back with a header by Vicente Iborra in the 83rd .
It was denied an equalizer by a great save by Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in stoppage time .
Barcelona needed to win its match and hope Madrid slipped up .
Instead it lost 2-1 at home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ league-leading 23rd goal from a free kick in the second half to cancel out José Arnaíz ’ s opener .
Osasuna lost substitute Enric Gallego to a direct red card for bloodying the mouth of Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet with an elbow to the face in the 77th .
But Osasuna ’ s Roberto Torres scored in stoppage time with Barcelona pushing forward searching for a late goal .
It was Barcelona ’ s first home loss in the league since a 4-3 result against Real Betis in Nov. 2018 .
Messi said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barcelona wanted to end the season .
“ Madrid did its part by winning all its matches , which is impressive , but we also helped them to win this league , ” Messi said .
“ We have to be critical of how we have played , starting with the players , and for the rest of the club.
” Mallorca became the second team to be relegated after a 2-1 loss to Granada at home .
Espanyol had already been demoted .
Leganés keep its chances of survival alive thanks to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Celta Vigo stayed just outside the relegation zone after a 3-2 loss against Levante at home .
Third-place Atlético Madrid won 2-0 at seventh-place Getafe , while fourth-place Sevilla drew 0-0 at sixth-place Real Sociedad .
Valencia moved into eighth place to keep alive its hopes of grabbing a Europa League spot after a 1-0 win against last-place Espanyol .
There was a total of nine red cards handed out during the 10 games .

There was Zinedine Zidane again, being thrown into the air by his Real Madrid players in another title celebration.
Real Madrid's players celebrate winning the Liga title after the Spanish League football match between Real Madrid CF and Villarreal CF at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Valdebebas, on the outskirts of Madrid, on July 16, 2020.
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With the Frenchman back in charge, Madrid is back to collecting major trophies.
Madrid clinched its 34th Spanish league title — and first since 2017 — after extending its perfect run following the pandemic break with a 2-1 win over Villarreal on Thursday, opening a seven-point gap to second-place Barcelona with one round to go. Barcelona lost to 10-man Osasuna at the Camp Nou Stadium.
Karim Benzema scored twice to give Madrid its 10th consecutive league victory. It was the only team with a perfect record after the coronavirus-enforced break, having trailed Barcelona by two points before the league was halted.
“This is one of the best days in my life professionally,” said Zidane, who also won the Champions League and World Cup as a player. “It’s another league title, after the confinement and everything else that happened. I wish we could celebrate with the fans, but I’m sure they are very happy at home seeing their team win the league again.”
Zidane quit as Madrid coach in 2018 after leading the team to three straight Champions League titles, then returned less than a year later with the team floundering. In his first full season back in charge, Madrid wrested the league title away from Barcelona for the first time in three years.
It was also Madrid’s first league title since Cristiano Ronaldo left to join Juventus two seasons ago.
The title celebrations were subdued as the triumph came with Madrid playing at its training center because the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium remains undergoing renovation work.
Fans have not been allowed into games since the pandemic, and Madrid had warned supporters not to gather at the team’s traditional celebration spots in the Spanish capital. Most of the early celebrations came from fans honking their car horns across the city’s streets.
Real Madrid are Kings of Spain for the 34th time! 👑🏆⚪ pic.twitter.com/LYiSFeT4Hf — B/R Football (@brfootball) July 16, 2020
Captain Sergio Ramos lifted the trophy at the empty Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium as confetti went into the air behind him and his teammates. Players later threw Zidane into the air a few times, then they all posed for photos in front of one of the goals.
“It has been a strange season after everything that has happened,” said Ramos, who won his fifth Spanish league title. “After the confinement we knew that we had to win every match to clinch the title. There was no margin for error.”
Barcelona had won the last two league titles but stuttered after the break, drawing three times and losing once after the league resumed.
Benzema — one of Madrid’s key players this season — opened the scoring with a shot from inside the area in the 29th minute and added to the lead by converting a penalty in the 77th, reaching 21 league goals and moving within two of scoring leader Lionel Messi, who netted for Barcelona against Osasuna.
Benzema’s goal from the penalty spot came after Ramos’ initial attempt was called back after he just rolled the ball sideways to Benzema to score. The French striker had entered the area too soon and the penalty had to be taken again.
Luka Modric set up Benzema’s first goal after a breakaway that started near midfield.
Fifth-place Villarreal pulled one back with a header by Vicente Iborra in the 83rd. It was denied an equalizer by a great save by Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in stoppage time.
Madrid’s Marco Asensio had a goal disallowed moments later.
Barcelona falters
Barcelona needed to win its match and hope Madrid slipped up. Instead it lost 2-1 at home against midtable Osasuna.
Messi scored his league-leading 23rd goal from a free kick in the second half to cancel out José Arnaíz’s opener.
Osasuna lost substitute Enric Gallego to a direct red card for bloodying the mouth of Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet with an elbow to the face in the 77th.
But Osasuna’s Roberto Torres scored in stoppage time with Barcelona pushing forward searching for a late goal.
It was Barcelona’s first home loss in the league since a 4-3 result against Real Betis in Nov. 2018.
Messi said it was “not the way” Barcelona wanted to end the season.
“Madrid did its part by winning all its matches, which is impressive, but we also helped them to win this league,” Messi said. “We have to be critical of how we have played, starting with the players, and for the rest of the club.”
Other results
Mallorca became the second team to be relegated after a 2-1 loss to Granada at home. Espanyol had already been demoted. Leganés keep its chances of survival alive thanks to a 2-0 win at Athletic Bilbao. Celta Vigo stayed just outside the relegation zone after a 3-2 loss against Levante at home.
Third-place Atlético Madrid won 2-0 at seventh-place Getafe, while fourth-place Sevilla drew 0-0 at sixth-place Real Sociedad. Valencia moved into eighth place to keep alive its hopes of grabbing a Europa League spot after a 1-0 win against last-place Espanyol.
There was a total of nine red cards handed out during the 10 games.
(AP)
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