france24--2020-06-27--EU nears deal on opening borders that is likely to exclude US, Russia, Brazil

A photograph taken on June 24 , 2020 , shows bagagge drop off area in the Terminal 3 of the Orly airport , in Orly on the outskirts of Paris , a few days before its reopening as France eases lockdown measures taken to curb the spread of Covid-19 .
European Union envoys are close to finalizing a list of countries whose citizens will be allowed to enter Europe again , possibly from late next week , EU diplomats confirmed Saturday .
Americans are almost certain to be excluded in the short term due to the number of U.S. coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have narrowed down later Saturday the exact criteria for countries to make the list , which include the way the spread of the virus is being managed .
Another key condition is whether the country has a ban on citizens from European nations .
The number of cases in the United States has surged over the past week , with an all-time high of 45,300 confirmed new daily infections just reached .
President Donald Trump also suspended the entry of all people from Europe ’ s ID check-free travel zone in a decree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that an official agreement on the criteria - likely to include a limit on the infection rate per 100,000 citizens - is expected late on Monday or early Tuesday .
The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because the procedure is ongoing and politically very sensitive .
Infection rates are high in Brazil , India and Russia , and it ’ s unlikely the EU will let their citizens in , either .
The list would be updated every 14 days , with new countries added and some possibly being left off based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
More than 15 million Americans are estimated to travel to Europe annually , and any delay would be a further blow to virus-ravaged economies and tourism sectors , both in Europe and the United States .
Around 10 million Europeans are thought to cross the Atlantic for vacations and business each year .
The 27 EU nations and four other countries that are part of Europe ’ s “ Schengen area ” - a 26-nation bloc where goods and people move freely without document checks - appear on track to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 1 .
Once that happens , restrictions on non-essential travel to Europe , which were imposed in March to halt new virus cases from entering , would gradually be lifted .
'Get our global economy going again' On Thursday , U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo played down concerns that the EU might refuse to allow Americans in .
“ We ’ ve denied travel to Europe and vice versa .
That ’ s the posture that we all sit in now , and I think we ’ re all taking seriously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get this up , ” Pompeo said .
“ We ’ ll work to get this right .
We want to make sure that it ’ s health-based , science-based.
” “ We need to get our global economy back going again , ” he said .
The European Commission , which monitors the bloc ’ s laws , believes that “ travel restrictions should not be lifted as regards third countries where the situation is worse ” than the average in the 27 EU member countries plus Iceland , Liechtenstein , Norway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s not trying to target any country or that the list might be politicized as tourism-reliant countries around Europe push to get their borders back open again .
“ The European Union has an internal process to determine from which countries it would be safe to accept travelers , ” spokesman Eric Mamer said Thursday , adding that its decisions are “ based on health criteria .
”

European Union envoys are close to finalizing a list of countries whose citizens will be allowed to enter Europe again, possibly from late next week, EU diplomats confirmed Saturday. Americans are almost certain to be excluded in the short term due to the number of U.S. coronavirus cases.
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The envoys were expected to have narrowed down later Saturday the exact criteria for countries to make the list, which include the way the spread of the virus is being managed. Another key condition is whether the country has a ban on citizens from European nations.
The number of cases in the United States has surged over the past week, with an all-time high of 45,300 confirmed new daily infections just reached. President Donald Trump also suspended the entry of all people from Europe’s ID check-free travel zone in a decree in March.
The EU diplomats confirmed that an official agreement on the criteria - likely to include a limit on the infection rate per 100,000 citizens - is expected late on Monday or early Tuesday. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because the procedure is ongoing and politically very sensitive.
Infection rates are high in Brazil, India and Russia, and it’s unlikely the EU will let their citizens in, either. The list would be updated every 14 days, with new countries added and some possibly being left off based on how they manage the spread of the virus.
More than 15 million Americans are estimated to travel to Europe annually, and any delay would be a further blow to virus-ravaged economies and tourism sectors, both in Europe and the United States. Around 10 million Europeans are thought to cross the Atlantic for vacations and business each year.
The 27 EU nations and four other countries that are part of Europe’s “Schengen area” - a 26-nation bloc where goods and people move freely without document checks - appear on track to reopen their borders between each other by July 1.
Once that happens, restrictions on non-essential travel to Europe, which were imposed in March to halt new virus cases from entering, would gradually be lifted.
'Get our global economy going again'
On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo played down concerns that the EU might refuse to allow Americans in.
“We’ve denied travel to Europe and vice versa. That’s the posture that we all sit in now, and I think we’re all taking seriously the need to figure out how to get this up,” Pompeo said. “We’ll work to get this right. We want to make sure that it’s health-based, science-based.”
“We need to get our global economy back going again,” he said.
The European Commission, which monitors the bloc’s laws, believes that “travel restrictions should not be lifted as regards third countries where the situation is worse” than the average in the 27 EU member countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
The commission insists that it’s not trying to target any country or that the list might be politicized as tourism-reliant countries around Europe push to get their borders back open again.
“The European Union has an internal process to determine from which countries it would be safe to accept travelers,” spokesman Eric Mamer said Thursday, adding that its decisions are “based on health criteria.”
(AP)
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france24--2020-06-27--Ethiopia on track to fill controversial dam, despite dispute with Egypt, Sudan

In this file photo taken on December 26 , 2019 A general view of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam ( GERD ) , near Guba in Ethiopia .
Ethiopia said Saturday it was on track to begin filling a controversial mega-dam on the Blue Nile River within weeks but vowed to try resolving its dispute with downstream neighbours Egypt and Sudan .
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam ( GERD ) , set to be Africa 's largest hydroelectric project , has been a source of tension in the Nile basin ever since Ethiopia broke ground on it nearly a decade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abiy Ahmed 's office undercut claims made Friday by Egypt and Sudan , whose leaders said Ethiopia had agreed to delay filling the dam 's reservoir until an agreement was reached .
Ethiopia says the project is essential for its development , while Egypt and Sudan worry about access to vital water supplies from the Nile .
Addis Ababa has been vocal about its plans to start filling the reservoir in July , and Abiy faces intense domestic political pressure to stick to that timeline .
The leaders of all three countries spoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ African President Cyril Ramaphosa , the current chair of the African Union .
But while Sudan and Egypt said afterwards that Ethiopia had agreed to hold off on filling the reservoir as negotiations continued , Ethiopia 's statement Saturday made no mention of a delay .
`` Ethiopia is scheduled to begin filling the GERD within the next two weeks , during which the remaining construction work will continue , '' it said .
`` It is in this period , that the three countries have agreed to reach a final agreement on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talks on the dam resumed earlier this month , with the biggest sticking points concerning how to operate the dam during periods of drought and how to resolve disputes .
Diplomatic sources said this week that the UN Security Council planned to meet Monday to discuss objections to the dam raised by Egypt and Sudan .
Ethiopia has been wary about the role of outside parties ever since talks involving the US Treasury Department broke down in February and Abiy 's government accused Washington of favouring Egypt .
Ethiopia criticised Egypt for detailing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May letter to the UN Security Council -- a move it described as a bad faith attempt to `` exert external diplomatic pressure '' .
Moussa Faki Mahamat , chairman of the African Union Commission who was also on Friday 's call , said afterwards that Abiy , Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok had `` agreed to an AU-led process to resolve outstanding issues '' .
Abiy 's office similarly said the leaders `` underscored that ... African issues must be given African solutions '' .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that `` 90 percent of the issues in the tripartite negotiations between Egypt , Ethiopia and Sudan have already been resolved '' .
It called on the countries `` to refrain from making any statements , or taking any action that may jeopardise or complicate the AU-led process aimed at finding an acceptable solution on all outstanding matters '' .
It said it had formed a committee that would present a report to Ramaphosa within a week .
Hamdok 's office had said Friday that technical committees for all three countries would try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks , as suggested by Ethiopia .
`` The resumption of trilateral technical talks on the filling and operating rules of the GERD and the involvement of the African Union in them are highly welcome developments , '' said William Davison , an analyst with the International Crisis Group .
It was `` appropriate that the AU is now facilitating discussions , as regional efforts should be exhausted before the UN Security Council takes over the process '' , he added .
The Nile is a lifeline , supplying both water and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through .

Ethiopia said Saturday it was on track to begin filling a controversial mega-dam on the Blue Nile River within weeks but vowed to try resolving its dispute with downstream neighbours Egypt and Sudan.
A general view of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), near Guba in Ethiopia on December 26, 2019.
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The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), set to be Africa's largest hydroelectric project, has been a source of tension in the Nile basin ever since Ethiopia broke ground on it nearly a decade ago.
The statement from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's office undercut claims made Friday by Egypt and Sudan, whose leaders said Ethiopia had agreed to delay filling the dam's reservoir until an agreement was reached.
Ethiopia says the project is essential for its development, while Egypt and Sudan worry about access to vital water supplies from the Nile.
Addis Ababa has been vocal about its plans to start filling the reservoir in July, and Abiy faces intense domestic political pressure to stick to that timeline.
Our continental organisation, with a Pan-African spirit, is the right space to dialogue on issues that are of value to #Africa. The #GERD offers all stakeholders the opportunity for unprecedented economic growth and mutual development. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/WJrqUjEC3q — Abiy Ahmed Ali 🇪🇹 (@AbiyAhmedAli) June 26, 2020
The leaders of all three countries spoke Friday on a call convened by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the current chair of the African Union.
But while Sudan and Egypt said afterwards that Ethiopia had agreed to hold off on filling the reservoir as negotiations continued, Ethiopia's statement Saturday made no mention of a delay.
"Ethiopia is scheduled to begin filling the GERD within the next two weeks, during which the remaining construction work will continue," it said.
"It is in this period, that the three countries have agreed to reach a final agreement on a few pending matters."
'African solutions needed'
Trilateral talks on the dam resumed earlier this month, with the biggest sticking points concerning how to operate the dam during periods of drought and how to resolve disputes.
Diplomatic sources said this week that the UN Security Council planned to meet Monday to discuss objections to the dam raised by Egypt and Sudan.
Ethiopia has been wary about the role of outside parties ever since talks involving the US Treasury Department broke down in February and Abiy's government accused Washington of favouring Egypt.
Ethiopia criticised Egypt for detailing its grievances over the dam in a May letter to the UN Security Council -- a move it described as a bad faith attempt to "exert external diplomatic pressure".
Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairman of the African Union Commission who was also on Friday's call, said afterwards that Abiy, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok had "agreed to an AU-led process to resolve outstanding issues".
Abiy's office similarly said the leaders "underscored that... African issues must be given African solutions".
'Welcome developments'
The African Union said in a statement Saturday that "90 percent of the issues in the tripartite negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan have already been resolved".
It called on the countries "to refrain from making any statements, or taking any action that may jeopardise or complicate the AU-led process aimed at finding an acceptable solution on all outstanding matters".
It said it had formed a committee that would present a report to Ramaphosa within a week.
Hamdok's office had said Friday that technical committees for all three countries would try to hammer out a conclusive deal within two weeks, as suggested by Ethiopia.
"The resumption of trilateral technical talks on the filling and operating rules of the GERD and the involvement of the African Union in them are highly welcome developments," said William Davison, an analyst with the International Crisis Group.
It was "appropriate that the AU is now facilitating discussions, as regional efforts should be exhausted before the UN Security Council takes over the process", he added.
The Nile is a lifeline, supplying both water and electricity to the 10 countries it snakes through.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-06-27--Ireland elects Micheal Martin as its new prime minister

Taoiseach Micheal Martin , leader of the Fianna Fail party leaves the Convention Centre , en route to the president 's residence to receive his seal of office in Dublin , Ireland June 27 , 2020 .
Ireland 's parliament picked veteran opposition leader Micheál Martin as prime minister on Saturday to head the first coalition uniting the two parties that have battled each other for power since a civil war nearly a century ago .
He pledged to rescue Ireland from the `` the fastest-moving recession ever to hit '' , brought on by the coronavirus crisis .
Martin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ join forces with its foes Fine Gael , after a surprise election surge for leftist Irish nationalists Sinn Fein left neither of the traditional centrist parties with enough support to govern on its own .
They and are joined in coalition by the environmentalist Greens .
Under a novel agreement , Martin is expected to step aside half way through the five-year term to allow Fine Gael 's leader , outgoing Prime Minister Leo Varadkar , to return to the post .
`` There is no question what our most urgent work is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of our country which has escaped untouched '' by coronavirus ) , Martin told a special sitting of lawmakers , held in Dublin 's large Convention Centre as the houses of parliament are too small for social distancing .
To overcome the recession `` we must act with urgency and ambition '' , said Martin , close to tears as he thanked his family who were unable to travel from his native Cork due to coronavirus restrictions due to be eased on Monday .
He was elected by 93 votes to 63 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of parliament .
The appointment represented a turnaround for Fianna Fail and Martin , who was a member of the government that signed up to an EU/IMF bailout a decade ago and led to an unprecedented 2011 electoral collapse just after he took over as leader .
The 59-year-old former history teacher , who has held several senior ministries including health , trade , foreign affairs and education , faces another economic crisis with 26 % of the country either temporarily or permanently unemployed .
The jobless rate was just 4.8 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different circumstances in February .
The main issue then was over how to allot the spoils of what was Europe 's fastest growing economy .
Instead Martin will oversee a stimulus package next month for the sectors hardest hit by the coronavirus lockdown .
Pashcal Donohoe , a candidate to head the Eurogroup of 19 euro zone finance ministers , was reappointed finance minister , as was his Fine Gael colleague , Foreign Minister Simon Coveney .
Deputy Prime Minister Varadkar was named trade minister .
The new coalition will also split Irish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the past , with Sinn Fein taking over as the main opposition .
Though Fianna Fail and Fine Gael emerged from opposite sides in civil war in the 1920s , they have mainly pushed similar centrist agendas for decades .
Sinn Fein , the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army that fought an insurgency against British rule of Northern Ireland , shocked the political establishment in February by securing the most votes with a call for more generous social programmes .
It has 37 seats in the 160-seat parliament , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two more than Fine Gael .
`` You will no longer get it all your own way , '' Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald told the two parties .

Ireland's parliament picked veteran opposition leader Micheál Martin as prime minister on Saturday to head the first coalition uniting the two parties that have battled each other for power since a civil war nearly a century ago.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin, leader of the Fianna Fail party leaves the Convention Centre, en route to the president's residence to receive his seal of office in Dublin, Ireland June 27, 2020.
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He pledged to rescue Ireland from the "the fastest-moving recession ever to hit", brought on by the coronavirus crisis.
Martin's Fianna Fail party was forced to join forces with its foes Fine Gael, after a surprise election surge for leftist Irish nationalists Sinn Fein left neither of the traditional centrist parties with enough support to govern on its own. They and are joined in coalition by the environmentalist Greens.
Under a novel agreement, Martin is expected to step aside half way through the five-year term to allow Fine Gael's leader, outgoing Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, to return to the post.
"There is no question what our most urgent work is. There is no community, no part of our country which has escaped untouched" by coronavirus), Martin told a special sitting of lawmakers, held in Dublin's large Convention Centre as the houses of parliament are too small for social distancing.
President Michael D. Higgins today presented An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD, with his Warrant of Appointment and Seal of Office, in accordance with Article 13 of the Constitution.https://t.co/W085Iulad3 pic.twitter.com/TqUsZCl19p — President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) June 27, 2020
To overcome the recession "we must act with urgency and ambition", said Martin, close to tears as he thanked his family who were unable to travel from his native Cork due to coronavirus restrictions due to be eased on Monday.
He was elected by 93 votes to 63 after also securing support from some independent members of parliament.
The appointment represented a turnaround for Fianna Fail and Martin, who was a member of the government that signed up to an EU/IMF bailout a decade ago and led to an unprecedented 2011 electoral collapse just after he took over as leader.
Stimulus package
The 59-year-old former history teacher, who has held several senior ministries including health, trade, foreign affairs and education, faces another economic crisis with 26% of the country either temporarily or permanently unemployed.
The jobless rate was just 4.8% when the election was fought in very different circumstances in February. The main issue then was over how to allot the spoils of what was Europe's fastest growing economy.
Instead Martin will oversee a stimulus package next month for the sectors hardest hit by the coronavirus lockdown.
Pashcal Donohoe, a candidate to head the Eurogroup of 19 euro zone finance ministers, was reappointed finance minister, as was his Fine Gael colleague, Foreign Minister Simon Coveney. Deputy Prime Minister Varadkar was named trade minister.
The new coalition will also split Irish politics along more explicitly ideological lines than in the past, with Sinn Fein taking over as the main opposition. Though Fianna Fail and Fine Gael emerged from opposite sides in civil war in the 1920s, they have mainly pushed similar centrist agendas for decades.
Sinn Fein, the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army that fought an insurgency against British rule of Northern Ireland, shocked the political establishment in February by securing the most votes with a call for more generous social programmes. It has 37 seats in the 160-seat parliament, the same number as Fianna Fail and two more than Fine Gael.
"You will no longer get it all your own way," Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald told the two parties.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-06-27--British police charge Reading knife attack suspect with three counts of murder

Police officers stand behind the cordon at the scene of multiple stabbings in Reading , Britain , June 21 , 2020 .
U.K. counter-terrorism police have charged a 25-year-old man with three counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder for a stabbing attack in an English park that killed three men a week ago .
British prosecutors authorized the charges filed Saturday against Khairi Saadallah , of Reading .
The attack happened June 20 at Forbury Gardens park in Reading , a town of 200,000 people some 40 miles ( 64 kilometers ) west of London .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by police as teacher James Furlong , 36 , scientist David Wails , 49 , and pharmaceutical worker Joseph Ritchie-Bennett , 39 , were enjoying a warm Saturday evening at the park when they were stabbed .
Police said Friday that each man had received a single fatal blow .
Three other people also were wounded and have since been released from the hospital .
Police declared the stabbings as a terrorist incident the day after the attack , but they have not said what they think the motive was and noted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Borough Council has organized an online vigil later Saturday for the three friends .
Britain 's Press Association reported that Furlong 's family released a statement Saturday thanking other park-goers and police officers who rushed to help the wounded men .
“ James was passionate about creating a more loving and caring society .
His time with us was cut far too short but the impact he made will live on , long long into the future , '' the new agency quoted the statement as saying .
Saadallah is due to appear @ @ @ @ @

U.K. counter-terrorism police have charged a 25-year-old man with three counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder for a stabbing attack in an English park that killed three men a week ago.
Police officers at the scene of multiple stabbings in Reading, Britain on June 21, 2020.
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British prosecutors authorized the charges filed Saturday against Khairi Saadallah, of Reading. The attack happened June 20 at Forbury Gardens park in Reading, a town of 200,000 people some 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of London.
The three victims, friends who were identified by police as teacher James Furlong, 36, scientist David Wails, 49, and pharmaceutical worker Joseph Ritchie-Bennett, 39, were enjoying a warm Saturday evening at the park when they were stabbed. Police said Friday that each man had received a single fatal blow.
Three other people also were wounded and have since been released from the hospital. Police declared the stabbings as a terrorist incident the day after the attack, but they have not said what they think the motive was and noted the investigating is ongoing.
The local Reading Borough Council has organized an online vigil later Saturday for the three friends.
Britain's Press Association reported that Furlong's family released a statement Saturday thanking other park-goers and police officers who rushed to help the wounded men.
“James was passionate about creating a more loving and caring society. His time with us was cut far too short but the impact he made will live on, long long into the future," the new agency quoted the statement as saying.
Saadallah is due to appear in court on Monday.
(AP)
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france24--2020-06-27--DR Congo's justice minister questioned by police over proposed juidical reforms

Celestin Tunda Ya Kasende , Minister of Justice of the DRC , was arrested outside his home on Saturday , June 27 , 2020 .
DR Congo 's justice minister was briefly arrested on Saturday , the latest twist in a crisis over proposed judicial reforms that have triggered violent street protests .
He was released after being questioned by the police for several hours .
The action against Celestin Tunda Ya Kasende came a day after he clashed with President Felix Tshisekedi over the contested legal changes , according to a ministerial source .
The reforms , proposed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joseph Kabila , has caused a damaging rift in the fragile government coalition .
Tunda Ya Kasenda , a lawyer by profession , had told AFP by phone shortly before his arrest that about a dozen officers had surrounded his Kinshasa home .
`` I am serene .
I 'm a member of the government and I have immunity , '' said the minister , a supporter of Kabila .
He was taken to the prosecutor 's office , according to lawmaker Felix Kabange Numbi .
He was questioned by prosecutors for several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The controversial reforms include proposals to define the powers of judges , which critics say is a ploy to muzzle the judiciary .
They were put forward by the Common Front for Congo ( FCC ) , a coalition close to Kabila , who remains a behind-the-scenes force in national politics .
The FCC sits in an uneasy coalition with Tshisekedi 's Union for Democracy and Social Progress ( UDPS ) and it accounts for most of the 66 government ministers as well as the prime minister .
Over two days this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and some armed with petrol bombs , blocked traffic outside parliament , erecting barriers and burning tyres in a protest over the legal changes .
Former parliament speaker Aubin Minaku , one of the people behind the proposed amendments , said this week that aim of the reforms was `` to define the authority the justice ministry exercises over the judges '' .
But Tshisekedi 's party on Monday lambasted the proposals as a ploy to `` undermine the independence of the judiciary and increase the power of the justice ministry '' .

DR Congo's justice minister was briefly arrested on Saturday, the latest twist in a crisis over proposed judicial reforms that have triggered violent street protests. He was released after being questioned by the police for several hours.
Celestin Tunda Ya Kasende, Minister of Justice of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was questioned at Kinshasa's court of cassation (pictured) on Saturday, June 27, 2020.
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The action against Celestin Tunda Ya Kasende came a day after he clashed with President Felix Tshisekedi over the contested legal changes, according to a ministerial source.
The reforms, proposed by supporters of the still influential former president Joseph Kabila, has caused a damaging rift in the fragile government coalition.
Tunda Ya Kasenda, a lawyer by profession, had told AFP by phone shortly before his arrest that about a dozen officers had surrounded his Kinshasa home.
"I am serene. I'm a member of the government and I have immunity," said the minister, a supporter of Kabila.
He was taken to the prosecutor's office, according to lawmaker Felix Kabange Numbi. He was questioned by prosecutors for several hours at the court of cassation.
"He's been released," said Kinshasa's police chief, Sylvano Kasongo.
URGENT - #RDC🇨🇩: le VPM, Célestin Tunda Y’a KASENDE, a été arrêté et amené au parquet général près la cour de cassation. pic.twitter.com/Xn68zSBaYY — Pascal Mulegwa (@pascal_mulegwa) June 27, 2020
The controversial reforms include proposals to define the powers of judges, which critics say is a ploy to muzzle the judiciary.
They were put forward by the Common Front for Congo (FCC), a coalition close to Kabila, who remains a behind-the-scenes force in national politics.
The FCC sits in an uneasy coalition with Tshisekedi's Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) and it accounts for most of the 66 government ministers as well as the prime minister.
Over two days this week, angry demonstrators, mainly UDPS supporters and some armed with petrol bombs, blocked traffic outside parliament, erecting barriers and burning tyres in a protest over the legal changes.
Former parliament speaker Aubin Minaku, one of the people behind the proposed amendments, said this week that aim of the reforms was "to define the authority the justice ministry exercises over the judges".
But Tshisekedi's party on Monday lambasted the proposals as a ploy to "undermine the independence of the judiciary and increase the power of the justice ministry".
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-06-27--France arrests six over theft of Banksy artwork from Bataclan

Italian Carabinieri military police stand by a mural attributed to British street artist Banksy that was stolen from the Bataclan theatre in Paris , where Islamist militants killed 90 people in 2015 , after it was found in a farmhouse in central Italy , in L'Aquila , Italy , June 11 , 2020 .
Six people have been arrested in France over the theft of an artwork by street artist Banksy commemorating the victims of the 2015 Paris attacks that was stolen from the Bataclan concert hall , sources said Saturday .
The suspects were arrested across France this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a girl in mourning painted on one of the Paris venue 's emergency doors , was found in Italy earlier in the month , judicial and police sources told AFP .
Two were charged with theft while the other four were charged with concealing theft , the sources added .
All six were placed in pre-trial detention .
The door with the artwork was cut out and taken in January last year at the Bataclan , where Islamic State gunmen massacred 90 people in 2015 .
French and Italian police said on June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work in an abandoned farmhouse in Italy 's central east Abruzzo region .
One of the French policeman who intervened in the 2015 Bataclan attack was present when the door was found , and was overcome with emotion , according to the French crime unit .
Works by Banksy , known for their distinctive style , irreverent humour and thought-provoking themes , have been found on walls , buildings and bridges from the West Bank to post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans .
At auction , they have sold for more than $ 1 million @

Six people have been arrested in France over the theft of an artwork by street artist Banksy commemorating the victims of the 2015 Paris attacks that was stolen from the Bataclan concert hall, sources said Saturday.
Italian Carabinieri military police stand by a mural attributed to British street artist Banksy that was stolen from the Bataclan theatre in Paris, where Islamist militants killed 90 people in 2015, after it was found in a farmhouse in central Italy, in L'Aquila, Italy, June 11, 2020.
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The suspects were arrested across France this week after the artwork, an image of a girl in mourning painted on one of the Paris venue's emergency doors, was found in Italy earlier in the month, judicial and police sources told AFP.
Two were charged with theft while the other four were charged with concealing theft, the sources added. All six were placed in pre-trial detention.
The door with the artwork was cut out and taken in January last year at the Bataclan, where Islamic State gunmen massacred 90 people in 2015.
French and Italian police said on June 10 this year that they found the work in an abandoned farmhouse in Italy's central east Abruzzo region.
Good news! A stolen #Bansky was just recovered!
Art should be accessible to all, not stolen.
In a tribute to the Bataclan victims in Paris, Banksy's art called for dignity & respect, not greed.
Join the fight against illicit trafficking https://t.co/HLHkjcgTJc #ShareCulture pic.twitter.com/dmlehCr8Rf — Lara Palmisano (@larapalmisano) June 26, 2020
One of the French policeman who intervened in the 2015 Bataclan attack was present when the door was found, and was overcome with emotion, according to the French crime unit.
Works by Banksy, known for their distinctive style, irreverent humour and thought-provoking themes, have been found on walls, buildings and bridges from the West Bank to post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans.
At auction, they have sold for more than $1 million.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-06-27--L'Oreal to drop words like 'whitening' from its skincare products

A cosmetic display of French cosmetics group L'Oreal at the Nice International Airport , France , October 10 , 2018 .
L'Oreal announced it will remove the word 'whitening ' from its products on June 26 2020 .
L'Oreal , the world 's biggest cosmetics company , will remove words referencing `` white '' , `` fair '' and `` light '' from its skincare products , a spokeswoman said on Friday , a day after Unilever made a similar announcement in the face of growing social media criticism .
Unilever and L'Oreal are two big players in the global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many Asian , African and Caribbean countries where fair skin is often considered desirable .
Unilever , in particular , came under fire for its `` Fair & Lovely '' brand at a time of worldwide focus on racial injustice following weeks of protests sparked by the May death of George Floyd in police custody in the United States .
`` We are making our skin care portfolio more inclusive and want to lead the celebration of a more diverse portrayal of beauty , '' Sanjiv Mehta , head of Hindustan Unilever , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brand has never been and is not a bleaching product , '' the statement from Unilever Bangladesh said .
Johnson & Johnson went a step further , saying it would stop selling skin whitening creams sold in Asia and the Middle East under its Neutrogena and Clean & Clear brand .

L'Oreal, the world's biggest cosmetics company, will remove words referencing "white", "fair" and "light" from its skincare products, a spokeswoman said on Friday, a day after Unilever made a similar announcement in the face of growing social media criticism.
A cosmetic display of French cosmetics group L'Oreal at Nice's International Airport, France, October 10, 2018. L'Oreal announced it will remove the word 'whitening' from its products on June 26, 2020.
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Unilever and L'Oreal are two big players in the global market for skin whitening creams used in many Asian, African and Caribbean countries where fair skin is often considered desirable.
Unilever, in particular, came under fire for its "Fair & Lovely" brand at a time of worldwide focus on racial injustice following weeks of protests sparked by the May death of George Floyd in police custody in the United States.
"We are making our skin care portfolio more inclusive and want to lead the celebration of a more diverse portrayal of beauty," Sanjiv Mehta, head of Hindustan Unilever, said in a statement.
"The brand has never been and is not a bleaching product," the statement from Unilever Bangladesh said.
We’re committed to a skin care portfolio that's inclusive of all skin tones, celebrating the diversity of beauty. That’s why we’re removing the words ‘fairness’, ‘whitening’ & ‘lightening’ from products, and changing the Fair & Lovely brand name.https://t.co/W3tHn6dHqE — Unilever #StaySafe (@Unilever) June 25, 2020
L'Oreal's products include Garnier Skin Naturals White Complete Multi Action Fairness Cream.
Johnson & Johnson went a step further, saying it would stop selling skin whitening creams sold in Asia and the Middle East under its Neutrogena and Clean & Clear brand.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS, AFP)
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france24--2020-06-27--Week in Review: Paris votes for its mayor, satire celebrates 'a woman' and rooftop urban farming

The founder of the Algorithmic Justice League seeks to correct racial bias in facial recognition software , a documentary film portrays loved ones who seek answers about those who have been forcibly disappeared during Syria ’ s civil war , and a rooftop farm in Paris aims to be the largest urban farm in Europe .
Building on the success of the hashtag # unefemme ( a woman ) , which aims to call out everyday sexism in the media , a satirical Wikipedia page in French has begun recording the many accomplishments of women lumped together in news headlines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
With the launch of its BeiDou satellite , Beijing ’ s Space Silk Road is open for business China has launched into orbit the final satellite needed to make its BeiDou navigation system a worldwide alternative to the American Global Positioning and the European Galileo systems .
For Beijing , this satellite programme is crucial in more than one respect .
An uphill battle for Macron ’ s party in France ’ s municipal elections As candidates in the second round of France ’ s municipal elections wrap up a campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eyes are on the party of President Emmanuel Macron and the mayoral race in Paris .
Abandoned by employers , Ethiopian domestic workers are dumped on Lebanon ’ s streets The economic crisis in Lebanon , exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic , has sparked a distressing phenomenon of predominantly Ethiopian migrant domestic workers being fired and dumped outside the consulate in Beirut .
Back to school for millions in France as more Covid-19 restrictions lifted Millions of French children returned to school this week after more than three months at home due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kindergarten , elementary and secondary schools up to the age of 15 are required to return following a gradual reopening that began in recent weeks .
Paris statues of Voltaire and a colonial-era general splashed with red paint Two Paris statues related to France ’ s colonial era were found covered in red paint amid global calls to take down monuments commemorating figures with links to slavery or colonialism .
French investigators have questioned four police officers over the January arrest of a Paris delivery driver who died from asphyxia after the officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeatedly shouted , “ I ’ m suffocating ” .
‘ Ayouni ’ , the documentary film that puts a face to Syria 's forcibly disappeared Award-winning Palestinian director Yasmin Fedda 's latest documentary “ Ayouni ” sheds light on Syria 's forced disappearances through the intimate stories of Noura , the widow of cyber-activist Bassel Safadi , and Machi , the sister of Italian priest Paolo Dall'Oglio , who was abducted in Raqqa in 2013 and whose whereabouts remain unknown .
Locals in Indonesia ’ s Aceh province rescued a group of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refused to let them come ashore for fear they may have been carrying the coronavirus .
Farm on a Paris rooftop : Urban farm aims to be Europe ’ s largest The first phase of a vast urban farming project in Paris is now under way following a two-month delay caused by the Covid-19 pandemic .
Set on a Paris rooftop , the farm is set to grow over the next two years to become the largest urban farm in Europe .
Covid-19 : ‘ Bolsonaro is disrespecting the victims , ’ Brazil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a doctor by training , was President Jair Bolsonaro ’ s health minister at the start of the Covid-19 crisis in Brazil .
He was fired in April amid a dispute with Bolsonaro over social-distancing measures .
In an interview with FRANCE 24 , Dr Mandetta strongly criticised the Brazilian leader : “ His management of the situation ... has shocked people.
” With coronavirus found in water systems , is it safe to swim this summer ?
With traces of the virus responsible for Covid-19 found in human sewage , scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk it will spread to beaches and rivers this summer .
How does the virus evolve in a marine environment ?
We take a closer look .
Fukushima 's Olympic makeover : Will the ‘ cursed ’ area be safe from radioactivity in time for Games ?
The 2021 Olympic Games , dubbed the “ reconstruction Olympics ” , should allow Japan to move on from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear plant disaster .
The region has officially been cleaned up but many problems remain , such as radioactivity and `` forbidden cities '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , our reporters followed the daily lives of the inhabitants of this “ cursed ” region .
As a faulty facial recognition match leads to the arrest of an innocent man in the US state of Michigan , we take a look at the underlying racial and gender bias of the technology .
MIT 's Joy Buolamwini , founder of the Algorithmic Justice League , is helping to correct the code .
Writer Nick Hornby : ‘ The struggles of women are often more compelling than those of men ’ Nick Hornby – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Boy ” , “ Fever Pitch ” and the cult classic “ High Fidelity ” – talks about his book , “ State of the Union : A Marriage in Ten Parts ” , which is being translated into French .
Hornby also discusses writing about women and why in 2020 Zoë Kravitz was the right choice to play the male protagonist in the “ High Fidelity ” TV series .
The Russian parliament fast-tracked a law against “ fake news ” at the end of March amid the Covid-19 pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ authors of false information in the media and is backed by an army of cyber activists who are tasked with trawling the internet .
But Russian civil society groups say the law ’ s real function is to silence criticism of the authorities ’ handling of the health crisis .
Difficult women and how they impacted our lives “ Difficult women ” and how they have changed our lives : UK journalist Helen Lewis discusses her latest book on feminist pioneers .
We also take a look at how teenage prostitution in France @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the economic downturn caused by the pandemic will result in even more under-aged girls turning to sex work .
YOU ARE HERE Discovering the most beautiful villages in France Some 158 French villages belong to an elite club – those deemed the country ’ s most beautiful .
In the hilly Auvergne region , the village of Usson clings to a volcanic peak at an altitude of 600 metres .
In southern Aveyron , Cantobre is a real eagle ’ s nest : Only 15 inhabitants live on this cliff shaped by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Provence , the peaceful village of Cotignac is nestled at the foot of a spectacular rock .
Pragmatism and resilience are n't usually words associated with high-end fashion , but that was before Covid-19 .
FRANCE 24 takes you around the world to see how designers are innovating amid the pandemic .

WEEK IN REVIEW
The founder of the Algorithmic Justice League seeks to correct racial bias in facial recognition software, a documentary film portrays loved ones who seek answers about those who have been forcibly disappeared during Syria’s civil war, and a rooftop farm in Paris aims to be the largest urban farm in Europe.
Advertising Read more
ARTICLES
‘A woman’: Wikipedia page records trials and achievements of invisible women
Building on the success of the hashtag #unefemme (a woman), which aims to call out everyday sexism in the media, a satirical Wikipedia page in French has begun recording the many accomplishments of women lumped together in news headlines under the anonymous label “a woman”.
With the launch of its BeiDou satellite, Beijing’s Space Silk Road is open for business
China has launched into orbit the final satellite needed to make its BeiDou navigation system a worldwide alternative to the American Global Positioning and the European Galileo systems. For Beijing, this satellite programme is crucial in more than one respect.
An uphill battle for Macron’s party in France’s municipal elections
As candidates in the second round of France’s municipal elections wrap up a campaign severely affected by Covid-19 restrictions, all eyes are on the party of President Emmanuel Macron and the mayoral race in Paris.
Abandoned by employers, Ethiopian domestic workers are dumped on Lebanon’s streets
The economic crisis in Lebanon, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, has sparked a distressing phenomenon of predominantly Ethiopian migrant domestic workers being fired and dumped outside the consulate in Beirut.
Back to school for millions in France as more Covid-19 restrictions lifted
Millions of French children returned to school this week after more than three months at home due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. Pupils in kindergarten, elementary and secondary schools up to the age of 15 are required to return following a gradual reopening that began in recent weeks.
Paris statues of Voltaire and a colonial-era general splashed with red paint
Two Paris statues related to France’s colonial era were found covered in red paint amid global calls to take down monuments commemorating figures with links to slavery or colonialism.
‘I’m suffocating’: French police investigated over death of delivery driver
French investigators have questioned four police officers over the January arrest of a Paris delivery driver who died from asphyxia after the officers pinned him to the ground as he repeatedly shouted, “I’m suffocating”.
‘Ayouni’, the documentary film that puts a face to Syria's forcibly disappeared
Award-winning Palestinian director Yasmin Fedda's latest documentary “Ayouni” sheds light on Syria's forced disappearances through the intimate stories of Noura, the widow of cyber-activist Bassel Safadi, and Machi, the sister of Italian priest Paolo Dall'Oglio, who was abducted in Raqqa in 2013 and whose whereabouts remain unknown.
The Families for Freedom bus © Ayouni, Yasmin Fedda 2020
VIDEO REPORTS
‘They are human too’: Indonesia locals rescue Rohingya refugees barred by Covid fears
Locals in Indonesia’s Aceh province rescued a group of Rohingya refugees stranded at sea after authorities refused to let them come ashore for fear they may have been carrying the coronavirus.
Farm on a Paris rooftop: Urban farm aims to be Europe’s largest
The first phase of a vast urban farming project in Paris is now under way following a two-month delay caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Set on a Paris rooftop, the farm is set to grow over the next two years to become the largest urban farm in Europe.
A new urban farming project in Paris hopes to become Europe's biggest by 2022. © AFP / FRANCE 24
TV SHOWS ONLINE
THE INTERVIEW
Covid-19: ‘Bolsonaro is disrespecting the victims,’ Brazil's ex-health minister says
Luiz Henrique Mandetta, a doctor by training, was President Jair Bolsonaro’s health minister at the start of the Covid-19 crisis in Brazil. He was fired in April amid a dispute with Bolsonaro over social-distancing measures. In an interview with FRANCE 24, Dr Mandetta strongly criticised the Brazilian leader: “His management of the situation ... has shocked people.”
THE INTERVIEW © FRANCE 24
DOWN TO EARTH
With coronavirus found in water systems, is it safe to swim this summer?
With traces of the virus responsible for Covid-19 found in human sewage, scientists are studying whether there’s a risk it will spread to beaches and rivers this summer. How does the virus evolve in a marine environment? We take a closer look.
REPORTERS
Fukushima's Olympic makeover: Will the ‘cursed’ area be safe from radioactivity in time for Games?
The 2021 Olympic Games, dubbed the “reconstruction Olympics”, should allow Japan to move on from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear plant disaster. The region has officially been cleaned up but many problems remain, such as radioactivity and "forbidden cities". Over the course of several months, our reporters followed the daily lives of the inhabitants of this “cursed” region.
Reporters © FRANCE 24
TECH 24
Racial bias: Correcting the code of facial recognition
As a faulty facial recognition match leads to the arrest of an innocent man in the US state of Michigan, we take a look at the underlying racial and gender bias of the technology. MIT's Joy Buolamwini, founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, is helping to correct the code.
ENCORE!
Writer Nick Hornby: ‘The struggles of women are often more compelling than those of men’
Nick Hornby – the Academy Award-nominated writer of “About a Boy”, “Fever Pitch” and the cult classic “High Fidelity”– talks about his book, “State of the Union: A Marriage in Ten Parts”, which is being translated into French. Hornby also discusses writing about women and why in 2020 Zoë Kravitz was the right choice to play the male protagonist in the “High Fidelity” TV series.
ENCORE! © FRANCE 24
FOCUS
Russian authorities wage war on ‘fake news’ amid Covid-19 pandemic
The Russian parliament fast-tracked a law against “fake news” at the end of March amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The legislation introduces criminal proceedings for the authors of false information in the media and is backed by an army of cyber activists who are tasked with trawling the internet. But Russian civil society groups say the law’s real function is to silence criticism of the authorities’ handling of the health crisis.
THE 51 PERCENT
Difficult women and how they impacted our lives
“Difficult women” and how they have changed our lives: UK journalist Helen Lewis discusses her latest book on feminist pioneers. We also take a look at how teenage prostitution in France is on the rise, with concerns that the economic downturn caused by the pandemic will result in even more under-aged girls turning to sex work.
THE 51 PERCENT © FRANCE 24
YOU ARE HERE
Discovering the most beautiful villages in France
Some 158 French villages belong to an elite club – those deemed the country’s most beautiful. In the hilly Auvergne region, the village of Usson clings to a volcanic peak at an altitude of 600 metres. In southern Aveyron, Cantobre is a real eagle’s nest: Only 15 inhabitants live on this cliff shaped by centuries of erosion. Further east in Provence, the peaceful village of Cotignac is nestled at the foot of a spectacular rock.
You Are Here © France 24
FASHION
Pragmatism and resilience: Fashion amid Covid-19
Pragmatism and resilience aren't usually words associated with high-end fashion, but that was before Covid-19. FRANCE 24 takes you around the world to see how designers are innovating amid the pandemic.
Fashion © Just in XX Collections Taiwan
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-06-23--An uphill battle for Macron’s party in France’s municipal elections

Agnes Buzyn , La République en Marche 's candidate for mayor in Paris , during her campaign in the capital on June 23 , 2020 , five days ahead of the second round of nationwide municipal elections .
As candidates in the second round of France ’ s municipal elections wrap up a campaign period severely affected by Covid-19 restrictions , all eyes are on the party of President Emmanuel Macron and on the mayoral race in Paris .
Runoff elections will be held on June 28 in 4,827 cities and towns around France where the first round of votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million adults eligible to participate .
In many of those municipalities , Macron 's party , La République en Marche , is fighting a losing battle .
A defeat for LREM would deal a blow to the French president ’ s bid to chart a fresh course for the remaining two years of his term in the wake of the coronavirus crisis , while his personal popularity has slipped again .
Efforts by LREM to build up grassroots support have gone nowhere in the three years since Macron swept into the top job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usual .
The vast majority of its candidates failed to make it past the first round of voting on March 15 , two days before Macron announced a coronavirus lockdown only now being lifted .
Paris , Marseille and other key cities are widely expected to remain in Socialist or right-wing hands , forcing the centrists into conflicting alliances to obtain at least some local seats .
Their goal is to have 10,000 municipal councillors nationwide .
`` LREM still has n't taken root locally , and is struggling to prove that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jean Garrigues , a political historian at the University of Orleans .
Even Prime Minister Edouard Philippe , whose popularity has soared on his perceived steady hand during the Covid-19 outbreak , faces a close fight to regain his mayor 's seat in the port of Le Havre .
An Ifop poll released Sunday saw Philippe 's approval ratings rise to 50 percent while Macron 's dropped further to 38 percent .
It may be no coincidence that Philippe has refused to become a card-carrying LREM member , after leaving the right-wing Les @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A loss by Philippe would almost certainly force Macron into a broad reshuffle of his cabinet , and even if he wins at least some ministers are widely expected to be replaced soon .
In Paris , Socialist incumbent Anne Hidalgo stands as the favourite to win the run-off for a second 6-year term , having topped the first round with 29.33 percent of the votes , trailed by conservative candidate Rachida Dati , who won 22.72 percent and the LREM candidate , Agnès Buzyn , who got 17.26 percent .
Hidalgo ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sealed an alliance with greens leader David Belliard , the Europe Écologie-Les Verts candidate , who finished fourth on March 15 with 10.79 percent of the vote .
The alliance was not unexpected – the incumbent Socialist governed together with the greens during her first term .
The agreement sees Hidalgo become the sole candidate remaining on the left and the torchbearer for green issues .
Buzyn trailed well behind Hidalgo and Dati in March , having joined the race late after stepping down as health minister in February , in the middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replace Benjamin Griveaux as the party 's candidate for Paris City Hall .
LREM had found itself without a flagbearer after Griveaux , a longtime Macron ally , suddenly withdrew from the race over sex tape allegations .
After the March 15 ballot , Buzyn dropped off the radar for weeks , having called the campaign a `` masquerade '' amid the worsening coronavirus outbreak .
She eventually returned to the spotlight in late May , to confirm she would stay on as the party ’ s candidate for Paris in the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' support of the government , with a vast mailing campaign targeting half the city 's households .
`` Anne Hidalgo and Rachida Dati systematically criticise the government 's actions .
All Parisians who think the government is acting to protect our economy and vulnerable people must mobilise '' for Buzyn 's candidates , said spokesman Pierre-Yves Bournazel .
Dati , who came in second in March , hopes to beat Hidalgo by luring away those who voted for Buzyn in the first round : A recent Ifop-Fiducial poll indicates Hidalgo will get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 33 percent for Dati and 20 percent for Buzyn .
Dati reasons that more than half of voters want to give their say to someone other than the incumbent .
> > Hidalgo , Dati , Buzyn : Three women , three strategies in race for Paris City Hall Macron appears barely concerned by the all-but-certain rout , analysts say , reflecting a disdain of party politics that could prove risky as he seeks to revive his reform drive .
`` When you have a very vertical conception of power , basically a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why he does n't want to have a party that weighs him down , '' said Chloe Morin , a political scientist at the Fondation Jean-Jaures think-tank .
The go-it-alone approach proved its limits , however , with the unexpectedly fierce `` yellow vest '' rebellion of 2018-19 , which saw furious protesters accuse the former investment banker of being cut off from the day-to-day struggles of millions .
More recently , a decision to push through a hotly contested pension reform by decree , overriding opposition from unions and even from lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depleted his political capital .
`` This vision that parties are n't good for anything , or that unions can be bypassed , is dangerous because that 's how you end up with the yellow vests , '' Morin said .
Adding to Macron 's headaches , several LREM lawmakers have defected in recent weeks , depriving him of an outright majority in the National Assembly .
An electoral debacle on Sunday could prompt others to abandon ship , providing grist for opponents hoping to position themselves as compelling rivals for the 2022 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another record-high abstention rate .
In the first round of elections , the abstention rate was 54.5 percent , the highest rate for this type of election since the founding of France 's Fifth Republic in 1958 .
The president refused to postpone that vote even though the government had banned mass gatherings and closed all schools — which often serve as polling stations — just days before .
The second round was postponed because of the crisis and lockdown , and candidates were forced to mount remote campaigns , unable to meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in markets , canvas door to door or shake hands .
Instead , they campaigned digitally and by simply phoning potential voters .
Over three months later , voters seem just as reluctant to head to the ballot box .
In a survey by the Ifop polling firm released June 15 , only 38 percent of those called to the polls said they were planning to vote , with 29 percent attributing their reticence `` solely to the risk of being affected by coronavirus '' .
Whatever the outcome on Sunday , analysts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to shift the narrative , urging unity in the face of France 's daunting coronavirus challenges .
His office has already said a `` first response '' will be announced on June 29 , the day after the vote , to dozens of proposals tabled last week by his Citizens ' Council on Climate .
The grouping was formed in response to demands for more `` direct democracy '' in the wake of the yellow vest protests , and calls have emerged for Macron to hold a referendum on the proposals .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call to rethink France 's economy as the state tries to limit the fallout from a recession that is expected to see a wave of business closures and layoffs over the coming months .
`` Expectations are running very high , so the chances that people could be disappointed are high as well , '' Garrigues said .

As candidates in the second round of France’s municipal elections wrap up a campaign period severely affected by Covid-19 restrictions, all eyes are on the party of President Emmanuel Macron and on the mayoral race in Paris.
Agnes Buzyn, La République en Marche's candidate for mayor in Paris, during her campaign in the capital on June 23, 2020, five days ahead of the second round of nationwide municipal elections.
Advertising Read more
Runoff elections will be held on June 28 in 4,827 cities and towns around France where the first round of votes was not decisive, with some 16.5 million adults eligible to participate. In many of those municipalities, Macron's party, La République en Marche, is fighting a losing battle.
A defeat for LREM would deal a blow to the French president’s bid to chart a fresh course for the remaining two years of his term in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, while his personal popularity has slipped again.
Efforts by LREM to build up grassroots support have gone nowhere in the three years since Macron swept into the top job with a pledge to end politics as usual. The vast majority of its candidates failed to make it past the first round of voting on March 15, two days before Macron announced a coronavirus lockdown only now being lifted.
Paris, Marseille and other key cities are widely expected to remain in Socialist or right-wing hands, forcing the centrists into conflicting alliances to obtain at least some local seats.
Their goal is to have 10,000 municipal councillors nationwide.
"LREM still hasn't taken root locally, and is struggling to prove that it's a viable force," said Jean Garrigues, a political historian at the University of Orleans.
Even Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, whose popularity has soared on his perceived steady hand during the Covid-19 outbreak, faces a close fight to regain his mayor's seat in the port of Le Havre.
An Ifop poll released Sunday saw Philippe's approval ratings rise to 50 percent while Macron's dropped further to 38 percent.
It may be no coincidence that Philippe has refused to become a card-carrying LREM member, after leaving the right-wing Les Républicains to become head of government.
A loss by Philippe would almost certainly force Macron into a broad reshuffle of his cabinet, and even if he wins at least some ministers are widely expected to be replaced soon.
The race for Paris
In Paris, Socialist incumbent Anne Hidalgo stands as the favourite to win the run-off for a second 6-year term, having topped the first round with 29.33 percent of the votes, trailed by conservative candidate Rachida Dati, who won 22.72 percent and the LREM candidate, Agnès Buzyn, who got 17.26 percent.
Hidalgo’s comfortable advance grew further after she sealed an alliance with greens leader David Belliard, the Europe Écologie-Les Verts candidate, who finished fourth on March 15 with 10.79 percent of the vote.
The alliance was not unexpected – the incumbent Socialist governed together with the greens during her first term. The agreement sees Hidalgo become the sole candidate remaining on the left and the torchbearer for green issues.
Buzyn trailed well behind Hidalgo and Dati in March, having joined the race late after stepping down as health minister in February, in the middle of the global coronavirus crisis, to replace Benjamin Griveaux as the party's candidate for Paris City Hall.
LREM had found itself without a flagbearer after Griveaux, a longtime Macron ally, suddenly withdrew from the race over sex tape allegations.
After the March 15 ballot, Buzyn dropped off the radar for weeks, having called the campaign a "masquerade" amid the worsening coronavirus outbreak. She eventually returned to the spotlight in late May, to confirm she would stay on as the party’s candidate for Paris in the second round.
Buzyn is betting on Parisians' support of the government, with a vast mailing campaign targeting half the city's households. "Anne Hidalgo and Rachida Dati systematically criticise the government's actions. All Parisians who think the government is acting to protect our economy and vulnerable people must mobilise" for Buzyn's candidates, said spokesman Pierre-Yves Bournazel.
Dati, who came in second in March, hopes to beat Hidalgo by luring away those who voted for Buzyn in the first round: A recent Ifop-Fiducial poll indicates Hidalgo will get 44 percent of the vote, versus 33 percent for Dati and 20 percent for Buzyn. Dati reasons that more than half of voters want to give their say to someone other than the incumbent.
>> Hidalgo, Dati, Buzyn: Three women, three strategies in race for Paris City Hall
‘Dangerous vision’
Macron appears barely concerned by the all-but-certain rout, analysts say, reflecting a disdain of party politics that could prove risky as he seeks to revive his reform drive.
"When you have a very vertical conception of power, basically a very personal one, you can imagine why he doesn't want to have a party that weighs him down," said Chloe Morin, a political scientist at the Fondation Jean-Jaures think-tank.
The go-it-alone approach proved its limits, however, with the unexpectedly fierce "yellow vest" rebellion of 2018-19, which saw furious protesters accuse the former investment banker of being cut off from the day-to-day struggles of millions.
More recently, a decision to push through a hotly contested pension reform by decree, overriding opposition from unions and even from lawmakers in his own party, has further depleted his political capital.
"This vision that parties aren't good for anything, or that unions can be bypassed, is dangerous because that's how you end up with the yellow vests," Morin said.
Adding to Macron's headaches, several LREM lawmakers have defected in recent weeks, depriving him of an outright majority in the National Assembly.
An electoral debacle on Sunday could prompt others to abandon ship, providing grist for opponents hoping to position themselves as compelling rivals for the 2022 presidential contest.
Abstention risks
Macron also risks seeing another record-high abstention rate.
In the first round of elections, the abstention rate was 54.5 percent, the highest rate for this type of election since the founding of France's Fifth Republic in 1958.
The president refused to postpone that vote even though the government had banned mass gatherings and closed all schools — which often serve as polling stations — just days before.
The second round was postponed because of the crisis and lockdown, and candidates were forced to mount remote campaigns, unable to meet face-to-face with their teams, distribute leaflets in markets, canvas door to door or shake hands. Instead, they campaigned digitally and by simply phoning potential voters.
Over three months later, voters seem just as reluctant to head to the ballot box. In a survey by the Ifop polling firm released June 15, only 38 percent of those called to the polls said they were planning to vote, with 29 percent attributing their reticence "solely to the risk of being affected by coronavirus".
Whatever the outcome on Sunday, analysts expect Macron will move quickly to try to shift the narrative, urging unity in the face of France's daunting coronavirus challenges.
His office has already said a "first response" will be announced on June 29, the day after the vote, to dozens of proposals tabled last week by his Citizens' Council on Climate.
The grouping was formed in response to demands for more "direct democracy" in the wake of the yellow vest protests, and calls have emerged for Macron to hold a referendum on the proposals.
The measures could be incorporated into Macron's call to rethink France's economy as the state tries to limit the fallout from a recession that is expected to see a wave of business closures and layoffs over the coming months.
"Expectations are running very high, so the chances that people could be disappointed are high as well," Garrigues said.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-06-28--France votes in municipal elections with Paris mayoral race in the balance

Polls open on Sunday for the second round of French municipal elections – delayed for more than three months by the coronavirus lockdown – and all eyes are on President Emmanuel Macron 's La République en Marche ( Republic on the Move ) party as well as the race for mayor of Paris .
Run-off elections will be held in 4,827 cities and towns around France where the first round of votes was not decisive , with some 16.5 million adults eligible to participate .
Strict sanitation measures will be in place at the polls , with masks obligatory for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking to chart a fresh course for the remaining two years of his term with his La République en Marche ( LREM ) party .
But efforts by LREM to build grassroots support have fallen short , with most of its candidates failing to make it past the first round of voting on March 15 .
Prime Minister Édouard Philippe , whose popularity has soared over his handling of the Covid-19 crisis , also faces a close fight to regain his mayor 's seat in the port of Le Havre .
A loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a broad reshuffle of his cabinet .
Adding to Macron 's headaches , several LREM lawmakers defected in May to form their own parliamentary group , known as Groupe Écologie Démocratie Solidarité , depriving him of an outright majority in the National Assembly ( lower house ) .
LREM has also found itself without a flag-bearer after Benjamin Griveaux , a longtime Macron ally and the president 's initial pick for Paris mayor , suddenly withdrew from the race over a sex scandal in February .
An electoral rout for the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Macron opponents hoping to position themselves as compelling rivals for the 2022 presidential contest .
In Paris , Socialist incumbent Mayor Anne Hidalgo recently sealed an alliance with Greens leader David Belliard , the Europe Écologie-Les Verts candidate , in her bid for a second term .
The alliance was not unexpected – Hidalgo governed alongside the Greens during her first mandate – but the deal sees her become the sole candidate for the left and the torchbearer for green issues .
> > Hidalgo , Dati , Buzyn : Three women , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hall The vote risks seeing another high abstention rate ; in the first round abstention was at 54.5 percent , the highest for municipal elections since the founding of France 's Fifth Republic in 1958 .
At midday Sunday , the participation rate had slipped by about three points compared to the first round .
The second round was postponed from its initial May 22 date because of the Covid-19 lockdown , with candidates forced to mount remote campaigns .
Unable to meet face-to-face with their teams , distribute leaflets , canvas door @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were forced to campaign digitally and by phoning potential voters .
Telephone campaigning , proxy voting : An unusual second round for France 's municipal elections

Polls opened on Sunday for the second round of French municipal elections – delayed for more than three months by the coronavirus lockdown – and all eyes are on President Emmanuel Macron's La République en Marche (Republic on the Move) party as well as the race for mayor of Paris.
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Run-off elections are being held in 4,827 cities and towns around France where the first round of votes was not decisive, with some 16.5 million adults eligible to participate. Strict health and safety measures will be in place at the polls, with masks obligatory for all voters.
According to figures published at 5pm, the participation rate for these elections is around 34.7 percent, even lower than the first round figure of 38.8 percent.
The French president is looking to chart a fresh course for the remaining two years of his term with his La République en Marche (LREM) party. But efforts by LREM to build grassroots support have fallen short, with most of its candidates failing to make it past the first round of voting on March 15.
Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, whose popularity has soared over his handling of the Covid-19 crisis, also faces a close fight to regain his mayor's seat in the port of Le Havre.
A loss by Philippe would almost certainly force Macron into a broad reshuffle of his cabinet.
Adding to Macron's headaches, several LREM lawmakers defected in May to form their own parliamentary group, known as Groupe Écologie Démocratie Solidarité, depriving him of an outright majority in the National Assembly (lower house).
LREM has also found itself without a flag-bearer after Benjamin Griveaux, a longtime Macron ally and the president's initial pick for Paris mayor, suddenly withdrew from the race over a sex scandal in February.
An electoral rout for the party on Sunday could provide a boost for Macron opponents hoping to position themselves as compelling rivals for the 2022 presidential contest.
The race for Paris
In Paris, Socialist incumbent Mayor Anne Hidalgo recently sealed an alliance with Greens leader David Belliard, the Europe Écologie-Les Verts candidate, in her bid for a second term. The alliance was not unexpected – Hidalgo governed alongside the Greens during her first mandate – but the deal sees her become the sole candidate for the left and the torchbearer for green issues.
>> Hidalgo, Dati, Buzyn: Three women, three strategies in race for Paris City Hall
The vote risks seeing another high abstention rate; in the first round abstention was at 54.5 percent, the highest for municipal elections since the founding of France's Fifth Republic in 1958.
At midday Sunday, the participation rate had slipped by about three points compared to the first round.
The second round was postponed from its initial May 22 date because of the Covid-19 lockdown, with candidates forced to mount remote campaigns. Unable to meet face-to-face with their teams, distribute leaflets, canvas door to door or shake hands, they were forced to campaign digitally and by phoning potential voters.
>> Telephone campaigning, proxy voting: An unusual second round for France's municipal elections
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-06-28--Poland begins voting in presidential election delayed by Covid-19

People walk their dogs and pass by campaign posters of Polish President Andrzej Duda ( R ) and Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski in a suburb of Warsaw on June 25 , 2020 .
Concerns over democratic standards and bread and butter issues top the agenda as Poles began voting on Sunday in round one of a tight presidential race that had to be postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Incumbent Andrzej Duda , 48 , is campaigning for re-election in a vote that could determine the future of the right-wing government that supports him .
Ten candidates are vying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show that Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski , a liberal from the main Civic Platform ( PO ) opposition party , will enter a neck-and-neck run-off on July 12 .
Victory for Trzaskowski , also 48 , would deal a heavy blow to the Law and Justice ( PiS ) government , which has relied on its ally Duda to endorse polarising legislation , especially judicial reforms .
While the PiS insists the changes are needed to weed out judicial corruption , critics and the European Union insist they erode judicial independence and democracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
US President Donald Trump , who regards the populist PiS administration as a key European ally , gave Duda his blessing this week .
Trump invited him to the White House on Wednesday as the first foreign leader to visit since the coronavirus pandemic began , just four days ahead of election day .
Originally scheduled for May , the ballot was postponed due to the pandemic and a new hybrid system of postal and conventional voting was in place on Sunday in a bid to stem infections .
While official figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 1,400 deaths , the health minister has admitted that there are likely up to 1.6 million undetected cases in Poland , an EU country of 38 million people .
Duda has promised to defend the governing party 's raft of popular social benefits , including a child allowance and extra pension payments -- a key factor behind the populists winning a second term in October 's parliamentary election .
Bread and butter issues are weighing heavily on voters ' minds as the economic fallout of the pandemic is set to send Poland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demise .
`` I 'm happy .
I ca n't complain ; I get an extra pension payment and children are getting 500 zloty , '' Irena , a 63-year-old pensioner , told AFP in the central Polish town of Minsk Mazowiecki .
`` I 'd like this to continue , '' she added , declining to provide her surname .
Duda has also echoed PiS attacks on LGBT+ rights and Western values , something analysts see as a bid to attract voters backing a far-right candidate .
Campaigning with the slogan `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use the experience and contacts he gathered as a former European affairs minister to `` fight hard '' for a fair slice of the EU 's 2021-27 budget , and to repair tattered ties with Brussels .
He has however vowed to keep the PiS 's popular welfare payments .
While many see his PO party as a weak and ineffectual opposition , Trzaskowski supporters regard him as a bulwark against the PiS 's drive to reform the courts , something they insist risks destroying any notion of an independent judiciary .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( PiS justice reforms ) affect me directly , '' Marek , 60 , told AFP in Minsk Mazowiecki , also declining to provide his surname .
`` It 's as if a blacksmith would go to a watchmaker 's shop and try to put things in order .
People might support it , but in the long run these reforms will have to be reversed . ''
Since winning power in 2015 , both Duda and the PiS have in many ways upended Polish politics by stoking tensions with the EU and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broadcasters .
Some analysts view the election as a crucial juncture : a second five-year term for Duda would allow the PiS to make even more controversial changes while defeat could unravel the party 's power .
A win for Duda would pave the way to `` bolstering 'Eastern ' tendencies , like the rise of oligarchs ... and a drift to the Budapest model ( of Hungary 's Viktor Orban ) - that 's the danger , '' Warsaw University political scientist Anna Materska-Sosowska told AFP .
Polling stations opened at 7:00 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close at 9:00 pm ( 1900 GMT ) with an exit poll expected as soon as voting ends .

Concerns over democratic standards and bread and butter issues top the agenda as Poles began voting on Sunday in round one of a tight presidential race that had to be postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
People walk their dogs and pass by campaign posters of Polish President Andrzej Duda (R) and Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski in a suburb of Warsaw on June 25, 2020.
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Incumbent Andrzej Duda, 48, is campaigning for re-election in a vote that could determine the future of the right-wing government that supports him.
Ten candidates are vying to replace him, but opinion polls show that Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, a liberal from the main Civic Platform (PO) opposition party, will enter a neck-and-neck run-off on July 12.
Victory for Trzaskowski, also 48, would deal a heavy blow to the Law and Justice (PiS) government, which has relied on its ally Duda to endorse polarising legislation, especially judicial reforms.
While the PiS insists the changes are needed to weed out judicial corruption, critics and the European Union insist they erode judicial independence and democracy just three decades after Poland shed communism.
US President Donald Trump, who regards the populist PiS administration as a key European ally, gave Duda his blessing this week.
Trump invited him to the White House on Wednesday as the first foreign leader to visit since the coronavirus pandemic began, just four days ahead of election day.
Originally scheduled for May, the ballot was postponed due to the pandemic and a new hybrid system of postal and conventional voting was in place on Sunday in a bid to stem infections.
While official figures show over 33,000 confirmed cases and more than 1,400 deaths, the health minister has admitted that there are likely up to 1.6 million undetected cases in Poland, an EU country of 38 million people.
Anti-gay rhetoric
Duda has promised to defend the governing party's raft of popular social benefits, including a child allowance and extra pension payments -- a key factor behind the populists winning a second term in October's parliamentary election.
Bread and butter issues are weighing heavily on voters' minds as the economic fallout of the pandemic is set to send Poland into its first recession since communism's demise.
"I'm happy. I can't complain; I get an extra pension payment and children are getting 500 zloty," Irena, a 63-year-old pensioner, told AFP in the central Polish town of Minsk Mazowiecki.
"I'd like this to continue," she added, declining to provide her surname.
Duda has also echoed PiS attacks on LGBT+ rights and Western values, something analysts see as a bid to attract voters backing a far-right candidate.
Campaigning with the slogan "Enough is Enough", Trzaskowski promises to use the experience and contacts he gathered as a former European affairs minister to "fight hard" for a fair slice of the EU's 2021-27 budget, and to repair tattered ties with Brussels.
He has however vowed to keep the PiS's popular welfare payments.
While many see his PO party as a weak and ineffectual opposition, Trzaskowski supporters regard him as a bulwark against the PiS's drive to reform the courts, something they insist risks destroying any notion of an independent judiciary.
"I'm a lawyer and this (PiS justice reforms) affect me directly," Marek, 60, told AFP in Minsk Mazowiecki, also declining to provide his surname.
"It's as if a blacksmith would go to a watchmaker's shop and try to put things in order. People might support it, but in the long run these reforms will have to be reversed."
'Budapest model'?
Since winning power in 2015, both Duda and the PiS have in many ways upended Polish politics by stoking tensions with the EU and wielding influence through state-owned companies and public broadcasters.
Some analysts view the election as a crucial juncture: a second five-year term for Duda would allow the PiS to make even more controversial changes while defeat could unravel the party's power.
A win for Duda would pave the way to "bolstering 'Eastern' tendencies, like the rise of oligarchs... and a drift to the Budapest model (of Hungary's Viktor Orban) - that's the danger," Warsaw University political scientist Anna Materska-Sosowska told AFP.
Polling stations opened at 7:00 am (0500 GMT) and will close at 9:00 pm (1900 GMT) with an exit poll expected as soon as voting ends.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-06-28--Opposition leader Chakwera wins Malawi’s presidential election re-run

In this file photo , opposition Malawi Congress Party leader Lazarus Chakwera addresses supporters after the country ’ s Constitutional Court annulled the May 2019 presidential vote that declared incumbent Peter Mutharika a winner , in Lilongwe , Malawi on February 4 , 2020 .
Malawi 's opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera won this week 's presidential election re-run with 58.57 percent of the vote , the electoral commission said Saturday .
It was a dramatic reversal of fortune for the incumbent , Peter Mutharika , whose victory in the May 2019 election was overturned by the Constitutional Court , citing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the southern African country had returned to the polls on Tuesday .
And on Saturday , electoral commission chairman Chifundo Kachale told journalists : `` The commission declares that Lazarus Chakwera , having attained 58.57 percent of the vote , has been duly elected as the president of Malawi . ''
Mutharika came second with 1,751,377 votes , while underdog candidate Peter Dominico Kuwani received 32,456 .
The announcement was met with loud cheers and applause as opposition supporters waved Malawi 's red , black and green flag and chanted `` Government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ February , Malawi 's top court found the first election had been marred by widespread irregularities , including the use of correction fluid to tamper with result sheets .
The landmark ruling made Malawi just the second African country south of the Sahara to have presidential poll results set aside , after Kenya in 2017 .
`` This is a win for Malawians , it is a win for democracy , a win for justice , '' said an elated Chakwera after his victory was declared .
`` It is a win that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and begin to build a new kind of Malawi in which all of us together will be involved . ''
Meanwhile , a jubilant crowd gathered for a fireworks display at the headquarters of Chakwera 's Malawi Congress Party in the capital Lilongwe .
Mutharika did not wish to comment on his defeat .
Earlier Saturday , Mutharika had argued that the election re-run had been flawed , citing violence and intimidation against DPP monitors .
`` We have no further comment to make , '' Mutharika 's spokesman Mgeme Kalilani told AFP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we made earlier today is adequate . ''
The outgoing president 's Democratic Progressive Party ( DPP ) had on Friday called on Malawi 's Electoral Commission ( MEC ) to annul the results of the second vote and declare a third election .
`` We expected an election without irregularities , '' Mutharika told reporters in Blantyre before the official results were announced .
`` Sadly , as all Malawians have seen , this election is the worst in Malawi 's history of our elections , '' he added .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent to MEC are not a true reflection of the people . ''
Mutharika did not , however , echo his party 's calls for another re-run .
In power since 2014 , he had won 38.5 percent of the discredited vote in which Chakwera garnered a close 35.4 percent .
DPP administrative secretary Francis Mphepo in a statement highlighted `` several incidents that may potentially affect the integrity and credibility of the presidential election results '' .
The DPP listed polling stations from which their monitors were allegedly excluded and said more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by `` violence and intimidation '' .
`` There is no doubt that these irregularities and malpractices will substantially affect the results in one way or another , '' Mphepo continued .
`` We therefore seek ... a declaration that the presidential election has been inconclusive . ''
'The circus is over' Kachale , for the MEC , said all complaints had been `` resolved '' .
`` These are the kicks of a dying horse , '' said Chingaipe , who heads the Malawi-based Institute for Policy Research and Social Empowerment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there has been no election as transparent as this , especially in the management of results . ''
Gift Trapence of the Human Rights Defenders Coalition , which led months of street protests against last year 's election results , also dismissed the DPP 's complaints .
`` He is in denial , he has always been in denial .
But reality will catch up with him soon , '' said Trapence .
Chingaipe highly doubted the possibility of a second re-run .
`` The only way to get a fresh election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the High Court , '' he added .
`` It is an uphill task , almost impossible , to build a credible case in court , '' he told AFP .
`` The circus is over .
There will be no such a thing as a fresh election . ''

Malawi's opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera won this week's presidential election re-run with 58.57 percent of the vote, the electoral commission said Saturday.
In this file photo, opposition Malawi Congress Party leader Lazarus Chakwera addresses supporters after the country’s Constitutional Court annulled the May 2019 presidential vote that declared incumbent Peter Mutharika a winner, in Lilongwe, Malawi on February 4, 2020.
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It was a dramatic reversal of fortune for the incumbent, Peter Mutharika, whose victory in the May 2019 election was overturned by the Constitutional Court, citing widespread fraud.
Some 6.8 million voters in the southern African country had returned to the polls on Tuesday.
And on Saturday, electoral commission chairman Chifundo Kachale told journalists: "The commission declares that Lazarus Chakwera, having attained 58.57 percent of the vote, has been duly elected as the president of Malawi."
Mutharika came second with 1,751,377 votes, while underdog candidate Peter Dominico Kuwani received 32,456.
Voter turnout was 64.81 percent.
The announcement was met with loud cheers and applause as opposition supporters waved Malawi's red, black and green flag and chanted "Government!" in local Chichewa.
In February, Malawi's top court found the first election had been marred by widespread irregularities, including the use of correction fluid to tamper with result sheets.
The landmark ruling made Malawi just the second African country south of the Sahara to have presidential poll results set aside, after Kenya in 2017.
"This is a win for Malawians, it is a win for democracy, a win for justice," said an elated Chakwera after his victory was declared.
"It is a win that will enable this nation to really reset and begin to build a new kind of Malawi in which all of us together will be involved."
Meanwhile, a jubilant crowd gathered for a fireworks display at the headquarters of Chakwera's Malawi Congress Party in the capital Lilongwe.
Calls for a third vote
Mutharika did not wish to comment on his defeat.
Earlier Saturday, Mutharika had argued that the election re-run had been flawed, citing violence and intimidation against DPP monitors.
"We have no further comment to make," Mutharika's spokesman Mgeme Kalilani told AFP after the result. "The statement we made earlier today is adequate."
The outgoing president's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) had on Friday called on Malawi's Electoral Commission (MEC) to annul the results of the second vote and declare a third election.
"We expected an election without irregularities," Mutharika told reporters in Blantyre before the official results were announced.
"Sadly, as all Malawians have seen, this election is the worst in Malawi's history of our elections," he added.
"We believe most of the results that were sent to MEC are not a true reflection of the people."
Mutharika did not, however, echo his party's calls for another re-run.
In power since 2014, he had won 38.5 percent of the discredited vote in which Chakwera garnered a close 35.4 percent.
DPP administrative secretary Francis Mphepo in a statement highlighted "several incidents that may potentially affect the integrity and credibility of the presidential election results".
The DPP listed polling stations from which their monitors were allegedly excluded and said more than 1.5 million votes had been marred by "violence and intimidation".
"There is no doubt that these irregularities and malpractices will substantially affect the results in one way or another," Mphepo continued.
"We therefore seek... a declaration that the presidential election has been inconclusive."
'The circus is over'
Kachale, for the MEC, said all complaints had been "resolved".
Political analyst Henry Chingaipe dismissed Mutharika's allegations as "total fabrication".
"These are the kicks of a dying horse," said Chingaipe, who heads the Malawi-based Institute for Policy Research and Social Empowerment.
"In the history of this country, there has been no election as transparent as this, especially in the management of results."
>>Read: Locals Unmask Fake Election Observers in Malawi
Gift Trapence of the Human Rights Defenders Coalition, which led months of street protests against last year's election results, also dismissed the DPP's complaints.
"He is in denial, he has always been in denial. But reality will catch up with him soon," said Trapence.
Chingaipe highly doubted the possibility of a second re-run.
"The only way to get a fresh election is to make a compelling case in the High Court," he added.
"It is an uphill task, almost impossible, to build a credible case in court," he told AFP.
"The circus is over. There will be no such a thing as a fresh election."
(AFP)
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france24--2020-06-28--Iceland’s president easily wins re-election, partial results show

Incumbent Gudni Johannesson gives an interview after casting his vote in Iceland 's presidential election in Gardabaer , Iceland on June 27 , 2020 .
Iceland 's President Gudni Johannesson won a landslide election on Sunday , according to partial results , after the European country became the second to hold polls since coronavirus lockdowns were lifted .
Since suffering spectacular bank failures in 2008 , the volcanic North Atlantic island of 365,000 inhabitants has recovered some economic and political stability , which has worked in the 52-year-old president 's favour .
Early results late Saturday suggested Johannesson had secured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the votes , seeing off a challenge from rightwinger Gudmundur Franklin Jonsson .
`` I am honoured and proud , '' the president told AFP from his election night headquarters at Reykjavik 's Grand Hotel .
`` This result of this election is , to me , proof of the fact that my fellow Icelanders ... have approved of how I have approached this office . ''
Opinion polls had predicted Jonsson had little chance of winning the support of the country , which has 252,217 eligible voters .
`` I send @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Jonsson , a former Wall Street broker close to Icelandic nationalists , told public broadcaster RUV .
In this parliamentary republic , the president is largely symbolic , but he or she does have the power to veto legislation or submit it to a referendum .
Several voters told AFP that `` character '' is a key criterion in choosing a candidate .
`` I try to read the character of the person , '' said Sigurbjörg Hansen , 57 .
`` If the person is honest , that 's number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have since early June predicted a landslide victory for Johannesson , an independent and former history professor .
The coronavirus pandemic was not expected to affect voting , as the country has been only mildly infected .
It has reported 10 deaths , and currently has around 11 active cases .
'Not pompous , not very formal ’ Johannesson , who in 2016 became the country 's youngest president since independence in 1944 , has enjoyed solid support throughout most of his first term , ranging from 76 to 86 percent according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been seen as a man of the people , not pompous , not very formal .
So Icelanders seem to like him and want to keep him as president , '' said Olafur Hardarson , a political science professor at the University of Iceland .
Jonsson has struggled meanwhile to make inroads with voters .
The 56-year-old challenger has run a hotel in Denmark since 2013 and is a fan of US President Donald Trump .
Jonsson entered politics in 2010 when he founded the rightwing populist movement Haegri graenir .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ active role by exercising his right to veto legislation .
That power has only been used three times , by Olafur Grimsson who served from 1996 to 2016 .
Grimsson also organised two referendums on compensating foreigners who lost money when an Icelandic bank went under in 2008 .
According to experts however , Iceland 's constitution is ambiguous in particular regarding the president 's role in calling snap elections and dissolving parliament .
Gudlaugur Jörundsson , 60 , said he had voted for Jonsson .
`` He won me over because I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people of this country and not just for one group of people . ''
But 47-year-old Ragnhildur Gunnlaugsdottir appeared to be speaking for many when she credited Johannesson for speaking from the heart .
`` He has been good for the past four years and I think he is going to be good '' again , she concluded .

Iceland's President Gudni Johannesson has been re-elected with a whopping 92 percent of the vote, according to final results released on Sunday.
Incumbent Gudni Johannesson gives an interview after casting his vote in Iceland's presidential election in Gardabaer, Iceland on June 27, 2020.
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The former history professor won his second four-year term in the largely symbolic position in Saturday's vote, the second election held by a European country after coronavirus lockdowns were lifted.
Since suffering spectacular bank failures in 2008, the volcanic North Atlantic island of 365,000 inhabitants has recovered some economic and political stability, which worked in the 52-year-old independent's favour.
The final results showed he took 92.2 percent of the 168,821 votes cast, crushing rightwing challenger Gudmundur Franklin Jonsson.
"I am honoured and proud," the president told AFP in Reykjavik on election night.
"This result of this election is, to me, proof of the fact that my fellow Icelanders... have approved of how I have approached this office."
The dominant win had been predicted by opinion polls, which had shown the president winning between 90 to 94 percent.
Voter Hjalmtyr Heiddal told AFP on Sunday that he "very happy" with the winning margin because "it means that 92 percent of Icelanders want this type of president who does not take sides and is simply neutral."
It is the second-highest margin of victory in the history of Iceland's presidential elections.
Vigdis Finnbogadottir, the first woman in the world to be democratically elected as head of state, holds the record, winning re-election in 1988 with 94.6 percent of the vote.
Largely symbolic role
In this parliamentary republic, the president is largely symbolic, but he or she does have the power to veto legislation or submit it to a referendum.
There are no term limits -- Johannesson's predecessor Olafur Ragnar Grimsson served for five terms.
However Johannesson has said he would limit himself to two or three terms at the most.
Turnout for Saturday's vote was 66.9 percent, dropping from 75.7 percent during Johannesson's first election victory in 2016, when he became the country's youngest president since independence in 1944.
The coronavirus pandemic had not been expected to affect voting, as the country has been only mildly infected. It has reported 10 deaths, and currently has around 11 active cases.
Challenger Jonsson is a former Wall Street broker close to Icelandic nationalists and a vocal fan of US President Donald Trump.
He campaigned on wanting Iceland's president to play a more active role by exercising the right to veto legislation campaigns, but struggled to gain traction with voters.
"I send my congratulations to Gudni and his family," Jonsson told public broadcaster RUV.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-06-27--Ethiopia to fill controversial Blue Nile dam despite protests from Egypt, Sudan