france24--2020-07-23--US jail covers windows after inmates share messages denouncing sanitary conditions

Tiffani Dailey shared updates from her partner , Jeremy Wade , while he was incarcerated at Bradley County Jail until July 2 .
When the video below was posted on June 27 , Wade was in the quarantine pod .
“ We don ’ t get books , we don ’ t get cards , we don ’ t get pens , ” Wade said of his time in the quarantine pod of Bradley County Jail .
He reports being let outside only two hours per day , having no access to commissary goods , and sharing common items with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family members of inmates at Bradley County Jail shared their stories and asked for help online , their efforts went When friends and family members of inmates at Bradley County Jail shared their stories and asked for help online , their efforts went viral .
A petition demanding that inmates be given proper protective equipment and cleaning supplies and a GoFundMe to raise money for prisoners ’ bail have both been shared widely on social media .
Dailey and others have also organised weekly noise demonstrations outside the jail since June 29 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that protesters began to see messages held up to the windows .
`` Heartbreaking signs held up inside of Bradley County Jail today , '' this poster writes .
In response , the Bradley County Sheriff released a After the public backlash to the messages coming out of the jail , inmates In response , the Bradley County Sheriff released a statement saying that they are continuing to follow hygiene and sanitation regulations , including a quarantine procedure .
The statement also describes the cleaning equipment provided to prisoners with which they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as phones.After the public backlash to the messages coming out of the jail , inmates reported receiving more medical equipment and cleaning supplies .
The jail distributed masks that had been adapted for use by inmates .
As conditions began to improve inside , inmates ’ notes in the windows changed from calls for help to messages of gratitude to the activists and family members outside .
However , the jail covered cell windows on July 13 , cutting off a source of communication between inmates and activists .
“ Screens are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ windows to keep them from holding up signs , ” this post reads .
“ Covering the windows is wrong , we felt disgust ” Tiffani Dailey was shocked by such a decision : When you have somebody on the inside , a female inmate , call us and say , ‘ Hey , I was the one in the window telling y ’ all I need help and they covered up my window , ’ we felt disgust .
It ’ s wrong .
We started the GoFundMe to help with bail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people in there don ’ t have funds .
So we try to help them so they can reach out to their family members and get what they need .
There ’ s a lot of people still in there .
And that ’ s why now we ’ re trying to bring justice to these people that are being denied medical care , being mistreated and cut off from society , being in lockdown and not able to reach their family members .

United States
After two weeks of inmates communicating through their cell windows with activists outside, officers covered the windows with screens. (Photos from Facebook/Bradley County Incarcerated Resolutions)
Advertising Read more
Inmates at the Bradley County Jail in the US state of Tennessee sent a cry for help to the outside world by holding up messages in the windows of their cells expressing their fear of contracting Covid-19. On June 29, photos of these messages denouncing conditions at the jail went viral on Twitter. Although the jail has since announced that it is Covid-19 free, officers covered the cell windows on July 13, preventing inmates from sharing their messages with the outside world.
Short messages, written on scrap paper and held up to the windows of the Bradley County Jail in Cleveland, Tennessee describe a lack of access to medical care and basic hygienic supplies, as well as the fear of Covid-19 in the jail. Some of them read: “14 day quarantine. No tests, no masks, no way to communicate with outside or family. No court dates”; “Nobody is given underwear, socks and bras! Women bleeding on themselves! Denied medical attention”; and “Help, 4 pods have Covid.”
In late June when the signs appeared, there were 41 cases of Covid-19 in the jail, including 33 inmates, seven correctional officers and one employee. But on July 8, the Sheriff reported that all inmates had recovered from the virus and were moved out of quarantine.
According to the Marshall Project, a non-profit journalism organisation focused on criminal justice, more than 64,000 prisoners in the United States had tested positive for the coronavirus as of July 14. Of these, more than 3,000 cases are in Tennessee. US jails have been particularly vulnerable to the Covid-19 pandemic due to poor hygienic conditions, close quarters and a lack of sanitary supplies. Lawsuits have formerly been filed against Bradley County Jail for issues including inadequate medical care and overcrowding.
“There’s nobody taking care of these people.”
Tiffani Dailey shared updates from her partner, Jeremy Wade, while he was incarcerated at Bradley County Jail until July 2. When the video below was posted on June 27, Wade was in the quarantine pod.
“We don’t get books, we don’t get cards, we don’t get pens,” Wade said of his time in the quarantine pod of Bradley County Jail. He reports being let outside only two hours per day, having no access to commissary goods, and sharing common items with potentially infected inmates.
Tiffany Dailey reports:
When Jeremy was inside, I was terrified. He informed me about the masks and sanitation not being provided. Nobody was cleaning, they weren’t refilling the sanitation bottles. And it’s up to the inmates to clean their own pods and cells. He feared for his own life being near positive Covid-19 inside; there was an outbreak inside the jail. It’s a revolving door – they say that people are in 14-day quarantine but no. There’s a quarantine pod and in that 14-day period, people can go in and out. On day 14, when you're fixing to be ready to go to general population because you're still showing no signs or symptoms, a person could walk into the pod and then be positive. And there you go. They had 30-some cases positive. They were all in his pod. So now that just opens up another can of worms because all these people who are all getting denied medical treatment, are all in here sick. They've all had it. Some people were negative and they were still forced to be around the positive.
When friends and family members of inmates at Bradley County Jail shared their stories and asked for help online, their efforts went viral. A petition demanding that inmates be given proper protective equipment and cleaning supplies and a GoFundMe to raise money for prisoners’ bail have both been shared widely on social media. Dailey and others have also organised weekly noise demonstrations outside the jail since June 29. It was at one of these demonstrations that protesters began to see messages held up to the windows.
heartbreaking signs held up inside of bradley county jail today. inmates are being denied proper PPE (masks, cleaning supplies, etc) and are being forced to use bedsheets as masks. covid positive inmates are housed with healthy inmates. linking petition below pic.twitter.com/qprLe101O2 chloe (@chloedontsurf) June 29, 2020
"Heartbreaking signs held up inside of Bradley County Jail today," this poster writes.
In response, the Bradley County Sheriff released a statement saying that they are continuing to follow hygiene and sanitation regulations, including a quarantine procedure. The statement also describes the cleaning equipment provided to prisoners with which they can sanitise their own cells and common items such as phones.
After the public backlash to the messages coming out of the jail, inmates reported receiving more medical equipment and cleaning supplies. The jail distributed masks that had been adapted for use by inmates. As conditions began to improve inside, inmates’ notes in the windows changed from calls for help to messages of gratitude to the activists and family members outside. However, the jail covered cell windows on July 13, cutting off a source of communication between inmates and activists.
screens are now being placed over the inmates windows to keep them from holding up signs https://t.co/g22oOGAV0T pic.twitter.com/RSnb7VSFUy chloe (@chloedontsurf) July 13, 2020
“Screens are now being placed over the inmates' windows to keep them from holding up signs,” this post reads.
“Covering the windows is wrong, we felt disgust”
Tiffani Dailey was shocked by such a decision:
When you have somebody on the inside, a female inmate, call us and say, ‘Hey, I was the one in the window telling y’all I need help and they covered up my window,’ we felt disgust. It’s wrong. We started the GoFundMe to help with bail as well as commissary because a lot of people in there don’t have funds. So we try to help them so they can reach out to their family members and get what they need. There’s a lot of people still in there. And that’s why now we’re trying to bring justice to these people that are being denied medical care, being mistreated and cut off from society, being in lockdown and not able to reach their family members.
Friends and family of inmates continue to demonstrate outside of the jail and the calls for help are still circulating online. A new non-profit, Bradley County Incarcerated Resolutions, has been formed to support inmates and advocate for better conditions at the jail.
Article by Pariesa Young


france24--2020-07-23--Migrant rescue ship Ocean Viking detained by Italy's coastguard

Migrants on board the humanitarian aid boat Ocean Viking , chartered by charity group SOS Mediterranee , arrive on July 6 , 2020 in the harbour of Porto Empedocle on the island of Sicily .
The migrant rescue ship Ocean Viking was detained on Wednesday over technical irregularities , Italy 's coastguard said , a move blasted as `` harassment '' by the charity that runs the vessel .
The ship had been allowed to disembark at a Sicilian port on July 7 , with 180 rescued migrants onboard transferred to another boat for a two-week coronavirus quarantine .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next day the Ocean Viking was immobilised .
The Italian coastguard said in a statement that an inspection had revealed `` several technical and operational irregularities '' and the ship was under `` administrative detention '' until they were corrected .
The unspecified problems were `` of a nature likely to compromise not only the safety of the ship and its crew , but also of the people who have been and could be recovered onboard '' , it added .
The coastguard also referred to `` violations of regulations aimed at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which charters the Ocean Viking , released a furious statement condemning `` a blatant administrative harassment manoeuvre aimed at impeding our lifesaving work '' .
`` Over the past three months , the same argument over safety has been systematically used by Italian authorities to detain four NGO ships , '' Frederic Penard , director of operations at the organisation , said in the statement .
`` Why was n't safety more of a concern to maritime authorities when , earlier this month , the Ocean Viking had to wait 11 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The migrants -- mainly from Bangladesh , Eritrea , North Africa and Pakistan -- were picked up in four separate rescues in the Mediterranean on June 25 and 30 .
Their disembarkment initially came as a relief , after a tense few days on the ship marked by migrants jumping overboard , a suicide attempt and bouts of violence .
The Ocean Viking resumed rescue operations on June 22 after a three-month halt because of the COVID-19 pandemic .
More than 100,000 migrants tried to cross the Mediterranean last year with more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the International Organization for Migration .
The arrival of summer and more favourable conditions at sea may lead to an increase in attempts to cross the Mediterranean with the hope of arriving in Europe .
According to Italian news agency ANSA , customs officials rescued 90 migrants off the island of Lampedusa on Wednesday .

The migrant rescue ship Ocean Viking was detained on Wednesday over technical irregularities, Italy's coastguard said, a move blasted as "harassment" by the charity that runs the vessel.
Migrants on board the humanitarian aid boat Ocean Viking, chartered by charity group SOS Mediterranee, arrive on July 6, 2020 in the harbour of Porto Empedocle on the island of Sicily.
Advertising Read more
The ship had been allowed to disembark at a Sicilian port on July 7, with 180 rescued migrants onboard transferred to another boat for a two-week coronavirus quarantine.
Those two weeks ended on Tuesday -- but the next day the Ocean Viking was immobilised.
The Italian coastguard said in a statement that an inspection had revealed "several technical and operational irregularities" and the ship was under "administrative detention" until they were corrected.
The unspecified problems were "of a nature likely to compromise not only the safety of the ship and its crew, but also of the people who have been and could be recovered onboard", it added.
The coastguard also referred to "violations of regulations aimed at protecting marine environment".
SOS Mediterranee, which charters the Ocean Viking, released a furious statement condemning "a blatant administrative harassment manoeuvre aimed at impeding our lifesaving work".
Italian authorities have detained the #OceanViking rescue ship in Sicily, alleging it was carrying too many people.@SOSMedIntl condemn the move as a continuation of blatant harassment aimed at impeding the lifesaving work of NGOs at sea. (via @MSF_Sea) https://t.co/LnNqm1qw9d — Stefan Simanowitz (@StefSimanowitz) July 22, 2020
"Over the past three months, the same argument over safety has been systematically used by Italian authorities to detain four NGO ships," Frederic Penard, director of operations at the organisation, said in the statement.
"Why wasn't safety more of a concern to maritime authorities when, earlier this month, the Ocean Viking had to wait 11 days for a port to be assigned?"
The migrants -- mainly from Bangladesh, Eritrea, North Africa and Pakistan -- were picked up in four separate rescues in the Mediterranean on June 25 and 30.
Their disembarkment initially came as a relief, after a tense few days on the ship marked by migrants jumping overboard, a suicide attempt and bouts of violence.
The Ocean Viking resumed rescue operations on June 22 after a three-month halt because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
More than 100,000 migrants tried to cross the Mediterranean last year with more than 1,200 dying in the attempt, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The arrival of summer and more favourable conditions at sea may lead to an increase in attempts to cross the Mediterranean with the hope of arriving in Europe.
According to Italian news agency ANSA, customs officials rescued 90 migrants off the island of Lampedusa on Wednesday.
(AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-07-24--Istanbul's Hagia Sophia reopens as a mosque for first time in 86 years

People wait for the beginning of Friday prayers outside Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque , for the first time after it was once again declared a mosque after 86 years , in Istanbul , Turkey , July 24 , 2020 .
Thousands of Muslim faithful made their way to Istanbul ’ s landmark Hagia Sophia on Friday to take part in the first prayers in 86 years at the structure that once was one of Christendom ’ s most significant cathedrals , then a mosque and museum before its reconversion into a Muslim place of worship .
Turkish President Recep Tayyip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prayers inside the sixth-century monument along with around 500 dignitaries , as he fulfills what he has described as the “ dream of our youth ” anchored in Turkey 's Islamic movement .
Thousands of men and women , including many who traveled from across Turkey , quickly filled specially-designated , segregated areas outside of Hagia Sophia , to be part of the first prayers .
Several camped near the structure overnight .
Dozens of worshipers broke through one police checkpoint to rush toward Hagia Sophia and social distancing practices , in place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being ignored , Turkish media reported .
Orthodox church leaders in Greece and the United States , meanwhile , were scheduled to observe “ a day of mourning ” over the inaugural prayers .
Brushing aside international criticism , Erdogan issued a decree restoring the iconic building as a mosque earlier this month , shortly after a Turkish high court ruled that the Hagia Sophia had been illegally made into a museum more than eight decades ago .
The structure , listed as UNESCO World Heritage site , has since been renamed “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move sparked dismay in Greece , the United States and among Christian churches who had called on Erdogan to maintain it as a museum as a nod to Istanbul 's multi-religious heritage and the structure 's status as a symbol of Christian and Muslim unity .
Pope Francis expressed his sadness .
Built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in 537 , Hagia Sophia was turned into a mosque with the 1453 Ottoman conquest of Istanbul .
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk , the founding leader of the secular Turkish republic converted the structure into a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Hagia Sophia , the Sultan ’ s pavilion , has been open to prayers since the 1990s , religious and nationalists group in Turkey have long yearned for the nearly 1,500-year-old edifice , which they regard as the legacy of Ottoman Sultan Mehmet the Conquerer , to be reverted into a mosque .
“ This is Hagia Sophia breaking away from its captivity chains .
It was the greatest dream of our youth , ” Erdogan said last week .
“ It was the yearning of our people and it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversion into a museum by the republic ’ s founding leaders as a mistake that is being rectified .
In neighboring Greece , bells tolled and flags flew at half-staff at hundreds of churches across the country in protest at the decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque .
The Greek Orthodox Church leader , Archbishiop Ieronymos , will hold a special service at Athens Cathedral later Friday .
Churches in Athens , Greece ’ s second-largest city , Thessaloniki , are also organizing vigils .
“ Today is a difficult day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the transformation of Hagia Sophia into a mosque — something that genuinely shocks Christians all over the world and not only Greeks , '' Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas said in an interview with private channel Open TV .
`` We have warned for some time that this will create an unbridgeable gap between Turkey and the Christian world.
” The history and religious traditions of the predominantly Greek-speaking and Orthodox Christian Byzantine Empire remain influential in Greece .
The church protests also occurred amid a volatile dispute between Greece and Turkey over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Greek military on alert over a planned Turkish maritime survey in waters claimed by Greece .
In New York , the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America , called the inaugural prayers a “ cultural and spiritual misappropriation and a violation of all standards of religious harmony and mutual respect.
” Archbishop Elpidophoros of America held a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence in Washington on Thursday to discuss concerns over the reconversion .
Turkey has vowed to protect Hagia Sophia 's artifacts and has said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and non-Muslims outside of prayer hours .
The structure 's mosaics depicting Christian figures are being covered with sail-like white drapes during the prayers .

Thousands of Muslim faithful made their way to Istanbul’s landmark Hagia Sophia on Friday to take part in the first prayers in 86 years at the structure that once was one of Christendom’s most significant cathedrals, then a mosque and museum before its reconversion into a Muslim place of worship.
Advertising Read more
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled to attend the inaugural prayers inside the sixth-century monument along with around 500 dignitaries, as he fulfills what he has described as the “dream of our youth” anchored in Turkey's Islamic movement.
Thousands of men and women, including many who traveled from across Turkey, quickly filled specially-designated, segregated areas outside of Hagia Sophia, to be part of the first prayers. Several camped near the structure overnight. Dozens of worshipers broke through one police checkpoint to rush toward Hagia Sophia and social distancing practices, in place due to the coronavirus outbreak, were being ignored, Turkish media reported.
Orthodox church leaders in Greece and the United States, meanwhile, were scheduled to observe “a day of mourning” over the inaugural prayers.
04:37
Brushing aside international criticism, Erdogan issued a decree restoring the iconic building as a mosque earlier this month, shortly after a Turkish high court ruled that the Hagia Sophia had been illegally made into a museum more than eight decades ago. The structure, listed as UNESCO World Heritage site, has since been renamed “The Grand Hagia Sophia Mosque.”
The move sparked dismay in Greece, the United States and among Christian churches who had called on Erdogan to maintain it as a museum as a nod to Istanbul's multi-religious heritage and the structure's status as a symbol of Christian and Muslim unity. Pope Francis expressed his sadness.
Built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in 537, Hagia Sophia was turned into a mosque with the 1453 Ottoman conquest of Istanbul. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founding leader of the secular Turkish republic converted the structure into a museum in 1934.
Although an annex to the Hagia Sophia, the Sultan’s pavilion, has been open to prayers since the 1990s, religious and nationalists group in Turkey have long yearned for the nearly 1,500-year-old edifice, which they regard as the legacy of Ottoman Sultan Mehmet the Conquerer, to be reverted into a mosque.
“This is Hagia Sophia breaking away from its captivity chains. It was the greatest dream of our youth,” Erdogan said last week. “It was the yearning of our people and it has been accomplished.” Erdogan also described its conversion into a museum by the republic’s founding leaders as a mistake that is being rectified.
In neighboring Greece, bells tolled and flags flew at half-staff at hundreds of churches across the country in protest at the decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque. The Greek Orthodox Church leader, Archbishiop Ieronymos, will hold a special service at Athens Cathedral later Friday. Churches in Athens, Greece’s second-largest city, Thessaloniki, are also organizing vigils.
“Today is a difficult day .. a shadow hangs over us with the transformation of Hagia Sophia into a mosque — something that genuinely shocks Christians all over the world and not only Greeks," Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas said in an interview with private channel Open TV. "We have warned for some time that this will create an unbridgeable gap between Turkey and the Christian world.”
The history and religious traditions of the predominantly Greek-speaking and Orthodox Christian Byzantine Empire remain influential in Greece. The church protests also occurred amid a volatile dispute between Greece and Turkey over mineral rights in the eastern Mediterranean, with the Greek military on alert over a planned Turkish maritime survey in waters claimed by Greece.
In New York, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, called the inaugural prayers a “cultural and spiritual misappropriation and a violation of all standards of religious harmony and mutual respect.” Archbishop Elpidophoros of America held a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence in Washington on Thursday to discuss concerns over the reconversion.
Turkey has vowed to protect Hagia Sophia's artifacts and has said it will remain open to visits by Muslims and non-Muslims outside of prayer hours. The structure's mosaics depicting Christian figures are being covered with sail-like white drapes during the prayers.
(AP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-07-24--Pompeo calls on nations to 'induce' change on 'Frankenstein' China

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library , in Yorba Linda , California , U.S. , July 23 , 2020 .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took fresh aim at China on Thursday and said Washington and its allies must use `` more creative and assertive ways '' to press the Chinese Communist Party to change its ways , calling it the `` mission of our time . ''
Speaking at the Nixon Library in President Richard Nixon 's birthplace in Yorba Linda , California , Pompeo said the former US leader 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opening the world to China 's Communist Party in the 1970s had been prophetic .
`` President Nixon once said he feared he had created a 'Frankenstein ' by opening the world to the CCP , '' Pompeo said .
`` And here we are . ''
Nixon , who died in 1994 and was president from 1969-74 , opened the way for the establishment of U.S. diplomatic relations with Communist China in 1979 through a series of contacts , including a visit to Beijing in 1972 .
Pompeo delivered this speech after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China to close its Houston consulate .
In direct retaliation , China on Friday ordered the United States to close its consulate in the city of Chengdu , as relations between the two world powers deteriorated further .
China had warned it would retaliate after it was unexpectedly given 72 hours - until Friday - to vacate its Houston consulate , and had urged Washington to reconsider .
`` The US move seriously breached international law , the basic norms of international relations , and the terms of the China-US Consular Convention .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ China 's foreign ministry said in a statement .
`` The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China informed the US Embassy in China of its decision to withdraw its consent for the establishment and operation of the US Consulate General in Chengdu , '' it said .
The US Department of State and the US embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to requests for comment .
No more 'blind engagement ' with China Pompeo called for an end to `` blind engagement '' with China and repeated frequently leveled US charges about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuses and efforts to infiltrate American society .
He said China 's military had became `` stronger and more menacing '' and the approach to Beijing should be `` distrust and verify , '' adapting President Ronald Reagan 's `` trust but verify '' mantra about the Soviet Union in the 1980s .
`` The truth is that our policies – and those of other free nations – resurrected China ’ s failing economy , only to see Beijing bite the international hands that were feeding it , '' Pompeo said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ induce China to change ... in more creative and assertive ways , because Beijing ’ s actions threaten our people and our prosperity . ''
Recalling remarks he made after meeting British leaders in London this week , Pompeo said `` maybe it 's time for a new grouping of like-minded nations , a new alliance of democracies , '' while adding : `` If the free world does n't change , Communist China will surely change us . ''
Pompeo said `` securing our freedoms from the Chinese Communist Party is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America was perfectly positioned to lead it .
He said one NATO ally , which he did not name , was unwilling to stand up for freedom in Hong Kong because it feared restricted access to China 's market .
While some conservative commentators praised Pompeo 's speech on social media and elsewhere , some other analysts were not impressed .
Scott Kennedy , of Washington ’ s Center for Strategic and International Studies , said cooperation with other democracies on China would be easier said than done , given the Trump administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` How do you form a united front against China when the U.S. is bullying its allies , trashing multilateral institutions and pushing an economic decoupling ( from China ) that no one else supports ?
” he said .
Pompeo 's speech comes at a time when U.S.-China relations have dipped to their lowest point in decades and President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden have appeared to compete with each other over who can appear toughest towards Beijing ahead of the Nov. 3 presidential election .
Ties have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic , which began in China , to Beijing trade and business practices , its territorial claims in the South China Sea and its clampdown on Hong Kong .
In a dramatic escalation , Washington on Tuesday gave China 72 hours to close its Houston consulate .
Pompeo said the consulate had been `` a hub of spying and intellectual property theft . ''
China has four other consulates in the United States - in San Francisco , Los Angeles , Chicago and New York - as well as an embassy in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday it was `` always possible '' other Chinese missions could be closed too .
Richard Grenell , special presidential envoy for Serbia and Kosovo who served until recently as acting director of US national intelligence , told Reuters the US strategy was `` very much start with one and move on to others if need be . ''
`` The whole goal is to change the behavior of the Chinese ... this is emerging as the Trump doctrine , which is very harsh actions , sanctions and isolation while at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exit if the behavior changes . ''
Chinese state media editorials said the Houston move was an attempt to blame Beijing for U.S. failures ahead of Trump 's reelection bid .
Opinion polls have shown Trump trailing Biden .

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took fresh aim at China on Thursday and said Washington and its allies must use "more creative and assertive ways" to press the Chinese Communist Party to change its ways, calling it the "mission of our time."
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library, in Yorba Linda, California, U.S., July 23, 2020.
Advertising Read more
Speaking at the Nixon Library in President Richard Nixon's birthplace in Yorba Linda, California, Pompeo said the former US leader's worry about what he had done by opening the world to China's Communist Party in the 1970s had been prophetic.
"President Nixon once said he feared he had created a 'Frankenstein' by opening the world to the CCP," Pompeo said. "And here we are."
Nixon, who died in 1994 and was president from 1969-74, opened the way for the establishment of U.S. diplomatic relations with Communist China in 1979 through a series of contacts, including a visit to Beijing in 1972.
Pompeo delivered this speech after Washington's surprise order this week for China to close its Houston consulate.
In direct retaliation, China on Friday ordered the United States to close its consulate in the city of Chengdu, as relations between the two world powers deteriorated further.
China had warned it would retaliate after it was unexpectedly given 72 hours - until Friday - to vacate its Houston consulate, and had urged Washington to reconsider.
"The US move seriously breached international law, the basic norms of international relations, and the terms of the China-US Consular Convention. It gravely harmed China-US relations," China's foreign ministry said in a statement.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China informed the US Embassy in China of its decision to withdraw its consent for the establishment and operation of the US Consulate General in Chengdu," it said.
The US Department of State and the US embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
No more 'blind engagement' with China
Pompeo called for an end to "blind engagement" with China and repeated frequently leveled US charges about its unfair trade practices, human rights abuses and efforts to infiltrate American society.
He said China's military had became "stronger and more menacing" and the approach to Beijing should be "distrust and verify," adapting President Ronald Reagan's "trust but verify" mantra about the Soviet Union in the 1980s.
"The truth is that our policies – and those of other free nations – resurrected China’s failing economy, only to see Beijing bite the international hands that were feeding it," Pompeo said.
"The freedom-loving nations of the world must induce China to change ... in more creative and assertive ways, because Beijing’s actions threaten our people and our prosperity."
Recalling remarks he made after meeting British leaders in London this week, Pompeo said "maybe it's time for a new grouping of like-minded nations, a new alliance of democracies," while adding: "If the free world doesn't change, Communist China will surely change us."
Pompeo said "securing our freedoms from the Chinese Communist Party is the mission of our time," and America was perfectly positioned to lead it.
He said one NATO ally, which he did not name, was unwilling to stand up for freedom in Hong Kong because it feared restricted access to China's market.
While some conservative commentators praised Pompeo's speech on social media and elsewhere, some other analysts were not impressed.
Scott Kennedy, of Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies, said cooperation with other democracies on China would be easier said than done, given the Trump administration’s record of dealing with allies.
"How do you form a united front against China when the U.S. is bullying its allies, trashing multilateral institutions and pushing an economic decoupling (from China) that no one else supports?” he said.
Low point
Pompeo's speech comes at a time when U.S.-China relations have dipped to their lowest point in decades and President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden have appeared to compete with each other over who can appear toughest towards Beijing ahead of the Nov. 3 presidential election.
Ties have deteriorated over issues ranging from the novel coronavirus pandemic, which began in China, to Beijing trade and business practices, its territorial claims in the South China Sea and its clampdown on Hong Kong.
In a dramatic escalation, Washington on Tuesday gave China 72 hours to close its Houston consulate.
Pompeo said the consulate had been "a hub of spying and intellectual property theft."
China has four other consulates in the United States - in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York - as well as an embassy in Washington.
Trump told a news briefing on Wednesday it was "always possible" other Chinese missions could be closed too.
Richard Grenell, special presidential envoy for Serbia and Kosovo who served until recently as acting director of US national intelligence, told Reuters the US strategy was "very much start with one and move on to others if need be."
"The whole goal is to change the behavior of the Chinese... this is emerging as the Trump doctrine, which is very harsh actions, sanctions and isolation while at the same time always offering a chance to exit if the behavior changes."
Chinese state media editorials said the Houston move was an attempt to blame Beijing for U.S. failures ahead of Trump's reelection bid. Opinion polls have shown Trump trailing Biden.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-07-24--West African leaders plan extraordinary talks on Monday to end Mali crisis

Mali 's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita walks with his Ivory Coast counterpart Alassane Ouattara upon his arrival in Bamako , Mali July 23 , 2020 .
West African leaders will hold a virtual extraordinary summit on Monday to propose measures to end the deepening political crisis in Mali after five heads of state met with the government and the opposition in the country 's capital city Bamako on Thursday .
The presidents from five West African countries held talks all day with various parties to try to end the political stalemate that has rocked the country and raised fears it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ militants .
`` We have decided that we will report back to all the heads of state during an extraordinary meeting on Monday July 27 , '' said Mahamadou Issoufou , Niger 's President and current chair of the 15-member regional ECOWAS bloc .
`` ECOWAS will take strong measures that will contribute to the resolutions of the crisis , '' Issoufou told journalists after the meetings .
Infuriated by corruption , disputed local election results and army losses to jihadists , tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which the United Nations says at least 14 protesters have died this month .
The opposition , a group called M5-RFP whose figurehead is Saudi-trained Muslim cleric Mahmoud Dicko , has said it will not quit until President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita steps down , raising concerns in neighbouring countries of a protracted crisis .
Dicko told journalists after a final meeting late on Thursday that there had been no progress , and nothing had been offered at the moment that was acceptable to them .
`` M5-RFP demands the resignation of Keita @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' which include the establishment of a committee of inquiry into civilian deaths and a transitional government , the group 's spokesman Nouhoum Togo had told Reuters on Thursday .
Niger 's Issoufou said however that ECOWAS drew a red line on the demand for President Keita to resign .
`` There will be no unconstitutional change of power in the ECOWAS region , '' Issoufou said .

West African leaders will hold a virtual extraordinary summit on Monday to propose measures to end the deepening political crisis in Mali after five heads of state met with the government and the opposition in the country's capital city Bamako on Thursday.
Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita walks with his Ivory Coast counterpart Alassane Ouattara upon his arrival in Bamako, Mali July 23, 2020.
Advertising Read more
The presidents from five West African countries held talks all day with various parties to try to end the political stalemate that has rocked the country and raised fears it could undermine a regional fight against Islamist militants.
"We have decided that we will report back to all the heads of state during an extraordinary meeting on Monday July 27," said Mahamadou Issoufou, Niger's President and current chair of the 15-member regional ECOWAS bloc.
"ECOWAS will take strong measures that will contribute to the resolutions of the crisis," Issoufou told journalists after the meetings.
Infuriated by corruption, disputed local election results and army losses to jihadists, tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in recent weeks, sparking clashes with police in which the United Nations says at least 14 protesters have died this month.
The opposition, a group called M5-RFP whose figurehead is Saudi-trained Muslim cleric Mahmoud Dicko, has said it will not quit until President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita steps down, raising concerns in neighbouring countries of a protracted crisis.
Dicko told journalists after a final meeting late on Thursday that there had been no progress, and nothing had been offered at the moment that was acceptable to them.
"M5-RFP demands the resignation of Keita or the satisfaction of our demands," which include the establishment of a committee of inquiry into civilian deaths and a transitional government, the group's spokesman Nouhoum Togo had told Reuters on Thursday.
Niger's Issoufou said however that ECOWAS drew a red line on the demand for President Keita to resign.
"There will be no unconstitutional change of power in the ECOWAS region," Issoufou said.
(REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-07-23--Back to a mosque: Erdogan's reconversion of Hagia Sophia

Why now ?
Turkey 's president is ordering a return to tradition for what 's much more than a tourist @ @ @ @ @ for the ages : after decades of disputes , Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has chosen to @ @ @ @ @ from a museum to a mosque .
The move reverses a 1935 decision by the @ @ @ @ @ Mustafa Kemal Atatürk .
François Picard 's panel discusses the political timing at home and @ @ @ @ @ just neighbouring Greece and its Orthodox Christians who are up in arms .
Is the @ @ @ @ @ nod to Turkey 's past glory as head of the Ottoman Empire ?
Take international @ @ @ @ @ Download the France 24 app

Back to a mosque: Erdogan's reconversion of Hagia Sophia
42:12 THE DEBATE © FRANCE 24
By: François PICARD Follow | Charles WENTE
Why now? Turkey's president is ordering a return to tradition for what's much more than a tourist attraction, but a monument for the ages: after decades of disputes, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has chosen to reconvert Istanbul's Hagia Sophia from a museum to a mosque. The move reverses a 1935 decision by the founder of secular Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. François Picard's panel discusses the political timing at home and abroad where it's not just neighbouring Greece and its Orthodox Christians who are up in arms.
Advertising Is the reconversion of Hagia Sophia a nod to Turkey's past glory as head of the Ottoman Empire? Guest booking: Imen Mellaz. Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe Take international news everywhere with you! Download the France 24 app


france24--2020-07-24--Trump cancels Florida leg of Republican convention as US Covid cases soar

President Donald Trump on Thursday said he would no longer hold part of the Republican Party 's nominating convention in Florida in August because of a spike in coronavirus cases in the state .
Trump already moved part of the convention from North Carolina to Florida because of restrictions on gathering due to the virus , but the surge in cases had led some Republicans to pull out of attending the Florida event .
Trump said it was not the right time to hold a `` crowded convention . ''
`` The timing for this event is not right , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press briefing .
`` It 's just not right with what ’ s happened recently , the flare up in Florida .
To have a big convention it ’ s not the right time . ''
He said he ordered his aides to cancel the event `` to protect the American people . ''
Republican delegates would still be meeting in Charlotte , North Carolina , the original venue for the convention , on the week beginning Aug. 24 , Trump said .
He added he would still give a convention speech but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said there were plans for so-called `` telerallies '' during the week .
Trump , who is expected to take on Democratic candidate Joe Biden in a Nov. 3 election , had moved the event from Charlotte to Jacksonville , Florida , after North Carolina 's governor refused to guarantee Trump could hold a large event in the state .
Trump said he had already informed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis of the decision , which comes as the United States grapples with large numbers of new COVID-19 cases outside of the Northeast , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months of the outbreak .
Florida is now among the states with the highest number of new coronavirus cases and has seen more than nearly 390,000 cases of the virus and more than 5,600 deaths , according to a Reuters tally .
As new cases surged in the state in recent weeks , some Republican lawmakers and party delegates said they would avoid traveling to Florida for the event .
Don Huizenga , a Republican delegate from Minnesota , was excited about going just two weeks ago , but changed his mind after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I really wanted to go , but with the coronavirus surge , it just doesn ’ t make sense .
It has lots of people rattled , ” Huizenga said earlier this week .

President Donald Trump on Thursday said he would no longer hold part of the Republican Party's nominating convention in Florida in August because of a spike in coronavirus cases in the state.
Advertising Read more
Trump already moved part of the convention from North Carolina to Florida because of restrictions on gathering due to the virus, but the surge in cases had led some Republicans to pull out of attending the Florida event.
Trump said it was not the right time to hold a "crowded convention."
"The timing for this event is not right," Trump said in a White House press briefing. "It's just not right with what’s happened recently, the flare up in Florida. To have a big convention it’s not the right time."
00:25
He said he ordered his aides to cancel the event "to protect the American people."
Republican delegates would still be meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, the original venue for the convention, on the week beginning Aug. 24, Trump said.
He added he would still give a convention speech but "in a different form" and said there were plans for so-called "telerallies" during the week.
Trump, who is expected to take on Democratic candidate Joe Biden in a Nov. 3 election, had moved the event from Charlotte to Jacksonville, Florida, after North Carolina's governor refused to guarantee Trump could hold a large event in the state.
Trump said he had already informed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis of the decision, which comes as the United States grapples with large numbers of new COVID-19 cases outside of the Northeast, the region hit hardest in the early months of the outbreak.
Florida is now among the states with the highest number of new coronavirus cases and has seen more than nearly 390,000 cases of the virus and more than 5,600 deaths, according to a Reuters tally.
As new cases surged in the state in recent weeks, some Republican lawmakers and party delegates said they would avoid traveling to Florida for the event.
Don Huizenga, a Republican delegate from Minnesota, was excited about going just two weeks ago, but changed his mind after seeing the growing coronavirus numbers in Florida.
“I really wanted to go, but with the coronavirus surge, it just doesn’t make sense. It has lots of people rattled,” Huizenga said earlier this week.
(REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-07-24--Gibraltar: A gateway for drug smugglers

Gibraltar: A gateway for drug smugglers

At the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula , a stone 's throw from the Moroccan coast , the Strait of Gibraltar has become a gateway for the trafficking of drugs between Europe and Africa .
The 14-kilometre stretch of water sees a never-ending procession of speedboats loaded with hash and cocaine , despite a police crackdown .
Our reporters travelled to the nearby Spanish town of La Linea to meet residents affected by drug trafficking , whether they 're participating in it or fighting against it .
During the 1970s , drug traffickers made the Strait of Gibraltar their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they seem to have won the battle against the police .
They are at the head of an empire that resembles the management of freight transport companies .
On the 14 kilometres of sea that separate Spain from Morocco , they ship more than 280 tons of drugs per month .
About 80 percent of the hash consumed in Europe passes through here .
To fight against this illegal trade , the Spanish authorities launched a security plan in 2018 which will run until 2021 .
While arrests are on the rise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sector agree that the Strait remains uncontrollable .
We begin by getting on board Pedro Luis Bardon 's helicopter .
For more than thirty years , this experienced pilot has been chasing drug-laden boats in the Strait .
His acrobatic swoops , as close as possible to the traffickers , even earned him a role in the 2014 film `` El Nino '' by director Daniel Monzón .
Julio , an 'organiser ' with no regrets We also meet a man whom we will call Julio .
This father in his late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` organiser ” in the drug trade .
After learning the ropes from an early age in cigarette trafficking , he now runs , from the Spanish coast , a cocaine and hash network based in Morocco .
For him , everyone has a price .
In this region where the unemployment rate reaches 40 percent , easy money has the power to corrupt and radically change lives , including his own and that of his family .
That 's why he says he does not regret his choice of life , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in prison .
Finally , we follow José Manuel , a young retired police officer who has dedicated his life to the fight against drug trafficking .
Even today , in the corridors of the police , he is nicknamed `` chief '' .
José Manuel says it was he who convinced notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar not to settle in Morocco , during his ten years undercover there .

At the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula, a stone's throw from the Moroccan coast, the Strait of Gibraltar has become a gateway for the trafficking of drugs between Europe and Africa. The 14-kilometre stretch of water sees a never-ending procession of speedboats loaded with hash and cocaine, despite a police crackdown. Our reporters travelled to the nearby Spanish town of La Linea to meet residents affected by drug trafficking, whether they're participating in it or fighting against it.
Advertising
During the 1970s, drug traffickers made the Strait of Gibraltar their base in Europe. Fifty years later, they seem to have won the battle against the police.
They are at the head of an empire that resembles the management of freight transport companies. On the 14 kilometres of sea that separate Spain from Morocco, they ship more than 280 tons of drugs per month. About 80 percent of the hash consumed in Europe passes through here.
The Strait remains uncontrollable
To fight against this illegal trade, the Spanish authorities launched a security plan in 2018. At the beginning of July, the plan was allocated an additional €48.2 million and extended until the end of December 2021. While arrests are on the rise in recent years, all actors in the sector agree that the Strait remains uncontrollable.
We begin by getting on board Pedro Luis Bardon's helicopter. For more than thirty years, this experienced pilot has been chasing drug-laden boats in the Strait. His acrobatic swoops, as close as possible to the traffickers, even earned him a role in the 2014 film "El Nino" by director Daniel Monzón.
Julio, an 'organiser' with no regrets
We also meet a man whom we will call Julio. This father in his late 50s is what's known as an "organiser” in the drug trade. After learning the ropes from an early age in cigarette trafficking, he now runs, from the Spanish coast, a cocaine and hash network based in Morocco. For him, everyone has a price. In this region where the unemployment rate reaches 40 percent, easy money has the power to corrupt and radically change lives, including his own and that of his family. That's why he says he does not regret his choice of life, even though it has earned him several years in prison.
Finally, we follow José Manuel, a young retired police officer who has dedicated his life to the fight against drug trafficking. Even today, in the corridors of the police, he is nicknamed "chief". José Manuel says it was he who convinced notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar not to settle in Morocco, during his ten years undercover there.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-07-24--Kurdish-Iranian author held for 6 years granted asylum in New Zealand

Behrouz Boochani has been in New Zealand since November when he applied for refugee status .
A Kurdish-Iranian refugee who wrote an award-winning book on his mobile phone while held in one of Australia 's notorious Pacific detention camps has been granted asylum in New Zealand , officials said Friday .
Behrouz Boochani has been in New Zealand since November when he applied for refugee status after attending a literary festival to speak about his six years in limbo under Australia 's hardline immigration policies .
Immigration New Zealand said Boochani 's application had been successful , which means he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Pacific nation indefinitely .
`` Mr. Boochani has been recognised as a refugee under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol , '' it said in a brief statement , refusing to release further details on privacy grounds .
Reports said the decision was relayed to the author on Thursday , his 37th birthday .
A relieved Boochani vowed to continue campaigning for refugee rights from his adopted homeland , where he will apply for permanent residency .
`` I now have certainty about my future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not fully enjoy this or celebrate while the Australian government is still unfairly detaining people in Port Moresby , Nauru and Australia , '' he said in a statement .
Boochani is currently working as a researcher at Canterbury University in the South Island city of Christchurch .
He painstakingly tapped out his book `` No Friend But The Mountains '' on WhatsApp while detained in the Australian-run Manus Island migrant camp off Papua New Guinea , which is now officially closed .
After being pulled from a sinking boat in Australian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Papua New Guinea under a policy adopted by Canberra to prevent asylum seekers arriving by sea from setting foot on Australian soil .
His account of his plight won numerous awards , including Australia 's richest literary honour , the Victorian Prize for Literature .
New Zealand Green Party human rights spokeswoman Golriz Ghahraman , a longtime supporter of Boochani , said the refugee decision showed her country was `` a place where fairness and compassion prevails '' .
`` People escaping torture and persecution based on their religion , race , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call home , they deserve protection , '' she said .
He fled Iran for Indonesia in 2013 when the Kurdish magazine he wrote for was raided by the military for publishing anti-government articles .
He then paid a people-smuggler to take him to Australia but the voyage ended with him being sent to Manus Island .

A Kurdish-Iranian refugee who wrote an award-winning book on his mobile phone while held in one of Australia's notorious Pacific detention camps has been granted asylum in New Zealand, officials said Friday.
Behrouz Boochani has been in New Zealand since November when he applied for refugee status.
Advertising Read more
Behrouz Boochani has been in New Zealand since November when he applied for refugee status after attending a literary festival to speak about his six years in limbo under Australia's hardline immigration policies.
Immigration New Zealand said Boochani's application had been successful, which means he has the right to stay in the South Pacific nation indefinitely.
"Mr. Boochani has been recognised as a refugee under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol," it said in a brief statement, refusing to release further details on privacy grounds.
Reports said the decision was relayed to the author on Thursday, his 37th birthday.
A relieved Boochani vowed to continue campaigning for refugee rights from his adopted homeland, where he will apply for permanent residency.
"I now have certainty about my future, which is good, but I cannot fully enjoy this or celebrate while the Australian government is still unfairly detaining people in Port Moresby, Nauru and Australia," he said in a statement.
Boochani is currently working as a researcher at Canterbury University in the South Island city of Christchurch.
Award-winning book written on WhatsApp
He painstakingly tapped out his book "No Friend But The Mountains" on WhatsApp while detained in the Australian-run Manus Island migrant camp off Papua New Guinea, which is now officially closed.
After being pulled from a sinking boat in Australian waters in 2013, Boochani was held in Papua New Guinea under a policy adopted by Canberra to prevent asylum seekers arriving by sea from setting foot on Australian soil.
His account of his plight won numerous awards, including Australia's richest literary honour, the Victorian Prize for Literature.
New Zealand Green Party human rights spokeswoman Golriz Ghahraman, a longtime supporter of Boochani, said the refugee decision showed her country was "a place where fairness and compassion prevails".
"People escaping torture and persecution based on their religion, race, and political activism deserve a place to call home, they deserve protection," she said.
"We welcome Behrouz wholeheartedly."
He fled Iran for Indonesia in 2013 when the Kurdish magazine he wrote for was raided by the military for publishing anti-government articles.
He then paid a people-smuggler to take him to Australia but the voyage ended with him being sent to Manus Island.
(AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-07-24--PSG set sights on French Cup victory as football final kicks off

PSG superstars Neymar and Kylian Mbappé in the 9-0 victory in a friendly match against Le Havre on July 12 , 2020 .
Four months after French football ground to a standstill as the coronavirus pandemic worsened , Paris Saint-Germain head into Friday 's national cup final against Saint-Etienne looking to land the first of a potential three titles in a five-match burst .
Declared Ligue 1 champions for the seventh time in eight years after the season was ended prematurely , PSG return to competitive action 135 days later with the French Cup , French League Cup and Champions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last fixture on March 11 , a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund behind closed doors that sealed a place in the Champions League quarter-finals , a limited number of fans will be allowed to attend the French Cup final .
The fixture at the Stade de France marks the return of French football , lagging well behind the rest of Europe 's top leagues which eventually restarted despite the health crisis .
PSG have shown little rustiness in dispatching a trio of friendly opponents -- Le Havre , Waasland-Beveren and Scottish champions Celtic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conceded .
For Saint-Etienne , the COVID-19 interruption allowed them to turn the page on a dismal league campaign in which they finished 17th -- a far cry from their fourth-placed effort in 2018-19 .
`` The goal was to avoid injuries and come into the final with fresh legs and clear minds .
We 're ready to play , '' said PSG coach Thomas Tuchel .
`` It 's a very important match after a long break .
No team has ever done that .
We want to win . ''
PSG @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on an eight-year spell at the club with a raft of trophies , having signed a short-term extension through August .
`` The truth is I did n't want to leave but the decision has been taken and I respect it , '' said Silva , who has helped PSG to four of their record 12 French Cup triumphs .
`` It 's a different time to any other , it 's historic and strange , '' he added .
`` To stop for four months like that , it 's not easy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level . ''
Friday 's showdown is a repeat of the 1982 final , won by PSG on penalties following a 2-2 draw in which Michel Platini scored twice for Saint-Etienne .
It was PSG 's first major title and also the last time Saint-Etienne reached the final .
`` We 're not favourites .
Our goal is to enjoy ourselves , play our trump card and be in the match .
I hope we let loose , we have nothing to lose , '' said Saint-Etienne boss Claude Puel .
French President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is tradition , but fewer than 5,000 spectators will be permitted at the 80,000-seater venue as part of stringent health regulations .
Saint-Etienne supporters have said they will boycott the match after receiving an allocation of just 900 tickets .
However , the occasion will provide Tuchel the chance to atone for last year 's final defeat by Rennes in a penalty shootout , as PSG failed to win at least one of the two domestic cups for the first time since 2013 .
PSG return to the Stade de France on July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ League Cup final .
They will then head to Lisbon to play Atalanta on August 12 in the quarter-finals of a Champions League 'Final Eight ' .
The tournament will be played in a straight knockout format due to the difficulties caused by the coronavirus , with PSG dreaming of a remarkable quadruple to celebrate the club 's 50-year anniversary .

Four months after French football ground to a standstill as the coronavirus pandemic worsened, Paris Saint-Germain head into Friday's national cup final against Saint-Etienne looking to land the first of a potential three titles in a five-match burst.
PSG superstars Neymar and Kylian Mbappé in the 9-0 victory in a friendly match against Le Havre on July 12, 2020.
Advertising Read more
Declared Ligue 1 champions for the seventh time in eight years after the season was ended prematurely, PSG return to competitive action 135 days later with the French Cup, French League Cup and Champions League in their sights.
Unlike their last fixture on March 11, a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund behind closed doors that sealed a place in the Champions League quarter-finals, a limited number of fans will be allowed to attend the French Cup final.
The fixture at the Stade de France marks the return of French football, lagging well behind the rest of Europe's top leagues which eventually restarted despite the health crisis.
PSG have shown little rustiness in dispatching a trio of friendly opponents -- Le Havre, Waasland-Beveren and Scottish champions Celtic -- with 20 goals scored and none conceded.
For Saint-Etienne, the COVID-19 interruption allowed them to turn the page on a dismal league campaign in which they finished 17th -- a far cry from their fourth-placed effort in 2018-19.
"The goal was to avoid injuries and come into the final with fresh legs and clear minds. We're ready to play," said PSG coach Thomas Tuchel.
"It's a very important match after a long break. No team has ever done that. We want to win."
'Historic and strange'
PSG captain Thiago Silva hopes to sign off on an eight-year spell at the club with a raft of trophies, having signed a short-term extension through August.
"The truth is I didn't want to leave but the decision has been taken and I respect it," said Silva, who has helped PSG to four of their record 12 French Cup triumphs.
"It's a different time to any other, it's historic and strange," he added. "To stop for four months like that, it's not easy to then get back to the highest level."
Friday's showdown is a repeat of the 1982 final, won by PSG on penalties following a 2-2 draw in which Michel Platini scored twice for Saint-Etienne.
It was PSG's first major title and also the last time Saint-Etienne reached the final.
"We're not favourites. Our goal is to enjoy ourselves, play our trump card and be in the match. I hope we let loose, we have nothing to lose," said Saint-Etienne boss Claude Puel.
French President Emmanuel Macron will be in attendance as is tradition, but fewer than 5,000 spectators will be permitted at the 80,000-seater venue as part of stringent health regulations.
Saint-Etienne supporters have said they will boycott the match after receiving an allocation of just 900 tickets.
However, the occasion will provide Tuchel the chance to atone for last year's final defeat by Rennes in a penalty shootout, as PSG failed to win at least one of the two domestic cups for the first time since 2013.
PSG return to the Stade de France on July 31 to face Lyon in the French League Cup final.
They will then head to Lisbon to play Atalanta on August 12 in the quarter-finals of a Champions League 'Final Eight'.
The tournament will be played in a straight knockout format due to the difficulties caused by the coronavirus, with PSG dreaming of a remarkable quadruple to celebrate the club's 50-year anniversary.
(AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-07-24--Deputy mayor of Paris resigns over links with alleged child rapist

Deputy Paris Mayor in charge of Culture Christophe Girard arrives at the French Central Office for Repression of Violence against People ( OCRVP ) in Nanterre , east of Paris , on March 4 , 2020 , to be heard as a witness as part of an investigation on `` rape on a minor '' targeting French writer Gabriel Matzneff , on March 4 , 2020 .
A deputy mayor of Paris resigned Thursday following protests over his links with alleged child sex abuser Gabriel Matzneff , an award-winning writer .
Christophe Girard , one of newly re-elected mayor Anne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had no desire to have the issue `` ruin '' his life nor did he feel he had to `` justify myself permanently for something that does not exist . ''
Opposition politicians and women 's groups have asked for 64-year-old Girard 's suspension and the opening of an internal investigation over ties to Matzneff , who is under investigation following claims by Vanessa Springora of a tortured under-age relationship with the author .
Matzneff is to stand trial next year on a charge of justifying paedophilia , and prosecutors launched a rape @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book , `` Consent '' , was published .
A second woman has also claimed she was groomed and controlled by the writer .
Girard , in charge of cultural affairs for the Paris government , was questioned in March in connection with the investigation into Matzneff .
He was a senior executive at Yves-Saint Laurent in 1986 and 1987 , when the design house provided financial support to Matzneff .
Matzneff had told the New York Times that thanks to Girard , he was able to stay for free at a hotel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her book , Springora said staying at the hotel allowed Matzneff to evade police .
A member of Hidalgo 's team said she welcomed Girard 's `` courageous '' decision to step down .
Matzneff has never made any secret of his preference for sex with adolescent girls and boys .

A deputy mayor of Paris resigned Thursday following protests over his links with alleged child sex abuser Gabriel Matzneff, an award-winning writer.
Deputy Paris Mayor in charge of Culture Christophe Girard arrives at the French Central Office for Repression of Violence against People (OCRVP) in Nanterre, east of Paris, on March 4, 2020, to be heard as a witness as part of an investigation on "rape on a minor" targeting French writer Gabriel Matzneff, on March 4, 2020.
Advertising Read more
Christophe Girard, one of newly re-elected mayor Anne Hidalgo's deputies, told AFP he had no desire to have the issue "ruin" his life nor did he feel he had to "justify myself permanently for something that does not exist."
Opposition politicians and women's groups have asked for 64-year-old Girard's suspension and the opening of an internal investigation over ties to Matzneff, who is under investigation following claims by Vanessa Springora of a tortured under-age relationship with the author.
Matzneff is to stand trial next year on a charge of justifying paedophilia, and prosecutors launched a rape investigation the day after Springora's bestselling book, "Consent", was published.
A second woman has also claimed she was groomed and controlled by the writer.
Girard, in charge of cultural affairs for the Paris government, was questioned in March in connection with the investigation into Matzneff.
He was a senior executive at Yves-Saint Laurent in 1986 and 1987, when the design house provided financial support to Matzneff.
Matzneff had told the New York Times that thanks to Girard, he was able to stay for free at a hotel for two years with Springora.
In her book, Springora said staying at the hotel allowed Matzneff to evade police.
A member of Hidalgo's team said she welcomed Girard's "courageous" decision to step down.
Matzneff has never made any secret of his preference for sex with adolescent girls and boys.
(AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-07-23--Sudan finds mass grave of officers involved in failed 1990 coup against Bashir

A picture taken on June 13 , 2020 , shows members of a forensic team at a cemetary , where a mass grave of conscripts killed in 1998 was discovered , in the Sahafa neighbourhood , south of the Sudanese capital Khartoum .
Sudan has found a mass grave that most likely contains remains of 28 army officers executed in 1990 for plotting an attempted coup against the former President Omar al-Bashir , the public prosecutor office said late on Thursday .
The officers were executed in mysterious circumstances after a quick military trial one year after Bashir himself took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1989 .
Their burial site was not disclosed for decades .
`` The public prosecution managed to find a mass grave that data indicates that it is most likely the graveyard where the bodies of the officers who were killed and buried in a brutal manner , '' the public prosecutor said in a statement .
A team of 29 experts reached this result after an effort that lasted for three weeks , and more forensic and investigative measures will be taken in the site , the statement added .
The public prosecutor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that `` such crimes will not pass without a just trial '' .
Bashir appeared in court on Tuesday at the opening of his trial for leading the military coup that brought him to power in 1989 .
He was ousted by the army in April 2019 , after months of mass protests .
Bashir 's attorneys could not immediately be reached for comment .
Local media reports said earlier this month that prosecutors questioned Bashir over the 1990 executions .
The prosecution has not publicly commented on the matter .
Last month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discovery of a mass grave east of Khartoum suspected to contain the remains of students killed in 1998 as they tried escaping military service at a training camp .
Bashir already was handed down a two-year sentence by a court in December on corruption charges .
Bashir also faces trials and investigations over the killing of protesters .
He is also wanted by the International Criminal Court ( ICC ) , which issued arrest warrants against him in 2009 and 2010 on charges of genocide , war crimes and crimes against humanity in @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Sudan has found a mass grave that most likely contains remains of 28 army officers executed in 1990 for plotting an attempted coup against the former President Omar al-Bashir, the public prosecutor office said late on Thursday.
A picture taken on June 13, 2020, shows members of a forensic team at a cemetary, where a mass grave of conscripts killed in 1998 was discovered, in the Sahafa neighbourhood, south of the Sudanese capital Khartoum.
Advertising Read more
The officers were executed in mysterious circumstances after a quick military trial one year after Bashir himself took the power in a military coup in 1989. Their burial site was not disclosed for decades.
"The public prosecution managed to find a mass grave that data indicates that it is most likely the graveyard where the bodies of the officers who were killed and buried in a brutal manner," the public prosecutor said in a statement.
A team of 29 experts reached this result after an effort that lasted for three weeks, and more forensic and investigative measures will be taken in the site, the statement added.
The public prosecutor assured the families of the executed officers that "such crimes will not pass without a just trial".
Bashir appeared in court on Tuesday at the opening of his trial for leading the military coup that brought him to power in 1989. He was ousted by the army in April 2019, after months of mass protests.
Bashir's attorneys could not immediately be reached for comment.
Local media reports said earlier this month that prosecutors questioned Bashir over the 1990 executions. The prosecution has not publicly commented on the matter.
Last month, Sudan's public prosecutor announced the discovery of a mass grave east of Khartoum suspected to contain the remains of students killed in 1998 as they tried escaping military service at a training camp.
Bashir already was handed down a two-year sentence by a court in December on corruption charges. Bashir also faces trials and investigations over the killing of protesters.
He is also wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued arrest warrants against him in 2009 and 2010 on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan’s restive Darfur region.
(REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-07-24--Passengers injured after Iranian airline pilot swerved to avoid US fighter jet

Several passengers on an Iranian airline were injured on Thursday over Syria after the pilot changed altitude to avoid collision with a U.S. fighter jet , according to Iranian media , but the U.S. military said its F-15 was at a safe distance .
The Iranian plane , belonging to Mahan Air , was heading from Tehran to Beirut when the pilot staged a safety maneuver , in an incident that Iran 's Foreign Ministry said would be investigated .
Tensions have spiked between Tehran and Washington since 2018 , when U.S. President Donald Trump exited Iran 's 2015 nuclear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have battered Iran 's economy .
Iran 's official IRIB news agency quoted a passenger describing how his head had hit the roof of the plane during the change in altitude , and video showed an elderly passenger sprawled on the floor .
All the passengers left the plane , some with minor injuries , the head of the Beirut airport told Reuters .
The plane arrived back in Tehran in the early hours of Friday , the Fars news agency reported .
The U.S. military 's Central Command , which oversees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the F-15 aircraft was conducting a visual inspection of the Iranian aircraft when it passed near the Tanf garrison in Syria where U.S. forces are present .
Captain Bill Urban , the senior Central Command spokesman , said the F-15 `` conducted a standard visual inspection of a Mahan Air passenger airliner at a safe distance of about 1,000 meters ( 3,280 feet ) from the airliner this evening . ''
`` The visual inspection occurred to ensure the safety of coalition personnel at At Tanf garrison , '' Urban said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a Mahan Air passenger plane , the F-15 safely opened distance from the aircraft . ''
He added the intercept was carried out in accordance with international standards .
The pilot of the passenger plane contacted the jet pilots to warn them to keep a safe distance and they identified themselves as American , IRIB reported .
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said the necessary legal and political actions would be taken , according to the ministry 's website .
Israel and the United States have long accused Mahan Air of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and elsewhere .
The United States imposed sanctions on Mahan Air in 2011 , saying it provided financial and other support to Iran 's elite Revolutionary Guards .

Several passengers on an Iranian airline were injured on Thursday over Syria after the pilot changed altitude to avoid collision with a U.S. fighter jet, according to Iranian media, but the U.S. military said its F-15 was at a safe distance.
Advertising Read more
The Iranian plane, belonging to Mahan Air, was heading from Tehran to Beirut when the pilot staged a safety maneuver, in an incident that Iran's Foreign Ministry said would be investigated.
Tensions have spiked between Tehran and Washington since 2018, when U.S. President Donald Trump exited Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with six powers and reimposed sanctions that have battered Iran's economy.
Iran's official IRIB news agency quoted a passenger describing how his head had hit the roof of the plane during the change in altitude, and video showed an elderly passenger sprawled on the floor.
All the passengers left the plane, some with minor injuries, the head of the Beirut airport told Reuters.
The plane arrived back in Tehran in the early hours of Friday, the Fars news agency reported.
The U.S. military's Central Command, which oversees American troops in the region, said the F-15 aircraft was conducting a visual inspection of the Iranian aircraft when it passed near the Tanf garrison in Syria where U.S. forces are present.
Captain Bill Urban, the senior Central Command spokesman, said the F-15 "conducted a standard visual inspection of a Mahan Air passenger airliner at a safe distance of about 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) from the airliner this evening."
"The visual inspection occurred to ensure the safety of coalition personnel at At Tanf garrison," Urban said. "Once the F-15 pilot identified the aircraft as a Mahan Air passenger plane, the F-15 safely opened distance from the aircraft."
He added the intercept was carried out in accordance with international standards.
The pilot of the passenger plane contacted the jet pilots to warn them to keep a safe distance and they identified themselves as American, IRIB reported.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said the necessary legal and political actions would be taken, according to the ministry's website.
Israel and the United States have long accused Mahan Air of ferrying weapons for Iranian-linked guerrillas in Syria and elsewhere.
The United States imposed sanctions on Mahan Air in 2011, saying it provided financial and other support to Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards.
(REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-07-24--Mbappé injury spoils party as PSG win bad-tempered French Cup final

Kylian Mbappé was forced off the pitch after a clumsy tackle by Saint-Etienne captain Loïc Perrin .
Paris Saint-Germain won the French Cup title on Friday but saw Kylian Mbappé limp off the pitch with an ankle injury as football returned to the country after a four-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic .
A lone Neymar goal in the 14th minute was enough to see off feisty Saint-Etienne on a bittersweet night for the Parisians , whose hopes of Champions League glory next month may have been dented by Mbappé 's injury .
The 21-year-old World Cup-winner was brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Etienne captain Loic Perrin in the 26th minute , with his right ankle turning as he fell .
Perrin was duly sent off for the challenge .
Mbappé is a key player in PSG 's hunt for four titles this season .
The French champions face Olympique Lyonnais in the League Cup final next Friday and have a Champions League quarter-final against Atalanta coming up next month .
The fixture at the Stade de France marked the return of French football after a four-month suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Unlike the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which eventually restarted despite the health crisis , France 's Ligue 1 ended prematurely in March with PSG crowned champions for the seventh time in eight years .
French President Emmanuel Macron attended Friday 's final as per tradition , but fewer than 5,000 spectators were permitted at the 80,000-seater venue as part of stringent health regulations .
The contest got off to an eventful start with Yvann Maçon felling Neymar in the opening seconds to earn a yellow card and Saint-Etienne 's Denis Bouanga hitting the post in the fifth minute .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ when Neymar pounced on a rebound after an Mbappé shot was blocked by goalkeeper Jessy Mouli .
Ten minutes later , Perrin 's rough tackle put Mbappé out of the game .
The Saint-Etienne captain was sent off in his last game and four other players were booked as tempers briefly flared .
Saint-Etienne kept finding ways into the PSG box even after going a man down , but missed out on adding to their six Cup wins .

Paris Saint-Germain won the French Cup title on Friday but saw Kylian Mbappé limp off the pitch with an ankle injury as football returned to the country after a four-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Kylian Mbappé was forced off the pitch after a clumsy tackle by Saint-Etienne captain Loïc Perrin.
Advertising Read more
A lone Neymar goal in the 14th minute was enough to see off feisty Saint-Etienne on a bittersweet night for the Parisians, whose hopes of Champions League glory next month may have been dented by Mbappé's injury.
The 21-year-old World Cup-winner was brought down by a clumsy tackle from Saint Etienne captain Loic Perrin in the 26th minute, with his right ankle turning as he fell. Perrin was duly sent off for the challenge.
Mbappé is a key player in PSG's hunt for four titles this season. The French champions face Olympique Lyonnais in the League Cup final next Friday and have a Champions League quarter-final against Atalanta coming up next month.
00:28
The fixture at the Stade de France marked the return of French football after a four-month suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Unlike the rest of Europe's top leagues, which eventually restarted despite the health crisis, France's Ligue 1 ended prematurely in March with PSG crowned champions for the seventh time in eight years.
French President Emmanuel Macron attended Friday's final as per tradition, but fewer than 5,000 spectators were permitted at the 80,000-seater venue as part of stringent health regulations.
The contest got off to an eventful start with Yvann Maçon felling Neymar in the opening seconds to earn a yellow card and Saint-Etienne's Denis Bouanga hitting the post in the fifth minute.
But it was the Parisians who scored when Neymar pounced on a rebound after an Mbappé shot was blocked by goalkeeper Jessy Mouli.
Ten minutes later, Perrin's rough tackle put Mbappé out of the game. The Saint-Etienne captain was sent off in his last game and four other players were booked as tempers briefly flared.
Saint-Etienne kept finding ways into the PSG box even after going a man down, but missed out on adding to their six Cup wins.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-07-24--France to test travellers from 16 coronavirus high-risk countries including US

Passengers prepare to take a free Covid-19 test upon arrival at Charles de Gaulle Airport , north of Paris , on July 24 , 2020 .
France will require on-the-spot Covid-19 tests for travellers coming from 16 countries where the virus is circulating widely , including the United States , French Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Friday .
Travellers from countries where the infection rate is deemed to be high will be subject to compulsory testing on arrival at French airports and sea ports , Castex told reporters during a visit to Charles-de-Gaulle international airport , north of Paris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French citizens who live in these countries or citizens of these countries with an established residence in France '' who will be the only ones allowed to enter , the prime minister added .
France does not allow general travel to and from these countries , which include the United States and Brazil .
Travellers who test positive will be required to spend 14 days in isolation to prevent the spread of the virus .
Castex said some of the high-risk countries already require airline passengers to show a negative virus test before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they would be re-tested upon arrival in France .
He also did not specify if people would have to wait for their test results before being allowed to leave the airport .
Along with the United States and Brazil , which are reporting tens of thousands of new cases each day , the countries include Algeria , Bahrain , Israel , India , South Africa , Kuwait , Qatar , the United Arab Emirates , Oman , Panama , Peru , Serbia , Turkey and Madagascar .
Morocco , which has reported rising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the list for now but could be added later , an official in the prime minister 's office said .
Coronavirus tests will be rolled out across France by August 1 , and will also be carried out at French ports , Castex said .
The new measures come amid signs that the rate of infection is accelerating again in France more than two months into the country 's gradual exit from lockdown .
On Friday , the health ministry said the number of confirmed cases had risen by 1,130 over 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day that new cases exceeded 1,000 .
The ministry , in a statement , said the figures showed the need for people not to lower their guard while the virus continues to circulate .
`` We have cancelled out much of the progress accomplished during the first weeks of exit from lockdown , '' the ministry said , citing reports that some people who test positive for the virus fail to self-isolate .
French authorities are also concerned about a spike in infections in neighbouring Catalonia , with Castex on Friday warning French @ @ @ @ @ @ @ region .
`` Concerning the situation in Catatonia , which is displaying worsened indicators for infection , we strongly encourage French citizens to avoid going there until the health situation improves , '' Castex said .
Regional authorities across Spain introduced fresh coronavirus restrictions on Thursday aimed at stamping out a surge in infections .
France had said last weekend it had not ruled out closing the border between the two countries .
In Catalonia , nearly 8,000 cases were diagnosed in the 14 days up to Thursday – almost half of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines for residents of regional capital Barcelona to stay at home .
Castex also said Paris was in discussions with the government in Madrid to limit flows of traffic from Spain into France as much as possible .

France will require on-the-spot Covid-19 tests for travellers coming from 16 countries where the virus is circulating widely, including the United States, French Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Friday.
Passengers prepare to take a free Covid-19 test upon arrival at Charles de Gaulle Airport, north of Paris, on July 24, 2020.
Advertising Read more
Travellers from countries where the infection rate is deemed to be high will be subject to compulsory testing on arrival at French airports and sea ports, Castex told reporters during a visit to Charles-de-Gaulle international airport, north of Paris.
The tests will apply to "French citizens who live in these countries or citizens of these countries with an established residence in France" who will be the only ones allowed to enter, the prime minister added.
France does not allow general travel to and from these countries, which include the United States and Brazil.
Travellers who test positive will be required to spend 14 days in isolation to prevent the spread of the virus.
Castex said some of the high-risk countries already require airline passengers to show a negative virus test before boarding. It was not clear if they would be re-tested upon arrival in France.
He also did not specify if people would have to wait for their test results before being allowed to leave the airport.
Along with the United States and Brazil, which are reporting tens of thousands of new cases each day, the countries include Algeria, Bahrain, Israel, India, South Africa, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Panama, Peru, Serbia, Turkey and Madagascar.
Morocco, which has reported rising cases in recent weeks, is not on the list for now but could be added later, an official in the prime minister's office said.
Coronavirus tests will be rolled out across France by August 1, and will also be carried out at French ports, Castex said.
The new measures come amid signs that the rate of infection is accelerating again in France more than two months into the country's gradual exit from lockdown.
On Friday, the health ministry said the number of confirmed cases had risen by 1,130 over 24 hours. It was the second consecutive day that new cases exceeded 1,000.
The ministry, in a statement, said the figures showed the need for people not to lower their guard while the virus continues to circulate.
"We have cancelled out much of the progress accomplished during the first weeks of exit from lockdown," the ministry said, citing reports that some people who test positive for the virus fail to self-isolate.
Catalonia travel warning
French authorities are also concerned about a spike in infections in neighbouring Catalonia, with Castex on Friday warning French citizens not to travel to the Spanish region.
"Concerning the situation in Catatonia, which is displaying worsened indicators for infection, we strongly encourage French citizens to avoid going there until the health situation improves," Castex said.
Regional authorities across Spain introduced fresh coronavirus restrictions on Thursday aimed at stamping out a surge in infections. France had said last weekend it had not ruled out closing the border between the two countries.
In Catalonia, nearly 8,000 cases were diagnosed in the 14 days up to Thursday – almost half of the 16,410 detected throughout the country – despite guidelines for residents of regional capital Barcelona to stay at home.
Castex also said Paris was in discussions with the government in Madrid to limit flows of traffic from Spain into France as much as possible.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe