france24--2020-07-02--US states suspend re-opening plans as daily Covid-19 cases surpass 50,000

People wait for takeout orders near the closed dining section at a restaurant in Inglewood , California , on July 1 , 2020 .
New daily coronavirus cases in the United States soared past 50,000 for the first time Wednesday , as the World Health Organization delivered a grave warning that the global pandemic is accelerating .
Restaurants , bars and beaches in the world 's worst-hit nation closed from California to Florida , as states reeling from yet another surge in the deadly virus braced for Independence Day festivities .
Global infections have hit their highest level in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus saying new cases topped `` 160,000 on every single day . ''
The grim milestone came as the European Union left the United States , Brazil and Russia off its final list of nations safe enough to allow residents to enter its borders .
With more than 52,000 new COVID-19 cases in the United States alone in the past 24 hours , according to a Johns Hopkins University tally , several US states imposed 14-day quarantines on visitors in the buildup to the long weekend 's July 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants in Los Angeles and several counties , while New York scrapped plans to allow restaurants to seat customers inside from next week .
President Donald Trump reiterated his belief that the contagion will `` at some point ... sort of just disappear , I hope . ''
But the US leader who has yet to be seen in public wearing a face mask during the pandemic added he would have `` no problem '' doing so .
The rollbacks came as the European Union reopened its borders to visitors from 15 countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries from Algeria to Uruguay will breathe life into its tourism sector , choked by a ban on non-essential travel since mid-March .
Travelers from China , where the virus first emerged late last year , will be allowed to enter the EU only if Beijing reciprocates .
And Brazil -- which has suffered the most deaths globally for the last week , and is the second-worst affected country overall -- was excluded entirely .
It topped 60,000 total fatalities Wednesday , after suffering 1,000 deaths in just 24 hours .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more than 500,000 deaths , the pandemic is `` not even close to being over '' , the WHO warned .
Data provided by the UN health agency for the seven days from June 25-July 1 showed the highest number of new daily cases ever recorded came on June 28 , when over 189,500 new cases were registered worldwide .
According to the United Nations , the coronavirus crisis could cost global tourism and related sectors from $ 1.2 to $ 3.3 trillion in lost revenue .
Greece , which has suffered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen its economy hit hard by lockdowns and travel restrictions -- all but ending its lucrative tourism season before it began .
Romanian Cojan Dragos was `` the first tourist '' in one Corfu hotel after driving there with his wife and daughter .
`` We have the whole hotel just for us , '' he told AFP .
Separately , Spain and Portugal held a ceremony as they reopened their land border .
The Netherlands also confirmed the reopening Wednesday of another tourist draw -- its brothels and red-light districts .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sex worker Foxxy , adding that she had held a `` little party '' when she heard restrictions would be lifted .
Russia did not make the EU 's list of approved countries so its citizens will be absent from the bloc 's tourist hot-spots .
The country , however , enjoyed a public holiday Wednesday as it voted in a referendum to approve constitutional changes allowing President Vladimir Putin to stay in power for another 16 years .
Putin was forced to postpone the vote in April as his government tackled an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- the third-highest in the world .
In other countries , clusters are still causing problems .
Parts of the Australian city of Melbourne suffered sharp rises in infections , spurring new stay-at-home measures .
The Palestinian Authority announced a five-day lockdown across the West Bank after a surge in confirmed cases .
And textile factories in the central British city of Leicester were suggested as the reason for a spike in infections that has prompted the reimposition of local restrictions .
In the United States , spikes across southern and western states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Texas , which again smashed its daily COVID-19 record with over 8,000 new cases , joined Florida and California in closing some beaches for the upcoming holiday weekend .
Apple announced it would close another 30 US stores on Thursday , half of them in California .
A further 700 deaths nationwide took the US past 128,000 deaths in total .
The Pan American Health Organization warned that the death toll in Latin America and the Caribbean could quadruple to more than 400,000 by October without stricter public health measures .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bought 92 percent of all remdesivir production -- the first drug to be shown to be relatively effective in treating COVID-19 .
Britain and Germany , however , said Wednesday they had sufficient stocks of the drug .
In Britain , some 1,500 acts from Ed Sheeran and Coldplay to Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones urged the county 's government to save the live music industry , which has been collapsing because of the coronavirus .
But while lockdown measures have been a disaster for many , some have welcomed the chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partners .

New daily coronavirus cases in the United States soared past 50,000 for the first time Wednesday, as the World Health Organization delivered a grave warning that the global pandemic is accelerating.
People wait for takeout orders near the closed dining section at a restaurant in Inglewood, California, on July 1, 2020.
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Restaurants, bars and beaches in the world's worst-hit nation closed from California to Florida, as states reeling from yet another surge in the deadly virus braced for Independence Day festivities.
Global infections have hit their highest level in the past week, WHO data showed, with chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus saying new cases topped "160,000 on every single day."
The grim milestone came as the European Union left the United States, Brazil and Russia off its final list of nations safe enough to allow residents to enter its borders.
With more than 52,000 new COVID-19 cases in the United States alone in the past 24 hours, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally, several US states imposed 14-day quarantines on visitors in the buildup to the long weekend's July 4 celebrations.
California suspended indoor dining at restaurants in Los Angeles and several counties, while New York scrapped plans to allow restaurants to seat customers inside from next week.
President Donald Trump reiterated his belief that the contagion will "at some point... sort of just disappear, I hope."
But the US leader who has yet to be seen in public wearing a face mask during the pandemic added he would have "no problem" doing so.
04:21
EU travel ban
The rollbacks came as the European Union reopened its borders to visitors from 15 countries.
The bloc hopes relaxing restrictions on countries from Algeria to Uruguay will breathe life into its tourism sector, choked by a ban on non-essential travel since mid-March.
Travelers from China, where the virus first emerged late last year, will be allowed to enter the EU only if Beijing reciprocates.
And Brazil -- which has suffered the most deaths globally for the last week, and is the second-worst affected country overall -- was excluded entirely.
It topped 60,000 total fatalities Wednesday, after suffering 1,000 deaths in just 24 hours.
However, with over 10 million known infections worldwide and more than 500,000 deaths, the pandemic is "not even close to being over", the WHO warned.
Data provided by the UN health agency for the seven days from June 25-July 1 showed the highest number of new daily cases ever recorded came on June 28, when over 189,500 new cases were registered worldwide.
'Dutch brothels reopen'
According to the United Nations, the coronavirus crisis could cost global tourism and related sectors from $1.2 to $3.3 trillion in lost revenue.
Greece, which has suffered fewer than 200 virus deaths, has seen its economy hit hard by lockdowns and travel restrictions -- all but ending its lucrative tourism season before it began.
Romanian Cojan Dragos was "the first tourist" in one Corfu hotel after driving there with his wife and daughter.
"We have the whole hotel just for us," he told AFP.
Separately, Spain and Portugal held a ceremony as they reopened their land border.
The Netherlands also confirmed the reopening Wednesday of another tourist draw -- its brothels and red-light districts.
"I'm totally booked," said sex worker Foxxy, adding that she had held a "little party" when she heard restrictions would be lifted.
Clusters spur new lockdowns
Russia did not make the EU's list of approved countries so its citizens will be absent from the bloc's tourist hot-spots.
The country, however, enjoyed a public holiday Wednesday as it voted in a referendum to approve constitutional changes allowing President Vladimir Putin to stay in power for another 16 years.
Putin was forced to postpone the vote in April as his government tackled an outbreak that has infected almost 650,000 people -- the third-highest in the world.
In other countries, clusters are still causing problems.
Parts of the Australian city of Melbourne suffered sharp rises in infections, spurring new stay-at-home measures.
The Palestinian Authority announced a five-day lockdown across the West Bank after a surge in confirmed cases.
And textile factories in the central British city of Leicester were suggested as the reason for a spike in infections that has prompted the reimposition of local restrictions.
Americas spike
In the United States, spikes across southern and western states are driving a surge in national infections.
Texas, which again smashed its daily COVID-19 record with over 8,000 new cases, joined Florida and California in closing some beaches for the upcoming holiday weekend.
Apple announced it would close another 30 US stores on Thursday, half of them in California.
A further 700 deaths nationwide took the US past 128,000 deaths in total.
The Pan American Health Organization warned that the death toll in Latin America and the Caribbean could quadruple to more than 400,000 by October without stricter public health measures.
The US government announced this week it had bought 92 percent of all remdesivir production -- the first drug to be shown to be relatively effective in treating COVID-19.
Britain and Germany, however, said Wednesday they had sufficient stocks of the drug.
'Corona baby'
In Britain, some 1,500 acts from Ed Sheeran and Coldplay to Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones urged the county's government to save the live music industry, which has been collapsing because of the coronavirus.
But while lockdown measures have been a disaster for many, some have welcomed the chance to spend more quality time with hard-working partners.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-02--European Court of Human Rights condemns France over ‘inhuman’ living conditions for asylum-seekers

Volunteers from Médecins Sans Frontières and Utopia 56 at a park in Paris after helping migrants set up tents on June 29 , 2020 .
The European Court of Human Rights ( ECHR ) on Thursday condemned France for the “ inhuman and degrading living conditions ” of three asylum-seekers who were “ living in the street without any resources ” .
The Strasbourg-based court ruled that authorities “ had failed in their duties ” with regard to the three asylum-seekers , finding France responsible for the conditions in which the three men – an Afghan , a Russian and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 46 , respectively – “ had been living for several months : sleeping rough , without access to sanitary facilities , having no means of subsistence and constantly in fear of being attacked or robbed ” .
The court ruled “ the applicants had thus been victims of degrading treatment , showing a lack of respect for their dignity ” .
The ruling noted that two of the asylum-seekers received a Temporary Allowance after several months of waiting and the court said that before being able to register as asylum-seekers , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a certain period of time without any evidence of that status ” .
It also took care to stress “ that it was aware of the constant increase in the number of asylum-seekers since 2007 and of the gradual saturation ” of reception facilities and noted “ the efforts made by the French authorities to create additional accommodation and to reduce the time taken to examine asylum applications ” .
“ However , those circumstances did not rule out the possibility that the situation of asylum-seekers might have engaged Article 3 ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on prohibiting degrading and inhuman treatment , the court said .
The ECHR ’ s ruling was unanimous , ordering France to pay between €10,000 and €12,000 to each of the three asylum-seekers .

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Thursday condemned France for the “inhuman and degrading living conditions” of three asylum-seekers who were “living in the street without any resources”.
Volunteers from Médecins Sans Frontières and Utopia 56 at a park in Paris after helping migrants set up tents on June 29, 2020.
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The Strasbourg-based court ruled that authorities “had failed in their duties” with regard to the three asylum-seekers, finding France responsible for the conditions in which the three men – an Afghan, a Russian and an Iranian aged 27, 33, and 46, respectively – “had been living for several months: sleeping rough, without access to sanitary facilities, having no means of subsistence and constantly in fear of being attacked or robbed”.
The court ruled “the applicants had thus been victims of degrading treatment, showing a lack of respect for their dignity”.
The ruling noted that two of the asylum-seekers received a Temporary Allowance after several months of waiting and the court said that before being able to register as asylum-seekers, the men “had been forced to survive for a certain period of time without any evidence of that status”.
Judgment N.H. and Others v. France - inhuman and degrading living conditions of homeless asylum-seekers, violation of the Conventionhttps://t.co/QNf7pCPCfU#ECHR #CEDH #ECHRpress — ECHR CEDH (@ECHR_CEDH) July 2, 2020
It also took care to stress “that it was aware of the constant increase in the number of asylum-seekers since 2007 and of the gradual saturation” of reception facilities and noted “the efforts made by the French authorities to create additional accommodation and to reduce the time taken to examine asylum applications”.
“However, those circumstances did not rule out the possibility that the situation of asylum-seekers might have engaged Article 3” of the European Convention on Human Rights on prohibiting degrading and inhuman treatment, the court said.
The ECHR’s ruling was unanimous, ordering France to pay between €10,000 and €12,000 to each of the three asylum-seekers.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-07-02--Fires rage across Amazon rainforest, sparking fears of another disastrous summer season

NGOs are worried that summer will see a repeat of the infernos that raged across the Amazon rainforest last summer @ @ @ @ @ June alone , almost 2,250 separate fires were recorded in the Amazon rainforest – up @ @ @ @ @ in the same period last year .
NGOs are worried that this summer will see @ @ @ @ @ that raged across the Amazon last summer .
During Brazil ’ s dry season some @ @ @ @ @ are set intentionally , by farmers clearing land .
It is a practice that , @ @ @ @ @ is gradually destroying the rainforest .
Click on the video player above to watch the @ @ @ @ @

In the month of June alone, almost 2,250 separate fires were recorded in the Amazon rainforest – up from around 1,900 fires detected in the same period last year. NGOs are worried that this summer will see a repeat of the infernos that raged across the Amazon last summer.
NGOs are worried that summer will see a repeat of the infernos that raged across the Amazon rainforest last summer.
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During Brazil’s dry season some fires start spontaneously. Others are set intentionally, by farmers clearing land. It is a practice that, along with illegal logging, is gradually destroying the rainforest.
Click on the video player above to watch the full FRANCE 24 report.
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france24--2020-07-02--Mississippi becomes final US state to remove Confederate symbol from flag

Protesters take part in an anti-police brutality march in front of the White House as racial inequality protests continue in Washington , U.S. , June 25 , 2020 .
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves signed a bill into law on Tuesday that replaces the current state flag bearing a Confederate emblem , a gesture triggered by support across the United States to dismantle symbols of slavery and racism .
The removal of the flag , a long-simmering source of controversy in one of the breakaway Southern states that fought in the American Civil War of the 1860s , follows the death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed in police custody in Minnesota .
His death has sparked nationwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality , and revived demands for the removal of statues of Confederate leaders , Christopher Columbus and others considered symbols of racism and colonial oppression .
`` I understand the need to commit the 1894 flag to history and find a banner that is a better emblem for all Mississippi , '' Reeves said in a televised speech .
`` We must understand that all who want change are not attempting to erase history .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ first-term Republican governor also created a commission to design a new state flag .
Voters will have the chance to approve the design in November , Reeves ' office said in a statement .
After the signing of the bill , a Mississippi state flag was removed from an array of flags of all states in the Dirksen tunnel at the U.S. Capitol , NBC said , citing a video .
The emblem was replaced with the Great Seal of Mississippi , portraying an eagle with spread wings and a shield with stars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The state flag , which prominently features the so-called Confederate battle flag , had flown above the state Capitol building in Jackson for 126 years .
It was taken down this weekend after state lawmakers approved the bill , media said .
In the 19th century , southern states faced with the prospect of having to give up slavery formed the Confederacy and broke away from the United States , leading to the Civil War , fought from 1861 to 1865 .
Symbols of the failed rebellion were erected throughout the South during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as the Jim Crow era .
Despite years of progress and civil rights for Black Americans , many states resisted removing them .

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves signed a bill into law on Tuesday that replaces the current state flag bearing a Confederate emblem, a gesture triggered by support across the United States to dismantle symbols of slavery and racism. The removal of the flag, a long-simmering source of controversy in one of the breakaway Southern states that fought in the American Civil War of the 1860s, follows the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed in police custody in Minnesota.
Protesters take part in an anti-police brutality march in front of the White House as racial inequality protests continue in Washington, U.S., June 25, 2020.
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His death has sparked nationwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality, and revived demands for the removal of statues of Confederate leaders, Christopher Columbus and others considered symbols of racism and colonial oppression.
"I understand the need to commit the 1894 flag to history and find a banner that is a better emblem for all Mississippi," Reeves said in a televised speech. "We must understand that all who want change are not attempting to erase history."
The measure signed by Mississippi's first-term Republican governor also created a commission to design a new state flag. Voters will have the chance to approve the design in November, Reeves' office said in a statement.
After the signing of the bill, a Mississippi state flag was removed from an array of flags of all states in the Dirksen tunnel at the U.S. Capitol, NBC said, citing a video.
The emblem was replaced with the Great Seal of Mississippi, portraying an eagle with spread wings and a shield with stars and stripes centered on its chest.
The state flag, which prominently features the so-called Confederate battle flag, had flown above the state Capitol building in Jackson for 126 years. It was taken down this weekend after state lawmakers approved the bill, media said.
In the 19th century, southern states faced with the prospect of having to give up slavery formed the Confederacy and broke away from the United States, leading to the Civil War, fought from 1861 to 1865.
Symbols of the failed rebellion were erected throughout the South during the years of racial segregation and violence known as the Jim Crow era. Despite years of progress and civil rights for Black Americans, many states resisted removing them.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-02--Turkey to decide on whether to redesignate iconic Hagia Sophia as a mosque

The United States has urged Turkey not to change the status of the Hagia Sophia , a church turned mosque turned museum Turkey ’ s highest administrative court on Thursday began considering a request to turn Istanbul ’ s iconic Hagia Sophia , which now serves as a museum , back into a mosque .
The 6th-century structure was the Byzantine Empire ’ s main cathedral before it was changed into an imperial mosque following the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul .
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk , the founder of the modern Turkish republic , then turned into a museum that attracts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and religious groups have long been pressing for the structure , which they regard as an Muslim Ottoman legacy , to be converted back into a mosque .
Others believe the UNESCO World Heritage site should remain a museum , as a symbol of Christian and Muslim solidarity .
On Thursday , Turkey ’ s Council of State , heard arguments by lawyers for a group devoted to reverting Hagia Sophia back into a mosque , the private HaberTurk television reported .
The group is pressing for an annulment of the 1934 decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the historic structure into a museum .
A court counsel recommended that the request be rejected , arguing that a decision on restoring the structure 's Islamic heritage was up to the government , the station reported .
A decision is expected within two weeks .
Greece as well as the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I , considered the spiritual leader of the world ’ s Orthodox Christians , have urged Turkey to keep Hagia Sophia as a museum .
Bartholomew warned this week that its conversion into a mosque “ will turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Islam.
” U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo waded into the debate Wednesday , urging Turkey to keep Hagia Sophia as a museum “ to serve humanity as a much-needed bridge between those of differing faith traditions and cultures.
” His comments sparked a rebuke from Turkey ’ s Foreign Ministry , which said Hagia Sophia was a domestic issue of Turkish national sovereignty .
Built under Byzantine Emperor Justinian , Hagia Sophia was the main seat of the Eastern Orthodox church for centuries , where emperors were crowned amidst ornate marble and mosaic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the terracotta-hued structure with cascading domes and the building was turned into an imperial mosque following the 1453 Ottoman conquest of Constantinople - the city that is now Istanbul .
The building opened its doors as a museum in 1935 , a year after the Council of Ministers ’ decision .

Turkey’s highest administrative court on Thursday began considering a request to turn Istanbul’s iconic Hagia Sophia, which now serves as a museum, back into a mosque.
The United States has urged Turkey not to change the status of the Hagia Sophia, a church turned mosque turned museum
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The 6th-century structure was the Byzantine Empire’s main cathedral before it was changed into an imperial mosque following the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkish republic, then turned into a museum that attracts millions of tourists each year.
Nationalist and religious groups have long been pressing for the structure, which they regard as an Muslim Ottoman legacy, to be converted back into a mosque. Others believe the UNESCO World Heritage site should remain a museum, as a symbol of Christian and Muslim solidarity.
On Thursday, Turkey’s Council of State, heard arguments by lawyers for a group devoted to reverting Hagia Sophia back into a mosque, the private HaberTurk television reported. The group is pressing for an annulment of the 1934 decision by the Council of Ministers that turned the historic structure into a museum.
A court counsel recommended that the request be rejected, arguing that a decision on restoring the structure's Islamic heritage was up to the government, the station reported.
A decision is expected within two weeks.
Greece as well as the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, considered the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, have urged Turkey to keep Hagia Sophia as a museum. Bartholomew warned this week that its conversion into a mosque “will turn millions of Christians across the world against Islam.”
U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo waded into the debate Wednesday, urging Turkey to keep Hagia Sophia as a museum “to serve humanity as a much-needed bridge between those of differing faith traditions and cultures.” His comments sparked a rebuke from Turkey’s Foreign Ministry, which said Hagia Sophia was a domestic issue of Turkish national sovereignty.
Built under Byzantine Emperor Justinian, Hagia Sophia was the main seat of the Eastern Orthodox church for centuries, where emperors were crowned amidst ornate marble and mosaic decorations.
Four minarets were added to the terracotta-hued structure with cascading domes and the building was turned into an imperial mosque following the 1453 Ottoman conquest of Constantinople - the city that is now Istanbul.
The building opened its doors as a museum in 1935, a year after the Council of Ministers’ decision.
(AP)
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france24--2020-07-02--Health experts slam US for hoarding remdesivir, the only drug licensed to treat Covid-19

Public health experts on Wednesday criticized the U.S. for securing a large supply of the only drug licensed so far to treat COVID-19 .
The U.S. government announced this week that it had an agreement with Gilead Sciences to make the bulk of their production of remdesivir available to Americans for the next three months .
The Department of Health and Human Services said it had secured 500,000 treatments through September , which amounts to all but 10 % of production in August and September .
“ To the extent possible , we want to ensure that any American patient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement .
Ohid Yaqub , a senior lecturer at the University of Sussex , called the U.S. agreement “ disappointing news.
” “ It so clearly signals an unwillingness to cooperate with other countries and the chilling effect this has on international agreements about intellectual property rights , ” Yaqub said in a statement Until now , Gilead had donated the drug .
That ended Tuesday and Gilead this week set the price for new shipments .
In 127 poor or middle-income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to supply the drug at much lower prices .
In a statement Wednesday , the California-based Gilead said its agreement with the U.S. allows for unneeded supplies to be sent to other countries .
The company said it is “ working as quickly as possible ” to enable access worldwide .
But it noted that U.S. is seeing a significant rise in COVID-19 cases , while “ most EU and other developed countries have reduced their levels of disease considerably.
” Early studies testing remdesivir in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 found that those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who didn ’ t .
It is the only drug licensed by both the U.S. and the European Union as a treatment for those with severe illness from the coronavirus .
Dr. Peter Horby , who is running a large study testing several treatments for COVID-19 , told the BBC that “ a stronger framework ” was needed to ensure fair prices and access to key medicines for people and nations around the world .
He said that as an American company , Gilead was likely under “ certain political pressures locally.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s spokesman , James Slack , declined to criticize the United States for the move .
He said the U.K. had a “ sufficient stock ” of remdesivir for patients who need it , but didn ’ t specify how much that was .
Thomas Senderovitz , head of the Danish Medicines Agency , told Danish broadcaster DR that the move could endanger Europeans and others down the road .
“ I have never seen anything like that .
That a company chooses to sell their stock to only one country .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ Right now we have enough to make it through the summer if the intake of patients is as it is now .
If a second wave comes , we may be challenged.
” Dr. Michael Ryan , the emergencies chief of the World Health Organization , said the agency was looking into the implications of the U.S. deal for remdesivir .
“ There are many people around the world who are very sick ... .
and we want to ensure that everybody has access to the necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was “ fully committed ” to working toward equitable access for such treatments .
Gilead had been developing remdesivir for years as a viral treatment , with millions in U.S. funding , before it was tried for coronavirus .
The consumer group Public Citizen estimates that at least $ 70 million in U.S. public funding went to develop remdesivir .
On Monday , Gilead said it will charge government insurance plans in all developed countries $ 2,340 for a course of remdesivir and private U.S. insurers , $ 3,120 .
Gilead has said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 billion by year ’ s end on testing and manufacturing of remdesivir .
Dr. Penny Ward of King ’ s College London , noted that many countries have legal provisions that allow them to prohibit the exportation of drugs to other countries during an emergency .
“ It is unreasonable to expect that the U.S. government should deny their population access to drugs manufactured in the USA , ” she said .
Ward pointed out that another drug that may help people with severe COVID-19 , the cheap steroid dexamathasone , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. has the worst coronavirus outbreak in the world , with 2.6 million reported infected and 127,000 confirmed virus-related deaths , according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University .
To date , COVID-19 has sickened more than 10.5 million people worldwide , killing around 512,000 , according Johns Hopkins .
Numerous countries including Britain , France , Germany , Netherlands and the U.S. have struck deals with drugmakers to have millions of doses of experimental vaccines delivered before they are licensed .
British politicians have said if a vaccine currently being developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is proven to work , Britons will be first in line to get it .

Public health experts on Wednesday criticized the U.S. for securing a large supply of the only drug licensed so far to treat COVID-19.
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The U.S. government announced this week that it had an agreement with Gilead Sciences to make the bulk of their production of remdesivir available to Americans for the next three months. The Department of Health and Human Services said it had secured 500,000 treatments through September, which amounts to all but 10% of production in August and September.
“To the extent possible, we want to ensure that any American patient who needs remdesivir can get it,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement.
Ohid Yaqub, a senior lecturer at the University of Sussex, called the U.S. agreement “disappointing news.”
“It so clearly signals an unwillingness to cooperate with other countries and the chilling effect this has on international agreements about intellectual property rights,” Yaqub said in a statement
Until now, Gilead had donated the drug. That ended Tuesday and Gilead this week set the price for new shipments. In 127 poor or middle-income countries, Gilead is allowing generic makers to supply the drug at much lower prices.
In a statement Wednesday, the California-based Gilead said its agreement with the U.S. allows for unneeded supplies to be sent to other countries. The company said it is “working as quickly as possible” to enable access worldwide. But it noted that U.S. is seeing a significant rise in COVID-19 cases, while “most EU and other developed countries have reduced their levels of disease considerably.”
The President has secured more than 500,000 treatment courses of the drug remdesivir for American hospitals through September. We are doing everything in our power to learn more about life-saving therapeutics for COVID-19 and secure access for Americans. https://t.co/uDjHtF9MR2 pic.twitter.com/bPPbgtjKod — Secretary Alex Azar (@SecAzar) June 29, 2020
Early studies testing remdesivir in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 found that those who received the treatment recovered quicker than those who didn’t. It is the only drug licensed by both the U.S. and the European Union as a treatment for those with severe illness from the coronavirus.
Dr. Peter Horby, who is running a large study testing several treatments for COVID-19, told the BBC that “a stronger framework” was needed to ensure fair prices and access to key medicines for people and nations around the world. He said that as an American company, Gilead was likely under “certain political pressures locally.”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman, James Slack, declined to criticize the United States for the move. He said the U.K. had a “sufficient stock” of remdesivir for patients who need it, but didn’t specify how much that was.
Thomas Senderovitz, head of the Danish Medicines Agency, told Danish broadcaster DR that the move could endanger Europeans and others down the road.
“I have never seen anything like that. That a company chooses to sell their stock to only one country. It’s very strange and quite inappropriate,” he said. “Right now we have enough to make it through the summer if the intake of patients is as it is now. If a second wave comes, we may be challenged.”
Dr. Michael Ryan, the emergencies chief of the World Health Organization, said the agency was looking into the implications of the U.S. deal for remdesivir.
“There are many people around the world who are very sick .... and we want to ensure that everybody has access to the necessary, life-saving interventions.” He said WHO was “fully committed” to working toward equitable access for such treatments.
Gilead had been developing remdesivir for years as a viral treatment, with millions in U.S. funding, before it was tried for coronavirus. The consumer group Public Citizen estimates that at least $70 million in U.S. public funding went to develop remdesivir.
On Monday, Gilead said it will charge government insurance plans in all developed countries $2,340 for a course of remdesivir and private U.S. insurers, $3,120.
Gilead has said it expects to spend more than $1 billion by year’s end on testing and manufacturing of remdesivir.
Dr. Penny Ward of King’s College London, noted that many countries have legal provisions that allow them to prohibit the exportation of drugs to other countries during an emergency.
“It is unreasonable to expect that the U.S. government should deny their population access to drugs manufactured in the USA,” she said.
Ward pointed out that another drug that may help people with severe COVID-19, the cheap steroid dexamathasone, is long off-patent and available globally.
The U.S. has the worst coronavirus outbreak in the world, with 2.6 million reported infected and 127,000 confirmed virus-related deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. To date, COVID-19 has sickened more than 10.5 million people worldwide, killing around 512,000, according Johns Hopkins.
Numerous countries including Britain, France, Germany, Netherlands and the U.S. have struck deals with drugmakers to have millions of doses of experimental vaccines delivered before they are licensed. British politicians have said if a vaccine currently being developed by Oxford University and manufactured by AstraZeneca is proven to work, Britons will be first in line to get it.
(AP)
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france24--2020-07-01--Ethiopia deploys military after more than 80 people killed in unrest following murder of protest sin

Ethiopia deploys military after more than 80 people killed in unrest following murder of protest singer

A candlelight vigil for the late musician and activist Haacaaluu Hundeessaa at the Oromo Community of Minnesota building in St Paul , Minnesota , on June 30 , 2020 .
Ethiopia deployed its military in the capital Addis Ababa on Wednesday to quell a second day of unrest following the killing of a popular protest singer that has left more than 80 dead .
At least 80 people were killed in Ethiopia 's Oromiya region in protests following the fatal shooting of protest singer Haacaaluu Hundeessaa , a regional police chief said on Wednesday , laying bare splits in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next year 's polls .
Haacaaluu , a hugely popular figure among ethnic Oromos , was shot dead on Monday night in what police said was a targeted killing .
Protests reflecting anger at the killing of a popular figure and a sense of political marginalisation broke out the next morning in the Ethiopian capital and other towns and cities in the surrounding Oromiya region .
`` So far 81 people have been killed , including three Oromiya special police force members , '' said Ararsa Merdasa , the region 's police chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a policeman was also killed in Addis Ababa , and three explosions there had killed and injured an unspecified number of people .
Prominent Oromo opposition leader Bekele Gerba and media mogul Jawar Mohammed were also arrested when Jawar 's bodyguards refused to disarm during a stand-off with police .
Witnesses said the military was deployed in the Ethiopian capital on Wednesday as police struggled to contain armed gangs roaming neighbourhoods .
Haacaaluu , whose funeral will be held on Thursday , provided a soundtrack to a generation of young protesters .
Their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the unprecedented resignation of the previous prime minister and the appointment of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in 2018 .
Abiy , Haacaaluu and Jawar are all Oromo , Ethiopia 's largest ethnic group , which has long complained of being excluded from power .
Abiy ushered in greater political and economic freedoms in what had long been one of the continent 's most repressive states , and won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for ending conflict with neighbouring Eritrea .
But ethnic and political clashes spiked as long-repressed grievances boiled over .
Local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and resources in a country with more than 80 ethnic groups .
Abiy 's attempts to quash the violence and his emphasis on pan-Ethiopian politics sparked a backlash from some erstwhile supporters , and his ability to impose order may be severely tested when polls are held .
Elections were scheduled for August but were postponed until next year due to Covid-19 .
Jawar was a prominent supporter of Abiy 's appointment , but became more openly critical last year .
Jawar 's popular Oromo Media Network gives him the ability to mobilise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ base could pose a significant challenge to Abiy 's party in next year 's elections .
Ethiopia 's federal structure means power was traditionally derived by claiming the support of large ethnic voting blocs .
Under the previous administration , voting was rarely free or fair , and opposition activists were often jailed , tortured or driven into exile .

Ethiopia deployed its military in the capital Addis Ababa on Wednesday to quell a second day of unrest following the killing of a popular protest singer that has left more than 80 dead.
A candlelight vigil for the late musician and activist Haacaaluu Hundeessaa at the Oromo Community of Minnesota building in St Paul, Minnesota, on June 30, 2020.
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At least 80 people were killed in Ethiopia's Oromiya region in protests following the fatal shooting of protest singer Haacaaluu Hundeessaa, a regional police chief said on Wednesday, laying bare splits in the prime minister's political heartland ahead of next year's polls.
Haacaaluu, a hugely popular figure among ethnic Oromos, was shot dead on Monday night in what police said was a targeted killing.
Protests reflecting anger at the killing of a popular figure and a sense of political marginalisation broke out the next morning in the Ethiopian capital and other towns and cities in the surrounding Oromiya region.
"So far 81 people have been killed, including three Oromiya special police force members," said Ararsa Merdasa, the region's police chief.
Police said late on Tuesday that a policeman was also killed in Addis Ababa, and three explosions there had killed and injured an unspecified number of people.
01:53
Prominent Oromo opposition leader Bekele Gerba and media mogul Jawar Mohammed were also arrested when Jawar's bodyguards refused to disarm during a stand-off with police.
Witnesses said the military was deployed in the Ethiopian capital on Wednesday as police struggled to contain armed gangs roaming neighbourhoods.
Soundtrack to a generation
Haacaaluu, whose funeral will be held on Thursday, provided a soundtrack to a generation of young protesters. Their three years of bloody street demonstrations forced the unprecedented resignation of the previous prime minister and the appointment of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in 2018.
A still from the video of Haacaaluu Hundeessaa's 2015 hit Maalan Jira. © Haacaaluu Hundeessaa videos
Abiy, Haacaaluu and Jawar are all Oromo, Ethiopia's largest ethnic group, which has long complained of being excluded from power.
Abiy ushered in greater political and economic freedoms in what had long been one of the continent's most repressive states, and won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for ending conflict with neighbouring Eritrea.
But ethnic and political clashes spiked as long-repressed grievances boiled over. Local power brokers competed for access to land and resources in a country with more than 80 ethnic groups.
Challenge to pan-Ethiopian politics
Abiy's attempts to quash the violence and his emphasis on pan-Ethiopian politics sparked a backlash from some erstwhile supporters, and his ability to impose order may be severely tested when polls are held.
Elections were scheduled for August but were postponed until next year due to Covid-19.
Jawar was a prominent supporter of Abiy's appointment, but became more openly critical last year. Jawar's popular Oromo Media Network gives him the ability to mobilise support quickly across Oromiya and his power base could pose a significant challenge to Abiy's party in next year's elections.
Ethiopia's federal structure means power was traditionally derived by claiming the support of large ethnic voting blocs. Under the previous administration, voting was rarely free or fair, and opposition activists were often jailed, tortured or driven into exile.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-02--US intelligence doubted Russia urged Taliban to kill US troops, says Trump

President Donald Trump has come under increasing pressure to explain US media reports that he was informed that Russian military intelligence had offered and paid cash to Taliban-linked militants for US soldiers ' deaths U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he was not told about a reported Russian effort to get the Taliban to kill U.S. soldiers because many U.S. intelligence officials doubted its veracity , a stance contradicted by four U.S. and European sources and by its inclusion in a widely read CIA report in May .
`` We never heard about it because intelligence never found it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he told Fox Business Network .
`` The intelligence people ... many of them did n't believe it happened at all . ''
The four U.S. and European government sources , who are familiar with intelligence reporting , said that in recent weeks the United States had acquired fresh reporting backing up the allegations that Russia had encouraged Taliban-affiliated militants to kill U.S. and allied soldiers in Afghanistan .
The sources , who spoke on condition of anonymity , said the latest information caused U.S. government experts to discount the National Security Agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those sources and a fifth person familiar with the matter said the U.S. intelligence community is confident Russia encouraged the Taliban to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan but there was internal debate over whether Moscow had actually paid bounties .
A sixth person familiar with the matter said the CIA was sufficiently confident of the intelligence to include it in May in its daily flagship publication , the CIA World Intelligence Review , known informally as `` The Wire . ''
Its inclusion there `` undermines the administration ’ s entire claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's not verified and it was n't a fully complete product , '' said this person , who asked not to be identified further because of the sensitivity of the matter .
White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien told reporters the United States will respond strongly if it is confirmed that Russia paid militants to kill U.S. and allied soldiers in Afghanistan , without providing details .
The New York Times , which broke the story last week , has reported that Trump received a written briefing on the matter in February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided not to brief Trump verbally `` because she did n't have confidence in the intelligence . ''
He declined to say whether Trump received anything in writing .
`` These are important allegations that , if they 're verified I can guarantee you the president will take strong action , '' O'Brien told reporters outside the White House , though he added that Washington may never know the truth of the matter because of media leaks .
House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi , the top Democrat in Congress , said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia .
The White House said Pelosi and other congressional leaders will receive a briefing on Thursday .
U.S. and European investigators strongly suspect that the unit of the GRU Russian military intelligence agency accused of targeting U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan using Taliban-linked militants is the same unit that was implicated in the poisoning of Russian intelligence defector Sergei Skripal in Britain , according to four sources familiar with intelligence reporting .

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he was not told about a reported Russian effort to get the Taliban to kill U.S. soldiers because many U.S. intelligence officials doubted its veracity, a stance contradicted by four U.S. and European sources and by its inclusion in a widely read CIA report in May.
President Donald Trump has come under increasing pressure to explain US media reports that he was informed that Russian military intelligence had offered and paid cash to Taliban-linked militants for US soldiers' deaths
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"We never heard about it because intelligence never found it to be of that level," he told Fox Business Network. "The intelligence people... many of them didn't believe it happened at all."
The four U.S. and European government sources, who are familiar with intelligence reporting, said that in recent weeks the United States had acquired fresh reporting backing up the allegations that Russia had encouraged Taliban-affiliated militants to kill U.S. and allied soldiers in Afghanistan.
The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the latest information caused U.S. government experts to discount the National Security Agency's questioning of the allegations.
One of those sources and a fifth person familiar with the matter said the U.S. intelligence community is confident Russia encouraged the Taliban to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan but there was internal debate over whether Moscow had actually paid bounties.
A sixth person familiar with the matter said the CIA was sufficiently confident of the intelligence to include it in May in its daily flagship publication, the CIA World Intelligence Review, known informally as "The Wire."
Its inclusion there "undermines the administration’s entire claim that it is not finished, it's not verified and it wasn't a fully complete product," said this person, who asked not to be identified further because of the sensitivity of the matter.
White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien told reporters the United States will respond strongly if it is confirmed that Russia paid militants to kill U.S. and allied soldiers in Afghanistan, without providing details.
The New York Times, which broke the story last week, has reported that Trump received a written briefing on the matter in February.
O'Brien said a CIA civil servant decided not to brief Trump verbally "because she didn't have confidence in the intelligence."
He declined to say whether Trump received anything in writing.
"These are important allegations that, if they're verified I can guarantee you the president will take strong action," O'Brien told reporters outside the White House, though he added that Washington may never know the truth of the matter because of media leaks.
House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in Congress, said the United States must immediately impose sanctions on Russia. The White House said Pelosi and other congressional leaders will receive a briefing on Thursday.
U.S. and European investigators strongly suspect that the unit of the GRU Russian military intelligence agency accused of targeting U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan using Taliban-linked militants is the same unit that was implicated in the poisoning of Russian intelligence defector Sergei Skripal in Britain, according to four sources familiar with intelligence reporting.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-01--Russian voters back reform allowing Putin to extend rule to 2036

Russians have paved the way for President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036 by voting overwhelmingly for a raft of constitutional changes that will also boost pensions , official results of a nationwide vote showed Thursday .
Russians opened the door to Vladimir Putin staying in power until 2036 by voting overwhelmingly for constitutional changes that will allow him to run again for president twice , but critics said the outcome was falsified on an industrial scale .
Official results published on Thursday , after 100 % of ballots had been counted , showed that the former KGB @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than two decades as president or prime minister had easily won the right to run for two more six-year terms after the current one ends in 2024 .
That means Putin , 67 , could rule until the age of 83 .
The Central Election Commission said 77.9 % of votes counted across the world ’ s largest country had supported changing the constitution .
Just over 21.2 % had voted against , it said .
Ella Pamfilova , head of the commission , said the vote had been transparent and that officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Opposition politician Alexei Navalny had a different view and called the vote an illegitimate and illegal show designed to legalise Putin ’ s presidency for life .
“ We ’ ll never recognise this result , ” Navalny told supporters in a video .
Navalny said the opposition would not protest for now because of the novel coronavirus pandemic , but would do so in big numbers in the autumn if its candidates were blocked from taking part in regional elections or their results were falsified .
“ What Putin fears most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ He ... will not leave until we start to take to the streets in the hundreds of thousands and in the millions.
” Russians had been encouraged to back Putin ’ s power move , described by critics as a constitutional coup , with prize draws offering flats and an ad campaign highlighting other constitutional amendments in the same reform bundle , such as pensions protection and a de facto ban on same-sex marriages .
One-off payments of 10,000 roubles ( $ 141 ) were transferred to those with children at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to polling stations on Wednesday , the last day of the vote , held over seven days to try to limit the spread of the virus .
Moscow resident Mikhail Volkov said he ’ d voted in favour of the reforms .
“ We need radical changes and I ’ m for them , ” he said .
Others were less enthusiastic .
“ I didn ’ t read about the amendments if I ’ m honest , ” Lyudmila , another voter , said .
“ What ’ s the point of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for you .
It ’ s like that in our country - read something and vote .
I voted.
” Putin , already the longest-serving leader in modern Russian history since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin , made no mention of how the changes could affect his own career in an eve-of-vote speech on Tuesday .
He has said he has yet to decide on his future .
Critics , who liken Putin to a latter-day Tsar , say they are sure he will run again , but some analysts say he may want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ becoming a lame duck .
At 60 % , according to the Levada pollster , his approval rating remains high but well down on its peak of nearly 90 % .
With Russia reporting thousands of new COVID-19 cases each day , opponents have been unable to stage protests but have mocked the vote online , sharing photographs of polling stations in apartment stairwells , supermarket trolleys and the boot of a car .
A small group of activists staged a symbolic protest at the Red Square on Wednesday afternoon , using their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before being swiftly detained by police , TV Rain reported .
Separately , the “ No !
Campaign , ” called on supporters to head for Moscow ’ s Pushkinskaya Square after voting .
“ We need to remind the authorities that we exist and that there are tens of millions of us who do not want Putin to rule until 2036 , ” Andrei Pivovarov , an activist , said in a video .
In the event , only dozens turned out amid a heavy police presence , a Reuters reporter said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundred had attended .
Those who did chanted “ Russia will be free.
” Another slogan suggested Putin should resign .
Golos , a non-governmental organisation that monitors elections , cited numerous irregularities with the vote and said it would not be able to confirm the outcome as legitimate .

Russians have paved the way for President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036 by voting overwhelmingly for a raft of constitutional changes that will also boost pensions, official results of a nationwide vote showed Thursday.
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Russians opened the door to Vladimir Putin staying in power until 2036 by voting overwhelmingly for constitutional changes that will allow him to run again for president twice, but critics said the outcome was falsified on an industrial scale.
Official results published on Thursday, after 100% of ballots had been counted, showed that the former KGB officer who has ruled Russia for more than two decades as president or prime minister had easily won the right to run for two more six-year terms after the current one ends in 2024.
That means Putin, 67, could rule until the age of 83.
The Central Election Commission said 77.9% of votes counted across the world’s largest country had supported changing the constitution. Just over 21.2% had voted against, it said.
Ella Pamfilova, head of the commission, said the vote had been transparent and that officials had done everything to ensure its integrity.
Opposition politician Alexei Navalny had a different view and called the vote an illegitimate and illegal show designed to legalise Putin’s presidency for life.
“We’ll never recognise this result,” Navalny told supporters in a video.
Navalny said the opposition would not protest for now because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, but would do so in big numbers in the autumn if its candidates were blocked from taking part in regional elections or their results were falsified.
“What Putin fears most is the street,” said Navalny. “He ... will not leave until we start to take to the streets in the hundreds of thousands and in the millions.”
Russians had been encouraged to back Putin’s power move, described by critics as a constitutional coup, with prize draws offering flats and an ad campaign highlighting other constitutional amendments in the same reform bundle, such as pensions protection and a de facto ban on same-sex marriages.
One-off payments of 10,000 roubles ($141) were transferred to those with children at Putin’s order as people headed to polling stations on Wednesday, the last day of the vote, held over seven days to try to limit the spread of the virus.
Moscow resident Mikhail Volkov said he’d voted in favour of the reforms. “We need radical changes and I’m for them,” he said.
'Read something and vote'
Others were less enthusiastic.
“I didn’t read about the amendments if I’m honest,” Lyudmila, another voter, said. “What’s the point of voting if they’ve already decided for you. It’s like that in our country - read something and vote. I voted.”
Turnout was 65%, election officials said.
Putin, already the longest-serving leader in modern Russian history since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, made no mention of how the changes could affect his own career in an eve-of-vote speech on Tuesday.
He has said he has yet to decide on his future. Critics, who liken Putin to a latter-day Tsar, say they are sure he will run again, but some analysts say he may want to keep his options open to avoid becoming a lame duck.
At 60%, according to the Levada pollster, his approval rating remains high but well down on its peak of nearly 90%.
With Russia reporting thousands of new COVID-19 cases each day, opponents have been unable to stage protests but have mocked the vote online, sharing photographs of polling stations in apartment stairwells, supermarket trolleys and the boot of a car.
A small group of activists staged a symbolic protest at the Red Square on Wednesday afternoon, using their prostrate bodies to form the year 2036 before being swiftly detained by police, TV Rain reported.
Separately, the “No! Campaign,” called on supporters to head for Moscow’s Pushkinskaya Square after voting.
“We need to remind the authorities that we exist and that there are tens of millions of us who do not want Putin to rule until 2036,” Andrei Pivovarov, an activist, said in a video.
In the event, only dozens turned out amid a heavy police presence, a Reuters reporter said. Opposition politicians said a couple of hundred had attended. Those who did chanted “Russia will be free.” Another slogan suggested Putin should resign.
Golos, a non-governmental organisation that monitors elections, cited numerous irregularities with the vote and said it would not be able to confirm the outcome as legitimate.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-02--Turkey demands apology from France over naval incident claim

Turkey ’ s foreign minister on Thursday demanded an apology from France over its depiction of a standoff between ships from the two countries in the Mediterranean Sea that prompted Paris to suspend its involvement in a NATO naval operation .
France says its frigate Courbet was “ lit up ” three times by Turkish naval targeting radar on June 10 when it tried to approach a Tanzanian-flagged civilian ship suspected of involvement in arms trafficking .
The ship was being escorted by three Turkish warships .
The Courbet backed off after the confrontation .
At the time , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guardian mission , which is helping to provide maritime security in the Mediterranean .
France said it was acting based on NATO information and that under the alliance ’ s rules of engagement such conduct is considered a hostile act .
Turkey has denied harassing the Courbet .
Both countries are NATO allies .
“ France has not told the truth to the EU or to NATO , ” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said during a visit to Berlin .
“ The claims that our vessels locked onto ( French vessels ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We have proven this with reports and documents and gave them to NATO .
NATO saw the truth.
” NATO has confirmed only that investigators have submitted their report into the incident but said it was “ classified ” and declined to say what conclusions , if any , had been drawn .
“ Instead of engaging in anti-Turkish activities and such leanings , France needs to make a sincere confession , ” Cavusoglu said .
“ Our expectation from France at the moment is for it to apologize in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for not providing the correct information.
” The French government sent a letter Tuesday to NATO saying it is halting its participation in Sea Guardian “ temporarily.
” France has accused Turkey of repeated violations of the U.N. arms embargo on Libya and branded the Turkish government as an obstacle to securing a cease-fire in the North African nation , which Turkey firmly denies .
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas , speaking alongside Cavusoglu , said “ it is extremely important that relations between France and Turkey are constructive ” because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues .
He said he hopes that “ a constructive , open and very transparent dialogue ” will be possible in the coming days and weeks to address their differences .

Turkey’s foreign minister on Thursday demanded an apology from France over its depiction of a standoff between ships from the two countries in the Mediterranean Sea that prompted Paris to suspend its involvement in a NATO naval operation.
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France says its frigate Courbet was “lit up” three times by Turkish naval targeting radar on June 10 when it tried to approach a Tanzanian-flagged civilian ship suspected of involvement in arms trafficking. The ship was being escorted by three Turkish warships. The Courbet backed off after the confrontation.
At the time, the French frigate was part of the Sea Guardian mission, which is helping to provide maritime security in the Mediterranean. France said it was acting based on NATO information and that under the alliance’s rules of engagement such conduct is considered a hostile act.
Turkey has denied harassing the Courbet. Both countries are NATO allies.
“France has not told the truth to the EU or to NATO,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said during a visit to Berlin.
“The claims that our vessels locked onto (French vessels) are not true,” Cavusoglu added. “We have proven this with reports and documents and gave them to NATO. NATO saw the truth.”
NATO has confirmed only that investigators have submitted their report into the incident but said it was “classified” and declined to say what conclusions, if any, had been drawn.
“Instead of engaging in anti-Turkish activities and such leanings, France needs to make a sincere confession,” Cavusoglu said. “Our expectation from France at the moment is for it to apologize in a clear fashion, without ifs or buts, for not providing the correct information.”
The French government sent a letter Tuesday to NATO saying it is halting its participation in Sea Guardian “temporarily.”
France has accused Turkey of repeated violations of the U.N. arms embargo on Libya and branded the Turkish government as an obstacle to securing a cease-fire in the North African nation, which Turkey firmly denies.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, speaking alongside Cavusoglu, said “it is extremely important that relations between France and Turkey are constructive” because the countries need to work together on many issues. He said he hopes that “a constructive, open and very transparent dialogue” will be possible in the coming days and weeks to address their differences.
(AP)
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france24--2020-07-02--France's Macron to embark on next phase of his presidency with ‘new team’

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday the next phase of his presidency will be embodied by a new government @ @ @ @ @ coy about the future of his prime minister .
Macron told regional newspapers in an @ @ @ @ @ reforms he would want to push in the final two years of his term was @ @ @ @ @ system .
“ The new phase entails new goals of independence , reconstruction , reconciliation @ @ @ @ @ that there will be a new team , ” Macron told La Montagne newspaper .
@ @ @ @ @ of a government reshuffle after last Sunday ’ s local elections saw the Greens trounce @ @ @ @ @ and take control of big cities .

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday the next phase of his presidency will be embodied by a new government team, but he remained coy about the future of his prime minister.
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Macron told regional newspapers in an interview that one of the reforms he would want to push in the final two years of his term was the overhaul of the pension system.
“The new phase entails new goals of independence, reconstruction, reconciliation and new methods. Behind that there will be a new team,” Macron told La Montagne newspaper.
There has been mounting speculation of a government reshuffle after last Sunday’s local elections saw the Greens trounce Macron’s laRem party and take control of big cities.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-02--Epstein's ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell arrested by FBI

Ghislaine Maxwell at a symposium in New York City , on September 20 , 2013 .
Ghislaine Maxwell , a British socialite who was accused by many women of helping procure underage sex partners for Jeffrey Epstein , was arrested Thursday in New Hampshire , the FBI said .
She has been charged with six accounts of sexual abuse in the Epstein case .
Maxwell , who lived for years with Epstein and was his frequent travel companion on trips around the world , was taken into custody around 8:30am , said FBI spokesman Marty Feely .
An indictment made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilitated and contributed to Jeffrey Epstein ’ s abuse of minor girls by , among other things , helping Epstein to recruit , groom , and ultimately abuse ” girls under age 18 .
Epstein killed himself in a federal detention centre in New York last summer while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges .
Maxwell was accused by many women of recruiting them to give Epstein massages , during which they were pressured into sex .
Those accusations , until now , never resulted in criminal charges .
The indictment included counts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to engage in illegal sex acts , enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts , conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity , transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and two counts of perjury .
Messages were sent Thursday to several of Maxwell ’ s attorneys seeking comment .
She has previously repeatedly denied wrongdoing and called some of the claims against her “ absolute rubbish ” .
Among the most sensational accusations was a claim by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that Maxwell arranged for her to have sex with Britain ’ s Prince Andrew at her London townhouse .
Giuffre bolstered her allegations with a picture of her , Andrew and Giuffre that she said was taken at the time .
Maxwell was described in a lawsuit by another Epstein victim , Sarah Ransome , as the “ highest-ranking employee ” of Epstein ’ s alleged sex trafficking enterprise .
She oversaw and trained recruiters , developed recruiting plans and helped conceal the activity from law enforcement , the lawsuit alleged .

Ghislaine Maxwell, a British socialite who was accused by many women of helping procure underage sex partners for Jeffrey Epstein, was arrested Thursday in New Hampshire, the FBI said. She has been charged with six accounts of sexual abuse in the Epstein case.
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Maxwell, who lived for years with Epstein and was his frequent travel companion on trips around the world, was taken into custody around 8:30am, said FBI spokesman Marty Feely.
An indictment made public Thursday said Maxwell “assisted, facilitated and contributed to Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse of minor girls by, among other things, helping Epstein to recruit, groom, and ultimately abuse” girls under age 18.
Epstein killed himself in a federal detention centre in New York last summer while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Maxwell was accused by many women of recruiting them to give Epstein massages, during which they were pressured into sex. Those accusations, until now, never resulted in criminal charges.
03:08
Sexual abuse of minors
The indictment included counts of conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and two counts of perjury.
Messages were sent Thursday to several of Maxwell’s attorneys seeking comment. She has previously repeatedly denied wrongdoing and called some of the claims against her “absolute rubbish”.
04:56
Among the most sensational accusations was a claim by one Epstein victim, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, that Maxwell arranged for her to have sex with Britain’s Prince Andrew at her London townhouse. Giuffre bolstered her allegations with a picture of her, Andrew and Giuffre that she said was taken at the time.
Andrew denied her story.
Maxwell was described in a lawsuit by another Epstein victim, Sarah Ransome, as the “highest-ranking employee” of Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking enterprise. She oversaw and trained recruiters, developed recruiting plans and helped conceal the activity from law enforcement, the lawsuit alleged.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and AP)
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france24--2020-07-02--Venezuela reverses decision to expel EU ambassador

President Nicolas Maduro ’ s order to expel the diplomat has been reversed .
Venezuela has reversed its decision to @ @ @ @ @ ambassador to Caracas ordered by President Nicolas Maduro , a statement said on Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ .
Maduro on Monday gave the EU ’ s Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa 72 hours to @ @ @ @ @ to European sanctions against 11 Venezuelans .
“ The Venezuelan government decided to nullify the @ @ @ @ @ statement from Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell .

Venezuela has reversed its decision to expel the EU’s ambassador to Caracas ordered by President Nicolas Maduro, a statement said on Thursday, ending a tit-for-tat diplomatic row.
President Nicolas Maduro’s order to expel the diplomat has been reversed.
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Maduro on Monday gave the EU’s Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa 72 hours to leave the country in response to European sanctions against 11 Venezuelans.
“The Venezuelan government decided to nullify the decision,” said the statement from Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-02--France to return remains of 24 fighters killed during colonisation of Algeria

France is returning the remains of 24 members of Algeria ’ s resistance movement who were killed in the 19th century .
One of the leaders whose remains are to be returned is Sheikh Bouzian , who was captured in 1849 by the French , shot and decapitated .
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Thursday said France will return the remains of 24 resistance fighters who were killed during its colonisation of the North African country .
“ Within a few hours Algerian military planes will fly in from France and land at the Houari Boumediene international airport with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the popular resistance , ” Tebboune said during a military ceremony .
Tebboune said some of the remains belonged to “ leaders ” of the resistance movement who were killed in the 19th century fighting against France which occupied and ruled Algeria for 132 years .
In his speech , Tebboune said these resistance fighters “ had been deprived of their natural and human right to be buried for more than 170 years ” .
One of the leaders whose remains are to be returned is Sheikh Bouzian , who was captured in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decapitated .
The remains of two other key figures of the resistance—Bou Amar Ben Kedida and Si Mokhtar Ben Kouider Al Titraoui—are also among those expected back in Algeria .
The country won independence from France in 1962 after eight years of bitter war that left some 1.5 million Algerians dead .
Emmanuel Macron , the first French president to be born after the war , made his first official visit to Algeria in December 2017 , announcing that he came as a “ friend ” despite France ’ s historically prickly ties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time he told news website Tout sur l ’ Algerie that he was “ ready ” to see his country hand back the skulls of Algerian resistance fighters .
Algerian and French academics have long campaigned for the return of 37 skulls held at the Musee de l ’ Homme in Paris .
In December 2019 , Macron said that “ colonialism was a grave mistake ” and called for turning the page on the past .
During his presidential election campaign Macron had created a storm by calling France ’ s colonisation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Thursday said France will return the remains of 24 resistance fighters who were killed during its colonisation of the North African country.
France is returning the remains of 24 members of Algeria’s resistance movement who were killed in the 19th century. One of the leaders whose remains are to be returned is Sheikh Bouzian, who was captured in 1849 by the French, shot and decapitated.
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“Within a few hours Algerian military planes will fly in from France and land at the Houari Boumediene international airport with the remains of 24 (members) of the popular resistance,” Tebboune said during a military ceremony.
Tebboune said some of the remains belonged to “leaders” of the resistance movement who were killed in the 19th century fighting against France which occupied and ruled Algeria for 132 years.
In his speech, Tebboune said these resistance fighters “had been deprived of their natural and human right to be buried for more than 170 years”.
One of the leaders whose remains are to be returned is Sheikh Bouzian, who was captured in 1849 by the French, shot and decapitated.
The remains of two other key figures of the resistance—Bou Amar Ben Kedida and Si Mokhtar Ben Kouider Al Titraoui—are also among those expected back in Algeria.
One of the leaders whose remains are to be returned is Sheikh Bouzian, who was captured in 1849 by the French, shot and decapitated. © Ali Farid Belkadi
The country won independence from France in 1962 after eight years of bitter war that left some 1.5 million Algerians dead.
Emmanuel Macron, the first French president to be born after the war, made his first official visit to Algeria in December 2017, announcing that he came as a “friend” despite France’s historically prickly ties with its former colony.
At the time he told news website Tout sur l’Algerie that he was “ready” to see his country hand back the skulls of Algerian resistance fighters.
Algerian and French academics have long campaigned for the return of 37 skulls held at the Musee de l’Homme in Paris.
In December 2019, Macron said that “colonialism was a grave mistake” and called for turning the page on the past.
During his presidential election campaign Macron had created a storm by calling France’s colonisation of Algeria a “crime against humanity”.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-02--US sanctions against international court staff an act of ‘revenge’, says ICC’s Fatou Bensouda

Fatou Bensouda , the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court ( ICC ) , tells FRANCE 24 ’ s @ @ @ @ @ States ’ decision to sanction the ICC officials investigating alleged war crimes committed by US @ @ @ @ @ act of pure “ political revenge ” .
In the interview , Bensouda describes the @ @ @ @ @ attack ” against the court and its judicial independence , noting that such sanctions are @ @ @ @ @ warlords .
Despite the economic and legal pressure the court has come under , Benouda @ @ @ @ @ continue her investigations , which also include probing suspected crimes carried out by Israel in @ @ @ @ @ the pressure Israel is also putting on the court .
Click on the video player @ @ @ @ @ .

Fatou Bensouda, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), tells FRANCE 24’s Marc Perelman that the decision to sanction the ICC officials investigating alleged war crimes committed by US troops in Afghanistan is "a naked attempt to interfere with the course of justice".
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Bensouda describes the US decision as an “unprecedented and coercive” move against the court and its judicial independence, noting that such sanctions are usually reserved for terrorists and drug traffickers.
Despite the economic and legal pressure the court has come under, Bensouda said she is determined to continue her investigations, which include probing suspected crimes carried out by Israel in the Palestinian Territories, despite the pressure Israel is also putting on the court.
Click on the video player to watch the full interview.
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france24--2020-07-02--‘We disinfect everything’: Amsterdam’s red-light district re-opens

Amsterdam ’ s red-light district re-opened on Wednesday , July 1 after being closed for more than three months during the Covid-19 lockdown , though sex workers have been advised to avoid kissing and follow strict hygiene measures to reduce the risk of spreading the virus .
Industry bodies have compiled a list of recommendations to help keep workers and clients safe , including sexual positions and practices to avoid .
“ We advise to avoid being too close to each other ’ s face , feeling each other ’ s breath .
The intention is to not breathe out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Debbie Mensink , a public health advisor in Amsterdam , told Reuters .
“ In addition , we advise not to kiss , because this implies saliva exchange .
The virus can be in the saliva and thus transmitted . ''
But while other workers such as hairdressers and masseurs are required to wear masks they will not be obligatory for sex workers .
“ After the customer leaves the room , we ’ re going to disinfect everything he might have touched , bed , sink , the toilet if he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything , ” sex worker Felicia Anna told AFP .
The Netherlands ordered all brothels closed in mid-March .
For most sex workers it meant the loss of their main source of income , with many having little access to state support during lockdown .
The government had planned to keep brothels closed until September , but brought the date forward after Covid-19 cases dropped .
“ During the lockdown , a lot of sex workers ran into financial trouble so we ’ re very happy that we can finally start our job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ A lot of customers are also tourists and at the moment we don ’ t have a lot of tourists because there are a lot of countries that still have a travel ban .
Hopefully it ’ s still going to be good for everybody , for every worker .
I did ask some of my colleagues and so far they said that the work is quite ok .
”

Amsterdam’s red-light district re-opened on Wednesday, July 1 after being closed for more than three months during the Covid-19 lockdown, though sex workers have been advised to avoid kissing and follow strict hygiene measures to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
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Industry bodies have compiled a list of recommendations to help keep workers and clients safe, including sexual positions and practices to avoid.
“We advise to avoid being too close to each other’s face, feeling each other’s breath. The intention is to not breathe out into each other’s face,” Debbie Mensink, a public health advisor in Amsterdam, told Reuters.
“In addition, we advise not to kiss, because this implies saliva exchange. The virus can be in the saliva and thus transmitted."
But while other workers such as hairdressers and masseurs are required to wear masks they will not be obligatory for sex workers.
“After the customer leaves the room, we’re going to disinfect everything he might have touched, bed, sink, the toilet if he used the toilet, the doorknobs, everything,” sex worker Felicia Anna told AFP.
The Netherlands ordered all brothels closed in mid-March. For most sex workers it meant the loss of their main source of income, with many having little access to state support during lockdown.
The government had planned to keep brothels closed until September, but brought the date forward after Covid-19 cases dropped.
“During the lockdown, a lot of sex workers ran into financial trouble so we’re very happy that we can finally start our job again,” said Felicia Anna.
“A lot of customers are also tourists and at the moment we don’t have a lot of tourists because there are a lot of countries that still have a travel ban. Hopefully it’s still going to be good for everybody, for every worker. I did ask some of my colleagues and so far they said that the work is quite ok.”
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france24--2020-07-02--French prosecutors seek trial for football star Karim Benzema over sextape scandal

French prosecutors on Thursday asked for ex-national team star and Real Madrid footballer Karim Benzema to face trial on charges of involvement in an alleged attempt to blackmail fellow player Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape almost five years ago .
Prosecutors in Versailles outside Paris told AFP they want Benzema tried on charges of complicity in attempted blackmail over the incident in 2015 .
Four others should also face trial , they said , but not former Liverpool and French international Djibril Cisse who had previously been implicated in the probe .
It is now up to the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place and fix a date for the process to begin .
Benzema is suspected of encouraging his former teammate in the France team Valbuena to pay blackmailers who threatened to make the intimate video public .
According to the prosecution , Benzema evoked the existence of the video to Valbuena while the French team was preparing in October 2015 for a friendly match against Armenia in Nice .
Benzema contends all that took place was a simple and friendly conversation to warn his international team-mate that such a tape existed .
Valbuena , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implication he had to pay to keep it out of the public sphere .
Benzema was indicted and briefly detained in November 2015 just before France was the next year to host the Euro 2016 football championship .
He has never since added to his 81 appearances for France and insists he is innocent .
Valbuena , who played 52 times for the national side , has also never since played for France .
Cisse had been the first to inform Valbuena that the video existed but insists he was simply warning the @ @

French prosecutors on Thursday asked for ex-national team star and Real Madrid footballer Karim Benzema to face trial on charges of involvement in an alleged attempt to blackmail fellow player Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape almost five years ago.
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Prosecutors in Versailles outside Paris told AFP they want Benzema tried on charges of complicity in attempted blackmail over the incident in 2015.
Four others should also face trial, they said, but not former Liverpool and French international Djibril Cisse who had previously been implicated in the probe.
It is now up to the court to decide if a trial should take place and fix a date for the process to begin.
Benzema is suspected of encouraging his former teammate in the France team Valbuena to pay blackmailers who threatened to make the intimate video public.
According to the prosecution, Benzema evoked the existence of the video to Valbuena while the French team was preparing in October 2015 for a friendly match against Armenia in Nice.
Benzema contends all that took place was a simple and friendly conversation to warn his international team-mate that such a tape existed.
Valbuena, however, alleges that there was the implication he had to pay to keep it out of the public sphere.
Benzema was indicted and briefly detained in November 2015 just before France was the next year to host the Euro 2016 football championship.
He has never since added to his 81 appearances for France and insists he is innocent. Valbuena, who played 52 times for the national side, has also never since played for France.
Cisse had been the first to inform Valbuena that the video existed but insists he was simply warning the footballer.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-02--Fear spreads through Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement after security law imposed by China

A documentary filmmaker filmed this video and posted it on Twitter on June 30 .
It shows a woman wearing a mask and gloves ripping down posters and flyers plastered on the front of the restaurant where she works .
One of the handwritten flyers that she has in her hands says “ Freedom ” .
`` I was walking around Mong Kok and came across a depressing scene of this Hong Kong diner removing protest art and signs stuck to the outside just hours after the national security law [ was ] passed , HK 's freedoms are dying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filmmaker Arman Dzidzovic.The restaurant was probably part of the “ yellow economic circle ” , made up of businesses that openly support the pro-democracy movement and help protesters by , for example , providing them with free meals.On Tuesday , the well-known restaurant chain Lung Mun Café , which used to provide protesters with free meals , announced that they would no longer be affiliated with the circle because of the new national security law.The law , which was passed by Chinese President Xi Jinping on June 30 , criminalizes secession , subversion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with foreign entities -- carrying a penalty of up to life in prison .
The law reignited the anger of pro-democracy protesters , a year after massive protests against the president of Hong Kong and China ’ s push to tighten its grip on the semi-autonomous territory.A protest against this law was organised for July 1 ; however , overall , pro-democracy activists , frightened of repression , seemed to be retreating .
The Hong Kong political organization Demosisto , which was founded by pro-democracy activists , announced that it would disband .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve decided to disband and end all activity as a group , considering the circumstances .
”

HONG KONG
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A viral video filmed on June 30 shows a woman in Hong Kong frantically ripping down pro-democracy posters and flyers from the front window of the restaurant where she works. The footage is illustrative of the panic that has spread through the anti-government protesters after the implementation of a controversial new security law imposed upon Hong Kong by Beijing.
A documentary filmmaker filmed this video and posted it on Twitter on June 30. It shows a woman wearing a mask and gloves ripping down posters and flyers plastered on the front of the restaurant where she works. One of the handwritten flyers that she has in her hands says “Freedom”.
i was walking around mong kok and came across a depressing scene of this Hong Kong diner removing protest art and signs stuck to the outside just hours after the national security law passed, HK's freedoms are dying in real time pic.twitter.com/hoBpEmGo1S Arman Dzidzovic (@iamarman88) June 30, 2020
"I was walking around Mong Kok and came across a depressing scene of this Hong Kong diner removing protest art and signs stuck to the outside just hours after the national security law [was] passed, HK's freedoms are dying in real time", tweeted documentary filmmaker Arman Dzidzovic.
The restaurant was probably part of the “yellow economic circle”, made up of businesses that openly support the pro-democracy movement and help protesters by, for example, providing them with free meals.
On Tuesday, the well-known restaurant chain Lung Mun Café, which used to provide protesters with free meals, announced that they would no longer be affiliated with the circle because of the new national security law.
A law seen as freedom-destroying
The law, which was passed by Chinese President Xi Jinping on June 30, criminalizes secession, subversion of state power, terrorism and collusion with foreign entities-- carrying a penalty of up to life in prison. The law reignited the anger of pro-democracy protesters, a year after massive protests against the president of Hong Kong and China’s push to tighten its grip on the semi-autonomous territory.
A protest against this law was organised for July 1; however, overall, pro-democracy activists, frightened of repression, seemed to be retreating. The Hong Kong political organization Demosisto, which was founded by pro-democracy activists, announced that it would disband.
"After many internal deliberations, we’ve decided to disband and end all activity as a group, considering the circumstances.”


france24--2020-07-02--Algerian court grants release of anti-government protest leader Karim Tabbou

Protesters in Algiers call for the release of jailed opposition leader Karim Tabbou on September 27 , 2019 .
An Algerian court on Thursday granted prominent opposition figure and leader of the anti-government protest movement Karim Tabbou release from jail .
Tabbou ’ s lawyer , Abdelghani Badi , said in a Facebook post that the Algiers court granted his request for the release of his client , who is asking for the end of judicial proceedings against him .
Tabbou was sentenced on March 24 to a year in prison , including six months suspended , for “ weakening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Salhi , told the AP he was awaiting for Tabbou ’ s release on Thursday outside Kolea ’ s prison , west of Algiers , with dozens of activists of the anti-government movement .
The court ’ s decision comes one day after President Abdelmadjid Tebboune granted an amnesty to six other anti-government activists ahead of Algeria ’ s Independence Day on Sunday , celebrating the country ’ s independence from France on July 5 , 1962 .
Mass demonstrations brought down the long-time president of Africa ’ s largest country and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement is looking for more change in a nation whose rulers have been shadowed by the army since its independence .

An Algerian court on Thursday granted prominent opposition figure and leader of the anti-government protest movement Karim Tabbou release from jail.
Protesters in Algiers call for the release of jailed opposition leader Karim Tabbou on September 27, 2019.
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Tabbou’s lawyer, Abdelghani Badi, said in a Facebook post that the Algiers court granted his request for the release of his client, who is asking for the end of judicial proceedings against him.
Tabbou was sentenced on March 24 to a year in prison, including six months suspended, for “weakening army morale.”
Another lawyer, Abderrahmane Salhi, told the AP he was awaiting for Tabbou’s release on Thursday outside Kolea’s prison, west of Algiers, with dozens of activists of the anti-government movement.
The court’s decision comes one day after President Abdelmadjid Tebboune granted an amnesty to six other anti-government activists ahead of Algeria’s Independence Day on Sunday, celebrating the country’s independence from France on July 5, 1962.
Mass demonstrations brought down the long-time president of Africa’s largest country and his entourage in April 2019. The pro-democracy movement is looking for more change in a nation whose rulers have been shadowed by the army since its independence.
(AP)
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france24--2020-07-02--EU calls on Russia to probe 'irregularities' reported in vote granting Putin right to rule until 203

EU calls on Russia to probe 'irregularities' reported in vote granting Putin right to rule until 2036

The EU on Thursday called on Russia to probe reports of irregularities during a nationwide vote to approve constitutional changes allowing President Vladimir Putin to potentially extend his two-decade rule until 2036 .
`` We are aware of reports and allegations of irregularities during the vote , including voter coercion , double voting , violation of secrecy of the vote , and allegations of police violence against a journalist who was present to observe , '' said EU spokesman Peter Stano .
`` We expect these reports to be duly investigated because these are serious allegations , '' Stano told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EU also criticised an amendment of the reform that gave Russian law primacy over its international commitments , which defied the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights , of which Moscow is a signatory .
`` We expect Russia , regardless of any amendments to this constitution , to live up to its international obligations , '' Stano said .
The EU said it also did not recognise any voting that was held in Crimea , which has been annexed by Russia , and eastern Ukraine .
`` We are committed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine so we do n't recognise the vote in the Crimea and in the eastern part of Ukraine , '' he said .

The EU on Thursday called on Russia to probe reports of irregularities during a nationwide vote to approve constitutional changes allowing President Vladimir Putin to potentially extend his two-decade rule until 2036.
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"We are aware of reports and allegations of irregularities during the vote, including voter coercion, double voting, violation of secrecy of the vote, and allegations of police violence against a journalist who was present to observe," said EU spokesman Peter Stano.
"We expect these reports to be duly investigated because these are serious allegations," Stano told a news briefing in Brussels.
The EU also criticised an amendment of the reform that gave Russian law primacy over its international commitments, which defied the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, of which Moscow is a signatory.
"We expect Russia, regardless of any amendments to this constitution, to live up to its international obligations," Stano said.
The EU said it also did not recognise any voting that was held in Crimea, which has been annexed by Russia, and eastern Ukraine.
"We are committed to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine so we don't recognise the vote in the Crimea and in the eastern part of Ukraine," he said.
(AFP)
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