france24--2020-07-09--1960: A wave of independence sweeps across Africa

Leader of the Congolese national movement Patrice Lumumba is welcomed at Brussels airport on January 27 , 1960 , before attending a conference .
Former Belgium Congo ( now DR Congo ) became independent on June 30 , 1960 .
Between January and December of 1960 , no fewer than 17 countries in sub-Saharan Africa gained independence from European colonial powers , including 14 former French colonies .
FRANCE 24 takes a look back at a watershed year in the modern history of the continent .
The events of 1960 – with so nations many gaining independence in a short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result of a long process following the tumult of World War II .
In the post-war period , Africans involved in pro-independence movements put pressure on the colonising powers , reminding them of the promises they had made to secure African support for the war effort .
The Europeans , urged on by the United States , were ultimately obliged to let go of their colonies .
Speaking in the Congolese capital Brazzaville in 1944 , General Charles de Gaulle suggested the time had come for France to follow `` the path of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later , France 's colonial empire was replaced by the French Union , which in turn became the French Community in 1958 .
In quick succession , Morocco , Tunisia , Sudan , Ghana and Guinea won their independence , while unrest in Algeria continued to exhaust the French and damage France 's reputation .
Cameroon – January 1 , 1960 .
A former German colony divided between France and the United Kingdom in 1918 , Cameroon acquired its independence thanks to armed movements .
Less than a year after the United Nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French Cameroon proclaimed its independence .
A year later the southern part of the country , under British control , merged with the north .
On May 5 , 1960 , Ahmadou Ahidjo was elected as the country ’ s first president .
Togo – April 27 .
A former German colony , Togo subsequently fell under French and British mandates in the aftermath of World War I .
The part of the country administered by the French held the status of an “ associated territory ” of the French Union established in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ republic – albeit within the French Union – by referendum in 1956 .
In February 1958 , victory for the Togolese Unity Committee , a nationalist movement , in legislative elections opened the way to full independence .
Sylvanus Olympio , elected first president of the new republic , was later killed in a January 1963 coup d ’ état .
Madagascar – June 26 .
A French overseas territory as of 1946 , the island was proclaimed an autonomous state within the French Community , an association of mainly African former French @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , President Philibert Tsiranana succeeded in convincing General de Gaulle to grant Madagascar total sovereignty and , in doing so , became the first president of the republic .
Democratic Republic of the Congo – June 30 .
In January 1959 , under the leadership of Patrice Lumumba , riots broke out in Léopoldville ( now Kinshasa ) in what was then known as the Belgian Congo .
Belgian authorities summoned Congolese leaders to Brussels and decided to withdraw from the country , fearing a war of independence similar to the one that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Renamed Zaire in 1971 under former leader Mobutu Sese Seko , the Democratic Republic of the Congo reverted to its former name when Mobutu was deposed by Laurent Kabila in 1997 .
Somalia – July 1 .
A former Italian colony , Somalia merged with the former British protectorate of Somaliland on the day it became independent in 1960 to form the Somali Republic .
Somaliland had itself gained its full sovereignty five days earlier .
The objective was to reconstitute the pre-colonial era “ Greater Somalia ” , which had included Kenya @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Djibouti , which was at that time under French control .
Benin – August 1 .
A referendum on September 28 , 1958 , proposing a plan for a French-African Community paved the way for the independence of what was then the Dahomey two years later , when power was transferred to President Hubert Maga .
The country , renamed Benin in 1975 , has had a tumultuous political history in recent years , with critics saying the current leadership is undermining the country ’ s democratic traditions .
Niger – August 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French colonial interest since 1899 despite fierce resistance from the local population .
A 1958 referendum propelled the country 's first president , Hamani Diori , to power and the Republic of Niger was first proclaimed on December 18 of that year .
Independence was officially declared on August 3 , 1960 .
Diori was subsequently overthrown by a coup d ’ état in 1974 .
Burkina Faso – August 5 .
A French protectorate , the Republic of Upper Volta was proclaimed on December 11 , 1958 , but remained part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on August 5 , 1960 .
The country took the name Burkina Faso in 1984 during the presidency of Thomas Sankara , who was assassinated in 1987 .
Ivory Coast – August 7 .
A 1958 referendum resulted in the Ivory Coast becoming an autonomous republic .
Two years later , in June of 1960 , the pro-French Félix Houphouët-Boigny proclaimed the country ’ s independence but maintained close ties between Abidjan and Paris .
The Ivory Coast subsequently became one of the most prosperous West African nations .
Chad – August 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Chad won independence on August 11 , 1960 .
The prime minister at the time , François Tombalbaye , became the first president of a country that deteriorated rapidly into civil war between the Muslim north and the Christian-majority south .
Central African Republic – August 13 .
Under French control since 1905 , Ubangi-Chari became the Central African Republic on December 1 , 1958 .
Poised to become the nation ’ s first president was Barthélémy Boganda – a national hero , committed pan-Africanist and anti-colonialist who presided over French Equatorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chad , Congo-Brazzaville and Gabon ) for two years , working for the emancipation of Africans .
But Boganda died in a March 1959 plane crash and when independence was proclaimed in 1960 , it was a relative , David Dacko , who became president .
The Republic of the Congo – August 15 .
Ninety-nine percent of the Congolese people voted to join the French Community in a 1958 referendum that also made the country an autonomous republic .
The following year violence broke out in Brazzaville , triggering a French military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Congo gained full independence with Fulbert Youlou serving as president until 1963 .
Gabon – August 17 .
Criticised by opposition parties for being anti-independence , Prime Minister Léon M ’ Ba nevertheless proclaimed Gabonese independence on August 17 , 1960 .
He would have preferred that Gabon become a French department but had to back down when General de Gaulle refused .
Senegal and Mali – August 20 and September 22 .
The independent republics of Senegal and Mali were born from the ashes of the short-lived Federation of Mali – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made up of Senegal and what was then French Sudan .
The two countries initially intended to form a union but after significant differences between Léopold Sédar Senghor , the Senegalese president of the Federal Assembly , and Modibo Keita , his Sudanese prime minister , the authorities in Dakar withdrew from the federation and declared independence on August 20 .
Authorities in Bamako followed suit a month later .
Nigeria – October 1 .
Divided into a federation of three regions – North , East and West – by the Lyttleton Constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population of 34 million , was already considered the giant of the African continent .
As soon as independence was declared on October 1 , the former British colony was forced to confront its deep ethnic and religious divisions , which quickly became the cause of political instability .
Mauritania – November 28 .
Mauritania proclaimed its independence despite opposition from Morocco and the Arab League .
The country ’ s constitution , established in 1964 , set up a presidential regime with Prime Minister Ould Daddah becoming president .
He remained in @ @ @ @

A look back
Between January and December of 1960, no fewer than 17 countries in sub-Saharan Africa gained independence from European colonial powers, including 14 former French colonies. FRANCE 24 takes a look back at a watershed year in the modern history of the continent.
Leader of the Congolese national movement Patrice Lumumba is welcomed at Brussels airport on January 27, 1960, before attending a conference. Former Belgium Congo (now DR Congo) became independent on June 30, 1960.
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The events of 1960 – with so nations many gaining independence in a short span of time – were partly the result of a long process following the tumult of World War II.
In the post-war period, Africans involved in pro-independence movements put pressure on the colonising powers, reminding them of the promises they had made to secure African support for the war effort. The Europeans, urged on by the United States, were ultimately obliged to let go of their colonies.
Speaking in the Congolese capital Brazzaville in 1944, General Charles de Gaulle suggested the time had come for France to follow "the path of a new era". Two years later, France's colonial empire was replaced by the French Union, which in turn became the French Community in 1958.
In quick succession, Morocco, Tunisia, Sudan, Ghana and Guinea won their independence, while unrest in Algeria continued to exhaust the French and damage France's reputation.
Cameroon – January 1, 1960. A former German colony divided between France and the United Kingdom in 1918, Cameroon acquired its independence thanks to armed movements. Less than a year after the United Nations announced the end of French control, French Cameroon proclaimed its independence. A year later the southern part of the country, under British control, merged with the north. On May 5, 1960, Ahmadou Ahidjo was elected as the country’s first president.
Togo – April 27. A former German colony, Togo subsequently fell under French and British mandates in the aftermath of World War I. The part of the country administered by the French held the status of an “associated territory” of the French Union established in 1946. The country became an autonomous republic – albeit within the French Union – by referendum in 1956. In February 1958, victory for the Togolese Unity Committee, a nationalist movement, in legislative elections opened the way to full independence. Sylvanus Olympio, elected first president of the new republic, was later killed in a January 1963 coup d’état.
Madagascar – June 26. A French overseas territory as of 1946, the island was proclaimed an autonomous state within the French Community, an association of mainly African former French colonies, in 1958. In 1960, President Philibert Tsiranana succeeded in convincing General de Gaulle to grant Madagascar total sovereignty and, in doing so, became the first president of the republic.
02:27
Democratic Republic of the Congo – June 30. In January 1959, under the leadership of Patrice Lumumba, riots broke out in Léopoldville (now Kinshasa) in what was then known as the Belgian Congo. Belgian authorities summoned Congolese leaders to Brussels and decided to withdraw from the country, fearing a war of independence similar to the one that was ravaging Algeria at the time. Renamed Zaire in 1971 under former leader Mobutu Sese Seko, the Democratic Republic of the Congo reverted to its former name when Mobutu was deposed by Laurent Kabila in 1997.
01:47
Somalia – July 1. A former Italian colony, Somalia merged with the former British protectorate of Somaliland on the day it became independent in 1960 to form the Somali Republic. Somaliland had itself gained its full sovereignty five days earlier. The objective was to reconstitute the pre-colonial era “Greater Somalia”, which had included Kenya, Ethiopia and the future nation of Djibouti, which was at that time under French control.
Benin – August 1. A referendum on September 28, 1958, proposing a plan for a French-African Community paved the way for the independence of what was then the Dahomey two years later, when power was transferred to President Hubert Maga. The country, renamed Benin in 1975, has had a tumultuous political history in recent years, with critics saying the current leadership is undermining the country’s democratic traditions.
Niger – August 3. Niger had been the subject of French colonial interest since 1899 despite fierce resistance from the local population. A 1958 referendum propelled the country's first president, Hamani Diori, to power and the Republic of Niger was first proclaimed on December 18 of that year. Independence was officially declared on August 3, 1960. Diori was subsequently overthrown by a coup d’état in 1974.
Burkina Faso – August 5. A French protectorate, the Republic of Upper Volta was proclaimed on December 11, 1958, but remained part of the French Community before gaining full independence on August 5, 1960. The country took the name Burkina Faso in 1984 during the presidency of Thomas Sankara, who was assassinated in 1987.
Ivory president Felix Houphouet Boigny (R) and Senegalese President Leopold Sedar Senghor parade in the official car, on August 10, 1961 in Abidjan, during the first Independence day anniversary. © AFP
Ivory Coast – August 7. A 1958 referendum resulted in the Ivory Coast becoming an autonomous republic. Two years later, in June of 1960, the pro-French Félix Houphouët-Boigny proclaimed the country’s independence but maintained close ties between Abidjan and Paris. The Ivory Coast subsequently became one of the most prosperous West African nations.
Chad – August 11. Two years after becoming a republic, Chad won independence on August 11, 1960. The prime minister at the time, François Tombalbaye, became the first president of a country that deteriorated rapidly into civil war between the Muslim north and the Christian-majority south.
Central African Republic – August 13. Under French control since 1905, Ubangi-Chari became the Central African Republic on December 1, 1958. Poised to become the nation’s first president was Barthélémy Boganda – a national hero, committed pan-Africanist and anti-colonialist who presided over French Equatorial Africa (a federation joining colonial territories Chad, Congo-Brazzaville and Gabon) for two years, working for the emancipation of Africans. But Boganda died in a March 1959 plane crash and when independence was proclaimed in 1960, it was a relative, David Dacko, who became president.
The Republic of the Congo – August 15. Ninety-nine percent of the Congolese people voted to join the French Community in a 1958 referendum that also made the country an autonomous republic. The following year violence broke out in Brazzaville, triggering a French military intervention. On August 15, 1960, Congo gained full independence with Fulbert Youlou serving as president until 1963.
Gabon – August 17. Criticised by opposition parties for being anti-independence, Prime Minister Léon M’Ba nevertheless proclaimed Gabonese independence on August 17, 1960. He would have preferred that Gabon become a French department but had to back down when General de Gaulle refused.
Senegal and Mali – August 20 and September 22. The independent republics of Senegal and Mali were born from the ashes of the short-lived Federation of Mali – established on January 17, 1959 – made up of Senegal and what was then French Sudan. The two countries initially intended to form a union but after significant differences between Léopold Sédar Senghor, the Senegalese president of the Federal Assembly, and Modibo Keita, his Sudanese prime minister, the authorities in Dakar withdrew from the federation and declared independence on August 20. Authorities in Bamako followed suit a month later.
Rosemary Anieze, wearing the sash of "Miss Independence," is popular as she parades outside the National Stadium in Lagos, Sept. 28, 1960, after winning the title from 15 other contestants in Nigeria. © AP Photo
Nigeria – October 1. Divided into a federation of three regions – North, East and West – by the Lyttleton Constitution of 1954, Nigeria, with its population of 34 million, was already considered the giant of the African continent. As soon as independence was declared on October 1, the former British colony was forced to confront its deep ethnic and religious divisions, which quickly became the cause of political instability.
Mauritania – November 28. Mauritania proclaimed its independence despite opposition from Morocco and the Arab League. The country’s constitution, established in 1964, set up a presidential regime with Prime Minister Ould Daddah becoming president. He remained in power until 1978.
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france24--2020-07-09--Warning of possible virus resurgence, France rules out another 'total lockdown'

The beach of the Croisette in Cannes , pictured on July 8 , 2020 .
Officials said a possible resurgence of Covid-19 would depend on how people behave in the coming months .
The French government on Wednesday warned that a surge in coronavirus cases in coming months remained a distinct possibility , though it ruled out another nationwide lockdown that would further cripple the country 's economy .
`` My aim is to prepare France for a possible second wave while preserving our daily life , our economic and social life , '' Jean Castex , the newly appointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on RTL television .
`` But we 're not going to impose a lockdown like the one we did last March , because we 've learned ... that the economic and human consequences from a total lockdown are disastrous , '' he said .
Instead business closures or stay-at-home orders would be `` targeted '' to specific areas , Castex added .
`` The coronavirus is still here , '' he warned , adding that he would travel Sunday to France 's South American territory of French Guiana , which is reeling from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported 124 new cases in the territory on Tuesday , bringing the total to nearly 5,200 , and the government has dispatched dozens of health workers from the mainland as well as a field hospital .
Across France , the numbers of new coronavirus cases and deaths reported on Wednesday were higher than the daily average seen over the last week .
Confirmed Covid-19 cases rose by 663 , up from 475 on Tuesday and a daily average of 536 over the last seven days .
In June , that average stood at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in April at 2,582 .
Meanwhile , the death toll rose by 32 from the previous day to stand at 29,965 .
That figure is almost twice as high as the daily average of 18 seen over the last seven days .
In June , France counted 34 additional deaths every day on average , in May 143 and in April 695 .
The head of France 's national health agency , Jerome Salomon , said authorities anticipated a second wave of cases `` this autumn or this winter , '' depending on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` What we have to understand is that the epidemic 's resurgence will basically depend on our behaviour , '' he said in an interview with the Figaro newspaper .
Even as millions of people prepare to relax over the summer , Salomon urged continued social distancing and the use of face masks , `` especially in crowded places and indoors . ''
Paris authorities said the capital would stage its traditional fireworks show from the Eiffel Tower on July 14 , the national holiday , but that the event would be closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by President Emmanuel Macron last week to lead a new government tasked with orchestrating the country 's recovery from its worst health and economic crisis since World War II .
Billions of euros have been promised for investments as well as measures to limit job losses in an economy expected to shrink by around 10 percent this year .
`` We are going to protect people , but above all we are going to invest in the ecological transformation , in our country 's recovery , '' Castex said .
He confirmed he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ budget boosts for hospital staff by around one billion euros in talks with unions this week , bringing the total envelope to 7.5 billion euros ( $ 8.5 billion ) .
But union leaders say that would lift monthly pay for nurses , technicians and others on the frontlines of the coronavirus fight by only 180 euros a month , far short of their demands for a 300-euro raise .

The French government on Wednesday warned that a surge in coronavirus cases in coming months remained a distinct possibility, though it ruled out another nationwide lockdown that would further cripple the country's economy.
The beach of the Croisette in Cannes, pictured on July 8, 2020. Officials said a possible resurgence of Covid-19 would depend on how people behave in the coming months.
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"My aim is to prepare France for a possible second wave while preserving our daily life, our economic and social life," Jean Castex, the newly appointed prime minister, said in an interview on RTL television.
"But we're not going to impose a lockdown like the one we did last March, because we've learned... that the economic and human consequences from a total lockdown are disastrous," he said.
Instead business closures or stay-at-home orders would be "targeted" to specific areas, Castex added.
"The coronavirus is still here," he warned, adding that he would travel Sunday to France's South American territory of French Guiana, which is reeling from a surge in Covid-19 cases.
Officials reported 124 new cases in the territory on Tuesday, bringing the total to nearly 5,200, and the government has dispatched dozens of health workers from the mainland as well as a field hospital.
Uptick in cases
Across France, the numbers of new coronavirus cases and deaths reported on Wednesday were higher than the daily average seen over the last week.
Confirmed Covid-19 cases rose by 663, up from 475 on Tuesday and a daily average of 536 over the last seven days. In June, that average stood at 435, in May at 715 and in April at 2,582.
Meanwhile, the death toll rose by 32 from the previous day to stand at 29,965. That figure is almost twice as high as the daily average of 18 seen over the last seven days. In June, France counted 34 additional deaths every day on average, in May 143 and in April 695.
The head of France's national health agency, Jerome Salomon, said authorities anticipated a second wave of cases "this autumn or this winter," depending on a seasonal impact that remains uncertain.
"What we have to understand is that the epidemic's resurgence will basically depend on our behaviour," he said in an interview with the Figaro newspaper.
Even as millions of people prepare to relax over the summer, Salomon urged continued social distancing and the use of face masks, "especially in crowded places and indoors."
Paris authorities said the capital would stage its traditional fireworks show from the Eiffel Tower on July 14, the national holiday, but that the event would be closed to the public.
'Protect people'
Castex was named by President Emmanuel Macron last week to lead a new government tasked with orchestrating the country's recovery from its worst health and economic crisis since World War II.
Billions of euros have been promised for investments as well as measures to limit job losses in an economy expected to shrink by around 10 percent this year.
"We are going to protect people, but above all we are going to invest in the ecological transformation, in our country's recovery," Castex said.
He confirmed he had increased a proposed wage hike and budget boosts for hospital staff by around one billion euros in talks with unions this week, bringing the total envelope to 7.5 billion euros ($8.5 billion).
But union leaders say that would lift monthly pay for nurses, technicians and others on the frontlines of the coronavirus fight by only 180 euros a month, far short of their demands for a 300-euro raise.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-09--George Floyd told officers 'I can't breathe' more than 20 times, transcript shows

A demonstrator holds a painting depicting George Floyd during a protest against racism and police violence in New York on June 9 , 2020 .
George Floyd said he could n't breathe more than 20 times , called out for his children and late mother and said officers would `` kill '' him before he died in Minneapolis police custody , new evidence showed .
Floyd , a black man , died on May 25 when a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes .
His death has unleashed a massive wave of protests against systemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States and inspired demos across the world .
Video of his death went viral and showed Floyd shouting `` I ca n't breathe '' and calling for his mother as he suffocated .
But transcripts of the police officers ' body camera footage , filed Tuesday in Minnesota state court by Thomas Lane , one of the officers involved in Floyd 's death , has revealed new details about his final moments .
When the officers first arrested him , Floyd begged them not to put him in the police car , telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distress .
As they tried to force him into the car , Floyd cried out that he could n't breathe and was `` going to die in here . ''
Later , according to the transcript , he said , `` Momma , I love you .
Tell my kids I love them .
I 'm dead . ''
He called for his mother and children several more times .
Throughout his arrest , Floyd said `` I ca n't breathe '' more than 20 times .
The officers can be heard telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he was doing `` fine '' and `` talking fine . ''
At one point , as Floyd insisted they were going to kill him , officer Derek Chauvin shouted , `` Then stop talking , stop yelling , it takes a heck of a lot of oxygen to talk . ''
According to the transcript , Floyd 's last words were , `` They 're going to kill me .
They 're going to kill me .
I ca n't breathe . ''
The transcript was submitted Tuesday by Lane to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abetted in Floyd 's murder thrown out by a judge .
He and the other three officers involved — Chauvin , Tou Thao and Alexander Kueng — were all fired from the Minneapolis police force one day after Floyd 's death and charged in his murder .
They each face up to 40 years behind bars .
Chauvin , who knelt on the handcuffed 46-year-old 's neck , faces second and third-degree murder charges .
Thao and Kueng , like Lane , have been charged with aiding and abetting a murder .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and horrified Americans , igniting protests and riots in cities across the country and sparking a national debate on racism and police violence .
Floyd was detained for the minor charge of attempting to use a counterfeit $ 20 bill , and while in handcuffs , two of the officers held him down on the street while Chauvin pressed his knee to Floyd 's neck and the fourth officer stood watch .

George Floyd said he couldn't breathe more than 20 times, called out for his children and late mother and said officers would "kill" him before he died in Minneapolis police custody, new evidence showed.
A demonstrator holds a painting depicting George Floyd during a protest against racism and police violence in New York on June 9, 2020.
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Floyd, a black man, died on May 25 when a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. His death has unleashed a massive wave of protests against systemic racism and police brutality in the United States and inspired demos across the world.
Video of his death went viral and showed Floyd shouting "I can't breathe" and calling for his mother as he suffocated.
But transcripts of the police officers' body camera footage, filed Tuesday in Minnesota state court by Thomas Lane, one of the officers involved in Floyd's death, has revealed new details about his final moments.
When the officers first arrested him, Floyd begged them not to put him in the police car, telling them he was claustrophobic and in physical distress.
As they tried to force him into the car, Floyd cried out that he couldn't breathe and was "going to die in here."
Later, according to the transcript, he said, "Momma, I love you. Tell my kids I love them. I'm dead." He called for his mother and children several more times.
Throughout his arrest, Floyd said "I can't breathe" more than 20 times. The officers can be heard telling him to "relax," and that he was doing "fine" and "talking fine."
At one point, as Floyd insisted they were going to kill him, officer Derek Chauvin shouted, "Then stop talking, stop yelling, it takes a heck of a lot of oxygen to talk."
'I can't breathe'
According to the transcript, Floyd's last words were, "They're going to kill me. They're going to kill me. I can't breathe."
The transcript was submitted Tuesday by Lane to have the charges that he aided and abetted in Floyd's murder thrown out by a judge.
He and the other three officers involved — Chauvin, Tou Thao and Alexander Kueng — were all fired from the Minneapolis police force one day after Floyd's death and charged in his murder. They each face up to 40 years behind bars.
Chauvin, who knelt on the handcuffed 46-year-old's neck, faces second and third-degree murder charges.
Thao and Kueng, like Lane, have been charged with aiding and abetting a murder.
The bystander video of Floyd's death stunned and horrified Americans, igniting protests and riots in cities across the country and sparking a national debate on racism and police violence.
Floyd was detained for the minor charge of attempting to use a counterfeit $20 bill, and while in handcuffs, two of the officers held him down on the street while Chauvin pressed his knee to Floyd's neck and the fourth officer stood watch.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-09--'Consensus' that Notre-Dame spire should be rebuilt in original form

Smoke billows as fire engulfs the Gothic spire of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15 , 2019 .
France 's incoming culture minister says there is a `` large consensus '' that the spire of Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris should be rebuilt as it was before last year 's devastating fire .
Roselyne Bachelot told French radio on Thursday that `` there was a large consensus in public opinion and among those deciding '' the issue for the spire to be rebuilt .
Her comments came hours before a commission that is set to rule on the thorny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Bachelot said the final decision was in the hands of French President Emmanuel Macron , who had previously spoken in favour of adding a contemporary `` touch '' to the 13th century monument .
Macron vowed to rebuild Notre-Dame in less than five years after a major fire on April 15 largely destroyed the 850-year-old Gothic cathedral ’ s roof and spire .
The pledge prompted concern among architects , conservationists and academics from around the world , who have called for caution in restoring the badly damaged edifice .
Two days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Philippe sparked controversy by announcing that the government would hold an international architectural contest to redesign the spire , originally designed by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in 1859 .
Philippe expressed interest in “ a new spire adapted to the techniques and the challenges of our era ” .
Since then , some of the world 's most famous architects have submitted projects .
They include Britain 's Norman Foster , who envisions a glass roof and a crystal spire , and Slovakia 's Vizum atelier , which replaced the spire with a light beam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a YouGov opinion poll , 54 percent of French people would like the Gothic cathedral to be rebuilt as it was before the April fire , with only 25 percent opting for an “ architectural initiative ” .
The debate over the monument 's future boiled over into a public spat late last year when the French army general charged with overseeing the rebuilding told the cathedral 's chief architect to `` shut his mouth '' .
Philippe Villeneuve , the cathedral 's architect since 2013 , had threatened to resign unless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that he agrees the spire of Notre-Dame Cathedral, which was destroyed in last year's devastating fire, should be rebuilt exactly as it was.
Smoke billows as fire engulfs the Gothic spire of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019.
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France's incoming culture minister said earlier that there was a "large consensus" that the spire of Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris should be rebuilt as it was before. Roselyne Bachelot told French radio on Thursday that "there was a large consensus in public opinion and among those deciding" the issue for the spire to be rebuilt.
Her comments came hours before a commission that is set to rule on the thorny question was due to meet.
Macron had previously spoken in favour of adding a contemporary "touch" to the 13th-century monument. He vowed to rebuild Notre-Dame in less than five years after a major fire on April 15 largely destroyed the 850-year-old Gothic cathedral’s roof and spire.
His pledge prompted concern among architects, conservationists and academics from around the world, who have called for caution in restoring the badly damaged edifice.
Two days after the fire, then prime minister Édouard Philippe sparked controversy by announcing that the government would hold an international architectural contest to redesign the spire, originally designed by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in 1859. Philippe also expressed interest in “a new spire adapted to the techniques and the challenges of our era”.
>> Tradition vs modernity: Debate over future Notre-Dame spire sparks controversy
Since then, some of the world's most famous architects have submitted projects. They include Britain's Norman Foster, who envisions a glass roof and a crystal spire, and Slovakia's Vizum atelier, which replaced the spire with a light beam pointing towards the sky.
Notre-Dame competition an extraordinary opportunity, says Norman Foster. https://t.co/uQxmDZgHbz pic.twitter.com/FPpQgUmckF — Royal Fine Art (@RoyalFineArt) April 20, 2019
But according to a YouGov opinion poll, 54 percent of French people would like the Gothic cathedral to be rebuilt as it was before the April fire, with only 25 percent opting for an “architectural initiative”.
The debate over the monument's future boiled over into a public spat late last year when the French army general charged with overseeing the rebuilding told the cathedral's chief architect to "shut his mouth".
Philippe Villeneuve, the cathedral's architect since 2013, had threatened to resign unless Notre-Dame was rebuilt the way it was.
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france24--2020-07-09--Four-time Tour winner Chris Froome to leave Team INEOS at end of season

Britain 's Chris Froome returned to racing in February after suffering a horrible accident last year .
Britain 's most decorated road cyclist Chris Froome will leave Team INEOS at the end of the season to join Israel Start-Up Nation , ending a long association with the British outfit with whom he won the Tour de France four times .
Froome , who won the Tour in 2013 , 2015 , 2016 and 2017 is one win away from matching the record of five victories held jointly by Jacques Anquetil , Eddy Merckx , Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the mastermind of Froome 's Tour wins in 2013 , 2015 , 2016 and 2017 , said he had taken the decision not to renew the British rider 's contract which ends in December .
The 35-year-old Froome , who is one win away from equalling the Tour record of five victories , has signed a multi-year contract at Israel Start-Up Nation .
`` We are making this announcement earlier than would usually be the case to put an end to recent speculation and allow the Team to focus on the season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Froome suffered a dreadful accident last year in training and missed the Tour , which was won by Colombian team mate Egan Bernal .
He said he was still focused on winning his fifth Tour title with the team in this year 's race which has been re-scheduled because of the Covid-19 pandemic .
`` It has been a phenomenal decade with the Team , we have achieved so much together and I will always treasure the memories , '' Froome , who joined the team then known as Team Sky in 2010 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I look forward to exciting new challenges as I move into the next phase of my career . ''
The recruitment of Froome , who also won the Giro d'Italia in 2018 , the 2017 Vuelta as well as the 2011 edition retrospectively , is a major coup for Israel Start-Up Nation .
`` This is an historic moment for ISN , Israel , Israeli sports , our many fans all around the world and , of course , for me personally — a moment of enormous pride , '' said the team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is no longer automatic leader at Team INEOS with Bernal and Geraint Thomas , winner of the Tour in 2018 , both vying for that position .
`` Chris is understandably keen to have sole team leadership in the next chapter of his career — which is not something we are able to guarantee him at this point , '' Brailsford said .

Britain's most decorated road cyclist Chris Froome will leave Team INEOS at the end of the season to join Israel Start-Up Nation, ending a long association with the British outfit with whom he won the Tour de France four times.
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Froome, who won the Tour in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017 is one win away from matching the record of five victories held jointly by Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain.
In a statement team boss Dave Brailsford, the mastermind of Froome's Tour wins in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017, said he had taken the decision not to renew the British rider's contract which ends in December.
The 35-year-old Froome, who is one win away from equalling the Tour record of five victories, has signed a multi-year contract at Israel Start-Up Nation.
"We are making this announcement earlier than would usually be the case to put an end to recent speculation and allow the Team to focus on the season ahead," Brailsford said.
Team INEOS confirms we will not be renewing @chrisfroome’s contract - so after 10 great years this season will be Chris’s last with the team. — Team INEOS (@TeamINEOS) July 9, 2020
Kenya-born Froome suffered a dreadful accident last year in training and missed the Tour, which was won by Colombian team mate Egan Bernal.
He said he was still focused on winning his fifth Tour title with the team in this year's race which has been re-scheduled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"It has been a phenomenal decade with the Team, we have achieved so much together and I will always treasure the memories," Froome, who joined the team then known as Team Sky in 2010, said in a statement.
"I look forward to exciting new challenges as I move into the next phase of my career."
The recruitment of Froome, who also won the Giro d'Italia in 2018, the 2017 Vuelta as well as the 2011 edition retrospectively, is a major coup for Israel Start-Up Nation.
"This is an historic moment for ISN, Israel, Israeli sports, our many fans all around the world and, of course, for me personally — a moment of enormous pride," said the team's co-owner, Sylvan Adams.
Froome is no longer automatic leader at Team INEOS with Bernal and Geraint Thomas, winner of the Tour in 2018, both vying for that position.
"Chris is understandably keen to have sole team leadership in the next chapter of his career — which is not something we are able to guarantee him at this point," Brailsford said.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-09--Brazil's Bolsonaro boasts taking 'miraculous' hydroxychloroquine for Covid-19

Brazil 's President Jair Bolsonaro speaks with journalists while wearing a protective face mask as he arrives at Alvorada Palace , amid the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) outbreak , in Brasilia , Brazil , May 22 , 2020 .
After months of touting an unproven anti-malaria drug as a treatment for the new coronavirus , Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is turning himself into a test case live before millions of people as he swallows hydroxychloroquine pills on social media and encourages others to do the same .
Bolsonaro said this week that he had tested positive for the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hours later he shared a video of himself gulping down what he said was his third dose .
On Wednesday , he was again extolling the drug 's benefits on Facebook , and claimed that his political opponents were rooting against it .
A string of studies in Britain and the United States , as well as by the World Health Organization , have found chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine ineffective against COVID-19 and sometimes deadly because of their adverse side effects on the heart .
Several studies were canceled early because of adverse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promoted hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19 but chloroquine — a more toxic version of the drug , produced in Brazil — has been even more enthusiastically promoted by Bolsonaro , who contends the virus is largely unavoidable and , what is more , not a serious medical problem .
“ He has become the poster boy for curing COVID with hydroxychloroquine , ” said Paulo Calmon , a political science professor at the University of Brasilia .
“ Chloroquine composes part of the denialist 's political strategy , with the objective of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be easily controlled.
” Trump first mentioned hydroxychloroquine on March 19 during a pandemic briefing .
Two days later , and a month after Brazil 's first confirmed case , Bolsonaro took one of his only big actions to fight the coronavirus .
He announced he was directing the Brazilian army to ramp up output of chloroquine .
The army churned out more than 2 million pills — 18 times the country 's normal annual production — even as Brazil 's intensive care medicine association recommended it not be prescribed and doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 31 said it had donated 2 million hydroxychloroquine pills to Brazil .
Two weeks later the U.S. Food & Drug Administration revoked authorization for its emergency use , citing adverse side effects and saying it is unlikely to be effective .
Brazil ’ s audit court on June 18 requested an investigation into alleged overbilling from local production of chloroquine , which it called unreasonable given the drug ’ s ineffectiveness and cited the FDA decision .
Meantime , stocks of sedatives and other medications used in intensive care ran out in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report from Brazil 's council of state health secretariats .
A former defense minister , Aldo Rebelo , told The Associated Press that he is concerned the army will be wrongly blamed for its involvement in production of a drug that most experts call ineffective against the coronavirus .
“ All they did was to follow a legal order and produce the pills , ” said Rebelo .
“ The problem is the health ministry and the decision that the president made.
” Brazil ’ s interim health minister , an army general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endorsed chloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment days after assuming the post in May .
His predecessor , a doctor and health consultant , quit rather than do so .
As Brazil 's death toll continued to climb — nearing 68,000 on Wednesday , the second-most in the world — the health ministry distributed millions of chloroquine pills across Brazil 's vast territory .
They have reached small cities with little or no health infrastructure to handle the pandemic and even a far-flung Indigenous territory .
“ They ’ re trying to use the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chloroquine , use the Indigenous to advertise for chloroquine like Bolsonaro has done on his live broadcasts , like a poster boy for chloroquine , ” Kretã Kaingang , an executive coordinator of the Indigenous organization APIB , said by phone from Brazil 's capital , Brasilia .
In Brazil 's largest city , Sao Paulo , three doctors treating COVID-19 in different hospitals told AP that patients routinely requested chloroquine as the pandemic spread , often citing Bolsonaro .
In recent weeks , inquiries about the drug were less frequent after scientific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physicians said .
All say they worry Bolsonaro 's cheerleading will spur a new wave of desperate patients and relatives clamoring for chloroquine .
“ I tell them that I do n't prescribe it because there 's no study proving it improves patients , that there are important risks with the indiscriminate use of this drug , ” said Dr. Natalia Magacho , an attending physician at the Hospital das Clinicas .
“ Some even get angry at first .
But all prescriptions are the doctor 's responsibility and , as the risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prescribe it.
” Most doctors oppose any protocols for the use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine , but some physicians continue to believe and have pressured local authorities to permit its use , said João Gabbardo , the former No .
2 official at Brazil 's health ministry .
“ This issue has been framed in a very polarizing , politicized manner , '' said Gabbardo , who is now executive coordinator of Sao Paulo ’ s COVID-19 contingency center .
`` We are moving away from the discussion of science , of scientific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positions.
” Bolsonaro 's supporters and aides have amplified his message .
Eduardo Bolsonaro , the president 's son and a federal lawmaker , said his father will beat the disease because he is taking the anti-malarial drug .
`` Treatment with chloroquine is rather effective at the start of the illness ( and should be available for any Brazilian who needs it ) , ” the younger Bolsonaro wrote on Twitter , without distinguishing between the two types of the drug .
Margareth Dalcolmo , a clinical researcher and prominent respiratory medicine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said she has no objection to Bolsonaro and his doctor agreeing on hydroxychloroquine treatment .
The problem , she said , is broadcasting that information to an impressionable public that , if he recovers , will believe a potentially dangerous drug was responsible .
Dalcolmo treats patients and contracted COVID-19 herself .
Before she bounced back , some friends asked if she would authorize administration of either chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine were she unable to grant consent .
“ Over my dead body , dear , ” she said .
“ I said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , intubated , none of you are authorized to put me on chloroquine .
I would never authorize its use on me .
And I haven ’ t used it on my dozens of patients .
”

After months of touting an unproven anti-malaria drug as a treatment for the new coronavirus, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is turning himself into a test case live before millions of people as he swallows hydroxychloroquine pills on social media and encourages others to do the same.
Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro speaks with journalists while wearing a protective face mask as he arrives at Alvorada Palace, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Brasilia, Brazil, May 22, 2020.
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Bolsonaro said this week that he had tested positive for the disease but already felt better thanks to hydroxychloroquine. Hours later he shared a video of himself gulping down what he said was his third dose.
“I trust hydroxychloroquine,” he said, smiling. “And you?”
On Wednesday, he was again extolling the drug's benefits on Facebook, and claimed that his political opponents were rooting against it.
A string of studies in Britain and the United States, as well as by the World Health Organization, have found chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine ineffective against COVID-19 and sometimes deadly because of their adverse side effects on the heart. Several studies were canceled early because of adverse effects.
U.S. President Donald Trump has promoted hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19 but chloroquine — a more toxic version of the drug, produced in Brazil — has been even more enthusiastically promoted by Bolsonaro, who contends the virus is largely unavoidable and, what is more, not a serious medical problem.
01:01
“He has become the poster boy for curing COVID with hydroxychloroquine,” said Paulo Calmon, a political science professor at the University of Brasilia. “Chloroquine composes part of the denialist's political strategy, with the objective of convincing voters that the pandemic's effects can be easily controlled.”
Trump first mentioned hydroxychloroquine on March 19 during a pandemic briefing. Two days later, and a month after Brazil's first confirmed case, Bolsonaro took one of his only big actions to fight the coronavirus. He announced he was directing the Brazilian army to ramp up output of chloroquine.
The army churned out more than 2 million pills — 18 times the country's normal annual production — even as Brazil's intensive care medicine association recommended it not be prescribed and doctors mostly complied.
The White House on May 31 said it had donated 2 million hydroxychloroquine pills to Brazil. Two weeks later the U.S. Food & Drug Administration revoked authorization for its emergency use, citing adverse side effects and saying it is unlikely to be effective.
Brazil’s audit court on June 18 requested an investigation into alleged overbilling from local production of chloroquine, which it called unreasonable given the drug’s ineffectiveness and cited the FDA decision. Meantime, stocks of sedatives and other medications used in intensive care ran out in three states, according to a late-June report from Brazil's council of state health secretariats.
A former defense minister, Aldo Rebelo, told The Associated Press that he is concerned the army will be wrongly blamed for its involvement in production of a drug that most experts call ineffective against the coronavirus.
“All they did was to follow a legal order and produce the pills,” said Rebelo. “The problem is the health ministry and the decision that the president made.”
Brazil’s interim health minister, an army general with no health experience before April, endorsed chloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment days after assuming the post in May. His predecessor, a doctor and health consultant, quit rather than do so.
As Brazil's death toll continued to climb — nearing 68,000 on Wednesday, the second-most in the world — the health ministry distributed millions of chloroquine pills across Brazil's vast territory. They have reached small cities with little or no health infrastructure to handle the pandemic and even a far-flung Indigenous territory.
“They’re trying to use the Indigenous people as guinea pigs to test chloroquine, use the Indigenous to advertise for chloroquine like Bolsonaro has done on his live broadcasts, like a poster boy for chloroquine,” Kretã Kaingang, an executive coordinator of the Indigenous organization APIB, said by phone from Brazil's capital, Brasilia.
In Brazil's largest city, Sao Paulo, three doctors treating COVID-19 in different hospitals told AP that patients routinely requested chloroquine as the pandemic spread, often citing Bolsonaro. In recent weeks, inquiries about the drug were less frequent after scientific doubts arose about its effectiveness, two physicians said.
All say they worry Bolsonaro's cheerleading will spur a new wave of desperate patients and relatives clamoring for chloroquine.
“I tell them that I don't prescribe it because there's no study proving it improves patients, that there are important risks with the indiscriminate use of this drug,” said Dr. Natalia Magacho, an attending physician at the Hospital das Clinicas. “Some even get angry at first. But all prescriptions are the doctor's responsibility and, as the risk outweighs the benefit, I don't prescribe it.”
Most doctors oppose any protocols for the use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, but some physicians continue to believe and have pressured local authorities to permit its use, said João Gabbardo, the former No. 2 official at Brazil's health ministry.
“This issue has been framed in a very polarizing, politicized manner," said Gabbardo, who is now executive coordinator of Sao Paulo’s COVID-19 contingency center. "We are moving away from the discussion of science, of scientific evidence, toward a discussion of political positions.”
Bolsonaro's supporters and aides have amplified his message. Eduardo Bolsonaro, the president's son and a federal lawmaker, said his father will beat the disease because he is taking the anti-malarial drug.
"Treatment with chloroquine is rather effective at the start of the illness (and should be available for any Brazilian who needs it),” the younger Bolsonaro wrote on Twitter, without distinguishing between the two types of the drug.
Margareth Dalcolmo, a clinical researcher and prominent respiratory medicine professor at the state-funded Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, said she has no objection to Bolsonaro and his doctor agreeing on hydroxychloroquine treatment. The problem, she said, is broadcasting that information to an impressionable public that, if he recovers, will believe a potentially dangerous drug was responsible.
Dalcolmo treats patients and contracted COVID-19 herself. Before she bounced back, some friends asked if she would authorize administration of either chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine were she unable to grant consent.
“Over my dead body, dear,” she said. “I said if I’m in a coma, intubated, none of you are authorized to put me on chloroquine. I would never authorize its use on me. And I haven’t used it on my dozens of patients.”
(AP)
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france24--2020-07-09--Almost 30 women accuse Paris street artist of rape, sexual assault

Picture of graffiti reading `` The rapist roams the streets '' , posted on Twitter by Neon Magazine , which spoke to several of the plaintiffs in late June .
Paris police are investigating accusations by 28 women that a street artist in the historic Montmartre neighbourhood raped or sexually assaulted them in what has been described as a systematic , years-long pattern of targeting and manipulating teen girls and young women .
A group of twenty-five women aged between 19 and 49 lodged a collective complaint on Tuesday , seen by AFP , in which they described Wilfrid A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played on his fame as part of a well-oiled routine to assault his victims over the course of a decade .
The collective complaint was filed after three other women filed individual complaints .
Neon , a news and trends magazine aimed at young people , had published on June 22 the accounts of sixteen women , some of whom were underage at the time , describing rape and sexual assault .
The street artist became a local star after the Paris terror attacks in November 2015 when his most famous tag `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symbol of Parisian resilience and hope .
But feminists have taken to crossing out the word `` love '' on the murals and replacing it with `` rapist '' .
Wilfrid A would walk up to mostly very young women in the street , often in the famous Montmartre artist quarter where he lives , the women alleged in the complaint .
He would compliment them and suggest they model for his photographs or become the face of his brand .
Once they arrived at his `` studio '' , which turned out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ artist would offer them alcohol or drugs .
He would then become aggressive or violent , they said .
Valentine Reberioux , a lawyer representing several of the plantiffs , said they didn ’ t report the alleged assaults to police at the time out of fear that they wouldn ’ t be believed , or that he would publish nude photos of them , or because they felt responsible for allowing themselves to be abused and manipulated .
`` Wilfrid A appears to have been on a tireless , even frenetic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least a decade , '' Neon alleged in its article .
Investigators opened an inquiry on June 26 , shortly after the publication of the magazine 's initial article .
`` An inquiry does n't begin in a magazine but in a police station , '' Wilfrid A 's lawyer Joseph Cohen-Sabban told AFP .
`` My client is willing to explain himself to investigators , '' Cohen-Sabban said , adding that the street artist has been threatened since the publication of the article .
The accusations come as women ’ s rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s decision this week to appoint a man who is facing a rape investigation as interior minister , and a lawyer who has ridiculed the # MeToo movement as justice minister .
Macron and his prime minister have defended the staffing choices .
Protests were held in Paris on Tuesday and more are planned around France on Friday .

Paris police are investigating accusations by 28 women that a street artist in the historic Montmartre neighbourhood raped or sexually assaulted them in what has been described as a systematic, years-long pattern of targeting and manipulating teen girls and young women.
Picture of graffiti reading "The rapist roams the streets", posted on Twitter by Neon Magazine, which spoke to several of the plaintiffs in late June.
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A group of twenty-five women aged between 19 and 49 lodged a collective complaint on Tuesday, seen by AFP, in which they described Wilfrid A as a "sexual predator" who played on his fame as part of a well-oiled routine to assault his victims over the course of a decade.
The collective complaint was filed after three other women filed individual complaints.
Neon, a news and trends magazine aimed at young people, had published on June 22 the accounts of sixteen women, some of whom were underage at the time, describing rape and sexual assault.
Affaire “L’amour court les rues” : L’avalanche de témoignages reçus depuis la publication de notre enquête sur les agissements du street artist Wilfrid A. dessinent une pratique prédatrice hors du commun. Nos nouveaux éléments ici. https://t.co/oyMFArveSk pic.twitter.com/mAYvCOGCxm — NEON (@neon_mag) July 6, 2020
The street artist became a local star after the Paris terror attacks in November 2015 when his most famous tag "Love roams the streets" became a symbol of Parisian resilience and hope.
But feminists have taken to crossing out the word "love" on the murals and replacing it with "rapist".
Wilfrid A would walk up to mostly very young women in the street, often in the famous Montmartre artist quarter where he lives, the women alleged in the complaint.
He would compliment them and suggest they model for his photographs or become the face of his brand.
Once they arrived at his "studio", which turned out to be his home, the street artist would offer them alcohol or drugs. He would then become aggressive or violent, they said.
«Violeur court les rues» : ouverture à Paris d'une enquête contre un street artiste accusé d'agression sexuelle https://t.co/YrCatqb8AN via @Figaro_Culture pic.twitter.com/wyBjkwsfPR — Olivier Delcroix (@Delcroixx) July 8, 2020
Valentine Reberioux, a lawyer representing several of the plantiffs, said they didn’t report the alleged assaults to police at the time out of fear that they wouldn’t be believed, or that he would publish nude photos of them, or because they felt responsible for allowing themselves to be abused and manipulated.
'Frenetic hunt'
"Wilfrid A appears to have been on a tireless, even frenetic, hunt for very young women for at least a decade," Neon alleged in its article.
Investigators opened an inquiry on June 26, shortly after the publication of the magazine's initial article.
"An inquiry doesn't begin in a magazine but in a police station," Wilfrid A's lawyer Joseph Cohen-Sabban told AFP.
"My client is willing to explain himself to investigators," Cohen-Sabban said, adding that the street artist has been threatened since the publication of the article.
The accusations come as women’s rights groups are protesting French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision this week to appoint a man who is facing a rape investigation as interior minister, and a lawyer who has ridiculed the #MeToo movement as justice minister.
Macron and his prime minister have defended the staffing choices. Protests were held in Paris on Tuesday and more are planned around France on Friday.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP)
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france24--2020-07-09--Trump insists on re-opening schools as US Covid-19 cases top 3 million

An empty playground is surrounded by caution tape amid the global outbreak of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) in Seabrook , Texas , U.S. , July 8 , 2020 .
The United States topped three million confirmed coronavirus cases Wednesday as President Donald Trump pushed for schools to re-open amid a COVID-19 resurgence in many southern hotspots .
The United States topped three million confirmed coronavirus cases Wednesday as President Donald Trump pushed for schools to re-open amid a COVID-19 resurgence in many southern hotspots .
The US remains by far the worst affected country , with over 132,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for the disease -- is a distant second with close to 67,000 deaths from almost 1.7 million cases .
As infections rose by a further 55,000 to reach a total of 3,046,351 on Wednesday , Trump called for students to return to their schools in the fall and lashed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for issuing guidance that he said was too restrictive .
The agency 's head later said the guidelines were `` not requirements '' and that the CDC would soon update its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meanwhile sued the administration after it threatened to revoke the visas of foreign students whose entire courses have moved online because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The virus has infected almost 12 million people worldwide and killed more than 500,000 since it emerged in China late last year .
Across the world , citizens chafed under renewed restrictions as countries experience fresh waves of disease .
The Serbian capital Belgrade was hit by clashes for a second night as police skirmished with protesters outraged over the government 's handling of the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city center in chaotic scenes that mirrored violence the night before , when thousands came out to protest the return of a round-the-clock weekend lockdown .
In the Australian city of Melbourne , millions were preparing for a return to lockdown to fight an upsurge that is seeing more than 100 new cases reported each day , with panic buyers stripping supermarket shelves .
France , which had flattened its curve by imposing a strict lockdown earlier in the pandemic , said Wednesday it was girding for a possible surge in cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consequences of attempting to thrust millions back into their homes , France 's new prime minister aimed to soothe fears by promising no new full shutdown .
`` We 're not going to impose a lockdown like the one we did last March , because we 've learned ... that the economic and human consequences from a total lockdown are disastrous , '' Jean Castex said , promising `` targeted '' measures instead .
Several US states and cities have likewise had to roll back their reopening measures .
Houston , for example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party 's upcoming in-person indoors state convention as COVID-19 cases surged in the city .
Having just a handful of cases at the start of February , the US infection rate passed the one million milestone on April 28 and hit two million on June 11 , according to an AFP tally of official sources .
All the while , the death toll has been creeping up to its current figure of more than 132,000 , almost one-quarter of the global total .
The current US death rate is however substantially lower than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is possibly because of a lag between infection and deaths among sick patients , but also because the country 's epidemic is affecting younger people , and because better treatments are now available .
Doctors have found that placing patients with breathing troubles on their stomachs eases the burden on their lungs , and are using blood thinners preventatively to stop catastrophic clots from forming as a result of the virus .
They are also using the steroid dexamethasone to stop a supercharged and destructive immune response , and the antiviral remdesivir to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for his part , has sought to blame China and the World Health Organization for his country 's epidemic , and on Tuesday formally began the process of withdrawing from the body .
His opponent in the November election , former Vice President Joe Biden , has vowed to undo the decision if he wins .
The virus continues to take a massive economic toll , sparking an explosion in Canada 's federal budget deficit , which hit CAN $ 343 billion ( US $ 254 billion ) for the current fiscal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent of the Group of Seven nation 's gross domestic product ( GDP ) .
The European Union meanwhile is working on a $ 843 million package to help crisis-hit economies in the bloc .
`` We need extraordinary solidarity , '' said German chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of an upcoming EU summit .

The United States topped three million confirmed coronavirus cases Wednesday as President Donald Trump pushed for schools to re-open amid a COVID-19 resurgence in many southern hotspots.
Advertising Read more
The United States topped three million confirmed coronavirus cases Wednesday as President Donald Trump pushed for schools to re-open amid a COVID-19 resurgence in many southern hotspots.
The US remains by far the worst affected country, with over 132,000 deaths, while Brazil -- whose virus-skeptic President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for the disease -- is a distant second with close to 67,000 deaths from almost 1.7 million cases.
As infections rose by a further 55,000 to reach a total of 3,046,351 on Wednesday, Trump called for students to return to their schools in the fall and lashed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for issuing guidance that he said was too restrictive.
The agency's head later said the guidelines were "not requirements" and that the CDC would soon update its advice.
Prestigious universities Harvard and MIT meanwhile sued the administration after it threatened to revoke the visas of foreign students whose entire courses have moved online because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Chaos in Belgrade
The virus has infected almost 12 million people worldwide and killed more than 500,000 since it emerged in China late last year.
Across the world, citizens chafed under renewed restrictions as countries experience fresh waves of disease.
The Serbian capital Belgrade was hit by clashes for a second night as police skirmished with protesters outraged over the government's handling of the pandemic.
Clouds of tear gas and smoke filled the city center in chaotic scenes that mirrored violence the night before, when thousands came out to protest the return of a round-the-clock weekend lockdown.
In the Australian city of Melbourne, millions were preparing for a return to lockdown to fight an upsurge that is seeing more than 100 new cases reported each day, with panic buyers stripping supermarket shelves.
France, which had flattened its curve by imposing a strict lockdown earlier in the pandemic, said Wednesday it was girding for a possible surge in cases.
But, mindful of potentially disastrous consequences of attempting to thrust millions back into their homes, France's new prime minister aimed to soothe fears by promising no new full shutdown.
"We're not going to impose a lockdown like the one we did last March, because we've learned... that the economic and human consequences from a total lockdown are disastrous," Jean Castex said, promising "targeted" measures instead.
Better treatments
Several US states and cities have likewise had to roll back their reopening measures. Houston, for example, on Wednesday canceled the Texas Republican Party's upcoming in-person indoors state convention as COVID-19 cases surged in the city.
Having just a handful of cases at the start of February, the US infection rate passed the one million milestone on April 28 and hit two million on June 11, according to an AFP tally of official sources.
All the while, the death toll has been creeping up to its current figure of more than 132,000, almost one-quarter of the global total.
The current US death rate is however substantially lower than it was in late spring.
This is possibly because of a lag between infection and deaths among sick patients, but also because the country's epidemic is affecting younger people, and because better treatments are now available.
Doctors have found that placing patients with breathing troubles on their stomachs eases the burden on their lungs, and are using blood thinners preventatively to stop catastrophic clots from forming as a result of the virus.
They are also using the steroid dexamethasone to stop a supercharged and destructive immune response, and the antiviral remdesivir to help ventilated patients recover faster.
Trump, for his part, has sought to blame China and the World Health Organization for his country's epidemic, and on Tuesday formally began the process of withdrawing from the body.
His opponent in the November election, former Vice President Joe Biden, has vowed to undo the decision if he wins.
'Extraordinary solidarity'
The virus continues to take a massive economic toll, sparking an explosion in Canada's federal budget deficit, which hit CAN $343 billion (US $254 billion) for the current fiscal year.
It is equal to 15.9 percent of the Group of Seven nation's gross domestic product (GDP).
The European Union meanwhile is working on a $843 million package to help crisis-hit economies in the bloc.
"We need extraordinary solidarity," said German chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of an upcoming EU summit.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-09--Melbourne starts six-week lockdown on fears of second Covid-19 wave

A healthcare worker signals to her colleagues from a window of a public housing tower , locked down in response to an outbreak of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) , in Melbourne , Australia , July 8 , 2020 .
Australia 's second most populous city began a six-week lockdown on Thursday following a spike in new coronavirus cases , as states around the country tightened internal borders to prevent a second wave sweeping the country .
Australia has avoided the high casualty numbers of other countries to the COVID-19 pandemic , which has killed 544,055 people globally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state of Victoria to impose `` self isolate '' orders for the city 's estimated five million .
Victoria on Wednesday reported 134 new infections , down on the previous day 's record increase but well above the rate of other states .
Other states and territories have recorded few or zero cases in recent weeks and are continuing to reopen their economies .
The northern state of Queensland said it would ban non-residents arriving from Victoria .
It will open its borders to people from other states and territories on Friday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ willing to pay for the mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine would be banned , the Queensland government said .
`` They are making the decision that that two weeks and that cost is worth it to get out of Victoria , '' deputy premier Stephen Miles said in a televised news conference .
`` We do n't want that to continue , '' he added .
The country 's most populous state , New South Wales ( NSW ) , closed its heavily trafficked border to neighbouring Victoria on Wednesday .
South Australia also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We 're definitely at a different stage of the pandemic , '' NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney .
The NSW authorities reported 13 new coronavirus cases in the 24 hours to Thursday morning , of which 11 were overseas arrivals in hotel quarantine and two were members of a family who had returned from Melbourne .
NSW says anyone arriving from Victoria must self-isolate for 14 days .
The island state of Tasmania kept its border closed to Victoria and extended a state of emergency to the end of August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself has not reported a new case in nearly eight weeks .
Western Australia state had closed its border to the rest of Australia indefinitely before the latest outbreak in Victoria .
After enforcing restrictions early in the coronavirus outbreak compared to most other countries , Australia had begun to ease its lockdown in May to revive its economy after a significant slowdown in infection rates .
Australia has so far recorded about 8,900 infections and 106 deaths by Thursday .

Australia's second most populous city began a six-week lockdown on Thursday following a spike in new coronavirus cases, as states around the country tightened internal borders to prevent a second wave sweeping the country.
A healthcare worker signals to her colleagues from a window of a public housing tower, locked down in response to an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Melbourne, Australia, July 8, 2020.
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Australia has avoided the high casualty numbers of other countries to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed 544,055 people globally, but an outbreak in Melbourne prompted the state of Victoria to impose "self isolate" orders for the city's estimated five million.
Victoria on Wednesday reported 134 new infections, down on the previous day's record increase but well above the rate of other states.
Other states and territories have recorded few or zero cases in recent weeks and are continuing to reopen their economies.
The northern state of Queensland said it would ban non-residents arriving from Victoria. It will open its borders to people from other states and territories on Friday.
Even people travelling from Victoria who were willing to pay for the mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine would be banned, the Queensland government said.
"They are making the decision that that two weeks and that cost is worth it to get out of Victoria," deputy premier Stephen Miles said in a televised news conference.
"We don't want that to continue," he added.
The country's most populous state, New South Wales (NSW), closed its heavily trafficked border to neighbouring Victoria on Wednesday. South Australia also closed its border with Victoria.
"We're definitely at a different stage of the pandemic," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney.
The NSW authorities reported 13 new coronavirus cases in the 24 hours to Thursday morning, of which 11 were overseas arrivals in hotel quarantine and two were members of a family who had returned from Melbourne. NSW says anyone arriving from Victoria must self-isolate for 14 days.
The island state of Tasmania kept its border closed to Victoria and extended a state of emergency to the end of August because of the Victorian outbreak. Tasmania itself has not reported a new case in nearly eight weeks.
Western Australia state had closed its border to the rest of Australia indefinitely before the latest outbreak in Victoria.
After enforcing restrictions early in the coronavirus outbreak compared to most other countries, Australia had begun to ease its lockdown in May to revive its economy after a significant slowdown in infection rates.
Australia has so far recorded about 8,900 infections and 106 deaths by Thursday.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-09--Mexican president lauds Trump despite past threats, insults against Mexicans

U.S. President Donald Trump and Mexico 's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador arrive for a dinner at the White House , in Washington , U.S. July 8 , 2020 .
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador lavished praise on President Donald Trump at their first meeting on Wednesday , saying the U.S. leader treated Mexico with respect despite his history of threatening tariffs and insulting Mexicans .
The leftist Mexican leader made his first foreign trip as president to the White House , where he and Trump accentuated the positive in their public remarks while largely glossing over their differences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` What I most appreciate is that you have never tried to impose anything on us that violates or damages our sovereignty , '' Lopez Obrador said in Spanish , turning to look at Trump as the two spoke in the Rose Garden before signing a joint declaration .
`` You have never attempted to treat us like a colony , '' he added .
`` I am here to say to the people of the United States that your president has treated us with kindness and respect . ''
The White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lopez Obrador , were tested for the coronavirus before they met with Trump .
Mindful of the pandemic , which is still surging in Mexico and the United States , the men did not shake hands when Trump greeted Lopez Obrador on his arrival .
Neither wore face masks .
There were no tangible signs of progress on such issues as counter-narcotics and Lopez Obrador 's attempts to renegotiate billions of dollars worth of energy infrastructure contracts .
The two men signed a joint declaration that hailed the July 1 start of United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American Free Trade Agreement that Trump , a Republican , reviled .
Trump said the countries were committed to `` a shared future of prosperity , security and harmony '' and joked that he and leftist Lopez Obrador had forged `` a great relationship ... maybe against all odds . ''
Critics argued Trump aimed to use the visit to gain support among Hispanic voters ahead of the Nov. 3 U.S. presidential election in which he is expected to face Democrat Joe Biden .
Lopez Obrador was not scheduled to meet Biden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Hispanic U.S. voters , according to opinion polls .
`` For a man who said he wasn ’ t going to the United States to wade into electoral waters , he did just that , '' said former Mexican ambassador to the United States Arturo Sarukhan .
Lopez Obrador 's comments about Trump being respectful toward Mexicans will have left migrant leaders `` completely aghast , '' Sarukhan added .
But Porfirio Munoz Ledo , a congressman from Lopez Obrador 's National Regeneration Movement ( MORENA ) who at times criticizes his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tribute to the Mexican leader 's diplomatic skills .
`` It 's exemplary , '' he said , saying Trump treated his Mexican guest with respect and defied the expectations of some critics to show him up .
Lopez Obrador brushed off criticism at home to meet Trump , who is widely disliked in Mexico because of his incendiary remarks .
Trump described Mexican immigrants as rapists and drug runners during his 2015-16 presidential election campaign and vowed to make Mexico pay for his planned border wall .
In May 2019 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to reduce the number of illegal immigrants entering the United States .
He only backed off after Lopez Obrador agreed to deploy security forces and other steps to stem the flow of Central American migrants .
`` Trump launched his 2016 campaign by calling Mexicans rapists , '' Biden wrote .
`` He 's spread racism against our Latino community ever since . ''
Trump hosted a dinner for Lopez Obrador and prominent U.S. and Mexican executives , including Mexico 's richest man , telecoms magnate Carlos Slim ; Bernardo Gomez , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Group ; and retail and media tycoon Ricardo Salinas Pliego .

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador lavished praise on President Donald Trump at their first meeting on Wednesday, saying the U.S. leader treated Mexico with respect despite his history of threatening tariffs and insulting Mexicans.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador arrive for a dinner at the White House, in Washington, U.S. July 8, 2020.
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The leftist Mexican leader made his first foreign trip as president to the White House, where he and Trump accentuated the positive in their public remarks while largely glossing over their differences on business, illegal drugs and migration.
"What I most appreciate is that you have never tried to impose anything on us that violates or damages our sovereignty," Lopez Obrador said in Spanish, turning to look at Trump as the two spoke in the Rose Garden before signing a joint declaration.
"You have never attempted to treat us like a colony," he added. "I am here to say to the people of the United States that your president has treated us with kindness and respect."
The White House said the Mexican delegation, including Lopez Obrador, were tested for the coronavirus before they met with Trump.
Mindful of the pandemic, which is still surging in Mexico and the United States, the men did not shake hands when Trump greeted Lopez Obrador on his arrival. Neither wore face masks.
There were no tangible signs of progress on such issues as counter-narcotics and Lopez Obrador's attempts to renegotiate billions of dollars worth of energy infrastructure contracts.
The two men signed a joint declaration that hailed the July 1 start of United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement that Trump, a Republican, reviled.
Trump said the countries were committed to "a shared future of prosperity, security and harmony" and joked that he and leftist Lopez Obrador had forged "a great relationship ... maybe against all odds."
Critics argued Trump aimed to use the visit to gain support among Hispanic voters ahead of the Nov. 3 U.S. presidential election in which he is expected to face Democrat Joe Biden.
Lopez Obrador was not scheduled to meet Biden, a former vice president who is favored by Hispanic U.S. voters, according to opinion polls.
"For a man who said he wasn’t going to the United States to wade into electoral waters, he did just that," said former Mexican ambassador to the United States Arturo Sarukhan.
Lopez Obrador's comments about Trump being respectful toward Mexicans will have left migrant leaders "completely aghast," Sarukhan added.
But Porfirio Munoz Ledo, a congressman from Lopez Obrador's National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) who at times criticizes his own government, said the visit was a tribute to the Mexican leader's diplomatic skills.
"It's exemplary," he said, saying Trump treated his Mexican guest with respect and defied the expectations of some critics to show him up.
Lopez Obrador brushed off criticism at home to meet Trump, who is widely disliked in Mexico because of his incendiary remarks.
Trump described Mexican immigrants as rapists and drug runners during his 2015-16 presidential election campaign and vowed to make Mexico pay for his planned border wall.
In May 2019, Trump threatened tariffs against Mexico to force it to reduce the number of illegal immigrants entering the United States. He only backed off after Lopez Obrador agreed to deploy security forces and other steps to stem the flow of Central American migrants.
On Twitter, Biden accused Trump of fomenting racism.
Trump launched his 2016 campaign by calling Mexicans rapists.
He's spread racism against our Latino community ever since.
We need to work in partnership with Mexico.
We need to restore dignity and humanity to our immigration system.
That's what I'll do as President. — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 8, 2020
"Trump launched his 2016 campaign by calling Mexicans rapists," Biden wrote. "He's spread racism against our Latino community ever since."
Trump hosted a dinner for Lopez Obrador and prominent U.S. and Mexican executives, including Mexico's richest man, telecoms magnate Carlos Slim; Bernardo Gomez, co-chief executive officer of media company Televisa Group; and retail and media tycoon Ricardo Salinas Pliego.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-09--Donald Trump 'narcissist', 'never been loved', writes niece in tell-all book

In a new book , a niece of President Donald Trump applies her training in psychology to conclude that the president likely suffers from narcissism and other clinical disorders - and was boosted to success by a father who fueled those traits .
In `` Too Much and Never Enough : How My Family Created the World 's Most Dangerous Man , '' Mary Trump writes of a `` malignantly dysfunctional family '' dominated by a patriarch , Fred Trump , who showed little interest in his five children other than grooming an heir for his real-estate business .
Ultimately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote , deciding that his second son 's `` arrogance and bullying '' would come in handy at the office , and encouraged it .
`` He short-circuited Donald 's ability to develop and experience the entire spectrum of human emotion , '' Trump writes .
`` Donald requires division .
It is the only way he knows how to survive - my grandfather ensured that decades ago when he turned his children against each other . ''
The book , due out next Tuesday , is the first Trump biography written by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ copy of the book .
The president 's brother Robert has tried unsuccessfully , so far , to block its publication .
The court battle continues but is not expected to halt publication .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Tuesday that it was a `` book of falsehoods . ''
Its publication comes as Trump , a Republican , seeks a second term in the Nov. 3 presidential election .
Mary Trump has a troubled history with her uncle , who clashed with her father , Fred Jr. , before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battle with alcoholism .
Mary and her brother also engaged in a protracted legal battle over Fred Sr. 's estate after his death in 1999 .
She writes she secretly helped New York Times reporters on a 2018 investigation that outlined how Trump and his siblings avoided millions of dollars in taxes .
Speculation about Trump 's mental state is common among his political detractors .
Mary Trump brings a different perspective , however , because she has a PhD in psychology and decades of first-hand experience with Trump and his broader family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald a narcissist ... but the label gets us only so far , '' she writes , adding that the president might also suffer from other pathologies that prevent him from accepting responsibility for his actions and empathizing with others .
She writes that he also may suffer from learning and sleep disorders .
`` He knows deep down that he is nothing of what he claims to be , '' she writes .
`` He knows he has never been loved . ''

In a new book, a niece of President Donald Trump applies her training in psychology to conclude that the president likely suffers from narcissism and other clinical disorders - and was boosted to success by a father who fueled those traits.
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In "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man," Mary Trump writes of a "malignantly dysfunctional family" dominated by a patriarch, Fred Trump, who showed little interest in his five children other than grooming an heir for his real-estate business.
Ultimately, he settled on Donald, she wrote, deciding that his second son's "arrogance and bullying" would come in handy at the office, and encouraged it.
"He short-circuited Donald's ability to develop and experience the entire spectrum of human emotion," Trump writes. "Donald requires division. It is the only way he knows how to survive - my grandfather ensured that decades ago when he turned his children against each other."
The book, due out next Tuesday, is the first Trump biography written by a family member. Reuters obtained a copy of the book. The president's brother Robert has tried unsuccessfully, so far, to block its publication. The court battle continues but is not expected to halt publication.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Tuesday that it was a "book of falsehoods." Its publication comes as Trump, a Republican, seeks a second term in the Nov. 3 presidential election.
Mary Trump has a troubled history with her uncle, who clashed with her father, Fred Jr., before he died at age 42 after a battle with alcoholism.
Mary and her brother also engaged in a protracted legal battle over Fred Sr.'s estate after his death in 1999. She writes she secretly helped New York Times reporters on a 2018 investigation that outlined how Trump and his siblings avoided millions of dollars in taxes.
Speculation about Trump's mental state is common among his political detractors. Mary Trump brings a different perspective, however, because she has a PhD in psychology and decades of first-hand experience with Trump and his broader family.
"I have no problem calling Donald a narcissist ... but the label gets us only so far," she writes, adding that the president might also suffer from other pathologies that prevent him from accepting responsibility for his actions and empathizing with others. She writes that he also may suffer from learning and sleep disorders.
"He knows deep down that he is nothing of what he claims to be," she writes. "He knows he has never been loved."
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-09--Supreme Court rules NY prosecutors can obtain Trump tax returns

US President Donald Trump speaks at a roundtable discussion on the Safe Reopening of America 's Schools during the coronavirus pandemic , in the East Room of the White House on July 7 , 2020 , in Washington , D.C. , USA .
The US Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that a New York prosecutor investigating President Donald Trump and the Trump Organization in connection with hush-money payments can obtain his financial records , including his tax returns .
The 7-2 ruling authored by Chief Justice John Roberts means that the subpoena issued to Trump 's long-time accounting firm , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be turned over to a grand jury as part of a criminal investigation can be enforced .
The court rejected arguments by Trump ’ s lawyers and the Justice Department that the president is immune from investigation while he holds office or that a prosecutor must show a greater need than normal to obtain the records .
`` Two hundred years ago , a great jurist of our Court established that no citizen , not even the President , is categorically above the common duty to produce evidence when called upon in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` We reaffirm that principle today . ''
Unlike other recent presidents , Trump has refused to release his tax returns and other documents that could provide details on his wealth and the activities of his family real-estate company , the Trump Organization .
The content of these records has remained a persistent mystery even as he seeks re-election .
It probably will be at least several weeks before the court issues a formal judgment that would trigger the turnover of the records .
Trump was quick to respond to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was being treated unfairly : `` Courts in the past have given “ broad deference ” .
BUT NOT ME ! ''
As part of a criminal investigation launched in 2018 by the office of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance , a Democrat , subpoenas were issued to Mazars for financial records including nearly a decade of Trump 's tax returns to be turned over to a grand jury in New York City .
The investigation launched into Trump and the Trump Organization was spurred by disclosures of hush-money payments to two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relationships with him , pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal .
Trump and his aides have denied the relationships .
In the litigation over the House subpoenas , Trump argued that Congress lacked a valid purpose for seeking his records and that disclosure of the material would compromise his and his family 's privacy and distract him from his duties .
Trump 's lawyers argued in the New York case that , under the Constitution , he is immune from any criminal proceeding while serving as president .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sitting president can not be indicted or prosecuted .
In a lower court hearing , Trump 's lawyers went so far as to argue that law enforcement officials would not have the power to investigate Trump even if he shot someone on New York 's Fifth Avenue .
In a separate case reviewed on Thursday , the Supreme Court sidestepped ruling on whether three investigative committees in the US House of Representatives could obtain Trump 's financial documents under subpoena , instead returning the ruling to lower courts .
Congress had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banks , Deutsche Bank and Capital One – for more than a year .
The outcome is at least a short-term victory for Trump , who has strenuously sought to keep his financial records private .
The House Oversight Committee in April 2019 issued a subpoena to Mazars , seeking eight years of accounting and other financial information in response to the congressional testimony of Michael Cohen , Trump 's former lawyer .
Cohen said Trump had inflated some assets and deflated others on financial statements between 2011 and 2013 , in part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The House Financial Services Committee has been examining possible money laundering in US property deals involving Trump .
In a separate investigation , the House Intelligence Committee is investigating whether Trump 's business dealings made him vulnerable to the influence of foreign individuals or governments .

The US Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that a New York prosecutor investigating President Donald Trump and the Trump Organization in connection with hush-money payments can obtain his financial records, including his tax returns.
US President Donald Trump speaks at a roundtable discussion on the Safe Reopening of America's Schools during the coronavirus pandemic, in the East Room of the White House on July 7, 2020, in Washington, D.C., USA.
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The 7-2 ruling authored by Chief Justice John Roberts means that the subpoena issued to Trump's long-time accounting firm, Mazars LLP, for various financial records to be turned over to a grand jury as part of a criminal investigation can be enforced.
The court rejected arguments by Trump’s lawyers and the Justice Department that the president is immune from investigation while he holds office or that a prosecutor must show a greater need than normal to obtain the records.
03:30
"Two hundred years ago, a great jurist of our Court established that no citizen, not even the President, is categorically above the common duty to produce evidence when called upon in a criminal proceeding," the court said. "We reaffirm that principle today."
Unlike other recent presidents, Trump has refused to release his tax returns and other documents that could provide details on his wealth and the activities of his family real-estate company, the Trump Organization. The content of these records has remained a persistent mystery even as he seeks re-election.
It probably will be at least several weeks before the court issues a formal judgment that would trigger the turnover of the records.
Trump was quick to respond to the ruling, suggesting in a tweet that he was being treated unfairly: "Courts in the past have given “broad deference”. BUT NOT ME!"
Courts in the past have given “broad deference”. BUT NOT ME! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2020
A decade of tax returns
As part of a criminal investigation launched in 2018 by the office of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, a Democrat, subpoenas were issued to Mazars for financial records including nearly a decade of Trump's tax returns to be turned over to a grand jury in New York City.
The investigation launched into Trump and the Trump Organization was spurred by disclosures of hush-money payments to two women who said they had past sexual relationships with him, pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal. Trump and his aides have denied the relationships.
In the litigation over the House subpoenas, Trump argued that Congress lacked a valid purpose for seeking his records and that disclosure of the material would compromise his and his family's privacy and distract him from his duties.
Trump's lawyers argued in the New York case that, under the Constitution, he is immune from any criminal proceeding while serving as president. They also cited Justice Department guidance that a sitting president cannot be indicted or prosecuted.
In a lower court hearing, Trump's lawyers went so far as to argue that law enforcement officials would not have the power to investigate Trump even if he shot someone on New York's Fifth Avenue.
House committees denied – for now
In a separate case reviewed on Thursday, the Supreme Court sidestepped ruling on whether three investigative committees in the US House of Representatives could obtain Trump's financial documents under subpoena, instead returning the ruling to lower courts.
Congress had been seeking records – from Mazars and two banks, Deutsche Bank and Capital One – for more than a year. The outcome is at least a short-term victory for Trump, who has strenuously sought to keep his financial records private.
The House Oversight Committee in April 2019 issued a subpoena to Mazars, seeking eight years of accounting and other financial information in response to the congressional testimony of Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer. Cohen said Trump had inflated some assets and deflated others on financial statements between 2011 and 2013, in part to reduce his real estate taxes.
The House Financial Services Committee has been examining possible money laundering in US property deals involving Trump. In a separate investigation, the House Intelligence Committee is investigating whether Trump's business dealings made him vulnerable to the influence of foreign individuals or governments.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS and AP)
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