france24--2020-06-05--Cameroon army says missing journalist Wazizi died in custody, denies torture

This screen grab from a FRANCE 24 report shows the deceased Cameroonian journalist Samuel Wazizi , who Cameroon 's army says died in its custody last year .
Cameroon 's army on Friday confirmed anglophone journalist Samuel Wazizi died in detention last year , accusing him of associating with terrorists but denying allegations he had been tortured .
The army said Wazizi died `` as a result of severe sepsis '' on August 17 , 2019 , 15 days after the press watchdog group RSF says he was arrested .
The military 's statement -- 10 months after the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported that Wazizi died and said the army had tortured him .
Wazizi had worked for the local CMTV channel in one of two regions where anglophone separatists have launched an armed campaign for independence from French-speaking Cameroon .
He was arrested in the city of Buea on August 2 and `` accused of speaking critically on the air about the authorities and their handling of the crisis , '' Reporters Without Borders ( RSF ) says .
The army said that while `` claiming to be presenter on a local television station @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a logistician for various terrorist groups , '' a reference to English-speaking separatist groups .
The army also said the journalist 's family had been notified at the time -- a claim his lawyers refuted .
`` We are in close contact with his family , who say they were not contacted , and we were already representing him at the time of his death -- we were the people to be told , '' lawyer Edward Ewule told AFP .
Ewule said he first heard the confirmation of his client 's death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on national radio .
`` I am devastated , 10 months ago I was the last person to see him alive , '' he said .
The reports of Wazizi 's death sparked outrage among journalists and rights groups this week , many using the hashtag # JusticeForWazizi on social media .
Jude Viban , the president of the Cameroon Association of English-Speaking Journalists , said `` only an independent commission of inquiry would be able to shed light on this affair '' .
`` Why did the government not inform the justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ? ''
The RSF , in its statement late Wednesday , called Wazizi 's death `` the worst crime against a journalist in the past 10 years in Cameroon '' .
The army called media reports of Wazizi 's death `` a new episode of demonising our defence and security forces '' .
The West African country 's Southwest and Northwest regions have been gripped by violence since the separatist revolt began in October 2017 .
The conflict , rooted in long-standing perceptions of discrimination among Cameroon 's English-speaking minority , has claimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 700,000 people to flee their homes .
Rights groups say atrocities and abuses have been committed by both the separatists and the security forces .
The RSF ranks Cameroon 134th out of 180 countries and territories in its 2020 World Press Freedom Index , three places lower than the previous year .

Cameroon's army on Friday confirmed anglophone journalist Samuel Wazizi died in detention last year, accusing him of associating with terrorists but denying allegations he had been tortured.
This screen grab from a FRANCE 24 report shows the deceased Cameroonian journalist Samuel Wazizi, who Cameroon's army says died in its custody last year.
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The army said Wazizi died "as a result of severe sepsis" on August 17, 2019, 15 days after the press watchdog group RSF says he was arrested.
The military's statement -- 10 months after the fact -- came after Cameroon's journalist union reported that Wazizi died and said the army had tortured him.
Wazizi had worked for the local CMTV channel in one of two regions where anglophone separatists have launched an armed campaign for independence from French-speaking Cameroon.
He was arrested in the city of Buea on August 2 and "accused of speaking critically on the air about the authorities and their handling of the crisis," Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says.
The army said that while "claiming to be presenter on a local television station," Wazizi was "in fact a logistician for various terrorist groups," a reference to English-speaking separatist groups.
The army also said the journalist's family had been notified at the time -- a claim his lawyers refuted.
"We are in close contact with his family, who say they were not contacted, and we were already representing him at the time of his death -- we were the people to be told," lawyer Edward Ewule told AFP.
Ewule said he first heard the confirmation of his client's death when the army's statement was read on national radio.
"I am devastated, 10 months ago I was the last person to see him alive," he said.
Call for independent probe
The reports of Wazizi's death sparked outrage among journalists and rights groups this week, many using the hashtag #JusticeForWazizi on social media.
Jude Viban, the president of the Cameroon Association of English-Speaking Journalists, said "only an independent commission of inquiry would be able to shed light on this affair".
"Why did the government not inform the justice system of the death of our colleague?"
The RSF, in its statement late Wednesday, called Wazizi's death "the worst crime against a journalist in the past 10 years in Cameroon".
The army called media reports of Wazizi's death "a new episode of demonising our defence and security forces".
The West African country's Southwest and Northwest regions have been gripped by violence since the separatist revolt began in October 2017.
The conflict, rooted in long-standing perceptions of discrimination among Cameroon's English-speaking minority, has claimed more than 3,000 lives and forced nearly 700,000 people to flee their homes.
Rights groups say atrocities and abuses have been committed by both the separatists and the security forces.
The RSF ranks Cameroon 134th out of 180 countries and territories in its 2020 World Press Freedom Index, three places lower than the previous year.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-06-05--Special programme: The Covid-19 challenge in Latin America

As Latin America emerges as the new epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic , we take you on a journey across the continent with reports from our correspondents .
From Argentina to Mexico , via Brazil , Cuba and Colombia , how are governments handling the pandemic ?
Despite being neighbours , these countries have adopted very different approaches to the health crisis .
While some are currently spared the brunt of the pandemic , others are experiencing record mortality rates .
But all now find themselves in a worrying economic situation , with jobs in the informal sector often the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the coronavirus curve was almost flat .
This was the result of strict lockdown measures , taken early on and respected by the population .
But in poor areas such as the densely populated urban slums of Buenos Aires , local infections are now rising much faster .
Villa Azul , a small slum located 30 kilometres south of the capital , recently emerged as a hotspot for infection .
The government 's response was draconian : the entire neighbourhood of 3,000 inhabitants was placed in isolation for ten days .
Mathilde @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report .
Mexico City is an urban centre of 23 million people that has become infamous for its pollution .
One silver lining of the Covid-19 pandemic is that in many cities around the world , the lockdown has drastically reduced traffic and air pollution .
However , that has not happened in Mexico City , where people are still breathing dirty air .
Why is that the case ?
Laurence Cuvillier , Matthieu Cumin and Ioan Grillo report from the Mexican capital .
Meanwhile , Brazil has fast become the epicentre of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rio de Janeiro , the daily death toll regularly surpasses 1,000 .
But as well as the lives lost , the virus has sparked political turmoil .
Supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro gather regularly , calling for the re-opening of businesses and the closure of the Supreme Court , which is investigating the country 's controversial leader .
Lucinda Elliott reports from Rio .
The Cuban authorities have mobilised quickly against Covid-19 , both on the island and internationally .
In Cuba , which has the highest number of doctors per resident , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolating suspected cases .
Nursing staff go door to door to identify the sick .
The strategy is paying off : Cuba has so far suffered few Covid-19 fatalities and since March , brigades of medical workers have been sent out to the most affected countries overseas to support local medical teams .
Ed Augustin reports from Havana .
Last but not least , in Colombia , red rags hung outside people 's homes have become a symbol of economic distress during the Covid-19 lockdown .
It all started in the town of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where the mayor asked starving families to signal themselves with a red rag .
The rags soon became a SOS symbol across the country .
Colombia entered lockdown at the end of March and this is expected to last until July , with devastating economic consequences .
Half the population lives off informal work and survives on a day-to-day basis .
The situation is getting worse , and the number of red rags is increasing , which has generated unprecedented solidarity among Colombians .
Pascale Mariani , Simone Bruno and Catherine Osborn @ @

As Latin America emerges as the new epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic, we take you on a journey across the continent with reports from our correspondents. From Argentina to Mexico, via Brazil, Cuba and Colombia, how are governments handling the pandemic? Despite being neighbours, these countries have adopted very different approaches to the health crisis. While some are currently spared the brunt of the pandemic, others are experiencing record mortality rates. But all now find themselves in a worrying economic situation, with jobs in the informal sector often the norm.
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In Argentina, until recently, the coronavirus curve was almost flat. This was the result of strict lockdown measures, taken early on and respected by the population. But in poor areas such as the densely populated urban slums of Buenos Aires, local infections are now rising much faster. Villa Azul, a small slum located 30 kilometres south of the capital, recently emerged as a hotspot for infection. The government's response was draconian: the entire neighbourhood of 3,000 inhabitants was placed in isolation for ten days. Mathilde Guillaume, Mariano Toledo and Declan McGarvey report.
Mexico City is an urban centre of 23 million people that has become infamous for its pollution. One silver lining of the Covid-19 pandemic is that in many cities around the world, the lockdown has drastically reduced traffic and air pollution. However, that has not happened in Mexico City, where people are still breathing dirty air. Why is that the case? Laurence Cuvillier, Matthieu Cumin and Ioan Grillo report from the Mexican capital.
Meanwhile, Brazil has fast become the epicentre of the pandemic in Latin America. In Rio de Janeiro, the daily death toll regularly surpasses 1,000. But as well as the lives lost, the virus has sparked political turmoil. Supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro gather regularly, calling for the re-opening of businesses and the closure of the Supreme Court, which is investigating the country's controversial leader. Lucinda Elliott reports from Rio.
>> Watch our special programme: Brazil, Latin America's Covid-19 epicentre
The Cuban authorities have mobilised quickly against Covid-19, both on the island and internationally. In Cuba, which has the highest number of doctors per resident, the government has focused on preventing and isolating suspected cases. Nursing staff go door to door to identify the sick. The strategy is paying off: Cuba has so far suffered few Covid-19 fatalities and since March, brigades of medical workers have been sent out to the most affected countries overseas to support local medical teams. Ed Augustin reports from Havana.
Last but not least, in Colombia, red rags hung outside people's homes have become a symbol of economic distress during the Covid-19 lockdown. It all started in the town of Soacha in the southern outskirts of Bogota, where the mayor asked starving families to signal themselves with a red rag. The rags soon became a SOS symbol across the country. Colombia entered lockdown at the end of March and this is expected to last until July, with devastating economic consequences. Half the population lives off informal work and survives on a day-to-day basis. The situation is getting worse, and the number of red rags is increasing, which has generated unprecedented solidarity among Colombians. Pascale Mariani, Simone Bruno and Catherine Osborn report.
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france24--2020-06-05--Trump boasts after surprise fall in US jobless rate, says will help race relations

US President Donald Trump , with the director of the National Economic Council , Larry Kudlow , in the background , holds a press conference on the economy in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington , DC on June 5 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump took a victory lap Friday morning after the government reported surprising job gains for last month , seizing on the data to predict that the worst of the coronavirus pandemic and its economic disruption was in the rear-view mirror .
The unemployment rate dropped to a better-than-expected 13.3 % , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation witnessed during the Great Depression .
With the country in upheaval over the death of George Floyd , Trump said that an economic rebound was his answer to racial inequality , saying it “ is the greatest thing that can happen for race relations.
” Trump spoke from the Rose Garden hours after the Labor Department said that U.S. employers added 2.5 million workers to their payrolls last month .
Economists had been expecting them instead to slash another 8 million jobs amid the ongoing fallout from the response to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ ve been doing is right , '' Trump said of the jobs numbers .
`` This is outstanding what ’ s happened today . ''
Trump spoke nearly an hour and only briefly mentioned Floyd , the black man who died after a police officer pinned his neck down last week in Minneapolis .
The president otherwise touted an economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis that has disproportionately affected black Americans .
“ Hopefully George is looking down right now and saying this is a great thing that ’ s happening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This is a great day for him .
It ’ s a great day for everybody.
” On the economy , Trump pitched himself as key to what he claimed would be a “ rocket ship ” rebound , and offered that as an argument for his reelection in November .
“ I ’ m telling you next year , unless something happens or the wrong people get in here , this will turn around , ” Trump said .
It ’ s unclear how many jobs lost as a result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or whether the reopenings in states will create a second surge of COVID-19 deaths .
In addition , the report from mid-May doesn ’ t reflect the effect that protests across the nation have had on business .
Some economists forecast the rate could remain in the double-digits through the November elections and into next year .
Trump predicted a swift bounce-back for an economy that was largely shuttered to slow the spread of the virus , saying the economy would see a “ very good ” July and August and a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll go back to having the greatest economy anywhere in the world , ” he said .
Trump also defended his handling of the pandemic , saying that had he not acted to recommend closings more than 1 million Americans would have died .
More than 108,000 people are confirmed to have lost their lives due to COVID-19 , according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University .
Now , though , Trump said states and cities should be lifting remaining restrictions .
“ I don ’ t know why they continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some jurisdictions that have maintained closings .
“ You do social distancing and you wear masks if you want , ” Trump said , but added that states need to reopen .
Trump also claimed “ tremendous progress ” is being made by pharmaceutical manufacturers on developing vaccines and therapeutics for the virus .
The May job gain suggests that businesses have quickly been recalling workers as states have reopened their economies , but it may take months for all those who lost work in April and March to find jobs .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the double-digits through the November elections and into next year .
Trump also signed an extension of the Paycheck Protection Program , the federal subsidy program that is helping keep millions on the job .
The bipartisan law gives companies more flexibility in using funds from the forgivable federal loans to pay their workers and cover other qualified expenses .

President Donald Trump took a victory lap Friday morning after the government reported surprising job gains for last month, seizing on the data to predict that the worst of the coronavirus pandemic and its economic disruption was in the rear-view mirror.
US President Donald Trump, with the director of the National Economic Council, Larry Kudlow, in the background, holds a press conference on the economy in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC on June 5, 2020.
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The unemployment rate dropped to a better-than-expected 13.3%, but that is still on par with what the nation witnessed during the Great Depression.
With the country in upheaval over the death of George Floyd, Trump said that an economic rebound was his answer to racial inequality, saying it “is the greatest thing that can happen for race relations.”
Trump spoke from the Rose Garden hours after the Labor Department said that U.S. employers added 2.5 million workers to their payrolls last month. Economists had been expecting them instead to slash another 8 million jobs amid the ongoing fallout from the response to the pandemic.
“This shows that what we’ve been doing is right," Trump said of the jobs numbers. "This is outstanding what’s happened today."
Trump spoke nearly an hour and only briefly mentioned Floyd, the black man who died after a police officer pinned his neck down last week in Minneapolis. The president otherwise touted an economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis that has disproportionately affected black Americans.
“Hopefully George is looking down right now and saying this is a great thing that’s happening for our country,” Trump said. “This is a great day for him. It’s a great day for everybody.”
On the economy, Trump pitched himself as key to what he claimed would be a “rocket ship” rebound, and offered that as an argument for his reelection in November. “I’m telling you next year, unless something happens or the wrong people get in here, this will turn around,” Trump said.
President defends handling of Covid-19
It’s unclear how many jobs lost as a result of the pandemic are permanently lost, or whether the reopenings in states will create a second surge of COVID-19 deaths. In addition, the report from mid-May doesn’t reflect the effect that protests across the nation have had on business.
Some economists forecast the rate could remain in the double-digits through the November elections and into next year.
Trump predicted a swift bounce-back for an economy that was largely shuttered to slow the spread of the virus, saying the economy would see a “very good” July and August and a “spectacular” fall. “We’ll go back to having the greatest economy anywhere in the world,” he said.
Trump also defended his handling of the pandemic, saying that had he not acted to recommend closings more than 1 million Americans would have died. More than 108,000 people are confirmed to have lost their lives due to COVID-19, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University.
Now, though, Trump said states and cities should be lifting remaining restrictions. “I don’t know why they continue to lock down," he said of some jurisdictions that have maintained closings.
“You do social distancing and you wear masks if you want,” Trump said, but added that states need to reopen.
Trump also claimed “tremendous progress” is being made by pharmaceutical manufacturers on developing vaccines and therapeutics for the virus.
The May job gain suggests that businesses have quickly been recalling workers as states have reopened their economies, but it may take months for all those who lost work in April and March to find jobs. Some economists forecast the rate could remain in the double-digits through the November elections and into next year.
Trump also signed an extension of the Paycheck Protection Program, the federal subsidy program that is helping keep millions on the job. The bipartisan law gives companies more flexibility in using funds from the forgivable federal loans to pay their workers and cover other qualified expenses.
(AP)
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france24--2020-06-05--UN-backed Libyan govt forces reclaim stronghold of rival Haftar

A man waves a Libyan national flag as people celebrate in the capital Tripoli on June 4 , 2020 , after the UN-recognised Government of National Accord ( GNA ) said it was back in full control of the capital and its suburbs .
Forces loyal to Libya 's UN-recognised government celebrated another victory against rival strongman Khalifa Haftar Friday after overrunning his last western stronghold , launchpad of an abortive 14-month assault on Tripoli .
The recapture of Tarhuna southeast of the capital capped a week that already saw the Government of National Accord ( GNA ) reestablish control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkish military support .
`` Our heroic forces have extended their control over the whole of Tarhuna , '' said GNA spokesman Mohamad Gnounou .
Fighters loyal to the GNA flashed the victory sign in the town 's streets , some with ammunition belts slung around their necks as they rode on top of pick-up trucks , others clambering over a tank , AFP pictures showed .
Tarhuna was the main rear base for the devastating offensive against the capital that eastern-based Haftar 's forces finally gave up this week , abandoning their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advancing government troops .
`` Our heroic forces have full control of Greater Tripoli right up to the city limits , '' Gnounou had announced on Thursday .
GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj vowed that his government would impose its control over the whole of Libya .
`` Our fight continues and we are determined to defeat the enemy ( and ) impose state control on the whole of the homeland , '' Sarraj said after talks with key backer Turkey .
Late Thursday , Haftar 's spokesman Ahmad al-Mesmari confirmed his forces ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after more than a year of sometimes intense fighting .
He said the redeployment was a `` humanitarian gesture intended to spare the Libyan people further bloodshed '' .
Hundreds have been killed and 200,000 more driven from their homes since Haftar launched his assault , vowing to `` cleanse '' the capital of the `` terrorist militias '' he said dominated the GNA .
The pro-GNA high command warned its troops on Facebook against perpetrating `` acts of reprisals , looting or destruction '' in Tarhuna as their troops circulated in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it had obtained evidence indicating `` that war crimes and other violations may have been committed ... including , looting , indiscriminate attacks '' during the upsurge in fighting since mid-April .
Mesmari said the redeployment by pro-Haftar forces was intended to boost the work of a UN-backed military commission tasked with shoring up a nationwide ceasefire .
`` We announce that we are redeploying our forces outside Tripoli on condition that the other side respect the ceasefire , '' he said in a statement released late Thursday .
`` If they do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military operations and suspend our participation in the negotiations of the military committee . ''
The United Nations ' Libya mission said Tuesday that after a three-month suspension , the warring parties had agreed to resume ceasefire talks .
A military commission made up of five GNA loyalists and five Haftar delegates held talks in February , but the dialogue was suspended .
A January truce brokered by Turkey and key Haftar ally Russia has been repeatedly violated .
Haftar is supported by neighbouring Egypt and the United Arab Emirates as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of eastern Libya , with its economically vital oilfields and export infrastructure .
They also control most of the far-flung oasis cities of the vast desert south .
But they have suffered a string of defeats in recent months at the hands of GNA forces , which have been bolstered by significant Turkish military support .
Earlier this year , Haftar 's forces already lost a string of towns along the Mediterranean coast between the capital and the Tunisian border .
In April , UN experts said hundreds of mercenaries from Russian paramilitary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
But last month , as Haftar 's losses mounted , the GNA said Wagner Group fighters had withdrawn from combat zones south of the capital .
Libya has endured years of violence since the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi , with rival administrations and scores of militias battling for power .
The United Nations has urged outside powers to respect a deal reached at a January conference in Berlin , ending foreign meddling and upholding a much-violated arms embargo .
Amnesty on Friday urged Turkey , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violating the UN arms embargo .
”

Forces loyal to Libya's UN-recognised government celebrated another victory against rival strongman Khalifa Haftar Friday after overrunning his last western stronghold, launchpad of an abortive 14-month assault on Tripoli.
A man waves a Libyan national flag as people celebrate in the capital Tripoli on June 4, 2020, after the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) said it was back in full control of the capital and its suburbs.
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The recapture of Tarhuna southeast of the capital capped a week that already saw the Government of National Accord (GNA) reestablish control over the whole of Greater Tripoli with Turkish military support.
"Our heroic forces have extended their control over the whole of Tarhuna," said GNA spokesman Mohamad Gnounou.
Fighters loyal to the GNA flashed the victory sign in the town's streets, some with ammunition belts slung around their necks as they rode on top of pick-up trucks, others clambering over a tank, AFP pictures showed.
Tarhuna was the main rear base for the devastating offensive against the capital that eastern-based Haftar's forces finally gave up this week, abandoning their remaining positions in the southern suburbs to advancing government troops.
"Our heroic forces have full control of Greater Tripoli right up to the city limits," Gnounou had announced on Thursday.
GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj vowed that his government would impose its control over the whole of Libya.
"Our fight continues and we are determined to defeat the enemy (and) impose state control on the whole of the homeland," Sarraj said after talks with key backer Turkey.
Late Thursday, Haftar's spokesman Ahmad al-Mesmari confirmed his forces' "redeployment" away from the capital after more than a year of sometimes intense fighting.
He said the redeployment was a "humanitarian gesture intended to spare the Libyan people further bloodshed".
Hundreds have been killed and 200,000 more driven from their homes since Haftar launched his assault, vowing to "cleanse" the capital of the "terrorist militias" he said dominated the GNA.
The pro-GNA high command warned its troops on Facebook against perpetrating "acts of reprisals, looting or destruction" in Tarhuna as their troops circulated in the town on Friday.
Amnesty International said it had obtained evidence indicating "that war crimes and other violations may have been committed... including, looting, indiscriminate attacks" during the upsurge in fighting since mid-April.
Ceasefire talks
Mesmari said the redeployment by pro-Haftar forces was intended to boost the work of a UN-backed military commission tasked with shoring up a nationwide ceasefire.
"We announce that we are redeploying our forces outside Tripoli on condition that the other side respect the ceasefire," he said in a statement released late Thursday.
"If they do not respect it, we will resume military operations and suspend our participation in the negotiations of the military committee."
The United Nations' Libya mission said Tuesday that after a three-month suspension, the warring parties had agreed to resume ceasefire talks.
A military commission made up of five GNA loyalists and five Haftar delegates held talks in February, but the dialogue was suspended.
A January truce brokered by Turkey and key Haftar ally Russia has been repeatedly violated.
Haftar is supported by neighbouring Egypt and the United Arab Emirates as well as Russia.
His forces control the whole of eastern Libya, with its economically vital oilfields and export infrastructure.
They also control most of the far-flung oasis cities of the vast desert south.
But they have suffered a string of defeats in recent months at the hands of GNA forces, which have been bolstered by significant Turkish military support.
Earlier this year, Haftar's forces already lost a string of towns along the Mediterranean coast between the capital and the Tunisian border.
Years of violence
In April, UN experts said hundreds of mercenaries from Russian paramilitary organisation the Wagner Group were fighting for him.
But last month, as Haftar's losses mounted, the GNA said Wagner Group fighters had withdrawn from combat zones south of the capital.
Libya has endured years of violence since the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi, with rival administrations and scores of militias battling for power.
The United Nations has urged outside powers to respect a deal reached at a January conference in Berlin, ending foreign meddling and upholding a much-violated arms embargo.
Amnesty on Friday urged Turkey, Russia and the UAE to "cease violating the UN arms embargo.”
(AFP)
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france24--2020-06-05--Macron demands Iran release French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah

A placard with a portrait of French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah , imprisoned in Iran , is placed outside Paris ’ s city hall on June 5 , 2020 .
France on Friday urged Iran to release French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah as she marked one year behind bars , with supporters charging she is being used as a bargaining chip by Tehran in a political game .
Adelkhah , an anthropologist specialising in Shia Islam , was arrested on June 5 , 2019 , and has been in prison ever since .
Last month she was given a five-year sentence after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She is one of several foreigners and dual nationals being held by Iran in what activists condemn as a policy of hostage-taking aimed at pressuring the West .
Born in Iran in 1959 but living in France since 1977 , Adelkhah has maintained her innocence , and colleagues and other supporters have rubbished the charges against her .
She went on a 49-day hunger strike to protest her conditions .
`` My message to the Iranian authorities : justice demands that our compatriot be released immediately , '' French President Emmanuel Macron said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unacceptable . ''
To mark the anniversary , her picture was displayed by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo on the facade of the French capital 's city hall with the slogan : `` Her fight for freedom is ours . ''
`` Fariba Adelkhah is a hostage of the Iranian government , '' Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate and rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi , who now lives in exile , said in a video message .
`` The Tehran government uses dual nationals by taking them hostage and using them to achieve its own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Moussavi warned Paris against interfering in the case .
`` Mrs Adelkhah has been the subject of an independent and fair judicial procedure , '' he said , adding that `` political pressure and media campaigns will in no way prevent the carrying out of her sentence . ''
Adelkhah was arrested with her partner Roland Marchal , a fellow academic at the Sciences Po university in Paris specialising in Africa .
He told RTL radio that her state was `` like that of other detainees ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fights for freedom , and others that are more difficult . ''
Marchal was freed and returned to France in March after French authorities released Iranian engineer Jallal Rohollahnejad , who risked extradition to the United States on accusations of violating sanctions .
This week , Michael White , an American held in Iran for nearly two years , returned home , with the US allowing two Iranian scientists to go back to their country .
In December , Iran also freed US academic Xiyue Wang in exchange for scientist Massoud Soleimani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further swaps .
Such apparent exchanges have made Adelkhah 's supporters fear that Iran will be looking for something in return for her liberation .
Her support group of fellow academics believe that she was arrested because of an `` internal settling of scores '' or to `` obtain the release of Iranians detained in Europe or in the United States . ''
Further complicating the situation is that such arrests of foreigners and dual nationals is carried out by the powerful Revolutionary Guards rather than the Iranian government .
Despite the releases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of COVID-19 in Iranian prisons , Adelkhah is not the only prominent foreigner or dual national held by Iran .
Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi has been held for almost half a decade , while British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe , who was arrested in April 2016 , is still unable to leave the country despite being allowed out of jail on a furlough .
British-Australian Kylie Moore-Gilbert is serving a 10-year sentence on charges of espionage .
Her family last month rejected reports that she had attempted suicide in jail .
Hadi Ghaemi , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Human Rights in Iran ( CHRI ) , said the Iranian authorities responsible for keeping the prisoners behind bars see their detentions as `` transactional , '' and want something in return .
`` This is a horrifying thought .
It is very unfortunate that innocent lives like Fariba 's are being put on the line for such transactions , '' he told AFP .

France on Friday urged Iran to release French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah as she marked one year behind bars, with supporters charging she is being used as a bargaining chip by Tehran in a political game.
A placard with a portrait of French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah, imprisoned in Iran, is placed outside Paris’s city hall on June 5, 2020.
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Adelkhah, an anthropologist specialising in Shia Islam, was arrested on June 5, 2019, and has been in prison ever since.
Last month she was given a five-year sentence after being convicted on national security charges.
She is one of several foreigners and dual nationals being held by Iran in what activists condemn as a policy of hostage-taking aimed at pressuring the West.
Born in Iran in 1959 but living in France since 1977, Adelkhah has maintained her innocence, and colleagues and other supporters have rubbished the charges against her. She went on a 49-day hunger strike to protest her conditions.
"My message to the Iranian authorities: justice demands that our compatriot be released immediately," French President Emmanuel Macron said on Twitter, calling her detention "unacceptable."
To mark the anniversary, her picture was displayed by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo on the facade of the French capital's city hall with the slogan: "Her fight for freedom is ours."
"Fariba Adelkhah is a hostage of the Iranian government," Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate and rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi, who now lives in exile, said in a video message.
"The Tehran government uses dual nationals by taking them hostage and using them to achieve its own political agenda," she said.
But Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Moussavi warned Paris against interfering in the case.
"Mrs Adelkhah has been the subject of an independent and fair judicial procedure," he said, adding that "political pressure and media campaigns will in no way prevent the carrying out of her sentence."
'Settling of scores'
Adelkhah was arrested with her partner Roland Marchal, a fellow academic at the Sciences Po university in Paris specialising in Africa.
He told RTL radio that her state was "like that of other detainees; there are moments when she is combative and fights for freedom, and others that are more difficult."
Marchal was freed and returned to France in March after French authorities released Iranian engineer Jallal Rohollahnejad, who risked extradition to the United States on accusations of violating sanctions.
This week, Michael White, an American held in Iran for nearly two years, returned home, with the US allowing two Iranian scientists to go back to their country.
In December, Iran also freed US academic Xiyue Wang in exchange for scientist Massoud Soleimani, and said it was open to further swaps.
Such apparent exchanges have made Adelkhah's supporters fear that Iran will be looking for something in return for her liberation.
Her support group of fellow academics believe that she was arrested because of an "internal settling of scores" or to "obtain the release of Iranians detained in Europe or in the United States."
Further complicating the situation is that such arrests of foreigners and dual nationals is carried out by the powerful Revolutionary Guards rather than the Iranian government.
'Horrifying thought'
Despite the releases, as well as concerns about the spread of COVID-19 in Iranian prisons, Adelkhah is not the only prominent foreigner or dual national held by Iran.
Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi has been held for almost half a decade, while British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was arrested in April 2016, is still unable to leave the country despite being allowed out of jail on a furlough.
British-Australian Kylie Moore-Gilbert is serving a 10-year sentence on charges of espionage. Her family last month rejected reports that she had attempted suicide in jail.
Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), said the Iranian authorities responsible for keeping the prisoners behind bars see their detentions as "transactional," and want something in return.
"This is a horrifying thought. It is very unfortunate that innocent lives like Fariba's are being put on the line for such transactions," he told AFP.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-06-05--France’s Versailles to re-open after Covid-19 lockdown ease

A worker carries furniture in the Hall of Mirrors of the Palace of Versailles near Paris on June 5 , 2020 , on the eve of its re-opening after 82 days of closure due to the coronavirus outbreak .
France 's sumptuous Palace of Versailles , built in the 17th century by the `` Sun King '' Louis XIV , throws its doors open to the public again on Saturday but with little certainty over when tourists will return as lockdown curbs are slowly eased .
Workers on Friday dusted the Hall of Mirrors and polished its gilded statues ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visitors required to wear face masks and follow a one-way route through the opulent 2,300-room complex .
The coronavirus crisis has dealt a heavy financial blow to the palace and France 's other leading cultural attractions .
Ticket sales to the eight million people who passed through the palace gates in 2019 made up 75 % of revenues .
Four in every five visitors is foreign .
`` This financial model has been devastated .
We have to start again , '' Catherine Pegard , who runs the palace , told Reuters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Louis XIV craved the palace as a symbol of France ’ s prominence as a European superpower and his perceived divine right to wield absolute power .
It remained the principle royal residence until the French Revolution and the overthrow of the monarchy nearly eight decades after his death .
The palace is one of the most visited sites France , itself the world 's favourite tourist destination .
But as France emerges cautiously from lockdown - its borders remain closed to most outsiders - the palace anticipates only a fifth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ host on peak days .
Tickets must be bought in advance .
A roped walkway will guide visitors through the famed Hall of Mirrors , where Germany and the Allied Nations signed the treaty ending World War One , and the ornate King 's Grand Apartment .
`` We 've cleaned the mirrors , dusted the chandeliers and the torches .
Conditions are exceptional , '' Pegard said .

France's Palace of Versailles, built in the 17th century by the "Sun King" Louis XIV, opened to the public again on Saturday but with little certainty over when tourists will return in force as France pursues a gradual easing of Covid-19 lockdown measures.
A worker carries furniture in the Hall of Mirrors of the Palace of Versailles near Paris on June 5, 2020, on the eve of its re-opening after 82 days of closure due to the coronavirus outbreak.
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Workers dusted the Hall of Mirrors and polished its gilded statues ahead of the reopening, which will see visitors required to purchase tickets in advance, wear face masks inside the palace and follow a one-way route through the opulent 2,300-room complex.
The coronavirus crisis has dealt a heavy financial blow to the palace and France's other leading cultural attractions. Ticket sales to the 8 million people who passed through the palace gates in 2019 made up 75% of revenues, with four of every five visitors arriving from abroad.
"This financial model has been devastated. We have to start again," Catherine Pegard, who runs the palace, told Reuters. "We're not the only ones."
Louis XIV made the palace a symbol of France’s prominence as a European superpower and his perceived divine right to wield absolute power. It remained the principle royal residence until the French Revolution and the overthrow of the monarchy in 1789.
The palace is one of the most visited sites in France, which is itself the world's premier tourist destination.
But as France emerges cautiously from lockdown – its borders remain closed to non-EU countries – the palace anticipates only a fifth of the 20,000 visitors it used to host on peak days.
A roped walkway will guide visitors through the famed Hall of Mirrors, where Germany and the Allied Nations signed the treaty ending World War I, and the ornate King's Grand Apartment.
"We've cleaned the mirrors, dusted the chandeliers and the torches. Conditions are exceptional," Pegard said.
But only a few people are around to enjoy them.
01:47
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-06-05--Iran, two worlds apart: Exploring an Iranian society more divided than ever

Iran , two worlds apart : Exploring an Iranian society more divided than ever Every day in the Iranian capital @ @ @ @ @ of the most conservative branch of the Iranian regime visit mausoleums honouring Shiite martyrs or @ @ @ @ @ Islamic Revolution .
But on the streets , a younger generation is scorning the country @ @ @ @ @ women and men alike are yearning for change and a better relationship with the West @ @ @ @ @ meet this optimistic Iranian youth , which is becoming emancipated and dreaming of a future @ @ @ @ @ contrast to the most conservative Iranians .

Iran, two worlds apart: Exploring an Iranian society more divided than ever
16:57 REPORTERS © FRANCE 24
Every day in the Iranian capital Tehran, thousands of supporters of the most conservative branch of the Iranian regime visit mausoleums honouring Shiite martyrs or other places linked to the Islamic Revolution. But on the streets, a younger generation is scorning the country's strict rules. Young women and men alike are yearning for change and a better relationship with the West. Our reporters went to meet this optimistic Iranian youth, which is becoming emancipated and dreaming of a future of freedom, in radical contrast to the most conservative Iranians.


france24--2020-06-05--Russia contains huge Arctic oil spill, ministry says

A European Space Agency photo shows part of a satellite image captured on June 1 , 2020 by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission of the extent of an oil spill after some 20,000 tonnes of diesel oil leaked into the Ambarnaya river within the Arctic Circle .
Russia has managed to contain a massive diesel spill into a river in the Arctic , a spokeswoman for the emergencies ministry told AFP on Friday .
`` We have stopped the spread of the petroleum products , '' the spokeswoman for the taskforce in charge of the accident clean-up said .
`` They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not going anywhere now . ''
Environmentalists said the oil spill , which took place last Friday , was the worst such accident ever in the Arctic region .
The accident happened when a diesel reservoir collapsed at a power station outside the northern Siberian city of Norilsk .
It caused 15,000 tonnes of fuel to leak into a river and 6,000 tonnes into the soil , according to Russia 's state environmental watchdog .
The power plant is owned by a subsidiary of Russian metals giant Norilsk Nickel .
President Vladimir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deal with the disaster and Emergencies Minister Yevgeny Zinichev flew in to manage the clean-up operation that currently involves around 100 people .
Zinichev was set to report back to Putin later Friday .
Greenpeace Russia said it was the `` first accident of such a scale in the Arctic '' and comparable to the Exxon Valdez disaster off the coast of Alaska in 1989 .
The Ambarnaya River , which is affected by the spill , feeds into Lake Pyasino , a major body of water and the source of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the entire Taimyr peninsula .
The clean-up operation placed oil containment booms in the Ambarnaya River to stop the diesel fuel going into the lake and was using special devices to skim off the fuel .
The emergencies ministry spokeswoman said that `` we managed to stop ( the spread ) thanks to the booms '' .
The ministry said Friday it had removed more than 200 tonnes of the fuel .
The spill also polluted 180,000 square metres of land before hitting the river , regional prosecutors said .

Russia has managed to contain a massive diesel spill into a river in the Arctic, a spokeswoman for the emergencies ministry told AFP on Friday.
A European Space Agency photo shows part of a satellite image captured on June 1, 2020 by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission of the extent of an oil spill after some 20,000 tonnes of diesel oil leaked into the Ambarnaya river within the Arctic Circle.
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"We have stopped the spread of the petroleum products," the spokeswoman for the taskforce in charge of the accident clean-up said.
"They are contained in all directions, they are not going anywhere now."
Environmentalists said the oil spill, which took place last Friday, was the worst such accident ever in the Arctic region.
The accident happened when a diesel reservoir collapsed at a power station outside the northern Siberian city of Norilsk.
It caused 15,000 tonnes of fuel to leak into a river and 6,000 tonnes into the soil, according to Russia's state environmental watchdog.
The power plant is owned by a subsidiary of Russian metals giant Norilsk Nickel.
President Vladimir Putin has ordered a state of emergency to deal with the disaster and Emergencies Minister Yevgeny Zinichev flew in to manage the clean-up operation that currently involves around 100 people.
Zinichev was set to report back to Putin later Friday.
Greenpeace: Spill compares to Exxon Valdez
Greenpeace Russia said it was the "first accident of such a scale in the Arctic" and comparable to the Exxon Valdez disaster off the coast of Alaska in 1989.
The Ambarnaya River, which is affected by the spill, feeds into Lake Pyasino, a major body of water and the source of the Pyasina River that is vitally important to the entire Taimyr peninsula.
The clean-up operation placed oil containment booms in the Ambarnaya River to stop the diesel fuel going into the lake and was using special devices to skim off the fuel.
The emergencies ministry spokeswoman said that "we managed to stop (the spread) thanks to the booms".
The ministry said Friday it had removed more than 200 tonnes of the fuel.
The spill also polluted 180,000 square metres of land before hitting the river, regional prosecutors said.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-06-05--Survival skills: The Australians turning to bushcraft in wake of Covid-19 pandemic

From building fires to foraging for food , some in Australia have taken to brushing up on essential survival skills in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic , a way to prepare for future global disasters while reconnecting with nature .
Gordon Deman , a senior instructor for Bushcraft Survival Australia , says interest in survival courses has peaked following the pandemic .
“ If it ’ s one thing this pandemic has highlighted , is our disconnection to the environment across the world , ” he told Reuters .
“ Our over-dependence on the way we use modern technology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking after people and , our main focus has been on economy , rather than community.
” On a three-day intermediate course led by Deman near Ku-ring-gai National Park , Ingleside , north of Sydney , participants learn not only how to provide heat and shelter , but also solar and celestial navigation , signalling for help , and knot tying .
“ That ’ s why I think this course is pretty popular now with people .
So just to connect with nature and learn different skills and be a bit more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participant Victor Mossely .
“ I was a bit of a prepper anyway , in the first place , so , collecting things .
So when this happened ( pandemic ) , I said ‘ Oh , finally.
’ Oh , not finally something ’ s happened , but you know , you talk to people at work and they go , ‘ oh yeah , yeah , you know , you prepping this , prepping this , nothing ’ s going to happen , ’ and then so , yeah , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australia has been less heavily impacted by the coronavirus than many other countries with 7,240 recorded cases and 102 deaths but like most other nations introduced strict lockdown measures and saw panic-buying of essentials , such as toilet paper , at the start of the pandemic .

From building fires to foraging for food, some in Australia have taken to brushing up on essential survival skills in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, a way to prepare for future global disasters while reconnecting with nature.
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Gordon Deman, a senior instructor for Bushcraft Survival Australia, says interest in survival courses has peaked following the pandemic.
“If it’s one thing this pandemic has highlighted, is our disconnection to the environment across the world,” he told Reuters. “Our over-dependence on the way we use modern technology and the lack of community and people looking after people and, our main focus has been on economy, rather than community.”
On a three-day intermediate course led by Deman near Ku-ring-gai National Park, Ingleside, north of Sydney, participants learn not only how to provide heat and shelter, but also solar and celestial navigation, signalling for help, and knot tying.
“That’s why I think this course is pretty popular now with people. So just to connect with nature and learn different skills and be a bit more prepared, I think,” said participant Victor Mossely.
“I was a bit of a prepper anyway, in the first place, so, collecting things. So when this happened (pandemic), I said ‘Oh, finally.’ Oh, not finally something’s happened, but you know, you talk to people at work and they go, ‘oh yeah, yeah, you know, you prepping this, prepping this, nothing’s going to happen,’ and then so, yeah, a little bit happened, so yeah.”
Australia has been less heavily impacted by the coronavirus than many other countries with 7,240 recorded cases and 102 deaths but like most other nations introduced strict lockdown measures and saw panic-buying of essentials, such as toilet paper, at the start of the pandemic.
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france24--2020-06-05--No, The Simpsons didn’t predict the murder of George Floyd or the protests sweeping the US

Aside from the fake screengrabs that supposedly predict Floyd ’ s arrest and murder , other images have also been circulating that claim to show the the writers of The Simpsons also predicted the ensuing protests and unrest .
The images that have been circulating of a torch-bearing mob and the darkened White House do come from The Simpsons , however .
The first is from the 2007 movie while the second is from a mini episode from April 2017 marking the start to Donald Trump ’ s presidency When there are similarities between things that have happened in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 31 seasons of the American animated series The Simpsons , fans often interpret them as predictions .
Recently , a series of fake screengrabs have gone viral , making it look as if the writers of The Simpsons predicted the Covid-19 pandemic , the death of basketball star Kobe Bryant and the meeting between President Donald Trump and Greta Thunberg.There are also fake screengrabs circulating online that make it look like the writers of The Simpsons predicted the murder of George Floyd , a black American who was killed by a police officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as the protests that ensued.Posts shared hundreds of thousands of times , especially on Twitter , claimed that an episode of The Simpsons ( some posts specified it was from the 90s ) included a scene eerily similar to the arrest that ended in George Floyd ’ s murder.Facebook user Chirz posted in French : `` Do you think Trump will survive ?
Because it ’ s not over yet # anonymus # Anonymous '' Turns out , however , that two independent cartoonists made these images in reaction to these events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ search ( check out how to run one yourself by clicking here ) pulls up the original tweets by these two artists sharing the images for the first time .
The duo often produce Simpson spoofs , to make fun of celebrities , for example , or to encourage people to respect lockdownMais ces deux images ont en fait été réalisées par deux dessinateurs indépendants en réaction à l'événement - et non antérieurement .
Une recherche d'images inversée ( voir ici comment procéder ) permet de retrouver les tweets d'origine de ces deux @ @ @ @ @ @ @ l ’ habitude de publier des détournements des Simpson , par exemple pour caricaturer des célébrités ou pour inciter à respecter le confinement

DEBUNKED
These tweets claim that The Simpsons predicted the current protests sweeping the United States after the murder of George Floyd.
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Did the TV show The Simpsons predict the protest movement that has swept the United States after the murder of George Floyd on May 25? You might mistakenly think so if you’ve come across several fakes screengrabs that have gone viral in recent days.
When there are similarities between things that have happened in the real world and various scenes from the 31 seasons of the American animated series The Simpsons, fans often interpret them as predictions. Recently, a series of fake screengrabs have gone viral, making it look as if the writers of The Simpsons predicted the Covid-19 pandemic, the death of basketball star Kobe Bryant and the meeting between President Donald Trump and Greta Thunberg.
There are also fake screengrabs circulating online that make it look like the writers of The Simpsons predicted the murder of George Floyd, a black American who was killed by a police officer and his colleagues on May 25 as well as the protests that ensued.
The arrest
Posts shared hundreds of thousands of times, especially on Twitter, claimed that an episode of The Simpsons (some posts specified it was from the 90s) included a scene eerily similar to the arrest that ended in George Floyd’s murder.
Facebook user Chirz posted in French: "Do you think Trump will survive? Because it’s not over yet #anonymus #Anonymous"
Turns out, however, that two independent cartoonists made these images in reaction to these events, not before. A reverse image search (check out how to run one yourself by clicking here) pulls up the original tweets by these two artists sharing the images for the first time. The duo often produce Simpson spoofs, to make fun of celebrities, for example, or to encourage people to respect lockdown
Vous pensez que Trump va survivre? Parce que là c’est pas gagné quoi #anonymus #Anonymous pic.twitter.com/n92kiERsL9 Chiraz ???????????? (@chichi1__) June 1, 2020
The Simpsons did it again... From the 1990's????#Anonymous pic.twitter.com/FP6GMA7eaL Minal khan ✊???? (@model_hun) June 1, 2020
Mais ces deux images ont en fait été réalisées par deux dessinateurs indépendants en réaction à l'événement - et non antérieurement. Une recherche d'images inversée (voir ici comment procéder) permet de retrouver les tweets d'origine de ces deux artistes, qui ont d’ailleurs l’habitude de publier des détournements des Simpson, par exemple pour caricaturer des célébrités ou pour inciter à respecter le confinement.
Protests
Aside from the fake screengrabs that supposedly predict Floyd’s arrest and murder, other images have also been circulating that claim to show the the writers of The Simpsons also predicted the ensuing protests and unrest.
A police station in Minneapolis was burned down during protests on May 28. But, as highlighted by fact-checkers at Snopes, the photo of a building on fire that appeared in numerous tweets has nothing to do with that event it’s actually a building near the station under construction. Moreover, the fire in the police station in Springfield, the town where The Simpsons takes place has nothing to do with protests. The scene is from episode 6 of season 11 and it makes fun of the police chief’s failure to act as the building burns behind him.
The images that have been circulating of a torch-bearing mob and the darkened White House do come from The Simpsons, however. The first is from the 2007 movie while the second is from a mini episode from April 2017 marking the start to Donald Trump’s presidency.


france24--2020-06-05--French forces kill al Qaeda's North Africa chief in Mali, defence minister says

Abdelmalek Droukdel , aka Abu Musab Abdul Wadud , the head of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb ( AQIM ) , seen here in a screen grab from a propaganda video released by the group .
French forces have killed the leader of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb ( AQIM ) , Algerian Abdelmalek Droukdel , in northern Mali , France 's Defence Minister Florence Parly said Friday .
Droukdel was killed on Thursday near the Algerian border , where the group has bases from which it has carried out attacks and abductions of Westerners in the sub-Saharan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many close associates '' of Droukdel – who commanded several affiliate jihadist groups across the lawless region – were also `` neutralised '' , she added .
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb emerged from a group started in the late 1990s by radical Algerian Islamists , who in 2007 pledged allegiance to Osama Bin Laden 's al Qaeda network .
According to the UN , Droukdel was an explosives expert and manufactured devices that killed hundreds of civilians in attacks on public places .
He was sentenced to death in Algeria in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a government building and offices of the UN 's refugee committee in Algiers that killed 26 people and wounded 177 .
The US said it had provided intelligence to help track down Droukdel .
`` US Africa Command was able to assist with intelligence and ... support to fix the target , '' spokesman Colonel Chris Karns told CNN on Friday .
The group has claimed responsibility for a string of attacks on troops and civilians across the Sahel , including a 2016 attack on an upmarket hotel and restaurant in Burkina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Westerners .
France has deployed more than 5,000 troops to combat jihadist groups in the region – a largely lawless expanse stretching over Burkina Faso , Chad , Mali , Mauritania and Niger – where drugs and arms flow through porous borders .
Northern Mali is the site of frequent clashes between rival armed groups as well as a haven for jihadist activity .
In 2012 key Malian cities fell under the control of jihadist groups linked to al Qaeda , which exploited the unrest resulting from an ethnic Tuareg-led rebel uprising .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ January 2013 to beat back the Islamists .
France also claimed on Friday to have captured a leader of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara ( EIGS ) group , which carries out frequent attacks over Niger 's western borders .
`` On May 19 , French forces captured Mohamed el Mrabat , veteran jihadist in the Sahel region and an important cadre in EIGS '' , Parly said on Twitter .
Operations against EIGS `` the other great terrorist threat in the region '' are continuing , said Parly .
Mali @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that erupted in 2012 and has claimed thousands of military and civilian lives since .
Despite the presence of thousands of French and UN troops , the conflict has engulfed the centre of the country and spread to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger .
A source told AFP that some 500 jihadist fighters had been killed or captured by French troops in the region in recent months , among them several leading figures including commanders and recruiters .
Droukdel 's death is a symbolic coup for the French , a military source said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the region , capable of financing jihadist movements even though his leadership had been contested , the source added .
His death , and that of other al Qaeda figures , could leave the group disorganised in the Sahel .
Born in 1971 in a poor neighbourhood of Algiers , Droukdel took helped found the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat ( GSPC ) in Algeria .
Abdelaziz Bouteflika , elected president in 1999 , managed to convince most Algerian armed groups to lay down their weapons .
The GSPC , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ al Qaeda .

French forces have killed the leader of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Algerian Abdelmalek Droukdel, in northern Mali, France's Defence Minister Florence Parly said Friday.
Abdelmalek Droukdel, aka Abu Musab Abdul Wadud, the head of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), seen here in a screen grab from a propaganda video released by the group.
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Droukdel was killed on Thursday near the Algerian border, where the group has bases from which it has carried out attacks and abductions of Westerners in the sub-Saharan Sahel zone, Parly said.
"Many close associates" of Droukdel – who commanded several affiliate jihadist groups across the lawless region – were also "neutralised", she added.
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb emerged from a group started in the late 1990s by radical Algerian Islamists, who in 2007 pledged allegiance to Osama Bin Laden's al Qaeda network.
According to the UN, Droukdel was an explosives expert and manufactured devices that killed hundreds of civilians in attacks on public places.
He was sentenced to death in Algeria in 2013 for his involvement in the bombings of a government building and offices of the UN's refugee committee in Algiers that killed 26 people and wounded 177.
The US said it had provided intelligence to help track down Droukdel.
"US Africa Command was able to assist with intelligence and ... support to fix the target," spokesman Colonel Chris Karns told CNN on Friday.
01:00
The group has claimed responsibility for a string of attacks on troops and civilians across the Sahel, including a 2016 attack on an upmarket hotel and restaurant in Burkina Faso that killed 30 people, mainly Westerners.
France has deployed more than 5,000 troops to combat jihadist groups in the region – a largely lawless expanse stretching over Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger – where drugs and arms flow through porous borders.
Northern Mali is the site of frequent clashes between rival armed groups as well as a haven for jihadist activity.
In 2012 key Malian cities fell under the control of jihadist groups linked to al Qaeda, which exploited the unrest resulting from an ethnic Tuareg-led rebel uprising. A French-led military intervention was launched in January 2013 to beat back the Islamists.
Islamic State official captured
France also claimed on Friday to have captured a leader of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS) group, which carries out frequent attacks over Niger's western borders.
"On May 19, French forces captured Mohamed el Mrabat, veteran jihadist in the Sahel region and an important cadre in EIGS", Parly said on Twitter.
Operations against EIGS "the other great terrorist threat in the region" are continuing, said Parly.
>> Exclusive with al Qaeda in North Africa leader Abu Obeida Youssef Al-Aanabi
Mali is struggling to contain an Islamist insurgency that erupted in 2012 and has claimed thousands of military and civilian lives since.
Despite the presence of thousands of French and UN troops, the conflict has engulfed the centre of the country and spread to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.
A source told AFP that some 500 jihadist fighters had been killed or captured by French troops in the region in recent months, among them several leading figures including commanders and recruiters.
Droukdel's death is a symbolic coup for the French, a military source said. He had remained a threat in the region, capable of financing jihadist movements even though his leadership had been contested, the source added.
His death, and that of other al Qaeda figures, could leave the group disorganised in the Sahel.
Born in 1971 in a poor neighbourhood of Algiers, Droukdel took helped found the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) in Algeria. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, elected president in 1999, managed to convince most Algerian armed groups to lay down their weapons. The GSPC, however, refused and Droukdel decided to ally with al Qaeda.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-06-06--France commemorates D-Day without crowds amid pandemic

A man , wearing US WWII uniform , stands on the Vierville-sur-Mer beach , one of the D-Day landing beaches in Normandy , France , on June 2 , 2014 , ahead of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings .
At daybreak on Saturday , Charles Shay stood lonesome without any fellow veteran on the very same beach where he waded ashore 76 years ago , part of one of the most epic battles in military history that came to be known as D-Day and turned the tide of World War II .
Compared to last year , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northern French beaches of Normandy to cheer the dwindling number of veterans and celebrate three quarters of a century of liberation from Nazi oppression , the coronavirus lockdown turned this year 's remembrance into one of the eeriest ever .
“ I am very sad now , '' said Shay , who was a 19-year-old U.S. Army medic when he landed on Omaha Beach under horrific machine-gun fire and shells .
“ Because of the virus , nobody can be here .
I would like to see more of us here , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 95-year-old Shay would be meeting other survivors of the 1944 battle and celebrating with locals and dignitaries alike , all not far from his home close to the beaches that defined his life .
“ This year , I am one of the very few that is probably here , '' he said , adding that other U.S. veterans could not fly in because of the pandemic .
When a full moon disappeared over land and the sun rose the other side over the English Channel , there was no customary rumble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be heard , roads still so deserted a hare sat alongside them .
Still the French would not let this day slip by unnoticed , such is their attachment to some 160,000 soldiers from the United States , Britain , Canada and others who spilled their blood to free foreign beaches and fight on to finally defeat Nazism almost one year later .
“ It 's a June 6th unlike any other , '' said Philippe Laillier , the mayor of Saint-Laurent-Sur-Mer , where he staged a small remembrance around the Omaha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to do something .
We had to mark it . ''
The moment the sun broke over the ocean , the Omaha Beach theme from Saving Private Ryan blared across the sand for a few dozen locals and visitors dressed in vintage clothing .
The lack of a big international crowd was palpable though .
The pandemic has wreaked havoc across the world , infecting 6.6 million people , killing over 391,000 and devastating economies .
It poses a particular threat to the elderly — like the surviving D-Day veterans who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It has also affected the younger generations who turn out every year to mark the occasion .
Most have been barred from traveling to the windswept coasts of Normandy .
It did not affect Ivan Thierry , 62 , a local fisherman who catches seabass around the wrecks that still litter the seabed nearby .
He was holding an American flag in tribute even before dawn .
“ There is not nobody here .
Even if we are only a dozen , we are here to commemorate , '' he said .

At daybreak on Saturday, Charles Shay stood lonesome without any fellow veteran on the very same beach where he waded ashore 76 years ago, part of one of the most epic battles in military history that came to be known as D-Day and turned the tide of World War II.
A man, wearing US WWII uniform, stands on the Vierville-sur-Mer beach, one of the D-Day landing beaches in Normandy, France, on June 2, 2014, ahead of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
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Compared to last year, when many tens of thousands came to the northern French beaches of Normandy to cheer the dwindling number of veterans and celebrate three quarters of a century of liberation from Nazi oppression, the coronavirus lockdown turned this year's remembrance into one of the eeriest ever.
“I am very sad now," said Shay, who was a 19-year-old U.S. Army medic when he landed on Omaha Beach under horrific machine-gun fire and shells. “Because of the virus, nobody can be here. I would like to see more of us here," he told the Associated Press.
Normally, 95-year-old Shay would be meeting other survivors of the 1944 battle and celebrating with locals and dignitaries alike, all not far from his home close to the beaches that defined his life.
“This year, I am one of the very few that is probably here," he said, adding that other U.S. veterans could not fly in because of the pandemic.
Every year USEUCOM participates in D-Day commemorations. And while coronavirus has interrupted life around the world, we continue the D-Day tradition by virtually honoring all the Allied forces who stood defiant against Nazi tyranny 76 years ago. #TogetherWeRemember pic.twitter.com/FWVD5SXeuX — U.S. European Command (@US_EUCOM) June 6, 2020
When a full moon disappeared over land and the sun rose the other side over the English Channel, there was no customary rumble of columns of vintage jeep and trucks to be heard, roads still so deserted a hare sat alongside them.
Still the French would not let this day slip by unnoticed, such is their attachment to some 160,000 soldiers from the United States, Britain, Canada and others who spilled their blood to free foreign beaches and fight on to finally defeat Nazism almost one year later.
“It's a June 6th unlike any other," said Philippe Laillier, the mayor of Saint-Laurent-Sur-Mer, where he staged a small remembrance around the Omaha Beach monument. “But still we had to do something. We had to mark it."
The moment the sun broke over the ocean, the Omaha Beach theme from Saving Private Ryan blared across the sand for a few dozen locals and visitors dressed in vintage clothing.
Today marks 76 years since #DDay, the largest seaborne invasion in history. D-Day was a truly international effort with British troops fighting alongside many other countries. Join us today as we remember the service & sacrifice of all those involved in turning the tide of #WW2. pic.twitter.com/OnuNEUSADR — Royal British Legion (@PoppyLegion) June 6, 2020
The lack of a big international crowd was palpable though.
The pandemic has wreaked havoc across the world, infecting 6.6 million people, killing over 391,000 and devastating economies. It poses a particular threat to the elderly — like the surviving D-Day veterans who are in their late nineties or older.
It has also affected the younger generations who turn out every year to mark the occasion. Most have been barred from traveling to the windswept coasts of Normandy.
It did not affect Ivan Thierry, 62, a local fisherman who catches seabass around the wrecks that still litter the seabed nearby. He was holding an American flag in tribute even before dawn.
“There is not nobody here. Even if we are only a dozen, we are here to commemorate," he said.
(AP)
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france24--2020-06-06--Minneapolis bans police use of chokeholds following death of George Floyd

Minneapolis agreed Friday to ban chokeholds and neck restraints by police and to require officers to try to stop any other officers they see using improper force , in the first concrete steps to remake the city 's police force since George Floyd 's death .
The changes are part of a stipulation between the city and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights , which launched a civil rights investigation this week in response to the death of Floyd .
The City Council approved the agreement 12-0 .
Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero said the changes are necessary to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have suffered generational pain and trauma as a result of systemic and institutional racism.
” “ This is just a start , '' Lucero said .
`` There is a lot more work to do here , and that work must and will be done with speed and community engagement.
” Floyd 's death is prompting reexamination of police techniques elsewhere .
California Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Friday ordered the state ’ s police training program to stop teaching officers how to use a neck hold that blocks the flow of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on whether to use the hold is up to each law enforcement agency , and Newsom said he will support legislation to outlaw the method .
The San Diego Police Department and San Diego County Sheriff ’ s Department are among the agencies that announced this week that they would stop using the hold , known as a carotid hold or sleeper hold .
“ We train techniques on strangleholds that put people ’ s lives at risk , ” Newsom said .
“ That has no place any longer in 21st-century practices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court approval and would become enforceable in court , unlike the department 's current policies , which already cite the duty of sworn employees to stop or try to stop inappropriate force or force no longer needed .
The agreement would also require officers to immediately report to their superiors when they see use of any neck restraint or chokehold .
Floyd died after Officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on the handcuffed black man 's neck , ignoring his “ I ca n't breathe ” cries and bystander shouts even after Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off protests around the world .
Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder .
Three other officers are charged with aiding and abetting .
All have been fired .
Lucero said the changes go further than the department 's current policies .
Any officer who does n't try to stop the improper use of force would face the same discipline as if they had used improper force .
The agreement also would require authorization from the police chief or a deputy chief to use crowd control weapons such as tear gas , rubber bullets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been used in Minneapolis and other cities in the past week to disperse protesters .
The stipulation also sets a process for the city and state to negotiate longer-term changes , such as changing state laws that make it difficult to fire problem officers .
Minneapolis police Chief Medaria Arradondo said in a statement that he “ will continue to work on efforts to improve public trust , public safety and transformational culture change ” of the poliice force .
“ I will be bringing forth substantive policy changes , ” said Arradondo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Meanwhile , a man who was with Floyd on the night he died told The New York Times that his longtime friend did n't resist arrest and instead tried to defuse the situation before he ended up handcuffed on the ground .
Maurice Lester Hall was a passenger in Floyd 's car when police approached him May 25 as they responded to a call about someone using a forged bill at a shop .
Hall told the newspaper that Floyd was trying to show he was not resisting .
“ I could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer , what ’ s all this for ?
’ ” Hall told the Times .
Authorities say Hall , whose name is spelled Morries Lester Hall in court records , is a key witness in the state ’ s investigation into the four officers who apprehended Floyd .
Hall 's identity was n't made public until the Times ' report .
Bruce Gordon , spokesman for the Department of Public Safety , said Hall initially gave a false name to officers at the scene .
Hall told ABC 's “ Good Morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and police grabbed Floyd , put him in a squad car , dragged him back out and then “ jumped on the back of the neck.
” He said Floyd was put in an ambulance and that he didn ’ t know his friend had died until the next day , when he saw bystander video on Facebook .
“ I ’ m going to always remember seeing the fear in Floyd ’ s face because he ’ s such a king , '' Hall told the Times .
“ That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grown man cry , before seeing a grown man die.
” Hall ’ s attorney , Ashlee McFarlane , told The Associated Press that Hall would not be doing any more interviews .
She declined further comment .

Minneapolis agreed Friday to ban chokeholds and neck restraints by police and to require officers to try to stop any other officers they see using improper force, in the first concrete steps to remake the city's police force since George Floyd's death.
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The changes are part of a stipulation between the city and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, which launched a civil rights investigation this week in response to the death of Floyd. The City Council approved the agreement 12-0.
Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero said the changes are necessary to stop ongoing harm to people of color “who have suffered generational pain and trauma as a result of systemic and institutional racism.”
“This is just a start," Lucero said. "There is a lot more work to do here, and that work must and will be done with speed and community engagement.”
Floyd's death is prompting reexamination of police techniques elsewhere. California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday ordered the state’s police training program to stop teaching officers how to use a neck hold that blocks the flow of blood to the brain.
The decision on whether to use the hold is up to each law enforcement agency, and Newsom said he will support legislation to outlaw the method. The San Diego Police Department and San Diego County Sheriff’s Department are among the agencies that announced this week that they would stop using the hold, known as a carotid hold or sleeper hold.
“We train techniques on strangleholds that put people’s lives at risk,” Newsom said. “That has no place any longer in 21st-century practices and policing.”
The Minneapolis agreement requires court approval and would become enforceable in court, unlike the department's current policies, which already cite the duty of sworn employees to stop or try to stop inappropriate force or force no longer needed. The agreement would also require officers to immediately report to their superiors when they see use of any neck restraint or chokehold.
Floyd died after Officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on the handcuffed black man's neck, ignoring his “I can't breathe” cries and bystander shouts even after Floyd stopped moving. His death has set off protests around the world.
01:58
Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder. Three other officers are charged with aiding and abetting. All have been fired.
Lucero said the changes go further than the department's current policies. Any officer who doesn't try to stop the improper use of force would face the same discipline as if they had used improper force.
The agreement also would require authorization from the police chief or a deputy chief to use crowd control weapons such as tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades. Such tactics have been used in Minneapolis and other cities in the past week to disperse protesters.
The stipulation also sets a process for the city and state to negotiate longer-term changes, such as changing state laws that make it difficult to fire problem officers.
Minneapolis police Chief Medaria Arradondo said in a statement that he “will continue to work on efforts to improve public trust, public safety and transformational culture change” of the poliice force.
“I will be bringing forth substantive policy changes,” said Arradondo, whose statement did not provide details.
01:39
Meanwhile, a man who was with Floyd on the night he died told The New York Times that his longtime friend didn't resist arrest and instead tried to defuse the situation before he ended up handcuffed on the ground.
Maurice Lester Hall was a passenger in Floyd's car when police approached him May 25 as they responded to a call about someone using a forged bill at a shop. Hall told the newspaper that Floyd was trying to show he was not resisting.
“I could hear him pleading, ‘Please, officer, what’s all this for?’” Hall told the Times.
Authorities say Hall, whose name is spelled Morries Lester Hall in court records, is a key witness in the state’s investigation into the four officers who apprehended Floyd. Hall's identity wasn't made public until the Times' report. Bruce Gordon, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety, said Hall initially gave a false name to officers at the scene.
Hall told ABC's “Good Morning America” that the situation escalated quickly and police grabbed Floyd, put him in a squad car, dragged him back out and then “jumped on the back of the neck.” He said Floyd was put in an ambulance and that he didn’t know his friend had died until the next day, when he saw bystander video on Facebook.
“I’m going to always remember seeing the fear in Floyd’s face because he’s such a king," Hall told the Times. “That’s what sticks with me, seeing a grown man cry, before seeing a grown man die.”
Hall’s attorney, Ashlee McFarlane, told The Associated Press that Hall would not be doing any more interviews. She declined further comment.
(AP)
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france24--2020-06-06--George Floyd had a ‘big heart’, his uncle tells FRANCE 24

Protests against the death of George Floyd in police custody on May 25 have erupted across the United States and around the world .
But it is in South Carolina that George Floyd was born and where much of his family has lived for generations .
His uncle Roger Floyd agreed to sit down with FRANCE 24 in a quiet hotel room away from the protests .
`` It was just total disbelief to absorb that , '' Floyd said of his nephew 's death .
`` And it was just so devastating . ''
George was `` a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as `` Big Floyd '' , George had a `` big heart '' .
Despite his family 's grief and shock , Floyd expressed hope that his nephew 's death might lead to lasting change .
`` We need to come together as a united front and demand change , '' he said .
`` And I think we are in a posture now to make that happen . ''
`` Every day going forward , I am going to speak his name . ''
Click on the video player above to @ @ @ @ @

Exclusive
Protests against the death of George Floyd in police custody on May 25 have erupted across the United States and around the world. But it is in North Carolina that George Floyd was born and where much of his family has lived for generations. His uncle Roger Floyd agreed to sit down with FRANCE 24 in a quiet hotel room away from the protests.
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"It was just total disbelief to absorb that," Floyd said of his nephew's death. "And it was just so devastating."
George was "a good kid", he continued. Sometimes known as "Big Floyd", George had a "big heart".
Despite his family's grief and shock, Floyd expressed hope that his nephew's death might lead to lasting change.
"We need to come together as a united front and demand change," he said. "And I think we are in a posture now to make that happen."
"Every day going forward, I am going to speak his name."
Click on the video player above to watch the full interview.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-06-06--Mayor inaugurates 'Black Lives Matter Plaza' in DC with giant yellow letters

Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser declared part of a street that runs near the White House `` Black Lives Matter Plaza '' on Friday , inaugurating the new plaza with giant yellow letters and a brand-new street sign .
The city of Washington capped nearly a week of demonstrations against police brutality Friday by painting the words Black Lives Matter in enormous bright yellow letters on the street leading to the White House , a highly visible display of the local government 's embrace of a protest movement that has put it even further at odds with President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by city workers and local artists that spans two blocks is intended to send a message of support and solidarity to Americans outraged over the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis .
It comes as the mayor has sparred with Trump over the response to the protests and as D.C. prepared for a demonstration on Saturday that was expected to bring tens of thousands of people into a city still under coronavirus restrictions .
“ We know what ’ s going on in our country .
There is a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distrust of police and the government , '' the mayor said at a news conference .
“ There are people who are craving to be heard and to be seen and to have their humanity recognized .
We had the opportunity to send that message loud and clear on a very important street in our city.
” The letters and an image of the city 's flag stretch across the entire width of 16th Street to the north of Lafayette Square .
The mural ends near St. John 's Episcopal Church , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers in riot gear fired tear gas and charged demonstrators to make way for the president and his entourage .
A sign now identifies that section of 16th Street near the White House as “ Black Lives Matter Plaza.
” Bowser has complained about the heavy-handed federal response to the protests and called for the removal of out-of-state National Guard troops .
She says the differences with the Trump administration highlight the need for the District of Columbia to be a state and have more control over its affairs .
They may also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unpopular in the district , where Hillary Clinton won about 90 % of the vote in the 2016 presidential election .
While not addressing the painted mural , Trump continued his attacks on Bowser in tweets Friday .
“ The incompetent Mayor of Washington , D.C. , @ MayorBowser , who 's budget is totally out of control and is constantly coming back to us for ‘ handouts , ' is now fighting with the National Guard , who saved her from great embarrassment over the last number of nights , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treat these men and women well , then we 'll bring in a different group of men and women !
” She shrugged off his criticism .
“ You know that thing about the pot and the kettle , ” the mayor said at a news conference .
The local chapter of Black Lives Matter said it did not support painting the street and took a swipe at Bowser , who they see as insufficiently supportive of their efforts to combat abuses by the police .
“ This is performative and a distraction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demands to decrease the police budget and invest in the community , ” it said on Twitter .
D.C. officials have longstanding grievances against the federal government .
Bowser and the D.C. Council have long resented Congress , which retains the right to alter and even reverse any city law .
It was Congress , not Trump , that cost the District of Columbia more than $ 700 million in federal funding earlier this year by classifying it as a territory rather than a state in the first big coronavirus relief package .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s relations with the White House seem to have eroded steadily over the past few years , finally developing into open public antipathy over the handling of the current protests .
Trump criticized Bowser and Washington ’ s Metropolitan Police Department for taking a soft touch with the protesters .
He warned after the first night of protests that the Secret Service was ready to unleash “ the most vicious dogs and the most ominous weapons I have ever seen ” if protesters had managed to breach the security fence around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s remarks “ gross ” and said the reference to attack dogs conjures up the worst memories of the nation ’ s fight against segregation .
The public feud has escalated from there , with Trump essentially usurping Bowser ’ s authority by ordering multiple federal agencies and the entire 1,700-member D.C. National Guard contingent into the streets .
On Thursday , as the protests remained peaceful , Bowser ended a curfew imposed after people damaged buildings and broke into businesses over the weekend and Monday .
In recent days , thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House , Capitol and Lincoln Memorial .
Volunteers make their way through the mostly masked crowds offering spritzes of hand sanitizer , free water and snacks .
Metropolitan Police Department Chief Peter Newsham said there had been no arrests on Thursday and Friday related to the demonstrations .
Bowser said she would decide Saturday morning if they would reinstate the curfew for the weekend demonstrations .

Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser declared part of a street that runs near the White House "Black Lives Matter Plaza" on Friday, inaugurating the new plaza with giant yellow letters and a brand-new street sign.
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The city of Washington capped nearly a week of demonstrations against police brutality Friday by painting the words Black Lives Matter in enormous bright yellow letters on the street leading to the White House, a highly visible display of the local government's embrace of a protest movement that has put it even further at odds with President Donald Trump.
Mayor Muriel Bowser said the painting by city workers and local artists that spans two blocks is intended to send a message of support and solidarity to Americans outraged over the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis.
It comes as the mayor has sparred with Trump over the response to the protests and as D.C. prepared for a demonstration on Saturday that was expected to bring tens of thousands of people into a city still under coronavirus restrictions.
“We know what’s going on in our country. There is a lot of anger. There is a lot of distrust of police and the government," the mayor said at a news conference. “There are people who are craving to be heard and to be seen and to have their humanity recognized. We had the opportunity to send that message loud and clear on a very important street in our city.”
The letters and an image of the city's flag stretch across the entire width of 16th Street to the north of Lafayette Square. The mural ends near St. John's Episcopal Church, where Trump staged a photo-op on Monday after officers in riot gear fired tear gas and charged demonstrators to make way for the president and his entourage.
A sign now identifies that section of 16th Street near the White House as “Black Lives Matter Plaza.”
01:58
Bowser has complained about the heavy-handed federal response to the protests and called for the removal of out-of-state National Guard troops.
She says the differences with the Trump administration highlight the need for the District of Columbia to be a state and have more control over its affairs. They may also reflect the fact that Trump is deeply unpopular in the district, where Hillary Clinton won about 90% of the vote in the 2016 presidential election.
While not addressing the painted mural, Trump continued his attacks on Bowser in tweets Friday.
“The incompetent Mayor of Washington, D.C., @MayorBowser, who's budget is totally out of control and is constantly coming back to us for ‘handouts,' is now fighting with the National Guard, who saved her from great embarrassment over the last number of nights," he tweeted. "If she doesn't treat these men and women well, then we'll bring in a different group of men and women!”
She shrugged off his criticism. “You know that thing about the pot and the kettle,” the mayor said at a news conference.
The local chapter of Black Lives Matter said it did not support painting the street and took a swipe at Bowser, who they see as insufficiently supportive of their efforts to combat abuses by the police.
“This is performative and a distraction from her active counter organizing to our demands to decrease the police budget and invest in the community,” it said on Twitter.
D.C. officials have longstanding grievances against the federal government.
Bowser and the D.C. Council have long resented Congress, which retains the right to alter and even reverse any city law. It was Congress, not Trump, that cost the District of Columbia more than $700 million in federal funding earlier this year by classifying it as a territory rather than a state in the first big coronavirus relief package.
But with Trump in office, Bowser’s relations with the White House seem to have eroded steadily over the past few years, finally developing into open public antipathy over the handling of the current protests.
Trump criticized Bowser and Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department for taking a soft touch with the protesters. He warned after the first night of protests that the Secret Service was ready to unleash “the most vicious dogs and the most ominous weapons I have ever seen” if protesters had managed to breach the security fence around the White House.
Bowser called Trump’s remarks “gross” and said the reference to attack dogs conjures up the worst memories of the nation’s fight against segregation.
The public feud has escalated from there, with Trump essentially usurping Bowser’s authority by ordering multiple federal agencies and the entire 1,700-member D.C. National Guard contingent into the streets.
On Thursday, as the protests remained peaceful, Bowser ended a curfew imposed after people damaged buildings and broke into businesses over the weekend and Monday.
In recent days, thousands of demonstrators have marched peacefully between the White House, Capitol and Lincoln Memorial. Volunteers make their way through the mostly masked crowds offering spritzes of hand sanitizer, free water and snacks.
Metropolitan Police Department Chief Peter Newsham said there had been no arrests on Thursday and Friday related to the demonstrations. Bowser said she would decide Saturday morning if they would reinstate the curfew for the weekend demonstrations.
(AP)
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