france24--2020-07-30--US federal agents agree to withdraw in Portland but will remain on standby

Federal law enforcement officers , deployed under the Trump administration 's new executive order , face off with people protesting racial inequality in Portland , Oregon , US on July 17 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump 's administration on Wednesday agreed to a deal to defuse weeks of clashes in the US city of Portland with the withdrawal of federal forces whose presence enraged protesters , but the timing of the withdrawal remains in dispute .
Oregon Governor Kate Brown said the forces -- whose deployment was seen by many as part of Trump 's law-and-order strategy for re-election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday .
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf indicated , however , that the officers will withdraw only if there are guarantees that local police can ensure the federal courthouse will be secured .
Trump 's administration earlier this month sent the federal tactical teams , many wearing combat-like gear , to intervene in the western US city after weeks of protests against racism and police brutality left the federal courthouse and other buildings marred with graffiti and broken windows .
But their deployment only served to inflame the situation , especially following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the street by federal forces and put into unmarked cars .
`` After my discussions with ( Vice President Mike ) Pence and others , the federal government has agreed to withdraw federal officers from Portland , '' Brown tweeted Wednesday .
`` They have acted as an occupying force & brought violence .
Starting tomorrow , all Customs and Border Protection & ICE officers will leave downtown Portland . ''
In his statement , Wolf said he and Brown had `` agreed to a joint plan to end the violent activity in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement officers . ''
`` That plan includes a robust presence of Oregon State Police in downtown Portland , '' he said , adding that `` state and local law enforcement will begin securing properties and streets , especially those surrounding federal properties , that have been under nightly attack . ''
Wolf set no timeline for a pullout , stressing that the `` current , augmented federal law enforcement personnel in Portland '' would remain until being assured that federal properties `` will no longer be attacked '' in the city .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the need for federal intervention in the city , threatening to send in the National Guard if the violence continues and calling the protesters anarchists .
`` I told my people a little while ago , if they do n't solve that problem locally very soon , we 're going to send in the National Guard and get it solved very quickly , just like we did in Minneapolis and just like we will do in other places , '' he told an energy conference in Texas .
`` They want to solve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very short time to do it .
But they 'll either solve that problem or we 'll send in the National Guard , '' he added .
In parallel with the contested crackdown in Portland , the administration has sent federal agents to supplement local law enforcement in several US cities facing a rise in gun crime such as Chicago , Kansas City and Albuquerque -- compounding public anger over the situation in Portland .
Wednesday 's announcement on Portland came as Trump 's administration said it was expanding the controversial `` surge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US cities -- Cleveland , Detroit and Milwaukee .
In a statement , Barr said all three Democratic-run cities `` have seen disturbing increases in violent crime , particularly homicides . ''
As part of so-called `` Operation Legend , '' just under 100 agents will head to the three Great Lakes cities , according to the Justice Department , which said homicides were up 13 percent in Cleveland , 31 percent in Detroit and 85 percent in Milwaukee since the start of the year .
The announcement on Portland came a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington said that federal police sent to the city of Seattle last week had left the area .
Portland 's Mayor Ted Wheeler welcomed the withdrawal of the officers from his city , tweeting Wednesday that their presence had sown fear in the community .
`` Federal agents nearly killed a demonstrator , and their presence has led to increased violence and vandalism in our downtown core , '' he said .
`` The Governor and I agree : Oregon resources , expertise , and values are sufficient to manage Oregon issues , @ @ @ @

President Donald Trump's administration on Wednesday agreed to a deal to defuse weeks of clashes in the US city of Portland with the withdrawal of federal forces whose presence enraged protesters, but the timing of the withdrawal remains in dispute.
Federal law enforcement officers, deployed under the Trump administration's new executive order, face off with people protesting racial inequality in Portland, Oregon, US on July 17, 2020.
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Oregon Governor Kate Brown said the forces -- whose deployment was seen by many as part of Trump's law-and-order strategy for re-election -- would begin their phased pullout on Thursday.
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf indicated, however, that the officers will withdraw only if there are guarantees that local police can ensure the federal courthouse will be secured.
Trump's administration earlier this month sent the federal tactical teams, many wearing combat-like gear, to intervene in the western US city after weeks of protests against racism and police brutality left the federal courthouse and other buildings marred with graffiti and broken windows.
But their deployment only served to inflame the situation, especially following video footage of protesters being snatched off the street by federal forces and put into unmarked cars.
"After my discussions with (Vice President Mike) Pence and others, the federal government has agreed to withdraw federal officers from Portland," Brown tweeted Wednesday.
"They have acted as an occupying force & brought violence. Starting tomorrow, all Customs and Border Protection & ICE officers will leave downtown Portland."
After my discussions with VP Pence and others, the federal government has agreed to withdraw federal officers from Portland. They have acted as an occupying force & brought violence. Starting tomorrow, all Customs and Border Protection & ICE officers will leave downtown Portland. — Governor Kate Brown (@OregonGovBrown) July 29, 2020
In his statement, Wolf said he and Brown had "agreed to a joint plan to end the violent activity in Portland directed at federal properties and law enforcement officers."
'Increased violence and vandalism'
"That plan includes a robust presence of Oregon State Police in downtown Portland," he said, adding that "state and local law enforcement will begin securing properties and streets, especially those surrounding federal properties, that have been under nightly attack."
Wolf set no timeline for a pullout, stressing that the "current, augmented federal law enforcement personnel in Portland" would remain until being assured that federal properties "will no longer be attacked" in the city.
Trump for his part doubled down on the need for federal intervention in the city, threatening to send in the National Guard if the violence continues and calling the protesters anarchists.
"I told my people a little while ago, if they don't solve that problem locally very soon, we're going to send in the National Guard and get it solved very quickly, just like we did in Minneapolis and just like we will do in other places," he told an energy conference in Texas.
"They want to solve their problem. They've got a very short time to do it. But they'll either solve that problem or we'll send in the National Guard," he added.
In parallel with the contested crackdown in Portland, the administration has sent federal agents to supplement local law enforcement in several US cities facing a rise in gun crime such as Chicago, Kansas City and Albuquerque -- compounding public anger over the situation in Portland.
Wednesday's announcement on Portland came as Trump's administration said it was expanding the controversial "surge" of federal agents to three more US cities -- Cleveland, Detroit and Milwaukee.
In a statement, Barr said all three Democratic-run cities "have seen disturbing increases in violent crime, particularly homicides."
As part of so-called "Operation Legend," just under 100 agents will head to the three Great Lakes cities, according to the Justice Department, which said homicides were up 13 percent in Cleveland, 31 percent in Detroit and 85 percent in Milwaukee since the start of the year.
The announcement on Portland came a day after officials in the neighboring state of Washington said that federal police sent to the city of Seattle last week had left the area.
Portland's Mayor Ted Wheeler welcomed the withdrawal of the officers from his city, tweeting Wednesday that their presence had sown fear in the community.
"Federal agents nearly killed a demonstrator, and their presence has led to increased violence and vandalism in our downtown core," he said.
"The Governor and I agree: Oregon resources, expertise, and values are sufficient to manage Oregon issues," he added.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-31--How can we apply lessons from the Spanish flu’s second wave to Covid-19?

The Philadelphia Liberty Loan 's Parade , sometimes referred to as the `` deadliest parade in history '' for acting as a super-spreader event , heading down Broad Street in the city centre on September 28 , 1918 .
The Spanish flu has swept back into public consciousness thanks to Covid-19 , ending its status as a “ forgotten pandemic ” .
Experts emphasise that the infamous second wave of this flu from a century ago was a very different disease from Covid-19 – but also say that it provides historical lessons to help face fears of a resurgent coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a variety of countries , several months on from the gruelling lockdowns that characterised the spring across the globe .
In the US , the average daily number of new confirmed infections has skyrocketed since mid-June – while in Spain , one of the countries the virus hit hardest in the early months of the pandemic , a big rise in cases prompted the UK to impose sudden travel restrictions on Saturday .
Several countries previously acclaimed for managing the pandemic deftly – such as Australia and Vietnam – have seen alarming new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argued on Wednesday that – despite journalists ’ and politicians ’ frequent use of it – the term “ second wave ” is inaccurate and that it would be preferable to describe Covid-19 as having “ one big wave ” , seeing as the virus never went away and does not follow seasonal variations .
“ Covid-19 seems ready to come raring back into any population in the world the moment we let our guard down , ” Joel Wertheim , an assistant professor of medicine at the University of California , San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s important to distinguish between waves driven seasonally and the ebbing of Covid-19 due to public health measures.
” This puts it in stark juxtaposition to the previous pandemic to take the world by storm .
The 1918-20 Spanish flu came in three waves , during which it killed at least 30 million people across the globe , with some historians putting the figure at 100 million – making it more deadly than the Great War that long overshadowed it in the collective memory .
This first wave of the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put a gargantuan spanner in the works of both sides ’ war efforts .
Nevertheless , it was not especially virulent – official death rates were similar to those from the seasonal flu .
But in the autumn the virus re-emerged in a terrifying second wave , the most severe of the three .
In the US – where the historical data on the Spanish flu is most complete – the excess mortality rate from September to December 1918 reached 266,000 .
“ Let ’ s just say that the reconstructed virus continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” John Barry , author of The Great Influenza , a study of the Spanish flu , told FRANCE 24 .
The tendency of flu to evolve was likely responsible for this increased virulence , explained Erin Sorrell , an assistant professor of microbiology and immunology at Georgetown University : “ The increase in lethality is assumed to be in part due to mutations accumulated by the virus in its initial first wave as influenza viruses are prone to point mutations called antigenic drift that allow them to evade existing immunity from previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In this respect , the coronavirus seems less menacing : “ This virus is much more stable , ” Barry noted .
“ There is no hint anywhere in the world of it becoming more lethal , as happened in 1918.
” There was a range of different responses to the new strain of Spanish flu .
In France , where it killed 240,000 people in all three waves collectively , during the second wave the government was still focused on the war effort , with the conflict in its endgame before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on some gatherings and a few public places were closed – but nothing on a similar scale to the Covid-19 lockdowns .
However , in the US – a combatant during the last year of the war , but which was spared the carnage seen on the Western Front – some authorities felt free to try and stem the disease ’ s spread , with several parts of the country shutting down schools , churches and restaurants .
“ The initial wave was somewhat glossed over ; the war was still very much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping soldiers healthy and on the battlefield , ” Jim Harris , a historian of science at Ohio State University , told FRANCE 24 .
“ But during the second wave when it became much more virulent , that ’ s when some policymakers felt forced to react.
” One notorious super-spreader event early in the second wave testifies to the benefits of social distancing measures .
On September 28 , 1918 , more than 200,000 people attended the Philadelphia Liberty Loans Parade to promote the sale of US government war bonds – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s health commissioner that the event should not take place .
A historical lesson can be learned by comparing Philadelphia to St. Louis ( which cancelled its parade along with other mass gatherings ) , according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention : “ The next month , more than 10,000 people in Philadelphia died from pandemic flu , while the death toll in Saint Louis did not rise above 700 .
This deadly example shows the benefit of cancelling mass gatherings and employing social distancing measures during pandemics.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and St. Louis is part of a bigger picture , in which public health measures clearly helped combat the Spanish flu .
“ We have learned that during the response to the 1918-19 pandemic ( particularly in the US ) those cities and states that enacted regulations for the use of face masks , banning large gatherings and closing schools fared better than those that did not , ” Sorrell noted .
The coronavirus has opened a generational divide over these kinds of measures – notably demonstrated by an episode this week in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among beachgoers in their twenties provoked a furious response from the French government ’ s top official in the region , who lambasted “ irresponsible ” young people “ ignoring the danger ” .
However , during the second wave of the Spanish flu , many young people were in the same position as the elderly today : the pandemic a century ago was especially lethal for previously healthy people aged 25 to 35 .
Its second wave affected age groups in a W-shaped curve – hitting infants , young adults and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influenza – including the first wave of the Spanish flu – typically has a U-shaped curve : it is most dangerous for infants and the elderly , without being particularly virulent in young adults .
The question of why it affected this age group so brutally “ has still not been answered ” , Barry said .
“ There are only hypotheses , ” he continued .
“ The most likely one is that young people have stronger immune systems , which overreacted , creating cytokine storms in the lungs ” – in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defences cause even more inflammation .
Even amid this bewildering phenomenon , many people from all age groups tired of taking precautions to avoid contagion as the months went on : during both the coronavirus pandemic and the second wave of the Spanish flu , “ People think there comes a moment when it ’ s time for all this to be over ” , Naomi Rogers , a professor of the history of medicine at Yale University , told FRANCE 24 .
Despite some hubristic behaviour during the current crisis , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time of the Spanish flu – when the nature of viruses remained a mystery – are a genuine source of hope , Sorrell added : “ We have , on a global scale , scientific skill and expertise , technology , resources and methods for information sharing.
” However , she continued , there remains a crucial task in the fight against the coronavirus – highlighted by the catastrophic results in places like Philadelphia during the second wave of the Spanish flu , where officials refused to heed warnings about the need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today , '' said Sorrell , `` is in disseminating the correct information to the public about the pandemic , giving credit and a voice to our scientists to dispel misinformation and encouraging our national leaders to prioritise public health preparedness and response .
”

The Spanish flu has swept back into public consciousness thanks to Covid-19, ending its status as a “forgotten pandemic”. Experts emphasise that the infamous second wave of this flu from a century ago was a very different disease from Covid-19 – but also say that it provides historical lessons to help face fears of a resurgent coronavirus.
The Philadelphia Liberty Loan's Parade, sometimes referred to as the "deadliest parade in history" for acting as a super-spreader event, heading down Broad Street in the city centre on September 28, 1918.
Advertising Read more
Covid-19 infection rates are soaring in a variety of countries, several months on from the gruelling lockdowns that characterised the spring across the globe.
In the US, the average daily number of new confirmed infections has skyrocketed since mid-June – while in Spain, one of the countries the virus hit hardest in the early months of the pandemic, a big rise in cases prompted the UK to impose sudden travel restrictions on Saturday. Several countries previously acclaimed for managing the pandemic deftly – such as Australia and Vietnam – have seen alarming new coronavirus clusters.
The World Health Organisation argued on Wednesday that – despite journalists’ and politicians’ frequent use of it – the term “second wave” is inaccurate and that it would be preferable to describe Covid-19 as having “one big wave”, seeing as the virus never went away and does not follow seasonal variations.
“Covid-19 seems ready to come rearing back into any population in the world the moment we let our guard down,” Joel Wertheim, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego, told FRANCE 24. “It’s important to distinguish between waves driven seasonally and the ebbing of Covid-19 due to public health measures.”
Police officers in Seattle, USA wearing face masks towards the end of the infamous second wave of the Spanish flu in December, 1918. © Wikimedia Creative Commons
‘Lethal’
This puts it in stark juxtaposition to the previous pandemic to take the world by storm. The 1918-20 Spanish flu came in three waves, during which it killed at least 30 million people across the globe, with some historians putting the figure at 100 million – making it more deadly than the Great War that long overshadowed it in the collective memory.
This first wave of the pandemic in spring 1918 was highly contagious and put a gargantuan spanner in the works of both sides’ war efforts. Nevertheless, it was not especially virulent – official death rates were similar to those from the seasonal flu.
But in the autumn the virus re-emerged in a terrifying second wave, the most severe of the three. In the US – where the historical data on the Spanish flu is most complete – the excess mortality rate from September to December 1918 reached 266,000. “Let’s just say that the reconstructed virus continues to be lethal in lab animals,” John Barry, author of The Great Influenza, a study of the Spanish flu, told FRANCE 24.
The tendency of flu to evolve was likely responsible for this increased virulence, explained Erin Sorrell, an assistant professor of microbiology and immunology at Georgetown University: “The increase in lethality is assumed to be in part due to mutations accumulated by the virus in its initial first wave as influenza viruses are prone to point mutations called antigenic drift that allow them to evade existing immunity from previous infections,” she told FRANCE 24
In this respect, the coronavirus seems less menacing: “This virus is much more stable,” Barry noted. “There is no hint anywhere in the world of it becoming more lethal, as happened in 1918.”
A 'super spreader' parade in Philadelphia
There was a range of different responses to the new strain of Spanish flu. In France, where it killed 240,000 people in all three waves collectively, during the second wave the government was still focused on the war effort, with the conflict in its endgame before the November 1918 Armistice. There were bans on some gatherings and a few public places were closed – but nothing on a similar scale to the Covid-19 lockdowns.
However, in the US – a combatant during the last year of the war, but far from the carnage of the Western Front – some authorities felt free to try and stem the disease’s spread, with several parts of the country shutting down schools, churches and restaurants.
“The initial wave was somewhat glossed over; the war was still very much ongoing, and doctors were focused on keeping soldiers healthy and on the battlefield,” Jim Harris, a historian of science at Ohio State University, told FRANCE 24. “But during the second wave when it became much more virulent, that’s when some policymakers felt forced to react.”
One notorious super-spreader event early in the second wave testifies to the benefits of social distancing measures. On September 28, 1918, more than 200,000 people attended the Philadelphia Liberty Loans Parade to promote the sale of US government war bonds – even though experts had told the city’s health commissioner that the event should not take place.
A historical lesson can be learned by comparing Philadelphia to St. Louis, which cancelled its parade along with other mass gatherings. “The next month, more than 10,000 people in Philadelphia died from pandemic flu, while the death toll in Saint Louis did not rise above 700. This deadly example shows the benefit of cancelling mass gatherings and employing social distancing measures during pandemics,” noted the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Experts say this contrast between Philadelphia and St. Louis is part of a bigger picture, in which public health measures clearly helped combat the Spanish flu. “We have learned that during the response to the 1918-19 pandemic (particularly in the US) those cities and states that enacted regulations for the use of face masks, banning large gatherings and closing schools fared better than those that did not,” Sorrell noted.
Young adults hit hard
The coronavirus has opened a generational divide over these kinds of measures – notably demonstrated by an episode this week in Brittany, where a cluster of cases among beachgoers in their twenties provoked a furious response from the French government’s top official in the region, who lambasted “irresponsible” young people “ignoring the danger”.
However, during the second wave of the Spanish flu, many young people were in the same position as the elderly today: the pandemic a century ago was especially lethal for previously healthy people aged 25 to 35. Its second wave affected age groups in a W-shaped curve – hitting infants, young adults and the elderly hardest. This was unusual because influenza – including the first wave of the Spanish flu – typically has a U-shaped curve: it is most dangerous for infants and the elderly, without being particularly virulent in young adults.
The question of why it affected this age group so brutally “has still not been answered”, Barry said. “There are only hypotheses,” he continued. “The most likely one is that young people have stronger immune systems, which overreacted, creating cytokine storms in the lungs” – in which the body’s overly active defences cause even more inflammation.
Even amid this bewildering phenomenon, many people from all age groups tired of taking precautions to avoid contagion as the months went on. During the second wave of the Spanish flu as well as the coronavirus pandemic, “people think there comes a moment when it’s time for all this to be over”, noted Naomi Rogers, a professor of the history of medicine at Yale University, speaking to FRANCE 24.
Despite some hubristic behaviour during the current crisis, the huge advances in science and technology since the time of the Spanish flu – when the nature of viruses remained a mystery – are a genuine source of hope, Sorrell added: “We have, on a global scale, scientific skill and expertise, technology, resources and methods for information sharing.”
However, she continued, there remains a crucial task in the fight against the coronavirus – highlighted by the catastrophic results in places like Philadelphia during the second wave of the Spanish flu, where officials refused to heed warnings about the need for social distancing. “Our challenge today," said Sorrell, "is in disseminating the correct information to the public about the pandemic, giving credit and a voice to our scientists to dispel misinformation and encouraging our national leaders to prioritise public health preparedness and response.”
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france24--2020-07-31--Citing Covid-19, Hong Kong postpones elections to 2021

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam speaks during a press conference at the government headquarters in Hong Kong on July 31 , 2020 .
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announced Friday that the government will postpone highly anticipated legislative elections by one year , citing a worsening coronavirus outbreak in the semi-autonomous Chinese city .
The Hong Kong government is invoking an emergency ordinance in delaying the elections .
Lam said the government has the support of the Chinese government in making the decision .
“ The announcement I have to make today is the most difficult decision I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven months , ” Lam said at a news conference .
“ We want to ensure fairness and public safety and health , and need to make sure the election is held in an open , fair and impartial manner .
This decision is therefore essential , ” she said .
The postponement is a setback for the pro-democracy opposition , which was hoping to capitalize on disenchantment with the current pro-Beijing majority to make gains .
A group of 22 lawmakers issued a statement ahead of the announcement accusing the government of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delay the vote .
“ Incumbent pro-democracy legislators , who represent 60 % of the public ’ s opinion , collectively oppose the postponement and emphasize the responsibility of the SAR government to make every effort to arrange adequate anti-epidemic measures to hold elections in September as scheduled , ” the statement said , referring to the territory 's official name , the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region .
“ Otherwise , it is tantamount to uprooting the foundation of the establishment of the SAR.
” The city of 7.5 million people has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beginning of July .
Hong Kong has recorded 3,273 infections as of Friday , more than double the tally on July 1 .
The government has tightened social distancing restrictions , limiting public gatherings to two people , and banned dining-in at restaurants after 6 p.m .
The lead-up to the elections has been closely watched , after a national security law that took effect in late June stipulated that candidates who violated the law would be barred from running .
The new law is seen as Beijing ’ s attempt to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months of pro-democracy and anti-government protests in Hong Kong last year .
On Thursday , 12 pro-democracy candidates including prominent pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong were disqualified from running for not complying with the city 's mini-constitution or pledging allegiance to the local and national governments .
“ Beyond any doubt , this is the most scandalous election ever in Hong Kong history , ” Wong said at a news conference Friday .
“ I wish to emphasize that no reasonable man would think that this election ban is not politically driven.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opposition bloc from taking the majority in the Hong Kong legislature , ” he said .

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announced Friday that the government will postpone highly anticipated legislative elections by one year, citing a worsening coronavirus outbreak in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam speaks during a press conference at the government headquarters in Hong Kong on July 31, 2020.
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The Hong Kong government is invoking an emergency ordinance in delaying the elections. Lam said the government has the support of the Chinese government in making the decision.
“The announcement I have to make today is the most difficult decision I’ve had to make in the past seven months,” Lam said at a news conference.
“We want to ensure fairness and public safety and health, and need to make sure the election is held in an open, fair and impartial manner. This decision is therefore essential,” she said.
The postponement is a setback for the pro-democracy opposition, which was hoping to capitalize on disenchantment with the current pro-Beijing majority to make gains. A group of 22 lawmakers issued a statement ahead of the announcement accusing the government of using the outbreak as an excuse to delay the vote.
“Incumbent pro-democracy legislators, who represent 60% of the public’s opinion, collectively oppose the postponement and emphasize the responsibility of the SAR government to make every effort to arrange adequate anti-epidemic measures to hold elections in September as scheduled,” the statement said, referring to the territory's official name, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
“Otherwise, it is tantamount to uprooting the foundation of the establishment of the SAR.”
The city of 7.5 million people has had a surge in coronavirus infections since the beginning of July. Hong Kong has recorded 3,273 infections as of Friday, more than double the tally on July 1.
Controversial security law
The government has tightened social distancing restrictions, limiting public gatherings to two people, and banned dining-in at restaurants after 6 p.m.
The lead-up to the elections has been closely watched, after a national security law that took effect in late June stipulated that candidates who violated the law would be barred from running.
The new law is seen as Beijing’s attempt to curb dissent in the city, after months of pro-democracy and anti-government protests in Hong Kong last year.
On Thursday, 12 pro-democracy candidates including prominent pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong were disqualified from running for not complying with the city's mini-constitution or pledging allegiance to the local and national governments.
“Beyond any doubt, this is the most scandalous election ever in Hong Kong history,” Wong said at a news conference Friday. “I wish to emphasize that no reasonable man would think that this election ban is not politically driven.”
“Beijing has staged multiple acts to prevent the opposition bloc from taking the majority in the Hong Kong legislature,” he said.
(AP)
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france24--2020-07-31--Economies slump as coronavirus cases reach 17 million globally

The headquarters of the World Health Organization in Geneva , Switzerland , May 18 , 2020 .
The scale of economic devastation from the pandemic was laid bare on Thursday as Western economies recorded historic slumps , just as resurgent caseloads forced many countries into agonising new trade-offs between health and financial stability .
Six months after the World Health Organization declared a global emergency , the novel coronavirus has infected more than 17 million people worldwide .
The WHO warned Thursday that young people are `` not invincible '' and were helping to drive resurgences in many places that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spikes of cases in some countries are being driven in part by younger people letting down their guard during the northern hemisphere summer , '' said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus .
COVID-19 has killed more than 668,000 people and is forcing governments into a persistent balancing act between saving lives and preventing economic devastation .
Nowhere is that challenge more evident than the world 's hardest-hit nation -- also the world 's biggest economy -- with the United States posting a second-quarter loss of 9.5 percent compared with the same period a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record .
If that trajectory carried through the entire year , its economy would collapse by nearly a third ( 32.9 percent ) , the data showed .
Historic contractions were additionally recorded in Germany ( 10.1 percent ) , Belgium ( 12.2 percent ) , Austria ( 10.7 percent ) and Mexico ( 17 percent ) .
Across the globe , companies were also taking a hit with Volkswagen , oil producer Shell , UK bank Lloyds and Japanese consumer electronics giant Panasonic all reporting huge losses .
With travel down to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it burned through more than 12 billion euros in cash in the first half of the year , with a net loss of 1.9 billion euros ( $ 1.4 billion ) and plans to cut production by 40 percent .
But several Big Tech firms delivered better-than-expected results Thursday , underscoring growing consumer reliance on giants like Amazon during the pandemic as well as their extraordinary economic power .
Apple profits rose eight percent to $ 11.2 billion , Amazon meanwhile said profits nearly doubled to $ 5.2 billion and Facebook said its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the same period last year .
Global daily cases are now approaching the 300,000 mark , with the curve showing no sign of flattening -- it took just 100 hours for one million new cases to be recorded .
The US counted 1,379 new deaths in the 24 hours before 8:30 pm Thursday ( 0030 GMT Friday ) , plus another 72,238 new infections .
And the country also recorded another grim milestone : the death of Buddy , the first US pet dog to test positive for the virus .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficulty breathing and other symptoms for several months .
In Japan , Tokyo 's governor called for restaurants , bars and karaoke parlours to shut earlier as the capital reported a record number of new infections .
Sweden , whose controversial softer approach to curbing coronavirus has received worldwide attention , said it would encourage people to keep working from home into next year where possible , as the country passed 80,000 recorded cases .
And Mexico became the world 's third hardest-hit country in terms of deaths as it notched more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintained by AFP .
Two island countries that were early poster children for containing the virus offered warnings against complacency on Thursday .
In Australia , there were 723 positive tests in the southeastern state of Victoria alone , well beyond the previous nationwide record of 549 cases set on Monday .
And Iceland recorded its first hospitalisation since mid-May , as well as 31 new cases , forcing the government to reimpose social distancing and masks , and limit the size of gatherings to 100 .
Hong Kong , which was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is struggling to balance fears of a third wave among its 7.5 million residents , which authorities fear could cripple the healthcare system , against anger at new restrictions .
Just a day after restaurants were banned from serving customers indoors , the decision was reversed following a torrent of online criticism over images of mostly blue-collar workers forced to eat on pavements and in parks -- and even inside public toilets to escape a torrential downpour .
South Africa faces a similar dilemma and pushed back its nighttime curfew by an hour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurant sector , despite a recent surge in cases .
Ivory Coast however bucked the trend , announcing that bars , nightclubs and cinemas would reopen on Friday .
The EU meanwhile carried out its fortnightly update to its list of safe countries .
US travellers are still barred and Algeria was removed after a spike in cases .
The safe list currently consists of Australia , Canada , Georgia , Japan , Morocco , New Zealand , Rwanda , South Korea , Thailand , Tunisia and Uruguay -- and would also include @ @ @ @ @

The scale of economic devastation from the pandemic was laid bare on Thursday as Western economies recorded historic slumps, just as resurgent caseloads forced many countries into agonising new trade-offs between health and financial stability.
The headquarters of the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, May 18, 2020.
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Six months after the World Health Organization declared a global emergency, the novel coronavirus has infected more than 17 million people worldwide.
The WHO warned Thursday that young people are "not invincible" and were helping to drive resurgences in many places that had largely curbed the disease.
"Spikes of cases in some countries are being driven in part by younger people letting down their guard during the northern hemisphere summer," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
COVID-19 has killed more than 668,000 people and is forcing governments into a persistent balancing act between saving lives and preventing economic devastation.
Nowhere is that challenge more evident than the world's hardest-hit nation -- also the world's biggest economy -- with the United States posting a second-quarter loss of 9.5 percent compared with the same period a year ago, the worst figure on record.
If that trajectory carried through the entire year, its economy would collapse by nearly a third (32.9 percent), the data showed.
Historic contractions were additionally recorded in Germany (10.1 percent), Belgium (12.2 percent), Austria (10.7 percent) and Mexico (17 percent).
Across the globe, companies were also taking a hit with Volkswagen, oil producer Shell, UK bank Lloyds and Japanese consumer electronics giant Panasonic all reporting huge losses.
With travel down to a trickle, aerospace giant Airbus said it burned through more than 12 billion euros in cash in the first half of the year, with a net loss of 1.9 billion euros ($1.4 billion) and plans to cut production by 40 percent.
But several Big Tech firms delivered better-than-expected results Thursday, underscoring growing consumer reliance on giants like Amazon during the pandemic as well as their extraordinary economic power.
Apple profits rose eight percent to $11.2 billion, Amazon meanwhile said profits nearly doubled to $5.2 billion and Facebook said its profits doubled to $5.2 billion compared with the same period last year.
Global daily cases are now approaching the 300,000 mark, with the curve showing no sign of flattening -- it took just 100 hours for one million new cases to be recorded.
The US counted 1,379 new deaths in the 24 hours before 8:30 pm Thursday (0030 GMT Friday), plus another 72,238 new infections.
And the country also recorded another grim milestone: the death of Buddy, the first US pet dog to test positive for the virus. The seven-year-old German shepherd died after suffering from difficulty breathing and other symptoms for several months.
In Japan, Tokyo's governor called for restaurants, bars and karaoke parlours to shut earlier as the capital reported a record number of new infections.
Sweden, whose controversial softer approach to curbing coronavirus has received worldwide attention, said it would encourage people to keep working from home into next year where possible, as the country passed 80,000 recorded cases.
And Mexico became the world's third hardest-hit country in terms of deaths as it notched more than 46,000 fatalities, according to a tally maintained by AFP.
Island resurgences
Two island countries that were early poster children for containing the virus offered warnings against complacency on Thursday.
In Australia, there were 723 positive tests in the southeastern state of Victoria alone, well beyond the previous nationwide record of 549 cases set on Monday.
And Iceland recorded its first hospitalisation since mid-May, as well as 31 new cases, forcing the government to reimpose social distancing and masks, and limit the size of gatherings to 100.
Hong Kong, which was also initially lauded for its coronavirus response, is struggling to balance fears of a third wave among its 7.5 million residents, which authorities fear could cripple the healthcare system, against anger at new restrictions.
Just a day after restaurants were banned from serving customers indoors, the decision was reversed following a torrent of online criticism over images of mostly blue-collar workers forced to eat on pavements and in parks -- and even inside public toilets to escape a torrential downpour.
South Africa faces a similar dilemma and pushed back its nighttime curfew by an hour to 10 pm to help the devastated restaurant sector, despite a recent surge in cases.
Ivory Coast however bucked the trend, announcing that bars, nightclubs and cinemas would reopen on Friday.
The EU meanwhile carried out its fortnightly update to its list of safe countries. US travellers are still barred and Algeria was removed after a spike in cases.
The safe list currently consists of Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay -- and would also include China if Beijing reciprocated.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-31--French economy sees record drop in wake of coronavirus lockdowns

File photo from April 28 , 2020 : a woman walks past a closed shop with a “ for sale ” sign in the city of Nice in southern France on the 43rd day of the country ’ s Covid-19 lockdown .
France 's economy contracted by a record 13.8 percent in the second quarter under the impact of coronavirus lockdowns , the national statistics institute INSEE said Friday .
The seasonally-adjusted quarter-on-quarter drop in gross domestic product ( GDP ) was better than forecast but worse than the performance of most of its eurozone peers .
`` GDP 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is linked to the shut-down of 'non-essential ' activities in the context of the implementation of the lockdown between mid-March and the beginning of May , '' INSEE said in a statement .
INSEE also updated the figure for the first quarter -- when lockdowns had just begun to be implemented -- to a 5.9 percent contraction , from the 5.3 percent it had previously estimated .
The second quarter figure means the French economy has been shrinking for three consecutive quarters and continues to be in recession .
France 's second quarter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10.1 percent fall in Germany .
Austria suffered a 10.7 percent contraction and Belgium 12.2 percent .
France 's drop was better than INSEE 's own forecast from mid-June of a 17 percent drop .
The central bank had meanwhile estimated a 14 percent fall at the beginning of July .
The analyst consensus established by Factset was for a 15.3 percent fall in GDP .
Domestic consumption is the main driver of the French economy and household consumption fell 11 percent during the quarter .
Unsurprisingly given the lockdowns and travel restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly 46 percent drop in transportation and a 57 percent drop in the restaurant and hotel sector .
INSEE noted that overall `` the gradual ending of restrictions led to a gradual recovery of economic activity in May and June , after the low point reached in April . ''
Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said after the figures were released : `` We are not powerless in the face of the crisis . ''
The French government has taken extraordinary measures to support businesses duing the crisis and keep people in pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We are going to fight to do better than the minus 11 percent '' forecast for the entire year by the government , Le Maire added .

France's economy contracted by a record 13.8 percent in the second quarter under the impact of coronavirus lockdowns, the national statistics institute INSEE said Friday.
File photo from April 28, 2020: a woman walks past a closed shop with a “for sale” sign in the city of Nice in southern France on the 43rd day of the country’s Covid-19 lockdown.
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The seasonally-adjusted quarter-on-quarter drop in gross domestic product (GDP) was better than forecast but worse than the performance of most of its eurozone peers.
"GDP's negative developments in first half of 2020 is linked to the shut-down of 'non-essential' activities in the context of the implementation of the lockdown between mid-March and the beginning of May," INSEE said in a statement.
INSEE also updated the figure for the first quarter -- when lockdowns had just begun to be implemented -- to a 5.9 percent contraction, from the 5.3 percent it had previously estimated.
The second quarter figure means the French economy has been shrinking for three consecutive quarters and continues to be in recession.
France's second quarter contraction was much sharper than the record 10.1 percent fall in Germany. Austria suffered a 10.7 percent contraction and Belgium 12.2 percent.
Spain recorded a sharper 18.5 percent plunge in second-quarter GDP, however.
France's drop was better than INSEE's own forecast from mid-June of a 17 percent drop. The central bank had meanwhile estimated a 14 percent fall at the beginning of July.
The analyst consensus established by Factset was for a 15.3 percent fall in GDP.
Domestic consumption is the main driver of the French economy and household consumption fell 11 percent during the quarter.
Investment fell by a greater amount -- 17.8 percent.
Unsurprisingly given the lockdowns and travel restrictions hitting international tourism, there was a nearly 46 percent drop in transportation and a 57 percent drop in the restaurant and hotel sector.
INSEE noted that overall "the gradual ending of restrictions led to a gradual recovery of economic activity in May and June, after the low point reached in April."
Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said after the figures were released: "We are not powerless in the face of the crisis."
The French government has taken extraordinary measures to support businesses duing the crisis and keep people in pay even when there is little work.
"We are going to fight to do better than the minus 11 percent" forecast for the entire year by the government, Le Maire added.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-31--Rally for opposition leader in Belarus draws huge crowd

Supporters of presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya attend her campaign rally in Minsk on July 30 , 2020 .
Tens of thousands of supporters of President Alexander Lukashenko 's top election rival on Thursday rallied in the Belarusian capital Minsk despite an increasing crackdown on the opposition .
The rally came as Belarus authorities accused top members of the opposition of collaborating with Russian fighters to destabilise the ex-Soviet country .
Backers of political novice Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , a stay-at-home mother-of-two , packed a Minsk square in what appeared to be the largest opposition protest in the ex-Soviet country in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A sea of people waved flags and ballons emblazoned with the opposition 's campaign symbols -- a victory sign , a clenched fist , and a heart .
`` Change ! ''
read one of the placards .
The human rights organisation Vyasna said at least 63,000 people had turned out .
Earlier Thursday , Belarus investigators accused Tikhanovskaya 's husband , blogger , Sergei Tikhanovsky , and another prominent critic , Mikola Statkevich , of working together with Russian mercenaries to plot mass unrest ahead of the August 9 election .
Both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run-up to the polls .
The accusation that they were involved with Russian mercenaries was just the latest twist in an extraordinary election campaign in which the 65-year-old Lukashenko , who has dominated Belarus for nearly three decades , is seeking a sixth term in the face of rising anger over his rule .
Belarusian authorities on Wednesday detained 33 Russian `` militants '' on a mission to destabilise the ex-Soviet country .
The detentions sparked an apparent crisis in ties with ally Moscow which denied any involvement .
Belarusian authorities say the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group , a shadowy military contractor reportedly controlled by an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin that promotes Moscow 's interests in Syria , Libya and Ukraine .
Addressing her supporters at the rally , Tikhanovskaya , 37 , said authorities were `` ruining '' not only her husband 's life but those of all political prisoners .
`` The situation involving the fighters is very scary , '' she said to shouts of `` Freedom '' .
She denied that the opposition was collaborating with the Russians to stage an uprising .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ want honest elections , '' said Tikhanovskaya , who has emerged as Lukashenko 's top rival after main would-be candidates were jailed .
She questioned the timing of the arrests , saying Russian private contractors might have been transiting through Belarus for a long time .
`` I have a question : where was the security service before and why are they raising this issue right before the election ? ''
An Investigative Committee also said another criminal probe had been launched against Tikhanovsky for inciting `` social hostility '' and calling for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is a popular blogger , who has nicknamed Lukashenko the `` cockroach '' .
Statkevich , 63 , challenged Lukashenko in a 2010 election and was sentenced to six years in prison afterwards .
Lukashenko 's top election rival , former banker Viktor Babaryko , has been accused of financial crimes and also jailed .
Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said claims that `` organisations from Russia are sending some people to destabilise the situation in Belarus '' were `` nothing but insinuations '' .
The Russian foreign ministry said its nationals were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Belarus company , adding that they were en route to Istanbul .
Minsk 's version of events `` does not hold water , '' the statement said .
`` An attempt to make what happened look like foreign interference in the republic 's affairs causes bewilderment , to put it mildly , '' Moscow said .
Russia urged a halt to the fanning of tensions ahead of the election .
Moscow is Minsk 's closest political and economic ally but relations have been strained for years .
Lukashenko has been under increasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Belarus leader has rejected the idea of outright unification .
Some analysts suggested the arrest of the Russians gave Lukashenko an excuse to crack down harder on the opposition while others said Moscow might indeed be considering some action .
Russian political analyst Tatyana Stanovaya said the Kremlin had not apparently given up on its unification plans .
Stanovaya quipped that the Russian fighters might have arrived in Minsk to `` monitor '' the election .

Tens of thousands of supporters of President Alexander Lukashenko's top election rival on Thursday rallied in the Belarusian capital Minsk despite an increasing crackdown on the opposition.
Supporters of presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya attend her campaign rally in Minsk on July 30, 2020.
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The rally came as Belarus authorities accused top members of the opposition of collaborating with Russian fighters to destabilise the ex-Soviet country.
Backers of political novice Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, a stay-at-home mother-of-two, packed a Minsk square in what appeared to be the largest opposition protest in the ex-Soviet country in a decade, an AFP journalist said.
A sea of people waved flags and ballons emblazoned with the opposition's campaign symbols -- a victory sign, a clenched fist, and a heart.
"Change!" read one of the placards.
The human rights organisation Vyasna said at least 63,000 people had turned out.
Earlier Thursday, Belarus investigators accused Tikhanovskaya's husband, blogger, Sergei Tikhanovsky, and another prominent critic, Mikola Statkevich, of working together with Russian mercenaries to plot mass unrest ahead of the August 9 election.
Both Tikhanovsky and Statkevich were jailed in the run-up to the polls.
The accusation that they were involved with Russian mercenaries was just the latest twist in an extraordinary election campaign in which the 65-year-old Lukashenko, who has dominated Belarus for nearly three decades, is seeking a sixth term in the face of rising anger over his rule.
Belarusian authorities on Wednesday detained 33 Russian "militants" on a mission to destabilise the ex-Soviet country.
The detentions sparked an apparent crisis in ties with ally Moscow which denied any involvement.
Belarusian authorities say the detained men are members of the Wagner group, a shadowy military contractor reportedly controlled by an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin that promotes Moscow's interests in Syria, Libya and Ukraine.
Addressing her supporters at the rally, Tikhanovskaya, 37, said authorities were "ruining" not only her husband's life but those of all political prisoners.
"The situation involving the fighters is very scary," she said to shouts of "Freedom".
'What revolution?'
She denied that the opposition was collaborating with the Russians to stage an uprising.
"People, what revolution? We want honest elections," said Tikhanovskaya, who has emerged as Lukashenko's top rival after main would-be candidates were jailed.
She questioned the timing of the arrests, saying Russian private contractors might have been transiting through Belarus for a long time.
"I have a question: where was the security service before and why are they raising this issue right before the election?"
Investigators opened a criminal case against "Tikhanovsky, Statkevich and 33 detained Russian citizens."
"They acted together," spokesman Sergei Kabakovich told AFP.
An Investigative Committee also said another criminal probe had been launched against Tikhanovsky for inciting "social hostility" and calling for violence against police.
Tikhanovsky, 41, is a popular blogger, who has nicknamed Lukashenko the "cockroach".
Statkevich, 63, challenged Lukashenko in a 2010 election and was sentenced to six years in prison afterwards.
Lukashenko's top election rival, former banker Viktor Babaryko, has been accused of financial crimes and also jailed.
Moscow denied any involvement.
Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said claims that "organisations from Russia are sending some people to destabilise the situation in Belarus" were "nothing but insinuations".
The Russian foreign ministry said its nationals were transiting through Belarus because they worked for a Belarus company, adding that they were en route to Istanbul.
Minsk's version of events "does not hold water," the statement said.
"An attempt to make what happened look like foreign interference in the republic's affairs causes bewilderment, to put it mildly," Moscow said.
Russia urged a halt to the fanning of tensions ahead of the election.
'Regime change'
Moscow is Minsk's closest political and economic ally but relations have been strained for years.
Lukashenko has been under increasing pressure to move closer to Russia but the Belarus leader has rejected the idea of outright unification.
Some analysts suggested the arrest of the Russians gave Lukashenko an excuse to crack down harder on the opposition while others said Moscow might indeed be considering some action.
Russian political analyst Tatyana Stanovaya said the Kremlin had not apparently given up on its unification plans.
Stanovaya quipped that the Russian fighters might have arrived in Minsk to "monitor" the election.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-31--Week in Review: Thomas Pesquet on riding a Dragon, fashion as antidote and Keith Urban reflects

This week FRANCE 24 talked to astronaut Thomas Pesquet about getting ready to ride the SpaceX Dragon 2 and musician Keith Urban on his latest release , `` The Speed of Now '' .
We also explored Egyptian singer Umm Kulthoum 's legacy of stirring up passions , the plight of French midwives and an unusual Hajj for the lucky few , downsized amid the coronavirus pandemic .
France to ban heaters at outdoor cafés and restaurants France 's famous outdoor café culture may be set to take a hit when a ban on heaters at outdoor terraces takes effect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ push towards a greener economy .
French woman pardoned for killing her husband after years of domestic abuse dies at 72 A Frenchwoman who became a cause célèbre for those fighting domestic violence has died at the age of 72 .
Jacqueline Sauvage was convicted in 2012 for killing her husband after she and her family endured decades of abuse but was subsequently pardoned by then president François Hollande .
After choking incidents , French minister sparks anger by saying claims of police brutality make him 'choke' France 's controversial new Interior Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he said accusations of police brutality made him `` choke '' , echoing the words of a man who died January 5 after being pinned to the ground by French police while repeatedly pleading : `` I am choking . ''
Although they were on the front lines throughout the peak of the Covid-19 epidemic , midwives feel forgotten by the healthcare reforms France adopted in the wake of its coronavirus crisis .
Decision to honour legendary Egyptian singer in Israel angers right wing There is perhaps no modern Egyptian cultural treasure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has visited the Arab world has likely heard the moving tones of her distinct , resonant voice .
The Israeli town of Haifa recently moved to honour her legacy – and stirred up controversy in the process .
From the Umayyad Empire to the Ottomans , the masterpieces of Islamic art From the expansion of the Umayyad Empire in the seventh century until the fall of the Ottomans in the early 20th century , Muslim artists produced a stream of masterpieces that circulated across the globe – adorning places of worship , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nobility .
French cinemas look to stay afloat amid Covid-19 drought of Hollywood blockbusters French cinemas reopened on June 22 with a certain pomp after a three-month coronavirus hiatus .
At least one Paris movie house , Les 5 Caumartin , had eager moviegoers lined up for that much-anticipated reawakening with a screening a minute after midnight .
But a month later , cinemas in the birthplace of the medium are feeling the effects as a global industry remains in slumber .
Fear of the coronavirus coupled with travel restrictions have made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Instead it 's the French who are converging on the city to re-discover their capital .
But the French have tighter purse strings than US or Asian tourists , and they are not spending enough to compensate for the loss of tourism revenue .
Muslim pilgrims began arriving at the Grand Mosque in Mecca , Saudi Arabia , for the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage on Wednesday .
But amid the coronavirus pandemic , this year ’ s Hajj has been dramatically downsized .
NASA looks for life on Mars and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NASA ’ s Perseverance rover began its journey to Mars on Thursday with a successful launch from Florida ’ s Cape Canaveral .
The ambitious mission will be NASA ’ s first to look for signs of past life on Mars and follows China ’ s own rover mission to the red planet earlier this month .
Hong Kong activist Nathan Law : 'Whenever there is repression , there is resistance' In an interview with FRANCE 24 , leading Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Nathan Law vowed to pursue his fight from his new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conceded that the Hong Kong pro-democracy activists facing off against Beijing was a `` David versus Goliath '' scenario , he held out hope that his side would prevail with help from other countries .
French astronaut Thomas Pesquet : ' I could n't be more excited to go back into space' French astronaut Thomas Pesquet will be the first European to fly on board the new SpaceX Dragon 2 , which is due to blast off from Cape Canaveral for the International Space Station in the spring of 2021 .
Pesquet already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from November 2016 to June 2017 .
He spoke to FRANCE 24 about training for his return to space , why his new mission is called `` Alpha '' and why he thinks a manned mission to Mars will happen within his lifetime .
Keith Urban on travelling at the 'Speed of Now' The multi Grammy award-winning musician catches up with us in an existential mood , reflecting on the nature of time as he releases his latest album , `` The Speed of Now '' .
We talk about the artistic paralysis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 crisis , and how living in the moment is a cure for all sorts of ills .
Urban tells us about starting out in Nashville as a country singer with an Aussie accent , and how different musical styles have always made their way into his sound .
TV critic Dheepthika Laurent and Clovis Casali look at new releases ahead of the European summer .
They discuss the harrowing asylum seeker detention drama `` Stateless '' , co-produced by Cate Blanchett , plus `` P-Valley '' , a drama about strippers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the US .
They also chat about shows from NBC ’ s new streaming platform `` Peacock '' , including a modern adaptation of `` Brave New World '' .
Finally , they look at Netflix 's breezy new dating reality shows !
A brief history of masks through the ages As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to claim victims around the world , many countries have made face masks compulsory in a bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus .
But throughout the history of medicine , the use of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did it come to be a symbol of civic responsibility and public health ?
We take a look at the history of masks through the ages .
Our reporter Pascal Mourier also teaches communication sciences at a number of fashion schools .
During France 's unprecedented eight weeks of lockdown , he asked his students to write and produce a fashion film from the confines of their own homes .
The project : to use only the materials immediately available to tell the story of a character 's interaction with an item of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the offerings .
From the ground up : Women in architecture In many architectural schools across the world , women make up the majority of students .
Yet why are so many buildings in cities and towns still being designed by men ?
In a special edition of 'The 51 Percent ' , we ask what will it take to construct a more balanced approach in the world of architecture .
Our reporters visit a neighbourhood in Vienna that has become a research experiment to test ideas of equality in design @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Métra , one of France 's leading female architects .

WEEK IN REVIEW
This week FRANCE 24 talked to astronaut Thomas Pesquet about getting ready to ride the SpaceX Dragon 2 and musician Keith Urban on his latest release, "The Speed of Now". We also explored Egyptian singer Umm Kulthoum's legacy of stirring up passions, the plight of French midwives and an unusual Hajj for the lucky few, downsized amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Advertising Read more
ARTICLES
France to ban heaters at outdoor cafés and restaurants
France's famous outdoor café culture may be set to take a hit when a ban on heaters at outdoor terraces takes effect in early 2021 as part of a push towards a greener economy.
French woman pardoned for killing her husband after years of domestic abuse dies at 72
A Frenchwoman who became a cause célèbre for those fighting domestic violence has died at the age of 72. Jacqueline Sauvage was convicted in 2012 for killing her husband after she and her family endured decades of abuse but was subsequently pardoned by then president François Hollande.
After choking incidents, French minister sparks anger by saying claims of police brutality make him 'choke'
France's controversial new Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin prompted fresh anger this week when he said accusations of police brutality made him "choke", echoing the words of a man who died January 5 after being pinned to the ground by French police while repeatedly pleading: "I am choking."
A pregnant patient awaits care at the Maison de Santé du Pré-Saint-Gervais health centre northeast of Paris on July 25, 2020. © Sarah Leduc / France 24
France’s post-Covid healthcare reform pushes midwives to the brink
Although they were on the front lines throughout the peak of the Covid-19 epidemic, midwives feel forgotten by the healthcare reforms France adopted in the wake of its coronavirus crisis.
Decision to honour legendary Egyptian singer in Israel angers right wing
There is perhaps no modern Egyptian cultural treasure more beloved than Umm Kulthoum. Anyone who has visited the Arab world has likely heard the moving tones of her distinct, resonant voice. The Israeli town of Haifa recently moved to honour her legacy – and stirred up controversy in the process.
From the Umayyad Empire to the Ottomans, the masterpieces of Islamic art
From the expansion of the Umayyad Empire in the seventh century until the fall of the Ottomans in the early 20th century, Muslim artists produced a stream of masterpieces that circulated across the globe – adorning places of worship, royal courts and the grand residences of the nobility.
French cinemas look to stay afloat amid Covid-19 drought of Hollywood blockbusters
French cinemas reopened on June 22 with a certain pomp after a three-month coronavirus hiatus. At least one Paris movie house, Les 5 Caumartin, had eager moviegoers lined up for that much-anticipated reawakening with a screening a minute after midnight. But a month later, cinemas in the birthplace of the medium are feeling the effects as a global industry remains in slumber.
People attend the screening of the French movie "Le Grand Bain" in La Villette basin on the first day of the "Paris-Plages" event on July 18, 2020, in Paris. © Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt, AFP
VIDEO REPORTS
As French tourists discover Paris, local restaurants discover a demanding clientele
Fear of the coronavirus coupled with travel restrictions have made foreign tourists a rare sight in Paris. Instead it's the French who are converging on the city to re-discover their capital. But the French have tighter purse strings than US or Asian tourists, and they are not spending enough to compensate for the loss of tourism revenue.
Covid-19: Downsized Hajj begins for lucky few pilgrims
Muslim pilgrims began arriving at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage on Wednesday. But amid the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s Hajj has been dramatically downsized.
Pilgrims at the Grand Mosque, Mecca, on July 29, 2020. © AFP / FRANCE 24
NASA looks for life on Mars and the lead in space race with China
NASA’s Perseverance rover began its journey to Mars on Thursday with a successful launch from Florida’s Cape Canaveral. The ambitious mission will be NASA’s first to look for signs of past life on Mars and follows China’s own rover mission to the red planet earlier this month.
United Launch Alliance Atlas V transporting the Rover Perseverance Mars 2020 at Cape Canveral on July 30, 2020. © Joe Skipper, Reuters
THE INTERVIEW
Hong Kong activist Nathan Law: 'Whenever there is repression, there is resistance'
In an interview with FRANCE 24, leading Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Nathan Law vowed to pursue his fight from his new base in the UK. While he conceded that the Hong Kong pro-democracy activists facing off against Beijing was a "David versus Goliath" scenario, he held out hope that his side would prevail with help from other countries.
French astronaut Thomas Pesquet talks to FRANCE 24. © France 24
French astronaut Thomas Pesquet: 'I couldn't be more excited to go back into space'
French astronaut Thomas Pesquet will be the first European to fly on board the new SpaceX Dragon 2, which is due to blast off from Cape Canaveral for the International Space Station in the spring of 2021. Pesquet already spent six months on board the ISS from November 2016 to June 2017. He spoke to FRANCE 24 about training for his return to space, why his new mission is called "Alpha" and why he thinks a manned mission to Mars will happen within his lifetime.
ENCORE!
Keith Urban on travelling at the 'Speed of Now'
The multi Grammy award-winning musician catches up with us in an existential mood, reflecting on the nature of time as he releases his latest album, "The Speed of Now". We talk about the artistic paralysis he felt at the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis, and how living in the moment is a cure for all sorts of ills. Urban tells us about starting out in Nashville as a country singer with an Aussie accent, and how different musical styles have always made their way into his sound.
ENCORE! © FRANCE 24
TV series show: Australian refugee drama 'Stateless' and female-directed stripper drama 'P-Valley'
TV critic Dheepthika Laurent and Clovis Casali look at new releases ahead of the European summer. They discuss the harrowing asylum seeker detention drama "Stateless", co-produced by Cate Blanchett, plus "P-Valley", a drama about strippers in the heart of the African American community in the US. They also chat about shows from NBC’s new streaming platform "Peacock", including a modern adaptation of "Brave New World". Finally, they look at Netflix's breezy new dating reality shows!
Asylum-seeker detention drama "Stateless" © Netflix/FRANCE 24
FOCUS
A brief history of masks through the ages
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to claim victims around the world, many countries have made face masks compulsory in a bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus. But throughout the history of medicine, the use of the mask has long been controversial. How did it come to be a symbol of civic responsibility and public health? We take a look at the history of masks through the ages.
FOCUS © FRANCE 24
FASHION
Fashion films: An antidote to lockdown uncertainty
Our reporter Pascal Mourier also teaches communication sciences at a number of fashion schools. During France's unprecedented eight weeks of lockdown, he asked his students to write and produce a fashion film from the confines of their own homes. The project: to use only the materials immediately available to tell the story of a character's interaction with an item of clothing. We take a look at some of the offerings.
THE 51 PERCENT
From the ground up: Women in architecture
In many architectural schools across the world, women make up the majority of students. Yet why are so many buildings in cities and towns still being designed by men? In a special edition of 'The 51 Percent', we ask what will it take to construct a more balanced approach in the world of architecture. Our reporters visit a neighbourhood in Vienna that has become a research experiment to test ideas of equality in design. Annette Young also talks to Brigitte Métra, one of France's leading female architects.
Architect Brigitte Métra on site. © FRANCE 24
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france24--2020-07-31--Sombre global mood dims champagne sales

Sombre global mood dims champagne sales

Champagne houses are pushing for smaller harvests this year , saying their cellars are already overstocked as the COVID-19 crisis crimps sales .
Champagne is losing its fizz .
For months , lockdown put the cork on weddings , dining out , parties and international travel — all key sales components for the French luxury wine marketed for decades as a sparkling must at any celebration .
Producers in France 's eastern Champagne region , headquarters of the global industry , say they 've lost an estimated 1.7 billion euros ( $ 2 billion ) in sales for this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — a hammering unmatched in living memory , and worse than the Great Depression .
They expect about 100 million bottles to be languishing unsold in their cellars by the end of the year .
“ We are experiencing a crisis that we evaluate to be even worse than the Great Depression ” of 1929 , said Thibaut Le Mailloux of the Champagne Committee , known by its French acronym CIVC , that represents some 16,000 winemakers .
Recognizing the urgency of the problem , the CIVC is launching unprecedented damage-limitation measures .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the size of the harvest each year to avoid the kind of excess production that would cause bottle prices to plummet .
At a meeting scheduled for Aug. 18 , it 's expected to impose a cap so tight that record quantities of grapes will be destroyed or sold to distilleries at discounted prices .
The prospect alarms smaller producers , who are more vulnerable than the big houses .
Anselme Selosse , of Jacques Selosse Champagnes , called it “ an insult to nature '' that champagne 's famous grapes might even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanitizer , as is happening in other wine-producing regions such as Alsace after demand spiked during the pandemic .
“ We are to destroy ( the grapes ) and we pay for them to be destroyed , ” Selosse said , referring to the industry as a whole .
“ It ’ s nothing but a catastrophe.
” “ Champagne has never lived through anything like this before , even in the World Wars , '' Selosse added .
`` We have never experienced ... a sudden one-third fall in sales .
Over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ producers such as Vranken-Pommery predict that the crisis could last for years .
“ It should not be forgotten that ( champagne ) has lived through every single war , '' said Paul-Francois Vranken , founder of Vranken-Pommery Monopole .
`` But with the other crises , there was a way out .
For now , there is no way out — unless we find a vaccine.
” Vranken said the very essence of champagne marketing -- as a drink quaffed at parties and weddings -- needs to be re-evaluated to reflect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack of celebratory group events .
The new branding strategy for his , and other champagne companies , will seek to highlight the wine 's status as a naturally , and often organically , produced quality drink from a historic French region .
“ Even if the bars and the nightclubs are closed for five years , we don ’ t plan on missing out on customers ...
There will be a very big change to our marketing that highlights the grandeur of our wines , ” Vranken said .
Selosse , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no added sugar , also hopes the pandemic will encourage thought about future champagne marketing and how the multi-billion dollar industry is restructured .
He would like to see a more cooperative side to production , such as “ communal wine presses ” to help pool the costs for smaller producers .
Selosse said adaptability has served champagne well in the past , helping it evolve from a dessert wine in the 19th century to the modern day dry version named “ brut.
” He even thinks — but this is a minority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move away from effervescence and be able to produce all sorts of wine , as it did in the past : red , white or still .

Champagne is losing its fizz. For months, lockdown put the cork on weddings, dining out, parties and international travel — all key sales components for the French luxury wine marketed for decades as a sparkling must at any celebration.
Champagne houses are pushing for smaller harvests this year, saying their cellars are already overstocked as the COVID-19 crisis crimps sales.
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Producers in France's eastern Champagne region, headquarters of the global industry, say they've lost an estimated 1.7 billion euros ($2 billion) in sales for this year, as turnover fell by a third — a hammering unmatched in living memory, and worse than the Great Depression.
They expect about 100 million bottles to be languishing unsold in their cellars by the end of the year.
“We are experiencing a crisis that we evaluate to be even worse than the Great Depression” of 1929, said Thibaut Le Mailloux of the Champagne Committee, known by its French acronym CIVC, that represents some 16,000 winemakers.
Recognizing the urgency of the problem, the CIVC is launching unprecedented damage-limitation measures. Like oil-producing countries, the committee regulates the size of the harvest each year to avoid the kind of excess production that would cause bottle prices to plummet. At a meeting scheduled for Aug. 18, it's expected to impose a cap so tight that record quantities of grapes will be destroyed or sold to distilleries at discounted prices.
The prospect alarms smaller producers, who are more vulnerable than the big houses.
Anselme Selosse, of Jacques Selosse Champagnes, called it “an insult to nature" that champagne's famous grapes might even be destined to produce alcohol for hand sanitizer, as is happening in other wine-producing regions such as Alsace after demand spiked during the pandemic.
“We are to destroy (the grapes) and we pay for them to be destroyed,” Selosse said, referring to the industry as a whole. “It’s nothing but a catastrophe.”
“Champagne has never lived through anything like this before, even in the World Wars," Selosse added. "We have never experienced ... a sudden one-third fall in sales. Over one hundred million bottles unsold.”
Major producers such as Vranken-Pommery predict that the crisis could last for years.
“It should not be forgotten that (champagne) has lived through every single war," said Paul-Francois Vranken, founder of Vranken-Pommery Monopole. "But with the other crises, there was a way out. For now, there is no way out — unless we find a vaccine.”
Vranken said the very essence of champagne marketing -- as a drink quaffed at parties and weddings -- needs to be re-evaluated to reflect the new normal: Fewer festivities and a lack of celebratory group events. The new branding strategy for his, and other champagne companies, will seek to highlight the wine's status as a naturally, and often organically, produced quality drink from a historic French region.
“Even if the bars and the nightclubs are closed for five years, we don’t plan on missing out on customers ... There will be a very big change to our marketing that highlights the grandeur of our wines,” Vranken said.
Selosse, who produces many “natural“ champagnes with no added sugar, also hopes the pandemic will encourage thought about future champagne marketing and how the multi-billion dollar industry is restructured. He would like to see a more cooperative side to production, such as “communal wine presses” to help pool the costs for smaller producers.
Selosse said adaptability has served champagne well in the past, helping it evolve from a dessert wine in the 19th century to the modern day dry version named “brut.”
He even thinks — but this is a minority view among producers — the industry could move away from effervescence and be able to produce all sorts of wine, as it did in the past: red, white or still.
In fact, literally no fizz.
(AP)
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france24--2020-07-31--Barred from running for election, Hong Kong activist vows to keep fighting for political freedom

Hong Kong 's democracy camp will continue to fight Beijing 's crackdown on political freedoms , prominent dissident Joshua Wong said Friday after he and other activists were barred from standing for election .
`` Our resistance will continue on and we hope the world can stand with us in the upcoming uphill battle , '' he told reporters .
Dressed in a black T-shirt emblazoned with the words `` They ca n't kill us all '' , 23-year-old Wong slammed authorities for disqualifying some of the city 's best-known democracy activists from standing in September 's legislative elections .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the most scandalous election fraud era in Hong Kong history , '' he said .
The disqualifications were the latest blow against the semi-autonomous city 's democracy movement , which has been under sustained attack from China 's Communist Party rulers .
China imposed a national security law last month on Hong Kong outlawing subversion , which it warned was a `` sword '' hanging over the head of democracy protesters .
On Thursday , 12 democracy activists were told they would not be allowed to stand for the partially elected legislature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The democracy campaigners had been hoping to win a first-ever majority in the 70-seat legislature , which is deliberately weighted to return a pro-Beijing chamber .
In a statement announcing its decision , Hong Kong 's government listed political views that required disqualification .
They included criticising Beijing 's new security law , campaigning to win a legislation-blocking majority and refusing to recognise China 's sovereignty .
But there are doubts over whether the election will even go ahead .
Multiple local media outlets have reported this week that Hong Kong 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a recent surge in coronavirus cases .
But there has been no confirmation yet from authorities .
Hong Kong is a semi-autonomous city guaranteed certain freedoms and autonomy under a `` One Country , Two Systems '' deal agreed ahead of the 1997 handover from Britain .
But Beijing 's new national security law has dramatically upended that unique status , the latest in a slew of measures that have eviscerated political freedoms in recent years .
On Wednesday , four students -- aged between 16 and 21 -- were arrested for social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security law , the first to be made by a new dedicated police unit .
The four were all former members of Student Localism , a pro-independence group that announced it was disbanding its Hong Kong branch the day before the security law was enacted .
Police said they were arrested on suspicion of organising and inciting secession through comments made on social media posts after the law came in .

Hong Kong's democracy camp will continue to fight Beijing's crackdown on political freedoms, prominent dissident Joshua Wong said Friday after he and other activists were barred from standing for election.
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"Our resistance will continue on and we hope the world can stand with us in the upcoming uphill battle," he told reporters.
Dressed in a black T-shirt emblazoned with the words "They can't kill us all", 23-year-old Wong slammed authorities for disqualifying some of the city's best-known democracy activists from standing in September's legislative elections.
"Beyond any doubt (this) is the most scandalous election fraud era in Hong Kong history," he said.
The disqualifications were the latest blow against the semi-autonomous city's democracy movement, which has been under sustained attack from China's Communist Party rulers.
China imposed a national security law last month on Hong Kong outlawing subversion, which it warned was a "sword" hanging over the head of democracy protesters.
On Thursday, 12 democracy activists were told they would not be allowed to stand for the partially elected legislature because of their previously stated political views.
The democracy campaigners had been hoping to win a first-ever majority in the 70-seat legislature, which is deliberately weighted to return a pro-Beijing chamber.
In a statement announcing its decision, Hong Kong's government listed political views that required disqualification.
They included criticising Beijing's new security law, campaigning to win a legislation-blocking majority and refusing to recognise China's sovereignty.
But there are doubts over whether the election will even go ahead.
Multiple local media outlets have reported this week that Hong Kong's government will postpone the vote because of a recent surge in coronavirus cases. But there has been no confirmation yet from authorities.
Hong Kong is a semi-autonomous city guaranteed certain freedoms and autonomy under a "One Country, Two Systems" deal agreed ahead of the 1997 handover from Britain.
But Beijing's new national security law has dramatically upended that unique status, the latest in a slew of measures that have eviscerated political freedoms in recent years.
On Wednesday, four students -- aged between 16 and 21 -- were arrested for social media posts deemed to breach the new security law, the first to be made by a new dedicated police unit.
The four were all former members of Student Localism, a pro-independence group that announced it was disbanding its Hong Kong branch the day before the security law was enacted.
Police said they were arrested on suspicion of organising and inciting secession through comments made on social media posts after the law came in.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-31--Iraq after Saddam Hussein: Two benefactors, two occupiers

In the spring of 2003 , Saddam Hussein 's regime was toppled .
Iraq then had to rebuild itself , with the presence of US forces who had put an end to the dictatorship .
But after the departure of US troops in 2010-11 , the Iraqi state never succeeded in asserting its authority , leaving the country open to becoming a zone of competing influence between the US and neighbouring Iran .
We take a look back at nearly 20 years of Iraqi history : a state under twin American and Iranian domination .
Ten years ago , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withdraw from Iraq after seven years of occupation , following the war led by the coalition that overthrew Saddam Hussein 's dictatorship in March 2003 .
This withdrawal was meant to be the effective liberation of Iraq .
But the Obama administration 's disengagement from Iraq effectively left the field open for Iran and its Shiite supporters , in a divided country that now resembled a giant geopolitical chessboard .
The Americans , the Sunnis and the Shiites all placed their pawns , as did the fundamentalists of the Islamic State ( IS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatening the entire region .
The Americans returned to Iraq , indirectly , from 2014 , acting within the international coalition against the IS group .
> > Watch our Reporters show : At the heart of Iraq 's uprising In this context of a new Cold War , the population is taking to the streets to make its voice heard .
Young Iraqis have been campaigning since October 2019 for a new Iraqi citizens ' pact , rejecting all forms of sectarianism and foreign interference and demanding a life of dignity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' of Iraq .

In the spring of 2003, Saddam Hussein's regime was toppled. Iraq then had to rebuild itself, with the presence of US forces who had put an end to the dictatorship. But after the departure of US troops in 2010-11, the Iraqi state never succeeded in asserting its authority, leaving the country open to becoming a zone of competing influence between the US and neighbouring Iran. We take a look back at nearly 20 years of Iraqi history: a state under twin American and Iranian domination.
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Ten years ago, in August 2010, US forces began to withdraw from Iraq after seven years of occupation, following the war led by the coalition that overthrew Saddam Hussein's dictatorship in March 2003. This withdrawal was meant to be the effective liberation of Iraq.
Iraq, a geopolitical chessboard
But the Obama administration's disengagement from Iraq effectively left the field open for Iran and its Shiite supporters, in a divided country that now resembled a giant geopolitical chessboard. The Americans, the Sunnis and the Shiites all placed their pawns, as did the fundamentalists of the Islamic State (IS) group, which became a danger threatening the entire region.
The Americans returned to Iraq, indirectly, from 2014, acting within the international coalition against the IS group.
>> Watch our Reporters show: At the heart of Iraq's uprising
In this context of a new Cold War, the population is taking to the streets to make its voice heard. Young Iraqis have been campaigning since October 2019 for a new Iraqi citizens' pact, rejecting all forms of sectarianism and foreign interference and demanding a life of dignity, individual freedoms and an effective "liberation" of Iraq.
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france24--2020-07-31--As NBA restarts, teams take a knee before games

Quinn Cook # 28 , LeBron James # 23 and Anthony Davis # 3 of the Los Angeles Lakers kneel for the National Anthem with Doc Rivers of the LA Clippers on July 30 , 2020 in Orlando , Florida at The Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports .
NBA teams bowed their heads and knelt during the playing of the U.S. national anthem while wearing Black Lives Matter T-shirts on Thursday as the league returned for the first time since the coronavirus halted play in March with two thrilling games .
Coaches and game officials joined players from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers in taking a knee to protest against racial injustice and police brutality in the first games in 140 days .
Black Lives Matter was also written on the courts at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando , where the NBA plans to finish its season with 22 teams inside a bio-secure bubble .
`` The game of basketball has always been bigger than just the ball , the rim , 10 guys on the floor and referees , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hitting the game-winning shot in his team 's 103-101 win over the Clippers .
`` It 's an opportunity to use this platform to spread a lot of positivity and love throughout the whole world . ''
He said that while there has been progress in the fight against systemic racism , the key was to maintain the momentum .
`` We want to keep our foot on the gas , '' he said .
`` We 're dealing with a lot of racism , a lot of social injustice and a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my neighborhood and not only with Black people , but with all people of color . ''
Some players had messages like `` Equality , '' `` Education Reform '' and `` Say Their Names '' on the backs of their jerseys in place of their names .
Athletes from around the world have united behind anti-racism protests sparked by the death of George Floyd , a Black man in police custody in Minneapolis in May .
In the first game , the Jazz came from behind to defeat the Pelicans 106-104 after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the buzzer rimmed out .
The games are being played without fans , but `` virtual fans '' appeared on LED screens wrapped around the court and a simulation of a crowd 's cheers and jeers could be heard .

NBA teams bowed their heads and knelt during the playing of the U.S. national anthem while wearing Black Lives Matter T-shirts on Thursday as the league returned for the first time since the coronavirus halted play in March with two thrilling games.
Quinn Cook #28, LeBron James #23 and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers kneel for the National Anthem with Doc Rivers of the LA Clippers on July 30, 2020 in Orlando, Florida at The Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports.
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Coaches and game officials joined players from the Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers in taking a knee to protest against racial injustice and police brutality in the first games in 140 days.
Black Lives Matter was also written on the courts at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, where the NBA plans to finish its season with 22 teams inside a bio-secure bubble.
"The game of basketball has always been bigger than just the ball, the rim, 10 guys on the floor and referees," the Lakers LeBron James said after hitting the game-winning shot in his team's 103-101 win over the Clippers.
"It's an opportunity to use this platform to spread a lot of positivity and love throughout the whole world."
He said that while there has been progress in the fight against systemic racism, the key was to maintain the momentum.
"We want to keep our foot on the gas," he said. "We're dealing with a lot of racism, a lot of social injustice and a lot of police brutality, not only in my neighborhood and not only with Black people, but with all people of color."
Some players had messages like "Equality," "Education Reform" and "Say Their Names" on the backs of their jerseys in place of their names.
Athletes from around the world have united behind anti-racism protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, a Black man in police custody in Minneapolis in May.
In the first game, the Jazz came from behind to defeat the Pelicans 106-104 after the Pelicans' Brandon Ingram's three-pointer at the buzzer rimmed out.
The games are being played without fans, but "virtual fans" appeared on LED screens wrapped around the court and a simulation of a crowd's cheers and jeers could be heard.
(REUTERS)
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