france24--2020-07-20--Dutch PM Mark Rutte, the thrifty europhile holding Europe hostage

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte takes off his protective mask at an EU summit in Brussels on July 18 , 2020 .
Europe ’ s longest serving leader after Angela Merkel , Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte plays a paradoxical villain in the EU ’ s latest budget cliffhanger : lambasted for thwarting the bloc ’ s ambitious recovery fund , he is nonetheless cherished for holding eurosceptics at bay .
When France ’ s Emmanuel Macron won Chancellor Angela Merkel over to the idea of collective EU borrowing , breaking with decades of German economic orthodoxy , advocates of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they had finally topped Mount Everest .
They did not expect the Low Countries to raise an even higher obstacle in the shape of Mark Rutte , the lanky and thrifty — some would say , stingy — Dutch prime minister .
With EU talks on a massive coronavirus bailout now in their second day of “ extra time ” , Rutte has been singled out as the one responsible for the impasse — and promptly nicknamed “ Mr .
No , No , No.
” The Dutch premier is leading opposition to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mix of grants worth €500 billion and loans of €250 billion , financed by the EU issuing debt collectively and then handed to individual member states .
Picking up the mantle once worn by Britain , he has taken on the role of naysayer with calculated determination as the unofficial leader of a group of smaller `` frugal '' nations , consisting of Sweden , Denmark , Austria and the Netherlands , with the recent addition of Finland .
The bicycle-loving 53-year-old has been in power for a decade , thanks to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his liberal , industrious and parsimonious nation .
A bachelor , Rutte lives in the same flat he bought after graduating , drives a second-hand Saab when not cycling , and volunteers as a teacher .
Now in his third term as PM , he continues to dominate the Netherlands ’ fragmented political landscape , having formed coalitions with parties both to his left and right — and , like Merkel , bled his junior partners one by one .
`` He 's able to be a bit of a chameleon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Europe program at Chatham House in London , told AFP .
`` The story always goes that he shapes his opinion to the prevailing consensus in the room , '' Bergsen added .
This time , Rutte has challenged the unusually broad consensus prevailing among Germany , France and every other big nation in Europe .
While the move has made him unpopular abroad , and perhaps damaged his hopes of securing a senior EU post in the near future , it is solidly grounded in public opinion and politics at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are proportionately among the largest contributors to the EU budget , and the idea of giving more , with little or no strings attached , is deeply unpopular .
Rutte ’ s `` Mr. No '' moniker derives from an April video clip , frequently retweeted , that shows a Dutch rubbish collector shouting at the prime minister not to give money to `` those Italians and French '' .
`` Oh , no , no , no . ''
Rutte replied .
`` I will remember this . ''
Critics say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misplaced , given the country 's large trade surplus with the rest of the EU .
UniCredit economist Erik Nielsen argued in a note on Sunday that the Dutch 2018 net budget contribution of 2.4 billion euros `` tells only a small part of the real financial story '' .
He added : `` According to the Tax Justice Network , that same year , the Netherlands ’ tax haven structures helped them grab 6.7 billion euros in tax receipts from Germany , France , Italy and Spain.
” However , conversations in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the result of a tougher work ethic , and whether it is fair to share funds with countries that have a lower retirement age when the Dutch have recently raised theirs from 65 to 67 .
Domestic politics also play a role .
With national elections looming in March , Rutte 's centre-right VVD Party is weary of giving ammunition to eurosceptic far-right parties in the opposition .
In addition , his current centre-right coalition lacks a majority in parliament , meaning that any EU compromise that goes too far in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ratified later in The Hague .
That threat is perhaps Rutte ’ s best card on the negotiating table in Brussels , where EU officials are grateful to the Dutch leader for his record in keeping parties hostile to Europe at bay .
Though he has played the eurosceptic card at times when addressing Dutch audiences , Rutte has been a darling of Brussels since he saw off the far-right ’ s Geert Wilders in a 2017 vote .
His hard-fought re-election , soon to be followed by Macron ’ s defeat of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steady the EU boat after the shock of Britain ’ s Brexit vote .
His past achievements have “ allowed the Dutch leader to play an outsized role in EU politics '' , wrote Italian daily La Repubblica on Sunday .
They explain why his peers have been willing to accommodate such a demanding partner in the past , and why they may well do so again .

Europe’s longest serving leader after Angela Merkel, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte plays a paradoxical villain in the EU’s latest budget cliffhanger: lambasted for thwarting the bloc’s ambitious recovery fund, he is nonetheless cherished for holding eurosceptics at bay.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte takes off his protective mask at an EU summit in Brussels on July 18, 2020.
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When France’s Emmanuel Macron won Chancellor Angela Merkel over to the idea of collective EU borrowing, breaking with decades of German economic orthodoxy, advocates of greater solidarity across the 27-nation bloc felt they had finally topped Mount Everest.
They did not expect the Low Countries to raise an even higher obstacle in the shape of Mark Rutte, the lanky and thrifty — some would say, stingy — Dutch prime minister.
With EU talks on a massive coronavirus bailout now in their second day of “extra time”, Rutte has been singled out as the one responsible for the impasse — and promptly nicknamed “Mr. No, No, No.”
The Dutch premier is leading opposition to the recovery fund, which involves a mix of grants worth €500 billion and loans of €250 billion, financed by the EU issuing debt collectively and then handed to individual member states.
Picking up the mantle once worn by Britain, he has taken on the role of naysayer with calculated determination as the unofficial leader of a group of smaller "frugal" nations, consisting of Sweden, Denmark, Austria and the Netherlands, with the recent addition of Finland.
‘Mr. No’
The bicycle-loving 53-year-old has been in power for a decade, thanks to a modest image that chimes with traditional values in his liberal, industrious and parsimonious nation.
A bachelor, Rutte lives in the same flat he bought after graduating, drives a second-hand Saab when not cycling, and volunteers as a teacher. Now in his third term as PM, he continues to dominate the Netherlands’ fragmented political landscape, having formed coalitions with parties both to his left and right — and, like Merkel, bled his junior partners one by one.
"He's able to be a bit of a chameleon," Pepijn Bergsen, a research fellow in the Europe program at Chatham House in London, told AFP.
"The story always goes that he shapes his opinion to the prevailing consensus in the room," Bergsen added.
This time, Rutte has challenged the unusually broad consensus prevailing among Germany, France and every other big nation in Europe. While the move has made him unpopular abroad, and perhaps damaged his hopes of securing a senior EU post in the near future, it is solidly grounded in public opinion and politics at home.
Dutch taxpayers are aware that they are proportionately among the largest contributors to the EU budget, and the idea of giving more, with little or no strings attached, is deeply unpopular.
Rutte’s "Mr. No" moniker derives from an April video clip, frequently retweeted, that shows a Dutch rubbish collector shouting at the prime minister not to give money to "those Italians and French".
"Oh, no, no, no." Rutte replied. "I will remember this."
Bane of the eurosceptics
Critics say the Dutch reluctance to spend now is misplaced, given the country's large trade surplus with the rest of the EU. UniCredit economist Erik Nielsen argued in a note on Sunday that the Dutch 2018 net budget contribution of 2.4 billion euros "tells only a small part of the real financial story".
He added: "According to the Tax Justice Network, that same year, the Netherlands’ tax haven structures helped them grab 6.7 billion euros in tax receipts from Germany, France, Italy and Spain.”
However, conversations in the Netherlands focus on whether Dutch prosperity is the result of a tougher work ethic, and whether it is fair to share funds with countries that have a lower retirement age when the Dutch have recently raised theirs from 65 to 67.
Domestic politics also play a role. With national elections looming in March, Rutte's centre-right VVD Party is weary of giving ammunition to eurosceptic far-right parties in the opposition. In addition, his current centre-right coalition lacks a majority in parliament, meaning that any EU compromise that goes too far in the eyes of the Dutch might not be ratified later in The Hague.
That threat is perhaps Rutte’s best card on the negotiating table in Brussels, where EU officials are grateful to the Dutch leader for his record in keeping parties hostile to Europe at bay.
Though he has played the eurosceptic card at times when addressing Dutch audiences, Rutte has been a darling of Brussels since he saw off the far-right’s Geert Wilders in a 2017 vote. His hard-fought re-election, soon to be followed by Macron’s defeat of Marine Le Pen in France, helped steady the EU boat after the shock of Britain’s Brexit vote.
His past achievements have “allowed the Dutch leader to play an outsized role in EU politics", wrote Italian daily La Repubblica on Sunday. They explain why his peers have been willing to accommodate such a demanding partner in the past, and why they may well do so again.
(With Reuters, AFP)
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france24--2020-07-20--Egypt’s parliament approves possible intervention in Libya

Egypt 's parliament voted on July 20 , 2020 in favour of a deployment of troops to fight `` threats '' on a `` western front '' .
referring to Libya Egypt 's parliament on Monday approved the deployment of armed forces abroad to fight `` criminal militias '' and `` foreign terrorist groups '' on a `` western front '' , after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warned Cairo could intervene in neighbouring Libya across Egypt 's western border .
The parliament unanimously approved `` the deployment of members of the Egyptian armed forces on combat missions outside Egypt 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against criminal armed militias and foreign terrorist elements '' , it said in a statement .
The decision came after Sisi said last week that Egypt would not stand idle if there was a threat to national security in Egypt if parliament gave its approval .
The move could bring Egypt and Turkey , both US allies that support rival sides in Libya ’ s chaotic proxy war , into direct confrontation .
Sisi has called the strategic coastal city of Sirte a “ red line ” and warned that any attack on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ militarily to protect its western border with the oil-rich country .
Libya was plunged into chaos when a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 toppled longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi , who was later killed .
The country is now split between territory in the east controlled by fighters – called the Libyan National Army ( LNA ) – loyal to warlord Khalifa Haftar , and a UN-supported government in Tripoli , in the west .
The conflict has escalated into a regional proxy war fueled by foreign powers pouring weapons and mercenaries into the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkey backs the UN-recognised government in the capital , Tripoli .
Turkish support for the Tripoli government 's forces helped force the LNA to abandon its 14-month offensive on Tripoli , a setback for Haftar 's plan to unify Libya by force .
A big escalation in Libya could risk igniting a direct conflict among the foreign powers that have poured in weapons and fighters in violation of an arms embargo .
The US has sent mixed signals to the rival sides over the course of the war , but has become increasingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Libya , where hundreds of Russian mercenaries backed a failed attempt by Haftar 's forces to capture Tripoli .
In a call on Monday with US President Donald Trump ahead of the parliament vote , Sisi emphasized Egypt ’ s aim to “ prevent further deterioration of security in Libya '' , according to a statement from the Egyptian presidential spokesman .
It said the two leaders agreed on maintaining a ceasefire and avoiding a military escalation in Libya .
Egypt ’ s state-run Al-Ahram daily reported on Sunday that the vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to “ intervene militarily in Libya to help defend the western neighbour against Turkish aggression '' .

Egypt's parliament on Monday approved the deployment of armed forces abroad to fight "criminal militias" and "foreign terrorist groups" on a "western front", after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warned Cairo could intervene in neighbouring Libya across Egypt's western border.
Egypt's parliament voted on July 20, 2020 in favour of a deployment of troops to fight "threats" on a "western front". referring to Libya
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The parliament unanimously approved "the deployment of members of the Egyptian armed forces on combat missions outside Egypt's borders to defend Egyptian national security... against criminal armed militias and foreign terrorist elements", it said in a statement.
The decision came after Sisi said last week that Egypt would not stand idle if there was a threat to national security in Egypt if parliament gave its approval.
The move could bring Egypt and Turkey, both US allies that support rival sides in Libya’s chaotic proxy war, into direct confrontation.
Sisi has called the strategic coastal city of Sirte a “red line” and warned that any attack on the town would prompt Cairo to intervene militarily to protect its western border with the oil-rich country.
Libya was plunged into chaos when a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 toppled longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was later killed. The country is now split between territory in the east controlled by fighters – called the Libyan National Army (LNA) – loyal to warlord Khalifa Haftar, and a UN-supported government in Tripoli, in the west.
Regional proxy war
The conflict has escalated into a regional proxy war fueled by foreign powers pouring weapons and mercenaries into the country.
Egypt backs Haftar's forces while Turkey backs the UN-recognised government in the capital, Tripoli.
Turkish support for the Tripoli government's forces helped force the LNA to abandon its 14-month offensive on Tripoli, a setback for Haftar's plan to unify Libya by force.
A big escalation in Libya could risk igniting a direct conflict among the foreign powers that have poured in weapons and fighters in violation of an arms embargo.
Sisi calls Trump ahead of vote
The US has sent mixed signals to the rival sides over the course of the war, but has become increasingly concerned about Moscow’s growing influence in Libya, where hundreds of Russian mercenaries backed a failed attempt by Haftar's forces to capture Tripoli.
In a call on Monday with US President Donald Trump ahead of the parliament vote, Sisi emphasized Egypt’s aim to “prevent further deterioration of security in Libya", according to a statement from the Egyptian presidential spokesman. It said the two leaders agreed on maintaining a ceasefire and avoiding a military escalation in Libya.
Egypt’s state-run Al-Ahram daily reported on Sunday that the vote in parliament was intended to mandate Sisi to “intervene militarily in Libya to help defend the western neighbour against Turkish aggression".
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-20--Oxford Covid-19 vaccine prompts immune response in early test

An experimental vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University against the new coronavirus produced an immune response in early-stage clinical trials , data showed on Monday , preserving hopes it could be in use by the end of the year .
The vaccine , called AZD1222 , has been described by the World Health Organization 's chief scientist as the leading candidate in a global race to halt a pandemic that has killed more than 600,000 people .
More than 150 possible vaccines are in various stages of development , and U.S. drugmaker Pfizer and China 's CanSino Biologics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday .
The vaccine from AstraZeneca and Britain 's University of Oxford prompted no serious side effects and elicited antibody and T-cell immune responses , according to trial results published in The Lancet medical journal , with the strongest response seen in people who received two doses .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson , whose government has helped fund the project , hailed the results as `` very positive news '' though the researchers cautioned the project was still at an early stage .
`` There is still much work to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine will help manage the COVID-19 pandemic , '' vaccine developer Sarah Gilbert said .
`` We still do not know how strong an immune response we need to provoke to effectively protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection . ''
AstraZeneca shares surged 10 % , but then gave up most of those gains , to close up 1.45 % on the day .
AstraZeneca has signed agreements with governments around the world to supply the vaccine should it prove effective and gain regulatory approval .
It has said it will not seek to profit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AZD1222 was developed by Oxford and licensed to AstraZeneca , which has put it into large-scale , late-stage trials to test its efficacy .
It has signed deals to produce and supply over 2 billion doses of the shot , with 300 million doses earmarked for the United States .
Pascal Soriot , Chief Executive of AstraZeneca , said the company was on track to be producing doses by September , but that hopes that it will be available this year hinged on how quickly late-stage trials could be completed , given the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Late-stage trials are under way in Brazil and South Africa and are due to start in the United States , where prevalence is higher .
The trial results showed a stronger immune response in 10 people given an extra dose of the vaccine after 28 days , echoing a trial in pigs .
Oxford 's Gilbert said the early-stage trial could not determine whether one or two doses would be needed to provide immunity .
`` It may be that we do n't need two doses , but we want to know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told reporters .
AstraZeneca 's biopharma chief , Mene Pangalos , said the firm was leaning towards a two-dose strategy for later-stage trials , and did not want to risk a single or lower dose that might not work .
The antibody levels generated were `` in the region '' of those seen in convalescent patients , he said .
The trial included 1,077 healthy adults aged 18-55 years with no history of COVID-19 .
Researchers said the vaccine caused minor side effects more frequently than a control group , but some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ painkiller paracetamol , which is also known as acetaminophen .

An experimental vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University against the new coronavirus produced an immune response in early-stage clinical trials, data showed on Monday, preserving hopes it could be in use by the end of the year.
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The vaccine, called AZD1222, has been described by the World Health Organization's chief scientist as the leading candidate in a global race to halt a pandemic that has killed more than 600,000 people.
More than 150 possible vaccines are in various stages of development, and U.S. drugmaker Pfizer and China's CanSino Biologics also reported positive responses for their candidates on Monday.
The vaccine from AstraZeneca and Britain's University of Oxford prompted no serious side effects and elicited antibody and T-cell immune responses, according to trial results published in The Lancet medical journal, with the strongest response seen in people who received two doses.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, whose government has helped fund the project, hailed the results as "very positive news" though the researchers cautioned the project was still at an early stage.
03:18
"There is still much work to be done before we can confirm if our vaccine will help manage the COVID-19 pandemic," vaccine developer Sarah Gilbert said. "We still do not know how strong an immune response we need to provoke to effectively protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection."
AstraZeneca shares surged 10%, but then gave up most of those gains, to close up 1.45% on the day.
AstraZeneca has signed agreements with governments around the world to supply the vaccine should it prove effective and gain regulatory approval. It has said it will not seek to profit from the vaccine during the pandemic.
AZD1222 was developed by Oxford and licensed to AstraZeneca, which has put it into large-scale, late-stage trials to test its efficacy. It has signed deals to produce and supply over 2 billion doses of the shot, with 300 million doses earmarked for the United States.
Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive of AstraZeneca, said the company was on track to be producing doses by September, but that hopes that it will be available this year hinged on how quickly late-stage trials could be completed, given the dwindling prevalence of the virus in Britain.
Late-stage trials are under way in Brazil and South Africa and are due to start in the United States, where prevalence is higher.
Targeting two doses
The trial results showed a stronger immune response in 10 people given an extra dose of the vaccine after 28 days, echoing a trial in pigs.
Oxford's Gilbert said the early-stage trial could not determine whether one or two doses would be needed to provide immunity.
"It may be that we don't need two doses, but we want to know what we can achieve," she told reporters.
AstraZeneca's biopharma chief, Mene Pangalos, said the firm was leaning towards a two-dose strategy for later-stage trials, and did not want to risk a single or lower dose that might not work.
The antibody levels generated were "in the region" of those seen in convalescent patients, he said.
The trial included 1,077 healthy adults aged 18-55 years with no history of COVID-19. Researchers said the vaccine caused minor side effects more frequently than a control group, but some of these could be reduced by taking the painkiller paracetamol, which is also known as acetaminophen.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-20--UK suspends extradition treaty with Hong Kong 'immediately'

Britain ’ s government suspended its extradition arrangements with Hong Kong on Monday after China imposed a tough new national security law .
Confirming the widely expected move , British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told parliament the government had `` immediately and indefinitely '' suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong in response to China 's introduction of a controversial new security law in the former British colony .
As tensions between London and Beijing mount , Raab said he had concerns about the new security law and about alleged human rights abuses in China , particularly Beijing 's treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will protect our vital interests , '' Raab said .
“ We will stand up for our values and we will hold to China to its international obligations . ''
Raab also said the UK would extend its arms embargo on `` potentially lethal weapons '' to the Asian financial hub .
London has been dismayed by a crackdown in Hong Kong , which returned to Chinese rule in 1997 , and the perception that Beijing did not tell the whole truth over the coronavirus outbreak .
Australia and Canada suspended extradition treaties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The move came days after Britain backtracked on plans to give Chinese telecommunications company Huawei a role in the UK ’ s new high-speed mobile phone network amid security concerns fuelled by rising tensions between Beijing and Western powers .
'Dancing to the tune ' of the US , slams China Prime Minister Boris Johnson ’ s government has already criticised China ’ s decision to impose a sweeping new national security law on Hong Kong .
The UK has accused the Beijing government of breaching the Sino-British Joint Declaration under which Britain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and announced it would open a special route to citizenship for up to 3 million eligible residents of the community .
Beijing has objected to the move .
China ’ s ambassador to Britain , Liu Xiaoming , recently described the offer as “ gross interference ” in Chinese affairs .
Liu told the BBC 's Andrew Marr on Sunday that Britain was “ dancing to the tune ” of the US and rejected the allegations of human rights abuses against the mainly-Muslim Uighur people .
He accused Western countries of trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say China ( is ) becoming very aggressive .
That ’ s totally wrong , '' he told the BBC “ China has not changed .
It ’ s Western countries , headed by United States – they started this so-called new Cold War on China . ''

Britain’s government suspended its extradition arrangements with Hong Kong on Monday after China imposed a tough new national security law.
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Confirming the widely expected move, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told parliament the government had "immediately and indefinitely" suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong in response to China's introduction of a controversial new security law in the former British colony.
As tensions between London and Beijing mount, Raab said he had concerns about the new security law and about alleged human rights abuses in China, particularly Beijing's treatment of its Uighur minority.
“We will protect our vital interests,'' Raab said. “We will stand up for our values and we will hold to China to its international obligations.''
Raab also said the UK would extend its arms embargo on "potentially lethal weapons" to the Asian financial hub.
London has been dismayed by a crackdown in Hong Kong, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, and the perception that Beijing did not tell the whole truth over the coronavirus outbreak.
Australia and Canada suspended extradition treaties with Hong Kong earlier this month.
The move came days after Britain backtracked on plans to give Chinese telecommunications company Huawei a role in the UK’s new high-speed mobile phone network amid security concerns fuelled by rising tensions between Beijing and Western powers.
'Dancing to the tune' of the US, slams China
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government has already criticised China’s decision to impose a sweeping new national security law on Hong Kong. The UK has accused the Beijing government of breaching the Sino-British Joint Declaration under which Britain returned control of Hong Kong to China and announced it would open a special route to citizenship for up to 3 million eligible residents of the community.
Beijing has objected to the move. China’s ambassador to Britain, Liu Xiaoming, recently described the offer as “gross interference” in Chinese affairs.
Liu told the BBC's Andrew Marr on Sunday that Britain was “dancing to the tune” of the US and rejected the allegations of human rights abuses against the mainly-Muslim Uighur people.
A must watch: @AndrewMarr9 on the job, doing his job in an interview w/ China’s ambassador to the UK on the Uighur situation: https://t.co/Q5yEsoYprb — leela jacinto (@leelajacinto) July 19, 2020
He accused Western countries of trying to foment trouble with China.
“People say China (is) becoming very aggressive. That’s totally wrong," he told the BBC “China has not changed. It’s Western countries, headed by United States – they started this so-called new Cold War on China."
(FRANCE 24 with AP, AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-20--Football's coveted Ballon d’Or cancelled this year amid Covid-19 disruptions

The prestigious Ballon d ’ Or , awarded by France Football magazine , is cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic , the organisers confirmed Monday .
`` There will be no edition in 2020 , because it turns out , after thoughtful consideration , that all the conditions are not met , '' said Pascal Ferré , the editor of France Football .
The Ballon d ’ Or has been given out every year since Stanley Matthews won the first one in 1956 .
Lionel Messi has won it a record six times — one more than longtime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ giving out a women 's award in 2018 , but that has also been put on hold .
“ It ’ s such a strange year that we couldn ’ t treat it as an ordinary one .
Let ’ s say that we started talking about ( making the decision ) at least two months ago , ” Ferré told The Associated Press in a telephone interview .
“ It isn ’ t a decision we took lightly but we had to accept it couldn ’ t be a normal or typical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what really worried us it that it wouldn ’ t be fairly awarded.
” Ferré noted that because the game ’ s rules have been modified during the pandemic , the award itself was impacted .
“ The season started with certain rules and ended with other rules .
In January and February , soccer was played in front of full stands .
Then from May and June it was with empty stands , ” Ferré said .
“ Then we had the five substitutes rule and not three .
Then other changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notably the final eight ( eight-team knockout format ) for the Champions League when it had started with home and away legs.
” With the European Championship and the Copa America postponed this year , the Champions League would have massively weighed on the award ’ s outcome but with a format inadvertently providing a shortcut for an eventual victor .
“ The Ballon d ’ Or would have been decided over just three games : quarterfinal , semifinal , final , ” Ferré said .
“ There were loads of changes [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legitimate and which we don ’ t contest given the worldwide health crisis , but we couldn ’ t consider this as a typical year .
Exceptional circumstances led to an exceptional decision.
” The Kopa Trophy for the best player under 21 and the Lev Yashin award for best goalkeeper have also been canceled this year , Ferré said .
Ronaldo , who will be 36 in February , can still win an Italian league-Champions League double with Juventus this season , but he is not the only player affected by France @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Robert Lewandowski reached 50 club goals for the first time and can win a treble .
Kylian Mbappé and Neymar can clinch quadruples for Paris Saint-Germain .
“ Look at Lewandowski ’ s performances this year , his form has been at the level of Messi and Ronaldo , ” Ferré said .
“ And Paris players , imagine if they win the Champions League.
” To maintain the award ’ s authenticity and level of suspense , players were not informed of the decision before the announcement .
“ We are independent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raise our little finger and ask what they think , ” Ferré said .
“ We will take their frustration as a sign of their attachment to the award.
” If the virus impacts next season the same way , however , the award will be awarded .
“ It would be less of a problem in terms of fairness , because this time around we ’ ve had two parts to the season : normal and not normal , ” Ferré said .
“ Imagine that in 2021 all matches are played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and with five subs .
We would adapt , because it would be comparable.
” To fill this year ’ s gap , the magazine created another trophy : the France Football Dream Team .
The magazine ’ s jury of 180 will elect history ’ s best team from a shortlist of five players in each position .
The star-studded lineup will be known sometime in autumn .
Ronaldo will not be able to equal Messi this year , but he could find himself in the same team for the first time @

The prestigious Ballon d’Or, awarded by France Football magazine, is cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the organisers confirmed Monday.
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"There will be no edition in 2020, because it turns out, after thoughtful consideration, that all the conditions are not met," said Pascal Ferré, the editor of France Football.
The Ballon d’Or will not be awarded in 2020.
Our official statement > https://t.co/4HjwEZ81uq #ballondor pic.twitter.com/MFRem2SEoQ — France Football (@francefootball) July 20, 2020
The Ballon d’Or has been given out every year since Stanley Matthews won the first one in 1956. Lionel Messi has won it a record six times — one more than longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
The magazine started giving out a women's award in 2018, but that has also been put on hold.
02:27
“It’s such a strange year that we couldn’t treat it as an ordinary one. Let’s say that we started talking about (making the decision) at least two months ago,” Ferré told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.
“It isn’t a decision we took lightly but we had to accept it couldn’t be a normal or typical Ballon d’Or winner, and what really worried us it that it wouldn’t be fairly awarded.”
'Exceptional circumstances led to an exceptional decision'
Ferré noted that because the game’s rules have been modified during the pandemic, the award itself was impacted.
“The season started with certain rules and ended with other rules. In January and February, soccer was played in front of full stands. Then from May and June it was with empty stands,” Ferré said. “Then we had the five substitutes rule and not three. Then other changes happened in terms of the competitions, notably the final eight (eight-team knockout format) for the Champions League when it had started with home and away legs.”
With the European Championship and the Copa America postponed this year, the Champions League would have massively weighed on the award’s outcome but with a format inadvertently providing a shortcut for an eventual victor.
“The Ballon d’Or would have been decided over just three games: quarterfinal, semifinal, final,” Ferré said. “There were loads of changes [to the rules] which are totally legitimate and which we don’t contest given the worldwide health crisis, but we couldn’t consider this as a typical year. Exceptional circumstances led to an exceptional decision.”
The Kopa Trophy for the best player under 21 and the Lev Yashin award for best goalkeeper have also been canceled this year, Ferré said.
Ronaldo, who will be 36 in February, can still win an Italian league-Champions League double with Juventus this season, but he is not the only player affected by France Football's decision.
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski reached 50 club goals for the first time and can win a treble. Kylian Mbappé and Neymar can clinch quadruples for Paris Saint-Germain.
“Look at Lewandowski’s performances this year, his form has been at the level of Messi and Ronaldo,” Ferré said. “And Paris players, imagine if they win the Champions League.”
Players deliberately not informed in advance
To maintain the award’s authenticity and level of suspense, players were not informed of the decision before the announcement.
“We are independent and autonomous enough not to have to raise our little finger and ask what they think,” Ferré said. “We will take their frustration as a sign of their attachment to the award.”
If the virus impacts next season the same way, however, the award will be awarded.
“It would be less of a problem in terms of fairness, because this time around we’ve had two parts to the season: normal and not normal,” Ferré said. “Imagine that in 2021 all matches are played behind closed doors (without fans) and with five subs. We would adapt, because it would be comparable.”
To fill this year’s gap, the magazine created another trophy: the France Football Dream Team.
The magazine’s jury of 180 will elect history’s best team from a shortlist of five players in each position. The star-studded lineup will be known sometime in autumn.
Ronaldo will not be able to equal Messi this year, but he could find himself in the same team for the first time.
(FRANCE 24 with AP and AFP)
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france24--2020-07-20--EU leaders express cautious optimism over Covid-19 recovery deal

President of the European Council Charles Michel ( L ) , Germany 's Chancellor Angela Merkel ( C ) , France 's President Emmanuel Macron ( 2nd R ) and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen pose during a meeting at the first face-to-face EU summit since the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) outbreak , in Brussels , Belgium July 19 , 2020 .
Weary European Union leaders expressed cautious optimism Monday that a deal was in sight on their fourth day of wrangling over an unprecedented 1.85 trillion euro ( $ 2.1 trillion ) budget and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of walkouts , flaring tempers and insults .
It took an emotional dinner speech by European Council President Charles Michel about leaders not failing their union , French President Emmanuel Macron venting his deep frustration , and a new set of budget numbers to send the marathon summit onward .
“ There were extremely tense moments .
And there will be more that no doubt will still be difficult .
But on content , things have moved forward , '' said Macron , stressing his partnership with German Chancellor Angela Merkel .
Without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken momentous steps .
“ An extraordinary situation demands extraordinary efforts , '' Merkel said as the leaders pushed on with one of the bloc 's longest summits ever .
What was planned as a two-day summit scheduled to end Saturday was forced into two extra days by deep ideological differences among the 27 leaders .
Overall , spirits seemed to have picked up since the talks hit rock bottom Sunday night .
“ It looks more hopeful than when I thought during the night : ‘ It ’ s over , ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a target of criticism for keeping a compromise impossible .
Rutte , defending the cause of a group of five wealthy northern nations — the Netherlands , Austria , Finland , Sweden and Denmark — sought to limit costs and impose strict reform guarantees on any rescue plan for needy nations .
He came under criticism from Macron , Italy and Hungary , whose Prime Minister Viktor Orban asked why the Dutchman had such “ hate ” toward him .
Rutte took it in his stride .
“ We are not here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at each other ’ s birthday party later .
We are here because we do business for our own country .
We are all pros , ” he said .
On Sunday night , after three days of fruitless talks and with hope dimming , Michel implored leaders to overcome their fundamental divisions and agree on the budget and recovery fund .
Unanimous agreement is required .
Following discussions with leaders Monday , Michel adjusted his proposals and said he was `` convinced , that an agreement is possible.
” As he braced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte said he was “ cautiously optimistic ” after “ tough '' confrontations .
“ We are offering a response to Europe .
From this point of view , there can be no more fooling around , ” he said .
The coronavirus has sent the EU into a tailspin , killing around 135,000 of its citizens and plunging its economy into an estimated contraction of 8.3 % this year .
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez insisted the adoption of an ambitious plan was required as the health crisis continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must give an answer that gives certainty , reassurance , calm , serenity , both to companies , to workers and to all citizens in order to face this pandemic with all the guarantees , '' he said .
The bloc ’ s executive has proposed a 750 billion euro coronavirus fund , partly based on common borrowing , to be sent as loans and grants to the countries hit hardest by the virus .
That comes on top of the seven-year 1 trillion euro EU budget that leaders had been haggling over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With Macron and Merkel negotiating as the closest of partners , the traditionally powerful Franco-German alliance could not get the quarreling nations in line .
At their dinner Sunday night , the leaders mulled a proposal from the five wealthy northern nations that suggested a coronavirus recovery fund with 350 billion euros of grants and the same amount in loans .
The five EU nations — nicknamed “ the frugals ” — had long opposed any grants at all , while the EU executive had proposed 500 billion euros .
The latest compromise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grants .
A French diplomat who was not authorized to speak publicly about the negotiations said joint efforts from Merkel and Macron kept hopes of a deal alive twice during the weekend — on Saturday night at a meeting with the frugals that eased tensions , and then on Sunday when an exasperated Macron “ metaphorically slammed his fist into the table during dinner . ''
“ It helped twice relaunch negotiations in a positive way , '' the official said , clarifying an earlier account that Macron had actually struck the table @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to band together but the five richer countries in the north want strict controls on spending , while struggling southern nations like Spain and Italy say those conditions should be kept to a minimum .
The five have been pushing for labor market and pension reforms to be linked to EU handouts and a “ brake ” enabling EU nations to monitor and , if necessary , halt projects that are being paid for by the recovery fund .
Rutte and others also want a link to be made between the handout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law — a connection aimed at Poland and Hungary , countries with right-wing populist governments that many in the EU think are sliding away from democratic rule .
Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said he would not budge on that point .
“ To accept that our values are being cut , to have a Europe with values that are being cut , and the rule of law being cut : it will be a ‘ no ’ from us , '' Bettel said .

Weary European Union leaders expressed cautious optimism Monday that a deal was in sight on their fourth day of wrangling over an unprecedented 1.85 trillion euro ($2.1 trillion) budget and coronavirus recovery fund, following a weekend of walkouts, flaring tempers and insults.
President of the European Council Charles Michel (L), Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel (C), France's President Emmanuel Macron (2nd R) and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen pose during a meeting at the first face-to-face EU summit since the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Brussels, Belgium July 19, 2020.
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It took an emotional dinner speech by European Council President Charles Michel about leaders not failing their union, French President Emmanuel Macron venting his deep frustration, and a new set of budget numbers to send the marathon summit onward.
“There were extremely tense moments. And there will be more that no doubt will still be difficult. But on content, things have moved forward," said Macron, stressing his partnership with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Without Franco-German agreement, the EU has never taken momentous steps.
“An extraordinary situation demands extraordinary efforts," Merkel said as the leaders pushed on with one of the bloc's longest summits ever. What was planned as a two-day summit scheduled to end Saturday was forced into two extra days by deep ideological differences among the 27 leaders.
Overall, spirits seemed to have picked up since the talks hit rock bottom Sunday night.
“It looks more hopeful than when I thought during the night: ‘It’s over,'" said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, a target of criticism for keeping a compromise impossible.
Rutte, defending the cause of a group of five wealthy northern nations — the Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Sweden and Denmark — sought to limit costs and impose strict reform guarantees on any rescue plan for needy nations. He came under criticism from Macron, Italy and Hungary, whose Prime Minister Viktor Orban asked why the Dutchman had such “hate” toward him.
Rutte took it in his stride.
“We are not here because we are going to be visitors at each other’s birthday party later. We are here because we do business for our own country. We are all pros,” he said.
>> Read more: Rutte, the thrifty europhile holding Europe hostage
On Sunday night, after three days of fruitless talks and with hope dimming, Michel implored leaders to overcome their fundamental divisions and agree on the budget and recovery fund. Unanimous agreement is required.
Following discussions with leaders Monday, Michel adjusted his proposals and said he was "convinced, that an agreement is possible.”
00:34
As he braced for a new round of talks, Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte said he was“cautiously optimistic” after “tough" confrontations.
“We are offering a response to Europe. From this point of view, there can be no more fooling around,” he said.
The coronavirus has sent the EU into a tailspin, killing around 135,000 of its citizens and plunging its economy into an estimated contraction of 8.3% this year. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez insisted the adoption of an ambitious plan was required as the health crisis continues to threaten the continent.
“We must give an answer that gives certainty, reassurance, calm, serenity, both to companies, to workers and to all citizens in order to face this pandemic with all the guarantees," he said.
The bloc’s executive has proposed a 750 billion euro coronavirus fund, partly based on common borrowing, to be sent as loans and grants to the countries hit hardest by the virus. That comes on top of the seven-year 1 trillion euro EU budget that leaders had been haggling over for months even before the pandemic.
We need an agreement that gives us the means to overcome the crisis and prepare Europe for the future. #EUCO pic.twitter.com/rkeq0mU7Yo — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 20, 2020
With Macron and Merkel negotiating as the closest of partners, the traditionally powerful Franco-German alliance could not get the quarreling nations in line.
At their dinner Sunday night, the leaders mulled a proposal from the five wealthy northern nations that suggested a coronavirus recovery fund with 350 billion euros of grants and the same amount in loans. The five EU nations — nicknamed “the frugals” — had long opposed any grants at all, while the EU executive had proposed 500 billion euros.
The latest compromise proposal stands at 390 billion euros in grants.
A French diplomat who was not authorized to speak publicly about the negotiations said joint efforts from Merkel and Macron kept hopes of a deal alive twice during the weekend — on Saturday night at a meeting with the frugals that eased tensions, and then on Sunday when an exasperated Macron “metaphorically slammed his fist into the table during dinner."
“It helped twice relaunch negotiations in a positive way," the official said, clarifying an earlier account that Macron had actually struck the table.
All nations agree in principle they need to band together but the five richer countries in the north want strict controls on spending, while struggling southern nations like Spain and Italy say those conditions should be kept to a minimum. The five have been pushing for labor market and pension reforms to be linked to EU handouts and a “brake” enabling EU nations to monitor and, if necessary, halt projects that are being paid for by the recovery fund.
Rutte and others also want a link to be made between the handout of EU funds and the rule of law — a connection aimed at Poland and Hungary, countries with right-wing populist governments that many in the EU think are sliding away from democratic rule.
Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said he would not budge on that point.
“To accept that our values are being cut, to have a Europe with values that are being cut, and the rule of law being cut: it will be a ‘no’ from us," Bettel said.
(AP)
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france24--2020-07-20--Japanese child athletes ‘brutally beaten’ and abused, Human Rights Watch report finds

Child athletes in Japan suffer serious abuse when training for sport , Human Rights Watch said in a report released July 20 , 2020 .
A Human Rights Watch report has found child athletes in Japan often suffer physical and verbal abuse and sometimes sexual abuse when training for sport after documenting the experiences of over 800 athletes in 50 sports .
The 67-page report released on Monday titled `` I Was Hit So Many Times I Ca n't Count '' looks at Japan 's history of physical punishment in sport and includes first-hand accounts of athletes being punched , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the week that would have marked the start of the Tokyo Olympics had it not been for the global coronavirus pandemic .
The Games have now been delayed a year .
`` For decades , children in Japan have been brutally beaten and verbally abused in the name of winning trophies and medals , '' Minky Worden , director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch ( HRW ) , said in a statement .
In 2013 , the Japanese Olympic Committee ( JOC ) promised to take steps to wipe out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internal survey revealed more than 10 % of its athletes had been victims of bullying or harassment .
They also cut funding to its judo federation at the time after coaches were found to have physically abused female athletes .
HRW said , however , that not enough had been done since then and demanded organisations such as the Japan Sports Council and the JOC use the upcoming Olympics as a catalyst for change .
The JOC did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment .
The report was based on interviews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ athletes , an online survey that drew more than 757 responses and meetings with eight Japanese sports organisations .
Of the 381 survey respondents aged 24 or younger , 19 % indicated they had been hit , punched , slapped , kicked , knocked to the ground or beaten with an object while participating in sports .
These experiences occurred in at least 22 different sports , the report said .
`` The coach told me I was not serious enough with the running , so we were all called to the coach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in front of everyone .
I was bleeding , but he did not stop hitting me , '' the report quoted a professional athlete given the pseudonym of Daiki A. as saying .
Eighteen percent reported experiencing verbal abuse , and five reported experiencing sexual assault or harassment while participating in sport as children .

A Human Rights Watch report has found child athletes in Japan often suffer physical and verbal abuse and sometimes sexual abuse when training for sport after documenting the experiences of over 800 athletes in 50 sports.
Child athletes in Japan suffer serious abuse when training for sport, Human Rights Watch said in a report released July 20, 2020.
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The 67-page report released on Monday titled "I Was Hit So Many Times I Can't Count" looks at Japan's history of physical punishment in sport and includes first-hand accounts of athletes being punched, kicked and whipped.
The report comes in the week that would have marked the start of the Tokyo Olympics had it not been for the global coronavirus pandemic. The Games have now been delayed a year.
"For decades, children in Japan have been brutally beaten and verbally abused in the name of winning trophies and medals," Minky Worden, director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch (HRW), said in a statement.
Child athletes in Japan suffer physical, sexual, and verbal abuse when training for sport.
New report documents depression, suicides, physical disabilities, and lifelong trauma resulting from such abuses.
Daily Brief: https://t.co/kG3m9CpwCq pic.twitter.com/mLLu3x1zTp — Human Rights Watch (@hrw) July 20, 2020
In 2013, the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) promised to take steps to wipe out violence among its sports federations after an internal survey revealed more than 10% of its athletes had been victims of bullying or harassment.
They also cut funding to its judo federation at the time after coaches were found to have physically abused female athletes.
HRW said, however, that not enough had been done since then and demanded organisations such as the Japan Sports Council and the JOC use the upcoming Olympics as a catalyst for change.
The JOC did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
The report was based on interviews with more than 50 current and former athletes, an online survey that drew more than 757 responses and meetings with eight Japanese sports organisations.
Of the 381 survey respondents aged 24 or younger, 19% indicated they had been hit, punched, slapped, kicked, knocked to the ground or beaten with an object while participating in sports. These experiences occurred in at least 22 different sports, the report said.
"The coach told me I was not serious enough with the running, so we were all called to the coach and I was hit in the face in front of everyone. I was bleeding, but he did not stop hitting me," the report quoted a professional athlete given the pseudonym of Daiki A. as saying.
Eighteen percent reported experiencing verbal abuse, and five reported experiencing sexual assault or harassment while participating in sport as children.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-21--UK government ‘slow’ to recognise Russia meddling threat, report says

Russia meddled in the 2014 Scottish referendum and the British government failed to ask for a deep assessment of possible Kremlin-directed interference in the Brexit vote as it was slow to recognise the existence of the threat , said a long-awaited British parliamentary report released Tuesday .
`` There should have been assessment of Russian interference in the referendum .
And there must now be one , and the public must be told the results of that assessment , '' said Kevan Jones , a member of the parliament 's Intelligence and Security Committee ( ISC ) .
The report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no one sought to protect the 2016 EU referendum from Russian interference , and that British officials should have recognised the Russian threat back in 2014 .
The authors said there had been no assessment of Russian influence .
`` There has been credible open source commentary suggesting that Russia undertook influence campaigns in relation to the Scottish independence referendum in 2014 , '' the report , which was finished in March 2019 but shelved until Tuesday , said .
It said there were open source indications that Russia sought to influence the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had not sought deep evidence of meddling .
The report cast Russia as a hostile power that posed a significant threat to the United Kingdom and the West across a range of fronts , from espionage and cyber to election meddling and laundering dirty money .
`` It appears that Russia considers the UK one of its top Western intelligence targets , '' the report said .
The report , which was leaked ahead of its publication time by the Guido Fawkes website , said the British government failed to delve deeply enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brexit referendum .
The Kremlin said Russia has never interfered in another country 's electoral processes .
Russia has repeatedly denied meddling in the West , casting the United States and Britain as gripped by anti-Russian hysteria .
When discussing the EU referendum , the UK parliamentary report is heavily redacted and one classified annex was not published , but the lawmakers called for a proper investigation .
`` In response to our request for written evidence at the outset of the Inquiry , MI5 initially provided just six lines of text .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to academic studies , '' the redacted version reads .
`` It is nonetheless the Committee ’ s view that the UK Intelligence Community should produce an analogous assessment of potential Russian interference in the EU referendum and that an unclassified summary of it be published , '' the report said .
The committee cast Russia , which haemorrhaged the capital of a former superpower following the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union , as a source of corrupt money that had been welcomed in London , the world 's premier international financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money , and few questions – if any – were asked about the provenance of this considerable wealth , '' the report said .
`` The UK has been viewed as a particularly favourable destination for Russian oligarchs and their money . ''
`` It offered ideal mechanisms by which illicit finance could be recycled through what has been referred to as the London 'laundromat ' , '' the report said .

Russia meddled in the 2014 Scottish referendum and the British government failed to ask for a deep assessment of possible Kremlin-directed interference in the Brexit vote as it was slow to recognise the existence of the threat, said a long-awaited British parliamentary report released Tuesday.
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"There should have been assessment of Russian interference in the referendum. And there must now be one, and the public must be told the results of that assessment," said Kevan Jones, a member of the parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC).
The report said it was “astonishing” that no one sought to protect the 2016 EU referendum from Russian interference, and that British officials should have recognised the Russian threat back in 2014. The authors said there had been no assessment of Russian influence.
"There has been credible open source commentary suggesting that Russia undertook influence campaigns in relation to the Scottish independence referendum in 2014," the report, which was finished in March 2019 but shelved until Tuesday, said.
It said there were open source indications that Russia sought to influence the Brexit campaign but that the British government had not sought deep evidence of meddling.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is confident the referendum result was fair, his spokesman said on Tuesday.
Asked in the light of a parliamentary report into Russian influence in Britain whether Johnson thought the outcome of the referendum was fair, the spokesman said: "Yes, absolutely."
Top target for Russian intelligence
The report cast Russia as a hostile power that posed a significant threat to the United Kingdom and the West across a range of fronts, from espionage and cyber to election meddling and laundering dirty money.
"It appears that Russia considers the UK one of its top Western intelligence targets," the report said.
The report, which was leaked ahead of its publication time by the Guido Fawkes website, said the British government failed to delve deeply enough into possible Russian meddling in the 2016 Brexit referendum.
Russia denies allegations
The Kremlin said Russia has never interfered in another country's electoral processes. Russia has repeatedly denied meddling in the West, casting the United States and Britain as gripped by anti-Russian hysteria.
When discussing the EU referendum, the UK parliamentary report is heavily redacted and one classified annex was not published, but the lawmakers called for a proper investigation.
"In response to our request for written evidence at the outset of the Inquiry, MI5 initially provided just six lines of text. It stated that ***, before referring to academic studies," the redacted version reads.
"It is nonetheless the Committee’s view that the UK Intelligence Community should produce an analogous assessment of potential Russian interference in the EU referendum and that an unclassified summary of it be published," the report said.
Corrupt Russian money 'welcomed'
The committee cast Russia, which haemorrhaged the capital of a former superpower following the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union, as a source of corrupt money that had been welcomed in London, the world's premier international financial capital.
"The UK welcomed Russian money, and few questions – if any – were asked about the provenance of this considerable wealth," the report said. "The UK has been viewed as a particularly favourable destination for Russian oligarchs and their money."
"It offered ideal mechanisms by which illicit finance could be recycled through what has been referred to as the London 'laundromat'," the report said.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-20--In an historic first, Sudan’s Bashir stands trial over 1989 coup

File photo taken April 1 , 2019 of Sudan 's Omar al-Bashir , faces trial from July 21 , 2020 over the 1989 military coup that brought him to power .
Sudan 's former president Omar al-Bashir , ousted amid a popular uprising last year , went on trial Tuesday over the military coup that brought him to power more than three decades ago .
Bashir , 76 , who is already behind bars for corruption , could face the death penalty if convicted over his 1989 coup against the democratically elected government of prime minister Sadek al-Mahdi .
Dozens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , gathered outside the courthouse in the capital , Khartoum , as the former president was brought from jail and the proceedings got underway .
State TV meanwhile broadcast the judge opening the trial without showing footage of Bashir .
The trial comes as Sudan 's post-revolution transitional government has launched a series of reforms in hopes of fully rejoining the international community .
Sudan has also pledged to hand over Bashir to the International Criminal Court to face trial on war crimes and genocide charges related to the Darfur conflict , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a scorched earth campaign against a 2003 insurgency .
It is the first time in the modern history of the Arab world that the architect of a coup goes on trial , although the man dubbed the true brain behind the military overthrow , Hassan Turabi of the National Islamic Front , died in 2016 .
`` This trial will be a warning to anyone who tries to destroy the constitutional system , '' said Moaz Hadra , one of the lawyers who led the push to bring the case to court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In this way , we hope to bring an end to the era of putsches in Sudan . ''
Bashir is in the dock with 10 military personnel and six civilians , including his former vice presidents Ali Osman Taha and Bakri Hassan Saleh , as well as former ministers and governors .
They are all accused of having plotted the June 30 , 1989 coup when the army arrested Sudan 's political leaders , suspended parliament and other state bodies , closed the airport and announced the putsch on the radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the rank of general , stayed in power for 30 years before being overthrown on April 11 last year after several months of unprecedented , youth-led street demonstrations Hadra told AFP that Bashir and Saleh `` have totally refused to cooperate with the commission of enquiry , but they will be present at the court '' .
The lawyer said the accused are charged under crimes including Chapter 96 of the 1983 Penal Code , which had been abolished by Bashir , and which carries the death penalty for attempting to destroy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` this is the first time someone who launches a coup will be brought to justice '' in Sudan , which has seen three coups d'etat since its 1956 independence from Britain .
One of the 150 defence lawyers , Hashem al-Gali , charged that Bashir and the others would face `` a political trial '' being held `` in a hostile environment on the part of the judicial system against the defendants '' .
`` In fact , this trial is aimed at the Islamic movement and its sole purpose is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but we have prepared our defence and we will prove the contrary , '' Gali stressed .
He argued Bashir 's overthrow of Mahdi took place so long ago that it was beyond the statute of limitations and should therefore no longer be dealt with by a court .
Former police general Salah Mattar , who was head of internal security in 1989 , welcomed the trial , recounting how he had anticipated the overthrow .
`` I had observed movements and meetings of the National Islamic Front six months before the coup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mubarak al-Mahdi , but he ignored it , '' Mattar recounted to AFP .
`` After the coup I was chased out with six high-ranking police officers . ''
The trial takes place at a time when Sudan 's joint civilian-military transitional government is introducing a host of reforms and has relaunched peace talks with rebel groups .
Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok 's administration has recently abolished rules restricting women 's movements , outlawed the practice of female genital mutilation , scrapped a law against apostasy and relaxed a ban on alcohol .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US State Department 's list of countries that sponsor terrorism , a significant hurdle to receiving foreign aid and investment .

Sudan's former president Omar al-Bashir, ousted amid a popular uprising last year, went on trial Tuesday over the military coup that brought him to power more than three decades ago.
File photo taken April 1, 2019 of Sudan's Omar al-Bashir, faces trial from July 21, 2020 over the 1989 military coup that brought him to power.
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Bashir, 76, who is already behind bars for corruption, could face the death penalty if convicted over his 1989 coup against the democratically elected government of prime minister Sadek al-Mahdi.
Dozens of people, mostly Bashir's supporters, gathered outside the courthouse in the capital, Khartoum, as the former president was brought from jail and the proceedings got underway.
State TV meanwhile broadcast the judge opening the trial without showing footage of Bashir.
The trial comes as Sudan's post-revolution transitional government has launched a series of reforms in hopes of fully rejoining the international community.
Sudan has also pledged to hand over Bashir to the International Criminal Court to face trial on war crimes and genocide charges related to the Darfur conflict, which left 300,000 people dead and millions displaced in a scorched earth campaign against a 2003 insurgency.
It is the first time in the modern history of the Arab world that the architect of a coup goes on trial, although the man dubbed the true brain behind the military overthrow, Hassan Turabi of the National Islamic Front, died in 2016.
"This trial will be a warning to anyone who tries to destroy the constitutional system," said Moaz Hadra, one of the lawyers who led the push to bring the case to court.
"This will safeguard Sudanese democracy. In this way, we hope to bring an end to the era of putsches in Sudan."
Bashir is in the dock with 10 military personnel and six civilians, including his former vice presidents Ali Osman Taha and Bakri Hassan Saleh, as well as former ministers and governors.
They are all accused of having plotted the June 30, 1989 coup when the army arrested Sudan's political leaders, suspended parliament and other state bodies, closed the airport and announced the putsch on the radio.
Bashir, who was later elevated to the rank of general, stayed in power for 30 years before being overthrown on April 11 last year after several months of unprecedented, youth-led street demonstrations
First coup trial
Hadra told AFP that Bashir and Saleh "have totally refused to cooperate with the commission of enquiry, but they will be present at the court".
The lawyer said the accused are charged under crimes including Chapter 96 of the 1983 Penal Code, which had been abolished by Bashir, and which carries the death penalty for attempting to destroy the constitutional order.
Hadra said that "this is the first time someone who launches a coup will be brought to justice" in Sudan, which has seen three coups d'etat since its 1956 independence from Britain.
One of the 150 defence lawyers, Hashem al-Gali, charged that Bashir and the others would face "a political trial" being held "in a hostile environment on the part of the judicial system against the defendants".
"In fact, this trial is aimed at the Islamic movement and its sole purpose is to present it as a terrorist movement, but we have prepared our defence and we will prove the contrary," Gali stressed.
He argued Bashir's overthrow of Mahdi took place so long ago that it was beyond the statute of limitations and should therefore no longer be dealt with by a court.
Former police general Salah Mattar, who was head of internal security in 1989, welcomed the trial, recounting how he had anticipated the overthrow.
"I had observed movements and meetings of the National Islamic Front six months before the coup and made a report to interior minister Mubarak al-Mahdi, but he ignored it," Mattar recounted to AFP.
"After the coup I was chased out with six high-ranking police officers."
The trial takes place at a time when Sudan's joint civilian-military transitional government is introducing a host of reforms and has relaunched peace talks with rebel groups.
Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok's administration has recently abolished rules restricting women's movements, outlawed the practice of female genital mutilation, scrapped a law against apostasy and relaxed a ban on alcohol.
Khartoum hopes to soon be taken off the US State Department's list of countries that sponsor terrorism, a significant hurdle to receiving foreign aid and investment.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and AP)
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france24--2020-07-21--It’s a ‘deal’ as EU leaders end marathon summit with historic rescue package

From left , Dutch PM Mark Rutte , European Council President Charles Michel and German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the end of a marathon summit in Brussels , Belgium , on July 21 , 2020 .
European Union leaders reached a deal on a massive stimulus plan for their coronavirus-blighted economies at a pre-dawn meeting on Tuesday after a fractious summit that went through the night and into its fifth day .
Summit chairman Charles Michel tweeted `` Deal '' shortly after the 27 leaders reached agreement at a 5.15 a.m. ( 0315 GMT ) plenary session .
French President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Europe ! ''
after the deal was reached .
With masks and hygienic gel everywhere at the summit , the 27 leaders were constantly reminded of the potent medical and economic threat the virus poses to their continent , and grudgingly committed to a costly aid package for those hit hardest by Covid-19 .
To confront the biggest recession in its history , the EU will establish a €750 billion coronavirus fund , partly based on common borrowing , to be sent as loans and grants to the hardest-hit countries .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ €1 trillion EU budget that leaders had been haggling over for months even before the pandemic .
“ The consequences will be historic , ” said Macron .
“ We have created a possibility of taking up loans together , of setting up a recovery fund in the spirit of solidarity.
” German Chancellor Angela Merkel , expressed relief that Europe had shown itself equal to “ the greatest crisis in the history of the European Union ” .
With Macron and Merkel negotiating as the closest of partners , the traditionally powerful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the quarreling nations in line , with threats of a French walkout , a Hungarian veto – and fierce opposition from the Netherlands and Austria opposed to too generous a package .
“ When Germany and France stand together , they can ’ t do everything .
But if they don ’ t stand together , nothing is possible , ” said Macron , challenging anyone in the world who criticised the days of infighting to think of a comparable joint endeavor .
“ There are 27 of us around the table and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joint budget .
What other political space in the world is capable of that ?
None other , ” Macron said .
At first , Merkel and Macron wanted the grants to total €500 billion , but the so-called “ frugals ” – five wealthy northern nations led by the Netherlands – wanted a cut in such spending and strict economic reform conditions imposed .
The figure was brought down to €390 billion , while the five nations also got guarantees that grants had to be linked to economic reforms .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but we have managed to make progress , ” Macron said .
The package will send tens of billions of euros to countries hardest hit by the virus , most notably heavily indebted Spain and Italy that had lobbied hard for a major gesture from their EU partners .
Their call for solidarity was met with the fierce opposition from the “ frugals ” , who believed the stimulus package was unnecessary .
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez hailed “ a Marshall Plan for Europe ” , that would boost Spain 's suffering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six years .
But Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands denied that the advent of joint borrowing for the rescue heralded the start of what he had warned of before the talks – a “ transfer union ” with a permanent north south transfer of wealth .
“ This is a one off , there is a clear necessity for this given the excessive situation , ” he told reporters .
The frugals were also deeply apprehensive of sending money to southern countries that they see as too lax with public spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the package will come with important strings attached – a hard pill to swallow for Rome and Madrid who deeply resisted anything resembling the harsh bailouts imposed on Greece , Portugal or Ireland during the debt crisis .
The frugals were also enticed with heavy rebates on their EU contributions , furthering a practice first offered to Britain decades ago , when it was still a member .
The recovery package will complement the unprecedented monetary stimulus at the European Central Bank , that has largely succeeded in reassuring the financial markets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The stimulus payments will not be blank cheques to member states .
Spending will be closely controlled and must be devoted to policies seen as compatible with European priorities , including politically difficult economic reforms as well as the environment .
The European Commission , the EU 's executive arm , will be in charge of distributing the funds , with the 27 member states able to turn down a spending plan if a weighted majority of them decide to intervene .
The rescue package was agreed along with the EU ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 1.8 trillion euros through 2027 .
The plan was nearly upended by Hungary and Poland due to a demand that EU payouts be tied to the “ Rule of Law ” , Brussels jargon for upholding laws on freedom of speech and an independent judiciary .
Budapest and Warsaw are under fire for offending EU norms , but a proposal to tie the EU budget to those concerns was watered down to the satisfaction of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Polish counterpart .
The package now requires more technical negotiations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ratification by the European Parliament that could happen as soon as Thursday .

European Union leaders reached a deal on a massive stimulus plan for their coronavirus-blighted economies at a pre-dawn meeting on Tuesday after a fractious summit that went through the night and into its fifth day.
From left, Dutch PM Mark Rutte, European Council President Charles Michel and German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the end of a marathon summit in Brussels, Belgium, on July 21, 2020.
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Summit chairman Charles Michel tweeted "Deal" shortly after the 27 leaders reached agreement at a 5.15 a.m. (0315 GMT) plenary session.
Deal! — Charles Michel (@eucopresident) July 21, 2020
French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted "A historic day for Europe!" after the deal was reached.
With masks and hygienic gel everywhere at the summit, the 27 leaders were constantly reminded of the potent medical and economic threat the virus poses to their continent, and grudgingly committed to a costly aid package for those hit hardest by Covid-19.
To confront the biggest recession in its history, the EU will establish a €750 billion coronavirus fund, partly based on common borrowing, to be sent as loans and grants to the hardest-hit countries. That comes on top of the seven-year, €1 trillion EU budget that leaders had been haggling over for months even before the pandemic.
“The consequences will be historic,” said Macron. “We have created a possibility of taking up loans together, of setting up a recovery fund in the spirit of solidarity.”
Jour historique pour l’Europe ! — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 21, 2020
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, expressed relief that Europe had shown itself equal to “the greatest crisis in the history of the European Union”.
With Macron and Merkel negotiating as the closest of partners, the traditionally powerful Franco-German alliance struggled for days to get the quarreling nations in line, with threats of a French walkout, a Hungarian veto – and fierce opposition from the Netherlands and Austria opposed to too generous a package.
“When Germany and France stand together, they can’t do everything. But if they don’t stand together, nothing is possible,” said Macron, challenging anyone in the world who criticised the days of infighting to think of a comparable joint endeavor.
“There are 27 of us around the table and we managed to come up with a joint budget. What other political space in the world is capable of that? None other,” Macron said.
At first, Merkel and Macron wanted the grants to total €500 billion, but the so-called “frugals” – five wealthy northern nations led by the Netherlands – wanted a cut in such spending and strict economic reform conditions imposed. The figure was brought down to €390 billion, while the five nations also got guarantees that grants had to be linked to economic reforms.
“There is no such thing as perfection, but we have managed to make progress,” Macron said.
‘A Marshall Plan for Europe’
The package will send tens of billions of euros to countries hardest hit by the virus, most notably heavily indebted Spain and Italy that had lobbied hard for a major gesture from their EU partners.
Their call for solidarity was met with the fierce opposition from the “frugals”, who believed the stimulus package was unnecessary.
02:51
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez hailed “a Marshall Plan for Europe”, that would boost Spain's suffering economy by €140 billion over the next six years.
But Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands denied that the advent of joint borrowing for the rescue heralded the start of what he had warned of before the talks – a “transfer union” with a permanent north south transfer of wealth.
“This is a one off, there is a clear necessity for this given the excessive situation,” he told reporters.
The frugals were also deeply apprehensive of sending money to southern countries that they see as too lax with public spending.
>> Read more: The thrifty europhile holding Europe hostage
To meet their concerns, payouts from the package will come with important strings attached – a hard pill to swallow for Rome and Madrid who deeply resisted anything resembling the harsh bailouts imposed on Greece, Portugal or Ireland during the debt crisis.
The frugals were also enticed with heavy rebates on their EU contributions, furthering a practice first offered to Britain decades ago, when it was still a member.
‘Rule of Law’
The recovery package will complement the unprecedented monetary stimulus at the European Central Bank, that has largely succeeded in reassuring the financial markets despite a catastrophic recession in Europe.
The stimulus payments will not be blank cheques to member states.
Spending will be closely controlled and must be devoted to policies seen as compatible with European priorities, including politically difficult economic reforms as well as the environment.
The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, will be in charge of distributing the funds, with the 27 member states able to turn down a spending plan if a weighted majority of them decide to intervene.
The rescue package was agreed along with the EU’s long-term budget, bringing the agreed spending to 1.8 trillion euros through 2027.
The plan was nearly upended by Hungary and Poland due to a demand that EU payouts be tied to the “Rule of Law”, Brussels jargon for upholding laws on freedom of speech and an independent judiciary.
Budapest and Warsaw are under fire for offending EU norms, but a proposal to tie the EU budget to those concerns was watered down to the satisfaction of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Polish counterpart.
The package now requires more technical negotiations among member states as well as a ratification by the European Parliament that could happen as soon as Thursday.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-21--Troubled Trump changes his tune on mask-wearing, calls it 'patriotic' gesture

US President Donald Trump , pictured here in a face mask on July 11 , 2020 , when he visited a hospital , posted a similar image on Twitter .
US President Donald Trump promised Monday to resume televised coronavirus briefings and finally spoke out in favour of mask-wearing – a marked change of tune as polls show him headed for election disaster .
With only just over 100 days until the election against Democrat Joe Biden , Trump is scrambling to respond to public anger over his troubled months-long handling of the pandemic .
Since the virus first hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it will just `` disappear . ''
But that sunny claim is now badly strained even among loyal supporters , as they watch Covid-19 cases surge through populous Republican-led states like Florida and Texas .
More widely , polls show public trust in Trump 's management of the crisis tanking .
Throughout , he has sought to deny the seriousness of the problem , an attitude symbolized by his mockery of masks and refusal to back up doctors ' recommendations for mass use .
Trump went some way to addressing that Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a black mask with the presidential seal and a call for patriotism .
`` Many people say that it is Patriotic to wear a face mask when you ca n't socially distance , '' Trump wrote .
`` There is nobody more Patriotic than me , your favorite President ! ''
However , his tweet stopped well short of endorsing calls from some for a nationwide mandate to wear masks in public .
'Doing very well' Trump , a lifelong real estate salesman and more recently reality TV performer , says the real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing the right news .
So , likely from Tuesday he will resume the regular evening televised briefings from the White House that he gave until late April , often finding himself accused of giving confusing or misleading information .
`` I think it 's a great way to get information out to the public , '' he told reporters .
`` We 're doing very well in so many different ways . ''
Trump acknowledged a current `` big flare-up '' of cases in the country but once again distanced himself from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disease is also ravaging `` Mexico , Brazil , many countries in Europe , all over , Russia . ''
`` When you watch the news , the local news , and you see it , and it 's , it 's like all about the United States .
They never like to talk about what 's going on in the world , '' he said .
Trump said the briefings would focus on good news regarding vaccine development and therapeutics .
`` We think we 're doing very well in that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think I 'm going to be bringing in some of the great companies that are working very successfully . ''
`` We 're really coming up with some very good answers , '' he said .
Trump has great faith in his ability before the cameras .
He has transformed the image of the US presidency during his first term with unprecedented streams of press conferences , tweets and rallies .
But his previous spell as the nation 's pandemic-spokesman in chief ended badly in late April .
Trump often turned what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anxious public with information into testy exchanges with reporters in the White House briefing room .
He finally ditched the events after a PR fiasco where he mused on air about the possibility of injecting household disinfectant to combat Covid-19 .
He later said he had been speaking `` sarcastically , '' although there was no evidence of that at the time .
The president has consistently sought to play down the severity of the health crisis , hoping that voters will instead focus on what he touts as his good management of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Fox News Sunday , '' he once again claimed that the virus , which has killed more than 140,000 Americans and caused massive economic disruption , would somehow go away by itself .
`` I 'll be right eventually , '' he said .
But with the virus on the rebound , he finds himself accused of failing to lead .
Biden has opened a double-digit lead in election polls , and an ABC/Washington Post poll released Friday showed nearly two-thirds of Americans mistrust Trump on the coronavirus .
Trump , nevertheless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his chance to get back to the briefing room podium .
`` We had very successful briefings .
I was doing them and we had a lot of people watching , record numbers watching .
In the history of cable television , there 's never been anything like it , '' he said .

US President Donald Trump promised Monday to resume televised coronavirus briefings and finally spoke out in favour of mask-wearing – a marked change of tune as polls show him headed for election disaster.
US President Donald Trump, pictured here in a face mask on July 11, 2020, when he visited a hospital, posted a similar image on Twitter.
Advertising Read more
With only just over 100 days until the election against Democrat Joe Biden, Trump is scrambling to respond to public anger over his troubled months-long handling of the pandemic.
Since the virus first hit the United States, Trump has insisted that it will just "disappear."
But that sunny claim is now badly strained even among loyal supporters, as they watch Covid-19 cases surge through populous Republican-led states like Florida and Texas.
More widely, polls show public trust in Trump's management of the crisis tanking.
Throughout, he has sought to deny the seriousness of the problem, an attitude symbolized by his mockery of masks and refusal to back up doctors' recommendations for mass use.
Trump went some way to addressing that Monday with a tweeted picture of himself in a black mask with the presidential seal and a call for patriotism.
"Many people say that it is Patriotic to wear a face mask when you can't socially distance," Trump wrote. "There is nobody more Patriotic than me, your favorite President!"
However, his tweet stopped well short of endorsing calls from some for a nationwide mandate to wear masks in public.
'Doing very well'
Trump, a lifelong real estate salesman and more recently reality TV performer, says the real problem is that Americans just aren't hearing the right news.
So, likely from Tuesday he will resume the regular evening televised briefings from the White House that he gave until late April, often finding himself accused of giving confusing or misleading information.
"I think it's a great way to get information out to the public," he told reporters. "We're doing very well in so many different ways."
Trump acknowledged a current "big flare-up" of cases in the country but once again distanced himself from responsibility for the problem, underlining that the disease is also ravaging "Mexico, Brazil, many countries in Europe, all over, Russia."
"When you watch the news, the local news, and you see it, and it's, it's like all about the United States. They never like to talk about what's going on in the world," he said.
Trump said the briefings would focus on good news regarding vaccine development and therapeutics.
"We think we're doing very well in that regard," he said. "I think I'm going to be bringing in some of the great companies that are working very successfully."
"We're really coming up with some very good answers," he said.
PR fiasco
Trump has great faith in his ability before the cameras. He has transformed the image of the US presidency during his first term with unprecedented streams of press conferences, tweets and rallies.
But his previous spell as the nation's pandemic-spokesman in chief ended badly in late April.
Trump often turned what were billed as opportunities to provide the anxious public with information into testy exchanges with reporters in the White House briefing room.
He finally ditched the events after a PR fiasco where he mused on air about the possibility of injecting household disinfectant to combat Covid-19.
He later said he had been speaking "sarcastically," although there was no evidence of that at the time.
Polls slide
The president has consistently sought to play down the severity of the health crisis, hoping that voters will instead focus on what he touts as his good management of the economy.
In an interview with "Fox News Sunday," he once again claimed that the virus, which has killed more than 140,000 Americans and caused massive economic disruption, would somehow go away by itself.
"I'll be right eventually," he said.
But with the virus on the rebound, he finds himself accused of failing to lead.
Biden has opened a double-digit lead in election polls, and an ABC/Washington Post poll released Friday showed nearly two-thirds of Americans mistrust Trump on the coronavirus.
Trump, nevertheless, appears to be looking forward to his chance to get back to the briefing room podium.
"We had very successful briefings. I was doing them and we had a lot of people watching, record numbers watching. In the history of cable television, there's never been anything like it," he said.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-21--Mali opposition declares ‘truce’ as regional leaders prepare for negotiations

Protesters gathered outside a mosque on July 12 , 2020 , where influential imam Mahmoud Dicko led a prayer dedicated to the victims of the clashes in Mali .
Mali 's political opposition said it would halt protests in a `` truce '' ahead of the upcoming Eid festival , as four West African presidents prepare to travel to the country this week for mediation talks to try and resolve a deepening crisis .
President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has been locked in a standoff for weeks with the opposition June 5 Movement , and the conflict spiralled into violent clashes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dozen people dead .
Opposition figures have been tapping into a wellspring of anger over the president 's perceived failures in tackling the dire economy , corruption and an eight-year jihadist conflict .
The leaders of Ivory Coast , Ghana , Senegal and Niger will fly to the capital Bamako for talks on Thursday regarding the impasse , according to a Malian presidency official .
Nouhoun Sarr , one of the protest movement leaders , told AFP overnight Monday to Tuesday that the opposition has `` decided to observe a truce on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to allow Malians to properly prepare for and celebrate Eid . ''
`` During this period , there will be no more demonstrations .
And as you also know , we are preparing to host the heads of state , '' he said .
The Muslim Eid al-Adha festival of animal sacrifice will begin at the end of the month and lasts for several days .
Issa Kaou Djim , another protest movement figure , said the truce was a `` very responsible and wise decision '' .
But the opposition did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday evening that again called for the resignation of Keita and his regime .
Thursday 's talks follow on the heels of a mediation mission from the West Africa bloc ECOWAS , which ended Sunday after failing to reconcile the president with the opposition .
Among other grievances , many Malians are incensed at the outcome of long-delayed parliamentary elections in March and April that handed victory to Keita 's party .
But the current crisis came to a head on July 10 , after an anti-Keita rally organised by the June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key bridges in Bamako , stormed the premises of the state broadcaster , and attacked the parliament .
Three days of clashes between protesters and security forces followed , leaving 11 dead and 158 injured , according to an official tally , in the worst political unrest Mali had seen in years .
The ECOWAS mission on Sunday suggested the formation of a new unity government including opposition members , as well as the appointment of new judges to the constitutional court who could potentially re-examine disputed election results .
But the June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that does not include Keita 's departure – a demand opposition leaders have insisted on for weeks .
The movement is a disparate alliance of political , social and civil society leaders gathered around powerful imam Mahmoud Dicko , who is seen as its de facto leader , though he is not a formal member .
Mali 's neighbours and international allies are anxious to avoid a slide into chaos in the poor Sahel nation of some 20 million people .
The former French colony has been struggling to contain a jihadist insurgency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2012 before spreading to the centre .
Thousands of soldiers and civilians have died in the conflict , and hundreds of thousands of people have been driven from their homes .
Keita , who came to power in 2013 , has been under increasing pressure to stop the fighting .
But much of the current tension in Mali was sparked in April , when the constitutional court tossed out 31 results from the parliamentary elections , sparking protests .
ECOWAS mediators had also said Sunday that they would set up a technical committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talks between the warring parties may continue .
Dicko met the French , US and European Union ambassadors on Monday and told them that the way the country is run must radically change , according to participants in the meeting .

Mali's political opposition said it would halt protests in a "truce" ahead of the upcoming Eid festival, as four West African presidents prepare to travel to the country this week for mediation talks to try and resolve a deepening crisis.
Protesters gathered outside a mosque on July 12, 2020, where influential imam Mahmoud Dicko led a prayer dedicated to the victims of the clashes in Mali.
Advertising Read more
President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has been locked in a standoff for weeks with the opposition June 5 Movement, and the conflict spiralled into violent clashes earlier this month, leaving nearly a dozen people dead.
Opposition figures have been tapping into a wellspring of anger over the president's perceived failures in tackling the dire economy, corruption and an eight-year jihadist conflict.
The leaders of Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal and Niger will fly to the capital Bamako for talks on Thursday regarding the impasse, according to a Malian presidency official.
Nouhoun Sarr, one of the protest movement leaders, told AFP overnight Monday to Tuesday that the opposition has "decided to observe a truce on the subject of civil disobedience. This is to allow Malians to properly prepare for and celebrate Eid."
"During this period, there will be no more demonstrations. And as you also know, we are preparing to host the heads of state," he said.
The Muslim Eid al-Adha festival of animal sacrifice will begin at the end of the month and lasts for several days.
Issa Kaou Djim, another protest movement figure, said the truce was a "very responsible and wise decision".
But the opposition did not soften its demands, issuing a statement on Monday evening that again called for the resignation of Keita and his regime.
Violent unrest
Thursday's talks follow on the heels of a mediation mission from the West Africa bloc ECOWAS, which ended Sunday after failing to reconcile the president with the opposition.
Among other grievances, many Malians are incensed at the outcome of long-delayed parliamentary elections in March and April that handed victory to Keita's party.
But the current crisis came to a head on July 10, after an anti-Keita rally organised by the June 5 Movement turned violent.
Protesters blocked key bridges in Bamako, stormed the premises of the state broadcaster, and attacked the parliament.
Three days of clashes between protesters and security forces followed, leaving 11 dead and 158 injured, according to an official tally, in the worst political unrest Mali had seen in years.
The ECOWAS mission on Sunday suggested the formation of a new unity government including opposition members, as well as the appointment of new judges to the constitutional court who could potentially re-examine disputed election results.
But the June 5 Movement had earlier rejected any outcome that does not include Keita's departure – a demand opposition leaders have insisted on for weeks.
The movement is a disparate alliance of political, social and civil society leaders gathered around powerful imam Mahmoud Dicko, who is seen as its de facto leader, though he is not a formal member.
‘Radical change’ urged
Mali's neighbours and international allies are anxious to avoid a slide into chaos in the poor Sahel nation of some 20 million people.
The former French colony has been struggling to contain a jihadist insurgency that first emerged in the north in 2012 before spreading to the centre.
Thousands of soldiers and civilians have died in the conflict, and hundreds of thousands of people have been driven from their homes.
Keita, who came to power in 2013, has been under increasing pressure to stop the fighting.
But much of the current tension in Mali was sparked in April, when the constitutional court tossed out 31 results from the parliamentary elections, sparking protests.
ECOWAS mediators had also said Sunday that they would set up a technical committee to oversee their recommendations, suggesting that talks between the warring parties may continue.
Dicko met the French, US and European Union ambassadors on Monday and told them that the way the country is run must radically change, according to participants in the meeting.
(AFP)
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