france24--2020-07-19--Netanyahu corruption trial to resume in January 2021 amid Israeli anger over Covid-19

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's corruption trial will resume in earnest in January , with thrice-weekly evidentiary hearings set to begin then , a Jerusalem court decided July 19 , 2020 .
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's corruption trial will resume in earnest in January , with thrice-weekly evidentiary hearings set to begin then , a Jerusalem court decided Sunday .
It was not immediately clear if Netanyahu would be required to be present at each hearing , although some Israeli media reported he would .
Regardless , the grueling judicial schedule will keep Netanyahu 's legal woes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and continue to raise questions over whether he can keep serving while simultaneously standing trial .
The court 's decision came after the trial 's second hearing , a procedural deliberation that set the pace for the remainder of the proceedings .
The trial opened in May after a two-month delay prompted by concerns over the coronavirus .
Its resumption comes as Netanyahu faces mounting discontent over his handling of the health crisis and its economic fallout .
Netanyahu is charged with fraud , breach of trust and accepting bribes in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleged to have received lavish gifts from billionaire friends , and exchanged regulatory favors with media moguls for more agreeable coverage of himself and his family .
Netanyahu denies wrongdoing , painting the accusations as a media-orchestrated witch hunt pursued by a biased law enforcement system .
At the first hearing in May , just before appearing in front of the judges , Netanyahu took to a podium inside the courthouse and flanked by his party members bashed the country ’ s legal institutions in an angry tirade .
Netanyahu did not appear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the court , the judge decided that the trial 's evidentiary stage would begin in January and would take place three times a week .
Netanyahu 's lawyer also asked for a delay in the proceedings because of the virus , saying mask-wearing impeded his job of questioning witnesses .
The trial resumes as Netanyahu faces widespread anger over his government ’ s handling of the coronavirus crisis .
While the country appeared to have tamped down a first wave of infections , what ’ s emerged as a hasty and erratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even amid the rise in new cases , Netanyahu and his emergency government — formed with the goal of dealing with the crisis — appeared to neglect the numbers and moved forward with its reopening plans and other policy priorities .
It has since reimposed restrictions , including a weekend-only lockdown set to begin later this week .
Israel has seen nearly 50,000 virus cases since the outbreak began , with 406 deaths .
More than 21,000 people have recovered .
Netanyahu and his government have been criticized for a baffling , halting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has seen daily cases rise to nearly 2,000 .
It has also been slammed for its handling of the economic fallout of the crisis .
While Israel has pledged billions of dollars worth of aid , it hasn ’ t all been doled out to those in need , and a plan to give a stipend to all Israelis , even the wealthy , has been panned by the country ’ s leading economists .
The first and second round of restrictions has battered the economy and sent unemployment skyrocketing to more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the outbreak .
The anger has boiled over into protests over the past few week s that have culminated in violent clashes with police .
The protests haven ’ t been on a massive scale , partly due to restrictions on large gatherings , but the rising frustration appears to be among the greatest challenges Netanyahu has faced in his decade-plus in power .
The trial 's resumption thus comes at inopportune timing for the long-serving leader .
Netanyahu had hoped to ride on the goodwill he gained from overcoming the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial but the increasingly souring mood has dropped his approval ratings and may deny him the public backing he had hoped for .
Although his base remains firmly behind him , only a smattering of supporters turned up outside the court to voice their backing for the prime minister , far fewer than the throngs who converged at the trial 's opening .

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial will resume in earnest in January, with thrice-weekly evidentiary hearings set to begin then, a Jerusalem court decided Sunday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial will resume in earnest in January, with thrice-weekly evidentiary hearings set to begin then, a Jerusalem court decided July 19, 2020.
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It was not immediately clear if Netanyahu would be required to be present at each hearing, although some Israeli media reported he would. Regardless, the grueling judicial schedule will keep Netanyahu's legal woes firmly in the national consciousness and conversation — and continue to raise questions over whether he can keep serving while simultaneously standing trial.
The court's decision came after the trial's second hearing, a procedural deliberation that set the pace for the remainder of the proceedings.
The trial opened in May after a two-month delay prompted by concerns over the coronavirus. Its resumption comes as Netanyahu faces mounting discontent over his handling of the health crisis and its economic fallout.
Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of scandals in which he is alleged to have received lavish gifts from billionaire friends, and exchanged regulatory favors with media moguls for more agreeable coverage of himself and his family.
Netanyahu denies wrongdoing, painting the accusations as a media-orchestrated witch hunt pursued by a biased law enforcement system.
At the first hearing in May, just before appearing in front of the judges, Netanyahu took to a podium inside the courthouse and flanked by his party members bashed the country’s legal institutions in an angry tirade.
Netanyahu did not appear at Sunday’s hearing.
According to the court, the judge decided that the trial's evidentiary stage would begin in January and would take place three times a week.
Netanyahu's lawyer also asked for a delay in the proceedings because of the virus, saying mask-wearing impeded his job of questioning witnesses.
Soaring coronavirus infections
The trial resumes as Netanyahu faces widespread anger over his government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis.
While the country appeared to have tamped down a first wave of infections, what’s emerged as a hasty and erratic reopening has sent infections soaring. Yet even amid the rise in new cases, Netanyahu and his emergency government — formed with the goal of dealing with the crisis — appeared to neglect the numbers and moved forward with its reopening plans and other policy priorities.
It has since reimposed restrictions, including a weekend-only lockdown set to begin later this week.
Israel has seen nearly 50,000 virus cases since the outbreak began, with 406 deaths. More than 21,000 people have recovered.
Netanyahu and his government have been criticized for a baffling, halting response to the new wave, which has seen daily cases rise to nearly 2,000. It has also been slammed for its handling of the economic fallout of the crisis.
While Israel has pledged billions of dollars worth of aid, it hasn’t all been doled out to those in need, and a plan to give a stipend to all Israelis, even the wealthy, has been panned by the country’s leading economists. The first and second round of restrictions has battered the economy and sent unemployment skyrocketing to more than 20%, up from 3.9% before the outbreak.
The anger has boiled over into protests over the past few week s that have culminated in violent clashes with police.
The protests haven’t been on a massive scale, partly due to restrictions on large gatherings, but the rising frustration appears to be among the greatest challenges Netanyahu has faced in his decade-plus in power.
The trial's resumption thus comes at inopportune timing for the long-serving leader. Netanyahu had hoped to ride on the goodwill he gained from overcoming the first wave of infections going into his corruption trial but the increasingly souring mood has dropped his approval ratings and may deny him the public backing he had hoped for.
Although his base remains firmly behind him, only a smattering of supporters turned up outside the court to voice their backing for the prime minister, far fewer than the throngs who converged at the trial's opening.
(AP)
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france24--2020-07-19--Iran suspends execution of three men linked to protests, lawyer says

Iranian lawyer Babak Paknia speaks to AFP at his office in Tehran .
The Iranian judiciary has suspended the executions of three men linked to anti-government protests in November , one of their attorneys , Babak Paknia , said on Sunday .
Rights activists had said the death sentences were aimed at intimidating future protesters .
With hardship mounting because of U.S. sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic , Iran ’ s clerical rulers have been trying to prevent a revival of anti-government protests that took place in November last year , when hundreds are believed to have been killed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revolution .
Last Thursday , security forces fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators in the southwestern city of Behbahan , witnesses said , who were protesting against the economic problems but also the death sentences against the three men .
The Farsi hashtag `` Do n't execute '' was tweeted millions of times last week .
In a rare acknowledgement of popular dissent , government spokesman Ali Rabiei wrote a commentary in Saturday 's Iran newspaper , saying that the tweets were `` a civil action by citizens ( trying ) to be @ @ @

The Iranian judiciary has suspended the executions of three men linked to anti-government protests in November, one of their attorneys, Babak Paknia, said on Sunday.
Iranian lawyer Babak Paknia speaks to AFP at his office in Tehran.
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Rights activists had said the death sentences were aimed at intimidating future protesters.
With hardship mounting because of U.S. sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic, Iran’s clerical rulers have been trying to prevent a revival of anti-government protests that took place in November last year, when hundreds are believed to have been killed in the worst street violence since the 1979 revolution.
Last Thursday, security forces fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators in the southwestern city of Behbahan, witnesses said, who were protesting against the economic problems but also the death sentences against the three men.
The Farsi hashtag "Don't execute" was tweeted millions of times last week.
In a rare acknowledgement of popular dissent, government spokesman Ali Rabiei wrote a commentary in Saturday's Iran newspaper, saying that the tweets were "a civil action by citizens (trying) to be heard".
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-19--Fabio Quartararo wins Spanish MotoGP, first Frenchman to win a race since 1999

Petronas Yamaha SRT 's French rider Fabio Quartararo celebrates on the podium after winning the MotoGP race of the Spanish Grand Prix at the Jerez racetrack in Jerez de la Frontera on July 19 , 2020 .
Fabio Quartararo won the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday as MotoGP got its season underway amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Six-time defending MotoGP champion Marc Márquez crashed hard with four laps to go and had to be carried off the track on a stretcher with an apparent arm injury .
He started third but had to come from behind after losing control of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that put him back in the pack at the beginning of the race .
The 21-year-old Quartararo , who started from pole position after a record lap at the Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto , became the first Frenchman to win in MotoGP since Regis Laconi in 1999 .
“ This is best moment of my life for sure , '' Quartararo said .
“ It is strange , without the fans .
I would love them to be here and to cheer with them .
This race was for all of them , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” It was the first of seven races in Spain in a reduced season that was originally scheduled to start in March .
The second of the 13-races on this year 's calendar will also be run at Jerez next weekend .
The MotoGP season was set to start in March in Qatar but only Moto 2 and Moto 3 were ran as the coronavirus outbreak struck .
The race in Spain was held without fans and under strict health controls .
Races have been limited to a total of 1,200 people within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members , track crew , medics and local staff .
They all must adhere to strict social distancing rules and wear face masks whenever possible .
Everyone attending must pass a COVID-19 virus test five days before each event and remain in self-isolation until the race .
Random tests may also be carried out at the circuit .
Teams will be kept separate in small groups to reduce the risk of contagion .
Suzuki rider Alex Rins did not race after fracturing his shoulder in a crash in qualifying .

Fabio Quartararo won the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday as MotoGP got its season underway amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Petronas Yamaha SRT's French rider Fabio Quartararo celebrates on the podium after winning the MotoGP race of the Spanish Grand Prix at the Jerez racetrack in Jerez de la Frontera on July 19, 2020.
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Six-time defending MotoGP champion Marc Márquez crashed hard with four laps to go and had to be carried off the track on a stretcher with an apparent arm injury. He started third but had to come from behind after losing control of his bike and avoiding an earlier crash that put him back in the pack at the beginning of the race.
The 21-year-old Quartararo, who started from pole position after a record lap at the Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto, became the first Frenchman to win in MotoGP since Regis Laconi in 1999.
“This is best moment of my life for sure," Quartararo said. “It is strange, without the fans. I would love them to be here and to cheer with them. This race was for all of them, for all the people affected with COVID.”
It was the first of seven races in Spain in a reduced season that was originally scheduled to start in March. The second of the 13-races on this year's calendar will also be run at Jerez next weekend.
The MotoGP season was set to start in March in Qatar but only Moto 2 and Moto 3 were ran as the coronavirus outbreak struck.
The race in Spain was held without fans and under strict health controls.
Races have been limited to a total of 1,200 people within the venue, including drivers, team members, track crew, medics and local staff. They all must adhere to strict social distancing rules and wear face masks whenever possible.
Everyone attending must pass a COVID-19 virus test five days before each event and remain in self-isolation until the race. Random tests may also be carried out at the circuit.
Teams will be kept separate in small groups to reduce the risk of contagion.
Suzuki rider Alex Rins did not race after fracturing his shoulder in a crash in qualifying.
(AP)
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france24--2020-07-20--France reports up to 500 active clusters but says no sign yet of 'second wave'

French authorities have reported 400 to 500 active coronavirus outbreak clusters but there are no signs of an imminent `` second wave , '' Health Minister Olivier Veran said Monday .
Many of the current virus clusters involve abattoirs or other contained professional settings such as old age homes , he said .
Others had resulted from family reunions during the summer holidays .
`` At this point we are very far from a second wave , '' Veran told Franceinfo radio , as face masks were made mandatory in all enclosed public spaces including shops , covered markets and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to worry people excessively , but to keep them on their guard , '' he said .
Nationwide the `` R '' number indicating the viral transmission rate now stands at 1.2 , meaning 10 infected people will infect an additional 12 on average , according to the Sante Publique France health agency .
But in some areas on the French mainland , the rate is much higher , with the southern Mediterranean region including Marseille and Nice now reporting a rate of 1.55 .
Brittany in western France stood at 2.6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infect on average 26 more people .
If the `` worrying trends '' continue the government will again consider regional lockdowns or even new nationwide confinement orders , Veran said , adding : `` All options are on the table . ''
People without face masks in public spaces risk fines of €135 ( $ 155 ) , but `` we 're not going to start handing out fines for people reuniting with their families ! ''
he added .
Asked if France had enough masks to go around , having been caught @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March , Veran said he was focusing on ensuring there were stocks in vacation hotspots as well as the Paris region .
The government aims to have a stockpile of 60 million face masks by October , compared with just 3.5 million when the outbreak began .
France has been one of the hardest-hit countries in Europe , with a coronavirus death toll of over 30,150 people .

French authorities have reported 400 to 500 active coronavirus outbreak clusters but there are no signs of an imminent "second wave," Health Minister Olivier Veran said Monday.
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Many of the current virus clusters involve abattoirs or other contained professional settings such as old age homes, he said.
Others had resulted from family reunions during the summer holidays.
"At this point we are very far from a second wave," Veran told Franceinfo radio, as face masks were made mandatory in all enclosed public spaces including shops, covered markets and administrative buildings.
"The goal is not to worry people excessively, but to keep them on their guard," he said.
Nationwide the "R" number indicating the viral transmission rate now stands at 1.2, meaning 10 infected people will infect an additional 12 on average, according to the Sante Publique France health agency.
But in some areas on the French mainland, the rate is much higher, with the southern Mediterranean region including Marseille and Nice now reporting a rate of 1.55.
High infection rate in Brittany
Brittany in western France stood at 2.6 percent -- meaning 10 infected people could infect on average 26 more people.
If the "worrying trends" continue the government will again consider regional lockdowns or even new nationwide confinement orders, Veran said, adding: "All options are on the table."
People without face masks in public spaces risk fines of €135 ($155), but "we're not going to start handing out fines for people reuniting with their families!" he added.
Asked if France had enough masks to go around, having been caught woefully short when the outbreak gained speed in March, Veran said he was focusing on ensuring there were stocks in vacation hotspots as well as the Paris region.
The government aims to have a stockpile of 60 million face masks by October, compared with just 3.5 million when the outbreak began.
France has been one of the hardest-hit countries in Europe, with a coronavirus death toll of over 30,150 people.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-20--Iran executes former translator convicted of spying for CIA, Mossad

Iranians sing slogans under portraits of General Soleimani and Iraq 's Hashed al-Shaabi military network deputy chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis on January 17 , 2020 , in Tehran .
Iran on Monday executed a former translator convicted of spying for the US and Israel , including helping to locate a top Iranian general killed later by the Americans , the judiciary said .
The killing of Major General Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport in January brought decades-old arch enemies Iran and the United States to the brink of conflict .
The judiciary 's Mizan Online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` sentence was carried out on Monday morning over the charge of espionage so that the case of his betrayal to his country will be closed forever '' .
Its spokesman said earlier this month that Majd had been sentenced to death for spying on `` various security fields , especially the armed forces and the Quds Force and the whereabouts and movements of martyr General Qassem Soleimani '' .
Majd had been found guilty of receiving large sums of money from both the US Central Intelligence Agency and Israel 's Mossad , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ headed the Quds Force , the foreign operations arm of Iran 's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps .
Iran retaliated for his death by firing a volley of ballistic missiles at US troops stationed in Iraq , but US President Donald Trump opted against responding militarily .
While the attack on the western Iraqi base of Ain Al-Asad left no US soldiers dead , dozens of them suffered brain trauma .
Majd was arrested some two years ago and was not directly involved in the killing of Soleimani in Baghdad , according to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Majd had migrated to Syria in the 1970s with his family and worked as an English and Arabic language translator at a company , Mizan said .
When war broke out , he chose to stay in the country while his family left .
`` His knowledge of Arabic and familiarity with Syria 's geography made him close to Iranian military advisers and he took responsibilities in groups stationed from Idlib to Latakia , '' the site added .
Majd was not a member of the Revolutionary Guards `` but infiltrated many sensitive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ translator '' .
He was found to have been paid `` American dollars to reveal information on adviser convoys , military equipment and communication systems , commanders and their movements , important geographical areas , codes and passwords '' until he came under scrutiny and his access was downgraded .
He was arrested in October 2018 , Mizan said .
Iran said last week it had executed another man convicted of spying for the CIA by selling information about Iran 's missile programme .
Reza Asgari had worked at the defence ministry 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years ago , after which he sold `` information he had regarding our missiles '' to the CIA in exchange for large sums of money .
Iran in February handed down a similar sentence for Amir Rahimpour , another man convicted of spying for the US and conspiring to sell information on Iran 's nuclear programme .
Tehran announced in December it had arrested eight people `` linked to the CIA '' and involved in nationwide street protests that erupted the previous month over a surprise petrol price hike .
It also said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a CIA spy ring , arrested 17 suspects between March 2018 and March 2019 and sentenced some of them to death .
Trump at the time dismissed the claim as `` totally false '' .

Iran on Monday executed a former translator convicted of spying for the US and Israel, including helping to locate a top Iranian general killed later by the Americans, the judiciary said.
Iranians sing slogans under portraits of General Soleimani and Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi military network deputy chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis on January 17, 2020, in Tehran.
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The killing of Major General Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport in January brought decades-old arch enemies Iran and the United States to the brink of conflict.
The judiciary's Mizan Online website said Mahmoud Mousavi Majd's death "sentence was carried out on Monday morning over the charge of espionage so that the case of his betrayal to his country will be closed forever".
Its spokesman said earlier this month that Majd had been sentenced to death for spying on "various security fields, especially the armed forces and the Quds Force and the whereabouts and movements of martyr General Qassem Soleimani".
Majd had been found guilty of receiving large sums of money from both the US Central Intelligence Agency and Israel's Mossad, said the spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili.
Soleimani headed the Quds Force, the foreign operations arm of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Iran retaliated for his death by firing a volley of ballistic missiles at US troops stationed in Iraq, but US President Donald Trump opted against responding militarily.
While the attack on the western Iraqi base of Ain Al-Asad left no US soldiers dead, dozens of them suffered brain trauma.
Majd was arrested some two years ago and was not directly involved in the killing of Soleimani in Baghdad, according to a statement the judiciary issued in June.
Majd had migrated to Syria in the 1970s with his family and worked as an English and Arabic language translator at a company, Mizan said.
When war broke out, he chose to stay in the country while his family left.
"His knowledge of Arabic and familiarity with Syria's geography made him close to Iranian military advisers and he took responsibilities in groups stationed from Idlib to Latakia," the site added.
'American dollars'
Majd was not a member of the Revolutionary Guards "but infiltrated many sensitive areas under the cover of being a translator".
He was found to have been paid "American dollars to reveal information on adviser convoys, military equipment and communication systems, commanders and their movements, important geographical areas, codes and passwords" until he came under scrutiny and his access was downgraded.
He was arrested in October 2018, Mizan said.
Iran said last week it had executed another man convicted of spying for the CIA by selling information about Iran's missile programme.
Reza Asgari had worked at the defence ministry's aerospace division for years but retired four years ago, after which he sold "information he had regarding our missiles" to the CIA in exchange for large sums of money.
Iran in February handed down a similar sentence for Amir Rahimpour, another man convicted of spying for the US and conspiring to sell information on Iran's nuclear programme.
Tehran announced in December it had arrested eight people "linked to the CIA" and involved in nationwide street protests that erupted the previous month over a surprise petrol price hike.
It also said in July 2019 that it had dismantled a CIA spy ring, arrested 17 suspects between March 2018 and March 2019 and sentenced some of them to death.
Trump at the time dismissed the claim as "totally false".
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-20--US rapper Kanye West launches 2020 presidential bid with rambling campaign rally

Rapper Kanye West holds his first rally in support of his presidential bid in North Charleston , South Carolina , U.S. July 19 , 2020 .
US rapper Kanye West broke down in tears on Sunday at the chaotic launch of his unlikely campaign to oust Donald Trump as president in November elections .
Wearing a bullet-proof jacket marked `` security , '' West gave a rambling speech in which he claimed he had wanted his wife , Kim Kardashian , to get an abortion and that renowned American abolitionist Harriet Tubman `` never actually freed the slaves . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Carolina , how he had wanted his wife to get an abortion when she was pregnant with North , their oldest daughter .
He then revealed his father also had wanted to abort him .
`` My dad wanted to abort me .
My mom saved my life .
There would 've been no Kanye West because my dad was too busy , '' West said , bursting into tears .
He later shouted , `` I almost killed my daughter !
I almost killed my daughter ! ''
At another point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Harriet Tubman never actually freed the slaves , she just had the slaves go work for other white people . ''
West 's speech , clips of which went viral on social media , provoked confusion , anger and concern for the musician 's mental health .
The event was for registered guests only , and all attendees were required to sign a Covid-19 liability release form as well as wear masks and practice social distancing , US media reported .
Less than four months ahead of November 's election , West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 when he announced on Twitter he would challenge Trump .
He has offered virtually no details about his campaign , but the hip-hop star -- who famously wore a `` Make America Great Again '' cap to a 2018 Oval Office meeting with Trump -- said he no longer supports the president .
Reports began circulating in US media last week that West had dropped out of the race .
He missed the deadline in several states to be listed on the presidential ballot , but he is listed on the ballot @ @ @

US rapper Kanye West broke down in tears on Sunday at the chaotic launch of his unlikely campaign to oust Donald Trump as president in November elections.
Rapper Kanye West holds his first rally in support of his presidential bid in North Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. July 19, 2020.
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Wearing a bullet-proof jacket marked "security," West gave a rambling speech in which he claimed he had wanted his wife, Kim Kardashian, to get an abortion and that renowned American abolitionist Harriet Tubman "never actually freed the slaves."
West told the event in Charleston, South Carolina, how he had wanted his wife to get an abortion when she was pregnant with North, their oldest daughter. He then revealed his father also had wanted to abort him.
"My dad wanted to abort me. My mom saved my life. There would've been no Kanye West because my dad was too busy," West said, bursting into tears.
He later shouted, "I almost killed my daughter! I almost killed my daughter!"
At another point during his speech, he said, "Harriet Tubman never actually freed the slaves, she just had the slaves go work for other white people."
West's speech, clips of which went viral on social media, provoked confusion, anger and concern for the musician's mental health.
The event was for registered guests only, and all attendees were required to sign a Covid-19 liability release form as well as wear masks and practice social distancing, US media reported.
Less than four months ahead of November's election, West, 43, raised eyebrows on July 4 when he announced on Twitter he would challenge Trump.
He has offered virtually no details about his campaign, but the hip-hop star -- who famously wore a "Make America Great Again" cap to a 2018 Oval Office meeting with Trump -- said he no longer supports the president.
Reports began circulating in US media last week that West had dropped out of the race.
He missed the deadline in several states to be listed on the presidential ballot, but he is listed on the ballot in Oklahoma.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-20--EU leaders deadlocked in talks over Covid-19 recovery plan

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 .
Divided EU leaders will meet again on Monday to try to agree the terms of a huge coronavirus economic rescue package after a night of tense haggling failed to yield a breakthrough .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ talks , the 27 states still can not settle on the exact size and rules of a 750-billion-euro ( $ 860-billion ) bundle of loans and grants to help drag Europe out of a recession caused by the pandemic .
The leaders gathered briefly on Monday morning after spending the night negotiating in smaller groups in pursuit of a deal , only to adjourn until 4pm ( 1400 GMT ) .
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Monday that he believed an agreement on a recovery plan could be reached .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the future of Europe in the 21st century was at stake .
`` An agreement is possible .
An agreement is a necessity '' , Le Maire said of the the European summit negotiations in Brussels .
Over a working dinner on Sunday night , summit host and EU Council President Charles Michel made a fresh effort to win over the coalition of `` Frugals '' - the Netherlands , Sweden , Austria , Denmark and Finland - which has sought to cut the size of the package and impose strict rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fears grew that the summit would collapse without agreement , Michel suggested cutting the grant portion of the deal to 400 billion euros - down from his initial proposal of 500 billion - and raising the loan part to 350 billion , up from 250 billion .
But this was not enough for the Frugals , who insisted grants be cut to 350 billion and demanded big rises in the rebates they get on their EU contributions .
Tempers flared as frustration boiled over after a full weekend of haggling , with French @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Austrian leaders for their intransigence and threatening a walkout .
The French leader banged the table and accused Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte of behaving like former British premier David Cameron - who took a hard line at EU summits but ended up leading his country into a referendum to quit the bloc , and losing his job .
Macron , who was pushing for grants to stay at 400 billion , said he would rather walk away than make a bad deal .
In a bid to break the deadlock , Michel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday morning , which a diplomat said could be a `` route to a deal '' .
`` A plan with 390 billion in grants but smaller rebates for the Frugals , '' a European official explained .
In a promising sign for Michel 's new plan , Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz tweeted his approval .
`` Tough negotiations have just come to an end , we can be very satisfied with today 's result , '' he wrote .
Round after round of small group meetings went on all day Sunday as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chancellor Angela Merkel , tried to drag the Frugals and the more indebted - and virus-ravaged - on board for a compromise , but progress was painfully slow .
Rutte wants member states to have a veto on national economic plans by the likes of Italy and Spain , in order to oblige them to pursue reforms to borrowing and their labour and pensions markets - an effort that was angrily resisted by Italy .
Over dinner , Michel made a heartfelt speech reminding leaders of the devastating human cost of the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - and urged them to come together to complete what he called a `` mission impossible '' .
`` The question is this : are the 27 leaders , responsible for the people of Europe , capable of building European unity and trust ? ''
Michel said , according to a copy of his remarks seen by AFP .
`` Or will we present the face of a weak Europe , undermined by mistrust ? ''
Meanwhile , another obstacle emerged when Hungary 's hardline premier Viktor Orban accused Rutte of waging a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - and vowed to prevent any agreement on efforts to tie EU spending to recipient countries ' respect for EU standards .

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--UAE sends rocket to Mars in Arab world’s first space mission

An H-2A rocket carrying the Hope Probe , developed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre ( MBRSC ) in the United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) for the Mars explore , lifts off from the launching pad at Tanegashima Space Center on the southwestern island of Tanegashima , Japan , in this photo taken by Kyodo July 20 , 2020 .
The first Arab space mission to Mars blasted off Monday aboard a rocket from Japan , with the probe dubbed `` Hope '' successfully separating about an hour after liftoff .
A live feed of the launch showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as `` Al-Amal '' in Arabic , lifting off from the Tanegashima Space Centre in southern Japan at 6:58 am local time ( 2158 GMT ) .
Almost exactly one hour later , the feed showed people applauding in the Japanese control room as the probe successfully detached .
In Dubai , the launch was met with rapturous excitement , with the UAE Mars mission 's deputy project manager Sarah Al-Amiri declaring it `` an indescribable feeling '' to see the probe blasting off .
`` This is the future of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also minister of state for advanced sciences , told Dubai TV from the launch site .
The Emirati project is one of three racing to Mars , including Tianwen-1 from China and Mars 2020 from the United States , taking advantage of a period when the Earth and Mars are nearest .
In October , Mars will be a comparatively short 38.6 million miles ( 62.07 million kilometres ) from Earth , according to NASA .
`` Hope '' is expected to reach Mars 's orbit by February 2021 , marking the 50th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an alliance of seven emirates .
Unlike the two other Mars ventures scheduled for this year , it will not land on the Red Planet , but instead orbit it for a whole Martian year , or 687 days .
While the objective of the Mars mission is to provide a comprehensive image of the weather dynamics in the Red Planet 's atmosphere , the probe is a foundation for a much bigger goal -- building a human settlement on Mars within the next 100 years .
The UAE also wants the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspiration for Arab youth , in a region too often wracked by sectarian conflicts and economic crises .
On Twitter , the UAE 's government declared the probe launch a `` message of pride , hope and peace to the Arab region , in which we renew the golden age of Arab and Islamic discoveries . ''
Dubai 's Burj Khalifa , the world 's tallest skyscraper , lit up hours before liftoff with a symbolic 10-second countdown in anticipation of the launch , which was twice delayed by bad weather .
Several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- have set off for the Red Planet since the 1960s .
Many never made it that far , or failed to land .
The drive to explore Mars flagged until the confirmation less than 10 years ago that water once flowed on its surface .
Omran Sharaf , the mission 's project manager , has said the `` Hope '' probe will offer a special perspective on the elusive planet .
`` What is unique about this mission is that for the first time the scientific community around the world will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at different times of the day at different seasons , '' Sharaf told a pre-launch briefing .
`` We have a strategy to contribute to the global effort in developing technologies and science work that will help one day if humanity decides to put a human on Mars . ''
The UAE already has nine functioning satellites in orbit , with plans to launch another eight in coming years .
And in September , it sent the first Emirati into space on a mission to the International Space Station .
But the UAE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a goal of building a human settlement on Mars by 2117 .

The first Arab space mission to Mars blasted off Monday aboard a rocket from Japan, with the probe dubbed "Hope" successfully separating about an hour after liftoff.
An H-2A rocket carrying the Hope Probe, developed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the Mars explore, lifts off from the launching pad at Tanegashima Space Center on the southwestern island of Tanegashima, Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo July 20, 2020.
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A live feed of the launch showed the rocket carrying the unmanned probe, known as "Al-Amal" in Arabic, lifting off from the Tanegashima Space Centre in southern Japan at 6:58 am local time (2158 GMT).
Almost exactly one hour later, the feed showed people applauding in the Japanese control room as the probe successfully detached.
In Dubai, the launch was met with rapturous excitement, with the UAE Mars mission's deputy project manager Sarah Al-Amiri declaring it "an indescribable feeling" to see the probe blasting off.
"This is the future of the UAE," Amiri, who is also minister of state for advanced sciences, told Dubai TV from the launch site.
The Emirati project is one of three racing to Mars, including Tianwen-1 from China and Mars 2020 from the United States, taking advantage of a period when the Earth and Mars are nearest.
In October, Mars will be a comparatively short 38.6 million miles (62.07 million kilometres) from Earth, according to NASA.
"Hope" is expected to reach Mars's orbit by February 2021, marking the 50th anniversary of the unification of the UAE, an alliance of seven emirates.
Martian year of orbit
Unlike the two other Mars ventures scheduled for this year, it will not land on the Red Planet, but instead orbit it for a whole Martian year, or 687 days.
While the objective of the Mars mission is to provide a comprehensive image of the weather dynamics in the Red Planet's atmosphere, the probe is a foundation for a much bigger goal -- building a human settlement on Mars within the next 100 years.
The UAE also wants the project to serve as a source of inspiration for Arab youth, in a region too often wracked by sectarian conflicts and economic crises.
On Twitter, the UAE's government declared the probe launch a "message of pride, hope and peace to the Arab region, in which we renew the golden age of Arab and Islamic discoveries."
Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper, lit up hours before liftoff with a symbolic 10-second countdown in anticipation of the launch, which was twice delayed by bad weather.
'Holistic view'
Several dozen probes -- most of them American -- have set off for the Red Planet since the 1960s. Many never made it that far, or failed to land.
The drive to explore Mars flagged until the confirmation less than 10 years ago that water once flowed on its surface.
Omran Sharaf, the mission's project manager, has said the "Hope" probe will offer a special perspective on the elusive planet.
"What is unique about this mission is that for the first time the scientific community around the world will have an holistic view of the Martian atmosphere at different times of the day at different seasons," Sharaf told a pre-launch briefing.
"We have a strategy to contribute to the global effort in developing technologies and science work that will help one day if humanity decides to put a human on Mars."
The UAE already has nine functioning satellites in orbit, with plans to launch another eight in coming years. And in September, it sent the first Emirati into space on a mission to the International Space Station.
But the UAE's ambitions go well beyond that, with a goal of building a human settlement on Mars by 2117.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-20--Astrophysicists reveal the Universe in 3D in the largest map ever published

An image grab from a handout computer animation made available on July 19 , 2020 , by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne ( EPFL ) shows a map of the universe in 3D .
Astrophysicists on Monday published the largest-ever 3D map of the Universe , the result of an analysis of more than four million galaxies and ultra-bright , energy-packed quasars .
The efforts of hundreds of scientists from around 30 institutions worldwide have yielded a `` complete story of the expansion of the universe '' , said Will Percival of the University of Waterloo in Ontario @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than two decades ago , the researchers made `` the most accurate expansion history measurements over the widest-ever range of cosmic time '' , he said in a statement .
The map relies on the latest observations of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey ( SDSS ) , titled the `` extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey '' ( eBOSS ) , with data collected from an optical telescope in New Mexico over six years .
The infant Universe following the Big Bang is relatively well known through extensive theoretical models and observation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the nascent cosmos .
Studies of galaxies and distance measurements also contributed to a better understanding of the Universe 's expansion over billions of years .
But Kyle Dawson of the University of Utah , who unveiled the map on Monday , said the researchers tackled a `` troublesome gap in the middle 11 billion years '' .
Through `` five years of continuous observations , we have worked to fill in that gap , and we are using that information to provide some of the most substantial advances in cosmology in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Astrophysicist Jean-Paul Kneib of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ( EPFL ) in Lausanne , who initiated eBOSS in 2012 , said the goal was to produce `` the most complete 3D map of the Universe throughout the lifetime of the Universe '' .
For the first time , the researchers drew on `` celestial objects that indicate the distribution of matter in the distant Universe , galaxies that actively form stars and quasars '' .
The map shows filaments of matter and voids that more precisely define the structure of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was only 380,000 years old .
For the part of the map relating to the Universe six billion years ago , researchers observed the oldest and reddest galaxies .
For more distant eras , they concentrated on the youngest galaxies -- the blue ones .
To go back even further , they used quasars , galaxies whose supermassive black hole is extremely luminous .
The map reveals that the expansion of the Universe began to accelerate at some point and has since continued to do so .
The researchers said this seems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dark energy , an invisible element that fits into Albert Einstein 's general theory of relativity but whose origin is not yet understood .
Astrophysicists have known for years that the Universe is expanding , but have been unable to measure the rate of expansion with precision .
Comparisons of the eBOSS observations with previous studies of the early universe have revealed discrepancies in estimates of the rate of expansion .
The currently accepted rate , called the `` Hubble constant '' , is 10 percent slower than the value calculated from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Astrophysicists on Monday published the largest-ever 3D map of the Universe, the result of an analysis of more than four million galaxies and ultra-bright, energy-packed quasars.
An image grab from a handout computer animation made available on July 19, 2020, by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) shows a map of the universe in 3D.
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The efforts of hundreds of scientists from around 30 institutions worldwide have yielded a "complete story of the expansion of the universe", said Will Percival of the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada.
In the project launched more than two decades ago, the researchers made "the most accurate expansion history measurements over the widest-ever range of cosmic time", he said in a statement.
The map relies on the latest observations of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), titled the "extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey" (eBOSS), with data collected from an optical telescope in New Mexico over six years.
Astrophysicists release largest 3D map of the universe ever created - @UWaterlooAstro Prof. Will Percival is a lead researcher on the work! https://t.co/5gdUy1BSfr@WaterlooSci pic.twitter.com/iyC0ArRxti — UWaterlooAstro (@UWaterlooAstro) July 20, 2020
The infant Universe following the Big Bang is relatively well known through extensive theoretical models and observation of cosmic microwave background -- the electromagnetic radiation of the nascent cosmos.
Studies of galaxies and distance measurements also contributed to a better understanding of the Universe's expansion over billions of years.
'Troublesome gap'
But Kyle Dawson of the University of Utah, who unveiled the map on Monday, said the researchers tackled a "troublesome gap in the middle 11 billion years".
Through "five years of continuous observations, we have worked to fill in that gap, and we are using that information to provide some of the most substantial advances in cosmology in the last decade," he said.
Astrophysicist Jean-Paul Kneib of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Lausanne, who initiated eBOSS in 2012, said the goal was to produce "the most complete 3D map of the Universe throughout the lifetime of the Universe".
For the first time, the researchers drew on "celestial objects that indicate the distribution of matter in the distant Universe, galaxies that actively form stars and quasars".
The map shows filaments of matter and voids that more precisely define the structure of the Universe since its beginnings, when it was only 380,000 years old.
For the part of the map relating to the Universe six billion years ago, researchers observed the oldest and reddest galaxies.
For more distant eras, they concentrated on the youngest galaxies -- the blue ones. To go back even further, they used quasars, galaxies whose supermassive black hole is extremely luminous.
The map reveals that the expansion of the Universe began to accelerate at some point and has since continued to do so.
The researchers said this seems to be due to the presence of dark energy, an invisible element that fits into Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity but whose origin is not yet understood.
Astrophysicists have known for years that the Universe is expanding, but have been unable to measure the rate of expansion with precision.
Comparisons of the eBOSS observations with previous studies of the early universe have revealed discrepancies in estimates of the rate of expansion.
The currently accepted rate, called the "Hubble constant", is 10 percent slower than the value calculated from the distances between the galaxies closest to us.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-20--Portland mayor demands federal troops leave city after clashes with anti-racism protesters

A man is struck by a police officer during a protest against racial inequality in Portland , U.S. , July 18 , 2020 , in this still image obtained from a social media video .
U.S. President Donald Trump condemned protests in Portland , Oregon , and violence in `` Democrat-run '' cities on Sunday as his Republican administration moves to intervene in urban centres he says have lost control of anti-racism demonstrations .
Federal law enforcement officers , armed with a new executive order aimed at protecting U.S. monuments , last week started cracking down on crowds gathering in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism .
After a chaotic night in Portland that saw a police association building set on fire and officers shooting tear gas at a group of mothers protesting police brutality , Trump and Portland 's mayor traded barbs over who was to blame for the escalating unrest .
`` We are trying to help Portland , not hurt it .
Their leadership has , for months , lost control of the anarchists and agitators .
They are missing in action .
We must protect Federal property , AND OUR PEOPLE , '' Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declining polling numbers before his November 3 election against Democrat Joe Biden , Trump is making `` law and order '' a central campaign issue to appeal to critical suburban voters .
The crackdown in the liberal bastion of Portland drew widespread criticism and legal challenges as videos surfaced of camouflage-clad officers without clear identification badges using force and unmarked vehicles to arrest protesters without explanation .
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said on Sunday that it was federal authorities who were sharply escalating the situation .
`` Their presence here is actually leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Wheeler said on CNN 's `` State of the Union '' program .
`` And it 's not helping the situation at all .
They 're not wanted here .
We have n't asked them here .
In fact , we want them to leave . ''
Wheeler and Oregon Governor Kate Brown , both Democrats , called the move an abuse of power by the federal government and the state filed a lawsuit against the U.S. agencies involved .
On Sunday , Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives demanded internal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Security departments `` abused emergency authorities '' in handling the Portland protests .
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said Attorney General William Barr and Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf are working on measures the administration can take to counter the unrest .
`` You 'll see something rolled out this week as we start to go in and make sure that the communities , whether it 's Chicago or Portland , or Milwaukee , or someplace across the heartland of the country , we need to make sure our communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Sunday Morning Futures . ''
The announcement is expected to expand a new Justice Department initiative that sends federal law enforcement into cities facing protests .
In Portland on Saturday night , Melanie Damm said she saw unidentified federal officers in military-style gear fired tear gas canisters into a group of mothers , clad mostly in white , who were protesting against police brutality .
`` The level of violence escalated by these GI soldiers was such an overreaction .
You ’ re seeing moms getting tear-gassed , '' said Damm , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aren ’ t young and Antifa-looking , '' she said , referring to more militant anti-fascism protesters .
In an interview on `` Fox News Sunday , '' Trump attributed the increase in violence in cities such as Chicago and New York by saying `` they ’ re Democrat-run cities , they are liberally run .
They are stupidly run . ''
The Republican president last month threatened to send U.S. military troops to quell protests that erupted over police brutality and racism after the killing of a Black man , George Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oregon 's attorney general , Ellen Rosenblum , on Friday filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) , the U.S .
Marshals Service , and Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) , saying they had violated peoples ' civil rights by seizing and detaining them without probable cause .

U.S. President Donald Trump condemned protests in Portland, Oregon, and violence in "Democrat-run" cities on Sunday as his Republican administration moves to intervene in urban centres he says have lost control of anti-racism demonstrations.
A man is struck by a police officer during a protest against racial inequality in Portland, U.S., July 18, 2020, in this still image obtained from a social media video.
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Federal law enforcement officers, armed with a new executive order aimed at protecting U.S. monuments, last week started cracking down on crowds gathering in Portland to protest police brutality and systemic racism.
After a chaotic night in Portland that saw a police association building set on fire and officers shooting tear gas at a group of mothers protesting police brutality, Trump and Portland's mayor traded barbs over who was to blame for the escalating unrest.
"We are trying to help Portland, not hurt it. Their leadership has, for months, lost control of the anarchists and agitators. They are missing in action. We must protect Federal property, AND OUR PEOPLE," Trump wrote in a Twitter post.
Facing declining polling numbers before his November 3 election against Democrat Joe Biden, Trump is making "law and order" a central campaign issue to appeal to critical suburban voters.
The crackdown in the liberal bastion of Portland drew widespread criticism and legal challenges as videos surfaced of camouflage-clad officers without clear identification badges using force and unmarked vehicles to arrest protesters without explanation.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said on Sunday that it was federal authorities who were sharply escalating the situation.
"Their presence here is actually leading to more violence and more vandalism," Wheeler said on CNN's "State of the Union" program. "And it's not helping the situation at all. They're not wanted here. We haven't asked them here. In fact, we want them to leave."
Wheeler and Oregon Governor Kate Brown, both Democrats, called the move an abuse of power by the federal government and the state filed a lawsuit against the U.S. agencies involved.
On Sunday, Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives demanded internal investigations into whether the Justice and Homeland Security departments "abused emergency authorities" in handling the Portland protests.
Nationwide crackdown
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said Attorney General William Barr and Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf are working on measures the administration can take to counter the unrest.
"You'll see something rolled out this week as we start to go in and make sure that the communities, whether it's Chicago or Portland, or Milwaukee, or someplace across the heartland of the country, we need to make sure our communities are safe," Meadows said on "Sunday Morning Futures."
The announcement is expected to expand a new Justice Department initiative that sends federal law enforcement into cities facing protests.
Moms tear-gassed
In Portland on Saturday night, Melanie Damm said she saw unidentified federal officers in military-style gear fired tear gas canisters into a group of mothers, clad mostly in white, who were protesting against police brutality.
"The level of violence escalated by these GI soldiers was such an overreaction. You’re seeing moms getting tear-gassed," said Damm, herself a 39-year-old mom. "We aren’t young and Antifa-looking," she said, referring to more militant anti-fascism protesters.
In an interview on "Fox News Sunday," Trump attributed the increase in violence in cities such as Chicago and New York by saying "they’re Democrat-run cities, they are liberally run. They are stupidly run."
The Republican president last month threatened to send U.S. military troops to quell protests that erupted over police brutality and racism after the killing of a Black man, George Floyd, by a Minneapolis police officer.
Oregon's attorney general, Ellen Rosenblum, on Friday filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the U.S. Marshals Service, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), saying they had violated peoples' civil rights by seizing and detaining them without probable cause.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-20--French prosecutors release man questioned over Nantes cathedral fire

Firefighters are at work at the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul in Nantes on July 18 , 2020 after a fire ravaged parts of the Gothic building before being brought under control , sparking an arson investigation and leaving Catholic officials lamenting the loss of priceless historical artefacts .
French investigators on Sunday released a man who worked as a volunteer at the gothic cathedral of Nantes which was badly damaged by fire hours after he closed it up for the night .
Prosecutors launched an arson investigation after the Saturday morning blaze which they said appeared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul in Nantes , western France .
The questioning on Sunday had sought to `` clarify elements of the schedule '' of the volunteer , who had been in charge of closing up the cathedral on Friday evening , Nantes prosecutor Pierre Sennes told AFP .
He had been held as part of `` normal procedure '' and it would have been `` premature '' to suggest the man was a suspect in the case , the prosecutor said earlier .
Later Sunday , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been released `` without charge '' .
Before his release , Quentin Chabert , a lawyer for the volunteer , told reporters that for the moment `` there is nothing that directly links my client to the fire '' .
The cathedral 's rector , Hubert Champenois , said the man was a Rwandan asylum-seeker in France for several years .
The man volunteered as an altar server and would have been the last to leave the cathedral on Friday , he said .
Champenois said he had known the 39-year-old for four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I trust him like I trust all the helpers '' .
The blaze , which came just 15 months after a devastating fire tore through the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris , destroyed the Nantes congregation 's famed organ , which dated from 1621 and had survived the French revolution and World War II bombardment .
Also lost were priceless artefacts and paintings , including a work by 19th century artist Hippolyte Flandrin and stained glass windows which contained remnants of 16th century glass .
About 100 firefighters managed to save the main structure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over more than 450 years starting in 1434 .
Sennes said experts from a police unit specialised in fire investigations were at the scene Sunday , awaiting authorisation from firefighters to examine the platform which had held the grand organ .
On Saturday , Sennes said a preliminary examination had found no signs of forced entry at the cathedral .
Investigators did find three separate fire outbreak spots , at `` a substantial distance '' from one another and at opposite ends of the church , he said , which led to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the fires started near the organ which was on the first level of the cathedral and accessible by 66 steps .
Catholic official Father Francois Renaud , who oversees the cathedral , said the organ console had `` completely disappeared '' , and described it as `` an unimaginable loss '' .
`` The console of the choir organ has gone up in smoke along with the adjoining wooden choir stalls .
Original stained-glass windows behind the great organ have all shattered , '' he said .
Champenois told AFP on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the previous night and `` a very close inspection was made before it closed , like every other evening . ''
The cathedral website states that lay people , volunteers , help with administrative tasks such as account-keeping , cleaning , security , and opening and closing the cathedral on a daily basis .
The building was last hit by fire in 1972 , requiring 13 years of large-scale reconstruction .
Regional fire chief Laurent Ferlay said the latest damage was not comparable to the 1972 blaze , nor to last year 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Paris cathedral 's roof and wooden structure was destroyed , its steeple collapsed and fumes containing toxic molten lead billowed into the air .
Prime Minister Jean Castex , visiting the Nantes cathedral on Saturday , promised the state would `` play a major role '' in its reconstruction which `` I want to happen as quickly as possible . ''

French investigators on Sunday released a man who worked as a volunteer at the gothic cathedral of Nantes which was badly damaged by fire hours after he closed it up for the night.
Firefighters are at work at the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul in Nantes on July 18, 2020 after a fire ravaged parts of the Gothic building before being brought under control, sparking an arson investigation and leaving Catholic officials lamenting the loss of priceless historical artefacts.
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Prosecutors launched an arson investigation after the Saturday morning blaze which they said appeared to have broken out in three different parts of the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul in Nantes, western France.
The questioning on Sunday had sought to "clarify elements of the schedule" of the volunteer, who had been in charge of closing up the cathedral on Friday evening, Nantes prosecutor Pierre Sennes told AFP.
He had been held as part of "normal procedure" and it would have been "premature" to suggest the man was a suspect in the case, the prosecutor said earlier.
Later Sunday, however, Sennes confirmed that the man had been released "without charge".
Before his release, Quentin Chabert, a lawyer for the volunteer, told reporters that for the moment "there is nothing that directly links my client to the fire".
The cathedral's rector, Hubert Champenois, said the man was a Rwandan asylum-seeker in France for several years.
The man volunteered as an altar server and would have been the last to leave the cathedral on Friday, he said.
Champenois said he had known the 39-year-old for four or five years, adding: "I trust him like I trust all the helpers".
The blaze, which came just 15 months after a devastating fire tore through the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, destroyed the Nantes congregation's famed organ, which dated from 1621 and had survived the French revolution and World War II bombardment.
Also lost were priceless artefacts and paintings, including a work by 19th century artist Hippolyte Flandrin and stained glass windows which contained remnants of 16th century glass.
About 100 firefighters managed to save the main structure of the cathedral, which was constructed over more than 450 years starting in 1434.
Sennes said experts from a police unit specialised in fire investigations were at the scene Sunday, awaiting authorisation from firefighters to examine the platform which had held the grand organ.
'Unimaginable loss'
On Saturday, Sennes said a preliminary examination had found no signs of forced entry at the cathedral.
Investigators did find three separate fire outbreak spots, at "a substantial distance" from one another and at opposite ends of the church, he said, which led to the opening of an arson probe.
One of the fires started near the organ which was on the first level of the cathedral and accessible by 66 steps.
Catholic official Father Francois Renaud, who oversees the cathedral, said the organ console had "completely disappeared", and described it as "an unimaginable loss".
"The console of the choir organ has gone up in smoke along with the adjoining wooden choir stalls. Original stained-glass windows behind the great organ have all shattered," he said.
Champenois told AFP on Saturday that "everything was in order" the previous night and "a very close inspection was made before it closed, like every other evening."
Lay volunteers
The cathedral website states that lay people, volunteers, help with administrative tasks such as account-keeping, cleaning, security, and opening and closing the cathedral on a daily basis.
The building was last hit by fire in 1972, requiring 13 years of large-scale reconstruction.
Regional fire chief Laurent Ferlay said the latest damage was not comparable to the 1972 blaze, nor to last year's blaze at the Notre-Dame.
Much of the Paris cathedral's roof and wooden structure was destroyed, its steeple collapsed and fumes containing toxic molten lead billowed into the air.
Prime Minister Jean Castex, visiting the Nantes cathedral on Saturday, promised the state would "play a major role" in its reconstruction which "I want to happen as quickly as possible."
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-20--Brazil's indigenous leader Raoni is in 'stable' condition in hospital

Brazil 's indigenous chief Raoni Metuktire ( C ) speaks with journalists at the chamber of deputies , in Brasilia , on February 18 , 2020 .
Indigenous chief Raoni Metuktire , one of the Amazon rainforest 's best-known defenders , is `` stable '' after receiving a blood transfusion in hospital , his institute said Sunday .
Raoni , a chief of the Kayapo people in northern Brazil , has been hospitalized since Thursday for weakness , shortness of breath , poor appetite and diarrhea .
`` The chief has a stable condition after receiving a blood transfusion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institute , which is the Kayapo tribe 's official environmental protection organization , said Raoni is undergoing tests to determine the nature of the `` digestive bleeding '' suspected to be causing his discomfort .
Raoni first was transferred to the Santa Ines Hospital in the small town of Colider in Mato Grosso state .
The hospital said he was likely suffering from a digestive hemorrhage .
He was tested for COVID-19 , and the results came back negative .
Raoni , now in his 90s , then was transferred to Dois Pinheiros @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday due to weakness and a worsening condition .
Dois Pinheiros said it would run tests to see if Raoni might be suffering from a gastric ulcer , estimating that he would remain at the facility `` at least three days . ''
Known for his colorful feather headdresses and the large disc inserted in his lower lip , Raoni has traveled the world raising awareness of the threat posed by destruction of the Amazon .
The president of French NGO Planete Amazon reported that Raoni had been depressed after losing his wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who died in June following a stroke .
He `` started to be sick 15 days ago with fever , diarrhea and vomiting '' and was very dehydrated , said Gert-Peter Bruch , the association 's leader .

Indigenous chief Raoni Metuktire, one of the Amazon rainforest's best-known defenders, is "stable" after receiving a blood transfusion in hospital, his institute said Sunday.
Brazil's indigenous chief Raoni Metuktire (C) speaks with journalists at the chamber of deputies, in Brasilia, on February 18, 2020.
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Raoni, a chief of the Kayapo people in northern Brazil, has been hospitalized since Thursday for weakness, shortness of breath, poor appetite and diarrhea.
"The chief has a stable condition after receiving a blood transfusion," the Raoni Institute said.
The institute, which is the Kayapo tribe's official environmental protection organization, said Raoni is undergoing tests to determine the nature of the "digestive bleeding" suspected to be causing his discomfort.
Raoni first was transferred to the Santa Ines Hospital in the small town of Colider in Mato Grosso state. The hospital said he was likely suffering from a digestive hemorrhage.
He was tested for COVID-19, and the results came back negative.
Raoni, now in his 90s, then was transferred to Dois Pinheiros Hospital in the city of Sinop on Saturday due to weakness and a worsening condition.
Dois Pinheiros said it would run tests to see if Raoni might be suffering from a gastric ulcer, estimating that he would remain at the facility "at least three days."
Known for his colorful feather headdresses and the large disc inserted in his lower lip, Raoni has traveled the world raising awareness of the threat posed by destruction of the Amazon.
The president of French NGO Planete Amazon reported that Raoni had been depressed after losing his wife of more than 60 years, Bekwyjka, who died in June following a stroke.
He "started to be sick 15 days ago with fever, diarrhea and vomiting" and was very dehydrated, said Gert-Peter Bruch, the association's leader.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-20--Trump threatens to send US federal forces to more 'Democrat' cities

A federal law enforcement official fires tear gas at protesters during a protest against racial inequality in Portland , Oregon , U.S. , July 19 , 2020 .
Picture taken July 19 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump on Monday said he would send law enforcement to more U.S. cities , as a federal crackdown on anti-racism protests in Oregon with unmarked cars and unidentified forces angered people across the country .
Trump , a Republican , cited New York , Chicago , Philadelphia , Detroit , Baltimore and Oakland , California , as places to send federal agents , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberal Democrats . ''
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot frequently blasts Trump on Twitter .
`` We 're sending law enforcement , '' Trump told reporters at the White House .
`` We can ’ t let this happen to the cities . ''
State and local leaders in Oregon , as well as members of Congress , have called for Trump to remove Department of Homeland Security secret police forces from Portland , Oregon , after videos showed unidentified federal personnel rounding up people and whisking them away in black minivans .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breaking the law , but he is also endangering the lives of Portlanders , '' the city 's mayor , Ted Wheeler , tweeted , having previously called the federal presence `` political theater '' in an election year .
Trump , trailing in opinion polls behind Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden , in June declared himself `` president of law and order '' and threatened to send the U.S. military into cities after sometimes violent protests and looting in the aftermath of African American George Floyd 's death in police custody in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cracking down on Portland protests against police brutality and systemic racism , using tear gas to defend federal buildings and taking some activists into custody without explanation .
`` They grab a lot of people and jail the leaders .
These are anarchists , '' Trump said of federal agents sent to the historically liberal city to quell often unruly protests .
Despite a national outcry over the tactics , Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) officials on Monday said they would not back down and would not apologise .
The state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Union have sued the Trump administration for unlawfully detaining Oregon residents , and some Republicans spoke out against its tactics on Monday .
`` There is no place for federal troops or unidentified federal agents rounding people up at will , '' tweeted U.S .
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky .
The Chicago Tribune reported that Homeland Security was making plans to deploy around 150 agents in the city this week where police defending a statue clashed with protesters on Friday .
The DHS did not immediately respond to a request for additional @ @

President Donald Trump on Monday said he would send law enforcement to more U.S. cities, as a federal crackdown on anti-racism protests in Oregon with unmarked cars and unidentified forces angered people across the country.
A federal law enforcement official fires tear gas at protesters during a protest against racial inequality in Portland, Oregon, on July 19, 2020.
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Trump, a Republican, cited New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, Baltimore and Oakland, California, as places to send federal agents, noting the cities' mayors were "liberal Democrats." Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot frequently blasts Trump on Twitter.
"We're sending law enforcement," Trump told reporters at the White House. "We can’t let this happen to the cities."
State and local leaders in Oregon, as well as members of Congress, have called for Trump to remove Department of Homeland Security secret police forces from Portland, Oregon, after videos showed unidentified federal personnel rounding up people and whisking them away in black minivans.
"Not only do I believe he is breaking the law, but he is also endangering the lives of Portlanders," the city's mayor, Ted Wheeler, tweeted, having previously called the federal presence "political theater" in an election year.
Trump, trailing in opinion polls behind Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, in June declared himself "president of law and order" and threatened to send the U.S. military into cities after sometimes violent protests and looting in the aftermath of African American George Floyd's death in police custody in Minneapolis.
Federal agents last week began cracking down on Portland protests against police brutality and systemic racism, using tear gas to defend federal buildings and taking some activists into custody without explanation.
"They grab a lot of people and jail the leaders. These are anarchists," Trump said of federal agents sent to the historically liberal city to quell often unruly protests.
Despite a national outcry over the tactics, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials on Monday said they would not back down and would not apologise.
The state of Oregon and the American Civil Liberties Union have sued the Trump administration for unlawfully detaining Oregon residents, and some Republicans spoke out against its tactics on Monday.
"There is no place for federal troops or unidentified federal agents rounding people up at will," tweeted U.S. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky.
The Chicago Tribune reported that Homeland Security was making plans to deploy around 150 agents in the city this week where police defending a statue clashed with protesters on Friday.
The DHS did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-21--Argentina's president rejects creditors' latest debt counter-offer

Argentina 's President Alberto Fernandez is seeking to restructure his country 's $ 66 billion debt with a new offer to the US Securities and Exchange Commission Argentinian president Alberto Fernandez on Monday dismissed a counter-offer from three groups of creditors who said they had rejected the country 's proposal to restructure $ 66 billion of debt .
`` It is impossible for us to move from the last offer , '' Fernandez said in a statement on public television .
Argentina 's last offer , issued under foreign law , was worth 53.5 cents on the dollar , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 39 cents .
Having originally proposed a three-year grace period , the offer reduced that to one year , with repayments beginning in September 2021 .
The creditors had earlier said , `` Argentina 's offer is short of what the creditor groups can accept , '' adding that they would not meet the government 's August 4 deadline to find an agreement .
However , the creditors expressed confidence that an `` agreed solution '' could be found that ensures `` the future economic sustainability for the Argentine people . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Argentina Creditor Committee groups claim to represent a third of bondholders under foreign law involved in the restructure talks .
That gives the groups veto power over any restructure deal , experts say .
Argentina Creditor had seemed more disposed to accepting the government 's offer , but in joining the other two groups , `` they are practically in a position to block the whole deal , '' economist Sebastian Maril told AFP .
`` And if they work together , as one , it 's going to be very difficult for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The groups did not divulge any details about their counter-offer , but sources close to the negotiation said it represents 56.6 cents on the dollar with the new bonds beginning to accrue interest from September this year .
The groups said their offer would give Argentina relief to its urgent needs , access to capital markets and the legal framework necessary to attract investors .
The bonds represent roughly a fifth of the country 's $ 324 billion debt , which amounts to around 90 percent of its GDP .
In recession since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further punished by the coronavirus pandemic .
The International Monetary Fund estimates it will contract by 9.9 percent this year .
With the backing of the IMF , Fernandez has insisted that any deal with creditors be sustainable so that the country can meet its obligations over the long term .
But Argentina has been in default -- for the ninth time in its history -- since May 22 when the country missed a deadline to pay $ 500 million in interest on the debt that is subject to the current negotiation .

Argentinian president Alberto Fernandez on Monday dismissed a counter-offer from three groups of creditors who said they had rejected the country's proposal to restructure $66 billion of debt.
Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez is seeking to restructure his country's $66 billion debt with a new offer to the US Securities and Exchange Commission
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"It is impossible for us to move from the last offer," Fernandez said in a statement on public television.
Argentina's last offer, issued under foreign law, was worth 53.5 cents on the dollar, a significant improvement on its original starting position of 39 cents.
Having originally proposed a three-year grace period, the offer reduced that to one year, with repayments beginning in September 2021.
The creditors had earlier said, "Argentina's offer is short of what the creditor groups can accept," adding that they would not meet the government's August 4 deadline to find an agreement.
However, the creditors expressed confidence that an "agreed solution" could be found that ensures "the future economic sustainability for the Argentine people."
The Exchange Bondholders, Ad Hoc and Argentina Creditor Committee groups claim to represent a third of bondholders under foreign law involved in the restructure talks.
That gives the groups veto power over any restructure deal, experts say.
'Very difficult' to reach agreement
Argentina Creditor had seemed more disposed to accepting the government's offer, but in joining the other two groups, "they are practically in a position to block the whole deal," economist Sebastian Maril told AFP.
"And if they work together, as one, it's going to be very difficult for Argentina to reach an agreement."
The groups did not divulge any details about their counter-offer, but sources close to the negotiation said it represents 56.6 cents on the dollar with the new bonds beginning to accrue interest from September this year.
The groups said their offer would give Argentina relief to its urgent needs, access to capital markets and the legal framework necessary to attract investors.
The bonds represent roughly a fifth of the country's $324 billion debt, which amounts to around 90 percent of its GDP.
In recession since 2018, the Argentine economy has been further punished by the coronavirus pandemic. The International Monetary Fund estimates it will contract by 9.9 percent this year.
With the backing of the IMF, Fernandez has insisted that any deal with creditors be sustainable so that the country can meet its obligations over the long term.
But Argentina has been in default -- for the ninth time in its history -- since May 22 when the country missed a deadline to pay $500 million in interest on the debt that is subject to the current negotiation.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-20--In an historic first in Arab world, Sudan’s Bashir faces 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 autocratic president Omar al-Bashir , ousted amid a popular pro-democracy uprising last year , faces trial from 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GMT against him and 16 co-accused 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 will be in the dock with 10 military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

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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