france24--2020-07-17--US leaders wrangle over mask use as new daily Covid-19 cases soar

Protestors demonstrate outside the home of Tucson 's Mayor Regina Romero in opposition to the new mask mandate to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) in Tucson , Arizona , U.S. , June 20 , 2020 .
Colorado and Arkansas on Thursday joined a growing list of U.S. states requiring face coverings in public places to combat a surge in coronavirus infections , after Georgia 's governor moved the other way and barred such measures from being imposed at the local level .
The conflicting directives over masks came as the United States reported at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a record daily jump in known infections for the seventh time this month , according to a Reuters tally .
With announcements from Colorado Governor Jared Polis , a Democrat , and Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson , a Republican , a majority of states - 26 out of 50 - have now sided with public health experts urging that face masks be mandatory , rather than a matter of personal choice .
Both men had previously resisted obligatory mask policies but said the resurgent health crisis had left them no choice .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor , Brian Kemp , issued an executive order late on Wednesday suspending local face-mask regulations while saying residents were `` strongly encouraged '' to wear them .
Kemp , one of the first governors to ease statewide stay-at-home orders and business closures following the early stages of the U.S. outbreak , suggested that mandating masks would be too restrictive .
After Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms of Atlanta , Georgia 's capital and largest city , said she planned to defy Kemp 's order and enforce a mandatory mask ordinance she issued on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday to override her .
`` This lawsuit is on behalf of the Atlanta business owners and their hardworking employees who are struggling to survive during these difficult times , '' Kemp said in a statement .
`` I refuse to sit back and watch as disastrous policies threaten the lives and livelihoods of our citizens . ''
Hours earlier , Bottoms , who tested positive for the virus herself last week and is under quarantine , declared the city 's mask requirements `` enforceable as they stand . ''
Savannah Mayor Van @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his Georgia city on July 1 , said on Twitter that Kemp 's order demonstrated he `` does not give a damn about us . ''
`` We need to wear masks to stop the spread , '' said Ethan Padgett , 37 , a furloughed art museum worker , as he spoke through his face covering outside an East Atlanta Village coffee shop .
`` If the governor takes it more seriously , people will . ''
But Pat Walker , 54 , who was also wearing a mask , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do the right thing .
`` People should have a choice but choose wisely , '' she said .
Mounting evidence of a worsening pandemic sparked a reckoning that has cut across partisan lines on a heavily politicized issue .
`` The number of COVID-19 cases , hospitalizations and deaths are numbers that speak for themselves and indicate that we need to do more , '' Hutchinson told a news briefing .
Starting Monday in Arkansas , individuals must wear face-coverings in all indoor or outdoor settings where they are exposed to non-household @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feet or more is not possible .
Colorado 's order requires people to cover their noses and mouths in such indoor settings as office spaces and stores , as well as while congregating outside to wait for taxis , buses , ride-shares or other transportation services .
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine , also a Republican , widened his earlier directive to include more circumstances where face masks are obligatory .
New U.S. cases have been averaging around 60,000 a day , with the total number of known infections climbing to nearly 3.6 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the world .
More than 138,000 Americans have died .
The resurgence is especially worrisome across the American South and West where local officials started loosening economic and social restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the virus .
On Thursday , Florida , Texas and South Carolina each reported record numbers of COVID-19 deaths for a single day .
At least three other states hit an all-time high in new infections - Nevada with 1,447 , Mississippi with 1,230 and Oregon with 429 .
Thirty states have registered record daily increases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them more than once , and 14 states have reported a greater number of deaths for a single day in July than ever before .
Moreover , the proportion of positive test results among individuals being screened for infection - a metric called the positivity rate - has been trending ominously higher across much of the county .
Infectious disease experts consider a rate above 5 % concerning , and two dozen states have average rates above 5 % and climbing over the past two weeks , according to data collected by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to roll back reopenings aimed at pumping up local economies crushed by the coronavirus shutdowns .
New York City , once the country 's epicenter , has been slower than others to reopen and continues to see results , Mayor Bill de Blasio told a briefing on Thursday .
Only 2 % of more than 40,000 city residents screened for infection tested positive on Wednesday , he said , against a national average of 8.8 % , rising to over 20 % in some states .

Colorado and Arkansas on Thursday joined a growing list of U.S. states requiring face coverings in public places to combat a surge in coronavirus infections, after Georgia's governor moved the other way and barred such measures from being imposed at the local level.
Protestors demonstrate outside the home of Tucson's Mayor Regina Romero in opposition to the new mask mandate to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Tucson, Arizona, U.S., June 20, 2020.
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The conflicting directives over masks came as the United States reported at least 75,000 new COVID-19 cases nationwide on Thursday, a record daily jump in known infections for the seventh time this month, according to a Reuters tally.
With announcements from Colorado Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat, and Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, a majority of states - 26 out of 50 - have now sided with public health experts urging that face masks be mandatory, rather than a matter of personal choice.
Both men had previously resisted obligatory mask policies but said the resurgent health crisis had left them no choice.
Bucking the trend, Georgia's Republican governor, Brian Kemp, issued an executive order late on Wednesday suspending local face-mask regulations while saying residents were "strongly encouraged" to wear them.
Kemp, one of the first governors to ease statewide stay-at-home orders and business closures following the early stages of the U.S. outbreak, suggested that mandating masks would be too restrictive.
After Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms of Atlanta, Georgia's capital and largest city, said she planned to defy Kemp's order and enforce a mandatory mask ordinance she issued on July 8, Kemp filed suit on Thursday to override her.
"This lawsuit is on behalf of the Atlanta business owners and their hardworking employees who are struggling to survive during these difficult times," Kemp said in a statement. "I refuse to sit back and watch as disastrous policies threaten the lives and livelihoods of our citizens."
Hours earlier, Bottoms, who tested positive for the virus herself last week and is under quarantine, declared the city's mask requirements "enforceable as they stand."
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, who issued a mask mandate in his Georgia city on July 1, said on Twitter that Kemp's order demonstrated he "does not give a damn about us."
The clash drew mixed reactions from local residents.
'Choose wisely'
"We need to wear masks to stop the spread," said Ethan Padgett, 37, a furloughed art museum worker, as he spoke through his face covering outside an East Atlanta Village coffee shop. "If the governor takes it more seriously, people will."
But Pat Walker, 54, who was also wearing a mask, said the governor was just encouraging people to do the right thing.
"People should have a choice but choose wisely," she said.
Mounting evidence of a worsening pandemic sparked a reckoning that has cut across partisan lines on a heavily politicized issue.
"The number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths are numbers that speak for themselves and indicate that we need to do more," Hutchinson told a news briefing.
Starting Monday in Arkansas, individuals must wear face-coverings in all indoor or outdoor settings where they are exposed to non-household members and where social distancing of 6 feet or more is not possible.
Colorado's order requires people to cover their noses and mouths in such indoor settings as office spaces and stores, as well as while congregating outside to wait for taxis, buses, ride-shares or other transportation services.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, also a Republican, widened his earlier directive to include more circumstances where face masks are obligatory.
Signs of resurgent virus
New U.S. cases have been averaging around 60,000 a day, with the total number of known infections climbing to nearly 3.6 million - by far the highest national tally in the world. More than 138,000 Americans have died.
The resurgence is especially worrisome across the American South and West where local officials started loosening economic and social restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the virus.
On Thursday, Florida, Texas and South Carolina each reported record numbers of COVID-19 deaths for a single day. At least three other states hit an all-time high in new infections - Nevada with 1,447, Mississippi with 1,230 and Oregon with 429.
Thirty states have registered record daily increases in confirmed cases this month, many of them more than once, and 14 states have reported a greater number of deaths for a single day in July than ever before.
Moreover, the proportion of positive test results among individuals being screened for infection - a metric called the positivity rate - has been trending ominously higher across much of the county.
Infectious disease experts consider a rate above 5% concerning, and two dozen states have average rates above 5% and climbing over the past two weeks, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University.
Many states have had to roll back reopenings aimed at pumping up local economies crushed by the coronavirus shutdowns.
New York City, once the country's epicenter, has been slower than others to reopen and continues to see results, Mayor Bill de Blasio told a briefing on Thursday.
Only 2% of more than 40,000 city residents screened for infection tested positive on Wednesday, he said, against a national average of 8.8%, rising to over 20% in some states.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-17--Twitter breach ignites fears of cyberattacks ahead of US presidential election

The Twitter logo and binary cyber codes are seen in this illustration taken November 26 , 2019 .
The FBI 's San Francisco division is leading an inquiry into the Twitter hacking , it said in a statement , as more Washington lawmakers called for an accounting of how it happened .
Twitter Inc had stepped up its search for a chief information security officer in recent weeks , two people familiar with the effort told Reuters , before the breach of high-profile accounts on Wednesday raised alarms about the platform 's security .
The FBI 's San Francisco division @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hacking , it said in a statement , as more Washington lawmakers called for an accounting of how it happened .
The law enforcement agency said hackers committed cryptocurrency fraud after they seized control of the Twitter accounts of celebrities and political figures including Joe Biden , Kim Kardashian , Barack Obama and Elon Musk .
A day after the breach , it was not clear if the hackers were able to see private messages sent by account holders , although Twitter said it had no evidence that attackers had been able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement that it was continuing to lock accounts that had changed passwords in the past month , but said `` we believe only a small subset of these locked accounts were compromised . ''
Twitter declined to comment on the job search .
In a sign of how much the attack unnerved U.S. lawmakers , both Democrats and Republicans showed rare bipartisan agreement that Twitter must better explain how the security lapse happened and what it was doing to prevent future attacks .
`` This hack bodes ill for November balloting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Democrat , said in a statement scolding Twitter for `` its repeated security lapses and failure to safeguard accounts . ''
Echoing a similar sentiment , Representative Jim Jordan , the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee , asked what would happen if Twitter allowed a similar incident to occur on Nov. 2 , a day before the U.S. presidential election .
Jordan said he remained locked out of his Twitter account as of Thursday afternoon .
President Donald Trump , a prolific Twitter user , was planning to continue tweeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the attack , spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said .
The White House had been in `` constant contact with Twitter over the last 18 hours '' to keep Trump 's Twitter feed secure , she said .
Twitter said hackers had targeted employees with access to its internal systems and `` used this access to take control of many highly-visible ( including verified ) accounts . ''
Other high-profile accounts that were hacked included rapper Kanye West , Amazon.com Inc founder Jeff Bezos , investor Warren Buffett , Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Inc and Apple Inc .
The company , which has been without a security chief since December , said the hackers conducted a `` coordinated social engineering attack '' against its employees .
Several security experts researching the case said that they believed the hackers were primarily interested in prestige Twitter accounts with one- or two-digit handles , such as @ 6 .
Such accounts were among the first ones hacked Wednesday , even before the bitcoin requests , and control of handles was advertised in one forum for enthusiasts of accounts active @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the employee tool could have spread beyond that group .
In an extraordinary step , Twitter temporarily prevented many verified accounts from publishing messages as it investigated the breach .
The second and third rounds of hijacked accounts tweeted out messages telling users to send bitcoin to a given address in order to get more back .
Publicly available blockchain records show the apparent scammers received more than $ 100,000 worth of cryptocurrency .
As of Thursday , Twitter was continuing to block tweets containing the bitcoin addresses the scammers had used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a similar security feature on its Messenger service temporarily on Wednesday , but did not respond to queries on whether it had also been targeted in the attack .
Twitter 's shares fell a little more than 1 % on Thursday .
CEO Jack Dorsey said on Wednesday that it was a `` tough day '' for everyone at Twitter and pledged to share `` everything we can when we have a more complete understanding of exactly what happened '' .
Dorsey 's assurances did not assuage Washington 's concerns about social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scrutiny by critics on both the left and the right .
Frank Pallone , a Democrat who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee that oversees a sizeable portion of U.S. tech policy , said the company needed to explain how the hack took place .
The U.S. House Intelligence Committee was in touch with Twitter regarding the hack , according to a committee official who did not wish to be named .

The FBI's San Francisco division is leading an inquiry into the Twitter hacking, it said in a statement, as more Washington lawmakers called for an accounting of how it happened.
The Twitter logo and binary cyber codes are seen in this illustration taken November 26, 2019.
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Twitter Inc had stepped up its search for a chief information security officer in recent weeks, two people familiar with the effort told Reuters, before the breach of high-profile accounts on Wednesday raised alarms about the platform's security.
The FBI's San Francisco division is leading an inquiry into the Twitter hacking, it said in a statement, as more Washington lawmakers called for an accounting of how it happened.
The law enforcement agency said hackers committed cryptocurrency fraud after they seized control of the Twitter accounts of celebrities and political figures including Joe Biden, Kim Kardashian, Barack Obama and Elon Musk.
A day after the breach, it was not clear if the hackers were able to see private messages sent by account holders, although Twitter said it had no evidence that attackers had been able to access passwords.
The company said in a statement that it was continuing to lock accounts that had changed passwords in the past month, but said "we believe only a small subset of these locked accounts were compromised." Twitter declined to comment on the job search.
In a sign of how much the attack unnerved U.S. lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans showed rare bipartisan agreement that Twitter must better explain how the security lapse happened and what it was doing to prevent future attacks.
"This hack bodes ill for November balloting," U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, said in a statement scolding Twitter for "its repeated security lapses and failure to safeguard accounts."
Echoing a similar sentiment, Representative Jim Jordan, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, asked what would happen if Twitter allowed a similar incident to occur on Nov. 2, a day before the U.S. presidential election.
Jordan said he remained locked out of his Twitter account as of Thursday afternoon.
President Donald Trump, a prolific Twitter user, was planning to continue tweeting and his account was not jeopardized during the attack, spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said.
The White House had been in "constant contact with Twitter over the last 18 hours" to keep Trump's Twitter feed secure, she said.
Twitter said hackers had targeted employees with access to its internal systems and "used this access to take control of many highly-visible (including verified) accounts."
Other high-profile accounts that were hacked included rapper Kanye West, Amazon.com Inc founder Jeff Bezos, investor Warren Buffett, Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates, and the corporate accounts for Uber Technologies Inc and Apple Inc.
The company, which has been without a security chief since December, said the hackers conducted a "coordinated social engineering attack" against its employees.
Several security experts researching the case said that they believed the hackers were primarily interested in prestige Twitter accounts with one- or two-digit handles, such as @6.
Such accounts were among the first ones hacked Wednesday, even before the bitcoin requests, and control of handles was advertised in one forum for enthusiasts of accounts active since Twitter's early days.
Access to the employee tool could have spread beyond that group.
In an extraordinary step, Twitter temporarily prevented many verified accounts from publishing messages as it investigated the breach.
The second and third rounds of hijacked accounts tweeted out messages telling users to send bitcoin to a given address in order to get more back. Publicly available blockchain records show the apparent scammers received more than $100,000 worth of cryptocurrency.
As of Thursday, Twitter was continuing to block tweets containing the bitcoin addresses the scammers had used. Facebook Inc appeared to have enabled a similar security feature on its Messenger service temporarily on Wednesday, but did not respond to queries on whether it had also been targeted in the attack.
Twitter's shares fell a little more than 1% on Thursday.
CEO Jack Dorsey said on Wednesday that it was a "tough day" for everyone at Twitter and pledged to share "everything we can when we have a more complete understanding of exactly what happened".
Dorsey's assurances did not assuage Washington's concerns about social media companies, whose policies have come under scrutiny by critics on both the left and the right.
Frank Pallone, a Democrat who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee that oversees a sizeable portion of U.S. tech policy, said the company needed to explain how the hack took place.
The U.S. House Intelligence Committee was in touch with Twitter regarding the hack, according to a committee official who did not wish to be named.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-17--EU leaders open tortuous talks on controversial Covid-19 rescue plan

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen , French President Emmanuel Macron , Germany 's Chancellor Angela Merkel talk prior to their European Union Council in Brussels on July 17 , 2020 .
European leaders hunkered down on Friday for two days of tortuous negotiations to thrash out the terms of a huge post-coronavirus economic rescue plan .
Europe is in the depths of its deepest recession since World War II and the 27 leaders are seeking common ground on the terms of a 750-billion-euro stimulus package that would help lift those hardest hit by the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of richer and smaller nations led by the Netherlands and Austria that are loath to hand out cash to countries such as Spain or Italy they see as too lax with public spending .
Germany 's Chancellor Angela Merkel turned 66 on Friday and as she and her colleagues began this first in-person summit since February , they gave her gifts and exchanged elbow bumps instead of handshakes .
But the high spirits quickly turned sombre once the talks began , with leaders taking their places in an EU headquarters with reduced staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ differences are still very , very large and I can not therefore predict whether we will be able to reach an agreement this time , '' Merkel said as she arrived .
`` It would be desirable , but we also have to face reality , '' she said .
`` That is why I expect very , very difficult negotiations . ''
France 's President Emmanuel Macron described it as a `` moment of truth '' before beginning the first session of talks that diplomats described as cordial but slow .
Merkel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made up of a mixture of loans and subsidies to member states to revive economies shattered by the virus and preventive lockdowns .
`` It 's our European project which is in play here , '' Macron warned , before meeting the Netherlands ' Prime Minister Mark Rutte -- who is holding out against doling out cash without tough conditions and an effective power of veto over national rescue plans .
`` Solidarity , yes '' Rutte said of countries that do n't have the budget to stoke a meaningful recovery .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can also ask those countries to do everything possible to solve this yourselves the next time .
And you do this through reforms , in the labour market , in pensions etc . ''
After around eight hours of talks the leaders broke up to meet in smaller groups , planning to reconvene for a working dinner at 8:00pm ( 1800 GMT ) .
The summit is set to run into Saturday and perhaps even Sunday , but few here are confident of a breakthrough , despite the tight timetable , so another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One diplomat said they expected Friday to conclude with summit host Charles Michel , the president of the European Council , presenting a fresh proposal , which the leaders would consider overnight before starting again on Saturday .
Michel has tried to create a sense of momentum after previous coronavirus-era videoconferences served only to underline the leaders ' differences .
But Rutte put the chance of success this weekend at less than 50 percent .
Michel 's current draft plan foresees a recovery package , made up of 250 billion euros in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subsidies that would not have to be repaid by the recipient member states .
The Netherlands has emerged as the most likely hold out , but Rutte 's position is backed to varying degrees by fellow members of the so-called `` Frugal Four '' -- Sweden , Denmark and Austria .
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said he and his allies would reject anything leading to a `` permanent 'Transfer Union ' , '' an allusion to a centralised state comparable to the United States .
The frugals want any loans or grants to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that heavily-indebted countries carry out labour market reform .
This is furiously opposed by the south .
`` If the money is not used to invest in the future , if it does not go hand in hand with necessary reforms in states that are simply broken in their systems ... then all this will fizzle out , '' Kurz warned .
Both Michel and Merkel , whose country has just taken on the rolling six-month presidency of the EU , will struggle to broker any compromise -- one diplomat quipped that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate .
This package is in addition to the planned 1,074-billion-euro seven-year EU budget from 2021 to 2027 that the leaders must also agree in the coming weeks or months .

European leaders are to meet on Saturday for the second of two days of tortuous negotiations to thrash out the terms of a huge post-coronavirus economic rescue plan.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel talk prior to their European Union Council in Brussels on July 17, 2020.
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Europe is in the depths of its deepest recession since World War II and the 27 leaders are seeking common ground on the terms of a 750-billion-euro stimulus package that would help lift those hardest hit by the pandemic.
There is stern resistance from a group of richer and smaller nations led by the Netherlands and Austria that are loath to hand out cash to countries such as Spain or Italy they see as too lax with public spending.
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel turned 66 on Friday and as she and her colleagues began this first in-person summit since February, they gave her gifts and exchanged elbow bumps instead of handshakes.
But the high spirits quickly turned sombre once the talks began, with leaders taking their places in an EU headquarters with reduced staff and social distancing imposed.
"The differences are still very, very large and I cannot therefore predict whether we will be able to reach an agreement this time," Merkel said as she arrived.
"It would be desirable, but we also have to face reality," she said. "That is why I expect very, very difficult negotiations."
France's President Emmanuel Macron described it as a "moment of truth" before beginning the first session of talks that diplomats described as cordial but slow.
Merkel and Macron are backing a recovery package made up of a mixture of loans and subsidies to member states to revive economies shattered by the virus and preventive lockdowns.
"It's our European project which is in play here," Macron warned, before meeting the Netherlands' Prime Minister Mark Rutte -- who is holding out against doling out cash without tough conditions and an effective power of veto over national rescue plans.
Difficult days
"Solidarity, yes" Rutte said of countries that don't have the budget to stoke a meaningful recovery.
"But at the same time, you can also ask those countries to do everything possible to solve this yourselves the next time. And you do this through reforms, in the labour market, in pensions etc."
After around eight hours of talks the leaders broke up to meet in smaller groups, planning to reconvene for a working dinner at 8:00pm (1800 GMT).
The summit is set to run into Saturday and perhaps even Sunday, but few here are confident of a breakthrough, despite the tight timetable, so another summit may well follow later this month.
One diplomat said they expected Friday to conclude with summit host Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, presenting a fresh proposal, which the leaders would consider overnight before starting again on Saturday.
Michel has tried to create a sense of momentum after previous coronavirus-era videoconferences served only to underline the leaders' differences.
But Rutte put the chance of success this weekend at less than 50 percent.
Loans or grants?
Michel's current draft plan foresees a recovery package, made up of 250 billion euros in loans and 500 billion in grants and subsidies that would not have to be repaid by the recipient member states.
The Netherlands has emerged as the most likely hold out, but Rutte's position is backed to varying degrees by fellow members of the so-called "Frugal Four" -- Sweden, Denmark and Austria.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said he and his allies would reject anything leading to a "permanent 'Transfer Union'," an allusion to a centralised state comparable to the United States.
The frugals want any loans or grants to come with strict conditions attached to ensure that heavily-indebted countries carry out labour market reform. This is furiously opposed by the south.
"If the money is not used to invest in the future, if it does not go hand in hand with necessary reforms in states that are simply broken in their systems... then all this will fizzle out," Kurz warned.
Both Michel and Merkel, whose country has just taken on the rolling six-month presidency of the EU, will struggle to broker any compromise -- one diplomat quipped that they were trying to "defrugalise" the debate.
This package is in addition to the planned 1,074-billion-euro seven-year EU budget from 2021 to 2027 that the leaders must also agree in the coming weeks or months.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-17--Man of his times: Daily Beast foreign editor Christopher Dickey remembered

Foreign correspondents the world over mourn the sudden death at 68 of The Daily Beast foreign editor Christopher Dickey .
@ @ @ @ @ the four-decade career of a journalist whose work took him from Latin America to the @ @ @ @ @ home of Paris .

Man of his times: Daily Beast foreign editor Christopher Dickey remembered
31:24 Christopher Dickey © France 24
By: François PICARD Follow | Charles WENTE | Maya YATAGHENE
Foreign correspondents the world over mourn the sudden death at 68 of The Daily Beast foreign editor Christopher Dickey. François Picard's panel remembers the four-decade career of a journalist whose work took him from Latin America to the Middle East and his adopted home of Paris.


france24--2020-07-17--California ‘never should have re-opened’ as Covid-19 cases surge to record high

A sign requiring the use of masks is seen at the beach as California reported its largest number of new coronavirus infections in a single day , during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) in Del Mar , California , U.S. , July 15 , 2020 .
The number of new Covid-19 cases in California hit a record on July 14 , surpassing 10,000 – just days after its governor re-imposed lockdown orders .
The Golden State 's initial handling of the Covid-19 outbreak was successful , having suppressed coronavirus transmission with prompt confinement measures .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , leading the state to re-open too soon .
In a drastic U-turn , California Governor Gavin Newsom re-imposed a lockdown on July 12 after the state recorded around 16,000 new cases over the previous weekend .
For the second time since Covid-19 took the world by storm , restaurants , bars , cinemas , museums and zoos closed across the Golden State .
Churches , gyms and hairdressers shut in the 30 worst-affected counties .
In two especially hard-hit urban areas – Los Angeles County , the most populous in the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school year will start in August with online classes .
This constitutes an embarrassing reversal for California , the largest US state by population and the world ’ s biggest sub-national economy .
While the coronavirus tore through the tri-state area – especially New York City – in the spring , California was regarded as a great success story in holding the disease back .
One of the most internationally connected American states , California had its first recorded case – and the third in the country – on January 26 .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community transition on American soil on February 26 in Solano County , a suburban area between San Francisco and Sacramento .
In April it was discovered that the first recorded Covid-19 death in the US also took place in California , when a woman in her fifties suddenly passed away in her San Jose kitchen on February 6 .
At the outset of the epidemic , there was a sense that California might be particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus , seeing as it hosts “ large metropolitan areas , a very mobile population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of Los Angeles and San Francisco ” , noted Gerald Kominski , a professor of health policy and management at the University of California , Los Angeles .
But while coronavirus cases and deaths skyrocketed in New York from mid-March to mid-April , California recorded only gradual upticks .
On March 20 , Newsom imposed a full-blown lockdown , making California the first US state to do so , a measure that drastically reduced the virus 's transmission .
“ The governor ’ s decision to lockdown in mid-March was certainly responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of Covid-19 in California , ” said Joel Wertheim , an assistant professor of medicine at the University of California , San Diego .
“ At that time , California was a leader in this fight , and it made a difference .
We flattened the curve.
” However , the lockdown dealt a harsh blow to the Golden State ’ s hitherto booming economy , with unemployment shooting up to 16.3 percent by May – compared to 3.9 percent in February ; its lowest rate ever .
In this context , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and politicians were urging Newsom to reverse the lockdown .
Protests took place in eleven cities – including Los Angeles , San Francisco and Sacramento – on May 2 , with demonstrators chanting “ Open California !
” and “ Freedom !
” On May 7 , the governor started to loosen the restrictions , allowing some businesses to reopen while leaving some discretion to local government .
The trajectory of confirmed new cases gradually inched upwards .
But the daily figure started to increase rapidly around the time it surpassed 4,000 for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Four days later , California overtook New Jersey as the state with the second-highest number of Covid-19 cases , behind New York .
Following this month-long escalation in the virus ’ s transmission , the number of confirmed cases in California reached its current record at 10,387 on Wednesday .
That brings the figure to more than 364,000 cases there – including more than 7,000 deaths .
“ This increase that we ’ re seeing is quite dramatic , ” said Michael Cousineau , a professor of clinical preventive medicine at the University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s frightening ; I don ’ t want to go out of the house.
” “ My parents live in northern California , and they say the situation has become very tense , ” added Claire Standley , an assistant research professor at Georgetown University ’ s Center for Global Health Science and Security .
“ There was a sense earlier that people had got past the worst of it , and then complacency set in ; so now there ’ s a real fear that transmission could get out of control.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Wertheim said .
“ A lot of people thought we had done enough .
We hadn ’ t .
Unfortunately , flattening the curve was far as we got .
We never got the numbers low enough to re-open , we just stopped.
” “ The pressure from business owners and certain politicians led us to disregard the advice from public health officials , ” Wertheim continued .
“ We gave up , or at least enough of us did .
The virus came surging back , because it never left.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown in early May , a handful of counties contravened his orders and allowed some businesses to reopen .
At the same time , many surfers and sunbathers returned to the Golden State ’ s iconic shores .
One seaside town , Huntington Beach in Orange County – a wealthy , largely suburban area southeast of Los Angeles – even filed a lawsuit on April 30 against Newsom ’ s demand that it close its beaches .
Orange County grabbed the headlines again for resistance to social distancing in early June , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of public abuse for mandating the use of face masks in public .
Refusal to wear masks by a significant proportion of the population has been a key factor behind California ’ s surge in cases , Cousineau said : In the Los Angeles area before the lockdown was reimposed , “ my observation from the parks and beaches was that less than half of the people were wearing masks – and I think we ’ re seeing the consequences of it now.
” In some parts of California there is still a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state government has the right to impose rules on local authorities , Standley observed : “ There has already been pushback from some county leaders who see the renewed measures as an overreaction , and they are questioning the political structure and whether the governor has the right to make these declarations.
” Nevertheless , for the most part , in California “ there is a recognition that restrictions needed to be re-imposed ” , Standley continued .
“ Hopefully there is a moment now in which interventions can still stem the tide @ @ @ @

The number of new Covid-19 cases in California hit a record on July 14, surpassing 10,000 – just days after its governor re-imposed lockdown orders. The Golden State's initial handling of the Covid-19 outbreak was successful, having suppressed coronavirus transmission with prompt confinement measures. But experts say this early victory bred hubris, leading the state to re-open too soon.
A sign requiring the use of masks is seen at the beach as California reported its largest number of new coronavirus infections in a single day, during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Del Mar, California, U.S., July 15, 2020.
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In a drastic U-turn, California Governor Gavin Newsom re-imposed a lockdown on July 12 after the state recorded around 16,000 new cases over the previous weekend.
For the second time since Covid-19 took the world by storm, restaurants, bars, cinemas, museums and zoos closed across the Golden State. Churches, gyms and hairdressers shut in the 30 worst-affected counties. In two especially hard-hit urban areas – Los Angeles County, the most populous in the US, and San Diego County – the school year will start in August with online classes.
This constitutes an embarrassing reversal for California, the largest US state by population and the world’s biggest sub-national economy. While the coronavirus tore through the tri-state area – especially New York City – in the spring, California was regarded as a great success story in holding the disease back.
‘We flattened the curve’
One of the most internationally connected American states, California had its first recorded case – and the third in the country – on January 26. It then hosted the first known instance of community transition on American soil on February 26 in Solano County, a suburban area between San Francisco and Sacramento. In April it was discovered that the first recorded Covid-19 death in the US also took place in California, when a woman in her fifties suddenly passed away in her San Jose kitchen on February 6.
At the outset of the epidemic, there was a sense that California might be particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus, seeing as it hosts “large metropolitan areas, a very mobile population and lots of international travel, especially out of Los Angeles and San Francisco”, noted Gerald Kominski, a professor of health policy and management at the University of California, Los Angeles.
But while coronavirus cases and deaths skyrocketed in New York from mid-March to mid-April, California recorded only gradual upticks. On March 20, Newsom imposed a full-blown lockdown, making California the first US state to do so, a measure that drastically reduced the virus's transmission.
“The governor’s decision to lockdown in mid-March was certainly responsible for the early success in slowing the spread of Covid-19 in California,” said Joel Wertheim, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego. “At that time, California was a leader in this fight, and it made a difference. We flattened the curve.”
‘We gave up’
However, the lockdown dealt a harsh blow to the Golden State’s hitherto booming economy, with unemployment shooting up to 16.3 percent by May – compared to 3.9 percent in February; its lowest rate ever.
In this context, by the start of May some businesses and politicians were urging Newsom to reverse the lockdown. Protests took place in eleven cities – including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento – on May 2, with demonstrators chanting “Open California!” and “Freedom!”
On May 7, the governor started to loosen the restrictions, allowing some businesses to reopen while leaving some discretion to local government. The trajectory of confirmed new cases gradually inched upwards. But the daily figure started to increase rapidly around the time it surpassed 4,000 for the first time on June 17. Four days later, California overtook New Jersey as the state with the second-highest number of Covid-19 cases, behind New York.
Following this month-long escalation in the virus’s transmission, the number of confirmed cases in California reached its current record at 10,387 on Wednesday. That brings the figure to more than 364,000 cases there – including more than 7,000 deaths.
“This increase that we’re seeing is quite dramatic,” said Michael Cousineau, a professor of clinical preventive medicine at the University of Southern California. “It’s frightening; I don’t want to go out of the house.”
“My parents live in northern California, and they say the situation has become very tense,” added Claire Standley, an assistant research professor at Georgetown University’s Center for Global Health Science and Security. “There was a sense earlier that people had got past the worst of it, and then complacency set in; so now there’s a real fear that transmission could get out of control.”
“We never should have re-opened,” Wertheim said. “A lot of people thought we had done enough. We hadn’t. Unfortunately, flattening the curve was far as we got. We never got the numbers low enough to re-open, we just stopped.”
“The pressure from business owners and certain politicians led us to disregard the advice from public health officials,” Wertheim continued. “We gave up, or at least enough of us did. The virus came surging back, because it never left.”
‘Pushback’ from some local authorities
Before Newsom announced a rollback of the lockdown in early May, a handful of counties contravened his orders and allowed some businesses to reopen. At the same time, many surfers and sunbathers returned to the Golden State’s iconic shores. One seaside town, Huntington Beach in Orange County – a wealthy, largely suburban area southeast of Los Angeles – even filed a lawsuit on April 30 against Newsom’s demand that it close its beaches.
Orange County grabbed the headlines again for resistance to social distancing in early June, when its chief medical officer resigned after weeks of public abuse for mandating the use of face masks in public.
Refusal to wear masks by a significant proportion of the population has been a key factor behind California’s surge in cases, Cousineau said: In the Los Angeles area before the lockdown was reimposed, “my observation from the parks and beaches was that less than half of the people were wearing masks – and I think we’re seeing the consequences of it now.”
In some parts of California there is still a fraught debate over whether or not the state government has the right to impose rules on local authorities, Standley observed: “There has already been pushback from some county leaders who see the renewed measures as an overreaction, and they are questioning the political structure and whether the governor has the right to make these declarations.”
Nevertheless, for the most part, in California “there is a recognition that restrictions needed to be re-imposed”, Standley continued. “Hopefully there is a moment now in which interventions can still stem the tide of transmission.”
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france24--2020-07-17--From Iraq's Mount Sinjar to eastern France: The price of exile for Yazidi women

During 2019 , dozens of Yazidi women and their children arrived in France in small groups to start a new life in safety .
In their home country of Iraq or Syria , the Yazidis were the prey of the Islamic State group and suffered massacres , kidnappings , rapes and sexual slavery .
How to overcome such trauma ?
How to start again in a foreign country with an unfamiliar culture and language ?
FRANCE 24 followed the first steps in France of these women and children who have been to hell and back .
In the course of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of around 100 women and their children , were welcomed in France as part of a special programme set up by the Élysée presidential palace .
Thanks to the activism of Nadia Murad , a former sex slave of the Islamic State ( IS ) group and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate , these women and children were installed in all four corners of France in a bid to help them rebuild their lives .
> > Watch our interview with Nadia Murad : 'These criminals must be brought to justice' For eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these women – Soma , Gulan and Mina – as they began rebuilding their lives in eastern France .
Originally from Mount Sinjar in northern Iraq , they have survived the horrors of the IS group and are widowed after losing their husbands .
Some of them have also lost their fathers or brothers in horrendous circumstances , while some of their relatives are still sex slaves of the Islamists in Iraq or Syria .
Sometimes they have no news from these loved ones .
> > Watch our Revisited show : Iraq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Like the other Yazidi survivors , Soma , Gulan and Mina are illiterate and come from rural families .
Now installed in the east of France , they are supported by a team from the NGO Habitat et Humanisme ( Habitat and Humanism ) who help them with administrative procedures and with questions about the new culture they are discovering .
For security reasons , we were not able to film these women 's faces or their children .
We have also changed their names .

During 2019, dozens of Yazidi women and their children arrived in France in small groups to start a new life in safety. In their home country of Iraq or Syria, the Yazidis were the prey of the Islamic State group and suffered massacres, kidnappings, rapes and sexual slavery. How to overcome such trauma? How to start again in a foreign country with an unfamiliar culture and language? FRANCE 24 followed the first steps in France of these women and children who have been to hell and back.
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In the course of 2019, some 500 Yazidis, comprised of around 100 women and their children, were welcomed in France as part of a special programme set up by the Élysée presidential palace. Thanks to the activism of Nadia Murad, a former sex slave of the Islamic State (IS) group and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, these women and children were installed in all four corners of France in a bid to help them rebuild their lives.
>> Watch our interview with Nadia Murad: 'These criminals must be brought to justice'
For eight months, our reporters followed several of these women – Soma, Gulan and Mina – as they began rebuilding their lives in eastern France. Originally from Mount Sinjar in northern Iraq, they have survived the horrors of the IS group and are widowed after losing their husbands. Some of them have also lost their fathers or brothers in horrendous circumstances, while some of their relatives are still sex slaves of the Islamists in Iraq or Syria. Sometimes they have no news from these loved ones.
>> Watch our Revisited show: Iraq's Yazidis still haunted by Sinjar massacres
Like the other Yazidi survivors, Soma, Gulan and Mina are illiterate and come from rural families. Now installed in the east of France, they are supported by a team from the NGO Habitat et Humanisme (Habitat and Humanism) who help them with administrative procedures and with questions about the new culture they are discovering.
For security reasons, we were not able to film these women's faces or their children. We have also changed their names.
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france24--2020-07-17--Ivory Coast PM Coulibaly laid to rest after shock death

The coffin of Ivory Coast 's late Prime Minister , Amadou Gon Coulibaly , is carried at the Felix Houphouet Boigny International Airport during his transfer to his native village , in Abidjan , Ivory Coast July 15 , 2020 .
Ivory Coast 's prime minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly was buried in a private ceremony on Friday at the end of week-long national mourning triggered by a death that stunned the West African country .
Gon Coulibaly 's sudden death of a heart attack on July 8 has deprived 78-year-old President Alassane Ouattara of an anointed successor less than four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buried in the family tomb in his home town of Korhogo , the main city in the country 's north , a source close to his family said .
Funeral prayers were said earlier in the city 's main mosque , with several hundred mourners , including Ouattara , in attendance .
Gon Coulibaly , 61 , died shortly after returning from France , where he had undergone long treatment for cardiac problems .
Nicknamed the `` Lion of Korhogo , '' he was highly popular in the city of his birth , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mayor for a long time .
`` This is the funeral of a chief .
We turned out in large numbers today .
We had to be here , after everything that this man did for his country . ''
Local people said infrastructure funds had flowed into Korhogo during his time in office .
`` He tarmacked the main roads and the neighbourhoods , installed electricity throughout the city and the villages outside , gave us piped water and built schools and health centres , '' said the local mayor , Lazani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name .
`` He changed the face of the city -- he achieved more in 10 years than people did in the previous 40 . ''
The ruling RHDP party is now expected to step up deliberations on how to fill the gap left by Gon Coulibaly for the presidential vote , due on October 31 .
One of the world 's major coffee and cocoa producers , the country still carries the scars of a brief civil war that erupted nearly a decade ago .
In 2011 , Ouattara ousted then-president Laurent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after losing elections .
The months-long standoff claimed 3,000 lives .
In March , Ouattara announced to much surprise that he would not seek a third term in office , and then named Gon Coulibaly as his desired successor .
No clear successor to Gon Coulibaly has so far emerged within RHDP ranks , stoking speculation that Ouattara may change his mind .

Ivory Coast's prime minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly was buried in a private ceremony on Friday at the end of week-long national mourning triggered by a death that stunned the West African country.
The coffin of Ivory Coast's late Prime Minister, Amadou Gon Coulibaly, is carried at the Felix Houphouet Boigny International Airport during his transfer to his native village, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast July 15, 2020.
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Gon Coulibaly's sudden death of a heart attack on July 8 has deprived 78-year-old President Alassane Ouattara of an anointed successor less than four months before key elections.
He was buried in the family tomb in his home town of Korhogo, the main city in the country's north, a source close to his family said.
Funeral prayers were said earlier in the city's main mosque, with several hundred mourners, including Ouattara, in attendance.
Gon Coulibaly, 61, died shortly after returning from France, where he had undergone long treatment for cardiac problems.
Nicknamed the "Lion of Korhogo," he was highly popular in the city of his birth, where he was also an MP and mayor for a long time.
Gon Coulibaly "was a model," said teacher El Hadj Bambadji Bamba.
"This is the funeral of a chief. We turned out in large numbers today. We had to be here, after everything that this man did for his country."
Local people said infrastructure funds had flowed into Korhogo during his time in office.
"He tarmacked the main roads and the neighbourhoods, installed electricity throughout the city and the villages outside, gave us piped water and built schools and health centres," said the local mayor, Lazani Coulibaly, who shares the same family name.
"He changed the face of the city -- he achieved more in 10 years than people did in the previous 40."
The ruling RHDP party is now expected to step up deliberations on how to fill the gap left by Gon Coulibaly for the presidential vote, due on October 31.
One of the world's major coffee and cocoa producers, the country still carries the scars of a brief civil war that erupted nearly a decade ago.
In 2011, Ouattara ousted then-president Laurent Gbagbo, who refused to step down after losing elections. The months-long standoff claimed 3,000 lives.
In March, Ouattara announced to much surprise that he would not seek a third term in office, and then named Gon Coulibaly as his desired successor.
No clear successor to Gon Coulibaly has so far emerged within RHDP ranks, stoking speculation that Ouattara may change his mind.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-17--UK's Johnson eyes 'normal life' by Christmas but braced for second Covid-19 wave

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he hoped Britain could return to normality before Christmas , setting out a phased removal of lockdown restrictions , but warned that while he was hoping for the best , the country must also prepare for the worst .
Britain 's death toll of more than 45,000 from confirmed cases of COVID-19 is the worst in Europe but the country has begun to lift lockdown measures as case numbers and infection rates fall .
Johnson set out the latest timetable for easing on Friday , saying employers would be given more discretion over working from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ larger gatherings would be evaluated , and that social distancing rules might be dropped in time for Christmas .
`` It is my strong and sincere hope that we will be able to review the outstanding restrictions and allow a more significant return to normality from November at the earliest – possibly in time for Christmas , '' he said .
However , he stressed that the plan was conditional on success in keeping infection rates down , setting out extra healthcare funding and new powers for local government to lock down COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 're ready for winter and planning for the worst .
But even as we plan for the worst , I strongly believe we should also hope for the best , '' he told a news conference .
The government has faced criticism over several aspects of its pandemic response , including that it was too slow to impose a lockdown and failed to ramp up testing capacity fast enough .
Opposition leader Keir Starmer said it was vital that Johnson 's plan was endorsed by experts in order to win public confidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a wing and a prayer .
It requires a credible plan and national leadership . ''
Johnson said that from Aug. 1 he would scrap official guidance that encouraged people to work from home and instead give employers the power to decide whether it was safe for workers to return .
He also changed his advice on public transport , telling people that anybody may now use it although they were encouraged to consider alternative means where available .
Previous guidance was for people to try to avoid it .
The government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 3.76 billion ) cash boost for the state-funded health system which would be made available immediately , and permitted the use of private hospitals and temporary field hospitals to ease the increased winter burden .
The funding announcement applies only to the English health service , with knock-on increases for Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland to be set out later .
The government will also increase testing capacity and flexibility , bolster its stockpiles of protective equipment and , wary of increased pressure from other seasonal illnesses , increase its annual @ @ @ @

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he hoped Britain could return to normality before Christmas, setting out a phased removal of lockdown restrictions, but warned that while he was hoping for the best, the country must also prepare for the worst.
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Britain's death toll of more than 45,000 from confirmed cases of COVID-19 is the worst in Europe but the country has begun to lift lockdown measures as case numbers and infection rates fall.
Johnson set out the latest timetable for easing on Friday, saying employers would be given more discretion over working from home rules, that the safety of larger gatherings would be evaluated, and that social distancing rules might be dropped in time for Christmas.
"It is my strong and sincere hope that we will be able to review the outstanding restrictions and allow a more significant return to normality from November at the earliest – possibly in time for Christmas," he said.
However, he stressed that the plan was conditional on success in keeping infection rates down, setting out extra healthcare funding and new powers for local government to lock down COVID-19 hotspots.
"We're making sure we're ready for winter and planning for the worst. But even as we plan for the worst, I strongly believe we should also hope for the best," he told a news conference.
The government has faced criticism over several aspects of its pandemic response, including that it was too slow to impose a lockdown and failed to ramp up testing capacity fast enough.
Opposition leader Keir Starmer said it was vital that Johnson's plan was endorsed by experts in order to win public confidence: "This can't be done on a wing and a prayer. It requires a credible plan and national leadership."
Johnson said that from Aug. 1 he would scrap official guidance that encouraged people to work from home and instead give employers the power to decide whether it was safe for workers to return.
He also changed his advice on public transport, telling people that anybody may now use it although they were encouraged to consider alternative means where available. Previous guidance was for people to try to avoid it.
The government set out a 3 billion pound ($3.76 billion) cash boost for the state-funded health system which would be made available immediately, and permitted the use of private hospitals and temporary field hospitals to ease the increased winter burden.
The funding announcement applies only to the English health service, with knock-on increases for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to be set out later.
The government will also increase testing capacity and flexibility, bolster its stockpiles of protective equipment and, wary of increased pressure from other seasonal illnesses, increase its annual flu vaccination programme.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-17--Liberal US Supreme Court judge Ginsburg being treated for cancer recurrence

US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is undergoing chemotherapy for a recurrence of cancer .
US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , the 87-year-old anchor of its liberal wing , said Friday that she is undergoing chemotherapy for a recurrence of cancer .
Ginsburg , one of the four liberal justices on the nine-member court , said she plans to remain on the bench `` as long as I can do the job full steam . ''
`` I remain fully able to do that , '' she said in a statement .
Ginsburg said a course of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proved unsuccessful but chemotherapy was `` yielding positive results . ''
Ginsburg 's health is closely watched as President Donald Trump 's administration seeks an opportunity to appoint a new justice who would tilt the court in a more solidly conservative direction , potentially shifting US law and social policy for decades .
Supreme Court justices serve until they die or voluntarily retire , and Ginsburg has clung to her position despite her age , aware that if she leaves it could change the US judicial landscape .
Ginsburg has suffered at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past two decades , including colon cancer and lung cancer .
She said a biopsy in February had revealed lesions on her liver and she began immunotherapy in May .
When that proved unsuccessful she began chemotherapy .
`` My most recent scan on July 7 indicated significant reduction of the liver lesions and no new disease , '' Ginsburg said .

US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the 87-year-old anchor of its liberal wing, said Friday that she is undergoing chemotherapy for a recurrence of cancer.
US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is undergoing chemotherapy for a recurrence of cancer.
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Ginsburg, one of the four liberal justices on the nine-member court, said she plans to remain on the bench "as long as I can do the job full steam."
"I remain fully able to do that," she said in a statement.
Ginsburg said a course of immunotherapy for lesions on her liver had proved unsuccessful but chemotherapy was "yielding positive results."
Ginsburg's health is closely watched as President Donald Trump's administration seeks an opportunity to appoint a new justice who would tilt the court in a more solidly conservative direction, potentially shifting US law and social policy for decades.
Supreme Court justices serve until they die or voluntarily retire, and Ginsburg has clung to her position despite her age, aware that if she leaves it could change the US judicial landscape.
Ginsburg has suffered at least three previous bouts with cancer over the past two decades, including colon cancer and lung cancer.
She said a biopsy in February had revealed lesions on her liver and she began immunotherapy in May. When that proved unsuccessful she began chemotherapy.
"My most recent scan on July 7 indicated significant reduction of the liver lesions and no new disease," Ginsburg said.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-17--Pension reform plans, which sparked France’s Yellow Vest protests, shelved until 2021

Prime Minister Jean Castex speaks before the Senate on July 16 , 2020 in Paris Negotiations between the French government and unions over a controversial pension reform will be postponed until 2021 to focus on economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis , Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Friday .
“ The Prime Minister proposes to postpone consultations on this reform ” , leader of the union for small and medium-sized enterprises CPME Francois Asselin said .
The reform , pushed by President Emmanuel Macron and the single greatest revamp of the pension system since World War @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in February by the pandemic .
The proposal angered unions and brought thousands of people onto the streets at the turn of the year .
The decision to push it back aims in part to ease those tensions as France grapples with the economic fallout from the coronavirus .
`` The priority now is the battle against the crisis , for employment and to tackle unemployment , '' Castex told reporters after his first meeting with union representatives since becoming prime minister this month .
Castex said the reform , which includes raising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 64 , would not be scrapped .
A deferment until after the 2022 presidential elections might defuse union and voter concerns , but would undermine Macron 's already-weakened credibility as a reformer .
The reform is central to Macron 's ambition of creating a more flexible and competitive labour force .
But trade unions who argue that it will erode hard-earned benefits and leave pensioners worse off .
Castex also said that the full implementation of unemployment insurance reform would be postponed to Jan. 1 .

Negotiations between the French government and unions over a controversial pension reform will be postponed until 2021 to focus on economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Friday.
Prime Minister Jean Castex speaks before the Senate on July 16, 2020 in Paris
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“The Prime Minister proposes to postpone consultations on this reform”, leader of the union for small and medium-sized enterprises CPME Francois Asselin said.
The reform, pushed by President Emmanuel Macron and the single greatest revamp of the pension system since World War Two, was halted in its tracks in February by the pandemic.
The proposal angered unions and brought thousands of people onto the streets at the turn of the year. The decision to push it back aims in part to ease those tensions as France grapples with the economic fallout from the coronavirus.
"The priority now is the battle against the crisis, for employment and to tackle unemployment," Castex told reporters after his first meeting with union representatives since becoming prime minister this month.
Castex said the reform, which includes raising the retirement age by two years to 64, would not be scrapped. A deferment until after the 2022 presidential elections might defuse union and voter concerns, but would undermine Macron's already-weakened credibility as a reformer.
The reform is central to Macron's ambition of creating a more flexible and competitive labour force. But trade unions who argue that it will erode hard-earned benefits and leave pensioners worse off.
Castex also said that the full implementation of unemployment insurance reform would be postponed to Jan. 1.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-17--Arise Sir Tom: Her Majesty knights 100-year-old fundraising war hero

Captain Tom Moore poses after being awarded with the insignia of Knight Bachelor by Britain 's Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle , in Windsor , Britain July 17 , 2020 .
Queen Elizabeth knighted Captain Tom Moore on Friday , recognising the100-year-old for lifting Britain 's spirits during the gloom of the coronavirus pandemic by raising millions of pounds for health workers .
The World War Two veteran raised a record 33 million pounds ( $ 41 million ) by walking 100 laps of his garden with the aid of a walking frame in April in the run-up to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Windsor Castle , the 94-year-old queen smiled as she dubbed Moore on both shoulders with her knighting sword , which previously belonged to her father , George VI .
`` Thank you very much , '' Moore told the queen .
`` Wonderful , '' the queen said , before greeting Moore 's family .
`` What an amazing amount of money you have raised . ''
The Yorkshireman became a symbol of British endurance in the face of the adversity of the coronavirus crisis and cheered many with his promise that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I could never have imagined this would happen to me , '' Moore said in a message posted on Twitter before received the ancient accolade .
`` It is such a huge honour and I am very much looking forward to meeting Her Majesty The Queen .
It is going to be the most special of days for me . ''
Moore , who served in India , Burma and Sumatra during World War Two , quipped earlier this year that having a knighthood would be funny because he would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Tudor statesman Sir Thomas More .
The monarch has been sheltering at Windsor Castle , the oldest permanently inhabited castle in the world , since March .
Other investitures have been postponed because of the coronavirus and Moore 's knighthood was one of the first official duties the queen has carried out since the coronavirus lockdown .

Queen Elizabeth knighted Captain Tom Moore on Friday, recognising the100-year-old for lifting Britain's spirits during the gloom of the coronavirus pandemic by raising millions of pounds for health workers.
Captain Tom Moore poses after being awarded with the insignia of Knight Bachelor by Britain's Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, Britain July 17, 2020.
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The World War Two veteran raised a record 33 million pounds ($41 million) by walking 100 laps of his garden with the aid of a walking frame in April in the run-up to his landmark birthday.
At an open-air investiture at Windsor Castle, the 94-year-old queen smiled as she dubbed Moore on both shoulders with her knighting sword, which previously belonged to her father, George VI.
Moore, in a dark suit, stood holding onto a wheeled walking frame.
"Thank you very much," Moore told the queen. "Wonderful," the queen said, before greeting Moore's family. "What an amazing amount of money you have raised."
The Yorkshireman became a symbol of British endurance in the face of the adversity of the coronavirus crisis and cheered many with his promise that "the sun will shine again".
"I could never have imagined this would happen to me," Moore said in a message posted on Twitter before received the ancient accolade.
"It is such a huge honour and I am very much looking forward to meeting Her Majesty The Queen. It is going to be the most special of days for me."
Moore, who served in India, Burma and Sumatra during World War Two, quipped earlier this year that having a knighthood would be funny because he would be Sir Thomas Moore - a reference to the Tudor statesman Sir Thomas More.
The monarch has been sheltering at Windsor Castle, the oldest permanently inhabited castle in the world, since March.
Other investitures have been postponed because of the coronavirus and Moore's knighthood was one of the first official duties the queen has carried out since the coronavirus lockdown.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-17--In Portland, US federal officers in unmarked vans respond to protests with tear gas

Tactical officers from around the United States have been in Portland , Oregon since July 4 to control protests and protect public property .
Since they arrived , videos circulated online have shown officers patrolling streets in unmarked vans and using force to disperse protesters in the city .
Unrest in Portland has been ongoing since late May when outrage following the death of George Floyd inspired protests across the United States .
The recent federal response has received criticism for escalating tensions .
The US Department of Homeland Security sent federal law enforcement officers , including those from tactical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order signed by President Trump aimed at protecting public monuments from vandalism during ongoing Black Lives Matter protests .
Videos have been spread on the Internet showing clashes between law enforcement and protesters , featuring federal officers deploying crowd-control tactics such as tear gas and flashbangs .
The officers , who are dressed in tactical attire , are also seen getting in and out of unmarked minivans .
On Thursday , Oregon Public Broadcasting reported the story of a protester who was taken into custody by federal officers in an unmarked van , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cell , and then released .
The video below shows two officers in helmets and tactical gear walking up to a protester and bringing them into an unmarked van .
The officers do not identify themselves as law enforcement , give a reason for the arrest , or read the protester their rights .
The witness filming the video repeatedly asks the officers what they are doing , but receives no response .
In Oregon , federal law enforcement is authorised to make arrests , but the officer must inform the person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason for the arrest , and take the person to an Oregon authority without unnecessary delay .
Another video shows similarly dressed officers getting into a van on Main St. in Downtown Portland and driving off .

UNITED STATES
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Tactical officers from around the United States have been in Portland, Oregon since July 4 to control protests and protect public property. Since they arrived, videos circulated online have shown officers patrolling streets in unmarked vans and using force to disperse protesters in the city. Unrest in Portland has been ongoing since late May when outrage following the death of George Floyd inspired protests across the United States. The recent federal response has received criticism for escalating tensions.
The US Department of Homeland Security sent federal law enforcement officers, including those from tactical teams, to Portland following an executive order signed by President Trump aimed at protecting public monuments from vandalism during ongoing Black Lives Matter protests.
Videos have been spread on the Internet showing clashes between law enforcement and protesters, featuring federal officers deploying crowd-control tactics such as tear gas and flashbangs. The officers, who are dressed in tactical attire, are also seen getting in and out of unmarked minivans.
On Thursday, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported the story of a protester who was taken into custody by federal officers in an unmarked van, driven to a courthouse, put into a cell, and then released.
The video below shows two officers in helmets and tactical gear walking up to a protester and bringing them into an unmarked van. The officers do not identify themselves as law enforcement, give a reason for the arrest, or read the protester their rights. The witness filming the video repeatedly asks the officers what they are doing, but receives no response. In Oregon, federal law enforcement is authorised to make arrests, but the officer must inform the person of their federal authority, give the reason for the arrest, and take the person to an Oregon authority without unnecessary delay.
These federal officers (?) just rushed up and arrested someone for no reason pic.twitter.com/xcFVuoMZmN Matcha chai (@matcha_chai) July 15, 2020
Another video shows similarly dressed officers getting into a van on Main St. in Downtown Portland and driving off.
What is this? They are kidnapping people. pic.twitter.com/M0AnuZ1GSi Cozca (@KohzKah) July 15, 2020
“There was a lot of fear. When people get arrested by federal officers, they're held for days, maybe weeks.”
Garrison Davis has been covering the protests in Portland since they began in late May. According to the Associated Press , federal law enforcement officers from at least six different departments were sent to Seattle, Portland, and Washington, D.C. to protect public property during protests in early July.
Davis said that violence during the protests escalated after the night of July 11, when a federal officer severely wounded a protester using a less-lethal crowd control device. The shot caused face and skull fractures in the protester, who required reconstructive surgery. The incident is currently under investigation by federal authorities.
The 11th is when federal officers responded by themselves, they did not initially have the Portland Police Bureau with them. At the start of the night, they gassed the park in front of the federal courthouse just to clear it out, the park was still open. At this point, a federal officer shot a young man in the head. He was bleeding all over the sidewalk, he had to go to the hospital. That was the beginning of the night. They teargassed the park three separate times afterwards. Finally, at 2am that’s when the Portland Police Bureau showed up and decided to close the park. So before that, it was just federal officers standing there with assault rifles and just throwing tons of gas at the crowd, arresting people.
Since then, federal agents have used tear gas in Portland nightly. Portland police are banned from using tear gas except in situations that police declare to be a riot, where public and police safety is threatened. Federal officers, however, are authorised to use the chemical agent and other tactics to control crowds.
On July 15, rumours of officers detaining protesters from unmarked vans began circulating among those demonstrating.
This video shows two unmarked vans similar to those used by federal authorities in other videos. The vehicles are entering the Edith Green - Wendell Wyatt Federal Building.
None of these officers ever identified themselves – very few identifying patches. There were some people who never really got a good look at them, really. We thought, ‘Oh, what if these are actually officers that are militia like what happened in the Midwest last month?’ But you could see that their equipment was too good to be just a random militia. They had all the bells and whistles. There was a lot of fear about them not actually being law enforcement. There was a lot of fear. When people get arrested by federal officers, they're held for days, maybe weeks. Usually, when you're asked by the police at these protests, you're out by the next morning. The charges are much worse when you're arrested by a federal person, even if you're just doing the same thing, including just standing on the street. So the fear is related to not knowing who these people are, not knowing what’s going to happen to you if you’re arrested, when will you see your friend again? I think a lot of people aren’t really prepared to see that actually happening in the States right now. People protesting the government then just getting grabbed off the street.
Oregon politicians have accused federal officers of escalating violence during the protests and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler called the tactics used by federal agents “life-threatening,” imploring officers to “stay inside their building, or leave Portland altogether".
The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to our request for comments on the tactics their officers have used in Portland, or their use of unmarked vans. However, they released a statement on July 16 condemning the actions of “violent anarchists” in Portland.
Article by Pariesa Young


france24--2020-07-17--France's cabaret queen Zizi Jeanmaire dies aged 96

Many of Zizi Jeanmaire 's roles were created by her husband , the renowned choreographer Roland Petit French dancer and singer Zizi Jeanmaire , an iconic cabaret showgirl whose grace and glamour was celebrated on stage and in film the world over , died Friday in Switzerland aged 96 , her family told AFP .
`` My mother passed away peacefully last night at her home in Tolechenaz , '' a town bordering Lake Geneva , her daughter Valentine Petit told AFP by telephone .
Jeanmaire starred in ballets , cabarets , musicals and film , mixing styles but never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ training .
Many of her roles were created by her husband Roland Petit , the renowned choreographer who died in 2011 .
It was her leading performance in Petit 's modern interpretation of `` Carmen '' in 1949 , which featured the short-cropped hairstyle that became her trademark feature , that launched her into the spotlight .
The new-look production caused a sensation when it was performed in Paris , London and New York .
Jeanmaire and Petit met in 1933 , when they were around nine years old and students at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1954 and had a daughter .
`` They became the power couple of Sixties Parisian cultural life , wearing Yves Saint Laurent and collaborating with Andy Warhol , '' The Telegraph wrote in an obituary of Petit .
Jeanmaire was born in Paris on April 29 , 1924 , her real name Renee Marcelle Jeanmaire .
Her nickname is reportedly rooted in her childhood pronunciation of `` Mon zizi '' for `` Mon Jesus '' ( My Jesus ) .
She left the Paris Opera Ballet at 19 , saying she wanted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way into Hollywood and New York .
Her leading films roles were in the 1950s , including in the Hollywood musical `` Hans Christian Andersen '' ( 1952 ) , about the life of the Danish storyteller , and `` Anything Goes '' ( 1956 ) starring Bing Crosby .
She triumphed at Paris ' Alhambra music hall in 1961 with a performance of `` Mon Truc en Plumes '' -- her legendary costume of huge , pink ostrich feathers designed by Saint Laurent -- and in 1966 danced alongside Rudolf Nureyev for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Le Jeune Homme et la Mort '' ( The Young Man and Death ) .
Saint Laurent , who dressed her for 40 years , once said she `` only had to walk on stage for everything to take life , fire and flames . ''
Sealing her place in stardom is a reference in the opening line of Peter Sarstedt 's name-dropping classic `` Where Do You Go to My Lovely '' ( 1969 ) , which says : `` You talk like Marlene Dietrich , And you dance like Zizi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her honour will be organised in September , her daughter said .

French dancer and singer Zizi Jeanmaire, an iconic cabaret showgirl whose grace and glamour was celebrated on stage and in film the world over, died Friday in Switzerland aged 96, her family told AFP.
Many of Zizi Jeanmaire's roles were created by her husband, the renowned choreographer Roland Petit
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"My mother passed away peacefully last night at her home in Tolechenaz," a town bordering Lake Geneva, her daughter Valentine Petit told AFP by telephone.
Jeanmaire starred in ballets, cabarets, musicals and film, mixing styles but never compromising on the rigour of her classical training.
Many of her roles were created by her husband Roland Petit, the renowned choreographer who died in 2011.
It was her leading performance in Petit's modern interpretation of "Carmen" in 1949, which featured the short-cropped hairstyle that became her trademark feature, that launched her into the spotlight.
The new-look production caused a sensation when it was performed in Paris, London and New York.
Jeanmaire and Petit met in 1933, when they were around nine years old and students at the Paris Opera Ballet. They married in 1954 and had a daughter.
"They became the power couple of Sixties Parisian cultural life, wearing Yves Saint Laurent and collaborating with Andy Warhol," The Telegraph wrote in an obituary of Petit.
Jeanmaire was born in Paris on April 29, 1924, her real name Renee Marcelle Jeanmaire. Her nickname is reportedly rooted in her childhood pronunciation of "Mon zizi" for "Mon Jesus" (My Jesus).
She left the Paris Opera Ballet at 19, saying she wanted to see the world and eventually making her way into Hollywood and New York.
Her leading films roles were in the 1950s, including in the Hollywood musical "Hans Christian Andersen" (1952), about the life of the Danish storyteller, and "Anything Goes" (1956) starring Bing Crosby.
She triumphed at Paris' Alhambra music hall in 1961 with a performance of "Mon Truc en Plumes" -- her legendary costume of huge, pink ostrich feathers designed by Saint Laurent -- and in 1966 danced alongside Rudolf Nureyev for the film version of Petit's ballet "Le Jeune Homme et la Mort" (The Young Man and Death).
Saint Laurent, who dressed her for 40 years, once said she "only had to walk on stage for everything to take life, fire and flames."
Sealing her place in stardom is a reference in the opening line of Peter Sarstedt's name-dropping classic "Where Do You Go to My Lovely" (1969), which says: "You talk like Marlene Dietrich, And you dance like Zizi Jeanmaire."
A public ceremony in her honour will be organised in September, her daughter said.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-18--French authorities open criminal investigation into Nantes cathedral fire

Firefighters working to put out the fire at the Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul cathedral in Nantes , western France , July 18 , 2020 .
French authorities opened a criminal investigation into a major fire that broke out in the cathedral in the western French city of Nantes on Saturday .
The blaze blew out stained glass windows and destroyed the grand organ in the 15th-century building .
Prosecutor Pierre Sennes told reporters three fires had been started at the site and authorities were treating the incident as a criminal act .
He gave no other details .
Dozens of firefighters brought the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Smoke was still coming out of the Gothic structure after massive flames earlier engulfed the inside .
The Nantes blaze comes just over a year after a major fire at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris , which destroyed its roof and main spire .
Local fire chief Laurent Ferlay told reporters 104 firefighters were still at the site to ensure the blaze was completely under control .
The fire had broken out behind the grand organ , which was completely destroyed , he said .
Stained glass windows at the front of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the damage was not as bad as initially feared .
`` We are not in a Notre-Dame de Paris scenario .
The roof has not been touched , '' Ferlay said .
It was not the first time fire has damaged the cathedral .
It was partly destroyed during World War Two in 1944 after Allied bombings .
In 1972 a fire completely ravaged its roof .
It was finally rebuilt 13 years later with a concrete structure replacing the ancient wooden roof .
`` The fire of 1972 is in our minds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not comparable , '' Nantes Mayor Johanna Rolland told reporters .
Cecile Renaud , who works in a bakery facing the cathedral and alerted the fire services early on Saturday , told BFM TV she had seen huge flames inside the building .
`` It was a huge shock .
It 's extremely sad . ''
In 2015 , a fire that appeared to have been caused by renovation work destroyed most of the roof of another church in Nantes , the Saint-Donatien Basilica .

A fire broke out in three places at the gothic cathedral of Nantes in western France Saturday, destroying stained glass windows and the grand organ and sparking an arson investigation.
The inside of the Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul cathedral in Nantes, western France, following a fire on July 18 , 2020.
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Catholic officials mourned the loss of priceless artefacts and paintings as well as the 17th century organ -- a star attraction of the cathedral.
Regional fire chief Laurent Ferlay however said the damage was not comparable to last year's devastating blaze at Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris.
Passers-by saw flames behind the rosette of the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul and alerted emergency services a little before 08:00 am (0600 GMT).
Roughly 100 firefighters rushed to the scene and managed to save the structure, built between the 15th and 19th centuries, Ferlay said.
Nantes prosecutor Pierre Sennes said the fire had started in three different places, so a judicial investigation for arson was immediately opened.
"When we arrive at a place where a fire has taken place, when you see three separate fire outbreaks, it's a question of common sense, you open an investigation," Sennes told AFP.
The prosecutor said investigators had found no sign of a break-in, but noted that one fire had started near the organ, while the other two were at the other end of the cathedral.
'An unimaginable loss'
Catholic official Father François Renaud, who oversees the cathedral, surveyed the damage with firemen and told AFP the organ console had "completely disappeared", describing 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.
While the blaze was still raging, President Emmanuel Macron tweeted support for "our firefighters who are taking all kinds of risks to save this gothic jewel".
Prime Minister Jean Castex later inspected the damage along with the French ministers of the interior and culture.
He set the investigation and subsequent reconstruction as priorities, saying "the state will play a major role" in the latter.
The building was last hit by fire in 1972 and its roof took more than 13 years to repair.
Cathedral rector Father Hubert Champenois said "everything was in order last night," and that "a very close inspection was made before it closed, like every other evening."
Ferlay played down any comparison with the 1972 blaze or with Notre-Dame, which caught fire during repair work in April last year.
Reinforced roof
Much of Notre-Dame's roof and wooden structure was destroyed, its steeple collapsed and fumes containing toxic molten lead billowed into the air.
Another church in Nantes -- the Basilica of St Donatian and St Rogatian -- was struck by a fire in 2015 that destroyed three-quarters of its roof.
"I would like to stress that following the 1972 fire, the roof was redone with concrete reinforcement," Ferlay said.
Aside from the destroyed organ, officials said other items lost included a painting by 19th century artist Hippolyte Flandrin and stained glass windows on the facade, some of which contained remnants of 16th century glass.
Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot called the destruction of Flandrin's painting of Saint Clair healing the blind "a painful loss".
The organ dated back to 1621 and had undergone five restorations since -- the latest one in 1971.
During the 18th century revolutionary period, authorities had wanted to melt down its pipes for scrap, but the organist argued it could instead be used for "revolutionary ceremonies", according to historian Paul Chopelin.
(AFP)
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