day. workers in hong kong's financial district to their support behind anti government protesters this is china's army releases a slick propaganda video signaling a possible military intervention. to restore calm. iran's president says the cocountry is s ready for the wot as it tries to salvage a nuclear agreement the european union mean wall stands a familily behd iran's foreign minister today after mama javad zarif was slapped with sanctions. from wasashingtonn. and wildfires in a siberia shroud hundreds of towns and cities in russia with heavy smoke the russian army has been dispatched to help combat the

blaze. thank you very much f for joinig us o on france twenty four we begin in hong kong where workers in the city's financial distric. race the rain and took to the streets they were out to lend their support to must of protests that rocked the special administrative regionn in recent weeks. participants said they were frustrated by the cooperation between police and dogs which attacked anti government protesters last month. june as army meanwhile released a slick a propaganda video showing a troops quoting a protest in hong kong signaling a possible military interventntio. alison sergeant reports. all the consequences are at your ownn risk the messages shouted y this chinese soldier is clear and so is its intended audience. he is speaking cantonese the language of hong kong rather than the mandarin of mainland china. the video was released by the hong kong garrison of china's

people's liberation army or p. la. it shows drills that closely resemble the recent scenes between protesters and local security forces including the arrests of demonstrators. as the army video was released wednesday dozens appeared in court charged with rioting for last weekend's protest. china has not announced any plans to intervene militarily in hong kong. but thousands of p. la forces have been based on the island since it was handed over from britain in nineteen ninety seven and beijing has regularly reminded that they can legally be deployed at the request of the hong kong gogovernment. meanwhile hong kong's former chief execucutive reiterated another of beijing's talking points suggesting that the united states and taiwan are behind the unrest. are you do some foreign politicians and anti china forces with ulterior motives. have beeeen using hong kong special pososition in the system difference between hong kong and the mainland. to incite

antagonism of hong kong residentnts a and to o damage te relatitionship betetween the mainland and hong kong [inaudible] hi. the latest pro democracy protests were sparked by a law that would havee allowed hong kongers to be extradited and tried in mainland china. the bill was suspended but the protests have continued with demonstrators calling for increased democracy the resignation of current hong kong chief executive carrie lam and investigations into police brutality. iran's president says the country is ready for the w worst as it tries to salvage a nuclear agreement the unitedd states walked away from the deal last year and has since imposed crippling sanctions on iran. tensions between the two sides had been heating up in recent months and just yesterday washington sanction iran's foreign minister a move -- tehran has turned it as childish the european union meanwhile says it will continue working with iran's foreign minister

mohammad javad zarif despite. the sanctions douglas. we regret this decision. on not from our site will continue to work with mister saudi for us iran's most senior deployments. on the view of the importance of maintaining diplomatic chahanne. for more on this story and we can now bring an alley via senior analyst at the international crisis group who joins us from washington thank you very much for joining us on the program today have the americans close the door to diplomacy. by sanctions or if. well very much so i think this realally puts the incoherence of the trump administratioions in iran policicy on full display in the sense that -- they constantly talk aboutut interest and diplomacy with iran in negotiations with iran but turn around and sanctions iran -- diplomat and cheap or they say that farm ministers that hee is important enonough to be sasanctioned b but he's n not important enough to be an interlocutor for for washington. unfortunately i think this move

rerely r renders any kind of ses negotiations between this administration andnd the running government much more difficult. now washington says mom much about three fees in the one calling the shots -- in iran that statement is not -- incorrect if you will -- can is it possible that -- washington can negotiate with someone hihigher up in the food chainn. look i i think -- even and the us system --- sixty pump ---- cannot make decisions on his ow- you fofollows -- basically the marching orders that t he getets from the presidentnt the samam applplies and theyey run in sys- and the r reality is that the americans can't decide who would be there -- interlocutor on the right hand side in the same way that the us government would never accccept the runyon's dedetermining who they are willg to talk t to order or not to engage withh -- andnd i really think this was a very counterproductive mode. now the european say -- they will continue to work -- with my my job on to read despite the sanctions from washington.

how effective in your opinion has a european in trying to sasalvage nuclear deal? well the europeans havave tried very veryy hard so far they haven't been -- effective enough because the us sanctions are just so powerful and the euroropean -- private sector --- has that so much interest in the us financial system -- that is just not willing to take the risk -- there's the ways of tryingng to o salvage thehe agrt i think the european scan -- inject export credit into -- the banking channel that they have established and more european countries can join at b but b bt this doesn't't take awayy from e fact that the europeaeans beliee in diplomacy in multilalateralim i think they will continue. to engagege with fararm ministers t eight and every time they do so they will be defined us sanctions and that's another reason why -- thisis meaeasure y the trump administration was extrtrely short sighted. now that you said that the united states has essentially shut the door to diplomacy by sanctioning zarif. how do we get you know scale back from where we are right now

with these high tensions between the two sides? well -- now i think the role of a mediator is more important than ever -- so -- president back on has started an initiative to try to mediate between the two sides and basically -- put put into action some kind of a tactical discounts some sort of the escalation that would not necessarily result in a better - broader agreement but at least would stop this cycle of escalation that could eventuall- over the party's towards -- a militaryry confrontation thatt o one really wants but but it's becoming more and more inevitable -- at this stage now hosono honey says iran is ready for the worst as it tries to salvage at the nuclear agreement what is he talking about what's the worst. well -- i think he means -- you know an economic warfare and it is now almost bordering. on ministry competitionon -- between the two countries and he's saying that - -- thahat thy run is prepared for t t worst cacase scenarioo -- anand the ry is that the onlnly thing that poses as x. an existential

threreat to ththe islamic repubc is a land invasion -- thaha is just not simply in t the cards n ththe us wouldld n need a millin troooops to invade iran. so that means that -- whatever ministstry complication what happened is likely to leave the regigime in place which means t- you know whatever doesn't kill you makeses you s stronger. leave us thank you very much for joining us on the program with your analysis this evening. thank you. in other news wildfires in siberia have shrouded hundreds of towns and cities in russia with heavy smoke pressures of force protection services over thirty thousand square kilometers of terrain is ablaze. and the fires appear to be spreading a state of emergencycy has been declared in four regions of the russian military is now helping combatt the blaz. charlie jacobs reports. rurussia scrambles mililitary transport planes and helicopters to battle the spreading wildfires in siberia. in area as large as belgium is in flames consuming remote arctic regions that are

difficult to access -- push for her if we reach the area fires has expanded to to the long period of dry weather. because no active measures were taken to put out fire sources. including those the alleged in far regions are filled with manta. for no injuries or evacuations have been reported but many industrial cities are blanketed by a layer of smoke. eastern residents complaints prompted president vladimir putin to increase response efforts but authorities are allowing most of the fires to burn themselves out. as the cost of fighting them is likely higher than the potential damage russia's prime minister emphasize this cost benefit analysis during a visit to the region on thursday. it again then the less it is withouout the the responsibility lies with the regional administration for the effective use of money we spoke about this with the governor. the use of money as defined above all black people seeing the results of work for the money. obligated to do anything. but environmental activists say

the ecological cost is staggering fueled by record breaking tempeperatures and strg winds activisists say this yeaes fires are the worst in recorded history. greenpeace called the blazes a catastrophe and warned that the haze coating big siberiaian cits is toxic. now a six point eight magnitude quake has hit central chile for now there are no immediate reports of damage or injury the quake was reportedly felt as throughout. the country. some of football news for you next in the summer transfer or s. transfer out the windodow isn fullll swing and also have just signed if laurie and a full would nicolette pay pay from a french club lille. for more on the story we can bring in transfer the force can havave oa gorgeousus donnie good evening kathleen and arsenal reportedly paid eighty million euros. yes and that that's simply and makes and you could it be b. as the most expensive african player ever had a transfer fee eclipsing in the seventy one

million euros paid by at beijing one too the light rail. as for a cd get back on blue of the democratic republic of congo that was back in february twenty eighteen and it's not the only records his transfer has broken pp also becomes the prime your league's most expensive african signing breaking. the sixty five million euros paid by manchester city for riyadh marez also in twenty eighteen it's also record signing for the gunners wiping out the sixty one million euros paid last year. to bring pms getting medical by me young from brusett door tunes at the pay the twenty four year old i've were in international signed a five year deal with the gunners and will wear the number nineteen sure it's a bit big who scored twenty two goals. in any the league out last season second only to buy some grandma's tn that be who scored thirty three goals prepare -- also adding as eleven is c. string at that season. he is arsenal's biggest recruit of of the transfer windoww as so

farr arsenal finished. fifth last season and will be playing a friendly against barcelona on sunday before kicking off their primarily campaign with a trip to new castle this will be on august eleventh. and among some of the other on going and transfer rumors at this time is paulo de bala as possible move to manchester united. the argentinian striker's departure from juventus has been an insistent room or in the past month as he looks to leave it cristiano ronaldo's shadow and get more playing time. but he has been debating whether to join manchester united a club that will not be playing in the champions league this season. it says that the arjun taina would prefer to stay in a touring and his situation should become clearer after he holds talks with the emory to sorry the twenty six year old. is reportedly asking for salary of twenty million euros a year three million more than appalled brokeback currently earns act menu with some saying that this

is a way. of shooting down at the move one man who will be a closely watching those the bala rumors is a roommate little *-*- with the belgian intnternational whos looking to leave manchester united he has agreed to join. a juventus of but his move at the lawnn -- definitelyly hingen whether at the bala agrees and whether juventus agreed to let the ball -- go under the wrong profession clearly can have on definitely thank you very much to look at them and go to study them. now here in paris here in artists and activists have launched the fourth edition of the festival that pays tribute to victims and refugees officer in. for it does this through -- paintings photography music and even food take a look. when jenna is done with this painting she will send it to a syrian refugee camp in lebanon? doesn't that unlock it i always pains flying children. hello and i'll add flying books as well. herself a syrian refugee dl hass liveved in lebanon w which usedo

organize painting workshops for children in the camps. you can't really changnge the situation of these kids you can only help them treatment imagin. she's one of dozens of seven artists taking part in this festival in paris. they have lost hope that the country will see democratic change. at least for now. anyhow my how and what is shshee haven't achieved what we were hoping. for the war is eva but people are still dying. the festival is mainly organized by syrian and french women. who aim to revive sirius cultural scene? now the last of the van -- active is modedest first of alle aim to makes both syrian and french audiences. and i think we have succeeded in this. also would like to make french people know more about the work of syrian artist. go to a the look of searing artists here include music and photography. food lovers can also taste syrian dishes prepared by the harm of the she feels pretty

proud to feed french people. citing giving no i should be nice and i'm very happy to see this cultural exchangee. in cuisine music poetry and photography -- someone. as people enjoy the house dishes syrian musicians carry out some tests for a night of electro music. with an oriental twist. that's it for me thanks for watching . think about for a for them to perform for them.

old old man. for you ma'am. thanks for joining us for this week's edition of phones in focus now with municipal elections looming in the spring of next year we thought we turn our attention. to france's meryl system there are thirty five thousand men as across the country the most high profile of him is the mayor of paris is headquarters. is here at the end of the year. but such impressive surroundings are a far cry from the reality faced by many of france's mess in recent years has been a sharp increase in the number of minutes we've been resigning. we're gonna stop by taking a look at some of the reasasons w. pleasure the quiet village of six hundred and fifty residents. it's early morning and the mayor is already on his toes. we buy sell.

jenny well he's only got these ones when i would from small towns being the mayor often requires wearing several hats what a on is per se today his separate skills are in demand what caused it to the social cabana. in fact he's constantly deployed on all fronts and says it's exhausting. you see if i'm quitting comment on it's also because of this permanent pressure now. the machine there comes a t time when the strtress becomes ununbearable and she felt that. we can deal with working twelvee hour dayays resultt i'm sure but one point at t all it just becos too much -- twisted. there's this dress and for many mayors there's also a feeling that they are getting enough support from the state. about 50% of france's mayor say they won't run for reelection in twenty twenty from the demolition when you dodon't know we're at thehe end of the chainf cocommand. indirect contact with the people we govern. and as a lack of recognition from the state it's quite ununpleasant and quite frustrat.

yes it was. the state wants to encourage citizens to get involved in local politics but not everyone is convinced the judge n not a forty serve my town it wasn't easy at the time i also had a day job was really hard. but when you're retired you have more time to get to vote. if you have a job you any available off the wagon. time you want to spendnd with yr family good yeah. atat the same time the form as a pension isis it's a problem. a planned reform aims t tmake it easier to serve ass an elected official whi holding a day job. and to attract more candidates. francois diesel has been the mayor of the staff seven hundred residents since twenty fourteen and he intends to run again next year. money isn't his primary motivation. but no. i'm not complaining but well clearly a salary of one thousand and twenty four euros and eighty cents for sixty hours of work. can be a deterrent for younger people and for newer teams

separate high school for the mayor of please you're. offering better salaries to elected officials in smaller towns is a no brainer. usually they takes part in our town councils just will be well elected officials were older i don't have the jobs on the side. and who are able to who have the time to get involved in politic. this is not what we want for france we want young people to get involved. but for the time being running a small town will hardly make you wealthy. for a monthly salaryy for r a mayor starts at six hundrered and sixty one euros fr towns with l less than five hundred residents. and the most a local official can make is five thousand six hundred and forty euros. for cities with a population of more than. one hundred thousand the governmement is considering mergrging the first threeee saly ranges. memeaning mayors responsible for less than three thousand five hundred residentnts would all me up to one thousand six hundred

and seventy two euros. but only the smallest towns would receive extra state funding. the others would have to tap into their own budgets to fund the pay rise. and unthinkable option for this mayor. what more does a small town budgets where do you find the extra twenty thousand euros how do you make it happen it's impossible? following the yellow vest crisis last spring imagine michael held the debates with the country's's mayors. one of several attempts by a president to often deemed out of touch to connect with local leaders. to find out more about life from his mass also on happy i'm joined now by professor of medicine for cool you are the director of the political research center here it seals. thank you very much for speaking to us. you've written extensively about france's mass what's your understanding as to why this --

disgruntled. lately limit the force someone something menyesal i said there is a difference all in a sense i'm happy with the way that the manual macro has treated them since twenty seventeen and we'll talk -- to as you see the book - but important reforms that cost a lot of controversy and frustration with the scrapping of the property taxes thanks to be destroyed. as a why is that important. it is in the end he because of a financial results for the mess which gave them the impression ththat the state wasas infririnn their prerogatives in gto high and then the yellow vest movements are says he'll come to a point. that's when the state realize how important the presence of a man falls we don't know what the causes you be able to communicate with the citizens as a local level on twitter -- missy planned suddenly emmanuel micro changed its policies regarding t that has actually -- separate they play a critical role as mediators in moments of crisis. like the one from has been experiencing since last novembe-

listening cheese it was he said after today the massive back at the forefront of the mix of manual micro needs them into your medical control. it was as i can today for that for the past two days -- window of opportunity for the mass to remind the government that they need all to cancellations to a number of problems. in the hospital a southern the apples what are the authorities doing to boost the morale of fronts as many as i can see the means from -- they'll be debates about a government project to improve two key aspects of the job i mean you hated -- do the aim is to reassure him as they make their work easier and maybe even inspire more people to run for office still functional it protects you see the the the the first aspect. is what we call the judiciary and can responsibility jury if in that manner is need to be protected and that was actually mailboxes are from three other aspect of the reform which will be at all to to many of that amounts to is the pre evaluation of their salaries. see the whole that'll exist at the moment -- when n these are

elected officials who are paid very very little intrinsic some quite quickly? what do these meryl elections tell us about the health of france's main political parties of these elections a useful barometer in terms of their results? are you free if we don't bust gone through about about this you have to be careful in extra it is not possible to make predictions about the local void based on the presidential in european elections for means about the issues at stake are completely each consists of expanding its. reach across the territory. and try to win over more towns that in twenty fourteen when thirteen are in as got elected. if you will be good and then does your p. college eat the green party that's become a key

player in. a box on the left wing parties will have to form coalitions with them through the quiz show. today the green party called when a loss of municipalities ally inside that going to have to build alliances. the only thing certain about and what's new about these alliances is that the green party is now in the position where it can impose environmental policies. as a top priority could you repeat the missiles in the twenties shore acres i need i'll go the mayor of paris is of course not without her critics. how do you rate her chances of reelection in the spring of next year? some distilled footage is similar -- but that would lead the body you should yeah that's a very difficult question but beyond paris and what i can say isishat a stududy involving fifteen thousand french citizens revealed that more than 80% of the public feels that man's have performemed well l over role. the a ticket plans 60% say they would like them to run again in the next election come to the other question that extra whether this gives any indication of our time the dell goes charles says it's hard to

say because the best collect. competition when it comes to competition in paris is more intense than in other cities. seven wasn't come in -- to that'll does show that today's total winner of half of those are in the family need just completed a mandate to me -- who were who will manage to hold a real advantage the new rule -- strips is to succeed this agreement. thank you very much indeed for speaking to us a professor masterful coherent seals thank you so much. all six he is in a generation for those hoping to be reelected that having to deliver -- many of the things they promised they do last time around. before those elections in the spring. what you may have noticed in towns and cities across the country a shopping crease in the number of publicly commission building works repair works such as these? let's take a look at example of exactly this in the town of as

shown in the southwest of the country. genre a town of thirty five thousand is not as tranquil as it appears. construction is underer way all over the townn roads avenueses d sidewalks it's enough to get the residents talking. samples it's absurd it's a jungle out there. costing millions for this to get the new. one marshall i complain sometimes too but off to it's you think it's pretty good. with all the construction comes a ribbon cutting. the mayor has been going to one after the other. you've been reading a l lot of really. cool. nonothing. the lot and it's good it means ththe town is thrivining. and we've done it without raising taxes for severity it's not bad. as in many french towns the frenetic pace of work is about

winning over the residents. classic election year phenomenon the mayor i is running for reelection and he wants to tell his record. but to reap the benefitss the work has to stop

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