france24--2020-02-18--China says mainland death toll from coronavirus reaches almost 1,900

Women wear face masks and plastic raincoats as a protection from coronavirus in Shanghai , China February 17 , 2020 .
The toll from China 's coronavirus epidemic jumped to 1,868 on Tuesday after 98 more people died , according to the National Health Commission .
Nearly 72,500 people nationwide have been infected by the new COVID-19 strain of the virus , which first emerged in December before spiralling into a nationwide epidemic .
There were 1,886 new cases reported Tuesday -- a decline on Monday 's figure , and the lowest single-day figure of new cases so far this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Hubei province , the hard-hit epicentre of the outbreak , with five reported elsewhere in the country .
Hubei has been locked down to try to contain the virus , with tens of millions of people placed under effective quarantine in the province .
The number of new cases reported outside Hubei province was just 79 , down from 890 on February 4 .
It marks the lowest number of new cases outside the virus-struck province since January 23 .
China 's national health authority has said the declining numbers are a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the trend `` must be interpreted very cautiously '' .
`` Trends can change as new populations are affected .
It is too early to tell if this reported decline will continue .
Every scenario is still on the table , '' he told reporters on Monday .
Chinese health officials have urged patients who recovered from the coronavirus to donate blood so that plasma can be extracted to treat others who are critically ill .
Plasma from patients who have recovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 contains antibodies that can help reduce the virus load in critically ill patients , an official from the National Health Commission told a press briefing Monday .
More than 12,000 people have recovered and been discharged , according to health commission figures .

China reported 1,886 new virus cases and 98 more deaths in its update Tuesday on a disease outbreak that has caused mild illness in most people, an assessment that promoted guarded optimism from global health authorities.
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The update raised the number of deaths in mainland China to 1,868 and the total confirmed cases to 72,436.
A study by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention found more than 80% of the cases studied were mild and the number of new infections seemed to be falling since early this month. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was too early to know if the reported decline would continue, however. "Every scenario is still on the table," he told a news conference.
The seeming drop in the number of cases follows a large spike last week after hard-hit Hubei province began counting cases by doctors' diagnoses without waiting for laboratory test results. Health authorities there said the change was meant to get patients treated faster.
The disease named COVID-19 emerged in December in Wuhan, Hubei's capital, and the surrounding region has been put under lockdown to try to contain the outbreak. Transportation has been halted, thousands of hospital beds have been added, and military doctors and nurses have been deployed to staff facilities in the overwhelmed local health-care system.
Medical workers among victims
Despite strict rules on use of masks and safety suits, medical workers have been among the victims, particularly in the early stage of the outbreak.
On Tuesday, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission said the director of Wuhan's Wuchang Hospital, Liu Zhiming, had died of COVID-19.
Liu had taken part in the battle against the virus from the start and had made "important contributions in the work of fighting and controlling novel coronavirus," the notice said.
During that process, "unfortunately he became infected and passed away at 10:54 Tuesday morning at the age of 51 after all-out efforts to save him failed," it said.
Earlier this month, public outrage was stirred by the death from the virus of Wuhan doctor Li Wenliang, who had been threatened by police after releasing word of an outbreak of unusual respiratory illness in December before it had spread widely and the city was placed under quarantine.
China may postpone its biggest political meeting of the year to avoid having people travel to Beijing while the virus is still spreading. The standing committee for the National People’s Congress will meet Feb. 24 to deliberate postponing the annual event due to start March 5.
One of the automotive industry's biggest international events already is being postponed. Auto China 2020 had been set for April in Beijing, and its postponement adds to the many sports and entertainment events that have been delayed or canceled.
Detailed study
The Chinese CDC's study examined 44,672 cases of the disease that were confirmed in China as of Feb. 11. Severe symptoms such as pneumonia occurred in 14% of them and critical illness in 5%. The fatality rate was 2.3% — 2.8% for males versus 1.7% for females.
01:35
The death rate is lower than for SARS and MERS, diseases caused by coronaviruses related to the one that causes COVID-19. But the new virus ultimately could prove more deadly if it spreads to far more people than the others did. The COVID-19 cases include relatively few children, and the risk of death rises with age or other health problems and was higher in Hubei province versus elsewhere in China.
The study warned that while cases seem to have been declining since Feb. 1, that could change as people return to work and school after the Lunar New Year holidays, typically the biggest travel period for Chinese travelers. Beijing and other governments have sought to forestall that by extending the holiday break, encouraging telecommuting and self-quarantines and conducting health checks on travelers.
Travel to and from the worst-hit central China region was associated with the initial cases of COVID-19 confirmed abroad. But Japan, Singapore and South Korea have identified new cases without clear ties to China or previously known patients, raising concern of the virus spreading locally.
The largest number of cases outside China is among passengers and crew of the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined at a port near Tokyo. The Japanese Health Ministry has tested 1,723 people among the 3,700 initially on board, and 454 have tested positive.
The U.S. evacuated 338 American passengers, with most of them placed in a 14-day quarantine at military bases in California and Texas. Thirteen who tested positive for the virus were taken to hospitals in California and Nebraska, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said any more passengers who show symptoms will be taken to a hospital.
(AP)
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france24--2020-02-18--Sex-abuse lawsuits force Boy Scouts of America to file for bankruptcy

The statue of a scout at the entrance to the Boy Scouts of America headquarters in Irving , Texas , February 5 , 2013 .
Barraged by hundreds of sex-abuse lawsuits , the Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday in hopes of working out a potentially mammoth victim compensation plan that will allow the hallowed , 110-year-old organisation to carry on .
The Chapter 11 filing in federal bankruptcy court in Wilmington , Delaware , sets in motion what could be one of the biggest , most complex bankruptcies ever seen .
Scores of lawyers are seeking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who say they were molested as scouts by scoutmasters or other leaders decades ago but are only now eligible to sue because of recent changes in their states ’ statute-of-limitations laws .
By going to bankruptcy court , the Scouts can put those lawsuits on hold for now .
But ultimately they could be forced to sell off some of their vast property holdings , including campgrounds and hiking trails , to raise money for a compensation trust fund that could surpass a billion dollars .
The bankruptcy petition listed the Boy Scouts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and $ 10 billion , and its liabilities at $ 500 million to $ 1 billion .
“ Scouting programs will continue throughout this process and for many years to come , '' the Boy Scouts said in a statement .
” Local councils are not filing for bankruptcy because they are legally separate and distinct organisations.
” The Boy Scouts are just the latest major American institution to face a heavy price over sexual abuse .
Roman Catholic dioceses across the country and schools such as Penn State and Michigan State have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent years .
The bankruptcy represents a painful turn for an organisation that has been a pillar of American civic life for generations and a training ground for future leaders .
Achieving the rank of Eagle Scout has long been a proud accomplishment that politicians , business leaders , astronauts and others put on their resumes and in their official biographies .
The Boy Scouts ’ finances have been strained in recent years by declining membership and sex-abuse settlements .
The number of youths taking part in scouting has dropped below 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million in peak years of the 1970s .
The organisation has tried to counter the decline by admitting girls , but its membership rolls took a big hit Jan. 1 when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — for decades a major sponsor of Boy Scout units — cut ties and withdrew more than 400,000 scouts in favour of programmes of its own .
The financial outlook had worsened last year after New York , Arizona , New Jersey and California passed laws making it easier for victims of long-ago abuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the US have been signing up clients by the hundreds to sue the Boy Scouts .
Most of the newly surfacing cases date to the 1960s , ‘ 70s and ‘ 80s ; the organisation says there were only five known abuse victims in 2018 .
The Boy Scouts credit the change to an array of prevention policies adopted since the mid-1980s , including mandatory criminal background checks and abuse-prevention training for all staff and volunteers , and a rule that two or more adult leaders be present during all activities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the one facing the Catholic Church in the US .
Both institutions boast of major progress over recent decades in combating abuse , whether by priests or scout leaders , but both face many lawsuits alleging negligence and cover-ups , mostly decades ago .
“ We are outraged that there have been times when individuals took advantage of our programs to harm innocent children , ” said Roger Mosby , the BSA ’ s president and CEO .
“ While we know nothing can undo the tragic abuse that victims suffered , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the proposed trust structure , will provide equitable compensation to all victims while maintaining the BSA ’ s important mission.
” The BSA said it is encouraging all victims to come forward to file a claim in the case .
A deadline for filing claims has not yet been set by the bankruptcy court , but the BSA said that would likely happen later this year .
Among other matters to be addressed in bankruptcy court : the fate of the Boy Scouts ’ assets ; the extent to which the organisation ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and whether assets of the Scouts ’ 261 local councils will be added to the fund .
“ There are a lot of very angry , resentful men out there who will not allow the Boy Scouts to get away without saying what all their assets are , ” said lawyer Paul Mones , who represents numerous clients suing the BSA .
“ They want no stone unturned.
” Amid the crush of lawsuits , the Scouts recently mortgaged the major properties owned by the national leadership , including the headquarters in Irving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ranch in New Mexico , to help secure a line of credit .
Founded in 1910 , the Boy Scouts have kept confidential files since the 1920s listing staff and volunteers implicated in sexual abuse , for the avowed purpose of keeping predators away from youth .
According to a court deposition , the files as of January listed 7,819 suspected abusers and 12,254 victims .
Until last spring , the organisation had insisted it never knowingly allowed a predator to work with youths .
But in May , The Associated Press reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple cases in which known predators were allowed to return to leadership posts .
The next day , Boy Scouts chief executive Mike Surbaugh wrote to a congressional committee , acknowledging the group ’ s previous claim was untrue .
James Kretschmer of Houston , among the many men suing for alleged abuse , says he was molested by a Scout leader over several months in the mid-1970s in the Spokane , Washington , area .
Regarding the bankruptcy , he said , “ It is a shame because at its core and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Boy Scouts is a beautiful organisation .
”

Barraged by hundreds of sex-abuse lawsuits, the Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday in hopes of working out a potentially mammoth victim compensation plan that will allow the hallowed, 110-year-old organisation to carry on.
The statue of a scout at the entrance to the Boy Scouts of America headquarters in Irving, Texas, February 5, 2013.
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The Chapter 11 filing in federal bankruptcy court in Wilmington, Delaware, sets in motion what could be one of the biggest, most complex bankruptcies ever seen. Scores of lawyers are seeking settlements on behalf of several thousand men who say they were molested as scouts by scoutmasters or other leaders decades ago but are only now eligible to sue because of recent changes in their states’ statute-of-limitations laws.
By going to bankruptcy court, the Scouts can put those lawsuits on hold for now. But ultimately they could be forced to sell off some of their vast property holdings, including campgrounds and hiking trails, to raise money for a compensation trust fund that could surpass a billion dollars.
The bankruptcy petition listed the Boy Scouts’ assets as between $1 billion and $10 billion, and its liabilities at $500 million to $1 billion.
“Scouting programs will continue throughout this process and for many years to come," the Boy Scouts said in a statement. ”Local councils are not filing for bankruptcy because they are legally separate and distinct organisations.”
Strained finances
The Boy Scouts are just the latest major American institution to face a heavy price over sexual abuse. Roman Catholic dioceses across the country and schools such as Penn State and Michigan State have paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years.
The bankruptcy represents a painful turn for an organisation that has been a pillar of American civic life for generations and a training ground for future leaders. Achieving the rank of Eagle Scout has long been a proud accomplishment that politicians, business leaders, astronauts and others put on their resumes and in their official biographies.
The Boy Scouts’ finances have been strained in recent years by declining membership and sex-abuse settlements.
The number of youths taking part in scouting has dropped below 2 million, down from more than 4 million in peak years of the 1970s. The organisation has tried to counter the decline by admitting girls, but its membership rolls took a big hit Jan. 1 when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — for decades a major sponsor of Boy Scout units — cut ties and withdrew more than 400,000 scouts in favour of programmes of its own.
The national organization of the BSA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in order to equitably compensate victims who were harmed during their time in Scouting and ensure Scouting’s future. Scouting continues and local councils have not filed for bankruptcy. https://t.co/sj4TRXkzp1. — Boy Scouts - BSA (@boyscouts) February 18, 2020
The financial outlook had worsened last year after New York, Arizona, New Jersey and California passed laws making it easier for victims of long-ago abuse to file claims. Teams of lawyers across the US have been signing up clients by the hundreds to sue the Boy Scouts.
Most of the newly surfacing cases date to the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s; the organisation says there were only five known abuse victims in 2018. The Boy Scouts credit the change to an array of prevention policies adopted since the mid-1980s, including mandatory criminal background checks and abuse-prevention training for all staff and volunteers, and a rule that two or more adult leaders be present during all activities.
In many ways, the crisis parallels the one facing the Catholic Church in the US. Both institutions boast of major progress over recent decades in combating abuse, whether by priests or scout leaders, but both face many lawsuits alleging negligence and cover-ups, mostly decades ago.
“We are outraged that there have been times when individuals took advantage of our programs to harm innocent children,” said Roger Mosby, the BSA’s president and CEO. “While we know nothing can undo the tragic abuse that victims suffered, we believe the Chapter 11 process, with the proposed trust structure, will provide equitable compensation to all victims while maintaining the BSA’s important mission.”
Victims ‘want no stone unturned’
The BSA said it is encouraging all victims to come forward to file a claim in the case. A deadline for filing claims has not yet been set by the bankruptcy court, but the BSA said that would likely happen later this year.
Among other matters to be addressed in bankruptcy court: the fate of the Boy Scouts’ assets; the extent to which the organisation’s insurance will help cover compensation; and whether assets of the Scouts’ 261 local councils will be added to the fund.
“There are a lot of very angry, resentful men out there who will not allow the Boy Scouts to get away without saying what all their assets are,” said lawyer Paul Mones, who represents numerous clients suing the BSA. “They want no stone unturned.”
Amid the crush of lawsuits, the Scouts recently mortgaged the major properties owned by the national leadership, including the headquarters in Irving, Texas, and the 140,000-acre Philmont Ranch in New Mexico, to help secure a line of credit.
Founded in 1910, the Boy Scouts have kept confidential files since the 1920s listing staff and volunteers implicated in sexual abuse, for the avowed purpose of keeping predators away from youth. According to a court deposition, the files as of January listed 7,819 suspected abusers and 12,254 victims.
Until last spring, the organisation had insisted it never knowingly allowed a predator to work with youths. But in May, The Associated Press reported that attorneys for abuse victims had identified multiple cases in which known predators were allowed to return to leadership posts. The next day, Boy Scouts chief executive Mike Surbaugh wrote to a congressional committee, acknowledging the group’s previous claim was untrue.
James Kretschmer of Houston, among the many men suing for alleged abuse, says he was molested by a Scout leader over several months in the mid-1970s in the Spokane, Washington, area. Regarding the bankruptcy, he said, “It is a shame because at its core and what it was supposed to be, the Boy Scouts is a beautiful organisation.”
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
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france24--2020-02-18--French town suspends ties with Polish twin city over LGBT rights

A sticker with words `` LGBT-free zone '' distributed in the weekly conservative magazine `` Gazeta Polska '' is shown in Warsaw , Poland , on July 24 , 2019 .
A Polish mayor on Monday deplored the decision by a sister town in France to suspend 25-year official ties with her town because it declared itself an area “ free of LGBT ideology.
” The mayor of the south-eastern town of Tuchow , Magdalena Marszalek , blamed the rare decision by the French community it had been twinned with , Saint-Jean-de-Braye , on campaigning ahead of local elections there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will cut friendly relations among residents , as Tuchow will no longer be able to sponsor visits by people from Saint-Jean-de-Braye .
Marszalek said many in her community do not identify with the declaration adopted last year by local councilors of Poland ’ s ruling conservative Law and Justice party .
The sister municipality in central France suspended ties last week and said in a statement that “ France is committed to combating human rights violations based on sexual orientation ... We can not accept that the ties that unite our two cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We condemn the position taken by our twin city of Tuchow.
” Tuchow was among other towns in south-eastern Poland that adopted the declaration in May saying they wanted to defend themselves against “ radicals ... who attack freedom of speech , childhood innocence , the authority of family and school and the freedom of businesspeople.
” The declaration came in reaction to Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski , an opposition politician , declaring the capital city supportive of the LGBT community and its rights .
Poland ’ s ruling party and other social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children and traditional families from being demoralized and corrupted by a growing gay rights movement .

A Polish mayor on Monday deplored the decision by a sister town in France to suspend 25-year official ties with her town because it declared itself an area “free of LGBT ideology.”
A sticker with words "LGBT-free zone" distributed in the weekly conservative magazine "Gazeta Polska" is shown in Warsaw, Poland, on July 24, 2019.
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The mayor of the south-eastern town of Tuchow, Magdalena Marszalek, blamed the rare decision by the French community it had been twinned with, Saint-Jean-de-Braye, on campaigning ahead of local elections there.
She expressed regret that severing ties will cut friendly relations among residents, as Tuchow will no longer be able to sponsor visits by people from Saint-Jean-de-Braye.
Marszalek said many in her community do not identify with the declaration adopted last year by local councilors of Poland’s ruling conservative Law and Justice party.
The sister municipality in central France suspended ties last week and said in a statement that “France is committed to combating human rights violations based on sexual orientation ... We cannot accept that the ties that unite our two cities by a twinning oath be tainted. We condemn the position taken by our twin city of Tuchow.”
Tuchow was among other towns in south-eastern Poland that adopted the declaration in May saying they wanted to defend themselves against “radicals ... who attack freedom of speech, childhood innocence, the authority of family and school and the freedom of businesspeople.”
The declaration came in reaction to Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, an opposition politician, declaring the capital city supportive of the LGBT community and its rights.
Poland’s ruling party and other social conservatives say they are trying to protect children and traditional families from being demoralized and corrupted by a growing gay rights movement.
(AP)
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france24--2020-02-18--France's Alstom to buy rail unit of Canadian firm Bombardier for €6.2 billion

A Bombardier advertising board at the train station in Bern , Switzerland , on October 24 , 2019 .
French company Alstom said on Monday it had agreed to buy the rail division of Bombardier , speeding up the Canadian firm ’ s fire sale .
Alstom will pay up to 6.2 billion euros ( $ 6.8 billion ) in a mix of cash and shares , according to a memorandum of understanding between the firms .
The Quebec pension firm Caisse de Depot , which owns 32.5 percent in Bombardier Transportation , will become Alstom ’ s biggest single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the French company .
Alstom said it planned to move its Americas headquarters to Montreal .
“ This acquisition will improve our global reach and our ability to respond to the ever-increasing need for sustainable mobility , ” said CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge .
“ There is no idea of restructuring or threats to jobs , but rather the opposite , ” he later told journalists .
The acquisition stood to boost Alstom ’ s presence in markets where Bombardier is strong – notably Germany , Britain , North America – and also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s position is “ unique ” , he said .
Analysts said the French company hopes to add scale in a sector where China ’ s state-owned CRCC is the world ’ s largest rolling stock manufacturer .
Alstom ’ s move comes a year after the European Commission blocked an attempt at a mega-merger of its rail activities with those of Germany ’ s Siemens , which would have created a European rail champion .
Berlin-based Bombardier Transport last year posted sales of $ 8.3 billion , ending 2019 with $ 35.8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Alstom ’ s 2018-2019 sales came in at $ 8.1 billion and the firm had outstanding orders of $ 43 billion at the end of 2018 .
Heavily indebted Bombardier , which started out making snowmobiles 80 years ago , embarked in 2015 on a major restructuring and said in January it was planning a range of divestments .
Last year , burdened by a debt pile of some $ 9 billion – most of it long-term – Canada ’ s top manufacturer agreed to sell off its regional jet programme to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 750 million .
In 2018 , it had sold control of the CSeries medium-haul jet programme to Airbus which renamed it the A220 .
Last week , Bombardier said it would sell off to Airbus and the Quebec government – where the firm has some 14,000 staff and supports around another 40,000 jobs – its remaining 33.58 percent stake in the programme .
Bombardier also recently announced it was selling off its aerostructures business to Spirit AeroSystems of the US for more than $ 1 billion in cash and debt .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 36,000 , retain their profitable Learjet , Challenger and Global Express business jets activity .
On January 16 , Bombardier had announced it was “ actively pursuing alternatives that would allow us to accelerate our debt paydown , ” while again revising downward its preliminary 2019 revenues .
Alstom , which makes France ’ s TGV high-speed trains , employs 36,300 staff , a quarter of them in France .
Between them , the two firms have a virtual monopoly on rolling stock in France and regularly work in tandem on infrastructure such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ train network .
Adding Bombardier Transport would position Alstom as a global rival to China ’ s giant CRCC which boasted sales of around $ 30 billion in 2018 .
Although some 90 percent of its sales are in China , China Railway Construction Corporation ( CRCC ) has been spreading its tentacles further afield notably with tram investments in Portugal .
It has also intimated , according to weekend British media reports , a readiness to engage in construction of Britain ’ s HS2 high-speed project .
Alstom had already held up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Siemens only for Brussels to rule a merged company would have had an overly dominant market position in Europe .
Poupart-Lafarge , who began his career at the World Bank , has targeted “ internal investment and external partnerships ” but also “ acquisitions ” as the way ahead after the derailed Siemens merger .
Alstom has focused on transport after ceding its energy interests to General Electric five years ago .
It is now debt free with cash in the bank .

French company Alstom said on Monday it had agreed to buy the rail division of Bombardier, speeding up the Canadian firm’s fire sale.
A Bombardier advertising board at the train station in Bern, Switzerland, on October 24, 2019.
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Alstom will pay up to 6.2 billion euros ($6.8 billion) in a mix of cash and shares, according to a memorandum of understanding between the firms.
The Quebec pension firm Caisse de Depot, which owns 32.5 percent in Bombardier Transportation, will become Alstom’s biggest single shareholder on completion with around 18 percent in the French company.
Alstom said it planned to move its Americas headquarters to Montreal.
‘Improve global reach’
“This acquisition will improve our global reach and our ability to respond to the ever-increasing need for sustainable mobility,” said CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge.
“There is no idea of restructuring or threats to jobs, but rather the opposite,” he later told journalists.
The acquisition stood to boost Alstom’s presence in markets where Bombardier is strong – notably Germany, Britain, North America – and also in China where the Canadian company’s position is “unique”, he said.
Analysts said the French company hopes to add scale in a sector where China’s state-owned CRCC is the world’s largest rolling stock manufacturer.
Alstom’s move comes a year after the European Commission blocked an attempt at a mega-merger of its rail activities with those of Germany’s Siemens, which would have created a European rail champion.
Berlin-based Bombardier Transport last year posted sales of $8.3 billion, ending 2019 with $35.8 billion of business on its order books.
Alstom’s 2018-2019 sales came in at $8.1 billion and the firm had outstanding orders of $43 billion at the end of 2018.
Heavily indebted Bombardier, which started out making snowmobiles 80 years ago, embarked in 2015 on a major restructuring and said in January it was planning a range of divestments.
Last year, burdened by a debt pile of some $9 billion – most of it long-term – Canada’s top manufacturer agreed to sell off its regional jet programme to Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for $750 million.
In 2018, it had sold control of the CSeries medium-haul jet programme to Airbus which renamed it the A220.
Last week, Bombardier said it would sell off to Airbus and the Quebec government – where the firm has some 14,000 staff and supports around another 40,000 jobs – its remaining 33.58 percent stake in the programme.
Bombardier also recently announced it was selling off its aerostructures business to Spirit AeroSystems of the US for more than $1 billion in cash and debt.
The Canadians, with a workforce of some 36,000, retain their profitable Learjet, Challenger and Global Express business jets activity.
On January 16, Bombardier had announced it was “actively pursuing alternatives that would allow us to accelerate our debt paydown,” while again revising downward its preliminary 2019 revenues.
Alstom, which makes France’s TGV high-speed trains, employs 36,300 staff, a quarter of them in France.
Chinese competition
Between them, the two firms have a virtual monopoly on rolling stock in France and regularly work in tandem on infrastructure such as metros and the Paris RER regional train network.
Adding Bombardier Transport would position Alstom as a global rival to China’s giant CRCC which boasted sales of around $30 billion in 2018.
Although some 90 percent of its sales are in China, China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) has been spreading its tentacles further afield notably with tram investments in Portugal.
It has also intimated, according to weekend British media reports, a readiness to engage in construction of Britain’s HS2 high-speed project.
Alstom had already held up the Chinese threat in trying to merge with Siemens only for Brussels to rule a merged company would have had an overly dominant market position in Europe.
Poupart-Lafarge, who began his career at the World Bank, has targeted “internal investment and external partnerships” but also “acquisitions” as the way ahead after the derailed Siemens merger.
Alstom has focused on transport after ceding its energy interests to General Electric five years ago.
It is now debt free with cash in the bank.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-18--EU threatens big tech companies with tougher rules on hate speech

Facebook Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg meets with European Commissioner for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova at the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels , Belgium February 17 , 2020 .
A top EU official for digital policy warned Monday that big tech companies could face tougher rules and penalties in Europe if they failed to adequately curb hate speech and disinformation .
European Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton remarks followed talks with Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg , who was in Brussels urging officials to not go too far in punishing platforms for carrying hate speech .
`` If all the platforms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respect the conditions that I have just outlined , yes , we will be forced to intervene in a stricter way , '' Breton told reporters .
But Breton , who leads up EU digital policy along with Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager , warned that new legislation by the end of the year could be much tougher on big tech .
These new rules `` can be binding to avoid this kind of abuse , because it is abusive , when totally illegal content is massively disseminated to our fellow citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French finance minister said a proposal for a Digital Services Act by the end of the year could carry real consequences for companies like Facebook that had so far self regulated .
In the meetings , the founder of the world 's biggest social media network that also owns Instagram and Whatsapp , emphasised the importance of better controlling hate speech and disinformation on platforms -- but without muzzling free speech .
He raised the topic with European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova , a top Brussels official who became an outspoken critic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scandal in 2018 .
Good regulation of hate speech would require a new type of regulator for the EU , Zuckerberg argued to Jourova .
In a paper submitted to the commissioners , Facebook stressed that the way to limit unwanted speech was to make sure that platforms put the right systems in place , not by holding them liable for the speech itself .
`` Publisher liability laws that punish the publication of illegal speech are unsuitable for the internet landscape , '' the paper said .
Breton said the proposals by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not enough : too slow , too low in term of responsibilities '' .
Facebook needs `` to be more specific on the responsibility and market dominance was not mentioned '' , he added .
Zuckerberg came to EU headquarters as Brussels prepares to unveil a highly-anticipated strategy to regulate artificial intelligence .
Google boss Sundar Pichai made a similar visit in January and called on Brussels to tread carefully in regulating AI .
With AI in mind , Zuckerberg also met with Vestager , another leading scourge of big tech , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fines on Google .
Her proposal on AI , due Wednesday , was expected to pursue a `` risk-based '' approach similar to how Europe approaches food safety concerns , such as GMOs and certain chemicals .
Vestager has told reporters she would back away from a ban on facial recognition technology and instead ask companies and authorities to think hard before deploying it .

A top EU official for digital policy warned Monday that big tech companies could face tougher rules and penalties in Europe if they failed to adequately curb hate speech and disinformation.
Facebook Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg meets with European Commissioner for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova at the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium February 17, 2020.
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European Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton remarks followed talks with Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg, who was in Brussels urging officials to not go too far in punishing platforms for carrying hate speech.
"If all the platforms operating on the European continent do not respect the conditions that I have just outlined, yes, we will be forced to intervene in a stricter way," Breton told reporters.
But Breton, who leads up EU digital policy along with Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager, warned that new legislation by the end of the year could be much tougher on big tech.
These new rules "can be binding to avoid this kind of abuse, because it is abusive, when totally illegal content is massively disseminated to our fellow citizens," Breton said.
The former French finance minister said a proposal for a Digital Services Act by the end of the year could carry real consequences for companies like Facebook that had so far self regulated.
In the meetings, the founder of the world's biggest social media network that also owns Instagram and Whatsapp, emphasised the importance of better controlling hate speech and disinformation on platforms -- but without muzzling free speech.
He raised the topic with European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova, a top Brussels official who became an outspoken critic of Facebook after the Cambridge Analytica data scandal in 2018.
Good regulation of hate speech would require a new type of regulator for the EU, Zuckerberg argued to Jourova.
'Not enough'
In a paper submitted to the commissioners, Facebook stressed that the way to limit unwanted speech was to make sure that platforms put the right systems in place, not by holding them liable for the speech itself.
"Publisher liability laws that punish the publication of illegal speech are unsuitable for the internet landscape," the paper said.
Breton said the proposals by Facebook were "interesting" but "not enough: too slow, too low in term of responsibilities".
Facebook needs "to be more specific on the responsibility and market dominance was not mentioned", he added.
Zuckerberg came to EU headquarters as Brussels prepares to unveil a highly-anticipated strategy to regulate artificial intelligence.
Google boss Sundar Pichai made a similar visit in January and called on Brussels to tread carefully in regulating AI.
With AI in mind, Zuckerberg also met with Vestager, another leading scourge of big tech, who has inflicted billions of euros in anti-trust fines on Google.
Her proposal on AI, due Wednesday, was expected to pursue a "risk-based" approach similar to how Europe approaches food safety concerns, such as GMOs and certain chemicals.
Vestager has told reporters she would back away from a ban on facial recognition technology and instead ask companies and authorities to think hard before deploying it.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-18--Angry Nissan shareholders blast bosses over dismal results

Shareholders livid about the performance of struggling Japanese car giant Nissan on Tuesday blasted bosses over dividends , executive pay , the stock price , and even the type of vehicle they use .
Shareholders voted to approve new chief executive Makoto Uchida in his post but he received a barrage of furious questions at an extraordinary shareholders ' meeting after the most recent results showed a more than 87-percent plunge in net profit for the nine months to December .
`` I 've been a Nissan shareholder for close to 20 years .
You need to review what you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shares .
Uchida-san , you have 2,000 shares .
I have more than you ! ''
shouted one stockholder .
`` I bought it at 800 yen per share .
I never thought it would fall below 700 yen .
It 's less than 500 yen per share now .
What do you think about this ?
Is it better to sell them on the market ?
What shall I do with my Nissan shares ? ''
The firm failed to issue a dividend to shareholders after posting a net loss of 26.1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December , its first third-quarter loss in more than a decade .
It is still battling to restore its reputation after the stunning arrest and later escape of former boss Carlos Ghosn on financial misconduct charges that he denies .
Uchida sought to placate the shareholders , pointing to a strategic review expected in May that he hopes will turn around the company 's fortunes .
`` Shareholders , please give us time .
I appreciate your patience ...
I want Nissan to be better .
All the top management including myself are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , '' he said .
But the audience continued attack after attack , with one upbraiding the chairman of alliance partner Renault , Jean-Dominique Senard , for driving off from one meeting in a competitor 's car .
`` After the shareholders ' meeting , you rode a ( Toyota ) Alphard to leave Japan or leave Yokohama .
Alphard !
Nissan executives were enraged .
Of course .
You were in a competitor 's model .
Why did you choose to do that , Mr Senard ? ''
`` You can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of mindset , '' fumed the shareholder .
A repentant Senard said there would be no repetition of the faux pas .
`` As soon as I had noticed ...
I said that could never happen again .
I apologise for that .
I 'm awfully sorry , '' he said .
Executive pay was also an issue on shareholders ' minds , with one out-of-pocket member making the point : `` If you are going to reduce the dividend by that amount , you have to revise executive compensation . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ management .
These 57 people in the top management scheme , your compensation should be less than 10 million yen ( $ 91,000 ) . ''
`` You should immediately take this decision and send a press release immediately ! ''

Shareholders livid about the performance of struggling Japanese car giant Nissan on Tuesday blasted bosses over dividends, executive pay, the stock price, and even the type of vehicle they use.
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Shareholders voted to approve new chief executive Makoto Uchida in his post but he received a barrage of furious questions at an extraordinary shareholders' meeting after the most recent results showed a more than 87-percent plunge in net profit for the nine months to December.
"I've been a Nissan shareholder for close to 20 years. You need to review what you're doing. I have 3,000 Nissan shares. Uchida-san, you have 2,000 shares. I have more than you!" shouted one stockholder.
"I bought it at 800 yen per share. I never thought it would fall below 700 yen. It's less than 500 yen per share now. What do you think about this? Is it better to sell them on the market? What shall I do with my Nissan shares?"
The firm failed to issue a dividend to shareholders after posting a net loss of 26.1 billion yen for the three months to December, its first third-quarter loss in more than a decade.
It is still battling to restore its reputation after the stunning arrest and later escape of former boss Carlos Ghosn on financial misconduct charges that he denies.
Uchida sought to placate the shareholders, pointing to a strategic review expected in May that he hopes will turn around the company's fortunes.
"Shareholders, please give us time. I appreciate your patience... I want Nissan to be better. All the top management including myself are taking this situation seriously and working on it," he said.
But the audience continued attack after attack, with one upbraiding the chairman of alliance partner Renault, Jean-Dominique Senard, for driving off from one meeting in a competitor's car.
"After the shareholders' meeting, you rode a (Toyota) Alphard to leave Japan or leave Yokohama. Alphard! Nissan executives were enraged. Of course. You were in a competitor's model. Why did you choose to do that, Mr Senard?"
"You cannot make the alliance successful with that kind of mindset," fumed the shareholder.
A repentant Senard said there would be no repetition of the faux pas.
"As soon as I had noticed... I said that could never happen again. I apologise for that. I'm awfully sorry," he said.
Executive pay was also an issue on shareholders' minds, with one out-of-pocket member making the point: "If you are going to reduce the dividend by that amount, you have to revise executive compensation."
"There are 57 executives in top management. These 57 people in the top management scheme, your compensation should be less than 10 million yen ($91,000)."
"You should immediately take this decision and send a press release immediately!"
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-18--At least 20 killed in stampede at handout for refugees in southeast Niger

An aerial view shows houses outside the town of Diffa , March 21 , 2015 .
Fifteen women and five children were trampled to death on Monday in a stampede for food and money for refugees in southeast Niger , a regional governor said .
The accident occurred at a youth and culture centre in Diffa , the main town of a region of the same name that hosts more than a quarter of a million refugees and internally displaced people .
`` Unfortunately , fifteen women and five children died ... in this regrettable drama , '' Issa Lemine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said on television after visiting the injured in hospital .
Aid workers confirmed the death toll and said about 10 people had been injured .
The region which abuts Nigeria and Chad has been repeatedly hit by attacks by Nigeria 's Boko Haram jihadist group since 2015 .
It hosts 119,000 Nigerian refugees , 109,000 internally-displaced people and 30,000 Nigeriens who have come home from Nigeria because of the instability in its northeast , according to UN figures released in October .
The aid being distributed had been given by Babagana Umara Zulum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northeast Nigeria , a Nigerian official told AFP .
He had come to the region to visit camps for refugees and the displaced , and had already left the town when the stampede occurred .
A large amount of food , cooking oil and clothing , as well as money , was due to be distributed , a Diffa municipal worker told AFP .
`` Thousands of people were in the courtyard of the MJC ( Culture and Youth Centre ) and nearby , '' he said .
`` As soon as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compressed crowd started to get excited , the organisers were swiftly overwhelmed and then it all kicked off -- women , children and the fit ones started to push , '' the employee said .
`` The weakest people fell to the ground .
Some were injured and others were crushed to death . ''
A local resident told AFP that aid workers were distributing 5,000 naira ( $ 13.75 , 12.7 euros ) , referring to Nigeria 's national currency .
Diffa governor Lemine said a successful distribution had taken place on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most of them refugees , heard about the handout and left the camps , sometimes travelling up to 100 kilometres ( 60 miles ) to get to Diffa , '' the source said .
A local official said he was astonished at the situation : `` Normally , people who are entitled to the handouts send a representative to Diffa to pick it up .
But this time , the refugees themselves decided to come and get it , travelling dozens of kilometres ( miles ) . ''
Another resident said : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the hope of getting the handout . ''
A local journalist said the emergency services arrived swiftly , taking wounded people to local treatment centres , while bodies were taken to the morgue of the nearby Diffa hospital .
Zulum visited three sites housing more than 100,000 Nigerian refugees -- camps at Bosso , Garin-Wazan and Toummour .
In addition to a crisis sparked by jihadist violence , Diffa is also battling floods caused by the Yobe River , which delineates part of Niger 's border with Nigeria .
The floods have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the local authorities .
They have also devastated rice and pepper fields , whose harvests provide the backbone of the local economy .

Fifteen women and five children were trampled to death on Monday in a stampede for food and money for refugees in southeast Niger, a regional governor said.
An aerial view shows houses outside the town of Diffa, March 21, 2015.
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The accident occurred at a youth and culture centre in Diffa, the main town of a region of the same name that hosts more than a quarter of a million refugees and internally displaced people.
"Unfortunately, fifteen women and five children died... in this regrettable drama," Issa Lemine, the regional governor of Diffa, said on television after visiting the injured in hospital.
Aid workers confirmed the death toll and said about 10 people had been injured.
The region which abuts Nigeria and Chad has been repeatedly hit by attacks by Nigeria's Boko Haram jihadist group since 2015.
It hosts 119,000 Nigerian refugees, 109,000 internally-displaced people and 30,000 Nigeriens who have come home from Nigeria because of the instability in its northeast, according to UN figures released in October.
The aid being distributed had been given by Babagana Umara Zulum, the governor of Borno state in northeast Nigeria, a Nigerian official told AFP.
He had come to the region to visit camps for refugees and the displaced, and had already left the town when the stampede occurred.
Crowd
A large amount of food, cooking oil and clothing, as well as money, was due to be distributed, a Diffa municipal worker told AFP.
"Thousands of people were in the courtyard of the MJC (Culture and Youth Centre) and nearby," he said.
"As soon as the first people received their rations, the compressed crowd started to get excited, the organisers were swiftly overwhelmed and then it all kicked off -- women, children and the fit ones started to push," the employee said.
"The weakest people fell to the ground. Some were injured and others were crushed to death."
A local resident told AFP that aid workers were distributing 5,000 naira ($13.75, 12.7 euros), referring to Nigeria's national currency.
Diffa governor Lemine said a successful distribution had taken place on Sunday.
"Thousands of people, most of them refugees, heard about the handout and left the camps, sometimes travelling up to 100 kilometres (60 miles) to get to Diffa," the source said.
A local official said he was astonished at the situation: "Normally, people who are entitled to the handouts send a representative to Diffa to pick it up. But this time, the refugees themselves decided to come and get it, travelling dozens of kilometres (miles)."
Another resident said: "Even ordinary inhabitants of Diffa rushed there in the hope of getting the handout."
A local journalist said the emergency services arrived swiftly, taking wounded people to local treatment centres, while bodies were taken to the morgue of the nearby Diffa hospital.
Floods
Zulum visited three sites housing more than 100,000 Nigerian refugees -- camps at Bosso, Garin-Wazan and Toummour.
In addition to a crisis sparked by jihadist violence, Diffa is also battling floods caused by the Yobe River, which delineates part of Niger's border with Nigeria.
The floods have left more than 20,000 people without shelter, according to the local authorities.
They have also devastated rice and pepper fields, whose harvests provide the backbone of the local economy.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-18--Defendants in Gezi Park trial acquitted but new arrest warrant issued for Osman Kavala

An Istanbul court on Tuesday acquitted nine activists held on terrorism charges in relation to anti-government protests , including philanthropist Osman Kavala , but later in the day issued a new arrest warrant for Kavala over a failed 2013 coup .
A court in Istanbul on Tuesday acquitted nine leading Turkish civil society activists of terrorism-related charges in relation to anti-government protests .
The trial of 16 leading activists was seen by critics as a momentous bid by the government to crack down on opposition voices and criminalise anti-government protests .
The defendants were accused of organising anti-government protests in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2013 .
The court also ruled that Kavala , the sole defendant still in jail , should be freed .
But a new arrest warrant for him was issued later in the day .
The trial against seven other defendants , some of who escaped overseas , will continue .
The protests began to protect a small park in central Istanbul from being redeveloped as a shopping mall but grew into a wider protest movement across Turkey , challenging the authority of Recep Tayyip Erdogan , who was Turkey ’ s prime minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s president .
The trial took place Tuesday in a courthouse near the Silivri maximum security prison campus on the outskirts of Istanbul .
Rights groups , lawmakers and hundreds of supporters arrived to observe the trial .
Many burst into applause when Kavala entered the courtroom .
The prosecutor had been seeking a life sentence in solitary confinement without parole for Kavala , architect Mucella Yapici and Yigit Aksakoglu , who works on early childhood development and spent 221 days in pretrial detention .
They rejected the accusation that they tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests were simply an exercise of democratic rights .
Yapici , who is a member of Taksim Solidarity , a group working for the area ’ s urban issues , has already been tried for her involvement in the protests on other charges and was acquitted in 2015 .
Defense lawyers say their witnesses have yet to be heard and that the evidence has not been adequately presented .
The prosecutor asked that demands to hear the witnesses on Tuesday be rejected .
The court agreed .
The prosecutor was also demanding 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other defendants , among them filmmakers , a lawyer and an urban planner , for aiding an attempted overthrow .
Kavala was arrested four years after the protests and held in pretrial detention for 840 days .
In the December ruling , the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights said that Kavala ’ s right to liberty was violated by a lack of reasonable suspicion , and that his extended detention served “ the ulterior purpose of reducing him to silence ” with a “ chilling effect on civil society ” .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a non-profit institution that focuses on cultural and artistic projects for peace and dialogue called Anadolu Kultur .
Kavala has maintained that he took part in peaceful activities to defend the environment and the park , which is near his office , and rejected the accusation that he organised and financed the protests .
An estimated 3.6 million people joined the Gezi Park protests , according to government estimates , and thousands were injured .
Police used teargas and water cannons to disperse the mostly peaceful protesters and have been criticised for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ puts the number of those killed in the unrest at 15 , including a police officer , but the prosecutor ’ s indictment against the defendants says five were killed .
The discrepancy stems from the inclusion of heart attacks and cerebral hemorrhages thought to be caused by pepper spray , as well as those killed in other protests during the same period .

An Istanbul court on Tuesday acquitted nine activists held on terrorism charges in relation to anti-government protests, including philanthropist Osman Kavala, but later in the day issued a new arrest warrant for Kavala over a failed 2016 coup.
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A court in Istanbul on Tuesday acquitted nine leading Turkish civil society activists of terrorism-related charges in relation to anti-government protests.
The trial of 16 leading activists was seen by critics as a momentous bid by the government to crack down on opposition voices and criminalise anti-government protests. The defendants were accused of organising anti-government protests in an attempt to overthrow the government in 2013.
The court also ruled that Kavala, the sole defendant still in jail, should be freed. But a new arrest warrant for him was issued later in the day.
The trial against seven other defendants, some of who escaped overseas, will continue.
The protests began to protect a small park in central Istanbul from being redeveloped as a shopping mall but grew into a wider protest movement across Turkey, challenging the authority of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was Turkey’s prime minister at the time and is now Turkey’s president.
The trial took place Tuesday in a courthouse near the Silivri maximum security prison campus on the outskirts of Istanbul. Rights groups, lawmakers and hundreds of supporters arrived to observe the trial. Many burst into applause when Kavala entered the courtroom.
The prosecutor had been seeking a life sentence in solitary confinement without parole for Kavala, architect Mucella Yapici and Yigit Aksakoglu, who works on early childhood development and spent 221 days in pretrial detention. They rejected the accusation that they tried to overthrow the government and say the protests were simply an exercise of democratic rights.
Yapici, who is a member of Taksim Solidarity, a group working for the area’s urban issues, has already been tried for her involvement in the protests on other charges and was acquitted in 2015.
Defense lawyers say their witnesses have yet to be heard and that the evidence has not been adequately presented. The prosecutor asked that demands to hear the witnesses on Tuesday be rejected. The court agreed.
The prosecutor was also demanding 15 to 20 years in prison for six other defendants, among them filmmakers, a lawyer and an urban planner, for aiding an attempted overthrow.
'Right to liberty violated'
Kavala was arrested four years after the protests and held in pretrial detention for 840 days. In the December ruling, the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights said that Kavala’s right to liberty was violated by a lack of reasonable suspicion, and that his extended detention served “the ulterior purpose of reducing him to silence” with a “chilling effect on civil society”.
The 63-year-old is a businessperson and the founder of a non-profit institution that focuses on cultural and artistic projects for peace and dialogue called Anadolu Kultur.
Kavala has maintained that he took part in peaceful activities to defend the environment and the park, which is near his office, and rejected the accusation that he organised and financed the protests.
An estimated 3.6 million people joined the Gezi Park protests, according to government estimates, and thousands were injured. Police used teargas and water cannons to disperse the mostly peaceful protesters and have been criticised for excessive force.
The Turkish Bar Association puts the number of those killed in the unrest at 15, including a police officer, but the prosecutor’s indictment against the defendants says five were killed. The discrepancy stems from the inclusion of heart attacks and cerebral hemorrhages thought to be caused by pepper spray, as well as those killed in other protests during the same period.
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
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france24--2020-02-18--UN-backed government in Libya suspends talks after Haftar attacks Tripoli port

Smoke rises from a port in Tripoli , Libya after an attack on February 18 , 2020 .
Libya 's internationally recognised government on Tuesday halted talks hosted by the United Nations to halt war over the capital after eastern forces shelled Tripoli 's port , almost hitting a highly explosive gas tanker and disrupting fuel supplies .
The U.N. has been hosting in Geneva ceasefire talks between officers from the Tripoli government and the eastern-based Libya National Army ( LNA ) , which has been trying to take the capital in a near year-long campaign displacing at least 150,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by foreign powers backing rival parties at a summit in Germany a month ago , an event that has not halted a war that has ripped apart the oil producer since the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 .
The LNA on Tuesday shelled Tripoli port , saying first it had attacked a Turkish vessel bringing weapons but saying later it had hit an arms depot .
Heavy artillery fire could be also heard late at night in parts of Tripoli though details were unclear .
In response , the Tripoli-based Government of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspended its participation in ceasefire talks `` until firm responses are taken against the attacker , and we will respond firmly to the attack in appropriate timing . ''
`` Negotiations do n't mean anything without permanent ceasefire guarantees returning the displaced people and the security of the capital and the other cities , '' it added .
Tripoli port is a major gateway for food , fuel , wheat and other imports for the capital , which is home to the internationally recognised government .
State oil firm NOC said it had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ port after a missile struck meters away `` from a highly explosive liquefied petroleum gas ( LPG ) tanker discharging in the port '' .
`` Today ’ s attack on Tripoli port could have led to a humanitarian and environmental disaster , '' NOC Chairman Mustafa Sanalla said .
`` The city does not have operational fuel storage facilities ... the consequences will be immediate ; hospitals , schools , power stations and other vital services will be disrupted , '' he said .
Tripoli-based forces said the LNA had fired four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent several ships carrying arms and heavy trucks to Tripoli and Misrata , another western port allied to the Tripoli government , diplomats say .
The LNA is allied to a parallel government in eastern Libya supported by the United Arab Emirates , Egypt , Jordan and Russian mercenaries .
Eastern ports and airports are out of range of the Tripoli forces and its Turkish drones .
Tuesday 's attack on the port unfolded as officers from the Tripoli forces and the LNA held a second round of indirect talks in Geneva to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refused again to sit in the same room , U.N. Libya envoy Ghassan Salame said , though he said he was hopeful of making progress .
`` So while the situation on the ground remains a situation where the truce is very fragile ... nobody has so far reneged on the principle of accepting the truce and the political process is trying to find a way to move forward , '' he told reporters before the GNA suspended its participation .
Salame added that he had received conditions from tribesmen allied to eastern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oil export ports , but said these were quite general and would have to be fleshed out in more U.N.-led talks in Geneva next week .
The port strike came as U.S. ambassador Richard Norland visited Haftar in his base near the eastern city of Benghazi .
`` The Ambassador noted General # Haftar ’ s stated commitment to a permanent ceasefire and reiterated the commitment of the Berlin participants to de-escalation , the arms embargo , and a political solution to the conflict , '' the U.S. embassy for Libya said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Germany last month where foreign powers agreed on paper to push for a ceasefire and enforce an arms embargo .

Libya's internationally recognised government on Tuesday halted talks hosted by the United Nations to halt war over the capital after eastern forces shelled Tripoli's port, almost hitting a highly explosive gas tanker and disrupting fuel supplies.
Smoke rises from a port in Tripoli, Libya, after an attack on February 18, 2020.
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The UN has been hosting in Geneva ceasefire talks between officers from the Tripoli government and the eastern-based Libya National Army (LNA), which has been trying to take the capital in a near year-long campaign displacing at least 150,000 people.
The talks had been agreed by foreign powers backing rival parties at a summit in Germany a month ago, an event that has not halted a war that has ripped apart the oil producer since the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
The LNA on Tuesday shelled Tripoli port, saying first it had attacked a Turkish vessel bringing weapons but saying later it had hit an arms depot. Heavy artillery fire could be also heard late at night in parts of Tripoli though details were unclear.
In response, the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord said in a statement it suspended its participation in ceasefire talks "until firm responses are taken against the attacker, and we will respond firmly to the attack in appropriate timing."
"Negotiations don't mean anything without permanent ceasefire guarantees returning the displaced people and the security of the capital and the other cities," it added.
Tripoli port is a major gateway for food, fuel, wheat and other imports for the capital, which is home to the internationally recognised government.
State oil firm NOC said it had urgently evacuated all fuel tankers from the port after a missile struck meters away "from a highly explosive liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker discharging in the port".
"Today’s attack on Tripoli port could have led to a humanitarian and environmental disaster," NOC Chairman Mustafa Sanalla said.
"The city does not have operational fuel storage facilities ... the consequences will be immediate; hospitals, schools, power stations and other vital services will be disrupted," he said.
Tripoli-based forces said the LNA had fired four missiles.
Since January, Turkey has sent several ships carrying arms and heavy trucks to Tripoli and Misrata, another western port allied to the Tripoli government, diplomats say.
The LNA is allied to a parallel government in eastern Libya supported by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan and Russian mercenaries. Eastern ports and airports are out of range of the Tripoli forces and its Turkish drones.
Indirect talks for ceasefire
Tuesday's attack on the port unfolded as officers from the Tripoli forces and the LNA held a second round of indirect talks in Geneva to establish a permanent ceasefire. Both sides refused again to sit in the same room, UN Libya envoy Ghassan Salame said, though he said he was hopeful of making progress.
"So while the situation on the ground remains a situation where the truce is very fragile... nobody has so far reneged on the principle of accepting the truce and the political process is trying to find a way to move forward," he told reporters before the GNA suspended its participation.
Salame added that he had received conditions from tribesmen allied to eastern forces to lift a blockade of eastern oil export ports, but said these were quite general and would have to be fleshed out in more UN-led talks in Geneva next week.
The port strike came as US ambassador Richard Norland visited Haftar in his base near the eastern city of Benghazi.
"The Ambassador noted General #Haftar’s stated commitment to a permanent ceasefire and reiterated the commitment of the Berlin participants to de-escalation, the arms embargo, and a political solution to the conflict," the US embassy for Libya said.
It was referring to a meeting in Germany last month where foreign powers agreed on paper to push for a ceasefire and enforce an arms embargo.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-02-18--Afghan election challenger Abdullah declares himself president, announces parallel government

Afghan presidential election challenger Abdullah Abdullah on Tuesday contested final results that declared incumbent President Ashraf Ghani the winner of a September presidential poll , vowing to form a parallel government .
`` Our team , based on clean and biometric votes , is the victor and we declare our victory .
The fraudsters are the shame of history and we announce our inclusive government , '' Abdullah said at a press conference in Kabul .
Earlier on Tuesday , Afghan election officials said final results showed he had won 39.52 percent of last September 's vote while Ghani had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent threshold needed to avoid another run-off .
`` The election commission ... declares Mr Ashraf Ghani , who has won 50.64 percent of the votes , as the president of Afghanistan , '' election commission chief Hawa Alam Nuristani told a press conference in Kabul .
`` May God help him in serving the people of Afghanistan ...
I also pray that peace comes to our country , '' she added .
The results had been delayed for nearly five months after allegations of vote-rigging from Ghani 's main rival , Chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The delay left Afghanistan facing a political crisis just as the US seeks a deal with the Taliban that would allow it to withdraw troops in return for various security guarantees and a promise that the militants would hold peace talks with the Afghan government .
Abdullah lost to Ghani in 2014 in a divisive election that saw the US intervene to broker an awkward power-sharing deal between the two rivals .

Afghan presidential election challenger Abdullah Abdullah on Tuesday contested final results that declared incumbent President Ashraf Ghani the winner of a September presidential poll, vowing to form a parallel government.
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"Our team, based on clean and biometric votes, is the victor and we declare our victory. The fraudsters are the shame of history and we announce our inclusive government," Abdullah said at a press conference in Kabul.
Earlier on Tuesday, Afghan election officials said final results showed he had won 39.52 percent of last September's vote while Ghani had taken 50.64 percent, above the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid another run-off.
"The election commission ... declares Mr Ashraf Ghani, who has won 50.64 percent of the votes, as the president of Afghanistan," election commission chief Hawa Alam Nuristani told a press conference in Kabul.
"May God help him in serving the people of Afghanistan ... I also pray that peace comes to our country," she added.
The results had been delayed for nearly five months after allegations of vote-rigging from Ghani's main rival, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, forced a recount.
The delay left Afghanistan facing a political crisis just as the US seeks a deal with the Taliban that would allow it to withdraw troops in return for various security guarantees and a promise that the militants would hold peace talks with the Afghan government.
Abdullah lost to Ghani in 2014 in a divisive election that saw the US intervene to broker an awkward power-sharing deal between the two rivals.
>> Exclusive: Abdullah Abdullah claims victory in Afghan presidential election
Spokesman for Abdullah Abdullah on #Afghanistan's election result:
"This announcement is unacceptable. We stand against it. We use all options on the table," Faridoon Khwazoon told @DaRadioAzadi
Election commission said Ghani won reelection with 50.6%, Abdullah with 39.5%. — Frud Bezhan فرود بيژن (@FrudBezhan) February 18, 2020
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-02-18--Resurgent conservative Rachida Dati bids to seize Paris mayor's office

While Emmanuel Macron ’ s camp has been shaken by his candidate ’ s resignation , conservative Rachida Dati has imposed herself as Socialist incumbent Anne Hidalgo ’ s biggest opponent in the Paris mayoral elections .
Analysts say Dati , the right-wing Républicains ’ candidate , has an increasingly strong chance of bringing the French right back from the dead in the City of Lights .
As campaigning got under way for March ’ s Paris mayoral elections last year , a renaissance for Les Républicans in the capital looked impossible .
The Parti Socialiste has won decisive victories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – consigning to the history books conservatives ’ dominance of the city during former President Jacques Chirac ’ s marathon tenure as mayor from 1977 to 1995 .
“ No one , except herself , expects Dati to beat Hidalgo , ” observed a Le Monde article in October , analysing the French right ’ s “ long defeat ” in Paris .
If any other party were to break the Socialists ’ hold on the French capital , it seemed it would be President Macron ’ s La République En Marche ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won 17 Paris seats in the 2017 parliamentary elections , compared to just three for Les Républicains .
But now Dati , a former justice minister under ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy , is a close second in polls for the mayoral contest .
The most recent survey , carried out by pollsters Odoxa for right-wing daily Le Figaro in late January , puts Dati at 20 percent – up two points from the previous polls and just three points behind Hidalgo , who was down by one percent .
The left-wing incumbent has divided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the City of Lights .
Roads have been dug up to make room for bike lanes across the French capital , while cars have been banned from large stretches of highway next to the River Seine .
Hidalgo wants to take these policies further by completely pedestrianising the city centre and turning the area around the Eiffel Tower into a massive public park .
Her environmentalist approach has gone down well amongst many Parisians – especially because the scorching summer of 2019 , when the city ’ s thermometers surged to a record-breaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , galvanising reality of climate change .
But it has made Hidalgo the bête noir of many motorists – a risky group to antagonise in France , seeing as the Macron government was famously rocked by the Yellow Vests , a movement born out of anger at his 2018 petrol price hikes .
There is also doubt about her policies ’ effectiveness : the number of days when Paris experienced heightened ozone levels – a telltale sign of poor air quality – trebled in the first four years of Hidalgo ’ s tenure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents of the French capital are concerned about crime , particularly since the latest official figures released in October showed the number of offences was up by more than 10 percent in the first nine months of 2019 .
“ A programme of disruptive public works that have not yet yielded clear benefits opens Hidalgo to the accusation of experimenting with environmental initiatives at the expense of the city ’ s inhabitants , ” said Jim Shields , a professor of French politics at Warwick University .
“ This is a powerful argument @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be harvested by a Dati candidacy promising to return Paris to the Parisians through a programme focused on housing , public transport , cleanliness , and law and order.
” “ Dati has brought the focus of the campaign back to daily life in Paris , ” added Christophe de Voogd , a professor of politics at Sciences Po .
“ She ’ s been clever to focus on these local issues , on which Hidalgo has failed.
” Dati has sought to capitalise on this disillusionment with Hidalgo , declaring on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at hand '' .
It is significant that she used the specific French word for political change – “ l ’ alternance ” – which has a rich history as a rallying cry for the country to swing to the opposite side of the left/right spectrum , especially against longstanding incumbents .
“ Talking about embodying l ’ alternance speaks to the imagination : Hidalgo has been the incumbent for a long time , including a spell as deputy mayor for nearly 14 years before taking her current office , and Paris ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looks like someone very different , ” said Andrew Smith , a professor of French politics at the University of Chichester .
“ All Dati ’ s talk about bringing back vibrancy with pro-business policies plays well , as does talking a lot about the very important issue of housing and her experience as a former justice minister , with a tough approach on crime , ” Smith continued .
“ That traditional right-wing style approach appeals to many in a municipal setting.
” As the chosen candidate of a president who campaigned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the centre-right , LREM ’ s Benjamin Griveaux tried to take a similar approach , reaching out to the petits bourgeois voters predominant in Paris ’ s western districts , who traditionally tend to favour Les Républicains .
He declared to Le Monde in October : “ I don ’ t want Paris to become a city just for the rich , the poor , tourists , and bobos ” – the “ bohemian-bourgeois ” , a bedrock of Hidalgo ’ s support clustered in eastern neighbourhoods of the city .
Yet even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sexual video on Friday , Griveaux struggled to gain traction , with the most recent polls showing him trailing in third place at 16 percent .
Macron acted quickly to try and salvage his attempt to win Paris – drafting in his well-respected health minister Agnès Buzyn to replace Griveaux on Sunday .
But “ Dati will still win votes from the soft right of LREM , ” said Smith .
“ Buzyn is a good candidate , a heavyweight , but she doesn ’ t carry with her a transformational aspect.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to win a majority in the first round on March 15 , they will both be seeking votes from supporters of the other candidates in the second round , exactly one week later .
In this redistribution of votes , “ we might expect Hidalgo to benefit most from the green votes of EELV ( the environmentalists polling in fourth place at 14.5 percent ) and Dati to pick up centre-right support from LREM ” , Shields observed .
“ This leaves the ex-LREM dissident Villani as the joker in the pack.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ style , Cédric Villani was the star of LREM MPs elected in 2017 .
He then made waves in a different manner in September – announcing that he was running for Paris mayor , even though an LREM committee had picked Griveaux two months previously .
The abundant media attention given to Villani sometimes belies his modest polling position , in fifth place at 10 percent .
Nevertheless , the redirection of his votes in the second round could be crucial in determining such a close race .
Despite Dati ’ s upward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pose a major threat to her bid for Paris : “ There may be grounds for seeing Villani ’ s support , with its marked green tinges , incline more to Hidalgo than to Dati , especially since Villani was a vocal supporter of Hidalgo ’ s original mayoral bid in 2014 , ” Shields noted .

While Emmanuel Macron’s camp has been shaken by his candidate’s resignation, conservative Rachida Dati has imposed herself as Socialist incumbent Anne Hidalgo’s biggest opponent in the Paris mayoral elections. Analysts say Dati, the right-wing Républicains’ candidate, has an increasingly strong chance of bringing the French right back from the dead in the City of Lights.
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As campaigning got under way for March’s Paris mayoral elections last year, a renaissance for Les Républicans in the capital looked impossible. The Parti Socialiste has won decisive victories in every battle for Paris since 2001 – consigning to the history books conservatives’ dominance of the city during former President Jacques Chirac’s marathon tenure as mayor from 1977 to 1995. “No one, except herself, expects Dati to beat Hidalgo,” observed a Le Monde article in October, analysing the French right’s “long defeat” in Paris.
If any other party were to break the Socialists’ hold on the French capital, it seemed it would be President Macron’s La République En Marche (LREM) – the centrist disrupters who won 17 Paris seats in the 2017 parliamentary elections, compared to just three for Les Républicains.
But now Dati, a former justice minister under ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy, is a close second in polls for the mayoral contest. The most recent survey, carried out by pollsters Odoxa for right-wing daily Le Figaro in late January, puts Dati at 20 percent – up two points from the previous polls and just three points behind Hidalgo, who was down by one percent.
‘Disgruntlement’ with Hidalgo
The left-wing incumbent has divided Parisians with her flagship plans to green the City of Lights. Roads have been dug up to make room for bike lanes across the French capital, while cars have been banned from large stretches of highway next to the River Seine. Hidalgo wants to take these policies further by completely pedestrianising the city centre and turning the area around the Eiffel Tower into a massive public park.
Her environmentalist approach has gone down well amongst many Parisians – especially because the scorching summer of 2019, when the city’s thermometers surged to a record-breaking 42.6 degrees, brought home the terrifying, galvanising reality of climate change.
But it has made Hidalgo the bête noir of many motorists – a risky group to antagonise in France, seeing as the Macron government was famously rocked by the Yellow Vests, a movement born out of anger at his 2018 petrol price hikes. There is also doubt about her policies’ effectiveness: the number of days when Paris experienced heightened ozone levels – a telltale sign of poor air quality – trebled in the first four years of Hidalgo’s tenure.
At the same time, many residents of the French capital are concerned about crime, particularly since the latest official figures released in October showed the number of offences was up by more than 10 percent in the first nine months of 2019.
“A programme of disruptive public works that have not yet yielded clear benefits opens Hidalgo to the accusation of experimenting with environmental initiatives at the expense of the city’s inhabitants,” said Jim Shields, a professor of French politics at Warwick University. “This is a powerful argument for many and leaves much disgruntlement to be harvested by a Dati candidacy promising to return Paris to the Parisians through a programme focused on housing, public transport, cleanliness, and law and order.”
“Dati has brought the focus of the campaign back to daily life in Paris,” added Christophe de Voogd, a professor of politics at Sciences Po. “She’s been clever to focus on these local issues, on which Hidalgo has failed.”
A ‘traditional right-wing approach’
Dati has sought to capitalise on this disillusionment with Hidalgo, declaring on Sunday that a “change in power is at hand". It is significant that she used the specific French word for political change – “l’alternance” – which has a rich history as a rallying cry for the country to swing to the opposite side of the left/right spectrum, especially against longstanding incumbents.
“Talking about embodying l’alternance speaks to the imagination: Hidalgo has been the incumbent for a long time, including a spell as deputy mayor for nearly 14 years before taking her current office, and Paris’s problems have persisted, whereas Dati looks like someone very different,” said Andrew Smith, a professor of French politics at the University of Chichester.
“All Dati’s talk about bringing back vibrancy with pro-business policies plays well, as does talking a lot about the very important issue of housing and her experience as a former justice minister, with a tough approach on crime,” Smith continued. “That traditional right-wing style approach appeals to many in a municipal setting.”
As the chosen candidate of a president who campaigned as a centrist but has governed on the centre-right, LREM’s Benjamin Griveaux tried to take a similar approach, reaching out to the petits bourgeois voters predominant in Paris’s western districts, who traditionally tend to favour Les Républicains. He declared to Le Monde in October: “I don’t want Paris to become a city just for the rich, the poor, tourists, and bobos” – the “bohemian-bourgeois”, a bedrock of Hidalgo’s support clustered in eastern neighbourhoods of the city.
Yet even before he withdrew following the publication of a sexual video on Friday, Griveaux struggled to gain traction, with the most recent polls showing him trailing in third place at 16 percent.
Macron acted quickly to try and salvage his attempt to win Paris – drafting in his well-respected health minister Agnès Buzyn to replace Griveaux on Sunday. But “Dati will still win votes from the soft right of LREM,” said Smith. “Buzyn is a good candidate, a heavyweight, but she doesn’t carry with her a transformational aspect.”
Villani, ‘the joker in the pack’
With neither Dati nor Hidalgo likely to win a majority in the first round on March 15, they will both be seeking votes from supporters of the other candidates in the second round, exactly one week later.
In this redistribution of votes, “we might expect Hidalgo to benefit most from the green votes of EELV (the environmentalists polling in fourth place at 14.5 percent) and Dati to pick up centre-right support from LREM”, Shields observed. “This leaves the ex-LREM dissident Villani as the joker in the pack.”
An award-winning mathematician with a flamboyant sartorial style, Cédric Villani was the star of LREM MPs elected in 2017. He then made waves in a different manner in September – announcing that he was running for Paris mayor, even though an LREM committee had picked Griveaux two months previously.
The abundant media attention given to Villani sometimes belies his modest polling position, in fifth place at 10 percent. Nevertheless, the redirection of his votes in the second round could be crucial in determining such a close race. Despite Dati’s upward trajectory in the polls, Villani voters pose a major threat to her bid for Paris: “There may be grounds for seeing Villani’s support, with its marked green tinges, incline more to Hidalgo than to Dati, especially since Villani was a vocal supporter of Hidalgo’s original mayoral bid in 2014,” Shields noted.
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france24--2020-02-18--Community policing part of Macron’s plan to ‘reclaim’ France’s neglected suburbs

Emmanuel Macron is expected to put forward a community policing programme to combat crime and radical Islamism in deprived urban areas where “ the French Republic has to reassert its presence ” .
French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a series of measures to combat what he called “ Islamist separatism ” in a speech Tuesday in one of France ’ s neglected suburbs in the eastern city of Mulhouse .
A significant part of his plan is a strong police presence in underprivileged communities .
FRANCE 24 reports .
Macron put forward policies to combat crime and radical Islamism in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republic has to reassert its presence ” , Élysée Palace sources told AFP .
Community policing is a key part of Macron 's agenda to `` reclaim '' these areas .
In a run-down district of post-industrial Lille , in northern France , such a scheme is already in place .
Local people say the programme is working well : “ You can work in your shop with ease , ” said one shopkeeper .
“ None of the young people bother you now.
” Click on the video player above to watch @ @ @ @ @ @

French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a series of measures to combat what he called “Islamist separatism” in a speech Tuesday in one of France’s neglected suburbs in the eastern city of Mulhouse. A significant part of his plan is a strong police presence in underprivileged communities. FRANCE 24 reports.
Emmanuel Macron is expected to put forward a community policing programme to combat crime and radical Islamism in deprived urban areas where “the French Republic has to reassert its presence”.
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Macron put forward policies to combat crime and radical Islamism in deprived urban areas where “the French Republic has to reassert its presence”, Élysée Palace sources told AFP.
Community policing is a key part of Macron's agenda to "reclaim" these areas. In a run-down district of post-industrial Lille, in northern France, such a scheme is already in place. Local people say the programme is working well: “You can work in your shop with ease,” said one shopkeeper. “None of the young people bother you now.”
Click on the video player above to watch FRANCE 24’s report.
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france24--2020-02-18--Dortmund's Haaland scores twice in 2-1 Champions League victory over PSG

Neymar scored but PSG lost all the same to Dortmund .
Borussia Dortmund teenager Erling Haaland scored twice in eight @ @ @ @ @ to a 2-1 victory over Paris St Germain in their Champions League Round of 16 @ @ @ @ @ The Norwegian 19-year-old , who has already netted eight times in five Bundesliga matches , @ @ @ @ @ after a quickfire passing move in the 69th minute and then thundered in an unstoppable @ @ @ @ @ the 77th , two minutes after Neymar had levelled for the French champions .
Haaland @ @ @ @ @ League goals in seven games this season -- eight for Salzburg in the group stage @ @ @ @ @ eliminated at this stage of the competition in the previous three seasons , had fit-again @ @ @ @ @ in the starting lineup but were almost completely shut out by an extremely efficient Dortmund @ @ @ @ @ had been out for weeks with a rib injury , hit the post late on @ @ @ @ @ in Paris on March 11 .

Borussia Dortmund teenager Erling Haaland scored twice in eight minutes to lead his team to a 2-1 victory over Paris St Germain in their Champions League Round of 16 first leg on Tuesday.
Neymar scored but PSG lost all the same to Dortmund.
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The Norwegian 19-year-old, who has already netted eight times in five Bundesliga matches, stabbed in from close range after a quickfire passing move in the 69th minute and then thundered in an unstoppable shot for his second in the 77th, two minutes after Neymar had levelled for the French champions.
Haaland has now scored 10 Champions League goals in seven games this season -- eight for Salzburg in the group stage.
PSG, who were eliminated at this stage of the competition in the previous three seasons, had fit-again Neymar and Kylian Mbappe back in the starting lineup but were almost completely shut out by an extremely efficient Dortmund backline.
Neymar, who had been out for weeks with a rib injury, hit the post late on. The return leg is in Paris on March 11.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-02-18--French prosecutors place duo in sex tape scandal under formal investigation

French prosecutors placed Pyotr Pavlensky and Alexandra de Taddeo , the couple suspected of publishing a racy video alleged to be of former Paris mayoral candidate Benjamin Griveaux , under formal investigation on Tuesday .
French prosecutors earlier on Tuesday placed de Taddeo , 29 , under formal investigation for invasion of privacy and publishing images of a sexual nature without consent .
De Taddeo was the recipient of the video that prompted the ruling party 's Benjamin Griveaux to abruptly pull out of the race for mayor of Paris last week .
She is being investigated for the leaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed a man masturbating along with racy text messages .
Pavlensky , a Russian activist who was granted political asylum in France in 2017 , has admitted to uploading the images onto a purpose-built website , saying he wanted to expose the `` hypocrisy '' of Griveaux , a married father of three .
Pavlensky , 35 , is also facing legal action over the affair that ended the campaign of the former government spokesman – the first senior French politician to bow out of an election over a sex scandal .
Pavlensky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Paris on Saturday and questioned for two days .
De Taddeo was released on Tuesday and ordered to refrain from contact with Pavlensky .
The young woman , a law student who speaks several languages including Russian , is thought to possess other videos from Griveaux , according to a source close to the investigation .
Her lawyer , Noémie Saidi-Cottier , confirmed that her client had received the messages from Griveaux but denied that she had kept them with a view to using them against him .
`` She kept them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding that she was `` not behind the publication of the images '' .
Pavlensky , who was still being questioned Tuesday evening , is also being investigated over a knife fight at a New Year 's Eve party in Paris .
Pavlensky was not placed under formal investigation for the New Year ’ s affair , according to his lawyer .
The activist said as he left the courthouse that he hoped to continue disseminating sex videos of `` civil servants , politicians , representatives of power '' .
The leaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sympathy for Griveaux in France , where politicians and the media have dismissed sex scandals as private affairs .
Pavlensky , who made global headlines in 2013 when he nailed his scrotum to Red Square in Moscow as a form of political protest , told AFP last week that he had wanted to expose the “ hypocrisy ” of the 42-year-old politician who had made families a core theme of his campaign .
The activist , who has a long record of radical protests , received asylum in France after falling foul of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go until the municipal elections , former health minister Agnès Buzyn was scrambled to take his place as the Paris mayoral candidate of Macron ’ s Republic on the Move ( LREM ) party .
She faces a stiff challenge to oust the Socialist incumbent Anne Hidalgo – Griveaux was already running in a distant third place before the video emerged .

French prosecutors placed Pyotr Pavlensky and Alexandra de Taddeo, the couple suspected of publishing a racy video alleged to be of former Paris mayoral candidate Benjamin Griveaux, under formal investigation on Tuesday.
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French prosecutors earlier on Tuesday placed de Taddeo, 29, under formal investigation for invasion of privacy and publishing images of a sexual nature without consent.
De Taddeo was the recipient of the video that prompted the ruling party's Benjamin Griveaux to abruptly pull out of the race for mayor of Paris last week. She is being investigated for the leaking of a video sent in 2018 that showed a man masturbating along with racy text messages.
Pavlensky, a Russian activist who was granted political asylum in France in 2017, has admitted to uploading the images onto a purpose-built website, saying he wanted to expose the "hypocrisy" of Griveaux, a married father of three.
Pavlensky, 35, is also facing legal action over the affair that ended the campaign of the former government spokesman – the first senior French politician to bow out of an election over a sex scandal.
Pavlensky and de Taddeo were taken into custody in Paris on Saturday and questioned for two days. De Taddeo was released on Tuesday and ordered to refrain from contact with Pavlensky.
The young woman, a law student who speaks several languages including Russian, is thought to possess other videos from Griveaux, according to a source close to the investigation.
Her lawyer, Noémie Saidi-Cottier, confirmed that her client had received the messages from Griveaux but denied that she had kept them with a view to using them against him.
"She kept them to keep them," she said, adding that she was "not behind the publication of the images".
Pavlensky, who was still being questioned Tuesday evening, is also being investigated over a knife fight at a New Year's Eve party in Paris.
Pavlensky was not placed under formal investigation for the New Year’s affair, according to his lawyer.
The activist said as he left the courthouse that he hoped to continue disseminating sex videos of "civil servants, politicians, representatives of power".
The leaking of the video triggered an outpouring of sympathy for Griveaux in France, where politicians and the media have dismissed sex scandals as private affairs.
Pavlensky, who made global headlines in 2013 when he nailed his scrotum to Red Square in Moscow as a form of political protest, told AFP last week that he had wanted to expose the “hypocrisy” of the 42-year-old politician who had made families a core theme of his campaign.
The activist, who has a long record of radical protests, received asylum in France after falling foul of Russian authorities.
With just a month to go until the municipal elections, former health minister Agnès Buzyn was scrambled to take his place as the Paris mayoral candidate of Macron’s Republic on the Move (LREM) party.
She faces a stiff challenge to oust the Socialist incumbent Anne Hidalgo – Griveaux was already running in a distant third place before the video emerged.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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