france24--2020-08-12--Brazil's Bolsonaro calls surging Amazon fires a 'lie'

Brazil 's President Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday angrily denied the existence of fires in the Amazon rainforest , calling it a `` lie , '' despite data produced by his own government showing that thousands of fires are surging across the region .
Bolsonaro last year similarly denied a spike in fires that provoked a global outcry , with the right-wing populist trading barbs with French President Emmanuel Macron and other world leaders .
The president 's comments on Tuesday come even as Reuters witnesses in the remote Amazon town of Apui observed smoke blanketing the horizon in all directions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sky aglow at night .
Fires in Brazil 's Amazon for the month of August hit a nine-year high in 2019 and this month so far looks even worse .
More than 10,000 fires have been recorded in the first 10 days of August , up 17 % from the same period a year ago , according to data from the country 's national space research agency Inpe .
But in a speech to other South American leaders on Tuesday , Bolsonaro challenged foreign representatives to fly over the Amazon saying that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities of Boa Vista to Manaus , you would not see a single flame .
`` They wo n't find any spot of fire , nor a quarter of a hectare deforested , '' the former army captain told a meeting of members of the Leticia Pact , an agreement between Amazon countries to protect the rainforest .
`` This story that the Amazon is going up in flames is a lie and we must combat it with true numbers , '' he said .
Bolsonaro interfered in Inpe after it released unfavorable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firing the agency 's head Ricardo Galvao who defended his agency 's numbers that showed rising destruction .
In his speech , Bolsonaro argued that Brazil has shown itself capable of protecting the Amazon alone because the majority of the forest is still standing .
He said the Amazon is a wet forest that preserves itself and does not catch fire .
The media and foreign governments are presenting a false narrative about the Amazon , he said .
Experts say that fires are not a natural phenomenon in the rainforest , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deforested land for pasture .
Deforestation rose 34.5 % in the 12-months through July , compared to the same period a year ago .
Forest clearances did fall in July , the first decline in 15 months , a point emphasized by Bolsonaro .
Foreign pressure is mounting on Brazil to protect the world 's largest rainforest , an ecosystem vital to preserving climate change because of the vast amount of carbon dioxide that it absorbs .
Global investors managing more than $ 2 trillion have threatened to pull their investments out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government bonds if Bolsonaro 's administration does n't take action on Amazon destruction .
Bolsonaro has dispatched the military to fight fires and deforestation since May , with the armed forces working with environmental agency Ibama to combat fires near Apui , according to Reuters witnesses .

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday angrily denied the existence of fires in the Amazon rainforest, calling it a "lie," despite data produced by his own government showing that thousands of fires are surging across the region.
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Bolsonaro last year similarly denied a spike in fires that provoked a global outcry, with the right-wing populist trading barbs with French President Emmanuel Macron and other world leaders.
The president's comments on Tuesday come even as Reuters witnesses in the remote Amazon town of Apui observed smoke blanketing the horizon in all directions during the day and large fires setting the sky aglow at night.
Fires in Brazil's Amazon for the month of August hit a nine-year high in 2019 and this month so far looks even worse.
More than 10,000 fires have been recorded in the first 10 days of August, up 17% from the same period a year ago, according to data from the country's national space research agency Inpe.
But in a speech to other South American leaders on Tuesday, Bolsonaro challenged foreign representatives to fly over the Amazon saying that traveling by air from the far flung cities of Boa Vista to Manaus, you would not see a single flame.
"They won't find any spot of fire, nor a quarter of a hectare deforested," the former army captain told a meeting of members of the Leticia Pact, an agreement between Amazon countries to protect the rainforest.
"This story that the Amazon is going up in flames is a lie and we must combat it with true numbers," he said.
Bolsonaro interfered in Inpe after it released unfavorable data on Amazon deforestation last year, firing the agency's head Ricardo Galvao who defended his agency's numbers that showed rising destruction.
In his speech, Bolsonaro argued that Brazil has shown itself capable of protecting the Amazon alone because the majority of the forest is still standing.
He said the Amazon is a wet forest that preserves itself and does not catch fire. The media and foreign governments are presenting a false narrative about the Amazon, he said.
Experts say that fires are not a natural phenomenon in the rainforest, but are usually man-made in order to clear deforested land for pasture.
Deforestation rose 34.5% in the 12-months through July, compared to the same period a year ago. Forest clearances did fall in July, the first decline in 15 months, a point emphasized by Bolsonaro.
Foreign pressure is mounting on Brazil to protect the world's largest rainforest, an ecosystem vital to preserving climate change because of the vast amount of carbon dioxide that it absorbs.
Global investors managing more than $2 trillion have threatened to pull their investments out of Brazil's meatpackers, grains traders and government bonds if Bolsonaro's administration doesn't take action on Amazon destruction.
Bolsonaro has dispatched the military to fight fires and deforestation since May, with the armed forces working with environmental agency Ibama to combat fires near Apui, according to Reuters witnesses.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-12--Several believed killed as train derails in Scotland

Emergency response teams are parked near the scene of a train crash by Stonehaven in northeast Scotland on August 12 , 2020 .
- A passenger train derailed in northeast Scotland on Wednesday , with reports of `` serious injuries '' in what First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described as `` an extremely serious incident '' .
Three people are believed to have died and one is feared missing after a train derailed in Scotland , Sky News said Wednesday , citing PA Media , in what has been declared a major incident .
The British Transport Police force said officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) to the railway line near Stonehaven , about 100 miles ( 160 kilometres ) northeast of Edinburgh , where a train had derailed .
Police , several ambulances , an air ambulance and fire engines were at the scene .
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted that it was “ an extremely serious incident ” .
“ I ’ ve had an initial report from Network Rail and the emergency services and am being kept updated .
All my thoughts are with those involved , ” she said .
British Prime Minister Boris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a “ very serious incident ” and “ my thoughts are with all of those affected ” .
Local lawmaker Andrew Bowie said one hospital in nearby Aberdeen had declared a major incident .
Stonehaven is on the line for passenger trains linking Aberdeen with the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow .
The hilly area was hit by storms and flash flooding overnight .
`` We obviously don ’ t know why the derailment took place , but obviously we have suffered terrible weather here , '' Bowie said .
Serious train @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The country 's last fatal derailment was in 2007 .

Three people are believed to have died and one is feared missing after a train derailed in Scotland, Sky News said Wednesday, citing PA Media, in what has been declared a major incident.
Emergency response teams are parked near the scene of a train crash by Stonehaven in northeast Scotland on August 12, 2020. - A passenger train derailed in northeast Scotland on Wednesday, with reports of "serious injuries" in what First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described as "an extremely serious incident".
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The British Transport Police force said officers were called at 9:43 am (0843GMT) to the railway line near Stonehaven, about 100 miles (160 kilometres) northeast of Edinburgh, where a train had derailed.
Police, several ambulances, an air ambulance and fire engines were at the scene.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted that it was “an extremely serious incident”.
“I’ve had an initial report from Network Rail and the emergency services and am being kept updated. All my thoughts are with those involved,” she said.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a tweet that it was a “very serious incident” and “my thoughts are with all of those affected”.
Local lawmaker Andrew Bowie said one hospital in nearby Aberdeen had declared a major incident.
Stonehaven is on the line for passenger trains linking Aberdeen with the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow. The hilly area was hit by storms and flash flooding overnight.
"We obviously don’t know why the derailment took place, but obviously we have suffered terrible weather here," Bowie said.
Serious train accidents are rare in the UK. The country's last fatal derailment was in 2007.
(FRANCE 24 with AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-12--Music, dance and no masks: Good times return to former virus epicentre Wuhan

Music festivals , crowded streets and packed shops and restaurants… these scenes would have been unimaginable in Wuhan just a few months ago .
But after enduring one of the world ’ s toughest lockdowns , good times are returning to what was once the epicentre of the Covid-19 pandemic .
Wuhan , believed to be the source of the Covid-19 coronavirus , went into lockdown in January .
For the next 76 days the streets were left largely deserted except for emergency workers and fearful citizens lined up outside pharmacies and hospitals .
But the lockdown was lifted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months on , tourists are back on the streets , people are enjoying the sunshine and many are even forgoing the face masks that have become mandatory in many other parts of the world .
`` It feels like our city has had a serious illness , but because of the time , coupled with the national policies and medical resources , it has slowly recovered its vitality and we have entered into a normal living state , ” bride Deng Xueqin told AFP as she posed for wedding photos with her groom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The hazmat suits that were once a common sight in the city are now confined to a museum , at a new pandemic-themed exhibition in the city .
But not everything is back to normal .
Traffic is still restricted in some parts of the city , the Wuhan Seafood Market , where the virus first emerged , remains shuttered and many businesses are struggling to recover from the economic impact of the pandemic .
`` The market performance is still relatively conservative , ” Hu Zeyu , a real estate worker , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been greatly reduced . ''
China , which has reported more than 80,000 Covid-19 cases , says the virus is now largely under control , although sporadic outbreaks and imported cases continue to occur with 25 new cases reported on August 11 , including 9 local cases .

Music festivals, crowded streets and packed shops and restaurants… these scenes would have been unimaginable in Wuhan just a few months ago. But after enduring one of the world’s toughest lockdowns, good times are returning to what was once the epicentre of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Wuhan, believed to be the source of the Covid-19 coronavirus, went into lockdown in January.
For the next 76 days the streets were left largely deserted except for emergency workers and fearful citizens lined up outside pharmacies and hospitals.
But the lockdown was lifted in April as Covid-19 cases dwindled. Four months on, tourists are back on the streets, people are enjoying the sunshine and many are even forgoing the face masks that have become mandatory in many other parts of the world.
"It feels like our city has had a serious illness, but because of the time, coupled with the national policies and medical resources, it has slowly recovered its vitality and we have entered into a normal living state,” bride Deng Xueqin told AFP as she posed for wedding photos with her groom by the city’s riverside.
The hazmat suits that were once a common sight in the city are now confined to a museum, at a new pandemic-themed exhibition in the city.
But not everything is back to normal. Traffic is still restricted in some parts of the city, the Wuhan Seafood Market, where the virus first emerged, remains shuttered and many businesses are struggling to recover from the economic impact of the pandemic.
"The market performance is still relatively conservative,” Hu Zeyu, a real estate worker, told AFP. “The business volume has been greatly reduced."
China, which has reported more than 80,000 Covid-19 cases, says the virus is now largely under control, although sporadic outbreaks and imported cases continue to occur with 25 new cases reported on August 11, including 9 local cases.
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france24--2020-08-12--Scores killed in clashes between soldiers and civilians in South Sudan

Clashes between soldiers and civilians during a disarmament exercise in the central South Sudanese town of Tonj have left 127 dead , the army spokesman said Wednesday .
Major General Lul Ruai Koang told AFP that the fighting erupted on Saturday as security forces carried out an operation to disarm civilians in the area which has seen deadly inter-communal clashes .
More than six years after a civil war broke out in the country , and in the absence of a functioning government , many communities are flush with weapons , which they keep for protection or defence against cattle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after several armed youths got into a disagreement with soldiers .
An initial armed confrontation was brought under control , but according to Koang the youths mobilised others for an attack on the army position .
`` On the latest , the number of those killed , I can confirm to you that it rose to 127 , '' Koang said , adding that 45 of those killed were security forces and 82 were youths from the area .
Koang said two military officers involved in `` triggering the clashes '' had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tonj had calmed down .
South Sudan is emerging from a six-year civil war that left 380,000 dead and millions displaced , and disarmament is a major stumbling block .
Experts have warned against operations that coerce people to lay down their guns without proper planning , as some communities could find themselves unable to protect themselves after their weapons are removed .
`` The clashes should be an opportunity to rethink the approach to disarmament .
What is the point of removing guns without addressing what drives folks to arms themselves ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Sudan Action Network on Small Arms , said on Twitter .
`` We can take guns away this week & they buy a new one next week ( as ) long as they still see the need to have ( one ) . ''

Clashes between soldiers and civilians during a disarmament exercise in the central South Sudanese town of Tonj have left 127 dead, the army spokesman said Wednesday.
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Major General Lul Ruai Koang told AFP that the fighting erupted on Saturday as security forces carried out an operation to disarm civilians in the area which has seen deadly inter-communal clashes.
More than six years after a civil war broke out in the country, and in the absence of a functioning government, many communities are flush with weapons, which they keep for protection or defence against cattle raids.
The violence in Tonj began after several armed youths got into a disagreement with soldiers. An initial armed confrontation was brought under control, but according to Koang the youths mobilised others for an attack on the army position.
"On the latest, the number of those killed, I can confirm to you that it rose to 127," Koang said, adding that 45 of those killed were security forces and 82 were youths from the area.
A further 32 soldiers were injured.
Koang said two military officers involved in "triggering the clashes" had been arrested, and that the situation in Tonj had calmed down.
South Sudan is emerging from a six-year civil war that left 380,000 dead and millions displaced, and disarmament is a major stumbling block.
Experts have warned against operations that coerce people to lay down their guns without proper planning, as some communities could find themselves unable to protect themselves after their weapons are removed.
"The clashes should be an opportunity to rethink the approach to disarmament. What is the point of removing guns without addressing what drives folks to arms themselves?" Geoffrey Duke, head of the South Sudan Action Network on Small Arms, said on Twitter.
"We can take guns away this week & they buy a new one next week (as) long as they still see the need to have (one)."
(AFP)
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france24--2020-08-13--Two months after taming infections with lockdown, Spain faces new Covid-19 surge

Spain ’ s hospitals are beginning to see another surge in patients , with the health ministry reporting this week that 805 people had been hospitalised over the past seven days as experts search for reasons why Spain is struggling more than its European neighbors .
Not two months after battling back the coronavirus , Spain ’ s hospitals are beginning to see patients struggling to breathe returning to their wards .
The coronavirus devastated the country in March and April , with the daily death toll reaching more than 900 fatalities a few months ago .
While an enhanced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the infected are asymptomatic and younger – making them less likely to need medical treatment – concern is increasing as hospitals begin to see more patients .
And experts are searching for reasons why Spain is struggling more than its neighbors after western Europe had won a degree of control over the pandemic .
But one thing is clear : The size of the second wave has depended on the response to the first one .
“ The data do n't lie , ” Rafael Bengoa , the former health chief of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international consultant on public health , told The Associated Press .
“ The numbers are saying that where we had good local epidemiological tracking , like [ in the rural northwest ] , things have gone well , ” Bengoa said .
“ But in other parts of the country , where obviously we did not have the sufficient local capacity to deal with outbreaks , we have community transmission again , and once you [ have ] community transmission , things get out of hand.
” Bengoa is one of 20 Spanish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called for an independent investigation in a letter published in the medical journal The Lancet to identify the weaknesses that have made Spain among the worst-affected countries by the pandemic in Europe despite its robust universal healthcare system .
Except for teenagers and young adults , Spaniards largely comply with mandatory face mask rules .
The health ministry also embarked on one of the world ’ s largest epidemiological surveys , randomly testing more than 60,000 people to find the prevalence of the virus to be 5 percent , far from reaching “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministry reported on Tuesday that 805 people nationwide were hospitalised over the past seven days .
Half of the 64 people who died over the previous week were from Aragón , the region surrounding Zaragoza .
With a population of 47 million , Spain leads Europe with 44,400 new cases confirmed over the past 14 days compared with just 4,700 new cases registered by Italy , with 60 million inhabitants .
Hospitalisations have quintupled in Spain since early July , when Covid-19 cases went down to a trickle after a severe lockdown stopped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had pushed the healthcare system to the breaking point .
“ There is no one single factor in such a pandemic , ” said Manuel Franco , a professor of epidemiology at John Hopkins and Spain ’ s University of Alcalá , who also signed The Lancet letter .
Franco cited Spain ’ s economic inequalities that have exposed poorer communities – especially fruit pickers – to greater harm , understaffed epidemiological surveillance services and its large tourism industry .
Combined with other factors , they could have formed a lethal cocktail .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevalent in Mediterranean cultures , which emphasise physical contact and smaller personal space , have also worked against Spain .
“ Family gatherings are dangerous in Spain .
We are being anti-Spanish in social gatherings if Spaniards don ’ t kiss , hug and touch one another , '' Bengoa said , adding that Spanish and Italian families live in larger , more multi-generational groups than in most northern European countries , making contagion inside households more likely .
Some authorities seem to agree .
A Canary Islands public awareness campaign shows a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s birthday , with people taking off masks and embracing , only to end with the grandfather in a hospital bed .
A ban on smoking on streets and restaurant terraces when social-distancing can not be guaranteed came into effect on Thursday in Spain 's northwestern region of Galicia in a bid to halt the spread of the virus .
Under a law approved by the regional government of Galicia late on Wednesday , smoking in public is not allowed if it is not possible to maintain a distance of 2 metres ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head of the regional government of Galicia , Alberto Nunez Feijoo , said several experts had warned his administration that `` smoking without any restrictions , including on a terrace without any limitations , with people nearby , or in crowded places , without any social distancing , represents a high risk of infection '' .
Other areas are considering similar restrictions .
Some of Spain ’ s regions have complained that the central government has not given them the special authority to confine people to their homes that it used under a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led to the regions being limited to recommending that people stay at home – instead of ordering them to do so – and thus lower compliance rates .

Spain’s hospitals are beginning to see another surge in patients, with the health ministry reporting this week that 805 people had been hospitalised over the past seven days as experts search for reasons why Spain is struggling more than its European neighbors.
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Not two months after battling back the coronavirus, Spain’s hospitals are beginning to see patients struggling to breathe returning to their wards.
The coronavirus devastated the country in March and April, with the daily death toll reaching more than 900 fatalities a few months ago.
While an enhanced testing effort is revealing that a majority of the infected are asymptomatic and younger – making them less likely to need medical treatment – concern is increasing as hospitals begin to see more patients.
And experts are searching for reasons why Spain is struggling more than its neighbors after western Europe had won a degree of control over the pandemic.
But one thing is clear: The size of the second wave has depended on the response to the first one.
“The data don't lie,” Rafael Bengoa, the former health chief of Spain’s Basque country region and international consultant on public health, told The Associated Press.
“The numbers are saying that where we had good local epidemiological tracking, like [in the rural northwest], things have gone well,” Bengoa said. “But in other parts of the country, where obviously we did not have the sufficient local capacity to deal with outbreaks, we have community transmission again, and once you [have] community transmission, things get out of hand.”
Bengoa is one of 20 Spanish epidemiologists and public health experts who recently called for an independent investigation in a letter published in the medical journal The Lancet to identify the weaknesses that have made Spain among the worst-affected countries by the pandemic in Europe despite its robust universal healthcare system.
'Family gatherings are dangerous'
Except for teenagers and young adults, Spaniards largely comply with mandatory face mask rules. The health ministry also embarked on one of the world’s largest epidemiological surveys, randomly testing more than 60,000 people to find the prevalence of the virus to be 5 percent, far from reaching “herd immunity”.
Spain’s ministry reported on Tuesday that 805 people nationwide were hospitalised over the past seven days. Half of the 64 people who died over the previous week were from Aragón, the region surrounding Zaragoza.
With a population of 47 million, Spain leads Europe with 44,400 new cases confirmed over the past 14 days compared with just 4,700 new cases registered by Italy, with 60 million inhabitants.
Hospitalisations have quintupled in Spain since early July, when Covid-19 cases went down to a trickle after a severe lockdown stopped a first wave of the virus that had pushed the healthcare system to the breaking point.
“There is no one single factor in such a pandemic,” said Manuel Franco, a professor of epidemiology at John Hopkins and Spain’s University of Alcalá, who also signed The Lancet letter.
Franco cited Spain’s economic inequalities that have exposed poorer communities – especially fruit pickers – to greater harm, understaffed epidemiological surveillance services and its large tourism industry. Combined with other factors, they could have formed a lethal cocktail.
Bengoa believes that social customs and traits prevalent in Mediterranean cultures, which emphasise physical contact and smaller personal space, have also worked against Spain.
“Family gatherings are dangerous in Spain. We are being anti-Spanish in social gatherings if Spaniards don’t kiss, hug and touch one another," Bengoa said, adding that Spanish and Italian families live in larger, more multi-generational groups than in most northern European countries, making contagion inside households more likely.
Some authorities seem to agree. A Canary Islands public awareness campaign shows a family gathering to celebrate a grandfather’s birthday, with people taking off masks and embracing, only to end with the grandfather in a hospital bed.
Regional smoking ban
A ban on smoking on streets and restaurant terraces when social-distancing cannot be guaranteed came into effect on Thursday in Spain's northwestern region of Galicia in a bid to halt the spread of the virus. Under a law approved by the regional government of Galicia late on Wednesday, smoking in public is not allowed if it is not possible to maintain a distance of 2 metres (6.7 feet) between people.
The head of the regional government of Galicia, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, said several experts had warned his administration that "smoking without any restrictions, including on a terrace without any limitations, with people nearby, or in crowded places, without any social distancing, represents a high risk of infection". Other areas are considering similar restrictions.
Some of Spain’s regions have complained that the central government has not given them the special authority to confine people to their homes that it used under a three-month state of emergency. That has led to the regions being limited to recommending that people stay at home – instead of ordering them to do so – and thus lower compliance rates.
(FRANCE 24 with AP and AFP)
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france24--2020-08-13--France to bolster Mediterranean military presence over Turkish gas exploration in disputed waters

France will increase its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean , President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday , calling on Turkey to halt oil and gas exploration in disputed waters , an act that has heightened tensions with Greece .
The French leader voiced concern over `` unilateral '' exploration by Turkey in a call with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis , Macron 's office said in a statement .
It added that prospecting should `` cease in order to allow a peaceful dialogue '' between the neighbouring NATO members .
The standoff deepened this week with the arrival of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a disputed area of the Mediterranean , accompanied by warships .
The French armed forces ministry said on Thursday that France will send two Rafale fighter jets and the naval frigate 'Lafayette ' to the eastern Mediterranean as part of plans to increase its military presence in the region .
The country will `` temporarily reinforce '' its military presence , Macron 's statement said , to `` monitor the situation in the region and mark its determination to uphold international law . ''
Greece 's prime minister warmly thanked France on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presence in the eastern Mediterranean .
Mitsotakis tweeted that Macron is “ a true friend of Greece and also a fervent protector of European values and international law.
” Turkey and Greece are at loggerheads over competing claims to natural gas reserves , brought into sharp focus by the attempts of EU member Cyprus to explore for gas in the eastern Mediterranean over Turkey 's strong objections .
Macron called last month for EU sanctions against Turkey for what he described as `` violations '' of Greek and Cypriot sovereignty over their territorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have also frayed over the conflict in Libya .

France will increase its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean, President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday, calling on Turkey to halt oil and gas exploration in disputed waters, an act that has heightened tensions with Greece.
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The French leader voiced concern over "unilateral" exploration by Turkey in a call with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Macron's office said in a statement. It added that prospecting should "cease in order to allow a peaceful dialogue" between the neighbouring NATO members.
The standoff deepened this week with the arrival of Turkish seismic research vessel Oruc Reis in a disputed area of the Mediterranean, accompanied by warships.
The French armed forces ministry said on Thursday that France will send two Rafale fighter jets and the naval frigate 'Lafayette' to the eastern Mediterranean as part of plans to increase its military presence in the region.
03:30
The country will "temporarily reinforce" its military presence, Macron's statement said, to "monitor the situation in the region and mark its determination to uphold international law."
Greece's prime minister warmly thanked France on Thursday for its pledge to boost its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean.
Mitsotakis tweeted that Macron is “a true friend of Greece and also a fervent protector of European values and international law.”
Turkey and Greece are at loggerheads over competing claims to natural gas reserves, brought into sharp focus by the attempts of EU member Cyprus to explore for gas in the eastern Mediterranean over Turkey's strong objections.
Macron called last month for EU sanctions against Turkey for what he described as "violations" of Greek and Cypriot sovereignty over their territorial waters. Relations between Paris and Ankara have also frayed over the conflict in Libya.
Erdogan spoke by phone on Thursday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU Council President Charles Michel to discuss the situation in the eastern Mediterranean.
"President Erdogan reiterated his commitment to defend Turkey's rights against attempts to disregard them," Erdogan's office said of the call with Michel, one day before EU foreign ministers are due to discuss the latest developments.
Later on Wednesday, Erdogan said that he would discuss the issue with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President of the European Council Charles Michel, in an attempt to defuse tensions.
Erdogan told a meeting of his ruling party's provincial leaders that he wanted to resolve the emerging crisis "through dialogue and negotiations", accusing Athens of harbouring "ill-will".
"We have always sought a solution to problems with Greece at the table. We don't want to infringe on others' rights but we won't allow another country to infringe [upon] ours," he said.
This comes after tensions flared between Greece and Turkey in late July after Erdogan provoked worldwide outrage with his controversial move to transform Istanbul's Hagia Sophia, formerly a Christian church and later a museum, into a mosque.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-12--Biden, Harris launch campaign with promise to 'rebuild' broken America

Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden and vice presidential candidate Senator Kamala Harris are seen at the stage during a campaign event , their first joint appearance since Biden named Harris as his running mate , at Alexis Dupont High School in Wilmington , Delaware , U.S. , August 12 , 2020 .
Democratic White House hopeful Joe Biden and his vice presidential pick Kamala Harris – the first Black woman tapped by a major party for the post – rolled out their campaign with a first joint event on Wednesday with a call to `` rebuild @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaking alongside Harris in his Delaware hometown of Wilmington , said it was time after one term of President Donald Trump to `` rebuild this country '' .
`` Everything we care about , '' Harris said , `` it 's all on the line '' .
Harris – a 55-year-old senator who would also be the first female vice president if the Democratic duo wins – pummeled the Republican president , saying he `` just is n't up for the job '' .
Harris , the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationwide upheaval over police violence and racial disparities .
`` We 're experiencing a moral reckoning with racism and systemic injustice that has brought a new coalition of conscience to the streets of our country demanding change , '' she said .
And referring to her courtroom experience as a veteran prosecutor and California attorney general , Harris said of the president and his vice president : `` The case against Donald Trump and Mike Pence is open and shut . ''
Trump and Pence have left the country `` in tatters '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leads in polls against Trump despite running a mostly virtual campaign due to the coronavirus shutdown , said the president had failed to lead through the crisis .
But the 77-year-old promised that he and Harris , who had sought the Democratic presidential nomination herself before rallying to his side , would fix `` the mess that President Trump and Vice President Pence have created at home and abroad '' .
And he said that Harris 's story as the child of immigrants and a person of colour who fought her way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government circles would inspire the country .
`` Her story is America 's story , '' he said .
`` She 's worked hard , she 's never backed down from a challenge and she has earned each and every of the accolades . ''
`` All across America , little girls woke up '' with new hope , Biden said .
`` Today , just maybe they 're seeing themselves for the first time in a new way as the stuff of presidents and vice presidents . ''
`` Let 's get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he tweeted .
Biden sniped at Trump , who has called Harris `` nasty '' for her combative questioning of Supreme Court justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh during Senate hearings in 2018 .
`` Whining is what Donald Trump does best , '' Biden said , asking if anyone was `` surprised Donald Trump has a problem with a strong woman '' .

Democratic White House hopeful Joe Biden and his vice presidential pick Kamala Harris – the first Black woman tapped by a major party for the post – rolled out their campaign with a first joint event on Wednesday with a call to "rebuild" a broken nation.
Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden and vice presidential candidate Senator Kamala Harris are seen at the stage during a campaign event, their first joint appearance since Biden named Harris as his running mate, at Alexis Dupont High School in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., August 12, 2020.
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Biden, speaking alongside Harris in his Delaware hometown of Wilmington, said it was time after one term of President Donald Trump to "rebuild this country".
"Everything we care about," Harris said, "it's all on the line".
Harris – a 55-year-old senator who would also be the first female vice president if the Democratic duo wins – pummeled the Republican president, saying he "just isn't up for the job".
01:17
Harris, the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants, also sought to tap into the nationwide upheaval over police violence and racial disparities.
"We're experiencing a moral reckoning with racism and systemic injustice that has brought a new coalition of conscience to the streets of our country demanding change," she said.
And referring to her courtroom experience as a veteran prosecutor and California attorney general, Harris said of the president and his vice president: "The case against Donald Trump and Mike Pence is open and shut."
Trump and Pence have left the country "in tatters", she said.
00:32
Biden, who leads in polls against Trump despite running a mostly virtual campaign due to the coronavirus shutdown, said the president had failed to lead through the crisis.
But the 77-year-old promised that he and Harris, who had sought the Democratic presidential nomination herself before rallying to his side, would fix "the mess that President Trump and Vice President Pence have created at home and abroad".
And he said that Harris's story as the child of immigrants and a person of colour who fought her way to the top ranks of US legal and government circles would inspire the country.
"Her story is America's story," he said. "She's worked hard, she's never backed down from a challenge and she has earned each and every of the accolades."
"All across America, little girls woke up" with new hope, Biden said. "Today, just maybe they're seeing themselves for the first time in a new way as the stuff of presidents and vice presidents."
"Let's get to work, @KamalaHarris," he tweeted.
Biden sniped at Trump, who has called Harris "nasty" for her combative questioning of Supreme Court justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh during Senate hearings in 2018.
"Whining is what Donald Trump does best," Biden said, asking if anyone was "surprised Donald Trump has a problem with a strong woman".
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-08-13--Many of Beirut's hospitals 'non-functional' following deadly blast, WHO warns

The St. George Hospital where Soha Khalaf works as a nurse lies less than a mile from Beirut port .
She had no time to recover from the enormous explosion that blasted over the city .
The ceiling crashed onto her head and tears streamed down her face , but she stuck to her task .
`` People ran here yelling , 'Please , we need the ER . '
But the ER was gone .
And wherever I turned , I saw staff rushing down from other floors screaming , '' recalled Khalaf , assistant head nurse at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Needles flew across the hall .
Blood covered the floor .
The lights went out .
Hundreds of people poured in from across the Lebanese capital after the Aug. 4 warehouse blast , which killed more than 170 people and demolished neighbourhoods .
`` We just kept working , even as some of us bled , and we cried and cried . ''
With her colleagues , Khalaf stitched , intubated and bandaged victims on the pavement outside the ER .
They stopped random cars to send patients to other hospitals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as it got dark .
Across Beirut , doctors and nurses recounted a night of horror that shook up veteran medical workers in a city no stranger to explosions .
The aftermath of the blast has also raised fears for a healthcare system in tatters , already fighting a coronavirus outbreak which has seen 87 deaths and more than 7,100 cases since February .
More than half of Beirut healthcare facilities evaluated by the World Health Organisation are `` non-functional '' following last week 's deadly port explosion , the agency said Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and health centres in the Lebanese capital , `` we know now that just over 50 percent are non-functional '' , said WHO 's regional emergency director Richard Brennan at a virtual press conference in Cairo .
Three major hospitals were non-functional and another three operating at well below normal capacity , he said .
Beirut 's hospitals - which long attracted patients from around the region - have also been wrestling with the country 's financial meltdown since late last year .
There are shortages in everything from dialysis equipment to syringes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dollars in arrears .
Now with hospitals turned into trauma centers and coronavirus cases still rising , some healthcare workers are asking : how can the system cope ?
On the night of the blast , hospitals used two months ' worth of supplies , said Rona Halabi , spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross .
The explosion , which injured more than 6,000 people , knocked out three hospitals in Beirut and damaged 12 other facilities .
Days later , pressure piled on thanks to hundreds of injuries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` These times are unparalleled to say the least , '' Halabi said , warning that the need for mental health care was also rising after scores of people suffered trauma .
`` I have seen many explosions and a war .
But I 've never seen what I saw on August 4 , '' said Khalaf , who has worked at St. George for 28 years .
The blast killed four nurses there .
A few floors above , a doctor had delivered a baby as the building shook .
The next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help clear rubble from the blast , which officials blamed on explosive material stored in unsafe conditions at the port .
When the shockwaves hit Naji Abi Rached 's hospital all 17 elevators crashed .
Staff had to carry some patients down eight flights of stairs .
They could not evacuate patients in the COVID-19 ward .
Abi Rached , medical director at the nonprofit Lebanese Hospital Geitaoui , said the virus could now spread faster .
With nearly a quarter of a million people homeless , the risk has grown .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and seven deaths .
`` This blast dealt the final blow , the knockout , '' he said .
Still , a week later , with the help of volunteers , the ER was running again .
The dialysis center also opened , although with shattered windows .
For Beatrice Karam , a nephrologist who returned to Beirut after living abroad , the past week killed any hope for stability .
Many of her friends felt the same , she said , warning of a looming exodus of doctors .
`` It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me too .
And I had no feelings anymore , and I just want to leave . ''

The St. George Hospital where Soha Khalaf works as a nurse lies less than a mile from Beirut port. She had no time to recover from the enormous explosion that blasted over the city.
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The ceiling crashed onto her head and tears streamed down her face, but she stuck to her task.
"People ran here yelling, 'Please, we need the ER.' But the ER was gone. And wherever I turned, I saw staff rushing down from other floors screaming," recalled Khalaf, assistant head nurse at the emergency room of Lebanon's oldest hospital.
Needles flew across the hall. Blood covered the floor. The lights went out.
Hundreds of people poured in from across the Lebanese capital after the Aug. 4 warehouse blast, which killed more than 170 people and demolished neighbourhoods.
"We just kept working, even as some of us bled, and we cried and cried."
With her colleagues, Khalaf stitched, intubated and bandaged victims on the pavement outside the ER. They stopped random cars to send patients to other hospitals, and relied on light from mobile phones as it got dark.
Across Beirut, doctors and nurses recounted a night of horror that shook up veteran medical workers in a city no stranger to explosions.
The aftermath of the blast has also raised fears for a healthcare system in tatters, already fighting a coronavirus outbreak which has seen 87 deaths and more than 7,100 cases since February.
Hospitals "non-functional"
More than half of Beirut healthcare facilities evaluated by the World Health Organisation are "non-functional" following last week's deadly port explosion, the agency said Wednesday.
Following an assessment of 55 clinics and health centres in the Lebanese capital, "we know now that just over 50 percent are non-functional", said WHO's regional emergency director Richard Brennan at a virtual press conference in Cairo.
Three major hospitals were non-functional and another three operating at well below normal capacity, he said.
Impact of financial crisis
Beirut's hospitals - which long attracted patients from around the region - have also been wrestling with the country's financial meltdown since late last year.
There are shortages in everything from dialysis equipment to syringes, with the state owing hospitals millions of dollars in arrears.
Now with hospitals turned into trauma centers and coronavirus cases still rising, some healthcare workers are asking: how can the system cope?
"The knockout"
On the night of the blast, hospitals used two months' worth of supplies, said Rona Halabi, spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The explosion, which injured more than 6,000 people, knocked out three hospitals in Beirut and damaged 12 other facilities. Days later, pressure piled on thanks to hundreds of injuries at protests against Lebanon's leaders.
"These times are unparalleled to say the least," Halabi said, warning that the need for mental health care was also rising after scores of people suffered trauma.
"I have seen many explosions and a war. But I've never seen what I saw on August 4," said Khalaf, who has worked at St. George for 28 years.
The blast killed four nurses there. A few floors above, a doctor had delivered a baby as the building shook.
The next day, Khalaf and her friends returned to help clear rubble from the blast, which officials blamed on explosive material stored in unsafe conditions at the port.
When the shockwaves hit Naji Abi Rached's hospital all 17 elevators crashed. Staff had to carry some patients down eight flights of stairs. They could not evacuate patients in the COVID-19 ward.
Abi Rached, medical director at the nonprofit Lebanese Hospital Geitaoui, said the virus could now spread faster. With nearly a quarter of a million people homeless, the risk has grown. Lebanon recorded on Tuesday 300 new infections and seven deaths.
"This blast dealt the final blow, the knockout," he said.
Still, a week later, with the help of volunteers, the ER was running again. The dialysis center also opened, although with shattered windows.
For Beatrice Karam, a nephrologist who returned to Beirut after living abroad, the past week killed any hope for stability. Many of her friends felt the same, she said, warning of a looming exodus of doctors.
"It's like there was a blast inside of me too. And I had no feelings anymore, and I just want to leave."
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-13--Lebanese prosecutor to question ministers over Beirut blast, amidst public outrage

Demonstrators wave Lebanese flags during protests near the site of a blast at Beirut 's port area , August 11 , 2020 .
Lebanon 's judiciary will question several ministers , a judicial official said Wednesday , over a massive chemical blast at a Beirut port warehouse that ravaged the capital .
Survivors and volunteers were still sweeping pulverised glass off rubble-strewn streets a week after a large depot of industrial chemicals blew up at Beirut 's port , a blast President Michel Aoun estimated had caused more than $ 15 billion-worth of damage .
The official death toll rose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 300,000 left temporarily homeless in the country 's worst peacetime disaster .
Top diplomats streamed into Lebanon to show solidarity and urge reforms to curb the corruption blamed for allowing a vast stock of ammonium nitrate , a compound often used in homemade bombs , to rot for years at the port despite repeated warnings .
An AFP investigation found that up until the day before the deadly blast , officials had exchanged warnings over the cargo , but did nothing despite experts ' fears it could cause a massive conflagration .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecution would question several ministers and former ministers over the disaster .
Meanwhile , at Beirut 's main fire station , a stone 's throw from the charred and ruined port , firefighters held an emotional funeral for one of 10 comrades they lost in the catastrophe .
`` May God be with you , our hero , '' firefighters cried as they saw off the coffin of their lost friend Jo Noun during their fourth such ceremony since the August 4 disaster .
Ten firefighters are confirmed to have died , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including three members of the same family .
Rina Hitti , the mother of one and related to the two others , said : `` In one piece or several , we want our sons back . ''
Emergency crews on Wednesday were still searching the dusty `` ground zero '' where the explosion pulverised buildings and left a water-logged 43-metre-deep crater where a quay and warehouses once stood .
The human error that sparked devastation worthy of a major earthquake has sparked public rage , matched only by the speed at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the buck .
Around 100 of the wounded were recently still listed in critical condition and it was feared the death toll could yet rise as Beirut 's hospitals treat the casualties .
More than half of 55 healthcare facilities evaluated by the World Health Organization were `` non-functional , '' the agency said Wednesday , adding that three major hospitals were out of operation and another three running at well below normal capacity , he said .
Among those killed was a diplomat from Germany , whose Foreign Minister Heiko Maas arrived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of support .
In a social media message , he stressed the need for `` profound economic reform '' .
He also announced a one million-euro donation directly to the Lebanese Red Cross , in line with a pledge that emergency aid should bypass a government that has lost its people 's trust .
Angry protesters demonstrated for a third night running Tuesday to demand the wholesale ouster of a ruling political elite they see as directly responsible for the port tragedy .
Mock gallows and nooses have become the symbols of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rekindled a revolutionary street movement that had lost steam in recent months amid economic hardship and the coronavirus pandemic .
Under intense domestic and foreign pressure , Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced his government 's resignation on Monday .
Many have bitterly dismissed his efforts to cast himself as a champion of the fight against corruption , labelling him instead as a puppet of the long-standing political elite .
Some saw the government 's departure as a victory and a sign that continued pressure could finally force change in a country ruled by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their relatives since the 1975-1990 civil war .
Others feared that the resignation could herald the return of old faces such as former prime minister Saad Hariri .
According to the Al-Akhbar newspaper , Nawaf Salam , a former judge at the International Court of Justice , is favoured by some of Lebanon 's top foreign partners , including France .
However , the paper said , Salam is not an acceptable choice for powerful Iranian-backed Shiite movement Hezbollah .
French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday warned Tehran against interfering in Lebanon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to avoid any outside interference and to support the putting in place of a government which can manage the emergency , '' the Elysee said .
Meanwhile , a return of Hariri , who resigned under pressure from the street late last year , could spark even more outrage among a protest camp re-invigorated by the disaster .
Parliament was due to convene on Thursday to approve a state of emergency , which would give security forces heightened powers to curb the street demonstrations .

Lebanon's judiciary will question several ministers, a judicial official said Wednesday, over a massive chemical blast at a Beirut port warehouse that ravaged the capital.
Demonstrators wave Lebanese flags during protests near the site of a blast at Beirut's port area, August 11, 2020.
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Survivors and volunteers were still sweeping pulverised glass off rubble-strewn streets a week after a large depot of industrial chemicals blew up at Beirut's port, a blast President Michel Aoun estimated had caused more than $15 billion-worth of damage.
The official death toll rose to 171, while 6,500 were injured and 300,000 left temporarily homeless in the country's worst peacetime disaster.
Top diplomats streamed into Lebanon to show solidarity and urge reforms to curb the corruption blamed for allowing a vast stock of ammonium nitrate, a compound often used in homemade bombs, to rot for years at the port despite repeated warnings.
An AFP investigation found that up until the day before the deadly blast, officials had exchanged warnings over the cargo, but did nothing despite experts' fears it could cause a massive conflagration.
A judicial official said Wednesday that the prosecution would question several ministers and former ministers over the disaster.
Meanwhile, at Beirut's main fire station, a stone's throw from the charred and ruined port, firefighters held an emotional funeral for one of 10 comrades they lost in the catastrophe.
"May God be with you, our hero," firefighters cried as they saw off the coffin of their lost friend Jo Noun during their fourth such ceremony since the August 4 disaster.
Ten firefighters are confirmed to have died, and six more are still among the missing, including three members of the same family.
Rina Hitti, the mother of one and related to the two others, said: "In one piece or several, we want our sons back."
Direct aid
Emergency crews on Wednesday were still searching the dusty "ground zero" where the explosion pulverised buildings and left a water-logged 43-metre-deep crater where a quay and warehouses once stood.
The human error that sparked devastation worthy of a major earthquake has sparked public rage, matched only by the speed at which officials are seen to be passing the buck.
Around 100 of the wounded were recently still listed in critical condition and it was feared the death toll could yet rise as Beirut's hospitals treat the casualties.
More than half of 55 healthcare facilities evaluated by the World Health Organization were "non-functional," the agency said Wednesday, adding that three major hospitals were out of operation and another three running at well below normal capacity, he said.
Among those killed was a diplomat from Germany, whose Foreign Minister Heiko Maas arrived in Lebanon Wednesday for a short visit of support.
In a social media message, he stressed the need for "profound economic reform".
He also announced a one million-euro donation directly to the Lebanese Red Cross, in line with a pledge that emergency aid should bypass a government that has lost its people's trust.
Jockeying
Angry protesters demonstrated for a third night running Tuesday to demand the wholesale ouster of a ruling political elite they see as directly responsible for the port tragedy.
Mock gallows and nooses have become the symbols of the new wave of protests, which have rekindled a revolutionary street movement that had lost steam in recent months amid economic hardship and the coronavirus pandemic.
Under intense domestic and foreign pressure, Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced his government's resignation on Monday.
Many have bitterly dismissed his efforts to cast himself as a champion of the fight against corruption, labelling him instead as a puppet of the long-standing political elite.
Some saw the government's departure as a victory and a sign that continued pressure could finally force change in a country ruled by the same cartel of former warlords and their relatives since the 1975-1990 civil war.
Others feared that the resignation could herald the return of old faces such as former prime minister Saad Hariri.
According to the Al-Akhbar newspaper, Nawaf Salam, a former judge at the International Court of Justice, is favoured by some of Lebanon's top foreign partners, including France.
However, the paper said, Salam is not an acceptable choice for powerful Iranian-backed Shiite movement Hezbollah.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday warned Tehran against interfering in Lebanon, urging his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani "to avoid any outside interference and to support the putting in place of a government which can manage the emergency," the Elysee said.
Meanwhile, a return of Hariri, who resigned under pressure from the street late last year, could spark even more outrage among a protest camp re-invigorated by the disaster.
Parliament was due to convene on Thursday to approve a state of emergency, which would give security forces heightened powers to curb the street demonstrations.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-08-13--French jobless rate hits 37-year low as Covid-19 lockdown skews data

A job seeker , wearing a protective face mask , visits a National Agency for Employment ( Pole Emploi ) office in Nice after France reopened its agencies following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) , in France , on May 18 , 2020 .
French unemployment fell to a 37-year low in the second quarter , as the continuation of a multi-year downtrend was exaggerated by a strict coronavirus lockdown that meant people were unable to look for work , data from INSEE statistics agency showed on Thursday .
The jobless rate fell to 7.1 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarter , hitting its lowest level since the second quarter of 1983 , when it stood at 7.0 % .
INSEE warned that unemployment data for the first two quarters of 2020 was skewed because of the mid-March to mid-May lockdown , which reduced the number of those classified as unemployed by making it impossible for them to look for jobs .
The International Labour Organisation defines being unemployed as not working but being available to work and actively seeking a job - which was virtually impossible in many industries during lockdown .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second quarter of 2020 is not the result of an improving labour market but is an effect of the lockdown , '' INSEE said .
INSEE said the number of people who want a job but are not considered unemployed under the ILO definition had increased by 1.9 percentage points to 6.0 % of the active population .
This was the highest level since INSEE started measuring this statistic in 2003 and the main reason for the fall of the Q2 unemployment rate .
The agency also said that weekly jobs data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the restarting of the economy , the unemployment rate at the end of the second quarter was comparable to the level before lockdown .
In the last quarter of 2019 , unemployment had fallen to 8.1 % , continuing a downtrend from 9.5 % in the second quarter of 2017 , when President Emmanuel Macron took office and started iberalising France 's labour market .
The French jobless rate stood above 10 % throughout the 2012-2017 term of Macron 's predecessor , François Hollande .
It had been nearly continuously above 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to 7.2 % in the first quarter of 2008 , just before the financial crisis hit .

French unemployment fell to a 37-year low in the second quarter, as the continuation of a multi-year downtrend was exaggerated by a strict coronavirus lockdown that meant people were unable to look for work, data from INSEE statistics agency showed on Thursday.
A job seeker, wearing a protective face mask, visits a National Agency for Employment (Pole Emploi) office in Nice after France reopened its agencies following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in France, on May 18, 2020.
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The jobless rate fell to 7.1%, from 7.8% in the first quarter, hitting its lowest level since the second quarter of 1983, when it stood at 7.0%.
INSEE warned that unemployment data for the first two quarters of 2020 was skewed because of the mid-March to mid-May lockdown, which reduced the number of those classified as unemployed by making it impossible for them to look for jobs.
The International Labour Organisation defines being unemployed as not working but being available to work and actively seeking a job - which was virtually impossible in many industries during lockdown.
"The sharp drop in unemployment in the second quarter of 2020 is not the result of an improving labour market but is an effect of the lockdown," INSEE said.
INSEE said the number of people who want a job but are not considered unemployed under the ILO definition had increased by 1.9 percentage points to 6.0% of the active population.
This was the highest level since INSEE started measuring this statistic in 2003 and the main reason for the fall of the Q2 unemployment rate.
The agency also said that weekly jobs data show that following the end of lockdown and the restarting of the economy, the unemployment rate at the end of the second quarter was comparable to the level before lockdown.
In the last quarter of 2019, unemployment had fallen to 8.1%, continuing a downtrend from 9.5% in the second quarter of 2017, when President Emmanuel Macron took office and started iberalising France's labour market.
The French jobless rate stood above 10% throughout the 2012-2017 term of Macron's predecessor, François Hollande. It had been nearly continuously above 10% from mid-1993 to mid-1999 before falling back to 7.2% in the first quarter of 2008, just before the financial crisis hit.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-13--Did extremists in Pakistan really uproot “un-Islamic” trees?

This screengrab shows the area in Khyber chosen for trees .
The land is actually disputed by two tribes in the district .
`` What happened has nothing to do with Islam or any other ideology ” This video shows elders from the Sipah tribe replanting trees that had been ripped up .
The video , which is just over a minute long , shows approximately one hundred people uprooting freshly-planted saplings .
“ Planting trees is against Islam , ” reads the caption on one of the most widely circulated posts featuring this video .
The author of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the footage was filmed in Pakistan , a majority Muslim country .
The post was retweeted more than 10,000 times and has so far garnered more than two million views.Shortly after social media users in India first started circulating this video online , it was picked up by people in Iran and in far-right groups in France who mocked the men uprooting trees for supposedly religious reasons.On August 9 , Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan officially launched a vast tree-planting campaign across the country , with the aim of planting 3.5 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials were told to choose appropriate locations for the trees in their home regions .
In Khyber , a district in northern Pakistan , local authorities designated an abandoned piece of land for the trees.That day , a group of volunteers calling themselves the “ Tiger Forces ” planted thousands of trees in the designated zone .
But just a few hours later , hundreds of people came and ripped out the newly planted saplings.Our Observer Umar Farooq lives in Khyber , Pakistan .
He wasn ’ t an eyewitness to the incident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Khan , the minister in chief of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province , said that local authorities had taken note of this incident and promised that they would take action against those who had uprooted the saplings .
He added that at least 6,000 young trees had been torn from the earth.The rumour that people had uprooted the trees for religious reasons first emerged on social media in India.Citizens of the two rival nations regularly try to discredit one another on social media .
And both politicians and certain media outlets regularly share fake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to discredit the other camp .

Debunked
People were circulating a series of videos online, claiming that they showed Pakistani extremists uprooting trees that they thought were “un-Islamic”. Turns out, that’s not the real story.
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A video posted on Twitter on August 9 shows about a hundred people ripping out newly planted saplings in Pakistan. While the video is authentic, the caption claiming that the video shows Islamic extremists uprooting trees that they think are “un-Islamic” is totally false. The real story comes down to a rivalry between two tribes.
The video, which is just over a minute long, shows approximately one hundred people uprooting freshly-planted saplings. “Planting trees is against Islam,” reads the caption on one of the most widely circulated posts featuring this video. The author of this post, who lives in India, says the footage was filmed in Pakistan, a majority Muslim country. The post was retweeted more than 10,000 times and has so far garnered more than two million views.
Modi Ji on Earth Day started “Plant Trees” project because it has many benefits. Now Pakistan PM Imran Khan is copying Modi & started the “Tree Plantation Drive”. Look at these idiot vultures in Pakistan ripping out all the trees. They said “Planting trees is against Islam". pic.twitter.com/N4kSOKoeKK Renee Lynn (@Voice_For_India) August 9, 2020
Shortly after social media users in India first started circulating this video online, it was picked up by people in Iran and in far-right groups in France who mocked the men uprooting trees for supposedly religious reasons.
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Why it’s false
On August 9, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan officially launched a vast tree-planting campaign across the country, with the aim of planting 3.5 million trees in a single day. Local officials were told to choose appropriate locations for the trees in their home regions. In Khyber, a district in northern Pakistan, local authorities designated an abandoned piece of land for the trees.
This screengrab shows the area in Khyber chosen for trees. The land is actually disputed by two tribes in the district.
That day, a group of volunteers calling themselves the “Tiger Forces” planted thousands of trees in the designated zone. But just a few hours later, hundreds of people came and ripped out the newly planted saplings.
"What happened has nothing to do with Islam or any other ideology”
Our Observer Umar Farooq lives in Khyber, Pakistan. He wasn’t an eyewitness to the incident, but he knows the region well.
What happened has nothing to do with Islam or any other ideology. The local authorities decided to plant trees on an arid strip of land that is claimed by two different local tribes, the Sipah and the Ghabi Khali. The local authorities have already negotiated with the Khali tribe and they were ok with the government about planting trees here, meanwhile the local authorities did not [do] the same with [the] Sipah tribe. However while some of the members of the Sipah tribe were ok with using this space to plant trees, others weren’t. They are the ones who came and ripped up all the newly planted trees. That afternoon, elders from the Sipah tribe came to replant the trees. They also apologized for the younger members of their tribe, even though the damage was already done.
آج قبائیلی ضلع خیبر میں پودے لگانے کی مہم میں وہاں کے رہائشیوں نے پودے اکھاڑنے کے بعد نہ صرف معافی مانگی, پودے دوبارہ لگائے بلکہ وہاں کے مشران نے یہ بھی عہد کیا کہ وہ ١٠,٠٠٠ پودے اور بھی لگائیں گے, اور پودے لگانے کی مہم میں بڑھ چڑھ کر حصہ لیں گے-#PlantWithTigersForce pic.twitter.com/BL6h26PufE JAVED AFRIDI F club (@ILOVEJAFRIDI10) August 9, 2020
This video shows elders from the Sipah tribe replanting trees that had been ripped up.
People were shocked when they saw the images of the ripped out trees. The fake story that people had torn them up because they thought they were “non-Islamic” totally obscured the real story. After that started circulating, no one paid attention to the other video showing people from the tribe replanting trees.
Mahmood Khan, the minister in chief of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said that local authorities had taken note of this incident and promised that they would take action against those who had uprooted the saplings. He added that at least 6,000 young trees had been torn from the earth.
The rumour that people had uprooted the trees for religious reasons first emerged on social media in India.
Citizens of the two rival nations regularly try to discredit one another on social media. And both politicians and certain media outlets regularly share fake stories or images taken out of context to discredit the other camp.
>> Read on the Observers: War of fake images erupts between India and Pakistan
Article by: Ershad ALIJANI


france24--2020-08-12--Belarus confirms protester's death amid violent crackdown on post-election unrest

A demonstrator holding an image of Belarus ' President Alexander Lukashenko protests against the results of Belarusian presidential election outside the Belarusian embassy in Moscow on August 12 , 2020 .
Belarus on Wednesday confirmed the death of a jailed protester as demonstrators took to the streets for a fourth night of clashes with riot police over a disputed presidential election .
Police on Thursday said they had detained 700 additional people .
Riot police have roughly detained thousands at street protests across the country after long-serving leader Alexander Lukashenko claimed a landslide victory in Sunday 's poll .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election against his main rival , massively popular opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya .
Police detained 700 more people during the fourth day of protests `` for participating in illegal mass events '' , the interior ministry said Thursday morning , bringing the total number of those detained to 6,700 .
The Belarusian Investigative Committee said in a statement that a 25-year-old man died after he was detained on Sunday for taking part in illegal protests in the southeastern city of Gomel and sentenced to 10 days in prison .
Investigators said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty quoted the man 's mother as saying he had heart problems and was held for hours in a police van .
She said her son , Alexander Vikhor , was not taking part in protests and had gone to meet his girlfriend .
Previously police said one protester died when an explosive device went off in his hand on Monday .
The latest death came as opposition protesters took to the streets to condemn police violence .
In the capital Minsk , several hundred women joined hands to form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and holding flowers .
`` The riot police are beating up people , brutally beating them , and all we can do is come out for such a peaceful protest , '' said 29-year-old protester Darya , who works in advertising .
'Leave before it 's too late' On Wednesday evening , Minsk saw scattered protests in suburbs , with flag-waving opposition supporters blocking roads .
A tight police cordon surrounded the city centre while metro stations were closed .
Riot police used rubber bullets and stun grenades to break up protests .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at vehicles and grabbing people hiding inside the entrances of blocks of flats , local media reported .
Belarusian writer Svetlana Alexievich , winner of the 2015 Nobel Literature Prize , condemned the police violence and urged Lukashenko to go peacefully in her first interview since the protests broke out .
`` Leave before it 's too late , before you 've thrown people into a terrible abyss , into the abyss of civil war , '' she told her long-term foe in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty .
UN High @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belarus of deploying `` unnecessary and excessive force '' .
French President Emmanuel Macron said he was `` very worried '' while US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged the European Union to `` take action , '' saying : `` We want the people of Belarus to have the freedoms that they are demanding . ''
EU foreign ministers are set to discuss Belarus at an extraordinary meeting on Friday .
The protests broke out after authorities said Lukashenko , who has been in power since 1994 , won 80 percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Protesters and witnesses say riot police have used indiscriminate force , firing stun grenades and rubber bullets .
State television aired footage of detained young protesters with bloodied and bruised faces being asked if they wanted a `` revolution '' .
Lukashenko , 65 , on Wednesday dismissed the demonstrators as `` people with a criminal past who are now unemployed '' and told them to get jobs .
Police acknowledged opening fire on demonstrators and wounding one in the southwestern city of Brest on the Polish border on Tuesday night .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bars and ignored warning shots .
The protest movement arose in support of Tikhanovskaya , a 37-year-old political novice who ran for president after potential opposition candidates including her husband were jailed .
The official results gave her 10 percent of the popular vote , but Tikhanovskaya said the election was rigged and claimed victory , demanding that Lukashenko hand over power .
She left Belarus for neighbouring Lithuania on Tuesday as allies said she came under official pressure .
Tikhanovskaya `` is recovering from this stress ... and feels better , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Echo of Moscow radio station .
`` She herself will say what her future plans are . ''

Belarus on Wednesday confirmed the death of a jailed protester as demonstrators took to the streets for a fourth night of clashes with riot police over a disputed presidential election. Police on Thursday said they had detained 700 additional people.
A demonstrator holding an image of Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko protests against the results of Belarusian presidential election outside the Belarusian embassy in Moscow on August 12, 2020.
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Riot police have roughly detained thousands at street protests across the country after long-serving leader Alexander Lukashenko claimed a landslide victory in Sunday's poll.
The strongman's opponents accuse him of rigging the election against his main rival, massively popular opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.
Police detained 700 more people during the fourth day of protests "for participating in illegal mass events", the interior ministry said Thursday morning, bringing the total number of those detained to 6,700.
The Belarusian Investigative Committee said in a statement that a 25-year-old man died after he was detained on Sunday for taking part in illegal protests in the southeastern city of Gomel and sentenced to 10 days in prison.
Investigators said the cause of death was unclear, while Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty quoted the man's mother as saying he had heart problems and was held for hours in a police van.
She said her son, Alexander Vikhor, was not taking part in protests and had gone to meet his girlfriend.
Previously police said one protester died when an explosive device went off in his hand on Monday.
The latest death came as opposition protesters took to the streets to condemn police violence.
In the capital Minsk, several hundred women joined hands to form a human chain, many wearing white and holding flowers.
"The riot police are beating up people, brutally beating them, and all we can do is come out for such a peaceful protest," said 29-year-old protester Darya, who works in advertising.
'Leave before it's too late'
On Wednesday evening, Minsk saw scattered protests in suburbs, with flag-waving opposition supporters blocking roads. A tight police cordon surrounded the city centre while metro stations were closed.
Riot police used rubber bullets and stun grenades to break up protests. They also patrolled residential areas, firing at vehicles and grabbing people hiding inside the entrances of blocks of flats, local media reported.
Belarusian writer Svetlana Alexievich, winner of the 2015 Nobel Literature Prize, condemned the police violence and urged Lukashenko to go peacefully in her first interview since the protests broke out.
"Leave before it's too late, before you've thrown people into a terrible abyss, into the abyss of civil war," she told her long-term foe in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Western governments also criticised the ongoing violence.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet accused Belarus of deploying "unnecessary and excessive force".
French President Emmanuel Macron said he was "very worried" while US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged the European Union to "take action," saying: "We want the people of Belarus to have the freedoms that they are demanding."
I will call an extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council meeting this Friday afternoon.
We will discuss urgent issues and address the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Belarus Presidential elections, as well as developments in Lebanon. — Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) August 12, 2020
EU foreign ministers are set to discuss Belarus at an extraordinary meeting on Friday.
Tikhanovskaya 'recovering'
The protests broke out after authorities said Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, won 80 percent of the vote in Sunday's election.
Protesters and witnesses say riot police have used indiscriminate force, firing stun grenades and rubber bullets.
State television aired footage of detained young protesters with bloodied and bruised faces being asked if they wanted a "revolution".
Lukashenko, 65, on Wednesday dismissed the demonstrators as "people with a criminal past who are now unemployed" and told them to get jobs.
Police acknowledged opening fire on demonstrators and wounding one in the southwestern city of Brest on the Polish border on Tuesday night.
They said the protesters were armed with metal bars and ignored warning shots.
The protest movement arose in support of Tikhanovskaya, a 37-year-old political novice who ran for president after potential opposition candidates including her husband were jailed.
The official results gave her 10 percent of the popular vote, but Tikhanovskaya said the election was rigged and claimed victory, demanding that Lukashenko hand over power.
She left Belarus for neighbouring Lithuania on Tuesday as allies said she came under official pressure.
Tikhanovskaya "is recovering from this stress... and feels better," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius told Russia's Echo of Moscow radio station.
"She herself will say what her future plans are."
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-08-13--New Zealand reports 14 new Covid-19 cases, scrambles to trace cluster

Screengrab from Reuters video of pedestrians in Auckland , New Zealand , June 22 , 2020 .
New Zealand officials were scrambling to trace the source of an outbreak of the coronavirus , reporting 14 new cases on Thursday , as long queues of people formed to escape a renewed lockdown in the country 's biggest city or be tested for the virus .
The discovery of four infected family members in Auckland two days ago shocked a country that had not recorded a case of Covid-19 for more than three months , raising some criticism of the government 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced on Thursday that there were 13 new cases in the community , and one overseas arrival who was in quarantine , bringing the total number of active cases to 36 .
`` We can see the seriousness of the situation we are in , '' Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a televised media conference .
`` It 's being dealt with in an urgent but calm and methodical way . ''
Ardern reimposed tight movement restrictions in Auckland and social distancing measures across the rest of the country on Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which was praised for its apparent effectiveness .
Ardern noted that experience showed `` things will get worse before they get better '' , and more cases were likely to be reported in coming days .
`` Once again we are reminded of how tricky this virus is and how easily it can spread , '' she said .
`` Going hard and early is still the best course of action . ''
However , doubts over the origin of the latest cases have raised some questions about that strategy .
Officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a refrigerator storage facility , where one of the family members worked , had tested positive .
Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said health officials were getting `` closer every hour '' to finding the patient zero of the outbreak .
`` We are working flat out to do the contact-tracing we need to do and trace back to find out what the source of this infection is , '' Bloomfield told Newstalk ZB radio .
Bloomfield raised the possibility on Wednesday that the virus had arrived in New Zealand via freight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family members works in a cool store that takes imported frozen goods from overseas .
On Thursday , he said that was considered `` a low possibility '' , but did not detail other potential sources .
Ardern said it was a positive sign that all the new 13 cases were linked back to the infected family , either via work or broader family connections .
All were being transferred into quarantine facilities .
Some prominent local health experts suggested it was more likely the virus had been quietly spreading in Auckland for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Residents of Auckland , home to around 1.7 million people , were given just hours to prepare for the return to level 3 restrictions on Wednesday , requiring people to stay at home unless for essential trips .
People in the city reported waiting hours to be tested for the virus , according to local media , and there was a rush to supermarkets to stock up on essentials .
The rest of the country was placed back into slightly looser level 2 restrictions .
The restrictions will initially remain in place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next steps .
With an election scheduled just weeks away , Ardern was facing criticism from the major opposition party for the decision to resume lockdown measures .
The NZ National Party also wants the September election to be pushed back to November .
Ardern has said she will make a decision on the poll before Monday .

New Zealand officials were scrambling to trace the source of an outbreak of the coronavirus, reporting 14 new cases on Thursday, as long queues of people formed to escape a renewed lockdown in the country's biggest city or be tested for the virus.
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The discovery of four infected family members in Auckland two days ago shocked a country that had not recorded a case of Covid-19 for more than three months, raising some criticism of the government's handling of the crisis.
New Zealand announced on Thursday that there were 13 new cases in the community, and one overseas arrival who was in quarantine, bringing the total number of active cases to 36.
"We can see the seriousness of the situation we are in," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a televised media conference. "It's being dealt with in an urgent but calm and methodical way."
Ardern reimposed tight movement restrictions in Auckland and social distancing measures across the rest of the country on Wednesday, echoing her early response to the pandemic, which was praised for its apparent effectiveness.
Ardern noted that experience showed "things will get worse before they get better", and more cases were likely to be reported in coming days.
"Once again we are reminded of how tricky this virus is and how easily it can spread," she said. "Going hard and early is still the best course of action."
However, doubts over the origin of the latest cases have raised some questions about that strategy.
Officials reported on Thursday that three more people at a refrigerator storage facility, where one of the family members worked, had tested positive.
Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said health officials were getting "closer every hour" to finding the patient zero of the outbreak.
"We are working flat out to do the contact-tracing we need to do and trace back to find out what the source of this infection is," Bloomfield told Newstalk ZB radio.
Bloomfield raised the possibility on Wednesday that the virus had arrived in New Zealand via freight, given that one of the infected family members works in a cool store that takes imported frozen goods from overseas.
On Thursday, he said that was considered "a low possibility", but did not detail other potential sources.
Ardern said it was a positive sign that all the new 13 cases were linked back to the infected family, either via work or broader family connections. All were being transferred into quarantine facilities.
Some prominent local health experts suggested it was more likely the virus had been quietly spreading in Auckland for weeks, infecting potentially dozens of people.
Residents of Auckland, home to around 1.7 million people, were given just hours to prepare for the return to level 3 restrictions on Wednesday, requiring people to stay at home unless for essential trips.
People in the city reported waiting hours to be tested for the virus, according to local media, and there was a rush to supermarkets to stock up on essentials.
The rest of the country was placed back into slightly looser level 2 restrictions. The restrictions will initially remain in place until Friday, when Ardern will announce the next steps.
With an election scheduled just weeks away, Ardern was facing criticism from the major opposition party for the decision to resume lockdown measures.
The NZ National Party also wants the September election to be pushed back to November. Ardern has said she will make a decision on the poll before Monday.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-13--US ignores calls to drop tariffs on EU, UK goods as aircraft subsidy dispute drags on

An Air France Airbus A380 jet on arrival at Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy , near Paris , after its retirement flight , June 26 , 2020 .
The U.S. government on Wednesday said it would maintain 15 % tariffs on Airbus aircraft and 25 % tariffs on other European goods , despite moves by the European Union to resolve a 16-year-old dispute over aircraft subsidies .
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer ( USTR ) said the EU had not taken actions necessary to come into compliance with World Trade Organization decisions , and Washington would initiate a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solution .
USTR said it would modify its list of $ 7.5 billion of affected European products to remove certain goods from Greece and Britain and add an equivalent amount from Germany and France .
It ignored calls from EU officials and U.S. lawmakers to drop tariffs on EU food , wine and spirits , but did not add tariffs to vodka , gin and beer as it had threatened .
Airbus said it `` profoundly regrets '' the U.S. decision to keep tariffs in place on its aircraft .
Washington 's decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would help prevent a further escalation , an EU official said , calling for intensified efforts to resolve trade conflicts between the powerful economic blocs .
EU trade commissioner Phil Hogan would continue his active engagement with Lighthizer to reach a negotiated settlement , the official said , noting that the current economic slowdown underscored the urgency of ending the conflict .
Last month , Airbus said it would increase loan repayments to France and Spain in a `` final '' bid to reverse U.S. tariffs and jog the United States into settling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of aircraft subsidies .
The United States declared itself in full compliance with WTO findings in May after Washington state abolished aerospace industry tax breaks that largely benefited Boeing .
Trade groups are bracing for an escalation of the row in the autumn when the EU is expected to win WTO approval to hit back with its own tariffs over subsidies for Boeing .
Airbus said in a statement it `` trusts that Europe will respond appropriately to defend its interests and the interests of all the European companies and sectors , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Boeing urged the EU and Airbus to launch prompt and `` meaningful negotiations with the U.S. to address the full scope of their noncompliance and finally bring this case to an end . ''
USTR in October 2019 imposed 25 % tariffs on an array of EU food , wine and spirits , including Italian cheese and single-malt Scotch whisky in retaliation for EU subsidies on large aircraft .
It initially imposed 10 % tariffs on Airbus aircraft but hiked that to 15 % in March .

The U.S. government on Wednesday said it would maintain 15% tariffs on Airbus aircraft and 25% tariffs on other European goods, despite moves by the European Union to resolve a 16-year-old dispute over aircraft subsidies.
An Air France Airbus A380 jet on arrival at Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy, near Paris, after its retirement flight, June 26, 2020.
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U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer (USTR) said the EU had not taken actions necessary to come into compliance with World Trade Organization decisions, and Washington would initiate a new process to try to reach a long-term solution.
USTR said it would modify its list of $7.5 billion of affected European products to remove certain goods from Greece and Britain and add an equivalent amount from Germany and France.
It ignored calls from EU officials and U.S. lawmakers to drop tariffs on EU food, wine and spirits, but did not add tariffs to vodka, gin and beer as it had threatened.
Airbus said it "profoundly regrets" the U.S. decision to keep tariffs in place on its aircraft.
Washington's decision to refrain from increasing the tariff rates would help prevent a further escalation, an EU official said, calling for intensified efforts to resolve trade conflicts between the powerful economic blocs.
EU trade commissioner Phil Hogan would continue his active engagement with Lighthizer to reach a negotiated settlement, the official said, noting that the current economic slowdown underscored the urgency of ending the conflict.
Last month, Airbus said it would increase loan repayments to France and Spain in a "final" bid to reverse U.S. tariffs and jog the United States into settling the long-running fight over billions of dollars of aircraft subsidies.
The United States declared itself in full compliance with WTO findings in May after Washington state abolished aerospace industry tax breaks that largely benefited Boeing.
Trade groups are bracing for an escalation of the row in the autumn when the EU is expected to win WTO approval to hit back with its own tariffs over subsidies for Boeing.
Airbus said in a statement it "trusts that Europe will respond appropriately to defend its interests and the interests of all the European companies and sectors, including Airbus, targeted by these tariffs."
Boeing urged the EU and Airbus to launch prompt and "meaningful negotiations with the U.S. to address the full scope of their noncompliance and finally bring this case to an end."
USTR in October 2019 imposed 25% tariffs on an array of EU food, wine and spirits, including Italian cheese and single-malt Scotch whisky in retaliation for EU subsidies on large aircraft.
It initially imposed 10% tariffs on Airbus aircraft but hiked that to 15% in March.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe