france24--2020-07-03--Macron names Jean Castex as new French prime minister

France 's new prime minister Jean Castex leaves the Élysée Palace in Paris on May 19 , 2020 .
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday named Jean Castex , who coordinated France ’ s virus reopening strategy , as the country ’ s new prime minister .
The relatively low-profile Castex replaces Edouard Philippe , who resigned earlier in the day .
Macron is reshuffling the government to focus on restarting the economy after months of lockdown .
Castex , 55 , is a career public servant who has worked with multiple governments .
France ’ s gradual reopening plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far .
Many government members are expected to be replaced in the reshuffle .
In an interview given to several local newspapers on Thursday , Macron , said he is seeking a “ new path ” to rebuild the country for the two remaining years of his term .
He praised Philippe ’ s “ outstanding work ” in the past three years .
“ I will need to make choices to lead ( the country ) down the path , ” he said .
The reshuffle comes days after a green wave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Macron saw his young centrist party defeated in France ’ s biggest cities and failing to plant local roots across the country .
It was planned even before Sunday ’ s voting , as Macron ’ s government faced obstacles and criticism before and during the virus crisis .
As the pandemic was peaking in the country in March and April , authorities came under fire for the lack of masks , tests and medical equipment .
Before that , Macron ’ s pro-business policies , widely seen as favoring the wealthier , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic movement against perceived social injustice .
This winter , weeks of strikes and street demonstrations against a planned pension overhaul disrupted the country .
In addition , Macron ’ s efforts to boost job creation have been swept away by the economic and social consequences of the country ’ s lockdown .
The government issued a 460 billion-euro emergency package through a state-funded partial activity scheme , tax cuts and other financial aids for businesses , and Macron needs to adapt his policies as France ’ s economy is expected to shrink @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment rate that fell from 9.2 % at the beginning of Macron ’ s term in 2017 to 7.6 % earlier this year — its lowest level since 2008 — is now expected to increase steadily .
“ Our first priority will be to rebuild an economy that is strong , ecological , sovereign and united , ” Macron said in a televised address to the nation on June 14 .
He ruled out any tax rise and instead said “ working and producing more ” is the response amid bankruptcies and layoffs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an emphasis on creating new jobs with climate-oriented policies including renovation of old buildings and greener transport and industries .
Philippe , 49 , is expected to become the mayor of his hometown of Le Havre , in western France , after he won a large victory in Sunday ’ s voting .
A conservative , former member of The Republicans ’ party , he had joined Macron ’ s government in May 2017 .
He had seen his popularity sharply increase in recent weeks , according to French poll institutes that show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job in gradually easing virus-related restrictions in the country and enforcing an emergency package to support the French economy .

French President Emmanuel Macron named senior civil servant Jean Castex – who coordinated France’s reopening strategy after almost two months of Covid-19 lockdown – the country’s new prime minister on Friday as part of an expected cabinet reshuffle.
France's new prime minister Jean Castex leaves the Élysée Palace in Paris on May 19, 2020.
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The relatively low-profile Castex replaces Édouard Philippe, who resigned earlier in the day as is expected before a government reshuffle. Macron is reshaping his government to focus on restarting the economy after months of lockdown and a poor showing for his party in local elections last week.
Castex, 55, is a career civil servant who has worked with multiple governments, but is considered close to right-wing ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy, of whose presidential office he was deputy security general. The gradual reopening plan he has spearheaded for Macron has been generally viewed as a success so far.
02:22
The switch came as a surprise to many observers, seeing as Philippe saw his popularity increase in recent weeks after what many French saw as his effective steering of the country through the coronavirus crisis.
In an interview given to several local newspapers on Thursday, Macron said he is seeking a “new path” to rebuild the country for the two remaining years of his term. He also praised the outgoing Philippe’s “outstanding work” over the past three years.
“I will need to make choices to lead [the country] down the path,” Macron said.
The reshuffle comes days after a green wave swept over France in local elections last Sunday, when Macron saw his young centrist party defeated in France’s biggest cities.
That’s while Macron’s efforts to boost job creation have been swept away by the economic and social consequences of the country’s lockdown.
The replacement of Philippe with Castex is “about strategy, about Macron trying to exert his influence”, said Andrew Smith, a professor of French politics at the University of Chichester.
05:13
“We’ve often heard Macron described as having an hyperpresidence – this idea that he takes personal involvement in so many things,” Smith continued. “With Philippe, we saw a lot of interaction between the two, which I think was relatively effective, and of course France has had a pretty decent response to the coronavirus crisis, despite what the opinion polls say.
“But the prime minister is supposed to be a presidential prophylactic, as it were, who shields him from these difficult decisions – and the worry is that when your prime minister becomes more popular than your president, you have rivalry over who is going to lead,” Smith concluded.
'Our first priority will be to rebuild economy'
Macron’s government had been facing obstacles and criticism even before the virus crisis. But as the pandemic was peaking in the country in March and April, authorities came under fire anew for the lack of masks, tests and medical equipment.
The government issued a €460 billion emergency package through a state-funded partial employment plan, tax cuts and other financial aids for businesses. But Macron needs to adapt his policies further, as France’s economy is expected to shrink by 11 percent this year.
The unemployment rate that fell from 9.2 percent at the beginning of Macron’s term in 2017 to 7.6 percent earlier this year – its lowest level since 2008 – is now expected to increase.
“Our first priority will be to rebuild an economy that is strong, ecological, sovereign and united,” Macron said in a televised address to the nation on June 14.
He ruled out any rise in taxes and instead said “working and producing more” is the proper response to bankruptcies and layoffs caused by the coronavirus.
Macron is also seeking to emphasise the creation of new jobs with climate-oriented policies including greener transport systems and industries.
Philippe, 49, is expected to become the mayor of his hometown of Le Havre after his victory in last Sunday's vote. A conservative and a former member of the right-wing Les Républicains party, he joined Macron’s government in May 2017.
Philippe saw his popularity increase in recent weeks, according to French polling agencies, showing that the French public feels he did a good job during the lockdown, including pushing for an emergency package to support the French economy.
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
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france24--2020-07-03--French PM Édouard Philippe and his government resign as Macron prepares cabinet reshuffle

French PM Edouard Philippe and President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée Palace in Paris on June 29 , 2020 .
French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe resigned on Friday ahead of a government reshuffle by President Emmanuel Macron designed to bolster his green credentials and win back disillusioned voters ahead of a possible re-election bid .
The Élysée Palace said in a statement that Philippe would handle government affairs until a new cabinet was named .
It later said a new French prime minister would be named within the next few hours .
Questions over Philippe ’ s job have swirled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to “ reinvent ” his presidency .
In French government reshuffles , the prime minister tenders his or her resignation ahead of cabinet appointments but can still be re-named to the position .
It was not immediately clear whether Philippe would be called upon to form the new government .
Macron ’ s move to refashion his centrist government comes after voters punished the former investment banker and his party in nationwide municipal elections .
The elections , which concluded Sunday in run-off votes long-delayed by coronavirus , revealed surging support for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troubles with left-leaning voters .
> > Read more : After green wave in local elections , is France ’ s left back on track ?
The only bright spot for Macron in the local elections was Philippe ’ s own victory in the northern port city of Le Havre .
With only 21 months until the next presidential election , Macron wants to reposition himself , close advisers say .
It would be a political gamble for Macron to replace Philippe , who is more popular with the public than the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister has shown steadfast loyalty during waves of unrest and could emerge as a presidential rival in 2022 .
But keeping Philippe in office could be problematic too .
It could suggest that Macron was too weak to let go of his prime minister and that his young party lacked the depth to allow for a full-blooded cabinet overhaul .
Moreover , Macron poached Philippe from the centre-right opposition and holding onto him would complicate winning back leftist voters .
The president told La Montagne newspaper on Thursday , “ The new phase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , reconciliation and new methods .
Behind that there will be a new team .
”

French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe resigned on Friday ahead of a government reshuffle by President Emmanuel Macron designed to bolster his green credentials and win back disillusioned voters ahead of a possible re-election bid.
French PM Edouard Philippe and President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée Palace in Paris on June 29, 2020.
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The Élysée Palace said in a statement that Philippe would handle government affairs until a new cabinet was named. It later said a new French prime minister would be named within the next few hours.
Questions over Philippe’s job have swirled since mid-June when Macron declared he wanted to “reinvent” his presidency.
In French government reshuffles, the prime minister tenders his or her resignation ahead of cabinet appointments but can still be re-named to the position. It was not immediately clear whether Philippe would be called upon to form the new government.
Macron’s move to refashion his centrist government comes after voters punished the former investment banker and his party in nationwide municipal elections.
The elections, which concluded Sunday in run-off votes long-delayed by coronavirus, revealed surging support for the Green party and underlined Macron’s troubles with left-leaning voters.
>> Read more: After green wave in local elections, is France’s left back on track?
The only bright spot for Macron in the local elections was Philippe’s own victory in the northern port city of Le Havre.
With only 21 months until the next presidential election, Macron wants to reposition himself, close advisers say.
It would be a political gamble for Macron to replace Philippe, who is more popular with the public than the president, political analysts say. The prime minister has shown steadfast loyalty during waves of unrest and could emerge as a presidential rival in 2022.
03:00
But keeping Philippe in office could be problematic too. It could suggest that Macron was too weak to let go of his prime minister and that his young party lacked the depth to allow for a full-blooded cabinet overhaul.
Moreover, Macron poached Philippe from the centre-right opposition and holding onto him would complicate winning back leftist voters.
The president told La Montagne newspaper on Thursday, “The new phase entails new goals of independence, reconstruction, reconciliation and new methods. Behind that there will be a new team.”
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-03--US reports 55,000 one-day rise in Covid-19 cases, largest increase ever recorded

A large mask hangs on the face of a lion statue standing outside of the main branch of the New York Public Library in the Manhattan borough of New York City , U.S. , July 1 , 2020 .
The United States reported more than 55,000 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday , the largest daily increase any country has ever reported , according to a Reuters tally .
A surge in coronavirus cases across the United States over the past week has put President Donald Trump 's handling of the crisis under the microscope and led several governors to halt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdowns .
The daily U.S. tally stood at 55,274 late Thursday , topping the previous single day record of 54,771 set by Brazil on June 19 .
Just two weeks ago , the United States was reporting about 22,000 new cases a day .
It has now reported more than 40,000 cases for seven straight days and broken records for new cases three days in a row , according to the tally .
New infections rose in 37 out of 50 U.S. states in the past 14 days compared with the two weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Reuters analysis .
Florida reported the biggest increase of any state so far on Thursday , recording over 10,000 new cases in a single day .
With 21 million residents , the state has reported more new daily coronavirus cases than any European country had at the height of their outbreaks .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , warned earlier this week the daily increase in new U.S. cases could reach 100,000 without nationwide measures to slow the rate .
While testing rates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of positive results .
Hospitalizations have also skyrocketed .
Nationally , 7 % of coronavirus diagnostic tests came back positive last week , up from 5 % the prior week , according to a Reuters analysis .
Arizona 's positivity test rate was 24 % last week , Florida 's was 16 % .
Nevada , South Carolina and Texas were all at 15 % , the analysis found .

The United States reported more than 55,000 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, the largest daily increase any country has ever reported, according to a Reuters tally.
A large mask hangs on the face of a lion statue standing outside of the main branch of the New York Public Library in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., July 1, 2020.
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A surge in coronavirus cases across the United States over the past week has put President Donald Trump's handling of the crisis under the microscope and led several governors to halt plans to reopen their states after strict lockdowns.
The daily U.S. tally stood at 55,274 late Thursday, topping the previous single day record of 54,771 set by Brazil on June 19.
Just two weeks ago, the United States was reporting about 22,000 new cases a day. It has now reported more than 40,000 cases for seven straight days and broken records for new cases three days in a row, according to the tally.
New infections rose in 37 out of 50 U.S. states in the past 14 days compared with the two weeks prior in early June, according to a Reuters analysis.
Florida reported the biggest increase of any state so far on Thursday, recording over 10,000 new cases in a single day. With 21 million residents, the state has reported more new daily coronavirus cases than any European country had at the height of their outbreaks.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, warned earlier this week the daily increase in new U.S. cases could reach 100,000 without nationwide measures to slow the rate.
While testing rates have increased, so has the percentage of positive results. Hospitalizations have also skyrocketed.
Nationally, 7% of coronavirus diagnostic tests came back positive last week, up from 5% the prior week, according to a Reuters analysis. Arizona's positivity test rate was 24% last week, Florida's was 16%. Nevada, South Carolina and Texas were all at 15%, the analysis found.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-03--French court rejects new inquiry into death of president Habyarimana that sparked Rwanda genocide

Rwandan president Juvenal Habyarimana ( C ) was killed when his plane was shot down in 1994 , triggering the genocide of some 800,000 in the east African country .
A Paris appeals court rejected a request to reopen an investigation into the 1994 death of Rwanda 's president Juvenal Habyarimana , which sparked a genocide that killed 800,000 people , lawyers said Friday .
Families of those who died along with Habyarimana when his plane was downed will appeal the decision to France 's supreme court , their lawyers announced .
The appeals court in Paris had been asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out the probe against nine members and former members of incumbent President Paul Kagame 's entourage in a case that has poisoned relations between the two countries .
A plane carrying Habyarimana , from Rwanda 's Hutu majority , was shot down in Kigali on April 6 , 1994 , unleashing a killing spree that would leave 800,000 people , mainly Tutsis but also moderate Hutus , dead .
The plane was struck by at least one missile as it came in to land at Kigali , also killing Burundi 's president Cyprien @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A probe was opened in France in 1998 after a complaint by families of the French plane crew .
The investigation initially focused on allies of Kagame , a Tutsi who led the Rwandan Patriotic Front ( RPF ) rebel movement that came to power after defeating the extremist Hutu regime .
Kagame , who became Rwanda 's president in 2000 , broke diplomatic ties with Paris between 2006 and 2009 after France issued arrest warrants for his allies .
Then in 2012 , a report by French experts pinpointed the camp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ army , as the missile launch site – shifting the investigation 's focus .
Kigali said that finding vindicated its belief that the attack was carried out by Hutu extremists who believed Habyarimana was too moderate and who opposed the Arusha peace process then under way .
As investigations dragged on , Kagame accused France ahead of the genocide 's 20th anniversary in 2014 , of having played a `` direct role '' in the killing .
And in November 2016 , Kigali launched an inquiry into the alleged role of 20 French @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the plane was brought down .
'Past is behind us' France has always denied the allegations and last year , President Emmanuel Macron announced the creation of a panel of historians and researchers to look into the claims .
In December 2018 , French judges dropped their probe for lack of evidence .
Families of the victims of the missile attack , including Habyarimana 's widow Agathe , lodged an appeal against that ruling .
At a January hearing , prosecutors urged the court to confirm the 2018 decision to abandon the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past is behind us , '' he told the Jeune Afrique weekly news magazine this week .
`` Reopening a classified file is to invite problems , '' he said .
`` If things are not definitively clarified , our relations are likely to suffer one way or another . ''

A Paris appeals court rejected a request to reopen an investigation into the 1994 death of Rwanda's president Juvenal Habyarimana, which sparked a genocide that killed 800,000 people, lawyers said Friday.
Rwandan president Juvenal Habyarimana (C) was killed when his plane was shot down in 1994, triggering the genocide of some 800,000 in the east African country.
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Families of those who died along with Habyarimana when his plane was downed will appeal the decision to France's supreme court, their lawyers announced.
The appeals court in Paris had been asked to revisit a 2018 decision to throw out the probe against nine members and former members of incumbent President Paul Kagame's entourage in a case that has poisoned relations between the two countries.
A plane carrying Habyarimana, from Rwanda's Hutu majority, was shot down in Kigali on April 6, 1994, unleashing a killing spree that would leave 800,000 people, mainly Tutsis but also moderate Hutus, dead.
The plane was struck by at least one missile as it came in to land at Kigali, also killing Burundi's president Cyprien Ntaryamira, another Hutu, on board.
A probe was opened in France in 1998 after a complaint by families of the French plane crew.
Ties broken
The investigation initially focused on allies of Kagame, a Tutsi who led the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) rebel movement that came to power after defeating the extremist Hutu regime.
Kagame, who became Rwanda's president in 2000, broke diplomatic ties with Paris between 2006 and 2009 after France issued arrest warrants for his allies.
Then in 2012, a report by French experts pinpointed the camp of Kanombe, controlled by Habyarimana's army, as the missile launch site – shifting the investigation's focus.
Kigali said that finding vindicated its belief that the attack was carried out by Hutu extremists who believed Habyarimana was too moderate and who opposed the Arusha peace process then under way.
As investigations dragged on, Kagame accused France ahead of the genocide's 20th anniversary in 2014, of having played a "direct role" in the killing.
And in November 2016, Kigali launched an inquiry into the alleged role of 20 French officials in the genocide that began hours after the plane was brought down.
'Past is behind us'
France has always denied the allegations and last year, President Emmanuel Macron announced the creation of a panel of historians and researchers to look into the claims.
In December 2018, French judges dropped their probe for lack of evidence.
Families of the victims of the missile attack, including Habyarimana's widow Agathe, lodged an appeal against that ruling.
At a January hearing, prosecutors urged the court to confirm the 2018 decision to abandon the case.
Kagame agreed.
"I believe that the past is behind us," he told the Jeune Afrique weekly news magazine this week.
"Reopening a classified file is to invite problems," he said. "If things are not definitively clarified, our relations are likely to suffer one way or another."
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-07-03--Japan seeks extradition of two Americans for helping ex-Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn escape

Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn gestures as he speaks at a press conference in Beirut , Lebanon , on January 8 , 2020 .
Japan has formally asked the United States to extradite two men who helped former Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn escape the country to avoid prosecution , a court filing showed Thursday .
The men -- security contractor and former US special forces member Michael Taylor and his son Peter -- were taken into custody on May 20 after they were named earlier in a Japanese arrest warrant for participating in Ghosn 's dramatic escape .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the son was preparing to travel to Lebanon , where Ghosn fled after sneaking out of Japan .
The United States and Japan have an extradition treaty , but Lebanon and Japan do not .
`` Japan 's requests for the extraditions of Michael L. Taylor and Peter M. Taylor have been submitted to the US Department of State in accordance with the extradition treaty between the United States and Japan , '' Andrew Lelling , the US attorney in Massachusetts , told a Boston court .
The Taylors and a Lebanese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helping Ghosn flee Japan on December 29 .
Ghosn , who led Nissan for nearly two decades before his arrest in 2018 , was out on bail awaiting trial for alleged financial crimes when he made the audacious escape .
According to court documents , the Taylors and Zayek , posing as musicians , helped the auto boss hide inside a large black case of the kind used to transport audio equipment for music , which they then loaded onto a private jet .
In February Nissan filed a civil lawsuit to reclaim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million ) from Ghosn for what it called `` years of his misconduct and fraudulent activity . ''

Japan has formally asked the United States to extradite two men who helped former Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn escape the country to avoid prosecution, a court filing showed Thursday.
Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn gestures as he speaks at a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon, on January 8, 2020.
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The men -- security contractor and former US special forces member Michael Taylor and his son Peter -- were taken into custody on May 20 after they were named earlier in a Japanese arrest warrant for participating in Ghosn's dramatic escape.
The Taylors were arrested in Harvard, Massachusetts as the son was preparing to travel to Lebanon, where Ghosn fled after sneaking out of Japan.
The United States and Japan have an extradition treaty, but Lebanon and Japan do not.
"Japan's requests for the extraditions of Michael L. Taylor and Peter M. Taylor have been submitted to the US Department of State in accordance with the extradition treaty between the United States and Japan," Andrew Lelling, the US attorney in Massachusetts, told a Boston court.
The Taylors and a Lebanese man named George-Antoine Zayek are accused of helping Ghosn flee Japan on December 29.
Ghosn, who led Nissan for nearly two decades before his arrest in 2018, was out on bail awaiting trial for alleged financial crimes when he made the audacious escape.
According to court documents, the Taylors and Zayek, posing as musicians, helped the auto boss hide inside a large black case of the kind used to transport audio equipment for music, which they then loaded onto a private jet.
In February Nissan filed a civil lawsuit to reclaim some 10 billion yen ($90 million) from Ghosn for what it called "years of his misconduct and fraudulent activity."
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-03--Turkish court opens trial of Saudi officials in absentia over death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi

Journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed October 2 , 2018 at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul .
A Turkish court will open the trial on Friday of 20 Saudi officials indicted over the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi , a step his fiancee hopes will shed more light on the death and reveal where his body was hidden .
The indictment by Istanbul prosecutors accuses the former deputy head of Saudi Arabia 's general intelligence , Ahmed al-Asiri , and former royal court adviser Saud al-Qahtani of instigating `` premeditated murder with monstrous intent '' , the prosecutor 's office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other defendants carried out the killing by suffocating Khashoggi , who had grown increasingly critical of Saudi Arabia 's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman .
All 20 defendants are expected to be tried in absentia .
The October 2018 attack at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul prompted widespread revulsion , damaged relations between Ankara and Riyadh , and tarnished the prince 's international image .
Some Western governments , as well as the CIA , have said they believed he ordered the killing - an accusation Saudi officials denied .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeking documents for his impending wedding .
Turkish officials said his body was dismembered and removed from the building .
His remains have not been found .
`` I hope this criminal case in Turkey brings to light the whereabouts of Jamal 's body ( and ) the evidence against the killers , '' his fiancee Hatice Cengiz , who was waiting for him outside the consulate on the day of his killing , told Reuters .
Asked whether Saudi Arabia would cooperate with the Turkish legal proceedings , the kingdom 's United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share evidence with Saudi investigators but received no response .
`` Turkey is not cooperating with Saudi Arabia , '' Abdullah al Mouallimi told reporters .
In December a Saudi court sentenced five people to death and three to jail for Khashoggi 's killing after a largely secretive trial .
Khashoggi 's family later said they forgave his murderers , paving the way for their formal reprieve .
Cengiz said neither the trial nor the pardon followed due process .
`` No one can take the 'trial ' that took place in Saudi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secret and the individuals sentenced are unnamed , '' Cengiz said .
Turkey has accused Saudi officials of obstructing investigations , while Riyadh repeatedly said the Istanbul prosecutor has not complied with requests to share information .
Prince Mohammed has denied ordering the killing but said he bore ultimate responsibility as the kingdom ’ s de facto leader .
Saudi Arabia initially denied any involvement in or knowledge of Khashoggi ’ s death but later changed its position several times .

A Turkish court will open the trial on Friday of 20 Saudi officials indicted over the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a step his fiancee hopes will shed more light on the death and reveal where his body was hidden.
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The indictment by Istanbul prosecutors accuses the former deputy head of Saudi Arabia's general intelligence, Ahmed al-Asiri, and former royal court adviser Saud al-Qahtani of instigating "premeditated murder with monstrous intent", the prosecutor's office said in March.
It says 18 other defendants carried out the killing by suffocating Khashoggi, who had grown increasingly critical of Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. All 20 defendants are expected to be tried in absentia.
The October 2018 attack at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul prompted widespread revulsion, damaged relations between Ankara and Riyadh, and tarnished the prince's international image. Some Western governments, as well as the CIA, have said they believed he ordered the killing - an accusation Saudi officials denied.
Khashoggi was last seen entering the consulate seeking documents for his impending wedding. Turkish officials said his body was dismembered and removed from the building. His remains have not been found.
"I hope this criminal case in Turkey brings to light the whereabouts of Jamal's body (and) the evidence against the killers," his fiancee Hatice Cengiz, who was waiting for him outside the consulate on the day of his killing, told Reuters.
02:38
Asked whether Saudi Arabia would cooperate with the Turkish legal proceedings, the kingdom's United Nations ambassador said Riyadh asked Ankara to share evidence with Saudi investigators but received no response. "Turkey is not cooperating with Saudi Arabia," Abdullah al Mouallimi told reporters.
In December a Saudi court sentenced five people to death and three to jail for Khashoggi's killing after a largely secretive trial. Khashoggi's family later said they forgave his murderers, paving the way for their formal reprieve.
Cengiz said neither the trial nor the pardon followed due process. "No one can take the 'trial' that took place in Saudi Arabia legitimately; it was done in secret and the individuals sentenced are unnamed," Cengiz said.
Turkey has accused Saudi officials of obstructing investigations, while Riyadh repeatedly said the Istanbul prosecutor has not complied with requests to share information.
Prince Mohammed has denied ordering the killing but said he bore ultimate responsibility as the kingdom’s de facto leader. Saudi Arabia initially denied any involvement in or knowledge of Khashoggi’s death but later changed its position several times.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-03--US Congress unanimously votes for 'Hong Kong Autonomy Act' to sanction China-linked banks

An anti-national security law protester holds a banner reading `` Chinese communist party is shameless , break the promises '' during a march at the anniversary of Hong Kong 's handover to China from Britain in Hong Kong , China July 1 , 2020 .
The U.S. Senate unanimously approved legislation on Thursday to penalize banks doing business with Chinese officials who implement Beijing 's draconian new national security law on Hong Kong , sending it to the White House for President Donald Trump 's signature .
The House of Representatives on Wednesday also passed the bill without opposition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reflecting concern over the erosion of the autonomy that had allowed the former British colony to thrive as China 's freest city and an international financial center .
The United States and China have been at loggerheads for months over the handling of the coronavirus pandemic and Beijing 's harsh response to protests in Hong Kong .
Washington has also sought to put more pressure on China over mistreatment of Muslim Uighurs in the Xinjiang region .
`` This is an urgent moment .
Our timing could not be more critical , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lead sponsor of the `` Hong Kong Autonomy Act , '' in a Senate speech urging support for the legislation .
`` Through this bill , the U.S. Senate makes clear which side we are on , '' said Republican Senator Pat Toomey , a co-sponsor .
The bill calls for sanctions on Chinese officials and others who help violate Hong Kong 's autonomy , and financial institutions that do business with those who are found to have participated in any crackdown on the city .
Lawmakers said it raced through Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions , and to show support for protesters in Hong Kong .
Thousands gathered in Hong Kong on Wednesday to demand independence , risking steep prison terms as China said Washington should stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs .
Elizabeth Rosenberg , a sanctions expert at the Center for a New American Security , called the bill `` a very strong step , '' adding , `` They 're really upping their game and trying out some very powerful new economic tools . ''
Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' formula that protected its freedoms , including wide-ranging autonomy .
But China on Tuesday introduced sweeping national security legislation for the city , condemned by the United States , Britain and other Western countries .
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab reprimanded HSBC and other firms on Wednesday for supporting the law , saying the rights of Hong Kong should not be sacrificed for bankers ' bonuses .
Senior British and U.S. politicians criticized HSBC and Standard Chartered last month after the banks backed the new law .
The Chinese security law , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison , will see mainland security agencies in Hong Kong for the first time and allows extradition to the mainland for trial .
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian , speaking in Beijing , warned the United States against signing or implementing the bill approved Thursday .
`` Otherwise China will resolutely and forcefully resist , '' he said .
The White House did not respond to a request for comment on whether Trump would sign the bill .
Fellow Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Trump would sign it and that it would be properly enforced .
Although the measure allows the president not to impose the mandatory sanctions for national security reasons , it also allows Congress to vote to disapprove if lawmakers feel Trump is misusing the waiver provision .
The United States has already begun eliminating Hong Kong 's special status , halting defense exports and restricting the territory 's access to high-technology products .

The U.S. Senate unanimously approved legislation on Thursday to penalize banks doing business with Chinese officials who implement Beijing's draconian new national security law on Hong Kong, sending it to the White House for President Donald Trump's signature.
An anti-national security law protester holds a banner reading "Chinese communist party is shameless, break the promises" during a march at the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China from Britain in Hong Kong, China July 1, 2020.
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The House of Representatives on Wednesday also passed the bill without opposition, a rare example of overwhelming bipartisan support reflecting concern over the erosion of the autonomy that had allowed the former British colony to thrive as China's freest city and an international financial center.
The United States and China have been at loggerheads for months over the handling of the coronavirus pandemic and Beijing's harsh response to protests in Hong Kong. Washington has also sought to put more pressure on China over mistreatment of Muslim Uighurs in the Xinjiang region.
"This is an urgent moment. Our timing could not be more critical," said Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, a lead sponsor of the "Hong Kong Autonomy Act," in a Senate speech urging support for the legislation.
"Through this bill, the U.S. Senate makes clear which side we are on," said Republican Senator Pat Toomey, a co-sponsor.
The bill calls for sanctions on Chinese officials and others who help violate Hong Kong's autonomy, and financial institutions that do business with those who are found to have participated in any crackdown on the city.
01:27
Lawmakers said it raced through Congress this week because of China's recent actions, and to show support for protesters in Hong Kong. Thousands gathered in Hong Kong on Wednesday to demand independence, risking steep prison terms as China said Washington should stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs.
'Upping their game'
Elizabeth Rosenberg, a sanctions expert at the Center for a New American Security, called the bill "a very strong step," adding, "They're really upping their game and trying out some very powerful new economic tools."
Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula that protected its freedoms, including wide-ranging autonomy. But China on Tuesday introduced sweeping national security legislation for the city, condemned by the United States, Britain and other Western countries.
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab reprimanded HSBC and other firms on Wednesday for supporting the law, saying the rights of Hong Kong should not be sacrificed for bankers' bonuses.
Senior British and U.S. politicians criticized HSBC and Standard Chartered last month after the banks backed the new law.
The Chinese security law, which punishes crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison, will see mainland security agencies in Hong Kong for the first time and allows extradition to the mainland for trial.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, speaking in Beijing, warned the United States against signing or implementing the bill approved Thursday.
"Otherwise China will resolutely and forcefully resist," he said.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment on whether Trump would sign the bill.
Fellow Republican Toomey said he had "no doubt" Trump would sign it and that it would be properly enforced. Although the measure allows the president not to impose the mandatory sanctions for national security reasons, it also allows Congress to vote to disapprove if lawmakers feel Trump is misusing the waiver provision.
The United States has already begun eliminating Hong Kong's special status, halting defense exports and restricting the territory's access to high-technology products.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-07-03--Death toll climbs to more than 160 in Myanmar jade mine disaster

Scores die each year while working in Myanmar 's lucrative but poorly regulated jade industry .
Rescuers Friday pulled several bodies from the scene of a landslide which killed over 160 jade miners in northern Myanmar , many of them migrant workers seeking their fortune in treacherous open-cast mines near the China border .
The disaster—the worst in memory to strike Myanmar ’ s notoriously dangerous jade mines—occurred on Thursday when a hillside collapsed in heavy monsoon rains .
A deluge of mud smothered workers scouring the land for the precious stone—a moment of horror captured on cameraphone footage .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ her son who lay in the grim line-up of bloodied corpses retrieved from the mud , his clothes ripped off by the force of the landslide .
“ The search and rescue missions continued today and we now have 166 bodies , ” the Myanmar Fire Services Department said in a Facebook post , raising the overnight toll by four .
The area is close to the Chinese border in Kachin state , where billions of dollars of jade is believed to be scoured each year from bare hillsides by poor migrant workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photos of the dead circulated on social media Facebook users began to identify workers hundreds of miles from home , leaving moving tributes to friends and family members .
“ Please bring my father back , ” said Hnin Wati .
“ A daughter ’ s heart is breaking.
” Another , from a former miner , affectionately remembered one of the dead for his “ kind-heart ” and generosity with his food during tough shared times on the mountainside .
Myanmar is one of the world ’ s biggest sources of jadeite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the green gem from neighbouring China .
Some jade brokers suspended online auctions on Thursday , and promised to donate money to their friends who were killed .
Scores of miners die every year in landslides and other accidents on unstable , over-excavated mountainsides .
They are often from impoverished ethnic minority communities , looking for scraps left behind by big firms .
Low-quality stones can be exchanged for food or sold for $ 20 to waiting brokers .
“ Many of them ( the dead ) are Rakhine , ” Phon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AFP , referring to the ethnic group who live hundreds of kilometres away at the other end of the country , and who are among Myanmar ’ s poorest communities .

Rescuers Friday pulled several bodies from the scene of a landslide which killed over 160 jade miners in northern Myanmar, many of them migrant workers seeking their fortune in treacherous open-cast mines near the China border.
Scores die each year while working in Myanmar's lucrative but poorly regulated jade industry.
Advertising Read more
The disaster—the worst in memory to strike Myanmar’s notoriously dangerous jade mines—occurred on Thursday when a hillside collapsed in heavy monsoon rains.
A deluge of mud smothered workers scouring the land for the precious stone—a moment of horror captured on cameraphone footage.
A woman cried over the body of her son who lay in the grim line-up of bloodied corpses retrieved from the mud, his clothes ripped off by the force of the landslide.
“The search and rescue missions continued today and we now have 166 bodies,” the Myanmar Fire Services Department said in a Facebook post, raising the overnight toll by four.
The area is close to the Chinese border in Kachin state, where billions of dollars of jade is believed to be scoured each year from bare hillsides by poor migrant workers seeking to strike it rich.
As photos of the dead circulated on social media Facebook users began to identify workers hundreds of miles from home, leaving moving tributes to friends and family members.
“Please bring my father back,” said Hnin Wati. “A daughter’s heart is breaking.”
Another, from a former miner, affectionately remembered one of the dead for his “kind-heart” and generosity with his food during tough shared times on the mountainside.
Myanmar is one of the world’s biggest sources of jadeite and the industry is supercharged by demand for the green gem from neighbouring China.
Some jade brokers suspended online auctions on Thursday, and promised to donate money to their friends who were killed.
Scores of miners die every year in landslides and other accidents on unstable, over-excavated mountainsides.
They are often from impoverished ethnic minority communities, looking for scraps left behind by big firms.
Low-quality stones can be exchanged for food or sold for $20 to waiting brokers.
“Many of them (the dead) are Rakhine,” Phon Graing, a Hpakant township official told AFP, referring to the ethnic group who live hundreds of kilometres away at the other end of the country, and who are among Myanmar’s poorest communities.
“But we don’t have specific numbers yet.”
(AFP)
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france24--2020-07-03--Week in Review: Netanyahu's annexation plan, China's campaign against Uighurs and Hollywood before t

Week in Review: Netanyahu's annexation plan, China's campaign against Uighurs and Hollywood before the censors

Protests against colonial statues in South Africa , 1950s filmmaker Ida Lupino celebrated at the La Rochelle Film Festival and UN blue caps hold the peace on Lebanon 's border with Israel .
This week FRANCE 24 looked at how Israeli PM Benyamin Netanyahu 's annexation plan is threatening the Palestinian and Israeli economies ; breaking the silence on China 's campaign against the Uighurs ; divisive colonial statues in South Africa ; and the racy days of Hollywood – before the arrival of film censors .
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’ s plan to begin annexing parts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 threatens to have severe repercussions on both the Palestinian and Israeli economies , which are already struggling from the effects of a global pandemic .
Breaking the silence on China ’ s ‘ two-faced ’ campaign against Uighurs More than three years after her father , a retired government official in China ’ s Uighur region , was arrested , Subi Mamat Yuksel finally spoke up about her family ’ s ordeal .
The violations may have followed official Chinese directives , but the abuse was so severe that Beijing ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ silence Uighur families has backfired .
Amsterdam ’ s red-light district re-opened on Wednesday , July 1 after being closed for more than three months during the Covid-19 lockdown , though sex workers have been advised to avoid kissing and follow strict hygiene measures to reduce the risk of spreading the virus .
Fires rage across Amazon rainforest , sparking fears of another disastrous summer season In the month of June alone , almost 2,250 separate fires were recorded in the Amazon rainforest – up from around 1,900 fires detected in the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this summer will see a repeat of the infernos that raged across the Amazon last summer .
Field hospitals and evacuations : The part of France where Covid-19 continues to rage Military aircraft began evacuating Covid-19 patients from French Guiana on June 28 in the latest sign that health services in the French overseas department are struggling to cope with a soaring number of coronavirus cases .
US sanctions against international court staff are unprecedented , says ICC ’ s Fatou Bensouda Fatou Bensouda , the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 ’ s Marc Perelman that the United States ’ decision to sanction the ICC officials investigating alleged war crimes committed by US troops in Afghanistan is an act of pure “ political revenge ” .
‘ Our rights , our democracy are at stake ’ , says Philippine journalist convicted of ‘ cyberlibel ’ Maria Ressa , a prominent investigative journalist in the Philippines , is facing up to six years in jail after she was convicted of “ cyberlibel ” .
In an interview with FRANCE 24 , she claimed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of a deliberate campaign to stifle press freedom under the regime of President Rodrigo Duterte .
Special edition : African advancement and the consequences of colonialism While the murder of George Floyd in the United States has revived anti-racism movements around the world , it has also stirred up the painful history of colonialism .
In this special edition , FRANCE 24 takes a look at the history behind the tumultuous relationship between Europe and Africa .
Reports from South Africa , Nigeria , Cameroon and DR Congo explore the complicated collective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nations they controlled .
Tesla becomes world 's most valuable carmaker after share price surge Tesla has become the world 's most valuable carmaker after a surge in its share price over the last year .
It surpassed Toyota in market capitalisation during trading on Wall Street on Wednesday .
The electric carmaker 's sales are still just a fraction of the larger players in the industry , but it has seen significant growth in the past year .
The International Energy Organisation expects electric car sales to suffer less of a slump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 400 million jobs lost during pandemic , ILO says The International Labour Organization has said the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on jobs has been much worse than previously expected .
Its latest report showed the number of hours worked globally between April and June was 14 % lower than in 2019 , which the ILO said is the equivalent of the loss of 400 million jobs .
The employment situation is unlikely to recover until 2021 , according to the UN agency , and then only if the virus is under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the multi-million selling success of Pillars of the Earth - the prequel Ken Follett has sold more than 150 million books worldwide .
His works have been read in more than 80 countries and translated into more than 30 languages .
He ’ s most famous for the Pillars of the Earth and the World Without End , both tomes set in the middle ages .
Follet speaks to FRANCE 24 's Eve Jackson about his new novel The Evening and the Morning due out in September , which is the prequel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critic Lisa Nesselson speaks to Eve Jackson about the week ’ s film news including `` Capital in the 21st Century , '' the La Rochelle Film festival , a tribute to Gone With the Wind actress Olivia de Havilland for her 104th birthday and the re-release of ten 1930s movies from Hollywood ’ s racy days .
'It 's a good time to be versatile ' , says hip-hop artist Tkay Maidza For the past eight years , Tkay Maidza has been honing her sound to become one of Australia 's top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ artist who was for some time tempted by a career in architecture , broke into the music business when she was just 16-years-old .
She went on to tour the globe and work with dance pop artists including France 's Martin Solveig .
FRANCE 24 catches up with her to discuss her new album `` Last Year Was Weird Vol.2 '' which is set to be released in August .
Stationed in Lebanon for more than 40 years , the UN 's blue helmets work to preserve a fragile peace along the border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between Hezbollah and Israel , the border area has enjoyed a period of relative calm , one which UNIFIL hopes to maintain .
But just a few weeks away from the renewal of its mandate , the UN force is facing criticism on multiple fronts .
In Germany ’ s K-town , fears for the economy as Trump threatens to withdraw US troops American President Donald Trump is threatening to withdraw thousands of American troops from Germany .
He accuses Germany of not contributing enough to NATO .
The overall number of US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of the Cold War .
But the country still hosts more troops than any other European country .
FRANCE 24 went to Kaiserslautern where more than half of the American soldiers are based .
It ’ s a region where the American presence is an essential part of the economy .
This edition is focused on Israel ’ s planned annexation of settlements in the West Bank .
The term ‘ annexation ’ is used when a state unilaterally incorporates another territory within its borders .
Israel ’ s Prime Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an integral part of the historic Jewish homeland ” .
Palestinians say the plan is an “ existential threat '' and have threatened to respond with their own measures .

WEEK IN REVIEW
This week FRANCE 24 looked at how Israeli PM Benyamin Netanyahu's annexation plan is threatening the Palestinian and Israeli economies; breaking the silence on China's campaign against the Uighurs; divisive colonial statues in South Africa; and the racy days of Hollywood – before the arrival of film censors.
Protests against colonial statues in South Africa, 1950s filmmaker Ida Lupino celebrated at the La Rochelle Film Festival and UN blue caps hold the peace on Lebanon's border with Israel.
Advertising Read more
ARTICLES
Netanyahu’s annexation plan threatens Palestinian, Israeli economies already struggling after Covid-19
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to begin annexing parts of the West Bank as soon as July 1 threatens to have severe repercussions on both the Palestinian and Israeli economies, which are already struggling from the effects of a global pandemic.
A labourer puts up banners depicting US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, bearing the words in Hebrew, "No to a Palestinian State" and "Sovereignty Do it right!" as part of a new campaign by the far-right Yesha Jewish settler council, in Jerusalem, on June 10, 2020. © Ammar Awad, Reuters
Breaking the silence on China’s ‘two-faced’ campaign against Uighurs
More than three years after her father, a retired government official in China’s Uighur region, was arrested, Subi Mamat Yuksel finally spoke up about her family’s ordeal. The violations may have followed official Chinese directives, but the abuse was so severe that Beijing’s use of fear as a tool to silence Uighur families has backfired.
Mamat Abdullah poses before the White House during a June 2015 trip to the US. © Handout via Subi Mamat Yuksel
VIDEO REPORTS
‘We disinfect everything’: Amsterdam’s red-light district re-opens
Amsterdam’s red-light district re-opened on Wednesday, July 1 after being closed for more than three months during the Covid-19 lockdown, though sex workers have been advised to avoid kissing and follow strict hygiene measures to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
Amsterdam red light district reopens, July 2 2020. © FRANCE 24 screengrab.
Fires rage across Amazon rainforest, sparking fears of another disastrous summer season
In the month of June alone, almost 2,250 separate fires were recorded in the Amazon rainforest – up from around 1,900 fires detected in the same period last year. NGOs are worried that this summer will see a repeat of the infernos that raged across the Amazon last summer.
Field hospitals and evacuations: The part of France where Covid-19 continues to rage
Military aircraft began evacuating Covid-19 patients from French Guiana on June 28 in the latest sign that health services in the French overseas department are struggling to cope with a soaring number of coronavirus cases.
TV SHOWS ONLINE
THE INTERVIEW
US sanctions against international court staff are unprecedented, says ICC’s Fatou Bensouda
Fatou Bensouda, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), tells FRANCE 24’s Marc Perelman that the United States’ decision to sanction the ICC officials investigating alleged war crimes committed by US troops in Afghanistan is an act of pure “political revenge”.
Fatou Bensouda, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), speaks to FRANCE 24's Marc Perelman, July 2 2020. © FRANCE 24 screengrab.
‘Our rights, our democracy are at stake’, says Philippine journalist convicted of ‘cyberlibel’
Maria Ressa, a prominent investigative journalist in the Philippines, is facing up to six years in jail after she was convicted of “cyberlibel”. In an interview with FRANCE 24, she claimed that the case against her was fabricated as part of a deliberate campaign to stifle press freedom under the regime of President Rodrigo Duterte.
THE INTERVIEW © France 24
ACROSS AFRICA
Special edition: African advancement and the consequences of colonialism
While the murder of George Floyd in the United States has revived anti-racism movements around the world, it has also stirred up the painful history of colonialism. In this special edition, FRANCE 24 takes a look at the history behind the tumultuous relationship between Europe and Africa. Reports from South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroon and DR Congo explore the complicated collective memory of former colonial powers and the nations they controlled.
Protests against divisive statues in South Africa, July 1 2020. © FRANCE 24 screengrab.
BUSINESS
Tesla becomes world's most valuable carmaker after share price surge
Tesla has become the world's most valuable carmaker after a surge in its share price over the last year. It surpassed Toyota in market capitalisation during trading on Wall Street on Wednesday. The electric carmaker's sales are still just a fraction of the larger players in the industry, but it has seen significant growth in the past year. The International Energy Organisation expects electric car sales to suffer less of a slump than traditional vehicles this year.
Equivalent of 400 million jobs lost during pandemic, ILO says
The International Labour Organization has said the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on jobs has been much worse than previously expected. Its latest report showed the number of hours worked globally between April and June was 14% lower than in 2019, which the ILO said is the equivalent of the loss of 400 million jobs. The employment situation is unlikely to recover until 2021, according to the UN agency, and then only if the virus is under control.
ENCORE!
Ken Follett: 30 years after the multi-million selling success of Pillars of the Earth - the prequel
Ken Follett has sold more than 150 million books worldwide. His works have been read in more than 80 countries and translated into more than 30 languages. He’s most famous for the Pillars of the Earth and the World Without End, both tomes set in the middle ages. Follet speaks to FRANCE 24's Eve Jackson about his new novel The Evening and the Morning due out in September, which is the prequel to Pillars of the Earth.
Author Ken Follett speaks to FRANCE 24's Eve Jackson on Encore, July 2 2020. © FRANCE 24 screengrab.
Film Show: Forbidden Hollywood shows the movies made before censors arrived
Film critic Lisa Nesselson speaks to Eve Jackson about the week’s film news including "Capital in the 21st Century," the La Rochelle Film festival, a tribute to Gone With the Wind actress Olivia de Havilland for her 104th birthday and the re-release of ten 1930s movies from Hollywood’s racy days.
Film director Ida Lopina is celebrated in this year's La Rochelle Film Festival, July 1 2020. © FRANCE 24 screengrab.
'It's a good time to be versatile', says hip-hop artist Tkay Maidza
For the past eight years, Tkay Maidza has been honing her sound to become one of Australia's top rap ambassadors. The Zimbabwean born hip-hop artist who was for some time tempted by a career in architecture, broke into the music business when she was just 16-years-old. She went on to tour the globe and work with dance pop artists including France's Martin Solveig. FRANCE 24 catches up with her to discuss her new album "Last Year Was Weird Vol.2" which is set to be released in August.
FOCUS
Keeping a 'fragile' peace on Lebanon's border with Israel
Stationed in Lebanon for more than 40 years, the UN's blue helmets work to preserve a fragile peace along the border with Israel. Since the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, the border area has enjoyed a period of relative calm, one which UNIFIL hopes to maintain. But just a few weeks away from the renewal of its mandate, the UN force is facing criticism on multiple fronts.
Lieutenant Alberto Montilla from the Spanish contingent of the UN's blue helmets, stationed on the Lebanese border with Israel, June 30 2020. © FRANCE 24 screengrab.
In Germany’s K-town, fears for the economy as Trump threatens to withdraw US troops
American President Donald Trump is threatening to withdraw thousands of American troops from Germany. He accuses Germany of not contributing enough to NATO. The overall number of US soldiers based in Germany dropped massively at the end of the Cold War. But the country still hosts more troops than any other European country. FRANCE 24 went to Kaiserslautern where more than half of the American soldiers are based. It’s a region where the American presence is an essential part of the economy.
President Donald Trump has threatened to pull US troops out of K-town in Germany, June 29 2020. © FRANCE 24 screengrab.
MIDDLE EAST MATTERS
Special edition: Israel's contentious annexation plan for the West Bank
This edition is focused on Israel’s planned annexation of settlements in the West Bank. The term ‘annexation’ is used when a state unilaterally incorporates another territory within its borders. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called these zones “an integral part of the historic Jewish homeland”. Palestinians say the plan is an “existential threat" and have threatened to respond with their own measures.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-07-03--Police arrest more than 800 in crackdown on EncroChat, encrypted phone system used by organised crim

Police arrest more than 800 in crackdown on EncroChat, encrypted phone system used by organised crime

A handgun , bullets and silencer are displayed after a criminal network bust by Metropolitan Police in a joint operation with the National Crime Agency ( NCA ) and European partners in London , Britain , in this undated image released July 2 , 2020 .
The NCA and European partners shared data from the encrypted communication system EncroChat with the Met Police , which led them to make over 170 arrests and seize 13.4 million pounds in cash .
Police said Thursday they had arrested more than 800 people across Europe after shutting down an encrypted phone system used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and drug deals .
French and Dutch police said they hacked into the EncroChat network so they could read millions of messages `` over the shoulders '' of suspects as they communicated with custom-made devices .
Britain said it had arrested 746 people as a result of the operation in what it called a `` massive breakthrough '' against organised crime , while the Netherlands held more than 100 people and there were arrests in Norway , Spain , and Sweden .
EncroChat sent a message to its estimated 60,000 users in June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ devices as its servers had been `` seized illegally by government entities '' .
It has now been shut down .
`` It was as if though we were sitting at the table where criminals were chatting amongst themselves , '' said Jannine van den Berg , Chief Constable of the Dutch police 's central unit .
Some of the encrypted messages `` were so worrying that it went far beyond our imagination , '' van den Berg told a press conference at the headquarters of the EU 's judicial agency Eurojust in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to foil crimes including `` violent attacks , corruption , attempted murders and large-scale drug transports , '' Eurojust and the EU police agency Europol said in a joint statement .
`` Certain messages indicated plans to commit imminent violent crimes and triggered immediate action . ''
French authorities launched the investigation in 2017 after finding that EncroChat phones were `` regularly '' found in operations against criminal groups and that the company was operating from servers in France .
They then `` put a technical device in place to go beyond the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ users ' correspondence , '' the statement said .
Dutch police then became involved based on information shared by French police .
Between 90 and 100 percent of EncroChat clients were linked to organised crime , according judicial sources , with between 50,000 to 60,000 of the phones in circulation .
The devices had most normal smart phone features stripped out and had pre-loaded apps for instant encrypted messages , plus a kill code which wiped them remotely .
EncroChat sent what it called an `` emergency '' text to its users on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Today we had our domain seized by government entities , '' said the message .
`` You are advised to power off and physically dispose your device immediately . ''
The joint Dutch-Franco investigation team unearthed a `` colossal number of encrypted data , '' Carole Etienne , the public prosecutor for the French city of Lille , told AFP .
Law officials were then able to `` intercept , share and analyse millions of messages that were exchanged between criminals to plan serious crimes '' later shared with police including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We 've been able to see what 's happening in real time with these criminals , '' Andy Kraag , head of Dutch police 's central investigations division told the press conference .
Dutch police had busted 19 meth labs , seized 10 tonnes of cocaine and thousands of kilos of crystal meth and arrested more than 100 people , Kraag said .
In Britain , police arrested 746 suspects , recovered more than 54 million pounds ( 59.8 million euros , $ 67.5 million ) as well as 77 guns including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ammunition .
`` This is the broadest and deepest ever UK operation into serious organised crime , '' Britain 's National Crime Agency director of investigations Nikki Holland said in a statement .
Officials insisted the decision to hack into the encrypted phone network was justified .
`` The platform targeted in this operation catered specifically to the needs of criminals , '' said Wil van Gemert , Europol 's Deputy Executive Director .

Police said Thursday they had arrested more than 800 people across Europe after shutting down an encrypted phone system used by organised crime groups to plot murders and drug deals.
A handgun, bullets and silencer are displayed after a criminal network bust by Metropolitan Police in a joint operation with the National Crime Agency (NCA) and European partners in London, Britain, in this undated image released July 2, 2020. The NCA and European partners shared data from the encrypted communication system EncroChat with the Met Police, which led them to make over 170 arrests and seize 13.4 million pounds in cash.
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French and Dutch police said they hacked into the EncroChat network so they could read millions of messages "over the shoulders" of suspects as they communicated with custom-made devices.
Britain said it had arrested 746 people as a result of the operation in what it called a "massive breakthrough" against organised crime, while the Netherlands held more than 100 people and there were arrests in Norway, Spain, and Sweden.
EncroChat sent a message to its estimated 60,000 users in June warning them to throw away their 1,000-euro devices as its servers had been "seized illegally by government entities". It has now been shut down.
"It was as if though we were sitting at the table where criminals were chatting amongst themselves," said Jannine van den Berg, Chief Constable of the Dutch police's central unit.
Some of the encrypted messages "were so worrying that it went far beyond our imagination," van den Berg told a press conference at the headquarters of the EU's judicial agency Eurojust in The Hague.
'Violent crimes'
Police used the hack to foil crimes including "violent attacks, corruption, attempted murders and large-scale drug transports," Eurojust and the EU police agency Europol said in a joint statement.
"Certain messages indicated plans to commit imminent violent crimes and triggered immediate action."
French authorities launched the investigation in 2017 after finding that EncroChat phones were "regularly" found in operations against criminal groups and that the company was operating from servers in France.
They then "put a technical device in place to go beyond the encryption technique and have access to the users' correspondence," the statement said.
Dutch police then became involved based on information shared by French police.
Between 90 and 100 percent of EncroChat clients were linked to organised crime, according judicial sources, with between 50,000 to 60,000 of the phones in circulation.
The devices had most normal smart phone features stripped out and had pre-loaded apps for instant encrypted messages, plus a kill code which wiped them remotely.
EncroChat sent what it called an "emergency" text to its users on June 13 saying it had been compromised.
"Today we had our domain seized by government entities," said the message. "You are advised to power off and physically dispose your device immediately."
'Millions of messages'
The joint Dutch-Franco investigation team unearthed a "colossal number of encrypted data," Carole Etienne, the public prosecutor for the French city of Lille, told AFP.
Law officials were then able to "intercept, share and analyse millions of messages that were exchanged between criminals to plan serious crimes" later shared with police including in Britain, Sweden and Norway.
"We've been able to see what's happening in real time with these criminals," Andy Kraag, head of Dutch police's central investigations division told the press conference.
Dutch police had busted 19 meth labs, seized 10 tonnes of cocaine and thousands of kilos of crystal meth and arrested more than 100 people, Kraag said.
In Britain, police arrested 746 suspects, recovered more than 54 million pounds (59.8 million euros, $67.5 million) as well as 77 guns including an AK-47 assault rifle and 1,800 rounds of ammunition.
"This is the broadest and deepest ever UK operation into serious organised crime," Britain's National Crime Agency director of investigations Nikki Holland said in a statement.
Officials insisted the decision to hack into the encrypted phone network was justified.
"The platform targeted in this operation catered specifically to the needs of criminals," said Wil van Gemert, Europol's Deputy Executive Director.
(REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-07-02--US sanctions on ICC staff are unprecedented, says Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda

Fatou Bensouda , the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court ( ICC ) , tells FRANCE 24 ’ s @ @ @ @ @ to sanction the ICC officials investigating alleged war crimes committed by US troops in Afghanistan @ @ @ @ @ to interfere with the course of justice '' .
Bensouda describes the US decision as @ @ @ @ @ ” move against the court and its judicial independence , noting that such sanctions are @ @ @ @ @ drug traffickers .
Despite the economic and legal pressure the court has come under , @ @ @ @ @ to continue her investigations , which include probing suspected crimes carried out by Israel in @ @ @ @ @ the pressure Israel is also putting on the court .
Click on the video player @ @ @ @ @ .

Fatou Bensouda, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), tells FRANCE 24’s Marc Perelman that the decision to sanction the ICC officials investigating alleged war crimes committed by US troops in Afghanistan is "a naked attempt to interfere with the course of justice".
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Bensouda describes the US decision as an “unprecedented and coercive” move against the court and its judicial independence, noting that such sanctions are usually reserved for terrorists and drug traffickers.
Despite the economic and legal pressure the court has come under, Bensouda said she is determined to continue her investigations, which include probing suspected crimes carried out by Israel in the Palestinian Territories, despite the pressure Israel is also putting on the court.
Click on the video player to watch the full interview.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-07-03--Turkey challenges allies and enemies alike in quest for ‘larger role on world stage’

Turkish foreign policy has recently taken a hawkish turn in the Middle East and North Africa .
From a diplomatic row with NATO ally France over a Libyan arms embargo to the deployment of special forces in northern Iraq , Ankara seems newly willing to challenge allies and enemies alike in its pursuit of a larger role on the world stage .
Even by the standards of recent years , June 2020 was a very active month in Turkish foreign policy .
It quickly became clear that Turkey ’ s military and technological support for the UN-recognised Government of National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given it the upper hand in its struggle against rebel commander Khalifa Haftar ’ s Libyan National Army .
Chaos had reigned in Libya since the overthrow of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 .
Haftar launched a bold offensive on the capital Tripoli in April 2019 with the backing of Russia , Egypt and the UAE .
While France officially supports the internationally recognised government in Tripoli , Paris has been accused of supporting Haftar politically , having previously given him military assistance to fight Islamist militants .
Ankara demonstrated its growing confidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when it demanded that Haftar ’ s forces pull out of Sirte , a pivotal city linking the east and west of Libya – before lambasting NATO ally France , accusing it of “ jeopardising ” the Western alliance ’ s security by supporting Haftar ’ s forces .
Franco-Turkish relations soured further the following week , when French President Emmanuel Macron told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he was playing a “ dangerous game ” in sending arms , aerial support and allied fighters from Syria to boost the GNA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t tolerate ” such actions .
But Turkey ’ s support – with the provision of drones proving particularly effective – eventually shifted the dynamic in the GNA ’ s favour .
“ Libya is part of a bunch of interlinking stories , ” said Howard Eissenstat , a Turkey specialist , associate professor at St. Lawrence University and senior non-resident fellow at the Project on Middle Eastern Democracy .
“ Turkey clearly sees itself as being able to play a larger role on the world stage ; it sees its Western allies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has been willing to play hardball to assert what it sees as its national interest.
” “ From a Turkish standpoint , this represents a role that it has much right to as any other state , and which it has the capacity to play , ” Eissenstat continued .
Turkey wants to “ fortify its position as a regional power and increase its geopolitical footprint in the Middle East and North Africa region ” , added Ozgur Unluhisarcikli , director of the German Marshall Fund ’ s Ankara bureau .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with some countries , as is the case with France.
” Ankara ’ s relations with its NATO allies hit another low on June 10 , when Turkish naval boats conducted radar-targeting – indicating that a missile strike may be incoming – on a French warship trying to approach a Turkish civilian ship suspected of contravening a NATO arms embargo on Libya .
According to a French defence official , the Courbet frigate was “ lit up ” three times by Turkish radar .
France called for NATO allies to discuss Turkey ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few days later .
NATO subsequently launched an investigation into the incident .
Animosity between Ankara and Paris intensified on July 1 , when France announced that it was suspending its involvement in NATO ’ s Sea Guardian operation in the Mediterranean enforcing the Libyan arms embargo .
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has dismissed France ’ s claims and demanded an apology from France for “ anti-Turkish actions ” , alleging that France “ has not told the truth to the EU or NATO ” .
EU foreign ministers will meet at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Turkey on July 13 .
Adding the intrigue of espionage to the diplomatic slanging match , Ankara ’ s ambassador to France on Thursday confirmed reports that four Turkish nationals had been arrested for spying for the French foreign intelligence agency , the DGSE ( Direction générale de la Sécurité extérieure ) .
Turkey ’ s successful backing of Libya ’ s GNA may be Ankara ’ s most surprising geopolitical win recently .
But Erdogan ’ s government also surprised many observers in June with an unprecedented deployment in northern Iraq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kurdish militant group the PKK – considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey as well as the EU , UK and US – has waged a series of armed rebellions against the Turkish state .
Like his Kemalist predecessors and antagonists , Erdogan sees the PKK as an existential threat to Turkey ’ s territorial integrity .
This motivated the Turkish military ’ s first-ever deployment of ground forces on Iraqi soil on June 17 , attacking PKK targets in the country ’ s semi-autonomous Kurdish region .
Accusing the Baghdad government and Kurdish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fighters – who allegedly use the area as a base for attacks on Turkey – Ankara sent in commando forces alongside warplanes , attack helicopters and drones after an intense artillery bombardment .
The Turkish military has been emboldened by its improved technological capabilities , Unluhisarcikli suggested : “ These campaigns have become more proactive and effective thanks to the new abilities the Turkish army has gained , particularly with the use of armed drones.
” Yet Syria – where Ankara has given support to its allies since the civil war started in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkey is best known for striking Kurdish forces .
Upon starting its direct military involvement there in 2016 , Turkey launched the first in a series of attacks on the Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) – a Kurdish group that allied with Western powers in the fight against the Islamic State group but which Ankara says is tied to the PKK .
Turkey ’ s latest and most audacious Syrian offensive was a victorious October 2019 campaign that saw its military carve out a 20-mile-deep “ safe zone ” seized from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chagrin of European powers .
Turkey said it was creating an area for some of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees in the country , but critics accused Ankara of ethnic cleansing as tens of thousands of Kurdish civilians fled their homes .
Erdogan responded to European indignation by holding a sword of Damocles over the continent ’ s head .
After a chorus of protestations from the old continent decrying the offensive – including Macron ’ s demand that Ankara “ put a stop to it as soon as possible ” – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ Hey EU , wake up .
I say it again : If you try to frame our operation as an invasion , our task is simple – we will open the doors and send 3.6 million migrants to you.
” Analysts noted at the time that Erdogan ’ s reaction exemplified the lack of leverage the EU has over Turkey .
Macron expressed his exasperation with Erdogan the same day : When a reporter asked him for his views on the Turkish president ’ s menacing rhetoric , he said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his previous comments .
As the evolving Libyan situation took testy bilateral exchanges to a full-blown Franco-Turkish diplomatic confrontation , Macron made a broader point about the Western alliance .
The French president doubled down on his 2019 proclamation in The Economist that NATO is experiencing a “ brain death ” , saying that the Mediterranean naval incident between the two NATO allies constitutes “ the best example of it ” .
“ Turkey has been the proverbial thorn in NATO ’ s side for years now , ” said Reilly Barry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She said that Erdogan ’ s 2017 announcement that Turkey would purchase an S-400 air-defence system from Russia – motivated , in part , by a desire to “ exert independence apart from the West ” – remains the “ greatest low point in the historic alliance ” .
Barry predicted that activating the missiles will “ likely trigger sanctions from the US and other NATO members ” .
But while Erdogan ’ s migrant threat gives him a trump card over European powers , it seems he can ill afford to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may reveal the limits of his gift for playing hardball – given Turkey ’ s economic vulnerability and US dominance of the world ’ s financial sector .
Turkey ’ s currency debt crisis reached a critical point in August of 2018 after Washington imposed sanctions on Turkish officials in response to the detention of an American pastor .
The coronavirus crisis further exposed persistent economic troubles – high debt and rapidly depleting foreign currency reserves – when the Turkish lira plunged to a record low against the dollar in May .
Barry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ whether Turkish engagement in the Middle East is economically stable largely depends on the status of US-Turkey relations ” .

Turkish foreign policy has recently taken a hawkish turn in the Middle East and North Africa. From a diplomatic row with NATO ally France over a Libyan arms embargo to the deployment of special forces in northern Iraq, Ankara seems newly willing to challenge allies and enemies alike in its pursuit of a larger role on the world stage.
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Even by the standards of recent years, June 2020 was a very active month in Turkish foreign policy. It quickly became clear that Turkey’s military and technological support for the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya had given it the upper hand in its struggle against rebel commander Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army.
Chaos had reigned in Libya since the overthrow of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Haftar launched a bold offensive on the capital Tripoli in April 2019 with the backing of Russia, Egypt and the UAE. While France officially supports the internationally recognised government in Tripoli, Paris has been accused of supporting Haftar politically, having previously given him military assistance to fight Islamist militants.
Ankara demonstrated its growing confidence in its Libyan strategy on June 20, when it demanded that Haftar’s forces pull out of Sirte, a pivotal city linking the east and west of Libya – before lambasting NATO ally France, accusing it of “jeopardising” the Western alliance’s security by supporting Haftar’s forces.
‘Geopolitical competition’ with France
Franco-Turkish relations soured further the following week, when French President Emmanuel Macron told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he was playing a “dangerous game” in sending arms, aerial support and allied fighters from Syria to boost the GNA – warning that France “won’t tolerate” such actions.
But Turkey’s support – with the provision of drones proving particularly effective – eventually shifted the dynamic in the GNA’s favour.
“Libya is part of a bunch of interlinking stories,” said Howard Eissenstat, a Turkey specialist, associate professor at St. Lawrence University and senior non-resident fellow at the Project on Middle Eastern Democracy. “Turkey clearly sees itself as being able to play a larger role on the world stage; it sees its Western allies as not necessarily supporting of that, and has been willing to play hardball to assert what it sees as its national interest.”
Turkey wants to “fortify its position as a regional power and increase its geopolitical footprint in the Middle East and North Africa region”, added Ozgur Unluhisarcikli, director of the German Marshall Fund’s Ankara bureau. “This in turn leads to geopolitical competition with some countries, as is the case with France.”
Ankara’s relations with its NATO allies hit another low on June 10, when Turkish naval boats conducted radar-targeting – indicating that a missile strike may be incoming – on a French warship trying to approach a Turkish civilian ship suspected of contravening a NATO arms embargo on Libya. According to a French defence official, the Courbet frigate was “lit up” three times by Turkish radar.
France called for NATO allies to discuss Turkey’s “aggressive” role in Libya a few days later. NATO subsequently launched an investigation into the incident.
Animosity between Ankara and Paris intensified on July 1, when France announced that it was suspending its involvement in NATO’s Sea Guardian operation in the Mediterranean enforcing the Libyan arms embargo.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has dismissed France’s claims and demanded an apology from France for “anti-Turkish actions”, alleging that France “has not told the truth to the EU or NATO”.
EU foreign ministers will meet at France’s request to discuss relations with Turkey on July 13. Adding the intrigue of espionage to the diplomatic slanging match, Ankara’s ambassador to France on Thursday confirmed reports that four Turkish nationals had been arrested for spying for the French foreign intelligence agency, the DGSE (Direction générale de la Sécurité extérieure).
Unprecedented deployment in Iraq
Turkey’s successful backing of Libya’s GNA may be Ankara’s most surprising geopolitical win recently. But Erdogan’s government also surprised many observers in June with an unprecedented deployment in northern Iraq against Kurdish forces.
Since 1984, Kurdish militant group the PKK – considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey as well as the EU, UK and US – has waged a series of armed rebellions against the Turkish state. Like his Kemalist predecessors and antagonists, Erdogan sees the PKK as an existential threat to Turkey’s territorial integrity.
This motivated the Turkish military’s first-ever deployment of ground forces on Iraqi soil on June 17, attacking PKK targets in the country’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region. Accusing the Baghdad government and Kurdish executive of failing to deal with PKK fighters – who allegedly use the area as a base for attacks on Turkey – Ankara sent in commando forces alongside warplanes, attack helicopters and drones after an intense artillery bombardment.
The Turkish military has been emboldened by its improved technological capabilities, Unluhisarcikli suggested: “These campaigns have become more proactive and effective thanks to the new abilities the Turkish army has gained, particularly with the use of armed drones.”
Yet Syria – where Ankara has given support to its allies since the civil war started in 2011 – remains the theatre in which Turkey is best known for striking Kurdish forces. Upon starting its direct military involvement there in 2016, Turkey launched the first in a series of attacks on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) – a Kurdish group that allied with Western powers in the fight against the Islamic State group but which Ankara says is tied to the PKK.
Turkey’s latest and most audacious Syrian offensive was a victorious October 2019 campaign that saw its military carve out a 20-mile-deep “safe zone” seized from the SDF along the border – much to the chagrin of European powers. Turkey said it was creating an area for some of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees in the country, but critics accused Ankara of ethnic cleansing as tens of thousands of Kurdish civilians fled their homes.
A Damoclean sword over Europe?
Erdogan responded to European indignation by holding a sword of Damocles over the continent’s head. After a chorus of protestations from the old continent decrying the offensive – including Macron’s demand that Ankara “put a stop to it as soon as possible” – the Turkish president said on October 10: “Hey EU, wake up. I say it again: If you try to frame our operation as an invasion, our task is simple – we will open the doors and send 3.6 million migrants to you.”
Analysts noted at the time that Erdogan’s reaction exemplified the lack of leverage the EU has over Turkey.
Macron expressed his exasperation with Erdogan the same day: When a reporter asked him for his views on the Turkish president’s menacing rhetoric, he said he had “nothing more” to add to his previous comments.
As the evolving Libyan situation took testy bilateral exchanges to a full-blown Franco-Turkish diplomatic confrontation, Macron made a broader point about the Western alliance. The French president doubled down on his 2019 proclamation in The Economist that NATO is experiencing a “brain death”, saying that the Mediterranean naval incident between the two NATO allies constitutes “the best example of it”.
“Turkey has been the proverbial thorn in NATO’s side for years now,” said Reilly Barry, a Turkey researcher at Harvard University. She said that Erdogan’s 2017 announcement that Turkey would purchase an S-400 air-defence system from Russia – motivated, in part, by a desire to “exert independence apart from the West” – remains the “greatest low point in the historic alliance”. Barry predicted that activating the missiles will “likely trigger sanctions from the US and other NATO members”.
But while Erdogan’s migrant threat gives him a trump card over European powers, it seems he can ill afford to antagonise the United States. American sanctions may reveal the limits of his gift for playing hardball – given Turkey’s economic vulnerability and US dominance of the world’s financial sector.
Turkey’s currency debt crisis reached a critical point in August of 2018 after Washington imposed sanctions on Turkish officials in response to the detention of an American pastor. The coronavirus crisis further exposed persistent economic troubles – high debt and rapidly depleting foreign currency reserves – when the Turkish lira plunged to a record low against the dollar in May.
Barry said that in light of all this, “whether Turkish engagement in the Middle East is economically stable largely depends on the status of US-Turkey relations”.
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france24--2020-07-03--Macron replaces popular PM with low-profile figure after ‘rivalry over who leads’

France 's new prime minister Jean Castex leaves the Élysée Palace in Paris on May 19 , 2020 .
French President Emmanuel Macron named senior civil servant Jean Castex – who coordinated France ’ s reopening strategy after almost two months of Covid-19 lockdown – the country ’ s new prime minister on Friday as part of an expected cabinet reshuffle .
The relatively low-profile Castex replaces Édouard Philippe , who resigned earlier in the day as is expected before a government reshuffle .
Macron is reshaping his government to focus on restarting the economy after months of lockdown and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local elections last week .
Castex , 55 , is a career civil servant who has worked with multiple governments , but is considered close to right-wing ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy , of whose presidential office he was deputy security general .
The gradual reopening plan he has spearheaded for Macron has been generally viewed as a success so far .
The switch came as a surprise to many observers , seeing as Philippe saw his popularity increase in recent weeks after what many French saw as his effective steering of the country through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given to several local newspapers on Thursday , Macron said he is seeking a “ new path ” to rebuild the country for the two remaining years of his term .
He also praised the outgoing Philippe ’ s “ outstanding work ” over the past three years .
“ I will need to make choices to lead [ the country ] down the path , ” Macron said .
The reshuffle comes days after a green wave swept over France in local elections last Sunday , when Macron saw his young centrist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities .
That ’ s while Macron ’ s efforts to boost job creation have been swept away by the economic and social consequences of the country ’ s lockdown .
The replacement of Philippe with Castex is “ about strategy , about Macron trying to exert his influence ” , said Andrew Smith , a professor of French politics at the University of Chichester .
“ We ’ ve often heard Macron described as having an hyperpresidence – this idea that he takes personal involvement in so many things , ” Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw a lot of interaction between the two , which I think was relatively effective , and of course France has had a pretty decent response to the coronavirus crisis , despite what the opinion polls say .
“ But the prime minister is supposed to be a presidential prophylactic , as it were , who shields him from these difficult decisions – and the worry is that when your prime minister becomes more popular than your president , you have rivalry over who is going to lead , ” Smith concluded .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy' Macron ’ s government had been facing obstacles and criticism even before the virus crisis .
But as the pandemic was peaking in the country in March and April , authorities came under fire anew for the lack of masks , tests and medical equipment .
The government issued a €460 billion emergency package through a state-funded partial employment plan , tax cuts and other financial aids for businesses .
But Macron needs to adapt his policies further , as France ’ s economy is expected to shrink by 11 percent this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 9.2 percent at the beginning of Macron ’ s term in 2017 to 7.6 percent earlier this year – its lowest level since 2008 – is now expected to increase .
“ Our first priority will be to rebuild an economy that is strong , ecological , sovereign and united , ” Macron said in a televised address to the nation on June 14 .
He ruled out any rise in taxes and instead said “ working and producing more ” is the proper response to bankruptcies and layoffs caused by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emphasise the creation of new jobs with climate-oriented policies including greener transport systems and industries .
Philippe , 49 , is expected to become the mayor of his hometown of Le Havre after his victory in last Sunday 's vote .
A conservative and a former member of the right-wing Les Républicains party , he joined Macron ’ s government in May 2017 .
Philippe saw his popularity increase in recent weeks , according to French polling agencies , showing that the French public feels he did a good job during the lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to support the French economy .