france24--2020-02-15--Dozens of Yemeni civilians killed in air strikes after Saudi jet crash

Girls stand at the site of a Houthi ballistic missile attack over the populated district of Rawda in Marib , Yemen February 6 , 2020 .
At least 31 civilians were killed in strikes on Yemen on Saturday , the United Nations said , following a Saudi-led operation in response to one of its fighter jet crashing , with Iran-backed Huthi rebels claiming to have shot it down .
The Tornado aircraft came down Friday in northern Al-Jawf province during an operation to support government forces , a rare crash that prompted operations in the area by a Saudi-led military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence follows an upsurge in fighting in northern Yemen between the warring parties that threatens to worsen the war-battered country ’ s humanitarian crisis .
“ Preliminary field reports indicate that on 15 February as many as 31 civilians were killed and 12 others injured in strikes that hit Al-Hayjah area ... in Al-Jawf governorate , ” said a statement from the office of the UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen .
The UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen Lise Grande denounced the “ terrible strikes ” .
“ So many people are being killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s unjustified , ” she said .
« Under international humanitarian law parties which resort to force are obligated to protect civilians .
Five years into this conflict and belligerents are still failing to uphold this responsibility .
It ’ s shocking , » she added .
The rebels reported multiple coalition air strikes in the area where the plane went down , according to rebel television station Al-Masirah .
They said women and children were among the dead and wounded .
The coalition conceded the « possibility of collateral damage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operation » at the crash site .
A coalition statement released by the official Saudi Press Agency did not specify the fate of the crew or the cause of the crash .
But the Huthi rebels released footage of what they called the launch of their « advanced surface-to-air missile » and the moment it struck the jet in the night sky , sending it crashing down in a ball of flames .
« The downing of a Tornado in the sky above Al-Jawf is a major blow to the enemy and an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rebel ) air defence capabilities , » Huthi spokesman Mohammed Abdelsalam tweeted .
The insurgents reported multiple coalition air strikes on Saturday in the Huthi-controlled area where the plane went down as local residents gathered near the smouldering wreckage , according to the rebels ’ Al-Masirah television .
The escalation follows fierce fighting around the Huthi-held capital Sanaa , with the rebels seen to be advancing on several fronts towards Al-Hazm , the regional capital of Al-Jawf .
The province of Al-Jawf has been mostly controlled by the Huthis , but its capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government .
‘ Massively expanded arsenal ’ The downing of a coalition warplane marks a setback for a military alliance known for its air supremacy and signals the rebels ’ increasingly potent military arsenal .
“ At the start of the conflict the Huthis were a ragtag militia , ” Fatima Abo Alasrar , a scholar at the Middle East Institute , told AFP .
« Today they have massively expanded their arsenal with the help of Iran and its proxy Hezbollah , » Lebanon ’ s powerful Shiite movement .
Huthi rebels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ origin , according to a UN report obtained by AFP earlier this month , in potential violation of a UN arms embargo .
Some of the new weapons , which the rebels have possessed since 2019 , « have technical characteristics similar to arms manufactured in the Islamic Republic of Iran , » said the report , compiled by a panel of UN experts tasked with monitoring the embargo .
The panel did not say whether the weapons were delivered to the Huthis directly by the Iranian government , which has repeatedly denied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the Huthis in 2015 , in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people , most of them civilians , and sparked what the United Nations calls the world ’ s worst humanitarian crisis .
The coalition has been widely criticised for the high civilian death toll from its bombing campaign , which has prompted some Western governments to cut arms deliveries to the countries taking part .
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have purchased billions of dollars ’ worth of weapons from the United States , France and Britain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would put on trial military personnel suspected of being behind deadly air strikes on Yemeni civilians .

At least 31 civilians were killed in strikes on Yemen on Saturday, the United Nations said, following a Saudi-led operation in response to one of its fighter jet crashing, with Iran-backed Huthi rebels claiming to have shot it down.
Girls stand at the site of a Houthi ballistic missile attack over the populated district of Rawda in Marib, Yemen February 6, 2020.
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The Tornado aircraft came down Friday in northern Al-Jawf province during an operation to support government forces, a rare crash that prompted operations in the area by a Saudi-led military coalition fighting the rebels.
The deadly violence follows an upsurge in fighting in northern Yemen between the warring parties that threatens to worsen the war-battered country’s humanitarian crisis.
“Preliminary field reports indicate that on 15 February as many as 31 civilians were killed and 12 others injured in strikes that hit Al-Hayjah area... in Al-Jawf governorate,” said a statement from the office of the UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen.
00:26
The UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen Lise Grande denounced the “terrible strikes”.
“So many people are being killed in Yemen—it’s a tragedy and it’s unjustified,” she said.
« Under international humanitarian law parties which resort to force are obligated to protect civilians. Five years into this conflict and belligerents are still failing to uphold this responsibility. It’s shocking, » she added.
The rebels reported multiple coalition air strikes in the area where the plane went down, according to rebel television station Al-Masirah.
They said women and children were among the dead and wounded.
The coalition conceded the « possibility of collateral damage » during a « search and rescue operation » at the crash site.
A coalition statement released by the official Saudi Press Agency did not specify the fate of the crew or the cause of the crash.
‘A major blow’
But the Huthi rebels released footage of what they called the launch of their « advanced surface-to-air missile » and the moment it struck the jet in the night sky, sending it crashing down in a ball of flames.
« The downing of a Tornado in the sky above Al-Jawf is a major blow to the enemy and an indication of remarkable growth in Yemeni (rebel) air defence capabilities, » Huthi spokesman Mohammed Abdelsalam tweeted.
The insurgents reported multiple coalition air strikes on Saturday in the Huthi-controlled area where the plane went down as local residents gathered near the smouldering wreckage, according to the rebels’ Al-Masirah television.
The escalation follows fierce fighting around the Huthi-held capital Sanaa, with the rebels seen to be advancing on several fronts towards Al-Hazm, the regional capital of Al-Jawf.
The province of Al-Jawf has been mostly controlled by the Huthis, but its capital remains in the hands of the Saudi-backed government.
‘Massively expanded arsenal’
The downing of a coalition warplane marks a setback for a military alliance known for its air supremacy and signals the rebels’ increasingly potent military arsenal.
“At the start of the conflict the Huthis were a ragtag militia,” Fatima Abo Alasrar, a scholar at the Middle East Institute, told AFP.
« Today they have massively expanded their arsenal with the help of Iran and its proxy Hezbollah, » Lebanon’s powerful Shiite movement.
Huthi rebels now possess weapons bearing signs of Iranian origin, according to a UN report obtained by AFP earlier this month, in potential violation of a UN arms embargo.
Some of the new weapons, which the rebels have possessed since 2019, « have technical characteristics similar to arms manufactured in the Islamic Republic of Iran, » said the report, compiled by a panel of UN experts tasked with monitoring the embargo.
The panel did not say whether the weapons were delivered to the Huthis directly by the Iranian government, which has repeatedly denied sending them arms.
The coalition intervened against the Huthis in 2015, in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people, most of them civilians, and sparked what the United Nations calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
The coalition has been widely criticised for the high civilian death toll from its bombing campaign, which has prompted some Western governments to cut arms deliveries to the countries taking part.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have purchased billions of dollars’ worth of weapons from the United States, France and Britain.
On Wednesday, the coalition said it would put on trial military personnel suspected of being behind deadly air strikes on Yemeni civilians.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-15--Tunisia PM proposes cabinet line-up amid risk of new election

Tunisia 's designated prime minister Elyes Fakhfakh proposed the line-up of a new government on Saturday but said he would continue coalition negotiations after the Ennahda party , the biggest in parliament , rejected it .
The proposed government must be approved by the deeply fragmented parliament in two weeks or there will be a new election .
Fakhfakh submitted a list of cabinet nominees to President Kais Saied , with Nizar Yaich as finance minister , Nourredine Erray as foreign minister and Imed Hazgui as defence minister .
But with the largest parties either opposed to his coalition or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struggle to gain the strong parliamentary majority needed for any significant political programme .
The moderate Islamist Ennahda party , with 53 seats , said it would only join a unity government that brings together parties from across Tunisia ’ s political spectrum .
“ This decision will put the country in a difficult situation , ” Fakhfakh said in speech .
Heart of Tunisia , the second biggest party with 38 seats , also said it would not back the government after Fakhfakh excluded it from the coalition .
Tunisia faces a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to undermine public trust in the young democracy , and which demand political decisions that could be unpopular .
Since the 2011 revolution , unemployment has been high and growth low , while the government has sunk further into debt with a series of big budget deficits that foreign lenders demand it bring under control .
Elections in September and October returned Saied , a political independent , as president , and a parliament in which Ennahda held fewer than a quarter of the seats .
Ennahda ’ s nominee for prime minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government that was rejected by parliament in a confidence vote last month , giving Saied the chance to ask his own candidate , Fakhfakh , to form a cabinet .
If Fakhfakh ’ s proposal is also rejected by parliament next week , a new parliamentary election must follow within three months .
Fakhfakh had already promised to name a government that would draw only from parties he considered aligned with the goals of the revolution and committed to rooting out corruption .

Tunisia's designated prime minister Elyes Fakhfakh proposed the line-up of a new government on Saturday but said he would continue coalition negotiations after the Ennahda party, the biggest in parliament, rejected it.
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The proposed government must be approved by the deeply fragmented parliament in two weeks or there will be a new election.
Fakhfakh submitted a list of cabinet nominees to President Kais Saied, with Nizar Yaich as finance minister, Nourredine Erray as foreign minister and Imed Hazgui as defence minister.
But with the largest parties either opposed to his coalition or unenthusiastic about its composition, Fakhfakh may struggle to gain the strong parliamentary majority needed for any significant political programme.
00:27
The moderate Islamist Ennahda party, with 53 seats, said it would only join a unity government that brings together parties from across Tunisia’s political spectrum.
“This decision will put the country in a difficult situation,” Fakhfakh said in speech.
Heart of Tunisia, the second biggest party with 38 seats, also said it would not back the government after Fakhfakh excluded it from the coalition.
Tunisia faces a series of long-term economic challenges which threaten to undermine public trust in the young democracy, and which demand political decisions that could be unpopular.
Since the 2011 revolution, unemployment has been high and growth low, while the government has sunk further into debt with a series of big budget deficits that foreign lenders demand it bring under control.
Elections in September and October returned Saied, a political independent, as president, and a parliament in which Ennahda held fewer than a quarter of the seats.
Ennahda’s nominee for prime minister, Habib Jemli, proposed a coalition government that was rejected by parliament in a confidence vote last month, giving Saied the chance to ask his own candidate, Fakhfakh, to form a cabinet.
If Fakhfakh’s proposal is also rejected by parliament next week, a new parliamentary election must follow within three months.
Fakhfakh had already promised to name a government that would draw only from parties he considered aligned with the goals of the revolution and committed to rooting out corruption.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-02-15--France announces first coronavirus death outside Asia

This picture taken on January 29 , 2020 , shows a general view of the Bichat hospital in Paris where some of the patients infected with the coronavirus are being treated .
France 's health minister on Saturday announced the first coronavirus death in Europe , an 80-year-old Chinese tourist who other French authorities say was initially turned away from two French hospitals when he first fell ill. Minister Agnes Buzyn said she was informed Friday night of the death of the patient , who had been in intensive care at Bichat Hospital in Paris after testing positive in late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the virus that has spread across central China and was hospitalized .
However , the health minister said she was doing well and should be leavin g Bichat shortly .
The hospital is among a handful in France with special isolation rooms .
As of Saturday , four of the 11 confirmed virus cases in France have been “ cured ” and left the hospital , the latest a French physician on Friday , she said .
Six others still remain hospitalized .
The deceased patient , a Chinese tourist from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lung infection caused by the COVID-19 virus .
There were contradictory reports about the timing of the man 's illness .
Buzyn said he arrived in France on Jan. 16 and was hospitalized on Jan. 25 under strict isolation measures but his condition deteriorated rapidly .
Other French medical officials said earlier that the man had arrived in France on Jan. 23 and quickly fell ill. Dr. Yazdan Yazdanpanah , head of Bichat 's infectious diseases unit , said the man had visited two French hospitals but because he “ didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk of having the virus , the hospitals decided it was unnecessary to test him .
The man did not live in Wuhan , the central Chinese city hardest-hit by the virus , but was from Hubei province that includes Wuhan .
He later tested positive and was admitted to Bichat on Jan. 29 , Yazdanpanah said .
Nine European countries collectively have 46 cases of the virus that first emerged in central China in December , with Germany having the most at 16 .
The virus has infected more than 67,000 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients , the vast majority in China .
The World Health Organization has called the virus a threat to global health .
Chinese authorities have placed some 60 million people under a strict lockdown , built emergency hospitals and instituted controls across the country to fight the spread of the virus .
Restaurants , cinemas and other businesses have been closed nationwide and sports and cultural events have been canceled to prevent crowds from gathering .
In Munich on Saturday , chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a gathering of the world ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his country was “ determined to fight and win this battle ” against the virus , and suggested that its efforts were paying off .
“ Dawn is breaking and we are seeing light coming through , ” Wang said through a translator .
He said the epidemic has presented a “ severe challenge ” to China ’ s economy growth but said it was well positioned to rebound .
“ The fundamentals sustaining strong economic growth have not changed , and will not change , ” he said .
“ After the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are confident that China will emerge stronger from the epidemic.
” Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said all Italians who sought repatriation from Wuhan due to the coronavirus have returned to Italy .
The last was 17-year-old student who arrived on a military flight early Saturday after being twice refused passage due to a fever .
The teen has tested negative for coronavirus , and will now spend two weeks in quarantine at a military facility near Rome .

France's health minister on Saturday announced the first coronavirus death in Europe, an 80-year-old Chinese tourist who other French authorities say was initially turned away from two French hospitals when he first fell ill.
This picture taken on January 29, 2020, shows a general view of the Bichat hospital in Paris where some of the patients infected with the coronavirus are being treated.
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Minister Agnes Buzyn said she was informed Friday night of the death of the patient, who had been in intensive care at Bichat Hospital in Paris after testing positive in late January.
His daughter also tested positive for the virus that has spread across central China and was hospitalized. However, the health minister said she was doing well and should be leavin
01:15
g Bichat shortly. The hospital is among a handful in France with special isolation rooms.
As of Saturday, four of the 11 confirmed virus cases in France have been “cured” and left the hospital, the latest a French physician on Friday, she said. Six others still remain hospitalized.
The deceased patient, a Chinese tourist from the province of Hubei, had a serious lung infection caused by the COVID-19 virus.
There were contradictory reports about the timing of the man's illness. Buzyn said he arrived in France on Jan. 16 and was hospitalized on Jan. 25 under strict isolation measures but his condition deteriorated rapidly.
Other French medical officials said earlier that the man had arrived in France on Jan. 23 and quickly fell ill.
Dr. Yazdan Yazdanpanah, head of Bichat's infectious diseases unit, said the man had visited two French hospitals but because he “didn’t fulfill the definition” of someone at risk of having the virus, the hospitals decided it was unnecessary to test him. The man did not live in Wuhan, the central Chinese city hardest-hit by the virus, but was from Hubei province that includes Wuhan.
He later tested positive and was admitted to Bichat on Jan. 29, Yazdanpanah said.
Nine European countries collectively have 46 cases of the virus that first emerged in central China in December, with Germany having the most at 16.
The virus has infected more than 67,000 people globally and has killed at least 1,526 patients, the vast majority in China. The World Health Organization has called the virus a threat to global health.
Chinese authorities have placed some 60 million people under a strict lockdown, built emergency hospitals and instituted controls across the country to fight the spread of the virus. Restaurants, cinemas and other businesses have been closed nationwide and sports and cultural events have been canceled to prevent crowds from gathering.
In Munich on Saturday, chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a gathering of the world’s top defense officials and diplomats that his country was “determined to fight and win this battle” against the virus, and suggested that its efforts were paying off.
“Dawn is breaking and we are seeing light coming through,” Wang said through a translator.
He said the epidemic has presented a “severe challenge” to China’s economy growth but said it was well positioned to rebound.
“The fundamentals sustaining strong economic growth have not changed, and will not change,” he said. “After the storm comes the rainbow, and we are confident that China will emerge stronger from the epidemic.”
Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said all Italians who sought repatriation from Wuhan due to the coronavirus have returned to Italy. The last was 17-year-old student who arrived on a military flight early Saturday after being twice refused passage due to a fever. The teen has tested negative for coronavirus, and will now spend two weeks in quarantine at a military facility near Rome.
(AP)
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france24--2020-02-15--Hardliners set to ‘take complete control’ in Iran elections

Campaigning is under way for Iran ’ s parliamentary elections on February 21 , but the vote has already been marred by interference from the country ’ s ultimate rulers .
The Guardian Council , headed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , has barred more than 7,000 candidates from standing .
This move threatens to bring turnout to a record low and strengthen hardliners ’ grip on power .
Amid ongoing tensions with the United States after the killing of Qassem Soleimani at the start of the year , campaigning started on Thursday for Iran ’ s legislative elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to produce an impressive performance for hardliners , after the country ’ s Guardian Council disqualified thousands of reformist candidates .
According to official figures , 7,296 applications to stand in the elections were rejected – compared to 7,148 that were accepted .
President Hassan Rouhani – who occupies a middle ground between hardliners and reformists – has repeatedly called on Iranians to turn up at the ballot box en masse for the parliamentary elections .
However , in an interview with FRANCE 24 , Thierry Coville , an Iran specialist at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this mass disqualification of candidates risks encouraging people to not vote at all – to the benefit of powerful ultra-conservatives .
What ’ s the big issue in these forthcoming elections ?
Turnout .
We ’ re hearing that – especially in large cities – people don ’ t want to vote .
Iran is undergoing economic and political crises and many are disillusioned with Rouhani .
There were mass protests in November 2019 – and , of course , in response to the downing of the Ukrainian passenger plane after the Soleimani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cause of discontent is the disqualification of moderate candidates from standing in next week ’ s elections .
75 percent of MPs can ’ t stand for re-election – that ’ s huge .
There ’ s no longer any shadow of a doubt about the result , seeing as nearly all the candidates are now hardliners .
Supporters of the regime – who make up about 30 percent of the population – will go out and vote but it ’ s hard to see how the urban middle-class could mobilise .
Then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took to the streets towards the end of last year – many of them amongst the poorest in Iranian society .
But the regime ’ s response to those protests was merciless .
Why were so many reformist candidates barred from running ?
The Guardian Council is dominated by hardliners .
In theory , it ’ s still supposed to ensure that candidates simply respect the law – yet in reality it ’ s used as a political weapon .
This is by no means a new phenomenon , but it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never seen before .
We ’ re hearing that hardliners think reformists have been weakened by the economic and political crisis , and that people wouldn ’ t have been keen to go out and vote anyway .
The ultra-conservatives don ’ t really believe in the democratic process , so they see these elections as a good opportunity to take control of parliament .
If it were just business as usual , with an ordinary level of turnout , they wouldn ’ t be so lucky .
But , by this point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been drowned out .
What kind of position is Rouhani in right now ?
He ’ s already very weakened , and will end up facing a very critical parliament – even if it no longer really plays a role .
That said , it ’ s become apparent that hardliners aren ’ t thinking about impeaching him anymore .
They ’ re starting to understand that it ’ s better to have him as the front man , taking all the hits , because they wouldn ’ t do any better in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manoeuvres ahead of the 2021 presidential elections ?
It ’ s a bit like what we saw at the end of the reformers ’ heyday , during president Mohammad Khatami ’ s second term before he left office in 2005 .
The hardliners are engaged in a strategy to take complete control .
Next week , they can get a grip on parliament , and obviously they are starting to think about the presidential elections in 2021 .
Are they also trying to send a message about the tensions with the US ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ power as possible within Iran to stop voices within the country from criticising them .
This looks set to lead to an even more aggressive foreign policy , and doesn ’ t look likely to produce a détente with America before the US presidential elections .
The important thing for the hardliners is to control all the levers of power and have unity in the ranks – so they can concentrate on the response they will hand out to the US .
The way they see it , they are at war .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in French .

Campaigning is under way for Iran’s parliamentary elections on February 21, but the vote has already been marred by interference from the country’s ultimate rulers. The Guardian Council, headed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has barred more than 7,000 candidates from standing. This move threatens to bring turnout to a record low and strengthen hardliners’ grip on power.
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Amid ongoing tensions with the United States after the killing of Qassem Soleimani at the start of the year, campaigning started on Thursday for Iran’s legislative elections next week. These polls are set to produce an impressive performance for hardliners, after the country’s Guardian Council disqualified thousands of reformist candidates.
According to official figures, 7,296 applications to stand in the elections were rejected – compared to 7,148 that were accepted.
President Hassan Rouhani – who occupies a middle ground between hardliners and reformists – has repeatedly called on Iranians to turn up at the ballot box en masse for the parliamentary elections. However, in an interview with FRANCE 24, Thierry Coville, an Iran specialist at the IRIS think-tank in Paris, argued that this mass disqualification of candidates risks encouraging people to not vote at all – to the benefit of powerful ultra-conservatives.
What’s the big issue in these forthcoming elections?
Turnout. We’re hearing that – especially in large cities – people don’t want to vote. Iran is undergoing economic and political crises and many are disillusioned with Rouhani. There were mass protests in November 2019 – and, of course, in response to the downing of the Ukrainian passenger plane after the Soleimani killing last month.
But the biggest cause of discontent is the disqualification of moderate candidates from standing in next week’s elections. 75 percent of MPs can’t stand for re-election – that’s huge. There’s no longer any shadow of a doubt about the result, seeing as nearly all the candidates are now hardliners. Supporters of the regime – who make up about 30 percent of the population – will go out and vote but it’s hard to see how the urban middle-class could mobilise.
Then you’ve got the people who took to the streets towards the end of last year – many of them amongst the poorest in Iranian society. But the regime’s response to those protests was merciless.
Why were so many reformist candidates barred from running?
The Guardian Council is dominated by hardliners. In theory, it’s still supposed to ensure that candidates simply respect the law – yet in reality it’s used as a political weapon. This is by no means a new phenomenon, but it’s happening on a scale we’ve never seen before. We’re hearing that hardliners think reformists have been weakened by the economic and political crisis, and that people wouldn’t have been keen to go out and vote anyway.
The ultra-conservatives don’t really believe in the democratic process, so they see these elections as a good opportunity to take control of parliament. If it were just business as usual, with an ordinary level of turnout, they wouldn’t be so lucky. But, by this point, all critical and moderate voices have been drowned out.
What kind of position is Rouhani in right now?
He’s already very weakened, and will end up facing a very critical parliament – even if it no longer really plays a role. That said, it’s become apparent that hardliners aren’t thinking about impeaching him anymore. They’re starting to understand that it’s better to have him as the front man, taking all the hits, because they wouldn’t do any better in that role.
Are the hardliners on manoeuvres ahead of the 2021 presidential elections?
It’s a bit like what we saw at the end of the reformers’ heyday, during president Mohammad Khatami’s second term before he left office in 2005. The hardliners are engaged in a strategy to take complete control. Next week, they can get a grip on parliament, and obviously they are starting to think about the presidential elections in 2021.
Are they also trying to send a message about the tensions with the US?
The tough guys are accumulating as much power as possible within Iran to stop voices within the country from criticising them. This looks set to lead to an even more aggressive foreign policy, and doesn’t look likely to produce a détente with America before the US presidential elections. The important thing for the hardliners is to control all the levers of power and have unity in the ranks – so they can concentrate on the response they will hand out to the US. The way they see it, they are at war.
This article was adapted from the original in French.
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france24--2020-02-15--Macron calls for better long-term relations with Russia

France 's President Emmanuel Macron addresses the audience on the podium during the 56th Munich Security Conference ( MSC ) in Munich , southern Germany , on February 15 , 2020 .
The 2020 edition of the Munich Security Conference ( MSC ) takes place from February 14 to 16 , 2020 .
Europe needs to strive for better relations with Russia in the long term , French President Emmanuel Macron said Saturday , adding that while he isn ’ t proposing lifting sanctions they have changed nothing about Russia ’ s behavior .
Macron told the Munich Security Conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dealing with Russia would be to take the line that “ we are demanding , we are giving no ground in our principles on frozen conflicts , but will re-engage in a strategic dialogue—which will take time.
” Relations between European Union countries and Moscow have been strained since Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and fighting broke out between Kyiv and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine .
That festering military conflict has left over 14,000 dead since then .
The U.S. and the European Union slapped sanctions on Russia for its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are engaged in trade with Russia have pressured Macron to help repair the EU ’ s relations with Moscow and to ease economic sanctions .
During a visit to Poland this month , Macron said it was a “ a major error to distance ourselves from a part of Europe that we don ’ t feel comfortable about.
” On Saturday , he said the result of recent years is “ a totally inefficient system.
” That includes “ sanctions that have changed absolutely nothing in Russia—I am not proposing at all to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this , ” he added .
In advocating more dialogue with Russia , Macron pointed to the revival late last year of the four-way summits between France , Germany , Russia and Ukraine aimed at resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine .
He said “ we need in the long term to reengage with Russia but also emphasize its responsibility in its role ” as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council .
“ It can not constantly be a member that blocks advances by this council.
” He said that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role in matters such as other countries ’ election campaigns , either directly or indirectly .
“ I don ’ t believe in miracles—I believe in politics , in the fact that human will can change things when we give ourselves the means , ” he said .
However , Macron argued that Russia ’ s military buildup is financially unsustainable .
He also says an alliance with China would not be “ durable , ” in part because “ Chinese hegemony is not compatible with the Russian sense of pride.
” That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need for a “ European partnership .
”

Europe needs to strive for better relations with Russia in the long term, French President Emmanuel Macron said Saturday, adding that while he isn’t proposing lifting sanctions they have changed nothing about Russia’s behavior.
France's President Emmanuel Macron addresses the audience on the podium during the 56th Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich, southern Germany, on February 15, 2020. The 2020 edition of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) takes place from February 14 to 16, 2020.
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Macron told the Munich Security Conference that a “credible” approach to dealing with Russia would be to take the line that “we are demanding, we are giving no ground in our principles on frozen conflicts, but will re-engage in a strategic dialogue—which will take time.”
Relations between European Union countries and Moscow have been strained since Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and fighting broke out between Kyiv and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. That festering military conflict has left over 14,000 dead since then. The U.S. and the European Union slapped sanctions on Russia for its actions in Ukraine.
French companies who are engaged in trade with Russia have pressured Macron to help repair the EU’s relations with Moscow and to ease economic sanctions.
During a visit to Poland this month, Macron said it was a “a major error to distance ourselves from a part of Europe that we don’t feel comfortable about.”
On Saturday, he said the result of recent years is “a totally inefficient system.” That includes “sanctions that have changed absolutely nothing in Russia—I am not proposing at all to lift them, I am just stating this,” he added.
In advocating more dialogue with Russia, Macron pointed to the revival late last year of the four-way summits between France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine aimed at resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
He said “we need in the long term to reengage with Russia but also emphasize its responsibility in its role” as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council. “It cannot constantly be a member that blocks advances by this council.”
He said that he expects Russia will continue playing a destabilizing role in matters such as other countries’ election campaigns, either directly or indirectly. “I don’t believe in miracles—I believe in politics, in the fact that human will can change things when we give ourselves the means,” he said.
However, Macron argued that Russia’s military buildup is financially unsustainable. He also says an alliance with China would not be “durable,” in part because “Chinese hegemony is not compatible with the Russian sense of pride.” That, he added, points to the need for a “European partnership.”
(AP)
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france24--2020-02-15--Mexican women protest after gruesome murder reignites debate over femicide

Women march in Mexico City , on February 14 , 2020 , to protest gender violence .
- Several protests convened on Friday in the Mexican capital and other cities of the country after the murder of Ingrid Escamilla , 25 , stabbed to death and then skinned by her partner in the north of Mexico City on February 9 .
Demonstrators daubed the words “ femicide state ” in blood-red on Mexico ’ s presidential palace on Friday , before marching in heavy rain to the offices of newspaper La Prensa to protest against the recent publication of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Valentine ’ s Day demonstration , led by women , was sparked by the killing of 25-year-old Ingrid Escamilla in Mexico City and the publication of graphic photos of her mutilated corpse in newspapers .
The protesters , numbering at least 200 and comprised mostly of women , burned vehicles belonging to La Prensa and briefly clashed with security forces who prevented them from entering the newspaper ’ s offices .
Chanting “ not one more murder ” and carrying signs saying “ we demand responsible journalism , ” “ Ingrid we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kills , ” the demonstrators demanded justice .
An average of 10 women a day are killed in Mexico .
Last year marked a new overall homicide record , official data shows .
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women , also known as UN Women , said on Twitter that it condemned the killing of Escamilla .
“ We demand comprehensive actions to eliminate violence against women and girls .
We demand full access to justice and non-revictimization for all .
Ingrid is not an isolated case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florencio Guerrero , whose daughter was violently killed in 2017 , called on President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador , who was inside the palace during the protests , to do more to stop violence .
“ It ’ s not just Ingrid .
There are thousands of femicides , ” said Guerrero .
“ It fills us with anger and rage.
” One protester spray-painted “ INGRID ” in big pink letters on a door of the presidential palace .
Many participants noted that Escamilla ’ s was only the latest in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Others protesters painted slogans including “ they are killing us ” on the building ’ s walls and fired bright flames from cans of flammable spray-paint .
Inside the stately palace , where Lopez Obrador lives with his family , the president attempted to reassure the activists during his morning news conference .
`` I ’ m not burying my head in the sand ...
The government I represent will always take care of ensuring the safety of women , '' he said , without giving details of new plans .
Protesters also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Escamilla ’ s corpse , chanting , `` The press is complicit . ''
La Prensa , which ran the image on its cover , defended its record of reporting on crime and murder , subjects that it said the government prefers to keep quiet .
The paper said it was open to discussion on adjusting its standards beyond legal requirements .
`` We understand today that it hasn ’ t been sufficient , and we ’ ve entered a process of deeper review , '' the paper said in a front-page statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in black , with a mask covering her face and carrying a can of spray paint , said the protests after Escamilla ’ s death seemed to have had an affect .
La Prensa , she said , had caved to `` pressure from feminists '' .
Another newspaper , Pasala , had filled nearly its entire tabloid cover with the photo of Escamilla ’ s corpse , under the Valentine ’ s Day-themed headline : `` It was cupid ’ s fault . ''
The cover sparked anger not only at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tone over a crime for which Escamilla ’ s domestic partner has been arrested .
Pasala editors did not respond to requests for comment .

Demonstrators daubed the words “femicide state” in blood-red on Mexico’s presidential palace on Friday, before marching in heavy rain to the offices of newspaper La Prensa to protest against the recent publication of a gruesome image of a murder victim.
Women march in Mexico City, on February 14, 2020, to protest gender violence. - Several protests convened on Friday in the Mexican capital and other cities of the country after the murder of Ingrid Escamilla, 25, stabbed to death and then skinned by her partner in the north of Mexico City on February 9.
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The Valentine’s Day demonstration, led by women, was sparked by the killing of 25-year-old Ingrid Escamilla in Mexico City and the publication of graphic photos of her mutilated corpse in newspapers.
The protesters, numbering at least 200 and comprised mostly of women, burned vehicles belonging to La Prensa and briefly clashed with security forces who prevented them from entering the newspaper’s offices.
Chanting “not one more murder” and carrying signs saying “we demand responsible journalism,” “Ingrid we are all you” and “sexism kills,” the demonstrators demanded justice.
An average of 10 women a day are killed in Mexico. Last year marked a new overall homicide record, official data shows.
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as UN Women, said on Twitter that it condemned the killing of Escamilla.
“We demand comprehensive actions to eliminate violence against women and girls. We demand full access to justice and non-revictimization for all. Ingrid is not an isolated case,” UN Women said.
Lilia Florencio Guerrero, whose daughter was violently killed in 2017, called on President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who was inside the palace during the protests, to do more to stop violence.
“It’s not just Ingrid. There are thousands of femicides,” said Guerrero. “It fills us with anger and rage.”
One protester spray-painted “INGRID” in big pink letters on a door of the presidential palace. Many participants noted that Escamilla’s was only the latest in a wave of brutal murders of women.
Others protesters painted slogans including “they are killing us” on the building’s walls and fired bright flames from cans of flammable spray-paint.
Inside the stately palace, where Lopez Obrador lives with his family, the president attempted to reassure the activists during his morning news conference.
"I’m not burying my head in the sand ... The government I represent will always take care of ensuring the safety of women," he said, without giving details of new plans.
Protesters also admonished the newspapers that published photos of Escamilla’s corpse, chanting, "The press is complicit."
La Prensa, which ran the image on its cover, defended its record of reporting on crime and murder, subjects that it said the government prefers to keep quiet. The paper said it was open to discussion on adjusting its standards beyond legal requirements.
"We understand today that it hasn’t been sufficient, and we’ve entered a process of deeper review," the paper said in a front-page statement on Friday.
A 22-year-old student dressed in black, with a mask covering her face and carrying a can of spray paint, said the protests after Escamilla’s death seemed to have had an affect.
La Prensa, she said, had caved to "pressure from feminists".
Another newspaper, Pasala, had filled nearly its entire tabloid cover with the photo of Escamilla’s corpse, under the Valentine’s Day-themed headline: "It was cupid’s fault." The cover sparked anger not only at the gory display, but also the jocular tone over a crime for which Escamilla’s domestic partner has been arrested.
Pasala editors did not respond to requests for comment.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-02-15--Beijing imposes coronavirus quarantine as economy struggles to pick up

A woman wearing a face mask holds an umbrella amid snowfall on a street , following an outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the country , at Sanlitun shopping area on Valentine 's Day in Beijing , China February 14 , 2020 .
The Chinese capital Beijing on Friday imposed a 14-day self-quarantine on people returning to the city from holidays to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus , and threatened to punish those who failed to comply .
It was not immediately clear how the restriction , relayed by the official Beijing Daily newspaper , would be enforced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-residents of Beijing or foreigners arriving from abroad .
China 's economy is struggling to get going after the annual Lunar New Year holiday , which was extended for 10 days to help contain the outbreak of the new and highly contagious respiratory virus , officially called 2019-nCov .
Authorities reported 5,090 new cases in mainland China , including more than 120 deaths , taking the number of infected to 63,851 , and the number of deaths to 1,380 .
The figures give no sign that the outbreak is nearing a peak , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expert at the Centre for International Security Studies at the University of Sydney .
But with 500 million people already affected by movement and travel restrictions , President Xi Jinping warned top officials last week that efforts to contain the virus had gone too far and were threatening the economy , sources said .
In cities such as Beijing and the business hub Shanghai , streets and subways remain largely deserted with many shops and restaurants empty or shut .
Government employee Jin Yang , 28 , made it to his Beijing office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
Canteen lunches are banned in favour of boxed meals eaten at desks .
Meetings are held online , not in person .
Employees must wear masks all day and report their temperature twice a day .
Wuhan , the city of 11 million people where the outbreak began , has the most acute problem .
With all public transport , taxis and ride-hailing services shut down in the city , volunteer drivers are responding to requests on ad hoc messaging groups to ferry medical staff and others in vital jobs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health .
Others work round the clock to find accommodation for medical workers in hotels that have volunteered rooms .
Many of the drivers keep their identities secret to avoid objections from family and friends .
`` Everyone in our group has such a strong sense of mission , '' said 53-year-old Chen Hui , who runs one of the ad hoc ride services .
The virus is killing around 2 % of those it infects , but is able to spread faster than other respiratory viruses that have emerged this century .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have returned to Beijing should stay at home or submit to group observation for 14 days after arriving , '' read the notice from Beijing 's virus prevention working group cited by the Beijing Daily .
`` Those who refuse to accept home or centralised observation and other prevention and control measures will be held accountable under law . ''
A World Health Organization-led joint mission with China will start its outbreak investigation work this weekend , focusing on how the new coronavirus is spreading and its severity , WHO Director Tedros @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also seek more details on how , where and when the more than 1,700 healthworkers infected contracted the new virus , WHO officials said .
Economists polled by Reuters said China 's economic downturn would be short-lived if the outbreak was contained , but expected this quarter would show China 's slowest growth rate since the global financial crisis .
The Chinese carmakers ' association said auto sales in China were likely to slide more than 10 % in the first half of the year because of the epidemic .
While the vast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in China , there have been nearly 450 cases in some 24 countries and territories outside mainland China , and three deaths .
Japan confirmed its first coronavirus death on Thursday .
One person has died in Hong Kong and one in the Philippines .
Vietnam has imposed 20 days ' quarantine on Son Loi , a rural community outside Hanoi that is home to 11 of the 16 coronavirus cases reported in the country , two local officials said .
The biggest cluster of infections outside China has been on a cruise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 218 people on board confirmed as infected and taken to hospital .
On Friday , some passengers were allowed to disembark to complete their quarantine on shore .
The cruise liner MS Westerdam , carrying 1,455 passengers and 802 crew , was allowed to dock in Cambodia after being rejected by five countries though no cases had been reported on board .
With thousands of flights to and from China cancelled , the International Civil Aviation Organization forecast global airline revenue could fall by $ 4 billion to $ 5 billion in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has told the International Olympic Committee there is no cause to cancel or relocate the Tokyo Olympics , which start in July , the head of the IOC 's Coordination Commission said .

The Chinese capital Beijing on Friday imposed a 14-day self-quarantine on people returning to the city from holidays to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, and threatened to punish those who failed to comply.
A woman wearing a face mask holds an umbrella amid snowfall on a street, following an outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the country, at Sanlitun shopping area on Valentine's Day in Beijing, China February 14, 2020.
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It was not immediately clear how the restriction, relayed by the official Beijing Daily newspaper, would be enforced, or whether it would apply to non-residents of Beijing or foreigners arriving from abroad.
China's economy is struggling to get going after the annual Lunar New Year holiday, which was extended for 10 days to help contain the outbreak of the new and highly contagious respiratory virus, officially called 2019-nCov.
Authorities reported 5,090 new cases in mainland China, including more than 120 deaths, taking the number of infected to 63,851, and the number of deaths to 1,380.
The figures give no sign that the outbreak is nearing a peak, said Adam Kamradt-Scott, an infectious diseases expert at the Centre for International Security Studies at the University of Sydney.
But with 500 million people already affected by movement and travel restrictions, President Xi Jinping warned top officials last week that efforts to contain the virus had gone too far and were threatening the economy, sources said.
In cities such as Beijing and the business hub Shanghai, streets and subways remain largely deserted with many shops and restaurants empty or shut.
Government employee Jin Yang, 28, made it to his Beijing office but found it "anything but normal".
Canteen lunches are banned in favour of boxed meals eaten at desks. Meetings are held online, not in person. Employees must wear masks all day and report their temperature twice a day.
Wuhan's self-help
Wuhan, the city of 11 million people where the outbreak began, has the most acute problem.
With all public transport, taxis and ride-hailing services shut down in the city, volunteer drivers are responding to requests on ad hoc messaging groups to ferry medical staff and others in vital jobs to and from work, risking their own health.
Others work round the clock to find accommodation for medical workers in hotels that have volunteered rooms.
Many of the drivers keep their identities secret to avoid objections from family and friends. "Everyone in our group has such a strong sense of mission," said 53-year-old Chen Hui, who runs one of the ad hoc ride services.
The virus is killing around 2% of those it infects, but is able to spread faster than other respiratory viruses that have
emerged this century.
"From now on, all those who have returned to Beijing should stay at home or submit to group observation for 14 days after arriving," read the notice from Beijing's virus prevention working group cited by the Beijing Daily.
"Those who refuse to accept home or centralised observation and other prevention and control measures will be held accountable under law."
A World Health Organization-led joint mission with China will start its outbreak investigation work this weekend, focusing on how the new coronavirus is spreading and its
severity, WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
The mission will also seek more details on how, where and when the more than 1,700 healthworkers infected contracted the new virus, WHO officials said.
Slowdown
Economists polled by Reuters said China's economic downturn would be short-lived if the outbreak was contained, but expected this quarter would show China's slowest growth rate since the global financial crisis.
The Chinese carmakers' association said auto sales in China were likely to slide more than 10% in the first half of the year because of the epidemic.
While the vast majority of infections and deaths have been in China, there have been nearly 450 cases in some 24 countries and territories outside mainland China, and three deaths.
Japan confirmed its first coronavirus death on Thursday. One person has died in Hong Kong and one in the Philippines.
Vietnam has imposed 20 days' quarantine on Son Loi, a rural community outside Hanoi that is home to 11 of the 16 coronavirus cases reported in the country, two local officials said.
The biggest cluster of infections outside China has been on a cruise liner quarantined in a Japanese port, with 218 people on board confirmed as infected and taken to hospital.
On Friday, some passengers were allowed to disembark to complete their quarantine on shore.
The cruise liner MS Westerdam, carrying 1,455 passengers and 802 crew, was allowed to dock in Cambodia after being rejected by five countries though no cases had been reported on board.
With thousands of flights to and from China cancelled, the International Civil Aviation Organization forecast global
airline revenue could fall by $4 billion to $5 billion in the first quarter.
But the WHO has told the International Olympic Committee there is no cause to cancel or relocate the Tokyo Olympics, which start in July, the head of the IOC's Coordination Commission said.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-02-17--Death toll from China coronavirus jumps to 1,770

People wearing face masks walk inside a subway station , as the country is hit by an outbreak of the novel coronavirus , in Shanghai , China February 17 , 2020 .
The death toll from China 's new coronavirus epidemic jumped to 1,770 after 105 more people died , the National Health Commission said Monday .
More than 70,500 have now been infected nationwide by the virus , which first emerged in December in central Hubei province before spreading across the country .
Chinese authorities have placed about 56 million people in Hubei and its capital Wuhan under quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest of the country in an unprecedented effort to contain the virus .
New cases outside of the epicentre have been declining for the last thirteen days There were 115 fresh cases outside the central province , according to the commission on Monday -- sharply down from nearly 450 a week ago .
Local authorities elsewhere in China have introduced measures to try and stop the virus spreading , including a rule in Beijing requiring people coming to the capital to self-quarantine for 14 days , according to official media .
Most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly 2,000 were reported Monday .
The number of reported infections ballooned on Thursday last week after Hubei authorities changed their criteria for counting cases , retroactively adding 14,000 cases in a single day .
Monday 's figures for new cases were around 100 higher than those on Sunday but still sharply down on those from Friday and Saturday .
A spokesman for China 's national health authority said that the slowdown was a sign the outbreak was being controlled .
However , World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this epidemic will take '' .
International experts have arrived in Beijing and begun meeting with their Chinese counterparts over the epidemic , Tedros said on Twitter .
Global worries about its spread remain high and the epidemic 's reach was highlighted by the US announcing that more than three dozen Americans from a cruise ship quarantined off Japan were infected .

The death toll from China's new coronavirus epidemic jumped to 1,770 after 105 more people died, the National Health Commission said Monday.
People wearing face masks walk inside a subway station, as the country is hit by an outbreak of the novel coronavirus, in Shanghai, China February 17, 2020.
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More than 70,500 have now been infected nationwide by the virus, which first emerged in December in central Hubei province before spreading across the country.
Chinese authorities have placed about 56 million people in Hubei and its capital Wuhan under quarantine, virtually sealing off the province from the rest of the country in an unprecedented effort to contain the virus.
New cases outside of the epicentre have been declining for the last thirteen days
There were 115 fresh cases outside the central province, according to the commission on Monday -- sharply down from nearly 450 a week ago.
Local authorities elsewhere in China have introduced measures to try and stop the virus spreading, including a rule in Beijing requiring people coming to the capital to self-quarantine for 14 days, according to official media.
Most cases are still in Hubei, where nearly 2,000 were reported Monday.
The number of reported infections ballooned on Thursday last week after Hubei authorities changed their criteria for counting cases, retroactively adding 14,000 cases in a single day.
Monday's figures for new cases were around 100 higher than those on Sunday but still sharply down on those from Friday and Saturday.
A spokesman for China's national health authority said that the slowdown was a sign the outbreak was being controlled.
However, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned it is "impossible to predict which direction this epidemic will take".
International experts have arrived in Beijing and begun meeting with their Chinese counterparts over the epidemic, Tedros said on Twitter.
Global worries about its spread remain high and the epidemic's reach was highlighted by the US announcing that more than three dozen Americans from a cruise ship quarantined off Japan were infected.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-17--French ski resort angers ecologists by using helicopters to transport snow

A helicopter transports snow to the lower slopes of the Luchon-Superbagnères ski resort in southwestern France on February 15 , 2020 .
A French ski resort has angered ecologists by using helicopters to transfer snow to its lower slopes after a mild winter left them devoid of the white stuff .
“ Using helicopters to bring snow to ski resorts is not an option , ” said the Minister of Ecological Transition Élisabeth Borne on Sunday .
“ It ’ s a question of putting a quick stop to it .
It ’ s not possible to repeat such a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Borne ’ s advisers told AFP .
Officials at the Luchon-Superbagnères ski resort in the Pyrenees made the decision on Friday to transport the snow from higher up the mountains to the lower slopes used by beginners and ski schools .
It took two and a half hours to transport some 50 tonnes of snow at a cost of between €5,000 to €6,000 , said Hervé Pouanu , the director of the local council in France 's southwest .
Pounau said the resort expected to recoup at least ten times the cost of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been lost from the lack of snow .
Pounau acknowledged the operation was not “ very eco-friendly ” but explained that it was an “ exceptional move ” .
“ We have no intention of doing it again .
We didn ’ t have a choice this time , ” said Pounau , adding that the operation would enable between 50 and 80 people – resort and hotel staff – to work through the holidays .
For the moment , about 40 % of the ski area is open .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resort in snow , ” said Pounau .
“ Otherwise , we would have to close a large part of the area ( ... ) as our beginner slopes and ski schools are at their busiest during the holidays , '' Pounau added .
The operation comes amid a strike by seasonal workers in ski resorts in the Alps and the Pyrenees over concerns about unemployment insurance reform .

A French ski resort has angered ecologists by using helicopters to transfer snow to its lower slopes after a mild winter left them devoid of the white stuff.
A helicopter transports snow to the lower slopes of the Luchon-Superbagnères ski resort in southwestern France on February 15, 2020.
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“Using helicopters to bring snow to ski resorts is not an option,” said the Minister of Ecological Transition Élisabeth Borne on Sunday.
“It’s a question of putting a quick stop to it. It’s not possible to repeat such a highly polluting operation,” one of Borne’s advisers told AFP.
Enneiger des stations de #ski par #hélicoptère n’est pas une voie possible. Nous réunirons avec @JBLemoyne les acteurs concernés dans les prochains jours. https://t.co/V1uobKhy8n — Elisabeth BORNE (@Elisabeth_Borne) February 16, 2020
Officials at the Luchon-Superbagnères ski resort in the Pyrenees made the decision on Friday to transport the snow from higher up the mountains to the lower slopes used by beginners and ski schools.
It took two and a half hours to transport some 50 tonnes of snow at a cost of between €5,000 to €6,000, said Hervé Pouanu, the director of the local council in France's southwest.
Pounau said the resort expected to recoup at least ten times the cost of the operation from the business that would have been lost from the lack of snow.
Pounau acknowledged the operation was not “very eco-friendly” but explained that it was an “exceptional move”.
“We have no intention of doing it again. We didn’t have a choice this time,” said Pounau, adding that the operation would enable between 50 and 80 people – resort and hotel staff – to work through the holidays.
For the moment, about 40% of the ski area is open.
"We're not going to cover the whole resort in snow,” said Pounau. “Otherwise, we would have to close a large part of the area (...) as our beginner slopes and ski schools are at their busiest during the holidays," Pounau added.
The operation comes amid a strike by seasonal workers in ski resorts in the Alps and the Pyrenees over concerns about unemployment insurance reform.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-02-17--Porto striker Marega walks off pitch after racist abuse

Porto striker Moussa Marega left the pitch in protest of being subject to racist insults during his side 's 2-1 win away to Vitoria Guimaraes in Portugal 's Primeira Liga on Sunday .
The Mali forward , 28 , scored what proved to be the winning goal in the 60th minute and celebrated the goal by pointing to his skin in response to a section of the home fans who had targeted him throughout the match .
He was shown a yellow card for the reaction and after the abuse continued he tried to leave the pitch , pointing his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was restrained by his team mates for a number of minutes .
Porto coach Sergio Conceicao was eventually forced to substitute Marega in the 72nd minute .
`` We are completely indignant , '' Conceicao told reporters .
`` They insulted Marega since the warm up .
We are all a family here , regardless of our nationality , skin colour , height or the colour of our hair and we all deserve respect .
What happened here is outrageous .
`` I know the fans here are very passionate about their club @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the people who were in the crowd today . ''
Marega later posted a message on Instagram calling the supporters who targeted him as `` idiots '' and also criticising match referee Luis Godinho .
`` I 'd also like to show my thanks to the referee who did not defend me and who gave me a yellow card for defending the colour of my skin .
I hope I never meet you on a football pitch ever again .
You are a disgrace , '' he added .
The league @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chants .
`` Liga Portugal does not agree and never will with acts of racism , xenophobia or intolerance that jeopardize the dignity of footballers or any human beings , '' said a statement on the organisation 's website .
`` Liga Portugal will do everything to ensure that this episode and all other racist incidents do not go unpunished .
`` We believe this is a fight where your team 's colours do not matter and everyone must come together to eradicate this scourge on the game . ''
Porto 's director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own Twitter account : `` Marega was fed up and left the pitch and Porto was forced to make a substitution due to racism . ''
Portuguese newspaper A Bola reported that no Porto players spoke to the media after the game in solidarity with Marega .
Vitoria coach Ivo Vieira said he did not want to comment on the incident as he was not certain what had happened .
`` I prefer not to speak about a situation without being aware of all the facts .
But if the player was provoked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
Porto are second in the Portuguese top flight , trailing leaders Benfica by a point after 21 games .

Porto striker Moussa Marega left the pitch in protest of being subject to racist insults during his side's 2-1 win away to Vitoria Guimaraes in Portugal's Primeira Liga on Sunday.
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The Mali forward, 28, scored what proved to be the winning goal in the 60th minute and celebrated the goal by pointing to his skin in response to a section of the home fans who had targeted him throughout the match.
He was shown a yellow card for the reaction and after the abuse continued he tried to leave the pitch, pointing his thumbs down to the crowd, but was restrained by his team mates for a number of minutes.
Porto coach Sergio Conceicao was eventually forced to substitute Marega in the 72nd minute.
Shocking Porto players attempt to prevent their teammate, Moussa Marega, from walking off the pitch after facing racist abusehttps://t.co/TYGgBA2155pic.twitter.com/7kU9LSmQMv — Rob Harris (@RobHarris) February 16, 2020
"We are completely indignant," Conceicao told reporters.
"They insulted Marega since the warm up. We are all a family here, regardless of our nationality, skin colour, height or the colour of our hair and we all deserve respect. What happened here is outrageous.
"I know the fans here are very passionate about their club and many fans are not represented by some of the people who were in the crowd today."
Marega later posted a message on Instagram calling the supporters who targeted him as "idiots" and also criticising match referee Luis Godinho.
"I'd also like to show my thanks to the referee who did not defend me and who gave me a yellow card for defending the colour of my skin. I hope I never meet you on a football pitch ever again. You are a disgrace," he added.
The league's organising body Liga Portugal condemned the chants.
"Liga Portugal does not agree and never will with acts of racism, xenophobia or intolerance that jeopardize the dignity of footballers or any human beings," said a statement on the organisation's website.
"Liga Portugal will do everything to ensure that this episode and all other racist incidents do not go unpunished.
"We believe this is a fight where your team's colours do not matter and everyone must come together to eradicate this scourge on the game."
Porto's director of communications Francisco Marques added on his own Twitter account: "Marega was fed up and left the pitch and Porto was forced to make a substitution due to racism."
Portuguese newspaper A Bola reported that no Porto players spoke to the media after the game in solidarity with Marega.
Vitoria coach Ivo Vieira said he did not want to comment on the incident as he was not certain what had happened.
"I prefer not to speak about a situation without being aware of all the facts. But if the player was provoked, then he should not have been," he said.
Porto are second in the Portuguese top flight, trailing leaders Benfica by a point after 21 games.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-02-17--Dozens killed in attack on Burkina Faso church

Soldiers from Burkina Faso patrol on the road of Gorgadji in the Sahel area of Burkina Faso , on March 3 , 2019 .
Gunmen have killed 24 people and wounded 18 in an attack on a Protestant church in a village in northern Burkina Faso , the regional governor said Monday .
A group of `` armed terrorists '' burst into the village of Pansi , in Yagha province `` and attacked the peaceful local population after having identified them and separated them from non-residents '' , Colonel Salfo Kabore said in a statement sent to AFP .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service , security officials said .
`` The provisional toll is 24 killed , including the pastor ... 18 wounded and individuals who were kidnapped , '' Kabore said .
A resident of the nearby town of Sebba said Pansi villagers had fled there for safety .
One of the poorest countries in the world , Burkina Faso is on the front line of a jihadist insurgency advancing in the Sahel .
Since 2015 , around 750 people have been killed in Burkina and around 600,000 people have fled their homes .
Christians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the north of the country .
On February 10 , suspected jihadists in Sebba seized seven people at the home of a pastor .
Five bodies were found three days later , including the pastor , according to the local governor .
According to UN figures , jihadist attacks in Burkina and neighbouring Mali and Niger left nearly 4,000 people dead last year .
Their armed forces are weak , struggling with poor equipment and lack of training and funding .

Gunmen have killed 24 people and wounded 18 in an attack on a Protestant church in a village in northern Burkina Faso, the regional governor said Monday.
Soldiers from Burkina Faso patrol on the road of Gorgadji in the Sahel area of Burkina Faso, on March 3, 2019.
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A group of "armed terrorists" burst into the village of Pansi, in Yagha province "and attacked the peaceful local population after having identified them and separated them from non-residents", Colonel Salfo Kabore said in a statement sent to AFP.
The assault occurred on Sunday during a weekly service, security officials said.
"The provisional toll is 24 killed, including the pastor... 18 wounded and individuals who were kidnapped," Kabore said.
A resident of the nearby town of Sebba said Pansi villagers had fled there for safety.
One of the poorest countries in the world, Burkina Faso is on the front line of a jihadist insurgency advancing in the Sahel.
Since 2015, around 750 people have been killed in Burkina and around 600,000 people have fled their homes.
Christians and churches have become frequent targets in the north of the country.
On February 10, suspected jihadists in Sebba seized seven people at the home of a pastor. Five bodies were found three days later, including the pastor, according to the local governor.
According to UN figures, jihadist attacks in Burkina and neighbouring Mali and Niger left nearly 4,000 people dead last year.
Their armed forces are weak, struggling with poor equipment and lack of training and funding.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-16--Deadly Storm Dennis hammers Britain

Deadly Storm Dennis hammers Britain

People look at flood water in a flooded street in Tenbury Wells , after the River Teme burst its banks in western England , on February 16 , 2020 , A man died after falling into a river on Sunday as Storm Dennis swept across Britain with the army drafted in to help deal with heavy flooding and high winds .
The man fell into the River Tawe , in south Wales , police said .
“ A male has fallen into the river at # Ystradgynlais at approximately 10am this morning and has sadly been found deceased further along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Dyfed Powys Police said in a tweet .
The government weather agency earlier issued a rare red warning for the area , saying there was a risk of “ significant impacts from flooding ” that included a “ danger to life from fast flowing water , extensive flooding to property and road closures ” .
A record 594 flood warnings and alerts were in place on Sunday , extending from Scotland ’ s River Tweed to Cornwall in southwest England .
Winds of over 90 miles per hour ( 150 kilometres per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ south Wales .
Pictures circulated on social media showed the nearby River Taff bursting its banks , while rescue workers rushed to get people trapped in their homes in Powys to safety .
“ The forecast is for very significant levels of rain , especially in the eastern valleys of South Wales , ” said Jeremy Parr , from government body Natural Resources Wales .
“ Impacts could be severe overnight , and everyone should take the warnings extremely seriously , ” he added .
Police declared major incidents in parts of Wales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Some communities have been cut-off ... , but emergency service workers are working tirelessly to put measures in place to ensure the safety of residents , ” South Wales Police said in a statement .
Roads and railways were badly affected by the downpours and winds , having barely recovered from a similar storm last week .
The Ministry of Defence deployed troops in West Yorkshire , northern England , which suffered badly from flooding caused by last weekend ’ s Storm Ciara .
“ Our armed forces are always ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they need it , ” said defence minister Ben Wallace .
British Airways and easyJet confirmed they had grounded flights , with footage posted online showing a massive Airbus A380 jet being blown about as it attempted to land .
Meanwhile , two bodies were pulled from rough seas off the south England coast on Saturday as the storm barrelled in .
One of the men is assumed to have been the subject of a search triggered when an LPG tanker reported that one of its crew was unaccounted for .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France was also affected by the storm , especially Britanny where the Finistere and Morbihan regions were placed on orange alert for rain and flooding , according to the national weather service , Meteo-France .
Around 14,000 homes were left without electricity .
“ Winds will be increasing throughout the day on Sunday across Germany , Denmark and southern Sweden , ” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Maura Kelly .

A man died after falling into a river on Sunday as Storm Dennis swept across Britain with the army drafted in to help deal with heavy flooding and high winds.
People look at flood water in a flooded street in Tenbury Wells, after the River Teme burst its banks in western England, on February 16, 2020,
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The man fell into the River Tawe, in south Wales, police said.
“A male has fallen into the river at #Ystradgynlais at approximately 10am this morning and has sadly been found deceased further along the river in the Tebanos area,” Dyfed Powys Police said in a tweet.
#Control_RED are now on duty until 08:00 tomorrow morning. Please can we remind people again NOT to drive through flood water. Stay safe and stay out of the water #StormDennis pic.twitter.com/SfxrLeG5WG — Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service (@DerbyshireFRS) February 16, 2020
The government weather agency earlier issued a rare red warning for the area, saying there was a risk of “significant impacts from flooding” that included a “danger to life from fast flowing water, extensive flooding to property and road closures”.
A record 594 flood warnings and alerts were in place on Sunday, extending from Scotland’s River Tweed to Cornwall in southwest England.
In Rhondda Cynon Taff, Pontypridd and Taff's Wells have also been badly affected by floods with cars and streets under water https://t.co/jXEDamhbas #StormDennis pic.twitter.com/5jsx7ngnn1 — BBC Wales News (@BBCWalesNews) February 16, 2020
Winds of over 90 miles per hour (150 kilometres per hour) were recorded in Aberdaron, south Wales.
Pictures circulated on social media showed the nearby River Taff bursting its banks, while rescue workers rushed to get people trapped in their homes in Powys to safety.
“The forecast is for very significant levels of rain, especially in the eastern valleys of South Wales,” said Jeremy Parr, from government body Natural Resources Wales.
“Impacts could be severe overnight, and everyone should take the warnings extremely seriously,” he added.
Police declared major incidents in parts of Wales and England, with landslides also reported.
“Some communities have been cut-off..., but emergency service workers are working tirelessly to put measures in place to ensure the safety of residents,” South Wales Police said in a statement.
This is an extraordinary map of where is beening affected by flooding from #StormDennis. Over 500 live flood warnings and alerts - and I’m afraid more to come - keep close to the detail here https://t.co/K5GUW3z87V pic.twitter.com/wDcVC5TnrB — John Curtin (@johncurtinEA) February 16, 2020
Roads and railways were badly affected by the downpours and winds, having barely recovered from a similar storm last week.
The Ministry of Defence deployed troops in West Yorkshire, northern England, which suffered badly from flooding caused by last weekend’s Storm Ciara.
“Our armed forces are always ready to support local authorities and communities whenever they need it,” said defence minister Ben Wallace.
British Airways and easyJet confirmed they had grounded flights, with footage posted online showing a massive Airbus A380 jet being blown about as it attempted to land.
Meanwhile, two bodies were pulled from rough seas off the south England coast on Saturday as the storm barrelled in.
One of the men is assumed to have been the subject of a search triggered when an LPG tanker reported that one of its crew was unaccounted for.
He was last seen several hours earlier.
Northwestern France was also affected by the storm, especially Britanny where the Finistere and Morbihan regions were placed on orange alert for rain and flooding, according to the national weather service, Meteo-France.
Around 14,000 homes were left without electricity.
“Winds will be increasing throughout the day on Sunday across Germany, Denmark and southern Sweden,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Maura Kelly.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-17--Children make up more than half of dead in Cameroon village massacre

Soldiers patrol in Bafut , after the roof of a school 's dormitory was set to fire overnight , on November 15 , 2017 , in the northwest English-speaking region of Cameroon .
A massacre in an anglophone region of Cameroon left up to 22 villagers dead including 14 children , the UN said Sunday , with an opposition party blaming the killings on the army .
Armed men carried out the bloodshed on Friday in the village of Ntumbo in the Northwest region , James Nunan , a local official of humanitarian coordination agency OCHA , told AFP .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including a pregnant woman and several children , '' Nunan said , adding that 14 children -- including nine under age five -- were among the dead .
Eleven of the children were girls , said Nunan , head of OCHA 's office for the Northwest and Southwest regions , which are home to the West African country 's large English-speaking minority .
Separatists in the regions have been fighting the central government for three years .
The Movement for the Rebirth of Cameroon , one of the country 's two main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` The dictatorial regime ( and ) the supreme head of the security and defence forces are chiefly responsible for these crimes . ''
A key figure in the separatist movement , lawyer Agbor Mballa , in a Facebook post also accused `` state defence forces '' of carrying out the killings .
An army official contacted by AFP early Sunday denied the allegations , saying simply : `` False '' .
No other official response was immediately available .
The three-year conflict between anglophone forces seeking to break away from French-speaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and forced more than 700,000 people to flee their homes .
Friday 's killings followed elections on February 9 that were marred by violence in the regions blamed both on separatists and security forces .
Armed separatists prevented people from voting , threatening reprisals , while government soldiers were a heavy presence .
Separatists kidnapped more than 100 people and torched property in the run-up to the elections , Human Rights Watch ( HRW ) said on Wednesday .
The government has not yet announced the results of the elections or turnout figures @

A massacre in an anglophone region of Cameroon left up to 22 villagers dead including 14 children, the UN said Sunday, with an opposition party blaming the killings on the army.
Soldiers patrol in Bafut, after the roof of a school's dormitory was set to fire overnight, on November 15, 2017, in the northwest English-speaking region of Cameroon.
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Armed men carried out the bloodshed on Friday in the village of Ntumbo in the Northwest region, James Nunan, a local official of humanitarian coordination agency OCHA, told AFP.
"Up to 22 civilians were killed, including a pregnant woman and several children," Nunan said, adding that 14 children -- including nine under age five -- were among the dead.
Eleven of the children were girls, said Nunan, head of OCHA's office for the Northwest and Southwest regions, which are home to the West African country's large English-speaking minority.
Separatists in the regions have been fighting the central government for three years.
The Movement for the Rebirth of Cameroon, one of the country's two main opposition parties, issued a statement saying: "The dictatorial regime (and) the supreme head of the security and defence forces are chiefly responsible for these crimes."
A key figure in the separatist movement, lawyer Agbor Mballa, in a Facebook post also accused "state defence forces" of carrying out the killings.
An army official contacted by AFP early Sunday denied the allegations, saying simply: "False". No other official response was immediately available.
The three-year conflict between anglophone forces seeking to break away from French-speaking Cameroon has claimed more than 3,000 lives and forced more than 700,000 people to flee their homes.
Friday's killings followed elections on February 9 that were marred by violence in the regions blamed both on separatists and security forces.
Armed separatists prevented people from voting, threatening reprisals, while government soldiers were a heavy presence.
Separatists kidnapped more than 100 people and torched property in the run-up to the elections, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Wednesday.
The government has not yet announced the results of the elections or turnout figures.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-17--Sick Elton John vows to finish tour after cutting short New Zealand concert

Elton John has tearfully apologised to fans after cutting short a concert in New Zealand due to illness , with the British superstar saying he was suffering from `` walking pneumonia '' .
The 72-year-old , who is in the midst of a gruelling world tour , struggled to sing while seated at a grand piano during a performance at Mount Smart Stadium on Sunday night .
After being checked by a medic with a stethoscope , he battled on through two more songs before calling a halt to proceedings barely halfway through his setlist .
`` I ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my voice , '' he told concert-goers in a croaky rasp .
`` I 've got to go .
I 'm so sorry . ''
Elton John 's illness comes as health authorities worldwide are on high alert for signs of the novel coronavirus , which has infected more than 70,000 and killed 1,770 in mainland China .
New Zealand has no reported cases of the virus .
Video footage showed Elton John , dressed in a powder-blue suit and wearing his trademark oversized glasses , standing at the piano and shrugging his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of helplessness .
He then shuffled off the stage with his head bowed , helped by members of his road crew as the crowd cheered their support .
`` I was diagnosed with walking pneumonia earlier today , but I was determined to give you the best show humanly possible , '' he later tweeted .
`` I played and sang my heart out , until my voice could sing no more .
I 'm disappointed , deeply upset and sorry .
I gave it all I had . ''
'Incredible ' commitment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ atypical pneumonia , which causes mild infections of the respiratory system , according to the US Centers for Disease Control .
It said symptoms include tiredness , sore throat , fever and coughing , and the illness can sometimes lead to full pneumonia , a serious lung infection .
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she briefly met the singer before Sunday 's concert and `` you could tell he was n't feeling well '' .
`` Given he had what they call walking pneumonia , the fact that he spent roughly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ huge performance was incredible and very generous , '' she told reporters , praising his commitment to fans .
Elton John is in New Zealand as part of his `` Farewell Yellow Brick Road '' world tour , which began in 2018 and is scheduled to end in late 2020 in London .
Featuring hundreds of concerts across the globe , it is billed as the last chance to see the star before he retires .
The septuagenarian has followed a punishing schedule in New Zealand , not only performing concerts but also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles .
At the Oscars , he took home the award for best original song for `` ( I 'm Gon na ) Love Me Again '' from the musical biopic about his life , `` Rocketman '' .
Elton John has two more shows scheduled in Auckland before heading to Australia for a further seven gigs .
The tour 's Australasian promoter , Chugg Entertainment , said one of the Auckland shows had been moved from Tuesday to Wednesday so the star could get additional rest @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Elton John has tearfully apologised to fans after cutting short a concert in New Zealand due to illness, with the British superstar saying he was suffering from "walking pneumonia".
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The 72-year-old, who is in the midst of a gruelling world tour, struggled to sing while seated at a grand piano during a performance at Mount Smart Stadium on Sunday night.
After being checked by a medic with a stethoscope, he battled on through two more songs before calling a halt to proceedings barely halfway through his setlist.
"I can't sing, I've just completely lost my voice," he told concert-goers in a croaky rasp.
"I've got to go. I'm so sorry."
Elton John's illness comes as health authorities worldwide are on high alert for signs of the novel coronavirus, which has infected more than 70,000 and killed 1,770 in mainland China.
New Zealand has no reported cases of the virus.
Video footage showed Elton John, dressed in a powder-blue suit and wearing his trademark oversized glasses, standing at the piano and shrugging his shoulders at the crowd in a gesture of helplessness.
He then shuffled off the stage with his head bowed, helped by members of his road crew as the crowd cheered their support.
"I was diagnosed with walking pneumonia earlier today, but I was determined to give you the best show humanly possible," he later tweeted.
"I played and sang my heart out, until my voice could sing no more. I'm disappointed, deeply upset and sorry. I gave it all I had."
'Incredible' commitment
Walking pneumonia is an informal term for atypical pneumonia, which causes mild infections of the respiratory system, according to the US Centers for Disease Control.
It said symptoms include tiredness, sore throat, fever and coughing, and the illness can sometimes lead to full pneumonia, a serious lung infection.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she briefly met the singer before Sunday's concert and "you could tell he wasn't feeling well".
"Given he had what they call walking pneumonia, the fact that he spent roughly two hours on stage giving such a huge performance was incredible and very generous," she told reporters, praising his commitment to fans.
Elton John is in New Zealand as part of his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" world tour, which began in 2018 and is scheduled to end in late 2020 in London.
Featuring hundreds of concerts across the globe, it is billed as the last chance to see the star before he retires.
The septuagenarian has followed a punishing schedule in New Zealand, not only performing concerts but also slotting in a side trip to sing at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles.
At the Oscars, he took home the award for best original song for "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" from the musical biopic about his life, "Rocketman".
Elton John has two more shows scheduled in Auckland before heading to Australia for a further seven gigs.
The tour's Australasian promoter, Chugg Entertainment, said one of the Auckland shows had been moved from Tuesday to Wednesday so the star could get additional rest following medical advice.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-16--Record high Antarctic temperatures spark global sea rise worries

Temperatures in Antarctica hit 20.75°C on February 9 , according to a team of scientists on Seymour Island , marking the first time the Polar continent has broken the 20°C barrier .
Its warming reinforces concerns that melting ice could raise global sea levels by dozens of metres .
`` We 've been monitoring temperatures here for the past 18 years and I never even dreamed that I would one day see such high temperature in the region , '' Marcio Francelino , Brazilian professor and responsible for the Seymour Island station , told Brazilian newspaper Estado de São Paulo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became the latest region to break a new temperature record , two days after an already alarming peak , when the mercury hit 18.3°C at the Argentinian Esperanza research base .
The United Nations had then urged countries to act , after what was already the highest reading on the continental Antarctic Peninsula .
`` It 's simply a signal that something different is happening in the area , '' scientist Carlos Ernesto Schaefer told AFP .
Because `` we ca n't use this to anticipate climate changes in the future '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this high in Antarctica , '' said Schaeffer , who works on a Brazilian government project which monitors the impact of climate change on permafrost and biology in sites across the Atlantic .
He described the new record as `` incredible and abnormal '' .
According to British Newspaper the Guardian , the new records still need to be confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization , but they are consistent with the local trend .
The peninsula and nearby islands have seen their average temperature rise by almost 3°C since pre-industrial era , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planet .
Although researchers have struggled to link individual events to climate change , scientists ' scenarios have proven right so far .
Even taken individually , the latest temperature spike in the Polar continent is bad news .
According to a new study published February 12 by Australian researchers in the PNAS journal , Antarctica 's vast western ice sheet is extremely vulnerable to sea rises .
They identified a gap in the ice sheet record between 129,000 and 116,000 years ago , meaning there had already been a melting during this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faster , since the previous one `` was likely caused by less than 2°C ocean warming '' , said Christ Turney , professor in Earth and Climate Science at UNSW Sydney and lead author of the PNAS study .
Poles warming faster than rest of the world The last decade was officially the hottest , according to records , with the last five years being the warmest ever .
January 2020 was the hottest January ever witnessed .
The Earth 's poles have also been warming faster than the rest of the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ice have melted in the Arctic area and in Greenland , according to the Brazilian newspaper Folha de São Paulo .
The Brazilian scientists working on the Antarctic programme say this new temperature record appears to be influenced by changes in ocean currents but also by El Niño events .
`` Many currents are dependent on cold waters coming from the Antarctic .
So this kind of phenomenon causes others , and it generates turbulences in the Austral Ocean , which affects the atmospheric dynamic .
The whole thing is very interrelated , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a study published on February 14 in the Earth System Dynamics review , Antarctic melting could raise sea levels by 58 centimetres by the end of the century .
But the region stores about 70 percent of the world 's fresh water stock in the form of snow and ice , according to the Guardian .
In case it were all to melt , sea levels could rise not only by 58 centimetres but rather by 50 to 60 metres .
`` The 'Antarctica Factor ' turns out to be the greatest risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for sea-levels around the globe , '' lead-author Anders Levermann from the Potsdam Institute of Climate Impact Research told AFP .
It could have unpredictable consequences , threatening more than one billion people living in vulnerable areas .
Temperatures in eastern and central Antarctica are relatively stable , but this might not be the case for its Western part , past the Seymour Islands .
Its Thwaites and Pine Island glaciers could melt rapidly in case of a sustained jump in temperature .
The team behind the Australian study said that rapid cuts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change , could help limit the loss of ice-sheet and slow the process .
But emissions creep higher every year .
The world is therefore likely to have to face significant challenges to communities living at low-sea level by 2100 .
`` What we know for certain is that not stopping the burning of coal , oil and gas will drive up the risks for coastal metropolises from New York to Mumbai , Hamburg or Shanghai , '' Levermann said .

Temperatures in Antarctica hit 20.75°C on February 9, according to a team of scientists on Seymour Island, marking the first time the Polar continent has broken the 20°C barrier. Its warming reinforces concerns that melting ice could raise global sea levels by dozens of metres.
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"We've been monitoring temperatures here for the past 18 years and I never even dreamed that I would one day see such high temperature in the region," Marcio Francelino, Brazilian professor and responsible for the Seymour Island station, told Brazilian newspaper Estado de São Paulo.
On February 9, the Antarctic became the latest region to break a new temperature record, two days after an already alarming peak, when the mercury hit 18.3°C at the Argentinian Esperanza research base. The United Nations had then urged countries to act, after what was already the highest reading on the continental Antarctic Peninsula.
"It's simply a signal that something different is happening in the area," scientist Carlos Ernesto Schaefer told AFP. Because "we can't use this to anticipate climate changes in the future".
'Incredible and abnormal'
"We'd never seen a temperature this high in Antarctica," said Schaeffer, who works on a Brazilian government project which monitors the impact of climate change on permafrost and biology in sites across the Atlantic. He described the new record as "incredible and abnormal".
According to British Newspaper the Guardian, the new records still need to be confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization, but they are consistent with the local trend. The peninsula and nearby islands have seen their average temperature rise by almost 3°C since pre-industrial era, one of the fastest rates in the planet.
Although researchers have struggled to link individual events to climate change, scientists' scenarios have proven right so far.
Antarctic more vulnerable to sea rise
Even taken individually, the latest temperature spike in the Polar continent is bad news.
According to a new study published February 12 by Australian researchers in the PNAS journal, Antarctica's vast western ice sheet is extremely vulnerable to sea rises.
They identified a gap in the ice sheet record between 129,000 and 116,000 years ago, meaning there had already been a melting during this period. A second one could be faster, since the previous one "was likely caused by less than 2°C ocean warming", said Christ Turney, professor in Earth and Climate Science at UNSW Sydney and lead author of the PNAS study.
Poles warming faster than rest of the world
The last decade was officially the hottest, according to records, with the last five years being the warmest ever. January 2020 was the hottest January ever witnessed.
The Earth's poles have also been warming faster than the rest of the world. Since 2006, 430 tons of ice have melted in the Arctic area and in Greenland, according to the Brazilian newspaper Folha de São Paulo.
The Brazilian scientists working on the Antarctic programme say this new temperature record appears to be influenced by changes in ocean currents but also by El Niño events.
"Many currents are dependent on cold waters coming from the Antarctic. So this kind of phenomenon causes others, and it generates turbulences in the Austral Ocean, which affects the atmospheric dynamic. The whole thing is very interrelated," Schaefer told G1.
Sea could rise by 60 metres
According to a study published on February 14 in the Earth System Dynamics review, Antarctic melting could raise sea levels by 58 centimetres by the end of the century.
But the region stores about 70 percent of the world's fresh water stock in the form of snow and ice, according to the Guardian. In case it were all to melt, sea levels could rise not only by 58 centimetres but rather by 50 to 60 metres.
"The 'Antarctica Factor' turns out to be the greatest risk, and also the greatest uncertainty, for sea-levels around the globe," lead-author Anders Levermann from the Potsdam Institute of Climate Impact Research told AFP. It could have unpredictable consequences, threatening more than one billion people living in vulnerable areas.
Temperatures in eastern and central Antarctica are relatively stable, but this might not be the case for its Western part, past the Seymour Islands. Its Thwaites and Pine Island glaciers could melt rapidly in case of a sustained jump in temperature.
The team behind the Australian study said that rapid cuts to carbon emissions, such as stipulated in the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, could help limit the loss of ice-sheet and slow the process.
But emissions creep higher every year. The world is therefore likely to have to face significant challenges to communities living at low-sea level by 2100.
"What we know for certain is that not stopping the burning of coal, oil and gas will drive up the risks for coastal metropolises from New York to Mumbai, Hamburg or Shanghai," Levermann said.
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