france24--2020-02-14--China's coronavirus death toll surpasses 1,400, but new fatalities half that of previous day

A man wears a face mask as he walks past the closed Lama Temple in Beijing on February 13 , 2020 .
The death toll from China 's coronavirus epidemic rose to 1,483 on Friday but the number of new infections in hard-hit Hubei province fell after a change in case definitions caused a massive increase the previous day .
The central province 's health commission reported 116 more deaths and 4,823 new cases , the majority involving `` clinically diagnosed '' patients .
The province , the epicentre of the outbreak , had 242 more deaths and over 14,800 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 64,600 people have now been infected in the country .
Health officials in Hubei said they started to count clinically diagnosed cases to ensure that patients get treated as early as possible instead of having to wait for laboratory tests to confirm they have the COVID-19 disease .
But the change raised concerns that the crisis may be more serious than Chinese authorities have reported .
Japan confirmed its first coronavirus death on Thursday – a woman in her 80s living in Kanagawa prefecture near Tokyo – adding to two previous fatalities in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is one of the worst affected of more than two dozen countries and territories outside mainland China that have seen hundreds of infections from the flu-like sickness .
A cruise liner quarantined off a Japanese port has more than 200 people confirmed with the disease .
Authorities have said they will allow some elderly people to disembark on Friday .
Passengers on another cruise ship that spent two weeks at sea after being turned away by five countries over coronavirus fears started disembarking in Cambodia on Friday .
The MS Westerdam , carrying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Cambodian port town of Sihanoukville on Thursday .
It had anchored offshore early in the morning to allow Cambodian officials to board and collect samples from passengers with any signs of ill health or flu-like symptoms .
The surge of new cases reported on Thursday dented hopes the epidemic might soon be reaching a peak and halted a global stocks rally .
However , the rise in China 's reported cases reflected a decision by authorities there to reclassify a backlog of suspected cases by using patients ' chest images , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an iceberg '' of a wider epidemic , a top World Health Organization official said on Thursday .
Mike Ryan , head of WHO 's health emergencies programme , said more than 14,000 new cases reported in Hubei province on Thursday came after a change to include results from quicker computerised tomography ( CT ) scans that reveal lung infections , rather than relying just on laboratory tests to confirm cases .
`` We 've seen this spike in the number of cases reported in China , but this does not represent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outbreak , '' Ryan told a briefing in Geneva , Switzerland .
US President Donald Trump praised China over its response and said Washington was working closely with Beijing .
`` I think they 've handled it professionally , and I think they 're extremely capable , '' Trump said in a podcast broadcast on iHeart Radio .
But Trump 's top White House economic adviser , Larry Kudlow , was more critical .
`` We 're a little disappointed in the lack of transparency coming from the Chinese , these numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surprise , '' he told reporters .
The outbreak , believed to have emerged from a Wuhan market where wildlife was traded illegally , has triggered a backlash against local political leaders .
Provincial Communist Party boss Jiang Chaoliang was fired as secretary of the Hubei Provincial Committee , and Ma Guoqiang removed as party chief in Wuhan , state media said .
They were the two highest-profile officials to be axed since the outbreak .
Economists have been assessing the impact of the outbreak on the world 's second-largest economy and are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
China 's economy will grow at its slowest rate since the global financial crisis in the current quarter , according to a Reuters poll of economists who said the downturn will be short-lived if the outbreak is contained .


france24--2020-02-14--Exiled Turkish novelist Asli Erdogan acquitted in terror trial

A Turkish court on Friday acquitted renowned novelist Asli Erdogan on charges of membership of an armed terror organisation .
@ @ @ @ @ acquitted Erdogan , who is living in exile in Germany , of disrupting the unity @ @ @ @ @ dropped charges of spreading terror propaganda .
Erdogan , whose books have been translated into @ @ @ @ @ an occasional columnist for pro-Kurdish newspaper Ozgur Gundem , which was shut down after the @ @ @ @ @ President Recep Tayyip Erdogan .
The novelist Erdogan – no relation to the Turkish president @ @ @ @ @ detention for four months in 2016 but later released .
She did not attend Friday @ @ @ @ @ a statement read out by her lawyer , Erdal Dogan , Erdogan said her columns @ @ @ @ @ element .
“ Their political content is limited to human rights violations , ” she @ @

A Turkish court on Friday acquitted renowned novelist Asli Erdogan on charges of membership of an armed terror organisation.
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The court in Istanbul also acquitted Erdogan, who is living in exile in Germany, of disrupting the unity of the state, and dropped charges of spreading terror propaganda.
Erdogan, whose books have been translated into various different languages, was an occasional columnist for pro-Kurdish newspaper Ozgur Gundem, which was shut down after the failed 2016 coup against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The novelist Erdogan – no relation to the Turkish president – was held in pre-trial detention for four months in 2016 but later released.
She did not attend Friday’s hearing but in a statement read out by her lawyer, Erdal Dogan, Erdogan said her columns did not contain any violent element.
“Their political content is limited to human rights violations,” she said.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-14--Turkey threatens to hit Syrian 'radicals' who do not abide by ceasefire

A child gazes at a Turkish tank in the town of Binnish in Syria ’ s northwestern province of Idlib , near the Syria-Turkey border on February 12 , 2020 .
Turkey on Thursday threatened to use force against “ radicals ” in Syria ’ s Idlib province after Russia accused Ankara of failing to “ neutralise ” jihadist groups under a 2018 deal .
“ Force will be used in Idlib against those who do not abide by the ceasefire , including the radicals , ” Turkey 's Defence Minister Hulusi Akar was quoted as saying by the official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of measure will be taken , ” he said .
Idlib – the last opposition bastion in Syria – is held by an array of rebels dominated by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ( HTS ) jihadist group , which is led by members of the country ’ s former al Qaeda franchise .
President Bashar al-Assad ’ s forces have pressed ahead with an offensive in the region since December , killing more than 380 civilians , according to monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights .
The killing of 14 Turks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tensions between Ankara and Damascus , while raising stakes with Russia – a key ally of Assad .
Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday accused Russia of committing “ massacres ” in Idlib and threatened to strike government forces anywhere in Syria if the slightest harm is done to Turkish troops .
In return , Moscow accused Ankara of failing to honour the 2018 deal , with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying the Turkish side “ had taken upon itself an obligation to neutralise terrorist groups ” in Idlib .
Under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to withdraw from a demilitarised zone in the Idlib region .
Turkish Chief of Staff General Yasar Guler Thursday spoke by phone with his Russian counterpart , General Valery Gerasimov , about the situation in Idlib , the Turkish army announced on Twitter .
The escalation comes as the United Nations expressed concern over the mass displacement and humanitarian situation in Syria ’ s northwest .
Over 140,000 Syrians have been displaced in the last three days alone , bringing the total of those uprooted in a Syrian government offensive against the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UN said Thursday .
The UN said at least 60 percent of the more than 800,000 displaced since December 1 are children .
The humanitarian crisis in the already overcrowded opposition-held enclave is compounded by freezing weather conditions and existing severe needs .
The government offensive , backed by Russia , has intensified and expanded to include southern and eastern Idlib province as well as southern and western Aleppo , an area home to an estimated four million people .
Most have already been displaced from other parts of Syria because of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in northwest Syria is “ at the most critical points ” , the UN said , adding that the massive scale of human displacement over such a short period of time has increased needs exponentially .
David Swanson , UN regional spokesperson for the crisis in Syria , said more resources , including funding , are immediately needed to save lives and alleviate suffering , predicting the 800,000 figure will rise in the coming days as the government offensive continues .
“ This level of displacement couldn ’ t come at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are squeezed into an increasingly smaller area of land with little more than the clothes on their back , ” he said , describing people fleeing in the middle of the night to avoid detection in temperatures below zero .
“ The crisis is deepening by the minute , but the international community remains indifferent , ” Swanson added .

Turkey on Thursday threatened to use force against “radicals” in Syria’s Idlib province after Russia accused Ankara of failing to “neutralise” jihadist groups under a 2018 deal.
A child gazes at a Turkish tank in the town of Binnish in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, near the Syria-Turkey border on February 12, 2020.
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“Force will be used in Idlib against those who do not abide by the ceasefire, including the radicals,” Turkey's Defence Minister Hulusi Akar was quoted as saying by the official Anadolu news agency.
“Any form of measure will be taken,” he said.
Idlib – the last opposition bastion in Syria – is held by an array of rebels dominated by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) jihadist group, which is led by members of the country’s former al Qaeda franchise.
President Bashar al-Assad’s forces have pressed ahead with an offensive in the region since December, killing more than 380 civilians, according to monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The killing of 14 Turks in Idlib in government shelling has fuelled tensions between Ankara and Damascus, while raising stakes with Russia – a key ally of Assad.
Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday accused Russia of committing “massacres” in Idlib and threatened to strike government forces anywhere in Syria if the slightest harm is done to Turkish troops.
In return, Moscow accused Ankara of failing to honour the 2018 deal, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying the Turkish side “had taken upon itself an obligation to neutralise terrorist groups” in Idlib.
Under the bilateral agreement, radical groups were required to withdraw from a demilitarised zone in the Idlib region.
Turkish Chief of Staff General Yasar Guler Thursday spoke by phone with his Russian counterpart, General Valery Gerasimov, about the situation in Idlib, the Turkish army announced on Twitter.
Humanitarian crisis
The escalation comes as the United Nations expressed concern over the mass displacement and humanitarian situation in Syria’s northwest.
Over 140,000 Syrians have been displaced in the last three days alone, bringing the total of those uprooted in a Syrian government offensive against the last opposition stronghold to over 800,000, the UN said Thursday.
The UN said at least 60 percent of the more than 800,000 displaced since December 1 are children. The humanitarian crisis in the already overcrowded opposition-held enclave is compounded by freezing weather conditions and existing severe needs.
The government offensive, backed by Russia, has intensified and expanded to include southern and eastern Idlib province as well as southern and western Aleppo, an area home to an estimated four million people. Most have already been displaced from other parts of Syria because of the ongoing conflict.
The humanitarian situation for people in northwest Syria is “at the most critical points”, the UN said, adding that the massive scale of human displacement over such a short period of time has increased needs exponentially.
David Swanson, UN regional spokesperson for the crisis in Syria, said more resources, including funding, are immediately needed to save lives and alleviate suffering, predicting the 800,000 figure will rise in the coming days as the government offensive continues.
“This level of displacement couldn’t come at a worse time as more and more people are squeezed into an increasingly smaller area of land with little more than the clothes on their back,” he said, describing people fleeing in the middle of the night to avoid detection in temperatures below zero.
“The crisis is deepening by the minute, but the international community remains indifferent,” Swanson added.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP)
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france24--2020-02-13--US Senate votes to limit Trump's war powers on Iran, presidential veto expected

Democratic Senator Tim Kaine speaks to journalists after the GOP-dominated Senate voted to curtail President Donald Trump 's war powers with regard to Iran on February 13 , 2020 .
The Republican-dominated US Senate voted Thursday to rein in President Donald Trump 's ability to launch military action on Iran , with eight GOP members joining Democrats to pass the resolution .
The measure requires Trump to seek explicit authorisation from Congress before launching further military action targeting Iran .
The resolution , which passed 55-45 , makes an exception for defending against an `` imminent '' threat .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not expected to be enough support in the Senate to muster the two-thirds majority to override it .
Republicans in the chamber hold 53 of the 100 seats and rarely vote against the president .
Opponents said the resolution ’ s passage would send the wrong message to Tehran .
“ We need to send a message of firmness , and not weakness , ” said Senator Jim Risch , the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee .
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine , a lead sponsor of the resolution , disputed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strength and reflected the importance of Congress weighing in on the decision to deploy US troops .
“ If we ’ re to order our young men and women in uniform to risk their lives and health in war , it should be on the basis of careful deliberation , ” he said .
The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives passed a similar resolution last month but there are enough differences between the Senate ’ s version and the House ’ s that it must pass the lower chamber again before it can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The Republican-dominated US Senate voted Thursday to rein in President Donald Trump's ability to launch military action on Iran, with eight GOP members joining Democrats to pass the resolution.
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine speaks to journalists after the GOP-dominated Senate voted to curtail President Donald Trump's war powers with regard to Iran on February 13, 2020.
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The measure requires Trump to seek explicit authorisation from Congress before launching further military action targeting Iran.
The resolution, which passed 55-45, makes an exception for defending against an "imminent" threat.
Trump has promised a veto and there is not expected to be enough support in the Senate to muster the two-thirds majority to override it. Republicans in the chamber hold 53 of the 100 seats and rarely vote against the president.
Opponents said the resolution’s passage would send the wrong message to Tehran.
“We need to send a message of firmness, and not weakness,” said Senator Jim Risch, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, a lead sponsor of the resolution, disputed that. He said the vote showed strength and reflected the importance of Congress weighing in on the decision to deploy US troops.
“If we’re to order our young men and women in uniform to risk their lives and health in war, it should be on the basis of careful deliberation,” he said.
The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives passed a similar resolution last month but there are enough differences between the Senate’s version and the House’s that it must pass the lower chamber again before it can be sent to Trump’s desk.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS and AFP)
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france24--2020-02-13--US Pentagon transfers another $3.8 billion to building Trump's Mexico border wall

US President Donald Trump visits a section of the US-Mexico border wall in Otay Mesa , California , on September 18 , 2019 .
The US Defense Department is shifting another $ 3.8 billion from procurement and other operations towards paying for a wall on the US-Mexican border , official documents sent to the US Congress showed Thursday .
The move took to $ 9.9 billion the total the Pentagon has been forced by President Donald Trump to reallocate to the barrier , after Congress repeatedly blocked funding .
The president declared a national emergency last year to be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to other needs for the wall , which aims to deter migrants from entering the country illegally .
In January an appeals court backed Trump ’ s diversion of already-purposed federal budget funds to the project , removing a stay on spending set by a lower court after opponents filed suit .
The Pentagon told Congress it was transferring the $ 3.8 billion to “ counter-drug activities ” on the border in support of the Department of Homeland Security .
The money was to be culled from various programs for buying tactical vehicles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Navy , and combat and transport aircraft for the Navy and Air Force .
Trump promised to build the wall along most of the 2,000-mile ( 3,200-kilometer ) US-Mexico border—paid for by Mexico—during his 2016 presidential campaign .
After he was elected however he sought some $ 25 billion from Congress but was repeatedly turned back amid opposition to his harsh stance against undocumented migrants already living in the country .
Meanwhile the number of illegal border-crossers detained soared as hundreds of thousands of migrants poured into the US , mostly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A crackdown and changes in policy that made it far more difficult stay in the United States after submitting an asylum request has seen border apprehension numbers plunge in recent months .
The figure stood at fewer than 37,000 last month , from more than 58,000 a year earlier .

The US Defense Department is shifting another $3.8 billion from procurement and other operations towards paying for a wall on the US-Mexican border, official documents sent to the US Congress showed Thursday.
US President Donald Trump visits a section of the US-Mexico border wall in Otay Mesa, California, on September 18, 2019.
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The move took to $9.9 billion the total the Pentagon has been forced by President Donald Trump to reallocate to the barrier, after Congress repeatedly blocked funding.
The president declared a national emergency last year to be able to draw federal budget funds already allocated to other needs for the wall, which aims to deter migrants from entering the country illegally.
In January an appeals court backed Trump’s diversion of already-purposed federal budget funds to the project, removing a stay on spending set by a lower court after opponents filed suit.
Multiple courts have said it is illegal for Trump to pillage military funds for his xenophobic border wall. Not one court has given his unlawful power grab a stamp of approval.
We’ll be back in court to block these additional, unauthorized transfers. https://t.co/2a6FXsouaV — ACLU (@ACLU) February 13, 2020
The Pentagon told Congress it was transferring the $3.8 billion to “counter-drug activities” on the border in support of the Department of Homeland Security.
The money was to be culled from various programs for buying tactical vehicles for the Army National Guard, vessels for the Navy, and combat and transport aircraft for the Navy and Air Force.
Trump promised to build the wall along most of the 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometer) US-Mexico border—paid for by Mexico—during his 2016 presidential campaign.
After he was elected however he sought some $25 billion from Congress but was repeatedly turned back amid opposition to his harsh stance against undocumented migrants already living in the country.
The President’s latest effort to steal Congressionally-appropriated military funding in order to build his wasteful, ineffective border wall undermines our national security and the separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution. — Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) February 13, 2020
Meanwhile the number of illegal border-crossers detained soared as hundreds of thousands of migrants poured into the US, mostly from Central America, seeking asylum.
A crackdown and changes in policy that made it far more difficult stay in the United States after submitting an asylum request has seen border apprehension numbers plunge in recent months.
The figure stood at fewer than 37,000 last month, from more than 58,000 a year earlier.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-14--US Attorney General laments his job is 'impossible' due to incessant Trump tweets

US Attorney General Bill Barr arriving prior to President Donald Trump 's statement about his acquittal on impeachment charges by the US Senate in the White House in Washington , USA , February 6 , 2020 .
US Attorney General Bill Barr on Thursday delivered a highly unusual public rebuke of Donald Trump , saying the president 's tweets were making his job at the Justice Department `` impossible . ''
`` I have a problem with some of the tweets , '' Barr said in an interview with ABC News , adding : `` I can not do my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constant background commentary that undercuts me . ''
`` I think it 's time to stop the tweeting about Department of Justice criminal cases , '' said Barr .
His interview came as Trump stands accused of interfering with the sentencing recommendation for his former advisor , Roger Stone -- prompting four Justice Department prosecutors to resign from the case this week .
The outburst was all the more remarkable as Barr has emerged as a powerful defender of Trump , earning the nickname of the `` president 's attorney '' from critics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of allegations that he decided -- allegedly under pressure from Trump -- to overrule his own prosecutors and seek a lighter prison sentence for Stone .
He has previously been criticized by Democrats and legal experts for seeming to assist Trump during the independent investigation into whether the president was helped by a Russian influence campaign during the 2016 election .
The two men are so close that there was immediate speculation that Barr 's television interview may have been more about managing public opinion than a real outcry against Trump 's alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes about a week after the Senate acquitted Trump of impeachment charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to pressure on Ukraine to announce investigations , including into Trump 's political opponent Joe Biden .
Another staunch Trump ally , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , supported Barr 's comments about the tweets .
`` If the attorney general says it 's getting in the way of doing his job , maybe the president should listen to the attorney general , '' McConnell told Fox News .
White House spokeswoman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faith '' in Barr .
`` The president was n't bothered by the comments at all , '' she said in a statement .
That message was amplified by Trump 's National Security Advisor who insisted the president has `` tremendous confidence '' in Barr .
`` He 's a fantastic member of the cabinet , he has a very strong relationship with the president , '' Robert O'Brien told reporters at the White House .
Unlike any president before him , Trump frequently uses social media to broadcast his opinions and decisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media .
Grisham indicated that Barr 's comments would not change that , referring to the White House 's frequent claim that professional media organizations misrepresent Trump and therefore need to be bypassed .
`` President Trump uses social media very effectively to fight for the American people against injustices in our country , including the fake news , '' she said .
Trump uses Twitter in particular to make instant , high-impact interventions , often reacting to events in real time .
In the latest case , he used his Twitter pulpit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican consultant Stone .
Stone was convicted in November of last year of lying to Congress , tampering with a witness and obstructing the House investigation into the Russia 2016 election affair .
Trump has denied that his tweets attacking the original sentence of 87 to 108 months recommended for Stone -- and in support of Barr after it was reduced by more than half -- amounted to political interference .
Chief Judge Beryl Howell , of the DC District Court in Washington that will sentence Stone , said in a statement that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a factor '' in sentencing decisions .
When asked whether he had spoken with Trump about recommendations in the Stone case , Barr replied : `` Never . ''
`` I 'm happy to say that in fact the president has never asked me to do anything in a criminal case , '' said Barr , who is due to testify next month to Congress , where Democrats have voiced deep concerns about his conduct in legal matters involving the president .
In the interview , Barr said he had been `` surprised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecutors on Monday , and was intending to `` amend and clarify '' the department 's position the following day -- when Trump fired off his tweet .
`` Once the tweet occurred the question was , 'Now what do I do ? '
Do you go forward with what you think is the right decision or do you pull back because of the tweet -- and that just sort of illustrates how disruptive these tweets can be . ''
Asked whether he was prepared for repercussions for speaking out against Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` I 'm not going to be bullied or influenced by anybody , '' he said , `` whether it 's Congress , newspaper editorial boards or the president , I 'm going to do what I think is right . ''

US Attorney General Bill Barr on Thursday delivered a highly unusual public rebuke of Donald Trump, saying the president's tweets were making his job at the Justice Department "impossible."
US Attorney General Bill Barr arriving prior to President Donald Trump's statement about his acquittal on impeachment charges by the US Senate in the White House in Washington, USA, February 6, 2020.
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"I have a problem with some of the tweets," Barr said in an interview with ABC News, adding: "I cannot do my job here at the department with a constant background commentary that undercuts me."
"I think it's time to stop the tweeting about Department of Justice criminal cases," said Barr.
His interview came as Trump stands accused of interfering with the sentencing recommendation for his former advisor, Roger Stone -- prompting four Justice Department prosecutors to resign from the case this week.
The outburst was all the more remarkable as Barr has emerged as a powerful defender of Trump, earning the nickname of the "president's attorney" from critics.
Barr has been at the center of allegations that he decided -- allegedly under pressure from Trump -- to overrule his own prosecutors and seek a lighter prison sentence for Stone.
He has previously been criticized by Democrats and legal experts for seeming to assist Trump during the independent investigation into whether the president was helped by a Russian influence campaign during the 2016 election.
The two men are so close that there was immediate speculation that Barr's television interview may have been more about managing public opinion than a real outcry against Trump's alleged interference in judicial affairs.
The controversy comes about a week after the Senate acquitted Trump of impeachment charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to pressure on Ukraine to announce investigations, including into Trump's political opponent Joe Biden.
Another staunch Trump ally, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, supported Barr's comments about the tweets.
"If the attorney general says it's getting in the way of doing his job, maybe the president should listen to the attorney general," McConnell told Fox News.
White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said Trump had "full faith" in Barr.
"The president wasn't bothered by the comments at all," she said in a statement.
That message was amplified by Trump's National Security Advisor who insisted the president has "tremendous confidence" in Barr.
"He's a fantastic member of the cabinet, he has a very strong relationship with the president," Robert O'Brien told reporters at the White House.
Trump's Twitter muscle
Unlike any president before him, Trump frequently uses social media to broadcast his opinions and decisions without going through traditional statements to the media.
Grisham indicated that Barr's comments would not change that, referring to the White House's frequent claim that professional media organizations misrepresent Trump and therefore need to be bypassed.
"President Trump uses social media very effectively to fight for the American people against injustices in our country, including the fake news," she said.
Trump uses Twitter in particular to make instant, high-impact interventions, often reacting to events in real time.
In the latest case, he used his Twitter pulpit to speak out in defense of veteran Republican consultant Stone.
This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice! https://t.co/rHPfYX6Vbv — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 11, 2020
Stone was convicted in November of last year of lying to Congress, tampering with a witness and obstructing the House investigation into the Russia 2016 election affair.
Trump has denied that his tweets attacking the original sentence of 87 to 108 months recommended for Stone -- and in support of Barr after it was reduced by more than half -- amounted to political interference.
Chief Judge Beryl Howell, of the DC District Court in Washington that will sentence Stone, said in a statement that "public criticism or pressure is not a factor" in sentencing decisions.
When asked whether he had spoken with Trump about recommendations in the Stone case, Barr replied: "Never."
"I'm happy to say that in fact the president has never asked me to do anything in a criminal case," said Barr, who is due to testify next month to Congress, where Democrats have voiced deep concerns about his conduct in legal matters involving the president.
In the interview, Barr said he had been "surprised" by the sentencing recommendation filed by prosecutors on Monday, and was intending to "amend and clarify" the department's position the following day -- when Trump fired off his tweet.
"Once the tweet occurred the question was, 'Now what do I do?' Do you go forward with what you think is the right decision or do you pull back because of the tweet -- and that just sort of illustrates how disruptive these tweets can be."
Asked whether he was prepared for repercussions for speaking out against Trump, Barr replied: "Of course."
"I'm not going to be bullied or influenced by anybody," he said, "whether it's Congress, newspaper editorial boards or the president, I'm going to do what I think is right."
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-14--French police search for 'scandalous' writings at home of author Matzneff, accused child rapist

French police on Thursday searched the home of a writer accused of raping a minor and who repeatedly described relationships with young teens in his work , a source said .
Gabriel Matzneff , who has never made any secret of his preference for sex with adolescent girls and boys , is to stand trial this year on a charge of justifying paedophilia .
Specialist investigators are looking for written passages that never appeared in any of Matzneff 's published work , a source told AFP following a raid a day earlier at his Paris-based publisher Gallimard .
Prosecutors on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bombshell book by publisher Vanessa Springora claimed she had a sexual relationship with the author three decades ago , starting when she was 14 .
In her book `` Le Consentement '' ( Consent ) , Springora described how her experiences with Matzneff , now 83 , left lasting scars .
In the mid-1970s , he published a notorious essay called `` Les Moins de Seize Ans '' ( The under 16s ) .
In an interview in 2008 , he said he had `` self-censored '' certain portions of his writing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scandalous '' , and hid these away in a bank safe .
The safe had been `` located '' by investigators , according to the Mediapart investigative website .
Matzneff has long been tolerated , admired and even protected in Paris literary circles .
In 2013 , he won the prestigious Renaudot prize .
But Gallimard said in January it was halting the sale of his works , and Matzneff risks losing two major state honours .
He said in an interview with French television in January that he `` regrets '' his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minors , claiming that at the time `` no one ever said it was a crime '' .
On Tuesday , police launched an appeal for witnesses and victims to come forward in the case .
A source told AFP that investigators were also interested in Christian Giudicelli , Matzneff 's editor at Gallimard and travel companion to the Philippines .
In a separate legal case , Matzneff will be tried on September 28 , 2021 , for `` justification '' of paedophile acts in statements he made in the media in response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him were brought by anti-paedophilia group l'Ange Bleu ( Blue Angel ) .

French police on Thursday searched the home of a writer accused of raping a minor and who repeatedly described relationships with young teens in his work, a source said.
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Gabriel Matzneff, who has never made any secret of his preference for sex with adolescent girls and boys, is to stand trial this year on a charge of justifying paedophilia.
Specialist investigators are looking for written passages that never appeared in any of Matzneff's published work, a source told AFP following a raid a day earlier at his Paris-based publisher Gallimard.
Prosecutors on January 3 launched a rape investigation after a bombshell book by publisher Vanessa Springora claimed she had a sexual relationship with the author three decades ago, starting when she was 14.
In her book "Le Consentement" (Consent), Springora described how her experiences with Matzneff, now 83, left lasting scars.
In the mid-1970s, he published a notorious essay called "Les Moins de Seize Ans" (The under 16s).
In an interview in 2008, he said he had "self-censored" certain portions of his writing he feared would be judged "especially scandalous", and hid these away in a bank safe.
The safe had been "located" by investigators, according to the Mediapart investigative website.
Matzneff has long been tolerated, admired and even protected in Paris literary circles. In 2013, he won the prestigious Renaudot prize.
But Gallimard said in January it was halting the sale of his works, and Matzneff risks losing two major state honours.
He said in an interview with French television in January that he "regrets" his trips to Asia to have sex with minors, claiming that at the time "no one ever said it was a crime".
On Tuesday, police launched an appeal for witnesses and victims to come forward in the case.
A source told AFP that investigators were also interested in Christian Giudicelli, Matzneff's editor at Gallimard and travel companion to the Philippines.
In a separate legal case, Matzneff will be tried on September 28, 2021, for "justification" of paedophile acts in statements he made in the media in response to Springora's allegations.
Charges against him were brought by anti-paedophilia group l'Ange Bleu (Blue Angel).
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-14--Sex tape triggers French ‘political earthquake’, leaving Macron’s Paris bid in tatters

Benjamin Griveaux 's abrupt exit has all but wrecked the French president 's last hopes of winning the Paris mayoral race .
Benjamin Griveaux ’ s troubled campaign for mayor of Paris came to a startling end on Friday after an online leak of sexual images led Emmanuel Macron ’ s close ally to pull out of the race , leaving the ruling party without a candidate for next month ’ s municipal elections .
Griveaux , 42 , said he opted for retreat to protect his family after a website published excerpts from private sexual videos , accompanied by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it said came from the former government spokesman .
`` A website and social networks have launched vile attacks concerning my private life .
My family does not deserve this .
No one should ever be subjected to such abuse , '' Griveaux told reporters as he announced he was quitting the contest .
His demise triggered a chorus of alarm and dismay from across the political spectrum , with allies and rivals alike warning that French democracy was being endangered by intrusions into politicians ’ private lives and social media hounding .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ France ’ s ruling LREM party , which has been rocked by unprecedented divisions – some stemming from the bitter contest that resulted in Griveaux getting the nomination in the first place .
“ This is a huge blow for the ruling party , and a huge blow for French politics in general , ” Bruno Cautrès , a political analyst at Sciences-Po Paris , told FRANCE 24 , describing the manner of Griveaux 's demise as a `` political earthquake '' .
The former mayoral candidate is a high-profile public figure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s earliest supporters , a lawmaker and a former government spokesman .
He was running for the most coveted of France 's municipalities , a political fiefdom that has been used in the past , notably by former French President Jacques Chirac , as a springboard for higher office – and one Macron ’ s camp was desperate to claim .
According to French daily Libération , the video was first published online by a Russian performance artist who wished to expose Griveaux ’ s “ hypocrisy ” .
Pyotr Pavlensky reportedly said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ source '' who had a consensual relationship with Griveaux .
`` [ Griveaux ] is someone who constantly brings up family values , who says he wants to be the mayor of families and always cites his wife and children as an example .
But he is doing the opposite , '' Libération quoted Pavlensky as saying .
`` I do n't mind people living the sexuality they wish ( ... ) , but they have to be honest , '' he added .
`` He wants to be the head of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I now live in France , I am Parisian , it is important for me . ''
Politicians across the board were quick to disagree , rallying in support of the beleaguered former candidate and his right to privacy .
Incumbent Socialist mayor Anne Hidalgo , who leads the race in opinion polls , called for `` the respect of privacy and of people ” , while her centrist opponent Cedric Villani , who lost out to Griveaux in a deeply divisive race for the LREM nomination , warned in a tweet that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ a serious threat for our democracy.
” “ We ’ re not trying to elect saints , ” added Sebastien Chenu , a spokesman for the far-right National Rally party , normally an unforgiving political opponent of Macron ’ s LREM .
The reactions offered a striking reminder of the longstanding view in France that politicians ’ private lives are largely off limits .
But that assumption is increasingly being challenged , said Cautrès , noting that politicians have themselves helped blur the line between public and private .
“ It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between public and private life in the social-media era , ” he explained .
“ In fact , politicians are often all too happy to stage and promote their private life.
” “ Nowadays politicians are required to be irreproachable , ” added FRANCE 24 ’ s political editor Roselyne Febvre , noting that the sex tape scandal comes at the worst of times for France ’ s ruling party .
“ The mayoral elections are just one month away and Macron ’ s camp is already mired in several crises , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have emerged within the party and mounting criticism of its planned pension reform .
Macron and his government have come under unprecedented criticism from members of their own party amid a series of policy mishaps that have irked LREM ’ s normally pliant lawmakers .
The rivalry between Griveaux and Villani , a star mathematician who resisted pressure to step aside , has added to the turmoil , leading to the latter ’ s expulsion from the party only last week .
But with Griveaux now out of the picture , the decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more like a strategic blunder , argued Cautrès .
“ The result is that the ruling party is left without a back-up plan for the biggest prize in next month ’ s municipal elections , ” he said .
“ LREM already faced a tough battle in Paris , ” added FRANCE 24 ’ s Febvre , noting that Griveaux had slipped into third place in opinion polls , behind conservative candidate Rachida Dati .
“ Now it is looking like mission impossible.
” The party now faces a race against the clock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one name on everyone ’ s lips – Marlène Schiappa , the high-profile gender equality minister – already declaring she is not interested in the job .

Benjamin Griveaux’s troubled campaign for mayor of Paris came to a startling end on Friday after an online leak of sexual images led Emmanuel Macron’s close ally to pull out of the race, leaving the ruling party without a candidate for next month’s municipal elections.
Benjamin Griveaux's abrupt exit has all but wrecked the French president's last hopes of winning the Paris mayoral race.
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Griveaux, 42, said he opted for retreat to protect his family after a website published excerpts from private sexual videos, accompanied by screengrabs of racy text messages, which it said came from the former government spokesman.
"A website and social networks have launched vile attacks concerning my private life. My family does not deserve this. No one should ever be subjected to such abuse," Griveaux told reporters as he announced he was quitting the contest.
His demise triggered a chorus of alarm and dismay from across the political spectrum, with allies and rivals alike warning that French democracy was being endangered by intrusions into politicians’ private lives and social media hounding.
02:37
It also dealt a stinging blow to France’s ruling LREM party, which has been rocked by unprecedented divisions – some stemming from the bitter contest that resulted in Griveaux getting the nomination in the first place.
“This is a huge blow for the ruling party, and a huge blow for French politics in general,” Bruno Cautrès, a political analyst at Sciences-Po Paris, told FRANCE 24, describing the manner of Griveaux's demise as a "political earthquake".
The former mayoral candidate is a high-profile public figure, Cautrès noted, one of Macron’s earliest supporters, a lawmaker and a former government spokesman. He was running for the most coveted of France's municipalities, a political fiefdom that has been used in the past, notably by former French President Jacques Chirac, as a springboard for higher office – and one Macron’s camp was desperate to claim.
Politicians close ranks
According to French daily Libération, the video was first published online by a Russian performance artist who wished to expose Griveaux’s “hypocrisy”. Pyotr Pavlensky reportedly said he got the video from a "source" who had a consensual relationship with Griveaux.
"[Griveaux] is someone who constantly brings up family values, who says he wants to be the mayor of families and always cites his wife and children as an example. But he is doing the opposite," Libération quoted Pavlensky as saying.
"I don't mind people living the sexuality they wish (...), but they have to be honest," he added. "He wants to be the head of the city and he lies to voters. I now live in France, I am Parisian, it is important for me."
Politicians across the board were quick to disagree, rallying in support of the beleaguered former candidate and his right to privacy.
Incumbent Socialist mayor Anne Hidalgo, who leads the race in opinion polls, called for "the respect of privacy and of people”, while her centrist opponent Cedric Villani, who lost out to Griveaux in a deeply divisive race for the LREM nomination, warned in a tweet that the attack on his former rival posed “a serious threat for our democracy.”
“We’re not trying to elect saints,” added Sebastien Chenu, a spokesman for the far-right National Rally party, normally an unforgiving political opponent of Macron’s LREM.
Very interesting to see how Paris reacts to its own Weiner moment - with outrage at the intrusion on a politician's privacy. Mayor Anne Hidalgo calls for 'respect for the private life', while Griveaux's former rival says the revelation is "a grave menace for our democracy". https://t.co/Ox3VEEDoix — Benjamin Ramm (@BenjaminRamm) February 14, 2020
The reactions offered a striking reminder of the longstanding view in France that politicians’ private lives are largely off limits. But that assumption is increasingly being challenged, said Cautrès, noting that politicians have themselves helped blur the line between public and private.
“It is difficult today to draw a clear line between public and private life in the social-media era,” he explained. “In fact, politicians are often all too happy to stage and promote their private life.”
Strategic blunder
“Nowadays politicians are required to be irreproachable,” added FRANCE 24’s political editor Roselyne Febvre, noting that the sex tape scandal comes at the worst of times for France’s ruling party.
“The mayoral elections are just one month away and Macron’s camp is already mired in several crises,” she adds, pointing to tensions that have emerged within the party and mounting criticism of its planned pension reform.
Macron and his government have come under unprecedented criticism from members of their own party amid a series of policy mishaps that have irked LREM’s normally pliant lawmakers.
The rivalry between Griveaux and Villani, a star mathematician who resisted pressure to step aside, has added to the turmoil, leading to the latter’s expulsion from the party only last week.
But with Griveaux now out of the picture, the decision to exclude his rival is looking even more like a strategic blunder, argued Cautrès.
“The result is that the ruling party is left without a back-up plan for the biggest prize in next month’s municipal elections,” he said.
“LREM already faced a tough battle in Paris,” added FRANCE 24’s Febvre, noting that Griveaux had slipped into third place in opinion polls, behind conservative candidate Rachida Dati. “Now it is looking like mission impossible.”
The party now faces a race against the clock to find a replacement candidate, with one name on everyone’s lips – Marlène Schiappa, the high-profile gender equality minister – already declaring she is not interested in the job.
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france24--2020-02-14--US and Taliban reach truce deal, US official says, paving way for peace talks

An Afghan soldier keeps watch at a check point near the site of a suicide attack in Kabul , on February 11 , 2020 A senior U.S. official said Friday the United States and the Taliban have reached a truce agreement that will take effect “ very soon ” and could lead to withdrawals of American troops from Afghanistan .
The official said the agreement for a seven-day “ reduction in violence ” to be followed by the start of all-Afghan peace talks within 10 days is “ very specific ” and covers the entire country , including Afghan government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announcement could come as early as the weekend .
The official , who was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity , said the Taliban had committed to a halt in roadside and suicide bombings as well as rocket attacks .
The official said the U.S. would monitor the truce and determine if there were any violations .
Should the Taliban comply , the “ reduction in violence ” agreement would be followed by the signing of an agreement that would initiate peace negotiations that include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ familiar with the deal said the second agreement would be signed on Feb. 29 and that the inter-Afghan dialogue would begin on Mar .
10 .
The officials said Germany and Norway have offered to host the talks but there has been no decision on the venue .
That Taliban official added that the withdrawal of foreign troops would start gradually and would be phased over 18 months .
President Donald Trump previously called off the peace talks because of an attack that killed two Americans .
No timetable yet for US troop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out their timetable for an initial drawdown of U.S. troops in Afghanistan , but the expectation is that a reduction from the current total of about 12,000 to approximately 8,600 will begin after the signing of a U.S.-Taliban deal .
That initial reduction is likely to stretch out over a period of weeks or months .
A senior U.S. military officer told a small group of reporters Thursday that U.S. counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan against ISIS and al-Qaida will continue , separate from a truce agreement .
The official spoke to a small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anonymity to discuss sensitive aspects of military operations ahead of an expected announcement of a U.S.-Taliban deal .
The new developments came as U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper met Friday in Munich with Afghanistan 's President Ashraf Ghani .
They spoke on the sidelines of an international security forum in Munich .
A truce had been widely anticipated , and Trump agreed in principle to the deal , according to U.S. officials .
The final details were hammered out in recent days by U.S. special envoy for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Doha , Qatar .
Khalilzad was in Munich and attended Pompeo and Esper 's meeting as did Gen. Scott Miller , the commander of the U.S.-led international force in Afghanistan .

A senior U.S. official said Friday the United States and the Taliban have reached a truce agreement that will take effect “very soon” and could lead to withdrawals of American troops from Afghanistan.
An Afghan soldier keeps watch at a check point near the site of a suicide attack in Kabul, on February 11, 2020
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The official said the agreement for a seven-day “reduction in violence” to be followed by the start of all-Afghan peace talks within 10 days is “very specific” and covers the entire country, including Afghan government forces. There were indications a formal announcement could come as early as the weekend.
The official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the Taliban had committed to a halt in roadside and suicide bombings as well as rocket attacks. The official said the U.S. would monitor the truce and determine if there were any violations.
Should the Taliban comply, the “reduction in violence” agreement would be followed by the signing of an agreement that would initiate peace negotiations that include all Afghan sides.
A Taliban official familiar with the deal said the second agreement would be signed on Feb. 29 and that the inter-Afghan dialogue would begin on Mar. 10. The officials said Germany and Norway have offered to host the talks but there has been no decision on the venue.
That Taliban official added that the withdrawal of foreign troops would start gradually and would be phased over 18 months.
President Donald Trump previously called off the peace talks because of an attack that killed two Americans.
No timetable yet for US troop drawdown
U.S. officials have not publicly spelled out their timetable for an initial drawdown of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, but the expectation is that a reduction from the current total of about 12,000 to approximately 8,600 will begin after the signing of a U.S.-Taliban deal. That initial reduction is likely to stretch out over a period of weeks or months.
A senior U.S. military officer told a small group of reporters Thursday that U.S. counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan against ISIS and al-Qaida will continue, separate from a truce agreement. The official spoke to a small group of American reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive aspects of military operations ahead of an expected announcement of a U.S.-Taliban deal.
The new developments came as U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper met Friday in Munich with Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani. They spoke on the sidelines of an international security forum in Munich.
A truce had been widely anticipated, and Trump agreed in principle to the deal, according to U.S. officials.
The final details were hammered out in recent days by U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar. Khalilzad was in Munich and attended Pompeo and Esper's meeting as did Gen. Scott Miller, the commander of the U.S.-led international force in Afghanistan.
(AP)
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france24--2020-02-14--Man City given two-year European ban for 'financial fair-play breaches' (UEFA)

Man City given two-year European ban for 'financial fair-play breaches ' ( UEFA ) Manchester City have been banned from @ @ @ @ @ two seasons for `` serious financial fair-play breaches '' , the Union of European Football @ @ @ @ @ on Friday .
The English champions were also fined €30 million ( $ 32.5 million @ @ @ @ @ appeal the UEFA ’ s decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport , AFP @ @

Man City given two-year European ban for 'financial fair-play breaches' (UEFA)
Manchester City have been banned from European competitions for the next two seasons for "serious financial fair-play breaches", the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) announced on Friday.
Manchester City was banned from all European competitions for two seasons. © Adrian Dennis, AFP
Advertising Read more The English champions were also fined €30 million ($32.5 million). The club will appeal the UEFA’s decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, AFP reports. (FRANCE 24 with AFP) Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe Take international news everywhere with you! Download the France 24 app


france24--2020-02-14--Several killed in central Mali village attack, local officials say

A soldier walks through the damage after an armed attack on the village of Ogossagou in Mali on March 25 , 2019 .
The attack , which took place two days earlier , killed about 160 people .
At least 20 villagers were killed in an attack in central Mali overnight , local officials said Friday , in an apparent bout of ethnic violence in the war-torn state .
The attack occurred in Ogossagou , a village mainly inhabited by Fulani people , where around 160 died last March in a massacre blamed on Dogon militiamen .
About 30 gunmen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief Aly Ousmane Barry told AFP , adding that he saw assailants set fire to part of the village .
`` We have 20 dead .
Some of them have been burned , '' said Aly Ousmane Barry .
A local government official , who requested anonymity , confirmed that the attack took place .
He added that the attackers moved in several hours after Malian troops had pulled out of the area .
Eight more Malian soldiers were killed and four others injured in an ambush in the central Gao region on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Malian force also suffered `` material damage , '' the military said on social media sites , without saying who had carried out the attack in the village of Bintia .
Mali has been struggling to contain a jihadist revolt that broke out in the north of the country in 2012 , claiming thousands of military and civilian lives since .
The conflict later spread to central Mali and neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger .
Ethnic violence surged in central Mali after the emergence of a group called the Katiba Macina in 2015 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the organisation has drawn many recruits from among the Fulani people and been accused of carrying out ethnically motivated attacks .
Other communities , such as the Bambara and the Dogon have formed self-defence groups , which have in turn been accused of reprisal massacres .

At least 20 villagers were killed in an attack in central Mali overnight, local officials said Friday, in an apparent bout of ethnic violence in the war-torn state.
A soldier walks through the damage after an armed attack on the village of Ogossagou in Mali on March 25, 2019. The attack, which took place two days earlier, killed about 160 people.
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The attack occurred in Ogossagou, a village mainly inhabited by Fulani people, where around 160 died last March in a massacre blamed on Dogon militiamen.
About 30 gunmen carried out the new attack, village chief Aly Ousmane Barry told AFP, adding that he saw assailants set fire to part of the village.
"We have 20 dead. Some of them have been burned," said Aly Ousmane Barry.
A local government official, who requested anonymity, confirmed that the attack took place. He added that the attackers moved in several hours after Malian troops had pulled out of the area.
Eight more Malian soldiers were killed and four others injured in an ambush in the central Gao region on Friday, the army said.
The Malian force also suffered "material damage," the military said on social media sites, without saying who had carried out the attack in the village of Bintia.
Mali has been struggling to contain a jihadist revolt that broke out in the north of the country in 2012, claiming thousands of military and civilian lives since.
The conflict later spread to central Mali and neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.
Ethnic violence surged in central Mali after the emergence of a group called the Katiba Macina in 2015.
Led by jihadist preacher Amadou Koufa, the organisation has drawn many recruits from among the Fulani people and been accused of carrying out ethnically motivated attacks.
Other communities, such as the Bambara and the Dogon have formed self-defence groups, which have in turn been accused of reprisal massacres.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-02-14--Global defence spending sees biggest rise in a decade, report says

A US soldier fires a Javelin anti-tank missile during an exercise near Várpalota , Hungary on June 5 , 2019 .
Global defence spending saw its biggest jump in a decade in 2019 , driven by the US and China , a study said Friday , as rivalries and conflicts stoke military investment .
The International Institute for Strategic Studies ( IISS ) said the four percent rise , compared to a year earlier , was fuelled by competition between major powers , new military technologies and rumbling warfare from Ukraine to Libya .
Beijing 's military modernisation programme -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- is alarming Washington and helping drive US defence spending , the IISS said .
Its annual `` Military Balance '' report said the increase alone in US spending from 2018 to 2019 -- $ 53.4 billion -- was almost as big as Britain 's entire defence budget .
`` Spending rose as economies recovered from the effects of the financial crisis , but increases have also been driven by sharpening threat perceptions , '' IISS chief John Chipman said , launching the report at the Munich Security Conference .
Both the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the report said , to $ 684.6 billion and $ 181.1 billion respectively .
Europe -- driven by ongoing concerns about Russia -- stepped up by 4.2 percent , but this only brought the continent 's defence spending back to 2008 levels , before the global financial crisis saw budgets slashed .
European NATO members have been seeking to increase spending to placate President Donald Trump , who has repeatedly accused them of freeloading on the US .
Trump has railed at European allies , particularly Germany , for not living up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two percent of GDP on defence .
The mercurial president 's anger over spending has fuelled concern about his commitment to the transatlantic alliance , culminating in an explosive 2018 summit where he launched a blistering public attack on Germany in a televised meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel .
Giving the opening address at the annual security gathering , German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned that Trump 's `` America First '' strategy had shaken up the international order and fuelled insecurity .
`` We are witnessing today an increasingly destructive momentum in global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Every year we are getting further and further away from our goal of creating a more peaceful world through international cooperation . ''
Key elements of the international order that developed after the Second World War have come under increasing challenge .
The collapse last year of the Cold War-era Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces ( INF ) treaty and the doubts surrounding the renewal of the New START arms reduction treaty , which expires in 2021 , have contributed to the mood of instability , the IISS report said .
Speaking in Munich , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` disturbing erosion '' of arms control limits that had `` kept the world safe for decades '' .
`` Irresponsible governments are accelerating their pursuit of nuclear power and missile capability .
The world can ill afford an arms race , '' she said .
China 's programme of military modernisation -- described by the IISS as `` striking for its scale , speed and ambition '' -- has also unsettled Washington as well as its allies in the Pacific .
In October , Beijing showed off new technologies including its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliver warheads at huge speeds so as to avoid interception .
Russia , pursuing its own modernisation project , has already announced the entry into service of its own hypersonic missile system .
Dubbed Avangard , the system has been tested at speeds of Mach 27 , or roughly 33,000 kilometres ( 20,500 miles ) per hour , according to Moscow .
Hypersonic missiles are worrying Western officials , because they are so fast and so manoeuvrable that they make existing defence systems useless and give almost no warning of attack .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hypersonic missile strike , it may not even be clear what the target is `` until there 's a boom on the ground '' .
Elsewhere , spending in Asia has grown more than 50 percent in a decade , rising from $ 275 billion in 2010 to $ 423bn in 2019 in real terms as the continent 's economic success has allowed countries to invest more in their militaries .

Global defence spending saw its biggest jump in a decade in 2019, driven by the US and China, a study said Friday, as rivalries and conflicts stoke military investment.
A US soldier fires a Javelin anti-tank missile during an exercise near Várpalota, Hungary on June 5, 2019.
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The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said the four percent rise, compared to a year earlier, was fuelled by competition between major powers, new military technologies and rumbling warfare from Ukraine to Libya.
Beijing's military modernisation programme -- which includes developing new hard-to-detect hypersonic missiles -- is alarming Washington and helping drive US defence spending, the IISS said.
Its annual "Military Balance" report said the increase alone in US spending from 2018 to 2019 -- $53.4 billion -- was almost as big as Britain's entire defence budget.
"Spending rose as economies recovered from the effects of the financial crisis, but increases have also been driven by sharpening threat perceptions," IISS chief John Chipman said, launching the report at the Munich Security Conference.
Both the US and China increased spending by 6.6 percent, the report said, to $684.6 billion and $181.1 billion respectively.
Europe -- driven by ongoing concerns about Russia -- stepped up by 4.2 percent, but this only brought the continent's defence spending back to 2008 levels, before the global financial crisis saw budgets slashed.
European NATO members have been seeking to increase spending to placate President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly accused them of freeloading on the US.
'Destructive momentum'
Trump has railed at European allies, particularly Germany, for not living up to a 2014 NATO pledge to spend two percent of GDP on defence.
The mercurial president's anger over spending has fuelled concern about his commitment to the transatlantic alliance, culminating in an explosive 2018 summit where he launched a blistering public attack on Germany in a televised meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Giving the opening address at the annual security gathering, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned that Trump's "America First" strategy had shaken up the international order and fuelled insecurity.
"We are witnessing today an increasingly destructive momentum in global politics," Steinmeier said.
"Every year we are getting further and further away from our goal of creating a more peaceful world through international cooperation."
Key elements of the international order that developed after the Second World War have come under increasing challenge.
The collapse last year of the Cold War-era Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty and the doubts surrounding the renewal of the New START arms reduction treaty, which expires in 2021, have contributed to the mood of instability, the IISS report said.
Speaking in Munich, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned of a "disturbing erosion" of arms control limits that had "kept the world safe for decades".
"Irresponsible governments are accelerating their pursuit of nuclear power and missile capability. The world can ill afford an arms race," she said.
New technology
China's programme of military modernisation -- described by the IISS as "striking for its scale, speed and ambition" -- has also unsettled Washington as well as its allies in the Pacific.
In October, Beijing showed off new technologies including its DF-17 hypersonic glide vehicle -- designed to deliver warheads at huge speeds so as to avoid interception.
Russia, pursuing its own modernisation project, has already announced the entry into service of its own hypersonic missile system.
Dubbed Avangard, the system has been tested at speeds of Mach 27, or roughly 33,000 kilometres (20,500 miles) per hour, according to Moscow.
Hypersonic missiles are worrying Western officials, because they are so fast and so manoeuvrable that they make existing defence systems useless and give almost no warning of attack.
A senior NATO official warned that in a hypersonic missile strike, it may not even be clear what the target is "until there's a boom on the ground".
Elsewhere, spending in Asia has grown more than 50 percent in a decade, rising from $275 billion in 2010 to $423bn in 2019 in real terms as the continent's economic success has allowed countries to invest more in their militaries.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-14--Egypt's health ministry announces first confirmed coronavirus case

Egyptian Quarantine Authority employees prepare to scan body temperatures of incoming travellers at Cairo International Airport on February 1 , 2020 .
Egypt 's health ministry on Friday announced the first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus in Africa .
The sufferer was not Egyptian , the ministry said in a statement , without specifying the nationality .
`` The ministry has taken preventative measures and is monitoring the patient ... who is stable , '' said health ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed .
Egyptian authorities had notified the World Health Organization and the patient had been placed in quarantined isolation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the epidemic virus has neared 1,400 cases , almost exclusively in China where it was first identified .
Deep trade links with China and often overstretched healthcare systems have raised concerns about the capacity of African countries to respond to an outbreak .
Earlier this month , Egypt suspended all flights on its national carrier to China .
They will remain grounded until the end of the month .
Three hundred and one Egyptians were evacuated from Wuhan , epicentre of the virus in China , and have remained in quarantine for 14 @ @

Egypt's health ministry on Friday announced the first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus in Africa.
Egyptian Quarantine Authority employees prepare to scan body temperatures of incoming travellers at Cairo International Airport on February 1, 2020.
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The sufferer was not Egyptian, the ministry said in a statement, without specifying the nationality.
"The ministry has taken preventative measures and is monitoring the patient... who is stable," said health ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed.
Egyptian authorities had notified the World Health Organization and the patient had been placed in quarantined isolation in hospital.
The death toll from the epidemic virus has neared 1,400 cases, almost exclusively in China where it was first identified.
Deep trade links with China and often overstretched healthcare systems have raised concerns about the capacity of African countries to respond to an outbreak.
Earlier this month, Egypt suspended all flights on its national carrier to China. They will remain grounded until the end of the month.
Three hundred and one Egyptians were evacuated from Wuhan, epicentre of the virus in China, and have remained in quarantine for 14 days.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-14--Coronavirus: The search for ‘patient zero’ in global spread

As the death toll from the novel coronavirus continues to rise , health authorities are searching for the person who may have triggered its spread around the world when they attended a business conference in Singapore last month .
The outbreak , which has killed at least 1,400 people and spread to more than two dozen countries , began in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019 .
But authorities believe it may have been at a luxury Singapore hotel that the virus went global .
In late January , a conference was held at The Grand Hyatt Singapore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health authorities believe at least one of the 109 attendees , most of them foreigners , was carrying the virus .
As the attendees returned home the virus was spread to five countries infecting over a dozen people .
Finding out who that original “ patient zero ” was could be key to containing the outbreak by tracing all those potentially exposed .
“ So this is about contact tracing .
We do feel uncomfortable , obviously , when we diagnose a patient with the illness and we ca n't work out where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , chair of the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network coordinated by the World Health Organization ( WHO ) , told Reuters .
“ Therefore the containment activities are less effective.
” But so far , the search has come up empty .
Tests of Chinese delegates , including some from Wuhan , came back negative , Servomex has said .
And despite efforts to contain the virus it has kept spreading .
Cases linked to the conference have surfaced in Malaysia , South Korea , Spain , France and the UK .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the international outbreak of the SARS virus in 2003 , when a sick Chinese doctor at a Hong Kong hotel spread the disease around the world in what is known as a `` super-spreading '' incident .
However , the WHO has said it is still too early to tell if the Singapore incident is a super-spreading event .

As the death toll from the novel coronavirus continues to rise, health authorities are searching for the person who may have triggered its spread around the world when they attended a business conference in Singapore last month.
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The outbreak, which has killed at least 1,400 people and spread to more than two dozen countries, began in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019.
But authorities believe it may have been at a luxury Singapore hotel that the virus went global.
In late January, a conference was held at The Grand Hyatt Singapore by British gas analytics firm Servomex.
Health authorities believe at least one of the 109 attendees, most of them foreigners, was carrying the virus.
As the attendees returned home the virus was spread to five countries infecting over a dozen people.
Finding out who that original “patient zero” was could be key to containing the outbreak by tracing all those potentially exposed.
“So this is about contact tracing. We do feel uncomfortable, obviously, when we diagnose a patient with the illness and we can't work out where it came from,” Dale Fisher, chair of the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO), told Reuters.
“Therefore the containment activities are less effective.”
But so far, the search has come up empty. Tests of Chinese delegates, including some from Wuhan, came back negative, Servomex has said.
And despite efforts to contain the virus it has kept spreading.
Cases linked to the conference have surfaced in Malaysia, South Korea, Spain, France and the UK.
Experts have compared the Singapore meeting to the international outbreak of the SARS virus in 2003, when a sick Chinese doctor at a Hong Kong hotel spread the disease around the world in what is known as a "super-spreading" incident.
However, the WHO has said it is still too early to tell if the Singapore incident is a super-spreading event.
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france24--2020-02-14--'People are suffering': French doctors cite funding, staff shortages in public hospitals

A hematologist speaks to FRANCE 24 about a shortage of personnel and beds in French public hospitals outside Hôpital Saint-Louis in Paris .
French public hospitals have been hit by walkouts for more than 10 months .
Outside the Hôpital Saint-Louis in Paris , pasted messages attest to rising anger and concern among medical staff , who say they lack sufficient funding and personnel .
Next to a row of coloured letters that spell out `` Hospitals save you .
Save them ! ''
a hematologist tells FRANCE 24 's Chris Moore that over 70 nurse 's posts at Hôpital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being lost because we lack staff , '' he said .
`` So sometimes you see patients waiting on stretchers in the emergency ward .
People are suffering and it 's not acceptable to leave them on stretchers like that .
`` Cutbacks are not just theoretical .
They have practical consequences .
And we see them on the ground every day . ''
French medical staff say market-based policies by successive governments have hurt patient care .
Yasin , a doctor who gave up an administrative role in protest , says a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals , whereas it should be the politics of public health . ''
`` If the money they put in matched our needs , then okay .
But that 's not the case , '' he said .
The French government has promised €1.5 billion of help over three years , but medical staff say it is n't enough .
Click on the player above to watch the full report .

French public hospitals have been hit by walkouts for more than 10 months. Outside the Hôpital Saint-Louis in Paris, pasted messages attest to rising anger and concern among medical staff, who say they lack sufficient funding and personnel.
A hematologist speaks to FRANCE 24 about a shortage of personnel and beds in French public hospitals outside Hôpital Saint-Louis in Paris.
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Next to a row of coloured letters that spell out "Hospitals save you. Save them!" a hematologist tells FRANCE 24's Chris Moore that over 70 nurse's posts at Hôpital Saint-Louis are vacant.
"Beds are being lost because we lack staff," he said. "So sometimes you see patients waiting on stretchers in the emergency ward. People are suffering and it's not acceptable to leave them on stretchers like that.
"Cutbacks are not just theoretical. They have practical consequences. And we see them on the ground every day."
French medical staff say market-based policies by successive governments have hurt patient care. Yasin, a doctor who gave up an administrative role in protest, says a "politics of accountancy is running the hospitals, whereas it should be the politics of public health."
"If the money they put in matched our needs, then okay. But that's not the case," he said.
The French government has promised €1.5 billion of help over three years, but medical staff say it isn't enough.
Click on the player above to watch the full report.
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france24--2020-02-14--German police arrest 12, including one officer, in probe into far-right group

Police secure an area after a deadly shooting in the eastern German city of Halle on October 9 , 2019 .
Police in Germany arrested twelve men , including one of its own officers , in a nationwide probe into an extreme-right group suspected of planning attacks on politicians , asylum-seekers and Muslims , state interior ministry sources and prosecutors said Friday .
The arrests followed raids , some by heavily-armed special units , which hit 13 locations in six German states .
The four prime suspects planned to spark `` a civil-war-like situation ... via as yet undefined attacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Muslim faith , '' federal prosecutors said in a statement .
A further eight suspects were alleged to have agreed to `` financially support the group , provide it with weapons or take part in future attacks '' .
The twelve included a police officer previously suspended over suspicions he had links to the far-right , a source at the interior ministry in North-Rhine Westphalia state told AFP , though it was not immediately clear if he was one of the prime suspects .
From its founding in September 2019 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shake the state and social order in Germany and in the end to overturn it , '' investigators believe .
In order to plan their attacks , the group allegedly held regular meetings which were coordinated and organised by two of the main suspects , named only as Werner S. and Tony E. The suspects , all of whom are German citizens , also communicated using messenger apps .
Investigators launched Friday 's raids to determine whether the suspects already had weapons or other supplies that could be used in an attack .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ before a court on Friday or Saturday to hear whether they will be imprisoned on remand .
German authorities have turned increased attention to the country 's underground extreme right scene since the murder of conservative local politician Walter Luebcke last June and an October attack on a synagogue in the eastern city Halle .
Suspects arrested in both cases have ties to the extreme right .
According to Spiegel magazine , police discovered several weapons in Friday 's raids , including one self-made `` slam gun '' similar to the one used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Horst Seehofer announced in December 600 new posts across the federal police and domestic security services to track far-right extremist threats , citing a growing danger .
At the time , federal police said they had identified 48 people on the extreme right as `` dangerous '' individuals who could carry out an attack .
Reacting to reports of the arrests on Friday , a spokesman for the Federal Interior Ministry said that measures to protect religious institutions would be reviewed by local authorities .
A spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel , meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institutions in Germany amounted to `` abominable behaviour '' .
`` We as the federal government feel an obligation to ensure that anyone in Germany can practice their religion within the bounds of our legal order , '' said Steffen Seibert at a government press conference .

Police in Germany arrested twelve men, including one of its own officers, in a nationwide probe into an extreme-right group suspected of planning attacks on politicians, asylum-seekers and Muslims, state interior ministry sources and prosecutors said Friday.
Police secure an area after a deadly shooting in the eastern German city of Halle on October 9, 2019.
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The arrests followed raids, some by heavily-armed special units, which hit 13 locations in six German states.
The four prime suspects planned to spark "a civil-war-like situation... via as yet undefined attacks on politicians, asylum seekers and people of Muslim faith," federal prosecutors said in a statement.
A further eight suspects were alleged to have agreed to "financially support the group, provide it with weapons or take part in future attacks".
The twelve included a police officer previously suspended over suspicions he had links to the far-right, a source at the interior ministry in North-Rhine Westphalia state told AFP, though it was not immediately clear if he was one of the prime suspects.
From its founding in September 2019, the group's ultimate aim was "to shake the state and social order in Germany and in the end to overturn it," investigators believe.
In order to plan their attacks, the group allegedly held regular meetings which were coordinated and organised by two of the main suspects, named only as Werner S. and Tony E.
The suspects, all of whom are German citizens, also communicated using messenger apps.
Investigators launched Friday's raids to determine whether the suspects already had weapons or other supplies that could be used in an attack.
The twelve men are set to appear before a court on Friday or Saturday to hear whether they will be imprisoned on remand.
Far-right in spotlight
German authorities have turned increased attention to the country's underground extreme right scene since the murder of conservative local politician Walter Luebcke last June and an October attack on a synagogue in the eastern city Halle.
Suspects arrested in both cases have ties to the extreme right.
According to Spiegel magazine, police discovered several weapons in Friday's raids, including one self-made "slam gun" similar to the one used in the Halle attack.
Interior minister Horst Seehofer announced in December 600 new posts across the federal police and domestic security services to track far-right extremist threats, citing a growing danger.
At the time, federal police said they had identified 48 people on the extreme right as "dangerous" individuals who could carry out an attack.
Reacting to reports of the arrests on Friday, a spokesman for the Federal Interior Ministry said that measures to protect religious institutions would be reviewed by local authorities.
A spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel, meanwhile, said that threats to attack Islamic institutions in Germany amounted to "abominable behaviour".
"We as the federal government feel an obligation to ensure that anyone in Germany can practice their religion within the bounds of our legal order," said Steffen Seibert at a government press conference.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-14--Russian artists wear anti-facial recognition make-up… and get arrested

A collage of photos shared on the Telegram channel .
Thick black and red lines criss-cross the faces of young Russian men and women in a number of photos published on Facebook and Telegram .
They ’ ve joined the ‘ Sledui ’ campaign , Russian for 'follow ’ .
The artist and activist Ekaterina Nenasheva launched the campaign in February .
She ’ s no stranger to shocking artistic performances and overt criticism of the Russian government .
`` We don ’ t want to be caught in the lenses of video surveillance cameras without our consent .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take over .
We use make-up to shield ourselves from surveillance and facial recognition for a few minutes , turning this make-up into a symbol of disobedience , ” Nenasheva explains on her Facebook page.The collective has published photos of different types of make-up on its Telegram channel , which is followed by more than 850 people .
The movement also has its own chatbot – a conversation simulator – which gives out instructions for how viewers can do their own make-up , as well as explanations of different possible patterns : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technology , and those that don ’ t work at all.This isn ’ t the first movement of its kind .
At the end of January , the British movement Dazzle Club organised silent , choreographed walks in London around the theme of urban surveillance .
Participants wore patterned make-up similar to the work by Sledui.
“ You ’ re trying to obscure the natural highlights and shadows on your face .
Cameras will reduce you down to pixels .
They ’ ll pick up the bridge of your nose , your forehead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chin .
So you have to flatten your face and obscure it , ” explained Georgina Rowlands , one of the movement ’ s founders , to Vice The British group suggests painting bold lines that alter the face ’ s geometry , dividing it up in order to make it difficult for facial-recognition technology to recreate your profile.While the British group is able to meet every weekend in Greenwich , London , the Russian activists are less fortunate.On February 9 , Ekaterina Nenasheva published a new series of photos of herself wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she ’ s in the back of a police car.
“ They arrested us yesterday for wearing this make-up , and now they are accusing us of having taken part in a non-authorised event – just for wearing it , ” the artist wrote on her Facebook page.The authorities let her and two other people wearing the make-up go after being detained for a few hours in a Moscow police station .

RUSSIA
On the left, the artist Ekaterina Nenasheva shows an example of this type of make-up and on the right, a member of the collective poses in front of a CCTV camera.
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As video surveillance technology becomes both increasingly common across the world and more sophisticated, some people are finding ways to counter it. Activists who want to protect their privacy are using make-up, clothes and accessories to confound facial-recognition technology. In Russia, an activist and artist who specialises in anti-establishment art performances created an online community around these techniques. Then she was arrested.
Thick black and red lines criss-cross the faces of young Russian men and women in a number of photos published on Facebook and Telegram. They’ve joined the ‘Sledui’ campaign, Russian for 'follow’. The artist and activist Ekaterina Nenasheva launched the campaign in February. She’s no stranger to shocking artistic performances and overt criticism of the Russian government.
"We don’t want to be caught in the lenses of video surveillance cameras without our consent. We don’t want these new technologies to take over. We use make-up to shield ourselves from surveillance and facial recognition for a few minutes, turning this make-up into a symbol of disobedience,” Nenasheva explains on her Facebook page.
The collective has published photos of different types of make-up on its Telegram channel, which is followed by more than 850 people. The movement also has its own chatbot – a conversation simulator – which gives out instructions for how viewers can do their own make-up, as well as explanations of different possible patterns: those that can actually confuse facial recognition technology, and those that don’t work at all.
A collage of photos shared on the Telegram channel.
This isn’t the first movement of its kind. At the end of January, the British movement Dazzle Club organised silent, choreographed walks in London around the theme of urban surveillance. Participants wore patterned make-up similar to the work by Sledui.
“You’re trying to obscure the natural highlights and shadows on your face. Cameras will reduce you down to pixels. They’ll pick up the bridge of your nose, your forehead, your cheekbones, your mouth and chin. So you have to flatten your face and obscure it, ” explained Georgina Rowlands, one of the movement’s founders, to Vice.
The British group suggests painting bold lines that alter the face’s geometry, dividing it up in order to make it difficult for facial-recognition technology to recreate your profile.
Arrested
While the British group is able to meet every weekend in Greenwich, London, the Russian activists are less fortunate.
On February 9, Ekaterina Nenasheva published a new series of photos of herself wearing the distorting make-up – but this time she’s in the back of a police car.
“They arrested us yesterday for wearing this make-up, and now they are accusing us of having taken part in a non-authorised event – just for wearing it,” the artist wrote on her Facebook page.
The authorities let her and two other people wearing the make-up go after being detained for a few hours in a Moscow police station.