france24--2020-11-17--Pompeo in Turkey for fraught visit with no official talks

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo paid a fraught visit to Istanbul on Tuesday that included no official meetings and an agenda focused on religious freedoms that Ankara dismissed as `` irrelevant '' .
Ties between Washington and its strategic NATO ally have remained tense despite a personal friendship between US President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan .
A group of 20 to 30 Turks shouted `` Yankee go home ! ''
as the evangelical Christian Pompeo headed in for a meeting with the Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople -- the spiritual leader of the Greek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong position '' on religious freedoms .
Pompeo had publicly criticised Erdogan 's controversial conversion of Istanbul 's emblematic Hagia Sophia monument into a mosque in July .
`` An incredible privilege to be here , '' Pompeo told the patriarch .
The foreign ministry declared ahead of Pompeo 's arrival that the US should `` first look in the mirror '' before making an issue of the `` completely irrelevant '' subject of the freedom of faith in Turkey .
Pompeo 's seven-nation tour has been complicated by his unabashed support of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- and attempts by US allies to position themselves for Joe Biden 's incoming presidency .
The US diplomat 's two-night stay in Paris included a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron but no press conference that usually follows such talks .
Yet the Turkish leg seemed destined for problems from the start .
Officials said Pompeo wanted to visit Istanbul to see the patriarch and was only ready to meet Erdogan and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on the condition they come to him from the capital Ankara .
A meeting seemed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fell apart .
`` This was a scheduling issue , '' a senior US official said .
`` President Erdogan 's schedule shifted and made it impossible to fit the parameters that from the very beginning we had set out '' .
It is difficult to gauge whether the election of Joe Biden -- whom Erdogan congratulated three days after his victory was called by US media -- played a role in the imbroglio .
But it will mean Pompeo will fail to discuss with Turkish officials the very problems he pointed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Macron .
`` President Macron and I spent a lot of time discussing Turkey 's recent actions and we agreed they are very aggressive , '' Pompeo told the French daily Le Figaro .
Macron has sparred with Erdogan on a range of regional issues and shares Pompeo 's mistrust of Turkey 's robust foreign policy stance .
Pompeo cited Turkey 's `` support '' to Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia and repeated claims denied by Ankara that it had `` deployed Syrian forces '' in support of the Azerbaijani troops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Libya where it also sent forces from third party countries , and its action in the eastern Mediterranean .
I could continue this list , '' Pompeo said .
`` Europe and the United States must work together to convince Erdogan such actions are not in the interest of his people . ''
The issues add to the dispute over Ankara 's controversial acquisition of Russian advanced S-400 anti-missile systems .
The purchase , according to US law , should trigger immediate sanctions but Trump gave Turkey a reprieve .
The Turkish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US vote .
`` Sanctions is very much something that is on the table '' and are a `` very real '' possibility , the US State Department warned last month .
The visit coincides with the publication of a New York Times report saying Trump last week asked his aides -- including Pompeo -- about the possibility of striking Iran 's nuclear facilities .
The officials `` dissuaded the president from moving ahead with a military strike , '' the report said .
Pompeo had no scheduled press conferences at which @ @ @ @ @ @

Istanbul (AFP) –
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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo paid a fraught visit to Istanbul on Tuesday that included no official meetings and an agenda focused on religious freedoms that Ankara dismissed as "irrelevant".
Ties between Washington and its strategic NATO ally have remained tense despite a personal friendship between US President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
A group of 20 to 30 Turks shouted "Yankee go home!" as the evangelical Christian Pompeo headed in for a meeting with the Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople -- the spiritual leader of the Greek Orthodox world -- to express his "strong position" on religious freedoms.
Pompeo had publicly criticised Erdogan's controversial conversion of Istanbul's emblematic Hagia Sophia monument into a mosque in July.
"An incredible privilege to be here," Pompeo told the patriarch.
The foreign ministry declared ahead of Pompeo's arrival that the US should "first look in the mirror" before making an issue of the "completely irrelevant" subject of the freedom of faith in Turkey.
- Preparing for Biden -
Pompeo's seven-nation tour has been complicated by his unabashed support of Trump's unsubstantiated claim of election fraud -- and attempts by US allies to position themselves for Joe Biden's incoming presidency.
The US diplomat's two-night stay in Paris included a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron but no press conference that usually follows such talks.
Yet the Turkish leg seemed destined for problems from the start.
Officials said Pompeo wanted to visit Istanbul to see the patriarch and was only ready to meet Erdogan and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on the condition they come to him from the capital Ankara.
A meeting seemed possible after intense negotiations before the talks fell apart.
"This was a scheduling issue," a senior US official said.
"President Erdogan's schedule shifted and made it impossible to fit the parameters that from the very beginning we had set out".
It is difficult to gauge whether the election of Joe Biden -- whom Erdogan congratulated three days after his victory was called by US media -- played a role in the imbroglio.
But it will mean Pompeo will fail to discuss with Turkish officials the very problems he pointed to Monday after a meeting in Paris with Macron.
- 'Very real' sanction threat -
"President Macron and I spent a lot of time discussing Turkey's recent actions and we agreed they are very aggressive," Pompeo told the French daily Le Figaro.
Macron has sparred with Erdogan on a range of regional issues and shares Pompeo's mistrust of Turkey's robust foreign policy stance.
Pompeo cited Turkey's "support" to Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia and repeated claims denied by Ankara that it had "deployed Syrian forces" in support of the Azerbaijani troops.
"We also mentioned its action in Libya where it also sent forces from third party countries, and its action in the eastern Mediterranean. I could continue this list," Pompeo said.
"Europe and the United States must work together to convince Erdogan such actions are not in the interest of his people."
The issues add to the dispute over Ankara's controversial acquisition of Russian advanced S-400 anti-missile systems.
The purchase, according to US law, should trigger immediate sanctions but Trump gave Turkey a reprieve.
The Turkish military tested the S-400s just weeks before the US vote.
"Sanctions is very much something that is on the table" and are a "very real" possibility, the US State Department warned last month.
The visit coincides with the publication of a New York Times report saying Trump last week asked his aides -- including Pompeo -- about the possibility of striking Iran's nuclear facilities.
The officials "dissuaded the president from moving ahead with a military strike," the report said.
Pompeo had no scheduled press conferences at which he could address the story.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-18--Peru's interim president sworn in, calls for calm after deadly protests

Peruvian lawmaker Francisco Sagasti was sworn in as interim president on Tuesday , voted for by Congress in an effort to return stability to a country that has seen deadly protests and the departure of two presidents over the last week .
Sagasti , a legislator from the centrist Purple Party , is expected to serve out his term until July next year , with a new presidential election scheduled for April 11 .
The Andean nation has been shaken since the abrupt ouster in an impeachment trial of popular leader Martin Vizcarra on Nov. 9 .
The removal of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tensions with Congress , triggered often violent protests in which two young people died .
Vizcarra 's successor , Manuel Merino , resigned on Sunday after just five days in power .
`` It is absolutely necessary to remain calm , but do not confuse this with passivity , conformity , or resignation , '' Sagasti said in an address to Congress after his swearing-in .
Sagasti 's appointment has indeed appeared to calm tensions , though a deep mistrust of the country 's politicians remains .
On Monday night , hundreds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with calls for a new constitution and `` justice for the fallen . ''
`` I think that Sagasti is someone that gives democratic guarantees , who can get a transition towards a new government that will be okay , '' said one protester , Paloma Carpio .
Jose Murguia , also protesting , was less convinced .
`` Quite frankly , it 's the same rubbish .
The mask has changed but everything is all the same , '' he said .
Sagasti , 76 , an engineer and former World Bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cabinet , but has said he is open to including ministers from Vizcarra 's government , which could open the door to the return of star economy minister , María Antonieta Alva .
`` If they are people with experience , integrity and the desire to work , I think we would do wrong to leave them aside , '' Sagasti told local television station Canal N. Sagasti is Peru 's fourth president in less than three years , after the departures of Vizcarra and Merino , and the resignation of Pedro Pablo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Peru 's sol currency reacted positively to the news , rising around 1.75 % on Tuesday , its biggest daily rise in seven months .
The country 's sovereign bonds also edged up .
Peru , the world 's no .
2 producer of copper , has been hit hard this year with one of the world 's deadliest per capita outbreaks of COVID-19 , and is expected to post its worst annual economic contraction in a century .

Peruvian lawmaker Francisco Sagasti was sworn in as interim president on Tuesday, voted for by Congress in an effort to return stability to a country that has seen deadly protests and the departure of two presidents over the last week.
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Sagasti, a legislator from the centrist Purple Party, is expected to serve out his term until July next year, with a new presidential election scheduled for April 11.
The Andean nation has been shaken since the abrupt ouster in an impeachment trial of popular leader Martin Vizcarra on Nov. 9. The removal of Vizcarra, whose anti-graft agenda had caused tensions with Congress, triggered often violent protests in which two young people died.
Vizcarra's successor, Manuel Merino, resigned on Sunday after just five days in power.
"It is absolutely necessary to remain calm, but do not confuse this with passivity, conformity, or resignation," Sagasti said in an address to Congress after his swearing-in.
Sagasti's appointment has indeed appeared to calm tensions, though a deep mistrust of the country's politicians remains. On Monday night, hundreds of people marched in the capital Lima, with calls for a new constitution and "justice for the fallen."
"I think that Sagasti is someone that gives democratic guarantees, who can get a transition towards a new government that will be okay," said one protester, Paloma Carpio.
Jose Murguia, also protesting, was less convinced.
"Quite frankly, it's the same rubbish. The mask has changed but everything is all the same," he said.
Sagasti, 76, an engineer and former World Bank official, has yet to name his cabinet, but has said he is open to including ministers from Vizcarra's government, which could open the door to the return of star economy minister, María Antonieta Alva.
"If they are people with experience, integrity and the desire to work, I think we would do wrong to leave them aside," Sagasti told local television station Canal N.
Sagasti is Peru's fourth president in less than three years, after the departures of Vizcarra and Merino, and the resignation of Pedro Pablo Kuczynski in 2018 on allegations of corruption.
Peru's sol currency reacted positively to the news, rising around 1.75% on Tuesday, its biggest daily rise in seven months. The country's sovereign bonds also edged up.
Peru, the world's no. 2 producer of copper, has been hit hard this year with one of the world's deadliest per capita outbreaks of COVID-19, and is expected to post its worst annual economic contraction in a century.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-11-18--Francisco Sagasti sworn in as Peru president

Newly appointed Peruvian interim President Francisco Sagasti is scorted by a military attache upon his arrival at the Congress building in Lima on November 17 , 2020 , for his swearing-in ceremony Peru 's 76-year-old new president Francisco Sagasti was sworn in Tuesday at a special session of Congress , tasked with resolving the South American country 's crippling political crisis .
Sagasti , from the centrist Morado party , will serve as interim president until the end of July 2021 , completing the mandate of Martin Vizcarra , whose impeachment by Congress last Monday set off a snowballing crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaker Manuel Merino , was forced to resign Sunday after days of street protests culminated the day before in the death of two people .
Sagasti immediately asked for `` forgiveness on behalf of the state '' from the families of the two young demonstrators killed on Saturday , apparently at the hands of the police .
`` We can not bring these young people back to life , '' he said in a speech to the Congress .
He said he would do everything possible `` to reduce the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' in recession after a months-long compulsory national shutdown .
The politically fragile country has the world 's highest per capita death rate -- with nearly 35,000 fatalities -- and GDP has plunged more than 30 percent in the second quarter .
The United States said it was ready to work with the new president `` and support Peruvians in preparing for a democratic transition '' in elections next April , said the Undersecretary of State for the Western Hemisphere , Michael Kozak .
Sagasti 's arrival in power was greeted with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken to the streets against Merino , protesting what they called a `` coup d'etat '' against Vizcarra .
`` All of us young people feel that we have made a small achievement , but it is not enough , '' said Geraldine Aldave , a 22-year-old fashion designer who took part in the protests calling for Merino 's dismissal .
`` This president has to do something to maintain democracy , but from April , from the elections , it 's up to us . ''
Congress , half of whose members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over its removal of Vizcarra .
Professional clown Walter Nunez , 30 , welcomed Sagasti 's image as `` a technically prepared person , which was not the case with the previous usurper ( Merino ) .
`` Personally he brings peace of mind , but I am not satisfied yet because there are still members of Congress who should be out , '' Nunez said .
Political analyst Augusto Alvarez Rodrich said management of the `` coronavirus pandemic , economic recovery and conducting the April 11 general elections in a transparent manner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president .
Some lawmakers have questioned the wisdom of removing Vizcarra in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and a crippling recession , but Sagasti would bring `` a moment of political and economic stability '' for the country , said Rodrich .
His main task will be to steady a rocky political ship .
`` You can count on my support , '' tweeted Vizcarra , who had denounced Merino 's lack of `` legality and legitimacy '' to be president .
Of the eight presidents Peru has had since the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1985 , seven have been convicted or implicated in scandals or have investigations opened against them .
Alberto Fujimori is serving a sentence for crimes against humanity and corruption .
Alan Garcia , Alejandro Toledo , Ollanta Humala and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski were all implicated in the giant Odebrecht bribes scandal .
Garcia committed suicide as police entered his home to arrest him .
Vizcarra is under investigation for alleged bribery when he was governor , and prosecutors opened an investigation on Monday against Merino for the deaths of the two demonstrators .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for eight months in 2000 , has been spared prosecution .

Lima (AFP) –
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Peru's 76-year-old new president Francisco Sagasti was sworn in Tuesday at a special session of Congress, tasked with resolving the South American country's crippling political crisis.
Sagasti, from the centrist Morado party, will serve as interim president until the end of July 2021, completing the mandate of Martin Vizcarra, whose impeachment by Congress last Monday set off a snowballing crisis.
His immediate predecessor, former Congress speaker Manuel Merino, was forced to resign Sunday after days of street protests culminated the day before in the death of two people.
Sagasti immediately asked for "forgiveness on behalf of the state" from the families of the two young demonstrators killed on Saturday, apparently at the hands of the police.
"We cannot bring these young people back to life," he said in a speech to the Congress.
He said he would do everything possible "to reduce the spread of the pandemic, but without affecting the economy," in recession after a months-long compulsory national shutdown.
The politically fragile country has the world's highest per capita death rate -- with nearly 35,000 fatalities -- and GDP has plunged more than 30 percent in the second quarter.
The United States said it was ready to work with the new president "and support Peruvians in preparing for a democratic transition" in elections next April, said the Undersecretary of State for the Western Hemisphere, Michael Kozak.
Sagasti's arrival in power was greeted with relief by thousands of Peruvians who had taken to the streets against Merino, protesting what they called a "coup d'etat" against Vizcarra.
"All of us young people feel that we have made a small achievement, but it is not enough," said Geraldine Aldave, a 22-year-old fashion designer who took part in the protests calling for Merino's dismissal.
"This president has to do something to maintain democracy, but from April, from the elections, it's up to us."
Congress, half of whose members face criminal inquiries, remains deeply unpopular over its removal of Vizcarra.
- 'Peace of mind' -
Professional clown Walter Nunez, 30, welcomed Sagasti's image as "a technically prepared person, which was not the case with the previous usurper (Merino).
"Personally he brings peace of mind, but I am not satisfied yet because there are still members of Congress who should be out," Nunez said.
Political analyst Augusto Alvarez Rodrich said management of the "coronavirus pandemic, economic recovery and conducting the April 11 general elections in a transparent manner" were the priorities facing the new president.
Some lawmakers have questioned the wisdom of removing Vizcarra in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and a crippling recession, but Sagasti would bring "a moment of political and economic stability" for the country, said Rodrich.
His main task will be to steady a rocky political ship.
"You can count on my support," tweeted Vizcarra, who had denounced Merino's lack of "legality and legitimacy" to be president.
Of the eight presidents Peru has had since the end of the country's military regime in 1985, seven have been convicted or implicated in scandals or have investigations opened against them.
Alberto Fujimori is serving a sentence for crimes against humanity and corruption. Alan Garcia, Alejandro Toledo, Ollanta Humala and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski were all implicated in the giant Odebrecht bribes scandal.
Garcia committed suicide as police entered his home to arrest him.
Vizcarra is under investigation for alleged bribery when he was governor, and prosecutors opened an investigation on Monday against Merino for the deaths of the two demonstrators.
Only Velentin Paniagua, who was president for eight months in 2000, has been spared prosecution.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-18--Trump fires US election security official who rejected fraud claims

Donald Trump fired Tuesday the government 's top election security official , who had rejected the president 's unsubstantiated claims of `` massive '' fraud in the vote he lost to Joe Biden .
Trump announced on Twitter the termination `` effective immediately '' of Chris Krebs , who leads the agency that jointly declared `` the November 3rd election was the most secure in American history . ''
Trump , who refuses to acknowledge that he lost his bid for reelection to Democrat Biden , has repeatedly claimed without evidence that the voting and count was replete with fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Krebs on the security of the 2020 Election was highly inaccurate , in that there were massive improprieties and fraud , '' wrote in a tweet .
`` Therefore , effective immediately , Chris Krebs has been terminated as Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency . ''
Krebs , who reportedly told friends last week he expected to be removed , appeared to confirm it in a tweet on his personal account .
`` Honored to serve .
We did it right .
Defend Today , Secure Tomorrow , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fending off possible foreign and domestic hacker intrusions into myriad voting machines , sorting and counting machines , databases and other systems that states and localities rely on to tally ballots .
Adam Schiff , the Democratic chairman of the House Intelligence Committee , said Krebs and his team had `` worked diligently to safeguard our elections . ''
`` Instead of rewarding this great service , President Trump is retaliating against Director Krebs and other officials who did their duty , '' he said in a statement .
The challenge was even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus , which forced a sweeping turn to voting by mail .
Under Krebs CISA had also warned several times that Russians and Iranians were making attempts to break into US systems , as Russians had tried in 2016 .
The White House was reportedly particularly unhappy about a CISA web page set up to fight disinformation called `` Rumor vs .
Reality '' .
The page rejected claims Trump and others have made , including that many votes were made in the names of dead people , that counting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normal , and that shifting vote counts indicate fraud .
Through numerous reviews , investigations and lawsuits , no evidence has come up of any significant distortion or loss of votes , by accident or fraud .
`` There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes , changed votes , or was in any way compromised , '' an official group of senior US federal and state election officials said in a report last week .
And on Monday , a group of 59 top election security experts also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying the claims `` either have been unsubstantiated or are technically incoherent . ''

Washington (AFP) –
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Donald Trump fired Tuesday the government's top election security official, who had rejected the president's unsubstantiated claims of "massive" fraud in the vote he lost to Joe Biden.
Trump announced on Twitter the termination "effective immediately" of Chris Krebs, who leads the agency that jointly declared "the November 3rd election was the most secure in American history."
Trump, who refuses to acknowledge that he lost his bid for reelection to Democrat Biden, has repeatedly claimed without evidence that the voting and count was replete with fraud.
"The recent statement by Chris Krebs on the security of the 2020 Election was highly inaccurate, in that there were massive improprieties and fraud," wrote in a tweet.
"Therefore, effective immediately, Chris Krebs has been terminated as Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency."
Krebs, who reportedly told friends last week he expected to be removed, appeared to confirm it in a tweet on his personal account.
- No evidence -
"Honored to serve. We did it right. Defend Today, Secure Tomorrow," he wrote.
Krebs was in charge of fending off possible foreign and domestic hacker intrusions into myriad voting machines, sorting and counting machines, databases and other systems that states and localities rely on to tally ballots.
Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said Krebs and his team had "worked diligently to safeguard our elections."
"Instead of rewarding this great service, President Trump is retaliating against Director Krebs and other officials who did their duty," he said in a statement.
The challenge was even tougher this year because of the complexities of the coronavirus, which forced a sweeping turn to voting by mail.
Under Krebs CISA had also warned several times that Russians and Iranians were making attempts to break into US systems, as Russians had tried in 2016.
The White House was reportedly particularly unhappy about a CISA web page set up to fight disinformation called "Rumor vs. Reality".
The page rejected claims Trump and others have made, including that many votes were made in the names of dead people, that counting the ballots days after election day is not normal, and that shifting vote counts indicate fraud.
Through numerous reviews, investigations and lawsuits, no evidence has come up of any significant distortion or loss of votes, by accident or fraud.
"There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised," an official group of senior US federal and state election officials said in a report last week.
And on Monday, a group of 59 top election security experts also dismissed claims of significant malfunction or fraud, saying the claims "either have been unsubstantiated or are technically incoherent."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-18--Trump fires US election security official who dismissed claims of election fraud

FILE PHOTO - U.S. Department of Homeland Security Under Secretary Chris Krebs speaks to reporters at the DHS Election Operations Center and National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center ( NCCIC ) in Arlington , Virginia , U.S. November 6 , 2018 .
President Donald Trump on Tuesday fired the director of the federal agency that vouched for the reliability of the 2020 election .
Trump fired Christopher Krebs in a tweet , saying his recent statement defending the security of the election was “ highly inaccurate.
” While abrupt , the dismissal was hardly surprising .
Krebs , director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had offered a stream of statements and tweets over the past week attesting to the integrity of the election , directly contradicting Trump ’ s false assertions of widespread fraud without mentioning the president by name .
The firing of Krebs , a Trump appointee , comes as Trump is refusing to recognize the victory of Democratic President-elect Joe Biden and removing high-level officials seen as insufficiently loyal .
He fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Nov. 9 , part of a broader shakeup that put Trump loyalists in senior Pentagon positions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the agency , known as CISA , from its creation in the wake of Russian interference with the 2016 election through the November election .
He won bipartisan praise as CISA coordinated federal state and local efforts to defend electoral systems from foreign or domestic interference .
Krebs has repeatedly pushed back against false claims that the election was tainted .
Earlier Tuesday , he tweeted out a report citing 59 election security experts saying there is no credible evidence of computer fraud in the 2020 election outcome .
Trump fired back on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeated unsubstantiated claims about the vote and wrote “ effective immediately , Chris Krebs has been terminated as Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
” Krebs , from his personal Twitter account , responded : “ Honored to serve .
We did it right .
Defend Today , Secure Tomorrow . ''
He closed with the phrase “ Protect 2020 , ” which had been his agency 's slogan ahead of the election .
Officials with CISA and its parent agency , the Department of Homeland Security , had no immediate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , chairman of the House intelligence committee , assailed Trump for “ retaliating against Director Krebs and other officials who did their duty .
It ’ s pathetic , but sadly predictable that upholding and protecting our democratic processes would be cause for firing . ''
Krebs kept a low profile even as he voiced confidence ahead of the November vote and , afterward , knocked down allegations that the count was tainted by fraud .
The repudiation of Trump was notable coming from a component of DHS , which has been criticised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the president 's political goals .
CISA issued statements dismissing claims that large numbers of dead people could vote or that someone could change results without detection .
It also distributed a statement from a coalition of federal and state officials concluding there was no evidence that votes were compromised or altered in the Nov. 3 election and that the vote was the most secure in American history .
Krebs avoided ever directly criticizing the president and tried to stay above the political fray , even as he worked to contradict misinformation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s not our job to fact check the president , ” he said at a briefing with reporters on the eve of the election .
CISA works with the state and local officials who run U.S. elections as well as private companies that supply voting equipment to address cybersecurity and other threats while monitoring balloting and tabulation from a control room at its headquarters near Washington .
It also works with industry and utilities to protect the nation ’ s industrial base and power grid from threats .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ core constituency — the state and local election officials who rely on its advice and services at a time of near-constant cyberattack -- as well as on Capitol Hill , where lawmakers recently proposed an increase of its annual budget of around $ 2 billion .
His removal is a “ disturbing sign for American government , ” said California Secretary of State Alex Padilla .
“ Chris Krebs has been an accessible , reliable partner for elections officials across the country , and across party lines , as we have fortified our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ Our elections infrastructure has become stronger because of leaders like Chris Krebs and in spite of the actions and lies coming from the White House.
” Amid recent reports that Krebs feared he might be fired , Rep. Bennie Thompson , chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee , had said he was concerned and sent a text to the director to ask him if he was OK .
The response was , in effect , “ for now , ” the Mississippi Democrat said .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is all of a sudden , muzzled , ” Thompson said .
“ I have not seen a partisan bone in his body .
He ’ s been a consummate professional.
” Rep. Jim Langevin , a Rhode Island Democrat who focuses on cybersecurity issues , had called on his Republican colleagues to stand up for him before he could be removed from his post .
“ Chris Krebs and CISA have done so well under his leadership because he and his team have kept their heads down and done the job they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caught up in partisan politics , ” Langevin said .
The agency emerged from rocky beginnings .
Just before President Barack Obama left office , the U.S. designated election systems as critical national security infrastructure , like dams or power plants , as a result of the interference by Russia , which included the penetration of state elections systems as well as massive disinformation .
Some state election officials and Republicans , suspicious of federal intrusion on their turf , were opposed to the designation .
The National Association of Secretaries of State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move in February 2017 .
But the Trump administration supported the designation , and , eventually , skeptical state officials welcomed the assistance .

President Donald Trump on Tuesday fired the director of the federal agency that vouched for the reliability of the 2020 election.
FILE PHOTO - U.S. Department of Homeland Security Under Secretary Chris Krebs speaks to reporters at the DHS Election Operations Center and National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) in Arlington, Virginia, U.S. November 6, 2018.
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Trump fired Christopher Krebs in a tweet, saying his recent statement defending the security of the election was “highly inaccurate.”
While abrupt, the dismissal was hardly surprising.
Krebs, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, had offered a stream of statements and tweets over the past week attesting to the integrity of the election, directly contradicting Trump’s false assertions of widespread fraud without mentioning the president by name.
The firing of Krebs, a Trump appointee, comes as Trump is refusing to recognize the victory of Democratic President-elect Joe Biden and removing high-level officials seen as insufficiently loyal.
He fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Nov. 9, part of a broader shakeup that put Trump loyalists in senior Pentagon positions.
A former Microsoft executive, Krebs ran the agency, known as CISA, from its creation in the wake of Russian interference with the 2016 election through the November election.
He won bipartisan praise as CISA coordinated federal state and local efforts to defend electoral systems from foreign or domestic interference.
Krebs has repeatedly pushed back against false claims that the election was tainted. Earlier Tuesday, he tweeted out a report citing 59 election security experts saying there is no credible evidence of computer fraud in the 2020 election outcome.
Trump fired back on Twitter later in the day. He repeated unsubstantiated claims about the vote and wrote “effective immediately, Chris Krebs has been terminated as Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.”
Krebs, from his personal Twitter account, responded: “Honored to serve. We did it right. Defend Today, Secure Tomorrow." He closed with the phrase “Protect 2020,” which had been his agency's slogan ahead of the election.
Officials with CISA and its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, had no immediate comment.
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., chairman of the House intelligence committee, assailed Trump for “retaliating against Director Krebs and other officials who did their duty. It’s pathetic, but sadly predictable that upholding and protecting our democratic processes would be cause for firing."
Krebs kept a low profile even as he voiced confidence ahead of the November vote and, afterward, knocked down allegations that the count was tainted by fraud.
The repudiation of Trump was notable coming from a component of DHS, which has been criticised for seeming to be too closely aligned with the president's political goals.
CISA issued statements dismissing claims that large numbers of dead people could vote or that someone could change results without detection.
It also distributed a statement from a coalition of federal and state officials concluding there was no evidence that votes were compromised or altered in the Nov. 3 election and that the vote was the most secure in American history.
Krebs avoided ever directly criticizing the president and tried to stay above the political fray, even as he worked to contradict misinformation coming from the president and his supporters. “It’s not our job to fact check the president,” he said at a briefing with reporters on the eve of the election.
CISA works with the state and local officials who run U.S. elections as well as private companies that supply voting equipment to address cybersecurity and other threats while monitoring balloting and tabulation from a control room at its headquarters near Washington.
It also works with industry and utilities to protect the nation’s industrial base and power grid from threats.
The agency enjoys a good reputation among its core constituency — the state and local election officials who rely on its advice and services at a time of near-constant cyberattack -- as well as on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers recently proposed an increase of its annual budget of around $2 billion.
His removal is a “disturbing sign for American government,” said California Secretary of State Alex Padilla.
“Chris Krebs has been an accessible, reliable partner for elections officials across the country, and across party lines, as we have fortified our cyber defenses since 2016,” Padilla said. “Our elections infrastructure has become stronger because of leaders like Chris Krebs and in spite of the actions and lies coming from the White House.”
Amid recent reports that Krebs feared he might be fired, Rep. Bennie Thompson, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, had said he was concerned and sent a text to the director to ask him if he was OK. The response was, in effect, “for now,” the Mississippi Democrat said.
“It’s a shame if someone with his talent is all of a sudden, muzzled,” Thompson said. “I have not seen a partisan bone in his body. He’s been a consummate professional.”
Rep. Jim Langevin, a Rhode Island Democrat who focuses on cybersecurity issues, had called on his Republican colleagues to stand up for him before he could be removed from his post.
“Chris Krebs and CISA have done so well under his leadership because he and his team have kept their heads down and done the job they were tasked with doing and not gotten caught up in partisan politics,” Langevin said.
The agency emerged from rocky beginnings. Just before President Barack Obama left office, the U.S. designated election systems as critical national security infrastructure, like dams or power plants, as a result of the interference by Russia, which included the penetration of state elections systems as well as massive disinformation.
Some state election officials and Republicans, suspicious of federal intrusion on their turf, were opposed to the designation.
The National Association of Secretaries of State adopted a resolution in opposition to the move in February 2017.
But the Trump administration supported the designation, and, eventually, skeptical state officials welcomed the assistance.
(AP)
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france24--2020-11-18--China to push trade agenda at APEC summit as US retreats

China is expected to dominate this week 's APEC summit , with the US set to take a back seat China will get another chance to reshape Asia-Pacific trade at a regional summit starting Thursday , days after securing a huge trade pact victory and with the US playing protectionist defence .
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ( APEC ) forum , held online this year because of the coronavirus pandemic , brings together 21 Pacific Rim countries including the world 's two biggest economies , accounting for about 60 percent of global GDP .
China has become the dominant force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Washington turned away from multilateral organisations and President Donald Trump pushed his `` America First '' agenda .
President Xi Jinping will take centre stage at this year 's summit , delivering a keynote address entitled `` The Future of International Cooperation '' at the start of the two-day event Thursday .
`` The US , which is still under the protectionist Trump administration , is not likely to play a proactive role in this year 's APEC , '' said Oh Ei Sun , an analyst from the Singapore Institute of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is almost inevitable that China will play a larger-than-life role in pushing its vision of trade . ''
The United States has yet to announce who will represent it at the event .
Trump , who is preoccupied with fighting his election loss to Joe Biden , skipped summits with Asian leaders last week .
The APEC gathering comes a week after China and 14 other Asia-Pacific countries signed the world 's largest free-trade deal .
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership ( RCEP ) , which excludes the US , is viewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further evidence that Beijing is setting the agenda for global commerce as Washington retreats .
During Trump 's four years in office APEC gatherings were overshadowed by an escalating US-China trade war as the rivals slapped tariffs on billions of dollars of each other 's goods .
At the group 's most recent summit in 2018 , leaders were unable to agree on a formal written declaration for the first time , owing to sharp differences between Washington and Beijing .
With Biden set to take office in January , there are hopes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other international institutions .
`` There was a lot of turmoil during the past ( US ) administration , '' said Cai Daolu , an expert on international trade at the National University of Singapore Business School .
`` The optimistic view is that ( the new government ) would represent at least a change in terms of trade policy . ''
Still , observers caution Biden 's immediate priority will be fighting the US virus outbreak , the world 's worst , and they downplay the chances of him rushing to join @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RCEP 's rival was the Trans-Pacific Partnership -- championed by former US president Barack Obama -- but Trump pulled out of it and the pact has been replaced by a watered-down alternative that Washington has not joined .
The APEC summit , this year hosted by Malaysia , is not expected to deliver much in the way of concrete outcomes .
But there is hope the group -- which also includes Japan , Russia and major Latin American economies -- could boost international cooperation to fight the pandemic .
APEC leaders `` need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growth '' , said a diplomat who is attending the summit , speaking on condition of anonymity .
`` We are in the middle of so much uncertainty .
APEC must send a strong signal of which direction we are moving . ''

Kuala Lumpur (AFP) –
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China will get another chance to reshape Asia-Pacific trade at a regional summit starting Thursday, days after securing a huge trade pact victory and with the US playing protectionist defence.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, held online this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, brings together 21 Pacific Rim countries including the world's two biggest economies, accounting for about 60 percent of global GDP.
China has become the dominant force in the trade grouping in recent years as Washington turned away from multilateral organisations and President Donald Trump pushed his "America First" agenda.
President Xi Jinping will take centre stage at this year's summit, delivering a keynote address entitled "The Future of International Cooperation" at the start of the two-day event Thursday.
"The US, which is still under the protectionist Trump administration, is not likely to play a proactive role in this year's APEC," said Oh Ei Sun, an analyst from the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.
"As such, it is almost inevitable that China will play a larger-than-life role in pushing its vision of trade."
The United States has yet to announce who will represent it at the event. Trump, who is preoccupied with fighting his election loss to Joe Biden, skipped summits with Asian leaders last week.
The APEC gathering comes a week after China and 14 other Asia-Pacific countries signed the world's largest free-trade deal.
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which excludes the US, is viewed as a major coup for China and further evidence that Beijing is setting the agenda for global commerce as Washington retreats.
- Trade tensions -
During Trump's four years in office APEC gatherings were overshadowed by an escalating US-China trade war as the rivals slapped tariffs on billions of dollars of each other's goods.
At the group's most recent summit in 2018, leaders were unable to agree on a formal written declaration for the first time, owing to sharp differences between Washington and Beijing.
With Biden set to take office in January, there are hopes of greater American engagement with APEC and other international institutions.
"There was a lot of turmoil during the past (US) administration," said Cai Daolu, an expert on international trade at the National University of Singapore Business School.
"The optimistic view is that (the new government) would represent at least a change in terms of trade policy."
Still, observers caution Biden's immediate priority will be fighting the US virus outbreak, the world's worst, and they downplay the chances of him rushing to join trade deals given strong domestic opposition.
RCEP's rival was the Trans-Pacific Partnership -- championed by former US president Barack Obama -- but Trump pulled out of it and the pact has been replaced by a watered-down alternative that Washington has not joined.
The APEC summit, this year hosted by Malaysia, is not expected to deliver much in the way of concrete outcomes.
But there is hope the group -- which also includes Japan, Russia and major Latin American economies -- could boost international cooperation to fight the pandemic.
APEC leaders "need to provide confidence and certainty for post-Covid growth", said a diplomat who is attending the summit, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"We are in the middle of so much uncertainty. APEC must send a strong signal of which direction we are moving."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-18--Argentina's president brings new bill to Congress in push to legalise abortion

Argentine President Alberto Fernandez announced Tuesday he was bringing a new bill on legalising abortion to Congress , re-opening a debate that has bitterly divided the traditionally Catholic South American nation .
The announcement set off celebrations among thousands of people outside the Congress building rallying in support of a plan to impose extra taxes on the wealthy to subsidise Argentina 's creaking health care system .
Fernandez made the announcement in a video message on his Twitter account , saying the bill would ensure `` that all women have access to the right to comprehensive health care . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ question of abortion .
Following years of demonstrations , Congress began a historic debate in 2018 under then-president Mauricio Macri that ended with the Chamber of Deputies voting to legalize abortion , only for the Senate to reject it .
Fernandez promised in March to present a new bill to legalise abortion but that was put on hold when the country went into lockdown over the coronavirus .
Fernandez , who ousted Macri in elections last year , said a separate bill would help poorer families to avoid having to resort to abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` a 1,000-day insurance policy , with the aim of strengthening comprehensive care during pregnancy and for children in the first years of life . ''
In Pope Francis 's homeland , abortion is punishable by up to four years in prison , and allowable only in cases of rape or if there is a risk to the life of the mother .
Lawmakers began debating on Tuesday the imposition of a two percent tax on more than 9,000 of Argentina 's largest fortunes , expected to provide more than $ 3 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help families hit by the Covid-19 crisis .
Argentina has more than 1.3 million coronavirus infections , and more than 35,000 deaths from the disease .

Argentine President Alberto Fernandez announced Tuesday he was bringing a new bill on legalising abortion to Congress, re-opening a debate that has bitterly divided the traditionally Catholic South American nation.
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The announcement set off celebrations among thousands of people outside the Congress building rallying in support of a plan to impose extra taxes on the wealthy to subsidise Argentina's creaking health care system.
Fernandez made the announcement in a video message on his Twitter account, saying the bill would ensure "that all women have access to the right to comprehensive health care."
Argentine society is deeply divided over the question of abortion.
Following years of demonstrations, Congress began a historic debate in 2018 under then-president Mauricio Macri that ended with the Chamber of Deputies voting to legalize abortion, only for the Senate to reject it.
Fernandez promised in March to present a new bill to legalise abortion but that was put on hold when the country went into lockdown over the coronavirus.
Fernandez, who ousted Macri in elections last year, said a separate bill would help poorer families to avoid having to resort to abortion for economic reasons.
That would provide "a 1,000-day insurance policy, with the aim of strengthening comprehensive care during pregnancy and for children in the first years of life."
In Pope Francis's homeland, abortion is punishable by up to four years in prison, and allowable only in cases of rape or if there is a risk to the life of the mother.
Lawmakers began debating on Tuesday the imposition of a two percent tax on more than 9,000 of Argentina's largest fortunes, expected to provide more than $3 billion for health care and other projects to help families hit by the Covid-19 crisis.
Argentina has more than 1.3 million coronavirus infections, and more than 35,000 deaths from the disease.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-11-18--Brazil beat Uruguay as Cavani sent off

Brazil beat Uruguay as Cavani sent off

Brazil 's Richarlison ( R ) scores against Uruguay during their closed-door World Cup qualifier in Montevideo First-half goals from Arthur and Richarlison helped Brazil to a 2-0 win over Uruguay , who had Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani sent off in their 2022 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday .
Five-time world champions Brazil were fortunate to be two goals up at half time in Montevideo after Uruguay had hit the woodwork twice at either end of the half .
The victory left Brazil on top of South America 's qualifying standings on 12 points with four wins from four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four matches .
The win also extended Brazil 's long reign of dominance over the Celeste , who have not beaten their fierce rivals since 2001 .
Cavani 's sending off with 20 minutes to go capped a miserable night for his side , despite having the better of things for much of the first half .
Chilean referee Roberto Tobar showed him a yellow card after his lunge caught Richarlison on the ankle .
But after a VAR check , that changed to red , leaving Cavani incredulous , and he left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first blood after two minutes of a lively opening , when Uruguay keeper Martin Campana parried a close range shot from Gabriel Jesus after the Manchester City striker bought a yard of space on the edge of the six-yard box .
Almost immediately , Uruguay 's 21-year-old Benifica star , Darwin Nunez , turned Brazil full-back Danilo inside the area and rattled Ederson 's bar after a neat pass from River Plate 's Nico De La Cruz .
Uruguay fashioned another gilt-edged chance when Nathan Nandez 's cross from the right was headed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the ball , but could find no way through a well-marshalled Uruguay midfield .
They finally broke through however with their first real chance in half an hour , and with a large slice of luck .
Feeding on a slick layoff from Gabriel Jesus , Arthur 's shot from outside the area took a wicked deflection off the back of Uruguay defender Jose Gimenez , wrongfooting the luckless Campana , who could only watch it bounce into the net .
Two minutes later , a slick through ball from the Juventus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on goal but his left foot shot lacked the power to beat Campana .
Brazil gradually got on top on midfield as the half wore on , and struck a body blow to Uruguay 's hopes of a revival when Everton striker Richarlison headed in a long cross from Renan Lodi out on the left , to score his 8th goal for Brazil .
It was a cruel blow just before half time , emphasised when Uruguay skipper Diego Godin powered a header against the Brazil bar from a free kick by De @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ball , Brazil began to cruise in the second half , even without the injured Neymar .
Uruguay missed the physical presence of Luis Suarez , out with a positive Covid-19 test , and Brazil center halves Thiago Silva and Marquinhos had the better of a sometimes tasty encounter with their former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Cavani .

Montevideo (AFP) –
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First-half goals from Arthur and Richarlison helped Brazil to a 2-0 win over Uruguay, who had Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani sent off in their 2022 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.
Five-time world champions Brazil were fortunate to be two goals up at half time in Montevideo after Uruguay had hit the woodwork twice at either end of the half.
The victory left Brazil on top of South America's qualifying standings on 12 points with four wins from four games. Uruguay have six points from four matches.
The win also extended Brazil's long reign of dominance over the Celeste, who have not beaten their fierce rivals since 2001.
Cavani's sending off with 20 minutes to go capped a miserable night for his side, despite having the better of things for much of the first half.
Chilean referee Roberto Tobar showed him a yellow card after his lunge caught Richarlison on the ankle. But after a VAR check, that changed to red, leaving Cavani incredulous, and he left the pitch reluctantly.
Brazil almost drew first blood after two minutes of a lively opening, when Uruguay keeper Martin Campana parried a close range shot from Gabriel Jesus after the Manchester City striker bought a yard of space on the edge of the six-yard box.
Almost immediately, Uruguay's 21-year-old Benifica star, Darwin Nunez, turned Brazil full-back Danilo inside the area and rattled Ederson's bar after a neat pass from River Plate's Nico De La Cruz.
Uruguay fashioned another gilt-edged chance when Nathan Nandez's cross from the right was headed over by Cavani.
Brazil had most of the ball, but could find no way through a well-marshalled Uruguay midfield.
They finally broke through however with their first real chance in half an hour, and with a large slice of luck.
Feeding on a slick layoff from Gabriel Jesus, Arthur's shot from outside the area took a wicked deflection off the back of Uruguay defender Jose Gimenez, wrongfooting the luckless Campana, who could only watch it bounce into the net.
Two minutes later, a slick through ball from the Juventus forward put Liverpool's Roberto Firmino in on goal but his left foot shot lacked the power to beat Campana.
Brazil gradually got on top on midfield as the half wore on, and struck a body blow to Uruguay's hopes of a revival when Everton striker Richarlison headed in a long cross from Renan Lodi out on the left, to score his 8th goal for Brazil.
It was a cruel blow just before half time, emphasised when Uruguay skipper Diego Godin powered a header against the Brazil bar from a free kick by De La Cruz.
Showing slickness on the ball, Brazil began to cruise in the second half, even without the injured Neymar.
Uruguay missed the physical presence of Luis Suarez, out with a positive Covid-19 test, and Brazil center halves Thiago Silva and Marquinhos had the better of a sometimes tasty encounter with their former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Cavani.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-18--Tropical storm Iota batters Central America, leaving floods in its wake

Honduran soldiers hold a baby as they evacuate residents in anticipation of heavy rains as Hurricane Iota approaches , in Marcovia , Honduras November 17 , 2020 .
Packing record-breaking winds and unleashing torrential floods , storm Iota hit Central America on Tuesday , causing swollen rivers to burst their banks , flipping roofs onto streets , and killing at least three people .
The strongest storm on record to reach Nicaragua , Iota struck the coast late on Monday , bringing winds of nearly 155 miles per hour ( 249 kph ) and flooding villages still reeling from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
By midday ( 1800 GMT ) , the winds had fallen to 65 mph ( 105 kph ) as Iota weakened to a tropical storm , the U.S. National Hurricane Center ( NHC ) said .
But Iota continued bringing down heavy rains as it moved inland toward southern Honduras .
`` We 're flooded everywhere , the rain lasted almost all night and now it stops for an hour then comes back for two to three hours , '' said Marcelo Herrera , mayor of Wampusirpi , a municipality in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and streams .
`` We need food and water for the population , because we lost our crops with Eta , '' he told Reuters .
The double punch of Eta and Iota marked the first time two major hurricanes have formed in the Atlantic basin in November since records began .
The Nicaraguan port of Puerto Cabezas , still partly flooded and strewn with debris left by Eta , again bore the brunt of the hit .
`` We could die , '' said Inocencia Smith at one of the shelters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ all , '' she added , noting Eta had destroyed local farms .
The wind tore the roof off a makeshift hospital .
Patients in intensive care were evacuated , including two women who gave birth during the first rains on Monday , the government said .
Guillermo Gonzalez , head of Nicaragua 's disaster management agency SINAPRED , said he had received reports of damage to houses and roofs , fallen power lines and overflowing rivers , but no deaths .
Two people died on Providencia island , part of Colombia 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America , after it was clipped by Iota , President Ivan Duque said on Tuesday evening .
An additional person is missing , Duque said after a visit to the island , promising speedy shipment of humanitarian aid and removal of debris .
Nearly all of the infrastructure on Providencia - home to some 6,000 people - has been damaged or destroyed .
`` We have seen a severe impact on infrastructure , '' Duque said on his nightly television broadcast .
`` The community , prevention mechanisms , shelters and alerts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of human life . ''
Panama 's government said a person had died in its western Ngäbe-Buglé region due to conditions caused by the storm .
A resident of Brus Laguna on the Honduran coast told local radio a boy was killed by a falling tree , though the mayor , Teonela Wood , said she had no reports of fatalities .
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies ( IFRC ) said flooding from Iota risked causing disaster after Eta .
`` We are very concerned about the potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the soil is already completely saturated , '' IFRC spokesman Matthew Cochrane told a media briefing in Geneva on Tuesday .
About 40,000 people in Nicaragua and 80,000 in Honduras were evacuated from their homes , authorities said .
By early afternoon , Iota was about 105 miles ( 169 km ) east of the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa , the NHC said , adding that Iota could dump up to 30 inches ( 76 cm ) of rain in some areas .
`` We are in the hands of God .
If I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'll do it , '' said Jaime Cabal Cu , a farmer in Guatemala 's Izabal province .
`` We do n't have food , but we are going to wait here for the hurricane that we 're asking God to stop from coming . ''

Packing record-breaking winds and unleashing torrential floods, storm Iota hit Central America on Tuesday, causing swollen rivers to burst their banks, flipping roofs onto streets, and killing at least nine people.
Honduran soldiers hold a baby as they evacuate residents in anticipation of heavy rains as Hurricane Iota approaches, in Marcovia, Honduras November 17, 2020.
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The strongest storm on record to reach Nicaragua, Iota struck the coast late on Monday, bringing winds of nearly 155 miles per hour (249 kph) and flooding villages still reeling from the impact of Hurricane Eta two weeks ago.
By midday (1800 GMT), the winds had fallen to 65 mph (105 kph) as Iota weakened to a tropical storm, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. But Iota continued bringing down heavy rains as it moved inland toward southern Honduras.
"We're flooded everywhere, the rain lasted almost all night and now it stops for an hour then comes back for two to three hours," said Marcelo Herrera, mayor of Wampusirpi, a municipality in the interior of northeast Honduras crossed by rivers and streams.
"We need food and water for the population, because we lost our crops with Eta," he told Reuters.
The double punch of Eta and Iota marked the first time two major hurricanes have formed in the Atlantic basin in November since records began. The Nicaraguan port of Puerto Cabezas, still partly flooded and strewn with debris left by Eta, again bore the brunt of the hit.
Frightened residents huddled in shelters.
"We could die," said Inocencia Smith at one of the shelters. "There is nothing to eat at all," she added, noting Eta had destroyed local farms.
The wind tore the roof off a makeshift hospital. Patients in intensive care were evacuated, including two women who gave birth during the first rains on Monday, the government said.
Guillermo Gonzalez, head of Nicaragua's disaster management agency SINAPRED, said he had received reports of damage to houses and roofs, fallen power lines and overflowing rivers, but no deaths.
Two people died on Providencia island, part of Colombia's Caribbean archipelago near the coast of Central America, after it was clipped by Iota, President Ivan Duque said on Tuesday evening.
An additional person is missing, Duque said after a visit to the island, promising speedy shipment of humanitarian aid and removal of debris.
Nearly all of the infrastructure on Providencia - home to some 6,000 people - has been damaged or destroyed.
"We have seen a severe impact on infrastructure," Duque said on his nightly television broadcast. "The community, prevention mechanisms, shelters and alerts, meant there was not a substantial loss of human life."
Panama's government said a person had died in its western Ngäbe-Buglé region due to conditions caused by the storm.
A resident of Brus Laguna on the Honduran coast told local radio a boy was killed by a falling tree, though the mayor, Teonela Wood, said she had no reports of fatalities.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said flooding from Iota risked causing disaster after Eta.
"We are very concerned about the potential for deadly landslides in these areas as the soil is already completely saturated," IFRC spokesman Matthew Cochrane told a media briefing in Geneva on Tuesday.
About 40,000 people in Nicaragua and 80,000 in Honduras were evacuated from their homes, authorities said.
By early afternoon, Iota was about 105 miles (169 km) east of the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa, the NHC said, adding that Iota could dump up to 30 inches (76 cm) of rain in some areas.
"We are in the hands of God. If I have to climb up trees, I'll do it," said Jaime Cabal Cu, a farmer in Guatemala's Izabal province. "We don't have food, but we are going to wait here for the hurricane that we're asking God to stop from coming."
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-11-18--Weaker dollar adds Paris and Zurich to world's priciest cities

Paris stands alongside Zurich and Hong Kong as one of the world 's priciest cities in 2020 , a survey has found Paris and Zurich have joined Hong Kong as this year 's costliest cities worldwide , while Singapore and Osaka have slipped from their joint-top spot after the coronavirus pandemic weakened the dollar , a survey published Wednesday showed .
The biggest mover was Tehran , which jumped 27 places on US sanctions , The Economist Intelligence Unit added in its Worldwide Cost of Living 2020 report .
The pandemic 's effect on the dollar was however the biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research group noted .
`` The Covid-19 pandemic has caused the US dollar to weaken while western European and north Asian currencies have strengthened against it , which in turn has shifted prices for goods and services , '' said Upasana Dutt , head of worldwide cost of living at The EIU .
The EIU said `` Singapore and Osaka , which have been dislodged from their joint-first with Hong Kong , find themselves at fourth and fifth ranks , respectively , with Osaka tying with Tel Aviv .
`` The movement of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the top spot was spurred on by the rise of the euro and Swiss franc against the US dollar , as well as the comparative decline in the cost of living in the two Asian cities that previously sat at the top of the table , '' it added .
The report noted that prices in Singapore fell on an exodus of foreign workers .
`` With the city state 's overall population contracting for the first time since 2003 , demand has declined , and deflation has set in .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consumer prices stagnating and the Japanese government subsidising costs such as public transport . ''
New York , the city the index is benchmarked against , and Los Angeles both fell in the rankings .
The Big Apple fell one spot to joint-seventh with Geneva , and Los Angeles dropped to ninth -- equal with Copenhagen .
`` The coronavirus pandemic has impacted spending habits all over the world , with the prices of essential goods proving more resilient than those deemed non-essential , '' the report said .
`` However , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as coffee , cheese , rice and orange juice , remaining flat , rather than necessarily increasing .
`` Clothing was the only category to see an average fall in the index ... ( as ) many consumers delayed wardrobe changes . ''
With office workers doing their jobs from home , consumer electronics saw the largest price rises on production shortages , the EIU added .

London (AFP) –
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Paris and Zurich have joined Hong Kong as this year's costliest cities worldwide, while Singapore and Osaka have slipped from their joint-top spot after the coronavirus pandemic weakened the dollar, a survey published Wednesday showed.
The biggest mover was Tehran, which jumped 27 places on US sanctions, The Economist Intelligence Unit added in its Worldwide Cost of Living 2020 report.
The pandemic's effect on the dollar was however the biggest factor for places switching, the financial research group noted.
"The Covid-19 pandemic has caused the US dollar to weaken while western European and north Asian currencies have strengthened against it, which in turn has shifted prices for goods and services," said Upasana Dutt, head of worldwide cost of living at The EIU.
The EIU said "Singapore and Osaka, which have been dislodged from their joint-first with Hong Kong, find themselves at fourth and fifth ranks, respectively, with Osaka tying with Tel Aviv.
"The movement of Paris and Zurich to join Hong Kong at the top spot was spurred on by the rise of the euro and Swiss franc against the US dollar, as well as the comparative decline in the cost of living in the two Asian cities that previously sat at the top of the table," it added.
The report noted that prices in Singapore fell on an exodus of foreign workers.
"With the city state's overall population contracting for the first time since 2003, demand has declined, and deflation has set in.
"Osaka has seen similar trends, with consumer prices stagnating and the Japanese government subsidising costs such as public transport."
New York, the city the index is benchmarked against, and Los Angeles both fell in the rankings.
The Big Apple fell one spot to joint-seventh with Geneva, and Los Angeles dropped to ninth -- equal with Copenhagen.
"The coronavirus pandemic has impacted spending habits all over the world, with the prices of essential goods proving more resilient than those deemed non-essential," the report said.
"However, this translates to prices for staples, such as coffee, cheese, rice and orange juice, remaining flat, rather than necessarily increasing.
"Clothing was the only category to see an average fall in the index... (as) many consumers delayed wardrobe changes."
With office workers doing their jobs from home, consumer electronics saw the largest price rises on production shortages, the EIU added.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-18--Canelo to return against Callum Smith on December 19

Pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez will make his long-awaited return to the ring next month when he battles Britain 's world super-middleweight champion Callum Smith , both fighters ' camps confirmed on Tuesday .
Alvarez , recognised as the holder of World Boxing Association 's middleweight `` super '' belt , has not fought since scoring an 11th-round knockout of Sergey Kovalev in a light-heavyweight duel last November .
The 30-year-old Mexican star 's return to the ring has been held up amid a dispute with promoter Oscar de la Hoya and streaming service DAZN .
Alvarez , who signed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 , earlier this month announced he was a free agent after severing his ties with the platform and De La Hoya 's Golden Boy Promotions .
However Alvarez 's December 19 fight with Smith will be aired on the DAZN platform on a one-off basis .
The exact venue is to be confirmed , but US reports said it is likely to take place in Texas .
Smith , who holds the WBA 's supermiddlweight title , is 27-0 with 19 wins by knockout .
The 30-year-old from Liverpool will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he won by knocking out George Groves in September 2018 .
Like Alvarez , Smith has also spent a year out of the ring .
His last fight was a hardfought unanimous decision victory over John Ryder last November .
Although unbeaten , Smith will start as the clear underdog against Alvarez , who boasts a 53-1-2 record with 36 knockouts .
Alvarez , widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world , has lost only once in his career , a majority decision defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2014 @

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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Pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez will make his long-awaited return to the ring next month when he battles Britain's world super-middleweight champion Callum Smith, both fighters' camps confirmed on Tuesday.
Alvarez, recognised as the holder of World Boxing Association's middleweight "super" belt, has not fought since scoring an 11th-round knockout of Sergey Kovalev in a light-heavyweight duel last November.
The 30-year-old Mexican star's return to the ring has been held up amid a dispute with promoter Oscar de la Hoya and streaming service DAZN.
Alvarez, who signed a $350 million five-year deal with DAZN in 2018, earlier this month announced he was a free agent after severing his ties with the platform and De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions.
However Alvarez's December 19 fight with Smith will be aired on the DAZN platform on a one-off basis. The exact venue is to be confirmed, but US reports said it is likely to take place in Texas.
Smith, who holds the WBA's supermiddlweight title, is 27-0 with 19 wins by knockout.
The 30-year-old from Liverpool will be making his third defence of the title he won by knocking out George Groves in September 2018.
Like Alvarez, Smith has also spent a year out of the ring. His last fight was a hardfought unanimous decision victory over John Ryder last November.
Although unbeaten, Smith will start as the clear underdog against Alvarez, who boasts a 53-1-2 record with 36 knockouts.
Alvarez, widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, has lost only once in his career, a majority decision defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2014.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-18--All Blacks captain Cane returns fire at 'brutal' critics

All Blacks skipper Sam Cane has hit back at critics questioning his leadership in the wake of last weekend 's shock defeat by Argentina , accusing them of being ignorant about rugby .
Cane and New Zealand coach Ian Foster have taken most of the flak from irate All Black fans over the 25-15 defeat to Los Pumas , which followed a 24-22 loss to Australia a week earlier .
The gritty flanker , who became captain of the three-time world champions earlier this year , said he shared their frustration but `` hateful , disrespectful '' comments posted online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amazing fans but we 've also got some pretty brutal ones , '' he told New Zealand 's Sky Sports in an interview aired late Tuesday .
`` You 've just got to remind yourself that they may like to think they know a lot about the game of rugby but in reality they do n't . ''
New Zealand rugby followers are notoriously demanding about the All Blacks -- who have a winning record of almost 80 percent -- but Cane said he paid no heed to online critics .
`` If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public , the opinions that really matter to me are my teammates and the coaches I work with every single day , '' the 28-year-old said .
`` I 've got a lot of confidence from them that we 're on the right track . ''
Cane also defended Foster 's coaching after some pundits called for him to be sacked and replaced with Crusaders ' mentor Scott Robertson following Argentina 's historic first victory over the All Blacks .
`` He 's given us really clear focuses on where we need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like we 're bogged down and do n't have the answers , '' he said .
But Cane conceded criticism had stung the coach , saying : `` Foz is only human . ''
Cane 's own assessment of the Argentina loss echoed the opinions of many critics as he admitted that the All Blacks lacked discipline and gave away to many defensive penalties , starving their vaunted backline of attacking opportunities .
He also said the pack had `` tunnel vision '' about engaging in a physical duel with their Argentine counterparts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changing tactics when the initial match-day strategy was not working .
`` That 's the challenge for us as a team and me as a leader ... to recognise what the solution is and then get that message across and hopefully execute it , '' he said .
The All Blacks ' final Tri Nations fixture is against Argentina in Newcastle on November 28 .

Wellington (AFP) –
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All Blacks skipper Sam Cane has hit back at critics questioning his leadership in the wake of last weekend's shock defeat by Argentina, accusing them of being ignorant about rugby.
Cane and New Zealand coach Ian Foster have taken most of the flak from irate All Black fans over the 25-15 defeat to Los Pumas, which followed a 24-22 loss to Australia a week earlier.
The gritty flanker, who became captain of the three-time world champions earlier this year, said he shared their frustration but "hateful, disrespectful" comments posted online were unhelpful.
"We've got amazing fans but we've also got some pretty brutal ones," he told New Zealand's Sky Sports in an interview aired late Tuesday.
"You've just got to remind yourself that they may like to think they know a lot about the game of rugby but in reality they don't."
New Zealand rugby followers are notoriously demanding about the All Blacks -- who have a winning record of almost 80 percent -- but Cane said he paid no heed to online critics.
"If I'm having my leadership questioned in public, the opinions that really matter to me are my teammates and the coaches I work with every single day," the 28-year-old said.
"I've got a lot of confidence from them that we're on the right track."
Cane also defended Foster's coaching after some pundits called for him to be sacked and replaced with Crusaders' mentor Scott Robertson following Argentina's historic first victory over the All Blacks.
"He's given us really clear focuses on where we need to get better, so it's not like we're bogged down and don't have the answers," he said.
But Cane conceded criticism had stung the coach, saying: "Foz is only human."
Cane's own assessment of the Argentina loss echoed the opinions of many critics as he admitted that the All Blacks lacked discipline and gave away to many defensive penalties, starving their vaunted backline of attacking opportunities.
He also said the pack had "tunnel vision" about engaging in a physical duel with their Argentine counterparts and the players needed to work on changing tactics when the initial match-day strategy was not working.
"That's the challenge for us as a team and me as a leader... to recognise what the solution is and then get that message across and hopefully execute it," he said.
The All Blacks' final Tri Nations fixture is against Argentina in Newcastle on November 28.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-18--UK's ex-Labour leader Corbyn reinstated after suspension over anti-Semitism response

FILE PHOTO : Britain 's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn arrives for the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London , Britain March 9 , 2020 .
Britain 's former main opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn said he has been readmitted to the Labour Party after being suspended following his comments downplaying a report critical of its handling of anti-Semitism complaints .
The Equality and Human Rights Commission said in October it had found evidence of failure adequately to train people investigating alleged anti-Semitism , political interference in the processing of complaints , and harassment of individuals .
Corbyn , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying the scale of Labour 's anti-Semitism problem had been overstated by the media and his political opponents , and that his attempts to deal with the issue had been blocked by `` obstructive party bureaucracy '' .
Current leader Keir Starmer has been trying to make a clean break from the hard-left Corbyn era as he seeks to turn around Labour 's fortunes after four successive general election defeats since 2010 .
`` I know that this has been another painful day for the Jewish community and those Labour members who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Starmer wrote on Twitter .
`` I am absolutely resolute in my determination to make the Labour Party a safe place for Jewish people . ''
Corbyn welcomed the decision by Labour 's National Executive Committee to reinstate him after three weeks and said the focus should now be on challenging Prime Minister Boris Johnson 's administration .
`` Our movement must now come together to oppose and defeat this deeply damaging Conservative government , '' he said .
But the Board of Deputies of British Jews , Jewish Leadership Council and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's readmission in a joint statement .
`` Labour ’ s mountain to climb to win back the trust of our community just got higher , '' they said .

Britain's former main opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn said he has been readmitted to the Labour Party after being suspended following his comments downplaying a report critical of its handling of anti-Semitism complaints.
Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn arrives for the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London, March 9, 2020.
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The Equality and Human Rights Commission said in October it had found evidence of failure to adequately train people investigating alleged anti-Semitism, political interference in the processing of complaints, and harassment of individuals.
Corbyn, 71, reacted to the report by saying the scale of Labour's anti-Semitism problem had been overstated by the media and his political opponents, and that his attempts to deal with the issue had been blocked by "obstructive party bureaucracy".
Current leader Keir Starmer has been trying to make a clean break from the hard-left Corbyn era as he seeks to turn around Labour's fortunes after four successive general election defeats since 2010.
"I know that this has been another painful day for the Jewish community and those Labour members who have fought so hard to tackle anti-Semitism," Starmer wrote on Twitter.
"I am absolutely resolute in my determination to make the Labour Party a safe place for Jewish people."
Corbyn welcomed the decision by Labour's National Executive Committee to reinstate him after three weeks and said the focus should now be on challenging Prime Minister Boris Johnson's administration.
"Our movement must now come together to oppose and defeat this deeply damaging Conservative government," he said.
But the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Jewish Leadership Council and Community Security Trust were critical of Corbyn's readmission in a joint statement.
"Labour’s mountain to climb to win back the trust of our community just got higher," they said.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-11-18--US to drop drug charges against Mexican ex-defence chief

The US Department of Justice announced plans Tuesday to drop drug trafficking and money laundering charges against a Mexican ex-defense minister in US custody so that Mexico can do its own probe and potentially prosecute him .
US authorities in October arrested 72-year-old Salvador Cienfuegos at Los Angeles airport to the surprise and irritation of Mexican officials .
Cienfuegos , a retired general , was accused of conspiring to produce and distribute `` thousands of kilograms '' of cocaine , heroin , methamphetamine and marijuana in the US between December 2015 and February 2017 .
Since the arrest , prosecutors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US Attorney General Bill Barr and his Mexican counterpart Alejandro Gertz Manero said in a joint statement .
`` In the interests demonstrating our united front against all forms of criminality , the US Department of Justice has made the decision to seek dismissal of US criminal charges against former secretary Cienfuegos so that he may be investigated , and , if appropriate , charged under Mexican law , '' their statement said .
Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard tweeted that under an agreement between the offices of the Mexican and US attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Mexico to be prosecuted here if agreed by the judge in the case . ''
Cienfuegos was detained at Los Angeles International Airport on October 15 while on a trip with his family , and charged with drug trafficking and money laundering .
The Mexican government complained bitterly that it was being kept in the dark about Cienfuegos 's case .
The US indictment was filed in August 2019 , but made public only after Cienfuegos 's arrest , apparently due to suspicion of corruption among high-ranking Mexican officials .
At Mexico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Treaty that governs the sharing of evidence , '' the US Department of Justice `` has provided Mexico evidence in this case and commits to continued cooperation ... to support the investigation by Mexican authorities , '' the statement read .
Cienfuegos earlier pleaded not guilty to the US charges , which date to when he was a key figure in President Enrique Pena Nieto 's 2012-2018 administration .
The charges against Cienfuegos appear to have come from witnesses in the US trial of drug lord Joaquin `` El Chapo '' Guzman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life in prison in July 2019 .

New York (AFP) –
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The US Department of Justice announced plans Tuesday to drop drug trafficking and money laundering charges against a Mexican ex-defense minister in US custody so that Mexico can do its own probe and potentially prosecute him.
US authorities in October arrested 72-year-old Salvador Cienfuegos at Los Angeles airport to the surprise and irritation of Mexican officials.
Cienfuegos, a retired general, was accused of conspiring to produce and distribute "thousands of kilograms" of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana in the US between December 2015 and February 2017.
Since the arrest, prosecutors in Mexico opened their own probe, US Attorney General Bill Barr and his Mexican counterpart Alejandro Gertz Manero said in a joint statement.
"In the interests demonstrating our united front against all forms of criminality, the US Department of Justice has made the decision to seek dismissal of US criminal charges against former secretary Cienfuegos so that he may be investigated, and, if appropriate, charged under Mexican law," their statement said.
Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard tweeted that under an agreement between the offices of the Mexican and US attorney generals, Cienfuegos would "be returned to Mexico to be prosecuted here if agreed by the judge in the case."
Cienfuegos was detained at Los Angeles International Airport on October 15 while on a trip with his family, and charged with drug trafficking and money laundering.
The Mexican government complained bitterly that it was being kept in the dark about Cienfuegos's case.
The US indictment was filed in August 2019, but made public only after Cienfuegos's arrest, apparently due to suspicion of corruption among high-ranking Mexican officials.
At Mexico's request and working "under the Treaty that governs the sharing of evidence," the US Department of Justice "has provided Mexico evidence in this case and commits to continued cooperation ... to support the investigation by Mexican authorities," the statement read.
Cienfuegos earlier pleaded not guilty to the US charges, which date to when he was a key figure in President Enrique Pena Nieto's 2012-2018 administration.
The charges against Cienfuegos appear to have come from witnesses in the US trial of drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, who was sentenced in New York to life in prison in July 2019.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-18--Palestinian Authority says restoring Israel coordination

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas , seen in Ramallah in September 2020 , has said the Palestinian Authority will restore cooperation with Israel The Palestinian Authority said Tuesday it will restore coordination with Israel , ending a six-month suspension , on the eve of a planned visit to the Jewish state by Washington 's top diplomat .
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas had announced a halt to coordination with Israel , including US-backed security cooperation , in May in response to Israeli plans to annex parts of the West Bank .
`` In the light of Mahmud Abbas 's international contacts ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have received from the Israelis , we will resume relations where they were before May 19 , 2020 , '' Hussein al-Sheikh , the PA 's civil affairs minister , said late Tuesday .
His announcement comes on the eve of a visit to Israel by Mike Pompeo , Secretary of State in outgoing US President Donald Trump 's Republican administration , under which US-Palestinian relations collapsed .
Sheikh 's announcement follows Abbas congratulating Democratic candidate Joe Biden just over a week ago on his presidential election victory , which he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in `` Palestinian-American relations '' .
President-elect Biden has said his administration will restore US opposition to Israeli settlements , after Trump broke with decades of American policy and international consensus by failing to condemn such construction .
Palestinian prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh said Tuesday : `` We will resume contacts with the Israelis on financial issues , on health issues , on political issues .
`` The decision came after receipt of a letter indicating `` that Israel is ready to commit itself to the signed agreements with us , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US-based Council on Foreign Relations .
`` This is for us a very important step in the right direction , '' he added , noting that the development followed intervention by the United Nations , the European Union and `` other countries '' .
Abbas ' suspension of coordination had significant impacts , including on organising the transfers of Palestinian patients to Israeli hospitals .
Abbas had said at the time his government was no longer bound by `` all its agreements and understandings with the American and Israeli governments , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to security . ''
But Hamas , the Islamist group which runs the Gaza Strip , condemned the PA 's lifting of the suspension .
It said the move was a `` stab in the back '' for reconciliation efforts between the group and Abbas ' West Bank-based administration , adding that Biden `` would not '' end Israel 's half-century-old occupation of Palestinian territory .
Right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's office said he held a `` warm '' phone conversation with Biden on Tuesday in which `` the President-elect reiterated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israel and its security '' .
`` The two agreed to meet soon in order to discuss the many issues on the agenda , '' the office said in a statement .
In halting its cooperation with Israel , the PA also stopped accepting transfers of taxes , in particular customs duties , collected by Israel on its behalf .
Deprived of this income , it had to cut the salaries of its civil servants at a time when the Palestinian economy had begun grappling with the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to the prior Israeli-Palestinian relations automatically translated into a resumption of tax transfers .
Israel put its annexation plans on hold in return for a US-brokered agreement to normalise ties with the United Arab Emirates , signed on the White House lawn in August .
But the Palestinians ' freeze on cooperation with Israel continued , with Abbas calling the agreement a betrayal of their cause .
It has been a longstanding Arab League policy that normalisation of ties with Israel must be preceded by a peace accord with the Palestinians .

Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) –
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The Palestinian Authority said Tuesday it will restore coordination with Israel, ending a six-month suspension, on the eve of a planned visit to the Jewish state by Washington's top diplomat.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas had announced a halt to coordination with Israel, including US-backed security cooperation, in May in response to Israeli plans to annex parts of the West Bank.
"In the light of Mahmud Abbas's international contacts... and given the written and verbal commitments we have received from the Israelis, we will resume relations where they were before May 19, 2020," Hussein al-Sheikh, the PA's civil affairs minister, said late Tuesday.
His announcement comes on the eve of a visit to Israel by Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State in outgoing US President Donald Trump's Republican administration, under which US-Palestinian relations collapsed.
Sheikh's announcement follows Abbas congratulating Democratic candidate Joe Biden just over a week ago on his presidential election victory, which he said gave rise to hopes of an improvement in "Palestinian-American relations".
President-elect Biden has said his administration will restore US opposition to Israeli settlements, after Trump broke with decades of American policy and international consensus by failing to condemn such construction.
Palestinian prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh said Tuesday: "We will resume contacts with the Israelis on financial issues, on health issues, on political issues.
"The decision came after receipt of a letter indicating "that Israel is ready to commit itself to the signed agreements with us," he said in a video conference hosted by the US-based Council on Foreign Relations.
"This is for us a very important step in the right direction," he added, noting that the development followed intervention by the United Nations, the European Union and "other countries".
Abbas' suspension of coordination had significant impacts, including on organising the transfers of Palestinian patients to Israeli hospitals.
Abbas had said at the time his government was no longer bound by "all its agreements and understandings with the American and Israeli governments, and all its obligations... including those relating to security."
- Hamas slams move -
But Hamas, the Islamist group which runs the Gaza Strip, condemned the PA's lifting of the suspension.
It said the move was a "stab in the back" for reconciliation efforts between the group and Abbas' West Bank-based administration, adding that Biden "would not" end Israel's half-century-old occupation of Palestinian territory.
Right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he held a "warm" phone conversation with Biden on Tuesday in which "the President-elect reiterated his deep commitment to the state of Israel and its security".
"The two agreed to meet soon in order to discuss the many issues on the agenda," the office said in a statement.
In halting its cooperation with Israel, the PA also stopped accepting transfers of taxes, in particular customs duties, collected by Israel on its behalf.
Deprived of this income, it had to cut the salaries of its civil servants at a time when the Palestinian economy had begun grappling with the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Sheikh did not confirm whether a return to the prior Israeli-Palestinian relations automatically translated into a resumption of tax transfers.
Israel put its annexation plans on hold in return for a US-brokered agreement to normalise ties with the United Arab Emirates, signed on the White House lawn in August.
But the Palestinians' freeze on cooperation with Israel continued, with Abbas calling the agreement a betrayal of their cause.
It has been a longstanding Arab League policy that normalisation of ties with Israel must be preceded by a peace accord with the Palestinians.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-17--Football: Ecuador hit Colombia for six in World Cup qualifier

Ecuador 's Michael Estrada , right , celebrates after scoring his side 's third goal against Colombia during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in Quito , Ecuador , Tuesday , Nov. 17 , 2020 .
Colombia conceded six goals in a World Cup qualifier for the first time since 1977 on Tuesday as they went down 6-1 to a superb display from Ecuador in Quito .
The six goals were as many as Ecuador had scored in their previous 16 games against their neighbours .
Ecuador , who failed to qualify for the 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first half only for a James Rodriguez penalty to cut the deficit just seconds before halftime .
Colombia , who were beaten 3-0 at home by Uruguay last week , struggled throughout and Gonzalo Plata restored Ecuador 's four-goal advantage 12 minutes from fulltime only to be shown a second yellow card for his celebration .
Pervis Estupinan made it 6-1 in the final minute of the match to ensure a miserable day for Colombia .
Ecuador cemented their place among the early pacesetters in the South American qualifying group for Qatar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four games .
The top four teams in the 10-team South American group qualify automatically for the World Cup and the fifth-placed side goes into an inter-regional playoff .

Colombia conceded six goals in a World Cup qualifier for the first time since 1977 on Tuesday as they went down 6-1 to a superb display from Ecuador in Quito.
Ecuador's Michael Estrada, right, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal against Colombia during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in Quito, Ecuador, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020.
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The six goals were as many as Ecuador had scored in their previous 16 games against their neighbours.
Ecuador, who failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, scored four times in the first half only for a James Rodriguez penalty to cut the deficit just seconds before halftime.
Colombia, who were beaten 3-0 at home by Uruguay last week, struggled throughout and Gonzalo Plata restored Ecuador's four-goal advantage 12 minutes from fulltime only to be shown a second yellow card for his celebration.
Pervis Estupinan made it 6-1 in the final minute of the match to ensure a miserable day for Colombia.
Ecuador cemented their place among the early pacesetters in the South American qualifying group for Qatar 2022 with nine points from their first four games.
The top four teams in the 10-team South American group qualify automatically for the World Cup and the fifth-placed side goes into an inter-regional playoff.
(REUTERS)
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