france24--2020-02-20--Warren shines, Sanders stays steadfast and Bloomberg takes a beating in Democratic debate

All of his rivals raise their hands to speak as former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg answers a question at the ninth Democratic 2020 U.S. Presidential candidates debate at the Paris Theater in Las Vegas , Nevada , U.S. , February 19 , 2020 .
The six Democratic candidates spent most of their time on stage in Las Vegas , Nevada ripping each other apart with one candidate , debate debutant Michael Bloomberg , bearing the brunt of the attacks .
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren came out all guns blazing against former New York Mayor Bloomberg just minutes into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against a billionaire who calls women fat broads and horse-faced lesbians .
And , no , I am not talking about Donald Trump , I 'm talking about Mayor Bloomberg.
” '' Democrats take a huge risk if we just substitute one arrogant billionaire for another , '' Warren added .
Bloomberg , who entered the race 10 weeks ago , and is skipping the first four states on the primary calendar and instead focusing his considerable financial resources on the 15 states and territories that vote on Super Tuesday , said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inherit his money but made his money '' .
`` I ’ m spending that money to get rid of Donald Trump – the worst president we ’ ve ever had ” , said Bloomberg .
“ And if I can get that done , it will be a great contribution to America and to my kids.
” Warren continued to savage Bloomberg , criticising his record on race and history of sexist comments .
At times , Bloomberg seemed lost for words as he nervously scratched his nose .
`` We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a man who has who knows how many nondisclosure agreements and the drip , drip , drip of stories of women saying they have been harassed and discriminated against , '' Warren said .
Bloomberg said there were `` very few '' nondisclosure agreements .
`` None of them accuse me of anything , '' he added .
`` Maybe they did n't like the jokes I told . ''
Both Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden are trying to reignite their campaigns after poor showings in Iowa and New Hampshire .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy in New York City that has targetted blacks and Latinos .
Biden said Bloomberg 's policy had thrown `` close to 5 million young black men up against the wall `` and that he ( Biden ) had worked with the Obama administration to put an end to the policy .
`` It 's not whether you apologise or not , it 's the policy .
The policy was abhorrent .
And it was in fact a violation of every right people have , '' Biden said .
Biden told Bloomberg that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough .
Trump added his voice to the attacks on Bloomberg , telling supporters at a rally in Phoenix , Arizona : `` I hear he 's getting pounded tonight . ''
The high stakes in this debate were evident in the scathing attacks each of the candidates heaped on the other .
Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar exchanged barbs .
The two are battling it out for the `` moderate '' moniker .
Buttigieg would not let up on the fact that Klobuchar had not been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an interview .
Klobuchar was visibly rattled : `` I wish everyone was as perfect as you Pete '' , she told him sarcastically .
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders , who is the frontrunner in the Democratic race , stayed true to himself throughout , deflecting attacks and defending his Medicare for all proposal .
When Bloomberg tried to equate socialism with communism , Sanders called it a “ cheap shot ” and turned the discussion to democratic socialism , saying , “ We are living in many ways in a socialist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as Dr. Martin Luther King reminded us .
We have socialism for the very rich .
Rugged individualism for the poor.
” The debate comes at a pivotal time , three days before Nevada 's presidential caucuses , the first in a state known for its more diverse population after contests in the mainly white states of Iowa and New Hampshire .

The six Democratic candidates spent most of their time on stage in Las Vegas, Nevada ripping each other apart with one candidate, debate debutant Michael Bloomberg, bearing the brunt of the attacks.
All of his rivals raise their hands to speak as former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg answers a question at the ninth Democratic 2020 U.S. Presidential candidates debate at the Paris Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., February 19, 2020.
Advertising Read more
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren came out all guns blazing against former New York Mayor Bloomberg just minutes into the ninth debate: "We're running against a billionaire who calls women fat broads and horse-faced lesbians. And, no, I am not talking about Donald Trump, I'm talking about Mayor Bloomberg.”
"Democrats take a huge risk if we just substitute one arrogant billionaire for another," Warren added.
Bloomberg, who entered the race 10 weeks ago, and is skipping the first four states on the primary calendar and instead focusing his considerable financial resources on the 15 states and territories that vote on Super Tuesday, said he is "a philanthropist who didn't inherit his money but made his money".
"I’m spending that money to get rid of Donald Trump – the worst president we’ve ever had”, said Bloomberg. “And if I can get that done, it will be a great contribution to America and to my kids.”
Sexist comments
Warren continued to savage Bloomberg, criticising his record on race and history of sexist comments. At times, Bloomberg seemed lost for words as he nervously scratched his nose.
"We are not going to beat Donald Trump with a man who has who knows how many nondisclosure agreements and the drip, drip, drip of stories of women saying they have been harassed and discriminated against," Warren said.
Bloomberg said there were "very few" nondisclosure agreements. "None of them accuse me of anything," he added. "Maybe they didn't like the jokes I told."
Both Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden are trying to reignite their campaigns after poor showings in Iowa and New Hampshire.
Biden berates Bloomberg for stop-and-frisk
Biden attacked Bloomberg over the stop-and-frisk policing policy in New York City that has targetted blacks and Latinos. Biden said Bloomberg's policy had thrown "close to 5 million young black men up against the wall " and that he (Biden) had worked with the Obama administration to put an end to the policy.
"It's not whether you apologise or not, it's the policy. The policy was abhorrent. And it was in fact a violation of every right people have," Biden said.
Biden told Bloomberg that apologising for the misguided policy was not enough.
Trump added his voice to the attacks on Bloomberg, telling supporters at a rally in Phoenix, Arizona: "I hear he's getting pounded tonight."
High stakes
The high stakes in this debate were evident in the scathing attacks each of the candidates heaped on the other.
Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar exchanged barbs. The two are battling it out for the "moderate" moniker. Buttigieg would not let up on the fact that Klobuchar had not been able to name the president of Mexico in an interview. Klobuchar was visibly rattled: "I wish everyone was as perfect as you Pete", she told him sarcastically.
Sanders defends socialism
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who is the frontrunner in the Democratic race, stayed true to himself throughout, deflecting attacks and defending his Medicare for all proposal.
When Bloomberg tried to equate socialism with communism, Sanders called it a “cheap shot” and turned the discussion to democratic socialism, saying, “We are living in many ways in a socialist society right now. The problem is, as Dr. Martin Luther King reminded us. We have socialism for the very rich. Rugged individualism for the poor.”
The debate comes at a pivotal time, three days before Nevada's presidential caucuses, the first in a state known for its more diverse population after contests in the mainly white states of Iowa and New Hampshire.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-02-20--Two passengers dead from coronavirus-hit cruise ship in Japan

The Japanese government on Thursday said two people from the cruise ship Diamond Princess berthed in Japan , both in their 80s , have died from coronavirus infections and that another two government officials have tested positive for the infection .
More than 620 passengers aboard the cruise liner , which is carrying about 3,700 people , have been infected .
The two passengers were an 87-year-old man who suffered from heart ailments and bronchitis , and an 84-year-old woman .
Both tested positive for the virus although the woman 's cause of death was listed as pneumonia , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that one health ministry official and another from the Cabinet Secretariat were confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus after both had spent time working on the Diamond Princess .
Three officials had previously been infected .
The huge vessel moored in Yokohama near Tokyo is easily the biggest coronavirus cluster outside the Chinese epicenter .
On Wednesday , 443 passengers disembarked after testing negative for the COVID-19 virus and not showing symptoms during a 14-day quarantine period .
The complete removal of the passengers was expected to take at least three days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , packing into yellow buses and leaving for stations and airports for home .
‘ Completely chaotic ’ quarantine process Japan has well over half the known cases outside China due to the ship infections and the rapid spread of the virus with the quarantine operation sparking criticism of authorities just months before Tokyo is due to host the Summer Olympics .
Questions are increasingly being asked as to why former Diamond Princess passengers are able to roam freely around Japan 's famously crowded cities , even if they have tested negative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get off ? ''
screamed a headline in the Nikkan Sports tabloid .
The paper quoted a passenger who said he was tested on February 15 and left four days later .
The Diamond Princess was quarantined on February 5 when a passenger who left in Hong Kong was found infected with the virus .
Passengers were confined to cabins except for brief trips on deck wearing masks and gloves , when they were told to keep their distance from others .
But a specialist in infectious diseases at Kobe University rocked the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chaotic '' quarantine procedures onboard , in rare criticism from a Japanese official .
`` The cruise ship was completely inadequate in terms of infection control , '' said Kentaro Iwata in videos he has since deleted , saying `` there is no need to discuss this further '' .
The videos had been viewed more than a million times in Japanese and hundreds of thousands of times in English .
Speaking to reporters on Thursday , Iwata said he had heard from a colleague on board that the quarantine procedures had improved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the improvement , the risk of secondary infection has been reduced for the passengers .
It remains for the crews , '' he said .
China posts sharp drop in new cases Meanwhile , in China health authorities reported the lowest number of confirmed cases since late January , partly because of a change in diagnostic criteria for patients in Hubei province , the epicentre of the outbreak .
China had 394 new confirmed cases on Wednesday , the National Health Commission ( NHC ) said , sharply down from 1,749 cases a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 23 .
That brings the total accumulated number of confirmed cases in mainland China to 74,576 .
Just how cases are diagnosed and confirmed has had a big impact on official tallies of cases , and changes in the method have raised questions about the extent to which daily tallies accurately reflect the state of the outbreak .
The health scare has cascaded across Southeast Asia , with cases recorded in the Philippines , Singapore , Thailand and Vietnam .
The Philippines , Singapore and Vietnam have restricted flights from mainland China and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up at entry points .
Thailand , which has imposed no such restrictions , reported a 90 percent slump in arrivals from the mainland this month , a gut punch to an already beleaguered tourist sector which makes up nearly a fifth of the economy .
( FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS )

The Japanese government on Thursday said two people from the cruise ship Diamond Princess berthed in Japan, both in their 80s, have died from coronavirus infections and that another two government officials have tested positive for the infection.
Advertising Read more
More than 620 passengers aboard the cruise liner, which is carrying about 3,700 people, have been infected.
The two passengers were an 87-year-old man who suffered from heart ailments and bronchitis, and an 84-year-old woman. Both tested positive for the virus although the woman's cause of death was listed as pneumonia, the health ministry said.
Japanese authorities added that one health ministry official and another from the Cabinet Secretariat were confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus after both had spent time working on the Diamond Princess.
Three officials had previously been infected.
The huge vessel moored in Yokohama near Tokyo is easily the biggest coronavirus cluster outside the Chinese epicenter.
On Wednesday, 443 passengers disembarked after testing negative for the COVID-19 virus and not showing symptoms during a 14-day quarantine period. The complete removal of the passengers was expected to take at least three days.
More passengers left the ship on Thursday, packing into yellow buses and leaving for stations and airports for home.
‘Completely chaotic’ quarantine process
Japan has well over half the known cases outside China due to the ship infections and the rapid spread of the virus with the quarantine operation sparking criticism of authorities just months before Tokyo is due to host the Summer Olympics.
Questions are increasingly being asked as to why former Diamond Princess passengers are able to roam freely around Japan's famously crowded cities, even if they have tested negative.
"Is it really safe to get off?" screamed a headline in the Nikkan Sports tabloid.
The paper quoted a passenger who said he was tested on February 15 and left four days later.
The Diamond Princess was quarantined on February 5 when a passenger who left in Hong Kong was found infected with the virus.
Passengers were confined to cabins except for brief trips on deck wearing masks and gloves, when they were told to keep their distance from others.
But a specialist in infectious diseases at Kobe University rocked the boat with a video slamming "completely chaotic" quarantine procedures onboard, in rare criticism from a Japanese official.
"The cruise ship was completely inadequate in terms of infection control," said Kentaro Iwata in videos he has since deleted, saying "there is no need to discuss this further".
The videos had been viewed more than a million times in Japanese and hundreds of thousands of times in English.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Iwata said he had heard from a colleague on board that the quarantine procedures had improved.
"I think that because of the improvement, the risk of secondary infection has been reduced for the passengers. It remains for the crews," he said.
China posts sharp drop in new cases
Meanwhile, in China health authorities reported the lowest number of confirmed cases since late January, partly because of a change in diagnostic criteria for patients in Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak.
China had 394 new confirmed cases on Wednesday, the National Health Commission (NHC) said, sharply down from 1,749 cases a day earlier and the lowest since January 23.
That brings the total accumulated number of confirmed cases in mainland China to 74,576.
Just how cases are diagnosed and confirmed has had a big impact on official tallies of cases, and changes in the method have raised questions about the extent to which daily tallies accurately reflect the state of the outbreak.
The health scare has cascaded across Southeast Asia, with cases recorded in the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam have restricted flights from mainland China and suspended visa-free arrivals as health screening ramps up at entry points.
Thailand, which has imposed no such restrictions, reported a 90 percent slump in arrivals from the mainland this month, a gut punch to an already beleaguered tourist sector which makes up nearly a fifth of the economy.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-02-20--Tunisia names new coalition government, bringing an end to political crisis

Tunisian Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh ( C ) leaves for a meeting with Tunisian President Kais Saied ( not pictured ) in Tunis , Tunisia February 15 , 2020 .
Tunisia ’ s designated Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh on Wednesday named a new coalition government after reaching an agreement with Ennahda moderate Islamist Party , the biggest power in Parliament , ending an ongoing political crisis of four months .
With this agreement , the proposed government will likely win a confidence vote in Parliament in the coming days and the country will avoid an early election .
Fakhfakh proposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday and then said negotiations would continue after Ennahda party sought some changes .
President Kais Saied said on Monday he would dissolve parliament and call for an early election if the new government failed to win a parliamentary confidence vote .
Fakhfakh submitted a list of cabinet nominees to President Saied , with Nizar Yaich as finance minister , Nourredine Erray as foreign minister and Imed Hazgui as defence minister .
The proposed government must be approved by the deeply fragmented parliament in the next days .
Among the other proposed ministers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy minister , Mohamed Ali Toumi as tourism minister and Thouraya Jribi as justice minister .
Fakhfakh previously said he wants a government based on the values of the 2011 revolution that would address unemployment and improve public services .
Tunisia faces a series of long-term economic challenges , which threaten to undermine public trust in the young democracy , and which demand political decisions that could be unpopular .
Tunisian officials said the IMF is waiting for the new government to start talks over a sixth review of its IMF loan programme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 billion internationally in 2020 to meet spending commitments .
Since the 2011 revolution , unemployment has been high and growth low , while the government has sunk further into debt with a series of big-budget deficits that foreign lenders demand it bring under control .
Elections in September and October returned Saied , a political independent , as president , and a parliament in which Ennahda held fewer than a quarter of the seats .

Tunisia’s designated Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh on Wednesday named a new coalition government after reaching an agreement with Ennahda moderate Islamist Party, the biggest power in Parliament, ending an ongoing political crisis of four months.
Tunisian Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh (C) leaves for a meeting with Tunisian President Kais Saied (not pictured) in Tunis, Tunisia February 15, 2020.
Advertising Read more
With this agreement, the proposed government will likely win a confidence vote in Parliament in the coming days and the country will avoid an early election.
Fakhfakh proposed the line-up of a new government on Saturday and then said negotiations would continue after Ennahda party sought some changes.
President Kais Saied said on Monday he would dissolve parliament and call for an early election if the new government failed to win a parliamentary confidence vote.
Fakhfakh submitted a list of cabinet nominees to President Saied, with Nizar Yaich as finance minister, Nourredine Erray as foreign minister and Imed Hazgui as defence minister.
The proposed government must be approved by the deeply fragmented parliament in the next days.
Among the other proposed ministers in his cabinet are Mongi Marzouk as energy minister, Mohamed Ali Toumi as tourism minister and Thouraya Jribi as justice minister.
Fakhfakh previously said he wants a government based on the values of the 2011 revolution that would address unemployment and improve public services.
The cabinet proposed including Ennahda, Tahya Tounes, Achaab, Attayar, El Badil parties and independents.
Tunisia faces a series of long-term economic challenges, which threaten to undermine public trust in the young democracy, and which demand political decisions that could be unpopular.
Tunisian officials said the IMF is waiting for the new government to start talks over a sixth review of its IMF loan programme. Tunisia needs to borrow about $3 billion internationally in 2020 to meet spending commitments.
Since the 2011 revolution, unemployment has been high and growth low, while the government has sunk further into debt with a series of big-budget deficits that foreign lenders demand it bring under control.
Elections in September and October returned Saied, a political independent, as president, and a parliament in which Ennahda held fewer than a quarter of the seats.
(REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-02-20--Trump 'offered to pardon Assange in exchange for Russia denial'

U.S. President Donald Trump offered to pardon WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange if he said that Russia had nothing to do with WikiLeaks ' publication of Democratic Party emails in 2016 , a London court heard on Wednesday .
Assange appeared by videolink from prison as lawyers discussed the management of his hearing next week to decide whether he should be extradited to the United States .
At Westminster Magistrates ' Court , Assange 's barrister , Edward Fitzgerald , referred to a witness statement by former Republican U.S. Representative Dana Rohrabacher who visited Assange in 2017 , saying he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pardon .
The pardon would come on the condition that Assange say the Russians were not involved in the email leak that damaged Hillary Clinton 's presidential campaign in 2016 against Trump , Rohrabacher 's statement said .
`` The president barely knows Dana Rohrabacher other than he ’ s an ex-congressman .
He ’ s never spoken to him on this subject or almost any subject .
It is a complete fabrication and a total lie , '' she said .
Rohrabacher , likewise , said he never spoke with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the former lawmaker denied he had been sent on Trump 's behalf and said he was acting on his own when he offered to ask Trump for a pardon if Assange would say how he got the emails .
He said he relayed Assange 's willingness to cooperate to Trump 's then-chief of staff , John Kelly , but said he heard nothing further from the White House .
U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to try to help Trump win , in part by hacking and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denied meddling and Trump denied any campaign collusion with Moscow .
A probe by U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller did not establish that members of Trump ’ s campaign conspired with Russia during the election .
Assange , 48 , who spent seven years holed up in Ecuador 's London embassy before he was dragged out last April , is wanted in the United States on 18 counts including conspiring to hack government computers and violating an espionage law .
He could spend decades behind bars if convicted .
Almost a decade after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secret U.S. documents , Woolwich Crown Court in London will begin hearings on Monday - with Assange present - to decide whether he should be sent to the United States .
At Wednesday 's hearing , Assange spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth .
He appeared relaxed and spent much of the hearing reading notes in his lap .
He wore two pairs of glasses : one on top of his head and another he took on and off and twiddled in his hands .
The Australian-born Assange made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published a classified U.S. military video showing a 2007 attack by Apache helicopters in Baghdad that killed a dozen people , including two Reuters news staff .
The full extradition hearing will be split in two parts , with the second half delayed until May .

U.S. President Donald Trump offered to pardon WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange if he said that Russia had nothing to do with WikiLeaks' publication of Democratic Party emails in 2016, a London court heard on Wednesday.
Advertising Read more
Assange appeared by videolink from prison as lawyers discussed the management of his hearing next week to decide whether he should be extradited to the United States.
At Westminster Magistrates' Court, Assange's barrister, Edward Fitzgerald, referred to a witness statement by former Republican U.S. Representative Dana Rohrabacher who visited Assange in 2017, saying he had been sent by the president to offer a pardon.
The pardon would come on the condition that Assange say the Russians were not involved in the email leak that damaged Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2016 against Trump, Rohrabacher's statement said.
A White House spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, denied the assertion.
"The president barely knows Dana Rohrabacher other than he’s an ex-congressman. He’s never spoken to him on this subject or almost any subject. It is a complete fabrication and a total lie," she said.
Rohrabacher, likewise, said he never spoke with the president about Assange. In a statement, the former lawmaker denied he had been sent on Trump's behalf and said he was acting on his own when he offered to ask Trump for a pardon if Assange would say how he got the emails.
He said he relayed Assange's willingness to cooperate to Trump's then-chief of staff, John Kelly, but said he heard nothing further from the White House.
U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to try to help Trump win, in part by hacking and releasing emails embarrassing to Clinton.
Russia denied meddling and Trump denied any campaign collusion with Moscow. A probe by U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller did not establish that members of Trump’s campaign conspired with Russia during the election.
Assange, 48, who spent seven years holed up in Ecuador's London embassy before he was dragged out last April, is wanted in the United States on 18 counts including conspiring to hack government computers and violating an espionage law. He could spend decades behind bars if convicted.
Almost a decade after his WikiLeaks website enraged Washington by leaking secret U.S. documents, Woolwich Crown Court in London will begin hearings on Monday - with Assange present - to decide whether he should be sent to the United States.
At Wednesday's hearing, Assange spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth. He appeared relaxed and spent much of the hearing reading notes in his lap. He wore two pairs of glasses: one on top of his head and another he took on and off and twiddled in his hands.
The Australian-born Assange made global headlines in early 2010 when WikiLeaks published a classified U.S. military video showing a 2007 attack by Apache helicopters in Baghdad that killed a dozen people, including two Reuters news staff.
The full extradition hearing will be split in two parts, with the second half delayed until May.
(REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-02-19--Post-Brexit Britain hails end to influx of 'cheap labour' from EU

The UK 's post-Brexit immigration system , set to begin on January 21 , 2021 , aims to reduce the country 's reliance on unskilled labour from the EU , but some business groups warn of a potential shortage of domestic workers in some sectors .
Britain will prioritise access for high-skilled workers from around the world in its post-Brexit points-based immigration system , the government said on Tuesday , setting out its plans to put an end to a reliance on `` cheap labour from Europe '' .
Concern over the impact of high levels of immigration from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drivers behind Britain 's 2016 vote to leave the bloc and the government has said it plans to bring overall migration numbers down .
The new system , in place from Jan. 1 , 2021 , will assign points for specific skills , qualifications , salaries or professions and only give visas to those who have enough points .
It will treat EU and non-EU citizens the same .
It will mark a sea change for businesses who have grown used to having access to a large pool of EU workers , particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former communist states in central and eastern Europe saw a big influx of migrants coming to Britain to work .
`` We have got a number of routes through the points-based immigration scheme that will enable people to come here with the right kind of skills that can support our country and our economy , '' interior minister Priti Patel said .
There will be no specific entry route for low-skilled workers , something the government hopes will help reduce migrant numbers .
`` We need to shift the focus of our economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe and instead concentrate on investment in technology and automation .
Employers will need to adjust , '' the government said in a policy document .
But business groups said that many firms relied on overseas labour and cautioned there might not be enough domestic workers to tend crops , care for patients and serve food - a deficit that could undermine the world 's fifth largest economy .
Britain 's fruit and vegetable sector relies on up to 80,000 seasonal workers from the EU each year , but the government said its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10,000 places .
Trade association UKHospitality said ruling out a temporary , low-skilled migration route so soon would be `` disastrous '' for the hospitality sector it represents .
`` Business must be given time to adapt , '' said Chief Executive Kate Nicholls .
`` These proposals will cut off future growth and expansion and deter investment in Britain ’ s high streets .
It will lead to reduced levels of service for customers and business closures . ''
The Home Office said it would follow a recommendation made last month by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an independent body which advises the government , to lower the minimum general salary threshold for skilled migrants to 25,600 pounds ( $ 33,330 ) a year , from 30,000 pounds .
Skilled workers will need to meet criteria including the ability to speak English and will need to have a job offer .
The MAC estimated the impact of the government 's planned salary and skills thresholds would mean around 70 % of European Economic Area citizens who have arrived in Britain since 2004 would not have been eligible for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a visa to enter Britain as a visitor for up to six months .
Immigration from the EU has been falling since the 2016 Brexit vote , with official figures showing net migration by EU citizens in the year to June at its lowest since quarterly records began in 2009 .
The government did not give a target level for annual net migration under its new system .
Former Conservative governments have aimed for under 100,000 a year and net migration is currently running at just over double that .

Britain will prioritise access for high-skilled workers from around the world in its post-Brexit points-based immigration system, the government said on Tuesday, setting out its plans to put an end to a reliance on "cheap labour from Europe".
The UK's post-Brexit immigration system, set to begin on January 21, 2021, aims to reduce the country's reliance on unskilled labour from the EU, but some business groups warn of a potential shortage of domestic workers in some sectors.
Advertising Read more
Concern over the impact of high levels of immigration from the European Union was one of the key drivers behind Britain's 2016 vote to leave the bloc and the government has said it plans to bring overall migration numbers down.
The new system, in place from Jan. 1, 2021, will assign points for specific skills, qualifications, salaries or professions and only give visas to those who have enough points. It will treat EU and non-EU citizens the same.
It will mark a sea change for businesses who have grown used to having access to a large pool of EU workers, particularly since 2004 when the accession of several former communist states in central and eastern Europe saw a big influx of migrants coming to Britain to work.
"We have got a number of routes through the points-based immigration scheme that will enable people to come here with the right kind of skills that can support our country and our economy," interior minister Priti Patel said.
There will be no specific entry route for low-skilled workers, something the government hopes will help reduce migrant numbers.
"We need to shift the focus of our economy away from reliance on cheap labour from Europe and instead concentrate on investment in technology and automation. Employers will need to adjust," the government said in a policy document.
But business groups said that many firms relied on overseas labour and cautioned there might not be enough domestic workers to tend crops, care for patients and serve food - a deficit that could undermine the world's fifth largest economy.
Britain's fruit and vegetable sector relies on up to 80,000 seasonal workers from the EU each year, but the government said its Seasonal Workers Pilot scheme would have just 10,000 places.
Trade association UKHospitality said ruling out a temporary, low-skilled migration route so soon would be "disastrous" for the hospitality sector it represents.
"Business must be given time to adapt," said Chief Executive Kate Nicholls. "These proposals will cut off future growth and expansion and deter investment in Britain’s high streets. It will lead to reduced levels of service for customers and business closures."
Lower salary threshold
The Home Office said it would follow a recommendation made last month by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), an independent body which advises the government, to lower the minimum general salary threshold for skilled migrants to 25,600 pounds ($33,330) a year, from 30,000 pounds.
Skilled workers will need to meet criteria including the ability to speak English and will need to have a job offer.
The MAC estimated the impact of the government's planned salary and skills thresholds would mean around 70% of European Economic Area citizens who have arrived in Britain since 2004 would not have been eligible for a visa.
EU citizens will not need a visa to enter Britain as a visitor for up to six months.
Immigration from the EU has been falling since the 2016 Brexit vote, with official figures showing net migration by EU citizens in the year to June at its lowest since quarterly records began in 2009.
The government did not give a target level for annual net migration under its new system. Former Conservative governments have aimed for under 100,000 a year and net migration is currently running at just over double that.
(REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-02-20--Werner’s penalty gives RB Leipzig the edge over Tottenham

Timo Werner led Leipzig to its first Champions League knockout stage victory , netting a penalty to seal a 1-0 victory over Tottenham in the first leg of their round-of-16 meeting on Wednesday .
A clumsy tackle by Tottenham defender Ben Davies on Konrad Laimer led to the penalty that Werner converted in the 58th minute for his 26th goal of the season .
Such was the dominance of Leipzig — particularly in the first half in north London — that it was the German visitors that looked the more established Champions League side rather than last season 's beaten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Dele Alli flinging his boot on the ground in annoyance while walking to the bench after being substituted .
Tottenham was already trailing at that point , and it took going behind to find the goal threat absent in the first half .
Giovani Lo Celso curled a free kick against the post and Lucas Moura headed wide on a night when Tottenham 's shortage of attacking options was exposed .
With Harry Kane already sidelined , Son Heung-min joined the striker in the treatment room this week after surgery on an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miss the rest of the season .
It is a season where Tottenham is struggling to qualify for the Champions League for a fifth successive season .
Tottenham is a point behind fourth-place Chelsea in fifth in the Premier League , which would secure qualification if second-place Manchester City 's European ban is upheld .
Leipzig is faring far better in Germany , sitting in second place in the Bundesliga .
Now the team is well-placed to make the Champions League quarterfinals in only its second season in the competition and a decade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Wednesday 's other match , Atalanta routed Valencia 4-1 to close in on a spot in the quarterfinals in its first season in the competition .
The second leg is on March 10 .

Timo Werner led Leipzig to its first Champions League knockout stage victory, netting a penalty to seal a 1-0 victory over Tottenham in the first leg of their round-of-16 meeting on Wednesday.
Advertising Read more
A clumsy tackle by Tottenham defender Ben Davies on Konrad Laimer led to the penalty that Werner converted in the 58th minute for his 26th goal of the season.
Such was the dominance of Leipzig — particularly in the first half in north London — that it was the German visitors that looked the more established Champions League side rather than last season's beaten finalists.
Tottenham's frustration was encapsulated by Dele Alli flinging his boot on the ground in annoyance while walking to the bench after being substituted.
Tottenham was already trailing at that point, and it took going behind to find the goal threat absent in the first half.
Giovani Lo Celso curled a free kick against the post and Lucas Moura headed wide on a night when Tottenham's shortage of attacking options was exposed.
With Harry Kane already sidelined, Son Heung-min joined the striker in the treatment room this week after surgery on an arm that could see the South Korean miss the rest of the season.
It is a season where Tottenham is struggling to qualify for the Champions League for a fifth successive season. Tottenham is a point behind fourth-place Chelsea in fifth in the Premier League, which would secure qualification if second-place Manchester City's European ban is upheld.
Leipzig is faring far better in Germany, sitting in second place in the Bundesliga.
Now the team is well-placed to make the Champions League quarterfinals in only its second season in the competition and a decade after playing in the fifth tier.
In Wednesday's other match, Atalanta routed Valencia 4-1 to close in on a spot in the quarterfinals in its first season in the competition.
The second leg is on March 10.
(AP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-02-19--Turkish offensive on Syria’s Idlib ‘only a matter of time’, warns Erdogan

Turkey 's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday a Turkish military operation to push back a Syrian government offensive against rebel strongholds in northwest Syria was now `` a matter of time '' after talks with Russia failed to halt the assault .
Turkish troops have already massed inside Syria ready to act and more were heading to the border area .
The Kremlin , which backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad , said a confrontation between Turkish and Syrian forces would be a `` worst-case scenario '' and Russia would keep working to prevent the situation from worsening .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ special forces have been battling since December to eradicate the last rebel bastions in Idlib and Aleppo provinces in what could be one of the final chapters of the nine-year-old civil war .
Nearly one million civilians have fled from air strikes and artillery barrages towards the frontier , overwhelming relief agencies and alarming Turkey , which is struggling to cope with the 3.6 million Syrian refugees already camped inside its borders.Speaking to lawmakers from his ruling AK Party on Wednesday , Erdogan said Turkey was determined to make Idlib a secure zone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Several rounds of diplomacy had failed to reach an agreement so far , he said .
`` We are entering the last days for the regime to stop its hostility in Idlib .
We are making our final warnings , '' said Erdogan , whose country has the second-largest army in NATO .
`` Turkey has made every preparation to carry out its own operational plans .
I say that we can come at any point .
In other words , the Idlib offensive is only a matter of time .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward the end-of-February deadline for a Syrian withdrawal from Idlib that he had previously stated .
Ready for 'zero hour' Assad , whose family dynasty has ruled Syria for nearly half a century , has showed no sign of bowing to the demand , saying on Monday that his military gains presaged the eventual defeat of his foes .
They include Turkish-backed rebels and jihadist militants .
An opposition military source told Reuters that 15,000 Turkish soldiers were now in northwest Syria after numerous convoys of reinforcements and weaponry had poured into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ca n't imagine the scale of Turkish reinforcements , half of Reyhanli is now full of Turkish commandoes ready to enter Syria , '' he said , referring to a Turkish border town .
`` They are readying their forces for zero hour , operations are expected to start any time . ''
Ankara and Moscow signed an agreement in 2018 to establish a de-escalation zone in Idlib allowing both sides to set up observation posts .
Since the escalation in the conflict , both sides have accused each other of flouting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Syrian forces were upholding previous agreements but also reacting to provocations .
Kremlin spokesman Peskov also said : `` If we talk about an operation against legitimate Syrian authorities and armed forces , it is of course a worst-case scenario . ''
Russia has a naval base at Tartus and an airbase at Hmeimim .
Its war planes launched an air campaign in Syria in 2015 , turning the tide of the war in Assad 's favour .
The recent air strikes in the northwest have hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United Nations has said .
Close to 900,000 people , most of them women and children , have fled their homes in dreadful winter conditions since December in the biggest displacement of the war .
In the past week the Syrian army has taken full control of dozens of towns in the Aleppo countryside and the M5 highway linking Damascus to Aleppo .

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday a Turkish military operation to push back a Syrian government offensive against rebel strongholds in northwest Syria was now "a matter of time" after talks with Russia failed to halt the assault.
Advertising Read more
Turkish troops have already massed inside Syria ready to act and more were heading to the border area.
The Kremlin, which backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, said a confrontation between Turkish and Syrian forces would be a "worst-case scenario" and Russia would keep working to prevent the situation from worsening.
Syrian troops supported by Russian warplanes and special forces have been battling since December to eradicate the last rebel bastions in Idlib and Aleppo provinces in what could be one of the final chapters of the nine-year-old civil war.
01:57
03:19
Nearly one million civilians have fled from air strikes and artillery barrages towards the frontier, overwhelming relief agencies and alarming Turkey, which is struggling to cope with the 3.6 million Syrian refugees already camped inside its borders.Speaking to lawmakers from his ruling AK Party on Wednesday, Erdogan said Turkey was determined to make Idlib a secure zone even while talks with Moscow continued. Several rounds of diplomacy had failed to reach an agreement so far, he said."We are entering the last days for the regime to stop its hostility in Idlib. We are making our final warnings," said Erdogan, whose country has the second-largest army in NATO."Turkey has made every preparation to carry out its own operational plans. I say that we can come at any point. In other words, the Idlib offensive is only a matter of time."The Turkish leader on Saturday appeared to move forward the end-of-February deadline for a Syrian withdrawal from Idlib that he had previously stated.
Ready for 'zero hour'
Assad, whose family dynasty has ruled Syria for nearly half a century, has showed no sign of bowing to the demand, saying on Monday that his military gains presaged the eventual defeat of his foes. They include Turkish-backed rebels and jihadist militants.
An opposition military source told Reuters that 15,000 Turkish soldiers were now in northwest Syria after numerous
convoys of reinforcements and weaponry had poured into the territory in recent days.
"You can't imagine the scale of Turkish reinforcements, half of Reyhanli is now full of Turkish commandoes ready to enter Syria," he said, referring to a Turkish border town. "They are readying their forces for zero hour, operations are expected to start any time."
Ankara and Moscow signed an agreement in 2018 to establish a de-escalation zone in Idlib allowing both sides to set up observation posts. Since the escalation in the conflict, both sides have accused each other of flouting the agreement.
In Moscow on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Syrian forces were upholding previous agreements but also reacting to provocations.
Kremlin spokesman Peskov also said: "If we talk about an operation against legitimate Syrian authorities and armed forces, it is of course a worst-case scenario."
Russia has a naval base at Tartus and an airbase at Hmeimim. Its war planes launched an air campaign in Syria in 2015, turning the tide of the war in Assad's favour.
The recent air strikes in the northwest have hit hospitals and camps for displaced people, the United Nations has said. Close to 900,000 people, most of them women and children, have fled their homes in dreadful winter conditions since December in the biggest displacement of the war.
In the past week the Syrian army has taken full control of dozens of towns in the Aleppo countryside and the M5 highway linking Damascus to Aleppo.
(REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-02-19--Did police kill a woman escaping a COVID-19 quarantine in China?

People all over the world have been sharing a video that they claim shows a woman killed by police in China for trying to escape quarantine for the COVID-19 virus , which has infected more than 70,000 people since it first appeared in Wuhan , China in December 2019 .
The propagation of this video is evidence of the rising hysteria about the virus online .
However , our team took a closer look , and found out that the video itself tells an entirely different story .
The 21-second video shows a person wearing a yellow jacket and black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The person ’ s face is covered in blood .
In the background someone is screaming , and at the very end of the video a woman runs towards the person on the ground .
The video has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on social media , especially Twitter .
Social media users claimed that the person on the ground was a woman fatally shot by police when she tried to break past the blockade set up to try to contain the virus in Wuzu , a city in Hubei province .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ small town of Wuzu , located about 200km to the east of Wuhan .
However , there are several different clues in the video that cast doubt on the rest of the story shared by people online .
Why this video is false Our team spoke with a Wuzu resident who wanted to remain anonymous to protect his own safety .
We ’ ll refer to him as Zhang W. He didn ’ t witness the scene in the video himself but he did speak with several eyewitnesses after the fact .
Zhang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video shared online , which is a fraction of a second longer .
If you pause the video , you can see that there is a motorbike or scooter lying on its side on the sidewalk a few metres from the person on the ground .
Also , at 0 ’ 04 , you can see that the concrete barrier around a nearby tree has been damaged .
These screengrabs show the moments in the video that provide clues that a motorbike or scooter accident occurred .
These two clues in the video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the victim of a road accident .
Zhang W. also provided the FRANCE 24 Observers team with several screengrabs of discussions held in a group of Wuzu residents on the app WeChat .
He also sent our team another video , filmed from a moving car , that shows the same scene .
The image on the left is a screengrab of a conversation between Wuzu residents in a WeChat group .
The image at the centre is a video shared in this group that shows the same scene but filmed from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right is a screengrab from the original video that has been circulating online .
“ Two teenagers were going too fast on their scooters , ” explains one of the messages posted in the group alongside the video .
“ They hit the edge of the road and lost control .
The driver died.
” Zhang W. also sent our team a press release from the director of the Wuzu police station , Commissioner Zhao .
Screengrab of the statement from the Wuzu police commissioner , which our Observer Zhang W. shared with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the afternoon of January 29 , a one-vehicle accident involving a motor scooter occurred in Wuzu .
The driver carried out a poor manoeuvre , which resulted in the scooter going off the road and hitting a concrete border .
He fell on the back of his head and , sadly , died .
The driver was the only person involved .
Local police , traffic police and medical personnel quickly arrived on site to manage the accident , ” said the police commissioner in a statement meant to put a stop to @ @ @ @ @ @ @

DEBUNKED
Advertising Read more
People all over the world have been sharing a video that they claim shows a woman killed by police in China for trying to escape quarantine for the COVID-19 virus, which has infected more than 70,000 people since it first appeared in Wuhan, China in December 2019. The propagation of this video is evidence of the rising hysteria about the virus online. However, our team took a closer look, and found out that the video itself tells an entirely different story.
The 21-second video shows a person wearing a yellow jacket and black trousers lying motionless on the ground. The person’s face is covered in blood. In the background someone is screaming, and at the very end of the video a woman runs towards the person on the ground. The video has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on social media, especially Twitter.
Social media users claimed that the person on the ground was a woman fatally shot by police when she tried to break past the blockade set up to try to contain the virus in Wuzu, a city in Hubei province.
At Wuzu Town, Huangmei County in #Hubei , a woman was said to have shot dead after she attempted to break the blockade set up to contain #coronavirus . 湖北省黄梅县五祖镇 , 据说这名妇女因强闯 #武汉肺炎 封锁线被警察打死。#CoronavirusOutbreak
何不 #全民自救 #全民互救 ？ pic.twitter.com/HqEvzSknz2 曾錚 Jennifer Zeng (@jenniferatntd) February 4, 2020
“At Wuzu Town, Huangmei County in #Hubei , a woman was said to have [been] shot dead after she attempted to break the blockade set up to contain #coronavirus,” tweeted one user on February 4, 2020. This same story appeared in tweets in many different languages.
The video was indeed filmed in the small town of Wuzu, located about 200km to the east of Wuhan. However, there are several different clues in the video that cast doubt on the rest of the story shared by people online.
Why this video is false
Our team spoke with a Wuzu resident who wanted to remain anonymous to protect his own safety. We’ll refer to him as Zhang W. He didn’t witness the scene in the video himself but he did speak with several eyewitnesses after the fact.
I can confirm that this incident took place in front of Siyuan School in Wuzu on January 29, 2020. I live right by the school and a few of my friends witnessed the incident in the video. Contrary to what people are saying on Twitter, the person on the ground is a man, not a woman, and he wasn’t killed by the police, he had a motorbike accident.
Zhang W. sent us another version of the video shared online, which is a fraction of a second longer. If you pause the video, you can see that there is a motorbike or scooter lying on its side on the sidewalk a few metres from the person on the ground. Also, at 0’04, you can see that the concrete barrier around a nearby tree has been damaged.
These screengrabs show the moments in the video that provide clues that a motorbike or scooter accident occurred.
These two clues in the video support the theory that the video shows the victim of a road accident.
Zhang W. also provided the FRANCE 24 Observers team with several screengrabs of discussions held in a group of Wuzu residents on the app WeChat. He also sent our team another video, filmed from a moving car, that shows the same scene.
The image on the left is a screengrab of a conversation between Wuzu residents in a WeChat group. The image at the centre is a video shared in this group that shows the same scene but filmed from a different point of view. On the right is a screengrab from the original video that has been circulating online.
“Two teenagers were going too fast on their scooters,” explains one of the messages posted in the group alongside the video. “They hit the edge of the road and lost control. The driver died.”
Zhang W. also sent our team a press release from the director of the Wuzu police station, Commissioner Zhao.
Screengrab of the statement from the Wuzu police commissioner, which our Observer Zhang W. shared with our team via text.
"On the afternoon of January 29, a one-vehicle accident involving a motor scooter occurred in Wuzu. The driver carried out a poor manoeuvre, which resulted in the scooter going off the road and hitting a concrete border. He fell on the back of his head and, sadly, died. The driver was the only person involved. Local police, traffic police and medical personnel quickly arrived on site to manage the accident,” said the police commissioner in a statement meant to put a stop to the rumours circulating about the accident.
Conclusion
From our investigation, we were able to establish that this video, which does show a real accident, was taken out of context and used to feed into the alarmist rhetoric about COVID-19 that is currently circulating on social media.
Article by Liselotte Mas


france24--2020-02-19--Macron unveils curbs on foreign imams in France to combat ‘separatism’

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday announced measures to end a programme that allowed foreign countries to send imams and teachers to France in a bid to crack down on what he called the risk of `` separatism '' .
During a visit to the eastern French city of Mulhouse , Macron said the government sought to combat “ foreign interference ” in how Islam is practiced and the way its religious institutions are organised .
`` A problem arises when , in the name of religion , some want to separate themselves from the Republic and therefore not respect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Macron plans to end a programme created in 1977 that allowed nine countries to send imams and teachers to France to provide foreign-language and culture classes that are not subject to any supervision from French authorities .
Four majority-Muslim countries – Algeria , Tunisia , Morocco and Turkey – were involved in the programme , which reaches about 80,000 students every year .
Around 300 imams were sent to France every year by these countries and those who arrived in 2020 will be the last to arrive in such numbers , said Macron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Muslim Council ( CFCM ) , the body representing Islam in France , to find solutions to train imams on French soil instead and ensure they can speak French and do not spread Islamist views .
The measures were part of a much-anticipated intervention less than a month before municipal elections in France .
Macron ’ s speech came at the end of a visit to Mulhouse , home to a large Muslim community that has been the focus of the French government ’ s campaign against Islamism .
The new rules were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by giving the government more authority over the schooling of children , the financing of mosques and the training of imams , said Macron .
`` This end to the consular Islam system is extremely important to curb foreign influence and make sure everybody respects the laws of the republic , '' he told a news conference in Mulhouse .
‘ We can not have Turkey 's laws on France' The scrapping of the programme granting countries the right to send imams and teachers to France would instead be replaced by bilateral agreements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the courses and their content starting in September .
France had agreements with a number of countries , including Algeria , Morocco and Tunisia , said Macron .
But the only country with which France did not reach a bilateral agreement was Turkey .
“ Turkey today can make the choice to follow that path with us or not , but I wo n't let any foreign country feed a cultural , religious or identity-related separatism on our Republic 's ground , ” he said .
“ We can not have Turkey 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way , ” Macron added .
Turkey runs a vast network of mosques inside the country and abroad under the powerful Diyanet , or Directorate of Religious Affairs .
Under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan , the Diyanet budget has dramatically increased amid criticism that the body was being used by Ankara as a foreign policy tool and an attempt to extend Turkey ’ s soft power .
Home to Europe ’ s largest Muslim community , estimated at around 6 million , or 8 percent of the population , France has long sought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a country that holds fast to laïcité , or state secularism , a 1905 legal principle that separated church and state and mandated the state ’ s neutrality on religion .
France has suffered major attacks by Islamist militants in recent years .
Coordinated bombings and shootings in November 2015 at the Bataclan theatre and other sites around Paris killed 130 people – the deadliest attacks in France since World War Two .
Most of the attackers were French or Belgian nationals who had travelled to Turkey and from there to Iraq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State ( IS ) group .
Fighting ‘ separatism ’ or communities governing themselves Addressing the issue of “ separatism ” , Macron warned of the dangers of `` communitarianism '' or the practice of communities governing themselves in France .
He called for better integration of Muslims in wider society .
`` We are here for a reason that we share with Muslims – that is the struggle against communitarianism , '' he said .
Macron insisted the new measures were not anti-Islam , but were designed to aid the integration and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` What we must put in place is not , as I have sometimes heard from some people , ' a plan against Islam ' .
That would be a profound mistake , ” said Macron .
“ What we must fight is the separatism , because when the Republic does not keep its promises , others will try to replace it . ''

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday announced measures to end a programme that allowed foreign countries to send imams and teachers to France in a bid to crack down on what he called the risk of "separatism".
Advertising Read more
During a visit to the eastern French city of Mulhouse, Macron said the government sought to combat “foreign interference” in how Islam is practiced and the way its religious institutions are organised.
"A problem arises when, in the name of religion, some want to separate themselves from the Republic and therefore not respect its laws,” he said.
Macron plans to end a programme created in 1977 that allowed nine countries to send imams and teachers to France to provide foreign-language and culture classes that are not subject to any supervision from French authorities.
Four majority-Muslim countries – Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Turkey – were involved in the programme, which reaches about 80,000 students every year. Around 300 imams were sent to France every year by these countries and those who arrived in 2020 will be the last to arrive in such numbers, said Macron.
The government has asked the French Muslim Council (CFCM), the body representing Islam in France, to find solutions to train imams on French soil instead and ensure they can speak French and do not spread Islamist views.
The measures were part of a much-anticipated intervention less than a month before municipal elections in France. Macron’s speech came at the end of a visit to Mulhouse, home to a large Muslim community that has been the focus of the French government’s campaign against Islamism.
The new rules were intended to counter Islamic extremism in France by giving the government more authority over the schooling of children, the financing of mosques and the training of imams, said Macron.
"This end to the consular Islam system is extremely important to curb foreign influence and make sure everybody respects the laws of the republic," he told a news conference in Mulhouse.
03:28
‘We cannot have Turkey's laws on France'
The scrapping of the programme granting countries the right to send imams and teachers to France would instead be replaced by bilateral agreements to ensure French state has control over the courses and their content starting in September.
France had agreements with a number of countries, including Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, said Macron. But the only country with which France did not reach a bilateral agreement was Turkey.
“Turkey today can make the choice to follow that path with us or not, but I won't let any foreign country feed a cultural, religious or identity-related separatism on our Republic's ground,” he said.
“We cannot have Turkey's laws on France's ground. No way,” Macron added.
Turkey runs a vast network of mosques inside the country and abroad under the powerful Diyanet, or Directorate of Religious Affairs. Under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Diyanet budget has dramatically increased amid criticism that the body was being used by Ankara as a foreign policy tool and an attempt to extend Turkey’s soft power.
Home to Europe’s largest Muslim community, estimated at around 6 million, or 8 percent of the population, France has long sought to assimilate its Muslim nationals and residents in a country that holds fast to laïcité, or state secularism, a 1905 legal principle that separated church and state and mandated the state’s neutrality on religion.
France has suffered major attacks by Islamist militants in recent years. Coordinated bombings and shootings in November 2015 at the Bataclan theatre and other sites around Paris killed 130 people – the deadliest attacks in France since World War Two. Most of the attackers were French or Belgian nationals who had travelled to Turkey and from there to Iraq and Syria to fight with the Islamic State (IS) group.
Fighting ‘separatism’ or communities governing themselves
Addressing the issue of “separatism”, Macron warned of the dangers of "communitarianism" or the practice of communities governing themselves in France. He called for better integration of Muslims in wider society.
"We are here for a reason that we share with Muslims – that is the struggle against communitarianism," he said. Macron insisted the new measures were not anti-Islam, but were designed to aid the integration and provide opportunities for France’s Muslims.
"What we must put in place is not, as I have sometimes heard from some people, 'a plan against Islam'. That would be a profound mistake,” said Macron. “What we must fight is the separatism, because when the Republic does not keep its promises, others will try to replace it."
(FRANCE 24 with AP and REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-02-19--Neymar blames PSG's handling of injury for poor form in Dortmund defeat

Paris Saint-Germain 's star Neymar tries to wriggle his way past three defenders on a frustrating night in Dortmund .
Neymar has criticised Paris Saint-Germain 's handling of his recent injury after the Parisians slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday , a disappointing result that leaves the French club facing the prospect of yet another early Champions League exit .
After missing four games in the last fortnight with a rib injury , the Brazilian superstar looked short of match fitness in Tuesday 's last-16 , first-leg , defeat at Dortmund .
The home side 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make him the Champions League joint top-scorer , but Neymar gave PSG a lifeline for the second leg in Paris on March 11 .
The Brazilian tapped home for what could prove a crucial away goal after being set up by France striker Kylian Mbappe in the second half .
However , Neymar 's goal could n't conceal the fact that the world 's most expensive player had been thoroughly upstaged by Haaland and his teammate Jadon Sancho , both aged 19 .
After the game , Neymar was critical of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before Tuesday 's clash .
`` It 's hard to go four games without playing , '' the 28-year-old told reporters .
`` Unfortunately it was n't my choice , it was the choice of the club , of the doctors , they made that decision , which I did n't like , '' Neymar added .
`` We had a lot of discussions about it because I wanted to play , I felt good , but the club was afraid and in the end it was me who suffered , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Big-spending PSG are desperate to avoid exiting the Champions League at the first knockout round for a fourth season in a row .
Neymar 's presence on Tuesday was a major boost for his team , after he missed last season 's surprise defeat to Manchester United with a foot injury .
He also sat out the second leg of their defeat by Real Madrid at the same stage in 2018 .
PSG 's German coach Thomas Tuchel admitted Neymar 's lack of match fitness had been a factor in the defeat to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has time to find their form .
`` Neymar had n't played for a fortnight , but he is very important for Kylian ( Mbappe ) , there is harmony between them and if Neymar lacks rhythm , it 's immediately noticeable , '' said Tuchel .
`` It 's difficult , but we still have a few games left to get back into the rhythm , '' he added .
His counterpart Lucien Favre acknowledged that Tuesday 's first leg gives Dortmund only a slender advantage with PSG 's passionate home fans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the return match .
`` Of course it 's a dangerous result , but we played well in both defence and attack , '' said Dortmund 's Swiss coach .
He added : `` However , as things stand it 's 2-1 to us . ''

Neymar has criticised Paris Saint-Germain's handling of his recent injury after the Parisians slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, a disappointing result that leaves the French club facing the prospect of yet another early Champions League exit.
Paris Saint-Germain's star Neymar tries to wriggle his way past three defenders on a frustrating night in Dortmund.
Advertising Read more
After missing four games in the last fortnight with a rib injury, the Brazilian superstar looked short of match fitness in Tuesday's last-16, first-leg, defeat at Dortmund.
The home side's Norwegian goal-machine Erling Braut Haaland scored twice to make him the Champions League joint top-scorer, but Neymar gave PSG a lifeline for the second leg in Paris on March 11.
The Brazilian tapped home for what could prove a crucial away goal after being set up by France striker Kylian Mbappe in the second half.
However, Neymar's goal couldn't conceal the fact that the world's most expensive player had been thoroughly upstaged by Haaland and his teammate Jadon Sancho, both aged 19.
After the game, Neymar was critical of his club for not letting him play more before Tuesday's clash.
"It's hard to go four games without playing," the 28-year-old told reporters.
"Unfortunately it wasn't my choice, it was the choice of the club, of the doctors, they made that decision, which I didn't like," Neymar added.
"We had a lot of discussions about it because I wanted to play, I felt good, but the club was afraid and in the end it was me who suffered," he said.
'Get back into the rhythm'
Big-spending PSG are desperate to avoid exiting the Champions League at the first knockout round for a fourth season in a row.
Neymar's presence on Tuesday was a major boost for his team, after he missed last season's surprise defeat to Manchester United with a foot injury.
He also sat out the second leg of their defeat by Real Madrid at the same stage in 2018.
PSG's German coach Thomas Tuchel admitted Neymar's lack of match fitness had been a factor in the defeat to Dortmund, but said his team still has time to find their form.
"Neymar hadn't played for a fortnight, but he is very important for Kylian (Mbappe), there is harmony between them and if Neymar lacks rhythm, it's immediately noticeable," said Tuchel.
"It's difficult, but we still have a few games left to get back into the rhythm," he added.
His counterpart Lucien Favre acknowledged that Tuesday's first leg gives Dortmund only a slender advantage with PSG's passionate home fans set to get behind their team in the return match.
"Of course it's a dangerous result, but we played well in both defence and attack," said Dortmund's Swiss coach.
He added: "However, as things stand it's 2-1 to us."
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-02-19--Democratic rivals trade pre-debate shots as Bloomberg faces first major test

The stage is set for Wednesday 's Democratic presidential debate at Paris Las Vegas in Las Vegas , Nevada on February 19 , 2020 .
Sparring between Mike Bloomberg and the leading Democratic candidates erupted hours before Wednesday night ’ s debate , previewing what ’ s expected to be a tense night as the billionaire businessman meets his rivals onstage for the first time .
Both Bernie Sanders ’ and Joe Biden ’ s campaigns took aim at Bloomberg , the former raising questions about the 78-year-old ’ s health and the latter pointing out reversals in Bloomberg ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacks underscore how seriously Democrats are taking the former New York mayor ’ s campaign , now that he ’ s rocketed to double-digit support in national polls and qualified for the next two debates .
Bloomberg , who formally registered as a Democrat in 2018 , has faced relatively little national scrutiny in his surprisingly swift rise from nonpartisan megadonor to top-tier presidential contender .
On CNN Wednesday morning , Sanders ' national press secretary Briahna Joy Gray tried to rebut questions surrounding the Vermont senator ’ s health by pointing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ suffered heart attacks in the past.
” Sanders suffered a heart attack last fall and released letters from doctors attesting to his health .
But Bloomberg has never suffered a heart attack ; he released a doctors ’ letter last year that said he did undergo coronary stent surgery in 2000 .
Gray later walked back her statement , saying on Twitter that she “ misspoke ” about Bloomberg ’ s health .
Separately , the Biden campaign took on Bloomberg over ads the former mayor is running that feature shots of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama .
The Biden campaign posted a video to Twitter highlighting past comments Bloomberg made criticizing Obama on health care and climate change and accusing him of failing to address racism during his term .
The video also includes a clip of Bloomberg declaring “ I ’ m a friend of Donald Trump ’ s , he ’ s a New York icon.
” Bloomberg had until recently largely escaped scrutiny from the media and attacks from his opponents by avoiding the early primary states and focusing instead on campaigning in the 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Super Tuesday primaries .
And his massive campaign — with over 2,000 staffers nationwide and over $ 400 million spent on ads already — has thus far given him enough of a boost to win high-profile endorsements and double-digit support in the polls .
But Wednesday night 's debate in Las Vegas , where Bloomberg will face off against five opponents who have made clear in recent days they 're eager to take him on , will pose the greatest test yet of his unorthodox campaign strategy .
“ He is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from all sides , ” said Democratic strategist Brian Brokaw .
“ It ’ ll either all come together brilliantly or could fall apart very quickly.
” The debate comes at a pivotal point in the campaign .
Some moderate Democrats increasingly are looking to Bloomberg as an alternative to progressive Sanders .
Bloomberg 's been running a campaign focused on his work on progressive priorities , like his gun-control and climate-change advocacy .
His campaign released a list of more than a dozen debate guests hours before the 9 p.m. EST event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several states .
They include one man present at the 2017 shooting in Las Vegas that left 58 dead and hundreds more injured .
The stakes are high for every candidate onstage just days before Nevada ’ s presidential caucuses , the third contest in the Democrats ’ chaotic 2020 primary season .
After more than a year of campaigning , there is little clarity in their urgent search for a nominee to run against President Donald Trump in November .
Longtime establishment favorite Biden , a former two-term vice president , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flailing campaign , which enters the night at the bottom of a moderate muddle behind former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar .
Sanders , a Vermont senator , has emerged as the progressive wing ’ s clear preference after two contests as Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren is struggling to regain energy around her campaign .
Some Democrats fear that the conditions are ripe for a bare-knuckles brawl on national television that could carve new scars into a divided Democratic Party that must ultimately come together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republican president a second term .
Bloomberg ’ s rivals have already indicated they will lean into his explosive comments on race and gender in addition to their charge that he ’ s using a fortune earned from a career on Wall Street in an effort to buy the presidency .
Bloomberg ’ s rise in national polls has been fueled almost exclusively by an unprecedented national advertising campaign , carefully controlled campaign events and a sprawling national organization that has likely already cost him more than half a billion dollars .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders-allied Justice Democrats , called Wednesday Bloomberg ’ s first “ public moment of accountability.
” “ It ’ s going to be a chance to finally bring scrutiny to Bloomberg ’ s record as a Republican plutocrat , ” she said .
Bloomberg 's team was working to lower expectations ahead of his performance , suggesting his debate skills are rusty after more than a decade since his last election .
Bloomberg hasn ’ t been on a debate stage since 2009 .
His team notes he never faced more than one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for New York City mayor .
Despite the challenges , senior adviser Tim O ’ Brien signaled that Bloomberg welcomed a fight against Sanders , whom the campaign perceives to be the race ’ s clear front-runner .
“ I think you ’ re going to see us go toe-to-toe with Bernie Sanders on important issues , ” O ’ Brien said in an interview , raising questions about Sanders ’ personal wealth , record on criminal justice and gun control .
Sanders welcomed the fight as well .
The Vermont senator railed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allows billionaires to buy elections , ” while campaigning in Nevada on the eve of the debate .
“ Here is the message : Anyone here worth $ 60 billion , you can run for president , and you can buy the airwaves .
My friends , that is called oligarchy , not democracy.
” While the same age and race , Bloomberg and Sanders are ideological opposites .
Bloomberg is one of the world ’ s richest men , having generated a net worth estimated at $ 60 billion after a career @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of millions of dollars to combat climate change and gun violence and promote immigration reform in recent years , yet he takes a decidedly pragmatic approach that celebrates incremental improvement backed by data .
Sanders has a net worth estimated at $ 2.5 million thanks to book sales and the value of his home , but he has spent a lifetime in politics as an uncompromising democratic socialist demanding a political revolution to transform the nation ’ s politics and economy .
He measures his success largely by the impact he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which has warmed to his calls for a $ 15 minimum wage , universal health care and sweeping action on climate change .
Bloomberg is not actually competing in Nevada ’ s Saturday caucuses or any of the four primary contests scheduled for this month , preferring to invest his time and resources in the delegate-rich states that begin voting in March .
In the modern era , such a strategy has never worked .
Yet it 's never been attempted by someone as wealthy as Bloomberg , who has already invested more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advertising campaign and hired more than 2,000 campaign staffers .
The focus on Bloomberg on the debate stage , of course , means there will be less oxygen for others at a critical moment .
Buttigieg essentially tied in Iowa with Sanders and was a narrow second-place finisher in New Hampshire , yet many establishment leaders remain skeptical of the 38-year-old ’ s limited experience and ability to assemble a multiracial coalition to defeat Trump .
Klobuchar surged into the top tier of the race with a strong debate performance in New Hampshire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brand , she faces lingering questions about the strength of her organization and appeal among minority voters .
Warren may have the most to gain Wednesday night , having been pushed from the top tier after a bad performance in New Hampshire ’ s primary last week .
And Biden is betting everything on a comeback fueled by minority support in Nevada and South Carolina in the next two weeks .

Sparring between Mike Bloomberg and the leading Democratic candidates erupted hours before Wednesday night’s debate, previewing what’s expected to be a tense night as the billionaire businessman meets his rivals onstage for the first time.
The stage is set for Wednesday's Democratic presidential debate at Paris Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 19, 2020.
Advertising Read more
Both Bernie Sanders’ and Joe Biden’s campaigns took aim at Bloomberg, the former raising questions about the 78-year-old’s health and the latter pointing out reversals in Bloomberg’s stances on key issues.
The attacks underscore how seriously Democrats are taking the former New York mayor’s campaign, now that he’s rocketed to double-digit support in national polls and qualified for the next two debates. Bloomberg, who formally registered as a Democrat in 2018, has faced relatively little national scrutiny in his surprisingly swift rise from nonpartisan megadonor to top-tier presidential contender.
On CNN Wednesday morning, Sanders' national press secretary Briahna Joy Gray tried to rebut questions surrounding the Vermont senator’s health by pointing to Bloomberg, who she said had also “suffered heart attacks in the past.” Sanders suffered a heart attack last fall and released letters from doctors attesting to his health. But Bloomberg has never suffered a heart attack; he released a doctors’ letter last year that said he did undergo coronary stent surgery in 2000.
Gray later walked back her statement, saying on Twitter that she “misspoke” about Bloomberg’s health.
04:19
Separately, the Biden campaign took on Bloomberg over ads the former mayor is running that feature shots of him working closely with former President Barack Obama. The Biden campaign posted a video to Twitter highlighting past comments Bloomberg made criticizing Obama on health care and climate change and accusing him of failing to address racism during his term. The video also includes a clip of Bloomberg declaring “I’m a friend of Donald Trump’s, he’s a New York icon.”
Bloomberg had until recently largely escaped scrutiny from the media and attacks from his opponents by avoiding the early primary states and focusing instead on campaigning in the 14 states that vote in the March 3 Super Tuesday primaries. And his massive campaign — with over 2,000 staffers nationwide and over $400 million spent on ads already — has thus far given him enough of a boost to win high-profile endorsements and double-digit support in the polls.
A 'giant target' on Bloomberg's back
But Wednesday night's debate in Las Vegas, where Bloomberg will face off against five opponents who have made clear in recent days they're eager to take him on, will pose the greatest test yet of his unorthodox campaign strategy.
“He is going to have a giant target on his back from all sides,” said Democratic strategist Brian Brokaw. “It’ll either all come together brilliantly or could fall apart very quickly.”
04:56
The debate comes at a pivotal point in the campaign. Some moderate Democrats increasingly are looking to Bloomberg as an alternative to progressive Sanders.
Bloomberg's been running a campaign focused on his work on progressive priorities, like his gun-control and climate-change advocacy. His campaign released a list of more than a dozen debate guests hours before the 9 p.m. EST event, featuring survivors of gun violence from several states. They include one man present at the 2017 shooting in Las Vegas that left 58 dead and hundreds more injured.
The stakes are high for every candidate onstage just days before Nevada’s presidential caucuses, the third contest in the Democrats’ chaotic 2020 primary season. After more than a year of campaigning, there is little clarity in their urgent search for a nominee to run against President Donald Trump in November.
Longtime establishment favorite Biden, a former two-term vice president, is fighting to breathe new life into his flailing campaign, which enters the night at the bottom of a moderate muddle behind former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Sanders, a Vermont senator, has emerged as the progressive wing’s clear preference after two contests as Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren is struggling to regain energy around her campaign.
Some Democrats fear that the conditions are ripe for a bare-knuckles brawl on national television that could carve new scars into a divided Democratic Party that must ultimately come together this fall if it hopes to deny the Republican president a second term.
Bloomberg’s rivals have already indicated they will lean into his explosive comments on race and gender in addition to their charge that he’s using a fortune earned from a career on Wall Street in an effort to buy the presidency. Bloomberg’s rise in national polls has been fueled almost exclusively by an unprecedented national advertising campaign, carefully controlled campaign events and a sprawling national organization that has likely already cost him more than half a billion dollars.
01:59
'Oligarchy, not democracy'?
Alexandra Rojas, executive director of the Sanders-allied Justice Democrats, called Wednesday Bloomberg’s first “public moment of accountability.”
“It’s going to be a chance to finally bring scrutiny to Bloomberg’s record as a Republican plutocrat,” she said.
Bloomberg's team was working to lower expectations ahead of his performance, suggesting his debate skills are rusty after more than a decade since his last election.
Bloomberg hasn’t been on a debate stage since 2009. His team notes he never faced more than one rival at a time over three elections for New York City mayor.
Despite the challenges, senior adviser Tim O’Brien signaled that Bloomberg welcomed a fight against Sanders, whom the campaign perceives to be the race’s clear front-runner.
“I think you’re going to see us go toe-to-toe with Bernie Sanders on important issues,” O’Brien said in an interview, raising questions about Sanders’ personal wealth, record on criminal justice and gun control.
Sanders welcomed the fight as well.
The Vermont senator railed against Bloomberg and “a system that allows billionaires to buy elections,” while campaigning in Nevada on the eve of the debate.
“Here is the message: Anyone here worth $60 billion, you can run for president, and you can buy the airwaves. My friends, that is called oligarchy, not democracy.”
While the same age and race, Bloomberg and Sanders are ideological opposites.
Scepticism over Buttigieg, Klobuchar
Bloomberg is one of the world’s richest men, having generated a net worth estimated at $60 billion after a career on Wall Street. He has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to combat climate change and gun violence and promote immigration reform in recent years, yet he takes a decidedly pragmatic approach that celebrates incremental improvement backed by data.
Sanders has a net worth estimated at $2.5 million thanks to book sales and the value of his home, but he has spent a lifetime in politics as an uncompromising democratic socialist demanding a political revolution to transform the nation’s politics and economy. He measures his success largely by the impact he’s had on the public debate, which has warmed to his calls for a $15 minimum wage, universal health care and sweeping action on climate change.
Bloomberg is not actually competing in Nevada’s Saturday caucuses or any of the four primary contests scheduled for this month, preferring to invest his time and resources in the delegate-rich states that begin voting in March. In the modern era, such a strategy has never worked. Yet it's never been attempted by someone as wealthy as Bloomberg, who has already invested more than $400 million into a national advertising campaign and hired more than 2,000 campaign staffers.
The focus on Bloomberg on the debate stage, of course, means there will be less oxygen for others at a critical moment.
Buttigieg essentially tied in Iowa with Sanders and was a narrow second-place finisher in New Hampshire, yet many establishment leaders remain skeptical of the 38-year-old’s limited experience and ability to assemble a multiracial coalition to defeat Trump.
Klobuchar surged into the top tier of the race with a strong debate performance in New Hampshire. But with a significantly smaller national brand, she faces lingering questions about the strength of her organization and appeal among minority voters.
Warren may have the most to gain Wednesday night, having been pushed from the top tier after a bad performance in New Hampshire’s primary last week. And Biden is betting everything on a comeback fueled by minority support in Nevada and South Carolina in the next two weeks.
(AP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-02-21--Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar resigns after inconclusive election result

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar reacts after the announcement of voting results , at a count centre during Ireland 's national election , in Citywest , near Dublin , Ireland , February 9 , 2020 .
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar resigned on Thursday , but stayed on as interim leader while the country 's three main parties battle out coalition talks after an inconclusive election .
Varadkar tendered his resignation as taoiseach , or premier , to President Michael Higgins after the first sitting of Ireland 's lower house of parliament since an 8 February election which radically recast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the constitution , the taoiseach and the government will continue to carry on their duties until successors have been appointed , '' a government statement said .
Parties in the 160 seat chamber -- the Dail -- convened and nominated candidates to lead a new government as taoiseach but with none commanding a majority it was adjourned until 5 March .
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald received the most votes backing her .
At 45 it was far short of the 80 needed to take office but it was a symbolic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enjoyed in the election .
Sinn Fein , which once served as the political wing of paramilitary the Irish Republican Army ( IRA ) , became the second biggest party with 37 seats -- breaking the historic duopoly of centre-right parties Fine Gael and Fianna Fail .
`` The people who vote for us are n't going anywhere , '' said McDonald .
`` We have made a commitment to them to represent them well and to make our very best effort to deliver that government of change -- and that is precisely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McDonald outstripped the 36 votes backing Varadkar to continue as prime minister after his Fine Gael party slipped into third position in the election with 35 seats .
`` The onus is on those who have made enormous promises of change to people during this election , who are entrusted with that mandate to bring a programme for government to the Dail for approval , '' Varadkar said in parliament before departing to resign .
`` If they can not , they should say so and be upfront and honest about their failure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Micheal Martin 's Fianna Fail party won the most seats in the election at 38 , but suffered significant losses on their 2016 wins .
He received the backing of 41 lawmakers in Thursday 's contest .
Sinn Fein has been historically associated with the IRA which fought British rule in Northern Ireland for decades until the late 1990s , when a peace agreement largely ended violence that left more than 3,000 dead on all sides .
It won the popular vote with 24.5 per cent of first preference ballots and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a campaign focusing on Ireland 's housing shortage and health crisis .
But its flagship policy on Irish unity is likely to be a top issue if it gains power .
It wants a referendum on uniting the two parts of the island within five years .
At least three parties will be needed to form a majority government in the Dail .
But with the three largest refusing to cooperate newly elected speaker Sean O Fearghail said the challenge of government formation remained `` substantial '' .
Fianna Fail and Fine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sinn Fein , in part because of their association to past violence .
Varadkar told state broadcaster RTE on Monday he was prepared to go into opposition .
Meanwhile Sinn Fein said Wednesday it was `` intensifying '' negotiations with smaller parties and independents seeking `` a government for change '' .
Talks may take some time and may result in a new election in which Sinn Fein could emerge as a favourite .
After a 2016 vote it took 70 days for a minority coalition government to form under Fine Gael , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supply agreement by Fianna Fail .

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar resigned on Thursday, but stayed on as interim leader while the country's three main parties battle out coalition talks after an inconclusive election.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar reacts after the announcement of voting results, at a count centre during Ireland's national election, in Citywest, near Dublin, Ireland, February 9, 2020.
Advertising Read more
Varadkar tendered his resignation as taoiseach, or premier, to President Michael Higgins after the first sitting of Ireland's lower house of parliament since an 8 February election which radically recast the political landscape.
"In accordance with the constitution, the taoiseach and the government will continue to carry on their duties until successors have been appointed," a government statement said.
Parties in the 160 seat chamber -- the Dail -- convened and nominated candidates to lead a new government as taoiseach but with none commanding a majority it was adjourned until 5 March.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald received the most votes backing her.
At 45 it was far short of the 80 needed to take office but it was a symbolic victory reflecting the surge the nationalist party enjoyed in the election.
Sinn Fein, which once served as the political wing of paramilitary the Irish Republican Army (IRA), became the second biggest party with 37 seats -- breaking the historic duopoly of centre-right parties Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.
"The people who vote for us aren't going anywhere," said McDonald.
"We have made a commitment to them to represent them well and to make our very best effort to deliver that government of change -- and that is precisely what we intend to do."
'A government for change'
McDonald outstripped the 36 votes backing Varadkar to continue as prime minister after his Fine Gael party slipped into third position in the election with 35 seats.
"The onus is on those who have made enormous promises of change to people during this election, who are entrusted with that mandate to bring a programme for government to the Dail for approval," Varadkar said in parliament before departing to resign.
"If they cannot, they should say so and be upfront and honest about their failure, and the empty promises they made."
Micheal Martin's Fianna Fail party won the most seats in the election at 38, but suffered significant losses on their 2016 wins.
He received the backing of 41 lawmakers in Thursday's contest.
Sinn Fein has been historically associated with the IRA which fought British rule in Northern Ireland for decades until the late 1990s, when a peace agreement largely ended violence that left more than 3,000 dead on all sides.
It won the popular vote with 24.5 percent of first preference ballots and picked up 14 seats by attracting voters with a campaign focusing on Ireland's housing shortage and health crisis.
But its flagship policy on Irish unity is likely to be a top issue if it gains power.
It wants a referendum on uniting the two parts of the island within five years.
Talks
At least three parties will be needed to form a majority government in the Dail.
But with the three largest refusing to cooperate newly elected speaker Sean O Fearghail said the challenge of government formation remained "substantial".
Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have both ruled out working with Sinn Fein, in part because of their association to past violence.
Varadkar told state broadcaster RTE on Monday he was prepared to go into opposition.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein said Wednesday it was "intensifying" negotiations with smaller parties and independents seeking "a government for change".
Talks may take some time and may result in a new election in which Sinn Fein could emerge as a favourite.
After a 2016 vote it took 70 days for a minority coalition government to form under Fine Gael, which was supported in a confidence and supply agreement by Fianna Fail.
(AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe