france24--2020-01-29--Five Paris voters assess Anne Hidalgo's record as mayoral race heats up

After six years as Paris mayor , Anne Hidalgo ’ s re-election bid is in full swing .
With Parisians heading to the ballot box in March , the Spanish-born Socialist leads a crowded field on 23 percent in the polls .
What do Parisians make of her time at City Hall ?
FRANCE 24 hit the streets of the French capital to find out .
Nadir is busy looking for a bicycle that works at the Gare de Lyon train station ’ s Vélib bike-share stand .
The chain is hanging off of one ; the handlebars are stuck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waiting for a fellow cyclist to drop off a set of wheels .
The computer scientist gets around Paris exclusively by bike .
Every morning , no matter the weather , Nadir rides to work from his home in the 7th arrondissement ( district ) , near Invalides .
It isn ’ t always easy to power through the construction in the capital , he says .
But one thing is certain : Since Nadir moved to Paris from suburban Villeneuve-Saint-Georges five years ago , he has seen the bike path network bloom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 's also appreciated the many urban planning changes , like seeing busy Seine-side highways given over to pedestrians in the heart of the city .
On the other hand , he regrets the lack of progress in tidying up the city .
“ There is still paper and dog poo on the sidewalks .
I had the opportunity to live in London , where there is a big difference in that regard , ” says Nadir .
But the mess wouldn ’ t be enough to persuade him to move elsewhere .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to settle in the city permanently .
He ’ d like to give up his studio to buy a bigger apartment .
But he finds the prohibitive home prices in the capital discouraging .
He ’ s looked , but he isn ’ t finding anything .
Does Nadir plan to vote for Anne Hidalgo in March ?
“ No , even though her record is satisfactory on the whole.
” He put a blank ballot in the box when he voted in 2014 , but this year he is thinking of giving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He thinks the conservative Dati , currently mayor of the 7th arrondissement , is a closer match with his ideas .
A cyclist finally drops a Vélib off at the stand .
Nadir climbs on and rides off into the traffic .
A little further along , on the doorstep of the Jean Bouton primary school in the 12th arrondissement , 40-year-old Solveig is waiting for her son , Arsène .
What does she think of Mayor Hidalgo ’ s record ?
“ It ’ s super , ” she gushes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly objective .
“ I ’ ve always been Socialist and I really like Anne Hidalgo .
Because she stayed faithful to the Socialist Party when so many others did n't .
But I also like her for her management of the city.
” Rattling off some issues – mobility , city debt , the culture options available in Paris – Solveig has no quibbles with Hidalgo ’ s six-year term .
There is , perhaps , just one fly in the ointment… As a single mum with three children , aged 13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had some trouble securing suitable housing .
“ I ’ m renting and I registered a request for social housing years ago .
But my dossier still hasn ’ t amounted to anything .
All the offers I ’ ve received haven ’ t matched my criteria.
” Solveig and her children have been waiting for a more affordable apartment ever since .
“ And yet , I work , ” she says , “ but the prices are much too high.
” Still , she isn ’ t prepared to compromise on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasons , I want to stay at Bastille , ” she says .
And the construction work in progress to renovate the area promises , “ to make the square even more pleasant than before with more greenspaces and pedestrian lanes ” , she says with delight .
She concedes there ’ s room for improvement in terms of cleanliness .
“ But I ’ m just back from Marseille and I tell myself it can be much worse elsewhere .
No , truly , I am so comfortable in Paris .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world !
” Vivane , between the scooters and the Airbnbs Vivane , 78 , is enjoying a pleasant retirement high upon Montmartre , the iconic hill in Paris ’ s 18th arrondissement .
After having left the capital for suburban Fontenay-sous-Bois for several years while raising their two daughters , Viviane and her husband returned to the Paris they loved .
Unlike her husband , she considers the incumbent mayor ’ s record pretty positive .
“ There is still some work to follow through on , ” the former teacher says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of bicycle paths , they aren ’ t always practical .
Especially the ones designed to go against the flow of traffic.
” She also finds plenty of fault when it comes to scooters , saying they make life `` difficult '' for pedestrians as `` those on scooters very often use the sidewalks ...
They are also too often abandoned just anywhere.
” But the biggest problem is another matter : The price of housing .
“ We are currently renting and are looking for an 80m² apartment in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay between €14,000 and €15,000 per square metre for a beautiful home in the very touristy Montmartre neighbourhood .
Even with a €1.2 million budget , we aren ’ t finding it.
” Vivane blames tourism , specifically Airbnb .
City Hall hasn ’ t been aggressive enough in the face of the homesharing giant .
“ Across the street from me , one whole building was just sold off to create Airbnb tourist rentals .
It makes market prices rise considerably for Parisians looking to house themselves.
” Viviane takes solace in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many cultural activities on offer in the city .
“ Culture is everywhere in Paris .
The museums are very expensive , ” the elegant retiree laments .
“ When we go to Washington to see my daughter , all or almost all of the museums are free.
” Alix and the call of the wild Staring at her laptop screen , amid piles of notes and markers in every colour , third-year occupational therapy student Alix is studying .
In the break room of the Sorbonne ’ s faculty of medicine on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students write their final theses , Anne Hidalgo ’ s record is not their immediate concern .
And yet , when they start thinking about it , they do have opinions .
Take transportation .
It is easy to get around in Paris .
And culture is accessible .
After 26 , young people age out of student ticket prices .
But Alix knows good tips for cheap museum visits , particularly for the permanent collections of the 14 museums run by the City of Paris , which are free of charge .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hassles ” for those who don ’ t benefit from student social housing .
“ The first year was tough for everyone .
I had to move twice , leaving a squalid apartment in the 14th arrondissement and then a shared flat in the 10th before finding a little one-bedroom flat in the neighbourhood.
” And Alix was lucky ; her friends sitting at neighbouring tables had to resign themselves to life in the suburbs .
The capital is cruelly short on greenery for Alix , who hails from France ’ s southwest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is too much concrete in the capital .
“ I don ’ t see myself staying here more than two or three years , ” she says .
“ I need nature too much.
” In the little family shoe repair shop at 27 ter , boulevard Diderot in the 12th arrondissement , father and son are bustling .
Nailing , gluing , cutting heels , licence plates , keys .
There is no shortage of work for Erai , 28 , who runs the small shop with his dad .
Business hasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The street out front , which runs from the Seine to the Place de la Nation , is a frequent route for protest marches .
“ The Yellow Vest demonstrations and now the pension reform strikes really hurt us , ” the young cobbler says .
While some shops benefited from financial aid from Paris City Hall , “ we didn ’ t see any .
We didn ’ t suffer any damage , but our revenue was cut in half .
And yet , every month , we still have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Erai ’ s father chips in .
There is also the problem of all the roadworks in the city .
“ It ’ s appalling , ” the young shoe repairman grumbles .
“ Before , for me to drive to our suppliers at République , I ’ d take about 15 minutes , there and back .
Today , because of the construction , it takes me more than 40 minutes.
” Another sensitive subject : The dirty streets .
Since the summer , Erai has noted that the street-cleaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anymore .
“ I called the municipal authorities and they assured me that the services still pass , but I can see for myself that is no longer the case.
” As a result , he begins his day by cleaning the shopfront , sullied by vagrants ’ urine .
“ When it ’ s cold out , it ’ s not so bad , but in the summer , it stinks , it ’ s unbearable , ” he says .
There is a lot of begging in the neighbourhood , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of homeless people sitting on the sidewalk across the street .
“ The city does do what ’ s needed in that domain , but it can ’ t make people do anything they don ’ t want to do.
” This article has been translated from the original in French .

After six years as Paris mayor, Anne Hidalgo’s re-election bid is in full swing. With Parisians heading to the ballot box in March, the Spanish-born Socialist leads a crowded field on 23 percent in the polls. What do Parisians make of her time at City Hall? FRANCE 24 hit the streets of the French capital to find out.
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Nadir, tireless cyclist
Nadir, 37, gets around Paris exclusively by bicycle. © Aude Mazoué
Nadir is busy looking for a bicycle that works at the Gare de Lyon train station’s Vélib bike-share stand. The chain is hanging off of one; the handlebars are stuck on another. He resigns himself to waiting for a fellow cyclist to drop off a set of wheels.
The computer scientist gets around Paris exclusively by bike. Every morning, no matter the weather, Nadir rides to work from his home in the 7th arrondissement (district), near Invalides. It isn’t always easy to power through the construction in the capital, he says. But one thing is certain: Since Nadir moved to Paris from suburban Villeneuve-Saint-Georges five years ago, he has seen the bike path network bloom. During his time in Paris, he's also appreciated the many urban planning changes, like seeing busy Seine-side highways given over to pedestrians in the heart of the city.
On the other hand, he regrets the lack of progress in tidying up the city. “There is still paper and dog poo on the sidewalks. I had the opportunity to live in London, where there is a big difference in that regard,” says Nadir. But the mess wouldn’t be enough to persuade him to move elsewhere. Nadir loves Paris. He even hopes to settle in the city permanently. He’d like to give up his studio to buy a bigger apartment. But he finds the prohibitive home prices in the capital discouraging. He’s looked, but he isn’t finding anything.
Does Nadir plan to vote for Anne Hidalgo in March? “No, even though her record is satisfactory on the whole.” He put a blank ballot in the box when he voted in 2014, but this year he is thinking of giving Les Républicains candidate Rachida Dati a chance. He thinks the conservative Dati, currently mayor of the 7th arrondissement, is a closer match with his ideas.
A cyclist finally drops a Vélib off at the stand. Nadir climbs on and rides off into the traffic.
Solveig, a big fan of Anne Hidalgo
Mother-of-three Solveig is satisfied with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo's record. © Aude Mazoué
A little further along, on the doorstep of the Jean Bouton primary school in the 12th arrondissement, 40-year-old Solveig is waiting for her son, Arsène. What does she think of Mayor Hidalgo’s record? “It’s super,” she gushes, acknowledging that she mightn’t be particularly objective. “I’ve always been Socialist and I really like Anne Hidalgo. Because she stayed faithful to the Socialist Party when so many others didn't. But I also like her for her management of the city.” Rattling off some issues – mobility, city debt, the culture options available in Paris – Solveig has no quibbles with Hidalgo’s six-year term.
There is, perhaps, just one fly in the ointment… As a single mum with three children, aged 13, 9 and 5, Solveig has had some trouble securing suitable housing. “I’m renting and I registered a request for social housing years ago. But my dossier still hasn’t amounted to anything. All the offers I’ve received haven’t matched my criteria.”
Solveig and her children have been waiting for a more affordable apartment ever since. “And yet, I work,” she says, “but the prices are much too high.” Still, she isn’t prepared to compromise on the neighbourhood. “For lots of reasons, I want to stay at Bastille,” she says. And the construction work in progress to renovate the area promises, “to make the square even more pleasant than before with more greenspaces and pedestrian lanes”, she says with delight.
She concedes there’s room for improvement in terms of cleanliness. “But I’m just back from Marseille and I tell myself it can be much worse elsewhere. No, truly, I am so comfortable in Paris. I wouldn’t leave it for the world!”
Vivane, between the scooters and the Airbnbs
Retired teacher Viviane, 78, in Paris. © Aude Mazoué
Vivane, 78, is enjoying a pleasant retirement high upon Montmartre, the iconic hill in Paris’s 18th arrondissement. After having left the capital for suburban Fontenay-sous-Bois for several years while raising their two daughters, Viviane and her husband returned to the Paris they loved. Unlike her husband, she considers the incumbent mayor’s record pretty positive. “There is still some work to follow through on,” the former teacher says. “While things have improved with the number of bicycle paths, they aren’t always practical. Especially the ones designed to go against the flow of traffic.”
She also finds plenty of fault when it comes to scooters, saying they make life "difficult" for pedestrians as "those on scooters very often use the sidewalks... They are also too often abandoned just anywhere.”
But the biggest problem is another matter: The price of housing. “We are currently renting and are looking for an 80m² apartment in the 18th arrondissement. And you need to pay between €14,000 and €15,000 per square metre for a beautiful home in the very touristy Montmartre neighbourhood. Even with a €1.2 million budget, we aren’t finding it.” Vivane blames tourism, specifically Airbnb. City Hall hasn’t been aggressive enough in the face of the homesharing giant. “Across the street from me, one whole building was just sold off to create Airbnb tourist rentals. It makes market prices rise considerably for Parisians looking to house themselves.”
Viviane takes solace in her daily strolls through Paris and the many cultural activities on offer in the city. “Culture is everywhere in Paris. The museums are very expensive,” the elegant retiree laments. “When we go to Washington to see my daughter, all or almost all of the museums are free.”
Alix and the call of the wild
Alix, 28, had a hard time finding suitable housing as a student in Paris. © Aude Mazoué
Staring at her laptop screen, amid piles of notes and markers in every colour, third-year occupational therapy student Alix is studying. In the break room of the Sorbonne’s faculty of medicine on the rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, where students write their final theses, Anne Hidalgo’s record is not their immediate concern. And yet, when they start thinking about it, they do have opinions.
Take transportation. It is easy to get around in Paris. And culture is accessible. After 26, young people age out of student ticket prices. But Alix knows good tips for cheap museum visits, particularly for the permanent collections of the 14 museums run by the City of Paris, which are free of charge.
There are, however, accommodation “hassles” for those who don’t benefit from student social housing. “The first year was tough for everyone. I had to move twice, leaving a squalid apartment in the 14th arrondissement and then a shared flat in the 10th before finding a little one-bedroom flat in the neighbourhood.” And Alix was lucky; her friends sitting at neighbouring tables had to resign themselves to life in the suburbs.
The capital is cruelly short on greenery for Alix, who hails from France’s southwest and misses the bucolic landscapes. There is too much concrete in the capital. “I don’t see myself staying here more than two or three years,” she says. “I need nature too much.”
Erai, a cobbler between two strikes
Erai, 28, in his family shoe repair shop in Paris, is exasperated by how dirty the street is. © Aude Mazoué
In the little family shoe repair shop at 27 ter, boulevard Diderot in the 12th arrondissement, father and son are bustling. Nailing, gluing, cutting heels, licence plates, keys. There is no shortage of work for Erai, 28, who runs the small shop with his dad. Business hasn’t always been booming, though. The street out front, which runs from the Seine to the Place de la Nation, is a frequent route for protest marches. “The Yellow Vest demonstrations and now the pension reform strikes really hurt us,” the young cobbler says. While some shops benefited from financial aid from Paris City Hall, “we didn’t see any. We didn’t suffer any damage, but our revenue was cut in half. And yet, every month, we still have a €1,300 rent and other bills to pay,” Erai’s father chips in.
There is also the problem of all the roadworks in the city. “It’s appalling,” the young shoe repairman grumbles. “Before, for me to drive to our suppliers at République, I’d take about 15 minutes, there and back. Today, because of the construction, it takes me more than 40 minutes.”
Another sensitive subject: The dirty streets. Since the summer, Erai has noted that the street-cleaning trucks don’t come this way anymore. “I called the municipal authorities and they assured me that the services still pass, but I can see for myself that is no longer the case.” As a result, he begins his day by cleaning the shopfront, sullied by vagrants’ urine.
“When it’s cold out, it’s not so bad, but in the summer, it stinks, it’s unbearable,” he says. There is a lot of begging in the neighbourhood, the shopkeeper notes, nodding to a pair of homeless people sitting on the sidewalk across the street. “The city does do what’s needed in that domain, but it can’t make people do anything they don’t want to do.”
This article has been translated from the original in French.
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france24--2020-01-28--Trump's Middle East peace plan delights Israelis, enrages Palestinians

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a joint press conference to discuss the proposed new Middle East peace plan at the White House in Washington , USA , on January 28 2020 .
President Donald Trump unveiled his long-awaited Middle East plan Tuesday , winning immediate praise from a beaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but a swift rejection from the Palestinians , who called it “ nonsense . ''
Trump ’ s plan calls for the eventual creation of a Palestinian state , but it falls far short of minimal Palestinian demands and would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bank in Israeli hands .
Netanyahu said he would move forward on Sunday and ask his Cabinet to approve plans to annex West Bank territory - an explosive move that is likely to be met with harsh international reaction .
Trump called his plan a “ win-win ” for both Israel and the Palestinians , and Netanyahu called it a “ great plan for Israel . ''
At a speech in the West Bank , Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas dismissed the plan as “ nonsense.
” “ We say 1,000 no ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Abbas said , using a nickname for Trump ’ s proposal .
“ We will not kneel and we will not surrender , ” he said , adding that the Palestinians would resist the plan through “ peaceful , popular means.
” With Netanyahu standing beside him , Trump presented the plan at a White House ceremony filled with other Israeli officials and allies , including evangelical Christian leaders and wealthy Republican donors but no Palestinian representatives .
The ceremony came amid Trump ’ s impeachment trial and a U.S. election year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counts of fraud , breach of trust and bribery in three separate cases .
The longtime Israeli leader , who denies any wrongdoing , also faces a March 2 parliamentary election , Israel ’ s third in less than a year .
The Palestinians seek all of the West Bank and east Jerusalem - areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war - for an independent state and the removal of more than 700,000 Israeli settlers from these areas .
But as details emerged , it became clear that the plan sides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vision for the region and shunts aside many of the Palestinians ’ core demands .
Under the terms of the “ peace vision ” that Trump ’ s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner has been working on for nearly three years , all settlers would remain in place , and Israel would retain sovereignty over all of its settlements as well as the strategic Jordan Valley .
The proposed Palestinian state would also include more than a dozen Israeli “ enclaves ” with the entity ’ s borders monitored by Israel .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jerusalem offered to the Palestinians consist of poor , crowded neighborhoods located behind a hulking concrete separation barrier .
Trump acknowledged that he has done a lot for Israel , but he said he wanted the deal to be a “ great deal for the Palestinians.
” He said his vision gives the Palestinians the time needed for them to meet the challenges of statehood .
The only concession the plan appears to demand of Israel is a four-year freeze on the establishment of new Israeli settlements in certain areas of the West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this only applied to areas where there are no settlements and Israel has no immediate plans to annex , and that he considered the plan to impose no limitations on construction .
Thousands of Palestinians protested in Gaza City ahead of the announcement , burning pictures of Trump and Netanyahu and raising a banner reading “ Palestine is not for sale.
” Trump said he sent a letter to Abbas to tell him that the territory that the plan has set aside for a new Palestinian state will remain open and undeveloped for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to work , ” Trump said .
“ If they do this , it will work .
Your response to this historic opportunity will show the world to what extent you are ready to lead the Palestinian people to statehood.
” “ President Abbas , I want you to know , that if you chose the path to peace , America and many other countries ... we will be there to help you in so many different ways .
And we will be there every step of the way , ” Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic plan for the West Bank and Gaza that was unveiled last June and which the Palestinians have also rejected .
The plan envisions a future Palestinian state consisting of the West Bank and Gaza , connected by a combination of roads and tunnels .
It also would give small areas of southern Israel to the Palestinians as compensation for lost West Bank land .
But the many caveats , and ultimate overall Israeli control , made the deal a nonstarter for the Palestinians .
Netanyahu and his main political challenger in March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off on the plan .
“ Mr .
President , because of this historic recognition and because I believe your peace plan strikes the right balance where other plans have failed , ” Netanyahu said .
“ I ’ ve agreed to negotiate peace with the Palestinians on the basis of your peace plan .
It ’ s a great plan for Israel .
It ’ s a great plan for peace.
” Tuesday ’ s developments set the contours for his election campaign .
Netanyahu will highlight his close relationship with Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the peace plan , while Gantz will focus on Netanyahu ’ s legal woes .
Netanyahu will soon go on trial for a series of corruption charges .
The Jordan Valley annexation plan is a big part of Netanyahu ’ s strategy .
Annexing West Bank land is a key promise meant to appeal to his hard-line nationalist base .
U.S. officials , speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of the plan ’ s release , said they expected negative responses from the Palestinians , as well as Turkey and Iran , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the only two Arab nations to have peace treaties with Israel , would not reject it outright .
Jordan gave the plan a cool reaction , saying it remained committed to a two-state solution based on Israel ’ s pre-1967 lines .
It also said it rejected any unilateral move by Israel , referring to the annexation plan .
Egypt , the first Arab country to reach a peace deal with Israel , urged Israelis and Palestinians to carefully study the plan .
The European Union also said it needed to study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected Gulf Arab states like Saudi Arabia , the United Arab Emirates and others to cautiously welcome the plan .
Arab League chief , Ahmed Abuel-Gheit said the Palestinian reaction would define the Arab response .
He spoke after meeting with Palestinian official Jibril Rajoub at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo .
The reaction of Jordan , which would retain its responsibilities over Jerusalem ’ s al-Aqsa Mosque under the plan , is particularly significant , according to the officials , who said Kushner and others were reaching out to Arab leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see the West Bank as the heartland of a future independent state and east Jerusalem as their capital .
Most of the international community supports their position , but Trump has reversed decades of U.S. foreign policy by siding more blatantly with Israel .
The centerpiece of his strategy was recognizing Jerusalem as Israel ’ s capital and moving the American Embassy there .
He ’ s also closed Palestinian diplomatic offices in Washington and cut funding to Palestinian aid programs .
Those policies have proven popular among Trump ’ s evangelical and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to even speak to Trump and they called on support from Arab leaders .
The Palestinian leadership also has encouraged protests in the West Bank , raising fears of a new round of violence .
Ahead of the announcement , the Israeli military said it was reinforcing infantry troops along the Jordan Valley .

President Donald Trump unveiled his long-awaited Middle East plan Tuesday, winning immediate praise from a beaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but a swift rejection from the Palestinians, who called it “nonsense."
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a joint press conference to discuss the proposed new Middle East peace plan at the White House in Washington, USA, on January 28 2020.
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Trump’s plan calls for the eventual creation of a Palestinian state, but it falls far short of minimal Palestinian demands and would leave sizable chunks of the occupied West Bank in Israeli hands.
Netanyahu said he would move forward on Sunday and ask his Cabinet to approve plans to annex West Bank territory - an explosive move that is likely to be met with harsh international reaction.
Trump called his plan a “win-win” for both Israel and the Palestinians, and Netanyahu called it a “great plan for Israel."
At a speech in the West Bank, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas dismissed the plan as “nonsense.”
“We say 1,000 no’s to the Deal of the Century," Abbas said, using a nickname for Trump’s proposal.
“We will not kneel and we will not surrender,” he said, adding that the Palestinians would resist the plan through “peaceful, popular means.”
With Netanyahu standing beside him, Trump presented the plan at a White House ceremony filled with other Israeli officials and allies, including evangelical Christian leaders and wealthy Republican donors but no Palestinian representatives.
This is what a future State of Palestine can look like, with a capital in parts of East Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/39vw3pPrAL — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2020
The ceremony came amid Trump’s impeachment trial and a U.S. election year, and after Netanyahu was indicted on counts of fraud, breach of trust and bribery in three separate cases. The longtime Israeli leader, who denies any wrongdoing, also faces a March 2 parliamentary election, Israel’s third in less than a year.
Netanyahu's nationalist vision for the region
The Palestinians seek all of the West Bank and east Jerusalem - areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war - for an independent state and the removal of more than 700,000 Israeli settlers from these areas.
But as details emerged, it became clear that the plan sides heavily with Netanyahu’s hard-line nationalist vision for the region and shunts aside many of the Palestinians’ core demands.
Under the terms of the “peace vision” that Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner has been working on for nearly three years, all settlers would remain in place, and Israel would retain sovereignty over all of its settlements as well as the strategic Jordan Valley.
The proposed Palestinian state would also include more than a dozen Israeli “enclaves” with the entity’s borders monitored by Israel. In addition, the areas of east Jerusalem offered to the Palestinians consist of poor, crowded neighborhoods located behind a hulking concrete separation barrier.
Trump acknowledged that he has done a lot for Israel, but he said he wanted the deal to be a “great deal for the Palestinians.”
He said his vision gives the Palestinians the time needed for them to meet the challenges of statehood.
Four-year freeze on new Israeli settlements
The only concession the plan appears to demand of Israel is a four-year freeze on the establishment of new Israeli settlements in certain areas of the West Bank. But Netanyahu clarified later that this only applied to areas where there are no settlements and Israel has no immediate plans to annex, and that he considered the plan to impose no limitations on construction.
Thousands of Palestinians protested in Gaza City ahead of the announcement, burning pictures of Trump and Netanyahu and raising a banner reading “Palestine is not for sale.”
#Palestinian refugees in Lebanon's Ein El-Helweh camp who have been deprived of a homeland for years protest and say NO to the so-called #DealOfTheCentury and tell Trump: Our fate is not for you to decide. pic.twitter.com/Y7We93iIRA — We Are Not Numbers #Gaza (@WeAreNotNumbers) January 28, 2020
Trump said he sent a letter to Abbas to tell him that the territory that the plan has set aside for a new Palestinian state will remain open and undeveloped for four years.
“It’s going to work,” Trump said. “If they do this, it will work. Your response to this historic opportunity will show the world to what extent you are ready to lead the Palestinian people to statehood.”
“President Abbas, I want you to know, that if you chose the path to peace, America and many other countries ... we will be there to help you in so many different ways. And we will be there every step of the way,” Trump said.
The plan builds on an economic plan for the West Bank and Gaza that was unveiled last June and which the Palestinians have also rejected.
The plan envisions a future Palestinian state consisting of the West Bank and Gaza, connected by a combination of roads and tunnels. It also would give small areas of southern Israel to the Palestinians as compensation for lost West Bank land.
Nonstarter for Palestinians
But the many caveats, and ultimate overall Israeli control, made the deal a nonstarter for the Palestinians.
Netanyahu and his main political challenger in March elections, Benny Gantz, had signed off on the plan.
“Mr. President, because of this historic recognition and because I believe your peace plan strikes the right balance where other plans have failed,” Netanyahu said. “I’ve agreed to negotiate peace with the Palestinians on the basis of your peace plan. It’s a great plan for Israel. It’s a great plan for peace.”
Tuesday’s developments set the contours for his election campaign.
Netanyahu will highlight his close relationship with Trump and the “historic opportunity” provided by the peace plan, while Gantz will focus on Netanyahu’s legal woes. Netanyahu will soon go on trial for a series of corruption charges.
The Jordan Valley annexation plan is a big part of Netanyahu’s strategy. Annexing West Bank land is a key promise meant to appeal to his hard-line nationalist base.
U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of the plan’s release, said they expected negative responses from the Palestinians, as well as Turkey and Iran, but were hopeful that Jordan and Egypt, the only two Arab nations to have peace treaties with Israel, would not reject it outright.
Jordan gave the plan a cool reaction, saying it remained committed to a two-state solution based on Israel’s pre-1967 lines. It also said it rejected any unilateral move by Israel, referring to the annexation plan.
Egypt, the first Arab country to reach a peace deal with Israel, urged Israelis and Palestinians to carefully study the plan. The European Union also said it needed to study it more closely.
Cautious welcome
Officials said they expected Gulf Arab states like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and others to cautiously welcome the plan.
Arab League chief, Ahmed Abuel-Gheit said the Palestinian reaction would define the Arab response. He spoke after meeting with Palestinian official Jibril Rajoub at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo.
The reaction of Jordan, which would retain its responsibilities over Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque under the plan, is particularly significant, according to the officials, who said Kushner and others were reaching out to Arab leaders ahead of the rollout.
The Palestinians see the West Bank as the heartland of a future independent state and east Jerusalem as their capital. Most of the international community supports their position, but Trump has reversed decades of U.S. foreign policy by siding more blatantly with Israel. The centerpiece of his strategy was recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moving the American Embassy there. He’s also closed Palestinian diplomatic offices in Washington and cut funding to Palestinian aid programs.
Those policies have proven popular among Trump’s evangelical and pro-Israel supporters.
But the Palestinians refuse to even speak to Trump and they called on support from Arab leaders. The Palestinian leadership also has encouraged protests in the West Bank, raising fears of a new round of violence. Ahead of the announcement, the Israeli military said it was reinforcing infantry troops along the Jordan Valley.
(AP)
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france24--2020-01-29--Battle looms over witnesses as defence rests in Trump impeachment trial

US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , right , arrives at the US Capitol for the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump in Washington , DC , on January 28 , 2020 .
McConnell privately told senators he did not yet have the votes to brush back Democratic demands for witnesses .
President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial is shifting to questions from senators , a pivotal juncture as Republicans lack the votes to block witnesses and face a potential setback in their hope of ending the trial with a quick acquittal .
After Trump ’ s defence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ end now ” , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell privately told senators he did not yet have the votes to brush back Democratic demands for witnesses now that revelations from John Bolton , the former national security adviser , have roiled the trial .
Bolton writes in a forthcoming book that Trump told him he wanted to withhold military aid from Ukraine until it helped with investigations into Democratic rival Joe Biden .
That assertion , if true , would undercut a key defence argument and go to the heart of one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president .
“ I think Bolton probably has something to offer us , ” said Senator Lisa Murkowski , Republican from Alaska .
Not in Trump ’ s view .
“ Why didn ’ t John Bolton complain about this ‘ nonsense ’ a long time ago , when he was very publicly terminated , ” Trump tweeted shortly after midnight .
“ He said , not that it matters , NOTHING !
” The uncertainty about witnesses arises days before crucial votes on the issue .
In a Senate split 53-47 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four GOP senators must join all Democrats to reach the 51 votes required to call witnesses , decide whom to call or do nearly anything else in the trial .
Several Republicans apparently are ready to join Democrats in calling witnesses .
The two days set aside for questions , Wednesday and Thursday , also allow each side more time to win over any undecided senators pondering the witness issue .
In the meantime , all will have the opportunity to grill both the House Democrats prosecuting the case and the president ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ written questions to be read by Chief Justice John Roberts , senators are expected to dig into the big themes of the trial – among them whether what Trump did or may have done rises to the level of “ high crimes and misdemeanors ” – as well as pointed and partisan attacks on each side ’ s case .
Trump faces charges from Democrats that he abused his power like no other president , jeopardising US-Ukraine relations by using the military aid as leverage while the vulnerable ally battled Russia .
Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a way that threatens the nation ’ s three-branch system of checks and balances .
The president ’ s legal team tried to lock up its case Tuesday and convince GOP senators that the president was right to ask Ukraine for investigations of Biden and his son Hunter and was well within his power to block the aid .
They said he was not bound to abide by the congressional investigation .
Trump complained anew at a Tuesday night rally in Wildwood , New Jersey , charging that “ congressional Democrats are obsessed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and deranged partisan crusades '' .
Trump attorney Jay Sekulow addressed the Bolton controversy head-on in closing arguments by dismissing the former national security adviser ’ s manuscript as “ inadmissible ” .
Attorney Alan Dershowitz , the Harvard scholar , said earlier that even if Bolton ’ s story is true the actions don ’ t rise to an impeachable offence .
Senate Republicans spent considerable time in private discussing how to deal with Bolton ’ s manuscript without extending the proceedings or jeopardizing the president ’ s expected acquittal .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest , Minority Leader Chuck Schumer saying , “ We ’ re not bargaining with them.
” GOP senators were warned that if they agree to call Bolton or try to access his manuscript , the White House will block him , likely sparking a weeks-long court battle over executive privilege and national security .
Nonetheless , Senator Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine appeared to be backed by others in the move to seek more testimony .
Some Republicans including Senator Pat Toomey want reciprocity – bringing in Bolton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one from the GOP side .
Some Republicans want to hear from Biden and his son , who was on the board of a Ukrainian gas company when his father was vice president .
“ If people want witnesses , we ’ re going to get a lot of witnesses , ” said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham , one of Trump ’ s strongest defenders in the Senate .
He said they would want to know , “ was it legitimate for the president to believe there was corruption and conflicts of interest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine ?
” Those swaps , though , seem likely to fail as most Republican senators don ’ t want to call Bolton and most Democrats would rather avoid dragging the Bidens further into the impeachment proceedings .
The Bidens were a focus of defence arguments though no evidence of wrongdoing has emerged .
“ I don ’ t know that the manuscript would make any difference in the outcome of the trial , ” said Roy Blunt of Missouri , a member of GOP leadership .
And some Republicans said they simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ word .
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky called Bolton “ disgruntled ” ’ and seeking to make money off his time at the White house .
But John Kelly , Trump ’ s former White House chief of staff , told an audience in Sarasota , Florida , that he believes Bolton .
“ If John Bolton says that in the book , I believe John Bolton , ” he said .
White House officials privately acknowledge that they are essentially powerless to block the book ’ s publication but could sue after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the confidentiality agreement Bolton signed .
Trump and his lawyers have argued repeatedly that Democrats are using impeachment to try to undo the results of the last presidential election and drive Trump from office .
“ What they are asking you do is to throw out a successful president on the eve of an election , ” said White House counsel Pat Cipollone .
Democrats , meanwhile , say Trump ’ s refusal to allow administration officials to testify only reinforces that the White House is hiding evidence .
The White House has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a month , according to a letter from Bolton ’ s attorney .

President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial is shifting to questions from senators, a pivotal juncture as Republicans lack the votes to block witnesses and face a potential setback in their hope of ending the trial with a quick acquittal.
US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, right, arrives at the US Capitol for the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, on January 28, 2020. McConnell privately told senators he did not yet have the votes to brush back Democratic demands for witnesses.
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After Trump’s defence team rested Tuesday with a plea to “end now”, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell privately told senators he did not yet have the votes to brush back Democratic demands for witnesses now that revelations from John Bolton, the former national security adviser, have roiled the trial.
Bolton writes in a forthcoming book that Trump told him he wanted to withhold military aid from Ukraine until it helped with investigations into Democratic rival Joe Biden. That assertion, if true, would undercut a key defence argument and go to the heart of one of the two articles of impeachment against the president.
“I think Bolton probably has something to offer us,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican from Alaska.
Not in Trump’s view. “Why didn’t John Bolton complain about this ‘nonsense’ a long time ago, when he was very publicly terminated,” Trump tweeted shortly after midnight. “He said, not that it matters, NOTHING!”
The uncertainty about witnesses arises days before crucial votes on the issue. In a Senate split 53-47 in favor of Republicans, at least four GOP senators must join all Democrats to reach the 51 votes required to call witnesses, decide whom to call or do nearly anything else in the trial. Several Republicans apparently are ready to join Democrats in calling witnesses.
The two days set aside for questions, Wednesday and Thursday, also allow each side more time to win over any undecided senators pondering the witness issue. In the meantime, all will have the opportunity to grill both the House Democrats prosecuting the case and the president’s defence team.
No matter how many witnesses you give the Democrats, no matter how much information is given, like the quickly produced Transcripts, it will NEVER be enough for them. They will always scream UNFAIR. The Impeachment Hoax is just another political CON JOB! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2020
Held to submitting written questions to be read by Chief Justice John Roberts, senators are expected to dig into the big themes of the trial – among them whether what Trump did or may have done rises to the level of “high crimes and misdemeanors” – as well as pointed and partisan attacks on each side’s case.
Trump faces charges from Democrats that he abused his power like no other president, jeopardising US-Ukraine relations by using the military aid as leverage while the vulnerable ally battled Russia. Democrats say Trump then obstructed their probe in a way that threatens the nation’s three-branch system of checks and balances.
The president’s legal team tried to lock up its case Tuesday and convince GOP senators that the president was right to ask Ukraine for investigations of Biden and his son Hunter and was well within his power to block the aid. They said he was not bound to abide by the congressional investigation.
Trump complained anew at a Tuesday night rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, charging that “congressional Democrats are obsessed with demented hoaxes, crazy witch hunts and deranged partisan crusades".
Trump attorney Jay Sekulow addressed the Bolton controversy head-on in closing arguments by dismissing the former national security adviser’s manuscript as “inadmissible”. Attorney Alan Dershowitz, the Harvard scholar, said earlier that even if Bolton’s story is true the actions don’t rise to an impeachable offence.
In a few weeks or months, do Republican Senators want to pick up the paper and read that one of the witnesses or documents they blocked had crucial information on President Trump’s misconduct?
How can any Senate Republican NOT vote for the witnesses and documents we are seeking? — Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 28, 2020
Senate Republicans spent considerable time in private discussing how to deal with Bolton’s manuscript without extending the proceedings or jeopardizing the president’s expected acquittal. That effort lost steam as Democrats showed no interest, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer saying, “We’re not bargaining with them.”
GOP senators were warned that if they agree to call Bolton or try to access his manuscript, the White House will block him, likely sparking a weeks-long court battle over executive privilege and national security.
Nonetheless, Senator Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine appeared to be backed by others in the move to seek more testimony.
Some Republicans including Senator Pat Toomey want reciprocity – bringing in Bolton or another Democratic witness in exchange for one from the GOP side. Some Republicans want to hear from Biden and his son, who was on the board of a Ukrainian gas company when his father was vice president.
“If people want witnesses, we’re going to get a lot of witnesses,” said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, one of Trump’s strongest defenders in the Senate.
He said they would want to know, “was it legitimate for the president to believe there was corruption and conflicts of interest on the Bidens’ part in the Ukraine?”
Those swaps, though, seem likely to fail as most Republican senators don’t want to call Bolton and most Democrats would rather avoid dragging the Bidens further into the impeachment proceedings. The Bidens were a focus of defence arguments though no evidence of wrongdoing has emerged.
“I don’t know that the manuscript would make any difference in the outcome of the trial,” said Roy Blunt of Missouri, a member of GOP leadership. And some Republicans said they simply don’t trust Bolton’s word. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky called Bolton “disgruntled”’ and seeking to make money off his time at the White house.
But John Kelly, Trump’s former White House chief of staff, told an audience in Sarasota, Florida, that he believes Bolton.
“If John Bolton says that in the book, I believe John Bolton,” he said.
White House officials privately acknowledge that they are essentially powerless to block the book’s publication but could sue after the fact if they believe it violated the confidentiality agreement Bolton signed.
Trump and his lawyers have argued repeatedly that Democrats are using impeachment to try to undo the results of the last presidential election and drive Trump from office.
“What they are asking you do is to throw out a successful president on the eve of an election,” said White House counsel Pat Cipollone.
Democrats, meanwhile, say Trump’s refusal to allow administration officials to testify only reinforces that the White House is hiding evidence. The White House has had Bolton’s manuscript for about a month, according to a letter from Bolton’s attorney.
(FRANCE 24 with AP and AFP)
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france24--2020-01-29--Syrian army takes over key town from rebels in Idlib

A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency ( SANA ) on January 28 , 2020 , shows Syrian Army soldiers passing through the eastern outskirts of Maaret al-Numan in Syria 's northernwestern province of Idlib .
Syrian troops are in full control of a key rebel-held town in the country ’ s northwest after days of intense fighting and airstrikes that displaced tens of thousands of people , the Syrian army said Wednesday .
The capture of the town of Maaret al-Numan in Idlib province marks another victory for President Bashar Assad ’ s forces , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nearly nine-year conflict that left more than 400,000 people dead and displaced half of Syria ’ s population .
Syrian government forces have been on the offensive for more than a month in northwestern Idlib province , the last rebel stronghold in the country .
But in recent days , the government captured more than a dozen villages in the area as the insurgents ’ defenses began to crumble .
Al-Qaida linked rebels control much of Idlib province and small parts of the adjacent area in Aleppo .
“ Our armed forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the aim of putting an end to crimes committed by terrorist groups , ” said army spokesman Brig .
Gen. Ali Mayhoub .
He listed more than a dozen villages and towns captured , including Maaret al-Numan .
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights , an opposition war monitor , said insurgents withdrew from the town late on Tuesday .
Syrian troops had left a road west of the town opened apparently to give a chance for insurgents to pull out and to avoid street battles inside the town .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces were also advancing against insurgents west of the city of Aleppo , according to state media and opposition activists .
Maaret al-Numan , which had been in rebel hands since 2012 , sits on the highway linking Damascus with Aleppo , once Syria ’ s main commercial hub .
With the town ’ s fall , government forces are now closer to retaking the critical north-south highway .
The government offensive in Idlib has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people , many of them to areas close to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is home to 3 million civilians , and the U.N. has warned of the growing risk of a humanitarian catastrophe along the Turkish border .
In August , Syrian troops captured another town along the highway , Khan Sheikhoun .
Now that Syrian troops are in control of Maaret al-Numan , their next target is likely to be Saraqeb , which would become the last major town on the M5 highway that remains outside government control .

Syrian troops are in full control of a key rebel-held town in the country’s northwest after days of intense fighting and airstrikes that displaced tens of thousands of people, the Syrian army said Wednesday.
A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on January 28, 2020, shows Syrian Army soldiers passing through the eastern outskirts of Maaret al-Numan in Syria's northernwestern province of Idlib.
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The capture of the town of Maaret al-Numan in Idlib province marks another victory for President Bashar Assad’s forces, which now control most of Syria after a nearly nine-year conflict that left more than 400,000 people dead and displaced half of Syria’s population.
Syrian government forces have been on the offensive for more than a month in northwestern Idlib province, the last rebel stronghold in the country. But in recent days, the government captured more than a dozen villages in the area as the insurgents’ defenses began to crumble. Al-Qaida linked rebels control much of Idlib province and small parts of the adjacent area in Aleppo.
“Our armed forces continued operations in southern parts of Idlib with the aim of putting an end to crimes committed by terrorist groups,” said army spokesman Brig. Gen. Ali Mayhoub. He listed more than a dozen villages and towns captured, including Maaret al-Numan.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents withdrew from the town late on Tuesday. Syrian troops had left a road west of the town opened apparently to give a chance for insurgents to pull out and to avoid street battles inside the town.
The push into Maaret al-Numan came as Syrian forces were also advancing against insurgents west of the city of Aleppo, according to state media and opposition activists.
Maaret al-Numan, which had been in rebel hands since 2012, sits on the highway linking Damascus with Aleppo, once Syria’s main commercial hub. With the town’s fall, government forces are now closer to retaking the critical north-south highway.
The government offensive in Idlib has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, many of them to areas close to the border with Turkey. The province is home to 3 million civilians, and the U.N. has warned of the growing risk of a humanitarian catastrophe along the Turkish border.
In August, Syrian troops captured another town along the highway, Khan Sheikhoun. Now that Syrian troops are in control of Maaret al-Numan, their next target is likely to be Saraqeb, which would become the last major town on the M5 highway that remains outside government control.
(AP)
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france24--2020-01-29--China coronavirus death toll passes 130 as US considers flight ban

People wear face masks as they listen to a presentation in an Apple Store in the Sanlitun shopping district in Beijing as China is hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus , January 25 , 2020 .
Picture taken January 25 , 2020 .
The death toll from a new coronavirus in China rose sharply to 132 on Wednesday with nearly 1,500 new cases , heaping pressure on Beijing to control the disease as U.S. officials said the White House was weighing whether to suspend all flights to the country .
The White House is holding daily meetings on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a likely source of infections , sources briefed on the matter told Reuters , though it had decided against suspending air traffic on Tuesday .
Two U.S. officials said the administration had not taken any options off the table , however , including a temporary ban on flights , if public health data supported the move .
Fears of the spreading virus have already pushed airlines around the world to reduce flights to China and global companies to restrict employee travel to the country , while sectors from mining to luxury goods have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the event of a worst-case pandemic .
China 's National Health Commission on Wednesday said the total number of deaths from the flu-like virus rose by 26 on Tuesday to 132 , while the number of confirmed cases rose by 1,459 to a total of 5,974 .
New cases were also reported around the world , including Germany where four people from the same company were infected after one of them contracted it from a colleague while visiting their workplace in China .
The German cases raise concerns about the human-to-human spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in droplets from coughs and sneezes and has an incubation period of up to 14 days .
Known as `` 2019-nCoV '' , the newly identified coronavirus emerged late last year in Wuhan , a major transportation hub and capital of central Hubei province with a population of 11 million people .
China has since moved to lock down most of Hubei province , with a population around the same as Italy , to contain the epidemic .
Most of the confirmed deaths and patients from the outbreak are in Hubei .
Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animal and have pointed to a seafood market in Wuhan where wildlife was traded illegally .
The virus has spread to more than a dozen countries and cases such as those in Germany show it is spreading through human contact and not only through travellers from China .
Experts say it is too early to know what its death rate will be , since there are likely to be many cases of milder disease going undetected .
`` The virus is a devil and we can not let the devil hide , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said during a meeting with World Health Organization ( WHO ) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Beijing on Tuesday .
`` China will strengthen international cooperation and welcomes the WHO participation in virus prevention ... China is confident of winning the battle against the virus . ''
China 's assurances failed to calm investors , however , as and health authorities around the world continued to step up efforts to stop the virus from spreading on their shores .
The United States said it was expanding screening of arrivals from China from five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further travel curbs .
`` All options for dealing with infectious disease spread have to be on the table , including travel restrictions , '' said U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar .
From France to Japan , governments were organising evacuations , while Hong Kong - scene of anti-China unrest for months - planned to suspend rail and ferry links with the mainland .
United Airlines said it was suspending some flights between the United States and China for a week from Feb. 1 due to a `` significant decline in demand .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a chartered plane would pick up its consular staff on Wednesday .
The European Commission said it would help fund two aircraft to fly EU citizens home , with 250 French nationals leaving on the first flight .

The death toll from a new coronavirus in China rose sharply to 132 on Wednesday with nearly 1,500 new cases, heaping pressure on Beijing to control the disease as U.S. officials said the White House was weighing whether to suspend all flights to the country.
People wear face masks as they listen to a presentation in an Apple Store in the Sanlitun shopping district in Beijing as China is hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus, January 25, 2020. Picture taken January 25, 2020.
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The White House is holding daily meetings on the outbreak and monitoring China-U.S. flights as a likely source of infections, sources briefed on the matter told Reuters, though it had decided against suspending air traffic on Tuesday.
Two U.S. officials said the administration had not taken any options off the table, however, including a temporary ban on flights, if public health data supported the move.
Fears of the spreading virus have already pushed airlines around the world to reduce flights to China and global companies to restrict employee travel to the country, while sectors from mining to luxury goods have been shaken by concerns for global growth in the event of a worst-case pandemic.
China's National Health Commission on Wednesday said the total number of deaths from the flu-like virus rose by 26 on Tuesday to 132, while the number of confirmed cases rose by 1,459 to a total of 5,974.
New cases were also reported around the world, including Germany where four people from the same company were infected after one of them contracted it from a colleague while visiting their workplace in China.
The German cases raise concerns about the human-to-human spread of the virus which can be transmitted in droplets from coughs and sneezes and has an incubation period of up to 14 days.
Known as "2019-nCoV", the newly identified coronavirus emerged late last year in Wuhan, a major transportation hub and capital of central Hubei province with a population of 11 million people.
China has since moved to lock down most of Hubei province, with a population around the same as Italy, to contain the epidemic. Most of the confirmed deaths and patients from the outbreak are in Hubei.
Health authorities believe the virus originated from an animal and have pointed to a seafood market in Wuhan where wildlife was traded illegally.
The virus has spread to more than a dozen countries and cases such as those in Germany show it is spreading through human contact and not only through travellers from China.
Experts say it is too early to know what its death rate will be, since there are likely to be many cases of milder disease going undetected.
"The virus is a devil and we cannot let the devil hide," state television quoted Chinese President Xi Jinping said during a meeting with World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Beijing on Tuesday.
"China will strengthen international cooperation and welcomes the WHO participation in virus prevention... China is confident of winning the battle against the virus."
China's assurances failed to calm investors, however, as and health authorities around the world continued to step up efforts to stop the virus from spreading on their shores.
The United States said it was expanding screening of arrivals from China from five to 20 airports and would consider imposing further travel curbs.
"All options for dealing with infectious disease spread have to be on the table, including travel restrictions," said U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar.
From France to Japan, governments were organising evacuations, while Hong Kong - scene of anti-China unrest for months - planned to suspend rail and ferry links with the mainland. United Airlines said it was suspending some flights between the United States and China for a week from Feb. 1 due to a "significant decline in demand."
The U.S. Embassy in Beijing said a chartered plane would pick up its consular staff on Wednesday. The European Commission said it would help fund two aircraft to fly EU citizens home, with 250 French nationals leaving on the first flight.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-28--Paris to evacuate citizens from Wuhan as fourth coronavirus case confirmed in France

A picture taken in a laboratory of the National Reference Center ( CNR ) for respiratory viruses at the Institut Pasteur in Paris on January 28 , 2020 shows a biohazard sticker on the entrance of a room .
The CNR analyses for respiratory viruses among which coronavirus .
France will send a plane this week to start evacuating its citizens from Wuhan , the Chinese city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak , the government said Tuesday as a fourth case was reported on French soil .
Health ministry director Jerome Salomon told reporters in Paris an elderly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was receiving emergency treatment in a hospital in the capital .
He was visiting France from the Hubei province hardest hit by the outbreak that has killed more than 100 people and sickened thousands .
The Chinese government has sealed off Wuhan and neighbouring cities , effectively trapping tens of millions of people , including thousands of foreigners , in a bid to contain the spread of the virus .
France will send a plane to Wuhan on Thursday , Health Minister Agnès Buzyn said , where about 500 to 1,000 French citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plane will likely return to France late Friday or early Saturday , she said .
Those on it will be brought to a holding facility in Paris , where they will stay for 14 days – the estimated virus incubation period – to ensure they do not have the virus and therefore can not pass it on to others .
Any who display symptoms , which are similar to the flu and include a fever , will be hospitalised immediately .
Deputy transport minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari told CNews television the first flight would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have any symptoms ” of illness .
Another flight to bring home “ people who may be carrying the virus ” is planned but no date has yet been set , he said .
“ Several planes will follow , ” added Buzyn , so as not to mix potentially infected people with healthy ones on the same flight .
The European Commission said in a statement on Tuesday that EU citizens would also be flown out of Wuhan .
“ Initial numbers indicate that around 250 French citizens will be transported in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizens from other countries will join the second aircraft , ” it said in a statement .
The airlift , at France ’ s request , will now be co-funded by the EU under its civil protection mechanism and broadened with the second plane for EU citizens .
It said “ only healthy or asymptomatic citizens will be authorised to travel ” on the flights .
France was the first European country to report imported cases of the new coronavirus .
The first three were people who had recently been to China .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ man , who has not been to China , was infected with the virus by a colleague visiting Bavaria from China , in what is believed to be the first human transmission on European soil .
Buzyn said several European countries had asked France to bring their nationals home on its planes .
“ Obviously , we won ’ t close the doors of our planes to foreign nationals if they request it and if we have the possibility ” to help them , Buzyn added .
Among the French in Wuhan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however .
“ Some have family members who are not necessarily French nationals , so it is necessary to know if they want to return , and if the Chinese government accepts it , ” Buzyn said .
“ All of this is being discussed with the Chinese authorities.
” Others are put off by the mandatory 14-day quarantine period .

France has confirmed a fifth case of infection by the new coronavirus from China, the French health minister said on Wednesday, adding the patient was the daughter of an 80-year-old man already hospitalized with the disease.
A picture taken in a laboratory of the National Reference Center (CNR) for respiratory viruses at the Institut Pasteur in Paris on January 28, 2020 shows a biohazard sticker on the entrance of a room. The CNR analyses for respiratory viruses among which coronavirus.
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Minister for Health Agnès Buzyn also said the first flight, which will later repatriate French nationals from the Chinese town of Wuhan - the epicentre of the virus - would depart France for China later on Wednesday, with a second flight to follow on Thursday or Friday.
France confirmed its first three cases of the Wuhan coronavirus on Friday, and a fourth case on Tuesday.
“We now have five cases, out of which two are under surveillance,” Buzyn said at a press conference.
The Chinese government has sealed off Wuhan and neighbouring cities, effectively trapping tens of millions of people, including thousands of foreigners, in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.
Buzyn said the first plane will likely return to France late Friday or early Saturday. Those on it will be brought to a holding facility in Paris, where they will stay for 14 days – the estimated virus incubation period – to ensure they do not have the virus and therefore cannot pass it on to others.
Any who display symptoms, which are similar to the flu and include a fever, will be hospitalised immediately.
Deputy transport minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari told CNews television the first flight would bring only passengers “who do not have any symptoms” of illness.
Another flight to bring home “people who may be carrying the virus” is planned but no date has yet been set, he said.
“Several planes will follow,” added Buzyn, so as not to mix potentially infected people with healthy ones on the same flight.
The European Commission said in a statement on Tuesday that EU citizens would also be flown out of Wuhan.
“Initial numbers indicate that around 250 French citizens will be transported in the first aircraft and over 100 EU citizens from other countries will join the second aircraft,” it said in a statement.
The airlift, at France’s request, will now be co-funded by the EU under its civil protection mechanism and broadened with the second plane for EU citizens.
It said “only healthy or asymptomatic citizens will be authorised to travel” on the flights.
‘Won’t close the doors’
France was the first European country to report imported cases of the new coronavirus. The first three were people who had recently been to China.
On Tuesday, officials said a German man, who has not been to China, was infected with the virus by a colleague visiting Bavaria from China, in what is believed to be the first human transmission on European soil.
Buzyn said several European countries had asked France to bring their nationals home on its planes.
“Obviously, we won’t close the doors of our planes to foreign nationals if they request it and if we have the possibility” to help them, Buzyn added.
Among the French in Wuhan, some may not be keen on leaving, however.
“Some have family members who are not necessarily French nationals, so it is necessary to know if they want to return, and if the Chinese government accepts it,” Buzyn said.
“All of this is being discussed with the Chinese authorities.”
Others are put off by the mandatory 14-day quarantine period.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-01-29--British MEPs pack their bags ahead of Brexit

British MEPs are leaving the European Parliament , pictured , two days ahead of Brexit on January 31 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ goes into effect , European Parliament members from the United Kingdom are turning the page @ @ @ @ @ goodbyes .
As she packs her boxes , Martina Anderson , Northern Irish MEP from @ @ @ @ @ is angry about her forced departure .
In 2016 , Northern Ireland voted by more @ @ @ @ @ in Europe .
“ I 'm thinking primarily of the people who sent me here @ @ @ @ @ , know that we 're being kicked out against our democratically expressed wishes to remain @ @ @ @ @ says Anderson .
Molly Scott-Cato , British MEP of the Green party , is also @ @ @ @ @ Brussels .
“ It was a very nice feeling , to be able to feel @ @ @ @ @ love to carry on doing that , ” Scott-Cato told visiting students .
Click on @ @ @ @ @ our report .

Two days before Brexit goes into effect, European Parliament members from the United Kingdom are turning the page on Europe and saying their goodbyes.
British MEPs are leaving the European Parliament, pictured, two days ahead of Brexit on January 31, 2020.
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As she packs her boxes, Martina Anderson, Northern Irish MEP from the Sinn Fein party, is angry about her forced departure. In 2016, Northern Ireland voted by more than 56 percent to stay in Europe.
“I'm thinking primarily of the people who sent me here. They, like me, know that we're being kicked out against our democratically expressed wishes to remain in the EU,” says Anderson.
Molly Scott-Cato, British MEP of the Green party, is also sad about having to leave Brussels. “It was a very nice feeling, to be able to feel useful, and I'd love to carry on doing that,” Scott-Cato told visiting students.
Click on the player above to watch our report.
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france24--2020-01-29--Peru court orders opposition leader Keiko Fujimori to return to prison

Keiko Fujimori leaves her home in Lima on January 28th after a judge ordered her return to prison .
As Peruvian authorities detained opposition leader Keiko Fujimori on Tuesday night for a new 15-month jail term , the politician published a pre-recorded video alleging `` persecution '' and vowing to `` end her silence '' on the case .
A judge on Tuesday afternoon ordered her detention as prosecutors continue an investigation for alleged money laundering .
She had already spent 13 months in jail , but Peru 's top constitutional court ordered her release in November .
Prosecutors appealed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was published on Facebook and appeared to have been recorded earlier on Tuesday , Fujimori said she would `` give a political response to this political persecution . ''
Her message is a significant shift in strategy .
In November , Fujimori said she would lie low and dedicate herself to her family , but is now vowing to aggressively defend herself politically and publicly .
`` This is n't justice , '' Fujimori said , before describing a forceful defence .
`` As woman , as wife , as mother , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the strength that I have . ''
She said her husband would seek support from foreign governments and organisations to support her release .
Fujimori , the daughter of imprisoned former President Alberto Fujimori , has not been officially charged .
Prosecutors allege she took money from embattled Brazilian firm Odebrecht to finance a presidential campaign while pretending it came from other sources .
Odebrecht has admitted to bribing scores of politicians throughout Latin America , and three of Peru 's former presidents have received jail orders for their ties to the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crackdown amounts to a criminalisation of politics , while others say Peru is finally cleaning up its act on combating systemic corruption .
Either way , prosecutors have aggressively gone after top politicians but in most cases have not filed formal charges .
Judge Victor Zuñiga said in his decision that allowing Fujimori to remain free or to hold her on house arrest , two options that were on the table , `` would not guarantee ... that the defendant will not interrupt the evolution of the investigations . ''
Prosecutors had asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fujimori 's defense said they would appeal .
Fujimori arrived at Zuñiga 's courtroom in Lima 's downtown shortly before the judge finished reading his decision , which took over eight hours .
A few dozen supporters were outside chanting in support .
Key evidence against Fujimori includes the testimony of an Odebrecht executive who told prosecutors that the company helped finance her presidential campaign in 2011 , when she was the runner-up .

As Peruvian authorities detained opposition leader Keiko Fujimori on Tuesday night for a new 15-month jail term, the politician published a pre-recorded video alleging "persecution" and vowing to "end her silence" on the case.
Keiko Fujimori leaves her home in Lima on January 28th after a judge ordered her return to prison.
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A judge on Tuesday afternoon ordered her detention as prosecutors continue an investigation for alleged money laundering.
She had already spent 13 months in jail, but Peru's top constitutional court ordered her release in November. Prosecutors appealed that decision.
In the video, which was published on Facebook and appeared to have been recorded earlier on Tuesday, Fujimori said she would "give a political response to this political persecution."
Her message is a significant shift in strategy. In November, Fujimori said she would lie low and dedicate herself to her family, but is now vowing to aggressively defend herself politically and publicly.
"This isn't justice," Fujimori said, before describing a forceful defence. "As woman, as wife, as mother, I am going to bring out all the strength that I have."
She said her husband would seek support from foreign governments and organisations to support her release.
Fujimori, the daughter of imprisoned former President Alberto Fujimori, has not been officially charged.
Prosecutors allege she took money from embattled Brazilian firm Odebrecht to finance a presidential campaign while pretending it came from other sources.
Odebrecht has admitted to bribing scores of politicians throughout Latin America, and three of Peru's former presidents have received jail orders for their ties to the company.
Fujimori and her allies allege this crackdown amounts to a criminalisation of politics, while others say Peru is finally cleaning up its act on combating systemic corruption.
Either way, prosecutors have aggressively gone after top politicians but in most cases have not filed formal charges.
Judge Victor Zuñiga said in his decision that allowing Fujimori to remain free or to hold her on house arrest, two options that were on the table, "would not guarantee ... that the defendant will not interrupt the evolution of the investigations."
Prosecutors had asked for a slightly longer 18-month term. Fujimori's defense said they would appeal.
Fujimori arrived at Zuñiga's courtroom in Lima's downtown shortly before the judge finished reading his decision, which took over eight hours. A few dozen supporters were outside chanting in support.
Key evidence against Fujimori includes the testimony of an Odebrecht executive who told prosecutors that the company helped finance her presidential campaign in 2011, when she was the runner-up.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-29--Coronavirus hits Middle East as first case confirmed in UAE

Security personnel wearing protective clothing check the temperature of commuters in Beijing , China , on January 27 , 2020 .
The United Arab Emirates announced Wednesday its first case of the new coronavirus , in a family from Wuhan , in what is thought to be the first confirmed case in the Middle East .
“ The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention announced a case of the new coronavirus affecting people from one family coming from the city of Wuhan in China , ” the state news agency WAM reported , without saying how many were infected .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was stable and under medical monitoring , ” it cited the ministry as saying .
Gulf airports , including Dubai which is home to one of the world ’ s biggest aviation hubs , said last week they would screen all passengers arriving from China amid the outbreak of the deadly virus .
The disease has spread to more than 15 countries since it emerged out of Wuhan late last year , with the death toll soaring to 132 and confirmed infections nearing 6,000 .
All confirmed fatalities have so far been in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the Asia Pacific region and in North America and Europe , but the Wuhan family in the UAE appear to be the first in the Middle East .
Dubai ’ s government said Thursday that some 989,000 Chinese tourists visited the glitzy emirate last year – a number expected to cross the one million mark in 2020 .
About 3.6 million Chinese transited through the emirate ’ s main airport in 2019 .
The UAE ’ s Abu Dhabi International Airport , another major hub , has also begun screening passengers arriving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two Emirati hubs operate dozens of flights a week with Chinese cities .
China is the UAE ’ s top trading partner and Abu Dhabi is among the 15 top crude oil suppliers to Beijing .
Several hundred Chinese companies have offices in the UAE .
The coronavirus has caused alarm because of its similarity to SARS ( Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ) , which killed nearly 650 people across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003 .
Like SARS , it can be passed among humans via the respiratory tract .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ all the necessary precautions ” in line with standards approved by the World Health Organisation .
It said that the country ’ s health system “ works very efficiently and that the ministry is closely following the situation in a way that guarantees the health and safety of everyone .
”

The United Arab Emirates announced Wednesday its first case of the new coronavirus, in a family from Wuhan, in what is thought to be the first confirmed case in the Middle East.
Security personnel wearing protective clothing check the temperature of commuters in Beijing, China, on January 27, 2020.
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“The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention announced a case of the new coronavirus affecting people from one family coming from the city of Wuhan in China,” the state news agency WAM reported, without saying how many were infected.
“The health condition of those affected was stable and under medical monitoring,” it cited the ministry as saying.
Gulf airports, including Dubai which is home to one of the world’s biggest aviation hubs, said last week they would screen all passengers arriving from China amid the outbreak of the deadly virus.
The disease has spread to more than 15 countries since it emerged out of Wuhan late last year, with the death toll soaring to 132 and confirmed infections nearing 6,000.
First apparent case in Middle East
All confirmed fatalities have so far been in China. Confirmed cases have been reported across the Asia Pacific region and in North America and Europe, but the Wuhan family in the UAE appear to be the first in the Middle East.
Dubai’s government said Thursday that some 989,000 Chinese tourists visited the glitzy emirate last year – a number expected to cross the one million mark in 2020.
About 3.6 million Chinese transited through the emirate’s main airport in 2019.
The UAE’s Abu Dhabi International Airport, another major hub, has also begun screening passengers arriving from China.
Between them, the two Emirati hubs operate dozens of flights a week with Chinese cities.
China is the UAE’s top trading partner and Abu Dhabi is among the 15 top crude oil suppliers to Beijing. Several hundred Chinese companies have offices in the UAE.
The coronavirus has caused alarm because of its similarity to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which killed nearly 650 people across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003.
Like SARS, it can be passed among humans via the respiratory tract.
The UAE health ministry said it has taken “all the necessary precautions” in line with standards approved by the World Health Organisation.
It said that the country’s health system “works very efficiently and that the ministry is closely following the situation in a way that guarantees the health and safety of everyone.”
(AFP)
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france24--2020-01-29--Face masks, fear and boredom: Chinese react to virus threat

Whether lining up to buy face masks , blockading villages or finding ways to stave off boredom amid a city in lockdown , the outbreak of a new and deadly virus has brought disruption to the daily lives of people across China .
In Wuhan , the city where the previously unknown form of coronavirus first appeared , the streets are deserted .
Placed under lockdown by the central government since January 23 , with citizens forbidden to leave without special permission , many are choosing to remain indoors to minimize risk of infection .
“ A lot of residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local told AFP .
“ There used to be a lot of people on the streets , many people , but now there are few.
” At the Marco Polo Hotel , one of the few still open , staff have been taking part in daily physical exercise routines .
With no guests to take care of , they see it as a way to both maintain their physical and mental health .
In other major cities , including Beijing , the streets have also been unusually quiet in recent days .
Meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forming lines for surgical face masks .
Some villages have gone to even greater extremes in an attempt to keep the virus at bay by constructing road blocks and screening anyone attempting to enter .
“ It ’ s just to prevent the virus from being spread to our village , ” a security volunteer in the village of Tianjiaying , near Beijing , told Reuters .
“ And then inside our village , we decided to block every entrance .
All outsiders are not allowed to come in .
”

Whether lining up to buy face masks, blockading villages or finding ways to stave off boredom amid a city in lockdown, the outbreak of a new and deadly virus has brought disruption to the daily lives of people across China.
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In Wuhan, the city where the previously unknown form of coronavirus first appeared, the streets are deserted. Placed under lockdown by the central government since January 23, with citizens forbidden to leave without special permission, many are choosing to remain indoors to minimize risk of infection.
“A lot of residents are a little nervous,” one local told AFP. “There used to be a lot of people on the streets, many people, but now there are few.”
At the Marco Polo Hotel, one of the few still open, staff have been taking part in daily physical exercise routines.
With no guests to take care of, they see it as a way to both maintain their physical and mental health.
In other major cities, including Beijing, the streets have also been unusually quiet in recent days.
Meanwhile, outside pharmacies, people have been forming lines for surgical face masks.
Some villages have gone to even greater extremes in an attempt to keep the virus at bay by constructing road blocks and screening anyone attempting to enter.
“It’s just to prevent the virus from being spread to our village,” a security volunteer in the village of Tianjiaying, near Beijing, told Reuters. “And then inside our village, we decided to block every entrance. All outsiders are not allowed to come in.”
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france24--2020-01-29--Turkey blames France for instability in Libya

French President Emmanuel Macron at a press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ( not pictured ) in the Elysee Palace in Paris , France January 29 , 2020 .
Turkey blamed France on Wednesday for Libya ’ s instability , after French President Emmanuel Macron accused his Turkish counterpart of failing “ to keep his word ” to end meddling in the north African country .
“ The main ( actor ) responsible for the problems in Libya since the crisis started in 2011 is France , ” Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this country has given unconditional support to ( military strongman Khalifa ) Haftar in order to have a say regarding natural resources in Libya , ” he added .
Macron claimed earlier on Wednesday at a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis that Turkish ships accompanying Syrian mercenaries arrived on Libyan territory in recent days .
The French leader said the action was a “ clear violation ” of what Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised at the Berlin conference on January 19 where world leaders vowed to stay out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a failure to keep his word , ” Macron said .
But Aksoy said Macron “ was once again trying to set the agenda with fanciful claims.
” Turkey supports the UN-recognised Government of National Accord in Tripoli against Haftar , who controls much of the south and east of Libya .
The strongman launched an assault in April 2019 to seize Tripoli , and has the support of the United Arab Emirates and Egypt , countries with whom Turkey ’ s relations are tense .
Aksoy said France ’ s support alongside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is attacking “ the legitimate government ” was “ the most serious threat to Libya ’ s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
” The Turkish ministry spokesman added : “ If France wants to contribute to decisions of the ( Berlin ) conference being applied , it should first end its support for Haftar.
” Ties between Paris and Ankara are increasingly strained over multiple issues including Syria and the eastern Mediterranean .
When Macron declared NATO “ brain dead ” last year , Erdogan said the French leader was “ in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aksoy in his statement also accused France of welcoming “ terrorists who threaten Syria ’ s territorial integrity ” to the Elysee in a reference to Syrian Kurdish officials meeting Macron last year .

Turkey blamed France on Wednesday for Libya’s instability, after French President Emmanuel Macron accused his Turkish counterpart of failing “to keep his word” to end meddling in the north African country.
French President Emmanuel Macron at a press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (not pictured) in the Elysee Palace in Paris, France January 29, 2020.
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“The main (actor) responsible for the problems in Libya since the crisis started in 2011 is France,” Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a statement.
“It’s no secret that this country has given unconditional support to (military strongman Khalifa) Haftar in order to have a say regarding natural resources in Libya,” he added.
Macron claimed earlier on Wednesday at a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis that Turkish ships accompanying Syrian mercenaries arrived on Libyan territory in recent days.
The French leader said the action was a “clear violation” of what Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised at the Berlin conference on January 19 where world leaders vowed to stay out of the Libyan conflict.
“It is a failure to keep his word,” Macron said.
But Aksoy said Macron “was once again trying to set the agenda with fanciful claims.”
Haftar supported by UAE and Egypt
Turkey supports the UN-recognised Government of National Accord in Tripoli against Haftar, who controls much of the south and east of Libya.
The strongman launched an assault in April 2019 to seize Tripoli, and has the support of the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, countries with whom Turkey’s relations are tense.
Aksoy said France’s support alongside other countries giving military assistance to Haftar who is attacking “the legitimate government” was “the most serious threat to Libya’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.”
The Turkish ministry spokesman added: “If France wants to contribute to decisions of the (Berlin) conference being applied, it should first end its support for Haftar.”
Ties between Paris and Ankara are increasingly strained over multiple issues including Syria and the eastern Mediterranean.
When Macron declared NATO “brain dead” last year, Erdogan said the French leader was “in a state of brain death”.
And Aksoy in his statement also accused France of welcoming “terrorists who threaten Syria’s territorial integrity” to the Elysee in a reference to Syrian Kurdish officials meeting Macron last year.
(AFP)
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