PARIS: French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will hold talks with United States’ Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Oct 5, in which the two will aim to work on restoring confidence between the two countries, said a statement from Le Drian’s office.
Diplomatic relations between the United States and France hit a low point last month, after Australia canceled a previous $40 billion French-designed submarine deal, to build instead at least eight nuclear-powered submarines with US and British technology.
In retaliation, France briefly withdrew its ambassador to the United States, although the ambassador has since returned to Washington DC.
US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron have also held talks since that row over the nuclear submarine deal broke out, and have pledged to begin “in-depth consultations” on the two countries’ relations.
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French Foreign Minister Le Drian to hold talks with United States’ Blinken on Oct 5
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French Foreign Minister Le Drian to hold talks with United States’ Blinken on Oct 5
- Diplomatic relations between the United States and France hit a low point
Recovery of New Zealand landslide victims halted on safety concerns
- Six people, including two teenagers, are presumed dead after heavy rains triggered Thursday’s landslide at Mount Maunganui
- Authorities have been working to identify the victims after human remains were found at the site on Saturday
SYDNEY: New Zealand authorities suspended recovery efforts on Sunday for victims of a landslide that hit a busy campground on the country’s North Island.
Six people, including two teenagers, are presumed dead after heavy rains triggered Thursday’s landslide at Mount Maunganui on the island’s east coast, bringing down soil and rubble at the site in the city of Tauranga, crowded with families on summer holidays.
Authorities have been working to identify the victims after human remains were found at the site on Saturday.
But a crack found at the site prompted recovery work to cease for the day on Sunday, said police Superintendent Tim Anderson.
“As a result of that, we’ve had to pull all our staff out,” Anderson told reporters at Mount Maunganui, adding, “We’ve had to do that for the safety of everyone concerned.”
He did not specify when work would resume, saying the authorities were taking it “day by day at the moment.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Saturday it was “devastating to receive the news we have all been dreading,” after the rescue operation shifted to recovery.
“To the families who have lost loved ones — every New Zealander is grieving with you,” Luxon posted on X.
The heavy rain this week unleashed another landslide in the neighboring suburb of Papamoa, killing two.
Six people, including two teenagers, are presumed dead after heavy rains triggered Thursday’s landslide at Mount Maunganui on the island’s east coast, bringing down soil and rubble at the site in the city of Tauranga, crowded with families on summer holidays.
Authorities have been working to identify the victims after human remains were found at the site on Saturday.
But a crack found at the site prompted recovery work to cease for the day on Sunday, said police Superintendent Tim Anderson.
“As a result of that, we’ve had to pull all our staff out,” Anderson told reporters at Mount Maunganui, adding, “We’ve had to do that for the safety of everyone concerned.”
He did not specify when work would resume, saying the authorities were taking it “day by day at the moment.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Saturday it was “devastating to receive the news we have all been dreading,” after the rescue operation shifted to recovery.
“To the families who have lost loved ones — every New Zealander is grieving with you,” Luxon posted on X.
The heavy rain this week unleashed another landslide in the neighboring suburb of Papamoa, killing two.
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