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Added on the 20/03/2020 18:06:03 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
The Prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia meet under tight security measures at the southeastern Czech castle of Lednice for the first face-to-face reunion since the coronavirus pandemic began. Except Poland which has recently reported a spike in COVID-19 cases, the so-called Visegrad countries have been successful in battling the virus owing to timely restrictions. The meeting is believed to be the first time more than two European leaders are meeting in person following the lockdowns. IMAGES
The European Commission reprimands France and six other countries for breaching the EU's spending rules. The Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, says "the opening of a deficit-based excessive deficit procedure is warranted" for France as well as Belgium, Italy, Hungary, Malta, Poland and Slovakia. The seven states had deficits -- the shortfall between government revenue and spending -- above three percent of gross domestic product, in violation of the bloc's fiscal rules. SOUNDBITE
President Biden is not currently planning to invoke the 14th Amendment to prevent a US debt default, the White House says, ruling out a constitutional solution to the current debt impasse. Invoking the 14th Amendment to the constitution, which some legal scholars argue would let the US Treasury ignore the debt limit, "is not going to fix the current problem we have right now," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters. SOUNDBITE
President Joe Biden will still leave Wednesday for the G7 summit in Japan but is reevaluating the rest of his planned tour of Asia, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council John Kirby tells reporters, as the White House negotiates with Republican leaders to avoid a US debt default. Until now the president had planned to also visit Papua New Guinea and Australia after the G7 meeting in Hiroshima. SOUNDBITE
Protesters gather in front of police who are trying to dislodge truckers and protesters from downtown Ottawa who are protesting Covid-19 health rules IMAGES
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