Briefly

AFGHANISTAN

Pentagon clarifies impending troop cut

The Pentagon is counting on further military withdrawals from Afghanistan to potentially fewer than 5,000 troops as the Afghan peace talks progress, it said on Monday. "Over the next four months, the United States will continue to draw down its force levels in Afghanistan based on conditions in-country," it said in a statement. The statement was further clarification for statements by Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who appeared on Saturday to announce an impending troop withdrawal. The US currently has 8,600 soldiers in Afghanistan.

FRANCE

Face masks become mandatory in Paris

Face masks became compulsory in tourist hot spots in Paris on Monday amid warnings of a resurgence of coronavirus cases. Infections have been rising ominously in Western Europe, which has also been sweltering through a heat wave, with temperatures soaring above 35 C. In the Paris region, people aged 11 and over are now required to wear masks in crowded areas and tourists hot spots.

SOUTH KOREA

OECD raises country's 2020 economic outlook

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development raised its growth outlook for the South Korean economy this year due to a prompt response to the COVID-19 outbreak and measures to support the economy, South Korea's Finance Ministry said on Tuesday. The South Korean economy is forecast to contract 0.8 percent in 2020 under a scenario of no more COVID-19 outbreaks in the country, the OECD said in a report. The figure is higher than the previous forecast of a 1.2-percent contraction announced two months ago, marking the highest estimate among 37 OECD members.

Xinhua - Agencies