france24--2020-12-14--Hackers breach US agencies, Homeland Security a reported target

Washington is taking seriously the suggestion that a massive cyberattack targeting federal departments may have been orchestrated by a foreign government The US Department of Homeland Security was the third federal department to be targeted in a major cyberattack , US media reported Monday , a day after Washington revealed the hack which may have been coordinated by a foreign government .
The Washington Post cited unnamed officials who said that the DHS -- which is in charge of protecting the country from attacks both online and off -- had been added to a growing list of targets in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ departments .
A statement from DHS Monday did not confirm the report , saying only that it was `` aware of cyber breaches across the federal government and working closely with our partners in the public and private sector on the federal response . ''
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency ( CISA ) , which is attached to the DHS , on Sunday said it had ordered federal agencies to immediately stop using SolarWinds Orion IT products following reports that hackers had used a recent update to gain access to internal communications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- in the public and private sectors -- to assess their exposure to this compromise and to secure their networks , '' said CISA Acting Director Brandon Wales .
SolarWinds over the weekend admitted that hackers had exploited a backdoor in an update of some of its software released between March and June .
The hacks are part of a wider campaign that also hit major cybersecurity firm FireEye , which said its own defenses had been breached by sophisticated attackers who stole tools used to test customers ' computer systems .
FireEye @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and warned it could have affected numerous high profile targets across the globe .
`` This campaign may have begun as early as Spring 2020 and is currently ongoing , '' FireEye said in a blog post .
The content the hackers have sought to steal -- and how successful they have been -- is not known at this time .
`` We believe this is nation-state activity at significant scale , aimed at both the government and private sector , '' said IT giant Microsoft , which is also investigating , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refrained from naming a country , several US media pointed the finger at the Russian group `` APT29 '' , also known as `` Cozy Bear . ''
According to the Washington Post , the group is part of Moscow 's intelligence services , and hacked servers at the State Department and the White House during the Obama administration .
The Russian Embassy in the United States categorically denied the accusations in a statement on Facebook .
Both the public and private sectors must be increasingly on guard against such hacks , warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a California-based mobile security company .
`` Adversarial nation-states have recognized the value in targeting both sectors , which means neither is safe from the types of attacks that have government resources behind them , '' he said .
Matt Walmsley of Vectra , which provides cyberattack detection services from its base in California , agreed .
`` Security teams need to drastically reduce the overall risk of a breach by gaining instant visibility and understanding of who and what is accessing data or changing configurations , regardless of how they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he said .

New York (AFP) –
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The US Department of Homeland Security was the third federal department to be targeted in a major cyberattack, US media reported Monday, a day after Washington revealed the hack which may have been coordinated by a foreign government.
The Washington Post cited unnamed officials who said that the DHS -- which is in charge of protecting the country from attacks both online and off -- had been added to a growing list of targets in the attack, including the Treasury and Commerce departments.
A statement from DHS Monday did not confirm the report, saying only that it was "aware of cyber breaches across the federal government and working closely with our partners in the public and private sector on the federal response."
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which is attached to the DHS, on Sunday said it had ordered federal agencies to immediately stop using SolarWinds Orion IT products following reports that hackers had used a recent update to gain access to internal communications.
"We urge all our partners -- in the public and private sectors -- to assess their exposure to this compromise and to secure their networks," said CISA Acting Director Brandon Wales.
SolarWinds over the weekend admitted that hackers had exploited a backdoor in an update of some of its software released between March and June.
The hacks are part of a wider campaign that also hit major cybersecurity firm FireEye, which said its own defenses had been breached by sophisticated attackers who stole tools used to test customers' computer systems.
FireEye said it suspected the attack was state-sponsored, and warned it could have affected numerous high profile targets across the globe.
"This campaign may have begun as early as Spring 2020 and is currently ongoing," FireEye said in a blog post.
- Russia involved? -
The content the hackers have sought to steal -- and how successful they have been -- is not known at this time.
"We believe this is nation-state activity at significant scale, aimed at both the government and private sector," said IT giant Microsoft, which is also investigating, in a blog post.
While Microsoft refrained from naming a country, several US media pointed the finger at the Russian group "APT29", also known as "Cozy Bear."
According to the Washington Post, the group is part of Moscow's intelligence services, and hacked servers at the State Department and the White House during the Obama administration.
The Russian Embassy in the United States categorically denied the accusations in a statement on Facebook.
Both the public and private sectors must be increasingly on guard against such hacks, warned Hank Schless, senior manager at Lookout, a California-based mobile security company.
"Adversarial nation-states have recognized the value in targeting both sectors, which means neither is safe from the types of attacks that have government resources behind them," he said.
Matt Walmsley of Vectra, which provides cyberattack detection services from its base in California, agreed.
"Security teams need to drastically reduce the overall risk of a breach by gaining instant visibility and understanding of who and what is accessing data or changing configurations, regardless of how they are doing it, and from where," he said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-14--Macron plans referendum to add climate clause to constitution

Macron 's referendum plan comes from a citizens ' convention he called in response to pressure for more `` direct democracy '' French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday he plans to call a referendum on changing the constitution to include a commitment to fight against climate change and for the protection of the environment .
Speaking to members of a Citizen 's Convention on Climate , Macron said that the referendum would propose adding a clause to the first article of the constitution which lays out the foundational principles of the republic .
`` Constitutionally it ( the referendum proposal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assembly and then the Senate and be voted in identical terms , '' Macron said .
The Citizen 's Convention is composed of 150 randomly picked members of the public who were tasked by Macron 's centrist government with proposing ways in which France could cut its emissions .
They made a series of practical proposals from reducing speed limits to improving home insulation , but changing the constitution to include the climate commitment and making destroying nature a crime -- so-called `` ecocide '' -- topped their list of ideas in June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to demands for greater `` direct democracy '' in the wave of the `` yellow vest '' anti-government protests that rocked the country in 2018 and 2019 .
The unexpectedly fierce rebellion was sparked by a planned fuel tax hike aimed at funding the climate-change fight , which critics said unfairly targeted people who have no choice but to rely on their cars .
The last referendum in France was in 2005 when voters were asked to back the creation of a European constitution .
They rejected the proposal in a humiliating defeat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referendum proposal should easily clear the lower-house National Assembly , where Macron 's Republic on the Move party commands a majority , it may face opposition or delay in the Senate .
Presidential elections are scheduled for the first half of 2022 .
Macron , a 42-year-old centrist , has sought to sustain momentum internationally to cut carbon emissions as laid out in the landmark 2015 Paris climate accord , which was hit by the US withdrawal under President Donald Trump .
But Macron also has domestic critics who accuse him of paying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In a legal case last month , France 's top administrative court noted that France had committed itself to reducing its emissions by 40 % in 2030 compared to 1990 levels , but in recent years it has missed its targets .
It also noted that Macron 's government had , in a decree in April , deferred much of the carbon reduction efforts beyond 2020 -- a response to the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic .
Of the 149 ideas proposed by the Citizen 's Convention , Macron said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , which are set to form the basis of a new law .

Paris (AFP) –
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French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday he plans to call a referendum on changing the constitution to include a commitment to fight against climate change and for the protection of the environment.
Speaking to members of a Citizen's Convention on Climate, Macron said that the referendum would propose adding a clause to the first article of the constitution which lays out the foundational principles of the republic.
"Constitutionally it (the referendum proposal) must first go to the National Assembly and then the Senate and be voted in identical terms," Macron said.
The Citizen's Convention is composed of 150 randomly picked members of the public who were tasked by Macron's centrist government with proposing ways in which France could cut its emissions.
They made a series of practical proposals from reducing speed limits to improving home insulation, but changing the constitution to include the climate commitment and making destroying nature a crime -- so-called "ecocide" -- topped their list of ideas in June.
Macron formed the council in response to demands for greater "direct democracy" in the wave of the "yellow vest" anti-government protests that rocked the country in 2018 and 2019.
The unexpectedly fierce rebellion was sparked by a planned fuel tax hike aimed at funding the climate-change fight, which critics said unfairly targeted people who have no choice but to rely on their cars.
The last referendum in France was in 2005 when voters were asked to back the creation of a European constitution.
They rejected the proposal in a humiliating defeat for then-president Jacques Chirac.
Although the referendum proposal should easily clear the lower-house National Assembly, where Macron's Republic on the Move party commands a majority, it may face opposition or delay in the Senate.
Presidential elections are scheduled for the first half of 2022.
Macron, a 42-year-old centrist, has sought to sustain momentum internationally to cut carbon emissions as laid out in the landmark 2015 Paris climate accord, which was hit by the US withdrawal under President Donald Trump.
But Macron also has domestic critics who accuse him of paying only lip service to the environmental cause.
In a legal case last month, France's top administrative court noted that France had committed itself to reducing its emissions by 40% in 2030 compared to 1990 levels, but in recent years it has missed its targets.
It also noted that Macron's government had, in a decree in April, deferred much of the carbon reduction efforts beyond 2020 -- a response to the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Of the 149 ideas proposed by the Citizen's Convention, Macron said in June that he would accept 146 of them, which are set to form the basis of a new law.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-15--Dutch leader announces tough new nationwide virus lockdown

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte imposed a tough new five-week nationwide lockdown Monday , saying schools , nonessential shops , @ @ @ @ @ down at midnight until Jan. 19 .

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france24--2020-12-15--Villa captain Grealish handed nine-month driving ban

Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish was given a nine-month driving ban on Tuesday after crashing his Range Rover during the coronavirus lockdown in March .
Grealish was sentenced at Birmingham Magistrates ' Court after previously pleading guilty to two charges .
The 25-year-old 's vehicle hit two parked vehicles in Dickens Heath , Solihull , West Midlands .
As well as the driving ban , England midfielder Grealish was also fined £82,499 ( $ 110,271 ) .
A judge was told that a witness said Grealish smelled of `` intoxicating liquor '' and was slurring his words immediately after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved in the incident less than 24 hours after issuing a Twitter video message urging people to stay at home to save lives and protect the NHS .
He also pleaded guilty to a separate offence of careless driving after prosecutors said an unmarked police car spotted him driving at more than 90mph along the M42 at `` close to an intimidating distance '' on October 18 .
Grealish was also ordered to pay costs of £220 and a victim surcharge of £181 , taking his total in costs and fines to £82,900 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prior to the convictions , Grealish already had six points on his driving licence for a speeding offence in 2018 .
He will have to apply for a new licence once his ban ends .

London (AFP) –
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Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish was given a nine-month driving ban on Tuesday after crashing his Range Rover during the coronavirus lockdown in March.
Grealish was sentenced at Birmingham Magistrates' Court after previously pleading guilty to two charges.
The 25-year-old's vehicle hit two parked vehicles in Dickens Heath, Solihull, West Midlands.
As well as the driving ban, England midfielder Grealish was also fined £82,499 ($110,271).
A judge was told that a witness said Grealish smelled of "intoxicating liquor" and was slurring his words immediately after the crash on March 29.
Grealish was involved in the incident less than 24 hours after issuing a Twitter video message urging people to stay at home to save lives and protect the NHS.
He also pleaded guilty to a separate offence of careless driving after prosecutors said an unmarked police car spotted him driving at more than 90mph along the M42 at "close to an intimidating distance" on October 18.
Grealish was also ordered to pay costs of £220 and a victim surcharge of £181, taking his total in costs and fines to £82,900 - all payable within seven days.
Prior to the convictions, Grealish already had six points on his driving licence for a speeding offence in 2018.
He will have to apply for a new licence once his ban ends.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-15--Ski slopes open in Spain's Pyrenees despite pandemic

Most European nations have kept ski resorts shut over fears that crowds and apres-ski revelry could fuel the spread of @ @ @ @ @ , only ski resorts in Spain 's northeastern Catalonia region have opened .
FRANCE 24 @ @ @ @ @

Ski slopes open in Spain's Pyrenees despite pandemic
01:37
Video by: Sarah MORRIS
Most European nations have kept ski resorts shut over fears that crowds and apres-ski revelry could fuel the spread of Covid-19. In the Pyrenees, only ski resorts in Spain's northeastern Catalonia region have opened. FRANCE 24's Sarah Morris reports.


france24--2020-12-15--'What are the new rules?': France eases some coronavirus restrictions

'What are the new rules ? '
: France eases some coronavirus restrictions French government announced on Thursday it would @ @ @ @ @ on December 15 and impose a night-time # curfew instead .
But in a severe @ @ @ @ @ , it said that museums , theatres , concert venues and cinemas would remain closed @ @ @ @ @ FRANCE 24 's International Affairs Editor Philip Turle tells us more .

'What are the new rules?': France eases some coronavirus restrictions
05:15
Video by: Philip TURLE
French government announced on Thursday it would lift the six-week-long partial lockdown on December 15 and impose a night-time #curfew instead. But in a severe blow for the cultural sector, it said that museums, theatres, concert venues and cinemas would remain closed for three more weeks. FRANCE 24's International Affairs Editor Philip Turle tells us more.


france24--2020-12-15--Boko Haram claims kidnapping of Nigeria students in north

Nigeria 's Boko Haram jihadist rebels have claimed responsibility for the abduction of hundreds of students in an attack on @ @ @ @ @ northern Katsina State , a Nigerian online newspaper says .

Boko Haram claims kidnapping of Nigeria students in north
01:24
Video by: Sharon GAFFNEY
Nigeria's Boko Haram jihadist rebels have claimed responsibility for the abduction of hundreds of students in an attack on a boys' school in northern Katsina State, a Nigerian online newspaper says.


france24--2020-12-15--Ruyant takes lead of Vendee Globe after Dalin damages port foil

Thomas Ruyant is the new leader of the Vendee Globe in LinkedOut after long-time leader Charlie Dalin hit trouble overnight Thomas Ruyant is the new leader of the solo round-the-world Vendee Globe race on Tuesday after Charlie Dalin , who has been in front since November 23 , set about repairing damage to the port foil of his boat Apivia .
`` Since 1800hrs UTC yesterday , Charlie Dalin ’ s race has been on hold , '' his team said in a statement .
`` After hearing a loud noise , the boat that was leading the fleet slowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an appraisal during the night and saw that the port foil was damaged , but that there was no ingress of water . ''
Dalin , who held a 300 nautical mile lead a week ago , is now back in third after being overhauled by Ruyant in LinkedOut who was 19nm ahead of Yannick Bestaven 's Maitre Coq IV at 1100GMT Tuesday .
The fleet is sailing east in the southern reaches of the Indian Ocean , approaching Tasmania , and hugging the Antarctic Exclusion Zone , nearly halfway through the gruelling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travelling at under 6 knots at 1100GMT and trailed Ruyant by 106nm .
However , he remains hopeful of getting back into the race quickly .
`` The conditions expected in the area on Tuesday seem favourable to attempt a repair over the next few hours , '' said Dalin 's team .
`` Charlie has also gybed this morning to start the procedure and is currently doing his best to resume his Vendee Globe as quickly as possible . ''
The two foils , port and starboard , are large lateral appendages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the water so that the boat can travel at high speed .
They are characteristics of the latest generation of Vendee Globe monohulls .
The team said the damage did not seem to be linked to an impact with an unidentified floating object .

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Thomas Ruyant is the new leader of the solo round-the-world Vendee Globe race on Tuesday after Charlie Dalin, who has been in front since November 23, set about repairing damage to the port foil of his boat Apivia.
"Since 1800hrs UTC yesterday, Charlie Dalin’s race has been on hold," his team said in a statement.
"After hearing a loud noise, the boat that was leading the fleet slowed right down.
"He carried out an appraisal during the night and saw that the port foil was damaged, but that there was no ingress of water."
Dalin, who held a 300 nautical mile lead a week ago, is now back in third after being overhauled by Ruyant in LinkedOut who was 19nm ahead of Yannick Bestaven's Maitre Coq IV at 1100GMT Tuesday.
The fleet is sailing east in the southern reaches of the Indian Ocean, approaching Tasmania, and hugging the Antarctic Exclusion Zone, nearly halfway through the gruelling race.
Dalin, 36, was travelling at under 6 knots at 1100GMT and trailed Ruyant by 106nm. However, he remains hopeful of getting back into the race quickly.
"The conditions expected in the area on Tuesday seem favourable to attempt a repair over the next few hours," said Dalin's team.
"Charlie has also gybed this morning to start the procedure and is currently doing his best to resume his Vendee Globe as quickly as possible."
The two foils, port and starboard, are large lateral appendages that allow the hull to rise above the water so that the boat can travel at high speed.
They are characteristics of the latest generation of Vendee Globe monohulls.
The team said the damage did not seem to be linked to an impact with an unidentified floating object.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-15--Coronavirus pandemic: France eases some restrictions while imposing new curfew

Coronavirus pandemic : France eases some restrictions while imposing new curfew Starting on Tuesday , the French will no longer @ @ @ @ @ justifying their reason for leaving home .
They will , however , be subject to @ @ @ @ @ the country battles to avoid a third wave of coronavirus infections that could require an @ @ @ @ @ .

Coronavirus pandemic: France eases some restrictions while imposing new curfew
00:37
Starting on Tuesday, the French will no longer need to fill out forms justifying their reason for leaving home. They will, however, be subject to a new 8pm-6am curfew as the country battles to avoid a third wave of coronavirus infections that could require an economically devastating third national lockdown.


france24--2020-12-15--First foreign aid convoy reaches capital of Ethiopia's scarred Tigray

The first international aid convoy arrived Saturday in the capital of Ethiopia 's Tigray region since fighting broke out more @ @ @ @ @ triggering a refugee crisis and humanitarian disaster .

First foreign aid convoy reaches capital of Ethiopia's scarred Tigray
01:22
The first international aid convoy arrived Saturday in the capital of Ethiopia's Tigray region since fighting broke out more than a month ago, triggering a refugee crisis and humanitarian disaster.


france24--2020-12-15--Nativity scene lights up Italy's Cinque Terre coast

A nurse is a new addition to the nativity scene in Cinque Terre One of the world 's largest nativity scenes lights up the hilltop town of Manarola in Italy 's famed Cinque Terre , joined this year by a statue honouring medics who battle coronavirus .
More than 150 figures depict shepherds and fishermen , sheep , camels and angels gathered around Mary , Joseph and the baby Jesus .
Lit up with eight kilometres of electricity cables , they are visible from the sea as well .
A new addition this year is a statue of a nurse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tribute to the medics working in the Covid-19 pandemic .
Italy has been hard hit by the virus , which has killed more than 65,000 people so far .
Watching the lights go on , local school teacher Elisabetta Colarusso said it was a welcome reminder of normal life .
`` We need signs of hope and at least an appearance of normality , '' she told AFP .
The nativity scene dates back to 1961 , when local railway worker Mario Andreoli placed a cross onto the hill opposite the town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ father .
He had the idea of lighting it up with a car battery , and was delighted with the result .
At first , Andreoli -- now 92 -- had to carry them up the steep hill himself , but now there is a whole team putting them up each Christmas .

Manarola (Italy) (AFP) –
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One of the world's largest nativity scenes lights up the hilltop town of Manarola in Italy's famed Cinque Terre, joined this year by a statue honouring medics who battle coronavirus.
More than 150 figures depict shepherds and fishermen, sheep, camels and angels gathered around Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.
Lit up with eight kilometres of electricity cables, they are visible from the sea as well.
A new addition this year is a statue of a nurse with a heart next to it, a tribute to the medics working in the Covid-19 pandemic.
Italy has been hard hit by the virus, which has killed more than 65,000 people so far.
Watching the lights go on, local school teacher Elisabetta Colarusso said it was a welcome reminder of normal life.
"We need signs of hope and at least an appearance of normality," she told AFP.
The nativity scene dates back to 1961, when local railway worker Mario Andreoli placed a cross onto the hill opposite the town to fulfil a wish by his dying father.
He had the idea of lighting it up with a car battery, and was delighted with the result.
At first, Andreoli -- now 92 -- had to carry them up the steep hill himself, but now there is a whole team putting them up each Christmas.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-15--Australia's Byron Bay beach shrinks as sand disappears

Australia 's Byron Bay main beach has lost much of its sand after wild weather lashed New South Wales and Queensland with heavy rain , strong winds and king tides Australia 's Byron Bay usually conjures images of bathers lounging on sunkissed shores , or blissed-out longboarders cruising along cyan-blue waves -- but coastal erosion and lashing storms have reduced its seashore to a debris-strewn slither .
The tourist hotspot 's main beach has been reduced to a thin strip by a sand-shifting phenomenon known as `` headland bypassing '' .
Recent wild storms have then eroded it further .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have watched helplessly as the beach has slowly disappeared because of what scientists say is the natural process of headland sand bypassing .
This occurs when sand moves from one beach to another around a rocky headland or cape , largely due to energy from waves , before eventually shifting back .
In recent days major storms brought strong winds and large waves , which have combined with high tides to worsen the sand losses -- leaving the beach reduced to a fraction of its former self .
Tom Murray , a coastal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interventions such as dredging and artificial bypassing were not viable solutions to the problem .
`` By the time environmental assessments and legal processes have gone through this will have corrected naturally , '' he told public broadcaster ABC .
Murray said that although climate change is affecting wave patterns , any impact this might have on headland sand bypassing remains `` poorly understood '' and more research was needed .
Local media reported that lifeguards were forced to close the beach to swimmers in October after having insufficient space to set up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sandbagging in some areas as they attempt to shore up unstable sand dunes .
Parts of Australia 's east coast have been experiencing wild storms , with heavy rainfall causing rivers to overflow , and authorities to issue flood evacuation orders in northern New South Wales on Tuesday .
However , the rain has also brought welcome relief to firefighters battling the first major blaze of the Australian summer , helping to douse a massive bushfire on Queensland 's Fraser Island .

Byron Bay (Australia) (AFP) –
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Australia's Byron Bay usually conjures images of bathers lounging on sunkissed shores, or blissed-out longboarders cruising along cyan-blue waves -- but coastal erosion and lashing storms have reduced its seashore to a debris-strewn slither.
The tourist hotspot's main beach has been reduced to a thin strip by a sand-shifting phenomenon known as "headland bypassing". Recent wild storms have then eroded it further.
For more than six months, residents have watched helplessly as the beach has slowly disappeared because of what scientists say is the natural process of headland sand bypassing.
This occurs when sand moves from one beach to another around a rocky headland or cape, largely due to energy from waves, before eventually shifting back.
In recent days major storms brought strong winds and large waves, which have combined with high tides to worsen the sand losses -- leaving the beach reduced to a fraction of its former self.
Tom Murray, a coastal management researcher at Griffith University, said interventions such as dredging and artificial bypassing were not viable solutions to the problem.
"By the time environmental assessments and legal processes have gone through this will have corrected naturally," he told public broadcaster ABC.
Murray said that although climate change is affecting wave patterns, any impact this might have on headland sand bypassing remains "poorly understood" and more research was needed.
Local media reported that lifeguards were forced to close the beach to swimmers in October after having insufficient space to set up their equipment.
Authorities have resorted to sandbagging in some areas as they attempt to shore up unstable sand dunes.
Parts of Australia's east coast have been experiencing wild storms, with heavy rainfall causing rivers to overflow, and authorities to issue flood evacuation orders in northern New South Wales on Tuesday.
However, the rain has also brought welcome relief to firefighters battling the first major blaze of the Australian summer, helping to douse a massive bushfire on Queensland's Fraser Island.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-15--Coronavirus pandemic in France: Police cracking down on clandestine parties

Coronavirus pandemic in France : Police cracking down on clandestine parties French police had to crack down on illegal parties @ @ @ @ @ .
Over the week-end police broke up gatherings in Marseille , Nantes and Strasbourg .

Coronavirus pandemic in France: Police cracking down on clandestine parties
01:38
French police had to crack down on illegal parties that violate coronavirus lockdown restrictions. Over the week-end police broke up gatherings in Marseille, Nantes and Strasbourg.


france24--2020-12-15--Israel court allows extradition of sex abuse suspect to Australia

In this file photo taken on February 27 , 2018 , Malka Leifer , accused of dozens of cases of sexual abuse of girls at an Australian school , arrives for a hearing at the District Court in Jerusalem Israel 's highest court Tuesday rejected an appeal against extradition to Australia of Malka Leifer , a former Jewish ultra-Orthodox school principal accused of sexual abuse of many of her pupils there .
`` With the issuance of our judgement , all the arguments are closed and the declaration of extradition takes final effect , '' said the Supreme Court ruling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leifer is accused of child sex abuse while she was a teacher and principal at an ultra-Orthodox school in Melbourne , where she had emigrated from her native Israel .
According to Australian media , she faces 74 counts of child sex abuse against girls .
After allegations against her surfaced in Australia in 2008 , Leifer and her family left for Israel and moved to the Emmanuel settlement in the occupied West Bank .
`` After long and agonising years , the time has come to do justice to Leifer 's victims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I intend to sign the extradition order without delay . ''
The court noted the years in which Australia 's extradition request had been bogged down in Israeli courts .
`` More than six years have passed since a request was filed in the Jerusalem district court to declare the appellant extradited to Australia , '' it said in its Hebrew-language ruling .
Since then , it continued , `` there is no proceeding that the appellant has not taken '' to prevent her extradition .
Extradition agreements signed by Israel `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flee justice will not find sanctuary in Israel , '' it said .
Israeli public broadcaster KAN aired a response from one of the alleged victims , Nicole Meyer .
`` It has been 74 court hearings , nine years of fighting for justice , '' she said .
`` We did not give up , we kept fighting , and finally today we heard the words that Malka Leifer will be extradited and the appeal was denied . ''
`` We really hope to see her back in Australia very soon and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Israeli prosecution lawyer Avital Ritner-Oron however said that it could still be `` months '' before Leifer is on her way .
She told KAN radio that there was theoretically still a chance of a further appeal and that even without that it would still take some time to arrange the practicalities of her transfer with Australian authorities .

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Israel's highest court Tuesday rejected an appeal against extradition to Australia of Malka Leifer, a former Jewish ultra-Orthodox school principal accused of sexual abuse of many of her pupils there.
"With the issuance of our judgement, all the arguments are closed and the declaration of extradition takes final effect," said the Supreme Court ruling, published by the justice ministry.
Leifer is accused of child sex abuse while she was a teacher and principal at an ultra-Orthodox school in Melbourne, where she had emigrated from her native Israel.
According to Australian media, she faces 74 counts of child sex abuse against girls.
After allegations against her surfaced in Australia in 2008, Leifer and her family left for Israel and moved to the Emmanuel settlement in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli Justice Minister Aviv Nissenkorn welcomed the supreme court ruling.
"After long and agonising years, the time has come to do justice to Leifer's victims," he tweeted in Hebrew.
"I intend to sign the extradition order without delay."
- 74 court hearings -
The court noted the years in which Australia's extradition request had been bogged down in Israeli courts.
"More than six years have passed since a request was filed in the Jerusalem district court to declare the appellant extradited to Australia," it said in its Hebrew-language ruling.
Since then, it continued, "there is no proceeding that the appellant has not taken" to prevent her extradition.
Extradition agreements signed by Israel "must be respected and anyone seeking to flee justice will not find sanctuary in Israel," it said.
Israeli public broadcaster KAN aired a response from one of the alleged victims, Nicole Meyer.
"It has been 74 court hearings, nine years of fighting for justice," she said.
"We did not give up, we kept fighting, and finally today we heard the words that Malka Leifer will be extradited and the appeal was denied."
"We really hope to see her back in Australia very soon and face her in court," she said.
Israeli prosecution lawyer Avital Ritner-Oron however said that it could still be "months" before Leifer is on her way.
She told KAN radio that there was theoretically still a chance of a further appeal and that even without that it would still take some time to arrange the practicalities of her transfer with Australian authorities.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-15--US presidential transition: Biden hails democracy after electoral college victory

President-elect Joe Biden pointedly criticized President Donald Trump on Monday for threatening core principles of democracy even as he told @ @ @ @ @ self-government ultimately “ prevailed .
”

US presidential transition: Biden hails democracy after electoral college victory
00:30
President-elect Joe Biden pointedly criticized President Donald Trump on Monday for threatening core principles of democracy even as he told Americans that their form of self-government ultimately “prevailed.”


france24--2020-12-15--Under-fire Arteta vows to stop Arsenal 'blip'

Mikel Arteta insists he is strong enough to cope with the pressure of Arsenal 's dismal run as the Gunners boss dismissed their recent struggles as merely a `` blip '' .
Arteta has faced calls for his sacking after Sunday 's 1-0 home defeat against Burnley condemned Arsenal to their worst start to a season since 1974 .
Arsenal have lost their last four home league games -- their worst sequence since 1959 -- and another defeat at the Emirates Stadium against in-form Southampton on Wednesday would pile further pressure on Arteta .
The Spaniard was given a vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday , but Arteta admitted he had to shoulder the responsiblity for the team 's five-match winless run in the league .
Adamant he still retains the backing of his players , Arteta told reporters on Tuesday : `` My feeling is yes but this is a question for them obviously .
`` When I see the reaction and the way they try , there 's not one bit that worries me that they 're not trying their best , that 's for sure .
`` And in terms of Edu and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guardiola ) , they obviously showed their appreciation , because in good moments it 's very easy .
`` In difficult moments when you have people like them giving you support and two people that know very , very well what we 've been through here , obviously it 's much appreciated . ''
Languishing in 15th place after seven defeats in their first 12 league games , Arsenal are closer to the relegation zone than the top four .
Arteta is not concerned that Arsenal now face an unthinkable relegation battle and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I want to think that we are in a blip , losing football matches makes me believe that but we need to start to win , '' he said .
`` Because just dropping and dropping down the table is not the situation we want to be in .
`` But this is our reality right now and we have to face it and we have to face it being brave , fighting and no one giving up or anything .
`` It 's not time to hide , it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body on the line and at the moment , I 'm sorry , but we have to take the bullets .
Arteta said he accepted that he bore `` maximum responsibility '' for the bad results .
`` At the end of the day you have to win football matches and this club is too big to accept this many losses in the last weeks .
So my chest is here and hit me , guys . ''
Granit Xhaka 's needless red card for grabbing Burnley 's Ashley Westwood around the neck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest flop .
Angry Arsenal fans have called for the volatile Swiss midfielder to be sold , but he retains Arteta 's support for now .
Asked if Xhaka had apologised to Arteta and his team-mates , the Arsenal boss said the matter had been resolved `` internally '' .
`` He has had tough times here and he 's not the only one , there 's a lot of players that have had rocky moments .
`` But what I can say about Granit is that his professionalism and his commitment with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maximal .
`` He knows and we all know that he had a moment where he 's lost it and I know the reason why .
But what I can not do is just throw everything that he has done away because he 's made a mistake . ''

London (AFP) –
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Mikel Arteta insists he is strong enough to cope with the pressure of Arsenal's dismal run as the Gunners boss dismissed their recent struggles as merely a "blip".
Arteta has faced calls for his sacking after Sunday's 1-0 home defeat against Burnley condemned Arsenal to their worst start to a season since 1974.
Arsenal have lost their last four home league games -- their worst sequence since 1959 -- and another defeat at the Emirates Stadium against in-form Southampton on Wednesday would pile further pressure on Arteta.
The Spaniard was given a vote of confidence by Arsenal technical director Edu on Monday, but Arteta admitted he had to shoulder the responsiblity for the team's five-match winless run in the league.
Adamant he still retains the backing of his players, Arteta told reporters on Tuesday: "My feeling is yes but this is a question for them obviously.
"When I see the reaction and the way they try, there's not one bit that worries me that they're not trying their best, that's for sure.
"And in terms of Edu and (Manchester City manager) Pep (Guardiola), they obviously showed their appreciation, because in good moments it's very easy.
"In difficult moments when you have people like them giving you support and two people that know very, very well what we've been through here, obviously it's much appreciated."
- 'Take the bullets' -
Languishing in 15th place after seven defeats in their first 12 league games, Arsenal are closer to the relegation zone than the top four.
Arteta is not concerned that Arsenal now face an unthinkable relegation battle and is confident that results will turn soon.
"I want to think that we are in a blip, losing football matches makes me believe that but we need to start to win," he said.
"Because just dropping and dropping down the table is not the situation we want to be in.
"But this is our reality right now and we have to face it and we have to face it being brave, fighting and no one giving up or anything.
"It's not time to hide, it's time to put your face and your body on the line and at the moment, I'm sorry, but we have to take the bullets.
Arteta said he accepted that he bore "maximum responsibility" for the bad results.
"At the end of the day you have to win football matches and this club is too big to accept this many losses in the last weeks. So my chest is here and hit me, guys."
Granit Xhaka's needless red card for grabbing Burnley's Ashley Westwood around the neck played a key role in Arsenal's latest flop.
Angry Arsenal fans have called for the volatile Swiss midfielder to be sold, but he retains Arteta's support for now.
Asked if Xhaka had apologised to Arteta and his team-mates, the Arsenal boss said the matter had been resolved "internally".
"He has had tough times here and he's not the only one, there's a lot of players that have had rocky moments.
"But what I can say about Granit is that his professionalism and his commitment with the club and with his team-mates is maximal.
"He knows and we all know that he had a moment where he's lost it and I know the reason why. But what I cannot do is just throw everything that he has done away because he's made a mistake."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-15--Prigozhin: Kremlin 'chef' juggling many plates

Businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin is pictured with then Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin in 2010 Dispatching mercenaries to fight in Africa and Syria .
Election interference in the United States .
Threats against Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny .
There is almost no sensitive issue involving Russia where the secretive businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin does not figure or is not accused of being linked .
But the 59-year-old native of Saint Petersburg keeps a low profile , leaving observers speculating over how key his role is in modern Russia .
He has been the target of US and European sanctions over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been accused by a charity co-founded by Hollywood star George Clooney of stirring up trouble in the war-torn Central African Republic .
But Prigozhin has dismissed the accusations , denying any role in conflicts in Africa and irritably describing the accusations as getting in the way of his business interests .
Prigozhin rose from a modest background to become part of the inner circle of Putin who also harks from the former imperial capital on the Baltic Sea .
He spent nine years in prison in the final period of the USSR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , emerging in 1990 as the Soviet Union was collapsing .
In the chaos of the 1990s , he began a moderately successful business selling hot dogs .
From there he fell into the restaurant business and opened a luxury location in Saint Petersburg whose customers included Putin , then making the transition from working in the Soviet KGB to local politics .
The Concord catering group he founded at one point worked for the Kremlin , earning Prigozhin the soubriquet of `` Putin 's chef '' .
But the sheer range of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this name something of a misnomer .
Prigozhin shuns the limelight and there are scant images of the man who rarely makes public appearances .
When he is captured on camera , it is with a shaven head , a piercing stare and usually in a dark suit .
One of the best known images shows him at the Kremlin in 2011 , bending down over a seated Putin as he offers him a dish with the Russian leader looking back with an approving glance .
Reports in Russian media have described him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ built on state contracts .
But the true extent of his wealth is not known .
He was sanctioned by Washington which accused him of playing a role in meddling in the 2016 presidential elections , in particular through his internet `` troll factory '' .
Prigozhin denied any involvement and in March asked for $ 50 billion in compensation from the United States .
He has always denied links to the Wagner mercenary group which has long been accused of sending fighters to serve the Kremlin 's interests in Syria , Libya @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 2018 , three journalists researching Wagner 's operations in Central Africa for an investigative media outlet were killed in an ambush .
Prigozhin has been unusually vocal in the wake of the poisoning in August of Navalny , who fell ill on a flight in Siberia and was then transferred for treatment in Germany .
The two have never made any secret of their enmity , with Navalny 's anti-corruption group accusing a firm that worked with Concord of serving food in schools that was dangerous for the health of children .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ court ordered that the campaigner 's group pay over one million dollars in damages .
Not mincing his words , Prigozhin said : `` I intend to strip this group of unscrupulous people of their clothes and shoes . ''
He even said he had transferred money to the hospital in Berlin where Navalny was being treated to pay for his care so that he fully recovered and could pay the money .
The hospital rejected the offer .
When the EU announced in October that it was sanctioning Prigozhin for undermining peace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saddened by the move and claimed to have many friends in Europe .
He has announced he is suing the EU in response to the penalties he said were `` introduced illegally and without reason . ''

Moscow (AFP) –
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Dispatching mercenaries to fight in Africa and Syria. Election interference in the United States. Threats against Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny.
There is almost no sensitive issue involving Russia where the secretive businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin does not figure or is not accused of being linked.
But the 59-year-old native of Saint Petersburg keeps a low profile, leaving observers speculating over how key his role is in modern Russia.
He has been the target of US and European sanctions over the role of the Wagner mercenary group and has been accused by a charity co-founded by Hollywood star George Clooney of stirring up trouble in the war-torn Central African Republic.
But Prigozhin has dismissed the accusations, denying any role in conflicts in Africa and irritably describing the accusations as getting in the way of his business interests.
- 'Putin's chef' -
Prigozhin rose from a modest background to become part of the inner circle of Putin who also harks from the former imperial capital on the Baltic Sea.
He spent nine years in prison in the final period of the USSR after being convicted of fraud and theft, emerging in 1990 as the Soviet Union was collapsing.
In the chaos of the 1990s, he began a moderately successful business selling hot dogs.
From there he fell into the restaurant business and opened a luxury location in Saint Petersburg whose customers included Putin, then making the transition from working in the Soviet KGB to local politics.
The Concord catering group he founded at one point worked for the Kremlin, earning Prigozhin the soubriquet of "Putin's chef".
But the sheer range of his acknowledged and alleged interests have made this name something of a misnomer.
- 'Troll factory' -
Prigozhin shuns the limelight and there are scant images of the man who rarely makes public appearances. When he is captured on camera, it is with a shaven head, a piercing stare and usually in a dark suit.
One of the best known images shows him at the Kremlin in 2011, bending down over a seated Putin as he offers him a dish with the Russian leader looking back with an approving glance.
Reports in Russian media have described him as a billionaire with a vast fortune built on state contracts. But the true extent of his wealth is not known.
He was sanctioned by Washington which accused him of playing a role in meddling in the 2016 presidential elections, in particular through his internet "troll factory".
Prigozhin denied any involvement and in March asked for $50 billion in compensation from the United States.
He has always denied links to the Wagner mercenary group which has long been accused of sending fighters to serve the Kremlin's interests in Syria, Libya and countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
In July 2018, three journalists researching Wagner's operations in Central Africa for an investigative media outlet were killed in an ambush.
- 'Very upset' -
Prigozhin has been unusually vocal in the wake of the poisoning in August of Navalny, who fell ill on a flight in Siberia and was then transferred for treatment in Germany.
The two have never made any secret of their enmity, with Navalny's anti-corruption group accusing a firm that worked with Concord of serving food in schools that was dangerous for the health of children.
Prigozhin sued Navalny for libel and a court ordered that the campaigner's group pay over one million dollars in damages.
Not mincing his words, Prigozhin said: "I intend to strip this group of unscrupulous people of their clothes and shoes."
He even said he had transferred money to the hospital in Berlin where Navalny was being treated to pay for his care so that he fully recovered and could pay the money. The hospital rejected the offer.
When the EU announced in October that it was sanctioning Prigozhin for undermining peace in Libya, he said he was saddened by the move and claimed to have many friends in Europe.
He has announced he is suing the EU in response to the penalties he said were "introduced illegally and without reason."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-16--California orders body bags as intensive care swamped by Covid

Governor Gavin Newsom warned Californians not to become complacent with an end to the pandemic in sight thanks to the launch of vaccinations California officials ordered thousands of extra body bags Tuesday as record coronavirus cases left Los Angeles with fewer than 100 intensive care beds available for a county of 10 million people .
The situation has grown severe across southern parts of California , which was praised for its response at the start of the pandemic in spring , but which has seen Covid-related hospital admissions soar sixfold since mid-October .
Beyond Los Angeles , health authorities have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Riverside counties , operating with 99 and 100 percent of ICU capacity used up respectively .
Ambulance waits of up to five hours before patients can be transported to crowded hospitals have been reported .
`` We just had to order 5,000 additional body bags ... that should be sobering , '' said Governor Gavin Newsom , warning the state is `` in the middle of the most acute peak '' of the disease .
`` I do n't want ... to scare folks .
But this is a deadly disease , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are .
`` We are not at the finish line yet , '' he added .
Although vaccinations began in several California cities Monday , the process is expected to come too late to stem the state 's third wave of coronavirus .
John Murray , a spokesman for UCI Health in Orange County , admitted the demand on his hospital was `` great '' but added : `` We 're managing it . ''
`` We have the ability to convert other units into ICUs fairly quickly . ''
But with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to just 1.7 percent , some experts warned the lack of specialized care could trigger a spike in mortality .
`` Many folks may be thinking that this is just not anything to be really worried about because hospitals can just add more beds -- the reality is every bed needs to be staffed by highly trained and skilled healthcare workers , '' said Los Angeles County public health director Barbara Ferrer .
`` We do n't have an endless supply of healthcare workers , and those that are here saving lives every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , officials warned that daily cases and deaths could rise further as people continue to gather for parties , indoor religious services and youth sport competitions -- all of which are technically banned .
Most of California 's residents were placed under a new version of lockdown last week , with 33 million residents banned from gatherings between households and `` non-essential '' activities .
`` The numbers are getting to be astronomical .
People are going to die that do n't need to die , '' Ventura County public health officer Robert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Los Angeles , prosecutors have filed a lawsuit against a downtown nightclub that continued to host late-night , underground raves in violation of Covid restrictions .
`` We 're in the middle of the most acute peak as it relates to what we refer to as the third wave , and what we hope is the final wave of this disease , '' said Newsom , urging Californians not to become complacent .
California has recorded more than 1.6 million coronavirus cases and 21,000 deaths since the pandemic began .
Last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people every day in California , up from 41 a month earlier .
`` There is light at the end of the tunnel , '' said Newsom .
`` We 're still in the tunnel . ''

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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California officials ordered thousands of extra body bags Tuesday as record coronavirus cases left Los Angeles with fewer than 100 intensive care beds available for a county of 10 million people.
The situation has grown severe across southern parts of California, which was praised for its response at the start of the pandemic in spring, but which has seen Covid-related hospital admissions soar sixfold since mid-October.
Beyond Los Angeles, health authorities have sounded the alarm in nearby Ventura and Riverside counties, operating with 99 and 100 percent of ICU capacity used up respectively.
Ambulance waits of up to five hours before patients can be transported to crowded hospitals have been reported.
"We just had to order 5,000 additional body bags... that should be sobering," said Governor Gavin Newsom, warning the state is "in the middle of the most acute peak" of the disease.
"I don't want... to scare folks. But this is a deadly disease, and we need to be mindful of where we are.
"We are not at the finish line yet," he added.
Although vaccinations began in several California cities Monday, the process is expected to come too late to stem the state's third wave of coronavirus.
John Murray, a spokesman for UCI Health in Orange County, admitted the demand on his hospital was "great" but added: "We're managing it."
"We have the ability to convert other units into ICUs fairly quickly."
But with remaining ICU capacity across southern California down to just 1.7 percent, some experts warned the lack of specialized care could trigger a spike in mortality.
"Many folks may be thinking that this is just not anything to be really worried about because hospitals can just add more beds -- the reality is every bed needs to be staffed by highly trained and skilled healthcare workers," said Los Angeles County public health director Barbara Ferrer.
"We don't have an endless supply of healthcare workers, and those that are here saving lives every day are exhausted."
- 'Astronomical' -
Worsening matters, officials warned that daily cases and deaths could rise further as people continue to gather for parties, indoor religious services and youth sport competitions -- all of which are technically banned.
Most of California's residents were placed under a new version of lockdown last week, with 33 million residents banned from gatherings between households and "non-essential" activities.
"The numbers are getting to be astronomical. People are going to die that don't need to die," Ventura County public health officer Robert Levin told the Los Angeles Times.
In Los Angeles, prosecutors have filed a lawsuit against a downtown nightclub that continued to host late-night, underground raves in violation of Covid restrictions.
"We're in the middle of the most acute peak as it relates to what we refer to as the third wave, and what we hope is the final wave of this disease," said Newsom, urging Californians not to become complacent.
California has recorded more than 1.6 million coronavirus cases and 21,000 deaths since the pandemic began.
Last week, COVID-19 killed an average of 163 people every day in California, up from 41 a month earlier.
"There is light at the end of the tunnel," said Newsom. "We're still in the tunnel."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-16--Canada arrests fashion exec accused in US of sex crimes

Canadian police announced Tuesday the arrest of fashion executive Peter Nygard at the request of the US justice system , which is seeking his extradition to stand trial for sex crimes .
The Finnish-Canadian millionaire was arrested Monday in Winnipeg , in the central province of Manitoba , `` to face charges in ongoing @ FBI and @ NYPDnews investigation , '' tweeted Canada 's federal police , the RCMP , referring to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City police department .
The arrest stemmed from a request from the US Department of Justice to its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nygard , '' the tweet said .
Nygard , 79 , faces nine charges , including racketeering and sex trafficking , involving `` at least a dozen victims in the United States , the Bahamas , and Canada , among other locations , '' the New York federal attorney in charge of the case said in a statement .
The crimes allegedly took place between 1990 and 2020 .
Nygard and his alleged accomplices , including employees of his group , `` used force , fraud , and coercion to cause women and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the statement said .
The FBI and New York police raided Nygard 's Manhattan corporate headquarters in February as part of a sex-trafficking probe .
Nygard had been under investigation over the accusations for at least five months , according to The New York Times , which broke the news of the raids .
The fashion executive , whose fortune is estimated by Canadian media to be worth some Can $ 900 million ( $ 700 million ) , denied all accusations reported by the Times .
In February , a class-action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York federal court alleging that he raped several unnamed women .
His case draws parallels with that of late financier Jeffrey Epstein , who was awaiting trial on charges he sex-trafficked young girls , including to his Virgin Islands estate , when he killed himself in a New York jail last year .

Montreal (AFP) –
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Canadian police announced Tuesday the arrest of fashion executive Peter Nygard at the request of the US justice system, which is seeking his extradition to stand trial for sex crimes.
The Finnish-Canadian millionaire was arrested Monday in Winnipeg, in the central province of Manitoba, "to face charges in ongoing @FBI and @NYPDnews investigation," tweeted Canada's federal police, the RCMP, referring to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City police department.
The arrest stemmed from a request from the US Department of Justice to its Canadian counterpart "to initiate extradition against Nygard," the tweet said.
Nygard, 79, faces nine charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking, involving "at least a dozen victims in the United States, the Bahamas, and Canada, among other locations," the New York federal attorney in charge of the case said in a statement.
The crimes allegedly took place between 1990 and 2020. Nygard and his alleged accomplices, including employees of his group, "used force, fraud, and coercion to cause women and minors to have sex" with them, the statement said.
The FBI and New York police raided Nygard's Manhattan corporate headquarters in February as part of a sex-trafficking probe.
Nygard had been under investigation over the accusations for at least five months, according to The New York Times, which broke the news of the raids.
The fashion executive, whose fortune is estimated by Canadian media to be worth some Can$900 million ($700 million), denied all accusations reported by the Times.
In February, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Nygard in New York federal court alleging that he raped several unnamed women.
His case draws parallels with that of late financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was awaiting trial on charges he sex-trafficked young girls, including to his Virgin Islands estate, when he killed himself in a New York jail last year.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-16--As Brazil reels from pandemic, doll hospital makes kids smile

Suelen da Silva lost her job at the start of the coronavirus pandemic but is making ends meet with her 'doll hospital ' at her home in Niteroi outside Rio de Janeiro Wearing a traditional white coat and a surgical mask , `` Doctor '' Suelen da Silva uses a stethoscope to listen to her patient -- a black doll that she is healing at her home on a hillside near Rio de Janeiro .
Da Silva does not have a medical degree , of course , but the 62-year-old Brazilian certainly has ingenuity and spark .
After losing her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the start of the coronavirus pandemic , she has transformed her hobby into a way to earn a bit of money during hard times .
Da Silva , a small woman with a big personality , has created her `` lifelike '' hospital for dolls in a poor area of Niteroi , which overlooks Guanabara Bay .
If frontline health care workers are the superheroes of the fight against Covid-19 , Da Silva is perhaps a worthy sidekick , helping children endure the crisis by healing their ailing toys .
The black woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , regularly updates her `` clients '' with pictures of their recovering dolls via WhatsApp -- and a medical chart .
The patients at her hospital rest in tiny white beds illuminated with mini multicolored lights .
`` I give them updates day after day .
The children act like parents whose babies are hospitalized , '' she tells AFP .
`` One day , a five-year-old girl was in tears as she left me her doll , and said , 'Make sure she does n't suffer too much , do n't give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she recalls .
Perola is the shabby doll she is currently treating , her legs bent at odd angles .
She inserts a thin IV to her wrist with adhesive tape .
Da Silva started fixing broken dolls when her daughters were little girls -- today , they are 35 and 22 .
`` I raised them as a single mother and I never had money to buy them dolls .
So I repaired the ones I found in the trash , '' she explains , adding she also donated refurbished toys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I lost my job , this became my new job . ''
Da Silva 's eldest daughter Lydiane helped get the word out about the hospital via Facebook .
`` When she told me there had been more than 3,000 views , it scared me a little bit , '' she said .
The unexpected job has allowed Da Silva to make ends meet , even if her income can be `` very fluid . ''
She charges hospital fees starting at five reais ( about $ 1 ) for minor symptoms -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 70 reais for dolls in a more `` critical condition . ''
`` In a good week , I get about 20 of them , '' for stays of three to four days on average , she says .
The dolls , which arrive in a variety of states -- twisted limbs , bald , some even decapitated -- are fixed , pampered a bit , cleaned up and sometimes even given a new outfit made by Da Silva herself .
She boasts of a secret formula -- a mix of cleaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away pen marks often believed to be permanent .
In a bucket at her home , several dolls are getting a bath to scrub away the unwanted marks .
- New hospital on way - But just like many hospitals in Brazil with precarious infrastructure , Da Silva 's clinic is at the mercy of Mother Nature .
After torrential rainfall the night before , she had to move her hospital from her patio , which was flooded , to a small space near her kitchen in her tiny red home .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open her real hospital , which is being built on land next door and will be bigger .
For now , there is only a cornerstone and a pile of red bricks .
She hopes it will eventually be a lovely little spot with a huge window to admire the bay and the view of Christ the Redeemer .
`` I pray to God that he will help me heal enough dolls so I can finish this construction project , '' she says , hope glistening in her eyes .

Niterói (Brazil) (AFP) –
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Wearing a traditional white coat and a surgical mask, "Doctor" Suelen da Silva uses a stethoscope to listen to her patient -- a black doll that she is healing at her home on a hillside near Rio de Janeiro.
Da Silva does not have a medical degree, of course, but the 62-year-old Brazilian certainly has ingenuity and spark.
After losing her job as a housekeeper in April at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, she has transformed her hobby into a way to earn a bit of money during hard times.
Da Silva, a small woman with a big personality, has created her "lifelike" hospital for dolls in a poor area of Niteroi, which overlooks Guanabara Bay.
If frontline health care workers are the superheroes of the fight against Covid-19, Da Silva is perhaps a worthy sidekick, helping children endure the crisis by healing their ailing toys.
The black woman, who wears glasses with thick frames, regularly updates her "clients" with pictures of their recovering dolls via WhatsApp -- and a medical chart.
The patients at her hospital rest in tiny white beds illuminated with mini multicolored lights.
"I give them updates day after day. The children act like parents whose babies are hospitalized," she tells AFP.
"One day, a five-year-old girl was in tears as she left me her doll, and said, 'Make sure she doesn't suffer too much, don't give her too many needle jabs!'" she recalls.
Perola is the shabby doll she is currently treating, her legs bent at odd angles. She inserts a thin IV to her wrist with adhesive tape.
- Secret formula -
Da Silva started fixing broken dolls when her daughters were little girls -- today, they are 35 and 22.
"I raised them as a single mother and I never had money to buy them dolls. So I repaired the ones I found in the trash," she explains, adding she also donated refurbished toys to community groups.
"But when I lost my job, this became my new job."
Da Silva's eldest daughter Lydiane helped get the word out about the hospital via Facebook.
"When she told me there had been more than 3,000 views, it scared me a little bit," she said.
The unexpected job has allowed Da Silva to make ends meet, even if her income can be "very fluid."
She charges hospital fees starting at five reais (about $1) for minor symptoms -- meaning minor repairs -- and going up to 70 reais for dolls in a more "critical condition."
"In a good week, I get about 20 of them," for stays of three to four days on average, she says.
The dolls, which arrive in a variety of states -- twisted limbs, bald, some even decapitated -- are fixed, pampered a bit, cleaned up and sometimes even given a new outfit made by Da Silva herself.
She boasts of a secret formula -- a mix of cleaning products -- that she uses to wipe away pen marks often believed to be permanent.
In a bucket at her home, several dolls are getting a bath to scrub away the unwanted marks.
- New hospital on way -
But just like many hospitals in Brazil with precarious infrastructure, Da Silva's clinic is at the mercy of Mother Nature.
After torrential rainfall the night before, she had to move her hospital from her patio, which was flooded, to a small space near her kitchen in her tiny red home.
She dreams of one day being able to open her real hospital, which is being built on land next door and will be bigger.
For now, there is only a cornerstone and a pile of red bricks. She hopes it will eventually be a lovely little spot with a huge window to admire the bay and the view of Christ the Redeemer.
"I pray to God that he will help me heal enough dolls so I can finish this construction project," she says, hope glistening in her eyes.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-16--Boseman tipped for posthumous glory with 'Ma Rainey' swansong

US actor Chadwick Boseman 's tragic role in `` Ma Rainey 's Black Bottom '' is added extra poignancy by his death aged 43 from colon cancer Four months after his death shocked the world , trailblazing US actor Chadwick Boseman makes his heartbreaking , hotly Oscar-tipped final film appearance in 1920s blues drama `` Ma Rainey 's Black Bottom . ''
The `` Black Panther '' star portrays a feisty , irreverent horn player struggling to make himself heard in a Chicago music world riddled with racism and exploitation , in the August Wilson play adaptation out Friday on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ piece 's tragic hero takes on added poignancy by his death at age 43 this August from colon cancer -- a diagnosis he never publicly discussed , or even shared with his co-stars during production .
Viola Davis , who plays the real-life `` Mother of the Blues '' Ma Rainey , has described her co-star 's role as `` one of the greatest -- if not the greatest -- role for an African-American actor in history , '' distilling the historic trauma of the Black experience .
`` I 'm looking back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Davis told The New York Times about the film shot last year .
`` Now we know that the role mirrors Chadwick 's life ... it mirrors the life of every Black person grieving , and especially the life of a Black man , '' she added .
Boseman had secretly battled through his cancer diagnosis to become the first Black star with his own superhero epic in the record-breaking Marvel franchise .
2018 's `` Black Panther '' was nominated for best picture at the Oscars and grossed over $ 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid tribute to Boseman by announcing that his iconic role as T'Challa will not be recast in the sequel .
In his final film , Boseman 's cornet player Levee has been hired to support Ma Rainey , who has traveled from the Deep South to record her hit songs on a sweltering summer afternoon in a cramped back-alley studio .
As diva-esque Ma Rainey battles duplicitous producers who want to cash in on her voice and send her packing , Levee plots his own path to solo musical glory while revealing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bravura performance , Boseman delivers searing monologues that vow to `` make the white man respect me '' and curse a God who `` hates your Black ass '' -- interspersed with moments of impish charisma , foot-shuffling dance moves and outrageous flirting .
`` Ma Rainey '' is the second of Pulitzer Prize-winning Wilson 's 10-play `` Pittsburgh Cycle '' to be adapted by producer Denzel Washington , with each chronicling the African-American experience in a different 20th-century decade .
In a quirk of fate , Washington once funded the studies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actors attending a prestigious British summer drama program -- including a then-unknown Boseman .
`` I 'm happy that I got to be a part of sharing his genius with the world , '' said Washington in the film 's production notes .
`` I miss him and I love him .
On film we 'll always have him and I 'll never forget him . ''
For Boseman , that course in Oxford was a seminal opportunity to study Shakespeare , Beckett and Pinter -- but also fostered a desire to propel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same canon .
`` I always felt like black writers were just as classical , '' he once told Rolling Stone .
`` It 's just as difficult to do August Wilson , and the stories he 's telling are just as epic . ''
Academy voters may have begun to take note , awarding Davis an Oscar for Washington 's previous Wilson adaptation `` Fences '' ( 2016 ) .
As `` Ma Rainey '' -- who in real life was supported by a young Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith -- Davis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as she sashays her hips , croons country blues and pours prima-donna scorn on those around her .
She is also being tipped for a repeat Oscar bid .
But Davis and director George C. Wolfe have little doubt over Boseman 's credentials to become the third posthumous acting Oscar winner , after Heath Ledger ( 2008 's `` The Dark Knight '' ) and Peter Finch ( 1976 's `` Network . ''
) `` Chadwick is my baby ... ( he ) was just an artist , '' Davis recently told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being into Levee ... Levee demands that because of the Herculean scale of the role , '' said Wolfe .
`` He put every ounce of his heart and passion into it . ''

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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Four months after his death shocked the world, trailblazing US actor Chadwick Boseman makes his heartbreaking, hotly Oscar-tipped final film appearance in 1920s blues drama "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom."
The "Black Panther" star portrays a feisty, irreverent horn player struggling to make himself heard in a Chicago music world riddled with racism and exploitation, in the August Wilson play adaptation out Friday on Netflix.
Boseman's role as the piece's tragic hero takes on added poignancy by his death at age 43 this August from colon cancer -- a diagnosis he never publicly discussed, or even shared with his co-stars during production.
Viola Davis, who plays the real-life "Mother of the Blues" Ma Rainey, has described her co-star's role as "one of the greatest -- if not the greatest -- role for an African-American actor in history," distilling the historic trauma of the Black experience.
"I'm looking back at how tired he always seemed," Davis told The New York Times about the film shot last year.
"Now we know that the role mirrors Chadwick's life... it mirrors the life of every Black person grieving, and especially the life of a Black man," she added.
Boseman had secretly battled through his cancer diagnosis to become the first Black star with his own superhero epic in the record-breaking Marvel franchise.
2018's "Black Panther" was nominated for best picture at the Oscars and grossed over $1 billion worldwide. Last week, Disney paid tribute to Boseman by announcing that his iconic role as T'Challa will not be recast in the sequel.
- 'Sharing his genius' -
In his final film, Boseman's cornet player Levee has been hired to support Ma Rainey, who has traveled from the Deep South to record her hit songs on a sweltering summer afternoon in a cramped back-alley studio.
As diva-esque Ma Rainey battles duplicitous producers who want to cash in on her voice and send her packing, Levee plots his own path to solo musical glory while revealing a childhood ravaged by white brutality.
In a bravura performance, Boseman delivers searing monologues that vow to "make the white man respect me" and curse a God who "hates your Black ass" -- interspersed with moments of impish charisma, foot-shuffling dance moves and outrageous flirting.
"Ma Rainey" is the second of Pulitzer Prize-winning Wilson's 10-play "Pittsburgh Cycle" to be adapted by producer Denzel Washington, with each chronicling the African-American experience in a different 20th-century decade.
In a quirk of fate, Washington once funded the studies of a group of young Black US actors attending a prestigious British summer drama program -- including a then-unknown Boseman.
"I'm happy that I got to be a part of sharing his genius with the world," said Washington in the film's production notes.
"I miss him and I love him. On film we'll always have him and I'll never forget him."
- 'Every ounce' -
For Boseman, that course in Oxford was a seminal opportunity to study Shakespeare, Beckett and Pinter -- but also fostered a desire to propel the works of Black playwrights into the same canon.
"I always felt like black writers were just as classical," he once told Rolling Stone. "It's just as difficult to do August Wilson, and the stories he's telling are just as epic."
Academy voters may have begun to take note, awarding Davis an Oscar for Washington's previous Wilson adaptation "Fences" (2016).
As "Ma Rainey" -- who in real life was supported by a young Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith -- Davis dons gold teeth and a fat suit as she sashays her hips, croons country blues and pours prima-donna scorn on those around her. She is also being tipped for a repeat Oscar bid.
But Davis and director George C. Wolfe have little doubt over Boseman's credentials to become the third posthumous acting Oscar winner, after Heath Ledger (2008's "The Dark Knight") and Peter Finch (1976's "Network.")
"Chadwick is my baby... (he) was just an artist," Davis recently told journalists.
"Chadwick put his entire being into Levee... Levee demands that because of the Herculean scale of the role," said Wolfe.
"He put every ounce of his heart and passion into it."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-16--EU unveils new rules to curb tech giants

The EU is seeking new powers to use against tech giants 'in the event of serious and repeated breaches of law which endanger the security of European citizens' The European Union on Tuesday unveiled tough draft rules targeting tech giants like Google , Amazon and Facebook , whose power Brussels sees as a threat to competition and even democracy .
The landmark proposals -- which come as Silicon Valley faces increasing global scrutiny -- could shake up the way Big Tech does business by menacing some of the world 's biggest firms with mammoth fines or bans from the European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the bloc 's draft laws to regulate the internet aimed to bring `` order to chaos '' and rein in the online `` gatekeepers '' that dominate the market .
`` The Digital Service Act and Digital Markets Act will create safe and trustworthy services while protecting freedom of expression , '' she told a press conference .
The EU says the long-trailed legislation would see internet behemoths face fines of up to 10 percent of their turnover for breaking some of the most serious competition rules or even risk being broken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six percent of revenues or temporarily banning them from the EU market `` in the event of serious and repeated breaches of law which endanger the security of European citizens '' .
The Digital Services Act and its accompanying Digital Markets Act will lay out strict conditions for doing business in the EU 's 27 member countries as authorities aim to curb the spread of disinformation and hate speech online , as well as Big Tech 's business dominance .
A source close to the EU commission said ten firms faced being designated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation and subjected to specific regulations to limit their power to dominate markets .
The firms that would be subject to stricter regulation are US titans Facebook , Google , Amazon , Apple , Microsoft and SnapChat , China 's Alibaba and Bytedance , South Korea 's Samsung and the Netherlands ' Booking.com .
Search engine Google said it would carefully study the proposals but complained that they `` seem to specifically target a handful of companies '' .
The draft laws will go through a long and complex ratification process , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European Parliament , and a lobbying frenzy of companies and trade associations influencing the final law .
The Digital Services Act is being touted as a way to give the Commission sharper teeth in pursuing social media platforms when they allow illegal content online , such as extremist propaganda , hate speech , disinformation and child pornography .
Under the Digital Markets Act , the EU is seeking to give Brussels new powers to enforce competition laws more quickly and to push for greater transparency in their algorithms and use of personal data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation that dates back to 2004 , when many of today 's internet giants either did not exist or were in their infancy .
A Facebook spokesperson said the proposed regulations `` are on the right track to help preserve what is good about the internet '' and insisted it looked forward `` to engaging with EU lawmakers . ''
The social network took aim at fellow tech giant Apple , insisting it wanted the rules to `` set boundaries '' for the iPhone maker , with which it has tussled over privacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could prove a `` bold and brave move '' but insisted Brussels must make sure it is fully enforced .
`` This is a strong framework and the EU has the heft and democratic values to hold the platforms to account , regulate the reach of disinformation and protect the free speech of the users , '' legal director Sarah Andrew said .
European Parliament member David Cormand , who sits on its internal market committee , said the legislation was a `` step in the right direction '' , but lacked the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ digital services '' .
For the past decade the EU has taken the lead worldwide in trying to grapple with the power of big tech , for example slapping billions in antitrust fines on Google , but critics believe the method has been too cumbersome and done little to change behaviour .
The EU has also ordered Apple to pay billions of euros in back taxes to Ireland but that decision was quashed by the bloc 's highest court .
Tuesday 's moves in Brussels come as regulators around the world have increasingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power of big tech .
US authorities have taken up the call , with several major antitrust cases targeting Google in addition to a legal bid to strip Facebook of its Instagram and Whatsapp products .
Britain 's government was on Tuesday also expected to announce proposed legislation to tackle `` online harms '' by introducing the threat of fines for internet giants .

Brussels (AFP) –
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The European Union on Tuesday unveiled tough draft rules targeting tech giants like Google, Amazon and Facebook, whose power Brussels sees as a threat to competition and even democracy.
The landmark proposals -- which come as Silicon Valley faces increasing global scrutiny -- could shake up the way Big Tech does business by menacing some of the world's biggest firms with mammoth fines or bans from the European market.
EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager said the bloc's draft laws to regulate the internet aimed to bring "order to chaos" and rein in the online "gatekeepers" that dominate the market.
"The Digital Service Act and Digital Markets Act will create safe and trustworthy services while protecting freedom of expression," she told a press conference.
The EU says the long-trailed legislation would see internet behemoths face fines of up to 10 percent of their turnover for breaking some of the most serious competition rules or even risk being broken up.
It also proposes fining them six percent of revenues or temporarily banning them from the EU market "in the event of serious and repeated breaches of law which endanger the security of European citizens".
The Digital Services Act and its accompanying Digital Markets Act will lay out strict conditions for doing business in the EU's 27 member countries as authorities aim to curb the spread of disinformation and hate speech online, as well as Big Tech's business dominance.
A source close to the EU commission said ten firms faced being designated as "gatekeepers" under the competition legislation and subjected to specific regulations to limit their power to dominate markets.
The firms that would be subject to stricter regulation are US titans Facebook, Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and SnapChat, China's Alibaba and Bytedance, South Korea's Samsung and the Netherlands' Booking.com.
Search engine Google said it would carefully study the proposals but complained that they "seem to specifically target a handful of companies".
The draft laws will go through a long and complex ratification process, with the EU's 27 states, the European Parliament, and a lobbying frenzy of companies and trade associations influencing the final law.
- Illegal content -
The Digital Services Act is being touted as a way to give the Commission sharper teeth in pursuing social media platforms when they allow illegal content online, such as extremist propaganda, hate speech, disinformation and child pornography.
Under the Digital Markets Act, the EU is seeking to give Brussels new powers to enforce competition laws more quickly and to push for greater transparency in their algorithms and use of personal data.
The rules are designed to update legislation that dates back to 2004, when many of today's internet giants either did not exist or were in their infancy.
A Facebook spokesperson said the proposed regulations "are on the right track to help preserve what is good about the internet" and insisted it looked forward "to engaging with EU lawmakers."
The social network took aim at fellow tech giant Apple, insisting it wanted the rules to "set boundaries" for the iPhone maker, with which it has tussled over privacy.
Activist group Avaaz said the legislation could prove a "bold and brave move" but insisted Brussels must make sure it is fully enforced.
"This is a strong framework and the EU has the heft and democratic values to hold the platforms to account, regulate the reach of disinformation and protect the free speech of the users," legal director Sarah Andrew said.
European Parliament member David Cormand, who sits on its internal market committee, said the legislation was a "step in the right direction", but lacked the ambition to "regain power over our digital services".
- Fines threat -
For the past decade the EU has taken the lead worldwide in trying to grapple with the power of big tech, for example slapping billions in antitrust fines on Google, but critics believe the method has been too cumbersome and done little to change behaviour.
The EU has also ordered Apple to pay billions of euros in back taxes to Ireland but that decision was quashed by the bloc's highest court.
Tuesday's moves in Brussels come as regulators around the world have increasingly become concerned about the financial and social power of big tech.
US authorities have taken up the call, with several major antitrust cases targeting Google in addition to a legal bid to strip Facebook of its Instagram and Whatsapp products.
Britain's government was on Tuesday also expected to announce proposed legislation to tackle "online harms" by introducing the threat of fines for internet giants.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-16--Swathes of globe may not get vaccine until 2022: study

While richer nations have pre-ordered vaccine doses for their populations , there are fears that poorer nations could be left behind At least a fifth of the world 's population may not have access to a Covid-19 vaccine until 2022 , according to a study published Wednesday , with wealthier nations reserving more than half of next year 's potential doses .
With hopes that vaccines can bring an end to a pandemic that has killed some 1.6 million people , countries including the United States , Britain and the United Arab Emirates have already begun rolling out immunisation programmes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having access to at least one of the dozens of vaccines in development , many nations have snapped up allocations of several different drugs .
Wealthy nations -- accounting for just 14 percent of the global population -- have pre-ordered just over half of the vaccine doses expected to be produced by the 13 leading developers next year , researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found .
There are fears that poorer nations will be left behind .
Even if the drug makers all produce effective , safe vaccines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the study said `` at least a fifth of the world 's population would not have access to vaccines until 2022 '' .
The research , published in the BMJ medical journal , looked at publicly available data and found that as of mid-November , reservations totalled 7.48 billion doses -- equivalent to 3.76 billion immunisation courses , because most vaccines require two jabs .
That is out of a total maximum projected manufacturing capacity of 5.96 billion courses by the end of 2021 .
The study estimated that up to 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading manufacturers might be available for low- and middle-income countries , but said this would depend on how rich countries share what they have bought .
The authors , who cautioned that public information was incomplete , called for `` greater transparency and accountability '' over support for equitable global access .
They suggested the implications could go well beyond health .
`` To varying degrees , trade with and travel to countries might face continued disruption until access to effective preventive or treatment measures , such as Covid-19 vaccines , becomes more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many countries have joined a pooled purchasing mechanism COVAX -- coordinated by the World Health Organisation , the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and vaccines alliance Gavi -- aiming to ensure that people across the world have access to a Covid-19 vaccine , regardless of wealth .
The initiative is hoping to have two billion doses available by the end of 2021 .
But neither the United States nor Russia have so far joined the programme .
Jason Schwartz , at the Yale School of Public Health , said US participation in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in helping ensure people across the world have access to vaccines `` that will ultimately help bring an end to this devastating global health crisis '' .
In a BMJ editorial , Schwartz said the requirement for two doses and the very low temperatures needed to store some of the vaccines added to the challenges for many countries .
`` The operational challenges of the global Covid-19 vaccination programme will be at least as difficult as the scientific challenges associated with rapidly developing safe and effective vaccines , '' he said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranged from $ 6 per course to as high as $ 74 .
They found that if all the vaccines work as hoped , many richer nations would have already reserved at least one immunisation per person .
Researchers said that Canada had ordered the equivalent of four doses per person , the United States has reserved just enough for one vaccine course per person , while countries like Indonesia have reserved less than one vaccine course for every two people .

Paris (AFP) –
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At least a fifth of the world's population may not have access to a Covid-19 vaccine until 2022, according to a study published Wednesday, with wealthier nations reserving more than half of next year's potential doses.
With hopes that vaccines can bring an end to a pandemic that has killed some 1.6 million people, countries including the United States, Britain and the United Arab Emirates have already begun rolling out immunisation programmes.
Eager to increase their chances of having access to at least one of the dozens of vaccines in development, many nations have snapped up allocations of several different drugs.
Wealthy nations -- accounting for just 14 percent of the global population -- have pre-ordered just over half of the vaccine doses expected to be produced by the 13 leading developers next year, researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found.
There are fears that poorer nations will be left behind.
Even if the drug makers all produce effective, safe vaccines and meet their maximum global manufacturing targets, the study said "at least a fifth of the world's population would not have access to vaccines until 2022".
The research, published in the BMJ medical journal, looked at publicly available data and found that as of mid-November, reservations totalled 7.48 billion doses -- equivalent to 3.76 billion immunisation courses, because most vaccines require two jabs.
That is out of a total maximum projected manufacturing capacity of 5.96 billion courses by the end of 2021.
- Pooled purchasing scheme -
The study estimated that up to 40 percent of the vaccine courses from the leading manufacturers might be available for low- and middle-income countries, but said this would depend on how rich countries share what they have bought.
The authors, who cautioned that public information was incomplete, called for "greater transparency and accountability" over support for equitable global access.
They suggested the implications could go well beyond health.
"To varying degrees, trade with and travel to countries might face continued disruption until access to effective preventive or treatment measures, such as Covid-19 vaccines, becomes more widely available," the report said.
Many countries have joined a pooled purchasing mechanism COVAX -- coordinated by the World Health Organisation, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and vaccines alliance Gavi -- aiming to ensure that people across the world have access to a Covid-19 vaccine, regardless of wealth.
The initiative is hoping to have two billion doses available by the end of 2021.
But neither the United States nor Russia have so far joined the programme.
- 'Devastating crisis' -
Jason Schwartz, at the Yale School of Public Health, said US participation in coordination efforts would be "invaluable" in helping ensure people across the world have access to vaccines "that will ultimately help bring an end to this devastating global health crisis".
In a BMJ editorial, Schwartz said the requirement for two doses and the very low temperatures needed to store some of the vaccines added to the challenges for many countries.
"The operational challenges of the global Covid-19 vaccination programme will be at least as difficult as the scientific challenges associated with rapidly developing safe and effective vaccines," he said.
The Johns Hopkins authors said prices for immunisations ranged from $6 per course to as high as $74.
They found that if all the vaccines work as hoped, many richer nations would have already reserved at least one immunisation per person.
Researchers said that Canada had ordered the equivalent of four doses per person, the United States has reserved just enough for one vaccine course per person, while countries like Indonesia have reserved less than one vaccine course for every two people.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-16--Brazil's Rio cancels New Year beach party over pandemic

Fireworks at Rio de Janeiro 's New Year 's Eve party at Copacabana Beach on December 31 , 2019 Rio de Janeiro 's annual New Year 's Eve beach bash , already reduced in scope and format , has been canceled due to the raging coronavirus pandemic , the mayor 's office said Tuesday .
What is normally a mega-party with live music , a dazzling display of fireworks and hundreds of thousands of people dancing to live music had already been drastically downsized , with the fireworks canceled and several events moved online .
Mayor Marcelo Crivella 's office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` opted to cancel the event out of respect for all of the victims , and to prioritize security for all . ''
Some 180,000 people have died of Covid-19 in Brazil , population 212 million .
It is the world 's second highest death toll after the United States , and virus cases are on the rise .
Rio de Janeiro has the highest ratio of Covid-19 victims of any Brazilian state .
Canceling the New Year event `` is a decision necessary for the protection of all .
The party will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vaccine , '' Crivella said in the statement .
Officials also canceled the city 's 2021 Carnival event , normally held in late February , although they left open the possibility of having a later off-season event if the vaccination campaign is successful .
The government of President Jair Bolsonaro said that Brazil has guaranteed access to 300 million vaccines , mainly those developed by Oxford University along with AstraZeneca pharmaceutical and Brazil 's Fiocruz foundation , as well as vaccines from the Covax Facility international initiative .
The government is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 70 million vaccines .
Brazil 's health ministry said Tuesday that officials expect to be able to vaccinate at-risk groups -- the elderly , health professionals and native Brazilians -- within four months of the vaccine 's approval , and all Brazilians within 16 months .
The statement followed a court order demanding dates for the start and end of the national vaccination program .
Details of Brazil 's national vaccination plan have been caught up in political infighting between Bolsonaro and Joao Doria , the governor of Sao Paulo state and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Doria supports including the CoronaVac vaccine -- developed by Sinovac , a private Chinese lab , in collaboration with Sao Paulo 's Butantan Institute -- in the national vaccination plan .
Bolsonaro however claims that this is just a ploy by his political rival and of the Chinese communist government .

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) –
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Rio de Janeiro's annual New Year's Eve beach bash, already reduced in scope and format, has been canceled due to the raging coronavirus pandemic, the mayor's office said Tuesday.
What is normally a mega-party with live music, a dazzling display of fireworks and hundreds of thousands of people dancing to live music had already been drastically downsized, with the fireworks canceled and several events moved online.
Mayor Marcelo Crivella's office said in a statement that it had "opted to cancel the event out of respect for all of the victims, and to prioritize security for all."
Some 180,000 people have died of Covid-19 in Brazil, population 212 million. It is the world's second highest death toll after the United States, and virus cases are on the rise.
Rio de Janeiro has the highest ratio of Covid-19 victims of any Brazilian state.
Canceling the New Year event "is a decision necessary for the protection of all. The party will be to hope for good results from the vaccine," Crivella said in the statement.
- Carnival 2021 also axed -
Officials also canceled the city's 2021 Carnival event, normally held in late February, although they left open the possibility of having a later off-season event if the vaccination campaign is successful.
The government of President Jair Bolsonaro said that Brazil has guaranteed access to 300 million vaccines, mainly those developed by Oxford University along with AstraZeneca pharmaceutical and Brazil's Fiocruz foundation, as well as vaccines from the Covax Facility international initiative.
The government is also in talks with Pfizer to acquire another 70 million vaccines.
Brazil's health ministry said Tuesday that officials expect to be able to vaccinate at-risk groups -- the elderly, health professionals and native Brazilians -- within four months of the vaccine's approval, and all Brazilians within 16 months.
The statement followed a court order demanding dates for the start and end of the national vaccination program.
Details of Brazil's national vaccination plan have been caught up in political infighting between Bolsonaro and Joao Doria, the governor of Sao Paulo state and a likely candidate in the 2022 presidential race.
Doria supports including the CoronaVac vaccine -- developed by Sinovac, a private Chinese lab, in collaboration with Sao Paulo's Butantan Institute -- in the national vaccination plan.
Bolsonaro however claims that this is just a ploy by his political rival and of the Chinese communist government.
© 2020 AFP