france24--2020-10-12--Court rejects leniency for Greek neo-Nazi leaders

Independent Eurodeputy Ioannis Lagos ( C ) asked for the panel of three judges to be replaced A Greek court Monday rejected calls for leniency for the leaders of notorious Greek neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn , paving the way for sentences of up to 15 years after a five-year trial .
The court refused lawyers ' requests to consider mitigating factors when sentencing party founder and long-term leader Nikos Michaloliakos and six other former party lawmakers .
They were convicted last week of crimes that include running a criminal organisation .
The latest decision came on the 76th anniversary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World War II .
The announcement of the sentencing that had been expected Tuesday was expected to be delayed after one of the defendants -- independent Eurodeputy Ioannis Lagos -- asked that the court be recused for 'bias ' .
However , goverment spokesman Stelios Petsas later told reporters that `` the court will pronounce the sentences in a few hours . ''
Dozens of Communist protesters gathered outside the court near central Athens on Monday , demanding harsh sentences for the `` Nazi criminals '' .
After over five years of hearings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday unanimously labelled the paramilitary party a criminal organisation in the trial described as one of the most important in Greece 's political history .
More than 50 defendants were convicted of crimes ranging from running a criminal organisation , murder and assault to illegal weapons possession .
As a result , Michaloliakos and six others including Lagos , deputy leader Christos Pappas and former party spokesman Ilias Kassidiaris will receive sentences of up to 15 years , a court source said .
Key crimes carried out by Golden Dawn are the 2013 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beating of Egyptian fishermen in 2012 and communist trade unionists in 2013 , the court established on Wednesday .
The announcement was greeted with elation by some 20,000 anti-fascist protesters gathered outside .
Some of them later briefly clashed with riot police .
Police over the weekend blocked plans by Lagos to hold a demonstration outside the tribunal on Monday .
Lagos , a top Golden Dawn organiser who defected from the party last year after his election to the European parliament , last week said he was convicted by a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders and trampling on every sense of law . ''
`` You do n't scare me , '' he tweeted .
Lagos ' lawyer Constantinos Plevris -- a known Nazi sympathiser and author of an anti-Semitic book -- on Monday said the verdict had been swayed by the size of the anti-fascist protest .
`` I feel like I 'm in a French Revolution tribunal , '' he told the court , referring to the crowd outside .
`` Ideology is not on trial . ''
Lagos caused controversy in January by ripping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the European parliament , arguing that Turkey was to blame for illegal migration flows into Greece .
Michaloliakos has rejected his conviction as a political witchhunt .
`` We were condemned over our ideas , '' he tweeted last week .
`` When illegal immigrants are the majority in Greece , when ( the government ) hands over everything to Turkey , when millions of Greeks are unemployed on the street , they will remember Golden Dawn . ''
During the investigation , prosecutors said Michaloliakos ran his party under a military-style @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with himself as the undisputed leader for over three decades .
A search of party members ' homes in 2013 uncovered firearms and other weapons , as well as Nazi and fascist memorabilia .
Tapping into anti-austerity and anti-migrant anger during the decade-long Greek debt crisis , Golden Dawn for a time was the third most popular party in the country .
At the height of its power , the party topped 10 percent in surveys , and its popularity remained high even after the criminal investigation into Fyssas ' murder began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parliament from 2012 onwards , with its lawmakers repeatedly shocking the chamber with provocative and aggressive behaviour .
It failed to elect a single lawmaker in the last election in 2019 .

Athens (AFP) –
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A Greek court Monday rejected calls for leniency for the leaders of notorious Greek neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn, paving the way for sentences of up to 15 years after a five-year trial.
The court refused lawyers' requests to consider mitigating factors when sentencing party founder and long-term leader Nikos Michaloliakos and six other former party lawmakers.
They were convicted last week of crimes that include running a criminal organisation.
The latest decision came on the 76th anniversary of Greece's liberation from Axis occupation in World War II.
The announcement of the sentencing that had been expected Tuesday was expected to be delayed after one of the defendants -- independent Eurodeputy Ioannis Lagos -- asked that the court be recused for 'bias'.
However, goverment spokesman Stelios Petsas later told reporters that "the court will pronounce the sentences in a few hours."
Dozens of Communist protesters gathered outside the court near central Athens on Monday, demanding harsh sentences for the "Nazi criminals".
After over five years of hearings, the panel of three judges on Wednesday unanimously labelled the paramilitary party a criminal organisation in the trial described as one of the most important in Greece's political history.
- Over 50 convicted -
More than 50 defendants were convicted of crimes ranging from running a criminal organisation, murder and assault to illegal weapons possession.
As a result, Michaloliakos and six others including Lagos, deputy leader Christos Pappas and former party spokesman Ilias Kassidiaris will receive sentences of up to 15 years, a court source said.
Key crimes carried out by Golden Dawn are the 2013 murder of anti-fascist rapper Pavlos Fyssas and the beating of Egyptian fishermen in 2012 and communist trade unionists in 2013, the court established on Wednesday.
The announcement was greeted with elation by some 20,000 anti-fascist protesters gathered outside.
Some of them later briefly clashed with riot police.
Police over the weekend blocked plans by Lagos to hold a demonstration outside the tribunal on Monday.
- 'Scared little people' -
Lagos, a top Golden Dawn organiser who defected from the party last year after his election to the European parliament, last week said he was convicted by a "scared team of little people carrying out orders and trampling on every sense of law."
"You don't scare me," he tweeted.
Lagos' lawyer Constantinos Plevris -- a known Nazi sympathiser and author of an anti-Semitic book -- on Monday said the verdict had been swayed by the size of the anti-fascist protest.
"I feel like I'm in a French Revolution tribunal," he told the court, referring to the crowd outside. "Ideology is not on trial."
Lagos caused controversy in January by ripping up a printout of the Turkish flag in the European parliament, arguing that Turkey was to blame for illegal migration flows into Greece.
Michaloliakos has rejected his conviction as a political witchhunt.
"We were condemned over our ideas," he tweeted last week. "When illegal immigrants are the majority in Greece, when (the government) hands over everything to Turkey, when millions of Greeks are unemployed on the street, they will remember Golden Dawn."
Twitter later suspended his account.
During the investigation, prosecutors said Michaloliakos ran his party under a military-style hierarchy modelled on Hitler's Nazi party, with himself as the undisputed leader for over three decades.
A search of party members' homes in 2013 uncovered firearms and other weapons, as well as Nazi and fascist memorabilia.
Tapping into anti-austerity and anti-migrant anger during the decade-long Greek debt crisis, Golden Dawn for a time was the third most popular party in the country.
At the height of its power, the party topped 10 percent in surveys, and its popularity remained high even after the criminal investigation into Fyssas' murder began in 2013.
The party was in parliament from 2012 onwards, with its lawmakers repeatedly shocking the chamber with provocative and aggressive behaviour.
It failed to elect a single lawmaker in the last election in 2019.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-12--China bristles at Canada over duo detained on spy charges

Protesters hold photos of Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig in Vancouver in March 2019 .
The pair have now been detained in China for nearly two years and face charges of spying Beijing on Monday rubbished a Canadian charge that two of its citizens were being arbitrarily detained in China , instead accusing Ottawa of `` double standards '' over the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou .
Canadian former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor have been held in China for nearly two years and have been charged with spying .
Over the weekend the men were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials since January , leading Canada to reiterate its objection to their `` arbitrary detention . ''
Meng , the daughter of Huawei 's founder , was arrested in Canada in December 2018 on a US warrant during a stopover in Vancouver -- just days later Kovrig and Spavor were picked up in China .
`` What Canada has done to Meng Wanzhou is arbitrary detention , '' foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters .
Accusing Canada of `` double standards '' for holding her , Zhao said any attempts `` to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China together are totally futile and counterproductive . ''
Meng , chief financial officer of the Chinese telecoms giant , is charged with bank fraud related to violations of US sanctions against Iran , and has been fighting extradition ever since .
Zhao added that the accusation of arbitrary detention `` can not be pinned on China '' and urged Canada to `` fully respect China 's judicial sovereignty , and stop releasing irresponsible remarks . ''
Canadian ambassador Dominic Barton obtained `` virtual consular access '' to Spavor on Friday and Kovrig @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of direct communication .
Kovrig and Spavor have been held in China since December 10 , 2018 .
They were formally charged with espionage in June .
Zhao also criticised the Canadian justice department 's decision last week to deny Meng access to confidential documents , in a fresh blow to her case .
`` If the Canadian side truly respects the rule of law , it should agree to disclose the case 's key evidence as soon as possible , '' he said .

Beijing (AFP) –
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Beijing on Monday rubbished a Canadian charge that two of its citizens were being arbitrarily detained in China, instead accusing Ottawa of "double standards" over the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.
Canadian former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor have been held in China for nearly two years and have been charged with spying.
Over the weekend the men were granted their first meeting with Canadian embassy officials since January, leading Canada to reiterate its objection to their "arbitrary detention."
Meng, the daughter of Huawei's founder, was arrested in Canada in December 2018 on a US warrant during a stopover in Vancouver -- just days later Kovrig and Spavor were picked up in China.
"What Canada has done to Meng Wanzhou is arbitrary detention," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters.
Accusing Canada of "double standards" for holding her, Zhao said any attempts "to form international cliques to put pressure on China together are totally futile and counterproductive."
Meng, chief financial officer of the Chinese telecoms giant, is charged with bank fraud related to violations of US sanctions against Iran, and has been fighting extradition ever since.
Zhao added that the accusation of arbitrary detention "cannot be pinned on China" and urged Canada to "fully respect China's judicial sovereignty, and stop releasing irresponsible remarks."
Canadian ambassador Dominic Barton obtained "virtual consular access" to Spavor on Friday and Kovrig on Saturday, ending a months-long absence of direct communication.
Kovrig and Spavor have been held in China since December 10, 2018. They were formally charged with espionage in June.
Zhao also criticised the Canadian justice department's decision last week to deny Meng access to confidential documents, in a fresh blow to her case.
"If the Canadian side truly respects the rule of law, it should agree to disclose the case's key evidence as soon as possible," he said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-13--Covid-19 reinfection casts doubt on virus immunity: study

A study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal indicates that exposure to the virus may not guarantee future immunity Covid-19 patients may experience more severe symptoms the second time they are infected , according to research released Tuesday confirming it is possible to catch the potentially deadly disease more than once .
A study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal charts the first confirmed case of Covid-19 reinfection in the United States -- the country worst hit by the pandemic -- and indicates that exposure to the virus may not guarantee future immunity .
The patient , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two distinct variants of SARS-CoV-2 , the virus that causes Covid-19 , within a 48-day time frame .
The second infection was more severe than the first , resulting in the patient being hospitalised with oxygen support .
The paper noted four other cases of reinfection confirmed globally , with one patient each in Belgium , the Netherlands , Hong Kong and Ecuador .
Experts said the prospect of reinfection could have a profound impact on how the world battles through the pandemic .
In particular , it could influence the hunt for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of pharmaceutical research .
`` The possibility of reinfections could have significant implications for our understanding of Covid-19 immunity , especially in the absence of an effective vaccine , '' said Mark Pandori , for the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory and lead study author .
`` We need more research to understand how long immunity may last for people exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and why some of these second infections , while rare , are presenting as more severe . ''
Vaccines work by triggering the body 's natural immune response to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to fight off future waves of infection .
But it is not at all clear how long Covid-19 antibodies last .
For some diseases , such as measles , infection confers lifelong immunity .
For other pathogens , immunity may be fleeting at best .
The authors said the US patient could have been exposed to a very high dose of the virus the second time around , triggering a more acute reaction .
Alternatively , it may have been a more virulent strain of the virus .
Another hypothesis is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is , when antibodies actually make subsequent infections worse , such as with dengue fever .
The researchers pointed out that reinfection of any kind remains rare , with only a handful of confirmed cases out of tens of millions of Covid-19 infections globally .
However , since many cases are asymptomatic and therefore unlikely to have tested positive initially , it may be impossible to know if a given Covid-19 case is the first or second infection .
In a linked comment to The Lancet paper , Akiko Iwasaka , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Developmental Biology at Yale University , said the findings could impact public health measures .
`` As more cases of reinfection surface , the scientific community will have the opportunity to understand better the correlates of protection and how frequently natural infections with SARS-CoV-2 induce that level of immunity , '' she said .
`` This information is key to understanding which vaccines are capable of crossing that threshold to confer individual and herd immunity , '' added Iwasaka , who was not involved in the study .

Paris (AFP) –
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Covid-19 patients may experience more severe symptoms the second time they are infected, according to research released Tuesday confirming it is possible to catch the potentially deadly disease more than once.
A study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal charts the first confirmed case of Covid-19 reinfection in the United States -- the country worst hit by the pandemic -- and indicates that exposure to the virus may not guarantee future immunity.
The patient, a 25-year-old Nevada man, was infected with two distinct variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, within a 48-day time frame.
The second infection was more severe than the first, resulting in the patient being hospitalised with oxygen support.
The paper noted four other cases of reinfection confirmed globally, with one patient each in Belgium, the Netherlands, Hong Kong and Ecuador.
Experts said the prospect of reinfection could have a profound impact on how the world battles through the pandemic.
In particular, it could influence the hunt for a vaccine -- the currently Holy Grail of pharmaceutical research.
"The possibility of reinfections could have significant implications for our understanding of Covid-19 immunity, especially in the absence of an effective vaccine," said Mark Pandori, for the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory and lead study author.
"We need more research to understand how long immunity may last for people exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and why some of these second infections, while rare, are presenting as more severe."
- Waning immunity? -
Vaccines work by triggering the body's natural immune response to a certain pathogen, arming it with antibodies it to fight off future waves of infection.
But it is not at all clear how long Covid-19 antibodies last.
For some diseases, such as measles, infection confers lifelong immunity. For other pathogens, immunity may be fleeting at best.
The authors said the US patient could have been exposed to a very high dose of the virus the second time around, triggering a more acute reaction.
Alternatively, it may have been a more virulent strain of the virus.
Another hypothesis is a mechanism known as antibody dependent enhancement -- that is, when antibodies actually make subsequent infections worse, such as with dengue fever.
The researchers pointed out that reinfection of any kind remains rare, with only a handful of confirmed cases out of tens of millions of Covid-19 infections globally.
However, since many cases are asymptomatic and therefore unlikely to have tested positive initially, it may be impossible to know if a given Covid-19 case is the first or second infection.
In a linked comment to The Lancet paper, Akiko Iwasaka, a professor of Immunobiology and Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at Yale University, said the findings could impact public health measures.
"As more cases of reinfection surface, the scientific community will have the opportunity to understand better the correlates of protection and how frequently natural infections with SARS-CoV-2 induce that level of immunity," she said.
"This information is key to understanding which vaccines are capable of crossing that threshold to confer individual and herd immunity," added Iwasaka, who was not involved in the study.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-13--Mexico urges Austria to return Moctezuma's headdress

Mexico wants Austria to return the feather headdress said to have been worn by Aztec emperor Moctezuma Mexico 's president said Monday that he had given his wife the `` almost impossible mission '' of persuading Austria to return a feather headdress said to have been worn by Aztec emperor Moctezuma .
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced on Twitter that he had asked Beatriz Gutierrez , a journalist and writer , to appeal to Austria to give back the pre-Hispanic relic during her cultural tour of Europe .
`` I recommended that she insist on the Moctezuma plume , although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since they have completely appropriated it , '' he wrote after posting a photograph of Gutierrez with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen .
It is unclear exactly how the headdress , made of hundreds of long quetzal feathers and more than 1,000 gold plaques , ended up in Austria , where it is on display at a museum in Vienna .
Historians believe that Emperor Moctezuma , who ruled from 1502 to 1520 , probably gave the plume to Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes who took it to Europe .
Lopez Obrador 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Columbus 's arrival in the Americas in 1492 , which in Mexico is marked as Day of the Race in recognition of the country 's mixed indigenous and European heritage .

Mexico City (AFP) –
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Mexico's president said Monday that he had given his wife the "almost impossible mission" of persuading Austria to return a feather headdress said to have been worn by Aztec emperor Moctezuma.
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced on Twitter that he had asked Beatriz Gutierrez, a journalist and writer, to appeal to Austria to give back the pre-Hispanic relic during her cultural tour of Europe.
"I recommended that she insist on the Moctezuma plume, although it is an almost impossible mission, since they have completely appropriated it," he wrote after posting a photograph of Gutierrez with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen.
It is unclear exactly how the headdress, made of hundreds of long quetzal feathers and more than 1,000 gold plaques, ended up in Austria, where it is on display at a museum in Vienna.
Historians believe that Emperor Moctezuma, who ruled from 1502 to 1520, probably gave the plume to Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes who took it to Europe.
Lopez Obrador's plea came on the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas in 1492, which in Mexico is marked as Day of the Race in recognition of the country's mixed indigenous and European heritage.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-13--Facebook to ban Holocaust denial content

Facebook said it will ban Holocaust denial content , but cautioned it will take time to train staff to find and root out the problematic posts Facebook announced Monday that it will ban content that denies or distorts the Holocaust , describing the move as its latest effort to free the platform of hate .
The social media giant , which has long been criticized for not doing enough to disempower Holocaust deniers and other hate groups , said it would redirect users who search for terms about the Holocaust or its denial `` to credible information off Facebook , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Our decision is supported by the well-documented rise in anti-Semitism globally and the alarming level of ignorance about the Holocaust , especially among young people , '' said a statement by Facebook vice president of content policy Monika Bickert .
Bickert cited a survey that showed almost a quarter of young adults in the United States saying the Holocaust was a myth or had been exaggerated .
Bickert described the steps on Holocaust denial content as part of its stepped-up effort to address hate after the company earlier banned more than 250 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million pieces of hate speech in the second quarter and banned anti-Semitic stereotypes .
She cautioned that the change will take time .
`` Enforcement of these policies can not happen overnight , '' Bickert said .
`` There is a range of content that can violate these policies , and it will take some time to train our reviewers and systems on enforcement . ''
Facebook 's move was applauded by Anti-Defamation League Chief Executive Jonathan Greenblatt , who called the action `` a big deal . ''
`` This has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said on Twitter .
`` Glad it finally happened . ''

New York (AFP) –
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Facebook announced Monday that it will ban content that denies or distorts the Holocaust, describing the move as its latest effort to free the platform of hate.
The social media giant, which has long been criticized for not doing enough to disempower Holocaust deniers and other hate groups, said it would redirect users who search for terms about the Holocaust or its denial "to credible information off Facebook," according to a company statement.
"Our decision is supported by the well-documented rise in anti-Semitism globally and the alarming level of ignorance about the Holocaust, especially among young people," said a statement by Facebook vice president of content policy Monika Bickert.
Bickert cited a survey that showed almost a quarter of young adults in the United States saying the Holocaust was a myth or had been exaggerated.
Bickert described the steps on Holocaust denial content as part of its stepped-up effort to address hate after the company earlier banned more than 250 white supremacist groups, took down 22.5 million pieces of hate speech in the second quarter and banned anti-Semitic stereotypes.
She cautioned that the change will take time.
"Enforcement of these policies cannot happen overnight," Bickert said. "There is a range of content that can violate these policies, and it will take some time to train our reviewers and systems on enforcement."
Facebook's move was applauded by Anti-Defamation League Chief Executive Jonathan Greenblatt, who called the action "a big deal."
"This has been years in the making," Greenblatt said on Twitter. "Glad it finally happened."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-13--Scores arrested in LA after violence in wake of Lakers win

Nearly 80 people were arrested and eight police officers were injured overnight Sunday in downtown Los Angeles after Lakers fans went on a rampage following the team 's 17th NBA championship , police said Monday .
`` What started out as a largely peaceful celebration of the Los Angeles Lakers NBA championship in downtown Los Angeles , turned into confrontational , violent and destructive behavior late last night , '' the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement .
It said that some 1,000 revelers gathered around the Staples Center , the Lakers ' home arena , after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win the record-equalling championship .
`` Unruly individuals mixed within the crowd began throwing glass bottles , rocks , and other projectiles at officers , '' the statement said .
`` That is when an unlawful assembly was declared , and only a limited number of people complied and began to disperse .
`` A larger portion of the group broke off and began vandalizing businesses while continuing to engage in violent behavior , some aimed at responding officers . ''
Authorities said more than 30 buildings were damaged in the ensuing violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , assaulting police and failure to disperse .
Video footage of the unrest showed police in riot gear firing non-lethal rounds at the crowd .
Several people in response hurled objects at police and some tried to damage police vehicles .
Authorities had urged people not to gather downtown prior to the game because of restrictions linked to the Covid-19 pandemic and the fact that the game was not going to be retransmitted on screens outside the arena .

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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Nearly 80 people were arrested and eight police officers were injured overnight Sunday in downtown Los Angeles after Lakers fans went on a rampage following the team's 17th NBA championship, police said Monday.
"What started out as a largely peaceful celebration of the Los Angeles Lakers NBA championship in downtown Los Angeles, turned into confrontational, violent and destructive behavior late last night," the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement.
It said that some 1,000 revelers gathered around the Staples Center, the Lakers' home arena, after the team dominated the Miami Heat 106-93 to win the record-equalling championship.
"Unruly individuals mixed within the crowd began throwing glass bottles, rocks, and other projectiles at officers," the statement said.
"That is when an unlawful assembly was declared, and only a limited number of people complied and began to disperse.
"A larger portion of the group broke off and began vandalizing businesses while continuing to engage in violent behavior, some aimed at responding officers."
Authorities said more than 30 buildings were damaged in the ensuing violence and 76 people were arrested for vandalism, assaulting police and failure to disperse.
Video footage of the unrest showed police in riot gear firing non-lethal rounds at the crowd. Several people in response hurled objects at police and some tried to damage police vehicles.
Authorities had urged people not to gather downtown prior to the game because of restrictions linked to the Covid-19 pandemic and the fact that the game was not going to be retransmitted on screens outside the arena.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-12--Trump tests negative for Covid-19, 'not infectious to others', says White House doctor

U.S. President Donald Trump walks without a mask while boarding Air Force One as he departs Washington for travel to Florida , his first campaign trip since being treated for the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) , at Joint Base Andrews , Maryland , U.S. , October 12 , 2020 .
U.S. President Donald Trump has tested negative for COVID-19 and he is not infectious to others , the White House physician said on Monday , 10 days after Trump announced he had contracted the coronavirus .
In a memo released by the White House just hours before Trump was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Sean Conley said the president had tested negative on consecutive days using an Abbott Laboratories BinaxNOW antigen card .
Conley said the negative tests and other clinical and laboratory data `` indicate a lack of detectable viral replication . ''
Trump 's medical team had determined that based on the data and guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention `` the president is not infectious to others , '' Conley said .
Trump returns to the campaign trail on Monday night with a rally in Sanford , Florida , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 that he tested positive for Covid-19 .
Critics fault Trump for failing to encourage supporters at campaign events , and even White House staff , to wear protective masks and abide by social-distancing guidelines .
At least 11 close Trump aides have tested positive for the coronavirus .

U.S. President Donald Trump has tested negative for COVID-19 and he is not infectious to others, the White House physician said on Monday, 10 days after Trump announced he had contracted the coronavirus.
U.S. President Donald Trump walks without a mask while boarding Air Force One as he departs Washington for travel to Florida, his first campaign trip since being treated for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., October 12, 2020.
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In a memo released by the White House just hours before Trump was due to resume holding campaign rallies, Dr. Sean Conley said the president had tested negative on consecutive days using an Abbott Laboratories BinaxNOW antigen card.
Conley said the negative tests and other clinical and laboratory data "indicate a lack of detectable viral replication."
Trump's medical team had determined that based on the data and guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "the president is not infectious to others," Conley said.
Trump returns to the campaign trail on Monday night with a rally in Sanford, Florida, his first since he disclosed on Oct. 2 that he tested positive for Covid-19.
Critics fault Trump for failing to encourage supporters at campaign events, and even White House staff, to wear protective masks and abide by social-distancing guidelines. At least 11 close Trump aides have tested positive for the coronavirus.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-10-12--Disney revamps itself to emphasize streaming

Disney announced Monday a reorganization of its media and entertainment business that aims to further boost its streaming service , which has boomed during the coronavirus pandemic .
The entertainment giant tapped longtime company executive Kareem Daniel to lead the Media and Entertainment group , which will manage operations of the streaming services and manage for profit and loss across content creation , including for movie productions , television shows and sports programming .
Chief Executive Bob Chapek said the effort is to eschew `` predetermined '' decisions on where to position an entertainment product until other options that may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` What we want to do is provide some level of objectivity and really make it a decision that benefits the overall company and shareholders , '' Chapek said in an interview on CNBC shortly after the plan was announced .
Chapek said the move had been accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic which has shuttered many movie theaters and spurred more subscriptions for Disney + and other streaming services .
The overhaul aims to better meet consumer preference .
`` Right now they 're voting with their pocketbooks and they 're voting very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said of consumers .
Streaming has been a bright spot for Disney during the coronavirus , with Disney+ drawing some 60.5 million through the end of June , blunting the hit from drops in its other businesses .
Movie companies have adapted to shuttered theaters by unveiling more content on streaming services .
With theaters closed in the United States , Disney premiered its `` Mulan '' blockbuster on Disney+ in September for $ 30 .
While Disney said it will continue to have a vibrant theatrical movie business , the company suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic is over .
`` There 's a lot of consumers that want to experience a movie and the safety , comfort and convenience of their own home for whatever reasons they do , '' Chapek said .
`` So we want to make sure that again that we put the consumer first . ''

New York (AFP) –
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Disney announced Monday a reorganization of its media and entertainment business that aims to further boost its streaming service, which has boomed during the coronavirus pandemic.
The entertainment giant tapped longtime company executive Kareem Daniel to lead the Media and Entertainment group, which will manage operations of the streaming services and manage for profit and loss across content creation, including for movie productions, television shows and sports programming.
Chief Executive Bob Chapek said the effort is to eschew "predetermined" decisions on where to position an entertainment product until other options that may make more sense commercially are considered.
"What we want to do is provide some level of objectivity and really make it a decision that benefits the overall company and shareholders," Chapek said in an interview on CNBC shortly after the plan was announced.
Chapek said the move had been accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic which has shuttered many movie theaters and spurred more subscriptions for Disney + and other streaming services. The overhaul aims to better meet consumer preference.
"Right now they're voting with their pocketbooks and they're voting very heavily towards Disney plus," Chapek said of consumers.
Streaming has been a bright spot for Disney during the coronavirus, with Disney+ drawing some 60.5 million through the end of June, blunting the hit from drops in its other businesses.
Movie companies have adapted to shuttered theaters by unveiling more content on streaming services. With theaters closed in the United States, Disney premiered its "Mulan" blockbuster on Disney+ in September for $30.
While Disney said it will continue to have a vibrant theatrical movie business, the company suggested releasing blockbusters online may continue even after the pandemic is over.
"There's a lot of consumers that want to experience a movie and the safety, comfort and convenience of their own home for whatever reasons they do," Chapek said. "So we want to make sure that again that we put the consumer first."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-12--Czech restaurants, bars to close after virus spike

The European Union member of 10.7 million people posted four daily record growths last week The Czech government said Monday it would close restaurants and bars and ban alcohol in public places after a record spike in Covid-19 infections .
The measures take effect from Wednesday and will last until November 3 , Prime Minister Andrej Babis told reporters .
`` We only have one attempt now and it has to be a successful one , '' said the billionaire populist , whose cabinet has been criticised over its response to the pandemic .
The European Union member of 10.7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week with 8,618 new cases on Friday .
As of Monday , the health ministry registered 119,007 confirmed novel coronavirus cases and 1,045 deaths .
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said Monday the Czech Republic recorded the fastest two-week growth per 100,000 inhabitants in the EU .
The country had 493 cases per 100,000 people , up from 398 last Friday , overtaking Belgium with 402.5 cases .
`` We need to take measures that will reverse the trend within two or three weeks , otherwise we 'll run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Minister Roman Prymula .
Up to six people are now allowed to meet and elementary schools will switch to distance learning , following secondary schools and universities which had already done the switch .
After weathering much of the first Covid-19 wave in the spring with timely measures , including a lockdown , the Czech Republic has seen a spike in infections since August after it had lifted most restrictions over the summer .
The government has since reintroduced the compulsory wearing of face masks indoors , reduced the number of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and closed swimming pools , zoos and gyms .
From Monday it has also suspended sports events and closed cinemas , theatres , museums and galleries .

Prague (AFP) –
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The Czech government said Monday it would close restaurants and bars and ban alcohol in public places after a record spike in Covid-19 infections.
The measures take effect from Wednesday and will last until November 3, Prime Minister Andrej Babis told reporters.
"We only have one attempt now and it has to be a successful one," said the billionaire populist, whose cabinet has been criticised over its response to the pandemic.
The European Union member of 10.7 million people posted four daily record growths last week with 8,618 new cases on Friday.
As of Monday, the health ministry registered 119,007 confirmed novel coronavirus cases and 1,045 deaths.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said Monday the Czech Republic recorded the fastest two-week growth per 100,000 inhabitants in the EU.
The country had 493 cases per 100,000 people, up from 398 last Friday, overtaking Belgium with 402.5 cases.
"We need to take measures that will reverse the trend within two or three weeks, otherwise we'll run out of hospital capacity," said Health Minister Roman Prymula.
Up to six people are now allowed to meet and elementary schools will switch to distance learning, following secondary schools and universities which had already done the switch.
After weathering much of the first Covid-19 wave in the spring with timely measures, including a lockdown, the Czech Republic has seen a spike in infections since August after it had lifted most restrictions over the summer.
The government has since reintroduced the compulsory wearing of face masks indoors, reduced the number of people at both indoor and outdoor events, and closed swimming pools, zoos and gyms.
From Monday it has also suspended sports events and closed cinemas, theatres, museums and galleries.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-12--Thousands of indigenous people march to end Colombian violence

Colombian indigenous people are heading to Cali in the southwest in the hope of meeting President Ivan Duque to demand concrete action on ending violence Thousands of indigenous people demonstrated in southwestern Columbia on Monday demanding an end to violence , on the day commemorating Christopher Columbus 's arrival in the Americas .
Dressed in green and red and carrying traditional sticks , the demonstrators converged on the city of Cali where they hope to meet President Ivan Duque .
`` The main reason we 're marching is the systematic massacres happening in our territories without the government taking any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Regional Indigenous Council in the western state of Caldas .
The demonstrators are demanding to be consulted on major development projects and for the full implementation of the historic 2016 peace plan that ended a half century of armed resistance by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia ( FARC ) rebels .
Interior Minister Alicia Arango said on Twitter a government delegation was traveling to Cali to meet the protesters .
The demonstration coincides with the commemoration of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492 -- known in many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day of Race . ''
`` For us ( that ) was the greatest ethnocide in the history of our territories , '' said Reinosa .
The southwest of Colombia that borders Ecuador and the Pacific has a large indigenous population and is one of the worst affected areas by a wave of violence that has resulted in at least 42 massacres this year , according to the United Nations .
Despite the 2016 peace accord , dozens of armed groups remain active in Colombia fighting over the lucrative drug-trafficking trade .
Colombia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cocaine .
Representing 4.4 percent of Colombia 's 50 million population , indigenous people have been fighting for territorial rights for decades , using methods such as road blocks to gain attention .

Cali (Colombia) (AFP) –
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Thousands of indigenous people demonstrated in southwestern Columbia on Monday demanding an end to violence, on the day commemorating Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas.
Dressed in green and red and carrying traditional sticks, the demonstrators converged on the city of Cali where they hope to meet President Ivan Duque.
"The main reason we're marching is the systematic massacres happening in our territories without the government taking any interest," said Franky Reinosa of the Regional Indigenous Council in the western state of Caldas.
The demonstrators are demanding to be consulted on major development projects and for the full implementation of the historic 2016 peace plan that ended a half century of armed resistance by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels.
Interior Minister Alicia Arango said on Twitter a government delegation was traveling to Cali to meet the protesters.
The demonstration coincides with the commemoration of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492 -- known in many countries in the region as the "Day of Race."
"For us (that) was the greatest ethnocide in the history of our territories," said Reinosa.
The southwest of Colombia that borders Ecuador and the Pacific has a large indigenous population and is one of the worst affected areas by a wave of violence that has resulted in at least 42 massacres this year, according to the United Nations.
Despite the 2016 peace accord, dozens of armed groups remain active in Colombia fighting over the lucrative drug-trafficking trade.
Colombia is the world's largest producer of cocaine.
Representing 4.4 percent of Colombia's 50 million population, indigenous people have been fighting for territorial rights for decades, using methods such as road blocks to gain attention.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-12--French intensive care patients for coronavirus surpass May peak

Medical workers stand in the ICU unit of La Timone public hospital in Marseille , in the south of France , on September 25 , 2020 .
The number of people being treated in French intensive care units for Covid-19 exceeded 1,500 on Monday for the first time since May 27 , authorities said , raising fears of local lockdowns being imposed across the country .
The new figure of 1,539 is still almost five times lower than an April 8 high of 7,148 but also four times higher than a July 31 low of 371 .
And as there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illnesses in the autumn than in the spring , health experts fear the hospital system will be quickly overwhelmed if nothing is done to contain the coronavirus .
Earlier , Prime Minister Jean Castex said France was facing a `` strong '' second wave of Covid-19 infections and that he could not rule out local lockdowns .
President Emmanuel Macron is due to speak about the public health situation in television interviews on Wednesday evening .
There were 8,505 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours in France , data showed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 26,896 and Sunday 's 16,101 .
The dip in cases could be partly due to the fact that there are fewer tests conducted on Sundays in France .
The seven-day moving average of new infections , which averages out weekly data reporting irregularities , stood above the 17,000 level for the first time since the outbreak , at 17,029 .
Meanwhile , the number of people who have died from coronavirus rose by 95 on Monday to a total of 32,825 .
The cumulative number of cases now totals 743,479 .

The number of people being treated in French intensive care units for Covid-19 exceeded 1,500 on Monday for the first time since May 27, authorities said, raising fears of local lockdowns being imposed across the country.
Medical workers stand in the ICU unit of La Timone public hospital in Marseille, in the south of France, on September 25, 2020.
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The new figure of 1,539 is still almost five times lower than an April 8 high of 7,148 but also four times higher than a July 31 low of 371.
And as there are normally more people hospitalised with different illnesses in the autumn than in the spring, health experts fear the hospital system will be quickly overwhelmed if nothing is done to contain the coronavirus.
Earlier, Prime Minister Jean Castex said France was facing a "strong" second wave of Covid-19 infections and that he could not rule out local lockdowns.
President Emmanuel Macron is due to speak about the public health situation in television interviews on Wednesday evening.
There were 8,505 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours in France, data showed, sharply down from Saturday's record of 26,896 and Sunday's 16,101.
The dip in cases could be partly due to the fact that there are fewer tests conducted on Sundays in France. The seven-day moving average of new infections, which averages out weekly data reporting irregularities, stood above the 17,000 level for the first time since the outbreak, at 17,029.
Meanwhile, the number of people who have died from coronavirus rose by 95 on Monday to a total of 32,825.
The cumulative number of cases now totals 743,479.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-10-12--Pubs shut in Liverpool as UK tightens virus control measures

Police patrolled on horseback in Liverpool Saturday as people stayed out late partying British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday ordered pubs in Liverpool to shut as part of a new strategy to tackle a surge in coronavirus cases , as staff at three field hospitals across the country were told to prepare for a wave of admissions .
The northwest English city is the first to be placed at `` very high risk '' under a new three-tiered system designed to bring order to what has become a complex web of local restrictions .
Johnson addressed the nation to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figures `` are flashing at us like dashboard warnings in a passenger jet and we must act now '' .
He earlier told MPs that he could not allow Covid-19 to `` let rip '' and risk the death toll -- the highest in Europe at almost 43,000 -- spiralling even higher .
`` This is not how we want to live our lives , '' the Conservative leader , who himself was hospitalised with coronavirus in April , told the House of Commons .
`` But this is the narrow path we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic trauma of a full lockdown and the massive human and economic cost of an uncontained epidemic . ''
Inter-household mixing will be banned indoors and in private gardens while pubs , bars , gyms , betting shops and casinos will close from Wednesday in Liverpool , which has a population of about 1.5 million .
People will be advised not to travel in and out of these areas .
Johnson said businesses forced to close would be supported under a new government programme to fund two-thirds of an employee 's monthly wages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local contact tracing and enforcement .
Other areas of England will be classed either as `` medium '' , in which current nationwide rules limiting social gatherings to six will apply , or `` high '' , where different households are banned from mixing indoors .
Whole swathes of northern England already facing local restrictions will automatically enter the `` high '' risk tier .
Earlier , the state-run National Health Service ( NHS ) announced that three field hospitals across northern England , in Manchester , Sunderland and Harrogate , would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are among a string of temporary hospitals , named after nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale , put up by the military in conference centres and stadia coronavirus as swept across the UK earlier this year .
Testing for hospital staff is also being stepped up in high-risk areas , as health officials warned infection rates were rising across the country and in all age ranges , not just the young .
Almost 14,000 new coronavirus cases were reported across the UK on Monday , with 50 further deaths .
`` The number of cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There are now more people in hospital with Covid than when we went into lockdown on March 23 , '' said Johnson , who has faced criticism for his handling of the outbreak .
A UK-wide stay-at-home order was lifted in June but England , whose health policy is controlled by the UK government , and the devolved administrations in Wales , Scotland and Northern Ireland have all since imposed new measures to stop the spread of the virus .
They include blanket restrictions on social gatherings , in addition to more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shut at 10:00 pm , while pubs and other licensed premises in central Scotland shut entirely last Friday for 16 days .
Johnson is determined to avoid closing schools and universities again .
But the focus on shutting hospitality venues has sparked anger .
The Night Time Industries Association , an industry body , said Monday it was mounting a legal challenge against the restrictions , calling them `` hugely disproportionate and unjust '' .
Main opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer meanwhile accused Johnson of `` running to catch up with the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago '' .
Separately , the culture ministry announced £257 million ( $ 336 million , 284 million euros ) to help more than 1,300 arts organisations across England .
The money `` will allow our wonderful theatres , museums , music venues and cultural organisations to survive this crisis and start putting on performances again '' , culture secretary Oliver Dowden said .

London (AFP) –
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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday ordered pubs in Liverpool to shut as part of a new strategy to tackle a surge in coronavirus cases, as staff at three field hospitals across the country were told to prepare for a wave of admissions.
The northwest English city is the first to be placed at "very high risk" under a new three-tiered system designed to bring order to what has become a complex web of local restrictions.
Johnson addressed the nation to explain the decision, saying the latest figures "are flashing at us like dashboard warnings in a passenger jet and we must act now".
He earlier told MPs that he could not allow Covid-19 to "let rip" and risk the death toll -- the highest in Europe at almost 43,000 -- spiralling even higher.
"This is not how we want to live our lives," the Conservative leader, who himself was hospitalised with coronavirus in April, told the House of Commons.
"But this is the narrow path we have to tread between the social and economic trauma of a full lockdown and the massive human and economic cost of an uncontained epidemic."
Inter-household mixing will be banned indoors and in private gardens while pubs, bars, gyms, betting shops and casinos will close from Wednesday in Liverpool, which has a population of about 1.5 million.
People will be advised not to travel in and out of these areas.
Johnson said businesses forced to close would be supported under a new government programme to fund two-thirds of an employee's monthly wages, as well as extra support for local contact tracing and enforcement.
Other areas of England will be classed either as "medium", in which current nationwide rules limiting social gatherings to six will apply, or "high", where different households are banned from mixing indoors.
Whole swathes of northern England already facing local restrictions will automatically enter the "high" risk tier.
Earlier, the state-run National Health Service (NHS) announced that three field hospitals across northern England, in Manchester, Sunderland and Harrogate, would be mobilised to accept new patients.
They are among a string of temporary hospitals, named after nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale, put up by the military in conference centres and stadia coronavirus as swept across the UK earlier this year.
Testing for hospital staff is also being stepped up in high-risk areas, as health officials warned infection rates were rising across the country and in all age ranges, not just the young.
Almost 14,000 new coronavirus cases were reported across the UK on Monday, with 50 further deaths.
"The number of cases has quadrupled in the last three weeks. There are now more people in hospital with Covid than when we went into lockdown on March 23," said Johnson, who has faced criticism for his handling of the outbreak.
- 'Wholly disproportionate' -
A UK-wide stay-at-home order was lifted in June but England, whose health policy is controlled by the UK government, and the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have all since imposed new measures to stop the spread of the virus.
They include blanket restrictions on social gatherings, in addition to more localised measures.
Pubs in England must shut at 10:00 pm, while pubs and other licensed premises in central Scotland shut entirely last Friday for 16 days.
Johnson is determined to avoid closing schools and universities again.
But the focus on shutting hospitality venues has sparked anger.
The Night Time Industries Association, an industry body, said Monday it was mounting a legal challenge against the restrictions, calling them "hugely disproportionate and unjust".
Main opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer meanwhile accused Johnson of "running to catch up with the virus that he has lost control over long ago".
Separately, the culture ministry announced £257 million ($336 million, 284 million euros) to help more than 1,300 arts organisations across England.
The money "will allow our wonderful theatres, museums, music venues and cultural organisations to survive this crisis and start putting on performances again", culture secretary Oliver Dowden said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-12--Stade de France to host 10 matches at 2023 Rugby World Cup

The Stade de France will host 10 matches at the 2023 Rugby World Cup , the tournament 's organising committee announced on Monday .
The Stadium was originally built on a former industrial site in Saint Denis for the 1998 Football World Cup , and has since hosted the 2007 Rugby World Cup final and the Euro 2016 final .
Among the games to be held at France 's national stadium , located just north of capital city Paris , will be the opening match , the final , two semi-finals and two quarter-finals .
More than 800,000 fans are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tournament , which is scheduled to take place between September 8 and October 21 in three years ' time .
Marseille will host the other two quarter-finals , while matches will also be played in Lille , Bordeaux , Toulouse , Nantes , Lyon , Nice and Saint-Etienne .
The draw for the 2023 World Cup , which will feature 20 teams , will take place on December 14 in Paris .
Twelve teams -- Australia , Argentina , South Africa , New Zealand , France , Scotland , Ireland , Italy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Japan -- have already qualified after finishing among the top three in each pool at the 2019 World Cup .

Paris (AFP) –
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The Stade de France will host 10 matches at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the tournament's organising committee announced on Monday.
The Stadium was originally built on a former industrial site in Saint Denis for the 1998 Football World Cup, and has since hosted the 2007 Rugby World Cup final and the Euro 2016 final.
Among the games to be held at France's national stadium, located just north of capital city Paris, will be the opening match, the final, two semi-finals and two quarter-finals.
More than 800,000 fans are expected at the Stade de France during the tournament, which is scheduled to take place between September 8 and October 21 in three years' time.
Marseille will host the other two quarter-finals, while matches will also be played in Lille, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Nantes, Lyon, Nice and Saint-Etienne.
The draw for the 2023 World Cup, which will feature 20 teams, will take place on December 14 in Paris.
Twelve teams -- Australia, Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand, France, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, Wales, England, Fiji and Japan -- have already qualified after finishing among the top three in each pool at the 2019 World Cup.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-12--Palestinian hunger-striker close to death: Israeli rights group

Activists hold a placard of Palestinian hunger striker Maher al-Akhras during a demonstration calling for his release after his health deteriorated A Palestinian man on hunger strike for nearly 80 days since his arrest by Israel in late July is `` on the verge of death '' , Israeli rights group B'Tselem said Monday .
Maher al-Akhras , 49 , was arrested near Nablus and placed in administrative detention , a policy that Israel uses to hold suspected militants without charge .
The married father of six launched his strike to protest the policy .
He has been arrested several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him of having ties to the Islamic Jihad militant group .
On Monday , some 40 people held a rally in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah to support him .
`` Our people will not let Maher al-Akhras down , '' said Khader Adnan , one of those taking part in the rally , and who has himself carried out a several hunger strikes in Israeli captivity .
Adnan called on the international community and Palestinian leaders to pressure Israel over the case .
`` Do more over the coming hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are in the critical stage . ''
Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh demanded Akhras 's `` immediate release , '' according to a statement on the official Wafa news agency .
Akhras was transferred in early September to Kaplan Hospital , south of Tel Aviv .
His lawyers have appealed on multiple occasions to Israel 's Supreme Court for his release , including at a hearing on Monday .
Israel 's top court deferred a ruling on Monday 's request , saying the case remained under review , according to a summary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made repeated efforts to contact his legal team on Monday .
Israel 's administrative detention system , inherited from the British mandate , allows the internment of prisoners for renewable periods of up to six months each , without bringing charges .
Israel says the procedure allows authorities to hold suspects and prevent attacks while continuing to gather evidence , but critics and rights groups say the system is abused .
Around 355 Palestinians were being held under administrative detention orders as of August , including two minors , according to B'Tselem .

Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) –
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A Palestinian man on hunger strike for nearly 80 days since his arrest by Israel in late July is "on the verge of death", Israeli rights group B'Tselem said Monday.
Maher al-Akhras, 49, was arrested near Nablus and placed in administrative detention, a policy that Israel uses to hold suspected militants without charge.
The married father of six launched his strike to protest the policy.
He has been arrested several times previously by Israel, which accuses him of having ties to the Islamic Jihad militant group.
On Monday, some 40 people held a rally in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah to support him.
"Our people will not let Maher al-Akhras down," said Khader Adnan, one of those taking part in the rally, and who has himself carried out a several hunger strikes in Israeli captivity.
Adnan called on the international community and Palestinian leaders to pressure Israel over the case.
"Do more over the coming hours," he said. "We are in the critical stage."
Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh demanded Akhras's "immediate release," according to a statement on the official Wafa news agency.
Akhras was transferred in early September to Kaplan Hospital, south of Tel Aviv.
His lawyers have appealed on multiple occasions to Israel's Supreme Court for his release, including at a hearing on Monday.
Israel's top court deferred a ruling on Monday's request, saying the case remained under review, according to a summary of the hearing seen by AFP.
AFP made repeated efforts to contact his legal team on Monday.
Israel's administrative detention system, inherited from the British mandate, allows the internment of prisoners for renewable periods of up to six months each, without bringing charges.
Israel says the procedure allows authorities to hold suspects and prevent attacks while continuing to gather evidence, but critics and rights groups say the system is abused.
Around 355 Palestinians were being held under administrative detention orders as of August, including two minors, according to B'Tselem.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-12--'Nadal's Paris record will never be beaten', predicts Murray

Britain 's Andy Murray is looking to bounce back in Cologne from his first round defeat at the French Open Andy Murray predicts Rafael Nadal 's record of 13 French Open titles will never be beaten as the British former world number one looks to bounce back in Cologne this week from his own Roland Garros disappointment .
Murray , 33 , the reigning Olympic champion , crashed out of last month 's French Open in straight sets with a lop-sided first round defeat to Stan Wawrinka as he works his way back from hip surgery .
On Sunday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 34 , demolished Novak Djokovic 6-0 , 6-2 , 7-5 in the final at Roland Garos to win his 13th French Open title .
The Spaniard has also equalled the all-time record of 20 Grand Slam titles held by Roger Federer , who hailed Nadal 's victory as `` one of sport 's greatest achievements '' .
Murray echoed the Swiss legend and doubts anyone will even get close to Nadal 's record in Paris .
`` It 's an amazing achievement .
I do n't think that what he has done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I just do n't see it being topped , '' Murray said in Cologne .
`` He is one short of winning the same amount of Grand Slams as ( Pete ) Sampras did just at one tournament .
It 's incredible .
`` I do n't think it 'll be repeated and I do n't think anyone will be close . ''
Murray reached the second round of the US Open in his first Slam since hip resurfacing surgery and Roland Garros was his third tournament this year after rehab .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Cologne , Murray hopes the back-to-back ATP indoor tournaments on the Rhine can help improve his current ranking of 97th .
`` It will be good to get a few matches in over these next few weeks - I hope to perform better than I did in Paris , '' said the Scot .
`` I want to win tournaments and move up the rankings .
`` Physically , my body tends to feel better the more I play .
`` Hopefully , I will play a lot over the next two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it goes after that . ''
On Tuesday , Murray predicts a `` tough '' start against Spain 's Fernando Verdasco for the chance to play world number seven Alexander Zverev in the second round .
`` Whoever gets through will face Sascha ( Zverev ) and he is obviously one of the top players in the world , '' said Murray .
The Scot says he has had to adapt after hip surgery .
`` It has gone well at times and sometimes been a struggle , '' he admitted .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18-month process for my body to get used to it .
`` It changes the way your pelvis moves and your body needs to adjust .
`` Hopefully with a few matches this autumn and some good training , next year will be a good one . ''

Cologne (Germany) (AFP) –
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Andy Murray predicts Rafael Nadal's record of 13 French Open titles will never be beaten as the British former world number one looks to bounce back in Cologne this week from his own Roland Garros disappointment.
Murray, 33, the reigning Olympic champion, crashed out of last month's French Open in straight sets with a lop-sided first round defeat to Stan Wawrinka as he works his way back from hip surgery.
On Sunday, the Scot watched in awe as Nadal, 34, demolished Novak Djokovic 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 in the final at Roland Garos to win his 13th French Open title.
The Spaniard has also equalled the all-time record of 20 Grand Slam titles held by Roger Federer, who hailed Nadal's victory as "one of sport's greatest achievements".
Murray echoed the Swiss legend and doubts anyone will even get close to Nadal's record in Paris.
"It's an amazing achievement. I don't think that what he has done at Roland Garros will ever be beaten. I just don't see it being topped," Murray said in Cologne.
"He is one short of winning the same amount of Grand Slams as (Pete) Sampras did just at one tournament. It's incredible.
"I don't think it'll be repeated and I don't think anyone will be close."
Murray reached the second round of the US Open in his first Slam since hip resurfacing surgery and Roland Garros was his third tournament this year after rehab.
Having needed wildcards to play in Paris and Cologne, Murray hopes the back-to-back ATP indoor tournaments on the Rhine can help improve his current ranking of 97th.
"It will be good to get a few matches in over these next few weeks - I hope to perform better than I did in Paris," said the Scot.
"I want to win tournaments and move up the rankings.
"Physically, my body tends to feel better the more I play.
"Hopefully, I will play a lot over the next two weeks, perform well and see how it goes after that."
On Tuesday, Murray predicts a "tough" start against Spain's Fernando Verdasco for the chance to play world number seven Alexander Zverev in the second round.
"Whoever gets through will face Sascha (Zverev) and he is obviously one of the top players in the world," said Murray.
The Scot says he has had to adapt after hip surgery.
"It has gone well at times and sometimes been a struggle," he admitted.
"I was told it would be an 18-month process for my body to get used to it.
"It changes the way your pelvis moves and your body needs to adjust.
"Hopefully with a few matches this autumn and some good training, next year will be a good one."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-12--Russia shuns US lunar program, as space cooperation under threat

The US hopes to return astronauts to the Moon in 2024 -- for the first time since 1972 Russia is unlikely to participate in the Moon-orbiting station planned by the United States , a Russian official said Monday , marking the probable end of the type of close cooperation seen for two decades on the International Space Station ( ISS ) .
The proposed new station , called the Gateway , `` is too US-centric , so to speak , '' Dmitry Rogozin , the head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos , said , adding Russia was `` likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a large scale . ''
Speaking by videolink to the 71st International Astronautical Congress ( IAC ) , Rogozin pointedly described the ISS as `` a truly international project '' -- though it was built by the two nations and has been occupied by Russians and Americans since 2000 .
Europe , Canada and Japan also participate in the ISS .
The ISS has avoided the sharp deterioration of political relations between Moscow and Washington , with Roscosmos and Nasa operating the station hand-in-hand and American astronauts using Russian rockets to get there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearing the end of its life , probably by 2030 , and NASA has unilaterally launched a lunar exploration program without prior consultation with Russia and other partners .
The Gateway was announced under President Donald Trump as part of plans to return American astronauts to the Moon in 2024 -- for the first time since 1972 -- under a program dubbed Artemis .
NASA maintains that the project is an international collaboration , and is seeking to involve other nations after Canada , Japan and Italy signed agreements .
Rogozin , speaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left open the chance of some future cooperation .
He said Russia supported `` standardization of interfaces '' that could allow Russian craft to dock at the station .
`` A flight to the Moon is associated with a high risk ... this is why we need to have at least two transportation systems , '' he said .

Washington (AFP) –
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Russia is unlikely to participate in the Moon-orbiting station planned by the United States, a Russian official said Monday, marking the probable end of the type of close cooperation seen for two decades on the International Space Station (ISS).
The proposed new station, called the Gateway, "is too US-centric, so to speak," Dmitry Rogozin, the head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, said, adding Russia was "likely to refrain from participating in it on a large scale."
Speaking by videolink to the 71st International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Rogozin pointedly described the ISS as "a truly international project" -- though it was built by the two nations and has been occupied by Russians and Americans since 2000.
Europe, Canada and Japan also participate in the ISS.
The ISS has avoided the sharp deterioration of political relations between Moscow and Washington, with Roscosmos and Nasa operating the station hand-in-hand and American astronauts using Russian rockets to get there since 2011.
But the ISS is nearing the end of its life, probably by 2030, and NASA has unilaterally launched a lunar exploration program without prior consultation with Russia and other partners.
The Gateway was announced under President Donald Trump as part of plans to return American astronauts to the Moon in 2024 -- for the first time since 1972 -- under a program dubbed Artemis.
NASA maintains that the project is an international collaboration, and is seeking to involve other nations after Canada, Japan and Italy signed agreements.
Rogozin, speaking in remarks that were translated live, left open the chance of some future cooperation.
He said Russia supported "standardization of interfaces" that could allow Russian craft to dock at the station.
"A flight to the Moon is associated with a high risk... this is why we need to have at least two transportation systems," he said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-12--Climate change spurs doubling of disasters since 2000: UN

Major floods have more than doubled since the turn of the century over the previous 20 years Climate change is largely to blame for a near doubling of natural disasters in the past 20 years , the United Nations said on Monday .
The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction said 7,348 major disaster events had occurred between 2000 and 2019 , claiming 1.23 lives , affecting 4.2 billion people and costing the global economy some $ 2.97 trillion .
The figure far outstrips the 4,212 major natural disasters recorded between 1980 and 1999 , the UN office said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cost of Disasters 2000-2019 '' .
The sharp increase was largely attributable to a rise in climate-related disasters , including extreme weather events like floods , drought and storms , the report said .
`` We are wilfully destructive , '' UNDRR chief Mami Mizutori told reporters in a virtual briefing .
`` That is the only conclusion one can come to when reviewing disaster events over the last 20 years . ''
She accused governments of not doing enough to prevent climate hazards and called for better preparation for looming disasters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ us when we fail to act on science and early warnings to invest in prevention , climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction , '' she said .
The report did not touch on biological hazards and disease-related disasters like the coronavirus pandemic , which has killed over one million people and infected over 37 million in the past nine months .
But Mizutori suggested coronavirus was `` the latest proof that political and business leaders are yet to tune in to the world around them '' .
Monday 's report showed 6,681 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn of the century , up from 3,656 during the previous 20-year-period .
While major floods had more than doubled to 3,254 , there had been 2,034 major storms up from 1,457 in the prior period .
Mizutori said public health authorities and rescue workers were `` fighting an uphill battle against an ever-rising tide of extreme weather events '' .
While better preparedness and early warning systems had helped bring down the number of deaths in many natural disaster settings , she warned that `` more people are being affected by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report relied on statistics from the Emergency Events Database , which records all disasters that kill 10 or more people , affect 100 or more people or result in a state of emergency declaration .
The data showed that Asia has suffered the highest number of disasters in the past 20 years with 3,068 such events , followed by the Americas with 1,756 and Africa with 1,192 .
In terms of affected countries , China topped the list with 577 events followed by the United States with 467 .
While a warming climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severity of such disasters , there had also been an increase in geophysical events like earthquakes and tsunamis that are not related to climate but are particularly deadly .
The deadliest single disaster in the past 20 years was the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami , with 226,400 deaths , followed by the Haiti earthquake in 2010 , which claimed some 222,000 lives .

Geneva (AFP) –
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Climate change is largely to blame for a near doubling of natural disasters in the past 20 years, the United Nations said on Monday.
The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction said 7,348 major disaster events had occurred between 2000 and 2019, claiming 1.23 lives, affecting 4.2 billion people and costing the global economy some $2.97 trillion.
The figure far outstrips the 4,212 major natural disasters recorded between 1980 and 1999, the UN office said in a new report entitled "The Human Cost of Disasters 2000-2019".
The sharp increase was largely attributable to a rise in climate-related disasters, including extreme weather events like floods, drought and storms, the report said.
Extreme heat is proving especially deadly.
"We are wilfully destructive," UNDRR chief Mami Mizutori told reporters in a virtual briefing. "That is the only conclusion one can come to when reviewing disaster events over the last 20 years."
She accused governments of not doing enough to prevent climate hazards and called for better preparation for looming disasters.
- 'Uphill battle' -
"The odds are being stacked against us when we fail to act on science and early warnings to invest in prevention, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction," she said.
The report did not touch on biological hazards and disease-related disasters like the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed over one million people and infected over 37 million in the past nine months.
But Mizutori suggested coronavirus was "the latest proof that political and business leaders are yet to tune in to the world around them".
Monday's report showed 6,681 climate-linked events had been recorded since the turn of the century, up from 3,656 during the previous 20-year-period.
While major floods had more than doubled to 3,254, there had been 2,034 major storms up from 1,457 in the prior period.
Mizutori said public health authorities and rescue workers were "fighting an uphill battle against an ever-rising tide of extreme weather events".
While better preparedness and early warning systems had helped bring down the number of deaths in many natural disaster settings, she warned that "more people are being affected by the expanding climate emergency".
- Deadliest disaster -
Monday's report relied on statistics from the Emergency Events Database, which records all disasters that kill 10 or more people, affect 100 or more people or result in a state of emergency declaration.
The data showed that Asia has suffered the highest number of disasters in the past 20 years with 3,068 such events, followed by the Americas with 1,756 and Africa with 1,192.
In terms of affected countries, China topped the list with 577 events followed by the United States with 467.
While a warming climate appeared to be driving the number and severity of such disasters, there had also been an increase in geophysical events like earthquakes and tsunamis that are not related to climate but are particularly deadly.
The deadliest single disaster in the past 20 years was the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, with 226,400 deaths, followed by the Haiti earthquake in 2010, which claimed some 222,000 lives.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-13--Lawsuit by top Bollywood members puts spotlight on India’s media credibility

FIle photo taken in Aug 2020 of Bollywood star Rhea Chakraborty leaving the Enforcement Directorate in Mumbai after being questioned in the Sushant Singh Rajput case .
Leading Bollywood actors , filmmakers and industry unions have filed an unprecedented defamation lawsuit against two television news channels forpainting the film industry as a den of drugs and crime following the death of a young movie star .
The lawsuit , filed Monday , comes months after India ’ s freewheeling television news channels took on Bollywood , India 's Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , with a spree of allegations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rajput in June .
Rajput , 34 , was found dead in his Mumbai apartment on June 4 in what police said was a suicide .
The case is still being investigated .
The initial news coverage was focused on mental health in India 's multi-billion-dollar movie industry .
But Rajput 's family disputed the suicide finding and accused the star 's ex-girlfriend , Bollywood actress , Rhea Chakraborty , 28 , of stealing his money and harassing him .
She has denied the allegations .
Last week , a court in Mumbai @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bail in what her lawyer called a victory for `` truth and justice '' .
Chakraborty and her family have been hounded by Indian media who have spent months obsessing over the case and expanding the dragnet across the industry with TV channels showing his body , analysing his medical prescriptions and suggesting “ black magic ” was performed on the actor .
On Monday , more than 30 Bollywood production houses and four industry bodies filed a defamation lawsuit in the Delhi High Court .
They saw some of Bollywood ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Khan , Shah Rukh Khan , Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar , come together against news channels Republic TV and Times Now .
“ These Defendants are conducting and publishing parallel private ‘ investigations ’ and effectively acting as ‘ courts ’ to condemn persons connected with Bollywood as guilty based on what they claim is ‘ evidence ’ found by them , ” the plaintiffs said in a statement , referring to the two news channels .
The plaintiffs said they sought “ redress against the irresponsible , derogatory and defamatory reporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their leading anchors .
The two pro-government channels did not immediately respond to media requests , but Navika Kumar , a senior editor at Times Now , tweeted Monday , “ If fighting for justice invites court cases , bring it on . ''
Shouting matches on stars , little on health or economic crises Experts say television news in India is facing a serious crisis , with debates among commentators becoming increasingly strident and shrill .
India has one of the world ’ s most competitive media environments , with more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ languages .
But over the years , the industry has faced a crisis of credibility .
Many powerful television news anchors , known to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his right-leaning administration , often indulge in rancorous and chaotic debates in which shouting , screaming and name-calling have become staples .
In a column , What 's Behind the Sudden Spate of Attacks on Bollywood , Sidharth Bhatia of The Wire , linked the phenomenon with the brand of nationalist populism championed by Modi 's ruling BJP .
`` Film people everywhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are seen as liberals , perhaps even inclined towards the Left , '' noted Bhatia .
`` Hindi films by and large have reflected progressive views .
This often troubles conservative politicians . ''
The media hysteria reached its zenith in Rajput ’ s case .
Stories about the actor 's death sidelined other critical issues , such as India ’ s stalling economy , the government ’ s coronavirus response and growing hostilities with China over a border dispute .
The result was a surge in ratings for some TV channels .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week when police in Mumbai accused Republic TV of rigging the rating scores system , a significant component in television channels ' advertising income .
The allegations were denied by Republic TV but led to some Indian advertisers taking never-before-seen measures .
Automobile giant Bajaj Auto and Parle Products , India ’ s biggest biscuit maker , said they were pulling advertising from news channels that endorsed toxicity and hate-mongering .
The companies did not name the channels , but the move was widely cheered on Indian social media .
Abhinandan Sekhri @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newslaundry , said most of India 's TV channels had morphed into “ reality shows '' .
“ There will be repercussions if you do demonstrably false reporting , ” Sekhri said .
“ It 's about time advertisers took a stand and withdrew their brands from TV channels that thrive on false information and toxic content .
”

Leading Bollywood actors, filmmakers and industry unions have filed an unprecedented defamation lawsuit against two television news channels forpainting the film industry as a den of drugs and crime following the death of a young movie star.
FIle photo taken in Aug 2020 of Bollywood star Rhea Chakraborty leaving the Enforcement Directorate in Mumbai after being questioned in the Sushant Singh Rajput case.
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The lawsuit, filed Monday, comes months after India’s freewheeling television news channels took on Bollywood, India's Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai, with a spree of allegations following the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in June.
Rajput, 34, was found dead in his Mumbai apartment on June 4 in what police said was a suicide. The case is still being investigated.
The initial news coverage was focused on mental health in India's multi-billion-dollar movie industry. But Rajput's family disputed the suicide finding and accused the star's ex-girlfriend, Bollywood actress, Rhea Chakraborty, 28, of stealing his money and harassing him. She has denied the allegations.
Last week, a court in Mumbai ordered the actress to be released on bail in what her lawyer called a victory for "truth and justice".
Chakraborty and her family have been hounded by Indian media who have spent months obsessing over the case and expanding the dragnet across the industry with TV channels showing his body, analysing his medical prescriptions and suggesting “black magic” was performed on the actor.
On Monday, more than 30 Bollywood production houses and four industry bodies filed a defamation lawsuit in the Delhi High Court. They saw some of Bollywood’s biggest names, including superstar actors Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar, come together against news channels Republic TV and Times Now.
“These Defendants are conducting and publishing parallel private ‘investigations’ and effectively acting as ‘courts’ to condemn persons connected with Bollywood as guilty based on what they claim is ‘evidence’ found by them,” the plaintiffs said in a statement, referring to the two news channels.
The plaintiffs said they sought “redress against the irresponsible, derogatory and defamatory reporting” by the two television news channels and their leading anchors.
The two pro-government channels did not immediately respond to media requests, but Navika Kumar, a senior editor at Times Now, tweeted Monday, “If fighting for justice invites court cases, bring it on."
Shouting matches on stars, little on health or economic crises
Experts say television news in India is facing a serious crisis, with debates among commentators becoming increasingly strident and shrill.
India has one of the world’s most competitive media environments, with more than 850 news channels broadcast in multiple languages.
But over the years, the industry has faced a crisis of credibility. Many powerful television news anchors, known to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his right-leaning administration, often indulge in rancorous and chaotic debates in which shouting, screaming and name-calling have become staples.
In a column, What's Behind the Sudden Spate of Attacks on Bollywood, Sidharth Bhatia of The Wire, linked the phenomenon with the brand of nationalist populism championed by Modi's ruling BJP. "Film people everywhere, whether the US or India, are seen as liberals, perhaps even inclined towards the Left," noted Bhatia. "Hindi films by and large have reflected progressive views. This often troubles conservative politicians."
The media hysteria reached its zenith in Rajput’s case. Stories about the actor's death sidelined other critical issues, such as India’s stalling economy, the government’s coronavirus response and growing hostilities with China over a border dispute.
The result was a surge in ratings for some TV channels.
Advertisers pull out of hate-mongering TV channels
The tables, however, turned considerably last week when police in Mumbai accused Republic TV of rigging the rating scores system, a significant component in television channels' advertising income.
The allegations were denied by Republic TV but led to some Indian advertisers taking never-before-seen measures.
Automobile giant Bajaj Auto and Parle Products, India’s biggest biscuit maker, said they were pulling advertising from news channels that endorsed toxicity and hate-mongering. The companies did not name the channels, but the move was widely cheered on Indian social media.
Abhinandan Sekhri, the co-founder of media critiquing website Newslaundry, said most of India's TV channels had morphed into “reality shows".
“There will be repercussions if you do demonstrably false reporting,” Sekhri said. “It's about time advertisers took a stand and withdrew their brands from TV channels that thrive on false information and toxic content.”
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
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france24--2020-10-13--Europe's migrant crisis: After Moria camp fire, homeless migrants fear what's next

On the Greek island of Lesbos , locals and asylum seekers spoke of their mutual fear as exasperation and exhaustion @ @ @ @ @ of the Moria migrant camp .
FRANCE 24 's James André , Erika Olavarria and @ @ @ @ @

Europe's migrant crisis: After Moria camp fire, homeless migrants fear what's next
02:36
On the Greek island of Lesbos, locals and asylum seekers spoke of their mutual fear as exasperation and exhaustion set in after the destruction of the Moria migrant camp. FRANCE 24's James André, Erika Olavarria and Mayssa Awad met them.


france24--2020-10-13--Cyprus scraps 'golden passport' scheme over alleged abuse

Cyprus has decided to scrap its 'golden passport ' scheme after a television programme exposed its alleged abuse Cyprus said on Tuesday it will scrap its citizenship scheme for foreign investors next month over alleged abuses uncovered in a television programme .
Government spokesman Kyriakos Koushos said the cabinet had agreed in an emergency meeting to abolish the scheme as proposed by the finance and interior ministers .
`` The proposal of the two ministers was based on long-standing weaknesses , abuse and exploitation of the provisions of the investment programme , '' Koushos told reporters .
Koushos said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ euros ( $ 8.25 billion ) -- would brought to an end on November 1 , 2020 .
The government would `` fully examine its policy to encourage investment '' , he added , after the completion of an investigation into the so-called golden passports scheme .
The move came hours after Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera aired footage of officials allegedly trying to help a person acting as a client with a criminal record to acquire a Cyprus passport .
`` Posing as representatives of a fictitious criminal character , our undercover reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Cyprus Investment Programme by lawyers , property agents , leading eventually to high ranking politicians , '' Al Jazeera reported on Monday .
Those involved -- a Cypriot lawmaker and the parliament speaker -- denied any wrongdoing .
Speaker Demetris Syllouris said Tuesday he was standing down until a police investigation into the claims was completed .
Cyprus began offering citizenship in exchange for substantial investment as far back as 2007 , but the scheme was stepped up following the Mediterranean island 's 2013 economic crisis .
But Cyprus has faced pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheme over concerns it may have helped organised crime gangs infiltrate the bloc .
Last month , Al Jazeera reported that dozens of those who had applied for `` golden passports '' were under criminal investigation or international sanctions , or serving prison sentences .
Cyprus had tightened its rules since 2007 , including a ban on cash payments in 2014 .
Currently , the government grants a passport in exchange for an investment of 2.5 million euros ( $ 3 million ) .
Even before Al Jazeera published its story , some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a special committee .
Last week , Nicosia said it was revoking seven passports for `` false representation '' by investors on their application .
The country is re-examining the cases of all roughly 4,000 people who successfully applied for a passport under the scheme .

Nicosia (AFP) –
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Cyprus said on Tuesday it will scrap its citizenship scheme for foreign investors next month over alleged abuses uncovered in a television programme.
Government spokesman Kyriakos Koushos said the cabinet had agreed in an emergency meeting to abolish the scheme as proposed by the finance and interior ministers.
"The proposal of the two ministers was based on long-standing weaknesses, abuse and exploitation of the provisions of the investment programme," Koushos told reporters.
Koushos said the scheme -- which has generated seven billion euros ($8.25 billion) -- would brought to an end on November 1, 2020.
The government would "fully examine its policy to encourage investment", he added, after the completion of an investigation into the so-called golden passports scheme.
The move came hours after Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera aired footage of officials allegedly trying to help a person acting as a client with a criminal record to acquire a Cyprus passport.
"Posing as representatives of a fictitious criminal character, our undercover reporters were ushered through the application process for the Cyprus Investment Programme by lawyers, property agents, leading eventually to high ranking politicians," Al Jazeera reported on Monday.
Those involved -- a Cypriot lawmaker and the parliament speaker -- denied any wrongdoing.
Speaker Demetris Syllouris said Tuesday he was standing down until a police investigation into the claims was completed.
Cyprus began offering citizenship in exchange for substantial investment as far back as 2007, but the scheme was stepped up following the Mediterranean island's 2013 economic crisis.
But Cyprus has faced pressure from the European Union to reform the scheme over concerns it may have helped organised crime gangs infiltrate the bloc.
Last month, Al Jazeera reported that dozens of those who had applied for "golden passports" were under criminal investigation or international sanctions, or serving prison sentences.
Cyprus had tightened its rules since 2007, including a ban on cash payments in 2014.
Currently, the government grants a passport in exchange for an investment of 2.5 million euros ($3 million).
Even before Al Jazeera published its story, some 30 people had been referred for investigation to a special committee.
Last week, Nicosia said it was revoking seven passports for "false representation" by investors on their application.
The country is re-examining the cases of all roughly 4,000 people who successfully applied for a passport under the scheme.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-13--Breast cancer awareness month

Breast cancer awareness month

Nacy Githoitho , founder of the Limau Cancer Connection , has set goal to reduce Kenya 's Breast cancer high @ @ @ @ @ .

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france24--2020-10-13--Coronavirus pandemic: Hard-hit Brazil emerges as important centre for vaccine trials

Grim statistics along with a good medical infrastructure , vaccination expertise , and experience running clinical trials , have made @ @ @ @ @ put experimental COVID-19 vaccines to the test .
FRANCE 24 's Fanny Lothaire , Augusta @ @ @ @ @ from Brazil .

Coronavirus pandemic: Hard-hit Brazil emerges as important centre for vaccine trials
02:39
Grim statistics along with a good medical infrastructure, vaccination expertise, and experience running clinical trials, have made Brazil an ideal place to put experimental COVID-19 vaccines to the test. FRANCE 24's Fanny Lothaire, Augusta Lunardi and Anna Ionova report from Brazil.


france24--2020-10-13--Race for the White House: More than 10 million early votes already cast

Race for the White House : More than 10 million early votes already cast US voters have cast more than @ @ @ @ @ Nov. 3 presidential election , significantly outpacing the early vote in 2016 and suggesting a @ @ @ @ @ data compiled by the # US # Elections Project .

Race for the White House: More than 10 million early votes already cast
01:30
US voters have cast more than 10 million votes for the Nov. 3 presidential election, significantly outpacing the early vote in 2016 and suggesting a large turnout, according to data compiled by the #US #Elections Project.


france24--2020-10-13--Arctic expedition warning: Biggest North Pole mission returns from 'dying' ocean

An icebreaker carrying scientists on a year-long international effort to study the high Arctic has returned to its home port @ @ @ @ @ of data that will help researchers better predict climate change in the decades to come @

Arctic expedition warning: Biggest North Pole mission returns from 'dying' ocean
01:47
An icebreaker carrying scientists on a year-long international effort to study the high Arctic has returned to its home port in Germany carrying a wealth of data that will help researchers better predict climate change in the decades to come.


france24--2020-10-13--Assad declares Syria wildfires national catastophe

A church lies unscathed in its grounds on an otherwise scorched hillside in Tartus province on Syria 's Mediterranean coast Syrian President Bashar al-Assad declared a national catastrophe on Tuesday after inspecting crops destroyed by wildfires that have ravaged his country 's Mediterranean coastal belt .
As many as 25,000 people have been forced to flee their homes , the United Nations said , in a new blow for a region which is a mainstay of support for Assad 's government .
The fires , which broke out in tinder-dry conditions on Friday , have destroyed more than 9,000 hectares @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provinces of Latakia and Tartus , as well as Homs inland .
In the hardest hit province of Latakia , three people died and at least 70 were admitted to hospitals , the UN humanitarian affairs office said .
Assad pledged support for residents of affected areas , especially farmers who have lost their crops .
`` This is a national catastrophe ... humanitarian , economic and environmental , '' Assad said .
`` The state will bear the largest burden in offering this support , '' he said .
Wildfires are a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as they are in neighbouring Israel , Lebanon and Cyprus .
But this week 's fires have been on a larger scale than usual , residents say .

Damascus (AFP) –
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Syrian President Bashar al-Assad declared a national catastrophe on Tuesday after inspecting crops destroyed by wildfires that have ravaged his country's Mediterranean coastal belt.
As many as 25,000 people have been forced to flee their homes, the United Nations said, in a new blow for a region which is a mainstay of support for Assad's government.
The fires, which broke out in tinder-dry conditions on Friday, have destroyed more than 9,000 hectares of farmland and forest in the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus, as well as Homs inland.
In the hardest hit province of Latakia, three people died and at least 70 were admitted to hospitals, the UN humanitarian affairs office said.
Assad pledged support for residents of affected areas, especially farmers who have lost their crops.
"This is a national catastrophe... humanitarian, economic and environmental," Assad said.
"The state will bear the largest burden in offering this support," he said.
Wildfires are a regular occurrence in Syria in late summer, as they are in neighbouring Israel, Lebanon and Cyprus.
But this week's fires have been on a larger scale than usual, residents say.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-13--China's Qingdao orders city-wide testing after new Covid-19 infections

The Chinese city of Qingdao said on Monday it will conduct coronavirus tests for its entire population of more than @ @ @ @ @ cases that appeared to be linked to a hospital treating imported infections .
Daily COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ fallen drastically since the early days of the outbreak , which first emerged in the @ @ @ @

China's Qingdao orders city-wide testing after new Covid-19 infections
01:44
The Chinese city of Qingdao said on Monday it will conduct coronavirus tests for its entire population of more than 9 million after reporting new cases that appeared to be linked to a hospital treating imported infections. Daily COVID-19 infections in mainland China have fallen drastically since the early days of the outbreak, which first emerged in the city of Wuhan.