france24--2020-12-27--Champagne makers toast post-Brexit deal with thirsty Brits

Around three million bottles of James Bond 's favourite tipple Bollinger emerge from the champagne house 's cellars outside Epernay , France each year French champagne producers had extra reason to celebrate this week with the sealing of a post-Brexit trade deal between the EU and the UK , the biggest market for the sparkling wine synonymous with luxury .
Champagne is a fixture of the high life in Britain , from the preferred brand -- Bollinger -- of fictional superspy James Bond to certain makers ' coveted status as suppliers to the Queen and royal family .
In fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 and 30 million bottles of the French fizz every year .
That makes a deal ruling out new tariffs and quotas on goods trade across the English Channel `` an enormous relief '' for the sector , said Jean-Marie Barrillere , president of the UMC federation of champagne houses .
`` It 's a happy ending to a story that 's gone on too long . ''
Since Britons voted in 2016 to quit the European Union after half a century of membership , the spectre of a `` no-deal '' departure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Do you realise , without a deal , the English will become foreigners and Britain a market just as distant as Africa or Asia , '' Barrillere fretted earlier this month , fearing `` new taxes , customs formalities , complex bureaucracy and logistical nightmares '' .
The potential pain was all the more frightening given the boost in sales in the months ahead of Britain 's definitive departure from the EU single market .
`` Whether private individuals or importers , the English have kept stocking up .
We kept delivering , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judged that bottles totalling around 10 percent of annual sales should be safely on British shelves and in wine racks by December 31 .
That should make for plenty of bubbles to toast the release of James Bond 's next glamorous adventure `` No Time To Die '' , delayed twice due to the coronavirus pandemic and now slated for spring 2021 .
`` We exported one or two months ' worth of stock in advance to get ahead of the logistics , '' Bollinger chief Charles-Armand de Belenet said .
`` A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Broccoli and Bollinger 's Christian Bizot has endured since 1979 , '' he added -- a coup all the more valuable as Bollinger is `` the smallest of the grand champagne houses '' .
Bollinger may be on her majesty 's secret service with Bond .
But there 's nothing hidden about the Royal Warrant declaring the house 's role `` by Appointment to HM Queen Elizabeth II , Purveyors of Champagne , '' outside its headquarters in Ay-Champagne around 150 kilometres ( 95 miles ) east of Paris .
The manufacturer has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the reign of Queen Victoria , and its long association with France 's northerly neighbour kept de Belenet surprisingly confident throughout the ups and downs of Brexit .
`` The English are very resilient .
We expected a blow to confidence ( from Brexit ) , but the market is holding up well .
It 's more robust than the French market , '' he said .
Each year around one-third of Bollinger 's revenues -- or 1.5 million euros ( $ 1.8 million , £1.4 million ) -- flow from Britain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's roughly three million bottles per year have been more anxious that demand could dry up from across the Channel .
Joseph Perrier , which sells around 20 percent of its 800,000 bottles per year to Britain , does not have the scale to absorb the kind of blow a no-deal would have dealt to its business .
`` We are n't in a position to manage all the customs paperwork for a distant market '' outside the EU system , Joseph Perrier chief Benjamin Fourmon worried ahead of this week 's breakthrough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's royal family to be considered its `` unofficial partner '' , the champagne house feared a `` catastrophe '' if new trade barriers appeared .
Nevertheless , `` wines from Champagne have captured the hearts of the English for three centuries , '' said Maxime Toubart , president of the region 's wine growers ' union .
`` We 'll keep our eyes open , but the ties between Champagne and the UK give us confidence '' despite the upheaval ahead as Britain quits the single market .

Aÿ-Champagne (France) (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
French champagne producers had extra reason to celebrate this week with the sealing of a post-Brexit trade deal between the EU and the UK, the biggest market for the sparkling wine synonymous with luxury.
Champagne is a fixture of the high life in Britain, from the preferred brand -- Bollinger -- of fictional superspy James Bond to certain makers' coveted status as suppliers to the Queen and royal family.
In fact, the island nation mops up between 25 and 30 million bottles of the French fizz every year.
That makes a deal ruling out new tariffs and quotas on goods trade across the English Channel "an enormous relief" for the sector, said Jean-Marie Barrillere, president of the UMC federation of champagne houses.
"It's a happy ending to a story that's gone on too long."
Since Britons voted in 2016 to quit the European Union after half a century of membership, the spectre of a "no-deal" departure had hung over the sector.
"Do you realise, without a deal, the English will become foreigners and Britain a market just as distant as Africa or Asia," Barrillere fretted earlier this month, fearing "new taxes, customs formalities, complex bureaucracy and logistical nightmares".
The potential pain was all the more frightening given the boost in sales in the months ahead of Britain's definitive departure from the EU single market.
"Whether private individuals or importers, the English have kept stocking up. We kept delivering," the UMC chief said.
He judged that bottles totalling around 10 percent of annual sales should be safely on British shelves and in wine racks by December 31.
That should make for plenty of bubbles to toast the release of James Bond's next glamorous adventure "No Time To Die", delayed twice due to the coronavirus pandemic and now slated for spring 2021.
"We exported one or two months' worth of stock in advance to get ahead of the logistics," Bollinger chief Charles-Armand de Belenet said.
"A simple handshake between James Bond producer Cubby Broccoli and Bollinger's Christian Bizot has endured since 1979," he added -- a coup all the more valuable as Bollinger is "the smallest of the grand champagne houses".
- 'The English are resilient' -
Bollinger may be on her majesty's secret service with Bond.
But there's nothing hidden about the Royal Warrant declaring the house's role "by Appointment to HM Queen Elizabeth II, Purveyors of Champagne," outside its headquarters in Ay-Champagne around 150 kilometres (95 miles) east of Paris.
The manufacturer has enjoyed the special status supplying the court since the reign of Queen Victoria, and its long association with France's northerly neighbour kept de Belenet surprisingly confident throughout the ups and downs of Brexit.
"The English are very resilient. We expected a blow to confidence (from Brexit), but the market is holding up well. It's more robust than the French market," he said.
Each year around one-third of Bollinger's revenues -- or 1.5 million euros ($1.8 million, £1.4 million) -- flow from Britain.
Manufacturers turning out fewer than Bollinger's roughly three million bottles per year have been more anxious that demand could dry up from across the Channel.
Joseph Perrier, which sells around 20 percent of its 800,000 bottles per year to Britain, does not have the scale to absorb the kind of blow a no-deal would have dealt to its business.
"We aren't in a position to manage all the customs paperwork for a distant market" outside the EU system, Joseph Perrier chief Benjamin Fourmon worried ahead of this week's breakthrough.
A supplier beloved enough of Britain's royal family to be considered its "unofficial partner", the champagne house feared a "catastrophe" if new trade barriers appeared.
Nevertheless, "wines from Champagne have captured the hearts of the English for three centuries," said Maxime Toubart, president of the region's wine growers' union.
"We'll keep our eyes open, but the ties between Champagne and the UK give us confidence" despite the upheaval ahead as Britain quits the single market.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-27--Gutsy Rahane century puts India in driving seat against Australia

Stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane rode his luck to hit a gritty unbeaten century as India built an ominous 82-run lead over Australia on day two to take a stranglehold on the second Test in Melbourne on Sunday .
It was a determined and crucial knock against a world-class attack by the mild-mannered 32-year-old , who assumed the captaincy from Virat Kohli after he returned home for the birth of his first child .
Batting at four , he faced 200 balls for his 104 to steer India to 277 for five before rain ended play 15 minutes early .
Ravindra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hosts took just four wickets during a frustrating day in the field as the match began to slip away with India zeroing in on levelling the series after losing the first Test by eight wickets in Adelaide .
`` Not our best day , but not our worst , '' said Australia 's Mitchell Starc , who has two wickets but also saw catches put down off his bowling .
`` Jinx ( Rahane ) batted really well through the day there and they had some pretty good partnerships .
`` I thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us as well , we just did n't capitalise on some of the chances we created to finish in a better position .
`` We 're just going to have to back up tomorrow and take five wickets as quick as we can . ''
While Rahane was the hero , it was a gutsy Indian team performance , with three 50-plus wicket partnerships to help silence their critics after being skittled for their all-time low of 36 last week .
Debutant Shubman Gill chipped in with an impressive 45 and paid tribute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all about patience .
Sometimes against such a high-quality bowling attack you go into your shell and then you 're not able to score runs , '' he said .
`` The way Ajinkya played , it was such a magnificent knock to watch , the way he saw off the tough periods and the loose balls he was making sure he put them all away . ''
On a steamy day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground , India resumed on 36 for one in reply to Australia 's first innings 195 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost Mayank Agarwal for a duck to Starc .
In an action-packed morning , the Australian attack consistently hit its line and length with Pat Cummins bagging Gill then the experienced Cheteshwar Pujara for 17 .
That brought Rahane to the crease and -- first with Hanuma Vihari , then Rishabh Pant and finally Jadeja -- he built half-century stands to put India in a strong position .
He brought up his 12th Test ton in his 67th game , and his second in Melbourne , with a four off Cummins , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removed first slip during Starc 's first spell in the final session and lived to regret it with Rahane getting an edge on 57 that would almost certainly have been caught if the fielder was there .
He had a huge let-off on 73 when he was dropped at second slip by Steve Smith and again on 104 when the ball popped out of Travis Head 's hands as he landed after taking the catch .
Jadeja , back in the team after missing the first Test injured , ably supported Rahane after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nathan Lyon , with Smith taking the catch .
That brought the exuberant Pant to the crease .
Preferred to Wriddhiman Saha as wicketkeeper , he scored a breezy 29 before becoming Starc 's 250th Test victim , caught by Tim Paine for his 150th dismissal .
India were reduced to 64 for three before lunch after Cummins caused all sorts of problems .
He signalled his intent with the first ball of the day , which zipped past Pujara 's bat .
Paine called for a review , believing it took a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not out .
Cummins finally got the wicket he deserved when Gill , who added 17 to his overnight score , got a nick and Paine took the catch .
He then removed Pujara , again enticing an edge with Paine holding a brilliant diving catch .

Melbourne (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane rode his luck to hit a gritty unbeaten century as India built an ominous 82-run lead over Australia on day two to take a stranglehold on the second Test in Melbourne on Sunday.
It was a determined and crucial knock against a world-class attack by the mild-mannered 32-year-old, who assumed the captaincy from Virat Kohli after he returned home for the birth of his first child.
Batting at four, he faced 200 balls for his 104 to steer India to 277 for five before rain ended play 15 minutes early. Ravindra Jadeja was not out 40.
The hosts took just four wickets during a frustrating day in the field as the match began to slip away with India zeroing in on levelling the series after losing the first Test by eight wickets in Adelaide.
"Not our best day, but not our worst," said Australia's Mitchell Starc, who has two wickets but also saw catches put down off his bowling.
"Jinx (Rahane) batted really well through the day there and they had some pretty good partnerships.
"I thought there was some really good stuff from us as well, we just didn't capitalise on some of the chances we created to finish in a better position.
"We're just going to have to back up tomorrow and take five wickets as quick as we can."
While Rahane was the hero, it was a gutsy Indian team performance, with three 50-plus wicket partnerships to help silence their critics after being skittled for their all-time low of 36 last week.
Debutant Shubman Gill chipped in with an impressive 45 and paid tribute to Rahane.
"His knock was all about patience. Sometimes against such a high-quality bowling attack you go into your shell and then you're not able to score runs," he said.
"The way Ajinkya played, it was such a magnificent knock to watch, the way he saw off the tough periods and the loose balls he was making sure he put them all away."
- Problems -
On a steamy day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, India resumed on 36 for one in reply to Australia's first innings 195, having weathered 11 overs Saturday when they lost Mayank Agarwal for a duck to Starc.
In an action-packed morning, the Australian attack consistently hit its line and length with Pat Cummins bagging Gill then the experienced Cheteshwar Pujara for 17.
That brought Rahane to the crease and -- first with Hanuma Vihari, then Rishabh Pant and finally Jadeja -- he built half-century stands to put India in a strong position.
He brought up his 12th Test ton in his 67th game, and his second in Melbourne, with a four off Cummins, but he enjoyed some good fortune.
Australia removed first slip during Starc's first spell in the final session and lived to regret it with Rahane getting an edge on 57 that would almost certainly have been caught if the fielder was there.
He had a huge let-off on 73 when he was dropped at second slip by Steve Smith and again on 104 when the ball popped out of Travis Head's hands as he landed after taking the catch.
Jadeja, back in the team after missing the first Test injured, ably supported Rahane after Vihari fell for 21 attempting to sweep Nathan Lyon, with Smith taking the catch.
That brought the exuberant Pant to the crease. Preferred to Wriddhiman Saha as wicketkeeper, he scored a breezy 29 before becoming Starc's 250th Test victim, caught by Tim Paine for his 150th dismissal.
India were reduced to 64 for three before lunch after Cummins caused all sorts of problems.
He signalled his intent with the first ball of the day, which zipped past Pujara's bat. Paine called for a review, believing it took a nick, but replays showed it was not out.
Cummins finally got the wicket he deserved when Gill, who added 17 to his overnight score, got a nick and Paine took the catch. He then removed Pujara, again enticing an edge with Paine holding a brilliant diving catch.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-27--Niger holds historic elections despite jihadist violence

Nigerien soldiers walk between ballot boxes before Niger 's presidential and legislatives voting materials distribution in Niamey , Niger , on December 26 , 2020 .
Voters in the Sahel state of Niger go to the polls on Sunday for an election that could seal the country 's first-ever peaceful handover between elected presidents , despite a bloody jihadist insurgency .
The West African country has been chronically unstable since gaining independence from France 60 years ago , and is ranked the world 's poorest country according to the UN 's Human Development Index .
Around 7.4 million people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidency , which coincides with legislative elections .
President Mahamadou Issoufou , who was elected in 2011 after the country 's last coup in 2010 , is voluntarily stepping down after two five-year terms .
The frontrunner in the 30-strong field is his designated successor , Mohamed Bazoum , 60 , a former interior and foreign minister .
Other prominent hopefuls are two former heads of state , Mahamane Ousmane , 70 , and Salou Djibo , 55 .
Bazoum 's main rival , former prime minister Hama Amadou , 70 , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the grounds that in 2017 he was handed a 12-month term for alleged baby trafficking -- a charge he says was bogus .
Campaigning has been overshadowed by the issue of security .
Niger is being battered by jihadists on two fronts -- on its southwestern border with Mali , and its southeastern frontier with Nigeria .
Four thousand people in Burkina Faso , Mali and Niger died last year from jihadist violence and ethnic bloodshed stirred by Islamists , according to the UN .
In Niger itself , hundreds have died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of thousands have fled their homes .
The economy , already fragile , has suffered devastating blows .
Around 42 percent of the population lived last year on under $ 1.90 ( 1.56 euros ) per day , according to the World Bank , while nearly a fifth of its surging population of 23 million relied on food aid .
On Monday , seven troops and 11 suspected jihadists died in an ambush in the southwestern region of Tillaberi , the government said on Thursday .
On December 12 , 34 villagers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ southeastern region of Diffa , on the eve of municipal and regional elections that had been repeatedly delayed because of poor security .
The army has been massively deployed for Sunday 's vote , the authorities say .
`` Sporadic attacks will not prevent the stage of the elections , '' a spokesman said on Thursday .
The attack in Toumour triggered a three-day period of national mourning , but the elections the following day went ahead smoothly , officials say .

Voters in the Sahel state of Niger go to the polls on Sunday for an election that could seal the country's first-ever peaceful handover between elected presidents, despite a bloody jihadist insurgency.
Nigerien soldiers walk between ballot boxes before Niger's presidential and legislatives voting materials distribution in Niamey, Niger, on December 26, 2020.
Advertising Read more
The West African country has been chronically unstable since gaining independence from France 60 years ago, and is ranked the world's poorest country according to the UN's Human Development Index.
Around 7.4 million people are registered to vote for the ballot for presidency, which coincides with legislative elections.
President Mahamadou Issoufou, who was elected in 2011 after the country's last coup in 2010, is voluntarily stepping down after two five-year terms.
The frontrunner in the 30-strong field is his designated successor, Mohamed Bazoum, 60, a former interior and foreign minister.
Other prominent hopefuls are two former heads of state, Mahamane Ousmane, 70, and Salou Djibo, 55.
Bazoum's main rival, former prime minister Hama Amadou, 70, was last month barred from contesting the vote on the grounds that in 2017 he was handed a 12-month term for alleged baby trafficking -- a charge he says was bogus.
Campaigning has been overshadowed by the issue of security.
.@antonioguterres commends the Government & the people of Niger for their efforts to ensure the timely holding of elections despite significant security & humanitarian challenges, amid the #COVID19 pandemic: https://t.co/mqUnAVPZIR — UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) December 26, 2020
Niger is being battered by jihadists on two fronts -- on its southwestern border with Mali, and its southeastern frontier with Nigeria.
Four thousand people in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger died last year from jihadist violence and ethnic bloodshed stirred by Islamists, according to the UN.
In Niger itself, hundreds have died in the past five years, and hundreds of thousands have fled their homes.
The economy, already fragile, has suffered devastating blows.
Around 42 percent of the population lived last year on under $1.90 (1.56 euros) per day, according to the World Bank, while nearly a fifth of its surging population of 23 million relied on food aid.
On Monday, seven troops and 11 suspected jihadists died in an ambush in the southwestern region of Tillaberi, the government said on Thursday.
On December 12, 34 villagers were massacred in Toumour, in the southeastern region of Diffa, on the eve of municipal and regional elections that had been repeatedly delayed because of poor security.
The army has been massively deployed for Sunday's vote, the authorities say.
"Sporadic attacks will not prevent the stage of the elections," a spokesman said on Thursday. The attack in Toumour triggered a three-day period of national mourning, but the elections the following day went ahead smoothly, officials say.
(AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-12-27--Voters go to the polls in troubled Central African Republic

Voters queue to vote as a police officer from the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic looks on at the Barthélemy Boganda high school polling station in the 4th district in Bangui , CAR , on December 27 , 2020 , during the country 's presidential and legislative elections .
Voting began in presidential and legislative elections in the Central African Republic on Sunday , in a key test for one of the world 's most troubled nations .
The polls take place after a week of turbulence , marked by accusations of an attempted coup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's fourth-largest town and the dispatch of military personnel by Russia and Rwanda to help its beleaguered government .
UN peacekeepers and local and Rwandan soldiers were patrolling the streets throughout the capital , with armoured vehicles posted outside voting places armed with machine guns , AFP journalists saw .
There was a delay of around 50 minutes before some polling stations in Bangui opened as voting materials had not been delivered on time .
`` It 's very important for me to be here , as a citizen .
I think this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president will be , '' teacher Hortense Reine said outside a voting place in Boganda secondary school in the city 's east , where around 30 people were queueing .
Senior officials at the election organising authority told AFP that where polling stations had opened late , voting would continue for an additional 50 minutes .
The frontrunner for the presidency is incumbent Faustin Archange Touadéra , who was elected in 2016 .
The mineral-rich but poverty-stricken country has been chronically unstable since independence 60 years ago .
Thousands of people have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2013 and more than a quarter of the population of 4.9 million have fled their homes .
Of these , 675,000 are refugees in neighbouring countries and can not vote .
Even though bloodshed has receded in intensity over the last two years , violence remains chronic .
Militia groups hold sway over two-thirds of the territory , spurring fears about intimidation that could also affect turnout .
Experts and opposition figures have already asked what legitimacy the president and 140 MPs to be elected will have , given the obstacles to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freely .
On December 19 , the government accused armed groups of banding together and advancing on the capital Bangui in a plot allegedly fomented by ousted former president François Bozizé , a charge he denies .
Fears about the rebels swept the city in the following days , although peacekeepers of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic ( MINUSCA ) said their advance had been stopped .
Bozizé on Sunday urged people not to vote in the presidential and legislative elections , after his own bid was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for being on a 2014 wanted list and under UN sanctions .
`` I call on you , my countrymen , not to vote .
Stay at home .
Let Touadéra place his ballot in the box alone , '' the former president said in an audio message published online which his party confirmed to AFP .
`` I support the CPC , '' Bozizé added , referring to the Coalition of Patriots for Change umbrella group uniting several different armed rebel outfits .
'How do we vote ? '
`` There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I will go and cast my ballot , '' 29-year-old Lionel Fotot said on Thursday , as he went to get his voter 's registration card at a school in Bangui .
Others were less optimistic , however , with sporadic fighting potentially undermining the vote .
`` Everyone is fleeing at the moment .
I 'm holed up at home , '' Robert , from Boali , 80 kilometres ( 50 miles ) north of Bangui told AFP by phone , explosions audible in the background .
`` How do we vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voter cards , '' he added .
The rebel coalition on Wednesday announced a 72-hour `` unilateral ceasefire '' in the runup to the vote , only to call it off on Friday .
In a statement authenticated by two of its six members , the coalition said that it would resume its march on the capital .
On Tuesday , the CAR 's fourth-largest town , Bambari , 380 km northeast of Bangui , was overrun by an armed group called the Unity for Peace in Central Africa ( UPC ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ control the following day .
Sixteen candidates are vying for the presidency .
Touadéra 's main rival is Anicet Georges Dologuélé , an economist and former prime minister .
A runoff vote will be held on February 14 if there is no overall majority in the first round .
Around 1,500 candidates are contesting the 140 seats in the national assembly , but many have been unable to campaign because of insecurity .

Voters went to the polls on Sunday in the Central African Republic in presidential and legislative elections marred by the latest flare-up in a long-running civil war, with many voters unable to cast their ballots.
A Rwandan soldier looks on as as voters queue to vote at the Barthélemy Boganda high school polling station in the 1st district in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR), on December 27, 2020 during the country's presidential and legislative elections. Voting began in the Central African Republic on December 27, 2020, in a key test for one of the world's most troubled nations.
Advertising Read more
Incumbent Faustin Archange Touadera is the frontrunner in polls that follow a week of turbulence marked by accusations of an attempted coup, rebels briefly seizing the fourth-largest town and Russia and Rwanda dispatching military personnel to help the beleaguered government.
UN peacekeepers and local and Rwandan soldiers were patrolling the streets of the capital on Sunday with armoured vehicles posted outside polling stations.
01:29
Although some stations opened late in Bangui because of a lack of voting materials, senior election officials told AFP they would stay open later to make up for it.
"It's very important for me to be here, as a citizen. I think this vote will change our country, whoever the president will be," teacher Hortense Reine said.
Sixteen candidates are vying for the presidency -- Touadera's main rival is former prime minister Anicet Georges Dologuele.
Polling stations began to close at 5:00 pm (1600 GMT) with partial results expected on January 4 and the final totals on January 19.
A runoff will be held on February 14 if there is no overall majority in the first round.
Momokoama Theophile of the National Elections Authority (ANE) told AFP at the end of the day that turnout had been good "despite minor security concerns in some places".
Threats against voters
Away from Bangui, sporadic fighting has been going on for nine days and scattered incidents were reported early on Sunday.
In the northwest, more than 500 kilometres (300 miles) from the capital, rebels seized election materials in Koui and officials received death threats in Ngaoundaye, according to a senior UN official.
In some areas, rebels threatened anyone who went to vote.
Meanwhile, thousands of people had not received their voter cards because of the dire security situation, according to local and UN officials who all requested anonymity.
"How do we vote when we don't even have our voter cards," Robert, from Boali 80 kilometres north of Bangui told AFP by phone -- explosions audible in the background.
"Everyone is fleeing at the moment. I'm holed up at home."
Ahead of the elections many of the 1,500 candidates contesting the 140 seats in the national assembly were unable to campaign.
Former president Francois Bozize, who wanted to stand but was barred by judges because he is under UN sanctions, urged people not to vote and backed a rebel coalition.
"Stay at home. Let Touadera place his ballot in the box alone," Bozize said in an audio message published online which his party confirmed to AFP.
Coup allegations
The government on December 19 accused Bozize of attempting a coup alongside armed groups advancing on the capital, a charge he denies.
Fears about the rebels swept the city in the following days, although the UN peacekeeping force MINUSCA said their advance had been stopped.
The rebel coalition on Wednesday announced a 72-hour "unilateral ceasefire" in the runup to the vote, only to call it off on Friday saying it would resume its march on the capital.
On Tuesday, the CAR's fourth-largest town, Bambari, 380 kilometres northeast of Bangui, was overrun but security forces backed by UN peacekeepers regained control the following day.
On Sunday, polling stations in Bambari remained closed in the morning because of gunfire from armed groups, according to Jeannot Nguernendji, president of the local peace committee.
Legitimacy concerns
The mineral-rich but poverty-stricken CAR has been unstable since independence 60 years ago.
Thousands of people have died since a civil war erupted in 2013 and more than a quarter of the population of 4.9 million have fled their homes. Of these, 675,000 are refugees in neighbouring countries and cannot vote.
Even though bloodshed has receded in intensity over the last two years, violence remains chronic. Militia groups hold sway over two-thirds of the territory.
Experts and opposition figures have already asked what legitimacy the president and 140 MPs to be elected will have, given the obstacles to holding a free vote.
(AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-12-27--Europe launches Covid-19 vaccination programme in bid to leave pandemic behind

A healthcare worker carries the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at the University Hospital in Nitra , Slovakia , December 26 , 2020 .
Europe launches a cross-border vaccination programme of unprecedented scale on Sunday as part of efforts to end a Covid-19 pandemic that has crippled economies and claimed more than 1.7 million lives around the world .
The region of 450 million people has secured contracts with a range of suppliers for over two billion vaccine doses and has set a goal for all adults to be inoculated during 2021 .
While Europe has some of the best-resourced healthcare systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the effort means that some countries are calling on retired medics to help out while others have loosened rules for who is allowed to give the injections .
With surveys pointing to high levels of hesitancy towards the vaccine in countries from France to Poland , leaders of the 27-country European Union are promoting it as the best chance of getting back to something like normal life next year .
`` We are starting to turn the page on a difficult year , '' Ursula von der Leyen , president of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a tweet .
`` Vaccination is the lasting way out of the pandemic . ''
After European governments were criticised for failing to work together to counter the spread of the virus in early 2020 , the goal this time is to ensure that there is equal access to the vaccines across the entire region .
But even then , Hungary on Saturday jumped the gun on the official roll-out by starting to administer shots of the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech to frontline workers at hospitals in the capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Italy , Austria , Portugal and Spain are planning to begin mass vaccinations , starting with health workers on Sunday .
Outside the EU , Britain , Switzerland and Serbia have already started in recent weeks .
The distribution of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot presents tough challenges .
The vaccine uses new mRNA technology and must be stored at ultra-low temperatures of around -80 degrees Celsius ( -112°F ) .
France , which received its first shipment of the two-dose vaccine on Saturday , will start administering it in the greater Paris area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , meanwhile , said trucks were on their way to deliver the vaccine to care homes for the elderly , which are first in line to receive the vaccine on Sunday .
Beyond hospitals and care homes , sports halls and convention centres emptied by lockdown measures will become venues for mass inoculations .
In Italy , temporary solar-powered healthcare pavilions will spring up in town squares around the country , designed to look like five-petalled primrose flowers , a symbol of spring .
In Spain , doses are being delivered by air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla .
Portugal is establishing separate cold storage units for its Atlantic archipelagos of Azores and Madeira .
`` A window of hope has now opened , without forgetting that there is a very difficult fight ahead , '' Portuguese Health Minister Marta Temido told reporters .

Europe launches a cross-border vaccination programme of unprecedented scale on Sunday as part of efforts to end a Covid-19 pandemic that has crippled economies and claimed more than 1.7 million lives around the world.
Advertising Read more
The region of 450 million people has secured contracts with a range of suppliers for over two billion vaccine doses and has set a goal for all adults to be inoculated during 2021.
While Europe has some of the best-resourced healthcare systems in the world, the sheer scale of the effort means that some countries are calling on retired medics to help out while others have loosened rules for who is allowed to give the injections.
With surveys pointing to high levels of hesitancy towards the vaccine in countries from France to Poland, leaders of the 27-country European Union are promoting it as the best chance of getting back to something like normal life next year.
"We are starting to turn the page on a difficult year," Ursula von der Leyen, president of the Brussels-based European Commission coordinating the programme, said in a tweet.
"Vaccination is the lasting way out of the pandemic."
Today, we start turning the page on a difficult year. The #COVID19 vaccine has been delivered to all EU countries.
Vaccination will begin tomorrow across the EU.
The #EUvaccinationdays are a touching moment of unity. Vaccination is the lasting way out of the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/pYOj5vS2gV — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) December 26, 2020
After European governments were criticised for failing to work together to counter the spread of the virus in early 2020, the goal this time is to ensure that there is equal access to the vaccines across the entire region.
But even then, Hungary on Saturday jumped the gun on the official roll-out by starting to administer shots of the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech to frontline workers at hospitals in the capital Budapest.
Countries including France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Portugal and Spain are planning to begin mass vaccinations, starting with health workers on Sunday. Outside the EU, Britain, Switzerland and Serbia have already started in recent weeks.
The distribution of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot presents tough challenges. The vaccine uses new mRNA technology and must be stored at ultra-low temperatures of around -80 degrees Celsius (-112°F).
France, which received its first shipment of the two-dose vaccine on Saturday, will start administering it in the greater Paris area and in the Burgundy-Franche-Comte region.
Germany, meanwhile, said trucks were on their way to deliver the vaccine to care homes for the elderly, which are first in line to receive the vaccine on Sunday.
Beyond hospitals and care homes, sports halls and convention centres emptied by lockdown measures will become venues for mass inoculations.
In Italy, temporary solar-powered healthcare pavilions will spring up in town squares around the country, designed to look like five-petalled primrose flowers, a symbol of spring.
In Spain, doses are being delivered by air to its island territories and the North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. Portugal is establishing separate cold storage units for its Atlantic archipelagos of Azores and Madeira.
"A window of hope has now opened, without forgetting that there is a very difficult fight ahead," Portuguese Health Minister Marta Temido told reporters.
(REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-12-27--Rahane hits century for India against Australia

India captain Ajinkya Rahane led from the front on day two of the second Test against Australia Stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane smacked a gutsy unbeaten century Sunday as India built a handy lead over Australia on day two of the second Test in Melbourne .
The 32-year-old came to the crease with his team in trouble early in the day after two wickets fell in quick succession , but rode his luck to notch a 12th Test ton in his 67th game .
Rahane , captaining the team in the absence of Virat Kohli , who has returned home for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit 11 fours in his trying innings .
He made the most of his fortune , enjoying a huge let-off on 73 when he was dropped at second slip by Steve Smith off a frustrated Mitchell Starc , bringing up his century with a four off Pat Cummins .
It helped give India a 73-run lead over Australia , who were all out for 195 in their first innings .
With less than an hour left to play , India were 268 for five in reply , with Ravindra Jadeja not out 36 @

Melbourne (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane smacked a gutsy unbeaten century Sunday as India built a handy lead over Australia on day two of the second Test in Melbourne.
The 32-year-old came to the crease with his team in trouble early in the day after two wickets fell in quick succession, but rode his luck to notch a 12th Test ton in his 67th game.
Rahane, captaining the team in the absence of Virat Kohli, who has returned home for the birth of his first child, hit 11 fours in his trying innings.
He made the most of his fortune, enjoying a huge let-off on 73 when he was dropped at second slip by Steve Smith off a frustrated Mitchell Starc, bringing up his century with a four off Pat Cummins.
It helped give India a 73-run lead over Australia, who were all out for 195 in their first innings.
With less than an hour left to play, India were 268 for five in reply, with Ravindra Jadeja not out 36.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-27--Momota wins Japan title to cap comeback after car crash

Badminton world number one Kento Momota ( pictured competing in the singles semi-final on December 26 , 2020 ) won the All-Japan championships nearly a year after suffering serious injuries in a car crash Badminton world number one Kento Momota won the All-Japan championships on Sunday to complete the first step of his comeback , nearly a year after suffering serious injuries in a car crash .
Momota came from behind to beat world number 11 Kanta Tsuneyama 18-21 , 21-12 , 21-17 in Tokyo , marking a successful return from the accident that left him fearing his career might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The win gave Momota his third straight national title , and he immediately turned his thoughts towards making his international comeback at the Thailand Open in January .
`` I had the initiative in the first game but then I started to lose my cool once I had the lead , '' said Momota .
`` I think that 's because I 'm still not used to playing matches .
In the second and third games , I wanted to put all my feeling into it regardless of technique or tactics , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the win .
`` The Thailand Open starts in the new year and I 'll be able to play against players from overseas .
I want to go there and show what I can do as the top Japanese player . ''
Momota was badly hurt in January when the vehicle taking him to the airport after he won the Malaysia Masters crashed , killing the driver .
He admitted to feeling nervous as he returned to competition this week in Tokyo , and he was pushed to the limit by Tsuneyama , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final game only to crumble with victory in sight .
`` I was too cautious , '' said Momota , who also had to come from a game down in the quarter-finals .
`` Before , my game was about using everything I 'd built up over time , and my results gave me the confidence to do that .
`` This week , I had n't played for a long time so I was very anxious going into each match .
But I think my game will start to return now that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Momota is one of Japan 's brightest hopes for a gold medal on home soil at the coronavirus-postponed Tokyo Games next year .
The 26-year-old left-hander won a record-breaking 11 titles last year , and he is confident of adding more after tasting success this week in Tokyo .
`` I 'm 70 percent relieved and 30 percent happy , '' said Momota .
`` I 'm known as world number one Momota , so I feel that I 'm not allowed to lose .
`` It was n't easy for me to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's because of my experience and ability , and I really hate to lose .
`` That pride helps me but there is also pressure , and I want to keep doing more .
If I can , I want to get back to training tomorrow . ''

Tokyo (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Badminton world number one Kento Momota won the All-Japan championships on Sunday to complete the first step of his comeback, nearly a year after suffering serious injuries in a car crash.
Momota came from behind to beat world number 11 Kanta Tsuneyama 18-21, 21-12, 21-17 in Tokyo, marking a successful return from the accident that left him fearing his career might be over after fracturing an eye socket.
The win gave Momota his third straight national title, and he immediately turned his thoughts towards making his international comeback at the Thailand Open in January.
"I had the initiative in the first game but then I started to lose my cool once I had the lead," said Momota.
"I think that's because I'm still not used to playing matches. In the second and third games, I wanted to put all my feeling into it regardless of technique or tactics, and I think I willed myself to the win.
"The Thailand Open starts in the new year and I'll be able to play against players from overseas. I want to go there and show what I can do as the top Japanese player."
Momota was badly hurt in January when the vehicle taking him to the airport after he won the Malaysia Masters crashed, killing the driver.
He admitted to feeling nervous as he returned to competition this week in Tokyo, and he was pushed to the limit by Tsuneyama, who took him to 16-16 in the final game only to crumble with victory in sight.
"I was too cautious," said Momota, who also had to come from a game down in the quarter-finals. "Before, my game was about using everything I'd built up over time, and my results gave me the confidence to do that.
"This week, I hadn't played for a long time so I was very anxious going into each match. But I think my game will start to return now that I've won this title."
Momota is one of Japan's brightest hopes for a gold medal on home soil at the coronavirus-postponed Tokyo Games next year.
The 26-year-old left-hander won a record-breaking 11 titles last year, and he is confident of adding more after tasting success this week in Tokyo.
"I'm 70 percent relieved and 30 percent happy," said Momota. "I'm known as world number one Momota, so I feel that I'm not allowed to lose.
"It wasn't easy for me to get the number one ranking. It's because of my experience and ability, and I really hate to lose.
"That pride helps me but there is also pressure, and I want to keep doing more. If I can, I want to get back to training tomorrow."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-27--Australian lobster sector claws back trade after China ban

Australian fisherman Joe Paratore displays his catch of the day to customers at the harbour in Fremantle Even in the scorching Australian summer sun , long queues of customers snake around Fremantle harbour -- a soothing sight for beleaguered local fishermen trying to replace lost business with China .
Australia 's rock lobster exports are worth half a billion US dollars a year -- and in normal times , 94 percent of them go to China .
But all that changed a few weeks ago , when Beijing imposed a near-total import ban on lobster , part of a broader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It has affected us drastically , '' third-generation fisherman Fedele Camarda told AFP .
`` Our income has been reduced considerably . ''
Relations between Canberra and Beijing have been in free-fall for most of this year , with China hitting out at a list of issues including Australia 's call for an inquiry into the origins of Covid-19 and a ban on Huawei 's participation in the nation 's 5G network .
The row has seen more than a dozen Australian sectors hit with import levies , with the barley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Exporters stand to lose as much as US $ 2-4 billion worth of sales .
So far , the broader Australian economy has weathered the storm .
The economy returned to growth in the last quarter , exiting a Covid-induced recession .
But individual businesses have been forced to find new customers and markets overnight to avoid red ink , job cuts or bankruptcy .
Some barley farmers have planted other grains or re-routed shipments to the Middle East , and winemakers have focused on selling more in Japan .
But the lobster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a bid to help the ravaged sector , local authorities recently changed legislation to allow commercial rock lobster fishers to sell large quantities from the back of their boats during December and January .
So far the Australian public has responded enthusiastically , offering a much-needed lifeline to Camarda and his fellow vendors .
Before the Covid-19 pandemic , prices topped US $ 80 a kilogram ( US $ 36 a pound ) in Western Australia and usually averaged around US $ 53 per kilo .
On one muggy pre-Christmas weekday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lobster direct on the quay for US $ 34 a kilogram -- a 36 percent markdown .
`` That 's just enough to break even , '' Camarda said .
`` But we have been selling out almost every day .
We are taking pre-orders as people want it for Christmas . ''
Ensuring they were set up to manage orders and make the product available to the public had been `` a crash course , '' he admitted .
Such is the demand across Australia that some supermarkets have had to place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can buy .
Nick Van Niekerk , a resident of nearby Mosman Park , was one of those braving the heat to stand in line for 30 minutes .
`` I came down to support the local fishermen and show that we as a community care , '' he said .
`` It 's important to be able to get lobsters directly from the boats and know what you 're actually getting .
`` Lobsters are usually really expensive , so to get them at an affordable price I think is great for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acknowledges back-of-the-boat sales are a short-term fix .
In the longer term , Australia 's fishermen are looking to get a higher price again in markets like Japan , the United States and Europe , and not just rely on one , politically fickle , customer .
`` China was willing to pay more and the whole market was essentially moved there , '' said Keith Pearce , the former president of the local Professional Fishermen 's Association .
`` The market needed to be diversified so you do n't end up with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he added .
Camarda is optimistic that the sector can pull though , despite the continued uncertainty .
His grandfather began dropping craypots in Fremantle in 1912 having come from Italy four years earlier , and he hopes that tradition can continue .
`` My family has been in the industry for generations but this is the sort of thing we have to endure from time to time , '' he said .
His 21-year-old son James has begun fishing by his side on the Neptune III .
`` It would be nice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a career out of this if he wants to go down that route . ''
`` But we are here for the long haul .
We will find ways to survive . ''

Fremantle (Australia) (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Even in the scorching Australian summer sun, long queues of customers snake around Fremantle harbour -- a soothing sight for beleaguered local fishermen trying to replace lost business with China.
Australia's rock lobster exports are worth half a billion US dollars a year -- and in normal times, 94 percent of them go to China.
But all that changed a few weeks ago, when Beijing imposed a near-total import ban on lobster, part of a broader politically charged "shadow trade war".
"It has affected us drastically," third-generation fisherman Fedele Camarda told AFP. "Our income has been reduced considerably."
Relations between Canberra and Beijing have been in free-fall for most of this year, with China hitting out at a list of issues including Australia's call for an inquiry into the origins of Covid-19 and a ban on Huawei's participation in the nation's 5G network.
The row has seen more than a dozen Australian sectors hit with import levies, with the barley and wine industries particularly badly hit. Exporters stand to lose as much as US$2-4 billion worth of sales.
So far, the broader Australian economy has weathered the storm. The economy returned to growth in the last quarter, exiting a Covid-induced recession.
But individual businesses have been forced to find new customers and markets overnight to avoid red ink, job cuts or bankruptcy.
- Close to home -
Some barley farmers have planted other grains or re-routed shipments to the Middle East, and winemakers have focused on selling more in Japan.
But the lobster industry is looking closer to home.
In a bid to help the ravaged sector, local authorities recently changed legislation to allow commercial rock lobster fishers to sell large quantities from the back of their boats during December and January.
So far the Australian public has responded enthusiastically, offering a much-needed lifeline to Camarda and his fellow vendors.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, prices topped US$80 a kilogram (US$36 a pound) in Western Australia and usually averaged around US$53 per kilo.
On one muggy pre-Christmas weekday, sweat-drenched customers bought the world-renowned western rock lobster direct on the quay for US$34 a kilogram -- a 36 percent markdown.
"That's just enough to break even," Camarda said. "But we have been selling out almost every day. We are taking pre-orders as people want it for Christmas."
Ensuring they were set up to manage orders and make the product available to the public had been "a crash course," he admitted.
Such is the demand across Australia that some supermarkets have had to place limits on the number of lobsters customers can buy.
Nick Van Niekerk, a resident of nearby Mosman Park, was one of those braving the heat to stand in line for 30 minutes.
"I came down to support the local fishermen and show that we as a community care," he said. "It's important to be able to get lobsters directly from the boats and know what you're actually getting.
"Lobsters are usually really expensive, so to get them at an affordable price I think is great for the local community."
- The long haul -
But everyone acknowledges back-of-the-boat sales are a short-term fix.
In the longer term, Australia's fishermen are looking to get a higher price again in markets like Japan, the United States and Europe, and not just rely on one, politically fickle, customer.
"China was willing to pay more and the whole market was essentially moved there," said Keith Pearce, the former president of the local Professional Fishermen's Association.
"The market needed to be diversified so you don't end up with the problem we have today," he added.
Camarda is optimistic that the sector can pull though, despite the continued uncertainty.
His grandfather began dropping craypots in Fremantle in 1912 having come from Italy four years earlier, and he hopes that tradition can continue.
"My family has been in the industry for generations but this is the sort of thing we have to endure from time to time," he said.
His 21-year-old son James has begun fishing by his side on the Neptune III.
"It would be nice if he has the opportunity to make a career out of this if he wants to go down that route."
"But we are here for the long haul. We will find ways to survive."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-27--Cavs down Pistons in double OT thriller, Sixers rout Knicks

Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reacts after his go-ahead basket in the fourth quarter of the Thunder 's NBA victory over the Charlotte Hornets Cleveland guard Collin Sexton scored 32 points , including a layup to force a second overtime Saturday as the Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 128-119 in an NBA thriller .
Andre Drummond added 23 points , Cedi Osman scored 22 off the bench and Darius Garland chipped in 21 as the Cavaliers rallied from a nine-point deficit with 2:15 left in the first overtime .
The Pistons had seized control in the third quarter , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points .
Blake Griffin scored 26 points and Derrick Rose had 13 , but the Pistons -- with 24 turnovers leading to 31 Cavaliers points -- could n't hang on for the win .
It was close in Charlotte , where Oklahoma City 's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drained a game-winning jump shot with 1.4 seconds left in the Thunder 's 109-107 season-opening win over the Hornets .
Oklahoma City -- whose scheduled season opener against Houston was postponed when Covid-19 concerns meant the Rockets did n't have enough players available -- led by 13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and held off a Hornets rally to gain the win .
Miles Bridges scored three 3-pointers in the final 25 seconds as the Hornets battled back , knotting the score at 107-107 with 10.3 seconds remaining .
But Gilgeous-Alexander took an inbounds pass and drained a jump shot over Caleb Martin to seal it for the Thunder .
Terry Rozier , who scored 42 points in the Hornets ' season-opening win over Cleveland , led Charlotte with 19 points but could n't get his long-range effort at the buzzer to fall .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Bradley Beal were n't enough for the Washington Wizards , who fell 130-120 to the Orlando Magic .
Westbrook joined another elite club with 15 points , 15 rebounds and 12 assists , becoming just the fourth player in NBA history -- after Magic Johnson , Jerry Lucas and Oscar Robertson -- to post a triple-double in his team 's first two games of a season .
But his home opener for the Wizards , where he landed in a trade from Houston , was another defeat .
Terrence Ross led the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nikola Vucevic scored 22 points and grabbed 17 rebounds and Markelle Fultz added 21 for Orlando .
Philadelphia big man Joel Embiid scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the 76ers ' 109-89 victory over the New York Knicks .
Ben Simmons added 15 points , nine rebounds , six assists and a dominant defensive performance as the Sixers improved to 2-0 under new head coach Doc Rivers .
The victory moved Rivers into sole possession of 10th place on the NBA 's all-time wins list , his 945th victory in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moving him ahead of Bill Fitch .
Atlanta 's Trae Young scored 24 of his 36 points in the second half to lift the Hawks to a 122-112 victory over the Grizzlies in Memphis .
The game was a matchup of rising stars in Young and the Grizzlies ' reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Ja Morant , who led Memphis with 28 points .
But the Hawks ' reserves were the real difference makers , combining for 46 points .
That included 30 in the first half as the Hawks starters struggled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scored 21 points with four assists off the bench for the Hawks and Nathan Knight scored 14 in less than nine minutes on court as Atlanta improved to 2-0 in the young season .

Los Angeles (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Cleveland guard Collin Sexton scored 32 points, including a layup to force a second overtime Saturday as the Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 128-119 in an NBA thriller.
Andre Drummond added 23 points, Cedi Osman scored 22 off the bench and Darius Garland chipped in 21 as the Cavaliers rallied from a nine-point deficit with 2:15 left in the first overtime.
The Pistons had seized control in the third quarter, when Jerami Grant scored 14 of his 28 points. Blake Griffin scored 26 points and Derrick Rose had 13, but the Pistons -- with 24 turnovers leading to 31 Cavaliers points -- couldn't hang on for the win.
It was close in Charlotte, where Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drained a game-winning jump shot with 1.4 seconds left in the Thunder's 109-107 season-opening win over the Hornets.
Oklahoma City -- whose scheduled season opener against Houston was postponed when Covid-19 concerns meant the Rockets didn't have enough players available -- led by 13 with less than two minutes to play and held off a Hornets rally to gain the win.
Miles Bridges scored three 3-pointers in the final 25 seconds as the Hornets battled back, knotting the score at 107-107 with 10.3 seconds remaining.
But Gilgeous-Alexander took an inbounds pass and drained a jump shot over Caleb Martin to seal it for the Thunder.
Terry Rozier, who scored 42 points in the Hornets' season-opening win over Cleveland, led Charlotte with 19 points but couldn't get his long-range effort at the buzzer to fall.
A triple-double from Russell Westbrook and 39 points for Bradley Beal weren't enough for the Washington Wizards, who fell 130-120 to the Orlando Magic.
Westbrook joined another elite club with 15 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists, becoming just the fourth player in NBA history -- after Magic Johnson, Jerry Lucas and Oscar Robertson -- to post a triple-double in his team's first two games of a season.
But his home opener for the Wizards, where he landed in a trade from Houston, was another defeat. Terrence Ross led the Magic with 25 points off the bench. Nikola Vucevic scored 22 points and grabbed 17 rebounds and Markelle Fultz added 21 for Orlando.
Philadelphia big man Joel Embiid scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the 76ers' 109-89 victory over the New York Knicks.
Ben Simmons added 15 points, nine rebounds, six assists and a dominant defensive performance as the Sixers improved to 2-0 under new head coach Doc Rivers.
The victory moved Rivers into sole possession of 10th place on the NBA's all-time wins list, his 945th victory in his 22nd season as a head coach moving him ahead of Bill Fitch.
Atlanta's Trae Young scored 24 of his 36 points in the second half to lift the Hawks to a 122-112 victory over the Grizzlies in Memphis.
The game was a matchup of rising stars in Young and the Grizzlies' reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Ja Morant, who led Memphis with 28 points.
But the Hawks' reserves were the real difference makers, combining for 46 points. That included 30 in the first half as the Hawks starters struggled to find their feet.
Kevin Huerter scored 21 points with four assists off the bench for the Hawks and Nathan Knight scored 14 in less than nine minutes on court as Atlanta improved to 2-0 in the young season.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-28--In Mar-a-Lago, some revel and some rebel amid Trump's last visit as president

Supporters of US President Donald Trump , shown here cheering at his motorcade in West Palm Beach , Florida , on December 27 , 2020 , say his presence at his Mar-a-Lago resort has boosted the region 's profile Donald Trump may soon be dislodged from Washington , but to core supporters in southern Florida he remains an unquestionable hero , their favorite occasional local , whose Mar-a-Lago presence draws global attention to Palm Beach .
The brash Republican is on his final holiday trip to his private club as president , inconveniencing some neighbors who find the area 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Southern White House '' and his Trump International Golf Club .
He airs his election grievances on Twitter and , according to his office , hosts `` many calls and ... meetings , '' seemingly ignoring the problems vexing Congress and alarming millions of Americans .
Soon he also may be forced to face a brewing dispute over his Mar-a-Lago resort , whose neighbors have filed a grievance claiming Trump has no legal right to live at the storied property .
But the concerns seemed a world away from the sidewalks of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mostly unmasked supporters welcomed Trump with open arms on Sunday as he returned from a golf outing .
`` We love him .
It makes all the locals proud to be Americans , seeing our president , the most powerful man in the world , driving by here , '' carpenter Greg Mooney told AFP outside Corner Store Berto 's Bait and Tackle , where he and friends gather whenever Trump arrives for a stay .
They were among several hundred people who lined Southern Boulevard late Wednesday , cheering and waving US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his resort across the Intracoastal Waterway in Palm Beach .
A huge `` Trump 2020 '' banner covered the roof of a real estate office along the route , while American flags rose from pickup trucks bearing Trump paint jobs .
`` Four more years ! ''
and `` Stop the steal ! ''
supporters chanted , as Trump 's motorcade slowed so he could wave at one of the larger crowds to gather here since his presidency began .
Trump 's week-plus escape from Washington comes at a moment of deep national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest Covid relief package .
The $ 900 billion rescue , passed overwhelmingly by both houses of Congress but belatedly rejected by Trump , is seen as a lifeline for families struggling with financial woes or beset by Covid-19 .
Mooney , 43 , was less concerned with the rescue package than with Trump 's presidency coming to an end .
But he was heartened that so many well-wishers stood `` shoulder to shoulder and double-stacked '' Wednesday in what may have been a record showing , and said they are likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see him all the time , '' Mooney said , nodding towards Trump 's resort .
That remains in doubt .
Trump has officially changed his residence from New York to Florida , but Palm Beach neighbors are seeking to prevent him from living at Mar-a-Lago .
In a letter this month reported by the Washington Post , neighbors formally wrote the town of Palm Beach and the US Secret Service asserting that Trump signed away his legal right to live at Mar-a-Lago when he converted the property from his residence to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dispute would put Trump in the highly awkward scenario of defending his choice of post-presidency residence .
Many nevertheless back Trump .
They cite his 2017 Mar-a-Lago meetings with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Japan 's then-prime minister Shinzo Abe as raising Palm Beach 's already elite profile .
`` A lot of people would love to give him a hug and tell him , 'Hey , we support you , thank you for everything you 've done , and we know the truth , ' '' Mooney said .
Trump relentlessly peddles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the November 3 election and handed the presidency to Joe Biden .
Several supporters in West Palm Beach , including Mooney , believe Trump 's false narrative and said they still hold out hope that the president miraculously stays in office .
Others , like Roger Everingham , ca n't wait to see Trump gone for good .
The 82-year-old Biden supporter , who lives directly across the water from Mar-a-Lago , said he has grown frustrated with the area 's Trump frenzy .
`` But it 's a lot of laughs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he drives by , '' Everingham , who ran Palm Beach 's iconic Colony Hotel for 20 years , acknowledged as he walked with Louie , his Chihuahua .
That raucous collection of Trump supporters is anything but spontaneous and local , he insisted , noting that most of his neighbors are Democrats .
`` They come from somewhere else .
They 're organized , '' Everingham said of the crowds .
Someone is `` absolutely '' tipping them off about Trump 's movements , he added .
One man who works on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understands the frustration some have about the president 's presence .
`` A lot of people do n't like him .
They 've been inconvenienced for years because he blocks the roads , '' said the man , who asked not to be identified .
A more permanent Trump presence could exacerbate problems that wealthy property owners have accessing Palm Beach Island .
One woman expressed her displeasure with Trump on Sunday by holding up a sign near his golf club that read : `` Biden won , you lost , get over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already anticipating cheering Trump along the route in 2024 .
`` We 'll be here four years from now , and do it again . ''

West Palm Beach (United States) (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Donald Trump may soon be dislodged from Washington, but to core supporters in southern Florida he remains an unquestionable hero, their favorite occasional local, whose Mar-a-Lago presence draws global attention to Palm Beach.
The brash Republican is on his final holiday trip to his private club as president, inconveniencing some neighbors who find the area's roads blocked as he shuttles between the "Southern White House" and his Trump International Golf Club.
He airs his election grievances on Twitter and, according to his office, hosts "many calls and... meetings," seemingly ignoring the problems vexing Congress and alarming millions of Americans.
Soon he also may be forced to face a brewing dispute over his Mar-a-Lago resort, whose neighbors have filed a grievance claiming Trump has no legal right to live at the storied property.
But the concerns seemed a world away from the sidewalks of West Palm Beach, where diehard and mostly unmasked supporters welcomed Trump with open arms on Sunday as he returned from a golf outing.
"We love him. It makes all the locals proud to be Americans, seeing our president, the most powerful man in the world, driving by here," carpenter Greg Mooney told AFP outside Corner Store Berto's Bait and Tackle, where he and friends gather whenever Trump arrives for a stay.
They were among several hundred people who lined Southern Boulevard late Wednesday, cheering and waving US and Trump flags along the route to his resort across the Intracoastal Waterway in Palm Beach.
A huge "Trump 2020" banner covered the roof of a real estate office along the route, while American flags rose from pickup trucks bearing Trump paint jobs.
"Four more years!" and "Stop the steal!" supporters chanted, as Trump's motorcade slowed so he could wave at one of the larger crowds to gather here since his presidency began.
- 'Give him a hug' -
Trump's week-plus escape from Washington comes at a moment of deep national anxiety over his refusal to support the latest Covid relief package.
The $900 billion rescue, passed overwhelmingly by both houses of Congress but belatedly rejected by Trump, is seen as a lifeline for families struggling with financial woes or beset by Covid-19.
Mooney, 43, was less concerned with the rescue package than with Trump's presidency coming to an end.
But he was heartened that so many well-wishers stood "shoulder to shoulder and double-stacked" Wednesday in what may have been a record showing, and said they are likely to keep at it.
"We'll see him all the time," Mooney said, nodding towards Trump's resort.
That remains in doubt. Trump has officially changed his residence from New York to Florida, but Palm Beach neighbors are seeking to prevent him from living at Mar-a-Lago.
In a letter this month reported by the Washington Post, neighbors formally wrote the town of Palm Beach and the US Secret Service asserting that Trump signed away his legal right to live at Mar-a-Lago when he converted the property from his residence to a private club in the 1990s.
The dispute would put Trump in the highly awkward scenario of defending his choice of post-presidency residence.
Many nevertheless back Trump. They cite his 2017 Mar-a-Lago meetings with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Japan's then-prime minister Shinzo Abe as raising Palm Beach's already elite profile.
"A lot of people would love to give him a hug and tell him, 'Hey, we support you, thank you for everything you've done, and we know the truth,'" Mooney said.
Trump relentlessly peddles the baseless conspiracy theory that Democrats stole the November 3 election and handed the presidency to Joe Biden.
Several supporters in West Palm Beach, including Mooney, believe Trump's false narrative and said they still hold out hope that the president miraculously stays in office.
- 'Inconvenienced for years' -
Others, like Roger Everingham, can't wait to see Trump gone for good.
The 82-year-old Biden supporter, who lives directly across the water from Mar-a-Lago, said he has grown frustrated with the area's Trump frenzy.
"But it's a lot of laughs, particularly when I watch the circus as he drives by," Everingham, who ran Palm Beach's iconic Colony Hotel for 20 years, acknowledged as he walked with Louie, his Chihuahua.
That raucous collection of Trump supporters is anything but spontaneous and local, he insisted, noting that most of his neighbors are Democrats.
"They come from somewhere else. They're organized," Everingham said of the crowds. Someone is "absolutely" tipping them off about Trump's movements, he added.
One man who works on Southern Boulevard and supports Trump said he understands the frustration some have about the president's presence.
"A lot of people don't like him. They've been inconvenienced for years because he blocks the roads," said the man, who asked not to be identified.
A more permanent Trump presence could exacerbate problems that wealthy property owners have accessing Palm Beach Island.
One woman expressed her displeasure with Trump on Sunday by holding up a sign near his golf club that read: "Biden won, you lost, get over it!"
Mooney said he is already anticipating cheering Trump along the route in 2024.
"We'll be here four years from now, and do it again."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-28--India all out for 326, hold 131-run lead at lunch in Melbourne

Australia took five wickets in the first session as India were bowled out for 326 at lunch Monday after amassing a 131-run lead to put them in a strong position on day three of the second Test in Melbourne .
India started the day at a chilly Melbourne Cricket Ground with an 82-run advantage after seizing control on Sunday with a gutsy batting performance in response to their embarrassing 36 all out in Adelaide .
But Australia quickly made inroads with the key wickets of stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane and the experienced Ravindra Jadeja , who shared in a crucial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lyon finished with three wickets each .
Rahane was run out for 112 after India added just 17 to their overnight 277 for five , while Jadeja made an important 57 before holing out to Pat Cummins in deep mid-wicket off Starc .
Rahane nudged singles off Cummins and Starc , but after riding his luck on day two , when he was dropped on 73 and 104 , it finally ran out .
After adding just eight to his overnight 104 , brilliant awareness from Marnus Labuschagne saw him run out as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jadeja , back in the team after missing the first Test injured , dabbed Nathan Lyon to point and set off for a run as he looked to bring up his 50 .
Rahane , captaining the team in place of Virat Kohli who has returned home for the birth of his first child , responded but was n't quick enough with Tim Paine whipping off the bails after Labuschagne 's quality throw .
It ended one of the 32-year-old 's most important Test innings , having come to the crease with India @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steer them into a strong position .
Undeterred , Jadeja brought up his 15th Test half-century two balls later before misjudging a Starc bouncer , with Cummins taking the catch .
Lyon then accounted for Umesh Yadav ( nine ) and Jasprit Bumrah ( 0 ) while Josh Hazlewood sent Ravi Ashwin back to the pavilion on 14 .

Melbourne (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Australia took five wickets in the first session as India were bowled out for 326 at lunch Monday after amassing a 131-run lead to put them in a strong position on day three of the second Test in Melbourne.
India started the day at a chilly Melbourne Cricket Ground with an 82-run advantage after seizing control on Sunday with a gutsy batting performance in response to their embarrassing 36 all out in Adelaide.
But Australia quickly made inroads with the key wickets of stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane and the experienced Ravindra Jadeja, who shared in a crucial 121-run partnership.
Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon finished with three wickets each.
Rahane was run out for 112 after India added just 17 to their overnight 277 for five, while Jadeja made an important 57 before holing out to Pat Cummins in deep mid-wicket off Starc.
Rahane nudged singles off Cummins and Starc, but after riding his luck on day two, when he was dropped on 73 and 104, it finally ran out.
After adding just eight to his overnight 104, brilliant awareness from Marnus Labuschagne saw him run out as Jadeja went for a quick single.
Jadeja, back in the team after missing the first Test injured, dabbed Nathan Lyon to point and set off for a run as he looked to bring up his 50.
Rahane, captaining the team in place of Virat Kohli who has returned home for the birth of his first child, responded but wasn't quick enough with Tim Paine whipping off the bails after Labuschagne's quality throw.
It ended one of the 32-year-old's most important Test innings, having come to the crease with India in trouble at 64 for three to steer them into a strong position.
Undeterred, Jadeja brought up his 15th Test half-century two balls later before misjudging a Starc bouncer, with Cummins taking the catch.
Lyon then accounted for Umesh Yadav (nine) and Jasprit Bumrah (0) while Josh Hazlewood sent Ravi Ashwin back to the pavilion on 14.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-28--Howling into the void? US wolf recovery endangered by Trump

They thrive at teamwork , fight for their homes , and cherish their families above all else .
It is sometimes said there is no animal on Earth more like humans in their social behavior than wolves .
But the iconic species -- long a symbol of the free spirit of the American wilderness -- could soon be imperiled because of a decision by President Donald Trump 's government to end protections that brought them back from the brink of extinction .
`` Wolves right now have only recovered in about 10 percent of their historic range , '' Maggie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conservation Center in upstate New York told AFP .
Historically , when states have fought to loosen safeguards , hunting and trapping has quickly followed , she says .
Now conservationists fear for the roughly 6,000 gray wolves in the lower-48 states when the new rule takes effect in January .
A quarter of a million wolves once roamed from coast to coast before European settlers embarked on campaigns of eradication that endured into the 20th Century .
Howell cups her hands around her mouth and lets out an `` Ahwooo ! ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Nikai -- answer in unison , their spine-tingling howls seeming to multiply in the air , creating the impression of a much larger pack .
The trio are the center 's `` ambassadors , '' vital to educating visitors .
Brown and gray Alawa , meaning `` sweetpea '' in the native Algonquin language , has a temperament that matches her name and seeks out human attention like a family dog .
Their goings-on can be followed 24/7 on webcams and on social media , where they have hundreds of thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ center also houses around 40 of their critically endangered cousin species : the Mexican gray wolf , which numbers just shy of 200 in the wild , and the smaller red wolf , of which only eight tagged animals remain outside captivity .
In October , the US removed gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act , where they were first listed in the 1970s when their numbers fell to around 1,000 .
Normally , a delisting decision is a welcome sign of a robust recovery .
But in this case , government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and conservationists slammed the move as a devastating giveaway to hunters and ranchers .
Minnesota , Michigan and Wisconsin could all quickly resume hunting , which they were blocked from doing by a 2014 court order -- and wildlife groups estimate hundreds of wolves could be killed a year .
Rick McIntyre , a veteran national park ranger and author of `` The Rise of Wolf 8 , '' told AFP that vilification of the apex predator started with the arrival of Europeans in the 1600s .
By contrast , Native Americans lived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , revering them in their mythology .
They also recognized their wider ecological importance , as shown in the Keewatin proverb : `` The caribou feeds the wolf , but it is the wolf who keeps the caribou strong . ''
Research has confirmed the wolf 's importance in thinning over-browsing herds of elk , which in turn prevents destruction of habitat .
Wolves even manage wetland creation by keeping beavers in check , a study showed last month .
McIntyre has spent decades documenting wolf behavior , particularly at the Yellowstone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 1920s before being reintroduced in 1995 .
He found that wolf packs begin when a male disperses from his birth-family to strike out on his own .
Litters are typically four or five pups , and when these grow to be `` yearlings , '' they begin an apprenticeship , honing their hunting skills by watching their elders while learning how to take care of the pups -- much like human teenagers babysitting .
Wolves start their days with warm displays of affection with their pack members , bond through extended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personality types .
Some are merciful towards rival packs while others are ruthless ; some have wandering spirits while others are homebodies ; some are serious and others never lose the goofiness of their puphood .
Cooperation is key to survival as their prey , from pronghorns to bison , are often many times larger than wolves , who typically weigh around 80-90 pounds in adulthood .
During their studies at Yellowstone , McIntyre and colleagues found that , contrary to previous beliefs about male leadership , it 's the alpha female who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it travels and what it hunts .
`` I jokingly sometimes say that 's a pretty good indication of their intelligence , '' he said .
While the gray wolves have regained some ground , the Mexican grays and reds , which both went extinct outside captivity before being reintroduced , are in a far more tenuous position .
The Wolf Conservation Center participates in a federal program which aims to recover lost genetic diversity through managed breeding , and eventually allow some to resume their rightful place in the wild .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their roadkill diet without allowing them to know humans were involved -- because habituating to people could prove deadly in the real world .
`` It 's always sad for us to say goodbye to them , '' she said .
`` But knowing that they 're going to breed , that 's got to be exciting for them .
Growing up , leaving mom and dad , they can be the boss .
So we wish them well . ''

South Salem (United States) (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
They thrive at teamwork, fight for their homes, and cherish their families above all else.
It is sometimes said there is no animal on Earth more like humans in their social behavior than wolves.
But the iconic species -- long a symbol of the free spirit of the American wilderness -- could soon be imperiled because of a decision by President Donald Trump's government to end protections that brought them back from the brink of extinction.
"Wolves right now have only recovered in about 10 percent of their historic range," Maggie Howell, executive director of the Wolf Conservation Center in upstate New York told AFP.
Historically, when states have fought to loosen safeguards, hunting and trapping has quickly followed, she says.
Now conservationists fear for the roughly 6,000 gray wolves in the lower-48 states when the new rule takes effect in January.
A quarter of a million wolves once roamed from coast to coast before European settlers embarked on campaigns of eradication that endured into the 20th Century.
Howell cups her hands around her mouth and lets out an "Ahwooo!"
Three adult wolves -- Alawa, Zephyr and Nikai -- answer in unison, their spine-tingling howls seeming to multiply in the air, creating the impression of a much larger pack.
The trio are the center's "ambassadors," vital to educating visitors.
Brown and gray Alawa, meaning "sweetpea" in the native Algonquin language, has a temperament that matches her name and seeks out human attention like a family dog.
Their goings-on can be followed 24/7 on webcams and on social media, where they have hundreds of thousands of fans.
The 32-acre (13-hectare) center also houses around 40 of their critically endangered cousin species: the Mexican gray wolf, which numbers just shy of 200 in the wild, and the smaller red wolf, of which only eight tagged animals remain outside captivity.
- Elimination campaigns -
In October, the US removed gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act, where they were first listed in the 1970s when their numbers fell to around 1,000.
Normally, a delisting decision is a welcome sign of a robust recovery.
But in this case, government commissioned independent experts questioned the scientific rationale and conservationists slammed the move as a devastating giveaway to hunters and ranchers.
Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin could all quickly resume hunting, which they were blocked from doing by a 2014 court order -- and wildlife groups estimate hundreds of wolves could be killed a year.
Rick McIntyre, a veteran national park ranger and author of "The Rise of Wolf 8," told AFP that vilification of the apex predator started with the arrival of Europeans in the 1600s.
By contrast, Native Americans lived alongside wolves in harmony for thousands of years, revering them in their mythology.
They also recognized their wider ecological importance, as shown in the Keewatin proverb: "The caribou feeds the wolf, but it is the wolf who keeps the caribou strong."
Research has confirmed the wolf's importance in thinning over-browsing herds of elk, which in turn prevents destruction of habitat.
Wolves even manage wetland creation by keeping beavers in check, a study showed last month.
McIntyre has spent decades documenting wolf behavior, particularly at the Yellowstone National Park, where they were eliminated in the 1920s before being reintroduced in 1995.
He found that wolf packs begin when a male disperses from his birth-family to strike out on his own.
Litters are typically four or five pups, and when these grow to be "yearlings," they begin an apprenticeship, honing their hunting skills by watching their elders while learning how to take care of the pups -- much like human teenagers babysitting.
Wolves start their days with warm displays of affection with their pack members, bond through extended bouts of play, and have highly-individualized personality types.
Some are merciful towards rival packs while others are ruthless; some have wandering spirits while others are homebodies; some are serious and others never lose the goofiness of their puphood.
Cooperation is key to survival as their prey, from pronghorns to bison, are often many times larger than wolves, who typically weigh around 80-90 pounds in adulthood.
During their studies at Yellowstone, McIntyre and colleagues found that, contrary to previous beliefs about male leadership, it's the alpha female who decides where the pack dens, where it travels and what it hunts.
"I jokingly sometimes say that's a pretty good indication of their intelligence," he said.
- Breeding programs -
While the gray wolves have regained some ground, the Mexican grays and reds, which both went extinct outside captivity before being reintroduced, are in a far more tenuous position.
The Wolf Conservation Center participates in a federal program which aims to recover lost genetic diversity through managed breeding, and eventually allow some to resume their rightful place in the wild.
The staff have ways to feed these wolves their roadkill diet without allowing them to know humans were involved -- because habituating to people could prove deadly in the real world.
"It's always sad for us to say goodbye to them," she said.
"But knowing that they're going to breed, that's got to be exciting for them. Growing up, leaving mom and dad, they can be the boss. So we wish them well."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-28--Trump signs Covid-19 pandemic relief bill, averting government shutdown

U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland , U.S. , December 23 , 2020 .
U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday signed into law a $ 2.3 trillion pandemic aid and spending package , officials said , restoring unemployment benefits to millions of Americans and averting a partial federal government shutdown .
Trump , who leaves office on Jan. 20 after losing November 's election , backed down from his threat to block the bill , which was approved Congress last week , after he came under intense pressure from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president , who golfed on Sunday and remained out of public view even as the potential government shutdown loomed , had demanded that Congress change the bill to increase the size of stimulus checks for struggling Americans to $ 2,000 from $ 600 .
It was not immediately clear why Trump changed his mind as his resistance to the massive legislative package promised a chaotic final stretch of his presidency .
White House officials have been tight-lipped about Trump 's thinking but a source familiar with the situation said some advisers had urged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see the point of refusing .
`` Good news on Covid Relief Bill .
Information to follow ! ''
Trump said in a cryptic message on Twitter earlier on Sunday evening .
But he offered no explanation .
Democrats are on board with the $ 2,000 payments but many Republicans have opposed it in the past .
Many economists agree the financial aid in the bill should be higher to get the economy moving again but say that immediate support for Americans hit by coronavirus lockdowns is still urgently needed .
Unemployment benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people through pandemic programs lapsed on Saturday , but will be restarted now that Trump has signed the bill .
The package includes $ 1.4 trillion in spending to fund government agencies .
If Trump had not signed the legislation , then a partial government shutdown would have begun on Tuesday that would have put millions of government workers ' incomes at risk .

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday signed into law a $2.3 trillion pandemic aid and spending package, restoring unemployment benefits to millions of Americans and averting a federal government shutdown in a crisis of his own making.
U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., December 23, 2020.
Advertising Read more
Trump, who leaves office on Jan. 20 after losing November's election to President-elect Joe Biden, backed down from his earlier threat to block the bill, which was approved by Congress last week, after he came under intense pressure from lawmakers on both sides.
The Republican president, who golfed on Sunday and remained out of public view even as the government crisis loomed, had demanded that Congress change the bill to increase the size of stimulus checks for struggling Americans to $2,000 from $600 and also cut some other spending.
It was not immediately clear why Trump, who has refused to concede defeat to Biden, changed his mind on the stimulus package. His resistance had threatened to inject further chaos into the final stretch of his presidency.
After signing the bill behind closed doors at his beachside club, Trump sought to put the best face on his climb-down, saying he was signing the bill with "a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed."
"Much more money is coming," he insisted in a statement, though he provided nothing to back this promise.
And with less than a month left in office, Trump is expected to gain little or no traction with lawmakers to make changes.
03:33
White House officials have been tight-lipped about Trump's thinking but a source familiar with the situation said some advisers had urged him to relent because they did not see the point of refusing.
Democrats have long been on board with the $2,000 payments but many Republicans have opposed it, making it unlikely that the figure will be revised upwards while Trump is in office.
Many economists agree the financial aid in the bill should be higher to get the economy moving again but say that immediate support for Americans hit by coronavirus lockdowns is still urgently needed.
Unemployment benefits being paid out to about 14 million people through pandemic programs lapsed on Saturday, but will be restarted now that Trump has signed the bill.
The package includes $1.4 trillion in spending to fund government agencies. If Trump had not signed the legislation, then a partial government shutdown would have begun on Tuesday that would have put millions of government workers' incomes at risk.
Americans are living through a bitter holiday season amid a pandemic that has killed nearly 330,000 people in the United States, with a daily death toll now repeatedly well over 3,000 people, the highest since the pandemic began.
The relief package also extends a moratorium on evictions that was due to expire on Dec. 31, refreshes support for small business payrolls, provides funding to help schools re-open and aid for the transport industry and vaccine distribution.
Global share prices ticked up in response to the news that Trump had signed the stimulus plan and backed away from a government spending crisis.
U.S. S&P futures and Japan's Nikkei index gained around 0.4%, and spot gold prices rose nearly 1%.
"It is positive for markets that we no longer have a chaos over stimulus, considering there was a chance of a partial government shutdown," said Masahiro Ichikawa, chief strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management.
Abrupt move
Trump’s abrupt move to sign the bill came after most Republican lawmakers refused to back his call for changes to legislation they had already voted on.
Hours earlier, Republican Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania told Fox News Sunday Trump wants "to be remembered for advocating for big checks, but the danger is he’ll be remembered for chaos and misery and erratic behavior if he allows this to expire."
Republican officials were relieved that Trump had backed away from his veiled veto threat, saying it should help Republican Senate candidates David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in Jan. 5 Georgia runoff elections that will determine control of the U.S. Senate.
Trump noted that the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives planned to vote on Monday to increase coronavirus relief checks to individuals from $600 to $2,000, and said the Senate "will start the process" to approve higher payments.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a fellow Republican, said "I thank the President for signing this relief into law" but made no mention of any plans for a Senate vote.
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi welcomed Trump's signing as a "down payment on what is needed," saying: "Now, the President must immediately call on Congressional Republicans to end their obstruction and to join him and Democrats in support of our stand-alone legislation to increase direct payment checks to $2,000."
After months of wrangling, Republicans and Democrats agreed to the package last weekend, with the support of the White House.
Trump stunned Republicans and Democrats alike when he later said he was unhappy with the massive bill, which provides $892 billion in coronavirus financial relief.
Trump spent the Christmas holiday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. On Sunday morning, he seemed in no rush to try to resolve the standoff with Congress as he played a round of golf at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.
He had also complained that the bill gives too much money to special interests, cultural projects and foreign aid.
In his signing statement, Trump also sought to keep alive his campaign of baseless claims that the November election was rigged against him.
He said the House and Senate "have agreed to focus strongly on the very substantial voter fraud" and that the Senate will launch an investigation.
Neither McConnell nor Pelosi made mention of such an agreement. Democratic lawmakers have steadfastly rejected Trump's claims as have some Republicans. McConnell angered Trump by recognizing Biden as president-elect.
(REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe