france24--2020-12-26--British double agent George Blake, who spied for Soviets during Cold War, dies at 98

George Blake , a former MI6 officer who worked as a double agent for the Soviet Union , walking in Moscow on June 28 , 2001 .
George Blake , who died in Russia on Saturday at the age of 98 , was the last in a line of British spies whose secret work for the Soviet Union humiliated the intelligence establishment when it was discovered at the height of the Cold War .
Britain says he exposed the identities of hundreds of Western agents across Eastern Europe in the 1950s , some of whom were executed as a result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among the most notorious of the Cold War , alongside those of a separate ring of British double agents known as the Cambridge Five .
Unmasked as a Soviet spy in 1961 , Blake was sentenced to 42 years in London 's Wormwood Scrubs prison .
In a classic cloak-and-dagger story , he escaped in 1966 with the help of other inmates and two peace activists , and was smuggled out of Britain in a camper van .
He made it through Western Europe undiscovered and crossed the Iron Curtain into East Berlin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life in the Soviet Union and then Russia , where he was feted as a hero .
Reflecting on his life in an interview with Reuters in Moscow in 1991 , Blake said he had believed the world was on the eve of Communism .
`` It was an ideal which , if it could have been achieved , would have been well worth it , '' he said .
`` I thought it could be , and I did what I could to help it , to build such a society .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think it is a noble idea and I think humanity will return to it . ''
Blake was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands on Nov. 11 , 1922 , to a Dutch mother and an Egyptian Jewish father who was a naturalised Briton .
He escaped from the Netherlands in World War Two after joining the Dutch resistance as a courier and reached Britain in January 1943 .
After joining the British navy , he started working for the British Secret Intelligence Service , MI6 , in 1944 .
After the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ German city of Hamburg and studied Russian at Cambridge University before being sent in 1948 to Seoul where he gathered intelligence on Communist North Korea , Communist China and the Soviet Far East .
He was captured and imprisoned when North Korean troops took Seoul after the Korean War began in 1950 .
It was during his time in a North Korean prison that he became a committed Communist , reading the works of Karl Marx and feeling outrage at heavy U.S. bombing of North Korea .
After his release in 1953 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was sent by MI6 to Berlin , where he collected information on Soviet spies but also passed secrets to Moscow about British and U.S operations .
`` I met a Soviet comrade about once a month , '' he said in a 2012 interview published by Russian government newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta .
Blake described how , for these meetings , he had travelled to the Soviet-controlled sector of Berlin on a rail link joining different parts of the divided city .
His contact would be waiting for him in a car and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I handed over films and we chatted .
Sometimes we had a glass of Tsimlyansk champagne ( Soviet sparkling wine ) . ''
Blake was eventually exposed by a Polish defector and brought home to Britain , where he was sentenced and jailed .
When he escaped from Wormwood Scrubs , he left behind his wife , Gillian , and three children .
After Gillian divorced him , Blake married a Soviet woman , Ida , with whom he had a son , Misha .
He worked at a foreign affairs institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or country house , outside Moscow .
Blake , who went by the Russian name Georgy Ivanovich , was awarded a medal by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2007 and held the rank of lieutenant colonel in the former KGB security service , from which he received a pension .
`` These are the happiest years of my life , and the most peaceful , '' Blake said in the 2012 interview marking his 90th birthday .
By then , he said , his eyesight was failing and he was `` virtually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regret about his past .
`` Looking back on my life , everything seems logical and natural , '' he said , describing himself as happy and lucky .
Though he worked separately from the Cambridge Five - a spy ring of former Cambridge students who passed information to the Soviet Union - Blake said that during his retirement he got to know two of them , Donald Maclean and Kim Philby .
He reminisced about drinking martinis , the preferred cocktail of fictitious British spy James Bond , with Philby but said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Maclean died in Russia in 1983 , and Philby in 1988 .
Of the rest of the Cambridge Five , Guy Burgess died in Russia in 1963 , and Anthony Blunt in London in 1983 .
John Cairncross , the last to be publicly identified by investigative journalists and former Soviet intelligence officers , died in England in 1995 .

George Blake, who died in Russia on Saturday at the age of 98, was the last in a line of British spies whose secret work for the Soviet Union humiliated the intelligence establishment when it was discovered at the height of the Cold War.
George Blake, a former MI6 officer who worked as a double agent for the Soviet Union, walking in Moscow on June 28, 2001.
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Britain says he exposed the identities of hundreds of Western agents across Eastern Europe in the 1950s, some of whom were executed as a result of his treason.
His case was among the most notorious of the Cold War, alongside those of a separate ring of British double agents known as the Cambridge Five.
Unmasked as a Soviet spy in 1961, Blake was sentenced to 42 years in London's Wormwood Scrubs prison. In a classic cloak-and-dagger story, he escaped in 1966 with the help of other inmates and two peace activists, and was smuggled out of Britain in a camper van. He made it through Western Europe undiscovered and crossed the Iron Curtain into East Berlin.
He spent the rest of his life in the Soviet Union and then Russia, where he was feted as a hero.
Reflecting on his life in an interview with Reuters in Moscow in 1991, Blake said he had believed the world was on the eve of Communism.
"It was an ideal which, if it could have been achieved, would have been well worth it," he said.
"I thought it could be, and I did what I could to help it, to build such a society. It has not proved possible. But I think it is a noble idea and I think humanity will return to it."
Becoming a committed communist
Blake was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands on Nov. 11, 1922, to a Dutch mother and an Egyptian Jewish father who was a naturalised Briton.
He escaped from the Netherlands in World War Two after joining the Dutch resistance as a courier and reached Britain in January 1943. After joining the British navy, he started working for the British Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, in 1944.
After the war, Blake served briefly in the German city of Hamburg and studied Russian at Cambridge University before being sent in 1948 to Seoul where he gathered intelligence on Communist North Korea, Communist China and the Soviet Far East.
Ex Soviet spy, #GeorgeBlake died in Moscow, age 98. Blake’s one of most extraordinary stories of 1960s af height of Cold War: spied for MI6 & KGB, jailed by UK as double-agent, escaped from Wormwood Scrubs, turned up in Moscow. https://t.co/M8KPrNdNRn — Jon Williams (@WilliamsJon) December 26, 2020
He was captured and imprisoned when North Korean troops took Seoul after the Korean War began in 1950. It was during his time in a North Korean prison that he became a committed Communist, reading the works of Karl Marx and feeling outrage at heavy U.S. bombing of North Korea.
After his release in 1953, he returned to Britain and in 1955 was sent by MI6 to Berlin, where he collected information on Soviet spies but also passed secrets to Moscow about British and U.S operations.
"I met a Soviet comrade about once a month," he said in a 2012 interview published by Russian government newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
Blake described how, for these meetings, he had travelled to the Soviet-controlled sector of Berlin on a rail link joining different parts of the divided city. His contact would be waiting for him in a car and they would go to a safe house.
"I handed over films and we chatted. Sometimes we had a glass of Tsimlyansk champagne (Soviet sparkling wine)."
Blake was eventually exposed by a Polish defector and brought home to Britain, where he was sentenced and jailed.
When he escaped from Wormwood Scrubs, he left behind his wife, Gillian, and three children. After Gillian divorced him, Blake married a Soviet woman, Ida, with whom he had a son, Misha. He worked at a foreign affairs institute before retiring with her to a dacha, or country house, outside Moscow.
Sipping martinis with Philby
Blake, who went by the Russian name Georgy Ivanovich, was awarded a medal by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2007 and held the rank of lieutenant colonel in the former KGB security service, from which he received a pension.
"These are the happiest years of my life, and the most peaceful," Blake said in the 2012 interview marking his 90th birthday. By then, he said, his eyesight was failing and he was "virtually blind". He did not voice regret about his past.
"Looking back on my life, everything seems logical and natural," he said, describing himself as happy and lucky.
Though he worked separately from the Cambridge Five - a spy ring of former Cambridge students who passed information to the Soviet Union - Blake said that during his retirement he got to know two of them, Donald Maclean and Kim Philby.
He reminisced about drinking martinis, the preferred cocktail of fictitious British spy James Bond, with Philby but said he was closer in spirit to Maclean.
Maclean died in Russia in 1983, and Philby in 1988. Of the rest of the Cambridge Five, Guy Burgess died in Russia in 1963, and Anthony Blunt in London in 1983.
John Cairncross, the last to be publicly identified by investigative journalists and former Soviet intelligence officers, died in England in 1995.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-12-26--British Cold War double agent George Blake dies in Moscow

George Blake had lived in the Soviet Union , later Russia , since 1966 George Blake , a famous `` mole '' in British intelligence who spied for the Soviet KGB during the 1950s before fleeing across the Iron Curtain , has died aged 98 , Russian news agencies reported Saturday .
`` The legendary intelligence officer George Blake has passed away today , '' the spokesman for Russia 's SVR foreign intelligence service Sergei Ivanov told the TASS state news agency .
`` He sincerely loved our country and admired our people 's achievements during World War II , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Dutch resistance during World War II then an agent of the British foreign intelligence service MI6 , Blake offered his services to the Soviets in the 1950s after witnessing US bombings against the civilian population during the Korean War .
He provided the names of hundreds of MI6 agents to the KGB and revealed the existence of a secret tunnel in East Berlin that was used to spy on the Soviets .
In 1961 , Blake was discovered as a double agent and was sentenced to a record 42 years of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he broke out of prison using a rope ladder with the help of three cell mates .
After the escape , Blake was smuggled across the Iron Curtain into East Germany and travelled to the Soviet Union where he lived until his death .
Blake received a hero 's welcome in Moscow and was awarded the rank of colonel by the Russian intelligence service .
After the fall of the Soviet Union , the country to which he dedicated his life , he said he never regretted his actions .
Blake was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the USSR recruited during the Cold War .

Moscow (AFP) –
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George Blake, a famous "mole" in British intelligence who spied for the Soviet KGB during the 1950s before fleeing across the Iron Curtain, has died aged 98, Russian news agencies reported Saturday.
"The legendary intelligence officer George Blake has passed away today," the spokesman for Russia's SVR foreign intelligence service Sergei Ivanov told the TASS state news agency.
"He sincerely loved our country and admired our people's achievements during World War II," Ivanov added.
A former member of the Dutch resistance during World War II then an agent of the British foreign intelligence service MI6, Blake offered his services to the Soviets in the 1950s after witnessing US bombings against the civilian population during the Korean War.
He provided the names of hundreds of MI6 agents to the KGB and revealed the existence of a secret tunnel in East Berlin that was used to spy on the Soviets.
In 1961, Blake was discovered as a double agent and was sentenced to a record 42 years of imprisonment in England.
Five years later, he broke out of prison using a rope ladder with the help of three cell mates.
After the escape, Blake was smuggled across the Iron Curtain into East Germany and travelled to the Soviet Union where he lived until his death.
Blake received a hero's welcome in Moscow and was awarded the rank of colonel by the Russian intelligence service.
After the fall of the Soviet Union, the country to which he dedicated his life, he said he never regretted his actions.
Blake was among the last living British double agents that the USSR recruited during the Cold War.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-26--Sri Lanka lose three wickets after brisk start

Kusal Mendis was one of three Sri Lanka wickets to fall in the first session of the opening Test against South Africa at Centurion Sri Lanka made a brisk start before losing three wickets on the first day of the first Test match against South Africa at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Saturday .
Sri Lanka were 102 for three at lunch .
Touring captain Dimuth Karunaratne capitalised on some loose bowling from South African debutant Lutho Sipamla to score 22 off 20 balls before he was bowled off an inside edge by Lungi Ngidi with the total on 28 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then lost two wickets to loose shots and were 54 for three in the 11th over .
Kusal Mendis mistimed a pull shot and was caught at mid-on off Anrich Nortje before Kusal Perera played a wild slash at Wiaan Mulder and was caught behind .
Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva stabilised the innings and survived until lunch on a pitch which offered bounce and sideways movement to the bowlers .
They were unbeaten on 13 and 32 respectively .
Because of Covid-19 protocols , the match was played without spectators .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ January for both teams .

Centurion (South Africa) (AFP) –
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Sri Lanka made a brisk start before losing three wickets on the first day of the first Test match against South Africa at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Saturday.
Sri Lanka were 102 for three at lunch.
Touring captain Dimuth Karunaratne capitalised on some loose bowling from South African debutant Lutho Sipamla to score 22 off 20 balls before he was bowled off an inside edge by Lungi Ngidi with the total on 28 in the fifth over.
Sri Lanka then lost two wickets to loose shots and were 54 for three in the 11th over.
Kusal Mendis mistimed a pull shot and was caught at mid-on off Anrich Nortje before Kusal Perera played a wild slash at Wiaan Mulder and was caught behind.
Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva stabilised the innings and survived until lunch on a pitch which offered bounce and sideways movement to the bowlers. They were unbeaten on 13 and 32 respectively.
Because of Covid-19 protocols, the match was played without spectators.
It was the first Test match since January for both teams.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-26--Lockdown, protest and mourning: 2020 was a sporting year like no other

From left to right : a year of anti-racism protests in the NBA , farewell to Diego Maradona , and the first Pole to win a Grand Slam tournament .
The year opened and ended with fans in mourning over the passing of sport legends Kobe Bryant and Diego Maradona .
In between , the coronavirus pandemic forced global sport into an unprecedented shutdown , while athletes increasingly used their social clout to protest against racial injustice .
2020 should have been a bumper year for sport fans around the world , headlined by the summer double-bill of the Tokyo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instead , the calendar year ’ s mouthwatering schedule was upended by the novel coronavirus pandemic , which forced the postponement or cancellation of virtually all sporting events , from amateur leagues to the Olympic Games – aka “ the biggest show on earth ” .
Starved of sporting action , fans were left with little choice but to watch replays of past tournaments or develop a liking for the little-known Belarusian football league , the only one to go ahead regardless of the pandemic .
For the first time since World War @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Summer Olympics .
Holding the event in 2021 will be “ a testament to mankind 's defeat of the new virus '' , said Japan ’ s outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe , seeking to put a brave face on a postponement that could cost up to 2.8 billion dollars .
UEFA , European football ’ s governing body , also postponed the Euro 2020 tournament by 12 months .
Other events were simply cancelled outright , including Wimbledon , the most prestigious tournament in tennis , which shut down for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a risky gamble that ultimately paid off , Roland Garros chose instead to postpone its early summer tournament until the autumn .
The foul weather made little difference to perennial champion Rafael Nadal , who cruised to his 13th French Open .
But there was more suspense in the women ’ s event , which saw 19-year-old Iga Swiatek become the first Polish player to win a Grand Slam singles title .
French sport ’ s other major summer rendez-vous , the Tour de France , also opted for a later start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were hoping for a home duel between Julian Alaphilippe and Thibaut Pinot but had to settle for an all-Slovenian tussle pitting Primoz Roglic against the unheralded Tadej Pogacar .
It proved to be a thrilling edition of the world ’ s premier cycling race , with the 21-year-old Pogacar ultimately pinching the yellow jersey in the penultimate stage .
Just weeks later , Alaphilippe more than made up for French disappointment at the Tour by winning the road cycling world championships in Italy , becoming the first Frenchman to wear the rainbow jersey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stars had been forced back into action , bowing to pressure from cash-strapped leagues and broadcasters clamouring for some live entertainment .
However , with the Covid-19 still rampant , the action would take place at soulless venues devoid of fans .
Germany ’ s Bundesliga was the first major football championship to resume competitive matches in May , soon to be followed by other leagues .
France ’ s Ligue 1 was a notable exception after the local government decided to end the season early , leaving bottom clubs Amiens and Toulouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ games left to play .
The top leagues offered few surprises , with Paris Saint-Germain , Juventus and Bayern Munich holding on to their titles and Real Madrid toppling Barcelona in Spain .
In England , Liverpool ended their 30-year drought to clinch the Premier League title , winning a staggering 32 matches from 38 fixtures .
Meanwhile , UEFA opted to wrap up its flagship club competition , the Champions League , with a “ Final Eight ” mini-tournament held in Lisbon in August .
After suffering a string of embarrassments in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their maiden Champions League final , ending Atalanta ’ s fairytale run along the way .
But the Parisians could not find a way past Bayern Munich , who crushed Leo Messi ’ s Barcelona 8-2 en route to the title .
The French champions went one step further in the women ’ s game , with Wendy Renard ’ s Lyon clinching their fifth consecutive Champions League title , matching a feat achieved only by the famous Real Madrid of Alfredo Di Stefano , between 1956 and 1960 .
Though unprecedented in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Final Eight ” was several steps short of the isolation “ Bubble ” set up by NBA officials at Walt Disney World in Florida to protect the world ’ s top basketball stars from Covid-19 .
A $ 190 million investment , the special isolation zone ensured no recorded cases of Covid-19 among the 22 teams taking part .
Three months after checking into the Bubble , LeBron James led the Los Angeles Lakers to victory over the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals , earning his fourth Finals MVP trophy .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terms , the NBA Bubble had an even bigger impact as a platform for players and officials to protest against racial injustice in the wake of the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor .
Players took a knee during the national anthem and wore T-shirts and masks with the words , “ Black Lives Matter ” .
NBA officials also painted “ Black Lives Matter ” on the courts and allowed a number of messages on the team jerseys , such as “ Vote ” and “ I can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the WNBA , the women ’ s league , players wore white T-shirts with seven bullets on the back in protest at another police shooting .
BLM protests featured prominently in other sports as well .
The US Open expressed support by featuring art by Black artists in the stands of a mostly empty Arthur Ashe stadium , while Japan ’ s tennis star Naomi Osaka sported customised black face masks , each bearing the name of a victim of allegedly racist killings .
Britain ’ s Andy Murray , a former world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take a knee during an official match this year .
Similar gestures could be seen across the world in sports as diverse as baseball , rugby , cricket , volleyball and racing .
The protests spread to European football grounds , where racism had long been allowed to thrive unchecked .
In one incident , players walked off the pitch during a Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir after an official was accused of using racist language .
In a rare move , some of France ’ s top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism and police brutality in the country following a series of high-profile incidents , including the brutal beating of a Black music producer by white officers .
And in a sign of growing political awareness and outspokenness , one of them – World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann – announced he was ending a sponsorship deal with Huawei over claims of Uighur surveillance in China .
Among the year ’ s more prominent anti-racism protesters was Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton , who celebrated on the podium with a black power salute after winning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ F1 ’ s only Black driver , Hamilton took a knee ahead of every race and sported several T-shirts with slogans from the Black Lives Matter movement .
He criticised former champions who accused him of turning “ political ” , saying his anti-racism protest was about human rights and not politics .
The Briton ’ s victory at the Turkish Grand Prix in November sealed the championship and his seventh title , matching Michael Schumacher ’ s record tally – a feat once deemed impossible .
Hamilton ’ s success fuelled talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the greatest Formula One driver of all time .
He certainly became the most successful in history , racking up more race wins – a staggering 94 – than any other before him .
Hamilton ’ s 94th triumph , however , was overshadowed by a horrific accident involving French driver Romain Grosjean , which very nearly ended in tragedy .
Grosjean ’ s car split in two after slamming into metal barriers at over 200 km per hour at the Bahrain GP .
The Frenchman was soon engulfed in a huge fireball @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burns to his hands .
The sporting year opened with another horrific accident , one that left no chance of escape .
On January 26 , the world was shocked by news that 41-year-old basketball legend Kobe Bryant had died in a helicopter crash along with his teenage daughter Gianna , herself a rising star of the game , and seven other passengers .
Days after the crash , twenty-thousand people filled Staples Center in Los Angeles for a nationally televised memorial that opened with a song by Beyonce , followed by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson , a fellow icon of the Los Angeles Lakers , described Bryant as the “ greatest Laker of all time ” .
Months later , the LA squad dedicated their record-tying NBA Finals victory to Kobe and Gianna .
There was more global grief – and “ greatest-of-all-time ” debate – in late November when Diego Maradona , the legendary Argentine footballer , died of a heart attack aged 60 .
Maradona famously scored the “ hand of God ” goal at the 1986 World Cup , followed moments later by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put Argentina firmly on course for the title .
Gary Lineker , who scored England ’ s only goal that day , paid tribute to “ the best player of my generation and arguably the greatest of all time '' .
Argentina declared three days of national mourning in tribute to the beloved footballer , while Maradona ’ s longtime club Napoli renamed its stadium after the man who carried the former Serie A minnows to glory in his prime .
The day before Maradona ’ s death , news that former France @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 48 stunned the world of rugby .
A stylish player , Dominici was best remembered for his scintillating display in France 's famous victory over the All Blacks at the 1999 World Cup .
In a tribute to his former opponent , New Zealand legend Dan Carter said the Frenchman “ epitomised French flair ” .
Weeks later , French sport bid farewell to another beloved figure , the veteran football coach Gérard Houllier .
A former manager of France ’ s international team , Houllier reached a career high in 2001 when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ titles , clinching the FA Cup , the League Cup , the Charity Shield , the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup , all in a single season .

2020 in review
The year opened and ended with fans in mourning over the passing of sport legends Kobe Bryant and Diego Maradona. In between, the coronavirus pandemic forced global sport into an unprecedented shutdown, while athletes increasingly used their social clout to protest against racial injustice.
From left to right: a year of anti-racism protests in the NBA, farewell to Diego Maradona, and the first Pole to win a Grand Slam tournament.
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2020 should have been a bumper year for sport fans around the world, headlined by the summer double-bill of the Tokyo Olympics and the Euro football tournament. Instead, the calendar year’s mouthwatering schedule was upended by the novel coronavirus pandemic, which forced the postponement or cancellation of virtually all sporting events, from amateur leagues to the Olympic Games – aka “the biggest show on earth”.
A fixture of 2020: emty stands at Rennes' Roazhon Park. © Loïc Venance, AFP
Starved of sporting action, fans were left with little choice but to watch replays of past tournaments or develop a liking for the little-known Belarusian football league, the only one to go ahead regardless of the pandemic.
For the first time since World War II, organisers were forced to reschedule the Summer Olympics. Holding the event in 2021 will be “a testament to mankind's defeat of the new virus", said Japan’s outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, seeking to put a brave face on a postponement that could cost up to 2.8 billion dollars.
The Tokyo Olympics are now scheduled to take place in 2021. © Charly Triballeau, AFP
UEFA, European football’s governing body, also postponed the Euro 2020 tournament by 12 months. Other events were simply cancelled outright, including Wimbledon, the most prestigious tournament in tennis, which shut down for the first time since the wartime Blitz.
In a risky gamble that ultimately paid off, Roland Garros chose instead to postpone its early summer tournament until the autumn. The foul weather made little difference to perennial champion Rafael Nadal, who cruised to his 13th French Open. But there was more suspense in the women’s event, which saw 19-year-old Iga Swiatek become the first Polish player to win a Grand Slam singles title.
Iga Swiatek is the latest in a continuing trend of first-time Grand Slam champions in women's tennis. © Thomas Samson, AFP
French sport’s other major summer rendez-vous, the Tour de France, also opted for a later start due to the pandemic. Local fans were hoping for a home duel between Julian Alaphilippe and Thibaut Pinot but had to settle for an all-Slovenian tussle pitting Primoz Roglic against the unheralded Tadej Pogacar. It proved to be a thrilling edition of the world’s premier cycling race, with the 21-year-old Pogacar ultimately pinching the yellow jersey in the penultimate stage.
Just weeks later, Alaphilippe more than made up for French disappointment at the Tour by winning the road cycling world championships in Italy, becoming the first Frenchman to wear the rainbow jersey this century.
Julian Alaphilippe celebrates on the podium in Imola on September 27. © Marco Bertorello, AFP
In a bubble
By then, football stars had been forced back into action, bowing to pressure from cash-strapped leagues and broadcasters clamouring for some live entertainment. However, with the Covid-19 still rampant, the action would take place at soulless venues devoid of fans.
Empty stands became an eerily common sight in Europe as football leagues sought to salvage their seasons. © Hannibal Hanschke, AFP
Germany’s Bundesliga was the first major football championship to resume competitive matches in May, soon to be followed by other leagues. France’s Ligue 1 was a notable exception after the local government decided to end the season early, leaving bottom clubs Amiens and Toulouse flummoxed as they were relegated with 10 games left to play.
The top leagues offered few surprises, with Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Bayern Munich holding on to their titles and Real Madrid toppling Barcelona in Spain. In England, Liverpool ended their 30-year drought to clinch the Premier League title, winning a staggering 32 matches from 38 fixtures.
Liverpool celebrate their record 19th championship victory, the first of the Premier League era. © Laurence Griffiths, AFP
Meanwhile, UEFA opted to wrap up its flagship club competition, the Champions League, with a “Final Eight” mini-tournament held in Lisbon in August. After suffering a string of embarrassments in recent years, big-spending PSG finally reached their maiden Champions League final, ending Atalanta’s fairytale run along the way. But the Parisians could not find a way past Bayern Munich, who crushed Leo Messi’s Barcelona 8-2 en route to the title.
The French champions went one step further in the women’s game, with Wendy Renard’s Lyon clinching their fifth consecutive Champions League title, matching a feat achieved only by the famous Real Madrid of Alfredo Di Stefano, between 1956 and 1960.
Lyon's players celebrate after defeating Wolfsburg in the Champions League final on August 30. © Gabriel Bouys, AFP
Though unprecedented in its format, UEFA’s “Final Eight” was several steps short of the isolation “Bubble” set up by NBA officials at Walt Disney World in Florida to protect the world’s top basketball stars from Covid-19. A $190 million investment, the special isolation zone ensured no recorded cases of Covid-19 among the 22 teams taking part. Three months after checking into the Bubble, LeBron James led the Los Angeles Lakers to victory over the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, earning his fourth Finals MVP trophy.
The Los Angeles Lakers clinched their first title in a decade at the NBA Finals in the Florida "Bubble". © Douglas DeFelice, AFP
Black Lives Matter
A success in sporting, health and financial terms, the NBA Bubble had an even bigger impact as a platform for players and officials to protest against racial injustice in the wake of the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
Players took a knee during the national anthem and wore T-shirts and masks with the words, “Black Lives Matter”. NBA officials also painted “Black Lives Matter” on the courts and allowed a number of messages on the team jerseys, such as “Vote” and “I can’t breathe”. At one game in the WNBA, the women’s league, players wore white T-shirts with seven bullets on the back in protest at another police shooting.
NBA players agreed to enter the Bubble on condition that they could use it as a platform to protest against racial injustice. © David Dow, AFP
BLM protests featured prominently in other sports as well. The US Open expressed support by featuring art by Black artists in the stands of a mostly empty Arthur Ashe stadium, while Japan’s tennis star Naomi Osaka sported customised black face masks, each bearing the name of a victim of allegedly racist killings. Britain’s Andy Murray, a former world number one, was among numerous athletes to take a knee during an official match this year.
Similar gestures could be seen across the world in sports as diverse as baseball, rugby, cricket, volleyball and racing. The protests spread to European football grounds, where racism had long been allowed to thrive unchecked. In one incident, players walked off the pitch during a Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir after an official was accused of using racist language.
Brazilian forward Neymar (centre) and other players take a knee ahead of PSG's match against Istanbul Basaksehir FK at the Parc des Princes on December 9. © Franck Fife, AFP
In a rare move, some of France’s top footballers weighed into a growing debate about racism and police brutality in the country following a series of high-profile incidents, including the brutal beating of a Black music producer by white officers. And in a sign of growing political awareness and outspokenness, one of them – World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann – announced he was ending a sponsorship deal with Huawei over claims of Uighur surveillance in China.
Greatest of all time?
Among the year’s more prominent anti-racism protesters was Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, who celebrated on the podium with a black power salute after winning the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. F1’s only Black driver, Hamilton took a knee ahead of every race and sported several T-shirts with slogans from the Black Lives Matter movement. He criticised former champions who accused him of turning “political”, saying his anti-racism protest was about human rights and not politics.
Lewis Hamilton takes a knee ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 13. © Hamad I Mohammed, AFP
The Briton’s victory at the Turkish Grand Prix in November sealed the championship and his seventh title, matching Michael Schumacher’s record tally – a feat once deemed impossible. Hamilton’s success fuelled talk of whether he should be regarded as the greatest Formula One driver of all time. He certainly became the most successful in history, racking up more race wins – a staggering 94 – than any other before him.
Hamilton’s 94th triumph, however, was overshadowed by a horrific accident involving French driver Romain Grosjean, which very nearly ended in tragedy. Grosjean’s car split in two after slamming into metal barriers at over 200 km per hour at the Bahrain GP. The Frenchman was soon engulfed in a huge fireball but, incredibly, escaped with only burns to his hands.
Romain Grosjean emerged from this crash with just burns to his hands. © Bryn Lennon, AFP
Farewell to legends
The sporting year opened with another horrific accident, one that left no chance of escape. On January 26, the world was shocked by news that 41-year-old basketball legend Kobe Bryant had died in a helicopter crash along with his teenage daughter Gianna, herself a rising star of the game, and seven other passengers.
Days after the crash, twenty-thousand people filled Staples Center in Los Angeles for a nationally televised memorial that opened with a song by Beyonce, followed by a tearful eulogy by Michael Jordan. Magic Johnson, a fellow icon of the Los Angeles Lakers, described Bryant as the “greatest Laker of all time”. Months later, the LA squad dedicated their record-tying NBA Finals victory to Kobe and Gianna.
Lakers fans stand in line to celebrate the team's NBA Finals win in front of a mural of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna on October 11. © Brandon Bell, AFP
There was more global grief – and “greatest-of-all-time” debate – in late November when Diego Maradona, the legendary Argentine footballer, died of a heart attack aged 60. Maradona famously scored the “hand of God” goal at the 1986 World Cup, followed moments later by a prodigious run through the England defence that put Argentina firmly on course for the title.
Gary Lineker, who scored England’s only goal that day, paid tribute to “the best player of my generation and arguably the greatest of all time". Argentina declared three days of national mourning in tribute to the beloved footballer, while Maradona’s longtime club Napoli renamed its stadium after the man who carried the former Serie A minnows to glory in his prime.
Father and child mourn the death of Diego Maradona in Buenos Aires on November 25. © Ronaldo Schemidt, AFP
The day before Maradona’s death, news that former France winger Christophe Dominici had passed away aged 48 stunned the world of rugby. A stylish player, Dominici was best remembered for his scintillating display in France's famous victory over the All Blacks at the 1999 World Cup. In a tribute to his former opponent, New Zealand legend Dan Carter said the Frenchman “epitomised French flair”.
Weeks later, French sport bid farewell to another beloved figure, the veteran football coach Gérard Houllier. A former manager of France’s international team, Houllier reached a career high in 2001 when he led Liverpool to a historic five titles, clinching the FA Cup, the League Cup, the Charity Shield, the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup, all in a single season.
A portrait of French rugby star Christophe Dominici at his funeral in Hyères on December 4. © Christophe Simon, AFP
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france24--2020-12-26--South African cricketers raise fists in anti-racism gesture

South African cricket players make a gesture expressing their commitment towards the Black Lives Matter movement before the start of the first Test against Sri Lanka South African players raised their fists Saturday in an anti-racism gesture at the start of their two-Test series against Sri Lanka at SuperSport Park in Centurion , in support of the Black Lives Matter movement .
The team issued a statement that said the players had on multiple occasions declared their support for the campaign against racial injustice and `` wanted to own our journey '' .
The players were criticised for not `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent series against England as had been done by other sporting teams following the death of George Floyd in the United States earlier in the year .
The statement said the decision to show a raised fist was reached `` through a process of deep democracy '' to be appropriate in a South African context .
`` The raised fist is a powerful gesture in our own history , as expressed in the iconic images of Nelson and Winnie Mandela on Mandela 's release from prison in 1990 .
In this context it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an acknowledgment of the struggle against apartheid , and a commitment to continuing to fight for equality , justice and freedom , while also honouring the religious and cultural responsibilities of every member of our team . ''
The statement noted that the raised fist had a long history within the Civil Rights movement , which included the gesture by American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos during a medal ceremony at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games .
`` We recognise the historical and political connotations of the raised fist as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for racial justice and anti-racism work .
So , we stand together and raise our fists as a gesture of solidarity and commitment to continuing the work of pursuing racial justice in our lifetimes . ''

Centurion (South Africa) (AFP) –
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South African players raised their fists Saturday in an anti-racism gesture at the start of their two-Test series against Sri Lanka at SuperSport Park in Centurion, in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
The team issued a statement that said the players had on multiple occasions declared their support for the campaign against racial injustice and "wanted to own our journey".
The players were criticised for not "taking a knee" ahead of a recent series against England as had been done by other sporting teams following the death of George Floyd in the United States earlier in the year.
The statement said the decision to show a raised fist was reached "through a process of deep democracy" to be appropriate in a South African context.
"The raised fist is a powerful gesture in our own history, as expressed in the iconic images of Nelson and Winnie Mandela on Mandela's release from prison in 1990. In this context it was a powerful gesture of triumph, an acknowledgment of the struggle against apartheid, and a commitment to continuing to fight for equality, justice and freedom, while also honouring the religious and cultural responsibilities of every member of our team."
The statement noted that the raised fist had a long history within the Civil Rights movement, which included the gesture by American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos during a medal ceremony at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games.
"We recognise the historical and political connotations of the raised fist as a gesture of ongoing solidarity in the fight for racial justice and anti-racism work. So, we stand together and raise our fists as a gesture of solidarity and commitment to continuing the work of pursuing racial justice in our lifetimes."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-26--Gutsy India bounce back to skittle Australia in second Test

India took three wickets in the first session of the second Test against Australia A resilient India bounced back from their embarrassing first Test exploits to bundle out Australia for just 195 and take a grip on the second Test in Melbourne after a riveting opening day Saturday .
After their horror show in Adelaide last week , where they lost by eight wickets and were skittled for 36 in their second innings , the tourists were desperate to start well .
And they delivered after Australian captain Tim Paine won the toss and chose to bat in front of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the maximum allowed under coronavirus restrictions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground .
On a pitch offering turn and bounce , the hosts found it hard going against a high-quality attack led by Jasprit Bumrah ( 4-56 ) , Ravi Ashwin ( 3-35 ) and the impressive Mohammed Siraj ( 2-40 ) , making his debut for the injured Mohammed Shami .
Marnus Labuschagne top-scored with 48 but that was as good as it got .
It left Indian openers Shubman Gill , also on debut , and Mayank Agarwal needing to negotiate 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Agarwal was not up to the task , trapped lbw by a Mitchell Starc inswinger in the first over .
Gill was dropped on five by Labuschagne but otherwise looked comfortable , smacking five boundaries to reach 28 and help steer India to 36 for one at close with the experienced Cheteshwar Pujara unbeaten on seven .
`` In the first session we were just trying to bowl in the rights areas , '' said Bumrah , who praised Siraj for `` bowling his heart out '' .
He added that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be positive , rather than conservative .
`` We 're just looking to control the controllables , not being reckless but being confident . ''
With Ajinkya Rahane captaining the side in place of Virat Kohli , who has returned home for the birth of his first child , India got off to a perfect start , getting Burns ( 0 ) , Matthew Wade ( 30 ) and Smith ( 0 ) before lunch .
It left Australia in trouble but Labuschagne rode his luck , surviving two review decisions , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Travis Head ( 38 ) .
Head had a nervous start but grew in confidence before Bumrah enticed an edge which carried to Rahane at gully , sparking a collapse .
Labuschagne looked set for a ninth half-century but a brilliant catch by Gill ended his vigil and handed Siraj his first Test wicket .
Allrounder Cameron Green ground out 12 before he too fell to Siraj , then an excellent catch by Hanuma Vihari off Ashwin accounted for Paine ( 13 ) .
Nathan Lyon hit a cameo 20 but Australia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We had probably three innocuous dismissals that we probably did n't need to , frustrating dismissals and they were guys who were set and in , '' said Labuschagne .
`` Just need to be better there ... that whoever gets in on the day , whether myself or anyone else in the top order , we make sure we get big scores . ''
But he added : `` I think we 're ( still ) in the game . ''
With David Warner still injured , the hosts went into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alongside Wade .
Burns hit an unbeaten 51 in Adelaide to relieve some pressure after a long lean spell , but his performance Saturday will once more raise questions over his place in the team .
He looked tentative against Bumrah and got a nick to a delivery he should have left .
At the other end , Wade had an escape on four but started finding the gaps before attempting a big hit off Ashwin , which proved his downfall for 30 .
Ravindra Jadeja took the catch , but only just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pair collided but Jadeja managed to hang on .
Ashwin then claimed the crucial scalp of Smith , who was undone by an off-break with Pujara holding a catch at slip after the world 's top batsman faced just eight balls .

Melbourne (AFP) –
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A resilient India bounced back from their embarrassing first Test exploits to bundle out Australia for just 195 and take a grip on the second Test in Melbourne after a riveting opening day Saturday.
After their horror show in Adelaide last week, where they lost by eight wickets and were skittled for 36 in their second innings, the tourists were desperate to start well.
And they delivered after Australian captain Tim Paine won the toss and chose to bat in front of 27,615 socially-distanced fans, just short of the maximum allowed under coronavirus restrictions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
On a pitch offering turn and bounce, the hosts found it hard going against a high-quality attack led by Jasprit Bumrah (4-56), Ravi Ashwin (3-35) and the impressive Mohammed Siraj (2-40), making his debut for the injured Mohammed Shami.
Marnus Labuschagne top-scored with 48 but that was as good as it got.
It left Indian openers Shubman Gill, also on debut, and Mayank Agarwal needing to negotiate 40 minutes at the end of the day.
Agarwal was not up to the task, trapped lbw by a Mitchell Starc inswinger in the first over.
Gill was dropped on five by Labuschagne but otherwise looked comfortable, smacking five boundaries to reach 28 and help steer India to 36 for one at close with the experienced Cheteshwar Pujara unbeaten on seven.
"In the first session we were just trying to bowl in the rights areas," said Bumrah, who praised Siraj for "bowling his heart out".
He added that the plan Sunday was for the batsmen to be positive, rather than conservative.
"We're just looking to control the controllables, not being reckless but being confident."
With Ajinkya Rahane captaining the side in place of Virat Kohli, who has returned home for the birth of his first child, India got off to a perfect start, getting Burns (0), Matthew Wade (30) and Smith (0) before lunch.
It left Australia in trouble but Labuschagne rode his luck, surviving two review decisions, to lead a recovery, putting on 86 with Travis Head (38).
Head had a nervous start but grew in confidence before Bumrah enticed an edge which carried to Rahane at gully, sparking a collapse.
Labuschagne looked set for a ninth half-century but a brilliant catch by Gill ended his vigil and handed Siraj his first Test wicket.
Allrounder Cameron Green ground out 12 before he too fell to Siraj, then an excellent catch by Hanuma Vihari off Ashwin accounted for Paine (13).
Nathan Lyon hit a cameo 20 but Australia's tail otherwise failed to wag.
- Still in game -
"We had probably three innocuous dismissals that we probably didn't need to, frustrating dismissals and they were guys who were set and in," said Labuschagne.
"Just need to be better there ... that whoever gets in on the day, whether myself or anyone else in the top order, we make sure we get big scores."
But he added: "I think we're (still) in the game."
With David Warner still injured, the hosts went into the clash unchanged, with Burns opening alongside Wade.
Burns hit an unbeaten 51 in Adelaide to relieve some pressure after a long lean spell, but his performance Saturday will once more raise questions over his place in the team.
He looked tentative against Bumrah and got a nick to a delivery he should have left.
At the other end, Wade had an escape on four but started finding the gaps before attempting a big hit off Ashwin, which proved his downfall for 30.
Ravindra Jadeja took the catch, but only just with Gill also underneath it. The pair collided but Jadeja managed to hang on.
Ashwin then claimed the crucial scalp of Smith, who was undone by an off-break with Pujara holding a catch at slip after the world's top batsman faced just eight balls.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-26--Ethiopia announces national election to be held in June

People carry an Ethiopian national flag in the streets after a national call to stand in honour of the Ethiopian National Defence Forces , in Addis Ababa , on November 17 , 2020 .
Ethiopia will hold a parliamentary election on June 5 , the electoral board said on Friday , as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed seeks to quell political and ethnic violence in several regions .
Abiy 's Prosperity Party , a pan-Ethiopian movement he founded a year ago , faces challenges from increasingly strident ethnically-based parties seeking more power for their regions .
Africa 's second most populous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regional governments , many of which have boundary disputes with neighbouring areas or face low-level unrest .
In the northern Tigray region , thousands of people are believed to have died and 950,000 have fled their homes since fighting between regional and federal forces erupted on Nov. 4 .
Tigray held its own elections in September in defiance of the federal government , which declared the polls illegal .
The National Electoral Board said next year 's calendar for polls did not include an election in Tigray .
It said the date for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an interim government , which was established during the conflict , opened election offices .
The national vote was postponed from August this year due to the coronavirus crisis .
The head of the winning party becomes prime minister .
For nearly three decades until Abiy 's appointment , Ethiopia was ruled by a coalition of four ethnically-based movements dominated by the party from Tigray .
That administration ruled in an increasingly autocratic fashion until Abiy took power in 2018 following years of bloody anti-government street protests .
The initial months after Abiy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and economic reforms , including the release of tens of thousands of political prisoners .
Abiy merged three of the main regional parties last year to form the Prosperity Party .
The fourth , the Tigray People ’ s Liberation Front ( TPLF ) , refused to join .
Voter registration for the June vote would take place from March 1 to 30 , the electoral board said .
Abiy 's peace deal with Eritrea , which won independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after years of conflict , helped earn him the Nobel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moves to loosen the Ethiopian government 's iron grip was followed by outbreaks of violence as regional politicians and groups jostled for resources and power .
Abiy ordered troops to the western Benishangul-Gumuz region , which borders Sudan , on Thursday after attackers torched homes and killed more than 200 people in a village .
The prime minister is also grappling with a long-running insurgency in Ethiopia 's most populous region Oromiya .
The opposition Oromo Liberation Front , deemed a terrorist movement until Abiy lifted a ban on the group , had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted to hold elections to divert attention from Ethiopia 's security problems .
`` We recommend that repairing the fractured administrative regions and restoring peace and security must be undertaken before the election takes place , '' it had said .
Many Oromo politicians are in jail , such as Jawar Mohammed , a prominent media mogul and member of the Oromo Federalist Congress party .
He and other party leaders were charged in September with terrorism offences after the killing of popular Oromo musician Haacaaluu Hundeessaa , whose death sparked protests that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the capital Addis Ababa .

Ethiopia will hold a parliamentary election on June 5, the electoral board said on Friday, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed seeks to quell political and ethnic violence in several regions.
People carry an Ethiopian national flag in the streets after a national call to stand in honour of the Ethiopian National Defence Forces, in Addis Ababa, on November 17, 2020.
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Abiy's Prosperity Party, a pan-Ethiopian movement he founded a year ago, faces challenges from increasingly strident ethnically-based parties seeking more power for their regions.
Africa's second most populous nation has a federal system with 10 regional governments, many of which have boundary disputes with neighbouring areas or face low-level unrest.
In the northern Tigray region, thousands of people are believed to have died and 950,000 have fled their homes since fighting between regional and federal forces erupted on Nov. 4. Tigray held its own elections in September in defiance of the federal government, which declared the polls illegal.
The National Electoral Board said next year's calendar for polls did not include an election in Tigray. It said the date for a Tigray vote would be set once an interim government, which was established during the conflict, opened election offices.
#NEBE announced the Election Calendar for the 6th National Election pic.twitter.com/4QCv8Bdj6x — National Election Board of Ethiopia- NEBE (@NEBEthiopia) December 25, 2020
The national vote was postponed from August this year due to the coronavirus crisis. The head of the winning party becomes prime minister.
For nearly three decades until Abiy's appointment, Ethiopia was ruled by a coalition of four ethnically-based movements dominated by the party from Tigray. That administration ruled in an increasingly autocratic fashion until Abiy took power in 2018 following years of bloody anti-government street protests.
The initial months after Abiy's appointment saw a rush of political and economic reforms, including the release of tens of thousands of political prisoners.
'Restoring peace'
Abiy merged three of the main regional parties last year to form the Prosperity Party. The fourth, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), refused to join.
Voter registration for the June vote would take place from March 1 to 30, the electoral board said.
Abiy's peace deal with Eritrea, which won independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after years of conflict, helped earn him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019. But his moves to loosen the Ethiopian government's iron grip was followed by outbreaks of violence as regional politicians and groups jostled for resources and power.
Abiy ordered troops to the western Benishangul-Gumuz region, which borders Sudan, on Thursday after attackers torched homes and killed more than 200 people in a village.
The prime minister is also grappling with a long-running insurgency in Ethiopia's most populous region Oromiya.
The opposition Oromo Liberation Front, deemed a terrorist movement until Abiy lifted a ban on the group, had said on Dec. 12 that the government wanted to hold elections to divert attention from Ethiopia's security problems.
"We recommend that repairing the fractured administrative regions and restoring peace and security must be undertaken before the election takes place," it had said.
Many Oromo politicians are in jail, such as Jawar Mohammed, a prominent media mogul and member of the Oromo Federalist Congress party.
He and other party leaders were charged in September with terrorism offences after the killing of popular Oromo musician Haacaaluu Hundeessaa, whose death sparked protests that killed at least 178 people in Oromiya and the capital Addis Ababa.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-12-26--European Union begins coronavirus vaccine rollout as new strain spreads

Workers store boxes of Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccines in ultra low temperature freezers in the AP-HP central pharmacy on the outskirts of Paris on December 26 , 2020 .
The European Union began a vaccine rollout Saturday , even as countries in the bloc were forced back into lockdown by a new strain of the virus , believed to be more infectious , that continues to spread from Britain .
Across the world , people are being urged to respect social distancing guidelines , as the World Health Organisation urged people not to `` squander '' the `` great , heart-wrenching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives .
The coronavirus pandemic has claimed more than 1.7 million lives and is still running rampant in much of the world , but the recent launching of inoculation campaigns has boosted hopes that 2021 could bring a respite .
Hours before the first vaccine doses arrived in France , Paris ' health ministry confirmed late Friday that it had detected its first case of the new variant in a citizen returned from Britain .
Several countries have reported cases of the new strain , which has sent jitters through already overstretched health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new coronavirus variant was found in a citizen resident in Britain who arrived from London on December 19 , the French health ministry said .
They are asymptomatic and self-isolating at home in Tours in central France , and contact-tracing has taken place for the health professionals who treated him .
The new strain of the virus , which experts fear is more contagious , prompted more than 50 countries to impose travel restrictions on the UK , where it first emerged .
But cases of the new variant have still been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed five infections in passengers from the UK , while cases have also been reported in Denmark , Lebanon , Germany , Australia and the Netherlands .
South Africa has detected a similar mutation in some infected people , but on Friday denied British claims its strain was more infectious or dangerous than the one originating in the UK .
The closure of the UK-France border for 48 hours led to a bottleneck of up to 10,000 lorries in southeast England , with drivers stranded for days over the festive period .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told AFP that after the port remained open over Christmas specially , the `` situation should be completely taken care of '' soon .
Some countries that loosened restrictions slightly for Christmas have re-imposed them -- Austria , for example , will see a curfew imposed from Saturday until 24 January .
Millions in the United Kingdom have been affected by a tightening of restrictions there -- according to the BBC , more than 40 % of England 's population are now affected by the strictest measures -- which include the closure of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social contacts .
> > Explainer : How the new Covid-19 vaccines work New lockdowns also started in Scotland and Northern Ireland on Saturday , and Wales has re-imposed restrictions too after relaxing them for Christmas .
More than 25 million infections have been recorded in Europe , according to an AFP tally on Friday .
Vaccinations in all 27 European Union countries will begin on Sunday , after regulators approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on 21 December .
As vaccine rollout gets underway across the world , WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world a way out of this tragedy .
But it will take time for the whole world to be vaccinated . ''
The pope 's Christmas message also referenced the issue , with a plea for `` vaccines for all '' .
`` I call on everyone , on leaders of states , on businesses , on international organisations , to promote cooperation and not competition , to find a solution for everyone ... especially the most vulnerable and most in need in all regions of the planet , '' Pope Francis @ @

The European Union began a vaccine rollout Saturday, even as countries in the bloc were forced back into lockdown by a new strain of the virus, believed to be more infectious, that continues to spread from Britain.
Workers store boxes of Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccines in ultra low temperature freezers in the AP-HP central pharmacy on the outskirts of Paris on December 26, 2020.
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Across the world, people are being urged to respect social distancing guidelines, as the World Health Organisation urged people not to "squander" the "great, heart-wrenching sacrifices" people had made to save lives.
The coronavirus pandemic has claimed more than 1.7 million lives and is still running rampant in much of the world, but the recent launching of inoculation campaigns has boosted hopes that 2021 could bring a respite.
Hours before the first vaccine doses arrived in France, the country's health ministry confirmed late Friday that it had detected its first case of the new variant in a citizen returned from Britain.
Several countries have reported cases of the new strain, which has sent jitters through already overstretched health services.
New variant cases reported worldwide
The first French case of the new coronavirus variant was found in a citizen resident in Britain who arrived from London on December 19, the French health ministry said.
They are asymptomatic and self-isolating at home in Tours in central France, and contact-tracing has taken place for the health professionals who treated him.
The new strain of the virus, which experts fear is more contagious, prompted more than 50 countries to impose travel restrictions on the United Kingdom, where it first emerged.
But cases of the new variant have still been reported worldwide: on Friday, Japan confirmed five infections in passengers from the UK, while cases have also been reported in Denmark, Sweden, Lebanon, Germany, Spain, Australia and the Netherlands.
#COVID19 has changed our lives and brought tragedy.
But now there's hope. The European Union has invested in the research & development of #COVID19 vaccines. We have secured doses for our entire population.
Vaccination will start soon. A European success story. pic.twitter.com/tJF30Pzn2q — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) December 25, 2020
South Africa has detected a similar mutation in some infected people, but on Friday denied British claims its strain was more infectious or dangerous than the one originating in the UK.
The closure of the UK-France border for 48 hours led to a bottleneck of up to 10,000 lorries in southeast England, with drivers stranded for days over the festive period.
But the head of the Calais port operator told AFP that after the port remained open over Christmas specially, the "situation should be completely taken care of" soon.
New restrictions
Some countries that loosened restrictions slightly for Christmas have re-imposed them – Austria, for example, will see a curfew imposed from Saturday until 24 January.
Millions in the UK have been affected by a tightening of restrictions there – according to the BBC, more than 40 percent of England's population are now affected by the strictest measures – which include the closure of all non-essential businesses and a limiting of social contacts.
>> Explainer: How the new Covid-19 vaccines work
New lockdowns also started in Scotland and Northern Ireland on Saturday, and Wales has re-imposed restrictions too after relaxing them for Christmas.
More than 25 million infections have been recorded in Europe, according to an AFP tally on Friday.
Vaccine hope
Vaccinations in all 27 European Union countries will begin on Sunday, after regulators approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on 21 December.
As vaccine rollout gets underway across the world, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned on Friday:
"Vaccines are offering the world a way out of this tragedy. But it will take time for the whole world to be vaccinated."
Thank you, Your Holiness @Pontifex, for reminding the world of the importance of solidarity in stopping #COVID19 & saving lives. We must #ACTogether to ensure access to vaccines for people in need, everywhere. Only equitable allocation will end the pandemic. https://t.co/BiIZvag5Cs — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) December 25, 2020
The pope's Christmas message also referenced the issue, with a plea for "vaccines for all".
"I call on everyone, on leaders of states, on businesses, on international organisations, to promote cooperation and not competition, to find a solution for everyone... especially the most vulnerable and most in need in all regions of the planet," Pope Francis said.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-12-26--Hong Kong florist helps prisoners send Christmas gifts

Hong Kong florist Elise Ip makes gifts as a free service for prisoners held over last year 's pro-democracy protests to send to their friends and relatives Samantha burst into tears when she opened the box from florist Elise Ip on Christmas Day .
It was a surprise gift from her boyfriend , in custody for joining last year 's Hong Kong protests .
`` She loves dogs but she loves me more , '' he had written on a paper slip sent from a detention centre and relayed to Ip via a prisoner support group organised by former social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , Ip found Samantha , who wished to use a pseudonym , a cactus in the shape of a puppy 's head .
`` Receiving this is a great support to me , '' Samantha told AFP .
`` Those in custody do n't really have opportunities to send flowers or gifts to us . ''
Samantha is one of more than 50 relatives and friends who have received gifts ordered behind bars and prepared by Ip , who initiated the free `` Send Flowers With You '' project in July .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside and outside the prisons feel closer to each other , '' Ip told AFP .
`` With every story told in each delivery , I also wish to remind the world that many have sacrificed their normal and happy life for the city . ''
More than 10,000 people in Hong Kong have been arrested and thousands prosecuted for joining the massive , often violent pro-democracy protests that convulsed the Asian financial centre for seven months from June 2019 .
The number of those remanded has been rising , and protecting prisoners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-democratic legislators were forced out of the city 's legislature .
Authorities have also tightened rules around official visits .
Shiu , who used to represent the social welfare sector in the legislature , formed a concern group , `` Wall-Fare '' , earlier this year .
The group provides services like pen pal matching , flower and snack delivery , and helps contact relatives of people in jail .

Hong Kong (AFP) –
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Samantha burst into tears when she opened the box from florist Elise Ip on Christmas Day. It was a surprise gift from her boyfriend, in custody for joining last year's Hong Kong protests.
"She loves dogs but she loves me more," he had written on a paper slip sent from a detention centre and relayed to Ip via a prisoner support group organised by former social welfare legislator Shiu Ka-chun.
After reading it, Ip found Samantha, who wished to use a pseudonym, a cactus in the shape of a puppy's head.
"Receiving this is a great support to me," Samantha told AFP.
"Those in custody don't really have opportunities to send flowers or gifts to us."
Samantha is one of more than 50 relatives and friends who have received gifts ordered behind bars and prepared by Ip, who initiated the free "Send Flowers With You" project in July.
"I hoped it would make people inside and outside the prisons feel closer to each other," Ip told AFP.
"With every story told in each delivery, I also wish to remind the world that many have sacrificed their normal and happy life for the city."
More than 10,000 people in Hong Kong have been arrested and thousands prosecuted for joining the massive, often violent pro-democracy protests that convulsed the Asian financial centre for seven months from June 2019.
The number of those remanded has been rising, and protecting prisoners' rights has become increasingly difficult after pro-democratic legislators were forced out of the city's legislature. Authorities have also tightened rules around official visits.
Shiu, who used to represent the social welfare sector in the legislature, formed a concern group, "Wall-Fare", earlier this year.
The group provides services like pen pal matching, flower and snack delivery, and helps contact relatives of people in jail.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-26--China hails its 'extraordinary' success curbing virus ahead of WHO probe

China 's top decision-making body has congratulated itself on its success in curbing the domestic Covid-19 outbreak , which started in Wuhan China 's ruling Communist Party leaders have congratulated themselves on their `` extremely extraordinary '' success in handling the Covid-19 outbreak domestically , ahead of a World Health Organization probe into the disease 's origins .
China faced a barrage of criticism at home and abroad over its initial handling of the virus , which emerged in the central city of Wuhan last December .
China 's Politburo , the top decision-making body of the Communist Party , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` played a decisive role in leading ... China in prevailing over the rare risks and challenges this year . ''
`` At the critical moment ... the Party Central Committee took a long-term view ... achieving an extremely extraordinary glory in this extremely unusual year , '' state news agency Xinhua reported , citing a statement issued after the two-day meeting .
China has largely curbed the spread of the virus , and was one of the only major economies to report growth this year .
But it has been accused of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so contributing to the virus ' spread internationally .
At home , Beijing has attempted to stifle criticism by punishing at least eight whistleblowers .
A Chinese citizen journalist who reported on Wuhan 's outbreak , Zhang Zhan , has been detained since May and is expected to go on trial on Monday .
Zhang is a former lawyer who travelled to the city in February to report on the chaotic initial stages of the outbreak , through livestreams and critical essays widely shared on social media platforms banned in China .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international team of WHO experts is expected to arrive in China to investigate the animal origins of Covid-19 , during which trip they will visit Wuhan .
An expert from the team told AFP this week that the investigation was `` not about finding a guilty country or a guilty authority '' , but about `` about understanding what happened to avoid that in the future '' .
Beijing has recently attempted to cast doubts on the origins of the virus -- the state-run People 's Daily newspaper said in a Facebook post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence suggests that the coronavirus did not start in central China 's Wuhan '' .
China has also tried to enhance its soft power push during the pandemic -- promising to share its vaccines with developing countries , and engaging in “ mask diplomacy '' -- donating personal protective gear to countries in need .

Beijing (AFP) –
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China's ruling Communist Party leaders have congratulated themselves on their "extremely extraordinary" success in handling the Covid-19 outbreak domestically, ahead of a World Health Organization probe into the disease's origins.
China faced a barrage of criticism at home and abroad over its initial handling of the virus, which emerged in the central city of Wuhan last December.
China's Politburo, the top decision-making body of the Communist Party, said late Friday that the party leadership "played a decisive role in leading ... China in prevailing over the rare risks and challenges this year."
"At the critical moment ... the Party Central Committee took a long-term view ...achieving an extremely extraordinary glory in this extremely unusual year," state news agency Xinhua reported, citing a statement issued after the two-day meeting.
China has largely curbed the spread of the virus, and was one of the only major economies to report growth this year. But it has been accused of covering up the initial outbreak, and so contributing to the virus' spread internationally.
At home, Beijing has attempted to stifle criticism by punishing at least eight whistleblowers.
A Chinese citizen journalist who reported on Wuhan's outbreak, Zhang Zhan, has been detained since May and is expected to go on trial on Monday.
Zhang is a former lawyer who travelled to the city in February to report on the chaotic initial stages of the outbreak, through livestreams and critical essays widely shared on social media platforms banned in China.
The two-day Politburo meeting comes shortly before an international team of WHO experts is expected to arrive in China to investigate the animal origins of Covid-19, during which trip they will visit Wuhan.
An expert from the team told AFP this week that the investigation was "not about finding a guilty country or a guilty authority", but about "about understanding what happened to avoid that in the future".
Beijing has recently attempted to cast doubts on the origins of the virus -- the state-run People's Daily newspaper said in a Facebook post in early November that "all available evidence suggests that the coronavirus did not start in central China's Wuhan".
China has also tried to enhance its soft power push during the pandemic -- promising to share its vaccines with developing countries, and engaging in “mask diplomacy" -- donating personal protective gear to countries in need.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-26--UN peacekeepers killed in Central African Republic ahead of national polls

Egyptian commandos of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic ( MINUSCA ) patrol on the outskirts of Bangui , the capital of the Central African Republic , on December 25 , 2020 .
Three UN peacekeepers have been killed by unidentified combatants in the Central African Republic , the United Nations said , as the country prepares for a general election and fighting continues between rebels and government forces .
The news came after a rebel coalition called off a ceasefire and said it would resume its march on the capital , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Rwanda to shore up the government of the resource-rich country .
`` Three peacekeepers from Burundi were killed and two others were wounded '' following attacks on UN troops and Central African national defence and security forces , the UN said in a statement Friday .
The assaults took place in Dekoa , central Kemo Prefecture , and in Bakouma , in the southern Mbomou Prefecture , it said , without providing further details .
Stephane Dujarric , spokesman for the UN Secretary-General , strongly condemned the latest incident , and called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` heinous '' assaults .
He also warned that `` attacks against United Nations peacekeepers may constitute a war crime . ''
Ahead of the presidential and legislative elections to be held on Sunday , 63-year-old incumbent President Faustin Archange Touadera has accused his predecessor Francois Bozize of plotting a coup .
Bozize -- who is under UN sanctions and barred from running -- denies the charges .
On Tuesday a militia briefly seized the country 's fourth biggest town , before it was retaken by security forces backed by UN peacekeepers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ final appeals by the opposition to postpone Sunday 's vote .
At least six candidates had filed appeals arguing that insecurity in the country , and the recent withdrawal of one of the candidates , justified delaying the polls .
Rebel groups launched an offensive a week ago threatening to march on the capital Bangui , in what the government described as an attempted coup , but their progress was halted with international help .
However , a three-day ceasefire brokered ahead of the elections fell apart Friday with the Coalition of Patriots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would resume its push for the capital .
The CPC -- whose components are drawn from militia groups that , together , control two-thirds of the country -- was created on December 19 by armed groups who accused Touadera of trying to fix the vote .
Clashes resumed on Friday in Bakouma , about 800 kilometres ( 500 miles ) northeast of Bangui , according to Vladimir Monteiro , spokesman for the UN 's MINUSCA peacekeeping force .
MINUSCA said Thursday that a 300-strong contingent of Rwandan reinforcements had arrived in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a military cooperation agreement with Touadera 's government , has also sent at least 300 military instructors to bolster the CAR 's forces ahead of the polls .
Sunday 's elections are deemed a key test of CAR 's ability to recover stability .
But a crucial question is whether turnout will be badly affected by violence or intimidation , denting the credibility of the next president and the 140-seat legislature .
Mineral-rich but rated the world 's second-poorest country on the Human Development Index , the CAR has been chronically unstable since @ @ @ @ @

Three UN peacekeepers have been killed by unidentified combatants in the Central African Republic, the United Nations said, as the country prepares for a general election and fighting continues between rebels and government forces.
Egyptian commandos of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) patrol on the outskirts of Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, on December 25, 2020.
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The news came after a rebel coalition called off a ceasefire and said it would resume its march on the capital, as well as the arrival of troops from Russia and Rwanda to shore up the government of the resource-rich country.
"Three peacekeepers from Burundi were killed and two others were wounded" following attacks on UN troops and Central African national defence and security forces, the UN said in a statement Friday.
The assaults took place in Dekoa, central Kemo Prefecture, and in Bakouma, in the southern Mbomou Prefecture, it said, without providing further details.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, strongly condemned the latest incident, and called on the CAR authorities to investigate the "heinous" assaults.
He also warned that "attacks against United Nations peacekeepers may constitute a war crime."
Secretary-General @antonioguterres strongly condemns today’s attacks by unidentified armed combatants on Central African national defense & security forces, and @UN_CAR peacekeepers: https://t.co/6GHMbXez96 — UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) December 26, 2020
Ahead of the presidential and legislative elections to be held on Sunday, 63-year-old incumbent President Faustin Archange Touadera has accused his predecessor Francois Bozize of plotting a coup.
Bozize -- who is under UN sanctions and barred from running -- denies the charges.
On Tuesday a militia briefly seized the country's fourth biggest town, before it was retaken by security forces backed by UN peacekeepers.
Meanwhile the Constitutional Court on Saturday rejected final appeals by the opposition to postpone Sunday's vote.
At least six candidates had filed appeals arguing that insecurity in the country, and the recent withdrawal of one of the candidates, justified delaying the polls.
Broken ceasefire
Rebel groups launched an offensive a week ago threatening to march on the capital Bangui, in what the government described as an attempted coup, but their progress was halted with international help.
However, a three-day ceasefire brokered ahead of the elections fell apart Friday with the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC) announcing that it would resume its push for the capital.
The CPC -- whose components are drawn from militia groups that, together, control two-thirds of the country -- was created on December 19 by armed groups who accused Touadera of trying to fix the vote.
Clashes resumed on Friday in Bakouma, about 800 kilometres (500 miles) northeast of Bangui, according to Vladimir Monteiro, spokesman for the UN's MINUSCA peacekeeping force.
MINUSCA said Thursday that a 300-strong contingent of Rwandan reinforcements had arrived in the country.
Russia, which recently signed a military cooperation agreement with Touadera's government, has also sent at least 300 military instructors to bolster the CAR's forces ahead of the polls.
Sunday's elections are deemed a key test of CAR's ability to recover stability.
But a crucial question is whether turnout will be badly affected by violence or intimidation, denting the credibility of the next president and the 140-seat legislature.
Mineral-rich but rated the world's second-poorest country on the Human Development Index, the CAR has been chronically unstable since independence 60 years ago.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-12-27--From bean to bar, Haiti's cocoa wants international recognition

A worker sorts cocoa beans in the workshop of the Makaya chocolate company in Petionville , Haiti Although small in the face of South America 's giants , Haiti is slowly developing its cocoa industry , earning better incomes for thousands of farmers and refuting the stereotype that culinary art is the preserve of wealthy countries .
Haiti 's annual production of 5,000 tonnes of cocoa pales in comparison to the 70,000 tonnes produced per year by neighboring Dominican Republic , but the sector 's development is recent in the island nation .
Feccano , a federation of cocoa cooperatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group to organize exchanges in 2001 by prioritizing farmers ' profits .
`` Before , there was the systematic destruction of cocoa trees because the market price was n't interesting for farmers who preferred very short-cycle crops , '' said Guito Gilot , Feccano 's commercial director .
The cooperative now works with more than 4,000 farmers in northern Haiti .
By fermenting its members ' beans before export , Feccano has been able to target the market for fine and aromatic cocoa .
`` Feccano 's customers pay for quality : they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Exchange as a reference , '' said Gilot .
Smelling potential , Haiti 's private sector finally began investing in the cocoa industry , which until then had been supported solely by non-governmental organizations and humanitarian efforts .
By setting up its fermentation setter in 2014 in Acul-du-Nord , 15 kilometers ( nine miles ) from Haiti 's second city Cap-Haitien , the company Produit des iles ( PISA ) entered the market .
But the logistical challenges are many .
`` The producers we work with farm less than a hectare , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Latin America , a small producer already owns four or five hectares , '' explained Aline Etlicher , who developed the industry at PISA .
`` We buy fresh cocoa , the same day as the harvest so the farmer no longer has the problems of drying and storing that they would have if they sold it to an intermediary , '' said the French agronomist .
In recent months , this just-in-time bean collection from all sites has been more challenging because many roads were regularly blocked due to socio-political unrest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the cocoa is delicate , but the Haitian style has made its mark abroad .
`` Today there are bars sold in the United States that are called Acul-du-Nord , '' Etlicher said proudly .
`` With our customers , we are part of the 'bean to bar ' movement of chocolate makers who transform the cocoa bean into the chocolate bar , '' she said , adding that by cutting out the middleman , Haitian producers ' revenues have doubled .
And on the other end of the chain , bean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ralph Leroy , making a rum ganache -- Haitian , just like all the products he uses -- was not an obvious choice .
After years in Montreal , he returned home to Haiti as a haute-couture stylist .
His shift to cocoa began when he made clothes out of chocolate for a culinary trade show .
The training he then underwent for a year in Italy fueled his passion as much as his pride .
`` The first week , I think I was insulted when the professor said , 'Chocolate is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plant your cocoa , we buy the cocoa and do the work , ' '' he recalled .
Today , Leroy runs the chocolate company he founded in 2016 , Makaya , and the edible sculptures that come out of his workshop are a huge sensation at parties .
His company now has about 20 employees who share his passion .
`` Even in cooking schools , we do n't learn this .
I learned everything here and I am very , very proud , '' said Duasmine Paul , 22 , head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ car horns reach the ears of Makaya employees carefully sorting cocoa beans , a side effect of the chaotic traffic that paralyzes Haitian capital Port-au-Prince at the end of the year .
From his workshop , where he also concocts chocolate-based cocktails , Leroy sees as sweet revenge the great marketing of his bars .
`` The greatest pleasure is when , before traveling , Haitians come here to buy a lot to offer abroad .
It 's become their pride .
And also when Europeans come and buy all the stock ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a good job , '' he says with a burst of laughter .

Port-au-Prince (AFP) –
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Although small in the face of South America's giants, Haiti is slowly developing its cocoa industry, earning better incomes for thousands of farmers and refuting the stereotype that culinary art is the preserve of wealthy countries.
Haiti's annual production of 5,000 tonnes of cocoa pales in comparison to the 70,000 tonnes produced per year by neighboring Dominican Republic, but the sector's development is recent in the island nation.
Feccano, a federation of cocoa cooperatives in northern Haiti, became the first group to organize exchanges in 2001 by prioritizing farmers' profits.
"Before, there was the systematic destruction of cocoa trees because the market price wasn't interesting for farmers who preferred very short-cycle crops," said Guito Gilot, Feccano's commercial director.
The cooperative now works with more than 4,000 farmers in northern Haiti.
By fermenting its members' beans before export, Feccano has been able to target the market for fine and aromatic cocoa.
"Feccano's customers pay for quality: they don't have the New York Stock Exchange as a reference," said Gilot.
- Just-in-time collection -
Smelling potential, Haiti's private sector finally began investing in the cocoa industry, which until then had been supported solely by non-governmental organizations and humanitarian efforts.
By setting up its fermentation setter in 2014 in Acul-du-Nord, 15 kilometers (nine miles) from Haiti's second city Cap-Haitien, the company Produit des iles (PISA) entered the market. But the logistical challenges are many.
"The producers we work with farm less than a hectare, often divided into several plots whereas, in Latin America, a small producer already owns four or five hectares," explained Aline Etlicher, who developed the industry at PISA.
"We buy fresh cocoa, the same day as the harvest so the farmer no longer has the problems of drying and storing that they would have if they sold it to an intermediary," said the French agronomist.
In recent months, this just-in-time bean collection from all sites has been more challenging because many roads were regularly blocked due to socio-political unrest.
Maintaining organic and fair trade certifications for the cocoa is delicate, but the Haitian style has made its mark abroad.
"Today there are bars sold in the United States that are called Acul-du-Nord," Etlicher said proudly.
"With our customers, we are part of the 'bean to bar' movement of chocolate makers who transform the cocoa bean into the chocolate bar," she said, adding that by cutting out the middleman, Haitian producers' revenues have doubled.
And on the other end of the chain, bean processing remains local.
- 'Plant your cocoa' -
For master chocolatier Ralph Leroy, making a rum ganache -- Haitian, just like all the products he uses -- was not an obvious choice.
After years in Montreal, he returned home to Haiti as a haute-couture stylist.
His shift to cocoa began when he made clothes out of chocolate for a culinary trade show. The training he then underwent for a year in Italy fueled his passion as much as his pride.
"The first week, I think I was insulted when the professor said, 'Chocolate is made for Europe. You there, plant your cocoa, we buy the cocoa and do the work,'" he recalled.
Today, Leroy runs the chocolate company he founded in 2016, Makaya, and the edible sculptures that come out of his workshop are a huge sensation at parties. His company now has about 20 employees who share his passion.
"Even in cooking schools, we don't learn this. I learned everything here and I am very, very proud," said Duasmine Paul, 22, head of Makaya's laboratory.
Echoes of car horns reach the ears of Makaya employees carefully sorting cocoa beans, a side effect of the chaotic traffic that paralyzes Haitian capital Port-au-Prince at the end of the year.
From his workshop, where he also concocts chocolate-based cocktails, Leroy sees as sweet revenge the great marketing of his bars.
"The greatest pleasure is when, before traveling, Haitians come here to buy a lot to offer abroad. It's become their pride. And also when Europeans come and buy all the stock... I tell myself that I am doing a good job," he says with a burst of laughter.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-27--Argentina's Catholics, evangelicals unite against abortion bill

Aerial view of anti-abortion activists demonstrating against a bill to legalise abortion outside the Argentinian Congress on November 28 , 2020 At the entrance to Argentina 's Congress is a plaque reminding legislators that Our Lady of Lujan is the patron saint of the country 's political parties -- a not-so-subtle nod to religion in a nation considering whether to allow abortions .
As Argentina 's Senate prepares to vote on a bill that would legalize the practice , the Catholic Church has joined forces with evangelical Christians to fight the measure tooth and nail .
The bill , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 14 weeks , was passed by the Chamber of Deputies on December 11 and will be debated and voted on in the Senate on Tuesday .
Two years ago a similar bill passed the lower house but was defeated in the Senate following a determined campaign by both Catholics and evangelicals .
Argentina 's constitution guarantees freedom of religion and a 1994 reform removed the requirement that the president be Catholic .
However it retains a reference to God in its preamble and its second article guarantees government support for the Catholic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Argentina has great sway .
There 's a very strong Catholic culture in the political world , '' sociologist Fortunato Mallimaci , who wrote a book on what he says is the myth of Argentine secularism , told AFP .
`` Religious groups look for state support and the state , when it feels weak , looks for support from religious groups .
Today the Catholic Church wields more political than religious clout , '' he said .
Catholicism is a strong force in Argentina , the homeland of Pope Francis .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subsidizes Catholic schooling , which accounts for 36 percent of education in Argentina , according to Mallimaci .
However , Catholicism has been losing influence as evangelical Christianity gains ground .
According to a 2019 poll by a government agency , 62.0 percent of Argentines identify as Catholic , 18.9 percent as non-religious and 15.3 percent as evangelical .
The Catholic Church 's sway can be seen in Argentina 's delay compared to other countries in adopting a number of laws : divorce was legalized only in 1987 , sex education introduced in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a gender identity law passed in 2012 .
Abortion is currently only allowed in two cases : rape and a danger to the mother 's life .
`` There is an opposition and huge rejection from the Catholic Church , which weighs heavily '' on the chances of the law passing , constitutional lawyer Alfonso Santiago told AFP .
However , Santiago believes the relationship between the government of President Alberto Fernandez , who sponsored the abortion bill , and the Catholic Church will remain strong regardless of which way the vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there will be a break in collaboration on other issues .
It did n't happen before '' when , for example , same-sex marriage was approved , he said .
While Francis has in the past likened abortion to hiring an assassin , he 's remained silent over the current debate .
`` The problem for the Catholic Church if abortion is legalized is that it will be up to it , and not the state , to ensure that its faithful comply with a prohibition that will be only religious , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that 22.3 percent of Catholics in Argentina believe that a woman should have the right to an abortion if she wants one .
Meanwhile 55.7 percent said it should be permitted only in certain situations while just 17.2 percent supported a blanket ban .
Since 2018 , evangelicals have come to the fore in protesting legalization .
`` They have the momentum of the reborn , '' said Mallimaci , pointing to the light blue handkerchiefs brandished by evangelicals at their protests , as a counterweight to the green ones sported by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't mobilize in that way . ''
Despite their constant growth , evangelical churches in Argentina `` do n't have the same political weight as in other countries , such as Brazil where they can count on a parliamentary bloc . ''
Their strength , however , lies is in street protests and they will be out in force Tuesday in front of Congress , face-to-face with abortion rights demonstrators .

Buenos Aires (AFP) –
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At the entrance to Argentina's Congress is a plaque reminding legislators that Our Lady of Lujan is the patron saint of the country's political parties -- a not-so-subtle nod to religion in a nation considering whether to allow abortions.
As Argentina's Senate prepares to vote on a bill that would legalize the practice, the Catholic Church has joined forces with evangelical Christians to fight the measure tooth and nail.
The bill, which aims to legalize voluntary abortions at up to 14 weeks, was passed by the Chamber of Deputies on December 11 and will be debated and voted on in the Senate on Tuesday.
Two years ago a similar bill passed the lower house but was defeated in the Senate following a determined campaign by both Catholics and evangelicals.
Argentina's constitution guarantees freedom of religion and a 1994 reform removed the requirement that the president be Catholic.
However it retains a reference to God in its preamble and its second article guarantees government support for the Catholic Church.
"The Catholic Church in Argentina has great sway. There's a very strong Catholic culture in the political world," sociologist Fortunato Mallimaci, who wrote a book on what he says is the myth of Argentine secularism, told AFP.
"Religious groups look for state support and the state, when it feels weak, looks for support from religious groups. Today the Catholic Church wields more political than religious clout," he said.
Catholicism is a strong force in Argentina, the homeland of Pope Francis.
The state pays a salary to archbishops and subsidizes Catholic schooling, which accounts for 36 percent of education in Argentina, according to Mallimaci.
- Francis stays silent -
However, Catholicism has been losing influence as evangelical Christianity gains ground.
According to a 2019 poll by a government agency, 62.0 percent of Argentines identify as Catholic, 18.9 percent as non-religious and 15.3 percent as evangelical.
The Catholic Church's sway can be seen in Argentina's delay compared to other countries in adopting a number of laws: divorce was legalized only in 1987, sex education introduced in 2006, gay marriage approved in 2010 and a gender identity law passed in 2012.
Abortion is currently only allowed in two cases: rape and a danger to the mother's life.
"There is an opposition and huge rejection from the Catholic Church, which weighs heavily" on the chances of the law passing, constitutional lawyer Alfonso Santiago told AFP.
However, Santiago believes the relationship between the government of President Alberto Fernandez, who sponsored the abortion bill, and the Catholic Church will remain strong regardless of which way the vote goes.
"I don't think there will be a break in collaboration on other issues. It didn't happen before" when, for example, same-sex marriage was approved, he said.
While Francis has in the past likened abortion to hiring an assassin, he's remained silent over the current debate.
- Protest strength -
"The problem for the Catholic Church if abortion is legalized is that it will be up to it, and not the state, to ensure that its faithful comply with a prohibition that will be only religious," said Mallimaci.
A 2020 government poll found that 22.3 percent of Catholics in Argentina believe that a woman should have the right to an abortion if she wants one.
Meanwhile 55.7 percent said it should be permitted only in certain situations while just 17.2 percent supported a blanket ban.
Since 2018, evangelicals have come to the fore in protesting legalization.
"They have the momentum of the reborn," said Mallimaci, pointing to the light blue handkerchiefs brandished by evangelicals at their protests, as a counterweight to the green ones sported by abortion rights activists.
"Catholics don't mobilize in that way."
Despite their constant growth, evangelical churches in Argentina "don't have the same political weight as in other countries, such as Brazil where they can count on a parliamentary bloc."
Their strength, however, lies is in street protests and they will be out in force Tuesday in front of Congress, face-to-face with abortion rights demonstrators.
© 2020 AFP