france24--2020-12-03--Council of Europe tells Poland to stop LGBTI 'stigmatisation'

The LGBTI community in Poland is the target of 'hate and intolerance ' , a report says The Council of Europe called on Poland on Thursday to end the stigmatisation of its LGBTI community , saying the east European country 's record for lesbian , gay , bisexual , transgender and intersex rights was the worst in the EU .
In a report , the Council 's human rights commissioner Dunja Mijatovic said leading politicians were responsible for a worsening over the past three years of the already poor treatment of LGBTI people .
She singled out President Andrzej Duda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideology worse than communism '' , and ruling PiS party chief Jaroslaw Kaczynski , who has said LGBTI people were a threat to the traditional family .
`` Public officials and opinion makers should stop promoting an atmosphere of hate and intolerance vis-a-vis LGBTI people and instead improve respect for their human rights , '' Mijatovic said .
`` Stigmatisation and hate speech carry a real risk of legitimising violence .
LGBTI are people , not an ideology , '' she said .
The Commissioner said she was `` deeply concerned about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ propagation of homophobic narratives by public officials and by other prominent bodies and figures in society in Poland '' .
She called for the revocation of anti-LGBTI declarations and charters , and for the rejection of what she said were several bills targeting LGBTI people currently pending in the Polish parliament .
Polish laws do not recognise non-heterosexual unions , and transgender people must undergo a long and costly legal procedure to get their status recognised , the report said .
The report meanwhile welcomed a declaration by Warsaw city authorities to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the subsequent backlash led by hundreds of local politicians .
The government has financed `` homophobic initiatives '' , the report found , while Pride marches have been subjected to violent attacks and activists to harassment and intimidation .
The report called on `` public authorities , politicians and opinion leaders in Poland not to engage in hate speech or any discourse stigmatising LGBTI people , and to firmly denounce such actions and statements , including when they come from private parties '' .
The Council of Europe is an international organisation founded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rule of law in Europe .
It is not run by the European Union , but all EU countries are members .

Strasbourg (France) (AFP) –
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The Council of Europe called on Poland on Thursday to end the stigmatisation of its LGBTI community, saying the east European country's record for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex rights was the worst in the EU.
In a report, the Council's human rights commissioner Dunja Mijatovic said leading politicians were responsible for a worsening over the past three years of the already poor treatment of LGBTI people.
She singled out President Andrzej Duda, who has called LGBTI an "ideology worse than communism", and ruling PiS party chief Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who has said LGBTI people were a threat to the traditional family.
"Public officials and opinion makers should stop promoting an atmosphere of hate and intolerance vis-a-vis LGBTI people and instead improve respect for their human rights," Mijatovic said.
"Stigmatisation and hate speech carry a real risk of legitimising violence. LGBTI are people, not an ideology," she said.
The Commissioner said she was "deeply concerned about the visible rise in hateful rhetoric and the propagation of homophobic narratives by public officials and by other prominent bodies and figures in society in Poland".
She called for the revocation of anti-LGBTI declarations and charters, and for the rejection of what she said were several bills targeting LGBTI people currently pending in the Polish parliament.
Polish laws do not recognise non-heterosexual unions, and transgender people must undergo a long and costly legal procedure to get their status recognised, the report said.
The report meanwhile welcomed a declaration by Warsaw city authorities to make the capital more inclusive, but deplored the subsequent backlash led by hundreds of local politicians.
The government has financed "homophobic initiatives", the report found, while Pride marches have been subjected to violent attacks and activists to harassment and intimidation.
The report called on "public authorities, politicians and opinion leaders in Poland not to engage in hate speech or any discourse stigmatising LGBTI people, and to firmly denounce such actions and statements, including when they come from private parties".
The Council of Europe is an international organisation founded to uphold human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe. It is not run by the European Union, but all EU countries are members.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-03--Fiji glad to be back for Georgia in Autumn Nations Cup

Fiji coach Vern Cotter said getting on the pitch would be `` an achievement in itself '' as he named his side for the coronavirus-hit squad 's belated Autumn Nations Cup debut against Georgia at Murrayfield on Saturday .
Covid-19 in the Fiji camp led to the cancellation of all of their pool matches -- against France , Italy and Scotland .
But they have now been given a clean bill of health for the seventh-place play-off match against Georgia .
It will be Fiji 's first Test since a 29-17 defeat by Wales at the 2019 World Cup in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Georgia , a 45-10 victory in their penultimate game of the global showpiece .
Fiji are renowned as one of the most exciting teams with ball in hand , captain Semi Radradra leading a talented backline , and their absence from a tournament dominated by attritional forward play and tactical kicking has been keenly felt .
But former Scotland coach Cotter insisted Fiji would benefit from their frustrating experience .
`` What we have lived through is difficult and in these kind of situations people grow and become better individuals and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Cotter told the Fiji Rugby Union website .
`` I think we need to recognise that this has n't been easy for the players and if they get out on the field to play this weekend , it 's an achievement just in itself , '' added Cotter .
The coach has named three debutants in his pack -- flankers Johnny Dyer and Mesulame Kunavula , together with lock Temo Mayanavanu .
Tevita Ikanivere , Haereiti Hatet , Samuela Tawake , Chris Minimbi , Manueli Ratuniyarawa and Simione Kuruvoli could win their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bench .
Fiji will be up against a Georgia side who have improved throughout the Nations Cup , as shown during a 23-10 loss to Ireland last week .
`` The forwards are the first group that I 'm really concerned about because we know they will be going to drive our line-outs and dominate our scrum and attack when we have the ball so we can ’ t get the ball out to our exciting backline , '' said Cotter .
`` We are aware of that and the first challenge is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to become effective and then , of course , once we do that , we need to find space and we need to have Semi Radradra , Nemani Nadolo and Josua Tuisova with ball in hand and a little bit of room .
`` If we can do that then our game will be the game we want . ''

London (AFP) –
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Fiji coach Vern Cotter said getting on the pitch would be "an achievement in itself" as he named his side for the coronavirus-hit squad's belated Autumn Nations Cup debut against Georgia at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Covid-19 in the Fiji camp led to the cancellation of all of their pool matches -- against France, Italy and Scotland.
But they have now been given a clean bill of health for the seventh-place play-off match against Georgia.
It will be Fiji's first Test since a 29-17 defeat by Wales at the 2019 World Cup in Japan. Their most recent win was against Georgia, a 45-10 victory in their penultimate game of the global showpiece.
Fiji are renowned as one of the most exciting teams with ball in hand, captain Semi Radradra leading a talented backline, and their absence from a tournament dominated by attritional forward play and tactical kicking has been keenly felt.
But former Scotland coach Cotter insisted Fiji would benefit from their frustrating experience.
"What we have lived through is difficult and in these kind of situations people grow and become better individuals and they have time to think and reflect," Cotter told the Fiji Rugby Union website.
- 'Not easy' -
"I think we need to recognise that this hasn't been easy for the players and if they get out on the field to play this weekend, it's an achievement just in itself," added Cotter.
The coach has named three debutants in his pack -- flankers Johnny Dyer and Mesulame Kunavula, together with lock Temo Mayanavanu.
Tevita Ikanivere, Haereiti Hatet, Samuela Tawake, Chris Minimbi, Manueli Ratuniyarawa and Simione Kuruvoli could win their first caps if they come off the bench.
Fiji will be up against a Georgia side who have improved throughout the Nations Cup, as shown during a 23-10 loss to Ireland last week.
"The forwards are the first group that I'm really concerned about because we know they will be going to drive our line-outs and dominate our scrum and attack when we have the ball so we can’t get the ball out to our exciting backline," said Cotter.
"We are aware of that and the first challenge is to be very attentive and work hard to become effective and then, of course, once we do that, we need to find space and we need to have Semi Radradra, Nemani Nadolo and Josua Tuisova with ball in hand and a little bit of room.
"If we can do that then our game will be the game we want."
Fiji (15-1)
Kini Murimurivalu; Josua Tuisova, Semi Radradra (capt), Levani Botia, Nemani Nadolo; Ben Volavola, Frank Lomani; Albert Tuisue, Mesulame Kunavula, Johnny Dyer; Temo Mayanavanu, Tevita Ratuva; Mesake Doge, Samuel Matavesi, Peni Ravai
Replacements: Tevita Ikanivere, Haereiti Hetet, Samuela Tawake, Chris Minimbi, Manueli Ratuniyarawa, Simione Kuruvoli, Seru Vularika, Waisea Nayacalevu
Coach: Vern Cotter (NZL)
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-03--Former President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing ‘was the incarnation’ of a forward-moving France

Former President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing ‘ was the incarnation ’ of a forward-moving France France is mourning former French President @ @ @ @ @ , who died Wednesday , aged 94 after contacting Covid-19 .
‘ Giscard ’ , @ @ @ @ @ was in office during only one term , from 1974 to 1981 , but his @ @ @ @ @ as he legalized abortion , pushed for European integration and modernized French society .
‘ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Estaing was the incarnation of what France was looking for , in order to @ @ @ @ @ 24 ’ s Philip Turle says .

Former President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing ‘was the incarnation’ of a forward-moving France
04:55
Video by: Philip TURLE
France is mourning former French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, who died Wednesday, aged 94 after contacting Covid-19. ‘Giscard’, as he was known, was in office during only one term, from 1974 to 1981, but his political impact was big, as he legalized abortion, pushed for European integration and modernized French society. ‘in 1974, Giscard d’Estaing was the incarnation of what France was looking for, in order to move forward’, FRANCE 24’s Philip Turle says.


france24--2020-12-03--Tributes from political figures pour in for Former French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing

Tributes from political figures pour in for Former French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing France is mourning former French President Valéry @ @ @ @ @ who died Wednesday , aged 94 after contacting Covid-19 .
‘ Giscard ’ , as @ @ @ @ @ in office during only one term , from 1974 to 1981 , but his political @ @ @ @ @ he legalized abortion , pushed for European integration and modernized French society .
Tributes are @ @ @ @ @ the French political spectrum and even beyond .

Tributes from political figures pour in for Former French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
01:42
Video by: Alexander AUCOTT
France is mourning former French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, who died Wednesday, aged 94 after contacting Covid-19. ‘Giscard’, as he was known, was in office during only one term, from 1974 to 1981, but his political impact was big, as he legalized abortion, pushed for European integration and modernized French society. Tributes are still pouring in from across the French political spectrum and even beyond.


france24--2020-12-03--Namibia to sell 170 live elephants

Namibia to sell 170 live elephants

The elephants are to be sold rather than killed -- a policy change forced by a global outcry Namibia is putting 170 live elephants up for sale to curb rising tusker populations under pressure from drought and territorial conflict with humans .
An advertisement for the sale of 170 `` high value '' elephants was carried Wednesday by a state-owned daily newspaper , New Era .
The ministry says the elephants are being sold `` due to drought and increase in elephant numbers coupled with human-elephant conflict incidences . ''
The sparsely-populated semi-arid southern African country is home to some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Environment Minister Pohamba Shifeta told AFP that the government backed the policy of selling live animals after being criticised for shooting elephants to control overpopulation .
`` We decided -– after research -– to sell them instead , '' he said .
The elephant population had dwindled to about 5,000 animals at independence in 1990 , but increased phenomenally thanks to a globally-lauded conservation programme .
The advertisement said pachyderms on sale would comprise entire herds in order to preserve the important social structure in elephant communities -- infants or juveniles will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Namibia would not recklessly sell the elephants to buyers , saying `` we have to make sure that the country is conducive . ''
For export purposes , the buyers must ensure that CITES requirements are met by both exporting and importing states for the trade to be authorised , according to the notice .
In October , 100 wild buffalo went up for sale in Namibia .
Last year the government offered for sale around 1,000 animals including 600 buffalo , 150 springboks , 60 giraffes and 28 elephants .

Windhoek (AFP) –
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Namibia is putting 170 live elephants up for sale to curb rising tusker populations under pressure from drought and territorial conflict with humans.
An advertisement for the sale of 170 "high value" elephants was carried Wednesday by a state-owned daily newspaper, New Era.
The ministry says the elephants are being sold "due to drought and increase in elephant numbers coupled with human-elephant conflict incidences."
The sparsely-populated semi-arid southern African country is home to some 28,000 elephants, according to official estimates.
Environment Minister Pohamba Shifeta told AFP that the government backed the policy of selling live animals after being criticised for shooting elephants to control overpopulation.
"We decided -– after research -– to sell them instead," he said.
The elephant population had dwindled to about 5,000 animals at independence in 1990, but increased phenomenally thanks to a globally-lauded conservation programme.
The advertisement said pachyderms on sale would comprise entire herds in order to preserve the important social structure in elephant communities -- infants or juveniles will not be left behind.
Shifeta warned that Namibia would not recklessly sell the elephants to buyers, saying "we have to make sure that the country is conducive."
For export purposes, the buyers must ensure that CITES requirements are met by both exporting and importing states for the trade to be authorised, according to the notice.
In October, 100 wild buffalo went up for sale in Namibia.
Last year the government offered for sale around 1,000 animals including 600 buffalo, 150 springboks, 60 giraffes and 28 elephants.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-03--IPL looks to add two new teams for 2021

IPL looks to add two new teams for 2021

The IPL has an estimated brand value of $ 6.8 billion and some of the games this year drew more than 200 million viewers in India alone The Indian cricket board will discuss adding two new teams to the Indian Premier League , the world 's richest T20 event , at its annual meeting this month , officials said Thursday .
Delayed three times this year because of the coronavirus pandemic , the latest IPL was finally played behind closed doors in the United Arab Emirates but still drew record television and digital viewer numbers .
Arun Dhumal , treasurer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in India ( BCCI ) , confirmed to AFP that adding two teams to the eight-team league was on the agenda for the December 24 annual meeting .
`` We will discuss it with the members and see what their views are and then take a call , '' said Dhumal .
The IPL has an estimated brand value of $ 6.8 billion and some of the games this year drew more than 200 million viewers in India alone .
The teams spend huge amounts to bring the world 's best players for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May .
India captain Virat Kohli is said to have earned $ 2.3 million playing in 15 matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore .
Australian bowler Pat Cummins was the most expensive foreign player , costing Kolkata Knight Riders $ 2.1 million .
According to reports , Indian conglomerates Adani Group and RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group , which entered Rising Pune Supergiant for two IPL seasons , have shown interest in the new teams .
Also on the agenda , seen by AFP , will be the BCCI 's stand on including cricket in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cricket Council favours pushing for cricket to be an Olympic sport but the Indian board , the most powerful as it is the wealthiest , has been reluctant .
Cricket featured at the 1900 Olympics and was part of the 1998 Commonwealth Games .
Women 's Cricket will be part of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham .

New Delhi (AFP) –
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The Indian cricket board will discuss adding two new teams to the Indian Premier League, the world's richest T20 event, at its annual meeting this month, officials said Thursday.
Delayed three times this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, the latest IPL was finally played behind closed doors in the United Arab Emirates but still drew record television and digital viewer numbers.
Arun Dhumal, treasurer of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), confirmed to AFP that adding two teams to the eight-team league was on the agenda for the December 24 annual meeting.
"We will discuss it with the members and see what their views are and then take a call," said Dhumal.
The IPL has an estimated brand value of $6.8 billion and some of the games this year drew more than 200 million viewers in India alone.
The teams spend huge amounts to bring the world's best players for the tournament traditionally held between March and May.
India captain Virat Kohli is said to have earned $2.3 million playing in 15 matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Australian bowler Pat Cummins was the most expensive foreign player, costing Kolkata Knight Riders $2.1 million.
According to reports, Indian conglomerates Adani Group and RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, which entered Rising Pune Supergiant for two IPL seasons, have shown interest in the new teams.
Also on the agenda, seen by AFP, will be the BCCI's stand on including cricket in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The International Cricket Council favours pushing for cricket to be an Olympic sport but the Indian board, the most powerful as it is the wealthiest, has been reluctant.
Cricket featured at the 1900 Olympics and was part of the 1998 Commonwealth Games. Women's Cricket will be part of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-03--France to investigate dozens of mosques suspected of radicalisation

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin told RTL radio that any mosque found to promote extremism would be closed down .
French authorities will swoop down Thursday on dozens of mosques and prayer halls suspected of radical teachings as part of a crackdown on Islamist extremists following a spate of attacks , Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said .
Darmanin told RTL radio that if any prayer hall was found to promote extremism it would be closed down .
The inspections to be carried out on Thursday afternoon are part of a response to two gruesome attacks that particularly shocked France – the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pupils cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed and the stabbing to death of three people in a church in Nice .
Darmanin said 76 mosques out of the more than 2,600 Muslim places of worship had been flagged as possible threats to France ’ s Republican values and its security .
He did not reveal which places of worship would be inspected , but in a note he sent to regional security chiefs , seen by AFP , he listed 16 addresses in the Paris region and 60 others around the country .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of worship that are clearly anti-Republican , ” Darmanin told RTL radio , “ ( where ) imams are followed by the intelligence services and where the discourse runs counter to our values ” .
But he added that the fact that only a fraction of the mosques in France were suspected of peddling radical theories showed “ we are far from a situation of widespread radicalisation ” .
“ Nearly all Muslims in France respect the laws of the Republic and are hurt by that ( radicalisation ) , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ financing and the background of imams deemed suspicious and search for evidence , among other things , of Koranic schools for young children .
The killing of the teacher , Samuel Paty , who had shown his pupils cartoons of Mohammed in a class on free speech , sent shockwaves through France , where it was seen as an attack on the republic itself .
In the aftermath of his murder the authorities raided dozens of Islamic sports groups , charities and associations suspected of promoting extremism .
They also ordered the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that shared a vitriolic video inciting hatred of Paty .
President Emmanuel Macron has warned of the growing threat of ‘ Islamist separatism ’ and its challenge to the unity of the secular French republic .
Core French values such as the freedom of belief , gender equality and the right to blaspheme are threatened in localised areas , he has said .
“ Faced with this ill that is eating into our country , France has rallied with resilience , with determination , ” the president wrote in a letter to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government ’ s crackdown has left some Muslims feeling increasingly alienated in their own country .
Some Muslim leaders , while backing the government ’ s fight against Islamism , have warned it against inadvertently lumping an overwhelming majority of their faith with the “ fomenters of hate ” .

French authorities will swoop down Thursday on dozens of mosques and prayer halls suspected of radical teachings as part of a crackdown on Islamist extremists following a spate of attacks, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin leaves the Elysée Presidential Palace in Paris after the weekly cabinet meeting on December 2, 2020.
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Darmanin told RTL radio that if any prayer hall was found to promote extremism it would be closed down.
The inspections to be carried out on Thursday afternoon are part of a response to two gruesome attacks that particularly shocked France – the beheading of a teacher who showed his pupils cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed and the stabbing to death of three people in a church in Nice.
Darmanin said 76 mosques out of the more than 2,600 Muslim places of worship had been flagged as possible threats to France’s Republican values and its security.
He did not reveal which places of worship would be inspected, but in a note he sent to regional security chiefs, seen by AFP, he listed 16 addresses in the Paris region and 60 others around the country.
“There are in some concentrated areas places of worship that are clearly anti-Republican,” Darmanin told RTL radio, “(where) imams are followed by the intelligence services and where the discourse runs counter to our values”.
But he added that the fact that only a fraction of the mosques in France were suspected of peddling radical theories showed “we are far from a situation of widespread radicalisation”.
“Nearly all Muslims in France respect the laws of the Republic and are hurt by that (radicalisation),” he said.
04:07
Investigators will dig into the mosques’ financing and the background of imams deemed suspicious and search for evidence, among other things, of Koranic schools for young children.
The killing of the teacher, Samuel Paty, who had shown his pupils cartoons of Mohammed in a class on free speech, sent shockwaves through France, where it was seen as an attack on the republic itself.
In the aftermath of his murder the authorities raided dozens of Islamic sports groups, charities and associations suspected of promoting extremism.
They also ordered the temporary closure of a mosque near Paris that shared a vitriolic video inciting hatred of Paty.
President Emmanuel Macron has warned of the growing threat of ‘Islamist separatism’ and its challenge to the unity of the secular French republic. Core French values such as the freedom of belief, gender equality and the right to blaspheme are threatened in localised areas, he has said.
“Faced with this ill that is eating into our country, France has rallied with resilience, with determination,” the president wrote in a letter to the Financial Times newspaper in November.
The government’s crackdown has left some Muslims feeling increasingly alienated in their own country. Some Muslim leaders, while backing the government’s fight against Islamism, have warned it against inadvertently lumping an overwhelming majority of their faith with the “fomenters of hate”.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-12-03--Dortmund star Haaland out until January, but Hummels hopeful

Dortmund striker Erling Braut Haaland ( C ) is out until January with a torn muscle , but defender Mats Hummels ( L ) says his ankle injury is not serious Borussia Dortmund star striker Erling Braut Haaland is sidelined with a leg injury until January , but defender Mats Hummels has said his ankle injury is not as bad as first feared .
Haaland , 20 , has claimed 17 goals in 13 games this season , including six in four Champions League games as the competition 's joint top-scorer .
However , Dortmund coach Lucien Favre has confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January '' with a torn leg muscle .
`` That hurts us , but perhaps he has played a little too much recently , '' Favre added .
The Norway international missed Wednesday 's 1-1 draw at home to Lazio which put Dortmund through to the last 16 of the Champions League .
A win at Zenit St Petersburg on Tuesday will confirm Dortmund as Group F winners .
Hummels had to be helped off the pitch in clear distress after Lazio goal-scorer Ciro Immobile trod on his ankle late in Wednesday 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the injury is not serious as first feared .
`` I 'm just back from hospital .
It looks like it 's not so bad and could be good again in a few days , '' Hummels posted on Instagram .
Dortmund , who are fourth in the Bundesliga , currently have plenty of walking wounded as England midfielder Jude Bellingham , 17 , limped off after the Lazio game .
Defender Thomas Meunier and midfielder Emre Can had already been ruled out with knocks .
`` A few players are on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director Michael Zorc with one eye on Saturday 's league match at Eintracht Frankfurt .

Berlin (AFP) –
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Borussia Dortmund star striker Erling Braut Haaland is sidelined with a leg injury until January, but defender Mats Hummels has said his ankle injury is not as bad as first feared.
Haaland, 20, has claimed 17 goals in 13 games this season, including six in four Champions League games as the competition's joint top-scorer.
However, Dortmund coach Lucien Favre has confirmed he "won't play again until January" with a torn leg muscle.
"That hurts us, but perhaps he has played a little too much recently," Favre added.
The Norway international missed Wednesday's 1-1 draw at home to Lazio which put Dortmund through to the last 16 of the Champions League.
A win at Zenit St Petersburg on Tuesday will confirm Dortmund as Group F winners.
Hummels had to be helped off the pitch in clear distress after Lazio goal-scorer Ciro Immobile trod on his ankle late in Wednesday's game.
However Dortmund's chief defender said the injury is not serious as first feared.
"I'm just back from hospital. It looks like it's not so bad and could be good again in a few days," Hummels posted on Instagram.
Dortmund, who are fourth in the Bundesliga, currently have plenty of walking wounded as England midfielder Jude Bellingham, 17, limped off after the Lazio game.
Defender Thomas Meunier and midfielder Emre Can had already been ruled out with knocks.
"A few players are on their last legs," admitted sports director Michael Zorc with one eye on Saturday's league match at Eintracht Frankfurt.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-03--Greece's sceptical Church faces hard coronavirus reality

Masks were much in evidence at the November funeral of one of the church 's bishops who died of the virus Many Greek clerics have treated lockdown restrictions with scepticism or even hostility .
But when several prominent members -- including its leader -- fell ill with the virus , the powerful Orthodox Church had to face reality .
At least five senior clerics have been hit with the virus in the past month , one of whom died .
Among them was Archbishop Ieronymos , the 82-year-old head of the Orthodox Church of Greece , who had to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was scared and in pain , as other people were , '' the archbishop said after being discharged on November 30 .
There was even an outbreak on Mount Athos , the reclusive monastic community in northern Greece .
`` At first , ( the Church ) failed to realise the scope of the problem , '' Chrysostomos Stamoulis , professor of dogmatic theology at Thessaloniki 's Aristotle University , told AFP .
`` In several cases , arrogance prevailed , with many ( clerics ) thinking themselves invulnerable . ''
Days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the association of Greek priests complained that the measures were `` excessive '' and `` stymied religious freedom '' .
Ieronymos , a moderate by nature , has urged his flock to `` reverentially follow the rules and measures of the competent health authorities '' .
In general , however , the clergy 's response to the pandemic has been `` problematic to say the least '' , said Alexandros Sakellariou , adjunct lecturer on religion at the Hellenic Open University .
`` One could argue that as Orthodox priests ... they hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Between May and October , especially in rural areas , priests would go as far as mocking people coming to church wearing a mask , Sakellariou said .
Church leaders conspicuously went maskless while officiating at important national events , including the investiture of new ministers in August and a top religious celebration in Thessaloniki in October .
And one retired bishop who recovered from the virus even said his `` regular medicine '' had been holy water .
The conservative government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis faced criticism during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shut down businesses and schools while allowing churches to self-regulate .
The ruling New Democracy party has close ties to the Orthodox Church and the government was mindful of the political cost of antagonising the clergy , said Sakellariou .
Even so , he said , `` the Church created obstacles rather than facilitate the state '' , which also pays their salaries .
`` No other religious community ( in Greece ) expressed such objections . ''
There was an even greater row ahead of Orthodox Easter -- the country 's main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to halt Holy Communion .
The Holy Synod , the Church 's governing body , insisted there was no evidence that handing out bread soaked in wine from the same chalice and spoon helped spread the virus .
Ieronymos has for months faced steady pressure from high-ranking clerics to push back against lockdown restrictions .
`` We have effectively given away the keys to our churches , all that remains is to give away the seals too , '' Cythera bishop Serafeim complained in a November 30 letter to the archbishop .
Serafeim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roman Caesar , had briefly been arrested in March for holding a service in violation of lockdown rules .
The Orthodox Church is one of the most powerful institutions in the country , with vast property holdings and influence in politics and justice .
As recently as last month , the Holy Synod condemned calls to halt the sacrament as misplaced and `` neurotic '' , while Crete 's top cleric recently likened mask-wearing to `` slavery '' .
Summer weddings and baptisms held without the proper precautions are also believed to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the Church `` ultimately had to 'bow ' to science , with whom it has never had very good relations '' , said Sakellariou .
The Greek government ordered the suspension of all services with churchgoers as part of the latest lockdown imposed on November 7 .
Services continue to take place , but only with officiating priests .
Before falling ill , Ieronymos and the Synod had written to the prime minister to say they would be `` unable to accept '' a shutdown during Christmas .
Sakellariou is not confident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Church circles .
`` If one reads ( online ) articles by theologians ( and ) priests , it 's clear these views still exist , '' he says .

Athens (AFP) –
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Many Greek clerics have treated lockdown restrictions with scepticism or even hostility. But when several prominent members -- including its leader -- fell ill with the virus, the powerful Orthodox Church had to face reality.
At least five senior clerics have been hit with the virus in the past month, one of whom died.
Among them was Archbishop Ieronymos, the 82-year-old head of the Orthodox Church of Greece, who had to be hospitalised for nearly two weeks.
"I was scared and in pain, as other people were," the archbishop said after being discharged on November 30.
There was even an outbreak on Mount Athos, the reclusive monastic community in northern Greece.
"At first, (the Church) failed to realise the scope of the problem," Chrysostomos Stamoulis, professor of dogmatic theology at Thessaloniki's Aristotle University, told AFP.
"In several cases, arrogance prevailed, with many (clerics) thinking themselves invulnerable."
Days after the latest lockdown was announced, the association of Greek priests complained that the measures were "excessive" and "stymied religious freedom".
Ieronymos, a moderate by nature, has urged his flock to "reverentially follow the rules and measures of the competent health authorities".
In general, however, the clergy's response to the pandemic has been "problematic to say the least", said Alexandros Sakellariou, adjunct lecturer on religion at the Hellenic Open University.
"One could argue that as Orthodox priests... they hope to meet their maker," he said.
- Holy water as 'medicine' -
Between May and October, especially in rural areas, priests would go as far as mocking people coming to church wearing a mask, Sakellariou said.
Church leaders conspicuously went maskless while officiating at important national events, including the investiture of new ministers in August and a top religious celebration in Thessaloniki in October.
And one retired bishop who recovered from the virus even said his "regular medicine" had been holy water.
The conservative government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis faced criticism during the first lockdown in the spring when he shut down businesses and schools while allowing churches to self-regulate.
The ruling New Democracy party has close ties to the Orthodox Church and the government was mindful of the political cost of antagonising the clergy, said Sakellariou.
Even so, he said, "the Church created obstacles rather than facilitate the state", which also pays their salaries. "No other religious community (in Greece) expressed such objections."
There was an even greater row ahead of Orthodox Easter -- the country's main religious celebration -- after the Church refused to halt Holy Communion.
The Holy Synod, the Church's governing body, insisted there was no evidence that handing out bread soaked in wine from the same chalice and spoon helped spread the virus.
Ieronymos has for months faced steady pressure from high-ranking clerics to push back against lockdown restrictions.
"We have effectively given away the keys to our churches, all that remains is to give away the seals too," Cythera bishop Serafeim complained in a November 30 letter to the archbishop.
Serafeim, who likened the government to a Roman Caesar, had briefly been arrested in March for holding a service in violation of lockdown rules.
- 'Bow' to science -
The Orthodox Church is one of the most powerful institutions in the country, with vast property holdings and influence in politics and justice.
As recently as last month, the Holy Synod condemned calls to halt the sacrament as misplaced and "neurotic", while Crete's top cleric recently likened mask-wearing to "slavery".
Summer weddings and baptisms held without the proper precautions are also believed to have contributed to a spike in infections.
But the Church "ultimately had to 'bow' to science, with whom it has never had very good relations", said Sakellariou.
The Greek government ordered the suspension of all services with churchgoers as part of the latest lockdown imposed on November 7.
Services continue to take place, but only with officiating priests.
Before falling ill, Ieronymos and the Synod had written to the prime minister to say they would be "unable to accept" a shutdown during Christmas.
Sakellariou is not confident that pandemic denial has run its course in Church circles.
"If one reads (online) articles by theologians (and) priests, it's clear these views still exist," he says.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-03--Israel expected to face 4th election in 2 years as MPs pass proposal to dissolve parliament

Israel expected to face 4th election in 2 years as MPs pass proposal to dissolve parliament Seven months after establishing @ @ @ @ @ s Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz ’ s differences are levelling divorce level over the @ @ @ @ @ .
Israel could now face its 4th general election in two years , as the @ @ @ @ @ to dissolve itself .

Israel expected to face 4th election in 2 years as MPs pass proposal to dissolve parliament
01:41
Seven months after establishing a coalition, Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz’s differences are levelling divorce level over the country’s 2021 budget. Israel could now face its 4th general election in two years, as the Parliament passed a preliminary movement to dissolve itself.


france24--2020-12-04--Special delivery: Japan space probe to bring asteroid dust to Earth

Hayabusa-2 will near Earth to drop off rare asteroid samples before heading back into deep space on a new extended mission Call it a special delivery : after six years in space , Japan 's Hayabusa-2 probe is heading home , but only to drop off its rare asteroid samples before starting a new mission .
The fridge-sized probe , launched in December 2014 , has already thrilled scientists by landing on and gathering material from an asteroid some 300 million kilometres ( 185 million miles ) from Earth .
But its work is n't over yet , with scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planning to extend its mission for more than a decade and targeting two new asteroids .
Before that mission can begin , Hayabusa-2 needs to drop off its precious samples from the asteroid Ryugu -- `` dragon palace '' in Japanese .
Scientists are hoping the capsule will contain around 0.1 grams of material that will offer clues about what the solar system was like at its birth some 4.6 billion years ago .
The samples could shed light on `` how matter is scattered around the solar system , why it exists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related to Earth , '' project manager Yuichi Tsuda told reporters ahead of Sunday 's drop-off .
The material is in a capsule that will separate from Hayabusa-2 while it is some 220,000 kilometres above Earth and then plummet into the southern Australian desert .
They were collected during two crucial phases of the mission last year .
In the first , Hayabusa-2 touched down on Ryugu to collect dust before firing an `` impactor '' to stir up pristine material from below the surface .
Months later , it touched down to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to get substances that will give us clues to the birth of a planet and the origin of life ...
I 'm very interested to see the substances , '' mission manager Makoto Yoshikawa told reporters .
Protected from sunlight and radiation inside the capsule , the samples will be collected , processed , then flown to Japan .
Half the material will be shared between JAXA , US space agency NASA and other international organisations , and the rest kept for future study as advances are made in analytic technology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hayabusa-2 will complete a series of orbits around the sun for around six years -- recording data on dust in interplanetary space and observing exoplanets .
It will then approach the first of its target asteroids in July 2026 .
The probe wo n't get that close to the asteroid named 2001 CC21 , but scientists hope it will be able to photograph it as it completes a `` high speed swing-by '' .
Getting so close could also help develop knowledge about how to protect Earth against asteroid impact .
Hayabusa-2 will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1998 KY26 , a ball-shaped asteroid with a diameter of just 30 metres .
When the probe arrives at the asteroid in July 2031 , it will be approximately 300 million kilometres from Earth And the target poses significant new challenges , not least because it is spinning rapidly , rotating on its axis about every 10 minutes .
Hayabusa-2 will observe and photograph the asteroid , but it is unlikely to land and collect samples , as it probably wo n't have enough fuel to return them to Earth .
Still , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a feat , said Seiichiro Watanabe , a Hayabusa-2 probe project scientist and professor of planetary science at Nagoya University .
`` It 's like an athlete who scored two tries at a Rugby World Cup game attempting to compete in the Olympics , 10 years after switching over to figure skating , '' he told reporters .
`` We had never expected that the Hayabusa-2 would carry out another mission ... but it 's a scientifically meaningful and fascinating plan . ''
The mission extension comes with risks , including that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space , but it also offers a rare , comparatively cost-effective way to continue research .
That probe brought back dust samples from a smaller , potato-shaped asteroid in 2010 after a seven-year odyssey , and was hailed as a scientific triumph

Tokyo (AFP) –
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Call it a special delivery: after six years in space, Japan's Hayabusa-2 probe is heading home, but only to drop off its rare asteroid samples before starting a new mission.
The fridge-sized probe, launched in December 2014, has already thrilled scientists by landing on and gathering material from an asteroid some 300 million kilometres (185 million miles) from Earth.
But its work isn't over yet, with scientists from Japan's space agency JAXA now planning to extend its mission for more than a decade and targeting two new asteroids.
Before that mission can begin, Hayabusa-2 needs to drop off its precious samples from the asteroid Ryugu -- "dragon palace" in Japanese.
Scientists are hoping the capsule will contain around 0.1 grams of material that will offer clues about what the solar system was like at its birth some 4.6 billion years ago.
The samples could shed light on "how matter is scattered around the solar system, why it exists on the asteroid and how it is related to Earth," project manager Yuichi Tsuda told reporters ahead of Sunday's drop-off.
The material is in a capsule that will separate from Hayabusa-2 while it is some 220,000 kilometres above Earth and then plummet into the southern Australian desert.
They were collected during two crucial phases of the mission last year.
In the first, Hayabusa-2 touched down on Ryugu to collect dust before firing an "impactor" to stir up pristine material from below the surface. Months later, it touched down to collect additional samples.
"We may be able to get substances that will give us clues to the birth of a planet and the origin of life... I'm very interested to see the substances," mission manager Makoto Yoshikawa told reporters.
Protected from sunlight and radiation inside the capsule, the samples will be collected, processed, then flown to Japan.
Half the material will be shared between JAXA, US space agency NASA and other international organisations, and the rest kept for future study as advances are made in analytic technology.
- Two new asteroid targets -
After dropping off its samples, Hayabusa-2 will complete a series of orbits around the sun for around six years -- recording data on dust in interplanetary space and observing exoplanets.
It will then approach the first of its target asteroids in July 2026.
The probe won't get that close to the asteroid named 2001 CC21, but scientists hope it will be able to photograph it as it completes a "high speed swing-by".
Getting so close could also help develop knowledge about how to protect Earth against asteroid impact.
Hayabusa-2 will then head towards its main target, 1998 KY26, a ball-shaped asteroid with a diameter of just 30 metres. When the probe arrives at the asteroid in July 2031, it will be approximately 300 million kilometres from Earth
And the target poses significant new challenges, not least because it is spinning rapidly, rotating on its axis about every 10 minutes.
Hayabusa-2 will observe and photograph the asteroid, but it is unlikely to land and collect samples, as it probably won't have enough fuel to return them to Earth.
Still, just making it to the asteroid will be a feat, said Seiichiro Watanabe, a Hayabusa-2 probe project scientist and professor of planetary science at Nagoya University.
"It's like an athlete who scored two tries at a Rugby World Cup game attempting to compete in the Olympics, 10 years after switching over to figure skating," he told reporters.
"We had never expected that the Hayabusa-2 would carry out another mission... but it's a scientifically meaningful and fascinating plan."
The mission extension comes with risks, including that Hayabusa-2's equipment will degrade in deep space, but it also offers a rare, comparatively cost-effective way to continue research.
That probe brought back dust samples from a smaller, potato-shaped asteroid in 2010 after a seven-year odyssey, and was hailed as a scientific triumph
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-04--Hollywood 'Con Queen' arrested in Britain: FBI

Dubbed the `` Con Queen of Hollywood , '' the fraudster led investigators on a years-long , global manhunt A suspected con artist who allegedly impersonated top female Hollywood executives to swindle wide-eyed aspiring stars out of hundreds of thousands of dollars has been arrested in Britain after a US extradition request , the FBI said Thursday .
Dubbed the `` Con Queen of Hollywood , '' the suspect led investigators on a years-long , global manhunt so improbable it has even been optioned for a book deal .
He was identified in an unsealed court indictment Thursday as Hargobind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The defendant has been arrested in the United Kingdom based on a request for his provisional arrest submitted by the United States with a view towards his extradition , '' an FBI spokesman in San Diego , California told AFP .
Among the Hollywood moguls Tahilramani allegedly impersonated were Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy , former Sony movie chief Amy Pascal , and ex-Paramount boss Sherry Lansing .
Wendi Murdoch , the former wife of Rupert Murdoch , was also allegedly aped by the master of accents , along with various male movie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of lucrative showbiz jobs and instructed to travel to Indonesia for tasks including location scouting , research and drafting screenplays , according to court documents filed in California .
Tahilramani would `` use fake accents and alter his voice to sound like a woman , '' the documents state .
On arrival , the victims were allegedly bilked for US currency at every turn by Tahilramani and his co-conspirators , with the promised movie projects transpiring to be entirely fictional , and their expenses never reimbursed .
If targets complained or expressed doubt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismember '' the victim , the documents state .
The scam began as early as 2013 , and continued despite global Covid travel bans to this August , when victims were instead asked to shell out for non-existent training videos .
According to the Hollywood Reporter , Tahilramani was arrested by Manchester police last week with the assistance of private investigators from K2 Integrity .
In a statement to AFP , co-founder Jules Kroll said K2 had helped US , British and Indonesian authorities in `` bringing the individual known as the 'Con @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Tahilramani -- also known as Gobind Lal Tahil -- had already been `` unmasked '' last month as the likely suspect in the bizarre fraud by investigative podcast `` Chameleon : Hollywood Con Queen . ''
That came after K2 last year issued a statement declaring the `` Con Queen '' was a man .
He faces charges of wire fraud , identity theft and conspiracy .
HarperCollins has secured the book rights for the story to be written by former Hollywood Reporter journalist Scott Johnson .

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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A suspected con artist who allegedly impersonated top female Hollywood executives to swindle wide-eyed aspiring stars out of hundreds of thousands of dollars has been arrested in Britain after a US extradition request, the FBI said Thursday.
Dubbed the "Con Queen of Hollywood," the suspect led investigators on a years-long, global manhunt so improbable it has even been optioned for a book deal.
He was identified in an unsealed court indictment Thursday as Hargobind Tahilramani, a 41-year-old Indonesian man.
"The defendant has been arrested in the United Kingdom based on a request for his provisional arrest submitted by the United States with a view towards his extradition," an FBI spokesman in San Diego, California told AFP.
Among the Hollywood moguls Tahilramani allegedly impersonated were Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy, former Sony movie chief Amy Pascal, and ex-Paramount boss Sherry Lansing.
Wendi Murdoch, the former wife of Rupert Murdoch, was also allegedly aped by the master of accents, along with various male movie executives.
Victims were approached with offers of lucrative showbiz jobs and instructed to travel to Indonesia for tasks including location scouting, research and drafting screenplays, according to court documents filed in California.
Tahilramani would "use fake accents and alter his voice to sound like a woman," the documents state.
On arrival, the victims were allegedly bilked for US currency at every turn by Tahilramani and his co-conspirators, with the promised movie projects transpiring to be entirely fictional, and their expenses never reimbursed.
If targets complained or expressed doubt, Tahilramani would sometimes threaten to "dismember" the victim, the documents state.
The scam began as early as 2013, and continued despite global Covid travel bans to this August, when victims were instead asked to shell out for non-existent training videos.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Tahilramani was arrested by Manchester police last week with the assistance of private investigators from K2 Integrity.
In a statement to AFP, co-founder Jules Kroll said K2 had helped US, British and Indonesian authorities in "bringing the individual known as the 'Con Queen of Hollywood' to justice."
Tahilramani -- also known as Gobind Lal Tahil -- had already been "unmasked" last month as the likely suspect in the bizarre fraud by investigative podcast "Chameleon: Hollywood Con Queen."
That came after K2 last year issued a statement declaring the "Con Queen" was a man.
He faces charges of wire fraud, identity theft and conspiracy.
HarperCollins has secured the book rights for the story to be written by former Hollywood Reporter journalist Scott Johnson.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-04--Facebook changing 'race-blind' hate speech policy

Facebook is reportedly changing its policy on hate speech and shifting away from a `` race-blind '' approach Facebook on Thursday said it is revising its systems to prioritize blocking slurs against Black people , gays and other groups historically targeted by hateful vitriol , no longer automatically filtering out barbs aimed broadly at whites , men , or Americans .
The change in Facebook 's algorithm is a shift from the social network 's ethnicity and gender-neutral system that removed anti-white comments and comments such as `` Men are dumb '' or `` Americans are stupid . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underrepresented groups can be the most harmful , which is why we have focused our technology on finding the hate speech that users and experts tell us is the most serious , '' said Facebook spokeswoman Sally Aldous .
The leading social network said it has also become more precise about the hate speech that its software seeks out .
The changes are an adjustment of the leading social network 's automated systems , meaning that hateful posts about whites , men , or Americans that are reported by users will still be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Over the past year Facebook has also updated its policies to catch more implicit hate speech , such as depictions of Blackface and stereotypes about Jewish people , Aldous noted .
`` Thanks to significant investments in our technology we proactively detect 95 percent of the content we remove and we continue to improve how we enforce our rules as hate speech evolves over time , '' Aldous said .
The reform is at an early stage and aims to target speech deemed `` the worst of the worst , '' including slurs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of more than one race , the LGBTQ community and Jews , according to a report in the Washington Post .
The move comes as Facebook faces pressure from civil rights groups who have long complained the social network does too little to police hate speech .
Earlier this year , more than 1,000 advertisers joined a boycott of Facebook to protest its handling of hate speech and misinformation .
At the same time , the company and its rival Twitter have also been taken to task on Capitol Hill by Republicans who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Wednesday , Twitter said it was expanding its definition of hateful content to ban language which `` dehumanizes '' people on the basis of race , ethnicity or national origin .
Twitter said it would remove offending tweets when they are reported , and offered examples such as describing a particular ethnic group as `` scum '' or `` leeches . ''

New York (AFP) –
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Facebook on Thursday said it is revising its systems to prioritize blocking slurs against Black people, gays and other groups historically targeted by hateful vitriol, no longer automatically filtering out barbs aimed broadly at whites, men, or Americans.
The change in Facebook's algorithm is a shift from the social network's ethnicity and gender-neutral system that removed anti-white comments and comments such as "Men are dumb" or "Americans are stupid."
"We know that hate speech targeted towards underrepresented groups can be the most harmful, which is why we have focused our technology on finding the hate speech that users and experts tell us is the most serious," said Facebook spokeswoman Sally Aldous.
The leading social network said it has also become more precise about the hate speech that its software seeks out.
The changes are an adjustment of the leading social network's automated systems, meaning that hateful posts about whites, men, or Americans that are reported by users will still be deleted if they violate Facebook policies.
Over the past year Facebook has also updated its policies to catch more implicit hate speech, such as depictions of Blackface and stereotypes about Jewish people, Aldous noted.
"Thanks to significant investments in our technology we proactively detect 95 percent of the content we remove and we continue to improve how we enforce our rules as hate speech evolves over time," Aldous said.
The reform is at an early stage and aims to target speech deemed "the worst of the worst," including slurs against Black people, Muslims, people of more than one race, the LGBTQ community and Jews, according to a report in the Washington Post.
The move comes as Facebook faces pressure from civil rights groups who have long complained the social network does too little to police hate speech. Earlier this year, more than 1,000 advertisers joined a boycott of Facebook to protest its handling of hate speech and misinformation.
At the same time, the company and its rival Twitter have also been taken to task on Capitol Hill by Republicans who say the platforms are biased against conservatives.
On Wednesday, Twitter said it was expanding its definition of hateful content to ban language which "dehumanizes" people on the basis of race, ethnicity or national origin.
Twitter said it would remove offending tweets when they are reported, and offered examples such as describing a particular ethnic group as "scum" or "leeches."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-04--US intel chief: China 'greatest threat to democracy worldwide'

US Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe pointed to China 's theft of US business secrets and defense technologies in calling it `` the greatest threat to democracy and freedom worldwide since World War II '' The US intelligence chief on Thursday branded China as `` the greatest threat to democracy and freedom worldwide since World War II , '' as Washington clamped down hard on travel visas for members of the Chinese Communist Party .
US Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe , writing in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece , pointed to China 's theft of US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The People 's Republic of China poses the greatest threat to America today , and the greatest threat to democracy and freedom worldwide since World War II , '' he wrote .
He also described operations in which Chinese operatives used economic pressure to influence or undermine US legislators .
`` Our intelligence shows that Beijing regularly directs this type of influence operation in the US , '' he wrote .
`` China 's leaders seek to subordinate the rights of the individual to the will of the Communist Party , '' Ratcliffe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over companies and subvert the privacy and freedom of their citizens with an authoritarian surveillance state . ''
Meanwhile , the State Department said Chinese Communist Party members are `` hostile to US values '' and engage in `` nefarious activities . ''
Under new rules effective immediately , visas issued to party members and their immediate family will remain valid for just one month after issuance , and for single entry .
Previously some visas were issued that permitted unlimited entries and could remain valid for as long as 10 years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ free and unfettered access to US institutions and businesses while these same privileges were never extended freely to US citizens in China , '' the State Department said .
`` Through various entities , the CCP and its members actively work in the US to influence Americans through propaganda , economic coercion and other nefarious activities , '' it added .
It also said the CCP sends `` agents '' into the United States to monitor and harass Chinese nationals studying or working in the country as well as Chinese-American groups targeted for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dominates politics in Beijing and around the country , had 92 million members in 2019 , so the State Department decision covering their families could affect several hundred million Chinese .
Tensions have soared between the world 's two largest economies on a range of fronts and both countries have stepped up travel restrictions on each other 's citizens .
The United States shut down the Chinese consulate in Houston in July , calling it a center of espionage and harassment of Chinese nationals in the US .
In retaliation Beijing ordered the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Justice Department has arrested several Chinese researchers over the past year , accusing them of hiding their associations with the People 's Liberation Army .
`` Those five or six arrests were just the tip of the iceberg , '' Assistant Attorney General John Demers told the Aspen Security Forum on Wednesday .
Between those arrests , the consulate 's closure , and other investigations , `` more than 1,000 PLA-affiliated Chinese researchers left the country , '' he said .
Both countries have restricted journalist visas , with Washington curbing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news outlets in the US earlier this year .
China responded in March by expelling more than a dozen American journalists from The New York Times , The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal .
Beijing said earlier reports that the US was considering travel restrictions showed its `` hatred and abnormal mindset towards the Communist Party . ''
`` Some extreme anti-China forces in the US , driven by a strong ideological bias and deep-rooted Cold War mentality , are politically oppressing China , '' said foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their political oppression towards China and China is firmly opposed to that , '' she said .

Washington (AFP) –
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The US intelligence chief on Thursday branded China as "the greatest threat to democracy and freedom worldwide since World War II," as Washington clamped down hard on travel visas for members of the Chinese Communist Party.
US Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, writing in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, pointed to China's theft of US business secrets and defense technologies.
"The People's Republic of China poses the greatest threat to America today, and the greatest threat to democracy and freedom worldwide since World War II," he wrote.
He also described operations in which Chinese operatives used economic pressure to influence or undermine US legislators.
"Our intelligence shows that Beijing regularly directs this type of influence operation in the US," he wrote.
"China's leaders seek to subordinate the rights of the individual to the will of the Communist Party," Ratcliffe said.
"They exert government control over companies and subvert the privacy and freedom of their citizens with an authoritarian surveillance state."
Meanwhile, the State Department said Chinese Communist Party members are "hostile to US values" and engage in "nefarious activities."
Under new rules effective immediately, visas issued to party members and their immediate family will remain valid for just one month after issuance, and for single entry.
Previously some visas were issued that permitted unlimited entries and could remain valid for as long as 10 years.
- 'Nefarious activities' -
"For decades we allowed the CCP free and unfettered access to US institutions and businesses while these same privileges were never extended freely to US citizens in China," the State Department said.
"Through various entities, the CCP and its members actively work in the US to influence Americans through propaganda, economic coercion and other nefarious activities," it added.
It also said the CCP sends "agents" into the United States to monitor and harass Chinese nationals studying or working in the country as well as Chinese-American groups targeted for their politics.
The party, which dominates politics in Beijing and around the country, had 92 million members in 2019, so the State Department decision covering their families could affect several hundred million Chinese.
Tensions have soared between the world's two largest economies on a range of fronts and both countries have stepped up travel restrictions on each other's citizens.
The United States shut down the Chinese consulate in Houston in July, calling it a center of espionage and harassment of Chinese nationals in the US.
In retaliation Beijing ordered the US to vacate its consulate in Chengdu.
The Justice Department has arrested several Chinese researchers over the past year, accusing them of hiding their associations with the People's Liberation Army.
"Those five or six arrests were just the tip of the iceberg," Assistant Attorney General John Demers told the Aspen Security Forum on Wednesday.
Between those arrests, the consulate's closure, and other investigations, "more than 1,000 PLA-affiliated Chinese researchers left the country," he said.
- Journalists expelled -
Both countries have restricted journalist visas, with Washington curbing the number of Chinese nationals from state-run news outlets in the US earlier this year.
China responded in March by expelling more than a dozen American journalists from The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal.
Beijing said earlier reports that the US was considering travel restrictions showed its "hatred and abnormal mindset towards the Communist Party."
"Some extreme anti-China forces in the US, driven by a strong ideological bias and deep-rooted Cold War mentality, are politically oppressing China," said foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying Thursday.
"This is an escalation of their political oppression towards China and China is firmly opposed to that," she said.
burs-pmh/jm/acb
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-04--Top coronavirus aide warns US vaccination to take time

Response coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force Deborah Birx , seen in November 2020 , has cautioned that vaccine distribution will take time The White House coordinator on the coronavirus response cautioned Thursday that vaccinations across the United States will take time , even for the most at risk including around one-third of Americans living with other serious conditions .
`` That 's probably the most important question right now .
It will be a number of weeks , a number of months before the most vulnerable individuals in America '' are vaccinated , Deborah Birx told reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nations .
`` We have 100 million Americans with significant comorbidities .
It is going to take time to get them immunized , '' she said after meeting Secretary-General Antonio Guterres , who led a largely virtual UN summit on the Covid-19 crisis .
Birx , a seasoned expert on public health , declined to say whether she planned to continue in a role after President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in on January 20 .
Birx also serves as the State Department 's global coordinator on HIV/AIDS , a position to which she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama , with Donald Trump not replacing her .
Trump has lashed out angrily both at Birx and Anthony Fauci -- the US government 's top infectious disease specialist , who has been asked to join Biden 's Covid team -- for not parroting his rosy predictions before last month 's election although he has not dismissed them .
The United States is expected soon to approve its first vaccines for Covid-19 , following in the footsteps of Britain .
For now , `` we know precisely what we need to do , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are tired about it but we can not have indoor gatherings outside of our household .
We all need to wear masks and ( observe ) physical distance and wash our hands . ''
The United States has suffered more Covid deaths than any other country , with the daily toll sometimes reaching beyond 2,000 for a total of more than 275,000 fatalities .

United Nations (United States) (AFP) –
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The White House coordinator on the coronavirus response cautioned Thursday that vaccinations across the United States will take time, even for the most at risk including around one-third of Americans living with other serious conditions.
"That's probably the most important question right now. It will be a number of weeks, a number of months before the most vulnerable individuals in America" are vaccinated, Deborah Birx told reporters from AFP and AP at the United Nations.
"We have 100 million Americans with significant comorbidities. It is going to take time to get them immunized," she said after meeting Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who led a largely virtual UN summit on the Covid-19 crisis.
Birx, a seasoned expert on public health, declined to say whether she planned to continue in a role after President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in on January 20.
Birx also serves as the State Department's global coordinator on HIV/AIDS, a position to which she was appointed in 2014 under president Barack Obama, with Donald Trump not replacing her.
Trump has lashed out angrily both at Birx and Anthony Fauci -- the US government's top infectious disease specialist, who has been asked to join Biden's Covid team -- for not parroting his rosy predictions before last month's election although he has not dismissed them.
The United States is expected soon to approve its first vaccines for Covid-19, following in the footsteps of Britain.
For now, "we know precisely what we need to do," Birx said.
"I know people are tired about it but we cannot have indoor gatherings outside of our household. We all need to wear masks and (observe) physical distance and wash our hands."
The United States has suffered more Covid deaths than any other country, with the daily toll sometimes reaching beyond 2,000 for a total of more than 275,000 fatalities.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-04--Williamson eyes double century as New Zealand build against Windies

Kane Williamson notched up his 22nd Test century and had eyes on a double as New Zealand reached 346 for four at lunch on day two of the first Test against the West Indies on Friday .
The West Indies took two wickets in the session , but lost their final two reviews as Williamson led New Zealand towards a comprehensive first innings total on his home ground Seddon Park in Hamilton .
At lunch , he was unbeaten on 168 , having overtaken Ross Taylor as the most prolific batsman at the park where he has scored 1,155 Test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Of his New Zealand record 22 centuries , Williamson has scored five in Hamilton including tons in each of his last three appearances , which covers Tests last year against England and Bangladesh .
The West Indies , having toiled for little reward on day one after putting New Zealand in to bat , sensed their luck was turning when they removed Williamson 's overnight partner Taylor in the second over of the morning for 38 , and Henry Nicholls soon after for seven .
Taylor feathered a full-length delivery and Shamarh Brooks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the injured Shane Dowrich , took a smart catch low down .
Nicholls was caught chasing a wide delivery from Kumar Roach that he nicked to second slip where Jason Holder juggled the ball before clasping it at his second attempt .
But Williamson remained unruffled .
He resumed the day on 97 and brought up his century with a classic push through point to the boundary off a short delivery from Shannon Gabriel .
With a full armoury of strokes , he took New Zealand past 300 pulling Holder to the square @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chase off the back foot through cover for three .
Tom Blundell , a Test century opener who is batting down the order as cover for injured wicketkeeper BJ Watling , was a cautious eight off 56 deliveries at lunch as he let Williamson set the pace .
On the West Indies injury list , Darren Bravo , who was stretchered from the field late on the first day , has a slight achilles strain and wicketkeeper Dowrich has an injured hand .
Both are expected to resume playing in the Test .

Hamilton (New Zealand) (AFP) –
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Kane Williamson notched up his 22nd Test century and had eyes on a double as New Zealand reached 346 for four at lunch on day two of the first Test against the West Indies on Friday.
The West Indies took two wickets in the session, but lost their final two reviews as Williamson led New Zealand towards a comprehensive first innings total on his home ground Seddon Park in Hamilton.
At lunch, he was unbeaten on 168, having overtaken Ross Taylor as the most prolific batsman at the park where he has scored 1,155 Test runs at a phenomenal 88.84 average.
Of his New Zealand record 22 centuries, Williamson has scored five in Hamilton including tons in each of his last three appearances, which covers Tests last year against England and Bangladesh.
The West Indies, having toiled for little reward on day one after putting New Zealand in to bat, sensed their luck was turning when they removed Williamson's overnight partner Taylor in the second over of the morning for 38, and Henry Nicholls soon after for seven.
Taylor feathered a full-length delivery and Shamarh Brooks, filling in behind the stumps for the injured Shane Dowrich, took a smart catch low down.
Nicholls was caught chasing a wide delivery from Kumar Roach that he nicked to second slip where Jason Holder juggled the ball before clasping it at his second attempt.
But Williamson remained unruffled. He resumed the day on 97 and brought up his century with a classic push through point to the boundary off a short delivery from Shannon Gabriel.
With a full armoury of strokes, he took New Zealand past 300 pulling Holder to the square leg fence and reached 150 punching Roston Chase off the back foot through cover for three.
Tom Blundell, a Test century opener who is batting down the order as cover for injured wicketkeeper BJ Watling, was a cautious eight off 56 deliveries at lunch as he let Williamson set the pace.
On the West Indies injury list, Darren Bravo, who was stretchered from the field late on the first day, has a slight achilles strain and wicketkeeper Dowrich has an injured hand. Both are expected to resume playing in the Test.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-04--Pacific Islands Forum to hold virtual climate summit

The Pacific 's low-lying island nations are among the worst affected by global warming , threatened by rising seas and increasingly extreme cyclones Pacific island leaders will hold a virtual summit next week to demand urgent worldwide action on climate change ahead of UN-brokered talks on the issue .
The Pacific 's low-lying island nations are among the worst affected by global warming , threatened by rising seas and increasingly extreme cyclones .
Tuvalu Prime Minister Kausea Natano said the Pacific Islands Forum -- an 18-member regional grouping -- had a duty to spur the world into meaningful action .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ frontline of the climate change crisis , our ongoing global leadership and advocacy is critical , '' he said .
Natano , who this year holds the role of PIF chairman , called a virtual meeting of Forum members on December 11 to articulate the regional leaders ' demands .
The aim is to put pressure on world leaders who are holding a virtual meeting on Saturday , December 12 , to discuss `` high-ambition '' goals on climate change .
The talks -- co-hosted by the UN , Britain and France -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signing of the Paris climate accord .
The landmark accord committed all nations to cap warming at two degrees Celsius ( 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit ) above pre-industrial levels and encouraged them to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius .
Natano said the PIF 's virtual summit was a chance for members to provide updates on their progress and signal the Pacific 's desire for `` momentum and ambitious action '' on climate change .
`` There is no doubt that our collective failure to act as a community will impact not just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our children and all future generations , '' he said .
Renato Redentor Constantino , executive director of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities in Manila , said the PIF meeting could be uncomfortable for Australia and New Zealand .
Constantino said the climate response from the two wealthiest PIF members had been `` hollow and ritualistic '' .
`` Both like to think of themselves as benefactors in the Pacific but in reality , they act like troglodytes and arsonists , '' he said .
Constantino criticised Australia 's ongoing support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which this week declared a `` climate emergency '' -- continued to grow its greenhouse gas emissions .
`` By shirking from their climate responsibility , both are fanning flames that are consuming the Pacific 's rapidly dwindling lifelines , '' he said .

Wellington (AFP) –
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Pacific island leaders will hold a virtual summit next week to demand urgent worldwide action on climate change ahead of UN-brokered talks on the issue.
The Pacific's low-lying island nations are among the worst affected by global warming, threatened by rising seas and increasingly extreme cyclones.
Tuvalu Prime Minister Kausea Natano said the Pacific Islands Forum -- an 18-member regional grouping -- had a duty to spur the world into meaningful action.
"With Pacific island nations on the frontline of the climate change crisis, our ongoing global leadership and advocacy is critical," he said.
Natano, who this year holds the role of PIF chairman, called a virtual meeting of Forum members on December 11 to articulate the regional leaders' demands.
The aim is to put pressure on world leaders who are holding a virtual meeting on Saturday, December 12, to discuss "high-ambition" goals on climate change.
The talks -- co-hosted by the UN, Britain and France -- coincide with the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Paris climate accord.
The landmark accord committed all nations to cap warming at two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels and encouraged them to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Natano said the PIF's virtual summit was a chance for members to provide updates on their progress and signal the Pacific's desire for "momentum and ambitious action" on climate change.
"There is no doubt that our collective failure to act as a community will impact not just our current generations, but that of our children and all future generations," he said.
Renato Redentor Constantino, executive director of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities in Manila, said the PIF meeting could be uncomfortable for Australia and New Zealand.
Constantino said the climate response from the two wealthiest PIF members had been "hollow and ritualistic".
"Both like to think of themselves as benefactors in the Pacific but in reality, they act like troglodytes and arsonists," he said.
Constantino criticised Australia's ongoing support for coal and said New Zealand -- which this week declared a "climate emergency" -- continued to grow its greenhouse gas emissions.
"By shirking from their climate responsibility, both are fanning flames that are consuming the Pacific's rapidly dwindling lifelines," he said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-03--Packers present another huge challenge for struggling Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles have their hands full on December 6 , 2020 as they face star quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in week 13 The Philadelphia Eagles are in a desperate situation heading into thir week 13 game against the Green Bay Packers , but coach Doug Pederson says he 's not about to start pointing fingers .
The Eagles have lost three straight and the offence has been sputtering under quarterback Carson Wentz .
But even though the situation might look bleak to some , they are not far from the top of the NFC East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm not going to sit here and throw people under the bus , '' Pederson said .
`` Guys just have to understand the sense of urgency that it takes to play a game and to prepare not only coaching , but also players .
It 's a long season .
The season is a grind . ''
With a record of 3-7-1 , the Eagles are hoping Wentz can somehow pull them through when they visit the Packers in Wisconsin .
It 's a matchup with vastly different quarterback situations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rodgers , who is coming off a four-touchdown performance against the Chicago Bears .
The confidence level is much higher for the Packers , who can improve to 9-3 with a victory over the Eagles .
Rodgers turned 37 on Wednesday but is showing no signs of slowing down .
`` I just feel really fortunate to have grown up here and just have a lot of great memories that I 've made here that I 'll take with me one day , '' Rodgers said .
`` Hopefully that day is n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told that 21-year-old he 'd still be sitting here at 37 , I 'd be pretty happy about that , as happy as I am today to still be here . ''
Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes looks to continue his dazzling season when the Chiefs host the Denver Broncos on Sunday .
With a win the Chiefs ( 10-1 ) can clinch at least a share of their fifth straight AFC West title .
The Broncos have quarterback problems of their own .
Last week they were forced to play an undrafted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their QBs were placed on the Covid-19 list .
It is no surprise the New Orleans Saints battered the Broncos 31-3 .
Mahomes leads the league with 3,497 yards , with 30 touchdowns against two interceptions in 423 attempts .
His favourite target Tyreek Hill has an NFL-best 13 receiving touchdowns , including three in a 27-24 victory last week at Tampa Bay , where he set a Chiefs record with six receptions of 20-plus yards .
Hill ranks second in the NFL in receiving yardage with 1,021 yards .
Kansas City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with an illness but he is expected to play .
The Broncos will attempt to snap a 10-game losing streak against the Chiefs , who won the season 's first division matchup , 43-16 , on October 25 .
Mitchell Trubisky will be Chicago 's starting quarterback against the Detroit Lions on Sunday .
Trubisky started in place of Nick Foles last Sunday against the Green Bay Packers and passed for 242 yards in a 41-25 loss .
He threw three touchdown passes and was intercepted twice .
Foles is suffering from a @ @ @

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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The Philadelphia Eagles are in a desperate situation heading into thir week 13 game against the Green Bay Packers, but coach Doug Pederson says he's not about to start pointing fingers.
The Eagles have lost three straight and the offence has been sputtering under quarterback Carson Wentz. But even though the situation might look bleak to some, they are not far from the top of the NFC East Division.
"You know me, I'm not going to sit here and throw people under the bus," Pederson said. "Guys just have to understand the sense of urgency that it takes to play a game and to prepare not only coaching, but also players. It's a long season. The season is a grind."
With a record of 3-7-1, the Eagles are hoping Wentz can somehow pull them through when they visit the Packers in Wisconsin.
It's a matchup with vastly different quarterback situations. Green Bay is riding the reliable Aaron Rodgers, who is coming off a four-touchdown performance against the Chicago Bears.
The confidence level is much higher for the Packers, who can improve to 9-3 with a victory over the Eagles.
Rodgers turned 37 on Wednesday but is showing no signs of slowing down.
"I just feel really fortunate to have grown up here and just have a lot of great memories that I've made here that I'll take with me one day," Rodgers said.
"Hopefully that day isn't too soon, but if you had told that 21-year-old he'd still be sitting here at 37, I'd be pretty happy about that, as happy as I am today to still be here."
Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes looks to continue his dazzling season when the Chiefs host the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
With a win the Chiefs (10-1) can clinch at least a share of their fifth straight AFC West title.
The Broncos have quarterback problems of their own. Last week they were forced to play an undrafted rookie wide receiver at quarterback after all of their QBs were placed on the Covid-19 list. It is no surprise the New Orleans Saints battered the Broncos 31-3.
Mahomes leads the league with 3,497 yards, with 30 touchdowns against two interceptions in 423 attempts.
His favourite target Tyreek Hill has an NFL-best 13 receiving touchdowns, including three in a 27-24 victory last week at Tampa Bay, where he set a Chiefs record with six receptions of 20-plus yards. Hill ranks second in the NFL in receiving yardage with 1,021 yards.
Kansas City starting cornerback Bashaud Breeland missed practice Wednesday with an illness but he is expected to play.
The Broncos will attempt to snap a 10-game losing streak against the Chiefs, who won the season's first division matchup, 43-16, on October 25.
Mitchell Trubisky will be Chicago's starting quarterback against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Trubisky started in place of Nick Foles last Sunday against the Green Bay Packers and passed for 242 yards in a 41-25 loss. He threw three touchdown passes and was intercepted twice. Foles is suffering from a hip problem.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-03--Israel warns of threat to citizens abroad as Iran vows 'vengeance'

Iran 's Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi ( C ) pays respects to the body of slain scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh among his family , in the capital Tehran on November 28 , 2020 Israel warned Thursday of an increased threat against its citizens abroad following Iran 's call to avenge last week 's assassination of its top nuclear scientist .
The death of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh , killed in a bomb and gun attack on a major road outside Tehran on Friday , has been blamed in part on Israel 's Mossad spy agency by the Islamic republic .
`` In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... we fear that Iran may attack Israeli targets , '' the Israeli foreign ministry said .
It warned of possible attacks against its nationals in Africa and in countries geographically close to Iran , citing Georgia , Azerbaijan , Turkey , the Kurdish region of Iraq , the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain .
The National Security Council , citing attacks already carried out in France , Germany and Austria , said that global jihad organisations , especially the Islamic State group , `` are demonstrating high motivation to carry out terrorist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that part of the current wave of Islamist terrorism will reach targets identified with Israel or Jewish communities , synagogues , kosher restaurants and Jewish museums , '' it warned , urging travellers to check for any warnings regarding their destination .
Bahrain and the UAE normalised ties with Israel in September and commercial air links were established between Dubai and Tel Aviv late last month .
Israel 's Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi had been due to visit Bahrain at the weekend for a regional conference , but diplomatic sources told AFP that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israel for Fakhrizadeh 's assassination and threatened retaliation .
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday accused Iran of having taken advantage of its international nuclear deal -- which allowed economic sanctions to be lifted , before they were reinstated and toughened by US President Donald Trump -- in order to `` extend '' its influence in Iraq , Yemen and Syria .
The nuclear deal let the `` tiger '' out of its cage , Netanyahu said during an online discussion with Washington 's Hudson Center for Analysis .
US president-elect Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Iran .
Iran 's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday called on Biden to once again lift the sanctions against his country , while excluding any renegotiation of the 2015 nuclear deal .
Iran 's President Hassan Rouhani had on Saturday accused Israel of acting as Washington 's mercenary , blaming the Jewish state for the killing of the nuclear scientist .
Rouhani also said , however , that his country would seek its revenge in `` due time '' and not be rushed into a `` trap '' , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hawkish administration of US President Trump leaves office .
On Monday , Iran 's top security official , Rear-Admiral Ali Shamkhani , alleged that `` the Zionist regime and the Mossad '' were involved in the scientist 's killing , referring to the Israeli government and its spy agency .
Shamkhani also alleged that exiled opposition group the People 's Mujahedeen of Iran was involved , in a complex operation that used electronic equipment `` with no one present at the scene '' .
Officials in Israel have declined to comment on @ @ @

Jerusalem (AFP) –
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Israel warned Thursday of an increased threat against its citizens abroad following Iran's call to avenge last week's assassination of its top nuclear scientist.
The death of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, killed in a bomb and gun attack on a major road outside Tehran on Friday, has been blamed in part on Israel's Mossad spy agency by the Islamic republic.
"In light of recent threats from Iranian elements... we fear that Iran may attack Israeli targets," the Israeli foreign ministry said.
It warned of possible attacks against its nationals in Africa and in countries geographically close to Iran, citing Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, the Kurdish region of Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
The National Security Council, citing attacks already carried out in France, Germany and Austria, said that global jihad organisations, especially the Islamic State group, "are demonstrating high motivation to carry out terrorist attacks."
"It is possible that part of the current wave of Islamist terrorism will reach targets identified with Israel or Jewish communities, synagogues, kosher restaurants and Jewish museums," it warned, urging travellers to check for any warnings regarding their destination.
Bahrain and the UAE normalised ties with Israel in September and commercial air links were established between Dubai and Tel Aviv late last month.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi had been due to visit Bahrain at the weekend for a regional conference, but diplomatic sources told AFP that his trip was cancelled after Iran blamed Israel for Fakhrizadeh's assassination and threatened retaliation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday accused Iran of having taken advantage of its international nuclear deal -- which allowed economic sanctions to be lifted, before they were reinstated and toughened by US President Donald Trump -- in order to "extend" its influence in Iraq, Yemen and Syria.
The nuclear deal let the "tiger" out of its cage, Netanyahu said during an online discussion with Washington's Hudson Center for Analysis.
US president-elect Joe Biden has signalled his intention to resume dialogue with Iran.
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday called on Biden to once again lift the sanctions against his country, while excluding any renegotiation of the 2015 nuclear deal.
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani had on Saturday accused Israel of acting as Washington's mercenary, blaming the Jewish state for the killing of the nuclear scientist.
Rouhani also said, however, that his country would seek its revenge in "due time" and not be rushed into a "trap", with less than two months to go before the hawkish administration of US President Trump leaves office.
On Monday, Iran's top security official, Rear-Admiral Ali Shamkhani, alleged that "the Zionist regime and the Mossad" were involved in the scientist's killing, referring to the Israeli government and its spy agency.
Shamkhani also alleged that exiled opposition group the People's Mujahedeen of Iran was involved, in a complex operation that used electronic equipment "with no one present at the scene".
Officials in Israel have declined to comment on the attack.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-03--UK promises to cut greenhouse gas emissions two-thirds by 2030

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to announce Friday a new target that he says would reduce the U.K. ’ s greenhouse gas emissions “ faster than any major economy.
” The target aims to cut the U.K. ’ s emissions by at least 68 % from 1990 levels by 2030 and to set the country on the path to net zero by 2050 .
The goal is more ambitious than the one the European Union , which the U.K. left earlier this year , is expected to set next week .
The U.K. ’ s is co-hosting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and France on Dec. 12 , which coincides with the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement , a global pact aimed at averting catastrophic climate change .
Under the terms of the Paris accord , which the United States formally withdrew from last month but President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to rejoin , countries agreed to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius ( 3.6 F ) , ideally no more than 1.5 C ( 2.7 F ) by the end of the century , compared with pre-industrial levels .
It was left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at what pace emissions would be reduced .
The only binding requirement was that each country had to update the U.N. on its plans and progress .
The aim of the summit is to get countries to submit ambitious targets before the U.K. hosts the 26th global U.N .
Climate Change Conference of the Parties ( COP26 ) in 2021 , a year later than planned due to the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Today , we are taking the lead with an ambitious new target to reduce our emissions by 2030 , faster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ But this is a global effort , which is why the U.K. is urging world leaders as part of next week ’ s Climate Ambition Summit to bring forward their own ambitious plans to cut emissions and set net zero targets , ” he added .
The U.K. ’ s move was praised by Mohamed Adow , director of Power Shift Africa , a climate and energy think tank based in Nairobi , Kenya .
“ This is the kind of leadership we want to see from the hosts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it will put pressure on other countries to follow suit , ” he said .
“ This welcome move by the U.K. ahead of the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement must now trigger a race to the top for a safer and cleaner world , ” Adow added .

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to announce Friday a new target that he says would reduce the U.K.’s greenhouse gas emissions “faster than any major economy.”
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The target aims to cut the U.K.’s emissions by at least 68% from 1990 levels by 2030 and to set the country on the path to net zero by 2050. The goal is more ambitious than the one the European Union, which the U.K. left earlier this year, is expected to set next week.
The U.K.’s is co-hosting the Climate Ambition Summit with the United Nations and France on Dec. 12, which coincides with the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, a global pact aimed at averting catastrophic climate change.
Under the terms of the Paris accord, which the United States formally withdrew from last month but President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to rejoin, countries agreed to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 F), ideally no more than 1.5 C (2.7 F) by the end of the century, compared with pre-industrial levels.
It was left up to each participating country to determine at what pace emissions would be reduced. The only binding requirement was that each country had to update the U.N. on its plans and progress.
The aim of the summit is to get countries to submit ambitious targets before the U.K. hosts the 26th global U.N. Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in 2021, a year later than planned due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Today, we are taking the lead with an ambitious new target to reduce our emissions by 2030, faster than any major economy,” Johnson said.
“But this is a global effort, which is why the U.K. is urging world leaders as part of next week’s Climate Ambition Summit to bring forward their own ambitious plans to cut emissions and set net zero targets,” he added.
The U.K.’s move was praised by Mohamed Adow, director of Power Shift Africa, a climate and energy think tank based in Nairobi, Kenya.
“This is the kind of leadership we want to see from the hosts of the crucial U.N. summit next year, and it will put pressure on other countries to follow suit,” he said.
“This welcome move by the U.K. ahead of the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement must now trigger a race to the top for a safer and cleaner world,” Adow added.
(AP)
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