france24--2020-10-24--Kyrgyz election body calls new presidential vote as police raid

Post-election protests earlier this month forced the president to step down Kyrgyz election officials on Saturday announced presidential elections for January 10 even as police raided their offices , in what appeared to be a power struggle with the country 's acting leader .
The impoverished ex-Soviet state in Central Asia has been embroiled in political chaos since the unrest following the results of parliamentary elections held earlier this month .
The Central Elections Committee ( CEC ) finally annulled them following mass protests .
Sadyr Japarov , a populist politician who had been serving a prison sentence for hostage-taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is now both acting president and prime minister .
Since Japarov , 51 , took power he has promised fresh parliamentary and presidential elections -- but only after making changes to the constitution .
He has also called for the elections commission to be disbanded and reformed , saying it was something the people had called for along with the recent resignation of former president Sooronbay Jeenbekov .
The law requires that presidential elections within three months of Jeenbekov 's departure .
But on Saturday morning , police raided the CEC headquarters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the interior ministry into alleged voting violations during the now-annulled October parliamentary elections .
CEC member Gulnara Djurabayeva denounced the raid as a form of `` pressure on a constitutional body '' , during an interview with local media .
The results of the October 4 vote were cancelled after a protest led by losing parties against vote-buying and other violations escalated into violent clashes pitting protesters against police .
Earlier this week , lawmakers cancelled new parliamentary elections that the CEC had set for December 20 by suspending part of the constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argued may not have been legal .
Japarov himself has proposed a number of changes to the constitution , arguing that citizens should be able to decide whether or not to revert to a presidential system from the current mixed system .
Before protesters freed him this month , the former lawmaker was serving a sentence for hostage-taking dating back to a 2013 incident during a rally for the nationalisation of a gold mine .
Russia , which has a military base in Kyrgyzstan and is a destination for hundreds of thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the unrest there .
Kyrgyz foreign minister Ruslan Kazakbayev and Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov held talks Friday in the highest-level meeting between the two countries since Japarov became leader .
Japarov has not yet been endorsed by Russian President Vladimir Putin , who this week referred to an `` unfortunate ... seizure of power '' .
Putin also noted that Russia had done `` a lot '' to keep Kyrgyzstan `` standing '' through investments and financial aid .
Former president Jeenbekov is the third leader to step down amid political chaos in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

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Kyrgyz election officials on Saturday announced presidential elections for January 10 even as police raided their offices, in what appeared to be a power struggle with the country's acting leader.
The impoverished ex-Soviet state in Central Asia has been embroiled in political chaos since the unrest following the results of parliamentary elections held earlier this month. The Central Elections Committee (CEC) finally annulled them following mass protests.
Sadyr Japarov, a populist politician who had been serving a prison sentence for hostage-taking but who was released during the unrest, is now both acting president and prime minister.
Since Japarov, 51, took power he has promised fresh parliamentary and presidential elections -- but only after making changes to the constitution.
He has also called for the elections commission to be disbanded and reformed, saying it was something the people had called for along with the recent resignation of former president Sooronbay Jeenbekov.
The law requires that presidential elections within three months of Jeenbekov's departure.
But on Saturday morning, police raided the CEC headquarters as part of a probe launched by the interior ministry into alleged voting violations during the now-annulled October parliamentary elections.
CEC member Gulnara Djurabayeva denounced the raid as a form of "pressure on a constitutional body", during an interview with local media.
- Constitutional battle -
The results of the October 4 vote were cancelled after a protest led by losing parties against vote-buying and other violations escalated into violent clashes pitting protesters against police.
Earlier this week, lawmakers cancelled new parliamentary elections that the CEC had set for December 20 by suspending part of the constitution -- a move some lawyers and politicians argued may not have been legal.
Japarov himself has proposed a number of changes to the constitution, arguing that citizens should be able to decide whether or not to revert to a presidential system from the current mixed system.
Before protesters freed him this month, the former lawmaker was serving a sentence for hostage-taking dating back to a 2013 incident during a rally for the nationalisation of a gold mine.
Russia, which has a military base in Kyrgyzstan and is a destination for hundreds of thousands of Kyrgyz migrants, has expressed concern at the unrest there.
Kyrgyz foreign minister Ruslan Kazakbayev and Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov held talks Friday in the highest-level meeting between the two countries since Japarov became leader.
Japarov has not yet been endorsed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who this week referred to an "unfortunate...seizure of power". Putin also noted that Russia had done "a lot" to keep Kyrgyzstan "standing" through investments and financial aid.
Former president Jeenbekov is the third leader to step down amid political chaos in the ex-Soviet country since independence in 1991.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-24--Bottas completes clean sweep in Portuguese practice

Valtteri Bottas completed a clean sweep in Portuguese Grand Prix free practice when topping the third and final session on Saturday ahead of his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton .
The Finn , who returned a 'double-top ' on Friday , clocked a best lap in one minute and 16.654 seconds to outpace the six-time champion by 0.026 seconds on a bright and warm day at the Algarve track .
Hamilton , who leads Bottas by 69 points in the drivers ’ title race , rebounded from a disappointing opening day , when he was eighth , to prove he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Algarve International Circuit , albeit that he had an 'off ' into the gravel at Turn Seven , damaging a front wing end-plate .
Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull , 0.158 seconds off the pace , ahead of Pierre Gasly of Alpha Tauri , Alex Albon in the second Red Bull and Charles Leclerc in the leading Ferrari .
Carlos Sainz and his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris were seventh and ninth , separated by Racing Point 's Sergio Perez , with Esteban Ocon 10th in the leading Renault .
Ocon ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a frustrating session during which his car required minor repairs and four-time champion Sebastian Vettle was 11th for Ferrari as he seeks to complete his Ferrari career ‘ with dignity ’ .
The session , which ended prematurely when a drain cover lifted and opened at Turn 14 , was run in warm and dry conditions , the track temperature rising from 22 degrees to 30 .

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Valtteri Bottas completed a clean sweep in Portuguese Grand Prix free practice when topping the third and final session on Saturday ahead of his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
The Finn, who returned a 'double-top' on Friday, clocked a best lap in one minute and 16.654 seconds to outpace the six-time champion by 0.026 seconds on a bright and warm day at the Algarve track.
Hamilton, who leads Bottas by 69 points in the drivers’ title race, rebounded from a disappointing opening day, when he was eighth, to prove he has learned his way round the challenging new Algarve International Circuit, albeit that he had an 'off' into the gravel at Turn Seven, damaging a front wing end-plate.
Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull, 0.158 seconds off the pace, ahead of Pierre Gasly of Alpha Tauri, Alex Albon in the second Red Bull and Charles Leclerc in the leading Ferrari.
Carlos Sainz and his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris were seventh and ninth, separated by Racing Point's Sergio Perez, with Esteban Ocon 10th in the leading Renault.
Ocon’s team-mate Daniel Ricciardo was 14th after a frustrating session during which his car required minor repairs and four-time champion Sebastian Vettle was 11th for Ferrari as he seeks to complete his Ferrari career ‘with dignity’.
The session, which ended prematurely when a drain cover lifted and opened at Turn 14, was run in warm and dry conditions, the track temperature rising from 22 degrees to 30.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-24--Morbidelli quickest in Teruel practice as title contenders reach Q2

Italian Franco Morbidelli posted the fastest time from the first three practice sessions for the Teruel Grand Prix on Saturday , as the leading three riders in the standings booked their places in second qualifying .
Championship leader Joan Mir , who has never won a MotoGP race , grabbed the final automatic spot in Q2 by finishing 10th quickest on his Suzuki in Alcaniz .
His closest title challenger , Frenchman Fabio Quartararo , safely eased through in third with a lap just 0.068 seconds slower than Morbidelli 's effort of one minute and 47.333 seconds .
Quartararo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team , is only six points behind Mir in the championship .
With four races of the coronavirus-truncated campaign remaining , Yamaha 's Maverick Vinales is still in contention , sitting just 12 points off the pace .
The 25-year-old Spaniard also impressed on Saturday by going fourth-fastest .
Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso , who has finished second in the world championship behind Marc Marquez in each of the last three years , suffered a blow to his title hopes as he finished 14th on the timesheets .
The Italian is fourth in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind Mir in a season blown wide open by Marquez 's injury in the opening race in Spain .
Best times from Friday and Saturday 's first three practice sessions for the Teruel Grand Prix :

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Italian Franco Morbidelli posted the fastest time from the first three practice sessions for the Teruel Grand Prix on Saturday, as the leading three riders in the standings booked their places in second qualifying.
Championship leader Joan Mir, who has never won a MotoGP race, grabbed the final automatic spot in Q2 by finishing 10th quickest on his Suzuki in Alcaniz.
His closest title challenger, Frenchman Fabio Quartararo, safely eased through in third with a lap just 0.068 seconds slower than Morbidelli's effort of one minute and 47.333 seconds.
Quartararo, who rides for Yamaha's SRT satellite team, is only six points behind Mir in the championship.
With four races of the coronavirus-truncated campaign remaining, Yamaha's Maverick Vinales is still in contention, sitting just 12 points off the pace.
The 25-year-old Spaniard also impressed on Saturday by going fourth-fastest.
Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso, who has finished second in the world championship behind Marc Marquez in each of the last three years, suffered a blow to his title hopes as he finished 14th on the timesheets.
The Italian is fourth in the standings, but only 15 points behind Mir in a season blown wide open by Marquez's injury in the opening race in Spain.
Best times from Friday and Saturday's first three practice sessions for the Teruel Grand Prix:
1. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Yamaha-SRT) 1min 47.333sec, 2. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Honda-LCR) at 0.059sec, 3. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha-SRT) 0.068, 4. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Yamaha) 0.140, 5. Alex Marquez (ESP/Honda) 0.213, 6. Iker Lecuona (ESP/KTM-Tech3) 0.215, 7. Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki) 0.221, 8. Miguel Oliveira (POR/KTM-Tech3) 0.292, 9. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/Honda-LCR) 0.375, 10. Joan Mir (ESP/Suzuki) 0.382
Selected: 14. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 0.545
Note: Leading 10 riders qualify automatically for second qualifying session.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-24--EU farm bill 'fuels ecological destruction,' Thunberg says

A massive share of European spending goes on subsidies to farmers Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg has denounced the new farm bill adopted by the European Parliament as one that `` fuels ecological destruction . ''
Environmentalists say only 20 percent of planned spending under the massive farm subsidy bill passed Friday will go to climate-friendly policies .
`` Eleven months after the European Parliament declared a climate emergency , the very same parliament voted to go ahead with an agricultural policy that - in summary - fuels ecological destruction with almost 400 billion euros , '' Thunberg wrote in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activists .
In the budget proposal for 2021 to 2027 under discussion , 387 billion euros ( $ 460 billion ) is earmarked for agriculture , accounting for roughly one-third of all bloc spending for member states .
`` Are we disappointed ?
No , '' Thunberg and fellow activists wrote .
`` Because that would mean we were expecting a miracle .
Yet this day has once again shown the size of the gap that lies between current policies and where we would need to be , in order to be in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they said .
The 2015 Paris agreement signed by the vast majority of world 's nations set out a path to reducing emissions and prevent out-of-control climate change .
Critics say 80 percent of aid is distributed to 20 percent of the most favoured beneficiaries under the farm bill .
The subsidies are prized by farming states , most notably France , Ireland and eastern European nations , where farmers enjoy strong political influence .

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Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg has denounced the new farm bill adopted by the European Parliament as one that "fuels ecological destruction."
Environmentalists say only 20 percent of planned spending under the massive farm subsidy bill passed Friday will go to climate-friendly policies.
"Eleven months after the European Parliament declared a climate emergency, the very same parliament voted to go ahead with an agricultural policy that - in summary - fuels ecological destruction with almost 400 billion euros," Thunberg wrote in a Facebook post signed with four other activists.
In the budget proposal for 2021 to 2027 under discussion, 387 billion euros ($460 billion) is earmarked for agriculture, accounting for roughly one-third of all bloc spending for member states.
"Are we disappointed? No," Thunberg and fellow activists wrote.
"Because that would mean we were expecting a miracle. Yet this day has once again shown the size of the gap that lies between current policies and where we would need to be, in order to be in line with the Paris Agreement," they said.
The 2015 Paris agreement signed by the vast majority of world's nations set out a path to reducing emissions and prevent out-of-control climate change.
Critics say 80 percent of aid is distributed to 20 percent of the most favoured beneficiaries under the farm bill.
The subsidies are prized by farming states, most notably France, Ireland and eastern European nations, where farmers enjoy strong political influence.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-24--Indian farmers step up illegal fires as Delhi air crisis worsens

Teams in states around Delhi are hunting the illegal stubble burners even driving around country roads at night when most fires are started Delhi 's smog crisis headed for a new toxic peak on Saturday but farmers are refusing to stop the stubble burning that is widely blamed for the poisonous clouds engulfing the Indian capital .
Air pollution in parts of the city reached `` severe '' levels Saturday -- a day after US President Donald Trump described Indian air as `` filthy '' -- with monitoring agencies warning it would worsen in the next two days because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states around Delhi , home to some 20 million people , are hunting the illegal stubble burners , even driving around country roads at night when most fires are started .
In the past month some 1,265 farmers have been fined in Punjab alone , according to senior pollution officer Krunesh Garg , but satellite detectors have recorded more than 12,000 fires in the state .
In a bid to step up the campaign , the government is offering subsidised machines to clear rice paddies and farmers who are caught starting fires are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grey clouds of smoke that carry deadly particles to the world 's most polluted capital can still be seen everywhere .
Because of Delhi 's position and weather pattern , every winter the city is choked by deadly smog .
Farmers like Paramjeet Singh say they understand inhabitants ' health concerns but consider stubble burning a `` necessary evil '' in the race to clear fields for fresh crops .
`` The smoke is also bad for our eyes and lungs but we do n't have the money to buy machines that can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told AFP in Saneta village , about 230 kilometres ( 145 miles ) northwest of Delhi , in Punjab state .
`` And why go after only farmers ?
There are so many polluting industries in Delhi and Punjab but only we get blamed , '' said the 42-year-old .
According to state air quality monitors , farm fire smoke accounted for 56 percent of Delhi 's pollution in 2018 and 44 percent last year .
Authorities say the share has fallen further this year , but not enough to ease the crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worsening smog is because of the number of cars on the roads , construction and industry around the city .
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has declared a `` war on pollution '' putting up billboards across the city while placard-wielding activists urge drivers to turn off their engines when halted at traffic lights .
But experts say political will to tackle pollution is still lacking with central government and Delhi , Punjab and Harayana states unable to agree tough action to clean the air .
And this year farmers , who represent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over new laws they fear will let large private retailers control pricing .
`` Yes we are angry and we do n't care about the government .
Many farmers I know burnt the crop residue mainly to spite the government , '' said 62-year-old farmer Yashpal Singh .
`` If the farmers wanted they could have listened to the government but they chose not to . ''

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Delhi's smog crisis headed for a new toxic peak on Saturday but farmers are refusing to stop the stubble burning that is widely blamed for the poisonous clouds engulfing the Indian capital.
Air pollution in parts of the city reached "severe" levels Saturday -- a day after US President Donald Trump described Indian air as "filthy" -- with monitoring agencies warning it would worsen in the next two days because of the lack of wind.
Teams in states around Delhi, home to some 20 million people, are hunting the illegal stubble burners, even driving around country roads at night when most fires are started.
In the past month some 1,265 farmers have been fined in Punjab alone, according to senior pollution officer Krunesh Garg, but satellite detectors have recorded more than 12,000 fires in the state.
In a bid to step up the campaign, the government is offering subsidised machines to clear rice paddies and farmers who are caught starting fires are blocked for bank loans.
But thick grey clouds of smoke that carry deadly particles to the world's most polluted capital can still be seen everywhere.
Because of Delhi's position and weather pattern, every winter the city is choked by deadly smog.
Farmers like Paramjeet Singh say they understand inhabitants' health concerns but consider stubble burning a "necessary evil" in the race to clear fields for fresh crops.
- Pollution clouds -
"The smoke is also bad for our eyes and lungs but we don't have the money to buy machines that can clear the crop residue," Singh told AFP in Saneta village, about 230 kilometres (145 miles) northwest of Delhi, in Punjab state.
"And why go after only farmers? There are so many polluting industries in Delhi and Punjab but only we get blamed," said the 42-year-old.
According to state air quality monitors, farm fire smoke accounted for 56 percent of Delhi's pollution in 2018 and 44 percent last year.
Authorities say the share has fallen further this year, but not enough to ease the crisis in Delhi.
Some experts say the worsening smog is because of the number of cars on the roads, construction and industry around the city.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has declared a "war on pollution" putting up billboards across the city while placard-wielding activists urge drivers to turn off their engines when halted at traffic lights.
But experts say political will to tackle pollution is still lacking with central government and Delhi, Punjab and Harayana states unable to agree tough action to clean the air.
And this year farmers, who represent a powerful voting bloc, are upset over new laws they fear will let large private retailers control pricing.
"Yes we are angry and we don't care about the government. Many farmers I know burnt the crop residue mainly to spite the government," said 62-year-old farmer Yashpal Singh.
"If the farmers wanted they could have listened to the government but they chose not to."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-24--Egypt starts voting in first stage of parliament elections

Some 63 million voters out of Egypt 's more than 100 million people are eligible to elect 568 of the 596 lawmakers in the lower house Egyptians voted Saturday in a parliamentary election in which there was little doubt of a sweeping victory for supporters of hardline President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi .
Some 63 million voters out of Egypt 's more than 100 million people are eligible to elect 568 of the 596 lawmakers in the lower house , widely seen as a rubber-stamp body for executive policies .
The remaining deputies will be appointed by former army general-turned-president Sisi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six years silenced any serious political opposition to its rule .
The elections will be held in two phases , with the first covering 14 provinces on Saturday and Sunday .
The second , on November 7-8 , will cover 13 provinces including the capital Cairo .
On Saturday morning , mini-buses were seen driving around parts of Giza province , south of Cairo , bearing photos and banners of some candidates to draw support as voters trickled into polling stations , an AFP reporter said .
Giant billboards and banners have sprung @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elsewhere urging Egyptians to vote , while some candidates have released online music video clips to draw support .
Many of the candidates also stood for election five years ago in a political landscape marked by the presence of dozens of parties with little weight and influence on the ground .
The outgoing parliament , elected in 2015 , was packed with Sisi supporters and featured only a small opposition bloc known as 25/30 .
The new parliament will be the second to convene under Sisi , who took office in 2014 after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mohamed Morsi .
Run-offs will be held in November , and final results are to be announced in December .
A woman in Giza said she was casting her ballot under pressure from the authorities .
`` I am only taking part in the elections because I am afraid if I do n't vote I will be fined by the government , '' she said , declining to be named for security reasons .
During Senate elections in August , the election commission said citizens who fail to vote could face fines of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 31 ) .
Nevertheless those elections were marked by a low voter turnout of around 14 percent .
The parliament vote is the second to be held since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic which has so far infected more than 105,000 people and killed nearly 6,200 in Egypt .
Over 4,000 candidates , believed to be mostly pro-government , are competing for 284 of the 568 seats reserved for individuals .
Eight party lists are running for the remaining 284 seats .
Among the top contenders is a political coalition known as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pro-government Mostakbal Watan , or Nation 's Future , Party .
The party , including top businessmen and public figures , has grown since 2014 to become one of Egypt 's dominant political forces .
It swept the August Senate elections , and its leader Abdelwahab Abdelrazek was named the upper house 's head last Sunday .
The reinstatement of the upper house -- which had been abolished after Morsi 's ouster -- was among constitutional amendments which included potentially extending Sisi 's rule until 2030 .
Other changes were to boost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and granting the army even greater influence in political life .
Sisi 's government has for years launched a severe crackdown on dissent , ensnaring journalists , bloggers , lawyers and intellectuals .
Protests have been effectively banned under a restrictive 2013 law , and a renewable state of emergency has been in place since 2017 .

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Egyptians voted Saturday in a parliamentary election in which there was little doubt of a sweeping victory for supporters of hardline President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Some 63 million voters out of Egypt's more than 100 million people are eligible to elect 568 of the 596 lawmakers in the lower house, widely seen as a rubber-stamp body for executive policies.
The remaining deputies will be appointed by former army general-turned-president Sisi, whose government has over the past six years silenced any serious political opposition to its rule.
The elections will be held in two phases, with the first covering 14 provinces on Saturday and Sunday. The second, on November 7-8, will cover 13 provinces including the capital Cairo.
On Saturday morning, mini-buses were seen driving around parts of Giza province, south of Cairo, bearing photos and banners of some candidates to draw support as voters trickled into polling stations, an AFP reporter said.
Giant billboards and banners have sprung up across the bustling capital Cairo and elsewhere urging Egyptians to vote, while some candidates have released online music video clips to draw support.
Many of the candidates also stood for election five years ago in a political landscape marked by the presence of dozens of parties with little weight and influence on the ground.
The outgoing parliament, elected in 2015, was packed with Sisi supporters and featured only a small opposition bloc known as 25/30.
The new parliament will be the second to convene under Sisi, who took office in 2014 after leading the military ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.
Run-offs will be held in November, and final results are to be announced in December.
- Possible fines? -
A woman in Giza said she was casting her ballot under pressure from the authorities.
"I am only taking part in the elections because I am afraid if I don't vote I will be fined by the government," she said, declining to be named for security reasons.
During Senate elections in August, the election commission said citizens who fail to vote could face fines of up to 500 Egyptian pounds ($31).
Nevertheless those elections were marked by a low voter turnout of around 14 percent.
The parliament vote is the second to be held since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic which has so far infected more than 105,000 people and killed nearly 6,200 in Egypt.
Over 4,000 candidates, believed to be mostly pro-government, are competing for 284 of the 568 seats reserved for individuals. Eight party lists are running for the remaining 284 seats.
Among the top contenders is a political coalition known as the Unified National List, led by the pro-government Mostakbal Watan, or Nation's Future, Party.
The party, including top businessmen and public figures, has grown since 2014 to become one of Egypt's dominant political forces.
It swept the August Senate elections, and its leader Abdelwahab Abdelrazek was named the upper house's head last Sunday.
The reinstatement of the upper house -- which had been abolished after Morsi's ouster -- was among constitutional amendments which included potentially extending Sisi's rule until 2030.
Other changes were to boost the president's control over the judiciary and granting the army even greater influence in political life.
Sisi's government has for years launched a severe crackdown on dissent, ensnaring journalists, bloggers, lawyers and intellectuals.
Protests have been effectively banned under a restrictive 2013 law, and a renewable state of emergency has been in place since 2017.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-24--‘This is war’: Thousands in Poland protest high court anti-abortion ruling

People protest against a high court ruling that further limited abortion rights in Poland on October 23 , 2020 in Krakow .
Thousands of protesters vented fury across Poland over a top court ruling that declared abortions of fetuses with congenital defects unconstitutional , effectively narrowing one of Europe ’ s strictest abortion laws .
Police vans and units in riot gear were dispatched Friday to guard the Warsaw home of the leader of Poland 's right-wing ruling party , Jaroslaw Kaczynski .
An angry crowd of mostly young people confronted the cordon with chants of “ This is war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team to step down .
The court ruling fulfilled a wish that Kaczynski had expressed in 2016 by saying , “ We will strive to ensure that even cases of very difficult pregnancies , when the child is certain to die , very deformed , still end up in a birth , so that the child can be baptized , buried , have a name.
” Protesters in Warsaw held up banners with slogans including : “ You Have Blood on Your Hands '' and “ You are Building Women 's Hell.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the protesters , explaining that she opposes abortion in cases of healthy fetuses , but finds the ruling forcing women to carry fetuses with severe defects to term extreme .
Officers used bullhorns to warn people the gathering was illegal due to the epidemic .
After it appeared Kaczynski was not home , the protesters marched through town toward a government villa where they believed he had been taken .
The crowd included a lot of young women , but also many men who said they were fighting a broader assault on individual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I feel like my freedom could be next , ” said Dawid Pawlowski , 30 , who marched in Warsaw with a sign that said “ Wojna ” - Polish for war .
Some people carried wire coat hangers , a symbol of dangerous abortions that happen in conditions where safe abortions are not accessible .
Protesters also marched through other big cities , including Krakow , Wroclaw , Szczecin and Katowice .
A protest also took place outside Kaczynski 's home Thursday night , after the Constitutional Court presented its abortion law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detained 15 people then .
Domestic and international human rights groups criticized the court 's decision as a violation of women 's rights .
The only legal grounds remaining for an abortion in Poland will now be danger to the woman 's health or life , or pregnancy resulting from rape or incest .
The decision takes effect when it is officially published in the Journal of Laws , which could happen within days or weeks .
Critics noted the ruling was issued at a time when street actions are prohibited .
Previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Law and Justice party came to power in 2015 were scrapped following mass nationwide street protests .
Critics accuse the ruling party of using the cover of the pandemic to push it through with a politicized court .
They also accuse the party of seeking to stoke social tensions to distract attention from soaring COVID-19 infection rates .
The Constitutional Court 's decision came in response to a motion from right-wing lawmakers who argued that terminating a pregnancy due to fetal defects — the most common reason cited for legal abortions in Poland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for protecting the life of every individual .
The court agreed with the lawmakers that an abortion predicated on the health of a fetus constituted illegal discrimination .
The opinion approved by 11 of the government-controlled court 's 13 judges said that ending a pregnancy due to birth defects amounted to eugenics — a 19th century notion of genetic selection that German Nazis applied in experiments .
“ I have talked about it many times , and I have never concealed that abortion for so-called eugenic reasons should not be allowed in Poland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe that every child has a right to life.
” Health Ministry figures for 2019 show that most of the 1,110 legal abortions performed in Poland last year were due to fetal genetic defects like Down syndrome , or to physical defects .

Thousands of protesters vented fury across Poland over a top court ruling that declared abortions of fetuses with congenital defects unconstitutional, effectively narrowing one of Europe’s strictest abortion laws.
People protest against a high court ruling that further limited abortion rights in Poland on October 23, 2020 in Krakow.
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Police vans and units in riot gear were dispatched Friday to guard the Warsaw home of the leader of Poland's right-wing ruling party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski. An angry crowd of mostly young people confronted the cordon with chants of “This is war” and vulgar calls for the ruling team to step down.
The court ruling fulfilled a wish that Kaczynski had expressed in 2016 by saying, “We will strive to ensure that even cases of very difficult pregnancies, when the child is certain to die, very deformed, still end up in a birth, so that the child can be baptized, buried, have a name.”
Protesters in Warsaw held up banners with slogans including: “You Have Blood on Your Hands" and “You are Building Women's Hell.”
A 29-year-old, Diana Fidler, joined the protesters, explaining that she opposes abortion in cases of healthy fetuses, but finds the ruling forcing women to carry fetuses with severe defects to term extreme.
Officers used bullhorns to warn people the gathering was illegal due to the epidemic. After it appeared Kaczynski was not home, the protesters marched through town toward a government villa where they believed he had been taken.
The crowd included a lot of young women, but also many men who said they were fighting a broader assault on individual rights by the conservative government.
“I feel like my freedom could be next,” said Dawid Pawlowski, 30, who marched in Warsaw with a sign that said “Wojna” - Polish for war.
Some people carried wire coat hangers, a symbol of dangerous abortions that happen in conditions where safe abortions are not accessible.
Protesters also marched through other big cities, including Krakow, Wroclaw, Szczecin and Katowice.
A protest also took place outside Kaczynski's home Thursday night, after the Constitutional Court presented its abortion law ruling. Police used tear gas and detained 15 people then.
Rights groups criticize court decision
Domestic and international human rights groups criticized the court's decision as a violation of women's rights. The only legal grounds remaining for an abortion in Poland will now be danger to the woman's health or life, or pregnancy resulting from rape or incest.
Removing the basis for almost all legal abortions in #Poland amounts to a ban & violates #HumanRights. Today’s ruling of the Constitutional Court means underground/abroad abortions for those who can afford & even greater ordeal for all others. A sad day for #WomensRights. — Commissioner for Human Rights (@CommissionerHR) October 22, 2020
The decision takes effect when it is officially published in the Journal of Laws, which could happen within days or weeks.
Critics noted the ruling was issued at a time when street actions are prohibited. Previous attempts to restrict abortion since Kaczynski's Law and Justice party came to power in 2015 were scrapped following mass nationwide street protests.
Critics accuse the ruling party of using the cover of the pandemic to push it through with a politicized court. They also accuse the party of seeking to stoke social tensions to distract attention from soaring COVID-19 infection rates.
The Constitutional Court's decision came in response to a motion from right-wing lawmakers who argued that terminating a pregnancy due to fetal defects — the most common reason cited for legal abortions in Poland — violates a constitutional provision that calls for protecting the life of every individual.
The court agreed with the lawmakers that an abortion predicated on the health of a fetus constituted illegal discrimination. The opinion approved by 11 of the government-controlled court's 13 judges said that ending a pregnancy due to birth defects amounted to eugenics — a 19th century notion of genetic selection that German Nazis applied in experiments.
Polish President Andrzej Duda welcomed the ruling.
“I have talked about it many times, and I have never concealed that abortion for so-called eugenic reasons should not be allowed in Poland," Duda said. “I believe that every child has a right to life.”
Health Ministry figures for 2019 show that most of the 1,110 legal abortions performed in Poland last year were due to fetal genetic defects like Down syndrome, or to physical defects.
(AP)
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france24--2020-10-24--Poland's president tests positive for coronavirus: aide

Polish President Andrzej Duda speaks to a crowd on September 1 during an event to commemorate the outbreak of World War II in Gdansk .
Poland 's President Andrzej Duda has tested positive for coronavirus , an aide said Saturday , as the EU country faces a record rise in cases and mass protests despite a ban on public gatherings intended to stem infections .
Duda is the latest in a string of leaders to have been diagnosed with the virus , including US President Donald Trump , British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Brazil 's President Jair Bolsonaro .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ diagnosis , the 48-year-old Duda is believed to be in good general health .
`` Ladies and Gentlemen , as recommended President @ AndrzejDuda was tested yesterday for the presence of coronavirus .
The result turned out to be positive .
The president is fine , '' Blazej Spychalski , secretary of state in the president 's office , said on Twitter .
While it was unclear when the Duda was infected , he attended an investment forum in Tallinn on Monday where he met Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid and Bulgarian President Rumen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ page she tested negative for the virus after returning home from France on Friday .
Radev had meanwhile cut short his visit to Tallinn on Tuesday go into quarantine in Sofia .
Backed by Poland 's governing nationalist Law and Justice ( PiS ) party , Duda won a second consecutive term in office in July on the back of a campaign that included promises of continued generous social spending and attacks on Poland 's LGBT community .
His diagnosis comes after it was announced on Monday that powerful PiS party leader Jaroslaw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shots in Poland , had gone into quarantine after being in contact with a person diagnosed as positive for the coronavirus .
No further comment has been made on the condition of the 71-year-old Kaczynski by the PiS party or the government , in which he serves as deputy prime minister .
Poland went into a `` red zone '' lockdown on Saturday , including the partial closure of primary schools and restaurants along with a raft of restrictions tailored to stem infection while allowing more economic activity than during this spring 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of thousands of Poles have taken to the streets in protest since Thursday when the EU country 's top court rendered a ruling that imposes a near-total ban on abortion in Poland .
More protests are planned Saturday , when a five-person limit on gatherings comes into force under government anti-coronavirus guidelines .
The country of 38 million people saw a near-record 13,628 new coronavirus cases over 24-hours as of Saturday Poles have been asked to work remotely if they can and primary schools are partially closed with only grades one to three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students switched distance learning a week ago , while all seniors over the age of 70 have been asked to stay home as of Saturday .
Restaurants , cafes and pubs are only be able to serve take-away meals .
Fitness clubs and pools are also closed .
Weddings are banned and there are strict limits on the numbers of people allowed in shops , on public transport and at religious services .
Poland 's national stadium is being transformed into a field hospital for Warsaw and the government is building temporary medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus cases strains healthcare facilities to breaking point .

Warsaw (AFP) –
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Poland's President Andrzej Duda has tested positive for coronavirus, an aide said Saturday, as the EU country faces a record rise in cases and mass protests despite a ban on public gatherings intended to stem infections.
Duda is the latest in a string of leaders to have been diagnosed with the virus, including US President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro.
All have recovered and aside from the diagnosis, the 48-year-old Duda is believed to be in good general health.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, as recommended President @AndrzejDuda was tested yesterday for the presence of coronavirus. The result turned out to be positive. The president is fine," Blazej Spychalski, secretary of state in the president's office, said on Twitter.
While it was unclear when the Duda was infected, he attended an investment forum in Tallinn on Monday where he met Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid and Bulgarian President Rumen Radev.
Kaljulaid said on her Facebook page she tested negative for the virus after returning home from France on Friday. Radev had meanwhile cut short his visit to Tallinn on Tuesday go into quarantine in Sofia.
Backed by Poland's governing nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, Duda won a second consecutive term in office in July on the back of a campaign that included promises of continued generous social spending and attacks on Poland's LGBT community.
His diagnosis comes after it was announced on Monday that powerful PiS party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, widely seen as calling the shots in Poland, had gone into quarantine after being in contact with a person diagnosed as positive for the coronavirus.
No further comment has been made on the condition of the 71-year-old Kaczynski by the PiS party or the government, in which he serves as deputy prime minister.
- Mass protests -
Poland went into a "red zone" lockdown on Saturday, including the partial closure of primary schools and restaurants along with a raft of restrictions tailored to stem infection while allowing more economic activity than during this spring's more stringent anti-virus regime.
But tens of thousands of Poles have taken to the streets in protest since Thursday when the EU country's top court rendered a ruling that imposes a near-total ban on abortion in Poland.
More protests are planned Saturday, when a five-person limit on gatherings comes into force under government anti-coronavirus guidelines.
The country of 38 million people saw a near-record 13,628 new coronavirus cases over 24-hours as of Saturday
Poles have been asked to work remotely if they can and primary schools are partially closed with only grades one to three attending classes.
Secondary school and university students switched distance learning a week ago, while all seniors over the age of 70 have been asked to stay home as of Saturday.
Restaurants, cafes and pubs are only be able to serve take-away meals. Fitness clubs and pools are also closed.
Weddings are banned and there are strict limits on the numbers of people allowed in shops, on public transport and at religious services.
Poland's national stadium is being transformed into a field hospital for Warsaw and the government is building temporary medical facilities elsewhere, as the surge in coronavirus cases strains healthcare facilities to breaking point.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-24--Egypt’s Sisi expected to be real winner as Egyptians begin voting for parliament

A man casts his ballot at a school used as a polling station during the first round of Egypt 's parliamentary elections in Giza , Egypt on October 24 , 2020 .
Egyptians began voting Saturday in the first stage of a parliamentary election , a vote that is highly likely to produce a toothless house of representatives packed with supporters of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi .
The elections are taking place as the Arab world ’ s most populous country faces a slight increase in coronavirus cases , with authorities warning that a second wave of the pandemic lies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August , Egyptian election authorities said face masks would be handed out to voters for free and polling stations were disinfected .
Some 63 million voters are eligible to vote in the two-stage election , with results announced in early December .
Election authorities reiterated previous warnings that those who boycott the vote could be fined up to 500 Egyptian pounds ( €26.83 ) .
A total of 568 seats are up for grabs , with over 4,000 candidates running as individuals competing for 50 percent of the seats .
Prominent , wealthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The other 50 percent of house seats are reserved for over 1,100 candidates running on four party lists .
Al-Sisi will name 28 seats , or 5 percent , bringing the total number of seats in the chamber to 596 .
The first stage of voting was taking place Saturday and Sunday in 14 of Egypt ’ s 27 provinces , including Giza and the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria .
Egyptian expatriates abroad voted earlier this week .
Voting in the country ’ s 13 other provinces , including the capital Cairo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , will take place on November 7-8 .
Each stage of the vote will be followed by runoff elections .
Final results will be announced in December and the new chamber will hold its inaugural session shortly afterward .
The vote is taking place amid an atmosphere in which public criticism of the government is strongly discouraged .
Most Egyptian media are supportive of al-Sisi and regularly berate critics as traitors or supporters of the banned Muslim Brotherhood group , which is officially designated as a terrorist organisation .
In recent years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dissent , targeting not only Islamist political opponents but also secular pro-democracy activists , journalists and online critics .
The tactic has left the president and his supporters with no formal political opposition .
Critics say the 596-seat legislature will be like the previous one , which was little more than a rubber stamp for al-Sisi 's policies , leaving the general-turned president with almost unchecked power .
The pro-government Mustaqbal Watan , or “ Nation ’ s Future ” , party has the largest number of individual candidates , with 284 in @ @ @ @

Egyptians began voting Saturday in the first stage of a parliamentary election, a vote that is highly likely to produce a toothless house of representatives packed with supporters of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
A man casts his ballot at a school used as a polling station during the first round of Egypt's parliamentary elections in Giza, Egypt on October 24, 2020.
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The elections are taking place as the Arab world’s most populous country faces a slight increase in coronavirus cases, with authorities warning that a second wave of the pandemic lies ahead.
Like the Senate elections in August, Egyptian election authorities said face masks would be handed out to voters for free and polling stations were disinfected.
Some 63 million voters are eligible to vote in the two-stage election, with results announced in early December. Election authorities reiterated previous warnings that those who boycott the vote could be fined up to 500 Egyptian pounds (€26.83).
A total of 568 seats are up for grabs, with over 4,000 candidates running as individuals competing for 50 percent of the seats. Prominent, wealthy government-affiliated power brokers have an advantage.
The other 50 percent of house seats are reserved for over 1,100 candidates running on four party lists. Al-Sisi will name 28 seats, or 5 percent, bringing the total number of seats in the chamber to 596.
The first stage of voting was taking place Saturday and Sunday in 14 of Egypt’s 27 provinces, including Giza and the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria. Egyptian expatriates abroad voted earlier this week.
Voting in the country’s 13 other provinces, including the capital Cairo and the two provinces in Sinai Peninsula, will take place on November 7-8. Each stage of the vote will be followed by runoff elections.
Final results will be announced in December and the new chamber will hold its inaugural session shortly afterward.
No formal political opposition to al-Sisi
The vote is taking place amid an atmosphere in which public criticism of the government is strongly discouraged. Most Egyptian media are supportive of al-Sisi and regularly berate critics as traitors or supporters of the banned Muslim Brotherhood group, which is officially designated as a terrorist organisation.
In recent years, authorities have ratcheted up their crackdown on dissent, targeting not only Islamist political opponents but also secular pro-democracy activists, journalists and online critics. The tactic has left the president and his supporters with no formal political opposition.
Critics say the 596-seat legislature will be like the previous one, which was little more than a rubber stamp for al-Sisi's policies, leaving the general-turned president with almost unchecked power.
The pro-government Mustaqbal Watan, or “Nation’s Future”, party has the largest number of individual candidates, with 284 in the two stages.
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
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france24--2020-10-24--Syrians spruce up famed Crusader castle after years of war

Before civil war broke out in 2011 , the famed Crusader castle of Krak des Chevaliers was one of Syria 's main tourist attractions but the long years of fighting , during which it was again a battlefield , have kept the visitors away Clutching a small saw , Syrian volunteer Rana Jreij cut away at bushes growing up the centuries-old walls of one of the world 's most famous Crusader castles , Krak des Chevaliers .
She was among dozens to clear grass , shrubs and dead trees from the UNESCO-listed fortress this week , to protect it from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` This castle is our home .
It 's our memories , and I 'm scared for it , '' said the 32-year-old , dressed in a white t-shirt with her hair tied back .
Heritage official Naeema Muhartam said she was delighted to see the castle come back to life after years of grinding civil war that has kept almost all tourists away .
`` The castle is recovering , '' she said .
The fortress was built by a medieval Catholic military order , the Knights of St John , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when it was captured by a Mamluk sultan .
Sitting atop a high ridge in what is now the Homs province of modern-day Syria , it could once accommodate a garrison of 2,000 men .
Many centuries later , after civil war broke out in Syria in 2011 , the fortress again became a battleground , this time between government forces and rebels .
`` The castle closed its doors in 2012 , then opened up again in 2014 but it was n't ready to receive visitors , '' Muhartam said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ castle 's Gothic reception hall , and its chapel .
Muhartam was ecstatic when the fortress finally welcomed sightseers back across the moat bridge into its walled interior in late 2018 .
`` Up to 23,000 visitors came in 2019 , but the corona pandemic forced it back into isolation and only 5,000 people have come this year , '' she said .
`` I 'm happy to see life come back to the castle with hundreds of volunteers turning up , but my dream is to see cultural and touristic events return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again see concerts within its walls like there used to be before the war . ''
In early 2018 , the Syrian government attended a tourism trade fair in Madrid , seeking to bring back foreign visitors to the war-ravaged nation .
But most countries advise citizens against all travel to Syria , and tourists from abroad have been few and far between .
At the entrance to the castle 's large reception hall , engineer Hazem Hanna gestured to some of the decorative stonework damaged in the 2012-2014 battles .
`` As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we can fix them , '' he said .
Hungarian archaeologists have visited to help with restoration .
`` The Hungarian excavation team came at the end of 2016 and helped us to restore the church 's steeple and part of the castle 's interior , '' he said .
The United Nations Education , Cultural and Scientific Organisation ( UNESCO ) added Krak des Chevaliers to its World Heritage List in 2006 , alongside Old Damascus and the ancient city of Palmyra .
Two years into the civil war , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Danger list .
Now the guns have fallen silent , another kind of danger stalks its fortified walls .
Earlier this month , President Bashar al-Assad declared a national catastrophe after inspecting farmland devastated by wildfires that have ravaged Syria 's Mediterranean coastal belt .
The fires destroyed more than 9,000 hectares of farmland and forest in the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus , as well as Homs inland , the United Nations said .
Naji Derwish , a director of social responsibility at a nearby university , says more than 400 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear vegetation and anything else that could catch fire .
`` We were scared for our castle , with all the dry glass and shrubs that had accumulated during the years of conflict , '' he said .
Nine years into the war , the Damascus government is back in control of more than 70 percent of Syria .
Derwish said he hoped to again see tourists explore the fortress 's dark underbelly and snap pictures from the top of its massive walls .
`` The castle misses its visitors , '' he @ @

Homs (Syria) (AFP) –
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Clutching a small saw, Syrian volunteer Rana Jreij cut away at bushes growing up the centuries-old walls of one of the world's most famous Crusader castles, Krak des Chevaliers.
She was among dozens to clear grass, shrubs and dead trees from the UNESCO-listed fortress this week, to protect it from forest fires that have ravaged the region.
"This castle is our home. It's our memories, and I'm scared for it," said the 32-year-old, dressed in a white t-shirt with her hair tied back.
Heritage official Naeema Muhartam said she was delighted to see the castle come back to life after years of grinding civil war that has kept almost all tourists away.
"The castle is recovering," she said.
The fortress was built by a medieval Catholic military order, the Knights of St John, who held it from 1142 to 1271, when it was captured by a Mamluk sultan.
Sitting atop a high ridge in what is now the Homs province of modern-day Syria, it could once accommodate a garrison of 2,000 men.
Many centuries later, after civil war broke out in Syria in 2011, the fortress again became a battleground, this time between government forces and rebels.
"The castle closed its doors in 2012, then opened up again in 2014 but it wasn't ready to receive visitors," Muhartam said.
Most notable was the damage to the castle's Gothic reception hall, and its chapel.
- Forced into lockdown -
Muhartam was ecstatic when the fortress finally welcomed sightseers back across the moat bridge into its walled interior in late 2018.
"Up to 23,000 visitors came in 2019, but the corona pandemic forced it back into isolation and only 5,000 people have come this year," she said.
"I'm happy to see life come back to the castle with hundreds of volunteers turning up, but my dream is to see cultural and touristic events return.
"I hope one day to again see concerts within its walls like there used to be before the war."
In early 2018, the Syrian government attended a tourism trade fair in Madrid, seeking to bring back foreign visitors to the war-ravaged nation.
But most countries advise citizens against all travel to Syria, and tourists from abroad have been few and far between.
At the entrance to the castle's large reception hall, engineer Hazem Hanna gestured to some of the decorative stonework damaged in the 2012-2014 battles.
"As long as the primary materials are available, we can fix them," he said.
Hungarian archaeologists have visited to help with restoration.
"The Hungarian excavation team came at the end of 2016 and helped us to restore the church's steeple and part of the castle's interior," he said.
- 'Scared for our castle' -
The United Nations Education, Cultural and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) added Krak des Chevaliers to its World Heritage List in 2006, alongside Old Damascus and the ancient city of Palmyra.
Two years into the civil war, it was put on the World Heritage in Danger list.
Now the guns have fallen silent, another kind of danger stalks its fortified walls.
Earlier this month, President Bashar al-Assad declared a national catastrophe after inspecting farmland devastated by wildfires that have ravaged Syria's Mediterranean coastal belt.
The fires destroyed more than 9,000 hectares of farmland and forest in the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus, as well as Homs inland, the United Nations said.
Naji Derwish, a director of social responsibility at a nearby university, says more than 400 volunteers have travelled to the fortress to clear vegetation and anything else that could catch fire.
"We were scared for our castle, with all the dry glass and shrubs that had accumulated during the years of conflict," he said.
Nine years into the war, the Damascus government is back in control of more than 70 percent of Syria.
Derwish said he hoped to again see tourists explore the fortress's dark underbelly and snap pictures from the top of its massive walls.
"The castle misses its visitors," he said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-24--As Ivory Coast vote nears, powder keg west braces for trouble

Eleven people were buried in a mass grave in Duekoue during the 2010-11 conflict His brother had his throat slit and his handicapped niece was shot dead in her home , but Zeabahi Maurice has put aside all thoughts of revenge against the militiamen who ravaged his village in the west of the Ivory Coast a decade ago .
The chief of Guitrozon , a village of around 1,400 people , Maurice remembers the scenes vividly .
`` One evening we were invaded by rebels from the north .
They started eliminating and killing us , '' he says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the 75-year-old former gendarme said he is working nonstop to help prevent a repeat of the bloodshed the West African state endured in 2010-11 .
`` What is important is fairness .
Everywhere where things are unfair , there is disorder .
The problem for Ivory Coast in general is a lack of trust , '' Maurice said .
`` It must be restored . ''
Hundreds of the some 3,000 people who lost their lives in the conflict died in this region , which is the heartland of Ivory Coast 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The crisis erupted after then-president Laurent Gbagbo , who hails from the west , refused to concede defeat in elections to Alassane Ouattara , a Muslim from the north .
Now , with two mandates under his belt , Ouattara is seeking a third term , in defiance of a constitutional limit , saying that a 2016 reform has reset the counter .
The decision set off protests , notably one in the nearby town of Bangolo that turned violent , with youths torching mining company trucks -- a symbol of resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` There 's no economic activity here , '' fumed Bangolo youth leader Gervais Gaha .
`` Ouattara has done nothing .
Since he has been president only the people in the north have benefitted . ''
The 2010-11 crisis saw vicious fighting pitting the Guere ethnic group indigenous to the region , and mainly pro-Gbagbo , against the Dioula people , originally from the north and mainly pro-Ouattara .
Added to the mix are immigrants from Burkina Faso , the country 's neighbour to the north and mainly Muslim , like Ouattara @ @ @ @ @ @ @ familiar , though loyalties have changed .
Ouattara , 78 , and 86-year-old former president Henri Konan Bedie , now opposition leader , are standing in the October 31 election .
Gbagbo however has been barred from running as well as Guillaume Soro , 48 , a former prime minister and Ouattara ally who went into opposition .
During the conflict , in which both sides were accused of atrocities , Soro headed a militia that fought forces backing Gbagbo , now 75 .
Land rights are at the root of much of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mamadou Doumbia , an influential imam in the city of Duekoue by Guitrozon , said a `` sensitivity campaign '' in which he took part had helped calm passions , but he warned that squabbles over land remain `` recurrent '' in the region `` where everything took off from '' in 2010 .
The `` indigenous '' Gueres accuse the `` foreigners '' of extending their plantations into the lands they have bought or are leasing .
For their part the relative newcomers -- the Dioulas and the Burkinabe immigrants , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accuse the Gueres of wanting to steal land they have legally bought or leased , once it has been improved `` with our sweat '' as one Burkinabe put it .
The looming election is deepening the divide for some .
Marcellin Die , who lives in Duekoue and was a local official of Gbagbo 's party , said : `` The Gueres are a martyr people .
Duekoue is the martyr city .
We are tired of killings by ( Ouattara 's ) RHDP '' party .
`` We Ivorians want our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Business is in the hands of Ouattara 's supporters all over the region . ''
Back in Maurice 's village of around 1,400 mainly Gueres , there are around 50 `` camps '' of Dioulas and Burkinabes who work on the cocoa plantations .
Maurice still fears the slightest dispute could spiral out of control .
`` People say , 'We 've had enough of these people , we have to run them out ! '
'' Maurice said .

Duekoué (Ivory Coast) (AFP) –
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His brother had his throat slit and his handicapped niece was shot dead in her home, but Zeabahi Maurice has put aside all thoughts of revenge against the militiamen who ravaged his village in the west of the Ivory Coast a decade ago.
The chief of Guitrozon, a village of around 1,400 people, Maurice remembers the scenes vividly. "One evening we were invaded by rebels from the north. They started eliminating and killing us," he says.
But as elections loom on October 31, the 75-year-old former gendarme said he is working nonstop to help prevent a repeat of the bloodshed the West African state endured in 2010-11.
"What is important is fairness. Everywhere where things are unfair, there is disorder. The problem for Ivory Coast in general is a lack of trust," Maurice said. "It must be restored."
Hundreds of the some 3,000 people who lost their lives in the conflict died in this region, which is the heartland of Ivory Coast's cocoa production and an ethnic powder keg.
The crisis erupted after then-president Laurent Gbagbo, who hails from the west, refused to concede defeat in elections to Alassane Ouattara, a Muslim from the north.
Now, with two mandates under his belt, Ouattara is seeking a third term, in defiance of a constitutional limit, saying that a 2016 reform has reset the counter.
The decision set off protests, notably one in the nearby town of Bangolo that turned violent, with youths torching mining company trucks -- a symbol of resources that do not benefit local people.
"There's no economic activity here," fumed Bangolo youth leader Gervais Gaha. "Ouattara has done nothing. Since he has been president only the people in the north have benefitted."
- Loyalties changed -
The 2010-11 crisis saw vicious fighting pitting the Guere ethnic group indigenous to the region, and mainly pro-Gbagbo, against the Dioula people, originally from the north and mainly pro-Ouattara.
Added to the mix are immigrants from Burkina Faso, the country's neighbour to the north and mainly Muslim, like Ouattara.
Today the cast of characters is familiar, though loyalties have changed.
Ouattara, 78, and 86-year-old former president Henri Konan Bedie, now opposition leader, are standing in the October 31 election.
Gbagbo however has been barred from running as well as Guillaume Soro, 48, a former prime minister and Ouattara ally who went into opposition. During the conflict, in which both sides were accused of atrocities, Soro headed a militia that fought forces backing Gbagbo, now 75.
Land rights are at the root of much of the inter-ethnic animosity in the west.
Mamadou Doumbia, an influential imam in the city of Duekoue by Guitrozon, said a "sensitivity campaign" in which he took part had helped calm passions, but he warned that squabbles over land remain "recurrent" in the region "where everything took off from" in 2010.
- 'A martyr people' -
The "indigenous" Gueres accuse the "foreigners" of extending their plantations into the lands they have bought or are leasing.
For their part the relative newcomers -- the Dioulas and the Burkinabe immigrants, as well as people from central Baoule -- accuse the Gueres of wanting to steal land they have legally bought or leased, once it has been improved "with our sweat" as one Burkinabe put it.
The looming election is deepening the divide for some.
Marcellin Die, who lives in Duekoue and was a local official of Gbagbo's party, said: "The Gueres are a martyr people. Duekoue is the martyr city. We are tired of killings by (Ouattara's) RHDP" party.
"We Ivorians want our country!" he exclaimed. "Business is in the hands of Ouattara's supporters all over the region."
Back in Maurice's village of around 1,400 mainly Gueres, there are around 50 "camps" of Dioulas and Burkinabes who work on the cocoa plantations.
Maurice still fears the slightest dispute could spiral out of control.
"People say, 'We've had enough of these people, we have to run them out!'" Maurice said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-24--Libyans voice hope, doubts over ceasefire deal

Motorists drive past war-damaged buildings in Libya 's main eastern city of Benghazi , where businessmen are desperate for Friday 's `` permanent '' ceasefire to reopen trade with the unity government-held west Libyans have reacted with a mix of hope and scepticism after the signing of a nationwide ceasefire deal intended to pave the way towards a political solution to the country ’ s grinding conflict .
While observers have welcomed the UN-backed deal , few are under any illusions about the difficulties of turning it into lasting peace on the ground .
`` We ’ ve seen a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Hassan Mahmud al-Obeydi , a 40-year-old secondary school teacher from the eastern city of Benghazi .
Friday 's deal was signed in Geneva by military delegates from the two main warring parties in the North African country , which plunged into violence in 2011 with the NATO-backed revolt that toppled veteran dictator Moamer Kadhafi .
The Tripoli-based unity government and rival forces led by eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar agreed to withdraw from front lines , start demobilising armed groups and set about integrating them into the state .
Crucially , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all foreign forces from Libyan soil within three months .
`` It 's good that the two sides have been prepared to compromise , but the devil is in the detail , '' said Peter Millett , a former British ambassador to Libya .
“ There are an awful lot of questions .
A key one is : will countries that have been sponsors of military forces in Libya support this compromise ? ''
Both major camps in Libya ’ s complex war have received extensive backing from foreign powers .
Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Russian- and Emirati-backed forces gave up their year-long attempt to seize the capital Tripoli , a battle that killed hundreds of people and displaced tens of thousands .
In June , Haftar withdrew from western Libya in the face of a blistering counterattack by forces supporting the Government of National Accord -- backed by Turkey .
The battle had further deepened the bitter mistrust between the rival political camps and their military allies , as well as ordinary Libyans .
`` The war caused terrible social divisions , '' said Obeydi .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , to rebuild and to heal the deep wounds in Libyan society . ''
In the capital Tripoli a 1,000-kilometre ( 630-mile ) drive west , pro-GNA fighter Salim Atouch voiced doubts the ceasefire would hold .
`` We have experience with a previous agreement , which was five days before Haftar 's attack on Tripoli , during which he destroyed the capital ’ s infrastructure and killed many people , '' Atouch said .
`` I hope this wo n't be like previous agreements , meaning we go back to war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but we are ready to react at any moment if it 's violated . ''
The Geneva talks were the military part of a process led by the UN 's Libya mission UNSMIL .
Separate political talks that start Monday aim to create a new governing body and prepare for elections .
Mohamed Dorda , co-founder and consulting director of geopolitical risk consultancy Libya Desk , said the ceasefire was a positive step that `` creates a basis for the political talks '' .
But , he warned , `` Libya needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be set up .
If we do n't deal with the security crisis , we will find ourselves in same situation in a few years . ''
That is a complex challenge in a country prey to a patchwork of rival militias as well as foreign mercenaries and jihadist groups .
Observers have warned that those negotiating in Geneva do not necessarily control their armed allies on the ground .
Nor are foreign players in Libya likely to easily give up their hard-won influence .
Emadeddin Badi , a senior fellow at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Russia and Turkey would want economic dividends from their military interventions .
`` It 's naive to get them to just leave , '' he said .
`` The best case scenario is that they win economic concessions and limit their presence on the ground .
The worst is that fighting resumes . ''
Yet despite all the obstacles , recent days have seen tangible progress .
This week , the two camps agreed to open domestic transport links and boost Libya 's vital oil output , hard hit by fighting and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restarted production after months-long shutdowns .
Massoud al-Fotmani , a 57-year-old from Benghazi who runs a group of food stores , said he hoped the ceasefire would hold .
`` The war has caused a terrible economic downturn , '' he said .
`` We 've lost a lot of money because of the cutting of commercial ties between east and west due to the roads being closed . ''
English teacher Mayssoon Khalifa , who works at a private school in Tripoli , echoed his call for a lasting peace .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' she said .
`` I sincerely wish that this deal will hold .
Libya deserves better . ''

Tripoli (AFP) –
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Libyans have reacted with a mix of hope and scepticism after the signing of a nationwide ceasefire deal intended to pave the way towards a political solution to the country’s grinding conflict.
While observers have welcomed the UN-backed deal, few are under any illusions about the difficulties of turning it into lasting peace on the ground.
"We’ve seen a lot of deals in the past," said Hassan Mahmud al-Obeydi, a 40-year-old secondary school teacher from the eastern city of Benghazi.
"What's important is the implementation."
Friday's deal was signed in Geneva by military delegates from the two main warring parties in the North African country, which plunged into violence in 2011 with the NATO-backed revolt that toppled veteran dictator Moamer Kadhafi.
The Tripoli-based unity government and rival forces led by eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar agreed to withdraw from front lines, start demobilising armed groups and set about integrating them into the state.
Crucially, the deal also calls for the departure of all foreign forces from Libyan soil within three months.
"It's good that the two sides have been prepared to compromise, but the devil is in the detail," said Peter Millett, a former British ambassador to Libya.
“There are an awful lot of questions. A key one is: will countries that have been sponsors of military forces in Libya support this compromise?"
Both major camps in Libya’s complex war have received extensive backing from foreign powers.
Friday's deal comes four months after Haftar's Russian- and Emirati-backed forces gave up their year-long attempt to seize the capital Tripoli, a battle that killed hundreds of people and displaced tens of thousands.
In June, Haftar withdrew from western Libya in the face of a blistering counterattack by forces supporting the Government of National Accord -- backed by Turkey.
The battle had further deepened the bitter mistrust between the rival political camps and their military allies, as well as ordinary Libyans.
"The war caused terrible social divisions," said Obeydi. "Work is needed immediately, right now, to rebuild and to heal the deep wounds in Libyan society."
- 'Ready to react' -
In the capital Tripoli a 1,000-kilometre (630-mile) drive west, pro-GNA fighter Salim Atouch voiced doubts the ceasefire would hold.
"We have experience with a previous agreement, which was five days before Haftar's attack on Tripoli, during which he destroyed the capital’s infrastructure and killed many people," Atouch said.
"I hope this won't be like previous agreements, meaning we go back to war again. We will abide by it, but we are ready to react at any moment if it's violated."
The Geneva talks were the military part of a process led by the UN's Libya mission UNSMIL.
Separate political talks that start Monday aim to create a new governing body and prepare for elections.
Mohamed Dorda, co-founder and consulting director of geopolitical risk consultancy Libya Desk, said the ceasefire was a positive step that "creates a basis for the political talks".
But, he warned, "Libya needs a security arrangement to allow a government to be set up. If we don't deal with the security crisis, we will find ourselves in same situation in a few years."
That is a complex challenge in a country prey to a patchwork of rival militias as well as foreign mercenaries and jihadist groups.
Observers have warned that those negotiating in Geneva do not necessarily control their armed allies on the ground.
Nor are foreign players in Libya likely to easily give up their hard-won influence.
Emadeddin Badi, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council think tank, warned that Russia and Turkey would want economic dividends from their military interventions.
"It's naive to get them to just leave," he said. "The best case scenario is that they win economic concessions and limit their presence on the ground. The worst is that fighting resumes."
Yet despite all the obstacles, recent days have seen tangible progress.
This week, the two camps agreed to open domestic transport links and boost Libya's vital oil output, hard hit by fighting and blockades. Key oil installations have already restarted production after months-long shutdowns.
Massoud al-Fotmani, a 57-year-old from Benghazi who runs a group of food stores, said he hoped the ceasefire would hold.
"The war has caused a terrible economic downturn," he said. "We've lost a lot of money because of the cutting of commercial ties between east and west due to the roads being closed."
English teacher Mayssoon Khalifa, who works at a private school in Tripoli, echoed his call for a lasting peace.
"Many are hopeful, but not optimistic," she said. "I sincerely wish that this deal will hold. Libya deserves better."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-24--Fewer tourists, more nosh: Record increase in Galapagos penguins and cormorants

The Galapagos penguin is one of the smallest species of penguin in the world .
The population of Galapagos penguins and flightless cormorants , two species endemic to the islands , has seen a record increase , study results released Friday showed .
The Galapagos penguin is one of the smallest species of penguins in the world , measuring up to 35 centimeters , and the cormorants on the islands are the only type to have lost their ability to fly -- but they have developed diving skills .
`` The number of cormorants has reached a record number , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1977 , while the number of penguins is at the highest since 2006 , '' said a statement from the Galapagos National Park , which carried out the census .
The population of Galapagos penguins , the only ones living on the Earth 's equator , increased from 1,451 in 2019 to 1,940 in 2020 , it added .
Flightless cormorant numbers increased from 1,914 to 2,220 over the same period .
The study was carried out by the park and the Charles Darwin Foundation in September with the main colonies present on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Marielas islets , to the west of the archipelago classified as a natural heritage site .
Paulo Proano , Ecuadorian minister of environment and water , said the census results reflect the `` good state of health of the population '' of birds in the archipelago , located some 1,000 kilometers ( 625 miles ) off the Ecuadorian coast , according to the park .
The park said the presence of the La Nina climatic phenomenon , which helps to provide more food for the birds , has contributed to the increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic , which has limited disturbances to nesting areas because of the drop in tourism , the park added .
The islands , which served as a natural laboratory for the English scientist Charles Darwin for his theory of the evolution of species , takes its name from the giant tortoises that live there .

The population of Galapagos penguins and flightless cormorants, two species endemic to the islands, has seen a record increase, study results released Friday showed.
The Galapagos penguin is one of the smallest species of penguin in the world.
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The Galapagos penguin is one of the smallest species of penguins in the world, measuring up to 35 centimeters, and the cormorants on the islands are the only type to have lost their ability to fly -- but they have developed diving skills.
"The number of cormorants has reached a record number, according to historical data dating back to 1977, while the number of penguins is at the highest since 2006," said a statement from the Galapagos National Park, which carried out the census.
The population of Galapagos penguins, the only ones living on the Earth's equator, increased from 1,451 in 2019 to 1,940 in 2020, it added.
Flightless cormorant numbers increased from 1,914 to 2,220 over the same period.
The study was carried out by the park and the Charles Darwin Foundation in September with the main colonies present on the Isabela and Fernandina islands and on the Marielas islets, to the west of the archipelago classified as a natural heritage site.
Paulo Proano, Ecuadorian minister of environment and water, said the census results reflect the "good state of health of the population" of birds in the archipelago, located some 1,000 kilometers (625 miles) off the Ecuadorian coast, according to the park.
The park said the presence of the La Nina climatic phenomenon, which helps to provide more food for the birds, has contributed to the increase in their populations.
Another factor was the coronavirus pandemic, which has limited disturbances to nesting areas because of the drop in tourism, the park added.
The islands, which served as a natural laboratory for the English scientist Charles Darwin for his theory of the evolution of species, takes its name from the giant tortoises that live there.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-10-24--South America ravaged by unprecedented drought and fires

In this file picture taken on September 13 , 2020 a man gestures in a burnt area of the Pantanal in Brazil , part of a large area ravaged by fires Under stress from a historic drought , large swathes of forest and wetlands in central South America known for their exceptional biodiversity have been ravaged by devastating fires .
Experts say the wildfires in a region that spans Argentina , Brazil , Bolivia and Paraguay -- especially the region between the Paraguay , Parana and Uruguay rivers -- have become critical in 2020 .
`` There has been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there has been an increase of around 170 percent , it 's very serious , '' said Elisabeth Mohle , an environmental politics researcher at Argentina 's San Martin National University ( UNSM ) .
She says it 's part of a wider problem affecting multiple regions around the world this year , including in Brazil 's Amazonas state , Australia , California , and the Gran Chaco , South America 's second largest forest after the Amazon .
The Pantanal -- the world 's largest wetlands that span Brazil , Bolivia and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 47 years .
The Parana river -- one of the most powerful on the planet that originates in Brazil and empties into the River Plate estuary -- is at its lowest level since 1970 .
In August it was down to 80-centimeters in Rosario , eastern Argentina , rather than the usual 3-4 meters for that time of year .
It 's the same thing with the Paraguay river that is at its lowest level `` in half a century , '' according to Paraguay 's national weather center in Asuncion .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions , including strong winds , temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius ( 104 Fahrenheit ) and the dry season in which farmers use slash-and-burn techniques to try to regenerate the soil .
In Paraguay , `` the fires ... at the end of September and first week of October , broke all records , '' Eduardo Mingo , a top official at the national weather center , told AFP .
The number of fires were up 46 percent in 2020 , according to authorities .
Paraguay 's capital Asuncion and several towns in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and even weeks submerged under a thick fog due to the intense fires .
And without the usual rainfall that moistens the soil , the wetlands have been particularly badly affected .
Images from the Brazilian Pantanal of the charred carcases of birds , snakes , caimans and trees have shocked the world .
A quarter of the area was devastated between January and September , while the Paraguayan Pantanal had already been badly affected by fires in 2019 .
The Parana Delta that is home to species such as the jaguar , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been hit by fires of an unprecedented intensity since January , leaving a `` desert of ashes '' over tens of thousands of hectares of wetlands .
`` Reptiles , migratory birds , small mammals and tortoises have died , '' Cesar Massi , a naturalist in Argentina 's Santa Fe province , told AFP .
`` I remember that during the last drought in 2008 , there were fires .
But this year they 've been stronger , more intense and lasted longer . ''
Agriculture is a massive source of income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the slash-and-burn techniques used aggravate the situation .
In the north of Argentina `` despite Covid-19 restrictions , between March 15 and September 30 ... twice the area of Buenos Aires was deforested , '' according to Greenpeace .
The Mighty Earth NGO says that Paraguay 's dry forests are `` one of the main sites of deforestation in the world , mostly due to the expansion of pastureland and more recently soyabean plantations . ''
Argentina 's government has accused cattle farmers of setting fires to `` increase pastureland area '' in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that NGOs do n't have the necessary funding from governments to enforce rules and instigate large restoration or protection projects .
`` The provincial government has less and less of a budget for prevention , there are no surveillance posts , the environmental police have been disassembled , '' Alfredo Leytes , a member of the Ambiente en Lucha environmental collective based in Cordoba , Argentina , told AFP .
In Brazil `` there has been a 58 percent decrease in 'Brigadistas ' contracts , '' said Alica Thuault from the Centro de @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that mobilized to tackle fires .
She attributes blame firmly at the feet of President Jair Bolsonaro , a climate change skeptic .
Mohle wants different players , including farmers and ecologists , to work together `` to regulate the use of land to ensure a more sustainable development than currently exists . ''

Montevideo (AFP) –
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Under stress from a historic drought, large swathes of forest and wetlands in central South America known for their exceptional biodiversity have been ravaged by devastating fires.
Experts say the wildfires in a region that spans Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay -- especially the region between the Paraguay, Parana and Uruguay rivers -- have become critical in 2020.
"There has been a dramatic increase in fires. In Argentina there has been an increase of around 170 percent, it's very serious," said Elisabeth Mohle, an environmental politics researcher at Argentina's San Martin National University (UNSM).
She says it's part of a wider problem affecting multiple regions around the world this year, including in Brazil's Amazonas state, Australia, California, and the Gran Chaco, South America's second largest forest after the Amazon.
The Pantanal -- the world's largest wetlands that span Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay -- is experiencing its worst drought in 47 years.
The Parana river -- one of the most powerful on the planet that originates in Brazil and empties into the River Plate estuary -- is at its lowest level since 1970.
In August it was down to 80-centimeters in Rosario, eastern Argentina, rather than the usual 3-4 meters for that time of year.
It's the same thing with the Paraguay river that is at its lowest level "in half a century," according to Paraguay's national weather center in Asuncion.
- 'Desert of ashes' -
The fires are being fanned by ideal conditions, including strong winds, temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) and the dry season in which farmers use slash-and-burn techniques to try to regenerate the soil.
In Paraguay, "the fires ... at the end of September and first week of October, broke all records," Eduardo Mingo, a top official at the national weather center, told AFP.
The number of fires were up 46 percent in 2020, according to authorities.
Paraguay's capital Asuncion and several towns in northeastern Argentina and southern Brazil spent days and even weeks submerged under a thick fog due to the intense fires.
And without the usual rainfall that moistens the soil, the wetlands have been particularly badly affected.
Images from the Brazilian Pantanal of the charred carcases of birds, snakes, caimans and trees have shocked the world.
A quarter of the area was devastated between January and September, while the Paraguayan Pantanal had already been badly affected by fires in 2019.
The Parana Delta that is home to species such as the jaguar, Pampas cat and several rodents, has been hit by fires of an unprecedented intensity since January, leaving a "desert of ashes" over tens of thousands of hectares of wetlands.
"Reptiles, migratory birds, small mammals and tortoises have died," Cesar Massi, a naturalist in Argentina's Santa Fe province, told AFP.
"I remember that during the last drought in 2008, there were fires. But this year they've been stronger, more intense and lasted longer."
- Reduced protection budgets -
Agriculture is a massive source of income for the countries in this region but the slash-and-burn techniques used aggravate the situation.
In the north of Argentina "despite Covid-19 restrictions, between March 15 and September 30... twice the area of Buenos Aires was deforested," according to Greenpeace.
The Mighty Earth NGO says that Paraguay's dry forests are "one of the main sites of deforestation in the world, mostly due to the expansion of pastureland and more recently soyabean plantations."
Argentina's government has accused cattle farmers of setting fires to "increase pastureland area" in the Parana Delta.
One problem is that NGOs don't have the necessary funding from governments to enforce rules and instigate large restoration or protection projects.
"The provincial government has less and less of a budget for prevention, there are no surveillance posts, the environmental police have been disassembled," Alfredo Leytes, a member of the Ambiente en Lucha environmental collective based in Cordoba, Argentina, told AFP.
In Brazil "there has been a 58 percent decrease in 'Brigadistas' contracts," said Alica Thuault from the Centro de Vida institute, referring to the volunteers that mobilized to tackle fires. She attributes blame firmly at the feet of President Jair Bolsonaro, a climate change skeptic.
Mohle wants different players, including farmers and ecologists, to work together "to regulate the use of land to ensure a more sustainable development than currently exists."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-24--Treaty banning nuclear weapons to enter into force: UN

People visit the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum in August 2020 , at the 75th anniversary of the attack An international treaty banning nuclear weapons has been ratified by a 50th country -- Honduras -- allowing it to enter into force after 90 days , a UN official said Saturday .
While nuclear-armed powers have not signed up to the treaty , its proponents hold out hope that it will nonetheless prove to be more than symbolic and have a gradual deterrent effect , calling the achievement historic .
The 75th anniversary of the nuclear bomb attacks on Nagasaki and Hiroshima @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wave of countries ratify the treaty in recent months .
They have included Nigeria , Malaysia , Ireland , Malta and Tuvalu .
Thailand , Mexico , South Africa , Bangladesh , New Zealand , Vietnam and the Vatican are among the countries that had already ratified the treaty .
It is now expected to enter into force in January 2021 .
`` Today is a victory for humanity , and a promise of a safer future , '' Peter Maurer , president of the International Committee of the Red Cross ( ICRC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Other NGOs also welcomed the news , including the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons ( ICAN ) , a coalition that won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for its key role in bringing the treaty to fruition .
`` Honduras just ratified the Treaty as the 50th state , triggering entry into force and making history , '' ICAN said in a tweet .
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons -- which bans the use , development , production , testing , stationing , stockpiling and threat of use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UN General Assembly in July 2017 with the approval of 122 countries .
Eighty-four states have since signed it , though not all have ratified the text .
The clutch of nuclear-armed states , including the United States , Britain , France , China and Russia , have not signed the treaty .
However , campaigners hope that it coming into force will have the same impact as previous international treaties on landmines and cluster munitions , bringing a stigma to their stockpiling and use , and thereby a change in behavior even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nuclear-armed states argue their arsenals serve as a deterrent and say they remain committed to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty , which seeks to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons .
ICAN said in a statement that `` we can expect companies to stop producing nuclear weapons and financial institutions to stop investing in nuclear weapon producing companies . ''
The coalition 's executive director Beatrice Fihn called it `` a new chapter for nuclear disarmament . ''
`` Decades of activism have achieved what many said was impossible : nuclear weapons are @ @ @

United Nations (United States) (AFP) –
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An international treaty banning nuclear weapons has been ratified by a 50th country -- Honduras -- allowing it to enter into force after 90 days, a UN official said Saturday.
While nuclear-armed powers have not signed up to the treaty, its proponents hold out hope that it will nonetheless prove to be more than symbolic and have a gradual deterrent effect, calling the achievement historic.
The 75th anniversary of the nuclear bomb attacks on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, marked in August, saw a wave of countries ratify the treaty in recent months.
They have included Nigeria, Malaysia, Ireland, Malta and Tuvalu.
Thailand, Mexico, South Africa, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Vietnam and the Vatican are among the countries that had already ratified the treaty.
It is now expected to enter into force in January 2021.
"Today is a victory for humanity, and a promise of a safer future," Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), said in a statement.
Other NGOs also welcomed the news, including the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), a coalition that won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for its key role in bringing the treaty to fruition.
"Honduras just ratified the Treaty as the 50th state, triggering entry into force and making history," ICAN said in a tweet.
- 'A new chapter' -
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons -- which bans the use, development, production, testing, stationing, stockpiling and threat of use of such weapons -- was adopted by the UN General Assembly in July 2017 with the approval of 122 countries.
Eighty-four states have since signed it, though not all have ratified the text.
The clutch of nuclear-armed states, including the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia, have not signed the treaty.
However, campaigners hope that it coming into force will have the same impact as previous international treaties on landmines and cluster munitions, bringing a stigma to their stockpiling and use, and thereby a change in behavior even in countries that did not sign up.
Nuclear-armed states argue their arsenals serve as a deterrent and say they remain committed to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which seeks to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.
ICAN said in a statement that "we can expect companies to stop producing nuclear weapons and financial institutions to stop investing in nuclear weapon producing companies."
The coalition's executive director Beatrice Fihn called it "a new chapter for nuclear disarmament."
"Decades of activism have achieved what many said was impossible: nuclear weapons are banned."
© 2020 AFP