france24--2020-11-29--Racing 92's Taofifenua marks first France call-up with hat-trick in Bayonne win

Winger Donovan Taofifenua has played just nine Top 14 matches since making his debut in September 2019 Racing 92 youngster Donovan Taofifenua celebrated his maiden France call-up with a hat-trick in Sunday 's 43-17 French Top 14 win at home over a second-string Bayonne .
Taofifenua , 21 , who was hours earlier named in Les Bleus ' squad to prepare for next weekend 's Autumn Nations Cup final against England , dazzled as the Parisians moved up to fourth in the table .
Home coach Laurent Travers welcomed back Test trio Virimi Vakatawa , Bernard Le Roux and Camille @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maximum of three international team-sheets this campaign .
Travers ' Basque counterpart Yannick Bru made 12 changes from the side which beat Eben Etzebeth 's Toulon last weekend as he prioritised welcoming Toulouse next Saturday .
A minute 's applause was held before kick-off to pay tribute to former France winger Christophe Dominici who died aged 48 earlier this week .
Taofifenua , who won the 2018 World Under 20 Championship , clinched his first try of proceedings on the quarter-hour mark after centre Henry Chavancy had opened the scoring with a try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Ireland 's Simon Zebo dotted down before Arthur Duhau crossed the whitewash for the visitors as the home side led comfortably by 26-10 at the break .
Taofifenua completed his hat-trick with a quarter of an hour left , having also scored shortly after the interval , to move joint-top of the league 's try-scoring charts alongside Lyon 's Josua Tuisova , Toulouse 's Cheslin Kolbe and La Rochelle 's Arthur Retiere .
Australia playmaker Kurtley Beale added a seventh touchdown for Travers ' men with nine minutes remaining , ahead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Later , Lyon host Dominci 's former side Stade Francais in the final game of the weekend .
On Saturday , South Africa 's Rugby World Cup-winner Kolbe marked his first game since mid-October with a try in his club 's 63-18 victory over winless bottom outfit Agen .

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Racing 92 youngster Donovan Taofifenua celebrated his maiden France call-up with a hat-trick in Sunday's 43-17 French Top 14 win at home over a second-string Bayonne.
Taofifenua, 21, who was hours earlier named in Les Bleus' squad to prepare for next weekend's Autumn Nations Cup final against England, dazzled as the Parisians moved up to fourth in the table.
Home coach Laurent Travers welcomed back Test trio Virimi Vakatawa, Bernard Le Roux and Camille Chat after they had featured on the maximum of three international team-sheets this campaign.
Travers' Basque counterpart Yannick Bru made 12 changes from the side which beat Eben Etzebeth's Toulon last weekend as he prioritised welcoming Toulouse next Saturday.
A minute's applause was held before kick-off to pay tribute to former France winger Christophe Dominici who died aged 48 earlier this week.
Taofifenua, who won the 2018 World Under 20 Championship, clinched his first try of proceedings on the quarter-hour mark after centre Henry Chavancy had opened the scoring with a try early on.
Fellow winger Dorian Laborde and Ireland's Simon Zebo dotted down before Arthur Duhau crossed the whitewash for the visitors as the home side led comfortably by 26-10 at the break.
Taofifenua completed his hat-trick with a quarter of an hour left, having also scored shortly after the interval, to move joint-top of the league's try-scoring charts alongside Lyon's Josua Tuisova, Toulouse's Cheslin Kolbe and La Rochelle's Arthur Retiere.
Australia playmaker Kurtley Beale added a seventh touchdown for Travers' men with nine minutes remaining, ahead of next Saturday's trip to Bordeaux-Begles.
Later, Lyon host Dominci's former side Stade Francais in the final game of the weekend.
On Saturday, South Africa's Rugby World Cup-winner Kolbe marked his first game since mid-October with a try in his club's 63-18 victory over winless bottom outfit Agen.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-30--Moderna says will request US, Europe vaccine authorization Monday

Moderna 's headquarters in Cambridge , Massachusetts -- the company will file for emergency authorization of its Covid-19 vaccine in the United States and Europe US firm Moderna said it would file requests for emergency authorization of its Covid-19 vaccine in the United States and Europe on Monday , after full results confirmed a high efficacy estimated at 94.1 percent .
`` We believe that our vaccine will provide a new and powerful tool that may change the course of this pandemic and help prevent severe disease , hospitalizations and death , '' said the company 's CEO Stephane Bancel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Administration agrees it is safe and effective , the first of the drug 's two doses could be injected into the arms of millions of Americans by the middle of December .
American pharmaceutical Pfizer and Germany 's BioNTech applied for similar approvals last week , and their vaccine could be greenlit in the US shortly after December 10 .
The Moderna vaccine , which was co-developed with the US National Institutes of Health , is being studied in a clinical trial with more than 30,000 participants across the United States .
An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on 95 patients who fell sick with Covid-19 .
The final analysis was based on 196 cases , 185 of which were observed in a group assigned a placebo versus 11 who received the shots .
Thirty people had severe cases -- all of whom were in the placebo group -- which also included one person who died .
Significantly , efficacy was uniform across age , race , ethnicity and gender , the company said .
The 196 Covid-19 cases included 33 adults over the age of 65 , and 42 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( including 29 Hispanic , six Black , four Asian Americans and three multiracial participants ) .
The vaccine was generally well tolerated , with the most common side effects including injection site pain , fatigue , muscle pain , joint pain , headache , and redness at the site .
These increased in frequency and severity after the second dose in the vaccinated group .
The press statement included the line : `` no new serious safety concerns have been identified by the Company '' -- but it did not explicitly say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Moderna said it expects to have approximately 20 million doses of the vaccine , called mRNA-1273 , available in the US by the end of the year .
It also expects to manufacture 500 million to 1 billion doses globally in 2021 .

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US firm Moderna said it would file requests for emergency authorization of its Covid-19 vaccine in the United States and Europe on Monday, after full results confirmed a high efficacy estimated at 94.1 percent.
"We believe that our vaccine will provide a new and powerful tool that may change the course of this pandemic and help prevent severe disease, hospitalizations and death," said the company's CEO Stephane Bancel.
If the US Food and Drug Administration agrees it is safe and effective, the first of the drug's two doses could be injected into the arms of millions of Americans by the middle of December.
American pharmaceutical Pfizer and Germany's BioNTech applied for similar approvals last week, and their vaccine could be greenlit in the US shortly after December 10.
The Moderna vaccine, which was co-developed with the US National Institutes of Health, is being studied in a clinical trial with more than 30,000 participants across the United States.
An interim analysis announced earlier this month was based on 95 patients who fell sick with Covid-19.
The final analysis was based on 196 cases, 185 of which were observed in a group assigned a placebo versus 11 who received the shots.
Thirty people had severe cases -- all of whom were in the placebo group -- which also included one person who died.
Significantly, efficacy was uniform across age, race, ethnicity and gender, the company said.
The 196 Covid-19 cases included 33 adults over the age of 65, and 42 participants identifying as being from diverse communities (including 29 Hispanic, six Black, four Asian Americans and three multiracial participants).
The vaccine was generally well tolerated, with the most common side effects including injection site pain, fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain, headache, and redness at the site.
These increased in frequency and severity after the second dose in the vaccinated group.
The press statement included the line: "no new serious safety concerns have been identified by the Company" -- but it did not explicitly say whether serious concerns have been flagged previously.
Moderna said it expects to have approximately 20 million doses of the vaccine, called mRNA-1273, available in the US by the end of the year.
It also expects to manufacture 500 million to 1 billion doses globally in 2021.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-30--China jails 53 for deadly factory blast

China jails 53 for deadly factory blast

Some 78 people died in the March 2019 factory blast A Chinese court jailed 53 people on Monday after convicting them on charges including bribery and negligence over a massive chemical factory explosion in eastern China last year that killed 78 people .
The blast in Jiangsu province in March 2019 was one of the worst industrial accidents in the country in recent years , and led to the closure of the plant .
Executives and employees of Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical company received sentences ranging from 18 months to twenty years in prison , the official Xinhua news agency reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city found that the company knowingly produced and stored hazardous chemicals and waste material despite `` storage venues that did not meet safety requirements '' .
It also found that six local government agencies -- including the city 's environmental protection authorities -- had falsified documents in order to hide the risk posed by Tianjiayi 's activities , with some officials accepting bribes .
The explosion , sparked by a fire in Tianjiayi 's fertiliser factory , flattened the surrounding industrial park , blew out windows and dented metal garage doors of buildings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miles ) from the site .
Deadly industrial accidents are common in China , where safety regulations are often poorly enforced .
In 2015 , massive chemical blasts in the northern port city of Tianjin killed at least 165 people .

Beijing (AFP) –
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A Chinese court jailed 53 people on Monday after convicting them on charges including bribery and negligence over a massive chemical factory explosion in eastern China last year that killed 78 people.
The blast in Jiangsu province in March 2019 was one of the worst industrial accidents in the country in recent years, and led to the closure of the plant.
Executives and employees of Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical company received sentences ranging from 18 months to twenty years in prison, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
A handful of local officials also received jail terms.
The court in Jiangsu's Yancheng city found that the company knowingly produced and stored hazardous chemicals and waste material despite "storage venues that did not meet safety requirements".
It also found that six local government agencies -- including the city's environmental protection authorities -- had falsified documents in order to hide the risk posed by Tianjiayi's activities, with some officials accepting bribes.
The explosion, sparked by a fire in Tianjiayi's fertiliser factory, flattened the surrounding industrial park, blew out windows and dented metal garage doors of buildings as far as four kilometres (2.5 miles) from the site.
Deadly industrial accidents are common in China, where safety regulations are often poorly enforced.
In 2015, massive chemical blasts in the northern port city of Tianjin killed at least 165 people.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-30--Thai protest leaders charged with royal defamation

Thai protesters march with rubber ducks -- a symbol of their pro-democracy movement -- in Bangkok Thai police charged five key leaders of the country 's pro-democracy protest movement Monday under the kingdom 's tough royal defamation laws , the first such use of the controversial legislation in two years .
Section 112 of the Thai penal code is one of the world 's toughest lese majeste laws , shielding the ultra-powerful King Maha Vajiralongkorn from criticism .
But in recent months leaders of the pro-democracy movement have called for reforms to the monarchy -- including for the law 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shockwaves through Thai society .
Human rights activist Anon Numpa -- one of the most prominent faces rallying for royal reform -- and four others arrived at a Bangkok police station for questioning Monday .
`` The police charged us under section 112 , '' Anon told reporters after leaving the station .
`` We have all denied it . ''
They have been charged over over their role in a September rally , and if found guilty face up to 15 years in prison per charge .
They have led dozens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tens of thousands supporting their demands .
They are also calling for a rewrite of the military-scripted constitution and the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha , a former army chief who came to power in a coup in 2014 .
Scores of protesters have been hit with sedition charges , while authorities have stepped up enforcement tactics in recent weeks -- deploying water cannon and tear gas against unarmed demonstrators .
Leader Panupong `` Mike '' Jadnok remained defiant Monday , saying that the 112 charge will not deter them from their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideology ... we will not be bound by the dictatorship and we do not accept section 112 as a law , '' he said .
The leaders were allowed to leave the police station after being questioned and charged by the police -- a rarity as most lese majeste suspects tend to be held until trial .
The law has long drawn criticism from human rights activists , who say it is a tool deployed to suppress political dissent .
The use of it was stepped up after the 2014 coup , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rights registering a jump from just six convictions to 169 under the junta .
The group has not recorded a charge since 2018 .
Prayut had previously said the use of 112 slowed due to `` the mercy '' of the king .
But after months of non-stop demonstrations , the embattled premier in mid-November gave the green light for authorities to lay royal defamation charges .

Bangkok (AFP) –
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Thai police charged five key leaders of the country's pro-democracy protest movement Monday under the kingdom's tough royal defamation laws, the first such use of the controversial legislation in two years.
Section 112 of the Thai penal code is one of the world's toughest lese majeste laws, shielding the ultra-powerful King Maha Vajiralongkorn from criticism.
But in recent months leaders of the pro-democracy movement have called for reforms to the monarchy -- including for the law's abolition -- a move that has sent shockwaves through Thai society.
Human rights activist Anon Numpa -- one of the most prominent faces rallying for royal reform -- and four others arrived at a Bangkok police station for questioning Monday.
"The police charged us under section 112," Anon told reporters after leaving the station.
"We have all denied it."
They have been charged over over their role in a September rally, and if found guilty face up to 15 years in prison per charge.
They have led dozens of protests since July, the largest drawing tens of thousands supporting their demands.
They are also calling for a rewrite of the military-scripted constitution and the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, a former army chief who came to power in a coup in 2014.
Scores of protesters have been hit with sedition charges, while authorities have stepped up enforcement tactics in recent weeks -- deploying water cannon and tear gas against unarmed demonstrators.
Leader Panupong "Mike" Jadnok remained defiant Monday, saying that the 112 charge will not deter them from their goals.
"I stand on our ideology... we will not be bound by the dictatorship and we do not accept section 112 as a law," he said.
The leaders were allowed to leave the police station after being questioned and charged by the police -- a rarity as most lese majeste suspects tend to be held until trial.
The law has long drawn criticism from human rights activists, who say it is a tool deployed to suppress political dissent.
The use of it was stepped up after the 2014 coup, with legal rights group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights registering a jump from just six convictions to 169 under the junta.
The group has not recorded a charge since 2018.
Prayut had previously said the use of 112 slowed due to "the mercy" of the king.
But after months of non-stop demonstrations, the embattled premier in mid-November gave the green light for authorities to lay royal defamation charges.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-30--Ethiopia's Abiy says has Tigray leaders in his sights

More than three weeks of fighting between federal forces and northern Tigrayan units has left thousands dead Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Monday Tigray region 's dissident leaders had fled west of the regional capital after weeks of fighting , but said federal forces were monitoring them closely and would `` attack '' them soon .
Abiy , winner of last year 's Nobel Peace Prize , this month ordered military operations against leaders of Tigray 's ruling party , the Tigray People 's Liberation Front ( TPLF ) , in response to what he said were TPLF-organised attacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than three weeks of fighting between federal forces and northern Tigrayan units has left thousands dead and prompted tens of thousands of refugees to flee across the border into Sudan .
`` I want them to hear me : Yesterday evening , around midnight , we saw them from the situation room in the area between Hagere Selam and Abiy Addi , '' Abiy said in remarks to lawmakers , referring to two towns west of the Tigray capital Mekele .
`` We did n't attack them at night because as they retreated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abducted soldiers ...
But this will not continue . ''
The fighting has been a dramatic escalation of tensions between Abiy and the leaders of the TPLF , which dominated Ethiopian politics for nearly three decades before anti-government protests swept Abiy to office in 2018 .
Abiy said on Saturday the military operations were `` completed '' after federal forces claimed control of the Tigray regional capital Mekele .
The TPLF leaders , however , have repeatedly vowed to fight on as long as federal forces are on Tigrayan soil .
As the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , global concern mounted about a possible bloodbath in a city that , before the conflict , had a population of half a million .
But the government says little combat actually occurred as pro-TPLF forces retreated .
A communications blackout in Tigray has made it difficult to verify claims from both sides about how the fighting is going .
On Monday Abiy claimed soldiers did not kill any civilians as they took over Mekele and other cities in Tigray .
`` Mekele is ours , it was built with our own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destroy it , '' he said .
`` Not even a single person was harmed by the operation in Mekele . ''
The International Committee of the Red Cross said Sunday that hospitals in Mekele were flooded with trauma patients , though it did not specify how the injuries were sustained .

Addis Ababa (AFP) –
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Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Monday Tigray region's dissident leaders had fled west of the regional capital after weeks of fighting, but said federal forces were monitoring them closely and would "attack" them soon.
Abiy, winner of last year's Nobel Peace Prize, this month ordered military operations against leaders of Tigray's ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), in response to what he said were TPLF-organised attacks on Ethiopian federal army camps.
More than three weeks of fighting between federal forces and northern Tigrayan units has left thousands dead and prompted tens of thousands of refugees to flee across the border into Sudan.
"I want them to hear me: Yesterday evening, around midnight, we saw them from the situation room in the area between Hagere Selam and Abiy Addi," Abiy said in remarks to lawmakers, referring to two towns west of the Tigray capital Mekele.
"We didn't attack them at night because as they retreated they took their wives, children and abducted soldiers... But this will not continue."
The fighting has been a dramatic escalation of tensions between Abiy and the leaders of the TPLF, which dominated Ethiopian politics for nearly three decades before anti-government protests swept Abiy to office in 2018.
Abiy said on Saturday the military operations were "completed" after federal forces claimed control of the Tigray regional capital Mekele.
The TPLF leaders, however, have repeatedly vowed to fight on as long as federal forces are on Tigrayan soil.
Their exact whereabouts remain unknown.
As the Ethiopian military beared down on Mekele last week, global concern mounted about a possible bloodbath in a city that, before the conflict, had a population of half a million.
But the government says little combat actually occurred as pro-TPLF forces retreated.
A communications blackout in Tigray has made it difficult to verify claims from both sides about how the fighting is going.
On Monday Abiy claimed soldiers did not kill any civilians as they took over Mekele and other cities in Tigray.
"Mekele is ours, it was built with our own resources. We are not going to destroy it," he said. "Not even a single person was harmed by the operation in Mekele."
The International Committee of the Red Cross said Sunday that hospitals in Mekele were flooded with trauma patients, though it did not specify how the injuries were sustained.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-30--'This is our life': Armenians flee before Azerbaijan arrives

Ethnic Armenians are rushing to bring livestock and belongings out of regions of Nagorno-Karabakh ceded to Azerbaijan Prodding her cows forward with a long stick , Asya Petrosyan drives the herd along the snow-covered Lachin corridor , the last road out of Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia .
With Azerbaijani forces preparing to take back this district on Tuesday , the 67-year-old is rushing to bring 30 animals more than 55 kilometres ( 35 miles ) to the town of Goris across the border in Armenia .
`` We used to live here but it is being returned to ( the Azerbaijanis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says Petrosyan , wrapped in a fluorescent green down jacket against the cold .
`` This is our life , '' she says , trudging along the road while an accompanying Lada SUV carries goods and two calves too young to make the long journey .
Lachin is the last of three districts -- after Aghdam and Kalbajar -- that Armenia is surrendering to Azerbaijan under a Russian-brokered peace deal that ended weeks of heavy fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh .
The agreement , signed on November 9 , sees Armenia handing back seven districts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ separatist region broke away from Azerbaijan 's control during a war in the early 1990s .
Lachin runs from north to south along the eastern border of Armenia down to Iran and will be under Azerbaijani control except for a few areas bordering the corridor .
Travelling north from the town of Lachin ( called Berdzor by the Armenians ) the next village is Qarega , set on a mountainside overlooking a deep valley .
Here residents wasted no time in leaving .
The few dozen houses scattered around the village have already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down .
On Sunday , a thin plume of smoke was still escaping from a building with blackened walls .
Outside another partly burnt building , 56-year-old Seryozha Ordyan of Goris is busy retrieving black plastic water pipes while his son collects firewood .
The building 's owners and their two children -- relatives of Ordyan -- left everything behind a few days ago .
The children are now in Goris while their parents went on to the Armenian capital Yerevan to look for housing .
`` We are taking this wood to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm also collecting this pipe .
It is theirs ; they might need it , '' says Ordyan .
- 'We 'll stay with the Russians ' - Along the edge of a small road leading to the village , men use chainsaws to harvest snow-covered logs and load them into a dozen vans and large trucks .
Despite the frantic efforts to clear out , there is some relief in the district .
In his office , Lachin district head Mushegh Alaverdyan says he has learned that Armenians living in some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We have received official information that Berdzor , Aghavno and Sus will remain Armenian , '' he says , referring to three towns along the roadside of the Lachin corridor .
`` There will be no Azerbaijani authorities here .
That is clear , '' he insists , before adding more cautiously : `` At this moment I can not tell you what will happen over the next few hours . ''
In the centre of town , at an intersection with the strategic road that goes to Karabakh 's main city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two light armoured vehicles .
Moscow has deployed some 2,000 soldiers between the two sides including at checkpoints along the five-kilometre-wide ( three-mile-wide ) Lachin corridor .
`` We will stay here with the Russians ... until the next bad news .
My house is right next door ; I 'll stay if I 'm allowed , '' the owner of a grocery store at the crossing says on condition of anonymity .
Asked about the possibility of Azerbaijanis using this road , the man says he is `` not afraid of Azerbaijanis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia I met a lot of them .
People live on both sides of borders after wars , and things are fine . ''

Lachin (Azerbaijan) (AFP) –
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Prodding her cows forward with a long stick, Asya Petrosyan drives the herd along the snow-covered Lachin corridor, the last road out of Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia.
With Azerbaijani forces preparing to take back this district on Tuesday, the 67-year-old is rushing to bring 30 animals more than 55 kilometres (35 miles) to the town of Goris across the border in Armenia.
"We used to live here but it is being returned to (the Azerbaijanis) so we are leaving," says Petrosyan, wrapped in a fluorescent green down jacket against the cold.
"This is our life," she says, trudging along the road while an accompanying Lada SUV carries goods and two calves too young to make the long journey.
Lachin is the last of three districts -- after Aghdam and Kalbajar -- that Armenia is surrendering to Azerbaijan under a Russian-brokered peace deal that ended weeks of heavy fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh.
The agreement, signed on November 9, sees Armenia handing back seven districts that it seized around Karabakh when the separatist region broke away from Azerbaijan's control during a war in the early 1990s.
Lachin runs from north to south along the eastern border of Armenia down to Iran and will be under Azerbaijani control except for a few areas bordering the corridor.
- Abandoned -
Travelling north from the town of Lachin (called Berdzor by the Armenians) the next village is Qarega, set on a mountainside overlooking a deep valley.
Here residents wasted no time in leaving. The few dozen houses scattered around the village have already been abandoned, partly destroyed or burnt down.
On Sunday, a thin plume of smoke was still escaping from a building with blackened walls.
Outside another partly burnt building, 56-year-old Seryozha Ordyan of Goris is busy retrieving black plastic water pipes while his son collects firewood.
The building's owners and their two children -- relatives of Ordyan -- left everything behind a few days ago. The children are now in Goris while their parents went on to the Armenian capital Yerevan to look for housing.
"We are taking this wood to heat us and their children, and I'm also collecting this pipe. It is theirs; they might need it," says Ordyan.
- 'We'll stay with the Russians' -
Along the edge of a small road leading to the village, men use chainsaws to harvest snow-covered logs and load them into a dozen vans and large trucks.
Despite the frantic efforts to clear out, there is some relief in the district.
In his office, Lachin district head Mushegh Alaverdyan says he has learned that Armenians living in some settlements will be allowed to stay.
"We have received official information that Berdzor, Aghavno and Sus will remain Armenian," he says, referring to three towns along the roadside of the Lachin corridor.
"There will be no Azerbaijani authorities here. That is clear," he insists, before adding more cautiously: "At this moment I cannot tell you what will happen over the next few hours."
In the centre of town, at an intersection with the strategic road that goes to Karabakh's main city Stepanakert, Russian peacekeepers are stationed with two light armoured vehicles.
Moscow has deployed some 2,000 soldiers between the two sides including at checkpoints along the five-kilometre-wide (three-mile-wide) Lachin corridor.
"We will stay here with the Russians... until the next bad news. My house is right next door; I'll stay if I'm allowed," the owner of a grocery store at the crossing says on condition of anonymity.
Asked about the possibility of Azerbaijanis using this road, the man says he is "not afraid of Azerbaijanis if they come".
"In Russia I met a lot of them. People live on both sides of borders after wars, and things are fine."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-30--Hervé Le Tellier wins Goncourt Prize, France's most prestigious literary award

French author Hervé Le Tellier has been awarded the Goncourt Prize for his novel `` L'Anomalie '' ( The Anomaly @ @ @ @ @ literary honour was attributed by videolink owing to the coronavirus pandemic .
Le Tellier , @ @ @ @ @ by training and former journalist .
He is president of the international literary group Oulipo @ @ @ @ @ poet Raymond Queneau and writer and scientist François Le Lionnais in 1960 .
Le Tellier @ @ @ @ @ eight votes from the Goncourt jury to earn the country 's most prestigious book award @ @ @ @ @ meanwhile , won two votes for `` L'Historiographe du royaume '' ( The kingdom 's @ @ @ @ @ Renaudot Prize , awarded moments after the Goncourt as is traditional , went to author @ @ @ @ @ `` Histoire du fils '' ( A son 's story ) .

French author Hervé Le Tellier has been awarded the Goncourt Prize for his novel "L'Anomalie" (The Anomaly). France's top literary honour was attributed by video link owing to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Le Tellier, 63, is a mathematician by training and former journalist. He is a member of the Oulipo international literary group, founded in France by poet Raymond Queneau and writer and scientist François Le Lionnais in 1960.
Le Tellier's "L'Anomalie", a futuristic thriller about the double lives of passengers aboard a flight from Paris to New York, obtained eight votes from the Goncourt jury to earn the country's most prestigious book award. Finalist Maël Renouard, meanwhile, won two votes for "L'Historiographe du royaume" (The kingdom's historiographer).
The 2020 Renaudot Prize, awarded moments after the Goncourt as is traditional, went to author Marie-Hélène Lafon for her novel "Histoire du fils" (A son's story).
The Goncourt winner was announced two days after the French government eased a month-long coronavirus lockdown, allowing bookshops, which had complained bitterly about the restrictions, to reopen.
Tellier had been tipped for glory with a page-turner of a novel in which a hit man, a Nigerian pop star and a writer land in New York only to find that their flight – and other versions of their selves – had already arrived three months earlier.
A thriller with a 'real cinematic dimension'
The former Reuters journalist said Monday that it could be read as a parable for life after Donald Trump.
"The idea is that since Trump is there and is the cause of the world's destruction, the vision of the book is to propose another version of the world, where Biden is president.
"That's one possible way of reading it," he said by video link.
Jury chairman Didier Decoin said that the novel had a "real cinematic dimension" and that he hoped it would be adapted for the big screen.
Because of the Covid-19 restrictions, the 10-person Goncourt jury was forced to forgo its traditional slap-up awards lunch at the Drouant restaurant in central Paris.
Instead, they huddled over video link from their homes.
They had been due to name the winner on November 10, but to show solidarity with booksellers they held off until bookshops were allowed reopen at the weekend, along with vendors of other "non-essential" goods. Restaurants and cafés remain closed.
Previous winners of the Goncourt Prize, which was set up in 1903, include Marcel Proust, Simone de Beauvoir, Marguerite Duras and Michel Houellebecq.
While Tellier gets a paltry 10 euros ($12) in prize money, the award invariably catapults the winner to the top of the bestseller lists.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-11-30--Iran says scientist was killed in 'new, complex' operation: top official

Iranian officials pray over the coffin of slain top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh during his funeral ceremony in the capital Tehran , in a picture provided by the defence ministry A top Iranian official Monday said nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was killed in a new type of `` complex operation '' , blaming arch-foe Israel and an exiled opposition group .
The `` operation was very complex , using electronic equipment and no one was present at the scene , '' the secretary of Iran 's Supreme National Security Council , Rear-Admiral Ali Shamkhani said .
The People 's Mujahedeen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certainly '' involved , along with `` the Zionist regime and the Mossad '' , Shamkhani said , referring to the Israeli government and its external security agency .
`` The enemy used a completely new , professional and specialised method and reached its goal , '' he added , without elaborating on the weaponry involved .
Shamkhani 's comments came in video interviews broadcast by state television and the Fars news agency .
Without citing sources , Fars itself claimed that the attack had been carried out with the help of `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mounted on a pick up truck .
Iran 's President Hassan Rouhani had Saturday accused Israel of acting as a `` mercenary '' for the United States by carrying out the assassination .
The scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh died on Friday from his wounds in a hospital , according to Iran 's defence ministry , which had in a statement said assailants targeted his car and engaged in a gunfight with his bodyguards outside the capital .
Iran 's foes had singled out Fakhrizadeh as a target `` for twenty years '' , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at some point , Shamkhani said .
`` Security forces had predicted the possibility of an attack on him , even predicting the possible location of the incident , '' he said at the scientist 's funeral in Tehran .
But given the `` frequency of ( such ) news in these twenty years , the required seriousness was sadly not applied '' this time , he added .
According to Iran 's defence minister Amir Hatami , Fakhrizadeh was one of his deputies and headed the ministry 's Defence and Research and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of `` nuclear defence . ''

Tehran (AFP) –
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A top Iranian official Monday said nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was killed in a new type of "complex operation", blaming arch-foe Israel and an exiled opposition group.
The "operation was very complex, using electronic equipment and no one was present at the scene," the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Rear-Admiral Ali Shamkhani said.
The People's Mujahedeen of Iran (MEK) were "certainly" involved, along with "the Zionist regime and the Mossad", Shamkhani said, referring to the Israeli government and its external security agency.
"The enemy used a completely new, professional and specialised method and reached its goal," he added, without elaborating on the weaponry involved.
Shamkhani's comments came in video interviews broadcast by state television and the Fars news agency.
Without citing sources, Fars itself claimed that the attack had been carried out with the help of "a remote controlled automatic machine gun" mounted on a pick up truck.
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani had Saturday accused Israel of acting as a "mercenary" for the United States by carrying out the assassination.
The scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh died on Friday from his wounds in a hospital, according to Iran's defence ministry, which had in a statement said assailants targeted his car and engaged in a gunfight with his bodyguards outside the capital.
Iran's foes had singled out Fakhrizadeh as a target "for twenty years", and an attack was anticipated to take place at some point, Shamkhani said.
"Security forces had predicted the possibility of an attack on him, even predicting the possible location of the incident," he said at the scientist's funeral in Tehran.
But given the "frequency of (such) news in these twenty years, the required seriousness was sadly not applied" this time, he added.
According to Iran's defence minister Amir Hatami, Fakhrizadeh was one of his deputies and headed the ministry's Defence and Research and Innovation Organization, focusing on the field of "nuclear defence."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-30--Inquest to probe role of air pollution in death of British girl

WHO-recommended limits for air pollution are broken in 99 percent of London The mother of a nine-year-old girl who died from acute respiratory failure after repeated asthma attacks on Monday said she hoped a coroner 's inquest would conclude that air pollution played a role in her death .
Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah died in February 2013 after nearly three years of repeated attacks , which saw her taken to hospital 30 times .
But a specialist in 2018 noticed a `` striking link '' between levels of nitrogen dioxide ( NO2 ) and harmful particulate matter at the times she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air pollution was a factor in her death would be a legal first in Britain .
`` I hope , and I 'm keeping my fingers crossed that the coroner , after hearing all the evidence , will come to the conclusion that air pollution either caused or contributed to her death , and that 's all I 'm asking for , '' Ella 's mother Rosamund said .
`` I will finally have the reason why she passed away on her birth certificate , '' she told AFP .
`` All children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I 'll keep on saying that because children should n't die from asthma . ''
The first coroner 's inquest in 2014 determined that Ella died of acute respiratory failure brought on by severe asthma .
But the ruling was set aside after the specialist 's report .
The second hearing , which is due to last 10 days from Monday , will examine the levels of pollution the young girl was exposed to .
The family lived less than 30 metres ( 100 feet ) from the South Circular , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Lewisham , southeast London .
Coroner 's inquests are held in England and Wales in the event of a sudden or unexplained death .
They establish the causes and circumstances of deaths on the balance of probability .
They do not determine criminal or civil liability , guilt or blame , but set out facts in the public interest .
The lawyer representing the family , Jocelyn Cockburn , said reaching the second inquest was a `` significant achievement '' .
`` Rosamund 's account of Ella 's struggle is very powerful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statistics , '' she said .
Since her eldest daughter 's death , Rosamund Addo-Kissi-Debrah has campaigned for improvements to air quality and awareness of asthma , particularly in children .
She said the pollution near the family home was `` definitely not visible '' , but the government needed to clean up the air , given the number of people who live near busy roads .
`` There are thousands of children all over the UK with asthma and every time there 's a spike in air pollution some of them will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to figures from the Mayor of London , World Health Organization ( WHO ) recommended limits for air pollution are broken in 99 percent of the British capital .
The WHO says air pollution kills some seven million people across the globe every year and nine out of 10 people breathe air that exceeds guideline limits on pollutants .
Low- and middle-income countries are worst affected and the problem contributes to premature deaths .
Last month , the executive director of the Clean Air Fund , Jane Burston , said children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to be hospitalised for asthma on days with high NO2 pollution '' .
Also in October , Mayor of London Sadiq Khan released figures showing improvements in air quality due to changes made since his election in 2016 .
These measures have included the introduction of an `` ultra low emission zone '' which requires drivers of the most polluting vehicles to pay a daily tax when entering central London .

London (AFP) –
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The mother of a nine-year-old girl who died from acute respiratory failure after repeated asthma attacks on Monday said she hoped a coroner's inquest would conclude that air pollution played a role in her death.
Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah died in February 2013 after nearly three years of repeated attacks, which saw her taken to hospital 30 times.
But a specialist in 2018 noticed a "striking link" between levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and harmful particulate matter at the times she was admitted for treatment.
A ruling that air pollution was a factor in her death would be a legal first in Britain.
"I hope, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the coroner, after hearing all the evidence, will come to the conclusion that air pollution either caused or contributed to her death, and that's all I'm asking for," Ella's mother Rosamund said.
"I will finally have the reason why she passed away on her birth certificate," she told AFP.
"All children have a right to breathe cleaner air and I'll keep on saying that because children shouldn't die from asthma."
The first coroner's inquest in 2014 determined that Ella died of acute respiratory failure brought on by severe asthma. But the ruling was set aside after the specialist's report.
The second hearing, which is due to last 10 days from Monday, will examine the levels of pollution the young girl was exposed to.
The family lived less than 30 metres (100 feet) from the South Circular, a busy and regularly congested arterial road, in Lewisham, southeast London.
Coroner's inquests are held in England and Wales in the event of a sudden or unexplained death. They establish the causes and circumstances of deaths on the balance of probability.
They do not determine criminal or civil liability, guilt or blame, but set out facts in the public interest.
- Global health issue -
The lawyer representing the family, Jocelyn Cockburn, said reaching the second inquest was a "significant achievement".
"Rosamund's account of Ella's struggle is very powerful and illustrates the human suffering behind the statistics," she said.
Since her eldest daughter's death, Rosamund Addo-Kissi-Debrah has campaigned for improvements to air quality and awareness of asthma, particularly in children.
She said the pollution near the family home was "definitely not visible", but the government needed to clean up the air, given the number of people who live near busy roads.
"There are thousands of children all over the UK with asthma and every time there's a spike in air pollution some of them will end up in hospital" she said.
According to figures from the Mayor of London, World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limits for air pollution are broken in 99 percent of the British capital.
The WHO says air pollution kills some seven million people across the globe every year and nine out of 10 people breathe air that exceeds guideline limits on pollutants.
Low- and middle-income countries are worst affected and the problem contributes to premature deaths.
Last month, the executive director of the Clean Air Fund, Jane Burston, said children in London were "4.2 percent more likely to be hospitalised for asthma on days with high NO2 pollution".
Also in October, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan released figures showing improvements in air quality due to changes made since his election in 2016.
These measures have included the introduction of an "ultra low emission zone" which requires drivers of the most polluting vehicles to pay a daily tax when entering central London.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-30--African players in Europe: Mahrez ends five-year wait for hat-trick

Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez bagged his first hat-trick in five years as Manchester City trounced Burnley 5-0 at the weekend to move within six points of Premier League frontrunners Tottenham Hotspur .
The 2016 African Footballer of the Year , famed for his lethal left foot , completed the treble at the Etihad Stadium with a rare headed goal .
`` We knew it was going to come , '' said the 29-year-old of the goal rush that kept Burnley in the relegation zone .
Here , AFP Sport rounds up the performances of African stars in the major European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's 5-0 demolition of Burnley .
City had scored just 10 goals in their previous eight league games , but with Mahrez 's first goals for Pep Guardiola 's side since September they ran riot .
`` It has been frustrating sometimes .
Every game we created chances but were not scoring , '' Mahrez said .
`` We worked a lot in training to be more in the box and arrive more . ''
The Egypt forward had a frosty moment with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp after being substituted during a 1-1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when taken off in the 64th minute , gesticulating in frustration and ignoring Klopp when the German put a consoling hand on him .
Salah has failed to score in his two appearances since returning from Egypt after contracting Covid-19 .
`` If Mo is smiling when he leaves the pitch then something is wrong .
He does not like that , but that is it , '' Klopp said .
The Gabon forward failed to score for a third successive game as Arsenal crashed to a 2-1 home defeat against Wolves .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but he failed to inspire his team with a lacklustre display .
Aubameyang has scored just twice in his last 10 appearances in all competitions .
The in-form Moroccan notched for the fifth time in six games for Sevilla as he hit a late winner in the 1-0 victory at Huesca .
En-Nesyri struck seven minutes from time after coming on as a substitute , tapping in a Lucas Ocampos cross at the near post .
Kessie set up Alessio Romagnoli for the opener after 17 minutes with the Ivorian forward adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes later as AC Milan extended their lead on top of Serie A with a 2-0 win over Fiorentina .
Goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski denied Kessie a second before the break .
`` It 's like this on penalties , either your score or miss , but I 'll still take the next one , '' said Kessie , who has scored three league goals this season .
The Togo striker scored a second-half equaliser to spare his side 's blushes in a 1-1 draw at Mainz .
Bebou turned in a cross from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Quaison 's first-half opener just after the hour mark .
The Tunisia midfielder scored both goals in Cologne 's 2-1 win at Borussia Dortmund to break their 18-match winless run .
Skhiri tapped in twice from corners by ex-Dortmund winger Marius Wolf after being left unmarked on each occasion .
The Democratic Republic of Congo winger whipped in the cross which led to visitors Bayern Munich falling behind against Stuttgart before fighting back for a 3-1 away win .
Wamangituka caught Bayern defenders David Alaba and Jerome Boateng napping with a superb cross @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cameroonian scored the opener in Lyon 's 3-0 win over Reims and provided a pair of assists .
Toko Ekambi volleyed in Memphis Depay 's cross for his fifth league goal of the campaign midway through the first half before setting up Bruno Guimaraes and Moussa Dembele in the second period .
The Tunisia international won and converted a disputed penalty as Saint-Etienne halted an alarming seven-match losing run with a 1-1 draw at home to Lille .
Khazri 's first goal this season earned his side a first point in the league @ @ @ @

Paris (AFP) –
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Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez bagged his first hat-trick in five years as Manchester City trounced Burnley 5-0 at the weekend to move within six points of Premier League frontrunners Tottenham Hotspur.
The 2016 African Footballer of the Year, famed for his lethal left foot, completed the treble at the Etihad Stadium with a rare headed goal.
"We knew it was going to come," said the 29-year-old of the goal rush that kept Burnley in the relegation zone.
Here, AFP Sport rounds up the performances of African stars in the major European leagues.
ENGLAND
RIYAD MAHREZ (Manchester City)
The winger inspired Manchester City's 5-0 demolition of Burnley. City had scored just 10 goals in their previous eight league games, but with Mahrez's first goals for Pep Guardiola's side since September they ran riot. "It has been frustrating sometimes. Every game we created chances but were not scoring," Mahrez said. "We worked a lot in training to be more in the box and arrive more."
MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool)
The Egypt forward had a frosty moment with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp after being substituted during a 1-1 draw at Brighton. Salah looked disappointed when taken off in the 64th minute, gesticulating in frustration and ignoring Klopp when the German put a consoling hand on him. Salah has failed to score in his two appearances since returning from Egypt after contracting Covid-19. "If Mo is smiling when he leaves the pitch then something is wrong. He does not like that, but that is it," Klopp said.
PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (Arsenal)
The Gabon forward failed to score for a third successive game as Arsenal crashed to a 2-1 home defeat against Wolves. Aubameyang started in the central striker role, but he failed to inspire his team with a lacklustre display. Aubameyang has scored just twice in his last 10 appearances in all competitions.
SPAIN
YOUSSEF EN-NESYRI (Sevilla)
The in-form Moroccan notched for the fifth time in six games for Sevilla as he hit a late winner in the 1-0 victory at Huesca. En-Nesyri struck seven minutes from time after coming on as a substitute, tapping in a Lucas Ocampos cross at the near post.
ITALY
FRANCK KESSIE (AC Milan)
Kessie set up Alessio Romagnoli for the opener after 17 minutes with the Ivorian forward adding a second from the penalty spot 10 minutes later as AC Milan extended their lead on top of Serie A with a 2-0 win over Fiorentina. Goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski denied Kessie a second before the break. "It's like this on penalties, either your score or miss, but I'll still take the next one," said Kessie, who has scored three league goals this season.
GERMANY
IHLAS BEBOU (Hoffenheim)
The Togo striker scored a second-half equaliser to spare his side's blushes in a 1-1 draw at Mainz. Bebou turned in a cross from Tottenham loanee Ryan Sessegnon to cancel Robin Quaison's first-half opener just after the hour mark.
ELLYES SKHIRI (Cologne)
The Tunisia midfielder scored both goals in Cologne's 2-1 win at Borussia Dortmund to break their 18-match winless run. Skhiri tapped in twice from corners by ex-Dortmund winger Marius Wolf after being left unmarked on each occasion.
SILAS WAMANGITUKA (VfB Stuttgart)
The Democratic Republic of Congo winger whipped in the cross which led to visitors Bayern Munich falling behind against Stuttgart before fighting back for a 3-1 away win. Wamangituka caught Bayern defenders David Alaba and Jerome Boateng napping with a superb cross which 19-year-old Tanguy Coulibaly converted.
FRANCE
KARL TOKO EKAMBI (Lyon)
The Cameroonian scored the opener in Lyon's 3-0 win over Reims and provided a pair of assists. Toko Ekambi volleyed in Memphis Depay's cross for his fifth league goal of the campaign midway through the first half before setting up Bruno Guimaraes and Moussa Dembele in the second period.
WAHBI KHAZRI (Saint-Etienne)
The Tunisia international won and converted a disputed penalty as Saint-Etienne halted an alarming seven-match losing run with a 1-1 draw at home to Lille. Khazri's first goal this season earned his side a first point in the league since September 20.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-30--Grosjean out of next F1 GP after escaping fiery crash: team

Romain Grosjean escaped this crash during the Bahrain Grand Prix with just burns to his hands French driver Romain Grosjean @ @ @ @ @ 's Formula One race after escaping a fiery crash in the Bahrain Grand Prix with @ @ @ @ @ , his team Haas said on Monday .
Grosjean walked away from the wreckage after @ @ @ @ @ 's Alpha Tauri on the first lap of Sunday 's race , causing the Haas @ @ @ @ @ and burst into flames as it smashed through the safety barriers .
Haas said treatment @ @ @ @ @ Grosjean suffered was `` going well '' and he was expected to be discharged from @ @ @ @ @ driver Pietro Fittipaldi -- grandson of two-time world champion Emerson Fittipaldi -- will make his @ @ @ @ @ of Grosjean in the Sakhir Grand Prix , also in Bahrain , next Sunday .
@ @ @ @ @ the most serious in Formula One in recent years , has led to praise for @ @ @ @ @ by the sport .

Sakhir (Bahrain) (AFP) –
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French driver Romain Grosjean will sit out next weekend's Formula One race after escaping a fiery crash in the Bahrain Grand Prix with just burns to his hands, his team Haas said on Monday.
Grosjean walked away from the wreckage after he collided with Daniil Kyvat's Alpha Tauri on the first lap of Sunday's race, causing the Haas car to split in half and burst into flames as it smashed through the safety barriers.
Haas said treatment for the burns that 34-year-old Grosjean suffered was "going well" and he was expected to be discharged from hospital on Tuesday.
Brazilian driver Pietro Fittipaldi -- grandson of two-time world champion Emerson Fittipaldi -- will make his Formula One debut in place of Grosjean in the Sakhir Grand Prix, also in Bahrain, next Sunday.
The crash, one of the most serious in Formula One in recent years, has led to praise for the modern safety systems developed by the sport.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-30--Ethiopian conflict: end of the war, or start of an insurgency?

Ethiopian conflict : end of the war , or start of an insurgency ?
Forces in Tigray say they have @ @ @ @ @ plane and regained control of some towns .
However , as FRANCE 24 ’ s @ @ @ @ @ explains , the Tigray People 's Liberation Front ’ s claims should be treated with @ @ @ @ @

Ethiopian conflict: end of the war, or start of an insurgency?
03:36
Forces in Tigray say they have shot down an Ethiopian government plane and regained control of some towns. However, as FRANCE 24’s chief foreign editor Robert Parsons explains, the Tigray People's Liberation Front’s claims should be treated with a degree of caution.


france24--2020-11-30--What we know about the slain Iranian nuclear scientist

Little is known about top Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh , who was assassinated on Friday Mohsen Fakhrizadeh , the Iranian nuclear scientist whose assassination the Islamic republic has blamed on Israel , was little known before his death , but one thing is certain : he was important .
The man Israel alleges was the father of an Iranian nuclear weapons programme was senior enough to meet with supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in January 2019 , based on official pictures released after his death .
For his assassins , Fakhrizadeh was also important enough to be killed Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a major road just outside the capital Tehran .
After his death , Defence Minister Amir Hatami referred to Fakhrizadeh as his deputy minister and head of the ministry 's Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research ( SPND ) .
So what do we know about the work of the 59-year-old , bearded and spectacled nuclear scientist ?
Was he the senior official who `` managed nuclear defence '' and did `` extensive work '' in this field , having played a `` significant role in defence innovations '' , as Hatami said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alleged in April 2018 , the head of a secret nuclear weapons programme whose existence the Islamic republic has always strenuously denied ?
Karim Sadjadpour of US think-tank the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said it `` will likely take months if not years to appreciate '' the full impact of his death .
`` Those who truly understood his precise day-to-day role in Iran 's nuclear activities do n't talk , and those who talk do n't know , '' he wrote on Twitter .
Fakhrizadeh was dubbed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number one target '' of Israeli intelligence agency Mossad and the `` mastermind of Iran 's nuclear programme '' .
`` We knew that he had been threatened with assassination on several occasions and that he was being followed , '' Hatami said .
Before Netanyahu talked about him , Fakhrizadeh had appeared in an International Atomic Energy Agency document in December 2015 .
The IAEA suspected him of directing from the early 2000s `` activities to be undertaken in support of a possible military dimension to ( Iran 's ) nuclear programme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begun in the late 1980s .
The IAEA 's report said such activities were reorganised under his direction , under a project called `` AMAD '' , until it was abandoned in late 2003 .
In March 2007 , Fakhrizadeh was targeted by United Nations Security Council sanctions along with other `` persons involved in nuclear or ballistic missile activities '' for Iran .
Security Council Resolution 1747 identified him as a defence ministry `` senior scientist '' and `` former head of the Physics Research Centre ( PHRC ) '' .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked to interview him about the activities of the PHRC over the period he was head but Iran has refused '' .
Those sanctions were lifted after a 2015 nuclear deal came into force between Iran and six world powers -- UN Security Council permanent members the US , Russia , Britain , China and France , plus Germany .
But US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018 and Washington reimposed its own sanctions on Fakhrizadeh .
According to Iran 's Vice-President Ali Akbar Salehi , who also heads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AEOI ) , Fakhrizadeh had a doctorate in `` nuclear physics and engineering '' and did his thesis with Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani , a former head of the AEOI who himself survived an assassination attempt in 2010 .
Abbasi-Davani called the slain scientist a `` close friend '' with whom he had `` 34 years of close professional collaboration '' , and said they had fought side-by-side on the front lines during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war .
Speaking to state media , Abbasi-Davani said Fakhrizadeh had `` worked in all fields to support the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in uranium enrichment .
He described him as `` a capable manager and a prestigious scientist who can be raised to the same rank as the martyr Soleimani in the field of science and technology , '' referring to top general Qasem Soleimani , who was killed in a January US drone strike in Iraq .
`` His work was important to him , '' Fakhrizadeh 's widow said on state television a few hours after the assassination .

Tehran (AFP) –
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Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the Iranian nuclear scientist whose assassination the Islamic republic has blamed on Israel, was little known before his death, but one thing is certain: he was important.
The man Israel alleges was the father of an Iranian nuclear weapons programme was senior enough to meet with supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in January 2019, based on official pictures released after his death.
For his assassins, Fakhrizadeh was also important enough to be killed Friday in a brazen, daylight attack on a major road just outside the capital Tehran.
After his death, Defence Minister Amir Hatami referred to Fakhrizadeh as his deputy minister and head of the ministry's Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND).
So what do we know about the work of the 59-year-old, bearded and spectacled nuclear scientist?
Was he the senior official who "managed nuclear defence" and did "extensive work" in this field, having played a "significant role in defence innovations", as Hatami said?
Or was he, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alleged in April 2018, the head of a secret nuclear weapons programme whose existence the Islamic republic has always strenuously denied?
Karim Sadjadpour of US think-tank the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said it "will likely take months if not years to appreciate" the full impact of his death.
"Those who truly understood his precise day-to-day role in Iran's nuclear activities don't talk, and those who talk don't know," he wrote on Twitter.
- 'Mossad's top target' -
Fakhrizadeh was dubbed in the US media as "the number one target" of Israeli intelligence agency Mossad and the "mastermind of Iran's nuclear programme".
"We knew that he had been threatened with assassination on several occasions and that he was being followed," Hatami said.
Before Netanyahu talked about him, Fakhrizadeh had appeared in an International Atomic Energy Agency document in December 2015.
The IAEA suspected him of directing from the early 2000s "activities to be undertaken in support of a possible military dimension to (Iran's) nuclear programme" that the UN agency said had begun in the late 1980s.
The IAEA's report said such activities were reorganised under his direction, under a project called "AMAD", until it was abandoned in late 2003.
In March 2007, Fakhrizadeh was targeted by United Nations Security Council sanctions along with other "persons involved in nuclear or ballistic missile activities" for Iran.
Security Council Resolution 1747 identified him as a defence ministry "senior scientist" and "former head of the Physics Research Centre (PHRC)".
It noted that the Vienna-based IAEA had "asked to interview him about the activities of the PHRC over the period he was head but Iran has refused".
- 'Soleimani of science' -
Those sanctions were lifted after a 2015 nuclear deal came into force between Iran and six world powers -- UN Security Council permanent members the US, Russia, Britain, China and France, plus Germany.
But US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018 and Washington reimposed its own sanctions on Fakhrizadeh.
According to Iran's Vice-President Ali Akbar Salehi, who also heads the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Fakhrizadeh had a doctorate in "nuclear physics and engineering" and did his thesis with Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani, a former head of the AEOI who himself survived an assassination attempt in 2010.
Abbasi-Davani called the slain scientist a "close friend" with whom he had "34 years of close professional collaboration", and said they had fought side-by-side on the front lines during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war.
Speaking to state media, Abbasi-Davani said Fakhrizadeh had "worked in all fields to support the country's nuclear activities", notably in uranium enrichment.
He described him as "a capable manager and a prestigious scientist who can be raised to the same rank as the martyr Soleimani in the field of science and technology," referring to top general Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a January US drone strike in Iraq.
"His work was important to him," Fakhrizadeh's widow said on state television a few hours after the assassination.
burx-mj/dv/par
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-30--French police backlash mounts over excessive force, racial targeting

French policing methods are under scrutiny following several cases where officers appear to have used excessive force or arbitrarily targeted @ @ @ @ @ show support for the police has dropped from 84 percent after the terrorist attacks in @ @ @ @ @ in recent weeks .

French police backlash mounts over excessive force, racial targeting
01:57
French policing methods are under scrutiny following several cases where officers appear to have used excessive force or arbitrarily targeted people of colour. Polls show support for the police has dropped from 84 percent after the terrorist attacks in 2015, to 65 percent in recent weeks.


france24--2020-11-30--Australia demands China apologise after 'repugnant' fake image posted on Twitter

Australia demanded an apology after a senior Chinese official posted a fake image of an Australian soldier holding a knife with blood on it to the throat of an Afghan child , calling it `` truly repugnant '' and demanding it be taken down .
Prime Minister Scott Morrison called a media briefing to condemn the posting of the image , marking another downturn in deteriorating relations between the two countries .
The Australian government has asked Twitter to remove the image , posted on Monday by China 's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on his official Twitter account , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outrageous and can not be justified on any basis , '' Morrison said .
`` The Chinese government should be utterly ashamed of this post .
It diminishes them in the world 's eyes . ''
Australia has told 13 special forces soldiers they face dismissal in relation to an independent report on alleged unlawful killings in Afghanistan , the head of the country ’ s army said on Friday .
`` It is the Australian government who should feel ashamed for their soldiers killing innocent Afghan civilians , '' said Hua Chunying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when asked about Morrison 's comments .
The image posted by her colleague shows people 's `` indignation , '' said Hua , speaking at a regular news conference in Beijing on Monday .
Whether it will be taken down is a matter between Twitter and the Australian government , she said .
Australia 's relationship with China has deteriorated since Canberra called for an international inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic .
Earlier this month , China outlined a list of grievances about Australia 's foreign investment , national security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed to correct its actions to restore the bilateral relationship with its largest trading partner .
Morrison said countries around the world were watching how Beijing responded to tensions in Australia 's relationship with China .
In the latest in a series of trade sanctions , China announced on Friday it will impose temporary anti-dumping tariffs of up to 212.1 % on wine imported from Australia , a move Canberra has labelled unjustified and linked to diplomatic grievances .
Zhao wrote on Twitter : `` Shocked by murder of Afghan civilians & prisoners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such acts , & call for holding them accountable . ''
His Twitter account had posted the same message , but without the fake image of the soldier and child , on Friday .
Morrison said Australia had established a `` transparent and honest '' process for investigating the allegations against the accused soldiers and this `` is what a free , democratic , liberal country does '' .
Australia had `` patiently sought '' to address tensions in the relationship with China and wanted direct discussion between ministers , he said .

Australia demanded an apology after a senior Chinese official posted a fake image of an Australian soldier holding a knife with blood on it to the throat of an Afghan child, calling it "truly repugnant" and demanding it be taken down.
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison called a media briefing to condemn the posting of the image, marking another downturn in deteriorating relations between the two countries.
The Australian government has asked Twitter to remove the image, posted on Monday by China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on his official Twitter account, Morrison said.
"It is utterly outrageous and cannot be justified on any basis," Morrison said. "The Chinese government should be utterly ashamed of this post. It diminishes them in the world's eyes."
Australia has told 13 special forces soldiers they face dismissal in relation to an independent report on alleged unlawful killings in Afghanistan, the head of the country’s army said on Friday.
"It is the Australian government who should feel ashamed for their soldiers killing innocent Afghan civilians," said Hua Chunying, China's foreign ministry spokeswoman, when asked about Morrison's comments.
The image posted by her colleague shows people's "indignation," said Hua, speaking at a regular news conference in Beijing on Monday. Whether it will be taken down is a matter between Twitter and the Australian government, she said.
Australia's relationship with China has deteriorated since Canberra called for an international inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.
Earlier this month, China outlined a list of grievances about Australia's foreign investment, national security and human rights policy, saying Canberra needed to correct its actions to restore the bilateral relationship with its largest trading partner.
Morrison said countries around the world were watching how Beijing responded to tensions in Australia's relationship with China.
In the latest in a series of trade sanctions, China announced on Friday it will impose temporary anti-dumping tariffs of up to 212.1% on wine imported from Australia, a move Canberra has labelled unjustified and linked to diplomatic grievances.
Zhao wrote on Twitter: "Shocked by murder of Afghan civilians & prisoners by Australian soldiers. We strongly condemn such acts, & call for holding them accountable."
His Twitter account had posted the same message, but without the fake image of the soldier and child, on Friday.
Morrison said Australia had established a "transparent and honest" process for investigating the allegations against the accused soldiers and this "is what a free, democratic, liberal country does".
Australia had "patiently sought" to address tensions in the relationship with China and wanted direct discussion between ministers, he said.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-11-30--Brazil’s far right suffers municipal losses in blow to Bolsonaro

Brazil ’ s far right suffers municipal losses in blow to Bolsonaro Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro 's candidates suffered further @ @ @ @ @ centre-right emerged stronger in municipal runoff elections seen as a gauge of where things stand @ @ @ @ @ presidential polls in 2022 .

Brazil’s far right suffers municipal losses in blow to Bolsonaro
01:40
Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro's candidates suffered further defeats Sunday and the traditional centre-right emerged stronger in municipal runoff elections seen as a gauge of where things stand in Brazilian politics ahead of presidential polls in 2022.


france24--2020-12-01--Trump's controversial coronavirus advisor resigns: report

Dr. Scott Atlas ( pictured October 2020 ) , one of President Donald Trump 's favored coronavirus advisors , had no relevant experience or qualifications in public health or infectious disease One of President Donald Trump 's favored coronavirus advisors who sparked controversy over his comments against mask-wearing and other issues has resigned , US media reported Monday .
Fox News obtained the resignation letter dated December 1 for Scott Atlas , who lacked relevant experience or qualifications in public health or infectious disease .
The outlet also reported that Atlas 's contract was already set to expire later this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resign from my position as special advisor to the president of the United States , '' Atlas said in his resignation letter .
He thanked Trump for the honor and wished `` all the best '' to President-elect Joe Biden 's incoming administration .
`` I worked hard with a singular focus -- to save lives and help Americans through this pandemic , '' Atlas said , adding that he `` always relied on the latest science and evidence , without any political consideration or influence . ''
Atlas attracted controversy during much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president , and his resignation comes with Covid-19 cases surging nationwide .
Both the scientific and public health community heavily disputed his expertise and qualifications for his role .
In October , he tweeted : `` Masks work ?
NO , '' despite overwhelming scientific evidence proving the benefit of wearing masks .
Twitter concealed the message as misinformation .
He also gave an interview to Russian state-controlled TV channel RT , during which he downplayed the severity of the US coronavirus spread .
In November , he urged people in Michigan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as lockdowns to slow the spread of the virus , rather than engage in an all-hands-on-deck effort to defeat the pandemic .
As of Monday evening , the US had recorded 13,522,247 coronavirus cases and 267,844 deaths , both by far the worst tolls in the world .

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One of President Donald Trump's favored coronavirus advisors who sparked controversy over his comments against mask-wearing and other issues has resigned, US media reported Monday.
Fox News obtained the resignation letter dated December 1 for Scott Atlas, who lacked relevant experience or qualifications in public health or infectious disease.
The outlet also reported that Atlas's contract was already set to expire later this week.
"I am writing to resign from my position as special advisor to the president of the United States," Atlas said in his resignation letter.
He thanked Trump for the honor and wished "all the best" to President-elect Joe Biden's incoming administration.
"I worked hard with a singular focus -- to save lives and help Americans through this pandemic," Atlas said, adding that he "always relied on the latest science and evidence, without any political consideration or influence."
Atlas attracted controversy during much of his time working for the outgoing president, and his resignation comes with Covid-19 cases surging nationwide.
Both the scientific and public health community heavily disputed his expertise and qualifications for his role.
In October, he tweeted: "Masks work? NO," despite overwhelming scientific evidence proving the benefit of wearing masks. Twitter concealed the message as misinformation.
He also gave an interview to Russian state-controlled TV channel RT, during which he downplayed the severity of the US coronavirus spread.
In November, he urged people in Michigan to "rise up" against Covid-19 measures, such as lockdowns to slow the spread of the virus, rather than engage in an all-hands-on-deck effort to defeat the pandemic.
As of Monday evening, the US had recorded 13,522,247 coronavirus cases and 267,844 deaths, both by far the worst tolls in the world.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-01--Bank of America latest to say no to financing Arctic drilling

Environmental advocates have sought to block the Donald Trump administration 's plan to sell oil drilling leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska Bank of America said Monday that it would not finance oil and gas drilling projects in the Arctic , the latest large US bank to take the step long sought by environmental advocates .
A Bank of America spokesman confirmed the decision to AFP after it was initially reported by Bloomberg .
`` Goldman Sachs , Morgan Stanley , Chase , Wells Fargo and Citi have all announced similar policies this year , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bank of America has faced mounting pressure in recent months from indigenous communities , environmental advocates and shareholders to follow suit . ''
The decision comes after outgoing US President Donald Trump 's administration in mid-November launched the formal process of selling oil drilling leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in the US state of Alaska .
The refuge is home to a number of protected animal species , including polar bears and caribou .
Sales could in theory occur before President-elect Joe Biden takes office on January 20 , though some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by then .
With oil prices low at around $ 45 per barrel , it is also not clear how much interest the leases will generate , given their location far from major infrastructure and the costs required .
`` It has long been clear that drilling in the Arctic Refuge would trample indigenous rights , threaten vulnerable wildlife and worsen the climate crisis , '' said the Sierra Club 's Ben Cushing .
`` Now that every major American bank has stated unequivocally that they will not finance this destructive activity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any oil company considering participating in Trump ’ s ill-advised lease sale should stay away . ''

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Bank of America said Monday that it would not finance oil and gas drilling projects in the Arctic, the latest large US bank to take the step long sought by environmental advocates.
A Bank of America spokesman confirmed the decision to AFP after it was initially reported by Bloomberg.
Environmental protection organization the Sierra Club welcomed the news.
"Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Chase, Wells Fargo and Citi have all announced similar policies this year," the NGO said in a statement.
"Bank of America has faced mounting pressure in recent months from indigenous communities, environmental advocates and shareholders to follow suit."
The decision comes after outgoing US President Donald Trump's administration in mid-November launched the formal process of selling oil drilling leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in the US state of Alaska.
The refuge is home to a number of protected animal species, including polar bears and caribou.
Sales could in theory occur before President-elect Joe Biden takes office on January 20, though some analysts doubt the process can be concluded by then.
With oil prices low at around $45 per barrel, it is also not clear how much interest the leases will generate, given their location far from major infrastructure and the costs required.
"It has long been clear that drilling in the Arctic Refuge would trample indigenous rights, threaten vulnerable wildlife and worsen the climate crisis," said the Sierra Club's Ben Cushing.
"Now that every major American bank has stated unequivocally that they will not finance this destructive activity, it should be clearer than ever that any oil company considering participating in Trump’s ill-advised lease sale should stay away."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-01--Australia's former NBA championship winner Andrew Bogut retires

NBA championship-winning centre Andrew Bogut announced his immediate retirement from basketball Tuesday after a 15-year career .
The 36-year-old Australian , who was the NBA 's top draft pick in 2005 for the Milwaukee Bucks , said the coronavirus shutdown had given him the time to reflect on his future .
`` The decision has n't been an easy one , but I think its the right decision , '' he said on his podcast 'Rogue Bogues ' .
Bogut said he had been grappling with chronic pain from injuries , revealing he had undergone two surgeries during the off-season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a challenge for me , just to get out of bed in the morning some days , let alone go to a training session or a game , '' he said .
`` The body , probably from 2018 onwards , was hanging on a thread .
`` I 'd say 2019-20 season that thread was completely frayed and in little pieces . ''
Bogut said he had previously been focused on making it to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to represent Australia but now wanted to prioritise his health .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 2021 with the way the body has been , '' he said .
`` I could get there with a lot of painkillers and mental anguish but it 's just not worth it at this point in my career .
`` I 'm really starting to value my health away from the court , and my health when I 'm 40 , 45 and 50 . ''
The announcement comes just six months after Bogut said he would not be renewing his contract with the Sydney Kings in Australia 's National Basketball @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a two-year contract with the Kings in 2018 following a 13-year NBA career capped when he won the championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2015 .
Bogut , who stands 2.13m tall ( 7ft ) , spent seven seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks before being traded to Golden State .
He also played with the Dallas Mavericks and the Cleveland Cavaliers .
He was the NBL 's MVP for the 2018/19 season .
The Kings made it to the league 's grand final this year before the season was ended prematurely by @ @ @ @

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NBA championship-winning centre Andrew Bogut announced his immediate retirement from basketball Tuesday after a 15-year career.
The 36-year-old Australian, who was the NBA's top draft pick in 2005 for the Milwaukee Bucks, said the coronavirus shutdown had given him the time to reflect on his future.
"The decision hasn't been an easy one, but I think its the right decision," he said on his podcast 'Rogue Bogues'.
"I'll be retiring from professional basketball effective immediately."
Bogut said he had been grappling with chronic pain from injuries, revealing he had undergone two surgeries during the off-season.
"The last two years have been a challenge for me, just to get out of bed in the morning some days, let alone go to a training session or a game," he said.
"The body, probably from 2018 onwards, was hanging on a thread.
"I'd say 2019-20 season that thread was completely frayed and in little pieces."
Bogut said he had previously been focused on making it to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to represent Australia but now wanted to prioritise his health.
"I just can't physically and mentally get to 2021 with the way the body has been," he said.
"I could get there with a lot of painkillers and mental anguish but it's just not worth it at this point in my career.
"I'm really starting to value my health away from the court, and my health when I'm 40, 45 and 50."
The announcement comes just six months after Bogut said he would not be renewing his contract with the Sydney Kings in Australia's National Basketball League (NBL).
He signed a two-year contract with the Kings in 2018 following a 13-year NBA career capped when he won the championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2015.
Bogut, who stands 2.13m tall (7ft), spent seven seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks before being traded to Golden State. He also played with the Dallas Mavericks and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He was the NBL's MVP for the 2018/19 season. The Kings made it to the league's grand final this year before the season was ended prematurely by the coronavirus shutdown.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-01--Facebook, Google becoming 'human rights-free zones' in Vietnam: Amnesty

Communist Vietnam has long jailed its critics but has come under fire in recent years for targeting users on Facebook , a popular forum for activists Facebook and Google are fast becoming `` human rights-free zones '' in Vietnam , Amnesty International warned Tuesday , accusing the tech titans of helping censor peaceful dissent and political expression in the country .
Communist Vietnam has long jailed its critics but has come under fire in recent years for targeting users on Facebook , a popular forum for activists in the country where all independent media is banned .
The social network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blocking content deemed illegal by authorities , while its latest transparency report revealed a nearly 1,000 percent increase in the content it censors on government orders compared to the previous six months .
Amnesty said in a Tuesday report that it had interviewed 11 activists whose content had been restricted from view in Vietnam by Facebook this year .
The rights group also said three others had similar content censored by Google-owned YouTube .
One of them , Nguyen Van Trang , who fled an arrest warrant in Vietnam for his involvement in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since May restricted every piece of content he posted about Communist Party boss Nguyen Phu Trong and senior party member Tran Quoc Vuong .
Trang also said some of his posts on controversial issues such as land disputes were blocked from view in Vietnam by YouTube .
`` I feel angry about it , '' he told AFP .
`` For social activists , these platforms play an important role in influencing people with regard to progressive values such as democracy , human rights , civil society . ''
`` The compromise between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ act of blocking information , but it also hinders the progress of a nation , where people do not have many opportunities to participate in political activities . ''
More than 53 million people use Facebook in Vietnam , accounting for over half the population .
The platform is also a crucial marketing tool for local business .
Vietnam is now the biggest country by revenue for Facebook and Google in Southeast Asia , according to industry experts .
But Amnesty warned that while they were `` once the great hope for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , social media platforms are fast becoming human rights–free zones '' .
Information Minister Nguyen Manh Hung said last month that tech companies were complying with requests to remove `` bad information , propaganda against the Party and the State '' at a higher rate than ever , according to state media .
The same article reported that this year Facebook complied with 95 percent of the government 's requests whereas YouTube complied with 90 percent .
A Facebook spokesperson told AFP it worked hard to defend freedom of speech around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months , we 've faced additional pressure from the government of Vietnam to restrict more content , however , we will do everything we can to ensure that our services remain available so people can continue to express themselves , '' it said .
Google and Vietnamese authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment .

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Facebook and Google are fast becoming "human rights-free zones" in Vietnam, Amnesty International warned Tuesday, accusing the tech titans of helping censor peaceful dissent and political expression in the country.
Communist Vietnam has long jailed its critics but has come under fire in recent years for targeting users on Facebook, a popular forum for activists in the country where all independent media is banned.
The social network admitted earlier this year that it was blocking content deemed illegal by authorities, while its latest transparency report revealed a nearly 1,000 percent increase in the content it censors on government orders compared to the previous six months.
Amnesty said in a Tuesday report that it had interviewed 11 activists whose content had been restricted from view in Vietnam by Facebook this year.
The rights group also said three others had similar content censored by Google-owned YouTube.
One of them, Nguyen Van Trang, who fled an arrest warrant in Vietnam for his involvement in a pro-democracy group, said Facebook had since May restricted every piece of content he posted about Communist Party boss Nguyen Phu Trong and senior party member Tran Quoc Vuong.
Trang also said some of his posts on controversial issues such as land disputes were blocked from view in Vietnam by YouTube.
"I feel angry about it," he told AFP. "For social activists, these platforms play an important role in influencing people with regard to progressive values such as democracy, human rights, civil society."
"The compromise between Facebook and Google is not only the act of blocking information, but it also hinders the progress of a nation, where people do not have many opportunities to participate in political activities."
- 'Propaganda against the Party' -
More than 53 million people use Facebook in Vietnam, accounting for over half the population. The platform is also a crucial marketing tool for local business.
Vietnam is now the biggest country by revenue for Facebook and Google in Southeast Asia, according to industry experts.
But Amnesty warned that while they were "once the great hope for the expansion of freedom of expression in the country, social media platforms are fast becoming human rights–free zones".
Information Minister Nguyen Manh Hung said last month that tech companies were complying with requests to remove "bad information, propaganda against the Party and the State" at a higher rate than ever, according to state media.
The same article reported that this year Facebook complied with 95 percent of the government's requests whereas YouTube complied with 90 percent.
A Facebook spokesperson told AFP it worked hard to defend freedom of speech around the world.
"Over the past few months, we've faced additional pressure from the government of Vietnam to restrict more content, however, we will do everything we can to ensure that our services remain available so people can continue to express themselves," it said.
Google and Vietnamese authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-30--NFL postpones Ravens-Steelers game to Wednesday: report

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is among those placed on the Covid-19 list over the past nine days , am outbreak that has forced the NFL to postpone their game at Pittsburgh a third time to Wednesday The NFL has reportedly postponed the Baltimore Ravens game at Pittsburgh from Tuesday to Wednesday , delaying the contest a third time as a result of a major Ravens ' Covid-19 outbreak .
ESPN reported that the matchup between the undefeated Steelers and arch-rival Ravens became the first of the pandemic-struck 2020 campaign to be pushed back three times .
The game in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the US Thanksgiving holiday , but was then pushed back to Sunday and then Tuesday before the league settled on Wednesday , hopeful of more negative test results for the Ravens .
The move will also force two other NFL games to shift from next Sunday to next Monday -- the Steelers ' home game against Washington and the Ravens ' home game against Dallas .
That will lump three NFL games on December 7 , with the regularly scheduled Monday night contest of Buffalo at San Francisco -- a game that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Covid-19 ban on contact sports in the 49ers ' home county .
Baltimore has had 22 players test positive or identified as high-risk close contacts over the past nine days .
The Ravens reported to their training facility for a workout that was called off as the NFL awaited Covid-19 test results .
At least 12 Ravens players have tested positive over the past nine days , including NFL Most Valuable Player quarterback Lamar Jackson .
The team activated four players from the Covid-19 reserve list on Monday but sent four other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bowl standouts Mark Andrews , a tight end , and Matthew Judon , a linebacker .

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The NFL has reportedly postponed the Baltimore Ravens game at Pittsburgh from Tuesday to Wednesday, delaying the contest a third time as a result of a major Ravens' Covid-19 outbreak.
ESPN reported that the matchup between the undefeated Steelers and arch-rival Ravens became the first of the pandemic-struck 2020 campaign to be pushed back three times.
The game in Pittsburgh was originally scheduled for last Thursday on the US Thanksgiving holiday, but was then pushed back to Sunday and then Tuesday before the league settled on Wednesday, hopeful of more negative test results for the Ravens.
The move will also force two other NFL games to shift from next Sunday to next Monday -- the Steelers' home game against Washington and the Ravens' home game against Dallas.
That will lump three NFL games on December 7, with the regularly scheduled Monday night contest of Buffalo at San Francisco -- a game that will be played in Arizona due to a Covid-19 ban on contact sports in the 49ers' home county.
Baltimore has had 22 players test positive or identified as high-risk close contacts over the past nine days.
The Ravens reported to their training facility for a workout that was called off as the NFL awaited Covid-19 test results.
At least 12 Ravens players have tested positive over the past nine days, including NFL Most Valuable Player quarterback Lamar Jackson.
The team activated four players from the Covid-19 reserve list on Monday but sent four other players onto the list, including Pro Bowl standouts Mark Andrews, a tight end, and Matthew Judon, a linebacker.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-30--Photo of Texas doctor comforting elderly Covid patient goes viral

Dr. Joseph Varon comforts a patient in the Covid-19 intensive care unit during Thanksgiving at the United Memorial Medical Center in Houston , Texas Joseph Varon , a doctor treating coronavirus patients at a Texas hospital , was working his 252nd day in a row when he spotted a distraught elderly man in the Covid-19 intensive care unit ( ICU ) .
Varon 's comforting embrace of the white-haired man on Thanksgiving Day was captured by a photographer for Getty Images and has gone viral around the world .
Varon , chief of staff at United Memorial Medical Center in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Covid ICU when he saw the elderly patient `` out of his bed and trying to get out of the room . ''
`` And he 's crying , '' Varon said .
`` So I get close to him and I ( ask ) him , 'Why are you crying ? '
'' `` And the man says , ' I want to be with my wife . '
So I just grab him and I hold him , '' Varon said .
`` I was feeling very sorry for him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just like him . ''
`` Eventually he felt better and he stopped crying , '' Varon told CNN on Monday , which he said was his 256th consecutive day of work .
`` I do n't know why I have n't broken down , '' the doctor said .
`` My nurses cry in the middle of the day . ''
Varon said the isolation of the Covid unit was difficult for many patients , particularly the elderly .
`` You can imagine , '' he said .
`` You are inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spacesuits .
`` When you are an elderly individual , it 's more difficult because you are alone , '' he said .
`` Some of them cry .
Some of them try to escape , '' he said .
`` We actually had somebody who tried to escape through a window the other day . ''
Varon said the elderly man in the picture is `` doing much better . ''
`` We are hoping that before the end of the week he 'll be able to get out of the hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a message for people who are not taking precautions amid the pandemic .
`` People are out there in bars , restaurants , malls , '' the doctor said .
`` It is crazy .
People do n't listen and then they end up in my ICU .
`` What people need to know is I do n't want to have to be hugging them .
`` They need to do the basic things -- keep your social distance , wear your masks , wash their hands , and avoid going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , '' he said .
`` If people would do that , healthcare workers like me could hopefully rest . ''

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Joseph Varon, a doctor treating coronavirus patients at a Texas hospital, was working his 252nd day in a row when he spotted a distraught elderly man in the Covid-19 intensive care unit (ICU).
Varon's comforting embrace of the white-haired man on Thanksgiving Day was captured by a photographer for Getty Images and has gone viral around the world.
Varon, chief of staff at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, told CNN he was entering the Covid ICU when he saw the elderly patient "out of his bed and trying to get out of the room."
"And he's crying," Varon said. "So I get close to him and I (ask) him, 'Why are you crying?'"
"And the man says, 'I want to be with my wife.' So I just grab him and I hold him," Varon said. "I was feeling very sorry for him. I was feeling very sad, just like him."
"Eventually he felt better and he stopped crying," Varon told CNN on Monday, which he said was his 256th consecutive day of work.
"I don't know why I haven't broken down," the doctor said. "My nurses cry in the middle of the day."
Varon said the isolation of the Covid unit was difficult for many patients, particularly the elderly.
"You can imagine," he said. "You are inside a room where people are coming in spacesuits.
"When you are an elderly individual, it's more difficult because you are alone," he said.
"Some of them cry. Some of them try to escape," he said. "We actually had somebody who tried to escape through a window the other day."
Varon said the elderly man in the picture is "doing much better."
"We are hoping that before the end of the week he'll be able to get out of the hospital," he said.
Varon also had a message for people who are not taking precautions amid the pandemic.
"People are out there in bars, restaurants, malls," the doctor said. "It is crazy. People don't listen and then they end up in my ICU.
"What people need to know is I don't want to have to be hugging them.
"They need to do the basic things -- keep your social distance, wear your masks, wash their hands, and avoid going to places where there are a lot of people," he said. "If people would do that, healthcare workers like me could hopefully rest."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-30--NFL Texans to lose receiver Fuller on doping suspension

Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller said Monday he has been suspended for six games by the NFL for taking a performance-enhancing substance banned under league rules Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller said Monday he will miss the remainder of the NFL season on a six-game suspension after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance .
Fuller , in his fifth NFL season all with Houston , has made 53 catches for 879 yards and eight touchdowns this season for the Texans , who are 4-7 with five games remaining in the campaign .
The ban could mean Fuller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texans .
`` Earlier this year , I sought treatment from a medical professional who prescribed medication that he believed to be permitted under the NFL 's drug policy , '' Fuller wrote in an Instagram posting Monday .
`` As it turns out , my trust in this professional was misplaced because this medication was NOT a permitted substance under the NFL Policy on Performance Enhancing Substances .
`` As a result of this mistake , I have been suspended for six games for taking this prohibited medication .
`` I want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and all of my fans for this mistake .
I am looking forward to putting this all behind me and returning better than ever in 2021 . ''

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Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller said Monday he will miss the remainder of the NFL season on a six-game suspension after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance.
Fuller, in his fifth NFL season all with Houston, has made 53 catches for 879 yards and eight touchdowns this season for the Texans, who are 4-7 with five games remaining in the campaign.
The ban could mean Fuller has played his final game with the Texans.
"Earlier this year, I sought treatment from a medical professional who prescribed medication that he believed to be permitted under the NFL's drug policy," Fuller wrote in an Instagram posting Monday.
"As it turns out, my trust in this professional was misplaced because this medication was NOT a permitted substance under the NFL Policy on Performance Enhancing Substances.
"As a result of this mistake, I have been suspended for six games for taking this prohibited medication.
"I want to sincerely apologize to the Texans organization and all of my fans for this mistake. I am looking forward to putting this all behind me and returning better than ever in 2021."
© 2020 AFP