france24--2020-01-28--UN says children are increasingly victims of brutal Sahel violence

Hundreds of children in the Sahel were killed , maimed or forcibly separated from their parents last year , the United Nations said Tuesday , as a jihadist conflict rages across the region .
In Mali alone , 277 children were killed or maimed during the first nine months of 2019 , the UN children 's agency UNICEF said in a report , more than double the number in the year before .
Despite support from French and UN troops , Mali has been struggling to quell an Islamist insurgency that erupted in the north in 2012 and which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The conflict has since spread to the centre of the West African country , as well as neighbouring Sahel states Burkina Faso and Niger , inflaming ethnic tensions along the way .
The whole Sahel region has seen a `` significant increase of violence against children who are caught in the cross fire , '' according to the report , which added that hundreds had been maimed or forcibly separated from their families .
Mali is the only country for which there are hard figures on the number of child war victims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nonetheless she said that children in Burkina Faso and Niger have also been murdered , sexually abused , kidnapped , or pressed into armed groups .
The spiralling conflict had also forced about 1.2 million to flee their homes as of November -- a two-fold increase on 2018 -- of whom more than half are children .
Some 4.9 million children need humanitarian aid , the report added .
'Traumatising experiences ' '' We can not help but be struck by the scale of violence children are facing , '' said UNICEF 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marie-Pierre Poirier , in a statement .
`` Hundreds of thousands of them have lived through traumatising experiences . ''
But the impact of the conflict goes beyond violence .
Access to basic services such as food , water , medicine and education have also been `` seriously compromised , '' the report said .
This year , the UN estimates that some 709,000 children under five will suffer from acute malnutrition across Mali , Burkina Faso and Niger , and some 4.8 million people could suffer from food insecurity .
With increasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pupils , education has also taken a dire turn .
Between April 2017 and December 2019 , school closures increased six-fold in the central Sahel region , the report said .
And more than eight million children between the ages of six and 14 -- about 55 percent of the children who fall within that bracket -- are not in school .
UNICEF called on militaries and militant groups to respect `` humanitarian space , '' arguing that insecurity has made aid work more difficult and dangerous .
The agency is also appealing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that 59 percent of its humanitarian projects for children in Mali , Burkina Faso and Niger are underfunded .
( AFP )

Hundreds of children in the Sahel were killed, maimed or forcibly separated from their parents last year, the United Nations said Tuesday, as a jihadist conflict rages across the region.
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In Mali alone, 277 children were killed or maimed during the first nine months of 2019, the UN children's agency UNICEF said in a report, more than double the number in the year before.
Despite support from French and UN troops, Mali has been struggling to quell an Islamist insurgency that erupted in the north in 2012 and which has claimed thousands of military and civilian lives.
The conflict has since spread to the centre of the West African country, as well as neighbouring Sahel states Burkina Faso and Niger, inflaming ethnic tensions along the way.
The whole Sahel region has seen a "significant increase of violence against children who are caught in the cross fire," according to the report, which added that hundreds had been maimed or forcibly separated from their families.
Mali is the only country for which there are hard figures on the number of child war victims, a UNICEF spokeswoman said.
But nonetheless she said that children in Burkina Faso and Niger have also been murdered, sexually abused, kidnapped, or pressed into armed groups.
The spiralling conflict had also forced about 1.2 million to flee their homes as of November -- a two-fold increase on 2018 -- of whom more than half are children.
Some 4.9 million children need humanitarian aid, the report added.
'Traumatising experiences'
"We cannot help but be struck by the scale of violence children are facing," said UNICEF's regional director for West and Central Africa Marie-Pierre Poirier, in a statement.
"Hundreds of thousands of them have lived through traumatising experiences."
But the impact of the conflict goes beyond violence.
Access to basic services such as food, water, medicine and education have also been "seriously compromised," the report said.
This year, the UN estimates that some 709,000 children under five will suffer from acute malnutrition across Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, and some 4.8 million people could suffer from food insecurity.
With increasing militant attacks on schools, teachers and pupils, education has also taken a dire turn.
Between April 2017 and December 2019, school closures increased six-fold in the central Sahel region, the report said.
And more than eight million children between the ages of six and 14 -- about 55 percent of the children who fall within that bracket -- are not in school.
UNICEF called on militaries and militant groups to respect "humanitarian space," arguing that insecurity has made aid work more difficult and dangerous.
The agency is also appealing for $208 million. The report said that 59 percent of its humanitarian projects for children in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger are underfunded.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-01-28--Germany confirms first case of deadly coronavirus

An employee of the virology department of the Charité hospital prepares a test for the new coronavirus in Berlin , Germany on January 21 , 2020 .
Germany has declared its first confirmed case of the deadly coronavirus that broke out in Wuhan , China at the end of 2019 .
Bavaria 's health ministry said late on Monday that a man in the town of Starnberg , 30 kilometers ( 19 miles ) southwest of Munich , has been confirmed as suffering from the virus .
The patient is in `` good condition '' and isolated under medical observation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement posted on its website .
It did not disclose any details of the patient 's age or nationality .
`` People who have been in contact ( with the patient ) have been informed in detail about possible symptoms , hygiene measures and transmission channels , '' the health ministry said .
The ministry said it considers the risk to the general population in Bavaria to be “ low.
” Authorities planned to hold a news conference in Munich on Tuesday where they would release further details .
The virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city of Wuhan at the end of last year , has thus far killed over 100 people , according to China 's state newspaper , the People 's Daily .
The same source put the total number of confirmed cases in China at 4,193 , though some experts suspect a much higher number .
Cases linked to people who travelled from Wuhan have been confirmed in a dozen countries , from Japan to the United States .

Germany has declared its first confirmed case of the deadly coronavirus that broke out in Wuhan, China at the end of 2019.
An employee of the virology department of the Charité hospital prepares a test for the new coronavirus in Berlin, Germany on January 21, 2020.
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Bavaria's health ministry said late on Monday that a man in the town of Starnberg, 30 kilometers (19 miles) southwest of Munich, has been confirmed as suffering from the virus.
The patient is in "good condition" and isolated under medical observation, Bavaria's health ministry said in a statement posted on its website. It did not disclose any details of the patient's age or nationality.
"People who have been in contact (with the patient) have been informed in detail about possible symptoms, hygiene measures and transmission channels," the health ministry said.
The ministry said it considers the risk to the general population in Bavaria to be “low.” Authorities planned to hold a news conference in Munich on Tuesday where they would release further details.
The virus, which broke out in the central Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of last year, has thus far killed over 100 people, according to China's state newspaper, the People's Daily. The same source put the total number of confirmed cases in China at 4,193, though some experts suspect a much higher number.
Cases linked to people who travelled from Wuhan have been confirmed in a dozen countries, from Japan to the United States.
(FRANCE 24 with AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-28--Trump's US Middle East peace plan delights Israelis, enrages Palestinians

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a joint press conference to discuss the proposed new Middle East peace plan at the White House in Washington , USA , on January 28 2020 .
President Donald Trump unveiled his long-awaited Middle East plan Tuesday , winning immediate praise from a beaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but a swift rejection from the Palestinians , who called it “ nonsense.
” Trump ’ s plan calls for the eventual creation of a Palestinian state , but it falls far short of minimal Palestinian demands and would leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Israeli hands .
Netanyahu said he would move forward on Sunday and ask his Cabinet to approve plans to annex West Bank territory - an explosive move that is likely to be met with harsh international reaction .
Trump called his plan a “ win-win ” for both Israel and the Palestinians , and Netanyahu called it a “ great plan for Israel.
” At a speech in the West Bank , Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas dismissed the plan as “ nonsense.
” “ We say 1,000 no ’ s to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , using a nickname for Trump ’ s proposal .
“ We will not kneel and we will not surrender , ” he said , adding that the Palestinians would resist the plan through “ peaceful , popular means.
” With Netanyahu standing beside him , Trump presented the plan at a White House ceremony filled with other Israeli officials and allies , including evangelical Christian leaders and wealthy Republican donors but no Palestinian representatives .
The ceremony came amid Trump ’ s impeachment trial and a U.S. election year , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud , breach of trust and bribery in three separate cases .
The longtime Israeli leader , who denies any wrongdoing , also faces a March 2 parliamentary election , Israel ’ s third in less than a year .
The Palestinians seek all of the West Bank and east Jerusalem - areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war - for an independent state and the removal of more than 700,000 Israeli settlers from these areas .
But as details emerged , it became clear that the plan sides heavily with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the region and shunts aside many of the Palestinians ’ core demands .
Under the terms of the “ peace vision ” that Trump ’ s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner has been working on for nearly three years , all settlers would remain in place , and Israel would retain sovereignty over all of its settlements as well as the strategic Jordan Valley .
The proposed Palestinian state would also include more than a dozen Israeli “ enclaves ” with the entity ’ s borders monitored by Israel .
In addition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Palestinians consist of poor , crowded neighborhoods located behind a hulking concrete separation barrier .
Trump acknowledged that he has done a lot for Israel , but he said he wanted the deal to be a “ great deal for the Palestinians.
” He said his vision gives the Palestinians the time needed for them to meet the challenges of statehood .
The only concession the plan appears to demand of Israel is a four-year freeze on the establishment of new Israeli settlements in certain areas of the West Bank .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ applied to areas where there are no settlements and Israel has no immediate plans to annex , and that he considered the plan to impose no limitations on construction .
Thousands of Palestinians protested in Gaza City ahead of the announcement , burning pictures of Trump and Netanyahu and raising a banner reading “ Palestine is not for sale.
” Trump said he sent a letter to Abbas to tell him that the territory that the plan has set aside for a new Palestinian state will remain open and undeveloped for four years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work , ” Trump said .
“ If they do this , it will work .
Your response to this historic opportunity will show the world to what extent you are ready to lead the Palestinian people to statehood.
” “ President Abbas , I want you to know , that if you chose the path to peace , America and many other countries ... we will be there to help you in so many different ways .
And we will be there every step of the way , ” Trump said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the West Bank and Gaza that was unveiled last June and which the Palestinians have also rejected .
The plan envisions a future Palestinian state consisting of the West Bank and Gaza , connected by a combination of roads and tunnels .
It also would give small areas of southern Israel to the Palestinians as compensation for lost West Bank land .
But the many caveats , and ultimate overall Israeli control , made the deal a nonstarter for the Palestinians .
Netanyahu and his main political challenger in March elections , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plan .
“ Mr .
President , because of this historic recognition and because I believe your peace plan strikes the right balance where other plans have failed , ” Netanyahu said .
“ I ’ ve agreed to negotiate peace with the Palestinians on the basis of your peace plan .
It ’ s a great plan for Israel .
It ’ s a great plan for peace.
” Tuesday ’ s developments set the contours for his election campaign .
Netanyahu will highlight his close relationship with Trump and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peace plan , while Gantz will focus on Netanyahu ’ s legal woes .
Netanyahu will soon go on trial for a series of corruption charges .
The Jordan Valley annexation plan is a big part of Netanyahu ’ s strategy .
Annexing West Bank land is a key promise meant to appeal to his hard-line nationalist base .
U.S. officials , speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of the plan ’ s release , said they expected negative responses from the Palestinians , as well as Turkey and Iran , but were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only two Arab nations to have peace treaties with Israel , would not reject it outright .
Jordan gave the plan a cool reaction , saying it remained committed to a two-state solution based on Israel ’ s pre-1967 lines .
It also said it rejected any unilateral move by Israel , referring to the annexation plan .
Egypt , the first Arab country to reach a peace deal with Israel , urged Israelis and Palestinians to carefully study the plan .
The European Union also said it needed to study it more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arab states like Saudi Arabia , the United Arab Emirates and others to cautiously welcome the plan .
Arab League chief , Ahmed Abuel-Gheit said the Palestinian reaction would define the Arab response .
He spoke after meeting with Palestinian official Jibril Rajoub at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo .
The reaction of Jordan , which would retain its responsibilities over Jerusalem ’ s al-Aqsa Mosque under the plan , is particularly significant , according to the officials , who said Kushner and others were reaching out to Arab leaders ahead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West Bank as the heartland of a future independent state and east Jerusalem as their capital .
Most of the international community supports their position , but Trump has reversed decades of U.S. foreign policy by siding more blatantly with Israel .
The centerpiece of his strategy was recognizing Jerusalem as Israel ’ s capital and moving the American Embassy there .
He ’ s also closed Palestinian diplomatic offices in Washington and cut funding to Palestinian aid programs .
Those policies have proven popular among Trump ’ s evangelical and pro-Israel supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speak to Trump and they called on support from Arab leaders .
The Palestinian leadership also has encouraged protests in the West Bank , raising fears of a new round of violence .
Ahead of the announcement , the Israeli military said it was reinforcing infantry troops along the Jordan Valley .

President Donald Trump unveiled his long-awaited Middle East plan Tuesday, winning immediate praise from a beaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but a swift rejection from the Palestinians, who called it “nonsense."
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a joint press conference to discuss the proposed new Middle East peace plan at the White House in Washington, USA, on January 28 2020.
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Trump’s plan calls for the eventual creation of a Palestinian state, but it falls far short of minimal Palestinian demands and would leave sizable chunks of the occupied West Bank in Israeli hands.
Netanyahu said he would move forward on Sunday and ask his Cabinet to approve plans to annex West Bank territory - an explosive move that is likely to be met with harsh international reaction.
Trump called his plan a “win-win” for both Israel and the Palestinians, and Netanyahu called it a “great plan for Israel."
At a speech in the West Bank, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas dismissed the plan as “nonsense.”
“We say 1,000 no’s to the Deal of the Century," Abbas said, using a nickname for Trump’s proposal.
“We will not kneel and we will not surrender,” he said, adding that the Palestinians would resist the plan through “peaceful, popular means.”
With Netanyahu standing beside him, Trump presented the plan at a White House ceremony filled with other Israeli officials and allies, including evangelical Christian leaders and wealthy Republican donors but no Palestinian representatives.
This is what a future State of Palestine can look like, with a capital in parts of East Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/39vw3pPrAL — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2020
The ceremony came amid Trump’s impeachment trial and a U.S. election year, and after Netanyahu was indicted on counts of fraud, breach of trust and bribery in three separate cases. The longtime Israeli leader, who denies any wrongdoing, also faces a March 2 parliamentary election, Israel’s third in less than a year.
Netanyahu's nationalist vision for the region
The Palestinians seek all of the West Bank and east Jerusalem - areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war - for an independent state and the removal of more than 700,000 Israeli settlers from these areas.
But as details emerged, it became clear that the plan sides heavily with Netanyahu’s hard-line nationalist vision for the region and shunts aside many of the Palestinians’ core demands.
Under the terms of the “peace vision” that Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner has been working on for nearly three years, all settlers would remain in place, and Israel would retain sovereignty over all of its settlements as well as the strategic Jordan Valley.
The proposed Palestinian state would also include more than a dozen Israeli “enclaves” with the entity’s borders monitored by Israel. In addition, the areas of east Jerusalem offered to the Palestinians consist of poor, crowded neighborhoods located behind a hulking concrete separation barrier.
Trump acknowledged that he has done a lot for Israel, but he said he wanted the deal to be a “great deal for the Palestinians.”
He said his vision gives the Palestinians the time needed for them to meet the challenges of statehood.
Four-year freeze on new Israeli settlements
The only concession the plan appears to demand of Israel is a four-year freeze on the establishment of new Israeli settlements in certain areas of the West Bank. But Netanyahu clarified later that this only applied to areas where there are no settlements and Israel has no immediate plans to annex, and that he considered the plan to impose no limitations on construction.
Thousands of Palestinians protested in Gaza City ahead of the announcement, burning pictures of Trump and Netanyahu and raising a banner reading “Palestine is not for sale.”
#Palestinian refugees in Lebanon's Ein El-Helweh camp who have been deprived of a homeland for years protest and say NO to the so-called #DealOfTheCentury and tell Trump: Our fate is not for you to decide. pic.twitter.com/Y7We93iIRA — We Are Not Numbers #Gaza (@WeAreNotNumbers) January 28, 2020
Trump said he sent a letter to Abbas to tell him that the territory that the plan has set aside for a new Palestinian state will remain open and undeveloped for four years.
“It’s going to work,” Trump said. “If they do this, it will work. Your response to this historic opportunity will show the world to what extent you are ready to lead the Palestinian people to statehood.”
“President Abbas, I want you to know, that if you chose the path to peace, America and many other countries ... we will be there to help you in so many different ways. And we will be there every step of the way,” Trump said.
The plan builds on an economic plan for the West Bank and Gaza that was unveiled last June and which the Palestinians have also rejected.
The plan envisions a future Palestinian state consisting of the West Bank and Gaza, connected by a combination of roads and tunnels. It also would give small areas of southern Israel to the Palestinians as compensation for lost West Bank land.
Nonstarter for Palestinians
But the many caveats, and ultimate overall Israeli control, made the deal a nonstarter for the Palestinians.
Netanyahu and his main political challenger in March elections, Benny Gantz, had signed off on the plan.
“Mr. President, because of this historic recognition and because I believe your peace plan strikes the right balance where other plans have failed,” Netanyahu said. “I’ve agreed to negotiate peace with the Palestinians on the basis of your peace plan. It’s a great plan for Israel. It’s a great plan for peace.”
Tuesday’s developments set the contours for his election campaign.
Netanyahu will highlight his close relationship with Trump and the “historic opportunity” provided by the peace plan, while Gantz will focus on Netanyahu’s legal woes. Netanyahu will soon go on trial for a series of corruption charges.
The Jordan Valley annexation plan is a big part of Netanyahu’s strategy. Annexing West Bank land is a key promise meant to appeal to his hard-line nationalist base.
U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of the plan’s release, said they expected negative responses from the Palestinians, as well as Turkey and Iran, but were hopeful that Jordan and Egypt, the only two Arab nations to have peace treaties with Israel, would not reject it outright.
Jordan gave the plan a cool reaction, saying it remained committed to a two-state solution based on Israel’s pre-1967 lines. It also said it rejected any unilateral move by Israel, referring to the annexation plan.
Egypt, the first Arab country to reach a peace deal with Israel, urged Israelis and Palestinians to carefully study the plan. The European Union also said it needed to study it more closely.
Cautious welcome
Officials said they expected Gulf Arab states like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and others to cautiously welcome the plan.
Arab League chief, Ahmed Abuel-Gheit said the Palestinian reaction would define the Arab response. He spoke after meeting with Palestinian official Jibril Rajoub at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo.
The reaction of Jordan, which would retain its responsibilities over Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque under the plan, is particularly significant, according to the officials, who said Kushner and others were reaching out to Arab leaders ahead of the rollout.
The Palestinians see the West Bank as the heartland of a future independent state and east Jerusalem as their capital. Most of the international community supports their position, but Trump has reversed decades of U.S. foreign policy by siding more blatantly with Israel. The centerpiece of his strategy was recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moving the American Embassy there. He’s also closed Palestinian diplomatic offices in Washington and cut funding to Palestinian aid programs.
Those policies have proven popular among Trump’s evangelical and pro-Israel supporters.
But the Palestinians refuse to even speak to Trump and they called on support from Arab leaders. The Palestinian leadership also has encouraged protests in the West Bank, raising fears of a new round of violence. Ahead of the announcement, the Israeli military said it was reinforcing infantry troops along the Jordan Valley.
(AP)
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france24--2020-01-28--Chinese tourist in 'serious condition' in France's fourth coronavirus case

Chinese tourist in 'serious condition ' in France 's fourth coronavirus case An elderly Chinese tourist in a `` serious @ @ @ @ @ hospital is France 's fourth confirmed case of the new coronavirus that has killed more @ @ @ @ @ emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan , France 's top health official said Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ France from the hard-hit Chinese province of Hubei , was being treated in intensive care @ @ @ @ @ director general Jerome Salomon told reporters in the capital .

France has confirmed a fifth case of infection by the new coronavirus from China, the French health minister said on Wednesday, adding the patient was the daughter of an 80-year-old man already hospitalized with the disease.
A picture taken in a laboratory of the National Reference Center (CNR) for respiratory viruses at the Institut Pasteur in Paris on January 28, 2020 shows a biohazard sticker on the entrance of a room. The CNR analyses for respiratory viruses among which coronavirus.
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Minister for Health Agnès Buzyn also said the first flight, which will later repatriate French nationals from the Chinese town of Wuhan - the epicentre of the virus - would depart France for China later on Wednesday, with a second flight to follow on Thursday or Friday.
France confirmed its first three cases of the Wuhan coronavirus on Friday, and a fourth case on Tuesday.
“We now have five cases, out of which two are under surveillance,” Buzyn said at a press conference.
The Chinese government has sealed off Wuhan and neighbouring cities, effectively trapping tens of millions of people, including thousands of foreigners, in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.
Buzyn said the first plane will likely return to France late Friday or early Saturday. Those on it will be brought to a holding facility in Paris, where they will stay for 14 days – the estimated virus incubation period – to ensure they do not have the virus and therefore cannot pass it on to others.
Any who display symptoms, which are similar to the flu and include a fever, will be hospitalised immediately.
Deputy transport minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari told CNews television the first flight would bring only passengers “who do not have any symptoms” of illness.
Another flight to bring home “people who may be carrying the virus” is planned but no date has yet been set, he said.
“Several planes will follow,” added Buzyn, so as not to mix potentially infected people with healthy ones on the same flight.
The European Commission said in a statement on Tuesday that EU citizens would also be flown out of Wuhan.
“Initial numbers indicate that around 250 French citizens will be transported in the first aircraft and over 100 EU citizens from other countries will join the second aircraft,” it said in a statement.
The airlift, at France’s request, will now be co-funded by the EU under its civil protection mechanism and broadened with the second plane for EU citizens.
It said “only healthy or asymptomatic citizens will be authorised to travel” on the flights.
‘Won’t close the doors’
France was the first European country to report imported cases of the new coronavirus. The first three were people who had recently been to China.
On Tuesday, officials said a German man, who has not been to China, was infected with the virus by a colleague visiting Bavaria from China, in what is believed to be the first human transmission on European soil.
Buzyn said several European countries had asked France to bring their nationals home on its planes.
“Obviously, we won’t close the doors of our planes to foreign nationals if they request it and if we have the possibility” to help them, Buzyn added.
Among the French in Wuhan, some may not be keen on leaving, however.
“Some have family members who are not necessarily French nationals, so it is necessary to know if they want to return, and if the Chinese government accepts it,” Buzyn said.
“All of this is being discussed with the Chinese authorities.”
Others are put off by the mandatory 14-day quarantine period.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-01-28--Economic anxiety vies with ‘Brexit fatigue’ as UK's Birmingham readies to leave EU

Birmingham voted for Brexit by a trifling margin in 2016 , defying the narrative that ethnically mixed , economically buoyant cities don ’ t want to leave the EU .
Ahead of the UK ’ s departure from the bloc on January 31 , there is concern here about Brexit ’ s impact on business and jobs – but also a sense of relief that Brexit is finally happening .
The metropolis of the Midlands confounded expectations when it voted Leave by 50.4 percent in the 2016 Brexit referendum .
Birmingham has one of the UK ’ s most ethnically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents were classed as 'White British ' in the most recent census , in 2011 ) .
Business is thriving : many big international companies are based in the Birmingham area , including hi-tech exporters like luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover and engineering firm IMI .
The city centre gleams with new glass buildings , towered over by the cranes constructing even shinier edifices .
Now that Britain is leaving the European Union before embarking on the next set of talks , the locals seem to be more anxious about the economic risks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worry about the impact on jobs , particularly in the car sector , ” said Tom Pratt , convener of local anti-Brexit campaign group EU in Brum ( Brum being a nickname for Birmingham ) .
“ Our business imports metal components from Europe and the volatility that Brexit has brought has not made it easy from a business point of view , ” added a marketing executive for a small company owned by a German firm , who preferred to remain anonymous .
Automotive sector concerned These concerns may well intensify as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Brexit process .
When Britain leaves the EU on January 31 , it enters the so-called transition period – a mechanism to prevent a cliff-edge exit by keeping the UK under European rules while it negotiates a new trading relationship with the bloc .
Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly vowed that he will not extend this period beyond its current deadline – December 31 , 2020 -- which , analysts say , risks crashing the British economy out of the European bloc in a de facto no-deal Brexit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Exchequer Sajid Javid told the Financial Times that “ there will not be alignment ” with EU rules after Brexit .
In effect , this means that access to the single market in any new commercial deal will have to be limited , as Brussels has consistently warned , creating barriers to trade with the continent .
“ Javid can say the UK is not going to follow EU rules as much as he likes , but the simple fact of the matter is that any company based in the UK that wishes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play by European rules , ” said Alex de Ruyter , director of Birmingham City University ’ s Centre for Brexit Studies .
He added that if the government is true to its word in pursuing divergence from EU laws , this would threaten to wreak serious damage on companies like Jaguar Land Rover in particular .
“ It could cost the automotive sector billions , ” de Ruyter warned .
For some in the Birmingham area , the social impact they expect from Brexit is even more worrying than economic concerns .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brexit can cause will be at the forefront of my mind when Britain withdraws from the EU , ” said a resident of leafy Birmingham suburb Sutton Coldfield , who asked to be kept anonymous .
“ I feel that many politicians ’ populist arguments for Brexit were based around emotive topics that were morally questionable and bordering on scaremongering ; the seemingly key issue of immigration being one , ” he continued .
“ Living in a multicultural city which has benefitted from immigration both culturally and economically , I find what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argument hard to swallow.
” ‘ Groundhog Day ’ However , others in the Birmingham area see January 31 through a very different perspective .
“ Brexit could provide additional capital to be spent domestically once we are no longer in contributing to the EU budget ; hopefully this money could be put to better use , ” said a Brexiteer from Solihull , a commuter town just outside Birmingham that voted Leave by 56 percent in the 2016 referendum .
Of course , the Brexit debate ’ s most well-known reference to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Vote Leave bus that claimed the UK sent £350 million per week to the EU which could be better used to boost spending on the NHS , Britain ’ s cherished public healthcare system .
This claim was soon revealed to be a lie .
“ In any case , the impact on the economy from changes to trade after leaving the EU is likely to be far bigger than savings from the UK ’ s membership fee , ” states the non-partisan fact-checking website FullFact .
But by this point , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nature of the Britain ’ s contribution to the EU budget are of diminishing interest , because for many Brexit has simply dragged on for too long .
It is significant that the Eurosceptic from Solihull described January 31 as a matter of the UK “ finally ” leaving the EU at the end of a “ long , drawn-out , laborious process ” .
After then-prime minister Theresa May spent two agonising years negotiating a withdrawal agreement with the EU , the House of Commons rejected it three times as her lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When Johnson forged a slightly modified deal with Brussels in October , the Commons rejected its timetabling , leading the prime minister to try and escape the impasse through the ballot box .
It was in this context that “ Get Brexit Done ” – the flagship slogan on which Johnson won his crushing electoral majority in December – emerged from a focus group in the northern English town of Bury .
As a Tory strategist recollected to the Financial Times , the voters who inadvertently came up with the slogan just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way , out of their lives ” after the issue had monopolised British politics for three years .
“ There ’ s an element of Brexit fatigue , ” de Ruyter observed .
Even the small business executive – who decried the effect Brexit is having on the company she works for – said that overall she has “ mixed feelings on finally leaving [ the EU ] at the end of the month ” .
There might be “ more clarity and stability ” now that Brexit is happening , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of repeated parliamentary disputes .
“ For many people , there has been a restlessness with politicians not getting on with it , ” added one of the Birmingham area ’ s most prominent politicians , Andrew Mitchell , Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield .
He voted Remain in the 2016 referendum , but is supporting Johnson ’ s policy to Get Brexit Done from `` a feeling that we have any more of that ‘ Groundhog Day ’ approach , we will all go bonkers ” .

SPECIAL REPORT
Birmingham voted for Brexit by a trifling margin in 2016, defying the narrative that ethnically mixed, economically buoyant cities don’t want to leave the EU. Ahead of the UK’s departure from the bloc on January 31, there is concern here about Brexit’s impact on business and jobs – but also a sense of relief that Brexit is finally happening.
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The metropolis of the Midlands confounded expectations when it voted Leave by 50.4 percent in the 2016 Brexit referendum. Birmingham has one of the UK’s most ethnically mixed populations (just 53 percent of residents were classed as 'White British' in the most recent census, in 2011). Business is thriving: many big international companies are based in the Birmingham area, including hi-tech exporters like luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover and engineering firm IMI. The city centre gleams with new glass buildings, towered over by the cranes constructing even shinier edifices.
Now that Britain is leaving the European Union before embarking on the next set of talks, the locals seem to be more anxious about the economic risks Brexit entails. “There’s worry about the impact on jobs, particularly in the car sector,” said Tom Pratt, convener of local anti-Brexit campaign group EU in Brum (Brum being a nickname for Birmingham).
“Our business imports metal components from Europe and the volatility that Brexit has brought has not made it easy from a business point of view,” added a marketing executive for a small company owned by a German firm, who preferred to remain anonymous.
Automotive sector concerned
These concerns may well intensify as the UK goes through the final stage in the Brexit process.
When Britain leaves the EU on January 31, it enters the so-called transition period – a mechanism to prevent a cliff-edge exit by keeping the UK under European rules while it negotiates a new trading relationship with the bloc. Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly vowed that he will not extend this period beyond its current deadline – December 31, 2020 -- which, analysts say, risks crashing the British economy out of the European bloc in a de facto no-deal Brexit.
Earlier in January, Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid told the Financial Times that “there will not be alignment” with EU rules after Brexit. In effect, this means that access to the single market in any new commercial deal will have to be limited, as Brussels has consistently warned, creating barriers to trade with the continent.
“Javid can say the UK is not going to follow EU rules as much as he likes, but the simple fact of the matter is that any company based in the UK that wishes to export to Europe will have to play by European rules,” said Alex de Ruyter, director of Birmingham City University’s Centre for Brexit Studies.
He added that if the government is true to its word in pursuing divergence from EU laws, this would threaten to wreak serious damage on companies like Jaguar Land Rover in particular.
“It could cost the automotive sector billions,” de Ruyter warned.
For some in the Birmingham area, the social impact they expect from Brexit is even more worrying than economic concerns. “The further divisions in society that Brexit can cause will be at the forefront of my mind when Britain withdraws from the EU,” said a resident of leafy Birmingham suburb Sutton Coldfield, who asked to be kept anonymous.
“I feel that many politicians’ populist arguments for Brexit were based around emotive topics that were morally questionable and bordering on scaremongering; the seemingly key issue of immigration being one,” he continued.
“Living in a multicultural city which has benefitted from immigration both culturally and economically, I find what I see to be the clinching immigration argument hard to swallow.”
‘Groundhog Day’
However, others in the Birmingham area see January 31 through a very different perspective.
“Brexit could provide additional capital to be spent domestically once we are no longer contributing to the EU budget; hopefully this money could be put to better use,” said a Brexiteer from Solihull, a commuter town just outside Birmingham that voted Leave by 56 percent in the 2016 referendum.
Of course, the Brexit debate’s most well-known reference to the EU budget was a slogan on a Vote Leave bus that claimed the UK sent £350 million per week to the EU which could be better used to boost spending on the NHS, Britain’s cherished public healthcare system. This claim was soon revealed to be a lie. “In any case, the impact on the economy from changes to trade after leaving the EU is likely to be far bigger than savings from the UK’s membership fee,” states the non-partisan fact-checking website FullFact.
But by this point, it seems that issues like the precise nature of the Britain’s contribution to the EU budget are of diminishing interest, because for many Brexit has simply dragged on for too long.
It is significant that the Eurosceptic from Solihull described January 31 as a matter of the UK “finally” leaving the EU at the end of a “long, drawn-out, laborious process”.
After then-prime minister Theresa May spent two agonising years negotiating a withdrawal agreement with the EU, the House of Commons rejected it three times as her lack of a parliamentary majority tied her hands. When Johnson forged a slightly modified deal with Brussels in October, the Commons rejected its timetabling, leading the prime minister to try and escape the impasse through the ballot box.
It was in this context that “Get Brexit Done” – the flagship slogan on which Johnson won his crushing electoral majority in December – emerged from a focus group in the northern English town of Bury. As a Tory strategist recollected to the Financial Times, the voters who inadvertently came up with the slogan just wanted “to get Brexit out of the way, out of their lives” after the issue had monopolised British politics for three years.
“There’s an element of Brexit fatigue,” de Ruyter observed. Even the small business executive – who decried the effect Brexit is having on the company she works for – said that overall she has “mixed feelings on finally leaving [the EU] at the end of the month”. There might be “more clarity and stability” now that Brexit is happening, she said, instead of being the subject of repeated parliamentary disputes.
“For many people, there has been a restlessness with politicians not getting on with it,” added one of the Birmingham area’s most prominent politicians, Andrew Mitchell, Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield.
He voted Remain in the 2016 referendum, but is supporting Johnson’s policy to Get Brexit Done from "a feeling that we have any more of that ‘Groundhog Day’ approach, we will all go bonkers”.
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france24--2020-01-28--Renault chooses VW's Luca De Meo as new CEO

Renault 's Tuesday named Luca de Meo , the former head of Volkswagen 's Seat brand , as its next chief executive , as the carmaker looks to draw a line under a year of turmoil by finalising a long-awaited management shake-up .
De Meo 's appointment fills one of the big gaps left at the French company after it cleared the decks following the 2018 arrest in Tokyo of former boss Carlos Ghosn , and as it seeks to reset its strained alliance with Japan 's Nissan .
Ghosn , who forged and oversaw the Renault-Nissan partnership for almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Lebanon , from where he has contested the financial misconduct charges against him and said the partnership was at risk of collapse .
De Meo will start on July 1 , Renault said in a statement .
Clotilde Delbos , the carmaker 's finance chief who has been interim CEO since former Ghosn ally Thierry Bollore was ousted last October , will then become deputy CEO .
Italian-born De Meo had been hotly tipped for the job , but faced hurdles because of a non-compete clause in his VW contract , sources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have his work cut out to turn around the firm .
He will take the reins under Renault Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard , brought in last January from tyre maker Michelin , and who has so far emerged as the de facto senior figure in the Renault-Nissan alliance .
Like rivals , Renault is grappling with a downturn in demand , and has said it expects a slight decline in the car market in Europe , Russia and China this year .
The firm has also presented 2020 as a make-or-break year for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deliver on cost savings and joint industrial projects .
Automakers face pressure to meet stringent new emissions targets with less polluting models , and are also competing to produce innovations such as self-driving cars , which require large investments .
De Meo , who speaks French , will be one of a growing handful of outsiders in senior company jobs in France .
The 52-year-old started his career at Renault and has worked at Fiat - where he was one of the managers who helped launch the Fiat 500 model along late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other brands .
De Meo is credited with revitalising sales at Barcelona-based Seat , imbuing it with a more sporty image and accelerating projects that were already in the works .
His portfolio will be markedly larger at Renault , however , whose brands include Dacia and Lada .

Renault's Tuesday named Luca de Meo, the former head of Volkswagen's Seat brand, as its next chief executive, as the carmaker looks to draw a line under a year of turmoil by finalising a long-awaited management shake-up.
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De Meo's appointment fills one of the big gaps left at the French company after it cleared the decks following the 2018 arrest in Tokyo of former boss Carlos Ghosn, and as it seeks to reset its strained alliance with Japan's Nissan.
Ghosn, who forged and oversaw the Renault-Nissan partnership for almost two decades, has since fled Japan to Lebanon, from where he has contested the financial misconduct charges against him and said the partnership was at risk of collapse.
De Meo will start on July 1, Renault said in a statement.
Clotilde Delbos, the carmaker's finance chief who has been interim CEO since former Ghosn ally Thierry Bollore was ousted last October, will then become deputy CEO.
Italian-born De Meo had been hotly tipped for the job, but faced hurdles because of a non-compete clause in his VW contract, sources previously told Reuters.
De Meo will have his work cut out to turn around the firm. He will take the reins under Renault Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard, brought in last January from tyre maker Michelin, and who has so far emerged as the de facto senior figure in the Renault-Nissan alliance.
Like rivals, Renault is grappling with a downturn in demand, and has said it expects a slight decline in the car market in Europe, Russia and China this year.
The firm has also presented 2020 as a make-or-break year for the alliance with Nissan and is under pressure to deliver on cost savings and joint industrial projects.
Automakers face pressure to meet stringent new emissions targets with less polluting models, and are also competing to produce innovations such as self-driving cars, which require large investments.
De Meo, who speaks French, will be one of a growing handful of outsiders in senior company jobs in France.
The 52-year-old started his career at Renault and has worked at Fiat - where he was one of the managers who helped launch the Fiat 500 model along late boss Sergio Marchionne - and Audi among other brands.
De Meo is credited with revitalising sales at Barcelona-based Seat, imbuing it with a more sporty image and accelerating projects that were already in the works.
His portfolio will be markedly larger at Renault, however, whose brands include Dacia and Lada.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-28--'It sounded like rape': Weinstein accuser's ex-roommate backs up sexual assault allegation

Witness Elizabeth Entin is questioned by Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast as film producer Harvey Weinstein sits with his lawyers Damon Cheronis and Donna Rotunno in front of Judge James Burke during Weinstein 's sexual assault trial at New York Criminal Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City , New York , U.S. January 28 , 2020 in this courtroom sketch .
The former roommate of Mimi Haleyi , one of the women who has accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault , took the stand on Tuesday in the former Hollywood mogul 's rape trial .
Elizabeth Entin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told her in the summer of 2006 that Weinstein forced oral sex on her .
`` I said , 'Miriam , that sounds like rape , ' '' Entin testified , using Haleyi 's full first name .
Weinstein , 67 , has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting Haleyi and Jessica Mann .
Since 2017 , more than 80 women , including many famous actresses , have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct .
The accusations fueled the # MeToo movement , in which women have accused powerful men in business , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misconduct .
Weinstein 's trial is widely seen as a key moment for the movement .
Weinstein , who reshaped the independent film industry with critically acclaimed pictures such as “ The English Patient ” and “ Shakespeare in Love , ” has denied the allegations and said any sexual encounters were consensual .
Haleyi , who worked as a production assistant on a Weinstein television show , told jurors on Monday that Weinstein invited her to his Manhattan home in July 2006 and attacked her , backing her into a bedroom and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said on Tuesday that she and Haleyi shared an apartment in 2006 .
She said that one evening Haleyi appeared unusually nervous , and told her Weinstein had assaulted her in his home .
`` She said ' I ’ m on my period ' and he said ' I don ’ t care , ' at which point he threw her down , pulled down her underwear , pulled out her tampon and went down on her while she was saying 'no , ' '' Entin said .
Entin testified that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and urged her to speak to a lawyer , but that Haleyi did not want to .
Entin said that weeks before the alleged attack , Haleyi called her at work to tell her that Weinstein had barged into their apartment and begged her to come to Paris with him .
Entin said Haleyi told her that Entin 's chihuahua , Peanut , was `` kind of chasing him around '' and that Weinstein seemed afraid of the dog .
At the time , Entin said , she saw Weinstein not as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man trying to hit on Miriam . ''
On cross-examination , Donna Rotunno , one of Weinstein 's lawyers , asked Entin whether she knew Weinstein had paid for Haleyi to travel to Los Angeles and London after the alleged assault , and that she had continued to communicate with him .
Entin said she did not .
After Entin left the stand , prosecutors showed jurors several old photos of Weinstein , including one of him and former U.S. President Bill Clinton .
They previously had said they wanted to introduce the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connections .
Haleyi was the second accuser to testify against Weinstein at the trial .
Actress Annabella Sciorra , known for her role on HBO 's `` The Sopranos , '' testified last week that Weinstein forced his way into her Manhattan apartment one winter night in 1993 or 1994 and violently raped her .
While Sciorra 's allegation is too old to support a separate rape charge against Weinstein , prosecutors hope it will show he is a repeat sexual predator - a charge that could put him in prison for life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actress , is expected to testify that Weinstein raped her in 2013 .

The former roommate of Mimi Haleyi, one of the women who has accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault, took the stand on Tuesday in the former Hollywood mogul's rape trial.
Witness Elizabeth Entin is questioned by Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast as film producer Harvey Weinstein sits with his lawyers Damon Cheronis and Donna Rotunno in front of Judge James Burke during Weinstein's sexual assault trial at New York Criminal Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S. January 28, 2020 in this courtroom sketch.
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Elizabeth Entin told jurors that Haleyi, visibly upset, told her in the summer of 2006 that Weinstein forced oral sex on her.
"I said, 'Miriam, that sounds like rape,'" Entin testified, using Haleyi's full first name.
Weinstein, 67, has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting Haleyi and Jessica Mann. Since 2017, more than 80 women, including many famous actresses, have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct.
The accusations fueled the #MeToo movement, in which women have accused powerful men in business, entertainment, media and politics of sexual misconduct. Weinstein's trial is widely seen as a key moment for the movement.
Weinstein, who reshaped the independent film industry with critically acclaimed pictures such as “The English Patient” and “Shakespeare in Love,” has denied the allegations and said any sexual encounters were consensual.
Haleyi, who worked as a production assistant on a Weinstein television show, told jurors on Monday that Weinstein invited her to his Manhattan home in July 2006 and attacked her, backing her into a bedroom and forcing oral sex on her.
Entin said on Tuesday that she and Haleyi shared an apartment in 2006.
She said that one evening Haleyi appeared unusually nervous, and told her Weinstein had assaulted her in his home.
"She said 'I’m on my period' and he said 'I don’t care,' at which point he threw her down, pulled down her underwear, pulled out her tampon and went down on her while she was saying 'no,'" Entin said.
Entin testified that she told Haleyi her experience sounded like rape and urged her to speak to a lawyer, but that Haleyi did not want to.
Entin said that weeks before the alleged attack, Haleyi called her at work to tell her that Weinstein had barged into their apartment and begged her to come to Paris with him.
Entin said Haleyi told her that Entin's chihuahua, Peanut, was "kind of chasing him around" and that Weinstein seemed afraid of the dog.
At the time, Entin said, she saw Weinstein not as a threat but as "a pathetic older man trying to hit on Miriam."
On cross-examination, Donna Rotunno, one of Weinstein's lawyers, asked Entin whether she knew Weinstein had paid for Haleyi to travel to Los Angeles and London after the alleged assault, and that she had continued to communicate with him. Entin said she did not.
After Entin left the stand, prosecutors showed jurors several old photos of Weinstein, including one of him and former U.S. President Bill Clinton. They previously had said they wanted to introduce the photo to demonstrate Weinstein's power and connections.
Haleyi was the second accuser to testify against Weinstein at the trial. Actress Annabella Sciorra, known for her role on HBO's "The Sopranos," testified last week that Weinstein forced his way into her Manhattan apartment one winter night in 1993 or 1994 and violently raped her.
While Sciorra's allegation is too old to support a separate rape charge against Weinstein, prosecutors hope it will show he is a repeat sexual predator - a charge that could put him in prison for life.
Jessica Mann, a former aspiring actress, is expected to testify that Weinstein raped her in 2013.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-28--French cities and NGOs sue oil giant Total over 'climate inaction'

Oil giant Total is sued by French NGOs and cities over their 'climate inaction ' , January 28 2020 .
A group of French cities and advocacy groups said Tuesday they had filed a lawsuit against oil giant Total , claiming it was not doing enough to limit carbon emissions and prevent climate change .
“ We ’ re asking for them to be held accountable , but also for positive and concrete actions for our citizens and territories , ” Patrick Jarry , mayor of the Paris suburb of Nanterre where the case was filed , told journalists .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ company has been sued for what the NGOs call “ climate inaction ” , based on a March 2017 law that requires large French companies to draw up “ vigilance plans ” to prevent environmental damage and uphold health and human rights .
They say Total ’ s plan is “ clearly insufficient ” if France is to meet its pledges under the 2015 Paris climate agreement , which aims to limit global temperature rises to well below two degrees Celsius ( 3.6 Fahrenheit ) .
Even though the accord was signed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courts should use it to evaluate the effectiveness of companies ’ environmental commitments .
“ We want the judge to carry out a thorough analysis , point by point , of Total ’ s plan .
Is it pertinent ?
Does it respond to the stakes in play ?
” said Sebastien Mabile , a lawyer for the group .
The case was filed by advocacy groups including Sherpa and France Nature Environment and by around a dozen cities including Grenoble and Bayonne .
The NGOs had already warned last June that Total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy giant to step up its efforts to curb carbon emissions .
The company said it “ regretted ” the lawsuit , saying “ the solutions to responding both to the need for energy sources accessible to all , and to the challenges of climate change , require cooperation among the various stakeholders ” .

A group of French cities and advocacy groups said Tuesday they had filed a lawsuit against oil giant Total, claiming it was not doing enough to limit carbon emissions and prevent climate change.
Oil giant Total is sued by French NGOs and cities over their 'climate inaction', January 28 2020.
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“We’re asking for them to be held accountable, but also for positive and concrete actions for our citizens and territories,” Patrick Jarry, mayor of the Paris suburb of Nanterre where the case was filed, told journalists.
It is the first time a French company has been sued for what the NGOs call “climate inaction”, based on a March 2017 law that requires large French companies to draw up “vigilance plans” to prevent environmental damage and uphold health and human rights.
They say Total’s plan is “clearly insufficient” if France is to meet its pledges under the 2015 Paris climate agreement, which aims to limit global temperature rises to well below two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit).
Even though the accord was signed by national governments, the plaintiffs argue that courts should use it to evaluate the effectiveness of companies’ environmental commitments.
'Needs thorough analysis'
“We want the judge to carry out a thorough analysis, point by point, of Total’s plan. Is it pertinent? Does it respond to the stakes in play?” said Sebastien Mabile, a lawyer for the group.
The case was filed by advocacy groups including Sherpa and France Nature Environment and by around a dozen cities including Grenoble and Bayonne.
The NGOs had already warned last June that Total was in their cross-hairs, urging the energy giant to step up its efforts to curb carbon emissions.
The company said it “regretted” the lawsuit, saying “the solutions to responding both to the need for energy sources accessible to all, and to the challenges of climate change, require cooperation among the various stakeholders”.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-01-28--French police clash with firefighters at Paris demonstration

Firefighters brandish flares as they climb on the Statue of Republic Triumph at Nation square during a demonstration to protest @ @ @ @ @ to overhaul the country 's retirement system in Paris , on January 28 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ between French police and angry firefighters demonstrating in Paris for better working conditions .
Unions @ @ @ @ @ fire service workers all over the country .
They set off noisy firecrackers in the @ @ @ @ @ la Republique to bring attention to their cause .
Participants want a raise in risk @ @ @ @ @ 25 % to fulfil their missions - which they say reductions in personnel have made @ @ @ @ @ attacks against them are also on the rise .
Paris police said firefighters who tried @ @ @ @ @ fencing near the Nation area of Paris were dispersed by water cannon .
Firefighters previously @ @ @ @ @ earlier protest was marked by clashes with the police .
One protester in the southern @ @ @ @ @ hit in the eye and has not recovered his vision .

Scuffles broke out Tuesday between French police and angry firefighters demonstrating in Paris for better working conditions.
Firefighters brandish flares as they climb on the Statue of Republic Triumph at Nation square during a demonstration to protest against French government's plan to overhaul the country's retirement system in Paris, on January 28, 2020.
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Unions organised the Paris protest for fire service workers all over the country. They set off noisy firecrackers in the capital’s Place de la Republique to bring attention to their cause.
Participants want a raise in risk pay from 19% to 25% to fulfil their missions - which they say reductions in personnel have made increasingly difficult. They say attacks against them are also on the rise.
These striking firefighters in Paris lit themselves on fire today to protest the government's attacks on their pensions.pic.twitter.com/nqTgYULtKd — Eric Blanc (@_ericblanc) January 28, 2020
Paris police said firefighters who tried to break down or scale fencing near the Nation area of Paris were dispersed by water cannon.
Firefighters previously demonstrated in October and this earlier protest was marked by clashes with the police. One protester in the southern city of Dijon was seriously hit in the eye and has not recovered his vision.
(AP)
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france24--2020-01-28--France will start to evacuate citizens from Chinese city at centre of coronavirus outbreak

A picture taken in a laboratory of the National Reference Center ( CNR ) for respiratory viruses at the Institut Pasteur in Paris on January 28 , 2020 shows a biohazard sticker on the entrance of a room .
The CNR analyses for respiratory viruses among which coronavirus .
France on Thursday will send a plane to start evacuating its citizens from Wuhan , the Chinese city at the centre of a coronavirus scare , in the first repatriations by a European country .
Some 500 to 1,000 French citizens are eligible for repatriation , Health Minister Agnes Buzyn told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are keen to be pulled out from the zone as authorities said the virus has infected thousands and killed 106 so far .
The first plane will likely return to France late Friday or early Saturday , Buzyn said .
Those on it will be brought to a holding facility in Paris , where they will stay for 14 days - the estimated virus incubation period - to ensure they do not carry the virus and can not pass it on to others .
Those displaying symptoms , which are similar to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be hospitalised immediately .
Deputy transport minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari told CNews television the flight would bring only passengers “ who do not have any symptoms ” of illness .
A second plane to bring home “ people who may be carrying the virus ” is planned but no date has yet been set , he said .
“ Several planes will follow , ” added Buzyn , so as not to mix potentially infected people with healthy ones on the same flight .
The Chinese government has sealed off Wuhan and neighbouring cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , including thousands of foreigners , in a bid to contain the spread of the virus .
France was the first European country to report imported cases of the new coronavirus , in three people who had recently been in China , while a half-dozen suspected infections are being analysed .
On Tuesday , officials said a German man , who has not been to China , was infected with the virus by a colleague visiting Bavaria from China , in what is believed to be the first human transmission on European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had asked France to bring their nationals home on its planes .
“ The ministry of foreign affairs is in charge of working with these different countries to determine how we share the repatriation of all European nationals , ” she said .
“ Obviously , we won ’ t close the doors of our planes to foreign nationals if they request it and if we have the possibility ” to help them , Buzyn added .
Among the French in Wuhan , some may not be keen on leaving , however .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not necessarily French nationals , so it is necessary to know if they want to return , and if the Chinese government accepts it , ” Buzyn said .
“ All of this is being discussed with the Chinese authorities.
” Others are put off by the mandatory 14-day quarantine period .

France on Thursday will send a plane to start evacuating its citizens from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of a coronavirus scare, in the first repatriations by a European country.
A picture taken in a laboratory of the National Reference Center (CNR) for respiratory viruses at the Institut Pasteur in Paris on January 28, 2020 shows a biohazard sticker on the entrance of a room. The CNR analyses for respiratory viruses among which coronavirus.
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Some 500 to 1,000 French citizens are eligible for repatriation, Health Minister Agnes Buzyn told a press conference, though not all are keen to be pulled out from the zone as authorities said the virus has infected thousands and killed 106 so far.
The first plane will likely return to France late Friday or early Saturday, Buzyn said. Those on it will be brought to a holding facility in Paris, where they will stay for 14 days - the estimated virus incubation period - to ensure they do not carry the virus and cannot pass it on to others.
Those displaying symptoms, which are similar to the flu and include a fever, will be hospitalised immediately.
Deputy transport minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari told CNews television the flight would bring only passengers “who do not have any symptoms” of illness.
A second plane to bring home “people who may be carrying the virus” is planned but no date has yet been set, he said.
“Several planes will follow,” added Buzyn, so as not to mix potentially infected people with healthy ones on the same flight.
The Chinese government has sealed off Wuhan and neighbouring cities, effectively trapping tens of millions of people, including thousands of foreigners, in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.
‘Will not close the doors’
France was the first European country to report imported cases of the new coronavirus, in three people who had recently been in China, while a half-dozen suspected infections are being analysed.
On Tuesday, officials said a German man, who has not been to China, was infected with the virus by a colleague visiting Bavaria from China, in what is believed to be the first human transmission on European soil.
Buzyn said several European countries had asked France to bring their nationals home on its planes.
“The ministry of foreign affairs is in charge of working with these different countries to determine how we share the repatriation of all European nationals,” she said.
“Obviously, we won’t close the doors of our planes to foreign nationals if they request it and if we have the possibility” to help them, Buzyn added.
Among the French in Wuhan, some may not be keen on leaving, however.
“Some have family members who are not necessarily French nationals, so it is necessary to know if they want to return, and if the Chinese government accepts it,” Buzyn said.
“All of this is being discussed with the Chinese authorities.”
Others are put off by the mandatory 14-day quarantine period.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-01-28--French student Instagrams life in Wuhan under coronavirus quarantine

Daily life isn ’ t easy for people trapped in Wuhan .
Chapalain posted videos of the rush to stock up on food when the town was put under quarantine , and the now-empty streets .
Most supermarkets in Wuhan are closed .
The few that remain open often have empty shelves .
People rushed to the supermarket when Wuhan was first put under quarantine .
Chapalain took this photo a few days after the town was quarantined .
These days , supermarket shelves are almost always empty .
In these videos , Chapalain explains that finding food can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manages to get some milk , pasta and bread -- it ’ s not much but “ she ’ ll be able to live a few more days , ” she half-jokes .
She also shows the flu medicine and the masks that she got from her university .
`` When I see my friends , we keep our masks on ” Chapalain spoke to the FRANCE 24 Observers on Jan. 28 .
She still hasn ’ t decided if she wants to sign up for repatriation or not : The University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which are sold out across the city , and flu medicine.Chapalain was supposed to go on vacation but she cancelled her tickets .
She explains that the whole situation happened suddenly.Chapalain is in constant contact with her family , who are back in France .
She has refused to succumb to the panic about the outbreak .

CHINA
Amélie Chapalain, a French student stuck in the Chinese city of Wuhan, which has been placed under quarantine because of a coronavirus outbreak, posts regular updates on her Instagram account.
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Amélie Chapalain, a French student in Wuhan, China, has been taking to Instagram to tell the world what it’s like to live in the city, which was put under quarantine by Chinese officials after the deadly coronavirus outbreak.
Chapalain has been studying international relations at the University of Wuhan for the past four years. Earlier this month, Chinese authorities quarantined Wuhan and three other cities after 80 people died and at least 2,700 fell ill with the new coronavirus. Chapalain has been posting on Instagram about what it is like to live in a quarantined city.
In this story posted on Instagram, French student Amélie Chapalain films the empty streets of Wuhan as she rides along on the back of a scooter. She notes that the trash is still being collected.
.
"We’re keeping fit - even under quarantine!" Chapalain says in this Instagram story that shows her doing exercises with friends. She wears a mask, even when she is just hanging out with friends.
Almost all the shops in Wuhan are closed. Photo by our Observer Amélie Chapalain.
READ ON THE OBSERVERS >> Videos from Wuhan, ‘ground zero’ of the coronavirus
French Health Minister Agnès Buzyn announced on Sunday that any French citizens living in Wuhan who wanted to be repatriated back to France would be able to do so later this week. When they arrive in France, they will need to stay in a quarantine facility for 14 days-- the estimated incubation period for the virus.
“I’m putting it in perspective: I’m healthy, I’m at home and I still have food”
Chapalain spoke to the FRANCE 24 Observers on Jan. 28. She still hasn’t decided if she wants to sign up for repatriation or not:
We still don’t have enough information about it. We would have to spend two weeks in quarantine but we still don’t know where. We don’t know if we’d have to pay for our tickets. And it is totally possible that, two weeks from now, everything will be back to normal and we would have gone through all that for nothing.
Shortages of food and water
Daily life isn’t easy for people trapped in Wuhan. Chapalain posted videos of the rush to stock up on food when the town was put under quarantine, and the now-empty streets. Most supermarkets in Wuhan are closed. The few that remain open often have empty shelves.
People rushed to the supermarket when Wuhan was first put under quarantine.
Chapalain took this photo a few days after the town was quarantined. These days, supermarket shelves are almost always empty.
The government does restock supermarkets but everything is sold really quickly. This morning, the supermarkets had vegetables for sale. I went this afternoon and, by then, there was nothing left. The meat was gone. We are afraid that we’ll have nothing left. The water situation is also complicated. You can’t drink water from the tap in China, so you have to boil it to drink it.
My university pushed back the start of the semester to late February, but they don’t really know when they will be able to reopen. In the meantime, they are trying to help students as best they can. Tomorrow, they are going to start to hand out packaged meals to students who haven’t been able to buy food.
The University of Wuhan has also given students masks, which are sold out across the city, and flu medicine.
Flu symptoms are similar to coronavirus symptoms. Some people go to the hospital, thinking that they have coronavirus, when they really just have the flu. But then sometimes they actually end up getting infected with the virus at the hospital.
In these videos, Chapalain explains that finding food can be difficult and she is happy when she manages to get some milk, pasta and bread-- it’s not much but “she’ll be able to live a few more days,” she half-jokes. She also shows the flu medicine and the masks that she got from her university.
"When I see my friends, we keep our masks on”
Chapalain was supposed to go on vacation but she cancelled her tickets. She explains that the whole situation happened suddenly.
In late December, the Wuhan market was shut down. We knew that someone had gotten sick, but we still didn’t know that it was a virus. We’ve only really known what is going on for about ten days. The university started sending out emails, instructing us to wear masks and stay at home. After that, everything happened really quickly. Last week, there were lots of rumours that the government was going to quarantine the town. The next day, all of the train stations and airports were shut down.
Chapalain is in constant contact with her family, who are back in France. She has refused to succumb to the panic about the outbreak.
We’ve set up a WhatsApp group with the French consulate so we are well-informed. Some French people living here are really frustrated. We are just waiting for this to be over. The hardest thing is the boredom. I spend my days watching movies. We are all getting a little paranoid. I don’t see my friends very often and, when we do get together, we keep our masks on. We don’t know what the other people have been doing, who they’ve been around. We wash our hands as soon as we get home. Considering how bad the situation is, it’s better to be careful.
Article written by Marie Genries


france24--2020-01-28--UK grants China's Huawei limited role in building nation's 5G network

A photograph shows the logo of Chinese company Huawei at their main UK offices in Reading , west of London , on January 28 , 2020 .
Britain on Tuesday greenlighted a limited role for Chinese telecoms giant Huawei in the country ’ s 5G network , but underscored that “ high risk vendors ” would be excluded from “ sensitive ” core infrastructure .
London ’ s decision , following a meeting of the National Security Council chaired by Prime Minister Boris Johnson , came shortly after Brussels said it would allow Huawei a limited 5G role in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connectivity as soon as possible but this must not be at the expense of our national security , ” Britain ’ s Digital Secretary Nicky Morgan said in reference to high-speed fifth generation networks that offer almost instantaneous and reliable data transfer .
“ High risk vendors never have been and never will be in our most sensitive networks , ” she insisted .
Huawei welcomed news that it would have at least a limited role in building Britain ’ s high-speed fifth generation networks , after Washington lobbied hard for the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Huawei is reassured by the UK government ’ s confirmation that we can continue working with our customers to keep the 5G roll-out on track , ” said Huawei Vice-President Victor Zhang .
“ This evidence-based decision will result in a more advanced , more secure and more cost-effective telecoms infrastructure that is fit for the future.
” Washington has banned Huawei from the rollout of the next generation mobile networks because of concerns - strongly denied - that the firm could be under the control of Beijing .
Unlike the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Huawei technology in its systems for the past 15 years .
The US had threatened to limit intelligence sharing with London in the event of Huawei winning a UK role .
All eyes will now be on Washington ’ s response to Tuesday ’ s announcements .
The matter could hinder the chances of a favourable Britain-US trade deal after Brexit , according to analysts .
Johnson on Monday insisted that the UK can have “ technological progress ” while preserving national security .
There has been intense debate in Europe and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Huawei from developing 5G .
However in Brussels on Tuesday , a top European Union official said the bloc would not ban Huawei and would instead impose “ strict ” rules .
US President Donald Trump has already ordered American firms to cease doing business with market leader Huawei , and urged allies to follow suit .
Trump ’ s Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday declared that Britain faced a “ momentous decision ” .
Huawei is widely viewed as providing the most advanced alternative for super-fast data transfers behind technologies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factory robots .
Existing providers of limited 5G network infrastructure in Britain include Nokia and Ericsson , while non-core elements include antennae and base stations attached to masts and roofs .
A number of UK mobile phone operators , including EE and Vodafone , currently sell 5G services - but it is so far available only in a handful of cities , notably London and Birmingham .

Britain on Tuesday greenlighted a limited role for Chinese telecoms giant Huawei in the country’s 5G network, but underscored that “high risk vendors” would be excluded from “sensitive” core infrastructure.
A photograph shows the logo of Chinese company Huawei at their main UK offices in Reading, west of London, on January 28, 2020.
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London’s decision, following a meeting of the National Security Council chaired by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, came shortly after Brussels said it would allow Huawei a limited 5G role in the European Union.
“We want world-class connectivity as soon as possible but this must not be at the expense of our national security,” Britain’s Digital Secretary Nicky Morgan said in reference to high-speed fifth generation networks that offer almost instantaneous and reliable data transfer.
“High risk vendors never have been and never will be in our most sensitive networks,” she insisted.
Huawei welcomed news that it would have at least a limited role in building Britain’s high-speed fifth generation networks, after Washington lobbied hard for the company to be sidelined completely on security concerns.
“Huawei is reassured by the UK government’s confirmation that we can continue working with our customers to keep the 5G roll-out on track,” said Huawei Vice-President Victor Zhang.
“This evidence-based decision will result in a more advanced, more secure and more cost-effective telecoms infrastructure that is fit for the future.”
Washington has banned Huawei from the rollout of the next generation mobile networks because of concerns - strongly denied - that the firm could be under the control of Beijing.
Unlike the United States, Britain has been using Huawei technology in its systems for the past 15 years.
The US had threatened to limit intelligence sharing with London in the event of Huawei winning a UK role.
EU will not ban Huawei
All eyes will now be on Washington’s response to Tuesday’s announcements.
The matter could hinder the chances of a favourable Britain-US trade deal after Brexit, according to analysts.
Johnson on Monday insisted that the UK can have “technological progress” while preserving national security.
There has been intense debate in Europe and the US about whether or not to exclude Huawei from developing 5G.
However in Brussels on Tuesday, a top European Union official said the bloc would not ban Huawei and would instead impose “strict” rules.
US President Donald Trump has already ordered American firms to cease doing business with market leader Huawei, and urged allies to follow suit.
Trump’s Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday declared that Britain faced a “momentous decision”.
Huawei is widely viewed as providing the most advanced alternative for super-fast data transfers behind technologies such as self-driving cars and remotely operated factory robots.
Existing providers of limited 5G network infrastructure in Britain include Nokia and Ericsson, while non-core elements include antennae and base stations attached to masts and roofs.
A number of UK mobile phone operators, including EE and Vodafone, currently sell 5G services - but it is so far available only in a handful of cities, notably London and Birmingham.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-01-28--Suspected jihadist attack kills more than 30 in northern Burkina Faso

Soldiers from Burkina Faso patrol on the road of Gorgadji in the country 's Sahel area on March 3 , 2019 .
Thirty-nine people were killed in northern Burkina Faso on Saturday , in what the government called a terrorist attack on a village in Soum province .
The weekend attack followed less than a week after militants killed 36 civilians in a neighbouring province , part of a surge in violence in the West African country that has killed hundreds , forced more than half a million from their homes and made much of the north ungovernable over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not provide further details on the latest attack in the village of Silgadji , describing it in a statement on Tuesday as “ cowardly and barbaric ” .
It was not immediately clear who was responsible .
Islamist groups with links to al Qaeda and Islamic State have carried out increasingly brazen raids against civilian and military targets in Burkina Faso in recent months , including an attack on a mining convoy in November that killed nearly 40 people .
The rising insecurity has forced people from their homes .
The number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 560,000 people , making it the world ’ s fastest-growing displacement crisis , according to the Norwegian Refugee Council .
The flight of refugees into other parts of the country is straining local resources and leaving authorities struggling to cope .

Thirty-nine people were killed in northern Burkina Faso on Saturday, in what the government called a terrorist attack on a village in Soum province.
Soldiers from Burkina Faso patrol on the road of Gorgadji in the country's Sahel area on March 3, 2019.
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The weekend attack followed less than a week after militants killed 36 civilians in a neighbouring province, part of a surge in violence in the West African country that has killed hundreds, forced more than half a million from their homes and made much of the north ungovernable over the past two years.
The government did not provide further details on the latest attack in the village of Silgadji, describing it in a statement on Tuesday as “cowardly and barbaric”.
It was not immediately clear who was responsible.
Islamist groups with links to al Qaeda and Islamic State have carried out increasingly brazen raids against civilian and military targets in Burkina Faso in recent months, including an attack on a mining convoy in November that killed nearly 40 people.
The rising insecurity has forced people from their homes. The number of displaced increased tenfold in 2019 to more than 560,000 people, making it the world’s fastest-growing displacement crisis, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council.
The flight of refugees into other parts of the country is straining local resources and leaving authorities struggling to cope.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-28--Armando Iannucci and Dev Patel create a David Copperfield for the 21st century

Armando Iannucci and Dev Patel create a David Copperfield for the 21st century He 's one of English literature ’ @ @ @ @ @ Charles Dickens 's most autobiographical creation : David Copperfield is played by Dev Patel in @ @ @ @ @ adaptation , `` The Personal History of David Copperfield '' .
The director behind `` @ @ @ @ @ The Loop '' and `` The Death of Stalin '' tells us more about keeping @ @ @ @ @ in his script and putting together a cast that reflects modern Britain .
Meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ Dev Patel reflects on his first foray into period drama , and talks about the @ @ @ @ @ part of the job when bouncing from role to role .

Armando Iannucci and Dev Patel create a David Copperfield for the 21st century
11:00 ENCORE! © FRANCE 24
He's one of English literature’s most iconic characters and Charles Dickens's most autobiographical creation: David Copperfield is played by Dev Patel in Armando Iannucci's new film adaptation, "The Personal History of David Copperfield". The director behind "Veep", "In The Loop" and "The Death of Stalin" tells us more about keeping Dickens's sense of humour in his script and putting together a cast that reflects modern Britain.


france24--2020-01-28--'I will be a candidate' in Ivory Coast presidential poll, says former rebel Guillaume Soro

Guillaume Soro , former president of the National Assembly , is accused by the Ivorian justice system of having led `` a civil and military insurrection '' to seize power , which he denies .
Former Ivory Coast rebel leader Guillaume Soro said on Tuesday he would not drop out of presidential elections set for the end of the year , despite an arrest warrant out against him .
“ I definitely remain a candidate in the election .
Those who tried to stop me from going back to my homeland will not stop me from being a candidate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ivory Coast ’ s public prosecutor issued the warrant for Soro on Dec. 23 as part of an investigation into an alleged coup plot .
Soro denied any wrongdoing and said he was a victim of judicial persecution .
“ Mercenaries made illegal recordings thinking they can entrap me , ” he said .
“ My lawyers have filed a case in Paris against the authors and prosecutor because part of ( the alleged recording ) was done in France.
” Soro added that his lawyers had placed a request with French prosecutors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and will do the same with the regional West African Court of Justice , the African Court on Human and People ’ s Rights , and the United Nations .
The case against Soro adds to political tensions ahead of the October 2020 vote , regarded as a test of Ivory Coast ’ s stability after two civil wars since the turn of the century .
Soro said there could be a pre-electoral crisis in Ivory Coast .
“ I must return to Ivory Coast .
We will organise ourselves to make sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible.
” President Alassane Ouattara won re-election in 2015 but has been unclear about whether he will seek a third term , deepening uncertainty about the vote in Francophone West Africa ’ s largest economy , also the world ’ s biggest cocoa producer .
Soro retains the loyalty of many former rebel commanders who now hold senior positions in the army .
He served for several years as speaker of the National Assembly but has since fallen out with Ouattara .

Former Ivory Coast rebel leader Guillaume Soro said on Tuesday he would not drop out of presidential elections set for the end of the year, despite an arrest warrant out against him.
Guillaume Soro, former president of the National Assembly, is accused by the Ivorian justice system of having led "a civil and military insurrection" to seize power, which he denies.
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“I definitely remain a candidate in the election. Those who tried to stop me from going back to my homeland will not stop me from being a candidate,” Soro told Reuters in Paris.
Ivory Coast’s public prosecutor issued the warrant for Soro on Dec. 23 as part of an investigation into an alleged coup plot.
Soro denied any wrongdoing and said he was a victim of judicial persecution. “Mercenaries made illegal recordings thinking they can entrap me,” he said. “My lawyers have filed a case in Paris against the authors and prosecutor because part of(the alleged recording) was done in France.”
Soro added that his lawyers had placed a request with French prosecutors for his rights to be respected, and will do the same with the regional West African Court of Justice, the African Court on Human and People’s Rights, and the United Nations.
Possible pre-electoral crisis
The case against Soro adds to political tensions ahead of the October 2020 vote, regarded as a test of Ivory Coast’s stability after two civil wars since the turn of the century.
Soro said there could be a pre-electoral crisis in Ivory Coast. “I must return to Ivory Coast. We will organise ourselves to make sure that my entry to Ivory Coast is possible.”
President Alassane Ouattara won re-election in 2015 but has been unclear about whether he will seek a third term, deepening uncertainty about the vote in Francophone West Africa’s largest economy, also the world’s biggest cocoa producer.
Soro retains the loyalty of many former rebel commanders who now hold senior positions in the army. He served for several years as speaker of the National Assembly but has since fallen out with Ouattara.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-28--The dark side of the cosmetics industry: Child labour used to mine mica in India

The dark side of the cosmetics industry : Child labour used to mine mica in India Some 60 percent of @ @ @ @ @ mica - a mineral coveted for its sparkle , especially by the cosmetics industry - @ @ @ @ @ 's most impoverished states : Bihar and Jharkhand .
But before mica ends up in @ @ @ @ @ products , it crosses many borders , through networks of middlemen and wholesalers .
This @ @ @ @ @ a harsh reality : those who mine mica are often children who never get to @ @ @ @ @ correspondents report .
Click on the player to watch the programme prepared by Patrick Lovett @

The dark side of the cosmetics industry: Child labour used to mine mica in India
05:16 In Jharkhand, one of India's poorest States, children are seen picking mica. Child labour is still one of the main sources of mica production, a mineral coveted by many industries for its alluring sparkle. © FRANCE 24
By: Thomas DENIS | Philomène REMY
Some 60 percent of the world's production of mica - a mineral coveted for its sparkle, especially by the cosmetics industry - originates in two of India's most impoverished states: Bihar and Jharkhand. But before mica ends up in shiny lipsticks and other make-up products, it crosses many borders, through networks of middlemen and wholesalers. This lack of traceability helps conceal a harsh reality: those who mine mica are often children who never get to attend school. Our India correspondents report.