france24--2020-11-30--Outrage in Haiti over spike in kidnappings

Opposition protesters call for the departure of President Jovenel Moise in Port-au-Prince on November 18 , 2020 .
Staff at multiple Haitian healthcare facilities went on strike Monday to protest the kidnapping of an intern , part of widespread public outrage at a recent increase in abductions on the island .
Hans David Telemaque was kidnapped early Saturday morning in a street near the State University of Haiti Hospital ( HUEH ) , in Port-au-Prince .
He was freed Sunday evening following a ransom payment of an unknown amount , local media reported .
`` When you leave your home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're going to return .
Mothers , fathers , spouses , parents ... We all live in daily and constant anxiety , '' said Bead Charlemagne Charlorin , an HUEH intern who joined the protests Monday in the streets of Port-au-Prince .
In solidarity with the demonstration by interns at the island nation 's main hospital , multiple healthcare facilities suspended all non-urgent care activities Monday .
`` Every day , at least four cases of kidnapping followed by demands for ransom are recorded .
Some parents , they 're very rare , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ content to pay the ransom for their child , for their relative , to get them back , '' said Marie Rosy August Ducena , of the National Human Rights Network .
Furthermore , residents of the Haitian capital share an atmosphere of panic as members of the police force have been accused of being involved in acts of kidnapping .
`` Several victims have actually said they were approached by police officers , abducted in Haitian national police vehicles , '' Ducena said .
`` We believe it is up to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intervene , investigate and punish all police officers who are involved at one level or another in the perpetration of these acts , '' she said .
Contacted Monday by phone , the spokesman for Haiti 's national police declined to answer AFP 's questions .

Port-au-Prince (AFP) –
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Staff at multiple Haitian healthcare facilities went on strike Monday to protest the kidnapping of an intern, part of widespread public outrage at a recent increase in abductions on the island.
Hans David Telemaque was kidnapped early Saturday morning in a street near the State University of Haiti Hospital (HUEH), in Port-au-Prince. He was freed Sunday evening following a ransom payment of an unknown amount, local media reported.
"When you leave your home, you have doubts about whether you're going to return. Mothers, fathers, spouses, parents... We all live in daily and constant anxiety," said Bead Charlemagne Charlorin, an HUEH intern who joined the protests Monday in the streets of Port-au-Prince.
In solidarity with the demonstration by interns at the island nation's main hospital, multiple healthcare facilities suspended all non-urgent care activities Monday.
"Every day, at least four cases of kidnapping followed by demands for ransom are recorded. Some parents, they're very rare, talk about it. The majority are content to pay the ransom for their child, for their relative, to get them back," said Marie Rosy August Ducena, of the National Human Rights Network.
Furthermore, residents of the Haitian capital share an atmosphere of panic as members of the police force have been accused of being involved in acts of kidnapping.
"Several victims have actually said they were approached by police officers, abducted in Haitian national police vehicles," Ducena said.
"We believe it is up to the inspector general of the national police to intervene, investigate and punish all police officers who are involved at one level or another in the perpetration of these acts," she said.
Contacted Monday by phone, the spokesman for Haiti's national police declined to answer AFP's questions.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-30--Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon reaches 12-year high under Bolsonaro

FILE PHOTO : Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest near Porto Velho , Rondonia State , Brazil , September 10 , 2019 .
Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon surged again over the past year , hitting a 12-year high , according to official figures released Monday that drew a chorus of condemnation of President Jair Bolsonaro 's government .
A total of 11,088 square kilometres ( 4,281 square miles ) of forest was destroyed in Brazil 's share of the world 's biggest rainforest in the 12 months to August , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which analyses satellite images to track deforestation .
That is equivalent to an area larger than Jamaica , and was a 9.5-percent increase from the previous year , when deforestation also hit a more than decade-long high .
`` Because of such deforestation , Brazil is probably the only major greenhouse gas emitter that managed to increase its emissions in the year the coronavirus pandemic paralyzed the global economy , '' said the Brazilian Climate Observatory , a coalition of environmental groups .
Forests such as the Amazon play a vital role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carbon from the atmosphere .
However , when trees die or burn , they release their carbon back into the environment .
Bolsonaro , a far-right climate-change skeptic , has presided over rising deforestation and wildfires since taking office in January 2019 .
His government is pushing to open protected lands to mining and agribusiness , and has slashed funding for environmental protection programs .
Environmentalists say those policies fuel the destruction of the Amazon , about 60 percent of which is in Brazil .
`` The Bolsonaro government 's vision of development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rampant deforestation of the past .
It 's a regressive vision that 's far from the effort needed to deal with the climate crisis , '' Greenpeace spokeswoman Cristiane Mazzetti said in a statement .
Vice President Hamilton Mourao , who presented the figures in a press conference , defended the government 's committment to fighting deforestation .
`` The message I bring in the name of President Bolsonaro is that we will continue working with science and technology to support the work of environmental protection agencies , '' said Mourao , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Amazon task force .
The latest annual deforestation figure was the highest since 2008 , when 12,911 square kilometers of forest were destroyed in the Brazilian Amazon .

Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon surged again over the past year, hitting a 12-year high, according to official figures released Monday that drew a chorus of condemnation of President Jair Bolsonaro's government.
FILE PHOTO: Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest near Porto Velho, Rondonia State, Brazil, September 10, 2019.
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A total of 11,088 square kilometres (4,281 square miles) of forest was destroyed in Brazil's share of the world's biggest rainforest in the 12 months to August, according to the Brazilian space agency's PRODES monitoring program, which analyses satellite images to track deforestation.
That is equivalent to an area larger than Jamaica, and was a 9.5-percent increase from the previous year, when deforestation also hit a more than decade-long high.
"Because of such deforestation, Brazil is probably the only major greenhouse gas emitter that managed to increase its emissions in the year the coronavirus pandemic paralyzed the global economy," said the Brazilian Climate Observatory, a coalition of environmental groups.
Forests such as the Amazon play a vital role in controlling climate change because they suck carbon from the atmosphere. However, when trees die or burn, they release their carbon back into the environment.
Bolsonaro, a far-right climate-change skeptic, has presided over rising deforestation and wildfires since taking office in January 2019.
His government is pushing to open protected lands to mining and agribusiness, and has slashed funding for environmental protection programs.
Environmentalists say those policies fuel the destruction of the Amazon, about 60 percent of which is in Brazil.
"The Bolsonaro government's vision of development for the Amazon is a throwback to the rampant deforestation of the past. It's a regressive vision that's far from the effort needed to deal with the climate crisis," Greenpeace spokeswoman Cristiane Mazzetti said in a statement.
Vice President Hamilton Mourao, who presented the figures in a press conference, defended the government's committment to fighting deforestation.
"The message I bring in the name of President Bolsonaro is that we will continue working with science and technology to support the work of environmental protection agencies," said Mourao, a retired army general who heads Bolsonaro's Amazon task force.
The latest annual deforestation figure was the highest since 2008, when 12,911 square kilometers of forest were destroyed in the Brazilian Amazon.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-11-30--The secret to George Clooney's hair? The Flowbee

Hollywood style icon George Clooney has revealed he cuts his hair himself with a Flowbee , a handheld device that fits on to a vacuum cleaner Pandemic hair getting out of control ?
Take a tip from George Clooney : the Hollywood style icon has revealed he trims his signature silver locks with a Flowbee -- a quirky home-styling device that attaches to a vacuum cleaner .
The Flowbee has long been the butt of jokes since it appeared on late-night television infomercials in the late 1980s .
But in promoting his new movie , `` The Midnight Sky , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a long-time fan of the much-mocked gadget , when asked during a CBS interview if he had been cutting his own hair during the coronavirus lockdown .
`` I 've been cutting my own hair for 25 years , '' said the Oscar-winner , whose name is synonymous with red-carpet glamor .
`` My hair 's really like straw , and so it 's easy to cut .
You ca n't really make too many mistakes . ''
`` So , years ago , I bought a thing called a Flowbee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , at which point his stunned interviewer broke in with : `` You did not ! ''
The Flowbee cuts hair and sucks up the clippings at the same time , which has led to its use by astronauts on long-haul space missions in the past .
It retails for around $ 50 , and the company that makes it saw sales spike at the beginning of the pandemic earlier this year , as hairdressing salons were forced to shut their doors and millions of people stayed home .
And sales are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enthused in the interview , `` Listen , man , it works ! ''

Washington (AFP) –
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Pandemic hair getting out of control? Take a tip from George Clooney: the Hollywood style icon has revealed he trims his signature silver locks with a Flowbee -- a quirky home-styling device that attaches to a vacuum cleaner.
The Flowbee has long been the butt of jokes since it appeared on late-night television infomercials in the late 1980s.
But in promoting his new movie, "The Midnight Sky," Clooney, 59, disclosed he was a long-time fan of the much-mocked gadget, when asked during a CBS interview if he had been cutting his own hair during the coronavirus lockdown.
"I've been cutting my own hair for 25 years," said the Oscar-winner, whose name is synonymous with red-carpet glamor. "My hair's really like straw, and so it's easy to cut. You can't really make too many mistakes."
"So, years ago, I bought a thing called a Flowbee, which when we were --" he said, at which point his stunned interviewer broke in with: "You did not!"
The Flowbee cuts hair and sucks up the clippings at the same time, which has led to its use by astronauts on long-haul space missions in the past.
It retails for around $50, and the company that makes it saw sales spike at the beginning of the pandemic earlier this year, as hairdressing salons were forced to shut their doors and millions of people stayed home.
And sales are likely to go up again after Clooney enthused in the interview, "Listen, man, it works!"
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-30--Fulham shock Leicester to escape relegation zone, West Ham go fifth

Fulham climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone on Monday after finally solving their penalty woes in a shock 2-1 win at Leicester , while West Ham rode their luck to move into fifth place with a dramatic 2-1 victory against Aston Villa .
Scott Parker 's side won for just the second time in the league this season thanks to Ademola Lookman 's 30th minute opener and Ivan Cavaleiro 's penalty eight minutes later .
Fulham had missed three of their four previous penalties this term , but Cavaleiro held his nerve to convert from the spot for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scored for Leicester in the 86th minute , but Fulham held on and move one point above the bottom three .
`` Cav slipped last week and I 'm not on Twitter or Instagram but I can only imagine what was being said , the jokes at his expense and Cav would have seen that , '' Parker said of Cavaleiro 's recent penalty miss against Everton .
`` I said to him : 'Are you ready to take one if we get it ? '
He looked at me dead in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready ' .
`` The courage to step up there are the things we need .
There 's no denying there 's relief .
I 've spoken to them about not letting defeats cripple us . ''
It was an emotional success for the Cottagers , with Lookman celebrating his goal by displaying one of Papa Bouba Diop 's Senegal shirts after Fulham 's former midfielder died aged 42 at the weekend .
`` That was a decision we as a club made and the players were happy to do it .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young age is tragic , '' Parker said .
Fulham 's second away win in the past 26 Premier League matches was their first since a victory at Bournemouth in April 2019 .
Leicester would have gone second with a win , but instead they remain fourth -- three points behind leaders Tottenham -- after a second successive league defeat .
At the London Stadium , West Ham earned a third successive victory after Villa striker Ollie Watkins missed a late penalty and then saw a stoppage-time equaliser disallowed by VAR .
West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the second minute when Angelo Ogbonna made an astute run to the far post and rose above Matt Targett to head a corner past Emiliano Martinez .
Ogbonna 's first goal since December 2019 ranked as West Ham 's fastest Premier League strike in four years .
Villa drew level in the 25th minute when Jack Grealish ran at the West Ham defence before letting rip with a 20-yard drive that took a slight deflection on its way past Lukasz Fabianski .
West Ham regained the lead in the 46th minute after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moyes sent on Said Benrahma at half-time and with his first touch the winger chipped in a cross to Jarrod Bowen , who glanced a deft header over Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez for his fourth goal of the season .
Villa winger Trezeguet won a penalty in the 74th minute when Declan Rice tugged at his shirt to prevent him having a shot .
Watkins has been in fine form this season , but he let West Ham off the hook as his penalty hit the bar .
There was more misfortune to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he swept home from close-range , only to see the goal chalked off for the narrowest of offside decisions .

London (AFP) –
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Fulham climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone on Monday after finally solving their penalty woes in a shock 2-1 win at Leicester, while West Ham rode their luck to move into fifth place with a dramatic 2-1 victory against Aston Villa.
Scott Parker's side won for just the second time in the league this season thanks to Ademola Lookman's 30th minute opener and Ivan Cavaleiro's penalty eight minutes later.
Fulham had missed three of their four previous penalties this term, but Cavaleiro held his nerve to convert from the spot for the crucial second goal.
Harvey Barnes scored for Leicester in the 86th minute, but Fulham held on and move one point above the bottom three.
"Cav slipped last week and I'm not on Twitter or Instagram but I can only imagine what was being said, the jokes at his expense and Cav would have seen that," Parker said of Cavaleiro's recent penalty miss against Everton.
"I said to him: 'Are you ready to take one if we get it?' He looked at me dead in the eye and said: 'I'm ready'.
"The courage to step up there are the things we need. There's no denying there's relief. I've spoken to them about not letting defeats cripple us."
It was an emotional success for the Cottagers, with Lookman celebrating his goal by displaying one of Papa Bouba Diop's Senegal shirts after Fulham's former midfielder died aged 42 at the weekend.
"That was a decision we as a club made and the players were happy to do it. For someone to lose their life at a young age is tragic," Parker said.
Fulham's second away win in the past 26 Premier League matches was their first since a victory at Bournemouth in April 2019.
Leicester would have gone second with a win, but instead they remain fourth -- three points behind leaders Tottenham -- after a second successive league defeat.
- Watkins woe -
At the London Stadium, West Ham earned a third successive victory after Villa striker Ollie Watkins missed a late penalty and then saw a stoppage-time equaliser disallowed by VAR.
West Ham got off to the perfect start in the second minute when Angelo Ogbonna made an astute run to the far post and rose above Matt Targett to head a corner past Emiliano Martinez.
Ogbonna's first goal since December 2019 ranked as West Ham's fastest Premier League strike in four years.
Villa drew level in the 25th minute when Jack Grealish ran at the West Ham defence before letting rip with a 20-yard drive that took a slight deflection on its way past Lukasz Fabianski.
West Ham regained the lead in the 46th minute after an inspired substitution from David Moyes.
Moyes sent on Said Benrahma at half-time and with his first touch the winger chipped in a cross to Jarrod Bowen, who glanced a deft header over Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez for his fourth goal of the season.
Villa winger Trezeguet won a penalty in the 74th minute when Declan Rice tugged at his shirt to prevent him having a shot.
Watkins has been in fine form this season, but he let West Ham off the hook as his penalty hit the bar.
There was more misfortune to come for Watkins in the final moments when he swept home from close-range, only to see the goal chalked off for the narrowest of offside decisions.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-30--Charles Manson follower denied parole again

Leslie Van Houten , then aged 19 , was one of a trio of Charles Manson followers who broke into the home of Leo and Rosemary La Bianca .
She stabbed the latter 16 times California 's governor has blocked the release of Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten , marking the fourth time a governor has reversed parole for the notorious cult murderer .
Governor Gavin Newsom said Van Houten , 71 , would still pose a danger to society if released after more than five decades behind bars , citing her lack of `` insight or candor '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slaying of a Los Angeles couple .
`` Given the extreme nature of the crime in which she was involved , I do not believe she has sufficiently demonstrated that she has come to terms with the totality of the factors that led her to participate in the vicious Manson family killings , '' Newsom wrote .
The decision came after a parole board in July approved the release of Van Houten , who is serving a life sentence .
At the age of 19 , she was among a trio of Manson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leo and Rosemary LaBianca .
Van Houten stabbed the latter 16 times .
She was accompanied in the crime by Charles Watson and Patricia Krenwinkel , who the previous night had stabbed to death actress Sharon Tate and four others , in one of the 20th century 's most notorious massacres -- directed by Manson .
At the LaBianca crime scene , the phrases `` Death to Pigs '' and `` Rise '' were smeared in victims ' blood on the walls and refrigerator , while `` War '' was scratched into Leo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manson 's crazed `` Helter Skelter '' agenda to trigger a race war .
In his decision published Friday , Newsom acknowledged Van Houten 's youth at the time of the murders , and her exemplary disciplinary record in prison .
But Newsom noted Van Houten had changed her account of the murders at her 2020 parole hearings , describing the stabbing as a `` horrible , predatory feeling '' despite previously calling her involvement `` fun . ''
He also noted her prior history of violence and substance abuse .
`` When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the evidence shows that she currently poses an unreasonable danger to society if released from prison at this time , '' wrote Newsom .
Van Houten had been approved for parole three times previously .
Newsom reversed an earlier decision , and previous governor Jerry Brown did so twice .
Van Houten 's lawyer said he planned to appeal Newsom 's decision .
An online petition launched by Tate 's sister to oppose the release of Van Houten has garnered 170,000 signatures .

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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California's governor has blocked the release of Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten, marking the fourth time a governor has reversed parole for the notorious cult murderer.
Governor Gavin Newsom said Van Houten, 71, would still pose a danger to society if released after more than five decades behind bars, citing her lack of "insight or candor" into her role in the gruesome 1969 slaying of a Los Angeles couple.
"Given the extreme nature of the crime in which she was involved, I do not believe she has sufficiently demonstrated that she has come to terms with the totality of the factors that led her to participate in the vicious Manson family killings," Newsom wrote.
The decision came after a parole board in July approved the release of Van Houten, who is serving a life sentence.
At the age of 19, she was among a trio of Manson followers who broke into the home of Leo and Rosemary LaBianca. Van Houten stabbed the latter 16 times.
She was accompanied in the crime by Charles Watson and Patricia Krenwinkel, who the previous night had stabbed to death actress Sharon Tate and four others, in one of the 20th century's most notorious massacres -- directed by Manson.
At the LaBianca crime scene, the phrases "Death to Pigs" and "Rise" were smeared in victims' blood on the walls and refrigerator, while "War" was scratched into Leo LaBianca's stomach -- all references to Manson's crazed "Helter Skelter" agenda to trigger a race war.
In his decision published Friday, Newsom acknowledged Van Houten's youth at the time of the murders, and her exemplary disciplinary record in prison.
But Newsom noted Van Houten had changed her account of the murders at her 2020 parole hearings, describing the stabbing as a "horrible, predatory feeling" despite previously calling her involvement "fun."
He also noted her prior history of violence and substance abuse.
"When considered as a whole, I find the evidence shows that she currently poses an unreasonable danger to society if released from prison at this time," wrote Newsom.
Van Houten had been approved for parole three times previously. Newsom reversed an earlier decision, and previous governor Jerry Brown did so twice.
Van Houten's lawyer said he planned to appeal Newsom's decision.
An online petition launched by Tate's sister to oppose the release of Van Houten has garnered 170,000 signatures.
Manson died behind bars in 2017.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-30--Azerbaijani forces enter last district handed over by Armenia

AFP journalists in Lachin town saw a column of Azerbaijani trucks flanked by military vehicles from Russia Azerbaijani forces on Tuesday moved into the final district given up by Armenia in a peace deal that ended weeks of fighting over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region .
Azerbaijan 's defence ministry released a video showing a tank flying an Azerbaijani flag leading a column of trucks into the Lachin district .
AFP journalists in Lachin town saw a column of Azerbaijani trucks flanked by military vehicles from Russia , which brokered the peace settlement .
Armenia agreed to hand over three districts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kalbajar -- as part of the deal that stopped an Azerbaijani offensive that had reclaimed swathes of territory lost to Armenian separatists in a 1990s war .
Like in Aghdam and Kalbajar , residents of Lachin cleared out frantically ahead of the handover , taking livestock , firewood , furniture and even plastic water pipes .
Some residents have burnt their homes as they left , and on Monday evening two houses on the outskirts of Lachin town were in flames .
Local official Davit Davtyan said residents had been given until 6:00 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay along the Lachin corridor that runs to Armenia 's border .
- 'Nowhere to go ' - The peace deal saw some 2,000 Russian peacekeepers deployed between the two sides and along the corridor , a 60-kilometre R ( 35-mile ) route through Lachin that connects Karabakh 's main city Stepanakert to Armenia .
Davtyan said some 200 people would be allowed to stay to maintain local infrastructure .
`` Residents who were not able to leave because they had nowhere to go said they would stay and see what happens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nagorno-Karabakh broke from Azerbaijan 's control in a war after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union that left some 30,000 dead .
The region declared independence but it was never recognised by any country , including Armenia which strongly backs the separatists .
The peace accord signed on November 9 was reached after six weeks of fighting that saw Azerbaijan 's army overwhelm separatists forces and threaten to advance on Stepanakert .
Under the agreement , Armenia is losing control of seven districts that it seized around Karabakh in the 1990s -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are now planning to return .
The separatists are retaining control over most of Karabakh 's Soviet-era territory but have lost the key town of Shusha .
While some Armenians have been fleeing the districts ceded to Azerbaijan , others in Lachin had nowhere to go .
In the village of Aghavno along the Lachin corridor , 60-year-old Araksya Gyokchakyan watched residents load furniture and firewood into cars and trucks even as she was set on remaining behind .
`` I do n't know where to go .
I stayed here during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she told AFP .
Meanwhile other Armenians have been returning to Karabakh itself .
Russia 's defence ministry , which is helping with the returns , said on Monday that more than 25,000 people who fled the heavy fighting had been brought back .
Moscow 's peacemaker role has overshadowed France and the United States -- the three countries that form the Minsk Group , which led talks seeking on the Karabakh conflict for decades but failed to achieve a lasting agreement .
France 's position in future negotiations may be further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demanded the country be expelled from the Minsk Group .
The move came after the French Senate adopted a non-binding resolution calling on France to recognise Karabakh as an independent state .
Azerbaijan has also called for its staunch ally Turkey to play a role in the peacekeeping mission , but Moscow insists Ankara will not be involved .
Since the announcement of the peace deal -- which leaves Karabakh 's future political status in limbo -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has been under fire at home .
Protesters have regularly taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , branding him a `` traitor '' for agreeing to the deal and demanding his resignation .
Demonstrators rallied again on Monday , including outside the French embassy in Yerevan , appealing for help in finding soldiers still missing after the fighting .
More than 100 civilians were reported killed on both sides .

Lachin (Azerbaijan) (AFP) –
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Azerbaijani forces on Tuesday moved into the final district given up by Armenia in a peace deal that ended weeks of fighting over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Azerbaijan's defence ministry released a video showing a tank flying an Azerbaijani flag leading a column of trucks into the Lachin district.
AFP journalists in Lachin town saw a column of Azerbaijani trucks flanked by military vehicles from Russia, which brokered the peace settlement.
Armenia agreed to hand over three districts around Karabakh -- Aghdam, Lachin and Kalbajar -- as part of the deal that stopped an Azerbaijani offensive that had reclaimed swathes of territory lost to Armenian separatists in a 1990s war.
Like in Aghdam and Kalbajar, residents of Lachin cleared out frantically ahead of the handover, taking livestock, firewood, furniture and even plastic water pipes.
Some residents have burnt their homes as they left, and on Monday evening two houses on the outskirts of Lachin town were in flames.
Local official Davit Davtyan said residents had been given until 6:00 pm to leave, except those allowed to stay along the Lachin corridor that runs to Armenia's border.
- 'Nowhere to go' -
The peace deal saw some 2,000 Russian peacekeepers deployed between the two sides and along the corridor, a 60-kilometre R(35-mile) route through Lachin that connects Karabakh's main city Stepanakert to Armenia.
Davtyan said some 200 people would be allowed to stay to maintain local infrastructure.
"Residents who were not able to leave because they had nowhere to go said they would stay and see what happens on Tuesday," he said.
Nagorno-Karabakh broke from Azerbaijan's control in a war after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union that left some 30,000 dead.
The region declared independence but it was never recognised by any country, including Armenia which strongly backs the separatists.
The peace accord signed on November 9 was reached after six weeks of fighting that saw Azerbaijan's army overwhelm separatists forces and threaten to advance on Stepanakert.
Under the agreement, Armenia is losing control of seven districts that it seized around Karabakh in the 1990s -- many Azerbaijanis who were forced to flee are now planning to return.
The separatists are retaining control over most of Karabakh's Soviet-era territory but have lost the key town of Shusha.
While some Armenians have been fleeing the districts ceded to Azerbaijan, others in Lachin had nowhere to go.
In the village of Aghavno along the Lachin corridor, 60-year-old Araksya Gyokchakyan watched residents load furniture and firewood into cars and trucks even as she was set on remaining behind.
"I don't know where to go. I stayed here during the war. It's my home," she told AFP.
Meanwhile other Armenians have been returning to Karabakh itself.
Russia's defence ministry, which is helping with the returns, said on Monday that more than 25,000 people who fled the heavy fighting had been brought back.
- Russia's role grows -
Moscow's peacemaker role has overshadowed France and the United States -- the three countries that form the Minsk Group, which led talks seeking on the Karabakh conflict for decades but failed to achieve a lasting agreement.
France's position in future negotiations may be further under threat after Azerbaijani lawmakers last week demanded the country be expelled from the Minsk Group.
The move came after the French Senate adopted a non-binding resolution calling on France to recognise Karabakh as an independent state.
Azerbaijan has also called for its staunch ally Turkey to play a role in the peacekeeping mission, but Moscow insists Ankara will not be involved.
Since the announcement of the peace deal -- which leaves Karabakh's future political status in limbo -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has been under fire at home.
Protesters have regularly taken to the streets of the capital Yerevan, branding him a "traitor" for agreeing to the deal and demanding his resignation.
Demonstrators rallied again on Monday, including outside the French embassy in Yerevan, appealing for help in finding soldiers still missing after the fighting.
More than 100 civilians were reported killed on both sides.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-30--Iran has nothing to gain from halting inspections: Grossi

International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Mariano Grossi tells Iran it is `` essential to give the world the necessary and credible assurances that there is no deviation from the nuclear programme to military uses '' .
Iran has nothing to gain from ending inspections of its nuclear facilities , the head of the UN 's nuclear watchdog warned as tensions rise after a top Iranian nuclear scientist was assassinated .
In an interview with AFP after a year in office , IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi issued the appeal in response to calls by Iranian MPs to end inspections following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distress but at the same time it is clear that no-one , starting with Iran , would have anything to win from a decrease , limitation or interruption of the work we do together with them , '' Grossi said .
Grossi , 59 , confirmed that so far the IAEA had not yet received any signal from Iranian authorities that anything would change regarding inspections in the wake of the killing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh .
Iran 's parliament on Sunday demanded a halt to those inspections , signalling another potential retreat from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal with world powers .
`` This is not the first time that parliamentarians have expressed themselves in this way or in very similar ways , '' Grossi pointed out .
`` We haven ’ t received any indication of restriction or limitation of their cooperation with us , '' he said .
`` I do not see any reason to believe that this would be the case now . ''
Grossi emphasised that the IAEA 's extensive inspections regime was `` essential '' if the outside world was to have assurances about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Fakhrizadeh was laid to rest on Monday , three days after he was assassinated on a major road outside Tehran .
`` Let me say that we abhor violence of any type , we are an international organisation for peace and security , '' Grossi said .
The killing could put yet more strain on diplomatic efforts to salvage Iran 's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers , which has been disintegrating ever since the Trump administration withdrew from it two years ago .
Iran has been one of the thorniest issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eventful year since taking office in early December 2019 .
`` They have a very large nuclear programme that requires as you know one of the biggest , if not the biggest efforts in terms of inspection .
Without that ... the instability in the region would be far higher , '' Grossi said .
A high point during his leadership was his trip to Tehran in August which ended in an agreement allowing IAEA inspectors access to two sites where undeclared nuclear activity may have taken place in the 2000s .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to the locations .
`` I was served with a denial of access to two sites barely 40 days into the job , something that had never happened before in the history of the IAEA , '' Grossi recalls .
He admitted that some member states and analysts had thought his gambit of flying to Iran for talks was a risk .
However , it paid off and won him plaudits in Vienna 's diplomatic circles .
However , when it comes to another controversial undeclared site , in the Turquzabad district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still unanswered questions over the presence of nuclear material .
`` I do not want to dramatise but it is important that we get clarification , '' he said .
While not setting a deadline for Iran to provide the necessary information , Grossi said `` a sense of urgency is clear on my side '' and recalled that the site has been under discussion for almost two years now .
Grossi said his proudest achievement was that the agency managed to keep going throughout the coronavirus despite the challenges .
Looking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoped the Agency would be a `` priority '' for the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden .

Vienna (Austria) (AFP) –
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Iran has nothing to gain from ending inspections of its nuclear facilities, the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog warned as tensions rise after a top Iranian nuclear scientist was assassinated.
In an interview with AFP after a year in office, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi issued the appeal in response to calls by Iranian MPs to end inspections following the killing.
"We understand the distress but at the same time it is clear that no-one, starting with Iran, would have anything to win from a decrease, limitation or interruption of the work we do together with them," Grossi said.
Grossi, 59, confirmed that so far the IAEA had not yet received any signal from Iranian authorities that anything would change regarding inspections in the wake of the killing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.
Iran's parliament on Sunday demanded a halt to those inspections, signalling another potential retreat from a key commitment in its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
"This is not the first time that parliamentarians have expressed themselves in this way or in very similar ways," Grossi pointed out.
"We haven’t received any indication of restriction or limitation of their cooperation with us," he said. "I do not see any reason to believe that this would be the case now."
Grossi emphasised that the IAEA's extensive inspections regime was "essential" if the outside world was to have assurances about the nature of Iran's nuclear programme.
Fakhrizadeh was laid to rest on Monday, three days after he was assassinated on a major road outside Tehran.
"Let me say that we abhor violence of any type, we are an international organisation for peace and security," Grossi said.
The killing could put yet more strain on diplomatic efforts to salvage Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, which has been disintegrating ever since the Trump administration withdrew from it two years ago.
- High-stakes gamble -
Iran has been one of the thorniest issues Grossi has had to tackle over an eventful year since taking office in early December 2019.
"They have a very large nuclear programme that requires as you know one of the biggest, if not the biggest efforts in terms of inspection. Without that... the instability in the region would be far higher," Grossi said.
A high point during his leadership was his trip to Tehran in August which ended in an agreement allowing IAEA inspectors access to two sites where undeclared nuclear activity may have taken place in the 2000s.
That had followed months where Tehran had denied access to the locations.
"I was served with a denial of access to two sites barely 40 days into the job, something that had never happened before in the history of the IAEA," Grossi recalls.
He admitted that some member states and analysts had thought his gambit of flying to Iran for talks was a risk.
However, it paid off and won him plaudits in Vienna's diplomatic circles.
- 'Sense of urgency' -
However, when it comes to another controversial undeclared site, in the Turquzabad district of Tehran, Grossi said there were still unanswered questions over the presence of nuclear material.
"I do not want to dramatise but it is important that we get clarification," he said.
While not setting a deadline for Iran to provide the necessary information, Grossi said "a sense of urgency is clear on my side" and recalled that the site has been under discussion for almost two years now.
Grossi said his proudest achievement was that the agency managed to keep going throughout the coronavirus despite the challenges.
Looking to the year ahead, Grossi said he hoped the Agency would be a "priority" for the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-30--Deforestation in Brazilian Amazon surges to 12-year high

Aerial view of a burning area of Amazon rainforest reserve , south of Novo Progresso in Para state , Brazil , on August 16 , 2020 Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon surged again over the past year , hitting a 12-year high , according to official figures released Monday that drew a chorus of condemnation of President Jair Bolsonaro 's government .
A total of 11,088 square kilometers ( 4,281 square miles ) of forest was destroyed in Brazil 's share of the world 's biggest rainforest in the 12 months to August , according to the Brazilian space agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ satellite images to track deforestation .
That is equivalent to an area larger than Jamaica , and was a 9.5-percent increase from the previous year , when deforestation also hit a more than decade-long high .
`` Because of such deforestation , Brazil is probably the only major greenhouse gas emitter that managed to increase its emissions in the year the coronavirus pandemic paralyzed the global economy , '' said the Brazilian Climate Observatory , a coalition of environmental groups .
Forests such as the Amazon play a vital role in controlling climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ atmosphere .
However , when trees die or burn , they release their carbon back into the environment .
Bolsonaro , a far-right climate-change skeptic , has presided over rising deforestation and wildfires since taking office in January 2019 .
His government is pushing to open protected lands to mining and agribusiness , and has slashed funding for environmental protection programs .
Environmentalists say those policies fuel the destruction of the Amazon , about 60 percent of which is in Brazil .
`` The Bolsonaro government 's vision of development for the Amazon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the past .
It 's a regressive vision that 's far from the effort needed to deal with the climate crisis , '' Greenpeace spokeswoman Cristiane Mazzetti said in a statement .
Vice President Hamilton Mourao , who presented the figures in a press conference , defended the government 's committment to fighting deforestation .
`` The message I bring in the name of President Bolsonaro is that we will continue working with science and technology to support the work of environmental protection agencies , '' said Mourao , a retired army @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force .
The latest annual deforestation figure was the highest since 2008 , when 12,911 square kilometers of forest were destroyed in the Brazilian Amazon .

Sao Paulo (AFP) –
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Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon surged again over the past year, hitting a 12-year high, according to official figures released Monday that drew a chorus of condemnation of President Jair Bolsonaro's government.
A total of 11,088 square kilometers (4,281 square miles) of forest was destroyed in Brazil's share of the world's biggest rainforest in the 12 months to August, according to the Brazilian space agency's PRODES monitoring program, which analyzes satellite images to track deforestation.
That is equivalent to an area larger than Jamaica, and was a 9.5-percent increase from the previous year, when deforestation also hit a more than decade-long high.
"Because of such deforestation, Brazil is probably the only major greenhouse gas emitter that managed to increase its emissions in the year the coronavirus pandemic paralyzed the global economy," said the Brazilian Climate Observatory, a coalition of environmental groups.
Forests such as the Amazon play a vital role in controlling climate change because they suck carbon from the atmosphere. However, when trees die or burn, they release their carbon back into the environment.
Bolsonaro, a far-right climate-change skeptic, has presided over rising deforestation and wildfires since taking office in January 2019.
His government is pushing to open protected lands to mining and agribusiness, and has slashed funding for environmental protection programs.
Environmentalists say those policies fuel the destruction of the Amazon, about 60 percent of which is in Brazil.
"The Bolsonaro government's vision of development for the Amazon is a throwback to the rampant deforestation of the past. It's a regressive vision that's far from the effort needed to deal with the climate crisis," Greenpeace spokeswoman Cristiane Mazzetti said in a statement.
Vice President Hamilton Mourao, who presented the figures in a press conference, defended the government's committment to fighting deforestation.
"The message I bring in the name of President Bolsonaro is that we will continue working with science and technology to support the work of environmental protection agencies," said Mourao, a retired army general who heads Bolsonaro's Amazon task force.
The latest annual deforestation figure was the highest since 2008, when 12,911 square kilometers of forest were destroyed in the Brazilian Amazon.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-01--HIV-positive patients in Libya struggle for care amid Covid-19 pandemic

Tuesday is World AIDS Day and , today , an estimated 38 million people around the globe are living with @ @ @ @ @ to develop AIDS .
Conditions for those living with HIV and treatment vary wildly around @ @ @ @ @ video dispatch , FRANCE 24 reports on the situation in Libya , where patients have @ @ @ @ @ shortage of medicines for months that some attribute to the state 's focus on combating @ @ @ @ @ than 400 people were infected with HIV in Libya in 2019 , according to the @ @ @ @ @ .
But HIV and AIDS figures remain estimates .
The stigma and discrimination facing patients @ @ @ @ @ to go to hospital for treatment .
To watch , click on the video player @ @

World AIDS Day
Tuesday is World AIDS Day and, today, an estimated 38 million people around the globe are living with HIV or have gone on to develop AIDS. Conditions for those living with HIV and treatment vary wildly around the world. In this video dispatch, FRANCE 24 reports on the situation in Libya, where patients have been confronted with a severe shortage of medicines for months that some attribute to the state's focus on combating the coronavirus pandemic.
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More than 400 people were infected with HIV in Libya in 2019, according to the National Centre for Disease Control. But HIV and AIDS figures remain estimates. The stigma and discrimination facing patients in Libya makes many reluctant to go to hospital for treatment.
FRANCE 24's Moaz Al-Sheikh and Fraser Jackson report.
To watch, click on the video player above.
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france24--2020-12-01--EU regulator to decide on Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 jab first

The BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been developed at breathtaking speed as part of an unprecedented effort to end a pandemic that has killed more than 1.4 million people worldwide Europe 's medicines regulator said Tuesday it would decide by December 29 whether to grant emergency approval to a Covid-19 vaccine developed by Germany 's BioNTech and its US partner Pfizer , ahead of a rival treatment from Moderna .
The European Medicines Agency ( EMA ) confirmed that it had received formal applications from both vaccine makers seeking the green light for their experimental jabs .
`` If the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the quality , safety and effectiveness of the vaccine , '' the Amsterdam-based agency said it could conclude its assessment of the BioNTech/Pfizer shot in an extraordinary meeting on 29 December `` at the latest '' .
A separate meeting to assess the Moderna shot would take place on January 12 at the latest , it added .
Large-scale trial data released last month showed that both vaccines were safe and around 95 percent effective against Covid-19 .
European Commission spokesman Stefan de Keersmaecker told reporters that once the EMA had given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would follow `` very quickly '' , probably `` in a matter of days '' .
Although both vaccines are being assessed in an accelerated process known as a `` rolling review '' , the latest timeline suggests Europeans would be lucky to receive the first jabs before the year is over .
BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna have also applied for emergency use authorisation in the United States , where Americans are expected to start getting vaccinated around mid-December .
UK regulators , who because of Brexit no longer have to wait for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the process of considering emergency approval of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine .
BioNTech and Pfizer said they had asked the EMA for `` conditional market approval '' ( CMA ) of their vaccine on Monday , after filing a request for emergency authorisation in the US on November 20 .
If approved by the EMA , the vaccine could potentially be rolled out `` in Europe before the end of 2020 '' , the companies said in a statement .
`` We have known since the beginning of this journey that patients are waiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 vaccine doses as soon as potential authorisations will allow us , '' Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said .
A CMA can be granted `` in emergency situations in response to public health threats '' , the EMA says on its website .
Fellow vaccine frontrunner Moderna , a US biotech firm , meanwhile said it had sought emergency approval for its Covid-19 shot in both the US and Europe on Monday .
The BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been developed at breathtaking speed as part of an unprecedented effort to end a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million people worldwide and devastated the global economy .
Both are based on a new technology that uses mRNA ( messenger ribonucleic acid ) to deliver genetic material to the body that makes human cells create a protein from the virus .
This trains the immune system to be ready to attack if it encounters the novel coronavirus .
No mRNA vaccines have ever been approved for widespread use .
As well as proving highly effective in preventing Covid-19 , both vaccines were found to be consistent across all age-groups -- a primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elderly the hardest -- as well as genders and ethnicities .
But there are important differences between the two .
Moderna 's vaccine can be kept in long-term storage at minus 20 degrees Celsius ( minus four degrees Fahrenheit ) while Pfizer 's requires minus 70 degrees Celsius ( minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit ) .
On the other hand , the Pfizer/BioNTech doses are much smaller -- 30 micrograms to Moderna 's 100 micrograms -- probably lowering production costs per dose .
It remains unclear how long exactly protection against Covid-19 might last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a booster shot .
Pfizer and BioNTech have previously said they expect to manufacture up to 50 million doses of their vaccine globally this year , and up to 1.3 billion doses by the end of 2021 .
Moderna has said it aims to have approximately 20 million doses of its vaccine , called mRNA-1273 , available in the US by the end of the year .
It expects to manufacture 500 million to one billion doses globally next year .
According to the World Health Organization , around 100 vaccine candidates are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them are in the final phase three stage when the shot is tested on tens of thousands of volunteers .
A vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University may be rolled out in the UK before the end of the year .

Frankfurt am Main (AFP) –
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Europe's medicines regulator said Tuesday it would decide by December 29 whether to grant emergency approval to a Covid-19 vaccine developed by Germany's BioNTech and its US partner Pfizer, ahead of a rival treatment from Moderna.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) confirmed that it had received formal applications from both vaccine makers seeking the green light for their experimental jabs.
"If the data submitted are robust enough to conclude on the quality, safety and effectiveness of the vaccine," the Amsterdam-based agency said it could conclude its assessment of the BioNTech/Pfizer shot in an extraordinary meeting on 29 December "at the latest".
A separate meeting to assess the Moderna shot would take place on January 12 at the latest, it added.
Large-scale trial data released last month showed that both vaccines were safe and around 95 percent effective against Covid-19.
European Commission spokesman Stefan de Keersmaecker told reporters that once the EMA had given regulatory permission, formal authorisation from Brussels would follow "very quickly", probably "in a matter of days".
Although both vaccines are being assessed in an accelerated process known as a "rolling review", the latest timeline suggests Europeans would be lucky to receive the first jabs before the year is over.
BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna have also applied for emergency use authorisation in the United States, where Americans are expected to start getting vaccinated around mid-December.
UK regulators, who because of Brexit no longer have to wait for the EMA's okay, are also in the process of considering emergency approval of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine.
- 'Ready to ship' -
BioNTech and Pfizer said they had asked the EMA for "conditional market approval" (CMA) of their vaccine on Monday, after filing a request for emergency authorisation in the US on November 20.
If approved by the EMA, the vaccine could potentially be rolled out "in Europe before the end of 2020", the companies said in a statement.
"We have known since the beginning of this journey that patients are waiting, and we stand ready to ship Covid-19 vaccine doses as soon as potential authorisations will allow us," Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said.
A CMA can be granted "in emergency situations in response to public health threats", the EMA says on its website.
Fellow vaccine frontrunner Moderna, a US biotech firm, meanwhile said it had sought emergency approval for its Covid-19 shot in both the US and Europe on Monday.
The BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been developed at breathtaking speed as part of an unprecedented effort to end a pandemic that has killed more than 1.4 million people worldwide and devastated the global economy.
Both are based on a new technology that uses mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) to deliver genetic material to the body that makes human cells create a protein from the virus.
This trains the immune system to be ready to attack if it encounters the novel coronavirus.
No mRNA vaccines have ever been approved for widespread use.
- Highly effective -
As well as proving highly effective in preventing Covid-19, both vaccines were found to be consistent across all age-groups -- a primary concern for a disease that hits the elderly the hardest -- as well as genders and ethnicities.
But there are important differences between the two.
Moderna's vaccine can be kept in long-term storage at minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus four degrees Fahrenheit) while Pfizer's requires minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit).
On the other hand, the Pfizer/BioNTech doses are much smaller -- 30 micrograms to Moderna's 100 micrograms -- probably lowering production costs per dose.
It remains unclear how long exactly protection against Covid-19 might last, and both vaccines will likely require a booster shot.
Pfizer and BioNTech have previously said they expect to manufacture up to 50 million doses of their vaccine globally this year, and up to 1.3 billion doses by the end of 2021.
Moderna has said it aims to have approximately 20 million doses of its vaccine, called mRNA-1273, available in the US by the end of the year.
It expects to manufacture 500 million to one billion doses globally next year.
According to the World Health Organization, around 100 vaccine candidates are currently in development. Around a dozen of them are in the final phase three stage when the shot is tested on tens of thousands of volunteers.
A vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University may be rolled out in the UK before the end of the year.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-01--Rescued Vendee Globe skipper tells of wave folding boat 'in four seconds'

French skipper Kevin Escoffier had to abandon his Imoca class 60 monohull PRB in the Atlantic oiff the Cape of Good Hope The French Vendee Globe skipper recovering after a dramatic rescue by a rival competitor 600 nautical miles off the Cape of Good Hope on Tuesday has spoken of how a giant wave folded his boat in two `` in four seconds '' .
Kevin Escoffier was reported `` safe and sound '' on board rival Jean Le Cam 's boat 11 hours after sending out a distress signal .
Escoffier 's first attempt at the solo round-the-world race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his PRB yacht on Monday afternoon and take refuge on a life raft .
Vendee Globe organisers received a message from Le Cam informing them of the successful rescue at around 0100 GMT .
`` A huge relief .
Kevin is well onboard ... safe and sound , '' the 61-year-old veteran French seafarer Le Cam tweeted .
Escoffier endured swells of five metres with water temperatures of 10 Celsius ( 50 Fahrenheit ) before his rescue .
In third place , he had triggered his distress beacon while sailing through the Roaring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known for its breaking waves and strong winds .
`` You 've seen shipwreck movies ?
This was the same , except worse ! ''
the stricken sailor told race organisers by video .
`` In four seconds the boat was smashed up , the bow folded 90 degrees . ''
The 40-year-old , smiling but clearly shaken from his ordeal in the high seas , added : `` It was crazy , to bend a boat in two . ''
He told his team that he had had no time to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message which read : `` I 'm sinking .
This is n't a joke .
MAYDAY ! ''
Le Cam was one of four competitors asked by organisers to go to Escoffier 's aid , the veteran yachtsman reaching the approximate zone of the distress beacon , at 5:00 pm local time .
`` I arrived , I saw Kevin on his boat , I said to myself 'great ' .
I told him I 'm coming back ... with that sea it was n't easy to manoeuvre .
I returned to where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't there ! ''
Escoffier said they exchanged `` two or three words '' .
`` It was like Verdun ( WWI battle ) at sea .
He had to move away a little then after I saw that he was remaining in the zone .
I stayed in my life raft until the early morning . ''
Le Cam told of how he had returned five or six times , searching for Escoffier 's distress light .
`` At one point , I was standing on the deck and I saw a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be a flash but the ( distress ) light in a wave ... . ''
I continued and began to see the light more and more and thought 'it 's okay ' .
You go from a feeling of despair to one of exhilaration .
`` And then it was done .
Happiness , '' said the hero of the hour .
The two men fell into each others ' arms .
Escoffier recalled : `` He said to me 'Damn , you 're onboard ! '
That was close ! '
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' I 've ruined your race , you were doing really well ' , he replied 'it does n't matter , the last time it was me who spoilt Vincent 's race ' . ''
Le Cam was alluding to his rescue in 2009 off Cape Horn by another Vendee competitor , Vincent Riou , when his boat had capsized .
The three other competitors invited by the organisation to deviate to reinforce the research were Yannick Bestaven ( Maitre Coq ) , Boris Herrmann ( Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco ) and Sebastien @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four boats involved in the rescue operation will be able to return to the race after the recovery , with the hours taken deducted from their overall time in the round-the-world race .
The 40-year-old Escoffier was sailing a new style of `` foiler '' or `` flying boat '' , which lifts out of the water on a foil in high winds .
The foilers have featured strongly on the list of vessels having serious maintenance issues with Welsh skipper Alex Thomson already out of the race .
The approximately 24,000 nautical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Les Sables d'Olonne with the first boat expected back at the French port sometime in mid-January .

Cape Town (AFP) –
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The French Vendee Globe skipper recovering after a dramatic rescue by a rival competitor 600 nautical miles off the Cape of Good Hope on Tuesday has spoken of how a giant wave folded his boat in two "in four seconds".
Kevin Escoffier was reported "safe and sound" on board rival Jean Le Cam's boat 11 hours after sending out a distress signal.
Escoffier's first attempt at the solo round-the-world race ended abruptly when he had to abandon his PRB yacht on Monday afternoon and take refuge on a life raft.
Vendee Globe organisers received a message from Le Cam informing them of the successful rescue at around 0100 GMT.
"A huge relief. Kevin is well onboard... safe and sound," the 61-year-old veteran French seafarer Le Cam tweeted.
Escoffier endured swells of five metres with water temperatures of 10 Celsius (50 Fahrenheit) before his rescue.
- 'Mayday' -
In third place, he had triggered his distress beacon while sailing through the Roaring 40s, a notorious stretch of water known for its breaking waves and strong winds.
"You've seen shipwreck movies? This was the same, except worse!" the stricken sailor told race organisers by video.
"In four seconds the boat was smashed up, the bow folded 90 degrees."
The 40-year-old, smiling but clearly shaken from his ordeal in the high seas, added: "It was crazy, to bend a boat in two."
He told his team that he had had no time to do anything other than fire them off a message which read: "I'm sinking. This isn't a joke. MAYDAY!"
Le Cam was one of four competitors asked by organisers to go to Escoffier's aid, the veteran yachtsman reaching the approximate zone of the distress beacon, at 5:00 pm local time.
"I arrived, I saw Kevin on his boat, I said to myself 'great'. I told him I'm coming back... with that sea it wasn't easy to manoeuvre. I returned to where I'd been ...and he wasn't there!"
- 'Verdun at sea' -
Escoffier said they exchanged "two or three words".
"It was like Verdun (WWI battle) at sea. He had to move away a little then after I saw that he was remaining in the zone. I stayed in my life raft until the early morning."
Le Cam told of how he had returned five or six times, searching for Escoffier's distress light.
"At one point, I was standing on the deck and I saw a flash, but it turned out not to be a flash but the (distress) light in a wave....
"I continued and began to see the light more and more and thought 'it's okay'. You go from a feeling of despair to one of exhilaration.
"I hurled a life belt" which Escoffier managed to grab.
"And then it was done. Happiness," said the hero of the hour.
The two men fell into each others' arms.
Escoffier recalled: "He said to me 'Damn, you're onboard!' That was close!' And as for me, I said 'I've ruined your race, you were doing really well', he replied 'it doesn't matter, the last time it was me who spoilt Vincent's race'."
Le Cam was alluding to his rescue in 2009 off Cape Horn by another Vendee competitor, Vincent Riou, when his boat had capsized.
The three other competitors invited by the organisation to deviate to reinforce the research were Yannick Bestaven (Maitre Coq), Boris Herrmann (Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco) and Sebastien Simon (Arkea Paprec).
All four boats involved in the rescue operation will be able to return to the race after the recovery, with the hours taken deducted from their overall time in the round-the-world race.
The 40-year-old Escoffier was sailing a new style of "foiler" or "flying boat", which lifts out of the water on a foil in high winds.
The foilers have featured strongly on the list of vessels having serious maintenance issues with Welsh skipper Alex Thomson already out of the race.
The approximately 24,000 nautical miles sailing odyssey started on November 9 at Les Sables d'Olonne with the first boat expected back at the French port sometime in mid-January.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-01--Azerbaijan rolls into Lachin district, the last area ceded by Armenia

Azerbaijan rolls into Lachin district , the last area ceded by Armenia Azerbaijan ’ s forces have moved into the @ @ @ @ @ region Armenia ceded to the country as part of a Russia-brokered peace deal to end @ @ @ @ @ Nagorno-Karabakh .
Some residents burned down their homes as they were forced to leave .

Azerbaijan rolls into Lachin district, the last area ceded by Armenia
01:49
Azerbaijan’s forces have moved into the Lachin district, the final region Armenia ceded to the country as part of a Russia-brokered peace deal to end six weeks of fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh. Some residents burned down their homes as they were forced to leave.


france24--2020-12-01--Mum in Sweden arrested for locking son up for decades

Police technicians enter the apartment in a Stockholm suburb where the mother is suspected of keeping her son for 28 years A mother in Sweden has been arrested on suspicion of locking her son inside their apartment for 28 years , leaving him undernourished and with almost no teeth , police and media reports said Tuesday .
`` The mother is suspected of illegal deprivation of liberty and causing bodily harm , '' Stockholm police spokesman Ola Osterling told AFP .
He said the man had been `` locked up for a very long time '' in the apartment in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not comment on reports in dailies Expressen and Aftonbladet that he had been held for 28 years .
The reports said the mother had pulled her son out of school when he was 12 and kept him locked inside the apartment since then .
An unnamed relative found the now 41-year-old man on Sunday after the mother , in her 70s , had been taken to hospital , Expressen reported .
The man had infected sores on his legs , could barely walk , had almost no teeth and limited speech ability , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment on those details , saying only : `` The man is in hospital .
His injuries are not life-threatening . ''
The mother has denied the crimes , the Swedish Prosecution Authority said .
Doctors at the hospital had alerted police to the case .
Police tape was stretched across the apartment 's door on Tuesday , and crime scene technicians were seen leaving the scene around midday , an AFP photographer said .
The apartment is located in a non-descript grey and yellow low-rise building in the working class suburb of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relative who found the man said the apartment looked like it had not been cleaned in years .
`` There was urine , dirt and dust .
It smelled rotten , '' she told Expressen , adding that she had to wade through piles of junk to get through the hallways .
`` No one could have cleaned that home for many years . ''
`` I 'm in shock , brokenhearted , but at the same time relieved .
I 've been waiting for this day for 20 years because I figured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life , but I never imagined the extent of it , '' she said .
`` I knew he was there and that he must be scared because his mother was his only sense of security and now she was gone , '' she added .
There was no immediate explanation for the mother 's alleged actions .
`` She stole his life from him and manipulated the people around her in order to keep her secret , '' the relative said .
`` I 'm just thankful that he got help and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unidentified neighbour , who lived in the same building , told Aftonbladet that she ran into the man at a nearby grocery store a few months ago .
`` I know who you are , you 're my neighbour , '' the man had told her , recognising her after having seen her through the window , she said .
- 'How could no one have noticed ? '
- But most others in the neighbourhood told local media they had n't seen the man for years .
`` They almost never went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for fresh air .
It 's been holed up , '' another woman from the building told Aftonbladet .
Many neighbours wondered why neither social services , the school nor any other authority ever checked in on the boy over the years .
`` And when we 've had renovations done in the building , how can no one have noticed ?
Workmen have been here , '' one woman told Aftonbladet .
Another woman said she occasionally ran into the mother .
`` We talked about small stuff , like you do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and she just said he was fine , she never really talked about him , '' she said .
She however added that she found it odd that their window was never open , and the same candlestick had been in the window for 30 years .
`` But what can you do ?
How do you know what 's going on behind closed doors ?
It 's all so awful , you ca n't believe it 's true , '' she said .

Stockholm (AFP) –
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A mother in Sweden has been arrested on suspicion of locking her son inside their apartment for 28 years, leaving him undernourished and with almost no teeth, police and media reports said Tuesday.
"The mother is suspected of illegal deprivation of liberty and causing bodily harm," Stockholm police spokesman Ola Osterling told AFP.
He said the man had been "locked up for a very long time" in the apartment in a southern Stockholm suburb, but would not comment on reports in dailies Expressen and Aftonbladet that he had been held for 28 years.
The reports said the mother had pulled her son out of school when he was 12 and kept him locked inside the apartment since then.
An unnamed relative found the now 41-year-old man on Sunday after the mother, in her 70s, had been taken to hospital, Expressen reported.
The man had infected sores on his legs, could barely walk, had almost no teeth and limited speech ability, the reports said.
Osterling would not comment on those details, saying only: "The man is in hospital. His injuries are not life-threatening."
The mother has denied the crimes, the Swedish Prosecution Authority said.
- 'Urine, dirt and dust' -
Doctors at the hospital had alerted police to the case.
Police tape was stretched across the apartment's door on Tuesday, and crime scene technicians were seen leaving the scene around midday, an AFP photographer said.
The apartment is located in a non-descript grey and yellow low-rise building in the working class suburb of Handen in Haninge municipality.
The unidentified relative who found the man said the apartment looked like it had not been cleaned in years.
"There was urine, dirt and dust. It smelled rotten," she told Expressen, adding that she had to wade through piles of junk to get through the hallways.
"No one could have cleaned that home for many years."
"I'm in shock, brokenhearted, but at the same time relieved. I've been waiting for this day for 20 years because I figured out that she was totally controlling his life, but I never imagined the extent of it," she said.
"I knew he was there and that he must be scared because his mother was his only sense of security and now she was gone," she added.
There was no immediate explanation for the mother's alleged actions.
"She stole his life from him and manipulated the people around her in order to keep her secret," the relative said.
"I'm just thankful that he got help and is going to survive."
One unidentified neighbour, who lived in the same building, told Aftonbladet that she ran into the man at a nearby grocery store a few months ago.
"I know who you are, you're my neighbour," the man had told her, recognising her after having seen her through the window, she said.
- 'How could no one have noticed?' -
But most others in the neighbourhood told local media they hadn't seen the man for years.
"They almost never went outside, never even opened the windows for fresh air. It's been holed up," another woman from the building told Aftonbladet.
Many neighbours wondered why neither social services, the school nor any other authority ever checked in on the boy over the years.
"And when we've had renovations done in the building, how can no one have noticed? Workmen have been here," one woman told Aftonbladet.
Another woman said she occasionally ran into the mother.
"We talked about small stuff, like you do. Sometimes I asked about the boy, and she just said he was fine, she never really talked about him," she said.
She however added that she found it odd that their window was never open, and the same candlestick had been in the window for 30 years.
"But what can you do? How do you know what's going on behind closed doors? It's all so awful, you can't believe it's true," she said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-01--Indian farmers fear reforms will drive down prices

Indian farmers have turned out en masse to protest reforms that Prime Minister Narendra Modi describes as a `` complete @ @ @ @ @ '' .
FRANCE 24 correspondent Sreya Banerjee , says farmers fear the reforms will leave @ @ @ @ @ big agricultural players .

Indian farmers fear reforms will drive down prices
01:45
Indian farmers have turned out en masse to protest reforms that Prime Minister Narendra Modi describes as a "complete transformation of the agriculture sector". FRANCE 24 correspondent Sreya Banerjee, says farmers fear the reforms will leave them at the mercy of big agricultural players.


france24--2020-12-01--Bahrain delegation in Israel for talks on boosting ties

Last month , Bahrain 's foreign minister held Jerusalem talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and visiting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo A 40-strong Bahraini delegation arrived in Israel Tuesday for two days of talks on boosting economic cooperation and tourism after the two countries normalised relations in September .
The Gulf state of Bahrain followed the United Arab Emirates in signing up to a US-brokered deal to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel , becoming the third and fourth Arab countries to do so .
Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi had been due to visit Bahrain this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diplomatic sources told AFP without elaborating .
The cancellation followed the assassination of an Iranian nuclear scientist blamed on the Israeli spy agency , the Mossad .
Last month , Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdellatif al-Zayani held Jerusalem talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benajamin Netanyahu and outgoing US Secretary of State Mike Pormpeo , who was on a farewell visit .
The latest delegation , led by Industry , Trade and Tourism Minister Zayed bin Rashid Al-Zayani , landed at Ben Gurion airport on Tuesday , Israeli diplomatic sources confirmed .
The delegation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday .
Israeli authorities did not indicate whether the delegation would visit the Al-Aqsa mosque compound , Islam 's third holiest site , located in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem .
Many Palestinians are hostile to Arab governments normalising their relations with Israel without a comprehensive peace deal and oppose such visits .
The Waqf , which manages Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem 's Old City , can not bar any Muslim from visiting them .

Tel Aviv (AFP) –
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A 40-strong Bahraini delegation arrived in Israel Tuesday for two days of talks on boosting economic cooperation and tourism after the two countries normalised relations in September.
The Gulf state of Bahrain followed the United Arab Emirates in signing up to a US-brokered deal to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel, becoming the third and fourth Arab countries to do so.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi had been due to visit Bahrain this week but the trip was cancelled, diplomatic sources told AFP without elaborating.
The cancellation followed the assassination of an Iranian nuclear scientist blamed on the Israeli spy agency, the Mossad.
Last month, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdellatif al-Zayani held Jerusalem talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benajamin Netanyahu and outgoing US Secretary of State Mike Pormpeo, who was on a farewell visit.
The latest delegation, led by Industry, Trade and Tourism Minister Zayed bin Rashid Al-Zayani, landed at Ben Gurion airport on Tuesday, Israeli diplomatic sources confirmed.
The delegation is scheduled to meet both Ashkenazi and Netanyahu on Wednesday.
Israeli authorities did not indicate whether the delegation would visit the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, Islam's third holiest site, located in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.
Many Palestinians are hostile to Arab governments normalising their relations with Israel without a comprehensive peace deal and oppose such visits.
The Waqf, which manages Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem's Old City, cannot bar any Muslim from visiting them.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-01--Britain and France step up border controls ahead of Brexit

Britain and France step up border controls ahead of Brexit The UK and France will step up joint border controls @ @ @ @ @ reduce illegal immigration ahead of Britain ’ s exit from the EU .
The number @ @ @ @ @ to the UK has reportedly increased this year to 8000 , in part due to @ @

Britain and France step up border controls ahead of Brexit
01:44
The UK and France will step up joint border controls as part of efforts to reduce illegal immigration ahead of Britain’s exit from the EU. The number of migrants trying to cross to the UK has reportedly increased this year to 8000, in part due to Brexit.


france24--2020-12-01--Pfizer seeks EU vaccine approval as OECD sees recovery in 2021

Europeans could begin receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine 'before the end of 2020 ' , the companies said Pharma companies Pfizer and BioNTech on Tuesday filed for European approval for their coronavirus vaccine , following in the footsteps of competitor Moderna , while the OECD predicted the world economy would bounce back to pre-pandemic levels by late 2021 .
But the United Nations warned that the pandemic will pitch tens of millions more people into desperate need next year , saying around $ 35 billion is needed in humanitarian aid .
Companies have been racing to find a treatment for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million people and infected over 63 million since it first emerged in China in December last year .
US giant Pfizer and German newcomer BioNTech said their vaccine could be rolled out `` in Europe before the end of 2020 '' if the European Medicines Agency grants so-called Conditional Marketing Authorisation .
Moderna had applied on Monday for both US and EU approval of its vaccine , based on the same new mRNA technology and with a similar level of effectiveness at around 95 percent .
The mRNA ( messenger ribonucleic acid ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the body that makes human cells create a protein from the virus .
This trains the immune system to be ready to attack if it encounters SARS-CoV-2 .
On the economic front , the OECD club of wealthy countries said that with anticipated global growth of around 4.2 percent next year , the world should make up almost all the output shortfall suffered in 2020 , in large part thanks to `` massive policy support '' from governments and central banks .
Although growth will return , expansion is predicted to be less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with China and India leaping ahead while the US , the eurozone and Japan see only modest gains .
Keeping up `` heightened policy activism '' could help ensure `` higher and fairer growth '' in future , OECD chief economist Laurence Boone said .
In its annual Global Humanitarian Overview published Tuesday , the United Nations said that the number of people in need of aid would grow 40 percent in 2021 compared with this year , to 235 million people -- or one in 33 worldwide .
`` The increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' UN emergency relief coordinator Mark Lowcock told reporters , with the report saying the pandemic had tipped those `` already living on a knife 's edge '' into need .
Some 160 million of the most vulnerable people could be helped across 56 countries with the $ 35 billion the UN is asking for , the report said .
The sum is `` actually very small in relation to all of the other challenges we face '' , Lowcock added .
Day-to-day , wealthier countries remain focused on the back and forth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ending its second partial lockdown on Tuesday .
As cases are expected to mount as people mingle in the run-up to Christmas , `` the challenge is to keep that increase as low as possible , '' Foreign Minister Simon Coveney told broadcaster RTE .
Across the Irish Sea , British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a rebellion in his Conservative ranks over a plan for a county-by-county tiered restriction system to replace an England-wide lockdown , set to end at midnight .
MPs complain that some regions are beng forced into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clusters of cases , initially placing 23 million people under the toughest `` Tier 3 '' category .
In Germany , which last week hit a million cases , Berlin 's legendary KitKat fetish nightclub reopened -- as a coronavirus testing centre rather than a sexually uninhibited haven for fans of partying in leather , latex or in the nude .
`` Be wild and come naked !
( Please do n't .
Would be funny , but would probably lead to reports of suspected parties ) , '' said the club , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And in the US , media reported the resignation of Scott Atlas , President Donald Trump 's controversial coronavirus advisor .
`` Masks work ?
NO , '' Atlas had tweeted in October , calling the following month for people in Michigan to `` rise up '' against Covid-19 measures .
In Sri Lanka , the government freed hundreds of prisoners and said it would release thousands more after a riot sparked by anger over coronavirus cases at one of its many overcrowded jails left nine inmates dead and 113 wounded .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30,000 inmates , nearly three times their capacity , and about 1,200 of them have tested positive for the coronavirus with two deaths .
Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton became the latest high-profile personality to report a positive test result Tuesday , just two days after winning the Bahrain Grand Prix .
With only `` mild symptoms '' , the British world champion `` is now isolating '' and will miss the Sakhir Grand Prix on Saturday , the sport 's FIA governing body said .

Frankfurt am Main (AFP) –
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Pharma companies Pfizer and BioNTech on Tuesday filed for European approval for their coronavirus vaccine, following in the footsteps of competitor Moderna, while the OECD predicted the world economy would bounce back to pre-pandemic levels by late 2021.
But the United Nations warned that the pandemic will pitch tens of millions more people into desperate need next year, saying around $35 billion is needed in humanitarian aid.
Companies have been racing to find a treatment for the coronavirus, which has killed almost 1.5 million people and infected over 63 million since it first emerged in China in December last year.
US giant Pfizer and German newcomer BioNTech said their vaccine could be rolled out "in Europe before the end of 2020" if the European Medicines Agency grants so-called Conditional Marketing Authorisation.
Moderna had applied on Monday for both US and EU approval of its vaccine, based on the same new mRNA technology and with a similar level of effectiveness at around 95 percent.
The mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) is used to deliver genetic material to the body that makes human cells create a protein from the virus.
This trains the immune system to be ready to attack if it encounters SARS-CoV-2.
On the economic front, the OECD club of wealthy countries said that with anticipated global growth of around 4.2 percent next year, the world should make up almost all the output shortfall suffered in 2020, in large part thanks to "massive policy support" from governments and central banks.
Although growth will return, expansion is predicted to be less evenly distributed around the globe in 2021, with China and India leaping ahead while the US, the eurozone and Japan see only modest gains.
Keeping up "heightened policy activism" could help ensure "higher and fairer growth" in future, OECD chief economist Laurence Boone said.
- 'On a knife's edge' -
In its annual Global Humanitarian Overview published Tuesday, the United Nations said that the number of people in need of aid would grow 40 percent in 2021 compared with this year, to 235 million people -- or one in 33 worldwide.
"The increase arises almost entirely because of Covid-19," UN emergency relief coordinator Mark Lowcock told reporters, with the report saying the pandemic had tipped those "already living on a knife's edge" into need.
Some 160 million of the most vulnerable people could be helped across 56 countries with the $35 billion the UN is asking for, the report said.
The sum is "actually very small in relation to all of the other challenges we face", Lowcock added.
Day-to-day, wealthier countries remain focused on the back and forth of infection control restrictions, with Ireland ending its second partial lockdown on Tuesday.
As cases are expected to mount as people mingle in the run-up to Christmas, "the challenge is to keep that increase as low as possible," Foreign Minister Simon Coveney told broadcaster RTE.
Across the Irish Sea, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a rebellion in his Conservative ranks over a plan for a county-by-county tiered restriction system to replace an England-wide lockdown, set to end at midnight.
MPs complain that some regions are beng forced into the strictest infection control measures because of isolated clusters of cases, initially placing 23 million people under the toughest "Tier 3" category.
In Germany, which last week hit a million cases, Berlin's legendary KitKat fetish nightclub reopened -- as a coronavirus testing centre rather than a sexually uninhibited haven for fans of partying in leather, latex or in the nude.
"Be wild and come naked! (Please don't. Would be funny, but would probably lead to reports of suspected parties)," said the club, a pillar of Berlin nightlife since 1994.
And in the US, media reported the resignation of Scott Atlas, President Donald Trump's controversial coronavirus advisor.
"Masks work? NO," Atlas had tweeted in October, calling the following month for people in Michigan to "rise up" against Covid-19 measures.
- Hamilton positive -
In Sri Lanka, the government freed hundreds of prisoners and said it would release thousands more after a riot sparked by anger over coronavirus cases at one of its many overcrowded jails left nine inmates dead and 113 wounded.
Sri Lanka's prisons house just over 30,000 inmates, nearly three times their capacity, and about 1,200 of them have tested positive for the coronavirus with two deaths.
Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton became the latest high-profile personality to report a positive test result Tuesday, just two days after winning the Bahrain Grand Prix.
With only "mild symptoms", the British world champion "is now isolating" and will miss the Sakhir Grand Prix on Saturday, the sport's FIA governing body said.
burs-tgb/txw
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-01--Newcastle game with Villa under threat due to coronavirus outbreak: reports

Newcastle United have been badly affected by a spate of positive tests for coronavirus with Steve Bruice cancelling training sessions and putting their next Premier League game against Aston Villa under threat according to British media reports Newcastle 's Premier League game with Aston Villa on Friday is under threat due to an outbreak of coronavirus cases , according to British media reports .
Newcastle have closed their training ground and it is not expected to re-open until Wednesday at the earliest , The Guardian said .
Magpies manager Steve Bruce had already cancelled training on Sunday after four players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for the virus last week .
According to The Daily Telegraph , the club learned that more players tested positive when the latest batch of results were returned on Monday .
The whole first team squad and staff have been told to self-isolate at home .
Bruce was already without five first team players for last Friday 's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace .
No Premier League match has been called off since football resumed following the March lockdown .
Premier League authorities have said before for a game to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be affected .
However , if the team is able to field 11 players plus three substitutes the game should go ahead .
The fixture schedule is already a hectic one with many managers blaming a higher-than-usual rate of injuries on that .
According to the Telegraph , the possibility of the players turning up solely for training on Wednesday without entering the buildings is being considered .
The city of Newcastle itself will enter the tier three restriction band on Wednesday when the latest lockdown ends -- the highest allocated by the @ @

London (AFP) –
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Newcastle's Premier League game with Aston Villa on Friday is under threat due to an outbreak of coronavirus cases, according to British media reports.
Newcastle have closed their training ground and it is not expected to re-open until Wednesday at the earliest, The Guardian said.
Magpies manager Steve Bruce had already cancelled training on Sunday after four players and a member of the backroom staff tested positive for the virus last week.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the club learned that more players tested positive when the latest batch of results were returned on Monday.
The whole first team squad and staff have been told to self-isolate at home.
Bruce was already without five first team players for last Friday's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.
No Premier League match has been called off since football resumed following the March lockdown.
Premier League authorities have said before for a game to be postponed it would require 14 players to be affected.
However, if the team is able to field 11 players plus three substitutes the game should go ahead.
The fixture schedule is already a hectic one with many managers blaming a higher-than-usual rate of injuries on that.
According to the Telegraph, the possibility of the players turning up solely for training on Wednesday without entering the buildings is being considered.
The city of Newcastle itself will enter the tier three restriction band on Wednesday when the latest lockdown ends -- the highest allocated by the Government.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-01--UN envoy searching for way forward on Cyprus talks

The October election as Turkish Cypriot leader of nationalist Ersin Tatar has complicated UN efforts to create momentum for a new push to end the island 's decades-old division A UN special envoy will meet rival Cypriot leaders on Tuesday to assess whether conditions are ripe to involve Britain , Greece and Turkey in getting reunification back on the rails .
UN chief Antonio Guterres has instructed his special adviser Jane Holl Lute to begin consultations with all involved parties to determine whether preconditions exist to convene an informal 5+1 summit on ending the island 's decades-old division .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades , and newly elected Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar before heading to Athens , officials said .
She will meet Tatar first on Tuesday in the Turkish-held north of the island before crossing the UN-patrolled ceasefire line for talks with Anastasiades at 1700 GMT .
The UN is not expected to make any official comment on the envoy ’ s contacts on the island .
Tatar was elected Turkish Cypriot leader in October on a hardline platform of seeking a two-state solution for Cyprus , rather than a bicommunal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the three guarantor powers Britain , Greece and Turkey on convening a five-way meeting on the way forward for formal talks to resume .
There have been no official UN-sponsored negotiations on the island 's future since a conference in Switzerland –- also involving Britain , Greece and Turkey –- collapsed in July 2017 .
Guterres is hoping to get the three governments more involved to build momentum that is currently lacking .
Last month , the rival Cypriot leaders held a `` break-the-ice '' meeting at which they promised to back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside powers .
It was their first meeting since the Ankara-backed Tatar was elected leader of the breakaway north .
The two men both acknowledged their positions on the way forward were `` far apart '' .
Britain , Greece and Turkey act as guarantors of the island 's sovereignty under the treaty that gave Cyprus independence from British rule in 1960 .
Rising tensions in the eastern Mediterranean over conflicting claims to offshore oil and gas could scupper UN moves to relaunch talks .
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a coup orchestrated by the military junta then in power in Athens aimed at annexing the island to Greece .

Nicosia (AFP) –
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A UN special envoy will meet rival Cypriot leaders on Tuesday to assess whether conditions are ripe to involve Britain, Greece and Turkey in getting reunification back on the rails.
UN chief Antonio Guterres has instructed his special adviser Jane Holl Lute to begin consultations with all involved parties to determine whether preconditions exist to convene an informal 5+1 summit on ending the island's decades-old division.
On Tuesday, Lute will hold talks with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, and newly elected Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar before heading to Athens, officials said.
She will meet Tatar first on Tuesday in the Turkish-held north of the island before crossing the UN-patrolled ceasefire line for talks with Anastasiades at 1700 GMT.
The UN is not expected to make any official comment on the envoy’s contacts on the island.
Tatar was elected Turkish Cypriot leader in October on a hardline platform of seeking a two-state solution for Cyprus, rather than a bicommunal federation.
Lute is also in consultation with the three guarantor powers Britain, Greece and Turkey on convening a five-way meeting on the way forward for formal talks to resume.
There have been no official UN-sponsored negotiations on the island's future since a conference in Switzerland –- also involving Britain, Greece and Turkey –- collapsed in July 2017.
Guterres is hoping to get the three governments more involved to build momentum that is currently lacking.
Last month, the rival Cypriot leaders held a "break-the-ice" meeting at which they promised to back a UN-led Cyprus peace push involving the outside powers.
It was their first meeting since the Ankara-backed Tatar was elected leader of the breakaway north.
The two men both acknowledged their positions on the way forward were "far apart".
Britain, Greece and Turkey act as guarantors of the island's sovereignty under the treaty that gave Cyprus independence from British rule in 1960.
Rising tensions in the eastern Mediterranean over conflicting claims to offshore oil and gas could scupper UN moves to relaunch talks.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey occupied its northern third in response to a coup orchestrated by the military junta then in power in Athens aimed at annexing the island to Greece.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-01--Thomas Bach unopposed in bid for second term as IOC president: official

Thomas Bach will stand unopposed to serve a second term as International Olympic Committee president , the body said Thomas Bach will stand unopposed to serve a second term as International Olympic Committee president , the body said on Tuesday .
Bach , a 66-year-old German lawyer , is set to be confirmed for a second and final four-year term at an IOC session in March in Athens .
Bach was initially elected for an eight-year term as Olympic chief in September 2013 , taking over from Belgian Jacques Rogge .
If re-elected , Bach 's term will end in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Olympics .
The next term for the IOC presidency will start after the Tokyo 2020 Olympics , which will now take place from July 23-Aug 8 , 2021 , having been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Bach , who won gold for West Germany in the foil fencing team event at the 1976 Olympics , was elected an IOC member at the age of 37 and went on to play a series of influential roles within the organisation , notably as a founding member of the IOC 's Athletes ' Commission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Under his reign as IOC chief , Bach has had to grapple with several political challenges , and has notably overseen the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and the 2016 Rio Summer Games , both perceived as the most troublesome in recent years .
He has also been a key player in the ongoing Russian doping saga , although the IOC came in for criticism from some quarters for not issuing Moscow with a blanket ban over its state-sponsored doping system .
Bach also came under fire for reinstating the Russian National Olympic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite failed drugs tests there .
He is credited , however , with having put in place the Olympic Agenda 2020 , featuring reforms aimed at cutting costs and streamlining bidding processes to better attract potential host cities .
The IOC , however , is arguably facing its biggest challenge in Bach 's tenure in the form of the Covid-19 pandemic , with the rescheduling of the Tokyo Games meaning Beijing will host the 2022 Winter Olympics just six months later .

Lausanne (AFP) –
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Thomas Bach will stand unopposed to serve a second term as International Olympic Committee president, the body said on Tuesday.
Bach, a 66-year-old German lawyer, is set to be confirmed for a second and final four-year term at an IOC session in March in Athens.
Bach was initially elected for an eight-year term as Olympic chief in September 2013, taking over from Belgian Jacques Rogge. If re-elected, Bach's term will end in 2025, a year after the Paris Olympics.
The next term for the IOC presidency will start after the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which will now take place from July 23-Aug 8, 2021, having been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Bach, who won gold for West Germany in the foil fencing team event at the 1976 Olympics, was elected an IOC member at the age of 37 and went on to play a series of influential roles within the organisation, notably as a founding member of the IOC's Athletes' Commission, before being elected its ninth president.
Under his reign as IOC chief, Bach has had to grapple with several political challenges, and has notably overseen the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and the 2016 Rio Summer Games, both perceived as the most troublesome in recent years.
He has also been a key player in the ongoing Russian doping saga, although the IOC came in for criticism from some quarters for not issuing Moscow with a blanket ban over its state-sponsored doping system.
Bach also came under fire for reinstating the Russian National Olympic Committee after the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics despite failed drugs tests there.
He is credited, however, with having put in place the Olympic Agenda 2020, featuring reforms aimed at cutting costs and streamlining bidding processes to better attract potential host cities.
The IOC, however, is arguably facing its biggest challenge in Bach's tenure in the form of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the rescheduling of the Tokyo Games meaning Beijing will host the 2022 Winter Olympics just six months later.
© 2020 AFP