france24--2020-09-22--Morata returns to Juventus on loan from Atletico Madrid

Alvaro Morata scored for Juventus against Barcelona in the 2015 Champions League Final Spanish striker Alvaro Morata on Tuesday returned to Juventus on loan from Atletico Madrid , the Turin club announced .
The much-travelled Morata , who is 27 , played for Juventus from 2014-2016 , scoring 27 goals in 93 appearances .
He graduated through the youth system at Real Madrid and had two stints at the club either side of his first spell at Juventus .
He also had a spell at Chelsea before joining Atletico , initially on loan He has joined Juventus on a season-long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ euros ( 11.7 million dollars ) , the club said .
`` He will be part of this year 's team , with an option for a one-year extension to the loan , plus an option to buy , '' said Juventus on their web site , adding that the transfer fee would be 45 million euros , in three annual payments of 15 million euros , while a loan extension would cost 10 million euros at the end of which Juventus would have another option to buy , for 35 million euros @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a homecoming and the return of Alvaro Morata to Turin is a beautiful one at that ! ''
said Juventus .
After Gonzalo Higuain left for Miami last week , Juve 's new coach , Andrea Pirlo , needed a solid centre-forward .
The club was linked to Barcelona 's Luis Suarez and Roma 's Edin Dzeko but Morata , who played with Pirlo in his first spell at club , has arrived instead .
Spanish media immediately speculated that Morata 's departure could clear the way for Atletico to recruit Suarez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2015 Champions League semi-finals as Juventus beat one of his former clubs , Real Madrid , 3-2 on aggregate .
He then scored a second-half equaliser in the final before goals by Suarez and Neymar gave Barcelona a 3-1 victory .
His last goal for Juventus was the winner in the 2016 Copa Italia final against AC Milan , when he came off the bench 18 minutes into extra time and scored two minutes later .
`` Even though Alvaro left the club four years ago , after having won five trophies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two Italian Cups , one Italian Super Cup , he has always remained Bianconero in his heart and his return will be as though he never even said goodbye .
`` Because Alvaro is one of us , '' said Juventus .

Turin (Italy) (AFP) –
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Spanish striker Alvaro Morata on Tuesday returned to Juventus on loan from Atletico Madrid, the Turin club announced.
The much-travelled Morata, who is 27, played for Juventus from 2014-2016, scoring 27 goals in 93 appearances.
He graduated through the youth system at Real Madrid and had two stints at the club either side of his first spell at Juventus. He also had a spell at Chelsea before joining Atletico, initially on loan
He has joined Juventus on a season-long loan, which will cost 10 million euros (11.7 million dollars), the club said.
"He will be part of this year's team, with an option for a one-year extension to the loan, plus an option to buy," said Juventus on their web site, adding that the transfer fee would be 45 million euros, in three annual payments of 15 million euros, while a loan extension would cost 10 million euros at the end of which Juventus would have another option to buy, for 35 million euros.
"There's nothing more exciting than a homecoming and the return of Alvaro Morata to Turin is a beautiful one at that!" said Juventus.
After Gonzalo Higuain left for Miami last week, Juve's new coach, Andrea Pirlo, needed a solid centre-forward. The club was linked to Barcelona's Luis Suarez and Roma's Edin Dzeko but Morata, who played with Pirlo in his first spell at club, has arrived instead.
Spanish media immediately speculated that Morata's departure could clear the way for Atletico to recruit Suarez.
Morata scored in both legs in the 2015 Champions League semi-finals as Juventus beat one of his former clubs, Real Madrid, 3-2 on aggregate.
He then scored a second-half equaliser in the final before goals by Suarez and Neymar gave Barcelona a 3-1 victory.
His last goal for Juventus was the winner in the 2016 Copa Italia final against AC Milan, when he came off the bench 18 minutes into extra time and scored two minutes later.
"Even though Alvaro left the club four years ago, after having won five trophies in two years: two Scudetti, two Italian Cups, one Italian Super Cup, he has always remained Bianconero in his heart and his return will be as though he never even said goodbye.
"Because Alvaro is one of us," said Juventus.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-22--China pledges to go carbon neutral by 2060

Chinese President Xi Jinping , appearing by video link at the United Nations 75th General Assembly , is seen on an outdoor screen as pedestrians walk past in Beijing on September 22 , 2020 .
Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed Tuesday that the world ’ s largest greenhouse gas polluter will peak emissions in 2030 and go carbon neutral by 2060 , in what climate activists hailed as a major step forward .
The goals were the most concrete yet announced by China , which accounts for one quarter of the planet ’ s greenhouse gas emissions blamed for fast-rising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assembly , Xi renewed his support for the Paris climate accord and called for a green focus as the world recovers from the Covid-19 crisis .
The Paris accord “ outlines the minimum steps to be taken to protect the Earth , our shared homeland , and all countries must take decisive steps to honor this agreement ” , Xi said in a virtual address .
“ We aim to have C02 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060 , ” he said .
Xi urged all nations to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation ” .
China , in its submission under the Paris accord , had said that its emissions would peak “ around ” 2030 .
The European Union had been pushing China to be more ambitious by moving the peak date to 2025 , arguing that the five years were crucial as the planet falls behind in fighting climate change .
The Paris climate deal enjoins nations to limit global temperature rises to “ well below ” two degrees Celsius ( 3.6 Fahrenheit ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sweeping drawdown of greenhouse gas emissions .
But emissions have continued to rise since then and President Donald Trump has pulled out the United States , the second largest emitter .
“ All in all , China ’ s announcement is a defining moment that resets the ambition of global climate action , ” he said .
Faced with poor air quality and rising temperatures , China has moved aggressively to cap coal and move to renewable energies .
The 2060 objective is still less ambitious than the 2050 date set by dozens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powers .
Several experts said it was still a significant step to bring new life to the Paris accords .
“ This announcement will send positive shockwaves through diplomatic circles and should prompt greater climate ambition from other major emitters , ” said Helen Mountford , vice president for climate and economics at the World Resources Institute in Washington .
But she cautioned that the “ devil will be in the details ” and said that China should set more specific goals in the nearer term .
Jean-Pascal van Ypersele , a Belgian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change , a UN expert panel , called Xi ’ s commitment “ very important ” .
But he questioned whether China would follow its own guidelines as it pursues a global infrastructure-building binge—for example , if it will still back coal plants in Africa .
“ If this coherence is lacking , the progress made in China could be lost due to additional emissions by Chinese-built or -funded fossil infrastructure in developing countries , ” he said .
> > Down to Earth : Is China exporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contrasted sharply with that of Trump , who called the Paris accord negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama unfair to the United States .
Trump says he is standing up for US constituencies such as coal miners and has loosened environmental rules , although individual US states such as California have insisted on fighting climate change on their own .
“ Those who attack America ’ s exceptional environmental record while ignoring China ’ s rampant pollution are not interested in the environment , ” Trump said in a UN speech shortly before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ punish America , and I will not stand for it.
” China ’ s ambassador to the United Nations , Zhang Jun , scoffed at the remarks by Trump , who devoted his speech to attacking Beijing over Covid-19 .
“ The United States should be the last one to talk about climate change , ” he told reporters .
“ They are the one who are disassociating itself from the international efforts on climate change.
” The future of the Paris accord will be partly determined on November 3 as Trump runs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has pledged to return the United States to the agreement and move toward carbon neutrality by 2050 .

Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed Tuesday that the world’s largest greenhouse gas polluter will peak emissions in 2030 and go carbon neutral by 2060, in what climate activists hailed as a major step forward.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, appearing by video link at the United Nations 75th General Assembly, is seen on an outdoor screen as pedestrians walk past in Beijing on September 22, 2020.
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The goals were the most concrete yet announced by China, which accounts for one quarter of the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions blamed for fast-rising temperatures.
Speaking to the UN General Assembly, Xi renewed his support for the Paris climate accord and called for a green focus as the world recovers from the Covid-19 crisis.
The Paris accord “outlines the minimum steps to be taken to protect the Earth, our shared homeland, and all countries must take decisive steps to honor this agreement”, Xi said in a virtual address.
“We aim to have C02 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060,” he said.
Xi urged all nations to “seize the historic opportunities presented by the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation”.
China, in its submission under the Paris accord, had said that its emissions would peak “around” 2030.
The European Union had been pushing China to be more ambitious by moving the peak date to 2025, arguing that the five years were crucial as the planet falls behind in fighting climate change.
The Paris climate deal enjoins nations to limit global temperature rises to “well below” two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) from pre-industrial levels through a rapid and sweeping drawdown of greenhouse gas emissions.
But emissions have continued to rise since then and President Donald Trump has pulled out the United States, the second largest emitter.
‘A defining moment’
Joeri Rogelj, a climate expert at Imperial College London’s Grantham Institute, called Xi’s pledge “unexpected and eye-opening”.
“All in all, China’s announcement is a defining moment that resets the ambition of global climate action,” he said.
Faced with poor air quality and rising temperatures, China has moved aggressively to cap coal and move to renewable energies.
The 2060 objective is still less ambitious than the 2050 date set by dozens of small states as well as European powers.
Several experts said it was still a significant step to bring new life to the Paris accords.
“This announcement will send positive shockwaves through diplomatic circles and should prompt greater climate ambition from other major emitters,” said Helen Mountford, vice president for climate and economics at the World Resources Institute in Washington.
But she cautioned that the “devil will be in the details” and said that China should set more specific goals in the nearer term.
Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, a Belgian climate scientist and former vice chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a UN expert panel, called Xi’s commitment “very important”.
But he questioned whether China would follow its own guidelines as it pursues a global infrastructure-building binge—for example, if it will still back coal plants in Africa.
China pledges to go carbon neutral by 2060, with emissions peaking before 2030. Will that include ending massive international investment in coal infrastructure? (Infographic via @end_coal: https://t.co/5okmGO3nKE) pic.twitter.com/dGOwNjOcp6 — Colin Kinniburgh (@colinreads) September 22, 2020
“If this coherence is lacking, the progress made in China could be lost due to additional emissions by Chinese-built or -funded fossil infrastructure in developing countries,” he said.
>> Down to Earth: Is China exporting its pollution?
Trump on attack
Xi’s tone contrasted sharply with that of Trump, who called the Paris accord negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama unfair to the United States.
Trump says he is standing up for US constituencies such as coal miners and has loosened environmental rules, although individual US states such as California have insisted on fighting climate change on their own.
“Those who attack America’s exceptional environmental record while ignoring China’s rampant pollution are not interested in the environment,” Trump said in a UN speech shortly before Xi.
“They only want to punish America, and I will not stand for it.”
China’s ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, scoffed at the remarks by Trump, who devoted his speech to attacking Beijing over Covid-19.
“The United States should be the last one to talk about climate change,” he told reporters.
“They are the one who are disassociating itself from the international efforts on climate change.”
The future of the Paris accord will be partly determined on November 3 as Trump runs for reelection against Joe Biden, who has pledged to return the United States to the agreement and move toward carbon neutrality by 2050.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-09-22--Man City want to win everything this season: De Bruyne

Kevin De Bruyne says Manchester City want all four trophies this season Kevin De Bruyne says Manchester City want to reassert their superiority by winning all four major trophies this season .
City finished last season with a whimper as they ended 18 points behind Premier League champions Liverpool and suffered a shock Champions League quarter-final defeat against Lyon .
They were also beaten in the FA Cup semi-finals by Arsenal with the League Cup final win against Aston Villa a rare highlight for Pep Guardiola 's side .
But City are determined to make amends this term and Belgian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been set , including a clean sweep of the Premier League , Champions League , FA Cup and League Cup .
`` I think the motivation does n't change if you win or you lose , '' De Bruyne said after impressing in City 's 3-1 win at Wolves on Monday .
`` When you start a new season there are new aspirations , you want to win the most as possible and we want to win everything .
`` For us , all four ( trophies ) is in the mind , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obviously very hard but we went into Monday knowing that it was going to be a very hard game .
`` We did n't train a lot but I think the performance was really good and that 's good for us . ''
City are back in action on Thursday when they host Bournemouth in the League Cup third round .
That is followed by the visit of Leicester in the Premier League on Sunday and De Bruyne admits it is a hectic start to the season .
`` We knew when we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that it is tough , but we always go , '' he said .
`` We play game by game and the best team that is ready to play on Thursday will try and win the game . ''
City will need an improved defence to overhaul Liverpool after some sloppy displays at the back last season .
De Bruyne felt Netherlands defender Nathan Ake acquitted himself well on his City debut against Wolves after joining from Bournemouth .
`` I think he is doing really well .
It is really hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not really have a pre-season and settle in with the guys , because there is a lot of stuff you need to do , '' De Bruyne said .
`` But he played a brilliant game , together with John ( Stones ) , and I think it is really important for them to start really well , and you see that when they have a lot of confidence , they can be very important players . ''

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Kevin De Bruyne says Manchester City want to reassert their superiority by winning all four major trophies this season.
City finished last season with a whimper as they ended 18 points behind Premier League champions Liverpool and suffered a shock Champions League quarter-final defeat against Lyon.
They were also beaten in the FA Cup semi-finals by Arsenal with the League Cup final win against Aston Villa a rare highlight for Pep Guardiola's side.
But City are determined to make amends this term and Belgian midfielder De Bruyne insists fresh goals have been set, including a clean sweep of the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.
"I think the motivation doesn't change if you win or you lose," De Bruyne said after impressing in City's 3-1 win at Wolves on Monday.
"When you start a new season there are new aspirations, you want to win the most as possible and we want to win everything.
"For us, all four (trophies) is in the mind, that's the mentality. It is obviously very hard but we went into Monday knowing that it was going to be a very hard game.
"We didn't train a lot but I think the performance was really good and that's good for us."
City are back in action on Thursday when they host Bournemouth in the League Cup third round.
That is followed by the visit of Leicester in the Premier League on Sunday and De Bruyne admits it is a hectic start to the season.
"We knew when we saw the schedule, when we started, that it is tough, but we always go," he said.
"We play game by game and the best team that is ready to play on Thursday will try and win the game."
City will need an improved defence to overhaul Liverpool after some sloppy displays at the back last season.
De Bruyne felt Netherlands defender Nathan Ake acquitted himself well on his City debut against Wolves after joining from Bournemouth.
"I think he is doing really well. It is really hard for a player to come in and not really have a pre-season and settle in with the guys, because there is a lot of stuff you need to do," De Bruyne said.
"But he played a brilliant game, together with John (Stones), and I think it is really important for them to start really well, and you see that when they have a lot of confidence, they can be very important players."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-22--ISS initiates move to avoid space debris

The International Space Station -- seen here on August 26 , 2020 -- is performing a maneuver to ensure it gets out of the way of a piece of space debris Astronauts aboard the International Space Station were carrying out an `` avoidance maneuver '' on Tuesday to ensure the ISS would not be hit by a piece of debris , the US space agency NASA announced .
The debris should pass within `` several kilometers '' ( miles ) of the station , but out of an abundance of caution , the ISS 's trajectory was being changed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The three crew members -- two Russians and an American -- relocated to their Soyuz spacecraft as the maneuver began so they could evacuate if necessary , NASA said .
`` Maneuver Burn complete .
The astronauts are coming out of safe haven , '' NASA chief Jim Bridenstine said on Twitter .
The `` time of closest approach '' is 2221 GMT , NASA said .
The ISS is orbiting roughly 260 miles ( 420 kilometers ) above the Earth , at a speed of about 17,130 miles per hour .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ small object could seriously damage a solar panel or other facet of the station .
This type of maneuver is necessary on a regular basis .
NASA said 25 such maneuvers had occurred between 1999 and 2018 .

Washington (AFP) –
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Astronauts aboard the International Space Station were carrying out an "avoidance maneuver" on Tuesday to ensure the ISS would not be hit by a piece of debris, the US space agency NASA announced.
The debris should pass within "several kilometers" (miles) of the station, but out of an abundance of caution, the ISS's trajectory was being changed to move it farther away from the object.
The three crew members -- two Russians and an American -- relocated to their Soyuz spacecraft as the maneuver began so they could evacuate if necessary, NASA said.
"Maneuver Burn complete. The astronauts are coming out of safe haven," NASA chief Jim Bridenstine said on Twitter.
The "time of closest approach" is 2221 GMT, NASA said.
The ISS is orbiting roughly 260 miles (420 kilometers) above the Earth, at a speed of about 17,130 miles per hour.
At such a velocity, even a small object could seriously damage a solar panel or other facet of the station.
This type of maneuver is necessary on a regular basis. NASA said 25 such maneuvers had occurred between 1999 and 2018.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-22--US health officials take the scare out of Halloween

Americans are being encouraged to carve pumpkins at home rather than participate in certain Halloween activities , such as putting on costumes and going door-to-door for candy Forget the princess outfit , the Batman suit , or the Donald Trump mask .
The coronavirus pandemic has put a damper on Halloween celebrations in the US this year with health officials encouraging Americans to avoid heading out for a candy-fuelled evening and to instead stay home and hold virtual parties .
`` Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses , '' the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowded indoor costume parties or sending kids trick-or-treating .
`` Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming '' is also off-limits , the agency said .
Instead , Americans are being encouraged to carve pumpkins at home or with friends and neighbors outdoors while adhering to social distancing guidelines .
For those who ca n't fathom ignoring one of the most popular US holidays of the year -- during which kids go door-to-door to receive treats -- the CDC said `` one-way trick-or-treating '' or socially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It said goodie bags could be prepared in advance and placed , for example , at the end of a driveway for children to grab .
The CDC guidelines come as states across the country are grappling with how to balance health safety and fun during the annual celebration .
`` Since some of the traditional ways in which this holiday is celebrated does not allow you to minimize contact with non-household members , it is important to plan early and identify safer alternatives , '' the Los Angeles County Health Department said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other Halloween activities but quickly walked back on that decision to change the wording to `` not recommended . ''

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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Forget the princess outfit, the Batman suit, or the Donald Trump mask.
The coronavirus pandemic has put a damper on Halloween celebrations in the US this year with health officials encouraging Americans to avoid heading out for a candy-fuelled evening and to instead stay home and hold virtual parties.
"Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement that advised against crowded indoor costume parties or sending kids trick-or-treating.
"Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming" is also off-limits, the agency said.
Instead, Americans are being encouraged to carve pumpkins at home or with friends and neighbors outdoors while adhering to social distancing guidelines.
Virtual Halloween costume contests are also encouraged.
For those who can't fathom ignoring one of the most popular US holidays of the year -- during which kids go door-to-door to receive treats -- the CDC said "one-way trick-or-treating" or socially distanced parades present a moderate risk.
It said goodie bags could be prepared in advance and placed, for example, at the end of a driveway for children to grab.
The CDC guidelines come as states across the country are grappling with how to balance health safety and fun during the annual celebration.
"Since some of the traditional ways in which this holiday is celebrated does not allow you to minimize contact with non-household members, it is important to plan early and identify safer alternatives," the Los Angeles County Health Department said.
The county initially banned trick-or-treating and other Halloween activities but quickly walked back on that decision to change the wording to "not recommended."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-22--Thiago Silva recalls TB fright ahead of Chelsea debut

As he prepares to make his debut for Chelsea , Thiago Silva has spoken of how his frightening battle with tuberculosis early in his career is never far from his thoughts .
The veteran Brazil defender joined the Premier League club on a free transfer last month after eight years at Paris Saint-Germain and said he was raring to go .
But he told reporters on his 36th birthday that he often thinks about the illness he suffered in 2005 , when he was at Dynamo Moscow .
`` It was one of the worst experiences in my life because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be playing as a professional footballer , '' he told reporters on Tuesday .
`` And when I got TB it seemed the dream would be over but thank God I had the strength to overcome it and get well . ''
Silva , expected to make his bow for Frank Lampard 's team against Barnsley in the League Cup on Wednesday , said talking about the period brought back painful memories .
`` I remember on my last day in the hospital the doctor told me that I had n't been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on my lungs and that my football career would be over , '' he said .
`` But thank God , thanks to the qualified people and the specialists , little by little I got better and little by little with dedication I managed to return to playing football .
`` It 's difficult .
Definitely it 's something that not many people have gone through in their lives and a lot of people did n't recover from a similar illness so I think about it a lot , these moments and what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the strength to overcome it . ''
Silva was asked whether it was a risk to join Chelsea on a one-year deal after the club allowed fellow Brazil veteran Willian to leave , but he said he was relaxed .
`` I think when you get to a certain age , the tendency is you sign this type of contract , '' he said at his first news conference since his transfer .
`` I 'm totally relaxed about the contract , '' he added .
`` Whether Chelsea will want to renew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Silva restated his ambition to play at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar , saying he was proud to come to play in the Premier League at the age of 36 .
The central defender was asked whether the coronavirus crisis had changed his perspective on the rest of his career .
He said Covid-19 itself did not change things for him during a `` specific and unique moment around the world '' .
But he added : `` I 'd like to send a message to the young people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their lives -- if someone is playing football , to truly dedicate themselves to football .
`` Some people have football as a hobby but it is also a profession , a vocation , a job and life is short .
It goes by quickly .
`` In 2005 , my life could have been over but thank God I overcame that illness and today I can now say I am victorious both professionally and personally and it 's a wonderful experience to now be 36 and a player in the Premier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

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As he prepares to make his debut for Chelsea, Thiago Silva has spoken of how his frightening battle with tuberculosis early in his career is never far from his thoughts.
The veteran Brazil defender joined the Premier League club on a free transfer last month after eight years at Paris Saint-Germain and said he was raring to go.
But he told reporters on his 36th birthday that he often thinks about the illness he suffered in 2005, when he was at Dynamo Moscow.
"It was one of the worst experiences in my life because you have a dream as a child to be playing as a professional footballer," he told reporters on Tuesday.
"And when I got TB it seemed the dream would be over but thank God I had the strength to overcome it and get well."
Silva, expected to make his bow for Frank Lampard's team against Barnsley in the League Cup on Wednesday, said talking about the period brought back painful memories.
"I remember on my last day in the hospital the doctor told me that I hadn't been cured, that I needed an operation on my lungs and that my football career would be over," he said.
"But thank God, thanks to the qualified people and the specialists, little by little I got better and little by little with dedication I managed to return to playing football.
"It's difficult. Definitely it's something that not many people have gone through in their lives and a lot of people didn't recover from a similar illness so I think about it a lot, these moments and what I've been through and I had the strength to overcome it."
- Chelsea risk? -
Silva was asked whether it was a risk to join Chelsea on a one-year deal after the club allowed fellow Brazil veteran Willian to leave, but he said he was relaxed.
"I think when you get to a certain age, the tendency is you sign this type of contract," he said at his first news conference since his transfer.
"I'm totally relaxed about the contract," he added. "Whether Chelsea will want to renew it or not I don't know."
Silva restated his ambition to play at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, saying he was proud to come to play in the Premier League at the age of 36.
The central defender was asked whether the coronavirus crisis had changed his perspective on the rest of his career.
He said Covid-19 itself did not change things for him during a "specific and unique moment around the world".
But he added: "I'd like to send a message to the young people to tell them to really make the most of their lives -- if someone is playing football, to truly dedicate themselves to football.
"Some people have football as a hobby but it is also a profession, a vocation, a job and life is short. It goes by quickly.
"In 2005, my life could have been over but thank God I overcame that illness and today I can now say I am victorious both professionally and personally and it's a wonderful experience to now be 36 and a player in the Premier League and putting on the Chelsea shirt."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-23--Brussels unveils plan to share responsibility for migrants

Europe 's plan to redistribute migrants and refugees between EU member states will face opposition in many member states The European Commission launched an effort Wednesday to rally sceptical member states around a plan to better share responsibility for settling refugees and sending rejected asylum seekers home .
The long-awaited proposal for a `` New Pact on Migration and Asylum '' comes two weeks after a devastating fire in an overcrowded camp on the Greek island of Lesbos , and five years after Europe 's last major migrant crisis .
It proposes that EU member states who do not want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reduce pressure on Italy and Greece , where most arrivals land -- can instead take charge of sending those whose asylum requests are rejected back to their homelands .
`` We want to live up to our values .
And at the same time face the challenges of a globalised world , '' the president of the European Commission , Ursula von der Leyen , said , warning that old system `` no longer works '' The proposal disappointed migrants ' rights activists and refugee agencies , who had hoped for compulsory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a `` Fortress Europe '' ringed by squalid refugee camps .
`` It 's a compromise between xenophobia and cowardice , '' tweeted professor of environmental geopolitics Francois Gemenne .
But the plan is likely , nevertheless , to face a rough reception in national capitals , many of which are keen to see the EU take ownership of the problem , without wanting to take charge of large numbers of refugees on their own soil .
`` It wo n't work like this , '' Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told AFP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mandatory quotas for refugees for all EU countries .
Poland , Hungary , the Czech Republic and Slovakia also oppose compulsory relocation , and torpedoed such plans after the 2015 migration crisis .
But von der Leyen had promised another ambitious plan , with an accelerated process to remove migrants who are unlikely to obtain protection .
Those coming from countries with a lower than 20 percent positive response rate to asylum applications , such as Tunisia or Morocco , will be processed at the border and within 12 weeks .
And if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressure '' , and believes that it can not take care of migrants , it can request the activation of a `` compulsory solidarity mechanism '' by the Commission .
All states will then be called upon to contribute , according to their economic weight and population , but they will have the choice between receiving asylum seekers , `` sponsoring '' the return of a migrant who does not have the right to stay or helping to build reception centres .
In the event of a crisis similar to that in 2015 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrived , compared to only 140,000 per year now -- the choice for a state is reduced to taking charge of the relocation of refugees or the return of rejected migrants .
But if an EU country fails to return migrants to their country of origin within eight months , it must take them in -- an idea that a European source admitted would be hard for smaller countries to accept .
Von der Leyen said last week the proposal would replace the `` Dublin Regulation '' with `` a new European migration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states that asylum claims must be processed by the migrant 's country of arrival , a rule that has led to bitter squabbles between the southern coastal member states where seaborne migrants arrive , and wealthier northern countries where most prefer to head .
In the Commission 's proposal , the country responsible for the application could be the nation in which a migrant has a brother or sister or in which he or she has worked or studied .
Any country that issued a visa to a migrant will have to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , the country of arrival is still responsible .
Observers said the plan as unveiled maintains more or less the same principle as Dublin , with some flexibility .
`` It all looks like window dressing , it 's more or less Dublin is dead , long live Dublin , '' said migration researcher Yves Pascouau of the Jacques Delors Institute .
Marissa Ryan of aid agency Oxfam said the plan `` bowed to pressure from EU governments whose only objective is to decrease the number of people granted protection in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moria camp , which underlined the dismal state of the system for housing refugees stuck on the Greek islands , has focused attention again on migrants .
But offers to rehouse the now homeless Moria refugees have come piecemeal , with some states like Austria refusing point blank to take any .

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The European Commission launched an effort Wednesday to rally sceptical member states around a plan to better share responsibility for settling refugees and sending rejected asylum seekers home.
The long-awaited proposal for a "New Pact on Migration and Asylum" comes two weeks after a devastating fire in an overcrowded camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, and five years after Europe's last major migrant crisis.
It proposes that EU member states who do not want to volunteer to house more migrants -- and reduce pressure on Italy and Greece, where most arrivals land -- can instead take charge of sending those whose asylum requests are rejected back to their homelands.
"We want to live up to our values. And at the same time face the challenges of a globalised world," the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said, warning that old system "no longer works"
The proposal disappointed migrants' rights activists and refugee agencies, who had hoped for compulsory quotas for refugee settlement and an end to a "Fortress Europe" ringed by squalid refugee camps.
"It's a compromise between xenophobia and cowardice," tweeted professor of environmental geopolitics Francois Gemenne.
But the plan is likely, nevertheless, to face a rough reception in national capitals, many of which are keen to see the EU take ownership of the problem, without wanting to take charge of large numbers of refugees on their own soil.
"It won't work like this," Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told AFP this week, rejecting the idea of mandatory quotas for refugees for all EU countries.
Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia also oppose compulsory relocation, and torpedoed such plans after the 2015 migration crisis.
But von der Leyen had promised another ambitious plan, with an accelerated process to remove migrants who are unlikely to obtain protection.
Those coming from countries with a lower than 20 percent positive response rate to asylum applications, such as Tunisia or Morocco, will be processed at the border and within 12 weeks.
And if a country is subject to migratory "pressure", and believes that it cannot take care of migrants, it can request the activation of a "compulsory solidarity mechanism" by the Commission.
All states will then be called upon to contribute, according to their economic weight and population, but they will have the choice between receiving asylum seekers, "sponsoring" the return of a migrant who does not have the right to stay or helping to build reception centres.
- 'Long live Dublin' -
In the event of a crisis similar to that in 2015 -- when more than a million refugees arrived, compared to only 140,000 per year now -- the choice for a state is reduced to taking charge of the relocation of refugees or the return of rejected migrants.
But if an EU country fails to return migrants to their country of origin within eight months, it must take them in -- an idea that a European source admitted would be hard for smaller countries to accept.
Von der Leyen said last week the proposal would replace the "Dublin Regulation" with "a new European migration governance system".
The Dublin Regulation states that asylum claims must be processed by the migrant's country of arrival, a rule that has led to bitter squabbles between the southern coastal member states where seaborne migrants arrive, and wealthier northern countries where most prefer to head.
In the Commission's proposal, the country responsible for the application could be the nation in which a migrant has a brother or sister or in which he or she has worked or studied. Any country that issued a visa to a migrant will have to take care of any asylum application.
Otherwise, however, the country of arrival is still responsible.
Observers said the plan as unveiled maintains more or less the same principle as Dublin, with some flexibility.
"It all looks like window dressing, it's more or less Dublin is dead, long live Dublin," said migration researcher Yves Pascouau of the Jacques Delors Institute.
Marissa Ryan of aid agency Oxfam said the plan "bowed to pressure from EU governments whose only objective is to decrease the number of people granted protection in Europe."
The fire in the Moria camp, which underlined the dismal state of the system for housing refugees stuck on the Greek islands, has focused attention again on migrants.
But offers to rehouse the now homeless Moria refugees have come piecemeal, with some states like Austria refusing point blank to take any.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-23--Lewandowski, Neuer and De Bruyne nominated for UEFA player prize

Robert Lewandowski and Manuel Neuer both starred as Bayern Munich won the Champions League Bayern Munich duo Robert Lewandowski and Manuel Neuer have been nominated alongside Manchester City 's Kevin De Bruyne for the UEFA Men 's Player of the Year prize for last season , European football 's governing body announced on Wednesday .
The winner will be announced –- along with the UEFA Women 's Player of the Year -- on October 1 , when UEFA hold the draw for this season 's Champions League group stage at their headquarters in Nyon , Switzerland .
Lewandowski and Neuer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , beating Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the final in Lisbon in August .
Polish striker Lewandowski scored an astonishing 55 goals in 47 games as Bayern won the treble of Champions League , Bundesliga and German Cup .
He top-scored in the Champions League with 15 goals .
Goalkeeper Neuer also played a key role in Bayern 's triumphant campaign , while Belgian playmaker De Bruyne scored or set up 33 goals in the English Premier League and was nominated despite City finishing second to Liverpool domestically and going out of the Champions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barcelona 's Lionel Messi just missed out on being shortlisted , coming fourth in the vote by a jury comprising the 80 coaches of the clubs that participated in the group stages of last season 's Champions League and Europa League , along with 55 selected journalists , one from each of UEFA 's member associations .
England star Lucy Bronze is a contender to win the women 's prize for the second year running after helping Lyon win the Champions League for the fifth season in a row before recently signing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the France defender Wendie Renard , is also shortlisted alongside the Danish striker Pernille Harder , who recently joined Chelsea after helping Wolfsburg get to the Champions League final .

Paris (AFP) –
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Bayern Munich duo Robert Lewandowski and Manuel Neuer have been nominated alongside Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne for the UEFA Men's Player of the Year prize for last season, European football's governing body announced on Wednesday.
The winner will be announced –- along with the UEFA Women's Player of the Year -- on October 1, when UEFA hold the draw for this season's Champions League group stage at their headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
Lewandowski and Neuer starred as Bayern won the Champions League, beating Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the final in Lisbon in August.
Polish striker Lewandowski scored an astonishing 55 goals in 47 games as Bayern won the treble of Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup. He top-scored in the Champions League with 15 goals.
Goalkeeper Neuer also played a key role in Bayern's triumphant campaign, while Belgian playmaker De Bruyne scored or set up 33 goals in the English Premier League and was nominated despite City finishing second to Liverpool domestically and going out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals to Lyon.
Barcelona's Lionel Messi just missed out on being shortlisted, coming fourth in the vote by a jury comprising the 80 coaches of the clubs that participated in the group stages of last season's Champions League and Europa League, along with 55 selected journalists, one from each of UEFA's member associations.
England star Lucy Bronze is a contender to win the women's prize for the second year running after helping Lyon win the Champions League for the fifth season in a row before recently signing for Manchester City.
Her Lyon colleague, the France defender Wendie Renard, is also shortlisted alongside the Danish striker Pernille Harder, who recently joined Chelsea after helping Wolfsburg get to the Champions League final.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-23--French rugby chief Laporte still in custody over favouritism suspicions

French rugby federation ( FFR ) president Bernard Laporte was questioned for a second day in police custody Wednesday as part of an investigation into suspicions he favoured Top 14 club Montpellier , a source close to the case said .
Montpellier 's billionaire owner Mohed Altrad and the chief organiser of the 2023 Rugby World Cup to be held in France , Claude Atcher , are also in custody , along with two senior FFR officials .
Laporte , 56 , a former coach of the France national team who is also vice-chairman of the game 's global body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the appeals committee of the French league to reduce a disciplinary punishment against Montpellier in 2017 .
Laporte is standing for re-election as FFR president with the result expected on October 3 .
On Tuesday he called the timing of the legal proceedings `` revolting '' and claimed he was the victim of a putsch attempt .
`` It 's a true attempt at a coup of which there is no doubt about the motivation of the creators .
It all adds up to a truly foul electoral strategy , '' Laporte said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He has always denied intervening in favour of Montpellier but admits he had a telephone conversation with the head of the appeals committee , Jean-Daniel Simonet , before the decision was changed .
Inspectors at the sports ministry established that the committee 's decision was `` modified '' in June 2017 .
In France , suspects can be detained for up to 48 hours .
After that period the Financial Prosecution Office can decide whether to continue the preliminary investigation , to open a judicial inquiry , or to end the investigation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ choose to close the file without prosecution or to send the suspects to trial .

Paris (AFP) –
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French rugby federation (FFR) president Bernard Laporte was questioned for a second day in police custody Wednesday as part of an investigation into suspicions he favoured Top 14 club Montpellier, a source close to the case said.
Montpellier's billionaire owner Mohed Altrad and the chief organiser of the 2023 Rugby World Cup to be held in France, Claude Atcher, are also in custody, along with two senior FFR officials.
Laporte, 56, a former coach of the France national team who is also vice-chairman of the game's global body World Rugby, is suspected of pressuring the appeals committee of the French league to reduce a disciplinary punishment against Montpellier in 2017.
Laporte is standing for re-election as FFR president with the result expected on October 3. On Tuesday he called the timing of the legal proceedings "revolting" and claimed he was the victim of a putsch attempt.
"It's a true attempt at a coup of which there is no doubt about the motivation of the creators. It all adds up to a truly foul electoral strategy," Laporte said in an open letter to clubs.
He has always denied intervening in favour of Montpellier but admits he had a telephone conversation with the head of the appeals committee, Jean-Daniel Simonet, before the decision was changed.
Inspectors at the sports ministry established that the committee's decision was "modified" in June 2017.
In France, suspects can be detained for up to 48 hours. After that period the Financial Prosecution Office can decide whether to continue the preliminary investigation, to open a judicial inquiry, or to end the investigation. In the latter case, it can choose to close the file without prosecution or to send the suspects to trial.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-23--Migrant crisis: EU to unveil long-delayed asylum plan to share responsibility

Five years after Europe 's migrant crisis , Brussels will propose on Wednesday that member states share the responsibility for @ @ @ @ @ compulsory solidarity mechanism '' .
FRANCE 24 's Dave Keating tells us more .

Migrant crisis: EU to unveil long-delayed asylum plan to share responsibility
04:57
Five years after Europe's migrant crisis, Brussels will propose on Wednesday that member states share the responsibility for asylum seekers under a "compulsory solidarity mechanism". FRANCE 24's Dave Keating tells us more.


france24--2020-09-23--Coronavirus in Europe: Germany & Belgium's confirmed cases increase

The # coronavirus crisis deteriorated across # Europe Monday , with Britain working to draw up new restrictions , Spain @ @ @ @ @ and the Czech Republic replacing its health minister with an epidemiologist ... FRANCE 24 's @ @ @ @ @ tell us more about the situation in # Germany and # Belgium .

Coronavirus in Europe: Germany & Belgium's confirmed cases increase
01:28
Video by: Nick SPICER
The #coronavirus crisis deteriorated across #Europe Monday, with Britain working to draw up new restrictions, Spain clamping down again in Madrid and the Czech Republic replacing its health minister with an epidemiologist... FRANCE 24's Nick Spicer & Dave Keating tell us more about the situation in #Germany and #Belgium.


france24--2020-09-23--'Nothing to hide' - Tour de France team leader Quintana denies doping

The lead rider of a Tour de France team caught up in a doping investigation said he had `` nothing to hide '' after two unnamed members of the French outfit were briefly detained before being released .
Colombian rider Nairo Quintana , 30 , leader of the Arkea-Samsic team and winner of the 2014 Giro d'Italia , said no drugs were discovered during the investigation .
`` No doping substance has ever been found , '' Quintana said in a statement late on Tuesday .
`` I have nothing to hide and have never had anything to hide .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arkea-Samsic team on Monday , with press reports saying they were a doctor and physiotherapist .
Marseille prosecutor Dominique Laurens confirmed Wednesday that the pair , whom he had said had `` many health products including drugs in their personal belongings , but also and above all a method that can be qualified as doping '' , had both been released Tuesday .
`` The investigation is ongoing , '' Laurens said , adding that new developments were possible .
`` Investigations and hearings ( must ) be carried out before the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the elements collected . ''
A source familiar with the matter told AFP that searches had targeted several riders including Quintana 's brother Dayer , as well as members of the medical team .
Nairo Quintana finished the Tour in 17th place , more than an hour behind Pogacar .
Quintana 's teammate Warren Barguil finished in 14th place .
It is the most significant investigation in years for the repeatedly scandal-hit Tour , which wrapped up Sunday in Paris with a surprise victory for 21-year-old debutant Tadej Pogacar , the youngest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Tour was rocked by a major probe in 1998 , when customs officials stopped a vehicle laden with doping products and the Festina team was thrown off the race as the peloton headed into Paris .
Most notoriously , Lance Armstrong , who won from 1999-2005 , admitted doping in 2013 and the American was stripped of his record seven titles .
The French team 's general manager Emmanuel Hubert told AFP the probe involved only `` a very limited number of riders , as well as their close entourage who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` But if it turned out that at the end of the current investigation , elements came to confirm the truth of doping practices , the team would immediately dissociate itself from such acts and would take the necessary measures without delay , '' Hubert said .
He added that the investigation `` does not target the team or its staff directly '' .
The probe will have come as a huge disappointment to organisers after positive headlines about the against-the-odds organisation of the race and the drama that saw Pogacar seize victory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predicted the Covid-19 pandemic would prevent the riders making it the 3,400 kilometres ( 2,100 miles ) from the Mediterranean city of Nice to the French capital .
The prosecutor 's statement said the investigation was focused on the prescription of a substance or banned method for athletes , as well as help and encouragement in its use .
The charges can lead to up to five years in prison and a 75,000-euro ( $ 88,000 ) fine .

Marseille (AFP) –
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The lead rider of a Tour de France team caught up in a doping investigation said he had "nothing to hide" after two unnamed members of the French outfit were briefly detained before being released.
Colombian rider Nairo Quintana, 30, leader of the Arkea-Samsic team and winner of the 2014 Giro d'Italia, said no drugs were discovered during the investigation.
"No doping substance has ever been found," Quintana said in a statement late on Tuesday.
"I have nothing to hide and have never had anything to hide."
Police detained two people from the Arkea-Samsic team on Monday, with press reports saying they were a doctor and physiotherapist.
Marseille prosecutor Dominique Laurens confirmed Wednesday that the pair, whom he had said had "many health products including drugs in their personal belongings, but also and above all a method that can be qualified as doping", had both been released Tuesday.
"The investigation is ongoing," Laurens said, adding that new developments were possible.
"Investigations and hearings (must) be carried out before the public prosecutor reaches a decision on the basis of the elements collected."
A source familiar with the matter told AFP that searches had targeted several riders including Quintana's brother Dayer, as well as members of the medical team.
Nairo Quintana finished the Tour in 17th place, more than an hour behind Pogacar. Quintana's teammate Warren Barguil finished in 14th place.
It is the most significant investigation in years for the repeatedly scandal-hit Tour, which wrapped up Sunday in Paris with a surprise victory for 21-year-old debutant Tadej Pogacar, the youngest winner in more than a century.
The Tour was rocked by a major probe in 1998, when customs officials stopped a vehicle laden with doping products and the Festina team was thrown off the race as the peloton headed into Paris.
Most notoriously, Lance Armstrong, who won from 1999-2005, admitted doping in 2013 and the American was stripped of his record seven titles.
- Huge disappointment -
The French team's general manager Emmanuel Hubert told AFP the probe involved only "a very limited number of riders, as well as their close entourage who are not employed by the team".
"But if it turned out that at the end of the current investigation, elements came to confirm the truth of doping practices, the team would immediately dissociate itself from such acts and would take the necessary measures without delay," Hubert said.
He added that the investigation "does not target the team or its staff directly".
The probe will have come as a huge disappointment to organisers after positive headlines about the against-the-odds organisation of the race and the drama that saw Pogacar seize victory late in the race.
Many had predicted the Covid-19 pandemic would prevent the riders making it the 3,400 kilometres (2,100 miles) from the Mediterranean city of Nice to the French capital.
The prosecutor's statement said the investigation was focused on the prescription of a substance or banned method for athletes, as well as help and encouragement in its use.
The charges can lead to up to five years in prison and a 75,000-euro ($88,000) fine.
burs/lp/gj
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-23--Big promises, but can China be carbon neutral by 2060?

China is responsible for over a quarter of the world 's greenhouse gas emissions but also the biggest investor in renewable energy Xi Jinping 's shock promise to lead the world into a safer climate future was thin on details , leaving many questions unanswered on how the world 's worst polluter will meet a 2060 carbon neutral target .
China is responsible for over a quarter of the world 's greenhouse gas emissions linked to global warming .
But it is also the biggest global investor in renewable energy -- a country whose energy policy points both ways .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , what needs to be done and whether China 's post-pandemic love affair with coal will derail its climate plans .
In an unexpected pledge Xi told the UN on Tuesday China would `` strive to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 . ''
It is the first time China has announced any plans to become carbon neutral -- but Xi did not say how he will tip the balance from a country whose growth is fed by fossil fuels .
His statement leaves `` plenty of room @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Myllyvirta , China analyst at Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air .
`` The worst case is there 's still another decade ... to build more fossil fuel infrastructure and increase emissions , '' he said .
Coal has powered China 's phenomenal economic rise .
Annual coal consumption nearly quadrupled between 1990 and 2015 , providing 70 percent of China 's energy over that period .
China 's leaders have tried to dilute the nation 's dependancy on coal , and it now makes up less than 60 percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's economy still growing , the total amount of coal burnt continues to grow .
Approvals for coal energy projects have also accelerated this year as local authorities try to kickstart virus-hit economies .
Local governments approved 23 gigawatts worth of new coal power projects in the first half of 2020 , more than the previous two years combined , according to Global Energy Monitor ( GEM ) , a San Francisco-based environmental NGO .
The International Energy Authority says China has no need for new coal-fired plants because the price of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now comparable to that of coal .
China is the world 's biggest investor in renewable energy , yet non fossil-fuels only account for about 15 percent of the nation 's energy consumption .
Wind and solar only made up a combined 7.7 percent of China 's national power generation in 2018 , according to Kevin Tu , a researcher at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University .
Nuclear forms another large chunk of the non-fossil fuel mix .
Investments in new wind and solar installations have also declined over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power installations this year are nearly half that of 2019 , according to the country 's central economics planner .
Its huge renewable ambitions have also been hampered by logistical and geographical problems .
China 's biggest wind producing area , the far northwest region of Xinjiang , cancelled 31 projects in the first half of this year due to `` overcapacity and inability to connect to grid , '' the local government said .
Chinese coal companies have also been on a building spree overseas as part of the Belt and Road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ push to build infrastructure projects and extend strategic influence across the globe .
Beijing has invested over $ 50 billion in nearly 240 coal projects in 25 countries , including in Bangladesh , Pakistan , Serbia , Kenya , Ghana , Malawi , and Zimbabwe , data from Endcoal , an environmental NGO showed .
That may effectively hollow out any domestic efforts at emission-busting .
The BRI `` threatens to lock China 's partners into the high-emissions development that China is trying to exit , '' said Tom Baxter , an analyst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With China having the world 's largest renewable energy industry , investment budget and industrial base , this is eminently achievable , '' Myllyvirta said .
But whether China 's leaders have the political will to revolutionise the economy is not yet known .
Some of those answers should come next year when China releases its next five-year economic plan .
These are the traditional foundations of the Communist Party 's economic policies .
Li Shuo , senior climate and energy officer at Greenpeace China , warns that there is a lot left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requires unprecedented investments in energy efficiency , a better carbon trading system and weaning the economy from fossil fuels , '' Li said .
`` Right now this goal feels like a bit of science fiction . ''

Beijing (AFP) –
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Xi Jinping's shock promise to lead the world into a safer climate future was thin on details, leaving many questions unanswered on how the world's worst polluter will meet a 2060 carbon neutral target.
China is responsible for over a quarter of the world's greenhouse gas emissions linked to global warming.
But it is also the biggest global investor in renewable energy -- a country whose energy policy points both ways.
AFP looks at what China has achieved, what needs to be done and whether China's post-pandemic love affair with coal will derail its climate plans.
What did Xi promise?
In an unexpected pledge Xi told the UN on Tuesday China would "strive to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060."
It is the first time China has announced any plans to become carbon neutral -- but Xi did not say how he will tip the balance from a country whose growth is fed by fossil fuels.
His statement leaves "plenty of room for different readings," said Lauri Myllyvirta , China analyst at Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
"The worst case is there's still another decade... to build more fossil fuel infrastructure and increase emissions," he said.
- Still hooked on coal? -
Coal has powered China's phenomenal economic rise. Annual coal consumption nearly quadrupled between 1990 and 2015, providing 70 percent of China's energy over that period.
China's leaders have tried to dilute the nation's dependancy on coal, and it now makes up less than 60 percent of the energy mix.
But with China's economy still growing, the total amount of coal burnt continues to grow.
Approvals for coal energy projects have also accelerated this year as local authorities try to kickstart virus-hit economies.
Local governments approved 23 gigawatts worth of new coal power projects in the first half of 2020, more than the previous two years combined, according to Global Energy Monitor (GEM), a San Francisco-based environmental NGO.
The International Energy Authority says China has no need for new coal-fired plants because the price of a unit of wind or solar power is now comparable to that of coal.
- What about renewables? -
China is the world's biggest investor in renewable energy, yet non fossil-fuels only account for about 15 percent of the nation's energy consumption.
Wind and solar only made up a combined 7.7 percent of China's national power generation in 2018, according to Kevin Tu, a researcher at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University.
Nuclear forms another large chunk of the non-fossil fuel mix.
Investments in new wind and solar installations have also declined over the past 18 months.
Planned solar power installations this year are nearly half that of 2019, according to the country's central economics planner.
Its huge renewable ambitions have also been hampered by logistical and geographical problems.
China's biggest wind producing area, the far northwest region of Xinjiang, cancelled 31 projects in the first half of this year due to "overcapacity and inability to connect to grid," the local government said.
- Exporting emissions? -
Chinese coal companies have also been on a building spree overseas as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) -- a trillion-dollar push to build infrastructure projects and extend strategic influence across the globe.
Beijing has invested over $50 billion in nearly 240 coal projects in 25 countries, including in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Serbia, Kenya, Ghana, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, data from Endcoal, an environmental NGO showed.
That may effectively hollow out any domestic efforts at emission-busting.
The BRI "threatens to lock China's partners into the high-emissions development that China is trying to exit," said Tom Baxter, an analyst for environmental NGO China Dialogue.
- Is 2060 realistic? -
"With China having the world's largest renewable energy industry, investment budget and industrial base, this is eminently achievable," Myllyvirta said.
But whether China's leaders have the political will to revolutionise the economy is not yet known.
Some of those answers should come next year when China releases its next five-year economic plan. These are the traditional foundations of the Communist Party's economic policies.
Li Shuo, senior climate and energy officer at Greenpeace China, warns that there is a lot left to be done.
"The goal requires unprecedented investments in energy efficiency, a better carbon trading system and weaning the economy from fossil fuels," Li said.
"Right now this goal feels like a bit of science fiction."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-23--Russia puts 'Jesus of Siberia' behind bars for 2 months

In this file photo taken on August 28 , 2009 shows `` Jesus of Siberia '' , Russian ex-traffic cop Sergei Torop , meeting with his followers in the remote village of Petropavlovka .
He was arrested on Tuesday .
A Russian court on Wednesday ordered two months of pre-trial detention for a Siberian cult leader claiming to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ as he faces charges of harming followers .
Sergei Torop , a long-haired former traffic policeman , has led a sect called The Church of the Last Testament for almost 30 years since proclaiming himself the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a revelation .
Torop and two of his followers , who also call him Vissarion , must stay in prison until November 22 awaiting trial , a court in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk ruled .
Russian special forces flew by helicopter to his remote settlement in the Krasnoyarsk region on Tuesday and detained him and his top aides .
The Investigative Committee said it was planning to charge the cult leaders with organising an illegal religious organisation and causing `` two or more people severe harm . ''
Investigators said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and submitted them to `` mental abuse '' that seriously damaged their health .
The Novosibirsk Central District Court said in a statement on Wednesday that Torop and two others had been charged .
Attending court on Tuesday , Torop told journalists he rejected the charges against him , his spokesman and the head of a school for followers ' children , describing them as `` unbelievable , '' the TASS state news agency reported .
The case has generated massive interest in Russia , with the news media calling him the `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christ . ''

Moscow (AFP) –
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A Russian court on Wednesday ordered two months of pre-trial detention for a Siberian cult leader claiming to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ as he faces charges of harming followers.
Sergei Torop, a long-haired former traffic policeman, has led a sect called The Church of the Last Testament for almost 30 years since proclaiming himself the Son of God following what he says was a revelation.
Torop and two of his followers, who also call him Vissarion, must stay in prison until November 22 awaiting trial, a court in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk ruled.
Russian special forces flew by helicopter to his remote settlement in the Krasnoyarsk region on Tuesday and detained him and his top aides.
The Investigative Committee said it was planning to charge the cult leaders with organising an illegal religious organisation and causing "two or more people severe harm."
Investigators said the cult leaders manipulated followers into giving money and submitted them to "mental abuse" that seriously damaged their health.
The Novosibirsk Central District Court said in a statement on Wednesday that Torop and two others had been charged.
Attending court on Tuesday, Torop told journalists he rejected the charges against him, his spokesman and the head of a school for followers' children, describing them as "unbelievable," the TASS state news agency reported.
The case has generated massive interest in Russia, with the news media calling him the "Jesus of Siberia" or "Siberian Christ."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-23--Whale strandings: some notable events

Whale strandings: some notable events

At least 380 pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia At least 380 pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia , officials said Wednesday , in what is likely to be the biggest beaching of the cetaceans in the country 's history .
Here are other notable mass strandings of whales from around the world .
New Zealand -- considered as one of `` hotspots '' for whale strandings -- has recorded incidents dating back to the 1800s .
The country 's largest reported mass stranding took place in 1918 , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Islands .
More recently , hundreds of pilot whales died after nearly 700 were found on the beaches of Farewell Spit -- at the top of the country 's South Island -- in February 2017 .
Another 145 died in a mass stranding the following year on Stewart Island .
One of the largest known mass beachings in the last century was of false killer whales in October 1946 , when an estimated 835 were stranded near Mar del Plata in Argentina .
In December 2015 more than 300 whales were discovered washed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ southern Chile .
Scientists at the time called the sight of the stranding `` apocalyptic '' .
A surge in algae in the water , known as a `` red tide '' , was believed to be the culprit .
It bloomed across the ocean around Chile in the early months of 2016 , choking to death an estimated 40,000 tons of salmon in the Los Lagos region -- or about 12 percent of the country 's annual production of the fish .
In July 2016 about 70 dead whales were also found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 2008 , around a hundred whales swam onto the beaches of Madagascar and three-quarters of them perished , in the first mass beaching blamed on high-frequency sonar mapping systems deployed in the hunt for oil .
According to a report released by the International Whaling Commission in 2013 , the culprit was a high-power 12-kilohertz multibeam echosounder system operated by an ExxonMobil vessel about 65 kilometres ( 40 miles ) offshore .
The company disagreed with the findings .
The use of anti-submarine sonars was also suspected of causing the mass-beaching in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perished in the Canaries after a NATO exercise .
In April 2015 , around 150 melon-headed whales were discovered washed up on a stretch of beach in Japan .
The cetaceans , which usually live in deep water and are a member of the dolphin family , were thought to have either suffered from a parasitic infection that disrupted their ability to navigate , or had become unable to navigate in the sandy shoals .

Sydney (AFP) –
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At least 380 pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia, officials said Wednesday, in what is likely to be the biggest beaching of the cetaceans in the country's history.
Here are other notable mass strandings of whales from around the world.
- New Zealand -
New Zealand -- considered as one of "hotspots" for whale strandings -- has recorded incidents dating back to the 1800s.
The country's largest reported mass stranding took place in 1918, when 1,000 whales beached at the remote Chatham Islands.
More recently, hundreds of pilot whales died after nearly 700 were found on the beaches of Farewell Spit -- at the top of the country's South Island -- in February 2017. Another 145 died in a mass stranding the following year on Stewart Island.
- Argentina -
One of the largest known mass beachings in the last century was of false killer whales in October 1946, when an estimated 835 were stranded near Mar del Plata in Argentina.
- Chile -
In December 2015 more than 300 whales were discovered washed up on a remote Patagonian inlet in southern Chile. Scientists at the time called the sight of the stranding "apocalyptic".
A surge in algae in the water, known as a "red tide", was believed to be the culprit. It bloomed across the ocean around Chile in the early months of 2016, choking to death an estimated 40,000 tons of salmon in the Los Lagos region -- or about 12 percent of the country's annual production of the fish.
In July 2016 about 70 dead whales were also found on the southern Chile coast.
- Madagascar -
In May 2008, around a hundred whales swam onto the beaches of Madagascar and three-quarters of them perished, in the first mass beaching blamed on high-frequency sonar mapping systems deployed in the hunt for oil.
According to a report released by the International Whaling Commission in 2013, the culprit was a high-power 12-kilohertz multibeam echosounder system operated by an ExxonMobil vessel about 65 kilometres (40 miles) offshore. The company disagreed with the findings.
The use of anti-submarine sonars was also suspected of causing the mass-beaching in 2002, when some 15 beaked whales perished in the Canaries after a NATO exercise.
- Japan -
In April 2015, around 150 melon-headed whales were discovered washed up on a stretch of beach in Japan.
The cetaceans, which usually live in deep water and are a member of the dolphin family, were thought to have either suffered from a parasitic infection that disrupted their ability to navigate, or had become unable to navigate in the sandy shoals.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-23--Bayern eager to stop Super Cup becoming virus hotbed

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says Bayern Munich want to stop Thursday 's UEFA Super Cup showdown in Budapest becoming a 'football-Ischgl' Bayern Munich boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge insists the German giants are eager to stop Thursday 's UEFA Super Cup showdown in Budapest turning into a super spreader event due to a high infection rate of the coronavirus there .
On Monday , Bavaria 's premier minister Markus Soeder warned against the match in Budapest becoming a `` football-Ischgl '' , referring to the Austrian ski resort where thousands of holidaymakers were infected with the virus at the beginning of the pandemic in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic `` I really get a stomach ache when it comes to the Super Cup '' between Bayern and Europa League holders Sevilla in Budapest .
Rummenigge echoed Soeder 's comments on Wednesday , insisting Bayern Munich have `` every interest in ensuring that no Ischgl of football takes place '' in Budapest .
`` I think everyone 's stomachs are churning .
The game will take place in a city with an rate of infection of over 100 ( per 100,000 inhabitants ) , which is twice as high as that in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` That has to be taken seriously . ''
Up to 20,000 spectators would be allowed by UEFA into Budapest 's Puskas Arena in a piloting project to test the return of fans into stadiums .
However , Budapest 's mayor Gergely Karacsony wants the game played without fans .
`` If I had the legal means to decide that , I would let the game take place behind closed doors , '' he told Hungarian newspaper Nepszava .
Rummenigge anticipates `` less than a thousand '' Bayern fans will actually make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fans are expected .
`` We have a great interest that they come back healthy and that nobody in Budapest gets infected , '' emphasised Rummenigge .
He has promised a `` serious and disciplined '' approach with both Bayern and Sevilla offering travelling fans Covid-19 tests .
The Bayern chief also pointed out that to `` all those who say that you really have to be extremely careful with the subject .
We are '' .
Bayern initially had an allocation of 4,500 tickets but hundreds of fans opted not to travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk zone .
European champions Bayern are also flying to Budapest with a small delegation of officials after being heavily criticised when a group of senior figures sat bunched together in the stands for Friday 's 8-0 rout of Schalke .
Rummenigge was among the group not wearing masks and seated close together in the VIP stand for the opening game of the new Bundesliga season .
`` At the next game we will keep the desired distance and wear masks , no problem , '' said the 64-year-old .

Berlin (AFP) –
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Bayern Munich boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge insists the German giants are eager to stop Thursday's UEFA Super Cup showdown in Budapest turning into a super spreader event due to a high infection rate of the coronavirus there.
On Monday, Bavaria's premier minister Markus Soeder warned against the match in Budapest becoming a "football-Ischgl", referring to the Austrian ski resort where thousands of holidaymakers were infected with the virus at the beginning of the pandemic in Europe.
Soeder added that amid the pandemic "I really get a stomach ache when it comes to the Super Cup" between Bayern and Europa League holders Sevilla in Budapest.
Rummenigge echoed Soeder's comments on Wednesday, insisting Bayern Munich have "every interest in ensuring that no Ischgl of football takes place" in Budapest.
"I think everyone's stomachs are churning. The game will take place in a city with an rate of infection of over 100 (per 100,000 inhabitants), which is twice as high as that in Munich," Rummenigge told broadcaster ZDF.
"That has to be taken seriously."
Up to 20,000 spectators would be allowed by UEFA into Budapest's Puskas Arena in a piloting project to test the return of fans into stadiums.
However, Budapest's mayor Gergely Karacsony wants the game played without fans.
"If I had the legal means to decide that, I would let the game take place behind closed doors," he told Hungarian newspaper Nepszava.
Rummenigge anticipates "less than a thousand" Bayern fans will actually make the journey and only around 500 Sevilla fans are expected.
"We have a great interest that they come back healthy and that nobody in Budapest gets infected," emphasised Rummenigge.
He has promised a "serious and disciplined" approach with both Bayern and Sevilla offering travelling fans Covid-19 tests.
The Bayern chief also pointed out that to "all those who say that you really have to be extremely careful with the subject. We are".
Bayern initially had an allocation of 4,500 tickets but hundreds of fans opted not to travel after the German government declared Budapest a risk zone.
European champions Bayern are also flying to Budapest with a small delegation of officials after being heavily criticised when a group of senior figures sat bunched together in the stands for Friday's 8-0 rout of Schalke.
Rummenigge was among the group not wearing masks and seated close together in the VIP stand for the opening game of the new Bundesliga season.
"At the next game we will keep the desired distance and wear masks, no problem," said the 64-year-old.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-23--US-China tensions take center stage at UN as Trump accuses Beijing of unleashing 'plague'

US-China tensions take center stage at UN as Trump accuses Beijing of unleashing 'plague' US President Donald # Trump told @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday that China must be held accountable for having `` unleashed '' Covid-19 on @ @ @ @ @ Beijing to accuse him of `` lies '' and abusing the # UN platform to @ @ @

US-China tensions take center stage at UN as Trump accuses Beijing of unleashing 'plague'
01:52
US President Donald #Trump told the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday that China must be held accountable for having "unleashed" Covid-19 on the world, prompting #Beijing to accuse him of "lies" and abusing the #UN platform to provoke confrontation.


france24--2020-09-23--Turkish President Erdogan discusses east Mediterranean with France's Macron

# Turkey expects a prudent and constructive approach from France as de-escalation of # tensions in the eastern Mediterranean continues @ @ @ @ @ said on Tuesday in a phone call with his French counterpart Emmanuel # Macron .
@ @ @ @ @ tells us more .

Turkish President Erdogan discusses east Mediterranean with France's Macron
03:24
#Turkey expects a prudent and constructive approach from France as de-escalation of #tensions in the eastern Mediterranean continues, President Tayyip #Erdogan said on Tuesday in a phone call with his French counterpart Emmanuel #Macron. FRANCE 24's Jasper Mortimer tells us more.


france24--2020-09-23--As infections rise, Paris may get stricter virus measures

There are concerns in Paris about people flouting advice to keep a safe social distance , especially among young people who have been gathering in large groups , often maskless , at bars and cafes The French government prepared Wednesday to announce stricter measures for Paris , where coronavirus infections have exploded since an end to lockdown , sources told AFP .
Ministers will hold two meetings -- including one of the defence council -- during the day to analyse the worsening situation , with over 10,000 new daily infections and 78 deaths reported countrywide just Tuesday .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate of infection has risen to 204 per 100,000 inhabitants , higher than in other hard-hit cities such as Lyon and Marseille , which have already tightened measures to curb virus transmission .
On Tuesday , President Emmanuel Macron said several decisions would be taken by Wednesday and announced by Health Minister Olivier Veran at a weekly press conference in the evening .
The ministers would on Wednesday discuss the possibility of reinforcing local measures in places where viral transmission is high , and finding ways to speed up coronavirus test results , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sources with insider knowledge told AFP that a meeting of the Ile-de-France health authority , municipal officials and local police on Monday mooted the possibility of imposing a ban on evening alcohol sales in the capital , from 8:00 pm daily .
Paris could also implement a 10-person limit on gatherings , a lowering of the ceiling for attendance of sports and cultural events from 5,000 to 1,000 , and a temporary ban on renting party venues , including for weddings .
France already obliges people to wear masks in public places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in hard-hit areas like Paris .
But there are concerns about people flouting advice to keep a safe social distance , especially among young people .
They have been gathering in large groups , often maskless , at bars and cafes in the capital and elsewhere .
Cities including Lyon , Bordeaux , Toulouse , Lille and Marseille have already taken additional measures , such as limiting visits to care homes for the aged , who are more vulnerable to the virus , capping public gatherings and closing or limiting bar hours .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ over 31,400 deaths to date , concern is growing about hospital capacity to handle a new infection wave , as admissions have started to rise again after being contained during France 's March-May lockdown .

Paris (AFP) –
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The French government prepared Wednesday to announce stricter measures for Paris, where coronavirus infections have exploded since an end to lockdown, sources told AFP.
Ministers will hold two meetings -- including one of the defence council -- during the day to analyse the worsening situation, with over 10,000 new daily infections and 78 deaths reported countrywide just Tuesday.
In the larger Paris Ile-de-France area, the incidence rate of infection has risen to 204 per 100,000 inhabitants, higher than in other hard-hit cities such as Lyon and Marseille, which have already tightened measures to curb virus transmission.
On Tuesday, President Emmanuel Macron said several decisions would be taken by Wednesday and announced by Health Minister Olivier Veran at a weekly press conference in the evening.
The ministers would on Wednesday discuss the possibility of reinforcing local measures in places where viral transmission is high, and finding ways to speed up coronavirus test results, which can take up to a week.
Sources with insider knowledge told AFP that a meeting of the Ile-de-France health authority, municipal officials and local police on Monday mooted the possibility of imposing a ban on evening alcohol sales in the capital, from 8:00 pm daily.
Paris could also implement a 10-person limit on gatherings, a lowering of the ceiling for attendance of sports and cultural events from 5,000 to 1,000, and a temporary ban on renting party venues, including for weddings.
France already obliges people to wear masks in public places -- indoors countrywide as well as outdoors in hard-hit areas like Paris.
But there are concerns about people flouting advice to keep a safe social distance, especially among young people. They have been gathering in large groups, often maskless, at bars and cafes in the capital and elsewhere.
Cities including Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Lille and Marseille have already taken additional measures, such as limiting visits to care homes for the aged, who are more vulnerable to the virus, capping public gatherings and closing or limiting bar hours.
With more than 460,000 confirmed cases and over 31,400 deaths to date, concern is growing about hospital capacity to handle a new infection wave, as admissions have started to rise again after being contained during France's March-May lockdown.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-23--Coronavirus in Europe: Italy & Spain announce new restrictions as cases surge

Coronavirus in Europe : Italy & Spain announce new restrictions as cases surge The # coronavirus crisis deteriorated across # @ @ @ @ @ working to draw up new restrictions , Spain clamping down again in Madrid and the @ @ @ @ @ minister with an epidemiologist ... FRANCE 24 's Seema Gupta & Sarrah Morris tell us @ @ @ @ @ # Italy and # Spain .

Coronavirus in Europe: Italy & Spain announce new restrictions as cases surge
01:54
The #coronavirus crisis deteriorated across #Europe Monday, with Britain working to draw up new restrictions, Spain clamping down again in Madrid and the Czech Republic replacing its health minister with an epidemiologist... FRANCE 24's Seema Gupta & Sarrah Morris tell us more about the situation in #Italy and #Spain.


france24--2020-09-23--‘The Gluers’: A French group denounces femicide with a poster campaign

A group of activists put up posters in Paris to raise awareness about violence against women .
Over the past year , anti-femicide posters have been appearing on walls all around France and across Paris .
The campaign , which denounces violence against women and aims to raise awareness , has been praised but also criticised .
FRANCE 24 met with some members of “ the Gluers ” group running the campaign .
Members of the group , mostly aged 20 to 30 , have been putting up the posters in the streets of France to denounce violence against women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you strength when you see the messages in the street , so the idea is to pass this on to others passing by , '' Anne , a campaigner , told FRANCE 24 .
The group is out to put up new posters where it had held a memorial for the 122 women killed by their partners since the campaign began in 2019 .
The original collage was torn down after three weeks , but campaigners are now reclaiming the space by putting up new posters denouncing the act .
In Paris , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a €68 fine .
The posters have prompted mixed reactions from passers-by .
`` It raises awareness and gets people thinking .
I come this way every morning and I always see people stopping to take photos '' , a woman told FRANCE 24 .
Another neighbour though , sounded less enthusiastic : `` It 's nice and all , but it 's every week , it never stops . ''
Click on the player above to watch the full report .

On the ground
Over the past year, anti-femicide posters have been appearing on walls all around France and across Paris. The campaign, which denounces violence against women and aims to raise awareness, has been praised but also criticised. FRANCE 24 met some members of “the Gluers” group running the campaign.
A group of activists put up posters in Paris to raise awareness about violence against women.
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Members of the group, mostly aged 20 to 30, have been putting up the posters in the streets of France to denounce violence against women and raise awareness.
"It gives you strength when you see the messages in the street, so the idea is to pass this on to others passing by," Anne, a campaigner, told FRANCE 24.
The group is out to put up new posters where it had held a memorial for the 122 women killed by their partners since the campaign began in 2019. The original collage was torn down after three weeks, but campaigners are now reclaiming the space by putting up new posters denouncing the act.
In Paris, posting on public walls is punishable by a €68 fine.
The posters have prompted mixed reactions from passers-by. "It raises awareness and gets people thinking. I come this way every morning and I always see people stopping to take photos", a woman told FRANCE 24.
Another neighbour though, sounded less enthusiastic: "It's nice and all, but it's every week, it never stops."
Click on the player above to watch the full report.
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france24--2020-09-24--Trump attacks Meghan Markle, wishes Harry 'good luck'

Meghan Markle , seen in Johannesburg in October 2019 , urged Americans to vote in what she says are crucial upcoming elections President Donald Trump , seemingly stung by Meghan Markle 's recent comments about the upcoming US elections , slammed the actress on Wednesday , saying he was `` not a fan '' and wishing her husband Prince Harry an ironic `` good luck . ''
Markle , the former `` Suits '' star and current Duchess of Sussex , had urged Americans to vote during an ABC primetime special Tuesday , telling viewers : `` Every four years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most important election of our lifetime . '
But this one is . ''
When asked about the actress 's recent comments , Trump told reporters : `` I 'm not a fan of hers '' before adding : `` I wish a lot of luck to Harry , because he 's going to need it . ''
Harry , who appeared alongside Markle in their first joint TV appearance since leaving Britain , added : `` As we approach this November , it 's vital that we reject hate speech , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couple quit frontline British royal duties earlier this year and recently moved to California with their one-year-old son , Archie .
`` When we vote , our values are put into action , and our voices are heard , '' Markle said in the special revealing Time magazine 's list of the 100 most influential people of 2020 .
Markle and Harry have spoken of their desire to `` do something of meaning , to do something that matters , '' in California , where they plan to launch a wide-ranging non-profit organization @

Washington (AFP) –
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President Donald Trump, seemingly stung by Meghan Markle's recent comments about the upcoming US elections, slammed the actress on Wednesday, saying he was "not a fan" and wishing her husband Prince Harry an ironic "good luck."
Markle, the former "Suits" star and current Duchess of Sussex, had urged Americans to vote during an ABC primetime special Tuesday, telling viewers: "Every four years, we're told, 'This is the most important election of our lifetime.' But this one is."
When asked about the actress's recent comments, Trump told reporters: "I'm not a fan of hers" before adding: "I wish a lot of luck to Harry, because he's going to need it."
Harry, who appeared alongside Markle in their first joint TV appearance since leaving Britain, added: "As we approach this November, it's vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity."
Neither Meghan, 39, nor Harry, 36, mentioned Trump directly.
The couple quit frontline British royal duties earlier this year and recently moved to California with their one-year-old son, Archie.
"When we vote, our values are put into action, and our voices are heard," Markle said in the special revealing Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people of 2020.
Markle and Harry have spoken of their desire to "do something of meaning, to do something that matters," in California, where they plan to launch a wide-ranging non-profit organization.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-24--United Nations, Britain to co-host climate summit in December

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks during the 75th annual U.N. General Assembly , which is being held mostly virtually due to the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) pandemic in the Manhattan borough of New York City , New York , U.S. , September 22 , 2020 .
The United Nations and Britain will co-host a global climate summit on December 12 , the fifth anniversary of the landmark Paris Agreement , the world body said Wednesday .
The announcement came days after Chinese President Xi Jinping told the UN that the world 's largest greenhouse gas polluter would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go carbon neutral by 2060 , a move hailed by environmentalists .
`` We have champions and solutions all around us , in every city , corporation and country , '' UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said .
`` But the climate emergency is fully upon us , and we have no time to waste .
The answer to our existential crisis is swift , decisive , scaled up action and solidarity among nations . ''
The world remains off-track to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prevent runaway warming that would leave vast swathes of the planet inhospitable to life .
`` In light of this urgency , the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will co-host a landmark global event convening global leaders ... to rally much greater climate action and ambition , '' the statement said .
The two were to address the issue at a climate roundtable meeting hosted by Guterres on Thursday .
National governments will be invited to present more ambitious and high-quality climate plans at the summit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as the private sector and civil society .
According to the UN , the December 12 summit is intended to increase momentum ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference ( COP 26 ) to be held in Glasgow in November 2021 .

The United Nations and Britain will co-host a global climate summit on December 12, the fifth anniversary of the landmark Paris Agreement, the world body said Wednesday.
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks during the 75th annual U.N. General Assembly, which is being held mostly virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic in New York City, New York, U.S., September 22, 2020.
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The announcement came days after Chinese President Xi Jinping told the UN that the world's largest greenhouse gas polluter would peak emissions in 2030 and attempt to go carbon neutral by 2060, a move hailed by environmentalists.
"We have champions and solutions all around us, in every city, corporation and country," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.
"But the climate emergency is fully upon us, and we have no time to waste. The answer to our existential crisis is swift, decisive, scaled up action and solidarity among nations."
The world remains off-track to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, which scientists say is crucial to prevent runaway warming that would leave vast swathes of the planet inhospitable to life.
"In light of this urgency, the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will co-host a landmark global event convening global leaders... to rally much greater climate action and ambition," the statement said.
The two were to address the issue at a climate roundtable meeting hosted by Guterres on Thursday.
National governments will be invited to present more ambitious and high-quality climate plans at the summit, which would involve government leaders, as well as the private sector and civil society.
According to the UN, the December 12 summit is intended to increase momentum ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) to be held in Glasgow in November 2021.
Recent data shows greenhouse gas concentrations reaching record levels, worsening extreme events including unprecedented wildfires hurricanes droughts and floods.
(AFP)
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