france24--2020-12-10--Amazon community files lawsuit against Chinese firm over gas flaring

Waorani indigenous women pictured after filing a climate change lawsuit against Chinese oil company PetroOriental in El Coca , Orellana province , Ecuador , on December 10 , 2020 Indigenous Waorani from Ecuador 's Amazon filed a lawsuit Thursday against state-owned Chinese oil company PetroOriental , accusing it of contaminating their ancestral lands by burning off natural gas from oil wells in a process known as flaring .
Leaders of the Waorani village of Miwaguno went to a court in Francisco de Orellana , the main town of Orellana province east of Quito , to file the lawsuit `` as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our way of life altered forever , '' the community stated in the complaint .
`` Our very survival is threatened as a result of climate change . ''
The local people are objecting to the widespread practice of flaring , where oil producers -- in this case PetroOriental -- deliberately burn off millions of cubic meters of natural gas produced from oil wells .
Environmentalists say the province of Orellana has a high concentration of oil burners , and the Waorani say the smoke produced is contaminating their land and water sources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We still use it because we do n't have drinking water , '' said Menare Omene , a 52-year-old Waorani woman , whose community of about 150 people presented the complaint .
PetroOriental operates exploration blocks 14 and 17 in Orellana province , which yield about 10,000 barrels of oil per day ( bpd ) .
Crude oil is Ecuador 's main source of foreign currency , its 469,000 bpd generating $ 3.35 billion in the year to September .
Ecuador 's Energy Ministry estimated in 2018 that for every barrel of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of natural gas is burned .
An environmental NGO supporting the Waorani 's case , Accion Ecologica , said that if the flares are extinguished , the gas could be used to generate electricity .
That would demand heavy investment in the face of the cheaper option of burning it , it said .
`` We want them to turn off the burners because of the environmental damage to our land .
It 's full contamination , '' said the Miwaguno village leader Juan Pablo Enomenga .
The village is located relatively close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are flaring .
He said that for the past 15 years , local production of yucca and plantain , the basis of his community 's diet , has gradually declined , blaming environmental pollution .
`` What we sow on the farm does not even yield 50 percent '' compared to previously , he said .
Accion Ecologica said that up to January this year , it had registered 447 burners operating in the Ecuadoran Amazon , including 159 in Orellana alone .
The Waorani are a community of around 5,000 people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Napo , Pastaza and Orellana , the latter two bordering Peru .
Ecuadoran law recognizes indigenous jurisdiction over their ancestral territory , but maintains state ownership of the subsoil .

Puerto Francisco de Orellana (Ecuador) (AFP) –
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Indigenous Waorani from Ecuador's Amazon filed a lawsuit Thursday against state-owned Chinese oil company PetroOriental, accusing it of contaminating their ancestral lands by burning off natural gas from oil wells in a process known as flaring.
Leaders of the Waorani village of Miwaguno went to a court in Francisco de Orellana, the main town of Orellana province east of Quito, to file the lawsuit "as victims."
"We have seen our way of life altered forever," the community stated in the complaint. "Our very survival is threatened as a result of climate change."
The local people are objecting to the widespread practice of flaring, where oil producers -- in this case PetroOriental -- deliberately burn off millions of cubic meters of natural gas produced from oil wells.
Environmentalists say the province of Orellana has a high concentration of oil burners, and the Waorani say the smoke produced is contaminating their land and water sources.
"The rainfall tastes like coal. We still use it because we don't have drinking water," said Menare Omene, a 52-year-old Waorani woman, whose community of about 150 people presented the complaint.
PetroOriental operates exploration blocks 14 and 17 in Orellana province, which yield about 10,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd).
Crude oil is Ecuador's main source of foreign currency, its 469,000 bpd generating $3.35 billion in the year to September.
Ecuador's Energy Ministry estimated in 2018 that for every barrel of oil produced, about 5 cubic meters of natural gas is burned.
An environmental NGO supporting the Waorani's case, Accion Ecologica, said that if the flares are extinguished, the gas could be used to generate electricity. That would demand heavy investment in the face of the cheaper option of burning it, it said.
"We want them to turn off the burners because of the environmental damage to our land. It's full contamination," said the Miwaguno village leader Juan Pablo Enomenga.
The village is located relatively close to oil wells where several PetroOriental burners are flaring.
He said that for the past 15 years, local production of yucca and plantain, the basis of his community's diet, has gradually declined, blaming environmental pollution.
"What we sow on the farm does not even yield 50 percent" compared to previously, he said.
Accion Ecologica said that up to January this year, it had registered 447 burners operating in the Ecuadoran Amazon, including 159 in Orellana alone.
The Waorani are a community of around 5,000 people, owning around 800,000 hectares in the provinces of Napo, Pastaza and Orellana, the latter two bordering Peru.
Ecuadoran law recognizes indigenous jurisdiction over their ancestral territory, but maintains state ownership of the subsoil.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-10--EU reaches landmark budget deal with Hungary and Poland

France 's President Emmanuel Macron speaks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen while Poland 's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki speaks with Hungary 's Prime Minister Viktor Orban at a face-to-face EU summit in Brussels , Belgium December 10 , 2020 .
EU leaders on Thursday resolved a bitter dispute with Poland and Hungary and salvaged the bloc ’ s landmark post-coronavirus recovery plan , as the threat of an imminent no-deal Brexit loomed large .
Leaders were looking to salvage the EU ’ s 1.8-trillion-euro ( $ 2.1-trillion ) budget and coronavirus recovery package , seen as vital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , after it was blocked by Hungary and Poland over provisions linking it to the respect for rule of law .
The stand-off risked delaying the recovery fund well into next year just as a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic was punishing the European economy .
“ Today ’ s agreement shows that insight triumphs over egoism .
With this financial package , Europe can emerge powerfully from the crisis , ” German finance minister Olaf Scholz said in a statement .
“ We have defended the interests of Hungary , D-Day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Viktor Orban wrote on Facebook .
And his Polish counterpart , Mateusz Morawiecki , said : “ It ’ s a victory ... the mechanism will be limited to precise criteria ” and exclude social issues , such as abortion and LGBT rights , and migration policy .
Budapest and Warsaw are major recipients of EU budget cash , and the new mechanism is seen as a way by critics to slow a steady slide into authoritarianism in those countries .
Both governments have been accused by Brussels of rolling back democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and press and civil society freedoms in Hungary .
Germany , which holds the EU ’ s rotating presidency , worked hard to break the logjam with a legal “ declaration ” that provides further clarity on how the rule-of-law mechanism would work .
With the budget row out of the way , focus could turn to Brexit , even though leaders were not expected to discuss the talks at length during the two-day summit .
London and Brussels have said they will decide by Sunday whether to press on with talks aimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen failed to bridge “ major differences ” at a dinner meeting .
The EU ratcheted up pressure by publishing its no-deal contingency plan to protect air and road travel and fishing rights just three weeks ahead of a year-end deadline , as negotiators from the two sides resumed talks in Brussels to find a way forward .
The summit will also weigh the sensitive issue of whether to impose sanctions on Turkey over its stand-off on energy resources with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eastern Mediterranean .
Ankara has been challenging Athens over maritime territory in the region , repeatedly sending a gas exploration vessel into Greek waters .
France , Greece , and Cyprus are pushing for strong action against Turkey , but other EU nations including Germany , Italy and Poland oppose slapping broad sanctions or an embargo on a fellow NATO member .
“ It is very clear what is at stake here : the credibility of the European Union , ” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told reporters .
A draft conclusion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with new names of individuals and companies added to a blacklist and the threat of supplementary sanctions kept in reserve if Turkey does not change tack .
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was not part of the summit , but met Portugal ’ s Prime Minister Antonio Costa beforehand and used the opportunity to send a message of caution .
He said that Turkey was an “ important ally ” that had helped battle the Islamic State group and hosts millions of refugees from Syria .
The EU summit in Brussels—the first since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next US president—sees leaders meeting face-to-face after recent videoconferences were held as a coronavirus prevention measure .
The pandemic hammering the continent will remain a major issue as leaders look to coordinate attempts to avoid a third wave of infections and organise future vaccination campaigns .
Debate over climate is also expected to be heated , as the 27 EU members are looking to strike an agreement to increase the bloc ’ s target to slash emissions .
The hope is for a 55-percent reduction of European emissions in 2030 from 1990 levels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some countries such as Poland disagree over how to get there .
To avoid a veto from Warsaw , the bloc could agree to a collective commitment to cut emissions that would not place the burden on individual nations .

EU leaders resolved a bitter dispute with Poland and Hungary to salvage the bloc’s landmark coronavirus recovery plan, but argued overnight and into Friday on fighting climate change.
France's President Emmanuel Macron speaks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen while Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki speaks with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban at a face-to-face EU summit in Brussels, Belgium December 10, 2020.
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Europe’s 1.8-trillion-euro ($2.1-trillion) budget and coronavirus recovery package had been blocked by Hungary and Poland over an attempt to link the disbursement of funds to respect for the rule of law.
The stand-off risked delaying the recovery fund well into next year, just as a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic was punishing the European economy, but on Thursday the leaders came to a compromise that allowed the package to go through.
“Today’s agreement shows that insight triumphs over egoism. With this financial package, Europe can emerge powerfully from the crisis,” German finance minister Olaf Scholz said in a statement.
“We have defended the interests of Hungary. D-Day was a success!” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.
And his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki said: “We fight for our rights. We fight for clarity, we fight for certainty of law, and we fight for the EU treaty so that they are not circumvented by the secondary law.”
Under the deal, the Polish leader explained, the rule of law mechanism would be limited to ensure that EU funds are spent correctly according to precise criteria and not touch on social issues such as abortion, LGBT rights or migration policy.
05:12
Budapest and Warsaw are major recipients of EU budget cash, and the new mechanism is seen as a way by critics to slow a steady slide into authoritarianism in those countries.
Both governments have been accused by Brussels of rolling back democratic freedoms, notably judicial independence in Poland and press and civil society freedoms in Hungary.
Germany, which holds the EU’s rotating presidency, worked hard to break the logjam with a legal “declaration” that provides further clarity on how the rule-of-law mechanism would work.
Deal on the #MFF and Recovery Package #NGEU
Now we can start with the implementation and build back our economies.
Our landmark recovery package will drive forward our green & digital transitions. #EUCO — Charles Michel (@eucopresident) December 10, 2020
With the budget row out of the way, focus could turn to Brexit, even though leaders were not expected to discuss the talks at length during the two-day summit.
London and Brussels have said they will decide by Sunday whether to press on with talks aimed at thrashing out a post-Brexit trade deal, after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen failed to bridge “major differences”.
The EU ratcheted up pressure by publishing its no-deal contingency plan to protect air and road travel and fishing rights just three weeks ahead of a year-end deadline, as negotiators from the two sides resumed talks in Brussels to find a way forward.
Turkey sanctions
The marathon summit also decided to draw up a list of Turkish targets for sanctions over its stand-off on energy resources with EU members Greece and Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Ankara has been challenging Athens over maritime territory in the region by repeatedly sending a gas exploration vessel into Greek waters.
France, Greece, and Cyprus are pushing for strong action against Turkey, but other EU nations including Germany, Italy and Poland oppose slapping broad sanctions or an embargo on a fellow NATO member.
“The council adopted sanctions in the face of Turkey’s ‘unilateral actions and provocations’,” French minister for European affairs Clement Beaune tweeted.
At #EUCO conclusions were adopted on Eastern Mediterranean pic.twitter.com/y7djq3BWRd — Barend Leyts (@BarendLeyts) December 11, 2020
Leaders agreed to a staggered approach, with new names of individuals and companies added to a blacklist and the threat of supplementary sanctions kept in reserve if Turkey does not change tack.
Climate
Debate over climate went into the early hours of Friday, as the 27 EU members could not strike an agreement to increase the bloc’s target to slash emissions.
The hope is for a 55 percent reduction of European emissions in 2030 from 1990 levels and carbon neutrality by 2050, but some countries such as Poland disagree over how to get there.
To avoid a veto from Warsaw, the bloc could agree to a collective commitment to cut emissions that would not place the burden on individual nations.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-12-11--Prosecutors cal for 15-year sentence for Russian Euro hooligan

England supporter Andrew Bache suffered brain injuries in violence before Russia 's match against his country in Marseille in 2016 French prosecutors on Friday called for a 15-year prison sentence for one of two Russians accused of beating an English supporter during Euro 2016 , an attack that left him with brain injuries .
One prosecutor , Christophe Raffin , asked for the `` legal maximum ... between 14 and 15 years '' for Pavel Kossov , who is accused of throwing the first punch at 55-year-old Andrew Bache .
Bache was injured in the violence that broke out before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ port city of Marseille on June 11 , 2016 .
The second Russian on trial in Aix-en-Provence , Mikhail Ivkine , stands accused of throwing a chair at the victim , with prosecutors asking for a potential suspended sentence of up to five years .
He has claimed he was defending himself .
`` No , it was n't legitimate self-defence , it was illegitimate use of force against Andrew Bache , '' Raffin said of the violence .
The prosecution says the Russians were part of a group of about 150 men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who wrought havoc in Marseille .
Bache , from Portsmouth in southern England , has no memory of the events and is too frail to attend the trial .
His son Harry , who nurses his father , is representing him in court .

Aix-en-Provence (France) (AFP) –
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French prosecutors on Friday called for a 15-year prison sentence for one of two Russians accused of beating an English supporter during Euro 2016, an attack that left him with brain injuries.
One prosecutor, Christophe Raffin, asked for the "legal maximum... between 14 and 15 years" for Pavel Kossov, who is accused of throwing the first punch at 55-year-old Andrew Bache.
Bache was injured in the violence that broke out before England played Russia in the southern French port city of Marseille on June 11, 2016.
The second Russian on trial in Aix-en-Provence, Mikhail Ivkine, stands accused of throwing a chair at the victim, with prosecutors asking for a potential suspended sentence of up to five years.
He has claimed he was defending himself.
"No, it wasn't legitimate self-defence, it was illegitimate use of force against Andrew Bache," Raffin said of the violence.
The prosecution says the Russians were part of a group of about 150 men, many with martial arts training, who wrought havoc in Marseille.
Bache, from Portsmouth in southern England, has no memory of the events and is too frail to attend the trial.
His son Harry, who nurses his father, is representing him in court.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-11--French football terminates TV deal with troubled Mediapro

France 's football league is terminating its deal with troubled TV partner Mediapro after a bitter two-month standoff over the rights for Ligue 1 , a source with knowledge of the contract said Friday .
The decision is likely to send financial shockwaves through France 's top-flight league .
The Chinese-Spanish broadcaster , which has suffered severe financial problems , acquired 80 percent of the rights for 800 million euros ( $ 970 million ) a year to broadcast from this season , a record for French football .
But since October , Mediapro has been in negotiations with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reduction in the amount it pays .
The source said LFP 's board met on Friday to discuss the decision , which must still be approved by a commercial court .
Many observers believe Mediapro overstretched itself in making the offer .
In October , its boss Jaume Roures said Telefoot had 600,000 subscribers , far short of the 3.5 million that it had built into its business model .
A journalist working for Telefoot , the channel that Mediapro created to show Ligue 1 , told AFP that the channel 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday in a video call .
`` Bergeaud told us it 's over - he was very emotional and on the verge of tears , '' the journalist , who asked not to be identified , said .
Mediapro declined to comment when contacted by AFP .
French broadcaster Canal Plus , which already shows a limited number of Ligue 1 matches , is believed to be waiting in the wings to make an offer to take over Mediapro 's matches , although its offer will likely be considerably lower than Mediapro @ @

Paris (AFP) –
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France's football league is terminating its deal with troubled TV partner Mediapro after a bitter two-month standoff over the rights for Ligue 1, a source with knowledge of the contract said Friday.
The decision is likely to send financial shockwaves through France's top-flight league.
The Chinese-Spanish broadcaster, which has suffered severe financial problems, acquired 80 percent of the rights for 800 million euros ($970 million) a year to broadcast from this season, a record for French football.
But since October, Mediapro has been in negotiations with the league (LFP), pushing for a reduction in the amount it pays.
The source said LFP's board met on Friday to discuss the decision, which must still be approved by a commercial court.
Many observers believe Mediapro overstretched itself in making the offer. In October, its boss Jaume Roures said Telefoot had 600,000 subscribers, far short of the 3.5 million that it had built into its business model.
A journalist working for Telefoot, the channel that Mediapro created to show Ligue 1, told AFP that the channel's director general Julien Bergeaud had addressed employees on Friday in a video call.
"Bergeaud told us it's over - he was very emotional and on the verge of tears," the journalist, who asked not to be identified, said.
Mediapro declined to comment when contacted by AFP.
French broadcaster Canal Plus, which already shows a limited number of Ligue 1 matches, is believed to be waiting in the wings to make an offer to take over Mediapro's matches, although its offer will likely be considerably lower than Mediapro offered.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-11--Covid-19: Scientists seek to reassure public on Pfizer’s vaccine safety after rare side effect

A vial of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine concentrate is diluted with 1.8ml sodium chloride ready for use at Guy 's Hospital , at the start of the largest ever immunisation programme in British history , in London , December 8 , 2020 .
UK regulators have issued precautionary advice after two British healthcare workers developed a severe allergic reaction to the new Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech .
Scientists have been quick to reassure the public that the vaccine is safe , saying that while reactions to new vaccines can occur , severe reactions are rare .
The British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it hit its first snag .
On 9 December Two staff working for the British National Health Service ( NHS ) had an allergic reaction after they received the vaccine developed by Pfizer in collaboration with BioNTech .
Both were treated quickly and were recovering well , authorities in the UK confirmed .
The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has since issued a precautionary warning , advising people not to get inoculated with the Pfizer vaccine if they have a history of acute allergic reactions .
An advisory panel of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Britain ’ s lead with an allergy warning after recommending emergency approval there for the Pfizer vaccine .
`` This is appropriate advice , ” Dr Louisa James , an immunology researcher at Queen Mary University in London , told FRANCE 24 .
`` We now know that the two people concerned had a medical history and carried treatment to deal with strong allergic reactions . ''
The two healthcare workers were carrying Anapen , an emergency treatment of adrenaline injected into the body in case of anaphylactic shock , which manifests as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Allergy UK , one in 1,000 people are at risk of anaphylactic shock after exposure to an allergen they have a sensitivity to .
This type of allergic response `` affects the cardiovascular , respiratory and gastrointestinal systems and causes severe skin rashes .
The blood pressure can drop and breathing can become difficult , '' Professor Saad Shakir , director of the Drug Safety Research Unit , a British health NGO , said in an interview with the Science Media Centre website .
In the case of the two NHS workers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a more extreme reaction that can even be fatal .
`` It appears to be an anaphylactoid or pseudo-anaphylactic reaction , which leads to similar but less severe symptoms , '' Professor Shakir explained .
Anaphylactoid reactions are linked to certain foods or medicines but also vaccines , including the annual flu jab .
`` Cases of severe allergic reactions have been reported for all vaccines , but they remain rare , '' Nilsson Lennart , a researcher at the Linköping Allergy Centre in Sweden and the author of a 2017 study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 .
He added that cases of anaphylactic shock typically occur at a rate of 1.5 for every one million doses of vaccine administered .
The pharmaceutical industry widely recogises the risk of allergic reaction and Pfizer knew it existed in the case of its Covid-19 vaccine .
`` The data published by the laboratory indicate that about 0.6 % of patients had some form of allergic reaction after administration of the dose during phase three clinical trials , '' said Professor Stephan Evans , a pharmacoepidemiology researcher in the Department of Medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tropical Medicine in London .
Pinpointing exactly what led to the allergic reaction may have its challenges as the Pfizer vaccine employs completely new technology , with no precedent for comparison .
Yet investigations may lead to an ingredient commonly used in older vaccines .
`` These kinds of side effects are known to be possibly linked to ingredients used to stabilise vaccines , such as polyethylene glycol [ a gel used to thicken certain fluids in drugs or cosmetics ] , '' Dr James said .
Indeed , Pfizer had disclosed it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publicly released data on its vaccine .
Scientists agree that what may appear as an initial mishap does not portend safety issues for the Pfizer vaccine , or the other contenders poised for rollout .
`` One has to remember that even things like marmite [ spread ] can cause unexpected severe allergic reactions , '' Professor Evans said .
Vaccine scepticism , nonetheless , remains a concern , and the scientific community will have to be vigilant and transparent in its messaging on efficacy and safety if it is to mitigate vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and medical journals is one strategy .
In additional data released in the New England Journal of Medicine on Thursday , Pfizer and BioNTech said the vaccine was 95 % effective in a randomised controlled trial of more than 43,000 people .
The journal ’ s editors described the vaccine ’ s development as a “ triumph ” for science .
With independent monitoring processes in place to advise both the scientific community and the public , robust scrutiny of Covid-19 vaccine programmes should be assured .
And with it high levels of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against a disease that has caused the worst health crisis in a century .
This article has been translated from the original in French .

UK regulators have issued precautionary advice after two British healthcare workers developed a severe allergic reaction to the new Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech. Scientists have been quick to reassure the public that the vaccine is safe, saying that while reactions to new vaccines can occur, severe reactions are rare.
A vial of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine concentrate is diluted with 1.8ml sodium chloride ready for use at Guy's Hospital, at the start of the largest ever immunisation programme in British history, in London, December 8, 2020.
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The British vaccination campaign against Covid-19 had barely begun when it hit its first snag.
On 9 December Two staff working for the British National Health Service (NHS) had an allergic reaction after they received the vaccine developed by Pfizer in collaboration with BioNTech. Both were treated quickly and were recovering well, authorities in the UK confirmed.
The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has since issued a precautionary warning, advising people not to get inoculated with the Pfizer vaccine if they have a history of acute allergic reactions.
An advisory panel of US experts said Thursday they would follow Britain’s lead with an allergy warning after recommending emergency approval there for the Pfizer vaccine.
A rare side effect
"This is appropriate advice,” Dr Louisa James, an immunology researcher at Queen Mary University in London, told FRANCE 24. "We now know that the two people concerned had a medical history and carried treatment to deal with strong allergic reactions."
The two healthcare workers were carrying Anapen, an emergency treatment of adrenaline injected into the body in case of anaphylactic shock, which manifests as a severe allergic reaction.
According to Allergy UK, one in 1,000 people is at risk of anaphylactic shock after exposure to an allergen they have a sensitivity to. This type of allergic response "affects the cardiovascular, respiratory and gastrointestinal systems and causes severe skin rashes. The blood pressure can drop and breathing can become difficult," Professor Saad Shakir, director of the Drug Safety Research Unit, a British health NGO, said in an interview with the Science Media Centre website.
In the case of the two NHS workers, however, neither had anaphylaxis, which is a more extreme reaction that can even be fatal. "It appears to be an anaphylactoid or pseudo-anaphylactic reaction, which leads to similar but less severe symptoms," Professor Shakir explained.
Anaphylactoid reactions are linked to certain foods or medicines but also vaccines, including the annual flu jab.
"Cases of severe allergic reactions have been reported for all vaccines, but they remain rare," Nilsson Lennart, a researcher at the Linköping Allergy Centre in Sweden and the author of a 2017 study on vaccines and allergies, told FRANCE 24. He added that cases of anaphylactic shock typically occur at a rate of 1.5 for every one million doses of vaccine administered.
Finding the cause
The pharmaceutical industry widely recognises the risk of allergic reaction and Pfizer knew it existed in the case of its Covid-19 vaccine.
"The data published by the laboratory indicate that about 0.6% of patients had some form of allergic reaction after administration of the dose during phase three clinical trials," said Professor Stephen Evans, a pharmacoepidemiology researcher in the Department of Medical Statistics at the School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in London.
Pinpointing exactly what led to the allergic reaction may have its challenges as the Pfizer vaccine employs completely new technology, with no precedent for comparison. Yet investigations may lead to an additive commonly used in older vaccines.
"These kinds of side effects are known to be possibly linked to ingredients used to stabilise vaccines, such as polyethylene glycol [a gel used to thicken certain fluids in drugs or cosmetics]," Dr James said.
Indeed, Pfizer had disclosed it used one of these ingredients when it publicly released data on its vaccine.
Scientists agree that what may appear as an initial mishap does not portend safety issues for the Pfizer vaccine, or the other contenders poised for rollout.
"One has to remember that even things like marmite [spread] can cause unexpected severe allergic reactions," Professor Evans said.
Vaccine scepticism, nonetheless, remains a concern, and the scientific community will have to be vigilant and transparent in its messaging on efficacy and safety if it is to mitigate vaccine hesitancy. Publishing data by independent scientific and medical journals is one strategy.
In additional data released in the New England Journal of Medicine on Thursday, Pfizer and BioNTech said the vaccine was 95% effective in a randomised controlled trial of more than 43,000 people. The journal’s editors described the vaccine’s development as a “triumph” for science.
With independent monitoring processes in place to advise both the scientific community and the public, robust scrutiny of Covid-19 vaccine programmes should be assured. And with it high levels of public confidence in these vaccines to protect against a disease that has caused the worst health crisis in a century.
This article has been translated from the original in French.
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france24--2020-12-11--Russia probes mystery seal die-off

Russia probes mystery seal die-off

Experts have been sent from Moscow to try and figure out why the Caspian seals are dying Russian authorities said Friday they were investigating the mysterious death of nearly 300 endangered seals that had been discovered washed up on the shores of the Caspian Sea .
Between Sunday and Thursday , 272 dead Caspian seals had been found at a number of locations in the southern region of Dagestan including its regional capital Makhachkala and Derbent , another major city , said the state fisheries agency Rosrybolovstvo .
Some of the seals were pregnant .
An agency spokeswoman told AFP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discovered .
A team of experts arrived from Moscow to help conduct an investigation .
The fisheries agency said `` infectious disease '' as well as `` external '' reasons could be behind the mass die-off and an animal abuse probe would be launched .
The Caspian Sea , the world 's largest inland body of water , is bounded by five countries : Russia , Kazakhstan , Azerbaijan , Iran and Turkmenistan .
Seals have for decades suffered from over-hunting and the effects of industrial pollution in the Caspian Sea .
Experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seals , down from more than one million in the early 20th century .
As well as the seals and other endemic species including the famed beluga sturgeon , the Caspian Sea boasts vast energy reserves .
Pollution from the extraction of oil and gas there , along with declining water levels due to climate change , pose a threat to many species and put the future of the sea itself at risk .
The UN Environment Programme has warned that the Caspian `` suffers from an enormous burden of pollution '' .

Moscow (AFP) –
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Russian authorities said Friday they were investigating the mysterious death of nearly 300 endangered seals that had been discovered washed up on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
Between Sunday and Thursday, 272 dead Caspian seals had been found at a number of locations in the southern region of Dagestan including its regional capital Makhachkala and Derbent, another major city, said the state fisheries agency Rosrybolovstvo.
Some of the seals were pregnant.
An agency spokeswoman told AFP that more dead seals could yet be discovered.
A team of experts arrived from Moscow to help conduct an investigation.
The fisheries agency said "infectious disease" as well as "external" reasons could be behind the mass die-off and an animal abuse probe would be launched.
The Caspian Sea, the world's largest inland body of water, is bounded by five countries: Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan.
Seals have for decades suffered from over-hunting and the effects of industrial pollution in the Caspian Sea.
Experts say there are now about 70,000 Caspian seals, down from more than one million in the early 20th century.
As well as the seals and other endemic species including the famed beluga sturgeon, the Caspian Sea boasts vast energy reserves.
Pollution from the extraction of oil and gas there, along with declining water levels due to climate change, pose a threat to many species and put the future of the sea itself at risk.
The UN Environment Programme has warned that the Caspian "suffers from an enormous burden of pollution".
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-11--Bairstow back in England Test squad for Sri Lanka as Stokes, Archer rested

England cricket selectors on Friday recalled Jonny Bairstow to the Test squad for next month 's series in Sri Lanka @ @ @ @ @ Jofra Archer .
Bairstow , 31 , has played just one of England 's 12 @ @ @ @ @ Ashes and lost his Test central contract in September .
Paceman Archer and all-rounder Stokes @ @ @ @ @ 16-man squad but will return in February for the Test series against India .
Surrey @ @ @ @ @ tour as his wife is expecting their first child during the second week of January @ @ @ @ @ is recovering from a shoulder injury , will join the squad and continue his rehabilitation @ @ @ @ @ Test series against India , starting in February .
The selectors said they would give @ @ @ @ @ all multi-format players at various points during England 's winter programme .
The touring party @ @ @ @ @ , departs for Sri Lanka on January 2 and will play two Test matches behind @ @ @ @ @ Cricket Stadium , starting on January 14 and January 22 .

London (AFP) –
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England cricket selectors on Friday recalled Jonny Bairstow to the Test squad for next month's series in Sri Lanka but rested Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer.
Bairstow, 31, has played just one of England's 12 Test matches since the 2019 Ashes and lost his Test central contract in September.
Paceman Archer and all-rounder Stokes are not part of the 16-man squad but will return in February for the Test series against India.
Surrey batsman Rory Burns misses the tour as his wife is expecting their first child during the second week of January.
Ollie Pope, who is recovering from a shoulder injury, will join the squad and continue his rehabilitation in preparation for the four-match Test series against India, starting in February.
The selectors said they would give a block of rest for all multi-format players at various points during England's winter programme .
The touring party, including seven travelling reserves, departs for Sri Lanka on January 2 and will play two Test matches behind closed doors at Galle International Cricket Stadium, starting on January 14 and January 22.
England Test squad: Joe Root (capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Reserves: James Bracey, Mason Crane, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Robinson, Amar Virdi
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-11--Argentina's lower house votes to legalize abortion

Women in green scarves celebrate outside the Argentine Congress after the lower house passed a bill to legalize abortion The lower house of Argentina 's congress approved the legalization of abortion on Friday , sending the proposal to the Senate -- which rejected a similar bill two years ago .
The legislation , which would allow abortion until the 14th week of pregnancy , got 131 votes in favor and 117 against with six abstentions , reported the secretary of the Chamber of Deputies after a 20-hour session .
In Argentina , abortion is allowed only in the event of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life , under legislation dating back to 1921 .
Center-left President Alberto Fernandez presented the proposal earlier this year as a way to `` guarantee that all women have access to the right to comprehensive health . ''
The Senate is now expected to address the bill before the end of the year .
Friday 's approval was received with an outburst of joy by thousands of young people in green scarves who had spent the night outside the congress building in Buenos Aires .
The scarves have become an emblem of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blue scarves , who oppose the change , were separated from the others by a fence , and greeted the result with disappointment .
The issue of legalizing abortions dominated the Argentine political agenda in 2018 , when it made it to congress amid huge demonstrations in the majority-Catholic country which is the birthplace of Pope Francis .
Back then , it also got the approval of the Chamber of Deputies , but was rejected in the Senate .
Both houses welcomed new members in the 2019 general elections .
`` I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for everyone , '' President Fernandez declared Thursday .
`` It is a very serious public health issue . ''
`` Abortion is legal in first-world countries and other developed countries that are very religious , such as Italy , Spain and Ireland , '' said health minister Gines Gonzalez Garcia .
`` Now we are moving forward in Argentina .
If this were a masculine problem it would have been resolved a long time ago , '' said the minister .
Health analysts estimate that between 370,000 and 520,000 clandestine abortions are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government statistics .
And these back-alley procedures have led to some 3,000 deaths since 1983 , said the president .
`` The debate is not about whether or not to allow abortions .
It is about whether or not to allow safe abortions , '' said Ana Carolina Gaillard , a lawmaker with the ruling party .
Outside the congress building , women in green scarves were jubilant .
`` We believe that women have a right to decide what to do with their bodies , '' Melisa Ramos , 21 , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who vote against legalization should know that on their hands will be the blood of the women who die in clandestine abortions . ''
On the other side of the fence , protesters who oppose abortion chanted `` Save both lives ! ''
and held up baby dolls smeared red to look bloody .
If the bill passes the Senate , Argentina would join Cuba , Uruguay and Guyana as countries allowing abortion in Latin America .
It is also legal in Mexico City .

Buenos Aires (AFP) –
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The lower house of Argentina's congress approved the legalization of abortion on Friday, sending the proposal to the Senate -- which rejected a similar bill two years ago.
The legislation, which would allow abortion until the 14th week of pregnancy, got 131 votes in favor and 117 against with six abstentions, reported the secretary of the Chamber of Deputies after a 20-hour session.
In Argentina, abortion is allowed only in the event of rape or danger to the mother's life, under legislation dating back to 1921.
Center-left President Alberto Fernandez presented the proposal earlier this year as a way to "guarantee that all women have access to the right to comprehensive health."
The Senate is now expected to address the bill before the end of the year.
Friday's approval was received with an outburst of joy by thousands of young people in green scarves who had spent the night outside the congress building in Buenos Aires. The scarves have become an emblem of the campaign for legal abortions.
Protesters in blue scarves, who oppose the change, were separated from the others by a fence, and greeted the result with disappointment.
The issue of legalizing abortions dominated the Argentine political agenda in 2018, when it made it to congress amid huge demonstrations in the majority-Catholic country which is the birthplace of Pope Francis.
Back then, it also got the approval of the Chamber of Deputies, but was rejected in the Senate. Both houses welcomed new members in the 2019 general elections.
"I am a Catholic but I have to legislate for everyone," President Fernandez declared Thursday. "It is a very serious public health issue."
"Abortion is legal in first-world countries and other developed countries that are very religious, such as Italy, Spain and Ireland," said health minister Gines Gonzalez Garcia.
"Now we are moving forward in Argentina. If this were a masculine problem it would have been resolved a long time ago," said the minister.
Health analysts estimate that between 370,000 and 520,000 clandestine abortions are performed annually in Argentina, according to government statistics.
- 'Save both lives' -
And these back-alley procedures have led to some 3,000 deaths since 1983, said the president.
"The debate is not about whether or not to allow abortions. It is about whether or not to allow safe abortions," said Ana Carolina Gaillard, a lawmaker with the ruling party.
Outside the congress building, women in green scarves were jubilant.
"We believe that women have a right to decide what to do with their bodies," Melisa Ramos, 21, told AFP before the vote. "Lawmakers who vote against legalization should know that on their hands will be the blood of the women who die in clandestine abortions."
On the other side of the fence, protesters who oppose abortion chanted "Save both lives!" and held up baby dolls smeared red to look bloody.
If the bill passes the Senate, Argentina would join Cuba, Uruguay and Guyana as countries allowing abortion in Latin America. It is also legal in Mexico City.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-11--Joe Biden and Kamala Harris jointly named Time's 'Person of the Year'

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris jointly named Time 's 'Person of the Year' US President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect @ @ @ @ @ Time magazine 's 2020 `` Person of the Year '' on Thursday , chosen from @ @ @ @ @ included the man Biden vanquished at the polls - President Donald Trump .

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris jointly named Time's 'Person of the Year'
01:54
US President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris were jointly named Time magazine's 2020 "Person of the Year" on Thursday, chosen from a list of finalists that included the man Biden vanquished at the polls - President Donald Trump.


france24--2020-12-11--Greta: We are still in denial despite Paris climate deal

Thunberg said more action is needed to stop the rise in global temperatures The Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has condemned the `` empty words '' of world leaders in a video message released ahead of the fifth anniversary of the Paris climate accord on Saturday .
Since world leaders pledged to limit global temperature rises to 2 degrees Celsius in 2015 , `` a lot has happened , but the action needed is still nowhere in sight , '' the 17-year-old said in a video posted to social media .
Thunberg warned `` we are still speeding in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global decision-makers of wasting time `` creating new loopholes with empty words and creative accounting . ''
Although the accord signed in the French capital five years ago committed governments to capping global warming at 2 degrees -- and if possible 1.5 degrees -- compared to the pre-industrial era , the UN warned on Wednesday that the world is currently on course for a temperature rise of 3 degrees , despite the fall in emissions caused by the pandemic .
In its annual assessment of emissions levels , the UN 's Environment Programme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carbon pollution would have `` negligible impact '' on warming without a broad and rapid shift away from fossil fuels .
On Friday the 27 member states of the EU agreed to raise their greenhouse gas reduction target for 2030 to at least 55 percent of 1990 levels , against the current 40 percent .
Thunberg , the figurehead of the Fridays for Future climate protest movement , regularly calls on governments to set annual emissions targets for now , and not the 2030 or 2050 horizons which are used in most international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her latest three-minute video Thunberg said that `` the hope comes from the people '' and she called on people to act , ahead of a day of 2,500 planned demonstrations worldwide , many online , by her movement to mark the anniversary of the Paris accord .
The movement claims the objective of 1.5 degrees is now `` non negotiable '' and the only hope of safeguarding the planet for future generations .

Stockholm (AFP) –
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The Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has condemned the "empty words" of world leaders in a video message released ahead of the fifth anniversary of the Paris climate accord on Saturday.
Since world leaders pledged to limit global temperature rises to 2 degrees Celsius in 2015, "a lot has happened, but the action needed is still nowhere in sight," the 17-year-old said in a video posted to social media.
Thunberg warned "we are still speeding in the wrong direction," and she accused global decision-makers of wasting time "creating new loopholes with empty words and creative accounting."
Although the accord signed in the French capital five years ago committed governments to capping global warming at 2 degrees -- and if possible 1.5 degrees -- compared to the pre-industrial era, the UN warned on Wednesday that the world is currently on course for a temperature rise of 3 degrees, despite the fall in emissions caused by the pandemic.
In its annual assessment of emissions levels, the UN's Environment Programme found that 2020's 7-percent fall in carbon pollution would have "negligible impact" on warming without a broad and rapid shift away from fossil fuels.
On Friday the 27 member states of the EU agreed to raise their greenhouse gas reduction target for 2030 to at least 55 percent of 1990 levels, against the current 40 percent.
Thunberg, the figurehead of the Fridays for Future climate protest movement, regularly calls on governments to set annual emissions targets for now, and not the 2030 or 2050 horizons which are used in most international greenhouse gas agreements.
However, in her latest three-minute video Thunberg said that "the hope comes from the people" and she called on people to act, ahead of a day of 2,500 planned demonstrations worldwide, many online, by her movement to mark the anniversary of the Paris accord.
The movement claims the objective of 1.5 degrees is now "non negotiable" and the only hope of safeguarding the planet for future generations.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-11--'We have the right to decide about our bodies': Argentine congress debates abortion rights

'We have the right to decide about our bodies ' : Argentine congress debates abortion rights Argentine lawmakers on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ legalize abortion in most cases as demonstrators for and against the initiative gathered in separate @ @ @ @ @ .

'We have the right to decide about our bodies': Argentine congress debates abortion rights
00:45
Argentine lawmakers on Thursday debated a bill that would legalize abortion in most cases as demonstrators for and against the initiative gathered in separate areas outside the congress building.


france24--2020-12-11--Coronavirus pandemic: France delays planned re-opening of theatres, museums, cinemas

France will not reopen museums , cinemas and theatres on Dec. 15 as planned because Covid-19 infection rates are not @ @ @ @ @ government had hoped , Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Thursday .

Coronavirus pandemic: France delays planned re-opening of theatres, museums, cinemas
00:30
France will not reopen museums, cinemas and theatres on Dec. 15 as planned because Covid-19 infection rates are not falling as fast as the government had hoped, Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Thursday.


france24--2020-12-11--Cruising on the Nile: All aboard the boat that inspired Agatha Christie

Cruising on the Nile : All aboard the boat that inspired Agatha Christie All aboard the SS Sudan and i @ @ @ @ @ River !
It was aboard this historic vessel in 1933 , while Agatha Christie was @ @ @ @ @ archaeological mission , that the queen of suspense found the inspiration for Death on the @ @

Cruising on the Nile: All aboard the boat that inspired Agatha Christie
02:50
All aboard the SS Sudan and i's travels up the Nile River! It was aboard this historic vessel in 1933, while Agatha Christie was accompanying her husband on an archaeological mission, that the queen of suspense found the inspiration for Death on the Nile.


france24--2020-12-11--'Failure' Vettel bids Ferrari farewell

'Failure' Vettel bids Ferrari farewell

Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel hopes to bid farewell to Ferrari with a smile on Sunday , but has admitted that his six-year stint in Italy is , ultimately , ending in tears of failure .
The 33-year-old German , who joined Ferrari in 2015 , offered a searingly-honest and realistic appraisal of his time in Italy , despite winning 14 races , when he admitted his goal had been to claim a fifth title .
That total made him the third most successful driver in the team ’ s history behind seven-time champion Michael Schumacher , with 72 wins , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emulating his idol Schumacher as a Ferrari title-winner had been his target .
`` It does n't change anything , we 've still failed , '' he told reporters .
`` We had the ambition to win the championship and we did n't .
`` We were up against a very strong team-driver combination , one of the strongest we 've seen so far , but our goal was to be stronger than that and , in this regard , we failed .
`` There 's a lot of reasons why , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's not unfair .
It 's just the truth .
Nothing wrong with saying it out loud . ''
He rejected a suggestion that the pressures of expectation from the ‘ tifosi ’ had contributed to the team ’ s failings .
`` The pressure in Italy ?
The fans and so on , yes , it is there , but ultimately I always set the highest sort of expectations on myself and I think I was the first and best judge if I did n't achieve them , '' he added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when I stuffed the car in the gravel in Germany [ 2018 ] , I was n't happy before the ‘ tifosi ’ were n't happy… Vettel will join Racing Point , re-branded as Aston Martin next year , and believes he has gained from his Ferrari experiences .
`` Everything that happened has happened for a reason .
The main thing on my side is to make sure that I learned from it and I think I have grown with it .
`` Overall , I feel much more comfortable , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all those years ago , but certainly it has n't always been easy and straightforward . ''
Vettel ’ s move to the Silverstone-based team means Mexican Sergio Perez , who claimed his maiden F1 win at last Sunday ’ s Sakhir Grand Prix , faces an uncertain future .
His only hope for a seat next season is with Red Bull if they decide not to retain Alex Albon .
`` I have some good options for ’ 22 , ” said Perez .
`` So , if I have to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Others on the move after Sunday ’ s finale include Daniel Ricciardo , who switches teams from Renault to McLaren , and Carlos Sainz who leaves McLaren to replace Vettel at Ferrari .
Haas are changing both drivers .
Kevin Magnussen is out after Sunday following already-departed Romain Grosjean , who has returned home after his amazing escape from a high-speed fireball crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix .
Daniil Kvyat is also expected to be leaving Alpha Tauri where Japanese Yuki Tsunoda is poised to replace him in the Honda-powered @

Abu Dhabi (AFP) –
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Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel hopes to bid farewell to Ferrari with a smile on Sunday, but has admitted that his six-year stint in Italy is, ultimately, ending in tears of failure.
The 33-year-old German, who joined Ferrari in 2015, offered a searingly-honest and realistic appraisal of his time in Italy, despite winning 14 races, when he admitted his goal had been to claim a fifth title.
That total made him the third most successful driver in the team’s history behind seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, with 72 wins, and Niki Lauda on 15.
But emulating his idol Schumacher as a Ferrari title-winner had been his target.
"It doesn't change anything, we've still failed," he told reporters.
"We had the ambition to win the championship and we didn't.
"We were up against a very strong team-driver combination, one of the strongest we've seen so far, but our goal was to be stronger than that and, in this regard, we failed.
"There's a lot of reasons why, but in the big picture, I think it's not unfair. It's just the truth. Nothing wrong with saying it out loud."
He rejected a suggestion that the pressures of expectation from the ‘tifosi’ had contributed to the team’s failings.
"The pressure in Italy? The fans and so on, yes, it is there, but ultimately I always set the highest sort of expectations on myself and I think I was the first and best judge if I didn't achieve them," he added.
"So, rest assured, when I stuffed the car in the gravel in Germany [2018], I wasn't happy before the ‘tifosi’ weren't happy…
Vettel will join Racing Point, re-branded as Aston Martin next year, and believes he has gained from his Ferrari experiences.
"Everything that happened has happened for a reason. The main thing on my side is to make sure that I learned from it and I think I have grown with it.
"Overall, I feel much more comfortable, or in a better place now, than all those years ago, but certainly it hasn't always been easy and straightforward."
Vettel’s move to the Silverstone-based team means Mexican Sergio Perez, who claimed his maiden F1 win at last Sunday’s Sakhir Grand Prix, faces an uncertain future.
His only hope for a seat next season is with Red Bull if they decide not to retain Alex Albon.
"I have some good options for ’22,” said Perez. "So, if I have to stop, it’s not a disaster."
Others on the move after Sunday’s finale include Daniel Ricciardo, who switches teams from Renault to McLaren, and Carlos Sainz who leaves McLaren to replace Vettel at Ferrari.
Haas are changing both drivers. Kevin Magnussen is out after Sunday following already-departed Romain Grosjean, who has returned home after his amazing escape from a high-speed fireball crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Daniil Kvyat is also expected to be leaving Alpha Tauri where Japanese Yuki Tsunoda is poised to replace him in the Honda-powered outfit
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-11--EU summit: Leaders strike deal on landmark budget, virus recovery fund

European Union leaders on Thursday clinched a deal on a massive long-term budget and a fund to help the bloc @ @ @ @ @ from the impact of the coronavirus , but critics said the agreement lets Hungary and @ @ @ @ @ abusing the rule of law .
FRANCE 24 's Dave Keating tells us more .

EU summit: Leaders strike deal on landmark budget, virus recovery fund
05:20
European Union leaders on Thursday clinched a deal on a massive long-term budget and a fund to help the bloc’s ravaged economies recover from the impact of the coronavirus, but critics said the agreement lets Hungary and Poland off the hook for abusing the rule of law. FRANCE 24's Dave Keating tells us more.


france24--2020-12-11--Argentina's lower house approves draft bill legalising abortion

Aerial view of demonstrators displaying green headscarfs -symbol of pro-abortion activists - outside the Argentine Congress in Buenos Aires , on December 10 , 2020 .
Lawmakers in Argentina ’ s lower house on Friday passed a bill that would legalise abortion in most cases , responding to long-sought demands from women 's rights activists .
The bill , which needs approval from Argentina 's Senate in a debate expected before the end of the year , allows for abortions to be carried out up to the 14th week of pregnancy .
Backed by President Alberto Fernández , the bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six abstentions after a debate that extended from Thursday into the early hours of Friday morning .
The Roman Catholic Church in Argentina appealed to legislators before the vote for “ a second of reflection on what respect for life means '' , echoing the position of Pope Francis , an Argentine , that abortion is part of today ’ s “ throwaway culture ” that doesn ’ t respect the dignity of the unborn , the weak or elderly .
Protesters supporting the bill had gathered outside Congress wearing green scarves for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A similar vote to legalise abortion was narrowly defeated in 2018 .
Opposition groups , wearing light blue scarves , also took to the streets to demonstrate against the bill .
The initiative includes a parallel bill which will face a separate vote to assist women who want to continue with their pregnancy and face severe economic or social difficulties .
Argentine law currently only allows the voluntary interruption of pregnancy when there is a serious risk to the mother or in the event of rape , although activists say many women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The country has seen a gradual rise in agnosticism in recent years .
While the current government is strongly behind the bill , that was not the case in 2018 during the conservative administration of Mauricio Macri .
Latin America has some of the world ’ s most restrictive abortion laws .
Mexico City , along with Cuba and Uruguay , are among the few places in the region where women can undergo abortions during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy regardless of the circumstances .
On Thursday , dozens of members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Right to Free and Safe Legal Abortion gathered near congress and followed the lawmakers ’ debate on large video screens set up outside the building .
They wore green , in contrast with anti-abortion activists who often wear blue .
Abortion rights and anti-abortion demonstrators gathered in separate , designated areas under tight security .
They wore masks as part of efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19 .

Lawmakers in Argentina’s lower house on Friday passed a bill that would legalise abortion in most cases, responding to long-sought demands from women's rights activists.
Aerial view of demonstrators displaying green headscarfs -symbol of pro-abortion activists - outside the Argentine Congress in Buenos Aires, on December 10, 2020.
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The bill, which needs approval from Argentina's Senate in a debate expected before the end of the year, allows for abortions to be carried out up to the 14th week of pregnancy.
Backed by President Alberto Fernández, the bill was approved in a 131-117 vote with six abstentions after a debate that extended from Thursday into the early hours of Friday morning.
The Roman Catholic Church in Argentina appealed to legislators before the vote for “a second of reflection on what respect for life means", echoing the position of Pope Francis, an Argentine, that abortion is part of today’s “throwaway culture” that doesn’t respect the dignity of the unborn, the weak or elderly.
Green and blue flags outside Congress
Protesters supporting the bill had gathered outside Congress wearing green scarves for an overnight vigil to await the news. A similar vote to legalise abortion was narrowly defeated in 2018.
Opposition groups, wearing light blue scarves, also took to the streets to demonstrate against the bill.
The initiative includes a parallel bill which will face a separate vote to assist women who want to continue with their pregnancy and face severe economic or social difficulties.
Argentine law currently only allows the voluntary interruption of pregnancy when there is a serious risk to the mother or in the event of rape, although activists say many women often do not receive adequate care.
The country has seen a gradual rise in agnosticism in recent years. While the current government is strongly behind the bill, that was not the case in 2018 during the conservative administration of Mauricio Macri.
Latin America has some of the world’s most restrictive abortion laws. Mexico City, along with Cuba and Uruguay, are among the few places in the region where women can undergo abortions during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy regardless of the circumstances.
On Thursday, dozens of members of a group called the National Campaign for the Right to Free and Safe Legal Abortion gathered near congress and followed the lawmakers’ debate on large video screens set up outside the building. They wore green, in contrast with anti-abortion activists who often wear blue.
Abortion rights and anti-abortion demonstrators gathered in separate, designated areas under tight security. They wore masks as part of efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19.
(FRANCE 24 with AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-12-12--Ex-Colombian rebel heading for paralympics in Tokyo

Former FARC guerrilla turned paralympian , Juan Jose Florian .
trains at home in Granada , Colombia , in November 2020 Maimed in a horrific bombing , Colombian athlete Juan Jose Florian emerged from South America 's longest conflict with three missing limbs and one clear goal -- to win gold at next year 's Paralympic Games in Tokyo .
Florian has fought on both sides of the Colombia 's 50-year conflict , first for the Marxist FARC rebels when still a child soldier , and then for the regular army .
Now he is on the cusp of realizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year 's Paralympics in Japan despite losing both his arms and a leg , blown off when he picked up a booby trapped package .
`` I never imagined myself as an athlete , '' he told AFP .
`` My childhood dream was to be a soldier . ''
Soldiering was cruel to him , however .
FARC rebels raided his village when he was just 15 and like many other child soldiers , took him away to enlist in their ranks .
The conflict , which has since largely been resolved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raging then .
`` At night I watched the bullets fly .
It was our fireworks , '' Florian said .
`` Men from the FARC told me to come with them , that I was old enough to carry a rifle . ''
`` My older brother was in the army .
If you gave a son to the government , for them it meant you had to give one to the revolution too , '' he said .
He thus became one of the Marxist guerrilla group 's 6,068 child soldiers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Historical Memory .
After nine months he escaped from FARC and surrendered to the Colombian army .
When he came of age , he enlisted .
Years later , when his mother was the victim of extortion by the FARC -- a favored self-financing technique of the rebels -- they left a package outside her shop .
Florian picked it up .
After the blast , Florian remembers smoke rising from his skin .
He could n't feel his arms , or his right leg .
`` I told my brother to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me in the head .
Luckily , he did n't . ''
Instead , he now sees the bombing that maimed him as a kind of turning point .
`` A gift of life . ''
After spending 12 days in a coma and undergoing multiple surgeries to patch up his mutilated body , he spent a year doing physical rehabilitation .
During that period , the now-retired soldier discovered the Paralympic Games and a love of swimming .
`` I swallowed some water !
But I wanted to get on the podium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his first gold medal , won at the 2013 Paralympics in Minneapolis .
Cycling provided more opportunities to win medals however .
Colombian Air Force engineers designed carbon fiber supports for the stumps of his elbows and knee .
He shifts gears with his mouth and brakes by applying pressure with his thigh .
At 38 , he is one of the youngest of 30 athletes classified as C1 , indicating the severity of their disability .
`` Of all those in my category , I 'm the most degraded , the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ triumphantly raising the stumps of his arms .
The coronavirus pandemic has deprived him of income from exhibition races and sports conferences , but the postponement of the Paralympics to 2021 has bought him some time .
`` I 've gained a year to train .
And if it 's not Tokyo , it 's going to be Paris , '' in 2024 .
In the modest house they share with their toddler son , his partner and coach Angie Garces manages their sports equipment brand , Mochoman , with him .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say ' I ca n't ' , but to persevere , '' she said .

Granada (Colombia) (AFP) –
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Maimed in a horrific bombing, Colombian athlete Juan Jose Florian emerged from South America's longest conflict with three missing limbs and one clear goal -- to win gold at next year's Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
Florian has fought on both sides of the Colombia's 50-year conflict, first for the Marxist FARC rebels when still a child soldier, and then for the regular army.
Now he is on the cusp of realizing his biggest dream, competing in next year's Paralympics in Japan despite losing both his arms and a leg, blown off when he picked up a booby trapped package.
"I never imagined myself as an athlete," he told AFP. "My childhood dream was to be a soldier."
Soldiering was cruel to him, however.
- Child soldier -
FARC rebels raided his village when he was just 15 and like many other child soldiers, took him away to enlist in their ranks.
The conflict, which has since largely been resolved by a 2016 peace agreement, was raging then. "At night I watched the bullets fly. It was our fireworks," Florian said.
"Men from the FARC told me to come with them, that I was old enough to carry a rifle."
"My older brother was in the army. If you gave a son to the government, for them it meant you had to give one to the revolution too," he said.
He thus became one of the Marxist guerrilla group's 6,068 child soldiers, according to Colombia's National Center for Historical Memory.
After nine months he escaped from FARC and surrendered to the Colombian army. When he came of age, he enlisted.
Years later, when his mother was the victim of extortion by the FARC -- a favored self-financing technique of the rebels -- they left a package outside her shop. Florian picked it up.
After the blast, Florian remembers smoke rising from his skin. He couldn't feel his arms, or his right leg.
"I told my brother to go and get the rifle and shoot me in the head. Luckily, he didn't."
Instead, he now sees the bombing that maimed him as a kind of turning point. "A gift of life."
After spending 12 days in a coma and undergoing multiple surgeries to patch up his mutilated body, he spent a year doing physical rehabilitation. During that period, the now-retired soldier discovered the Paralympic Games and a love of swimming.
- Medal opportunities -
"I swallowed some water! But I wanted to get on the podium," he said, showing off his first gold medal, won at the 2013 Paralympics in Minneapolis.
Cycling provided more opportunities to win medals however. Colombian Air Force engineers designed carbon fiber supports for the stumps of his elbows and knee.
He shifts gears with his mouth and brakes by applying pressure with his thigh.
At 38, he is one of the youngest of 30 athletes classified as C1, indicating the severity of their disability.
"Of all those in my category, I'm the most degraded, the most amputated," he said self-mockingly, triumphantly raising the stumps of his arms.
The coronavirus pandemic has deprived him of income from exhibition races and sports conferences, but the postponement of the Paralympics to 2021 has bought him some time.
"I've gained a year to train. And if it's not Tokyo, it's going to be Paris," in 2024.
In the modest house they share with their toddler son, his partner and coach Angie Garces manages their sports equipment brand, Mochoman, with him.
"I learned from Juan Jose. Not to say 'I can't', but to persevere," she said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-12--EU flexes muscle against big tech 'gatekeepers'

The EU wants to set strict conditions for internet giants to do business in the bloc 's 27 countries US tech giants such as Facebook and Google face unprecedented regulation in Europe , as the EU prepares to unveil landmark proposals that could change the face of life online .
The EU wants the Digital Services Act and its accompanying Digital Markets Act to set strict conditions for internet giants to do business in the bloc 's 27 countries .
The biggest tech firms will be designated internet `` gatekeepers '' , subject to specific regulation , in a proposal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president Margrethe Vestager and commissioner Thierry Breton on Tuesday .
Google , Facebook , Apple and Amazon and maybe a few others will almost certainly be slapped with the designation , which could be compared to big banks that are deemed `` too big to fail '' and subject to special oversight .
`` We 've come to a point where the power of digital businesses -- especially the biggest gatekeepers -- threaten our freedoms , our opportunities , even our democracy , '' said Vestager .
`` So for the world 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to change .
They are going to have to take more responsibility . ''
The proposals will go through a long and complex ratification process , with the EU 's 27 member states , the European Parliament , and a lobbying frenzy of companies and trade associations , influencing the final law .
France and the Netherlands have already come out in favour of Europe having all the tools it needs to rein in the gatekeepers , including the power to break them up .
Big Tech , unsurprisingly , is asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judged not simply by their size .
`` What we could end up having would be blunt and rigid rules targeting size instead of problematic conduct , '' said Kayvan Hazemi-Jebelli , an expert at the Computer and Communications Industry Association , a big tech lobby group .
For the past decade the EU has taken the lead worldwide in trying to grapple with the insurmountable power of big tech , slapping billions in antitrust fines against Google , but critics believe the method has done little to change its behaviour .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billions of euros in back taxes to Ireland , but that decision was quashed by the EU 's highest court .
In the meantime , US authorities have taken up the call and are themselves reassessing the role of big tech , with several major antitrust cases putting Google under the gun in addition to a legal bid to strip Facebook of its Instagram and Whatsapp products .
The details of the proposal have been carefully guarded by the European Commission , the EU 's executive arm , even though a few details @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that gatekeepers will face built-for-purpose dos and don'ts that may include a ban on companies prioritising their own services on their platforms or chasing away rivals by exploiting data inaccessible to others .
The Digital Services Act is expected to give the commission sharper teeth in pursuing social media platforms when they allow illegal content online , with the power to inflict fines , possibly through a newly created EU authority , instead of the voluntary system that exists now .
Tech giants will be especially vigilant to maintain their exemption from liability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their platforms , a status they say preserves free speech since it prevents over-enforcement and creates fertile ground for the innovation that triggered the internet revolution .
The proposal may not go as far as reversing that exemption , but it will clearly increase the platform 's responsibility by setting out clear rules and incentives for ad transparency and online information .
Google , Apple , Facebook , Amazon and Microsoft fear measures that would set a precedent in the rest of the world , calling into question their way of working , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the think-tank Center on Regulation in Europe ( Cerre ) .
`` For the first time , we would have asymmetric regulation which would focus only on the big players , '' he told AFP .
`` We 're going to put rules in place to control their power . ''

Brussels (AFP) –
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US tech giants such as Facebook and Google face unprecedented regulation in Europe, as the EU prepares to unveil landmark proposals that could change the face of life online.
The EU wants the Digital Services Act and its accompanying Digital Markets Act to set strict conditions for internet giants to do business in the bloc's 27 countries.
The biggest tech firms will be designated internet "gatekeepers", subject to specific regulation, in a proposal that will be unveiled by EU vice president Margrethe Vestager and commissioner Thierry Breton on Tuesday.
Google, Facebook, Apple and Amazon and maybe a few others will almost certainly be slapped with the designation, which could be compared to big banks that are deemed "too big to fail" and subject to special oversight.
"We've come to a point where the power of digital businesses -- especially the biggest gatekeepers -- threaten our freedoms, our opportunities, even our democracy," said Vestager.
"So for the world's biggest gatekeepers, things are going to have to change. They are going to have to take more responsibility."
The proposals will go through a long and complex ratification process, with the EU's 27 member states, the European Parliament, and a lobbying frenzy of companies and trade associations, influencing the final law.
France and the Netherlands have already come out in favour of Europe having all the tools it needs to rein in the gatekeepers, including the power to break them up.
- 'Blunt and rigid' -
Big Tech, unsurprisingly, is asking for moderation and wants companies to be judged not simply by their size.
"What we could end up having would be blunt and rigid rules targeting size instead of problematic conduct," said Kayvan Hazemi-Jebelli, an expert at the Computer and Communications Industry Association, a big tech lobby group.
For the past decade the EU has taken the lead worldwide in trying to grapple with the insurmountable power of big tech, slapping billions in antitrust fines against Google, but critics believe the method has done little to change its behaviour.
The EU has also ordered Apple to pay billions of euros in back taxes to Ireland, but that decision was quashed by the EU's highest court.
In the meantime, US authorities have taken up the call and are themselves reassessing the role of big tech, with several major antitrust cases putting Google under the gun in addition to a legal bid to strip Facebook of its Instagram and Whatsapp products.
The details of the proposal have been carefully guarded by the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, even though a few details have leaked.
What is certain is that gatekeepers will face built-for-purpose dos and don'ts that may include a ban on companies prioritising their own services on their platforms or chasing away rivals by exploiting data inaccessible to others.
- 'Control their power' -
The Digital Services Act is expected to give the commission sharper teeth in pursuing social media platforms when they allow illegal content online, with the power to inflict fines, possibly through a newly created EU authority, instead of the voluntary system that exists now.
Tech giants will be especially vigilant to maintain their exemption from liability when it comes to illegal content on their platforms, a status they say preserves free speech since it prevents over-enforcement and creates fertile ground for the innovation that triggered the internet revolution.
The proposal may not go as far as reversing that exemption, but it will clearly increase the platform's responsibility by setting out clear rules and incentives for ad transparency and online information.
Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft fear measures that would set a precedent in the rest of the world, calling into question their way of working, says Alexandre de Streel, co-director of the think-tank Center on Regulation in Europe (Cerre).
"For the first time, we would have asymmetric regulation which would focus only on the big players," he told AFP. "We're going to put rules in place to control their power."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-12--End of an era? Hague trials rock Kosovo's rebel-led politics

Former President Hashim Thaci ( C ) and other rebel chiefs were once feted for liberating Kosovo from Serbia in a 1990s war After more than a decade at the helm , Kosovo 's former guerillas may have finally met their match -- not at home but in The Hague , where they are on trial for war crimes .
It has been a long and hard fall from grace for former president Hashim Thaci and other ex-rebels who were once feted as heroes for liberating Kosovo from Serbia in a late 1990s war , with the help of NATO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the joy of that victory , in recent years they have become the face of a political elite accused of corruption and clientelism that has clouded Kosovo 's first decade of independence .
`` They became so strong and accumulated so much wealth that it was impossible to overthrow them , '' said Ismet Sojeva , 66 , a retired English teacher .
`` Only The Hague could help bring them from the sky back down to earth '' .
Thaci , 52 , and four others were summoned last month to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges of murder , torture , persecution and other war crimes allegedly committed during the 1998-99 conflict with Serbia .
For many Kosovars , it 's a complicated moment .
Most strongly defend the uprising that paved Kosovo 's path to independence in 2008 .
Yet the guerilla leaders themselves have long ago lost their shine among a public frustrated with enduring poverty and dysfunction .
`` There is nothing they have not done to us people , '' said the owner of a tea shop in Pristina who declined to give his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state . ''
With trials that could last up to eight years , political science professor Belul Beqaj believes the absence of Thaci and his cadres could open a new chapter for Kosovo politics .
Thaci 's PDK party came to power in 2007 and stayed there until losing an election late last year .
`` It is the beginning of the end of the era of the powerful military-political group that brought Kosovo to this state , '' Beqaj said .
There is a rare opportunity for a `` new generation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adds Arben Hajrullahu , a professor of political sciences at the University of Pristina .
Yet the ex-rebels wo n't `` leave soon and easily , '' he noted , with some key figures still in politics and many others holding sway in powerful state institutions .
The fragmented opposition would need to unite around a common cause , said the professor , a goal that has so far proved difficult in Kosovo 's tumultuous political scene .
Known as the Kosovo Liberation Army ( KLA ) , the ethnic Albanian rebels are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with scores of streets and monuments bearing their names and stories .
They first emerged as a separatist movement in the 1990s in response to growing oppression of the ethnic Albanian population in Kosovo , then a Serbian province .
Thaci , a founding member , served as the group 's political head , using a satellite phone to communicate with peace-brokering diplomats and foreign reporters .
Other prominent leaders on trial include the KLA 's former spy chief Kadri Veseli , spokesman Jakup Krasniqi and chief of operations Rexhep Selimi .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intensified in 1998 , the rag-tag army swelled from a few hundred members to thousands of recruits .
Victory arrived with NATO 's intervention the following year , after 13,000 lives had been lost , mostly Kosovo Albanians .
The KLA was officially disbanded but its members continued to hold sway , consolidating their power through a series of attacks on political rivals .
Many top commanders like Thaci swapped their fatigues for politics and have circled the halls of power ever since .
Their levers of control were unveiled in 2011 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his associates showed a system of settling political appointments based on cronyism .
Thaci 's clan is also accused of using their clout to scupper local investigations of KLA war crimes -- as well as attempts to obstruct the work of the tribunal in The Hague , which was set up in 2015 .
`` The suspects wield enormous influence over former KLA members and Kosovo in general , '' Hague prosecutors said in their request for arrest warrants this year .
Officials loyal to Thaci have `` presided over corrupt government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential witnesses , they alleged .
The trials may signal the end of crucial support from the West , which has long propped up Thaci and his allies .
The US has been a particularly robust ally , embracing Thaci at every turn , including when then-Vice President Joe Biden welcomed him to the White House as the `` George Washington of Kosovo '' .
Critics say the West has backed the former rebels to prioritise stability in the region -- at the cost of rotting democratic institutions and a loss of public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men `` looked only after settling and feeding themselves , '' said 22-year-old economy student Albulen Obrazhda , summing up the widespread disillusionment among youth , many of whom are eager to go abroad for better opportunities .
`` They left us at the bottom . ''

Pristina (AFP) –
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After more than a decade at the helm, Kosovo's former guerillas may have finally met their match -- not at home but in The Hague, where they are on trial for war crimes.
It has been a long and hard fall from grace for former president Hashim Thaci and other ex-rebels who were once feted as heroes for liberating Kosovo from Serbia in a late 1990s war, with the help of NATO.
Yet if they were once associated with the joy of that victory, in recent years they have become the face of a political elite accused of corruption and clientelism that has clouded Kosovo's first decade of independence.
"They became so strong and accumulated so much wealth that it was impossible to overthrow them," said Ismet Sojeva, 66, a retired English teacher.
"Only The Hague could help bring them from the sky back down to earth".
Thaci, 52, and four others were summoned last month to the EU-backed court in the Netherlands on charges of murder, torture, persecution and other war crimes allegedly committed during the 1998-99 conflict with Serbia.
For many Kosovars, it's a complicated moment.
Most strongly defend the uprising that paved Kosovo's path to independence in 2008.
Yet the guerilla leaders themselves have long ago lost their shine among a public frustrated with enduring poverty and dysfunction.
"There is nothing they have not done to us people," said the owner of a tea shop in Pristina who declined to give his name.
"They almost destroyed the state."
- An opportunity -
With trials that could last up to eight years, political science professor Belul Beqaj believes the absence of Thaci and his cadres could open a new chapter for Kosovo politics.
Thaci's PDK party came to power in 2007 and stayed there until losing an election late last year.
"It is the beginning of the end of the era of the powerful military-political group that brought Kosovo to this state," Beqaj said.
There is a rare opportunity for a "new generation of politicians" to fill the void, adds Arben Hajrullahu, a professor of political sciences at the University of Pristina.
Yet the ex-rebels won't "leave soon and easily," he noted, with some key figures still in politics and many others holding sway in powerful state institutions.
The fragmented opposition would need to unite around a common cause, said the professor, a goal that has so far proved difficult in Kosovo's tumultuous political scene.
- War heroes -
Known as the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), the ethnic Albanian rebels are deeply embedded in the national narrative, with scores of streets and monuments bearing their names and stories.
They first emerged as a separatist movement in the 1990s in response to growing oppression of the ethnic Albanian population in Kosovo, then a Serbian province.
Thaci, a founding member, served as the group's political head, using a satellite phone to communicate with peace-brokering diplomats and foreign reporters.
Other prominent leaders on trial include the KLA's former spy chief Kadri Veseli, spokesman Jakup Krasniqi and chief of operations Rexhep Selimi.
After the KLA's clashes with Serbian troops intensified in 1998, the rag-tag army swelled from a few hundred members to thousands of recruits.
Victory arrived with NATO's intervention the following year, after 13,000 lives had been lost, mostly Kosovo Albanians.
The KLA was officially disbanded but its members continued to hold sway, consolidating their power through a series of attacks on political rivals.
- 'Corrupt payouts' -
Many top commanders like Thaci swapped their fatigues for politics and have circled the halls of power ever since.
Their levers of control were unveiled in 2011, when wiretapped phone conversations between then-PM Thaci and his associates showed a system of settling political appointments based on cronyism.
Thaci's clan is also accused of using their clout to scupper local investigations of KLA war crimes -- as well as attempts to obstruct the work of the tribunal in The Hague, which was set up in 2015.
"The suspects wield enormous influence over former KLA members and Kosovo in general," Hague prosecutors said in their request for arrest warrants this year.
Officials loyal to Thaci have "presided over corrupt government pay-outs" and job offers to silence potential witnesses, they alleged.
The trials may signal the end of crucial support from the West, which has long propped up Thaci and his allies.
The US has been a particularly robust ally, embracing Thaci at every turn, including when then-Vice President Joe Biden welcomed him to the White House as the "George Washington of Kosovo".
Critics say the West has backed the former rebels to prioritise stability in the region -- at the cost of rotting democratic institutions and a loss of public faith in politics.
Thaci and his men "looked only after settling and feeding themselves," said 22-year-old economy student Albulen Obrazhda, summing up the widespread disillusionment among youth, many of whom are eager to go abroad for better opportunities.
"They left us at the bottom."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-12--Swiss deny China deal posed threat to dissidents

Switzerland 's so-called re-admission agreement with China specified the terms for officials to travel to the country and interrogate Chinese nationals set for deportation The Swiss strongly rejected accusations this week that a deal allowing Chinese officials to enter Switzerland and interrogate Chinese nationals , which only recently came to light , put dissidents at risk .
Switzerland entered into a so-called re-admission agreement with China back in 2015 .
The deal expired on Monday .
The agreement , which remained a secret until Swiss newspaper NZZ divulged its existence in August , specified the terms for Chinese officials to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationals set for deportation .
Asia-focused rights group Safeguard Defenders this week published the text of the deal , plus a report about how it differed from similar agreements with other countries , and could pose a threat to `` those the Chinese government wants to be returned '' .
The details coming to light are `` going to tarnish Switzerland 's reputation '' , Peter Dahlin , who heads the organisation , told AFP .
Following the initial revelation of the agreement in August , since-jailed Hong Kong dissident Joshua Wong weighed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nature of the deal .
`` Five years after the secret deal was signed , no Swiss MP had ever heard of the deal , '' he tweeted on August 24 , warning that `` dissidents in exile '' from Hong Kong , Taiwan and elsewhere , could risk extradition to China .
The Swiss migration ministry meanwhile flatly denied that there was anything secretive about the China deal , insisting it was a standard , `` technical arrangement '' like the ones it had reached with some 60 other countries .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like many such deals , it `` can be obtained on request at any time '' , it said in a statement .
Ministry spokesman Reto Kormann also stressed to AFP in an email that persons seen as threatened , like Uighur Muslims or Tibetans , would not be considered for expulsion , and `` would not be questioned by Chinese officials '' .
He explained that readmission agreements were needed because `` most states are only willing to take back their own citizens if they can verify their identity '' .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Switzerland as in other European states . ''
The China deal had been put to use only once in the past five years , in 2016 , the ministry said .
During that mission , `` two Chinese officials stayed in Switzerland for several days to interview a total of 13 people '' , it said .
The Swiss migration ministry had expected to renew the agreement before it expired on December 7 .
But it said is was not worried it had lapsed , stressing it was possible to invite in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deal came to light back in August , left-leaning parties called for more oversight , and the issue will now be discussed by parliament in the coming months .
After that , ministry spokesman Daniel Bach told AFP , talks with Chinese authorities about reinstating the deal would begin .
`` It is in Switzerland 's interest to renew this agreement , '' he said .
The Safeguard Defenders report meanwhile maintained that Switzerland 's deal with China was in no way like its agreements with other countries .
The report compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ones it has with Sweden , India , Hong Kong and Britain , and said it found glaring differences .
`` It differs so much , '' Dahlin said , that comparing it to typical readmission agreements `` is itself misleading '' .
While such agreements are usually reached with immigration departments or foreign ministries , the deal with China was reached with its public security ministry , which handles immigration , but also police and intelligence matters .
The Chinese `` experts '' sent in are not immigration bureaucrats , but `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the deal allowed them to `` roam freely , conduct interviews and interrogations unsupervised '' .
He warned the agents could conceivably also move freely throughout Europe 's passport-free Schengen area , which `` would obviously be a major concern for the capitals in the countries around Switzerland '' .
Kormann however stressed that the Swiss migration ministry plans the duration of assignments , and the duration of the visas accordingly .
Hua Chunying , a spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign ministry meanwhile told AFP the criticism of its agreement with Switzerland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the facts '' .
`` Other European countries engage in similar cooperation with China , '' she said .

Geneva (AFP) –
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The Swiss strongly rejected accusations this week that a deal allowing Chinese officials to enter Switzerland and interrogate Chinese nationals, which only recently came to light, put dissidents at risk.
Switzerland entered into a so-called re-admission agreement with China back in 2015. The deal expired on Monday.
The agreement, which remained a secret until Swiss newspaper NZZ divulged its existence in August, specified the terms for Chinese officials to travel to the country and interrogate Chinese nationals set for deportation.
Asia-focused rights group Safeguard Defenders this week published the text of the deal, plus a report about how it differed from similar agreements with other countries, and could pose a threat to "those the Chinese government wants to be returned".
The details coming to light are "going to tarnish Switzerland's reputation", Peter Dahlin, who heads the organisation, told AFP.
Following the initial revelation of the agreement in August, since-jailed Hong Kong dissident Joshua Wong weighed in on Twitter, decrying the secretive nature of the deal.
"Five years after the secret deal was signed, no Swiss MP had ever heard of the deal," he tweeted on August 24, warning that "dissidents in exile" from Hong Kong, Taiwan and elsewhere, could risk extradition to China.
- 'Standard practice' -
The Swiss migration ministry meanwhile flatly denied that there was anything secretive about the China deal, insisting it was a standard, "technical arrangement" like the ones it had reached with some 60 other countries.
While the agreement had never been posted publicly like many such deals, it "can be obtained on request at any time", it said in a statement.
Ministry spokesman Reto Kormann also stressed to AFP in an email that persons seen as threatened, like Uighur Muslims or Tibetans, would not be considered for expulsion, and "would not be questioned by Chinese officials".
He explained that readmission agreements were needed because "most states are only willing to take back their own citizens if they can verify their identity".
"Accordingly, such interviews are standard practice in Switzerland as in other European states."
The China deal had been put to use only once in the past five years, in 2016, the ministry said.
During that mission, "two Chinese officials stayed in Switzerland for several days to interview a total of 13 people", it said.
The Swiss migration ministry had expected to renew the agreement before it expired on December 7.
But it said is was not worried it had lapsed, stressing it was possible to invite in foreign delegations even without it.
After the deal came to light back in August, left-leaning parties called for more oversight, and the issue will now be discussed by parliament in the coming months.
After that, ministry spokesman Daniel Bach told AFP, talks with Chinese authorities about reinstating the deal would begin.
"It is in Switzerland's interest to renew this agreement," he said.
- 'Misleading' -
The Safeguard Defenders report meanwhile maintained that Switzerland's deal with China was in no way like its agreements with other countries.
The report compared Switzerland's deal with China to the ones it has with Sweden, India, Hong Kong and Britain, and said it found glaring differences.
"It differs so much," Dahlin said, that comparing it to typical readmission agreements "is itself misleading".
While such agreements are usually reached with immigration departments or foreign ministries, the deal with China was reached with its public security ministry, which handles immigration, but also police and intelligence matters.
The Chinese "experts" sent in are not immigration bureaucrats, but "agents", Dahlin said, adding that the deal allowed them to "roam freely, conduct interviews and interrogations unsupervised".
He warned the agents could conceivably also move freely throughout Europe's passport-free Schengen area, which "would obviously be a major concern for the capitals in the countries around Switzerland".
Kormann however stressed that the Swiss migration ministry plans the duration of assignments, and the duration of the visas accordingly.
Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign ministry meanwhile told AFP the criticism of its agreement with Switzerland was based on "a misinterpretation of the facts".
"Other European countries engage in similar cooperation with China," she said.
© 2020 AFP