france24--2020-12-27--With Biden, Britain's Brexiteers lose cheerleader

A giant painting of US President-elect Joe Biden is seen in his ancestral home of Ballina in northwest Ireland in October 2020 Promoters of Britain 's divorce from the European Union had said they would revitalize bonds with the United States , where President Donald Trump , with his shared disdain for multinational bodies , seemed the perfect partner .
Come January , Britain both definitively leaves the 27-nation bloc and will deal with a new US president , Joe Biden , who prioritizes the EU and shares none of the Brexiteers ' romanticism about going it alone .
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second Catholic president , had already warned Prime Minister Boris Johnson not to jeopardize peace in Northern Ireland by erecting a hard border between the British-ruled province and EU member Ireland .
Even as trade talks dragged on , Britain reached a deal with Brussels on special arrangements for Northern Ireland -- a sign to observers that Biden 's election had already made an impact .
`` It was recognized in London that if you messed up the Northern Irish border , it would have been absolutely poisonous for the US-UK relationship , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States .
Johnson 's Conservative government has emphasized issues on which it enjoys common ground with Biden , including fighting climate change , and announced a historic boost in military spending .
Kirkegaard said Britain was hoping to punch above its weight as a strategic security partner of the United States , especially at a time of high tension with China , but said Biden could find similar capabilities in the much larger EU , where France is a major military player .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have but no longer strictly necessary to have onboard for the US , '' he said .
Biden is surrounded by Barack Obama 's former aides who have not forgotten Johnson 's 2016 quip , in line with thinking on the US far-right , that the then US president had an `` ancestral dislike '' of Britain because of his `` part-Kenyan '' heritage .
While the racial undertones differ markedly , Biden has himself said , at least partly in jest , that his Irish ancestry soured him on Britain .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Biden is seen walking on as a BBC journalist tries to ask him a question , responding , `` The BBC ?
I 'm Irish ! ''
before flashing a friendly smile .
`` Clearly I think there is a sense among some people in Biden 's orbit that Brexit was a completely misguided policy and Prime Minister Johnson has been too close to Trump and therefore there 's a need to downplay this relationship a little bit , '' said Erik Brattberg , director of the Europe program at the Carnegie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that Biden recognizes the broader importance of ties with Britain and would not be a flip image of Trump , who shattered diplomatic protocol by belittling allied leaders , especially German Chancellor Angela Merkel .
`` Trump 's approach was more about fomenting divisions within Europe , whereas Biden will see his legacy as trying to heal some of the divisions , '' Brattberg said .
Britain has raced to seal a US trade accord while exiting the EU , but lawmakers from Biden 's Democratic Party had warned that a deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was in question .
Even with Northern Ireland 's status resolved for now , any accord could be deeply unpopular with the British public due to lower US animal-welfare standards for meat and likely higher prices on medicine .
Biden has indicated he will not prioritize sweeping new trade deals and , without congressional action , on July 1 he will lose authority to fast-track negotiations .
`` It would be very hard if not impossible for the United States to enter into an agreement with the UK , '' said Jennifer Hillman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Foreign Relations , estimating that Biden would need to complete talks by April .
The 2021 calendar will nonetheless be fortuitous for Johnson as a major UN climate conference is due in November in Glasgow , where Biden 's incoming envoy John Kerry has already vowed to encourage bold action .
Despite his bonds with Trump , Johnson backs action on climate change and will welcome the expected US return to diplomacy with Iran and global Covid-19 coordination .
`` On paper , the British Conservative Party is far closer to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party , '' Kirkegaard said .
`` But all of that would mean nothing if there was a hard border in Northern Ireland . ''

Washington (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Promoters of Britain's divorce from the European Union had said they would revitalize bonds with the United States, where President Donald Trump, with his shared disdain for multinational bodies, seemed the perfect partner.
Come January, Britain both definitively leaves the 27-nation bloc and will deal with a new US president, Joe Biden, who prioritizes the EU and shares none of the Brexiteers' romanticism about going it alone.
Biden, an Irish-American who will be the second Catholic president, had already warned Prime Minister Boris Johnson not to jeopardize peace in Northern Ireland by erecting a hard border between the British-ruled province and EU member Ireland.
Even as trade talks dragged on, Britain reached a deal with Brussels on special arrangements for Northern Ireland -- a sign to observers that Biden's election had already made an impact.
"It was recognized in London that if you messed up the Northern Irish border, it would have been absolutely poisonous for the US-UK relationship," said Jacob Kirkegaard, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
Johnson's Conservative government has emphasized issues on which it enjoys common ground with Biden, including fighting climate change, and announced a historic boost in military spending.
Kirkegaard said Britain was hoping to punch above its weight as a strategic security partner of the United States, especially at a time of high tension with China, but said Biden could find similar capabilities in the much larger EU, where France is a major military player.
"Brexit Britain has made itself nice to have but no longer strictly necessary to have onboard for the US," he said.
- 'I'm Irish' -
Biden is surrounded by Barack Obama's former aides who have not forgotten Johnson's 2016 quip, in line with thinking on the US far-right, that the then US president had an "ancestral dislike" of Britain because of his "part-Kenyan" heritage.
While the racial undertones differ markedly, Biden has himself said, at least partly in jest, that his Irish ancestry soured him on Britain.
In footage that went viral after his election, Biden is seen walking on as a BBC journalist tries to ask him a question, responding, "The BBC? I'm Irish!" before flashing a friendly smile.
"Clearly I think there is a sense among some people in Biden's orbit that Brexit was a completely misguided policy and Prime Minister Johnson has been too close to Trump and therefore there's a need to downplay this relationship a little bit," said Erik Brattberg, director of the Europe program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
But he said that Biden recognizes the broader importance of ties with Britain and would not be a flip image of Trump, who shattered diplomatic protocol by belittling allied leaders, especially German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"Trump's approach was more about fomenting divisions within Europe, whereas Biden will see his legacy as trying to heal some of the divisions," Brattberg said.
- Little hope on trade -
Britain has raced to seal a US trade accord while exiting the EU, but lawmakers from Biden's Democratic Party had warned that a deal was off so long as Northern Ireland was in question.
Even with Northern Ireland's status resolved for now, any accord could be deeply unpopular with the British public due to lower US animal-welfare standards for meat and likely higher prices on medicine.
Biden has indicated he will not prioritize sweeping new trade deals and, without congressional action, on July 1 he will lose authority to fast-track negotiations.
"It would be very hard if not impossible for the United States to enter into an agreement with the UK," said Jennifer Hillman, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, estimating that Biden would need to complete talks by April.
The 2021 calendar will nonetheless be fortuitous for Johnson as a major UN climate conference is due in November in Glasgow, where Biden's incoming envoy John Kerry has already vowed to encourage bold action.
Despite his bonds with Trump, Johnson backs action on climate change and will welcome the expected US return to diplomacy with Iran and global Covid-19 coordination.
"On paper, the British Conservative Party is far closer to the Democratic Party than Donald Trump's Republican Party," Kirkegaard said.
"But all of that would mean nothing if there was a hard border in Northern Ireland."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-27--Covid concerns have Browns shorthanded in NFL playoff push

Wide receiver Jarvis Landry is one of six Cleveland Browns players that will miss Sunday 's NFL game at the New York Jets after one player tested positive for Covid-19 The Cleveland Browns , trying to end an 18-year NFL playoff drought , take on the Jets in New York on Sunday with six players unavailable after a positive Covid-19 test .
Four wide receivers -- Jarvis Landry , Rashard Higgins , KhaDarel Hodge and Donovan Peoples -- and linebackers B.J .
Goodson and Jacob Phillips are all unavailable for the game , the Browns said on Saturday .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ player on the team tested positive and the Browns carried out contact-tracing to determine who was in close contact with him .
They had to delay their flight to the New York area for more than four hours after Goodson became the first player placed on the Covid-19 reserve list .
`` ANNOYED '' Landry said in a tweet after it was announced the five-time Pro-Bowler will miss a game for the first time in seven seasons .
Landry leads the team this season with 67 catches for 789 yards .
Higgins was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with 35 catches this season .
The Browns noted that , per NFL guidelines , they would not specify which player tested positive and which had to isolate because of close contact .
But Higgins said on Twitter he was in the latter group in a post indicating his disappointment .
`` I do n't even have Covid !
!
! ''
he tweeted .
The Browns have called up wide receivers Ja'Marcus Bradley and Derrick Willies and linebacker Montrel Meander from the practice squad .

Los Angeles (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
The Cleveland Browns, trying to end an 18-year NFL playoff drought, take on the Jets in New York on Sunday with six players unavailable after a positive Covid-19 test.
Four wide receivers -- Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, KhaDarel Hodge and Donovan Peoples -- and linebackers B.J. Goodson and Jacob Phillips are all unavailable for the game, the Browns said on Saturday.
The Covid-19 reserve list was finalized after one player on the team tested positive and the Browns carried out contact-tracing to determine who was in close contact with him.
They had to delay their flight to the New York area for more than four hours after Goodson became the first player placed on the Covid-19 reserve list.
"ANNOYED" Landry said in a tweet after it was announced the five-time Pro-Bowler will miss a game for the first time in seven seasons.
Landry leads the team this season with 67 catches for 789 yards.
Higgins was another favorite target of quarterback Baker Mayfield, with 35 catches this season.
The Browns noted that, per NFL guidelines, they would not specify which player tested positive and which had to isolate because of close contact.
But Higgins said on Twitter he was in the latter group in a post indicating his disappointment.
"I don't even have Covid!!!" he tweeted.
The Browns have called up wide receivers Ja'Marcus Bradley and Derrick Willies and linebacker Montrel Meander from the practice squad.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-27--As vaccines are rolled out, questions remain

A doctor shows a syringe at the Sao Joao Hospital in Porto , where the first batch of Covid-19 vaccine arrived on December 26 , 2020 , one day before the coronavirus vaccination program starts in Portugal European countries are following the United States , Britain and a handful of other countries to begin rolling out coronavirus vaccines .
The rapid development and approval of drugs has been hailed the world over , questions remain about the availability , effectiveness and side effects of the jabs .
It usually takes roughly 10 years to develop and market a new vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Covid-19 .
A vaccine developed by the American company Pfizer and the German company BioNTech was approved for use in Britain on December 2 .
Thousands of older people have since received the first dose .
A total of 16 countries and the European Union have given the green light to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine .
The US Food and Drug Administration granted emergency authorisations to the Pfizer-BioNTech drug and another jab from the American company Moderna .
Russia began vaccinations on December 5 with its domestic drug Sputnik V , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trials .
China has already given the go-ahead for emergency use of some of their vaccines , even though none have yet been formally approved .
A total of 16 vaccines are in the final stage of development , including those already on the market , the World Health Organization says .
- What is the EU 's roll-out timetable ? '
- Vaccinations can begin from Sunday following approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab by the European Medicines Agency ( EMA ) .
Each member country will take the lead in defining their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member states -- Germany , Hungary and Slovakia -- started vaccinations a day early on Saturday .
- Which vaccine is most effective ?
- Since 9 November , four manufacturers have announced that their vaccine is effective : Pfizer-BioNTech , Moderna , the British alliance AstraZeneca-University of Oxford and the Russian state institute Gamaleia .
These announcements are based on phase 3 clinical trials that involve tens of thousands of volunteers .
However , detailed and validated data are available only for the Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca-Oxford drugs .
The scientific journal The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's vaccine was 70 percent effective on average .
The FDA confirmed the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at 95 percent efficacy with Moderna claiming 94.1 percent for its drug .
Russia claims a 91.4 percent efficacy for its Sputnik V vaccine .
The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine is the least expensive at around €2.50 per dose ) .
The vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech have a logistical handicap , as they can only be stored over the long term at very low temperatures ( -20° Celsius for the former , -70°C for the latter ) .
- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Experts insist that with clinical trials carried out on tens of thousands of volunteers , any major risk would have already been detected .
But rarer side effects , or those affecting specific patient profiles , can not be ruled out .
According to the FDA , the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine can result in painful reactions on the arm where the injection is made .
Other undesirable side effects include fatigue , headaches , cramps and , more rarely , fever .
The most important is the long-term efficacy .
Penny Ward of King @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were how long would protection last and could the virus eventually mutate and no longer be covered by the vaccine ?
Another crucial question is whether the vaccines act differently in populations most at risk , starting with elderly people who are more likely to develop a serious form of Covid-19 .
It also remains to be seen whether these vaccines block the transmission of the virus , and also reduce the severity of the disease in those who have received the jab .
- Is the vaccine less effect against the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the current vaccines against Covid-19 remain effective against the new strain of the virus detected in Britain and elsewhere , which is thought to be more infectious .
`` At the moment there is no evidence to suggest '' that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine `` is not effective against the new variant '' , the European Medicines Agency said .
Co-director of the German laboratory BioNTech , Ugur Sahin , echoed that message , adding that his company would in any case be in a position to provide a vaccine for a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Paris (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
European countries are following the United States, Britain and a handful of other countries to begin rolling out coronavirus vaccines.
The rapid development and approval of drugs has been hailed the world over, questions remain about the availability, effectiveness and side effects of the jabs.
- How many vaccines? -
It usually takes roughly 10 years to develop and market a new vaccine, but the process was vastly accelerated for Covid-19.
A vaccine developed by the American company Pfizer and the German company BioNTech was approved for use in Britain on December 2. Thousands of older people have since received the first dose.
A total of 16 countries and the European Union have given the green light to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
The US Food and Drug Administration granted emergency authorisations to the Pfizer-BioNTech drug and another jab from the American company Moderna.
Russia began vaccinations on December 5 with its domestic drug Sputnik V, which is still in its third phase of clinical trials. China has already given the go-ahead for emergency use of some of their vaccines, even though none have yet been formally approved.
A total of 16 vaccines are in the final stage of development, including those already on the market, the World Health Organization says.
- What is the EU's roll-out timetable? ' -
Vaccinations can begin from Sunday following approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Each member country will take the lead in defining their priorities with the rollout.
But three member states -- Germany, Hungary and Slovakia -- started vaccinations a day early on Saturday.
- Which vaccine is most effective? -
Since 9 November, four manufacturers have announced that their vaccine is effective: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, the British alliance AstraZeneca-University of Oxford and the Russian state institute Gamaleia.
These announcements are based on phase 3 clinical trials that involve tens of thousands of volunteers.
However, detailed and validated data are available only for the Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca-Oxford drugs.
The scientific journal The Lancet confirmed on December 8 that AstraZeneca's vaccine was 70 percent effective on average.
The FDA confirmed the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at 95 percent efficacy with Moderna claiming 94.1 percent for its drug. Russia claims a 91.4 percent efficacy for its Sputnik V vaccine.
The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine is the least expensive at around €2.50 per dose). The vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech have a logistical handicap, as they can only be stored over the long term at very low temperatures (-20° Celsius for the former, -70°C for the latter).
- What are the side effects? -
Experts insist that with clinical trials carried out on tens of thousands of volunteers, any major risk would have already been detected. But rarer side effects, or those affecting specific patient profiles, cannot be ruled out.
According to the FDA, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine can result in painful reactions on the arm where the injection is made. Other undesirable side effects include fatigue, headaches, cramps and, more rarely, fever.
- Further outstanding issues -
The most important is the long-term efficacy.
Penny Ward of King's College in London said key questions were how long would protection last and could the virus eventually mutate and no longer be covered by the vaccine?
Another crucial question is whether the vaccines act differently in populations most at risk, starting with elderly people who are more likely to develop a serious form of Covid-19.
It also remains to be seen whether these vaccines block the transmission of the virus, and also reduce the severity of the disease in those who have received the jab.
- Is the vaccine less effect against the new strain? -
European Union experts believe that the current vaccines against Covid-19 remain effective against the new strain of the virus detected in Britain and elsewhere, which is thought to be more infectious.
"At the moment there is no evidence to suggest" that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine "is not effective against the new variant", the European Medicines Agency said.
Co-director of the German laboratory BioNTech, Ugur Sahin, echoed that message, adding that his company would in any case be in a position to provide a vaccine for a new strain of Covid-19 within six weeks.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-26--Australian golf legend Norman quarantining at home in Covid scare

Australian golf champion Greg Norman says he is quarantining at home after spending Christmas in the hospital with Covid-19 symptoms Australian golf great Greg Norman said Saturday he was quarantining at home after spending Christmas Day in the hospital with Covid-19 symptoms .
The 65-year-old Aussie , a former world number one who won the 1986 and 1983 British Opens , said in an Instagram post on Saturday that he still had fever , joint and muscle aches and headaches `` but on a lesser level . ''
Although he had yet to get results of his latest Covid-19 test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ X-Ray and blood test in the hospital `` where 2 markers showed up leading the Doc to say , assume you are positive with these symptoms and markers .
`` They released me to continue quarantining at home on medication in our guest house away from the main house , '' added Norman , who posted a picture of himself on the balcony of the guest house .
On Friday , Norman had posted a photo of himself with medical equipment in the background , an NFL Pittsburgh Steelers mask over his lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sums it all up .
My Christmas Day . ''
Norman competed in last week 's PNC Championship at Orlando with his son Greg Jr. , finishing in a share of ninth .
He tested negative for Covid-19 prior to the event and again as recently as Tuesday .
`` Until I get 2 consecutive negative tests I will continue to isolate with my dog Apollo keeping me company , '' he wrote , thanking fans and friends for messages of support and concern .

Miami (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Australian golf great Greg Norman said Saturday he was quarantining at home after spending Christmas Day in the hospital with Covid-19 symptoms.
The 65-year-old Aussie, a former world number one who won the 1986 and 1983 British Opens, said in an Instagram post on Saturday that he still had fever, joint and muscle aches and headaches "but on a lesser level."
Although he had yet to get results of his latest Covid-19 test, Norman said he had a chest X-Ray and blood test in the hospital "where 2 markers showed up leading the Doc to say, assume you are positive with these symptoms and markers.
"They released me to continue quarantining at home on medication in our guest house away from the main house," added Norman, who posted a picture of himself on the balcony of the guest house.
On Friday, Norman had posted a photo of himself with medical equipment in the background, an NFL Pittsburgh Steelers mask over his lower face and the caption: "This sums it all up. My Christmas Day."
Norman competed in last week's PNC Championship at Orlando with his son Greg Jr., finishing in a share of ninth.
He tested negative for Covid-19 prior to the event and again as recently as Tuesday.
"Until I get 2 consecutive negative tests I will continue to isolate with my dog Apollo keeping me company," he wrote, thanking fans and friends for messages of support and concern.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-26--Canada detects first coronavirus variant cases: health officials

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that Canada would prolong its suspension of passenger flights from the UK until January 6 in light of the coronavirus strain sweeping Britain The first two cases of a particularly infectious coronavirus variant that recently emerged in Britain have been confirmed in Canada , health authorities said Saturday .
`` The cases are a couple from Durham with no known travel history , exposure or high-risk contacts , '' Barbara Yaffe , acting chief medical officer for Ontario , said in a statement .
The couple have been placed in isolation , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ontario reimposed a lockdown for several weeks due to a spike in Covid-19 cases in the province since early December .
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday his country would prolong its suspension of passenger flights from the UK until January 6 in light of the coronavirus strain sweeping Britain .
The discovery of two cases in Ontario `` further reinforces the need for Ontarians to stay home as much as possible and continue to follow all public health advice , including the provincewide shutdown measures beginning today , '' said Yaffe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's most populous province at some 14 million residents , will last 28 days in the south of the region and 14 days in the north .
Private indoor gatherings outside the family circle are banned .
Essential businesses , such as grocery stores and pharmacies , will be allowed to remain open , but restaurants will be limited to take-out or delivery service .
As of Saturday , Canada had recorded more than 534,000 cases of Covid-19 with more than 14,700 deaths .

Montreal (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
The first two cases of a particularly infectious coronavirus variant that recently emerged in Britain have been confirmed in Canada, health authorities said Saturday.
"The cases are a couple from Durham with no known travel history, exposure or high-risk contacts," Barbara Yaffe, acting chief medical officer for Ontario, said in a statement.
The couple have been placed in isolation, according to the statement, the same day that Ontario reimposed a lockdown for several weeks due to a spike in Covid-19 cases in the province since early December.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday his country would prolong its suspension of passenger flights from the UK until January 6 in light of the coronavirus strain sweeping Britain.
The discovery of two cases in Ontario "further reinforces the need for Ontarians to stay home as much as possible and continue to follow all public health advice, including the provincewide shutdown measures beginning today," said Yaffe.
The lockdown in Ontario, Canada's most populous province at some 14 million residents, will last 28 days in the south of the region and 14 days in the north.
Private indoor gatherings outside the family circle are banned. Essential businesses, such as grocery stores and pharmacies, will be allowed to remain open, but restaurants will be limited to take-out or delivery service.
As of Saturday, Canada had recorded more than 534,000 cases of Covid-19 with more than 14,700 deaths.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-26--Investigators search home in Nashville bomb probe

The explosion on Christmas morning in downtown Nashville damaged dozens of businesses Authorities searched a house in the Nashville area on Saturday as they probed the large blast that ripped through the downtown of the southern US city on Christmas morning , injuring several people and damaging dozens of buildings .
The operation in Antioch came as US media reports said a 63-year-old `` person of interest '' had been identified in connection with the explosion , which came from a parked motorhome that blared a warning minutes before it blew up .
Friday 's blast in historic downtown Nashville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capital , damaged some 40 buildings and injured at least three people , with the streets largely abandoned at that hour .
No deaths have been confirmed but authorities were examining tissue found at the blast site that they believe could be human remains .
Police say the blast was an `` intentional act '' but the motive remained unclear and FBI behavioral analysts were involved in the investigation .
`` The damage is shocking and it is a miracle that no residents were killed , '' Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighbors had previously spotted a motorhome outside the residence that was being searched Saturday by authorities , and that it appeared to be similar to the one that exploded in Nashville .
No one has been arrested , but `` information developed during the course of the investigation led us to this address '' , an FBI spokesman said in an interview with the Nashville Tennessean newspaper outside the home being searched .
At a separate press conference , authorities declined to provide details or discuss the reports of a person identified .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 500 leads and tips and that sweeps of the area found no further explosive devices .
Federal prosecutor Don Cochran said the scene was `` like a giant jigsaw puzzle created by a bomb that throws pieces of evidence across multiple city blocks . ''
The investigation included some 250 FBI agents , analysts and other staff , said the agency 's Doug Korneski .
`` We have over 500 investigative leads and we 're following up on every one of those , '' Korneski told reporters .
`` So there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking at .
So at this point , we 're not prepared to identify any single individual . ''
He added however that `` at this point we do n't have any indication that we are looking for another subject . ''
The governor toured the site on Saturday and said he had asked President Donald Trump to declare a state of emergency , a technical move that triggers federal assistance in repairing damage .
`` These buildings , many of which are historic , and others will need to be assessed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Lee said in his request .
According to a timeline provided by the authorities , police were called to the area to respond to gunfire at 5:30 am , and officers spotted the motorhome at 6:00 am .
Fifteen minutes later , they heard an audio countdown coming from the vehicle warning of a bomb -- interspersed with music -- and the need to evacuate .
Police have not said if anyone was inside the motorhome at the time , but lauded the officers who arrived at the scene and took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it as just maybe a threat and calling in and getting resources , they immediately began knocking on doors , they coordinated the resources to get everyone evacuated and out , '' Nashville Police Chief John Drake said .
The motorhome was parked in front of a building for phone company AT & T , causing damage that disrupted telecommunications service in Tennessee as well as parts of Alabama and Kentucky .
AT & T said Saturday that two portable cell sites were operating in downtown Nashville and additional portable sites were being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Washington (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Authorities searched a house in the Nashville area on Saturday as they probed the large blast that ripped through the downtown of the southern US city on Christmas morning, injuring several people and damaging dozens of buildings.
The operation in Antioch came as US media reports said a 63-year-old "person of interest" had been identified in connection with the explosion, which came from a parked motorhome that blared a warning minutes before it blew up.
Friday's blast in historic downtown Nashville, the United States' country music capital, damaged some 40 buildings and injured at least three people, with the streets largely abandoned at that hour.
No deaths have been confirmed but authorities were examining tissue found at the blast site that they believe could be human remains.
Police say the blast was an "intentional act" but the motive remained unclear and FBI behavioral analysts were involved in the investigation.
"The damage is shocking and it is a miracle that no residents were killed," Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said on Twitter on Saturday.
Media reports said neighbors had previously spotted a motorhome outside the residence that was being searched Saturday by authorities, and that it appeared to be similar to the one that exploded in Nashville.
No one has been arrested, but "information developed during the course of the investigation led us to this address", an FBI spokesman said in an interview with the Nashville Tennessean newspaper outside the home being searched.
At a separate press conference, authorities declined to provide details or discuss the reports of a person identified.
They said they were sifting through more than 500 leads and tips and that sweeps of the area found no further explosive devices.
Federal prosecutor Don Cochran said the scene was "like a giant jigsaw puzzle created by a bomb that throws pieces of evidence across multiple city blocks."
The investigation included some 250 FBI agents, analysts and other staff, said the agency's Doug Korneski.
"We have over 500 investigative leads and we're following up on every one of those," Korneski told reporters.
"So there are a number of individuals that we're looking at. So at this point, we're not prepared to identify any single individual."
He added however that "at this point we don't have any indication that we are looking for another subject."
- Emergency request -
The governor toured the site on Saturday and said he had asked President Donald Trump to declare a state of emergency, a technical move that triggers federal assistance in repairing damage.
"These buildings, many of which are historic, and others will need to be assessed by an engineer for structural integrity and safety," Lee said in his request.
According to a timeline provided by the authorities, police were called to the area to respond to gunfire at 5:30 am, and officers spotted the motorhome at 6:00 am.
Fifteen minutes later, they heard an audio countdown coming from the vehicle warning of a bomb -- interspersed with music -- and the need to evacuate.
Police have not said if anyone was inside the motorhome at the time, but lauded the officers who arrived at the scene and took quick action.
"Instead of taking it as just maybe a threat and calling in and getting resources, they immediately began knocking on doors, they coordinated the resources to get everyone evacuated and out," Nashville Police Chief John Drake said.
The motorhome was parked in front of a building for phone company AT&T, causing damage that disrupted telecommunications service in Tennessee as well as parts of Alabama and Kentucky.
AT&T said Saturday that two portable cell sites were operating in downtown Nashville and additional portable sites were being deployed in the region to restore service.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-26--Man City see off Newcastle to remain in title hunt

On the rise : Ferran Torres ( right ) scored Manchester City 's second as they moved up to fifth in the Premier League Manchester City closed to within five points of Premier League leaders Liverpool as goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres saw off Newcastle 2-0 at a rain and windswept Etihad Stadium on Saturday .
City 's lack of goals has unusually been their undoing so far this season but despite again not hitting the free-flowing heights of previous years under Pep Guardiola , they are edging back into title contention thanks to a six-game unbeaten run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's options had been limited prior to kick-off by Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus testing positive for coronavirus along with two members of the City staff .
However , they still had far too much for a Newcastle side lacking in intent or any threat , with top scorer Callum Wilson left on the bench , as the hosts registered an eighth clean sheet in their last 10 games .
City threw away two points in their last home game in a 1-1 draw with West Brom after Gundogan opened the scoring .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the German midfielder was picked out by Raheem Sterling for a tap-in .
Even Kevin De Bruyne has suffered from a lack of confidence in front of goal in recent months as City 's routine thrashings of sides in the lower reaches of the table have dried up .
The Belgian is yet to score from open play this season and paid for his hesitation as he looked for a teammate to square the ball to when clean through on Karl Darlow as the Newcastle 'keeper kept his side in the game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told for the all-important second goal 10 minutes into the second half as Joao Cancelo 's low cross was turned into the path of Torres by Federico Fernandez and the Spaniard applied the simple finish .
That made it just the third time in 12 league games that City had scored more than once and there should have been far more in the final half-hour as Storm Bella swept through the empty Etihad .
Sterling somehow failed to turn home another inviting Cancelo cross before Bernardo Silva struck the outside of the post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just 48 hours away to second-placed Everton , Guardiola surprisingly did not take the chance to rest the likes of De Bruyne and Sterling in the closing stages .
Sergio Aguero was given a run-out as the Argentine aims to get up to match fitness and he should have added a third when he fired too close to Darlow from another fine Cancelo cross .

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Manchester City closed to within five points of Premier League leaders Liverpool as goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres saw off Newcastle 2-0 at a rain and windswept Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
City's lack of goals has unusually been their undoing so far this season but despite again not hitting the free-flowing heights of previous years under Pep Guardiola, they are edging back into title contention thanks to a six-game unbeaten run to move up to fifth.
Guardiola's options had been limited prior to kick-off by Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus testing positive for coronavirus along with two members of the City staff.
However, they still had far too much for a Newcastle side lacking in intent or any threat, with top scorer Callum Wilson left on the bench, as the hosts registered an eighth clean sheet in their last 10 games.
City threw away two points in their last home game in a 1-1 draw with West Brom after Gundogan opened the scoring.
But there was no repeat this time after the German midfielder was picked out by Raheem Sterling for a tap-in.
Even Kevin De Bruyne has suffered from a lack of confidence in front of goal in recent months as City's routine thrashings of sides in the lower reaches of the table have dried up.
The Belgian is yet to score from open play this season and paid for his hesitation as he looked for a teammate to square the ball to when clean through on Karl Darlow as the Newcastle 'keeper kept his side in the game before half-time.
City's pressure finally told for the all-important second goal 10 minutes into the second half as Joao Cancelo's low cross was turned into the path of Torres by Federico Fernandez and the Spaniard applied the simple finish.
That made it just the third time in 12 league games that City had scored more than once and there should have been far more in the final half-hour as Storm Bella swept through the empty Etihad.
Sterling somehow failed to turn home another inviting Cancelo cross before Bernardo Silva struck the outside of the post.
With City in action again in just 48 hours away to second-placed Everton, Guardiola surprisingly did not take the chance to rest the likes of De Bruyne and Sterling in the closing stages.
Sergio Aguero was given a run-out as the Argentine aims to get up to match fitness and he should have added a third when he fired too close to Darlow from another fine Cancelo cross.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-26--Clippers' star Leonard cut by elbow to mouth in NBA win

Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard , on floor , is treated after being struck in the mouth by an elbow from teammate Serge Ibaka in Friday 's NBA victory at Denver Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard suffered a cut in his mouth that required eight stitches to seal but should be ready to face the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday .
Leonard was injured in a collision with teammate Serge Ibaka in the fourth quarter of the Clippers ' 121-108 NBA victory at Denver .
The 29-year-old forward was struck by an elbow in the face and fell to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wood .
Leonard was helped off , bleeding from his mouth , and did not return , the club later revealing details of the injury .
`` He 's going to be fine , '' Clippers coach Ty Lue said .
`` He got up and walked off the floor so he 's good . ''
Leonard had 21 points , seven assists and five rebounds against the Nuggets to lift the Clippers to 2-0 .
The two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player sparked San Antonio to the 2014 title and Toronto @ @ @ @ @

Los Angeles (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard suffered a cut in his mouth that required eight stitches to seal but should be ready to face the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.
Leonard was injured in a collision with teammate Serge Ibaka in the fourth quarter of the Clippers' 121-108 NBA victory at Denver.
The 29-year-old forward was struck by an elbow in the face and fell to the court, blood around him on the wood. Leonard was helped off, bleeding from his mouth, and did not return, the club later revealing details of the injury.
"He's going to be fine," Clippers coach Ty Lue said. "He got up and walked off the floor so he's good."
Leonard had 21 points, seven assists and five rebounds against the Nuggets to lift the Clippers to 2-0.
The two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player sparked San Antonio to the 2014 title and Toronto to the 2019 crown.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-26--CAR elections to go ahead despite instability

CAR elections to go ahead despite instability Elections in CAR will go ahead as planned , despite calls from the @ @ @ @ @ of recent instability and violence , FRANCE 24 's Nadia Massih reports .

CAR elections to go ahead despite instability
01:47
Elections in CAR will go ahead as planned, despite calls from the opposition to postone them because of recent instability and violence, FRANCE 24's Nadia Massih reports.


france24--2020-12-26--Brady's amazing half lifts Tampa Bay into NFL playoffs

Tom Brady threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns in the first half to lead Tampa Bay over Detroit on Saturday and clinch the Buccaneers their first NFL playoff berth since 2007 Tom Brady threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns in the first half Saturday to power Tampa Bay to a 47-7 win over Detroit and lift the Buccaneers into the NFL playoffs .
The 43-year-old quarterback , who joined the Bucs this year after 20 campaigns and six Super Bowl crowns with New England , delivered one of his greatest one-half efforts to put Tampa Bay into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Buccaneers led 34-0 at half-time on the way to improving to 10-5 , securing an NFL wildcard berth while the already eliminated Lions slid to 5-10 .
`` It 's just the beginning , '' said Bucs coach Bruce Arians .
`` Our goal when this all started was to get into the dance .
Now it 's to win 11 games and see who we play next . ''
Brady , who completed 22 of 27 throws before being benched in the second half , set a first-half career best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the four touchdown passes were his most in a first half since 2014 .
Brady 's 36 passing touchdowns this season are a Bucs record and enabled his new club to reach the playoffs -- a feat his old team , the Patriots , failed to manage this year .
The Buccaneers set a team record with 410 total yards in the first half , the most by any NFL club in a decade .
Brady threw touchdown strikes of 33 yards to former New England teammate Rob Gronkowski , 27 yards to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brown and 7 yards to Chris Godwin .
Leonard Fournette added a four-yard touchdown run in the first half and Brady 's back-up Blaine Gabbert added third-quarter touchdown passes of 25 yards to Gronkowski and 22 yards to Evans in the rout .
Evans , who had 10 catches for 181 yards , broke his own one-season touchdown reception record with 13 on his second-half scoring catch .
Arians said he could sense a great performance coming while watching workouts during the week .
`` You could feel this was a playoff practice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Even with the holidays , they handled their business well . ''
The Lions avoided a shutout when Jamal Agnew returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter .
Detroit was hampered by a right ankle injury to quarterback Matthew Stafford in the first quarter .
The Lions were already starting with five coaches sidelined by Covid-19 and contact tracing , with wide receivers coach Robert Prince serving as acting head coach .
Later NFL games Saturday include San Francisco at Arizona and Miami at Las Vegas .

Washington (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Tom Brady threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns in the first half Saturday to power Tampa Bay to a 47-7 win over Detroit and lift the Buccaneers into the NFL playoffs.
The 43-year-old quarterback, who joined the Bucs this year after 20 campaigns and six Super Bowl crowns with New England, delivered one of his greatest one-half efforts to put Tampa Bay into the post-season for the first time since 2007.
The Buccaneers led 34-0 at half-time on the way to improving to 10-5, securing an NFL wildcard berth while the already eliminated Lions slid to 5-10.
"It's just the beginning," said Bucs coach Bruce Arians. "Our goal when this all started was to get into the dance. Now it's to win 11 games and see who we play next."
Brady, who completed 22 of 27 throws before being benched in the second half, set a first-half career best and club record in passing yardage and the four touchdown passes were his most in a first half since 2014.
Brady's 36 passing touchdowns this season are a Bucs record and enabled his new club to reach the playoffs -- a feat his old team, the Patriots, failed to manage this year.
The Buccaneers set a team record with 410 total yards in the first half, the most by any NFL club in a decade.
Brady threw touchdown strikes of 33 yards to former New England teammate Rob Gronkowski, 27 yards to Mike Evans, 12 yards to Antonio Brown and 7 yards to Chris Godwin.
Leonard Fournette added a four-yard touchdown run in the first half and Brady's back-up Blaine Gabbert added third-quarter touchdown passes of 25 yards to Gronkowski and 22 yards to Evans in the rout.
Evans, who had 10 catches for 181 yards, broke his own one-season touchdown reception record with 13 on his second-half scoring catch.
Arians said he could sense a great performance coming while watching workouts during the week.
"You could feel this was a playoff practice week," Arians said. "Even with the holidays, they handled their business well."
The Lions avoided a shutout when Jamal Agnew returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Detroit was hampered by a right ankle injury to quarterback Matthew Stafford in the first quarter.
The Lions were already starting with five coaches sidelined by Covid-19 and contact tracing, with wide receivers coach Robert Prince serving as acting head coach.
Later NFL games Saturday include San Francisco at Arizona and Miami at Las Vegas.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-26--Archaeologists uncover well-preserved ‘fast food’ counter in Pompeii

This picture released on December 26 , 2020 by the Pompeii Press Office shows a thermopolium , a sort of street `` fast-food '' counter in ancient Rome , that has been unearthed in Pompeii , decorated with polychrome motifs and in an exceptional state of preservation .
The counter , frozen by volcanic ash , had been partly unearthed in 2019 but the work was extended to best preserve the entire site , located at the crossroads of rue des Noces d'Argent and rue des Balcons .
Researchers said on Saturday they had discovered a frescoed thermopolium , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state of preservation in Pompeii .
The ornate snack bar counter , decorated with polychrome patterns and frozen by volcanic ash , was partially exhumed last year but archaeologists extended work on the site to reveal it in its full glory .
Pompeii was buried in a sea of boiling lava when the volcano on nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD , killing between 2,000 and 15,000 people .
However , archaeologists continue to make discoveries there .
The Thermopolium of Regio V at what was a busy intersection of Silver Wedding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roman era equivalent of a fast food snack stall .
Previously unearthed was a fresco bearing an image of a Nereid nymph riding a seahorse and gladiators in combat .
In the latest stage of their work , archaeologists uncovered a number of still life scenes , including depictions of animals believed to have been on the menu , notably mallard ducks and also a rooster , for serving up with wine or hot beverages .
Scientists were also able to glean precious new information on gastronomic habits in the town dating from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the neighbouring town of Herculaneum as they tried to flee only to be engulfed by pyroclastic lava currents or hit by falling buildings .
The team found duck bone fragments as well as the remains of pigs , goats , fish and snails in earthenware pots .
Some of the ingredients had been cooked together rather as a Roman era paella .
Crushed fava beans , used to modify the taste of wine , were found at the bottom of one jar .
“ As well as bearing witness to daily life in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by this thermopolium are exceptional because for the first time we have excavated a site in its entirety , ” said Massimo Osanna , director general at the Archaeological Park of Pompeii .
Amphorae , a water tower and a fountain were also found alongside human remains , including those of a man believed to have been aged around 50 and discovered near a child ’ s bed .
“ The counter seems to have been closed in a hurry and abandoned by its owners but it is possible that someone , perhaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perished during the first phase of the eruption , ” Osanna told Ansa news agency .
The remains of another person may be those either of an opportunist thief or someone fleeing the eruption who was “ surprised by the burning vapours just as he had his hand on the lid of the pot that he had just opened ” , added Osanna .
The thermopolium—the word comes from the Greek “ thermos ” for hot and “ poleo ” to sell—was very popular in the Roman world .
Pompeii alone had around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second most visited site after the Colisseum in Rome and last year attracted around four million tourists .

Researchers said on Saturday they had discovered a frescoed thermopolium, or fast food counter, in an exceptional state of preservation in Pompeii.
This picture released on December 26, 2020 by the Pompeii Press Office shows a thermopolium, a sort of street "fast-food" counter in ancient Rome, that has been unearthed in Pompeii, decorated with polychrome motifs and in an exceptional state of preservation. The counter, frozen by volcanic ash, had been partly unearthed in 2019 but the work was extended to best preserve the entire site, located at the crossroads of rue des Noces d'Argent and rue des Balcons.
Advertising Read more
The ornate snack bar counter, decorated with polychrome patterns and frozen by volcanic ash, was partially exhumed last year but archaeologists extended work on the site to reveal it in its full glory.
Pompeii was buried in a sea of boiling lava when the volcano on nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, killing between 2,000 and 15,000 people.
However, archaeologists continue to make discoveries there.
The Thermopolium of #RegioV, a bar in #Pompeii, complete with an image of a Nereid riding a sea-horse, had previously been partially excavated in 2019. It now emerges in its entirety, with rich decorative still life frescoes, food residues, animal bones & victims of the eruption. pic.twitter.com/OEqh2sbAmm — Pompeii Sites (@pompeii_sites) December 26, 2020
The Thermopolium of Regio V at what was a busy intersection of Silver Wedding Street and Alley of Balconies was the Roman era equivalent of a fast food snack stall.
Previously unearthed was a fresco bearing an image of a Nereid nymph riding a seahorse and gladiators in combat.
In the latest stage of their work, archaeologists uncovered a number of still life scenes, including depictions of animals believed to have been on the menu, notably mallard ducks and also a rooster, for serving up with wine or hot beverages.
Scientists were also able to glean precious new information on gastronomic habits in the town dating from the eruption, which engulfed Pompeii and the neighbouring town of Herculaneum as they tried to flee only to be engulfed by pyroclastic lava currents or hit by falling buildings.
The team found duck bone fragments as well as the remains of pigs, goats, fish and snails in earthenware pots. Some of the ingredients had been cooked together rather as a Roman era paella.
Crushed fava beans, used to modify the taste of wine, were found at the bottom of one jar.
Witness to antiquity
“As well as bearing witness to daily life in Pompeii, the possibilities to analyse afforded by this thermopolium are exceptional because for the first time we have excavated a site in its entirety,” said Massimo Osanna, director general at the Archaeological Park of Pompeii.
Amphorae, a water tower and a fountain were also found alongside human remains, including those of a man believed to have been aged around 50 and discovered near a child’s bed.
“The counter seems to have been closed in a hurry and abandoned by its owners but it is possible that someone, perhaps the oldest man, stayed behind and perished during the first phase of the eruption,” Osanna told Ansa news agency.
The remains of another person may be those either of an opportunist thief or someone fleeing the eruption who was “surprised by the burning vapours just as he had his hand on the lid of the pot that he had just opened”, added Osanna.
The thermopolium—the word comes from the Greek “thermos” for hot and “poleo” to sell—was very popular in the Roman world. Pompeii alone had around 80.
Pompeii is Italy’s second most visited site after the Colisseum in Rome and last year attracted around four million tourists.
(AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-12-26--In Germany, 101-year-old woman first to receive Covid-19 vaccine

Edith Kwoizalla , 101 years old , receives the first vaccination against Covid-19 by Pfizer and BioNTech in a senior care facility in Halberstadt , central northern Germany , on December 26 , 2020 .
A 101-year-old woman became the first German to receive a vaccine against the coronavirus on Saturday , a day ahead of the official start of the country ’ s vaccination campaign , local broadcaster MDR reported .
The woman , from Halberstadt in the Harz hill range , lives in a care home for elderly people , where 40 residents as well as 11 staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Minister Jens Spahn said earlier on Saturday that trucks were on their way to deliver the vaccine to nursing homes , which are first in line to receive the vaccine .
The federal government is planning to distribute more than 1.3 million vaccine doses to local health authorities by the end of this year and about 700,000 per week from January .
“ There may be a few hiccups at one point or another in the beginning , but that is quite normal when such a logistically complex process begins , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population of 83 million , has built up more than 400 vaccination centres , including in venues like Berlin ’ s former Tegel and Tempelhof airports and Hamburg ’ s trade fair hall .
Vaccinations will be free and available to everyone from mid-2021 , when the priority groups are expected to have finished vaccination campaigns .
There is no obligation to be inoculated .
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Germany rose by 14,455 to 1,627,103 , data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases showed on Saturday .
More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

A 101-year-old woman became the first German to receive a vaccine against the coronavirus on Saturday, a day ahead of the official start of the country’s vaccination campaign, local broadcaster MDR reported.
Edith Kwoizalla, 101 years old, receives the first vaccination against Covid-19 by Pfizer and BioNTech in a senior care facility in Halberstadt, central northern Germany, on December 26, 2020.
Advertising Read more
The woman, from Halberstadt in the Harz hill range, lives in a care home for elderly people, where 40 residents as well as 11 staff were vaccinated, MDR reported.
German Health Minister Jens Spahn said earlier on Saturday that trucks were on their way to deliver the vaccine to nursing homes, which are first in line to receive the vaccine.
The federal government is planning to distribute more than 1.3 million vaccine doses to local health authorities by the end of this year and about 700,000 per week from January.
“There may be a few hiccups at one point or another in the beginning, but that is quite normal when such a logistically complex process begins,” Spahn said.
Germany, with a population of 83 million, has built up more than 400 vaccination centres, including in venues like Berlin’s former Tegel and Tempelhof airports and Hamburg’s trade fair hall.
Vaccinations will be free and available to everyone from mid-2021, when the priority groups are expected to have finished vaccination campaigns. There is no obligation to be inoculated.
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Germany rose by 14,455 to 1,627,103, data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases showed on Saturday. More than 29,000 people in total have died.
(REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-12-26--Covid-19 pandemic will not be the last: WHO chief

`` We throw money at an outbreak , and when it 's over , we forget about it and do nothing to prevent the next one .
This is dangerously short-sighted , '' said the World Health Organization 's Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus The coronavirus crisis will not be the last pandemic , and attempts to improve human health are `` doomed '' without tackling climate change and animal welfare , the World Health Organization 's chief said .
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also condemned the `` dangerously short-sighted '' cycle of throwing cash at outbreaks but doing nothing to prepare for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message marking Sunday 's first International Day of Epidemic Preparedness .
The WHO director-general said it was time to learn the lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic .
`` For too long , the world has operated on a cycle of panic and neglect , '' he said .
`` We throw money at an outbreak , and when it 's over , we forget about it and do nothing to prevent the next one .
This is dangerously short-sighted , and frankly difficult to understand . ''
The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ readiness for health emergencies -- published a few months before the novel coronavirus broke out -- said the planet was woefully unprepared for potentially devastating pandemics .
`` History tells us that this will not be the last pandemic , and epidemics are a fact of life , '' said Tedros .
`` The pandemic has highlighted the intimate links between the health of humans , animals and planet , '' he added .
`` Any efforts to improve human health are doomed unless they address the critical interface between humans and animals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change that 's making our earth less habitable , '' he said .
The novel coronavirus has killed at least 1.75 million people and nearly 80 million cases have been recorded since the outbreak emerged in China last December , according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP .
`` In the past 12 months , our world has been turned upside-down .
The impacts of the pandemic go far beyond the disease itself , with far-reaching consequences for societies and economies , '' said Tedros .
But the Ethiopian former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have come as a surprise , given the repeated warnings .
`` We must all learn the lessons the pandemic is teaching us , '' he said .
Tedros said all countries should invest in preparedness capacities to prevent , detect and mitigate emergencies of all kinds , and called for stronger primary health care provision .
The UN health agency 's chief said that with investments in public health , `` we can ensure that our children and their children inherit a safer , more resilient and more sustainable world '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was called for by the United Nations General Assembly to promote the importance of prevention , preparedness and partnership in tackling epidemics .

Geneva (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
The coronavirus crisis will not be the last pandemic, and attempts to improve human health are "doomed" without tackling climate change and animal welfare, the World Health Organization's chief said.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also condemned the "dangerously short-sighted" cycle of throwing cash at outbreaks but doing nothing to prepare for the next one, in a video message marking Sunday's first International Day of Epidemic Preparedness.
The WHO director-general said it was time to learn the lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic.
"For too long, the world has operated on a cycle of panic and neglect," he said.
"We throw money at an outbreak, and when it's over, we forget about it and do nothing to prevent the next one. This is dangerously short-sighted, and frankly difficult to understand."
The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board's September 2019 first annual report on world readiness for health emergencies -- published a few months before the novel coronavirus broke out -- said the planet was woefully unprepared for potentially devastating pandemics.
"History tells us that this will not be the last pandemic, and epidemics are a fact of life," said Tedros.
"The pandemic has highlighted the intimate links between the health of humans, animals and planet," he added.
"Any efforts to improve human health are doomed unless they address the critical interface between humans and animals, and the existential threat of climate change that's making our earth less habitable," he said.
- World 'turned upside-down' -
The novel coronavirus has killed at least 1.75 million people and nearly 80 million cases have been recorded since the outbreak emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP.
"In the past 12 months, our world has been turned upside-down. The impacts of the pandemic go far beyond the disease itself, with far-reaching consequences for societies and economies," said Tedros.
But the Ethiopian former health minister said the coronavirus crisis should not have come as a surprise, given the repeated warnings.
"We must all learn the lessons the pandemic is teaching us," he said.
Tedros said all countries should invest in preparedness capacities to prevent, detect and mitigate emergencies of all kinds, and called for stronger primary health care provision.
The UN health agency's chief said that with investments in public health, "we can ensure that our children and their children inherit a safer, more resilient and more sustainable world".
The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness was called for by the United Nations General Assembly to promote the importance of prevention, preparedness and partnership in tackling epidemics.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-27--Niger stages historic elections despite jihadist attacks

Around 7.4 million people are registered to vote for the ballot for presidency , which coincides with legislative elections Voters went to the polls in Niger on Sunday for an election that could seal a first peaceful handover between elected presidents , against the backdrop of a bloody jihadist insurgency .
The West African country , unstable since gaining independence from France 60 years ago , is ranked the world 's poorest country according to the UN 's Human Development Index .
Around 7.4 million people are registered to vote for the ballot for presidency , which coincides with legislative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president to put security , health , progress and democracy first , '' Aboubakar Saleh , a 37-year-old launderer , told AFP in Niamey without revealing who he voted for .
`` Niger is not moving forward .
Our country must rise , '' he said , brandishing his thumb stained with ink to show he had cast his ballot .
President Mahamadou Issoufou , who was elected in 2011 after the country 's last coup in 2010 , is voluntarily stepping down after two five-year terms .
`` It is a special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first time in its history a democratic transition , '' Issoufou said after voting at the city hall in Niamey .
The frontrunner in the 30-strong field is his designated successor , Mohamed Bazoum , 60 , a former interior and foreign minister .
`` It is a great pride that this date of December 27 has been respected , '' Bazoum said after voting .
Bazoum 's main rival , former prime minister Hama Amadou , was barred from contesting the vote on the grounds that in 2017 he was handed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- a charge he says was bogus .
Polling stations are scheduled to close at 7:00 pm ( 1800 GMT ) but are instructed to close later in case of delays to ensure 11 hours of voting .
Partial results for the presidential election are expected to be announced on Monday with final counts on Wednesday or Thursday .
A second round , if necessary , will be held on February 20 .
Campaigning has been overshadowed by insecurity -- Niger is being battered by jihadists on its southwestern border with Mali , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A jihadist insurgency that has spilt across borders in Burkina Faso , Mali and Niger claimed some 4,000 lives last year from jihadist violence and ethnic bloodshed stirred by Islamists , according to the UN .
In Niger itself , hundreds have died in the past five years , and hundreds of thousands have fled their homes .
The economy , already fragile , has suffered devastating blows .
Around 42 percent of Nigeriens lived last year on under $ 1.90 ( 1.56 euros ) per day , according to the World Bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surging population of 23 million relied on food aid .
On Monday , seven troops and 11 suspected jihadists died in an ambush in the southwestern region of Tillaberi , the government said on Thursday .
On December 12 , 34 villagers were massacred in Toumour , in the southeastern region of Diffa , on the eve of municipal and regional elections that had been repeatedly delayed because of poor security .
The army has been massively deployed for Sunday 's vote , the authorities say .

Niamey (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Voters went to the polls in Niger on Sunday for an election that could seal a first peaceful handover between elected presidents, against the backdrop of a bloody jihadist insurgency.
The West African country, unstable since gaining independence from France 60 years ago, is ranked the world's poorest country according to the UN's Human Development Index.
Around 7.4 million people are registered to vote for the ballot for presidency, which coincides with legislative elections.
"I expect the Nigerien president to put security, health, progress and democracy first," Aboubakar Saleh, a 37-year-old launderer, told AFP in Niamey without revealing who he voted for.
Issaka Soumana, a 52-year-old lorry driver, said he wanted change.
"Niger is not moving forward. Our country must rise," he said, brandishing his thumb stained with ink to show he had cast his ballot.
President Mahamadou Issoufou, who was elected in 2011 after the country's last coup in 2010, is voluntarily stepping down after two five-year terms.
"It is a special day for Niger which will experience for the first time in its history a democratic transition," Issoufou said after voting at the city hall in Niamey.
The frontrunner in the 30-strong field is his designated successor, Mohamed Bazoum, 60, a former interior and foreign minister.
"It is a great pride that this date of December 27 has been respected," Bazoum said after voting.
Bazoum's main rival, former prime minister Hama Amadou, was barred from contesting the vote on the grounds that in 2017 he was handed a 12-month jail term for baby trafficking -- a charge he says was bogus.
- Overshadowed by insecurity -
Polling stations are scheduled to close at 7:00 pm (1800 GMT) but are instructed to close later in case of delays to ensure 11 hours of voting.
Partial results for the presidential election are expected to be announced on Monday with final counts on Wednesday or Thursday.
A second round, if necessary, will be held on February 20.
Campaigning has been overshadowed by insecurity -- Niger is being battered by jihadists on its southwestern border with Mali, and its southeastern frontier with Nigeria.
A jihadist insurgency that has spilt across borders in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger claimed some 4,000 lives last year from jihadist violence and ethnic bloodshed stirred by Islamists, according to the UN.
In Niger itself, hundreds have died in the past five years, and hundreds of thousands have fled their homes.
The economy, already fragile, has suffered devastating blows.
Around 42 percent of Nigeriens lived last year on under $1.90 (1.56 euros) per day, according to the World Bank, while nearly a fifth of its surging population of 23 million relied on food aid.
- Army deployed -
On Monday, seven troops and 11 suspected jihadists died in an ambush in the southwestern region of Tillaberi, the government said on Thursday.
On December 12, 34 villagers were massacred in Toumour, in the southeastern region of Diffa, on the eve of municipal and regional elections that had been repeatedly delayed because of poor security.
The army has been massively deployed for Sunday's vote, the authorities say.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-27--Next round of Afghan peace talks to take place in Doha: official

The Qatari capital of Doha has hosted peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government since September The next round of negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government will be held in Qatar from next month , a top official said Sunday , despite President Ashraf Ghani 's recent calls for them to be moved home .
Peace talks began on September 12 at a luxury hotel in Doha , but negotiations are currently on a break until January 5 .
`` The second round of talks will begin on January 5 in Doha , '' said Faraidoon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Council for National Reconciliation , which is leading the overall peace process in the country .
`` The leadership committee of the council ... decided to hold the talks in Doha , '' he tweeted , adding that many of the countries that had earlier volunteered to host the talks withdrew their offers because of Covid-19 .
In a separate statement , the presidency tweeted that Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah , who heads the council , held a meeting on Sunday .
The two `` discussed the venue for the next round of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government 's support for a second stage of talks with the Taliban , the presidency said .
Earlier in December , negotiators from both sides decided to take a break after months of often frustrating meetings which were bogged down by disputes on the basic framework of discussions and religious interpretations .
Prior to going on the break , negotiators finally announced they were ready to proceed on preliminary lists of agenda items when talks resumed on January 5 .
But Ghani and some other top Afghan officials immediately called for the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Afghanistan .
`` It is not appropriate to insist on holding talks in luxurious hotels .
It is necessary that the people see how the talks happen , which issues are focused on and why , '' Ghani said soon after the break in talks was announced .
The Taliban did not comment on Ghani 's call , but they have in the past always refused to hold the negotiations in Afghanistan .
The insurgent group has a political office in Doha and its negotiating team resides there .
The talks follow a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Taliban and Washington , which will see all foreign soldiers leave the violence-wracked country by May next year .
Plans for renewed negotiations come amid a surge of violence across Afghanistan in recent months , including in Kabul , which has seen regular bomb attacks and targeted killings of prominent figures .

Kabul (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
The next round of negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government will be held in Qatar from next month, a top official said Sunday, despite President Ashraf Ghani's recent calls for them to be moved home.
Peace talks began on September 12 at a luxury hotel in Doha, but negotiations are currently on a break until January 5.
"The second round of talks will begin on January 5 in Doha," said Faraidoon Khwazoon, spokesman for Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation, which is leading the overall peace process in the country.
"The leadership committee of the council ... decided to hold the talks in Doha," he tweeted, adding that many of the countries that had earlier volunteered to host the talks withdrew their offers because of Covid-19.
In a separate statement, the presidency tweeted that Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, who heads the council, held a meeting on Sunday.
The two "discussed the venue for the next round of talks" after which Ghani announced the government's support for a second stage of talks with the Taliban, the presidency said.
Earlier in December, negotiators from both sides decided to take a break after months of often frustrating meetings which were bogged down by disputes on the basic framework of discussions and religious interpretations.
Prior to going on the break, negotiators finally announced they were ready to proceed on preliminary lists of agenda items when talks resumed on January 5.
But Ghani and some other top Afghan officials immediately called for the next round of meetings to be held in Afghanistan.
"It is not appropriate to insist on holding talks in luxurious hotels. It is necessary that the people see how the talks happen, which issues are focused on and why," Ghani said soon after the break in talks was announced.
The Taliban did not comment on Ghani's call, but they have in the past always refused to hold the negotiations in Afghanistan.
The insurgent group has a political office in Doha and its negotiating team resides there.
The talks follow a landmark troop withdrawal deal signed in February by the Taliban and Washington, which will see all foreign soldiers leave the violence-wracked country by May next year.
Plans for renewed negotiations come amid a surge of violence across Afghanistan in recent months, including in Kabul, which has seen regular bomb attacks and targeted killings of prominent figures.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-27--AstraZeneca Covid vaccine has 'winning formula': chief executive

Britain 's government under Boris Johnson has made big bets on the AstraZeneca vaccine The Covid-19 vaccine developed by the British drugs group AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford has achieved a `` winning formula '' for efficacy , the company 's chief executive said on Sunday .
The vaccine , currently being evaluated by Britain 's independent medicines regulator , provides `` 100 percent protection '' against severe Covid disease requiring hospitalisation , Pascal Soriot said in an interview with the Sunday Times newspaper .
He added he believes trials will show his firm has achieved a vaccine efficacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moderna at 94.5 percent .
“ We think we have figured out the winning formula and how to get efficacy that , after two doses , is up there with everybody else , '' the chief executive said , while saying only that data would be published at `` some point '' .
The UK government announced on December 23 that the developers of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine had submitted their data to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency ( MHRA ) .
Approval is expected to be granted Monday to roll out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported .
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was the first coronavirus shot to be authorised for use by the UK 's independent medicines regulator and has been given to 600,000 of the country 's most vulnerable people since last month .
Earlier trials had shown varying outcomes in the AstraZeneca shot 's efficacy .
The vaccine intially showed an average 70 percent effectiveness but that level jumped to 90 percent depending on dosage .
Behind this average figure from large-scale trials in the UK and Brazil was a 62 percent effectiveness for those who were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot .
For volunteers who received a half-dose first and then a full dose one month later , however , the vaccine was found to have 90 percent efficacy .
Soriot said he was `` surprised '' by the initial findings .
`` We would have preferred a simpler set of results , '' he added .
The lack of clarity and transparency over the discrepancy in the results was widely criticised .
Soriot said he had not expected the pushback that followed .
`` We assumed people would be a bit disappointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he said .
`` But we didn ’ t expect that storm '' .
Great hopes have been placed in the AstraZeneca shot , originally based on a weakened version of a chimpanzee virus , because of its low cost .
AstraZeneca 's vaccine also enjoys a logistical advantage over the Pfizer-BioNTech alternative , as it can be stored , transported and handled at normal refrigerated conditions of between two and eight degrees Celsius ( 36-46 Fahrenheit ) for at least six months .
That is a far cry from the -70C @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow use of the existing refrigerated supply chain to cut costs .
- 'Light at the end of the tunnel ' - In a vote of confidence for its homegrown vaccine , the bulk of Britain 's requirements are expected to be met by the jab .
The government has ordered 100 million doses , with 40 million doses scheduled to be available by the end of March .
UK officials will hope that confidence is rewarded , not least because the country has been one of the countries most affected by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A surge in cases has hit nationwide over the past week , falling especially on the southeast of England and blamed on a new strain of the virus believed to be more infectious , which was first identified in the UK .
According to one British study the strain is 50 percent to 74 percent more contagious .
In an effort to contain the spread of the disease , millions across Britain were placed under tougher lockdown restrictions that came into force on 26 December .
Dozens of countries have also imposed travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of the new strain .
Writing in the Mail on Sunday newspaper , Finance Minister Rishi Sunak acknowledged it had been `` a tough year for everyone in this country '' .
However , he added that `` the early roll-out of vaccines – and the incredible work of our scientists and NHS – means we can now see light at the end of the tunnel '' .
Nearly 200 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be made before the end of the year , the UK drug manufacturer has said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the end of March next year .

London (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
The Covid-19 vaccine developed by the British drugs group AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford has achieved a "winning formula" for efficacy, the company's chief executive said on Sunday.
The vaccine, currently being evaluated by Britain's independent medicines regulator, provides "100 percent protection" against severe Covid disease requiring hospitalisation, Pascal Soriot said in an interview with the Sunday Times newspaper.
He added he believes trials will show his firm has achieved a vaccine efficacy equal to Pfizer-BioNTech at 95 percent and Moderna at 94.5 percent.
“We think we have figured out the winning formula and how to get efficacy that, after two doses, is up there with everybody else," the chief executive said, while saying only that data would be published at "some point".
The UK government announced on December 23 that the developers of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine had submitted their data to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Approval is expected to be granted Monday to roll out the jab, The Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was the first coronavirus shot to be authorised for use by the UK's independent medicines regulator and has been given to 600,000 of the country's most vulnerable people since last month.
Earlier trials had shown varying outcomes in the AstraZeneca shot's efficacy. The vaccine intially showed an average 70 percent effectiveness but that level jumped to 90 percent depending on dosage.
- 'Storm' over data -
Behind this average figure from large-scale trials in the UK and Brazil was a 62 percent effectiveness for those who were vaccinated with two full doses of the shot.
For volunteers who received a half-dose first and then a full dose one month later, however, the vaccine was found to have 90 percent efficacy.
Soriot said he was "surprised" by the initial findings. "We would have preferred a simpler set of results," he added.
The lack of clarity and transparency over the discrepancy in the results was widely criticised. Soriot said he had not expected the pushback that followed.
"We assumed people would be a bit disappointed, that’s for sure," he said. "But we didn’t expect that storm".
Great hopes have been placed in the AstraZeneca shot, originally based on a weakened version of a chimpanzee virus, because of its low cost.
AstraZeneca's vaccine also enjoys a logistical advantage over the Pfizer-BioNTech alternative, as it can be stored, transported and handled at normal refrigerated conditions of between two and eight degrees Celsius (36-46 Fahrenheit) for at least six months.
That is a far cry from the -70C needed for Pfizer/BioNTech's offering and could allow use of the existing refrigerated supply chain to cut costs.
- 'Light at the end of the tunnel' -
In a vote of confidence for its homegrown vaccine, the bulk of Britain's requirements are expected to be met by the jab.
The government has ordered 100 million doses, with 40 million doses scheduled to be available by the end of March.
UK officials will hope that confidence is rewarded, not least because the country has been one of the countries most affected by the pandemic with more than 70,000 deaths.
A surge in cases has hit nationwide over the past week, falling especially on the southeast of England and blamed on a new strain of the virus believed to be more infectious, which was first identified in the UK.
According to one British study the strain is 50 percent to 74 percent more contagious.
In an effort to contain the spread of the disease, millions across Britain were placed under tougher lockdown restrictions that came into force on 26 December.
Dozens of countries have also imposed travel restrictions on the UK to stop the spread of the new strain.
Writing in the Mail on Sunday newspaper, Finance Minister Rishi Sunak acknowledged it had been "a tough year for everyone in this country".
However, he added that "the early roll-out of vaccines – and the incredible work of our scientists and NHS – means we can now see light at the end of the tunnel".
Nearly 200 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be made before the end of the year, the UK drug manufacturer has said, and more than 700 million globally by the end of March next year.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-27--Israel enters third nationwide lockdown

Israel enters third nationwide lockdown

People shop in the central market of Israel 's coastal city of Netanya on Sunday , hours ahead of the country 's third coronavirus lockdown coming into force Israel was set Sunday to begin its third coronavirus lockdown , as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced optimism that a `` world record '' vaccination drive will restore a degree of normality within weeks .
After a sharp rebound in detected infections , Netanyahu 's government announced three days ago that it would re-impose the strict measures that had previously helped limit transmission .
From 5:00pm ( 1500 GMT ) on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay within 1,000 metres of their home .
There are a range of exceptions , including seeking medical care , attending legal proceedings or exercising .
A key difference in Israel 's third lockdown compared to previous versions relates to schools , with more students able to attend classes .
Instead of near total closures , Israel is keeping schools open for children under six , as well as grades one to four and teenagers finishing secondary school in grades 11 and 12 .
Israel 's National Council for the Child criticised the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The decision to ignore this age bracket means the abandonment of hundreds of thousands of children , only because in theory they can be left at home alone while ( their parents ) go to work , '' NCC head Vered Windman was quoted as saying by the Ma'ariv newspaper .
`` But this is precisely the age group that is at a higher risk of developing emotional difficulties , fears and isolation . ''
Speaking late Saturday following Shabbat , Netanyahu said Israel was hoping to vaccinate a quarter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , against coronavirus within a month .
He said he had spoken with the heads of the companies making vaccines who had voiced confidence that the requisite number of doses could be provided .
Israel 's vaccination targets are of `` such a magnitude ( they amount to ) a world record '' pace , the prime minister said .
Netanyahu was the first Israeli to receive a Covid-19 jab on December 19 , ahead of the launch last week of a nationwide innoculation programme .
The premier has political incentives to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraught coalition government that he formed in May with his former election rival and current defence minister , Benny Gantz , collapsed last week , triggering elections in March -- Israel 's fourth vote in two years .
Netanyahu 's election campaign could be hindered by the start of a more intensified phase of his long-awaited corruption trial and the departure of his staunch ally US President Donald Trump from the White House .
Political analysts have said that Netanyahu is hoping a rapid vaccination drive will put Israel 's pandemic-wracked economy on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Jerusalem (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Israel was set Sunday to begin its third coronavirus lockdown, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced optimism that a "world record" vaccination drive will restore a degree of normality within weeks.
After a sharp rebound in detected infections, Netanyahu's government announced three days ago that it would re-impose the strict measures that had previously helped limit transmission.
From 5:00pm (1500 GMT) on Sunday, most people will be forced to stay within 1,000 metres of their home.
There are a range of exceptions, including seeking medical care, attending legal proceedings or exercising.
A key difference in Israel's third lockdown compared to previous versions relates to schools, with more students able to attend classes.
Instead of near total closures, Israel is keeping schools open for children under six, as well as grades one to four and teenagers finishing secondary school in grades 11 and 12.
Israel's National Council for the Child criticised the decision to close grades five through 10.
"The decision to ignore this age bracket means the abandonment of hundreds of thousands of children, only because in theory they can be left at home alone while (their parents) go to work," NCC head Vered Windman was quoted as saying by the Ma'ariv newspaper.
"But this is precisely the age group that is at a higher risk of developing emotional difficulties, fears and isolation."
- 'World record' -
Speaking late Saturday following Shabbat, Netanyahu said Israel was hoping to vaccinate a quarter of its population, or roughly 2.25 million people, against coronavirus within a month.
He said he had spoken with the heads of the companies making vaccines who had voiced confidence that the requisite number of doses could be provided.
Israel's vaccination targets are of "such a magnitude (they amount to) a world record" pace, the prime minister said.
Netanyahu was the first Israeli to receive a Covid-19 jab on December 19, ahead of the launch last week of a nationwide innoculation programme.
The premier has political incentives to push an accelerated vaccination campaign.
The fraught coalition government that he formed in May with his former election rival and current defence minister, Benny Gantz, collapsed last week, triggering elections in March -- Israel's fourth vote in two years.
Netanyahu's election campaign could be hindered by the start of a more intensified phase of his long-awaited corruption trial and the departure of his staunch ally US President Donald Trump from the White House.
Political analysts have said that Netanyahu is hoping a rapid vaccination drive will put Israel's pandemic-wracked economy on a path to recovery before election day.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-27--France begins Covid-19 vaccinations as 78-year-old woman receives first dose

Mauricette receives the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at a hospital in Sevran , a suburb of Paris , on December 27 , 2020 .
A 78-year-old woman became the first person vaccinated against Covid-19 in France when she received the country 's first dose at René-Muret Hospital in Sevran , Seine-Saint-Denis , outside Paris , according to an AFP journalist on site .
`` I am moved , '' said the woman , named only as Mauricette , a former housekeeper , who was inoculated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine around 11am on Sunday in the public hospital 's long-term care unit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff after receiving the jab .
A 65-year-old cardiologist , Dr. Jean-Jacques Monsuez , was next to be vaccinated , shortly before 11:20am .
Some 20 seniors and healthcare workers are slated to receive the vaccine on Sunday during France 's symbolic launch of the programme , in Sevran as well as in a geriatric care centre in Dijon .
Martin Hirsch , head of public hospital group APHP , tweeted a picture of a woman receiving the vaccination Sunday morning and wrote , `` A little jab from the nurse , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The French government is aiming to have an initial one million people – consisting of seniors , vulnerable individuals and healthcare workers – vaccinated against Covid-19 by the end of February in the country 's 7,000 nursing homes and related facilities .
European Union countries on Sunday embarked on the vaccination campaign hailed as the `` key '' to defeating Covid-19 , as the growing spread of a new coronavirus variant intensified fears the pandemic could wreak further devastation .
The jab is a glimmer of hope for a continent still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection rates again on the rise , lockdowns imposed and Christmas and New Year plans left in tatters for many .
The numbers vaccinated in the programme 's initial days with the Pfizer-BioNTech jab are largely symbolic and it will be months before enough are protected to envisage a return to normal from the pandemic that has killed 1.76 million people worldwide since emerging in China late last year .

A 78-year-old woman became the first person vaccinated against Covid-19 in France when she received the country's first dose at René-Muret Hospital in Sevran, Seine-Saint-Denis, outside Paris, according to an AFP journalist on site.
Mauricette receives the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at a hospital in Sevran, a suburb of Paris, on December 27, 2020.
Advertising Read more
"I am moved," said the woman, named only as Mauricette, a former housekeeper, who was inoculated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine around 11am on Sunday in the public hospital's long-term care unit. She smiled and was applauded by hospital staff after receiving the jab.
A 65-year-old cardiologist, Dr. Jean-Jacques Monsuez, was next to be vaccinated, shortly before 11:20am.
Some 20 seniors and healthcare workers are slated to receive the vaccine on Sunday during France's symbolic launch of the programme, in Sevran as well as in a geriatric care centre in Dijon.
01:46
Martin Hirsch, head of public hospital group APHP, tweeted a picture of a woman receiving the vaccination Sunday morning and wrote, "A little jab from the nurse, a big step for immunity, we hope."
The French government is aiming to have an initial one million people – consisting of seniors, vulnerable individuals and healthcare workers – vaccinated against Covid-19 by the end of February in the country's 7,000 nursing homes and related facilities.
European Union countries on Sunday embarked on the vaccination campaign hailed as the "key" to defeating Covid-19, as the growing spread of a new coronavirus variant intensified fears the pandemic could wreak further devastation.
The jab is a glimmer of hope for a continent still battling the pandemic in earnest, with infection rates again on the rise, lockdowns imposed and Christmas and New Year plans left in tatters for many.
The numbers vaccinated in the programme's initial days with the Pfizer-BioNTech jab are largely symbolic and it will be months before enough are protected to envisage a return to normal from the pandemic that has killed 1.76 million people worldwide since emerging in China late last year.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe