france24--2020-12-10--Sony to buy US anime giant Crunchyroll for $1.17 bn

Sony is hoping to strengthen its position in the global video streaming market with the acquisition of Crunchyroll Japan 's Sony said Thursday it has agreed to buy US anime streaming giant Crunchyroll , which has more than three million paying subscribers , in a deal worth $ 1.17 billion .
By purchasing the anime , games and manga distributor from AT & T , Sony 's entertainment division is hoping to strengthen its position in the global video streaming market and compete with the likes of Netflix and Hulu , which also offer anime titles .
Crunchyroll , founded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest online library of Japanese animation .
Tony Vinciquerra , CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment , said the firm had already developed `` a deep understanding of this global artform '' through its own anime streaming service Funimation , which it will combine with Crunchyroll .
`` Together with Crunchyroll , we will create the best possible experience for fans and greater opportunity for creators , producers and publishers in Japan and elsewhere , '' he said .
`` We look forward to continuing to leverage the power of creativity and technology to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entertainment . ''
Sony has recently seen massive success in Japan with the popular `` Demon Slayer '' anime series made by its Aniplex studio .
A film based on the series has been a huge hit during the pandemic , becoming Japan 's second-highest-grossing film of all time and taking 27.5 billion yen ( $ 265 million ) at the box office .

Tokyo (AFP) –
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Japan's Sony said Thursday it has agreed to buy US anime streaming giant Crunchyroll, which has more than three million paying subscribers, in a deal worth $1.17 billion.
By purchasing the anime, games and manga distributor from AT&T, Sony's entertainment division is hoping to strengthen its position in the global video streaming market and compete with the likes of Netflix and Hulu, which also offer anime titles.
Crunchyroll, founded in 2006, is the world's largest online library of Japanese animation.
Tony Vinciquerra, CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, said the firm had already developed "a deep understanding of this global artform" through its own anime streaming service Funimation, which it will combine with Crunchyroll.
"Together with Crunchyroll, we will create the best possible experience for fans and greater opportunity for creators, producers and publishers in Japan and elsewhere," he said.
"We look forward to continuing to leverage the power of creativity and technology to succeed in this rapidly growing segment of entertainment."
Sony has recently seen massive success in Japan with the popular "Demon Slayer" anime series made by its Aniplex studio.
A film based on the series has been a huge hit during the pandemic, becoming Japan's second-highest-grossing film of all time and taking 27.5 billion yen ($265 million) at the box office.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-10--Longshot Texas election lawsuit keeps Trump hopes alive

Five weeks after the presidential election , President Donald Trump refuses to concede defeat to clear winner Joe Biden .
A longshot Supreme Court lawsuit from Texas against four states key in the November 3 election gave President Donald Trump fresh hope of stalling if not overturning Democrat Joe Biden 's victory .
Texas -- a state Trump won -- lodged the suit late Tuesday against Michigan , Georgia , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin , challenging Biden 's victory in each of the four .
The suit was seen as audacious and barely legally sound , given that no one state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another 's election processes .
Texas alleged that the results in the other four states were `` unconstitutional '' because of their heavy use of `` fraud-prone '' mail-in votes during the coronavirus pandemic .
It offered no proof of significant fraud , and it did n't challenge the use of mailed ballots in states Trump won .
The suit cited numerous alleged examples of potential fraud already repeatedly rejected by courts in dozens of Trump campaign cases .
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton asked the Supreme Court to quickly freeze the process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into electors at the Electoral College , the members of which will affirm the presidential winner on December 14 .
Absent the court 's intervention , Paxton 's complaint said , confirming Biden 's victory will have the result of `` tainting the election and the future of free elections . ''
The move was endorsed by 17 other states won by Trump , and by Trump himself , who submitted his own request to the court to take part .
`` There is massive evidence of widespread fraud in the four states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suit .
Just look at all of the tapes and affidavits ! ''
the president tweeted .
`` This is the big one .
Our Country needs a victory ! ''
he wrote .
The lawsuit came as all 50 states plus Washington , DC have formally certified their vote tallies , opening the way to convene the Electoral College in five days .
There is no doubt that Biden won the presidency , having snagged 51.3 percent of the ballots compared to Trump 's 46.9 percent , a seven-million-vote margin .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as groundless and unconstitutional , with one state seeking to disenfranchise voters in other states .
Rick Hasen , a legal scholar at University of California , Irvine called it `` the dumbest case I 've ever seen '' and `` dangerous garbage . ''
Texas `` has no say over how other states choose electors , '' he said , and said the state waited far too long to lodge the suit .
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel called it `` a publicity stunt , not a serious legal pleading '' by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an act of desperation by Paxton , who himself is under investigation by the FBI and could use Trump 's help .

Washington (AFP) –
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A longshot Supreme Court lawsuit from Texas against four states key in the November 3 election gave President Donald Trump fresh hope of stalling if not overturning Democrat Joe Biden's victory.
Texas -- a state Trump won -- lodged the suit late Tuesday against Michigan, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, challenging Biden's victory in each of the four.
The suit was seen as audacious and barely legally sound, given that no one state has any legal right to interfere in another's election processes.
Texas alleged that the results in the other four states were "unconstitutional" because of their heavy use of "fraud-prone" mail-in votes during the coronavirus pandemic.
It offered no proof of significant fraud, and it didn't challenge the use of mailed ballots in states Trump won.
The suit cited numerous alleged examples of potential fraud already repeatedly rejected by courts in dozens of Trump campaign cases.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton asked the Supreme Court to quickly freeze the process by which state vote counts are translated into electors at the Electoral College, the members of which will affirm the presidential winner on December 14.
Absent the court's intervention, Paxton's complaint said, confirming Biden's victory will have the result of "tainting the election and the future of free elections."
The move was endorsed by 17 other states won by Trump, and by Trump himself, who submitted his own request to the court to take part.
"There is massive evidence of widespread fraud in the four states (plus) mentioned in the Texas suit. Just look at all of the tapes and affidavits!" the president tweeted.
"This is the big one. Our Country needs a victory!" he wrote.
The lawsuit came as all 50 states plus Washington, DC have formally certified their vote tallies, opening the way to convene the Electoral College in five days.
There is no doubt that Biden won the presidency, having snagged 51.3 percent of the ballots compared to Trump's 46.9 percent, a seven-million-vote margin.
The state-by-state wins gave Biden 306 electoral votes to Trump's 232.
The suit was widely panned by legal experts as groundless and unconstitutional, with one state seeking to disenfranchise voters in other states.
Rick Hasen, a legal scholar at University of California, Irvine called it "the dumbest case I've ever seen" and "dangerous garbage." Texas "has no say over how other states choose electors," he said, and said the state waited far too long to lodge the suit.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel called it "a publicity stunt, not a serious legal pleading" by her Texas counterpart.
Some called it an act of desperation by Paxton, who himself is under investigation by the FBI and could use Trump's help.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-10--Carry on: British exhibition delves into handbags

Whether toted by Conservative leader Margaret Thatcher or `` Sex and the City '' actress Sarah Jessica Parker , handbags pack a powerful punch , a British exhibition reveals .
The Victoria and Albert Museum is showing some 300 items at the exhibition called `` Bags : Inside and Out '' that opens on Saturday .
They range from a 16th-century embroidered purse to a contemporary plastic rucksack by British designer Stella McCartney .
The decorative arts and design museum has chosen to focus on the accessories for its first exhibition since England 's lockdown was lifted in early December @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bag '' craze that kicked off in the 1990s , with women flocking to buy a certain designer style , influenced by celebrity images .
One such bag on show is a purple sequined Fendi baguette bag once carried by the Sex and the City character Carrie Bradshaw , played by Parker in the hit HBO show .
There is also a formidable leather handbag once carried by Thatcher , known as her `` secret weapon '' .
Thatcher 's assertive armoury of bags even led to the creation of a new verb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ browbeat into submission .
`` These portable , yet functional accessories have long fascinated men and women with their dual nature that combines private and public , '' said Lucia Savi , the exhibition 's curator .
- From the Hermes Kelly to Lady Dior - Bags are a connecting link between the home and the outside world and allow people to carry money or important documents out of sight .
The exhibition 's first part looks at the different uses bags are put to .
An imposing Louis Vuitton trunk from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voyages while a tiny leather bag measuring just 16 centimetres can squeeze in a purse , an opera glass , a notebook and a mirror : all you need for a night at the opera .
The second part of the exhibition looks at bags and identity : what a bag says about the owner and their aspirations .
Some have become closely associated with celebrity owners , such as Hermes 's `` Kelly '' , a bold trapezoid-shaped bag .
It was renamed after the icily stylish actress Grace Kelly was photographed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dior , known as a favourite of Princess Diana , and the Hermes ' Birkin bag created after the fashion house 's head Jean-Louis Dumas met the British-born actress Jane Birkin on a plane .
These days it is social media that fuels desire for the latest bag .
On video , Chinese influencer Tao Liang , known as Mr Bags , talks about the designs he has collaborated on with top luxury brands such as Burberry and Chanel .
All of them are `` very instagrammable , '' he says .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves with a nice bag ? ''
says the fashion blogger who claims to have 5 million followers on China 's Weibo .
Sometimes a bag can carry a political message , however , such as the bag bearing the slogan `` My Body My Business , '' created by US-Swedish artist Michele Pred .
A final section of the exhibition examines the techniques used to make bags , including quirkier designs such as the US designers Thom Brown 's handbag from last year in the shape of a dachshund , inspired by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falls out of favour , designers are looking at new technologies and recycling to reduce environmental impact .
A pioneer in this area , Stella McCartney , used plastic waste taken from the sea to make a rucksack on display .
The contents of a handbag remain sacrosanct , especially in the case of Queen Elizabeth II , who has remained loyal to the conservative Launder brand and has several of its bags .
Visitors to the show can see one from her collection , known as the Traviata , but the contents @ @ @ @ @

London (AFP) –
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Whether toted by Conservative leader Margaret Thatcher or "Sex and the City" actress Sarah Jessica Parker, handbags pack a powerful punch, a British exhibition reveals.
The Victoria and Albert Museum is showing some 300 items at the exhibition called "Bags: Inside and Out" that opens on Saturday.
They range from a 16th-century embroidered purse to a contemporary plastic rucksack by British designer Stella McCartney.
The decorative arts and design museum has chosen to focus on the accessories for its first exhibition since England's lockdown was lifted in early December.
It looks at the "It bag" craze that kicked off in the 1990s, with women flocking to buy a certain designer style, influenced by celebrity images.
One such bag on show is a purple sequined Fendi baguette bag once carried by the Sex and the City character Carrie Bradshaw, played by Parker in the hit HBO show.
There is also a formidable leather handbag once carried by Thatcher, known as her "secret weapon".
Thatcher's assertive armoury of bags even led to the creation of a new verb: "to handbag", or browbeat into submission.
"These portable, yet functional accessories have long fascinated men and women with their dual nature that combines private and public," said Lucia Savi, the exhibition's curator.
- From the Hermes Kelly to Lady Dior -
Bags are a connecting link between the home and the outside world and allow people to carry money or important documents out of sight.
The exhibition's first part looks at the different uses bags are put to.
An imposing Louis Vuitton trunk from the early 20th century was made for long voyages while a tiny leather bag measuring just 16 centimetres can squeeze in a purse, an opera glass, a notebook and a mirror: all you need for a night at the opera.
The second part of the exhibition looks at bags and identity: what a bag says about the owner and their aspirations.
Some have become closely associated with celebrity owners, such as Hermes's "Kelly", a bold trapezoid-shaped bag. It was renamed after the icily stylish actress Grace Kelly was photographed carrying it.
Others include the Lady Dior, known as a favourite of Princess Diana, and the Hermes' Birkin bag created after the fashion house's head Jean-Louis Dumas met the British-born actress Jane Birkin on a plane.
These days it is social media that fuels desire for the latest bag.
- "Instagrammable" -
On video, Chinese influencer Tao Liang, known as Mr Bags, talks about the designs he has collaborated on with top luxury brands such as Burberry and Chanel.
All of them are "very instagrammable," he says.
"Who doesn't want a picture of themselves with a nice bag?" says the fashion blogger who claims to have 5 million followers on China's Weibo.
Sometimes a bag can carry a political message, however, such as the bag bearing the slogan "My Body My Business," created by US-Swedish artist Michele Pred.
A final section of the exhibition examines the techniques used to make bags, including quirkier designs such as the US designers Thom Brown's handbag from last year in the shape of a dachshund, inspired by his dog Hector.
As fast fashion falls out of favour, designers are looking at new technologies and recycling to reduce environmental impact. A pioneer in this area, Stella McCartney, used plastic waste taken from the sea to make a rucksack on display.
The contents of a handbag remain sacrosanct, especially in the case of Queen Elizabeth II, who has remained loyal to the conservative Launder brand and has several of its bags.
Visitors to the show can see one from her collection, known as the Traviata, but the contents remain firmly off bounds.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-10--SpaceX prototype blasts off ... and crashes in fireball

SpaceX 's Starship 8 prototype took off - and then crash landed - in Texas on December 9 , 2020 A prototype of the future giant SpaceX rocket Starship -- which the company hopes will become its go-to for Mars missions -- crashed in a fiery explosion during a test launch along the Texas coast Wednesday .
But the company line was upbeat as a livestream of the launch displayed the on-screen message `` AWESOME TEST .
CONGRATS STARSHIP TEAM ! ''
`` Mars , here we come !
! ''
SpaceX founder Tesla 's Elon Musk tweeted just minutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too-fast landing speed was to blame for the crash .
He recounted the successful parts of the rocket 's short late afternoon trip : the take-off , the change of position in flight and its ( pre-explosion ) precise landing trajectory .
`` We got all the data we needed !
Congrats SpaceX team , '' he tweeted .
Wednesday 's test launch took off and ascended properly in a seemingly straight line , before one and then another of its engines went out .
After 4 minutes and 45 seconds of flight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rocket began its descent in its expected position .
The engines were restarted just seconds before landing in an effort to slow the ship , but it crashed hard into the Earth .
Smaller prototypes have already blasted off several hundred yards ( meters ) into the air for less than a minute as part of a series of tests aimed at developing the next generation of rockets from the company at lightening speed .
After several aborted attempts this week , the flight was livestreamed on the @ SpaceX Twitter account .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the huge metal body of SN8 ( Starship number 8 ) and its three engines for their aerodynamism , including during the ship 's return to Earth -- which happens vertically , in the same vein as SpaceX 's pioneering Falcon 9 rocket .
`` With a test such as this , success is not measured by completion of specific objectives but rather how much we can learn , which will inform and improve the probability of success in the future as SpaceX rapidly advances development of Starship , '' a statement on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even before the launch that an explosion or crash would not mean a failed mission .
Construction on SN9 , the next prototype , is already almost finished .
The experimental flights are taking place in a nearly deserted part of southern Texas on the Gulf of Mexico near the US-Mexican border -- an area empty enough that any flight malfunction would be unlikely to cause physical or property damage .
Musk recently announced he plans to move to the vast southern US state from California .
Any future completed Starship rocket will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nine , and will measure 120 meters ( 390 feet ) tall and be capable of carrying 100 tons of cargo into orbit around the Earth .
Musk hopes to be able to one day launch several of these space ships to Mars , though they could prove useful even in the short term as NASA eyes re-establishing an ongoing presence on the Moon in 2024 .
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa is currently scheduled to pay an undisclosed sum to take Starship for a spin around the Moon in 2023 -- at the @ @

Washington (AFP) –
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A prototype of the future giant SpaceX rocket Starship -- which the company hopes will become its go-to for Mars missions -- crashed in a fiery explosion during a test launch along the Texas coast Wednesday.
But the company line was upbeat as a livestream of the launch displayed the on-screen message "AWESOME TEST. CONGRATS STARSHIP TEAM!"
"Mars, here we come!!" SpaceX founder Tesla's Elon Musk tweeted just minutes after the flight, explaining that a too-fast landing speed was to blame for the crash.
He recounted the successful parts of the rocket's short late afternoon trip: the take-off, the change of position in flight and its (pre-explosion) precise landing trajectory.
"We got all the data we needed! Congrats SpaceX team," he tweeted.
Wednesday's test launch took off and ascended properly in a seemingly straight line, before one and then another of its engines went out. After 4 minutes and 45 seconds of flight, its third engine extinguished and the rocket began its descent in its expected position.
The engines were restarted just seconds before landing in an effort to slow the ship, but it crashed hard into the Earth.
Smaller prototypes have already blasted off several hundred yards (meters) into the air for less than a minute as part of a series of tests aimed at developing the next generation of rockets from the company at lightening speed.
-'Success'-
After several aborted attempts this week, the flight was livestreamed on the @SpaceX Twitter account.
The test flight was planned to check the huge metal body of SN8 (Starship number 8) and its three engines for their aerodynamism, including during the ship's return to Earth -- which happens vertically, in the same vein as SpaceX's pioneering Falcon 9 rocket.
"With a test such as this, success is not measured by completion of specific objectives but rather how much we can learn, which will inform and improve the probability of success in the future as SpaceX rapidly advances development of Starship," a statement on the company's website said, implying even before the launch that an explosion or crash would not mean a failed mission.
Construction on SN9, the next prototype, is already almost finished.
The experimental flights are taking place in a nearly deserted part of southern Texas on the Gulf of Mexico near the US-Mexican border -- an area empty enough that any flight malfunction would be unlikely to cause physical or property damage.
Musk recently announced he plans to move to the vast southern US state from California.
Any future completed Starship rocket will be equipped with 37 engines instead of nine, and will measure 120 meters (390 feet) tall and be capable of carrying 100 tons of cargo into orbit around the Earth.
Musk hopes to be able to one day launch several of these space ships to Mars, though they could prove useful even in the short term as NASA eyes re-establishing an ongoing presence on the Moon in 2024.
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa is currently scheduled to pay an undisclosed sum to take Starship for a spin around the Moon in 2023 -- at the earliest.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-10--Aboriginal group urges mining 'reset' after ancient site destroyed

Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto sparked outrage after destroying Indigenous rock shelters at Juukan Gorge in Australia 's ore-rich Pilbara region in May Aboriginal landowners have called for a `` reset '' in Australia 's lucrative mining sector after an inquiry pilloried Rio Tinto for blowing up a 46,000-year-old heritage site to expand an iron ore mine .
Rio sparked outrage after destroying caves , known as rock shelters , at Juukan Gorge in Australia 's ore-rich Pilbara region in May -- against the wishes of the Indigenous Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura ( PKKP ) people of Western Australia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday that the Anglo-Australian mining giant pay restitution to the PKKP , rebuild the destroyed site and commit to a permanent moratorium on mining in the area .
The preliminary report also recommended that all mining companies operating in Western Australia review agreements with Indigenous traditional landowners and halt any planned destruction of heritage sites until legal protections are bolstered .
PKKP Aboriginal Corporation spokesman Burchell Hayes said that the group welcomed the inquiry 's findings .
`` The destruction of Juukan Gorge was a global disaster that hit at the hearts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
`` We hope the inquiry 's preliminary findings prompt a fundamental reset of the sector , particularly in the relationships between Traditional Owners and mining companies ; and pave a way forward for more equal partnerships fostered by greater respect and mutual benefit . ''
Rio Tinto said it was committed to `` never again '' destroying culturally significant sites and was working to modernise existing agreements with Indigenous groups as well as rehabilitating the Juukan Gorge area and building a facility to store artefacts removed from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review the inquiry 's recommendations `` in the coming days '' .
`` We recognise the destruction of the Juukan rock shelters caused significant pain to the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people and we are working very hard to progress a remedy with them , '' said Rio Tinto chairman Simon Thompson .
Though Rio Tinto had permission from the state government to blast in the area , the PKKP have said they warned that the placement of some explosives would destroy two heritage rock shelters .
A public backlash and investor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and two top officials to resign in September .
The site had contained some of the oldest Aboriginal artefacts ever found in Australia and was considered sacred by the PKKP .

Perth (Australia) (AFP) –
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Aboriginal landowners have called for a "reset" in Australia's lucrative mining sector after an inquiry pilloried Rio Tinto for blowing up a 46,000-year-old heritage site to expand an iron ore mine.
Rio sparked outrage after destroying caves, known as rock shelters, at Juukan Gorge in Australia's ore-rich Pilbara region in May -- against the wishes of the Indigenous Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) people of Western Australia.
An Australian parliamentary inquiry recommended late Wednesday that the Anglo-Australian mining giant pay restitution to the PKKP, rebuild the destroyed site and commit to a permanent moratorium on mining in the area.
The preliminary report also recommended that all mining companies operating in Western Australia review agreements with Indigenous traditional landowners and halt any planned destruction of heritage sites until legal protections are bolstered.
PKKP Aboriginal Corporation spokesman Burchell Hayes said that the group welcomed the inquiry's findings.
"The destruction of Juukan Gorge was a global disaster that hit at the hearts of the PKKP people and the greater community," he said.
"We hope the inquiry's preliminary findings prompt a fundamental reset of the sector, particularly in the relationships between Traditional Owners and mining companies; and pave a way forward for more equal partnerships fostered by greater respect and mutual benefit."
Rio Tinto said it was committed to "never again" destroying culturally significant sites and was working to modernise existing agreements with Indigenous groups as well as rehabilitating the Juukan Gorge area and building a facility to store artefacts removed from the site.
The company said it would review the inquiry's recommendations "in the coming days".
"We recognise the destruction of the Juukan rock shelters caused significant pain to the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people and we are working very hard to progress a remedy with them," said Rio Tinto chairman Simon Thompson.
Though Rio Tinto had permission from the state government to blast in the area, the PKKP have said they warned that the placement of some explosives would destroy two heritage rock shelters.
A public backlash and investor revolt forced the mining giant's CEO and two top officials to resign in September.
The site had contained some of the oldest Aboriginal artefacts ever found in Australia and was considered sacred by the PKKP.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-10--US government, 48 states target Facebook ‘monopoly power’ in major anti-trust suits

New York Attorney General Letitia James said Facebook “ used its monopoly power to crush smaller rivals and snuff out competition , all at the expense of everyday users ” .
The U.S. government and 48 states and districts sued Facebook Wednesday , accusing it of abusing its market power in social networking to crush smaller competitors and seeking remedies that could include a forced spinoff of the social network ’ s Instagram and WhatsApp messaging services .
The landmark antitrust lawsuits , announced by the Federal Trade Commission and New York Attorney General Letitia James , mark the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ untouchable tech behemoths .
The Justice Department sued Google in October for abusing its dominance in online search and advertising — the government ’ s most significant attempt to buttress competition since its historic case against Microsoft two decades ago .
Amazon and Apple also have been under investigation in Congress and by federal authorities for alleged anticompetitive conduct .
James noted at a press conference that “ it ’ s really critically important that we block this predatory acquisition of companies and that we restore confidence to the market.
” The FTC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a systematic strategy ” to eliminate its competition , including by purchasing smaller up-and-coming rivals like Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 .
James echoed that in her press conference , saying Facebook “ used its monopoly power to crush smaller rivals and snuff out competition , all at the expense of everyday users.
” The FTC fined Facebook $ 5 billion in 2019 for privacy violations and instituted new oversight and restrictions on its business .
The fine was the largest the agency has ever levied on a tech company , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook ’ s business .
Facebook called the government actions “ revisionist history ” that punishes successful businesses and noted that the FTC cleared the Instagram and WhatsApp acquisitions years ago .
“ The government now wants a do-over , sending a chilling warning to American business that no sale is ever final , ” Facebook general counsel Jennifer Newstead said in a statement that echoed the company ’ s response to a recent congressional antitrust probe .
Facebook is the world ’ s biggest social network with 2.7 billion users and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 800 billion whose CEO Mark Zuckerberg is the world ’ s fifth-richest individual and the most public face of Big Tech swagger .
James alleged Facebook had a practice of opening its site to third-party app developers , then abruptly cutting off developers that it saw as a threat .
The lawsuit — which includes 46 states , Guam and the District of Columbia — accuses Facebook of anti-competitive conduct and using its market dominance to harvest consumer data and reap a fortune in advertising revenues .
North Carolina Attorney General Josh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committee of attorneys general conducting the investigation , said the litigation has the potential to alter the communications landscape the way the breakup of AT & T ’ s local phone service monopoly in the early 1980s did .
“ Our hope is to restructure the social networking marketplace in the United States , and right now there ’ s one player , ” Stein told reporters .
James said the coalition worked collaboratively with the FTC but noted the attorneys general conducted their investigation separately .
Antitrust expert Rebecca Allensworth , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is “ hard to win any antitrust lawsuit and this one is not any different.
” But as far as antitrust cases go , she added , the government has a strong one .
The Justice Department ’ s suit against Google , announced just two weeks before Election Day , brought accusations of political motivation from some quarters .
It was filed by a cabinet agency headed by an attorney general seen as a close ally of President Donald Trump , who has often publicly criticized Google .
The FTC , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency whose five commissioners currently include three Republicans and two Democrats .
President-elect Joe Biden has said the breakup of Big Tech giants should be seriously considered .
He has singled out Facebook ’ s Zuckerberg for scorn , calling him “ a real problem.
” Instagram and WhatsApp are among some 70 companies that Facebook has acquired over the past 15 years .
But they are the ones most frequently held up by Facebook critics as properties that should be split off .
Facebook paid $ 1 billion for Instagram , bolstering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month before its stock went public .
At the time , the photo-sharing app had about 30 million users and wasn ’ t producing any revenue .
A few years later , Facebook acquired WhatsApp , an encrypted messaging service , for $ 19 billion .
Zuckerberg vowed both companies would be run independently , but over the years the services have become increasingly integrated .
Users are now able to link accounts and share content across the platforms .
Instagram now has more than 1 billion users worldwide .
Such integration could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the companies .
NetChoice , a Washington trade association that includes Facebook as a member , quickly panned the lawsuits .
The case for antitrust enforcement against Facebook “ has never been weaker , ” NetChoice vice president Carl Szabo said in a statement , pointing to newer social services such as TikTok and Snapchat as rivals that could “ overtake ” older platforms .
“ These lawsuits mark an important turning point in the battle to rein in Big Tech monopolies and to reinvigorate antitrust enforcement , ” said Alex Harman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nonprofit consumer advocacy group .

The U.S. government and 48 states and districts sued Facebook Wednesday, accusing it of abusing its market power in social networking to crush smaller competitors and seeking remedies that could include a forced spinoff of the social network’s Instagram and WhatsApp messaging services.
New York Attorney General Letitia James said Facebook “used its monopoly power to crush smaller rivals and snuff out competition, all at the expense of everyday users”.
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The landmark antitrust lawsuits, announced by the Federal Trade Commission and New York Attorney General Letitia James, mark the second major government offensive this year against seemingly untouchable tech behemoths. The Justice Department sued Google in October for abusing its dominance in online search and advertising — the government’s most significant attempt to buttress competition since its historic case against Microsoft two decades ago. Amazon and Apple also have been under investigation in Congress and by federal authorities for alleged anticompetitive conduct.
James noted at a press conference that “it’s really critically important that we block this predatory acquisition of companies and that we restore confidence to the market.”
The FTC said Facebook has engaged in a “a systematic strategy” to eliminate its competition, including by purchasing smaller up-and-coming rivals like Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014. James echoed that in her press conference, saying Facebook “used its monopoly power to crush smaller rivals and snuff out competition, all at the expense of everyday users.”
00:19
The FTC fined Facebook $5 billion in 2019 for privacy violations and instituted new oversight and restrictions on its business. The fine was the largest the agency has ever levied on a tech company, although it had no visible impact on Facebook’s business.
Facebook called the government actions “revisionist history” that punishes successful businesses and noted that the FTC cleared the Instagram and WhatsApp acquisitions years ago. “The government now wants a do-over, sending a chilling warning to American business that no sale is ever final,” Facebook general counsel Jennifer Newstead said in a statement that echoed the company’s response to a recent congressional antitrust probe.
Facebook is the world’s biggest social network with 2.7 billion users and a company with a market value of nearly $800 billion whose CEO Mark Zuckerberg is the world’s fifth-richest individual and the most public face of Big Tech swagger.
Billionaire wealth growth:
Elon Musk: $118,500,000,000
Jeff Bezos: $71,400,000,000
Mark Zuckerberg: $50,100,000,000
Larry Page (Google): $28,900,000,000
Sergey Brin (Google): $28,500,000,000
MacKenzie Scott: $23,800,000,000
Meanwhile, 54,000,000 Americans are going hungry. https://t.co/3LZ7tDMSD2 — Public Citizen (@Public_Citizen) December 9, 2020
James alleged Facebook had a practice of opening its site to third-party app developers, then abruptly cutting off developers that it saw as a threat. The lawsuit — which includes 46 states, Guam and the District of Columbia — accuses Facebook of anti-competitive conduct and using its market dominance to harvest consumer data and reap a fortune in advertising revenues.
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, who was on the executive committee of attorneys general conducting the investigation, said the litigation has the potential to alter the communications landscape the way the breakup of AT&T’s local phone service monopoly in the early 1980s did.
“Our hope is to restructure the social networking marketplace in the United States, and right now there’s one player,” Stein told reporters. James said the coalition worked collaboratively with the FTC but noted the attorneys general conducted their investigation separately.
Antitrust expert Rebecca Allensworth, a law professor at Vanderbilt University, said it is “hard to win any antitrust lawsuit and this one is not any different.” But as far as antitrust cases go, she added, the government has a strong one.
The Justice Department’s suit against Google, announced just two weeks before Election Day, brought accusations of political motivation from some quarters. It was filed by a cabinet agency headed by an attorney general seen as a close ally of President Donald Trump, who has often publicly criticized Google.
The FTC, by contrast, is an independent regulatory agency whose five commissioners currently include three Republicans and two Democrats.
04:02
President-elect Joe Biden has said the breakup of Big Tech giants should be seriously considered. He has singled out Facebook’s Zuckerberg for scorn, calling him “a real problem.”
Instagram and WhatsApp are among some 70 companies that Facebook has acquired over the past 15 years. But they are the ones most frequently held up by Facebook critics as properties that should be split off.
Facebook paid $1 billion for Instagram, bolstering the social network’s business a month before its stock went public. At the time, the photo-sharing app had about 30 million users and wasn’t producing any revenue. A few years later, Facebook acquired WhatsApp, an encrypted messaging service, for $19 billion.
Zuckerberg vowed both companies would be run independently, but over the years the services have become increasingly integrated. Users are now able to link accounts and share content across the platforms. Instagram now has more than 1 billion users worldwide. Such integration could make it more difficult to break off the companies.
NetChoice, a Washington trade association that includes Facebook as a member, quickly panned the lawsuits. The case for antitrust enforcement against Facebook “has never been weaker,” NetChoice vice president Carl Szabo said in a statement, pointing to newer social services such as TikTok and Snapchat as rivals that could “overtake” older platforms.
“These lawsuits mark an important turning point in the battle to rein in Big Tech monopolies and to reinvigorate antitrust enforcement,” said Alex Harman, competition policy advocate for Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group.
(AP)
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france24--2020-12-09--US senators fail to block Trump sale of F-35 jets to UAE

A South Korean fighter pilot stands in 2019 next to a F-35 fighter-jet of the type that the United States is seeking to sell to the United Arab Emirates Democrats failed Wednesday to block the United States from selling top-of-the-line fighter-jets to the United Arab Emirates , with most senators dismissing fears that President Donald Trump was setting off a dangerous arms race .
In one of the largest arms deals of its four-year term , the outgoing administration has approved $ 23 billion in stealth-capable F-35 jets , unarmed drones and other weapons to the Gulf ally after it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cause for Trump .
Splitting mostly on party lines , opponents failed to convince a threshold of 50 senators in two procedural votes that Trump was acting hastily before President-elect Joe Biden takes over next month to bolster a nation that was part of Saudi Arabia 's devastating offensive in Yemen .
Republican Senator Roy Blunt said that selling weapons to the UAE supported US jobs and provided `` reinforcement of our friends who see common enemies and are working directly to move their country and their region in a much better direction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ veto the resolutions if they passed , meaning both the Senate and House of Representatives needed two-thirds majorities to override him .
The White House in a statement said that the weapons would enable the UAE to `` deter increasing Iranian aggressive behavior and threats issued in the wake of that peace deal . ''
Robert Menendez , the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , agreed that Iran posed risks but said : `` We have yet to understand exactly what military threat the F-35s or armed drones will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Qatar -- a fellow US ally which is under a blockade by the UAE and Saudi Arabia -- has already been pushing for its own F-35s .
`` Do we really think that we can sell this just to the UAE and not have those other countries come knocking on our door and starting a very sophisticated arms race in the tinderbox of the world ? ''
Menendez asked on the Senate floor .
Menendez also voiced concern both over the discovery of Emirati arms shipments to war-ravaged Libya , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on signs the United Arab Emirates has sought military ties with China .
The two Democratic senators from Arizona , Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly , both joined Republicans on the drone sales , which involve Raytheon , a major employer in their state , and Sinema also rejected the bid to stop the F-35s .
Senator Rand Paul , a Republican who usually backs Trump but is critical of foreign military interventions , was the sole crossover to team up with Democrats .
`` It is not clear that dropping advanced military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encouraging peaceful relations , '' Paul said .
`` Will the US bear responsibility if the UAE misuses these incredibly sophisticated weapons ? ''
he said .
`` Can we trust people who have been part of a bombing campaign of civilians in Yemen to do and act more wisely in the future ? ''
One of the costliest warplanes in the world , the F-35 , manufactured by Lockheed Martin , carries high-end sensors and data-collection tools and can be used for airstrikes , intelligence gathering and air-to-air combat .
The State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buy 50 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters -- equivalent to Israel 's fleet .
Israel has historically opposed the sale of the jet to any Arab nation , with the undeclared nuclear power considering it crucial to hold an uncontested military advantage .
But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dropped objections as the United Arab Emirates moved in September to recognize Israel , a major step in his long-fought goal to win acceptance for the Jewish state in the region without making peace with the Palestinians .
Bahrain and Sudan have since also moved to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead been discussing with the United States how to expand its military edge further .

Washington (AFP) –
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Democrats failed Wednesday to block the United States from selling top-of-the-line fighter-jets to the United Arab Emirates, with most senators dismissing fears that President Donald Trump was setting off a dangerous arms race.
In one of the largest arms deals of its four-year term, the outgoing administration has approved $23 billion in stealth-capable F-35 jets, unarmed drones and other weapons to the Gulf ally after it agreed to recognize Israel, a major cause for Trump.
Splitting mostly on party lines, opponents failed to convince a threshold of 50 senators in two procedural votes that Trump was acting hastily before President-elect Joe Biden takes over next month to bolster a nation that was part of Saudi Arabia's devastating offensive in Yemen.
Republican Senator Roy Blunt said that selling weapons to the UAE supported US jobs and provided "reinforcement of our friends who see common enemies and are working directly to move their country and their region in a much better direction."
Trump had already threatened to veto the resolutions if they passed, meaning both the Senate and House of Representatives needed two-thirds majorities to override him.
The White House in a statement said that the weapons would enable the UAE to "deter increasing Iranian aggressive behavior and threats issued in the wake of that peace deal."
Robert Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, agreed that Iran posed risks but said: "We have yet to understand exactly what military threat the F-35s or armed drones will be addressing vis-a-vis Iran."
He noted that Qatar -- a fellow US ally which is under a blockade by the UAE and Saudi Arabia -- has already been pushing for its own F-35s.
"Do we really think that we can sell this just to the UAE and not have those other countries come knocking on our door and starting a very sophisticated arms race in the tinderbox of the world?" Menendez asked on the Senate floor.
Menendez also voiced concern both over the discovery of Emirati arms shipments to war-ravaged Libya, which is under a UN arms embargo, and on signs the United Arab Emirates has sought military ties with China.
- Changing regional dynamics -
The two Democratic senators from Arizona, Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly, both joined Republicans on the drone sales, which involve Raytheon, a major employer in their state, and Sinema also rejected the bid to stop the F-35s.
Senator Rand Paul, a Republican who usually backs Trump but is critical of foreign military interventions, was the sole crossover to team up with Democrats.
"It is not clear that dropping advanced military technology into the region is in fact encouraging peaceful relations," Paul said.
"Will the US bear responsibility if the UAE misuses these incredibly sophisticated weapons?" he said. "Can we trust people who have been part of a bombing campaign of civilians in Yemen to do and act more wisely in the future?"
One of the costliest warplanes in the world, the F-35, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, carries high-end sensors and data-collection tools and can be used for airstrikes, intelligence gathering and air-to-air combat.
The State Department said the United Arab Emirates would buy 50 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters -- equivalent to Israel's fleet.
Israel has historically opposed the sale of the jet to any Arab nation, with the undeclared nuclear power considering it crucial to hold an uncontested military advantage.
But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dropped objections as the United Arab Emirates moved in September to recognize Israel, a major step in his long-fought goal to win acceptance for the Jewish state in the region without making peace with the Palestinians.
Bahrain and Sudan have since also moved to normalize relations with Israel, which has instead been discussing with the United States how to expand its military edge further.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-09--Real Madrid, Atletico into Champions League last 16 as PSG win suspended game

Karim Benzema 's brace sent Real Madrid into the last 16 of the Champions League Karim Benzema sent Real Madrid through to the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday alongside their rivals Atletico , while Neymar scored a hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain beat Istanbul Basaksehir in a match that had been delayed for 24 hours over a racism row .
Real are Europe 's most decorated club with 13 European Cups but they needed to beat Borussia Moenchengladbach in Madrid to be sure of making it through the group stage of the Champions League for a 24th straight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easing the pressure on coach Zinedine Zidane with two fine back-post headers in the first half securing a 2-0 win in a game played behind closed doors at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium .
`` Each match is a final and I think that if we always play how we did today , no team can hurt us , '' warned Benzema , who has played in four Champions League final wins with Real in the last seven seasons .
The Frenchman also hit the bar in the second half and in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both teams , with a 0-0 draw between Inter Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk allowing Real to top Group B and Gladbach , former European Cup runners-up , to go through as runners-up .
Players from the German club gathered around smartphones and laptops after full time in Madrid to follow events in Milan , where a winner for either team would have knocked Gladbach out .
They celebrated wildly when their qualification was confirmed .
`` Moments like that live long in the memory .
It was absolutely incredible and the joy was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kramer .
Shakhtar go into the Europa League while Inter finish bottom of their group , failing to reach the last 16 for a third season running .
Meanwhile Atletico needed to beat Red Bull Salzburg in Austria to qualify as runners-up in Group A behind Bayern Munich , and did so with Mario Hermoso and Yannick Carrasco scoring in a 2-0 victory .
`` I think in the nine years we 've been here , we have reached the last 16 eight times , '' said Atletico coach Diego Simeone .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lots of people will say it 's just normal for us but I do n't think it 's normal . ''
Salzburg now go into the Europa League while reigning European champions Bayern completed the group stage unbeaten as Niklas Suele and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting gave them a 2-0 win over Lokomotiv Moscow .
The other team to clinch qualification on Wednesday was Atalanta , whose 1-0 win away to Ajax secured second place in Group D behind Liverpool and a last-16 spot for the second year running .
Luis Muriel scored a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ryan Gravenberch was sent off for the hosts , who drop into the Europa League .
Already through , Liverpool were able to give a chance to several younger players in their 1-1 draw with Midtjylland in Denmark , where Mohamed Salah put the 2019 winners ahead early on but Alexander Scholz 's penalty gave the hosts an honourable draw .
PSG had wrapped up their qualification for the last 16 on Tuesday thanks to Manchester United 's defeat at RB Leipzig , despite their own game being suspended after an unprecedented walkout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue after a row erupted over an alleged racist remark by the fourth official aimed at Basaksehir 's assistant coach , Pierre Webo .
With a new set of officials , the game restarted in the 14th minute on Wednesday and an irresistible Neymar scored a hat-trick while also winning a penalty converted by Kylian Mbappe .
That was Mbappe 's first Champions League goal in 12 months , and he scored again later on after Mehmet Topal pulled one back .
With their 5-1 victory , PSG go through as group winners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it five wins and a draw in Group D as they eased to a 3-0 victory against Marseille with Ferran Torres and Sergio Aguero getting second-half goals before an Alvaro Gonzalez own goal .
Also already qualified , Porto beat Olympiakos 2-0 in Piraeus courtesy of Otavio 's early penalty and a Matheus Uribe goal .
The Greeks , who ended with 10 men , finish third in the section .
The draw for the last 16 is on Monday .

Paris (AFP) –
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Karim Benzema sent Real Madrid through to the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday alongside their rivals Atletico, while Neymar scored a hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain beat Istanbul Basaksehir in a match that had been delayed for 24 hours over a racism row.
Real are Europe's most decorated club with 13 European Cups but they needed to beat Borussia Moenchengladbach in Madrid to be sure of making it through the group stage of the Champions League for a 24th straight year.
Benzema was their hero, easing the pressure on coach Zinedine Zidane with two fine back-post headers in the first half securing a 2-0 win in a game played behind closed doors at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium.
"Each match is a final and I think that if we always play how we did today, no team can hurt us," warned Benzema, who has played in four Champions League final wins with Real in the last seven seasons.
The Frenchman also hit the bar in the second half and in the end it was a result that suited both teams, with a 0-0 draw between Inter Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk allowing Real to top Group B and Gladbach, former European Cup runners-up, to go through as runners-up.
Players from the German club gathered around smartphones and laptops after full time in Madrid to follow events in Milan, where a winner for either team would have knocked Gladbach out.
They celebrated wildly when their qualification was confirmed.
"Moments like that live long in the memory. It was absolutely incredible and the joy was uncontainable," said Gladbach midfielder Christoph Kramer.
- Inter fail again -
Shakhtar go into the Europa League while Inter finish bottom of their group, failing to reach the last 16 for a third season running.
Meanwhile Atletico needed to beat Red Bull Salzburg in Austria to qualify as runners-up in Group A behind Bayern Munich, and did so with Mario Hermoso and Yannick Carrasco scoring in a 2-0 victory.
"I think in the nine years we've been here, we have reached the last 16 eight times," said Atletico coach Diego Simeone.
"I enjoy looking back at that. Lots of people will say it's just normal for us but I don't think it's normal."
Salzburg now go into the Europa League while reigning European champions Bayern completed the group stage unbeaten as Niklas Suele and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting gave them a 2-0 win over Lokomotiv Moscow.
- Atalanta through -
The other team to clinch qualification on Wednesday was Atalanta, whose 1-0 win away to Ajax secured second place in Group D behind Liverpool and a last-16 spot for the second year running.
Luis Muriel scored a late winner for Atalanta in Amsterdam after Ryan Gravenberch was sent off for the hosts, who drop into the Europa League.
Already through, Liverpool were able to give a chance to several younger players in their 1-1 draw with Midtjylland in Denmark, where Mohamed Salah put the 2019 winners ahead early on but Alexander Scholz's penalty gave the hosts an honourable draw.
- Neymar hat-trick -
PSG had wrapped up their qualification for the last 16 on Tuesday thanks to Manchester United's defeat at RB Leipzig, despite their own game being suspended after an unprecedented walkout.
Both sets of players refused to continue after a row erupted over an alleged racist remark by the fourth official aimed at Basaksehir's assistant coach, Pierre Webo.
With a new set of officials, the game restarted in the 14th minute on Wednesday and an irresistible Neymar scored a hat-trick while also winning a penalty converted by Kylian Mbappe.
That was Mbappe's first Champions League goal in 12 months, and he scored again later on after Mehmet Topal pulled one back. With their 5-1 victory, PSG go through as group winners.
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City made it five wins and a draw in Group D as they eased to a 3-0 victory against Marseille with Ferran Torres and Sergio Aguero getting second-half goals before an Alvaro Gonzalez own goal.
Also already qualified, Porto beat Olympiakos 2-0 in Piraeus courtesy of Otavio's early penalty and a Matheus Uribe goal. The Greeks, who ended with 10 men, finish third in the section.
The draw for the last 16 is on Monday.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-09--Saudi prince asks US court to dismiss 'assassination' lawsuit

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman , seen here in December 2019 , is accused of sending a `` hit squad '' to Canada to assassinate a former Saudi intelligence official Saudi Arabia 's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has asked a US federal court to throw out a lawsuit which accused him of trying to have an ex-intelligence official assassinated .
Prince Mohammed 's lawyer told the federal court in Washington that Saad Aljabri 's suit filed in August did not provide evidence of the `` hit squad '' that he alleged the prince sent to kill him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as designated heir to the Saudi throne , Prince Mohammed was protected by laws of sovereign immunity .
`` This court lacks personal jurisdiction over the Crown Prince , '' it said .
`` The complaint alleges an attempt to kill Aljabri in Canada , directed from Saudi Arabia .
None of the scant allegations pertaining to the United States establishes the contacts between the Crown Prince , the United States , and Aljabri 's legal claims . ''
Aljabri said Prince Mohammed sent a `` hit squad '' to Canada , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kill and dismember him in 2018 , in the same way that journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in Istanbul in October that year .
The murder sparked an international outcry and tarnished the reputation of the oil-rich kingdom and the crown prince .
Aljabri said that Prince Mohammed wants him dead because he is close to rival prince and former Saudi security chief Prince Mohammed bin Nayef , and because he has intimate information on Prince Mohammed that would sour the close relationship between Washington and Riyadh .
Aljabri alleged that the prince @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foundation , was used to plan and recruit participants , dubbed the Tiger Squad , inside the United States .
But the plot was allegedly detected and disrupted by Canadian police before they could act .
In four parallel filings earlier this week , the foundation and 11 Saudis named in the lawsuit likewise sought dismissal , citing the lack of evidence and jurisdiction .
Aljabri filed the case as a claim of attempted extrajudicial killing under the Torture Victim Protection Act , and asked for unspecified personal damages for `` severe emotional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other ailments , and punitive damages as well .
But the motions for dismissal rejected that .
`` Aljabri is alive and , according to the complaint itself , has never been so much as touched .
By its plain terms , the TVPA does not reach an attempt at an extrajudicial killing , '' it said .
It also faulted Aljabri for not pursuing the case in Canada or Saudi Arabia .
The prince 's filing meanwhile accused Aljabri and his family of taking part in the misappropriation and theft of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when Aljabri was a senior official at the Saudi Interior Ministry in 2001-2015 .
`` The flaws in this complaint are so apparent and run so deep that it can only be regarded as an attempt to divert attention from plaintiff 's massive theft , '' it said .
`` Plaintiff can say whatever he wants to the newspapers .
But this case does not belong in federal court . ''

Washington (AFP) –
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Saudi Arabia's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has asked a US federal court to throw out a lawsuit which accused him of trying to have an ex-intelligence official assassinated.
Prince Mohammed's lawyer told the federal court in Washington that Saad Aljabri's suit filed in August did not provide evidence of the "hit squad" that he alleged the prince sent to kill him.
The filing Monday also said that, as designated heir to the Saudi throne, Prince Mohammed was protected by laws of sovereign immunity.
"This court lacks personal jurisdiction over the Crown Prince," it said.
"The complaint alleges an attempt to kill Aljabri in Canada, directed from Saudi Arabia. None of the scant allegations pertaining to the United States establishes the contacts between the Crown Prince, the United States, and Aljabri's legal claims."
Aljabri said Prince Mohammed sent a "hit squad" to Canada, where he lives in exile, to kill and dismember him in 2018, in the same way that journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in Istanbul in October that year.
The murder sparked an international outcry and tarnished the reputation of the oil-rich kingdom and the crown prince.
Aljabri said that Prince Mohammed wants him dead because he is close to rival prince and former Saudi security chief Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, and because he has intimate information on Prince Mohammed that would sour the close relationship between Washington and Riyadh.
Aljabri alleged that the prince's personal Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Abdulaziz Foundation, was used to plan and recruit participants, dubbed the Tiger Squad, inside the United States.
But the plot was allegedly detected and disrupted by Canadian police before they could act.
In four parallel filings earlier this week, the foundation and 11 Saudis named in the lawsuit likewise sought dismissal, citing the lack of evidence and jurisdiction.
Aljabri filed the case as a claim of attempted extrajudicial killing under the Torture Victim Protection Act, and asked for unspecified personal damages for "severe emotional distress," anxiety and hypertension, and other ailments, and punitive damages as well.
But the motions for dismissal rejected that.
"Aljabri is alive and, according to the complaint itself, has never been so much as touched. By its plain terms, the TVPA does not reach an attempt at an extrajudicial killing," it said.
It also faulted Aljabri for not pursuing the case in Canada or Saudi Arabia.
The prince's filing meanwhile accused Aljabri and his family of taking part in the misappropriation and theft of $11 billion meant for counterterrorism operations when Aljabri was a senior official at the Saudi Interior Ministry in 2001-2015.
"The flaws in this complaint are so apparent and run so deep that it can only be regarded as an attempt to divert attention from plaintiff's massive theft," it said.
"Plaintiff can say whatever he wants to the newspapers. But this case does not belong in federal court."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-09--Hackers break into Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine data in Europe

Pfizer and BioNTech said they did not believe any personal data of trial participants had been compromised U.S. drugmaker Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech said on Wednesday that documents related to development of their COVID-19 vaccine had been “ unlawfully accessed ” in a cyberattack on Europe ’ s medicines regulator .
The European Medicines Agency ( EMA ) , which assesses medicines and vaccines for the European Union , said hours earlier it had been targeted in a cyberattack .
It gave no further details .
Pfizer and BioNTech said they did not believe any personal data of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ has assured us that the cyber attack will have no impact on the timeline for its review.
” It was not immediately clear when or how the attack took place , who was responsible or what other information may have been compromised .
The two companies said they had been informed by the EMA “ that the agency has been subject to a cyber attack and that some documents relating to the regulatory submission for Pfizer and BioNTech ’ s COVID-19 vaccine candidate ” had been viewed .
Such documents could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rushing to develop vaccines , experts said .
“ When it comes to the data submitted to these kinds of regulatory bodies , we are talking confidential information about the vaccine and its mechanism of action , its efficiency , its risks & known possible side effects and any unique aspects such as handling guidelines , ” said Marc Rogers , founder of a volunteer group fighting Covid-related breaches , CTI-League .
“ It also provides detailed information on other parties involved in the supply and distribution of the vaccine and potentially significantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” adding more ways the formulas or production could be hacked or stolen .
The companies said “ no BioNTech or Pfizer systems have been breached in connection with this incident and we are unaware that any study participants have been identified through the data being accessed.
” A spokeswoman for BioNTech declined further comment .
Pfizer did not respond to a request for further comment .
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is a top contender in the global race to beat back COVID-19 .
It is already being administered in Britain .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review by Dec. 29 , although its schedule may change .
The EMA statement gave few details about the attack , saying only it was investigating with help from law enforcement .
“ EMA can not provide additional details whilst the investigation is ongoing , ” it said in a statement .
U.S. law enforcement and cybersecurity officials did not respond to requests for comment .
Hacking attempts against healthcare and medical organisations have intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic as attackers ranging from state-backed spies to cyber criminals hunt for information .
Reuters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ linked to North Korea , South Korea , Iran , Vietnam , China and Russia have on separate occasions tried to steal information about the virus and potential treatments .
Reuters has documented that espionage campaigns targeted a slew of pharmaceutical and vaccine development companies including Gilead , Johnson & Johnson , Novavax , and Moderna .
Regulators and international organizations such as the World Health Organization have also come under repeated attack .
“ Vaccine candidates represent liquid gold to many parties , both in terms of the opportunity and the pure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is also vice president at security company Okta Inc. “ Information on the vaccine and access to any link in the distribution chain has significantly increased value.
” The respiratory virus , which emerged in China in late 2019 , has infected more than 68 million people worldwide , according to a Reuters tally .
More than 1.5 million people have died .

Documents related to the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine were illegally accessed during a cyberattack at the EU regulator, the company said Wednesday, as Germany and other northern hemisphere countries grappled with a winter surge in the pandemic.
Pfizer and BioNTech said they did not believe any personal data of trial participants had been compromised
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The Amsterdam-based European Medicines Agency (EMA) reported the cyberattack as European countries eagerly await a vaccine, including Germany where Chancellor Angela Merkel is pushing for tougher action against a second wave of Covid-19 that is proving deadlier than the first there.
While the EMA did not give details on the attack, Pfizer and BioNTech said documents relating to their vaccine candidate had been accessed, but that “no systems have been breached in connection with this incident.”
The EMA has promised to reach a decision on conditional approval for Pfizer/BioNTech’s vaccine by December 29, with a ruling on Moderna’s version to follow by January 12.
Canada on Wednesday became the latest nation to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, a day after Britain gave out the first approved vaccine jabs in the Western world.
The United States is expected to follow suit within days, after a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel meets on the issue Thursday.
But a top government scientist said the FDA would probably ask people with a known history of severe allergies not to take it—after two health care workers in Britain needed treatment for allergic reactions.
02:32
The cyberattack comes after Britain accused Kremlin-linked hackers in July of targeting labs researching coronavirus vaccines and after a US newspaper reported that cybercriminals had tried to attack several pharmaceutical firms developing vaccines.
They included Johnson & Johnson, Novavax, AstraZeneca and South Korean laboratories.
Both Russia and China have already begun inoculation campaigns with domestically produced vaccines.
The Russian space agency said on Wednesday it planned to offer the Sputnik coronavirus vaccine to cosmonauts but insisted it would be on a voluntary basis.
Israel accepted its first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promising to be the first to be injected—although the vaccine has yet to pass regulatory hurdles there.
“What is important to me is that Israeli citizens get vaccinated,” he said. “I want to serve as an example to them.”
AU Commission chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat meanwhile said Wednesday that Africa must be among the first beneficiaries of the vaccines, adding that “those who have the (financial) means must not monopolize the vaccines.”
01:40
The virus has now killed more than 1.5 million worldwide since it emerged in China late last year.
Change ‘for the better’
In Germany, where the daily death toll hit a new high of 590 on Wednesday, Merkel urged regions to take more drastic action to curb the virus spread, after state leaders agreed to ease what are already comparatively modest social restrictions for the Christmas holidays.
Merkel has been in no mood for celebration, repeatedly urging regional leaders who have responsibility for health policies to clamp down more strongly.
“If we have too many contacts before Christmas and it ends up being the last Christmas with the grandparents, then we’d really have failed,” she said.
01:37
Two weeks ago, Germany’s states agreed rules limiting social mixing to five people but agreed to double the limit to 10 for the holiday season—something Merkel argued against.
Divisions laid bare
The United States is also mired in political rows over an epidemic that has killed more than 280,000 — the world’s heaviest toll.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday that sought to guarantee access to vaccines for all Americans, but critics immediately queried what legal force it could have given drug firms have already signed contracts with other countries.
Joe Biden, who will take over from Trump in January and unveiled a plan for 100 million jabs in his first 100 days, has urged Congress to come up with funding to prevent vaccine distribution from stalling.
As America’s politicians grappled over resources to fight Covid-19, a new study showed that the country’s 651 billionaires have seen their wealth rise by more than $1 trillion since the start of the pandemic, according to the Institute for Policy Studies and Americans for Tax Fairness.
At the other end of the spectrum, experts are warning that hunger in the Philippines has reached new levels thanks in part to restrictions that have crippled the economy and left many without livelihoods.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-12-09--Kim Kardashian asks Trump for clemency ahead of US man's execution

Kim Kardashian on Wednesday called on President Donald Trump to commute the death sentence of a US man scheduled to be executed Thursday for his participation in a double murder when he was 18 years old .
The reality television star , who is studying to be a lawyer in California , has used her influence to try to sway criminal justice matters before .
`` I 'm calling on @ realDonaldTrump to grant Brandon ( Bernard ) a commutation and allow him to live out his sentence in prison , '' Kardashian tweeted .
Kardashian has previously pushed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is sometimes in doubt , though this time she does not dispute Bernard 's involvement in the 1999 murder of two pastors .
`` While Brandon did participate in this crime , his role was minor compared to that of the other teens involved , two of whom are home from prison now , '' Kardashian said , adding that `` at just a few months past 18 his brain was still developing . ''
In 1999 , Bernard and several other teenagers kidnapped Todd and Stacey Bagley to force them withdraw cash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their car .
Some of Bernard 's fellow attackers were under 17 and so avoided the death penalty .
Because the assault took place on a military base , the shooter , then-19-year-old Christopher Vialva , and Bernard , who lit the car on fire , were both sentenced to death by a federal court in 2000 .
Vialva was executed by lethal injection in September in Terre-Haute , Indiana , with Bernard 's execution is scheduled for Thursday .
As the execution approached , tens of thousands of people -- including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecutor who was in charge of the case -- have called on the president to commute Bernard 's sentence , citing his good behavior in prison and his youth at the time of the crime .
`` Brandon Bernard , a 40-year-old father is going to be executed tomorrow by our federal government .
Having gotten to know Brandon , I am heartbroken about this execution , '' Kardashian tweeted .
His lawyers have unsuccessfully requested a review of the original trial , claiming that have new documents that prove Bernard 's participation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unless there is a last-minute reversal , Bernard will become the eighth person executed by the US government since the resumption of the death penalty in federal cases in July following a 17-year pause .
While the coronavirus pandemic has prompted states to suspend nearly all scheduled executions , the Trump administration has at least four other executions planned before the defeated president leaves the White House January 20 .

Washington (AFP) –
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Kim Kardashian on Wednesday called on President Donald Trump to commute the death sentence of a US man scheduled to be executed Thursday for his participation in a double murder when he was 18 years old.
The reality television star, who is studying to be a lawyer in California, has used her influence to try to sway criminal justice matters before.
"I'm calling on @realDonaldTrump to grant Brandon (Bernard) a commutation and allow him to live out his sentence in prison," Kardashian tweeted.
Kardashian has previously pushed for the release of incarcerated people whose guilt is sometimes in doubt, though this time she does not dispute Bernard's involvement in the 1999 murder of two pastors.
"While Brandon did participate in this crime, his role was minor compared to that of the other teens involved, two of whom are home from prison now," Kardashian said, adding that "at just a few months past 18 his brain was still developing."
In 1999, Bernard and several other teenagers kidnapped Todd and Stacey Bagley to force them withdraw cash, before eventually shooting and burning them in their car.
Some of Bernard's fellow attackers were under 17 and so avoided the death penalty.
Because the assault took place on a military base, the shooter, then-19-year-old Christopher Vialva, and Bernard, who lit the car on fire, were both sentenced to death by a federal court in 2000.
Vialva was executed by lethal injection in September in Terre-Haute, Indiana, with Bernard's execution is scheduled for Thursday.
As the execution approached, tens of thousands of people -- including jurors who sentenced him and a former prosecutor who was in charge of the case -- have called on the president to commute Bernard's sentence, citing his good behavior in prison and his youth at the time of the crime.
"Brandon Bernard, a 40-year-old father is going to be executed tomorrow by our federal government. Having gotten to know Brandon, I am heartbroken about this execution," Kardashian tweeted.
His lawyers have unsuccessfully requested a review of the original trial, claiming that have new documents that prove Bernard's participation was not central to the murders.
Unless there is a last-minute reversal, Bernard will become the eighth person executed by the US government since the resumption of the death penalty in federal cases in July following a 17-year pause.
While the coronavirus pandemic has prompted states to suspend nearly all scheduled executions, the Trump administration has at least four other executions planned before the defeated president leaves the White House January 20.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-09--Inter Milan out of Champions League after Shakhtar stalemate

Inter Milan crashed out of Europe after a goalless draw with Shakhtar Donetsk Inter Milan crashed out of the Champions League in the group stage for the third consecutive season on Wednesday after a goalless draw against Shakhtar Donetsk at the San Siro .
Antonio Conte 's side had needed a win to advance to the last 16 along with Spanish side Real Madrid .
But the Italians finished bottom of their group with just one win , last week 's 3-2 victory over Borussia Moenchengladbach , having also played out a goalless draw in Ukraine .
Real Madrid went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ B winners after a 2-0 victory over Borussia Moenchengladbach with the Germans also advancing in second place .
Inter Milan , who won the last of their three Champions League titles in 2010 , have not reached the knockout rounds since the 2011-2012 season .
The Ukrainians , who were also eliminated , finished third and will now play the Europa League with Inter Milan 's European season over .
Conte 's side are the only Italian team not to make the last 16 with Juventus , Atalanta and Lazio all advancing .

Milan (AFP) –
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Inter Milan crashed out of the Champions League in the group stage for the third consecutive season on Wednesday after a goalless draw against Shakhtar Donetsk at the San Siro.
Antonio Conte's side had needed a win to advance to the last 16 along with Spanish side Real Madrid.
But the Italians finished bottom of their group with just one win, last week's 3-2 victory over Borussia Moenchengladbach, having also played out a goalless draw in Ukraine.
Real Madrid went through to the knockout phase as Group B winners after a 2-0 victory over Borussia Moenchengladbach with the Germans also advancing in second place.
Inter Milan, who won the last of their three Champions League titles in 2010, have not reached the knockout rounds since the 2011-2012 season.
The Ukrainians, who were also eliminated, finished third and will now play the Europa League with Inter Milan's European season over.
Conte's side are the only Italian team not to make the last 16 with Juventus, Atalanta and Lazio all advancing.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-09--Ghana president narrowly re-elected as supporters celebrate

Ghana 's President Nana Akufo-Addo tells celebrating supporters in Accra that `` now is the time to unite '' Ghana 's President Nana Akufo-Addo narrowly beat his long-time rival John Mahama to win a second term , the electoral commission announced Wednesday , sending thousands of his supporters onto the streets to celebrate .
The West African country is known for its stable democracy , but tensions rose over Monday 's presidential and legislative vote after Mahama claimed to have won a parliamentary majority and warned Akufo-Addo against stealing the vote .
In the presidential race , Akufo-Addo received 51.59 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader and former president Mahama 's 47.36 percent , the electoral commission said .
The announcement was greeted with chanting and dancing by a crowd of supporters in the seaside capital Accra .
`` Now is the time , irrespective of political affiliations , to unite , join hands and stand shoulder to shoulder , '' the 76-year-old president told excited supporters honking vuvuzuelas outside his Accra residence .
Observers viewed polling as generally free and fair but police said five people were killed and 19 injured in election-related violence .
The political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his rival of showing `` credentials that are very undemocratic '' .
Mahama , 62 , charged that Akufo-Addo had harnessed the military in a bid to sway the outcome , a claim the government said was false .
`` You can not use the military to try and overturn some of the results in constituencies that we have won .
We will resist any attempts to subvert the sovereign will of the Ghanaian people , '' the former president said .
Mahama -- who has twice before lost to Akufo-Addo by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 -- has yet to comment on the results .
The full count of the 275 parliamentary seats has not been announced and are expected to be very close between Akufo-Addo 's centre-right New Patriotic Party ( NPP ) and Mahama 's National Democratic Congress ( NDC ) party .
Ghana has recorded high levels of growth during Akufo-Addo 's first term as he worked to diversify an economy largely dependent on cocoa exports and more recently oil and gold .
On education in particular , he is considered to have done well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18- to 35-year-olds account for more than half of all eligible voters .
But while Ghana has made large strides in recent years , many still live in extreme poverty with scarce access to clean water or electricity .
`` There could be a tendency for an incumbent , who has just secured a second term , to take it easy and relax , '' Akufo-Addo .
`` I am of a different character .
I give you my word that I will continue to work very hard to build a prosperous and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Former Ghanaian president John Kufuor was one of the first to congratulate Akufo-Addo , saying on Twitter : `` you deserve it . ''
Ghana has had seven peaceful transitions of power since the return of democracy more than 30 years ago , as post-electoral grievances have always been pursued through the courts –- a rarity in the troubled region .
Hoping to retain that reputation , Akufo-Addo and Mahama on Friday signed a symbolic peace pact , which the 15-nation regional bloc ECOWAS urged `` all political parties and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Union 's chief observer Javier Nart said Wednesday that `` Ghanaians voted freely '' .
`` While there were isolated violent incidents , both on election day and during the campaign ... fears of violence and vigilantism fortunately did n't materialise : they were minor , isolated incidents , some of them tragic , '' he said .
Despite the coronavirus pandemic , turnout was high , with 13,434,574 people voting -- 79 percent of registered voters .
An urgent task for the next government will be to limit mounting debt and control @ @ @

Accra (AFP) –
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Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo narrowly beat his long-time rival John Mahama to win a second term, the electoral commission announced Wednesday, sending thousands of his supporters onto the streets to celebrate.
The West African country is known for its stable democracy, but tensions rose over Monday's presidential and legislative vote after Mahama claimed to have won a parliamentary majority and warned Akufo-Addo against stealing the vote.
In the presidential race, Akufo-Addo received 51.59 percent of the vote, beating opposition leader and former president Mahama's 47.36 percent, the electoral commission said.
The announcement was greeted with chanting and dancing by a crowd of supporters in the seaside capital Accra.
"Now is the time, irrespective of political affiliations, to unite, join hands and stand shoulder to shoulder," the 76-year-old president told excited supporters honking vuvuzuelas outside his Accra residence.
Observers viewed polling as generally free and fair but police said five people were killed and 19 injured in election-related violence.
The political climate soured late Tuesday when Mahama accused his rival of showing "credentials that are very undemocratic".
Mahama, 62, charged that Akufo-Addo had harnessed the military in a bid to sway the outcome, a claim the government said was false.
"You cannot use the military to try and overturn some of the results in constituencies that we have won. We will resist any attempts to subvert the sovereign will of the Ghanaian people," the former president said.
Mahama -- who has twice before lost to Akufo-Addo by a narrow margin, the last time in 2016 -- has yet to comment on the results.
The full count of the 275 parliamentary seats has not been announced and are expected to be very close between Akufo-Addo's centre-right New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Mahama's National Democratic Congress (NDC) party.
- 'Prosperous and progressive' -
Ghana has recorded high levels of growth during Akufo-Addo's first term as he worked to diversify an economy largely dependent on cocoa exports and more recently oil and gold.
On education in particular, he is considered to have done well, which matters in a country where 18- to 35-year-olds account for more than half of all eligible voters.
But while Ghana has made large strides in recent years, many still live in extreme poverty with scarce access to clean water or electricity.
"There could be a tendency for an incumbent, who has just secured a second term, to take it easy and relax," Akufo-Addo.
"I am of a different character. I give you my word that I will continue to work very hard to build a prosperous and progressive Ghana, for which we yearn."
Former Ghanaian president John Kufuor was one of the first to congratulate Akufo-Addo, saying on Twitter: "you deserve it."
- Peace pact -
Ghana has had seven peaceful transitions of power since the return of democracy more than 30 years ago, as post-electoral grievances have always been pursued through the courts –- a rarity in the troubled region.
Hoping to retain that reputation, Akufo-Addo and Mahama on Friday signed a symbolic peace pact, which the 15-nation regional bloc ECOWAS urged "all political parties and their leadership to respect."
The European Union's chief observer Javier Nart said Wednesday that "Ghanaians voted freely".
"While there were isolated violent incidents, both on election day and during the campaign... fears of violence and vigilantism fortunately didn't materialise: they were minor, isolated incidents, some of them tragic," he said.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, turnout was high, with 13,434,574 people voting -- 79 percent of registered voters.
An urgent task for the next government will be to limit mounting debt and control rising inflation.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-10--Just can't wait to be King? China shuns 'wolf' tag, says like Disney's Simba

The `` wolf warrior '' label applied to Chinese diplomats using aggressive language on social media is unfair , one of their colleagues said Thursday , suggesting the communist country 's envoys have more in common with Simba from Disney 's `` The Lion King '' .
The assertion came in response to a German report that said Beijing practised `` wolf warrior '' diplomacy , referencing a film about a Rambo-like Chinese special forces soldier who takes on foreign mercenaries that was wildly popular in China .
Since last year , a group of Chinese diplomats have used Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- to vociferously defend and promote China and its interests , prompting the comparison .
But Beijing on Thursday sought to reshape the characterisation .
`` I do n't know if they have watched the Disney cartoon 'The Lion King ' , '' foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing , referring to those who used the wolf warrior label .
`` I wonder what they think of the cute little lion Simba , who grew and matured under various suspicions and blame , '' she added .
Her comments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of `` wolf warrior '' diplomacy sparked a diplomatic spat with Canberra after a Chinese government spokesman tweeted about `` the murder of Afghan civilians & prisoners by Australian soldiers '' .
The tweet was accompanied by a graphic illustration of a man dressed as an Australian soldier holding a bloody knife to an Afghan child 's throat .
Australia 's prime minister angrily denounced the `` repugnant '' , `` outrageous '' and `` appalling '' tweet and demanded Beijing formally apologise .
Hua defended the aggressive communications , saying : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on unwarranted charges can act like wolves and tigers , but China can only be a silent lamb ? ''
She added that criticism of China 's wolf warrior diplomacy was just another manifestation of the theory that China is a threat .
`` China does not actively cause trouble , but is also not afraid of trouble and will not be coerced or blackmailed , '' she said .

Beijing (AFP) –
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The "wolf warrior" label applied to Chinese diplomats using aggressive language on social media is unfair, one of their colleagues said Thursday, suggesting the communist country's envoys have more in common with Simba from Disney's "The Lion King".
The assertion came in response to a German report that said Beijing practised "wolf warrior" diplomacy, referencing a film about a Rambo-like Chinese special forces soldier who takes on foreign mercenaries that was wildly popular in China.
Since last year, a group of Chinese diplomats have used Twitter -- a platform banned on the mainland -- to vociferously defend and promote China and its interests, prompting the comparison.
But Beijing on Thursday sought to reshape the characterisation.
"I don't know if they have watched the Disney cartoon 'The Lion King'," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing, referring to those who used the wolf warrior label.
"I wonder what they think of the cute little lion Simba, who grew and matured under various suspicions and blame," she added.
Her comments came just weeks after the latest example of "wolf warrior" diplomacy sparked a diplomatic spat with Canberra after a Chinese government spokesman tweeted about "the murder of Afghan civilians & prisoners by Australian soldiers".
The tweet was accompanied by a graphic illustration of a man dressed as an Australian soldier holding a bloody knife to an Afghan child's throat.
Australia's prime minister angrily denounced the "repugnant", "outrageous" and "appalling" tweet and demanded Beijing formally apologise.
Hua defended the aggressive communications, saying: "Is it that those who criticise China on unwarranted charges can act like wolves and tigers, but China can only be a silent lamb?"
She added that criticism of China's wolf warrior diplomacy was just another manifestation of the theory that China is a threat.
"China does not actively cause trouble, but is also not afraid of trouble and will not be coerced or blackmailed," she said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-10--Coronavirus pandemic: UK probes whether Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine caused allergic reactions

Britain 's medicines regulator has advised people with a history of significant allergies not to get the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine @ @ @ @ @ reactions on the first day of its rollout in the UK .

Coronavirus pandemic: UK probes whether Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine caused allergic reactions
01:47
Britain's medicines regulator has advised people with a history of significant allergies not to get the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine after two people reported adverse reactions on the first day of its rollout in the UK.


france24--2020-12-10--Laïcité : 'It can be something very interesting if you take time to understand it properly'

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france24--2020-12-10--EU chief publishes 'no deal' Brexit plan to prepare bloc ‘for all eventualities’

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday published a back-up plan to protect road and air travel and fishing rights if Britain leaves the union without a trade deal .
The UK left the European Union on January 31 and at the end of this month will leave the bloc 's single market and customs union , bringing to an end a half-century of ever closer economic integration .
Negotiators from London and Brussels have been trying to agree a follow-on trade pact that would govern cross-Channel business after the transition period ends , but talks are deadlocked with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a possible no-deal exit on January 1 , the EU on Thursday proposed four contingency measures to make sure air and road traffic can continue as smoothly as possible for the next six months .
It also proposes that fishermen will still have access to each others waters for up to a year , to limit the commercial damage of a no-deal split .
The plans depend on the UK offering similar initiatives .
“ Our responsibility is to be prepared for all eventualities ... That is why we are coming forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ von der Leyen .
`` Negotiations are still ongoing .
However , given that the end of the transition is very near , there is no guarantee that if and when an agreement is found , it can enter into force on time , '' she said .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson travelled to Brussels on Wednesday for a working dinner with von der Leyen to talk through the logjam , and the leaders agreed to give the negotiators until Sunday to make a breakthrough .
But London is refusing to , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newly reclaimed sovereignty by signing up to match future EU regulation .
Several EU members , notably France , have been pushing for von der Leyen 's Commission and her negotiator Michel Barnier to take a tougher line , and to publish the contingency plan to show they are ready for `` no deal '' .
The EU Commission described the plan as `` a set of targeted contingency measures ensuring basic reciprocal air and road connectivity between the EU and the UK , as well as allowing for the possibility of reciprocal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to each other 's waters '' .
The measures would come into effect on January 1 .
They would come to an end if a deal is found or after a fixed period .
Basic air transport will continue for six months provided the UK agrees to reciprocate , as will access for road haulage .
The interim fisheries regulation would continue until the end of 2021 , but it provides for `` continued reciprocal access by EU and UK vessels to each other 's waters '' .
Johnson 's government insists it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on January 1 .

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday published a back-up plan to protect road and air travel and fishing rights if Britain leaves the union without a trade deal.
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The UK left the European Union on January 31 and at the end of this month will leave the bloc's single market and customs union, bringing to an end a half-century of ever closer economic integration.
Negotiators from London and Brussels have been trying to agree a follow-on trade pact that would govern cross-Channel business after the transition period ends, but talks are deadlocked with three weeks to go.
To prepare for a possible no-deal exit on January 1, the EU on Thursday proposed four contingency measures to make sure air and road traffic can continue as smoothly as possible for the next six months.
It also proposes that fishermen will still have access to each others waters for up to a year, to limit the commercial damage of a no-deal split. The plans depend on the UK offering similar initiatives.
“Our responsibility is to be prepared for all eventualities...That is why we are coming forward with these measures today," said von der Leyen.
"Negotiations are still ongoing. However, given that the end of the transition is very near, there is no guarantee that if and when an agreement is found, it can enter into force on time," she said.
02:13
Johnson 'working dinner' yields no results
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson travelled to Brussels on Wednesday for a working dinner with von der Leyen to talk through the logjam, and the leaders agreed to give the negotiators until Sunday to make a breakthrough.
But London is refusing to, in Johnson's view, compromise its newly reclaimed sovereignty by signing up to match future EU regulation.
Several EU members, notably France, have been pushing for von der Leyen's Commission and her negotiator Michel Barnier to take a tougher line, and to publish the contingency plan to show they are ready for "no deal".
The EU Commission described the plan as "a set of targeted contingency measures ensuring basic reciprocal air and road connectivity between the EU and the UK, as well as allowing for the possibility of reciprocal fishing access by EU and UK vessels to each other's waters".
Transportation, interim fisheries regulation
The measures would come into effect on January 1. They would come to an end if a deal is found or after a fixed period.
Basic air transport will continue for six months provided the UK agrees to reciprocate, as will access for road haulage.
The interim fisheries regulation would continue until the end of 2021, but it provides for "continued reciprocal access by EU and UK vessels to each other's waters".
Johnson's government insists it will assume full sovereignty over its waters on January 1.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-12-10--Victims of terrorism: Survivors tell their stories to children to heal wounds

Victims of terrorism : Survivors tell their stories to children to heal wounds Across France , victims of terrorism have @ @ @ @ @ their experiences with pupils .
Catherine Bertrand is a survivor of the jihadist attack on @ @ @ @ @ 2015 and Asma Guenifi was a victim of terrorism during the Algerian civil war .
@ @ @ @ @ a parisian school .
Karim Yahiaoui , Mohamed Farhat and Selina Sykes report .

Victims of terrorism: Survivors tell their stories to children to heal wounds
02:05
Video by: Karim YAHIAOUI
Across France, victims of terrorism have been visiting schools to discuss their experiences with pupils. Catherine Bertrand is a survivor of the jihadist attack on the Bataclan in Paris in 2015 and Asma Guenifi was a victim of terrorism during the Algerian civil war. They met with children at a parisian school. Karim Yahiaoui, Mohamed Farhat and Selina Sykes report.


france24--2020-12-10--SpaceX's Starship prototype explodes on landing after test launch

SpaceX 's Starship prototype exploded while attempting to land on Wednesday after an otherwise successful test launch from the company @ @ @ @ @ Chica , Texas , live video of the flight showed .

SpaceX's Starship prototype explodes on landing after test launch
01:44
Video by: Yuka ROYER
SpaceX's Starship prototype exploded while attempting to land on Wednesday after an otherwise successful test launch from the company's rocket facility in Boca Chica, Texas, live video of the flight showed.


france24--2020-12-10--US coronavirus vaccine: Daily deaths top 3,000 as country awaits jab approval

The Trump administration sought to shore up the US vaccine supply on Tuesday as a 90-year-old British woman became the @ @ @ @ @ to receive the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine .

US coronavirus vaccine: Daily deaths top 3,000 as country awaits jab approval
01:44
Video by: Solange MOUGIN
The Trump administration sought to shore up the US vaccine supply on Tuesday as a 90-year-old British woman became the first person outside of trials to receive the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine.