france24--2020-01-09--Canada's Trudeau says evidence shows Iranian missile downed Ukraine jet

A Ukraine airliner that crashed in Iran , killing all 176 people aboard , was likely brought down by an Iranian missile , Canada ’ s prime minister , Justin Trudeau , said on Thursday , citing intelligence from Canadian and other sources .
Trudeau told a news conference in Ottawa that the destruction of the airliner “ may well have been unintentional.
” The flight was on its way to Kiev from Tehran early on Wednesday , with 63 Canadians among the passengers and crew .
“ We have intelligence from multiple sources , including our allies and our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plane was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile , ” he said .
Shortly after Trudeau spoke to reporters in Canada , British Prime Minister Boris Johnson echoed that conclusion and called for a full and transparent investigation into the crash , in which four Britons perished .
“ There is now a body of information that the flight was shot down by an Iranian Surface to Air Missile .
This may well have been unintentional , ” Johnson said in a statement .
“ The UK continues to call on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tensions in the region.
” The crash of the Ukraine International Airlines plane occurred shortly after Iran fired ballistic missiles at two US military bases in Iraq , and Iranians were on high alert for a US military response .
Earlier on Thursday , a US official , citing an extensive review of satellite data , said Washington had concluded with a high degree of certainty that anti-aircraft missiles brought down the plane .
The official said the Boeing 737-800 had been tracked by Iranian radar .
Washington believed the plane was most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials said .
The data showed the plane was airborne for two minutes after departing Tehran when the heat signatures of two surface-to-air missiles were detected , one of the officials said .
That was quickly followed by an explosion in the vicinity of the plane , this official said .
Heat signature data then showed it on fire as it went down .
Iran ’ s head of civil aviation denied reports that Iran was to blame as “ illogical rumours.
” “ Scientifically , it is impossible that a missile hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are illogical , ” the semi-official ISNA News Agency quoted Ali Abedzadeh as saying .
A spokesperson for the Iranian government described the Western intelligence reports as `` psychological warfare '' .
Speaking to reporters at the White House , US President Donald Trump said he had a terrible feeling about the downed airliner , but offered no details .
He said he did not believe it was a mechanical issue .
“ It ’ s a tragic thing .
But somebody could have made a mistake - on the other side , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aviation Administration had banned US carriers from operating in the airspace over Iraq , Iran , the Gulf of Oman and the waters between Iran and Saudi Arabia in the hours after Iran ’ s attack on US-led forces in Iraq .
Several other airlines also diverted flights .
Boeing and the FAA declined to comment on the missile reports on Thursday , as did the Pentagon .
Spokeswomen for Ukraine ’ s president and prime minister did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Boeing is still reeling from two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five months that led to the plane ’ s grounding in March 2019 .
The 737-800 that crashed was built in 2016 and is the prior generation of the 737 before the MAX .
Boeing has built about 5,000 of those planes , which have a good safety record .

A Ukraine airliner that crashed in Iran, killing all 176 people aboard, was likely brought down by an Iranian missile, Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, said on Thursday, citing intelligence from Canadian and other sources.
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday multiple intelligence sources indicate that Iran shot down a Ukrainian airliner after it took off from Tehran, killing all 176 on board, including 63 Canadians.
Trudeau's comments came as video emerged that appeared to show the moment the airliner was hit.
That and other footage posted on social media increasingly pointed to a catastrophic mistake by Tehran's air defense batteries in bringing down Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 early Wednesday.
01:16
The video, which The New York Times said it verified, shows a fast-moving object rising at an angle into the sky before a bright flash is seen, which dims and then continues moving forward. Several seconds later an explosion is heard.
Citing information from allies as well as Canada's own intelligence, Trudeau said the plane appeared to have been hit by an Iranian surface-to-air (SAM) missile.
"We know this may have been unintentional. Canadians have questions, and they deserve answers," Trudeau told reporters.
He was backed by other Western leaders, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson who said mounting evidence supported a missile strike, which "may well have been unintentional."
03:05
US President Donald Trump indicated that Washington officials believed the Kiev-bound Boeing 737 was struck by one or more Iranian missiles before it ditched and exploded outside Tehran.
The US National Transportation Safety Board late Thursday said it had received formal notification of the crash from Iran and would send a representative to join the crash probe.
Iran's foreign ministry earlier invited the US plane maker Boeing to "participate" in the inquiry.
The flight went down in the dark just minutes after takeoff, with no radio message from the pilot to indicate distress, according to the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization.
It was carrying 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans and three Britons.
With tensions high between the United States and Iran, the disaster unfolded just hours after Tehran launched ballistic missiles towards bases in Iraq housing US troops.
Iran retaliated for the January 3 US drone strike in Baghdad that killed a top Iranian general.
The Iranian government said the missile strike scenario made "no sense," however, arguing that several internal and international flights had been sharing approximately the same airspace.
Tehran later asked Ottawa to share its information with Iranian investigators.
'Canadians want answers'
Trudeau said Canada was working with allies to ensure a credible probe.
"The families of the victims want answers, Canadians want answers, I want answers," he said.
"This government will not rest until we get that."
Canada's transportation safety board on Thursday said it had accepted an invitation from Iran's civil aviation authority to join the inquiry.
Britain's Johnson called Thursday for a full, transparent investigation.
Canada and Ukraine are grieving together. Earlier today, I spoke with President @ZelenskyyUa about the tragic plane crash in Iran and the need for a thorough investigation. More on our call here: https://t.co/29B90KdP92 — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 10, 2020
'I have my suspicions'
Trump would not directly confirm what US intelligence was saying privately.
"I have my suspicions," Trump said, adding that "somebody could have made a mistake."
But unnamed officials told US media that satellite, radar and electronic data indicated Tehran's air defense units downed the aircraft.
ABC News reported that an unnamed official said it was "highly likely" the plane was brought down by two SAMs.
Black boxes
Ukraine called for United Nations support for a broad investigation, and sent 45 crash investigators to Tehran to take part in the inquiry led by Iranian authorities.
01:30
Investigators are pursuing several possibilities, including engine failure, a missile strike or an act of terror.
"If any country has information that can help conduct a transparent and objective investigation into the tragedy, we are ready to receive it and cooperate in further verification," the Ukraine presidency said in an English-language statement.
Ali Abedzadeh, head of Iran's civil aviation organization and deputy transport minister, said Iran and Ukraine were "downloading information" from the aircraft's black boxes retrieved from the crash site.
"But if more specialized work is required to extract and analyze the data, we can do it in France or another country," he said.
Analysts were examining photographs posted online of the wreckage and a private video apparently taken of the flight when it was struck for evidence that it was downed by a missile.
"I think this has a very good possibility of being accurate," John Goglia, a former US aviation safety expert on the National Transportation Safety Board, said of the missile theory.
"Airplanes that have just taken off and have made a climb to 8,000 feet, that's entering the safest period of time in the flight. So even an engine failure at that altitude should not cause the type of event we've just observed," he told AFP.
The Ukrainian airline crash brought back memories of another tragedy, involving a US military error.
In 1988, an Iran Air flight was mistakenly shot down over the Gulf by a surface-to-air missile fired from the US warship USS Vincennes.
All 290 people aboard, most of them Iranians, were killed.
Canadians held candlelight vigils in several cities on Thursday to remember 63 citizens killed in a plane crash in Iran, in what Canada's prime minister called a "tragedy that shocked the world."
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-09--'I was scared to stay in Japan', Carlos Ghosn tells FRANCE 24

' I was scared to stay in Japan ' , Carlos Ghosn tells FRANCE 24 Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn @ @ @ @ @ escaped from Japan , where he was awaiting trial on financial misconduct charges , and @ @ @ @ @ before the New Year .
Speaking publicly for the first time since that latest twist @ @ @ @ @ ex-auto tycoon lashed out at Japan 's legal system on Wednesday , saying he 'd @ @ @ @ @ by prosecutors .
On Thursday , Ghosn sat down for an interview with FRANCE 24 @ @ @ @ @ I left Japan because I arrived at the conclusion that I couldn ’ t have @ @ @ @ @ ” Ghosn said , criticising what he described as Japan ’ s “ hostage ” @ @ @ @ @ the video player above to watch his interview with FRANCE 24 .

'I was scared to stay in Japan,' Carlos Ghosn tells FRANCE 24
12:30 Carlos GHOSN © FRANCE 24
Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn shocked the world when he escaped from Japan, where he was awaiting trial on financial misconduct charges, and popped up in Lebanon just before the New Year. Speaking publicly for the first time since that latest twist in his saga, the ex-auto tycoon lashed out at Japan's legal system on Wednesday, saying he'd been treated "brutally" by prosecutors. On Thursday, Ghosn sat down for an interview with FRANCE 24's Marc Perelman.


france24--2020-01-09--US House of Representatives votes to limit Trump's ability to declare war on Iran

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) delivers remarks on the status of the House impeachment inquiry into US President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington , DC , December 5 , 2019 .
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution on Thursday to stop President Donald Trump from further military action against Iran , rebuking the president days after he ordered a drone strike that killed a top Iranian commander and raised fears of war .
The Democratic-controlled House voted 224 to 194 , mostly along party lines , sending the war powers resolution to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deep divide in Congress over Trump 's Iran policy and how much of a say lawmakers should have over the use of the military .
Democrats accused Trump of acting recklessly and backed the resolution , while Trump 's fellow Republicans , who rarely vote against the president , opposed it .
`` The president has to make the case first , first , not after he launches an ill-advised attack and then comes up with a reason why it was necessary and why it was legal , '' said Representative Eliot Engel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee .
Republicans said Democrats endangered the country by trying to pass a resolution they characterized as an empty political gesture , at the start of a U.S. general election year .
`` Instead of supporting the president , my Democrat colleagues are dividing Americans at a critical time , '' said Representative Mike McCaul , ranking Republican on the foreign affairs panel .
He said the resolution would `` tie the president 's hands . ''
The fate of the resolution is uncertain in the Senate .
Republicans hold 53 of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the president .
But at least two Republican senators - Rand Paul and Mike Lee - have expressed support for the measure .
If passed by the House and Senate , the measure does not need Trump 's signature to go into effect , although Democrats and Republicans disagreed over whether it was binding .
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi faulted the White House for failing to consult Congress before the drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad last week .
`` Last week , in our view , the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , disproportionate attack against Iran , which endangered Americans , '' Pelosi told a news conference .
U.S. officials said on Thursday the government believes Iran accidentally shot down a Ukrainian airliner shortly after Iran fired missiles at two U.S. military bases in Iraq , while Iran was on high alert .
Trump called Pelosi `` Crazy '' on Twitter , and told reporters he did not need Congress ' approval for military action against Iran .
`` I do n't have to and you should n't have to , because you have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sometimes .
Sometimes you have to move very , very quickly , '' he said .
The War Powers Act , which was passed in 1973 as Congress reacted to secret bombings during the bitterly divisive Vietnam War , says the House and Senate can pass a resolution to force the withdrawal of troops engaged in a foreign conflict without Congress ' consent .
It was not immediately clear what would follow if the resolution passes the Senate .
Legal questions about Congress ' power over the president 's role as commander-in-chief are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , insisted the resolution would have no power over Trump .
He called it a `` meaningless vote '' at his weekly news conference .
Democrats disagreed , noting that the U.S. Constitution gives Congress , not the president , the power to declare war .
The resolution 's passage , they said , would send a strong message that Trump must work with lawmakers on national security .
`` This concurrent resolution is misguided , and its adoption by Congress could undermine the ability of the United States to protect American citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the Statement of Administration Policy said .

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution on Thursday to stop President Donald Trump from further military action against Iran, rebuking the president days after he ordered a drone strike that killed a top Iranian commander and raised fears of war.
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivers remarks on the status of the House impeachment inquiry into US President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, December 5, 2019.
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The Democratic-controlled House voted 224 to 194, mostly along party lines, sending the war powers resolution to the Senate. The partisan vote reflected the deep divide in Congress over Trump's Iran policy and how much of a say lawmakers should have over the use of the military.
Democrats accused Trump of acting recklessly and backed the resolution, while Trump's fellow Republicans, who rarely vote against the president, opposed it.
"The president has to make the case first, first, not after he launches an ill-advised attack and then comes up with a reason why it was necessary and why it was legal," said Representative Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
01:30
Republicans said Democrats endangered the country by trying to pass a resolution they characterized as an empty political gesture, at the start of a U.S. general election year.
"Instead of supporting the president, my Democrat colleagues are dividing Americans at a critical time," said Representative Mike McCaul, ranking Republican on the foreign affairs panel. He said the resolution would "tie the president's hands."
The fate of the resolution is uncertain in the Senate. Republicans hold 53 of the chamber's 100 seats and rarely vote against the president. But at least two Republican senators - Rand Paul and Mike Lee - have expressed support for the measure.
If passed by the House and Senate, the measure does not need Trump's signature to go into effect, although Democrats and Republicans disagreed over whether it was binding.
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi faulted the White House for failing to consult Congress before the drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad last week.
"Last week, in our view, the president - the administration - conducted a provocative, disproportionate attack against Iran, which endangered Americans," Pelosi told a news conference.
U.S. officials said on Thursday the government believes Iran accidentally shot down a Ukrainian airliner shortly after Iran fired missiles at two U.S. military bases in Iraq, while Iran was on high alert.
Trump called Pelosi "Crazy" on Twitter, and told reporters he did not need Congress' approval for military action against Iran. "I don't have to and you shouldn't have to, because you have to be able to make split-second decisions sometimes. Sometimes you have to move very, very quickly," he said.
Hope that all House Republicans will vote against Crazy Nancy Pelosi’s War Powers Resolution. Also, remember her “speed & rush” in getting the Impeachment Hoax voted on & done. Well, she never sent the Articles to the Senate. Just another Democrat fraud. Presidential Harassment! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2020
The War Powers Act, which was passed in 1973 as Congress reacted to secret bombings during the bitterly divisive Vietnam War, says the House and Senate can pass a resolution to force the withdrawal of troops engaged in a foreign conflict without Congress' consent.
It was not immediately clear what would follow if the resolution passes the Senate. Legal questions about Congress' power over the president's role as commander-in-chief are unresolved.
House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, insisted the resolution would have no power over Trump. He called it a "meaningless vote" at his weekly news conference.
Democrats disagreed, noting that the U.S. Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the power to declare war. The resolution's passage, they said, would send a strong message that Trump must work with lawmakers on national security.
The White House opposed the resolution.
"This concurrent resolution is misguided, and its adoption by Congress could undermine the ability of the United States to protect American citizens whom Iran continues to seek to harm," the Statement of Administration Policy said.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-09--‘We won’t give up’: French protesters defiant on day 36 of pension strikes

Hundreds of defiant protesters took to the streets of Paris on Thursday for a fourth day of nationwide demonstrations against the French government ’ s controversial pension reform plans .
They came by bike , by scooter and on foot .
There were train drivers , teachers , doctors and lawyers .
Grey skies and rain showers did little to deter a sea of orange vests from the hardline CGT union , or Yellow Vests ( Gilets Jaunes ) who came to show “ solidarity ” with opponents of the government ’ s pension reform .
As the strikes against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pension overhaul entered their record-breaking 36th day , the protesters ’ resolve showed no sign of waning .
They gathered in their hundreds at Paris ’ s protest central , the Place de la République .
And just after 2pm – to the sound of klaxons , whistles and cheers , the raucous crowd began marching along the Boulevard de Magenta .
A group of drummers from the CGT union made their presence known .
Drivers from the RATP sang songs about solidarity and a group of lawyers cried for Macron to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some let off plumes of pink smoke .
“ Macron is the king of bla bla but the servant of capitalism , ” said one placard .
“ I gave birth at work , I don ’ t want to die at work ” read another .
“ We ’ re not giving up .
We ’ re going right to the end , ” said Grégorie Vassaux , 46 , a nurse , who added that he ’ d been galvanised into attending the protest by Macron ’ s ‘ haughty ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the president vowed to press ahead with the reform .
“ We need to show him that we ’ re here , ” said Vassaux , “ and that we don ’ t want this reform.
” “ It ’ s right that we work – and it ’ s important that we contribute to our country ’ s economy , ” said Vassaux , “ but we have a right to 10-15 years , where we ’ re in more or less good health , where we can enjoy life and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these reforms I will have to work until I ’ m 67.
” The main sticking point of Macron ’ s planned pension reforms includes pushing back the retirement age at which retirees would be eligible for full pensions from 62 to 64 .
Unions say the measure would make millions of people work longer for less .
Other protesters claimed that unifying France ’ s 42 different pension schemes , some of which grant early retirement , into a single , universal points-based system , will widen the gap between rich and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big salary will have a nice retirement , ” said Violaine , 26 , a teacher from outside Paris , “ but those who are poor will stay poor .
It ’ s not fair .
I think it ’ s extremely hypocritical .
The government talks about equality and solidarity but in reality the reform brings neither.
” Violaine admitted the strike was taking a heavy toll on her salary .
She ’ s only been striking on protest days , when unions stage rallies across the country , but she ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ income .
“ We ’ re not partying .
We ’ re not shopping .
We ’ re living on pasta , ” she laughed .
“ But it ’ s worth it , ” she added .
“ It ’ s called having a political conscience.
” Train drivers from the RER B line , which connects the French capital with its international airports , had a kitty to encourage people to support them .
“ We ’ re really touched to the bottom of our hearts by those who contribute to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 46 , a train driver from the RER B line , who said support from friends and family was keeping him afloat .
“ It ’ s not necessarily the wealthy who give to our kitty – it ’ s often students and people who are struggling themselves.
” “ We need to show the government that we won ’ t give up , that we ’ re here in the street and that he [ Macron ] needs to listen to us.
” His words , and a contempt for Macron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 34 , a teacher from Seine Saint-Denis .
“ It ’ s been a month since we ’ ve been protesting , and he ’ s not listening to us .
He needs to listen to the street , ” said Sabrina , for whom going on strike is a “ sacrifice worth making ” .
“ He ’ s a banker .
He just cares about finance and money – that he gives to his rich friends , ” said Marie-Noël , an environmental educator , referring to Macron ’ s past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s destroying the public sector – the education , health , and justice systems.
” Many protesters remained defiant and determined .
Jérôme de Pierre , 43 , a school supervisor , said momentum was building at the school where he worked .
Only two teachers out of 30 were working today , he explained , and twenty-eight were on strike .
“ We ’ re just at the beginning of the mobilisation , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t know if we ’ re at the beginning , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protest movement , ” said Archet .
“ What I do know is that we won ’ t give up – and I ’ m more motivated than ever before .
”

Hundreds of defiant protesters took to the streets of Paris on Thursday for a fourth day of nationwide demonstrations against the French government’s controversial pension reform plans.
Advertising Read more
They came by bike, by scooter and on foot. There were train drivers, teachers, doctors and lawyers. Grey skies and rain showers did little to deter a sea of orange vests from the hardline CGT union, or Yellow Vests (Gilets Jaunes) who came to show “solidarity” with opponents of the government’s pension reform.
As the strikes against French President Emmanuel Macron’s controversial pension overhaul entered their record-breaking 36th day, the protesters’ resolve showed no sign of waning.
They gathered in their hundreds at Paris’s protest central, the Place de la République. And just after 2pm – to the sound of klaxons, whistles and cheers, the raucous crowd began marching along the Boulevard de Magenta.
01:23
A group of drummers from the CGT union made their presence known. Drivers from the RATP sang songs about solidarity and a group of lawyers cried for Macron to “recule” (back off). Some let off plumes of pink smoke.
The hardline CGT union are out in force #manif9janvier pic.twitter.com/4PWeLbzwLr — Charlotte Wilkins (@CharlotWilkins) January 9, 2020
“Macron is the king of bla bla but the servant of capitalism,” said one placard. “I gave birth at work, I don’t want to die at work” read another.
“We’re not giving up. We’re going right to the end,” said Grégorie Vassaux, 46, a nurse, who added that he’d been galvanised into attending the protest by Macron’s ‘haughty” New Year’s Eve address, where the president vowed to press ahead with the reform.
“We need to show him that we’re here,” said Vassaux, “and that we don’t want this reform.”
“It’s right that we work – and it’s important that we contribute to our country’s economy,” said Vassaux, “but we have a right to 10-15 years, where we’re in more or less good health, where we can enjoy life and our kids a bit more. With these reforms I will have to work until I’m 67.”
The main sticking point of Macron’s planned pension reforms includes pushing back the retirement age at which retirees would be eligible for full pensions from 62 to 64. Unions say the measure would make millions of people work longer for less.
A points-based pension system will cost us an arm (and a leg) says this poster on the sidelines of the march pic.twitter.com/dL2DEBNWAO — Charlotte Wilkins (@CharlotWilkins) January 9, 2020
Other protesters claimed that unifying France’s 42 different pension schemes, some of which grant early retirement, into a single, universal points-based system, will widen the gap between rich and poor.
“Those who have a big salary will have a nice retirement,” said Violaine, 26, a teacher from outside Paris, “but those who are poor will stay poor. It’s not fair. I think it’s extremely hypocritical. The government talks about equality and solidarity but in reality the reform brings neither.”
Taking a toll on salaries
Violaine admitted the strike was taking a heavy toll on her salary. She’s only been striking on protest days, when unions stage rallies across the country, but she’s feeling the effects of a lower income.
“We’re not partying. We’re not shopping. We’re living on pasta,” she laughed. “But it’s worth it,” she added. “It’s called having a political conscience.”
Marie Sabrina, 34, a teacher from Seine Saint-Denis, said Macron “needs to listen to the street”. © Charlotte Wilkins, FRANCE 24
Train drivers from the RER B line, which connects the French capital with its international airports, had a kitty to encourage people to support them.
“We’re really touched to the bottom of our hearts by those who contribute to our kitty,” said Fabrice Archet, 46, a train driver from the RER B line, who said support from friends and family was keeping him afloat.
“It’s not necessarily the wealthy who give to our kitty – it’s often students and people who are struggling themselves.”
“We need to show the government that we won’t give up, that we’re here in the street and that he [Macron] needs to listen to us.”
Contempt for Macron
His words, and a contempt for Macron, were echoed by Marie Sabrina, 34, a teacher from Seine Saint-Denis. “It’s been a month since we’ve been protesting, and he’s not listening to us. He needs to listen to the street,” said Sabrina, for whom going on strike is a “sacrifice worth making”.
“He’s a banker. He just cares about finance and money – that he gives to his rich friends,” said Marie-Noël, an environmental educator, referring to Macron’s past as an investment banker. “He’s destroying the public sector – the education, health, and justice systems.”
Many protesters view Macron as remote and regal. Here his tenure is styled as “the restoration of the monarchy”. © Charlotte Wilkins, FRANCE 24
Many protesters remained defiant and determined. Jérôme de Pierre, 43, a school supervisor, said momentum was building at the school where he worked. Only two teachers out of 30 were working today, he explained, and twenty-eight were on strike. “We’re just at the beginning of the mobilisation,” he said.
“I don’t know if we’re at the beginning, the middle or the end of this protest movement,” said Archet. “What I do know is that we won’t give up – and I’m more motivated than ever before.”
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france24--2020-01-09--Northern Ireland publishes draft deal to re-establish government, DUP backs it

Northern Ireland 's Democratic Unionist Party ( DUP ) leader Arlene Foster arrives at a polling station to vote in the general election in Brookeborough , Northern Ireland , December 12 , 2019 .
A draft deal to revive Northern Ireland 's defunct government was published on Thursday , three years to the day since the province 's executive collapsed in acrimony .
The document throws down the gauntlet to the region 's parties ahead of a Monday deadline which will see an election called if no deal is agreed .
`` I think we have a document , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make them think carefully about coming back in , '' British secretary of state for Northern Ireland Julian Smith told broadcaster RTE .
`` The prize , if each of them takes that leap , is that they can all take responsibility for the first period of this new decade to move things on . ''
Smith said he had written to the speaker of the Belfast Assembly at Stormont , asking him to call representatives to return to the chamber Friday and allow the restoration of the executive .
Democratic Unionist Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose party must agree to the deal if an executive is to be formed -- gave tentative backing to the draft .
`` On balance we believe there is a basis upon which the Assembly and Executive can re-established in a fair and balanced way , '' she said in a statement .
`` This is not a perfect deal and there are elements within it which we recognise are the product of long negotiations and represent compromise outcomes .
There will always need to be give and take . ''
Mary Lou @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key party Sinn Fein , said Thursday night they would `` meet tomorrow to fully assess '' the paper , promising to give it `` careful consideration '' .
The devolved government at Stormont collapsed after a financial scandal boiled over into wider disputes between the pro-British DUP and republican party Sinn Fein .
Under the terms of a 1998 peace accord which brought stability to the region the two parties must share power .
Since Sinn Fein pulled out of the executive in January 2017 the territory has been managed by its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Negotiations to revive Stormont have been snagged on disagreements over the provision for Irish language in the province and a controversial mechanism which gave minority movements the power to veto legislation .
But in recent weeks pressure to resolve the disputes has grown .
Nurses have taken strike action over pay and unsafe levels of staffing -- issues which can not be remedied without an executive .
And Smith has said an election will be called if the executive is not reformed by Monday as legislation allowing the civil service to run the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was released jointly by Smith and Ireland 's foreign minister Simon Coveney , reflecting the Republic 's role as co-guarantor of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which ended the region 's 30-year conflict known as `` The Troubles '' .
`` There is no need , and no public patience , for more process and more discussions , '' Coveney said in a statement .
`` It is time for political leadership and a collective commitment to making politics work for people . ''

A draft deal to revive Northern Ireland's defunct government was published on Thursday, three years to the day since the province's executive collapsed in acrimony.
Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster arrives at a polling station to vote in the general election in Brookeborough, Northern Ireland, December 12, 2019.
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The document throws down the gauntlet to the region's parties ahead of a Monday deadline which will see an election called if no deal is agreed.
"I think we have a document, which hopefully for all of them, will make them think carefully about coming back in," British secretary of state for Northern Ireland Julian Smith told broadcaster RTE.
"The prize, if each of them takes that leap, is that they can all take responsibility for the first period of this new decade to move things on."
Smith said he had written to the speaker of the Belfast Assembly at Stormont, asking him to call representatives to return to the chamber Friday and allow the restoration of the executive.
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster -- whose party must agree to the deal if an executive is to be formed -- gave tentative backing to the draft.
"On balance we believe there is a basis upon which the Assembly and Executive can re-established in a fair and balanced way," she said in a statement.
"This is not a perfect deal and there are elements within it which we recognise are the product of long negotiations and represent compromise outcomes. There will always need to be give and take."
Mary Lou McDonald, the leader of the second key party Sinn Fein, said Thursday night they would "meet tomorrow to fully assess" the paper, promising to give it "careful consideration".
The devolved government at Stormont collapsed after a financial scandal boiled over into wider disputes between the pro-British DUP and republican party Sinn Fein.
Under the terms of a 1998 peace accord which brought stability to the region the two parties must share power.
Since Sinn Fein pulled out of the executive in January 2017 the territory has been managed by its civil service, without ministerial direction.
Negotiations to revive Stormont have been snagged on disagreements over the provision for Irish language in the province and a controversial mechanism which gave minority movements the power to veto legislation.
But in recent weeks pressure to resolve the disputes has grown.
Nurses have taken strike action over pay and unsafe levels of staffing -- issues which cannot be remedied without an executive.
And Smith has said an election will be called if the executive is not reformed by Monday as legislation allowing the civil service to run the region will expire.
The draft deal was released jointly by Smith and Ireland's foreign minister Simon Coveney, reflecting the Republic's role as co-guarantor of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which ended the region's 30-year conflict known as "The Troubles".
"There is no need, and no public patience, for more process and more discussions," Coveney said in a statement.
"It is time for political leadership and a collective commitment to making politics work for people."
(AFP)
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france24--2020-01-09--UK's House of Commons gives final approval for Brexit deal

A video grab from footage broadcast by the UK Parliament 's Parliamentary Recording Unit shows Britain 's Prime Minister Boris Johnson ( C ) reacting after his Government won the vote on the third reading of the EU ( Withdrawal Agreement ) Bill , in the House of Commons in London on January 9 , 2020 .
Britain ’ s parliament gave final approval to Brexit on Thursday , paving the way for the country 's departure from the European Union on January 31 , and ending years of arguments that toppled two governments and divided a nation .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MPs ratified Prime Minister Boris Johnson ’ s divorce deal with Brussels 330 votes to 231 , drawing a line under an extraordinary era of political drama and chaos .
For much of the time since the 2016 Brexit referendum , lawmakers have been at each others ’ throats over how , when or even if Britain should leave its closest trading partners after nearly 50 years .
Some viewed Brexit with horror , fearing that it stripped them of their European identities and turned Britain into an insular , less important nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viewing it as a chance to “ take back control ” from officials in Brussels and see Britain regain some of its past might .
Businesses and governments in Europe , puzzled by Britain ’ s struggles over what they viewed as a self-inflicted wound , hoped that Brexit could still somehow be undone .
But Johnson ’ s comprehensive victory in last month ’ s general election brought an abrupt end to the turmoil , giving his Conservatives a parliamentary majority with which to push it through .
MPs gave their initial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before Christmas , and the government set aside just three days this week for detailed scrutiny of the complex text .
But few MPs even bothered to turn up on Tuesday and Wednesday , with both sessions ending early , while the government easily saw off opposition attempts to amend the text .
The momentous day on which Johnson effectively gets permission to abandon the European integration project was all but ignored in Thursday ’ s media .
Instead , it became a footnote to Prince Harry and his wife Meghan ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ christened “ Megxit ” and shaping up to be equally complicated and divisive .
“ We will be leaving the EU on January 31 .
We will have delivered on the PM ’ s commitment to get Brexit done , ” a government spokesman said , echoing Johnson ’ s election mantra .
Britain ’ s main opposition Labour party , bruised by its worst beating at the polls since 1935 , voted against Brexit on Thursday knowing the battle had been lost .
We “ may not win many votes in parliament @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the moral argument ” , said Labour ’ s Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer , a potential successor to Jeremy Corbyn as party leader .
“ Whatever ( Johnson ) says about the wider issues , he must know the government have got this wrong.
” The Brexit bill must still be passed by the unelected House of Lords and the European Parliament , which is seen as a formality .
All eyes are now on another major challenge : the negotiation of a new relationship between Britain and the remaining 27 EU nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest single market .
The Brexit deal covers separation issues such as EU citizens ’ rights and Britain ’ s financial settlement , and sets out an 11-month transition period in which to agree a wider partnership .
Brussels warns the current deadline of December 31 this year is extremely tight , and has given London the option to ask for more time .
But Johnson insists there will be no extension of the transition period , saying that Britain must be free of EU rules as soon as possible .
Ahead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it would be “ basically impossible ” to agree everything within London ’ s timeframe .
“ We will have to prioritise , ” she said in a speech to the London School of Economics university , warning of “ tough talks ahead ” .
In response , Johnson ’ s office indicated that it could accept a partial trade deal .
London did not want the EU ’ s long-standing policy that “ nothing is agreed until everything is agreed ” —intended to stop one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like—to define the coming negotiations , a spokesman said .
“ We are very clear we want to get on in terms of negotiating a deal , ” he said .

Britain’s parliament gave final approval to Brexit on Thursday, paving the way for the country's departure from the European Union on January 31, and ending years of arguments that toppled two governments and divided a nation.
A video grab from footage broadcast by the UK Parliament's Parliamentary Recording Unit shows Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson (C) reacting after his Government won the vote on the third reading of the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill, in the House of Commons in London on January 9, 2020.
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The House of Commons erupted in cheers after MPs ratified Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s divorce deal with Brussels 330 votes to 231, drawing a line under an extraordinary era of political drama and chaos.
For much of the time since the 2016 Brexit referendum, lawmakers have been at each others’ throats over how, when or even if Britain should leave its closest trading partners after nearly 50 years.
Some viewed Brexit with horror, fearing that it stripped them of their European identities and turned Britain into an insular, less important nation.
Others embraced it with fervour, viewing it as a chance to “take back control” from officials in Brussels and see Britain regain some of its past might.
Businesses and governments in Europe, puzzled by Britain’s struggles over what they viewed as a self-inflicted wound, hoped that Brexit could still somehow be undone.
But Johnson’s comprehensive victory in last month’s general election brought an abrupt end to the turmoil, giving his Conservatives a parliamentary majority with which to push it through.
MPs gave their initial blessing to the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill before Christmas, and the government set aside just three days this week for detailed scrutiny of the complex text.
But few MPs even bothered to turn up on Tuesday and Wednesday, with both sessions ending early, while the government easily saw off opposition attempts to amend the text.
MPs have voted for the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill at third reading, by 330 votes to 231.
This now moves the Bill on to the House of Lords to be scrutinised next week. — UK House of Commons (@HouseofCommons) January 9, 2020
The momentous day on which Johnson effectively gets permission to abandon the European integration project was all but ignored in Thursday’s media.
Instead, it became a footnote to Prince Harry and his wife Meghan’s decision to quit royal front-line duties -- christened “Megxit” and shaping up to be equally complicated and divisive.
“We will be leaving the EU on January 31. We will have delivered on the PM’s commitment to get Brexit done,” a government spokesman said, echoing Johnson’s election mantra.
Britain’s main opposition Labour party, bruised by its worst beating at the polls since 1935, voted against Brexit on Thursday knowing the battle had been lost.
We “may not win many votes in parliament just now, but we can win the moral argument”, said Labour’s Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer, a potential successor to Jeremy Corbyn as party leader.
“Whatever (Johnson) says about the wider issues, he must know the government have got this wrong.”
The Brexit bill must still be passed by the unelected House of Lords and the European Parliament, which is seen as a formality.
Turning to trade
All eyes are now on another major challenge: the negotiation of a new relationship between Britain and the remaining 27 EU nations, which form the world’s largest single market.
The Brexit deal covers separation issues such as EU citizens’ rights and Britain’s financial settlement, and sets out an 11-month transition period in which to agree a wider partnership.
Brussels warns the current deadline of December 31 this year is extremely tight, and has given London the option to ask for more time.
But Johnson insists there will be no extension of the transition period, saying that Britain must be free of EU rules as soon as possible.
Ahead of talks with Johnson on Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it would be “basically impossible” to agree everything within London’s timeframe.
“We will have to prioritise,” she said in a speech to the London School of Economics university, warning of “tough talks ahead”.
In response, Johnson’s office indicated that it could accept a partial trade deal.
London did not want the EU’s long-standing policy that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”—intended to stop one side cherry-picking bits of a deal they like—to define the coming negotiations, a spokesman said.
“We are very clear we want to get on in terms of negotiating a deal,” he said.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-01-09--Niger says 25 soldiers killed in latest attack blamed on jihadist militants

A Nigerien security agent participates in a simulated raid on a militant camp during the U.S. sponsored Flintlock exercises in Ouallam , Niger April 18 , 2018 .
Picture taken April 18 , 2018 .
Suspected Islamist militants killed 25 soldiers and wounded six others in an attack on an army post in west Niger near its border with Mali on Thursday , the government said in a statement .
It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the attack on the post at Chinagodrar , about 130 miles ( 209 km ) north of the capital Niamey , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the attack coincides with a campaign by Islamist groups connected to al Qaeda and the Islamic State group to force the Nigerien army back from its western frontier with Mali where government control of the rural centre and north has all but evaporated because of the rise of jihadists .
Despite efforts by international forces to stop them , attacks have risen fourfold this year in Niger , killing nearly 400 people , according to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project , a non-profit research organization .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed 71 soldiers at another military outpost about 150 km to the west of Chinagodrar , the biggest on the Niger military in living memory .
Security has deteriorated this year across the Sahel , a semi-arid strip of land beneath the Sahara , amid jihadist attacks and deadly ethnic reprisals between rival farming and herding communities .
The region has been in crisis since 2012 when ethnic Tuareg rebels and loosely-aligned jihadists seized the northern two-thirds of Mali , forcing France to intervene the following year to beat them back .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ range of influence .

Suspected Islamist militants killed 25 soldiers and wounded six others in an attack on an army post in west Niger near its border with Mali on Thursday, the government said in a statement.
A Nigerien security agent participates in a simulated raid on a militant camp during the U.S. sponsored Flintlock exercises in Ouallam, Niger April 18, 2018. Picture taken April 18, 2018.
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It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the attack on the post at Chinagodrar, about 130 miles (209 km) north of the capital Niamey, in which 63 assailants were also killed.
But the attack coincides with a campaign by Islamist groups connected to al Qaeda and the Islamic State group to force the Nigerien army back from its western frontier with Mali where government control of the rural centre and north has all but evaporated because of the rise of jihadists.
Despite efforts by international forces to stop them, attacks have risen fourfold this year in Niger, killing nearly 400 people, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, a non-profit research organization.
This included a raid last month that killed 71 soldiers at another military outpost about 150 km to the west of Chinagodrar, the biggest on the Niger military in living memory.
Security has deteriorated this year across the Sahel, a semi-arid strip of land beneath the Sahara, amid jihadist attacks and deadly ethnic reprisals between rival farming and herding communities.
The region has been in crisis since 2012 when ethnic Tuareg rebels and loosely-aligned jihadists seized the northern two-thirds of Mali, forcing France to intervene the following year to beat them back. The jihadists have since regrouped and expanded their range of influence.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-09--French architects want Notre-Dame Cathedral roof rebuilt in wood

French architects want the roof of the fire-ravaged Notre-Dame Cathedral to be rebuilt in wood and not in metal or concrete .
One of the heads of the country ’ s biggest architects ’ body said reconstructing the roof in anything other than the original wood would be a mistake .
The intervention by Eric Wirth of the Guild of French Architects comes amid controversy over French President Emmanuel Macron ’ s wish for the spire of the 13th-century monument to be given a “ contemporary ” touch .
“ The most modern and ecological material today is wood , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as being more fire-resistant than the alternatives , also traps carbon , he insisted .
His comments come after the army general put in charge of the restoration , Jean-Louis Georgelin , dismissed reports that the massive roof would be redone in oak as nothing more than “ lobbying ” by the wood industry .
“ There will be a study , and all possible options will be examined , ” he said .
But Wirth took him to task , telling French MPs at a parliamentary hearing that “ talking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not honour the edifice.
” Price was not an issue , he argued , “ the money is there ” .
So far pledges totalling 922 million euros ( over $ 1 billion ) have been received , ranging from a single euro offered by an American child to 200 million euros by French luxury goods billionaire Bernard Arnault .
Wirth said a wooden roof like the original would also guarantee the structural integrity of the cathedral , which is still threatened by the risk of collapse nine months after the devastating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been there for 800 years .
Had it been built in concrete or steel it would not still be there , ” he added .
“ Even with all the ( chemical ) protection treatments , given the intensity of the blaze ... the steel would have held for half an hour and then it would have twisted , pulling on the walls and everything would have collapsed .
“ We have to be sceptical of seemingly brilliant solutions ” which involve metal or concrete rafters , Wirth warned , which vaunt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Tradition vs modernity : Debate over future Notre-Dame spire sparks controversy Gothic cathedrals like Notre-Dame “ stand up structurally because there is a large mass on the vaulted ceiling ... they only work because the roof is heavy.
” What is more , “ we are lucky to have all the information we need to rebuild an identical roof already there digitally , ” Wirth said .
However , Wirth warned that rebuilding the roof may take longer than the five-year target set by Macron .
He said it was useful as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .

French architects want the roof of the fire-ravaged Notre-Dame Cathedral to be rebuilt in wood and not in metal or concrete.
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One of the heads of the country’s biggest architects’ body said reconstructing the roof in anything other than the original wood would be a mistake.
The intervention by Eric Wirth of the Guild of French Architects comes amid controversy over French President Emmanuel Macron’s wish for the spire of the 13th-century monument to be given a “contemporary” touch.
“The most modern and ecological material today is wood,” Wirth said Wednesday, which, as well as being more fire-resistant than the alternatives, also traps carbon, he insisted.
His comments come after the army general put in charge of the restoration, Jean-Louis Georgelin, dismissed reports that the massive roof would be redone in oak as nothing more than “lobbying” by the wood industry.
“There will be a study, and all possible options will be examined,” he said.
But Wirth took him to task, telling French MPs at a parliamentary hearing that “talking about lobbying on a subject like this does not honour the edifice.”
Price was not an issue, he argued, “the money is there”.
Beware ‘brilliant solutions’
So far pledges totalling 922 million euros (over $1 billion) have been received, ranging from a single euro offered by an American child to 200 million euros by French luxury goods billionaire Bernard Arnault.
💪 Depuis lundi, la plus grande grue d’Europe créée pour le chantier de #NotreDame est à pied d’œuvre pour enlever les 200 à 300 tonnes de débris qui sont encore sur les voûtes.
© Aladin Djebara/Group UPERIO pic.twitter.com/jk0zIhXe8r — Fondation du patrimoine (@fond_patrimoine) January 9, 2020
Wirth said a wooden roof like the original would also guarantee the structural integrity of the cathedral, which is still threatened by the risk of collapse nine months after the devastating fire last April.
“The cathedral has been there for 800 years. Had it been built in concrete or steel it would not still be there,” he added.
“Even with all the (chemical) protection treatments, given the intensity of the blaze... the steel would have held for half an hour and then it would have twisted, pulling on the walls and everything would have collapsed.
“We have to be sceptical of seemingly brilliant solutions” which involve metal or concrete rafters, Wirth warned, which vaunt their lightness.
>> Read more: Tradition vs modernity: Debate over future Notre-Dame spire sparks controversy
Gothic cathedrals like Notre-Dame “stand up structurally because there is a large mass on the vaulted ceiling... they only work because the roof is heavy.”
What is more, “we are lucky to have all the information we need to rebuild an identical roof already there digitally,” Wirth said.
However, Wirth warned that rebuilding the roof may take longer than the five-year target set by Macron.
He said it was useful as an “objective but not an imperative”.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-01-09--Why are Chinese and Hong Kong visitors fighting over crosses in Lithuania?

How did the Hill of the Crosses in Lithuania , a memorial to those who resisted the Soviet occupation , become an unlikely battleground for supporters and opponents of the Hong Kong protests ?
A surprising video went viral in early January , garnering more than 400,000 views on Twitter .
It shows a Chinese tourist standing on a path and looking at a bunch of wooden crosses .
She picks up one small wooden cross from the ground and reads the words written in Chinese on it .
The inscription reads : “ Hongkongers , liberate Hong Kong !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ century ” .
The young woman laughs as she throws the cross away .
“ Our country is great !
” says a second woman , who is filming .
The woman in the video first posted it to Instagram last November along with the caption : “ Hong Kong wants independence ?
You must be dreaming !
Our country is great !
Long live China !
” The video didn ’ t go viral until it was posted on Reddit in late December .
Lots of people found the woman ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insulting comments ( mostly in Chinese ) on the original post .
The video was originally posted to Instagram in November 2019 .
It has since garnered more than 80,000 views .
This video went viral after being shared on Reddit .
Religion was banned during the Soviet occupation of Lithuania , so many people there see desecrating or vandalizing a cross as both an insult to a sacred place of worship and an insult to the country ’ s past .
The Hill of Crosses , which is near the town of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historic site honouring peaceful resistance to occupation .
Crosses inscribed with messages about freedom started appearing on the hill after 1944 , when Lithuania was retaken by the USSR after the Nazi occupation .
Soviet authorities made several unsuccessful attempts to destroy the site .
The Hill of Crosses is extremely important to Lithuanians .
People make religious pilgrimages there but they also see it as a shrine to freedom of speech .
Anyone can buy a cross there , write whatever message they want on it and place it in the ground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , quite a few Lithuanians were angry .
One person posted on Reddit that she had placed a cross with a pro-Hong Kong message at the Hill of Crosses to replace the cross that was thrown away in the video .
The post was called “ Your cross is back on the Hill of Crosses.
” Two days after the video was shared , a Lithuanian social media user said that he had gone to the site to replace the cross that was thrown away in the video .
In his Reddit post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay homage to the pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong .
Even Lithuanian authorities chimed in on the debate about the video , saying that throwing away a cross was shameful and amounted to vandalism .
Mantas Adomėnas , a member of the Lithuanian parliament , posted a message expressing his support for the Hong Kong protestors on Facebook .
This isn ’ t the first time that someone has vandalised one of the crosses on the hill .
Another Facebook post -- first published in late September -- also started circulating this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman who says that she used lipstick and eyeliner to cross out the messages of support for Hong Kong protestors that were written on the crosses .
The photo below shows how Chinese visitors to the site actually wrote on a cross that had been placed by Lithuanians to honour their ancestors .
The Chinese writing translates to , “ I wish that the cockroaches [ the nickname given to the pro-democracy protesters by supporters of Beijing ] will soon rest in peace .
I want Hong Kong to find peace quickly !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the country with some Lithuanians wondering if crosses with political messages should be allowed .
The Lithuanian police have launched an investigation in an attempt to punish those behind the vandalism .
Article by Marie Genries ( mariegnrs ) .

LITHUANIA
Chinese nationals vandalized these crosses, which were adorned with messages of support for Hong Kong protesters.
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How did the Hill of the Crosses in Lithuania, a memorial to those who resisted the Soviet occupation, become an unlikely battleground for supporters and opponents of the Hong Kong protests?
A surprising video went viral in early January, garnering more than 400,000 views on Twitter. It shows a Chinese tourist standing on a path and looking at a bunch of wooden crosses. She picks up one small wooden cross from the ground and reads the words written in Chinese on it.
The inscription reads: “Hongkongers, liberate Hong Kong! It’s the revolution of our century”. The young woman laughs as she throws the cross away.
“Our country is great!” says a second woman, who is filming.
Some Chinese vandalized crosses placed by Hong Kongers on Hill of Crosses in #Lithuania while laughing:
"It's written 'Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our time'"
"Just throw it there. Get lost!"
"We've done a good thing today. Our Motherland is great!"pic.twitter.com/c4LTmo2BWw W. B. Yeats (@WBYeats1865) December 28, 2019
The woman in the video first posted it to Instagram last November along with the caption: “Hong Kong wants independence? You must be dreaming! Our country is great! Long live China!”
The video didn’t go viral until it was posted on Reddit in late December. Lots of people found the woman’s actions offensive and quite a few left insulting comments (mostly in Chinese) on the original post.
The video was originally posted to Instagram in November 2019. It has since garnered more than 80,000 views.
This video went viral after being shared on Reddit.
Religion was banned during the Soviet occupation of Lithuania, so many people there see desecrating or vandalizing a cross as both an insult to a sacred place of worship and an insult to the country’s past.
The Hill of Crosses, which is near the town of Šiauliai in northern Lithuania, is a historic site honouring peaceful resistance to occupation. Crosses inscribed with messages about freedom started appearing on the hill after 1944, when Lithuania was retaken by the USSR after the Nazi occupation. Soviet authorities made several unsuccessful attempts to destroy the site.
The Hill of Crosses is extremely important to Lithuanians. People make religious pilgrimages there but they also see it as a shrine to freedom of speech. Anyone can buy a cross there, write whatever message they want on it and place it in the ground.
After the video started circulating online, quite a few Lithuanians were angry. One person posted on Reddit that she had placed a cross with a pro-Hong Kong message at the Hill of Crosses to replace the cross that was thrown away in the video. The post was called “Your cross is back on the Hill of Crosses.”
Two days after the video was shared, a Lithuanian social media user said that he had gone to the site to replace the cross that was thrown away in the video. In his Reddit post, he says that he wanted to pay homage to the pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.
Even Lithuanian authorities chimed in on the debate about the video, saying that throwing away a cross was shameful and amounted to vandalism. Mantas Adomėnas, a member of the Lithuanian parliament, posted a message expressing his support for the Hong Kong protestors on Facebook.
This isn’t the first time that someone has vandalised one of the crosses on the hill. Another Facebook post -- first published in late September -- also started circulating this week. The footage is of a Chinese woman who says that she used lipstick and eyeliner to cross out the messages of support for Hong Kong protestors that were written on the crosses.
The photo below shows how Chinese visitors to the site actually wrote on a cross that had been placed by Lithuanians to honour their ancestors. The Chinese writing translates to, “I wish that the cockroaches [the nickname given to the pro-democracy protesters by supporters of Beijing] will soon rest in peace. I want Hong Kong to find peace quickly!”
This video has sparked a debate in the country with some Lithuanians wondering if crosses with political messages should be allowed. The Lithuanian police have launched an investigation in an attempt to punish those behind the vandalism.
Article by Marie Genries (mariegnrs).


france24--2020-01-09--French pension reform strikes enter sixth week with nationwide day of protest

French trade unions on Thursday brought tens of thousands of demonstrators onto the streets in a make-or-break push to force President Emmanuel Macron to abandon his planned pension reform .
• France ’ s main unions called for Paris métro workers , state railway workers , power utility workers , dock workers , health workers , teachers , lawyers and pilots to participate in Thursday ’ s protests .
• The interior ministry said 452,000 people nationwide answered the union leaders ’ protest call , a significant decline since the first big day of action on Dec. 5 , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two out of 14 Paris métro lines were running as normal , with reduced service on all other lines , buses , trams and RER commuter trains .
• France 's national railway service , SNCF , reduced departures for five categories of trains .
• Schools were shut and power generation by EDF , the country 's main energy utility , was cut by about 10 % .
• The hardline CGT union called for anti-pension reform mobilisations to continue on Friday and Saturday .
Follow our live blog below for all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Live Blog
French pension reform strikes enter sixth week with nationwide day of protest
French trade unions on Thursday brought tens of thousands of demonstrators onto the streets in a make-or-break push to force President Emmanuel Macron to abandon his planned pension reform.
An SNCF railway worker on strike holds CGT labour union flags at the Nice railway station in France during the 36th consecutive day of strikes against the French government's pension reform plans on January 9, 2020. © Eric Gaillard, REUTERS
Advertising Read more France’s main unions called for Paris métro workers, state railway workers, power utility workers, dock workers, health workers, teachers, lawyers and pilots to participate in Thursday’s protests.
The interior ministry said 452,000 people nationwide answered the union leaders’ protest call, a significant decline since the first big day of action on Dec. 5, which brought 806,000 onto the streets
Just two out of 14 Paris métro lines were running as normal, with reduced service on all other lines, buses, trams and RER commuter trains.
France's national railway service, SNCF, reduced departures for five categories of trains.
Schools were shut and power generation by EDF, the country's main energy utility, was cut by about 10%.
The hardline CGT union called for anti-pension reform mobilisations to continue on Friday and Saturday. Follow our live blog below for all the day's developments across the country. (FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-09--Why are the French so pessimistic?

Why are the French so pessimistic?

Why are the French so pessimistic ?
French people have a reputation for being world champions when it comes to @ @ @ @ @ , polls confirm that the French tend to see the glass half empty .
Some @ @ @ @ @ pessimistic than they should be , given the relatively high standard of living in France @ @ @ @ @ that French people are so gloomy about and where does this grim outlook come from @ @ @ @ @ look .

Why are the French so pessimistic?
05:32 FRENCH CONNECTIONS © FRANCE 24
French people have a reputation for being world champions when it comes to pessimism. Year after year, polls confirm that the French tend to see the glass half empty. Some argue that they're more pessimistic than they should be, given the relatively high standard of living in France. So what is it that French people are so gloomy about and where does this grim outlook come from? We take a closer look.


france24--2020-01-10--French, US investigators to help probe plane likely downed by Iranian missile

French and US aviation investigators on Friday said they will be involved in the investigation into a Ukrainian jetliner that crashed earlier this week at a time of soaring tensions between Washington and Tehran , killing all 176 people on board .
France ’ s BEA air accident agency said it had been “ notified of the event by Iran and we have designated an accredited representative to the safety investigation ” .
The announcement came shortly after French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said France was ready to contribute its expertise if necessary to the crash probe .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , citing Canadian and other intelligence agencies , said the plane appeared to have been unintentionally hit by an Iranian missile .
The crash occurred hours after Iran targeted US forces in Iraq to avenge the killing of its top general , Qassem Soleimani in a US airstrike .
Iran has however denied Trudeau and other Western leader ’ s statements that one of its missiles hit the Ukrainian passenger jet .
“ What is obvious for us , and what we can say with certainty , is that no missile hit the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Iran 's national aviation department , told a press conference in Tehran Friday .
“ If they are really sure , they should come and show their findings to the world '' in accordance with international standards , he added .
The Ukrainian airliner bound for Kiev crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran ’ s Imam Khomeini Airport , killing all 176 passengers , including Iranian , Ukrainian , Canadian , Afghan and other nationals on board .
Iran initially said it would not send the black boxes to the US , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relations for four decades .
But following Trudeau ’ s disclosure of a missile strike likely downing the aircraft , Iran on Friday invited Boeing and US investigators to participate in the probe .
The state-run IRNA news agency quoted a Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying Iran `` has invited both Ukraine and the Boeing company to participate in the investigations ” .
The spokesman , Abbas Mousavi , said it will also welcome experts from other countries whose citizens had died in the crash .
The US National Transportation Safety Board ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran to participate in its investigation in Tehran .
The NTSB said in a statement its Response Operations Center had received formal notification from Iran of Wednesday 's crash .
`` The NTSB has designated an accredited representative to the investigation of the crash , '' the agency said .
A person briefed on the matter said it was unclear what , if anything , its representative would be able to do under US sanctions , Reuters reported .
The US is allowed to take part under global rules since the Boeing 737-800NG @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada , which had dozens of passengers onboard , has also assigned an expert , while a team from Ukraine held discussions in Tehran on Thursday .
Tehran has said it will provide consular facilities and visas for accredited investigators , said Farhad Parvaresh , Iran 's representative at the International Civil Aviation Organization .
Families and friends of the victims of the Ukrainian plane crash have been mourning the loss of their loved ones in Iran , Ukraine and Canada .
Ukraine on Thursday held a national day of mourning .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candle-light vigil Thursday night in Toronto to remember 176 people killed .
At the vigil , people in Toronto – which has a large Iranian community – expressed anger and sadness over the tragedy .
`` Somebody has to answer us back why this happened .
They were innocent people who died , '' said one of those at the ceremony , Yasmin Roshan , 43 .
Roshan , who came with his nine-year-old daughter , said he lost two friends in the crash .
He said he blamed US President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a top Iranian general in Iraq , sending tensions between Washington and Tehran soaring .

French and US aviation investigators on Friday said they will be involved in the investigation into a Ukrainian jetliner that crashed earlier this week at a time of soaring tensions between Washington and Tehran, killing all 176 people on board.
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France’s BEA air accident agency said it had been “notified of the event by Iran and we have designated an accredited representative to the safety investigation”.
The announcement came shortly after French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said France was ready to contribute its expertise if necessary to the crash probe.
On Thursday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, citing Canadian and other intelligence agencies, said the plane appeared to have been unintentionally hit by an Iranian missile. The crash occurred hours after Iran targeted US forces in Iraq to avenge the killing of its top general, Qassem Soleimani in a US airstrike.
01:11
Iran has however denied Trudeau and other Western leader’s statements that one of its missiles hit the Ukrainian passenger jet. “What is obvious for us, and what we can say with certainty, is that no missile hit the plane,” Ali Abedzadeh, head of Iran's national aviation department, told a press conference in Tehran Friday.
“If they are really sure, they should come and show their findings to the world" in accordance with international standards, he added.
The Ukrainian airliner bound for Kiev crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport, killing all 176 passengers, including Iranian, Ukrainian, Canadian, Afghan and other nationals on board.
Iran invites Boeing, US investigators
Iran initially said it would not send the black boxes to the US, with which it has had no diplomatic relations for four decades. But following Trudeau’s disclosure of a missile strike likely downing the aircraft, Iran on Friday invited Boeing and US investigators to participate in the probe.
The state-run IRNA news agency quoted a Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying Iran "has invited both Ukraine and the Boeing company to participate in the investigations”. The spokesman, Abbas Mousavi, said it will also welcome experts from other countries whose citizens had died in the crash.
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has accepted the invitation from Iran to participate in its investigation in Tehran.
The NTSB said in a statement its Response Operations Center had received formal notification from Iran of Wednesday's crash. "The NTSB has designated an accredited representative to the investigation of the crash," the agency said.
A person briefed on the matter said it was unclear what, if anything, its representative would be able to do under US sanctions, Reuters reported. The US is allowed to take part under global rules since the Boeing 737-800NG jet was designed and built there.
Canada, which had dozens of passengers onboard, has also assigned an expert, while a team from Ukraine held discussions in Tehran on Thursday.
Tehran has said it will provide consular facilities and visas for accredited investigators, said Farhad Parvaresh, Iran's representative at the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Candle-light vigils
Families and friends of the victims of the Ukrainian plane crash have been mourning the loss of their loved ones in Iran, Ukraine and Canada.
Ukraine on Thursday held a national day of mourning. In Canada, hundreds of mourners held a candle-light vigil Thursday night in Toronto to remember 176 people killed.
At the vigil, people in Toronto – which has a large Iranian community – expressed anger and sadness over the tragedy.
"Somebody has to answer us back why this happened. They were innocent people who died," said one of those at the ceremony, Yasmin Roshan, 43.
Roshan, who came with his nine-year-old daughter, said he lost two friends in the crash.
He said he blamed US President Donald Trump, who last Friday ordered the killing of a top Iranian general in Iraq, sending tensions between Washington and Tehran soaring.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-10--Iran could have nuclear weapons in one or two years, says France

Iran could have nuclear weapons in one to two years if the country carries on violating the 2015 nuclear accord , French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Friday .
The warning came as EU foreign ministers hold an emergency meeting in Brussels to try to salvage the nuclear deal .
`` If they continue with unravelling the Vienna agreement , then yes , within a fairly short period of time , between one and two years , they could have access to a nuclear weapon , which is not an option '' , Le Drian said on RTL radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( JCPOA ) – commonly called the Iran nuclear deal – was adopted in Vienna , Austria in 2015 between Iran and the P5 + 1 ( five UN Security Council permanent members plus Germany ) .
US President Donald Trump officially withdrew from the agreement in May 2018 .
European Union foreign ministers are holding an emergency meeting Friday to seek ways to guide the US and Iran away from confrontation , knowing that a miscalculation on either side could leave the bloc facing a war and a serious nuclear proliferation crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani last week , sparking Iranian missile strikes targeting US forces at two Iraqi bases .
On Wednesday , Trump called on Britain , France and Germany to join him in withdrawing from the nuclear agreement .
The recent tensions have highlighted Europe ’ s struggle to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal amid tough US economic sanctions on Iran .
With Iraq also caught between the crossfire of Iran and the US , there are growing concerns that the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or even forced out of Iraq , something that the European powers see as crucial to prevent for their own security interests .
`` We need to coordinate and maximise the effect everybody has in trying to de-escalate what the Iranians do , but it 's the same for the Americans .
What 's most worrying is a miscalculation , '' a French diplomatic source told Reuters .
But Iran 's decision on Monday to scrap limits imposed on its nuclear enrichment under the arms control accord has also left the European powers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which says its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes , has already breached many of the restrictions under the deal , intended to increase the amount of time Tehran would need to accumulate enough fissile material for an atomic bomb from two to three months to about a year .
Despite its nuclear announcement , Tehran has said inspectors from the international nuclear watchdog , the IAEA , can continue their inspections , leaving some wiggle room for diplomacy .

Iran could have nuclear weapons in one to two years if the country carries on violating the 2015 nuclear accord, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Friday. The warning came as EU foreign ministers hold an emergency meeting in Brussels to try to salvage the nuclear deal.
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"If they continue with unravelling the Vienna agreement, then yes, within a fairly short period of time, between one and two years, they could have access to a nuclear weapon, which is not an option", Le Drian said on RTL radio.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – commonly called the Iran nuclear deal – was adopted in Vienna, Austria in 2015 between Iran and the P5 + 1 (five UN Security Council permanent members plus Germany). US President Donald Trump officially withdrew from the agreement in May 2018.
European Union foreign ministers are holding an emergency meeting Friday to seek ways to guide the US and Iran away from confrontation, knowing that a miscalculation on either side could leave the bloc facing a war and a serious nuclear proliferation crisis on its doorstep.
The meeting follows the US killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani last week, sparking Iranian missile strikes targeting US forces at two Iraqi bases.
On Wednesday, Trump called on Britain, France and Germany to join him in withdrawing from the nuclear agreement.
The recent tensions have highlighted Europe’s struggle to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal amid tough US economic sanctions on Iran.
Iran says nuclear inspections can continue
With Iraq also caught between the crossfire of Iran and the US, there are growing concerns that the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State (IS) group could be weakened, or even forced out of Iraq, something that the European powers see as crucial to prevent for their own security interests.
"We need to coordinate and maximise the effect everybody has in trying to de-escalate what the Iranians do, but it's the same for the Americans. What's most worrying is a miscalculation," a French diplomatic source told Reuters.
But Iran's decision on Monday to scrap limits imposed on its nuclear enrichment under the arms control accord has also left the European powers in an awkward position.
Iran, which says its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes, has already breached many of the restrictions under the deal, intended to increase the amount of time Tehran would need to accumulate enough fissile material for an atomic bomb from two to three months to about a year.
Despite its nuclear announcement, Tehran has said inspectors from the international nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, can continue their inspections, leaving some wiggle room for diplomacy.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-09--'I was scared to stay in Japan,' Carlos Ghosn tells FRANCE 24

' I was scared to stay in Japan , ' Carlos Ghosn tells FRANCE 24 Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn @ @ @ @ @ escaped from Japan , where he was awaiting trial on financial misconduct charges , and @ @ @ @ @ before the New Year .
Speaking publicly for the first time since that latest twist @ @ @ @ @ ex-auto tycoon lashed out at Japan 's legal system on Wednesday , saying he 'd @ @ @ @ @ by prosecutors .
On Thursday , Ghosn sat down for an interview with FRANCE 24 @ @ @ @ @ I left Japan because I arrived at the conclusion that I couldn ’ t have @ @ @ @ @ ” Ghosn said , criticising what he described as Japan ’ s “ hostage ” @ @ @ @ @ the video player above to watch his interview with FRANCE 24 .


france24--2020-01-09--Trudeau says evidence shows Iranian missile downed Ukraine jet, with UK and US backing claim

A Ukraine airliner that crashed in Iran , killing all 176 people aboard , was likely brought down by an Iranian missile , Canada ’ s prime minister , Justin Trudeau , said on Thursday , citing intelligence from Canadian and other sources .
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday multiple intelligence sources indicate that Iran shot down a Ukrainian airliner after it took off from Tehran , killing all 176 on board , including 63 Canadians .
Trudeau 's comments came as video emerged that appeared to show the moment the airliner was hit .
That and other footage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a catastrophic mistake by Tehran 's air defense batteries in bringing down Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 early Wednesday .
The video , which The New York Times said it verified , shows a fast-moving object rising at an angle into the sky before a bright flash is seen , which dims and then continues moving forward .
Several seconds later an explosion is heard .
Citing information from allies as well as Canada 's own intelligence , Trudeau said the plane appeared to have been hit by an Iranian surface-to-air ( SAM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have been unintentional .
Canadians have questions , and they deserve answers , '' Trudeau told reporters .
He was backed by other Western leaders , including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson who said mounting evidence supported a missile strike , which `` may well have been unintentional . ''
US President Donald Trump indicated that Washington officials believed the Kiev-bound Boeing 737 was struck by one or more Iranian missiles before it ditched and exploded outside Tehran .
The US National Transportation Safety Board late Thursday said it had received formal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would send a representative to join the crash probe .
Iran 's foreign ministry earlier invited the US plane maker Boeing to `` participate '' in the inquiry .
The flight went down in the dark just minutes after takeoff , with no radio message from the pilot to indicate distress , according to the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization .
It was carrying 82 Iranians , 63 Canadians , 11 Ukrainians , 10 Swedes , four Afghans , three Germans and three Britons .
With tensions high between the United States and Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tehran launched ballistic missiles towards bases in Iraq housing US troops .
Iran retaliated for the January 3 US drone strike in Baghdad that killed a top Iranian general .
The Iranian government said the missile strike scenario made `` no sense , '' however , arguing that several internal and international flights had been sharing approximately the same airspace .
Tehran later asked Ottawa to share its information with Iranian investigators .
Trudeau said Canada was working with allies to ensure a credible probe .
`` The families of the victims want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want answers , '' he said .
`` This government will not rest until we get that . ''
Canada 's transportation safety board on Thursday said it had accepted an invitation from Iran 's civil aviation authority to join the inquiry .
Trump would not directly confirm what US intelligence was saying privately .
`` I have my suspicions , '' Trump said , adding that `` somebody could have made a mistake . ''
But unnamed officials told US media that satellite , radar and electronic data indicated Tehran 's air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News reported that an unnamed official said it was `` highly likely '' the plane was brought down by two SAMs .
Ukraine called for United Nations support for a broad investigation , and sent 45 crash investigators to Tehran to take part in the inquiry led by Iranian authorities .
Investigators are pursuing several possibilities , including engine failure , a missile strike or an act of terror .
`` If any country has information that can help conduct a transparent and objective investigation into the tragedy , we are ready to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the Ukraine presidency said in an English-language statement .
Ali Abedzadeh , head of Iran 's civil aviation organization and deputy transport minister , said Iran and Ukraine were `` downloading information '' from the aircraft 's black boxes retrieved from the crash site .
`` But if more specialized work is required to extract and analyze the data , we can do it in France or another country , '' he said .
Analysts were examining photographs posted online of the wreckage and a private video apparently taken of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it was downed by a missile .
`` I think this has a very good possibility of being accurate , '' John Goglia , a former US aviation safety expert on the National Transportation Safety Board , said of the missile theory .
`` Airplanes that have just taken off and have made a climb to 8,000 feet , that 's entering the safest period of time in the flight .
So even an engine failure at that altitude should not cause the type of event we 've just observed , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crash brought back memories of another tragedy , involving a US military error .
In 1988 , an Iran Air flight was mistakenly shot down over the Gulf by a surface-to-air missile fired from the US warship USS Vincennes .
All 290 people aboard , most of them Iranians , were killed .
Canadians held candlelight vigils in several cities on Thursday to remember 63 citizens killed in a plane crash in Iran , in what Canada 's prime minister called a `` tragedy that shocked the world . ''


france24--2020-01-10--Australian authorities advise nearly a quarter million people to 'Get out' ahead of heat wave

Australian authorities urged nearly a quarter of a million people to evacuate their homes on Friday and prepared military backup as soaring temperatures and erratic winds were expected to fan deadly bushfires across the east coast .
Temperatures were expected to shoot well above 40 degrees Celsius ( 104 degrees Fahrenheit ) in several parts of the country on Friday , accompanied by high winds , threatening to inflame fires that have already left thousands of people homeless .
`` If you can get out , you should get out , you should n't be in the remote and forested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crisp , emergency management commissioner for the state of Victoria , told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation .
Emergency alert text messages had been sent to 240,000 people in Victoria state alone , telling them to leave , Crisp said .
People in high-risk regions in New South Wales and South Australia states were also urged to think about leaving , but authorities had not provided numbers .
Twenty-seven people have been killed and thousands subjected to repeat evacuations as monster - and unpredictable - fires have scorched through more than 10.3 million hectares @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an area the size of South Korea .
John White , Mayor of East Gippsland , an area that was ravaged by fires on New Year 's Eve , told Reuters that residents were on the move : `` People are n't taking any chances . ''
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he had given instructions to the military so `` that they are to stand ready to move and support immediately '' as firefighters battle 150 blazes across the country .
Australia 's wildfires have dwarfed other catastrophic blazes around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Brazil and Indonesia still amounts to less than half the burnt area in Australia .
Australia 's government has maintained there is no direct link between climate change and the devastating bushfires , a stance that has prompted campaigners to plan worldwide protests for Friday .
`` We do n't want job destroying , economy destroying , economy wrecking targets and goals which wo n't change the fact that there are bushfires or anything like that in Australia , '' Morrison told 2GB Radio , referring to calls for the government to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Following are some highlights of what is happening in the bushfire crisis : • There were 134 fires ablaze across New South Wales , with around 50 uncontained on Friday .
All other fires were at the `` advice '' level , the lowest alert rating .
• Victoria state had 16 fires , two of which were so severe that evacuation orders have been issued .
One more fire was at an emergency level .
• In South Australia state , nine fires were ablaze , one of which was at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planned for Friday in several cities , including Melbourne , Sydney and Canberra , targeting the Australian government handling of the crisis and its position on climate change .
• Prime Minister Morrison said on Friday he was considering holding a wide-ranging national inquiry into the bushfires after the immediate crisis had passed .
• NSW authorities said just shy of 2,000 homes have been destroyed in the state , half of those in the past 10 days .
• Australian cricketer Shane Warne 's prized `` baggy green '' cap raised more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ auction for bushfire relief efforts • Authorities have warned that the huge fires , spurred by high temperatures , wind and a three-year drought , will persist until there is substantial rainfall .
The weather agency said there was no sign of that for months .
• Ecologists at the University of Sydney have estimated 1 billion animals have been killed or injured in the bushfires , potentially destroying ecosystems .
• Moody 's Analytics said the cost of the fires could easily surpass that of deadly 2009 Black Saturday fires that destroyed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of land , which cost an estimated A $ 4.4 billion .
• About 100 firefighters from the United States and Canada are helping , with another 140 expected in coming weeks .
• The fires have emitted 400 megatonnes of carbon dioxide and produced harmful pollutants , the European Union 's Copernicus monitoring programme said .
• Smoke has drifted across the Pacific , affecting cities in South America , and may have reached the Antarctic , the U.N. World Meteorological Organization said .

Australian authorities urged nearly a quarter of a million people to evacuate their homes on Friday and prepared military backup as soaring temperatures and erratic winds were expected to fan deadly bushfires across the east coast.
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Temperatures were expected to shoot well above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in several parts of the country on Friday, accompanied by high winds, threatening to inflame fires that have already left thousands of people homeless.
"If you can get out, you should get out, you shouldn't be in the remote and forested parts of our State," Andrew Crisp, emergency management commissioner for the state of Victoria, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Emergency alert text messages had been sent to 240,000 people in Victoria state alone, telling them to leave, Crisp said. People in high-risk regions in New South Wales and South Australia states were also urged to think about leaving, but authorities had not provided numbers.
Twenty-seven people have been killed and thousands subjected to repeat evacuations as monster - and unpredictable - fires have scorched through more than 10.3 million hectares (25.5 million acres) of land, an area the size of South Korea.
John White, Mayor of East Gippsland, an area that was ravaged by fires on New Year's Eve, told Reuters that residents were on the move: "People aren't taking any chances."
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he had given instructions to the military so "that they are to stand ready to move and support immediately" as firefighters battle 150 blazes across the country.
Australia's wildfires have dwarfed other catastrophic blazes around the world. Combining 2019 fires in California, Brazil and Indonesia still amounts to less than half the burnt area in Australia.
Australia's government has maintained there is no direct link between climate change and the devastating bushfires, a stance that has prompted campaigners to plan worldwide protests for Friday.
"We don't want job destroying, economy destroying, economy wrecking targets and goals which won't change the fact that there are bushfires or anything like that in Australia," Morrison told 2GB Radio, referring to calls for the government to commit to higher carbon emissions cuts.
Following are some highlights of what is happening in the bushfire crisis:
There were 134 fires ablaze across New South Wales, with around 50 uncontained on Friday. All other fires were at the "advice" level, the lowest alert rating.
Victoria state had 16 fires, two of which were so severe that evacuation orders have been issued. One more fire was at an emergency level.
In South Australia state, nine fires were ablaze, one of which was at a emergency level.
Climate protests were planned for Friday in several cities, including Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra, targeting the Australian government handling of the crisis and its position on climate change.
Prime Minister Morrison said on Friday he was considering holding a wide-ranging national inquiry into the bushfires after the immediate crisis had passed.
NSW authorities said just shy of 2,000 homes have been destroyed in the state, half of those in the past 10 days.
Australian cricketer Shane Warne's prized "baggy green" cap raised more than A$1 million at an auction for bushfire relief efforts
Authorities have warned that the huge fires, spurred by high temperatures, wind and a three-year drought, will persist until there is substantial rainfall. The weather agency said there was no sign of that for months.
Ecologists at the University of Sydney have estimated 1 billion animals have been killed or injured in the bushfires, potentially destroying ecosystems.
Moody's Analytics said the cost of the fires could easily surpass that of deadly 2009 Black Saturday fires that destroyed 450,000 hectares (1.1 million acres) of land, which cost an estimated A$4.4 billion.
Morrison has pledged A$2 billion ($1.4 billion) to a newly created National Bushfire Recovery Agency.
About 100 firefighters from the United States and Canada are helping, with another 140 expected in coming weeks.
The fires have emitted 400 megatonnes of carbon dioxide and produced harmful pollutants, the European Union's Copernicus monitoring programme said.
Smoke has drifted across the Pacific, affecting cities in South America, and may have reached the Antarctic, the U.N. World Meteorological Organization said.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-10--Sex tech: Female adult toys finally create a buzz at Las Vegas electronics show

This year 's CES has a dedicated space for 'sex tech ' for the first time .
From high-tech vibrators to app-controlled sex toys , this year ’ s Consumer Electronics Show ( CES ) in Las Vegas has a dedicated space for “ sex tech ” for the first time ever .
But along with showcasing their products , it is also a chance for exhibitors to change attitudes and break taboos , particularly when it comes to female sexuality .
The move to offer a space in the vast trade show to adult toy companies , whose products @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & Wellness ” section , comes after last year ’ s CES became embroiled in controversy when it revoked an award given to the maker of the Osé female sex toy , deeming it “ immoral '' , `` obscene '' and `` profane ” .
The Consumer Technology Association ( CTA ) , which runs the expo , eventually backtracked following allegations of double standards , given that numerous male-orientated adult products have been exhibited at the show in the past .
The company behind Osé , Lora DiCarlo , is back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies hoping to bring sex products into the mainstream .
`` We demonised female sexuality .
And that 's why we 're here , though , to change that conversation and have that healthy dialogue and to remove the shame around sexuality , ” company founder DiCarlo told AP .
The move to embrace sex tech at CES may not last , however , with the CTA making clear this year ’ s dedicated space is only a trial .

From high-tech vibrators to app-controlled sex toys, this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas has a dedicated space for “sex tech” for the first time ever. But along with showcasing their products, it is also a chance for exhibitors to change attitudes and break taboos, particularly when it comes to female sexuality.
This year's CES has a dedicated space for 'sex tech' for the first time.
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The move to offer a space in the vast trade show to adult toy companies, whose products can be found in the “Health & Wellness” section, comes after last year’s CES became embroiled in controversy when it revoked an award given to the maker of the Osé female sex toy, deeming it “immoral", "obscene" and "profane”.
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which runs the expo, eventually backtracked following allegations of double standards, given that numerous male-orientated adult products have been exhibited at the show in the past.
The company behind Osé, Lora DiCarlo, is back this year and is one of several companies hoping to bring sex products into the mainstream.
"We demonised female sexuality. And that's why we're here, though, to change that conversation and have that healthy dialogue and to remove the shame around sexuality,” company founder DiCarlo told AP.
The move to embrace sex tech at CES may not last, however, with the CTA making clear this year’s dedicated space is only a trial.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe