france24--2020-12-12--Global summit to present 'ambitious' climate change goals

China 's President Xi Jinping is among the leaders taking part in the summit Global leaders were due to announce more ambitious plans to combat global warming on Saturday , on the fifth anniversary of the signing of the landmark Paris Agreement .
The Climate Ambition Summit , being held online , comes as the United Nations warns current commitments to tackle rises in global temperatures are inadequate .
Britain , the UN and France are co-hosting the summit , which Prime Minister Boris Johnson will open at 1400 GMT and which will be live-streamed at climateambitionsummit2020.org .
China 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Macron are among the heads of state taking part , with speaking slots handed to leaders of countries that submitted the most ambitious plans .
These include Honduras , and Guatemala , which were both recently hit by hurricanes , as well as India , which is battling increasingly erratic weather patterns and air pollution .
Business figures set to speak reportedly include Tim Cook , the chief executive of Apple , which has committed to making its whole supply chain carbon neutral by 2030 .
But major economies including Australia , Brazil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not committed to net-zero emissions by 2050 and has been accused of setting targets that are too weak .
Speakers will deliver short video messages , with organisers saying they will announce `` new and ambitious climate change commitments '' and there will be `` no space for general statements '' .
The 2015 Paris climate accord saw signatories commit to take action to limit temperature rises to `` well below '' 2.0 Celsius above pre-industrial levels and try to limit them to 1.5C .
But the UN warned this week that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still on course for a `` catastrophic temperature rise '' of more than 3.0C this century .
It warned this will create a crisis that will `` dwarf the impacts of Covid-19 '' and has said current pledges to cut emissions to meet the Paris accord were `` woefully inadequate '' .
Greenpeace called the summit -- seen as a warm-up for the UN 's climate change conference COP26 in Glasgow , Scotland , next November -- a `` moment of accountability for leaders '' .
Under the Paris deal 's `` ratchet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ submit renewed emissions cutting plans — termed Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs — every five years .
The deadline for this is December 31 .
Countries are set to announce efforts to reduce national emissions , long-term strategies and financial commitments to support the most vulnerable .
More than 110 countries have committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050 .
China , the world 's biggest polluter , announced in September it plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 .
The summit comes as EU leaders on Friday committed to the goal of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compared to 1990 levels .
Britain -- out of the EU since January -- this month announced it would seek to reduce emissions by 68 percent over the same period .
Johnson has presented plans for a `` green industrial revolution '' creating up to 250,000 jobs .
And before the summit opened , he committed to ending all direct government support for the fossil fuel energy sector overseas .
The last five years have been the warmest on record , according to the World Meteorological Organization , a UN agency , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ storms and flooding .
The UN has said that the drop in emissions due to the global coronavirus pandemic is too small to halt the rising temperatures .
The United States , the world 's second-largest polluter after China , left the Paris Agreement under President Donald Trump who questioned the accepted science behind climate change .
Incoming US climate envoy John Kerry plans immediately to re-enter the accord and President-elect Joe Biden has set a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 .

London (AFP) –
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Global leaders were due to announce more ambitious plans to combat global warming on Saturday, on the fifth anniversary of the signing of the landmark Paris Agreement.
The Climate Ambition Summit, being held online, comes as the United Nations warns current commitments to tackle rises in global temperatures are inadequate.
Britain, the UN and France are co-hosting the summit, which Prime Minister Boris Johnson will open at 1400 GMT and which will be live-streamed at climateambitionsummit2020.org.
China's President Xi Jinping and France's Emmanuel Macron are among the heads of state taking part, with speaking slots handed to leaders of countries that submitted the most ambitious plans.
These include Honduras, and Guatemala, which were both recently hit by hurricanes, as well as India, which is battling increasingly erratic weather patterns and air pollution.
Business figures set to speak reportedly include Tim Cook, the chief executive of Apple, which has committed to making its whole supply chain carbon neutral by 2030.
But major economies including Australia, Brazil and South Africa are absent. Australia has not committed to net-zero emissions by 2050 and has been accused of setting targets that are too weak.
Speakers will deliver short video messages, with organisers saying they will announce "new and ambitious climate change commitments" and there will be "no space for general statements".
The 2015 Paris climate accord saw signatories commit to take action to limit temperature rises to "well below" 2.0 Celsius above pre-industrial levels and try to limit them to 1.5C.
But the UN warned this week that under current commitments, the Earth is still on course for a "catastrophic temperature rise" of more than 3.0C this century.
It warned this will create a crisis that will "dwarf the impacts of Covid-19" and has said current pledges to cut emissions to meet the Paris accord were "woefully inadequate".
- 'Moment of accountability' -
Greenpeace called the summit -- seen as a warm-up for the UN's climate change conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, next November -- a "moment of accountability for leaders".
Under the Paris deal's "ratchet" mechanism, countries are required to submit renewed emissions cutting plans — termed Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs — every five years.
The deadline for this is December 31.
Countries are set to announce efforts to reduce national emissions, long-term strategies and financial commitments to support the most vulnerable.
More than 110 countries have committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050. China, the world's biggest polluter, announced in September it plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060.
The summit comes as EU leaders on Friday committed to the goal of reducing emissions by 55 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
Britain -- out of the EU since January -- this month announced it would seek to reduce emissions by 68 percent over the same period.
Johnson has presented plans for a "green industrial revolution" creating up to 250,000 jobs.
And before the summit opened, he committed to ending all direct government support for the fossil fuel energy sector overseas.
The last five years have been the warmest on record, according to the World Meteorological Organization, a UN agency, with concern at rising numbers of wildfires, storms and flooding.
The UN has said that the drop in emissions due to the global coronavirus pandemic is too small to halt the rising temperatures.
The United States, the world's second-largest polluter after China, left the Paris Agreement under President Donald Trump who questioned the accepted science behind climate change.
Incoming US climate envoy John Kerry plans immediately to re-enter the accord and President-elect Joe Biden has set a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-12--Wayne Gretzky rookie card becomes first to crack $1m milestone

Hockey icon Wayne Gretzky , shown here addressing fans at the 2020 all-star game , established another record when his rookie card sold for more than $ 1 million at an online auction Wayne Gretzky 's rookie trading card became the highest selling hockey card of all time when a mint condition version of his 1979 card fetched US $ 1.29 million in an online auction on Friday .
The Canadian hockey icon , who retired more than two decades ago , is considered the greatest NHL player of all time and his O-Pee-Chee rookie card became the first hockey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 million .
`` Gretzky is the greatest of all time , '' Chris Ivy of Heritage Auctions said .
`` This is his rookie card , and then add onto all that it 's O-Pee-Chee , which is the Canadian version , and is highly sought after . ''
The record-setting card is one of just two to receive a perfect `` gem mint '' score from appraisers who looked at over 5,000 versions of his rookie card .
The card features a picture of the `` Great One '' in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he played with for nine seasons , winning four Stanley Cups .
The card previously sold in 2016 for $ 465,000 and the auction house had predicted that this time it would garner at least $ 1 million .
`` That this card survived 40-plus years in this perfect condition , the desirability of it for collectors is to have the best of the best , and that 's what this is , '' Ivy said .
O-Pee-Chee is the Canadian version of the US-based Topps Company .
Ivy said when it comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sought after because of its Canadian connection .
`` O-Pee-Chee has always outperformed Topps in hockey simply because they 're the Canadian brand , '' he said .
`` They 're the same cards , essentially , but hockey is the national sport of Canada . ''
Gretzky retired from the NHL in 1999 with a record 894 goals , 1,963 assists and 2,857 points .

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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Wayne Gretzky's rookie trading card became the highest selling hockey card of all time when a mint condition version of his 1979 card fetched US$1.29 million in an online auction on Friday.
The Canadian hockey icon, who retired more than two decades ago, is considered the greatest NHL player of all time and his O-Pee-Chee rookie card became the first hockey card to go for more than $1 million.
"Gretzky is the greatest of all time," Chris Ivy of Heritage Auctions said. "This is his rookie card, and then add onto all that it's O-Pee-Chee, which is the Canadian version, and is highly sought after."
The record-setting card is one of just two to receive a perfect "gem mint" score from appraisers who looked at over 5,000 versions of his rookie card.
The card features a picture of the "Great One" in the uniform of the Edmonton Oilers, who he played with for nine seasons, winning four Stanley Cups.
The card previously sold in 2016 for $465,000 and the auction house had predicted that this time it would garner at least $1 million.
"That this card survived 40-plus years in this perfect condition, the desirability of it for collectors is to have the best of the best, and that's what this is," Ivy said.
O-Pee-Chee is the Canadian version of the US-based Topps Company. Ivy said when it comes to collectible hockey cards O-Pee-Chee is more sought after because of its Canadian connection.
"O-Pee-Chee has always outperformed Topps in hockey simply because they're the Canadian brand," he said. "They're the same cards, essentially, but hockey is the national sport of Canada."
Gretzky retired from the NHL in 1999 with a record 894 goals, 1,963 assists and 2,857 points.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-12--ICC prosecutor wants full probe into Ukraine war crimes

Maidan activists stand on an armoured vehicle in central Kiev in February 2014 International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said on Friday that a `` broad range '' of war crimes were committed in the Ukraine since 2014 , as she pushed for a full investigation .
Hague-based ICC prosecutors launched a preliminary probe in 2015 after Kiev gave it the green light to look into alleged crimes committed during the pro-EU Maidan demonstrations , which came to a head in February 2014 when pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovic was ousted .
Ukraine , which is not an ICC member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to broaden her scope and go beyond February 2014 to include the deadly conflict that has since wracked the country 's east .
Bensouda said her initial probe had now finished .
`` My office has concluded that there is a reasonable basis at this time to believe that a broad range of conduct constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity within the jurisdiction of the court have been committed in the context of the situation in Ukraine , '' Bensouda said .
ICC investigators `` furthermore found that these crimes , committed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , were also sufficiently grave to warrant investigation by my office , '' she said in a statement .
Bensouda said the next step would be to ask judges at the ICC , set up in 2002 to probe the world 's worst crimes , permission to open a full-blown probe .
`` Having examined the information available ... my office has concluded that the potential cases that would likely arise from an investigation into the situation in Ukraine would be admissible , '' before the ICC , she said .
Kiev welcomed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ICC 's prosecutors had `` announced a historic decision '' .
`` International justice may not be served fast , but it is surely inevitable , '' Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter .
Thousands have been killed since pro-Russia militias in eastern Ukraine launched a bid for independence in 2014 , kicking off a conflict that deepened Russia 's estrangement from the West .
This included the 298 victims -- mainly Dutch -- who died when Malaysia Airlines MH17 was blasted out of the sky by a surface-to-air missile over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecutors say the missile was fired from territory held by pro-Moscow separatists , who were supplied by Russia .
Moscow however , has vigorously denied any involvement .
It was unclear whether the downing of MH17 would form part of the ICC 's investigation , as a Dutch court in March began hearing a case against four suspects , three of them Russian and one Ukrainian .
Kiev 's ongoing war with separatists has claimed around 13,000 lives and displaced 1.5 million others .
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures to relaunch a peace process in Ukraine .
Bensouda 's announcement followed her earlier statement in which the Gambian-born prosecutor said she would also ask judges to give her office the go-ahead for a full probe into ongoing violence in Nigeria .

The Hague (AFP) –
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International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said on Friday that a "broad range" of war crimes were committed in the Ukraine since 2014, as she pushed for a full investigation.
Hague-based ICC prosecutors launched a preliminary probe in 2015 after Kiev gave it the green light to look into alleged crimes committed during the pro-EU Maidan demonstrations, which came to a head in February 2014 when pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovic was ousted.
Ukraine, which is not an ICC member state, later also gave Bensouda permission to broaden her scope and go beyond February 2014 to include the deadly conflict that has since wracked the country's east.
Bensouda said her initial probe had now finished.
"My office has concluded that there is a reasonable basis at this time to believe that a broad range of conduct constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity within the jurisdiction of the court have been committed in the context of the situation in Ukraine," Bensouda said.
ICC investigators "furthermore found that these crimes, committed by the different parties to the conflict, were also sufficiently grave to warrant investigation by my office," she said in a statement.
Bensouda said the next step would be to ask judges at the ICC, set up in 2002 to probe the world's worst crimes, permission to open a full-blown probe.
"Having examined the information available... my office has concluded that the potential cases that would likely arise from an investigation into the situation in Ukraine would be admissible," before the ICC, she said.
- 'Inevitable justice' -
Kiev welcomed the move on Friday, saying the ICC's prosecutors had "announced a historic decision".
"International justice may not be served fast, but it is surely inevitable," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter.
Thousands have been killed since pro-Russia militias in eastern Ukraine launched a bid for independence in 2014, kicking off a conflict that deepened Russia's estrangement from the West.
This included the 298 victims -- mainly Dutch -- who died when Malaysia Airlines MH17 was blasted out of the sky by a surface-to-air missile over eastern Ukraine in July 2014.
Dutch prosecutors say the missile was fired from territory held by pro-Moscow separatists, who were supplied by Russia.
Moscow however, has vigorously denied any involvement.
It was unclear whether the downing of MH17 would form part of the ICC's investigation, as a Dutch court in March began hearing a case against four suspects, three of them Russian and one Ukrainian.
Kiev's ongoing war with separatists has claimed around 13,000 lives and displaced 1.5 million others.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky agreed last December to a series of measures to relaunch a peace process in Ukraine.
Bensouda's announcement followed her earlier statement in which the Gambian-born prosecutor said she would also ask judges to give her office the go-ahead for a full probe into ongoing violence in Nigeria.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-12--US Supreme Court dismisses Trump-backed Texas lawsuit challenging election result

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a lawsuit backed by President Donald Trump to overturn Joe Biden ’ s election victory , ending a desperate attempt to get legal issues rejected by state and federal judges before the nation ’ s highest court .
The court ’ s order was its second this week rebuffing Republican requests that it get involved in the 2020 election outcome and overturn the will of voters as expressed in an election regarded by both Republican and Democratic officials as free and fair .
The justices turned away an appeal from Pennsylvania Republicans on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ formally elect Biden as the next president .
Trump had called the lawsuit filed by Texas against Georgia , Michigan , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin “ the big one ” that would end with the Supreme Court undoing Biden ’ s substantial Electoral College majority and allowing Trump to serve another four years in the White House .
In a brief order , the court said Texas does not have the legal right to sue those states because it “ has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Clarence Thomas , who have said previously the court does not have the authority to turn away lawsuits between states , said they would have heard Texas ’ complaint .
But they would not have done as Texas wanted pending resolution of the lawsuit , and set aside those four states ’ 62 electoral votes for Biden .
Three Trump appointees sit on the high court .
In his push to get the most recent of his nominees , Justice Amy Coney Barrett , confirmed quickly , Trump said she would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appears to have participated in both cases this week .
None of the Trump appointees noted a dissent in either case .
Eighteen other states won by Trump in last month ’ s election , 126 GOP members of Congress and Trump himself joined Texas in calling on the justices to take up the case that sought to stop electors from casting their votes for Biden .
There was no immediate response from the White House .
A Biden spokesman said it was “ no surprise ” the high court rejected “ baseless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election .
“ Our nation ’ s highest court saw through this seditious abuse of our electoral process , ” Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro , a Democrat , said on Twitter .
The four states sued by Texas had urged the court to reject the case as meritless .
They were backed by another 22 states and the District of Columbia .
Republican support for the lawsuit and its call to throw out millions of votes in four battleground states based on baseless claims of fraud was an extraordinary display of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will of voters .
The House members backing the suit included House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy of California and Minority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana .
“ This lawsuit is an act of flailing GOP desperation , which violates the principles enshrined in our American Democracy , ” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote in a message to Democrats on Friday .
A few Republicans have expressed concerns about the case .
Many others have remained silent even as Trump endlessly repeated claims that he lost a chance at a second term due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big state , but I don ’ t know exactly why it has a right to tell four other states how to run their elections .
So I ’ m having a hard time figuring out the basis for that lawsuit , ” Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander told NBC ’ s Chuck Todd in an interview for “ Meet The Press ” that will air Sunday .
To be clear , there has been no evidence of widespread fraud .
The Texas complaint repeated false , disproven and unsubstantiated accusations about the voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Democratic challenger .
The high court had never before been asked for such a dramatic remedy .
Two days after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed his suit , Trump jumped into the high court case .
Hours later , the president held a meeting at the White House , scheduled before the suit was filed , with a dozen Republican attorneys general , including Paxton and several others who backed the effort .
“ If the Supreme Court shows great Wisdom and Courage , the American People will win perhaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and our Electoral Process will be respected again !
” he tweeted Friday afternoon .
Trump had spent the week relentlessly tweeting about the Texas case with the hashtag “ overturn ” and claiming , falsely , that he had won the election but was robbed .
Still , some of the top state Republican prosecutors who urged the court to get involved acknowledged that the effort was a long shot and sought to distance themselves from Trump ’ s baseless allegations of fraud .
North Dakota ’ s Wayne Stenehjem , among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said North Dakota is not alleging voter fraud in the four states at issue .
“ We ’ re careful on that , ” said Stenehjem , who noted that his office has received thousands of calls and emails from constituents asking the state to support the suit .
“ But it ’ s worth it for the Supreme Court to weigh in and settle it once and for all , ” he said .
Paxton , responding to the Supreme Court ’ s decision on Friday night , said it was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the case .
The lawsuit has inflamed already high tensions over the election .
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said his office staff received two death threats Thursday after he signed onto the brief supporting the case .
The lawsuit has also divided officials in some states .
Montana Attorney General Tim Fox supported Texas ’ case , even though he said the suit was “ belated ” and its chances “ are slim at best.
” Fox said the case raised “ important constitutional questions about the separation of powers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those defendant states.
” But Gov .
Steve Bullock , D-Mont.
, urged the court to reject the case .
He said the fact that Texas is not suing Montana , which Trump won , even though the state similarly used mail-in ballots underscores that “ this action is less about election integrity than it is about attempting to overturn the will of the electorate.
” The litigation rankled Democratic attorneys general .
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey , co-chair of the Democratic Attorneys General Association , called the attempt to overturn votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawyers was disturbing , Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford , who ’ s also co-chair of the Democratic attorneys general group , told The Associated Press .
“ I do think that these individuals are kowtowing to a president who has implemented some level of control and authority over the duly elected attorneys general in their states in a way that is unfortunate , ” he said .
Many of the attorneys general supporting the case have shown greater political ambitions .
In Kansas , Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt , who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , announced that he would back the effort only hours after former Republican Gov .
Jeff Colyer — another potential candidate for governor — tweeted that Schmidt ’ s office should .
Despite the political pressure , Idaho ’ s Republican attorney general chose not to join Texas .
“ As is sometimes the case , the legally correct decision may not be the politically convenient decision , ” Lawrence Wasden said in a statement .
“ But my responsibility is to the state of Idaho and the rule of law .
”

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a lawsuit backed by President Donald Trump to overturn Joe Biden’s election victory, ending a desperate attempt to get legal issues rejected by state and federal judges before the nation’s highest court and subvert the will of voters.
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The high court’s order was a stark repudiation of a legal claim that was widely regarded as dubious, yet embraced by the president, 19 Republican state attorneys general and 126 House Republicans.
Trump had insisted the court would find the “wisdom” and “courage” to adopt his baseless position that the election was the product of widespread fraud and should be overturned. But the nation’s highest court emphatically disagreed.
Friday’s order marked the second time this week that the court had rebuffed Republican requests that it get involved in the 2020 election outcome and reject the voters’ choice, as expressed in an election regarded by both Republican and Democratic officials as free and fair. The justices turned away an appeal from Pennsylvania Republicans on Tuesday.
On Monday, the Electoral College meets to formally elect Biden as the next president.
Trump had called the lawsuit filed by Texas against Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin “the big one” that would end with the Supreme Court undoing Biden’s substantial Electoral College majority and allowing Trump to serve another four years in the White House.
In a brief order, the court said Texas does not have the legal right to sue those states because it “has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections.”
Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, who have said previously the court does not have the authority to turn away lawsuits between states, said they would have heard Texas’ complaint. But they would not have done as Texas wanted — setting aside those four states’ 62 electoral votes for Biden — pending resolution of the lawsuit.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the justices “dodged. They hid behind procedure. None of those justices gave a view on the facts of the case.” Appearing Friday night on Fox News Channel’s ”Hannity,” McEnany said the legal fight would continue in state courts.
Three Trump appointees sit on the high court. In his push to get the most recent of his nominees, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, confirmed quickly, Trump said she would be needed for any post-election lawsuits. Barrett appears to have participated in both cases this week. None of the Trump appointees noted a dissent in either case.
The four states sued by Texas had urged the court to reject the case as meritless. They were backed by another 22 states and the District of Columbia.
Republican support for the lawsuit and its call to throw out millions of votes in four battleground states was rooted in baseless claims of fraud, an extraordinary display of the party’s willingness to countermand the will of voters. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy of California and Minority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana were among those joining to support the action.
“The Court has rightly dismissed out of hand the extreme, unlawful and undemocratic GOP lawsuit to overturn the will of millions of American voters,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday night.
A few Republicans expressed concerns about the case. Many others remained silent even as Trump endlessly repeated claims that he lost a chance at a second term due to widespread fraud.
Sen. Ben Sasse, a Nebraska Republican who has previously criticized the president, applauded the court’s decision.
“Since Election Night, a lot of people have been confusing voters by spinning Kenyan Birther-type, ‘Chavez rigged the election from the grave’ conspiracy theories, but every American who cares about the rule of law should take comfort that the Supreme Court — including all three of President Trump’s picks — closed the book on the nonsense,” Sasse said in a statement.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said the court “saw through this seditious abuse of the judicial process.”
“While these stunts are legally insignificant, their cost to our country — in misleading the public about a free and fair election and in tearing at our Constitution — is high and we will not tolerate them from our sister states or anyone else,” said Shapiro, a Democrat.
BREAKING: Texas vs. Pennsylvania has been DENIED by the Supreme Court.
Our nation’s highest court saw through this seditious abuse of our electoral process.
This swift denial should make anyone contemplating further attacks on our election think twice. pic.twitter.com/LJlaKcQ03M — Josh Shapiro (@JoshShapiroPA) December 11, 2020
The Texas complaint repeated false, disproven and unsubstantiated accusations about the voting in four states that went for Trump’s Democratic challenger. The high court had never before been asked for such a dramatic remedy.
Two days after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed his suit, Trump jumped into the high court case. Hours later, the president held a meeting at the White House, scheduled before the suit was filed, with a dozen Republican attorneys general, including Paxton and several others who backed the effort.
“If the Supreme Court shows great Wisdom and Courage, the American People will win perhaps the most important case in history, and our Electoral Process will be respected again!” he tweeted Friday afternoon. Trump had spent the week relentlessly tweeting about the Texas case with the hashtag “overturn” and claiming, falsely, that he had won the election but was robbed.
If the Supreme Court shows great Wisdom and Courage, the American People will win perhaps the most important case in history, and our Electoral Process will be respected again! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 11, 2020
In a statement Friday, Paxton called the Supreme Court’s decision “unfortunate.”
Still, some of the top state Republican prosecutors who urged the court to get involved acknowledged that the effort was a long shot and sought to distance themselves from Trump’s baseless allegations of fraud.
The case inflamed already high tensions over the election. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said his office staff received two death threats Thursday after he signed onto the brief supporting the case.
The lawsuit also divided officials in some states.
Montana Attorney General Tim Fox supported Texas’ case, even though he said the suit was “belated” and its chances “are slim at best.” Fox said the case raised “important constitutional questions about the separation of powers and the integrity of mail-in ballots in those defendant states.”
But Gov. Steve Bullock, D-Mont., urged the court to reject the case. He said the fact that Texas is not suing Montana, which Trump won, even though the state similarly used mail-in ballots underscores that “this action is less about election integrity than it is about attempting to overturn the will of the electorate.”
Trump’s repetition of election-related falsehoods and conspiracy theories has taken hold among far-right media and much of his base. Many Republican voters in several states won by Biden have demanded that their elected officials find a way to invalidate the president-elect’s victories.
The Republican Party of Texas on Friday evening issued a statement raising the far-fetched possibility of secession. “Perhaps law-abiding states should bond together and form a Union of states that will abide by the constitution,” said party chairman Allen West, the former Florida congressman.
Even though the court’s action seemed to be the end of the road for Trump’s legal fights about the 2020 election results, the president’s efforts may have a destabilizing effect long after he leaves office. Trump’s personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, vowed Friday to keep fighting.
“Some litigation may continue, but it will not change election results,” said Rick Hasen, a law professor at the Universtiy of California, Irvine. “The delegitimization of the Biden presidency by Trump, and of elections generally, will reverberate for years to come. And that’s a real tragedy.”
(AP)
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france24--2020-12-12--Britain vows to stop funding fossil fuel projects abroad

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a halt to his country 's funding of new crude oil , gas and coal projects before opening the Climate Ambition Summit Britain is to end government funding for fossil fuel projects overseas , Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Friday , on the eve of an international climate change summit .
Johnson announced a halt to funding of new crude oil , gas and coal projects before opening the Climate Ambition Summit co-hosted by Britain , the United Nations and France on Saturday .
`` I 'm pleased to say today that the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ projects overseas as soon as possible , '' Johnson said in a statement released by his office .
Britain has been criticised for sending billions of pounds abroad to help extract and refine fossil fuels and build power stations .
It has promised to end this soon , while saying there will be `` very limited exceptions '' .
`` Calling time on financing overseas fossil fuel projects really is a welcome move , '' said the policy director at Greenpeace UK , Doug Parr .
Christian Aid 's head of campaigns and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the climate crisis , 80 percent of known fossil fuels needed to be left in the ground .
`` The UK government is right to heed this warning and end support for fossil fuels overseas , '' he added .
`` Developing countries need investment to leapfrog the dirty energy that has led us into this crisis and access the clean renewable that can both accelerate their development and tackle the climate emergency . ''
Downing Street said it intends to implement the policy by November next year , when Britain will host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in Glasgow .
Over the last four years , the British government `` supported £21 billion ( $ 28 billion , 23 billion euros ) of UK oil and gas exports through trade promotion and export finance '' , it added .
Britain has been criticised by watchdogs and activists including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg for financing dirty energy projects abroad .
UK Export Finance ( UKEF ) , a government department , provides British companies with export credit guarantees to help them trade overseas .
In 2019 , an Environmental Audit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UKEF 's support for fossil fuel energy projects was `` unacceptably high '' in developing countries .
It said Britain had supported projects worth £2.6 billion between 2013 and 2018 , most in `` low and middle-income countries '' .
By contrast , just £104 million went on renewable energy projects , it said , recommending an end of support for new fossil fuel projects by the end of next year .
The prime minister in January announced an immediate end to support of coal mining and coal-powered power stations abroad in developing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wealthy nations in backing such projects abroad under the radar .
A study released in January by the market monitor Oil Change International and Friends of the Earth America found that export credit agencies of G20 countries provide more than 10 times as much state-backed financing to oil , gas and coal projects abroad as they do to renewable energy schemes .

London (AFP) –
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Britain is to end government funding for fossil fuel projects overseas, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Friday, on the eve of an international climate change summit.
Johnson announced a halt to funding of new crude oil, gas and coal projects before opening the Climate Ambition Summit co-hosted by Britain, the United Nations and France on Saturday.
"I'm pleased to say today that the UK will end taxpayer support for fossil fuel projects overseas as soon as possible," Johnson said in a statement released by his office.
Britain has been criticised for sending billions of pounds abroad to help extract and refine fossil fuels and build power stations.
It has promised to end this soon, while saying there will be "very limited exceptions".
"Calling time on financing overseas fossil fuel projects really is a welcome move," said the policy director at Greenpeace UK, Doug Parr.
Christian Aid's head of campaigns and UK advocacy Pete Moorey said to tackle the climate crisis, 80 percent of known fossil fuels needed to be left in the ground.
"The UK government is right to heed this warning and end support for fossil fuels overseas," he added.
"Developing countries need investment to leapfrog the dirty energy that has led us into this crisis and access the clean renewable that can both accelerate their development and tackle the climate emergency."
Downing Street said it intends to implement the policy by November next year, when Britain will host the UN summit on climate change COP26, in Glasgow.
- 'Unacceptably high' -
Over the last four years, the British government "supported £21 billion ($28 billion, 23 billion euros) of UK oil and gas exports through trade promotion and export finance", it added.
Britain has been criticised by watchdogs and activists including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg for financing dirty energy projects abroad.
UK Export Finance (UKEF), a government department, provides British companies with export credit guarantees to help them trade overseas.
In 2019, an Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) report concluded that UKEF's support for fossil fuel energy projects was "unacceptably high" in developing countries.
It said Britain had supported projects worth £2.6 billion between 2013 and 2018, most in "low and middle-income countries".
By contrast, just £104 million went on renewable energy projects, it said, recommending an end of support for new fossil fuel projects by the end of next year.
The prime minister in January announced an immediate end to support of coal mining and coal-powered power stations abroad in developing countries.
Britain is not alone among wealthy nations in backing such projects abroad under the radar.
A study released in January by the market monitor Oil Change International and Friends of the Earth America found that export credit agencies of G20 countries provide more than 10 times as much state-backed financing to oil, gas and coal projects abroad as they do to renewable energy schemes.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-11--New York bans indoor dining again as Covid-19 infection rate rises

FILE PHOTO : Servers package food at a table at a pop up restaurant set up in Times Square for 'Taste of Times Square Week ' during the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) pandemic in the Manhattan borough of New York City , New York , U.S. , October 23 , 2020 .
New York City 's restaurants must stop serving meals indoors on Monday as Covid-19 hospitalisations fail to stabilise and the infection rate for the virus rises in the densely populated metropolis , Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Friday .
The governor acknowledged that indoor dining accounts for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new cases , but said he was concerned about an `` Rt 1.3 '' transmission rate , meaning that one infected person transmits it to 1.3 others .
“ The Rt rate going up in a dense environment is really a compounding problem , ” Cuomo told a news briefing .
`` New York City is different .
A high transmission rate in a dense environment is different . ''
Nearly three-quarters of the state 's coronavirus infections have come from private gatherings , or `` living room spread , '' while only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to restaurants and bars , Cuomo said .
The move comes a little more than 10 weeks after the city 's restaurants were allowed to resume indoor dining , but only at 25 % of capacity , for the first time since March .
Many added outdoor pavilions in anticipation of the move , which Cuomo warned would happen if the hospitalisation rate did not stabilise .
Although the state 's coronavirus positivity rate , which was just under 5 % on Thursday , is among the lowest in the country , Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns about stress on its healthcare system , Cuomo said .
Cuomo also said a state task force unanimously approved the decision by a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel to recommend approval of Pfizer 's coronavirus vaccine .
New York is one of a handful of states to assemble panels to independently review the federal government ’ s approval before the vaccine could be distributed locally .
The first shipment of 170,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine could arrive in the state as soon as early as Sunday , while another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moderna are expected in the Dec. 21 week , Cuomo said .

New York City's restaurants must stop serving meals indoors on Monday as Covid-19 hospitalisations fail to stabilise and the infection rate for the virus rises in the densely populated metropolis, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Friday.
FILE PHOTO: Servers package food at a table at a pop up restaurant set up in Times Square for 'Taste of Times Square Week' during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., October 23, 2020.
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The governor acknowledged that indoor dining accounts for only a fraction of the city's new cases, but said he was concerned about an "Rt 1.3" transmission rate, meaning that one infected person transmits it to 1.3 others.
“The Rt rate going up in a dense environment is really a compounding problem,” Cuomo told a news briefing. "New York City is different. A high transmission rate in a dense environment is different."
Nearly three-quarters of the state's coronavirus infections have come from private gatherings, or "living room spread," while only 1.4% of them could be traced to restaurants and bars, Cuomo said.
The move comes a little more than 10 weeks after the city's restaurants were allowed to resume indoor dining, but only at 25% of capacity, for the first time since March.
Many added outdoor pavilions in anticipation of the move, which Cuomo warned would happen if the hospitalisation rate did not stabilise.
Although the state's coronavirus positivity rate, which was just under 5% on Thursday, is among the lowest in the country, Covid-19 hospitalisations have climbed to 5,321, raising concerns about stress on its healthcare system, Cuomo said.
Cuomo also said a state task force unanimously approved the decision by a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel to recommend approval of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine.
New York is one of a handful of states to assemble panels to independently review the federal government’s approval before the vaccine could be distributed locally.
The first shipment of 170,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine could arrive in the state as soon as early as Sunday, while another 346,000 doses of a vaccine manufactured by Moderna are expected in the Dec. 21 week, Cuomo said.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-12-11--Brazil's Covid-19 death toll surpasses 180,000

A patient is treated in the Covid-19 ICU at Santa Casa de Misericordia Hospital in Porto Alegre , Brazil on December 9 , 2020 Brazil passed the grim milestone of 180,000 deaths from Covid-19 Friday , as experts warned the country was undergoing a second wave of infections despite President Jair Bolsonaro 's insistence the crisis was at the `` tail end . ''
The Brazilian health ministry reported 672 new deaths for a total of 180,437 since the pandemic began , making the South American country the second to pass that threshold , after the United States .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brazil now show clear signs of an upward trend , after falling somewhat from late August to early November .
Bolsonaro drew criticism from opponents this week for his latest comments downplaying the health crisis .
`` We 're at the tail end of the pandemic .
Compared to other countries in the world , our government was the best , or one of the best , in handling it , '' the far-right leader said Thursday .
`` The president is wrong .
I do n't know where he got that idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end is near , said Christovam Barcellos , a researcher at Brazil 's leading public-health research center , Fiocruz .
In fact , infections are also rising sharply again .
They surpassed the 54,000 mark Friday , for a total of 6.8 million since the pandemic began .
Barcellos warned the situation could get worse still with the holiday season and the southern hemisphere summer .
`` There will be more people circulating , without control measures and with many of our social distancing policies now dismantled , '' he told AFP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health experts over how to respond to the pandemic since even before it arrived in the country of 212 million people with the first confirmed infection on February 26 .
He has downplayed the new coronavirus as a `` little flu , '' condemned the `` hysteria '' around it and pushed to use the drug hydroxychloroquine against Covid-19 , despite a raft of studies showing it is ineffective .
Brazil , which endured a brutal plateau of more than 1,000 Covid-19 deaths a day from June to August , had succeeded in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to about 300 last month .
However , that number rose again above 800 this week , before settling back to 639 Friday .
Intensive care units in seven of Brazil 's 27 state capitals are meanwhile more than 90 percent full , and the field hospitals that supplemented them earlier in the year have been dismantled .
Preparations for an eventual vaccination campaign have been caught up in a political battle between Bolsonaro and a likely adversary in the 2022 presidential race , Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria .
Bolsonaro has proudly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccinated himself .
Doria is pushing hard to roll out a vaccination program from January 25 -- over the president 's objections -- using Chinese-developed vaccine CoronaVac , which Sao Paulo is helping test and produce .
Meanwhile , Brazil has largely relaxed its stay-at-home measures to contain the virus , which were only partially implemented to begin with amid the tug-of-war between Bolsonaro and state and local authorities over how to respond .
Despite the promise of a vaccine at some point in 2021 , `` we 're still in the middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contagious virus that is killing the most vulnerable people , '' said researcher Jose David Urbaez of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Disease Specialists .
`` People need to protect themselves and not go out and party for the holidays . ''

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) –
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Brazil passed the grim milestone of 180,000 deaths from Covid-19 Friday, as experts warned the country was undergoing a second wave of infections despite President Jair Bolsonaro's insistence the crisis was at the "tail end."
The Brazilian health ministry reported 672 new deaths for a total of 180,437 since the pandemic began, making the South American country the second to pass that threshold, after the United States.
The curves for both infections and deaths in Brazil now show clear signs of an upward trend, after falling somewhat from late August to early November.
Bolsonaro drew criticism from opponents this week for his latest comments downplaying the health crisis.
"We're at the tail end of the pandemic. Compared to other countries in the world, our government was the best, or one of the best, in handling it," the far-right leader said Thursday.
Health experts disagreed.
"The president is wrong. I don't know where he got that idea, but no indicator shows that" the end is near, said Christovam Barcellos, a researcher at Brazil's leading public-health research center, Fiocruz.
In fact, infections are also rising sharply again. They surpassed the 54,000 mark Friday, for a total of 6.8 million since the pandemic began.
Barcellos warned the situation could get worse still with the holiday season and the southern hemisphere summer.
"There will be more people circulating, without control measures and with many of our social distancing policies now dismantled," he told AFP.
Bolsonaro has been at odds with health experts over how to respond to the pandemic since even before it arrived in the country of 212 million people with the first confirmed infection on February 26.
He has downplayed the new coronavirus as a "little flu," condemned the "hysteria" around it and pushed to use the drug hydroxychloroquine against Covid-19, despite a raft of studies showing it is ineffective.
- Warning signs -
Brazil, which endured a brutal plateau of more than 1,000 Covid-19 deaths a day from June to August, had succeeded in bringing its average daily death toll down to about 300 last month.
However, that number rose again above 800 this week, before settling back to 639 Friday.
Intensive care units in seven of Brazil's 27 state capitals are meanwhile more than 90 percent full, and the field hospitals that supplemented them earlier in the year have been dismantled.
Preparations for an eventual vaccination campaign have been caught up in a political battle between Bolsonaro and a likely adversary in the 2022 presidential race, Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria.
Bolsonaro has proudly claimed he does not plan to get vaccinated himself.
Doria is pushing hard to roll out a vaccination program from January 25 -- over the president's objections -- using Chinese-developed vaccine CoronaVac, which Sao Paulo is helping test and produce.
Meanwhile, Brazil has largely relaxed its stay-at-home measures to contain the virus, which were only partially implemented to begin with amid the tug-of-war between Bolsonaro and state and local authorities over how to respond.
Despite the promise of a vaccine at some point in 2021, "we're still in the middle of a pandemic, with a highly contagious virus that is killing the most vulnerable people," said researcher Jose David Urbaez of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Disease Specialists.
"People need to protect themselves and not go out and party for the holidays."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-11--Mexico's 'tower of skulls' yields more ancient remains

Mexican authorities have described the site as one of the country 's most important archaeological discoveries in years Mexican archaeologists said Friday they had found remains of 119 more people , including women and several children , in a centuries-old Aztec `` tower of skulls '' in the heart of the capital .
The new discovery was announced after an eastern section of the Huei Tzompantli was uncovered along with the outer facade , five years after the northeastern side was found .
Archaeologists believe that many of the skulls belonged to captured enemy warriors and that the tower was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Aztec empire , which was overthrown by Spanish conquistadors in 1521 .
Some of the remains could be of people who were killed in ritual sacrifices to appease the gods , according to experts quoted in a statement released by the National Anthropology and History Institute .
`` Although we can not determine how many of these individuals were warriors , perhaps some were captives set aside for sacrificial ceremonies , '' archaeologist Barrera Rodriguez said .
The tower , 4.7 meters ( 15.4 feet ) in diameter , is thought to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 15th century .
It is located in the area of the Templo Mayor , one of the main temples of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan in the historic district of modern-day Mexico City .
In total more than 600 skulls have now been found at the site , which Mexican authorities have described as one of the country 's most important archaeological discoveries in years .
`` At every step , the Templo Mayor continues to surprise us , '' Culture Minister Alejandra Frausto said in a statement .
`` The Huei Tzompantli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the most impressive archaeological finds in our country in recent years . ''
The statement noted that in Mesoamerica human sacrifice was seen as a way of ensuring the continued existence of the universe .
For that reason , experts consider the tower to be `` a building of life rather than death , '' it said .

Mexico City (AFP) –
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Mexican archaeologists said Friday they had found remains of 119 more people, including women and several children, in a centuries-old Aztec "tower of skulls" in the heart of the capital.
The new discovery was announced after an eastern section of the Huei Tzompantli was uncovered along with the outer facade, five years after the northeastern side was found.
Archaeologists believe that many of the skulls belonged to captured enemy warriors and that the tower was intended as a warning to rivals of the Aztec empire, which was overthrown by Spanish conquistadors in 1521.
Some of the remains could be of people who were killed in ritual sacrifices to appease the gods, according to experts quoted in a statement released by the National Anthropology and History Institute.
"Although we cannot determine how many of these individuals were warriors, perhaps some were captives set aside for sacrificial ceremonies," archaeologist Barrera Rodriguez said.
The tower, 4.7 meters (15.4 feet) in diameter, is thought to have been built around the end of the 15th century.
It is located in the area of the Templo Mayor, one of the main temples of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan in the historic district of modern-day Mexico City.
In total more than 600 skulls have now been found at the site, which Mexican authorities have described as one of the country's most important archaeological discoveries in years.
"At every step, the Templo Mayor continues to surprise us," Culture Minister Alejandra Frausto said in a statement.
"The Huei Tzompantli is, without a doubt, one of the most impressive archaeological finds in our country in recent years."
The statement noted that in Mesoamerica human sacrifice was seen as a way of ensuring the continued existence of the universe.
For that reason, experts consider the tower to be "a building of life rather than death," it said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-11--Rapper Lil Wayne pleads guilty to firearms charges

Rapper Lil Wayne faces up to 10 years in jail over illegal weapons charges US rapper Lil Wayne pleaded guilty Friday to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon over an incident dating back to last year , US media reported -- a federal offense that could see him sentenced to up to 10 years in prison .
The 38-year-old artist , whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr , was found to be carrying a gun and bullets when police searched a private plane in Miami in December last year .
`` Your honor , I plead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ District Judge Kathleen Williams during a virtual hearing .
The Miami Herald said that Lil Wayne -- who has a home in south Florida -- admitted the gold-plated pistol found in his luggage was his .
He told police the weapon had been given to him as a Father 's Day gift .
Police also found what was believed to be cocaine , marijuana , ecstasy , heroin , painkillers and more than $ 25,000 in cash , the newspaper said .
But the sole federal weapons charge filed in federal court in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wayne was convicted more than a decade ago on a separate firearms charge.a Convicted felons are barred from owning firearms under federal law .
The five-time Grammy winner -- who more recently made headlines for meeting with and voicing support for President Donald Trump -- will face sentencing on January 28 .

Miami (AFP) –
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US rapper Lil Wayne pleaded guilty Friday to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon over an incident dating back to last year, US media reported -- a federal offense that could see him sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.
The 38-year-old artist, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr, was found to be carrying a gun and bullets when police searched a private plane in Miami in December last year.
"Your honor, I plead guilty," he reportedly told US District Judge Kathleen Williams during a virtual hearing.
The Miami Herald said that Lil Wayne -- who has a home in south Florida -- admitted the gold-plated pistol found in his luggage was his. He told police the weapon had been given to him as a Father's Day gift.
Police also found what was believed to be cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy, heroin, painkillers and more than $25,000 in cash, the newspaper said.
But the sole federal weapons charge filed in federal court in Miami stems from the fact that Lil Wayne was convicted more than a decade ago on a separate firearms charge.a
Convicted felons are barred from owning firearms under federal law.
The five-time Grammy winner -- who more recently made headlines for meeting with and voicing support for President Donald Trump -- will face sentencing on January 28.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-11--Everton blame Covid for record £140 million loss

Everton owner Farhad Moshiri ( right ) has pumped in £100 million to help cover the club 's huge losses Everton have announced club record losses of £139.9 million ( $ 186 million ) after the implications of the coronavirus pandemic significantly impacted revenues .
The Toffees said the impact of Covid-19 amounted to an unforeseen loss of £67.3 million due to a cut in matchday revenue and television rebates .
However , the figures show Everton would still have made a huge loss without the disruption of the pandemic after also posting a then-record loss of £111.8 million last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on new players for the 2019/20 season and have splashed another £70 million in the most recent transfer window as well as recruiting Carlo Ancelotti as manager on a lucrative four-and-a-half year deal in December 2019 .
The sacking of former manager Marco Silva and his coaching staff a year ago amounted to £6.6 million in compensation costs , while another £20 million was spent on preparation for a new stadium .
Everton chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale said : `` The impact of Covid-19 having a profound , wide-reaching and material impact on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , we were forecasting record revenues in excess of £200m .
Our final accounts show that a significant proportion of our losses have been directly attributable to the pandemic . ''
To help offset the losses majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri pumped in £50 million of his own money during the last financial year up to June 2020 and has already put in a further £50 million since .
That took his investment in the club since assuming control in February 2016 to £400m with plans for a further £50m to be injected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everton finished 12th in the Premier League last season and have slipped to ninth this season after a bright start to the campaign took them top in October .

London (AFP) –
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Everton have announced club record losses of £139.9 million ($186 million) after the implications of the coronavirus pandemic significantly impacted revenues.
The Toffees said the impact of Covid-19 amounted to an unforeseen loss of £67.3 million due to a cut in matchday revenue and television rebates.
However, the figures show Everton would still have made a huge loss without the disruption of the pandemic after also posting a then-record loss of £111.8 million last year.
The club spent £113 million on new players for the 2019/20 season and have splashed another £70 million in the most recent transfer window as well as recruiting Carlo Ancelotti as manager on a lucrative four-and-a-half year deal in December 2019.
The sacking of former manager Marco Silva and his coaching staff a year ago amounted to £6.6 million in compensation costs, while another £20 million was spent on preparation for a new stadium.
Everton chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale said: "The impact of Covid-19 having a profound, wide-reaching and material impact on our figures.
"Prior to the pandemic, we were forecasting record revenues in excess of £200m. Our final accounts show that a significant proportion of our losses have been directly attributable to the pandemic."
To help offset the losses majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri pumped in £50 million of his own money during the last financial year up to June 2020 and has already put in a further £50 million since.
That took his investment in the club since assuming control in February 2016 to £400m with plans for a further £50m to be injected by the end of this season.
Everton finished 12th in the Premier League last season and have slipped to ninth this season after a bright start to the campaign took them top in October.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-11--'Surprised' Kolbe double ends Ulster's two-year unbeaten home run

Cheslin Kolbe also scored a double in last season 's quarter-final win over Ulster South Africa Rugby World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe said he was stunned by his own ability after scoring twice as Toulouse started their European Champions Cup campaign with a 29-22 victory at Ulster on Friday .
Kolbe crossed in superb fashion either side of the break as he took his tally to 10 tries in as many games since the sport 's restart in September .
For Ulster , it was a first loss at their Kingspan Stadium since October 2018 .
`` There are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and get a win .
I think we can take a lot of confidence from this and keep on building , '' Kolbe told BT Sport .
`` To be honest , I surprise myself and I just think it 's my body that just takes over .
`` It 's not about me , it 's about the team and the forwards who lay the foundation for us backline players to give us opportunities to finish them off , '' he added The hosts ' coach Dan McFarland made five changes from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago as hooker Rob Herring and three-quarter Jacob Stockdale returned from Ireland duty .
Australia lock Rory Arnold and New Zealand 's Rugby World Cup winner Charlie Faumuina returned to Ugo Mola 's starting lineup after last Saturday 's league victory at Bayonne .
McFarland 's men led 12-0 after 16 minutes as Herring and fly-half Ian Madigan crossed in greasy conditions .
Mola 's side responded immediately as Kolbe chipped and chased to finish from 50 metres in a sublime individual effort as he beat three defenders .
The joint-four time record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Antoine Dupont broke from halfway and sold opposition full-back Michael Lowry a dummy to slide over .
The home team dominated after the interval as scrum-half John Cooney kicked a penalty and Herring added a second either side of 2.13-metre Arnold 's first try of the season for a 22-21 lead with a quarter of an hour to play .
Kolbe 's second moment of brilliance came as the former Stormers winger received the ball on the left touchline .
He sidestepped Stockdale within centimetres of the whitewash and then found his way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all fours .
Thomas Ramos made up for the missed conversion with a 50-metre penalty goal to seal the win and a repeat result of last season 's quarter-final .
Earlier , Argentina winger Santiago Cordero dived over with seven minutes remaining in Bordeaux-Begles ' 16-12 victory at Northampton Saints .
Saints coach Chris Boyd said after the loss he will focus on the league and is likely to pick a vastly different side for next Saturday 's trip to Leinster .
`` We 'll worry about the Premiership for now , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'll probably change tack and give some youngsters a run and give some boys a rest , '' he added .
On Saturday , four-time winners Leinster head to Montpellier as Toulon host Sale Sharks , who will be without head coach Steve Diamond after he resigned during the week .
On Sunday , champions Exeter Chiefs welcome Glasgow Warriors with 16 players remaining from October 's final win over Racing 92 , who in turn host Connacht .

Paris (AFP) –
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South Africa Rugby World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe said he was stunned by his own ability after scoring twice as Toulouse started their European Champions Cup campaign with a 29-22 victory at Ulster on Friday.
Kolbe crossed in superb fashion either side of the break as he took his tally to 10 tries in as many games since the sport's restart in September.
For Ulster, it was a first loss at their Kingspan Stadium since October 2018.
"There are not a lot of teams that come here and get a win. I think we can take a lot of confidence from this and keep on building," Kolbe told BT Sport.
"To be honest, I surprise myself and I just think it's my body that just takes over.
"It's not about me, it's about the team and the forwards who lay the foundation for us backline players to give us opportunities to finish them off," he added
The hosts' coach Dan McFarland made five changes from their Pro14 hammering of Edinburgh two weeks ago as hooker Rob Herring and three-quarter Jacob Stockdale returned from Ireland duty.
Australia lock Rory Arnold and New Zealand's Rugby World Cup winner Charlie Faumuina returned to Ugo Mola's starting lineup after last Saturday's league victory at Bayonne.
McFarland's men led 12-0 after 16 minutes as Herring and fly-half Ian Madigan crossed in greasy conditions.
Mola's side responded immediately as Kolbe chipped and chased to finish from 50 metres in a sublime individual effort as he beat three defenders.
The joint-four time record winners led 14-12 at the break as Antoine Dupont broke from halfway and sold opposition full-back Michael Lowry a dummy to slide over.
The home team dominated after the interval as scrum-half John Cooney kicked a penalty and Herring added a second either side of 2.13-metre Arnold's first try of the season for a 22-21 lead with a quarter of an hour to play.
Kolbe's second moment of brilliance came as the former Stormers winger received the ball on the left touchline.
He sidestepped Stockdale within centimetres of the whitewash and then found his way through for a try despite falling to all fours.
Thomas Ramos made up for the missed conversion with a 50-metre penalty goal to seal the win and a repeat result of last season's quarter-final.
- Saints 'worry' -
Earlier, Argentina winger Santiago Cordero dived over with seven minutes remaining in Bordeaux-Begles' 16-12 victory at Northampton Saints.
Saints coach Chris Boyd said after the loss he will focus on the league and is likely to pick a vastly different side for next Saturday's trip to Leinster.
"We'll worry about the Premiership for now," he told BT Sport.
"We'll probably change tack and give some youngsters a run and give some boys a rest," he added.
On Saturday, four-time winners Leinster head to Montpellier as Toulon host Sale Sharks, who will be without head coach Steve Diamond after he resigned during the week.
On Sunday, champions Exeter Chiefs welcome Glasgow Warriors with 16 players remaining from October's final win over Racing 92, who in turn host Connacht.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-12--Reforming France's police watchdog, vertical farming in Denmark and the use of 'deep fakes'

Amid increasing concerns over police brutality , France 's police watchdog has been targeted for a controversial reform .
We also take a look at the human cost of Armenia 's defeat in Nagorno-Karabakh , Denmark unveils a giant wind-powered vertical farm , and as the pandemic continues to limit movement , a French soap opera has found a high-tech way to deal with the absence of an isolating cast member .
Outrage over high-profile cases of police brutality has revived talk of a culture of impunity in French law enforcement and heightened scrutiny of the country ’ s police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ de la Police nationale ) , which critics say is hamstrung by a lack of independence .
France debates human rights at home while still selling weapons to oppressive regimes As French President Emmanuel Macron faces accusations that he is moving to curtail the civic rights in his country and reduce transparency , the recent state visit of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi underscored France ’ s longstanding willingness to turn a blind eye to systemic oppression when it comes to arms sales .
After bold promises , Macron on the defence over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promised €15 billion in new funding last June to speed up the move to a greener economy and said he would be ready to call a referendum on revising the constitution to include climate targets .
Six months later , he finds himself defending his record against critics .
At least two people have been killed and more than 140 injured in Japan in the last six months as the number of bear sightings in populated areas has reached a five-year high and the country is facing its worst year ever for attacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depopulation , bear attacks could become more frequent still .
Amid the verbal barbs , Macron and Turkey ’ s Erdogan may be ideal foes Relations between Turkey and France sank to new lows this week as the countries ’ heads of state engaged in the latest bout of vitriol that had all the colour and spectacle of a ringside sport .
Inside a warehouse in an industrial zone in Copenhagen vast stacks of plants soar almost to the ceiling .
In time , this newly opened vertical farm will be one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Denmark 's windfarms will ensure it is carbon-neutral , according to the company behind it .
Are the French police facing a crisis of confidence ?
Historically , the relationship between the French people and the French police has been testy , but in recent years there 's been a downward spiral , which begs the question : Is the French police facing a crisis of confidence ?
This spike in mistrust comes amid public fury over a new security bill deemed a danger to civil liberties .
President Emmanuel Macron says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France 's security forces , from their working conditions to community relations .
He 's promised to beef up trust between the French and their police .
But is it too late ?
As the pandemic continues to stand in the way of filming , the popular soap opera `` Plus Belle La Vie '' ( `` Life 's So Sweet '' ) has turned to cutting-edge technology to contend with the absence of a self-isolating cast member .
The show , which is set in the southern city of Marseille , called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ YouTuber who is a specialist in the art of `` deepfake '' , a technique that allows faces to be superimposed onto bodies .
Culture left out in the cold as French lockdown lifts progressively French Prime Minister Jean Castex dashed hopes among art lovers and industry professionals when he announced that theatres , museums and cinemas in France would not be permitted to open before the New Year .
We take a look at some of the frustration felt in the film industry , where producers and distributors had been looking forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With nearly two decades of music behind her , Norwegian singer-songwriter Ane Brun has made a name for herself the world over as a moving and passionate songwriter .
This autumn , she 's back with her first body of original music in five years , two albums released a month apart : `` After the Great Storm '' and `` How Beauty Holds the Hand of Sorrow '' .
She tells FRANCE 24 about the different moods and musical landscapes on the album and how they reflect two sides of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ old erotic movies on our stocking filler list FRANCE 24 's film critic discusses the week 's film news , including her favourite French film of the year , the lesbian love story `` Deux '' ( `` Two of Us '' ) , which has been submitted to the Oscars in the International Film category .
We also look at some remarkable images ahead of the 125th anniversary of the world 's first public movie screening on December 28 , 1895 , in Paris .
'We refuse any deal that would involve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister tells FRANCE 24 FRANCE 24 spoke to Salah el Din Al-Namroush , defence minister for one of Libya 's two rival governments , the UN-recognised Government of National Accord .
He described influential rebel commander Khalifa Haftar , who commands the Libyan National Army and retains controls of large swaths of the country , as a `` war criminal '' and said no future political agreement could be reached with him .
Lord Chris Patten : 'Hong Kong 's been put into handcuffs by the Chinese regime' Lord Chris Patten , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kong , said China had betrayed its commitment to preserve `` one country , two systems '' in the city .
`` Hong Kong has been put into handcuffs by the Chinese regime , '' Patten said , referring to Beijing 's crackdown there in recent months .
Speaking of the Chinese Communist Party , he was unequivocal : `` You ca n't trust [ it ] further than you can spit . ''
On August 4 , 2020 , twin blasts struck the port of Beirut as some 2,700 tonnes of ammonium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 200 people were killed , thousands were injured and entire neighbourhoods were destroyed .
As locals sprang into action , the Lebanese army was on the front line to prevent looting and secure the scene .
Our Beirut correspondent followed some of these soldiers as they faced what may turn out to be the biggest challenge of their careers .
YOU ARE HERE The white blanket of France 's eastern Jura Mountains stretches out for 340 kilometres along the Swiss border .
Trekking across this wilderness is an unforgettable journey .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a three-day hike through pine trees , frozen lakes , gentle slopes and sunny peaks .
At night we stop off at a chalet to sample rösti , a local Jura specialty .
At the Franco-Swiss border , we discover a passage where Resistance fighters and Jews risked their lives to flee occupied France between 1941 and 1945 .
The human cost of Armenia 's defeat in Nagorno-Karabakh Last month , a Russian-brokered ceasefire brought an end to six weeks of fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the disputed region of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and forced tens of thousands more to flee their homes .
In the aftermath of the war , some in Armenia are still searching for family members who are yet to be accounted for .
FRANCE 24 's Roméo Langlois and Mohamed Farhat report .
Fed up , lonely and frustrated : France 's seniors speak out In France , patients over the age of 65 account for at least 92 percent of all Covid-19 deaths across the country , and contagion is especially high among senior citizens .
But in the face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s been a hard balance to strike for authorities , families and pensioners themselves , caught between the fear of infection and the misery of isolation .
To give us her take on this issue , we meet activist Armelle Le Bigot Macaux , who ’ s the president of the School of European Grand Parents , an association that supports and advocates for grandparents .
In 2020 , the world had to produce , consume and communicate differently The year 2020 will go down in history – although not necessarily for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January , the pandemic wasn ’ t yet on everyone ’ s radar , and Paris Fashion Week went ahead as scheduled .
People hugged , kissed , and didn ’ t think twice about hopping on a plane to attend the event .
But when France went into lockdown in March , the world of fashion had to reinvent itself , finding new ways to create , consume and communicate .

WEEK IN REVIEW
Amid increasing concerns over police brutality, France's police watchdog has been targeted for a controversial reform. We also take a look at the human cost of Armenia's defeat in Nagorno-Karabakh, Denmark unveils a giant wind-powered vertical farm, and as the pandemic continues to limit movement, a French soap opera has found a high-tech way to deal with the absence of an isolating cast member.
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ARTICLES
‘A lack of public trust’: France mulls reform of country’s police watchdog
Outrage over high-profile cases of police brutality has revived talk of a culture of impunity in French law enforcement and heightened scrutiny of the country’s police watchdog, the IGPN (l'inspection générale de la Police nationale), which critics say is hamstrung by a lack of independence.
France debates human rights at home while still selling weapons to oppressive regimes
As French President Emmanuel Macron faces accusations that he is moving to curtail the civic rights in his country and reduce transparency, the recent state visit of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi underscored France’s longstanding willingness to turn a blind eye to systemic oppression when it comes to arms sales.
After bold promises, Macron on the defence over his climate policies
French President Emmanuel Macron promised €15 billion in new funding last June to speed up the move to a greener economy and said he would be ready to call a referendum on revising the constitution to include climate targets. Six months later, he finds himself defending his record against critics.
French President Emmanuel Macron speaking at the Elysée Palace on December 1 2020. BENOIT TESSIER POOL/AFP/Archives
Japan contends with record number of bear attacks amid rural depopulation
At least two people have been killed and more than 140 injured in Japan in the last six months as the number of bear sightings in populated areas has reached a five-year high and the country is facing its worst year ever for attacks. Experts warn that with increased rural depopulation, bear attacks could become more frequent still.
Japan recorded its highest number of bear attacks ever in 2020 with experts warning of more frequent attacks. © France 24
Amid the verbal barbs, Macron and Turkey’s Erdogan may be ideal foes
Relations between Turkey and France sank to new lows this week as the countries’ heads of state engaged in the latest bout of vitriol that had all the colour and spectacle of a ringside sport.
VIDEO REPORTS
A wind-powered vertical farm: Giant urban farm opens in Denmark
Inside a warehouse in an industrial zone in Copenhagen vast stacks of plants soar almost to the ceiling. In time, this newly opened vertical farm will be one of the largest in Europe, while power from Denmark's windfarms will ensure it is carbon-neutral, according to the company behind it.
A vertical farm run by Nordic Harvest in Copenhagen, Denmark. © AFP / FRANCE 24
TV SHOWS ONLINE
FRENCH CONNECTIONS
Are the French police facing a crisis of confidence?
Historically, the relationship between the French people and the French police has been testy, but in recent years there's been a downward spiral, which begs the question: Is the French police facing a crisis of confidence? This spike in mistrust comes amid public fury over a new security bill deemed a danger to civil liberties. President Emmanuel Macron says there's an urgent need to reform France's security forces, from their working conditions to community relations. He's promised to beef up trust between the French and their police. But is it too late?
ENCORE!
Face swap: France's top soap uses 'deepfake' technology for self-isolating actress
As the pandemic continues to stand in the way of filming, the popular soap opera "Plus Belle La Vie" ("Life's So Sweet") has turned to cutting-edge technology to contend with the absence of a self-isolating cast member. The show, which is set in the southern city of Marseille, called on the help of an anonymous French YouTuber who is a specialist in the art of "deepfake", a technique that allows faces to be superimposed onto bodies.
ENCORE © FRANCE 24
Culture left out in the cold as French lockdown lifts progressively
French Prime Minister Jean Castex dashed hopes among art lovers and industry professionals when he announced that theatres, museums and cinemas in France would not be permitted to open before the New Year. We take a look at some of the frustration felt in the film industry, where producers and distributors had been looking forward to a lucrative moment for new releases.
ENCORE © FRANCE 24
Norwegian singer-songwriter Ane Brun releases powerful and moving back-to-back albums
With nearly two decades of music behind her, Norwegian singer-songwriter Ane Brun has made a name for herself the world over as a moving and passionate songwriter. This autumn, she's back with her first body of original music in five years, two albums released a month apart: "After the Great Storm" and "How Beauty Holds the Hand of Sorrow". She tells FRANCE 24 about the different moods and musical landscapes on the album and how they reflect two sides of her.
Film show: Clint Eastwood and old erotic movies on our stocking filler list
FRANCE 24's film critic discusses the week's film news, including her favourite French film of the year, the lesbian love story "Deux" ("Two of Us"), which has been submitted to the Oscars in the International Film category. We also look at some remarkable images ahead of the 125th anniversary of the world's first public movie screening on December 28, 1895, in Paris.
ENCORE © FRANCE 24
THE INTERVIEW
THE INTERVIEW © FRANCE 24
'We refuse any deal that would involve Haftar,' Libya’s defence minister tells FRANCE 24
FRANCE 24 spoke to Salah el Din Al-Namroush, defence minister for one of Libya's two rival governments, the UN-recognised Government of National Accord. He described influential rebel commander Khalifa Haftar, who commands the Libyan National Army and retains controls of large swaths of the country, as a "war criminal" and said no future political agreement could be reached with him.
Lord Chris Patten: 'Hong Kong's been put into handcuffs by the Chinese regime'
Lord Chris Patten, who was the last British governor of Hong Kong, said China had betrayed its commitment to preserve "one country, two systems" in the city. "Hong Kong has been put into handcuffs by the Chinese regime," Patten said, referring to Beijing's crackdown there in recent months. Speaking of the Chinese Communist Party, he was unequivocal: "You can't trust [it] further than you can spit."
REPORTERS
Beirut port blast: Lebanon's army to the rescue
On August 4, 2020, twin blasts struck the port of Beirut as some 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate went up in smoke. More than 200 people were killed, thousands were injured and entire neighbourhoods were destroyed. As locals sprang into action, the Lebanese army was on the front line to prevent looting and secure the scene. Our Beirut correspondent followed some of these soldiers as they faced what may turn out to be the biggest challenge of their careers.
YOU ARE HERE
France's Jura Mountains, a paradise for cross-country skiers
The white blanket of France's eastern Jura Mountains stretches out for 340 kilometres along the Swiss border. Trekking across this wilderness is an unforgettable journey. We follow a small group of cross-country skiers for a three-day hike through pine trees, frozen lakes, gentle slopes and sunny peaks. At night we stop off at a chalet to sample rösti, a local Jura specialty. At the Franco-Swiss border, we discover a passage where Resistance fighters and Jews risked their lives to flee occupied France between 1941 and 1945.
You are here © France 24 screen grab
FOCUS
The human cost of Armenia's defeat in Nagorno-Karabakh
Last month, a Russian-brokered ceasefire brought an end to six weeks of fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The conflict left thousands dead and forced tens of thousands more to flee their homes. In the aftermath of the war, some in Armenia are still searching for family members who are yet to be accounted for. FRANCE 24's Roméo Langlois and Mohamed Farhat report.
Screenshot from FRANCE 24's FOCUS programme © FRANCE 24 screengrab.
FRANCE IN FOCUS
Fed up, lonely and frustrated: France's seniors speak out
In France, patients over the age of 65 account for at least 92 percent of all Covid-19 deaths across the country, and contagion is especially high among senior citizens. But in the face of a second lockdown, it’s been a hard balance to strike for authorities, families and pensioners themselves, caught between the fear of infection and the misery of isolation. To give us her take on this issue, we meet activist Armelle Le Bigot Macaux, who’s the president of the School of European Grand Parents, an association that supports and advocates for grandparents.
FASHION
In 2020, the world had to produce, consume and communicate differently
The year 2020 will go down in history – although not necessarily for the best reasons! However, back in January, the pandemic wasn’t yet on everyone’s radar, and Paris Fashion Week went ahead as scheduled. People hugged, kissed, and didn’t think twice about hopping on a plane to attend the event. But when France went into lockdown in March, the world of fashion had to reinvent itself, finding new ways to create, consume and communicate.
Laetitia Casta - Jacquemus “l’année 97“ Collection Hiver 2020 © Valentinherfray
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france24--2020-12-12--Verstappen on top in final Abu Dhabi practice

Max Verstappen 's only race win of the season came at Silverstone on August 9 Max Verstappen topped the times ahead of his Red Bull team-mate Alex Albon in Saturday 's third and final free practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix .
The Dutchman clocked a best lap in one minute and 36.251 to finish half a second ahead of the London-born Thai driver as the Milton Keynes-based team shone in perfect conditions at the Yas Marina Circuit before Sunday 's season-ending race .
Renault 's Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon locked out the second row ahead of Lando @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton who was sixth in the leading Mercedes .
In an unusual-looking top ten , as most teams prepared for the much-cooler conditions expected for qualifying later on Saturday , Lance Stroll was seventh for Racing Point ahead of Carlos Sainz of McLaren .
Valtteri Bottas , who had topped the times in Friday 's second session after Verstappen had been fastest in the first , was ninth in the second Mercedes ahead of last weekend 's Sakhir victor Sergio Perez in the second Racing Point .
It appeared that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ session with the same level of competitive intent – Mercedes , in particular , seemed to be holding back on engine power to preserve their units .
Ahead of the final event of the campaign , reliability may be an issue as engines and other parts reach the end of their Formula One seasonal life span .
In beautiful conditions , with an air temperature of 25 and the track at 38 degrees , the session began slowly and 16 minutes had passed before Nicholas Latifi was first man out in his Williams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bottas swiftly went top on softs only to be replaced by Albon and his team-mate Verstappen .
Hamilton persevered with his softs and split the Red Bulls with 15 minutes remaining .
The champion continued working and trimmed Verstappen 's advantage to two-tenths as both Ferraris found speed , Leclerc taking fifth and Vettel seventh ahead of a remarkable Russell , who had hoisted his Williams beyond expectations .
In the final 10 minutes , a flurry of action saw a rush of improved times as the teams fine-tuned ahead of qualifying , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dusk .

Abu Dhabi (AFP) –
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Max Verstappen topped the times ahead of his Red Bull team-mate Alex Albon in Saturday's third and final free practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Dutchman clocked a best lap in one minute and 36.251 to finish half a second ahead of the London-born Thai driver as the Milton Keynes-based team shone in perfect conditions at the Yas Marina Circuit before Sunday's season-ending race.
Renault's Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon locked out the second row ahead of Lando Norris, fifth for McLaren, and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton who was sixth in the leading Mercedes.
In an unusual-looking top ten, as most teams prepared for the much-cooler conditions expected for qualifying later on Saturday, Lance Stroll was seventh for Racing Point ahead of Carlos Sainz of McLaren.
Valtteri Bottas, who had topped the times in Friday's second session after Verstappen had been fastest in the first, was ninth in the second Mercedes ahead of last weekend's Sakhir victor Sergio Perez in the second Racing Point.
It appeared that the team were not all treating the session with the same level of competitive intent – Mercedes, in particular, seemed to be holding back on engine power to preserve their units.
Ahead of the final event of the campaign, reliability may be an issue as engines and other parts reach the end of their Formula One seasonal life span.
In beautiful conditions, with an air temperature of 25 and the track at 38 degrees, the session began slowly and 16 minutes had passed before Nicholas Latifi was first man out in his Williams.
Mercedes emerged five minutes later and Bottas swiftly went top on softs only to be replaced by Albon and his team-mate Verstappen. Hamilton persevered with his softs and split the Red Bulls with 15 minutes remaining.
The champion continued working and trimmed Verstappen's advantage to two-tenths as both Ferraris found speed, Leclerc taking fifth and Vettel seventh ahead of a remarkable Russell, who had hoisted his Williams beyond expectations.
In the final 10 minutes, a flurry of action saw a rush of improved times as the teams fine-tuned ahead of qualifying, scheduled for later in cooler conditions at dusk.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-12--Indian farmers and police in road showdowns as protests worsen

Indian police stopped farmers blocking major highways and taking over more roads into the capital on Saturday as a two-week campaign against market reform laws intensified .
Police deployed in large numbers stopped groups of hundreds of farmers from blocking the main highways from Delhi to the northern cities of Agra -- the home of the Taj Mahal -- and Jaipur .
Some farmers were detained on the expressway to Agra while other groups took over at least two toll booths and let cars and trucks pass without paying .
Thousands of farmers have already blocked two key roads into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday but were again stopped by police who put up security cordons .
Farmers squatted in the service lane at Ghazipur on the edge of Delhi chanting slogans against the right wing government .
Farmers ' leaders and ministers have held several rounds of talks but they have broken down without agreement .
Agriculture unions want three laws which allow farmers to sell their produce on free markets to be repealed and a decades-old guaranteed minimum price system to be maintained .
The government has said it is only ready to make some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Piyush Goyal said Friday that the protests had been hijacked by `` Maoist elements '' but Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought to reassure farmers that the changes would boost their incomes .
`` Reforms will help draw investment in the agriculture sector and benefit farmers , '' he told an industry body on Saturday .
`` The aim of all government reforms is to make farmers prosperous .
When farmers prosper , the country will prosper . ''
Economists say reforms are needed in the rural sector which provides jobs for about 70 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only contributes about 15 percent of the $ 2.7-trillion economy .
Farmers leaders say the reforms will only benefit big corporations who will be allowed to buy produce .
Their protest has been backed by some Indian diaspora communities in Britain , Canada and other countries who have staged their own protests .

New Delhi (AFP) –
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Indian police stopped farmers blocking major highways and taking over more roads into the capital on Saturday as a two-week campaign against market reform laws intensified.
Police deployed in large numbers stopped groups of hundreds of farmers from blocking the main highways from Delhi to the northern cities of Agra -- the home of the Taj Mahal -- and Jaipur.
Some farmers were detained on the expressway to Agra while other groups took over at least two toll booths and let cars and trucks pass without paying.
Thousands of farmers have already blocked two key roads into Delhi and tried to take over more Saturday but were again stopped by police who put up security cordons.
Farmers squatted in the service lane at Ghazipur on the edge of Delhi chanting slogans against the right wing government.
Farmers' leaders and ministers have held several rounds of talks but they have broken down without agreement.
Agriculture unions want three laws which allow farmers to sell their produce on free markets to be repealed and a decades-old guaranteed minimum price system to be maintained.
The government has said it is only ready to make some amendments.
Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal said Friday that the protests had been hijacked by "Maoist elements" but Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought to reassure farmers that the changes would boost their incomes.
"Reforms will help draw investment in the agriculture sector and benefit farmers," he told an industry body on Saturday.
"The aim of all government reforms is to make farmers prosperous. When farmers prosper, the country will prosper."
Economists say reforms are needed in the rural sector which provides jobs for about 70 percent of the 1.3 billion population but only contributes about 15 percent of the $2.7-trillion economy.
Farmers leaders say the reforms will only benefit big corporations who will be allowed to buy produce.
Their protest has been backed by some Indian diaspora communities in Britain, Canada and other countries who have staged their own protests.
© 2020 AFP