france24--2020-12-08--Three Senegal fathers sentenced after pushing sons to migrate to Europe

Women wait to buy fish off incoming boats at the port of Mbour .
Poverty and dwindling catches have led many young people in Senegal 's fishing communities to attempt the dangerous crossing to the Canary Islands A Senegalese court on Tuesday handed down jail terms to three fathers accused of pushing their sons to migrate to Europe by sea , sending them on a trip that left one of them dead , a defence lawyer said .
In a high-profile case , the trio were given two-year jail terms , 23 months of which were suspended , on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others in danger , '' attorney Assane Dioma Ndiaye said .
They were acquitted of the charge of abetting migrant trafficking , the lawyer said .
The sons were with other migrants who boarded a canoe to make the crossing from Senegal to Spain 's Canary Islands , the first step in a plan to reach continental Europe .
But one of them , a lad aged about 15 nicknamed Doudou , fell ill and died during the trip .
The fathers of the three , all of them fishermen in the coastal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couple of weeks later .
Doudou 's fate triggered uproar in Senegal , prompting anguished debate about poverty , parental pressure and the allure of life in wealthy but distant Europe .
His father had paid 250,000 CFA francs ( $ 460 / 380 euros ) to a smuggler , who was to take the boy to Spain .
His destination after that was Italy , where he hoped to sign up for a football training academy .
A source close to the investigation said Doudou `` died after having problems eating '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unclear , as according to local media his body was tipped overboard after he died .
The children of the two other fathers survived the attempted crossing and returned home .
`` I wanted to open the doors of success to him , '' the father was quoted by a local newspaper as saying during the trial .
`` I took him to see the marabouts ( witch doctors ) so that they would pray for him .
If I knew that he was n't going to come back I would never have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court : `` I am here before you today but my spirit has left me . ''
The prosecution had called for two-year terms against the three , while the defence had urged their acquittal .
The Canaries lie more than 100 kilometres ( 62 miles ) from the coast of Africa at their closest point , and many boats -- big canoes also called pirogues -- are overcrowded , underpowered and in poor shape .
Over 500 people have died this year , mostly in October and November , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( IOM ) , compared to 210 fatalities for the whole of last year .
The pressure to migrate is especially strong among fishing communities .
Coastal villages in Senegal have been badly hit by dwindling catches , allegedly inflicted by foreign factory ships , and by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic .

Dakar (AFP) –
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A Senegalese court on Tuesday handed down jail terms to three fathers accused of pushing their sons to migrate to Europe by sea, sending them on a trip that left one of them dead, a defence lawyer said.
In a high-profile case, the trio were given two-year jail terms, 23 months of which were suspended, on a charge of "placing the lives of others in danger," attorney Assane Dioma Ndiaye said.
They were acquitted of the charge of abetting migrant trafficking, the lawyer said.
The sons were with other migrants who boarded a canoe to make the crossing from Senegal to Spain's Canary Islands, the first step in a plan to reach continental Europe.
But one of them, a lad aged about 15 nicknamed Doudou, fell ill and died during the trip.
The fathers of the three, all of them fishermen in the coastal town of Mbour, were arrested a couple of weeks later.
Doudou's fate triggered uproar in Senegal, prompting anguished debate about poverty, parental pressure and the allure of life in wealthy but distant Europe.
His father had paid 250,000 CFA francs ($460 / 380 euros) to a smuggler, who was to take the boy to Spain. His destination after that was Italy, where he hoped to sign up for a football training academy.
A source close to the investigation said Doudou "died after having problems eating" during the trip.
Further details are unclear, as according to local media his body was tipped overboard after he died.
The children of the two other fathers survived the attempted crossing and returned home.
"I wanted to open the doors of success to him," the father was quoted by a local newspaper as saying during the trial.
"I took him to see the marabouts (witch doctors) so that they would pray for him. If I knew that he wasn't going to come back I would never have taken the risk."
He told the court: "I am here before you today but my spirit has left me."
The prosecution had called for two-year terms against the three, while the defence had urged their acquittal.
The Canaries lie more than 100 kilometres (62 miles) from the coast of Africa at their closest point, and many boats -- big canoes also called pirogues -- are overcrowded, underpowered and in poor shape.
Over 500 people have died this year, mostly in October and November, according to the UN's International Office for Migration (IOM), compared to 210 fatalities for the whole of last year.
The pressure to migrate is especially strong among fishing communities. Coastal villages in Senegal have been badly hit by dwindling catches, allegedly inflicted by foreign factory ships, and by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-08--‘Safe harbor’ provision secures Biden’s Electoral College win

Congress is required to accept the Electoral College votes that will be cast next week under the so-called `` Safe harbor '' provision .
All US states except Wisconsin appear to have met a deadline under federal law to resolve disputes arising from the November 3 presidential election , thereby ensuring Democrat Joe Biden 's Electoral College victory .
Tuesday is the so-called safe harbor deadline for states to resolve disputes arising from the election .
Under US law , Congress will consider a state 's election result to be `` conclusive '' if it is finalized by the safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every state appears to have met the deadline , which essentially means Congress has to accept the electoral votes that will be cast next week and sent to the Capitol for counting on January 6 .
Those votes will officially elect Biden as the country 's next president .
“ What federal law requires is that if a state has completed its post-election certification by December 8 , Congress is required to accept those results , ” said Rebecca Green , an election law professor at William & Mary law school in Williamsburg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a creation of the Constitution but Congress sets the date for federal elections and , in the case of the presidency , determines when presidential electors gather in state capitals to vote .
In 2020 that date will be December 14 .
But Congress also set another deadline , six days before electors meet , to insulate state results from being challenged in Congress .
By day 's end on December 14 , every state is expected to have made its election results official , awarding 306 electoral votes to Biden and 232 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being paid to the normally obscure safe harbor provision is a function of Trump 's unrelenting efforts to challenge the legitimacy of the election .
He has refused to concede , made unsupported claims of fraud and called on Republican lawmakers in key states to appoint electors who would vote for him even after those states have certified a Biden win .
But Trump 's arguments have gone nowhere in court in Arizona , Georgia , Michigan , Nevada , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin .
Most of his campaign 's lawsuits in state courts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with the exception of Wisconsin , where a hearing is scheduled for later this week .
Like the others , the lawsuit does not appear to have much chance of succeeding .
But because it was filed in accordance with state law procedures for challenging election results , “ it 's looking to me like Wisconsin is going to miss the safe harbor deadline because of that ” , said Edward Foley , a professor of election law at Ohio State University 's Moritz School of Law , in comments to AP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hear the case , has acknowledged that the case would push the state outside the electoral vote safe harbor .
Missing the deadline wo n't deprive Wisconsin of its 10 electoral votes .
Biden electors still will meet in Madison on Monday to cast their votes and there 's no reason to expect that Congress wo n't accept them .
In any case , Biden would still have more than the 270 votes he needs even without Wisconsin .
But lawmakers in Washington could theoretically second-guess the slate of electors from any state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foley said .
Already one member of the House of Representatives , Republican Mo Brooks of Alabama , has said he will challenge the electoral votes for Biden on January 6 .
Brooks would need to object in writing and be joined by at least one senator .
If that were to happen , both chambers would debate the objections and vote on whether to sustain them .
But unless both houses agreed to the objections , they would fail .
The unwillingness of Trump and his supporters to concede is “ dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side wins , one side loses and it 's essential that the losing side accepts the winner ’ s victory .
What is really being challenged right now is our capacity to play by those rules , '' Foley said .
The safe harbor provision played a prominent role in the Bush v. Gore case after the 2000 presidential election .
The Supreme Court shut down the state of Florida ’ s court-ordered recount because the safe harbor deadline was approaching .
The court 's opinion was issued December 12 , the deadline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gore conceded the race to George W. Bush , then the Texas governor , the next day .
In his dissent , Justice Stephen Breyer said the deadline that really mattered was the day on which the Electoral College was scheduled to meet .
Whether there was time to conduct a recount by then “ is a matter for the state courts to determine ” , Breyer wrote .
When Florida 's electoral votes , decisive in Bush 's victory , reached Congress , several Black House members protested but no senators joined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who presided over the count as president of the Senate , to gavel down the objections from his fellow Democrats .

All US states except Wisconsin appear to have met a deadline under federal law to resolve disputes arising from the November 3 presidential election, thereby ensuring Democrat Joe Biden's Electoral College victory.
Congress is required to accept the Electoral College votes that will be cast next week under the so-called "Safe harbor" provision.
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Tuesday is the so-called safe harbor deadline for states to resolve disputes arising from the election. Under US law, Congress will consider a state's election result to be "conclusive" if it is finalized by the safe harbor date.
Other than Wisconsin, every state appears to have met the deadline, which essentially means Congress has to accept the electoral votes that will be cast next week and sent to the Capitol for counting on January 6.
Those votes will officially elect Biden as the country's next president.
“What federal law requires is that if a state has completed its post-election certification by December 8, Congress is required to accept those results,” said Rebecca Green, an election law professor at William & Mary law school in Williamsburg, Virginia.
The Electoral College is a creation of the Constitution but Congress sets the date for federal elections and, in the case of the presidency, determines when presidential electors gather in state capitals to vote.
In 2020 that date will be December 14. But Congress also set another deadline, six days before electors meet, to insulate state results from being challenged in Congress.
By day's end on December 14, every state is expected to have made its election results official, awarding 306 electoral votes to Biden and 232 to President Donald Trump.
Trump's refusal to accept defeat
The attention being paid to the normally obscure safe harbor provision is a function of Trump's unrelenting efforts to challenge the legitimacy of the election. He has refused to concede, made unsupported claims of fraud and called on Republican lawmakers in key states to appoint electors who would vote for him even after those states have certified a Biden win.
But Trump's arguments have gone nowhere in court in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Most of his campaign's lawsuits in state courts challenging those Biden victories have been dismissed, with the exception of Wisconsin, where a hearing is scheduled for later this week.
Like the others, the lawsuit does not appear to have much chance of succeeding. But because it was filed in accordance with state law procedures for challenging election results, “it's looking to me like Wisconsin is going to miss the safe harbor deadline because of that”, said Edward Foley, a professor of election law at Ohio State University's Moritz School of Law, in comments to AP.
Judge Stephen Simanek, appointed to hear the case, has acknowledged that the case would push the state outside the electoral vote safe harbor.
Missing the deadline won't deprive Wisconsin of its 10 electoral votes. Biden electors still will meet in Madison on Monday to cast their votes and there's no reason to expect that Congress won't accept them. In any case, Biden would still have more than the 270 votes he needs even without Wisconsin.
But lawmakers in Washington could theoretically second-guess the slate of electors from any state that misses the December 8 deadline, Foley said.
Already one member of the House of Representatives, Republican Mo Brooks of Alabama, has said he will challenge the electoral votes for Biden on January 6. Brooks would need to object in writing and be joined by at least one senator. If that were to happen, both chambers would debate the objections and vote on whether to sustain them.
But unless both houses agreed to the objections, they would fail.
Bush vs Gore precedent
The unwillingness of Trump and his supporters to concede is “dangerous because in an electoral competition, one side wins, one side loses and it's essential that the losing side accepts the winner’s victory. What is really being challenged right now is our capacity to play by those rules," Foley said.
The safe harbor provision played a prominent role in the Bush v. Gore case after the 2000 presidential election. The Supreme Court shut down the state of Florida’s court-ordered recount because the safe harbor deadline was approaching. The court's opinion was issued December 12, the deadline in 2000.
Former vice president Al Gore conceded the race to George W. Bush, then the Texas governor, the next day.
In his dissent, Justice Stephen Breyer said the deadline that really mattered was the day on which the Electoral College was scheduled to meet. Whether there was time to conduct a recount by then “is a matter for the state courts to determine”, Breyer wrote.
When Florida's electoral votes, decisive in Bush's victory, reached Congress, several Black House members protested but no senators joined in. It was left to Gore, who presided over the count as president of the Senate, to gavel down the objections from his fellow Democrats.
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
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france24--2020-12-08--England cricket Covid suspects cleared to return home from S.Africa

The problems that beset England 's tour of South Africa show that sport still faces substantial challenges from coronavirus The two members of England ’ s cricket touring party who tested positive for Covid-19 have been cleared to return home with the rest of the tourists on Thursday , the England and Wales Cricket Board said on Tuesday .
The announcement came a day after a one-day series against South Africa was scrapped without a single game being played .
The decision to call off the tour followed apparent breaches of the bio-secure environment at the hotel in Cape Town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and South Africa did play three T20 matches before the Covid-19 outbreak , without problems .
ECB chief medical officer , Professor Nick Peirce , said independent ratification of the `` unconfirmed positive '' tests had shown the two unnamed individuals were not infected .
`` The England and Wales Cricket Board can confirm that , following further testing and analysis , in the opinion of the independent virologists based in Cape Town and London , the two individuals are not infected , and do not pose any risk of passing on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Professor Peirce said in a statement .
`` As such , the advice is they are now free to join the rest of the group and are no longer self-isolating . ''
It has never been confirmed whether the two individuals concerned were England players or backroom staff .
The tour was cancelled -- although officially both the ECB and Cricket South Africa have said they will seek alternative dates -- `` to ensure the mental and physical health and welfare of players from both teams , '' both bodies said @ @ @ @ @ @

Cape Town (AFP) –
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The two members of England’s cricket touring party who tested positive for Covid-19 have been cleared to return home with the rest of the tourists on Thursday, the England and Wales Cricket Board said on Tuesday.
The announcement came a day after a one-day series against South Africa was scrapped without a single game being played.
The decision to call off the tour followed apparent breaches of the bio-secure environment at the hotel in Cape Town where both teams were staying.
England and South Africa did play three T20 matches before the Covid-19 outbreak, without problems.
ECB chief medical officer, Professor Nick Peirce, said independent ratification of the "unconfirmed positive" tests had shown the two unnamed individuals were not infected.
"The England and Wales Cricket Board can confirm that, following further testing and analysis, in the opinion of the independent virologists based in Cape Town and London, the two individuals are not infected, and do not pose any risk of passing on the infection to the rest of the party," Professor Peirce said in a statement.
"As such, the advice is they are now free to join the rest of the group and are no longer self-isolating."
It has never been confirmed whether the two individuals concerned were England players or backroom staff.
The tour was cancelled -- although officially both the ECB and Cricket South Africa have said they will seek alternative dates -- "to ensure the mental and physical health and welfare of players from both teams," both bodies said in a joint statement Monday.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-08--UK-EU talks near collapse ahead of Johnson trip to Brussels

UK-EU talks near collapse ahead of Johnson trip to Brussels Britain and the European Union warned Tuesday that talks on @ @ @ @ @ teetering on the brink of collapse , with just over three weeks until an economic @ @ @ @ @ for businesses on both sides of the English Channel .
Officials downplayed the chances of @ @ @ @ @ Boris Johnson heads to Brussels for face-to-face talks with European Commission President Ursula von der @ @ @ @ @ days .
FRANCE 24 's International Affairs Editor Philip Turle explains .

UK-EU talks near collapse ahead of Johnson trip to Brussels
03:33
Video by: Philip TURLE
Britain and the European Union warned Tuesday that talks on a post-Brexit free-trade deal are teetering on the brink of collapse, with just over three weeks until an economic rupture that will cause upheaval for businesses on both sides of the English Channel. Officials downplayed the chances of a breakthrough when Prime Minister Boris Johnson heads to Brussels for face-to-face talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the next few days. FRANCE 24's International Affairs Editor Philip Turle explains.


france24--2020-12-08--More Thai protest leaders charged with royal defamation

Thai anti-government protest leaders salute supporters before handing themselves in to the police at Nonthaburi police sation More than a dozen leaders of Thailand 's pro-democracy protest movement were charged Tuesday under the kingdom 's tough royal defamation law for headlining demonstrations demanding reforms to the monarchy .
Thailand has strict lese majeste laws , enshrined in section 112 of the penal code , shielding the ultra-wealthy King Maha Vajiralongkorn from criticism .
But that has not stopped a youth-led movement from demanding reform -- including the abolition of the law in a direct challenge to the monarchy .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge them under section 112 at police stations across Bangkok and neighbouring Nonthaburi province .
Eleven were charged for with lese majeste crimes the first time , but it was a second for three others -- Panupong `` Mike '' Jadnok , Parit `` Penguin '' Chiwarak , and Panusaya `` Rung '' Sithijirawattanakul .
Voicing defiance as they left the police station , those charged wore T-shirts emblazoned with the number `` 112 '' and a strike through it .
`` The Thai government is using the monarchy and section 112 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Panupong said , insisting the movement will continue unabated .
`` Using 112 against us could light the fire for us , for the people who disagree with the existence of the law , '' he told reporters .
Anyone convicted under section 112 faces between three to 15 years in prison per charge .
The law has long drawn criticism from human rights activists , who say it is a tool to suppress dissent .
The use of it has slowed since 2018 due to the `` mercy '' of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prayut Chan-O-Cha , but last month the premier gave the green light to deploy it again after months of protests .
Since then , some 16 protest leaders have been charged .
It will send the message that `` the established centres of power ... will ride out the storm and prevail at any cost '' , said political scientist Thitinan Pongsudhirak of Chulalongkorn University Tuesday .
But `` tightening repression will likely radicalise the protest movement because their genuine grievances have no outlet '' , he added .
Besides calling for royal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a military-scripted constitution and the resignation of Prayut -- who they consider illegitimate because as army chief he masterminded the 2014 coup .

Bangkok (AFP) –
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More than a dozen leaders of Thailand's pro-democracy protest movement were charged Tuesday under the kingdom's tough royal defamation law for headlining demonstrations demanding reforms to the monarchy.
Thailand has strict lese majeste laws, enshrined in section 112 of the penal code, shielding the ultra-wealthy King Maha Vajiralongkorn from criticism.
But that has not stopped a youth-led movement from demanding reform -- including the abolition of the law in a direct challenge to the monarchy.
On Tuesday authorities summoned prominent protest figures to charge them under section 112 at police stations across Bangkok and neighbouring Nonthaburi province.
Eleven were charged for with lese majeste crimes the first time, but it was a second for three others -- Panupong "Mike" Jadnok, Parit "Penguin" Chiwarak, and Panusaya "Rung" Sithijirawattanakul.
Voicing defiance as they left the police station, those charged wore T-shirts emblazoned with the number "112" and a strike through it.
"The Thai government is using the monarchy and section 112 to target people who have different political stances," Panupong said, insisting the movement will continue unabated.
"Using 112 against us could light the fire for us, for the people who disagree with the existence of the law," he told reporters.
Anyone convicted under section 112 faces between three to 15 years in prison per charge.
The law has long drawn criticism from human rights activists, who say it is a tool to suppress dissent.
The use of it has slowed since 2018 due to the "mercy" of the king, according to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, but last month the premier gave the green light to deploy it again after months of protests.
Since then, some 16 protest leaders have been charged.
It will send the message that "the established centres of power... will ride out the storm and prevail at any cost", said political scientist Thitinan Pongsudhirak of Chulalongkorn University Tuesday.
But "tightening repression will likely radicalise the protest movement because their genuine grievances have no outlet", he added.
Besides calling for royal reform, protesters are demanding a rewrite of a military-scripted constitution and the resignation of Prayut -- who they consider illegitimate because as army chief he masterminded the 2014 coup.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-08--Chuck Yeager, first pilot to break sound barrier, dies aged 97

Chuck Yeager , a World War II fighter ace who was the first human to travel faster than sound and @ @ @ @ @ were immortalized in the bestselling book `` The Right Stuff , '' died Monday , @ @ @ @ @ was 97 .

Chuck Yeager, first pilot to break sound barrier, dies aged 97
01:35
Video by: Yuka ROYER
Chuck Yeager, a World War II fighter ace who was the first human to travel faster than sound and whose gutsy test pilot exploits were immortalized in the bestselling book "The Right Stuff," died Monday, his wife said. He was 97.


france24--2020-12-08--France 'far' off target for lifting Covid lockdown

France 'far ' off target for lifting Covid lockdown France is 'far ' from its goal of reducing the number @ @ @ @ @ under 5,000 a day , the level at which the government has promised to lift @ @ @ @ @ health official said Monday .
From a high of 50,000-60,000 cases a day in late @ @ @ @ @ has fallen to on average 10,000 a day over the past week .

France 'far' off target for lifting Covid lockdown
03:48
France is 'far' from its goal of reducing the number of new Covid-19 infections to under 5,000 a day, the level at which the government has promised to lift a lockdown, a top health official said Monday. From a high of 50,000-60,000 cases a day in late October the number of infections has fallen to on average 10,000 a day over the past week.


france24--2020-12-08--Iran prosecutes another close Rouhani ally

Vice President Isa Kalantari , Iran 's environment chief , is the second close ally of President Hassan Rouhani to face prosecution in recent weeks Iranian prosecutors have pressed criminal charges against a deputy of President Hassan Rouhani , the judiciary said on Tuesday , making him the second Rouhani ally to face prosecution in recent weeks .
Vice President Isa Kalantari , who is Iran 's environment chief , is involved in an ongoing case involving the condition of a lagoon in north of the country as well as `` remarks that circulated recently on social media , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He did not elaborate .
Kalantari has faced strong criticism from conservative media in recent days over comments he made in a year-old interview that they deemed insulting to the founder of the Islamic republic , Ruhollah Khomeini .
`` He has presented his explanations .
We must wait and see what the court decides , as he has only been recently summoned , '' Esmaili said .
Kalantari told state news agency IRNA on Sunday that his comments had been taken out of context .
`` If you listen to the whole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( insult ) has taken place .
It 's not logical to draw conclusions from 20-40 seconds of a two-hour interview , '' he said .
The 68-year-old served as agriculture minister in the 1990s and was appointed head of the environment department in 2017 .
The charges against Kalantari come just days after it was reported that former vice president Shahindokht Molaverdi had been sentenced to two and a half years in prison on charges of handing classified information to foreign parties and `` propaganda '' against the state .
Molaverdi served @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during Rouhani 's first term as president and was replaced by current Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar in 2017 .
She said she intends to appeal .
When asked about her case , Esmaili said he could not comment as the `` verdict issued is not yet final . ''

Tehran (AFP) –
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Iranian prosecutors have pressed criminal charges against a deputy of President Hassan Rouhani, the judiciary said on Tuesday, making him the second Rouhani ally to face prosecution in recent weeks.
Vice President Isa Kalantari, who is Iran's environment chief, is involved in an ongoing case involving the condition of a lagoon in north of the country as well as "remarks that circulated recently on social media," judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili told reporters.
He did not elaborate.
Kalantari has faced strong criticism from conservative media in recent days over comments he made in a year-old interview that they deemed insulting to the founder of the Islamic republic, Ruhollah Khomeini.
"He has presented his explanations. We must wait and see what the court decides, as he has only been recently summoned," Esmaili said.
Kalantari told state news agency IRNA on Sunday that his comments had been taken out of context.
"If you listen to the whole interview, you will see no such (insult) has taken place. It's not logical to draw conclusions from 20-40 seconds of a two-hour interview," he said.
The 68-year-old served as agriculture minister in the 1990s and was appointed head of the environment department in 2017.
The charges against Kalantari come just days after it was reported that former vice president Shahindokht Molaverdi had been sentenced to two and a half years in prison on charges of handing classified information to foreign parties and "propaganda" against the state.
Molaverdi served as vice president for women's affairs during Rouhani's first term as president and was replaced by current Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar in 2017.
She said she intends to appeal.
When asked about her case, Esmaili said he could not comment as the "verdict issued is not yet final."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-08--Everest 'grows' as China, Nepal agree new height

The highest point on Earth got a bit higher Tuesday as China and Nepal finally agreed on a precise elevation for Mount Everest after decades of debate .
The agreed height unveiled at a joint news conference in Kathmandu of 8,848.86 metres ( 29,031 feet ) was 86 centimetres ( 2.8 feet ) higher than the measurement previously recognised by Nepal , and more than four metres above China 's official figure .
The discrepancy was due to China measuring the rock base on the summit and not -- as with the new reading -- the covering of snow and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of miles away on the Indian plains , British colonial geographers first determined Everest 's height in 1856 at 8,840 meters ( 29,002 feet ) above sea level .
After Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa famously first reached the summit of Everest on May 29 , 1953 , an Indian survey readjusted the altitude to 8,848 meters ( 29,028 feet ) .
That measurement was widely accepted , with the number alluring not just ambitious mountaineers but also inspiring names for adventure clothing lines , restaurants and even a vodka .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ concluded the world 's highest point was higher at 8,850 meters ( 29,035 feet ) .
But Nepal never officially recognised this new height , although it is widely quoted .
China meanwhile conducted several surveys , and in 2005 came up with its measurement of 8,844.43 metres ( 29,015 feet ) .
The provoked a row with Nepal which was only resolved in 2010 when Kathmandu and Beijing agreed that their measurements referred to different things -- one to the height of Everest 's rock and the other to the height of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the survey -- the first time it has done its own -- after suggestions that tectonic plate movements including a major earthquake in 2015 may have affected the height .
About 300 Nepali experts and surveyors were involved in the exercise , some walking on foot with others using helicopters to reach data collection stations .
Last spring , Nepali surveyors reached the summit of Everest with over 40 kilograms ( 90 pounds ) of equipment , including a Global Satellite Navigation System ( GNSS ) receiver .
They spent roughly two freezing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stood on top of the mountain .
`` Climbing Everest alone is a challenging task , but we also had to measure it , '' Khim Lal Gautam , a Survey Department official who lost a toe to frostbite in the expedition , told AFP .
Nepal was due to release the results earlier this year but then China became involved after a visit to Nepal in October 2019 by Chinese President Xi Jinping .
This year a Chinese survey expedition had a more quiet working space on the summit as they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Dang Yamin , an expert at the National Bureau of Surveying and Mapping , told Chinese state broadcaster CCTV that the final result was an average value between the measurements by Nepal and China , in accordance with scientific rules .
`` The final height was concluded after both sides jointly shared and processed data virtually , '' said Damodar Dhakal , spokesman at Nepal 's Department of Survey .

Kathmandu (AFP) –
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The highest point on Earth got a bit higher Tuesday as China and Nepal finally agreed on a precise elevation for Mount Everest after decades of debate.
The agreed height unveiled at a joint news conference in Kathmandu of 8,848.86 metres (29,031 feet) was 86 centimetres (2.8 feet) higher than the measurement previously recognised by Nepal, and more than four metres above China's official figure.
The discrepancy was due to China measuring the rock base on the summit and not -- as with the new reading -- the covering of snow and ice on the peak.
- Trigonometry -
Employing trigonometry hundreds of miles away on the Indian plains, British colonial geographers first determined Everest's height in 1856 at 8,840 meters (29,002 feet) above sea level.
After Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa famously first reached the summit of Everest on May 29, 1953, an Indian survey readjusted the altitude to 8,848 meters (29,028 feet).
That measurement was widely accepted, with the number alluring not just ambitious mountaineers but also inspiring names for adventure clothing lines, restaurants and even a vodka.
In 1999 the US National Geographic Society concluded the world's highest point was higher at 8,850 meters (29,035 feet). But Nepal never officially recognised this new height, although it is widely quoted.
China meanwhile conducted several surveys, and in 2005 came up with its measurement of 8,844.43 metres (29,015 feet).
The provoked a row with Nepal which was only resolved in 2010 when Kathmandu and Beijing agreed that their measurements referred to different things -- one to the height of Everest's rock and the other to the height of its snowcap.
- Tectonic plates -
Nepal decided to conduct the survey -- the first time it has done its own -- after suggestions that tectonic plate movements including a major earthquake in 2015 may have affected the height.
About 300 Nepali experts and surveyors were involved in the exercise, some walking on foot with others using helicopters to reach data collection stations.
Last spring, Nepali surveyors reached the summit of Everest with over 40 kilograms (90 pounds) of equipment, including a Global Satellite Navigation System (GNSS) receiver.
They spent roughly two freezing hours collecting data as dozens of climbers stood on top of the mountain.
"Climbing Everest alone is a challenging task, but we also had to measure it," Khim Lal Gautam, a Survey Department official who lost a toe to frostbite in the expedition, told AFP.
- China involvement -
Nepal was due to release the results earlier this year but then China became involved after a visit to Nepal in October 2019 by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
This year a Chinese survey expedition had a more quiet working space on the summit as they were the only climbers on a mountain shut because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Dang Yamin, an expert at the National Bureau of Surveying and Mapping, told Chinese state broadcaster CCTV that the final result was an average value between the measurements by Nepal and China, in accordance with scientific rules.
"The final height was concluded after both sides jointly shared and processed data virtually," said Damodar Dhakal, spokesman at Nepal's Department of Survey.
burs-pm/stu/rbu
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-08--Brexit negotiations: Crunch time as both sides struggle to break deadlock

Brexit negotiations : Crunch time as both sides struggle to break deadlock Britain and the European Union are seeking a @ @ @ @ @ failure likely to result in increased chaos in mutual trade , financial markets tumbling and @ @ @ @ @ 24 's Dave Keating tells us more .

Brexit negotiations: Crunch time as both sides struggle to break deadlock
02:52
Britain and the European Union are seeking a post-Brexit trade deal, with failure likely to result in increased chaos in mutual trade, financial markets tumbling and huge economic costs. FRANCE 24's Dave Keating tells us more.


france24--2020-12-08--UK vaccine rollout: Health workers begin administering Covid-19 jabs

British health minister Matt Hancock said he expected millions of people in the country to receive a vaccine against COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ the first country globally to begin mass inoculations on Tuesday with a shot developed by @ @ @ @ @ 24 's Bénédicte Paviot tells us more .

UK vaccine rollout: Health workers begin administering Covid-19 jabs
04:42
British health minister Matt Hancock said he expected millions of people in the country to receive a vaccine against COVID-19 by Christmas. Britain was the first country globally to begin mass inoculations on Tuesday with a shot developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. FRANCE 24's Bénédicte Paviot tells us more.


france24--2020-12-09--Indonesia holds nationwide poll despite virus warnings

Indonesia delayed its regional elections originally set for September as it struggled to contain soaring coronavirus infections Indonesia held nationwide regional elections Wednesday with more than 100 million voters expected to cast a ballot , despite warnings the poll would worsen the nation 's Covid-19 crisis .
The archipelago of nearly 270 million -- the world 's third-biggest democracy and fourth most populous nation -- delayed the vote originally set for September as it struggled to contain soaring infection rates .
But the polls were rescheduled , even as critics warned over the risks amid widespread violations of virus protocols @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I 'm scared many more people will be infected and die '' after the polls , said Siti Zuhro , a political analyst at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences .
Hundreds of hopefuls are vying for 270 positions , including regional governors , district heads and mayors , including President Joko Widodo 's eldest son .
Voting was expected to wrap up around noon local time ( 0500 GMT ) .
More than 100 million Indonesians are registered to vote in the poll staffed by almost 2.7 million election workers , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients .
At least five election candidates have reportedly died so far and more than 1,000 election agency staff were infected ahead of voting day .
More than 580,000 Indonesians have been confirmed as having contracted the illness while the death toll stands at 18,000 .
But the true scale of the crisis is widely believed to be much bigger in a country with one of the world 's lowest testing rates .
Infections could skyrocket above one million after polling day , warned Hermawan Saputra at the Indonesian Public Health Experts ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that it wo n't be just young , healthy people casting their votes , but also the elderly , pregnant women and sick people -- they 're all at high risk , '' he said .
`` The public service announcements and health protocols are n't enough .
Health is being trumped by political demands and that 's very concerning .
It 's not worth it . ''
In the midst of the pandemic , voters have also had little chance to interact with candidates or understand their platforms , dealing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ashes of the Suharto dictatorship two decades ago , analysts said .
Widodo 's son Gibran Rakabuming Raka , 33 , is running for mayor of Solo city in Central Java , where his father , a former furniture seller better known as Jokowi , started in politics .
Jokowi 's son-in-law is also vying for office , stirring questions about whether Indonesia 's leader is trying to create a political dynasty more than a year into his second and final term .
Vice-president Ma'ruf Amin 's daughter and Defense minister Prabowo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elected positions .
Meanwhile , Islamist parties are looking to score big gains in the world 's biggest Muslim-majority nation as they ride a tide of rising religious conservatism .

Jakarta (AFP) –
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Indonesia held nationwide regional elections Wednesday with more than 100 million voters expected to cast a ballot, despite warnings the poll would worsen the nation's Covid-19 crisis.
The archipelago of nearly 270 million -- the world's third-biggest democracy and fourth most populous nation -- delayed the vote originally set for September as it struggled to contain soaring infection rates.
But the polls were rescheduled, even as critics warned over the risks amid widespread violations of virus protocols, including mask-wearing and social distancing.
"I'm scared many more people will be infected and die" after the polls, said Siti Zuhro, a political analyst at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences.
Hundreds of hopefuls are vying for 270 positions, including regional governors, district heads and mayors, including President Joko Widodo's eldest son.
Voting was expected to wrap up around noon local time (0500 GMT).
More than 100 million Indonesians are registered to vote in the poll staffed by almost 2.7 million election workers, with some taking ballot boxes to hospitalised Covid patients.
At least five election candidates have reportedly died so far and more than 1,000 election agency staff were infected ahead of voting day.
More than 580,000 Indonesians have been confirmed as having contracted the illness while the death toll stands at 18,000.
But the true scale of the crisis is widely believed to be much bigger in a country with one of the world's lowest testing rates.
Infections could skyrocket above one million after polling day, warned Hermawan Saputra at the Indonesian Public Health Experts' Association.
"The most worrying thing is that it won't be just young, healthy people casting their votes, but also the elderly, pregnant women and sick people -- they're all at high risk," he said.
"The public service announcements and health protocols aren't enough. Health is being trumped by political demands and that's very concerning. It's not worth it."
In the midst of the pandemic, voters have also had little chance to interact with candidates or understand their platforms, dealing a blow to a democracy that rose from the ashes of the Suharto dictatorship two decades ago, analysts said.
Widodo's son Gibran Rakabuming Raka, 33, is running for mayor of Solo city in Central Java, where his father, a former furniture seller better known as Jokowi, started in politics.
Jokowi's son-in-law is also vying for office, stirring questions about whether Indonesia's leader is trying to create a political dynasty more than a year into his second and final term.
Vice-president Ma'ruf Amin's daughter and Defense minister Prabowo Subianto's niece are also running for elected positions.
Meanwhile, Islamist parties are looking to score big gains in the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation as they ride a tide of rising religious conservatism.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-09--Helicopter carrying air rescue crew crashes in French Alps, five killed

Five people were killed in a helicopter crash in the French Alps on Tuesday and a sixth was injured and @ @ @ @ @ French President Emmanuel Macron said .
The helicopter was carrying an air rescue crew on @ @ @ @ @ went down at an altitude of 1,800 meters ( 5,905 feet ) , local authorities @ @ @ @ @ the aircraft , which also had another pilot on board as well as two winch @ @ @ @ @ workers , was able to eject and give the alert .
Three helicopters were dispatched @ @ @ @ @ reach the accident site due to fog while rescue teams were also trying to approach @ @ @ @ @ prefecture said in a statement .
France 's air accident bureau said separately that it @ @ @ @ @ would dispatch a team to the site .

Five people were killed in a helicopter crash in the French Alps on Tuesday and a sixth was injured and fighting for his life, French President Emmanuel Macron said.
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The helicopter was carrying an air rescue crew on a training mission when it went down at an altitude of 1,800 meters (5,905 feet), local authorities said.
The pilot of the aircraft, which also had another pilot on board as well as two winch operators and two mountain rescue workers, was able to eject and give the alert.
Three helicopters were dispatched but had been unable to reach the accident site due to fog while rescue teams were also trying to approach by ground, the Savoie prefecture said in a statement.
France's air accident bureau said separately that it had opened an investigation and would dispatch a team to the site.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-12-09--Garber says MLS lost nearly $1 billion in 2020 revenues

Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber said Wednesday the league lost nearly $ 1 billion in 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic setbacks and has concerns about the 2021 campaign Major League Soccer lost nearly $ 1 billion in revenues in a pandemic-hit 2020 season , commissioner Don Garber said Tuesday , and it must make key decisions for 2021 without knowing when spectators might fill stadiums again .
Garber said the 26-team league is concerned about next year 's prospects even with a Covid-19 vaccine on the horizon as it would be unable to handle another year like 2020 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Garber .
`` Clubs are going to have to manage their economics as diligently as possible .
We 'll make adjustments ... that 's the reality of managing a pro sports league in the middle of a pandemic . ''
MLS concludes its 25th campaign Saturday when the defending champion Seattle Sounders try to capture their third title in five seasons by beating the host Columbus Crew in the MLS Cup final .
The season was shut down after two weeks last March by Covid-19 .
Teams returned with an `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Portland in a bubble atmosphere in Orlando , then finished the season in empty home stadiums .
`` Our revenue for the enterprise , our league and our clubs , is down almost a billion dollars compared to last year , '' Garber said .
Teams have announced layoffs , players took a 5 percent pay cut and MLS has laid off 20 percent of its staff .
`` We 're at the peak of the pandemic , '' Garber said .
`` This pandemic is raging at far deeper and more critical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postponed the league in early March .
`` Right now our teams have been able to manage ... through their own equity infusions and ability to put debt on their clubs . ''
MLS also had the extra expenses of chartering players to matches and funding the bubble to recover some match telecast money .
`` While that was able to allow us to capture some revenue , the expenses of housing so many players and operating those games and creating the virtual stadiums were enormous , '' Garber said .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than what we expected and that is concerning to us ... We 're concerned about what this will look like leading into 2021 and are working , as I 'm sure everybody could imagine , on figuring out how we could manage through that .
`` I 'm very hopeful that 2021 will be a way better year than 2020 , because I do n't think any business could sustain the kind of impact we sustained in 2020 for two years in a row . ''
While key media rights deals are locked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MLS eyes a mid-March start with no sign of fans being allowed back into venues as every area faces different Covid-19 safety restrictions .
`` We ca n't wait for an understanding of the impact on the vaccine , '' Garber said .
`` We are n't going to know that and we have to set a schedule prior to that .
`` Just the idea that the vaccine is available does not give us an indication fans will be returning to stadiums .
It 's not just about fans .
It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much of our sponsor and media revenue .
`` We 're going to need some flexibility but we are not going to be able to wait to make a decision until somebody decides fans will be able to attend . ''
Austin FC is set to join MLS as an expansion club in 2021 , when new stadiums in Columbus and Cincinnati are also set to open .
The league is set to welcome Charlotte in 2022 and new clubs in Sacramento and St. Louis in 2023 to lift MLS to 30 teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together , I can proudly say that this year will be a season we 'll remember forever , '' Garber said .
`` And from these challenging times , Major League Soccer will continue to persevere , we will continue to grow , we will continue to emerge even stronger than ever . ''

New York (AFP) –
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Major League Soccer lost nearly $1 billion in revenues in a pandemic-hit 2020 season, commissioner Don Garber said Tuesday, and it must make key decisions for 2021 without knowing when spectators might fill stadiums again.
Garber said the 26-team league is concerned about next year's prospects even with a Covid-19 vaccine on the horizon as it would be unable to handle another year like 2020.
"The losses have been dramatic," said Garber. "Clubs are going to have to manage their economics as diligently as possible. We'll make adjustments... that's the reality of managing a pro sports league in the middle of a pandemic."
MLS concludes its 25th campaign Saturday when the defending champion Seattle Sounders try to capture their third title in five seasons by beating the host Columbus Crew in the MLS Cup final.
The season was shut down after two weeks last March by Covid-19. Teams returned with an "MLS Is Back" tournament won by Portland in a bubble atmosphere in Orlando, then finished the season in empty home stadiums.
"Our revenue for the enterprise, our league and our clubs, is down almost a billion dollars compared to last year," Garber said.
Teams have announced layoffs, players took a 5 percent pay cut and MLS has laid off 20 percent of its staff.
"We're at the peak of the pandemic," Garber said. "This pandemic is raging at far deeper and more critical levels than it was even when we postponed the league in early March.
"Right now our teams have been able to manage... through their own equity infusions and ability to put debt on their clubs."
MLS also had the extra expenses of chartering players to matches and funding the bubble to recover some match telecast money.
"While that was able to allow us to capture some revenue, the expenses of housing so many players and operating those games and creating the virtual stadiums were enormous," Garber said.
"The impact of all this is probably deeper than what we expected and that is concerning to us... We're concerned about what this will look like leading into 2021 and are working, as I'm sure everybody could imagine, on figuring out how we could manage through that.
"I'm very hopeful that 2021 will be a way better year than 2020, because I don't think any business could sustain the kind of impact we sustained in 2020 for two years in a row."
- MLS back in mid-March? -
While key media rights deals are locked in until the end of 2022, MLS eyes a mid-March start with no sign of fans being allowed back into venues as every area faces different Covid-19 safety restrictions.
"We can't wait for an understanding of the impact on the vaccine," Garber said. "We aren't going to know that and we have to set a schedule prior to that.
"Just the idea that the vaccine is available does not give us an indication fans will be returning to stadiums. It's not just about fans. It's about are we going to retain as much of our sponsor and media revenue.
"We're going to need some flexibility but we are not going to be able to wait to make a decision until somebody decides fans will be able to attend."
Austin FC is set to join MLS as an expansion club in 2021, when new stadiums in Columbus and Cincinnati are also set to open. The league is set to welcome Charlotte in 2022 and new clubs in Sacramento and St. Louis in 2023 to lift MLS to 30 teams.
"For all that we achieved together, I can proudly say that this year will be a season we'll remember forever," Garber said.
"And from these challenging times, Major League Soccer will continue to persevere, we will continue to grow, we will continue to emerge even stronger than ever."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-09--Supreme Court refuses to overturn Trump's Pennsylvania loss

Donald Trump and has allies have filed dozens of lawsuits in several key states , almost all of which have been thrown out by the courts The US Supreme Court dealt the latest blow Tuesday to Donald Trump 's effort to overturn his election loss when it denied his allies ' attempt to block the certification of votes in key state Pennsylvania .
The nation 's highest court , which includes three Trump-appointed justices out of nine , did not explain its decision , and none of the members expressed dissent .
More than a month since the November 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Democrat Joe Biden -- who has a seven million-vote lead -- and continues to make baseless claims of fraud .
Trump and has allies have filed dozens of lawsuits in several key states , almost all of which have been thrown out by the courts .
One of them , brought by Republican congressman Mike Kelly , challenged the legality of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania , a crucial battleground state .
Biden carried Pennsylvania in November 's vote , four year after Trump won the state .
After the case was rejected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plaintiffs turned to the national Supreme Court , asking it to freeze all electoral operations while they developed their arguments .
In dismissing the case , the Court put an end to the procedure and signaled that it is not inclined to get involved in post-election litigation .
Trump had hoped that the high court , whose bench he has tipped solidly to the right , would intervene in his favor .
.
In 2000 , the Supreme Court halted a recount in Florida , where George W. Bush was only 537 votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republican to win the election .
The Republican-led state of Texas filed another appeal Tuesday to the Supreme Court , requesting the invalidation of results in four key states , but experts were not optimistic regrding its chance of success .

Washington (AFP) –
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The US Supreme Court dealt the latest blow Tuesday to Donald Trump's effort to overturn his election loss when it denied his allies' attempt to block the certification of votes in key state Pennsylvania.
The nation's highest court, which includes three Trump-appointed justices out of nine, did not explain its decision, and none of the members expressed dissent.
More than a month since the November 3 election, Trump still refuses to concede to Democrat Joe Biden -- who has a seven million-vote lead -- and continues to make baseless claims of fraud.
Trump and has allies have filed dozens of lawsuits in several key states, almost all of which have been thrown out by the courts.
One of them, brought by Republican congressman Mike Kelly, challenged the legality of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania, a crucial battleground state.
Biden carried Pennsylvania in November's vote, four year after Trump won the state.
After the case was rejected by the state supreme court, the plaintiffs turned to the national Supreme Court, asking it to freeze all electoral operations while they developed their arguments.
In dismissing the case, the Court put an end to the procedure and signaled that it is not inclined to get involved in post-election litigation.
Trump had hoped that the high court, whose bench he has tipped solidly to the right, would intervene in his favor. .
In 2000, the Supreme Court halted a recount in Florida, where George W. Bush was only 537 votes ahead of Democrat Al Gore, allowing the Republican to win the election.
The Republican-led state of Texas filed another appeal Tuesday to the Supreme Court, requesting the invalidation of results in four key states, but experts were not optimistic regrding its chance of success.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-09--US Army sacks commanders over Texas base crime wave

The murder of US Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen drew attention to the high rate of violent crime and sexual assault at Fort Hood , Texas The US Army announce Tuesday it was removing or suspending 14 commanders and unit leaders at Fort Hood after a slate of murders and sex crimes at the Texas base .
At least five suspected homicides this year , and the disappearances and deaths of two soldiers who reported or were to report sexual harassment , had contributed to the base of some 36,000 soldiers being dubbed the US military 's `` most crime-ridden post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the base 's command climate and culture , situation Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said he had ordered the removal of two generals and a number of other officials .
The action came after outrage over the death of 20-year-old Fort Hood Specialist Vanessa Guillen , who went missing on April 22 after allegedly enduring repeated sexual harassment .
She reportedly told her family she did not trust base officials to follow up if she officially reported the harassment .
Family and community members expressed doubts about the base 's commitment to investigating her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finally discovered on June 30 .
On that day a suspect in the case , Specialist Aaron David Robinson , shot himself as police closed in .
In another prominent case , Private Gregory Scott Morales , was deemed to have deserted when he went missing in 2019 , despite indications of possible foul play .
In June , 10 months later , his remains were found during the search for Guillen , apparently shot to death .
Both cases drew accusations that the base did not try hard enough to investigate possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The tragic death of Vanessa Guillen and a rash of other challenges at Fort Hood forced us to take a critical look at our systems , our policies and ourselves , '' McCarthy said .
`` This is not about metrics , but possessing the ability to have the human decency to show compassion for our teammates and to look out for the best interests of out soldiers , '' he said .
`` This report , without a doubt , will cause the Army to change our culture . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the largest in the Army .
The report says it has an on-base crime rate much higher than other training bases in all categories -- murder , attempted murder , rape and sexual assault , theft and drug use .
Cases of suicide , desertion and AWOL -- absent without leave -- are also much higher at Fort Hood .
The report faulted base commanders as ineffective , resulting in weak investigations and enforcement .
Their approach specifically led to `` a permissive environment for sexual assault and sexual harassment , '' it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual assault was underfunded , understaffed , and undertrained , It added .
As a result , victims were reluctant to report harassment and attacks .
As for other crime , base commanders made little effort to address or mitigate it , the report said .

Washington (AFP) –
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The US Army announce Tuesday it was removing or suspending 14 commanders and unit leaders at Fort Hood after a slate of murders and sex crimes at the Texas base.
At least five suspected homicides this year, and the disappearances and deaths of two soldiers who reported or were to report sexual harassment, had contributed to the base of some 36,000 soldiers being dubbed the US military's "most crime-ridden post."
After an independent report on the base's command climate and culture, situation Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said he had ordered the removal of two generals and a number of other officials.
The action came after outrage over the death of 20-year-old Fort Hood Specialist Vanessa Guillen, who went missing on April 22 after allegedly enduring repeated sexual harassment.
She reportedly told her family she did not trust base officials to follow up if she officially reported the harassment.
Family and community members expressed doubts about the base's commitment to investigating her disappearance, until her dismembered body was finally discovered on June 30.
On that day a suspect in the case, Specialist Aaron David Robinson, shot himself as police closed in.
In another prominent case, Private Gregory Scott Morales, was deemed to have deserted when he went missing in 2019, despite indications of possible foul play.
In June, 10 months later, his remains were found during the search for Guillen, apparently shot to death.
Both cases drew accusations that the base did not try hard enough to investigate possible crimes or search for missing personnel.
"The tragic death of Vanessa Guillen and a rash of other challenges at Fort Hood forced us to take a critical look at our systems, our policies and ourselves," McCarthy said.
"This is not about metrics, but possessing the ability to have the human decency to show compassion for our teammates and to look out for the best interests of out soldiers," he said.
"This report, without a doubt, will cause the Army to change our culture."
The sprawling central Texas base is one of the largest in the Army.
The report says it has an on-base crime rate much higher than other training bases in all categories -- murder, attempted murder, rape and sexual assault, theft and drug use.
Cases of suicide, desertion and AWOL -- absent without leave -- are also much higher at Fort Hood.
The report faulted base commanders as ineffective, resulting in weak investigations and enforcement.
Their approach specifically led to "a permissive environment for sexual assault and sexual harassment," it said.
The base program for investigating sexual assault was underfunded, understaffed, and undertrained, It added.
As a result, victims were reluctant to report harassment and attacks.
As for other crime, base commanders made little effort to address or mitigate it, the report said.
pmh/dw
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-09--Biden promises 100m vaccines for US in first 100 days and vows to reopen schools

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden announces nominees and appointees to serve on his health and coronavirus response teams during a news conference at his transition headquarters in Wilmington , Delaware , U.S. , December 8 , 2020 .
President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday called for urgent action on the coronavirus pandemic as he introduced a health care team that will be tested at every turn while striving to restore the nation to normalcy .
Biden laid out three Covid-19 priorities for his first 100 days in office : a call for all Americans to voluntarily mask up during those 100 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccines and a pledge to try to reopen a majority of the nation 's schools .
“ I know that out of our collective pain , we will find our collective purpose : to control the pandemic , to save lives , and to heal as a nation , '' Biden said .
Topping the roster of picks was health secretary nominee Xavier Becerra , a Latino politician who rose from humble beginnings to serve in Congress and as California 's attorney general .
Others include a businessman renowned for his crisis management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , among them Anthony Fauci , the government 's top infectious-disease specialist .
The usual feel-good affirmations that accompany such unveilings were overshadowed by urgency , with new cases of Covid-19 averaging more than 200,000 a day and deaths averaging above 2,200 daily as the nation struggles with uncontrolled spread .
Vaccines are expected soon .
Scientific advisers to the government meet Thursday to make a recommendation on the first one , a Pfizer shot already being administered in the United Kingdom .
Indeed , President Donald Trump held his own event Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's work to speed vaccine development .
But having an approved vaccine is one thing , and getting it into the arms of 330 million Americans something else altogether .
Biden will be judged on how well his administration carries out the gargantuan task .
On Tuesday , the president-elect warned that his team 's preliminary review of Trump administration plans for vaccinations has found shortcomings .
And he called on Congress to pass legislation to finance administration of vaccines as they become more widely available next year .
That would effectively close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The rest of Biden 's extensive health care agenda , from expanding insurance coverage to negotiating prices for prescription drugs , will likely hinge on how his administration performs in this first test of competence and credibility .
Becerra , Biden 's pick to head the Department of Health and Human Services , will be backed in the White House by businessman Jeff Zients , who will assume the role of coronavirus response coordinator .
Running complex , high-risk operations is his specialty .
Alongside Fauci , the other medical doctors selected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Vivek Murthy as surgeon general and Yale epidemiologist Marcella Nunez-Smith to head a working group to ensure fair and equitable distribution of vaccines and treatments .
Participating by video , Fauci called Biden 's 100-day plan `` bold but doable , and essential to help the public avoid unnecessary risks and help us save lives.
” Ever the straight talker , he admonished : “ The road ahead will not be easy .
We have got a lot of hard and demanding work ahead.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 80,000 employees and a portfolio that includes drugs and vaccines , leading-edge medical research and health insurance programs covering more than 130 million Americans .
In choosing Becerra to be his health secretary , Biden tapped a prominent defender of the Affordable Care Act .
But Becerra , 62 , will face questions in his Senate confirmation about whether he possesses sufficient health care and management experience .
Becerra as a congressman played an insider role helping steer “ Obamacare ” to passage , and as California attorney general he leads a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration 's latest attempt to overturn it .
He has been less involved in the day-to-day work of combating the coronavirus .
Becerra would be the first Latino to serve as U.S. health secretary .
In announcing his pick Tuesday , Biden initially stumbled on the Spanish pronunciation of Becerra 's name .
But Biden was drawn to Becerra ’ s working-class roots , his longtime effort to increase access to health care and his willingness to work with Republicans to solve problems like getting patients access to COVID-19 treatments .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Becerra called it a “ breathtaking opportunity ” to help shape the future of health care .
“ I share the president-elect and vice-president-elect ’ s determination to rebuild unity and civility in America , ” he added .
Biden is under pressure from fellow Democrats to ensure that his Cabinet is diverse .
Black and Asian American groups are pressing for more representation .
Biden ’ s choice of Becerra smooths , but does not end , the concerns of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus about Latino representation .
Becerra 's mother emigrated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent his formative years in that country .
Then-California Gov .
Jerry Brown appointed Becerra as California ’ s top prosecutor in late 2016 .
Becerra instantly struck a combative tone toward the incoming Trump administration .
Defending California ’ s implementation of the Affordable Care Act was a key priority , but he also focused on protecting young immigrants from deportation and defending California ’ s climate change laws .
As HHS secretary , Becerra would be responsible for overseeing the Office of Refugee Resettlement , which cares for unaccompanied minors who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helped lead a coalition of fellow state attorneys general who sued over the Trump administration ’ s child separation policies .
Republicans immediately made clear their attack lines .
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas argued that Becerra was unqualified because he lacked ties to the health care or pharmaceutical industries .
Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana blasted his support for “ Medicare for All , '' which is not Biden 's policy .
Abortion opponents have called Becerra “ unacceptable . ''
The HHS secretary ’ s job requires political connections , communications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to learn about complex medical issues and a creative legal mind to use vast regulatory powers without winding up on the losing end of lawsuits .
Becerra will need to establish ties with governors who will play outsize roles in distributing the coronavirus vaccine .

President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday called for urgent action on the coronavirus pandemic as he introduced a health care team that will be tested at every turn while striving to restore the nation to normalcy.
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden announces nominees and appointees to serve on his health and coronavirus response teams during a news conference at his transition headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., December 8, 2020.
Advertising Read more
Biden laid out three Covid-19 priorities for his first 100 days in office: a call for all Americans to voluntarily mask up during those 100 days, a commitment to administer 100 million vaccines and a pledge to try to reopen a majority of the nation's schools.
“I know that out of our collective pain, we will find our collective purpose: to control the pandemic, to save lives, and to heal as a nation," Biden said.
Topping the roster of picks was health secretary nominee Xavier Becerra, a Latino politician who rose from humble beginnings to serve in Congress and as California's attorney general. Others include a businessman renowned for his crisis management skills and a quartet of medical doctors, among them Anthony Fauci, the government's top infectious-disease specialist.
The usual feel-good affirmations that accompany such unveilings were overshadowed by urgency, with new cases of Covid-19 averaging more than 200,000 a day and deaths averaging above 2,200 daily as the nation struggles with uncontrolled spread.
Vaccines are expected soon. Scientific advisers to the government meet Thursday to make a recommendation on the first one, a Pfizer shot already being administered in the United Kingdom.
Indeed, President Donald Trump held his own event Tuesday, to take credit for his administration's work to speed vaccine development.
But having an approved vaccine is one thing, and getting it into the arms of 330 million Americans something else altogether. Biden will be judged on how well his administration carries out the gargantuan task.
On Tuesday, the president-elect warned that his team's preliminary review of Trump administration plans for vaccinations has found shortcomings. And he called on Congress to pass legislation to finance administration of vaccines as they become more widely available next year. That would effectively close the loop, from lab to patient.
The rest of Biden's extensive health care agenda, from expanding insurance coverage to negotiating prices for prescription drugs, will likely hinge on how his administration performs in this first test of competence and credibility.
Becerra, Biden's pick to head the Department of Health and Human Services, will be backed in the White House by businessman Jeff Zients, who will assume the role of coronavirus response coordinator. Running complex, high-risk operations is his specialty.
Alongside Fauci, the other medical doctors selected include infectious-disease specialist Rochelle Walensky to run the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vivek Murthy as surgeon general and Yale epidemiologist Marcella Nunez-Smith to head a working group to ensure fair and equitable distribution of vaccines and treatments.
Participating by video, Fauci called Biden's 100-day plan "bold but doable, and essential to help the public avoid unnecessary risks and help us save lives.”
Ever the straight talker, he admonished: “The road ahead will not be easy. We have got a lot of hard and demanding work ahead.”
HHS is a $1 trillion-plus agency with 80,000 employees and a portfolio that includes drugs and vaccines, leading-edge medical research and health insurance programs covering more than 130 million Americans.
In choosing Becerra to be his health secretary, Biden tapped a prominent defender of the Affordable Care Act. But Becerra, 62, will face questions in his Senate confirmation about whether he possesses sufficient health care and management experience.
Becerra as a congressman played an insider role helping steer “Obamacare” to passage, and as California attorney general he leads a coalition of Democratic states trying to block the Trump administration's latest attempt to overturn it. He has been less involved in the day-to-day work of combating the coronavirus.
Becerra would be the first Latino to serve as U.S. health secretary. In announcing his pick Tuesday, Biden initially stumbled on the Spanish pronunciation of Becerra's name.
But Biden was drawn to Becerra’s working-class roots, his longtime effort to increase access to health care and his willingness to work with Republicans to solve problems like getting patients access to COVID-19 treatments.
Accepting his nomination via video link, Becerra called it a “breathtaking opportunity” to help shape the future of health care.
“I share the president-elect and vice-president-elect’s determination to rebuild unity and civility in America,” he added.
Biden is under pressure from fellow Democrats to ensure that his Cabinet is diverse. Black and Asian American groups are pressing for more representation.
Biden’s choice of Becerra smooths, but does not end, the concerns of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus about Latino representation. Becerra's mother emigrated from Mexico, and his U.S.-born father spent his formative years in that country.
Then-California Gov. Jerry Brown appointed Becerra as California’s top prosecutor in late 2016. Becerra instantly struck a combative tone toward the incoming Trump administration.
Defending California’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act was a key priority, but he also focused on protecting young immigrants from deportation and defending California’s climate change laws.
As HHS secretary, Becerra would be responsible for overseeing the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which cares for unaccompanied minors who enter the U.S. illegally. Becerra has helped lead a coalition of fellow state attorneys general who sued over the Trump administration’s child separation policies.
Republicans immediately made clear their attack lines. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas argued that Becerra was unqualified because he lacked ties to the health care or pharmaceutical industries. Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana blasted his support for “Medicare for All," which is not Biden's policy. Abortion opponents have called Becerra “unacceptable."
The HHS secretary’s job requires political connections, communications skills, managerial savvy, a willingness to learn about complex medical issues and a creative legal mind to use vast regulatory powers without winding up on the losing end of lawsuits.
Becerra will need to establish ties with governors who will play outsize roles in distributing the coronavirus vaccine.
(AP)
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france24--2020-12-08--Australia's Warner ruled out of first India Test

Australia 's David Warner is recovering from a strained adductor muscle that forced him to limp out of the second one-day international against India last month Australia 's star opening batsman David Warner has been ruled out of the first Test against India , but will try to return for the second instalment on Boxing Day , Cricket Australia said Wednesday .
Warner is recovering from a strained adductor muscle that forced him to limp out of Australia 's second one-day international against India last month , after a knock of 83 .
`` I feel I have made great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it 's best for me to stay here in Sydney to continue working on getting back to full fitness , '' Warner said in a statement .
`` The injury feels a lot better , but I need to be able to satisfy in my own mind and to my team-mates that it is 100 percent ready for Test match conditions . ''
The first Test will begin in Adelaide on December 17 .
It is not yet clear who will take Warner 's place , but Cameron Green 's recent century @ @ @ @ @ @ @ XI attack has put him in the running .
In contrast , fellow young prospect Will Pucovski and veteran Joe Burns , in line to form Australia 's top order , both flopped in the warm-up match and Pucovski also had to leave the field after a delivery struck his helmet .

Sydney (AFP) –
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Australia's star opening batsman David Warner has been ruled out of the first Test against India, but will try to return for the second instalment on Boxing Day, Cricket Australia said Wednesday.
Warner is recovering from a strained adductor muscle that forced him to limp out of Australia's second one-day international against India last month, after a knock of 83.
"I feel I have made great progress in a short amount of time and it's best for me to stay here in Sydney to continue working on getting back to full fitness," Warner said in a statement.
"The injury feels a lot better, but I need to be able to satisfy in my own mind and to my team-mates that it is 100 percent ready for Test match conditions."
The first Test will begin in Adelaide on December 17.
It is not yet clear who will take Warner's place, but Cameron Green's recent century for Australia A against a strong India XI attack has put him in the running.
In contrast, fellow young prospect Will Pucovski and veteran Joe Burns, in line to form Australia's top order, both flopped in the warm-up match and Pucovski also had to leave the field after a delivery struck his helmet.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-08--US Supreme Court rejects Republican request to overturn Biden's Pennsylvania win

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday handed a defeat to Republicans seeking to throw out up to 2.5 million mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania as they try to undo President Donald Trump 's election loss , with the justices refusing to block the state from formalising President-elect Joe Biden 's victory there .
The court in a brief order rejected a request by U.S. congressman Mike Kelly , a Trump ally , and other Pennsylvania Republicans who filed a lawsuit after the Nov. 3 election arguing that the state 's 2019 expansion of mail-in voting was illegal under state law .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the election , with Biden , a Democrat , defeating Trump after the Republican president won the state in 2016 .
State officials had already certified the election results .
There were no noted dissents from any of the justices on the court , which has a 6-3 conservative majority including three Trump appointees .
Trump had urged the Republican-led Senate to confirm his most recent nominee , Justice Amy Coney Barrett , before Election Day so she could participate in any election-related cases .
Trump has falsely claimed that he won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting fraud in states including Pennsylvania .
Democrats and other critics have accused Trump of aiming to reduce public confidence in the integrity of U.S. elections and undermine democracy by trying to subvert the will of the voters .
`` This election is over .
We must continue to stop this circus of 'lawsuits ' and move forward , '' Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro , a Democrat , wrote on Twitter .
The Supreme Court also must decide what to do with another election-related case brought on Tuesday .
Republican-governed Texas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unusual effort to overturn the election results in Pennsylvania and three other states - Georgia , Michigan and Wisconsin - by filing a lawsuit against them directly at the Supreme Court .
The Republican plaintiffs argued that the universal , `` no-excuse '' mail-in ballot program passed by the Republican-controlled Pennsylvania legislature in 2019 , enabling voters to cast ballots by mail for any reason , violated the state 's constitution .
Biden won Pennsylvania by 80,000 votes and received a much higher proportion of the mail-in votes than Trump .
Many more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of health concerns prompted by the coronavirus pandemic as they sought to avoid crowds at polling places .
Ahead of the election , Trump urged his supporters not to vote by mail , making groundless claims that mail-in voting - a longstanding feature of American elections - was rife with fraud .
Pennsylvania said in a court filing that the Republican challengers were asking the justices to `` undertake one of the most dramatic , disruptive invocations of judicial power '' in U.S. history by nullifying a state 's certification of its election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the challengers had sought was moot because the election results already were certified and what they were really wanted was for `` the court overturn the results of the election . ''
Pennsylvania 's top court on Nov. 28 dismissed the challenge , saying that the lawsuit was not filed in a timely manner when the mail-in voting law was first enacted .
It threw out a lower court ruling that had ordered the state not to certify the election pending a hearing .
Trump 's campaign and his allies have lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states won by Biden , also including Georgia , Michigan , Wisconsin and others .
Judges have rejected sweeping assertions of voting irregularities .
Biden has amassed 306 electoral votes - exceeding the necessary 270 - compared to 232 for Trump in the state-by-state Electoral College that determines the election 's outcome , while also winning the national popular vote by more than 7 million votes .
Tuesday represents a `` safe harbor '' deadline set by an 1887 U.S. law for states to certify presidential election results .
Meeting the deadline is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state 's results will not be second-guessed by Congress .
After this deadline , Trump could still pursue lawsuits seeking to overturn Biden 's victory but the effort would become even more difficult .

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday handed a defeat to Republicans seeking to throw out up to 2.5 million mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania as they try to undo President Donald Trump's election loss, with the justices refusing to block the state from formalising President-elect Joe Biden's victory there.
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The court in a brief order rejected a request by U.S. congressman Mike Kelly, a Trump ally, and other Pennsylvania Republicans who filed a lawsuit after the Nov. 3 election arguing that the state's 2019 expansion of mail-in voting was illegal under state law.
Pennsylvania was one of the pivotal states in the election, with Biden, a Democrat, defeating Trump after the Republican president won the state in 2016. State officials had already certified the election results.
There were no noted dissents from any of the justices on the court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority including three Trump appointees.
Trump had urged the Republican-led Senate to confirm his most recent nominee, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, before Election Day so she could participate in any election-related cases.
Trump has falsely claimed that he won re-election, making unfounded claims about widespread voting fraud in states including Pennsylvania.
Democrats and other critics have accused Trump of aiming to reduce public confidence in the integrity of U.S. elections and undermine democracy by trying to subvert the will of the voters.
"This election is over. We must continue to stop this circus of 'lawsuits' and move forward," Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, wrote on Twitter.
The Supreme Court also must decide what to do with another election-related case brought on Tuesday. Republican-governed Texas, hoping to help Trump, mounted an unusual effort to overturn the election results in Pennsylvania and three other states - Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin - by filing a lawsuit against them directly at the Supreme Court.
The Republican plaintiffs argued that the universal, "no-excuse" mail-in ballot program passed by the Republican-controlled Pennsylvania legislature in 2019, enabling voters to cast ballots by mail for any reason, violated the state's constitution.
Biden won Pennsylvania by 80,000 votes and received a much higher proportion of the mail-in votes than Trump. Many more people voted by mail this year because of health concerns prompted by the coronavirus pandemic as they sought to avoid crowds at polling places.
Ahead of the election, Trump urged his supporters not to vote by mail, making groundless claims that mail-in voting - a longstanding feature of American elections - was rife with fraud.
'Judicial power'
Pennsylvania said in a court filing that the Republican challengers were asking the justices to "undertake one of the most dramatic, disruptive invocations of judicial power" in U.S. history by nullifying a state's certification of its election results.
The state said most of what the challengers had sought was moot because the election results already were certified and what they were really wanted was for "the court overturn the results of the election."
Pennsylvania's top court on Nov. 28 dismissed the challenge, saying that the lawsuit was not filed in a timely manner when the mail-in voting law was first enacted. It threw out a lower court ruling that had ordered the state not to certify the election pending a hearing.
Trump's campaign and his allies have lost in a stream of lawsuits in key states won by Biden, also including Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin and others. Judges have rejected sweeping assertions of voting irregularities.
Biden has amassed 306 electoral votes - exceeding the necessary 270 - compared to 232 for Trump in the state-by-state Electoral College that determines the election's outcome, while also winning the national popular vote by more than 7 million votes.
Tuesday represents a "safe harbor" deadline set by an 1887 U.S. law for states to certify presidential election results. Meeting the deadline is not mandatory but provides assurance that a state's results will not be second-guessed by Congress.
After this deadline, Trump could still pursue lawsuits seeking to overturn Biden's victory but the effort would become even more difficult.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-12-08--Solskjaer refuses to blame Champions League exit on Pogba disruption

'We work together ' said Manchester United 's manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in answer to questions about Paul Pogba who he sent on in the 61st minute with his team three goals down in Leipzig Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer refused to blame claims that Paul Pogba is `` unhappy '' for their Champions League exit after a 3-2 defeat at RB Leipzig .
United were punished for a slow start , conceding early goals by Manchester City loanee Angelino and Amadou Haidara before Justin Kluivert put Leipzig 3-0 up midway through the second half .
United pulled back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pogba came on to score a late header to make it 3-2 after Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty .
In the build-up , Pogba 's agent Mino Raiola said the World Cup-winning France midfielder , 27 , is `` unhappy '' and needs a `` change of scene '' after struggling to establish himself under Solskjaer .
Solksjaer gave a terse answer when asked if Raiola 's comments had unsettled his side .
`` The squad is fine , they are a team and they stick together , as soon as Paul 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we work together , the better , '' he said .
`` That is the last thing I want to say about it , '' Solksjaer replied when asked if he had spoken to Pogba about Raiola 's comments .
Instead , the Norwegian blamed the defeat on his side 's lethargic start .
`` We did n't perform well enough as a team , '' he said .
`` We knew they would come at us and put crosses in the box and , unfortunately , we conceded two goals and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did n't turn up until they scored the second goal - then we started playing . ''
`` They gave their all , I ca n't fault anyone 's effort and we were close to getting the third , which would have been an achievement against a good Leipzig side , '' he added .
The 47-year-old said he needed to cure United of their habit of beginning slowly in European games .
`` We did n't start until it was 2-0 , which is something we need to address again , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Solskjaer added .
`` As a footballer you ca n't feel sorry for yourself .
You can do for a few minutes tonight , but that ’ s it .
We have a massive game on Saturday and we need to focus on that . ''
Leipzig avenged their 5-0 thrashing against Manchester United at Old Trafford in October to the delight of their coach Julian Nagelsmann .
`` It was n't easy to have had a 5-0 defeat in October , then to have to win the second game to go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who steered Leipzig to the semi-finals last season .
`` We got the win today and I think it 's deserved . ''

Leipzig (Germany) (AFP) –
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Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer refused to blame claims that Paul Pogba is "unhappy" for their Champions League exit after a 3-2 defeat at RB Leipzig.
United were punished for a slow start, conceding early goals by Manchester City loanee Angelino and Amadou Haidara before Justin Kluivert put Leipzig 3-0 up midway through the second half.
United pulled back goals in the final ten minutes as Pogba came on to score a late header to make it 3-2 after Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty.
In the build-up, Pogba's agent Mino Raiola said the World Cup-winning France midfielder, 27, is "unhappy" and needs a "change of scene" after struggling to establish himself under Solskjaer.
Solksjaer gave a terse answer when asked if Raiola's comments had unsettled his side.
"The squad is fine, they are a team and they stick together, as soon as Paul's agent realises it's a team sport and we work together, the better," he said.
"That is the last thing I want to say about it," Solksjaer replied when asked if he had spoken to Pogba about Raiola's comments.
Instead, the Norwegian blamed the defeat on his side's lethargic start.
"We didn't perform well enough as a team," he said.
"We knew they would come at us and put crosses in the box and, unfortunately, we conceded two goals and never got going.
"We just didn't turn up until they scored the second goal - then we started playing."
He praised his team's fightback.
"They gave their all, I can't fault anyone's effort and we were close to getting the third, which would have been an achievement against a good Leipzig side," he added.
The 47-year-old said he needed to cure United of their habit of beginning slowly in European games.
"We didn't start until it was 2-0, which is something we need to address again, we need to manage that better," Solskjaer added.
United face a Manchester derby at the weekend.
"As a footballer you can't feel sorry for yourself. You can do for a few minutes tonight, but that’s it. We have a massive game on Saturday and we need to focus on that."
Leipzig avenged their 5-0 thrashing against Manchester United at Old Trafford in October to the delight of their coach Julian Nagelsmann.
"It wasn't easy to have had a 5-0 defeat in October, then to have to win the second game to go to the knock-out stage," said Nagelsmann who steered Leipzig to the semi-finals last season.
"We got the win today and I think it's deserved."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-08--PSG v Basaksehir Champions League game suspended after alleged racist abuse by official

Istanbul Basaksehir forward Demba Ba remonstrates with officials as Paris Saint-Germain stars Neymar and Kylian Mbappe look on Paris Saint-Germain 's Champions League game with Istanbul Basaksehir was suspended on Tuesday as both sets of players walked off amid allegations of racism by the fourth official , in an unprecedented incident in European football 's elite club competition .
The row erupted after Basaksehir assistant coach Pierre Webo , the former Cameroon international , was shown a red card during a fierce row on the touchline with staff from the Turkish club accusing the fourth official of using a racist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Parc des Princes -- which started at 9:00 pm local time ( 2000 GMT ) - stopping in the 14th minute while still goalless , with the players walking off around 10 minutes later .
In a statement late on Tuesday UEFA promised to open a `` thorough investigation '' into the incidents and confirmed the match would restart at 1755 GMT on Wednesday from where it stopped .
European football 's governing body said it had `` decided on an exceptional basis to have the remaining minutes of the match @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team of match officials . ''
UEFA 's regulations for the Champions League stipulate that , normally , any team refusing to play must forfeit the game and also faces a fine of 250,000 euros ( $ 303,000 ) .
Television microphones picked up a furious Webo repeatedly asking why a racist term had been used to describe him .
The referee , Ovidiu Hategan , his two assistants and the fourth official , Sebastian Coltescu , were all from Romania .
In the exchange in question , heard on television and translated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` The black one over there .
This is not possible .
Go and identify him .
That guy , the black one . ''
Basaksehir 's Senegal international striker Demba Ba , among the substitutes for the away side , could be clearly heard on television remonstrating with the official , saying in English : `` When you mention a white guy , you never say 'this white guy ' , you just say 'this guy ' , so why when you mention a black guy do you say 'this black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reaction from Turkey 's President , Recep Tayyip Erdogan , who is understood to be closely linked to the owners of the club .
He tweeted to say : `` I strongly condemn the racist remarks made to Pierre Webo , member of the Basaksehir technical staff , and am convinced UEFA will take the necessary measures '' .
Meanwhile , the president of the Turkish champions said his side refused to restart the game as long as the fourth official was still involved .
`` The fourth official used the word @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If the fourth official is removed from the pitch , then we will restart , '' Göksel Gümüsdag told Turkish television channel TRT Spor .
Basaksehir responded to the incidents by tweeting `` NO TO RACISM # Respect '' , along with a photo of UEFA 's anti-racism logo .
The message was retweeted by PSG .
Despite the interruption of the match , being played behind closed doors because of the coronavirus pandemic , PSG qualified for the last 16 from Group H after RB Leipzig beat Manchester United 3-2 in Germany @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win the game in order to finish on top of the group above Leipzig and thereby secure a potentially easier draw in the next round .
Basaksehir , who are competing in the Champions League group stage for the first time , are already eliminated and will finish bottom .

Paris (AFP) –
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Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League game with Istanbul Basaksehir was suspended on Tuesday as both sets of players walked off amid allegations of racism by the fourth official, in an unprecedented incident in European football's elite club competition.
The row erupted after Basaksehir assistant coach Pierre Webo, the former Cameroon international, was shown a red card during a fierce row on the touchline with staff from the Turkish club accusing the fourth official of using a racist term.
That led to the game at the Parc des Princes -- which started at 9:00 pm local time (2000 GMT) - stopping in the 14th minute while still goalless, with the players walking off around 10 minutes later.
In a statement late on Tuesday UEFA promised to open a "thorough investigation" into the incidents and confirmed the match would restart at 1755 GMT on Wednesday from where it stopped.
European football's governing body said it had "decided on an exceptional basis to have the remaining minutes of the match played (Wednesday) with a new team of match officials."
UEFA's regulations for the Champions League stipulate that, normally, any team refusing to play must forfeit the game and also faces a fine of 250,000 euros ($303,000).
Television microphones picked up a furious Webo repeatedly asking why a racist term had been used to describe him.
The referee, Ovidiu Hategan, his two assistants and the fourth official, Sebastian Coltescu, were all from Romania.
In the exchange in question, heard on television and translated by an AFP journalist, Coltescu said: "The black one over there. This is not possible. Go and identify him. That guy, the black one."
Basaksehir's Senegal international striker Demba Ba, among the substitutes for the away side, could be clearly heard on television remonstrating with the official, saying in English: "When you mention a white guy, you never say 'this white guy', you just say 'this guy', so why when you mention a black guy do you say 'this black guy?'"
- Erdogan 'strongly condemns' incidents -
The incident sparked a reaction from Turkey's President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is understood to be closely linked to the owners of the club.
He tweeted to say: "I strongly condemn the racist remarks made to Pierre Webo, member of the Basaksehir technical staff, and am convinced UEFA will take the necessary measures".
Meanwhile, the president of the Turkish champions said his side refused to restart the game as long as the fourth official was still involved.
"The fourth official used the word 'negro' in front of everybody. If the fourth official is removed from the pitch, then we will restart," Göksel Gümüsdag told Turkish television channel TRT Spor.
Basaksehir responded to the incidents by tweeting "NO TO RACISM #Respect", along with a photo of UEFA's anti-racism logo. The message was retweeted by PSG.
Despite the interruption of the match, being played behind closed doors because of the coronavirus pandemic, PSG qualified for the last 16 from Group H after RB Leipzig beat Manchester United 3-2 in Germany.
However, PSG will need to win the game in order to finish on top of the group above Leipzig and thereby secure a potentially easier draw in the next round.
Basaksehir, who are competing in the Champions League group stage for the first time, are already eliminated and will finish bottom.
© 2020 AFP