france24--2020-12-04--Malls in Brazil's Rio to open 24 hours for Christmas

Health workers put on protective gear to carry out PCR tests to screen for COVID-19 at a public health unit in the city of Sao Goncalo , Rio de Janeiro state , Brazil , on December 04 , 2020 Rio de Janeiro 's shopping malls will stay open 24 hours a day through Christmas , authorities announced Friday , hoping to avoid overcrowding amidst a second wave of coronavirus .
The move goes against the recommendations of scientists who are advocating new restrictions in the Brazilian city , given a worrying increase in Covid-19 deaths and infections .
Brazil has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , after the United States , with more than 175,000 people killed .
More than 23,000 of the deaths occurred in Rio state , where the mortality rate linked to the virus is the highest in the country .
Rio city council 's scientific committee this week recommended beaches be shut down and bar and restaurant trading hours reduced .
Rio 's mayor Marcelo Crivella said keeping shopping malls open at all hours would ease the Christmas crush .
`` With shopping centers open 24 hours a day , the population will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crivella told a press conference .
The measure will come into effect on Saturday and remain in force throughout December , the mayor said on Twitter .
The only restrictions announced are the closure of municipal schools only weeks after they reopened .
The mayor 's office and the Rio state government have also announced an increase in hospital capacity with intensive care occupancy rates at over 90 percent for the past week .
Infectious disease specialist Celso Ferreira Ramos Filho , head of the Society of Medicine in Rio , said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We really think that the shopping centers will remain open in the middle of the night , with few customers and more energy and staff costs ?
It wo n't have any real affect , '' said Ramos Filho , who is also a member of the city council 's scientific committee .
`` That said , anything that can reduce gatherings is welcome , '' he said .
Apart from the compulsory use of masks in public places , life has returned almost to normal in Rio , with crowded beaches and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed for several months from March , before gradually reopening in June .

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) –
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Rio de Janeiro's shopping malls will stay open 24 hours a day through Christmas, authorities announced Friday, hoping to avoid overcrowding amidst a second wave of coronavirus.
The move goes against the recommendations of scientists who are advocating new restrictions in the Brazilian city, given a worrying increase in Covid-19 deaths and infections.
Brazil has the second-highest death toll in the pandemic, after the United States, with more than 175,000 people killed.
More than 23,000 of the deaths occurred in Rio state, where the mortality rate linked to the virus is the highest in the country.
Rio city council's scientific committee this week recommended beaches be shut down and bar and restaurant trading hours reduced.
Rio's mayor Marcelo Crivella said keeping shopping malls open at all hours would ease the Christmas crush.
"With shopping centers open 24 hours a day, the population will not need to rush to them," Crivella told a press conference.
The measure will come into effect on Saturday and remain in force throughout December, the mayor said on Twitter.
The only restrictions announced are the closure of municipal schools only weeks after they reopened.
The mayor's office and the Rio state government have also announced an increase in hospital capacity with intensive care occupancy rates at over 90 percent for the past week.
Infectious disease specialist Celso Ferreira Ramos Filho, head of the Society of Medicine in Rio, said the measures are "questionable".
"We really think that the shopping centers will remain open in the middle of the night, with few customers and more energy and staff costs? It won't have any real affect," said Ramos Filho, who is also a member of the city council's scientific committee.
"That said, anything that can reduce gatherings is welcome," he said.
Apart from the compulsory use of masks in public places, life has returned almost to normal in Rio, with crowded beaches and bars at weekends.
Non-essential businesses remained closed for several months from March, before gradually reopening in June.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-04--Trump orders pullout of most US personnel from Somalia

The scene of a 2019 suicide car bomb explosion in Mogadishu , Somalia claimed by the Al-Shabaab militant group President Donald Trump has ordered the removal of most US military and security personnel from Somalia , where they have been conducting operations against the Al-Shabaab militant group , the Pentagon said Friday .
Trump `` has ordered the Department of Defense and the United States Africa Command to reposition the majority of personnel and assets out of Somalia by early 2021 , '' it said in a statement .
The Defense Department stressed the United States was `` not withdrawing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns of a pullback from various areas in the continent .
`` We will continue to degrade violent extremist organizations that could threaten our homeland while ensuring we maintain our strategic advantage in great power competition , '' it said .
The US Africa Command has maintained some 700 troops , personnel from other US security operations , and private security contractors in Somalia , both conducting attacks on Al-Shabaab and training Somali forces .
The US personnel have sustained some casualties , including the death of a CIA officer in late November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Somalia a week ago , where he `` reaffirmed US resolve in seeing the degradation of violent extremist organizations that threaten US interests , partners , and allies in the region , '' the Pentagon said .
The move came as Trump has sought to wind down US military engagements abroad in his final weeks in office .
He ordered US troop levels to be slashed by mid-January in Afghanistan and Iraq , to 2,500 troops in both cases .
The Pentagon said Friday that some of the personnel being pulled out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to allow cross-border operations against extremist groups in conjunction with partner forces .
`` The US will retain the capability to conduct targeted counterterrorism operations in Somalia , and collect early warnings and indicators regarding threats to the homeland , '' it said .

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President Donald Trump has ordered the removal of most US military and security personnel from Somalia, where they have been conducting operations against the Al-Shabaab militant group, the Pentagon said Friday.
Trump "has ordered the Department of Defense and the United States Africa Command to reposition the majority of personnel and assets out of Somalia by early 2021," it said in a statement.
The Defense Department stressed the United States was "not withdrawing or disengaging from Africa," amid concerns of a pullback from various areas in the continent.
"We will continue to degrade violent extremist organizations that could threaten our homeland while ensuring we maintain our strategic advantage in great power competition," it said.
The US Africa Command has maintained some 700 troops, personnel from other US security operations, and private security contractors in Somalia, both conducting attacks on Al-Shabaab and training Somali forces.
The US personnel have sustained some casualties, including the death of a CIA officer in late November.
Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller visited Somalia a week ago, where he "reaffirmed US resolve in seeing the degradation of violent extremist organizations that threaten US interests, partners, and allies in the region," the Pentagon said.
The move came as Trump has sought to wind down US military engagements abroad in his final weeks in office.
He ordered US troop levels to be slashed by mid-January in Afghanistan and Iraq, to 2,500 troops in both cases.
The Pentagon said Friday that some of the personnel being pulled out of Somalia will be reassigned to neighboring countries to allow cross-border operations against extremist groups in conjunction with partner forces.
"The US will retain the capability to conduct targeted counterterrorism operations in Somalia, and collect early warnings and indicators regarding threats to the homeland," it said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-05--Massive Palestinian funeral for killed teenager despite virus curfew

Mourners carry the body of Palestinian teenager Ali Abu Aliya during his funeral in the village of Mughayir near Ramallah a day after he was killed in clashes with the army during a protest against Jewish settlements Hundreds of Palestinians attended the funeral Saturday of a teenager killed in clashes with the Israeli army , defying a curfew imposed on the occupied West Bank to stem the coronavirus .
Ali Ayman Nasr Abu Aliya , 13 , died on Friday after he was `` shot with live rounds in the stomach '' during clashes in the village of Mughayir , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministry said .
The boy , whose death drew Palestinian condemnation and was deplored by the United Nations and the European Union , was hit during a protest against the construction of a Jewish settlement .
A funeral cortege joined by hundreds of mourners took the body from a hospital in Ramallah to Mughayir where Abu Aliya was buried .
His body , draped in the Palestinian flag and a traditional keffiyeh headscarf , was carried shoulder high by mourners , who also waved yellow flags of the Fatah movement of president Mahmud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curfew imposed by Palestinian authorities to stem the rise in coronavirus cases to pay their respects .
The West Bank has recorded 71,703 Covid-19 infections , including 678 deaths , since the first cases emerged earlier this year .
The European Union delegation to the Palestinians on Saturday denounced the `` shocking '' killing of Abu Aliya in a tweet .
`` This shocking incident must be swiftly and fully investigated by the Israeli authorities in order to bring the perpetrators to justice , '' it said .
`` How many more Palestinian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of lethal force by the Israeli security forces ? ''
UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov said on Friday he was `` appalled by the killing '' and also called on Israel to investigate the death of Abu Aliya calling it an `` unacceptable incident '' .
The Israeli army denied live rounds were used during Friday 's protest and clashes , but said dozens of protesters had thrown rocks at security forces .
The Palestinian Authority condemned `` the cold-blooded murder '' describing it as `` the latest episode in Israel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Palestinian foreign ministry said Friday it will file legal proceedings against Israel at the International Criminal Court over Abu Alya 's fatal shooting , the Palestinians ' WAFA news agency said .
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967 .
Excluding annexed east Jerusalem , more than 450,000 Israelis live in settlements in the territory , which is home to more than 2.8 million Palestinians .

Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) –
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Hundreds of Palestinians attended the funeral Saturday of a teenager killed in clashes with the Israeli army, defying a curfew imposed on the occupied West Bank to stem the coronavirus.
Ali Ayman Nasr Abu Aliya, 13, died on Friday after he was "shot with live rounds in the stomach" during clashes in the village of Mughayir, north of Ramallah, the Palestinian health ministry said.
The boy, whose death drew Palestinian condemnation and was deplored by the United Nations and the European Union, was hit during a protest against the construction of a Jewish settlement.
A funeral cortege joined by hundreds of mourners took the body from a hospital in Ramallah to Mughayir where Abu Aliya was buried.
His body, draped in the Palestinian flag and a traditional keffiyeh headscarf, was carried shoulder high by mourners, who also waved yellow flags of the Fatah movement of president Mahmud Abbas.
The mourners defied a weekend curfew imposed by Palestinian authorities to stem the rise in coronavirus cases to pay their respects.
The West Bank has recorded 71,703 Covid-19 infections, including 678 deaths, since the first cases emerged earlier this year.
The European Union delegation to the Palestinians on Saturday denounced the "shocking" killing of Abu Aliya in a tweet.
"This shocking incident must be swiftly and fully investigated by the Israeli authorities in order to bring the perpetrators to justice," it said.
"How many more Palestinian children will be subject to the excessive use of lethal force by the Israeli security forces?"
UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov said on Friday he was "appalled by the killing" and also called on Israel to investigate the death of Abu Aliya calling it an "unacceptable incident".
The Israeli army denied live rounds were used during Friday's protest and clashes, but said dozens of protesters had thrown rocks at security forces.
The Palestinian Authority condemned "the cold-blooded murder" describing it as "the latest episode in Israel's crimes against the Palestinian people".
The Palestinian foreign ministry said Friday it will file legal proceedings against Israel at the International Criminal Court over Abu Alya's fatal shooting, the Palestinians' WAFA news agency said.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. Excluding annexed east Jerusalem, more than 450,000 Israelis live in settlements in the territory, which is home to more than 2.8 million Palestinians.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-05--England's Mako Vunipola out of Nations Cup final against France

England suffered a blow on the eve of their Autumn Nations Cup final against France when Mako Vunipola was ruled out with calf trouble .
The loosehead prop suffered the injury during last weekend 's pool win away to Wales and has not regained fitness in time for Sunday 's match at Twickenham .
Ellis Genge has now been promoted from the bench into England 's front row , with Joe Marler filling the vacancy among the replacements .
`` Mako picked up an injury in last week 's game , '' said England attack coach Simon Amor on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity to recover for this one but unfortunately he has n't made it . ''
France are the only team to have beaten Six Nations champions England this year , winning 24-17 in Paris in February before the global rugby calendar was disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic .
But their starting XV for the inaugural Nations Cup final features just 68 caps following an agreement between the French Rugby Federation ( FFR ) and the country 's Top 14 clubs limiting players to three team sheet appearances in the revised end-of-year Test schedule @

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England suffered a blow on the eve of their Autumn Nations Cup final against France when Mako Vunipola was ruled out with calf trouble.
The loosehead prop suffered the injury during last weekend's pool win away to Wales and has not regained fitness in time for Sunday's match at Twickenham.
Ellis Genge has now been promoted from the bench into England's front row, with Joe Marler filling the vacancy among the replacements.
"Mako picked up an injury in last week's game," said England attack coach Simon Amor on Saturday.
"We've given him every opportunity to recover for this one but unfortunately he hasn't made it."
France are the only team to have beaten Six Nations champions England this year, winning 24-17 in Paris in February before the global rugby calendar was disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
But their starting XV for the inaugural Nations Cup final features just 68 caps following an agreement between the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and the country's Top 14 clubs limiting players to three team sheet appearances in the revised end-of-year Test schedule.
Revised England team (15-1)
Elliot Daly; Anthony Watson, Henry Slade, Owen Farrell (capt), Jonny May; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Billy Vunipola, Sam Underhill, Tom Curry; Joe Launchbury, Maro Itoje; Kyle Sinckler, Jamie George, Ellis Genge
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Jonny Hill, Ben Earl, Dan Robson, Max Malins, Joe Marchant
Coach: Eddie Jones (AUS)
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-05--Slovenia's Kranjec takes World Cup giant slalom lead

Slovenia 's Zan Kranjec was fastest after the first run of the men 's World Cup giant slalom staged with @ @ @ @ @ Alps on Saturday .
Switzerland 's in-form Marco Odermatt was 0.46sec adrift with overall championship @ @ @ @ @ sitting third only 0.02sec further off .
Santa Caterina stepped in to stage the third @ @ @ @ @ men 's season when French resort Val D'Isere did n't get enough snow .
The @ @ @ @ @ at Saint-Moritz was cancelled on Saturday after heavy snowfall and wind rendered conditions at the @ @ @ @ @ too risky to hold the race , organisers announced .

Santa Caterina di Valfurva (Italy) (AFP) –
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Slovenia's Zan Kranjec was fastest after the first run of the men's World Cup giant slalom staged with snow falling in the Italian Alps on Saturday.
Switzerland's in-form Marco Odermatt was 0.46sec adrift with overall championship leader Alexis Pinturault of France sitting third only 0.02sec further off.
Santa Caterina stepped in to stage the third and fourth races of the men's season when French resort Val D'Isere didn't get enough snow.
The women's World Cup super-G at Saint-Moritz was cancelled on Saturday after heavy snowfall and wind rendered conditions at the iconic Swiss resort's piste too risky to hold the race, organisers announced.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-05--Ogier keeps wheels on title quest at Monza

French driver Sebastien Ogier is leading at Monza with the rally world title at stake Sebastien Ogier kept alive his world title bid by taking the lead in the last round of the world rally championship at Monza after Saturday morning 's three opening stages .
The French driver clocked the fastest time in the season-closing rally 's seventh special , with Dani Sordo taking the next and Ogier 's Toyota teammate and title favourite Elfyn Evans , annexing the next .
The morning 's action left Ogier in command by 6.7seconds from Sordo , with Evans third at 7.5sec @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 point advantage over Ogier in the title race to this coronavirus-disrupted season .
Whilst the permutations are plenty , Welsh driver Evans is guaranteed his first WRC crown -- should Ogier win -- if he finishes second .
If Ogier wins and Evans finishes third or fourth then it all goes down to Sunday 's closing Power Stage with its five-point bonus .
Six-time champion Ogier got off to a roaring start on the 25 kilometre mountainous seventh special at 900m altitude .
He was kicking himself in the next for being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back in the ninth as the snow began to fall .
There are three more mountainous stages Saturday with a fourth scheduled at Monza 's Formula One circuit .

Monza (Italy) (AFP) –
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Sebastien Ogier kept alive his world title bid by taking the lead in the last round of the world rally championship at Monza after Saturday morning's three opening stages.
The French driver clocked the fastest time in the season-closing rally's seventh special, with Dani Sordo taking the next and Ogier's Toyota teammate and title favourite Elfyn Evans, annexing the next.
The morning's action left Ogier in command by 6.7seconds from Sordo, with Evans third at 7.5sec.
Evans arrived at Monza with a 14 point advantage over Ogier in the title race to this coronavirus-disrupted season.
Whilst the permutations are plenty, Welsh driver Evans is guaranteed his first WRC crown -- should Ogier win -- if he finishes second.
If Ogier wins and Evans finishes third or fourth then it all goes down to Sunday's closing Power Stage with its five-point bonus.
Six-time champion Ogier got off to a roaring start on the 25 kilometre mountainous seventh special at 900m altitude.
He was kicking himself in the next for being "too cautious" whilst Evans hit back in the ninth as the snow began to fall.
There are three more mountainous stages Saturday with a fourth scheduled at Monza's Formula One circuit.
Rally Monza standings
1. Sebastien Ogier-Julien Ingrassia (FRA/Toyota) 1hh 33min 31.2sec, 2. Dani Sordo-Carlos del Barrio (ESP/Hyundai) at 6.7s, 3. Elfyn Evans-Scott Martin (GBR/Toyota) 7.5, 4. Ott Tänak-Martin Järveoja (EST/Hyundai) 15.7, 5. Esapekka Lappi-Janne Ferm (FIN/Ford) 18.5, 6. Kalle Rovanperä-Jonne Halttunen (FIN/Toyota) à 54.4
Retired:
Thierry Neuville-Nicolas Gilsoul (BEL/Hyundai), problème mécanique (SS4)
Special stage winners:
Ogier 3 (SS1, SS5, SS7), Sordo 3 (SS2, SS6, SS8), Lappi 1 (SS3), Evans 2 (SS4, SS9)
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-05--Australia claw back for second straight draw with battling Pumas

Reece Hodge missed a last-gasp penalty as 14-man Australia drew with Argentina for the second straight game to confirm New Zealand as Tri Nations champions Saturday .
The Wallabies needed a crushing 101-point win over the Pumas , who were missing captain Pablo Matera after a racist tweet scandal , to overhaul the All Blacks in the tournament 's final game .
Argentina needed to win by 93 points to lift the trophy , but a high-scoring match was never in prospect on a muggy night of steady rain in Sydney .
Instead , they remarkably finished at 16-16 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ separated in a 15-all clash .
Hodge could have won the game but sent his 45-metre kick wide with a minute remaining , just as he did in the dying seconds of their drawn match two weeks ago .
`` We 're not happy with the performance , we 're disappointed we ca n't get a win in our last game , '' said Australia captain Michael Hooper .
`` It was hard conditions tonight .
I think we were smart with our kicks there , we won the territory battle but we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's discipline again let them down in the first half with Argentina going to the break 13-6 in front , scoring 10 points when Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper was in the sin-bin for a high tackle .
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto was then sent off with 20 minutes left but the Wallabies dug deep to save face .
`` We showed a lot of character tonight , seven points down and reduced to 14 men .
We controlled it pretty well and played in the right areas of the part and got rewarded , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entertaining clash rounded out a southern hemisphere tournament reduced to three teams after World Cup holders South Africa pulled out over coronavirus issues .
The draw ensured Argentina finished the tournament second , capping a momentous tour by Mario Ledesma 's men who endured lockdowns and a slew of Covid-19 cases before upsetting New Zealand then drawing with Australia a fortnight ago .
The Wallabies took the wooden spoon in a poor end to Rennie 's first year in charge , which has seen them win just once .
It was battling effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disrupted by the tweet scandal .
Matera , second row Guido Petti and replacement hooker Santiago Socino were all suspended after years-old `` discriminatory and xenophobic '' comments surfaced , before a shock U-turn saw them reinstated on Friday .
The posts emerged after criticism that the Pumas did not adequately pay tribute to Argentina football icon Diego Maradona , who died last month , before last weekend 's defeat by the All Blacks .
They all wore a No.10 on the sleeve of their jerseys on Saturday , in honour of Maradona @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playmaker James O'Connor back to direct the attack , the Wallabies enjoyed plenty of early possession and their pressure paid off when Pumas lock Marcos Kremer was yellow-carded on 15 minutes for a dangerous clean-out .
It proved costly , with Hodge converting the resulting penalty .
But the lead lasted barely a minute with the golden boot of Argentina fly-half Nicolas Sanchez levelling the score after a Matt Philip mistake from the restart .
Just as Kremer returned to the field , Hooper was sent to the bin for a similar offence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It marked a momentum shift with the Pumas taking the lead when Domingo Miotti , on while Sanchez received attention , nailed a penalty after another Philip error .
Felipe Ezcurra then made a break down the blindside from a maul and set free winger Bautista Delguy , who fended off Hunter Paisami before diving over for their first try in three Tests .
Miotti converted to put then 13-3 in front until another Hodge penalty on the half-time hooter clawed back three points for the hosts .
Hodge booted another after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then Salakaia-Loto saw red for a dangerous tackle and it looked all over for the Wallabies .
But Australia refused to give up and Hooper barged over for a try from a lineout with Hodge converting to level the scores at 16-16 and set up an exciting finale .

Sydney (AFP) –
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Reece Hodge missed a last-gasp penalty as 14-man Australia drew with Argentina for the second straight game to confirm New Zealand as Tri Nations champions Saturday.
The Wallabies needed a crushing 101-point win over the Pumas, who were missing captain Pablo Matera after a racist tweet scandal, to overhaul the All Blacks in the tournament's final game.
Argentina needed to win by 93 points to lift the trophy, but a high-scoring match was never in prospect on a muggy night of steady rain in Sydney.
Instead, they remarkably finished at 16-16, a fortnight after they couldn't be separated in a 15-all clash.
Hodge could have won the game but sent his 45-metre kick wide with a minute remaining, just as he did in the dying seconds of their drawn match two weeks ago.
"We're not happy with the performance, we're disappointed we can't get a win in our last game," said Australia captain Michael Hooper.
"It was hard conditions tonight. I think we were smart with our kicks there, we won the territory battle but we just couldn't convert."
Australia's discipline again let them down in the first half with Argentina going to the break 13-6 in front, scoring 10 points when Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper was in the sin-bin for a high tackle.
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto was then sent off with 20 minutes left but the Wallabies dug deep to save face.
"We showed a lot of character tonight, seven points down and reduced to 14 men. We controlled it pretty well and played in the right areas of the part and got rewarded," said Wallabies coach Dave Rennie.
The entertaining clash rounded out a southern hemisphere tournament reduced to three teams after World Cup holders South Africa pulled out over coronavirus issues.
- Fired-up Argentina -
The draw ensured Argentina finished the tournament second, capping a momentous tour by Mario Ledesma's men who endured lockdowns and a slew of Covid-19 cases before upsetting New Zealand then drawing with Australia a fortnight ago.
The Wallabies took the wooden spoon in a poor end to Rennie's first year in charge, which has seen them win just once.
It was battling effort by the Pumas, whose build-up was disrupted by the tweet scandal.
Matera, second row Guido Petti and replacement hooker Santiago Socino were all suspended after years-old "discriminatory and xenophobic" comments surfaced, before a shock U-turn saw them reinstated on Friday.
The posts emerged after criticism that the Pumas did not adequately pay tribute to Argentina football icon Diego Maradona, who died last month, before last weekend's defeat by the All Blacks.
They all wore a No.10 on the sleeve of their jerseys on Saturday, in honour of Maradona, and were clearly fired-up.
With playmaker James O'Connor back to direct the attack, the Wallabies enjoyed plenty of early possession and their pressure paid off when Pumas lock Marcos Kremer was yellow-carded on 15 minutes for a dangerous clean-out.
It proved costly, with Hodge converting the resulting penalty.
But the lead lasted barely a minute with the golden boot of Argentina fly-half Nicolas Sanchez levelling the score after a Matt Philip mistake from the restart.
Just as Kremer returned to the field, Hooper was sent to the bin for a similar offence after crunching Sanchez with a high shot.
It marked a momentum shift with the Pumas taking the lead when Domingo Miotti, on while Sanchez received attention, nailed a penalty after another Philip error.
Felipe Ezcurra then made a break down the blindside from a maul and set free winger Bautista Delguy, who fended off Hunter Paisami before diving over for their first try in three Tests.
Miotti converted to put then 13-3 in front until another Hodge penalty on the half-time hooter clawed back three points for the hosts.
Hodge booted another after the restart to reduce the gap but then Salakaia-Loto saw red for a dangerous tackle and it looked all over for the Wallabies.
But Australia refused to give up and Hooper barged over for a try from a lineout with Hodge converting to level the scores at 16-16 and set up an exciting finale.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-05--Iran's Supreme Court to retry three on death row over anti-govt protests

Babak Paknia , the lawyer of Amirhossein Moradi – one of the three people convicted over November 2019 protests , at his office in the capital Tehran on July 19 , 2020 .
Iran 's supreme court said Saturday it will review the cases of three young men sentenced to death over links to deadly November 2019 protests after a request from their lawyers .
Numerous calls had spread online after the verdict was announced , calling for a halt for executions in Iran , with the United Nations and European countries reaffirming their opposition to the death sentence .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the death sentences against the three a week after they were upheld by a tribunal over evidence the judiciary said was found on their phones of them setting alight banks , buses and public buildings during the wave of anti-government protests .
`` A request to retry the three sentenced to death over the ( November ) incidents was accepted , '' the supreme court said on its official website .
`` The case will be reviewed in another tribunal , '' it added , without elaborating further on the decision .
Four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days after the young men 's sentences were upheld in July , local media said at the time .
One of the lawyers identified the three as friends 26-year-old retain worker Amirhossein Moradi , Said Tamjidi , a 28-year-old driver for Snapp ( Iran 's Uber ) , and Mohammad Rajabi , also 26 and unemployed .
They were sentenced over `` collusion to endanger national security '' and `` destroying and setting fire to public property with the aim of confronting the political system of the Islamic republic , '' Babak Paknia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an interview in July .
Paknia confirmed the supreme court 's decision in a tweet on Saturday .
The demonstrations erupted in November last year after authorities more than doubled fuel prices overnight , exacerbating economic hardship in the sanctions-hit country .
They rocked a handful of cities before spreading to at least 100 urban centres across Iran .
Petrol pumps were torched , police stations attacked and shops looted before security forces stepped in amid a near-total internet blackout .
A senior Iranian lawmaker in June put the death toll at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ armed `` rioters , '' months after authorities had refused to provide casualty figures .
London-based rights group Amnesty International has put the number of deaths at 304 , including 23 minors , and a group of independent UN rights experts said last year that 400 could have been killed .

Iran's supreme court said Saturday it will review the cases of three young men sentenced to death over links to deadly November 2019 protests after a request from their lawyers.
Babak Paknia, the lawyer of Amirhossein Moradi – one of the three people convicted over November 2019 protests, at his office in the capital Tehran on July 19, 2020.
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Numerous calls had spread online after the verdict was announced, calling for a halt for executions in Iran, with the United Nations and European countries reaffirming their opposition to the death sentence.
In July, Iran's judiciary halted the death sentences against the three a week after they were upheld by a tribunal over evidence the judiciary said was found on their phones of them setting alight banks, buses and public buildings during the wave of anti-government protests.
"A request to retry the three sentenced to death over the (November) incidents was accepted," the supreme court said on its official website.
"The case will be reviewed in another tribunal," it added, without elaborating further on the decision.
Four lawyers representing the accused made the request days after the young men's sentences were upheld in July, local media said at the time.
One of the lawyers identified the three as friends 26-year-old retain worker Amirhossein Moradi, Said Tamjidi, a 28-year-old driver for Snapp (Iran's Uber), and Mohammad Rajabi, also 26 and unemployed.
'Collusion to endanger national security'
They were sentenced over "collusion to endanger national security" and "destroying and setting fire to public property with the aim of confronting the political system of the Islamic republic," Babak Paknia, who represents Moradi, told AFP in an interview in July.
Paknia confirmed the supreme court's decision in a tweet on Saturday.
The demonstrations erupted in November last year after authorities more than doubled fuel prices overnight, exacerbating economic hardship in the sanctions-hit country.
They rocked a handful of cities before spreading to at least 100 urban centres across Iran.
Petrol pumps were torched, police stations attacked and shops looted before security forces stepped in amid a near-total internet blackout.
A senior Iranian lawmaker in June put the death toll at 230 but said most were killed by armed "rioters," months after authorities had refused to provide casualty figures.
London-based rights group Amnesty International has put the number of deaths at 304, including 23 minors, and a group of independent UN rights experts said last year that 400 could have been killed.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-12-05--UK, EU leaders to hold call in bid for Brexit breakthrough

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will hold talks Saturday to try to break the deadlock in post-Brexit trade deal negotiations , with time running short .
The crunch phone call , expected during the afternoon , follows UK and European Union envoys pausing last-ditch talks late Friday and acknowledging that the conditions for an agreement had not been met .
In a joint statement , top British negotiator David Frost and his European counterpart Michel Barnier said `` significant divergences '' remained over several key issues that have stalled talks since the summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to strike a deal with just weeks left until the 11-month Brexit transition period ends on December 31 .
A deal is seen as essential to avoid deep disruption on both sides -- but especially in Britain -- to economies already damaged by the coronavirus pandemic .
Returning to Brussels from London on Saturday to brief von der Leyen before the call , Barnier told reporters his team would `` keep calm , as always '' .
`` If there is still a way , we will see , '' he added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leyen last spoke on November 7 , but a month later Britain and the bloc remain divided over so-called level playing field provisions , governance and fisheries .
A European source told AFP on Friday of `` serious difficulties '' at this crucial late stage in the process .
Johnson may also try to speak with other European leaders over the weekend , including French President Emmanuel Macron , according to the Financial Times .
EU leaders will hold a summit on Thursday , by which time many expect to know whether reaching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Britain formally left the EU in January , nearly four years after a referendum on membership that divided the nation .
But it has remained bound by most of its rules until the end of the year , as the two sides try to agree the exact nature of their future relationship .
Without a deal , the bulk of cross-Channel trade will revert to World Trade Organization terms , an unwanted return to tariffs and quotas after almost five decades of deepening economic and political integration .
Talks through this year have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Britain set to leave the EU single market and customs union , but the most thorny issues have remain unresolved .
European capitals have remained remarkably united behind Barnier through the fraught Brexit process , but some internal fractures have now begun to surface .
France on Friday threatened to veto any deal that fails short of their demands on ensuring fair trade and access to UK fishing waters .
Meanwhile a European diplomat told AFP that Belgium , the Netherlands , Spain and Denmark share Paris 's concerns that the EU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules to maintain competition .
In Britain , Johnson has insisted Britain will `` prosper mightily '' whatever the outcome of the talks , but he will face severe political and economic fallout if he can not seal a deal .
`` If we fail to get an agreement with the European Union , this will be a serious failure of statecraft , '' Conservative lawmaker Tom Tugendhat , Chair of parliament 's foreign affairs committee , told the Lowy Institute in an interview published Saturday .

London (AFP) –
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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will hold talks Saturday to try to break the deadlock in post-Brexit trade deal negotiations, with time running short.
The crunch phone call, expected during the afternoon, follows UK and European Union envoys pausing last-ditch talks late Friday and acknowledging that the conditions for an agreement had not been met.
In a joint statement, top British negotiator David Frost and his European counterpart Michel Barnier said "significant divergences" remained over several key issues that have stalled talks since the summer.
Pressure is growing on both sides to strike a deal with just weeks left until the 11-month Brexit transition period ends on December 31.
A deal is seen as essential to avoid deep disruption on both sides -- but especially in Britain -- to economies already damaged by the coronavirus pandemic.
Returning to Brussels from London on Saturday to brief von der Leyen before the call, Barnier told reporters his team would "keep calm, as always".
"If there is still a way, we will see," he added.
Johnson and EU Commission President von der Leyen last spoke on November 7, but a month later Britain and the bloc remain divided over so-called level playing field provisions, governance and fisheries.
A European source told AFP on Friday of "serious difficulties" at this crucial late stage in the process.
Johnson may also try to speak with other European leaders over the weekend, including French President Emmanuel Macron, according to the Financial Times.
EU leaders will hold a summit on Thursday, by which time many expect to know whether reaching a Brexit deal is still possible.
- 'Failure of statecraft' -
Britain formally left the EU in January, nearly four years after a referendum on membership that divided the nation.
But it has remained bound by most of its rules until the end of the year, as the two sides try to agree the exact nature of their future relationship.
Without a deal, the bulk of cross-Channel trade will revert to World Trade Organization terms, an unwanted return to tariffs and quotas after almost five decades of deepening economic and political integration.
Talks through this year have finalised most aspects of an agreement, with Britain set to leave the EU single market and customs union, but the most thorny issues have remain unresolved.
European capitals have remained remarkably united behind Barnier through the fraught Brexit process, but some internal fractures have now begun to surface.
France on Friday threatened to veto any deal that fails short of their demands on ensuring fair trade and access to UK fishing waters.
Meanwhile a European diplomat told AFP that Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Denmark share Paris's concerns that the EU side could give too much ground on rules to maintain competition.
In Britain, Johnson has insisted Britain will "prosper mightily" whatever the outcome of the talks, but he will face severe political and economic fallout if he cannot seal a deal.
"If we fail to get an agreement with the European Union, this will be a serious failure of statecraft," Conservative lawmaker Tom Tugendhat, Chair of parliament's foreign affairs committee, told the Lowy Institute in an interview published Saturday.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-05--Moscow starts vaccinating high-risk workers against Covid-19

Moscow 's mayor said thousands signed up for vaccination within hours of registration launching online .
Moscow on Saturday began vaccinating workers at high risk of becoming infected with the coronavirus at newly opened clinics across the city .
Health officials said they had opened 70 coronavirus vaccine centres in the Russian capital that would initially offer jabs for health , education and social workers .
`` Citizens from the main risk groups who in connection with their professional activities come into contact with a large number of people can get vaccinated , '' officials said .
Russia was one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ development of a vaccine , Sputnik V -- dubbed after the Soviet-era satellite -- in August but before beginning final clinical trials .
It is currently in its third and final stage of clinical trials involving some 40,000 volunteers .
Sputnik V 's developers last month said interim results had shown the vaccine was 95-percent effective and would be cheaper and easier to store than some alternatives .
The jab uses two different human adenovirus vectors and is administered in two doses with a 21-day gap .
The vaccine will be free to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voluntary .
Health officials on Saturday said that during the initial rollout in Moscow the jab would not be available to workers over 60 , those with chronic diseases , and pregnant or breastfeeding women .
They did not say when the vaccine would be available to the wider public .
On Friday , Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that 5,000 people had registered to be vaccinated within the first five hours of online registration having opened .
AFP journalists at one of the new centres on Saturday saw queues as people waited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be sure that the coronavirus wo n't infect me and my loved ones , '' said Sergei Buslayev , a 42-year-old insurance worker .
`` I want to be able to go to the gym safely and lead my life normally again , '' he added .
The mass vaccination rollout began as Russia set a new daily record for coronavirus infections .
Health officials on Saturday reported 28,782 new infections , bringing the national total to 2,431,731 cases since the beginning of the pandemic -- the fourth-highest caseload in the world .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not imposed the kind of nationwide lockdowns seen in some parts of Europe , although restrictions were imposed in some major cities .
Instead , they pinned their hopes on ending the pandemic on vaccines .
President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday told health officials to start widespread vaccinations next week , adding that Russia has produced close to two million doses of Sputnik V. Last month Russia 's defence ministry announced that a mass vaccination campaign has been rolled out in the military , aiming to inoculate over 400,000 servicemen , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Russia 's Levada polling agency in a recent survey found that only 36 percent of respondents were prepared to be vaccinated against the coronavirus .

Moscow on Saturday began vaccinating workers at high risk of becoming infected with the coronavirus at newly opened clinics across the city.
Moscow's mayor said thousands signed up for vaccination within hours of registration launching online.
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Health officials said they had opened 70 coronavirus vaccine centres in the Russian capital that would initially offer jabs for health, education and social workers.
"Citizens from the main risk groups who in connection with their professional activities come into contact with a large number of people can get vaccinated," officials said.
Russia was one of the first countries to announce the development of a vaccine, Sputnik V -- dubbed after the Soviet-era satellite -- in August but before beginning final clinical trials.
It is currently in its third and final stage of clinical trials involving some 40,000 volunteers.
Sputnik V's developers last month said interim results had shown the vaccine was 95-percent effective and would be cheaper and easier to store than some alternatives.
The jab uses two different human adenovirus vectors and is administered in two doses with a 21-day gap.
The vaccine will be free to all Russian citizens and innoculation will be voluntary.
Health officials on Saturday said that during the initial rollout in Moscow the jab would not be available to workers over 60, those with chronic diseases, and pregnant or breastfeeding women.
They did not say when the vaccine would be available to the wider public.
Mass vaccinations planned for military
On Friday, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that 5,000 people had registered to be vaccinated within the first five hours of online registration having opened.
AFP journalists at one of the new centres on Saturday saw queues as people waited their turn.
"I want to be sure that the coronavirus won't infect me and my loved ones," said Sergei Buslayev, a 42-year-old insurance worker.
"I want to be able to go to the gym safely and lead my life normally again," he added.
The mass vaccination rollout began as Russia set a new daily record for coronavirus infections.
Health officials on Saturday reported 28,782 new infections, bringing the national total to 2,431,731 cases since the beginning of the pandemic -- the fourth-highest caseload in the world.
Despite the surge in cases, Russia has not imposed the kind of nationwide lockdowns seen in some parts of Europe, although restrictions were imposed in some major cities.
Instead, they pinned their hopes on ending the pandemic on vaccines.
President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday told health officials to start widespread vaccinations next week, adding that Russia has produced close to two million doses of Sputnik V.
Last month Russia's defence ministry announced that a mass vaccination campaign has been rolled out in the military, aiming to inoculate over 400,000 servicemen, including 80,000 by the end of this year.
Russia's Levada polling agency in a recent survey found that only 36 percent of respondents were prepared to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-12-05--French ex-president Giscard laid to rest in low-key ceremony

The former president had asked for a low-key , family funeral France 's former president Valery Giscard d'Estaing , credited with leading social and technological reform of the country and placing it at the heart of Europe , was laid to rest Saturday in a low-key funeral attended only by family and his close circle .
It had been the wish of Giscard , who ruled France from 1974-1981 and died on Wednesday of Covid-19 aged 94 , to have such a small-scale ceremony , which was attended by around 40 people .
The ceremony , in the town of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France where he lived , contrasted with the lavish send-off for former president Jacques Chirac when he died in 2019 .
Chirac was given a lying-in-state with thousands paying respects at his coffin in Paris before a funeral ceremony at the Saint Sulpice church attended by all France 's living former leaders .
That ceremony in September 2019 was also the last time Giscard was seen in public .
`` The president ( Giscard ) wanted the funeral to take place in the strictest privacy with family , '' his son Henri Giscard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It turns out that the circumstances ( due to the pandemic ) mean that there would have been no other choice .
We will therefore only have family members and the people who live around us in Authon , '' he said .
With police standing guard outside , his coffin draped in French and European flags was carried into the Saint Hilaire church in Authon , an AFP correspondent said .
France will on Wednesday observe a day of national mourning in his memory decreed by President Emmanuel Macron , with people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in town halls .
Under Giscard , France made great strides in nuclear power , high-speed train travel and legalised abortion .
He ensured that Paris was at the heart of Europe in a post-war partnership with Germany and also played a key role in what would become the G7 group of major world powers .
But ambitions to carve out a deep place in history were derailed in 1981 when he lost a tightly contested election to his Socialist rival Francois Mitterrand , who would rule France for the next 14 years @

Authon (France) (AFP) –
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France's former president Valery Giscard d'Estaing, credited with leading social and technological reform of the country and placing it at the heart of Europe, was laid to rest Saturday in a low-key funeral attended only by family and his close circle.
It had been the wish of Giscard, who ruled France from 1974-1981 and died on Wednesday of Covid-19 aged 94, to have such a small-scale ceremony, which was attended by around 40 people.
The ceremony, in the town of Authon in the Loire region of central France where he lived, contrasted with the lavish send-off for former president Jacques Chirac when he died in 2019.
Chirac was given a lying-in-state with thousands paying respects at his coffin in Paris before a funeral ceremony at the Saint Sulpice church attended by all France's living former leaders.
That ceremony in September 2019 was also the last time Giscard was seen in public.
"The president (Giscard) wanted the funeral to take place in the strictest privacy with family," his son Henri Giscard d'Estaing told AFP on Friday.
"It turns out that the circumstances (due to the pandemic) mean that there would have been no other choice. We will therefore only have family members and the people who live around us in Authon," he said.
With police standing guard outside, his coffin draped in French and European flags was carried into the Saint Hilaire church in Authon, an AFP correspondent said.
France will on Wednesday observe a day of national mourning in his memory decreed by President Emmanuel Macron, with people able to write tributes in books placed in town halls.
Under Giscard, France made great strides in nuclear power, high-speed train travel and legalised abortion.
He ensured that Paris was at the heart of Europe in a post-war partnership with Germany and also played a key role in what would become the G7 group of major world powers.
But ambitions to carve out a deep place in history were derailed in 1981 when he lost a tightly contested election to his Socialist rival Francois Mitterrand, who would rule France for the next 14 years.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-05--Argentina introduces 'millionaire's tax' to help pay for coronavirus

Argentina 's Vice-President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner ( R ) leads a virtual session of the senate at the Congress in Buenos Aires on December 4 , 2020 .
The Argentine Congress will vote on a one-time `` wealth tax '' bill proposed by President Alberto Fernandez to help pay the costs of the fight against the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic , grant subsidies to the poor and loan to SMEs , among other social emergency aid .
Argentina 's Senate passed a tax on about 12,000 of the country 's richest people on Friday , to pay for coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the poor and small businesses .
In a session streamed live on YouTube , and after a long and polarizing debate , the so-called solidarity contribution was signed into law with 42 votes in favor and 26 against , as the pro-government alliance flexed its majority .
The government of President Alberto Fernandez hopes to raise 300 billion pesos ( $ 3.75 billion ) with the one-off levy , which earlier passed the Chamber of Deputies with 133 for votes to 115 against .
Argentina 's 44 million population has been badly hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.4 million cases and over 39,500 deaths , according to figures from Johns Hopkins University .
The pandemic has exacerbated already high unemployment and poverty rates in a country which has been in recession since 2018 .
Under the scheme -- also dubbed the `` millionaire 's tax '' -- people with declared assets greater than 200 million pesos will pay a progressive rate of up to 3.5 percent on wealth in Argentina and up to 5.25 percent on wealth outside the country .
Of the proceeds , 20 percent will go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 percent to small and medium-sized businesses , 15 percent to social developments , 20 percent to student scholarships and 25 percent to natural gas ventures .
Director of the tax agency Mercedes Marcó del Pont said it will affect almost 12,000 taxpayers .
`` The tax reaches 0.8 percent of total taxpayers , '' said one of the authors of the project , legislator Carlos Heller .
`` Forty-two percent have dollarized assets , of which 92 percent is located abroad . ''
He said the plan was `` far from taxing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side , Daniel Pelegrina , president of the powerful Argentine Rural Society ( SRA ) , warned that Heller `` wants to present it as a contribution of the richest , but we know what happens with all those unique taxes , they stay forever . ''
The neoliberal Juntos por el Cambio coalition , of former president Mauricio Macri , said it was a `` confiscatory '' measure .

Argentina's Senate passed a tax on about 12,000 of the country's richest people on Friday, to pay for coronavirus measures including medical supplies and relief for the poor and small businesses.
Argentina's Vice-President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (R) leads a virtual session of the senate at the Congress in Buenos Aires on December 4, 2020. The Argentine Congress will vote on a one-time "wealth tax" bill proposed by President Alberto Fernandez to help pay the costs of the fight against the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic, grant subsidies to the poor and loan to SMEs, among other social emergency aid.
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In a session streamed live on YouTube, and after a long and polarizing debate, the so-called solidarity contribution was signed into law with 42 votes in favor and 26 against, as the pro-government alliance flexed its majority.
The government of President Alberto Fernandez hopes to raise 300 billion pesos ($3.75 billion) with the one-off levy, which earlier passed the Chamber of Deputies with 133 for votes to 115 against.
Argentina's 44 million population has been badly hit by the coronavirus, with more than 1.4 million cases and over 39,500 deaths, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.
The pandemic has exacerbated already high unemployment and poverty rates in a country which has been in recession since 2018.
Under the scheme -- also dubbed the "millionaire's tax" -- people with declared assets greater than 200 million pesos will pay a progressive rate of up to 3.5 percent on wealth in Argentina and up to 5.25 percent on wealth outside the country.
Of the proceeds, 20 percent will go to medical supplies for the pandemic, another 20 percent to small and medium-sized businesses, 15 percent to social developments, 20 percent to student scholarships and 25 percent to natural gas ventures.
Director of the tax agency Mercedes Marcó del Pont said it will affect almost 12,000 taxpayers.
"The tax reaches 0.8 percent of total taxpayers," said one of the authors of the project, legislator Carlos Heller.
"Forty-two percent have dollarized assets, of which 92 percent is located abroad."
He said the plan was "far from taxing productive activity."
On the opposite side, Daniel Pelegrina, president of the powerful Argentine Rural Society (SRA), warned that Heller "wants to present it as a contribution of the richest, but we know what happens with all those unique taxes, they stay forever."
The neoliberal Juntos por el Cambio coalition, of former president Mauricio Macri, said it was a "confiscatory" measure.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-12-05--Ethiopia: 'We are in our homeland, the invaders are attacking us,' says Tigray's Gebremichael

Debretsion Gebremichael , Chairman of the Tigray People 's Liberation Front ( TPLF ) addresses the public during the TPLF First Emergency General Congress in the city of Mekelle , Ethiopia , on January 04 , 2020 .
As fighting continues `` in many parts '' of Ethiopia 's Tigra , according to the United Nations , Tigray 's regional president Debretsion Gebremichael told FRANCE 24 that the northern region would continue fighting as long as federal `` invaders '' are on Tigrayan soil .
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced military operations in the northern region of Tigray a month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its ruling party , the Tigray People 's Liberation Front ( TPLF ) .
Gebremichael believes neighbouring Eritrea is playing a key role in the conflict .
“ They already have 16 divisions in Tigray .
They are fighting on the side of the federal army ...
They have a united front against us .
Wherever you go , they are there . ''
“ We are in our homeland , the invaders are attacking us , by air or by artillery fire.
” Gebremichael also claimed that Eritrean forces had taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denied by both Eritrea and Ethiopia .
“ They have taken laboratory equipment , computers , books .
They have gone to one factory of medicine , '' Gebremichael told FRANCE 24 's Nicolas Germain .
The month-long conflict has claimed thousands of lives , according to the International Crisis Group ( ICG ) , and tens of thousands of refugees have streamed across the border into Sudan .
The UN has been warning of a possible humanitarian catastrophe within Tigray , though a communications blackout has made it difficult to assess conditions @ @ @ @

As fighting continues "in many parts" of Ethiopia's Tigra, according to the United Nations, Tigray's regional president Debretsion Gebremichael told FRANCE 24 that the northern region would continue fighting as long as federal "invaders" are on Tigrayan soil.
Debretsion Gebremichael, Chairman of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) addresses the public during the TPLF First Emergency General Congress in the city of Mekelle, Ethiopia, on January 04, 2020.
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Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced military operations in the northern region of Tigray a month ago, saying they targeted the leaders of its ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).
Gebremichael believes neighbouring Eritrea is playing a key role in the conflict.
“They already have 16 divisions in Tigray. They are fighting on the side of the federal army... They have a united front against us. Wherever you go, they are there."
“We are in our homeland, the invaders are attacking us, by air or by artillery fire.”
Gebremichael also claimed that Eritrean forces had taken part in mass lootings, a report denied by both Eritrea and Ethiopia.
“They have taken laboratory equipment, computers, books. They have gone to one factory of medicine," Gebremichael told FRANCE 24's Nicolas Germain.
The month-long conflict has claimed thousands of lives, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG), and tens of thousands of refugees have streamed across the border into Sudan.
The UN has been warning of a possible humanitarian catastrophe within Tigray, though a communications blackout has made it difficult to assess conditions on the ground.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-12-05--Macron urged to press ally Sisi on rights in Paris visit

French President Emmanuel Macron has been criticised for saying during a visit by Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to Paris that he will not `` lecture '' Egypt President Emmanuel Macron hosts Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi from Sunday for a three-day state visit with France facing calls from activists that Egypt should not be `` indulged '' despite the close alliance between Cairo and Paris .
Egypt and France have enjoyed an increasingly close relationship under the secular rule of former army general Sisi , with common interests in the Middle East and a shared suspicion of Turkish President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Sunday evening before holding talks with Macron at the Elysee on Monday .
Meetings with other political leaders are due to stretch into Tuesday .
France 's close relationship with Egypt at a time when Cairo stands accused of serial human rights violations has concerned activists , who want Macron to make the issue central to the discussions .
`` French diplomacy has , at the highest levels , long indulged President al-Sisi 's brutal repression of any form of dissent , '' a dozen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Amnesty International and the International Federation for Human Rights ( FIDH ) said in a joint statement ahead of his visit .
`` It is now or never for President Macron to stand up for his self-declared commitment to promote human rights in Egypt . ''
The statement said that as well as being Egypt 's main arms supplier by selling warships and fighter jets , the French government has also allowed French companies to provide Cairo with surveillance and crowd control tools .
`` We are amazed that France is rolling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when there are more than 60,000 prisoners of conscience today in Egypt , '' Antoine Madelin , international advocacy director of the FIDH , told AFP .
Sisi came to power in 2014 in the wake of the overthrow in 2013 of the president Mohamed Morsi by the military which he then led .
Those caught in the crackdown include Islamist supporters of the ousted Morsi , but also leftists and liberals .
Concern over Sisi 's visit to Paris was amplified when three Egyptian activists were arrested last month following a meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an international campaign backed by celebrities such as Scarlett Johansson , all three campaigners from the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights have been freed .
Rights NGOs are set to hold a protest outside the French parliament on Tuesday denouncing the `` strategic partnership '' between France and Egypt .
A French presidential official , who asked not to be named , described the release of the trio as a `` positive signal '' and emphasised that rights issues would be brought up by Macron .
Macron had raised human rights concerns during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying `` respect for individual freedoms , dignity of everyone and the rule of law . ''
The French leader had been criticised by rights groups after saying in October 2017 during a visit by Sisi to Paris that he would not `` lecture '' Egypt on liberties .
Those jailed in Egypt include Palestinian-Egyptian activist Ramy Shaath , husband of French national Celine Lebrun , and held since July 2019 on accusations of acting against the state .
`` His case is completely empty and the accusations are devoid of any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying she had only been able to speak to her husband twice by phone .
Both Macron and Sisi are wary of the regional ambitions of Turkey under Erdogan which has intervened militarily in the conflicts in Libya and Syria and sought to bolster the Turkish footprint in Africa .
The Muslim Brotherhood-aligned Morsi was a close ally of Erdogan and the Turkish president has repeatedly expressed dismay over his ousting .
Tensions between Ankara and Paris grew further in the run-up to the visit with Erdogan saying that France should `` get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as possible '' .
France 's priority is the reinforcement of the `` strategic partnership '' with the most populous country in the Arab world which is considered a centre of `` stability '' in a volatile region , said the French official .

Paris (AFP) –
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President Emmanuel Macron hosts Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi from Sunday for a three-day state visit with France facing calls from activists that Egypt should not be "indulged" despite the close alliance between Cairo and Paris.
Egypt and France have enjoyed an increasingly close relationship under the secular rule of former army general Sisi, with common interests in the Middle East and a shared suspicion of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Sisi will dine with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Sunday evening before holding talks with Macron at the Elysee on Monday. Meetings with other political leaders are due to stretch into Tuesday.
France's close relationship with Egypt at a time when Cairo stands accused of serial human rights violations has concerned activists, who want Macron to make the issue central to the discussions.
"French diplomacy has, at the highest levels, long indulged President al-Sisi's brutal repression of any form of dissent," a dozen human rights groups including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) said in a joint statement ahead of his visit.
"It is now or never for President Macron to stand up for his self-declared commitment to promote human rights in Egypt."
The statement said that as well as being Egypt's main arms supplier by selling warships and fighter jets, the French government has also allowed French companies to provide Cairo with surveillance and crowd control tools.
"We are amazed that France is rolling out the red carpet for a dictator when there are more than 60,000 prisoners of conscience today in Egypt," Antoine Madelin, international advocacy director of the FIDH, told AFP.
- 'Positive sign' -
Sisi came to power in 2014 in the wake of the overthrow in 2013 of the president Mohamed Morsi by the military which he then led.
Those caught in the crackdown include Islamist supporters of the ousted Morsi, but also leftists and liberals.
Concern over Sisi's visit to Paris was amplified when three Egyptian activists were arrested last month following a meeting with foreign ambassadors.
However, following an international campaign backed by celebrities such as Scarlett Johansson, all three campaigners from the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights have been freed.
Rights NGOs are set to hold a protest outside the French parliament on Tuesday denouncing the "strategic partnership" between France and Egypt.
A French presidential official, who asked not to be named, described the release of the trio as a "positive signal" and emphasised that rights issues would be brought up by Macron.
Macron had raised human rights concerns during a visit to Cairo in January 2018, saying "respect for individual freedoms, dignity of everyone and the rule of law."
The French leader had been criticised by rights groups after saying in October 2017 during a visit by Sisi to Paris that he would not "lecture" Egypt on liberties.
Those jailed in Egypt include Palestinian-Egyptian activist Ramy Shaath, husband of French national Celine Lebrun, and held since July 2019 on accusations of acting against the state.
"His case is completely empty and the accusations are devoid of any proof," Lebrun told AFP, saying she had only been able to speak to her husband twice by phone.
- 'Strategic partnership' -
Both Macron and Sisi are wary of the regional ambitions of Turkey under Erdogan which has intervened militarily in the conflicts in Libya and Syria and sought to bolster the Turkish footprint in Africa.
The Muslim Brotherhood-aligned Morsi was a close ally of Erdogan and the Turkish president has repeatedly expressed dismay over his ousting.
Tensions between Ankara and Paris grew further in the run-up to the visit with Erdogan saying that France should "get rid of" Macron "as soon as possible".
France's priority is the reinforcement of the "strategic partnership" with the most populous country in the Arab world which is considered a centre of "stability" in a volatile region, said the French official.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-05--In Iraq's Mosul, wholesale market revives trade legacy

An Iraqi man ( L ) buys goods at a shop at the `` Al-Bursa '' wholesale market in the northern city of Mosul Mountains of kitchen supplies , back-to-back butchers : the historic wholesale market in Iraq 's Mosul is battling the odds -- from extremists to epidemic -- to revive the city 's reputation as a trading hub .
The northern city was a commercial hub for centuries , strategically located along transport routes linking Baghdad to the south , Syria to the west , Turkey further north and Iran in the east .
Thirty years ago , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Al-Bursa , '' whose shops sold food , homeware and other goods directly to consumers as well as to smaller shops .
`` The market raked in around 12 to 13 million dollars every month , '' said economist Mohammad Naef , a native of Mosul .
But those golden days came to a screeching halt in 2014 , when the Islamic State ( IS ) group began a brutal reign over Mosul that ended in 2017 after months of fierce fighting .
West Mosul , where Al-Bursa lies , was left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have worked hard to revive it .
The first to return was young Abdallah Mahmud , who sells cleaning supplies and is proud of Al-Bursa 's heritage .
`` The Bursa opened in 1990 and as the years went by , these simple little shops became the most important market in the whole province , '' said Mahmud , 27 .
Of the 500 shops there in 2014 , around 300 have already reopened with individual financing , he said .
The level of trade has made an impressive recovery but has yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Al-Bursa 's monthly transactions cap at between eight to ten million , as many businessmen fled and never came back , '' said Naef .
Mosul and the broader Nineveh province saw the highest rates of displacement during the war against IS .
Even after the guns fell silent , many families hesitated to return as large parts of the city still lacked key services including water , electricity or schools .
`` Residents started to return , and it helped bring life back to the whole area , '' said Obeida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the market .
On any given morning , shoppers flood Al-Bursa on foot , in cars or by motorcycle to pick up everything from children 's toys to coffee or freshly ground spices .
Customers say it 's a one-stop-shop for all their needs , but wholesalers find it convenient , too .
`` It saves me crazy amounts of time and tons of energy .
Before , I had to go sell at each of the little markets in the towns outside of Mosul , '' said farmer Khalaf Oweid .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the morning and the owners of the little shops all come to me to stock their own stalls .
I do n't have to put myself out like before . ''
Yunes Abed , 50 , shops at Al-Bursa to stock his food store in the city 's west .
`` I can find everything here , but some shop-owners still have n't returned , '' Abed told AFP , saying they were hoping to be compensated for assets lost in the war .
Mosul 's residents have applied for compensation from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destroyed in fighting , but few have been reimbursed in three years .
Indeed , some 200 of Al-Bursa 's original shops remain abandoned , their metal doors still blown off and pockmarked walls tagged with graffiti .
`` Why this destruction ? ''
reads one message scrawled in black on a collapsed concrete beam near Al-Bursa .
Shopkeepers are also struggling to compete with cheaper , mass-produced imports from Iraq 's neighbours , including Turkey .
IS 's takeover of Mosul and surrounding farmland in 2014 cut off farmers and local producers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gap that Turkish goods swiftly filled .
`` About 90 percent of the products available now at Al-Bursa are imported , '' estimated one of the district 's businessmen , 42-year-old Ahmad al-Shammary .
And , of course , there 's the economic slowdown caused by the novel coronavirus and the collapse in oil prices , which slashed the state 's monthly revenues .
With government coffers drained , Iraq 's four million public sector workers have seen wages delayed by weeks at a time .
That has had an impact on Al-Bursa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slowed down at Al-Bursa because of the delay in salaries , '' said a shopkeeper who identified herself as Umm Saad .
Umm Saad buys spices from Al-Bursa to sell at her nearby shop .
`` There are a lot of passersby , but most are just looking -- their purchasing power has dropped . ''

Mosul (Iraq) (AFP) –
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Mountains of kitchen supplies, back-to-back butchers: the historic wholesale market in Iraq's Mosul is battling the odds -- from extremists to epidemic -- to revive the city's reputation as a trading hub.
The northern city was a commercial hub for centuries, strategically located along transport routes linking Baghdad to the south, Syria to the west, Turkey further north and Iran in the east.
Thirty years ago, Mosul opened a bulk market known as "Al-Bursa," whose shops sold food, homeware and other goods directly to consumers as well as to smaller shops.
"The market raked in around 12 to 13 million dollars every month," said economist Mohammad Naef, a native of Mosul.
But those golden days came to a screeching halt in 2014, when the Islamic State (IS) group began a brutal reign over Mosul that ended in 2017 after months of fierce fighting.
West Mosul, where Al-Bursa lies, was left in ruins -- but its entrepreneurial residents have worked hard to revive it.
The first to return was young Abdallah Mahmud, who sells cleaning supplies and is proud of Al-Bursa's heritage.
"The Bursa opened in 1990 and as the years went by, these simple little shops became the most important market in the whole province," said Mahmud, 27.
Of the 500 shops there in 2014, around 300 have already reopened with individual financing, he said.
The level of trade has made an impressive recovery but has yet to reach pre-IS levels.
"Today, Al-Bursa's monthly transactions cap at between eight to ten million, as many businessmen fled and never came back," said Naef.
- 'Why this destruction?' -
Mosul and the broader Nineveh province saw the highest rates of displacement during the war against IS.
Even after the guns fell silent, many families hesitated to return as large parts of the city still lacked key services including water, electricity or schools.
Al-Bursa represents a return to normalcy.
"Residents started to return, and it helped bring life back to the whole area," said Obeida al-Aysha, another 27-year-old trader who frequents the market.
On any given morning, shoppers flood Al-Bursa on foot, in cars or by motorcycle to pick up everything from children's toys to coffee or freshly ground spices.
Customers say it's a one-stop-shop for all their needs, but wholesalers find it convenient, too.
"It saves me crazy amounts of time and tons of energy. Before, I had to go sell at each of the little markets in the towns outside of Mosul," said farmer Khalaf Oweid.
"Now, I come here early in the morning and the owners of the little shops all come to me to stock their own stalls. I don't have to put myself out like before."
Yunes Abed, 50, shops at Al-Bursa to stock his food store in the city's west.
"I can find everything here, but some shop-owners still haven't returned," Abed told AFP, saying they were hoping to be compensated for assets lost in the war.
Mosul's residents have applied for compensation from the government for homes, cars and storefronts destroyed in fighting, but few have been reimbursed in three years.
Indeed, some 200 of Al-Bursa's original shops remain abandoned, their metal doors still blown off and pockmarked walls tagged with graffiti.
"Why this destruction?" reads one message scrawled in black on a collapsed concrete beam near Al-Bursa.
- Covid takes a toll -
Shopkeepers are also struggling to compete with cheaper, mass-produced imports from Iraq's neighbours, including Turkey.
IS's takeover of Mosul and surrounding farmland in 2014 cut off farmers and local producers from the Iraqi market, creating a gap that Turkish goods swiftly filled.
"About 90 percent of the products available now at Al-Bursa are imported," estimated one of the district's businessmen, 42-year-old Ahmad al-Shammary.
And, of course, there's the economic slowdown caused by the novel coronavirus and the collapse in oil prices, which slashed the state's monthly revenues.
With government coffers drained, Iraq's four million public sector workers have seen wages delayed by weeks at a time.
That has had an impact on Al-Bursa's shoppers.
"Economic activity has slowed down at Al-Bursa because of the delay in salaries," said a shopkeeper who identified herself as Umm Saad.
Umm Saad buys spices from Al-Bursa to sell at her nearby shop.
"There are a lot of passersby, but most are just looking -- their purchasing power has dropped."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-05--S. Africa-England ODI series to go ahead after negative tests

Newlands stadium in Cape Town will host two of the three one-day internationals between South Africa and England .
The entire South African cricket squad has tested negative for coronavirus , allowing three one-day international matches against England to start Sunday in Paarl near Cape Town .
A Cricket South Africa statement released Saturday said the latest round of tests were done Friday and they were `` pleased to announce that the entire Proteas team has returned negative results '' .
There had been concerns that the matches , rescheduled for Sunday , and Monday and Wednesday in Cape Town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South African player tested positive Thursday despite staying in a `` bio bubble '' .
Originally , the series was due to begin in Cape Town Friday , but the match was called off just one hour before the scheduled start after the revelation of the positive test .
Two other South African players tested positive before the Twenty20 series between South Africa and England , which finished this week with the tourists winning 3-0 .
The decision to go ahead with the ODI series was a relief to South African officials , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a player became infected with the potentially deadly virus in the `` bubble '' .
`` This ( positive ) test has surprised us because we had confidence in the bio-secure environment , '' South African team doctor Shuaib Manjra said .
`` There has been some kind of breach which we have investigated in great detail to try and determine where this happened , by speaking to the player and looking at security camera footage . ''
Manjra dismissed rumours that at least one South African cricketer had left the hotel without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that no player would be able to leave the hotel environment , '' he said , adding that security was being controlled by a police colonel .
`` It is impossible to leave except in an official vehicle with an official driver . ''
With both squads staying at the same hotel , close to Newlands stadium where the two Cape Town matches will be played , the tourists had expressed concern .
`` England is questioning the confidence they have in the bio-secure environment -- and rightfully so .
We respect that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teams . ''
While South African players are experiencing life in a `` bubble '' for the first time , England hosted teams from the West Indies , Pakistan and Australia in similar environments without anyone being infected .
The Paarl match will be a day game followed by two day-night matches in Cape Town .

Johannesburg (AFP) –
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The entire South African cricket squad has tested negative for coronavirus, allowing three one-day international matches against England to start Sunday in Paarl near Cape Town.
A Cricket South Africa statement released Saturday said the latest round of tests were done Friday and they were "pleased to announce that the entire Proteas team has returned negative results".
There had been concerns that the matches, rescheduled for Sunday, and Monday and Wednesday in Cape Town, might be cancelled after an unnamed South African player tested positive Thursday despite staying in a "bio bubble".
Originally, the series was due to begin in Cape Town Friday, but the match was called off just one hour before the scheduled start after the revelation of the positive test.
Two other South African players tested positive before the Twenty20 series between South Africa and England, which finished this week with the tourists winning 3-0.
The decision to go ahead with the ODI series was a relief to South African officials, who have been puzzled as to how a player became infected with the potentially deadly virus in the "bubble".
"This (positive) test has surprised us because we had confidence in the bio-secure environment," South African team doctor Shuaib Manjra said.
"There has been some kind of breach which we have investigated in great detail to try and determine where this happened, by speaking to the player and looking at security camera footage."
Manjra dismissed rumours that at least one South African cricketer had left the hotel without authorisation.
"I can categorically state that no player would be able to leave the hotel environment," he said, adding that security was being controlled by a police colonel.
"It is impossible to leave except in an official vehicle with an official driver."
With both squads staying at the same hotel, close to Newlands stadium where the two Cape Town matches will be played, the tourists had expressed concern.
"England is questioning the confidence they have in the bio-secure environment -- and rightfully so. We respect that concern and met with the England medical teams."
While South African players are experiencing life in a "bubble" for the first time, England hosted teams from the West Indies, Pakistan and Australia in similar environments without anyone being infected.
The Paarl match will be a day game followed by two day-night matches in Cape Town.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-05--Moscow starts inoculating vulnerable workers against coronavirus

Moscow 's mayor said thousands registered for vaccination within hours of it opening online Moscow on Saturday began vaccinating workers at high risk of becoming infected with the coronavirus at newly opened clinics across the city .
Health officials said they had opened 70 coronavirus vaccine centres in the Russian capital that would initially offer jabs for health , education and social workers .
`` Citizens from the main risk groups who in connection with their professional activities come into contact with a large number of people can get vaccinated , '' officials said .
Russia was one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vaccine , Sputnik V -- dubbed after the Soviet-era satellite -- in August but before beginning final clinical trials .
It is currently in its third and final stage of clinical trials involving some 40,000 volunteers .
Sputnik V 's developers last month said interim results had shown the vaccine was 95-percent effective and would be cheaper and easier to store than some alternatives .
The jab uses two different human adenovirus vectors and is administered in two doses with a 21-day gap .
The vaccine will be free to all Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health officials on Saturday said that during the initial rollout in Moscow the jab would not be available to workers over 60 , those with chronic diseases , and pregnant or breastfeeding women .
They did not say when the vaccine would be available to the wider public .
On Friday Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that 5,000 people had registered to be vaccinated within the first five hours of online registration having opened .
AFP journalists at one of the new centres on Saturday saw queues as people waited their turn .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus wo n't infect me and my loved ones , '' said Sergei Buslayev , a 42-year-old insurance worker .
`` I want to be able to go to the gym safely and lead my life normally again , '' he added .
The mass vaccination rollout began as Russia set a new daily record for coronavirus infections .
Health officials on Saturday reported 28,782 new infections , bringing the national total to 2,431,731 cases since the beginning of the pandemic -- the fourth-highest caseload in the world .
Despite the surge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the kind of nationwide lockdowns seen in some parts of Europe , although restrictions were imposed in some major cities .
Instead , they pinned their hopes on ending the pandemic on vaccines .
Last month Russia 's defence ministry announced that a mass vaccination campaign has been rolled out in the military , aiming to inoculate over 400,000 servicemen , including 80,000 by the end of this year .
Russia 's Levada polling agency in a recent survey found that only 36 percent of respondents were prepared to be vaccinated against the @ @

Moscow (AFP) –
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Moscow on Saturday began vaccinating workers at high risk of becoming infected with the coronavirus at newly opened clinics across the city.
Health officials said they had opened 70 coronavirus vaccine centres in the Russian capital that would initially offer jabs for health, education and social workers.
"Citizens from the main risk groups who in connection with their professional activities come into contact with a large number of people can get vaccinated," officials said.
Russia was one of the first countries to announce the development of a vaccine, Sputnik V -- dubbed after the Soviet-era satellite -- in August but before beginning final clinical trials.
It is currently in its third and final stage of clinical trials involving some 40,000 volunteers.
Sputnik V's developers last month said interim results had shown the vaccine was 95-percent effective and would be cheaper and easier to store than some alternatives.
The jab uses two different human adenovirus vectors and is administered in two doses with a 21-day gap.
The vaccine will be free to all Russian citizens and innoculation will be voluntary.
Health officials on Saturday said that during the initial rollout in Moscow the jab would not be available to workers over 60, those with chronic diseases, and pregnant or breastfeeding women.
They did not say when the vaccine would be available to the wider public.
- Mass vaccinations planned for military -
On Friday Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that 5,000 people had registered to be vaccinated within the first five hours of online registration having opened.
AFP journalists at one of the new centres on Saturday saw queues as people waited their turn.
"I want to be sure that the coronavirus won't infect me and my loved ones," said Sergei Buslayev, a 42-year-old insurance worker.
"I want to be able to go to the gym safely and lead my life normally again," he added.
The mass vaccination rollout began as Russia set a new daily record for coronavirus infections.
Health officials on Saturday reported 28,782 new infections, bringing the national total to 2,431,731 cases since the beginning of the pandemic -- the fourth-highest caseload in the world.
Despite the surge in cases, Russia has not imposed the kind of nationwide lockdowns seen in some parts of Europe, although restrictions were imposed in some major cities.
Instead, they pinned their hopes on ending the pandemic on vaccines.
Last month Russia's defence ministry announced that a mass vaccination campaign has been rolled out in the military, aiming to inoculate over 400,000 servicemen, including 80,000 by the end of this year.
Russia's Levada polling agency in a recent survey found that only 36 percent of respondents were prepared to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-06--Pandemic sends hunger rising in America, and children bear the brunt

The Baltimore Hunger Project has seen demand for free groceries from the city and its suburbs triple since the pandemic struck the United States Before the pandemic closed her middle school and US immigration agents deported her father to El Salvador , Kimberly Orellana did not fear going hungry .
But with her mother now alone and cleaning houses for pay that is n't enough to reliably feed Orellana and her two younger sisters , the 14-year-old is left to trek to a nearby school for a handout of groceries organized by a non-profit .
`` Everyone in our family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit of groceries to keep our fridge full , '' Orellana said as she ran the errand north of Baltimore on a cold and rainy morning during a break from classes , which are now held online .
Increasing numbers of children are going hungry in the United States as it weathers the world 's worst coronavirus outbreak , which has killed around 280,000 people and caused a once-in-a-generation economic crisis .
Nearly 12 percent of adults said they lived in a household where there was not enough to eat `` sometimes '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the Commerce Department .
Ten percent of mothers reported their children under the age of five went hungry to some degree in October and November , a Brookings Institution survey found .
Non-profit Feeding America estimates over 50 million people will be considered food insecure this year , including about one in four children , reversing gains made in recent years that had brought hunger among children to its lowest level in at least two decades .
`` We feel pretty confident in saying food insecurity right now is the highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Lauren Bauer , an economic studies fellow at Brookings , told AFP .
The numbers are jarring for a country that has the world 's largest economy and is a major donor of food aid worldwide .
They have propelled a political tussle over President-elect Joe Biden 's choice for agriculture secretary , who will be tasked with fighting hunger .
`` Food and agriculture is about 20 percent of the US economy and 100 percent of people are eaters , '' said Chloe Waterman , a program manager for advocacy group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's March arrival and the business shutdowns that followed brought soaring unemployment and a sharp contraction in economic growth .
President Donald Trump 's downplaying of the virus and US states ' uneven response set the stage for the ongoing surge in cases and deaths .
Schools also shut down , making it complicated for poorer children to get free meals provided there , and Bauer said runs on grocery stores created a shortage of basic goods that put low-income parents further behind .
`` The pressure on families to pay for some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was quite disastrous , '' she said .
Congress responded by allowing states to give families whose children would normally get school meals benefit cards equal to their value , while many school districts also continued providing food that students could eat at home .
But there are holes in this safety net , Bauer said , particularly for parents who ca n't get to where schools are distributing their meals , perhaps because they have jobs as essential workers .
There is also a gap for parents with children too young to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poor nutrition can have life-long consequences .
And the government 's main program to provide needy families with food , the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP ) , does n't pay enough to live off of , shifting the burden of surging unemployment onto charities , Waterman said .
The effects have been felt by the non-profit Baltimore Hunger Project , which provides weekend groceries in and around the city for families whose children rely on school meals .
The bag of eggs , bread and other essentials Orellana picked up for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undocumented , and her two sisters who were born in the US at a distribution in the Cockeysville suburb will last them about two weeks .
`` It 's really hard sometimes , but you just got to keep going , '' she said .
The surge in hungry Americans comes amid a controversy over who Biden will pick as agriculture secretary , a position that would oversee SNAP and other nutrition programs .
Heidi Heitkamp , a former North Dakota senator , is seen as a favorite for the position , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too close to major oil and agriculture companies .
They have pushed for Biden to appoint House Representative Marcia Fudge , who has advocated for expanding SNAP .
`` Fudge recognizes that we need food access coupled with food equality , '' said Waterman , who said reversing the rise in hunger could be done by expanding SNAP payouts and eligibility .
That could bring relief to the Baltimore Hunger Project , which has seen demand triple to more than 2,000 families since the pandemic struck .
`` It breaks my heart , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Nigeria who started picking up groceries for his wife and children after losing his job , and now volunteers with the group .
`` It was a culture shock for me , to come to the US to find so much food insecurity , '' he said .

Cockeysville (United States) (AFP) –
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Before the pandemic closed her middle school and US immigration agents deported her father to El Salvador, Kimberly Orellana did not fear going hungry.
But with her mother now alone and cleaning houses for pay that isn't enough to reliably feed Orellana and her two younger sisters, the 14-year-old is left to trek to a nearby school for a handout of groceries organized by a non-profit.
"Everyone in our family eats. Sometimes we need a little bit of groceries to keep our fridge full," Orellana said as she ran the errand north of Baltimore on a cold and rainy morning during a break from classes, which are now held online.
Increasing numbers of children are going hungry in the United States as it weathers the world's worst coronavirus outbreak, which has killed around 280,000 people and caused a once-in-a-generation economic crisis.
Nearly 12 percent of adults said they lived in a household where there was not enough to eat "sometimes" or "often" last month, according to the Commerce Department.
Ten percent of mothers reported their children under the age of five went hungry to some degree in October and November, a Brookings Institution survey found.
Non-profit Feeding America estimates over 50 million people will be considered food insecure this year, including about one in four children, reversing gains made in recent years that had brought hunger among children to its lowest level in at least two decades.
"We feel pretty confident in saying food insecurity right now is the highest on record in the modern era," Lauren Bauer, an economic studies fellow at Brookings, told AFP.
The numbers are jarring for a country that has the world's largest economy and is a major donor of food aid worldwide.
They have propelled a political tussle over President-elect Joe Biden's choice for agriculture secretary, who will be tasked with fighting hunger.
"Food and agriculture is about 20 percent of the US economy and 100 percent of people are eaters," said Chloe Waterman, a program manager for advocacy group Friends of the Earth.
- 'Quite disastrous' -
The pandemic's March arrival and the business shutdowns that followed brought soaring unemployment and a sharp contraction in economic growth.
President Donald Trump's downplaying of the virus and US states' uneven response set the stage for the ongoing surge in cases and deaths.
Schools also shut down, making it complicated for poorer children to get free meals provided there, and Bauer said runs on grocery stores created a shortage of basic goods that put low-income parents further behind.
"The pressure on families to pay for some of those things that the public provides was quite disastrous," she said.
Congress responded by allowing states to give families whose children would normally get school meals benefit cards equal to their value, while many school districts also continued providing food that students could eat at home.
But there are holes in this safety net, Bauer said, particularly for parents who can't get to where schools are distributing their meals, perhaps because they have jobs as essential workers.
There is also a gap for parents with children too young to attend school -- the age at which poor nutrition can have life-long consequences.
And the government's main program to provide needy families with food, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), doesn't pay enough to live off of, shifting the burden of surging unemployment onto charities, Waterman said.
The effects have been felt by the non-profit Baltimore Hunger Project, which provides weekend groceries in and around the city for families whose children rely on school meals.
The bag of eggs, bread and other essentials Orellana picked up for her mother and herself, who are undocumented, and her two sisters who were born in the US at a distribution in the Cockeysville suburb will last them about two weeks.
"It's really hard sometimes, but you just got to keep going," she said.
- Meanwhile, in Washington -
The surge in hungry Americans comes amid a controversy over who Biden will pick as agriculture secretary, a position that would oversee SNAP and other nutrition programs.
Heidi Heitkamp, a former North Dakota senator, is seen as a favorite for the position, but progressive groups and unions say she's too close to major oil and agriculture companies.
They have pushed for Biden to appoint House Representative Marcia Fudge, who has advocated for expanding SNAP.
"Fudge recognizes that we need food access coupled with food equality," said Waterman, who said reversing the rise in hunger could be done by expanding SNAP payouts and eligibility.
That could bring relief to the Baltimore Hunger Project, which has seen demand triple to more than 2,000 families since the pandemic struck.
"It breaks my heart," said Ayo Akinremi, an immigrant from Nigeria who started picking up groceries for his wife and children after losing his job, and now volunteers with the group.
"It was a culture shock for me, to come to the US to find so much food insecurity," he said.
© 2020 AFP