france24--2020-10-19--UN stockpiling billion syringes for Covid-19 vaccine

UNICEF says the world will need 'as many syringes as doses of vaccine' The United Nations said Monday it would stockpile one billion syringes around the world by the end of 2021 , to be used for the delivery of any future coronavirus vaccine .
UNICEF , the UN Children 's Fund , said it aims to get 520 million syringes in its warehouses by the end of this year , to guarantee an initial supply in countries ahead of the vaccine .
`` The world will need as many syringes as doses of vaccine , '' UNICEF said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also buying five million safety boxes for used syringes .
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide passed 40 million on Monday , according to an AFP tally based on official sources .
More than 1.1 million deaths have been recorded across the globe .
`` Vaccinating the world against Covid-19 will be one of the largest mass undertakings in human history , and we will need to move as quickly as the vaccines can be produced , '' said UNICEF executive director Henrietta Fore .
`` By the end of the year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a billion syringes pre-positioned where they can be deployed quickly and cost effectively . ''
The syringes will be used by Covax , the international coronavirus vaccine procurement , production and distribution pool created by the World Health Organization ( WHO ) .
Covax is run by the Gavi vaccine alliance , which will reimburse UNICEF for the syringes .
A public-private partnership , Gavi helps vaccinate half the world 's children against some of the deadliest diseases on the planet .
Syringes have a five-year shelf life and tend to be shipped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which are heat-sensitive and transported more quickly by air freight .
The billion syringes come on top of the 620 million that UNICEF would purchase for other vaccination programmes against diseases such as measles and typhoid .
The WHO says 42 vaccine candidates are currently being tested on humans , of which 10 have reached the mass testing third and final stage .
A further 156 are being worked on in laboratories in preparation for human testing .
Typically , only around 10 percent of vaccine candidates make it through the trials .

Geneva (AFP) –
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The United Nations said Monday it would stockpile one billion syringes around the world by the end of 2021, to be used for the delivery of any future coronavirus vaccine.
UNICEF, the UN Children's Fund, said it aims to get 520 million syringes in its warehouses by the end of this year, to guarantee an initial supply in countries ahead of the vaccine.
"The world will need as many syringes as doses of vaccine," UNICEF said in a statement.
UNICEF said it was also buying five million safety boxes for used syringes.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide passed 40 million on Monday, according to an AFP tally based on official sources. More than 1.1 million deaths have been recorded across the globe.
"Vaccinating the world against Covid-19 will be one of the largest mass undertakings in human history, and we will need to move as quickly as the vaccines can be produced," said UNICEF executive director Henrietta Fore.
"By the end of the year, we will already have over half a billion syringes pre-positioned where they can be deployed quickly and cost effectively."
The syringes will be used by Covax, the international coronavirus vaccine procurement, production and distribution pool created by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Covax is run by the Gavi vaccine alliance, which will reimburse UNICEF for the syringes.
A public-private partnership, Gavi helps vaccinate half the world's children against some of the deadliest diseases on the planet.
Syringes have a five-year shelf life and tend to be shipped by sea, rather than vaccines, which are heat-sensitive and transported more quickly by air freight.
The billion syringes come on top of the 620 million that UNICEF would purchase for other vaccination programmes against diseases such as measles and typhoid.
The WHO says 42 vaccine candidates are currently being tested on humans, of which 10 have reached the mass testing third and final stage.
A further 156 are being worked on in laboratories in preparation for human testing.
Typically, only around 10 percent of vaccine candidates make it through the trials.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-19--US election campaign: Biden & Trump hit the rail in key swing states

US election campaign : Biden & Trump hit the rail in key swing states President Donald Trump and Democratic rival @ @ @ @ @ over the weekend , as both campaigned in states they are trying to flip during @ @ @ @ @ is just over two weeks away .

US election campaign: Biden & Trump hit the rail in key swing states
00:37
President Donald Trump and Democratic rival Joe Biden went on offense over the weekend, as both campaigned in states they are trying to flip during the Nov. 3 election that is just over two weeks away.


france24--2020-10-19--Coronavirus pandemic: Protests in Prague over virus restrictions

Czech police used tear gas and a water cannon to disperse hundreds of violent protesters who attacked them after a @ @ @ @ @ government restrictions to slow the spread of coronavirus infections .
The Czech Republic has been @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus infections in recent weeks , making it one of the hardest hit countries in @ @

Coronavirus pandemic: Protests in Prague over virus restrictions
00:48
Czech police used tear gas and a water cannon to disperse hundreds of violent protesters who attacked them after a rally Sunday in Prague against government restrictions to slow the spread of coronavirus infections. The Czech Republic has been facing a record surge in coronavirus infections in recent weeks, making it one of the hardest hit countries in Europe.


france24--2020-10-19--Coronavirus pandemic: Italian PM announces stricter measures to counter virus

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Sunday announced a new series of measures to tackle the rising number of virus @ @ @ @ @ on bars and restaurants and push to increase working from home .

Coronavirus pandemic: Italian PM announces stricter measures to counter virus
00:25
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Sunday announced a new series of measures to tackle the rising number of virus cases, with restrictions placed on bars and restaurants and push to increase working from home.


france24--2020-10-20--SK Hynix to buy Intel's NAND memory chip business in $9bn deal

SK Hynix was already the world number two DRAM chipmaker and second overall but has lagged in the NAND memory chip category The world 's second-largest chipmaker , South Korea 's SK Hynix , is to buy Intel 's flash memory chip operation in a deal worth $ 9 billion , it said Tuesday , as it seeks to bolster its position against Samsung .
In a regulatory filing , the chipmaker said it will acquire Intel 's `` entire NAND business division excluding the Optane division '' for 10.3 trillion won .
The deal includes Intel 's factory in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SK Hynix was already the world number two DRAM chipmaker and second overall but has lagged in the NAND memory chip category , where it ranked fourth according to Yonhap news agency .
Both markets are dominated by rival South Korean behemoth Samsung Electronics , and global chip demand has driven the two firms ' profits upwards in recent years .
The two compete to supply chips to companies such as US giant Apple , Dell and HP , as well as Chinese firms .
SK Hynix CEO Seok-Hee Lee said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to `` proactively respond to various needs from customers and optimise our business structure '' , and make its NAND flash market position `` comparable with what we achieved in DRAM '' .
The statement cited Intel CEO Bob Swan saying the deal allows the US firm to focus on `` differentiated technology where we can play a bigger role in the success of our customers '' .
The acquisition will be paid for in cash , funded through existing reserves and borrowing , SK Hynix said .
The founding company of SK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group , one of the family-controlled conglomerates known as chaebol that dominate business in the world 's 12th-largest economy .
It has since grown to become a major company in its own right and is the second most valuable company listed on Seoul 's KOSPI stock market .
In early trade , its shares were down 2.08 percent on the announcement .

Seoul (AFP) –
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The world's second-largest chipmaker, South Korea's SK Hynix, is to buy Intel's flash memory chip operation in a deal worth $9 billion, it said Tuesday, as it seeks to bolster its position against Samsung.
In a regulatory filing, the chipmaker said it will acquire Intel's "entire NAND business division excluding the Optane division" for 10.3 trillion won.
The deal includes Intel's factory in Dalian, China, it added.
SK Hynix was already the world number two DRAM chipmaker and second overall but has lagged in the NAND memory chip category, where it ranked fourth according to Yonhap news agency.
Both markets are dominated by rival South Korean behemoth Samsung Electronics, and global chip demand has driven the two firms' profits upwards in recent years.
The two compete to supply chips to companies such as US giant Apple, Dell and HP, as well as Chinese firms.
SK Hynix CEO Seok-Hee Lee said in a statement the acquisition will enable the firm to "proactively respond to various needs from customers and optimise our business structure", and make its NAND flash market position "comparable with what we achieved in DRAM".
The statement cited Intel CEO Bob Swan saying the deal allows the US firm to focus on "differentiated technology where we can play a bigger role in the success of our customers".
The acquisition will be paid for in cash, funded through existing reserves and borrowing, SK Hynix said.
The founding company of SK Hynix was originally part of the Hyundai group, one of the family-controlled conglomerates known as chaebol that dominate business in the world's 12th-largest economy.
It has since grown to become a major company in its own right and is the second most valuable company listed on Seoul's KOSPI stock market.
In early trade, its shares were down 2.08 percent on the announcement.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-20--Major quake off Alaska triggers small tsunami waves

Residents evacuated to higher ground as tsunami warnings covered much of the southern coast of Alaska , including the thinly populated Alaska Peninsula A major 7.5-magnitude quake off the coast of Alaska triggered small tsunami waves Monday , US agencies said , but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage .
Residents evacuated to higher ground as tsunami warnings covered much of the southern coast of the remote US state , including the thinly populated Alaska Peninsula , according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration .
Two-foot waves were recorded at the tiny nearby city of Sand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) from the epicenter of the quake which struck at a depth of 25 miles ( 40 km ) .
The at-risk zone extended hundreds of miles northeast to the entry of the Cook Inlet .
But it stopped short of the state 's largest city of Anchorage , located some 600 miles ( 1,000 km ) from the epicenter and at the end of that gulf .
And the tsunami warning was downgraded to a less-severe advisory , with NOAA stating that affected areas `` should not expect widespread inundation . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearby Alaska Peninsula community of King Cove , but everything seemed to be intact , city administrator Gary Hennigh told the Anchorage Daily News .
Cold Bay resident Michael Ashley said the quake was `` a pretty good ride . ''
`` All the couches , recliners and bookcases were moving around , and I had to pretty much hold one of them up , '' he told the newspaper .
There was `` a low likelihood of casualties and damage '' from the quake itself , the United States Geological Survey said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least five aftershocks of 5.0-magnitude or higher .
Monday 's quake came nearly three months after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck a close by region .
Alaska is part of the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire .
The US state was hit by a 9.2-magnitude earthquake in March 1964 , the strongest ever recorded in North America .
It devastated Anchorage and unleashed a tsunami that slammed the Gulf of Alaska , the US west coast , and Hawaii .
More than 250 people were killed by the quake and the tsunami @

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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A major 7.5-magnitude quake off the coast of Alaska triggered small tsunami waves Monday, US agencies said, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
Residents evacuated to higher ground as tsunami warnings covered much of the southern coast of the remote US state, including the thinly populated Alaska Peninsula, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Two-foot waves were recorded at the tiny nearby city of Sand Point, some 60 miles (100km) from the epicenter of the quake which struck at a depth of 25 miles (40 km).
The at-risk zone extended hundreds of miles northeast to the entry of the Cook Inlet.
But it stopped short of the state's largest city of Anchorage, located some 600 miles (1,000 km) from the epicenter and at the end of that gulf.
And the tsunami warning was downgraded to a less-severe advisory, with NOAA stating that affected areas "should not expect widespread inundation."
The earthquake itself was felt in the nearby Alaska Peninsula community of King Cove, but everything seemed to be intact, city administrator Gary Hennigh told the Anchorage Daily News.
Cold Bay resident Michael Ashley said the quake was "a pretty good ride."
"All the couches, recliners and bookcases were moving around, and I had to pretty much hold one of them up," he told the newspaper.
There was "a low likelihood of casualties and damage" from the quake itself, the United States Geological Survey said.
The major quake was followed by at least five aftershocks of 5.0-magnitude or higher.
Monday's quake came nearly three months after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck a close by region.
Alaska is part of the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire.
The US state was hit by a 9.2-magnitude earthquake in March 1964, the strongest ever recorded in North America.
It devastated Anchorage and unleashed a tsunami that slammed the Gulf of Alaska, the US west coast, and Hawaii.
More than 250 people were killed by the quake and the tsunami.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-20--Dodgers pitching great Kershaw eyes elusive World Series glory

Clayton Kershaw launches another bid to cement a Hall of Fame legacy with a World Series title when he takes the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers in game one against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday .
The 32-year-old left-handed hurler will be making his fifth career World Series start , aiming to finally lay to rest the narrative that he ca n't come through in the post-season .
`` That narrative could n't be further from the truth , '' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Kershaw was roughed up in the sixth inning of the Dodgers ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National League Championship Series last week .
The Dodgers rallied from 3-1 down in the series to book their third World Series berth in four years and fair or not , Los Angeles ace Kershaw will be under scrutiny .
The three-time Cy Young award-winner has a losing record in the playoffs .
His Earned Run Average in the regular season is 2.43 but rises sharply in the post-season -- it 's 5.40 in five World Series games .
In game five of the 2017 World Series against the Houston Astros , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fourth inning he allowed four runs .
In 2018 he took the loss against the Red Sox in games one and five of the World Series .
The Dodgers did n't make it back to the World Series last year , when Kershaw entered game five of the NL Division Series against the Washington Nationals with a two-run lead and gave up home runs on two straight pitches as the Nats clinched the series with a 7-3 10-inning victory .
Frustrated Dodgers fans ran over Kershaw jerseys in the parking lot , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't indicate a choker , but rather the burden he 's asked to carry .
He notes that Kershaw 's been asked to pitch on short rest something `` people nowadays just do n't do that , and he 's done it numerous , numerous times .
`` And other relievers giving up his runs .
There 's just a lot of things that go into easily just pinning on Clayton that he 's not a post-season pitcher .
`` I just know that there 's not a team that would n't want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Kershaw 's teammates are also bullish on his abilities .
`` It 's Clayton Kershaw , '' veteran Justin Turner said simply when asked about the confidence Kershaw inspires .
`` He 's feeling good , feeling healthy .
We know he 's going to be prepared and go out and give us a chance to win a ball game . ''
Kershaw 's meticulous preparation will be especially important against a Tampa Bay Rays team that the Dodgers have n't faced in 2020 .
- 'Every year is different ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focused on cutting down teams ' travel , and the Dodgers say they 've barely had a chance to see the Rays play on TV .
Although Kershaw was scratched from one scheduled start in the NLCS with back spasms , he said Monday he 's ready to go .
And he 's not getting sucked into a saga of past post-season disappointments .
`` I think every year is different , '' Kershaw said .
`` Obviously the post-season you have that experience to draw on , just trying to learn from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every year is different , every team is different .
`` The Rays are a different team than the Astros and the Red Sox .
`` I 'm going to prepare like I always do and be as ready as I can be -- ( I 'm ) excited about another opportunity to get it done . ''

Arlington (United States) (AFP) –
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Clayton Kershaw launches another bid to cement a Hall of Fame legacy with a World Series title when he takes the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers in game one against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday.
The 32-year-old left-handed hurler will be making his fifth career World Series start, aiming to finally lay to rest the narrative that he can't come through in the post-season.
"That narrative couldn't be further from the truth," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Kershaw was roughed up in the sixth inning of the Dodgers' game-four loss to the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series last week.
The Dodgers rallied from 3-1 down in the series to book their third World Series berth in four years and fair or not, Los Angeles ace Kershaw will be under scrutiny.
The three-time Cy Young award-winner has a losing record in the playoffs. His Earned Run Average in the regular season is 2.43 but rises sharply in the post-season -- it's 5.40 in five World Series games.
In game five of the 2017 World Series against the Houston Astros, pitching with a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning he allowed four runs.
In 2018 he took the loss against the Red Sox in games one and five of the World Series.
The Dodgers didn't make it back to the World Series last year, when Kershaw entered game five of the NL Division Series against the Washington Nationals with a two-run lead and gave up home runs on two straight pitches as the Nats clinched the series with a 7-3 10-inning victory.
Frustrated Dodgers fans ran over Kershaw jerseys in the parking lot, but Roberts says Kershaw's post-season numbers don't indicate a choker, but rather the burden he's asked to carry.
He notes that Kershaw's been asked to pitch on short rest something "people nowadays just don't do that, and he's done it numerous, numerous times.
"And other relievers giving up his runs. There's just a lot of things that go into easily just pinning on Clayton that he's not a post-season pitcher.
"I just know that there's not a team that wouldn't want him taking the ball in the post-season."
Kershaw's teammates are also bullish on his abilities.
"It's Clayton Kershaw," veteran Justin Turner said simply when asked about the confidence Kershaw inspires.
"He's feeling good, feeling healthy. We know he's going to be prepared and go out and give us a chance to win a ball game."
Kershaw's meticulous preparation will be especially important against a Tampa Bay Rays team that the Dodgers haven't faced in 2020.
- 'Every year is different' -
The schedule for the pandemic-shortened season focused on cutting down teams' travel, and the Dodgers say they've barely had a chance to see the Rays play on TV.
Although Kershaw was scratched from one scheduled start in the NLCS with back spasms, he said Monday he's ready to go.
And he's not getting sucked into a saga of past post-season disappointments.
"I think every year is different," Kershaw said. "Obviously the post-season you have that experience to draw on, just trying to learn from that as best you can, but every year is different, every team is different.
"The Rays are a different team than the Astros and the Red Sox.
"I'm going to prepare like I always do and be as ready as I can be -- (I'm) excited about another opportunity to get it done."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-20--Bottle-fed babies ingest 'millions' of microplastics: study

Very little is known about the knock-on health consequences of microplastic consumption , and the study authors warned against undue alarm Bottle-fed babies may ingest more than a million pieces of microplastics each day , new research showed Monday highlighting the abundance of plastics in our food products .
There is growing evidence that humans consume huge numbers of the tiny particles , formed when larger pieces of plastic break down , but very little is known about the knock-on health consequences .
Researchers in Ireland looked at the rate of microplastic release in 10 types of baby bottles or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commonly used plastic for food containers .
They followed official guidelines from the World Health Organization on sterilisation and formula preparation conditions .
Over a 21-day test period , the team found that the bottles released between 1.3 and 16.2 million plastic microparticles per litre .
They then used this data to model the potential global infant exposure to microplastics from bottle-feeding , based on national average rates of breast-feeding .
They estimated that the average bottle-fed baby could be ingesting 1.6 million plastic microparticles every day during the first 12 months of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research , published in the Nature Food journal , said that sterilisation and exposure to high water temperatures had the biggest effect on microplastic release , going from 0.6 million particles per litre on average at 25C to 55 million/litre at 95C .
The authors told AFP that the aim of the research was `` not to worry parents '' about the potential health risks of bottle microplastics .
`` We have communicated , as strongly as we can , that we do not know the potential health risks of infant ingestions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Trinity College Dublin .
`` This is an area of research we are now actively pursuing . ''
The authors noted that it was in developed nations that babies were likely ingesting the most plastic -- 2.3 million particles daily in North America and 2.6 million in Europe .
This was attributed to relatively low breast-feeding rates in richer countries .
They said the levels could easily be lowered by taking a few additional steps , including rinsing bottles with cold sterilised water and preparing formula milk in a non-plastic container before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senior Research Fellow in Biogeochemistry , University of Portsmouth , said Monday 's research highlighted the `` urgency for studies on microplastic impacts on human health '' .
She said that it was important not to be `` alarmist '' when it came to bottle feeding , which many parents prefer for a variety of reasons .
`` The risks from not sterilising bottles or using hot water are well understood and very real , and these known risks of disease must outweigh that of microplastic production until their health risks are understood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not involved in the study .

Paris (AFP) –
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Bottle-fed babies may ingest more than a million pieces of microplastics each day, new research showed Monday highlighting the abundance of plastics in our food products.
There is growing evidence that humans consume huge numbers of the tiny particles, formed when larger pieces of plastic break down, but very little is known about the knock-on health consequences.
Researchers in Ireland looked at the rate of microplastic release in 10 types of baby bottles or accessories made from polypropylene, the most commonly used plastic for food containers.
They followed official guidelines from the World Health Organization on sterilisation and formula preparation conditions.
Over a 21-day test period, the team found that the bottles released between 1.3 and 16.2 million plastic microparticles per litre.
They then used this data to model the potential global infant exposure to microplastics from bottle-feeding, based on national average rates of breast-feeding.
They estimated that the average bottle-fed baby could be ingesting 1.6 million plastic microparticles every day during the first 12 months of their lives.
The authors of the research, published in the Nature Food journal, said that sterilisation and exposure to high water temperatures had the biggest effect on microplastic release, going from 0.6 million particles per litre on average at 25C to 55 million/litre at 95C.
The authors told AFP that the aim of the research was "not to worry parents" about the potential health risks of bottle microplastics.
"We have communicated, as strongly as we can, that we do not know the potential health risks of infant ingestions of microplastics," said the team, from Trinity College Dublin.
"This is an area of research we are now actively pursuing."
- 'Urgent need for study' -
The authors noted that it was in developed nations that babies were likely ingesting the most plastic -- 2.3 million particles daily in North America and 2.6 million in Europe.
This was attributed to relatively low breast-feeding rates in richer countries.
They said the levels could easily be lowered by taking a few additional steps, including rinsing bottles with cold sterilised water and preparing formula milk in a non-plastic container before filling the bottle.
Fay Couceiro, Senior Research Fellow in Biogeochemistry, University of Portsmouth, said Monday's research highlighted the "urgency for studies on microplastic impacts on human health".
She said that it was important not to be "alarmist" when it came to bottle feeding, which many parents prefer for a variety of reasons.
"The risks from not sterilising bottles or using hot water are well understood and very real, and these known risks of disease must outweigh that of microplastic production until their health risks are understood," said Couceiro, who was not involved in the study.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-20--Guinea opposition candidate claims victory before official results, violence erupts

Guinea 's main opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo , nominated by the UFDG party to challenge President Alpha Conde in the October 18 presidential election , holds a news conference in Dakar , Senegal September 24 , 2020 .
Guinea opposition candidate Cellou Dalein Diallo said on Monday he had won the first round of the Oct. 18 presidential election , but his claim was quickly disputed by the electoral commission and the government , setting the stage for a stand-off .
`` Despite the serious anomalies that marred the smooth running of the ... election and in view of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot boxes , I am victorious in this election in the first round , '' Diallo told journalists and cheering supporters .
He did not give any figures but said the tally was based on his party 's count , not an official tally being conducted by the national election commission , which has yet to publish results .
The electoral commission said Diallo 's claim carried no weight .
`` The Independent National Electoral Commission is the only body authorized to give provisional results .
It is neither for a political party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Mamadi 3 Kaba , a spokesman for the commission , told Reuters .
`` We regret the attitude of Mr. Diallo and we say that this declaration is null and void , '' he added .
Guinea 's government said in a statement late on Monday that Diallo 's statement was irresponsible and could sow confusion and undermine peace in the West African state .
It warned it could launch criminal charges against him .
The government said results from over 15,000 polling stations were still being tallied .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the process , to have neither trends , let alone the results of the vote . ''
Diallo is the main challenger to Guinea 's 82-year-old incumbent president , Alpha Conde , who is seeking a third mandate after a constitutional change in March which sparked deadly protests .
Following his announcement , Diallo 's supporters swept into the streets in his strongholds , declaring their alleged victory .
Diallo said on Twitter that three young men were killed in the capital , and several others were injured by security forces while they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not immediately available to comment on the deaths .
Security Minister Damantang Albert Camara earlier accused Diallo 's party of publishing false results , and warned it risked triggering violence .
`` This strategy of forced , premature and unjustified celebration was carefully planned well before the election , '' Camara said in a statement .
Rights groups say at least 50 people having been killed over the past year during demonstrations against the constitutional change that allowed Conde to seek at least six more years in power .

Guinea opposition candidate Cellou Dalein Diallo said on Monday he had won the first round of the Oct. 18 presidential election, but his claim was quickly disputed by the electoral commission and the government, setting the stage for a stand-off.
Guinea's main opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo, nominated by the UFDG party to challenge President Alpha Conde in the October 18 presidential election, holds a news conference in Dakar, Senegal September 24, 2020.
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"Despite the serious anomalies that marred the smooth running of the ... election and in view of the results that came out of the ballot boxes, I am victorious in this election in the first round," Diallo told journalists and cheering supporters.
He did not give any figures but said the tally was based on his party's count, not an official tally being conducted by the national election commission, which has yet to publish results.
The electoral commission said Diallo's claim carried no weight.
"The Independent National Electoral Commission is the only body authorised to give provisional results. It is neither for a political party nor for any individual to do so," Mamadi 3 Kaba, a spokesman for the commission, told Reuters.
"We regret the attitude of Mr. Diallo and we say that this declaration is null and void," he added.
Guinea's government said in a statement late on Monday that Diallo's statement was irresponsible and could sow confusion and undermine peace in the West African state. It warned it could launch criminal charges against him.
The government said results from over 15,000 polling stations were still being tallied. "It is impossible, at this stage of the process, to have neither trends, let alone the results of the vote."
Diallo is the main challenger to Guinea's 82-year-old incumbent president, Alpha Conde, who is seeking a third mandate after a constitutional change in March which sparked deadly protests.
Following his announcement, Diallo's supporters swept into the streets in his strongholds, declaring their alleged victory.
Diallo said on Twitter that three young men were killed in the capital, and several others were injured by security forces while they celebrated his victory.
The government was not immediately available to comment on the deaths.
Security Minister Damantang Albert Camara earlier accused Diallo's party of publishing false results, and warned it risked triggering violence.
"This strategy of forced, premature and unjustified celebration was carefully planned well before the election," Camara said in a statement.
Rights groups say at least 50 people having been killed over the past year during demonstrations against the constitutional change that allowed Conde to seek at least six more years in power.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-10-19--Guinea's opposition leader claims victory in election, ahead of official results

Guinea 's main opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo , nominated by the UFDG party to challenge President Alpha Conde in the October 18 presidential election , holds a news conference in Dakar , Senegal September 24 , 2020 .
Guinea 's opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo declared Monday , without waiting for official results , that he had won a presidential election against incumbent Alpha Conde , who is seeking a controversial third term .
Speaking at a press conference in the capital Conakry a day after the hotly contested first-round vote , Diallo said he had emerged `` victorious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot '' .
`` I invite all my fellow citizens who love peace and justice to stay vigilant and committed to defend this democratic victory , '' the 68-year-old said , dressed in a sky-blue robe , from his party headquarters .
Outside the building , jubilant supporters chanted `` Cellou , president '' .
But elsewhere in the city , joyous celebrations by supporters devolved into clashes with security forces .
Three `` young boys '' were shot dead and several people wounded , Diallo tweeted on Monday night .
A government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information '' to comment on the matter .
AFP was unable to independently confirm the deaths .
AFP journalists saw several wounded people in a Conakry suburb , however , as well as a barracks set ablaze by protesters .
The unrest follows months of protests against a potential third term for 82-year-old President Conde in the West African nation , during which dozens of people were killed .
Although polling day was mostly calm , Diallo 's self-proclaimed election victory has set the stage for a showdown with Conde .
The government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that the official electoral authority must declare the results .
Conde 's RPG party said in a statement Monday that it condemned `` with the utmost firmness the irresponsible and dangerous declaration '' by Diallo .
It called for its activists to remain calm .
Bakary Mansare , the vice-president of Guinea 's electoral authority , also told AFP that Diallo 's self-proclaimed victory was `` null and void '' .
`` It is not up to a candidate or a person to proclaim himself the winner outside the bodies defined by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Signs of a looming electoral dispute had already surfaced during the vote , when Diallo told reporters that Conde could `` cheat '' his way to power .
Opposition members are deeply suspicious of the fairness of the poll , as well as the independence of Guinea 's electoral authority .
Twelve candidates are vying for the presidency , but Conde and Diallo are the frontrunners .
Ousmane Gaoual Diallo , a cadre in Diallo 's UFDG party , said that results at individual polling states were public , enabling the party 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` If we are the winners , we will defend our victory , '' he said .
`` We wo n't wait . ''
Earlier on Monday , Guinea 's government said in a statement that the opposition `` clearly intended to create chaos and to call into question the real results that will come out of the ballot box '' .
Much of the tension in Guinea relates to President Conde 's controversial bid for a third term .
He pushed through a new constitution in March which he argued would modernise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him to bypass a two-term limit for presidents , provoking mass protests .
After decades as an opposition activist , Conde became Guinea 's first democratically elected president in 2010 and won again in 2015 , but rights groups now accuse him of veering towards authoritarianism .
Diallo was formerly a prime minister under authoritarian leader Lansana Conte .
He unsuccessfully challenged Conde in both 2010 and 2015 , in elections his party activists are convinced were rigged .
Before vote counting began on Sunday , Diallo 's activists said their observers had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot-box stuffing .
Prime Minister Kassory Fofana said that the opposition publishing results ahead of the official results was tantamount to pouring `` oil on the fire '' .
Mansare , from the electoral authority , said Guinea should publish provisional results within a week .
Guinea 's acrimonious political campaign saw Conde and Diallo trade insults , and was marked by violent incidents in some parts of the former French colony .
But it also raised the spectre of ethnic strife , with Conde accused of exploiting divisions for electoral ends -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politics are mainly drawn along ethnic lines : the president 's base is mostly from the ethnic Malinke community and Diallo 's from the Fulani people .
A second round of voting , if needed , is scheduled for November 24 .

Guinea's opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo declared Monday, without waiting for official results, that he had won a presidential election against incumbent Alpha Conde, who is seeking a controversial third term.
Guinea's main opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo, nominated by the UFDG party to challenge President Alpha Conde in the October 18 presidential election, holds a news conference in Dakar, Senegal September 24, 2020.
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Speaking at a press conference in the capital Conakry a day after the hotly contested first-round vote, Diallo said he had emerged "victorious" despite "anomalies which marred the ballot".
"I invite all my fellow citizens who love peace and justice to stay vigilant and committed to defend this democratic victory," the 68-year-old said, dressed in a sky-blue robe, from his party headquarters.
Outside the building, jubilant supporters chanted "Cellou, president". But elsewhere in the city, joyous celebrations by supporters devolved into clashes with security forces.
Three "young boys" were shot dead and several people wounded, Diallo tweeted on Monday night. A government official said there was "not enough information" to comment on the matter.
AFP was unable to independently confirm the deaths. AFP journalists saw several wounded people in a Conakry suburb, however, as well as a barracks set ablaze by protesters.
The unrest follows months of protests against a potential third term for 82-year-old President Conde in the West African nation, during which dozens of people were killed.
Although polling day was mostly calm, Diallo's self-proclaimed election victory has set the stage for a showdown with Conde.
The government insists that Sunday's vote was fair and that the official electoral authority must declare the results.
Conde's RPG party said in a statement Monday that it condemned "with the utmost firmness the irresponsible and dangerous declaration" by Diallo. It called for its activists to remain calm.
Bakary Mansare, the vice-president of Guinea's electoral authority, also told AFP that Diallo's self-proclaimed victory was "null and void".
"It is not up to a candidate or a person to proclaim himself the winner outside the bodies defined by the law," he said.
Signs of a looming electoral dispute had already surfaced during the vote, when Diallo told reporters that Conde could "cheat" his way to power.
Opposition members are deeply suspicious of the fairness of the poll, as well as the independence of Guinea's electoral authority.
Twelve candidates are vying for the presidency, but Conde and Diallo are the frontrunners.
'Chaos'
Ousmane Gaoual Diallo, a cadre in Diallo's UFDG party, said that results at individual polling states were public, enabling the party's own observers to conduct a count.
"If we are the winners, we will defend our victory," he said. "We won't wait."
Earlier on Monday, Guinea's government said in a statement that the opposition "clearly intended to create chaos and to call into question the real results that will come out of the ballot box".
Much of the tension in Guinea relates to President Conde's controversial bid for a third term.
He pushed through a new constitution in March which he argued would modernise the country. But it also allowed him to bypass a two-term limit for presidents, provoking mass protests.
After decades as an opposition activist, Conde became Guinea's first democratically elected president in 2010 and won again in 2015, but rights groups now accuse him of veering towards authoritarianism.
Diallo was formerly a prime minister under authoritarian leader Lansana Conte.
He unsuccessfully challenged Conde in both 2010 and 2015, in elections his party activists are convinced were rigged.
Before vote counting began on Sunday, Diallo's activists said their observers had been obstructed at polling stations and alleged ballot-box stuffing.
Prime Minister Kassory Fofana said that the opposition publishing results ahead of the official results was tantamount to pouring "oil on the fire".
Mansare, from the electoral authority, said Guinea should publish provisional results within a week.
Second round
Guinea's acrimonious political campaign saw Conde and Diallo trade insults, and was marked by violent incidents in some parts of the former French colony.
But it also raised the spectre of ethnic strife, with Conde accused of exploiting divisions for electoral ends -- a charge he denies.
Guinea's politics are mainly drawn along ethnic lines: the president's base is mostly from the ethnic Malinke community and Diallo's from the Fulani people.
A second round of voting, if needed, is scheduled for November 24.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-10-19--Early voting starts in Florida as US electoral campaign enters home stretch

Florida resident Janet Huff waits in line at the Hiawassee Library polling station as early voting begins ahead of the election in Orlando , Florida , U.S. October 19 , 2020 .
Florida voters lined up outside polling places on Monday on the first day of early voting in the battleground state , as 30 million Americans have already cast their ballots in November 's presidential election .
Republican President Donald Trump , running out of time to change the dynamics of a race that he appears to be losing , campaigned in Arizona on Monday amid signs that Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In a conference call with campaign staff , Trump showed characteristic self-confidence in describing the state of the race , notwithstanding national opinion polls that show him well behind Democratic challenger Joe Biden .
`` We 're going to win , '' he said .
`` I would n't have told you that maybe two , three weeks ago . ''
Trump has appeared to cut into Biden 's lead in Pennsylvania , one of the election 's most important battlegrounds , according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 45 % in that state , a margin 3 points narrower than last week .
The poll also found Biden leading in Wisconsin 51 % to 43 % .
At least 30 million votes either by mail or in person had been recorded in 44 states and Washington , D.C. , as of mid-afternoon on Monday , according to the U.S .
Elections Project at the University of Florida .
Voters have cast more than 21 % of the overall total in 2016 , when more than 136.6 million Americans voted .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes by Oct. 23 , 16 days before Election Day .
The surge this time has been driven by many voters ' desire to avoid the risks of the coronavirus associated with potentially long lines on Election Day on Nov. 3 .
But it also appeared to reflect enthusiasm among Democrats in particular .
In states that publicly report the party registration of voters , nearly 54 % of ballots came from registered Democrats , compared with 25 % from Republicans .
Opinion polls show that most Trump supporters plan to vote in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of unsupported claims by Trump that absentee voting is unreliable .
Biden had no public events on Monday , instead taping a `` 60 Minutes '' interview that CBS will broadcast on Sunday .
The former vice president again tested negative for the coronavirus , his campaign said on Monday .
He and Trump have a debate scheduled for Thursday , following Trump 's decision to back out of last week 's planned debate .
The Trump campaign urged debate organizers to reconsider the topics under discussion , saying they stray too far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said both sides had agreed months ago to let organizers pick the topics .
`` The Trump campaign is lying about that now because Donald Trump is afraid to face more questions about his disastrous COVID response , '' spokesman TJ Ducklo said .
Biden 's running mate , U.S .
Senator Kamala Harris , urged supporters in Florida to vote early .
`` This man had an opportunity to deal with ( the virus ) but denied fact , denied science , and lied to the American people , '' Harris said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` drive-in '' rally in Orlando .
Social media posts showed lines of voters in some of the 52 of Florida 's 67 counties that began in-person early voting on Monday , suggesting similarly high levels of enthusiasm as seen in other early voting states this year .
Hundreds of people , most wearing face masks , stood in pouring rain in the morning outside the public library in Coral Gables , a majority-Hispanic city near Miami .
Louis Perez , 57 , an insurance fraud investigator , said he was voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus pandemic .
`` He lied about it right from the beginning , '' Perez , who is not affiliated with a party , said of Trump .
Registered Republican Antonio Sanchez , an architect who arrived in the United States from Communist Cuba , said he supported Trump because he `` stands for freedom '' and against socialism .
`` My two daughters are doctors .
I do n't think this could have happened anyplace other than America , '' said Sanchez , 59 .
Florida is widely seen as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to victory becomes razor-thin if he loses the Southern state .
The state 's prize of 29 electoral votes is tied with New York for third most , behind only California and Texas , in the race for the 270 Electoral College votes that determine the presidential winner under the U.S. system .
An Oct. 7-14 Reuters/Ipsos survey of the state showed Biden with 49 % support and Trump with 47 % , within the survey 's credibility interval of 4 percentage points .
Trump campaigned on Monday in Arizona , another battleground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holding fewer campaign events and for limiting the number of attendees , while Biden and public health experts have assailed Trump for hosting crowded rallies with few masks and little social distancing amid a pandemic that has killed nearly 220,000 Americans .
On his call earlier on Monday , Trump told his campaign staff that Americans were fed up with pandemic restrictions , even as case numbers rise in many states , and called Anthony Fauci , the government 's top infectious disease expert , a `` disaster . ''
`` People are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone . '
They 're tired of it .
People are tired of hearing Fauci and all these idiots , '' said Trump , who has played down the pandemic for months .

Florida voters lined up outside polling places on Monday on the first day of early voting in the battleground state, as 30 million Americans have already cast their ballots in November's presidential election.
Florida resident Janet Huff waits in line at the Hiawassee Library polling station as early voting begins ahead of the election in Orlando, Florida, U.S. October 19, 2020.
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Republican President Donald Trump, running out of time to change the dynamics of a race that he appears to be losing, campaigned in Arizona on Monday amid signs that Democrats were leading the surge in early voting.
In a conference call with campaign staff, Trump showed characteristic self-confidence in describing the state of the race, notwithstanding national opinion polls that show him well behind Democratic challenger Joe Biden.
"We're going to win," he said. "I wouldn't have told you that maybe two, three weeks ago."
Trump has appeared to cut into Biden's lead in Pennsylvania, one of the election's most important battlegrounds, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday. The survey found Biden leading 49% to 45% in that state, a margin 3 points narrower than last week. The poll also found Biden leading in Wisconsin 51% to 43%.
At least 30 million votes either by mail or in person had been recorded in 44 states and Washington, D.C., as of mid-afternoon on Monday, according to the U.S. Elections Project at the University of Florida.
Voters have cast more than 21% of the overall total in 2016, when more than 136.6 million Americans voted. In 2016, there were 5.9 million early votes by Oct. 23, 16 days before Election Day.
The surge this time has been driven by many voters' desire to avoid the risks of the coronavirus associated with potentially long lines on Election Day on Nov. 3. But it also appeared to reflect enthusiasm among Democrats in particular.
Democratic ballots in lead
In states that publicly report the party registration of voters, nearly 54% of ballots came from registered Democrats, compared with 25% from Republicans. Opinion polls show that most Trump supporters plan to vote in person on Election Day, following months of unsupported claims by Trump that absentee voting is unreliable.
Biden had no public events on Monday, instead taping a "60 Minutes" interview that CBS will broadcast on Sunday. The former vice president again tested negative for the coronavirus, his campaign said on Monday.
He and Trump have a debate scheduled for Thursday, following Trump's decision to back out of last week's planned debate.
The Trump campaign urged debate organizers to reconsider the topics under discussion, saying they stray too far from foreign policy. Biden's campaign said both sides had agreed months ago to let organizers pick the topics.
"The Trump campaign is lying about that now because Donald Trump is afraid to face more questions about his disastrous COVID response," spokesman TJ Ducklo said.
Biden's running mate, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, urged supporters in Florida to vote early.
"This man had an opportunity to deal with (the virus) but denied fact, denied science, and lied to the American people," Harris said of Trump in remarks to supporters at a "drive-in" rally in Orlando.
Social media posts showed lines of voters in some of the 52 of Florida's 67 counties that began in-person early voting on Monday, suggesting similarly high levels of enthusiasm as seen in other early voting states this year.
Hundreds of people, most wearing face masks, stood in pouring rain in the morning outside the public library in Coral Gables, a majority-Hispanic city near Miami.
Louis Perez, 57, an insurance fraud investigator, said he was voting for Biden because of Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
"He lied about it right from the beginning," Perez, who is not affiliated with a party, said of Trump.
Registered Republican Antonio Sanchez, an architect who arrived in the United States from Communist Cuba, said he supported Trump because he "stands for freedom" and against socialism.
"My two daughters are doctors. I don't think this could have happened anyplace other than America," said Sanchez, 59.
Florida is widely seen as a must-win for Trump, whose path to victory becomes razor-thin if he loses the Southern state. The state's prize of 29 electoral votes is tied with New York for third most, behind only California and Texas, in the race for the 270 Electoral College votes that determine the presidential winner under the U.S. system.
Biden 49%, Trump 47% in Florida
An Oct. 7-14 Reuters/Ipsos survey of the state showed Biden with 49% support and Trump with 47%, within the survey's credibility interval of 4 percentage points.
Trump campaigned on Monday in Arizona, another battleground state. He has mocked Biden for holding fewer campaign events and for limiting the number of attendees, while Biden and public health experts have assailed Trump for hosting crowded rallies with few masks and little social distancing amid a pandemic that has killed nearly 220,000 Americans.
On his call earlier on Monday, Trump told his campaign staff that Americans were fed up with pandemic restrictions, even as case numbers rise in many states, and called Anthony Fauci, the government's top infectious disease expert, a "disaster."
"People are saying: 'Whatever. Just leave us alone.' They're tired of it. People are tired of hearing Fauci and all these idiots," said Trump, who has played down the pandemic for months.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-10-19--UN Security Council discusses Nagorno-Karabakh fighting

An Armenian soldier on the frontline of the fighting with Azerbaijan that has left more than 700 people dead United Nations Security Council members called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to respect a new ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh during a meeting on the disputed region Monday .
The council held closed-door discussions on the fighting , which has left hundreds dead since clashes erupted on September 27 , at the UN headquarters in New York .
During the meeting -- which was requested by France , Russia and the United States -- the council 's 15 members reiterated a plea by UN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new ceasefire .
`` Everyone was saying the same thing : the situation is bad and both sides need to pull back and heed the Secretary-General 's calls for a ceasefire , '' a UN diplomat told AFP .
Russia , which currently holds the council 's rotating presidency , is working on a statement that would call for adherence to the ceasefire , diplomats say .
The text -- which is expected to be agreed between council members this week -- will also call on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume negotiations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , France and the US chair the Minsk Group , which was created by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in 1992 to find a solution to the territorial conflict .
Nagorno-Karabakh is a breakaway region of Azerbaijan mainly inhabited by ethnic Armenians and backed by Armenia .
Armenia and Azerbaijan , two former Soviet republics in the Caucasus , have fought sporadically over the region since the collapse of the Soviet Union .
Ethnic Armenian separatists seized the Nagorno-Karabakh region from Baku in a 1990s war that claimed 30,000 lives .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conflict in the early 1990s .
The current fighting is the worst in the decades-long dispute since 2016 .
The new ceasefire , backed by international mediators , was struggling to hold on Monday as both sides accused each other of fresh attacks .
It was the second agreed after a previous truce thrashed out in Moscow earlier this month never showed any sign of seriously holding .

United Nations (United States) (AFP) –
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United Nations Security Council members called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to respect a new ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh during a meeting on the disputed region Monday.
The council held closed-door discussions on the fighting, which has left hundreds dead since clashes erupted on September 27, at the UN headquarters in New York.
During the meeting -- which was requested by France, Russia and the United States -- the council's 15 members reiterated a plea by UN chief Antonio Guterres for parties to honor a new ceasefire.
"Everyone was saying the same thing: the situation is bad and both sides need to pull back and heed the Secretary-General's calls for a ceasefire," a UN diplomat told AFP.
Russia, which currently holds the council's rotating presidency, is working on a statement that would call for adherence to the ceasefire, diplomats say.
The text -- which is expected to be agreed between council members this week -- will also call on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume negotiations facilitated by the Minsk Group.
Russia, France and the US chair the Minsk Group, which was created by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in 1992 to find a solution to the territorial conflict.
Nagorno-Karabakh is a breakaway region of Azerbaijan mainly inhabited by ethnic Armenians and backed by Armenia.
Armenia and Azerbaijan, two former Soviet republics in the Caucasus, have fought sporadically over the region since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Ethnic Armenian separatists seized the Nagorno-Karabakh region from Baku in a 1990s war that claimed 30,000 lives.
The United Nations passed four resolutions on the conflict in the early 1990s.
The current fighting is the worst in the decades-long dispute since 2016.
The new ceasefire, backed by international mediators, was struggling to hold on Monday as both sides accused each other of fresh attacks.
It was the second agreed after a previous truce thrashed out in Moscow earlier this month never showed any sign of seriously holding.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-19--Ireland is first EU country to re-enter lockdown

Retailers have warned that Ireland 's new lockdown could put tens of thousands out of work in cities like Dublin Ireland will be the first EU country to return to coronavirus lockdown , prime minister Micheal Martin said Monday , issuing a nationwide `` stay at home '' order but insisting schools will stay open .
Measures coming into effect for six weeks from midnight on Wednesday ( 2300 GMT ) will see all non-essential retail businesses close and bars and restaurants limited to takeaway or delivery service only .
`` Everyone in the country is being asked to stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a televised national address .
Only essential workers will be `` permitted to travel to work '' , he said , and citizens will be allowed out to exercise only within five kilometres ( three miles ) of their residence .
The government warned in a statement that `` there will be a penalty '' for violating the five kilometre restriction and that public transport will operate at 25 per cent capacity to serve essential workers only .
Martin said schools and childcare facilities are to remain open `` because we can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young people 's futures to be another victim of this disease . ''
A ban on visits between different households and on indoor events will also be extended , although two households will be allowed to mix at outdoor venues such as parks .
A `` social bubble '' programme will also allow those living alone , at risk of social isolation or mental health issues , to mingle with one other household .
And unlike under the previous shutdown order issued in March , elite and professional level sports will be permitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has suffered 1,852 deaths from the coronavirus .
Martin said the Republic 's present restrictions were `` probably Europe 's strictest regime '' but that `` further action is now required '' .
`` If we pull together over the next six weeks , we will have the opportunity to celebrate Christmas in a meaningful way , '' he said .
Lobby group Retail Ireland predicted `` tens of thousands of retail workers will be out of work '' in the interim .
`` It is crucial that these measures work and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in advance of Christmas , '' warned director Arnold Dillon .
`` We simply can not contemplate serious rolling restrictions into the future . ''
Ireland has generally taken a cautious stance in fighting the fight against coronavirus .
There are currently no `` green list '' countries on the nation 's register of safe travel destinations and the government enacted pub closures dubbed `` Europe 's longest '' .
But Dublin 's decision to return the nation to lockdown comes two weeks after the government rejected a similar recommendation from public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prime minister Leo Varadkar said the advice to take the country to a four week lockdown `` had n't been thought through '' .
The coalition government 's admission that a longer six week lockdown is now necessary could leave it vulnerable to accusations it stalled the public health response to the surging virus .
Daily deaths from the coronavirus in Ireland peaked at 77 in April and in recent weeks have consistently remained in the single digits , with none registered Monday .
However like many other nations the Republic is witnessing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , with 1,031 new cases registered on Monday .

Dublin (AFP) –
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Ireland will be the first EU country to return to coronavirus lockdown, prime minister Micheal Martin said Monday, issuing a nationwide "stay at home" order but insisting schools will stay open.
Measures coming into effect for six weeks from midnight on Wednesday (2300 GMT) will see all non-essential retail businesses close and bars and restaurants limited to takeaway or delivery service only.
"Everyone in the country is being asked to stay at home," Martin said in a televised national address.
Only essential workers will be "permitted to travel to work", he said, and citizens will be allowed out to exercise only within five kilometres (three miles) of their residence.
The government warned in a statement that "there will be a penalty" for violating the five kilometre restriction and that public transport will operate at 25 per cent capacity to serve essential workers only.
Martin said schools and childcare facilities are to remain open "because we cannot and will not allow our children and young people's futures to be another victim of this disease."
A ban on visits between different households and on indoor events will also be extended, although two households will be allowed to mix at outdoor venues such as parks.
A "social bubble" programme will also allow those living alone, at risk of social isolation or mental health issues, to mingle with one other household.
And unlike under the previous shutdown order issued in March, elite and professional level sports will be permitted behind closed doors across Ireland -- which has suffered 1,852 deaths from the coronavirus.
- 'Saving Christmas' -
Martin said the Republic's present restrictions were "probably Europe's strictest regime" but that "further action is now required".
"If we pull together over the next six weeks, we will have the opportunity to celebrate Christmas in a meaningful way," he said.
Lobby group Retail Ireland predicted "tens of thousands of retail workers will be out of work" in the interim.
"It is crucial that these measures work and we are in a place to reopen retail in advance of Christmas," warned director Arnold Dillon.
"We simply cannot contemplate serious rolling restrictions into the future."
Ireland has generally taken a cautious stance in fighting the fight against coronavirus.
There are currently no "green list" countries on the nation's register of safe travel destinations and the government enacted pub closures dubbed "Europe's longest".
But Dublin's decision to return the nation to lockdown comes two weeks after the government rejected a similar recommendation from public health chiefs.
At the time, deputy prime minister Leo Varadkar said the advice to take the country to a four week lockdown "hadn't been thought through".
The coalition government's admission that a longer six week lockdown is now necessary could leave it vulnerable to accusations it stalled the public health response to the surging virus.
Daily deaths from the coronavirus in Ireland peaked at 77 in April and in recent weeks have consistently remained in the single digits, with none registered Monday.
However like many other nations the Republic is witnessing a resurgence in confirmed infections of the virus, with 1,031 new cases registered on Monday.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-19--Brazil militias control more than half of Rio: study

Armed militia groups have largely overpowered drug gangs as the main criminal organizations in 41 neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro 's neighborhoods Armed militia groups control more than half the territory of Rio de Janeiro , installing a reign of terror in poor neighborhoods that are home to nearly 2.2 million people , according to a study published Monday .
The criminal groups run extortion rackets and often act as de facto authorities in neighborhoods that last year represented 57.5 percent of the surface area of Brazil 's second city , said a consortium including two universities , online watchdog @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The groups have largely overpowered drug gangs as the main criminal organizations in the 41 neighborhoods , home to 33 percent of the city 's population , said the study .
A map produced by the consortium of armed groups shows the city -- known for its picturesque beaches but also its violent crime -- covered in blue dots representing militias across the west side of Rio , where the groups originated .
They are also present , with less density , on the city 's north side , where drug gangs have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of militia forces in Rio de Janeiro is striking given that they only began to organize in their current form in the 2000s , '' the study said .
By contrast , the city 's biggest drug gangs , from which the militias often seize power , formed between the 1970s and 1990s , it said .
Militia members are largely former police officers or other security force members .
They initially formed as neighborhood watch groups to protect residents from drug gangs .
But they soon evolved into organized crime groups themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cable TV , transportation and most recently construction .

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) –
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Armed militia groups control more than half the territory of Rio de Janeiro, installing a reign of terror in poor neighborhoods that are home to nearly 2.2 million people, according to a study published Monday.
The criminal groups run extortion rackets and often act as de facto authorities in neighborhoods that last year represented 57.5 percent of the surface area of Brazil's second city, said a consortium including two universities, online watchdog platforms and a government anti-crime hotline.
The groups have largely overpowered drug gangs as the main criminal organizations in the 41 neighborhoods, home to 33 percent of the city's population, said the study.
A map produced by the consortium of armed groups shows the city -- known for its picturesque beaches but also its violent crime -- covered in blue dots representing militias across the west side of Rio, where the groups originated.
They are also present, with less density, on the city's north side, where drug gangs have traditionally held sway.
"The expansion of militia forces in Rio de Janeiro is striking given that they only began to organize in their current form in the 2000s," the study said.
By contrast, the city's biggest drug gangs, from which the militias often seize power, formed between the 1970s and 1990s, it said.
Militia members are largely former police officers or other security force members.
They initially formed as neighborhood watch groups to protect residents from drug gangs.
But they soon evolved into organized crime groups themselves, controlling sectors including internet service, cable TV, transportation and most recently construction.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-19--Canada tops 200,000 Covid-19 cases

Canada tops 200,000 Covid-19 cases

A woman wearing a mask shops in Montreal , the epicenter of the Covid-19 outbreak in Canada , which topped 200,000 cases on October 19 , 2020 Canada , in the midst of a second wave of Covid-19 illnesses , topped 200,000 cases and inched closer to 10,000 deaths Monday , according to official data compiled by Canadian broadcasters CBC and CTV .
About 80 percent of these cases and more than 90 percent of the deaths were recorded in the country 's two most populous provinces , Ontario and Quebec , which has been the epicenter of the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada last March .
As of Monday afternoon , Canada had 200,039 cases and 9,772 dead -- with its two westernmost provinces still to report their updated tallies -- according to the public health data .
That amounts to 532 cases per 100,000 people in the country of 38 million , or five times fewer than in the United States .
In Quebec and Ontario , a resurgence of the novel coronavirus led once again to the closure of bars and restaurants , museums and concert halls , as well as gyms and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday recommended that children not go trick-or-treating door to door for Halloween in the hardest-hit areas , including Toronto and Ottawa .
`` We just ca n't have hundreds of kids showing up at your door if you live in a hotspot , '' he told a news conference .
Across Canada , authorities have been trying to stem a crush on hospital resources including intensive care beds as `` the number of people experiencing severe illness is also increasing , '' Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday extended a ban on non-essential travel between the neighboring countries to November 21 to limit the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak .
The world 's longest international border has been closed to nearly all type of crossings except goods trading since March 21 , with the travel ban extended every month since then .
Canada has averaged 2,284 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 20 deaths per day , figures that have increased significantly since September with the return to school and work for millions of Canadians after a summer break @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made it more difficult to detect and trace new cases , while about 2.4 percent of the approximately 77,000 tests carried out each week are positive .

Ottawa (AFP) –
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Canada, in the midst of a second wave of Covid-19 illnesses, topped 200,000 cases and inched closer to 10,000 deaths Monday, according to official data compiled by Canadian broadcasters CBC and CTV.
About 80 percent of these cases and more than 90 percent of the deaths were recorded in the country's two most populous provinces, Ontario and Quebec, which has been the epicenter of the country's epidemic since it broke out in Canada last March.
As of Monday afternoon, Canada had 200,039 cases and 9,772 dead -- with its two westernmost provinces still to report their updated tallies -- according to the public health data.
That amounts to 532 cases per 100,000 people in the country of 38 million, or five times fewer than in the United States.
In Quebec and Ontario, a resurgence of the novel coronavirus led once again to the closure of bars and restaurants, museums and concert halls, as well as gyms and sports venues.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Monday recommended that children not go trick-or-treating door to door for Halloween in the hardest-hit areas, including Toronto and Ottawa.
"We just can't have hundreds of kids showing up at your door if you live in a hotspot," he told a news conference.
Across Canada, authorities have been trying to stem a crush on hospital resources including intensive care beds as "the number of people experiencing severe illness is also increasing," Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam said in a statement.
Meanwhile the US and Canada on Monday extended a ban on non-essential travel between the neighboring countries to November 21 to limit the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak.
The world's longest international border has been closed to nearly all type of crossings except goods trading since March 21, with the travel ban extended every month since then.
Canada has averaged 2,284 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 20 deaths per day, figures that have increased significantly since September with the return to school and work for millions of Canadians after a summer break.
Community transmission of the virus has made it more difficult to detect and trace new cases, while about 2.4 percent of the approximately 77,000 tests carried out each week are positive.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-19--US charges Russian military officers for cyberattacks on French polls, Ukrainian power grid

A poster showing six wanted Russian military intelligence officers is displayed as FBI agents and Assistant Attorney General John Demers address a news conference on October 19 , 2020 in Washington , D.C. , USA .
Six Russian military intelligence officers have been charged in the United States with carrying out cyberattacks on Ukraine 's power grid , the 2017 French elections and the 2018 Winter Olympic Games , the Justice Department announced on Monday .
The six GRU agents were also accused of staging a malware attack called `` NotPetya '' that infected computers of businesses worldwide causing nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US companies alone .
In addition , they allegedly targeted international investigations into the nerve agent poisoning of Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter , and waged cyberattacks on media outlets and parliament in Georgia .
Assistant Attorney General John Demers said the six were responsible for `` the most disruptive and destructive series of computer attacks ever attributed to a single group . ''
Demers said members of the same GRU unit have been charged previously with seeking to disrupt the 2016 US elections -- but there were `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' in this indictment .
The indictment of the six , none of whom are in US custody , was brought by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , where hospitals were allegedly targeted by the NotPetya hackers .
The charges include conspiracy to conduct computer fraud and abuse , conspiracy to commit wire fraud , wire fraud , damaging protected computers , and aggravated identity theft .
Demers said the defendants launched destructive malware attacks against the electric power grid in Ukraine in December of 2015 and December of 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destructive malware attacks against the control systems of civilian critical infrastructure , '' he said .
`` These attacks turned out the lights and turned off the heat in the middle of the Eastern European winter , as the lives of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian men , women and children went dark and cold . ''
The Justice Department said they conducted `` hack-and-leak '' campaigns against French President Emmanuel Macron 's political party and local French governments prior to the 2017 elections .
Demers said the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were banned from participating under their own flag because of government-sponsored doping efforts .
`` Their cyber attack combined the emotional maturity of a petulant child with the resources of a nation state , '' he said , adding that they attempted to pin it on North Korea .
`` During the opening ceremony , they launched the 'Olympic Destroyer ' malware attack , which deleted data from thousands of computers supporting the Games , rendering them inoperable , '' he said .
The 2017 NotPetya attacks were aimed at businesses and critical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a subsidiary of delivery giant FedEx and a pharmaceutical manufacturer .
In April 2018 , spearphishing campaigns were launched against investigations being carried out into the Skripal poisoning by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons ( OPCW ) and the United Kingdom 's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory ( DSTL ) .
In Georgia , a spearphishing campaign was launched in 2018 against a major media company , and in 2019 efforts were made to compromise the computer network of the country 's parliament , according to the Justice Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sergeyevich Andrienko , 32 , Sergey Vladimirovich Detistov , 35 , Pavel Valeryevich Frolov , 28 , Anatoliy Sergeyevich Kovalev , 29 , Artem Valeryevich Ochichenko , 27 , and Petr Nikolayevich Pliskin , 32 .
Kovalev was indicted previously , in 2018 , for attempting to gain access to US computers involved in the administration of the 2016 US elections .

Six Russian military intelligence officers have been charged in the United States with carrying out cyberattacks on Ukraine's power grid, the 2017 French elections and the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, the Justice Department announced on Monday.
A poster showing six wanted Russian military intelligence officers is displayed as FBI agents and Assistant Attorney General John Demers address a news conference on October 19, 2020 in Washington, D.C., USA.
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The six GRU agents were also accused of staging a malware attack called "NotPetya" that infected computers of businesses worldwide causing nearly $1 billion in losses to three US companies alone.
In addition, they allegedly targeted international investigations into the nerve agent poisoning of Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, and waged cyberattacks on media outlets and parliament in Georgia.
Assistant Attorney General John Demers said the six were responsible for "the most disruptive and destructive series of computer attacks ever attributed to a single group."
Demers said members of the same GRU unit have been charged previously with seeking to disrupt the 2016 US elections -- but there were "no (2020) election interference allegations" in this indictment.
The indictment of the six, none of whom are in US custody, was brought by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where hospitals were allegedly targeted by the NotPetya hackers.
The charges include conspiracy to conduct computer fraud and abuse, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, damaging protected computers, and aggravated identity theft.
Demers said the defendants launched destructive malware attacks against the electric power grid in Ukraine in December of 2015 and December of 2016.
"These were the first reported destructive malware attacks against the control systems of civilian critical infrastructure," he said.
"These attacks turned out the lights and turned off the heat in the middle of the Eastern European winter, as the lives of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian men, women and children went dark and cold."
'Petulant child'
The Justice Department said they conducted "hack-and-leak" campaigns against French President Emmanuel Macron's political party and local French governments prior to the 2017 elections.
Demers said the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics in South Korea were targeted after Russian athletes were banned from participating under their own flag because of government-sponsored doping efforts.
"Their cyber attack combined the emotional maturity of a petulant child with the resources of a nation state," he said, adding that they attempted to pin it on North Korea.
"During the opening ceremony, they launched the 'Olympic Destroyer' malware attack, which deleted data from thousands of computers supporting the Games, rendering them inoperable," he said.
The 2017 NotPetya attacks were aimed at businesses and critical infrastructure worldwide and US targets included hospitals, a subsidiary of delivery giant FedEx and a pharmaceutical manufacturer.
In April 2018, spearphishing campaigns were launched against investigations being carried out into the Skripal poisoning by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the United Kingdom's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).
In Georgia, a spearphishing campaign was launched in 2018 against a major media company, and in 2019 efforts were made to compromise the computer network of the country's parliament, according to the Justice Department.
The six were identified as Yuriy Sergeyevich Andrienko, 32, Sergey Vladimirovich Detistov, 35, Pavel Valeryevich Frolov, 28, Anatoliy Sergeyevich Kovalev, 29, Artem Valeryevich Ochichenko, 27, and Petr Nikolayevich Pliskin, 32.
Kovalev was indicted previously, in 2018, for attempting to gain access to US computers involved in the administration of the 2016 US elections.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-10-19--Florida 2000 recount 'brawl' evokes new election fears in HBO film

Florida 's aborted 2000 recount of some 10,000 ballots could have handed the election to Democratic nominee Al Gore Two weeks after a knife-edge election , an angry mob claiming a `` coup '' storms a building to intimidate local officials as they count the final few ballots that will determine the next president of the United States .
This scene from a new HBO movie is not a prediction of what could follow President Donald Trump 's re-election bid next month , but a re-telling of actual events that followed Florida 's bitterly contested 2000 vote .
The documentary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , recalls how pro-Republican protesters stormed Miami 's government center to rage against an ongoing manual recount of some 10,000 ballots that could have handed the election to Democratic candidate Al Gore .
Soon after , the tally was halted , and ultimately George W. Bush won Florida and thus the presidency -- a chain of events the film 's director believes could be mirrored on a much broader scale next month .
`` There 's no telling how many scenes like Miami-Dade , and how many states like Florida circa 2000 we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AFP .
`` That 's the truly frightening prospect . ''
Analysts say a mail-in voting surge due to Covid-19 could delay the confirmation of next month 's winner , with the Transition Integrity Project warning of a possible period of legal and political `` chaos '' exploitable by both parties .
Trump has prepared the ground should he challenge next month 's results , frequently claiming Democrats will hijack tens of millions of mailed-in ballots -- despite no past evidence of widespread irregularities .
He has refused to declare he will accept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporters to attend polling stations and `` protect '' ballots , raising fears of clashes if the race turns out to be very close .
Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell has sought to reassure voters that `` the winner ... will be inaugurated on January 20th . ''
But `` 537 Votes '' interviews officials from both sides in 2000 -- including Roger Stone , the Republican operative who later steered part of Trump 's first campaign -- who see things less optimistically .
`` The recount in Florida was a street brawl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' says Stone , speaking to filmmakers last year before his conviction for federal crimes later pardoned by Trump .
`` Overheated rhetoric '' by Miami protesters accusing the recount of fraud and even a coup `` worked extremely well '' in securing Bush 's victory , Stone says .
`` One man 's dirty trick is another man 's civic participation , '' he adds .
Corben 's film also claims Cuban-American `` neo-fascists '' in Florida were `` weaponized '' by Republicans in 2000 after the Clinton administration controversially sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after his shipwreck .
Trump has been accused of courting far-right groups including white supremacists .
After his ambiguous comments about the Proud Boys militia group at his first debate with opponent Joe Biden caused uproar , Trump said he condemned `` all white supremacists . ''
`` These tactics work ... they worked in 2000 , and ( Trump ) hopes that they will work again , '' said Corben .
`` And if the election is close , they can work again . ''

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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Two weeks after a knife-edge election, an angry mob claiming a "coup" storms a building to intimidate local officials as they count the final few ballots that will determine the next president of the United States.
This scene from a new HBO movie is not a prediction of what could follow President Donald Trump's re-election bid next month, but a re-telling of actual events that followed Florida's bitterly contested 2000 vote.
The documentary "537 Votes," out Wednesday, recalls how pro-Republican protesters stormed Miami's government center to rage against an ongoing manual recount of some 10,000 ballots that could have handed the election to Democratic candidate Al Gore.
Soon after, the tally was halted, and ultimately George W. Bush won Florida and thus the presidency -- a chain of events the film's director believes could be mirrored on a much broader scale next month.
"There's no telling how many scenes like Miami-Dade, and how many states like Florida circa 2000 we might see," Billy Corben told AFP.
"That's the truly frightening prospect."
Analysts say a mail-in voting surge due to Covid-19 could delay the confirmation of next month's winner, with the Transition Integrity Project warning of a possible period of legal and political "chaos" exploitable by both parties.
Trump has prepared the ground should he challenge next month's results, frequently claiming Democrats will hijack tens of millions of mailed-in ballots -- despite no past evidence of widespread irregularities.
He has refused to declare he will accept the election results, and called on supporters to attend polling stations and "protect" ballots, raising fears of clashes if the race turns out to be very close.
Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell has sought to reassure voters that "the winner... will be inaugurated on January 20th."
But "537 Votes" interviews officials from both sides in 2000 -- including Roger Stone, the Republican operative who later steered part of Trump's first campaign -- who see things less optimistically.
"The recount in Florida was a street brawl for the presidency of the United States," says Stone, speaking to filmmakers last year before his conviction for federal crimes later pardoned by Trump.
"Overheated rhetoric" by Miami protesters accusing the recount of fraud and even a coup "worked extremely well" in securing Bush's victory, Stone says.
"One man's dirty trick is another man's civic participation," he adds.
Corben's film also claims Cuban-American "neo-fascists" in Florida were "weaponized" by Republicans in 2000 after the Clinton administration controversially sent child refugee Elian Gonzalez back to Cuba after his shipwreck.
Trump has been accused of courting far-right groups including white supremacists.
After his ambiguous comments about the Proud Boys militia group at his first debate with opponent Joe Biden caused uproar, Trump said he condemned "all white supremacists."
"These tactics work... they worked in 2000, and (Trump) hopes that they will work again," said Corben. "And if the election is close, they can work again."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-19--Disney adds new racism disclaimers to older streaming titles

While previous disclaimers on streaming platform Disney+ already acknowledged `` outdated cultural depictions , '' the new warning says certain Disney film stereotypes `` were wrong then and are wrong now '' Disney has added extended disclaimers to classics including `` Peter Pan '' and `` Aristocats '' on its streaming platform to warn viewers that the films contain derogatory stereotypes about minorities .
Disney+ subscribers will be shown a text disclaimer before watching Peter Pan don a `` redskin '' headdress in the 1953 cartoon fantasy , or listening to a slant-eyed and buck-toothed `` East Asian '' cat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While previous disclaimers on the streaming platform already acknowledged `` outdated cultural depictions , '' the new warning says certain Disney film stereotypes `` were wrong then and are wrong now . ''
`` This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures , '' reads the message , which can not be skipped .
It adds : `` Rather than remove this content , we want to acknowledge its harmful impact , learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together . ''
`` Swiss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- which contains a `` Jim Crow '' homage to racist minstrel troops -- are also among the films that will carry the new disclaimers , created after consulting with groups including the African American Film Critics Association .
It is Disney 's latest measure to address bigoted tropes after growing criticism over the continued availability of some of its more controversial decades-old products .
In June , the company said `` Splash Mountain '' rides at its theme parks will be rebranded with a film featuring the company 's first black princess @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disney World are based on the controversial 1946 film `` Song of the South '' -- a movie long accused of peddling racist tropes about the post-Civil War South .
They will soon instead tell the story of 2009 's `` The Princess and the Frog , '' which starred an African-American Princess Tiana .
The film `` Song of the South '' was entirely excluded from Disney+ .
The theme park attraction had been the subject of anti-racism online petitions .

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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Disney has added extended disclaimers to classics including "Peter Pan" and "Aristocats" on its streaming platform to warn viewers that the films contain derogatory stereotypes about minorities.
Disney+ subscribers will be shown a text disclaimer before watching Peter Pan don a "redskin" headdress in the 1953 cartoon fantasy, or listening to a slant-eyed and buck-toothed "East Asian" cat singing in the 1970 animated feline movie.
While previous disclaimers on the streaming platform already acknowledged "outdated cultural depictions," the new warning says certain Disney film stereotypes "were wrong then and are wrong now."
"This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures," reads the message, which cannot be skipped.
It adds: "Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together."
"Swiss Family Robinson" and "Dumbo" -- which contains a "Jim Crow" homage to racist minstrel troops -- are also among the films that will carry the new disclaimers, created after consulting with groups including the African American Film Critics Association.
It is Disney's latest measure to address bigoted tropes after growing criticism over the continued availability of some of its more controversial decades-old products.
In June, the company said "Splash Mountain" rides at its theme parks will be rebranded with a film featuring the company's first black princess.
The popular attractions at Disneyland and Disney World are based on the controversial 1946 film "Song of the South" -- a movie long accused of peddling racist tropes about the post-Civil War South.
They will soon instead tell the story of 2009's "The Princess and the Frog," which starred an African-American Princess Tiana.
The film "Song of the South" was entirely excluded from Disney+. The theme park attraction had been the subject of anti-racism online petitions.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-19--In landmark boost, Trump says will delist Sudan as sponsor of terror

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok , seen here in August 2020 , has been pressing for the United States to delist his nation as a state sponsor of terrorism President Donald Trump said Monday he was ready to remove Sudan from a US blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism , a landmark boost for the civilian-backed government as it turns the page on the nation 's decades as an international pariah .
Trump said that Sudan , which has sought the delisting for years , had agreed to a $ 335 million compensation package for victims and relatives of past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ JUSTICE for the American people and BIG step for Sudan ! ''
Trump wrote on Twitter .
He said of the compensation agreement : `` Once deposited , I will lift Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list . ''
US officials did not immediately respond to requests for further details including on a timeframe .
Sudan is one of four nations branded by Washington as a state sponsor of terrorism along with Iran , North Korea and Syria -- severely impeding economic development , with few major foreign investors willing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was designated in 1993 during the rule of dictator Omar al-Bashir , who welcomed Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden in the 1990s as he imposed a brand of political Islamism on the country .
The conflict-ridden nation experienced a historic shift last year as Bashir was ousted in the face of youth-led street protests and a civilian-backed transitional government was later installed .
Trump 's announcement marks `` the strongest support to Sudan 's transition to democracy and to the Sudanese people , '' said Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok , a reform-minded economist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule until 2022 elections .
`` As we 're about to get rid of the heaviest legacy of Sudan 's previous , defunct regime , I should reiterate that we are peace-loving people and have never supported terrorism , '' he said on Twitter .
While Trump has authority on his own to remove Sudan as a state sponsor of terrorism , both the administration and lawmakers have been seeking a package that would compensate victims and families over anti-US attacks traced back to Sudanese soil .
More than 200 people died in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania .
Then president Bill Clinton responded with a still disputed missile strike on a pharmaceutical factory on Khartoum 's outskirts .
The draft $ 335 million package had divided Congress , with some Democrats concerned that it would provide more money to US citizens than Africans , who made up the bulk of the victims .
Other lawmakers sought further discussion on compensation by other attacks by Al-Qaeda , notably the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole off Yemen .
Still in question is whether Congress is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunity from further claims -- an indispensable step for the developing country if it commits the hefty $ 335 million .
Sudan had long been the target of international pressure campaigns , including over Bashir 's scorched-earth campaign in Darfur that the United States described as genocide .
With the country 's dramatic changes , some of the same activists have pushed for the removal from the terror blacklist .
`` In order to support the transition to a fully civilian-led democracy , Congress must now pass legislation to restore Sudan 's sovereign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pariah state , '' said John Prendergast , who alongside actor and activist George Clooney had founded The Sentry , a project that seeks to cut off dirty money that fuels conflict in Africa .
The Trump administration , seeing leverage as it eyed removing the designation , has also leaned on Sudan to normalize relations with Israel , following the lead last month of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain .
With US elections in two weeks , another landmark Arab recognition of Israel would be hailed by Trump 's evangelical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jewish state .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed the issue in August on the first visit in 15 years by the top US diplomat to Khartoum .
But Hamdok demurred on the controversial step , saying the transitional government did not have authority to normalize with Israel .
Sudan 's top general , Abdel Fattah al-Burhan , in February held a landmark meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Uganda .

Washington (AFP) –
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President Donald Trump said Monday he was ready to remove Sudan from a US blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism, a landmark boost for the civilian-backed government as it turns the page on the nation's decades as an international pariah.
Trump said that Sudan, which has sought the delisting for years, had agreed to a $335 million compensation package for victims and relatives of past attacks.
"At long last, JUSTICE for the American people and BIG step for Sudan!" Trump wrote on Twitter.
He said of the compensation agreement: "Once deposited, I will lift Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list."
US officials did not immediately respond to requests for further details including on a timeframe.
Sudan is one of four nations branded by Washington as a state sponsor of terrorism along with Iran, North Korea and Syria -- severely impeding economic development, with few major foreign investors willing to run afoul of US laws.
Sudan was designated in 1993 during the rule of dictator Omar al-Bashir, who welcomed Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden in the 1990s as he imposed a brand of political Islamism on the country.
The conflict-ridden nation experienced a historic shift last year as Bashir was ousted in the face of youth-led street protests and a civilian-backed transitional government was later installed.
Trump's announcement marks "the strongest support to Sudan's transition to democracy and to the Sudanese people," said Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, a reform-minded economist and face of the government that will rule until 2022 elections.
"As we're about to get rid of the heaviest legacy of Sudan's previous, defunct regime, I should reiterate that we are peace-loving people and have never supported terrorism," he said on Twitter.
- Questions over package -
While Trump has authority on his own to remove Sudan as a state sponsor of terrorism, both the administration and lawmakers have been seeking a package that would compensate victims and families over anti-US attacks traced back to Sudanese soil.
More than 200 people died in twin Al-Qaeda bombings in 1998 of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Then president Bill Clinton responded with a still disputed missile strike on a pharmaceutical factory on Khartoum's outskirts.
The draft $335 million package had divided Congress, with some Democrats concerned that it would provide more money to US citizens than Africans, who made up the bulk of the victims.
Other lawmakers sought further discussion on compensation by other attacks by Al-Qaeda, notably the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole off Yemen.
Still in question is whether Congress is ready to pass legislation to grant Sudan immunity from further claims -- an indispensable step for the developing country if it commits the hefty $335 million.
Sudan had long been the target of international pressure campaigns, including over Bashir's scorched-earth campaign in Darfur that the United States described as genocide.
With the country's dramatic changes, some of the same activists have pushed for the removal from the terror blacklist.
"In order to support the transition to a fully civilian-led democracy, Congress must now pass legislation to restore Sudan's sovereign immunity and end its longstanding status as a pariah state," said John Prendergast, who alongside actor and activist George Clooney had founded The Sentry, a project that seeks to cut off dirty money that fuels conflict in Africa.
- Push on Israel -
The Trump administration, seeing leverage as it eyed removing the designation, has also leaned on Sudan to normalize relations with Israel, following the lead last month of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
With US elections in two weeks, another landmark Arab recognition of Israel would be hailed by Trump's evangelical Christian base, which staunchly backs the Jewish state.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed the issue in August on the first visit in 15 years by the top US diplomat to Khartoum.
But Hamdok demurred on the controversial step, saying the transitional government did not have authority to normalize with Israel.
Sudan's top general, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in February held a landmark meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Uganda.
© 2020 AFP