france24--2020-11-09--France to remember six-year-old wartime resistance hero

France this week commemorates the deeds of a boy who died aged just six hailed as the youngest French World War II hero for carrying messages under his shirt to leaders of the resistance against Nazi occupation .
The name of Marcel Pinte -- known as Quinquin -- - is to be inscribed on Wednesday into the war memorial in Aixe-sur-Vienne just west of the central city of Limoges .
As France Wednesday observes its annual public holiday to mark Armistice Day -- remembering the victims of both world wars -- a ceremony will also take place in the town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the country 's youngest resistance hero .
His father Eugene was himself a prominent commander , known as Athos , leading a strong local resistance movement around Limoges that would have 1,200 fighters by the end of the war .
According to family member Alexandre Bremaud , 28 -- who has fought for recognition of Marcel -- the father Eugene was able through his office work to invent false identities and even have access to official papers .
He formed his first resistance unit in 1941 at a village of Gaubertie where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made formal contacts with the wider resistance movement in France .
Eugene , his wife Paule and their five children got used to the rhythms of the regular secret meetings at the farm .
`` It was a hidden place and very difficult to access , '' said Bremaud , adding that resistance fighters found it `` practical and discreet '' to meet there .
At the Pinte household , resistance work and family life were inextricably linked .
Marcel watched fascinated and was desperate to take part .
`` At the start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a game .
But then he quickly understood how risky it all was , '' said Marc Pinte , 68 , the grandson of Marcel 's father .
Marc Pinte recalled what his own father remembered of Marcel .
He found it easy to get along with adults and was happy to spend time in the woods alongside the resistance fighters , getting to know their code calls .
`` Everyone was surprised to see how he got involved like that , '' said Marc Pinte .
He said that in the farmhouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at night with `` constant movement '' of people , regular meetings or even a British parachutist hiding in the loft .
`` It was natural that the boy got involved in missions that were appropriate for his age and his abilities , '' he said .
Pinte said that Marcel surprised people with his `` astonishing '' memory and was entrusted with taking messages for resistance chiefs under his shirt .
`` He understood everything at once .
Naturally , no-one noticed him , no one was going to pay any attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A large deployment of resistance fighters arrived by parachute in the night of August 19 , 1944 , ahead of an expected battle around Aixe as Allied forces began to liberate France .
They were heavily armed and Marcel , as usual , followed his family .
But a Sten sub-machine gun went off accidentally .
Marcel fell to the ground after being hit by several bullets .
On August 21 , just a a few hours before Limoges was itself liberated , Marcel was `` buried in the presence of numerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tricolour flag , '' said Marc Pinte .
The emotion was great .
At the beginning of September , British planes carried out a final parachute drop of arms to the area using black canvases in tribute to Marcel .
While is death was an accident , Marcel Pinte is officially considered to have `` died for France '' as a hero .
Eugene Pinte died in 1951 , aged 49 .
He was buried next to his son Marcel at the cemetery in Aixe .

Limoges (France) (AFP) –
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France this week commemorates the deeds of a boy who died aged just six hailed as the youngest French World War II hero for carrying messages under his shirt to leaders of the resistance against Nazi occupation.
The name of Marcel Pinte -- known as Quinquin --- is to be inscribed on Wednesday into the war memorial in Aixe-sur-Vienne just west of the central city of Limoges.
As France Wednesday observes its annual public holiday to mark Armistice Day -- remembering the victims of both world wars -- a ceremony will also take place in the town to remember Pinte, who is seen as the country's youngest resistance hero.
His father Eugene was himself a prominent commander, known as Athos, leading a strong local resistance movement around Limoges that would have 1,200 fighters by the end of the war.
According to family member Alexandre Bremaud, 28 -- who has fought for recognition of Marcel -- the father Eugene was able through his office work to invent false identities and even have access to official papers.
He formed his first resistance unit in 1941 at a village of Gaubertie where he rented a small farm and then made formal contacts with the wider resistance movement in France.
Eugene, his wife Paule and their five children got used to the rhythms of the regular secret meetings at the farm.
"It was a hidden place and very difficult to access," said Bremaud, adding that resistance fighters found it "practical and discreet" to meet there.
At the Pinte household, resistance work and family life were inextricably linked. Marcel watched fascinated and was desperate to take part.
"At the start, he probably took it all as a game. But then he quickly understood how risky it all was," said Marc Pinte, 68, the grandson of Marcel's father.
- 'Understood everything' -
Marc Pinte recalled what his own father remembered of Marcel. He found it easy to get along with adults and was happy to spend time in the woods alongside the resistance fighters, getting to know their code calls.
"Everyone was surprised to see how he got involved like that," said Marc Pinte.
He said that in the farmhouse it would have been impossible to sleep at night with "constant movement" of people, regular meetings or even a British parachutist hiding in the loft.
"It was natural that the boy got involved in missions that were appropriate for his age and his abilities," he said.
Pinte said that Marcel surprised people with his "astonishing" memory and was entrusted with taking messages for resistance chiefs under his shirt.
"He understood everything at once. Naturally, no-one noticed him, no one was going to pay any attention to a boy," he said.
A large deployment of resistance fighters arrived by parachute in the night of August 19, 1944, ahead of an expected battle around Aixe as Allied forces began to liberate France.
They were heavily armed and Marcel, as usual, followed his family. But a Sten sub-machine gun went off accidentally. Marcel fell to the ground after being hit by several bullets.
On August 21, just a a few hours before Limoges was itself liberated, Marcel was "buried in the presence of numerous battalions. The coffin was covered with the tricolour flag," said Marc Pinte.
The emotion was great. At the beginning of September, British planes carried out a final parachute drop of arms to the area using black canvases in tribute to Marcel.
While is death was an accident, Marcel Pinte is officially considered to have "died for France" as a hero.
Eugene Pinte died in 1951, aged 49. He was buried next to his son Marcel at the cemetery in Aixe.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-09--Biden may 'change course' on Iran, but obstacles abound

A woman walks past a mural painted on the outer walls of the former US embassy in the Iranian capital Tehran Joe Biden has promised a change in US policy on Iran , but the president-elect 's room for manoeuvre with the Islamic republic is narrow , and time is running out .
While outgoing US President Donald Trump has declared Tehran his arch-foe and sought to isolate it globally , Biden has suggested he would offer it a `` credible path back to diplomacy '' .
Unlike four years ago , the Iran issue , centred on fears it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely absent from campaigning for the 2020 US presidential election , and Biden 's proposals on the subject are still rather vague .
His task of trying to reconnect with Tehran promises to be difficult as the confrontational approach under Trump has seen Iran 's distrust of the Americans intensify .
Sworn enemies for more than 40 years , the US and Iran have twice come to the brink of war since mid-2019 amid soaring tensions over a landmark deal on Iran 's nuclear programme agreed in 2015 .
Trump unilaterally withdrew the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 and launched a `` maximum pressure '' campaign against Iran with sanctions that plunged its economy into a deep recession .
But Trump failed to achieve his ultimate goal of forcing Tehran to negotiate a `` better deal '' , leaving the way open for Iran to boast of the `` resistance '' of its people to the American `` Great Satan '' .
`` We urgently need to change course , '' Biden wrote in September in an opinion piece that described Trump 's Iran policy as a `` dangerous failure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US and brought Iran `` closer to a nuclear bomb '' .
In the 2015 deal with world powers Britain , China , France , Germany , Russia and the United States , Iran agreed to curb its controversial nuclear programme in exchange for a relaxation of international sanctions .
But in response to the reimposed US sanctions , the Islamic republic has since May 2019 reduced most of its key commitments to the accord .
The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran has considerably stepped up its production of low-enriched uranium , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that allows military use .
In the op-ed published by CNN , Biden wrote that he would `` offer Tehran a credible path back to diplomacy '' in order to bring Washington back into the 2015 nuclear deal .
But the US president-elect also vowed to be `` tough on Iran '' , and said that his country 's return would hinge on the Islamic republic coming back to `` strict compliance with the nuclear deal '' .
While Iran insists the United States can return to the pact , it says the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all sanctions reimposed or instigated by the Trump administration .
Tehran says that this is the condition for its return to commitments under the nuclear accord .
In recent weeks , it has even reiterated that in order to re-enter the agreement , Washington should first compensate Iran for the damage caused by the US withdrawal and sanctions .
Under Biden , the United States has an opportunity to make up for its `` previous mistakes , '' Iranian President Hassan Rouhani , whose election in 2013 allowed talks on the nuclear issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said on Sunday .
Iran 's foreign ministry said Monday that US policy makers must change their mentality , language and actions to signal Washington is `` turning back from the wrong path and making up for the past '' .
But the window of opportunity is tight since less than five months separate Biden 's inauguration on January 20 and an Iranian presidential election set for June 18 .
The upcoming election , which comes after conservatives hostile to the nuclear deal swept Iran 's parliamentary elections in February , could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of reformists and moderates around Rouhani .
Ellie Geranmayeh of the European Council on International Relations said it is up to the three European countries that are party to the nuclear deal to immediately step up talks with the three other nations in the accord besides the US .
`` If the nuclear deal can be preserved until Biden 's inauguration , then the Iran file presents a natural area for renewed transatlantic cooperation , '' the Iran specialist said in a note .
But she added : `` It is also unclear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanctions that are unrelated to nuclear matters and that the Trump administration introduced deliberately in order to ( make ) it hard to return to the agreement . ''

Tehran (AFP) –
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Joe Biden has promised a change in US policy on Iran, but the president-elect's room for manoeuvre with the Islamic republic is narrow, and time is running out.
While outgoing US President Donald Trump has declared Tehran his arch-foe and sought to isolate it globally, Biden has suggested he would offer it a "credible path back to diplomacy".
Unlike four years ago, the Iran issue, centred on fears it is seeking a nuclear bomb, was largely absent from campaigning for the 2020 US presidential election, and Biden's proposals on the subject are still rather vague.
His task of trying to reconnect with Tehran promises to be difficult as the confrontational approach under Trump has seen Iran's distrust of the Americans intensify.
Sworn enemies for more than 40 years, the US and Iran have twice come to the brink of war since mid-2019 amid soaring tensions over a landmark deal on Iran's nuclear programme agreed in 2015.
Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the pact in May 2018 and launched a "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran with sanctions that plunged its economy into a deep recession.
But Trump failed to achieve his ultimate goal of forcing Tehran to negotiate a "better deal", leaving the way open for Iran to boast of the "resistance" of its people to the American "Great Satan".
"We urgently need to change course," Biden wrote in September in an opinion piece that described Trump's Iran policy as a "dangerous failure" which in his view isolated the US and brought Iran "closer to a nuclear bomb".
- 'Credible path' -
In the 2015 deal with world powers Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, Iran agreed to curb its controversial nuclear programme in exchange for a relaxation of international sanctions.
But in response to the reimposed US sanctions, the Islamic republic has since May 2019 reduced most of its key commitments to the accord.
The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran has considerably stepped up its production of low-enriched uranium, but without increasing it to a degree that allows military use.
In the op-ed published by CNN, Biden wrote that he would "offer Tehran a credible path back to diplomacy" in order to bring Washington back into the 2015 nuclear deal.
But the US president-elect also vowed to be "tough on Iran", and said that his country's return would hinge on the Islamic republic coming back to "strict compliance with the nuclear deal".
While Iran insists the United States can return to the pact, it says the Americans must first make amends and lift all sanctions reimposed or instigated by the Trump administration.
Tehran says that this is the condition for its return to commitments under the nuclear accord.
In recent weeks, it has even reiterated that in order to re-enter the agreement, Washington should first compensate Iran for the damage caused by the US withdrawal and sanctions.
- 'Previous mistakes' -
Under Biden, the United States has an opportunity to make up for its "previous mistakes," Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, whose election in 2013 allowed talks on the nuclear issue to resume after eight years of deadlock, said on Sunday.
Iran's foreign ministry said Monday that US policy makers must change their mentality, language and actions to signal Washington is "turning back from the wrong path and making up for the past".
But the window of opportunity is tight since less than five months separate Biden's inauguration on January 20 and an Iranian presidential election set for June 18.
The upcoming election, which comes after conservatives hostile to the nuclear deal swept Iran's parliamentary elections in February, could sound the death knell for the alliance of reformists and moderates around Rouhani.
Ellie Geranmayeh of the European Council on International Relations said it is up to the three European countries that are party to the nuclear deal to immediately step up talks with the three other nations in the accord besides the US.
"If the nuclear deal can be preserved until Biden's inauguration, then the Iran file presents a natural area for renewed transatlantic cooperation," the Iran specialist said in a note.
But she added: "It is also unclear whether Biden will be willing to lift sanctions that are unrelated to nuclear matters and that the Trump administration introduced deliberately in order to (make) it hard to return to the agreement."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-09--Russia, China hold off on congratulating Biden for US election win

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin shakes hands with then US Vice President Joe Biden in this file photo taken in Moscow on March 10 , 2011 .
Officials in Moscow and Beijing have declined to comment on the outcome of the US presidential election , saying they will wait for official results before congratulating the winner .
Answer a few questions to join Europe Talks and debate with another European Russian President Vladimir Putin has remained silent on the issue since Democrat Joe Biden clinched the presidency on Saturday , four days after the Nov. 3 election , clearing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to win the White House .
In the vote 's run-up , Putin had appeared to hedge his bets , frowning on Biden 's anti-Russian rhetoric but welcoming his comments on nuclear arms control .
Putin had also defended Biden 's son , Hunter , against criticism from Trump .
Speaking to reporters on a conference call , Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Moscow deemed it better to now wait before congratulating anyone .
`` We think it appropriate to wait for the official vote count , '' said Peskov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congratulated Trump soon after he had won the Electoral College and beaten Democrat Hillary Clinton , Peskov said there was an obvious difference this time round .
`` You can see that there are certain legal procedures that have been announced by the current president .
That is why the situations are different and we therefore think it appropriate to wait for an official announcement , '' said Peskov .
He noted that Putin had repeatedly said he was ready to work with any US leader and that Russia hoped it could establish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find a way to normalise troubled bilateral relations .
Moscow 's ties with Washington sank to post-Cold War lows in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine .
Biden was serving as vice president under President Barack Obama at the time .
Relations soured further over US allegations that Moscow had meddled in the 2016 US presidential election to try to tilt the vote in Trump 's favour , something the Kremlin denied .
China has also held off on congratulating Biden , saying it will follow custom in responding to the result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has declared election victory , '' foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a daily media briefing .
`` We understand that the US presidential election result will be determined following US law and procedures . ''
In 2016 , Chinese President Xi Jinping sent congratulations to Trump on Nov. 9 , a day after the election .
Relations between China and the United States are at their worst in decades over disputes ranging from technology and trade to Hong Kong and the coronavirus , and the Trump administration has unleashed a barrage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected to maintain a tough stance on China — he has called Xi a `` thug '' and vowed to lead a campaign to `` pressure , isolate and punish China '' — he is likely to take a more measured and multilateral approach .
`` We always believe that China and the United States should enhance communication and dialogue , manage differences on the basis of mutual respect , expand cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit and promote sound and stable development of bilateral relations , '' Wang told the briefing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must still 'live without US global leadership' Hu Xijin , editor of the Global Times , a tabloid published by the ruling Communist Party 's People 's Daily , said in a tweet : `` China has n't congratulated Biden on his victory as quickly as Western countries did . ''
`` I think it 's because China needs to keep larger distance from the US presidential election to avoid getting entangled in its controversy .
This actually shows that China respects the US as a whole , '' he added .
Earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an optimistic tone in editorials , saying relations could be restored to a state of greater predictability , starting with trade .
While acknowledging that Washington was unlikely to ease pressure on China over issues such as Xinjiang and Hong Kong , the Global Times said Beijing should work to communicate with Biden 's team .
`` It 's in the common interests of people from both countries and of the international community that China-US relations become eased and controllable , '' it said .
The China Daily said it was `` obvious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from trade , and reviving trade talks was critical to restoring some understanding and trust .

Officials in Moscow and Beijing have declined to comment on the outcome of the US presidential election, saying they will wait for official results before congratulating the winner.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin shakes hands with then US Vice President Joe Biden in this file photo taken in Moscow on March 10, 2011.
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Answer a few questions to join Europe Talks and debate with another European
Russian President Vladimir Putin has remained silent on the issue since Democrat Joe Biden clinched the presidency on Saturday, four days after the Nov. 3 election, clearing the threshold of 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the White House.
In the vote's run-up, Putin had appeared to hedge his bets, frowning on Biden's anti-Russian rhetoric but welcoming his comments on nuclear arms control. Putin had also defended Biden's son, Hunter, against criticism from Trump.
Speaking to reporters on a conference call, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Moscow deemed it better to now wait before congratulating anyone.
"We think it appropriate to wait for the official vote count," said Peskov.
>> World leaders congratulate Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for election victory
Asked why in 2016 Putin had congratulated Trump soon after he had won the Electoral College and beaten Democrat Hillary Clinton, Peskov said there was an obvious difference this time round.
"You can see that there are certain legal procedures that have been announced by the current president. That is why the situations are different and we therefore think it appropriate to wait for an official announcement," said Peskov.
He noted that Putin had repeatedly said he was ready to work with any US leader and that Russia hoped it could establish dialogue with a new US administration and find a way to normalise troubled bilateral relations.
Moscow's ties with Washington sank to post-Cold War lows in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. Biden was serving as vice president under President Barack Obama at the time.
Relations soured further over US allegations that Moscow had meddled in the 2016 US presidential election to try to tilt the vote in Trump's favour, something the Kremlin denied.
'Avoid getting entangled' in election dispute
China has also held off on congratulating Biden, saying it will follow custom in responding to the result.
"We noticed that Mr. Biden has declared election victory," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a daily media briefing. "We understand that the US presidential election result will be determined following US law and procedures."
In 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent congratulations to Trump on Nov. 9, a day after the election.
Relations between China and the United States are at their worst in decades over disputes ranging from technology and trade to Hong Kong and the coronavirus, and the Trump administration has unleashed a barrage of sanctions against Beijing.
While Biden is expected to maintain a tough stance on China — he has called Xi a "thug" and vowed to lead a campaign to "pressure, isolate and punish China" — he is likely to take a more measured and multilateral approach.
"We always believe that China and the United States should enhance communication and dialogue, manage differences on the basis of mutual respect, expand cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit and promote sound and stable development of bilateral relations," Wang told the briefing.
>> With Biden, EU must still 'live without US global leadership'
Hu Xijin, editor of the Global Times, a tabloid published by the ruling Communist Party's People's Daily, said in a tweet: "China hasn't congratulated Biden on his victory as quickly as Western countries did."
"I think it's because China needs to keep larger distance from the US presidential election to avoid getting entangled in its controversy. This actually shows that China respects the US as a whole," he added.
Earlier on Monday, Chinese state media struck an optimistic tone in editorials, saying relations could be restored to a state of greater predictability, starting with trade.
While acknowledging that Washington was unlikely to ease pressure on China over issues such as Xinjiang and Hong Kong, the Global Times said Beijing should work to communicate with Biden's team.
"It's in the common interests of people from both countries and of the international community that China-US relations become eased and controllable," it said.
The China Daily said it was "obvious" improving ties with China could start from trade, and reviving trade talks was critical to restoring some understanding and trust.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-11-10--Cairo's 'City of the Dead' brought back to life

Glassblowers are among artisans bringing a part of Cairo 's 'City of the Dead ' back to life In Egypt 's `` City of the Dead '' , centuries-old monuments are being restored and artisanal heritage revived , turning a corner of the vast historical cemetery into a vibrant neighbourhood full of life .
Wood , leather and jewellery workshops have joined those of glassblowers and others near the 15th-Century mosque of Sultan Qaitbay , in the east of the capital Cairo .
From the Mamluk period , the celebrated structure -- featured on Egypt 's one-pound notes -- is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and informal housing .
Since 2014 , a series of projects financed by the European Union has changed the face of this small section of the sprawling necropolis -- home to many people who are unable to afford Cairo 's prohibitively high rents .
Authorities began construction on a major road in July a short distance from the Qaitbay mosque , drawing strong criticism online for the resulting demolitions and evictions of residents of the `` City of the Dead '' .
A final resting place for illustrious figures , including singer Farid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as ordinary Egyptians , the Islamic necropolis founded in the seventh century stretches over 6.5 kilometres ( four miles ) .
`` Before the projects , there was rubbish all over the streets , '' said 57-year-old Issem Abou Rami , who owns a small restaurant facing the mosque .
`` Now , a truck comes every day to collect it . ''
Products made in the impoverished neighbourhood are now sold in elegant booths under restored stone arches -- and even online .
The renovation efforts started six years ago with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animals , and then , the reception area of a residential complex of the sultan .
The EU contributed nearly a million euros ( $ 1.1 million ) toward the latest project , `` The Heritage for the Living , in the 'City of the Dead ' '' , which launched in 2018 and focuses on social development .
The project coordinator , architect Agnieszka Dobrowolska , was a linchpin to the area 's metamorphosis .
She supervised the restorations of the monuments and the renovation of the workshop and their signage , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products inspired by Mamluk motifs .
`` When we first came here , our main object was to conserve the monuments , '' she told AFP .
`` And we quickly realised that we can not simply conserve the monuments , in disrespect to the people who live and work in the area , '' added Dobrowolska , founder of Archinos Architecture , which has worked on numerous conservation projects in Cairo .
Work in the ateliers was interrupted for several weeks due to the Covid-19 pandemic , but now the workshops are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 women making leather products and jewellery , all stamped with the local brand Mishka .
Aida Hassan , 45 , has worked in the leather workshop for three years , and said she is happy to be earning `` 1,500 pounds ( $ 96 ) per month -- and sometimes more '' .
`` This project has helped improve my income , '' she added , saying she had gone on to train other women in leatherwork .
Hundreds of women and children in the neighbourhood have benefited from courses and workshops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technology , English language and sports .
For the EU , the primary donor to the project -- due to end in 2021 -- the social elements of the programme were key , said Christian Berger , head of the EU delegation in Egypt .
`` Our intention is to support this type of project that benefits immediately vulnerable groups and disadvantaged groups , projects that have a broader socio-economic impact , '' Berger said .
The neighbourhood has hosted concerts , from jazz to folk and traditional Egyptian music , and visual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to show their work .
The aim is to bring `` contemporary art and culture here to enhance diversity of cultural expression ( and ) artistic expression , to build bridges between east and west , '' said Dobrowolska .
Another hope of the project in transforming the neighbourhood is to draw in tourists .
The `` City of the Dead '' is sometimes an object of superstition due to its status as a necropolis , and is not a usual stop on mainstream Cairo tours .
But it is the tourists who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordinary that Dobrowolska said the project is counting on .
`` We seek to attract tourists who are off-track from the mass tourism destinations -- people who might appreciate and enjoy the unique urban character of the necropolis , '' she said .

Cairo (AFP) –
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In Egypt's "City of the Dead", centuries-old monuments are being restored and artisanal heritage revived, turning a corner of the vast historical cemetery into a vibrant neighbourhood full of life.
Wood, leather and jewellery workshops have joined those of glassblowers and others near the 15th-Century mosque of Sultan Qaitbay, in the east of the capital Cairo.
From the Mamluk period, the celebrated structure -- featured on Egypt's one-pound notes -- is surrounded by monumental tombs, dusty alleys and informal housing.
Since 2014, a series of projects financed by the European Union has changed the face of this small section of the sprawling necropolis -- home to many people who are unable to afford Cairo's prohibitively high rents.
Authorities began construction on a major road in July a short distance from the Qaitbay mosque, drawing strong criticism online for the resulting demolitions and evictions of residents of the "City of the Dead".
A final resting place for illustrious figures, including singer Farid al-Atrash and writer Ihsan Abdel Kouddous as well as ordinary Egyptians, the Islamic necropolis founded in the seventh century stretches over 6.5 kilometres (four miles).
"Before the projects, there was rubbish all over the streets," said 57-year-old Issem Abou Rami, who owns a small restaurant facing the mosque. "Now, a truck comes every day to collect it."
Products made in the impoverished neighbourhood are now sold in elegant booths under restored stone arches -- and even online.
- Social development -
The renovation efforts started six years ago with the refurbishment of a drinking trough for animals, and then, the reception area of a residential complex of the sultan.
The EU contributed nearly a million euros ($1.1 million) toward the latest project, "The Heritage for the Living, in the 'City of the Dead'", which launched in 2018 and focuses on social development.
The project coordinator, architect Agnieszka Dobrowolska, was a linchpin to the area's metamorphosis.
She supervised the restorations of the monuments and the renovation of the workshop and their signage, as well as designed jewellery and leather products inspired by Mamluk motifs.
"When we first came here, our main object was to conserve the monuments," she told AFP.
"And we quickly realised that we cannot simply conserve the monuments, in disrespect to the people who live and work in the area," added Dobrowolska, founder of Archinos Architecture, which has worked on numerous conservation projects in Cairo.
Work in the ateliers was interrupted for several weeks due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but now the workshops are again up and running, with some 50 women making leather products and jewellery, all stamped with the local brand Mishka.
Aida Hassan, 45, has worked in the leather workshop for three years, and said she is happy to be earning "1,500 pounds ($96) per month -- and sometimes more".
"This project has helped improve my income," she added, saying she had gone on to train other women in leatherwork.
Hundreds of women and children in the neighbourhood have benefited from courses and workshops on subjects as diverse as science and technology, English language and sports.
- Object of superstition -
For the EU, the primary donor to the project -- due to end in 2021 -- the social elements of the programme were key, said Christian Berger, head of the EU delegation in Egypt.
"Our intention is to support this type of project that benefits immediately vulnerable groups and disadvantaged groups, projects that have a broader socio-economic impact," Berger said.
The neighbourhood has hosted concerts, from jazz to folk and traditional Egyptian music, and visual artists from Egypt and abroad have come to show their work.
The aim is to bring "contemporary art and culture here to enhance diversity of cultural expression (and) artistic expression, to build bridges between east and west," said Dobrowolska.
Another hope of the project in transforming the neighbourhood is to draw in tourists.
The "City of the Dead" is sometimes an object of superstition due to its status as a necropolis, and is not a usual stop on mainstream Cairo tours.
But it is the tourists who are looking for something out of the ordinary that Dobrowolska said the project is counting on.
"We seek to attract tourists who are off-track from the mass tourism destinations -- people who might appreciate and enjoy the unique urban character of the necropolis," she said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-10--Uprooted by war, Syrians settle on ruins of Roman temple

Displaced Syrians live in a makeshift camp amid Roman ruins in the area of Baqirha not far from the Turkish border Abdelaziz al-Hassan did not want to live in an overcrowded camp after fleeing war in northwestern Syria , so instead his family pitched a tent in the ruins of a Roman temple .
He , his wife and three children are among almost one million Syrians who fled their homes last winter during a Russia-backed offensive on Syria 's last rebel stronghold of Idlib .
In the UNESCO-listed site of Baqirha , near the Turkish border , they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war who have settled among centuries-old Roman and Byzantine ruins .
Hassan and his family have set up a tunnel-shaped tent between the three surviving walls of a second-century temple to the Greek god Zeus , on a site strewn with broken columns and a plinth .
Behind their tent , laundry hung on a rope strung between the ancient walls .
Propped up over the centuries-old stones , solar panels soaked in the sun near a blackened pot on a small wood-burning stove .
Hassan says the site is a far better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numerous informal displacement camps that have sprouted up along the frontier , especially amid the coronavirus pandemic .
`` I chose this place because it provides peace of mind , far from overcrowded places and those riddled with disease , '' said the middle-aged man with a salt-and-pepper beard .
Syria is filled with archeological sites , from Roman temples and Crusader castles to Ottoman-era caravanserais .
Many have been damaged , bombarded or plundered throughout a nine-year-old conflict that has killed more than 380,000 people and displaced millions .
Northwest Syria is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first to the seventh centuries that , the UN cultural body says , provide insight into `` rural life in late Antiquity and during the Byzantine period '' .
Dotted with the remains of temples and churches , the sites illustrate `` the transition from the ancient pagan world of the Roman Empire to Byzantine Christianity , '' it says .
In Baqirha , Zeus Bomos , or Zeus of the Altar , was built almost two millennia ago , historians say , in a wider area that later prospered from olive oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head of Syria 's antiquities authority , said Baqirha was exceptional for its well-preserved buildings , also including two churches from the sixth century .
But for all the grand architecture , Hassan admitted there were a few inconveniences to living where he does , including a long walk for his children to the village school .
He also said the area is crawling with poisonous snakes and insects .
`` Two days ago , near the tent 's opening , I killed a viper , '' he told AFP .
And `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kill a scorpion '' .
`` But we have n't found anywhere better than here yet . ''
- 'Where else can we go ? '
- Hassan 's brother-in-law , Saleh Jaour , and his dozen children have also made the ancient ruins of Baqirha their new home , after fleeing bombardment last winter that killed his wife and a son .
`` I chose this region because it 's close to the Turkish border .
If anything happens , we can flee to Turkey on foot , '' said the portly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As the crow flies , the Turkish border lies just four kilometres ( 2.5 miles ) away .
`` This place is far from the crowds and the noise , '' he added , saying he too was taken aback by how many people were living at close proximity in the camps .
Both Hassan and Jaour 's families escaped their homes further south during a government-led offensive between December last year and March on the jihadist-dominated stronghold of Idlib .
A ceasefire deal reached by rebel backer Turkey and regime ally Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but less than a quarter have returned .
Local officials have asked families living on the archeological site in Baqirha to leave , but they have refused until they are provided with alternative shelter .
`` We 've gotten used to this place , '' said Jaour , reluctant to uproot the family again at the start of the rainy winter season .
`` Where else can we go ? ''

Baqirha (Syria) (AFP) –
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Abdelaziz al-Hassan did not want to live in an overcrowded camp after fleeing war in northwestern Syria, so instead his family pitched a tent in the ruins of a Roman temple.
He, his wife and three children are among almost one million Syrians who fled their homes last winter during a Russia-backed offensive on Syria's last rebel stronghold of Idlib.
In the UNESCO-listed site of Baqirha, near the Turkish border, they are now among dozens of Syrians uprooted by war who have settled among centuries-old Roman and Byzantine ruins.
Hassan and his family have set up a tunnel-shaped tent between the three surviving walls of a second-century temple to the Greek god Zeus, on a site strewn with broken columns and a plinth.
Behind their tent, laundry hung on a rope strung between the ancient walls. Propped up over the centuries-old stones, solar panels soaked in the sun near a blackened pot on a small wood-burning stove.
Hassan says the site is a far better option than living in one of the numerous informal displacement camps that have sprouted up along the frontier, especially amid the coronavirus pandemic.
"I chose this place because it provides peace of mind, far from overcrowded places and those riddled with disease," said the middle-aged man with a salt-and-pepper beard.
- Snakes and scorpions -
Syria is filled with archeological sites, from Roman temples and Crusader castles to Ottoman-era caravanserais.
Many have been damaged, bombarded or plundered throughout a nine-year-old conflict that has killed more than 380,000 people and displaced millions.
Northwest Syria is home to 40 UNESCO-listed villages from the first to the seventh centuries that, the UN cultural body says, provide insight into "rural life in late Antiquity and during the Byzantine period".
Dotted with the remains of temples and churches, the sites illustrate "the transition from the ancient pagan world of the Roman Empire to Byzantine Christianity," it says.
In Baqirha, Zeus Bomos, or Zeus of the Altar, was built almost two millennia ago, historians say, in a wider area that later prospered from olive oil production.
Maamoun Abdel Karim, the head of Syria's antiquities authority, said Baqirha was exceptional for its well-preserved buildings, also including two churches from the sixth century.
But for all the grand architecture, Hassan admitted there were a few inconveniences to living where he does, including a long walk for his children to the village school.
He also said the area is crawling with poisonous snakes and insects.
"Two days ago, near the tent's opening, I killed a viper," he told AFP. And "every other day, we have to kill a scorpion".
"But we haven't found anywhere better than here yet."
- 'Where else can we go?' -
Hassan's brother-in-law, Saleh Jaour, and his dozen children have also made the ancient ruins of Baqirha their new home, after fleeing bombardment last winter that killed his wife and a son.
"I chose this region because it's close to the Turkish border. If anything happens, we can flee to Turkey on foot," said the portly 64-year-old wearing a long dark robe.
As the crow flies, the Turkish border lies just four kilometres (2.5 miles) away.
"This place is far from the crowds and the noise," he added, saying he too was taken aback by how many people were living at close proximity in the camps.
Both Hassan and Jaour's families escaped their homes further south during a government-led offensive between December last year and March on the jihadist-dominated stronghold of Idlib.
A ceasefire deal reached by rebel backer Turkey and regime ally Russia has since largely stemmed the fighting, but less than a quarter have returned.
Local officials have asked families living on the archeological site in Baqirha to leave, but they have refused until they are provided with alternative shelter.
"We've gotten used to this place," said Jaour, reluctant to uproot the family again at the start of the rainy winter season.
"Where else can we go?"
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-10--Suicides rise in Malawi as virus debts compound misery

The crippling debts and anxiety that the pandemic has brought in its wake are feared to have led to a rise in suicides Loud sobs echoed through a suburb of Malawi 's capital Lilongwe in the middle of the night , jolting resident Paul Kaonga from his sleep .
The cries came from a nearby house .
Kaonga hastily pulled on some clothes and rushed over .
Distraught family members informed him that Kondwani Botha , a neighbour , had killed himself .
The 31-year-old father had struggled to keep his construction business afloat when coronavirus hit and he sunk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knee-deep in financial trouble , '' Kaonga told AFP after the funeral .
It was the third suicide Kaonga had heard of in his neighbourhood in the space of two weeks .
A few days later , another man who was also struggling financially took his own life .
Kaonga , who works as a pastor , blamed economic hardship brought on the pandemic .
`` People have resorted to lending money from loan sharks just so that they can get by ( and ) pay their workers , '' Kaonga explained .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ owe so much that you can not pay back . ''
Malawi was already one of the world 's poorest countries when the pandemic arrived , further dampening the economy .
Around half of Malawi 's 18.6 million inhabitants live below the poverty line , and an additional 1.1 million fell into that category this year , according to the International Food Policy Research Institute .
Most people in the landlocked southern African country rely on day-to-day street trade and odd jobs stifled by movement restrictions .
Coronavirus hindered `` the normal ways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economist Betchani Tchereni , estimating that around 2.7 million people lost income this year .
Deaths by suicide recorded between January and August 2020 were more than 50 percent higher than over the same period last year , Kalaya said .
The most common reasons were family disputes , chronic illness and inability to pay back debt .
`` We have taken a proactive approach by raising awareness on how citizens can deal with stress , '' he said , adding that staff had been trained to respond to depressive behaviour .
Mental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over higher suicide risks .
Psychologist Beatrice Chiphwanya , who runs a private practice in the city of Blantyre , said she has helped an unusually high number of clients overcome suicidal thoughts this year .
`` People are dealing with a lot of anxiety ( and ) uncertainty concerning education , health , finances , '' Chiphwanya explained .
`` It is sad that therapy is not a service that has been fully normalised in this country , '' she added .
`` It is not affordable , hence a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ act of suicide . ''
Most public facilities in Malawi are too short-staffed and underfunded to provide adequate mental healthcare , particularly during a global health crisis .
To date the country has recorded more than 5,950 coronavirus cases , including 185 deaths .
Health ministry official Immaculate Chamangwana said psychiatric practitioners in public hospitals were often asked to help out in overwhelmed maternity and paediatric wards even before the pandemic .
`` These people are not only concentrating on mental health , '' Chamangwana told AFP , adding that all hospital workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compensate .
Malawian expert Gerald Namwaza , a researcher for the UK-based MentalCare charity , said coronavirus had aggravated the suffering of patients who already faced discrimination and stigma .
`` In Malawi ... people with mental health issues are oftentimes ridiculed and side-lined , '' Namwaza said .
`` They are vulnerable and at high risk of committing suicide when sent in isolation due to coronavirus , '' he added .
`` It becomes a double jeopardy for them . ''

Lilongwe (Malawi) (AFP) –
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Loud sobs echoed through a suburb of Malawi's capital Lilongwe in the middle of the night, jolting resident Paul Kaonga from his sleep.
The cries came from a nearby house. Kaonga hastily pulled on some clothes and rushed over.
Distraught family members informed him that Kondwani Botha, a neighbour, had killed himself.
The 31-year-old father had struggled to keep his construction business afloat when coronavirus hit and he sunk into debt.
"He was really knee-deep in financial trouble," Kaonga told AFP after the funeral.
It was the third suicide Kaonga had heard of in his neighbourhood in the space of two weeks.
A few days later, another man who was also struggling financially took his own life.
Kaonga, who works as a pastor, blamed economic hardship brought on the pandemic.
"People have resorted to lending money from loan sharks just so that they can get by (and) pay their workers," Kaonga explained.
"Before you know it, you owe so much that you cannot pay back."
- Dwindling incomes -
Malawi was already one of the world's poorest countries when the pandemic arrived, further dampening the economy.
Around half of Malawi's 18.6 million inhabitants live below the poverty line, and an additional 1.1 million fell into that category this year, according to the International Food Policy Research Institute.
Most people in the landlocked southern African country rely on day-to-day street trade and odd jobs stifled by movement restrictions.
Coronavirus hindered "the normal ways of business" in Malawi, said economist Betchani Tchereni, estimating that around 2.7 million people lost income this year.
Police spokesman Peter Kalaya suspects suicides have increased as a result.
Deaths by suicide recorded between January and August 2020 were more than 50 percent higher than over the same period last year, Kalaya said.
The most common reasons were family disputes, chronic illness and inability to pay back debt.
"We are greatly troubled," Kalaya told AFP.
"We have taken a proactive approach by raising awareness on how citizens can deal with stress," he said, adding that staff had been trained to respond to depressive behaviour.
- Coronavirus anxiety -
Mental health experts have also raised alarm bells over higher suicide risks.
Psychologist Beatrice Chiphwanya, who runs a private practice in the city of Blantyre, said she has helped an unusually high number of clients overcome suicidal thoughts this year.
"People are dealing with a lot of anxiety (and) uncertainty concerning education, health, finances," Chiphwanya explained.
"It is sad that therapy is not a service that has been fully normalised in this country," she added. "It is not affordable, hence a lot of Malawians are still going through with the act of suicide."
Most public facilities in Malawi are too short-staffed and underfunded to provide adequate mental healthcare, particularly during a global health crisis.
To date the country has recorded more than 5,950 coronavirus cases, including 185 deaths.
Health ministry official Immaculate Chamangwana said psychiatric practitioners in public hospitals were often asked to help out in overwhelmed maternity and paediatric wards even before the pandemic.
"These people are not only concentrating on mental health," Chamangwana told AFP, adding that all hospital workers were given basic mental healthcare training to compensate.
Malawian expert Gerald Namwaza, a researcher for the UK-based MentalCare charity, said coronavirus had aggravated the suffering of patients who already faced discrimination and stigma.
"In Malawi... people with mental health issues are oftentimes ridiculed and side-lined," Namwaza said.
"They are vulnerable and at high risk of committing suicide when sent in isolation due to coronavirus," he added.
"It becomes a double jeopardy for them."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-10--Virus surge puts paid to Austria ski season restart

Austrian ski resorts adopted many measures to ensure the health of skiers , but a surge in coronavirus infections has forced the government to shut the slopes After some of its economically crucial ski resorts became bywords for coronavirus clusters in the first wave of the pandemic , Austria was glad that mask-clad skiers were once again racing down its powdery slopes for the new season .
But a fresh surge in infections has put paid to that fragile reopening after a second coronavirus shutdown ordered by the national government at the end of last month emptied the cable cars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy .
In mountainous western Austria , skiing is not just part of the local culture , but the foundation of an industry worth billions as well as the source of livelihoods for hundreds of thousands .
In Tyrol province , every fourth job depends on tourism and every second bed is a hotel bed .
But experts say the entire winter season may be at risk as virus-related restrictions proliferate across the continent .
The latest shutdown is a bitter pill to swallow for those ski resorts which had invested millions in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Among the first ski areas to open this year was the Pitztal glacier .
`` We 've invested very high sums of money to make it possible that people can experience nature and skiing on the mountain , all while staying safe and healthy , '' Anna Griesser , PR manager for the local cable car company , told AFP just days before the lockdown was announced .
She said that the season was initially a moderate success .
Skiers from Switzerland , Germany , the Czech Republic , Italy and Austria had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in front of cable cars ensured orderly queing , the number of people allowed inside the train linking the valley to the glacier was cut by half , and masks were mandatory .
Staff used a number of decontamination fogging machines to spray the inside of gondola cabins with disinfectant .
Swiss skier Christian Gut , 60 , described feeling so safe that he compared skiing to being `` in a bubble '' .
However , that bubble soon burst when Austria began to record several times the level of coronavirus infections seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Germany issued travel warnings for areas including ski areas in Austria .
That was a hard blow for Austria 's winter tourism industry in general , and in particular for Tyrol , where half of all tourists hail from Germany .
A vast number of tourism businesses will only be able to survive with generous subsidies , according to president of Austria 's hotel association Michaela Reitterer .
She called a recently announced government fund for the sector as vital as `` a bite of bread . ''
If the winter tourism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could shrink by as much as 1.5 percent , according to Christoph Badelt , head of the Austrian Institute for Economic Research .
Those in Austria 's ski sector , however , are trying to keep their spirits high .
Even in Ischgl , which gained notoriety earlier in the year when local authorities failed to react to a virus outbreak and tourists infected there helped spread the virus across Europe .
During the winter months , the village of 1,600 residents , the descendants of impoverished Alpine farmers who now run 5-star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10,000 holidaymakers per day .
Many of the visitors have in the past been lured by Ischgl 's reputation for exuberant apres-ski parties -- although these are of course off the menu this winter .
`` Of course there are challenges , but we were n't surprised by this new lockdown because it was obvious that something would happen , '' given the high case numbers , said Andreas Steibl , the managing director of the local tourism board .
Ischgl had planned to open next week but the start of the season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a week before Christmas .
Steibl said he hopes that the date will stick .
The national shutdown is scheduled to end at the end of November though if case numbers do n't improve speculation is rife that it could be extended .
Once the resort does open , Ischgl will await its visitors with free scarves that can be used as face masks , an app that shows skiers where queues are shortest and crowds smallest , and a free coronavirus testing station staffed with nurses .
Not to mention a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours .
Experts will also take water samples from the local sewage system , which will be tested for traces of the virus .
`` We are convinced that the number of cases will drop again , and that by mid-December , we can safely start the season , '' Steibl said .

Sankt Leonhard im Pitztal (Austria) (AFP) –
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After some of its economically crucial ski resorts became bywords for coronavirus clusters in the first wave of the pandemic, Austria was glad that mask-clad skiers were once again racing down its powdery slopes for the new season.
But a fresh surge in infections has put paid to that fragile reopening after a second coronavirus shutdown ordered by the national government at the end of last month emptied the cable cars and hotels that help power the Austrian economy.
In mountainous western Austria, skiing is not just part of the local culture, but the foundation of an industry worth billions as well as the source of livelihoods for hundreds of thousands.
In Tyrol province, every fourth job depends on tourism and every second bed is a hotel bed.
But experts say the entire winter season may be at risk as virus-related restrictions proliferate across the continent.
The latest shutdown is a bitter pill to swallow for those ski resorts which had invested millions in trying to make the sport virus-safe.
- 'In a bubble' -
Among the first ski areas to open this year was the Pitztal glacier.
"We've invested very high sums of money to make it possible that people can experience nature and skiing on the mountain, all while staying safe and healthy," Anna Griesser, PR manager for the local cable car company, told AFP just days before the lockdown was announced.
She said that the season was initially a moderate success.
Skiers from Switzerland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy and Austria had flocked to the pristine slopes.
Barriers in front of cable cars ensured orderly queing, the number of people allowed inside the train linking the valley to the glacier was cut by half, and masks were mandatory.
Staff used a number of decontamination fogging machines to spray the inside of gondola cabins with disinfectant.
Swiss skier Christian Gut, 60, described feeling so safe that he compared skiing to being "in a bubble".
However, that bubble soon burst when Austria began to record several times the level of coronavirus infections seen in the spring.
Late last month, Germany issued travel warnings for areas including ski areas in Austria.
That was a hard blow for Austria's winter tourism industry in general, and in particular for Tyrol, where half of all tourists hail from Germany.
A vast number of tourism businesses will only be able to survive with generous subsidies, according to president of Austria's hotel association Michaela Reitterer. She called a recently announced government fund for the sector as vital as "a bite of bread."
If the winter tourism season falters, Austria's entire GDP could shrink by as much as 1.5 percent, according to Christoph Badelt, head of the Austrian Institute for Economic Research.
- High hopes -
Those in Austria's ski sector, however, are trying to keep their spirits high.
Even in Ischgl, which gained notoriety earlier in the year when local authorities failed to react to a virus outbreak and tourists infected there helped spread the virus across Europe.
During the winter months, the village of 1,600 residents, the descendants of impoverished Alpine farmers who now run 5-star hotels, is brimming with more than 10,000 holidaymakers per day.
Many of the visitors have in the past been lured by Ischgl's reputation for exuberant apres-ski parties -- although these are of course off the menu this winter.
"Of course there are challenges, but we weren't surprised by this new lockdown because it was obvious that something would happen," given the high case numbers, said Andreas Steibl, the managing director of the local tourism board.
Ischgl had planned to open next week but the start of the season has now been postponed to December 17, a week before Christmas.
Steibl said he hopes that the date will stick.
The national shutdown is scheduled to end at the end of November though if case numbers don't improve speculation is rife that it could be extended.
Once the resort does open, Ischgl will await its visitors with free scarves that can be used as face masks, an app that shows skiers where queues are shortest and crowds smallest, and a free coronavirus testing station staffed with nurses.
Not to mention a separate lab to guarantee results within 24 hours.
Experts will also take water samples from the local sewage system, which will be tested for traces of the virus.
"We are convinced that the number of cases will drop again, and that by mid-December, we can safely start the season," Steibl said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-10--Supreme Court to hear attack on Obamacare as Covid-19 pandemic widens

President Donald Trump 's lame-duck administration makes a last try in the US Supreme Court Tuesday to demolish the `` Obamacare '' health program , which could cancel the health insurance of millions in the middle of a pandemic .
The high court will hear arguments in the long-brewing case over the constitutionality of the 2010 Affordable Care Act , under which then-president Barack Obama 's government sought to extend health insurance to people who could not afford it .
Since taking office in 2017 , Trump has tried to undermine the ACA , first eroding one key provision through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it altogether , backing a lawsuit by Texas and several other Republican-led states .
After federal district and appeals courts sided with Texas , the case was appealed earlier this year to the nine justices of the Supreme Court by California and states which support the ACA .
Trump 's adding three conservative justices to the court since 2017 could be enough to strike down ACA legislation .
But doing so could be pyrrhic .
More than 20 million Americans are insured under the law , including poor adults who became able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to retired people over 65 ; young people 26 years old or less the ACA allowed to be covered by their parents ' insurance ; and people whose preexisting medical conditions led to their being denied commercial health insurance .
And the legal challenge comes during the Covid-19 pandemic which has seen more than 10 million Americans infected with the virus .
As much as he has attacked the ACA , trying to cut related budgets and services , Trump has not yet offered alternatives that would cover those losing insurance if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be replaced with a MUCH better , and FAR cheaper , alternative if it is terminated in the Supreme Court , '' Trump claimed by tweet in September .
Tuesday 's hearing comes a week after Trump was defeated at the polls for a second term by Democrat Joe Biden .
Biden was Obama 's vice president when the ACA was established , and has promised to improve it .
He was due to deliver an address on the court case Tuesday in his home base of Wilmington , Delaware , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proven popular , it stands at risk on technical legal grounds , at a Supreme Court which has turned sharply to the right since Trump came to power .
In 2012 the court voted , 5-4 , to uphold the law as constitutional .
Chief Justice John Roberts , a moderate conservative , sided with the court 's four liberals to decide the case .
But since then Trump has named three new justices , all conservatives .
That , even without Roberts ' vote , gives them five votes out of nine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newest justice , Amy Coney Barrett , whose appointment Trump rushed through in October , saying he wanted her in position to help decide any election cases as well as the ACA case .
When still a law professor , she criticized Roberts ' reasoning in the 2012 decision to uphold the ACA .
She was pressed intensely by Democrats during her Senate confirmation hearings last month on her view of the program and Trump 's expectations of her .
`` I 'm not hostile to the ACA , '' she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I do n't have any agenda . ''
Whatever the court decides , it wo n't likely be known until next year , possibly after Trump leaves office and Biden is president on January 20 .

Washington (AFP) –
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President Donald Trump's lame-duck administration makes a last try in the US Supreme Court Tuesday to demolish the "Obamacare" health program, which could cancel the health insurance of millions in the middle of a pandemic.
The high court will hear arguments in the long-brewing case over the constitutionality of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, under which then-president Barack Obama's government sought to extend health insurance to people who could not afford it.
Since taking office in 2017, Trump has tried to undermine the ACA, first eroding one key provision through legislation, and then seeking to cancel it altogether, backing a lawsuit by Texas and several other Republican-led states.
After federal district and appeals courts sided with Texas, the case was appealed earlier this year to the nine justices of the Supreme Court by California and states which support the ACA.
- 20 million could lose insurance -
Trump's adding three conservative justices to the court since 2017 could be enough to strike down ACA legislation.
But doing so could be pyrrhic.
More than 20 million Americans are insured under the law, including poor adults who became able to access the Medicare program normally open only to retired people over 65; young people 26 years old or less the ACA allowed to be covered by their parents' insurance; and people whose preexisting medical conditions led to their being denied commercial health insurance.
And the legal challenge comes during the Covid-19 pandemic which has seen more than 10 million Americans infected with the virus.
As much as he has attacked the ACA, trying to cut related budgets and services, Trump has not yet offered alternatives that would cover those losing insurance if the law is struck down.
"Obamacare will be replaced with a MUCH better, and FAR cheaper, alternative if it is terminated in the Supreme Court," Trump claimed by tweet in September.
- Focus on Barrett -
Tuesday's hearing comes a week after Trump was defeated at the polls for a second term by Democrat Joe Biden.
Biden was Obama's vice president when the ACA was established, and has promised to improve it. He was due to deliver an address on the court case Tuesday in his home base of Wilmington, Delaware, his campaign said.
While the program has proven popular, it stands at risk on technical legal grounds, at a Supreme Court which has turned sharply to the right since Trump came to power.
In 2012 the court voted, 5-4, to uphold the law as constitutional. Chief Justice John Roberts, a moderate conservative, sided with the court's four liberals to decide the case.
But since then Trump has named three new justices, all conservatives. That, even without Roberts' vote, gives them five votes out of nine.
All eyes will be on the newest justice, Amy Coney Barrett, whose appointment Trump rushed through in October, saying he wanted her in position to help decide any election cases as well as the ACA case.
When still a law professor, she criticized Roberts' reasoning in the 2012 decision to uphold the ACA.
She was pressed intensely by Democrats during her Senate confirmation hearings last month on her view of the program and Trump's expectations of her.
"I'm not hostile to the ACA," she said. "I made no promises to anyone. I don't have any agenda."
Whatever the court decides, it won't likely be known until next year, possibly after Trump leaves office and Biden is president on January 20.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-10--Quick-study PGA champ Morikawa likes Masters debut chances

PGA Championship winner Collin Morikawa fancies himself a quick study when it comes to solving golf courses , and he 's not treating his debut at formidable Augusta National any differently .
The 23-year-old American captured his first major title in August at Harding Park in his PGA debut and likes his odds of walking away from the 84th Masters with a green jacket as the first debut winner since 1979 .
`` I 'm not afraid of any course out here and I think that 's kind of the mind set , '' Morikawa said Monday .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and figure out what 's my best opportunity to shoot a good score .
`` I do a really good job Monday through Wednesday , so I showed up today , got my 18 holes in , and I 'm trying to figure out what I need to work on and get prepped for . ''
Not since Fuzzy Zoeller did it 41 years ago has a player won his first Masters start .
Knowledge has often meant power at Augusta National , with experience paying off in knowing where to hit the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Even though I have n't played the Masters before .
I 'm comfortable coming out here , '' Morikawa said .
`` Experience never hurts .
I wish I had played here 15 , 20 times .
Wish I had that knowledge , but I do n't .
For now I have to feel like I can still compete with these guys .
It 's not like I 'm behind the 8-ball already , have a disadvantage .
On Thursday , we all start at even par . ''
World number four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and feels he accomplished a lot in his first day of practice under the Georgia pines .
`` It 's a place you 've kind of watched growing up , and to finally play 18 holes here as an actual golfer in the Masters is something special , '' he said .
`` But I 'm here to play golf and I 've got to figure out how I 'm going to play my best . ''
He filled in a lot of slopes and lines in his yardage book Monday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figure out ?
I think we have that down in one day .
we figured that out today , '' Morikawa said .
`` It 's just getting comfortable with what approach shots , what shots you might have to hit into the greens , what quadrants you might have to hit .
`` The greens are tricky .
There 's a lot of slope to them .
Just figuring them out , getting comfortable on these greens , is going to be a huge part for me feeling ready by Thursday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the course all week , he 'll have more work to do .
`` With wind , with rain , with where the tees might be , it 's just about adjusting and figure out what the line might be , '' he said .
`` That 's golf .
You just have to adjust .
`` You want to show up to these majors not really working on anything , just being ready to play golf .
I 've put myself there .
The game feels great . ''
He wo n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defending champion Tiger Woods and three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson .
`` To get to play lots of rounds with all these guys I 've watched growing up , it allows me to go out there and play like I normally would , '' he said .
`` I 've seen them every single week .
It just makes it easier for me to come out here like it 's any other event . ''

Augusta (United States) (AFP) –
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PGA Championship winner Collin Morikawa fancies himself a quick study when it comes to solving golf courses, and he's not treating his debut at formidable Augusta National any differently.
The 23-year-old American captured his first major title in August at Harding Park in his PGA debut and likes his odds of walking away from the 84th Masters with a green jacket as the first debut winner since 1979.
"I'm not afraid of any course out here and I think that's kind of the mind set," Morikawa said Monday. "I can go out and dissect a course and figure out what's my best opportunity to shoot a good score.
"I do a really good job Monday through Wednesday, so I showed up today, got my 18 holes in, and I'm trying to figure out what I need to work on and get prepped for."
Not since Fuzzy Zoeller did it 41 years ago has a player won his first Masters start. Knowledge has often meant power at Augusta National, with experience paying off in knowing where to hit the ball and how putts will break.
"Even though I haven't played the Masters before. I'm comfortable coming out here," Morikawa said.
"Experience never hurts. I wish I had played here 15, 20 times. Wish I had that knowledge, but I don't. For now I have to feel like I can still compete with these guys. It's not like I'm behind the 8-ball already, have a disadvantage. On Thursday, we all start at even par."
World number four Morikawa likes the way he is playing and feels he accomplished a lot in his first day of practice under the Georgia pines.
"It's a place you've kind of watched growing up, and to finally play 18 holes here as an actual golfer in the Masters is something special," he said. "But I'm here to play golf and I've got to figure out how I'm going to play my best."
He filled in a lot of slopes and lines in his yardage book Monday.
"So what lines do we need to figure out? I think we have that down in one day. we figured that out today," Morikawa said. "It's just getting comfortable with what approach shots, what shots you might have to hit into the greens, what quadrants you might have to hit.
"The greens are tricky. There's a lot of slope to them. Just figuring them out, getting comfortable on these greens, is going to be a huge part for me feeling ready by Thursday."
If predicted rain and storms saturate the course all week, he'll have more work to do.
"With wind, with rain, with where the tees might be, it's just about adjusting and figure out what the line might be," he said. "That's golf. You just have to adjust.
"You want to show up to these majors not really working on anything, just being ready to play golf. I've put myself there. The game feels great."
He won't be awed playing against such rivals as defending champion Tiger Woods and three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson.
"To get to play lots of rounds with all these guys I've watched growing up, it allows me to go out there and play like I normally would," he said. "I've seen them every single week. It just makes it easier for me to come out here like it's any other event."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-10--EU chief Michel calls for creation of European body to train imams

European Council President Charles Michel sad in a tweet `` Online messages glorifying terrorism must be quickly removed .
There must be no impunity for terrorists and those praising them on internet '' European Council president Charles Michel said Monday he supported creating a European institute to train imams , as he visited Austria to pay tribute to the victims of last week 's jihadist attack in Vienna .
`` It is very important to be firm on this .
I think , for example , that we should have a debate at the European level connected to the idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up a European institute to train imams , '' he told the media .
Michel said `` this message of tolerance , openness can be conveyed at the European level ... to ensure that the primacy of civil law is accepted , '' he said .
`` Online messages glorifying terrorism must be quickly removed .
There must be no impunity for terrorists and those praising them on internet , '' he said later in a tweet .
Last Monday 's shooting was the first major attack of its kind in Austria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a jihadist .
The gunman was identified as Kujtim Fejzulai , 20 , a dual Austrian-Macedonian national who was convicted and imprisoned last year for trying to go to Syria to join IS .
`` We think that this terrorist threat is a fundamental , grave , serious threat against the values '' of modern Europe , Michel said , adding that `` we have no intention of showing any weakness or laxity . ''

Vienna (AFP) –
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European Council president Charles Michel said Monday he supported creating a European institute to train imams, as he visited Austria to pay tribute to the victims of last week's jihadist attack in Vienna.
"It is very important to be firm on this. I think, for example, that we should have a debate at the European level connected to the idea that was raised some time ago to set up a European institute to train imams," he told the media.
Michel said "this message of tolerance, openness can be conveyed at the European level ... to ensure that the primacy of civil law is accepted," he said.
"Online messages glorifying terrorism must be quickly removed. There must be no impunity for terrorists and those praising them on internet," he said later in a tweet.
Last Monday's shooting was the first major attack of its kind in Austria for decades and the first blamed on a jihadist.
The gunman was identified as Kujtim Fejzulai, 20, a dual Austrian-Macedonian national who was convicted and imprisoned last year for trying to go to Syria to join IS.
"We think that this terrorist threat is a fundamental, grave, serious threat against the values" of modern Europe, Michel said, adding that "we have no intention of showing any weakness or laxity."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-10--Catching the number 1: Aberdeen trials hydrogen buses

The Scottish city of Aberdeen enjoyed a boom after the discovery of oil in the North Sea in the 1960s , propelling it to a central role in the industry .
Now it 's preparing to launch a fleet of the world 's first hydrogen-powered double-decker buses , as it tries to reduce air pollution and transform itself into a green economy .
The 15 vehicles emit water vapour instead of carbon monoxide and are in the final stages of testing before being put into service on the city 's most popular routes .
The buses will use an existing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opened in 2015 to fill up with the universe 's most abundant element .
`` At the moment Aberdeen produces 500 kilograms of green hydrogen every day , '' said Philip Bell , Aberdeen City Council 's hydrogen spokesman .
`` Our plan is to have a hydrogen hub in three years that will produce three and a half tonnes of the gas a day , '' he told AFP .
The green and white-liveried buses , built by the Wrightbus company in Northern Ireland , cost £500,000 ( $ 658,000 , 555,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's existing fleet of hydrogen- and electric-powered council vans and road sweepers , said Bell .
The city hopes the £8.3-million project , part-funded by the Scottish Government and the European Union , will help to develop a hydrogen industry in the region as demand grows .
Hydrogen technology has been present for several years but demand for the gas has grown more than threefold since 1975 , according to the International Energy Agency .
The gas can be produced through electrolysis , which involves running an electrical current through water to split @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carbon emissions .
But development of the infrastructure needed is slow , holding back widespread adoption of the technology .
Projects using hydrogen technology have increased in frequency as companies and governments seek to reduce carbon emissions and air pollution , particularly from road transport .
The world 's first hydrogen-powered bus rapid transit system was deployed in the city of Pau , in southwest France , in 2019 .
The system , dubbed Febus , uses 18-metre-long ( 60 feet ) Van Hool buses on a dedicated six-kilometre ( 3.7-mile ) line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scotland is currently testing the world 's first hydrogen-fuelled ferry at the European Marine Energy Centre on the island of Orkney , off the country 's far northeast coast .
A hydrogen-powered train is also being tested in England , with the aim of carrying passengers by the end of next year .
According to Wrightbus , the hydrogen-powered double-deckers can be maintained and refilled for the same cost as a diesel bus .
David Phillips , operations director for First Aberdeen bus company , said the vehicles are as efficient as their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 10 minutes .
They are also quieter and provide smoother acceleration than conventional buses , he added .
`` It 's a chance to look at transport generally around how we can encourage a model shift , '' he said .
`` The important thing with the project is that we need to understand the reliability and performance of these vehicles . ''

Aberdeen (United Kingdom) (AFP) –
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The Scottish city of Aberdeen enjoyed a boom after the discovery of oil in the North Sea in the 1960s, propelling it to a central role in the industry.
Now it's preparing to launch a fleet of the world's first hydrogen-powered double-decker buses, as it tries to reduce air pollution and transform itself into a green economy.
The 15 vehicles emit water vapour instead of carbon monoxide and are in the final stages of testing before being put into service on the city's most popular routes.
The buses will use an existing hydrogen production and refuelling station that was opened in 2015 to fill up with the universe's most abundant element.
"At the moment Aberdeen produces 500 kilograms of green hydrogen every day," said Philip Bell, Aberdeen City Council's hydrogen spokesman.
"Our plan is to have a hydrogen hub in three years that will produce three and a half tonnes of the gas a day," he told AFP.
The green and white-liveried buses, built by the Wrightbus company in Northern Ireland, cost £500,000 ($658,000, 555,000 euros) each.
They complement Aberdeen's existing fleet of hydrogen- and electric-powered council vans and road sweepers, said Bell.
The city hopes the £8.3-million project, part-funded by the Scottish Government and the European Union, will help to develop a hydrogen industry in the region as demand grows.
Hydrogen technology has been present for several years but demand for the gas has grown more than threefold since 1975, according to the International Energy Agency.
The gas can be produced through electrolysis, which involves running an electrical current through water to split it into hydrogen and oxygen, cutting carbon emissions.
But development of the infrastructure needed is slow, holding back widespread adoption of the technology.
Projects using hydrogen technology have increased in frequency as companies and governments seek to reduce carbon emissions and air pollution, particularly from road transport.
- Efficiency and refuelling -
The world's first hydrogen-powered bus rapid transit system was deployed in the city of Pau, in southwest France, in 2019.
The system, dubbed Febus, uses 18-metre-long (60 feet) Van Hool buses on a dedicated six-kilometre (3.7-mile) line in the centre of the city.
Scotland is currently testing the world's first hydrogen-fuelled ferry at the European Marine Energy Centre on the island of Orkney, off the country's far northeast coast.
A hydrogen-powered train is also being tested in England, with the aim of carrying passengers by the end of next year.
According to Wrightbus, the hydrogen-powered double-deckers can be maintained and refilled for the same cost as a diesel bus.
David Phillips, operations director for First Aberdeen bus company, said the vehicles are as efficient as their electric equivalents, and refuelling takes less than 10 minutes.
They are also quieter and provide smoother acceleration than conventional buses, he added.
"It's a chance to look at transport generally around how we can encourage a model shift," he said.
"The important thing with the project is that we need to understand the reliability and performance of these vehicles."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-10--Brazil halts trials of Chinese Covid-19 vaccine

A nurse shows a COVID-19 vaccine produced by Chinese company Sinovac Biotech at the Sao Lucas Hospital , in Porto Alegre , Brazil Brazil 's health regulator said Monday it had suspended clinical trials of a Chinese-developed Covid-19 vaccine after an `` adverse incident '' involving a volunteer recipient , a blow for one of the most advanced vaccine candidates .
The regulator , Anvisa , said in a statement it had `` ruled to interrupt the clinical trial of the CoronaVac vaccine after a serious adverse incident '' on October 29 .
It said it could not give details @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but that such incidents included death , potentially fatal side effects , serious disability , hospitalization , birth defects and other `` clinically significant events . ''
The setback for CoronaVac , developed by Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac Biotech , came on the same day US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer said its own vaccine candidate had shown 90 percent effectiveness , sending global markets soaring and raising hopes of an end to the pandemic .
Both the Pfizer and Sinovac vaccines are in Phase III trials , the final stage of testing before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested in Brazil , the country with the second-highest death toll in the pandemic , after the United States , with more than 162,000 people killed by the new coronavirus .
CoronaVac has been caught up in a messy political battle in Brazil , where its most visible backer has been Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria , a top opponent of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro .
Bolsonaro has meanwhile labeled it the vaccine from `` that other country , '' and pushed instead for a rival vaccine developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical @ @ @

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) –
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Brazil's health regulator said Monday it had suspended clinical trials of a Chinese-developed Covid-19 vaccine after an "adverse incident" involving a volunteer recipient, a blow for one of the most advanced vaccine candidates.
The regulator, Anvisa, said in a statement it had "ruled to interrupt the clinical trial of the CoronaVac vaccine after a serious adverse incident" on October 29.
It said it could not give details on what happened because of privacy regulations, but that such incidents included death, potentially fatal side effects, serious disability, hospitalization, birth defects and other "clinically significant events."
The setback for CoronaVac, developed by Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac Biotech, came on the same day US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer said its own vaccine candidate had shown 90 percent effectiveness, sending global markets soaring and raising hopes of an end to the pandemic.
Both the Pfizer and Sinovac vaccines are in Phase III trials, the final stage of testing before regulatory approval.
And both are being tested in Brazil, the country with the second-highest death toll in the pandemic, after the United States, with more than 162,000 people killed by the new coronavirus.
CoronaVac has been caught up in a messy political battle in Brazil, where its most visible backer has been Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria, a top opponent of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro has meanwhile labeled it the vaccine from "that other country," and pushed instead for a rival vaccine developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-10--England's Bairstow to make Big Bash League debut

England wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow will make his Big Bash League debut this year after signing for the Melbourne Stars .
The 10th edition of Australia 's Twenty20 tournament begins on December 10 , although the 31-year-old will not be available until after Christmas .
`` I 've always watched the BBL no matter where I 've been in the world and it will be nice to finally be a part of it , '' said Bairstow late Monday .
`` I know the Stars are one of the competition 's profile clubs and have a track record of being in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ join forces with the likes of Glenn Maxwell , Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa at the Stars .
`` His experience and versatility will be a valuable addition to our batting line-up , and we 've got several 'keeping options in the squad as well , '' said Melbourne coach David Hussey .
BBL teams are allowed three overseas players each this year with Jason Roy , Alex Hales and Tom Curran among other England stars to sign on .
Bairstow has played 70 Tests , 83 ODIs and 43 T20s for England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playoffs in this year 's Indian Premier League .

Sydney (AFP) –
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England wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow will make his Big Bash League debut this year after signing for the Melbourne Stars.
The 10th edition of Australia's Twenty20 tournament begins on December 10, although the 31-year-old will not be available until after Christmas.
"I've always watched the BBL no matter where I've been in the world and it will be nice to finally be a part of it," said Bairstow late Monday.
"I know the Stars are one of the competition's profile clubs and have a track record of being in contention in finals."
Bairstow will join forces with the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa at the Stars.
"His experience and versatility will be a valuable addition to our batting line-up, and we've got several 'keeping options in the squad as well," said Melbourne coach David Hussey.
BBL teams are allowed three overseas players each this year with Jason Roy, Alex Hales and Tom Curran among other England stars to sign on.
Bairstow has played 70 Tests, 83 ODIs and 43 T20s for England and helped Sunrisers Hyderabad to reach the playoffs in this year's Indian Premier League.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-10--G20 backslides on fossil fuel subsidies: report

The analysis found that at least $ 170 billion of public money had been pledged to fossil fuel-intensive sectors since the start of the pandemic Rich nations are still providing more than half a trillion dollars annually to fossil fuel projects despite committing to slash greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris climate deal , research showed Tuesday .
While state support to oil , gas and coal has dipped slightly since the landmark 2015 accord , a joint analysis by three climate think tanks found that many nations ' post-pandemic stimulus plans will see billions more given to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ G20 countries ' performance of phasing out fossil fuel subsidies , the analysis found that at least $ 170 billion of public money had been pledged to fossil fuel-intensive sectors since the start of the pandemic .
`` G20 governments were already not on track to meet their Paris Agreement commitments on ending support for fossil fuels before Covid-19 , '' noted Anna Geddes of the International Institute for Sustainable Development , which co-authored the report .
`` Now , disappointingly they are moving in the opposite direction . ''
Production and consumption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , rebates , financial incentives or even overseas aid and can keep consumer prices artificially low .
The International Energy Agency said last month that the pandemic provided a once-in-a-generation opportunity for governments to enact a `` step-change in clean energy investment '' .
But administrations desperate to get their economies firing again after the damage wrought by Covid-19 seem not to have taken this advice to heart .
Lockdowns and travel bans have seen global carbon pollution plummet this year compared with 2019 , which the IEA said must be the `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday 's analysis showed that rich nations -- responsible for the vast majority of emissions -- were likely to undo even the slight progress they 'd made on phasing out subsidies .
It found they had given $ 584 billion to fossil fuel projects every year between 2016-2019 .
Gauging each country 's subsidy reform path , the analysis found that not a single nation has made `` good progress '' in line with reaching the Paris accord goals .
The 2015 treaty enjoins nations to limit global temperature rises to `` well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Farenheit ) above pre-industrial levels through sweeping emissions cuts .
The United Nations says that for the more ambitious Paris goal of 1.5C of warming to be met , emissions need to fall by 7.6 percent annually through 2030 .
Several studies have shown emissions reductions of near that figure during pandemic lockdowns , but scientists warn that nothing less than a complete overhaul of how the world powers itself would keep a handle on long-term warming .
The costs of subsidies can be hard to calculate , given their many forms and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paper by the International Monetary Fund factored in the social and economic costs of air pollution , health risks , and the effects of climate change associated with fossil fuel use .
It estimated that if fossil fuel prices were `` fully efficient '' -- meaning subsidy-free -- in 2015 , `` global CO2 emissions would have been 28 percent lower ( and ) fossil fuel air pollution deaths 46 percent lower . ''
Most G20 nations scored poorly in Tuesday 's assessment due to a lack of transparency and continued support for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the midst of rolling out historic levels of public finance in response to the pandemic , '' said Bronwen Tucker , from Oil Change International .
`` Instead of bankrolling another major crisis -- climate change -- our governments should invest in a resilient future . ''

Paris (AFP) –
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Rich nations are still providing more than half a trillion dollars annually to fossil fuel projects despite committing to slash greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris climate deal, research showed Tuesday.
While state support to oil, gas and coal has dipped slightly since the landmark 2015 accord, a joint analysis by three climate think tanks found that many nations' post-pandemic stimulus plans will see billions more given to polluting fuels.
In a grading of G20 countries' performance of phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, the analysis found that at least $170 billion of public money had been pledged to fossil fuel-intensive sectors since the start of the pandemic.
"G20 governments were already not on track to meet their Paris Agreement commitments on ending support for fossil fuels before Covid-19," noted Anna Geddes of the International Institute for Sustainable Development, which co-authored the report.
"Now, disappointingly they are moving in the opposite direction."
Production and consumption subsidies take the form of tax breaks, rebates, financial incentives or even overseas aid and can keep consumer prices artificially low.
The International Energy Agency said last month that the pandemic provided a once-in-a-generation opportunity for governments to enact a "step-change in clean energy investment".
But administrations desperate to get their economies firing again after the damage wrought by Covid-19 seem not to have taken this advice to heart.
Lockdowns and travel bans have seen global carbon pollution plummet this year compared with 2019, which the IEA said must be the "definitive peak" for emissions.
But Tuesday's analysis showed that rich nations -- responsible for the vast majority of emissions -- were likely to undo even the slight progress they'd made on phasing out subsidies.
It found they had given $584 billion to fossil fuel projects every year between 2016-2019.
Gauging each country's subsidy reform path, the analysis found that not a single nation has made "good progress" in line with reaching the Paris accord goals.
The 2015 treaty enjoins nations to limit global temperature rises to "well below" two degrees Celsius (3.6 Farenheit) above pre-industrial levels through sweeping emissions cuts.
The United Nations says that for the more ambitious Paris goal of 1.5C of warming to be met, emissions need to fall by 7.6 percent annually through 2030.
Several studies have shown emissions reductions of near that figure during pandemic lockdowns, but scientists warn that nothing less than a complete overhaul of how the world powers itself would keep a handle on long-term warming.
- 'Bankrolling climate crisis -
The costs of subsidies can be hard to calculate, given their many forms and delivery methods.
Last year a working paper by the International Monetary Fund factored in the social and economic costs of air pollution, health risks, and the effects of climate change associated with fossil fuel use.
It estimated that if fossil fuel prices were "fully efficient" -- meaning subsidy-free -- in 2015, "global CO2 emissions would have been 28 percent lower (and) fossil fuel air pollution deaths 46 percent lower."
Most G20 nations scored poorly in Tuesday's assessment due to a lack of transparency and continued support for fossil-fuel based energy.
"Governments are in the midst of rolling out historic levels of public finance in response to the pandemic," said Bronwen Tucker, from Oil Change International.
"Instead of bankrolling another major crisis -- climate change -- our governments should invest in a resilient future."
© 2020 AFP