Новости за 31.12.2020

The World Health Organization on Thursday granted emergency validation to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, paving the way for countries worldwide to quickly approve its import and distribution.

After more than four years of political wrangling, December 31 marked the day when Brexit finally happened. At the moment London’s Big Ben struck 11pm – midnight at EU headquarters in Brussels – the UK and the EU formally went their separate ways. Whether seen as a moment to celebrate or commiserate, the British had few opportunities to gather due to coronavirus lockdown measures.

Despite London and Brussels reaching a trade deal to limit the fallout of Brexit the flow of people and goods across the Channel will change significantly on January 1, when Britain's departure from the EU becomes complete.

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers his New Year’s Eve address at a time when the country is in the grip of yet another surge in Covid-19 cases.

A line in Australia's national anthem officially changed Friday in a move the nation's leader said was aimed at better recognising the country's Indigenous people.

Cuban school teachers, journalists, lion tamers and doctors-in-training will earn the same salary under reforms spelled out Thursday and taking effect in the new year. The changes will quintuple the minimum salary to the equivalent of $87 a month and prices in the state-run economy will jump as part of an overhaul in which Cuba's two currencies will be unified, ending a system in place for 26 years. The new salary framework sets 32 wage levels depending on the job and the maximum is the equivalent of $396 a month... Читать дальше...

Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Thursday France would open COVID-19 vaccination centres in cities before the start of February, amid growing criticism that the programme is rolling out too slowly.

Hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been left stranded without shelter in the winter cold after their camp was set ablaze and attempts to relocate them fell through.

France has detected its first case of the South African variant of coronavirus, the health ministry said on Thursday.

Germany is aiming for a green start to 2021 by shutting down a coal-fired power plant and slapping a CO2 price on transport, but critics say the efforts aren't enough to combat climate change. The measures are the result of hard-fought compromises thrashed out by Chancellor Angela Merkel's right-left coalition government, and are key to Germany's transition away from polluting fossil fuels towards renewable energy. From January 1, 2021 the government will charge 25 euros ($30) per tonne of carbon... Читать дальше...

A thousand migrants from a burned-out camp were in limbo in Bosnia on Thursday, struggling with freezing temperatures and snow as efforts by local authorities to re-house them sparked protests from locals. The migrants, mostly from South Asia and the Middle East, had previously been living in a squalid camp close to the village of Lipa and the border with European Union member Croatia. The camp was set on fire on December 23 and police believe the blaze was started deliberately to protest the... Читать дальше...

Gibraltar will become part of the Schengen zone to ensure fluidity on its border with Spain in a landmark deal inked just hours before the Brexit deadline, Spain's top diplomat said Thursday. Negotiators representing the governments in Madrid, London and Gibraltar have been working around the clock to ink a deal to avoid the creation of a new "hard border" between the tiny British territory and the European Union that would have caused huge disruption for travellers and businesses on both sides of the line. Читать дальше...

Just like every year, the FRANCE 24 Observers covered the news through amateur images. Our team wrote more than 500 articles this year, with the help of citizen journalists around the world who filmed remarkable events in their communities. Pandemic, lockdown, overcrowded hospitals, protests and police brutality... we take a look back at the most striking videos of this unforgettable year.

With Covid-19 dominating the news in 2020, numerous examples of fake and misleading images have emerged online. The FRANCE 24 Observers team has sorted through countless claims to separate the fact from the fiction. From rumours about the origin of the virus to the effects of wearing face masks, here are some of the most notable claims we debunked this year.

Andy Murray has pulled out of what was due to be his first tournament of the season in Florida next week because of coronavirus concerns. The former world number one accepted a wild card into the Delray Beach Open and had been due to play his first match next Friday but has decided the trip is too risky. "After much deliberation with my team I've decided not to travel to play in Delray Beach," said Murray "Given the increase in Covid rates and the transatlantic flights involved, I want to minimise the risks ahead of the Australian Open. Читать дальше...

On May 25, the death of George Floyd in the United States sent shockwaves internationally. That same week, in Rio de Janeiro, 14-year-old João Pedro was shot dead by police – with few repercussions. In Brazil, where 56 percent of the population is Black, compared to 13 percent in the US, racism is deeply rooted in society. Brazilian police, understood to be some of the most violent in the world, kill 17 times more Black people than American officers. Miles from Minneapolis, a Brazilian Black Lives Matter movement is gaining momentum. Читать дальше...

FRANCE 24 takes a look back at the famous faces that have left us in 2020, from lionised British spy novelist John Le Carré to left-wing US Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg to the last icon of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Olivia de Havilland.

Pro-choice activists celebrated on the streets on Wednesday as Argentina joined a handful of South American nations to legalize abortion, a landmark decision in a country where the Catholic Church has long held sway.

Misinformation about the Covid-19 vaccine is circulating widely online even as numerous countries have started to vaccinate their populations. One video that was shared widely shows an American nurse fainting after getting the Covid-19 vaccine. Some social media users have seen this video as proof that the vaccine is dangerous. But beware of false claims.

The French are still living under tight restrictions, as cases of Covid-19 continue to rise. Yet after the year we’ve all had, seeing an end to 2020 calls for celebration. But be careful: the government is putting 100,000 police on the streets tonight to make sure that the rules are enforced. So what, exactly, is allowed? FRANCE 24 takes a look.

Turkey on Wednesday brushed aside fears that a new extradition treaty with China would result in Ankara deporting Muslim Uighurs en masse.

The United Kingdom exits the European Union's orbit on Thursday, turning its back on a tempestuous 48-year liaison with the European project for an uncertain Brexit future that will shape the fortunes of its people for generations to come.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell all but shut the door Wednesday on President Donald Trump’s push for $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks, declaring Congress has provided enough pandemic aid as he blocked another attempt by Democrats to force a vote.

Former Japan midfielder Keisuke Honda apologised for a disappointing spell at Brazil's Botafogo as he bowed out ahead of a reported move to Europe. Honda, 34, said he accepted fans' criticism after scoring only three goals in 27 matches during a coronavirus-disrupted year. "Criticism is natural and I am not making excuses, I am disappointed as well, I am so sorry," he tweeted in Portuguese. Reports in Portugal have said that Honda, a former AC Milan and CSKA Moscow player and a one-time mainstay of Japan's national team... Читать дальше...

Los Angeles superstar LeBron James celebrated his 36th birthday Wednesday with another NBA milestone, scoring double-digit points for the 1,000th straight game in the Lakers' 121-107 victory over the Spurs in San Antonio. James finished with 26 points to extend his already record streak of double-digit games in the regular season. He sealed the milestone midway through the second quarter with a turnaround jump hook that gave the Lakers a 46-37 lead. "I just try to live in the moment and just try to continue to get better with my game... Читать дальше...