Âu

[Triển]

Propaganda in Belarus: Why state media journalists quit

As protests against President Alexander Lukashenko continue in Belarus, more and more journalists are quitting their jobs in state media outlets. DW spoke to some of them about why they decided to leave.



Journalists critical of the government in Belarus are under increasing pressure. Numerous reporters have been arrested amid the ongoing protests and some have reported being abused. Bloggers are being systematically threatened. Even at state media outlets, sympathy for President Alexander Lukashenko is wavering.

One journalist, who preferred not to be named, used to work with the state-owned daily newspaper Belarus Segodnya (Belarus Today), which reports to the president's administration. He said that he was particularly unhappy about the censorship with regard to COVID-19.

"For a long time, state media, including us, denied its existence," he explained. "At first, they did not report on the virus at all. Then they started writing about it but only in a positive way, saying that people were recovering and that in China people were going back to work as normal."


"We rewrote texts for Belarusian TV, implying that the country was successfully dealing with COVID-19 and that only people with prior conditions were dying and that there was a surplus of intensive units and ventilators in the hospitals. We had to write that the whole world envied Belarus."


State media have been reporting 'increasingly negatively,' a journalist told DW

He also said that the presidential campaign had been covered in a one-sided way: ''We only talked about Lukashenko. We were told not to write about any other candidate. We weren't even allowed to mention their names."

He faced a dilemma after the popular opposition blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky was detained and decided to resign: "He had been arrested on May 29. Ten days later, I was told to write a press release saying that the authorities had charged him. Both he and his wife Svetlana trusted me and all of a sudden I was supposed to write that he was a criminal!"

Belarusians replaced by Russians

The radio journalist Svetlana (whose name has been changed) also decided to resign when the situation became untenable for her. "Even though I was only involved in culture, my name kind of stood for everything that Belteleradio was doing," she said.

She told DW that she had rallied with her colleagues on August 17 in front of the Belteleradio building in Minsk. They called for the election results to be declared invalid, for the head of the election commission to step down, for the release of political prisoners and an end to censorship.

The director said that their protest was illegal and told them they could leave if they were unhappy. Those who did were replaced by Russians, as the president confirmed: "I asked the Russians to send us two or three groups of journalists, just in case," Lukashenko said.

Svetlana said that there had been a change of tone since Russian journalists had started working. "The rhetoric has changed. Coverage has become more radical. Reporting about the participants in peaceful protests has become even more negative." She said that even journalists who were familiar with censorship were surprised.

Svetlana used to work for the Television News Agency (ATN) which owns the state TV channels Belarus 1 and Belarus 24. She said that there were strict rules and no opposition politicians could be shown in any videos: "There were people whose names were banned from Belarusian TV. Furthermore, there was a list of politicians and economists who were not allowed to be contacted for comment.

"A person just had to express an opinion that did not match official policy to never been seen again on television," she said.

Musicians censored

Valery Kondratyev used to work for Radio Stolitsa ("Capital Radio"), which is also a Belteleradio station. He said that in a year and a half he only had to mention the president's name a few times, usually in conjunction with international meetings that he was taking part in.

However, there were also restrictions when it came to reporting about COVID-19. They had to limit coverage to statistics issued by the Health Ministry, although these were rumored to be incomplete. He also told DW that the radio received orders to stop playing songs by certain musicians who fell from grace during the election campaign.

After the elections, Kondratyev said that it became increasingly difficult for him to go to work in the morning especially as protesters who had been detained complained of torture. "As more footage of what was happening to them emerged, we decided to go to our boss. I said that if I wasn't allowed to tell the truth, I would quit. Other colleagues supported me."

The staff at Radio Stolitsa started striking on August 17. Only music, sports news and the weather forecast were broadcast. The Belteleradio directors declared the strike illegal.

"We were told that we could be fired," Kondratyev said "So we quit ourselves." He said that about a dozen journalists had left in total, including the head of the station, his deputy and the music editor.

"We couldn't continue to work for state radio and pretend that nothing is happening."

Adapted by: ACT

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[Triển]

Nam cầu thủ hậu thuẫn nữ cầu thủ.

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Swedish men's football team forgoes pay to support women's team on pay equality

Sweden's male national team has pledged to play the remainder of their matches this year without pay. The Swedish Football Association announced the move following harsh criticism over inequality.



The Swedish Football Association on Friday said given its strained financial situation, the men's national squad "will forgo all financial compensation for their autumn matches ... to make it possible to coordinate negotiations with the women's team."

In August, Sweden's Equality Ombudsman, a government agency that promotes equal rights and fights discrimination, ruled that the football association had not discriminated against the female team by paying them lower wages than their male counterparts.

Kosovare Asllani, who plays for the Sweden women's national team and Real Madrid, said in an Instagram post on Thursday that "the fact that the Equality Ombudsman did not consider the substitute model to be discriminatory, does not mean that it is equal."

Asllani added: "Equality is also a part of the Swedish Football Association's core values…Equality is something we must all strive for."

According to Asllani, in 2018/19, the women's squad were paid 24% of what the men's team received. When the women's team won bronze last year, they were paid "only 10% of what the men received when they made it to the quarterfinals."

"If you ask anyone…no one would say they play for the money…But it's about respect and the pursuit of equality," Asllani wrote.

FIFA and UEFA 'far from equality'

Asllani also called on FIFA and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to pay their women and men soccer players equally.

"It is no news that FIFA and the UEFA are far from equality, but I want our union to send signals to FIFA and UEFA that in Sweden we want to change the world for the better as other Nordic countries have done."

At a press conference on Friday, male footballer Emil Forsberg of Sweden's men's national team and RB Leipzig, said: "For me, it is obvious that [pay] should be equal, it is not even a question."

Brazil on Wednesday joined Australia, Norway and New Zealand on the list of football associations who had publicly committed to paying their male and female players the same amount for playing senior international matches. England has also done so since January.

In March 2019, the US women's team, sued their federation alleging discrimination over pay and conditions. A judge dismissed their case in May this year but the team have appealed that ruling.

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[Triển]

Trump hasn't seen proof.

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NATO calls for 'international response' over Navalny poisoning

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has decried the poisoning as an "attack on fundamental democratic rights." Donald Trump said the US had no proof that Navalny was poisoned but also had no reason to doubt Germany's conclusion.



NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Friday called on Russia to fully cooperate with an "impartial investigation" led by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) into the suspected poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Responding to a question from DW's Teri Schultz, Stoltenberg said NATO's response to the poisoning stems from the illegal use of a chemical weapon banned under international law and norms.

"It is not just an attack on an individual but it is also an attack on fundamental democratic rights," said Stoltenberg. "This is a blatant violation of international law and it requires an international response."

Earlier this week, the German government announced that Navalny had been poisoned with the military-grade nerve agent Novichok, the same chemical weapon British authorities say was used against Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in 2018.

Trump: US hasn't seen 'proof'

US President Donald Trump on Friday said that Washington did not have any evidence of Navalny's poisoning. "I don't know exactly what happened. I think it's tragic, it's terrible, it shouldn't happen," he said.

"We haven't had any proof yet, but I will take a look at it," Trump said at a White House press conference.

He said that he had no reason to doubt the evidence by German investigators but added the US had not seen it. "Based on what Germany is saying that seems to be the case," Trump said. "I would be very angry if that's the case."

Earlier on Friday, US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun met with the Russian ambassador in Washington and urged Moscow to cooperate with an international probe into the attack.

The State Department official expressed "grave concern about German government findings that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned by a chemical nerve agent," according to a spokesman.

'Completely unacceptable'

EU officials and German political leaders have proposed taking disciplinary action against Russia, including using sanctions.

"The use of chemical weapons is completely unacceptable under any circumstances, constitutes a serious breach of international law and international human rights standards," said EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell.

"The European Union calls for a joint international response and reserves the right to take appropriate actions, including through restrictive measures."

However, observers argue that the EU has little room to maneuver since the perpetrator remains unknown.

"Some say this is the biggest test for Europe's relations with Russia since the occupation of Crimea," said DW's chief political correspondent Melinda Crane.

International probe

Last month, Navalny was evacuated to Berlin after falling ill during a Russian flight. The hospital where he was treated in Siberia said he likely fell ill as a result of low blood sugar.

However, German doctors at the Charite Hospital in Berlin said tests showed he had been poisoned. Those claims were further backed by examinations conducted by the Bundeswehr, Germany's military.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that "beyond doubt" the poisoning was an attempted murder.

European officials have called for Russia to cooperate with the OPCW and submit to an independent probe.

"The OPCW continues to monitor the situation and stands ready to engage with and to assist any States Parties that may request its assistance," said OPCW Director-General Fernando Arias.


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[ốc]

Swedish men's football team forgoes pay to support women's team on pay equality

Cầu thủ nam hay nữ thì lãnh lương từ các đội banh chuyên nghiệp là chính, ai cũng có hợp đồng cá nhân nói rõ được trả bao nhiêu tiền.

Khi chơi cho quốc gia thì được tiền thù lao chứ cầu thủ không bao giờ ký hợp đồng với đội banh quốc gia.

Cùng một quốc gia thì phải đối xử bình đẳng thôi, không thể phân biệt. Ngay cả tiền đạo giỏi đá vô nhiều trái hay cầu thủ dự bị không đá chút xíu nào thì hội banh da nên trả thù lao đồng đều cho tất cả cầu thủ y như nhau.

[Triển]

Hợp đồng năm hay thù lao giờ đều là thoả hiệp trả tiền. Phụ nữ thì có sức vóc của phụ nữ, phụ nam thì có sức vóc của phụ nam. Nam Nữ gì khi đá banh thì dùng hết sức bình sinh mà đá giúp vui văn nghệ. Nên trả tiền cho giống nhau thì mới là một xã hội tiến bộ.

[Triển]

shouldn't overlook

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German president mulls memorial service for coronavirus victims

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has said Germany should consider honoring those who have died of COVID-19. His remarks come as the number of coronavirus cases has seen an uptick in the past few weeks.



German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has suggested that Germany should hold an official memorial for those who have lost their lives to the pandemic, because many of them had to die without their loved ones by their side.

"A corona death is a lonely death," Steinmeier told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland media group on Saturday. "We need to help people with their grief, and think about how we express our sympathy."

Those infected by the disease are required to be treated by health care workers in isolation to ensure that the virus doesn't spread. This means that those who die of the novel coronavirus often do not get a last chance to see their family.

Steinmeier said he needed to talk to other government bodies before confirming that a memorial ceremony could be held.

"We have 9,300 dead to mourn," he said. "That is three times as many deaths in six months as our annual death toll from traffic accidents. We shouldn't overlook that."

Steinmeier added that focusing on the numbers won't comfort those who have lost a loved one.

Isabella Heuser-Collier, a professional psychologist at the Charite hospital in Berlin, told DW that it is too soon to hold a memorial.

"If somebody has lost a loved one without he or she being able to be at the bedside, that is a horrible horrible scenario," before adding that reminding people of that fact now, before the pandemic is over, would not be helpful.

Uptick in coronavirus cases

Steinmeier's comments come amid rising COVID-19 cases in the country. The Robert Koch Institute, Germany's center for disease control, reported Saturday that it had recorded 1,378 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours, bringing Germany's overall case count to 248,997. There have been 9,324 virus-related deaths in Germany since the first case was recorded in the country earlier this year.

Despite a new spike in cases, most Germans support the government's response to the pandemic, according to a new survey.

Of the roughly 1,000 people surveyed, 66% said they were satisfied with the work of the governing grand coalition of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), the allied Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) and the Social Democrats (SPD).

A record 72% of respondents said they were satisfied with the work of Merkel herself. It is thought that a large part of the support is thanks to the government's proactive measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

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Far-right protesters clash with UK police at anti-migrant march

Police have made several arrests after an anti-immigration demonstration turned violent in the southern English port. Tensions have spiked over a large increase in migrants crossing the English Channel from France.



Dozens of right-wing, anti-immigration protesters gathered in the southern English coastal town of Dover on Saturday to rally against the numbers of migrants sailing to the United Kingdom from France.

"Police officers made 10 arrests as they worked to minimize the disruption caused by protests in #Dover," Kent police reported on Twitter.

Footage posted on social media showed officers scuffling with several anti-migrant activists near Dover's busy harbor.

Those detained were held on suspicion of violent disorder, assaulting an emergency worker and a racially aggravated public order offense, a police statement said.

'We stated that it was unacceptable for anyone to use the event as an excuse for criminal behavior and we were robust in taking action against those who did," said Chief Superintendent Nigel Brookes.

Earlier in the day the march, which included several people wearing Union Jack masks, managed to block the main road in the town.


Police in Dover worked to keep the opposing protest groups apart


No warm welcome

Some protesters were heard shouting "England till I die" and singing "Rule Britannia!"

The song has recently garnered criticism for romanticizing the country's colonial past, especially in the context of renewed questioning of the impacts of colonialism, in the wake of the global Black Lives Matter protests.

A counterdemonstration made up of around 100 anti-racist activists came out onto the streets to declare that asylum-seekers are welcome in the UK.

"We are standing up and welcoming people who are in desperate circumstances fleeing from awful situations," said Peter Keenan from the Kent Refugee Help Group.

Message on the white cliffs

The humanitarian charity Freedom from Torture projected a message onto the famous white cliffs of Dover on Friday night, with the words "Rise above fear. Refugees welcome."



The number of migrants using boats to cross the English channel has increased in 2020, reaching more than 5,000. The coronavirus pandemic has reduced the opportunities to stow away on trucks or ferries.

The Strait of Dover, 33.8 kilometers (21 miles) at its narrowest point, has seen a spike in the number of rubber dinghies being used to transport people, most of whom go on to seek asylum in the country.

ab/mm (AFP, AP, dpa)


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In Europe, 1 in 8 deaths linked to pollution: report

The EU's environment agency has detailed how environmental pollution has a deadly impact on Europe's population. Poorer and marginalized communities suffer the worst of it, according to the report.



The European Environment Agency (EEA) said in a report published Tuesday that 13% of deaths in Europe were the result of environmental pollution. The Copenhagen-based agency said environmental pollution caused more than 400,000 premature deaths in the EU per year.

"There is a clear link between the state of the environment and the health of our population," said EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius.

The report said the novel coronavirus pandemic had shown how vulnerable Europe's population was to "human health and ecosystem health." It noted that vulnerable populations, including children and the elderly, were at most risk of succumbing to environmental pollution.

"Poorer people are disproportionately exposed to air pollution and extreme weather, including heat waves and extreme cold," said the EEA report. "This is linked to where they live, work and go to school, often in socially deprived urban neighborhoods close to heavy traffic."

The report also noted discrepancies between eastern and western Europe.

Water quality ranked high, meanwhile, with bathing water deemed "excellent" in 85% of the test cases.

"Everyone must understand that by taking care of our planet we are not only saving ecosystems, but also lives, especially the ones who are the most vulnerable," Sinkevicius said.

ls/msh (dpa, AFP)

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[Triển]

Chết trông giường
Tường trông net

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Facebook stops Frenchman from streaming his own death

Facebook has said it will stop a terminally ill Frenchman from broadcasting his own death on the social media site. Alain Cocq wanted to stream his final hours after France's president turned down his euthanasia request.



Facebook has said it will block a terminally ill Frenchman from broadcasting his own death on the social media platform.

Alain Cocq is refusing to take food, drink and medicine after President Emmanuel Macron turned down his request for euthanasia.

The 57-year old has suffered from a degenerative disease for the past 34 years that causes the walls of his arteries to stick together.

He said on Facebook that he wanted to die and that he was "at peace." He said he wanted to broadcast his final hours live on the social media website.

But a spokesperson for the US tech giant told the Agence France-Presse news agency that its rules forbid any users from portraying suicide.

"Although we respect his decision to want to draw attention to this complex question, following expert advice we have taken measures to prevent the live broadcast on Alain's account," the spokesperson said.

"Our rules do not allow us to show suicide attempts."

'Unfair discrimination'

Cocq, who hails from Dijon, eastern France, wrote on his Facebook page that the move was "unfair discrimination" that "hinders freedom of expression."

He has been bedridden for two years and is fed by a drip. He has said his rare condition leaves him in constant pain.

Back in July, Cocq wrote to President Macron asking him to be prescribed a sedative that would end his life. But Macron said French law stopped him from intervening.

"Your wish is to request active assistance in dying which is not currently permitted in our country," Macron wrote in his reply.

Euthanasia, the act of deliberately ending a person's life to relieve suffering, is illegal in France.

French law says deep sedation can only be granted if a patient has an incurable condition and is due to die in the short term.

Patients can refuse food and medical care, but Cocq wanted the law changed so he and others like him could "die in dignity."

Neighboring countries Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands allow both euthanasia and assisted suicide, which is the act of deliberately assisting another person to kill themselves.

Germany's highest court ruled in February that the law which penalized assisted suicide was unconstitutional.

Right-to-die cases have long been an emotive issue in France, with the Catholic Church campaigning against euthanasia and assisted suicide.

One of the most polarizing was the case of Vincent Lambert, who was left in a vegetative state after a 2008 traffic accident.

He died in July last year after doctors removed life support following a legal battle that divided Lambert's own family. His wife and nephew argued that he should be allowed to die.

In January, a French court acquitted the doctor who turned off the life support machine. Prosecutors said he had "perfectly respected his legal obligations."

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If you are suffering from serious emotional strain or suicidal thoughts, do not hesitate to seek professional help. You can find information on where to find such help, no matter where you live in the world, at this website: https://www.befrienders.org/

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jf/mm (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)


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Ghét của nào trời trao của đó: 91 chưa chắc mình lành

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Religious leader who blamed gay marriage for coronavirus catches Covid-19 himself

Patriarch Filaret, 91, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv, also faced legal action after blameing 'sinful' humanity and 'same-sex' marriage for the coronavirus pandemic


The influential Ukrainian leader blasted 'sinners' in his coronavirus pandemic preaching (Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)


A church leader who blamed gay marriage for the coronavirus pandemic has now fallen ill with Covid-19 himself.

In a TV interview earlier this year the Head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv had claimed the outbreak was "God’s punishment for the sins of men, the sinfulness of humanity.

"First of all, I mean same-sex marriage."

Now Patriarch Filaret, 91, is reportedly in hospital with the virus himself.

According to Ukrainian news site 112 International the preacher has also developed pneumonia.

A statement posted on Facebook on Friday confirmed he had tested positive for Covid 19 and was undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Same-sex marriages are not legally recognised in Ukraine, and travel experts warn homophobia can be widespread.

Filaret, who is a prominent religious figure in Ukraine and head of a church of around 15 million followers, was widely condemned for his comments.

In April a Ukrainian LGBT+ group sued Filaret over his comments blaming gay people for coronavirus.

Kiev-baed group Insight told the Reuters news agency at the time that it was taking legal action because his comments risked sparking discrimination.

Filaret is considered to be a hugely influential figure in Ukraine, after he led a split of the Church from the Russian Orthodox order which led to him being defrocked and excommunicated.

Insight's head Olena Shevchenko said in April: "Our group's aim is to show that there is no longer place for such statements for church leaders in Ukraine.

And Maria Guryeva, a spokeswoman for Amnesty International Ukraine, said at the time: "Such statements…are very harmful because they could lead to increased attacks, aggression, discrimination and acceptance of violence against certain groups."

The World Health Organisation has issued repeated cautions against the spread of disinformation and creating stigma around the virus.

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