france24--2020-11-10--Celtics legend Heinsohn dies at 86

Celtics legend Heinsohn dies at 86

Boston Celtics legend Tommy Heinsohn , who won 10 NBA championships with the club as a player and coach , died Tuesday , the NBA team said .
He was 86 .
Hall of Famer Heinsohn was part of the Celtics team which dominated US basketball during the late 1950s to mid-1960s , a period which included a run of seven straight titles between 1959 and 1965 .
He also led Boston to titles as a coach in 1974 and 1976 during a nine-year reign between 1969-1978 .
`` This is a devastating loss , '' the Celtics said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultimate Celtic .
For the past 18 years , our ownership group has relied hugely on Tommy 's advice and insights . ''
Heinsohn led the Celtics scoring in four of his eight championship-winning seasons as a player .
He finished his playing career in 1965 with 12,194 points and 5,749 rebounds , before returning to coach the team in 1969 .
Following the end of his coaching career in 1978 , Heinsohn made a successful transition into broadcasting , reporting on the Celtics through the 1980s and 1990s for television and radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imagine the Boston Celtics without Tommy Heinsohn , '' the Celtics said on Tuesday .
`` There is n't a generation of Celtics fans for whom Tommy 's presence has n't been felt . ''

New York (AFP) –
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Boston Celtics legend Tommy Heinsohn, who won 10 NBA championships with the club as a player and coach, died Tuesday, the NBA team said. He was 86.
Hall of Famer Heinsohn was part of the Celtics team which dominated US basketball during the late 1950s to mid-1960s, a period which included a run of seven straight titles between 1959 and 1965.
He also led Boston to titles as a coach in 1974 and 1976 during a nine-year reign between 1969-1978.
"This is a devastating loss," the Celtics said in a statement. "Tommy was the ultimate Celtic. For the past 18 years, our ownership group has relied hugely on Tommy's advice and insights."
Heinsohn led the Celtics scoring in four of his eight championship-winning seasons as a player.
He finished his playing career in 1965 with 12,194 points and 5,749 rebounds, before returning to coach the team in 1969.
Following the end of his coaching career in 1978, Heinsohn made a successful transition into broadcasting, reporting on the Celtics through the 1980s and 1990s for television and radio.
"It’s hard to imagine the Boston Celtics without Tommy Heinsohn," the Celtics said on Tuesday. "There isn't a generation of Celtics fans for whom Tommy's presence hasn't been felt."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-11--Netflix says ready to pay tax after Vietnam complaint

Netflix insisted it was prepared to pay tax in Vietnam after a government minister accused the streaming giant of dodging its obligations Netflix insisted Wednesday it was prepared to pay tax in Vietnam after a government minister accused the streaming giant of dodging its obligations to the communist nation .
The information minister this week singled out Netflix and newcomer Apple TV for not paying tax , saying foreign platforms earn an estimated $ 44 million a year in revenues from a skyrocketing subscriber base across Vietnam .
`` Some cross-border platforms have neither paid taxes nor operated in accordance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Nguyen Manh Hung told Vietnam 's national assembly Tuesday .
But a Netflix spokesperson told AFP the company complies with relevant Vietnamese laws and is in talks with authorities on the issue .
`` We are supportive of the implementation of a mechanism that will make it possible for foreign service providers like Netflix to collect and remit taxes in Vietnam , '' they said in a statement .
`` However today such a mechanism does not exist . ''
The streaming juggernaut 's entry into Southeast Asia has had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massive popularity of the service has pushed Netflix to invest in locally produced shows and films , such as Vietnamese martial arts movie `` Furie '' .
The minister 's criticism against Netflix also focused on its content .
Hung said some of its shows feature `` violence , use of drugs and pornography '' -- violating censorship laws that govern Vietnam 's tightly controlled film industry .
He also specifically singled out a Vietnam War documentary for its `` wrong reflection of history '' .
Separately , in 2017 Netflix removed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' from its catalogue after a request from the government .
Vietnam is hoping to build a reputation as a Southeast Asian hub for fintech , but is hampered by draconian laws governing media and digital spaces .
Netflix 's run-in with the Vietnamese authorities comes amid growing concern in countries around the world about taxes paid -- or not -- by US tech giants .
Amazon , Google and Facebook have all come under fire for paying seemingly negligible tax on huge revenues .
Earlier this month , Spain said it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent tax on platforms such Netflix , with the aim of using the funds to boost domestic film production .
Apple has not yet responded to a request for comment .

Hanoi (AFP) –
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Netflix insisted Wednesday it was prepared to pay tax in Vietnam after a government minister accused the streaming giant of dodging its obligations to the communist nation.
The information minister this week singled out Netflix and newcomer Apple TV for not paying tax, saying foreign platforms earn an estimated $44 million a year in revenues from a skyrocketing subscriber base across Vietnam.
"Some cross-border platforms have neither paid taxes nor operated in accordance with the laws, creating unfair competition," Nguyen Manh Hung told Vietnam's national assembly Tuesday.
But a Netflix spokesperson told AFP the company complies with relevant Vietnamese laws and is in talks with authorities on the issue.
"We are supportive of the implementation of a mechanism that will make it possible for foreign service providers like Netflix to collect and remit taxes in Vietnam," they said in a statement.
"However today such a mechanism does not exist."
The streaming juggernaut's entry into Southeast Asia has had a major impact on viewing habits.
The massive popularity of the service has pushed Netflix to invest in locally produced shows and films, such as Vietnamese martial arts movie "Furie".
The minister's criticism against Netflix also focused on its content.
Hung said some of its shows feature "violence, use of drugs and pornography" -- violating censorship laws that govern Vietnam's tightly controlled film industry.
He also specifically singled out a Vietnam War documentary for its "wrong reflection of history".
Separately, in 2017 Netflix removed the Stanley Kubrick classic "Full Metal Jacket" from its catalogue after a request from the government.
Vietnam is hoping to build a reputation as a Southeast Asian hub for fintech, but is hampered by draconian laws governing media and digital spaces.
Netflix's run-in with the Vietnamese authorities comes amid growing concern in countries around the world about taxes paid -- or not -- by US tech giants.
Amazon, Google and Facebook have all come under fire for paying seemingly negligible tax on huge revenues.
Earlier this month, Spain said it is preparing legislation that would impose a five percent tax on platforms such Netflix, with the aim of using the funds to boost domestic film production.
Apple has not yet responded to a request for comment.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-11--Pakistan focus on new talent for upcoming New Zealand tour

Pakistan chief selector and head coach Misbah-ul-Haq said the team to tour New Zealand this month would be focused on youth Pakistan will focus on up-and-coming talent for next month 's New Zealand tour , the chief selector said Wednesday , dropping three big names from the 35-strong squad after lacklustre performances in England .
Shoaib Malik , Mohammad Amir and Asad Shafiq will stay home for the Twenty20 international and Test tour , chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq said .
`` We have opted to invest , develop and focus on the promising and emerging players , '' Malik told a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the big-name omissions were due to a `` lack of performance '' on the summer England tour .
Pakistan lost the three-test series 1-0 , and the Twenty20 series was tied 1-1 with one no result .
Shafiq , who has played a Pakistan record of 72 consecutive Tests in his 77-match career , managed just 67 runs in five innings in England .
Malik made 14 in one of the three T20 internationals , while he did not bat in the other two .
Amir failed to get a wicket in two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Butt , Danish Aziz , Imran Butt and Rohail Nazir are all solid young domestic performers included in the squad -- larger than usual in case players have to drop out because of coronavirus .
`` These unprecedented Covid-19 times provide a unique opportunity to select a larger squad , '' Misbah said .
The Test squad will be captained for the first time by Babar Azam , who was appointed Tuesday .
The team will depart November 23 for Lincoln , where they will spend two weeks in quarantine .
T20 internationals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Hamilton on December 20 and Napier on December 22 .
The first Test is at Mount Maunganui from December 26-30 , with the second at Christchurch from January 3-7 .

Lahore (Pakistan) (AFP) –
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Pakistan will focus on up-and-coming talent for next month's New Zealand tour, the chief selector said Wednesday, dropping three big names from the 35-strong squad after lacklustre performances in England.
Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Amir and Asad Shafiq will stay home for the Twenty20 international and Test tour, chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq said.
"We have opted to invest, develop and focus on the promising and emerging players," Malik told a press conference in Lahore.
He said the big-name omissions were due to a "lack of performance" on the summer England tour.
Pakistan lost the three-test series 1-0, and the Twenty20 series was tied 1-1 with one no result.
Shafiq, who has played a Pakistan record of 72 consecutive Tests in his 77-match career, managed just 67 runs in five innings in England.
Malik made 14 in one of the three T20 internationals, while he did not bat in the other two.
Amir failed to get a wicket in two T20 internationals in England.
Uncapped Amad Butt, Danish Aziz, Imran Butt and Rohail Nazir are all solid young domestic performers included in the squad -- larger than usual in case players have to drop out because of coronavirus.
"These unprecedented Covid-19 times provide a unique opportunity to select a larger squad," Misbah said.
The Test squad will be captained for the first time by Babar Azam, who was appointed Tuesday.
The team will depart November 23 for Lincoln, where they will spend two weeks in quarantine.
T20 internationals are scheduled for Auckland on December 18, Hamilton on December 20 and Napier on December 22.
The first Test is at Mount Maunganui from December 26-30, with the second at Christchurch from January 3-7.
Squad:
Babar Azam (captain), Abid Ali, Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Zeeshan Malik, Azhar Ali, Danish Aziz, Fawad Alam, Haider Ali, Haris Sohail, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imran Butt, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Rizwan, Rohail Nazir, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Usman Qadir, Yasir Shah, Zafar Gohar, Amad Butt, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Musa, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-11--Wales' Tipuric returns for Autumn Nations opener against Ireland

Wales flanker Justin Tipuric has been recalled for the start of the Autumn Nations Cup Wales coach Wayne Pivac made @ @ @ @ @ his starting side on Tuesday as he looks to end a run of five straight @ @ @ @ @ for the Autumn Nations Cup opener away to Ireland in Dublin on Friday .
Dynamic @ @ @ @ @ 14-10 loss to Scotland in their coronavirus-delayed Six Nations finale at Llanelli on October 31 @ @ @ @ @ with tonsilitis .
But he has now been passed fit , with Tipuric replacing James @ @ @ @ @ .
Pivac , who succeeded fellow New Zealander Warren Gatland as Wales coach after last @ @ @ @ @ has otherwise kept faith with the team that lost to Scotland .
By contrast , @ @ @ @ @ shake-up of Pivac 's backroom staff , with Byron Hayward ditched as Wales ' defence @ @ @ @ @ his appointment .

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Wales coach Wayne Pivac made just the one change to his starting side on Tuesday as he looks to end a run of five straight defeats by recalling Justin Tipuric for the Autumn Nations Cup opener away to Ireland in Dublin on Friday.
Dynamic flanker Tipuric missed Wales' 14-10 loss to Scotland in their coronavirus-delayed Six Nations finale at Llanelli on October 31 after withdrawing shortly before kick-off with tonsilitis.
But he has now been passed fit, with Tipuric replacing James Davies in the back row.
Pivac, who succeeded fellow New Zealander Warren Gatland as Wales coach after last year's World Cup, has otherwise kept faith with the team that lost to Scotland.
By contrast, this week saw a major shake-up of Pivac's backroom staff, with Byron Hayward ditched as Wales' defence coach just a year after his appointment.
Wales (15-1)
Leigh Halfpenny; Liam Williams, Jonathan Davies, Owen Watkin, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Taulupe Faletau, Justin Tipuric, Shane Lewis-Hughes; Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Will Rowlands; Tomas Francis, Ryan Elias, Rhys Carre
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones, Samson Lee, Jake Ball, Aaron Wainwright, Lloyd Williams, Callum Sheedy, George North
Coach: Wayne Pivac (NZL)
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-11--Anger mounts in Armenia over Karabakh peace deal

Thousands of Armenians rallied in front of the government headquarters to protest against a peace agreement signed to end fighting over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region .
More than 2,000 demonstrators Wednesday protested in the Armenian capital as anger mounted over Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan 's decision to cede swathes of disputed territory to Azerbaijan under a controversial peace deal .
Pashinyan announced a Russian-brokered peace agreement with Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh in the early hours of Tuesday , ending weeks of intense fighting that left more than 1,400 dead and displaced tens of thousands .
The peace accord sparked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where demonstrators stormed government buildings and demanded Pashinyan 's resignation earlier this week .
On Wednesday , more than 400 Russian peacekeepers deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh where fierce clashes raged for more than six weeks between Armenian separatists and Azerbaijan 's forces .
In the Armenian capital Yerevan , police hauled off demonstrators from a gathering of more than two thousand protesters who were shouting anti-Pashinyan slogans and calling the prime minister a `` traitor '' in front of government headquarters .
High-profile opposition figure Gagik Tsarukyan was among those detained , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` You will not be able to stop the whole country , '' a member of the Prosperous Armenia party , Arman Abovyan , shouted through a megaphone to protesters who had rallied despite a ban imposed on public gatherings while martial law was in place .
Clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenian separatists broke out in late September .
`` Azerbaijan was winning militarily and Armenia faced a crushing defeat .
But humiliation can not be a strong basis for sustained peace , '' the International Crisis Group warned in a report on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's forces will retain control over areas seized in the fighting , including the second-largest town of Shusha , while Armenia agreed to a timetable to withdraw from large parts of Nagorno-Karabakh .
As part of the accord , a Russian force of 1,960 military personnel and 90 armoured personnel carriers are deploying to the region as peacekeepers , for a renewable five-year mission .
The military said on Wednesday that 414 Russian servicemen as well as helicopters and military vehicles arrived in Armenia , adding that the peacekeeping force was now in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connecting Armenia to Karabakh .
Sergei Rudskoy of the Russian General Staff said the servicemen had previous experience on humanitarian deployments in Syria , where Russian forces deployed in 2015 to support Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad .
The army was in `` constant contact '' with military leadership in Azerbaijan and Armenia to prevent further clashes , Rudskoy said , adding that a total of 16 observation points would be installed along the line of contact in Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor .
Azerbaijan has been pushing for Ankara 's involvement in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Erdogan said Tuesday that his country would jointly supervise the ceasefire with Russia .
Turkey , a stauch ally of Azerbaijan , voiced strong backing for Baku 's military intervention and was widely accused by Western countries , Russia and Armenia of dispatching mercenaries from Syria to bolster Azerbaijan 's army .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday however that the deployment of joint Turkish-Russian patrols had not been discussed .
The mountainous region declared independence from Azerbaijan nearly 30 years ago but it has not been recognised internationally , even by Armenia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ persisted despite efforts by France , the United States and Russia to broker three separate ceasefires that collapsed as both sides accused the other of violations .

Yerevan (AFP) –
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More than 2,000 demonstrators Wednesday protested in the Armenian capital as anger mounted over Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's decision to cede swathes of disputed territory to Azerbaijan under a controversial peace deal.
Pashinyan announced a Russian-brokered peace agreement with Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh in the early hours of Tuesday, ending weeks of intense fighting that left more than 1,400 dead and displaced tens of thousands.
The peace accord sparked celebrations in Azerbaijan but fury in Armenia, where demonstrators stormed government buildings and demanded Pashinyan's resignation earlier this week.
On Wednesday, more than 400 Russian peacekeepers deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh where fierce clashes raged for more than six weeks between Armenian separatists and Azerbaijan's forces.
In the Armenian capital Yerevan, police hauled off demonstrators from a gathering of more than two thousand protesters who were shouting anti-Pashinyan slogans and calling the prime minister a "traitor" in front of government headquarters .
High-profile opposition figure Gagik Tsarukyan was among those detained, said an AFP correspondent at the scene.
"You will not be able to stop the whole country," a member of the Prosperous Armenia party, Arman Abovyan, shouted through a megaphone to protesters who had rallied despite a ban imposed on public gatherings while martial law was in place.
Clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenian separatists broke out in late September.
"Azerbaijan was winning militarily and Armenia faced a crushing defeat. But humiliation cannot be a strong basis for sustained peace," the International Crisis Group warned in a report on Wednesday.
- Russian peacekeepers deploy -
The deal stipulates that Azerbaijan's forces will retain control over areas seized in the fighting, including the second-largest town of Shusha, while Armenia agreed to a timetable to withdraw from large parts of Nagorno-Karabakh.
As part of the accord, a Russian force of 1,960 military personnel and 90 armoured personnel carriers are deploying to the region as peacekeepers, for a renewable five-year mission.
The military said on Wednesday that 414 Russian servicemen as well as helicopters and military vehicles arrived in Armenia, adding that the peacekeeping force was now in control of the crucial Lachin transport artery connecting Armenia to Karabakh.
Sergei Rudskoy of the Russian General Staff said the servicemen had previous experience on humanitarian deployments in Syria, where Russian forces deployed in 2015 to support Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.
The army was in "constant contact" with military leadership in Azerbaijan and Armenia to prevent further clashes, Rudskoy said, adding that a total of 16 observation points would be installed along the line of contact in Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor.
Azerbaijan has been pushing for Ankara's involvement in a settlement and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that his country would jointly supervise the ceasefire with Russia.
Turkey, a stauch ally of Azerbaijan, voiced strong backing for Baku's military intervention and was widely accused by Western countries, Russia and Armenia of dispatching mercenaries from Syria to bolster Azerbaijan's army.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday however that the deployment of joint Turkish-Russian patrols had not been discussed.
The mountainous region declared independence from Azerbaijan nearly 30 years ago but it has not been recognised internationally, even by Armenia.
Fighting between Azerbaijan and the separatists persisted despite efforts by France, the United States and Russia to broker three separate ceasefires that collapsed as both sides accused the other of violations.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-11--Techno is music, German court declares

Techno is music, German court declares

German nightclubs such as the Berghain have been forced to stay shut for more than six months now because of the coronavirus pandemic Fans never doubted it , but now a top German court has confirmed it : techno is music and clubs should benefit from the same reduced sales tax rate as concert halls .
Germany 's federal fiscal court BFH agreed with plaintiffs , including Berlin 's legendary Berghain club , that they should not have to pay the standard 19 percent VAT on ticket sales when concert venues enjoy a lower rate of seven percent .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court found that `` the average visitor '' at a techno or house club was there primarily for the music and the DJs , making club nights `` similar to concerts '' , regardless of whether there were singers or musicians playing instruments .
The DJs do more than just play tracks , `` they perform their own new pieces of music using instruments in the broader sense , to create new sound sequences that have their own character , '' the judges said .
The decision is a rare piece of good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been forced to keep their doors closed for more than six months now because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Party hotspot Berlin , home to iconic clubs like KitKat , Sage and Tresor that usually draw thousands of revellers , has been especially hard hit by the shutdowns .
Fears are growing that despite government aid , short-time work schemes and crowdfunding efforts , not all venues will survive the crisis .

Berlin (AFP) –
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Fans never doubted it, but now a top German court has confirmed it: techno is music and clubs should benefit from the same reduced sales tax rate as concert halls.
Germany's federal fiscal court BFH agreed with plaintiffs, including Berlin's legendary Berghain club, that they should not have to pay the standard 19 percent VAT on ticket sales when concert venues enjoy a lower rate of seven percent.
In a ruling on October 29, the court found that "the average visitor" at a techno or house club was there primarily for the music and the DJs, making club nights "similar to concerts", regardless of whether there were singers or musicians playing instruments.
The DJs do more than just play tracks, "they perform their own new pieces of music using instruments in the broader sense, to create new sound sequences that have their own character," the judges said.
The decision is a rare piece of good news for German nightclubs, which have been forced to keep their doors closed for more than six months now because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Party hotspot Berlin, home to iconic clubs like KitKat, Sage and Tresor that usually draw thousands of revellers, has been especially hard hit by the shutdowns.
Fears are growing that despite government aid, short-time work schemes and crowdfunding efforts, not all venues will survive the crisis.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-11--Israel uncovers King David-era fortress in occupied Golan

Israeli archaeologists unearth the remains of a 3,000-year-old fort in the occupied Golan Heights that they believe was built by an ally of the Biblical King David Archaeologists on Wednesday unveiled a fortified structure from the time of the King David on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that sheds light on the borders of a Biblical Israeli ally .
The 3,000-year-old fort , found near the Jewish settlement of Hispin ahead of works to build a new neighbourhood , is believed to have belonged to the Geshurites , King David 's allies .
Locally quarried basalt boulders form the metre-and-a-half ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complex .
Barak Tzin , who directed its excavation for the Israel Antiquities Authority , estimated that it covered more than 1,000 square metres ( a quarter of an acre ) .
Diggers found a large stone with an engraving of two horned figures stretching out their arms and a statuette of a woman holding a musical instrument , possibly a drum .
`` That also links us to finds from the Iron Age , '' Tzin said , noting similar artefacts uncovered in Bethsaida , `` a site linked to the capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ west of Hispin on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee .
Tzin said there is source material indicating `` family ties '' between the Geshur kingdom and the kingdom of David .
The Hispin fortress , the first of its kind to be excavated , adds a rare `` piece to the puzzle '' of Golan archaeology , Tzin said .
`` This phenomenon might be more widespread that we know .
Golan research is not yet at a high level ... We 're only beginning to rediscover the Golan now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clearer boundaries for the Geshurite kingdom , while the Hispin fortress `` fills out its middle , '' he said .
`` We believe ( the kingdom ) spread to Syria -- it fills in the space between , '' he said of the Hispin site .
`` The picture is beginning to get a bit more clear . ''

Golan Heights (AFP) –
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Archaeologists on Wednesday unveiled a fortified structure from the time of the King David on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that sheds light on the borders of a Biblical Israeli ally.
The 3,000-year-old fort, found near the Jewish settlement of Hispin ahead of works to build a new neighbourhood, is believed to have belonged to the Geshurites, King David's allies.
Locally quarried basalt boulders form the metre-and-a-half (five-foot) thick walls of the hilltop complex.
Barak Tzin, who directed its excavation for the Israel Antiquities Authority, estimated that it covered more than 1,000 square metres (a quarter of an acre).
Diggers found a large stone with an engraving of two horned figures stretching out their arms and a statuette of a woman holding a musical instrument, possibly a drum.
"That also links us to finds from the Iron Age," Tzin said, noting similar artefacts uncovered in Bethsaida, "a site linked to the capital of the Geshur kingdom" that lies west of Hispin on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Tzin said there is source material indicating "family ties" between the Geshur kingdom and the kingdom of David.
The Hispin fortress, the first of its kind to be excavated, adds a rare "piece to the puzzle" of Golan archaeology, Tzin said.
"This phenomenon might be more widespread that we know. Golan research is not yet at a high level... We're only beginning to rediscover the Golan now."
Future finds might help define clearer boundaries for the Geshurite kingdom, while the Hispin fortress "fills out its middle," he said.
"We believe (the kingdom) spread to Syria -- it fills in the space between," he said of the Hispin site.
"The picture is beginning to get a bit more clear."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-11--Damascus holds Russia-backed conference on refugee returns

Syria 's President Bashar al-Assad addressed via video link the opening session of an international conference on the return of Syrian refugees to their war-torn homeland held in Damascus Syria 's government kicked off a two-day Russia-backed conference in Damascus Wednesday towards facilitating the return of millions of Syrian refugees to the war-torn country , despite reservations within the international community .
Of neighbouring countries hosting the bulk of Syrian refugees , only Lebanon and Iraq sent representatives , according to organisers .
Other attendees included a Russian delegation and representatives of Syrian government allies Iran , Venezuela and China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected to attend as an observer .
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a televised speech said `` millions of Syrians want to return '' .
But a huge amount of `` infrastructure has been destroyed after being built over decades , and terrorism continues in some areas , '' he said , using his blanket term for rebels and jihadists .
Assad said Western sanctions targeting the Damascus government were also `` depriving the country of the simplest means for reconstruction '' .
Since Syria 's conflict started in 2011 , more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced to flee their homes , including 5.5 million who went abroad .
Neighbouring Turkey hosts the highest number of Syrian refugees , followed by Lebanon and Jordan .
Jordan did attend the conference , while rebel backer Turkey was not invited .
The European Union said Tuesday it would also not attend , as the situation in Syria was not yet safe for returns .
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Wednesday that Syria 's priority must be `` to create conditions for safe , voluntary , dignified and sustainable return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the UN refugee agency .
After a series of military victories in recent years , Assad 's forces control more than 70 percent of Syria , while remaining areas are held by US-backed Kurdish forces as well as rebels and jihadists .
Russia , a main ally of the Damascus government , has for years sought to garner international support to reconstruct Syria and allow for refugee returns .
But rights groups have warned that many areas lack the necessary infrastructure or remain unsafe .
Western nations led by the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ settlement to the conflict .

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Syria's government kicked off a two-day Russia-backed conference in Damascus Wednesday towards facilitating the return of millions of Syrian refugees to the war-torn country, despite reservations within the international community.
Of neighbouring countries hosting the bulk of Syrian refugees, only Lebanon and Iraq sent representatives, according to organisers.
Other attendees included a Russian delegation and representatives of Syrian government allies Iran, Venezuela and China, while a United Nations representative was expected to attend as an observer.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a televised speech said "millions of Syrians want to return".
But a huge amount of "infrastructure has been destroyed after being built over decades, and terrorism continues in some areas," he said, using his blanket term for rebels and jihadists.
Assad said Western sanctions targeting the Damascus government were also "depriving the country of the simplest means for reconstruction".
Since Syria's conflict started in 2011, more than half of its pre-war population has been forced to flee their homes, including 5.5 million who went abroad.
Neighbouring Turkey hosts the highest number of Syrian refugees, followed by Lebanon and Jordan.
Jordan did attend the conference, while rebel backer Turkey was not invited.
The European Union said Tuesday it would also not attend, as the situation in Syria was not yet safe for returns.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Wednesday that Syria's priority must be "to create conditions for safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return of refugees" in line with guidance from the UN refugee agency.
After a series of military victories in recent years, Assad's forces control more than 70 percent of Syria, while remaining areas are held by US-backed Kurdish forces as well as rebels and jihadists.
Russia, a main ally of the Damascus government, has for years sought to garner international support to reconstruct Syria and allow for refugee returns.
But rights groups have warned that many areas lack the necessary infrastructure or remain unsafe.
Western nations led by the United States have conditioned their help on a political settlement to the conflict.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-11--Philippines extends military pact with US

Philippines and US marines taking part in a training exercise in San Antonio in 2018 The Philippines will extend a key military pact with the United States for another six months , the foreign minister said Wednesday .
President Rodrigo Duterte had given notice to Washington in February that he planned to axe the Visiting Forces Agreement after accusing the US of interference in his internationally condemned narcotics crackdown .
The plan to break the deal -- central to hundreds of joint military exercises with the US every year and a major component of their nearly 70-year-old alliance -- was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- announced by Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin -- came after Duterte congratulated US President-elect Joe Biden and said he was looking forward to `` working closely '' with the new administration .
In a statement addressed to US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien , Locsin said the decision would `` enable us to find a more enhanced , mutually beneficial ... and lasting arrangement . ''
Duterte has repeatedly threatened to break from long-standing security ties with the US , its former colonial master , in favour of closer links with China .

Manila (AFP) –
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The Philippines will extend a key military pact with the United States for another six months, the foreign minister said Wednesday.
President Rodrigo Duterte had given notice to Washington in February that he planned to axe the Visiting Forces Agreement after accusing the US of interference in his internationally condemned narcotics crackdown.
The plan to break the deal -- central to hundreds of joint military exercises with the US every year and a major component of their nearly 70-year-old alliance -- was suspended in June.
The latest decision -- announced by Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin -- came after Duterte congratulated US President-elect Joe Biden and said he was looking forward to "working closely" with the new administration.
In a statement addressed to US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien, Locsin said the decision would "enable us to find a more enhanced, mutually beneficial... and lasting arrangement."
Duterte has repeatedly threatened to break from long-standing security ties with the US, its former colonial master, in favour of closer links with China.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-11--France on edge five years after Paris attacks

The sheer horror of the attacks left scars that have still not healed Five years after a squad of jihadist killers carried out France 's deadliest peacetime atrocity , the country is again on its highest security alert following a spate of attacks blamed on Islamist radicals .
The night of carnage on November 13 , 2015 saw 130 people killed and 350 wounded when Islamist suicide bombers and gunmen attacked the Stade de France stadium , bars and restaurants in central Paris and the Bataclan concert hall .
The sheer horror of the attacks , which were claimed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) group , left scars that have still not healed .
Modern France 's attitude towards Islam remains an issue of burning controversy .
And the security threat to France has not diminished , security sources say , even if the nature of the risk has changed with attackers more likely to be lone extremists inspired by a deadly ideology than part of an organised group .
The fifth anniversary of the November 2015 strikes will come with France still reeling from three attacks in the last weeks : a knife attack outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekly , the beheading of a teacher and a deadly stabbing spree at a Nice church .
`` You might think that the threat has faded into the background as other problems emerged , '' a French security source , who asked not to be named , told AFP .
`` But in reality , the figures show that it has remained high since 2015 . ''
In the last five years , 20 attacks have been carried out on French soil , 19 plots failed and 61 were foiled .
There has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carried out by isolated individuals , previously unknown to the intelligence services , who are inspired by jihadist propaganda and carry out attacks with cold weapons needing little preparation .
But the threat of an attack planned from outside France -- as was the case on November 13 , 2015 -- remains serious .
`` Just because IS has suffered a military defeat does not mean its military capacities have been annihilated , '' said a French official involved in the fight against terror , who asked not to be named .
Between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believed to be in former IS strongholds in northern Iraq and Syria , and it would be an `` illusion '' to think they were not capable of clandestinely coming back to France , added the official .
In January 2015 , Islamist gunmen massacred staff at the Charlie Hebdo satirical weekly , claiming they were avenging its publication of cartoons of the prophet Mohammed .
True to its defiant reputation , the magazine republished the cartoons to mark the start in September of the trial of suspected accomplices in the killings .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Pakistan-born man wounded two people with a meat cleaver on September 25 outside Charlie Hebdo 's former offices .
Teacher Samuel Paty , who had shown his class the cartoons , was beheaded outside his school on October 16 by an Islamist radical from Chechnya .
And on October 29 a man recently arrived from Tunisia killed three people with a knife in a Nice church .
The attacks reopened painful debates in France about the integration of Muslim minorites and also prompted tougher rhetoric from President Emmanuel Macron against radical Islam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were higher in the context of the current Charlie Hebdo trial and another trial over the Paris attacks , which is due to open early next year .
These hearings keep up `` a kind of background noise '' with the risk of `` actions of support to those '' who are on trial , said the security source .
The 2021 trial into the Paris attacks will see just one of the suspecter perpetrators in the dock -- French-Belgian Salah Abdeslam .
Nineteen other suspects accused of providing various logistical support will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five are presumed dead in Iraq or Syria will be tried in absentia .
The suspected coordinator of the attacks -- Belgian Abdelhamid Abaaoud who shot indiscriminately at packed cafe terraces that night -- was killed five days later in a police assault on the Paris suburb of Saint Denis .

Paris (AFP) –
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Five years after a squad of jihadist killers carried out France's deadliest peacetime atrocity, the country is again on its highest security alert following a spate of attacks blamed on Islamist radicals.
The night of carnage on November 13, 2015 saw 130 people killed and 350 wounded when Islamist suicide bombers and gunmen attacked the Stade de France stadium, bars and restaurants in central Paris and the Bataclan concert hall.
The sheer horror of the attacks, which were claimed by extremists from the Islamic State (IS) group, left scars that have still not healed. Modern France's attitude towards Islam remains an issue of burning controversy.
And the security threat to France has not diminished, security sources say, even if the nature of the risk has changed with attackers more likely to be lone extremists inspired by a deadly ideology than part of an organised group.
The fifth anniversary of the November 2015 strikes will come with France still reeling from three attacks in the last weeks: a knife attack outside the former offices of the Charlie Hebdo weekly, the beheading of a teacher and a deadly stabbing spree at a Nice church.
- 'Illusion' -
"You might think that the threat has faded into the background as other problems emerged," a French security source, who asked not to be named, told AFP.
"But in reality, the figures show that it has remained high since 2015."
In the last five years, 20 attacks have been carried out on French soil, 19 plots failed and 61 were foiled.
There has been an increasing trend of attacks being carried out by isolated individuals, previously unknown to the intelligence services, who are inspired by jihadist propaganda and carry out attacks with cold weapons needing little preparation.
But the threat of an attack planned from outside France -- as was the case on November 13, 2015 -- remains serious.
"Just because IS has suffered a military defeat does not mean its military capacities have been annihilated," said a French official involved in the fight against terror, who asked not to be named.
Between 100 and 200 French jihadists are still believed to be in former IS strongholds in northern Iraq and Syria, and it would be an "illusion" to think they were not capable of clandestinely coming back to France, added the official.
- Repeated attacks -
In January 2015, Islamist gunmen massacred staff at the Charlie Hebdo satirical weekly, claiming they were avenging its publication of cartoons of the prophet Mohammed.
True to its defiant reputation, the magazine republished the cartoons to mark the start in September of the trial of suspected accomplices in the killings.
In the wake of that move, a Pakistan-born man wounded two people with a meat cleaver on September 25 outside Charlie Hebdo's former offices.
Teacher Samuel Paty, who had shown his class the cartoons, was beheaded outside his school on October 16 by an Islamist radical from Chechnya. And on October 29 a man recently arrived from Tunisia killed three people with a knife in a Nice church.
The attacks reopened painful debates in France about the integration of Muslim minorites and also prompted tougher rhetoric from President Emmanuel Macron against radical Islam.
- 'Background noise' -
The security source said the risks were higher in the context of the current Charlie Hebdo trial and another trial over the Paris attacks, which is due to open early next year.
These hearings keep up "a kind of background noise" with the risk of "actions of support to those" who are on trial, said the security source.
The 2021 trial into the Paris attacks will see just one of the suspecter perpetrators in the dock -- French-Belgian Salah Abdeslam.
Nineteen other suspects accused of providing various logistical support will be on trial with him, though five are presumed dead in Iraq or Syria will be tried in absentia.
The suspected coordinator of the attacks -- Belgian Abdelhamid Abaaoud who shot indiscriminately at packed cafe terraces that night -- was killed five days later in a police assault on the Paris suburb of Saint Denis.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-11--Pentagon purge: Trump loyalists placed in top spots

Four top officials in the US Pentagon have been either sacked or resigned in the past 48 hours , including @ @ @ @ @ who was forced out by the president .
Pentagon officials worry the department is being @ @ @ @ @ a time when the military is trying to remain apolitical following the presidential election .
@ @ @ @ @ affairs editor Philip Turle says the president appears to be installing 'yes people ' who @ @ @ @ @ of the legality .

Pentagon purge: Trump loyalists placed in top spots
03:49
Four top officials in the US Pentagon have been either sacked or resigned in the past 48 hours, including Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who was forced out by the president. Pentagon officials worry the department is being stacked by Trump loyalists at a time when the military is trying to remain apolitical following the presidential election. FRANCE 24’s international affairs editor Philip Turle says the president appears to be installing 'yes people' who would follow his orders irrespective of the legality.


france24--2020-11-11--All Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers to resign as China crushes opposition

Hong Kong 's pro-democracy lawmakers said Wednesday they would all quit in protest at the ousting of four of their colleagues who were judged a threat to national security by authoritarian Beijing .
The resignations will reduce the semi-autonomous city 's once-feisty legislature to a gathering of Chinese central government loyalists , effectively ending pluralism in the chamber .
They also mark another blow to Hong Kong 's beleaguered pro-democracy movement , which has been under sustained attack since China imposed a sweeping national security law , including arrests for social media posts and activists fleeing overseas .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand with our colleagues , '' Wu Chi-wai , convener of the 15 remaining pro-democracy legislators , told a press conference .
Earlier Wednesday , Hong Kong authorities ousted the four members minutes after one of China 's top lawmaking committees ruled the city 's government could remove any legislator deemed a threat to national security without going through the courts .
Hong Kong 's leader is chosen by pro-Beijing committees , but half of its legislature 's 70 seats are directly elected , offering the city 's 7.5 million residents a rare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ballot box .
Scuffles and protests routinely break out , with the pro-democracy minority often resorting to filibustering , chanting and obstruction to try to halt bills they oppose .
At Wednesday 's press conference the pro-democracy camp joined hands in solidarity and shouted `` Hong Kong add oil ! ''
-- a popular slogan during months of huge and often violent protests that rocked the financial hub last year .
China passed the sweeping security law in June to quell the protests , describing it as a `` sword '' hanging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pro-democracy member Claudia Mo said Beijing was trying to `` sound the death knell of Hong Kong 's democracy fight '' .
`` They would think that from now on , anyone they found to be politically incorrect or unpatriotic ... they could just oust you , '' she said .
`` We are quitting this term , this legislature , we 're not quitting Hong Kong 's fight . ''
Chris Patten , the city 's last colonial governor , also criticised the removals .
`` Once again , ( Chinese President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its total hostility to democratic accountability , and those who wish to stand up for it , '' he said .
`` If observing due process , protecting systems and functions and fighting for democracy and human rights would lead to the consequence of being disqualified , it would be my honour , '' Dennis Kwok , one of the ousted four , said after his removal Wednesday .
The quartet had initially been banned from running in the city 's legislative elections -- which were scheduled to be held September 6 -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impose sanctions on Hong Kong officials .
Those elections were postponed , with authorities blaming the coronavirus .
Hong Kong 's pro-Beijing leader Carrie Lam said Wednesday the disqualifications were `` constitutional , legal , reasonable and necessary '' .
A foreign ministry spokesperson in Beijing said they were a `` necessary measure in order to maintain the rule of law in Hong Kong '' .
More than 10,000 people were arrested during more than seven months of protests , and the courts are now filled with trials -- many of them involving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say the law 's broadly worded provisions are a hammer blow to the flickering freedoms that China promised Hong Kong could keep after the end of British colonial rule in 1997 .

Hong Kong (AFP) –
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Hong Kong's pro-democracy lawmakers said Wednesday they would all quit in protest at the ousting of four of their colleagues who were judged a threat to national security by authoritarian Beijing.
The resignations will reduce the semi-autonomous city's once-feisty legislature to a gathering of Chinese central government loyalists, effectively ending pluralism in the chamber.
They also mark another blow to Hong Kong's beleaguered pro-democracy movement, which has been under sustained attack since China imposed a sweeping national security law, including arrests for social media posts and activists fleeing overseas.
"We, from the pro-democracy camp, will stand with our colleagues," Wu Chi-wai, convener of the 15 remaining pro-democracy legislators, told a press conference.
"We will resign en masse."
Earlier Wednesday, Hong Kong authorities ousted the four members minutes after one of China's top lawmaking committees ruled the city's government could remove any legislator deemed a threat to national security without going through the courts.
Hong Kong's leader is chosen by pro-Beijing committees, but half of its legislature's 70 seats are directly elected, offering the city's 7.5 million residents a rare chance to have their voices heard at the ballot box.
Scuffles and protests routinely break out, with the pro-democracy minority often resorting to filibustering, chanting and obstruction to try to halt bills they oppose.
At Wednesday's press conference the pro-democracy camp joined hands in solidarity and shouted "Hong Kong add oil!" -- a popular slogan during months of huge and often violent protests that rocked the financial hub last year.
China passed the sweeping security law in June to quell the protests, describing it as a "sword" hanging over the heads of its critics.
Pro-democracy member Claudia Mo said Beijing was trying to "sound the death knell of Hong Kong's democracy fight".
"They would think that from now on, anyone they found to be politically incorrect or unpatriotic... they could just oust you," she said.
"We are quitting this term, this legislature, we're not quitting Hong Kong's fight."
Chris Patten, the city's last colonial governor, also criticised the removals.
"Once again, (Chinese President) Xi Jinping's regime has demonstrated its total hostility to democratic accountability, and those who wish to stand up for it," he said.
- 'My honour' -
"If observing due process, protecting systems and functions and fighting for democracy and human rights would lead to the consequence of being disqualified, it would be my honour," Dennis Kwok, one of the ousted four, said after his removal Wednesday.
The quartet had initially been banned from running in the city's legislative elections -- which were scheduled to be held September 6 -- after calling on the United States to impose sanctions on Hong Kong officials.
Those elections were postponed, with authorities blaming the coronavirus.
Hong Kong's pro-Beijing leader Carrie Lam said Wednesday the disqualifications were "constitutional, legal, reasonable and necessary".
A foreign ministry spokesperson in Beijing said they were a "necessary measure in order to maintain the rule of law in Hong Kong".
More than 10,000 people were arrested during more than seven months of protests, and the courts are now filled with trials -- many of them involving opposition lawmakers and prominent activists.
Critics say the law's broadly worded provisions are a hammer blow to the flickering freedoms that China promised Hong Kong could keep after the end of British colonial rule in 1997.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-11--Lebanon, Israel in third round of sea border talks

An October 2 picture shows UN peacekeepers patrol the Lebanese area of Naqura on the border with Israel , where both sides are holding US-brokered talks on their disputed maritime border Lebanon and Israel , still technically at war , kicked off a third round of maritime border talks Wednesday under US and UN auspices to allow for offshore hydrocarbon exploration .
The delegations met under tight security at a base of the UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL in the Lebanese border town of Naqura , the National News Agency said .
After years of quiet US shuttle diplomacy , Lebanon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had agreed to begin the negotiations in what Washington hailed as a `` historic '' agreement .
The first two rounds of talks were held on October 14 and 28-29 .
The negotiations are meant to focus on a 860-square-kilometre ( 330-square-mile ) disputed sea area according to a map registered with the United Nations in 2011 .
But Lebanon has now demanded an additional area of 1,430 square kilometres further south , Lebanese energy expert Laury Haytayan said , characterising the new phase of talks as a `` war of the maps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extends into part of the Karish gas field which Israel has assigned to Greek firm Energean for exploration .
An Israeli source close to the talks said that , meanwhile , the Jewish state has demanded that the sea frontier be moved further north , deeper into areas claimed by Lebanon .
`` The Israeli delegation itself presented a line that is north of the border of the dispute , and clarified that no talks will be held on a line that is south of the border of the dispute , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israeli delegation , energy ministry director general Udi Adiri , earlier this month in a letter to Energean said discussing any areas outside the initial disputed area was out of the question .
`` There is no change , and no perspective of change about the status of the Israeli commercial waters south of the disputed area , including of course , Karish and Tanin '' gas fields , Adiri wrote in a letter to CEO Shaul Tzemach .
On Wednesday , Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar quoted a well-informed source as saying the talks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Both sides went to the talks over 860 kilometres square , but then new lines started to be produced , after the enemy decided the Lebanese demand was a 'provocation ' and in exchange granted itself the right to put forward new lines not based on any rules in international law , '' the newspaper said .
In February 2018 , Lebanon signed its first contract for offshore drilling for oil and gas in Block 9 and Block 4 with a consortium comprising energy giants Total , ENI and Novatek .
Lebanon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 had shown traces of gas but no commercially viable reserves .
Exploration has not started in Block 9 , part of which lies in the disputed area .

Naqura (Lebanon) (AFP) –
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Lebanon and Israel, still technically at war, kicked off a third round of maritime border talks Wednesday under US and UN auspices to allow for offshore hydrocarbon exploration.
The delegations met under tight security at a base of the UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL in the Lebanese border town of Naqura, the National News Agency said.
After years of quiet US shuttle diplomacy, Lebanon and Israel in early October said they had agreed to begin the negotiations in what Washington hailed as a "historic" agreement.
The first two rounds of talks were held on October 14 and 28-29.
The negotiations are meant to focus on a 860-square-kilometre (330-square-mile) disputed sea area according to a map registered with the United Nations in 2011.
But Lebanon has now demanded an additional area of 1,430 square kilometres further south, Lebanese energy expert Laury Haytayan said, characterising the new phase of talks as a "war of the maps".
She said the additional area extends into part of the Karish gas field which Israel has assigned to Greek firm Energean for exploration.
An Israeli source close to the talks said that, meanwhile, the Jewish state has demanded that the sea frontier be moved further north, deeper into areas claimed by Lebanon.
"The Israeli delegation itself presented a line that is north of the border of the dispute, and clarified that no talks will be held on a line that is south of the border of the dispute," the source said.
The head of the Israeli delegation, energy ministry director general Udi Adiri, earlier this month in a letter to Energean said discussing any areas outside the initial disputed area was out of the question.
"There is no change, and no perspective of change about the status of the Israeli commercial waters south of the disputed area, including of course, Karish and Tanin" gas fields, Adiri wrote in a letter to CEO Shaul Tzemach.
On Wednesday, Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar quoted a well-informed source as saying the talks stood a 50-50 chance of success.
"Both sides went to the talks over 860 kilometres square, but then new lines started to be produced, after the enemy decided the Lebanese demand was a 'provocation' and in exchange granted itself the right to put forward new lines not based on any rules in international law," the newspaper said.
In February 2018, Lebanon signed its first contract for offshore drilling for oil and gas in Block 9 and Block 4 with a consortium comprising energy giants Total, ENI and Novatek.
Lebanon in April said initial drilling in Block 4 had shown traces of gas but no commercially viable reserves.
Exploration has not started in Block 9, part of which lies in the disputed area.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-11--Several injured in 'bomb attack' on Armistice Day ceremony at Saudi cemetery

File photo of Saudi security forces in the city of Jeddah .
Several people were wounded Wednesday in what French officials described as a `` bomb attack '' targeting a World War I commemoration ceremony attended by European diplomats at a non-Muslim cemetery in Jeddah , Saudi Arabia .
France 's Foreign Ministry said the attack had taken place at a ceremony marking the end of World War I and that several people had been wounded as a result of an explosive device .
`` The annual ceremony commemorating the end of World War I at the non-Muslim cemetery in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including that of France , was the target of an IED [ improvised explosive device ] attack this morning , which injured several people , '' the ministry said .
A Greek government official said four people were `` slightly injured '' in the blast , including a Greek national .
The Saudi government communications office did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
The blast is the second security incident to take place in Jeddah , Saudi Arabia 's second-most populous city , in the last couple of weeks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested after attacking and wounding a security guard at the French consulate there .
On Wednesday , the consulate issued a statement to French nationals in Saudi Arabia urging them to exercise `` maximum vigilance '' following the latest attack .
`` In particular , exercise discretion , and stay away from all gatherings and be cautious when moving around , '' said the statement .

At least three people were wounded Wednesday in what French officials described as a "bomb attack" targeting a World War I commemoration ceremony attended by European diplomats at a non-Muslim cemetery in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Saudi police close a street leading to a non-Muslim cemetery in the city of Jeddah where a bomb struck a World War I commemoration attended by European diplomats on November 11, 2020.
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France's Foreign Ministry said the attack had taken place at a ceremony marking the end of World War I and that several people had been wounded as a result of an explosive device.
"The annual ceremony commemorating the end of World War I at the non-Muslim cemetery in Jeddah, attended by several consulates, including that of France, was the target of an IED (improvised explosive device) attack this morning, which injured several people," the ministry said in a statement.
"France strongly condemns this cowardly, unjustifiable attack," the statement added.
The ministry called on Saudi authorities "to shed as much light as they can on this attack, and to identify and hunt down the perpetrators".
Hours after the attack, Saudi state-media quoted a local official acknowledging the attack and saying a Greek consulate employee was lightly wounded in the incident. The British government said one UK national suffered minor injuries.
This morning, a remembrance ceremony in Jeddah was the target of an improvised explosive device attack.
I have full confidence the Saudi Authorities will investigate this attack and prosecute those responsible for this cowardly act. — James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) November 11, 2020
A Saudi policeman also suffered minor injuries, added the state-owned Ekhbariya television station, citing the governor of Mecca region, where Jeddah is located.
"[Saudi] security services will launch an investigation into an incident of aggression during a gathering of a number of consuls in Jeddah," Ekhbariya said.
The Islamic State group on Thursday claimed responsibility for the blast.
Explosion then panic
The bomb triggered panic as it went off while the French consul was delivering a speech at the ceremony, according to eyewitness Nadia Chaaya.
"At the end of the speech we heard an explosion. We didn't quite understand it at first, but we then realised that we were the target," Chaaya told France's BFMTV.
"We were panicking and feared there could be a second explosion. We left the cemetery and went out into the street, and everyone went their separate ways."
Roads leading up to the cemetery in central Jeddah were blocked by Saudi traffic police, according to an AFP photographer at the scene.
While condemning the "shameful" attack, the embassies of the countries involved in the commemoration lauded "brave Saudi first responders who assisted those at the scene".
The European Union delegation in the kingdom also thanked Saudi emergency services, while urging local authorities to hold a "prompt and thorough investigation" of the attack.
"I have full confidence the Saudi Authorities will investigate this attack and prosecute those responsible for this cowardly act," James Cleverly, the British minister for the Middle East and North Africa, said on Twitter.
'Maximum vigilance'
The blast is the second security incident to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's second-most populous city, in the last couple of weeks.
On October 29 a Saudi man was arrested after attacking and wounding a security guard at the French consulate there.
On Wednesday, the consulate issued a statement to French nationals in Saudi Arabia urging them to exercise "maximum vigilance" following the latest attack.
"In particular, exercise discretion, and stay away from all gatherings and be cautious when moving around," said the statement.
The consulate attack occurred on the same day that a knife-wielding man killed three people in a church in Nice in southern France.
It came amid a wave of protests in parts of the Muslim world over French President Emmanuel Macron's vigorous defence of the right to publish cartoons, including caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed printed by satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.
Last month, French teacher Samuel Paty was brutally murdered by an 18-year-old radical Islamist angered by reports that Paty had shown the same cartoons to pupils in a class on free speech.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-11-11--Geneva's landmark fountain turned off over pandemic

Like landmarks in other cities , the Jet d'Eau is usually lit up in varying colours in the evening Geneva 's famous Jet d'Eau fountain , which spouts water over a hundred metres into the air , is to remain switched off to signal the need for people to observe virus restrictions , authorities said Wednesday .
The Lake Geneva landmark had been due to be turned back on this week after annual maintenance work , but local officials have decided it is better to leave it off for now .
The Geneva cantonal government said in a statement that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current health situation in Switzerland and Geneva linked to the Covid-19 pandemic , '' it had decided to shut down the landmark .
By leaving the majestic fountain , which usually attracts large numbers of tourists , switched off , authorities said they hoped to `` send a new signal to the population '' that outings and interactions needed to be restricted as far as possible .
The canton also shut down the Jet d'Eau during the 83 days of partial confinement in Switzerland when the first wave of the pandemic hit the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which shoots water 140 metres ( 460 feet ) into the air at 200 kilometres an hour before allowing it to cascade down into Lake Geneva , has towered visibly over the centre of the city virtually every day since 1891 .
It is usually only shut down by strong winds or freezing temperatures .
Like some landmarks in other cities , such as the Empire State Building in New York it is usually lit up in varying colours in the evening .
Switzerland emerged relatively unscathed from the first wave of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard-hit by the second wave , and Geneva , which is struggling with saturated hospitals , has shuttered all restaurants , bars and non-essential shops in a bid to stem the surging numbers of cases and deaths .

Geneva (AFP) –
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Geneva's famous Jet d'Eau fountain, which spouts water over a hundred metres into the air, is to remain switched off to signal the need for people to observe virus restrictions, authorities said Wednesday.
The Lake Geneva landmark had been due to be turned back on this week after annual maintenance work, but local officials have decided it is better to leave it off for now.
The Geneva cantonal government said in a statement that it, "in light of the current health situation in Switzerland and Geneva linked to the Covid-19 pandemic," it had decided to shut down the landmark.
By leaving the majestic fountain, which usually attracts large numbers of tourists, switched off, authorities said they hoped to "send a new signal to the population" that outings and interactions needed to be restricted as far as possible.
The canton also shut down the Jet d'Eau during the 83 days of partial confinement in Switzerland when the first wave of the pandemic hit the country in the spring.
The fountain, which shoots water 140 metres (460 feet) into the air at 200 kilometres an hour before allowing it to cascade down into Lake Geneva, has towered visibly over the centre of the city virtually every day since 1891.
It is usually only shut down by strong winds or freezing temperatures.
Like some landmarks in other cities, such as the Empire State Building in New York it is usually lit up in varying colours in the evening.
Switzerland emerged relatively unscathed from the first wave of the pandemic.
But it has been hard-hit by the second wave, and Geneva, which is struggling with saturated hospitals, has shuttered all restaurants, bars and non-essential shops in a bid to stem the surging numbers of cases and deaths.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-11--Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers resign as Beijing moves to quash opposition

Pro-democracy lawmakers announce they will resign from Hong Kong 's legislative council on November 11 , 2020 .
Hong Kong 's pro-democracy opposition lawmakers said on Wednesday they will resign in protest against the dismissal of four of their colleagues from the city assembly after Beijing gave local authorities new powers to further curb dissent .
The Chinese parliament adopted a resolution earlier in the day allowing the city 's executive to expel legislators deemed to be advocating Hong Kong independence , colluding with foreign forces or threatening national security , without having to go through the courts .
Shortly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disqualification of four assembly members who had previously been barred from running for re-election as authorities deemed their pledge of allegiance to Hong Kong was not sincere .
The moves will raise further concern in the West about the level of Hong Kong 's autonomy , promised under a `` one country , two systems '' formula when Britain ended its colonial rule and handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997 .
`` We can no longer tell the world that we still have 'one country , two systems , this declares @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chairman Wu Chi-Wai told a news conference which started with all opposition lawmakers holding hands .
Opposition members of the city assembly , all part of the moderate old guard of democrats , say they have tried to make a stand against what many people in Hong Kong see as Beijing 's whittling away of freedoms and institutional checks and balances , despite a promise of a high degree of autonomy .
`` My mission as a legislator to fight for democracy and freedom can not continue but I would certainly go along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the core values of Hong Kong , '' one of the disqualified assembly members , Kwok Ka-Ki , told reporters .
China denies curbing rights and freedoms in the global financial hub , but authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing have moved swiftly to stifle dissent after anti-government protests flared in June last year and plunged the city into crisis .
The city government said in a statement the four legislators — Kwok , Alvin Yeung , Dennis Kwok and Kenneth Leung — were expelled from the assembly for endangering national security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carrie Lam , later told a briefing she welcomed diverse opinion in the 70-seat legislature but the law had to be applied .
`` We could not allow members of a Legislative Council who have been judged in accordance with the law that they could not fulfil the requirement and the prerequisite for serving on the Legislative Council to continue to operate , '' she said .
Shortly after the disqualifications , China 's representative office in the city said Hong Kong had to be ruled by loyalists .
`` The political rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patriots shall be firmly guarded , '' the Liaison Office said in a statement .
Analysts say mass resignations remove democracy activists ' access to a forum where they could question policymakers and make them more accountable to public opinion .
But staying could have been perceived by their supporters as legitimising Beijing 's move and led to discord .
`` Both staying and leaving have their own difficulties , '' said Ma Ngok , associate professor of government and public administration at Chinese University of Hong Kong .
Concern about Hong Kong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its role as an international financial centre , has grown since June 30 , when Beijing imposed national security legislation on the city .
The law punishes anything China considers subversion , secessionism , terrorism or collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison .
Since then , authorities have removed some pro-democracy books from libraries , banned certain songs and other activities in schools , declared some slogans illegal and raided the newsroom of an anti-government tabloid .
This month , eight other opposition politicians were arrested in connection with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into chaos .
Government supporters say the authorities are trying to restore stability in China 's freest city after a year of unrest .

Hong Kong's pro-democracy opposition lawmakers said on Wednesday they will resign in protest against the dismissal of four of their colleagues from the city assembly after Beijing gave local authorities new powers to further curb dissent.
Pro-democracy lawmakers announce they will resign from Hong Kong's legislative council on November 11, 2020.
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The Chinese parliament adopted a resolution earlier in the day allowing the city's executive to expel legislators deemed to be advocating Hong Kong independence, colluding with foreign forces or threatening national security, without having to go through the courts.
Shortly after, the local government announced the disqualification of four assembly members who had previously been barred from running for re-election as authorities deemed their pledge of allegiance to Hong Kong was not sincere.
The moves will raise further concern in the West about the level of Hong Kong's autonomy, promised under a "one country, two systems" formula when Britain ended its colonial rule and handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997.
"We can no longer tell the world that we still have 'one country, two systems, this declares its official death," Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-Wai told a news conference which started with all opposition lawmakers holding hands.
00:29
Opposition members of the city assembly, all part of the moderate old guard of democrats, say they have tried to make a stand against what many people in Hong Kong see as Beijing's whittling away of freedoms and institutional checks and balances, despite a promise of a high degree of autonomy.
"My mission as a legislator to fight for democracy and freedom cannot continue but I would certainly go along if Hong Kong people continue to fight for the core values of Hong Kong," one of the disqualified assembly members, Kwok Ka-Ki, told reporters.
China denies curbing rights and freedoms in the global financial hub, but authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing have moved swiftly to stifle dissent after anti-government protests flared in June last year and plunged the city into crisis.
The city government said in a statement the four legislators — Kwok, Alvin Yeung, Dennis Kwok and Kenneth Leung — were expelled from the assembly for endangering national security.
Hong Kong's Beijing-backed leader, Carrie Lam, later told a briefing she welcomed diverse opinion in the 70-seat legislature but the law had to be applied.
"We could not allow members of a Legislative Council who have been judged in accordance with the law that they could not fulfil the requirement and the prerequisite for serving on the Legislative Council to continue to operate," she said.
Shortly after the disqualifications, China's representative office in the city said Hong Kong had to be ruled by loyalists.
"The political rule that Hong Kong must be governed by patriots shall be firmly guarded," the Liaison Office said in a statement.
Damned either way
Analysts say mass resignations remove democracy activists' access to a forum where they could question policymakers and make them more accountable to public opinion.
But staying could have been perceived by their supporters as legitimising Beijing's move and led to discord.
"Both staying and leaving have their own difficulties," said Ma Ngok, associate professor of government and public administration at Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Concern about Hong Kong's promised high autonomy, which underpins its role as an international financial centre, has grown since June 30, when Beijing imposed national security legislation on the city.
The law punishes anything China considers subversion, secessionism, terrorism or collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison.
Since then, authorities have removed some pro-democracy books from libraries, banned certain songs and other activities in schools, declared some slogans illegal and raided the newsroom of an anti-government tabloid.
This month, eight other opposition politicians were arrested in connection with a legislative meeting in May that descended into chaos.
Government supporters say the authorities are trying to restore stability in China's freest city after a year of unrest.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-11-12--Australia look to future with Pucovski, Green in India Test squad

Highly-rated young prospects Will Pucovski and Cameron Green were Thursday included in an expanded 17-man Test squad to face India as Australia looks to the future .
Opener Pucovski , 22 , and all-rounder Green , 21 , have been hammering on the door this season , impressing in the domestic Sheffield Shield with a host of former Australian greats urging their inclusion .
The selectors -- coach Justin Langer , Trevor Hohns and George Bailey -- heeded the calls , but not at the expense of the out-of-form Joe Burns , who retains his spot alongside regular opener David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seamer Sean Abbott , along with fast bowler Michael Neser , who has long been on the fringes , also made the grade and are in line for debuts .
`` It is such a positive sign for Australian cricket to have so many good young players stepping into contention , '' said Hohns .
`` Two of those many standout players were of course Cameron Green and Will Pucovski . ''
`` Their undeniable form demanded selection and we are very pleased to have these young men in the squad for what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an extremely formidable opponent . ''
World number one Australia , led by Tim Paine , play four Tests against Virat Kohli 's second-ranked India starting with a day-night fixture in Adelaide on December 17 .
They then move to the traditional Boxing Day Test in Melbourne before heading to Sydney and Brisbane , with Kohli set to miss the final three games to return home for the birth of his first child .
India will need to quarantine for 14 days on arrival in Australia due to coronavirus concerns , and Kohli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he wanted to come back , making it highly unlikely he will do so .
The two sides meet in three one-dayers and three Twenty20s from November 27 in the lead-up .
Those matches will be followed by two Australia A fixtures against Indian sides in Sydney to prepare for the Tests .
Pucovski , who was in the Test set-up last summer but has struggled with mental health issues , has plundered back-to-back double centuries in his last two games as an opener for Victoria to make his call-up all-but inevitable .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ good head space and ready to challenge for a Test berth once again , vying with incumbent Burns , who has had a lean spell .
Batting all-rounder Green , described by Greg Chappell as the best he has seen since Ricky Ponting , has also been firing with a classy 197 for Western Australia last month .
He is considered less likely to get a start , at least in the opening Test , with Travis Head and Matthew Wade currently filling the middle order , and Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The pace attack virtually picked itself , with Pat Cummins , Mitchell Starc , Josh Hazlewood , and James Pattinson all regulars , and Neser and Abbott breathing down their necks .
Swepson pressed his case with three consecutive five-wicket hauls in the Sheffield Shield and was preferred to Adam Zampa as Nathan Lyon 's understudy .
`` Mitch Swepson is another who has excelled and is in fine form for Queensland .
He gives the side a strong second spin option to Nathan Lyon and we feel he is ready and deserving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Sean Abbott has also been outstanding at the start of the summer and comes in to his first Test squad as a very strong fast bowling option . ''

Sydney (AFP) –
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Highly-rated young prospects Will Pucovski and Cameron Green were Thursday included in an expanded 17-man Test squad to face India as Australia looks to the future.
Opener Pucovski, 22, and all-rounder Green, 21, have been hammering on the door this season, impressing in the domestic Sheffield Shield with a host of former Australian greats urging their inclusion.
The selectors -- coach Justin Langer, Trevor Hohns and George Bailey -- heeded the calls, but not at the expense of the out-of-form Joe Burns, who retains his spot alongside regular opener David Warner.
Rookie spinner Mitchell Swepson and seamer Sean Abbott, along with fast bowler Michael Neser, who has long been on the fringes, also made the grade and are in line for debuts.
"It is such a positive sign for Australian cricket to have so many good young players stepping into contention," said Hohns. "Two of those many standout players were of course Cameron Green and Will Pucovski."
"Their undeniable form demanded selection and we are very pleased to have these young men in the squad for what will be a tremendous Test series against an extremely formidable opponent."
World number one Australia, led by Tim Paine, play four Tests against Virat Kohli's second-ranked India starting with a day-night fixture in Adelaide on December 17.
They then move to the traditional Boxing Day Test in Melbourne before heading to Sydney and Brisbane, with Kohli set to miss the final three games to return home for the birth of his first child.
India will need to quarantine for 14 days on arrival in Australia due to coronavirus concerns, and Kohli would have to repeat the exercise if he wanted to come back, making it highly unlikely he will do so.
The two sides meet in three one-dayers and three Twenty20s from November 27 in the lead-up. Those matches will be followed by two Australia A fixtures against Indian sides in Sydney to prepare for the Tests.
- Fine form -
Pucovski, who was in the Test set-up last summer but has struggled with mental health issues, has plundered back-to-back double centuries in his last two games as an opener for Victoria to make his call-up all-but inevitable.
He recently said he was in a good head space and ready to challenge for a Test berth once again, vying with incumbent Burns, who has had a lean spell.
Batting all-rounder Green, described by Greg Chappell as the best he has seen since Ricky Ponting, has also been firing with a classy 197 for Western Australia last month.
He is considered less likely to get a start, at least in the opening Test, with Travis Head and Matthew Wade currently filling the middle order, and Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith locked in at three and four.
The pace attack virtually picked itself, with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and James Pattinson all regulars, and Neser and Abbott breathing down their necks.
Swepson pressed his case with three consecutive five-wicket hauls in the Sheffield Shield and was preferred to Adam Zampa as Nathan Lyon's understudy.
"Mitch Swepson is another who has excelled and is in fine form for Queensland. He gives the side a strong second spin option to Nathan Lyon and we feel he is ready and deserving of the opportunity," said Hohns.
"Sean Abbott has also been outstanding at the start of the summer and comes in to his first Test squad as a very strong fast bowling option."
Australia squad: Sean Abbott, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Tim Paine (capt), James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner
Australia A squad: Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Joe Burns, Jackson Bird, Alex Carey, Harry Conway, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Nic Maddinson, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, Tim Paine, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Mark Steketee, Will Sutherland, Mitchell Swepson
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-12--Hamilton poised to clinch seventh title and set up contract talks

Lewis Hamilton can seal a record-equalling seventh drivers ' world title , position himself to be `` best of the best '' and set up long-awaited negotiations for a new Mercedes contract at this weekend 's Turkish Grand Prix .
The Briton needs only to prevent his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas outscoring him by eight points to retain his crown and , in the eyes of many including former Ferrari rival Felipe Massa , move on to become the most successful in F1 history .
A seventh championship would draw him level with Massa 's erstwhile Ferrari team-mate Michael Schumacher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for wins , poles and podiums , as well as consecutive points finishes , he will in many eyes already be the `` greatest of all time '' .
Brazilian Massa , who himself missed out on a title triumph when Hamilton claimed his first in Sao Paulo in 2008 , has no doubt that the Englishman , whose contract expires later this year , will deserve that soubriquet and a salary to match it .
`` Lewis can really be the best of the best and everybody will say that for years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or whatever , '' he told the F1 Nation podcast .
`` So , I think he is just preparing his two or three-year contract , which I think he deserves .
`` What he is doing ...
He shows that he definitely deserves it –- to be different to all of the other drivers in terms of everything and even in terms of salary . ''
Hamilton departed the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola earlier this month with an enigmatic suggestion , after his record-increasing 93rd win had secured Mercedes ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he may not return to racing in 2021 .
Notions of retirement were rejected by his team chief Toto Wolff , who is also out of contract this year .
Massa suggested Hamilton is set for a bumper new deal ahead of any confirmed `` salary cap '' in the sport .
`` I remember when Michael was my team-mate and he was like that , '' he recalled .
`` Michael was completely different to everybody in terms of everything –- in records , numbers and salary .
`` For sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase their salary .
That 's what Lewis is , in my view , trying to do .
I think he is 'doing right ' and he deserves it . ''
In the simplest terms , Hamilton will be champion again if he beats Bottas , who trails him by 85 points with four races remaining .
For the Finn to keep alive his own title bid , he must out-score Hamilton by nine points or more .
Given that Hamilton has beaten him at 10 of this year 's 13 races to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a record 46 consecutive races , Bottas faces a daunting challenge .
Even if he wins on Sunday at the Istanbul Park Circuit , returning to the calendar for the first time since 2011 , Hamilton can still take the title by finishing second and clocking the fastest lap .
With the title race reduced to a duel between the two 'silver arrows ' drivers , many other teams have turned already to plans for next season – Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto deciding to stay in Italy to concentrate on car development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge , but maintain close contact with Binotto , missing his first race since taking over last year .
`` He has taken an innovative approach so his voice and input will be heard loud and clear , '' he said .

Istanbul (AFP) –
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Lewis Hamilton can seal a record-equalling seventh drivers' world title, position himself to be "best of the best" and set up long-awaited negotiations for a new Mercedes contract at this weekend's Turkish Grand Prix.
The Briton needs only to prevent his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas outscoring him by eight points to retain his crown and, in the eyes of many including former Ferrari rival Felipe Massa, move on to become the most successful in F1 history.
A seventh championship would draw him level with Massa's erstwhile Ferrari team-mate Michael Schumacher for titles, but with the record for wins, poles and podiums, as well as consecutive points finishes, he will in many eyes already be the "greatest of all time".
Brazilian Massa, who himself missed out on a title triumph when Hamilton claimed his first in Sao Paulo in 2008, has no doubt that the Englishman, whose contract expires later this year, will deserve that soubriquet and a salary to match it.
"Lewis can really be the best of the best and everybody will say that for years and years, or maybe decades, or whatever," he told the F1 Nation podcast.
"So, I think he is just preparing his two or three-year contract, which I think he deserves.
"What he is doing... He shows that he definitely deserves it –- to be different to all of the other drivers in terms of everything and even in terms of salary."
Hamilton departed the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola earlier this month with an enigmatic suggestion, after his record-increasing 93rd win had secured Mercedes' unparalleled seventh consecutive constructors' championship, that he may not return to racing in 2021.
- Bumper new deal -
Notions of retirement were rejected by his team chief Toto Wolff, who is also out of contract this year. Massa suggested Hamilton is set for a bumper new deal ahead of any confirmed "salary cap" in the sport.
"I remember when Michael was my team-mate and he was like that," he recalled. "Michael was completely different to everybody in terms of everything –- in records, numbers and salary.
"For sure, Michael helped many other drivers to increase their salary. That's what Lewis is, in my view, trying to do. I think he is 'doing right' and he deserves it."
In the simplest terms, Hamilton will be champion again if he beats Bottas, who trails him by 85 points with four races remaining. For the Finn to keep alive his own title bid, he must out-score Hamilton by nine points or more.
Given that Hamilton has beaten him at 10 of this year's 13 races to date and has been in the points at a record 46 consecutive races, Bottas faces a daunting challenge.
Even if he wins on Sunday at the Istanbul Park Circuit, returning to the calendar for the first time since 2011, Hamilton can still take the title by finishing second and clocking the fastest lap.
With the title race reduced to a duel between the two 'silver arrows' drivers, many other teams have turned already to plans for next season – Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto deciding to stay in Italy to concentrate on car development.
Sporting director Laurent Mekies will take charge, but maintain close contact with Binotto, missing his first race since taking over last year.
"He has taken an innovative approach so his voice and input will be heard loud and clear," he said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-12--New Zealand wield axe for Argentina Tri Nations Test

Ian Foster suffered his first loss as All Blacks head coach last week All Blacks coach Ian Foster has wielded the axe ahead of Saturday 's Tri Nations Test against Argentina in response to New Zealand 's shock loss to the Wallabies last weekend .
Foster purged 10 players from the starting XV that was beaten 24-22 by Australia , showing a ruthless streak after his first defeat in charge of the All Blacks .
`` We were bitterly disappointed with the loss against Australia on the weekend , but we 've taken a lot of lessons from that game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we need to be smarter in seeing space and executing our plan around that . ''
Flanker Akira Ioane , a debutant against Australia , was among seven starters from last week who did not even make the match-day squad for Argentina .
He will join fellow rejects Sevu Reece , Ngani Laumape , TJ Perenara , Scott Barrett and Karl Tu'inukuafe watching Saturday 's match against the Pumas from the stands .
Prop Ofa Tuungafasi was always going to miss the match after being banned for a high tackle and Foster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lomax , Dane Coles and Joe Moody , who returns after a head knock .
Foster said not all the changes were form related , saying he was taking the opportunity to rest some players while others , including lock Patrick Tuipulotu , were coming back from injury .
But he left no doubt the loss was a major factor in his selection decisions and that fringe players had not seized their opportunity against Australia .
`` When you get a chance , this All Black jersey demands a performance , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't perform at the level we expect then we 're going to go away and work twice as hard . ''
Beauden Barrett shifts to fullback from his preferred position at fly-half to make way for the returning Richie Mo'unga , as Foster reverts to his first-choice backline combination .
Rookie sensation Caleb Clarke takes a slot on the left wing , with Jordie Barrett on the other sideline .

Sydney (AFP) –
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All Blacks coach Ian Foster has wielded the axe ahead of Saturday's Tri Nations Test against Argentina in response to New Zealand's shock loss to the Wallabies last weekend.
Foster purged 10 players from the starting XV that was beaten 24-22 by Australia, showing a ruthless streak after his first defeat in charge of the All Blacks.
"We were bitterly disappointed with the loss against Australia on the weekend, but we've taken a lot of lessons from that game," he said.
"Specifically, we need to be smarter in seeing space and executing our plan around that."
Flanker Akira Ioane, a debutant against Australia, was among seven starters from last week who did not even make the match-day squad for Argentina.
He will join fellow rejects Sevu Reece, Ngani Laumape, TJ Perenara, Scott Barrett and Karl Tu'inukuafe watching Saturday's match against the Pumas from the stands.
Prop Ofa Tuungafasi was always going to miss the match after being banned for a high tackle and Foster selected a new-look front row of Tyrel Lomax, Dane Coles and Joe Moody, who returns after a head knock.
Foster said not all the changes were form related, saying he was taking the opportunity to rest some players while others, including lock Patrick Tuipulotu, were coming back from injury.
But he left no doubt the loss was a major factor in his selection decisions and that fringe players had not seized their opportunity against Australia.
"When you get a chance, this All Black jersey demands a performance," he said.
"And when we don't perform at the level we expect then we're going to go away and work twice as hard."
Beauden Barrett shifts to fullback from his preferred position at fly-half to make way for the returning Richie Mo'unga, as Foster reverts to his first-choice backline combination.
Rookie sensation Caleb Clarke takes a slot on the left wing, with Jordie Barrett on the other sideline.
New Zealand (15-1)
Beauden Barrett; Jordie Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jack Goodhue, Caleb Clarke; Richie Mo'unga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (capt), Shannon Frizell; Sam Whitelock, Patrick Tuipulotu; Tyrel Lomax, Dane Coles, Joe Moody.
Replacements: Codie Taylor, Alex Hodgman, Nepo Laulala, Tupou Vaa'i, Hoskins Sotutu, Brad Weber, Rieko Ioane, Damian McKenzie.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-12--Cincinnati's Bauer, Cleveland's Bieber earn 2020 Cy Young Awards

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer earned the National League Cy Young Award on Wednesday as Cleveland Indians ace Shane Bieber grabbed the American League award to make it a clean sweep for Ohio .
Bauer comfortably beat out the Chicago Cubs ' Japanese star Yu Darvish for the award for the NL 's top pitcher , garnering 27 first-place votes to Darvish 's three in balloting of the Baseball Writers Association of America .
Darvish received 24 second-place votes to finish ahead of the New York Mets ' Jacob deGrom .
Bieber was a unanimous selection for the AL award @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bauer , 29 , had the best earned-run-average in the National League of 1.73 .
He ranked second only to deGrom in strikeouts with 100 .
DeGrom had been looking to join Greg Maddux and Randy Johnson as the only winners of three straight .
Bauer became the first Reds player to win the award -- which could boost him in the free agent market .
Bieber , 25 , was the unanimous winner of the American League honor after going 8-1 with a 1.63 earned run average and 122 strikeouts in 77 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He led the major leagues in ERA and strikeouts , and tied Darvish for most wins .
Although the shortened season skewed many statistics , Bieber notched an impressive achievement in becoming the fastest pitcher to reach 100 strikeouts for a campaign , needing just 62 1/3 innings .
Bieber became the second player in Indians history to win the AL 's pitching triple crown -- leading the league in wins , strikeouts and ERA -- after Bob Feller in 1940 .
He was the first player to lead the major leagues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johan Santana in 2006 .
Twins right-hander Kenta Maeda of Japan finished second , followed by Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin of South Korea .

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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Cincinnati Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer earned the National League Cy Young Award on Wednesday as Cleveland Indians ace Shane Bieber grabbed the American League award to make it a clean sweep for Ohio.
Bauer comfortably beat out the Chicago Cubs' Japanese star Yu Darvish for the award for the NL's top pitcher, garnering 27 first-place votes to Darvish's three in balloting of the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Darvish received 24 second-place votes to finish ahead of the New York Mets' Jacob deGrom.
Bieber was a unanimous selection for the AL award, garnering all 30 first-place votes.
Bauer's victory spoiled deGrom's bid for a third straight Cy Young Award.
Bauer, 29, had the best earned-run-average in the National League of 1.73. He ranked second only to deGrom in strikeouts with 100.
DeGrom had been looking to join Greg Maddux and Randy Johnson as the only winners of three straight.
Bauer became the first Reds player to win the award -- which could boost him in the free agent market.
Bieber, 25, was the unanimous winner of the American League honor after going 8-1 with a 1.63 earned run average and 122 strikeouts in 77 1/3 innings in the pandemic shortened season.
He led the major leagues in ERA and strikeouts, and tied Darvish for most wins.
Although the shortened season skewed many statistics, Bieber notched an impressive achievement in becoming the fastest pitcher to reach 100 strikeouts for a campaign, needing just 62 1/3 innings.
Bieber became the second player in Indians history to win the AL's pitching triple crown -- leading the league in wins, strikeouts and ERA -- after Bob Feller in 1940.
He was the first player to lead the major leagues in all three categories since Minnesota's Johan Santana in 2006.
Twins right-hander Kenta Maeda of Japan finished second, followed by Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin of South Korea.
© 2020 AFP