france24--2020-09-12--Bouanga sends Saint-Etienne top in France

Denis Bouanga ( C ) scores from the spot in Saint-Etienne 's 2-0 win over Strasbourg Saint-Etienne continued their promising @ @ @ @ @ season as a 2-0 win over Strasbourg took Claude Puel 's side top of the @ @ @ @ @ international Denis Bouanga converted a 57th-minute penalty and helped set up Mahdi Camara to smash @ @ @ @ @ Saint-Etienne climbed above Nice on goal difference with maximum points from their first two games @ @ @ @ @ lost 3-1 at Montpellier earlier in the day .
Defender Daniel Congre scored twice for @ @ @ @ @ goal from Gaetan Laborde , with Dante grabbing a consolation strike .
Bordeaux are a @ @ @ @ @ following Friday 's goalless draw with Lyon .
Seven games are scheduled for Sunday including @ @ @ @ @ Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille at the Parc des Princes .
Neymar has returned to the @ @ @ @ @ Di Maria and Keylor Navas after the trio were among seven players to miss Thursday @ @ @ @ @ Lens having tested positive for Covid-19 .

Paris (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Saint-Etienne continued their promising start to the Ligue 1 season as a 2-0 win over Strasbourg took Claude Puel's side top of the table on Saturday.
Gabon international Denis Bouanga converted a 57th-minute penalty and helped set up Mahdi Camara to smash in a late second as Saint-Etienne climbed above Nice on goal difference with maximum points from their first two games.
Patrick Vieira's Nice lost 3-1 at Montpellier earlier in the day. Defender Daniel Congre scored twice for the hosts after an opening goal from Gaetan Laborde, with Dante grabbing a consolation strike.
Bordeaux are a point behind in third place following Friday's goalless draw with Lyon.
Seven games are scheduled for Sunday including the showdown between defending champions Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille at the Parc des Princes.
Neymar has returned to the PSG squad along with Angel Di Maria and Keylor Navas after the trio were among seven players to miss Thursday's season-opening 1-0 loss at Lens having tested positive for Covid-19.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-12--Unbeaten Leinster claim third straight PRO14 title

Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw was one of three Leinster try-scorers Leinster became the first side to win three consecutive PRO14 titles after breaking free of Ulster 's resistence in the second half to record a 27-5 final win at the Aviva Stadium .
Robbie Henshaw 's 45th-minute intercept try and a closing score from Caelan Doris were the highlights as Leo Cullen 's outfit , who remain unbeaten in all competitions this season , claimed their fifth PRO14 title in eight years .
With a Champions Cup quarter-final against Saracens just a week away , captain Jonathan Sexton was benched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Byrne kicked Leinster into a 10-5 half-time lead after James Lowe cancelled out James Hume 's early try .
Cullen 's men extended their winning streak to 25 matches ahead of the visit of Sarries - the last team to defeat them 16 months ago .
Buoyed by their late heroics against Edinburgh in last weekend 's semi-final , Ulster enjoyed a dream start to their first final appearance since 2013 .
Alan O'Connor 's pull-back pass released Hume from 40 metres out and the young centre got away from Ronan Kelleher and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corner .
Leinster quickly replied as Jamison Gibson-Park 's cut-out pass put Lowe over out wide , the conversion neatly supplied by Byrne for a 7-5 lead before he added a penalty .
Another Byrne penalty extended the advantage and the killer blow arrived just moments later .
Henshaw gobbled up a Burns pass just inside the Ulster half and stayed clear of the chasing Michael Lowry to go in under the posts .
With Byrne 's conversion making it 20-5 , it was a long way back for the Ulstermen who travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarter-finals .
The clinching try arrived nine minutes from time when flanker Doris drove past two former Leinster players Jordi Murphy and Ian Madigan , and under the posts , with Sexton converting .

London (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Leinster became the first side to win three consecutive PRO14 titles after breaking free of Ulster's resistence in the second half to record a 27-5 final win at the Aviva Stadium.
Robbie Henshaw's 45th-minute intercept try and a closing score from Caelan Doris were the highlights as Leo Cullen's outfit, who remain unbeaten in all competitions this season, claimed their fifth PRO14 title in eight years.
With a Champions Cup quarter-final against Saracens just a week away, captain Jonathan Sexton was benched up to the hour mark as Ross Byrne kicked Leinster into a 10-5 half-time lead after James Lowe cancelled out James Hume's early try.
Cullen's men extended their winning streak to 25 matches ahead of the visit of Sarries - the last team to defeat them 16 months ago.
Buoyed by their late heroics against Edinburgh in last weekend's semi-final, Ulster enjoyed a dream start to their first final appearance since 2013.
Alan O'Connor's pull-back pass released Hume from 40 metres out and the young centre got away from Ronan Kelleher and Lowe to brilliantly score near the left corner.
Leinster quickly replied as Jamison Gibson-Park's cut-out pass put Lowe over out wide, the conversion neatly supplied by Byrne for a 7-5 lead before he added a penalty.
Another Byrne penalty extended the advantage and the killer blow arrived just moments later.
Henshaw gobbled up a Burns pass just inside the Ulster half and stayed clear of the chasing Michael Lowry to go in under the posts.
With Byrne's conversion making it 20-5, it was a long way back for the Ulstermen who travel to Toulouse next week in Europe's quarter-finals.
The clinching try arrived nine minutes from time when flanker Doris drove past two former Leinster players Jordi Murphy and Ian Madigan, and under the posts, with Sexton converting.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-12--Sundowns complete South African treble thanks to Uruguayan Sirino

Uruguayan Gaston Sirino ( L ) scored to give Mamelodi Sundowns a 1-0 victory over Bloemfontein Celtic Saturday in the South African Cup final Uruguayan Gaston Sirino scored to give Mamelodi Sundowns a 1-0 South African Nedbank Cup final victory over Bloemfontein Celtic in Soweto Saturday , and a trophy treble this season .
The Pretoria outfit defeated Maritzburg United last December to lift the League Cup and topped the Premiership standings last Saturday after a thrilling title race with Kaizer Chiefs .
Sundowns are only the second South African club after Orlando Pirates , who achieved the feat twice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one season .
Diminutive Sirino struck on 80 minutes in a near-silent Orlando Stadium with spectators barred because of coronavirus concerns .
Celtic defenders and midfielders backtracked as the South American moved forward with the ball before beating goalkeeper Sipho Chaine with a shot from outside the penalty area .
It was the first goal Sirino scored in the competition this season and his overall performance led to him being voted the man of the match .
Sundowns were worthy winners of the competition for a fifth time as they created far more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lacked attacking creativity .
The teams were guilty of inaccurate shooting with each of them having 12 goal attempts but being on target only twice .
`` Our game plan worked perfectly as we denied the Celtic dangermen ( Victor ) Letsoalo and ( Ndumiso ) Mabena scoring opportunities , '' said Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane .
`` It was really tough out there and I decided against taking off our tiring captain Hlompho Kekana late in the match because we needed his leadership . ''
Celtic coach John Maduka said poor decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them losing their first final appearance in the competition being lifting the trophy 35 years ago .
`` The real Celtic did not pitch up tonight , but I am still proud of my boys for reaching the final and finishing in the top half of the league table , '' said the former Malawi star .
Themba Zwane could have scored a first half hat-trick for Sundowns , but a wild shot , a brave save by Chaine , and the interception of a pass intended for him kept the match goalless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final minute of the opening half when veteran Uganda goalkeeper Denis Onyango did well to tip over a looping Letsoalo header .
Sirino was unlucky not to break the deadlock on 58 minutes when his close-range shot left Chaine stranded only for the ball to rebound off the post , but he had the last laugh .
Despite losing , Celtic will compete in Africa for the first time next season , joining Pirates in the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup .
Sundowns and Chiefs have qualified for the CAF Champions League , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on November 27 .

Soweto (South Africa) (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Uruguayan Gaston Sirino scored to give Mamelodi Sundowns a 1-0 South African Nedbank Cup final victory over Bloemfontein Celtic in Soweto Saturday, and a trophy treble this season.
The Pretoria outfit defeated Maritzburg United last December to lift the League Cup and topped the Premiership standings last Saturday after a thrilling title race with Kaizer Chiefs.
Sundowns are only the second South African club after Orlando Pirates, who achieved the feat twice, to win three domestic trophies in one season.
Diminutive Sirino struck on 80 minutes in a near-silent Orlando Stadium with spectators barred because of coronavirus concerns.
Celtic defenders and midfielders backtracked as the South American moved forward with the ball before beating goalkeeper Sipho Chaine with a shot from outside the penalty area.
It was the first goal Sirino scored in the competition this season and his overall performance led to him being voted the man of the match.
Sundowns were worthy winners of the competition for a fifth time as they created far more chances against a below-par Celtic side that lacked attacking creativity.
The teams were guilty of inaccurate shooting with each of them having 12 goal attempts but being on target only twice.
"Our game plan worked perfectly as we denied the Celtic dangermen (Victor) Letsoalo and (Ndumiso) Mabena scoring opportunities," said Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane.
- 'Needed his leadership' -
"It was really tough out there and I decided against taking off our tiring captain Hlompho Kekana late in the match because we needed his leadership."
Celtic coach John Maduka said poor decision making and defending too deep contributed to them losing their first final appearance in the competition being lifting the trophy 35 years ago.
"The real Celtic did not pitch up tonight, but I am still proud of my boys for reaching the final and finishing in the top half of the league table," said the former Malawi star.
Themba Zwane could have scored a first half hat-trick for Sundowns, but a wild shot, a brave save by Chaine, and the interception of a pass intended for him kept the match goalless.
Celtic did not threaten until the final minute of the opening half when veteran Uganda goalkeeper Denis Onyango did well to tip over a looping Letsoalo header.
Sirino was unlucky not to break the deadlock on 58 minutes when his close-range shot left Chaine stranded only for the ball to rebound off the post, but he had the last laugh.
Despite losing, Celtic will compete in Africa for the first time next season, joining Pirates in the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup.
Sundowns and Chiefs have qualified for the CAF Champions League, and both competitions are scheduled to kick off on November 27.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-12--As wildfires rage, US voters still divided on climate

A charred vehicle is seen in the parking lot of the burned Oak Park Motel after the passage of the Santiam Fire in Gates , Oregon Wildfires are burning out of control in the western United States , cities are choking on toxic air , and Hurricane Laura battered the Gulf Coast just weeks ago .
So why is n't the threat of global warming dominating the election contest between President Donald Trump and former vice president Joe Biden ?
Climate change has in fact risen near the top of Democrat voters ' concerns since surveys first began two decades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bottom of Republicans ' priorities , meaning that the candidates do n't need to spend much time sparring over the issue .
Talking about it helps Biden connect with his party -- but this year green issues have been partly crowded out by the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting economic crisis , as well as racial justice protests , experts say .
Jon Krosnick , a professor of political science at Stanford University , told AFP that while the absolute number of people concerned by climate change was at its highest ever , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` If he talks only about climate , he 's hurting himself because he has to talk about other issues , '' he told AFP .
Trump , a famous climate-denier , has been silent on the issue .
There is little point in him using the issue to try to appeal to California , the state worst-hit by the fires , because it is so solidly Democratic .
If Biden has to weigh how much time he spends on climate change against other issues , and balance how an aggressive green @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in places like the Midwest , other Democratic lawmakers are more willing to go on the offense .
`` It is just a fact that the Trump administration has the worst environmental record in history , '' New Mexico Senator Tom Udall , who is among the most green lawmakers in Congress , told AFP .
`` The Trump administration stands with the special interests at the expense of everyone else , '' he continued , citing the president 's withdrawal from the Paris agreement and axing of numerous environmental and wildlife regulations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly charged by climate issues is the left of the Democratic party , said Anthony Leiserowitz , director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication .
Among Democrats who call themselves liberal , it is now the second most highly ranked issue , while it 's the eighth for moderate Democrats , according to Yale 's latest survey published in April .
That 's why every Democratic candidate in the primaries had to make a climate pitch during the party 's primaries and vowed to re-enter the Paris accord .
Indeed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neutrality by 2050 would have been considered a radical idea when he himself was vice president , just five years ago .
Paul Bledsoe , a lecturer at the Center for Environmental Policy at American University , said it was notable that when Biden invokes the climate , he does so through the lens of economic opportunity in the form of a Green New Deal .
`` When I think about climate change , the word I think of is 'jobs ' '' Biden said in July .
`` So these issues have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the public consciousness , '' said Bledsoe , who worked on former president Bill Clinton 's climate task force .
As for Republicans , it 's not that they do n't care about the environment -- it 's that climate change in particular has become a wedge issue , a result of their increasing hostility to collective action and the influence of fossil fuel donors , say experts .
When Americans first became conscious of environmentalism in the late 1960s , it was a non-partisan cause -- indeed , it was under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Agency was created .
Basic goals like having clean air and clean water can still resonate today .
That 's why , for example , Trump this week announced a decade-long ban on oil drilling off the Gulf Coast , a U-turn that surprised energy executives .
This was an objective shared by Republicans and Democrats in Florida , who feared the possible impact of oil spills on the state 's tourism industry .
Francis Rooney , a Republican Congressman from Florida who is one of the few lawmakers from his party to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back a carbon tax , said of Trump : `` His environmental track record is not good at all . ''
`` I have spoken with him about offshore drilling in Florida a lot , and I will say at least he gets that , he 's decided that if he wants to win Florida , he needs to clearly oppose offshore drilling , '' he told AFP .
Rooney , who will stand down at the end of this term , said he was frustrated his party was no longer interested in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservatives were being turned off .
`` I 'm worried that we 're going to lose .
We 're going to lose because we do n't have a broad enough voting base , '' he said .

Washington (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Wildfires are burning out of control in the western United States, cities are choking on toxic air, and Hurricane Laura battered the Gulf Coast just weeks ago.
So why isn't the threat of global warming dominating the election contest between President Donald Trump and former vice president Joe Biden?
Climate change has in fact risen near the top of Democrat voters' concerns since surveys first began two decades ago, but remains anchored to the bottom of Republicans' priorities, meaning that the candidates don't need to spend much time sparring over the issue.
Talking about it helps Biden connect with his party -- but this year green issues have been partly crowded out by the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting economic crisis, as well as racial justice protests, experts say.
Jon Krosnick, a professor of political science at Stanford University, told AFP that while the absolute number of people concerned by climate change was at its highest ever, it remained only one of several concerns.
"If he talks only about climate, he's hurting himself because he has to talk about other issues," he told AFP.
Trump, a famous climate-denier, has been silent on the issue.
There is little point in him using the issue to try to appeal to California, the state worst-hit by the fires, because it is so solidly Democratic.
If Biden has to weigh how much time he spends on climate change against other issues, and balance how an aggressive green agenda might turn off swing state voters in places like the Midwest, other Democratic lawmakers are more willing to go on the offense.
"It is just a fact that the Trump administration has the worst environmental record in history," New Mexico Senator Tom Udall, who is among the most green lawmakers in Congress, told AFP.
"The Trump administration stands with the special interests at the expense of everyone else," he continued, citing the president's withdrawal from the Paris agreement and axing of numerous environmental and wildlife regulations.
- Democrats greener than ever -
One group of voters who are particularly charged by climate issues is the left of the Democratic party, said Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.
Among Democrats who call themselves liberal, it is now the second most highly ranked issue, while it's the eighth for moderate Democrats, according to Yale's latest survey published in April.
That's why every Democratic candidate in the primaries had to make a climate pitch during the party's primaries and vowed to re-enter the Paris accord.
Indeed, the Biden campaign's goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 would have been considered a radical idea when he himself was vice president, just five years ago.
Paul Bledsoe, a lecturer at the Center for Environmental Policy at American University, said it was notable that when Biden invokes the climate, he does so through the lens of economic opportunity in the form of a Green New Deal.
"When I think about climate change, the word I think of is 'jobs'" Biden said in July.
"So these issues have sort of merged, I think, in the public consciousness," said Bledsoe, who worked on former president Bill Clinton's climate task force.
- Republicans unmoved -
As for Republicans, it's not that they don't care about the environment -- it's that climate change in particular has become a wedge issue, a result of their increasing hostility to collective action and the influence of fossil fuel donors, say experts.
When Americans first became conscious of environmentalism in the late 1960s, it was a non-partisan cause -- indeed, it was under President Richard Nixon that the Environmental Protection Agency was created.
Basic goals like having clean air and clean water can still resonate today.
That's why, for example, Trump this week announced a decade-long ban on oil drilling off the Gulf Coast, a U-turn that surprised energy executives.
This was an objective shared by Republicans and Democrats in Florida, who feared the possible impact of oil spills on the state's tourism industry.
Francis Rooney, a Republican Congressman from Florida who is one of the few lawmakers from his party to proudly call himself an environmentalist and to back a carbon tax, said of Trump: "His environmental track record is not good at all."
"I have spoken with him about offshore drilling in Florida a lot, and I will say at least he gets that, he's decided that if he wants to win Florida, he needs to clearly oppose offshore drilling," he told AFP.
Rooney, who will stand down at the end of this term, said he was frustrated his party was no longer interested in environmental stewardship and said younger generations of conservatives were being turned off.
"I'm worried that we're going to lose. We're going to lose because we don't have a broad enough voting base," he said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-13--Thousands of homeless Lesbos migrants to move to new tent city ‘in coming days’

Refugees play volleyball at the destroyed Moria refugee camp on Lesbos where a few families have decided to stay for lack of other options .
Greek authorities said Sunday that some 12,000 migrants and asylum-seekers left without shelter after fires gutted an overcrowded refugee camp on the island of Lesbos will be moved to a new army-built tent city “ in the coming days.
” Migration Minister Notis Mitarakis said an estimated 1,000 foreign residents of the Moria camp were expected to relocate to the tent city by late Sunday and that getting everyone housed at the new site would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment , it ’ s happening on a voluntary basis in the initial stage , ” Mitarakis told Greek television station Open TV .
Fires on Tuesday and Wednesday nights decimated Moria , Greece ’ s largest refugee camp .
Authorities have said residents protesting a lockdown imposed after a coronavirus outbreak deliberately set the blazes .
Thousands of people have since camped out on a stretch of highway near Moria under police guard following more protests against the Greek government refusing to allow the homeless migrants to leave Lesbos for the Greek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new camp would undergo rapid testing for the coronavirus and that five cases so far have been identified .

Greek authorities said Sunday that some 12,000 migrants and asylum-seekers left without shelter after fires gutted an overcrowded refugee camp on the island of Lesbos will be moved to a new army-built tent city “in the coming days.”
Refugees play volleyball at the destroyed Moria refugee camp on Lesbos where a few families have decided to stay for lack of other options.
Advertising Read more
Migration Minister Notis Mitarakis said an estimated 1,000 foreign residents of the Moria camp were expected to relocate to the tent city by late Sunday and that getting everyone housed at the new site would take several days.
“At the moment, it’s happening on a voluntary basis in the initial stage,” Mitarakis told Greek television station Open TV.
Fires on Tuesday and Wednesday nights decimated Moria, Greece’s largest refugee camp. Authorities have said residents protesting a lockdown imposed after a coronavirus outbreak deliberately set the blazes.
Thousands of people have since camped out on a stretch of highway near Moria under police guard following more protests against the Greek government refusing to allow the homeless migrants to leave Lesbos for the Greek mainland.
Mitarakis said that those entering the new camp would undergo rapid testing for the coronavirus and that five cases so far have been identified.
(AP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-09-13--Angry EU rounds on Johnson's claim of Brexit blockade

The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore .

Page not found
The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore.


france24--2020-09-13--McPhee flies from back of pack to win San Marino Moto3 Grand Prix

John McPhee fired himself back into contention in the Moto3 championship on Sunday after winning the San Marino Grand Prix @ @ @ @ @ leader Albert Arenas , who crashed out .
Briton McPhee is third in the standings @ @ @ @ @ , after surging to the front from 17th place on the starting grid and pipping @ @ @ @ @ who had started in pole position , by 0.037sec .
`` It was a crazy @ @ @ @ @ the grid was very difficult , '' said the Scot .
`` When I found @ @ @ @ @ said to myself , ' I 'm not going to stop there ' and I @ @ @ @ @ 26-year-old Honda rider won his second race in that class after taking the honours in @ @ @ @

Misano Adriatico (Italy) (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
John McPhee fired himself back into contention in the Moto3 championship on Sunday after winning the San Marino Grand Prix and closing in on overall leader Albert Arenas, who crashed out.
Briton McPhee is third in the standings, 14 points behind Arenas, after surging to the front from 17th place on the starting grid and pipping Japanese rider Ai Ogura, who had started in pole position, by 0.037sec.
"It was a crazy race. Starting 17th on the grid was very difficult," said the Scot.
"When I found myself around 12th position I said to myself, 'I'm not going to stop there' and I kept pushing."
The 26-year-old Honda rider won his second race in that class after taking the honours in France last year.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-13--Defiant Belarus protesters set to march despite crackdown

Belarus moved police vans and barbed wire into the centre of the capital Minsk on Sunday ahead of a new mass demonstration called for the eve of crunch talks between President Alexander Lukashenko and his main ally , Russia 's Vladimir Putin .
Belarusians have been demonstrating against the disputed re-election of Lukashenko for a month , with more than 100,000 people flooding the streets of Minsk for four straight weekends .
Amid an ongoing crackdown on opposition leaders , masked security forces in police vans and military vehicles could be seen preparing in the centre of Minsk ahead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the `` March of Heroes . ''
On its websites and social media channels , the opposition has announced the slogan `` We wo n't let him sell the country '' ahead of Lukashenko 's first face-to-face meeting with Putin since protests began , which is set to take place on Monday .
Analysts say Putin may seek to exploit Lukashenko 's political vulnerability to wring concessions from him , but any agreements compromising Belarus 's sovereignty and independence are likely to enrage Belarusian protesters further .
Over the last week , Lukashenko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of opposition figures who are still in Belarus .
After a massive protest last Sunday , Maria Kolesnikova , one of three prominent women opposition figures , was jailed after she resisted expulsion and tore up her passport .
More than 600 people were detained last Sunday in one of the largest waves of arrests since the early days of the demonstrations .
Seeking to intimidate protesters further , men in civilian clothes with batons chased and beat up demonstrators as crowds gradually dispersed last Sunday .
Masked riot police on Saturday violently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them into vans during a smaller protest in Minsk .
Presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , who the protest movement says won the vote on August 9 but was forced out of the country , paid tribute to all those who planned to take to the streets for Sunday 's demonstration , which is set to begin at 1100 GMT .
`` Over the past month we have become a truly heroic people , '' Tikhanovskaya , a political unknown until the election , said in a video address .
`` We are continuing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 38-year-old former stay-at-home mother , who has fled into exile in neighbouring EU member Lithuania .
Tikhanovskaya contested the election after her blogger husband was jailed and barred from running along with several other prominent Lukashenko critics .
The unprecedented protests broke out after Lukashenko , who has ruled the ex-Soviet state for 26 years , claimed re-election with 80 percent .
Lukashenko has refused to step down and has turned to Russia for support to remain in power .
On Friday , the United States said it would impose new sanctions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moscow that continuing to back the strongman would only alienate Belarusians .
Speaking to reporters , US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun asked how Moscow could `` back such a regime and such violence against peaceful citizens . ''
`` If the Kremlin continues down this path , it risks turning the Belarusian people , who have no grievance with Russia , against Moscow , '' he said .
Historically Russians and Belarusians have enjoyed good relations and the opposition says the protests are not aimed at Russia .
Putin and Lukashenko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sea resort of Sochi on Monday , with the Kremlin saying the talks will cover integration plans as well as key trade and energy projects .
Putin has been keen to unify Russia and Belarus , and Moscow has accompanied its offers of military and economic aid with calls for tighter integration .
Lukashenko has in the past ruled out outright unification with Russia but his options are now limited , analysts say .
His security forces have detained thousands of protesters , many of whom have accused police of beatings and torture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crackdown .
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Friday he was `` deeply concerned '' over the use of force against peaceful protesters and `` the detention of people exercising their legitimate democratic rights . ''
The European Union said Saturday that it deplored `` the increasingly open disregard for the rule of law in Belarus '' and reiterated its determination to impose sanctions .
It said it was `` ready to take further restrictive measures as necessary . ''

Minsk (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Belarus moved police vans and barbed wire into the centre of the capital Minsk on Sunday ahead of a new mass demonstration called for the eve of crunch talks between President Alexander Lukashenko and his main ally, Russia's Vladimir Putin.
Belarusians have been demonstrating against the disputed re-election of Lukashenko for a month, with more than 100,000 people flooding the streets of Minsk for four straight weekends.
Amid an ongoing crackdown on opposition leaders, masked security forces in police vans and military vehicles could be seen preparing in the centre of Minsk ahead of the latest gathering which has been called the "March of Heroes."
On its websites and social media channels, the opposition has announced the slogan "We won't let him sell the country" ahead of Lukashenko's first face-to-face meeting with Putin since protests began, which is set to take place on Monday.
Analysts say Putin may seek to exploit Lukashenko's political vulnerability to wring concessions from him, but any agreements compromising Belarus's sovereignty and independence are likely to enrage Belarusian protesters further.
Over the last week, Lukashenko's security forces have stepped up arrests of opposition figures who are still in Belarus.
After a massive protest last Sunday, Maria Kolesnikova, one of three prominent women opposition figures, was jailed after she resisted expulsion and tore up her passport.
More than 600 people were detained last Sunday in one of the largest waves of arrests since the early days of the demonstrations.
Seeking to intimidate protesters further, men in civilian clothes with batons chased and beat up demonstrators as crowds gradually dispersed last Sunday.
Masked riot police on Saturday violently detained several dozen women demonstrators and threw them into vans during a smaller protest in Minsk.
- 'Heroic people' -
Presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who the protest movement says won the vote on August 9 but was forced out of the country, paid tribute to all those who planned to take to the streets for Sunday's demonstration, which is set to begin at 1100 GMT.
"Over the past month we have become a truly heroic people," Tikhanovskaya, a political unknown until the election, said in a video address.
"We are continuing our fight for freedom," said the 38-year-old former stay-at-home mother, who has fled into exile in neighbouring EU member Lithuania.
Tikhanovskaya contested the election after her blogger husband was jailed and barred from running along with several other prominent Lukashenko critics.
The unprecedented protests broke out after Lukashenko, who has ruled the ex-Soviet state for 26 years, claimed re-election with 80 percent.
Lukashenko has refused to step down and has turned to Russia for support to remain in power.
On Friday, the United States said it would impose new sanctions on Belarusian figures within days and warned Moscow that continuing to back the strongman would only alienate Belarusians.
Speaking to reporters, US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun asked how Moscow could "back such a regime and such violence against peaceful citizens."
"If the Kremlin continues down this path, it risks turning the Belarusian people, who have no grievance with Russia, against Moscow," he said.
Historically Russians and Belarusians have enjoyed good relations and the opposition says the protests are not aimed at Russia.
Putin and Lukashenko are set to meet in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Monday, with the Kremlin saying the talks will cover integration plans as well as key trade and energy projects.
Putin has been keen to unify Russia and Belarus, and Moscow has accompanied its offers of military and economic aid with calls for tighter integration.
Lukashenko has in the past ruled out outright unification with Russia but his options are now limited, analysts say.
His security forces have detained thousands of protesters, many of whom have accused police of beatings and torture.
Several people have died in the crackdown.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Friday he was "deeply concerned" over the use of force against peaceful protesters and "the detention of people exercising their legitimate democratic rights."
The European Union said Saturday that it deplored "the increasingly open disregard for the rule of law in Belarus" and reiterated its determination to impose sanctions.
It said it was "ready to take further restrictive measures as necessary."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-13--Greece sees end to Lesbos migrant crisis within a week

Protests by the migrants erupted on Lesbos on Saturday Greece said Sunday it hoped thousands of asylum seekers left homeless by fires at Europe 's largest migrant camp could be rehoused within a week to end a crisis that has seen clashes with police .
Asylum-seekers -- including the elderly and very young children -- have been sleeping rough on Lesbos island since Wednesday , when some 11,000 fled the overcrowded Moria camp after it was gutted in apparent arson attacks .
Clashes occurred on Saturday after hundreds of migrants staged a generally peaceful demonstration .
Some young men started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with tear gas .
Migrants demonstrated again peacefully on Sunday morning , an AFP reporter said .
Authorities have now set up a new 3,000-capacity camp at Kara Tepe , a few kilometres from Moria .
Migration Ministry officials said on Saturday that the plan was to eventually provide tents for all the homeless and accelerate the asylum procedure .
Greek migration minister Notis Mitarachi told reporters Sunday that `` in five days the operation will be concluded .
Everybody will be inside the new camp '' .
But while around 300 migrants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , many more remained on the road refusing to go in .
`` In Moria we could come and go but here , ( the new camp ) will be like a prison '' , Zola , a Congolese mother of a five-month-old , told AFP .
Police said some Afghan migrants were trying to dissuade those who decided to enter the new camp to access to food and shelter .
AFP reporters said that police had barred them from approaching the new camp and the migrants camping on the road .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AFP by text message that police would not allow them to leave .
A migration ministry spokesman said the most vulnerable asylum-seekers would be the first to be housed .
`` We will give priority to families .
It will be tents of six and the camp will be separated by ethnicities , '' Alexandros Ragavas told AFP .
Greek authorities are stepping up efforts to gather refugees in the camp in order to restore order on the island but also over fears the coronavirus could spread .
Just before the blazes that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people tested positive for Covid-19 and were facing isolation measures .
On Sunday , authorities said that seven migrants among those entering the new camp were positive for coronavirus .
`` There might be 200 cases of coronavirus by now in those that fled Moria '' , Mitarachi said Sunday .
The combination of coronavirus with the migration issue makes for an `` explosive mix '' Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Saturday in a speech in the northern city of Thessaloniki .
The plight of the stranded families has prompted other European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of asylum-seekers , particularly unaccompanied youngsters .
But Greece has long complained that , aside from providing funds , its EU partners have done too little to help .
Past efforts to create a quota system , in which all European countries would have agreed to take in refugees from Greece , foundered on opposition from right-wing populist governments such as those in Poland and Hungary .

Lesbos Island (Greece) (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Greece said Sunday it hoped thousands of asylum seekers left homeless by fires at Europe's largest migrant camp could be rehoused within a week to end a crisis that has seen clashes with police.
Asylum-seekers -- including the elderly and very young children -- have been sleeping rough on Lesbos island since Wednesday, when some 11,000 fled the overcrowded Moria camp after it was gutted in apparent arson attacks.
Clashes occurred on Saturday after hundreds of migrants staged a generally peaceful demonstration. Some young men started throwing stones at riot police who responded with tear gas.
Migrants demonstrated again peacefully on Sunday morning, an AFP reporter said.
Authorities have now set up a new 3,000-capacity camp at Kara Tepe, a few kilometres from Moria.
Migration Ministry officials said on Saturday that the plan was to eventually provide tents for all the homeless and accelerate the asylum procedure.
Greek migration minister Notis Mitarachi told reporters Sunday that "in five days the operation will be concluded. Everybody will be inside the new camp".
But while around 300 migrants agreed to enter Kara Tepe on Saturday, many more remained on the road refusing to go in.
"In Moria we could come and go but here, (the new camp) will be like a prison", Zola, a Congolese mother of a five-month-old, told AFP.
Police said some Afghan migrants were trying to dissuade those who decided to enter the new camp to access to food and shelter.
AFP reporters said that police had barred them from approaching the new camp and the migrants camping on the road.
One Congolese migrant inside Kara Tepe also told AFP by text message that police would not allow them to leave.
A migration ministry spokesman said the most vulnerable asylum-seekers would be the first to be housed.
"We will give priority to families. It will be tents of six and the camp will be separated by ethnicities," Alexandros Ragavas told AFP.
- 'Explosive mix' -
Greek authorities are stepping up efforts to gather refugees in the camp in order to restore order on the island but also over fears the coronavirus could spread.
Just before the blazes that burned down the Moria camp, 35 people tested positive for Covid-19 and were facing isolation measures.
On Sunday, authorities said that seven migrants among those entering the new camp were positive for coronavirus.
"There might be 200 cases of coronavirus by now in those that fled Moria", Mitarachi said Sunday.
The combination of coronavirus with the migration issue makes for an "explosive mix" Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Saturday in a speech in the northern city of Thessaloniki.
The plight of the stranded families has prompted other European countries to offer to take in hundreds of asylum-seekers, particularly unaccompanied youngsters.
But Greece has long complained that, aside from providing funds, its EU partners have done too little to help.
Past efforts to create a quota system, in which all European countries would have agreed to take in refugees from Greece, foundered on opposition from right-wing populist governments such as those in Poland and Hungary.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-13--Greece hails Turkish survey ship’s return to Mediterranean port as a ‘positive sign’

Turkey sent the Oruc Reis research vessel to disputed waters near a Greek island on August 10 and prolonged the mission three times despite repeated calls from the European Union and Greece to stop .
The Greek government welcomed a Turkish survey vessel ’ s return to port Sunday from a disputed area of the eastern Mediterranean that has been at the heart of a summer stand-off between Greece and Turkey over energy rights .
The Oruc Reis research ship returned to near the southern Turkish port of Antalya for the first time in more than a month after Turkey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vessel to work in waters that Greece claims are its exclusive jurisdiction .
“ This is a positive signal .
We will see how this develops to make a proper assessment , ″ Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas told TV channel Skai .
The ship returned to Antalya after its Navtex , or international maritime safety advisory , for the waters between Turkey , Cyprus and the Greek island of Crete it had been in since Aug. 10 expired .
The dispute over potential oil and gas reserves has triggered a military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NATO allies Turkey and Greece both dispatched warships to the area where the Oruc Reis was engaged in seismic research and conducted military exercises to assert their claims .
NATO intervened , organizing talks between the two countries ’ militaries to prevent a potential armed conflict .
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Sunday in Antalya ’ s district of Kas that Turkey supports peace and dialogue “ if our wishes and demands are fulfilled.
” Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou was visiting the Greek island of Kastellorizo , located directly across the Mediterranean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The Greek government welcomed a Turkish survey vessel’s return to port Sunday from a disputed area of the eastern Mediterranean that has been at the heart of a summer stand-off between Greece and Turkey over energy rights.
Turkey sent the Oruc Reis research vessel to disputed waters near a Greek island on August 10 and prolonged the mission three times despite repeated calls from the European Union and Greece to stop.
Advertising Read more
The Oruc Reis research ship returned to near the southern Turkish port of Antalya for the first time in more than a month after Turkey announced in July that it was dispatching a vessel to work in waters that Greece claims are its exclusive jurisdiction.
“This is a positive signal. We will see how this develops to make a proper assessment,″ Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas told TV channel Skai.
The ship returned to Antalya after its Navtex, or international maritime safety advisory, for the waters between Turkey, Cyprus and the Greek island of Crete it had been in since Aug. 10 expired.
>> Turkey challenges allies and enemies alike in quest for ‘larger role on world stage’
02:38
Later on Sunday, Turkey confirmed that the ship had returned but insisted the move did not mean Ankara was "giving up".
“There will be planned movements backwards and forwards," Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar told state news agency Anadolu in Antalya, southern Turkey. He added that Turkey supports peace and dialogue “if our wishes and demands are fulfilled.”
The dispute over potential oil and gas reserves has triggered a military build-up in the eastern Mediterranean. Nominal NATO allies Turkey and Greece both dispatched warships to the area where the Oruc Reis was engaged in seismic research and conducted military exercises to assert their claims.
NATO intervened, organising talks between the two countries’ militaries to prevent a potential armed conflict.
Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou visited the island of Kastellorizo near the disputed waters on Sunday where she said Turkey was "mounting pressure" on Athens.
"We are going through a difficult and dangerous period. The Turkish leadership... is undermining the peaceful coexistence that was built over many decades by Greeks and Turks, who saw the sea between them not as an impenetrable frontier but as a passage of communication," Sakellaropoulou said.
Leaders of seven European countries on the Mediterranean met at a summit last week in Corsica where they said they were ready to back EU sanctions on Turkey over the dispute.
Any action by Brussels will be discussed at a European Council summit on September 24 and 25.
(FRANCE 24 with AP and REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-09-13--Johnson’s claim the EU wants to create N Ireland border ‘simply not true’, Ireland says

Ireland 's Minister for European Affairs Helen McEntee at a General Affairs Council ( GAC ) meeting at the EU headquarters in Brussels on February 25 , 2020 .
Ireland on Sunday dismissed a claim by Prime Minister Boris Johnson that the EU is plotting destabilising new barriers between Britain and Northern Ireland , as Brexit talks turn increasingly heated .
“ That ’ s simply not the case , ” Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee told Sky News .
“ Any suggestion that this is going to create a new border is simply not true , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland in Britain ’ s EU withdrawal treaty were agreed by both sides to ensure fair competition after Brexit , and to comply with a 1998 peace pact that ended three decades of unrest in the province .
The treaty also “ ensures the integrity of Northern Ireland as part of the UK ” , she said , and it “ ensures we do not see any kind of a border re-emerging ” .
Writing in Saturday ’ s Daily Telegraph newspaper , Johnson had accused the EU of threatening to tear the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blockade ” between Britain and Northern Ireland .
Johnson said the EU ’ s stance justified his government ’ s introduction of new legislation to rewrite its Brexit withdrawal treaty—a bill that is causing deep alarm in Brussels , as well among former British prime ministers and his own MPs .

Two former British PMs who played crucial roles in bringing peace to Northern Ireland joined forces Sunday to urge MPs to reject government plans to override the Brexit deal with the EU, arguing that it imperils that peace and damages the UK’s reputation. The same day, the Republic of Ireland dismissed Boris Johnson’s claim that the EU is plotting destabilising new barriers between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Advertising Read more
In an article in The Sunday Times, Sir John Major and Tony Blair lambasted the current British government for “shaming” the country with legislation that, in places, contravenes the very deal it signed to allow for the UK’s smooth departure from the EU earlier this year.
Major, a Conservative prime minister from 1990 to 1997, and Blair, his Labour successor for a decade, said Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Internal Market Bill “questions the very integrity" of the UK.
“This government’s action is shaming itself and embarrassing our nation," they said.
The planned legislation, which will be debated by British lawmakers this week, has led to a furious outcry within the EU as it would diminish the bloc's previously agreed oversight of trade between mainland Britain and Northern Ireland if a U.K.-EU trade agreement isn’t secured.
The British government has admitted that the legislation would break international law, but argues that it's an insurance policy in the event a trade deal with the EU is not secured by the end of this year. Johnson has said the legislation is needed to end EU threats to impose a “blockade” in the Irish Sea that the prime minister asserted could “carve up our country.” EU leaders have furiously rejected that charge.
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland told the BBC on Sunday that the legislation was a “break the glass in emergency provision," if needed, and that he would resign if he believed the rule of law was broken in an “unacceptable” way.
“I don’t believe we’re going to get to that stage,” he said.
Concerns trade talks could collapse
With the British government showing no sign of changing course, there are real concerns that the talks on a future trade deal between the UK and the EU could collapse within weeks. If that happens, tariffs and other impediments to trade will be imposed by both sides at the start of 2021.
The UK left the EU on January 31, but it is in a transition period of de facto membership – but without a say in EU decision-making – until the end of the year while a future relationship is negotiated. Even before the latest standoff, discussions between the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, and his British counterpart, David Frost, had made very little progress.
One major element of the Brexit withdrawal agreement is the section related to ensuring an open border on the island of Ireland to protect the peace process in Northern Ireland.
The issue proved thorny during the more than two years of discussions it took to get a Brexit deal done, as the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is the only land link between the UK and the EU.
The EU wanted assurances the border would not be used as a back route for unlicensed goods arriving in Ireland from the rest of the UK. As a result, the two sides agreed there would be some kind of regulatory border between mainland Britain and Northern Ireland.
Major and Blair, who both vociferously opposed Brexit, said the planned legislation puts the 1998 Good Friday agreement that ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland at risk.
The pair said the bill "negates the predictability, political stability and legal clarity that are integral to the delicate balance between the north and south of Ireland that is at the core of the peace process.”
It's unclear whether the planned legislation will get through the British Parliament, with a number of Tory backbenchers uneasy at the prospect of the government breaching international law.
Major and Blair’s letter comes as the Republic of Ireland’s government said that Johnson was lying when he claimed that the EU wants to create destablising new barriers between the UK and the Republic.
“That’s simply not the case,” Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee told Sky News. “Any suggestion that this is going to create a new border is simply not true,” she said.
McEntee said that provisions for Northern Ireland in Britain’s EU withdrawal treaty were agreed by both sides to ensure fair competition after Brexit, and to comply with a 1998 peace pact that ended three decades of unrest in the province.
The treaty also “ensures the integrity of Northern Ireland as part of the UK”, she said, and it “ensures we do not see any kind of a border re-emerging”.
On Saturday, Johnson accused the EU of threatening to tear the UK apart by imposing a food “blockade” between Britain and Northern Ireland, writing in the Daily Telegraph, the right-wing paper where he made his name as Brussels correspondent in the 1990s, often stretching the truth to portray the EU in a negative light.
Johnson said the EU’s stance justified his government’s introduction of new legislation to rewrite its Brexit withdrawal treaty—a bill that is causing deep alarm in Brussels, as well among former British prime ministers and his own MPs.
(FRANCE 24 with AP and AFP
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-09-13--Osaka's third Grand Slam, anti-racism stand, hailed in Japan

Naomi Osaka 's victory in the US Open was hailed Sunday by media and officials in Japan , who broadly welcomed her campaigning for victims of racial injustice and against police brutality .
Public broadcaster NHK broke into its regular news programme to flash the news of the 22-year-old 's latest Grand Slam triumph , after she beat Victoria Azarenka 1-6 , 6-3 , 6-3 to add to winning the 2018 US Open and the 2019 Australian Open .
`` Osaka achieved the feat of winning a record third title in the Grand Slam singles as an Asian player , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Japan 's men 's tennis number one Kei Nishikori , who withdrew from the US Open after a positive coronavirus test , congratulated his fellow player on her triumph -- tweeting a string of emoticons of likes , muscles and Japanese flags .
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe , who is scheduled to step down this week due to health problems , tweeted : `` Congratulations on your second win at the US Open .
Thank you for the sensation .
I hope you will continue playing outstandingly . ''
Media and supporters also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on and off the court .
`` The victory embodied the feeling of bereaved families who hope to prevent a repeat of tragedies and change society , '' the Mainichi Shimbun daily said .
Osaka walked onto the court before the final wearing a mask bearing the name of Tamir Rice , a 12-year-old African-American boy who was shot dead by a white police officer in Cleveland , Ohio in 2014 .
Osaka , of Japanese and Haitian heritage , wore different masks for each of her seven matches in the tournament , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brutality .
`` She is brave .
I 'm proud of her , '' Osaka 's 75-year-old grandfather , Tetsuo Osaka , told reporters of her stand .
Fumio Kishida , one of three candidates to succeed Abe , tweeted : `` I respect her as she fought it out and showed the best result , bringing up the importance of diversity to the world .
I 'm greatly encouraged . ''
But the Mainichi daily reported mixed reactions from some sponsors in Japan .
`` I do n't think she needed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to the top .
If possible , we 'd like her to attract more attention with her tennis skills , '' said a source linked to a Japanese corporate sponsor of Osaka 's , according to the daily .

Tokyo (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Naomi Osaka's victory in the US Open was hailed Sunday by media and officials in Japan, who broadly welcomed her campaigning for victims of racial injustice and against police brutality.
Public broadcaster NHK broke into its regular news programme to flash the news of the 22-year-old's latest Grand Slam triumph, after she beat Victoria Azarenka 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 to add to winning the 2018 US Open and the 2019 Australian Open.
"Osaka achieved the feat of winning a record third title in the Grand Slam singles as an Asian player," said the daily Nikkan Sports.
Japan's men's tennis number one Kei Nishikori, who withdrew from the US Open after a positive coronavirus test, congratulated his fellow player on her triumph -- tweeting a string of emoticons of likes, muscles and Japanese flags.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is scheduled to step down this week due to health problems, tweeted: "Congratulations on your second win at the US Open. Thank you for the sensation. I hope you will continue playing outstandingly."
Media and supporters also backed 22-year-old Osaka's protest against racism on and off the court.
"The victory embodied the feeling of bereaved families who hope to prevent a repeat of tragedies and change society," the Mainichi Shimbun daily said.
Osaka walked onto the court before the final wearing a mask bearing the name of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old African-American boy who was shot dead by a white police officer in Cleveland, Ohio in 2014.
Osaka, of Japanese and Haitian heritage, wore different masks for each of her seven matches in the tournament, honouring victims of racial injustice and police brutality.
"She is brave. I'm proud of her," Osaka's 75-year-old grandfather, Tetsuo Osaka, told reporters of her stand.
Fumio Kishida, one of three candidates to succeed Abe, tweeted: "I respect her as she fought it out and showed the best result, bringing up the importance of diversity to the world. I'm greatly encouraged."
But the Mainichi daily reported mixed reactions from some sponsors in Japan.
"I don't think she needed to do that while she's fighting her way to the top. If possible, we'd like her to attract more attention with her tennis skills," said a source linked to a Japanese corporate sponsor of Osaka's, according to the daily.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-13--In US town of Paradise, residents defy recurring wildfires to rebuild their homes

Many Paradise residents have had to rebuild their homes after devastating wildfires More than 4,000 homes and other structures have been incinerated in California alone over the past three weeks , but in the small mountain town of Paradise , many residents have chosen to defy the recurring wildfires , rebuilding the place they call home .
FRANCE 24 ’ s Alyssa Caverly reports .
“ We ’ ve been in Paradise our entire lives .
It ’ s home , that ’ s why we ’ re rebuilding here , ” a resident explains as he shows FRANCE 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one burned down to the ground in one of the deadliest wildfires in the state ’ s history in 2018 .
“ I love this town , I love its people — especially after everything that happened .
It just makes me feel that much closer to everybody .
I ’ m not going to live in fear , I ’ m going to live my life.
” But it ’ s not just an emotional attachment to the town that is keeping the population of 4,000 in Paradise , it is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just one-sixth of those in San Fransisco .
To watch the full report , please click on the video player above .

on the ground
More than 4,000 homes and other structures have been incinerated in California alone over the past three weeks, but in the small mountain town of Paradise, many residents have chosen to defy the recurring wildfires, rebuilding the place they call home. FRANCE 24’s Alyssa Caverly reports.
Many Paradise residents have had to rebuild their homes after devastating wildfires
Advertising Read more
“We’ve been in Paradise our entire lives. It’s home, that’s why we’re rebuilding here,” a resident explains as he shows FRANCE 24 around his new home after his former one burned down to the ground in one of the deadliest wildfires in the state’s history in 2018.
“I love this town, I love its people — especially after everything that happened. It just makes me feel that much closer to everybody. I’m not going to live in fear, I’m going to live my life.”
But it’s not just an emotional attachment to the town that is keeping the population of 4,000 in Paradise, it is also financial. House prices in Paradise cost just one-sixth of those in San Fransisco.
To watch the full report, please click on the video player above.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-09-13--Turkish vessel leaves contested waters in eastern Med: report

Turkey sent the Oruc Reis research vessel to disputed waters near a Greek island on August 10 and prolonged the mission three times despite repeated calls from the European Union and Greece to stop .
The Turkish research ship at the centre of a row between Greece and Turkey over gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean returned to a port in southern Turkey , local media reported Sunday .
Turkey sent the Oruc Reis research vessel to disputed waters near a Greek island on August 10 and prolonged the mission three times despite repeated calls from the European Union and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was scheduled to end on Saturday and has not been renewed by the Turkish authorities , pro-government newspaper Yeni Safak reported , adding that it had returned to Antalya port .
The decision not to extend the ship 's mission was viewed as `` a step towards giving diplomacy a chance , '' the newspaper wrote , linking it to attempts to kickstart talks between Greece and Turkey .
NATO said earlier this month that officials from both sides had agreed to take part in technical talks to avoid accidents between their navies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the Turkish defence ministry said on Thursday that the first round of talks between Greek and Turkish military delegations took place at NATO 's headquarters in Brussels .
While Turkey repeatedly said it was ready for dialogue without preconditions , Greece said there could only be talks once Ankara stopped making `` threats '' .
Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas welcomed the apparent withdrawal in an interview to Skai TV on Sunday .
`` The fact there seems to be no new NAVTEX ( deployment ) is a positive step .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are following the situation , '' he said .
Tensions escalated after Turkey sent the seismic research vessel and a small navy flotilla to waters claimed by Greece last month .
Greece then responded by shadowing the Turkish ships and staging naval exercises with several EU allies and the United Arab Emirates in its own show of force .
Leaders of seven European countries on the Mediterranean met at a summit last week in Corsica where they said they were ready to back EU sanctions on Turkey over the dispute .

Istanbul (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
The Turkish research ship at the centre of a row between Greece and Turkey over gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean returned to a port in southern Turkey, local media reported Sunday.
Turkey sent the Oruc Reis research vessel to disputed waters near a Greek island on August 10 and prolonged the mission three times despite repeated calls from the European Union and Greece to stop.
But its deployment was scheduled to end on Saturday and has not been renewed by the Turkish authorities, pro-government newspaper Yeni Safak reported, adding that it had returned to Antalya port.
The decision not to extend the ship's mission was viewed as "a step towards giving diplomacy a chance," the newspaper wrote, linking it to attempts to kickstart talks between Greece and Turkey.
NATO said earlier this month that officials from both sides had agreed to take part in technical talks to avoid accidents between their navies.
Athens denied this was the case, but the Turkish defence ministry said on Thursday that the first round of talks between Greek and Turkish military delegations took place at NATO's headquarters in Brussels.
While Turkey repeatedly said it was ready for dialogue without preconditions, Greece said there could only be talks once Ankara stopped making "threats".
Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas welcomed the apparent withdrawal in an interview to Skai TV on Sunday.
"The fact there seems to be no new NAVTEX (deployment) is a positive step. We assess that as such and we are following the situation," he said.
Tensions escalated after Turkey sent the seismic research vessel and a small navy flotilla to waters claimed by Greece last month.
Greece then responded by shadowing the Turkish ships and staging naval exercises with several EU allies and the United Arab Emirates in its own show of force.
Leaders of seven European countries on the Mediterranean met at a summit last week in Corsica where they said they were ready to back EU sanctions on Turkey over the dispute.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-13--Thousands rally in support of Ivory Coast opposition candidate Bedie

Henri Konan Bedie , former Ivory Coast president and current president of the Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire ( PDCI ) , waves to supporters upon his arrival for his investiture as PDCI candidate in the October 31 , 2020 presidential elections , at the place Jean-Paul II of Yamoussoukro on September 12 , 2020 .
Thousands of opposition supporters in Ivory Coast gathered Saturday in the city of Yamoussoukro to support Henri Konan Bedie becoming their candidate for the Oct. 31 presidential election .
Bedie ’ s PDCI-RDA political party celebrated the 86-year-old former president with hopes he will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sparked controversy by standing for a third term .
He and Pascal Affi N ’ Guessan of the Ivorian Popular Front Party pose the strongest threat to Ouattara , and have called on the president to withdraw his candidacy .
“ Once elected , I pledge to form a broad-based government , ” announced Bedie , who was president from 1993 to 1999 before being ousted in a coup .
Bedie , a former ally of Ouattara , also promised to reform police in the West African nation of 26 million people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the election is within our grasp , ” he said to his supporters in green shirts cheering him .
Bedie also promised that he would back the unconditional return of all exiles and the release of all political and military prisoners from the post-election crisis a decade ago that left some 3,000 people dead after then-President Laurent Gbagbo refused to acknowledge his defeat in a runoff .
Ouattara has been in power since 2010 and earlier this year promised not to run again .
However , the ruling party nominated him after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coulibaly , died in July from a heart attack .
Ouattara has argued that because changes were made to the constitution in 2016 , the two-term limit does not apply to his previous terms .
His decision has revived political tensions in the West African nation .

Thousands of opposition supporters in Ivory Coast gathered Saturday in the city of Yamoussoukro to support Henri Konan Bedie becoming their candidate for the Oct. 31 presidential election.
Henri Konan Bedie, former Ivory Coast president and current president of the Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire (PDCI), waves to supporters upon his arrival for his investiture as PDCI candidate in the October 31, 2020 presidential elections, at the place Jean-Paul II of Yamoussoukro on September 12, 2020.
Advertising Read more
Bedie’s PDCI-RDA political party celebrated the 86-year-old former president with hopes he will unseat President Alassane Ouattara, who has sparked controversy by standing for a third term. He and Pascal Affi N’Guessan of the Ivorian Popular Front Party pose the strongest threat to Ouattara, and have called on the president to withdraw his candidacy.
“Once elected, I pledge to form a broad-based government,” announced Bedie, who was president from 1993 to 1999 before being ousted in a coup.
Bedie, a former ally of Ouattara, also promised to reform police in the West African nation of 26 million people.
“Let us be determined because victory in the election is within our grasp,” he said to his supporters in green shirts cheering him.
Bedie also promised that he would back the unconditional return of all exiles and the release of all political and military prisoners from the post-election crisis a decade ago that left some 3,000 people dead after then-President Laurent Gbagbo refused to acknowledge his defeat in a runoff.
Ouattara has been in power since 2010 and earlier this year promised not to run again. However, the ruling party nominated him after its previous nominee, Prime Minister Amadou Coulibaly, died in July from a heart attack.
Ouattara has argued that because changes were made to the constitution in 2016, the two-term limit does not apply to his previous terms. His decision has revived political tensions in the West African nation.
(AP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-09-13--Deauville Film Festival: Jude Law drama 'The Nest' wins top prize

The jury of this year 's Deauville American Film Festival pose with prize-winning director Sabrina Doyle ( centre ) on Saturday , September 12 , 2020 .
`` The Nest '' by director Sean Durkin scooped the top prize at the Deauville American Film Festival on Saturday , September 12 , and claimed two other awards with jury president Vanessa Paradis praising the direction and the acting of its leads Jude Law and Carrie Coon .
As well as winning the Grand Prix , the festival 's top prize , `` The Nest '' , which tells the story of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after relocating from the US to England also took this year 's Critics ' Prize and was one of the winners of this year 's Revelation Prize .
`` There 's an elegance in the direction and in the story and from the actors … who make you forget they 're playing a role , '' said Paradis .
The Jury Prize was shared by two films : `` First Cow '' , a tale of two friends seeking fortune in the American Old West , and `` Lorelei '' , a film @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with her ex-con boyfriend after a 15-year prison stint .
Director Sabrina Doyle was one of the few filmmakers able to travel to accept her award in person amid the Covid-19 pandemic .
`` What an honour .
It 's maybe the biggest honour of my life up to now , '' she said in her acceptance speech The second Revelation Prize went to the movie `` The Assistant '' , directed by Kitty Green , and the Public Prize , voted on by festivalgoers , went to director Alan Ball 's `` @ @ @ @

"The Nest" by director Sean Durkin scooped the top prize at the Deauville American Film Festival on Saturday, September 12, and claimed two other awards with jury president Vanessa Paradis praising the direction and the acting of its leads Jude Law and Carrie Coon.
The jury of this year's Deauville American Film Festival pose with prize-winning director Sabrina Doyle (centre) on Saturday, September 12, 2020.
Advertising Read more
As well as winning the Grand Prix, the festival's top prize, "The Nest", which tells the story of a family struggling with uncertainty and isolation after relocating from the US to England also took this year's Critics' Prize and was one of the winners of this year's Revelation Prize.
"There's an elegance in the direction and in the story and from the actors … who make you forget they're playing a role," said Paradis.
The Jury Prize was shared by two films: "First Cow", a tale of two friends seeking fortune in the American Old West, and "Lorelei", a film about a blue-collar American single mother reunited with her ex-con boyfriend after a 15-year prison stint.
Director Sabrina Doyle was one of the few filmmakers able to travel to accept her award in person amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
"What an honour. It's maybe the biggest honour of my life up to now," she said in her acceptance speech
The second Revelation Prize went to the movie "The Assistant", directed by Kitty Green, and the Public Prize, voted on by festivalgoers, went to director Alan Ball's "Uncle Frank".
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-09-13--Fires, fear and guns on America's wild West Coast

`` This is just stuff .
We 're gon na move on from it , '' says Margi Wyatt , holding back tears as she stares at her burned-out mobile home destroyed by one of the fires raging through the US state of Oregon .
The 70-year-old fled 30 miles ( 50 kilometers ) from her home to Estacada in Portland 's southeast as the huge and still-uncontained Riverside Fire raced through .
The blaze devastated the mobile home site , located on a wooded hill next to a road .
All the properties in Wyatt 's row were destroyed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ten meters ) away were left unscathed .
It is one of scores of infernos ravaging that have burnt through a record 5 million acres ( 2 million hectares ) and left at least 27 people dead .
With smoke still rising from the hill , she and her husband Marcelino Maceda have come back to sift through the remains and pick up anything that may have escaped the flames .
But there 's little left in the ashes .
Among the belongings they find is a partially melted watch , a blackened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police just told us to grab our things and go , '' Wyatt said as the flames neared .
`` I gathered what I could in 20 minutes -- cash , important papers , jewellery . ''
Everything else , she says , is in the blackened remains of her home , which they moved into just two years ago .
But Wyatt -- a retired caregiver -- said she was glad that at least no-one was hurt , but adds : `` I do n't want to come back .
These are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a stick house . ''
Luckier residents moved back in as soon as the evacuation order was lifted , and much of the site was occupied again on Saturday .
Six miles to the north , a dense pall of smoke smothered the centre of Estacada .
Some of the city 's 3,500 inhabitants have returned despite the acrid air and are patrolling in cars to prevent robberies .
Matt Watts , semi-automatic rifle in hand and pistol in his belt , is standing watch at his property to keep potential pillagers at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looters and arsons on the radio ( scanner ) , I did not feel in fear of my house catching fire so I decided to hang around and protect it , '' Watts says .
`` I hope to be a deterrent for somebody that means harm . ''
He says he has heard shots at night and seen cars with licence plates from other states , which make him suspicious .
For days rumours have spread that radical leftists have been lighting fires in Oregon -- false information that was debunked by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But James , 29 , says the robberies are a reality -- and that he has lost about $ 15,000 worth of property , stolen from his workshop between Tuesday and Saturday .
`` We had our Dune racer stolen .
I 've had a whole bunch of construction tools stolen .
My motorcycle , the most recent thing we found out today , my motorcycle 's gone out of the shop .
Yeah , just a lot of different tools really . ''
He co-ordinates with his neighbours and they `` come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a watch on each other 's houses but outside of that we just had to monitor our cameras , '' James says , pointing to images of the robbers .

Estacada (Etats-Unis) (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
"This is just stuff. We're gonna move on from it," says Margi Wyatt, holding back tears as she stares at her burned-out mobile home destroyed by one of the fires raging through the US state of Oregon.
The 70-year-old fled 30 miles (50 kilometers) from her home to Estacada in Portland's southeast as the huge and still-uncontained Riverside Fire raced through.
The blaze devastated the mobile home site, located on a wooded hill next to a road. All the properties in Wyatt's row were destroyed -- but homes just ten yards (ten meters) away were left unscathed.
It is one of scores of infernos ravaging that have burnt through a record 5 million acres (2 million hectares) and left at least 27 people dead.
With smoke still rising from the hill, she and her husband Marcelino Maceda have come back to sift through the remains and pick up anything that may have escaped the flames.
But there's little left in the ashes. Among the belongings they find is a partially melted watch, a blackened bracelet and a ring.
"The police just told us to grab our things and go," Wyatt said as the flames neared. "I gathered what I could in 20 minutes -- cash, important papers, jewellery."
Everything else, she says, is in the blackened remains of her home, which they moved into just two years ago.
But Wyatt -- a retired caregiver -- said she was glad that at least no-one was hurt, but adds: "I don't want to come back. These are plastic houses. Our next move is a stick house."
- Guns and robberies -
Luckier residents moved back in as soon as the evacuation order was lifted, and much of the site was occupied again on Saturday.
Six miles to the north, a dense pall of smoke smothered the centre of Estacada. Some of the city's 3,500 inhabitants have returned despite the acrid air and are patrolling in cars to prevent robberies.
Matt Watts, semi-automatic rifle in hand and pistol in his belt, is standing watch at his property to keep potential pillagers at bay.
"I hear nothing but looters and arsons on the radio (scanner), I did not feel in fear of my house catching fire so I decided to hang around and protect it," Watts says.
"I hope to be a deterrent for somebody that means harm."
He says he has heard shots at night and seen cars with licence plates from other states, which make him suspicious.
For days rumours have spread that radical leftists have been lighting fires in Oregon -- false information that was debunked by the local branch of the FBI.
But James, 29, says the robberies are a reality -- and that he has lost about $15,000 worth of property, stolen from his workshop between Tuesday and Saturday.
"We had our Dune racer stolen. I've had a whole bunch of construction tools stolen. My motorcycle, the most recent thing we found out today, my motorcycle's gone out of the shop. Yeah, just a lot of different tools really."
He co-ordinates with his neighbours and they "come out at different times just to keep a watch on each other's houses but outside of that we just had to monitor our cameras," James says, pointing to images of the robbers.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-13--Greece to boost arms with 18 new French Rafale jets, frigates amid growing Turkey tensions

FILE PHOTO : Greek and French vessels sail in formation during a joint military exercise in Mediterranean sea , in this undated handout image obtained by Reuters on August 13 , 2020 .
Greece ’ s prime minister outlined plans Saturday to upgrade the country ’ s defense capabilities , including purchasing new fighter planes , frigates , helicopters and weapons systems amid heightened tensions with Turkey over rights to resources in the eastern Mediterranean .
In an annual state of the economy speech , Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece would obtain 18 new French-made Rafale fighter planes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buy four navy helicopters and four new frigates and was refurbishing another four frigates .
The armed forces will obtain new anti-tank weapons , new torpedoes and new guided missiles , as well as hire 15,000 more people over the next five years , he said .
France welcomed the Rafale acquisition , the first by a European country .
“ Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly welcomes the choice announced today by Prime Minister Mitsotakis to acquire 18 Rafale aircraft , ” a statement by France ’ s Armed Forces ministry said late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the link between the Greek and French armed forces , and will allow them to intensify their operational and strategic cooperation , ” the statement said , adding that a contract will be signed “ in the coming months.
” Nominally NATO allies , Greece and Turkey have deployed naval and air force units to assert the countries ’ competing claims over energy rights in the eastern Mediterranean .
Turkish survey vessels and drill ships continue to prospect for gas in waters where Greece and the European island nation of Cyprus claim exclusive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sea has led to concerns that the situation could spiral into armed conflict .
“ We are a peaceful country , ready to cooperate with all ... including with Turkey , ” Mitsotakis said , speaking from the northern city of Thessaloniki .
If Turkey disagrees on the delineation of maritime boundaries in the eastern Aegean , he said , then a solution could be found at the International Court .
Turkey accuses Greece of trying to grab an unfair share of maritime resources and Cyprus of disregarding the rights of Turkish Cypriots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Turkey have conducted rival naval exercises amid their standoff .
On Friday , Turkey announced live-fire exercises starting Saturday and running through Monday between its southern coast and northern Cyprus .
“ Ankara is now adding to the provocations in the Aegean , the undermining of peace in the entire Mediterranean , ” Mitsotakis said , noting that Greece ’ s armed forces had lacked funding in recent years during a recession .
“ The time ( has come ) to reinforce the armed forces as a legacy to the security of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the European Union to impose sanctions on Turkey unless Ankara withdraws its research vessel , the Oruc Reis , from the area of the eastern Mediterranean that Greece claims as its continental shelf .
The prime minister also addressed economic measures to tackle the impact of the coronavirus pandemic , announcing some tax cuts and the extension of subsidies .
The economic package adds up to 6.8 billion euros ( $ 8.1 billion ) injected into the economy , Mitsotakis said .
Part of the extra defense spending , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 2.5 billion euros ( $ 3 billion ) that Greece recently raised in a bond auction .
The Thessaloniki International Fair ( TIF ) , on whose grounds Mitsotakis spoke , was canceled this year because of the coronavirus .
He gave the traditional prime minister ’ s speech about the economy in front of a restricted audience , all of whom wore masks and practiced social distancing .
Around 5,000 people protested outside the speech venue , with riot police monitoring .
Similar demonstrations in previous years have turned violent , @ @ @ @ @

Greece’s prime minister outlined plans Saturday to upgrade the country’s defense capabilities, including purchasing new fighter planes, frigates, helicopters and weapons systems amid heightened tensions with Turkey over rights to resources in the eastern Mediterranean.
FILE PHOTO: Greek and French vessels sail in formation during a joint military exercise in Mediterranean sea, in this undated handout image obtained by Reuters on August 13, 2020.
Advertising Read more
In an annual state of the economy speech, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece would obtain 18 new French-made Rafale fighter planes to replace its aging Mirage 2000 fighters, buy four navy helicopters and four new frigates and was refurbishing another four frigates.
The armed forces will obtain new anti-tank weapons, new torpedoes and new guided missiles, as well as hire 15,000 more people over the next five years, he said.
France welcomed the Rafale acquisition, the first by a European country.
“Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly welcomes the choice announced today by Prime Minister Mitsotakis to acquire 18 Rafale aircraft,” a statement by France’s Armed Forces ministry said late Saturday.
“This choice...strengthens the link between the Greek and French armed forces, and will allow them to intensify their operational and strategic cooperation,” the statement said, adding that a contract will be signed “in the coming months.”
Nominally NATO allies, Greece and Turkey have deployed naval and air force units to assert the countries’ competing claims over energy rights in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkish survey vessels and drill ships continue to prospect for gas in waters where Greece and the European island nation of Cyprus claim exclusive economic rights.
The increasing tension at sea has led to concerns that the situation could spiral into armed conflict.
“We are a peaceful country, ready to cooperate with all... including with Turkey,” Mitsotakis said, speaking from the northern city of Thessaloniki. If Turkey disagrees on the delineation of maritime boundaries in the eastern Aegean, he said, then a solution could be found at the International Court.
Turkey accuses Greece of trying to grab an unfair share of maritime resources and Cyprus of disregarding the rights of Turkish Cypriots on the ethnically divided island.
Greece and Turkey have conducted rival naval exercises amid their standoff. On Friday, Turkey announced live-fire exercises starting Saturday and running through Monday between its southern coast and northern Cyprus.
“Ankara is now adding to the provocations in the Aegean, the undermining of peace in the entire Mediterranean,” Mitsotakis said, noting that Greece’s armed forces had lacked funding in recent years during a recession. “The time (has come) to reinforce the armed forces as a legacy to the security of the country.”
Athens has been pushing for the European Union to impose sanctions on Turkey unless Ankara withdraws its research vessel, the Oruc Reis, from the area of the eastern Mediterranean that Greece claims as its continental shelf.
The prime minister also addressed economic measures to tackle the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, announcing some tax cuts and the extension of subsidies. The economic package adds up to 6.8 billion euros ($8.1 billion) injected into the economy, Mitsotakis said.
Part of the extra defense spending, as well as aid to businesses, will be financed with 2.5 billion euros ($3 billion) that Greece recently raised in a bond auction.
The Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), on whose grounds Mitsotakis spoke, was canceled this year because of the coronavirus. He gave the traditional prime minister’s speech about the economy in front of a restricted audience, all of whom wore masks and practiced social distancing.
Around 5,000 people protested outside the speech venue, with riot police monitoring. Similar demonstrations in previous years have turned violent, but not this time.
(AP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-09-13--'Superfungus' threatens last Panamanian golden frogs

A Panamanian golden frog is pictured at El Nispero Zoo and Botanical Garden , east of Panama City , in 2009 Cocooned from the outside world , some 200 critically endangered golden frogs are living a sheltered existence in Panama , protected from a devastating fungus that threatens to wipe out a third of the country 's amphibian species -- a situation scientists describe as `` critical . ''
The frogs , which are yellow or gold with black spots , enjoy a controlled environment inside fish tanks installed at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute ( STRI ) , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , north of Panama City .
Though endemic to the lush Central American country , no Panamanian golden frog can be seen in its natural habitat , threatened as it is by a so-called `` superfungus '' that has decimated amphibians in the wild .
According to a report by the World Wildlife Fund ( WWF ) published this week , the planet has lost more than two-thirds of its vertebrates in less than 50 years .
The situation is especially dire in the tropical areas of Central and South America , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 94 percent .
Believed extinct in the wild , only about 1,500 of the tiny Panamanian golden frogs are found in zoos where they can reproduce .
But it is not only frogs that are vulnerable to the fungus .
Toads , salamanders and caecilians -- limbless amphibians similar to snakes -- are also at risk .
`` In Panama , we can say that about a third of the 225 species of amphibians are threatened in some way , '' said STRI researcher Roberto Ibanez .
Gina Della Togna , a specialist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Maryland , described the situation as `` critical . ''
The biggest threat posed to amphibians is chytrid fungus , which spreads through water .
The pathogen is responsible for chytridiomycosis , an infectious disease that scientists say has already caused the disappearance of some 30 species .
The fungus becomes embedded in the animal 's skin and infects it , causing it to be unable to exchange salts and water with the environment .
The disease causes irreparable damage to vital functions .
Eventually the animal dies of heart failure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pretty dramatic and painful disease , '' said Angie Estrada , a biologist at Virginia Tech University and administrator of Panama 's Summit Park .
`` When the fungus gets to a place where it was n't , it affects populations very much and animals die en masse .
It causes certain death in the individuals it infects .
It 's a devastating phenomenon , '' said Della Togna .
The microorganism was first detected in the 20th century in the Korean Peninsula and scientists warn that it has already spread throughout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world where there are amphibians , the fungus is already there , '' said Estrada .
It arrived in Panama in the early 1990s and has been wreaking havoc ever since .
`` It 's a superfungus that can even affect other species that are not amphibians , '' according to Ibanez .
He warned that deforestation , environmental destruction and pollution of streams and rivers caused by humans exacerbate the problem .
Despite the gloomy scenario , scientists point to some glimmers of hope , saying that in the past few years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been re-discovered .
Specialists suspect that some amphibians have been able to bolster their defenses against infection .
`` This gives us hope , knowing that some frogs are returning and that they have ways to counter-attack '' the fungus , said Estrada .
Meanwhile , in Gamboa , the STRI maintains some 2,000 specimens from 12 frog species in the hope they can one day be released into the wild to fend for themselves .
`` The idea is not to keep these animals in captivity forever .
We want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ natural habitat , '' said Ibanez .
To that end , Smithsonian researcher Della Togna is carrying out an assisted reproduction project , where she freezes the animals ' semen in order to impregnate the females and increase their numbers .
With great care , she injects hormones into the tiny frogs that appear to get lost in the palm of her hand .
`` Of all the different animals , amphibians are the world 's most threatened , '' Della Togna said .

Panama City (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Cocooned from the outside world, some 200 critically endangered golden frogs are living a sheltered existence in Panama, protected from a devastating fungus that threatens to wipe out a third of the country's amphibian species -- a situation scientists describe as "critical."
The frogs, which are yellow or gold with black spots, enjoy a controlled environment inside fish tanks installed at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), a 5,000-square-foot (465-square-meter) facility in Gamboa, north of Panama City.
Though endemic to the lush Central American country, no Panamanian golden frog can be seen in its natural habitat, threatened as it is by a so-called "superfungus" that has decimated amphibians in the wild.
According to a report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) published this week, the planet has lost more than two-thirds of its vertebrates in less than 50 years.
The situation is especially dire in the tropical areas of Central and South America, where the extent of loss is pegged at 94 percent.
Believed extinct in the wild, only about 1,500 of the tiny Panamanian golden frogs are found in zoos where they can reproduce.
But it is not only frogs that are vulnerable to the fungus. Toads, salamanders and caecilians -- limbless amphibians similar to snakes -- are also at risk.
"In Panama, we can say that about a third of the 225 species of amphibians are threatened in some way," said STRI researcher Roberto Ibanez.
Gina Della Togna, a specialist in molecular and cellular biology at the University of Maryland, described the situation as "critical."
- 'Superfungus' -
The biggest threat posed to amphibians is chytrid fungus, which spreads through water.
The pathogen is responsible for chytridiomycosis, an infectious disease that scientists say has already caused the disappearance of some 30 species.
The fungus becomes embedded in the animal's skin and infects it, causing it to be unable to exchange salts and water with the environment.
The disease causes irreparable damage to vital functions. Eventually the animal dies of heart failure caused by asphyxiation.
"It's a pretty dramatic and painful disease," said Angie Estrada, a biologist at Virginia Tech University and administrator of Panama's Summit Park.
"When the fungus gets to a place where it wasn't, it affects populations very much and animals die en masse. It causes certain death in the individuals it infects. It's a devastating phenomenon," said Della Togna.
The microorganism was first detected in the 20th century in the Korean Peninsula and scientists warn that it has already spread throughout the world.
"Anywhere in the world where there are amphibians, the fungus is already there," said Estrada.
It arrived in Panama in the early 1990s and has been wreaking havoc ever since.
"It's a superfungus that can even affect other species that are not amphibians," according to Ibanez.
He warned that deforestation, environmental destruction and pollution of streams and rivers caused by humans exacerbate the problem.
- Glimmers of hope -
Despite the gloomy scenario, scientists point to some glimmers of hope, saying that in the past few years some species believed to have gone extinct have been re-discovered.
Specialists suspect that some amphibians have been able to bolster their defenses against infection.
"This gives us hope, knowing that some frogs are returning and that they have ways to counter-attack" the fungus, said Estrada.
Meanwhile, in Gamboa, the STRI maintains some 2,000 specimens from 12 frog species in the hope they can one day be released into the wild to fend for themselves.
"The idea is not to keep these animals in captivity forever. We want to be able to reestablish populations in their natural habitat," said Ibanez.
To that end, Smithsonian researcher Della Togna is carrying out an assisted reproduction project, where she freezes the animals' semen in order to impregnate the females and increase their numbers.
With great care, she injects hormones into the tiny frogs that appear to get lost in the palm of her hand.
"Of all the different animals, amphibians are the world's most threatened," Della Togna said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-14--Thiem beats Zverev to win US Open for first Grand Slam title

Dominic Thiem produced a historic comeback to beat Alexander Zverev in a nervy five-setter and win the US Open on Sunday for his first Grand Slam title .
The second seeded Austrian beat the fifth seed 2-6 , 4-6 , 6-4 , 6-3 , 7-6 ( 8/6 ) in 4hr 2min inside a near-empty Arthur Ashe Stadium .
It marked the first time in the US Open 's Open era history that a player had recovered from losing the opening two sets to win the title .
It was also the first time the final had been settled by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maiden Grand Slam trophy after three previous defeats in finals of tennis majors .
Thiem was runner-up at the Australian Open earlier this year and also lost in the last-two showdowns at the French Open in 2018 and 2019 .
He also becomes the first new Grand Slam champion since Croatian Marin Cilic won at Flushing Meadows in 2014 .
Thiem is also the first Grand Slam champion other than Novak Djokovic , Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer since Switzerland 's Stan Wawrinka won the third of his majors at the 2016 US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16 winners in the first set as he displayed an impressive serve and volley game to take a 1-0 lead in just 30 minutes .
The German was helped by some sloppy serving from Thiem , who hit three double faults as he was broken twice , in games three and seven .
In set two , Zverev wasted three set points while 5-1 up but held on to take a 2-0 lead on his fifth set point .
The tide was beginning to turn though as Zverev 's play became increasingly cagey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his forehand , another weakness , became more defensive .
After Thiem easily took set four , Zverev found himself serving for the championship at 5-3 in the fifth set .
But he could not hold and soon Thiem found himself 6-5 ahead .
He took a medical timeout before it was his turn to serve for the championship .
However , like Zverev moments earlier , Thiem failed to clinch the match and it went to a tie-break .
He found himself 5-3 up after two double faults by Zverev but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , blew two championship points .
He won the title on his third and collapsed to the court with his head in his hands .
The match was watched by just a few dozen people , mostly officials , journalists and event staff after the coronavirus pandemic forced the tournament to be held behind closed doors .
This year 's field at the Billie Jean King US National Tennis Center in New York was depleted by the absence of Swiss legend Federer and defending champion Nadal .
The tournament was also blown wide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one and heavy favorite Djokovic in the last 16 for hitting a line judge with the ball .

New York (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Dominic Thiem produced a historic comeback to beat Alexander Zverev in a nervy five-setter and win the US Open on Sunday for his first Grand Slam title.
The second seeded Austrian beat the fifth seed 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) in 4hr 2min inside a near-empty Arthur Ashe Stadium.
It marked the first time in the US Open's Open era history that a player had recovered from losing the opening two sets to win the title.
It was also the first time the final had been settled by a tie-break.
The title marks Thiem's maiden Grand Slam trophy after three previous defeats in finals of tennis majors.
Thiem was runner-up at the Australian Open earlier this year and also lost in the last-two showdowns at the French Open in 2018 and 2019.
He also becomes the first new Grand Slam champion since Croatian Marin Cilic won at Flushing Meadows in 2014.
Thiem is also the first Grand Slam champion other than Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer since Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka won the third of his majors at the 2016 US Open.
Zverev smashed four aces and 16 winners in the first set as he displayed an impressive serve and volley game to take a 1-0 lead in just 30 minutes.
The German was helped by some sloppy serving from Thiem, who hit three double faults as he was broken twice, in games three and seven.
In set two, Zverev wasted three set points while 5-1 up but held on to take a 2-0 lead on his fifth set point.
The tide was beginning to turn though as Zverev's play became increasingly cagey as his suspect second serve got slower and his forehand, another weakness, became more defensive.
After Thiem easily took set four, Zverev found himself serving for the championship at 5-3 in the fifth set.
But he could not hold and soon Thiem found himself 6-5 ahead. He took a medical timeout before it was his turn to serve for the championship.
However, like Zverev moments earlier, Thiem failed to clinch the match and it went to a tie-break.
He found himself 5-3 up after two double faults by Zverev but Thiem, by now exhausted and limping, blew two championship points.
He won the title on his third and collapsed to the court with his head in his hands.
The match was watched by just a few dozen people, mostly officials, journalists and event staff after the coronavirus pandemic forced the tournament to be held behind closed doors.
This year's field at the Billie Jean King US National Tennis Center in New York was depleted by the absence of Swiss legend Federer and defending champion Nadal.
The tournament was also blown wide open by the disqualification of world number one and heavy favorite Djokovic in the last 16 for hitting a line judge with the ball.
© 2020 AFP