france24--2020-12-16--Facebook closes fake accounts linked to French military and Russia

FILE PHOTO : A Facebook logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6 , 2020 .
Facebook said Tuesday that it had removed two networks based in Russia and one linked to the French military , accusing them of carrying out interference campaigns in Africa .
Two networks running multiple Facebook accounts were assigned to people associated with the Russian Internet Research Agency , and the third had `` links to individuals associated with French military , '' the social media platform said .
All three were removed from the site for breaking its policy against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding that the networks targeted countries mainly in north Africa and some in the Middle East .
The French military made no immediate comment on the allegations .
Nathaniel Gleicher , Facebook 's head of security policy , and David Agranovich , head of global threat disruption , said in a blog that the campaigns dueled with each other online .
`` This was the first time our team found two campaigns -- from France and Russia -- actively engage with one another , including by befriending , commenting and criticising the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they said .
The networks `` used fake accounts as a central part of their operations to mislead people about who they are and what they are doing , and that was the basis for our action , '' Facebook said .
The French network targeted the Central African Republic and Mali , and , to a lesser extent , Niger , Burkina Faso , Algeria , Cote d'Ivoire and Chad .
It involved 84 Facebook accounts , 6 pages , 9 groups and 14 Instagram accounts that violated policy against `` coordinated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posts , in French and Arabic , were about France 's policies in Francophone Africa , claims of Russian interference in CAR elections , supportive comments about the French military and criticism of Russia .
`` The Russian imperialists are a gangrene on Mali ! ''
read a sample post shared by Facebook .
In disrupting the two Russian networks , the social network removed 274 Facebook accounts and 18 Instagram accounts , along with an array of groups and pages .
`` We shared information about our findings with law enforcement and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` We are making progress rooting out this abuse , but as we 've said before , it 's an ongoing effort and we 're committed to continually improving to stay ahead . ''

Facebook said Tuesday that it had removed two networks based in Russia and one linked to the French military, accusing them of carrying out interference campaigns in Africa.
Facebook's logo on a smartphone in an illustration photo taken January 6, 2020.
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Two networks running multiple Facebook accounts were assigned to people associated with the Russian Internet Research Agency, and the third had "links to individuals associated with French military," the social media platform said.
All three were removed from the site for breaking its policy against foreign or government interference, Facebook said, adding that the networks targeted countries mainly in north Africa and some in the Middle East.
The French military made no immediate comment on the allegations.
Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook's head of security policy, and David Agranovich, head of global threat disruption, said in a blog that the campaigns dueled with each other online.
"This was the first time our team found two campaigns -- from France and Russia -- actively engage with one another, including by befriending, commenting and criticising the opposing side for being fake," they said.
The networks "used fake accounts as a central part of their operations to mislead people about who they are and what they are doing, and that was the basis for our action," Facebook said.
The French network targeted the Central African Republic and Mali, and, to a lesser extent, Niger, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Cote d'Ivoire and Chad.
It involved 84 Facebook accounts, 6 pages, 9 groups and 14 Instagram accounts that violated policy against "coordinated inauthentic behavior."
Some of the posts, in French and Arabic, were about France's policies in Francophone Africa, claims of Russian interference in CAR elections, supportive comments about the French military and criticism of Russia.
"The Russian imperialists are a gangrene on Mali!" read a sample post shared by Facebook.
In disrupting the two Russian networks, the social network removed 274 Facebook accounts and 18 Instagram accounts, along with an array of groups and pages.
"We shared information about our findings with law enforcement and industry partners," Gleicher and Agranovich said.
"We are making progress rooting out this abuse, but as we've said before, it's an ongoing effort and we're committed to continually improving to stay ahead."
(AFP)
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france24--2020-12-16--Facebook closes disinformation accounts linked to French military

Facebook shutdown two networks running multiple accounts that were linked to people associated with the Russian Internet Research Agency , and a third that had links to the French military Facebook said Tuesday that it had removed two networks based in Russia and one linked to the French military , accusing them of carrying out interference campaigns in Africa .
Two networks running multiple Facebook accounts were assigned to people associated with the Russian Internet Research Agency , and the third had `` links to individuals associated with French military , '' the social media platform said .
All three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its policy against foreign or government interference , Facebook said , adding that the networks targeted countries mainly in north Africa and some in the Middle East .
The French military made no immediate comment on the allegations .
Nathaniel Gleicher , Facebook 's head of security policy , and David Agranovich , head of global threat disruption , said in a blog that the campaigns dueled with each other online .
`` This was the first time our team found two campaigns -- from France and Russia -- actively engage with one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and criticizing the opposing side for being fake , '' they said .
The networks `` used fake accounts as a central part of their operations to mislead people about who they are and what they are doing , and that was the basis for our action , '' Facebook said .
The French network targeted the Central African Republic and Mali , and , to a lesser extent , Niger , Burkina Faso , Algeria , Cote d'Ivoire and Chad .
It involved 84 Facebook accounts , 6 pages , 9 groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against `` coordinated inauthentic behavior . ''
Some of the posts , in French and Arabic , were about France 's policies in Francophone Africa , claims of Russian interference in CAR elections , supportive comments about the French military and criticism of Russia .
`` The Russian imperialists are a gangrene on Mali ! ''
read a sample post shared by Facebook .
In disrupting the two Russian networks , the social network removed 274 Facebook accounts and 18 Instagram accounts , along with an array of groups and pages .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement and industry partners , '' Gleicher and Agranovich said .
`` We are making progress rooting out this abuse , but as we 've said before , it 's an ongoing effort and we 're committed to continually improving to stay ahead . ''

San Francisco (AFP) –
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Facebook said Tuesday that it had removed two networks based in Russia and one linked to the French military, accusing them of carrying out interference campaigns in Africa.
Two networks running multiple Facebook accounts were assigned to people associated with the Russian Internet Research Agency, and the third had "links to individuals associated with French military," the social media platform said.
All three were removed from the site for breaking its policy against foreign or government interference, Facebook said, adding that the networks targeted countries mainly in north Africa and some in the Middle East.
The French military made no immediate comment on the allegations.
Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook's head of security policy, and David Agranovich, head of global threat disruption, said in a blog that the campaigns dueled with each other online.
"This was the first time our team found two campaigns -- from France and Russia -- actively engage with one another, including by befriending, commenting and criticizing the opposing side for being fake," they said.
The networks "used fake accounts as a central part of their operations to mislead people about who they are and what they are doing, and that was the basis for our action," Facebook said.
The French network targeted the Central African Republic and Mali, and, to a lesser extent, Niger, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Cote d'Ivoire and Chad.
It involved 84 Facebook accounts, 6 pages, 9 groups and 14 Instagram accounts that violated policy against "coordinated inauthentic behavior."
Some of the posts, in French and Arabic, were about France's policies in Francophone Africa, claims of Russian interference in CAR elections, supportive comments about the French military and criticism of Russia.
"The Russian imperialists are a gangrene on Mali!" read a sample post shared by Facebook.
In disrupting the two Russian networks, the social network removed 274 Facebook accounts and 18 Instagram accounts, along with an array of groups and pages.
"We shared information about our findings with law enforcement and industry partners," Gleicher and Agranovich said.
"We are making progress rooting out this abuse, but as we've said before, it's an ongoing effort and we're committed to continually improving to stay ahead."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-15--Benzema fires Real level with Liga leaders Sociedad

Karim Benzema spared Real Madrid 's blushes on Tuesday with the winning brace which shot the reigning champions to a 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao that draws them level on points with La Liga Leaders Real Sociedad .
Frenchman Benzema headed home a cross from Dani Carvajal with 16 minutes remaining to put Real ahead against battling Bilbao , who had fought back to level earlier having lost Raul Garcia to two quickfire bookings in opening minutes .
Toni Kroos had given the hosts the lead in Madrid with a thumping strike on the stroke of half-time , but Ander @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the break when he shot past Thibaut Courtois at the second time of asking .
The 32-year-old Benzema had other ideas however , putting his team in front before making sure of the points in stoppage time with a clinical finish after collecting Luka Modric 's pass .
Third-placed Madrid gained their fourth straight win in all competitions and are equal on 26 points with Sociedad , who face troubled Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Wednesday , and local rivals Atletico Madrid .
Tuesday 's match was the game in hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Atletico have played two games fewer than their two title rivals .
Barca are nine points back but play one of their two games in hand in the hope of giving some momentum to what has been a miserable season so far .

Madrid (AFP) –
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Karim Benzema spared Real Madrid's blushes on Tuesday with the winning brace which shot the reigning champions to a 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao that draws them level on points with La Liga Leaders Real Sociedad.
Frenchman Benzema headed home a cross from Dani Carvajal with 16 minutes remaining to put Real ahead against battling Bilbao, who had fought back to level earlier having lost Raul Garcia to two quickfire bookings in opening minutes.
Toni Kroos had given the hosts the lead in Madrid with a thumping strike on the stroke of half-time, but Ander Capa rocked the capital club six minutes after the break when he shot past Thibaut Courtois at the second time of asking.
The 32-year-old Benzema had other ideas however, putting his team in front before making sure of the points in stoppage time with a clinical finish after collecting Luka Modric's pass.
Third-placed Madrid gained their fourth straight win in all competitions and are equal on 26 points with Sociedad, who face troubled Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Wednesday, and local rivals Atletico Madrid.
Tuesday's match was the game in hand which Real had on Sociedad, while Atletico have played two games fewer than their two title rivals.
Barca are nine points back but play one of their two games in hand in the hope of giving some momentum to what has been a miserable season so far.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-15--Lazio and Benevento share spoils in Inzaghi derby

Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi failed to beat his brother Filippo as his side drew at Benevento Lazio continued their patchy Serie A form with a 1-1 draw at Benevento on Tuesday as the Inzaghi brothers faced off on the sidelines .
Simone Inzaghi 's Lazio qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time in over two decades midweek but have been wildly inconsistent domestically and sit eighth on 18 points after 12 matches .
Promoted Benevento , led by former AC Milan , Juventus and Italy striker Filippo Inzaghi , move up to 13th after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relegation zone .
Lazio 's star striker Ciro Immobile gave the away side a deserved lead with a superb strike in the 25th minute , last season 's European Golden Shoe winner hooking Sergej Milinkovic-Savic 's cross past Lorenzo Montipo .
That goal came four minutes after Luis Alberto had struck the upright with a low shot as Simone Inzaghi looked set to come out on top in the pitchside sibling rivalry .
Benevento pulled level on the stroke of half-time when Pasquale Schiattarella volleyed home after Lazio failed to clear Gianluca Caprari @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to not take all three points when in the final minutes Riccardo Improta failed to keep his header down after Pepe Reina had pushed out Giuseppe Di Serio 's shot .
Reina had to be a his best again moments later to keeper out Improta 's powerful shot .
Home hero Schiattarella then ruined his good work in stoppage time when a wild tackle on Joaquin Correa earned a straight red card .
Crotone remain bottom of the league after a goalless draw at Udinese in Tuesday 's early match .
They are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Torino , and three behind Fiorentina , who host Sassuolo on Wednesday having not won a league match since late October .
On Wednesday , leaders AC Milan travel to Genoa , while champions Juventus host Atalanta and title chasers Inter Milan and Napoli face off at the San Siro .

Milan (AFP) –
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Lazio continued their patchy Serie A form with a 1-1 draw at Benevento on Tuesday as the Inzaghi brothers faced off on the sidelines.
Simone Inzaghi's Lazio qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time in over two decades midweek but have been wildly inconsistent domestically and sit eighth on 18 points after 12 matches.
Promoted Benevento, led by former AC Milan, Juventus and Italy striker Filippo Inzaghi, move up to 13th after the draw, six points above the relegation zone.
Lazio's star striker Ciro Immobile gave the away side a deserved lead with a superb strike in the 25th minute, last season's European Golden Shoe winner hooking Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's cross past Lorenzo Montipo.
That goal came four minutes after Luis Alberto had struck the upright with a low shot as Simone Inzaghi looked set to come out on top in the pitchside sibling rivalry.
Benevento pulled level on the stroke of half-time when Pasquale Schiattarella volleyed home after Lazio failed to clear Gianluca Caprari's corner.
The hosts were unlucky to not take all three points when in the final minutes Riccardo Improta failed to keep his header down after Pepe Reina had pushed out Giuseppe Di Serio's shot.
Reina had to be a his best again moments later to keeper out Improta's powerful shot.
Home hero Schiattarella then ruined his good work in stoppage time when a wild tackle on Joaquin Correa earned a straight red card.
Crotone remain bottom of the league after a goalless draw at Udinese in Tuesday's early match.
They are level on six points with Genoa and Torino, and three behind Fiorentina, who host Sassuolo on Wednesday having not won a league match since late October.
On Wednesday, leaders AC Milan travel to Genoa, while champions Juventus host Atalanta and title chasers Inter Milan and Napoli face off at the San Siro.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-15--Biden joins battle for Senate as top Republican accepts win

Joe Biden flew into Georgia -- a southern state he won in an upset against President Donald Trump -- to host a rally for two Democratic candidates in runoff races that will determine the Senate 's balance of power President-elect Joe Biden threw his weight into the Democratic battle for control of the US Senate on Tuesday , as his White House win was finally acknowledged by top Republicans and holdout foreign leaders .
Biden flew into Georgia -- a southern state he won in an upset against President Donald Trump -- to host a rally for two Democratic candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate 's balance of power .
`` Honk for your next United States senators Jon Ossoff and Rev .
Raphael Warnock , '' Biden told the crowd at the drive-in event in Atlanta -- urging voters to turn out in force on January 5 .
`` Send me these two men , and we will control the Senate ! ''
One day after the Electoral College affirmed Biden 's victory , attention shifted to the looming Senate battle -- and to the shape of the incoming administration as US media reported Biden will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mayor and presidential rival , as secretary of transportation .
Buttigieg would be the first openly gay person confirmed by the Senate to a presidential cabinet post -- in sync with Biden 's pledge to usher in the most diverse cabinet ever when he takes office on January 20 .
And while Trump still refuses to concede -- continuing to tweet allegations of mass fraud that have been rejected in dozens of lawsuits -- top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell finally broke his silence with a message to the president : it 's over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So today I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden , '' McConnell said on the Senate floor , adding that Americans can also `` take pride '' that they will have their first female vice president in Kamala Harris .
Biden told reporters before flying to Georgia that he had a `` good '' phone conversation with McConnell , a longtime Senate colleague .
`` I told him that while we disagree on a lot of things there are things we can work together on , '' Biden said .
The Electoral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's win from Russian President Vladimir Putin who said he was `` ready for collaboration '' with the Democrat .
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Mexico 's Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of -- who had both waited until now to recognize the president-elect -- also sent their congratulations .
Trump , in unprecedented fashion , has yet to acknowledge his defeat in the chaotic election that will see him exit the White House after a single four-year term .
But Biden urged the divided country to `` turn the page '' as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying US democracy proved `` resilient '' against Trump 's `` abuse of power . ''
He praised voters for casting ballots in record numbers despite fears of Covid-19 and `` enormous political pressure , verbal abuse and even threats of physical violence . ''
The White House transition is occurring with the coronavirus pandemic surging , pushing US Covid-19 deaths above 300,000 .
While critical winter months lie ahead , a bright spot has emerged with health care workers receiving the first doses of coronavirus vaccine distributed in the nation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fauci recommending Biden and Harris quickly take the vaccine , the president-elect said they would receive the shot in public view .
Although the door has all but shut on his efforts to overturn the vote results , Trump remained defiant , insisting in a series of tweets that he won a `` landslide victory '' and that there were still `` tremendous problems '' with the vote .
In a threatening move against Republican leaders in Georgia , where he has made baseless claims of massive voter fraud , he retweeted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia 's governor and secretary of state , saying `` they will soon be going to jail . ''
Democrats , who control the House of Representatives , need to flip both Georgia Senate seats in order to seize control of the upper chamber , while Republicans must hold just one to maintain their majority .
Republicans have framed Georgia as must-win races , with the state forming the last line of defense against what they describe as radical `` socialism . ''
If Republicans do , McConnell remains majority leader , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most closely watched in Washington .
The pair were known for striking deals during crunch periods when Biden was Barack Obama 's vice president .
But McConnell gave Obama no quarter , repeatedly stymying him on judicial nominations and forcing the president to curtail his legislative agenda .

Atlanta (AFP) –
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President-elect Joe Biden threw his weight into the Democratic battle for control of the US Senate on Tuesday, as his White House win was finally acknowledged by top Republicans and holdout foreign leaders.
Biden flew into Georgia -- a southern state he won in an upset against President Donald Trump -- to host a rally for two Democratic candidates in runoff races that will determine the Senate's balance of power.
"Honk for your next United States senators Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock," Biden told the crowd at the drive-in event in Atlanta -- urging voters to turn out in force on January 5.
"Send me these two men, and we will control the Senate!"
One day after the Electoral College affirmed Biden's victory, attention shifted to the looming Senate battle -- and to the shape of the incoming administration as US media reported Biden will tap Pete Buttigieg, a former Indiana mayor and presidential rival, as secretary of transportation.
Buttigieg would be the first openly gay person confirmed by the Senate to a presidential cabinet post -- in sync with Biden's pledge to usher in the most diverse cabinet ever when he takes office on January 20.
And while Trump still refuses to concede -- continuing to tweet allegations of mass fraud that have been rejected in dozens of lawsuits -- top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell finally broke his silence with a message to the president: it's over.
"The Electoral College has spoken. So today I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden," McConnell said on the Senate floor, adding that Americans can also "take pride" that they will have their first female vice president in Kamala Harris.
Biden told reporters before flying to Georgia that he had a "good" phone conversation with McConnell, a longtime Senate colleague.
"I told him that while we disagree on a lot of things there are things we can work together on," Biden said.
The Electoral College confirmation triggered a recognition of Biden's win from Russian President Vladimir Putin who said he was "ready for collaboration" with the Democrat.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Mexico's Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of -- who had both waited until now to recognize the president-elect -- also sent their congratulations.
- 'Turn the page' -
Trump, in unprecedented fashion, has yet to acknowledge his defeat in the chaotic election that will see him exit the White House after a single four-year term.
But Biden urged the divided country to "turn the page" as he welcomed the Electoral College vote on Monday, saying US democracy proved "resilient" against Trump's "abuse of power."
He praised voters for casting ballots in record numbers despite fears of Covid-19 and "enormous political pressure, verbal abuse and even threats of physical violence."
The White House transition is occurring with the coronavirus pandemic surging, pushing US Covid-19 deaths above 300,000.
While critical winter months lie ahead, a bright spot has emerged with health care workers receiving the first doses of coronavirus vaccine distributed in the nation.
And with top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci recommending Biden and Harris quickly take the vaccine, the president-elect said they would receive the shot in public view.
- Minds on Georgia -
Although the door has all but shut on his efforts to overturn the vote results, Trump remained defiant, insisting in a series of tweets that he won a "landslide victory" and that there were still "tremendous problems" with the vote.
In a threatening move against Republican leaders in Georgia, where he has made baseless claims of massive voter fraud, he retweeted a pro-Trump lawyer who posted a picture of Georgia's governor and secretary of state, saying "they will soon be going to jail."
Democrats, who control the House of Representatives, need to flip both Georgia Senate seats in order to seize control of the upper chamber, while Republicans must hold just one to maintain their majority.
Republicans have framed Georgia as must-win races, with the state forming the last line of defense against what they describe as radical "socialism."
If Republicans do, McConnell remains majority leader, and his relationship with Biden will quickly become the most closely watched in Washington.
The pair were known for striking deals during crunch periods when Biden was Barack Obama's vice president.
But McConnell gave Obama no quarter, repeatedly stymying him on judicial nominations and forcing the president to curtail his legislative agenda.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-15--Wasteful Man City held by West Brom

Wasteful Man City held by West Brom

Manchester City 's faltering Premier League title challenge suffered another setback on Tuesday as lowly West Brom held out for a 1-1 draw at the Etihad .
City could have moved to within three points of leaders Tottenham and Liverpool , who face each other on Wednesday , but threw away two points against the side sitting second bottom of the table .
Ilkay Gundogan opened the scoring for Pep Guardiola 's men but Ruben Dias 's own goal just before half-time proved costly as City 's problems in front of goal continued in a goalless second-half despite a siege @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point edges City up to fifth on goal difference , while West Brom move to within two points of safety at the other end of the table .
The stale domination that has characterised a lacklustre season from City was in evidence all night as they struggled to break through West Brom 's deep-lying defence .
Guardiola 's side were criticised for a pedestrian performance in a 0-0 draw at Manchester United on Saturday , but at least at Old Trafford the Catalan coach could point to being wary of United 's pace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first big chance of the game when the ball ricocheted off Joao Cancelo into the path of Karlan Grant and he forced Ederson into a fine save low to his left .
City 's probing was finally rewarded on the half hour as Raheem Sterling got to the by-line and his cut back was fired home from the edge of the area by Gundogan .
Guardiola 's men shot themselves in the foot by conceding for the first time in seven games two minutes before half-time as they failed to clear a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's shot was deflected into his own net by Dias .
It was one-way traffic after the break as City set up camp in the West Brom half but lacked the imagination or pace to open the visitors up .
Kevin De Bruyne was the most likely candidate to produce the inspiration his side needed but twice Sam Johnstone in the West Brom goal denied the Belgian with low saves to his left .
Guardiola brought City 's all-time record scorer Sergio Aguero off the bench for the final 15 minutes , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a series of injury problems showed as he slashed wide the sort of chance he has so often buried .
Johnstone produced two stunning saves in stoppage time from close range headers by Gundogan and Sterling to earn his side a point as City paid for their profligacy in front of goal .

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) –
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Manchester City's faltering Premier League title challenge suffered another setback on Tuesday as lowly West Brom held out for a 1-1 draw at the Etihad.
City could have moved to within three points of leaders Tottenham and Liverpool, who face each other on Wednesday, but threw away two points against the side sitting second bottom of the table.
Ilkay Gundogan opened the scoring for Pep Guardiola's men but Ruben Dias's own goal just before half-time proved costly as City's problems in front of goal continued in a goalless second-half despite a siege on the West Brom goal.
A point edges City up to fifth on goal difference, while West Brom move to within two points of safety at the other end of the table.
The stale domination that has characterised a lacklustre season from City was in evidence all night as they struggled to break through West Brom's deep-lying defence.
Guardiola's side were criticised for a pedestrian performance in a 0-0 draw at Manchester United on Saturday, but at least at Old Trafford the Catalan coach could point to being wary of United's pace on the counter-attack.
West Brom had the first big chance of the game when the ball ricocheted off Joao Cancelo into the path of Karlan Grant and he forced Ederson into a fine save low to his left.
City's probing was finally rewarded on the half hour as Raheem Sterling got to the by-line and his cut back was fired home from the edge of the area by Gundogan.
Guardiola's men shot themselves in the foot by conceding for the first time in seven games two minutes before half-time as they failed to clear a free-kick into the box and Semi Ajayi's shot was deflected into his own net by Dias.
It was one-way traffic after the break as City set up camp in the West Brom half but lacked the imagination or pace to open the visitors up.
Kevin De Bruyne was the most likely candidate to produce the inspiration his side needed but twice Sam Johnstone in the West Brom goal denied the Belgian with low saves to his left.
Guardiola brought City's all-time record scorer Sergio Aguero off the bench for the final 15 minutes, but the Argentine's lack of match sharpness after a series of injury problems showed as he slashed wide the sort of chance he has so often buried.
Johnstone produced two stunning saves in stoppage time from close range headers by Gundogan and Sterling to earn his side a point as City paid for their profligacy in front of goal.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-15--MLB owners favor delaying start to 2021 season: report

The Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2020 World Series after a season slashed to 60 games because of the coronavirus pandemic Major League Baseball team owners believe the start of the 2021 season should be delayed and the number of games reduced unless all players can be vaccinated against Covid-19 before the start of spring training , US media reported Tuesday .
USA Today reported that MLB owners want the start of the new season to be pushed back to May from March , with the schedule being cut from 162 to 140 or 130 games to reduce the impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up for the season with spring training in Arizona and Florida starting from February .
However , with coronavirus cases skyrocketing across the United States , where more than 302,000 lives have been lost to the pandemic , team owners are sceptical that pre-season training can take place safely as scheduled .
USA Today reported that owners believed a May start to a reduced season would allow more time for players and team staff to receive the vaccine , which only began to be administered in the United States on Monday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance in hell that spring training can start with protocols in place , '' one unnamed National League team owner told USA Today .
`` I think there will be significant pressure for players to get the vaccine first before they go to spring training , and if that has to be moved back to April and play 130 games , so be it .
`` But to have 162 games , and start spring training at the normal time without players being vaccinated , that 's just crazy .
`` Does Arizona @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , really want teams with about 125 people in each organization coming to town without vaccines ? ''
An owner from the American League echoed the concerns .
`` I do n't see any way spring training starts in February , '' the paper quoted him as saying .
`` Zero chance of that .
I do n't care if we play 140 games , 120 games or 80 games , we have to make sure everyone is safe to do this right . ''
The pandemic wreaked havoc on the 2020 baseball @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a drastically reduced 60-game regular season before a postseason staged in neutral venues .

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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Major League Baseball team owners believe the start of the 2021 season should be delayed and the number of games reduced unless all players can be vaccinated against Covid-19 before the start of spring training, US media reported Tuesday.
USA Today reported that MLB owners want the start of the new season to be pushed back to May from March, with the schedule being cut from 162 to 140 or 130 games to reduce the impact of the coronavirus.
Baseball traditionally gears up for the season with spring training in Arizona and Florida starting from February.
However, with coronavirus cases skyrocketing across the United States, where more than 302,000 lives have been lost to the pandemic, team owners are sceptical that pre-season training can take place safely as scheduled.
USA Today reported that owners believed a May start to a reduced season would allow more time for players and team staff to receive the vaccine, which only began to be administered in the United States on Monday.
"I don't see a snowball's chance in hell that spring training can start with protocols in place," one unnamed National League team owner told USA Today.
"I think there will be significant pressure for players to get the vaccine first before they go to spring training, and if that has to be moved back to April and play 130 games, so be it.
"But to have 162 games, and start spring training at the normal time without players being vaccinated, that's just crazy.
"Does Arizona and Florida, with their cases spiking, really want teams with about 125 people in each organization coming to town without vaccines?"
An owner from the American League echoed the concerns. "I don't see any way spring training starts in February," the paper quoted him as saying.
"Zero chance of that. I don't care if we play 140 games, 120 games or 80 games, we have to make sure everyone is safe to do this right."
The pandemic wreaked havoc on the 2020 baseball season, forcing the league to play a drastically reduced 60-game regular season before a postseason staged in neutral venues.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-15--Late Reus winner hands new Dortmund boss Terzic winning start

Dortmund 's caretaker coach Edin Terzic got off to a winning start in Tuesday 's 2-1 win at Werder Bremen Borussia Dortmund 's new caretaker coach Edin Terzic made a winning start Tuesday after club captain Marco Reus netted a late winner to seal a 2-1 victory at Werder Bremen .
The 38-year-old Terzic replaced Lucien Favre , who was sacked Sunday less than 24 hours after a 5-1 thrashing at home by Stuttgart .
Terzic has a contract for the rest of the season and inspired Dortmund to their first win in four league games while Bremen now have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead in Bremen as Raphael Guerreiro was fastest to stab home with 14 minutes gone after Jadon Sancho had a shot charged down .
Bremen equalised on 28 minutes when Josh Sargent pounced on a mistake by Dortmund defender Manuel Akanji and the ball was worked to Kevin Moehwald who fired home .
Akanji made amends when he won the penalty from which Reus scored at the second attempt 12 minutes from time .
The away win lifts Dortmund to fourth , five points behind league leaders Bayer Leverkusen , who are at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ host Dortmund on Friday , were held to a 2-2 draw at VfB Stuttgart , whose two-metre tall striker Sasa Kalajdzic came off the bench to score two late goals .
Union were 2-0 up with five minutes left thanks to goals by defender Marvin Friedrich and Liverpool loanee Taiwo Awoniyi .
However Kalajdzic scored with a header , then chested down and fired home , his shot surviving scrutiny for a handball from the VAR , to claim a point .
Hertha Berlin remain in mid-table after their goalless draw at second-from-bottom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lars Stindl completed a hat-trick with an equaliser in the fifth minute of added time to snatch a point in their 3-3 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt .
Stindl 's late heroics saved a point at Frankfurt , but Gladbach , who have drawn Manchester City in the last 16 of the Champions League , are winless in their last five games in all competitions .
After Stindl opened the scoring by curling in a 14th minute free-kick , Frankfurt roared back with three unanswered goals including two by Portugal striker Andre Silva .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 minutes with 10 men after captain David Abraham was sent off for a second booking .
With 90 minutes almost up , Gladbach won a penalty and Stindl stepped up to convert .
Then he netted a last-gasp header to seal the draw .
The point leaves Gladbach eighth , one place and four points ahead of Frankfurt .

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Borussia Dortmund's new caretaker coach Edin Terzic made a winning start Tuesday after club captain Marco Reus netted a late winner to seal a 2-1 victory at Werder Bremen.
The 38-year-old Terzic replaced Lucien Favre, who was sacked Sunday less than 24 hours after a 5-1 thrashing at home by Stuttgart.
Terzic has a contract for the rest of the season and inspired Dortmund to their first win in four league games while Bremen now have four straight defeats.
Dortmund took the lead in Bremen as Raphael Guerreiro was fastest to stab home with 14 minutes gone after Jadon Sancho had a shot charged down.
Bremen equalised on 28 minutes when Josh Sargent pounced on a mistake by Dortmund defender Manuel Akanji and the ball was worked to Kevin Moehwald who fired home.
Akanji made amends when he won the penalty from which Reus scored at the second attempt 12 minutes from time.
The away win lifts Dortmund to fourth, five points behind league leaders Bayer Leverkusen, who are at Cologne on Wednesday.
Union, who host Dortmund on Friday, were held to a 2-2 draw at VfB Stuttgart, whose two-metre tall striker Sasa Kalajdzic came off the bench to score two late goals.
Union were 2-0 up with five minutes left thanks to goals by defender Marvin Friedrich and Liverpool loanee Taiwo Awoniyi.
However Kalajdzic scored with a header, then chested down and fired home, his shot surviving scrutiny for a handball from the VAR, to claim a point.
Hertha Berlin remain in mid-table after their goalless draw at second-from-bottom Mainz.
Earlier, Borussia Moenchengladbach captain Lars Stindl completed a hat-trick with an equaliser in the fifth minute of added time to snatch a point in their 3-3 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt.
Stindl's late heroics saved a point at Frankfurt, but Gladbach, who have drawn Manchester City in the last 16 of the Champions League, are winless in their last five games in all competitions.
After Stindl opened the scoring by curling in a 14th minute free-kick, Frankfurt roared back with three unanswered goals including two by Portugal striker Andre Silva.
Leading 3-1, Frankfurt played the last 10 minutes with 10 men after captain David Abraham was sent off for a second booking.
With 90 minutes almost up, Gladbach won a penalty and Stindl stepped up to convert. Then he netted a last-gasp header to seal the draw.
The point leaves Gladbach eighth, one place and four points ahead of Frankfurt.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-16--Coronavirus pandemic: Germany sees record death toll on first day of new lockdown

Coronavirus pandemic : Germany sees record death toll on first day of new lockdown Germany reported a record number of @ @ @ @ @ , the first day of a new partial lockdown to try to halt a surge @ @ @ @ @ of 952 people died in the previous 24 hours , according to the Robert Koch @ @ @ @ @ FRANCE 24 's Nick Spicer tells us more .

Coronavirus pandemic: Germany sees record death toll on first day of new lockdown
03:27
Video by: Nick SPICER
Germany reported a record number of deaths from Covid-19 on Wednesday, the first day of a new partial lockdown to try to halt a surge in infections. A total of 952 people died in the previous 24 hours, according to the Robert Koch Institute disease control centre. FRANCE 24's Nick Spicer tells us more.


france24--2020-12-16--Bilic sacked by Premier League strugglers West Brom

Slaven Bilic paid the price after West Brom only won seven points from 13 Premier League games Slaven Bilic became the first Premier League manager to lose his job this season when he was sacked by struggling West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday .
The 52-year-old Croatian 's sacking comes with the side 19th in the table but on the back of an encouraging 1-1 draw with Manchester City on Tuesday .
Bilic had been at the club for only 18 months but had earned the admiration of the fans after leading West Brom to automatic promotion from the Championship last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poor this term Bilic had been given little funding to bring in players in the close season .
His budget for transfers was limited at £20 million ( $ 27 million ) .
West Brom have garnered seven points from their 13 matches so far and have the worst defensive record in the Premier League , having conceded 26 goals .
Bilic 's relations with the board appeared tense from the start of the campaign with no discussions talking place about extending or renewing his contract which was due to run out at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Albion would like to thank Slaven and his coaching staff for their efforts in achieving promotion last season and wishes them all well in the future .
`` The club will make no further comment at this time . ''
Former England manager Sam Allardyce is among the favourites to fill the vacancy .
The 66-year-old 's last managerial post was with Everton , who he left in 2018 .
Media reports suggest Allardyce will be offered an 18-month contract .
In a sign that his appointment may be imminent , he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bilic 's sacking makes him the latest first managerial departure in a Premier League season for six years , since it took 18 games for Cardiff City to dismiss Neil Warnock in the 2014-15 season .

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Slaven Bilic became the first Premier League manager to lose his job this season when he was sacked by struggling West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday.
The 52-year-old Croatian's sacking comes with the side 19th in the table but on the back of an encouraging 1-1 draw with Manchester City on Tuesday.
Bilic had been at the club for only 18 months but had earned the admiration of the fans after leading West Brom to automatic promotion from the Championship last season.
Although results had been generally poor this term Bilic had been given little funding to bring in players in the close season. His budget for transfers was limited at £20 million ($27 million).
West Brom have garnered seven points from their 13 matches so far and have the worst defensive record in the Premier League, having conceded 26 goals.
Bilic's relations with the board appeared tense from the start of the campaign with no discussions talking place about extending or renewing his contract which was due to run out at the end of this season.
"West Bromwich Albion have today parted company with Head Coach Slaven Bilic," read a club statement.
"Albion would like to thank Slaven and his coaching staff for their efforts in achieving promotion last season and wishes them all well in the future.
"The club will make no further comment at this time."
Former England manager Sam Allardyce is among the favourites to fill the vacancy.
The 66-year-old's last managerial post was with Everton, who he left in 2018.
Media reports suggest Allardyce will be offered an 18-month contract. In a sign that his appointment may be imminent, he has cancelled scheduled work with a radio station.
Bilic's sacking makes him the latest first managerial departure in a Premier League season for six years, since it took 18 games for Cardiff City to dismiss Neil Warnock in the 2014-15 season.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-16--Sakharov prize: Prestigious award handed to Belarus opposition leader

Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya on Wednesday vowed the protest movement against the regime of Alexander Lukashenko would prevail despite @ @ @ @ @ authorities , as she received the EU 's top rights prize .

Sakharov prize: Prestigious award handed to Belarus opposition leader
00:34
Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya on Wednesday vowed the protest movement against the regime of Alexander Lukashenko would prevail despite a brutal crackdown by Minsk authorities, as she received the EU's top rights prize.


france24--2020-12-16--Brexit negociations: EU Chief says 'progress' made but next days 'crucial'

Brexit negociations : EU Chief says 'progress ' made but next days 'crucial' After weeks of relentless pessimism , the @ @ @ @ @ was now a clear , if narrow , path to reaching an agreement with the @ @ @ @ @ trade deal that should avoid costly chaos on the borders at the end of the @ @

Brexit negociations: EU Chief says 'progress' made but next days 'crucial'
00:41
After weeks of relentless pessimism, the European Union said Wednesday there was now a clear, if narrow, path to reaching an agreement with the United Kingdom on a post-Brexit trade deal that should avoid costly chaos on the borders at the end of the year.


france24--2020-12-16--EU chief von der Leyen sees progress in Brexit talks

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france24--2020-12-16--Coronavirus pandemic in France: 'Vaccination will start in retirement homes'

Coronavirus pandemic in France : 'Vaccination will start in retirement homes' 'Vaccination will start in retirement homes , ' Professeur @ @ @ @ @ the French Council of Covid-19 strategy , said on Tuesday .


france24--2020-12-16--Pakistan capital's zoo shuts after last animals moved

The plight of Kavaan highlighted dire conditions at the Islamabad zoo The only zoo in Pakistan 's capital -- which drew international condemnation for its treatment of lonely elephant Kaavan -- closed on Wednesday after its final occupants were relocated abroad .
Two Himalayan bears named Bubloo and Suzzee were the last to leave the Islamabad facility , almost three weeks after the country 's only Asian elephant was flown to a wildlife sanctuary in Cambodia .
`` The Islamabad zoo is now completely closed for both public and officials , '' Saleem Shaikh , a spokesman for Pakistan 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Both the bears will be flown to a sanctuary in Jordan . ''
Shaikh said the move was arranged with the help of Four Paws International -- the same group that spearheaded the relocation of Kaavan whose plight championed by singer and Oscar-winning American actress Cher .
She flew to Pakistan to see the elephant 's departure , and then to Cambodia to watch him arrive .
The ailing health of Kaavan , an overweight , 35-year-old bull , highlighted the woeful state of Islamabad 's zoo , where conditions were so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all animals to be moved .
Two lions died during their relocation when zookeepers attempted to pry them from their pen by setting ablaze piles of hay .
An ostrich also died in the move .
Islamabad Zoo was established in 1978 on 10 hectares of land as a home for indigenous species .
Authorities now plan to expand it as a wildlife conservation centre .
With little legislation to safeguard animal welfare , zoos across Pakistan are notorious for their poor conditions .
In 2018 , some 30 animals died within months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northwestern city of Peshawar , including three snow leopard cubs .

Islamabad (AFP) –
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The only zoo in Pakistan's capital -- which drew international condemnation for its treatment of lonely elephant Kaavan -- closed on Wednesday after its final occupants were relocated abroad.
Two Himalayan bears named Bubloo and Suzzee were the last to leave the Islamabad facility, almost three weeks after the country's only Asian elephant was flown to a wildlife sanctuary in Cambodia.
"The Islamabad zoo is now completely closed for both public and officials," Saleem Shaikh, a spokesman for Pakistan's ministry of climate change told AFP.
"Both the bears will be flown to a sanctuary in Jordan."
Shaikh said the move was arranged with the help of Four Paws International -- the same group that spearheaded the relocation of Kaavan whose plight championed by singer and Oscar-winning American actress Cher.
She flew to Pakistan to see the elephant's departure, and then to Cambodia to watch him arrive.
The ailing health of Kaavan, an overweight, 35-year-old bull, highlighted the woeful state of Islamabad's zoo, where conditions were so bad that a judge in May ordered all animals to be moved.
Two lions died during their relocation when zookeepers attempted to pry them from their pen by setting ablaze piles of hay.
An ostrich also died in the move.
Islamabad Zoo was established in 1978 on 10 hectares of land as a home for indigenous species.
Authorities now plan to expand it as a wildlife conservation centre.
With little legislation to safeguard animal welfare, zoos across Pakistan are notorious for their poor conditions.
In 2018, some 30 animals died within months of a new zoo opening in the northwestern city of Peshawar, including three snow leopard cubs.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-16--Belarus opposition leader vows victory at EU prize ceremony

Belarus 's opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya calls on Europe to be `` braver '' in confronting Lukashenko 's regime Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya on Wednesday vowed the protest movement against the regime of Alexander Lukashenko would prevail despite a brutal crackdown by Minsk authorities , as she received the EU 's top rights prize .
`` We are bound to win and we will win , '' the exiled former presidential candidate said in Brussels , accepting the Sakharov Prize on behalf of the opposition movement .
Belarus has been gripped by four months of unprecedented anti-government demonstrations that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August which saw Lukashenko claim a sixth term in office .
His opponents say the polls were rigged and that political novice Tikhanovskaya , who ran in place of her jailed husband was the true winner .
Belarusian security forces have unleashed a harsh crackdown against the protests , detaining demonstators and pushing opposition leaders into exile .
`` I have only one wish this year , I want every Belarusian who is now in jail or was forced to live in exile to return home , '' Tikhanovskaya , who is currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parliament .
Tikhanovskaya demanded a tougher response from Europe against Lukashenko 's regime , as the strongman clings to power after more than a quarter of a century in charge .
`` We call on Europe to be braver in their decisions and support the people of Belarus now -- not tomorrow and not somewhen in the future , '' Tikhanovskaya said .
`` It is actions that matter . ''
The EU has slapped sanctions on over 50 officials , including Lukashenko and his son , and European ambassadors in Brussels on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the blacklist .

Brussels (AFP) –
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Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya on Wednesday vowed the protest movement against the regime of Alexander Lukashenko would prevail despite a brutal crackdown by Minsk authorities, as she received the EU's top rights prize.
"We are bound to win and we will win," the exiled former presidential candidate said in Brussels, accepting the Sakharov Prize on behalf of the opposition movement.
Belarus has been gripped by four months of unprecedented anti-government demonstrations that erupted after a disputed presidential election in August which saw Lukashenko claim a sixth term in office.
His opponents say the polls were rigged and that political novice Tikhanovskaya, who ran in place of her jailed husband was the true winner.
Belarusian security forces have unleashed a harsh crackdown against the protests, detaining demonstators and pushing opposition leaders into exile.
"I have only one wish this year, I want every Belarusian who is now in jail or was forced to live in exile to return home," Tikhanovskaya, who is currently based in Lithuania, told the European Parliament.
Tikhanovskaya demanded a tougher response from Europe against Lukashenko's regime, as the strongman clings to power after more than a quarter of a century in charge.
"We call on Europe to be braver in their decisions and support the people of Belarus now -- not tomorrow and not somewhen in the future," Tikhanovskaya said.
"It is actions that matter."
The EU has slapped sanctions on over 50 officials, including Lukashenko and his son, and European ambassadors in Brussels on Wednesday agreed to add more names to the blacklist.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-16--Khamenei says US 'enmities' towards Iran will not end with Trump

Iran 's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warns against inflated expectations of the incoming US administration in his first public appearance since a rumoured health scare last week Iran 's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that US `` enmities '' towards Iran will not cease with the looming departure from office of President Donald Trump .
He reiterated his position that Iran should bolster itself to `` nullify '' sanctions imposed by the Trump administration , but should `` not delay '' in the event they can be lifted .
`` You witnessed what Trump 's America and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he was quoted as saying on his official website .
`` Enmities are not limited to Trump 's America and will not end just because he has left office , '' Khamenei added , addressing the family of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani , who was killed in a January US air strike in neighbouring Iraq .
`` Do not trust the enemy , this is my explicit advice . ''
Tensions between Tehran and Washington soared during Trump 's presidency , especially after 2018 , when he pulled Washington out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unilateral sanctions .
President-elect Joe Biden , who defeated Trump at the ballot box in November , has signalled a willingness to return to diplomacy with Iran , but Khamenei has on previous occasions cautioned against hopes of an opening with the West .
His remarks come shortly after President Hassan Rouhani said that Iran was `` very happy '' that Trump was leaving the White House .
Rouhani 's government has repeatedly signalled its openness to the incoming US administration and called on Washington to return to the nuclear deal and lift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` can be lifted , we should not delay it for even an hour . ''
But he warned : `` Do not rely on ( others ' ) promises to solve the people 's problems ( and ) do not forget enmities .
`` I will support the country 's authorities on the condition that they remain true to the nation 's goals . ''
Khamenei 's meeting with the slain general 's family was his first public engagement since an official close to his office moved to squash rumours about his @ @ @ @

Tehran (AFP) –
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Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that US "enmities" towards Iran will not cease with the looming departure from office of President Donald Trump.
He reiterated his position that Iran should bolster itself to "nullify" sanctions imposed by the Trump administration, but should "not delay" in the event they can be lifted.
"You witnessed what Trump's America and Obama's America did to you," he was quoted as saying on his official website.
"Enmities are not limited to Trump's America and will not end just because he has left office," Khamenei added, addressing the family of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a January US air strike in neighbouring Iraq.
"Do not trust the enemy, this is my explicit advice."
Tensions between Tehran and Washington soared during Trump's presidency, especially after 2018, when he pulled Washington out of a landmark nuclear deal and reimposed punishing unilateral sanctions.
President-elect Joe Biden, who defeated Trump at the ballot box in November, has signalled a willingness to return to diplomacy with Iran, but Khamenei has on previous occasions cautioned against hopes of an opening with the West.
His remarks come shortly after President Hassan Rouhani said that Iran was "very happy" that Trump was leaving the White House.
Rouhani's government has repeatedly signalled its openness to the incoming US administration and called on Washington to return to the nuclear deal and lift sanctions.
Khamenei underlined that if sanctions "can be lifted, we should not delay it for even an hour."
But he warned: "Do not rely on (others') promises to solve the people's problems (and) do not forget enmities.
"I will support the country's authorities on the condition that they remain true to the nation's goals."
Khamenei's meeting with the slain general's family was his first public engagement since an official close to his office moved to squash rumours about his health last week.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-16--Doha to host 2030 Asian Games, Riyadh 2034 edition

President of the Olympic Council of Asia Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah gestures as he delivers a speech during the closing ceremony of the 2018 Asian Games Doha will host the 2030 Asian Games , the Olympic Council of Asia announced Wednesday , while Riyadh was named as host of the 2034 edition under a compromise agreed between the rivals .
An executive board meeting of the Olympic Council of Asia ( OCA ) unanimously approved the proposal to name the runner-up in the two-horse race for the 2030 games as 2034 hosts .
`` I can now announce ... that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and will host 2030 is Doha , '' said OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah .
`` The second hosting city , for 2034 , is Riyadh . ''
Voting was delayed by hours after technical problems with the online system , in place to allow some national olympic committees to participate remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic .
`` I apologise for the technical problem we are facing during our voting , '' said Sheikh Ahmad .
`` Today the difficult things have been solved and the easy things have been problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have two games in west Asia , to be honest , '' added Sheikh Ahmad .
Saudi and Qatar are locked in a bitter dispute after an alliance of countries led by Riyadh cut diplomatic , economic and transport ties with Doha in 2017 , accusing it of backing radical Islamists and Iran .
Qatar denies the charges and there has been progress to reconcile the dispute in recent weeks with all sides praising Kuwaiti-led mediation .
Ahead of the vote , the OCA 's president said he was seeking a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Doha hosted the Asian Games in 2006 while Saudi Arabia has never organised an OCA multi-sport event .
`` Our goal is simple .
We want to see more Asian athletes in the future , on future Olympic podiums , '' said Qatar Olympic Committee chief Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani ahead of the vote .
`` We want that to be part of your national sports history , not just ours .
And we want to support you in the efforts to get there . ''
Qatar is also participating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ summer Olympics .
A video showcased Qatar 's raft of sporting and transport infrastructure being prepared ahead of the 2022 football World Cup that would be repurposed for the 2030 games .
The games will have a $ 1.3 billion budget .
The Doha bid team claimed that 90 percent of the infrastructure for the 2030 games was already in place .
President of Saudi 's Olympic Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal Al-Saud said `` when we say the games are a national priority , we mean it '' .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he said '' Sport has changed social life in the kingdom -- especially for women . ''
Prince Abdulaziz pointed to Saudi 's hosting of major boxing clashes and planning for next year 's Formula 1 as proof of the kingdom 's readiness for the Asian games .

Muscat (AFP) –
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Doha will host the 2030 Asian Games, the Olympic Council of Asia announced Wednesday, while Riyadh was named as host of the 2034 edition under a compromise agreed between the rivals.
An executive board meeting of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) unanimously approved the proposal to name the runner-up in the two-horse race for the 2030 games as 2034 hosts.
"I can now announce... that the city who had the highest vote and will host 2030 is Doha," said OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah.
"The second hosting city, for 2034, is Riyadh."
Voting was delayed by hours after technical problems with the online system, in place to allow some national olympic committees to participate remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"I apologise for the technical problem we are facing during our voting," said Sheikh Ahmad.
"Today the difficult things have been solved and the easy things have been problems."
"I will be glad to have two games in west Asia, to be honest," added Sheikh Ahmad.
Saudi and Qatar are locked in a bitter dispute after an alliance of countries led by Riyadh cut diplomatic, economic and transport ties with Doha in 2017, accusing it of backing radical Islamists and Iran.
- 'A national priority' -
Qatar denies the charges and there has been progress to reconcile the dispute in recent weeks with all sides praising Kuwaiti-led mediation.
Ahead of the vote, the OCA's president said he was seeking a "win-win" situation for Doha and Riyadh.
Doha hosted the Asian Games in 2006 while Saudi Arabia has never organised an OCA multi-sport event.
"Our goal is simple. We want to see more Asian athletes in the future, on future Olympic podiums," said Qatar Olympic Committee chief Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani ahead of the vote.
"We want that to be part of your national sports history, not just ours. And we want to support you in the efforts to get there."
Qatar is also participating in the bidding process for the 2032 summer Olympics.
A video showcased Qatar's raft of sporting and transport infrastructure being prepared ahead of the 2022 football World Cup that would be repurposed for the 2030 games. The games will have a $1.3 billion budget.
The Doha bid team claimed that 90 percent of the infrastructure for the 2030 games was already in place.
President of Saudi's Olympic Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal Al-Saud said "when we say the games are a national priority, we mean it".
"It has unwavering political and public support," he said
"Sport has changed social life in the kingdom -- especially for women."
Prince Abdulaziz pointed to Saudi's hosting of major boxing clashes and planning for next year's Formula 1 as proof of the kingdom's readiness for the Asian games.
burs-gw/gj
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-16--China starts prosecution of Hong Kong 'speedboat fugitives'

Relatives of the 12 Hong Kong residents detained while allegedly trying to flee have held regular protests in the territory Chinese authorities have started prosecuting 12 Hong Kong activists caught while allegedly fleeing the city by boat for Taiwan , officials said Wednesday .
The group was caught by the coastguard some 70 kilometres ( 43 miles ) southeast of the city on August 23 , authorities said previously , before being handed to police in the mainland metropolis of Shenzhen .
In a social media notice , the People 's Procuratorate of Yantian District in Shenzhen said Tang Kai-yin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for others to cross the border .
Eight others stand accused of an illegal border crossing .
Two minors face non-public hearings , according to the notice .
The activists -- whose arrests were formally approved in September -- had disappeared into China 's opaque judicial system since their capture , with lawyers struggling for access and family members expressing fear over their fate .
Some of those aboard the boat faced prosecution in Hong Kong for activities linked to last year 's huge and often violent pro-democracy protests .
Lu Siwei , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case , told AFP the court was expected to hand down a verdict on the case within two to three months .
Although Hong Kong has its own internationally respected legal system -- where detainees are promptly produced after their arrest and tried in open court -- the mainland 's judicial system is notoriously opaque , with conviction all but guaranteed .
In June , Beijing imposed a new security law on Hong Kong , announcing it would have jurisdiction for some crimes and that mainland security agents could openly operate in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hong Kong 's democracy movement , Taiwan emerged as a sanctuary , quietly turning a blind eye to residents turning up without proper visas or paperwork .

Beijing (AFP) –
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Chinese authorities have started prosecuting 12 Hong Kong activists caught while allegedly fleeing the city by boat for Taiwan, officials said Wednesday.
The group was caught by the coastguard some 70 kilometres (43 miles) southeast of the city on August 23, authorities said previously, before being handed to police in the mainland metropolis of Shenzhen.
In a social media notice, the People's Procuratorate of Yantian District in Shenzhen said Tang Kai-yin and Quinn Moon were suspected of organising for others to cross the border.
Eight others stand accused of an illegal border crossing.
Two minors face non-public hearings, according to the notice.
The activists -- whose arrests were formally approved in September -- had disappeared into China's opaque judicial system since their capture, with lawyers struggling for access and family members expressing fear over their fate.
Some of those aboard the boat faced prosecution in Hong Kong for activities linked to last year's huge and often violent pro-democracy protests.
Lu Siwei, a mainland Chinese lawyer working on the case, told AFP the court was expected to hand down a verdict on the case within two to three months.
Although Hong Kong has its own internationally respected legal system -- where detainees are promptly produced after their arrest and tried in open court -- the mainland's judicial system is notoriously opaque, with conviction all but guaranteed.
In June, Beijing imposed a new security law on Hong Kong, announcing it would have jurisdiction for some crimes and that mainland security agents could openly operate in the city.
With Beijing clamping down on Hong Kong's democracy movement, Taiwan emerged as a sanctuary, quietly turning a blind eye to residents turning up without proper visas or paperwork.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-16--Indonesia's president to receive country's first Covid-19 vaccine shot

Indonesia President Joko Widodo said the government would provide free vaccinations for the entire population Indonesian President Joko Widodo said Wednesday he would be the first person in the country to be vaccinated for Covid-19 as he unveiled a campaign promising free inoculations for everyone in world 's fourth most-populous nation .
Wikodo 's announcement comes as Indonesia battles misinformation over the virus in order to stave off a fresh wave of infections , with some 630,000 recorded by Wednesday and more than 19,000 deaths .
`` The Covid-19 vaccine for all citizens will be FREE , '' Widodo said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The government originally said only health workers , the elderly and other key personnel would be given the vaccine for free .
Widodo did not say when he would take the vaccine , or when the national inoculation program would start .
But said he was happy to be the first to be inoculated in order to prove it was safe .
`` There 's no reason people should n't get the vaccine or doubt its safety , '' he added .
Indonesia has signed deals for more than 350 million vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca and Chinese suppliers Sinovac .
The current vaccine deals do not , however , provide enough doses for the required two per person that would cover Indonesia 's entire 270-million population .
The country received its first delivery of 1.2 million Sinovac doses this month , with another 1.8 million to arrive in January .

Jakarta (AFP) –
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Indonesian President Joko Widodo said Wednesday he would be the first person in the country to be vaccinated for Covid-19 as he unveiled a campaign promising free inoculations for everyone in world's fourth most-populous nation.
Wikodo's announcement comes as Indonesia battles misinformation over the virus in order to stave off a fresh wave of infections, with some 630,000 recorded by Wednesday and more than 19,000 deaths.
"The Covid-19 vaccine for all citizens will be FREE," Widodo said in a video on his Twitter account.
The government originally said only health workers, the elderly and other key personnel would be given the vaccine for free.
Widodo did not say when he would take the vaccine, or when the national inoculation program would start.
But said he was happy to be the first to be inoculated in order to prove it was safe.
"There's no reason people shouldn't get the vaccine or doubt its safety," he added.
Indonesia has signed deals for more than 350 million vaccine doses from various international pharmaceutical companies -- including British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca and Chinese suppliers Sinovac.
The current vaccine deals do not, however, provide enough doses for the required two per person that would cover Indonesia's entire 270-million population.
The country received its first delivery of 1.2 million Sinovac doses this month, with another 1.8 million to arrive in January.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-16--Nigerian gangs kidnapped children on behalf of Boko Haram: sources

Parents wait outside the Government Science secondary school in Kankara , where hundreds of pupils were abducted Boko Haram recruited three local gangs in northwest Nigeria to kidnap hundreds of schoolboys on its behalf , security and local sources said Wednesday .
The jihadist group has claimed responsibility for Friday 's attack , which targeted a secondary school in the town of Kankara , in Katsina state .
But sources told AFP the operation was carried out on Boko Haram 's orders by a notorious local gangster called Awwalun Daudawa .
The 43-year-old worked in collaboration with Idi Minorti and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong local followings , they said .
Criminal gangs , known as bandits , have terrorised communities in northwest Nigeria for years , and experts had recently warned of attempts by jihadists to forge an alliance with them .
Daudawa `` was an armed robber and a cattle rustler before he turned to gun-running , bringing in weapons from Libya , where he had received training , and selling them to bandits , '' said a security source .
`` Over time , he forged an alliance with Boko Haram and became their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Nigerian security forces in raids and ambushes and selling them to bandits for a cut . ''
The source added : `` Awwalun Daudawa was spotted in the forest in the Kankara area where he recently relocated and there were reports that he was planning something but it was not clear what it was . ''
Another source with intimate knowledge of `` bandit '' activities in Katsina and Zamfara states said : `` From available information , Awwalun Daudawa was ordered by Abubakar Shekau to kidnap the schoolboys and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dankarami . ''
`` After the children were taken , they went across the border into Zamfara state and split them among different gangs 'for safe keeping ' .
And some of the gangs have been in touch with the authorities for the release of the boys . ''
The attack occurred hundreds of kilometres ( miles ) from Boko Haram 's stronghold in northeast Nigeria , where it launched a brutal insurgency a decade ago .
The jihadists made a claim of responsibility in a four-minute audio , sent to AFP through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the group .
`` I am Abubakar Shekau and our brothers are behind the kidnapping in Katsina , '' said the voice in the recording , resembling that of the elusive Boko Haram leader .
Shekau was behind the 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls in Chibok that sparked global outrage , but another source said that the two incidents were not immediately comparable .
`` There is an ongoing peace pact between bandits and ( the ) Zamfara state government which the bandits do n't want to breach .
They have been under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the source said .
`` This situation makes the Kankara abduction different from that of Chibok schoolgirls who were directly in the custody of Boko Haram .
This time , the bandits who are keeping the children hold the ace , not Shekau . ''
The governor of Katsina state , Aminu Bello Masari , said late Monday that the abductors `` have made contacts with the government . ''
`` Talks are ongoing to ensure their safety and return to their respective families , '' he said on Twitter .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Haram 's claim or confirmed its authenticity , and the number of missing students remains unclear -- 320 or 333 , according to two accounts by officials , while locals in Kankara put it at more than 500 .

Kankara (Nigeria) (AFP) –
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Boko Haram recruited three local gangs in northwest Nigeria to kidnap hundreds of schoolboys on its behalf, security and local sources said Wednesday.
The jihadist group has claimed responsibility for Friday's attack, which targeted a secondary school in the town of Kankara, in Katsina state.
But sources told AFP the operation was carried out on Boko Haram's orders by a notorious local gangster called Awwalun Daudawa.
The 43-year-old worked in collaboration with Idi Minorti and Dankarami, two other crime chiefs with strong local followings, they said.
Criminal gangs, known as bandits, have terrorised communities in northwest Nigeria for years, and experts had recently warned of attempts by jihadists to forge an alliance with them.
Daudawa "was an armed robber and a cattle rustler before he turned to gun-running, bringing in weapons from Libya, where he had received training, and selling them to bandits," said a security source.
"Over time, he forged an alliance with Boko Haram and became their gunrunner, taking weapons the group seizes from the Nigerian security forces in raids and ambushes and selling them to bandits for a cut."
The source added: "Awwalun Daudawa was spotted in the forest in the Kankara area where he recently relocated and there were reports that he was planning something but it was not clear what it was."
Another source with intimate knowledge of "bandit" activities in Katsina and Zamfara states said: "From available information, Awwalun Daudawa was ordered by Abubakar Shekau to kidnap the schoolboys and he enlisted the help of Idi Minorti and Dankarami."
"After the children were taken, they went across the border into Zamfara state and split them among different gangs 'for safe keeping'. And some of the gangs have been in touch with the authorities for the release of the boys."
The attack occurred hundreds of kilometres (miles) from Boko Haram's stronghold in northeast Nigeria, where it launched a brutal insurgency a decade ago.
The jihadists made a claim of responsibility in a four-minute audio, sent to AFP through the same channel as previous messages from the group.
"I am Abubakar Shekau and our brothers are behind the kidnapping in Katsina," said the voice in the recording, resembling that of the elusive Boko Haram leader.
- 'Contacts' -
Shekau was behind the 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls in Chibok that sparked global outrage, but another source said that the two incidents were not immediately comparable.
"There is an ongoing peace pact between bandits and (the) Zamfara state government which the bandits don't want to breach. They have been under intense pressure to release the boys," the source said.
"This situation makes the Kankara abduction different from that of Chibok schoolgirls who were directly in the custody of Boko Haram. This time, the bandits who are keeping the children hold the ace, not Shekau."
The governor of Katsina state, Aminu Bello Masari, said late Monday that the abductors "have made contacts with the government."
"Talks are ongoing to ensure their safety and return to their respective families," he said on Twitter.
The government has not immediately reacted to Boko Haram's claim or confirmed its authenticity, and the number of missing students remains unclear -- 320 or 333, according to two accounts by officials, while locals in Kankara put it at more than 500.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-16--India bids to host 2027 Asian Cup

India bids to host 2027 Asian Cup

Praful Patel ( left ) and Kiren Rijiju ( right ) unveil India 's bid to host the Asian Cup in 2027 India on Wednesday joined a five-nation race to host the 2027 Asian Cup , the continent 's biggest football tournament , as it steps up efforts to secure international sporting recognition .
Saudi Arabia and Qatar have already officially entered the fray and an All India Football Federation ( AIFF ) spokesman said the country 's documents would be sent to the Asian Football Confederation this week .
Iran and Uzbekistan have also said they will bid .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ giant '' of football by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter , has stepped up its interest in hosting international events in recent years .
It put on the 2017 under-17 men 's World Cup and will host the 2022 women 's Asian Cup and the 2021 under-17 women 's World Cup .
India is also considering a bid for the 2032 Olympics .
AIFF president Praful Patel said the Asian Cup bid would further the country 's reputation as an emerging football nation .
`` We look at it positively , we look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doubt in my mind that India as a footballing nation by 2027 should be ready to not only host it but to participate in it meaningfully , '' Patel told reporters .
Sports minister Kiren Rijiju said hosting the Asian Cup would be `` a huge milestone '' for the cricket-mad country of 1.3 billion people .
India 's men are currently ranked 104th in FIFA 's world rankings but the launch of the Indian Super League has brought increased international attention to the country .

New Delhi (AFP) –
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India on Wednesday joined a five-nation race to host the 2027 Asian Cup, the continent's biggest football tournament, as it steps up efforts to secure international sporting recognition.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar have already officially entered the fray and an All India Football Federation (AIFF) spokesman said the country's documents would be sent to the Asian Football Confederation this week.
Iran and Uzbekistan have also said they will bid.
India, once called a "sleeping giant" of football by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, has stepped up its interest in hosting international events in recent years.
It put on the 2017 under-17 men's World Cup and will host the 2022 women's Asian Cup and the 2021 under-17 women's World Cup. India is also considering a bid for the 2032 Olympics.
AIFF president Praful Patel said the Asian Cup bid would further the country's reputation as an emerging football nation.
"We look at it positively, we look at it aggressively. I have no doubt in my mind that India as a footballing nation by 2027 should be ready to not only host it but to participate in it meaningfully," Patel told reporters.
Sports minister Kiren Rijiju said hosting the Asian Cup would be "a huge milestone" for the cricket-mad country of 1.3 billion people.
India's men are currently ranked 104th in FIFA's world rankings but the launch of the Indian Super League has brought increased international attention to the country.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-16--Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: Azerbaijan, Armenia exchange prisoners as part of peace deal

Azerbaijan and Armenia exchanged prisoners Monday , a move stipulated in the peace deal between the two ex-Soviet nations that @ @ @ @ @ separatist territory of Nagorno-Karabakh .
FRANCE 24 's International Affairs editor Philip Turle explains .

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: Azerbaijan, Armenia exchange prisoners as part of peace deal
03:25
Video by: Philip TURLE
Azerbaijan and Armenia exchanged prisoners Monday, a move stipulated in the peace deal between the two ex-Soviet nations that ended recent fighting over the separatist territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. FRANCE 24's International Affairs editor Philip Turle explains.


france24--2020-12-17--Virus hunters delve into Gabon forest in search for next threat

A researcher traps bats in a net at the Zadie Caves in Gabon .
Samples are taken from the mammals to see if they are hosting viruses that could jump to humans The scene looks like something out of a science fiction movie , or maybe some dystopian TV series .
Six men in yellow biohazard suits clamber in suffocating heat towards a cave in the heart of the Gabonese jungle .
Their quest : to unlock new knowledge on how pathogens like coronavirus leap the species barrier to humans .
In the cave is their goal -- a colony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to look for pathogens which could endanger humans and understand how transmission happens between species , '' explained Gael Maganga , a professor at the University of Franceville .
Bats can be hosts to viruses that do not harm them but can be dangerous to Homo sapiens , often crossing via other animals .
Covid-19 is just the latest microbe believed to have taken the zoonotic path from animals to humans .
It notably follows three other respiratory viruses , MERS in 2012 , SARS in 2003 and H5N1 flu in 1997 ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and AIDS , which is believed to have crossed over from chimps about a century ago , possibly through hunters who handled infected meat .
Getting to the cave is hard work .
The team have to almost wade through thick soil , pieces of bark and russet-coloured leaves that exhale the musky perfume of the forest .
The environment here -- hot and humid and filled with natural hazards -- is tough for humans , but perfect for viruses .
Bit by bit , the scent of damp earth yields to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ becomes suffocating in the sticky air .
Bees and silvery butterflies dance around the heads of the virus hunters , their faces dripping in sweat beneath their goggles .
Above them , the tree tops seem to lose themselves in the sky , and gnarly creepers hang down , as if suspended from the heavens .
The mouth of the cave suddenly rears up ahead , and a stream of bats flies out .
A thick white bedding of bat droppings spreads across the ground and the rocks .
Maganga calls on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cave 's dark maw and the bats , suddenly sensing the alien presence of humans , start to hunker down inside .
But one of the scientists moves forward , shining his torch inside .
Bats fly out and get caught in the net .
Now the real scientific stuff can begin .
The team take out sterile swabs and take samples from the bats ' mouths and rectums .
These are then carefully stored for transport back to the lab , where they will be analysed for any emerging pathogen .
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the catastrophe of coronavirus , the scientists are bluntly dismissive .
Human encroachment on their habitat , they say , has brought the two mammal species into closer , riskier proximity .
`` Human behaviour is often the cause of an emerging virus , '' said Maganga .
`` Today , with population pressure , intensified farming or hunting , contact between humans and animals is more and more frequent . ''
Maganga is also co-director of the Emerging Viral Diseases Unit at Franceville 's Interdisciplinary Centre for Medical Research ( CIRMF ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two P4 laboratories -- ultra-high-risk labs that operate at top levels of security .
A report issued in October by the UN 's biodiversity panel IPBES said there were up to 850,000 viruses that exist in animals and may infect humans .
Seventy percent of emerging diseases circulate in animals before jumping to humans , and each year around five new diseases break out among humans , it said .
Pauline Grentzinger , a vet at the Lekedi Nature Park , a biodiversity haven near Franceville , warned against the conventional thinking `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and animals on the other . ''
`` In health terms , what happens with one ( species ) has a repercussion on the other .
To protect natural fauna is to protect humans , '' she said .
In Gabon , every outbreak of Ebola has occurred in the Zadie Caves area , which lies close to the border with the Republic of Congo .
CIRMF researchers have found samples of Ebola virus among bats , confirming that the flying mammals were the host .
Maganga has also uncovered a number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some that are close to the Covid-19 strain that infects humans .
Despite the obvious risk , hunters still come into the area to hunt for animals -- antelopes , gazelles , monkeys and bats .
In April , Gabon imposed a ban on the sale of bats and pangolins , another species deemed to be a potential vector of coronavirus .
But villagers living near the caves say they have yet to see a case of Covid -- and for many , poverty seems to trump any danger .
`` In one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's money , '' said Aristide Roux , a 43-year-old hunter , showing the body of a gazelle on a tree stump by the side of the road .

Zadie Caves (Gabon) (AFP) –
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The scene looks like something out of a science fiction movie, or maybe some dystopian TV series.
Six men in yellow biohazard suits clamber in suffocating heat towards a cave in the heart of the Gabonese jungle.
Their quest: to unlock new knowledge on how pathogens like coronavirus leap the species barrier to humans.
In the cave is their goal -- a colony of bats.
"Our job is to look for pathogens which could endanger humans and understand how transmission happens between species," explained Gael Maganga, a professor at the University of Franceville.
Bats can be hosts to viruses that do not harm them but can be dangerous to Homo sapiens, often crossing via other animals.
Covid-19 is just the latest microbe believed to have taken the zoonotic path from animals to humans.
It notably follows three other respiratory viruses, MERS in 2012, SARS in 2003 and H5N1 flu in 1997; the haemorrhagic virus Ebola in 1976; and AIDS, which is believed to have crossed over from chimps about a century ago, possibly through hunters who handled infected meat.
- Bat cave -
Getting to the cave is hard work. The team have to almost wade through thick soil, pieces of bark and russet-coloured leaves that exhale the musky perfume of the forest.
The environment here -- hot and humid and filled with natural hazards -- is tough for humans, but perfect for viruses.
Bit by bit, the scent of damp earth yields to the smell of bat droppings, which eventually becomes suffocating in the sticky air. Bees and silvery butterflies dance around the heads of the virus hunters, their faces dripping in sweat beneath their goggles.
Above them, the tree tops seem to lose themselves in the sky, and gnarly creepers hang down, as if suspended from the heavens.
The mouth of the cave suddenly rears up ahead, and a stream of bats flies out. A thick white bedding of bat droppings spreads across the ground and the rocks.
Maganga calls on the team to stretch a net across the cave's dark maw and the bats, suddenly sensing the alien presence of humans, start to hunker down inside.
But one of the scientists moves forward, shining his torch inside. Bats fly out and get caught in the net.
Now the real scientific stuff can begin. The team take out sterile swabs and take samples from the bats' mouths and rectums.
These are then carefully stored for transport back to the lab, where they will be analysed for any emerging pathogen.
- Species contact -
To any who would blame the bats for the catastrophe of coronavirus, the scientists are bluntly dismissive.
Human encroachment on their habitat, they say, has brought the two mammal species into closer, riskier proximity.
"Human behaviour is often the cause of an emerging virus," said Maganga. "Today, with population pressure, intensified farming or hunting, contact between humans and animals is more and more frequent."
Maganga is also co-director of the Emerging Viral Diseases Unit at Franceville's Interdisciplinary Centre for Medical Research (CIRMF).
It hosts one of Africa's two P4 laboratories -- ultra-high-risk labs that operate at top levels of security.
A report issued in October by the UN's biodiversity panel IPBES said there were up to 850,000 viruses that exist in animals and may infect humans.
Seventy percent of emerging diseases circulate in animals before jumping to humans, and each year around five new diseases break out among humans, it said.
Pauline Grentzinger, a vet at the Lekedi Nature Park, a biodiversity haven near Franceville, warned against the conventional thinking "that it's humans on one side and animals on the other."
"In health terms, what happens with one (species) has a repercussion on the other. To protect natural fauna is to protect humans," she said.
- Hunters not deterred -
In Gabon, every outbreak of Ebola has occurred in the Zadie Caves area, which lies close to the border with the Republic of Congo. CIRMF researchers have found samples of Ebola virus among bats, confirming that the flying mammals were the host.
Maganga has also uncovered a number of coronavirus strains circulating among bats, including some that are close to the Covid-19 strain that infects humans.
Despite the obvious risk, hunters still come into the area to hunt for animals -- antelopes, gazelles, monkeys and bats.
In April, Gabon imposed a ban on the sale of bats and pangolins, another species deemed to be a potential vector of coronavirus.
But villagers living near the caves say they have yet to see a case of Covid -- and for many, poverty seems to trump any danger.
"In one night, I can earn a month's money," said Aristide Roux, a 43-year-old hunter, showing the body of a gazelle on a tree stump by the side of the road.
© 2020 AFP