france24--2020-10-23--Ultimate absentee ballot: US astronaut votes from space station

This handout photo released on October 22 , 2020 by NASA shows International Space Station crew member Kate Rubins pointing to a sign reading `` ISS voting booth '' At least she did n't have to wait in line .
A US astronaut cast her ballot from the International Space Station on Thursday , making her voice heard in the presidential election despite being 253 miles ( 408 kilometers ) above the Earth .
`` From the International Space Station : I voted today , '' crew member Kate Rubins , who began a six-month stint aboard the orbiting station @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency NASA 's Twitter account .
The post featured a photograph of Rubins , her blonde hair floating in the zero-gravity environment , in front of a white enclosure with a paper sign that reads `` ISS voting booth . ''
Rubins and NASA described the process as a form of absentee voting .
A secure electronic ballot generated by a clerk 's office in Harris County , home of NASA 's Johnson Space Center in Houston , Texas , was sent up via email to the ISS .
Rubins filled out the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downlinked and delivered back to the clerk 's office .
She is no stranger to the process : Rubins cast her vote from the ISS during the 2016 election .
Congress passed legislation in 1997 that made voting from space possible .
`` We consider it an honor to be able to vote from space , '' she said in a video before she and two Russian cosmonauts launched from the Russian-operated Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on October 14 .
`` If we can do it from space then I believe folks can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Three other American astronauts were also expected to vote from space but their October 31 trip to the ISS was delayed .

Washington (AFP) –
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At least she didn't have to wait in line.
A US astronaut cast her ballot from the International Space Station on Thursday, making her voice heard in the presidential election despite being 253 miles (408 kilometers) above the Earth.
"From the International Space Station: I voted today," crew member Kate Rubins, who began a six-month stint aboard the orbiting station last week, said on US space agency NASA's Twitter account.
The post featured a photograph of Rubins, her blonde hair floating in the zero-gravity environment, in front of a white enclosure with a paper sign that reads "ISS voting booth."
Rubins and NASA described the process as a form of absentee voting.
A secure electronic ballot generated by a clerk's office in Harris County, home of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, was sent up via email to the ISS.
Rubins filled out the ballot in the email and it was downlinked and delivered back to the clerk's office.
She is no stranger to the process: Rubins cast her vote from the ISS during the 2016 election. Congress passed legislation in 1997 that made voting from space possible.
"We consider it an honor to be able to vote from space," she said in a video before she and two Russian cosmonauts launched from the Russian-operated Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on October 14.
"If we can do it from space then I believe folks can do it from the ground too."
Three other American astronauts were also expected to vote from space but their October 31 trip to the ISS was delayed.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--Convalescent plasma of limited use for Covid-19: study

Convalescent plasma has been given emergency approval for use in countries including India and the United States Plasma taken from the blood of people who have recovered from Covid-19 and given to people sick with the disease does not reduce their chances of getting seriously ill or dying , new research has found .
The findings are from one of the first clinical trials to report the effects of convalescent plasma , which has been given emergency approval in countries including India and the United States .
As a potential treatment for patients with moderate Covid-19 , particularly in places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study conducted across India and published in the medical journal BMJ Friday concluded that `` convalescent plasma showed limited effectiveness '' .
But the researchers said future studies could explore using only plasma with high levels of neutralising antibodies to see if this might be more effective .
With few useful treatments and no cure or vaccine , nations are scrambling to find ways to blunt the severity of the new coronavirus .
One idea has been to harvest recovered patients ' antibodies , which float in plasma -- the liquid component of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the blood of someone fighting infection .
The technique was first tried against diphtheria in 1892 and was shown to help speed recovery from Ebola and SARS , which is caused by the same family of pathogens as the novel coronavirus .
Observational studies recently carried out suggested convalescent plasma could be beneficial .
But in a randomised clinical trial at dozens of public and private hospitals across India , researchers found that it failed to reduce mortality or stop progression to severe Covid-19 in moderately ill patients .
The study , funded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , enrolled 464 adult patients , with an average age of 52 , between April and July and split them randomly into two groups .
A control group of 229 was given the normal best standard of hospital care , while 235 people received two transfusions of convalescent plasma and were then given the best standard of hospital care .
After 28 days , 44 ( 19 percent ) of the participants in the plasma group and 41 ( 18 percent ) in the control group progressed to severe disease or died from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comparison to patients who received plasma with detectable levels of antibodies , the results were the same , the authors said .
They did however find that the use of convalescent plasma seemed to improve resolution of shortness of breath and fatigue and led to higher conversion to a negative result for the virus -- a sign of it being neutralised by antibodies -- after 7 days .
The trial `` was a rigorous randomised controlled study on a topic of enormous global importance '' said public health scientist Elizabeth Pathak in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the results were greeted with caution by a spokesman from Britain 's National Health Service , which is also in the process of carrying out large , randomised control trials of convalescent plasma .
A spokesman from the NHS blood and transplant department said that the Indian trial had used donations with antibody levels around six to 10 times lower than in Britain .
`` There is other promising evidence that convalescent plasma transfusions with high antibody levels could improve patient outcomes , '' the spokesman said , adding that results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ antibodies `` should provide clear answers '' .

Paris (AFP) –
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Plasma taken from the blood of people who have recovered from Covid-19 and given to people sick with the disease does not reduce their chances of getting seriously ill or dying, new research has found.
The findings are from one of the first clinical trials to report the effects of convalescent plasma, which has been given emergency approval in countries including India and the United States.
As a potential treatment for patients with moderate Covid-19, particularly in places where laboratory capacity is limited, the study conducted across India and published in the medical journal BMJ Friday concluded that "convalescent plasma showed limited effectiveness".
But the researchers said future studies could explore using only plasma with high levels of neutralising antibodies to see if this might be more effective.
With few useful treatments and no cure or vaccine, nations are scrambling to find ways to blunt the severity of the new coronavirus.
One idea has been to harvest recovered patients' antibodies, which float in plasma -- the liquid component of blood -- and then inject this into the blood of someone fighting infection.
The technique was first tried against diphtheria in 1892 and was shown to help speed recovery from Ebola and SARS, which is caused by the same family of pathogens as the novel coronavirus.
Observational studies recently carried out suggested convalescent plasma could be beneficial.
But in a randomised clinical trial at dozens of public and private hospitals across India, researchers found that it failed to reduce mortality or stop progression to severe Covid-19 in moderately ill patients.
- Antibody concentration -
The study, funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research, enrolled 464 adult patients, with an average age of 52, between April and July and split them randomly into two groups.
A control group of 229 was given the normal best standard of hospital care, while 235 people received two transfusions of convalescent plasma and were then given the best standard of hospital care.
After 28 days, 44 (19 percent) of the participants in the plasma group and 41 (18 percent) in the control group progressed to severe disease or died from any cause.
When they restricted the comparison to patients who received plasma with detectable levels of antibodies, the results were the same, the authors said.
They did however find that the use of convalescent plasma seemed to improve resolution of shortness of breath and fatigue and led to higher conversion to a negative result for the virus -- a sign of it being neutralised by antibodies -- after 7 days.
The trial "was a rigorous randomised controlled study on a topic of enormous global importance" said public health scientist Elizabeth Pathak in a separate commentary also published in the BMJ.
But the results were greeted with caution by a spokesman from Britain's National Health Service, which is also in the process of carrying out large, randomised control trials of convalescent plasma.
A spokesman from the NHS blood and transplant department said that the Indian trial had used donations with antibody levels around six to 10 times lower than in Britain.
"There is other promising evidence that convalescent plasma transfusions with high antibody levels could improve patient outcomes," the spokesman said, adding that results from trials with these higher levels of antibodies "should provide clear answers".
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--Trump and Biden go head-to-head in final presidential debate, mute button at the ready

Trump and Biden go head-to-head in final presidential debate , mute button at the ready US President Donald Trump squares @ @ @ @ @ Biden on Thursday in what promises to be a bruising final debate with less than @ @ @ @ @ fight for the White House .
Follow FRANCE 24 ’ s live blog , starting @ @ @ @ @ GMT , for the latest updates and analysis .

As it happened
After the first presidential debate was panned so widely that organisers introduced a mute button, Thursday’s second and final debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden was far more civil, yet showed the same sharp divides on the key issues facing the United States.
US President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden participate in the final presidential debate at the Curb Event Center at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee on October 22, 2020.
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Trump, the Republican incumbent, took a more restrained approach than he did during the chaotic first presidential debate in September, when he repeatedly interrupted Biden. He even praised the moderator, whom he’d repeatedly denigrated before the debate.
“So far, I respect very much the way you’re handling this,” Trump said to NBC’s Kristen Welker when she gave him time to respond to Biden at one point.
Still, Thursday’s clash featured plenty of personal attacks between two men who evince little respect for each other, and Trump kept fact-checkers busy by levelling unfounded corruption accusations at Biden and his family. He also brought back campaign tropes about immigrant “rapists” and “murderers”, harkening back to the speech that kicked off his 2016 campaign and suggesting that his pitch to voters remains much the same.
The televised encounter in Nashville, Tennessee represented one of Trump’s last remaining opportunities to reshape a campaign dominated by a pandemic that has killed more than 221,000 people in the United States. Trump has trailed Biden in opinion polls for months, though the contest is tighter in some battleground states likely to decide the national outcome.
Here are the issues that dominated the two candidates’ final debate before the November 3 election.
Covid-19: ‘People are learning to die with it’
Trump’s difficulty articulating a defence of his handling of the coronavirus remains a drag on his campaign. The opening topic of the debate was entirely predictable – Trump has received variations of the same question in interviews and has rarely delivered a clear answer.
Asked to outline his plan for the future, Trump instead asserted his prior handling was without fault and yet again predicted a rosy reversal to the pandemic.
“We’re rounding the turn, we’re rounding the corner,” Trump claimed, even as cases were spiking again across the country. “It’s going away.”
Biden, who has sought to prosecute Trump’s handling of the virus in his closing pitch to voters, came prepared. “Anyone who’s responsible for that many deaths should not remain as president of the United States of America,” he said.
00:52
Biden added: “He says we’re, you know, we’re learning to live with it. People are learning to die with it.”
Trump asserted that a vaccine would be ready by the end of the year and potentially within “weeks”, but stopped short of claiming it would be ready before the election, as he earlier had. Most experts, including administration officials, have said a vaccine is unlikely to be widely available until mid-2021.
00:32
The debate came as several US states, including the election swing state of Ohio, reported record single-day increases in Covid-19 infections on Thursday, evidence the pandemic is accelerating anew.
Trump promises to ‘terminate’ Obamacare
Trump and Biden each sought to position himself as the defender of Americans’ health care, keenly aware that it ranked among the top concerns for voters even before the coronavirus pandemic struck the nation.
But Trump’s efforts to repeal and undermine the Obama-era Affordable Care Act proved to be a liability, as Biden hammered his efforts to strip coverage from tens of millions of Americans and his lack of a plan to cover those with pre-existing conditions.
00:46
Biden also fended off Trump’s attack that his plan to reinforce the Obama-era law with a “public option” amounted to a step toward socialised medicine by relying on his well-established public persona – and his vanquishing of Democratic primary rivals who advocated a Medicare for All program, which would extend federal health insurance to all Americans.
“He thinks he’s running against somebody else,” Biden said. “I beat all those other people.”
‘The least racist person in this room’
With centuries of institutional racism coming to a head in 2020 with the resurgent Black Lives Matter movement, some voters have perceived a bit of a disconnect in a 74-year-old white Republican and a 77-year-old white Democrat battling for the presidency. Trump and Biden did little to dispel that perception.
Welker offered both multiple opportunities to speak directly to Black Americans, but while both men said they understood the challenges Black citizens face, the candidates mostly blasted each other.
Trump blamed Biden as an almost singular force behind mass incarceration, especially of “young Black men”. Trump declared himself “the least racist person in this room” and repeated his claim that “nobody has done what I’ve done” for Black Americans “with the exception of Abraham Lincoln, possible exception”.
00:56
Biden, incredulous, called Trump a “racist” who “pours fuel on every single racist fire”.
Polls suggest many young voters of colour do not support Trump but aren’t particularly enthusiastic about Biden either. It’s unlikely their final debate altered that view.
Climate change
Trump and Biden faced off on global climate change in the first extensive discussion of the issue in a presidential debate in 20 years.
Biden beseeched the world to address a warming climate, and Trump took credit for pulling the US out of a major international accord to do just that. Trump asserted he was trying to save American jobs, while taking credit for some of the cleanest air and water the nation has seen in generations – some of it the holdover effect of regulations passed by his predecessor.
Trump also sought to blame other countries for their role in climate change, referring to “filthy” pollution in China, India and Russia. (China overtook the US as the world’s largest overall CO2 emitter in 2005, but US emissions per capita are still vastly higher.)
Biden called for massive investment to create new environmentally friendly industries, tapping into an issue of particular importance to his base. “Our health and our jobs are at stake,” he said.
The former vice president also spoke of a transition from the oil industry, which Trump seized upon, asking voters in Texas and Pennsylvania if they were listening.
>> In Pennsylvania, fracking might not be the winning issue US presidential candidates think it is
Foreign policy meets personal attacks
Biden also got a chance to talk a little foreign policy. But most of the candidates' discussion of other countries came as they attacked each other with allegations of foreign entanglements.
Trump repeatedly levelled unsupported allegations against Biden and his son Hunter in an attempt to cast his rival and his family as corrupt.
“I don’t make money from China, you do. I don’t make money from Ukraine, you do,” Trump said.
Trump offered no hard proof for his assertions, as has often been the case during his presidency. Biden meanwhile highlighted a recent New York Times report that the president has a Chinese bank account as well as the Times’ earlier reporting showing that Trump paid only $750 in taxes in 2016 and 2017.
00:24
When given the opportunity, Biden also hammered Trump’s relationship with North Korea’s authoritarian leader Kim Jong-un. “His buddy, who’s a thug,” Biden said, arguing that a Trump summit meeting with Kim had “legitimised” a US adversary and potential nuclear threat.
Trump defended his “different kind of relationship ... a very good relationship” with Kim, prompting Biden to retort that nations “had a good relationship with Hitler before he, in fact, invaded the rest of Europe”.
Snap polls show Biden as debate winner
Despite the swipes, Welker appeared relieved at the end of the debate and thanked both candidates for a “robust, fantastic” discussion. Many on social media touted the moderator as the debate’s winner, cheering her ability to keep the discussion on track.
winner of the debate is obviously kristen welker
trump cleared the bar for himself, that is, he didn’t rant and rave again.
biden had a very solid performance.
no game changers here in either direction means, i think, that this is a good result for biden. — b-boy boooo-eebaisse (@jbouie) October 23, 2020
As for viewers, two snap polls showed them picking Biden as the winner. 53 percent of viewers told CNN they preferred the former vice president’s performance, while 39 percent preferred Trump’s. A Data for Progress poll showed similar results at 52-41 for Biden.
Revisit more debate highlights in FRANCE 24’s live blog below.
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france24--2020-10-22--Ahead of F-35 sale to UAE, Pentagon pledges to keep Israel strong

An Israeli F-35 fighter jet is seen in a hangar at the Ovda air base north of the city of Eilat , in November 2019 The United States recommitted itself to maintaining Israel 's military dominance in the Middle East Thursday during a visit to the Pentagon by Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz , the two sides said .
With Washington gearing up to sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates -- Israel is the only country in the Middle East to have the aircraft -- Gantz received assurances from US Defense Secretary Mark Esper that Israel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not suffer .
`` I want to state , again , how committed we are to Israel 's qualitative military edge when it comes to defense sales , and our commitment to Israel 's security , which has been longstanding and it 's guaranteed and ironclad , '' Esper said as the two met .
In his second meeting in Washington with Esper in a month , Gantz said the two had been in discussions for weeks to `` assure the bipartisan commitment for Israel 's security . ''
After their meeting Gantz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` a joint declaration confirming the United States ' strategic commitment to Israel 's qualitative military edge in the Middle East for years to come . ''
Israel has made its concerns clear following President Donald Trump 's confirmation last month that the United States could sell F-35s to the UAE .
The country has long opposed the sale of F-35s to any US allies in the region including Jordan and Egypt , both of which already recognize Israel .
Since the 1960s the US has approached the issue on the principle that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ edge '' ( QME ) , and the concept has been formalized in legislation from Congress .
But the UAE , which sits along the strategic Strait of Hormuz across from Iran , which is seen by Israel and the United States as a major threat , has sought the advanced fighters for several years .
Trump , who polls suggest will be defeated by Democrat Joe Biden in the November 3 election , reportedly wants to rush through the F-35 sale by January , when he would have to step down if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Esper could be visiting the Jewish state soon , telling his US counterpart that he is `` looking forward to host you in Israel . ''
While the Pentagon did not provide any information on the document signed by the two defense chiefs , according to Israeli media , it pledged the US to supporting Israel 's QME for the next four years .

Washington (AFP) –
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The United States recommitted itself to maintaining Israel's military dominance in the Middle East Thursday during a visit to the Pentagon by Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, the two sides said.
With Washington gearing up to sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates -- Israel is the only country in the Middle East to have the aircraft -- Gantz received assurances from US Defense Secretary Mark Esper that Israel's "qualitative military edge" would not suffer.
"I want to state, again, how committed we are to Israel's qualitative military edge when it comes to defense sales, and our commitment to Israel's security, which has been longstanding and it's guaranteed and ironclad," Esper said as the two met.
In his second meeting in Washington with Esper in a month, Gantz said the two had been in discussions for weeks to "assure the bipartisan commitment for Israel's security."
After their meeting Gantz tweeted that the two sides had signed "a joint declaration confirming the United States' strategic commitment to Israel's qualitative military edge in the Middle East for years to come."
Israel has made its concerns clear following President Donald Trump's confirmation last month that the United States could sell F-35s to the UAE.
The country has long opposed the sale of F-35s to any US allies in the region including Jordan and Egypt, both of which already recognize Israel.
Since the 1960s the US has approached the issue on the principle that Israel should maintain a "qualitative military edge" (QME), and the concept has been formalized in legislation from Congress.
But the UAE, which sits along the strategic Strait of Hormuz across from Iran, which is seen by Israel and the United States as a major threat, has sought the advanced fighters for several years.
Trump, who polls suggest will be defeated by Democrat Joe Biden in the November 3 election, reportedly wants to rush through the F-35 sale by January, when he would have to step down if not reelected.
Gantz also suggested that Esper could be visiting the Jewish state soon, telling his US counterpart that he is "looking forward to host you in Israel."
While the Pentagon did not provide any information on the document signed by the two defense chiefs, according to Israeli media, it pledged the US to supporting Israel's QME for the next four years.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--US slaps new sanctions on Iran groups for election interference

A woman casts her ballot on the first day of in-person early voting for the November 3rd US election in Milwaukee , Wisconsin , on October 20 , 2020 The US Treasury on Thursday slapped new sanctions on five Iranian entities for what it called `` brazen attempts '' to interfere with the US election and US voters .
The Treasury named the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ( IRGC ) , the IRGC-Qods Force , the Bayan Rasaneh Gostar Institute , the Iranian Islamic Radio and Television Union and International Union of Virtual Media as key actors in an effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 US presidential election .
The groups have worked to `` sow discord among the voting populace by spreading disinformation online and executing malign influence operations aimed at misleading US voters , '' the Treasury said .
Bayan Gostar , which the Treasury called an IRGC-Qods Force `` front company '' for propaganda , took the lead in the activities , it said .
Ahead of the election , `` Bayan Gostar personnel have planned to influence the election by exploiting social issues within the United States , including the Covid-19 pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it said .
`` As recently as summer 2020 , Bayan Gostar was prepared to execute a series of influence operations directed at the US populace ahead of the presidential election . ''
The two media groups were part of that operation .
The Treasury gave no specific details on what the Iranians had done , but US social media companies have blocked accounts and postings they determined were part of Iranian government-backed influence efforts related to the election and social issues .
The sanctions , which forbid Americans and US entities from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely have little real impact , as the IRGC and IRGC-Qods Force are already subject to other sweeping sanctions .
The announcement came one day after the US Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe fingered Iran as behind recent emails addressed to US voters threatening them to support President Donald Trump and his Republican Party .
The emails appeared to have been sent by a right-wing US militia group , the Proud Boys , but Ratcliffe said Iran was behind them .

Washington (AFP) –
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The US Treasury on Thursday slapped new sanctions on five Iranian entities for what it called "brazen attempts" to interfere with the US election and US voters.
The Treasury named the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the IRGC-Qods Force, the Bayan Rasaneh Gostar Institute, the Iranian Islamic Radio and Television Union and International Union of Virtual Media as key actors in an effort to spread disinformation ahead of the November 3 US presidential election.
The groups have worked to "sow discord among the voting populace by spreading disinformation online and executing malign influence operations aimed at misleading US voters," the Treasury said.
Bayan Gostar, which the Treasury called an IRGC-Qods Force "front company" for propaganda, took the lead in the activities, it said.
Ahead of the election, "Bayan Gostar personnel have planned to influence the election by exploiting social issues within the United States, including the Covid-19 pandemic, and denigrating US political figures," it said.
"As recently as summer 2020, Bayan Gostar was prepared to execute a series of influence operations directed at the US populace ahead of the presidential election."
The two media groups were part of that operation.
The Treasury gave no specific details on what the Iranians had done, but US social media companies have blocked accounts and postings they determined were part of Iranian government-backed influence efforts related to the election and social issues.
The sanctions, which forbid Americans and US entities from doing business with the Iranian groups, likely have little real impact, as the IRGC and IRGC-Qods Force are already subject to other sweeping sanctions.
The announcement came one day after the US Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe fingered Iran as behind recent emails addressed to US voters threatening them to support President Donald Trump and his Republican Party.
The emails appeared to have been sent by a right-wing US militia group, the Proud Boys, but Ratcliffe said Iran was behind them.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--'Loved and appreciated' Bale starts as Spurs win, Celtic undone by Milan

On the ball : Tottenham Hotspur 's Gareth Bale in action on Thursday Gareth Bale said it felt good to be `` loved and appreciated '' after helping Tottenham to a 3-0 win over LASK of Austria in the Europa League on Thursday .
The Welsh international started his first match since his return from Real Madrid and played for an hour before Jose Mourinho gave him a break .
Bale had come on as a substitute last Sunday with Tottenham 3-0 up against West Ham before his team collapsed to give up a 3-3 draw .
`` It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told BT Sport on Thursday .
`` It is a big reason why I play well and why I came back .
You want to be loved and appreciated .
I will give everything for this shirt . ''
However , he admitted it will take time to find his feet .
`` I am a bit stiff .
It is like a mini pre-season for me and I am trying to get minutes into the legs , '' he said .
Despite Bale starting , it was on-loan Carlos Vinicius who made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opener .
Vinicius started in place of the resting Harry Kane and he made goals in either half for Lucas Moura and Son Heung-min , while he would have also netted himself had Andres Andrade not scored an own goal .
Bale made that goal where Andrade put through his own net .
Leicester made the perfect start in Group G with a comfortable 3-0 win over Zorya Luhansk of Ukraine .
James Maddison , Harvey Barnes and Kelechi Iheanacho were on the scoresheet .
In Glasgow , Celtic struggled against Serie A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at half-time thanks to goals from Rade Krunic and Brahim Diaz .
Mohamed Elyounoussi reduced the arrears after the break , but Jens Petter Hauge broke clear to secure Milan 's Group H 3-1 win in stoppage time .
Milan were so comfortable that they could afford to take off Zlatan Ibrahimovic just after the hour .
Earlier Thursday , Arsenal came from behind to down Rapid Vienna 2-1 and Rangers beat Standard Liege 2-0 .
After a goalless first half Arsenal went behind when keeper Bernd Leno fluffed a clearance on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taxiarchis Fountas capitalised on Leno 's clanger , much to the joy of the 3,000 home fans allowed in to watch under coronavirus safety protocol , but the Gunners then turned the game around in four second half minutes .
David Luiz put them level with a deft glancing header off Nicolas Pepe 's free-kick , with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang then tapping home to bag the three Group B points .
It was an eventful night for Mikel Arteta 's side .
Alongside eight yellow cards , there was an eye-catching display from Thomas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transfer deadline day move from Atletico Madrid .
A frustrated follower of the game from his London sofa was Mesut Ozil , who has been left out of both Arsenal 's Europa League and Premier League squad .
`` When I ca n't support on the pitch tonight , I will support in front of the TV in London . ''
tweeted Ozil .
The other Group B game was being played out in Dublin where Dundalk , only Ireland 's third ever representative in the group stage , were beaten 2-1 by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gerrard 's Rangers took on Standard Liege fresh from their Old Firm derby win over Celtic which moved them four points clear in the Scottish Premiership last weekend .
James Tavernier scored from the spot after Noe Dussenne handled in the area to put them into a 19th minute lead .
Then three minutes into stoppage time Kemar Roofe produced a wonder goal from the halfway line , the ball flying over the head of bewildered keeper Arnaud Bodart .
Benfica had claimed the first goal of the night and they went on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the other Group D game .
Elsewhere , Bayer Leverkusen ran riot 6-2 against French side Nice and Spanish side Granada , in their first ever European campaign , beat PSV Eindhoven 2-1 .

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Gareth Bale said it felt good to be "loved and appreciated" after helping Tottenham to a 3-0 win over LASK of Austria in the Europa League on Thursday.
The Welsh international started his first match since his return from Real Madrid and played for an hour before Jose Mourinho gave him a break.
Bale had come on as a substitute last Sunday with Tottenham 3-0 up against West Ham before his team collapsed to give up a 3-3 draw.
"It is amazing to be back," Bale told BT Sport on Thursday.
"It is a big reason why I play well and why I came back. You want to be loved and appreciated. I will give everything for this shirt."
However, he admitted it will take time to find his feet.
"I am a bit stiff. It is like a mini pre-season for me and I am trying to get minutes into the legs," he said.
Despite Bale starting, it was on-loan Carlos Vinicius who made an impressive debut in the Group J opener.
Vinicius started in place of the resting Harry Kane and he made goals in either half for Lucas Moura and Son Heung-min, while he would have also netted himself had Andres Andrade not scored an own goal.
Bale made that goal where Andrade put through his own net.
Leicester made the perfect start in Group G with a comfortable 3-0 win over Zorya Luhansk of Ukraine.
James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Kelechi Iheanacho were on the scoresheet.
In Glasgow, Celtic struggled against Serie A leaders AC Milan who were 2-0 up at half-time thanks to goals from Rade Krunic and Brahim Diaz.
Mohamed Elyounoussi reduced the arrears after the break, but Jens Petter Hauge broke clear to secure Milan's Group H 3-1 win in stoppage time.
Milan were so comfortable that they could afford to take off Zlatan Ibrahimovic just after the hour.
- Ozil TV support -
Earlier Thursday, Arsenal came from behind to down Rapid Vienna 2-1 and Rangers beat Standard Liege 2-0.
After a goalless first half Arsenal went behind when keeper Bernd Leno fluffed a clearance on a night he will want to forget.
Taxiarchis Fountas capitalised on Leno's clanger, much to the joy of the 3,000 home fans allowed in to watch under coronavirus safety protocol, but the Gunners then turned the game around in four second half minutes.
David Luiz put them level with a deft glancing header off Nicolas Pepe's free-kick, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang then tapping home to bag the three Group B points.
It was an eventful night for Mikel Arteta's side.
Alongside eight yellow cards, there was an eye-catching display from Thomas Partey on his first start since his transfer deadline day move from Atletico Madrid.
A frustrated follower of the game from his London sofa was Mesut Ozil, who has been left out of both Arsenal's Europa League and Premier League squad.
"When I can't support on the pitch tonight, I will support in front of the TV in London." tweeted Ozil.
The other Group B game was being played out in Dublin where Dundalk, only Ireland's third ever representative in the group stage, were beaten 2-1 by Norwegians Molde.
In Belgium, Steven Gerrard's Rangers took on Standard Liege fresh from their Old Firm derby win over Celtic which moved them four points clear in the Scottish Premiership last weekend.
James Tavernier scored from the spot after Noe Dussenne handled in the area to put them into a 19th minute lead.
Then three minutes into stoppage time Kemar Roofe produced a wonder goal from the halfway line, the ball flying over the head of bewildered keeper Arnaud Bodart.
Benfica had claimed the first goal of the night and they went on to beat Lech Poznan in Poland 4-2 in the other Group D game.
Elsewhere, Bayer Leverkusen ran riot 6-2 against French side Nice and Spanish side Granada, in their first ever European campaign, beat PSV Eindhoven 2-1.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--Italian rider Spreafico fails doping control on Giro d'Italia

The pack rides during the 18th stage of the Giro d'Italia between Pinzolo and Laghi di Cancano .
Italian rider @ @ @ @ @ positive samples during doping controls at the Giro d'Italia , cycling governing body the UCI @ @ @ @ @ Spreafico has been notified of two Adverse Analytical Findings ( AAFs ) for Enobosarm ( @ @ @ @ @ collected during the Giro d ’ Italia on 15 and 16 October 2020 , '' @ @ @ @ @ statement .
`` The rider has the right to request and attend the analyses of @ @ @ @ @ In accordance with the UCI Anti-Doping Rules , the rider has been provisionally suspended until @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Enobosarm is a non-steroidal agent which produces effects similar to anabolic steroids .
@ @ @ @ @ was 127th in the overall standings , more than five hours behind Dutch race leader @ @ @

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Italian rider Matteo Spreafico has returned two positive samples during doping controls at the Giro d'Italia, cycling governing body the UCI announced on Thursday.
"Spreafico has been notified of two Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs) for Enobosarm (ostarine) in two samples collected during the Giro d’Italia on 15 and 16 October 2020," the UCI said in a statement.
"The rider has the right to request and attend the analyses of the B samples.
"In accordance with the UCI Anti-Doping Rules, the rider has been provisionally suspended until the adjudication of the affair."
Enobosarm is a non-steroidal agent which produces effects similar to anabolic steroids.
The 27-year-old Vini Zabù-Brado-KTM rider was 127th in the overall standings, more than five hours behind Dutch race leader Wilco Kelderman.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--Baxter backs away from England talk

Baxter backs away from England talk

Exeter boss Rob Baxter has played down suggestions he could succeed Eddie Jones as England coach .
The Chiefs rugby director is one win away from completing a domestic and European double heading into Saturday 's Premiership final against Wasps at Twickenham following last week 's European Champions Cup victory over Racing 92 .
Jones is contracted to the Rugby Football Union until after the end of the 2023 World Cup , while Baxter 's current Exeter deal also expires in three years ' time .
But the 49-year-old is in no hurry to leave Exeter , the club he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European summit via a Premiership title in just 10 years , Baxter , asked Thursday , if he wanted to coach England eventually , replied : `` Right here and now , no .
I am happy here . ''
Asked what would make him change his mind , he added : `` Well , it would depend if I am happy here . ''
Saturday sees Exeter contesting their fifth consecutive Premiership final , with the Chiefs bidding to become only the fourth English club after Leicester , Wasps and Saracens to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one season .
But with English rugby currently having to absorb the economic impact of playing matches behind closed doors because of the coronavirus pandemic , Baxter said : `` There are loads of challenges in rugby that I would love to be a part of at Exeter .
`` Obviously , a huge part as well will be making sure we see Exeter through the tough financial climate we are in at the moment .
`` All of this wo n't mean very much to me and my career at Exeter if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the next six months because of the current situation . ''

London (AFP) –
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Exeter boss Rob Baxter has played down suggestions he could succeed Eddie Jones as England coach.
The Chiefs rugby director is one win away from completing a domestic and European double heading into Saturday's Premiership final against Wasps at Twickenham following last week's European Champions Cup victory over Racing 92.
Jones is contracted to the Rugby Football Union until after the end of the 2023 World Cup, while Baxter's current Exeter deal also expires in three years' time.
But the 49-year-old is in no hurry to leave Exeter, the club he has steered from the Championship to the European summit via a Premiership title in just 10 years,
Baxter, asked Thursday, if he wanted to coach England eventually, replied: "Right here and now, no. I am happy here."
Asked what would make him change his mind, he added: "Well, it would depend if I am happy here."
Saturday sees Exeter contesting their fifth consecutive Premiership final, with the Chiefs bidding to become only the fourth English club after Leicester, Wasps and Saracens to win the domestic and European Cup in one season.
But with English rugby currently having to absorb the economic impact of playing matches behind closed doors because of the coronavirus pandemic, Baxter said: "There are loads of challenges in rugby that I would love to be a part of at Exeter.
"Obviously, a huge part as well will be making sure we see Exeter through the tough financial climate we are in at the moment.
"All of this won't mean very much to me and my career at Exeter if we are a club that fail financially in the next six months because of the current situation."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--US gives full approval to antiviral remdesivir to treat Covid-19

Remdesivir is an experimental , broad spectrum antiviral made by US pharmaceutical Gilead Sciences that was first developed to treat Ebola , a viral hemorrhagic fever The US Food and Drug Administration on Thursday granted full approval to the antiviral drug remdesivir as a treatment for patients hospitalized with Covid-19 , after conditional authorization was given in May .
Gilead said the drug , sold under the brand name Veklury , was the only specific treatment for Covid-19 approved so far under a more rigorous process .
However , other treatments have received authorization for emergency use , though that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health emergency sparked by the coronavirus pandemic is over .
Other medications , like the steroid dexamethasone , are also being used in the fight against Covid-19 .
Gilead 's shares on the New York Stock Exchange jumped four percent soon after the announcement .
`` The FDA is committed to expediting the development and availability of Covid-19 treatments during this unprecedented public health emergency , '' said FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn .
`` Today 's approval is supported by data from multiple clinical trials that the agency has rigorously assessed and represents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic . ''
Europe and other countries such as Canada also have granted temporary approval for the use of remdesivir .
Remdesivir , which is administered by an injection , was one of the first drugs to show relative promise in shortening the time to recovery in some coronavirus patients .
But its efficacy in reducing the mortality rate is unproven .
It can be administered to adults and children over the age of 12 who weigh more than 40 kilos ( 88 pounds ) who require hospitalization for the treatment of Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
The drug can only be given to patients in a hospital or equivalent setting .
Emergency approval has been granted for its use on pediatric patients under the age of 12 weighing at least 3.5 kilos .
President Donald Trump , who tested positive for the coronavirus early in October , was treated with remdesivir at a military hospital outside Washington , among other drugs .
The drug was first developed to treat Ebola , a viral hemorrhagic fever .
In February , the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dusting off remdesivir to investigate against SARS-CoV-2 , the pathogen that causes Covid-19 , because it had shown promise in animal testing against fellow coronaviruses SARS and MERS .
Its study involving more than 1,000 people , the results of which were released in April , found that patients on the drug had a 31 percent faster time to recovery than those on a placebo .
Since the medicine is complex to manufacture and is administered via injection , rather than a pill , there have been questions about whether supply could initially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early on remdesivir 's success , rushing to preorder nearly all of Gilead 's summer production .
Gilead has set the price at $ 390 per vial in developed countries , or $ 2,340 for six vials used over the normal five-day course , though US private insurers will pay $ 520 per vial .

Washington (AFP) –
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The US Food and Drug Administration on Thursday granted full approval to the antiviral drug remdesivir as a treatment for patients hospitalized with Covid-19, after conditional authorization was given in May.
Gilead said the drug, sold under the brand name Veklury, was the only specific treatment for Covid-19 approved so far under a more rigorous process.
However, other treatments have received authorization for emergency use, though that approval can be revoked once the public health emergency sparked by the coronavirus pandemic is over.
Other medications, like the steroid dexamethasone, are also being used in the fight against Covid-19.
Gilead's shares on the New York Stock Exchange jumped four percent soon after the announcement.
"The FDA is committed to expediting the development and availability of Covid-19 treatments during this unprecedented public health emergency," said FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn.
"Today's approval is supported by data from multiple clinical trials that the agency has rigorously assessed and represents an important scientific milestone in the Covid-19 pandemic."
Europe and other countries such as Canada also have granted temporary approval for the use of remdesivir.
Remdesivir, which is administered by an injection, was one of the first drugs to show relative promise in shortening the time to recovery in some coronavirus patients.
But its efficacy in reducing the mortality rate is unproven.
It can be administered to adults and children over the age of 12 who weigh more than 40 kilos (88 pounds) who require hospitalization for the treatment of Covid-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus.
The drug can only be given to patients in a hospital or equivalent setting.
Emergency approval has been granted for its use on pediatric patients under the age of 12 weighing at least 3.5 kilos.
President Donald Trump, who tested positive for the coronavirus early in October, was treated with remdesivir at a military hospital outside Washington, among other drugs.
- Faster recovery time -
The drug was first developed to treat Ebola, a viral hemorrhagic fever.
In February, the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) announced it was dusting off remdesivir to investigate against SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen that causes Covid-19, because it had shown promise in animal testing against fellow coronaviruses SARS and MERS.
Its study involving more than 1,000 people, the results of which were released in April, found that patients on the drug had a 31 percent faster time to recovery than those on a placebo.
Since the medicine is complex to manufacture and is administered via injection, rather than a pill, there have been questions about whether supply could initially be limited.
The United States bet early on remdesivir's success, rushing to preorder nearly all of Gilead's summer production.
Gilead has set the price at $390 per vial in developed countries, or $2,340 for six vials used over the normal five-day course, though US private insurers will pay $520 per vial.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--'No disrespect intended': Italy coach Mancini apologises for Covid cartoon

Italy coach Roberto Mancini on Thursday apologised after a cartoon he shared on social media of a man in hospital @ @ @ @ @ .
Mancini posted the cartoon on his Instagram stories , in which a nurse asks @ @ @ @ @ : `` Do you have any idea how you got sick ? ''
.
The @ @ @ @ @ country where 16,079 new coronavirus cases and 136 deaths were recorded on Thursday , with @ @ @ @ @ died since the start of the pandemic .
`` I only shared a cartoon that @ @ @ @ @ down such a complicated moment .
That 's all , '' Mancini , 55 , @ @ @ @ @ `` There was no implied message and no intention of disrespecting patients and victims of @ @ @ @ @ I apologise . ''

Milan (AFP) –
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Italy coach Roberto Mancini on Thursday apologised after a cartoon he shared on social media of a man in hospital created a storm of protest.
Mancini posted the cartoon on his Instagram stories, in which a nurse asks a patient in the hospital: "Do you have any idea how you got sick?".
"Watching the news," the patient replied.
The joke fell flat in a country where 16,079 new coronavirus cases and 136 deaths were recorded on Thursday, with close to 39,000 Italians having died since the start of the pandemic.
"I only shared a cartoon that seemed to me to play down such a complicated moment. That's all," Mancini, 55, later wrote on Twitter.
"There was no implied message and no intention of disrespecting patients and victims of Covid-19, if so, I apologise."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--Big data firm Palantir working with US on vaccine effort

Alex Karp , CEO of Palantir , is seen in a 2019 picture Big data company Palantir is working with US health officials on a project to track the production and distribution of future Covid-19 vaccines .
The project first reported by the Wall Street Journal and confirmed by AFP , would use data science to help manage the deployment of any vaccines .
Palantir , which has drawn fire for its police and homeland security projects and for one of its founders ' close ties to President Donald Trump , did not comment on the report .
The Journal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ code name Tiberius could help identify high-priority populations at highest risk of infection but that the deal could draw fire by allowing the private company access to sensitive health information .
At least one pharmaceutical firm has indicated it will seek authorization for a vaccine in the US in November .
Palantir , which last month listed shares on the New York Stock Exchange , has defended its police and national security work in the face of critics who have said the company is enabling human rights violations .
Created after the September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a CIA venture capital unit , Palantir and its predictive analytics platform has reportedly helped the US military locate Osama bin Laden and track weapons movements in the Middle East .
More recently it has worked with British health officials along with Google and Microsoft to track the progress of the Covid-19 outbreak , according to contracts released by the Open Democracy Project .

Washington (AFP) –
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Big data company Palantir is working with US health officials on a project to track the production and distribution of future Covid-19 vaccines.
The project first reported by the Wall Street Journal and confirmed by AFP, would use data science to help manage the deployment of any vaccines.
Palantir, which has drawn fire for its police and homeland security projects and for one of its founders' close ties to President Donald Trump, did not comment on the report.
The Journal reported that the software system with the code name Tiberius could help identify high-priority populations at highest risk of infection but that the deal could draw fire by allowing the private company access to sensitive health information.
At least one pharmaceutical firm has indicated it will seek authorization for a vaccine in the US in November.
Palantir, which last month listed shares on the New York Stock Exchange, has defended its police and national security work in the face of critics who have said the company is enabling human rights violations.
Created after the September 11, 2001 attacks with initial funding from a CIA venture capital unit, Palantir and its predictive analytics platform has reportedly helped the US military locate Osama bin Laden and track weapons movements in the Middle East.
More recently it has worked with British health officials along with Google and Microsoft to track the progress of the Covid-19 outbreak, according to contracts released by the Open Democracy Project.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--In France, 'mistrust of a Covid-19 vaccine is to be expected'

More than four out of 10 French people would be reluctant to get a vaccine for Covid-19 should one become available , a new study has found .
FRANCE 24 spoke to a public health expert who says the government should commit to transparency and listening to medical professionals to help ease the roll-out of any future inoculation plans .
In a survey of global public acceptance of a Covid-19 vaccine published in the scientific journal Nature Medicine this week , researchers found that 41.11 percent of French citizens indicated they would be reluctant or even refuse to be vaccinated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Only Poland and Russia expressed less willingness to get inoculated .
This rejection comes as no surprise to Lucie Guimier , a public health expert at Institut Français de Géopolitique and author of a report on the geopolitical consequences of vaccine scepticism .
FRANCE 24 : Do the results of the study surprise you ?
Lucie Guimier : There ’ s nothing surprising about these results .
It would be wrong to categorise these respondents as `` anti-vaxxers ” because we ’ re talking about a vaccine that is still in the process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have little or no time for hindsight or perspective .
In general , it takes about 10 years to develop a vaccine before it is ready for the market .
So these are legitimate concerns – a wave of mistrust regarding a Covid-19 vaccination is to be expected .
Even in the context of a pandemic , laboratories should not rush a vaccine to market that has not been sufficiently studied or that would have adverse effects on parts of the population .
This would only add to the crisis we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mistrust of the authorities .
The reaction of the French to the vaccine will also depend on how the government manages this campaign and communicates its message .
Many questions remain unanswered : How will these vaccines be made available to the population ?
Who will be included in the debate ?
Will there be sufficient stocks ?
F24 : How can the authorities gain the population 's confidence ?
LG : To limit this mistrust , in my opinion , all health professionals – doctors , nurses , midwives , etc – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because these medical professionals inspire much more confidence among patients than government representatives .
If we do n't succeed in including them in this vaccination campaign and listen to them , it will be difficult to raise awareness .
F24 : Could greater transparency on health policies also play a role ?
LG : Health researchers have been hammering on about this for years .
More transparency is absolutely essential .
We must not hide behind simplistic arguments or take a paternalistic tone by just saying , `` Get vaccinated '' .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already trying to raise awareness on this issue , it is not an easy task .
The problem is , when faced with people who refuse to be vaccinated , the more we argue the more likely they are to view this as justification that the state has some hidden agenda – that it ’ s about collusion between the pharmaceutical companies and the political elites , that sort of thing .
We know that this minority of anti-vaccine people will be very difficult to convince .
And the efforts at persuasion must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are sceptical or hesitant .
F24 : Is the mistrust of vaccines more prevalent in France than elsewhere ?
LG : Not necessarily .
The history of vaccinations has always been marked by protest movements , but each country has its own particularities , which depend on the historical context and the ideology underlying the health systems .
For example , China 's view of public health is not the same as in some other countries .
China ( which has a vaccine acceptance rate of more than 80 percent , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a communist system and a strong public health culture .
Vaccination policies are implemented there without major reluctance or pushback .
On the other hand , one of the particularities of France could be that , when it comes to health , the French expect a lot of the state while also being very critical when it intervenes .
France has also had some unique experiences with vaccines .
Many still remember the winter of 2009-2010 , when the H1N1 vaccination campaign was rolled out very rapidly .
Around 60 cases of narcolepsy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was not a small number .
Obviously , these undesirable effects have left an impression on people .
But while the anti-vaccine discourse is very voluble , and has even gained strength or fused with the anti-mask movements in some parts of the world , their impact remains limited in France .
One only has to look at the current shortage of the flu vaccine in pharmacies to see this .
F24 : Does mandatory vaccination seem like a legitimate option ?
LG : Introducing a mandatory vaccination policy for Covid-19 seems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would meet with enormous opposition .
We saw this in 2018 , when the government extended the list of mandatory vaccinations for children .
This was met with a lot of mistrust from some people .
When we see that some people are already reluctant to wear masks , imposing a mandatory vaccination policy – which is more intrusive –would seem to be extremely complicated .
Even if the state would prefer everyone to be vaccinated , the question remains whether we could do it , logistically .
But a first step would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strongly recommend , for the most fragile sections of society , such as the elderly or the otherwise vulnerable .
This article has been translated from the original interview in French .

More than four out of 10 French people would be reluctant to get a vaccine for Covid-19 should one become available, a new study has found. FRANCE 24 spoke to a public health expert who says the government should commit to transparency and listening to medical professionals to help ease the roll-out of any future inoculation plans.
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In a survey of global public acceptance of a Covid-19 vaccine published in the scientific journal Nature Medicine this week, researchers found that 41.11 percent of French citizens indicated they would be reluctant or even refuse to be vaccinated if one were to become available. Only Poland and Russia expressed less willingness to get inoculated.
This rejection comes as no surprise to Lucie Guimier, a public health expert at Institut Français de Géopolitique and author of a report on the geopolitical consequences of vaccine scepticism.
FRANCE 24: Do the results of the study surprise you?
Lucie Guimier: There’s nothing surprising about these results. It would be wrong to categorise these respondents as "anti-vaxxers” because we’re talking about a vaccine that is still in the process of being developed and for which we will have little or no time for hindsight or perspective. In general, it takes about 10 years to develop a vaccine before it is ready for the market. So these are legitimate concerns – a wave of mistrust regarding a Covid-19 vaccination is to be expected.
Even in the context of a pandemic, laboratories should not rush a vaccine to market that has not been sufficiently studied or that would have adverse effects on parts of the population. This would only add to the crisis we are already experiencing and would generate even more mistrust of the authorities.
The reaction of the French to the vaccine will also depend on how the government manages this campaign and communicates its message. Many questions remain unanswered: How will these vaccines be made available to the population? Who will be included in the debate? Will there be sufficient stocks?
A global survey of potential acceptance of a COVID-19 vaccine © Nature Medicine (2020)
F24: How can the authorities gain the population's confidence?
LG: To limit this mistrust, in my opinion, all health professionals – doctors, nurses, midwives, etc – should be included in the debate, because these medical professionals inspire much more confidence among patients than government representatives. If we don't succeed in including them in this vaccination campaign and listen to them, it will be difficult to raise awareness.
F24: Could greater transparency on health policies also play a role?
LG: Health researchers have been hammering on about this for years. More transparency is absolutely essential. We must not hide behind simplistic arguments or take a paternalistic tone by just saying, "Get vaccinated". And although the French public health system is already trying to raise awareness on this issue, it is not an easy task.
The problem is, when faced with people who refuse to be vaccinated, the more we argue the more likely they are to view this as justification that the state has some hidden agenda – that it’s about collusion between the pharmaceutical companies and the political elites, that sort of thing. We know that this minority of anti-vaccine people will be very difficult to convince. And the efforts at persuasion must, above all, reach those who are sceptical or hesitant.
F24: Is the mistrust of vaccines more prevalent in France than elsewhere?
LG: Not necessarily. The history of vaccinations has always been marked by protest movements, but each country has its own particularities, which depend on the historical context and the ideology underlying the health systems.
For example, China's view of public health is not the same as in some other countries. China (which has a vaccine acceptance rate of more than 80 percent, according to the study) is a state with a communist system and a strong public health culture. Vaccination policies are implemented there without major reluctance or pushback. On the other hand, one of the particularities of France could be that, when it comes to health, the French expect a lot of the state while also being very critical when it intervenes.
France has also had some unique experiences with vaccines. Many still remember the winter of 2009-2010, when the H1N1 vaccination campaign was rolled out very rapidly. Around 60 cases of narcolepsy were subsequently recorded in the country, which was not a small number. Obviously, these undesirable effects have left an impression on people.
But while the anti-vaccine discourse is very voluble, and has even gained strength or fused with the anti-mask movements in some parts of the world, their impact remains limited in France. One only has to look at the current shortage of the flu vaccine in pharmacies to see this.
F24: Does mandatory vaccination seem like a legitimate option?
LG: Introducing a mandatory vaccination policy for Covid-19 seems very difficult to me – the state would meet with enormous opposition. We saw this in 2018, when the government extended the list of mandatory vaccinations for children. This was met with a lot of mistrust from some people.
When we see that some people are already reluctant to wear masks, imposing a mandatory vaccination policy – which is more intrusive –would seem to be extremely complicated.
Even if the state would prefer everyone to be vaccinated, the question remains whether we could do it, logistically. But a first step would be to make it mandatory, or strongly recommend, for the most fragile sections of society, such as the elderly or the otherwise vulnerable.
This article has been translated from the original interview in French.
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france24--2020-10-23--Eiffel Tower sees dizzying drop in visitor numbers

On the upside , hardly any queues The Eiffel Tower is experiencing a collapse in visitor numbers as foreign tourists stay away and tight coronavirus measures , including a curfew , take their toll , the Paris landmark 's operator said Friday .
Ticket sales have fallen by 80 percent compared to 2019 , according to the operator , SETE , and revenue by 70 percent .
`` We have 2,500 visitors per day for a monument than can accomodate up to 25,000 , '' SETE president Jean-Francois Martins told RTL radio .
`` Since the end of the summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 20 percent of our usual attendance , '' he said .
Social distancing rules allow lifts going up the tower to carry only half the usual number of people .
The Eiffel Tower has also cancelled its night opening hours as curfew rules in Paris are banning people from being out after 9:00 pm .
But the almost complete absence of foreign tourists , who usually account for up to 85 percent of visitors , hurts the most , SETE spokeswoman Isabelle Esnous told AFP .
Paris , as well as several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the highest coronavirus alert .
On Thursday , France reported a daily record of 41,622 new cases .
The Eiffel Tower 's operator is now concentrating its marketing efforts on `` people from Paris , the Paris region and from France '' , Esnous said .
`` We 're concentrating on people who live close by ... and who are interested in family outings , '' she said .
A special area for children with historical information about the tower has been added , and a vast games area is to follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use the wait for better days to undertake paint work and service the lifts , Esnous said .
One upside is that the usual snaking queues at the foot of the tower have all but disappeared .
`` It 's now a more convenient visit , '' said Esnous .

Paris (AFP) –
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The Eiffel Tower is experiencing a collapse in visitor numbers as foreign tourists stay away and tight coronavirus measures, including a curfew, take their toll, the Paris landmark's operator said Friday.
Ticket sales have fallen by 80 percent compared to 2019, according to the operator, SETE, and revenue by 70 percent.
"We have 2,500 visitors per day for a monument than can accomodate up to 25,000," SETE president Jean-Francois Martins told RTL radio.
"Since the end of the summer, we're down to between 10 and 20 percent of our usual attendance," he said.
Social distancing rules allow lifts going up the tower to carry only half the usual number of people.
The Eiffel Tower has also cancelled its night opening hours as curfew rules in Paris are banning people from being out after 9:00 pm.
But the almost complete absence of foreign tourists, who usually account for up to 85 percent of visitors, hurts the most, SETE spokeswoman Isabelle Esnous told AFP.
Paris, as well as several other French cities, has been placed on the highest coronavirus alert.
On Thursday, France reported a daily record of 41,622 new cases.
The Eiffel Tower's operator is now concentrating its marketing efforts on "people from Paris, the Paris region and from France", Esnous said.
"We're concentrating on people who live close by... and who are interested in family outings," she said.
A special area for children with historical information about the tower has been added, and a vast games area is to follow, she said.
The operator will use the wait for better days to undertake paint work and service the lifts, Esnous said.
One upside is that the usual snaking queues at the foot of the tower have all but disappeared. "It's now a more convenient visit," said Esnous.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-23--Libyan forces reach permanent ceasefire deal

The United Nations says the two sides in Libyan military talks have reached a permanent cease-fire agreement .
The UN @ @ @ @ @ important achievement , though is yet to fully release details .
FRANCE 24 correspondent John @ @ @ @ @

Libyan forces reach permanent ceasefire deal
02:08
The United Nations says the two sides in Libyan military talks have reached a permanent cease-fire agreement. The UN described the deal as an important achievement, though is yet to fully release details. FRANCE 24 correspondent John Zarocostas explains the latest.


france24--2020-10-23--'Trench warfare' in Liege, Europe's new virus front

Belgium is experiencing one of the worst second waves of the coronavirus in the world Shell-shocked hospital staff , some of whom have tested positive for the coronavirus , are fighting a losing battle in the Belgian city of Liege against Europe 's second wave of Covid-19 .
It is the second time that Belgium , a small EU country of 11.5 million people , has ended up as one of the hardest hit by the global pandemic .
It has already seen more than 270,000 cases and 10,500 deaths .
And , according to the latest data , Brussels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which Liege is a major city , are now the epicentres of Europe 's renewed crisis .
This repeat performance brings a quiet rage to those on the front lines in the medieval city 's overwhelmed university hospital CHU Liege .
His hair unkept and eyes weary , Benoit Misset , head of the intensive care unit , weighs each word as he explains the daily onslaught from the silent virus threat .
`` We 're losing .
We 're overwhelmed .
We 're bitter ... because we 've known this was coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't taken in time , '' he told AFP .
The hallway of his Covid unit is filled with staff and patients , and rooms are crowding even more quickly than in the first explosion of cases that ran from March until May .
`` On Wednesday , we almost reached the number of cases we saw in the first wave , '' says Christelle Meuris , an infection specialist and head of the unit .
`` We 're afraid that the latest measures will not be enough to flatten the curve .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said the doctor , whose unit now has 18 virus patients in its 26 beds .
She said she fears that soon each room will have to take two patients , a complicated situation for a virus this contagious .
Everyone is worried that Liege , just a short drive from Germany or the Netherlands , will become the next Bergamo , the Italian city where scenes of overcome hospitals heralded a pandemic that was about to engulf Europe .
Before entering a patient 's room , Hendrika Abourou , a double-masked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overblouses and squeezes her hands into two pairs of gloves , not forgetting her protective glasses .
`` Each gesture is calculated .
To move the patient , wash him , throw his sheet in a specific bag ... We have to think all the time , pay attention to everything , '' she explained .
Many of her colleagues did not make it beyond the first wave , giving up hospital work altogether .
About 20 percent of current staff are unable to come to work .
`` The shortage was already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more and more acute because the staff is also affected by the Covid when we 're going to have to hold out for many months , '' said Meuris , the head of unit .
In the intensive care ward , nurse Thomas , who gave only his last name , said he had worked after testing positive for the virus three weeks ago .
`` I did n't have much choice .
I did n't have a lot of symptoms .
I told my supervisor .
He told me 'we ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to come in ' , '' he said .
The 33-year-old acknowledged `` a difficult decision , but patients do n't take breaks .
It was also by solidarity with my team '' .
In his unit of 23 people , four Covid-positive staff are still working .
`` We take even more precautions , '' he said .
The intensive care unit 's boss , Misset , said there was no choice .
`` If I 'm a nurse or doctor and I 'm sick and I do n't have aches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in bed , all I have to do is put on my mask .
You have to work , '' he said .
Two days ago , the hospital began transferring patients to other Belgian provinces and to Germany .
Misset , who is French , is strongly in favour of new lockdowns , which he says are more effective than the curfews and bar and restaurant closures that Belgium adopted to stem the virus resurgence .
`` Nobody took the situation seriously .
Politicians as well as the people , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which signs of the virus ' continued presence were taken too lightly .
`` Now it 's trench warfare '' , with the difference that `` it 's not bombs , it 's a virus '' and `` it 's the virus calling the shots , not us , not politicians , not scientists . ''

Liege (Belgium) (AFP) –
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Shell-shocked hospital staff, some of whom have tested positive for the coronavirus, are fighting a losing battle in the Belgian city of Liege against Europe's second wave of Covid-19.
It is the second time that Belgium, a small EU country of 11.5 million people, has ended up as one of the hardest hit by the global pandemic. It has already seen more than 270,000 cases and 10,500 deaths.
And, according to the latest data, Brussels and Wallonia, the French-speaking region of which Liege is a major city, are now the epicentres of Europe's renewed crisis.
This repeat performance brings a quiet rage to those on the front lines in the medieval city's overwhelmed university hospital CHU Liege.
- 'A tsunami coming' -
His hair unkept and eyes weary, Benoit Misset, head of the intensive care unit, weighs each word as he explains the daily onslaught from the silent virus threat.
"We're losing. We're overwhelmed. We're bitter... because we've known this was coming for two months and the decisions weren't taken in time," he told AFP.
The hallway of his Covid unit is filled with staff and patients, and rooms are crowding even more quickly than in the first explosion of cases that ran from March until May.
"On Wednesday, we almost reached the number of cases we saw in the first wave," says Christelle Meuris, an infection specialist and head of the unit.
"We're afraid that the latest measures will not be enough to flatten the curve. We can see a tsunami coming," said the doctor, whose unit now has 18 virus patients in its 26 beds.
She said she fears that soon each room will have to take two patients, a complicated situation for a virus this contagious.
Everyone is worried that Liege, just a short drive from Germany or the Netherlands, will become the next Bergamo, the Italian city where scenes of overcome hospitals heralded a pandemic that was about to engulf Europe.
- 'I have to work' -
Before entering a patient's room, Hendrika Abourou, a double-masked nurse's aide, laces on three overblouses and squeezes her hands into two pairs of gloves, not forgetting her protective glasses.
"Each gesture is calculated. To move the patient, wash him, throw his sheet in a specific bag... We have to think all the time, pay attention to everything," she explained.
Many of her colleagues did not make it beyond the first wave, giving up hospital work altogether. About 20 percent of current staff are unable to come to work.
"The shortage was already there before, but it's becoming more and more acute because the staff is also affected by the Covid when we're going to have to hold out for many months," said Meuris, the head of unit.
- 'It's trench warfare' -
In the intensive care ward, nurse Thomas, who gave only his last name, said he had worked after testing positive for the virus three weeks ago.
"I didn't have much choice. I didn't have a lot of symptoms. I told my supervisor. He told me 'we can't replace you. You're going to have to come in'," he said.
The 33-year-old acknowledged "a difficult decision, but patients don't take breaks. It was also by solidarity with my team".
In his unit of 23 people, four Covid-positive staff are still working. "We take even more precautions," he said.
The intensive care unit's boss, Misset, said there was no choice.
"If I'm a nurse or doctor and I'm sick and I don't have aches and pains, if I'm not in bed, all I have to do is put on my mask. You have to work," he said.
Two days ago, the hospital began transferring patients to other Belgian provinces and to Germany.
Misset, who is French, is strongly in favour of new lockdowns, which he says are more effective than the curfews and bar and restaurant closures that Belgium adopted to stem the virus resurgence.
"Nobody took the situation seriously. Politicians as well as the people," he said angrily of the summer months in which signs of the virus' continued presence were taken too lightly.
"Now it's trench warfare", with the difference that "it's not bombs, it's a virus" and "it's the virus calling the shots, not us, not politicians, not scientists."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-23--Alex Marquez fastest in first Teruel MotoGP practice

Alex Marquez came out on top in Friday 's first free practice for the weekend 's Teruel MotoGP , finishing @ @ @ @ @ a second ahead of fellow Honda rider Takaaki Nakagami .
Marquez , the brother of @ @ @ @ @ is sitting out this season injured , posted a best lap of one minute , @ @ @ @ @ 0.438sec in front of Japan 's Nakagami .
Championship leader Joan Mir posted the third @ @ @ @ @ as the Suzuki rider prepares to defend his wafter thin lead at the top of @ @ @ @ @ race .
Mir is just six points ahead of France 's Fabio Quartararo , with @ @ @ @ @ both within 15 points of the Spaniard .
Quartararo , 21 , finished 17th in @ @ @ @ @ behind Mir and just behind Ducati 's Dovizioso .
The second free practice session will @ @ @ @ @ Times from the opening free practice session for the Teruel MotoGP on Friday :

Alcañiz (Spain) (AFP) –
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Alex Marquez came out on top in Friday's first free practice for the weekend's Teruel MotoGP, finishing the opening session almost half a second ahead of fellow Honda rider Takaaki Nakagami.
Marquez, the brother of six-time MotoGP champion Marc who is sitting out this season injured, posted a best lap of one minute, 48.184 seconds in Alcaniz, 0.438sec in front of Japan's Nakagami.
Championship leader Joan Mir posted the third fastest time, 0.809sec back as the Suzuki rider prepares to defend his wafter thin lead at the top of the standings in Sunday's race.
Mir is just six points ahead of France's Fabio Quartararo, with Maverick Vinales and Andrea Dovizioso both within 15 points of the Spaniard.
Quartararo, 21, finished 17th in the opening session, 1.437sec behind Mir and just behind Ducati's Dovizioso.
The second free practice session will start at 1230 GMT.
Times from the opening free practice session for the Teruel MotoGP on Friday:
1. Alex Marquez (ESP/Honda) 1min 48.184sec, 2. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Honda-LCR) at 0.438, 3. Joan Mir (ESP/Suzuki) 0.809, 4. Stefan Bradl (GER/Honda) 0.819, 5. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Yamaha-SRT) 0.916, 6. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Yamaha) 0.992, 7. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati-Pramac) 1.027, 8. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) 1.121, 9. Pol Espargaro (ESP/KTM) 1.162, 10. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/Honda-LCR) 1.172
Selected
16. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 1.32, 17. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha-SRT) 1.437
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-23--Police patrol Nigeria's Lagos after president warns protesters

State buildings have been torched , banks and shops destroyed and food shops looted in the Nigerian unrest Sporadic gunshots were heard in Lagos on Friday as security forces patrolled Nigeria 's biggest city after days of unrest following the shooting of protesters that sparked condemnation at home and abroad .
President Muhammadu Buhari warned demonstrators in a televised address on Thursday not to `` undermine national security '' as he called for an end to widespread protests gripping Africa 's most populous country .
The 77-year-old leader was speaking for the first time since the shooting in Lagos on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address the incident .
He appealed to the youth to `` resist the temptation of being used by some subversive elements to cause chaos '' .
`` For you to do otherwise will amount to undermining national security and the law and order situation .
Under no circumstances will this be tolerated , '' Buhari said .
Nigeria , where many live in extreme poverty and where the median age is 18 , is a tinderbox of economic and social grievances .
`` Police officers are currently patrolling major parts of the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Please stay indoors , '' Lagos State Police Command said on Friday .
Protests against police abuse erupted on October 8 after a video of an officer allegedly killing a civilian went viral .
Despite the disbanding of the police unit accused of brutality , the federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad ( SARS ) , protests spread and violence escalated .
Anger spread further after pictures and videos on social media showed security forces shooting on a peaceful crowd of around 1,000 protesters on Tuesday .
Amnesty International said 12 people were killed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 56 people dead in the unrest across the country .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for an immediate investigation into violence by security forces , which has also triggered condemnation by the United Nations , the African Union , the European Union and others .
`` We thank you and urge you all to seek to know all the facts available before taking a position or rushing to judgement and making hasty pronouncements , '' Buhari said .
The spreading of `` deliberate falsehood and misinformation , in particular through social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` a ploy to mislead the unwary within and outside Nigeria into unfair judgement and disruptive behaviour . ''
After the president 's speech , a key protest group told its followers to `` stay home '' but many made it clear that the movement would continue .
`` The past two weeks have been tough for many Nigerians , most specifically the last two days , '' the Feminist Coalition said in a statement .
`` We hereby encourage all young Nigerians to stay safe , stay home , and observe the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Others in the youth-led movement insist that the demonstrations will continue .
`` Everybody , get your PVC ( electoral card ) ready , '' tweeted Afrobeats star Davido .
`` This was just practice .
We go again !
Now we must deploy our unity and experiences in every sector to design the country that we want , '' said Adetola 'Tola ' Onayemi , a lawyer involved in the protest movement .
`` We are working to stabilise things across the state as we look to rebuild , '' the governor @ @ @ @

Lagos (AFP) –
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Sporadic gunshots were heard in Lagos on Friday as security forces patrolled Nigeria's biggest city after days of unrest following the shooting of protesters that sparked condemnation at home and abroad.
President Muhammadu Buhari warned demonstrators in a televised address on Thursday not to "undermine national security" as he called for an end to widespread protests gripping Africa's most populous country.
The 77-year-old leader was speaking for the first time since the shooting in Lagos on Tuesday, although he did not directly address the incident.
He appealed to the youth to "resist the temptation of being used by some subversive elements to cause chaos".
"For you to do otherwise will amount to undermining national security and the law and order situation. Under no circumstances will this be tolerated," Buhari said.
- 'Please stay indoors' -
Nigeria, where many live in extreme poverty and where the median age is 18, is a tinderbox of economic and social grievances.
"Police officers are currently patrolling major parts of the city to ensure the safety of residents. Please stay indoors," Lagos State Police Command said on Friday.
Protests against police abuse erupted on October 8 after a video of an officer allegedly killing a civilian went viral.
Despite the disbanding of the police unit accused of brutality, the federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), protests spread and violence escalated.
Anger spread further after pictures and videos on social media showed security forces shooting on a peaceful crowd of around 1,000 protesters on Tuesday.
Amnesty International said 12 people were killed in the incident, with a total of 56 people dead in the unrest across the country.
- 'Rushing to judgement' -
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for an immediate investigation into violence by security forces, which has also triggered condemnation by the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union and others.
Nigeria's president shrugged off the international concern.
"We thank you and urge you all to seek to know all the facts available before taking a position or rushing to judgement and making hasty pronouncements," Buhari said.
The spreading of "deliberate falsehood and misinformation, in particular through social media" was, he said, "a ploy to mislead the unwary within and outside Nigeria into unfair judgement and disruptive behaviour."
After the president's speech, a key protest group told its followers to "stay home" but many made it clear that the movement would continue.
"The past two weeks have been tough for many Nigerians, most specifically the last two days," the Feminist Coalition said in a statement.
"We hereby encourage all young Nigerians to stay safe, stay home, and observe the mandated curfew in your state."
Others in the youth-led movement insist that the demonstrations will continue.
"Everybody, get your PVC (electoral card) ready," tweeted Afrobeats star Davido.
"This was just practice. We go again! Now we must deploy our unity and experiences in every sector to design the country that we want," said Adetola 'Tola' Onayemi, a lawyer involved in the protest movement.
"We are working to stabilise things across the state as we look to rebuild," the governor said on Thursday.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-23--'Least-racist' president? Trump debate comments raise eyebrows

Race relations were a contentious topic at Thursday ’ s presidential debate , with Donald Trump claiming he was the @ @ @ @ @ in the room , which included moderator Kristen Welker .
As FRANCE 24 correspondent Kethevane @ @ @ @ @ comment let Joe Biden counter that Trump ‘ pours fuel on every racist fire ’ @

'Least-racist' president? Trump debate comments raise eyebrows
02:00
Race relations were a contentious topic at Thursday’s presidential debate, with Donald Trump claiming he was the ‘least racist’ person in the room, which included moderator Kristen Welker. As FRANCE 24 correspondent Kethevane Gorjestani reports, the eyebrow-raising comment let Joe Biden counter that Trump ‘pours fuel on every racist fire’.


france24--2020-10-23--Paty killer linked to Syrian jihadist

Paty killer linked to Syrian jihadist

The man who murdered French school teacher Samuel Paty had been in touch with a Russian-speaking jihadist in Syria , @ @ @ @ @ was beheaded one week ago after showing caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed to his class @ @ @ @ @ stunned the nation .
So far , seven people have been charged with complicity in @ @ @

Paty killer linked to Syrian jihadist
01:36
The man who murdered French school teacher Samuel Paty had been in touch with a Russian-speaking jihadist in Syria, local media reports. Paty was beheaded one week ago after showing caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed to his class, in a crime that stunned the nation. So far, seven people have been charged with complicity in the killing.


france24--2020-10-23--Libyan factions sign 'permanent' ceasefire after talks

A fighter loyal to the internationally recognised Libyan Government of National Accord trades fire with forces loyal to strongman Khalifa Haftar in the capital Tripoli 's suburb of Ain Zara .
The photo was taken in September last year Libya 's two rival factions signed a `` permanent '' ceasefire agreement on Friday following five days of UN-hosted talks that the United Nations hailed as historic turning point for peace and stability .
Delegates wearing masks stood before signing the agreement in Geneva with the aim to end conflict that has wracked Libya since dictator Moamer Kadhafi was toppled in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` talks in Geneva today culminate in a historic achievement as Libyan teams reach a permanent ceasefire agreement across Libya , '' the UN 's Libya mission said .
`` This achievement is an important turning point towards peace and stability in Libya , '' according its Facebook page , which showed a live stream of the signing ceremony at the UN Palais des Nations .
The UN said the deal takes effect immediately .
Stephanie Williams , the UN 's envoy to the troubled North African country , said it was `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history '' .
`` You have met for the sake of Libya , for your people in order to take concrete steps to put an end to their suffering , '' she said at the signing ceremony .
`` Nobody can love Libya as much as you do , '' said Williams , who heads the UN Support Mission in Libya ( UNSMIL ) .
`` The road was long and difficult at times .
Your patriotism was your way forward and you were able to reach a ceasefire agreement .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an end to the suffering of the Libyan people and we hope it will allow the displaced and refugees inside and outside the country to return to their homes and to live in peace and safety . ''
Libya has been wracked by nearly a decade of conflict .
Rival power centres and a myriad of militias are vying for control , human rights violations have been rampant , and traffickers are using the chaos to smuggle desperate migrants on dangerous sea journeys to Europe .
The capital Tripoli in the west is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Accord , while a parliament based in the eastern city of Tobruk is backed by forces led by military commander Khalifa Haftar .
Haftar -- supported by Russia , the United Arab Emirates and Egypt -- launched an offensive on Tripoli in April 2019 but was pushed back early this year as pro-GNA forces received crucial support from Turkey .
Fighting has since stalled around the central coastal city of Sirte , the late Kadhafi 's hometown .
On Tuesday , the second day of the talks , Williams said that Libya @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lull in fighting and open internal land and air routes .
`` What you have accomplished here is a crucial sign for Libya and the Libyan people , '' Williams said Friday .
`` I am hopeful that future generations of Libyans will consider today 's agreement as a first , critical , courageous step to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Libyan crisis , that has gone on for too long . ''
She said there was a lot of work ahead in the coming weeks in order to implement the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so as quickly as possible .

Geneva (AFP) –
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Libya's two rival factions signed a "permanent" ceasefire agreement on Friday following five days of UN-hosted talks that the United Nations hailed as historic turning point for peace and stability.
Delegates wearing masks stood before signing the agreement in Geneva with the aim to end conflict that has wracked Libya since dictator Moamer Kadhafi was toppled in 2011 in a NATO-backed uprising.
The "talks in Geneva today culminate in a historic achievement as Libyan teams reach a permanent ceasefire agreement across Libya," the UN's Libya mission said.
"This achievement is an important turning point towards peace and stability in Libya," according its Facebook page, which showed a live stream of the signing ceremony at the UN Palais des Nations.
The UN said the deal takes effect immediately.
Stephanie Williams, the UN's envoy to the troubled North African country, said it was "a moment that will go down in history".
"You have met for the sake of Libya, for your people in order to take concrete steps to put an end to their suffering," she said at the signing ceremony.
"Nobody can love Libya as much as you do," said Williams, who heads the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
"The road was long and difficult at times. Your patriotism was your way forward and you were able to reach a ceasefire agreement.
"I hope that this agreement will help put an end to the suffering of the Libyan people and we hope it will allow the displaced and refugees inside and outside the country to return to their homes and to live in peace and safety."
Libya has been wracked by nearly a decade of conflict.
- 'Crucial sign for Libya' -
Rival power centres and a myriad of militias are vying for control, human rights violations have been rampant, and traffickers are using the chaos to smuggle desperate migrants on dangerous sea journeys to Europe.
The capital Tripoli in the west is held by the internationally recognised Government of National Accord, while a parliament based in the eastern city of Tobruk is backed by forces led by military commander Khalifa Haftar.
Haftar -- supported by Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt -- launched an offensive on Tripoli in April 2019 but was pushed back early this year as pro-GNA forces received crucial support from Turkey.
Fighting has since stalled around the central coastal city of Sirte, the late Kadhafi's hometown.
On Tuesday, the second day of the talks, Williams said that Libya's rival factions had agreed to maintain a lull in fighting and open internal land and air routes.
"What you have accomplished here is a crucial sign for Libya and the Libyan people," Williams said Friday.
"I am hopeful that future generations of Libyans will consider today's agreement as a first, critical, courageous step to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Libyan crisis, that has gone on for too long."
She said there was a lot of work ahead in the coming weeks in order to implement the commitments but it was essential to do so as quickly as possible.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-23--Real forward Jovic faces Serbian trial for virus isolation breach

Jovic could be jailed for failing to respect Covid-19 measures in Serbia Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic could face a six-month prison sentence in his native Serbia for allegedly breaching mandatory coronavirus self-isolation measures , state prosecutors said in a statement Friday .
In March , the Spanish team allowed the striker to leave Madrid in order to spend time with his young family , but local media reported that the 23-year old was seen walking around Belgrade and enjoying drinks with fellow footballers .
Serbian prosecutors are asking the court for the sentence for `` leaving place of residence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` country with high virus transmission '' .
Under the regulations at the time , he was required to self-isolate for two weeks .
Prosecutors are bringing the Jovic 's case to court after he refused to pay €30,000 ( $ 35,556 ) for humanitarian purposes , a sum they had suggested as a compensation in order to have the charges dropped .
At the time , Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic lashed out at `` footballers that come from abroad '' for setting a bad example , as the Balkan country was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state of emergency to combat the virus .
`` They are on multi-million contracts , and they come here and do n't self-isolate .
It is something that authorities will deal with , '' Brnabic said .
The Serbia forward claimed that he tested negative both in Spain and after his arrival in Serbia , adding that he had n't been given `` clear instructions how to behave in self-isolation '' .
Jovic moved to Real for 60 million euros ( today $ 70 million ) in the summer of 2019 but has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's team .

Belgrade (AFP) –
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Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic could face a six-month prison sentence in his native Serbia for allegedly breaching mandatory coronavirus self-isolation measures, state prosecutors said in a statement Friday.
In March, the Spanish team allowed the striker to leave Madrid in order to spend time with his young family, but local media reported that the 23-year old was seen walking around Belgrade and enjoying drinks with fellow footballers.
Serbian prosecutors are asking the court for the sentence for "leaving place of residence" even though he came from a "country with high virus transmission".
Under the regulations at the time, he was required to self-isolate for two weeks.
Prosecutors are bringing the Jovic's case to court after he refused to pay €30,000 ($35,556) for humanitarian purposes, a sum they had suggested as a compensation in order to have the charges dropped.
At the time, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic lashed out at "footballers that come from abroad" for setting a bad example, as the Balkan country was in its first week since declaring a state of emergency to combat the virus.
"They are on multi-million contracts, and they come here and don't self-isolate. It is something that authorities will deal with," Brnabic said.
The Serbia forward claimed that he tested negative both in Spain and after his arrival in Serbia, adding that he hadn't been given "clear instructions how to behave in self-isolation".
Jovic moved to Real for 60 million euros (today $70 million) in the summer of 2019 but has failed to establish himself in Zinedine Zidane's team.
© 2020 AFP