france24--2020-12-06--Last-ditch push as Britain, EU resume Brexit trade talks in Brussels

This picture taken in Brussels on January 5 , 2020 shows the flags of the United Kingdom and the European Union flying side by side .
British and European Union negotiators will meet in Brussels on Sunday in a last-ditch attempt to strike a post-Brexit trade deal before a transition agreement ends on Dec. 31 .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke on Saturday and instructed their teams to resume talks after they were paused on Friday .
In a joint statement after their call , Johnson and von der Leyen said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the three thorny issues of governance , fisheries and competition rules , known as the level playing field , were not resolved .
`` This is the final throw of the dice , '' a British source close to the negotiations said .
EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said the talks on Sunday with his British counterpart David Frost would show whether a new trade deal could be struck .
A majority of Johnson 's ministers were willing to back him if he decides a deal is not in Britain 's interests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 cabinet ministers - including eight who opposed Brexit - had confirmed they would do so .
British farming minister George Eustice backed that up in an interview on Sky News on Sunday , saying the country had done a huge amount of preparation for a no-deal and was ready to go through with such a scenario .
`` We 'll continue to work on these negotiations until there 's no point in doing so any further , '' said Eustice .
But Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney , a key figure in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was not credible for the British government to suggest they could manage a no-deal .
Striking a more optimistic note , Coveney said it was his `` very strong view '' that a deal could be done .
`` We are more likely to get a deal than not , '' Coveney told Ireland 's Sunday Independent newspaper .
> > Irish foreign minister on Brexit : ‘ We won ’ t strike a deal at any cost ’ Negotiations were paused on Friday after hopes of a deal earlier in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the EU had made demands incompatible with its sovereignty and warned that the talks could end without an agreement .
Coveney denied the EU had hardened its stance .
If they fail to reach a deal , a five-year Brexit divorce will end messily just as Britain and its former EU partners grapple with the economic cost of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Experts have warned that a no-deal scenario would cause huge long-term disruption to the British economy .

British and European Union negotiators will meet in Brussels on Sunday in a last-ditch attempt to strike a post-Brexit trade deal before a transition agreement ends on Dec. 31.
This picture taken in Brussels on January 5, 2020 shows the flags of the United Kingdom and the European Union flying side by side.
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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke on Saturday and instructed their teams to resume talks after they were paused on Friday.
In a joint statement after their call, Johnson and von der Leyen said that no agreement was feasible if disagreements on the three thorny issues of governance, fisheries and competition rules, known as the level playing field, were not resolved.
"This is the final throw of the dice," a British source close to the negotiations said.
I had a phone call with @BorisJohnson on the EU-UK negotiations.
Differences remain. No agreement feasible if these are not resolved. Chief negotiators will reconvene tomorrow. We will speak again on Monday. https://t.co/fsVtfW0HHh — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) December 5, 2020
EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said the talks on Sunday with his British counterpart David Frost would show whether a new trade deal could be struck.
A majority of Johnson's ministers were willing to back him if he decides a deal is not in Britain's interests, the Times newspaper reported, saying 13 cabinet ministers - including eight who opposed Brexit - had confirmed they would do so.
British farming minister George Eustice backed that up in an interview on Sky News on Sunday, saying the country had done a huge amount of preparation for a no-deal and was ready to go through with such a scenario.
"We'll continue to work on these negotiations until there's no point in doing so any further," said Eustice.
But Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, a key figure in Brexit talks in recent years, said it was not credible for the British government to suggest they could manage a no-deal.
Striking a more optimistic note, Coveney said it was his "very strong view" that a deal could be done. "We are more likely to get a deal than not," Coveney told Ireland's Sunday Independent newspaper.
>> Irish foreign minister on Brexit: ‘We won’t strike a deal at any cost’
Negotiations were paused on Friday after hopes of a deal earlier in the week evaporated. The British team said the EU had made demands incompatible with its sovereignty and warned that the talks could end without an agreement.
Coveney denied the EU had hardened its stance.
If they fail to reach a deal, a five-year Brexit divorce will end messily just as Britain and its former EU partners grapple with the economic cost of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Experts have warned that a no-deal scenario would cause huge long-term disruption to the British economy.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-12-06--Wade, Smith half-centuries in Australia's 194-5 at India T20

Australia 's batsman Glenn Maxwell plays a shot during the second T20 cricket match between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday New skipper Matthew Wade and Steve Smith hit half-centuries to lift Australia to a competitive 194 for five in the second T20 international against India in Sydney on Sunday .
Wade , who was promoted to the captaincy after Aaron Finch was ruled out with injury , smacked 58 and Smith chipped in with a breezy 46 after India had won the toss and opted to bowl first .
Wade was run out in farcical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third attempt by Virat Kohli at over but turned his back and then belatedly tried to make his ground before Kohli 's throw to wicketkeeper K.L .
Rahul .
Smith alerted him to Kohli 's fumble but Wade was almost walking away before the dropped catch and it was too late to recover his ground .
It was a big wicket for India after Wade had belted 10 fours and a six off 32 balls .
Smith was caught at the third attempt by Hardik Pandya at long-off from leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sixes .
India removed danger man Glenn Maxwell before too much damage was inflicted , caught by Washington Sundar at point off Shardul Thakur for 22 off 13 balls with two sixes .
Moises Henriques was caught behind and confirmed on review off Thangarasu Natarajan for 26 off 18 balls .
D'Arcy Short , who played second-fiddle to Wade in the opening partnership of 47 , fell to a leaping catch by Shreyas Iyer at deep mid-wicket off Natarajan for nine .
Marcus Stonis , back from a side strain , was there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with debutant Daniel Sams on eight .
Natarajan was the best of India 's bowlers with two for 20 .
Australia also went into the game without their pace spearheads Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood .
Starc was withdrawn on compassionate grounds due to a family illness and will miss the final two matches of the series , while Hazlewood has a back injury .
India made three changes from the team that won the opening game in Canberra Friday , with Deepak Chahar replacing concussed Ravindra Jadeja , Shardal Thakur coming in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in for Manish Pandey , who has an elbow niggle .
The match is the second in the three-game T20 series and follows the ODI series , won 2-1 by the Australians .

Sydney (AFP) –
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New skipper Matthew Wade and Steve Smith hit half-centuries to lift Australia to a competitive 194 for five in the second T20 international against India in Sydney on Sunday.
Wade, who was promoted to the captaincy after Aaron Finch was ruled out with injury, smacked 58 and Smith chipped in with a breezy 46 after India had won the toss and opted to bowl first.
Wade was run out in farcical conditions when he was dropped at the third attempt by Virat Kohli at over but turned his back and then belatedly tried to make his ground before Kohli's throw to wicketkeeper K.L. Rahul.
Smith alerted him to Kohli's fumble but Wade was almost walking away before the dropped catch and it was too late to recover his ground.
It was a big wicket for India after Wade had belted 10 fours and a six off 32 balls.
Smith was caught at the third attempt by Hardik Pandya at long-off from leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal off 38 balls with three fours and two sixes.
India removed danger man Glenn Maxwell before too much damage was inflicted, caught by Washington Sundar at point off Shardul Thakur for 22 off 13 balls with two sixes.
Moises Henriques was caught behind and confirmed on review off Thangarasu Natarajan for 26 off 18 balls.
D'Arcy Short, who played second-fiddle to Wade in the opening partnership of 47, fell to a leaping catch by Shreyas Iyer at deep mid-wicket off Natarajan for nine.
Marcus Stonis, back from a side strain, was there at the finish with an unbeaten 16 with debutant Daniel Sams on eight.
Natarajan was the best of India's bowlers with two for 20.
Australia also went into the game without their pace spearheads Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
Starc was withdrawn on compassionate grounds due to a family illness and will miss the final two matches of the series, while Hazlewood has a back injury.
India made three changes from the team that won the opening game in Canberra Friday, with Deepak Chahar replacing concussed Ravindra Jadeja, Shardal Thakur coming in for rested Mohammed Shami and Shreyas Iyer in for Manish Pandey, who has an elbow niggle.
The match is the second in the three-game T20 series and follows the ODI series, won 2-1 by the Australians.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-06--Covid-19 hits England cricket tour of South Africa

Two members of England cricket 's touring party in South Africa have returned unconfirmed positive tests for Covid-19 , forcing Sunday 's first one-day international to be cancelled and placing the rest of the tour in jeopardy .
The match in Paarl was to have opened the one-day series after Friday 's scheduled first match in Cape Town was scrapped just before play was to begin after a South African player tested positive for coronavirus .
Cricket South Africa and the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a joint statement that two members of England 's touring party had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests were required .
The statement did not specify whether the individuals affected were players or support staff .
`` Cricket South Africa ( CSA ) and the England and Wales Cricket Board ( ECB ) have agreed to cancel today ’ s Betway One-Day International series opening match , which was due to take place in Paarl , '' the governing bodies said .
A decision on the remaining two matches in the series will be taken after the test results are ratified independently by medical experts , the statement added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ England Men 's Cricket , said : `` We regret that we are unable to play in today ’ s ODI , but the welfare of the players and support staff is our primary concern and whilst we await the results of further tests the medical advice from both teams was that this game should not take place .
`` We remain in constant dialogue with Cricket South Africa and will continue to work closely with them to determine how best to move forward . ''
CSA said the England players and management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday evening after two members of staff at their hotel tested positive for the virus .
Former England captain Mike Atherton , now a commentator and journalist , said he feared the entire series could be under threat .
Atherton said the new positive cases had `` ramped up '' the concern that the England camp already felt after the opening match was postponed .
`` Certainly this match is off and I would be pessimistic about the other games , '' said Atherton .
Three Twenty20 internationals were played before the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internationals are scheduled to be played at Newlands in Cape Town on Monday and Wednesday .
Sunday 's opener was cancelled after it was initially announced that the start at Boland Park in Paarl would be delayed while the England party awaited the test results .
But soon after television coverage began , commentator Mark Nicholas said he had received news that the match was off .
Graeme Smith , CSA 's director of cricket , said he was `` deeply regretful '' that the match could not go ahead `` given the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been put in place to host a successful tour '' .
Both teams are staying in what was labelled a `` bio-secure environment '' in a Cape Town hotel .
After the South African player tested positive , South African team doctor Shuaib Manjra said he was concerned about a possible breach of the bio-secure bubble .
Both teams checked in to the hotel on November 18 .
Two South African players were placed in quarantine after early rounds of Covid tests but reportedly were cleared to play after being kept isolated from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was surprised by the positive test which caused Friday ’ s postponement because he had confidence in the bio-secure environment .
All the South African players and staff were re-tested on Friday evening and having analysed the results , CSA had given the go-ahead for the games to go ahead .
The general manager of the hotel confirmed that two staff members had tested positive .
`` At this stage it is not clear how the staff members became infected as neither have left the bio-secure area since November 16 and they do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the same area , '' the manager , Roy Davies , said .

Paarl (South Africa) (AFP) –
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Two members of England cricket's touring party in South Africa have returned unconfirmed positive tests for Covid-19, forcing Sunday's first one-day international to be cancelled and placing the rest of the tour in jeopardy.
The match in Paarl was to have opened the one-day series after Friday's scheduled first match in Cape Town was scrapped just before play was to begin after a South African player tested positive for coronavirus.
Cricket South Africa and the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a joint statement that two members of England's touring party had now contracted the virus, although further tests were required.
The statement did not specify whether the individuals affected were players or support staff.
"Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have agreed to cancel today’s Betway One-Day International series opening match, which was due to take place in Paarl," the governing bodies said.
A decision on the remaining two matches in the series will be taken after the test results are ratified independently by medical experts, the statement added.
Ashley Giles, the managing director of England Men's Cricket, said: "We regret that we are unable to play in today’s ODI, but the welfare of the players and support staff is our primary concern and whilst we await the results of further tests the medical advice from both teams was that this game should not take place.
"We remain in constant dialogue with Cricket South Africa and will continue to work closely with them to determine how best to move forward."
CSA said the England players and management underwent an additional round of tests on Saturday evening after two members of staff at their hotel tested positive for the virus.
Former England captain Mike Atherton, now a commentator and journalist, said he feared the entire series could be under threat.
Atherton said the new positive cases had "ramped up" the concern that the England camp already felt after the opening match was postponed.
"Certainly this match is off and I would be pessimistic about the other games," said Atherton.
- Bio-secure bubble -
Three Twenty20 internationals were played before the latest scare.
The second and third one-day internationals are scheduled to be played at Newlands in Cape Town on Monday and Wednesday.
Sunday's opener was cancelled after it was initially announced that the start at Boland Park in Paarl would be delayed while the England party awaited the test results.
But soon after television coverage began, commentator Mark Nicholas said he had received news that the match was off.
Graeme Smith, CSA's director of cricket, said he was "deeply regretful" that the match could not go ahead "given the amount of time and energy that has been put in place to host a successful tour".
Both teams are staying in what was labelled a "bio-secure environment" in a Cape Town hotel.
After the South African player tested positive, South African team doctor Shuaib Manjra said he was concerned about a possible breach of the bio-secure bubble.
Both teams checked in to the hotel on November 18. Two South African players were placed in quarantine after early rounds of Covid tests but reportedly were cleared to play after being kept isolated from their team-mates.
Dr Manjra said he was surprised by the positive test which caused Friday’s postponement because he had confidence in the bio-secure environment.
All the South African players and staff were re-tested on Friday evening and having analysed the results, CSA had given the go-ahead for the games to go ahead.
The general manager of the hotel confirmed that two staff members had tested positive.
"At this stage it is not clear how the staff members became infected as neither have left the bio-secure area since November 16 and they do not work on the same team or in the same area," the manager, Roy Davies, said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-06--Covid-19 hits England cricket tour of South Africa, forces match cancellation

Two members of England cricket 's touring party in South Africa have tested positive for Covid-19 and the re-scheduled first one-day international was cancelled on Sunday .
The match in Paarl was to have opened the series after Friday 's scheduled first match in Cape Town was scrapped just before play was to begin after a South African player tested positive for coronavirus .
Cricket South Africa and the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a joint statement that two members of England 's touring party had now tested positive for the virus , although further tests were required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved were England players .
`` Cricket South Africa ( CSA ) and the England and Wales Cricket Board ( ECB ) have agreed to cancel today ’ s Betway One-Day International series opening match , which was due to take place in Paarl , '' the governing bodies said in a statement .
Ashley Giles , the managing director of England Men 's Cricket , said : `` We regret that we are unable to play in today ’ s ODI , but the welfare of the players and support staff is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the results of further tests the medical advice from both teams was that this game should not take place .
`` We remain in constant dialogue with Cricket South Africa and will continue to work closely with them to determine how best to move forward . ''
CSA said the England players and management underwent an additional round of tests on Saturday evening after two members of staff at their hotel tested positive for the virus .
Former England captain Mike Atherton , now a commentator and journalist , said he feared the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Atherton said the new positive cases had `` ramped up '' the concern that the England camp already felt after the opening match was postponed .
`` Certainly this match is off and I would be pessimistic about the other games , '' said Atherton .

Paarl (South Africa) (AFP) –
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Two members of England cricket's touring party in South Africa have tested positive for Covid-19 and the re-scheduled first one-day international was cancelled on Sunday.
The match in Paarl was to have opened the series after Friday's scheduled first match in Cape Town was scrapped just before play was to begin after a South African player tested positive for coronavirus.
Cricket South Africa and the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a joint statement that two members of England's touring party had now tested positive for the virus, although further tests were required.
It was not clear if those involved were England players.
"Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have agreed to cancel today’s Betway One-Day International series opening match, which was due to take place in Paarl," the governing bodies said in a statement.
Ashley Giles, the managing director of England Men's Cricket, said: "We regret that we are unable to play in today’s ODI, but the welfare of the players and support staff is our primary concern and whilst we await the results of further tests the medical advice from both teams was that this game should not take place.
"We remain in constant dialogue with Cricket South Africa and will continue to work closely with them to determine how best to move forward."
CSA said the England players and management underwent an additional round of tests on Saturday evening after two members of staff at their hotel tested positive for the virus.
Former England captain Mike Atherton, now a commentator and journalist, said he feared the entire series could be under threat.
Atherton said the new positive cases had "ramped up" the concern that the England camp already felt after the opening match was postponed.
"Certainly this match is off and I would be pessimistic about the other games," said Atherton.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-06--Liberia referendum could pave way for contentious third term for President Weah

Supporters of Liberia 's President George Weah gather during a campaign rally in Monrovia on December 5 , 2020 .
Liberians vote Tuesday in a referendum on shortening presidential terms , a change some members of the opposition fear President George Weah will exploit to extend his stay in office .
Ballot papers will also ask voters whether to lift a ban on holding dual nationality , a divisive issue in the poor West African nation founded as a haven for freed American slaves in the 19th century .
Weah , a former footballing icon , wants to cut the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers from six to five years ; and from nine to seven for senators .
`` I strongly believe keeping someone in power for long is not the way to go , '' the 54-year-old told supporters during a rally in the northwestern town of Tubmanburg last week .
Reducing term limits is a relative novelty for the region , where ageing presidents have followed a pattern of clinging to office using constitutional changes .
In Guinea , for example , 82-year-old President Alpha Conde won a controversial third term in October after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him to bypass a two-term limit .
The same month , Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara , 78 , was elected for an equally contentious third term , after having revised the country 's constitution .
Weah 's critics fear the president is pursuing the same goal .
`` President Weah will seek a third term simply because the first six years would then be under ( a ) different constitutional arrangement , '' said opposition senator Darius Dillon .
A `` yes '' vote would be a mistake , he said .
Raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going on to a glittering football career with AC Milan and Paris St Germain , Weah was an idol to Liberia 's poor when he was elected in 2018 .
But the former striker 's popularity has waned given the continuing poor living standards in the nation of 4.8 million people .
Some view the referendum -- as well as concurrent mid-term senatorial elections -- as a bellwether on support for the president .
Still only in his first term , Weah firmly denies that the referendum is designed to keep him in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poorest countries in the world , and is still recovering after back-to-back civil wars from 1989 to 2003 and West Africa 's 2014-16 Ebola crisis .
Weah has faced protests for ongoing economic problems , which include soaring inflation , and regular cash and fuel shortages .
But the president has sought to counter the impression that the referendum is a verdict on his rule .
The constitutional changes `` benefit all Liberians '' , he said in a statement in November .
The Collaborating Political Parties ( CPP ) , a leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the referendum and has urged its supporters to boycott the poll .
`` We do n't even know what the implications are when you vote 'yes ' or you vote 'no ' , '' CPP secretary-general Mohammed Aly told AFP , warning that Weah could seek further terms .
Acarus Gray , a lower-house lawmaker from Weah 's Congress for Democratic Change ( CDC ) party , said that third-term rumours amounted to `` political games '' .
Liberians are also voting on whether to repeal a 1973 ban on dual nationality , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic boon .
The ban has long been viewed as hypocritical in some quarters , as many members of the American-Liberian elite secretly hold US citizenship and are accused of transferring money abroad .
Hundreds of thousands of other Liberians are also thought to reside overseas , having fled war and poverty .
Weah 's office said in a November statement that nationality restrictions -- which include a ban on property ownership for non-Liberians -- are `` inconceivable '' and `` unfair '' .
`` This administration has decided that once you were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Liberian , '' CDC lawmaker Acarus Gray said , adding that dual nationality would `` beef up our economy '' .
Edward Gayflor , a 48-year-old Liberian who fled to the US during the civil war and acquired US citizenship , agreed .
`` I believe it is time Liberians say yes to dual citizenship so we can have the opportunity to contribute to the development of the motherland , '' he said .
But there are fears that wealthy diaspora members could wield an outsized influence in Liberia .
Should the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with two passports will still remain barred from elected office .
About 2.5 million people are registered to vote , according to the country 's national elections committee .

Liberians vote Tuesday in a referendum on shortening presidential terms, a change some members of the opposition fear President George Weah will exploit to extend his stay in office.
Supporters of Liberia's President George Weah gather during a campaign rally in Monrovia on December 5, 2020.
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Ballot papers will also ask voters whether to lift a ban on holding dual nationality, a divisive issue in the poor West African nation founded as a haven for freed American slaves in the 19th century.
Weah, a former footballing icon, wants to cut the length of terms for presidents and lower-house lawmakers from six to five years; and from nine to seven for senators.
"I strongly believe keeping someone in power for long is not the way to go," the 54-year-old told supporters during a rally in the northwestern town of Tubmanburg last week.
Reducing term limits is a relative novelty for the region, where ageing presidents have followed a pattern of clinging to office using constitutional changes.
In Guinea, for example, 82-year-old President Alpha Conde won a controversial third term in October after pushing through a new constitution that allowed him to bypass a two-term limit.
The same month, Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, 78, was elected for an equally contentious third term, after having revised the country's constitution.
Weah's critics fear the president is pursuing the same goal.
"President Weah will seek a third term simply because the first six years would then be under (a) different constitutional arrangement," said opposition senator Darius Dillon.
A "yes" vote would be a mistake, he said.
Bellwether on support for Weah?
Raised in the capital Monrovia's slums before going on to a glittering football career with AC Milan and Paris St Germain, Weah was an idol to Liberia's poor when he was elected in 2018.
But the former striker's popularity has waned given the continuing poor living standards in the nation of 4.8 million people.
Some view the referendum -- as well as concurrent mid-term senatorial elections -- as a bellwether on support for the president.
Still only in his first term, Weah firmly denies that the referendum is designed to keep him in power.
Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world, and is still recovering after back-to-back civil wars from 1989 to 2003 and West Africa's 2014-16 Ebola crisis.
Weah has faced protests for ongoing economic problems, which include soaring inflation, and regular cash and fuel shortages.
But the president has sought to counter the impression that the referendum is a verdict on his rule. The constitutional changes "benefit all Liberians", he said in a statement in November.
The Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), a leading opposition coalition, argues that few understand the referendum and has urged its supporters to boycott the poll.
"We don't even know what the implications are when you vote 'yes' or you vote 'no'," CPP secretary-general Mohammed Aly told AFP, warning that Weah could seek further terms.
Acarus Gray, a lower-house lawmaker from Weah's Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) party, said that third-term rumours amounted to "political games".
Dual nationality ban on ballot
Liberians are also voting on whether to repeal a 1973 ban on dual nationality, a move some hope could be an economic boon.
The ban has long been viewed as hypocritical in some quarters, as many members of the American-Liberian elite secretly hold US citizenship and are accused of transferring money abroad.
Hundreds of thousands of other Liberians are also thought to reside overseas, having fled war and poverty.
Weah's office said in a November statement that nationality restrictions -- which include a ban on property ownership for non-Liberians -- are "inconceivable" and "unfair".
"This administration has decided that once you were born a Liberian you must always remain a Liberian," CDC lawmaker Acarus Gray said, adding that dual nationality would "beef up our economy".
Edward Gayflor, a 48-year-old Liberian who fled to the US during the civil war and acquired US citizenship, agreed.
"I believe it is time Liberians say yes to dual citizenship so we can have the opportunity to contribute to the development of the motherland," he said.
But there are fears that wealthy diaspora members could wield an outsized influence in Liberia.
Should the referendum overturn the dual-nationality ban, Liberians with two passports will still remain barred from elected office.
About 2.5 million people are registered to vote, according to the country's national elections committee.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-12-06--Indonesia minister arrested over pandemic aid corruption

Two Indonesian ministers have been arrested in recent weeks over corruption allegations Indonesia 's social affairs minister was arrested Sunday for allegedly taking $ 1.2 million in bribes linked to food aid for those hit by the coronavirus pandemic .
Juliari Batubara was named as a suspect after Indonesian anti-corruption agents seized suitcases , backpacks and envelopes stuffed with cash equivalent to $ 1.2 million in a sting operation on Saturday .
He turned himself in on Sunday at the anti-corruption agency 's headquarters , becoming the second minister in President Joko Widodo 's government to be arrested over alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's the people 's money ... it 's aid urgently needed to help during Covid-19 and for the national economic recovery , '' Widodo said after Batubara 's arrest , vowing he would not protect any corrupt officials .
Indonesia 's economy -- Southeast Asia 's biggest -- has been hit hard by the pandemic , and the government has rolled out aid programmes such as food packages to help those in need .
Batubara has been accused of involvement in a bribery scheme linked to one such aid project .
Officials have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 million from two contractors that were appointed to supply basic food packages for people affected by the pandemic .
For each package , Batubara would receive 10,000 rupiah , or $ 0.71 , officials alleged .
If found guilty , he could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of one billion rupiah ( $ 70,000 ) .

Jakarta (AFP) –
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Indonesia's social affairs minister was arrested Sunday for allegedly taking $1.2 million in bribes linked to food aid for those hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
Juliari Batubara was named as a suspect after Indonesian anti-corruption agents seized suitcases, backpacks and envelopes stuffed with cash equivalent to $1.2 million in a sting operation on Saturday.
He turned himself in on Sunday at the anti-corruption agency's headquarters, becoming the second minister in President Joko Widodo's government to be arrested over alleged graft in recent weeks.
"That's the people's money... it's aid urgently needed to help during Covid-19 and for the national economic recovery," Widodo said after Batubara's arrest, vowing he would not protect any corrupt officials.
Indonesia's economy -- Southeast Asia's biggest -- has been hit hard by the pandemic, and the government has rolled out aid programmes such as food packages to help those in need.
Batubara has been accused of involvement in a bribery scheme linked to one such aid project.
Officials have alleged that he received more than $1 million from two contractors that were appointed to supply basic food packages for people affected by the pandemic.
For each package, Batubara would receive 10,000 rupiah, or $0.71, officials alleged.
If found guilty, he could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of one billion rupiah ($70,000).
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-06--Search ends for people trapped in Nicaragua mine collapse

This photograph provided by the Fundacion del Rio shows the scene of a mine collapse in the La Esperanza region of southern Nicaragua , where an estimated 10 miners are believed trapped Authorities in Nicaragua called off the search for people trapped in the collapse of an unlicensed gold mine in the country 's south .
Two bodies had already been pulled from the debris , and up to 16 others had reportedly been trapped after the accident in the La Esperanza region , more than 200 kilometers ( 120 miles ) southeast of the capital Managua .
The two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Santos Herrera , were from the Rio San Juan department , local government official Johnny Gutierrez told official website 19 Digital .
`` Despite the rescue work , no other fatalities have been found , '' said the National System for the Prevention , Mitigation and Attention of Disasters , via 19 Digital , announcing that the search was over .
The agency made no mention of others reportedly trapped in the mine .
`` It will be the responsibility of the Ministry of Energy and Mines and the police to continue the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' it said .
Local media reported that anywhere from seven to 18 miners were trapped when the rain-soaked hillside collapsed .
Amaru Ruiz , director of the nonprofit Fundacion del Rio , said the rescuers `` should have continued with the rescue work until they reached the floor where the miners were working . ''
Ruiz said the hillside was honeycombed by mining tunnels dug over the years on private property .
Months of rain -- including the devastating passage last month of hurricanes Eta and Iota -- had saturated and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Landslides last month in northern Nicaragua claimed at least seven lives .

Managua (AFP) –
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Authorities in Nicaragua called off the search for people trapped in the collapse of an unlicensed gold mine in the country's south.
Two bodies had already been pulled from the debris, and up to 16 others had reportedly been trapped after the accident in the La Esperanza region, more than 200 kilometers (120 miles) southeast of the capital Managua.
The two victims, identified as Israel Sequeira and Santos Herrera, were from the Rio San Juan department, local government official Johnny Gutierrez told official website 19 Digital.
"Despite the rescue work, no other fatalities have been found," said the National System for the Prevention, Mitigation and Attention of Disasters, via 19 Digital, announcing that the search was over.
The agency made no mention of others reportedly trapped in the mine.
"It will be the responsibility of the Ministry of Energy and Mines and the police to continue the necessary investigations into this type of accident," it said.
Local media reported that anywhere from seven to 18 miners were trapped when the rain-soaked hillside collapsed.
Amaru Ruiz, director of the nonprofit Fundacion del Rio, said the rescuers "should have continued with the rescue work until they reached the floor where the miners were working."
An estimated 3,000 people work in Nicaragua's unlicensed mines.
Ruiz said the hillside was honeycombed by mining tunnels dug over the years on private property.
Months of rain -- including the devastating passage last month of hurricanes Eta and Iota -- had saturated and weakened the clay-like land, he added.
Landslides last month in northern Nicaragua claimed at least seven lives.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-06--South Korea tightens virus curbs in Seoul region

South Korea has raised its coronavirus alert to the second-highest level in Seoul and surrounding areas as authorities struggle to contain a fresh outbreak South Korea raised its coronavirus alert to the second-highest level in Seoul and surrounding areas Sunday as authorities struggle to contain a fresh outbreak .
The country largely brought the virus under control with a `` trace , test and treat '' approach , but in recent weeks new infections have jumped from around 100 a day to more than 500 .
South Korea confirmed 631 new cases on Sunday -- the highest in nine months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seoul region , according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency .
By global standards the figure remains low , but the rise has alarmed authorities , who have tightened social distancing measures .
`` We are facing the biggest crisis in our fight against Covid-19 , '' Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Sunday .
All gatherings of more than 50 people will be banned and professional sports will be held behind closed doors with no spectators .
Cafes will continue to serve only takeaways , while restaurants must close by 9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The tightened measures will be in place until the end of the year , Chung said .
Sunday 's figures take the total number of cases in the country to more than 37,000 .
South Korea endured one of the worst early Covid-19 outbreaks outside mainland China , but never imposed the kind of lockdowns ordered in much of Europe and other parts of the world .
The country has previously been held up as a model of how to combat the virus , and the public has largely followed social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face masks .

Seoul (AFP) –
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South Korea raised its coronavirus alert to the second-highest level in Seoul and surrounding areas Sunday as authorities struggle to contain a fresh outbreak.
The country largely brought the virus under control with a "trace, test and treat" approach, but in recent weeks new infections have jumped from around 100 a day to more than 500.
South Korea confirmed 631 new cases on Sunday -- the highest in nine months -- with the majority in the greater Seoul region, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
By global standards the figure remains low, but the rise has alarmed authorities, who have tightened social distancing measures.
"We are facing the biggest crisis in our fight against Covid-19," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Sunday.
All gatherings of more than 50 people will be banned and professional sports will be held behind closed doors with no spectators.
Cafes will continue to serve only takeaways, while restaurants must close by 9 pm, with only deliveries permitted afterwards.
The tightened measures will be in place until the end of the year, Chung said.
Sunday's figures take the total number of cases in the country to more than 37,000.
South Korea endured one of the worst early Covid-19 outbreaks outside mainland China, but never imposed the kind of lockdowns ordered in much of Europe and other parts of the world.
The country has previously been held up as a model of how to combat the virus, and the public has largely followed social distancing and other rules, such as wearing face masks.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-07--US Supreme Court hears case on art trove bought by Nazi Germany

The fate of the Guelph Treasure , exhibited in Berlin , is subject to a US court case centered on how it was bought by Nazi Germany The US Supreme Court will hear Monday a case involving an important medieval art collection that Nazi Germany acquired from Jewish dealers .
The clash centers on gold crosses , jewels and other religious works from the 11th to the 14th centuries that are now on exhibit in a museum in Berlin .
`` This case has everything to do with restitution ( and ) remedying a forced sale , which has major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of it is something that 's far more important , which is justice , '' said Jed Leiber , a musician in California who has sued the German government on behalf of his grandfather .
The latter , Saemy Rosenberg , was an art dealer in Frankfurt in the 1920s .
Shortly before the stock market crash of 1929 , Rosenberg and other Jewish colleagues bought the art trove from the duke of Brunswick , a descendant of a European dynasty known as the House of Guelph .
After the market tanked , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pieces to American collectors in 1932 .
The rest they stored in safes in the Netherlands .
In 1935 , two years after Hitler came to power , they sold the collection at a low price to Prussia , a centuries-old European state which still existed and was then run by Hermann Goring , who founded the Gestapo .
`` It was simply not possible in 1935 for any Jewish business , least of all dealers who are in possession of the German national treasure , to get a fair deal with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thief of all time , '' said Leiber .
Germany does not see it this way .
`` The Guelph Treasure 's sale in 1935 was not a forced sale due to Nazi persecution , '' said The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation , which runs several museums including the one where the disputed collection is held .
Germany bases its argument on the conclusion of a consultative committee that received a restitution request for the trove in 2014 .
This committee said that the price paid for the artworks reflected the market at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence of pressure from the Nazis for a cut-rate price .
After this opinion was issued , descendants of several Jewish art dealers turned to the US courts to recover the treasure , which they say is worth at least $ 250 million .
They cite a US law which bars civil suits against a foreign government except when “ rights in property taken in violation of international law are in issue . ''
The case eventually made its way to the US Supreme Court .
The nine judges will examine the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by June 2021 , which will only address the issue of whether US courts have jurisdiction in this matter .
In a brief filed before the session , the German government said it takes such claims seriously .
`` The German government has provided roughly $ 100 billion ( in today ’ s dollars ) to compensate Holocaust survivors and other victims of the Nazi era , '' the brief states .
But it argued that the sale took place between Germans on German soil and that only the German courts can rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it said , `` will have grave foreign policy consequences , inviting a host of lawsuits against foreign sovereigns for their domestic , sovereign acts -- and may prompt other nations to reciprocate , forcing the United States to defend similar actions . ''
The US government supports Germany in the case .
Lawyers for the plaintiffs counter that `` Germany seeks nothing less than sovereign immunity for property taken as part of the Holocaust -- not for this case , but for every case ...
The Holocaust was not a domestic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very proud German citizen , '' Leiber wrote .
`` And he was deprived of his citizenship .
It was no longer German after Hitler came to power .
`` I know there are many legal arguments that will be presented , but just on a human level it does n't sound like justice .
And it sounds like the kind of thing that leads to a denial of Holocaust reality , '' Leiber said .

Washington (AFP) –
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The US Supreme Court will hear Monday a case involving an important medieval art collection that Nazi Germany acquired from Jewish dealers.
The clash centers on gold crosses, jewels and other religious works from the 11th to the 14th centuries that are now on exhibit in a museum in Berlin.
"This case has everything to do with restitution (and) remedying a forced sale, which has major financial implications. But at the heart of it is something that's far more important, which is justice," said Jed Leiber, a musician in California who has sued the German government on behalf of his grandfather.
The latter, Saemy Rosenberg, was an art dealer in Frankfurt in the 1920s.
Shortly before the stock market crash of 1929, Rosenberg and other Jewish colleagues bought the art trove from the duke of Brunswick, a descendant of a European dynasty known as the House of Guelph.
After the market tanked, the dealers managed to sell half of the pieces to American collectors in 1932. The rest they stored in safes in the Netherlands.
In 1935, two years after Hitler came to power, they sold the collection at a low price to Prussia, a centuries-old European state which still existed and was then run by Hermann Goring, who founded the Gestapo.
"It was simply not possible in 1935 for any Jewish business, least of all dealers who are in possession of the German national treasure, to get a fair deal with perhaps the greatest, most notorious art thief of all time," said Leiber.
- 'Forced sale'? -
Germany does not see it this way.
"The Guelph Treasure's sale in 1935 was not a forced sale due to Nazi persecution," said The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, which runs several museums including the one where the disputed collection is held.
Germany bases its argument on the conclusion of a consultative committee that received a restitution request for the trove in 2014.
This committee said that the price paid for the artworks reflected the market at the time and that there was no evidence of pressure from the Nazis for a cut-rate price.
After this opinion was issued, descendants of several Jewish art dealers turned to the US courts to recover the treasure, which they say is worth at least $250 million.
They cite a US law which bars civil suits against a foreign government except when “rights in property taken in violation of international law are in issue."
The case eventually made its way to the US Supreme Court.
The nine judges will examine the case Monday by telephone and issue a ruling by June 2021, which will only address the issue of whether US courts have jurisdiction in this matter.
- Legal consequences -
In a brief filed before the session, the German government said it takes such claims seriously.
"The German government has provided roughly $100 billion (in today’s dollars) to compensate Holocaust survivors and other victims of the Nazi era," the brief states.
But it argued that the sale took place between Germans on German soil and that only the German courts can rule in this case.
To decide otherwise, it said, "will have grave foreign policy consequences, inviting a host of lawsuits against foreign sovereigns for their domestic, sovereign acts -- and may prompt other nations to reciprocate, forcing the United States to defend similar actions."
The US government supports Germany in the case.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs counter that "Germany seeks nothing less than sovereign immunity for property taken as part of the Holocaust -- not for this case, but for every case... The Holocaust was not a domestic matter."
"My grandfather was a very proud German citizen," Leiber wrote. "And he was deprived of his citizenship. It was no longer German after Hitler came to power.
"I know there are many legal arguments that will be presented, but just on a human level it doesn't sound like justice. And it sounds like the kind of thing that leads to a denial of Holocaust reality," Leiber said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-07--Syrian archives images of Damascus homes to preserve them

Rania Kataf , 35 , has created a digital archive of buildings in Old Damascus Strolling through the alleyways of war-torn Syria 's capital , Rania Kataf snaps photos of the city 's famed houses , capturing their nooks and crannies for posterity .
After seeing how vulnerable they had become during the country 's devastating civil war , the 35-year-old began creating a digital archive of the buildings of Old Damascus .
`` I was inspired by European photographers who tried to document buildings in their cities during the Second World War so architects could later rebuild part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ old city of the Syrian capital is famed for its elegant century-old houses , usually two storeys built around a leafy rectangular courtyard with a carved stone fountain at its centre .
Their many rooms usually include both a summer and a winter guestroom , both looking onto the courtyard .
While the capital has been largely spared the violence of Syria 's almost 10-year war , several of these traditional homes have been abandoned by their owners or damaged in the conflict .
Some have even become home to families displaced by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their high-ceilinged rooms and sometimes made slight alterations to their interiors .
In 2016 , Kataf created a group on Facebook called `` Humans of Damascus '' , to which more than 22,000 Syrians from the capital have sent in photos of their homes .
`` You do n't need to be an expert to document something , '' she said .
Already her pictures are proving useful in restoration efforts .
Inside a palatial Ottoman-era home called Beit al-Quwatli , Kataf painstakingly captures shots of each section of an ornate wall , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building once belonged to the family of Syria 's first post-independence president , Shukri al-Quwatli .
Part of the home collapsed in 2016 after rebel rocket fire nearby cracked its walls , but today the authorities and private partners are sprucing it up to turn it into a cultural institute .
In a large hall , workers in yellow vests and blue hard hats dust off long beams painted in dark green and gold , propped up on trestles .
Kataf 's pictures of surviving features of the building will help as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2013 , UNESCO decided to add all six of Syria 's World Heritage sites , including the Old Cities of Damascus and Aleppo and the ruins at ancient Palmyra , to its World Heritage in Danger list .
Kataf , who studied nutrition in Lebanon 's capital Beirut , said she was spurred into action after seeing the conflict damage or destroy architectural gems elsewhere in Syria .
`` I was scared the same would happen to Old Damascus , so I started to document as many of its details as I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rockets fell on Damascus in the early years of the war , but the guns have largely fallen silent since government fighters expelled the last rebels and jihadists from the city 's outskirts in 2018 .
The `` Humans of Damascus '' project has continued , however , with many photos posted on the Facebook group and others stored by Kataf , who makes them available to researchers on request .
Today some buildings are still at risk of `` losing their identity because of money-making projects , or becoming neglected and forgotten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
But Raed al-Jabri , sitting by the fountain inside his home-turned-restaurant , said he has done all he could to preserve the building 's original beauty .
`` We were going to lose the house completely .
It was about to collapse and was in desperate need of repair , '' the 61-year-old said .
He converted the house into an eatery in the 1990s , investing his profits in the building 's upkeep .
`` A Damascus home is not just for its inhabitants , '' he said , reminiscing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when tourists flocked to the city .
In another part of the Old City , 50-year-old businessman Sameer Ghadban said he was proud to still live in what was once the home of a famous 19th-century Algerian who had resisted the French occupation of his homeland then sought refuge in Syria until his death .
`` My wife and I have been living here for 12 years , on the very spot where Emir Abdelkader did , '' he said .
During his time in Damascus , Abdelkader is credited with saving thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ghadban said he has strived to preserve the building 's uniqueness down to the very last detail , however much it costs , in honour of those who lived in it before him .
In a small summer living room open onto one of the house 's two courtyards , the walls are covered in intricate carvings , including verses from the Koran , under a painted wooden ceiling .
`` I feel like I live in a museum , '' he said .
`` I will never be able to live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

Damascus (AFP) –
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Strolling through the alleyways of war-torn Syria's capital, Rania Kataf snaps photos of the city's famed houses, capturing their nooks and crannies for posterity.
After seeing how vulnerable they had become during the country's devastating civil war, the 35-year-old began creating a digital archive of the buildings of Old Damascus.
"I was inspired by European photographers who tried to document buildings in their cities during the Second World War so architects could later rebuild part of them," she said.
The old city of the Syrian capital is famed for its elegant century-old houses, usually two storeys built around a leafy rectangular courtyard with a carved stone fountain at its centre.
Their many rooms usually include both a summer and a winter guestroom, both looking onto the courtyard.
While the capital has been largely spared the violence of Syria's almost 10-year war, several of these traditional homes have been abandoned by their owners or damaged in the conflict.
Some have even become home to families displaced by the fighting, who have settled in their high-ceilinged rooms and sometimes made slight alterations to their interiors.
In 2016, Kataf created a group on Facebook called "Humans of Damascus", to which more than 22,000 Syrians from the capital have sent in photos of their homes.
"You don't need to be an expert to document something," she said.
- Grand family home -
Already her pictures are proving useful in restoration efforts.
Inside a palatial Ottoman-era home called Beit al-Quwatli, Kataf painstakingly captures shots of each section of an ornate wall, then scribbles in her notepad.
The building once belonged to the family of Syria's first post-independence president, Shukri al-Quwatli.
Part of the home collapsed in 2016 after rebel rocket fire nearby cracked its walls, but today the authorities and private partners are sprucing it up to turn it into a cultural institute.
In a large hall, workers in yellow vests and blue hard hats dust off long beams painted in dark green and gold, propped up on trestles.
Kataf's pictures of surviving features of the building will help as a reference as they repair the damage.
In 2013, UNESCO decided to add all six of Syria's World Heritage sites, including the Old Cities of Damascus and Aleppo and the ruins at ancient Palmyra, to its World Heritage in Danger list.
Kataf, who studied nutrition in Lebanon's capital Beirut, said she was spurred into action after seeing the conflict damage or destroy architectural gems elsewhere in Syria.
"I was scared the same would happen to Old Damascus, so I started to document as many of its details as I could," she said.
Rebel rockets fell on Damascus in the early years of the war, but the guns have largely fallen silent since government fighters expelled the last rebels and jihadists from the city's outskirts in 2018.
The "Humans of Damascus" project has continued, however, with many photos posted on the Facebook group and others stored by Kataf, who makes them available to researchers on request.
Today some buildings are still at risk of "losing their identity because of money-making projects, or becoming neglected and forgotten after their residents emigrated," Kataf said.
- 'I live in a museum' -
But Raed al-Jabri, sitting by the fountain inside his home-turned-restaurant, said he has done all he could to preserve the building's original beauty.
"We were going to lose the house completely. It was about to collapse and was in desperate need of repair," the 61-year-old said.
He converted the house into an eatery in the 1990s, investing his profits in the building's upkeep.
"A Damascus home is not just for its inhabitants," he said, reminiscing about better days before the war, when tourists flocked to the city.
In another part of the Old City, 50-year-old businessman Sameer Ghadban said he was proud to still live in what was once the home of a famous 19th-century Algerian who had resisted the French occupation of his homeland then sought refuge in Syria until his death.
"My wife and I have been living here for 12 years, on the very spot where Emir Abdelkader did," he said.
During his time in Damascus, Abdelkader is credited with saving thousands of Christians from sectarian violence in 1860.
Ghadban said he has strived to preserve the building's uniqueness down to the very last detail, however much it costs, in honour of those who lived in it before him.
In a small summer living room open onto one of the house's two courtyards, the walls are covered in intricate carvings, including verses from the Koran, under a painted wooden ceiling.
"I feel like I live in a museum," he said. "I will never be able to live in a normal flat after this."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-07--Giuliani latest Covid-19 diagnosis in Trump inner circle

Rudy Giuliani , personal lawyer of US President Donald Trump , looks on during an appearance in Michigan Donald Trump said Sunday his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani has tested positive for Covid-19 , the latest member of the president 's inner circle -- where mask wearing is rare -- to contract the disease .
The 76-year-old former New York City mayor 's age puts him in a high-risk group , and the New York Times and ABC reported he was hospitalized on Sunday in Washington as the US faces a record surge in coronavirus cases .
Giuliani 's diagnosis comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , leading the president 's defiant -- and unsuccessful -- effort to undo Joe Biden 's victory in the November 3 presidential election .
During his travels , Giuliani has been seen frequently without a mask : on Wednesday , he was at the Michigan state assembly in Lansing with his face uncovered for a hearing that lasted more than four hours .
On Thursday , CNN showed footage of him in Atlanta walking maskless down a hall chatting with several other people whose faces were uncovered .
`` Giuliani , by far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NYC , and who has been working tirelessly exposing the most corrupt election ( by far ! )
in the history of the USA , has tested positive for the China Virus , '' Trump tweeted , using a term he applies to the coronavirus widely decried as racist and fanning conspiracy theories .
`` Get better soon Rudy , we will carry on !
!
!
`` , the president added .
A few hours earlier , Giuliani was interviewed live on Fox News and showed no signs of the disease .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump , who long played down the severity of the pandemic and even mocked those who wore masks , held his first big political rally since the election -- before a tightly packed crowd of thousands of largely unmasked supporters in Georgia .
White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx expressed frustration Sunday at anti-mask sentiment in the US .
`` I hear community members ... parroting back that masks do n't work , '' she told NBC 's `` Meet the Press . ''
The United States -- the country with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world -- has seen a dramatic resurgence in its epidemic in recent weeks .
For the third day in a row , the United States on Saturday notched a record number of coronavirus cases in 24 hours , reaching nearly 230,000 new infections , according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University .
A series of members of Trump 's inner circle have contracted the disease since the president himself caught it weeks before the election .
They include his wife Melania , his son Donald Jr. , his son Barron , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his campaign manager as well as several Republican members of Congress .
Many of them , including Giuliani , followed Trump 's example , often ignoring health experts ' guidance and attending White House and political events without masks .
Giuliani 's son Andrew , who works in the White House , tested positive for the virus late last month .
David Gergen , a senior advisor in four US administrations , noted on CNN that while dozens of people around Trump had now contracted the virus , only one or two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The lesson , Gergen said : `` The cavalier attitude taken by the Trump people is only going to get you closer to catching this stuff ... '' It 's just as plain as it can be . ''

Washington (AFP) –
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Donald Trump said Sunday his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani has tested positive for Covid-19, the latest member of the president's inner circle -- where mask wearing is rare -- to contract the disease.
The 76-year-old former New York City mayor's age puts him in a high-risk group, and the New York Times and ABC reported he was hospitalized on Sunday in Washington as the US faces a record surge in coronavirus cases.
Giuliani's diagnosis comes after he has been crisscrossing the country, leading the president's defiant -- and unsuccessful -- effort to undo Joe Biden's victory in the November 3 presidential election.
During his travels, Giuliani has been seen frequently without a mask: on Wednesday, he was at the Michigan state assembly in Lansing with his face uncovered for a hearing that lasted more than four hours.
On Thursday, CNN showed footage of him in Atlanta walking maskless down a hall chatting with several other people whose faces were uncovered.
"Giuliani, by far the greatest mayor in the history of NYC, and who has been working tirelessly exposing the most corrupt election (by far!) in the history of the USA, has tested positive for the China Virus," Trump tweeted, using a term he applies to the coronavirus widely decried as racist and fanning conspiracy theories.
"Get better soon Rudy, we will carry on!!!", the president added.
A few hours earlier, Giuliani was interviewed live on Fox News and showed no signs of the disease.
- 'They are wrong' -
The diagnosis was also a day after Trump, who long played down the severity of the pandemic and even mocked those who wore masks, held his first big political rally since the election -- before a tightly packed crowd of thousands of largely unmasked supporters in Georgia.
White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx expressed frustration Sunday at anti-mask sentiment in the US.
"I hear community members... parroting back that masks don't work," she told NBC's "Meet the Press."
"They are wrong."
The United States -- the country with the most coronavirus cases and deaths in the world -- has seen a dramatic resurgence in its epidemic in recent weeks.
For the third day in a row, the United States on Saturday notched a record number of coronavirus cases in 24 hours, reaching nearly 230,000 new infections, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
A series of members of Trump's inner circle have contracted the disease since the president himself caught it weeks before the election.
They include his wife Melania, his son Donald Jr., his son Barron, his press secretary, some of his advisors, his campaign manager as well as several Republican members of Congress.
Many of them, including Giuliani, followed Trump's example, often ignoring health experts' guidance and attending White House and political events without masks.
Giuliani's son Andrew, who works in the White House, tested positive for the virus late last month.
David Gergen, a senior advisor in four US administrations, noted on CNN that while dozens of people around Trump had now contracted the virus, only one or two in Biden's camp had done so.
The lesson, Gergen said: "The cavalier attitude taken by the Trump people is only going to get you closer to catching this stuff...
"It's just as plain as it can be."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-07--LeBron, Osaka, Mahomes among SI Sportspersons of the Year

Japan 's Naomi Osaka , the US Open champion , was among five people named Sports Illustrated 's Sportspersons of the Year on Sunday for their social activism away from competition as well as their championship sport efforts NBA champion LeBron James , Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes and Japan 's Naomi Osaka were among five athletes honored Sunday by Sports Illustrated magazine for their off-field activism .
SI 's annual Sportsperson of the Year was The Activist Athlete and paid tribute to off-field activities by James , Osaka , Mahomes and his NFL teammate Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and Women 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cited `` five men and women who in 2020 were champions in every sense of the word : champions on the field , champions for others off it . ''
James sparked the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA title , capturing the fourth of his career , and became the first three-time winner of the SI sportsperson award after 2012 and 2016 , having previously matched the two Sportsperson awards given golfer Tiger Woods in 1996 and 2000 .
`` With his efforts for racial justice , education reform and Black community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign and varied charitable work , there is no doubt that he sets the standard for the modern socially conscious athlete , '' SI said of James , who was also awarded the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award for his career dedication to public service .
James spoke out on police brutality , racial inequality and championed a voter registration program , More Than A Vote , that helped sign up more than 10,000 poll workers as well as register voters in combating voter suppression .
Osaka won her third Grand Slam tennis title @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She took part in Black Lives Matter protests this year following the death of George Floyd and wore black masks during her US Open run , each with the name of an African-American killed by police .
Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Mahomes sparked the Kansas City Chiefs to the Super Bowl crown , pushed the NFL to recognize the Black Lives Matter movement and backed the right of NFL players to conduct social protests .
Duvernay-Tardif , the starting right offensive guard for the Chiefs but also a doctor , gave up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal equipment when the Covid-19 pandemic struck , joining the front line of a battle for people 's lives .
Stewart supported Black Lives Matter from the start of the Women 's NBA bubble to the finish , when she helped the Seattle Storm claim a fourth title and winning WNBA Finals MVP honors after recovering from an Achilles injury .
`` If there is brightness in this dark year , it 's the leadership -- and sorely needed optimism -- shown by some of our nation 's top athletes in facing down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in announcing the winners .
`` The issues and challenges of 2020 will no doubt still be there in 2021 and beyond .
But our Sportspersons of the Year set an example of how to face and one day fix them .
With principle .
With passion .
And with an athlete 's optimism -- the belief that no matter the obstacles , better days are ahead . ''

New York (AFP) –
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NBA champion LeBron James, Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes and Japan's Naomi Osaka were among five athletes honored Sunday by Sports Illustrated magazine for their off-field activism.
SI's annual Sportsperson of the Year was The Activist Athlete and paid tribute to off-field activities by James, Osaka, Mahomes and his NFL teammate Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and Women's NBA champion Breanna Stewart.
The magazine cited "five men and women who in 2020 were champions in every sense of the word: champions on the field, champions for others off it."
James sparked the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA title, capturing the fourth of his career, and became the first three-time winner of the SI sportsperson award after 2012 and 2016, having previously matched the two Sportsperson awards given golfer Tiger Woods in 1996 and 2000.
"With his efforts for racial justice, education reform and Black community empowerment as well as his voting rights campaign and varied charitable work, there is no doubt that he sets the standard for the modern socially conscious athlete," SI said of James, who was also awarded the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award for his career dedication to public service.
James spoke out on police brutality, racial inequality and championed a voter registration program, More Than A Vote, that helped sign up more than 10,000 poll workers as well as register voters in combating voter suppression.
Osaka won her third Grand Slam tennis title at this year's US Open. She took part in Black Lives Matter protests this year following the death of George Floyd and wore black masks during her US Open run, each with the name of an African-American killed by police.
Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Mahomes sparked the Kansas City Chiefs to the Super Bowl crown, pushed the NFL to recognize the Black Lives Matter movement and backed the right of NFL players to conduct social protests.
Duvernay-Tardif, the starting right offensive guard for the Chiefs but also a doctor, gave up his NFL uniform for doctor's protective personal equipment when the Covid-19 pandemic struck, joining the front line of a battle for people's lives.
Stewart supported Black Lives Matter from the start of the Women's NBA bubble to the finish, when she helped the Seattle Storm claim a fourth title and winning WNBA Finals MVP honors after recovering from an Achilles injury.
"If there is brightness in this dark year, it's the leadership -- and sorely needed optimism -- shown by some of our nation's top athletes in facing down our many challenges," SI wrote in announcing the winners.
"The issues and challenges of 2020 will no doubt still be there in 2021 and beyond. But our Sportspersons of the Year set an example of how to face and one day fix them. With principle. With passion. And with an athlete's optimism -- the belief that no matter the obstacles, better days are ahead."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-07--Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani tests positive for Covid-19

FILE PHOTO : Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani , personal attorney to U.S. President Donald Trump , speaks about the 2020 U.S. presidential election results during a news conference in Washington , U.S. , November 19 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump 's lawyer Rudy Giuliani has tested positive for COVID-19 , Trump said on Sunday , after the former New York mayor 's cross-country efforts to persuade Republican state lawmakers to help reverse the president 's election defeat .
The 76-year-old Giuliani is the latest in a long string of people close to the White House , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic that has killed more than 280,000 Americans .
`` @ RudyGiuliani , by far the greatest mayor in the history of NYC , and who has been working tirelessly exposing the most corrupt election ( by far ! )
in the history of the USA , has tested positive for the China Virus , '' Trump said , using a term for Covid-19 that has drawn backlash .
Giuliani did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Two sources told Reuters that Giuliani was at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the sources said he had not been admitted yet .
The hospital did not immediately respond to requests for confirmation .
Giuliani has been spearheading Trump 's floundering effort to overturn his Nov. 3 election loss to Democratic President-elect Joe Biden through a flurry of lawsuits .
Both Trump and Giuliani have repeatedly claimed , contrary to evidence , that the outcome was marred by widespread fraud .
State and federal officials have repeatedly said there is no evidence of fraud on any significant scale .
Giuliani visited Georgia on Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to overturn Biden 's victory in the state , after making similar pleas in Michigan on Wednesday and Arizona on Monday .
Trump and many of his close associates have balked at public health officials ' advice to wear masks and avoid crowds to stem transmission of the respiratory illness , which has roared to record levels in the United States as winter approaches .
Giuliani , who developed an international profile as `` America 's Mayor '' for his leadership after the Sept. 11 , 2001 , attacks , has faced mounting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have been investigating Giuliani 's business dealings in Ukraine , and two associates , Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman , have been charged with campaign finance violations .
Giuliani has not been criminally charged and has denied wrongdoing .
Parnas and Fruman have pleaded not guilty .

President Donald Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani has tested positive for COVID-19, Trump said on Sunday, after the former New York mayor's cross-country efforts to persuade Republican state lawmakers to help reverse the president's election defeat.
In this file photo, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, personal attorney to US President Donald Trump, speaks about the 2020 US presidential election results during a news conference in Washington, D.C. on November 19, 2020.
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The 76-year-old Giuliani is the latest in a long string of people close to the White House, including Trump himself, sickened in a pandemic that has killed more than 280,000 Americans.
"@RudyGiuliani, by far the greatest mayor in the history of NYC, and who has been working tirelessly exposing the most corrupt election (by far!) in the history of the USA, has tested positive for the China Virus," Trump said, using a term for Covid-19 that has drawn backlash.
Giuliani did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Two sources told Reuters that Giuliani was at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., on Sunday. One of the sources said he had not been admitted yet. The hospital did not immediately respond to requests for confirmation.
Giuliani has been spearheading Trump's floundering effort to overturn his Nov. 3 election loss to Democratic President-elect Joe Biden through a flurry of lawsuits. Both Trump and Giuliani have repeatedly claimed, contrary to evidence, that the outcome was marred by widespread fraud.
State and federal officials have repeatedly said there is no evidence of fraud on any significant scale.
Giuliani visited Georgia on Thursday, where he urged state lawmakers to intervene to overturn Biden's victory in the state, after making similar pleas in Michigan on Wednesday and Arizona on Monday.
Legal troubles
Trump and many of his close associates have balked at public health officials' advice to wear masks and avoid crowds to stem transmission of the respiratory illness, which has roared to record levels in the United States as winter approaches.
Giuliani, who developed an international profile as "America's Mayor" for his leadership after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, has faced mounting legal troubles during the Trump administration.
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have been investigating Giuliani's business dealings in Ukraine, and two associates, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, have been charged with campaign finance violations.
Giuliani has not been criminally charged and has denied wrongdoing. Parnas and Fruman have pleaded not guilty.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-12-06--Jones slams 'disrespectful' England critics after Nations Cup final win

England coach Eddie Jones said critics of their style were being `` disrespectful '' to his players after they needed extra time to beat a third-string France 22-19 in the Autumn Nations Cup final at Twickenham on Sunday .
The tournament was dominated by set-piece forward play , aggressive defence and tactical kicking , leading some pundits to fear for the future of rugby union .
Despite the dire pre-match forecasts , England and France nevertheless produced an engrossing clash , with French full-back Brice Dulin scoring a fine try , as the visitors , boasting just 68 caps in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead at half-time .
However , there were moments when the teams ' kicking duel resembled a prolonged baseline rally at the French Open tennis championship , with fans in a crowd of 2,000 booing one such exchange after spectators were let into Twickenham for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic .
Six Nations champions England squandered a possible try just before the interval when , having decided against moving the ball wide , a series of drives by the pack inches from the French line ended with prop Ellis Genge knocking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ barely 30 seconds from the end of normal time when replacement forward Luke Cowan-Dickie was driven over for a try .
England captain Owen Farrell who , unusually missed four of his nine goal-kicks in the match , tied the scores at 19-19 with the ensuing conversion before landing a match-winning penalty in 'sudden death ' extra time .
Jones , however , had no qualms and responded angrily when questioned by reporters about the manner of a victory that saw England avenge their only defeat this year , a 24-17 loss to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Can I just say I think you are being totally disrespectful to the players the way you criticise the rugby , '' he said .
`` It 's a tough time for the sport , it 's a tough time to play rugby and we are all trying to play as good a rugby as we can , '' the veteran Australian coach , who oversaw England 's defeat by South Africa in last year 's World Cup final , added .
`` Consider the players are coming off at least a 10-month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the international game .
`` It is a sport we love and it is a difficult game to play . ''
Asked if teams had a responsibility to entertain , as well as win , Jones snapped : `` That is not the point and I find the question a bit childish .
Obviously you have to win .
If we do n't win , we do n't coach . ''
Rugby , according to its favourite origin story , started when William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ School .
There was not much play with ball in hand from England on Sunday , however , but Jones said the same people criticising England 's style would also have turned on them had they lost while playing a free-flowing game .
`` Had we run the ball from everywhere and got turned over 30 times and been beaten 30-15 you 'd have said why did n't we kick the ball more , '' Jones insisted .
`` These are the best players in the world and you 're telling me they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't want to play good rugby ?
Be respectful to the players .
`` We 're trying to win games of rugby ...
The easiest way at times is to kick the ball , other times it is to run the ball .
We 're always looking to get the right balance . ''

Twickenham (United Kingdom) (AFP) –
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England coach Eddie Jones said critics of their style were being "disrespectful" to his players after they needed extra time to beat a third-string France 22-19 in the Autumn Nations Cup final at Twickenham on Sunday.
The tournament was dominated by set-piece forward play, aggressive defence and tactical kicking, leading some pundits to fear for the future of rugby union.
Despite the dire pre-match forecasts, England and France nevertheless produced an engrossing clash, with French full-back Brice Dulin scoring a fine try, as the visitors, boasting just 68 caps in their starting XV, established a 13-6 lead at half-time.
However, there were moments when the teams' kicking duel resembled a prolonged baseline rally at the French Open tennis championship, with fans in a crowd of 2,000 booing one such exchange after spectators were let into Twickenham for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic.
Six Nations champions England squandered a possible try just before the interval when, having decided against moving the ball wide, a series of drives by the pack inches from the French line ended with prop Ellis Genge knocking on.
Their tactics were eventually rewarded barely 30 seconds from the end of normal time when replacement forward Luke Cowan-Dickie was driven over for a try.
England captain Owen Farrell who, unusually missed four of his nine goal-kicks in the match, tied the scores at 19-19 with the ensuing conversion before landing a match-winning penalty in 'sudden death' extra time.
Jones, however, had no qualms and responded angrily when questioned by reporters about the manner of a victory that saw England avenge their only defeat this year, a 24-17 loss to France in Paris in February.
"Can I just say I think you are being totally disrespectful to the players the way you criticise the rugby," he said.
"It's a tough time for the sport, it's a tough time to play rugby and we are all trying to play as good a rugby as we can," the veteran Australian coach, who oversaw England's defeat by South Africa in last year's World Cup final, added.
"Consider the players are coming off at least a 10-month season without having any pre-season to prepare for the international game.
"It is a sport we love and it is a difficult game to play."
- 'Don't win, don't coach' -
Asked if teams had a responsibility to entertain, as well as win, Jones snapped: "That is not the point and I find the question a bit childish. Obviously you have to win. If we don't win, we don't coach."
Rugby, according to its favourite origin story, started when William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran with it during a football match at Rugby School.
There was not much play with ball in hand from England on Sunday, however, but Jones said the same people criticising England's style would also have turned on them had they lost while playing a free-flowing game.
"Had we run the ball from everywhere and got turned over 30 times and been beaten 30-15 you'd have said why didn't we kick the ball more," Jones insisted.
"These are the best players in the world and you're telling me they're playing that game because they don't want to play good rugby? Be respectful to the players.
"We're trying to win games of rugby... The easiest way at times is to kick the ball, other times it is to run the ball. We're always looking to get the right balance."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-06--Journalists slam 'flawed' probe into Mexican colleague's murder

Regina Martinez is one of more than 100 journalists murdered since 2000 in Mexico Authorities in Mexico 's violence-plagued Veracruz state bungled an inquiry into the murder of a reporter probing alleged links between drug cartels and politicians , an investigation by fellow journalists alleged Sunday .
Prosecutors maintained that robbery was the motive for the killing of Regina Martinez , a correspondent for the news magazine Proceso found strangled in her home in April 2012 in Veracruz .
Sixty journalists from 25 media outlets worldwide including Proceso said they spent 10 months pursuing Martinez 's unfinished investigations as part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Paris-based group Forbidden Stories .
They criticized the official inquiry into her murder as `` flawed '' and suggested that the man convicted for her death , Jorge Antonio Hernandez , known as `` El Silva , '' was merely a scapegoat .
Much of Martinez 's work focused on two Veracruz state governors , Fidel Herrera and Javier Duarte .
Before her death she was preparing to publish an `` explosive investigation '' into thousands of people who had disappeared in Veracruz , according to the findings of the collaboration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` I think that the mass graves could have been the straw that broke the camel 's back , '' an unnamed high-level government official was quoted as saying .
According to Proceso , the Veracruz authorities `` deployed a political , media and legal operation to impose at all costs the version '' that Martinez was murdered by two thieves .
The investigation , in which AFP was not involved , found that the `` official narrative '' about the killing was spread online through `` an organized disinformation campaign '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal investigator from the Special Prosecutor 's Office for Crimes against the Freedom of Expression who was involved in the case was quoted as describing a bungled inquiry .
According to Forbidden Stories , Laura Borbolla recounted `` a colossally-flawed investigation that she believes ended with an innocent man behind bars . ''
She said that police destroyed fingerprints in Martinez 's home by using too much revealing powder .
Items such as beer bottles said to have been found at the scene of the murder were not given to her until months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the journalists ' findings .
The investigation found that Borbolla never believed in the conclusion of the state prosecutor that robbery was the motive .
`` Looking back on this case puts me into a state of complete anger , '' she was quoted as saying .
According to one of Martinez 's friends , the murder was a way to cover up the truth .
`` By killing her , they burned down the library of Babel , '' he said .
Duarte , who is currently serving a prison sentence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martinez 's death .
Herrera did not respond to requests for comment , the reports said .
More than 100 journalists have been murdered since 2000 in Mexico , which rights group Reporters Without Borders regularly ranks as among the world 's most dangerous countries for news media .
Of those , 28 reporters have been murdered in Veracruz and eight others have disappeared , most of them during the 12 years that Herrera and Duarte were in power , Proceso said .

Mexico City (AFP) –
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Authorities in Mexico's violence-plagued Veracruz state bungled an inquiry into the murder of a reporter probing alleged links between drug cartels and politicians, an investigation by fellow journalists alleged Sunday.
Prosecutors maintained that robbery was the motive for the killing of Regina Martinez, a correspondent for the news magazine Proceso found strangled in her home in April 2012 in Veracruz.
Sixty journalists from 25 media outlets worldwide including Proceso said they spent 10 months pursuing Martinez's unfinished investigations as part of "The Cartel Project" coordinated by the Paris-based group Forbidden Stories.
They criticized the official inquiry into her murder as "flawed" and suggested that the man convicted for her death, Jorge Antonio Hernandez, known as "El Silva," was merely a scapegoat.
Much of Martinez's work focused on two Veracruz state governors, Fidel Herrera and Javier Duarte.
Before her death she was preparing to publish an "explosive investigation" into thousands of people who had disappeared in Veracruz, according to the findings of the collaboration, named "The Cartel Project."
"I think that the mass graves could have been the straw that broke the camel's back," an unnamed high-level government official was quoted as saying.
According to Proceso, the Veracruz authorities "deployed a political, media and legal operation to impose at all costs the version" that Martinez was murdered by two thieves.
The investigation, in which AFP was not involved, found that the "official narrative" about the killing was spread online through "an organized disinformation campaign" using fake social media accounts.
- 'Colossally-flawed' -
A federal investigator from the Special Prosecutor's Office for Crimes against the Freedom of Expression who was involved in the case was quoted as describing a bungled inquiry.
According to Forbidden Stories, Laura Borbolla recounted "a colossally-flawed investigation that she believes ended with an innocent man behind bars."
She said that police destroyed fingerprints in Martinez's home by using too much revealing powder.
Items such as beer bottles said to have been found at the scene of the murder were not given to her until months later and had been manipulated, according to the journalists' findings.
The investigation found that Borbolla never believed in the conclusion of the state prosecutor that robbery was the motive.
"Looking back on this case puts me into a state of complete anger," she was quoted as saying.
According to one of Martinez's friends, the murder was a way to cover up the truth.
"By killing her, they burned down the library of Babel," he said.
Duarte, who is currently serving a prison sentence for corruption, denied any involvement in Martinez's death.
Herrera did not respond to requests for comment, the reports said.
More than 100 journalists have been murdered since 2000 in Mexico, which rights group Reporters Without Borders regularly ranks as among the world's most dangerous countries for news media.
Of those, 28 reporters have been murdered in Veracruz and eight others have disappeared, most of them during the 12 years that Herrera and Duarte were in power, Proceso said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-06--Stade, Toulon pay tribute to Dominici with Top 14 thriller

Christophe Dominici 's former teammate Sergio Parisse was among those to pay tribute to the iconic France winger who died aged 48 Stade Francais and Toulon paid a fitting tribute to their former player Christophe Dominici , who died aged 48 last month , as the Paris outfit clinched a dramatic 24-23 victory in the Top 14 on Sunday .
The capital-city club , whose players wore a jersey dedicated to former France star Dominici , moved level on points with fourth-placed Toulon in the table .
After a minute 's applause from both teams in remembrance of the star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Baptiste Serin kicked the visitors into an early lead .
Lester Etien took advantage of an overload down the left to touch down for Stade , with three points from Joris Segonds making it 8-3 .
Dominici 's former Stade teammate Sergio Parisse , who spoke at his funeral on Friday , dragged Toulon back into the contest with a 23rd-minute try , converted by Serin .
Despite another successful kick from Segonds , the away side led 17-11 at the break following a try for Christopher Tolofua .
Tolu Latu touched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though , with Segonds ' conversion putting Stade back in front .
Stade fly-half Segonds , who finished with 14 points , and his opposite number both kicked two more penalties each as the hosts held on .
`` It was a great proof of character to change the situation in the second half , '' said Stade coach Gonzalo Quesada .
Earlier on Sunday , Castres moved out of the bottom two with a 17-13 victory at Pau .
La Rochelle are only two points clear at the top after their 22-18 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Toulouse , who edged Bayonne , in second .

Paris (AFP) –
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Stade Francais and Toulon paid a fitting tribute to their former player Christophe Dominici, who died aged 48 last month, as the Paris outfit clinched a dramatic 24-23 victory in the Top 14 on Sunday.
The capital-city club, whose players wore a jersey dedicated to former France star Dominici, moved level on points with fourth-placed Toulon in the table.
After a minute's applause from both teams in remembrance of the star winger before kick-off at the Stade Jean-Bouin, Baptiste Serin kicked the visitors into an early lead.
Lester Etien took advantage of an overload down the left to touch down for Stade, with three points from Joris Segonds making it 8-3.
Dominici's former Stade teammate Sergio Parisse, who spoke at his funeral on Friday, dragged Toulon back into the contest with a 23rd-minute try, converted by Serin.
Despite another successful kick from Segonds, the away side led 17-11 at the break following a try for Christopher Tolofua.
Tolu Latu touched down early in the second period, though, with Segonds' conversion putting Stade back in front.
Stade fly-half Segonds, who finished with 14 points, and his opposite number both kicked two more penalties each as the hosts held on.
"It was a great proof of character to change the situation in the second half," said Stade coach Gonzalo Quesada.
Earlier on Sunday, Castres moved out of the bottom two with a 17-13 victory at Pau.
La Rochelle are only two points clear at the top after their 22-18 loss to Lyon on Saturday, with Toulouse, who edged Bayonne, in second.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-06--Norway's Hovland wins Mayakoba Classic with closing birdie

Norway 's Viktor Hovland sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the final hole Sunday for a one-stroke victory over American Aaron Wise at the PGA Mayakoba Classic Norway 's Viktor Hovland sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the last hole Sunday to win the Mayakoba Classic by one stroke over American Aaron Wise .
It was the second PGA Tour title for the 23-year-old from Oslo , who also rolled in a birdie on the 72nd hole to win February 's Puerto Rico Open .
`` I do n't feel comfortable in these situations at all .
I was shaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` I knew I had to make a birdie on 18 and it just went in . ''
Hovland , ranked 25th , fired a six-under par 65 in the final round to complete 72 holes at Playa del Carmen , Mexico , on 20-under par 264 .
Wise , who fired a closing 63 , was second on 265 , with fellow Americans Tom Hoge and Adam Long sharing third on 267 and compatriots Lucas Glover , Harris English and Billy Horschel another stroke adrift .
`` I hit every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit it , '' Wise said .
`` Felt really comfortable and was able to give it a run .
I just could n't get one to drop on that back side . ''
Hovland , who matched a PGA Tour career low with a 63 on Saturday , birdied four of the first six holes Sunday and jumped into the hunt .
After making his lone bogey at the par-4 12th , Hovland answered with birdies at the par-5 13th and par-4 14th to share the lead with Wise , who birdied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hovland 's five-foot birdie putt at 15 lipped out , leaving him still deadlocked with Wise , and he stayed that way at the 16th despite finding a bunker on his approach , blasting out and holing a tense five-foot par putt .
`` I thought I had lost it after the second shot on 16 , but made an awesome putt there , '' Hovland said .
`` My golf was very steady today .
It could have been a lot worse . ''
Wise , who was born in South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lead alone at 18 but missed a seven-foot downhill birdie putt , setting the stage for Hovland 's dramatic winning moment .
Wise won his only PGA Tour title at the 2018 Byron Nelson tournament while Long 's only top-level win was at the 2019 Desert Classic .
Argentina 's world number 171 Emiliano Grillo , who began the day with a one-stroke edge for his first PGA Tour 54-hole lead , fired a closing 72 to share eighth on 269 .
World number three Justin Thomas , the 2017 PGA Championship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12th on 270 .

Mexico City (AFP) –
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Norway's Viktor Hovland sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the last hole Sunday to win the Mayakoba Classic by one stroke over American Aaron Wise.
It was the second PGA Tour title for the 23-year-old from Oslo, who also rolled in a birdie on the 72nd hole to win February's Puerto Rico Open.
"I don't feel comfortable in these situations at all. I was shaking there at the end," Hovland said. "I knew I had to make a birdie on 18 and it just went in."
Hovland, ranked 25th, fired a six-under par 65 in the final round to complete 72 holes at Playa del Carmen, Mexico, on 20-under par 264.
Wise, who fired a closing 63, was second on 265, with fellow Americans Tom Hoge and Adam Long sharing third on 267 and compatriots Lucas Glover, Harris English and Billy Horschel another stroke adrift.
"I hit every shot basically as well as I could hit it," Wise said. "Felt really comfortable and was able to give it a run. I just couldn't get one to drop on that back side."
Hovland, who matched a PGA Tour career low with a 63 on Saturday, birdied four of the first six holes Sunday and jumped into the hunt.
After making his lone bogey at the par-4 12th, Hovland answered with birdies at the par-5 13th and par-4 14th to share the lead with Wise, who birdied 13, 14 and the par-3 15th.
Hovland's five-foot birdie putt at 15 lipped out, leaving him still deadlocked with Wise, and he stayed that way at the 16th despite finding a bunker on his approach, blasting out and holing a tense five-foot par putt.
"I thought I had lost it after the second shot on 16, but made an awesome putt there," Hovland said. "My golf was very steady today. It could have been a lot worse."
Wise, who was born in South Africa, had a chance to seize the lead alone at 18 but missed a seven-foot downhill birdie putt, setting the stage for Hovland's dramatic winning moment.
Wise won his only PGA Tour title at the 2018 Byron Nelson tournament while Long's only top-level win was at the 2019 Desert Classic.
Argentina's world number 171 Emiliano Grillo, who began the day with a one-stroke edge for his first PGA Tour 54-hole lead, fired a closing 72 to share eighth on 269.
World number three Justin Thomas, the 2017 PGA Championship winner, fired a 69 to share 12th on 270.
© 2020 AFP