france24--2020-10-15--How to hold the world's largest book fair in a pandemic

An employee organises book shelves prior to the opening press conference of the 2020 Frankfurt Book fair on Tuesday .
Usually the world 's largest publishing event , the fair runs from October 14 to 18 this year under special circumstances The Frankfurt book fair , the world 's largest , is going ahead this week even after a spike in coronavirus infections turned the German city into a high-risk area .
With authors signing books behind plexiglass , audiences wearing masks and industry events moved online , this year 's edition is unlike any other .
The rapidly worsening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so far coped relatively well with the pandemic , forced organisers to rewrite their plans several times .
Just 48 hours before Wednesday 's kickoff , fair director Juergen Boos and his team decided to ban audiences from attending readings and interviews in a concert hall that had been due to host 450 people at a time .
`` We had to react right away , '' Boos told AFP , after Frankfurt was coloured red on the coronavirus map .
It was a huge blow to a fair that last year drew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scaled back .
The on-stage author talks at the now eerily empty Festhalle arena are still taking place however and are being live-streamed .
Also empty is the adjacent conference centre , normally a hive of activity where booklovers could rub shoulders with top publishing executives and writers like Dan Brown and Cecelia Ahern .
With many international visitors unable or unwilling to fly in because of the virus this year , organisers have built digital platforms for publishers and agents to discuss trends , sniff out the next bestsellers and haggle over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talks have also shifted online and can be followed by anyone with an internet connection .
But there are still ways to experience the `` Buchmesse '' in person .
Hotels , museums , bars and bookshops across Frankfurt are hosting dozens of readings and discussions until Sunday to bring the fair to life , welcoming audiences of up to 50 people .
Guests have to mask up , follow social distancing guidelines and share their contact details so they can be notified if someone at the event later tests positive .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terms of health precautions , '' said Boos .
`` But we must be able to have these personal encounters . ''
At Walden cafe on Wednesday evening , retired teacher Christiane Decker-Eisel , 67 , queued patiently for German novelist Bov Bjerg , seated behind a large plexiglass screen , to sign her book .
`` I 'm interested in his work and really wanted to be here , '' she told AFP .
`` I feel protected with my FFP2 mask on . ''
Being forced to switch to a mainly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , allowing for larger audiences and attracting speakers who might never have come to Frankfurt .
More than 4,400 exhibitors from over 100 countries have registered to take part virtually .
For members of the public , this week 's live-stream highlights include interviews with Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong , US whistleblower Edward Snowden and legendary author Margaret Atwood of `` The Handmaid 's Tale '' fame , whose native Canada postponed its role as guest of honour at this year 's fair to 2021 .
But Boos said nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` creativity , chance encounters and a little bit of chaos '' .
Volker Bouffier , the premier of Frankfurt 's Hesse state , said at the opening press conference that it was `` brave '' of organisers not to cancel the 2020 edition , `` which would have been easier '' .
But cancelling the high-profile fair , which dates back to the Middle Ages , was never really an option .
Boos said there was a need for the industry to get together after other book fairs , including in London @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
Surveys in Europe suggest reading has increased during the Covid-19 lockdowns , particularly among children and young people , and book sales are up in several countries .
`` When the bookshops closed , we realised how important books are , '' Boos said .

Frankfurt am Main (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
The Frankfurt book fair, the world's largest, is going ahead this week even after a spike in coronavirus infections turned the German city into a high-risk area.
With authors signing books behind plexiglass, audiences wearing masks and industry events moved online, this year's edition is unlike any other.
The rapidly worsening outbreak, in a country that has so far coped relatively well with the pandemic, forced organisers to rewrite their plans several times.
Just 48 hours before Wednesday's kickoff, fair director Juergen Boos and his team decided to ban audiences from attending readings and interviews in a concert hall that had been due to host 450 people at a time.
"We had to react right away," Boos told AFP, after Frankfurt was coloured red on the coronavirus map.
It was a huge blow to a fair that last year drew 300,000 visitors and has already been drastically scaled back.
The on-stage author talks at the now eerily empty Festhalle arena are still taking place however and are being live-streamed.
Also empty is the adjacent conference centre, normally a hive of activity where booklovers could rub shoulders with top publishing executives and writers like Dan Brown and Cecelia Ahern.
- 'Safe' -
With many international visitors unable or unwilling to fly in because of the virus this year, organisers have built digital platforms for publishers and agents to discuss trends, sniff out the next bestsellers and haggle over translation rights.
Literary happenings and political talks have also shifted online and can be followed by anyone with an internet connection.
But there are still ways to experience the "Buchmesse" in person.
Hotels, museums, bars and bookshops across Frankfurt are hosting dozens of readings and discussions until Sunday to bring the fair to life, welcoming audiences of up to 50 people.
Guests have to mask up, follow social distancing guidelines and share their contact details so they can be notified if someone at the event later tests positive.
"Everything has to be completely safe in terms of health precautions," said Boos. "But we must be able to have these personal encounters."
At Walden cafe on Wednesday evening, retired teacher Christiane Decker-Eisel, 67, queued patiently for German novelist Bov Bjerg, seated behind a large plexiglass screen, to sign her book.
"I'm interested in his work and really wanted to be here," she told AFP. "I feel protected with my FFP2 mask on."
- 'Chaos' -
Being forced to switch to a mainly digital fair has its upsides, Boos said, allowing for larger audiences and attracting speakers who might never have come to Frankfurt.
More than 4,400 exhibitors from over 100 countries have registered to take part virtually.
For members of the public, this week's live-stream highlights include interviews with Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong, US whistleblower Edward Snowden and legendary author Margaret Atwood of "The Handmaid's Tale" fame, whose native Canada postponed its role as guest of honour at this year's fair to 2021.
But Boos said nothing could replace the physical fair with its "creativity, chance encounters and a little bit of chaos".
Volker Bouffier, the premier of Frankfurt's Hesse state, said at the opening press conference that it was "brave" of organisers not to cancel the 2020 edition, "which would have been easier".
But cancelling the high-profile fair, which dates back to the Middle Ages, was never really an option.
Boos said there was a need for the industry to get together after other book fairs, including in London and Bologna, were scrapped because of the virus.
Surveys in Europe suggest reading has increased during the Covid-19 lockdowns, particularly among children and young people, and book sales are up in several countries.
"When the bookshops closed, we realised how important books are," Boos said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-15--Arteta hopes Tierney will be cleared to face Man City after self-isolation

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is hoping to have defender Kieran Tierney available for Saturday 's Premier League trip to Manchester City as discussions over his need to self-isolate continue .
Tierney , as well as compatriot Ryan Christie , were instructed to quarantine for 14 days after Scotland team-mate Stuart Armstrong tested positive for coronavirus while on international duty .
Both Tierney and Christie returned negative tests and have insisted they complied with social-distancing guidelines .
But Scottish health authorities identified the two players , as well as two members of the Scotland backroom staff , as close contacts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fixtures and told Arsenal 's website he was `` so disappointed and frustrated to be in this situation '' .
But , as talks remain ongoing to release Tierney from his period of self-isolation , Arteta remains hopeful the full-back can feature at the Etihad Stadium this weekend .
`` We are still having some discussions with the authorities , '' the Arsenal boss said .
`` This is getting very complicated when you are sending players abroad and obviously you lose control .
`` Some authorities have different regulations to the actual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The number of positive Covid-19 tests has increased during the international break , with the Ireland squad hit by a number of enforced withdrawals , while Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo was also a confirmed coronavirus case .
Arteta believes it is important to keep international fixtures on the calendar with big tournaments coming up but wants consistency in the rules .
`` What we are asking is that we try to unify those protocols , rules to try to create a safe environment for our players , '' he said .
`` But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the impact of having a few players out when we resume the Premier League is really big . ''
Arteta also refused to be drawn on whether deadline-day signing Thomas Partey will make his debut at Manchester City , given he is yet to train with his team-mates .
He also suggested William Saliba would not be departing on loan to the Championship after the club had looked into the possibility of getting the teenage defender some football away from the club .

London (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is hoping to have defender Kieran Tierney available for Saturday's Premier League trip to Manchester City as discussions over his need to self-isolate continue.
Tierney, as well as compatriot Ryan Christie, were instructed to quarantine for 14 days after Scotland team-mate Stuart Armstrong tested positive for coronavirus while on international duty.
Both Tierney and Christie returned negative tests and have insisted they complied with social-distancing guidelines.
But Scottish health authorities identified the two players, as well as two members of the Scotland backroom staff, as close contacts of Armstrong.
Tierney missed Scotland's three fixtures and told Arsenal's website he was "so disappointed and frustrated to be in this situation".
But, as talks remain ongoing to release Tierney from his period of self-isolation, Arteta remains hopeful the full-back can feature at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.
"We are still having some discussions with the authorities," the Arsenal boss said. "This is getting very complicated when you are sending players abroad and obviously you lose control.
"Some authorities have different regulations to the actual ones in the Premier League."
The number of positive Covid-19 tests has increased during the international break, with the Ireland squad hit by a number of enforced withdrawals, while Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo was also a confirmed coronavirus case.
Arteta believes it is important to keep international fixtures on the calendar with big tournaments coming up but wants consistency in the rules.
"What we are asking is that we try to unify those protocols, rules to try to create a safe environment for our players," he said.
"But as well protect the clubs because obviously the impact of having a few players out when we resume the Premier League is really big."
Arteta also refused to be drawn on whether deadline-day signing Thomas Partey will make his debut at Manchester City, given he is yet to train with his team-mates.
He also suggested William Saliba would not be departing on loan to the Championship after the club had looked into the possibility of getting the teenage defender some football away from the club.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-15--Macron announces curfew: Paris, 8 other french cities to see further restrictions

Macron announces curfew : Paris , 8 other french cities to see further restrictions President Emmanuel Macron announced that 18 @ @ @ @ @ regions , including in Paris , will have a curfew starting Saturday through Dec.1 .
@ @ @ @ @ of health emergency for the country , which ended three months ago .
The 9 @ @ @ @ @ limiting the resurgent coronavirus amid second wave .
FRANCE 24 's Douglas Herbert tells us @ @

Macron announces curfew: Paris, 8 other french cities to see further restrictions
04:59
President Emmanuel Macron announced that 18 million French citizens in nine regions, including in Paris, will have a curfew starting Saturday through Dec.1. He also reinstated the state of health emergency for the country, which ended three months ago. The 9 p.m. curfew is aimed at limiting the resurgent coronavirus amid second wave. FRANCE 24's Douglas Herbert tells us more.


france24--2020-10-16--Americans voting early in record numbers in presidential election

Americans are voting early in record numbers with more than 17.8 million casting their ballots already ahead of a presidential election between Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump taking place under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic .
And while the result of the White House race will not be known until Election Day on November 3 -- or perhaps much later -- the early vote indications appear to favor the 77-year-old Biden , who has a double-digit lead over Trump in the national polls .
Iowa , the Midwestern state where the 74-year-old Trump held a campaign rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which allow voters to cast their ballots early .
`` I did not want to do it by mail , '' Jeff Maki , a 44-year-old insurance agent , said as he voted early in Newton in Jasper County .
`` To make sure the vote counted , I wanted to vote early in person . ''
Election auditor Dennis Parrott said 8,200 early votes were cast in Jasper County in 2016 .
`` And with three weeks left to go to early vote we have 8,000 now , '' Parrott said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that record . ''
Early voting began in Iowa on October 5 .
As of Thursday more than 325,000 ballots have been cast in the Hawkeye State , according to the US Elections Project of the University of Florida .
The project maintains a running tally of in-person early votes and returned mail ballots .
By Thursday afternoon a total of 17.8 million ballots had been cast in the states that report early totals .
Election experts point to the Covid-19 crisis and an expansion of voting by mail for the surge in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pace to smash the 2016 total of 47 million early votes .
Trump frequently denounces voting by mail as being rife with fraud , but there has been no evidence of widespread irregularities with mail-in votes in past elections .
Michael McDonald , a University of Florida political science professor who runs the US Elections Project , said the early voting numbers bode well for former vice president Biden but there could be heavy turnout for Trump on Election Day .
Several polls have shown that Democrats are more likely than Republicans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I 've warned that the heavily Democratic voting at this point should not be an indicator that Biden has the election ( sewn ) up , '' McDonald said in an early vote analysis on his website .
`` Yes , the numbers are very good for Biden .
`` However , it is very likely Republicans will show up in force to vote in person , '' he added .
A Trump campaign spokeswoman told The Washington Post the president was indeed counting on heavy turnout on Election Day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ all their hopes on mail ballots , irresponsibly scared voters away from the polls and cannibalized their Election Day voters in favor of vote-by-mail , '' Trump campaign spokeswoman Thea McDonald said .
`` Republicans will show up in person on Election Day and reelect President Trump . ''
According to the US Elections Project , voters , as of Thursday , have requested 80.69 million mail-in ballots in the states reporting such figures .
Of the states that report requests by political party registration , Democrats have requested 23.66 million ballots and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2.09 million early votes have been cast in Florida , 1.68 million in California and 1.62 million in Texas , according to the US Elections Project .
Other states with high early vote totals include Michigan ( 1.3 million ) , Virginia ( 1.14 million ) and New Jersey ( 1.14 million ) .
More than 916,000 early votes have been cast in the southern state of Georgia despite long lines on the first day this week which saw some voters waiting for more than 10 hours .
North Carolina began in-person early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential candidate Kamala Harris had been scheduled to travel to Asheville to address an early vote mobilization event .
Harris was forced to cancel , however , after her communications director and a flight crew member tested positive for Covid-19 .
Early in-person voting began on Tuesday in Texas , which has 38 Electoral College votes and is key to Trump 's hopes of victory .
Harris County , which includes the major metropolis of Houston , saw a record number of in-person early voters on the first day , when 128,186 cast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who did so four years ago .
The figure was slightly lower on Wednesday -- 114,996 -- but still substantially higher than in 2016 .
`` I wanted to make sure that my vote is counted before anything can happen between now and Election Day , '' Afshar said .

Newton (United States) (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Americans are voting early in record numbers with more than 17.8 million casting their ballots already ahead of a presidential election between Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump taking place under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic.
And while the result of the White House race will not be known until Election Day on November 3 -- or perhaps much later -- the early vote indications appear to favor the 77-year-old Biden, who has a double-digit lead over Trump in the national polls.
Iowa, the Midwestern state where the 74-year-old Trump held a campaign rally on Wednesday, is among the states which allow voters to cast their ballots early.
"I did not want to do it by mail," Jeff Maki, a 44-year-old insurance agent, said as he voted early in Newton in Jasper County. "To make sure the vote counted, I wanted to vote early in person."
Election auditor Dennis Parrott said 8,200 early votes were cast in Jasper County in 2016.
"And with three weeks left to go to early vote we have 8,000 now," Parrott said. "So we're going to surpass that record."
Early voting began in Iowa on October 5. As of Thursday more than 325,000 ballots have been cast in the Hawkeye State, according to the US Elections Project of the University of Florida.
The project maintains a running tally of in-person early votes and returned mail ballots. By Thursday afternoon a total of 17.8 million ballots had been cast in the states that report early totals.
Election experts point to the Covid-19 crisis and an expansion of voting by mail for the surge in early voting, which is on a pace to smash the 2016 total of 47 million early votes.
Trump frequently denounces voting by mail as being rife with fraud, but there has been no evidence of widespread irregularities with mail-in votes in past elections.
Michael McDonald, a University of Florida political science professor who runs the US Elections Project, said the early voting numbers bode well for former vice president Biden but there could be heavy turnout for Trump on Election Day.
Several polls have shown that Democrats are more likely than Republicans to vote early because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"I've warned that the heavily Democratic voting at this point should not be an indicator that Biden has the election (sewn) up," McDonald said in an early vote analysis on his website. "Yes, the numbers are very good for Biden.
"However, it is very likely Republicans will show up in force to vote in person," he added.
- 'Cannibalized' -
A Trump campaign spokeswoman told The Washington Post the president was indeed counting on heavy turnout on Election Day.
"For months, Democrats have pinned all their hopes on mail ballots, irresponsibly scared voters away from the polls and cannibalized their Election Day voters in favor of vote-by-mail," Trump campaign spokeswoman Thea McDonald said. "Republicans will show up in person on Election Day and reelect President Trump."
According to the US Elections Project, voters, as of Thursday, have requested 80.69 million mail-in ballots in the states reporting such figures.
Of the states that report requests by political party registration, Democrats have requested 23.66 million ballots and Republicans 13.91 million.
A total of 2.09 million early votes have been cast in Florida, 1.68 million in California and 1.62 million in Texas, according to the US Elections Project.
Other states with high early vote totals include Michigan (1.3 million), Virginia (1.14 million) and New Jersey (1.14 million).
More than 916,000 early votes have been cast in the southern state of Georgia despite long lines on the first day this week which saw some voters waiting for more than 10 hours.
North Carolina began in-person early voting on Thursday, and Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris had been scheduled to travel to Asheville to address an early vote mobilization event.
Harris was forced to cancel, however, after her communications director and a flight crew member tested positive for Covid-19.
Early in-person voting began on Tuesday in Texas, which has 38 Electoral College votes and is key to Trump's hopes of victory.
Harris County, which includes the major metropolis of Houston, saw a record number of in-person early voters on the first day, when 128,186 cast their ballots -- nearly double the 68,000 who did so four years ago.
The figure was slightly lower on Wednesday -- 114,996 -- but still substantially higher than in 2016.
"I wanted to make sure that my vote is counted before anything can happen between now and Election Day," Afshar said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-16--Trump and Biden trade jibes in competing town halls

President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden squared off , in a way , Thursday night , their scuttled second debate replaced by dueling televised town halls several channels apart .
The odd spectacle , which deprived most viewers of a simultaneous look at the candidates just 19 days before Election Day , seemed fitting for a race unlike any other , as yet another campaign ritual was changed by the pandemic that has killed 215,000 Americans and rewritten the norms of society .
The presidential rivals took questions in different cities on different networks : Trump on NBC from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump backed out of plans for the presidential faceoff originally scheduled for the evening after debate organizers said it would be held virtually following Trump ’ s COVID-19 diagnosis .
The town halls offered a different format for the two candidates to present themselves to voters , after the pair held a chaotic and combative first debate late last month .
But Trump had no plans to change his tone .
On Fox Business , he said of the first debate that “ some people said I was rude , but you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a liar.
” In case anyone remained unaware of Trump ’ s tactics , Biden warned supporters at a virtual fundraiser that the president would go after him aggressively in the final weeks of the campaign .
“ We ’ ve got 19 days left and you know he ’ s going to throw everything but the kitchen sink at me , ” Biden said Thursday .
“ And it ’ s going to be an overwhelming torrent of lies and distortions.
” The president also repeatedly delivered pre-emptive attacks on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he only agreed to the event because “ what the hell , we get a free hour of television ” and declaring that when the network hosted one for Biden , “ they asked him questions that a child could answer.
” Trump joked that he wished he could watch Biden ’ s appearance Thursday night because “ I wan na see if he can made it through the program.
” The two men are still scheduled to occupy the same space for a debate for a second and final time next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Thursday ’ s debate still reverberated for both campaigns .
Trump and Biden battled on Sept. 29 in Cleveland in a debate defined both by the president ’ s constant hectoring of his opponent , which sent his support lower , and by its place on the calendar : just two days before Trump announced he had tested positive for coronavirus .
Questions still remain as to when Trump last tested negative before that debate and whether he exposed Biden to the virus .
The Democratic nominee has since tested negative multiple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days , and while he later convalesced at the White House the debate commission moved to make their second debate remote — which the president immediately rejected .
What happened next set off infighting in the president ’ s reelection team : Instead of immediately suggesting a delay in the debates , Trump initially pulled out , only to later propose that it be rescheduled for late in October .
The Biden campaign balked , having already moved to schedule the town hall on ABC .
The debate was then canceled and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hall — which led to a fierce backlash for NBC News ’ decision to host it at the same time as Biden ’ s event .
NBC said it agreed to set up the dueling town hall after Trump was administered a coronavirus test Tuesday by the National Institutes of Health .
Dr. Anthony Fauci and NIH clinical director Dr. Clifford Lane reviewed the test and Trump ’ s medical records , concluding with a “ high degree of confidence ” that the president was not shedding infectious virus .
Critics of NBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same time , making viewers have to choose if they were interested in seeing both candidates react live in a similar format .
The network considered it important that Trump be given the same format , day of the week and length of time that Biden had on NBC last week — although he will have a different moderator .
Savannah Guthrie will be Trump ’ s host after Lester Holt moderated the Biden event .
And , as a postscript to the mess that the second debate had become on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its would-be host , CSPAN ’ s Steve Scully , was suspended Thursday for lying when he claimed his Twitter account had been hacked earlier this month when he reached out to a former Trump aide for advice over the president ’ s attacks .
As the pace of the campaign speeds up in its final weeks , the two candidates first took care of other electoral necessities Thursday : Trump appeared at his midday rally in battleground North Carolina , and Biden raised campaign cash at his virtual event .
Trump spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severity of the pandemic that , despite his efforts to change the subject , has become the defining issue of the campaign .
“ It ’ s going to peter out .
It ’ s going to end , ” he said of the pandemic — just as he had last winter — even as cases have continued to increase nationwide in recent weeks .
The president ’ s appearance in North Carolina underscored the challenge confronting him in the final weeks as multiple polls have shown him trailing Biden nationally and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much of the week on defense , campaigning in states he won in 2016 , such as North Carolina and Iowa , where he campaigned Wednesday .
But despite the polling , Trump predicted a “ big , beautiful red wave ” on Election Night , before referencing another one of his major challenges : A cash disadvantage to the Biden campaign , which just announced raising a record-breaking $ 383 million in September .

President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden squared off, in a way, Thursday night in dueling televised town halls that showcased striking differences in temperament, views on racial justice and approaches to a pandemic that has reshaped the nation.
The presidential rivals took questions in different cities on different networks – Trump on NBC from Miami, Biden on ABC from Philadelphia – after Trump backed out of plans for a virtual debate.
Advertising Read more
Coming just two and a half weeks before Election Day, the night offered crystalizing contrasts and a national, if divided, audience. But it seemed unlikely to have produced a needed moment for a president running out of time or opportunities to appeal beyond his core base.
He was defensive about his administration’s handling of the coronavirus, which has claimed more than 215,000 American lives, and evasive when pressed about whether he took a required COVID-19 test before his first debate with Biden. Angry and combative, Trump refused to denounce the QAnon conspiracy group — and only testily did so regarding white supremacists.
02:15
The president also appeared to acknowledge revelations from a recent New York Times report that he was in debt and left open the possibility that some of it was owed to a foreign bank. But he insisted that he didn’t owe any money to Russia or any “sinister people” and suggested that $400 million in debt was a “very, very small percentage” compared to his overall assets.
Biden denounced the White House’s handling of the virus, declaring that it was at fault for closing a pandemic response office established by the Obama administration in which he served. Though vague at times, he suggested he will offer clarity on his position on expanding the Supreme Court if Trump’s nominee to the bench is seated before Election Day.
.@GStephanopoulos on court packing: “Don’t voters have a right to know where you stand?”
Biden: Voters will know "before they vote."
GS: “So you’ll come out with a clear position before Election Day?”
Biden: “Yes, depending on how [GOP] handle this.” https://t.co/JEyTOkB6qk pic.twitter.com/RHnfjixsHU — ABC News (@ABC) October 16, 2020
After Biden’s 90-minute town hall event formally concluded, the candidate spent another half hour taking questions from those in the audience who didn’t get an opportunity during the televised program.
Trump and Biden were supposed to spend Thursday night on the same debate stage in Miami. But that faceoff was scuttled after Trump’s coronavirus infection, which jolted the race and threatened the health of the American president.
Trump wouldn’t say whether he had tested negative on the day of his first debate with Biden on Sept. 29, allowing only “possibly I did, possibly I didn’t.” Debate rules required that each candidate, using the honor system, had tested negative prior to the Cleveland event, but Trump spoke in circles when asked when he last tested negative.
00:55
The presidential rivals took questions in different cities on different networks: Trump on NBC from Miami, Biden on ABC from Philadelphia. Trump backed out of plans for the presidential faceoff originally scheduled for the evening after debate organizers said it would be held virtually following his COVID-19 diagnosis.
The town halls offered a different format for the two candidates to present themselves to voters, after the pair held a chaotic and combative first debate late last month. The difference in the men’s tone was immediate and striking.
Trump was Trump. He was loud and argumentative, rebuking his FBI director, fighting with the host, Savannah Guthrie, complaining about the questioning — and eventually saying for the first time that he would honor the results of a fair election, but only after casting an extraordinary amount of doubt on the likeliness of fairness.
Guthrie to Trump: "You're the president! You're not like someone’s crazy uncle who can just retweet whatever." pic.twitter.com/yDsWq5iI6p — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) October 16, 2020
“And then they talk ‘Will you accept a peaceful transfer,’” Trump said. “And the answer is, ‘Yes, I will.’ But I want it to be an honest election, and so does everybody else.”
He again sought to minimize revelations from a New York Times investigation that he has more than $400 million in debt and suggested that reports are wrong that he paid little or no federal income taxes in most years over the past two decades.
Biden meanwhile, took a far different, softer, approach with audience questions. The former vice president, who struggled growing up with a stutter, stuttered slightly at the start of the program and at one point squeezed his eyes shut and slowed down his response to clearly enunciate his words. At times his answers droned on.
Holding a white cloth mask in one hand, the Democratic nominee also brought a small card of notes on stage and referred to it while promising to roll back tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. He said doing so would save, as he consulted his notes, “let me see... $92 billion.”
Biden vowed to say before Election Day whether he will support expanding the number of justices on the Supreme Court if Democrats win the presidency, the Senate and hold the House after November.
He has for weeks refused to answer the question but went further Thursday night. He said, “I’m still not a fan” of expanding the court, but that his ultimate decision depended on how the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court “is handled” and “how much they rush this.”
Biden also blasted Trump’s foreign policy, declaring that “‘America first’ has made ‘America alone’” and “This president embraces all the thugs in the world.” He turned introspective when asked what it would say if he lost.
“It could say that I’m a lousy candidate, that I didn’t do a good job,” Biden said. “But I think, I hope that it doesn’t say that we’re as racially, ethnically and religiously at odds as it appears the president wants us to be.”
Biden said he plans to participate in next week’s debate but that he would ask Trump to take a COVID-19 test before arriving. “It’s just decency” for everyone around him, including non-candidates like camera operators, Biden said.
The two men are still scheduled to occupy the same space for a debate for a second and final time next week in Nashville.
(AP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-10-16--Former player sues AFL and ex-club over 'racist abuse'

Heritier Lumumba claims he suffered racial abuse during his time at Collingwood A former Australian Rules player has launched legal action against the AFL and his ex-club over racial abuse he claims was directed at him throughout his career that caused trauma and distress .
Heritier Lumumba , who is of Brazilian and Congolese heritage , filed a writ in the Supreme Court of Victoria alleging his former club Collingwood breached its duty of care and contractual obligations .
It also claimed both the club and the Australian Football League failed to provide a safe working environment .
`` On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plaintiff ( Lumumba ) was subjected to racial abuse or racially-offensive conduct , '' said the documents , lodged Wednesday .
Lumumba , who made 199 appearances for Collingwood during a 10-year stint that ended in 2014 , claimed both players and club employees were responsible .
The suit said Collingwood and the AFL should have been aware of what was happening and intervened , contending he suffered `` loss , damage , and injury including trauma , humiliation , distress , and loss of enjoyment '' .
No specific examples were included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 33 , has previously claimed he was nicknamed `` chimp '' while at the club .
He went public with his allegations earlier this year and Collingwood pledged an independent investigation `` in an effort to search for the truth '' .
The results have yet to be handed down and both Collingwood and the AFL had no immediate comment on the lawsuit .
Australia 's most popular spectator sport , which is similar to Ireland 's Gaelic football , has long been blighted by racism claims .
The AFL began proactively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adopting a policy that made it an offence for players or officials to insult someone due to their race , religion , ethnicity , colour , nationality or background .

Sydney (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
A former Australian Rules player has launched legal action against the AFL and his ex-club over racial abuse he claims was directed at him throughout his career that caused trauma and distress.
Heritier Lumumba, who is of Brazilian and Congolese heritage, filed a writ in the Supreme Court of Victoria alleging his former club Collingwood breached its duty of care and contractual obligations.
It also claimed both the club and the Australian Football League failed to provide a safe working environment.
"On numerous occasions during his employment, the plaintiff (Lumumba) was subjected to racial abuse or racially-offensive conduct," said the documents, lodged Wednesday.
Lumumba, who made 199 appearances for Collingwood during a 10-year stint that ended in 2014, claimed both players and club employees were responsible.
The suit said Collingwood and the AFL should have been aware of what was happening and intervened, contending he suffered "loss, damage, and injury including trauma, humiliation, distress, and loss of enjoyment".
No specific examples were included in the court filing, but Lumumba, 33, has previously claimed he was nicknamed "chimp" while at the club.
He went public with his allegations earlier this year and Collingwood pledged an independent investigation "in an effort to search for the truth".
The results have yet to be handed down and both Collingwood and the AFL had no immediate comment on the lawsuit.
Australia's most popular spectator sport, which is similar to Ireland's Gaelic football, has long been blighted by racism claims.
The AFL began proactively tackling such issues in the 1990s, adopting a policy that made it an offence for players or officials to insult someone due to their race, religion, ethnicity, colour, nationality or background.
But problems persist.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-15--Low risk of Covid infection on planes if masks worn: US military

A Pentagon study has found that even on a full plane , the level of Covid transmission over 12 hours on a jetliner is negligible -- if passengers all wear masks The risk of being infected with the coronavirus on an airliner is very low if passengers wear masks , according to a study carried out aboard Boeing long-haul jets by the US military and published Thursday .
Researchers using sensors and fluorescent tracers measured the volume of airborne contagious matter emitted by a dummy simulating an infected person breathing normally .
The passengers most exposed to the infected person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind or beside the dummy -- were represented in the study by the sensors .
Some 300 test rounds were carried out on the ground and in flight over the course of eight straight days in August in cooperation with United Airlines on Boeing 767 and 777 jetliners .
The study concluded that 99.7 percent of Covid contaminant particles were eliminated by the sophisticated ventilation systems on the planes before they reached the passengers seated closest to the dummy .
Expanding outward to the 40 seats closest to the infected person , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study said .
The results prompted US military transport officials to conclude that even on a full plane , the level of transmission over 12 hours of flight was negligible .
However , the tests only looked at a scenario involving a single infected passenger .
They also assumed that everyone on the plane wore a mask continuously , and did not address a scenario in which an infected person walks around the cabin of the plane .
`` While the tests did have some limitations , '' said Commander Joe Pope , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations directorate liaison for the testing , `` the results are encouraging . ''
`` For both the 777 and 767 airframes , the calculations show about 54 flight hours are required for cumulative inhalation of an assumed infectious dose , '' Pope said .
The study was conducted by USTRANSCOM and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ( DARPA ) .
Since the start of the pandemic , the US military has suspended most movement of its troops and their families .

Washington (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
The risk of being infected with the coronavirus on an airliner is very low if passengers wear masks, according to a study carried out aboard Boeing long-haul jets by the US military and published Thursday.
Researchers using sensors and fluorescent tracers measured the volume of airborne contagious matter emitted by a dummy simulating an infected person breathing normally.
The passengers most exposed to the infected person -- those just in front of, behind or beside the dummy -- were represented in the study by the sensors.
Some 300 test rounds were carried out on the ground and in flight over the course of eight straight days in August in cooperation with United Airlines on Boeing 767 and 777 jetliners.
The study concluded that 99.7 percent of Covid contaminant particles were eliminated by the sophisticated ventilation systems on the planes before they reached the passengers seated closest to the dummy.
Expanding outward to the 40 seats closest to the infected person, the elimination rate is 99.99 percent, the study said.
The results prompted US military transport officials to conclude that even on a full plane, the level of transmission over 12 hours of flight was negligible.
However, the tests only looked at a scenario involving a single infected passenger. They also assumed that everyone on the plane wore a mask continuously, and did not address a scenario in which an infected person walks around the cabin of the plane.
"While the tests did have some limitations," said Commander Joe Pope, the US Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) operations directorate liaison for the testing, "the results are encouraging."
"For both the 777 and 767 airframes, the calculations show about 54 flight hours are required for cumulative inhalation of an assumed infectious dose," Pope said.
The study was conducted by USTRANSCOM and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Since the start of the pandemic, the US military has suspended most movement of its troops and their families.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-15--Bell joins NFL champion Chiefs after leaving winless Jets: reports

Three-time NFL Pro Bowl running back Le'Veon Bell , released Tuesday by the winless New York Jets , reportedly agreed to sign Friday with the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs .
The NFL Network and ESPN said Bell , who was unhappy at how he was being used by the Jets , would join the Chiefs ( 4-1 ) in time to face the Jets ( 0-5 ) when they visit Kansas City on November 1 .
The 28-year-old rusher played five seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers , but held out and missed the entire 2018 season rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to him becoming a free agent in March 2019 .
He signed a four-year deal worth $ 52.5 million with the Jets , $ 35 million of it guaranteed , and ran for 789 yards last year .
He suffered a hamstring injury in the 2020 opener and liked a tweet suggesting the Jets trade him .
When no team showed interest , the Jets dropped him instead .
Bell , known for his pass catching skill as well as running ability , will join rookie rusher Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the Chiefs ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 protocols , which should allow him to practice next week .
While the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs rank third in NFL total offense , they are only 13th in rushing .
Bell managed 2,215 total yards and 1,391 rushing yards in 2014 and led the NFL with 406 touches in 2017 , but since then has played in only 17 of 37 possible contests .

New York (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Three-time NFL Pro Bowl running back Le'Veon Bell, released Tuesday by the winless New York Jets, reportedly agreed to sign Friday with the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
The NFL Network and ESPN said Bell, who was unhappy at how he was being used by the Jets, would join the Chiefs (4-1) in time to face the Jets (0-5) when they visit Kansas City on November 1.
The 28-year-old rusher played five seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but held out and missed the entire 2018 season rather than accept a franchise tag, leading to him becoming a free agent in March 2019.
He signed a four-year deal worth $52.5 million with the Jets, $35 million of it guaranteed, and ran for 789 yards last year. He suffered a hamstring injury in the 2020 opener and liked a tweet suggesting the Jets trade him. When no team showed interest, the Jets dropped him instead.
Bell, known for his pass catching skill as well as running ability, will join rookie rusher Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the Chiefs' backfield once he undergoes six days of Covid-19 protocols, which should allow him to practice next week.
While the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs rank third in NFL total offense, they are only 13th in rushing.
Bell managed 2,215 total yards and 1,391 rushing yards in 2014 and led the NFL with 406 touches in 2017, but since then has played in only 17 of 37 possible contests.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-15--Covid-19 infection risk on airplanes very low when wearing mask, US defence study finds

The US Dept .
of Defence study spanned six months , with 300 tests during 38 hours of flight time and 45 hours of ground testing .
The risk of exposure to the coronavirus on flights is very low , a US Department of Defense study released on Thursday found , a positive sign for the airline industry as it tries to rebound from the pandemic ’ s crushing effect on travel .
When a seated passenger is wearing a mask , an average 0.003 % of air particles within the breathing zone around a person ’ s head are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occupied , it found .
The testing assumed only one infected person on the plane and did not simulate the effects of passenger movement around the cabin .
The study , conducted aboard United Airlines Boeing 777 and 767 aircraft , showed that masks helped minimize exposure to infection when someone coughed , even in neighboring seats .
About 99.99 % of particles were filtered out of the cabin within 6 minutes due to fast air circulation , downward air ventilation and the filtration systems on the aircraft .
It estimated that to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would need to fly 54 hours on a plane with an infectious person .
United , which also provided pilots for the test , took pains to present the results in its favor .
“ These results ... mean your chances of COVID exposure on a United aircraft are nearly non-existent , even if your flight is full , ” said United Airlines Chief Customer Officer Toby Enqvist .
The study was led and funded by Transportation Command , which operates Patriot Express flights that use commercial planes like United ’ s for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The research over six months involved 300 tests during 38 hours of flight time and 45 hours of ground testing .
It was done by releasing particles the same size as the novel coronavirus across the entire cabin by section , each of which had 42 sensors representing other passengers who could potentially come in contact with the particles .
Each test released 180 million particles – the number of particles that would be produced by thousands of coughs .
Study participants included the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ( DARPA ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last week , plane manufacturers Boeing , Airbus SE and Embraer SA released a joint publication showing that cabin air filters limit the spread of viruses on their aircraft .
Their conclusions were based on computational fluid dynamics research that simulated how particles move around the cabin .
The International Air Transport Association ( IATA ) said it has identified only 44 flight-related COVID-19 cases since the beginning of 2020 versus some 1.2 billion passengers who have traveled during that time .
While “ nothing is completely risk-free , ” the published cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the risk of contracting the virus on board appears to be in the same category as being struck by lightning , ” IATA Director General Alexandre de Juniac said .

The risk of exposure to the coronavirus on flights is very low, a US Department of Defence study released on Thursday found, a positive sign for the airline industry as it tries to rebound from the pandemic’s crushing effect on travel.
The US Deptartment of Defence study spanned six months, with 300 tests during 38 hours of flight time and 45 hours of ground testing.
Advertising Read more
When a seated passenger is wearing a mask, an average 0.003 percent of air particles within the breathing zone around a person’s head are infectious, even when every seat is occupied, it found.
The testing assumed only one infected person on the plane and did not simulate the effects of passenger movement around the cabin.
The study, conducted aboard United Airlines Boeing 777 and 767 aircraft, showed that masks helped minimize exposure to infection when someone coughed, even in neighbouring seats.
About 99.99 percent of particles were filtered out of the cabin within 6 minutes due to fast air circulation, downward air ventilation and the filtration systems on the aircraft.
It estimated that to receive an infectious dose, a passenger would need to fly 54 hours on a plane with an infectious person.
United, which also provided pilots for the test, took pains to present the results in its favor.
“These results ... mean your chances of Covid exposure on a United aircraft are nearly non-existent, even if your flight is full,” said United Airlines Chief Customer Officer Toby Enqvist.
The study was led and funded by Transportation Command, which operates Patriot Express flights that use commercial planes like United’s for members of the military and their families.
Six months of research
The research over six months involved 300 tests during 38 hours of flight time and 45 hours of ground testing. It was done by releasing particles the same size as the novel coronavirus across the entire cabin by section, each of which had 42 sensors representing other passengers who could potentially come in contact with the particles.
Each test released 180 million particles – the number of particles that would be produced by thousands of coughs.
Study participants included the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and Boeing, among others.
Last week, plane manufacturers Boeing, Airbus SE and Embraer SA released a joint publication showing that cabin air filters limit the spread of viruses on their aircraft.
Their conclusions were based on computational fluid dynamics research that simulated how particles move around the cabin.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said it has identified only 44 flight-related Covid-19 cases since the beginning of 2020 versus some 1.2 billion passengers who have traveled during that time.
While “nothing is completely risk-free,” the published cases of potential inflight Covid-19 transmission show that “the risk of contracting the virus on board appears to be in the same category as being struck by lightning,” IATA Director General Alexandre de Juniac said.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-10-15--Hatton grabs early lead in PGA CJ Cup at Shadow Creek

Britain 's Tyrrell Hatton , coming off a European Tour victory last weekend at Wentworth , fired a seven-under par 65 Thursday to grab a one-stroke clubhouse lead at the US PGA CJ Cup at Shadow Creek .
A day after his 29th birthday , the Englishman had three birdies and an eagle in his first five holes , finishing one ahead of American Russell Henley and two atop Spain 's Jon Rahm and American Tyler Duncan despite the trip over from England .
`` Very happy with that round today , '' Hatton said .
`` Felt pretty tired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretty slow .
Still struggling with jet lag .
Pretty happy with that score . ''
Hatton took his fifth career European Tour victory in last week 's BMW PGA Championship after taking his first US PGA victory on March 8 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in the last event completed before the tour 's three-month Covid-19 shutdown .
Coronavirus issues prompted the CJ Cup , typically staged in South Korea , to be played in Las Vegas .
Hatton started on the back nine with back-to-back birdies then holed out from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the par-4 12th .
He rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt at the par-4 14th and sank a five-foot birdie putt at the par-3 17th .
A par at 18 closed out a first-nine 30 , matching his best nine in any PGA event despite his struggles .
`` My swing felt horrific on Tuesday and Wednesday , '' Hatton said .
`` I concentrated a little more today .
I hit some loose shots , which is to be expected , but I knew I could shoot well and I did .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ feet to birdie the first but missed the green with his approach at the second and made bogey .
He made a 10-foot birdie putt at the par-5 fourth but stumbled with a bogey at the par-4 sixth before answering with a an eight-foot birdie putt at the par-3 eighth to seize the outright lead at 7-under and closed with a par .
`` I putted nice today , '' Hatton said .
`` I need to continue that over the next three days . ''
Henley opened on the back nine and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before a three-putt bogey at the par-3 13th , but reached the par-5 18th green in two and holed a 10-foot eagle putt .
`` Making a three right there was great , '' Henley said .
He made a 12-foot birdie putt at the par-4 second , a 13-footer at the par-5 seventh and closed with a birdie putt from just inside four feet at the par-4 ninth .
`` I felt really good ball-striking wise , '' Henley said .
`` I kept the ball in front of me really well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of my putts , too .
Just gave myself a lot of good looks .
`` Just learning the par-3s and how the ball reacts on these greens as firm and fast as they are and just getting used to that is the biggest thing . ''

Los Angeles (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Britain's Tyrrell Hatton, coming off a European Tour victory last weekend at Wentworth, fired a seven-under par 65 Thursday to grab a one-stroke clubhouse lead at the US PGA CJ Cup at Shadow Creek.
A day after his 29th birthday, the Englishman had three birdies and an eagle in his first five holes, finishing one ahead of American Russell Henley and two atop Spain's Jon Rahm and American Tyler Duncan despite the trip over from England.
"Very happy with that round today," Hatton said. "Felt pretty tired out there. Pace of play was pretty slow. Still struggling with jet lag. Pretty happy with that score."
Hatton took his fifth career European Tour victory in last week's BMW PGA Championship after taking his first US PGA victory on March 8 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in the last event completed before the tour's three-month Covid-19 shutdown.
Coronavirus issues prompted the CJ Cup, typically staged in South Korea, to be played in Las Vegas.
Hatton started on the back nine with back-to-back birdies then holed out from the fairway for eagle from 92 yards at the par-4 12th.
He rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt at the par-4 14th and sank a five-foot birdie putt at the par-3 17th. A par at 18 closed out a first-nine 30, matching his best nine in any PGA event despite his struggles.
"My swing felt horrific on Tuesday and Wednesday," Hatton said. "I concentrated a little more today. I hit some loose shots, which is to be expected, but I knew I could shoot well and I did."
Hatton sank a putt inside four feet to birdie the first but missed the green with his approach at the second and made bogey. He made a 10-foot birdie putt at the par-5 fourth but stumbled with a bogey at the par-4 sixth before answering with a an eight-foot birdie putt at the par-3 eighth to seize the outright lead at 7-under and closed with a par.
"I putted nice today," Hatton said. "I need to continue that over the next three days."
Henley opened on the back nine and made birdies at the 10th and 12th before a three-putt bogey at the par-3 13th, but reached the par-5 18th green in two and holed a 10-foot eagle putt.
"Making a three right there was great," Henley said.
He made a 12-foot birdie putt at the par-4 second, a 13-footer at the par-5 seventh and closed with a birdie putt from just inside four feet at the par-4 ninth.
"I felt really good ball-striking wise," Henley said. "I kept the ball in front of me really well and felt really good over a lot of my putts, too. Just gave myself a lot of good looks.
"Just learning the par-3s and how the ball reacts on these greens as firm and fast as they are and just getting used to that is the biggest thing."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-15--Golf's Australian Open cancelled for first time in 75 years

Australia 's three biggest golf tournaments fell victim to the coronavirus pandemic Friday in an `` unprecedented blow '' to the sport .
The men 's and women 's Australian Open and the PGA Championship , all due to be played in February , will now no longer take place .
It will be the first time since 1945 that the men 's Open , won previously by the likes of Jack Nicklaus , Greg Norman and Rory McIlroy , will not tee off .
`` It 's unprecedented and a real blow for Australian golf and its fans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gavin Kirkman after what he called `` months of exhaustive consultations '' .
Australia has closed its international borders to most travellers as part of its effort to suppress the coronavirus pandemic , and even people moving between some of the country 's different states and regions can be subject to a mandatory two-week quarantine .
PGA officials considered a raft of options to deal with the restrictions , including players entering a hub and competing while serving a strict quarantine period , as well as restricting crowd numbers and movement .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with multiple contingency plans , it has reached a point where decisions have to be made and this , regrettably , is the one we 've had to take , '' said Kirkman .
The Australian Open and PGA Championship were originally slated for a late November and early December window , at Melbourne 's Kingston Heath and Brisbane 's Royal Queensland , respectively .
Both were postponed in recent months in the hope a time slot in the late southern summer -- potentially near the Women 's Australian Open -– would buy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impacts of Covid-19 , particularly assembling international fields and ensuring the safety of players , spectators and officials , forced the hand of organisers .
`` We look forward to bringing all three tournaments alive again when they return as normal for summer 2021-22 , '' Kirkman said .

Sydney (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Australia's three biggest golf tournaments fell victim to the coronavirus pandemic Friday in an "unprecedented blow" to the sport.
The men's and women's Australian Open and the PGA Championship, all due to be played in February, will now no longer take place.
It will be the first time since 1945 that the men's Open, won previously by the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Rory McIlroy, will not tee off.
"It's unprecedented and a real blow for Australian golf and its fans," said PGA of Australia chief executive Gavin Kirkman after what he called "months of exhaustive consultations".
Australia has closed its international borders to most travellers as part of its effort to suppress the coronavirus pandemic, and even people moving between some of the country's different states and regions can be subject to a mandatory two-week quarantine.
PGA officials considered a raft of options to deal with the restrictions, including players entering a hub and competing while serving a strict quarantine period, as well as restricting crowd numbers and movement. But ultimately none proved viable.
"Even with multiple contingency plans, it has reached a point where decisions have to be made and this, regrettably, is the one we've had to take," said Kirkman.
The Australian Open and PGA Championship were originally slated for a late November and early December window, at Melbourne's Kingston Heath and Brisbane's Royal Queensland, respectively.
Both were postponed in recent months in the hope a time slot in the late southern summer -- potentially near the Women's Australian Open -– would buy time to host them.
But the impacts of Covid-19, particularly assembling international fields and ensuring the safety of players, spectators and officials, forced the hand of organisers.
"We look forward to bringing all three tournaments alive again when they return as normal for summer 2021-22," Kirkman said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-15--Packers visit Bucs as Rodgers-Brady duel spices NFL slate

Aaron Rodgers leads the unbeaten Green Bay Packers , with the NFL 's top-scoring attack , to Tampa Bay for a rare showdown with Buccaneers star quarterback Tom Brady in Sunday 's feature matchup .
Rodgers , who led the Packers to their most recent Super Bowl victory in 2011 , has powered the Packers ( 4-0 ) to a league-best 27.9 points a game .
`` We 're up against one of the best teams in the league , '' Brady said .
`` We 've got to go out there and play a great game if we 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Super Bowl champion and three-time NFL Most Valuable Player Brady , who joined the Bucs this season after 20 years with New England , has Tampa Bay sharing the NFC South division lead at 3-2 .
The 43-year-old signal caller has thrown for 1,375 yards and 12 touchdowns with four interceptions while two-time NFL MVP Rodgers , 36 , has thrown for 1,214 yards and 13 touchdowns with no interceptions '' Everybody is pretty much in awe of how he makes it look so easy , '' Brady said of Rodgers .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the years and he has really kept it going .
`` He 's a great passer .
He 's very efficient .
He basically does n't throw interceptions and throws a lot of touchdowns .
His decision-making is just phenomenal .
`` When you do that as a quarterback , you put your team in a position to win .
He 's one of the great quarterbacks to ever play the game . ''
Rodgers praised Brady as one of the NFL 's greatest as well .
`` Fans should enjoy what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some guys they get to watch for 15 or 20 some years who are some of the greatest talents to ever play the game , '' Rodgers said .
`` We should enjoy it and have respect and admiration for what they have done and that their careers are still going on . ''
It 's only the third time that Rodgers and Brady will meet as NFL rivals .
Rodgers led the Packers over New England 26-21 in 2014 and Brady sparked the host Patriots over Green Bay 31-17 in 2018 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this season while Tampa Bay has made 17 sacks .
The Packers rank fifth in the NFL with 5.1 rushing yards a carry but the Bucs boast the NFL 's top defensive unit against the run , permitting only 58.4 yards a game on the ground with an NFL-low 2.7 yards a carry .
While the Brady-Rodgers matchup grabs the spotlight , each will face a top defensive unit , although ball control will allow them to frustrate their rival if they can manage it .
`` I 'm not defending ( against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I can play a role in that by doing our job on offense so a guy like that does n't have his offense on the field trying to score points .
You just ca n't give guys like that an extra opportunity because they make you pay . ''
Reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City and Buffalo will meet Monday in a showdown of 4-1 division leaders .
`` Anytime you get to play one of these great games , against great opponents , it 's always an exciting challenge and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarterback Patrick Mahomes said .
The Chiefs are trying to bounce back from a 40-32 home loss to the Las Vegas Raiders last weekend while the Bills seek a rebound after falling 42-16 at Tennessee on Tuesday .
Two other unbeaten division leaders will put their perfect marks on the line as Tennessee ( 4-0 ) plays host to Houston ( 1-4 ) and Pittsburgh ( 4-0 ) entertains Cleveland ( 4-1 ) .
Sunday 's other games find Chicago ( 4-1 ) at Carolina ( 3-2 ) , the Los Angeles Rams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2-3 ) , Denver ( 1-3 ) at New England ( 2-2 ) , Baltimore ( 4-1 ) at Philadelphia ( 1-3-1 ) , Washington ( 1-4 ) at NY Giants ( 0-5 ) , Atlanta ( 0-5 ) at Minnesota ( 1-4 ) , Detroit ( 1-3 ) at Jacksonville ( 1-4 ) , the New York Jets ( 0-5 ) at Miami ( 2-3 ) and Cincinnati ( 1-3-1 ) at Indianapolis ( 3-2 ) .
Arizona ( 3-2 ) visits Dallas ( 2-3 ) on Monday night .

Washington (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Aaron Rodgers leads the unbeaten Green Bay Packers, with the NFL's top-scoring attack, to Tampa Bay for a rare showdown with Buccaneers star quarterback Tom Brady in Sunday's feature matchup.
Rodgers, who led the Packers to their most recent Super Bowl victory in 2011, has powered the Packers (4-0) to a league-best 27.9 points a game.
"We're up against one of the best teams in the league," Brady said. "We've got to go out there and play a great game if we're going to beat them."
Six-time Super Bowl champion and three-time NFL Most Valuable Player Brady, who joined the Bucs this season after 20 years with New England, has Tampa Bay sharing the NFC South division lead at 3-2.
The 43-year-old signal caller has thrown for 1,375 yards and 12 touchdowns with four interceptions while two-time NFL MVP Rodgers, 36, has thrown for 1,214 yards and 13 touchdowns with no interceptions
"Everybody is pretty much in awe of how he makes it look so easy," Brady said of Rodgers. "It has just been unbelievable to watch over the years and he has really kept it going.
"He's a great passer. He's very efficient. He basically doesn't throw interceptions and throws a lot of touchdowns. His decision-making is just phenomenal.
"When you do that as a quarterback, you put your team in a position to win. He's one of the great quarterbacks to ever play the game."
Rodgers praised Brady as one of the NFL's greatest as well.
"Fans should enjoy what they get to watch because there are some guys they get to watch for 15 or 20 some years who are some of the greatest talents to ever play the game," Rodgers said.
"We should enjoy it and have respect and admiration for what they have done and that their careers are still going on."
It's only the third time that Rodgers and Brady will meet as NFL rivals. Rodgers led the Packers over New England 26-21 in 2014 and Brady sparked the host Patriots over Green Bay 31-17 in 2018.
The Packers have allowed only three sacks this season while Tampa Bay has made 17 sacks. The Packers rank fifth in the NFL with 5.1 rushing yards a carry but the Bucs boast the NFL's top defensive unit against the run, permitting only 58.4 yards a game on the ground with an NFL-low 2.7 yards a carry.
While the Brady-Rodgers matchup grabs the spotlight, each will face a top defensive unit, although ball control will allow them to frustrate their rival if they can manage it.
"I'm not defending (against) Aaron," Brady said. "I can play a role in that by doing our job on offense so a guy like that doesn't have his offense on the field trying to score points. You just can't give guys like that an extra opportunity because they make you pay."
- Mahomes ready for Bills -
Reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City and Buffalo will meet Monday in a showdown of 4-1 division leaders.
"Anytime you get to play one of these great games, against great opponents, it's always an exciting challenge and I'm ready for it," Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said.
The Chiefs are trying to bounce back from a 40-32 home loss to the Las Vegas Raiders last weekend while the Bills seek a rebound after falling 42-16 at Tennessee on Tuesday.
Two other unbeaten division leaders will put their perfect marks on the line as Tennessee (4-0) plays host to Houston (1-4) and Pittsburgh (4-0) entertains Cleveland (4-1).
Sunday's other games find Chicago (4-1) at Carolina (3-2), the Los Angeles Rams (4-1) at San Francisco (2-3), Denver (1-3) at New England (2-2), Baltimore (4-1) at Philadelphia (1-3-1), Washington (1-4) at NY Giants (0-5), Atlanta (0-5) at Minnesota (1-4), Detroit (1-3) at Jacksonville (1-4), the New York Jets (0-5) at Miami (2-3) and Cincinnati (1-3-1) at Indianapolis (3-2). Arizona (3-2) visits Dallas (2-3) on Monday night.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-15--'Sweet 16' party becomes 'superspreader' event in New York

Passersby wear masks in Southampton , on Long Island , on 30 September 2020 A 16th birthday party in New York state became a super-spreader event with dozens of attendees contracting coronavirus , according to officials .
The September 25 shindig at the plush Miller Place Inn on Long Island left 37 people infected with Covid-19 and forced more than 270 into quarantine .
Over 80 people attended the party , known as a `` Sweet 16 '' in the United States , well above the state 's 50-person limit .
The venue has been closed temporarily and fined $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We 've never seen a super-spreader event like this before in Suffolk County , '' tweeted the area 's county executive on Wednesday .
`` People have to act responsibly so that we do not have another economic setback . ''
New York state has largely kept coronavirus under control in recent months after 33,000 residents died from the virus , mainly in the spring .
But in recent weeks , infections have multiplied in some areas , especially in neighborhoods with large Orthodox Jewish populations .
Governor Andrew Cuomo closed non-essential businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in the so-called red zones .
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio defended the measures on Thursday , citing tightened restrictions in Europe where cases are on the rise .
`` If for a few weeks we 're asking people to do something exceptional to help stop a problem from growing and stop it from spreading , I think that 's fair , '' he said .

New York (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
A 16th birthday party in New York state became a super-spreader event with dozens of attendees contracting coronavirus, according to officials.
The September 25 shindig at the plush Miller Place Inn on Long Island left 37 people infected with Covid-19 and forced more than 270 into quarantine.
Over 80 people attended the party, known as a "Sweet 16" in the United States, well above the state's 50-person limit. The venue has been closed temporarily and fined $12,000, local officials said.
"We've never seen a super-spreader event like this before in Suffolk County," tweeted the area's county executive on Wednesday.
"People have to act responsibly so that we do not have another economic setback."
New York state has largely kept coronavirus under control in recent months after 33,000 residents died from the virus, mainly in the spring.
But in recent weeks, infections have multiplied in some areas, especially in neighborhoods with large Orthodox Jewish populations.
Governor Andrew Cuomo closed non-essential businesses and capped places of worship at ten people in the so-called red zones.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio defended the measures on Thursday, citing tightened restrictions in Europe where cases are on the rise.
"If for a few weeks we're asking people to do something exceptional to help stop a problem from growing and stop it from spreading, I think that's fair," he said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-15--NFL players could miss games due to flu-like symptoms

NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills said Thursday that players and coaches could miss games or practices due to @ @ @ @ @ to contain Covid-19 cases .
Sills said that with cold and flu season approaching around @ @ @ @ @ symptoms as coughs , sore throats and stuffy noses will be seen as reasons to @ @ @ @ @ Even if they have a negative ( Covid-19 ) test that day , we 're @ @ @ @ @ out of the facility , '' Sills said .
`` When in doubt , we @ @ @ @ @ the most conservative ( approach ) . ''
The Cleveland Browns sent home wide receiver @ @ @ @ @ Thursday with an illness over what coach Kevin Stefanski called an `` abundance of caution @ @ @ @ @ not tested positive for Covid-19 .
Sills also said there has been no indication of @ @ @ @ @ .

New York (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills said Thursday that players and coaches could miss games or practices due to flu-like symptoms in a bid to contain Covid-19 cases.
Sills said that with cold and flu season approaching around the United States, such symptoms as coughs, sore throats and stuffy noses will be seen as reasons to send someone home.
"Even if they have a negative (Covid-19) test that day, we're going to hold that individual out of the facility," Sills said. "When in doubt, we're going to go with the most conservative (approach)."
The Cleveland Browns sent home wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. from practice Thursday with an illness over what coach Kevin Stefanski called an "abundance of caution" even though he has not tested positive for Covid-19.
Sills also said there has been no indication of any on-field transmission of Covid-19.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-15--Tyronn Lue agrees to become next coach of LA Clippers: reports

Tyronn Lue , who coached the Cleveland Cavaliers to the 2016 NBA title , has agreed to become the next head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers , according to multiple reports Thursday .
ESPN and USA Today reported that Lue has agreed to replace Doc Rivers , who parted ways with the Clippers just over two weeks ago , with ESPN saying the deal was for five years .
Lue , 43 , served as the lead assistant coach for the Clippers this past season , when they lost to Denver in the Western Conference semi-finals .
Expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ player Chauncey Billups , who is also a candidate to fill the coaching vacancy of the Indiana Pacers .
In 2016 , Lue was promoted to coach by the Cavs following the firing of David Blatt as coach and he guided the LeBron James-powered club to the NBA crown .
The Athletic reported that Larry Drew , a Lue assistant in Cleveland , will join his Clippers staff .
The Clippers have never reached a conference final but with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George leading a talented squad , they are seen as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 128-93 as an NBA head coach , becomes the sixth Black head coach in the NBA .
Lue was a two-time NBA champion as a player , helping the Los Angeles Lakers to the 2000 and 2001 NBA crowns .

Los Angeles (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Tyronn Lue, who coached the Cleveland Cavaliers to the 2016 NBA title, has agreed to become the next head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, according to multiple reports Thursday.
ESPN and USA Today reported that Lue has agreed to replace Doc Rivers, who parted ways with the Clippers just over two weeks ago, with ESPN saying the deal was for five years.
Lue, 43, served as the lead assistant coach for the Clippers this past season, when they lost to Denver in the Western Conference semi-finals.
Expected to join Lue's staff is former NBA player Chauncey Billups, who is also a candidate to fill the coaching vacancy of the Indiana Pacers.
In 2016, Lue was promoted to coach by the Cavs following the firing of David Blatt as coach and he guided the LeBron James-powered club to the NBA crown.
The Athletic reported that Larry Drew, a Lue assistant in Cleveland, will join his Clippers staff.
The Clippers have never reached a conference final but with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George leading a talented squad, they are seen as a contender next season.
Lue, 128-93 as an NBA head coach, becomes the sixth Black head coach in the NBA.
Lue was a two-time NBA champion as a player, helping the Los Angeles Lakers to the 2000 and 2001 NBA crowns.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-15--Zverev beats Verdasco in first match since French Open controversy

Alexander Zverev defeated Fernando Verdasco 6-4 , 6-1 on Thursday in his first match since his Roland Garros exit that @ @ @ @ @ he was suffering from fever-like symptoms .
US Open runner-up Zverev had raised doubts as @ @ @ @ @ played his last-16 match at a coronavirus-affected tournament when he complained of feeling `` completely @ @ @ @ @ returned a negative test for Covid-19 .
He said he had been suffering from a @ @ @ @ @ had a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius ( 100.4 Fahrenheit ) .
The German top @ @ @ @ @ hour in Cologne to see off Verdasco , who was disqualified from the French Open @ @ @ @ @ .
Zverev , 23 , will meet South Africa 's Lloyd Harris for a semi-final @ @ @ @ @ win a first tour title since last year 's Geneva Open .

Cologne (Germany) (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Alexander Zverev defeated Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 6-1 on Thursday in his first match since his Roland Garros exit that was overshadowed by an admission he was suffering from fever-like symptoms.
US Open runner-up Zverev had raised doubts as to whether he should have played his last-16 match at a coronavirus-affected tournament when he complained of feeling "completely sick".
Zverev later returned a negative test for Covid-19. He said he had been suffering from a cold after telling reporters he had a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit).
The German top seed needed just over an hour in Cologne to see off Verdasco, who was disqualified from the French Open after failing a coronavirus test.
Zverev, 23, will meet South Africa's Lloyd Harris for a semi-final spot as he attempts to win a first tour title since last year's Geneva Open.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-15--Rome Film Festival opens in shadow of coronavirus

The Rome Film Festival opened with a screening of `` Soul '' The Rome Film Festival opened on Thursday with a screening of the Pixar animated film about a jazzman 's dreams , `` Soul , '' despite the lingering coronavirus that has transformed film watching in public .
As at the world-famous cinema festival in Venice last month , thermal scanners will measure audience members ' temperatures at the theatre doors , mask-wearing is compulsory and fewer spectators are allowed .
`` The safety of everyone takes precedence over everything else , '' said festival director Antonio Monda in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attending the opening night ceremony was Italy 's Culture Minister Dario Franceschini and the Italian actors lending their voices to the characters of `` Soul '' , which has received rave early reviews and will be released directly on the Disney+ platform , bypassing movie theatres .
The film premiered last week at the London Film Festival .
One of the most eagerly awaited films in Rome is the documentary , `` Mi chiamo Francesco Totti '' ( `` My name is Francesco Totti '' ) , about the legendary footballer who spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , whether Roma 's ex-number 10 , who has just lost his father , will turn up is uncertain .
The 15th edition of the festival ends October 25 .

Rome (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
The Rome Film Festival opened on Thursday with a screening of the Pixar animated film about a jazzman's dreams, "Soul," despite the lingering coronavirus that has transformed film watching in public.
As at the world-famous cinema festival in Venice last month, thermal scanners will measure audience members' temperatures at the theatre doors, mask-wearing is compulsory and fewer spectators are allowed.
"The safety of everyone takes precedence over everything else," said festival director Antonio Monda in an interview with Il Messaggero daily.
Attending the opening night ceremony was Italy's Culture Minister Dario Franceschini and the Italian actors lending their voices to the characters of "Soul", which has received rave early reviews and will be released directly on the Disney+ platform, bypassing movie theatres.
The film premiered last week at the London Film Festival.
One of the most eagerly awaited films in Rome is the documentary, "Mi chiamo Francesco Totti" ("My name is Francesco Totti"), about the legendary footballer who spent his entire career at AS Roma.
However, whether Roma's ex-number 10, who has just lost his father, will turn up is uncertain.
The 15th edition of the festival ends October 25.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-15--England confirm invitation to tour Pakistan in 2021

Pakistan bound ?
Ben Stokes could be among the England players touring Pakistan for a possible series next year England could tour Pakistan for the first time in over a decade after officials confirmed they had received an invitation to visit the Asian giants early in 2021 for a `` short white-ball series '' .
Fifty-over world champions England have not played in Pakistan since 2005/06 .
An attack by armed militants on Sri Lanka 's team bus in Lahore in 2009 ended major cricket tours for a decade .
But Sri Lanka , Zimbabwe , West Indies and Bangladesh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An England and Wales Cricket Board statement issued Thursday said : `` After discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board ( PCB ) , we can confirm the England and Wales Cricket Board ( ECB ) has received an invitation in respect of a short white-ball tour to Pakistan during the early part of 2021 .
`` We welcome the fact that international cricket is returning to Pakistan and are committed to doing what we can to help this develop further . ''
The statement added that `` the safety and welfare of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with security issues and the development of Covid-19 secure 'bubbles ' of the kind pioneered in England this year among the ECB 's key concerns .
`` We will be liaising with the PCB , and as well as other partners over the coming weeks to work through these considerations , before a final decision will be taken in due course , '' the ECB said .
Pakistan , following in the footsteps of the West Indies , visited England this year for three Tests and three T20 internationals despite Britain being one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic in a move that helped spare the England and Wales Cricket Board an estimated £280 million ( $ 366 million ) loss if their scheduled matches were wiped out by Covid-19 .
That prompted Pakistan great Wasim Akram to say in August : `` You ( England ) boys owe Pakistan cricket , and the country , a lot , with the boys coming over here . ''
The same month saw Joe Root , England 's Test captain , say : `` I 'd love to go and visit Pakistan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity to go and play there personally . ''
England are meant to tour South Africa next month but a shadow has been cast over that campaign after the country 's government signalled it was about to intervene in the Proteas ' chaotic cricket administration .
They could then be in Sri Lanka in January for a tour that was originally halted in March because of the virus outbreak before England travel to India for a Test series .

London (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
England could tour Pakistan for the first time in over a decade after officials confirmed they had received an invitation to visit the Asian giants early in 2021 for a "short white-ball series".
Fifty-over world champions England have not played in Pakistan since 2005/06. An attack by armed militants on Sri Lanka's team bus in Lahore in 2009 ended major cricket tours for a decade.
But Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, West Indies and Bangladesh have all since made the trip.
An England and Wales Cricket Board statement issued Thursday said: "After discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), we can confirm the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has received an invitation in respect of a short white-ball tour to Pakistan during the early part of 2021.
"We welcome the fact that international cricket is returning to Pakistan and are committed to doing what we can to help this develop further."
The statement added that "the safety and welfare of our players and staff is paramount", with security issues and the development of Covid-19 secure 'bubbles' of the kind pioneered in England this year among the ECB's key concerns.
"We will be liaising with the PCB, and as well as other partners over the coming weeks to work through these considerations, before a final decision will be taken in due course," the ECB said.
Pakistan, following in the footsteps of the West Indies, visited England this year for three Tests and three T20 internationals despite Britain being one of the countries worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic in a move that helped spare the England and Wales Cricket Board an estimated £280 million ($366 million) loss if their scheduled matches were wiped out by Covid-19.
That prompted Pakistan great Wasim Akram to say in August: "You (England) boys owe Pakistan cricket, and the country, a lot, with the boys coming over here."
The same month saw Joe Root, England's Test captain, say: "I'd love to go and visit Pakistan.
"It would be a great opportunity to go and play there personally."
England are meant to tour South Africa next month but a shadow has been cast over that campaign after the country's government signalled it was about to intervene in the Proteas' chaotic cricket administration.
They could then be in Sri Lanka in January for a tour that was originally halted in March because of the virus outbreak before England travel to India for a Test series.
© 2020 AFP