france24--2020-11-14--Salah-less Egypt edge Togo with goal from defender

Mohamed Salah ( L ) playing for hosts Egypt against South Africa in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournament Mohamed Salah-less Egypt scored through defender Mahmoud el Wensh to edge Togo 1-0 in Cairo Saturday and kick-start a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign .
Prolific Liverpool scorer Salah tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving in Cairo for international duty and a subsequent test produced a similar result .
Apart from missing back-to-back matches against Togo , he could also be ruled out of the next two matches for his club , against leaders Leicester City in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ League .
Salah has shown no symptoms of coronavirus and Egyptian Football Association medical staff have been in contact with counterparts at Liverpool .
The two-time African Footballer of the Year award winner has had an unlucky Cup of Nations campaign having suffered an injury against Kenya last November , which ruled him out of a match in the Comoros .
El Wensh -- also known as Mahmoud Hamdy and Mahmoud Attia -- beat goalkeeper Malcolm Barcola on 54 minutes with a header from point-blank range after Togo failed to clear a softly-awarded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven-time African champions Egypt a first win in Group G after draws with Kenya and the Comoros .
The Pharaohs will face Togo again in Lome Tuesday before visiting Kenya and hosting the Comoros next March , and the group winners and runners-up qualify for the 24-nation tournament in Cameroon .
Comoros and Egypt have five points each , Kenya three and Togo one after three rounds in a section where all the contenders will believe they still have a chance of making the finals .
Togo , who are guided by legendary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ draw encouragement from having most of the possession after falling behind in Cairo .
Meanwhile , Benin closed the gap behind Group L leaders Nigeria to one point after defeating Lesotho 1-0 in Porto-Novo through a first half goal from Jodel Dossou .
The match-winner was a French affair with Dossou from second-tier Clermont the scorer and Khaled Adenon from third-tier Avranches the creator .
In Group D , the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola remained third and fourth behind Gabon and the Gambia after a drab 0-0 draw in Kinshasa .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ make many changes to the original squad because of positive Covid-19 tests , injuries and travel difficulties .
The three Saturday qualifiers completed matchday 3 and matchday 4 starts Sunday and continues through Tuesday .

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Mohamed Salah-less Egypt scored through defender Mahmoud el Wensh to edge Togo 1-0 in Cairo Saturday and kick-start a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Prolific Liverpool scorer Salah tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving in Cairo for international duty and a subsequent test produced a similar result.
Apart from missing back-to-back matches against Togo, he could also be ruled out of the next two matches for his club, against leaders Leicester City in the Premier League and Atalanta in the Champions League.
Salah has shown no symptoms of coronavirus and Egyptian Football Association medical staff have been in contact with counterparts at Liverpool.
The two-time African Footballer of the Year award winner has had an unlucky Cup of Nations campaign having suffered an injury against Kenya last November, which ruled him out of a match in the Comoros.
El Wensh -- also known as Mahmoud Hamdy and Mahmoud Attia -- beat goalkeeper Malcolm Barcola on 54 minutes with a header from point-blank range after Togo failed to clear a softly-awarded free-kick.
It sufficed to give record seven-time African champions Egypt a first win in Group G after draws with Kenya and the Comoros.
The Pharaohs will face Togo again in Lome Tuesday before visiting Kenya and hosting the Comoros next March, and the group winners and runners-up qualify for the 24-nation tournament in Cameroon.
Comoros and Egypt have five points each, Kenya three and Togo one after three rounds in a section where all the contenders will believe they still have a chance of making the finals.
Togo, who are guided by legendary French coach Claude le Roy, can draw encouragement from having most of the possession after falling behind in Cairo.
Meanwhile, Benin closed the gap behind Group L leaders Nigeria to one point after defeating Lesotho 1-0 in Porto-Novo through a first half goal from Jodel Dossou.
The match-winner was a French affair with Dossou from second-tier Clermont the scorer and Khaled Adenon from third-tier Avranches the creator.
In Group D, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola remained third and fourth behind Gabon and the Gambia after a drab 0-0 draw in Kinshasa.
Two-time African champions DR Congo had to make many changes to the original squad because of positive Covid-19 tests, injuries and travel difficulties.
The three Saturday qualifiers completed matchday 3 and matchday 4 starts Sunday and continues through Tuesday.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-14--Rare Kante goal gives France win over Portugal

N'Golo Kante scored the winner for France against Portugal in Lisbon N'Golo Kante scored just his second international goal as World Cup holders France defeated European champions Portugal 1-0 in Lisbon on Saturday to secure a place in the Nations League finals .
Chelsea midfielder Kante was quickest to react to a rebound as he netted the winner on 54 minutes that clinched France top spot in Group 3 ahead of the final round of matches .
France lead Portugal by three points ahead of Tuesday 's clash with Sweden in Paris but are guaranteed first place by virtue of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' side became the first team to advance to the finals , which UEFA has pencilled in for October next year .
Portugal won the inaugural edition on home soil in 2019 .
With victory for either country enough to win the group , Deschamps made two changes to the team that drew 0-0 with Portugal at the Stade de France last month .
Kingsley Coman replaced the injured Kylian Mbappe in attack as Anthony Martial was preferred to Olivier Giroud , France 's all-time second leading scorer .
Paul Pogba was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss to Finland in midweek .
Jose Fonte replaced the vastly experienced Pepe , sidelined by a foot problem , in a Portugal defence that had not conceded a goal in five matches .
Coman forced Rui Patricio to tip over a firm strike as France made a bright start at the Estadio da Luz , with Martial denied by the legs of the Portugal goalkeeper after a neat ball through from Antoine Griezmann .
Martial 's only previous goal for France came four years ago , but the Manchester United striker was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unbeaten in 21 matches at home .
Adrien Rabiot nodded wide from a corner and then inadvertently set up Martial at a free-kick when a header from the latter smacked against the crossbar .
Martial lunged to reach a dangerous Lucas Hernandez cross but was thwarted by a terrific Patricio block before Cristiano Ronaldo powered a header narrowly over on the stroke of half-time .
An inspired Patricio kept France at bay until he was unable to properly deal with Rabiot 's low angled strike early in the second half , pushing it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside the six-yard box .
Pogba fluffed a header from a pinpoint Rabiot delivery as France sought a second and Martial was again frustrated by Patricio as he flicked the ball towards goal from a Hernandez pass .
Portugal nearly levelled when Hugo Lloris could only parry a speculative attempt from Raphael Guerreiro , Fonte heading against the post as the hosts kept the attack alive .
The France captain then produced an excellent stop to keep out a long-range effort from Joao Moutinho as the visitors successfully absorbed late pressure to punch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

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N'Golo Kante scored just his second international goal as World Cup holders France defeated European champions Portugal 1-0 in Lisbon on Saturday to secure a place in the Nations League finals.
Chelsea midfielder Kante was quickest to react to a rebound as he netted the winner on 54 minutes that clinched France top spot in Group 3 ahead of the final round of matches.
France lead Portugal by three points ahead of Tuesday's clash with Sweden in Paris but are guaranteed first place by virtue of their superior head-to-head record.
Didier Deschamps' side became the first team to advance to the finals, which UEFA has pencilled in for October next year. Portugal won the inaugural edition on home soil in 2019.
With victory for either country enough to win the group, Deschamps made two changes to the team that drew 0-0 with Portugal at the Stade de France last month.
Kingsley Coman replaced the injured Kylian Mbappe in attack as Anthony Martial was preferred to Olivier Giroud, France's all-time second leading scorer. Paul Pogba was the only starter to begin the 2-0 friendly loss to Finland in midweek.
Jose Fonte replaced the vastly experienced Pepe, sidelined by a foot problem, in a Portugal defence that had not conceded a goal in five matches.
Coman forced Rui Patricio to tip over a firm strike as France made a bright start at the Estadio da Luz, with Martial denied by the legs of the Portugal goalkeeper after a neat ball through from Antoine Griezmann.
Martial's only previous goal for France came four years ago, but the Manchester United striker was a constant threat against a Portugal side unbeaten in 21 matches at home.
Adrien Rabiot nodded wide from a corner and then inadvertently set up Martial at a free-kick when a header from the latter smacked against the crossbar.
Martial lunged to reach a dangerous Lucas Hernandez cross but was thwarted by a terrific Patricio block before Cristiano Ronaldo powered a header narrowly over on the stroke of half-time.
An inspired Patricio kept France at bay until he was unable to properly deal with Rabiot's low angled strike early in the second half, pushing it straight to Kante who forced home from inside the six-yard box.
Pogba fluffed a header from a pinpoint Rabiot delivery as France sought a second and Martial was again frustrated by Patricio as he flicked the ball towards goal from a Hernandez pass.
Portugal nearly levelled when Hugo Lloris could only parry a speculative attempt from Raphael Guerreiro, Fonte heading against the post as the hosts kept the attack alive.
The France captain then produced an excellent stop to keep out a long-range effort from Joao Moutinho as the visitors successfully absorbed late pressure to punch their ticket to next year's finals.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-15--Anger as Erdogan visits breakaway north of Cyprus for 'picnic'

The deserted tourist area of Varosha in the fenced off area of Famagusta in the Turkish-occupied north of the divided eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday visited the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus at a time of heightened tensions on the divided island and in the Eastern Mediterranean .
Erdogan was to attend a `` picnic '' in the disputed beachfront area of Varosha along the UN buffer zone that has divided the island since Turkey 's 1974 invasion of the north .
The majority Greek-speaking Republic of Cyprus , an EU member with effective control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ island , has condemned the visit as a `` provocation without precedent '' .
Erdogan 's visit comes at a time when regional power Turkey has openly sparred with neighbours Greece and Cyprus over maritime territories believed to hold vast gas deposits .
An eventual reunification of Cyprus has looked more remote since an Erdogan-backed Turkish nationalist , Ersin Tatar , was elected leader of the north last month .
The Turkish president visited on Sunday to mark the anniversary of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus ( TRNC ) , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was due to visit Varosha , a long-abandoned beach resort that was once the playground of celebrities and dubbed a `` Jewel of the Mediterranean '' .
The Turkish invasion -- launched in response to an Athens-engineered coup in Nicosia designed to unify Cyprus with Greece -- was followed on November 15 , 1983 by the declaration of the TRNC .
Since then , Varosha has been a fenced off ghost town , where former luxury hotels and restaurants have fallen into disrepair and overgrown by weeds and bushes .
Turkish troops partially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8 , stirring international criticism .
Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades condemned Erdogan 's visit , as well as what he called the historical `` secessionist act of the declaration of the illegal regime '' in the north .
He said Erdogan 's visit served to `` torpedo '' UN-led efforts to work toward resolving `` the Cyprus problem '' in talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriots , Athens , Ankara and former colonial power London .
Erdogan 's increasingly assertive stance has sparked protests in the Greek-speaking south -- but also in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ankara 's interference in the island 's politics .
`` No interference !
Freedom for all ! ''
hundreds of Turkish Cypriot protesters chanted in northern Nicosia on Tuesday to denounce Erdogan 's visit .

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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday visited the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus at a time of heightened tensions on the divided island and in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Erdogan was to attend a "picnic" in the disputed beachfront area of Varosha along the UN buffer zone that has divided the island since Turkey's 1974 invasion of the north.
The majority Greek-speaking Republic of Cyprus, an EU member with effective control over the southern two thirds of the island, has condemned the visit as a "provocation without precedent".
Erdogan's visit comes at a time when regional power Turkey has openly sparred with neighbours Greece and Cyprus over maritime territories believed to hold vast gas deposits.
An eventual reunification of Cyprus has looked more remote since an Erdogan-backed Turkish nationalist, Ersin Tatar, was elected leader of the north last month.
The Turkish president visited on Sunday to mark the anniversary of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which is recognised only by Ankara.
Erdogan was due to visit Varosha, a long-abandoned beach resort that was once the playground of celebrities and dubbed a "Jewel of the Mediterranean".
The Turkish invasion -- launched in response to an Athens-engineered coup in Nicosia designed to unify Cyprus with Greece -- was followed on November 15, 1983 by the declaration of the TRNC.
Since then, Varosha has been a fenced off ghost town, where former luxury hotels and restaurants have fallen into disrepair and overgrown by weeds and bushes.
Turkish troops partially reopened the seafront of Varosha on October 8, stirring international criticism.
Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades condemned Erdogan's visit, as well as what he called the historical "secessionist act of the declaration of the illegal regime" in the north.
He said Erdogan's visit served to "torpedo" UN-led efforts to work toward resolving "the Cyprus problem" in talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, Athens, Ankara and former colonial power London.
Erdogan's increasingly assertive stance has sparked protests in the Greek-speaking south -- but also in the north, where many Turkish Cypriots resent Ankara's interference in the island's politics.
"No interference! Freedom for all!" hundreds of Turkish Cypriot protesters chanted in northern Nicosia on Tuesday to denounce Erdogan's visit.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-15--Lewis Hamilton wins seventh Formula One title, equalling Schumacher’s record

Winner Mercedes ' British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium after the Turkish Formula One Grand Prix at the Intercity Istanbul Park circuit in Istanbul on November 15 , 2020 .
Lewis Hamilton cemented his position as one of Formula One 's true greats when he equalled Michael Schumacher 's all-time record of seven world titles on Sunday , another staggering achievement for a boy who grew up in modest circumstances .
Hamilton 's victory in Istanbul -- the 94th of his career -- allowed him to add the 2020 title to his championships of 2008 , 2014 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The son of a black father and a white mother , whose parents separated in his youth , Hamilton , 35 , grew up on a municipal housing estate .
His father Anthony at one time held down three jobs to fund his son 's embryonic racing career in karting .
Hamilton 's journey was unprivileged and without luxury , but it was clear from an early age that he had an outstanding gift for speed and all the gutsy natural instincts of a born racer .
In 1995 , aged 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ borrowed from his predecessor as British Formula Cadet karting champion , he went to a glittering awards ceremony in London where he met McLaren 's then-boss Ron Dennis .
He asked for an autograph and told him `` one day I want to race for you '' .
Dennis replied : `` Phone me in nine years and I 'll sort you a deal . ''
Bold , determined and individual , he almost won the title in his first record-breaking season as he reeled off nine successive podiums from his debut in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way with his speed and his style .
On and off the track , he was fast , somewhat mercurial and occasionally tempestuous and the combination led to a fierce rivalry with team-mate and two-time champion Fernando Alonso at McLaren .
That was a signal of how tough it was to be for all his future team-mates as Hamilton , who narrowly missed out on the 2007 title , returned to triumph in 2008 with a dramatic last-gasp fifth-place finish in Brazil .
He also showed frustration as McLaren failed to deliver the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bull , who reeled off four straight title triumphs from 2010 to 2013 , by which time Hamilton had departed for Mercedes .
Escaping the management regime of Dennis and his father , Hamilton found freedom at Mercedes alongside team-mate Nico Rosberg , his teenage karting friend and rival .
This enabled Hamilton to express himself with a headline-grabbing trans-Atlantic lifestyle , mixing with musicians and 'fashionistas ' .
He showed little love for any duty to obey conventions and , for many observers , gave his sport a welcome injection of freshness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 2015 .
Rosberg broke Hamilton 's sequence of supremacy in 2016 and then retired , leaving the Englishman to dominate .
His former McLaren team-mate Jenson Button summed up Hamilton 's pure speed when he said : `` For me , over one lap , I do n't think there is anyone as quick as Lewis and I do n't think there ever has been . ''
That speed , which has always been a natural talent , has in recent seasons been allied to a more mature attitude to his job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Toto Wolff once summed up : `` He is never satisfied .
He never settles .
He is never happy with where he is as a racing driver and a human being . ''
Having achieved so much as his sport 's best-known ambassador , Hamilton 's interest in social issues has emerged more frequently .
Last season , he began voicing his concerns for the environment and revealed a fleeting despair at the state of the world when he used Instagram to declare that the planet was `` a messed-up place '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give up '' .
That commentary , including revelations about his vegan lifestyle , led to the man who frequently used private jets and occupies a sport hardly know for its green credentials being accused of hypocrisy .
`` I 'm only human , '' he retorted .
`` Like everyone , we have up and down days .
That 's what I 've been really trying to convey . ''
This year has seen him press for greater diversity in the paddock , a push sparked by his vocal support for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ career and his quest for self-expression and freedom has shaped his advice for young drivers .
`` What I can definitely advise any kid that 's out there trying to race is do n't listen to people who tell you that you need a mental coach or you need someone to help control your mind , '' he said .
`` You need to let it run wild and free and discover yourself .
It is all about discovery .
And only you can do it . ''
When Hamilton wrapped up his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his father summed up his son 's achievement : `` It 's absolutely amazing and not bad for a boy from a Stevenage council house . ''

Lewis Hamilton cemented his position as one of Formula One's true greats when he equalled Michael Schumacher's all-time record of seven world titles on Sunday, another staggering achievement for a boy who grew up in modest circumstances.
Winner Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium after the Turkish Formula One Grand Prix at the Intercity Istanbul Park circuit in Istanbul on November 15, 2020.
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Hamilton's victory in Istanbul -- the 94th of his career -- allowed him to add the 2020 title to his championships of 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
The son of a black father and a white mother, whose parents separated in his youth, Hamilton, 35, grew up on a municipal housing estate. His father Anthony at one time held down three jobs to fund his son's embryonic racing career in karting.
Hamilton's journey was unprivileged and without luxury, but it was clear from an early age that he had an outstanding gift for speed and all the gutsy natural instincts of a born racer.
In 1995, aged 10, and wearing a jacket and shoes borrowed from his predecessor as British Formula Cadet karting champion, he went to a glittering awards ceremony in London where he met McLaren's then-boss Ron Dennis.
He asked for an autograph and told him "one day I want to race for you". Dennis replied: "Phone me in nine years and I'll sort you a deal."
7X Formula 1 World Champion. Wow. To everyone that has supported me along the way, this is for you. To my incredible family, where do I even start? I am eternally grateful for your unconditional love, sacrifices and support... https://t.co/Uwb34qzCx2 — Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) November 15, 2020
'Mercurial, tempestuous'
Bold, determined and individual, he almost won the title in his first record-breaking season as he reeled off nine successive podiums from his debut in Melbourne, rocking the establishment along the way with his speed and his style.
On and off the track, he was fast, somewhat mercurial and occasionally tempestuous and the combination led to a fierce rivalry with team-mate and two-time champion Fernando Alonso at McLaren.
That was a signal of how tough it was to be for all his future team-mates as Hamilton, who narrowly missed out on the 2007 title, returned to triumph in 2008 with a dramatic last-gasp fifth-place finish in Brazil.
He also showed frustration as McLaren failed to deliver the speed to beat Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull, who reeled off four straight title triumphs from 2010 to 2013, by which time Hamilton had departed for Mercedes.
Escaping the management regime of Dennis and his father, Hamilton found freedom at Mercedes alongside team-mate Nico Rosberg, his teenage karting friend and rival.
This enabled Hamilton to express himself with a headline-grabbing trans-Atlantic lifestyle, mixing with musicians and 'fashionistas'.
He showed little love for any duty to obey conventions and, for many observers, gave his sport a welcome injection of freshness and diversity as champion again in 2014 and 2015.
Rosberg broke Hamilton's sequence of supremacy in 2016 and then retired, leaving the Englishman to dominate.
His former McLaren team-mate Jenson Button summed up Hamilton's pure speed when he said: "For me, over one lap, I don't think there is anyone as quick as Lewis and I don't think there ever has been."
'Never satisfied'
That speed, which has always been a natural talent, has in recent seasons been allied to a more mature attitude to his job as team leader.
Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff once summed up: "He is never satisfied. He never settles. He is never happy with where he is as a racing driver and a human being."
Having achieved so much as his sport's best-known ambassador, Hamilton's interest in social issues has emerged more frequently.
Last season, he began voicing his concerns for the environment and revealed a fleeting despair at the state of the world when he used Instagram to declare that the planet was "a messed-up place" and he felt he wanted "to give up".
That commentary, including revelations about his vegan lifestyle, led to the man who frequently used private jets and occupies a sport hardly know for its green credentials being accused of hypocrisy.
"I'm only human," he retorted. "Like everyone, we have up and down days. That's what I've been really trying to convey."
This year has seen him press for greater diversity in the paddock, a push sparked by his vocal support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
His own career and his quest for self-expression and freedom has shaped his advice for young drivers.
"What I can definitely advise any kid that's out there trying to race is don't listen to people who tell you that you need a mental coach or you need someone to help control your mind," he said.
"You need to let it run wild and free and discover yourself. It is all about discovery. And only you can do it."
When Hamilton wrapped up his sixth world title in Texas last year, his father summed up his son's achievement: "It's absolutely amazing and not bad for a boy from a Stevenage council house."
(AFP)
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france24--2020-11-15--Ethiopia's Tigray conflict: a humanitarian disaster?

Laetitia Bader , researcher at the Africa Division at Human Rights Watch analyses the conflict in Ethiopia 's Tigray region @

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france24--2020-11-15--Israel strikes Hamas positions after rockets fired from Gaza

This picture taken from Gaza City shows lightning over buildings as the flare of a rocket is seen nearby on November 15 , 2020 Israel 's military said it struck Hamas positions Sunday morning following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip overnight .
Two rockets were fired into southern Israel from Gaza late Saturday , the Israeli army said , although there were no immediate reports of any casualties or damage .
The Israeli Defence Forces ( IDF ) tweeted they had `` struck Hamas underground infrastructure & military posts in Gaza '' .
`` The IDF is conducting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to operate against any terror activity , '' they added .
An army source told AFP in a WhatsApp message that fighter jets , helicopters and tanks were deployed .
Security sources in Gaza said there were a number of strikes overnight , including in Khan Younes , Rafah and Beit Hanoun , without reporting any casualties .
Israeli media said the rockets from Gaza came down in uninhabited areas , but a military spokeswoman was unable to confirm the reports .
Speaking at the opening of his weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israel would not tolerate such attacks .
`` I 'm warning the terror organisations in Gaza , even during the coronavirus crisis -- do n't try us , '' he said in remarks relayed by his office .
`` I never elaborate on our operational plans , but I 'm telling you -- the price of continued aggression will be heavy , very heavy . ''
The strike from Gaza -- which has not been claimed -- comes days after the anniversary of the assassination of senior Islamic Jihad leader Baha Abu Al-Ata @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home in Gaza City on November 12 last year .
Ahead of the anniversary , the Israeli military were reportedly on high alert within the Gaza Strip , where roughly two million Palestinians live .
Sources close to Hamas indicated officials from the movement were expected in Cairo later Sunday .

Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) –
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Israel's military said it struck Hamas positions Sunday morning following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip overnight.
Two rockets were fired into southern Israel from Gaza late Saturday, the Israeli army said, although there were no immediate reports of any casualties or damage.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) tweeted they had "struck Hamas underground infrastructure & military posts in Gaza".
"The IDF is conducting an ongoing situational assessment & remains prepared to operate against any terror activity," they added.
An army source told AFP in a WhatsApp message that fighter jets, helicopters and tanks were deployed.
Security sources in Gaza said there were a number of strikes overnight, including in Khan Younes, Rafah and Beit Hanoun, without reporting any casualties.
Israeli media said the rockets from Gaza came down in uninhabited areas, but a military spokeswoman was unable to confirm the reports.
Speaking at the opening of his weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday afternoon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not tolerate such attacks.
"I'm warning the terror organisations in Gaza, even during the coronavirus crisis -- don't try us," he said in remarks relayed by his office.
"I never elaborate on our operational plans, but I'm telling you -- the price of continued aggression will be heavy, very heavy."
The strike from Gaza -- which has not been claimed -- comes days after the anniversary of the assassination of senior Islamic Jihad leader Baha Abu Al-Ata, killed in a strike on his home in Gaza City on November 12 last year.
Ahead of the anniversary, the Israeli military were reportedly on high alert within the Gaza Strip, where roughly two million Palestinians live.
Sources close to Hamas indicated officials from the movement were expected in Cairo later Sunday.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-15--Nearly 25,000 Ethiopians flee to Sudan: state media

Ethiopian migrants who fled intense fighting in the Tigray region gather in the border reception centre of Hamdiyet in Sudan 's eastern Kassala State on November 14 , 2020 Around 25,000 Ethiopians fleeing conflict in the Tigray region have crossed into neighbouring Sudan , state news agency SUNA reported , as the UN said it was working to find them shelter .
`` The number of Ethiopian refugees who have arrived in Gadaref and Kassala states since Saturday has reached 24,944 , '' the agency said .
Sudan 's commissioner for refugees Abdullah Suleiman toured the border region on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sudan Jan Hansmann to discuss the influx .
Hansmann , quoted by SUNA , said the priority of the UNHCR was to provide the refugees with shelter , food and water and then to transfer them to regions far from the border `` for security reasons '' .
He said the UN refugee agency was working to establish new camps in Sudan for the Ethiopians .
Sudan has already said it would shelter thousands of Ethiopians fleeing the conflict at the Um Raquba camp , which in the 1980s hosted thousands of Ethiopian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , exhausted refugees have streamed across the border into Sudan after walking for two-days through searing heat , many of them barefoot .
Some arrived on scooters and other cycled , while others boarded makeshift boats to cross a river into Sudan to flee intense fighting at home .
Suleiman called on the international community to pitch in with aid for the refugees .
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced November 4 he had ordered military operations in Tigray in a dramatic escalation of a long-running feud with the region 's ruling party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( TPLF ) .
UNHCR said it expected the number of refugees to grow if the conflict in neighbouring Ethiopia worsens .
The leader of the Tigray region on Sunday claimed responsibility for rocket strikes on the airport of neighbouring Eritrea 's capital , sparking fears that the conflict could widen .
A Sudanese government source said up to 200,000 Ethiopians could seek shelter in Sudan .

Khartoum (AFP) –
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Around 25,000 Ethiopians fleeing conflict in the Tigray region have crossed into neighbouring Sudan, state news agency SUNA reported, as the UN said it was working to find them shelter.
"The number of Ethiopian refugees who have arrived in Gadaref and Kassala states since Saturday has reached 24,944," the agency said.
Sudan's commissioner for refugees Abdullah Suleiman toured the border region on Saturday with UN refugee agency assistant representative in Sudan Jan Hansmann to discuss the influx.
Hansmann, quoted by SUNA, said the priority of the UNHCR was to provide the refugees with shelter, food and water and then to transfer them to regions far from the border "for security reasons".
He said the UN refugee agency was working to establish new camps in Sudan for the Ethiopians.
Sudan has already said it would shelter thousands of Ethiopians fleeing the conflict at the Um Raquba camp, which in the 1980s hosted thousands of Ethiopian fleeing famine.
Over the past week, exhausted refugees have streamed across the border into Sudan after walking for two-days through searing heat, many of them barefoot.
Some arrived on scooters and other cycled, while others boarded makeshift boats to cross a river into Sudan to flee intense fighting at home.
Suleiman called on the international community to pitch in with aid for the refugees.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced November 4 he had ordered military operations in Tigray in a dramatic escalation of a long-running feud with the region's ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).
UNHCR said it expected the number of refugees to grow if the conflict in neighbouring Ethiopia worsens.
The leader of the Tigray region on Sunday claimed responsibility for rocket strikes on the airport of neighbouring Eritrea's capital, sparking fears that the conflict could widen.
A Sudanese government source said up to 200,000 Ethiopians could seek shelter in Sudan.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-15--Lewis Hamilton: 'Not bad for a boy from a council estate'

Lewis Hamilton cemented his position as one of Formula One 's true greats when he equalled Michael Schumacher 's all-time record of seven world titles on Sunday , another staggering achievement for a boy who grew up in modest circumstances .
His victory in Istanbul -- the 94th of his career -- allowed him to add the 2020 title to his championships of 2008 , 2014 , 2015 , 2017 , 2018 and 2019 .
The son of a black father and a white mother , whose parents separated in his youth , Hamilton , 35 , grew up on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anthony at one time held down three jobs to fund his son 's embryonic racing career in karting .
Hamilton 's journey was unprivileged and without luxury , but it was clear from an early age that he had an outstanding gift for speed and all the gutsy natural instincts of a born racer .
In 1995 , aged 10 , and wearing a jacket and shoes borrowed from his predecessor as British Formula Cadet karting champion , he went to a glittering awards ceremony in London where he met McLaren 's then-boss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ autograph and told him `` one day I want to race for you '' .
Dennis replied : `` Phone me in nine years and I 'll sort you a deal . ''
Bold , determined and individual , he almost won the title in his first record-breaking season as he reeled off nine successive podiums from his debut in Melbourne , rocking the establishment along the way with his speed and his style .
On and off the track , he was fast , somewhat mercurial and occasionally tempestuous and the combination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and two-time champion Fernando Alonso at McLaren .
That was a signal of how tough it was to be for all his future team-mates as Hamilton , who narrowly missed out on the 2007 title , returned to triumph in 2008 with a dramatic last-gasp fifth-place finish in Brazil .
He also showed frustration as McLaren failed to deliver the speed to beat Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull , who reeled off four straight title triumphs from 2010 to 2013 , by which time Hamilton had departed for Mercedes .
Escaping the management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hamilton found freedom at Mercedes alongside team-mate Nico Rosberg , his teenage karting friend and rival .
This enabled Hamilton to express himself with a headline-grabbing trans-Atlantic lifestyle , mixing with musicians and 'fashionistas ' .
He showed little love for any duty to obey conventions and , for many observers , gave his sport a welcome injection of freshness and diversity as champion again in 2014 and 2015 .
Rosberg broke Hamilton 's sequence of supremacy in 2016 and then retired , leaving the Englishman to dominate .
His former McLaren team-mate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speed when he said : `` For me , over one lap , I do n't think there is anyone as quick as Lewis and I do n't think there ever has been . ''
That speed , which has always been a natural talent , has in recent seasons been allied to a more mature attitude to his job as team leader .
Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff once summed up : `` He is never satisfied .
He never settles .
He is never happy with where he is as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Having achieved so much as his sport 's best-known ambassador , Hamilton 's interest in social issues has emerged more frequently .
Last season , he began voicing his concerns for the environment and revealed a fleeting despair at the state of the world when he used Instagram to declare that the planet was `` a messed-up place '' and he felt he wanted `` to give up '' .
That commentary , including revelations about his vegan lifestyle , led to the man who frequently used private jets and occupies a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being accused of hypocrisy .
`` I 'm only human , '' he retorted .
`` Like everyone , we have up and down days .
That 's what I 've been really trying to convey . ''
This year has seen him press for greater diversity in the paddock , a push sparked by his vocal support for the Black Lives Matter movement .
His own career and his quest for self-expression and freedom has shaped his advice for young drivers .
`` What I can definitely advise any kid that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't listen to people who tell you that you need a mental coach or you need someone to help control your mind , '' he said .
`` You need to let it run wild and free and discover yourself .
It is all about discovery .
And only you can do it . ''
When Hamilton wrapped up his sixth world title in Texas last year , his father summed up his son 's achievement : `` It 's absolutely amazing and not bad for a boy from a Stevenage council house @ @

Istanbul (AFP) –
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Lewis Hamilton cemented his position as one of Formula One's true greats when he equalled Michael Schumacher's all-time record of seven world titles on Sunday, another staggering achievement for a boy who grew up in modest circumstances.
His victory in Istanbul -- the 94th of his career -- allowed him to add the 2020 title to his championships of 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
The son of a black father and a white mother, whose parents separated in his youth, Hamilton, 35, grew up on a municipal housing estate. His father Anthony at one time held down three jobs to fund his son's embryonic racing career in karting.
Hamilton's journey was unprivileged and without luxury, but it was clear from an early age that he had an outstanding gift for speed and all the gutsy natural instincts of a born racer.
In 1995, aged 10, and wearing a jacket and shoes borrowed from his predecessor as British Formula Cadet karting champion, he went to a glittering awards ceremony in London where he met McLaren's then-boss Ron Dennis.
He asked for an autograph and told him "one day I want to race for you". Dennis replied: "Phone me in nine years and I'll sort you a deal."
- 'Mercurial, tempestuous' -
Bold, determined and individual, he almost won the title in his first record-breaking season as he reeled off nine successive podiums from his debut in Melbourne, rocking the establishment along the way with his speed and his style.
On and off the track, he was fast, somewhat mercurial and occasionally tempestuous and the combination led to a fierce rivalry with team-mate and two-time champion Fernando Alonso at McLaren.
That was a signal of how tough it was to be for all his future team-mates as Hamilton, who narrowly missed out on the 2007 title, returned to triumph in 2008 with a dramatic last-gasp fifth-place finish in Brazil.
He also showed frustration as McLaren failed to deliver the speed to beat Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull, who reeled off four straight title triumphs from 2010 to 2013, by which time Hamilton had departed for Mercedes.
Escaping the management regime of Dennis and his father, Hamilton found freedom at Mercedes alongside team-mate Nico Rosberg, his teenage karting friend and rival.
This enabled Hamilton to express himself with a headline-grabbing trans-Atlantic lifestyle, mixing with musicians and 'fashionistas'.
He showed little love for any duty to obey conventions and, for many observers, gave his sport a welcome injection of freshness and diversity as champion again in 2014 and 2015.
Rosberg broke Hamilton's sequence of supremacy in 2016 and then retired, leaving the Englishman to dominate.
His former McLaren team-mate Jenson Button summed up Hamilton's pure speed when he said: "For me, over one lap, I don't think there is anyone as quick as Lewis and I don't think there ever has been."
- 'Never satisfied' -
That speed, which has always been a natural talent, has in recent seasons been allied to a more mature attitude to his job as team leader.
Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff once summed up: "He is never satisfied. He never settles. He is never happy with where he is as a racing driver and a human being."
Having achieved so much as his sport's best-known ambassador, Hamilton's interest in social issues has emerged more frequently.
Last season, he began voicing his concerns for the environment and revealed a fleeting despair at the state of the world when he used Instagram to declare that the planet was "a messed-up place" and he felt he wanted "to give up".
That commentary, including revelations about his vegan lifestyle, led to the man who frequently used private jets and occupies a sport hardly know for its green credentials being accused of hypocrisy.
"I'm only human," he retorted. "Like everyone, we have up and down days. That's what I've been really trying to convey."
This year has seen him press for greater diversity in the paddock, a push sparked by his vocal support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
His own career and his quest for self-expression and freedom has shaped his advice for young drivers.
"What I can definitely advise any kid that's out there trying to race is don't listen to people who tell you that you need a mental coach or you need someone to help control your mind," he said.
"You need to let it run wild and free and discover yourself. It is all about discovery. And only you can do it."
When Hamilton wrapped up his sixth world title in Texas last year, his father summed up his son's achievement: "It's absolutely amazing and not bad for a boy from a Stevenage council house."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-15--Hamilton wins record-equalling seventh F1 world title

Lewis Hamilton is congratulated by Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas after winning a seventh drivers ' crown Lewis Hamilton secured a @ @ @ @ @ title on Sunday after winning the Turkish Grand Prix .
The Briton matched Michael Schumacher @ @ @ @ @ crowns with three races of the season remaining .
The 35-year-old sealed his latest title @ @ @ @ @ , handling treacherous wet early conditions to claim his 94th career win despite starting sixth @ @ @ @ @ , who sealed his first title in 2008 , was adding to his unprecedented roster @ @ @ @ @ with 94 , most pole positions , most podium finishes and most consecutive points finishes @ @ @ @ @ gave him an unassilable lead over his only rival , teammate Valtteri Bottas , with @ @ @ @ @ the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to come .
Hamilton was followed home on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ Perez with Sebastian Vettel for Ferrari in third .
Bottas was down in 14th .

Istanbul (AFP) –
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Lewis Hamilton secured a record-equalling seventh Formula One world title on Sunday after winning the Turkish Grand Prix.
The Briton matched Michael Schumacher's haul of drivers' crowns with three races of the season remaining.
The 35-year-old sealed his latest title with a typically measured masterclass, handling treacherous wet early conditions to claim his 94th career win despite starting sixth on the grid.
Hamilton, who sealed his first title in 2008, was adding to his unprecedented roster of records - most wins with 94, most pole positions, most podium finishes and most consecutive points finishes.
His victory in Istanbul gave him an unassilable lead over his only rival, teammate Valtteri Bottas, with two races in Bahrain and the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to come.
Hamilton was followed home on Sunday by Racing Point's Sergio Perez with Sebastian Vettel for Ferrari in third. Bottas was down in 14th.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-15--Israel advances plans for new Jerusalem settler homes

A picture taken on February 20 shows portable cabins in Givat Hamatos , an Israeli settlement suburb of annexed east Jerusalem Israel has pushed on with plans to build a new Jewish settler neighbourhood in east Jerusalem , a watchdog group said Sunday , warning such efforts were being stepped up before US President Donald Trump leaves office .
The Trump administration has broken with decades of bipartisan US practice by not opposing Jewish settlement activity in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank .
President-elect Joe Biden has said his administration will restore US opposition to the settlements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that many governments view as an obstacle to peace .
The latest move saw the Israel Land Authority issue construction tenders in Givat Hamatos , a currently uninhabited area of east Jerusalem next to the mainly Palestinian neighbourhood of Beit Safafa .
In February , Israel 's right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the approval of 3,000 homes in the area .
He said 2,000 would be allocated for Jews , and 1,000 for Arab residents of Beit Safafa .
Last week , the Land Authority issued tenders for the construction of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Givat Hamatos .
Ir Amim , an Israeli civil society organisation that tracks settlements in Jerusalem and called attention to the tenders on Sunday , warned that the next two months in the lead-up to the change in Washington `` will be a critical period '' .
`` We believe that Israel will attempt to exploit this time to advance moves that the incoming administration will potentially oppose , '' it said in a statement .
Ir Amim reiterated concerns that settlement construction in Givat Hamatos would be a devastating blow to peace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off from Bethlehem , disrupting the territorial continuity of a future Palestinian state .
Nabil Abu Rudeina , a spokesman for Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas , said the Givat Hamatos tenders amounted to an attempt by Israel `` to kill the internationally-supported two state solution '' .
The east Jerusalem tenders follow the approval of 96 new east Jerusalem settler homes in the Ramat Shlomo neighbourhood last week .
Settlement construction approvals in Ramat Shlomo in 2010 caused a major rift between Netanyahu and former president Barack Obama and then vice president Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the 1967 Six Day War , before annexing it in a move not recognised by most of the international community .

Jerusalem (AFP) –
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Israel has pushed on with plans to build a new Jewish settler neighbourhood in east Jerusalem, a watchdog group said Sunday, warning such efforts were being stepped up before US President Donald Trump leaves office.
The Trump administration has broken with decades of bipartisan US practice by not opposing Jewish settlement activity in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.
President-elect Joe Biden has said his administration will restore US opposition to the settlements which are considered illegal under international law and that many governments view as an obstacle to peace.
The latest move saw the Israel Land Authority issue construction tenders in Givat Hamatos, a currently uninhabited area of east Jerusalem next to the mainly Palestinian neighbourhood of Beit Safafa.
In February, Israel's right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the approval of 3,000 homes in the area.
He said 2,000 would be allocated for Jews, and 1,000 for Arab residents of Beit Safafa.
Last week, the Land Authority issued tenders for the construction of more than 1,200 mostly residential units in Givat Hamatos.
Ir Amim, an Israeli civil society organisation that tracks settlements in Jerusalem and called attention to the tenders on Sunday, warned that the next two months in the lead-up to the change in Washington "will be a critical period".
"We believe that Israel will attempt to exploit this time to advance moves that the incoming administration will potentially oppose," it said in a statement.
Ir Amim reiterated concerns that settlement construction in Givat Hamatos would be a devastating blow to peace negotiations because it would cut east Jerusalem off from Bethlehem, disrupting the territorial continuity of a future Palestinian state.
Nabil Abu Rudeina, a spokesman for Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, said the Givat Hamatos tenders amounted to an attempt by Israel "to kill the internationally-supported two state solution".
The east Jerusalem tenders follow the approval of 96 new east Jerusalem settler homes in the Ramat Shlomo neighbourhood last week.
Settlement construction approvals in Ramat Shlomo in 2010 caused a major rift between Netanyahu and former president Barack Obama and then vice president Biden.
Israel took control of east Jerusalem during the 1967 Six Day War, before annexing it in a move not recognised by most of the international community.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-15--Protesters in Belarus dispersed with stun grenades

A Belarusian rights group said more than 300 people were detained , including journalists Belarusians took to the streets of the capital Minsk on Sunday in a fresh demonstration against strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko as anger mounted over the recent death of an opposition activist .
Armed and masked police dispersed protesters with tear gas and stun grenades and deployed water cannon , local media reported , shortly after the latest march began against the ex-Soviet country 's strongman leader .
Belarusian rights group Viasna said at least 328 people were detained , including journalists .
Some 15 metro stations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited , an AFP journalist reported .
Tens of thousands have taken to the streets of cities throughout Belarus every weekend since August 9 when Lukashenko claimed a sixth presidential term in elections that his critics and Western countries said were rigged .
The EU has slapped sanctions on officials in the authoritarian country for rigging the vote and waging a brutal crackdown on post-vote demonstrations that led to mass arrests and allegations of torture and abuse at the hands of the security services .
Sunday 's rally comes after thousands of demonstrators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the death of a protester who was pronounced dead one day after police arrested him .
Roman Bondarenko , 31 , died in Minsk after police arrested him following a dispute in a city square that has become a regular meeting place for the opposition .
He was arrested by police on Wednesday after an altercation between residents and masked men who removed red and white ribbons , the colours of the opposition , hung in a building courtyard in Minsk .
Bondarenko was pronounced dead on Thursday after suffering brain damage , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belarusian opposition , who believe Lukashenko 's security forces are ultimately responsible .
Exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya described the former soldier Bondarenko as a `` man who was killed because he wanted to live in a free country '' .
On Sunday she described the crackdown on protesters with `` gas , grenades and firearms '' as `` devastating '' and called for international support for the demonstrators .
`` We ask our allies to stand up for the Belarusian people and human rights .
We need a humanitarian corridor for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international investigation of crimes , '' she wrote on Twitter .
Lukashenko said Friday he had asked investigators to probe the incident `` honestly and objectively '' .
At least four people have died in demonstrations against Lukashenko since August and the EU on Friday condemned Bondarenko 's death saying it could warrant further sanctions .
Lukashenko , who has the firm backing of longstanding ally Russian President Vladimir Putin , has refused to stand down and instead suggests reforms to the constitution to placate the opposition .

Minsk (AFP) –
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Belarusians took to the streets of the capital Minsk on Sunday in a fresh demonstration against strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko as anger mounted over the recent death of an opposition activist.
Armed and masked police dispersed protesters with tear gas and stun grenades and deployed water cannon, local media reported, shortly after the latest march began against the ex-Soviet country's strongman leader.
Belarusian rights group Viasna said at least 328 people were detained, including journalists.
Some 15 metro stations were closed and mobile internet access was limited, an AFP journalist reported.
Tens of thousands have taken to the streets of cities throughout Belarus every weekend since August 9 when Lukashenko claimed a sixth presidential term in elections that his critics and Western countries said were rigged.
The EU has slapped sanctions on officials in the authoritarian country for rigging the vote and waging a brutal crackdown on post-vote demonstrations that led to mass arrests and allegations of torture and abuse at the hands of the security services.
Sunday's rally comes after thousands of demonstrators turned out in Minsk Friday to mourn the death of a protester who was pronounced dead one day after police arrested him.
Roman Bondarenko, 31, died in Minsk after police arrested him following a dispute in a city square that has become a regular meeting place for the opposition.
He was arrested by police on Wednesday after an altercation between residents and masked men who removed red and white ribbons, the colours of the opposition, hung in a building courtyard in Minsk.
Bondarenko was pronounced dead on Thursday after suffering brain damage, triggering a wave of outrage among the Belarusian opposition, who believe Lukashenko's security forces are ultimately responsible.
- 'Devastating' -
Exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya described the former soldier Bondarenko as a "man who was killed because he wanted to live in a free country".
On Sunday she described the crackdown on protesters with "gas, grenades and firearms" as "devastating" and called for international support for the demonstrators.
"We ask our allies to stand up for the Belarusian people and human rights. We need a humanitarian corridor for the injured, support for the media, international investigation of crimes," she wrote on Twitter.
Lukashenko said Friday he had asked investigators to probe the incident "honestly and objectively".
At least four people have died in demonstrations against Lukashenko since August and the EU on Friday condemned Bondarenko's death saying it could warrant further sanctions.
Lukashenko, who has the firm backing of longstanding ally Russian President Vladimir Putin, has refused to stand down and instead suggests reforms to the constitution to placate the opposition.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-15--Brazil votes in local polls marked by virus

Brazilians are voting in the first elections since Jair Bolsonaro , a far-right former army captain often compared to US President Donald Trump , surged to victory in 2018 Brazilians voted Sunday in municipal elections that will test the strength of the country 's rightward shift under President Jair Bolsonaro , with the coronavirus pandemic looming large -- and likely denting turnout .
These are the first elections since Bolsonaro , a far-right former army captain often compared to US President Donald Trump , surged to victory in 2018 , upending the political gameboard in Latin America 's biggest economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , the vote already bears the imprint of Covid-19 , which has killed more than 165,000 people in Brazil , the second-highest death toll worldwide , after the United States .
The authorities are urging Brazil 's 148 million voters to bring their own pens , respect social distancing guidelines and disinfect their hands multiple times at polling stations .
Voters are choosing the South American giant 's 5,568 mayors and city councils , with analysts watching to see where the various political camps stand midway to the next presidential elections in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first-round vote weakened by his political idol Trump 's loss in the US election and his own controversial handling of the virus , which he has downplayed as a `` little flu . ''
But his approval numbers are strong -- more than 40 percent recently -- and he still excels at whipping his hardline base into a frenzy with his social media diatribes .
The president 's picks do not look set to win Brazil 's biggest cities .
In Sao Paulo , Bolsonaro acolyte Celso Russomanno trails center-right Mayor Bruno Covas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Rio de Janeiro , Mayor Marcelo Crivella , an Evangelical pastor and Bolsonaro ally , trails ex-mayor Eduardo Paes .
However , analysts say the country is likely headed for a new wave of conservative victories , elevating a raft of Evangelical candidates and ex-police and -soldiers who have made religion and security central in their campaigns .
`` 2020 is going to deepen what we saw in 2018 : the advance of right-wing parties , '' said political scientist Oswaldo Amaral of the University of Campinas .
The Brazilian left meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of president Dilma Rousseff in 2016 and the jailing of her predecessor , Workers ' Party founder Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva , on corruption charges .
One of the few bright spots for the left wing is the southern city of Porto Alegre , where Communist Party of Brazil candidate and rising political star Manuela D'Avila leads in the polls .
In a survey by the Democracy Institute , 27 percent of Brazilians said they feared voting because of Covid-19 .
Voters carefully lined up one meter apart outside polling stations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote , AFP correspondents said .
There were long lines at some polling stations , with many -- though not all -- voters in face masks .
`` I 'm sure there 's going to be a Covid outbreak after these elections .
There 's a big crowd outside the polling station , and a lot of people without masks , '' wrote one Twitter user casting his ballot in Rio de Janeiro .
In an effort to generate buzz and overcome voter reluctance , many candidates have resorted to colorful nicknames and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , three Trumps and 84 Bolsonaros on the ballot , according to a count in the Brazilian media -- not to mention 99 Tiriricas , borrowing the name of a clown elected to Congress in 2010 on the slogan , `` It ca n't get any worse . ''
He has since been reelected twice .
A second round will be held on November 29 for large cities where no candidate wins more than half the vote in the first round .

Sao Paulo (AFP) –
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Brazilians voted Sunday in municipal elections that will test the strength of the country's rightward shift under President Jair Bolsonaro, with the coronavirus pandemic looming large -- and likely denting turnout.
These are the first elections since Bolsonaro, a far-right former army captain often compared to US President Donald Trump, surged to victory in 2018, upending the political gameboard in Latin America's biggest economy.
Postponed six weeks because of the pandemic, the vote already bears the imprint of Covid-19, which has killed more than 165,000 people in Brazil, the second-highest death toll worldwide, after the United States.
The authorities are urging Brazil's 148 million voters to bring their own pens, respect social distancing guidelines and disinfect their hands multiple times at polling stations.
Voters are choosing the South American giant's 5,568 mayors and city councils, with analysts watching to see where the various political camps stand midway to the next presidential elections in 2022.
Bolsonaro heads into Sunday's first-round vote weakened by his political idol Trump's loss in the US election and his own controversial handling of the virus, which he has downplayed as a "little flu."
But his approval numbers are strong -- more than 40 percent recently -- and he still excels at whipping his hardline base into a frenzy with his social media diatribes.
The president's picks do not look set to win Brazil's biggest cities.
In Sao Paulo, Bolsonaro acolyte Celso Russomanno trails center-right Mayor Bruno Covas, who is seeking reelection.
And in Rio de Janeiro, Mayor Marcelo Crivella, an Evangelical pastor and Bolsonaro ally, trails ex-mayor Eduardo Paes.
However, analysts say the country is likely headed for a new wave of conservative victories, elevating a raft of Evangelical candidates and ex-police and -soldiers who have made religion and security central in their campaigns.
"2020 is going to deepen what we saw in 2018: the advance of right-wing parties," said political scientist Oswaldo Amaral of the University of Campinas.
The Brazilian left meanwhile remains weakened and divided after the impeachment of president Dilma Rousseff in 2016 and the jailing of her predecessor, Workers' Party founder Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on corruption charges.
One of the few bright spots for the left wing is the southern city of Porto Alegre, where Communist Party of Brazil candidate and rising political star Manuela D'Avila leads in the polls.
- Covid fears -
In a survey by the Democracy Institute, 27 percent of Brazilians said they feared voting because of Covid-19.
Voters carefully lined up one meter apart outside polling stations, trickling inside one at a time to vote, AFP correspondents said.
There were long lines at some polling stations, with many -- though not all -- voters in face masks.
"I'm sure there's going to be a Covid outbreak after these elections. There's a big crowd outside the polling station, and a lot of people without masks," wrote one Twitter user casting his ballot in Rio de Janeiro.
In an effort to generate buzz and overcome voter reluctance, many candidates have resorted to colorful nicknames and campaign gimmicks.
There are 18 Obamas, three Trumps and 84 Bolsonaros on the ballot, according to a count in the Brazilian media -- not to mention 99 Tiriricas, borrowing the name of a clown elected to Congress in 2010 on the slogan, "It can't get any worse."
He has since been reelected twice.
Early results are expected around 10:00 pm (0100 GMT Monday).
A second round will be held on November 29 for large cities where no candidate wins more than half the vote in the first round.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-15--SpaceX astronauts prepare for lift-off in first ‘operational’ flight to ISS

From left , NASA astronauts Shannon Walker , Victor Glover , Mike Hopkins and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency ( JAXA ) astronaut Soichi Noguchi wearing SpaceX spacesuits in a dress rehearsal ahead of the Crew Dragon launch .
Four astronauts were poised to launch on the SpaceX Crew Dragon `` Resilience '' to the International Space Station ( ISS ) on Sunday , the first of what the US hopes will be many routine missions following a successful test flight in late spring .
Three Americans -- Michael Hopkins , Victor Glover and Shannon Walker -- and Japan 's Soichi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday ( 0027 GMT Monday ) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida .
In May , SpaceX completed a demonstration mission showing it could take astronauts to the ISS and bring them back safely , thus ending almost a decade of reliance on Russia for rides on its Soyuz rockets .
`` The history being made this time is we 're launching what we call an operational flight to the International Space Station , '' NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine told reporters Friday .
The launch will be attended by Vice President Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The crew will dock at their destination at around 11:00 pm Monday night ( 0400 GMT Tuesday ) , joining two Russians and one American onboard the station , and stay for six months .
The Crew Dragon earlier this week became the first spacecraft to be certified by NASA since the Space Shuttle nearly 40 years ago .
It is a capsule , similar in shape to the spacecraft that preceded Space Shuttle , and its launch vehicle is a reusable SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket .
At the end of its missions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ splashes down in water , just as in the Apollo era .
NASA turned to SpaceX and Boeing after shuttering the checkered Space Shuttle program in 2011 , which failed in its main objectives of making space travel affordable and safe .
The agency will have spent more than $ 8 billion on the Commercial Crew program by 2024 , with the hope that the private sector can take care of NASA 's needs in `` low Earth orbit '' so it is freed up to focus on return missions to the Moon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , founded by Elon Musk in 2002 , has leapfrogged its much older rival Boeing , whose program has floundered after a failed test of its uncrewed Starliner last year .
But SpaceX 's success wo n't mean the US will stop hitching rides with Russia altogether , said Bridenstine .
`` We want to have an exchange of seats where American astronauts can fly on Russian Soyuz rockets and Russian cosmonauts can fly on commercial crew vehicles , '' he said , explaining it was necessary in case either program was down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reality , however , is that space ties between the US and Russia , one of the few bright spots in their bilateral relations , have frayed in recent years , and much remains uncertain .
Russia has said it wo n't be a partner in the Artemis program to return to the Moon in 2024 , claiming the NASA-led mission is too US-centric .
Dmitry Rogozin , the head of Russia 's space agency has also repeatedly mocked SpaceX 's technology , and this summer announced Roscosmos would build rockets that surpass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news agency he was unimpressed with the Crew Dragon 's water landing , calling it `` rather rough '' and saying his agency was developing a methane rocket that will be reusable 100 times .
But the fact that a national space agency feels moved to compare itself to a company is arguably a validation of NASA 's public-private strategy .
SpaceX 's emergence has also deprived Roscosmos of a valuable income stream .
The cost of round-trips on Russian rockets had been rising and stood at around $ 85 million per astronaut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Presidential transitions are always a difficult time for NASA , and the ascension of Joe Biden in January is expected to be no different .
The agency has yet to receive from Congress the tens of billions of dollars needed to finalize the Artemis program .
Bridenstine has announced that he will step down , in order to let the new president set his own goals for space exploration .
So far , Biden has not commented on the 2024 timeline .
Democratic party documents say they support NASA 's Moon and Mars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency 's Earth sciences division to better understand how climate change is affecting our planet .

Four astronauts were poised to launch on the SpaceX Crew Dragon "Resilience" to the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday, the first of what the US hopes will be many routine missions following a successful test flight in late spring.
From left, NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, Victor Glover, Mike Hopkins and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi wearing SpaceX spacesuits in a dress rehearsal ahead of the Crew Dragon launch.
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Three Americans -- Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker -- and Japan's Soichi Noguchi will blast off at 7:27 pm Sunday (0027 GMT Monday) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
In May, SpaceX completed a demonstration mission showing it could take astronauts to the ISS and bring them back safely, thus ending almost a decade of reliance on Russia for rides on its Soyuz rockets.
"The history being made this time is we're launching what we call an operational flight to the International Space Station," NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine told reporters Friday.
The launch will be attended by Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence.
🚀 We’re sending four astronauts to the @Space_Station on a U.S. rocket from U.S. soil at 7:27pm ET on Sunday, Nov. 15.
Here’s how you can watch our #LaunchAmerica coverage: https://t.co/PTHOoEbLO0 pic.twitter.com/V2MNT2aWCQ — NASA (@NASA) November 14, 2020
The crew will dock at their destination at around 11:00 pm Monday night (0400 GMT Tuesday), joining two Russians and one American onboard the station, and stay for six months.
The Crew Dragon earlier this week became the first spacecraft to be certified by NASA since the Space Shuttle nearly 40 years ago.
It is a capsule, similar in shape to the spacecraft that preceded Space Shuttle, and its launch vehicle is a reusable SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
At the end of its missions, the Crew Dragon deploys parachutes then splashes down in water, just as in the Apollo era.
An $8 billion program
NASA turned to SpaceX and Boeing after shuttering the checkered Space Shuttle program in 2011, which failed in its main objectives of making space travel affordable and safe.
The agency will have spent more than $8 billion on the Commercial Crew program by 2024, with the hope that the private sector can take care of NASA's needs in "low Earth orbit" so it is freed up to focus on return missions to the Moon and then on to Mars.
SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk in 2002, has leapfrogged its much older rival Boeing, whose program has floundered after a failed test of its uncrewed Starliner last year.
But SpaceX's success won't mean the US will stop hitching rides with Russia altogether, said Bridenstine.
"We want to have an exchange of seats where American astronauts can fly on Russian Soyuz rockets and Russian cosmonauts can fly on commercial crew vehicles," he said, explaining it was necessary in case either program was down for a period of time.
The reality, however, is that space ties between the US and Russia, one of the few bright spots in their bilateral relations, have frayed in recent years, and much remains uncertain.
Russia has said it won't be a partner in the Artemis program to return to the Moon in 2024, claiming the NASA-led mission is too US-centric.
Dmitry Rogozin, the head of Russia's space agency has also repeatedly mocked SpaceX's technology, and this summer announced Roscosmos would build rockets that surpass Musk's.
He told a state news agency he was unimpressed with the Crew Dragon's water landing, calling it "rather rough" and saying his agency was developing a methane rocket that will be reusable 100 times.
But the fact that a national space agency feels moved to compare itself to a company is arguably a validation of NASA's public-private strategy.
SpaceX's emergence has also deprived Roscosmos of a valuable income stream.
The cost of round-trips on Russian rockets had been rising and stood at around $85 million per astronaut, according to estimates last year.
NASA's SpaceX Crew-1 crew shared their personal goals for the mission.@Astro_illini: Land safely and return to our families@AstroVicGlover: Take a lot of pictures
S. Walker: Accomplish our work & have fun doing it@Astro_Soichi: Enjoy every moment, return home with a smile pic.twitter.com/Uq9GhOzZyd — Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) November 14, 2020
Presidential transition
Presidential transitions are always a difficult time for NASA, and the ascension of Joe Biden in January is expected to be no different.
The agency has yet to receive from Congress the tens of billions of dollars needed to finalize the Artemis program.
Bridenstine has announced that he will step down, in order to let the new president set his own goals for space exploration.
So far, Biden has not commented on the 2024 timeline.
Democratic party documents say they support NASA's Moon and Mars aspirations, but also emphasize elevating the agency's Earth sciences division to better understand how climate change is affecting our planet.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-11-15--Armenians begin mass exodus from Nagorno-Karabakh ahead of Azerbaijan handover

Russian peacekeepers patrol an area near the Dadivank , an Armenian Apostolic Church monastery , as ethnic Armenians leave the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia on Saturday , November 14 , 2020 .
Armenia on Sunday was due to begin handing over disputed territory to Azerbaijan as part of a peace accord that ended six weeks of fierce fighting over the Nagorno-Karabakh region .
Residents of the Kalbajar district in Azerbaijan that was controlled by Armenian separatists for decades began a mass exodus of the mountainous province in the days leading up to the official withdrawal day .
AFP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kitchenware into vehicles before leaving for Armenia and some among the departing ethnic-Armenians said they had exhumed graves they feared would be desecrated by Azerbaijanis .
Thick plumes of smoke were rising over the valley near the village of Charektar after residents set their homes on fire preferring to leave devastation in their wake and homes that would be uninhabitable by Azerbaijanis .
A Russian peacekeeping contingent deployed this week to Nagorno-Karabakh .
They set up checkpoints and positions in the region 's administrative centre , Stepanakert , as part of the terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swathes of territory that Azerbaijan 's forces gained in the fighting .
Moscow 's peacekeeping mission , which the military said included soldiers that previously were stationed in Syria , comprises some 2,000 troops for a renewable five-year mission .
The ex-Soviet rivals agreed to end hostilities earlier this week after efforts by Russia , France and the US to get a ceasefire fell through during the nearly two months of clashes .
A key part of the peace deal includes Armenia 's return of Kalbajar , as well as the Aghdam district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by December 1 , which have been held by Armenians since a devastating war in the 1990s .
Armenia conceded on Saturday that 2,317 fighters were killed in clashes in which both sides accused the other of targeting civilian infrastructure .
Azerbaijan has not revealed its military casualties and the real toll after weeks of fighting is expected to be much higher .
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said the number of fatalities had surpassed 4,000 and that tens of thousands of people had been forced to flee their homes .
Before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Dadivank monastery nestled in a gorge in Kalbajar for a final visit before it was ceded to Azerbaijan , with AFP journalists witnessing a dozen women ask to be baptised at the religious site .
Kalbajar was almost exclusively populated by ethnic Azeris before they were expelled by Armenians in the 1990s war following the break up of the Soviet Union , and a majority of the homes being abandoned previously belonged to Azeris .
The Armenian government controversially subsidised the region 's settlement by ethnic Armenians .
The peace accord with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Armenia where demonstrations and opposition parties are calling for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to resign .
The former head of Armenia 's national security service Artur Vanetsyan was arrested on Saturday on charges of plotting to kill Pashinyan and seize power .
Azerbaijan has pushed for Ankara 's involvement in the settlement and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said this week his country would jointly supervise the ceasefire with Russia .
Turkey , a key ally of Azerbaijan , was widely accused by Western countries , Russia and Armenia of dispatching mercenaries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But Russia has ruled out Ankara 's direct involvement in the peacekeeping mission and instead insisted Turkey would instead monitor the mission from an observation centre on Azerbaijan 's territory .

Azerbaijan on Sunday agreed to extend the deadline for Armenians to withdraw from the Kalbajar district as part of a Russian-brokered peace accord to end weeks of fighting over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Russian peacekeepers patrol an area near the Dadivank, an Armenian Apostolic Church monastery, as ethnic Armenians leave the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia on Saturday, November 14, 2020.
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"Azerbaijan agreed to prolong the deadline for the withdrawal from Kalbajar of Armenian armed forces and of illegal Armenian settlers until November 25," said President Ilham Aliyev's foreign policy adviser, Hikmet Hajiyev.
He said Aliyev had agreed on humanitarian grounds to grant an Armenian request for the delay following mediation by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"Kalbajar's settlement by Armenians was illegal. The people who were resettled there have no property rights," Hajiyev told a news conference.
The ex-Soviet rivals agreed Tuesday to end weeks of hostilities and Armenia undertook to cede Kalbajar and other districts controlled by Armenians since a devastating war in the 1990s.
The Kalbajar district of Azerbaijan, which borders Nagorno-Karabakh, was the first to be turned over under the deal and Armenia was initially due to complete its withdrawal on Sunday.
Burning homes before leaving
Residents of Kalbajar began a mass exodus of the mountainous province last week, with many Armenian villages burning down their homes before leaving.
Journalists saw fleeing residents pile furniture and kitchenware into vehicles before leaving for Armenia and some among the departing ethnic-Armenians said they had exhumed graves they feared would be desecrated by Azerbaijanis.
Thick plumes of smoke were rising over the valley near the village of Charektar after residents set their homes on fire preferring to leave devastation in their wake and homes that would be uninhabitable by Azerbaijanis.
A Russian peacekeeping contingent deployed this week to Nagorno-Karabakh. They set up checkpoints and positions in the region's administrative centre, Stepanakert, as part of the terms of the accord that sees Armenia cede swathes of territory that Azerbaijan's forces gained in the fighting.
Moscow's peacekeeping mission, which the military said included soldiers that previously were stationed in Syria, comprises some 2,000 troops for a renewable five-year mission.
The ex-Soviet rivals agreed to end hostilities earlier this week after efforts by Russia, France and the US to get a ceasefire fell through during the nearly two months of clashes.
A key part of the peace deal includes Armenia's return of Kalbajar, as well as the Aghdam district by November 20 and the Lachin district by December 1, which have been held by Armenians since a devastating war in the 1990s.
Outrage over peace deal
Armenia conceded on Saturday that 2,317 fighters were killed in clashes in which both sides accused the other of targeting civilian infrastructure.
Azerbaijan has not revealed its military casualties and the real toll after weeks of fighting is expected to be much higher.
Putin on Friday said the number of fatalities had surpassed 4,000 and that tens of thousands of people had been forced to flee their homes.
Before departing en masse, Armenians flocked to the Dadivank monastery nestled in a gorge in Kalbajar for a final visit before it was ceded to Azerbaijan, with AFP journalists witnessing a dozen women ask to be baptised at the religious site.
Kalbajar was almost exclusively populated by ethnic Azeris before they were expelled by Armenians in the 1990s war following the break up of the Soviet Union, and a majority of the homes being abandoned previously belonged to Azeris.
The Armenian government controversially subsidised the region's settlement by ethnic Armenians.
The peace accord with Azerbaijan has sparked a week of protests in Armenia where demonstrations and opposition parties are calling for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to resign.
The former head of Armenia's national security service Artur Vanetsyan was arrested on Saturday on charges of plotting to kill Pashinyan and seize power.
Azerbaijan has pushed for Ankara's involvement in the settlement and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said this week his country would jointly supervise the ceasefire with Russia.
Turkey, a key ally of Azerbaijan, was widely accused by Western countries, Russia and Armenia of dispatching mercenaries from Syria to reinforce Azerbaijan's army.
But Russia has ruled out Ankara's direct involvement in the peacekeeping mission and instead insisted Turkey would instead monitor the mission from an observation centre on Azerbaijan's territory.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-11-15--India's capital awakes to 'severe' smog as revellers defy cracker ban

Delhi is infamous as having some of the world 's dirtiest air Toxic smog blanketed India 's capital early Sunday after firecrackers were set off throughout the night to mark the country 's biggest annual festival Diwali despite a ban , further worsening the city 's air quality levels .
India 's environmental court had imposed a ban to stop millions of the explosives being lighted up to mark the Hindu Festival of Light , stressing that residents were already reeling from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the pollution crisis that arises every winter .
But the sound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city of 20 million people late Saturday , and sporadically on Sunday .
`` The overall air quality of Delhi is in the Severe category as of today morning , '' the state-run System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research ( SAFAR ) said Sunday .
`` Significant local additional emissions ( probably firecracker related ) during yesterday night ... build up stubble fire-related pollutant concentrations . ''
But the meteorological body added that wind speeds in the capital were picking up on Sunday , helping to clear the choking air , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the day was also expected .
Delhi is infamous as having some of the world 's dirtiest air , with cracker smoke mingling with car exhaust , factory emissions , construction dust and crop stubble burning from nearby states turning the winter air into a putrid grey-yellow .
Scientists have also been warning that this year 's Diwali celebrations have increased health risks amid crowding at markets ahead of the festival , the cold and the air pollution , which studies have linked to increased coronavirus deaths .
The metropolis has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and reported 7,340 fresh infections late Saturday .
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is expected to meet with national Home Minister Amit Shah later Sunday to ask for more beds to cope with the spike , local media reported .

New Delhi (AFP) –
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Toxic smog blanketed India's capital early Sunday after firecrackers were set off throughout the night to mark the country's biggest annual festival Diwali despite a ban, further worsening the city's air quality levels.
India's environmental court had imposed a ban to stop millions of the explosives being lighted up to mark the Hindu Festival of Light, stressing that residents were already reeling from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the pollution crisis that arises every winter.
But the sound of firecrackers regularly was heard in the city of 20 million people late Saturday, and sporadically on Sunday.
"The overall air quality of Delhi is in the Severe category as of today morning," the state-run System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) said Sunday.
"Significant local additional emissions (probably firecracker related) during yesterday night... build up stubble fire-related pollutant concentrations."
But the meteorological body added that wind speeds in the capital were picking up on Sunday, helping to clear the choking air, while "isolated scattered rainfall" later in the day was also expected.
Delhi is infamous as having some of the world's dirtiest air, with cracker smoke mingling with car exhaust, factory emissions, construction dust and crop stubble burning from nearby states turning the winter air into a putrid grey-yellow.
Scientists have also been warning that this year's Diwali celebrations have increased health risks amid crowding at markets ahead of the festival, the cold and the air pollution, which studies have linked to increased coronavirus deaths.
The metropolis has been recording higher-than-usual daily rises in new cases, and reported 7,340 fresh infections late Saturday.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is expected to meet with national Home Minister Amit Shah later Sunday to ask for more beds to cope with the spike, local media reported.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-15--Damage, injuries as Vamco hits Vietnam

Damage, injuries as Vamco hits Vietnam

Vamco has already caused widespread damage in the Philippines Storm Vamco barrelled into Vietnam on Sunday , damaging buildings and injuring at least five people after wreaking devastation in the Philippines .
The storm made landfall on Sunday morning with winds of up to 90 kilometers per hour ( 56 mph ) , according to media reports , uprooting trees and blowing the roofs off houses and schools .
Vamco is the latest in a series of storms that have pummelled Vietman over the past six weeks causing flooding and landslides that have killed at least 159 people and left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Disaster Management Authority on Sunday said that five people were injured while they were trying to secure their houses .
Vamco has weakened since hitting the Philippines as a typhoon with winds of up to 155 kph , but state media said it had still caused significant damage , though details were not immediately available .
Authorities evacuated nearly 650,000 people from seven coastal provinces to higher and safer ground before the storm hit to try to reduce casualties .
Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong told the VNExpress news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the storm 's impact .
Vamco caused severe damage in the Philippines , causing flooding that affected more than 340,000 people .
Philippine authorities said Sunday the death toll had risen to 67 , though floodwaters are now receding , giving hope that the worst could be over .
In Vietnam , weeks of severe weather have damaged or destroyed more than 400,000 homes , according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies .
Roads and bridges have been washed away , power supplies disrupted , and crucial food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people at immediate risk of food shortages .

Hanoi (AFP) –
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Storm Vamco barrelled into Vietnam on Sunday, damaging buildings and injuring at least five people after wreaking devastation in the Philippines.
The storm made landfall on Sunday morning with winds of up to 90 kilometers per hour (56 mph), according to media reports, uprooting trees and blowing the roofs off houses and schools.
Vamco is the latest in a series of storms that have pummelled Vietman over the past six weeks causing flooding and landslides that have killed at least 159 people and left 70 others missing.
Initial reports from the Disaster Management Authority on Sunday said that five people were injured while they were trying to secure their houses.
Vamco has weakened since hitting the Philippines as a typhoon with winds of up to 155 kph, but state media said it had still caused significant damage, though details were not immediately available.
Authorities evacuated nearly 650,000 people from seven coastal provinces to higher and safer ground before the storm hit to try to reduce casualties.
Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong told the VNExpress news website he hoped the precautions would minimise the storm's impact.
Vamco caused severe damage in the Philippines, causing flooding that affected more than 340,000 people.
Philippine authorities said Sunday the death toll had risen to 67, though floodwaters are now receding, giving hope that the worst could be over.
In Vietnam, weeks of severe weather have damaged or destroyed more than 400,000 homes, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Roads and bridges have been washed away, power supplies disrupted, and crucial food crops destroyed, leaving at least 150,000 people at immediate risk of food shortages.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-17--Trump asked for options for attacking Iran last week, according to US official

U.S. President Donald Trump walks down the West Wing at the White House in Washington , U.S. , November 13 @ @ @ @ @ Trump asked for options on attacking Iran 's main nuclear site last week but ultimately @ @ @ @ @ step , a U.S. official said on Monday .
Trump made the request during a @ @ @ @ @ top national security aides , including Vice President Mike Pence , his new acting defense @ @ @ @ @ General Mark Milley , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , the official said @ @ @ @ @ account of the meeting in The New York Times , which reported that the advisers @ @ @ @ @ ahead with a strike because of the risk of a broader conflict .
`` He @ @ @ @ @ gave him the scenarios and he ultimately decided not to go forward , '' the @ @ @

President Donald Trump asked for options on attacking Iran's main nuclear site last week but ultimately decided against taking the dramatic step, a U.S. official said on Monday.
US President Donald Trump walks through the West Wing at the White House, Washington, DC, November 13, 2020.
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Trump made the request during a meeting on Thursday with his top national security aides, including Vice President Mike Pence, his new acting defense secretary Christopher Miller, and General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the official said.
The official confirmed the account of the meeting in The New York Times, which reported that the advisers persuaded Trump not to go ahead with a strike because of the risk of a broader conflict.
"He asked for options. They gave him the scenarios and he ultimately decided not to go forward," the official said.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-11-17--US Senate passes 'Rodchenkov' anti-doping bill

US Anti-Doping Agency ( USADA ) chief Travis Tygart says new legislation targeting those responsible for doping conspiracies marks a `` monumental '' moment in the fight for clean sport Legislation granting US officials the power to prosecute individuals responsible for doping conspiracies at international sporting competitions received formal approval in the US Senate on Monday .
The Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act -- named after whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov who lifted the lid on the Russia doping scandal in 2016 -- had already been passed by the US House of Representatives in 2019 .
The legislation , which is set to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , allows the United States to seek prosecution for doping conspirators in competitions involving American athletes , with fines of up to $ 1 million and prison sentences of up to 10 years .
The law targets the entourages of athletes -- coaches , agents , dealers , managers and sports or government officials -- rather than athletes themselves , who are already subject to sanctions by the World Anti-Doping Agency ( WADA ) .
`` It is a monumental day in the fight for clean sport worldwide and we look forward to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help change the game for clean athletes for the good , '' United States Anti-Doping Agency ( USADA ) chief executive Travis Tygart said .
The legislation has become a bone of contention between WADA and US officials .
WADA has expressed concern over the law , warning it could lead to overlapping laws in different jurisdictions that weaken the principle of having one set of rules for all athletes around the world .
A WADA spokesman on Monday added that the law may potentially undermine the global anti-doping system by deterring whistleblowers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk they could be prosecuted .
The global doping watchdog has also expressed concern that the bill could lead to the emergence of similar legislation in other countries for political reasons , such as targeting athletes from specific nations in retaliation .
WADA is also critical of the fact that the law excludes US professional leagues and college sport .
`` If it is not good enough for American sports , why is it fine for the rest of the world ? ''
a WADA spokesman said Monday .
However , Tygart maintains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clean athletes and whistleblowers .
`` The Act will provide the tools needed to protect clean athletes and hold accountable international doping conspiracies that defraud sport , sponsors and that harm athletes , '' the USADA chief said .
`` ( It ) establishes criminal penalties for systems that carry out doping-fraud schemes that rob athletes , citizens and businesses .
`` It also protects whistleblowers from retaliation and provides restitution for athletes defrauded by conspiracies to dope , '' Tygart said .
Rodchenkov , the former head of Russia 's national anti-doping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a state-backed doping conspiracy designed to cover up Russia 's cheating at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and other events .
Rodchenkov detailed his involvement in the scandal in 2016 , and is now living in hiding in the United States .

Washington (AFP) –
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Legislation granting US officials the power to prosecute individuals responsible for doping conspiracies at international sporting competitions received formal approval in the US Senate on Monday.
The Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act -- named after whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov who lifted the lid on the Russia doping scandal in 2016 -- had already been passed by the US House of Representatives in 2019.
The legislation, which is set to be signed into law by President Donald Trump, allows the United States to seek prosecution for doping conspirators in competitions involving American athletes, with fines of up to $1 million and prison sentences of up to 10 years.
The law targets the entourages of athletes -- coaches, agents, dealers, managers and sports or government officials -- rather than athletes themselves, who are already subject to sanctions by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
"It is a monumental day in the fight for clean sport worldwide and we look forward to seeing the Act soon become law and help change the game for clean athletes for the good," United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) chief executive Travis Tygart said.
The legislation has become a bone of contention between WADA and US officials.
- WADA concerns -
WADA has expressed concern over the law, warning it could lead to overlapping laws in different jurisdictions that weaken the principle of having one set of rules for all athletes around the world.
A WADA spokesman on Monday added that the law may potentially undermine the global anti-doping system by deterring whistleblowers from coming forward if there is a risk they could be prosecuted.
The global doping watchdog has also expressed concern that the bill could lead to the emergence of similar legislation in other countries for political reasons, such as targeting athletes from specific nations in retaliation.
WADA is also critical of the fact that the law excludes US professional leagues and college sport.
"If it is not good enough for American sports, why is it fine for the rest of the world?" a WADA spokesman said Monday.
However, Tygart maintains the legislation offers greater protection for both clean athletes and whistleblowers.
"The Act will provide the tools needed to protect clean athletes and hold accountable international doping conspiracies that defraud sport, sponsors and that harm athletes," the USADA chief said.
"(It) establishes criminal penalties for systems that carry out doping-fraud schemes that rob athletes, citizens and businesses.
"It also protects whistleblowers from retaliation and provides restitution for athletes defrauded by conspiracies to dope," Tygart said.
Rodchenkov, the former head of Russia's national anti-doping laboratory in Moscow, was heavily involved in a state-backed doping conspiracy designed to cover up Russia's cheating at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and other events.
Rodchenkov detailed his involvement in the scandal in 2016, and is now living in hiding in the United States.
© 2020 AFP