france24--2020-12-08--Man Utd exit Champions League as racism row interrupts PSG game

Bruno Fernandes ( R ) led a late fightback but it was n't enough to stop Manchester United from being knocked out of the Champions League Manchester United were knocked out of the Champions League after a 3-2 defeat by RB Leipzig on Tuesday , while Paris Saint-Germain 's qualification for the last 16 was overshadowed by a racism row involving a match official that caused their game against Istanbul Basaksehir to be suspended for 24 hours .
Cristiano Ronaldo scored two penalties as Juventus blew away Lionel Messi 's struggling Barcelona 3-0 to wrest first place in Group G @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also secured a spot in the knockout rounds for the first time in two decades following a tense 2-2 draw at home to Club Brugge in the pouring rain in Rome .
Requiring just a point to advance , Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 's side fell behind to an Angelino goal inside two minutes in Germany .
Amadou Haidara soon added a second and United and were trailing 3-0 heading into the final quarter after a Justin Kluivert strike .
Bruno Fernandes 's penalty and a deflected Paul Pogba header gave United a lifeline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last term , held on to move top of Group H on 12 points .
They must wait until Wednesday to find out whether they finish first or second in the section , after the contest between last season 's runners-up PSG and Turkish champions Basaksehir was interrupted at 0-0 in the 14th minute .
Players walked off in Paris amid allegations of racism by one of the fourth official , in an unprecedented incident in European football 's elite club competition .
The row erupted after Basaksehir assistant coach Pierre Webo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a red card during a fierce row on the touchline with staff from the Turkish club appearing to accuse the official of using a racist term .
Television microphones picked up a furious Webo repeatedly asking why a racist term had been used to describe him .
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he `` strongly '' condemned the incident , while UEFA announced it would open a `` thorough investigation '' .
In a statement , UEFA confirmed the game would , `` on an exceptional basis '' , restart from where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GMT , `` with a new team of match officials '' .
PSG , who advanced following United 's loss , will claim top spot with victory .
Andrea Pirlo 's Juventus avenged a 2-0 home loss to Barcelona in October when Ronaldo was sidelined with Covid-19 , heaping more pressure on Barca coach Ronald Koeman .
Weston McKennie scored in between Ronaldo 's two spot-kicks at the Camp Nou as Barca , off to their worst La Liga start in 33 years , were denied a sixth win from six in Europe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kiev a 1-0 victory over their former star Serhiy Rebrov and Ferencvaros in the group 's other game , offering them a place in the Europa League .
Borussia Dortmund striker Youssoufa Moukoko , aged 16 years and 18 days , became the youngest player in Champions League history as he came off the bench in a 2-1 victory away to Zenit Saint Petersburg .
Cameroon-born Moukoko , who made his European debut as a 58th-minute substitute in Russia , broke the previous record of Celestine Babayaro , who was 16 years and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in November 1994 .
Dortmund , who had already qualified for the last 16 , equalised within minutes of Moukoko 's introduction , with Lukasz Piszczek cancelling out Sebastian Driussi 's first-half goal before Axel Witsel scored the winner .
Jorginho spared Chelsea 's blushes as his penalty rescued a 1-1 draw against Krasnodar in Group E following Remy Cabella 's opener in London .
Frank Lampard 's side were already assured of finishing top , while goals from Jules Kounde and two Youssef En-Nesyri eased Sevilla to a 3-1 victory at Rennes @

Paris (AFP) –
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Manchester United were knocked out of the Champions League after a 3-2 defeat by RB Leipzig on Tuesday, while Paris Saint-Germain's qualification for the last 16 was overshadowed by a racism row involving a match official that caused their game against Istanbul Basaksehir to be suspended for 24 hours.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored two penalties as Juventus blew away Lionel Messi's struggling Barcelona 3-0 to wrest first place in Group G away from the Spanish giants.
Lazio also secured a spot in the knockout rounds for the first time in two decades following a tense 2-2 draw at home to Club Brugge in the pouring rain in Rome.
Requiring just a point to advance, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side fell behind to an Angelino goal inside two minutes in Germany. Amadou Haidara soon added a second and United and were trailing 3-0 heading into the final quarter after a Justin Kluivert strike.
Bruno Fernandes's penalty and a deflected Paul Pogba header gave United a lifeline but Leipzig, who reached the semi-finals last term, held on to move top of Group H on 12 points.
They must wait until Wednesday to find out whether they finish first or second in the section, after the contest between last season's runners-up PSG and Turkish champions Basaksehir was interrupted at 0-0 in the 14th minute.
Players walked off in Paris amid allegations of racism by one of the fourth official, in an unprecedented incident in European football's elite club competition.
The row erupted after Basaksehir assistant coach Pierre Webo, the former Cameroon international, was shown a red card during a fierce row on the touchline with staff from the Turkish club appearing to accuse the official of using a racist term.
Television microphones picked up a furious Webo repeatedly asking why a racist term had been used to describe him.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he "strongly" condemned the incident, while UEFA announced it would open a "thorough investigation".
In a statement, UEFA confirmed the game would, "on an exceptional basis", restart from where it was stopped on Wednesday at 1755 GMT, "with a new team of match officials".
PSG, who advanced following United's loss, will claim top spot with victory.
- Moukoko enters record books -
Andrea Pirlo's Juventus avenged a 2-0 home loss to Barcelona in October when Ronaldo was sidelined with Covid-19, heaping more pressure on Barca coach Ronald Koeman.
Weston McKennie scored in between Ronaldo's two spot-kicks at the Camp Nou as Barca, off to their worst La Liga start in 33 years, were denied a sixth win from six in Europe.
Denys Popov's header earned Dynamo Kiev a 1-0 victory over their former star Serhiy Rebrov and Ferencvaros in the group's other game, offering them a place in the Europa League.
Borussia Dortmund striker Youssoufa Moukoko, aged 16 years and 18 days, became the youngest player in Champions League history as he came off the bench in a 2-1 victory away to Zenit Saint Petersburg.
Cameroon-born Moukoko, who made his European debut as a 58th-minute substitute in Russia, broke the previous record of Celestine Babayaro, who was 16 years and 87 days when he played for Anderlecht in November 1994.
Dortmund, who had already qualified for the last 16, equalised within minutes of Moukoko's introduction, with Lukasz Piszczek cancelling out Sebastian Driussi's first-half goal before Axel Witsel scored the winner.
Jorginho spared Chelsea's blushes as his penalty rescued a 1-1 draw against Krasnodar in Group E following Remy Cabella's opener in London.
Frank Lampard's side were already assured of finishing top, while goals from Jules Kounde and two Youssef En-Nesyri eased Sevilla to a 3-1 victory at Rennes.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-08--Harden joins Rockets with Silas confident of success

Houston Rockets guard James Harden , the three-time reigning NBA scoring champion , reported to the NBA club for pre-season Covid-19 testing on Tuesday , two days after the club began pre-season workouts Three-time reigning NBA scoring champion James Harden reported to the Houston Rockets training camp Tuesday with coach Stephen Silas confident he can build a successful relationship with the superstar guard .
Harden was tested for Covid-19 as part of the NBA 's safety protocol and could practice with the Rockets ahead of their pre-season opener on Friday at Chicago .
`` That 's pretty much all I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Him getting tested in Houston is good for everybody . ''
The Rockets began workouts on Sunday and Silas said Monday there was no timetable for disgruntled Harden to arrive , calling his absence a `` setback '' , but Silas was hopeful of building a relationship with the 2018 NBA Most Valuable Player .
`` Trust is built day to day and once the relationship begins , we 'll begin that process of trust , '' Silas said .
`` Obviously , there was n't a great start to it , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not going to be roses every day . ''
Silas was named coach of th Rockets six weeks ago as part of major changes in the organization , including the trade of 2017 NBA MVP guard Russell Westbrook to Washington for John Wall .
The team has a new general manager in Rafael Stone , who replaced Daryl Morey , the new Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations , and has nine new faces from last season surrounding Harden .
Harden 's arrival came as ESPN reported he has made it known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He had sought to be sent to Brooklyn but the Rockets found no interest from the Nets in such a deal .
Silas said Harden should be able to quickly absorb what the Rockets have done over the first three days of practice .
`` Elite players have a way of learning fast , fitting in and making everyone better , '' Silas said .
`` There will be some sort of learning curve . ''

Washington (AFP) –
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Three-time reigning NBA scoring champion James Harden reported to the Houston Rockets training camp Tuesday with coach Stephen Silas confident he can build a successful relationship with the superstar guard.
Harden was tested for Covid-19 as part of the NBA's safety protocol and could practice with the Rockets ahead of their pre-season opener on Friday at Chicago.
"That's pretty much all I know," Silas said. "Him getting tested in Houston is good for everybody."
The Rockets began workouts on Sunday and Silas said Monday there was no timetable for disgruntled Harden to arrive, calling his absence a "setback", but Silas was hopeful of building a relationship with the 2018 NBA Most Valuable Player.
"Trust is built day to day and once the relationship begins, we'll begin that process of trust," Silas said.
"Obviously, there wasn't a great start to it, but that's the NBA. The NBA is not going to be roses every day."
Silas was named coach of th Rockets six weeks ago as part of major changes in the organization, including the trade of 2017 NBA MVP guard Russell Westbrook to Washington for John Wall.
The team has a new general manager in Rafael Stone, who replaced Daryl Morey, the new Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations, and has nine new faces from last season surrounding Harden.
Harden's arrival came as ESPN reported he has made it known he would welcome a trade to Philadelphia. He had sought to be sent to Brooklyn but the Rockets found no interest from the Nets in such a deal.
Silas said Harden should be able to quickly absorb what the Rockets have done over the first three days of practice.
"Elite players have a way of learning fast, fitting in and making everyone better," Silas said. "There will be some sort of learning curve."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-08--No. 1 Ko aims for dream major win at US Women's Open

Top-ranked Ko Jin-young of South Korea , who won two major titles last year , plays her only major of 2020 starting Thursday at the US Women 's Open in Houston , Texas World number one Ko Jin-young of South Korea chases the major golf title she most dreamed about when the Covid-19 delayed US Women 's Open begins on Thursday in Houston , Texas .
The 25-year-old from Seoul , a two-time major champion , spent most of the year in her homeland after the pandemic shut down the LPGA Tour from February to the end of July .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ last month and played in two tuneup events , placing fifth last week in Dallas , to prepare for the year 's final major at Champions Golf Club .
One of Ko 's earliest golf memories was watching South Korea 's Pak Se-ri win the 1988 US Women 's Open just seven weeks after taking her first major title at the LPGA Championship .
`` When I was three years old I watched the TV on my father 's knee about Se Ri 's win when she won this tournament and then I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ golf , so I started , '' Ko said Tuesday .
`` So yeah , I want to get the US Open trophy . ''
Ko captured her first two major titles last year at the ANA Inspiration and the Evian Championship , but has not played a major event this year , only returning ahead of the Open and next week 's season-ending LPGA Tour Championship .
`` To be honest , it feels weird because I 'm playing in December around Christmas Day .
It 's the first time , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is tough , and then everyone looks nervous , too , so it 's fun . ''
Because of the large field and limited daylight hours , the first two rounds will be played over two courses , Cypress and Jack Rabbit .
`` It 's tough .
I have to play two courses , but 18 holes for the practice round .
It 's a little bit tiring to me , '' Ko said .
`` But this is the same condition for everyone , so I can accept .
I will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ko expects her driver distance and accuracy will be crucial .
`` I want to try little hit like strong driver , '' she said .
`` I will just keep my swing and my energy .
That 's all .
`` Cypress is bigger .
The greens are big , way big .
And then the fairways are narrow .
So I like Cypress course more because the setup and everything is like more clear .
`` But I like Jack Rabbit , too .
Jack Rabbit 's greens are smaller than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every club in the bag this course . ''
Among Ko 's top rivals this week will be second-ranked Kim sei-young of South Korea , who won her first major title in October at the Women 's PGA Championship .
She followed that with her 12th LPGA title last month at the Pelican Women 's Championship in Ko 's LPGA return event .
Kim has the chance to overtake Ko for the world number one spot this week .
`` Obviously it would feel incredible , '' Kim said .
`` Since I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number one in the world one day , and I 'm glad that I have a chance to do that . ''
Kim feels greater pressure now that she is a major champion .
`` I think there 's a bit more pressure being a major champion coming to a major tournament , but again , nothing is going to change with my preparation , '' she said .
`` I 'm going to try to stay composed and try to finish strong . ''
Kim , who skipped last week 's event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the LPGA 's hottest player with two wins in her past three starts , a form she credits to consistency .
`` I felt like previously my game fluctuated quite a bit throughout the season , '' she said .
`` But this season what has been different was I was able to be consistent with my performance .
`` And because I 'm playing well , I just want to continue on this momentum and try to finish strong . ''

Washington (AFP) –
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World number one Ko Jin-young of South Korea chases the major golf title she most dreamed about when the Covid-19 delayed US Women's Open begins on Thursday in Houston, Texas.
The 25-year-old from Seoul, a two-time major champion, spent most of the year in her homeland after the pandemic shut down the LPGA Tour from February to the end of July.
But Ko came to the United States last month and played in two tuneup events, placing fifth last week in Dallas, to prepare for the year's final major at Champions Golf Club.
One of Ko's earliest golf memories was watching South Korea's Pak Se-ri win the 1988 US Women's Open just seven weeks after taking her first major title at the LPGA Championship.
"When I was three years old I watched the TV on my father's knee about Se Ri's win when she won this tournament and then I saw that I want to play the golf, so I started," Ko said Tuesday.
"So yeah, I want to get the US Open trophy."
Ko captured her first two major titles last year at the ANA Inspiration and the Evian Championship, but has not played a major event this year, only returning ahead of the Open and next week's season-ending LPGA Tour Championship.
"To be honest, it feels weird because I'm playing in December around Christmas Day. It's the first time," Ko said. "But the course is tough, and then everyone looks nervous, too, so it's fun."
Because of the large field and limited daylight hours, the first two rounds will be played over two courses, Cypress and Jack Rabbit.
"It's tough. I have to play two courses, but 18 holes for the practice round. It's a little bit tiring to me," Ko said.
"But this is the same condition for everyone, so I can accept. I will look forward for the tournament."
Ko expects her driver distance and accuracy will be crucial.
"I want to try little hit like strong driver," she said. "I will just keep my swing and my energy. That's all.
"Cypress is bigger. The greens are big, way big. And then the fairways are narrow. So I like Cypress course more because the setup and everything is like more clear.
"But I like Jack Rabbit, too. Jack Rabbit's greens are smaller than Cypress. I think I will play every club in the bag this course."
- Kim chases No. 1 spot -
Among Ko's top rivals this week will be second-ranked Kim sei-young of South Korea, who won her first major title in October at the Women's PGA Championship.
She followed that with her 12th LPGA title last month at the Pelican Women's Championship in Ko's LPGA return event.
Kim has the chance to overtake Ko for the world number one spot this week.
"Obviously it would feel incredible," Kim said. "Since I was young, I dreamt of being number one in the world one day, and I'm glad that I have a chance to do that."
Kim feels greater pressure now that she is a major champion.
"I think there's a bit more pressure being a major champion coming to a major tournament, but again, nothing is going to change with my preparation," she said. "I'm going to try to stay composed and try to finish strong."
Kim, who skipped last week's event to practice twice in Houston, is the LPGA's hottest player with two wins in her past three starts, a form she credits to consistency.
"I felt like previously my game fluctuated quite a bit throughout the season," she said. "But this season what has been different was I was able to be consistent with my performance.
"And because I'm playing well, I just want to continue on this momentum and try to finish strong."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-08--US judge orders partial disclosure of Khashoggi murder files

A New York judge on Tuesday ordered US intelligence agencies to acknowledge they possess a tape recording of the 2018 murder of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi , in a ruling hailed by rights activists .
The judge also instructed the Central Intelligence Agency and Office of the Director of National Intelligence ( ODNI ) to explain why they are withholding the tape and a CIA report on the gruesome killing .
Khashoggi , a Washington Post columnist , was suffocated and dismembered inside the kingdom 's Istanbul consulate after going inside to get documents for his marriage to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 murder sparked an international outcry and tarnished the reputation of oil-rich Saudi Arabia and its powerful crown prince , Mohammed bin Salman .
The CIA concluded that the young royal had been responsible for the killing , straining relations between the United States -- where Khashoggi lived -- and Riyadh .
President Donald Trump later said he protected Prince Salman from Congress , boasting `` I saved his ass , '' according to a book by veteran journalist Bob Woodward .
The Open Society Justice Initiative , founded by billionaire George Soros @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Information act seeking access to intelligence agency records related to the assassination .
The CIA and ODNI rejected their request and failed to even confirm the existence of the documents , citing national security reasons .
But federal Judge Paul Engelmayer ordered the US government Tuesday to produce within two weeks a `` Vaughn index '' describing the documents it is withholding and providing legal justification for their non-disclosure .
In his ruling , Engelmayer cited Trump 's comments in late 2018 when the president said , `` We have the tape @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disclosure of the documents but the Open Society Justice Initiative described the order as a `` crucial victory in addressing the Trump administration 's shameful cover-up '' of the murder .
`` The court 's judgement is a vital step towards ending impunity for the murder , '' said Amrit Singh , the foundation 's lead lawyer in the case .
Riyadh initially denied that the gruesome murder happened before changing its version of events several times .
It claims the killing was carried out by rogue agents acting alone .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death sentences and handed eight defendants jail terms between seven and 20 years .

New York (AFP) –
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A New York judge on Tuesday ordered US intelligence agencies to acknowledge they possess a tape recording of the 2018 murder of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi, in a ruling hailed by rights activists.
The judge also instructed the Central Intelligence Agency and Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to explain why they are withholding the tape and a CIA report on the gruesome killing.
Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, was suffocated and dismembered inside the kingdom's Istanbul consulate after going inside to get documents for his marriage to his Turkish fiancee.
The October 2, 2018 murder sparked an international outcry and tarnished the reputation of oil-rich Saudi Arabia and its powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.
The CIA concluded that the young royal had been responsible for the killing, straining relations between the United States -- where Khashoggi lived -- and Riyadh.
President Donald Trump later said he protected Prince Salman from Congress, boasting "I saved his ass," according to a book by veteran journalist Bob Woodward.
The Open Society Justice Initiative, founded by billionaire George Soros, filed a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information act seeking access to intelligence agency records related to the assassination.
The CIA and ODNI rejected their request and failed to even confirm the existence of the documents, citing national security reasons.
But federal Judge Paul Engelmayer ordered the US government Tuesday to produce within two weeks a "Vaughn index" describing the documents it is withholding and providing legal justification for their non-disclosure.
In his ruling, Engelmayer cited Trump's comments in late 2018 when the president said, "We have the tape."
The ruling does not order the disclosure of the documents but the Open Society Justice Initiative described the order as a "crucial victory in addressing the Trump administration's shameful cover-up" of the murder.
"The court's judgement is a vital step towards ending impunity for the murder," said Amrit Singh, the foundation's lead lawyer in the case.
Riyadh initially denied that the gruesome murder happened before changing its version of events several times. It claims the killing was carried out by rogue agents acting alone.
In September, a Saudi court overturned five death sentences and handed eight defendants jail terms between seven and 20 years.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-09--France probes rescue helicopter crash that killed five

An Airbus EC135 helicopter belonging to Service aerien francais ( SAF ) , the same model that crashed in the Alps Tuesday French investigators were on Wednesday probing what caused a mountain rescue helicopter to crash on a training mission in the Alps , leaving five dead and the sole survivor badly hurt .
The helicopter , an Airbus EC135 operated by a private firm , crashed Tuesday evening around the town of Bonvillard just outside Albertville , one of the main resorts in the French Alps .
The Savoy region prefect Pascal Bolot -- the top local official -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only the flying instructor had survived but was badly wounded .
Initial reports said that it was the pilot who survived , but it was not clear if the flying instructor was himself at the controls of the helicopter at the time of the crash or another pilot .
Despite difficult weather conditions with fog at the crash site 1,800 metres ( 6,000 feet ) above sea level , he was evacuated to hospital .
Bolot said it was the flying instructor himself who had raised the alarm .
He added that an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Albertville but did not offer any explanation for how the crash happened .
Weather conditions were difficult at the time of the accident , with the local gendarmerie saying there was 40 centimetres ( 16 inches ) of snow on the ground .
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin had been due at the scene later Wednesday but his visit has now been delayed to Thursday .
Investigators from France 's Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis ( BEA ) agency for aviation are also set to arrive .
Two of those killed were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Alps -- a captain aged 45 and a brigadier aged 39 -- who were taking part in a training exercise , France 's national police force said on its Twitter account .
The other three killed were employees of the private firm that operated the helicopter and also employed the flying instructor .
`` They 'd take any risk to save lives , '' President Emmanuel Macron said in a tweet , paying tribute to those killed and the pilot `` fighting for his life '' .
`` They did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same commitment -- to save lives , '' added Prime Minister Jean Castex .
`` Their passing leaves the whole nation in mourning , '' he added .

Albertville (France) (AFP) –
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French investigators were on Wednesday probing what caused a mountain rescue helicopter to crash on a training mission in the Alps, leaving five dead and the sole survivor badly hurt.
The helicopter, an Airbus EC135 operated by a private firm, crashed Tuesday evening around the town of Bonvillard just outside Albertville, one of the main resorts in the French Alps.
The Savoy region prefect Pascal Bolot -- the top local official -- said among the six people on board only the flying instructor had survived but was badly wounded.
Initial reports said that it was the pilot who survived, but it was not clear if the flying instructor was himself at the controls of the helicopter at the time of the crash or another pilot.
Despite difficult weather conditions with fog at the crash site 1,800 metres (6,000 feet) above sea level, he was evacuated to hospital. Bolot said it was the flying instructor himself who had raised the alarm.
He added that an investigation has been opened by the prosecutor for Albertville but did not offer any explanation for how the crash happened.
Weather conditions were difficult at the time of the accident, with the local gendarmerie saying there was 40 centimetres (16 inches) of snow on the ground.
- 'Nation in mourning' -
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin had been due at the scene later Wednesday but his visit has now been delayed to Thursday. Investigators from France's Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis (BEA) agency for aviation are also set to arrive.
Two of those killed were members of a special mountain police unit for the Alps -- a captain aged 45 and a brigadier aged 39 -- who were taking part in a training exercise, France's national police force said on its Twitter account.
The other three killed were employees of the private firm that operated the helicopter and also employed the flying instructor.
"They'd take any risk to save lives," President Emmanuel Macron said in a tweet, paying tribute to those killed and the pilot "fighting for his life".
"They did not wear the same uniform but shared the same commitment -- to save lives," added Prime Minister Jean Castex. "Their passing leaves the whole nation in mourning," he added.
fh-ag-ari-sjw/tgb
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-09--Boeing 737 MAX returns to sky with Brazil commercial flight: AFP

Pilots are pictured in the cockpit of a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft operated by low-cost airline Gol as it sits on the tarmac before take off at Guarulhos International Airport , near Sao Paulo on December 9 , 2020 , as the 737 MAX returns into use more than 20 months after it was grounded following two deadly crashes More than 20 months after it was grounded following two deadly crashes , Boeing 's 737 MAX returned to the skies Wednesday with a commercial flight in Brazil , said AFP journalists on board .
Low-cost airline Gol 's Flight 4104 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Porto Alegre took off using the revamped jet in a first that Boeing hopes will turn the page on a badly damaging crisis in the wake of the twin crashes .
Most passengers aboard the 88-percent booked and 90-minute flight took little notice of the model number painted on the plane 's nose , and Gol made no fanfare for the occasion .
`` Good to know , '' a passenger said when told by an AFP journalist that the flight would be the first to use the 737 MAX since its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If it 's here , that must mean it 's safe , right ? ''
said the man , who asked that his name not be used .
The pilot -- one of 140 at Gol who received special updated training in the United States on the overhauled jet -- flashed a thumbs-up from the cockpit window as passengers boarded the plane .
Gol , the first company to resume commercial flights with the now-overhauled jet , said it was fully confident in the safety upgrades and expanded pilot training program implemented by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions to recertify the plane .
`` For the past 20 months , we have been carrying out the most intensive safety review in the history of commercial aviation , '' Gol 's vice president for operations , Celso Ferrer , said in a statement .
`` Safety comes first and foremost . ''
A Gol spokesman told AFP that any passenger who did not feel comfortable flying on the 737 MAX would be allowed to reschedule at no cost for up to 12 months from the date of purchase .
`` Exceptional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basis , '' he said in an email .
Gol , the biggest domestic airline in Brazil , said it expected to have its full fleet of seven 737 MAX planes back in the air by the end of the year .
The airline has also confirmed 95 firm orders for the 737 MAX with Boeing , in addition to 20 more already in the US awaiting delivery .
- 'We 're in the sky ! '
- The MAX was grounded in March 2019 after two crashes that together killed 346 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Air and 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crashes plunged Boeing into crisis .
Investigators identified a principal cause of both crashes as a faulty flight handling system known as the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System , or MCAS .
Meant to keep the plane from stalling as it ascends , the automated system instead forced the nose of the plane downward .
The US Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA ) ordered Boeing to revamp the jet and implement new pilot training protocols .
On November 18 , it approved the plane to return to service after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They are the only two aviation regulators to green-light the plane so far .
The European Aviation Safety Agency ( EASA ) began the process of recertifying it last month .
Crew on the Gol flight told AFP they were moved to be involved in such a key moment for the airline industry , which has been battered not only by the crisis at Boeing but by the upheaval of the coronavirus pandemic .
However , Gol stuck strictly to routine procedure aboard the plane , going through the pre-flight protocol with no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Passengers , who were all in face masks , did not appear to notice when the captain mentioned the plane 's model number .
In these troubled times for global travel , however , there was still a moment of magic for at least one passenger .
`` We 're in the sky ! ''
shouted a young child as the jet took off .

Aboard a Boeing 737 MAX (Brazil) (AFP) –
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More than 20 months after it was grounded following two deadly crashes, Boeing's 737 MAX returned to the skies Wednesday with a commercial flight in Brazil, said AFP journalists on board.
Low-cost airline Gol's Flight 4104 from Sao Paulo to the southern city of Porto Alegre took off using the revamped jet in a first that Boeing hopes will turn the page on a badly damaging crisis in the wake of the twin crashes.
Most passengers aboard the 88-percent booked and 90-minute flight took little notice of the model number painted on the plane's nose, and Gol made no fanfare for the occasion.
"Good to know," a passenger said when told by an AFP journalist that the flight would be the first to use the 737 MAX since its worldwide grounding in March 2019.
"If it's here, that must mean it's safe, right?" said the man, who asked that his name not be used.
The pilot -- one of 140 at Gol who received special updated training in the United States on the overhauled jet -- flashed a thumbs-up from the cockpit window as passengers boarded the plane.
- 'Safety first' -
Gol, the first company to resume commercial flights with the now-overhauled jet, said it was fully confident in the safety upgrades and expanded pilot training program implemented by Boeing as part of aviation regulators' conditions to recertify the plane.
"For the past 20 months, we have been carrying out the most intensive safety review in the history of commercial aviation," Gol's vice president for operations, Celso Ferrer, said in a statement.
"Safety comes first and foremost."
A Gol spokesman told AFP that any passenger who did not feel comfortable flying on the 737 MAX would be allowed to reschedule at no cost for up to 12 months from the date of purchase.
"Exceptional situations will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis," he said in an email.
Gol, the biggest domestic airline in Brazil, said it expected to have its full fleet of seven 737 MAX planes back in the air by the end of the year.
The airline has also confirmed 95 firm orders for the 737 MAX with Boeing, in addition to 20 more already in the US awaiting delivery.
- 'We're in the sky!' -
The MAX was grounded in March 2019 after two crashes that together killed 346 people.
The fallout of the 2018 Lion Air and 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crashes plunged Boeing into crisis.
Investigators identified a principal cause of both crashes as a faulty flight handling system known as the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, or MCAS.
Meant to keep the plane from stalling as it ascends, the automated system instead forced the nose of the plane downward.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered Boeing to revamp the jet and implement new pilot training protocols.
On November 18, it approved the plane to return to service after the upgrades were put in place.
Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) followed suit a week later.
They are the only two aviation regulators to green-light the plane so far.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) began the process of recertifying it last month.
Crew on the Gol flight told AFP they were moved to be involved in such a key moment for the airline industry, which has been battered not only by the crisis at Boeing but by the upheaval of the coronavirus pandemic.
However, Gol stuck strictly to routine procedure aboard the plane, going through the pre-flight protocol with no mention of the noteworthiness of the occasion.
Passengers, who were all in face masks, did not appear to notice when the captain mentioned the plane's model number.
In these troubled times for global travel, however, there was still a moment of magic for at least one passenger.
"We're in the sky!" shouted a young child as the jet took off.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-09--End of a nightmare for Ethiopian refugee mother and child

Seven-year-old Shalom was separated from her mother in the chaotic exodus of refugees from their Ethiopian hometown of Humer last month It is every parent 's worst nightmare : to be separated from their child .
And that is exactly what happened to Otash , an Ethiopian woman now living as a refugee in Sudan .
For a whole month , she knew nothing of the whereabouts of her seven-year-old daughter Shalom .
On November 7 , three days after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed 's government launched a military operation against the authorities of her native Tigray region , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` When the shelling and shooting started , I left the house to go find my sister , who is pregnant , '' says Otash , who used to own a restaurant in her home town of Humer .
`` I could n't find her , so I ran back home .
When I got there , I realised Shalom was n't there any more . ''
`` I searched and searched but could n't find her .
I had no choice but to flee , there was so much shelling , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find her child among the thousands of Ethiopians fleeing the offensive , she followed them to the border area .
`` An older woman from our community was helping people to gather information about missing family members .
I was told she might be in Sudan , so I came here , '' she says .
Two weeks later , she received another call .
Shalom had never left Humera at all .
She was in the care of a family that stayed behind , and despite the fighting , she was safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kahsai , a 29-year-old friend and frequent customer of her restaurant back home , asking him whether he could help .
At the time , Haftom was getting ready to cross the Sitet river that separates Ethiopia from Sudan , where he planned to seek refuge .
Some 49,000 Ethiopian refugees have crossed into Sudan , according to the United Nations .
- Together at last - Haftom said that he then contacted a friend in Humera who owned a motorbike , hoping that he could rescue Shalom and bring her to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and when Shalom arrived with my friend , I crossed the river with her on a boat , '' he told AFP at Sudan 's Hamdayet reception camp for recently arrived refugees .
`` At first , she was crying and afraid , '' Haftom said , adding that despite the risks they faced , he was `` happy to help the little girl . ''
Finally , on Tuesday , Shalom was reunited with her mother Otash at the camp in Hamdayet .
Behind Otash 's smile , her eyes welled up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's thick black hair .
She has found her daughter , but her pregnant sister remains missing .
In Shalom 's smile , meanwhile , there is nothing but perfect happiness .
`` I missed my mother so much , but now I feel great , '' she says .

Hamdayet (Sudan) (AFP) –
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It is every parent's worst nightmare: to be separated from their child.
And that is exactly what happened to Otash, an Ethiopian woman now living as a refugee in Sudan.
For a whole month, she knew nothing of the whereabouts of her seven-year-old daughter Shalom.
On November 7, three days after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government launched a military operation against the authorities of her native Tigray region, Otash lost sight of her daughter.
"When the shelling and shooting started, I left the house to go find my sister, who is pregnant," says Otash, who used to own a restaurant in her home town of Humer.
"I couldn't find her, so I ran back home. When I got there, I realised Shalom wasn't there any more."
- 'So much shelling' -
"I searched and searched but couldn't find her. I had no choice but to flee, there was so much shelling," Otash tells AFP.
Hoping she might find her child among the thousands of Ethiopians fleeing the offensive, she followed them to the border area.
"An older woman from our community was helping people to gather information about missing family members. I was told she might be in Sudan, so I came here," she says.
Two weeks later, she received another call. Shalom had never left Humera at all. She was in the care of a family that stayed behind, and despite the fighting, she was safe and sound.
Otash quickly contacted Haftom Kahsai, a 29-year-old friend and frequent customer of her restaurant back home, asking him whether he could help.
At the time, Haftom was getting ready to cross the Sitet river that separates Ethiopia from Sudan, where he planned to seek refuge.
Some 49,000 Ethiopian refugees have crossed into Sudan, according to the United Nations.
- Together at last -
Haftom said that he then contacted a friend in Humera who owned a motorbike, hoping that he could rescue Shalom and bring her to the border.
"I waited there, and when Shalom arrived with my friend, I crossed the river with her on a boat," he told AFP at Sudan's Hamdayet reception camp for recently arrived refugees.
"At first, she was crying and afraid," Haftom said, adding that despite the risks they faced, he was "happy to help the little girl."
Finally, on Tuesday, Shalom was reunited with her mother Otash at the camp in Hamdayet.
Behind Otash's smile, her eyes welled up with tears as she stroked her daughter's thick black hair.
She has found her daughter, but her pregnant sister remains missing.
In Shalom's smile, meanwhile, there is nothing but perfect happiness.
"I missed my mother so much, but now I feel great," she says.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-09--Germany battles soaring virus deaths as Biden makes vaccine vow

Britain doled out the first approved jabs in the Western world on Tuesday Germany was battling a second virus wave much more deadly than the first on Wednesday with record fatalities , as Joe Biden pledged to inoculate 100 million people in his first 100 days as US president .
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is urging regions to take much more drastic action to curb the spread , after state leaders agreed measures that would see comparatively modest social restrictions eased even further for the Christmas holidays .
The darkening mood in Germany was in stark contrast to the joy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first approved jabs in the Western world on Tuesday .
Both Russia and China have already begun inoculation campaigns with domestically produced vaccines and the United States is expected to grant emergency authorisation soon to the Pfizer-BioNTech jab -- the same one used in Britain .
Israel accepted its first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine on Wednesday , with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promising to be the first to be injected -- though it has yet to pass regulatory hurdles .
`` What is important to me is that Israeli citizens get vaccinated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to serve as an example to them . ''
The virus has now killed more than 1.5 million worldwide since it emerged in China late last year .
- Change 'for the better ' - Merkel has been in no mood for celebration , repeatedly urging local leaders who have responsibility for health policies to clamp down more strongly -- Germany 's death toll hitting a new high of 590 on Wednesday .
`` If we have too many contacts before Christmas and it ends up being the last Christmas with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed , '' she said .
Two weeks ago , Germany 's states agreed rules limiting social mixing to five people but agreed to double the limit to 10 for the holiday season -- something Merkel argued against .
The United States is also mired in political rows over an epidemic that has killed more than 280,000 -- the world 's worst toll .
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday that sought to guarantee access to vaccines for all Americans , but critics immediately queried what legal force it could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contracts with other countries .
Biden , who will take over from Trump in January , urged Congress to come up with funding to stop the virus response from stalling , and unveiled his plan for 100 million jabs in his first 100 days .
`` I 'm absolutely convinced that in 100 days , we can change the course of the disease and change life in America for the better , '' he said on Tuesday .
Merkel was not the only one issuing dire warnings -- UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in on fissures in societies and had exposed `` all our failures to invest in building fair and equitable societies '' .
Proving her point , experts are warning that hunger in the Philippines has reached new levels thanks in part to restrictions that have crippled the economy and left many without livelihoods .
`` If you go out there everybody will tell you that they 're more afraid of dying from hunger than dying from Covid , '' said Jomar Fleras of the Rise Against Hunger NGO .
And there were dark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Swedish-based watchdog saying more than 60 percent of countries had put in place anti-democratic measures during the pandemic .
Kevin Casas-Zamora of International IDEA told AFP he expected authoritarian governments to act in this way but added : `` What is more surprising is that so many democracies have adopted measures that are problematic on the standpoint of democracy and human rights . ''
`` Health is being trumped by political demands and that 's very concerning .
It 's not worth it , '' said Hermawan Saputra of the Indonesian Public Health @ @ @ @

Berlin (AFP) –
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Germany was battling a second virus wave much more deadly than the first on Wednesday with record fatalities, as Joe Biden pledged to inoculate 100 million people in his first 100 days as US president.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is urging regions to take much more drastic action to curb the spread, after state leaders agreed measures that would see comparatively modest social restrictions eased even further for the Christmas holidays.
The darkening mood in Germany was in stark contrast to the joy ushered in by Britain doling out the first approved jabs in the Western world on Tuesday.
Both Russia and China have already begun inoculation campaigns with domestically produced vaccines and the United States is expected to grant emergency authorisation soon to the Pfizer-BioNTech jab -- the same one used in Britain.
Israel accepted its first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine on Wednesday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promising to be the first to be injected -- though it has yet to pass regulatory hurdles.
"What is important to me is that Israeli citizens get vaccinated," he said. "I want to serve as an example to them."
The virus has now killed more than 1.5 million worldwide since it emerged in China late last year.
- Change 'for the better' -
Merkel has been in no mood for celebration, repeatedly urging local leaders who have responsibility for health policies to clamp down more strongly -- Germany's death toll hitting a new high of 590 on Wednesday.
"If we have too many contacts before Christmas and it ends up being the last Christmas with the grandparents, then we'd really have failed," she said.
Two weeks ago, Germany's states agreed rules limiting social mixing to five people but agreed to double the limit to 10 for the holiday season -- something Merkel argued against.
The United States is also mired in political rows over an epidemic that has killed more than 280,000 -- the world's worst toll.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday that sought to guarantee access to vaccines for all Americans, but critics immediately queried what legal force it could have as drug firms have already signed contracts with other countries.
Biden, who will take over from Trump in January, urged Congress to come up with funding to stop the virus response from stalling, and unveiled his plan for 100 million jabs in his first 100 days.
"I'm absolutely convinced that in 100 days, we can change the course of the disease and change life in America for the better," he said on Tuesday.
- Hunger the bigger fear -
Merkel was not the only one issuing dire warnings -- UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet telling reporters that the pandemic had zeroed in on fissures in societies and had exposed "all our failures to invest in building fair and equitable societies".
Proving her point, experts are warning that hunger in the Philippines has reached new levels thanks in part to restrictions that have crippled the economy and left many without livelihoods.
"If you go out there everybody will tell you that they're more afraid of dying from hunger than dying from Covid," said Jomar Fleras of the Rise Against Hunger NGO.
And there were dark warnings too for democracy, with a Swedish-based watchdog saying more than 60 percent of countries had put in place anti-democratic measures during the pandemic.
Kevin Casas-Zamora of International IDEA told AFP he expected authoritarian governments to act in this way but added: "What is more surprising is that so many democracies have adopted measures that are problematic on the standpoint of democracy and human rights."
"Health is being trumped by political demands and that's very concerning. It's not worth it," said Hermawan Saputra of the Indonesian Public Health Experts' Association.
burs-jxb/pma
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-09--Virus-hit Cyprus shuts hospitality, malls for holiday season

Rapid antigen tests throughout Cyprus have shown that `` the virus is everywhere , in all cities , villages , districts , '' said Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou Cyprus announced Wednesday it would close hospitality venues and shopping malls and ban church attendance over the Christmas holidays to curb a spike in coronavirus cases .
Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou announced the tighter restrictions following an emergency cabinet meeting .
Rapid antigen tests throughout Cyprus had shown that `` the virus is everywhere , in all cities , villages , districts '' .
He said bars , restaurants , cafes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will shopping malls , while church services will go ahead without attendees and after-school tutorial centres are also banned .
The new measures will be enforced from December 11 to 31 .
High schools will resort to remote learning from December 14 , Ioannou told a press conference .
`` With these measures we are trying to prevent a deterioration of the situation before the epidemiological picture becomes irreversible , '' he said .
Cyprus on November 30 imposed a nationwide eight-hour night-time curfew from 9 pm while hospitality venues were ordered to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were to expire on December 13 if the Covid-19 situation improved but Cyprus registered a high of 419 daily cases on Tuesday and five deaths , making it the deadliest day on record .
In the nine days since the government introduced new measures , 2,903 cases were reported , while another 20 hospital patients lost their lives to Covid-19 .
At the end of September Cyprus had only 1,755 cases , but the number of infections has since shot up to over 13,000 .
`` In recent days there has been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the pandemic broke out , '' said Ioannou .
The minister agreed there was `` fatigue '' among the public over the rules and restrictions , which was harming their effectiveness .
Cyprus had largely kept a lid on the pandemic by introducing an early lockdown in March that was gradually eased from early May .
Health authorities blame the spike on Cypriots flouting hygiene rules , including on mask-wearing and social distancing .
Face masks are mandatory indoors and outdoors , except at home , while household gatherings are limited to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funerals .
The Cyprus Covid-19 case tally is now at 13,286 and 68 deaths .

Nicosia (AFP) –
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Cyprus announced Wednesday it would close hospitality venues and shopping malls and ban church attendance over the Christmas holidays to curb a spike in coronavirus cases.
Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou announced the tighter restrictions following an emergency cabinet meeting.
Rapid antigen tests throughout Cyprus had shown that "the virus is everywhere, in all cities, villages, districts".
He said bars, restaurants, cafes and other hospitality venues must close, as will shopping malls, while church services will go ahead without attendees and after-school tutorial centres are also banned.
The new measures will be enforced from December 11 to 31.
High schools will resort to remote learning from December 14, Ioannou told a press conference.
"With these measures we are trying to prevent a deterioration of the situation before the epidemiological picture becomes irreversible," he said.
Cyprus on November 30 imposed a nationwide eight-hour night-time curfew from 9 pm while hospitality venues were ordered to shut at 7 pm.
These measures were to expire on December 13 if the Covid-19 situation improved but Cyprus registered a high of 419 daily cases on Tuesday and five deaths, making it the deadliest day on record.
In the nine days since the government introduced new measures, 2,903 cases were reported, while another 20 hospital patients lost their lives to Covid-19.
At the end of September Cyprus had only 1,755 cases, but the number of infections has since shot up to over 13,000.
"In recent days there has been a deterioration in epidemiological indicators, the worst since the pandemic broke out," said Ioannou.
The minister agreed there was "fatigue" among the public over the rules and restrictions, which was harming their effectiveness.
Cyprus had largely kept a lid on the pandemic by introducing an early lockdown in March that was gradually eased from early May.
Health authorities blame the spike on Cypriots flouting hygiene rules, including on mask-wearing and social distancing.
Face masks are mandatory indoors and outdoors, except at home, while household gatherings are limited to 10 people, as are weddings and funerals.
The Cyprus Covid-19 case tally is now at 13,286 and 68 deaths.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-09--Syria war deaths reach 387,000 in slowest annual increase: monitor

A woman visits the graves of slain Kurdish fighters at a cemetery in the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli in northeastern Syria in May The overall death toll for Syria 's civil war has crept up to 387,000 following the least deadly of 10 years of conflict , a monitor said Wednesday .
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights , which relies on a wide network of sources inside Syria , said the new figure included almost 117,000 civilians , among them more than 22,000 children .
The Observatory 's previous tally was issued in January and stood at more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2011 after the brutal repression of anti-government protests , has largely abated this year as a ceasefire held in northwestern Syria and attention turned to containing the coronavirus pandemic .
The latest toll included more than 130,500 pro-government fighters , among them foreigners .
More than half of those were Syrian soldiers , while 1,703 were from the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah whose members have been fighting in Syria since 2013 .
The conflict has claimed the lives of more than 57,000 non-jihadist rebel fighters .
It has also killed more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State group and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ( HTS ) , a group dominated by ex-members of Syria 's former Al-Qaeda affiliate .
More than 12,500 Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces fighters have been killed in battles against IS and Turkish forces .
The Observatory 's toll does not include some 88,000 people it says died of torture in government-run prisons , nor thousands who were abducted during the conflict and are still missing .
After turning the tide of the war with Russian and Iranian support since 2015 , the Syrian government now controls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the regions still beyond its reach are the last rebel enclave of Idlib in the northwest , Turkish-held areas along the northern border , and northeastern parts of the country held by US-backed Kurdish forces .
The war has forced more than half the country 's pre-war population to flee their homes .
Some 6.7 million Syrians remained displaced inside the country , while 5.5 million are registered as refugees abroad , according to the United Nations .

Beirut (AFP) –
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The overall death toll for Syria's civil war has crept up to 387,000 following the least deadly of 10 years of conflict, a monitor said Wednesday.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a wide network of sources inside Syria, said the new figure included almost 117,000 civilians, among them more than 22,000 children.
The Observatory's previous tally was issued in January and stood at more than 380,000.
The fighting, which erupted in 2011 after the brutal repression of anti-government protests, has largely abated this year as a ceasefire held in northwestern Syria and attention turned to containing the coronavirus pandemic.
The latest toll included more than 130,500 pro-government fighters, among them foreigners.
More than half of those were Syrian soldiers, while 1,703 were from the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah whose members have been fighting in Syria since 2013.
The conflict has claimed the lives of more than 57,000 non-jihadist rebel fighters.
It has also killed more than 67,500 jihadists, mainly from the Islamic State group and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group dominated by ex-members of Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate.
More than 12,500 Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces fighters have been killed in battles against IS and Turkish forces.
The Observatory's toll does not include some 88,000 people it says died of torture in government-run prisons, nor thousands who were abducted during the conflict and are still missing.
After turning the tide of the war with Russian and Iranian support since 2015, the Syrian government now controls around two-thirds of the country.
Among the regions still beyond its reach are the last rebel enclave of Idlib in the northwest, Turkish-held areas along the northern border, and northeastern parts of the country held by US-backed Kurdish forces.
The war has forced more than half the country's pre-war population to flee their homes.
Some 6.7 million Syrians remained displaced inside the country, while 5.5 million are registered as refugees abroad, according to the United Nations.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-09--Kohli absence creates 'void and opportunity' say's India legend Tendulkar

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar said captain Virat Kohli 's departure will leave a `` void '' for India in their Test tour of Australia , but added that it will hand a golden opportunity to a younger player .
In an interview with AFP , the record-setting batsmen said India 's bench strength would help as they bid to win a second straight Test series in Australia .
Kohli will only lead the side in the first of the four Tests -- starting in Adelaide on December 17 -- before returning home for the birth of his first child .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ veterans for India 's skipper in all three formats to hand over some of his captaincy duties permanently .
Tendulkar would not , however , join that debate , saying instead : `` Let 's understand , this is not about individuals .
It is about our team and the best part about Indian cricket right now is there is bench strength . ''
Still , he admitted Kohli would be missed .
`` When you lose an experienced player like this there is without any doubt a void , '' the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to get a chance to play in his spot and that 's an opportunity for someone else . ''
India could have other batting problems as senior batsman Rohit Sharma is racing to recover from a hamstring injury in time to join the Test team .
He is to undergo a fitness test on Friday , and Tendulkar said the presence of such an influential player is crucial .
`` If he meets all the parameters ; if he is fit then he should be there , '' said Tendulkar .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an experienced player .
When a senior cricketer comes back in the team , it does have an impact . ''
India have made a mixed start to the tour , losing the one-day series 2-1 , before reversing the result in the Twenty20 matches .
Kohli 's men , who enjoyed a historic first Test series win in Australia in 2018-19 , know this series will be a tough proposition .
Australia are just ahead of India in the world rankings and the Adelaide game will be the visitors ' first day-night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 47 , said the current Australian side is a lot `` stronger '' with leading batsmen David Warner and Steve Smith back from the ball-tampering suspensions that kept them out two years ago .
`` This is a far better squad compared to the earlier one .
When a couple of your senior members are not there , suddenly that void is felt and that is what Australia felt . ''
But he insisted that India 's bowling attack -- led by the fiery Jasprit Bumrah and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin -- is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Every era should be kept separate , I do n't like comparing , '' he said when asked if this was the strongest attack India has produced .
`` But I can say that it is a complete bowling attack .
So it does n't matter what kind of surface you are playing on , you have got all sides covered .
`` You have got bowlers who can swing the ball .
When it comes to variations and awkwardness , that is also there .
`` Someone hitting the deck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got a wrist spinner , we have got finger spinners . ''
Tendulkar , a right-hand batting maestro , made his debut for India aged just 16 in 1989 and set a swathe of batting records before retiring in 2013 .
He scored 15,921 runs from 200 Tests and 18,426 runs in 463 ODIs , hitting 100 centuries across both formats .

New Delhi (AFP) –
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Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar said captain Virat Kohli's departure will leave a "void" for India in their Test tour of Australia, but added that it will hand a golden opportunity to a younger player.
In an interview with AFP, the record-setting batsmen said India's bench strength would help as they bid to win a second straight Test series in Australia.
Kohli will only lead the side in the first of the four Tests -- starting in Adelaide on December 17 -- before returning home for the birth of his first child.
There have also been calls from some veterans for India's skipper in all three formats to hand over some of his captaincy duties permanently.
Tendulkar would not, however, join that debate, saying instead: "Let's understand, this is not about individuals. It is about our team and the best part about Indian cricket right now is there is bench strength."
Still, he admitted Kohli would be missed.
"When you lose an experienced player like this there is without any doubt a void," the former India captain said.
- Batting problems -
"Some youngster is going to get a chance to play in his spot and that's an opportunity for someone else."
India could have other batting problems as senior batsman Rohit Sharma is racing to recover from a hamstring injury in time to join the Test team.
He is to undergo a fitness test on Friday, and Tendulkar said the presence of such an influential player is crucial.
"If he meets all the parameters; if he is fit then he should be there," said Tendulkar.
"Rohit is a special player and an experienced player. When a senior cricketer comes back in the team, it does have an impact."
India have made a mixed start to the tour, losing the one-day series 2-1, before reversing the result in the Twenty20 matches.
Kohli's men, who enjoyed a historic first Test series win in Australia in 2018-19, know this series will be a tough proposition.
Australia are just ahead of India in the world rankings and the Adelaide game will be the visitors' first day-night five-day game on foreign soil.
- 'Complete bowling attack' -
Tendulkar, 47, said the current Australian side is a lot "stronger" with leading batsmen David Warner and Steve Smith back from the ball-tampering suspensions that kept them out two years ago.
"This is a far better squad compared to the earlier one. When a couple of your senior members are not there, suddenly that void is felt and that is what Australia felt."
But he insisted that India's bowling attack -- led by the fiery Jasprit Bumrah and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin -- is also stronger, and can challenge Australia.
"Every era should be kept separate, I don't like comparing," he said when asked if this was the strongest attack India has produced.
"But I can say that it is a complete bowling attack. So it doesn't matter what kind of surface you are playing on, you have got all sides covered.
"You have got bowlers who can swing the ball. When it comes to variations and awkwardness, that is also there.
"Someone hitting the deck hard is also there. We have got a wrist spinner, we have got finger spinners."
Tendulkar, a right-hand batting maestro, made his debut for India aged just 16 in 1989 and set a swathe of batting records before retiring in 2013.
He scored 15,921 runs from 200 Tests and 18,426 runs in 463 ODIs, hitting 100 centuries across both formats.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-09--Louvre museum auctions quality time with the Mona Lisa

As the coronavirus pandemic keeps visitors away , the Louvre is offering time close-up with the `` Mona Lisa '' @ @ @ @ @ French museum 's historic rooftop at an auction to help plug a gaping hole in @ @ @ @ @ bidder will get the chance to witness the annual examination of Leonardo da Vinci 's @ @ @ @ @ over the heads of a crowd thronging the portrait .

Louvre museum auctions quality time with the Mona Lisa
01:28
As the coronavirus pandemic keeps visitors away, the Louvre is offering time close-up with the "Mona Lisa" and a walk along the French museum's historic rooftop at an auction to help plug a gaping hole in its finances. The highest bidder will get the chance to witness the annual examination of Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece, usually only glimpsed over the heads of a crowd thronging the portrait.


france24--2020-12-09--French prosecutors seek prison term for Sarkozy in graft trial

Prosecutors in the landmark corruption trial of French ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday called for him to be sentenced to @ @ @ @ @ years of which he should serve two .
The 65-year-old rightwinger is accused of trying @ @ @ @ @ a plum retirement job in exchange for inside information on an inquiry into his campaign @ @

French prosecutors seek prison term for Sarkozy in graft trial
01:20
Prosecutors in the landmark corruption trial of French ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday called for him to be sentenced to a prison term of four years of which he should serve two. The 65-year-old rightwinger is accused of trying to bribe a judge with a plum retirement job in exchange for inside information on an inquiry into his campaign finances.


france24--2020-12-09--France secularism law: Govt mulls draft bill targeting religious extremism

President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday seeks his cabinet 's blessing for draft legislation combatting `` radical Islamism '' after a @ @ @ @ @ critics fear risks targeting all Muslims .
Macron argues the legislation is needed to shore @ @ @ @ @ system but the plan has further stirred up social tensions over the consequences for Europe @ @ @ @ @ FRANCE 24 's French Politics Editor Marc Perelman explains .

France secularism law: Govt mulls draft bill targeting religious extremism
03:14
President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday seeks his cabinet's blessing for draft legislation combatting "radical Islamism" after a spate of attacks, which critics fear risks targeting all Muslims. Macron argues the legislation is needed to shore up France's staunchly secular system but the plan has further stirred up social tensions over the consequences for Europe's largest Muslim community. FRANCE 24's French Politics Editor Marc Perelman explains.


france24--2020-12-09--England confirm two-Test tour of Sri Lanka

England will play two Test matches behind closed doors in Sri Lanka next month , the England and Wales Cricket @ @ @ @ @ The ECB said they had agreed biosecurity and travel plans with Sri Lanka Cricket for @ @ @ @ @ cut short in March during warm-up games due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Both Tests @ @ @ @ @ starting on January 14 and January 22 respectively .
England will leave on a chartered @ @ @ @ @ will be subject to quarantine when they arrive but will be able to train at @ @ @ @ @ Stadium .
The two-match series forms part of the World Test Championship and will be @ @ @ @ @ in the inaugural tournament .
England are third in the standings , behind Australia and @ @ @ @ @ conclude their campaign against India , subject to confirmation of the India tour schedule .

London (AFP) –
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England will play two Test matches behind closed doors in Sri Lanka next month, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Wednesday.
The ECB said they had agreed biosecurity and travel plans with Sri Lanka Cricket for the tour, which was cut short in March during warm-up games due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Both Tests will be in Galle, starting on January 14 and January 22 respectively.
England will leave on a chartered flight on January 2 and will be subject to quarantine when they arrive but will be able to train at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium.
The two-match series forms part of the World Test Championship and will be England’s penultimate series in the inaugural tournament.
England are third in the standings, behind Australia and India.
They hope to conclude their campaign against India, subject to confirmation of the India tour schedule.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-09--Ghana election rivals voice confidence as vote results are delayed

An Electoral Commission worker empties a ballot box after Ghana 's presidential and parliamentary election on December 7 , 2020 .
The two leading candidates in Ghana 's presidential election have both said they are confident of victory based on their own tallies as the announcement of official results is delayed .
Ghana 's ruling New Patriotic Party ( NPP ) said on Tuesday morning that President Nana Akufo-Addo held a slight lead in his bid for re-election , with 52.72 % of the votes from 88 % of polling stations .
But on Tuesday night , his main rival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had won 10 of 16 regions according to his camp 's preliminary tally .
`` I am happy with the results , '' Mahama said in a speech .
`` We will resist any attempt to subvert the will of the people . ''
Both sides have said they will also likely come away with a majority in the parliamentary vote .
Ghana is seen as a solid democracy in an unstable region where election disputes this year have prompted fears of a democratic backslide .
Free of pressing concerns about security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been able to focus on their competing plans to end an economic crisis in West Africa 's second-largest economy .
Ghana emerged last year from a three-year lending programme with the International Monetary Fund only for the coronavirus pandemic to knock demand for its key exports of oil and cocoa , leading to the economy 's first quarterly contraction in nearly 40 years .
The election commission was expected to announce results on Tuesday but said in a statement that they will be delayed , without giving an updated schedule .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since 1992 and this was the third straight election in which Akufo-Addo and Mahama have faced off .
They agreed last week to resolve any disputes in court after fears that unofficial security groups hired by politicians could disrupt the vote .

The two leading candidates in Ghana's presidential election have both said they are confident of victory based on their own tallies as the announcement of official results is delayed.
An Electoral Commission worker empties a ballot box after Ghana's presidential and parliamentary election on December 7, 2020.
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Ghana's ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) said on Tuesday morning that President Nana Akufo-Addo held a slight lead in his bid for re-election, with 52.72% of the votes from 88% of polling stations.
But on Tuesday night, his main rival, former president John Mahama, said he had won 10 of 16 regions according to his camp's preliminary tally.
"I am happy with the results," Mahama said in a speech. "We will resist any attempt to subvert the will of the people."
Both sides have said they will also likely come away with a majority in the parliamentary vote.
Ghana is seen as a solid democracy in an unstable region where election disputes this year have prompted fears of a democratic backslide.
Free of pressing concerns about security or ethnic unrest, the main candidates have been able to focus on their competing plans to end an economic crisis in West Africa's second-largest economy.
Ghana emerged last year from a three-year lending programme with the International Monetary Fund only for the coronavirus pandemic to knock demand for its key exports of oil and cocoa, leading to the economy's first quarterly contraction in nearly 40 years.
The election commission was expected to announce results on Tuesday but said in a statement that they will be delayed, without giving an updated schedule.
The two main parties have alternated in power since 1992 and this was the third straight election in which Akufo-Addo and Mahama have faced off.
They agreed last week to resolve any disputes in court after fears that unofficial security groups hired by politicians could disrupt the vote.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-12-09--US Supreme Court rejects Republican challenge to Biden's Pennsylvania win

The US Supreme Court on Tuesday handed a defeat to Republicans seeking to throw out up to 2.5 million mail-in @ @ @ @ @ try to undo President Donald Trump 's election loss , with the justices refusing to @ @ @ @ @ President-elect Joe Biden 's victory there .
FRANCE 24 's Kethevane Gorjestani tells us more @

US Supreme Court rejects Republican challenge to Biden's Pennsylvania win
01:36
The US Supreme Court on Tuesday handed a defeat to Republicans seeking to throw out up to 2.5 million mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania as they try to undo President Donald Trump's election loss, with the justices refusing to block the state from formalizing President-elect Joe Biden's victory there. FRANCE 24's Kethevane Gorjestani tells us more.


france24--2020-12-09--Badminton star Momota announces return to competition

Momota will return to competition after recovering from injuries sustained in a car accident at the start of the year Japan 's badminton world number one Kento Momota on Wednesday announced his long-awaited return to competition , nearly a year after suffering serious injuries in a car crash , as he begins his bid for home glory at the Tokyo Olympics .
Momota will compete at the All-Japan national championships in Tokyo in late December before playing in the Thailand Open early in January , following a difficult year in which he feared his career might be over after fracturing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It 's been almost a year since my last international tournament , '' said Momota , who was hurt in January when the vehicle taking him to Kuala Lumpur airport -- just hours after he won the Malaysia Masters -- was involved in an accident that killed his driver .
`` First I have the All-Japan championships and I want to concentrate on that , but I 'm really looking forward to playing against the best international players .
`` I 'm nervous but I 'm really looking forward to it .
@

Tokyo (AFP) –
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Japan's badminton world number one Kento Momota on Wednesday announced his long-awaited return to competition, nearly a year after suffering serious injuries in a car crash, as he begins his bid for home glory at the Tokyo Olympics.
Momota will compete at the All-Japan national championships in Tokyo in late December before playing in the Thailand Open early in January, following a difficult year in which he feared his career might be over after fracturing his eye socket in the accident.
"It's been almost a year since my last international tournament," said Momota, who was hurt in January when the vehicle taking him to Kuala Lumpur airport -- just hours after he won the Malaysia Masters -- was involved in an accident that killed his driver.
"First I have the All-Japan championships and I want to concentrate on that, but I'm really looking forward to playing against the best international players.
"I'm nervous but I'm really looking forward to it."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-09--World set for 3C warming despite pandemic, pledges: UN

The Emissions Gap report analyses the gulf between action required under the Paris climate deal and emissions cuts currently planned by countries Earth remains on course to warm more than 3 degrees Celsius by the century 's end despite a dip in greenhouse gas emissions due to the pandemic and pledges to curb pollution , the UN said Wednesday .
In its annual assessment of emissions levels , the UN 's Environment Programme found that 2020 's 7-percent fall in carbon pollution would have `` negligible impact '' on warming without a broad and rapid shift away from fossil fuels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gulf between action required under the Paris climate deal and emissions cuts currently planned by countries .
It found that a `` green recovery '' from the pandemic , in which emerging net-zero pledges are accelerated , could shave 25 percent off of emissions by 2030 .
This would bring the world closer to levels required to limit warming to 2C ( 3.6 Farenheit ) , as stipulated under Paris .
With just over 1C of warming since pre-industrial times , Earth is already experiencing stronger and more frequent droughts , wildfires and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Obviously the world has been in lockdown .
During this time we saw a 7 percent decline in emissions , '' UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen told AFP .
`` But we also know that the answer is not to lock up the world and have 1.9 billion children out of school . ''
She said Wednesday 's report showed that a green pandemic recovery `` can take a huge slice out of greenhouse gas emissions and help slow climate change '' .
UNEP said last year that emissions must fall 7.6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep the more ambitious Paris temperature goal of 1.5C in play .
While 2020 is likely to see emissions fall broadly in line with that figure , it took an unprecedented slowdown in industry , travel and manufacturing to achieve .
Experts fear that a rebound in carbon emissions is nearly inevitable in 2021 ; last week the UN said that countries planned to increase fossil fuel production by 2 percent each year this decade .
To limit warming to 1.5C it said oil , gas and coal production instead must fall 6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that emissions in 2019 -- a year scientists still hope will represent a peak in annual carbon pollution -- stood at 59.1 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent .
This represents a 2.6 percent increase compared with 2018 , largely driven by an increase in forest fires , UNEP said .
It said reduced travel , industrial activity and electrical generation due to the pandemic would see emissions fall 7 percent compared with last year .
But that would only translate to a 0.01C reduction of global warming by 2050 .
UNEP said a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit 44 GT in 2030 compared with a predicted 59 GT , giving humanity a 66 percent change of holding temperature rises under 2C .
This would need widespread switches to renewable energy , direct support for zero-emission technology and infrastructure , reducing fossil fuel subsidies , no new coal plants and widespread reforestation , it said .
Yet the pandemic recovery already appears to have support for high pollution industries already figured in , with only a quarter of G20 nations dedicating spending shares to low-carbon measures .
The report also layed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to carbon pollution : the wealthiest 1 percent account for more than twice the combined emissions of the poorest 50 percent .
UNEP said this group needed to slash its carbon footprint by a factor of 30 to stay in line with the Paris targets .
`` It is about energy efficiency , about how we choose to eat and what we waste , '' said Andersen .
`` The 1 percent needs to move the most because of their very high consumption footprint . ''

Paris (AFP) –
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Earth remains on course to warm more than 3 degrees Celsius by the century's end despite a dip in greenhouse gas emissions due to the pandemic and pledges to curb pollution, the UN said Wednesday.
In its annual assessment of emissions levels, the UN's Environment Programme found that 2020's 7-percent fall in carbon pollution would have "negligible impact" on warming without a broad and rapid shift away from fossil fuels.
The Emissions Gap report analyses the gulf between action required under the Paris climate deal and emissions cuts currently planned by countries.
It found that a "green recovery" from the pandemic, in which emerging net-zero pledges are accelerated, could shave 25 percent off of emissions by 2030.
This would bring the world closer to levels required to limit warming to 2C (3.6 Farenheit), as stipulated under Paris.
With just over 1C of warming since pre-industrial times, Earth is already experiencing stronger and more frequent droughts, wildfires and superstorms rendered deadlier by rising seas.
"Obviously the world has been in lockdown. During this time we saw a 7 percent decline in emissions," UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen told AFP.
"But we also know that the answer is not to lock up the world and have 1.9 billion children out of school."
She said Wednesday's report showed that a green pandemic recovery "can take a huge slice out of greenhouse gas emissions and help slow climate change".
UNEP said last year that emissions must fall 7.6 percent annually through 2030 in order to keep the more ambitious Paris temperature goal of 1.5C in play.
While 2020 is likely to see emissions fall broadly in line with that figure, it took an unprecedented slowdown in industry, travel and manufacturing to achieve.
Experts fear that a rebound in carbon emissions is nearly inevitable in 2021; last week the UN said that countries planned to increase fossil fuel production by 2 percent each year this decade.
To limit warming to 1.5C it said oil, gas and coal production instead must fall 6 percent each year.
Wednesday's assessment found that emissions in 2019 -- a year scientists still hope will represent a peak in annual carbon pollution -- stood at 59.1 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent.
This represents a 2.6 percent increase compared with 2018, largely driven by an increase in forest fires, UNEP said.
- Emissions inequality -
It said reduced travel, industrial activity and electrical generation due to the pandemic would see emissions fall 7 percent compared with last year.
But that would only translate to a 0.01C reduction of global warming by 2050.
UNEP said a green recovery from Covid-19 would see emissions hit 44 GT in 2030 compared with a predicted 59 GT, giving humanity a 66 percent change of holding temperature rises under 2C.
This would need widespread switches to renewable energy, direct support for zero-emission technology and infrastructure, reducing fossil fuel subsidies, no new coal plants and widespread reforestation, it said.
Yet the pandemic recovery already appears to have support for high pollution industries already figured in, with only a quarter of G20 nations dedicating spending shares to low-carbon measures.
The report also layed bare the vast inequality when it comes to carbon pollution: the wealthiest 1 percent account for more than twice the combined emissions of the poorest 50 percent.
UNEP said this group needed to slash its carbon footprint by a factor of 30 to stay in line with the Paris targets.
"It is about energy efficiency, about how we choose to eat and what we waste," said Andersen.
"The 1 percent needs to move the most because of their very high consumption footprint."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-10--Nobel prize ceremonies forgo 'the magic' because of Covid

The WFP , shown here at work in Yemen , was honoured with the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts `` to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war '' Forget lavish banquets and glittering ceremonies attended by royals wearing tiaras : the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize will be presented to the World Food Programme ( WFP ) in more austere fashion online on Thursday because of Covid-19 .
`` This year has been difficult for us , as it has been for many others as well , '' the director of the Nobel Institute , Olav @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the ceremony .
`` It 's a shame that the laureate misses out on the usual magic but there 's nothing we can do about that . ''
The Covid-19 pandemic has forced Nobel officials to scale back the traditional festivities to a bare minimum , both in Oslo where the Peace Prize is announced and presented , and in Stockholm , which is home to the prizes for medicine , physics , chemistry , literature and economics .
As a result , WFP executive director David Beasley will be presented the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organisation 's Rome headquarters in a ceremony broadcast online at 1 pm ( 1200 GMT ) .
The WFP , founded in 1961 , was honoured with the prestigious award for its efforts `` to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict '' , Nobel committee chairwoman Berit Reiss-Andersen said when she announced the winner on October 9 .
The largest humanitarian organisation fighting famine , the UN agency feeds tens of millions of people each year -- 97 million last year -- across all continents .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in the world today has the right to live peacefully and without hunger , '' the WFP wrote on Twitter this week .
The Nobels are traditionally presented on December 10 , the anniversary of the 1896 death of prize founder Alfred Nobel , a Swedish scientist and philanthropist .
The Oslo celebration is known for its lush floral arrangements at City Hall , musical interludes , special guests from Hollywood and royalty , and a highly anticipated Nobel acceptance speech , all followed by a fancy banquet .
But Thursday 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In order to respect restrictions on contacts , only Reiss-Andersen as the head of the five-member Nobel committee will take part , and she will be online from inside the walls of the Nobel Institute in Oslo .
Beasley will instead make a visit to the Norwegian capital sometime in 2021 .
The last time the Peace Prize ceremony was scrapped was in 1976 , when the award was `` reserved '' until the following year owing to a lack of suitable candidates .
Despite the scaled-back format , Njolstad tried to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It 's very possible that , paradoxically , more people than usual will watch the prize ceremony since we 've gone to so much effort to be present online , '' he said .
The ceremony will be broadcast on the WFP 's Facebook page , YouTube and the Nobel Prize website , among others .
Meanwhile in Stockholm , the extravagant festivities have also been cancelled , replaced by events mostly pre-recorded for an online broadcast on Thursday .
US poet Louise Gluck received her Nobel Literature Prize in a private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday , followed by separate events for the other winners in their cities of residence in recent days .
The head of the Nobel Foundation and members of the various prize committees will make speeches , interspersed with pre-recorded musical performances and footage of the laureates receiving their diplomas and medals .
This is the first time since World War II that the Stockholm celebrations -- which include a gala banquet attended by the royal family -- have been cancelled .

Oslo (AFP) –
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Forget lavish banquets and glittering ceremonies attended by royals wearing tiaras: the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize will be presented to the World Food Programme (WFP) in more austere fashion online on Thursday because of Covid-19.
"This year has been difficult for us, as it has been for many others as well," the director of the Nobel Institute, Olav Njolstad, told AFP on the eve of the ceremony.
"It's a shame that the laureate misses out on the usual magic but there's nothing we can do about that."
The Covid-19 pandemic has forced Nobel officials to scale back the traditional festivities to a bare minimum, both in Oslo where the Peace Prize is announced and presented, and in Stockholm, which is home to the prizes for medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and economics.
As a result, WFP executive director David Beasley will be presented the Nobel gold medal and diploma at the organisation's Rome headquarters in a ceremony broadcast online at 1 pm (1200 GMT).
The WFP, founded in 1961, was honoured with the prestigious award for its efforts "to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict", Nobel committee chairwoman Berit Reiss-Andersen said when she announced the winner on October 9.
The largest humanitarian organisation fighting famine, the UN agency feeds tens of millions of people each year -- 97 million last year -- across all continents.
"Every one of the 690 million hungry people in the world today has the right to live peacefully and without hunger," the WFP wrote on Twitter this week.
- First time since 1976 -
The Nobels are traditionally presented on December 10, the anniversary of the 1896 death of prize founder Alfred Nobel, a Swedish scientist and philanthropist.
The Oslo celebration is known for its lush floral arrangements at City Hall, musical interludes, special guests from Hollywood and royalty, and a highly anticipated Nobel acceptance speech, all followed by a fancy banquet.
But Thursday's ceremony will be a simple online affair.
In order to respect restrictions on contacts, only Reiss-Andersen as the head of the five-member Nobel committee will take part, and she will be online from inside the walls of the Nobel Institute in Oslo.
Beasley will instead make a visit to the Norwegian capital sometime in 2021.
The last time the Peace Prize ceremony was scrapped was in 1976, when the award was "reserved" until the following year owing to a lack of suitable candidates.
- The bright side -
Despite the scaled-back format, Njolstad tried to see things from the bright side.
"It's very possible that, paradoxically, more people than usual will watch the prize ceremony since we've gone to so much effort to be present online," he said.
The ceremony will be broadcast on the WFP's Facebook page, YouTube and the Nobel Prize website, among others.
Meanwhile in Stockholm, the extravagant festivities have also been cancelled, replaced by events mostly pre-recorded for an online broadcast on Thursday.
US poet Louise Gluck received her Nobel Literature Prize in a private ceremony at her home in Massachusetts on Sunday, followed by separate events for the other winners in their cities of residence in recent days.
The head of the Nobel Foundation and members of the various prize committees will make speeches, interspersed with pre-recorded musical performances and footage of the laureates receiving their diplomas and medals.
This is the first time since World War II that the Stockholm celebrations -- which include a gala banquet attended by the royal family -- have been cancelled.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-10--Ghana president narrowly re-elected as opposition rejects results

Ghana 's President Nana Akufo-Addo tells celebrating supporters in Accra that `` now is the time to unite '' Ghana 's President Nana Akufo-Addo has won a second term in office , the electoral commission announced Wednesday , a result his rival John Mahama 's party said it would appeal .
The West African country is known for its stable democracy , but tensions rose over Monday 's presidential and legislative vote after Mahama claimed to have won a parliamentary majority and warned Akufo-Addo against stealing the vote .
In the presidential race , Akufo-Addo received 51.59 percent of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president Mahama 's 47.36 percent , the electoral commission said .
The announcement was greeted with chanting and dancing by a crowd of supporters in the seaside capital Accra .
But the opposition has called the election `` flawed . ''
`` Overwhelming evidence available makes it impossible for us to accept this spurious and hurried conclusion , '' Haruna Iddrisu , a member of parliament for the National Democratic Congress ( NDC ) party said at a press conference .
`` We intend to take decisive and concrete steps , both with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overturn this brazen and shameless attack on our democracy . ''
In a victory speech on Wednesday , the president-elect leader of the New Patriotic Party ( NPP ) addressed his jubilant supporters , calling for peace .
`` Now is the time , irrespective of political affiliations , to unite , join hands and stand shoulder to shoulder , '' 76-year-old Akufo-Addo said .
Observers viewed polling as generally free and fair but police said five people were killed and 19 injured in election-related violence .
The political climate soured late Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` credentials that are very undemocratic '' .
Mahama , 62 , charged that Akufo-Addo had harnessed the military in a bid to sway the outcome , a claim the government said was false .
`` You can not use the military to try and overturn some of the results in constituencies that we have won .
We will resist any attempts to subvert the sovereign will of the Ghanaian people , '' the former president said .
Mahama -- who has twice before lost to Akufo-Addo by a narrow margin , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to comment on the results .
The full count of the 275 parliamentary seats has not been announced and are expected to be very close .
Ghana has recorded high levels of growth during Akufo-Addo 's first term as he worked to diversify an economy largely dependent on cocoa exports and more recently oil and gold .
On education in particular , he is considered to have done well , which matters in a country where 18- to 35-year-olds account for more than half of all eligible voters .
But while Ghana has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many still live in extreme poverty with scarce access to clean water or electricity .
`` There could be a tendency for an incumbent , who has just secured a second term , to take it easy and relax , '' Akufo-Addo .
`` I am of a different character .
I give you my word that I will continue to work very hard to build a prosperous and progressive Ghana , for which we yearn . ''
Former Ghanaian president John Kufuor was one of the first to congratulate Akufo-Addo , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Ghana has had seven peaceful transitions of power since the return of democracy more than 30 years ago , as post-electoral grievances have always been pursued through the courts –- a rarity in the troubled region .
Hoping to retain that reputation , Akufo-Addo and Mahama on Friday signed a symbolic peace pact , which the 15-nation regional bloc ECOWAS urged `` all political parties and their leadership to respect . ''
The European Union 's chief observer Javier Nart said Wednesday that `` Ghanaians voted freely '' .
`` While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on election day and during the campaign ... fears of violence and vigilantism fortunately did n't materialise : they were minor , isolated incidents , some of them tragic , '' he said .
Despite the coronavirus pandemic , turnout was high , with 13,434,574 people voting -- 79 percent of registered voters .
An urgent task for the next government will be to limit mounting debt and control rising inflation .

Accra (AFP) –
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Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo has won a second term in office, the electoral commission announced Wednesday, a result his rival John Mahama's party said it would appeal.
The West African country is known for its stable democracy, but tensions rose over Monday's presidential and legislative vote after Mahama claimed to have won a parliamentary majority and warned Akufo-Addo against stealing the vote.
In the presidential race, Akufo-Addo received 51.59 percent of the vote, beating opposition leader and former president Mahama's 47.36 percent, the electoral commission said.
The announcement was greeted with chanting and dancing by a crowd of supporters in the seaside capital Accra.
But the opposition has called the election "flawed."
"Overwhelming evidence available makes it impossible for us to accept this spurious and hurried conclusion," Haruna Iddrisu, a member of parliament for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party said at a press conference.
"We intend to take decisive and concrete steps, both with the presidential and parliamentary results, to overturn this brazen and shameless attack on our democracy."
In a victory speech on Wednesday, the president-elect leader of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) addressed his jubilant supporters, calling for peace.
"Now is the time, irrespective of political affiliations, to unite, join hands and stand shoulder to shoulder," 76-year-old Akufo-Addo said.
Observers viewed polling as generally free and fair but police said five people were killed and 19 injured in election-related violence.
The political climate soured late Tuesday when Mahama accused his rival of showing "credentials that are very undemocratic".
Mahama, 62, charged that Akufo-Addo had harnessed the military in a bid to sway the outcome, a claim the government said was false.
"You cannot use the military to try and overturn some of the results in constituencies that we have won. We will resist any attempts to subvert the sovereign will of the Ghanaian people," the former president said.
Mahama -- who has twice before lost to Akufo-Addo by a narrow margin, the last time in 2016 -- has yet to comment on the results.
The full count of the 275 parliamentary seats has not been announced and are expected to be very close.
- 'Prosperous and progressive' -
Ghana has recorded high levels of growth during Akufo-Addo's first term as he worked to diversify an economy largely dependent on cocoa exports and more recently oil and gold.
On education in particular, he is considered to have done well, which matters in a country where 18- to 35-year-olds account for more than half of all eligible voters.
But while Ghana has made large strides in recent years, many still live in extreme poverty with scarce access to clean water or electricity.
"There could be a tendency for an incumbent, who has just secured a second term, to take it easy and relax," Akufo-Addo.
"I am of a different character. I give you my word that I will continue to work very hard to build a prosperous and progressive Ghana, for which we yearn."
Former Ghanaian president John Kufuor was one of the first to congratulate Akufo-Addo, saying on Twitter: "you deserve it."
- Peace pact -
Ghana has had seven peaceful transitions of power since the return of democracy more than 30 years ago, as post-electoral grievances have always been pursued through the courts –- a rarity in the troubled region.
Hoping to retain that reputation, Akufo-Addo and Mahama on Friday signed a symbolic peace pact, which the 15-nation regional bloc ECOWAS urged "all political parties and their leadership to respect."
The European Union's chief observer Javier Nart said Wednesday that "Ghanaians voted freely".
"While there were isolated violent incidents, both on election day and during the campaign... fears of violence and vigilantism fortunately didn't materialise: they were minor, isolated incidents, some of them tragic," he said.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, turnout was high, with 13,434,574 people voting -- 79 percent of registered voters.
An urgent task for the next government will be to limit mounting debt and control rising inflation.
© 2020 AFP