france24--2020-09-22--Trump says he will nominate a replacement for Ginsburg by Saturday

US President Donald Trump delivers a speech while campaigning at Dayton International Airport in Dayton , Ohio , September 21 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump raced on Monday to cement a conservative majority on the US Supreme Court before the Nov. 3 election , telling reporters he planned by Saturday to reveal his pick to succeed liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
Democrats ’ hope of keeping the seat empty faded when two Republican senators , Chuck Grassley and Cory Gardner , signaled their support for moving forward quickly .
Speaking to reporters at the White House , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or two candidates among five who are under consideration .
He called on the Senate , controlled by his fellow Republicans , to vote on confirmation before the election in which he is seeking a second term .
“ I ’ d much rather have a vote before the election , ” he said .
“ We have plenty of time to do it.
” Two federal appeals court judges appointed by Trump are clear front-runners : Amy Coney Barrett of the Chicago-based 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals and Barbara Lagoa of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Appeals .
Trump met with Barrett at the White House on Monday , according to a source familiar with the situation .
Ginsburg died on Friday of complications from pancreatic cancer at age 87 .
Trump ’ s announcement would come before Ginsburg is due to be buried privately at Arlington National Cemetery next week .
Officials have arranged for a public viewing of her body outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday and Thursday and inside the US Capitol on Friday .
Ginsburg ’ s death gives Trump and his party an opportunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a court whose decisions influence many spheres of American life including abortion , healthcare , gun rights , voting access , presidential powers and the death penalty .
With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate , it would require at least four of them to break ranks to stop the nomination from going through .
Two Republican senators — Maine ’ s Susan Collins and Alaska ’ s Lisa Murkowski — said over the weekend that the chamber should not move forward with a Trump nominee before the election .
Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gardner , who faces a tough re-election race in Colorado , and Grassley .
But both men said on Monday they would vote to confirm a qualified Trump pick .
Republican Senator Mitt Romney , who has clashed with Trump and is seen by Democrats as a potential holdout , avoided questions about the Supreme Court seat on Monday .
“ Before I have any comment , I ’ m going to meet with my colleagues , which I ’ ll be doing tomorrow , ” Romney , the party ’ s 2012 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have accused Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of hypocrisy for being eager to bring a Trump nominee to a confirmation vote .
In 2016 , he refused even to consider Democratic President Barack Obama ’ s nominee to fill a vacancy on the court left by the death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia , saying it would be inappropriate to do so during an election year .
McConnell , who has prioritized confirming Trump ’ s judicial appointments , said he would usher through a vote this year , although he did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has more than sufficient time to process a nomination .
History and precedent make that perfectly clear , ” McConnell said on the Senate floor .
A new Congress will not be sworn in until Jan. 3 .
Democrats are hoping to win control of the Senate in the election .
Trump has already named two conservative justices to the high court , Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh .
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said any vote should take place next year .
“ That was Justice Ginsburg ’ s dying wish .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s only , last hope , ” Schumer said .
Trump said without evidence that he did not believe the National Public Radio report that Ginsburg had told her granddaughter she did not want the Senate to consider a successor until next year , when either Trump will begin a second term or Democratic rival Joe Biden , who leads in opinion polls , will take office .
“ It was just too convenient , ” Trump said .
Speaking of the possible candidates , Trump said : “ They ’ re all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I have in mind.
” He called Barrett “ very respected ” .
He said he might meet with Lagoa in Miami later this week , adding : “ I don ’ t know her but I hear she ’ s outstanding.
” Obstacles loom for either candidate in the bitterly divided Senate .
Barrett could face opposition from Collins and Murkowski over concerns that she would roll back abortion rights , said a source familiar with the confirmation process who spoke on condition of anonymity .
Lagoa , a Cuban American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not as well known , which could slow down the confirmation process .
White House Counsel Pat Cipollone , Vice President Mike Pence , Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Trump ’ s son-in-law and adviser , Jared Kushner , are leading the selection process , the source said .
Outside of White House officials , Leonard Leo , the former executive vice president of the Federalist Society , a conservative legal group , is playing a central advisory role .

President Donald Trump raced on Monday to cement a conservative majority on the US Supreme Court before the Nov. 3 election, telling reporters he planned by Saturday to reveal his pick to succeed liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
US President Donald Trump delivers a speech while campaigning at Dayton International Airport in Dayton, Ohio, September 21, 2020.
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Democrats’ hope of keeping the seat empty faded when two Republican senators, Chuck Grassley and Cory Gardner, signaled their support for moving forward quickly.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he was zeroing in on one or two candidates among five who are under consideration. He called on the Senate, controlled by his fellow Republicans, to vote on confirmation before the election in which he is seeking a second term.
“I’d much rather have a vote before the election,” he said.
“We have plenty of time to do it.”
Two federal appeals court judges appointed by Trump are clear front-runners: Amy Coney Barrett of the Chicago-based 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals and Barbara Lagoa of the Atlanta-based 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals. Trump met with Barrett at the White House on Monday, according to a source familiar with the situation.
00:27
Ginsburg died on Friday of complications from pancreatic cancer at age 87.
Trump’s announcement would come before Ginsburg is due to be buried privately at Arlington National Cemetery next week.
Officials have arranged for a public viewing of her body outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday and Thursday and inside the US Capitol on Friday.
Ginsburg’s death gives Trump and his party an opportunity to establish a 6-3 conservative majority on a court whose decisions influence many spheres of American life including abortion, healthcare, gun rights, voting access, presidential powers and the death penalty.
With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate, it would require at least four of them to break ranks to stop the nomination from going through. Two Republican senators — Maine’s Susan Collins and Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski — said over the weekend that the chamber should not move forward with a Trump nominee before the election.
Democrats had hoped to get similar support from Gardner, who faces a tough re-election race in Colorado, and Grassley. But both men said on Monday they would vote to confirm a qualified Trump pick.
Republican Senator Mitt Romney, who has clashed with Trump and is seen by Democrats as a potential holdout, avoided questions about the Supreme Court seat on Monday.
“Before I have any comment, I’m going to meet with my colleagues, which I’ll be doing tomorrow,” Romney, the party’s 2012 presidential nominee, told reporters.
Democrats have accused Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of hypocrisy for being eager to bring a Trump nominee to a confirmation vote. In 2016, he refused even to consider Democratic President Barack Obama’s nominee to fill a vacancy on the court left by the death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, saying it would be inappropriate to do so during an election year.
02:47
McConnell, who has prioritized confirming Trump’s judicial appointments, said he would usher through a vote this year, although he did not say exactly when.
“The Senate has more than sufficient time to process a nomination. History and precedent make that perfectly clear,” McConnell said on the Senate floor.
A new Congress will not be sworn in until Jan. 3. Democrats are hoping to win control of the Senate in the election.
Trump has already named two conservative justices to the high court, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.
‘Ginsburg’s dying wish’
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said any vote should take place next year.
“That was Justice Ginsburg’s dying wish. And it may be the Senate’s only, last hope,” Schumer said.
Trump said without evidence that he did not believe the National Public Radio report that Ginsburg had told her granddaughter she did not want the Senate to consider a successor until next year, when either Trump will begin a second term or Democratic rival Joe Biden, who leads in opinion polls, will take office.
“It was just too convenient,” Trump said.
Speaking of the possible candidates, Trump said: “They’re all outstanding but I have one or two that I have in mind.” He called Barrett “very respected”.
He said he might meet with Lagoa in Miami later this week, adding: “I don’t know her but I hear she’s outstanding.”
Obstacles loom for either candidate in the bitterly divided Senate.
Barrett could face opposition from Collins and Murkowski over concerns that she would roll back abortion rights, said a source familiar with the confirmation process who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Lagoa, a Cuban American from the battleground state of Florida, is not as well known, which could slow down the confirmation process.
White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, Vice President Mike Pence, Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Trump’s son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, are leading the selection process, the source said. Outside of White House officials, Leonard Leo, the former executive vice president of the Federalist Society, a conservative legal group, is playing a central advisory role.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-09-22--Celtics closer than ever after Heat meltdown: Smart

Boston Celtics star Marcus Smart says the locker-room bust-up following last week 's defeat to the Miami Heat has brought the team closer together as they chase a series-levelling victory on Wednesday .
Smart reportedly stormed out of the Celtics dressing room after Boston blew a 17-point lead before slumping to a 106-101 loss to Miami in game two of the NBA Eastern Conference finals last Thursday .
Boston fought their way back into the best-of-seven series in game three on Saturday , defeating Miami 117-106 to cut the Heat 's lead to 2-1 .
That victory leaves the series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miami in game four in Orlando on Wednesday .
Speaking to reporters on Monday , Smart compared the locker room recriminations that followed game two to a family argument , describing it as `` electrifying . ''
`` We 're a family .
Family fights all the time , '' the 26-year-old point guard said .
`` I fight with my brothers all the time .
But at the end of the day , we can fight with each other , nobody else can .
`` You know , it happens between families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's been together for so long .
It 's going to happen .
`` We 've got a lot of guys who play with their heart on their sleeves , night in , night out , and we were n't supposed to be happy down 2-0 , especially those two games that we gave up .
`` Of course emotions are going to fly , but we 're a family and that happens . ''
Smart added that the dressing room row had helped him see his team-mates in a different light .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I knew we were passionate , and I knew we all loved each other .
But I also learned a lot ... .
we grew up even more through that adversity , '' he said .
`` I 've always been saying that before you see the rainbow it has to storm .
For us that was a storm that we had to go through .
We found our happy place .
`` Like I said , families fight , but for us to be able to respond like we did and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it shows a lot .
`` The way I responded and my teammates responded , it showed that we 're as close as ever .
We say what we have to say .
We all come together , we get our emotions out and we go take it out on the other team . ''
The Celtics are bidding to return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010 , when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games .
The Lakers lead the Western Conference finals 2-0 against @ @ @ @

Miami (AFP) –
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Boston Celtics star Marcus Smart says the locker-room bust-up following last week's defeat to the Miami Heat has brought the team closer together as they chase a series-levelling victory on Wednesday.
Smart reportedly stormed out of the Celtics dressing room after Boston blew a 17-point lead before slumping to a 106-101 loss to Miami in game two of the NBA Eastern Conference finals last Thursday.
Boston fought their way back into the best-of-seven series in game three on Saturday, defeating Miami 117-106 to cut the Heat's lead to 2-1.
That victory leaves the series finely balanced as Boston prepare to face Miami in game four in Orlando on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Smart compared the locker room recriminations that followed game two to a family argument, describing it as "electrifying."
"We're a family. Family fights all the time," the 26-year-old point guard said.
"I fight with my brothers all the time. But at the end of the day, we can fight with each other, nobody else can.
"You know, it happens between families, especially a family like ours who's been together for so long. It's going to happen.
"We've got a lot of guys who play with their heart on their sleeves, night in, night out, and we weren't supposed to be happy down 2-0, especially those two games that we gave up.
"Of course emotions are going to fly, but we're a family and that happens."
Smart added that the dressing room row had helped him see his team-mates in a different light.
"I knew we were emotional. I knew we were passionate, and I knew we all loved each other. But I also learned a lot .... we grew up even more through that adversity," he said.
"I've always been saying that before you see the rainbow it has to storm. For us that was a storm that we had to go through. We found our happy place.
"Like I said, families fight, but for us to be able to respond like we did and to be able to have that growth, it shows a lot.
"The way I responded and my teammates responded, it showed that we're as close as ever. We say what we have to say. We all come together, we get our emotions out and we go take it out on the other team."
The Celtics are bidding to return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010, when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games.
The Lakers lead the Western Conference finals 2-0 against the Denver Nuggets.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-21--Two in custody in Tour de France doping probe

The probe is the first significant one in several years for the repeatedly scandal-hit tour which wrapped up on Sunday in Paris with a victory for 21-year-old Tadej Pogacar .
French police detained two people on Monday as part of an investigation into suspected doping at this year 's Tour de France in the Arkea-Samsic team , prosecutors announced .
The probe is the first significant one in several years for the repeatedly scandal-hit tour which wrapped up on Sunday in Paris with a victory for 21-year-old Tadej Pogacar , who became the youngest winner in more than a century @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Laurens in the southern city of Marseille said that an investigation was being carried out into a `` small part '' of Arkea-Samsic , without specifying who had been placed in custody .
Laurens added that the two people had `` many health products including drugs in their personal belongings , but also and above all a method that can be qualified as doping '' .
The general manager of the French team , Emmanuel Hubert , told AFP he was supporting his riders .
`` But if it turned out that at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elements came to confirm the truth of doping practices , the team would immediately dissociate itself from such acts and would take the necessary measures without delay , '' he said .
A source familiar with the matter told AFP that the searches had targeted several riders including Colombia 's Dayer Quintana , brother of team leader and former Giro d'Italia winner Nairo Quintana , as well as members of the medical team .
French daily Le Parisien reported that the two in custody were a doctor and physiotherapist .
The probe will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just a day after positive headlines about the against-the-odds organisation of the race and the last-minute drama that saw Pogacar seize victory on his first Tour de France .
Many had predicted the Covid-19 pandemic would prevent the riders making it the 3,400 kilometres from the Mediterranean city of Nice to the French capital .
Arkea-Samsic team manager Hubert said the probe only involved `` a very limited number of riders , as well as their close entourage who are not employed by the team . ''
He added that the investigation `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff directly . ''
According to the prosecutor , the investigation is focused on the prescription of a substance or banned method for athletes , as well as help and encouragement in the use of that substance or method .
The charges can lead to up to five years in prison and a 75,000-euro ( $ 88,000 ) fine .
Arkea-Samsic leader Nairo Quintana finished the Tour in 17th place , more than an hour behind the winner Pogacar .
Quintana 's teammate Warren Barguil finished in 14th place , 31 minutes from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffered repeated scandals over the years .
One of the biggest occurred in 1998 when customs officials stopped a vehicle laden with doping products , leading the Festina team to be thrown off the race as the peloton staggered into Paris .
US star rider Lance Armstrong , who won from 1999-2005 , caused further outrage and disappointment for fans by admitting to doping .
He was eventually stripped of his seven Tour de France titles .

Marseille (AFP) –
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French police detained two people on Monday as part of an investigation into suspected doping at this year's Tour de France in the Arkea-Samsic team, prosecutors announced.
The probe is the first significant one in several years for the repeatedly scandal-hit tour which wrapped up on Sunday in Paris with a victory for 21-year-old Tadej Pogacar, who became the youngest winner in more than a century.
In a statement, prosecutor Dominique Laurens in the southern city of Marseille said that an investigation was being carried out into a "small part" of Arkea-Samsic, without specifying who had been placed in custody.
Laurens added that the two people had "many health products including drugs in their personal belongings, but also and above all a method that can be qualified as doping".
The general manager of the French team, Emmanuel Hubert, told AFP he was supporting his riders.
"But if it turned out that at the end of the current investigation, elements came to confirm the truth of doping practices, the team would immediately dissociate itself from such acts and would take the necessary measures without delay," he said.
A source familiar with the matter told AFP that the searches had targeted several riders including Colombia's Dayer Quintana, brother of team leader and former Giro d'Italia winner Nairo Quintana, as well as members of the medical team.
French daily Le Parisien reported that the two in custody were a doctor and physiotherapist.
- Team not targeted 'directly' -
The probe will come as a huge disappointment to organisers just a day after positive headlines about the against-the-odds organisation of the race and the last-minute drama that saw Pogacar seize victory on his first Tour de France.
Many had predicted the Covid-19 pandemic would prevent the riders making it the 3,400 kilometres from the Mediterranean city of Nice to the French capital.
Arkea-Samsic team manager Hubert said the probe only involved "a very limited number of riders, as well as their close entourage who are not employed by the team."
He added that the investigation "does not target the team or its staff directly."
According to the prosecutor, the investigation is focused on the prescription of a substance or banned method for athletes, as well as help and encouragement in the use of that substance or method.
The charges can lead to up to five years in prison and a 75,000-euro ($88,000) fine.
Arkea-Samsic leader Nairo Quintana finished the Tour in 17th place, more than an hour behind the winner Pogacar. Quintana's teammate Warren Barguil finished in 14th place, 31 minutes from Pogacar.
The Tour de France has suffered repeated scandals over the years.
One of the biggest occurred in 1998 when customs officials stopped a vehicle laden with doping products, leading the Festina team to be thrown off the race as the peloton staggered into Paris.
US star rider Lance Armstrong, who won from 1999-2005, caused further outrage and disappointment for fans by admitting to doping. He was eventually stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.
burs-mbx/adp
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-21--Beaumont stars as England Women beat West Indies

Tammy Beaumont hit a half-century as England Women clinched a 47-run win over the West Indies in the first match of their Twenty20 series on Monday .
Beaumont was the headline act in Derby as the women 's international calendar returned more than six months on from the T20 World Cup in Australia .
The West Indies had stepped as late replacements after India and South Africa declined to travel due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Driven by Beaumont 's 62 from 49 balls , England scored 163-8 despite a collapse of six wickets for 50 .
Deandra Dottin battled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 116-6 by the West Indies .
Katherine Brunt set the standard for the England attack , allowing just eight runs off her four overs .
Beaumont 's day could have ended early , when she flicked Shakera Selman into the on-side with just nine to her name .
She used her feet well and made good contact but would have been out had Britney Cooper managed to cling to a low chance coming in off the ropes .
England captain Heather Knight shared a swaggering stand of 52 with Beaumont in less than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as she raced to 25 , but England lost their way from 113 for two .
Selman accounted for the pair , Knight slashing a fine edge behind and Beaumont skying a catch to short third-man .
England regained their composure impressively however as fine bowling , including Sophie Ecclestone 's 2-19 , restricted the West Indies in their tame attempted chase .

London (AFP) –
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Tammy Beaumont hit a half-century as England Women clinched a 47-run win over the West Indies in the first match of their Twenty20 series on Monday.
Beaumont was the headline act in Derby as the women's international calendar returned more than six months on from the T20 World Cup in Australia.
The West Indies had stepped as late replacements after India and South Africa declined to travel due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Driven by Beaumont's 62 from 49 balls, England scored 163-8 despite a collapse of six wickets for 50.
Deandra Dottin battled to 69 in an under-powered response of 116-6 by the West Indies.
Katherine Brunt set the standard for the England attack, allowing just eight runs off her four overs.
Beaumont's day could have ended early, when she flicked Shakera Selman into the on-side with just nine to her name.
She used her feet well and made good contact but would have been out had Britney Cooper managed to cling to a low chance coming in off the ropes.
England captain Heather Knight shared a swaggering stand of 52 with Beaumont in less than six overs.
Knight hit four boundaries as she raced to 25, but England lost their way from 113 for two.
Selman accounted for the pair, Knight slashing a fine edge behind and Beaumont skying a catch to short third-man.
England regained their composure impressively however as fine bowling, including Sophie Ecclestone's 2-19, restricted the West Indies in their tame attempted chase.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-21--US economy to recover only when people feel 'safe' from virus: Powell

Fed Chair Jerome Powell , left , and Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin , pictured in June 2020 , are set to appear before the House Financial Services Committee The US economy will only recover from the coronavirus downturn when people feel safe to resume their normal activities , Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said in remarks released Monday ahead of congressional testimony .
The central bank chief is set for three days of testimony before House and Senate committees starting Tuesday on the response to the coronavirus downturn , which has caused tens of millions of job losses and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second quarter due to business shutdowns to stop the virus 's spread .
Though some sectors of the economy , such as retail sales and housing , have seen sharp rebounds , viral infections remain rife and Congress is deadlocked on additional spending to help the recovery .
`` A full recovery is likely to come only when people are confident that it is safe to reengage in a broad range of activities , '' Powell will tell House Financial Services committee members on Tuesday in an appearance with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The path forward will depend on keeping the virus under control , and on policy actions taken at all levels of government . ''
The central bank rolled out trillions of dollars in liquidity and slashed its key interest rate to near-zero as the pandemic hit , while saying it can do more if needed .
However the Fed can only lend , not spend .
And Powell has repeatedly called for more support for the economy , but despite weeks of talks , there have been few signs of progress in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lawmakers approved the $ 2.2 trillion CARES Act in March as the pandemic struck , which included extra payments to the unemployed and a program of loans and grants for small businesses , but those programs have expired in recent weeks .
On Monday , White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said the country was seeing a `` self-sustaining , strong '' recovery that might not require more stimulus .
`` I do not think the recovery is contingent on that assistance package , '' Kudlow said .

Washington (AFP) –
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The US economy will only recover from the coronavirus downturn when people feel safe to resume their normal activities, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said in remarks released Monday ahead of congressional testimony.
The central bank chief is set for three days of testimony before House and Senate committees starting Tuesday on the response to the coronavirus downturn, which has caused tens of millions of job losses and a record plunge in annualized GDP in the second quarter due to business shutdowns to stop the virus's spread.
Though some sectors of the economy, such as retail sales and housing, have seen sharp rebounds, viral infections remain rife and Congress is deadlocked on additional spending to help the recovery.
"A full recovery is likely to come only when people are confident that it is safe to reengage in a broad range of activities," Powell will tell House Financial Services committee members on Tuesday in an appearance with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, according to the prepared remarks.
"The path forward will depend on keeping the virus under control, and on policy actions taken at all levels of government."
The central bank rolled out trillions of dollars in liquidity and slashed its key interest rate to near-zero as the pandemic hit, while saying it can do more if needed.
However the Fed can only lend, not spend.
And Powell has repeatedly called for more support for the economy, but despite weeks of talks, there have been few signs of progress in negotiations between Democrats and Republicans in Washington.
Lawmakers approved the $2.2 trillion CARES Act in March as the pandemic struck, which included extra payments to the unemployed and a program of loans and grants for small businesses, but those programs have expired in recent weeks.
On Monday, White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said the country was seeing a "self-sustaining, strong" recovery that might not require more stimulus.
"I do not think the recovery is contingent on that assistance package," Kudlow said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-21--Tour de France team under investigation for suspected doping, two in custody

File photo : Team Arkea-Samsic rider Nairo Quintana of Colombia finishes stage 18 of the Tour in La Roche-sur-Foron , France , September 17 , 2020 .
The Marseille prosecutor said those in custody were part of the “ close entourage of the main rider ” but did not give names .
Two people were in custody on Monday after an investigation was opened into suspected doping by the Arkea-Samsic team at this year ’ s Tour de France , the Marseille prosecutor said on Monday .
Dominique Laurens said in a statement that the probe was targeting a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that those in custody were part of the “ close entourage of the main rider ” .
The prosecutor did not name the main rider .
The leader of the Arkea-Samsic team is Colombian Nairo Quintana .
The probe targeted “ the administration and prescription without medical justification of a substance or a method prohibited during a sporting event , and helping and encouraging the use of that substance or method , ” the statement added .
Searches led to “ the discovery of many health products , including drugs , in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that can be qualified as doping ” , it said .
Arkea-Samsic ’ s team manager , Emmanuel Hubert , confirmed the team ’ s hotel had been raided last week .
He said the search targeted a “ very limited ” number of riders as well as their entourage , who he said were not employed by the team .
Hubert said the investigation did “ not target the team or its staff directly .
“ We obviously support our riders , but if the investigation confirms the veracity of doping practices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from such acts , ” Hubert added in his statement .
The Union Cycliste Internationale ( UCI ) told Reuters that it “ welcomes and supports the action of all authorities involved in this operation ” .
The UCI said it will take “ necessary measures once it has reviewed the elements obtained by the French judicial authorities .

French police detained two people on Monday as part of an investigation into suspected doping at this year’s Tour de France in the Arkea-Samsic team, prosecutors announced.
File photo: Team Arkea-Samsic rider Nairo Quintana of Colombia finishes stage 18 of the Tour in La Roche-sur-Foron, France, September 17, 2020. The Marseille prosecutor said those in custody were part of the “close entourage of the main rider” but did not give names.
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The probe is the first significant one in several years for the repeatedly scandal-hit tour which wrapped up on Sunday in Paris with a victory for 21-year-old Tadej Pogacar, who became the youngest winner in more than a century.
In a statement, prosecutor Dominique Laurens in the southern city of Marseille said that an investigation was being carried out into a “small part” of Arkea-Samsic, without specifying who had been placed in custody.
Laurens added that the two people had “many health products including drugs in their personal belongings, but also and above all a method that can be qualified as doping”.
The general manager of the French team, Emmanuel Hubert, told AFP he was supporting his riders.
“But if it turned out that at the end of the current investigation, elements came to confirm the truth of doping practices, the team would immediately dissociate itself from such acts and would take the necessary measures without delay,” he said.
A source familiar with the matter told AFP that the searches had targeted several riders including Colombia’s Dayer Quintana, brother of team leader and former Giro d’Italia winner Nairo Quintana, as well as members of the medical team.
French daily Le Parisien reported that the two in custody were a doctor and physiotherapist.
Team not targeted ‘directly’
The probe will come as a huge disappointment to organisers just a day after positive headlines about the against-the-odds organisation of the race and the last-minute drama that saw Pogacar seize victory on his first Tour de France.
Many had predicted the Covid-19 pandemic would prevent the riders making it the 3,400 kilometres from the Mediterranean city of Nice to the French capital.
Arkea-Samsic team manager Hubert said the probe only involved “a very limited number of riders, as well as their close entourage who are not employed by the team”.
He added that the investigation “does not target the team or its staff directly”.
According to the prosecutor, the investigation is focused on the prescription of a substance or banned method for athletes, as well as help and encouragement in the use of that substance or method.
The charges can lead to up to five years in prison and a 75,000-euro ($88,000) fine.
Arkea-Samsic leader Nairo Quintana finished the Tour in 17th place, more than an hour behind the winner Pogacar. Quintana’s teammate Warren Barguil finished in 14th place, 31 minutes from Pogacar.
The Tour de France has suffered repeated scandals over the years.
One of the biggest occurred in 1998 when customs officials stopped a vehicle laden with doping products, leading the Festina team to be thrown off the race as the peloton staggered into Paris.
US star rider Lance Armstrong, who won from 1999-2005, caused further outrage and disappointment for fans by admitting to doping. He was eventually stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-09-21--Ibrahimovic brace gives AC Milan winning start

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice as AC Milan got their Serie A campaign up and running with a 2-0 win over Bologna on Monday .
Ibrahimovic , who turns 39 next month , showed he has lost none of his goal-scoring skills having also netted last week against Irish side Shamrock Rovers in the Europa League .
`` If I had been 20 years old I would have scored two more goals , '' said the Swede of his display .
`` I 'm like Benjamin Button , born old , but I 'll die young .
Seriously , the team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 're not at 100 percent yet , but it was important to start well . ''
Ibrahimovic grabbed the opener in the 35th minute , rising higher than Danilo to get his head to a Theo Hernandez cross , and celebrated in front of the 1,000 spectators allowed into the San Siro for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic -- mostly invited frontline health workers who had toiled during the worst of the crisis .
The Swede missed a chance for a second shortly after when he was denied by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But six minutes after the break he added a second from the penalty spot after a Riccardo Orsolini foul on Ismael Bennacer .
He missed a chance for a third just after the hour mark following a counter-attack launched by Hakan Calhanoglu , but Lukasz Skorupski proved solid in the Bologna goal .
Bologna were again saved by Skorupski at the end of the match , with the Pole pushing out a Hernandez volley .
Milan keeper Gianluigi Donnaruma also won his duel against Andreas Skov Olsen while Federico Santander hitting the woodwork @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a man down with Mitchell Dijks send off with two minutes to go .

Milan (AFP) –
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice as AC Milan got their Serie A campaign up and running with a 2-0 win over Bologna on Monday.
Ibrahimovic, who turns 39 next month, showed he has lost none of his goal-scoring skills having also netted last week against Irish side Shamrock Rovers in the Europa League.
"If I had been 20 years old I would have scored two more goals," said the Swede of his display.
"I'm like Benjamin Button, born old, but I'll die young. Seriously, the team has worked well: you can see we're not at 100 percent yet, but it was important to start well."
Ibrahimovic grabbed the opener in the 35th minute, rising higher than Danilo to get his head to a Theo Hernandez cross, and celebrated in front of the 1,000 spectators allowed into the San Siro for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic -- mostly invited frontline health workers who had toiled during the worst of the crisis.
The Swede missed a chance for a second shortly after when he was denied by a sliding tackle from Brazilian defender Danilo.
But six minutes after the break he added a second from the penalty spot after a Riccardo Orsolini foul on Ismael Bennacer.
He missed a chance for a third just after the hour mark following a counter-attack launched by Hakan Calhanoglu, but Lukasz Skorupski proved solid in the Bologna goal.
Bologna were again saved by Skorupski at the end of the match, with the Pole pushing out a Hernandez volley.
Milan keeper Gianluigi Donnaruma also won his duel against Andreas Skov Olsen while Federico Santander hitting the woodwork for the away side.
Bologna finished a man down with Mitchell Dijks send off with two minutes to go.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-21--Giants star Barkley out for season after knee injury

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley is likely to miss the remainder of the NFL season after suffering a @ @ @ @ @ club said Monday .
Barkley was injured during the Giants ' 17-13 defeat to the @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday after falling to the turf in agony during the second quarter .
The @ @ @ @ @ on Monday that an MRI scan had revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Barkley @ @ @ @ @ Barkley will undergo surgery to repair the injury in the near future , '' the @ @ @ @ @ recovery time for ACL tears varies , Barkley is all but guaranteed to be out @ @ @ @ @ NFL season .
Players with similar injuries in recent years have faced a minimum of @ @ @ @ @ .
Barkley 's absence deprives the Giants of one of the team 's principal offensive @ @ @ @ @ back has topped 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first two full seasons in @ @ @ @ @ by the Giants in 2018 with the second overall pick .

New York (AFP) –
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New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley is likely to miss the remainder of the NFL season after suffering a torn knee ligament, the club said Monday.
Barkley was injured during the Giants' 17-13 defeat to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday after falling to the turf in agony during the second quarter.
The Giants said in a statement on Monday that an MRI scan had revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Barkley's right knee.
"Barkley will undergo surgery to repair the injury in the near future," the Giants said.
While the recovery time for ACL tears varies, Barkley is all but guaranteed to be out for the rest of the NFL season.
Players with similar injuries in recent years have faced a minimum of six months on the sidelines.
Barkley's absence deprives the Giants of one of the team's principal offensive weapons.
The 23-year-old running back has topped 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first two full seasons in the NFL after being drafted by the Giants in 2018 with the second overall pick.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-21--Man City survive Wolves scare to make winning start

Manchester City survived a scare to start their Premier League title challenge with a 3-1 win against Wolves as Phil Foden enjoyed a moment of redemption on Monday .
City 's delayed start to the campaign -- due to their involvement in last season 's Champions League -- had allowed Liverpool to build a six-point lead over them before they had even kicked a ball .
Pep Guardiola 's side could not afford to slip up at Molineux if they wanted to keep pace with the champions and they raced into a two-goal lead before half-time thanks to Kevin De @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finish .
City 's swaggering first half gave way to an anxious spell as Wolves dominated after the interval and they had to cling on afer Raul Jimenez got one back before Gabriel Jesus sealed the points in stoppage time .
Guardiola will not have been happy with the way debutant centre-back Nathan Ake , the club 's major close-season signing from Bournemouth , and his defensive partner John Stones were tormented by Wolves in the second half .
While City equalled Aston Villa 's record of winning 10 consecutive opening fixtures to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doubt Liverpool remain the Premier League 's preeminent force for now .
Foden 's goal was a welcome morale boost in his first match since the midfielder was sent home in disgrace , along with Manchester United 's Mason Greenwood , after the pair invited local women into the England team 's hotel .
The breach of coronavirus protocols after England 's Nations League match in Iceland was publicly condemned by City , but the 20-year-old retains Guardiola 's trust .
It feels like a crucial season for City and Guardiola as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 and 2019 .
Guardiola says he needs to `` deserve '' an extension to his City contract rather than just be handed one as he enters the final year of his current deal .
After finishing 18 points behind Liverpool and suffering a shock Champions League quarter-final defeat against Lyon , City need to push the champions harder this term and the early signs were encouraging .
Passing and moving with real intent , City went close when De Bruyne forced Wolves keeper Rui Patricio to save his dipping free-kick .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ signs of relaxing after being voted PFA Player of the Year last season , who took the responsibility of driving City forward and in the 20th minute he prised open the Wolves defence .
The Belgium midfielder 's burst into the Wolves area drew a rash lunge from Romain Saiss and referee Andre Marriner awarded a penalty that De Bruyne converted with ease .
Since the start of last season , De Bruyne has scored and assisted more Premier League goals ( 34 ) than any other player .
City were beaten by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was Guardiola 's team at their imperious best and they struck again with a slick move in the 32nd minute .
Gabriel Jesus laid off to De Bruyne and his perfectly-weighted pass found Sterling , whose precise cutback teed up Foden to slot home from 12 yards .
De Bruyne had a chance to make it three from Jesus 's pass , but for once he could n't apply the finishing touch as Rui Patricio saved well .
Totally out-classed in the first half , Wolves were much improved after the break and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he surveyed his creaking defence .
Daniel Podence turned to fire just wide and he threatened again with a chip over City keeper Ederson that just cleared the crossbar .
Jimenez should have reduced the deficit when he shot wide from Adama Traore 's cross .
Jimenez set up a tense finale when he met Podence 's cross with a powerful header in the 78th minute , but Jesus netted deep into stoppage-time as his shot deflected in off Conor Coady .

Wolverhampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) –
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Manchester City survived a scare to start their Premier League title challenge with a 3-1 win against Wolves as Phil Foden enjoyed a moment of redemption on Monday.
City's delayed start to the campaign -- due to their involvement in last season's Champions League -- had allowed Liverpool to build a six-point lead over them before they had even kicked a ball.
Pep Guardiola's side could not afford to slip up at Molineux if they wanted to keep pace with the champions and they raced into a two-goal lead before half-time thanks to Kevin De Bruyne's penalty and Foden's cool finish.
City's swaggering first half gave way to an anxious spell as Wolves dominated after the interval and they had to cling on afer Raul Jimenez got one back before Gabriel Jesus sealed the points in stoppage time.
Guardiola will not have been happy with the way debutant centre-back Nathan Ake, the club's major close-season signing from Bournemouth, and his defensive partner John Stones were tormented by Wolves in the second half.
While City equalled Aston Villa's record of winning 10 consecutive opening fixtures to a top-flight season, there is little doubt Liverpool remain the Premier League's preeminent force for now.
Foden's goal was a welcome morale boost in his first match since the midfielder was sent home in disgrace, along with Manchester United's Mason Greenwood, after the pair invited local women into the England team's hotel.
The breach of coronavirus protocols after England's Nations League match in Iceland was publicly condemned by City, but the 20-year-old retains Guardiola's trust.
It feels like a crucial season for City and Guardiola as they look to regain the title they won in 2018 and 2019.
Guardiola says he needs to "deserve" an extension to his City contract rather than just be handed one as he enters the final year of his current deal.
After finishing 18 points behind Liverpool and suffering a shock Champions League quarter-final defeat against Lyon, City need to push the champions harder this term and the early signs were encouraging.
- Tense finale -
Passing and moving with real intent, City went close when De Bruyne forced Wolves keeper Rui Patricio to save his dipping free-kick.
It was De Bruyne, showing no signs of relaxing after being voted PFA Player of the Year last season, who took the responsibility of driving City forward and in the 20th minute he prised open the Wolves defence.
The Belgium midfielder's burst into the Wolves area drew a rash lunge from Romain Saiss and referee Andre Marriner awarded a penalty that De Bruyne converted with ease.
Since the start of last season, De Bruyne has scored and assisted more Premier League goals (34) than any other player.
City were beaten by Wolves twice last season, but this was Guardiola's team at their imperious best and they struck again with a slick move in the 32nd minute.
Gabriel Jesus laid off to De Bruyne and his perfectly-weighted pass found Sterling, whose precise cutback teed up Foden to slot home from 12 yards.
De Bruyne had a chance to make it three from Jesus's pass, but for once he couldn't apply the finishing touch as Rui Patricio saved well.
Totally out-classed in the first half, Wolves were much improved after the break and there were worrying side for Guardiola as he surveyed his creaking defence.
Daniel Podence turned to fire just wide and he threatened again with a chip over City keeper Ederson that just cleared the crossbar.
Jimenez should have reduced the deficit when he shot wide from Adama Traore's cross.
Jimenez set up a tense finale when he met Podence's cross with a powerful header in the 78th minute, but Jesus netted deep into stoppage-time as his shot deflected in off Conor Coady.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-21--TikTok deal aims to thread needle on US, China demands

ByteDance , the parent company of TikTok , disputed the interpretation in Washington of an agreement on the new ownership structure for the popular video sharing app A fragile deal to put the popular video app TikTok in American control appeared in jeopardy Monday amid disagreement on the ownership structure and Chinese involvement .
The plan unveiled over the weekend would make Silicon Valley data giant Oracle the technology steward for the social platform and allow retail giant Walmart a stake as a commercial partner .
But the deal was being portrayed in different terms in the two countries .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ US officials , the deal would establish a new entity called TikTok Global with Oracle managing data security through its cloud servers .
Walmart and Oracle would control 20 percent of TikTok Global ahead of a share offering , and Americans would hold four of five board seats .
US President Donald Trump said he would not approve a deal with any Chinese ownership or control .
Oracle said that as TikTok shares are distributed , `` Americans will be the majority and ByteDance will have no ownership in TikTok Global . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinse firm with US investors -- disputed what it called `` false rumors '' and said it would retain 80 percent of the new firm .
Trump , who has repeatedly charged that TikTok could threaten national security and be used for spying , said the data would be under American control .
`` Everything is going to be moved into a cloud done by Oracle ... totally controlled by Oracle , '' he said .
In ByteDance 's view , the plan does not allow `` the transfer of any algorithms and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the source code of TikTok USA .
James Lewis , head of technology policy for the Center for Strategic and International Studies , said the plan appears structured `` where TikTok Global will license the algorithms as a service '' without giving up the technology , under terms used frequently in cloud computing .
The deal has a potential to satisfy both Washington and Beijing because `` ByteDance does n't have to share the algorithm and does n't have to give up its shares , '' Lewis said .
For the US side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ByteDance source code for problems and spyware , '' Lewis added .
But the Chinese state-controlled newspaper Global Times suggested Beijing should veto what it called `` robbery '' of Chinese technology .
`` China will not accept this kind of bullying arrangement of the US , '' the newspaper said in an editorial .
`` If China surrenders , which country in the world can resist ?
... Once Washington succeeds , the US will enjoy global technological hegemony forever . ''
Yun Zhu , a professor of finance at St. John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a deal with China as the two countries battle for technological supremacy .
`` I do n't think this is going to be resolved quickly , '' Zhu said .
`` I see this as a beginning , '' he said , adding that this is one stage of a long conflict over `` mining digital assets . ''

Washington (AFP) –
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A fragile deal to put the popular video app TikTok in American control appeared in jeopardy Monday amid disagreement on the ownership structure and Chinese involvement.
The plan unveiled over the weekend would make Silicon Valley data giant Oracle the technology steward for the social platform and allow retail giant Walmart a stake as a commercial partner.
But the deal was being portrayed in different terms in the two countries. Here are key points:
- Ownership -
According to US officials, the deal would establish a new entity called TikTok Global with Oracle managing data security through its cloud servers.
Walmart and Oracle would control 20 percent of TikTok Global ahead of a share offering, and Americans would hold four of five board seats.
US President Donald Trump said he would not approve a deal with any Chinese ownership or control.
Oracle said that as TikTok shares are distributed, "Americans will be the majority and ByteDance will have no ownership in TikTok Global."
But TikTok parent firm ByteDance -- a Chinse firm with US investors -- disputed what it called "false rumors" and said it would retain 80 percent of the new firm.
- Data security -
Trump, who has repeatedly charged that TikTok could threaten national security and be used for spying, said the data would be under American control.
"Everything is going to be moved into a cloud done by Oracle... totally controlled by Oracle," he said.
In ByteDance's view, the plan does not allow "the transfer of any algorithms and technologies" while enabling Oracle to review the source code of TikTok USA.
James Lewis, head of technology policy for the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the plan appears structured "where TikTok Global will license the algorithms as a service" without giving up the technology, under terms used frequently in cloud computing.
- Chance of success -
The deal has a potential to satisfy both Washington and Beijing because "ByteDance doesn't have to share the algorithm and doesn't have to give up its shares," Lewis said.
For the US side, "Oracle gets to review the ByteDance source code for problems and spyware," Lewis added.
But the Chinese state-controlled newspaper Global Times suggested Beijing should veto what it called "robbery" of Chinese technology.
"China will not accept this kind of bullying arrangement of the US," the newspaper said in an editorial.
"If China surrenders, which country in the world can resist?... Once Washington succeeds, the US will enjoy global technological hegemony forever."
Yun Zhu, a professor of finance at St. John's University, said he is skeptical of a deal with China as the two countries battle for technological supremacy.
"I don't think this is going to be resolved quickly," Zhu said.
"I see this as a beginning," he said, adding that this is one stage of a long conflict over "mining digital assets."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-21--Arctic ice melt doesn't boost sea levels, so do we care?

Polar bears are on a glide path towards extinction , according to a recent study .
US government scientists reported Monday that the Arctic Ocean 's floating ice cover has shrivelled to its second lowest extent since satellite records began in 1979 .
Until this month , only once in the last 42 years has Earth 's frozen skull cap covered less than four million square kilometres ( 1.5 million square miles ) .
The trend line is clear : sea ice extent has diminished 14 percent per decade over that period .
The Arctic could see it 's first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researchers reported in Nature Climate Change last month .
But all that melting ice and snow does not directly boost sea levels any more than melted ice cubes make a glass of water overflow , which gives rise to an awkward question : who cares ?
Granted , this would be bad news for polar bears , which are already on a glide path towards extinction , according to a recent study .
And yes , it would certainly mean a profound shift in the region 's marine ecosystems , from phytoplankton to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the impact on humanity , one might legitimately ask , `` So what ? ''
.
As it turns out , there are several reasons to be worried about the knock-on consequences of dwindling Arctic sea ice .
Perhaps the most basic point to make , scientists say , is that a shrinking ice cap is not just a symptom of global warming , but a driver as well .
Freshly fallen snow reflects 80 percent of the Sun 's radiative force back into space .
But when that mirror-like surface is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same percentage of Earth-heating energy is absorbed instead .
And we 're not talking about a postage stamp area here : the difference between the average ice cap minimum from 1979 to 1990 and the low point reported today -- more than 3 million km2 -- is twice the size of France , Germany and Spain combined .
The oceans have already soaked up 90 percent of the excess heat generated by manmade greenhouse gases , but at a terrible cost , including altered chemistry , massive marine heatwaves and dying coral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientists warn , that liquid heat sponge may simply become saturated .
Earth 's complex climate system includes interlocking ocean currents driven by wind , tides and something called the thermohaline circulation , which is itself powered by changes in temperature ( `` thermo '' ) and salt concentration ( `` haline '' ) .
Even small changes in this Great Ocean Conveyor Belt -- which moves between poles and across all three major oceans -- can have devastating climate impacts .
Nearly 13,000 years ago , for example , as Earth was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the interglacial period that allowed our species to thrive , global temperatures abruptly plunged several degrees Celsius .
They jumped back up again about 1,000 years later .
Geological evidence suggests a slowdown in the thermohaline circulation caused by a massive and rapid influx of cold , fresh water from the Artic region was partly to blame .
`` The fresh water from melting sea ice and grounded ice in Greenland perturbs and weakens the Gulf Stream , '' part of the conveyor belt flowing in the Atlantic , said Xavier Fettweis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liege in Belgium .
`` This is what allows western Europe to have a temperate climate compared to the same latitude in North America . ''
The massive ice sheet atop Greenland 's land mass saw a net loss of more than half-a-trillion tonnes last year , all of it flowing into the sea .
Unlike sea ice , which does n't increase sea levels when it melts , runoff from Greenland does .
That record amount was due in part to warmer air temperatures , which have risen twice as fast in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a whole .
But it was also caused by a change in weather patterns , notably an increase in sunny summer days .
`` Some studies suggest that this increase in anticyclonic conditions in the Arctic in summer results in part from the minimum sea ice extent , '' Fettweis told AFP .
The current trajectory of climate change and the advent of ice-free summers -- defined by the UN 's IPCC climate science panel as under one million km2 -- would indeed starve polar bears into extinction by century 's end , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Human-caused global warming means that polar bears have less and less sea ice to hunt on in the summer months , '' Steven Amstrup , lead author of the study and chief scientist of Polar Bears International , told AFP .
`` The ultimate trajectory of polar bears with unabated greenhouse gas emissions is disappearance . ''

Paris (AFP) –
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US government scientists reported Monday that the Arctic Ocean's floating ice cover has shrivelled to its second lowest extent since satellite records began in 1979.
Until this month, only once in the last 42 years has Earth's frozen skull cap covered less than four million square kilometres (1.5 million square miles).
The trend line is clear: sea ice extent has diminished 14 percent per decade over that period. The Arctic could see it's first ice-free summer as early as 2035, researchers reported in Nature Climate Change last month.
But all that melting ice and snow does not directly boost sea levels any more than melted ice cubes make a glass of water overflow, which gives rise to an awkward question: who cares?
Granted, this would be bad news for polar bears, which are already on a glide path towards extinction, according to a recent study.
And yes, it would certainly mean a profound shift in the region's marine ecosystems, from phytoplankton to whales.
But if our bottom-line concern is the impact on humanity, one might legitimately ask, "So what?".
As it turns out, there are several reasons to be worried about the knock-on consequences of dwindling Arctic sea ice.
- Feedback loops -
Perhaps the most basic point to make, scientists say, is that a shrinking ice cap is not just a symptom of global warming, but a driver as well.
"Sea ice removal exposes dark ocean, which creates a powerful feedback mechanism," Marco Tedesco, a geophysicist at Columbia University's Earth Institute, told AFP.
Freshly fallen snow reflects 80 percent of the Sun's radiative force back into space.
But when that mirror-like surface is replaced by deep blue water, about the same percentage of Earth-heating energy is absorbed instead.
And we're not talking about a postage stamp area here: the difference between the average ice cap minimum from 1979 to 1990 and the low point reported today -- more than 3 million km2 -- is twice the size of France, Germany and Spain combined.
The oceans have already soaked up 90 percent of the excess heat generated by manmade greenhouse gases, but at a terrible cost, including altered chemistry, massive marine heatwaves and dying coral reefs.
And at some point, scientists warn, that liquid heat sponge may simply become saturated.
- Altering ocean currents -
Earth's complex climate system includes interlocking ocean currents driven by wind, tides and something called the thermohaline circulation, which is itself powered by changes in temperature ("thermo") and salt concentration ("haline").
Even small changes in this Great Ocean Conveyor Belt -- which moves between poles and across all three major oceans -- can have devastating climate impacts.
Nearly 13,000 years ago, for example, as Earth was transitioning out of an ice age into the interglacial period that allowed our species to thrive, global temperatures abruptly plunged several degrees Celsius. They jumped back up again about 1,000 years later.
Geological evidence suggests a slowdown in the thermohaline circulation caused by a massive and rapid influx of cold, fresh water from the Artic region was partly to blame.
"The fresh water from melting sea ice and grounded ice in Greenland perturbs and weakens the Gulf Stream," part of the conveyor belt flowing in the Atlantic, said Xavier Fettweis, a research associate at the University of Liege in Belgium.
"This is what allows western Europe to have a temperate climate compared to the same latitude in North America."
The massive ice sheet atop Greenland's land mass saw a net loss of more than half-a-trillion tonnes last year, all of it flowing into the sea.
Unlike sea ice, which doesn't increase sea levels when it melts, runoff from Greenland does.
That record amount was due in part to warmer air temperatures, which have risen twice as fast in the Arctic as for the planet as a whole.
But it was also caused by a change in weather patterns, notably an increase in sunny summer days.
"Some studies suggest that this increase in anticyclonic conditions in the Arctic in summer results in part from the minimum sea ice extent," Fettweis told AFP.
- Bears on thin ice -
The current trajectory of climate change and the advent of ice-free summers -- defined by the UN's IPCC climate science panel as under one million km2 -- would indeed starve polar bears into extinction by century's end, according to a July study in Nature.
"Human-caused global warming means that polar bears have less and less sea ice to hunt on in the summer months," Steven Amstrup, lead author of the study and chief scientist of Polar Bears International, told AFP.
"The ultimate trajectory of polar bears with unabated greenhouse gas emissions is disappearance."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-21--'Watchmen' Emmy winners explore 'missing' history and possible sequel

Regina King , who won the Emmy for best actress in a limited series for `` Watchmen , '' wore a tee-shirt bearing the image of Breonna Taylor -- an African-American woman killed in a police shooting in her own home The creators of big Emmy winner `` Watchmen , '' a timely blend of superheroes and political satire that confronts US racism , say they are proud to have spotlighted the nation 's historic traumas and modern-day injustices -- as fans hope for a possible follow-up .
The HBO hit series , based on a seminal 1980s graphic novel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year 's television equivalent of the Oscars , making it Sunday 's top honoree .
The show opens with the 1921 Tulsa race massacre , in which up to 300 people were killed when white mobs torched a black neighborhood , but which many Americans have never heard of .
The convulsion of violence nearly a century ago received renewed attention this summer when President Donald Trump held a controversial rally just down the road .
`` When the show premiered back in October , that night the word 'Watchmen ' was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Street ' and 'Tulsa massacre ' were , '' creator Damon Lindelof told journalists after his Emmy wins .
`` And it just showed you that people actually have a real hunger to find these missing pieces of history .
You just have to find ways that are a little bit off the beaten path to tell them . ''
The show is set in an alternate timeline created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons in their `` Watchmen '' comics .
In this universe , superheroes are real , but many have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Featuring on Time magazine 's list of the 100 best modern English-language novels , the original book is widely hailed for bringing mainstream popularity and artistic credibility to the graphic novel form .
Race plays a central role throughout , not just in the pilot episode 's portrayal of the deadly destruction of `` Black Wall Street '' in Oklahoma .
One remarkable episode sees a young black New York cop struggle with blatant racism , surviving a near-lynching and confronting a secret Ku Klux Klan-style society operating within the metropolis 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ episode shot in black-and-white won cinematography , writing , sound editing and sound mixing prizes at this year 's Emmys .
`` Watchmen '' depicts white supremacists , police brutality and rows over mask-wearing -- all subjects of intensely polarized national debate as the United States gears up for November 's presidential election .
In the show 's present-day scenes , reparations paid to the families of Tulsa massacre victims have galvanized a white supremacist group , who are furious at the government 's support for minorities and bent on triggering a race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ King , who wore a tee-shirt bearing the image of Breonna Taylor -- an African-American woman killed in a police shooting in her own home -- those struggles resonate with the reality of being black in 21st century America .
`` The cops still have n't been held accountable , '' King told journalists after Sunday 's ceremony .
`` She represents just decades , hundreds of years of ... violence against black bodies , '' she said .
`` The things that the stories that we were exploring , that we were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mirror up to in 'Watchmen ' ... it felt appropriate to represent with Breonna Taylor . ''
The show 's Emmys wins came in the increasingly prestigious limited series category , which is intended for standalone mini-series .
But a sequel of sorts has not been categorically ruled out .
Lindelof said Sunday that he `` invited any other artist who wants to take the baton -- I 'll teach them everything that I know . ''
The showrunner added that he personally found it `` so much more special '' to end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was `` so much more excited about seeing what someone else does with it . ''
Noting that `` someone else created '' the original `` Watchmen , '' he added : `` It would feel like a huge betrayal of winning limited series to come back and say , well , it was only limited series dot dot dot ... '' Asked about her own possible involvement in a follow-up , King said there `` have been no conversations '' -- but that she would want to jump in if Lindelof returned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close of this chapter of the 'Watchmen ' series , as it is now , '' she said .
`` And it is bittersweet , it 's emotional , and I 'm just trying to remain in the moment . ''

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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The creators of big Emmy winner "Watchmen," a timely blend of superheroes and political satire that confronts US racism, say they are proud to have spotlighted the nation's historic traumas and modern-day injustices -- as fans hope for a possible follow-up.
The HBO hit series, based on a seminal 1980s graphic novel, scooped up 11 Emmys at this year's television equivalent of the Oscars, making it Sunday's top honoree.
The show opens with the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, in which up to 300 people were killed when white mobs torched a black neighborhood, but which many Americans have never heard of.
The convulsion of violence nearly a century ago received renewed attention this summer when President Donald Trump held a controversial rally just down the road.
"When the show premiered back in October, that night the word 'Watchmen' was not trending on Twitter, but 'Black Wall Street' and 'Tulsa massacre' were," creator Damon Lindelof told journalists after his Emmy wins.
"And it just showed you that people actually have a real hunger to find these missing pieces of history. You just have to find ways that are a little bit off the beaten path to tell them."
The show is set in an alternate timeline created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons in their "Watchmen" comics.
In this universe, superheroes are real, but many have turned out to be sociopathic far-right outlaws.
Featuring on Time magazine's list of the 100 best modern English-language novels, the original book is widely hailed for bringing mainstream popularity and artistic credibility to the graphic novel form.
Race plays a central role throughout, not just in the pilot episode's portrayal of the deadly destruction of "Black Wall Street" in Oklahoma.
One remarkable episode sees a young black New York cop struggle with blatant racism, surviving a near-lynching and confronting a secret Ku Klux Klan-style society operating within the metropolis's police ranks.
The noirish 1930s flashback episode shot in black-and-white won cinematography, writing, sound editing and sound mixing prizes at this year's Emmys.
- 'Holding a mirror up' -
"Watchmen" depicts white supremacists, police brutality and rows over mask-wearing -- all subjects of intensely polarized national debate as the United States gears up for November's presidential election.
In the show's present-day scenes, reparations paid to the families of Tulsa massacre victims have galvanized a white supremacist group, who are furious at the government's support for minorities and bent on triggering a race war.
For best actress winner Regina King, who wore a tee-shirt bearing the image of Breonna Taylor -- an African-American woman killed in a police shooting in her own home -- those struggles resonate with the reality of being black in 21st century America.
"The cops still haven't been held accountable," King told journalists after Sunday's ceremony.
"She represents just decades, hundreds of years of... violence against black bodies," she said.
"The things that the stories that we were exploring, that we were presenting, that we were holding a mirror up to in 'Watchmen'... it felt appropriate to represent with Breonna Taylor."
- Sequel talk -
The show's Emmys wins came in the increasingly prestigious limited series category, which is intended for standalone mini-series.
But a sequel of sorts has not been categorically ruled out.
Lindelof said Sunday that he "invited any other artist who wants to take the baton -- I'll teach them everything that I know."
The showrunner added that he personally found it "so much more special" to end after nine episodes, and that he was "so much more excited about seeing what someone else does with it."
Noting that "someone else created" the original "Watchmen," he added: "It would feel like a huge betrayal of winning limited series to come back and say, well, it was only limited series dot dot dot..."
Asked about her own possible involvement in a follow-up, King said there "have been no conversations" -- but that she would want to jump in if Lindelof returned.
"We're coming to a close of this chapter of the 'Watchmen' series, as it is now," she said.
"And it is bittersweet, it's emotional, and I'm just trying to remain in the moment."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-21--Nadal 'number one' French Open favourite, says Djokovic

Rafael Nadal remains `` number one favourite '' for Roland Garros , rival Novak Djokovic said Monday , despite saying the Spaniard 's last-eight exit at the Italian Open showed he can be beaten on clay .
Nadal , a 12-time Roland Garros winner , lost in the quarter-finals of the Italian Open to world number 15 Diego Schwartzman .
`` Even though he lost this week , I still think , a lot of people will agree , he 's the number one favourite and , the record that he has there , the history of his results , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front of him , '' said Djokovic .
World number one Djokovic beat Argentine Schwartzman 7-5 , 6-3 in Monday 's final to win a fifth Rome title , and a record 36th Masters crown to move one better than Nadal .
`` But , you know , definitely Diego showed that Nadal is beatable on clay , '' added the Serb .
Conditions in Roland Garros could also have an impact , with the tournament pushed back to autumn because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Nadal `` prefers high bounces , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes fast , '' said Djokovic , the French Open champion in 2016 .
`` So let 's see .
It 's going to be interesting .
I think even though he 's the number one favourite , I think there are players that can win against him there . ''
Schwartzman agreed that Nadal was the favourite .
`` Rafa is the king .
It 's his house .
He went to Roland Garros many years playing good , sometimes not playing his best and he won .
`` I think Rafa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to win . ''

Rome (AFP) –
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Rafael Nadal remains "number one favourite" for Roland Garros, rival Novak Djokovic said Monday, despite saying the Spaniard's last-eight exit at the Italian Open showed he can be beaten on clay.
Nadal, a 12-time Roland Garros winner, lost in the quarter-finals of the Italian Open to world number 15 Diego Schwartzman.
"Even though he lost this week, I still think, a lot of people will agree, he's the number one favourite and, the record that he has there, the history of his results, you just can't put anybody in front of him," said Djokovic.
World number one Djokovic beat Argentine Schwartzman 7-5, 6-3 in Monday's final to win a fifth Rome title, and a record 36th Masters crown to move one better than Nadal.
"But, you know, definitely Diego showed that Nadal is beatable on clay," added the Serb.
Conditions in Roland Garros could also have an impact, with the tournament pushed back to autumn because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Nadal "prefers high bounces, that it is hot, that the ball goes fast," said Djokovic, the French Open champion in 2016.
"So let's see. It's going to be interesting. I think even though he's the number one favourite, I think there are players that can win against him there."
Schwartzman agreed that Nadal was the favourite.
"Rafa is the king. It's his house. He went to Roland Garros many years playing good, sometimes not playing his best and he won.
"I think Rafa is always there, the guy who is going to win."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-21--Ex-defence minister appointed Mali's transition leader

Mali was gripped by protests against the then president earlier this year Mali 's military junta announced the leaders of a new transition government in the Sahel state on Monday , which will retain strong army links despite international pressure to appoint civilians after a coup .
Junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita said in a televised statement that former defence minister Bah Ndaw would become transition president -- while he himself would serve as vice president .
The announcement comes after the 15-nation West Africa bloc ECOWAS last week gave Mali 's ruling officers `` days '' to appoint civilian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lift sanctions on the country otherwise .
West African leaders imposed sanctions on Mali -- including a trade embargo and shuttered borders -- in the wake of the August 18 military coup that ousted president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita .
The junta said last week that it would prefer the military to run the transition , however .
Ndaw , a 70-year-old retiree , was appointed transition president by a committee chosen by the junta , Goita said on Monday .
`` Each proposal has its advantages and its disadvantages , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civilian or military president .
He added that the committee had taken `` a global context '' into account when picking Ndaw , in an apparent reference to pressure from ECOWAS , which has yet to comment on the appointment .
Ndaw is a former helicopter pilot who was once an aide-de-camp to Mali 's ex-dictator Moussa Traore , who died last week aged 83 .
He then racked up a series of high-profile appointments : air force chief of staff , director of military engineering , and deputy chief of staff of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He later served as a defence minister under ousted president Keita .
A veteran soldier , Ndaw also received training in the former Soviet Union as well as at Paris 's renowned Ecole de Guerre .
Monday 's announcement followed a three-day forum with political parties and civil-society representatives earlier this month , which met to outline a roadmap to restore civilian rule in Mali .
According to a charter which emerged from that forum , the transition president is meant to rule for 18 months before staging nationwide elections .
Delegates had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the transition government , with some arguing to hand over power to civilians in line with ECOWAS wishes .
In Bamako , opinions were divided over the nomination .
`` I would have liked a politician to be chosen ...
I think that there are major players who have the vision , experience and who really have the rigour to lead this transition , '' said sociologist Ben Aly Toure .
`` He is apolitical .
He is also a career soldier , he has been air force chief of staff , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
Mali 's neighbours , who are anxious the restive country could spiral into chaos , have been pressuring the junta to swiftly hand over power .
Two days after the coup , ECOWAS stopped financial and commercial trade with Mali , except for basic necessities , drugs , equipment to fight coronavirus , fuel and electricity .
The sanctions could bite in the poor country already facing a severe economic downturn as well as a simmering jihadist insurgency and chronic inter-ethnic violence .
It was these state failures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year , with months of protests and unrest building up to the military arresting president Keita and seizing control .
A swearing-in ceremony will take place on Friday , Goita said .

Bamako (AFP) –
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Mali's military junta announced the leaders of a new transition government in the Sahel state on Monday, which will retain strong army links despite international pressure to appoint civilians after a coup.
Junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita said in a televised statement that former defence minister Bah Ndaw would become transition president -- while he himself would serve as vice president.
The announcement comes after the 15-nation West Africa bloc ECOWAS last week gave Mali's ruling officers "days" to appoint civilian leaders, warning that it would not lift sanctions on the country otherwise.
West African leaders imposed sanctions on Mali -- including a trade embargo and shuttered borders -- in the wake of the August 18 military coup that ousted president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
The junta said last week that it would prefer the military to run the transition, however.
Ndaw, a 70-year-old retiree, was appointed transition president by a committee chosen by the junta, Goita said on Monday.
"Each proposal has its advantages and its disadvantages," he said, referring to the choice between a civilian or military president.
He added that the committee had taken "a global context" into account when picking Ndaw, in an apparent reference to pressure from ECOWAS, which has yet to comment on the appointment.
- Helicopter pilot -
Ndaw is a former helicopter pilot who was once an aide-de-camp to Mali's ex-dictator Moussa Traore, who died last week aged 83.
He then racked up a series of high-profile appointments: air force chief of staff, director of military engineering, and deputy chief of staff of the national guard, among others.
He later served as a defence minister under ousted president Keita.
A veteran soldier, Ndaw also received training in the former Soviet Union as well as at Paris's renowned Ecole de Guerre.
Monday's announcement followed a three-day forum with political parties and civil-society representatives earlier this month, which met to outline a roadmap to restore civilian rule in Mali.
According to a charter which emerged from that forum, the transition president is meant to rule for 18 months before staging nationwide elections.
Delegates had hotly debated the military's role in the transition government, with some arguing to hand over power to civilians in line with ECOWAS wishes.
In Bamako, opinions were divided over the nomination.
"I would have liked a politician to be chosen... I think that there are major players who have the vision, experience and who really have the rigour to lead this transition," said sociologist Ben Aly Toure.
But taxi driver Nouhoum Fomba was satisfied.
"He is apolitical. He is also a career soldier, he has been air force chief of staff, and has held high positions in the army," he said.
- Tough sanctions -
Mali's neighbours, who are anxious the restive country could spiral into chaos, have been pressuring the junta to swiftly hand over power.
Two days after the coup, ECOWAS stopped financial and commercial trade with Mali, except for basic necessities, drugs, equipment to fight coronavirus, fuel and electricity.
The sanctions could bite in the poor country already facing a severe economic downturn as well as a simmering jihadist insurgency and chronic inter-ethnic violence.
It was these state failures that provoked people into the streets earlier this year, with months of protests and unrest building up to the military arresting president Keita and seizing control.
A swearing-in ceremony will take place on Friday, Goita said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-22--Palestinians quit Arab League role in protest

( L-R ) Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , US President Donald Trump and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan participate in signing of the Abraham Accords normalising ties The Palestinians have stepped down from a key Arab League role in protest at the regional bloc 's failure to take a stand against Israeli-Arab deals , an official said Tuesday .
Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki announced the decision to resign from the rotating presidency of the Council of the Arab League , after its failure to agree a draft resolution condemning a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The state of Palestine ... refuses to record in its history the association of its presidency with the regression in values and principles that was evident in the last meeting of the council of foreign ministers , '' Maliki said in the West Bank town of Ramallah .
The Palestinians presided over the council 's latest session earlier this month and had been due to stay in the role until March .
Their delegation had tabled a draft resolution at the meeting of the council , which brings together foreign ministers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the normalisation accord .
The Cairo meeting came ahead of another such deal being announced by Bahrain with the Jewish state .
Both deals were signed in Washington on September 15 .
The Gulf agreements broke with years of Arab League policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and were condemned by the Palestinians as a `` betrayal '' .
In 2002 , the bloc adopted a Saudi-proposed peace plan which was renewed as recently as 2017 .
It offered normalisation only in return for a full Israeli withdrawal from territories it occupied in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with east Jerusalem as its capital and a just solution for Palestinian refugees .
The Arab plan has been pushed aside by the US administration , which after several delays unveiled a controversial peace blueprint of its own in January .
It promised Washington 's blessing for Israel 's eventual annexation of swathes of the occupied West Bank .
The United Arab Emirates government hailed a clause in its US-brokered deal that appeared to put any Israeli annexations on hold .
But Israel retorted that any delay would be short-lived and its annexation @ @ @ @ @ @

Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) –
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The Palestinians have stepped down from a key Arab League role in protest at the regional bloc's failure to take a stand against Israeli-Arab deals, an official said Tuesday.
Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki announced the decision to resign from the rotating presidency of the Council of the Arab League, after its failure to agree a draft resolution condemning a normalisation accord between the UAE and Israel.
"The state of Palestine... refuses to record in its history the association of its presidency with the regression in values and principles that was evident in the last meeting of the council of foreign ministers," Maliki said in the West Bank town of Ramallah.
The Palestinians presided over the council's latest session earlier this month and had been due to stay in the role until March.
Their delegation had tabled a draft resolution at the meeting of the council, which brings together foreign ministers of the 22-member bloc, to condemn the normalisation accord.
The Cairo meeting came ahead of another such deal being announced by Bahrain with the Jewish state. Both deals were signed in Washington on September 15.
The Gulf agreements broke with years of Arab League policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and were condemned by the Palestinians as a "betrayal".
In 2002, the bloc adopted a Saudi-proposed peace plan which was renewed as recently as 2017.
It offered normalisation only in return for a full Israeli withdrawal from territories it occupied in the 1967 Six-Day War, a Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital and a just solution for Palestinian refugees.
The Arab plan has been pushed aside by the US administration, which after several delays unveiled a controversial peace blueprint of its own in January.
It promised Washington's blessing for Israel's eventual annexation of swathes of the occupied West Bank.
The United Arab Emirates government hailed a clause in its US-brokered deal that appeared to put any Israeli annexations on hold.
But Israel retorted that any delay would be short-lived and its annexation plans remained on the table.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-22--Marseille allege Neymar made racist remarks towards Japan's Sakai

Neymar and Hiroki Sakai during the stormy September 13 clash in Paris Marseille claim to have footage of Neymar racially abusing Japanese right-back Hiroki Sakai during their Ligue 1 win over Paris Saint-German earlier this month , a source close to the club said on Tuesday .
The individual said Andre Villas-Boas 's side have evidence of the Brazil forward making the comments on two occasions .
`` We have no comment .
We entrust all our expertise and analysis to the examiners '' of the league , they said .
The world 's most expensive player alleged he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defender Alvaro Gonzalez in the fixture where five players including Neymar himself were shown red cards .
Last week Brazil 's Globo Esporte said PSG had submitted a video of the incident to the French league ( LFP ) `` to attempt to prove that Neymar was the victim of racism '' .
Three Brazilian lip-reading experts interviewed by Globo TV on Sunday agreed Gonzalez had called Neymar `` mono '' -- `` monkey '' in Spanish -- after watching the footage from French broadcaster Telefoot .
However , other lip-reading experts -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have analysed the same tape and found no evidence the defender used a racial slur .
According to some Spanish media reports , Neymar in fact used a homophobic slur against Gonzalez .
A PSG source told AFP the allegations had `` no value '' .
The LFP , which suspended Neymar for two matches over the incident , has opened a probe into his accusations , which Gonzalez denies .
Later on Wednesday , PSG 's Angel Di Maria faces a disciplinary hearing after Gonzalez alleged he was spat at by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ footage appeared to show Di Maria in the act but he avoided punishment by the match referee .

Paris (AFP) –
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Marseille claim to have footage of Neymar racially abusing Japanese right-back Hiroki Sakai during their Ligue 1 win over Paris Saint-German earlier this month, a source close to the club said on Tuesday.
The individual said Andre Villas-Boas's side have evidence of the Brazil forward making the comments on two occasions.
A Marseille spokesperson refused to confirm the allegations.
"We have no comment. We entrust all our expertise and analysis to the examiners" of the league, they said.
The world's most expensive player alleged he was the victim of racist abuse by Marseille defender Alvaro Gonzalez in the fixture where five players including Neymar himself were shown red cards.
Last week Brazil's Globo Esporte said PSG had submitted a video of the incident to the French league (LFP) "to attempt to prove that Neymar was the victim of racism".
Three Brazilian lip-reading experts interviewed by Globo TV on Sunday agreed Gonzalez had called Neymar "mono" -- "monkey" in Spanish -- after watching the footage from French broadcaster Telefoot.
However, other lip-reading experts -- notably in Gonzalez's native Spain -- have analysed the same tape and found no evidence the defender used a racial slur.
According to some Spanish media reports, Neymar in fact used a homophobic slur against Gonzalez.
A PSG source told AFP the allegations had "no value".
The LFP, which suspended Neymar for two matches over the incident, has opened a probe into his accusations, which Gonzalez denies.
Later on Wednesday, PSG's Angel Di Maria faces a disciplinary hearing after Gonzalez alleged he was spat at by the Argentina winger during the game.
Television footage appeared to show Di Maria in the act but he avoided punishment by the match referee.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-22--Frustrated pilgrims blame Israel government for Ukraine border ordeal

Ultra-Orthodox Jews arrive home in Israel angry and disappointed after an annual pilgrimage to Ukraine was aborted by coronavirus fears Ultra-Orthodox Jews who were blocked for days trying to reach Ukraine for an annual pilgrimage flew home to Israel this week , many accusing their government of abandoning them .
The would-be pilgrims complained they had received no assistance from the Israeli government while enduring `` inhumane '' conditions in no-man 's land on the Belarus-Ukraine border , forcing them to rely on the Belarusian authorities and the Red Cross .
Tens of thousands of pilgrims usually travel to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Breslov Hasidic movement , in Uman in central Ukraine to mark the Jewish new year , which this year fell on September 18-20 .
Hundreds of Hasidic Jews ignored warnings from the Ukrainian government that pilgrims would be denied entry because of coronavirus concerns and attempted to cross by land from neighbouring Belarus .
`` Five days without eating or drinking , without toilets ... That 's inhumane , '' one of the frustrated pilgrims , Israel Maizlik , told AFP .
Along with other pilgrims , he touched down Monday on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While stuck at the border , pilgrim Haim Weitshandler called on Israeli officials to come to the rescue of `` sick and hungry people '' left out `` in the rain and in the cold '' .
After landing at Tel Aviv airport , the 40-year-old said he had `` spent two weeks in conditions amounting to a serious humanitarian crisis '' .
`` We received nothing from Israel , '' he said , praising Belarus for `` coming to help us . ''
Along with the Red Cross , the Belarusian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplies to hundreds of men , women and children waiting at the border .
The Israeli government vowed in August to find an `` arrangement '' with Kiev to allow some pilgrims to travel to Uman , before backtracking and telling citizens not to travel .
Weitshandler accused the Israeli prime minister of `` applying pressure so that Ukraine denied us entry '' .
Maizlik showed an extra hole in his belt which he said was due to the lack of food at the border .
`` We went to pray for all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state of Israel did nothing for us , '' he said .
`` Netanyahu has forgotten that we are part of the ( Israeli ) people , '' he added .
Parties representing the ultra-Orthodox community have been a key part of successive coalition governments led by the right-wing premier .
While many of the blocked pilgrims expressed frustration , Dor David said he felt positive about the experience .
`` If God and our rabbi ( Nahman ) did not want us to reach Uman , why should I be angry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ puppet in the hands of God , '' he added , pledging to make it to Uman once the border opens .
`` The positive energies on the ground made us forget the hunger and the cold , it was a spiritual experience . ''

Tel Aviv (AFP) –
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Ultra-Orthodox Jews who were blocked for days trying to reach Ukraine for an annual pilgrimage flew home to Israel this week, many accusing their government of abandoning them.
The would-be pilgrims complained they had received no assistance from the Israeli government while enduring "inhumane" conditions in no-man's land on the Belarus-Ukraine border, forcing them to rely on the Belarusian authorities and the Red Cross.
Tens of thousands of pilgrims usually travel to the tomb of Rabbi Nahman, founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement, in Uman in central Ukraine to mark the Jewish new year, which this year fell on September 18-20.
Hundreds of Hasidic Jews ignored warnings from the Ukrainian government that pilgrims would be denied entry because of coronavirus concerns and attempted to cross by land from neighbouring Belarus.
"Five days without eating or drinking, without toilets... That's inhumane," one of the frustrated pilgrims, Israel Maizlik, told AFP.
Along with other pilgrims, he touched down Monday on a flight from the Belarusian capital Minsk.
While stuck at the border, pilgrim Haim Weitshandler called on Israeli officials to come to the rescue of "sick and hungry people" left out "in the rain and in the cold".
After landing at Tel Aviv airport, the 40-year-old said he had "spent two weeks in conditions amounting to a serious humanitarian crisis".
"We received nothing from Israel," he said, praising Belarus for "coming to help us."
- 'Forgotten' -
Along with the Red Cross, the Belarusian authorities provided tents, medicine and other supplies to hundreds of men, women and children waiting at the border.
The Israeli government vowed in August to find an "arrangement" with Kiev to allow some pilgrims to travel to Uman, before backtracking and telling citizens not to travel.
Weitshandler accused the Israeli prime minister of "applying pressure so that Ukraine denied us entry".
Maizlik showed an extra hole in his belt which he said was due to the lack of food at the border.
"We went to pray for all the people (of Israel) but the state of Israel did nothing for us," he said.
"Netanyahu has forgotten that we are part of the (Israeli) people," he added.
Parties representing the ultra-Orthodox community have been a key part of successive coalition governments led by the right-wing premier.
While many of the blocked pilgrims expressed frustration, Dor David said he felt positive about the experience.
"If God and our rabbi (Nahman) did not want us to reach Uman, why should I be angry?"
Netanyahu is merely "a puppet in the hands of God," he added, pledging to make it to Uman once the border opens.
"The positive energies on the ground made us forget the hunger and the cold, it was a spiritual experience."
© 2020 AFP