france24--2020-09-05--Kiviranta nets OT winner as Stars take game seven to advance past Avalanche

Joel Kiviranta capped his hat trick by scoring the overtime winner as the Dallas Stars punched their ticket to the NHL Western Conference finals Friday with a 5-4 win in game seven over the Colorado Avalanche .
Kiviranta got open in front of the Colorado net and took a pass from Andrej Sekera then beat Avs goaltender Michael Hutchinson with a one-timer 7:24 into the overtime .
It was the first career hat trick for the 24-year-old Finn , who also scored in the second period to tie the game 2-2 and in the third to tie it 4-4 which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the NHL 's quarantine hub in Edmonton , Alberta .
`` This is what you dream about when you are a young kid , '' said the 24-year-old rookie forward , who scored just one goal in the regular season .
`` This is the first game seven in my life .
I did n't know what to expect . ''
Kiviranta 's second goal came late in the third and just 10 seconds after Vladislav Namestnikov had scored to give Colorado a 4-3 lead with 3:40 left .
The Stars advance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they will face either the Vancouver Canucks or the Vegas Golden Knights who took the ice later on Friday in another game seven .
Despite having to rally three times from deficits on Friday -- from 2-1 , 3-2 and 4-3 -- the Stars controlled the play and look more confident with the puck in overtime .
Whenever the Stars and Avalanche have met there has been plenty of fireworks and this series was no different .
In seven games the two teams combined for 57 goals .
The teams have met in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stars have now won them all .
Slovakian defenceman Sekera started the play on the winning goal by skating along the boards then stopping behind the Colorado goal and waiting for Kiviranta to give the Avalanche defenceman the slip and get open .
`` Their defence lost me a bit and they did n't know who was going to pick me up .
I tried to find a soft spot and it was a great pass , '' Kiviranta said .
Kiviranta is an undrafted free agent who joined the Stars last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teams in Finland .
He played just 11 games this season for Dallas and was inserted into the lineup halfway through this series to replace injured forward Andrew Cogliano .
Russian Alexander Radulov also scored twice for Dallas , who advanced to their first Conference finals since 2008 .
Namestnikov scored twice and Andre Burakowsky and Nazem Kadri had a goal each for Colorado , who also lost in a game seven in the second round last year .
Colorado All-Star Nathan MacKinnon failed to get a point Friday , snapping his consecutive @ @ @ @ @ @

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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Joel Kiviranta capped his hat trick by scoring the overtime winner as the Dallas Stars punched their ticket to the NHL Western Conference finals Friday with a 5-4 win in game seven over the Colorado Avalanche.
Kiviranta got open in front of the Colorado net and took a pass from Andrej Sekera then beat Avs goaltender Michael Hutchinson with a one-timer 7:24 into the overtime.
It was the first career hat trick for the 24-year-old Finn, who also scored in the second period to tie the game 2-2 and in the third to tie it 4-4 which set the stage for his overtime heroics in the NHL's quarantine hub in Edmonton, Alberta.
"This is what you dream about when you are a young kid," said the 24-year-old rookie forward, who scored just one goal in the regular season. "This is the first game seven in my life. I didn't know what to expect."
Kiviranta's second goal came late in the third and just 10 seconds after Vladislav Namestnikov had scored to give Colorado a 4-3 lead with 3:40 left.
The Stars advance to the NHL's final four where they will face either the Vancouver Canucks or the Vegas Golden Knights who took the ice later on Friday in another game seven.
Despite having to rally three times from deficits on Friday -- from 2-1, 3-2 and 4-3 -- the Stars controlled the play and look more confident with the puck in overtime.
Whenever the Stars and Avalanche have met there has been plenty of fireworks and this series was no different. In seven games the two teams combined for 57 goals.
The teams have met in three game sevens in history and the Stars have now won them all.
Slovakian defenceman Sekera started the play on the winning goal by skating along the boards then stopping behind the Colorado goal and waiting for Kiviranta to give the Avalanche defenceman the slip and get open.
"Their defence lost me a bit and they didn't know who was going to pick me up. I tried to find a soft spot and it was a great pass," Kiviranta said.
Kiviranta is an undrafted free agent who joined the Stars last year after spending his entire career playing for teams in Finland.
He played just 11 games this season for Dallas and was inserted into the lineup halfway through this series to replace injured forward Andrew Cogliano.
Russian Alexander Radulov also scored twice for Dallas, who advanced to their first Conference finals since 2008.
Namestnikov scored twice and Andre Burakowsky and Nazem Kadri had a goal each for Colorado, who also lost in a game seven in the second round last year.
Colorado All-Star Nathan MacKinnon failed to get a point Friday, snapping his consecutive point streak at 14 games.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--Nuggets' Malone slams 'crazy' NBA bubble ban on coaches' families

Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone slammed the NBA on Friday for its ban on coaches ' family members , even as players were allowed to welcome a few friends and relatives into the quarantine bubble in Orlando , Florida .
`` This is day number 60 , '' Malone said at a Friday media availability of the time he and the Nuggets have spent so far on the NBA 's campus at Disney World Through seeding games and the first round of the playoffs no guests were allowed , but players whose teams advanced to the second round were able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family members or close friends .
Game officials were allowed to invite one guest , but coaches remain on their own .
`` I say shame on you NBA , '' added Malone , who is married with two daughters .
`` This is crazy .
I miss my family .
I think I speak for me .
I speak for my coaches and probably all the coaches down here .
Sixty days and not having access and not being granted the privilege to have my family come here to me is criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ James weighed in backing Malone on social media , in a replay to a tweet from Los Angeles Lakers teammate Jarde Dudley .
`` Wow , I did n't even know that , '' James said after Dudley posted a link to an article featuring Malone 's comments .
`` Coach Mo is absolutely right !
That 's ridiculous . ''
The Nuggets battled their way into the second round , winning the last three games in a 4-3 series victory over the Utah Jazz .
A weary-looking Denver team were blown out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opening game of their Western Conference semi-final series on Thursday .
Malone said his players would need to show more energy , and urgency , on both ends of the court to challenge the clippers .
`` It was like layup lines out there at times , '' Malone said of his team 's ineffective defense .
As for offense , he said , as the game wore on `` we just came down and jacked quick shots ... instead of moving the ball , moving bodies .
`` You just ca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and jack up shots . ''

Miami (AFP) –
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Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone slammed the NBA on Friday for its ban on coaches' family members, even as players were allowed to welcome a few friends and relatives into the quarantine bubble in Orlando, Florida.
"This is day number 60," Malone said at a Friday media availability of the time he and the Nuggets have spent so far on the NBA's campus at Disney World
Through seeding games and the first round of the playoffs no guests were allowed, but players whose teams advanced to the second round were able to bring in a limited number of family members or close friends.
Game officials were allowed to invite one guest, but coaches remain on their own.
"I say shame on you NBA," added Malone, who is married with two daughters.
"This is crazy. I miss my family. I think I speak for me. I speak for my coaches and probably all the coaches down here. Sixty days and not having access and not being granted the privilege to have my family come here to me is criminal in nature."
NBA superstar LeBron James weighed in backing Malone on social media, in a replay to a tweet from Los Angeles Lakers teammate Jarde Dudley.
"Wow, I didn't even know that," James said after Dudley posted a link to an article featuring Malone's comments. "Coach Mo is absolutely right! That's ridiculous."
The Nuggets battled their way into the second round, winning the last three games in a 4-3 series victory over the Utah Jazz.
A weary-looking Denver team were blown out 120-97 by the Los Angeles Clippers in the opening game of their Western Conference semi-final series on Thursday.
Malone said his players would need to show more energy, and urgency, on both ends of the court to challenge the clippers.
"It was like layup lines out there at times," Malone said of his team's ineffective defense.
As for offense, he said, as the game wore on "we just came down and jacked quick shots ... instead of moving the ball, moving bodies.
"You just can't come down and run random offense and jack up shots."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--Indigenous Brazilians launch coronavirus tracing app

Brazil 's indigenous chief Raoni Metuktire , 90 , of the Kayapo people , was released from hospital after treatment for coronavirus : several indigenous leaders have succumbed to the disease Indigenous and environmental organizations in Brazil launched an app on Friday aimed at alerting indigenous communities to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in their lands .
`` The application maps and periodically updates the situation regarding the pandemic in cities within a 100 kilometer radius of indigenous lands , '' said the Coordination of the Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon ( COIAB ) and the Amazon Environmental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joint statement .
The app , called `` Covid-19 Indigenous Alert '' aims to help indigenous people identify areas with high infection rates .
Provided free on the Android system , the app uses data from Brazil 's health ministry , people working in the indigenous health system , leaders from indigenous organizations and the COIAB network .
`` This collection of information , as well as directing our strategies and actions to combat Covid-19 , has exposed the lack of notification from public authorities and the serious way in which the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nicacio Wapichana , the deputy co-ordinator of COIAB .
With four million cases and 125,000 deaths amongst its 212 million population , Brazil is the worst affected country in the world by the virus after the United States .
Amongst the 900,000 indigenous people there have been 30,000 infections and 785 deaths , according to The Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil ( APIB . )
`` Indigenous peoples are especially vulnerable to the new coronavirus , presenting an incidence rate 249 percent higher than the national average and a 224 percent higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ registered cases up to August 28 , '' said COIAB .
The network said low levels of immunity , the invasion of indigenous land by outsiders , the introduction of foreign pathogens and a weak health system `` are some of the motives behind such alarming numbers . ''
Several high-profile indigenous leaders have died of covid-19 .
However , earlier on Friday the 90-year-old iconic chief Raoni Metuktire , one of the most famous defenders of the Amazon rainforest , was released from hospital after a week receiving treatment for covid-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ known for his colorful feather headdresses and the large disc inserted in his lower lip , has returned to his territory in Xingu National Park , in the center-west of Brazil .

Sao Paulo (AFP) –
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Indigenous and environmental organizations in Brazil launched an app on Friday aimed at alerting indigenous communities to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in their lands.
"The application maps and periodically updates the situation regarding the pandemic in cities within a 100 kilometer radius of indigenous lands," said the Coordination of the Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB) and the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM) in a joint statement.
The app, called "Covid-19 Indigenous Alert" aims to help indigenous people identify areas with high infection rates.
Provided free on the Android system, the app uses data from Brazil's health ministry, people working in the indigenous health system, leaders from indigenous organizations and the COIAB network.
"This collection of information, as well as directing our strategies and actions to combat Covid-19, has exposed the lack of notification from public authorities and the serious way in which the new virus affects us," said Mario Nicacio Wapichana, the deputy co-ordinator of COIAB.
With four million cases and 125,000 deaths amongst its 212 million population, Brazil is the worst affected country in the world by the virus after the United States.
Amongst the 900,000 indigenous people there have been 30,000 infections and 785 deaths, according to The Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB.)
"Indigenous peoples are especially vulnerable to the new coronavirus, presenting an incidence rate 249 percent higher than the national average and a 224 percent higher mortality, according to analysis of the registered cases up to August 28," said COIAB.
The network said low levels of immunity, the invasion of indigenous land by outsiders, the introduction of foreign pathogens and a weak health system "are some of the motives behind such alarming numbers."
Several high-profile indigenous leaders have died of covid-19.
However, earlier on Friday the 90-year-old iconic chief Raoni Metuktire, one of the most famous defenders of the Amazon rainforest, was released from hospital after a week receiving treatment for covid-19.
The leader of the Kayapo people, known for his colorful feather headdresses and the large disc inserted in his lower lip, has returned to his territory in Xingu National Park, in the center-west of Brazil.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--World Bank cancels loan for controversial Lebanon dam

Lebanon 's Awwali river which crosses through the Bisri valley south of Beirut is pictured in April 2019 The World Bank on Friday said it was canceling a loan to fund a dam in Lebanon that environmentalists claimed could destroy a valley rich in biodiversity .
The Bisri Dam was partially suspended in June after the Washington-based development lender said it raised concerns about the project 's implementation , and given the government of Lebanon until September 4 to finalize key agreements related to operations and maintenance as well as the environment .
In a statement , the World Bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was withdrawing its financing `` due to non-completion of the tasks that are preconditions to the commencement of construction . ''
`` The canceled portion of the loan is $ 244 million and the cancelation is effective immediately , '' the bank said .
Located in a valley 30 kilometres ( 20 miles ) south of the capital , the dam aims to supply drinking water as well as irrigation for 1.6 million residents .
Environmentalists and some farmers disputed assurances from the government and World Bank that the dam to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not increase the risk of earthquakes .

Washington (AFP) –
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The World Bank on Friday said it was canceling a loan to fund a dam in Lebanon that environmentalists claimed could destroy a valley rich in biodiversity.
The Bisri Dam was partially suspended in June after the Washington-based development lender said it raised concerns about the project's implementation, and given the government of Lebanon until September 4 to finalize key agreements related to operations and maintenance as well as the environment.
In a statement, the World Bank said it had notified the government that it was withdrawing its financing "due to non-completion of the tasks that are preconditions to the commencement of construction."
"The canceled portion of the loan is $244 million and the cancelation is effective immediately," the bank said.
Located in a valley 30 kilometres (20 miles) south of the capital, the dam aims to supply drinking water as well as irrigation for 1.6 million residents.
Environmentalists and some farmers disputed assurances from the government and World Bank that the dam to be built on a seismic fault line does not increase the risk of earthquakes.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--Rahm matches Johnson for PGA Tour Championship lead

Spain 's second-ranked Jon Rahm fired a five-under par 65 to match world number one Dustin Johnson for the lead after Friday 's opening round of the US PGA Tour Championship .
Rahm managed to find only three of 14 fairways at East Lake but reached 14 of 18 greens in regulation to equal Johnson at 13-under after 18 holes in a 30-man season-ending showdown in Atlanta for a $ 15 million playoff prize .
`` I kind of survived the first six or seven holes , took it on the back nine and played a really solid round of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ My driving could use a little improving .
It was just a little bit of every which way .
I was a little hesitant off the tee and that 's what I 'd like to change . ''
Johnson , who shot 67 , began on 10-under by virtue of his season points lead .
Rahm was next on 8-under with third-ranked American Justin Thomas on 7-under and other rivals starting up to 10 strokes adrift in the staggered start system .
`` I 'm pleased with the way I played , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decent score .
I need to keep doing what I 'm doing and giving myself some looks . ''
Thomas , the 2017 playoff champion , had three birdies in his first four holes on the way to a 66 to stand third on 11-under , two strokes ahead of world number four Rory McIlroy , who shot 64 to leap into contention .
New dad McIlroy , who began seven behind Johnson , is chasing his third US PGA playoff crown in five seasons and still thinking of daughter Poppy .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a feeding coming up . '
It 's natural -- between shots you think of other things , '' McIlroy said .
`` It 's nice to have this little four or five hours to myself .
I played really well , as good as I have in a long time and that was very encouraging . ''
Last-pair partners Rahm and Johnson continued their duel from last week 's BMW Championship , when Johnson sank a long putt on the 72nd green to force extra holes and Rahm made a 66-footer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It was fun playing out there with Jon , '' Johnson said .
`` Pretty solid . ''
Johnson sank a six-foot birdie putt at the second and dropped his approach inches from the cup at the par-5 sixth for a tap-in birdie to reach 12-under .
But he made bogey at the eighth and par-3 ninth after missing the fairway and 10-foot par putts .
`` Need to hit it a little straighter , '' Johnson said .
`` I did n't hit enough fairways ... if you hit it in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hole you ca n't get after . ''
Rahm made a 19-foot birdie putt at the second , took bogey at three , then dropped his approach inches from the cup to set up a birdie at six .
`` It was hard the first four or five holes , not uncomfortable but just doubtful of the dynamics of everything , '' Rahm said .
`` After that I was a little bit more comfortable . ''
Johnson and Rahm each birdied the 12th , 13th and par-3 15th , the world 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each other .
After Rahm made a 29-foot birdie putt at 12 , Johnson followed him from 27 feet .
At 13 , Rahm sank a 12-footer for birdie and Johnson topped him from 10 feet .
On the par-3 15th , Rahm sank a 23-foot birdie putt and Johnson made a 16-footer behind him .
Rahm , followed with a 16-foot birdie putt at 16 after Johnson missed from 25 feet , leaving them both at 13-under .
`` I putted as well as I ever have on Bermuda greens in my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the par-5 18th , Johnson blasted out of a greenside bunker to 4 1/2 feet but lipped out on his birdie putt while Rahm lipped out on his bunker bid for birdie and settled for a tap-in par .
Four-time major winner McIlroy , who celebrated Poppy 's birth Monday , went four days without touching a club .
`` Golf was he furthest thing from my mind the first few days this week , '' said McIlroy .
`` That meant I could come here and somewhat focus on what I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McIlroy an escape into his usual challenges .
`` It 's sort of a sanctuary , '' he said .
`` Great start .
I played some nice golf . ''
McIlroy has not managed a top-10 finish since the US PGA Tour returned from a three-month COVID-19 shutdown in June , impending fatherhood and spectator-less events taking a toll .
`` It was a perfect storm , '' he said .
`` I 've seen signs my game is getting better .
I was coming in with no expectations ...
I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

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Spain's second-ranked Jon Rahm fired a five-under par 65 to match world number one Dustin Johnson for the lead after Friday's opening round of the US PGA Tour Championship.
Rahm managed to find only three of 14 fairways at East Lake but reached 14 of 18 greens in regulation to equal Johnson at 13-under after 18 holes in a 30-man season-ending showdown in Atlanta for a $15 million playoff prize.
"I kind of survived the first six or seven holes, took it on the back nine and played a really solid round of golf," Rahm said.
"My driving could use a little improving. It was just a little bit of every which way. I was a little hesitant off the tee and that's what I'd like to change."
Johnson, who shot 67, began on 10-under by virtue of his season points lead. Rahm was next on 8-under with third-ranked American Justin Thomas on 7-under and other rivals starting up to 10 strokes adrift in the staggered start system.
"I'm pleased with the way I played," Johnson said. "It's a decent score. I need to keep doing what I'm doing and giving myself some looks."
Thomas, the 2017 playoff champion, had three birdies in his first four holes on the way to a 66 to stand third on 11-under, two strokes ahead of world number four Rory McIlroy, who shot 64 to leap into contention.
New dad McIlroy, who began seven behind Johnson, is chasing his third US PGA playoff crown in five seasons and still thinking of daughter Poppy.
"I was like, 'OK, there's a feeding coming up.' It's natural -- between shots you think of other things," McIlroy said.
"It's nice to have this little four or five hours to myself. I played really well, as good as I have in a long time and that was very encouraging."
Last-pair partners Rahm and Johnson continued their duel from last week's BMW Championship, when Johnson sank a long putt on the 72nd green to force extra holes and Rahm made a 66-footer for birdie to capture the playoff.
"It was fun playing out there with Jon," Johnson said. "Pretty solid."
Johnson sank a six-foot birdie putt at the second and dropped his approach inches from the cup at the par-5 sixth for a tap-in birdie to reach 12-under. But he made bogey at the eighth and par-3 ninth after missing the fairway and 10-foot par putts.
"Need to hit it a little straighter," Johnson said. "I didn't hit enough fairways... if you hit it in the fairways, there's not a hole you can't get after."
Rahm made a 19-foot birdie putt at the second, took bogey at three, then dropped his approach inches from the cup to set up a birdie at six.
"It was hard the first four or five holes, not uncomfortable but just doubtful of the dynamics of everything," Rahm said. "After that I was a little bit more comfortable."
Johnson and Rahm each birdied the 12th, 13th and par-3 15th, the world's top-ranked players bringing out the best in each other.
After Rahm made a 29-foot birdie putt at 12, Johnson followed him from 27 feet. At 13, Rahm sank a 12-footer for birdie and Johnson topped him from 10 feet.
On the par-3 15th, Rahm sank a 23-foot birdie putt and Johnson made a 16-footer behind him.
Rahm, followed with a 16-foot birdie putt at 16 after Johnson missed from 25 feet, leaving them both at 13-under.
"I putted as well as I ever have on Bermuda greens in my life," Rahm said.
At the par-5 18th, Johnson blasted out of a greenside bunker to 4 1/2 feet but lipped out on his birdie putt while Rahm lipped out on his bunker bid for birdie and settled for a tap-in par.
- Rory's 'sanctuary' -
Four-time major winner McIlroy, who celebrated Poppy's birth Monday, went four days without touching a club.
"Golf was he furthest thing from my mind the first few days this week," said McIlroy. "That meant I could come here and somewhat focus on what I'm supposed to do."
Golf provided McIlroy an escape into his usual challenges.
"It's sort of a sanctuary," he said. "Great start. I played some nice golf."
McIlroy has not managed a top-10 finish since the US PGA Tour returned from a three-month COVID-19 shutdown in June, impending fatherhood and spectator-less events taking a toll.
"It was a perfect storm," he said. "I've seen signs my game is getting better. I was coming in with no expectations... I'm happy to start the way I have."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--Children study in back of truck in virus-hit Mexico

The back of a pick-up truck is one of the unusual locations for improvised classrooms at a street school in the Mexican capital An improvised school in Mexico 's capital is helping underprivileged children keep studying during the pandemic with classes in the street , a blacksmith 's shop and even the back of an old truck .
The project is aimed at students struggling to keep up with a distance-learning program launched by the government for tens of millions of children whose schools have shut .
Each morning , after washing their hands , students in face masks squeeze @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parked at the side of a street in Mexico City and sit at desks ready to learn .
`` We 've equipped it with television , internet , a laptop and a smartphone to help disadvantaged children to take their classes , '' Dalia Davila , the 34-year-old manager of the project , told AFP .
Under a canopy to protect against the sun , a mother tried to connect an old cellphone to a Wi-Fi network to download teaching materials for her 11-year-old daughter .
A notice informs passers-by : `` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entering a study area . ''
Around 30 million Mexican children began a new school year last month with distance learning via television in collaboration with four private channels .
Schools have been closed since March in Mexico , which has recorded more than 66,000 coronavirus deaths -- one of the world 's highest tolls .
Around 70 children between the ages of six and 15 have so far attended the `` Little Corner of Hope '' street school in a suburb of the capital .
The community effort relies on the support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electronic equipment , a blacksmith who allows the use of a workshop and a tortilla shop that provides a free internet connection .
`` The most difficult things are the weather , sometimes there 's a lot of sun , a lot of noise , and it 's difficult to teach a language in the street , '' said English teacher Eduardo Soto .
The 50-year-old offered his services for free after the pandemic left him without work .
Car horns and the noise of street traffic test the concentration of the students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It 's been very difficult ( for the children ) , first because they did n't know how to use a computer , then because they did n't give us any training to use the applications , '' said mother-of-three Martha Hernandez .
`` I did n't even know how to insert a file , '' she said .
For Davila and her partner , helping disadvantaged children is a way of coping with the death of their own young son , Leonardo , due to a heart condition .
`` All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in sharing with those most in need , '' she said .

Mexico City (AFP) –
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An improvised school in Mexico's capital is helping underprivileged children keep studying during the pandemic with classes in the street, a blacksmith's shop and even the back of an old truck.
The project is aimed at students struggling to keep up with a distance-learning program launched by the government for tens of millions of children whose schools have shut.
Each morning, after washing their hands, students in face masks squeeze into the back of a pick-up truck parked at the side of a street in Mexico City and sit at desks ready to learn.
"We've equipped it with television, internet, a laptop and a smartphone to help disadvantaged children to take their classes," Dalia Davila, the 34-year-old manager of the project, told AFP.
Under a canopy to protect against the sun, a mother tried to connect an old cellphone to a Wi-Fi network to download teaching materials for her 11-year-old daughter.
A notice informs passers-by: "We ask you for respect, you are entering a study area."
Around 30 million Mexican children began a new school year last month with distance learning via television in collaboration with four private channels.
Schools have been closed since March in Mexico, which has recorded more than 66,000 coronavirus deaths -- one of the world's highest tolls.
Around 70 children between the ages of six and 15 have so far attended the "Little Corner of Hope" street school in a suburb of the capital.
The community effort relies on the support of several volunteer teachers, donations of electronic equipment, a blacksmith who allows the use of a workshop and a tortilla shop that provides a free internet connection.
"The most difficult things are the weather, sometimes there's a lot of sun, a lot of noise, and it's difficult to teach a language in the street," said English teacher Eduardo Soto.
The 50-year-old offered his services for free after the pandemic left him without work.
Car horns and the noise of street traffic test the concentration of the students as they grapple with technological challenges.
"It's been very difficult (for the children), first because they didn't know how to use a computer, then because they didn't give us any training to use the applications," said mother-of-three Martha Hernandez.
"I didn't even know how to insert a file," she said.
For Davila and her partner, helping disadvantaged children is a way of coping with the death of their own young son, Leonardo, due to a heart condition.
"All this pain we transform into love, in sharing with those most in need," she said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--'Quite nice not to be abused,' says Australia's Warner after England loss

Down and almost out : David Warner on Friday David Warner said it felt `` bizarre '' to be playing England without a crowd following Australia 's two-run defeat by their arch-rivals in a Twenty20 international at Southampton on Friday that marked the tourists ' first competitive match in nearly six months .
All of England 's home fixtures this season are being played behind closed doors in response to the coronavirus pandemic .
`` It 's the first time I have been here ( England ) and not been abused , which is quite nice , '' said Warner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Ageas Bowl to roar on England as the hosts , with Australia seemingly cruising to a victory target of 163 at 124-1 , hit back with a burst of four wickets for nine runs in 14 balls .
Warner was subjected to repeated crowd jeering during last year 's World Cup in England following his part in a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa .
And the taunts from home fans only intensified as Warner managed just 95 runs in the subsequent drawn Ashes series , with the left-handed opener dismissed seven times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Veteran paceman Broad no longer plays white-ball international cricket and Warner top-scored for Australia with a fine 58 on Friday .
Asked if he atmosphere had felt like an England-Australia match , Warner told reporters after stumps : `` From a crowd perspective , no . ''
He added : `` It was a bit bizarre ( the lack of any spectators ) .
But we 're just grateful to be back and playing , '' he added after what was Australia 's first competitive match since they beat New Zealand in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Warner and Australia captain Aaron Finch ( 46 ) put on 98 in 11 overs , with both openers lamenting the fact that neither of them finished the job as England went 1-0 up in a three-match series that continues on Sunday .
With 19 needed off 12 balls , England paceman Chris Jordan conceded just four runs off the penultimate over .
And a target of 15 off six balls proved just too much for Marcus Stoinis , in his first match for Australia since their 50-over World Cup semi-final defeat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hit either a six off Tom Curran 's last delivery that would have won the match or a four that would have sent the game into a Super Over .
`` Towards the end they ( England ) bowled exceptionally well , they knocked us over quite comprehensively , '' said Warner .
Jofra Archer ( 2-33 ) , removed both Finch and Warner in what was the fast bowler 's first white-ball international in more than a year since he bowled the Super Over that sealed England 's World Cup final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I missed a yorker -- a very good delivery , '' said Warner .
`` There 's no excuses there .
The guys were outplayed to be honest . ''
England captain Eoin Morgan praised Jordan ( 0-23 in three overs ) and Curran ( 0-33 in four ) for holding their nerve at the finish .
`` It is quite a weighty responsibility but they see an opportunity to take the team forward and lead the team and they do it very well , '' he said .
Earlier , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 66 -- his eighth score of fifty or more in just 14 T20 international innings -- which revived the hosts from the depths of 108-5 after opener Jos Buttler 's dashing 44 .
Malan 's 43-ball innings contained three sixes , all off leg-spinner Adam Zampa who saw his last over go for 22 .
`` Given we have just come from a series ( against Pakistan ) where we went one up and lost the second game , we wo n't be taking anything lightly , '' said Morgan .
`` Australia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did n't bat well tonight but Dav and Jos did .
We should have got more runs and I think our bowlers bailed us out . ''

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David Warner said it felt "bizarre" to be playing England without a crowd following Australia's two-run defeat by their arch-rivals in a Twenty20 international at Southampton on Friday that marked the tourists' first competitive match in nearly six months.
All of England's home fixtures this season are being played behind closed doors in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
"It's the first time I have been here (England) and not been abused, which is quite nice," said Warner.
There were no fans present at the Ageas Bowl to roar on England as the hosts, with Australia seemingly cruising to a victory target of 163 at 124-1, hit back with a burst of four wickets for nine runs in 14 balls.
Warner was subjected to repeated crowd jeering during last year's World Cup in England following his part in a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.
And the taunts from home fans only intensified as Warner managed just 95 runs in the subsequent drawn Ashes series, with the left-handed opener dismissed seven times in 10 innings by Stuart Broad.
Veteran paceman Broad no longer plays white-ball international cricket and Warner top-scored for Australia with a fine 58 on Friday.
Asked if he atmosphere had felt like an England-Australia match, Warner told reporters after stumps: "From a crowd perspective, no."
He added: "It was a bit bizarre (the lack of any spectators). But we're just grateful to be back and playing," he added after what was Australia's first competitive match since they beat New Zealand in a one-day international in Sydney on March 13.
Warner and Australia captain Aaron Finch (46) put on 98 in 11 overs, with both openers lamenting the fact that neither of them finished the job as England went 1-0 up in a three-match series that continues on Sunday.
With 19 needed off 12 balls, England paceman Chris Jordan conceded just four runs off the penultimate over.
- 'Knocked us over -'
And a target of 15 off six balls proved just too much for Marcus Stoinis, in his first match for Australia since their 50-over World Cup semi-final defeat by England, with the all-rounder unable to hit either a six off Tom Curran's last delivery that would have won the match or a four that would have sent the game into a Super Over.
"Towards the end they (England) bowled exceptionally well, they knocked us over quite comprehensively," said Warner.
Jofra Archer (2-33), removed both Finch and Warner in what was the fast bowler's first white-ball international in more than a year since he bowled the Super Over that sealed England's World Cup final win over New Zealand at Lord's.
"I missed a yorker -- a very good delivery," said Warner. "There's no excuses there. The guys were outplayed to be honest."
England captain Eoin Morgan praised Jordan (0-23 in three overs) and Curran (0-33 in four) for holding their nerve at the finish.
"It is quite a weighty responsibility but they see an opportunity to take the team forward and lead the team and they do it very well," he said.
Earlier, England were indebted to Dawid Malan's 66 -- his eighth score of fifty or more in just 14 T20 international innings -- which revived the hosts from the depths of 108-5 after opener Jos Buttler's dashing 44.
Malan's 43-ball innings contained three sixes, all off leg-spinner Adam Zampa who saw his last over go for 22.
"Given we have just come from a series (against Pakistan) where we went one up and lost the second game, we won't be taking anything lightly," said Morgan.
"Australia are an extremely strong side, we didn't bat well tonight but Dav and Jos did. We should have got more runs and I think our bowlers bailed us out."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--Power cut and last-minute try as Pau edge Pollard's Montpellier

South African World Cup winner Handre Pollard kicked 13 points but his Montpellier side suffered a last-gasp 26-23 defeat in the opening game of the new French Top 14 season on Friday .
In a match where they conceded 22 penalties and saw two yellow cards , Montpellier finally paid for their indiscipline when a penalty try settled matters for the visitors .
`` We lost the thread of our game , we had the opportunity to make a break after the interval where we could have led by 30-13 , '' said Montpellier manager Xavier Garbajosa .
`` But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we fell apart .
It 's hard to play fifteen against fifteen , but with fourteen it becomes very difficult . ''
It had been 187 days since the last Top 14 game was played with the sport put on hold due to the coronavirus .
The disease still casts a huge shadow over the championship .
Montpellier announced on Wednesday that an unnamed player and a member of their coaching staff had tested positive for Covid-19 .
Meanwhile , Stade Francais recorded a reported 25 positive cases of the virus last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their planned Friday opener against Bordeaux .
On Friday , a power cut early in the first half at Montpellier 's GGL Stadium was an extra headache .
However , unlike many sports in other nations , at least the club had the honour of being able to welcome fans back with a maximum of 5,000 spectators allowed .
Montpellier scored all of their points in the first half with Yacouba Camara and Caleb Timu scoring tries and with Pollard accurate with the boot for a 23-10 edge .
Scrum-half Clovis Le Bail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minute score .
But back came Pau with a last-minute penalty try to claim victory although Montpellier had a 47th minute try by Gabriel Ngandebe ruled out for an infringment by Camara who was sin-binned for his troubles .

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South African World Cup winner Handre Pollard kicked 13 points but his Montpellier side suffered a last-gasp 26-23 defeat in the opening game of the new French Top 14 season on Friday.
In a match where they conceded 22 penalties and saw two yellow cards, Montpellier finally paid for their indiscipline when a penalty try settled matters for the visitors.
"We lost the thread of our game, we had the opportunity to make a break after the interval where we could have led by 30-13," said Montpellier manager Xavier Garbajosa.
"But little by little in the second half, we fell apart. It's hard to play fifteen against fifteen, but with fourteen it becomes very difficult."
It had been 187 days since the last Top 14 game was played with the sport put on hold due to the coronavirus.
The disease still casts a huge shadow over the championship.
Montpellier announced on Wednesday that an unnamed player and a member of their coaching staff had tested positive for Covid-19.
Meanwhile, Stade Francais recorded a reported 25 positive cases of the virus last month and were forced to call off their planned Friday opener against Bordeaux.
On Friday, a power cut early in the first half at Montpellier's GGL Stadium was an extra headache.
However, unlike many sports in other nations, at least the club had the honour of being able to welcome fans back with a maximum of 5,000 spectators allowed.
Montpellier scored all of their points in the first half with Yacouba Camara and Caleb Timu scoring tries and with Pollard accurate with the boot for a 23-10 edge.
Scrum-half Clovis Le Bail kept Pau in touch with a 23rd minute score.
But back came Pau with a last-minute penalty try to claim victory although Montpellier had a 47th minute try by Gabriel Ngandebe ruled out for an infringment by Camara who was sin-binned for his troubles.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--Trump, Biden could feud or make peace at 9/11 event

Democratic presidential candidate and former US Vice President Joe Biden speaks on the state of the US economy in Wilmington , Delaware Donald Trump and Joe Biden will square off in their first debate in late September , but a preemptive face-to-face clash -- or detente -- could occur next Friday at an anniversary ceremony commemorating the 9/11 attacks .
The president and his Democratic challenger are both scheduled for September 11 visits to Shanksville , Pennsylvania , where one of the hijacked planes crashed into a field on that day in 2001 .
It remained unclear whether the two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely be the closest the rivals have been to one another in months .
`` I did n't know he was going until after I announced I was going , '' Biden told reporters in Wilmington , Delaware on Friday , two days after his campaign announced the Democrat 's plans .
Biden , who is ahead in national polls but whose lead is tighter in all-important swing states including Pennsylvania , signaled he would share the stage with Trump in Shanksville if invited to do so .
`` He is still the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden said .
The remarks were delivered off-mic after a speech in which Biden was expected to focus on the economy and criticize the Trump administration 's efforts to bring back American jobs .
Biden also unleashed a series of cutting denunciations of a president he said made `` disgusting '' comments about fallen soldiers that were reported in The Atlantic magazine .
The story , in which Trump is reported to have referred to US Marines buried in a World War I cemetery in France as `` losers '' and `` suckers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was released late Thursday and caused a firestorm .
Trump and the White House swiftly rejected the story as false , but it served to underscore the divide between the president and his challenger .
The National Park Service , which operates the Flight 93 National Memorial , said that the normally 90-minute ceremony is being condensed this year to a 20-minute `` moment of remembrance '' in an effort to minimize the spread of Covid-19 .

Wilmington (United States) (AFP) –
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Donald Trump and Joe Biden will square off in their first debate in late September, but a preemptive face-to-face clash -- or detente -- could occur next Friday at an anniversary ceremony commemorating the 9/11 attacks.
The president and his Democratic challenger are both scheduled for September 11 visits to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where one of the hijacked planes crashed into a field on that day in 2001.
It remained unclear whether the two visits will overlap, but it will likely be the closest the rivals have been to one another in months.
"I didn't know he was going until after I announced I was going," Biden told reporters in Wilmington, Delaware on Friday, two days after his campaign announced the Democrat's plans.
Biden, who is ahead in national polls but whose lead is tighter in all-important swing states including Pennsylvania, signaled he would share the stage with Trump in Shanksville if invited to do so.
"He is still the president of the United States," Biden said.
The remarks were delivered off-mic after a speech in which Biden was expected to focus on the economy and criticize the Trump administration's efforts to bring back American jobs.
Biden also unleashed a series of cutting denunciations of a president he said made "disgusting" comments about fallen soldiers that were reported in The Atlantic magazine.
The story, in which Trump is reported to have referred to US Marines buried in a World War I cemetery in France as "losers" and "suckers" for getting killed in action, was released late Thursday and caused a firestorm.
Trump and the White House swiftly rejected the story as false, but it served to underscore the divide between the president and his challenger.
The National Park Service, which operates the Flight 93 National Memorial, said that the normally 90-minute ceremony is being condensed this year to a 20-minute "moment of remembrance" in an effort to minimize the spread of Covid-19.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--Anti-racism protests in Portland will carry on: professor

The anti-racism protests that have taken place in Portland almost daily since May have become a hot issue in the US presidential race and will probably continue for some time , says University of Oregon political scientist Joe Lowndes .
Question : After 100 days of protests in Portland following the death of African American George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis , is this movement against racism and police brutality running out of steam ?
Answer : `` I think the fact that it has gone on for this long since May , consistently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to not see it end any time soon .
The grievances with the Portland Police Bureau and with the mayor 's office are deep and there is a strong protest culture in Portland .
`` There were very large protests .
They began to dwindle a little bit to a few hundred people until Trump brought federal agents in during the summer , and then the number surged again into the thousands ... .
And at the moment , they are a few hundred again , although they have sustained in terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Q : Are the demands made by the Black Lives Matter movement still at the heart of the Portland demonstrations , or have they been eclipsed by demands of a more political nature ?
A : `` I think it 's a mix .
You know , there are there are certainly questions of police violence against black people ...
So it 's partly about Black Lives Matter .
But partly it 's about the police themselves and who controls them .
`` What we might call the horizontalism of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of it , makes it very different from social movements in the past , makes it very different from , say , the height of the black freedom movement , the 1960s .
`` There 's no organizational forms or structures to make decisions about what will happen .
And so , then , you do n't control who shows up , or what the thrust of the actions will be , and where they 'll go and what kinds of escalations there will be . ''
Q : President Donald Trump routinely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrations , which often lead to clashes with police .
Could this play a part in the presidential election in November ?
A : `` There 's a lot of concern that these protests might be useful for the right -- if Black Lives Matter protesters are framed as being rioters and looters and not people who have democratic dissenters with government policy .
`` And that 's something that the Trump administration and the Trump campaign hopes will turn out its base .
And it might help actually , it may well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm not sure for the protesters that their first aim is to defeat Trump .
`` It 's not clear that this protest movement is going to be something that 's going to win him more votes ... it depends also on how ( Joe ) Biden takes this up .
`` The country is very divided , extraordinarily divided , probably more divided than any time it has been has since the 1850s .
I would say the fact that you have armed violence on the street , and a sitting president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this kind of struggle , is extraordinary and very new .
The talk of civil war is , you know , is real , and many people have that on their minds .
`` I think the next few months are going to be quite volatile . ''

Portland (AFP) –
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The anti-racism protests that have taken place in Portland almost daily since May have become a hot issue in the US presidential race and will probably continue for some time, says University of Oregon political scientist Joe Lowndes.
Question: After 100 days of protests in Portland following the death of African American George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis, is this movement against racism and police brutality running out of steam?
Answer: "I think the fact that it has gone on for this long since May, consistently every night, means that we're likely to not see it end any time soon. The grievances with the Portland Police Bureau and with the mayor's office are deep and there is a strong protest culture in Portland.
"There were very large protests. They began to dwindle a little bit to a few hundred people until Trump brought federal agents in during the summer, and then the number surged again into the thousands.... And at the moment, they are a few hundred again, although they have sustained in terms of militancy and consistency of showing up."
Q: Are the demands made by the Black Lives Matter movement still at the heart of the Portland demonstrations, or have they been eclipsed by demands of a more political nature?
A: "I think it's a mix. You know, there are there are certainly questions of police violence against black people... So it's partly about Black Lives Matter. But partly it's about the police themselves and who controls them.
"What we might call the horizontalism of this movement, that kind of leaderless quality of it, makes it very different from social movements in the past, makes it very different from, say, the height of the black freedom movement, the 1960s.
"There's no organizational forms or structures to make decisions about what will happen. And so, then, you don't control who shows up, or what the thrust of the actions will be, and where they'll go and what kinds of escalations there will be."
Q: President Donald Trump routinely denounces the situation in Portland and the demonstrations, which often lead to clashes with police. Could this play a part in the presidential election in November?
A: "There's a lot of concern that these protests might be useful for the right -- if Black Lives Matter protesters are framed as being rioters and looters and not people who have democratic dissenters with government policy.
"And that's something that the Trump administration and the Trump campaign hopes will turn out its base. And it might help actually, it may well help the Trump campaign. But I'm not sure for the protesters that their first aim is to defeat Trump.
"It's not clear that this protest movement is going to be something that's going to win him more votes ... it depends also on how (Joe) Biden takes this up.
"The country is very divided, extraordinarily divided, probably more divided than any time it has been has since the 1850s. I would say the fact that you have armed violence on the street, and a sitting president condemning one side and encouraging the other in this kind of struggle, is extraordinary and very new. The talk of civil war is, you know, is real, and many people have that on their minds.
"I think the next few months are going to be quite volatile."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--Bolsonaro slams 'cancer' of environmental NGOs

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is accused by environmental NGOs of allowing large-scale deforestation of the Amazon Brazil 's President Jair Bolsonaro has slammed environmental NGOs as a 'cancer ' and denounced what he said was an international conspiracy accusing him of being responsible for devastating Amazon wildfires .
`` You know that NGOs do n't have a voice with me .
I am firm with these people , but I ca n't kill this cancer that most NGOs are , '' Bolsonaro said during his regular Facebook broadcast on Thursday .
The far-right leader used the broadcast to hit out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of `` setting fire to the Amazon . ''
The main target of his ire was a group of environmental NGOs which this week launched an English-language internet campaign entitled `` Defundbolsonaro.org '' , urging potential investors in Brazil to insist on firm government commitments to protection of the Amazon .
`` Bolsonaro is burning the Amazon .
Again .
Which side are you on ? ''
the campaign headline asks .
`` Because of him the Amazon , Earth ’ s main biodiversity hub , and the Indigenous nations who protect it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is suffocating our hope for a livable planet , '' according to the NGOs .
International investment funds worth a combined $ 4 trillion called in June for changes to the government 's environmental policy .
Human Rights Watch responded on Friday to Bolsonaro 's outburst , saying that `` not only does he show his total disregard for the actions of NGOs ... .but his anti-environmental policies have accelerated the destruction of the forest , with serious consequences for those who defend it , but also for the health of thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result of the fires . ''
General Augusto Heleno , Brazil 's Minister of Institutional Security , acknowledged in an interview on Friday that it was possible to `` improve '' government action to preserve the Amazon , but he also criticized NGOs .
`` The favorite sport of some NGOs is to speak badly of the Amazon .
Behind it all there are interests that go far beyond preservation , '' he told the Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper .
`` It seems Bolsonaro is responsible for everything that happens in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information in these campaigns is fabricated and ill-intentioned . ''
Under international pressure , Bolsonaro has deployed the army to the region to crack down on deforestation and fires , and decreed a ban on all agricultural burning .
However , satellite images from Brazil 's space agency INPE identified more than 29,000 fires in the region in August , the second highest number in a decade .
The figure represents only five percent fewer fires than in 2019 , when devastating wildfires triggered worldwide alarm over a forest seen as vital to @ @ @ @

Brasília (AFP) –
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Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has slammed environmental NGOs as a 'cancer' and denounced what he said was an international conspiracy accusing him of being responsible for devastating Amazon wildfires.
"You know that NGOs don't have a voice with me. I am firm with these people, but I can't kill this cancer that most NGOs are," Bolsonaro said during his regular Facebook broadcast on Thursday.
The far-right leader used the broadcast to hit out at "bastards" who accuse him of "setting fire to the Amazon."
The main target of his ire was a group of environmental NGOs which this week launched an English-language internet campaign entitled "Defundbolsonaro.org", urging potential investors in Brazil to insist on firm government commitments to protection of the Amazon.
"Bolsonaro is burning the Amazon. Again. Which side are you on?" the campaign headline asks.
"Because of him the Amazon, Earth’s main biodiversity hub, and the Indigenous nations who protect it, are in critical condition. Bolsonaro is suffocating our hope for a livable planet," according to the NGOs.
International investment funds worth a combined $4 trillion called in June for changes to the government's environmental policy.
Human Rights Watch responded on Friday to Bolsonaro's outburst, saying that "not only does he show his total disregard for the actions of NGOs....but his anti-environmental policies have accelerated the destruction of the forest, with serious consequences for those who defend it, but also for the health of thousands of people who breathe toxic air as a result of the fires."
General Augusto Heleno, Brazil's Minister of Institutional Security, acknowledged in an interview on Friday that it was possible to "improve" government action to preserve the Amazon, but he also criticized NGOs.
"The favorite sport of some NGOs is to speak badly of the Amazon. Behind it all there are interests that go far beyond preservation," he told the Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper.
"It seems Bolsonaro is responsible for everything that happens in the Amazon, but a lot of the information in these campaigns is fabricated and ill-intentioned."
Under international pressure, Bolsonaro has deployed the army to the region to crack down on deforestation and fires, and decreed a ban on all agricultural burning.
However, satellite images from Brazil's space agency INPE identified more than 29,000 fires in the region in August, the second highest number in a decade.
The figure represents only five percent fewer fires than in 2019, when devastating wildfires triggered worldwide alarm over a forest seen as vital to curbing climate change.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--Bolivia contacts ICC over ex-president Morales 'crimes'

Evo Morales , pictured in January 2020 , fled into exile following three weeks of protests against his controversial re-election to an unconstitutional fourth term last October Bolivia 's government announced on Friday it has contacted the International Criminal Court ( ICC ) to denounce former president Evo Morales for `` crimes against humanity '' over last month 's mass roadblock movement .
The government accused Morales of `` terrorism and genocide '' over the 12-day campaign that saw hospitals complain they were unable to receive urgent medical supplies needed to treat coronavirus patients .
Bolivia 's state prosecutor `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filing a complaint for # crimesagainsthumanity against Evo Morales and others , '' said interim President Jeanine Anez on Twitter .
Technically states submit communications to the ICC about alleged serious crimes rather than filing complaints .
Afterwards the court decides whether or not to investigate .
Conservative Anez said that the communication was `` due to the siege of the cities that caused more than 40 deaths from lack of oxygen , '' which could not be delivered to hospitals .
Morales , who is a hugely influential figure in Bolivia even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Argentina , had encouraged his supporters to ramp up the pressure on authorities in a bid to prevent a postponement of the general election .
The election was originally due to take place in May but was postponed until September 6 and then October 18 .
While the protests failed to force the poll to take place in September , Bolivia 's main trade union called off the roadblocks after the government approved a law preventing a further postponement beyond the October date .
But the 12 days of social action involving 142 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability of trucks carrying oxygen to reach hospitals treating coronavirus patients .
Bolivia has recorded more than 118,000 cases and almost 5,300 deaths from the coronavirus .
Neither Morales nor his Movement for Socialism ( MAS ) party have commented on Anez 's claim .
It is not the first criminal proceeding brought by the government against the 60-year-old Morales -- Bolivia 's first ever indigenous president who was in power from 2006-19 .
Authorities have also accused Morales of two intimate relationships with minors , including one in which he supposedly fathered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 when she became pregnant .
The government also accused Morales of `` sedition and terrorism '' over the civil unrest that broke out following his resignation and flight into exile in November .
MAS has dismissed those accusations as a pre-election tactic .
Luis Arce , the MAS candidate for president , has led polls since he was nominated in January but in the latest he was neck-and-neck with centrist former president Carlos Mesa .
Morales has been barred from standing in the elections , even as a senator .
He fled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against his controversial re-election to an unconstitutional fourth term last October .
An Organization of American States audit found evidence of fraud in the election , after which Morales resigned and left the country .
The public prosecutor 's office said its head Jose Maria Cabrera met ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in The Hague on Friday .

La Paz (AFP) –
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Bolivia's government announced on Friday it has contacted the International Criminal Court (ICC) to denounce former president Evo Morales for "crimes against humanity" over last month's mass roadblock movement.
The government accused Morales of "terrorism and genocide" over the 12-day campaign that saw hospitals complain they were unable to receive urgent medical supplies needed to treat coronavirus patients.
Bolivia's state prosecutor "is at the ICC in The Hague filing a complaint for #crimesagainsthumanity against Evo Morales and others," said interim President Jeanine Anez on Twitter.
Technically states submit communications to the ICC about alleged serious crimes rather than filing complaints. Afterwards the court decides whether or not to investigate.
Conservative Anez said that the communication was "due to the siege of the cities that caused more than 40 deaths from lack of oxygen," which could not be delivered to hospitals.
Morales, who is a hugely influential figure in Bolivia even though he currently lives in exile in Argentina, had encouraged his supporters to ramp up the pressure on authorities in a bid to prevent a postponement of the general election.
The election was originally due to take place in May but was postponed until September 6 and then October 18.
While the protests failed to force the poll to take place in September, Bolivia's main trade union called off the roadblocks after the government approved a law preventing a further postponement beyond the October date.
But the 12 days of social action involving 142 roadblocks across the country severely limited the ability of trucks carrying oxygen to reach hospitals treating coronavirus patients.
Bolivia has recorded more than 118,000 cases and almost 5,300 deaths from the coronavirus.
Neither Morales nor his Movement for Socialism (MAS) party have commented on Anez's claim.
It is not the first criminal proceeding brought by the government against the 60-year-old Morales -- Bolivia's first ever indigenous president who was in power from 2006-19.
Authorities have also accused Morales of two intimate relationships with minors, including one in which he supposedly fathered a child with a girl who was 15 when she became pregnant.
The government also accused Morales of "sedition and terrorism" over the civil unrest that broke out following his resignation and flight into exile in November.
MAS has dismissed those accusations as a pre-election tactic.
Luis Arce, the MAS candidate for president, has led polls since he was nominated in January but in the latest he was neck-and-neck with centrist former president Carlos Mesa.
Morales has been barred from standing in the elections, even as a senator.
He fled into exile following three weeks of protests against his controversial re-election to an unconstitutional fourth term last October.
An Organization of American States audit found evidence of fraud in the election, after which Morales resigned and left the country.
The public prosecutor's office said its head Jose Maria Cabrera met ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in The Hague on Friday.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--WHO tempers quick vaccine hopes

WHO tempers quick vaccine hopes

This photo taken on August 28 shows West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil ( C ) flexing his arm after receving COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine as part of a clinical trial on 1,620 volunteers , at a local health centre in Bandung , West Java .
The World Health Organization says it does not expect widespread immunisation against Covid-19 until mid-2021 , despite growing expectations in the United States , the worst-hit nation , that a vaccine could be released within weeks .
The Geneva-based WHO also insisted it would never endorse a vaccine that has not proven safe and effective , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a jab for Covid-19 .
The disease has killed nearly 870,000 people and infected more than 26 million others worldwide as well as upended hundreds of millions of lives and wreaked havoc on the global economy .
The UN health agency welcomed the fact that a `` considerable number '' of vaccine candidates had entered final stage trials , which typically involve tens of thousands of people .
But `` in terms of realistic timelines , we are really not expecting to see widespread vaccination until the middle of next year , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has already approved a vaccine , and research published in The Lancet medical journal on Friday said patients involved in early tests developed antibodies with `` no serious adverse events '' .
But scientists cautioned the trials were too small -- just 76 participants -- to prove safety and effectiveness .
Washington has also urged US states to get ready for a potential vaccine rollout by November 1 , sparking concerns President Donald Trump 's administration is rushing to begin distributing a vaccine ahead of the November 3 election .
The United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and infections of any country in the world .
Under normal procedures , test administrators must wait for months or years to verify that vaccine candidates are safe and effective .
But there has been massive pressure to roll out a vaccine quickly as the pandemic continues to take its toll .
Celebrities and public figures have not been spared , with Italy 's flamboyant former premier Silvio Berlusconi taken to hospital with the disease .
The list also includes three Paris Saint-Germain footballers including Brazilian star Neymar .
Also on the list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently Robert Pattinson , whom Hollywood trade publications said contracted the disease while filming the latest Batman movie in Britain .
Berlusconi spent the night in a Milan hospital where he is being treated for a lung infection but where is condition is said to be `` encouraging '' .
The 83-year-old billionaire tested positive earlier this week after returning from a holiday on Sardinia 's jet-set Emerald Coast .
All over the world , businesses and individuals are counting the cost of the pandemic , as flare-ups continue to force governments into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours , its highest daily figure since the pandemic swept into the country last March .
The rise comes as Paris and other cities have started requiring face masks in all public areas , including for children above 11 who returned to school this week .
The 46th Deauville American film festival in Normandy opened Friday evening with people wearing masks and social distancing .
But there were few , if any American movie stars this year .
Even in areas where curbs have eased , those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep doing so rather than return to the office .
In London 's normally bustling centre , eateries once packed with customers are suffering .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson 's government is trying to encourage people to return to the office , but that is easier said than done .
Oil giant BP , which is slashing 10,000 jobs after the pandemic crushed energy demand and prices , is actively encouraging non-frontline staff to work from home .
At Barclays , HSBC and Lloyds banks , meanwhile , much of the staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all bad news , though .
Both the US and Canadian economies added jobs in August , in a tentative sign of recovery from the pandemic .
And for businesses in specific sectors like personal protective equipment , Covid-19 has triggered such fierce demand that they are struggling to keep up .
The downside ?
Customers must now wait much longer for their orders to be filled than the normal delivery of 30-40 days , said chief executive , Lim Wee Chai .
In addition , with raw materials in short supply , @ @ @ @ @ @

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The World Health Organization says it does not expect widespread immunisation against Covid-19 until mid-2021, despite growing expectations in the United States, the worst-hit nation, that a vaccine could be released within weeks.
The Geneva-based WHO also insisted it would never endorse a vaccine that has not proven safe and effective, amid concerns over the rush to develop a jab for Covid-19.
The disease has killed nearly 870,000 people and infected more than 26 million others worldwide as well as upended hundreds of millions of lives and wreaked havoc on the global economy.
The UN health agency welcomed the fact that a "considerable number" of vaccine candidates had entered final stage trials, which typically involve tens of thousands of people.
But "in terms of realistic timelines, we are really not expecting to see widespread vaccination until the middle of next year," WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said.
- 'Trials too small' -
Russia has already approved a vaccine, and research published in The Lancet medical journal on Friday said patients involved in early tests developed antibodies with "no serious adverse events".
But scientists cautioned the trials were too small -- just 76 participants -- to prove safety and effectiveness.
Washington has also urged US states to get ready for a potential vaccine rollout by November 1, sparking concerns President Donald Trump's administration is rushing to begin distributing a vaccine ahead of the November 3 election.
The United States has suffered the largest number of deaths and infections of any country in the world.
Under normal procedures, test administrators must wait for months or years to verify that vaccine candidates are safe and effective.
But there has been massive pressure to roll out a vaccine quickly as the pandemic continues to take its toll.
- Celebrities hit -
Celebrities and public figures have not been spared, with Italy's flamboyant former premier Silvio Berlusconi taken to hospital with the disease.
The list also includes three Paris Saint-Germain footballers including Brazilian star Neymar.
Also on the list are movie stars Tom Hanks and more recently Robert Pattinson, whom Hollywood trade publications said contracted the disease while filming the latest Batman movie in Britain.
Berlusconi spent the night in a Milan hospital where he is being treated for a lung infection but where is condition is said to be "encouraging".
The 83-year-old billionaire tested positive earlier this week after returning from a holiday on Sardinia's jet-set Emerald Coast.
- Workers avoiding office -
All over the world, businesses and individuals are counting the cost of the pandemic, as flare-ups continue to force governments into imposing restrictions.
France registered 8,975 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, its highest daily figure since the pandemic swept into the country last March.
The rise comes as Paris and other cities have started requiring face masks in all public areas, including for children above 11 who returned to school this week.
The 46th Deauville American film festival in Normandy opened Friday evening with people wearing masks and social distancing. But there were few, if any American movie stars this year.
Even in areas where curbs have eased, those who can work from home prefer to keep doing so rather than return to the office.
In London's normally bustling centre, eateries once packed with customers are suffering.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government is trying to encourage people to return to the office, but that is easier said than done.
Oil giant BP, which is slashing 10,000 jobs after the pandemic crushed energy demand and prices, is actively encouraging non-frontline staff to work from home.
At Barclays, HSBC and Lloyds banks, meanwhile, much of the staff is working remotely.
- Tentative recovery -
It is not all bad news, though.
Both the US and Canadian economies added jobs in August, in a tentative sign of recovery from the pandemic.
And for businesses in specific sectors like personal protective equipment, Covid-19 has triggered such fierce demand that they are struggling to keep up.
The downside? Customers must now wait much longer for their orders to be filled than the normal delivery of 30-40 days, said chief executive, Lim Wee Chai.
In addition, with raw materials in short supply, production costs are also rising.
burs-mbx/lc/pvh
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--Bergwijn leads Koeman-less Dutch past Poland, Italy held by Bosnia

Steven Bergwijn ( centre ) scored the only goal as the Netherlands beat Poland 1-0 Steven Bergwijn ensured the Netherlands did not feel the absence of recently departed coach Ronald Koeman to beat Poland 1-0 in the Nations League , while Italy were held 1-1 by Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday .
Koeman left to take charge of Barcelona last month , less than a year before he was due to lead his country to a major international tournament for the first time .
A rejuvenated Netherlands reached the final of the inaugural Nations League under Koeman last year after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Tottenham winger Bergwijn is one of a number of exciting young talents that make the Dutch among the favourites for next year 's Euros and he netted his first international goal by tapping home from close range on the hour mark to give caretaker boss Dwight Lodeweges the perfect start .
Also in Group 1 , Italy extended their two-year unbeaten run but had to settle for a point against Bosnia in Florence .
Edin Dzeko put the visitors in front in the country where he plays his club football for Roma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Scotland and Israel drew 1-1 in a dress rehearsal of their Euro 2020 playoff semi-final back at Hampden next month .
Ryan Christie 's penalty late in the first-half masked a poor performance from Steve Clarke 's side , who were pegged back 17 minutes from time when Eran Zahavi drilled high into the far corner .
In the other game in the group , the Czech Republic shrugged off the disruption of key players Tomas Soucek and Patrik Schick being forced to self-isolate after coming into contact with a backroom staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gavin Whyte 's goal four minutes from time salvaged a 1-1 draw for Northern Ireland in Romania despite being down to 10 men for over 50 minutes after Josh Magennis 's first half red card .
Erling Haaland 's first international goal for Norway was not enough as the hosts lost 2-1 to Austria in Oslo .
Michael Gregoritsch and Marcel Sabitzer 's penalty put the visitors 2-0 in front before the Borussia Dortmund striker 's deft finish opened his international account .
In League C , Kazakhstan beat Lithuania 2-0 , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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Steven Bergwijn ensured the Netherlands did not feel the absence of recently departed coach Ronald Koeman to beat Poland 1-0 in the Nations League, while Italy were held 1-1 by Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday.
Koeman left to take charge of Barcelona last month, less than a year before he was due to lead his country to a major international tournament for the first time.
A rejuvenated Netherlands reached the final of the inaugural Nations League under Koeman last year after missing out on the 2018 World Cup.
Tottenham winger Bergwijn is one of a number of exciting young talents that make the Dutch among the favourites for next year's Euros and he netted his first international goal by tapping home from close range on the hour mark to give caretaker boss Dwight Lodeweges the perfect start.
Also in Group 1, Italy extended their two-year unbeaten run but had to settle for a point against Bosnia in Florence.
Edin Dzeko put the visitors in front in the country where he plays his club football for Roma before Stefano Sensi levelled 10 minutes later.
Scotland and Israel drew 1-1 in a dress rehearsal of their Euro 2020 playoff semi-final back at Hampden next month.
Ryan Christie's penalty late in the first-half masked a poor performance from Steve Clarke's side, who were pegged back 17 minutes from time when Eran Zahavi drilled high into the far corner.
In the other game in the group, the Czech Republic shrugged off the disruption of key players Tomas Soucek and Patrik Schick being forced to self-isolate after coming into contact with a backroom staff member who tested positive for coronavirus.
The Czechs beat neighbours Slovakia 3-1 in Bratislava.
Gavin Whyte's goal four minutes from time salvaged a 1-1 draw for Northern Ireland in Romania despite being down to 10 men for over 50 minutes after Josh Magennis's first half red card.
Erling Haaland's first international goal for Norway was not enough as the hosts lost 2-1 to Austria in Oslo.
Michael Gregoritsch and Marcel Sabitzer's penalty put the visitors 2-0 in front before the Borussia Dortmund striker's deft finish opened his international account.
In League C, Kazakhstan beat Lithuania 2-0, while Albania were 2-0 victors in Belarus.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-05--Sonny Bill makes triumphant return to NRL

Cross-code superstar Sonny Bill Williams added another chapter to his incredible career Saturday , coming off the bench to make a winning return on his third stint in Australian rugby league .
The Auckland-born 35-year-old played 13 minutes on a cold night in Canberra to help the Sydney Roosters ease past the Raiders 18-6 .
Williams had n't played in the competition for six years nor a game of rugby for almost six months and he was clearly a little rusty , but also showed glimpses of his unique blend of power and skill .
`` It 's a pleasure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legends of the future , '' he said of his Roosters teammates .
`` There 's been a lot of talk about me coming back in and making an impact ... but for me it 's just about getting among these guys and learning from a lot of these players .
`` I 'm really looking forward to the next few weeks . ''
Williams was recruited after Covid-19 forced his Toronto Wolfpack team to withdraw from England 's Super League .
The globe-trotting athlete played with the Roosters in 2013 and 2014 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , adding to the title he won with the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2004 .
He has successfully switched between rugby league , rugby union and boxing during a long career , winning two World Cups with the All Blacks and a Super Rugby crown .
He also played rugby sevens at the Olympics and triumphed in all seven of his heavyweight boxing bouts , winning the New Zealand title in 2012 .
Roosters chief executive Andrew Abdo said ahead of the game he was already making a big impact .
`` He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told reporters .
`` He 's an unbelievable athlete and his game has shown how durable he 's been in his career . ''

Canberra (AFP) –
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Cross-code superstar Sonny Bill Williams added another chapter to his incredible career Saturday, coming off the bench to make a winning return on his third stint in Australian rugby league.
The Auckland-born 35-year-old played 13 minutes on a cold night in Canberra to help the Sydney Roosters ease past the Raiders 18-6.
Williams hadn't played in the competition for six years nor a game of rugby for almost six months and he was clearly a little rusty, but also showed glimpses of his unique blend of power and skill.
"It's a pleasure to be playing alongside these guys, legends of the future," he said of his Roosters teammates.
"There's been a lot of talk about me coming back in and making an impact ... but for me it's just about getting among these guys and learning from a lot of these players.
"I'm really looking forward to the next few weeks."
Williams was recruited after Covid-19 forced his Toronto Wolfpack team to withdraw from England's Super League.
The globe-trotting athlete played with the Roosters in 2013 and 2014, winning a premiership in his first year, adding to the title he won with the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2004.
He has successfully switched between rugby league, rugby union and boxing during a long career, winning two World Cups with the All Blacks and a Super Rugby crown.
He also played rugby sevens at the Olympics and triumphed in all seven of his heavyweight boxing bouts, winning the New Zealand title in 2012.
Roosters chief executive Andrew Abdo said ahead of the game he was already making a big impact.
"He's got the X-factor," he told reporters. "He's an unbelievable athlete and his game has shown how durable he's been in his career."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-05--Bottas tops Monza practice, high speed drama for Hamilton

Valtteri Bottas topped the times for Mercedes ahead of McLaren 's Carlos Sainz after championship leader Lewis Hamilton was forced to swerve off track and avoid a collision in Saturday ’ s stoppage-hit final free practice for Sunday ’ s Italian Grand Prix .
The Finn , determined to claim a front row start and boost his title challenge , clocked a best lap in one minute and 20.089 before a late interruption , when the action was paused by red flags after Daniel Ricciardo parked his spluttering Renault with suspected electrical problems .
Bottas ’ s best lap left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ squeezed in a dazzling lap with seconds remaining after the late re-start , with Lando Norris third in the second McLaren , three-tenths adrift .
Ricciardo was fourth ahead of Hamilton , in the second Mercedes , the six-time champion having been forced to take dramatic avoiding action at around 300 kph when he approached two slow cars running side by side at the approach to the Parabolica .
It appeared that one of the Haas cars had moved into the centre of the track ahead of Hamilton , forcing him to flick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partly across the grass as his flying lap was ruined in the most dangerous way .
Behind Hamilton , Max Verstappen was sixth ahead of his Red Bull team-mate Alex Albon , Esteban Ocon in the second Renault , Lance Stroll and his Racing Points team-mate Sergio Perez .
The Ferraris of Charles Leclerc , who won from pole position last year , and his departing team-mate four-time champion Sebastian Vettel , were 11th and 15th .
On another near-perfect late summer ’ s day in northern Italy , the air temperature was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two Alfa Romeos began the action , followed by the Haas cars and Norris in his McLaren .
Norris ’ s team-mate Sainz then emerged and finally clock a flying lap time in 1:21.875 after 19 minutes .
Almost immediately , the rest of the teams joined the fray and , after half an hour , Hamilton set a best lap in 1:20.658 , half a second slower than his fastest in Friday ’ s second practice .
The champion was soon usurped by Bottas , chasing his first front row start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With 15 minutes remaining , the two Mercedes re-emerged .
Bottas responded with a lap in 1:20.089 to move three-tenths clear of Verstappen , his right wheels on the white line at the Parabolica , but not beyond it .
The lap did not attract the stewards ’ attention and stood .
Hamilton improved to within 0.35 of his team-mate on worn softs , a lap that suggested it would be an intra-team duel for pole later in qualifying until , in a final flurry with seven minutes remaining , Norris and Ricciardo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For the luckless Australian , it was his last run of the session as he pulled up and parked on approach to the first Lesmo .
“ I have an issue , ” he radioed in to Renault as red flags stopped the session to allow for the car ’ s recovery .
As soon as that was done , with three minutes remaining , the field left a crowded pit lane , all on softs , for a last flying and spectacular run .

Monza (Italy) (AFP) –
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Valtteri Bottas topped the times for Mercedes ahead of McLaren's Carlos Sainz after championship leader Lewis Hamilton was forced to swerve off track and avoid a collision in Saturday’s stoppage-hit final free practice for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix.
The Finn, determined to claim a front row start and boost his title challenge, clocked a best lap in one minute and 20.089 before a late interruption, when the action was paused by red flags after Daniel Ricciardo parked his spluttering Renault with suspected electrical problems.
Bottas’s best lap left him two-tenths clear of Sainz, who squeezed in a dazzling lap with seconds remaining after the late re-start, with Lando Norris third in the second McLaren, three-tenths adrift.
Ricciardo was fourth ahead of Hamilton, in the second Mercedes, the six-time champion having been forced to take dramatic avoiding action at around 300 kph when he approached two slow cars running side by side at the approach to the Parabolica.
It appeared that one of the Haas cars had moved into the centre of the track ahead of Hamilton, forcing him to flick his car to the right and run partly across the grass as his flying lap was ruined in the most dangerous way.
Behind Hamilton, Max Verstappen was sixth ahead of his Red Bull team-mate Alex Albon, Esteban Ocon in the second Renault, Lance Stroll and his Racing Points team-mate Sergio Perez.
The Ferraris of Charles Leclerc, who won from pole position last year, and his departing team-mate four-time champion Sebastian Vettel, were 11th and 15th.
On another near-perfect late summer’s day in northern Italy, the air temperature was 27 degrees and the track 39 when the two Alfa Romeos began the action, followed by the Haas cars and Norris in his McLaren.
Norris’s team-mate Sainz then emerged and finally clock a flying lap time in 1:21.875 after 19 minutes.
Almost immediately, the rest of the teams joined the fray and, after half an hour, Hamilton set a best lap in 1:20.658, half a second slower than his fastest in Friday’s second practice.
The champion was soon usurped by Bottas, chasing his first front row start at Monza, and then Verstappen.
With 15 minutes remaining, the two Mercedes re-emerged.
Bottas responded with a lap in 1:20.089 to move three-tenths clear of Verstappen, his right wheels on the white line at the Parabolica, but not beyond it. The lap did not attract the stewards’ attention and stood.
Hamilton improved to within 0.35 of his team-mate on worn softs, a lap that suggested it would be an intra-team duel for pole later in qualifying until, in a final flurry with seven minutes remaining, Norris and Ricciardo improved to take second and third.
For the luckless Australian, it was his last run of the session as he pulled up and parked on approach to the first Lesmo. “I have an issue,” he radioed in to Renault as red flags stopped the session to allow for the car’s recovery.
As soon as that was done, with three minutes remaining, the field left a crowded pit lane, all on softs, for a last flying and spectacular run.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-05--India tops four million virus cases; Australia arrests protestors

The 86,432 new cases took India to 4,023,179 infections , third behind the United States and just trailing Brazil India has become the third country to pass four million coronavirus infections , setting a new record daily surge in cases on Saturday as the pandemic shows no sign of peaking .
The 86,432 new cases took India to 4,023,179 infections , third behind the United States which has more than 6.3 million and just trailing Brazil on 4.1 million .
The growing caseload comes after the World Health Organization said Friday it did not expect widespread immunisation against Covid-19 until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vaccine that has not been proven safe and effective , over concerns around the rush to develop a jab for the virus .
As governments around the world enforce measures to slow the virus , police in Australia -- which has reported 26,200 cases and 748 deaths -- arrested more than a dozen protesters in Melbourne on Saturday for deliberately flouting the city 's stay-at-home orders .
The Indian government has eased restrictions in a bid to revive the economy but faces the world 's fastest growing number of cases at more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily death toll at more than 1,000 .
The country 's caseload has soared from three to four million in just 13 days , faster than the US and Brazil .
The pandemic is now spreading through rural areas which have poor health facilities but is also resurging in big cities like Delhi and Mumbai .
Maharashtra state , which includes Mumbai , has been at the centre of the crisis in India since a nationwide lockdown was imposed in March .
It still accounts for nearly a quarter of the new daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Worldwide , Covid-19 has killed more than 870,000 people and infected more than 26 million , as well as upending hundreds of millions of lives and wreaking havoc on the global economy .
Around the world , businesses and individuals are counting the cost of the pandemic , as flare-ups continue to force governments into imposing restrictions .
France registered its highest daily figure on Friday since last March , as Paris and other cities start requiring face masks in all public areas , including for children above 11 who returned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where curbs have eased , those who can work from home often prefer to keep doing so rather than return to the office .
In London 's normally bustling centre , eateries once packed with customers are suffering .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson 's government is trying to encourage people to return to the office , but that is easier said than done .
Oil giant BP has been actively encouraging non-frontline staff to work from home , with many of Barclays , HSBC and Lloyds banks staff also working remotely .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ gains .
Suppliers of personal protective equipment have seen orders rocket .
Malaysian rubber glove manufacturer Top Glove said Friday it is seeing orders for 11-12 billion a month , compared with 4.5 billion prior to the pandemic .
And it does not appear that demand for such equipment is likely to vanish soon .
While the UN health agency welcomed the fact that a `` considerable number '' of vaccine candidates had entered final stage trials -- which typically involve tens of thousands of people -- it tempered expectations for a quick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that `` in terms of realistic timelines , we are really not expecting to see widespread vaccination until the middle of next year '' .

New Delhi (AFP) –
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India has become the third country to pass four million coronavirus infections, setting a new record daily surge in cases on Saturday as the pandemic shows no sign of peaking.
The 86,432 new cases took India to 4,023,179 infections, third behind the United States which has more than 6.3 million and just trailing Brazil on 4.1 million.
The growing caseload comes after the World Health Organization said Friday it did not expect widespread immunisation against Covid-19 until mid-2021, insisting it would never endorse a vaccine that has not been proven safe and effective, over concerns around the rush to develop a jab for the virus.
As governments around the world enforce measures to slow the virus, police in Australia -- which has reported 26,200 cases and 748 deaths -- arrested more than a dozen protesters in Melbourne on Saturday for deliberately flouting the city's stay-at-home orders.
The Indian government has eased restrictions in a bid to revive the economy but faces the world's fastest growing number of cases at more than 80,000 a day and the highest daily death toll at more than 1,000.
The country's caseload has soared from three to four million in just 13 days, faster than the US and Brazil.
The pandemic is now spreading through rural areas which have poor health facilities but is also resurging in big cities like Delhi and Mumbai.
Maharashtra state, which includes Mumbai, has been at the centre of the crisis in India since a nationwide lockdown was imposed in March. It still accounts for nearly a quarter of the new daily cases across the country of 1.3 billion.
- Economic havoc -
Worldwide, Covid-19 has killed more than 870,000 people and infected more than 26 million, as well as upending hundreds of millions of lives and wreaking havoc on the global economy.
Around the world, businesses and individuals are counting the cost of the pandemic, as flare-ups continue to force governments into imposing restrictions.
France registered its highest daily figure on Friday since last March, as Paris and other cities start requiring face masks in all public areas, including for children above 11 who returned to school this week.
Even in areas where curbs have eased, those who can work from home often prefer to keep doing so rather than return to the office.
In London's normally bustling centre, eateries once packed with customers are suffering.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government is trying to encourage people to return to the office, but that is easier said than done.
Oil giant BP has been actively encouraging non-frontline staff to work from home, with many of Barclays, HSBC and Lloyds banks staff also working remotely.
However, some sectors have seen big gains.
Suppliers of personal protective equipment have seen orders rocket.
Malaysian rubber glove manufacturer Top Glove said Friday it is seeing orders for 11-12 billion a month, compared with 4.5 billion prior to the pandemic.
And it does not appear that demand for such equipment is likely to vanish soon.
While the UN health agency welcomed the fact that a "considerable number" of vaccine candidates had entered final stage trials -- which typically involve tens of thousands of people -- it tempered expectations for a quick silver bullet.
WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said that "in terms of realistic timelines, we are really not expecting to see widespread vaccination until the middle of next year".
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-05--Everton kick off midfield transformation by signing Allan

Everton secured the first of an expected trio of midfield signings on Saturday with the arrival of Brazilian international Allan on a three-year deal from Napoli for a reported £22 million ( $ 29 million ) .
The 29-year-old is reunited with Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti , with whom he worked at the Serie A club .
Everton are also close to reuniting Ancelotti with Colombian star James Rodriguez for a third time after spells together at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich , while a fee has reportedly been agreed with Watford for Abdoulaye Doucoure .
Allan , who made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Napoli , admitted he could not turn down the opportunity to work with Ancelotti again .
`` It is a club with a rich history in the Premier League , has real ambition and then there is Professor Ancelotti .
He has done everything possible to bring me here , '' Allan told Everton TV .
`` It is the size of the club and the name of the coach which means you do n't think twice about coming to Everton .
`` I hope , like I have done in my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ performances together with my team-mates and that I put in some great games , great performances and win important things . ''

London (AFP) –
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Everton secured the first of an expected trio of midfield signings on Saturday with the arrival of Brazilian international Allan on a three-year deal from Napoli for a reported £22 million ($29 million).
The 29-year-old is reunited with Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti, with whom he worked at the Serie A club.
Everton are also close to reuniting Ancelotti with Colombian star James Rodriguez for a third time after spells together at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, while a fee has reportedly been agreed with Watford for Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Allan, who made more than 200 appearances in five years at Napoli, admitted he could not turn down the opportunity to work with Ancelotti again.
"It is a club with a rich history in the Premier League, has real ambition and then there is Professor Ancelotti. He has done everything possible to bring me here," Allan told Everton TV.
"It is the size of the club and the name of the coach which means you don't think twice about coming to Everton.
"I hope, like I have done in my entire career, I contribute with my performances together with my team-mates and that I put in some great games, great performances and win important things."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-05--UEFA insist Scotland's Czech trip goes ahead despite Covid-19 concerns

The Czech Republic beat Slovakia 3-1 on Friday before appearing to call off Monday 's clash with Scotland Scotland 's Nations League clash with the Czech Republic on Monday will go ahead as planned , UEFA said on Saturday despite the Czechs appearing to call the game off due to concerns over the spread of coronavirus in their squad .
After beating Slovakia 3-1 on Friday , the Czech football association said the squad would be released back to their clubs .
The Czechs plans had been affected after West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek and Roma forward Patrik Schick were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a backroom staff member who tested positive for the virus .
The Czech FA delayed their departure for Slovakia by 24 hours while the entire squad was re-tested and the players made the 200-mile journey by road after splitting up into small groups .
However , a UEFA spokesperson told AFP : `` The match is going ahead as scheduled . ''
Scotland are due to travel to Olomouc on Sunday .
In Friday 's statement , the Czech association said `` There is great concern that the virus could spread further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulations for international fixtures which were announced last week , matches will go ahead as long as a team has 13 available players after Covid-19 testing .

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Scotland's Nations League clash with the Czech Republic on Monday will go ahead as planned, UEFA said on Saturday despite the Czechs appearing to call the game off due to concerns over the spread of coronavirus in their squad.
After beating Slovakia 3-1 on Friday, the Czech football association said the squad would be released back to their clubs.
The Czechs plans had been affected after West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek and Roma forward Patrik Schick were told to self-isolate after coming into contact with a backroom staff member who tested positive for the virus.
The Czech FA delayed their departure for Slovakia by 24 hours while the entire squad was re-tested and the players made the 200-mile journey by road after splitting up into small groups.
However, a UEFA spokesperson told AFP: "The match is going ahead as scheduled."
Scotland are due to travel to Olomouc on Sunday.
In Friday's statement, the Czech association said "There is great concern that the virus could spread further."
According to UEFA's new regulations for international fixtures which were announced last week, matches will go ahead as long as a team has 13 available players after Covid-19 testing.
© 2020 AFP