france24--2020-08-23--Local virus outbreak in Myanmar sparks fears for Rohingya camps

Sittwe 's streets were empty , with masked residents encountering barricaded roads as they tried to run errands Rohingya in Myanmar 's conflict-wracked Rakhine state expressed fears Sunday of a coronavirus outbreak reaching their overcrowded camps , after a spate of infections sent the state capital into lockdown .
Nearly 130,000 Rohingya Muslims live in what Amnesty International describes as `` apartheid '' conditions in camps around Sittwe .
The city has recorded 48 cases in the past week , making up more than 10 percent of the about 400 cases so far registered in Myanmar .
`` We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are living in limbo and it wo n't be easy to control , '' said Rohingya Kyaw Kyaw .
Authorities visited the Thae Chaung camp this week to talk about social distancing -- an impossibility as 10 families typically squeeze into a single house -- and gave out hand sanitiser and face masks .
`` But if the lockdown is for a long time , we will ... need help , '' Kyaw Kyaw told AFP , adding that everyone in the camps had locked themselves indoors .
Sittwe 's streets were empty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roads as they tried to run errands .
An overnight curfew order has been in place since Friday , while all public transport -- including domestic flights -- into the capital was suspended .
Rakhine state has long been a flashpoint for ethnic and religious conflict .
The embattled Rohingya Muslim minority are widely regarded as foreign `` Bengalis '' despite having lived in Myanmar for generations .
They lack citizenship rights and their freedom of movement is restricted across the country .
A local Rakhine parliamentarian this week blamed the Rohingya for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was later taken down .
Some 750,000 Rohingya fled to neighbouring Bangladesh following a military crackdown in 2017 -- operations that Myanmar is currently facing genocide charges for at the UN 's top court .
Further north in the state , the military is also battling the Arakan Army , a rebel group seeking more autonomy for the state 's ethnic Rakhine Buddhists , and violent clashes have displaced thousands of civilians from their homes .
In Mrauk-U -- where three cases were found this week -- Rakhine residents feared a halt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said camp leader Hla Maung Oo .
`` We have nowhere to run if the virus becomes widespread because we also ca n't go back to our villages , '' he told AFP .

Sittwe (Myanmar) (AFP) –
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Rohingya in Myanmar's conflict-wracked Rakhine state expressed fears Sunday of a coronavirus outbreak reaching their overcrowded camps, after a spate of infections sent the state capital into lockdown.
Nearly 130,000 Rohingya Muslims live in what Amnesty International describes as "apartheid" conditions in camps around Sittwe.
The city has recorded 48 cases in the past week, making up more than 10 percent of the about 400 cases so far registered in Myanmar.
"We are extremely worried about the virus because we are living in limbo and it won't be easy to control," said Rohingya Kyaw Kyaw.
Authorities visited the Thae Chaung camp this week to talk about social distancing -- an impossibility as 10 families typically squeeze into a single house -- and gave out hand sanitiser and face masks.
"But if the lockdown is for a long time, we will... need help," Kyaw Kyaw told AFP, adding that everyone in the camps had locked themselves indoors.
Sittwe's streets were empty Sunday, with masked residents encountering barricaded roads as they tried to run errands.
Street vendors hawked plastic face shields and surgical masks.
An overnight curfew order has been in place since Friday, while all public transport -- including domestic flights -- into the capital was suspended.
Rakhine state has long been a flashpoint for ethnic and religious conflict.
The embattled Rohingya Muslim minority are widely regarded as foreign "Bengalis" despite having lived in Myanmar for generations. They lack citizenship rights and their freedom of movement is restricted across the country.
A local Rakhine parliamentarian this week blamed the Rohingya for the virus spread in a Facebook post that was later taken down.
Some 750,000 Rohingya fled to neighbouring Bangladesh following a military crackdown in 2017 -- operations that Myanmar is currently facing genocide charges for at the UN's top court.
Further north in the state, the military is also battling the Arakan Army, a rebel group seeking more autonomy for the state's ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, and violent clashes have displaced thousands of civilians from their homes.
In Mrauk-U -- where three cases were found this week -- Rakhine residents feared a halt to food donations to the displacement camps, said camp leader Hla Maung Oo.
"We have nowhere to run if the virus becomes widespread because we also can't go back to our villages," he told AFP.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-23--Zaheer Abbas, Kallis and women's star Sthalekar inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

Pakistan batting great Zaheer Abbas , outstanding South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis and Australia women 's star Lisa Sthalekar were all inducted into the International Cricket Council 's Hall of Fame on Sunday .
Zaheer , 73 , a prolific run-scorer during the 1970s and 1980s with both Pakistan and English county side Gloucestershire , was nicknamed the 'Asian Bradman ' in honour of Australia 's Don Bradman , widely regarded as Test cricket 's greatest batsman of all time .
`` I feel privileged and truly humbled to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a former president of the global governing body and the only player from Asia to have scored a hundred first-class hundreds .
Zaheer scored a double-century and a century in the same first-class match on a record four occasions and was the first batsman to score three successive centuries in one-day international cricket .
`` I would like to say a special thanks to my family , my country Pakistan , my county Gloucestershire and many fans worldwide who helped me achieve and fulfil my dreams by playing this great game at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Thank you , ICC , and the members of the jury , for this special honour .
It is a final recognition for any cricketer .
This great game has made me the person I am . ''
Kallis , 44 , is the only player to score at least 10,000 runs and take at least 250 wickets in both Test and ODI cricket .
The ICC player of the Year and ICC Test player of the year in 2005 , Kallis is also South Africa 's leading Test run-scorer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It is something that I never expected when I started playing , '' said Kallis , the most capped South African player in both Test and ODI cricket .
`` I only wanted to win the games for whoever I was playing for . ''
India-born off-spinner Sthalekar , 41 , was the first woman to achieve the double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in ODI cricket .
She was also a member of the Australia teams that won the ICC Women 's World Cup in 2005 and 2013 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2010 and 2012 .
`` Never in my wildest dreams did I believe that I would ever get to join such an illustrious group of players , '' said Sthalekar as she thanked her team-mates .
Kallis is the fourth South African player inducted and Zaheer the sixth from Pakistan .
Sthalekar is the ninth women 's cricketer in the list .
In all , 93 players have been inducted so far under the system in which players become eligible five years after playing their last international match .
Hall of Fame @ @ @ @ @ @ @ panel with representation from the media , ICC and Federation of International Cricketers ' Association ( FICA ) .
ICC chief executive Manu Sawhney : `` These are all players with a legacy that will continue to inspire future generations for years to come .
`` I congratulate Zaheer , Jacques and Lisa on their inclusion in the pantheon of cricket greats . ''

Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) –
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Pakistan batting great Zaheer Abbas, outstanding South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis and Australia women's star Lisa Sthalekar were all inducted into the International Cricket Council's Hall of Fame on Sunday.
Zaheer, 73, a prolific run-scorer during the 1970s and 1980s with both Pakistan and English county side Gloucestershire, was nicknamed the 'Asian Bradman' in honour of Australia's Don Bradman, widely regarded as Test cricket's greatest batsman of all time.
"I feel privileged and truly humbled to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame of the class of 2020," said Zaheer, a former president of the global governing body and the only player from Asia to have scored a hundred first-class hundreds.
- 'Final recognition' -
Zaheer scored a double-century and a century in the same first-class match on a record four occasions and was the first batsman to score three successive centuries in one-day international cricket.
"I would like to say a special thanks to my family, my country Pakistan, my county Gloucestershire and many fans worldwide who helped me achieve and fulfil my dreams by playing this great game at the highest level," he said.
"Thank you, ICC, and the members of the jury, for this special honour. It is a final recognition for any cricketer. This great game has made me the person I am."
Kallis, 44, is the only player to score at least 10,000 runs and take at least 250 wickets in both Test and ODI cricket.
The ICC player of the Year and ICC Test player of the year in 2005, Kallis is also South Africa's leading Test run-scorer, and currently third on the all-time list.
"It is something that I never expected when I started playing," said Kallis, the most capped South African player in both Test and ODI cricket. "I only wanted to win the games for whoever I was playing for."
- 'Pantheon of greats' -
India-born off-spinner Sthalekar, 41, was the first woman to achieve the double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in ODI cricket.
She was also a member of the Australia teams that won the ICC Women's World Cup in 2005 and 2013 and the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in 2010 and 2012.
"Never in my wildest dreams did I believe that I would ever get to join such an illustrious group of players," said Sthalekar as she thanked her team-mates.
Kallis is the fourth South African player inducted and Zaheer the sixth from Pakistan. Sthalekar is the ninth women's cricketer in the list.
In all, 93 players have been inducted so far under the system in which players become eligible five years after playing their last international match.
Hall of Fame members formed the majority of the adjudicating panel with representation from the media, ICC and Federation of International Cricketers' Association (FICA).
ICC chief executive Manu Sawhney: "These are all players with a legacy that will continue to inspire future generations for years to come.
"I congratulate Zaheer, Jacques and Lisa on their inclusion in the pantheon of cricket greats."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-23--Teen Vietti holds off Arbolino for maiden Moto3 victory

Italian teenager Celestino Vietti held off Tony Arbolino on the final corners on Sunday for a career first victory in the Moto3 category of Styrian Grand Prix .
Arbolino 's Honda teammate Ai Ogura of Japan was third .
`` It 's the best day of my life , '' said 18-year-old KTM rider Vietti .
Vietti , however , took more care opening the bubbly on the podium .
After finishing third in Andalucia at the end of July , he had tried to imitate Formula One driver Lando Norris and uncork the bottle by bashing the base on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stitches on his hand .
Vietti 's compatriot Arbolino , 20 , was also delighted after finishing second .
Arbolino was on Vietti 's wheel throughout the last lap .
`` I lose so much time because I destroyed my tyres in the middle of the race so it was hard to pass Celestino , '' he said .
Vietti said he had concentrated on outbreaking Arbolino , whose Honda showed impressive speed throughout the race .
Spaniard Albert Arenas of KTM finished fifth to keep the championship lead .
Ogura climbed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Briton John McPhee who crashed his Honda near the end .
Moto3 results from the Styrian motorcycling Grand Prix in Spielberg on Sunday

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Italian teenager Celestino Vietti held off Tony Arbolino on the final corners on Sunday for a career first victory in the Moto3 category of Styrian Grand Prix.
Arbolino's Honda teammate Ai Ogura of Japan was third.
"It's the best day of my life," said 18-year-old KTM rider Vietti.
Vietti, however, took more care opening the bubbly on the podium. After finishing third in Andalucia at the end of July, he had tried to imitate Formula One driver Lando Norris and uncork the bottle by bashing the base on the ground, ending up with 22 stitches on his hand.
Vietti's compatriot Arbolino, 20, was also delighted after finishing second.
"Good feelings. Aaaaah!" he yelled.
Arbolino was on Vietti's wheel throughout the last lap.
"I lose so much time because I destroyed my tyres in the middle of the race so it was hard to pass Celestino," he said.
Vietti said he had concentrated on outbreaking Arbolino, whose Honda showed impressive speed throughout the race.
Spaniard Albert Arenas of KTM finished fifth to keep the championship lead. Ogura climbed to second, 25 points behind, overtaking Briton John McPhee who crashed his Honda near the end.
Moto3 results from the Styrian motorcycling Grand Prix in Spielberg on Sunday
1. Celestino Vietti (ITA/KTM) 37 minutes 10.319 seconds, 2. Tony Arbolino (ITA/Honda) at 0.410sec, 3. Ai Ogura (JPN/Honda) 0.938, 4. Gabriel Rodrigo (ESP/Honda) 1.182, 5. Albert Arenas (ESP/KTM) 1.380
World championship standings
1. Albert Arenas (ESP) 106 points, 2. Ai Ogura (JPN) 81, 3. John McPhee (GBR) 67, 4. Celestino Vietti (ITA) 66, 5. Tony Arbolino (ITA) 60
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-23--Bayern boss Flick on par with club legends Heynckes, Hitzfeld - Lahm

Philipp Lahm captained Bayern Munich to their last Champions League triumph in 2013 .
Philipp Lahm , who captained Bayern Munich to their last European title in 2013 , put current head coach Hansi Flick on a par with the club 's legendary Champions League-winning bosses Jupp Heynckes and Ottmar Hitzfeld ahead of Sunday 's final against Paris Saint-Germain .
Lahm captained Bayern when they beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the 2013 Champions League final in London , then led Germany to the 2014 World Cup title in Brazil before retiring in 2017 .
The 36-year-old is full of praise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treble on his first season in charge if Bayern , who are on a 20-match winning streak , beat Neymar-inspired PSG in Sunday 's Champions League final in Lisbon .
`` When you look back at FC Bayern 's past , at Ottmar Hitzfeld or Jupp Heynckes , it was one of their strengths that they did not hog the limelight , but worked for the team , '' Lahm told broadcaster ZDF .
`` That 's exactly how Hansi Flick is . ''
Heynckes , 75 , coached Bayern to the 2013 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 71 , was in charge when they won the 2001 Champions League final by beating Valencia in Milan .
In 10 months , Flick , 55 , has gone from interim coach to leading Bayern to the Bundesliga , German Cup titles and is now 90 minutes from lifting the Champions League trophy .
Bayern have steamrolled their way into Sunday 's final , scoring 42 goals in 10 matches , including their jaw-dropping 8-2 demolition of Barcelona in the quarter-finals .
This is Flick 's first job in charge of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when Germany won the 2014 World Cup before going on to become sports director of the German FA until 2017 .
Lahm praised Flick for reuniting Bayern 's star-studded squad after predecessor Niko Kovac , whom he replaced in November , lost the dressing room .
`` He ( Flick ) has seen who he can really trust , who is important for the team , '' said Lahm .
One example is Thomas Mueller who has thrived after Flick reinstalled him to Bayern 's starting line-up and produced one of the best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The team has found itself again , '' said Lahm , `` that 's why they are just ahead as favourites '' to win Sunday 's final .
Lahm says the self-confidence the Bayern squad exudes contrasts to the 2013 side who were under pressure after losing the 2010 and 2012 finals .
`` We were under enormous pressure because we had lost two finals , so the pressure is n't as high as it was , '' Lahm added .

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Philipp Lahm, who captained Bayern Munich to their last European title in 2013, put current head coach Hansi Flick on a par with the club's legendary Champions League-winning bosses Jupp Heynckes and Ottmar Hitzfeld ahead of Sunday's final against Paris Saint-Germain.
Lahm captained Bayern when they beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the 2013 Champions League final in London, then led Germany to the 2014 World Cup title in Brazil before retiring in 2017.
The 36-year-old is full of praise for Flick, who can land the treble on his first season in charge if Bayern, who are on a 20-match winning streak, beat Neymar-inspired PSG in Sunday's Champions League final in Lisbon.
"When you look back at FC Bayern's past, at Ottmar Hitzfeld or Jupp Heynckes, it was one of their strengths that they did not hog the limelight, but worked for the team," Lahm told broadcaster ZDF.
"That's exactly how Hansi Flick is."
Heynckes, 75, coached Bayern to the 2013 European title at Wembley, while Hitzfeld, 71, was in charge when they won the 2001 Champions League final by beating Valencia in Milan.
In 10 months, Flick, 55, has gone from interim coach to leading Bayern to the Bundesliga, German Cup titles and is now 90 minutes from lifting the Champions League trophy.
Bayern have steamrolled their way into Sunday's final, scoring 42 goals in 10 matches, including their jaw-dropping 8-2 demolition of Barcelona in the quarter-finals.
This is Flick's first job in charge of a Bundesliga club, having been assistant coach when Germany won the 2014 World Cup before going on to become sports director of the German FA until 2017.
Lahm praised Flick for reuniting Bayern's star-studded squad after predecessor Niko Kovac, whom he replaced in November, lost the dressing room.
"He (Flick) has seen who he can really trust, who is important for the team," said Lahm.
One example is Thomas Mueller who has thrived after Flick reinstalled him to Bayern's starting line-up and produced one of the best seasons of his stellar career.
"The team has found itself again," said Lahm, "that's why they are just ahead as favourites" to win Sunday's final.
Lahm says the self-confidence the Bayern squad exudes contrasts to the 2013 side who were under pressure after losing the 2010 and 2012 finals.
"We were under enormous pressure because we had lost two finals, so the pressure isn't as high as it was," Lahm added.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-23--ECOWAS delegation ‘hopeful’ after meeting with Mali coup leaders, ousted president Keita

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan ( 2L ) walks at the International Airport in Bamako , Mali upon his arrival next to Malick Diaw ( L ) , the vice president of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People ( CNSP ) on August 22 , 2020 .
A West African delegation visiting Mali to push for a speedy return to civilian rule following a coup said it was `` very hopeful '' on Saturday after meeting with the country 's military junta and the president it ousted .
The head of the delegation from the regional ECOWAS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said that detained Malian president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was doing relatively well .
`` We saw him , he 's very fine , '' said Jonathan , who had earlier met for half an hour with the soldiers who seized power on Tuesday , including new strongman Colonel Assimi Goita .
Jonathan told AFP that negotiations were going well and he was `` very hopeful '' .
Rebel soldiers seized Keita and other leaders after a mutiny on Tuesday , dealing another deep blow to a country already struggling with a brutal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its government .
Mali 's neighbours have called for Keita to be reinstated , saying the purpose of the delegation 's visit was to help `` ensure the immediate return of constitutional order '' .
ECOWAS Commission chief Jean-Claude Kassi Brou said late Saturday that the talks took place in a `` very open atmosphere and we felt a real desire to move forward '' .
`` We hope to be able to finalise everything by Monday , '' he added .
Ismael Wague , spokesman for the junta which calls itself the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People , also said the negotiations were going `` very well '' .
A source close to the junta said the ECOWAS envoys had made a `` good impression '' .
`` We understand that heads of state , like Ivory Coast 's Alassane Ouattara , are working for an easing of tensions , for a peaceful solution , even if they have firmly condemned our seizing power .
We are open to discussion , '' the source told AFP .
> > A transitional 'civilian or military ' president will take power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The envoys also visited the Kati military base outside the capital Bamako where the coup began and which has become a new centre of power , the source said .
President Keita has been held at the base since the coup , along with prime minister Boubou Cisse and other high-ranking government figures .
Thousands of jubilant Malians took to the streets of Bamako on Friday to celebrate the toppling of Keita , who was reelected in 2018 but became the focus of widespread discontent .
The rally , originally organised as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has led months of mass rallies against him , was recast to `` celebrate the victory of the Malian people '' .
`` I am overjoyed !
We won , '' said Mariam Cisse , 38 .
But it was a different story on Saturday , when several dozen people who tried to rally in Bamako were dispersed by police .
`` We are here this morning to show that we do not agree with the coup .
But people attacked us with stones , then the police took advantage of this aggression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abdoul Niang , an activist of a pro-Keita party .
There has been international pressure to restore order , the United States on Friday suspending military aid to Mali , with no further training or support of the country 's armed forces .
The ECOWAS delegation will meet with the ambassadors in Mali of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- Britain , China , France , Russia and the US -- on Sunday morning , according to the programme seen by AFP .
Keita won election in a landslide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unifying figure in a fractured country , and was re-elected in 2018 for another five-year term .
But he failed to make headway against the jihadist revolt that has left swathes of the country in the hands of armed Islamists and ignited ethnic violence in the country 's volatile centre .
Thousands of UN and French troops , along with soldiers from five Sahel countries , have been deployed to try to stem the bloodshed .
In a sign of the continuing challenge facing the country , four soldiers were killed Saturday by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country .
The ECOWAS visit with Keita comes after the UN 's peacekeeping mission in Mali said a human rights team gained access to the ousted president and other detainees on Thursday .
While Keita and Cisse have no television , radio or phone , other detainees are in a training centre , where they are sleeping on mattresses and have a TV , according to witnesses to the visit .
The 75-year-old ousted president `` looked tired but relaxed '' they said .
A junta member said the coup leaders had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sabane Mahalmoudou , Keita 's private secretary , calling the move `` proof that we respect human rights '' .
Tuesday 's coup was the second in eight years , and has heightened concern over regional stability as its jihadist insurgency now threatens neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso .

A West African delegation visiting Mali to push for a speedy return to civilian rule following a coup said it was "very hopeful" on Saturday after meeting with the country's military junta and the president it ousted.
Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan (2L) walks at the International Airport in Bamako, Mali upon his arrival next to Malick Diaw (L), the vice president of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP) on August 22, 2020.
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The head of the delegation from the regional ECOWAS bloc, former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, said that detained Malian president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was doing relatively well.
"We saw him, he's very fine," said Jonathan, who had earlier met for half an hour with the soldiers who seized power on Tuesday, including new strongman Colonel Assimi Goita.
Jonathan told AFP that negotiations were going well and he was "very hopeful".
Rebel soldiers seized Keita and other leaders after a mutiny on Tuesday, dealing another deep blow to a country already struggling with a brutal Islamist insurgency and widespread public discontent over its government.
Mali's neighbours have called for Keita to be reinstated, saying the purpose of the delegation's visit was to help "ensure the immediate return of constitutional order".
ECOWAS Commission chief Jean-Claude Kassi Brou said late Saturday that the talks took place in a "very open atmosphere and we felt a real desire to move forward".
"We hope to be able to finalise everything by Monday," he added.
'Good impression'
Ismael Wague, spokesman for the junta which calls itself the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, also said the negotiations were going "very well".
A source close to the junta said the ECOWAS envoys had made a "good impression".
"We understand that heads of state, like Ivory Coast's Alassane Ouattara, are working for an easing of tensions, for a peaceful solution, even if they have firmly condemned our seizing power. We are open to discussion," the source told AFP.
>>A transitional 'civilian or military' president will take power in Mali, junta tells FRANCE 24
The envoys also visited the Kati military base outside the capital Bamako where the coup began and which has become a new centre of power, the source said.
President Keita has been held at the base since the coup, along with prime minister Boubou Cisse and other high-ranking government figures.
'We won'
Thousands of jubilant Malians took to the streets of Bamako on Friday to celebrate the toppling of Keita, who was reelected in 2018 but became the focus of widespread discontent.
The rally, originally organised as an anti-Keita protest by a loose coalition that has led months of mass rallies against him, was recast to "celebrate the victory of the Malian people".
"I am overjoyed! We won," said Mariam Cisse, 38.
But it was a different story on Saturday, when several dozen people who tried to rally in Bamako were dispersed by police.
"We are here this morning to show that we do not agree with the coup. But people attacked us with stones, then the police took advantage of this aggression to disperse our supporters," said Abdoul Niang, an activist of a pro-Keita party.
There has been international pressure to restore order, the United States on Friday suspending military aid to Mali, with no further training or support of the country's armed forces.
The ECOWAS delegation will meet with the ambassadors in Mali of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the US -- on Sunday morning, according to the programme seen by AFP.
Fractured nation
Keita won election in a landslide in 2013, presenting himself as a unifying figure in a fractured country, and was re-elected in 2018 for another five-year term.
But he failed to make headway against the jihadist revolt that has left swathes of the country in the hands of armed Islamists and ignited ethnic violence in the country's volatile centre.
Thousands of UN and French troops, along with soldiers from five Sahel countries, have been deployed to try to stem the bloodshed.
In a sign of the continuing challenge facing the country, four soldiers were killed Saturday by an explosive device in the centre of the country.
The ECOWAS visit with Keita comes after the UN's peacekeeping mission in Mali said a human rights team gained access to the ousted president and other detainees on Thursday.
While Keita and Cisse have no television, radio or phone, other detainees are in a training centre, where they are sleeping on mattresses and have a TV, according to witnesses to the visit.
The 75-year-old ousted president "looked tired but relaxed" they said.
A junta member said the coup leaders had released former economy minister Abdoulaye Daffe and Sabane Mahalmoudou, Keita's private secretary, calling the move "proof that we respect human rights".
Tuesday's coup was the second in eight years, and has heightened concern over regional stability as its jihadist insurgency now threatens neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-08-23--As social unrest grows, Kurdish Iraq goes after media

Journalists covering anti-government protests in Iraq 's Kurdish region say press freedoms are under pressure Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq are cracking down on media outlets covering anti-government protests , journalists and rights defenders told AFP , shattering the region 's reputation as a liberal refuge .
For decades , Iraqis fleeing pressure by paramilitary groups , tribes and powerful politicians in the more conservative south sought safe haven in the Kurdish region .
But public anger at the Kurdish regional government ( KRG ) has grown in recent months , prompting protests over unpaid state salaries and Turkish incursions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defenders say the rallies have been met with a heavy-handed response from security forces -- with reporters increasingly targeted .
`` Despite laws guaranteeing press freedom in the region , when political and economic crises intensify , the limits on press reach a point of strangulation , '' warned the region 's Metro Center for Journalist Rights and Advocacy .
In the first half of 2020 , Metro recorded 88 violations against 62 journalists and media outlets , and says the pressure has intensified since mid-June .
This week , the Kurdish security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shut down the Dohuk city offices of local television broadcaster NRT , which had been covering protests in nearby Zakho .
`` After midnight , security forces stormed our Dohuk bureau and confiscated all coverage equipment , '' NRT 's deputy chief Hawnar Ihsan told AFP .
`` Our Zakho correspondent Ahmad Zakhawi was arrested and has yet to be released . ''
Hours later , police shut down NRT 's bureau in the regional Kurdish capital of Arbil , prompting condemnations from local and international rights groups .
`` This escalating harassment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and begs the question why authorities are so scared of the broadcaster that they have to shutter its offices , '' wrote the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists .
Like the rest of Iraq , media outlets in the Kurdish region are nearly all linked to political figures or parties .
NRT is owned by a dissident from the New Generation Movement , a Kurdish opposition party .
Press freedoms in Kurdish Iraq are guaranteed by a regional law from 2009 , which was commended by the US-based Freedom House rights group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unprecedented freedoms '' .
`` Theoretically , the KRG has a margin of freedom because it has a law that is acceptable to a certain degree , '' said Yassin Taha , an independent journalist in the region .
In reality , few criticised the ruling elite -- until the economic and public health situation became unbearable .
Salaries for state workers have not been paid in months , further straining a consumer economy hit hard by lockdowns imposed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic .
Protests erupted against government graft and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkey launched a rare ground and air assault against Kurdish militants in the region in June .
The Kurdish government kept silent on the operation , prompting criticism and accusations it was turning a blind eye to the deadly raids .
`` The situation in Iraqi Kurdistan is going from bad to worse , with the failures accumulating and the protests boiling , '' said Taha .
`` Silencing outlets and shutting down ( TV ) channels can not be the solution to successive setbacks during all these long years , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Watch ( HRW ) warned that the KRG was using clauses on defamation and insults in the penal code and other laws to target protesters and journalists .
It said that an Iraqi Kurdish man was held in custody for 29 days for live-streaming a protest in January .
The charges were ultimately dismissed .
HRW quoted another Iraqi Kurd who had faced criminal charges saying he paid money to the Asayish to be released .
Afterwards `` they told me , 'we might call you in at any time , ' '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watchdog urged the KRG to amend its laws to remove `` vague provisions '' allowing for pressure on media and activists .
Others have appealed to the United Nations .
Six Kurdish members of parliament in Baghdad wrote to the UN 's top official in Iraq Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert on Friday , urging her to `` pressure KRG officials to respect the civil and political rights of citizens '' .
For Rahman Gharib from Metro , the crackdown could backfire .
`` This will create thousands of NRTs -- people will become their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The era of one television station , one radio station , or one newspaper is gone and will not return .
Every citizen now has a television , radio station or newspaper of his own -- they can have their voices and demands and opinions heard , just like NRT used to do . ''

Sulaimaniyah (Iraq) (AFP) –
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Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq are cracking down on media outlets covering anti-government protests, journalists and rights defenders told AFP, shattering the region's reputation as a liberal refuge.
For decades, Iraqis fleeing pressure by paramilitary groups, tribes and powerful politicians in the more conservative south sought safe haven in the Kurdish region.
But public anger at the Kurdish regional government (KRG) has grown in recent months, prompting protests over unpaid state salaries and Turkish incursions into border areas.
Demonstrators and rights defenders say the rallies have been met with a heavy-handed response from security forces -- with reporters increasingly targeted.
"Despite laws guaranteeing press freedom in the region, when political and economic crises intensify, the limits on press reach a point of strangulation," warned the region's Metro Center for Journalist Rights and Advocacy.
In the first half of 2020, Metro recorded 88 violations against 62 journalists and media outlets, and says the pressure has intensified since mid-June.
This week, the Kurdish security forces, known as Asayish, forcibly shut down the Dohuk city offices of local television broadcaster NRT, which had been covering protests in nearby Zakho.
"After midnight, security forces stormed our Dohuk bureau and confiscated all coverage equipment," NRT's deputy chief Hawnar Ihsan told AFP. "Our Zakho correspondent Ahmad Zakhawi was arrested and has yet to be released."
Hours later, police shut down NRT's bureau in the regional Kurdish capital of Arbil, prompting condemnations from local and international rights groups.
"This escalating harassment of NRT is unfair and undemocratic, and begs the question why authorities are so scared of the broadcaster that they have to shutter its offices," wrote the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists.
- 'From bad to worse' -
Like the rest of Iraq, media outlets in the Kurdish region are nearly all linked to political figures or parties. NRT is owned by a dissident from the New Generation Movement, a Kurdish opposition party.
Press freedoms in Kurdish Iraq are guaranteed by a regional law from 2009, which was commended by the US-based Freedom House rights group at the time for giving reporters "unprecedented freedoms".
"Theoretically, the KRG has a margin of freedom because it has a law that is acceptable to a certain degree," said Yassin Taha, an independent journalist in the region.
In reality, few criticised the ruling elite -- until the economic and public health situation became unbearable.
Salaries for state workers have not been paid in months, further straining a consumer economy hit hard by lockdowns imposed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Protests erupted against government graft and waste, and discontent grew further when Turkey launched a rare ground and air assault against Kurdish militants in the region in June.
The Kurdish government kept silent on the operation, prompting criticism and accusations it was turning a blind eye to the deadly raids.
"The situation in Iraqi Kurdistan is going from bad to worse, with the failures accumulating and the protests boiling," said Taha.
"Silencing outlets and shutting down (TV) channels cannot be the solution to successive setbacks during all these long years," he said.
- Citizen journalism -
In June, Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned that the KRG was using clauses on defamation and insults in the penal code and other laws to target protesters and journalists.
It said that an Iraqi Kurdish man was held in custody for 29 days for live-streaming a protest in January. The charges were ultimately dismissed.
HRW quoted another Iraqi Kurd who had faced criminal charges saying he paid money to the Asayish to be released. Afterwards "they told me, 'we might call you in at any time,'" he said.
The New York-based HRW watchdog urged the KRG to amend its laws to remove "vague provisions" allowing for pressure on media and activists.
Others have appealed to the United Nations.
Six Kurdish members of parliament in Baghdad wrote to the UN's top official in Iraq Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert on Friday, urging her to "pressure KRG officials to respect the civil and political rights of citizens".
For Rahman Gharib from Metro, the crackdown could backfire.
"This will create thousands of NRTs -- people will become their own correspondents everywhere," he said.
"The era of one television station, one radio station, or one newspaper is gone and will not return. Every citizen now has a television, radio station or newspaper of his own -- they can have their voices and demands and opinions heard, just like NRT used to do."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-23--US House passes bill to prevent postal service cuts amid concerns over mail-in balloting

A USPS mailbox stands beside the Canal Street station in New York City on August 17 , 2020 .
The Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives voted on Saturday to provide the cash-strapped Postal Service with $ 25 billion and block policy changes that have stirred concerns about mail-in balloting ahead of the Nov. 3 election .
The 257-150 vote sent the legislation dubbed the `` Delivering for America Act '' on to the Republican-controlled Senate .
But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement that the Senate would `` absolutely not pass '' the stand-alone bill .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has said it would recommend that President Donald Trump veto the measure .
But more than two-dozen House Republicans broke ranks to join Democrats in approving the bill , during a rare Saturday session called by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the middle of the congressional August recess .
With mail-in voting expected to surge during the coronavirus pandemic , Trump has alarmed Democrats by repeatedly denouncing mail-in ballots as a possible source of fraud .
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy recently suspended cost-cutting measures that have slowed deliveries in recent weeks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to discourage mail-in balloting to gain an electoral advantage over Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , cast themselves as defenders of a public that relies on the Postal Service for vital deliveries , including prescription drugs .
`` The American people do not want anyone messing with the Post Office .
They certainly do not want it to be politicized .
They just want their mail , they want their medicines and they want their mail-in ballots delivered in a timely way .
And that is exactly what our bill does , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authored the legislation .
Maloney also released a Postal Service document showing an 8 % slowdown in the processing of first class mail , most of it occurring after DeJoy became postmaster in June .
Republican leaders denied that the Postal Service was in any danger and criticized Democrats for moving legislation forward before DeJoy could testify at a House hearing slated for Monday .
`` This is the result of a legislative process only slightly less absurd than the conspiracies , insinuations and fabrications that gave rise to the purported need for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Comer .
The 26 Republicans who supported the measure represented more than one in 10 House Republican members .
Another 23 Republicans did not vote .
As lawmakers prepared to vote , Trump took to Twitter to accuse Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of seeking unnecessary funding for the Postal Service and trying to pull off a `` Universal Mail-In Ballot Scam.
” '' Vote NO to the Pelosi/Schumer money wasting HOAX which is taking place now , '' the president wrote .
DeJoy told a Senate committee on Friday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ securely and on time '' in the November election but said bigger changes could come after that .
In fact , the House bill would prevent DeJoy from taking any action that would impede service until after next January or the end of the coronavirus health emergency , whichever comes later .
`` Our legislation is not just about the election .
It 's about - surprise , surprise , Mr. Postmaster General - the coronavirus ! ''
Pelosi told a news conference .
Pelosi insisted that congressional action is necessary , calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` His comments are one thing .
His actions will be another .
And that 's why we have this legislation , '' she said .
She said Trump 's attacks on mail-in voting were part of a larger effort to suppress voting that also includes his recent call for law enforcement officers to monitor voting at polling places .

The Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives voted on Saturday to provide the cash-strapped Postal Service with $25 billion and block policy changes that have stirred concerns about mail-in balloting ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
A USPS mailbox stands beside the Canal Street station in New York City on August 17, 2020.
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The 257-150 vote sent the legislation dubbed the "Delivering for America Act" on to the Republican-controlled Senate. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement that the Senate would "absolutely not pass" the stand-alone bill. The White House also strongly opposes the legislation and has said it would recommend that President Donald Trump veto the measure.
But more than two-dozen House Republicans broke ranks to join Democrats in approving the bill, during a rare Saturday session called by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the middle of the congressional August recess.
With mail-in voting expected to surge during the coronavirus pandemic, Trump has alarmed Democrats by repeatedly denouncing mail-in ballots as a possible source of fraud. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy recently suspended cost-cutting measures that have slowed deliveries in recent weeks.
Democrats, who accuse Trump of trying to discourage mail-in balloting to gain an electoral advantage over Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, cast themselves as defenders of a public that relies on the Postal Service for vital deliveries, including prescription drugs.
"The American people do not want anyone messing with the Post Office. They certainly do not want it to be politicized. They just want their mail, they want their medicines and they want their mail-in ballots delivered in a timely way. And that is exactly what our bill does," said Democratic Representative Carolyn Maloney, who authored the legislation.
Maloney also released a Postal Service document showing an 8% slowdown in the processing of first class mail, most of it occurring after DeJoy became postmaster in June.
DeJoy to testify Monday before House
Republican leaders denied that the Postal Service was in any danger and criticized Democrats for moving legislation forward before DeJoy could testify at a House hearing slated for Monday.
"This is the result of a legislative process only slightly less absurd than the conspiracies, insinuations and fabrications that gave rise to the purported need for it," said Republican Representative James Comer.
The 26 Republicans who supported the measure represented more than one in 10 House Republican members. Another 23 Republicans did not vote.
As lawmakers prepared to vote, Trump took to Twitter to accuse Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of seeking unnecessary funding for the Postal Service and trying to pull off a "Universal Mail-In Ballot Scam.”
"Vote NO to the Pelosi/Schumer money wasting HOAX which is taking place now," the president wrote.
DeJoy told a Senate committee on Friday that the Postal Service would deliver ballots "securely and on time" in the November election but said bigger changes could come after that.
In fact, the House bill would prevent DeJoy from taking any action that would impede service until after next January or the end of the coronavirus health emergency, whichever comes later.
"Our legislation is not just about the election. It's about - surprise, surprise, Mr. Postmaster General - the coronavirus!" Pelosi told a news conference.
Pelosi insisted that congressional action is necessary, calling DeJoy's assurances ambiguous and unsatisfactory. "His comments are one thing. His actions will be another. And that's why we have this legislation," she said.
She said Trump's attacks on mail-in voting were part of a larger effort to suppress voting that also includes his recent call for law enforcement officers to monitor voting at polling places.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-23--South Korea tightens virus curbs as global deaths cross 800,000

The coronavirus pandemic has claimed more than 800,000 lives across the world South Korea ramped up coronavirus restrictions on Sunday to try to contain a growing outbreak , as many countries around the world battled worrying surges in infections .
The pandemic has killed more than 800,000 people globally , and continues to unleash destruction with areas such as Western Europe detecting spikes in infections not seen for many months .
Infections have soared past 23 million globally , and some countries are still facing their first waves -- such as India , which crossed three million cases on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought its outbreak under control , tightened curbs to try to contain a new , growing cluster of cases .
`` The situation is very grave and serious as we are on the brink of a nationwide pandemic , '' warned Jung Eun-kyeong , chief of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Nightclubs , karaoke bars and beaches have been closed , with tight restrictions on large gatherings and religious services , after hundreds of infections were linked to Protestant churches .
Face masks will be mandatory in the capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lockdowns , social distancing and face masks are among the few options available to governments with no effective treatment or vaccine available yet .
India , which imposed one of the world 's strictest lockdowns , has relaxed it over recent weeks to help ease the pressure on its reeling economy .
But that has also led to a sharp rise in cases , taking its total past three million .
`` We are seeing the virus spread across India , '' said K. Srinath Reddy from the NGO Public Health Foundation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , said Friday that the world should be able to rein in the disease in less than two years .
Italy -- once the European epicentre of the virus -- said Saturday it had registered more than 1,000 new infections in the past 24 hours , the highest level since the end of a punishing lockdown in May .
The story is similar across Spain , Germany and France .
The Rome region also said it had recorded a record number of cases in the past 24 hours , a rise health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Most of those infected are young people who are not showing symptoms , the Italian capital 's health official Alessio D'Amato said , warning them to stay at home .
The virus lockdowns and social distancing measures have unleashed vast economic destruction and impacted all types of social activities , including sports games and concerts .
In Germany , a university has launched a series of pop concerts under coronavirus conditions , hoping the mass experiment with 2,000 people can determine whether large events can safely resume .
But with no vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Latin America are struggling to contain the staggering costs of the pandemic -- with a rise not only in poverty but political turmoil and crime too .
The United States remains the worst-hit country in the world , with nearly 5.7 million infections and deaths approaching 180,000 .
The run-up to the presidential election has been dominated by the coronavirus , with President Donald Trump facing intense criticism for his handling of the crisis .
The pandemic is set to impact the electoral exercise itself , with Americans expected to vote by mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centres .
But that has caused another political standoff , with the postal service warning most states it could not guarantee on-time delivery of mail-in ballots .
He has repeatedly and baselessly linked mail-in voting to election fraud .
Biden 's fellow Democrats in the US House of Representatives approved a $ 25 billion infusion for the USPS on Saturday , but it is likely to die in the Senate -- which is controlled by the Republicans .

Seoul (AFP) –
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South Korea ramped up coronavirus restrictions on Sunday to try to contain a growing outbreak, as many countries around the world battled worrying surges in infections.
The pandemic has killed more than 800,000 people globally, and continues to unleash destruction with areas such as Western Europe detecting spikes in infections not seen for many months.
Infections have soared past 23 million globally, and some countries are still facing their first waves -- such as India, which crossed three million cases on Sunday.
South Korea, which had largely brought its outbreak under control, tightened curbs to try to contain a new, growing cluster of cases.
"The situation is very grave and serious as we are on the brink of a nationwide pandemic," warned Jung Eun-kyeong, chief of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nightclubs, karaoke bars and beaches have been closed, with tight restrictions on large gatherings and religious services, after hundreds of infections were linked to Protestant churches.
Face masks will be mandatory in the capital Seoul's public areas from midnight.
Lockdowns, social distancing and face masks are among the few options available to governments with no effective treatment or vaccine available yet.
India, which imposed one of the world's strictest lockdowns, has relaxed it over recent weeks to help ease the pressure on its reeling economy.
But that has also led to a sharp rise in cases, taking its total past three million.
"We are seeing the virus spread across India," said K. Srinath Reddy from the NGO Public Health Foundation of India.
The World Health Organization, however, said Friday that the world should be able to rein in the disease in less than two years.
- 'Don't feel invincible' -
Italy -- once the European epicentre of the virus -- said Saturday it had registered more than 1,000 new infections in the past 24 hours, the highest level since the end of a punishing lockdown in May.
The story is similar across Spain, Germany and France.
The Rome region also said it had recorded a record number of cases in the past 24 hours, a rise health officials blamed on people returning from holiday.
Most of those infected are young people who are not showing symptoms, the Italian capital's health official Alessio D'Amato said, warning them to stay at home.
"Don't feel invincible," he urged them.
The virus lockdowns and social distancing measures have unleashed vast economic destruction and impacted all types of social activities, including sports games and concerts.
In Germany, a university has launched a series of pop concerts under coronavirus conditions, hoping the mass experiment with 2,000 people can determine whether large events can safely resume.
But with no vaccine yet, economies in hard-hit regions like Latin America are struggling to contain the staggering costs of the pandemic -- with a rise not only in poverty but political turmoil and crime too.
- US election crisis -
The United States remains the worst-hit country in the world, with nearly 5.7 million infections and deaths approaching 180,000.
The run-up to the presidential election has been dominated by the coronavirus, with President Donald Trump facing intense criticism for his handling of the crisis.
The pandemic is set to impact the electoral exercise itself, with Americans expected to vote by mail in massive numbers instead of visiting polling centres.
But that has caused another political standoff, with the postal service warning most states it could not guarantee on-time delivery of mail-in ballots.
He has repeatedly and baselessly linked mail-in voting to election fraud.
Biden's fellow Democrats in the US House of Representatives approved a $25 billion infusion for the USPS on Saturday, but it is likely to die in the Senate -- which is controlled by the Republicans.
burs-sh-qan/mtp
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-23--India's coronavirus tally crosses three million mark

Orderlies ( in blue ) and a relative push a handcart carrying the body of a person who died from coronavirus to a furnace at the Nigambodh Ghat crematorium in New Delhi India 's confirmed coronavirus cases crossed the three million mark Sunday with nearly 70,000 new infections , as the disease continues to surge in the world 's second most-populous nation .
The health ministry said 69,239 cases were detected on Sunday , with 912 deaths taking the total number of fatalities to 56,706 .
Many experts say , however , that the real scale of the infection is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said last week that an antibody study in the megacity suggested more than a quarter of the capital 's population had contracted the infection .
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's government imposed one of the world 's strictest lockdowns in late March that has been mostly eased in recent weeks .
But the epidemic has left Asia 's third-largest economy reeling , and tens of millions of people have lost their jobs and livelihoods .
Individual states and cities have imposed localised lockdowns -- including Haryana and Punjab , where cases have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ main hotspots have been the teeming megacities of New Delhi and Mumbai , home to some of the world 's biggest slums .
`` At the moment we are seeing a fairly sharp rise in cases overall for India , '' said K Srinath Reddy , of the non-governmental Public Health Foundation of India .

New Delhi (AFP) –
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India's confirmed coronavirus cases crossed the three million mark Sunday with nearly 70,000 new infections, as the disease continues to surge in the world's second most-populous nation.
The health ministry said 69,239 cases were detected on Sunday, with 912 deaths taking the total number of fatalities to 56,706.
Many experts say, however, that the real scale of the infection is much higher.
Authorities in New Delhi said last week that an antibody study in the megacity suggested more than a quarter of the capital's population had contracted the infection.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government imposed one of the world's strictest lockdowns in late March that has been mostly eased in recent weeks.
But the epidemic has left Asia's third-largest economy reeling, and tens of millions of people have lost their jobs and livelihoods.
Individual states and cities have imposed localised lockdowns -- including Haryana and Punjab, where cases have spiked in recent weeks.
Previously the main hotspots have been the teeming megacities of New Delhi and Mumbai, home to some of the world's biggest slums.
"At the moment we are seeing a fairly sharp rise in cases overall for India," said K Srinath Reddy, of the non-governmental Public Health Foundation of India.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-23--Japan athletes give Tokyo Olympic stadium a test run

Ryo Sato competes in the men 's high jump at the Golden Grand Prix 2020 which was held without spectators at the new Olympic stadium in Tokyo Japan 's top athletes put the new Tokyo Olympic stadium through its paces at a track meet Sunday , one year ahead of the Games which have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The televised competition was held behind closed doors , with only athletes and a few hundred journalists and officials in attendance at the 60,000-seat facility , which is still undergoing construction work on its exterior .
High jumpers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underway as up-tempo music and the lively voices of stadium announcers filled the air .
The jumpers however had no spectators to ask for slow hand claps to find their rhythm as they sped down the runway .
Sprinters likewise rushed to the finish line but there were no cheers of excited fans and no collective sighs greeted the failed jumps of the pole vaulters .
A handful of male javelin throwers took matters into their own hands and offered slow claps in unison for each other as they took their turns .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at my place of work , '' javelin throw winner Genki Dean told reporters .
`` It 's so fun to compete . ''
The event was held as Japan takes cautious steps to reopen its economy , with professional baseball , football and sumo resuming in front of limited number of fans .
But the nation is also seeing a rebound in new infection figures , particularly in urban areas including Tokyo and Osaka .
Japanese Olympic organisers have said the Games will take place from July to August next year but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how many spectators to allow .
Many athletes voiced frustration about the postponing of the Olympics and the difficulty training during the pandemic , which closed many tracks and prevented group practices .
`` I am turning 32 years old and , when thinking about my age , I was very , very disappointed ( by the delay ) .
I was performing particularly well so it made it even more difficult for me to change my mindset and move on , '' said Yukari Ishizawa , who took second place in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when I was practicing , I could not tell what all this practice was leading to , '' she said .
`` I finally realised that I was fortunate to have the opportunity to push myself to take on this challenge '' of trying to qualify for the Olympics , she added .

Tokyo (AFP) –
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Japan's top athletes put the new Tokyo Olympic stadium through its paces at a track meet Sunday, one year ahead of the Games which have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The televised competition was held behind closed doors, with only athletes and a few hundred journalists and officials in attendance at the 60,000-seat facility, which is still undergoing construction work on its exterior.
High jumpers got the Golden Grand Prix 2020 meet underway as up-tempo music and the lively voices of stadium announcers filled the air.
The jumpers however had no spectators to ask for slow hand claps to find their rhythm as they sped down the runway.
Sprinters likewise rushed to the finish line but there were no cheers of excited fans and no collective sighs greeted the failed jumps of the pole vaulters.
A handful of male javelin throwers took matters into their own hands and offered slow claps in unison for each other as they took their turns.
"It's great to be back at my place of work," javelin throw winner Genki Dean told reporters. "It's so fun to compete."
The event was held as Japan takes cautious steps to reopen its economy, with professional baseball, football and sumo resuming in front of limited number of fans.
But the nation is also seeing a rebound in new infection figures, particularly in urban areas including Tokyo and Osaka.
Japanese Olympic organisers have said the Games will take place from July to August next year but have yet to decide details, including how many spectators to allow.
Many athletes voiced frustration about the postponing of the Olympics and the difficulty training during the pandemic, which closed many tracks and prevented group practices.
"I am turning 32 years old and, when thinking about my age, I was very, very disappointed (by the delay). I was performing particularly well so it made it even more difficult for me to change my mindset and move on," said Yukari Ishizawa, who took second place in the women's 3,000m steeplechase.
"Even when I was practicing, I could not tell what all this practice was leading to," she said.
"I finally realised that I was fortunate to have the opportunity to push myself to take on this challenge" of trying to qualify for the Olympics, she added.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-23--PSG eye first ever Champions League title against five-time winner Bayern Munich

PSG players train in the Estadio de Luz in Lisbon , Portugal on August 22 , 2020 .
Sunday 's historic UEFA Champions League final in Lisbon will be the first played behind closed doors and could also see the Paris Saint-Germain of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe win the trophy for the first time , but a Bayern Munich side led by the prolific Robert Lewandowski block their path .
It is a mouthwatering showdown between two of Europe 's super-clubs , with PSG eager to cap their rise in the last decade under Qatari ownership and Bayern hoping to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Such an occasion deserves to be played in front of a full stadium , but the cavernous , 65,000-seat Estadio da Luz will be empty .
No fans are allowed in , as has been the case throughout this unprecedented 'Final Eight ' tournament in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic .
`` It is true that it will be odd to play behind closed doors .
We would have liked to have our supporters there but I know they are supporting us where they are .
But this is still the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday during a virtual press conference .
The competition was suspended for five months before finally resuming earlier in August , with two-legged ties done away with in the quarter-finals and semi-finals .
`` You still feel all the tension .
Everyone wants to win it , especially with this unusual format .
Everyone will remember this for a long time because of the tragic events surrounding it , '' Mbappe added .
While the atmosphere in the ground will be surreal for the few hundred allowed to attend , the match promises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teams whose domestic dominance is almost total and who were both comfortable winners in the semi-finals .
'Go down in history' PSG sealed their place in their first Champions League final by beating RB Leipzig 3-0 .
They are the first French representative to get this far since Monaco in 2004 and can become just the second team from Ligue 1 to win European club football 's biggest prize , after Marseille in 1993 .
`` This is exactly why I came here .
I always said that I wanted to go down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This ) is another chance to do that , '' said Mbappe .
If PSG represent the nouveau riche , Bayern are one of the continent 's traditional giants .
This is their 11th final .
The last of their five victories came in 2013 .
Four starters from that 2-1 final win over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley -- goalkeeper Manuel Neuer , Jerome Boateng , David Alaba and Thomas Mueller -- could play here , although Boateng is a doubt with a hamstring injury .
When , in 1974 , Bayern won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PSG outfit were only just winning promotion to France 's top flight .
Leaving aside their storied past , Bayern appear the most formidable team in Europe just now .
Their 3-0 semi-final win over Lyon was their 20th consecutive victory .
They are unbeaten in 29 matches since December last year under coach Hansi Flick .
They have already pocketed a German league and cup double , with the Bundesliga title their eighth in a row .
They have won all 10 matches in the Champions League this season , scoring 42 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tottenham Hotspur and the 8-2 quarter-final demolition of Barcelona .
Lewandowski has 55 goals this season .
But he is more than ably supported .
Bayern take the risk of playing with a dangerously high defensive line .
Yet it remains to be seen if they can afford to take that risk against PSG 's attack of Neymar , Mbappe and Angel Di Maria .
`` We 've always played with a high line and ultimately we 've got results doing that so we wo n't change too much , '' Flick insisted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coach Thomas Tuchel , have themselves lost once since November 1 , last year , and they overturned that 2-1 reverse in Dortmund in the last 16 by winning the return leg .
`` It is a small advantage for Bayern that they are used as a club to playing these games .
I accept that , but it is not a decisive advantage , '' said Tuchel .
Neymar is in fine form and Mbappe has recovered from an ankle injury , while Tuchel was optimistic playmaker Marco Verratti would start after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains a doubt over goalkeeper Keylor Navas , three times a Champions League winner with Real Madrid , after he missed the semi-final .

Sunday's historic UEFA Champions League final in Lisbon will be the first played behind closed doors and could also see the Paris Saint-Germain of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe win the trophy for the first time, but a Bayern Munich side led by the prolific Robert Lewandowski block their path.
PSG players train in the Estadio de Luz in Lisbon, Portugal on August 22, 2020.
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It is a mouthwatering showdown between two of Europe's super-clubs, with PSG eager to cap their rise in the last decade under Qatari ownership and Bayern hoping to lift the trophy for the sixth time.
Such an occasion deserves to be played in front of a full stadium, but the cavernous, 65,000-seat Estadio da Luz will be empty.
No fans are allowed in, as has been the case throughout this unprecedented 'Final Eight' tournament in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
"It is true that it will be odd to play behind closed doors. We would have liked to have our supporters there but I know they are supporting us where they are. But this is still the Champions League," said Mbappe on Saturday during a virtual press conference.
The competition was suspended for five months before finally resuming earlier in August, with two-legged ties done away with in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
"You still feel all the tension. Everyone wants to win it, especially with this unusual format. Everyone will remember this for a long time because of the tragic events surrounding it," Mbappe added.
While the atmosphere in the ground will be surreal for the few hundred allowed to attend, the match promises to be fascinating, pitting together two teams whose domestic dominance is almost total and who were both comfortable winners in the semi-finals.
'Go down in history'
PSG sealed their place in their first Champions League final by beating RB Leipzig 3-0.
They are the first French representative to get this far since Monaco in 2004 and can become just the second team from Ligue 1 to win European club football's biggest prize, after Marseille in 1993.
"This is exactly why I came here. I always said that I wanted to go down in my country's history. (This) is another chance to do that," said Mbappe.
If PSG represent the nouveau riche, Bayern are one of the continent's traditional giants. This is their 11th final.
The last of their five victories came in 2013. Four starters from that 2-1 final win over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley -- goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, Jerome Boateng, David Alaba and Thomas Mueller -- could play here, although Boateng is a doubt with a hamstring injury.
When, in 1974, Bayern won their first European Cup, a young PSG outfit were only just winning promotion to France's top flight.
Leaving aside their storied past, Bayern appear the most formidable team in Europe just now.
Their 3-0 semi-final win over Lyon was their 20th consecutive victory. They are unbeaten in 29 matches since December last year under coach Hansi Flick.
They have already pocketed a German league and cup double, with the Bundesliga title their eighth in a row.
They have won all 10 matches in the Champions League this season, scoring 42 goals, including a 7-2 win at Tottenham Hotspur and the 8-2 quarter-final demolition of Barcelona.
Bayern's 'small advantage'
Lewandowski has 55 goals this season. But he is more than ably supported.
Bayern take the risk of playing with a dangerously high defensive line. Yet it remains to be seen if they can afford to take that risk against PSG's attack of Neymar, Mbappe and Angel Di Maria.
"We've always played with a high line and ultimately we've got results doing that so we won't change too much," Flick insisted.
The French champions, under German coach Thomas Tuchel, have themselves lost once since November 1, last year, and they overturned that 2-1 reverse in Dortmund in the last 16 by winning the return leg.
"It is a small advantage for Bayern that they are used as a club to playing these games. I accept that, but it is not a decisive advantage," said Tuchel.
Neymar is in fine form and Mbappe has recovered from an ankle injury, while Tuchel was optimistic playmaker Marco Verratti would start after a calf problem.
However, there remains a doubt over goalkeeper Keylor Navas, three times a Champions League winner with Real Madrid, after he missed the semi-final.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-08-23--The party goes on for French ravers, despite pandemic and police

Police handed out fines for public drunkenness and drug use Summer time is rave time in France but this year battle lines have been drawn between authorities alarmed at the risk of coronavirus and serious party-goers determined to dance on .
Ravers , called `` teufeurs '' in French back slang , speak of `` resistance '' against a crackdown by security forces encouraged by locals to restore order .
`` The more they stop us from partying , the more we party , '' said teufeur and activist Gregoire aka Pontu , who uses an alias to protect himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free party '' movement has since the 1990s brought together techno music lovers who follow a nomadic lifestyle , often living in small communities with a libertarian or anarchist ideology .
`` Because of the pandemic there have been fewer events this year than previous years , '' free party organiser Robin told AFP , asking not to use his full name .
`` But a lot of attention has been focused on those events and the crackdown has been much tougher . ''
He works for the Sound Fund , an association @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who face fines or have equipment confiscated by the police .
The association has been called on to help in 22 confiscation cases this year , including four over the August 15 bank holiday weekend .
The number is twice as high as in 2019 , Robin noted .
The national gendarmerie police force said it would not respond to AFP 's questions on the situation .
However one regional official said that the latest national strategy was to try to restrict the size of gatherings once they get started by blocking all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ site evacuations remained a rarety .
`` We can not allow 5,000 , 6,000 people to get together , without shirts , masks or any respect for virus rules , '' said junior interior minister Marlene Schiappa in July at the site of a rave that drew 4,000 people to the Nievre department in central France .
Police in the southern Lozere region blocked off a plateau in the Cevennes national park where 7,000 people , including small children , attended an illegal three-day festival in mid-August .
Lozere , France 's least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worst of the COVID-19 pandemic , which has so far claimed more than 30,000 lives nationwide .
With infection rates rising again , locals were furious about the risks posed by the event .
About 200 gendarmes blocked off the mountainous site before slowly filtering out ravers and seizing material such as speakers and electricity generators .
Through the confiscations the authorities can sometimes track down the event organisers who risk fines of up to 3,500 euros for illegal parties .
If the fine includes `` noise aggression '' , the punishment can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15,000 euros .
For local councillors , the arrival of crowds of ravers can be a major shock .
Patricia Bergdolt is mayor of the quiet village of Boutigny-sur-Essonne , near Paris , whose population is mostly elderly .
She said she felt `` powerless '' when hundreds flooded into the area late at night for two days of hard partying before they were kicked out .
`` With so many people pouring into the place , boozing and stoned , who are no longer in a fit state to follow virus rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here ? ''
she asked .
For now , no virus outbreak has been linked to a free party by any of France 's regional health authorities .
`` We are outside , back to nature , not stuck together like in a bar , '' said `` teufeur '' Gregoire .
Like many ravers he wants to see a stepping up of what they call `` the resistance of the people who dance '' .
`` Free parties will adapt if the crackdown gets worse , either events will become smaller or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fund operative Robin .
`` And when 20,000 people turn up at some place , it 's a lot more difficult to make them leave . ''

Paris (AFP) –
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Summer time is rave time in France but this year battle lines have been drawn between authorities alarmed at the risk of coronavirus and serious party-goers determined to dance on.
Ravers, called "teufeurs" in French back slang, speak of "resistance" against a crackdown by security forces encouraged by locals to restore order.
"The more they stop us from partying, the more we party," said teufeur and activist Gregoire aka Pontu, who uses an alias to protect himself against the authorities.
France's "free party" movement has since the 1990s brought together techno music lovers who follow a nomadic lifestyle, often living in small communities with a libertarian or anarchist ideology.
"Because of the pandemic there have been fewer events this year than previous years," free party organiser Robin told AFP, asking not to use his full name.
"But a lot of attention has been focused on those events and the crackdown has been much tougher."
He works for the Sound Fund, an association that offers legal support for rave organisers who face fines or have equipment confiscated by the police.
The association has been called on to help in 22 confiscation cases this year, including four over the August 15 bank holiday weekend. The number is twice as high as in 2019, Robin noted.
The national gendarmerie police force said it would not respond to AFP's questions on the situation.
However one regional official said that the latest national strategy was to try to restrict the size of gatherings once they get started by blocking all access roads. The official added that site evacuations remained a rarety.
- 'Noise aggression" -
"We cannot allow 5,000, 6,000 people to get together, without shirts, masks or any respect for virus rules," said junior interior minister Marlene Schiappa in July at the site of a rave that drew 4,000 people to the Nievre department in central France.
Police in the southern Lozere region blocked off a plateau in the Cevennes national park where 7,000 people, including small children, attended an illegal three-day festival in mid-August.
Lozere, France's least populated department, has been spared the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has so far claimed more than 30,000 lives nationwide.
With infection rates rising again, locals were furious about the risks posed by the event.
About 200 gendarmes blocked off the mountainous site before slowly filtering out ravers and seizing material such as speakers and electricity generators.
Through the confiscations the authorities can sometimes track down the event organisers who risk fines of up to 3,500 euros for illegal parties.
If the fine includes "noise aggression", the punishment can climb to a year in prison and 15,000 euros.
- 'The people who dance' -
For local councillors, the arrival of crowds of ravers can be a major shock.
Patricia Bergdolt is mayor of the quiet village of Boutigny-sur-Essonne, near Paris, whose population is mostly elderly.
She said she felt "powerless" when hundreds flooded into the area late at night for two days of hard partying before they were kicked out.
"With so many people pouring into the place, boozing and stoned, who are no longer in a fit state to follow virus rules, how can you reassure people living here?" she asked.
For now, no virus outbreak has been linked to a free party by any of France's regional health authorities.
"We are outside, back to nature, not stuck together like in a bar," said "teufeur" Gregoire.
Like many ravers he wants to see a stepping up of what they call "the resistance of the people who dance".
"Free parties will adapt if the crackdown gets worse, either events will become smaller or very much bigger," said legal fund operative Robin.
"And when 20,000 people turn up at some place, it's a lot more difficult to make them leave."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-23--Canada conservatives electing new leader to take on Trudeau

Former Canadian foreign and defense minister Peter MacKay is the frontrunner in the race to lead the nation 's Conservatives and take on Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau .
The contest results are to be announced Sunday .
Canadian conservatives will reveal Sunday their pick for a new leader and main contender to challenge liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in possible snap elections .
Four candidates vied to replace outgoing Andrew Scheer , including two former ministers , the first Seventh-day Adventist ever to be elected to parliament , and an outsider seeking to become the first black woman to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada .
Frontrunner Peter MacKay , 54 , was looking to mark his triumphant return to politics following a five-year hiatus .
After leading Canada 's foreign , defense and justice departments in the last Tory administration from 2006 to 2015 , he ducked the limelight .
He has faced a strong challenge for the party leadership from former air-force navigator and former veterans affairs minister Erin O'Toole , 47 , who ran twice previously for the job .
Both have touted a need for the party to broaden its appeal to progressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the economy , but also to pitch a clear climate plan , which has been lacking from the Tories .
He also pledged if he becomes prime minister to ban China 's Huawei from Canada 's 5G networks , and a tax overhaul .
The coronavirus pandemic made campaigning for the Tory leadership a challenge , preventing the usual gladhanding and engaging with stakeholders .
Balloting by mail replaced the spectacle of a leadership convention with balloons and streamers , and Canadians have shown little interest as they contended with the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liberals would be an equally hard sell in the midst of the worst economic crisis since World War II .
The next opportunity will be at the end of September when Trudeau seeks parliament 's support for massive new social and environmental spending to steer Canada out of its economic slump .
The Tories , however , would need the backing of at least two other parties to topple the minority government .
Married to an Iranian-born former beauty queen , with whom he has three children , MacKay was first elected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ old Nova Scotia electoral district .
As leader of the Progressive Conservatives , he made a deal with Stephen Harper and his Canadian Alliance to merge the two parties and unite the right .
But its loss to Trudeau in 2015 underscored a need to expand its base in rural and western Canada .
`` We need more urban and suburban Canadians to see that their values of liberty , family and equality have always been at the core of the Conservative Party , '' O'Toole said .
Pundits suggested Leslyn Lewis as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jamaican-born lawyer does not speak French , does not have a seat in parliament , and is not well known , having only once ran for public office .
In the 2015 election , she was parachuted in to replace an appliance repairman bounced from the Tory slate mid-campaign after he was caught on an investigative television show urinating into a homeowner 's coffee mug while on a service call .
Lewis scored relatively well in that ballot , but lost to the Liberal candidate .
She represents a resurging social conservative wing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to gay marriage and abortion , and saying she would seek to restrict access to recreational cannabis , which was legalized by the Trudeau administration in 2018 .
She also reportedly believes climate change is overblown .
Social conservatism , also espoused by Adventist candidate Derek Sloan , is a tough sell to Canadians , with two-thirds of voters having supported progressive parties in the last ballot .
Sloan , 35 , has courted controversy , suggesting that homosexuality is a choice , while opposing mask-wearing and mandatory vaccinations .
`` Many Canadians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of social conservative views , '' commented Carleton University professor Jonathan Malloy .

Ottawa (AFP) –
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Canadian conservatives will reveal Sunday their pick for a new leader and main contender to challenge liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in possible snap elections.
Four candidates vied to replace outgoing Andrew Scheer, including two former ministers, the first Seventh-day Adventist ever to be elected to parliament, and an outsider seeking to become the first black woman to lead a major federal political party in Canada.
Frontrunner Peter MacKay, 54, was looking to mark his triumphant return to politics following a five-year hiatus.
After leading Canada's foreign, defense and justice departments in the last Tory administration from 2006 to 2015, he ducked the limelight.
He has faced a strong challenge for the party leadership from former air-force navigator and former veterans affairs minister Erin O'Toole, 47, who ran twice previously for the job.
Both have touted a need for the party to broaden its appeal to progressive voters, with a focus on jobs and the economy, but also to pitch a clear climate plan, which has been lacking from the Tories.
"I will be Canada's jobs prime minister," MacKay told public broadcaster CBC, promising "a real environmental plan."
He also pledged if he becomes prime minister to ban China's Huawei from Canada's 5G networks, and a tax overhaul.
- Toppling Trudeau -
The coronavirus pandemic made campaigning for the Tory leadership a challenge, preventing the usual gladhanding and engaging with stakeholders.
Balloting by mail replaced the spectacle of a leadership convention with balloons and streamers, and Canadians have shown little interest as they contended with the virus.
Forcing snap elections to challenge the Liberals would be an equally hard sell in the midst of the worst economic crisis since World War II.
The next opportunity will be at the end of September when Trudeau seeks parliament's support for massive new social and environmental spending to steer Canada out of its economic slump.
The Tories, however, would need the backing of at least two other parties to topple the minority government.
Married to an Iranian-born former beauty queen, with whom he has three children, MacKay was first elected to Parliament in 1997 representing his father's old Nova Scotia electoral district.
As leader of the Progressive Conservatives, he made a deal with Stephen Harper and his Canadian Alliance to merge the two parties and unite the right.
But its loss to Trudeau in 2015 underscored a need to expand its base in rural and western Canada.
"We need more urban and suburban Canadians to see that their values of liberty, family and equality have always been at the core of the Conservative Party," O'Toole said.
- Dark horse -
Pundits suggested Leslyn Lewis as leader could reinvigorate the party.
The Jamaican-born lawyer does not speak French, does not have a seat in parliament, and is not well known, having only once ran for public office.
In the 2015 election, she was parachuted in to replace an appliance repairman bounced from the Tory slate mid-campaign after he was caught on an investigative television show urinating into a homeowner's coffee mug while on a service call.
Lewis scored relatively well in that ballot, but lost to the Liberal candidate.
She represents a resurging social conservative wing of the party, having voiced opposition to gay marriage and abortion, and saying she would seek to restrict access to recreational cannabis, which was legalized by the Trudeau administration in 2018.
She also reportedly believes climate change is overblown.
Social conservatism, also espoused by Adventist candidate Derek Sloan, is a tough sell to Canadians, with two-thirds of voters having supported progressive parties in the last ballot.
Sloan, 35, has courted controversy, suggesting that homosexuality is a choice, while opposing mask-wearing and mandatory vaccinations.
"Many Canadians don't share and are even afraid of social conservative views," commented Carleton University professor Jonathan Malloy.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-23--Johnson powers to World No. 1 with Northern Trust triumph

Dustin Johnson seized the world number one ranking in emphatic style Sunday , firing an eight-under par final-round 63 to win the US PGA Northern Trust by 11 strokes .
Johnson finished with a 30-under par total of 254 at TPC Boston , with Harris English a distant second on 265 after a closing 69 .
Johnson 's 22-under third-round total had given him the largest 54-hole lead on tour this season -- five strokes -- and he was quick to build on it on Sunday .
He set the tone with an eight-foot eagle putt at the second , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and rolled in a four-foot birdie at the fifth .
Birdie putts of 10 and 13 feet at the seventh and eighth saw him make the turn five-under for the day , and he rolled in another four-foot birdie at the 12th .
The only thing that slowed him was a weather delay of an hour and 15 minutes , the horn sounding just after he teed off on 17 .
He returned and birdied the par-five 18th in fading light and steady rain .
Former US Open champion Johnson toppled Spain 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rankings , and will also lead the US tour 's FedEx Cup standings going into the second playoff event , the BMW Championship .
South Africa 's Louis Oosthuizen grabbed the final spot in the 70-man BMW field with a birdie at the final hole on Sunday , capping a two-over 73 that put him in a tie for 13th and knocked Doc Redman out of the top 70 in the playoff standings .

New York (AFP) –
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Dustin Johnson seized the world number one ranking in emphatic style Sunday, firing an eight-under par final-round 63 to win the US PGA Northern Trust by 11 strokes.
Johnson finished with a 30-under par total of 254 at TPC Boston, with Harris English a distant second on 265 after a closing 69.
Johnson's 22-under third-round total had given him the largest 54-hole lead on tour this season -- five strokes -- and he was quick to build on it on Sunday.
He set the tone with an eight-foot eagle putt at the second, tapped in for birdie at the fourth and rolled in a four-foot birdie at the fifth.
Birdie putts of 10 and 13 feet at the seventh and eighth saw him make the turn five-under for the day, and he rolled in another four-foot birdie at the 12th.
The only thing that slowed him was a weather delay of an hour and 15 minutes, the horn sounding just after he teed off on 17.
He returned and birdied the par-five 18th in fading light and steady rain.
Former US Open champion Johnson toppled Spain's Jon Rahm from the top of the rankings, and will also lead the US tour's FedEx Cup standings going into the second playoff event, the BMW Championship.
South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen grabbed the final spot in the 70-man BMW field with a birdie at the final hole on Sunday, capping a two-over 73 that put him in a tie for 13th and knocked Doc Redman out of the top 70 in the playoff standings.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-23--Tale of two cities: 'Sensational' for Bayern fans, sadness and tear gas in Paris

Living on their nerves : Supporters of Bayern Munich react at a restaurant in Munich Fans celebrated Bayern Munich 's Champions League final win in a socially-distanced open-air cinema in the Bavarian city on Sunday .
Almost 700km away in Paris , health protocols went out of the window as 5,000 fans gathered at the Parc des Princes to see their team lose the final in Lisbon 1-0 .
In Munich , a large police presence was deployed to enforce , as much as possible , the restrictions linked to the Covid-19 pandemic , with fines for offenders during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fan zones were prohibited .
So many fans fell back on the cafes of the city centre or at an open-air cinema near the former Olympic stadium in Munich , where Bayern played for several decades , before taking up residence at the Allianz Arena .
This site can normally accommodate up to 2,000 spectators for screenings .
Due to the coronavirus , however , there were only around 500 watching the game on Sunday .
'Champions !
Champions ! ''
chanted fans after the club 's sixth triumph in Europe 's biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the main Leopoldstrasse avenue was filled with cars in the colours of the city club , while supporters waved Bayern flags .
`` Really great for the city of Munich , it 's sensational , '' said Tobias Rau , 27 .
`` It 's a performance that we have the right to celebrate despite the coronavirus and the fact that we have to respect the rules , '' he added .
`` It 's more than deserved , it was really tight , but the Bayern players have really had an incredible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the Parc des Princes , supporters lit flares and belted out their favourite chants .
Unlike Munich , social distancing inside and outside the ground was forgotten as fans who hoped to celebrate their team 's first ever Champions League triumph were left without a party to go to .
`` We are disappointed but we were n't dreadful , '' PSG fan Anne Vaneson told AFP .
`` In the first half , we were on a level playing field but we paid for a dip in performance in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo said that she hoped for `` mature celebrations '' should PSG triumph over Bayern , after supporters clashed with police following their 3-0 win over RB Leipzig in the semi-finals .
However there were scuffles between fans and police outside the ground throughout the game , with youngsters armed with fireworks targeted with tear gas by police .
Dustbins and in one case a vehicle were set on fire by youths angered by their team 's defeat , while police vans were pelted with bottles .
Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 people who had gathered at the Porte de Saint-Cloud area of the French capital near the Parc des Princes .

Munich (Germany) (AFP) –
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Fans celebrated Bayern Munich's Champions League final win in a socially-distanced open-air cinema in the Bavarian city on Sunday.
Almost 700km away in Paris, health protocols went out of the window as 5,000 fans gathered at the Parc des Princes to see their team lose the final in Lisbon 1-0.
In Munich, a large police presence was deployed to enforce, as much as possible, the restrictions linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, with fines for offenders during the match.
Screenings of the game in fan zones were prohibited.
So many fans fell back on the cafes of the city centre or at an open-air cinema near the former Olympic stadium in Munich, where Bayern played for several decades, before taking up residence at the Allianz Arena.
This site can normally accommodate up to 2,000 spectators for screenings.
Due to the coronavirus, however, there were only around 500 watching the game on Sunday.
'Champions! Champions!" chanted fans after the club's sixth triumph in Europe's biggest tournament.
On the final whistle, the main Leopoldstrasse avenue was filled with cars in the colours of the city club, while supporters waved Bayern flags.
"Really great for the city of Munich, it's sensational," said Tobias Rau, 27.
"It's a performance that we have the right to celebrate despite the coronavirus and the fact that we have to respect the rules," he added.
"It's more than deserved, it was really tight, but the Bayern players have really had an incredible season," said Lukas, 31.
At the Parc des Princes, supporters lit flares and belted out their favourite chants.
Unlike Munich, social distancing inside and outside the ground was forgotten as fans who hoped to celebrate their team's first ever Champions League triumph were left without a party to go to.
"We are disappointed but we weren't dreadful," PSG fan Anne Vaneson told AFP.
"In the first half, we were on a level playing field but we paid for a dip in performance in the first 20 minutes of the second half."
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo said that she hoped for "mature celebrations" should PSG triumph over Bayern, after supporters clashed with police following their 3-0 win over RB Leipzig in the semi-finals.
However there were scuffles between fans and police outside the ground throughout the game, with youngsters armed with fireworks targeted with tear gas by police.
Dustbins and in one case a vehicle were set on fire by youths angered by their team's defeat, while police vans were pelted with bottles.
Police said that they had to clear away 100 people who had gathered at the Porte de Saint-Cloud area of the French capital near the Parc des Princes.
© 2020 AFP